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.

A device for processing media may include a system and method for loading and unloading consumable supplies of a media processing device, and more particularly, a system and method for providing a compact form factor media processing device which provides convenient access to the replaceable components of the media processing device. A media processing device 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 media processing device may include a ribbon positioning assembly disposed within the cavity.

A tape cassette includes a generally rectangular housing, a tape, an opening, and a roller. The housing has a top wall and a bottom wall. The top wall includes a top surface, a lower surface and a connection portion connecting. The housing defines first, second, third, and fourth corner portions. The lower surface includes a first portion between the connection portion and a side of the second corner portion and a second portion between the connection portion and a rear of the second corner portion with a space between the first portion and the second portion. An intersection of the connection portion and the lower surface includes a third portion that is a part of an edge forming the space between the first portion and the second portion.

An example disclosure printer includes a base assembly, a lid pivotably attached to the base assembly, and a ribbon frame pivotably connected to the base. The ribbon frame is configured to receive at least one ribbon spool; a ribbon locker configured to interact with the ribbon spool via a spool gear assembly, the ribbon locker comprising: a biasing element to maintain a biasing force on the ribbon locker in a first direction, a first pawl, a second pawl, and a central pivot, wherein: when the ribbon locker is rotated by the actuator in the first direction, the first pawl is brought into contact with the spool gear assembly, and when the ribbon locking assembly is rotated in a second direction opposite the first direction, the second pawl is brought into contact with the spool gear assembly.

Provided is a printing device capable of performing data communication with a wireless tag provided on a holder that holds a medium used for printing. The printing device can include a shaft, an antenna, a reader, and a controller. The shaft rotatably supports a medium roll configured to have the medium wound around a cylindrical body provided with the wireless tag. The antenna wirelessly communicates with the wireless tag. The reader reads data recorded in the wireless tag by wireless communication via the antenna. The controller causes the reader to perform a second read of the data in the wireless tag after the cylindrical body has been rotated around the shaft for a first rotation time and then has been stopped in response to the reader being unable to read the data recorded in the wireless tag.

A cassette includes: a lower case; a ribbon roll which is a roll of an ink ribbon; and a take-up spool configured to take up the ink ribbon from the ribbon roll. The lower case includes: a first wall and a second wall arranged in an up-down direction; and a peripheral wall extending between the first wall and the second wall. The first wall includes a lower support portion supporting a lower end of the take-up spool. The lower support portion and the lower end of the take-up spool form a first gap therebetween in a radial direction of the take-up spool. The second wall includes an upper support portion supporting an upper end of the take-up spool. The upper support portion and the upper end of the take-up spool form a second gap therebetween in the radial direction. The first gap is different in size from the second gap.

A printing apparatus is proposed. The apparatus may include a housing, an application unit configured to apply a binder onto a print area of a print medium by using a thermal transfer method, wherein the print medium moves in a direction with respect to the housing, and a processor electrically connected to the application unit and configured to control an operation of the application unit. The application unit may include a binder ribbon including a binder, a first roll around which an end of the binder ribbon is wound, a second roll around which another end of the binder ribbon is wound, and a thermal transfer unit configured to thermally transfer the binder from the binder ribbon to the printing area.

A tape transfer apparatus (10, 110, 210) including a body (11, 111, 211) and two spool supports (14, 16, 114, 116, 214, 216) each of which is suitable for supporting a spool of tape (18, 20, 118, 120, 218, 220) and a tape drive apparatus which is operable to transfer tape between spools (18, 20, 118, 120, 218, 220) supported on the spool supports (14, 16, 114, 116, 214, 216), characterised in that a position of at least one of the spool supports (14, 16, 114, 116, 214, 216) relative to the body (11, 111, 211) is adjustable; and a method of operating such a tape transfer apparatus (10, 110, 210), including controlling the rotation of each of the spool supports (14, 16, 114, 116, 214, 216) to enable tape to be transferred from one spool (18, 20, 118, 120, 218, 220), mounted on a respective spool support (14, 16, 114, 116, 214, 216), to another spool (18, 20, 118, 120, 218, 220), mounted on the other spool support (14, 16, 114, 116, 214, 216), and controlling a drive mechanism that is operable to adjust the position of at least one of the spool supports relative to the body.

A ribbon core that is used with a consumable ribbon in a card processing system. The ribbon core can be a take-up core that takes-up used ribbon that has been used in a processing operation in the card processing system, or a supply core around which unused ribbon is wound and that is to be used in a processing operation in the card processing system. The ribbon core is configured to accommodate uneven material on the consumable ribbon.

A media processing device includes a spindle, a sensor, and a logic circuit. The spindle is configured to support a spool of installed consumable media selected from a plurality of different possible types of consumable media. The spindle includes an encoder wheel having a plurality of encoder patterns. The spindle is configured to translate in an axial direction to accommodate the plurality of different possible types of consumable media. The sensor is configured to sense one of the plurality of encoder patterns based on rotation of the encoder wheel and an axial position of the spindle. The logic circuit is configured to receive a signal from the sensor corresponding to the sensed encoder pattern, determine whether the type of consumable media that is installed based on the signal received from the sensor, and track a usage of the installed consumable media based on the signal received from the sensor.