Systems, devices, and related methods for shaping near field interrogation signals are discussed herein. An example spindle supported near field communication (NFC) device includes a spindle configured to mount to a mounting surface, the spindle having an axis of rotation; a beam shaping NFC device including: a ferromagnetic core portion coaxial with the spindle; a coil disposed around the core portion, the coil to generate a near field interrogation signal; a first ferromagnetic flange portion to direct the near field interrogation signal in directions extending radially from the axis and to restrict the near field interrogation signal from extending in a first axial direction associated with the axis; and a second ferromagnetic flange portion to direct the near field interrogation signal in the directions extending radially from the axis and to restrict the near field interrogation signal from extending in a second axial direction associated with the axis.

According to an embodiment, a printing apparatus mounts an ink ribbon provided with a wireless tag storing a digital certificate that is generated using an encryption algorithm on the basis of a private key and a unique identifier (ID) of the wireless tag. The printing apparatus communicates with the wireless tag, and reads the unique ID of the wireless tag and also reads the digital certificate stored in the wireless tag. Further, the printing apparatus verifies the digital certificate on the basis of a public key and the unique ID read from the wireless tag to determine whether or not the ink ribbon is a genuine product.

A device for processing media may include a system and method for loading and unloading consumable supplies of a printer, and more particularly, a system and method for providing a compact form factor printer which provides convenient access to the replaceable components of the printer. A printer may include a base and a lid hingedly attached to the base, moveable between a closed position in which the lid is secured to the base, and an open position. A cavity may be defined between the lid and the base, where the cavity is inaccessible when the lid is in the closed position and the cavity is accessible when the lid is in the open position. The printer may include a ribbon positioning assembly disposed within the cavity.

An example media processing device includes a base; a lid hingedly attached to the base movable relative to the base between a closed position and an open position, wherein a cavity is defined between the base and the lid; a printhead assembly attached to the lid; and a ribbon positioning assembly disposed within the cavity that is pivotably attached to at least one of the lid or the base wherein the ribbon positioning assembly is configured to move between a printing position when the lid is in the closed position, and an accessible position when the lid is in the open position, wherein the ribbon positioning assembly comprises: at least one cartridge channel configured to receive therein a ribbon cartridge; and at least one printhead assembly channel configured to guide the printhead assembly along the printhead assembly channel in response to the lid being moved between the open position to the closed position.

An example media processing device includes a base; a lid hingedly attached to the base movable relative to the base between a closed position and an open position, wherein a cavity is defined between the base and the lid; a printhead assembly attached to the lid; and a ribbon positioning assembly disposed within the cavity that is pivotably attached to at least one of the lid or the base wherein the ribbon positioning assembly is configured to move between a printing position when the lid is in the closed position, and an accessible position when the lid is in the open position, wherein the ribbon positioning assembly comprises: at least one cartridge channel configured to receive therein a ribbon cartridge; and at least one printhead assembly channel configured to guide the printhead assembly along the printhead assembly channel in response to the lid being moved between the open position to the closed position.

A printer includes a feeding shaft, a rolling shaft, a conveyance unit, a print head, and a turning force generation mechanism. The feeding shaft rotatably holds a supply roll in which the ink ribbon is rolled. The rolling shaft rotatably holds a collection roll in which the ink ribbon fed from the supply roll is rolled. The conveyance unit conveys a printing medium along the ink ribbon that moves from the supply roll toward the collection roll. The print head prints by bringing the ink ribbon into contact with the printing medium conveyed by the conveyance unit. The turning force generation mechanism generates a turning force in a direction in which the ink ribbon is rolled around the rolling shaft during back-feeding of moving the ink ribbon in a reverse direction by rotating the feeding shaft in a direction reverse to a feeding direction of the ink ribbon.

Disclosed is a thermal transfer ribbon for use with a media processing device. The thermal transfer ribbon includes a carrier layer and a transfer layer operatively coupled to the carrier layer. The transfer layer includes an environmental indicator material encapsulated in a plurality of microcapsules. The plurality of microcapsules prevent the environmental indicator material from producing an observable effect in response to exposure to a predetermined environmental condition. The environmental indicator material is released from the plurality of microcapsules in response to the plurality of microcapsules being ruptured. After the environmental indicator material is released and exposed to the predetermined environmental condition, the environmental indicator material produces the observable effect. The observable effect results from a change in the environmental indicator material from an original state to a second state in response to the predetermined environmental condition.

According to at least one embodiment, a printing device includes a shaft, an antenna, a drive unit, and a control unit. The shaft is inserted into a cylindrical body of a medium roll in which a medium is wound around the cylindrical body equipped with a wireless tag, and rotatably supports the cylindrical body. The antenna is provided on the shaft to perform data communication with the wireless tag. The drive unit rotates the cylindrical body equipped with the wireless tag around the shaft. The control unit controls the drive unit so that the cylindrical body equipped with the wireless tag rotates around the shaft by a predetermined angle.

An elongated printing tape includes a heat-sensitive layer, a first protective layer, a second protective layer, and a first adhesive layer. The heat-sensitive layer produce color at temperatures within a prescribed range. The first protective layer is provided on the heat-sensitive layer. The second protective layer is provided on the side of the heat-sensitive layer opposite the first protective layer. The second protective layer contains at least one resin selected from a group consisting of fluorine-based resins, silicone-based resins, olefin-based resins, polyester-based resins, epoxy/polyester-based resins, and silicon-based resins. The first adhesive layer is provided on the side of the second protective layer opposite the heat-sensitive layer. The first adhesive layer contains at least one adhesive selected from a group consisting of (a) emulsion-type adhesive compounded with tackifying resin and containing acrylic polymer and rubber-based adhesive, (b) silicone-based adhesive, and (c) rubber-based adhesive.

In a method of operating a transfer printing device, which includes a transfer ribbon having a series of transfer sections, a print unit, and a mark sensor, the transfer ribbon is fed in a feed direction. A transfer section that is available for printing is selected through the detection of an absence of a used mark in a predetermined position on the transfer ribbon corresponding to the transfer section using the mark sensor. An image is printed to the selected transfer section using the print unit. A used mark corresponding to the selected transfer section is printed in a predetermined position on the transfer ribbon.