A printing system includes a first printing unit that performs printing using a material that exhibits structural color, based on first data, a second printing unit that performs printing using a material that includes pigment, based on second data, and a control apparatus that outputs the first data and the second data; he first data causes the first printing unit to print the first personal information items of a first information group in respective regions, and an item of identification information linked to the first information group; and the second data causes the second printing unit to print the second personal information items of a second information group linked to the item of identification information on the corresponding respective regions on which the first personal information items corresponding to the respective second personal information items have been printed.

An optical sensor device (10) includes an application module (12) for applying an irregular pattern of marks to a surface of a medium and an optical detector module (14). The optical detector module (14) acquires images of the applied marks and may determine an advancement speed of the medium based on the acquired images.

A printing apparatus includes: a mechanism transporting a print medium; a first sensor outputting a signal indicating the presence or absence of a first mark; a first determining unit determining, on a first surface, a position of a second mark and a print position of an image based on the output signal; a first print head printing the second mark and the image at the determined print positions; a second sensor outputting a signal indicating the presence or absence of the first and second marks; a second determining unit locating a position of a predetermined one of the first and second marks, based on the signal output from the second sensor, and determines, on a second surface of the print medium, a print position of a target image based on the located position of the predetermined mark; and a second print head printing the target image at the determined print position.

An example of a print media can include a substrate, a removable layer coupled to a surface of the substrate, and an object on a surface of the removable layer, the object including tracking markings to permit determination of a velocity of the print media.

An example of a print media can include a substrate, a removable layer coupled to a surface of the substrate, and an object on a surface of the removable layer, the object including tracking markings to permit determination of a velocity of the print media.

A printer for security paper, such as a multifunction printer, a printer, a facsimile machine or a copier, is configured to perform a printing operation by distinguishing between security paper and normal paper. The printer for security paper includes: a security paper sensor disposed on a printing paper feeding path; and a control unit for comparing a first sensing value sensed by the security paper sensor when printing paper to be determined is not present near the security paper sensor with one or more second sensing values sensed by the security paper sensor for the corresponding printing paper on the feeding path, during the course of conveying the corresponding printing paper on the feeding path, determining printing paper as security paper when a comparison value is above a predefined reference value, and determining printing paper as normal paper when the comparison value is below the predefined reference value.

A desired image is printed in a non-contact state on a print object surface with a flyable printer in which a printing device is mounted in a flying object. The printer includes a flying object having a body part, a controller, and a drive part; and a print head, mounted in the flying object, to print a desired image in a non-contact state, on a print object which the flying object has approached. The print head is driven while a gap is maintained at a predetermined value by bringing a gap adjustment part attached to the body part of the flying object into contact with the print object or by accurate control of the drive part. It is possible to print a desired image in good image quality regardless of the state of the surface of the print object.

A desired image is printed in a non-contact state on a print object surface with a flyable printer in which a printing device is mounted in a flying object. The printer includes a flying object having a body part, a controller, and a drive part; and a print head, mounted in the flying object, to print a desired image in a non-contact state, on a print object which the flying object has approached. The print head is driven while a gap is maintained at a predetermined value by bringing a gap adjustment part attached to the body part of the flying object into contact with the print object or by accurate control of the drive part. It is possible to print a desired image in good image quality regardless of the state of the surface of the print object.

A printing apparatus includes a transport unit that transports a medium in a transport direction, a support portion that supports the medium that is transported by the transport unit in a width direction that intersects with the transport direction, a printing unit that performs printing on a front surface of the medium which is supported by the support portion, a detecting unit that receives reflected light which is emitted on a rear surface of the medium that is transported on a detection position that is provided in a transport path of the medium, and a light-shielding portion that faces the detecting unit with the medium interposed therebetween during at least transport of the medium by the transport unit.

A printing apparatus includes a transport unit that transports a medium in a transport direction, a support portion that supports the medium that is transported by the transport unit in a width direction that intersects with the transport direction, a printing unit that performs printing on a front surface of the medium which is supported by the support portion, a detecting unit that receives reflected light which is emitted on a rear surface of the medium that is transported on a detection position that is provided in a transport path of the medium, and a light-shielding portion that faces the detecting unit with the medium interposed therebetween during at least transport of the medium by the transport unit.