A printer ribbon supply spindle assembly is provided. The ribbon spindle has multiple segments contiguous to each other. The spindle assembly includes a commutator disposed circumferentially on the first segment of the ribbon spindle and two carbon brushes connected to a voltage source and disposed generally in electrical contact with and on either side of the commutator. The voltage source, the carbon brushes, and the commutator complete an electrical circuit. C-shaped conductive springs are disposed over each of the multiple segments. The c-shaped conductive springs compress when covered by a printer ribbon and become in electrical contact with the commutator and adjacent compressed c-shaped springs, forming additional parallel circuits. An electronic element is disposed at the center of the c-shaped conductive springs. Measuring a change in the circuit due the additional parallel circuits with the electronic element indicates the printer ribbon width.

A printer ribbon supply spindle assembly is provided. The ribbon spindle has multiple segments contiguous to each other. The spindle assembly includes a commutator disposed circumferentially on the first segment of the ribbon spindle and two carbon brushes connected to a voltage source and disposed generally in electrical contact with and on either side of the commutator. The voltage source, the carbon brushes, and the commutator complete an electrical circuit. C-shaped conductive springs are disposed over each of the multiple segments. The c-shaped conductive springs compress when covered by a printer ribbon and become in electrical contact with the commutator and adjacent compressed c-shaped springs, forming additional parallel circuits. An electronic element is disposed at the center of the c-shaped conductive springs. Measuring a change in the circuit due the additional parallel circuits with the electronic element indicates the printer ribbon width.

An example disclosed printer includes a base; a lid hingedly attached to the base movable between a closed position in which the lid is secured to the base, and an open position in which the lid is at least partially separated from the base; a cavity defined between the lid and the base, wherein 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; 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 a ribbon tensioning mechanism.

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 disclosed media processing device includes 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 platen roller to form a first nip with a printhead, wherein media having a backing is to travel through the first nip; a modular peeler configured to remove the backing from the media downstream from the first nip, the modular peeler including a peel roller to form a second nip with the platen roller, wherein the backing is to travel through the second nip after being removed from the media.

A tape cartridge is detachably installed on a cartridge installation portion of a tape printing apparatus having a platen supporting shaft and a printing head. A base end of the platen supporting shaft is fixed to the cartridge installation portion at one end of the platen supporting shaft. The tape cartridge includes the platen roller, the upper bearing portion, the lower bearing portion, and the fitting portion. The platen roller includes an upper and lower engagement portion. The upper bearing portion rotatable supports the upper engagement portion and restricts movement of the upper engagement portion. The lower bearing portion rotatable supports the lower engagement portion and restricts movement of the lower engagement portion. The fitting portion in which a tip end of the platen supporting shaft passing through the platen roller fits when the tape cartridge is installed on the cartridge installation portion.

A tape cartridge is detachably installed on a cartridge installation portion of a tape printing apparatus having a platen supporting shaft and a printing head. A base end of the platen supporting shaft is fixed to the cartridge installation portion at one end of the platen supporting shaft. The tape cartridge includes the platen roller, the upper bearing portion, the lower bearing portion, and the fitting portion. The platen roller includes an upper and lower engagement portion. The upper bearing portion rotatable supports the upper engagement portion and restricts movement of the upper engagement portion. The lower bearing portion rotatable supports the lower engagement portion and restricts movement of the lower engagement portion. The fitting portion in which a tip end of the platen supporting shaft passing through the platen roller fits when the tape cartridge is installed on the cartridge installation portion.

A printing device includes a thermal head, a rotation shaft extending in an axial direction and rotatably supported, a pivot member connected to the rotation shaft and configured to pivot integrally with the rotation shaft about the rotation shaft, a biasing unit configured to bias the thermal head upward, a first pivot shaft supported by the pivot member, extending parallel to the axial direction, located below the rotation shaft, and configured to pivot integrally with the pivot member about the rotation shaft, a support member supported by the first pivot shaft to be movable along the first pivot shaft and to be pivotable about the first pivot shaft, the support member including a lower end portion located below the rotation shaft, and a pressing portion provided on the lower end portion of the support member and configured to press the thermal head downward.

A printing device includes a thermal head, a rotation shaft extending in an axial direction and rotatably supported, a pivot member connected to the rotation shaft and configured to pivot integrally with the rotation shaft about the rotation shaft, a biasing unit configured to bias the thermal head upward, a first pivot shaft supported by the pivot member, extending parallel to the axial direction, located below the rotation shaft, and configured to pivot integrally with the pivot member about the rotation shaft, a support member supported by the first pivot shaft to be movable along the first pivot shaft and to be pivotable about the first pivot shaft, the support member including a lower end portion located below the rotation shaft, and a pressing portion provided on the lower end portion of the support member and configured to press the thermal head downward.

A disclosed ribbon cartridge includes a first spool housing configured to receive a first spool; a second spool housing configured to receive a second spool; a first frame member extending between the first and second spools; and a second frame member extending between the first spool and the second spool; wherein a printhead assembly opening is defined and bounded by the first spool housing, the second spool housing, the first frame member, and the second frame member, wherein the first frame member defines a first channel adjacent to the printhead assembly opening, wherein the second frame member defines a second channel adjacent to the printhead assembly opening, and wherein the first channel and the second channel each comprise a drive surface, wherein the drive surface is configured to be engaged by a printhead assembly to drive the ribbon cartridge to an installed position within the media processing device.