The present invention embraces a method and apparatus for improving ribbon replacement for thermal printers. The present invention also applies to replacement of other media in associated printers. The improvement is achieved based a ribbon adapter or media adapter that is designed for two conditions: 1) catch condition for printing, and 2) release condition for replacing the media in the printer. By a single click or press of a button, a user can switch between the two conditions. The printing operation occurs during the catch condition. The catch condition ensures that there is no or little relative movement between media core and media adapter. The media adapter can also support different diameter media cores. The release condition is implemented when the user replaces media. The release condition can provide a relatively easy replacement of a media without a significant force or pressure.

In an ink ribbon cassette, a case housing an ink ribbon wound around a supply-side bobbin and the ink ribbon wound around a wind-up side bobbin includes a case main body including a cylindrical supply-side case portion to house the ink ribbon wound around the supply-side bobbin and a cylindrical wind-up side case portion to house the ink ribbon wound around the wind-up side bobbin and a cover to close one end of the cylindrically formed supply-side case portion and one end of the cylindrically formed wind-up side case portion. The cover is removably attached to the case main body.

A described example includes a ribbon cartridge having a first spool housing configured to receive a first spool. The ribbon cartridge having a second spool housing that is configured to receive a second spool. The ribbon cartridge having a first frame member that extends between the first spool housing and the second spool housing. The ribbon cartridge having a first locking feature defining a locked position and an unlocked position, the first locking feature adapted to lock the ribbon cartridge within a ribbon positioning assembly.

A ribbon cartridge capable of preventing a ribbon cartridge made by another company from being installed by mistake. A ribbon cartridge includes: a paying-out core; a winding core that winds an ink ribbon fed from the paying-out core; and a cartridge case having a ribbon core accommodation part in which the paying-out core and the winding core are rotatably accommodated. In the cartridge case, a first, second and third peripheral wall recessed part are at a peripheral edge part of the ribbon core accommodation part when seen from a front side of the ribbon cartridge in an installation direction, the first, second and third peripheral wall recessed part at a position corresponding to a first, second and third pressing protrusion, respectively, when the ribbon cartridge is installed in a cartridge installation part and an installation-part cover is closed.

A tape cartridge mounted to a tape printer includes a ribbon feeding core on which an ink ribbon is wound so as to be capable of being fed and a ribbon winding core that winds the ink ribbon fed from the ribbon feeding core. In the tape cartridge, the ribbon feeding core includes a core body that winds the ink ribbon and a shaft engaging part formed at an end portion of the core body and engaged with a feeding-side driving shaft of the tape printer. The shaft engaging part protrudes in an axial direction of the core body from an end surface of the core body and is formed in a crown shape in which a plurality of convex portions and a plurality of concave portions are alternately arranged side by side in a circumferential direction.

A thermal transfer printer comprising: first and second spool supports each being configured to support a spool of ribbon; a ribbon drive configured to cause movement of ribbon from the first spool support to the second spool support; a printhead configured to selectively transfer ink from the ribbon to a substrate, the printhead pressing the print ribbon and substrate together against a print roller; a substrate drive configured to cause movement of a substrate past the printhead; a sensor configured to monitor rotation of the print roller and generate a signal indicative thereof; and a controller configured to determine a measure of movement of the substrate and/or ribbon past the print roller based on the signal output by the sensor.

A bidirectional ribbon supply system for a printer includes: a shaft supported by a frame of the printer, the shaft to rotate about an axis; a pulley affixed to the shaft; and a bias member coupled between the frame and the pulley to apply a force to the pulley in either of a first or second direction responsive to rotation of the pulley in the other of the first or second direction, wherein rotation of a spindle supported on the shaft in the first direction dispenses inside-coated ribbon toward a printhead, and rotation of the spindle in the second direction dispenses outside-coated ribbon toward the printhead.

A tape cassette includes: a cassette casing; and a tape roll that is a roll of a tape extending in a lengthwise direction and a widthwise direction. The tape includes: a subject surface exposed in a thickness direction; and a first image provided on the subject surface and indicating first information. The tape roll has: a first end portion located at an inner portion of the tape roll in a radial direction of the tape roll; and a second end portion located at an outer portion of the tape roll in the radial direction. The first information relates to an amount of a portion of the tape which is located on a first-end-portion-side of a reference position in the lengthwise direction. The reference position is located on the first-end-portion-side of the first image in the lengthwise direction on the tape at a particular distance from the first image.

An ink ribbon cartridge includes a first spool, a first case covering the first spool, a second spool, a second case covering the second spool, a first rib provided at the first case, a second rib provided at the second case, an ink ribbon, a first protrusion, and a second protrusion. The first spool extends in a first direction and the second spool extends in a second direction. The first protrusion protrudes in the first direction from an end of the first case in the first direction. The second protrusion protrudes in the second direction from an end of the second case in the second direction. The first protrusion and the second protrusion are respectively fitted in a first hole and a second hole of a first frame of a printing device in a state where the ink ribbon cartridge is attached the printing device.

A described example includes a ribbon cartridge having a first spool housing to receive a first spool. The ribbon cartridge further having a second spool housing to receive a second spool. The ribbon cartridge further having at least one frame member extending between the first spool housing and the second spool housing and a spool lock, wherein the spool lock is configured to engage at least one of the first spool or the second spool in response to the ribbon cartridge not being received within a ribbon positioning assembly.