A ribbon supply includes a supply spool and a ribbon material wound onto the supply spool. A tack down bond prevents unwinding of the ribbon material from the supply spool. A leader film extends from the tack down bond, with the leader film having a length that is sufficient to allow installation of the ribbon supply and connection of the leader film to a take-up spool without detaching the tack down bond.

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.

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.

Systems, devices, and related methods for shaping near field interrogation signals are discussed herein. Some embodiments may provide for a spindle supported near field communication (NFC) device including a spindle configured to mount to a mounting surface, and a beam shaping NFC device. The beam shaping NFC device may include: a ferromagnetic component including a core portion, wherein the core portion defines a core cavity and the spindle is inserted within the core cavity; and a wire coil disposed around the core portion. The ferromagnetic component may be configured to concentrate near field interrogation signals generated by the wire coil toward a near field interrogation region and away from the mounting surface, or other components capable of causing interference or degradation of the near field interrogation signals.

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.

There is provided a bobbin for a thermal transfer sheet or an image-receiving sheet which can reduce the number of parts and can have a smooth surface. The bobbin includes a cylindrical bobbin body 11. A gear 12 including a number of teeth 13 is formed in one end surface of the bobbin body 11. The teeth 13 of the gear 12 each have the shape of a trapezoid when viewed from the side. One lateral side 13b of the trapezoid extends in the axial direction of the bobbin body 11.

A tape cassette includes a cassette case, a tape roll, an ink ribbon, an arm portion, a long hole, and a ribbon take-up spool. A first distance, which is a length of the long hole in a left-right direction, is larger than a second distance, which is a length from a right side surface of the cassette case to a right side end portion of the long hole. A center of gravity of the tape cassette is located in a specific area, which is an area whose both end positions in the left-right direction are the same as both left and right side end portions of the long hole, and which extends in a front-rear direction of the cassette case. The right side end portion of the long hole is located further to the right than a center of the ribbon take-up spool.

An ink ribbon includes a core and a mounting section. The core is configured to be wound with an ink ribbon tape. The mounting section is mounted with an identification information recording part in which identification information of the ink ribbon tape is recorded to be inputtable and outputtable. The mounting section includes at least one hole section which supports at least one end portion of the core to be rotatable. The mounting section covers at least a part of the core via the ink ribbon tape wound around the core in a state where the core is rotatable.

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.