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 removable supporting device includes a frame; an endless ribbon; and a supporting system to support the endless ribbon, the supporting system including at least two rollers connected to the frame; the at least two rollers including a first connecting system adapted to cooperate with a first complementary connecting system of a thermal transfer printing apparatus.

A removable supporting device includes a frame; an endless ribbon; and a supporting system to support the endless ribbon, the supporting system including at least two rollers connected to the frame; the at least two rollers including a first connecting system adapted to cooperate with a first complementary connecting system of a thermal transfer printing apparatus.

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 printing device includes a housing, a printing head, and an input unit. The housing includes a cassette accommodating portion to which a tape cassette accommodating a roll of a printing tape is detachably attachable. The cassette accommodating portion has an insertion opening through which the tape cassette can be inserted in an insertion direction. The printing head includes heat-generating elements arrayed in a scanning direction crossing an imaginary plane perpendicular to the insertion direction. The housing has: a principal surface at which the input unit is provided; a side surface crossing the principal surface and the imaginary plane; and a discharge opening formed in the side surface. The insertion opening is positioned above the input unit. At the discharge opening, a normal direction of a printed surface of the printing tape and a normal direction of the principal surface define an interior angle of less than 45 degrees therebetween.

A printing device includes a housing, a printing head, and an input unit. The housing includes a cassette accommodating portion to which a tape cassette accommodating a roll of a printing tape is detachably attachable. The cassette accommodating portion has an insertion opening through which the tape cassette can be inserted in an insertion direction. The printing head includes heat-generating elements arrayed in a scanning direction crossing an imaginary plane perpendicular to the insertion direction. The housing has: a principal surface at which the input unit is provided; a side surface crossing the principal surface and the imaginary plane; and a discharge opening formed in the side surface. The insertion opening is positioned above the input unit. At the discharge opening, a normal direction of a printed surface of the printing tape and a normal direction of the principal surface define an interior angle of less than 45 degrees therebetween.

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.

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.