An image forming apparatus includes a transport unit that transports a recording medium along a transport path to a formation area in which an image is formed on the recording medium, an image forming unit that forms the image on the recording medium in the formation area, and a protrusion amount setting unit that sets a protrusion amount of the image protruding from the recording medium to a first protrusion amount in a first case, and sets the protrusion amount to a second protrusion amount larger than the first protrusion amount in a second case where the recording medium is inclined to a transport direction more than the first case.

In a method of operating an ink jet card printer, which includes a transport belt, a print unit including an ink jet print head, a sensor and a gantry, a card is loaded onto the transport belt along a processing axis using an exposed surface of the transport belt. The sensor and the ink jet print head are moved relative to the card using the gantry. A current position of the card is detected using the sensor. An image is printed to the card using the ink jet print head when the detected current position of the card indicates that the card is supported on the transport belt in a print position. Printing is interrupted when the detected current position of the card indicates that the card is not in the print position.

A print data generation device includes a control unit that generates print data, and the control unit calculates a label length for a label to be printed on the basis of the first print data, acquires a maximum label length, generates first print data in a case in which a calculated label length, which is a label length that is calculated, does not exceed the maximum label length, and generates second print data, the label length of which is equivalent to the maximum label length, in a case in which the calculated label length exceeds the maximum label length.

An ink jet card printer includes an ink jet print head, a gantry, and a card feeder. The ink jet print head is configured to perform a print operation on a card supported in a print position along a processing axis. The gantry is configured to move the print head through a print zone. The card feeder includes a feeder frame, a first pinch roller pair, and a lift mechanism. The first pinch roller pair is supported by the feeder frame and is configured to feed individual cards along a card feed axis. The lift mechanism is configured to move the feeder frame and the first pinch roller pair between a lowered position, in which the card feeder is displaced from the print zone, and a raised position, in which at least a portion of the card feeder extends into the print zone.

A printing apparatus has a conveyance roller and a driven roller disposed upstream of a print head in the first direction, a platen facing the print head and supporting the print medium, a producing unit producing a holding force for holding the print medium at the platen. A conveyance operation includes a first conveyance operation in which the print medium is conveyed without any release from between the conveyance roller and the driven roller and a second conveyance operation in which the print medium is released from between the conveyance roller and the driven roller. A rotation amount of the conveyance roller during the second conveyance operation is increased than that during the first conveyance operation.

In a method of operating an ink jet card printer, which includes a transport belt, a print unit including an ink jet print head, a sensor and a gantry, a card is loaded onto the transport belt along a processing axis using an exposed surface of the transport belt. The sensor and the ink jet print head are moved relative to the card using the gantry. A current position of the card is detected using the sensor. An image is printed to the card using the ink jet print head when the detected current position of the card indicates that the card is supported on the transport belt in a print position. Printing is interrupted when the detected current position of the card indicates that the card is not in the print position.

An ink jet card printer includes a card transport and a print unit. The card transport includes a first belt, a first motor configured to drive the first belt to feed a card along a processing axis, a second belt, and a second motor configured to drive the second belt to feed a card along the processing axis. The print unit includes an ink jet print head and a gantry. The ink jet print head is configured to perform a print operation simultaneously on a card supported in a print position on the first belt and on a card supported in a print position on the second belt. The gantry is configured to move the ink jet print head along a fast scan axis that is parallel to the processing axis and a slow scan axis that is perpendicular to the processing axis.

An ink jet card printer includes an ink jet print head, a gantry, and a card feeder. The ink jet print head is configured to perform a print operation on a card supported in a print position along a processing axis. The gantry is configured to move the print head through a print zone. The card feeder includes a feeder frame, a first pinch roller pair, and a lift mechanism. The first pinch roller pair is supported by the feeder frame and is configured to feed individual cards along a card feed axis. The lift mechanism is configured to move the feeder frame and the first pinch roller pair between a lowered position, in which the card feeder is displaced from the print zone, and a raised position, in which at least a portion of the card feeder extends into the print zone.

Example implementations relate to initiation of a shortage model in a printing device. For example, initiation of a shortage model may include guidance of a page of print media through a printing device by a feedshaft and an upper paper guide, where the page of print media is held by a media control surface. A shortage model may be initiated based on an amount of data to be printed. An ink nozzle may be turned off based on the initiated shortage model.

A printing method includes printing an image on a sheet with a printhead, detecting an edge of the printed image in a widthwise direction of the sheet, and performing borderless printing, based on the detection result, to make a margin amount in the widthwise direction become not more than a predetermined value so as to prevent the image from being formed outside of the sheet in the widthwise direction.