A thermal transfer printer and a composite consumable thereof and a method for supplying such composite consumable to the thermal transfer printer are disclosed. The consumable supplying device is installed with a composite consumable which is made by winding a thermal transfer ribbon and a printing media together around a common core with the ink side of the thermal transfer ribbon facing the surface of the printing media. Accordingly, just one consumable supplying device rather than two different consumable supplying devices as in existing thermal transfer printers should be arranged to provide the thermal transfer ribbon and the printing media to the thermal transfer printer at the same time. In such a way, the internal space of the thermal transfer printer can be effectively saved, which significantly reduces the volume of the thermal transfer printer.

At an initializing operation, if it is determined that an indirect transfer film has not been replaced before power-on if transferred sensor marks are detected while being conveyed from a supply spool to a winding spool, then the unused amount of the indirect transfer film is estimated on the ratio between the rotation angle of the supply spool and the rotation angle of the winding spool, if the unused amount is estimated to be 2% remaining amount alert threshold or more, positioning of the primary transfer is performed based on the last sensor mark among the sensor marks, and if estimated to be less than 2% it is determined that the unused amount is greater than an amount necessary for recording on the next recording medium unless an end mark is detected while the indirect transfer film is conveyed by predetermined image areas from the last sensor mark.

At an initializing operation, if it is determined that an indirect transfer film has not been replaced before power-on if transferred sensor marks are detected while being conveyed from a supply spool to a winding spool, then the unused amount of the indirect transfer film is estimated on the ratio between the rotation angle of the supply spool and the rotation angle of the winding spool, if the unused amount is estimated to be 2% remaining amount alert threshold or more, positioning of the primary transfer is performed based on the last sensor mark among the sensor marks, and if estimated to be less than 2% it is determined that the unused amount is greater than an amount necessary for recording on the next recording medium unless an end mark is detected while the indirect transfer film is conveyed by predetermined image areas from the last sensor mark.

The present disclosure relates to devices, systems, and methods providing a ribbon sensor configured and positioned to ascertain an orientation of a printing ribbon, including devices, systems, and methods configured for detecting an improperly oriented printing ribbon, and for triggering a response in the event of an improperly installed, and/or for confirming proper installation of a printing ribbon.

The present disclosure relates to devices, systems, and methods providing a ribbon sensor configured and positioned to ascertain an orientation of a printing ribbon, including devices, systems, and methods configured for detecting an improperly oriented printing ribbon, and for triggering a response in the event of an improperly installed, and/or for confirming proper installation of a printing ribbon.

A method of operating a thermal transfer printer, the thermal transfer printer comprising first and second spool supports (3a, 4a) each being configured to support a spool of ribbon (3,4); a ribbon drive (3b, 4b) configured to cause movement of ribbon from the first spool support to the second spool support along a predetermined ribbon path; and a printhead (7). The printhead (7) is moveable towards and away from a printing surface, and, during printing, is configured to selectively transfer ink from the ribbon to a substrate as the substrate and printhead are moved relative to one another at a print speed (V-substrate). The method comprising causing relative movement between the ribbon and the printhead at a ribbon speed (V-ribbon). A relative speed of movement between the ribbon and the substrate during printing is controlled based upon a force exerted upon the ribbon by the printhead (F-printhead) during a printing operation, and/or a parameter indicative of an area of contact between a portion of the printhead and a portion of the printing surface.

A width detecting system includes a sensor-LED array positioned across a path of a media and/or ribbon within a printing apparatus. The LEDs are adapted to produce light directed toward the media and/or ribbon path. The optical sensors are configured to detect the LED light, produce analog signals proportionate to the received amount of light, and transmit the signals to a signal receiving assembly for processing. Additionally or alternatively, a width detecting system can have an array of LEDs facing an array of sensors in such a way that the media and/or ribbon path is located between the arrays. A method for width detection includes analyzing sensor data to determine one or more transition point between media and no-media sections, and calculating media width. The method can include using sensor data collected for a reflective and/or transmissive sensor arrays, and can be used for media and/or ribbon width detection.

A width detecting system includes a sensor-LED array positioned across a path of a media and/or ribbon within a printing apparatus. The LEDs are adapted to produce light directed toward the media and/or ribbon path. The optical sensors are configured to detect the LED light, produce analog signals proportionate to the received amount of light, and transmit the signals to a signal receiving assembly for processing. Additionally or alternatively, a width detecting system can have an array of LEDs facing an array of sensors in such a way that the media and/or ribbon path is located between the arrays. A method for width detection includes analyzing sensor data to determine one or more transition point between media and no-media sections, and calculating media width. The method can include using sensor data collected for a reflective and/or transmissive sensor arrays, and can be used for media and/or ribbon width detection.

A printing machine comprising a processor and a memory storing computer readable instructions. The computer readable instructions are arranged to cause the processor to generate access request data for processing by an access control server, receive access response data responsive to the access request data, process the access response data to determine a first print limit indicated by the access response data, and update, responsive to processing the access response data, an access status in the memory to indicate a second print limit.

A printing machine comprising a processor and a memory storing computer readable instructions. The computer readable instructions are arranged to cause the processor to generate access request data for processing by an access control server, receive access response data responsive to the access request data, process the access response data to determine a first print limit indicated by the access response data, and update, responsive to processing the access response data, an access status in the memory to indicate a second print limit.