A printer, comprising: a printing part; a conveying mechanism to send out a print medium from a medium roll around which the print medium is wound, the conveying mechanism comprising a correcting mechanism to correct curl of the print medium in a winding direction by curving the print medium in a reverse direction of the winding direction; and a controller configured to: store a finish time of the printing; obtain a start time when next printing is started; determine whether an elapsed time elapsed from the finish time to the start time is longer than a particular time; when the elapsed time is longer than the particular time, cause the conveying mechanism to convey the print medium by a particular length which is longer than a length between the correcting mechanism and the printing part; and cause the printing part to perform the printing.

A printer, comprising: a printing part; a conveying mechanism to send out a print medium from a medium roll around which the print medium is wound, the conveying mechanism comprising a correcting mechanism to correct curl of the print medium in a winding direction by curving the print medium in a reverse direction of the winding direction; and a controller configured to: store a finish time of the printing; obtain a start time when next printing is started; determine whether an elapsed time elapsed from the finish time to the start time is longer than a particular time; when the elapsed time is longer than the particular time, cause the conveying mechanism to convey the print medium by a particular length which is longer than a length between the correcting mechanism and the printing part; and cause the printing part to perform the printing.

A process and apparatus for sublimating printed images onto two or more products substantially simultaneously are disclosed. Software components are configured to receive input of a desired number of products to sublimate, and then determine a spatial arrangement of the printed images on transfer media to sublimate the desired number of products substantially simultaneously. The apparatus is configured to print the images onto the media according to the spatial arrangement, then position the media onto a substrate. The products are automatically placed on the media proximate to their corresponding printed images. The apparatus manipulates the media to substantially surround the products and places at least one image onto each side of each product to be sublimated. One or more heating platens engage the media to sublimate the images. The heating platens are configured, using a control, to sublimate multiple products substantially simultaneously in a single thermal cycle.

A process and apparatus for sublimating printed images onto two or more products substantially simultaneously are disclosed. Software components are configured to receive input of a desired number of products to sublimate, and then determine a spatial arrangement of the printed images on transfer media to sublimate the desired number of products substantially simultaneously. The apparatus is configured to print the images onto the media according to the spatial arrangement, then position the media onto a substrate. The products are automatically placed on the media proximate to their corresponding printed images. The apparatus manipulates the media to substantially surround the products and places at least one image onto each side of each product to be sublimated. One or more heating platens engage the media to sublimate the images. The heating platens are configured, using a control, to sublimate multiple products substantially simultaneously in a single thermal cycle.

A mounting apparatus for mounting a printing apparatus to a structure includes an attachment part, which is attachable to the structure, and a support member upon which a printing apparatus is supportable. The support member enables the printing apparatus to be located in a desired position along a first axis, which extends in a first direction relative to the structure, and wherein at least a part of a footprint of the support member defined in a first plane, which is substantially transverse to the first axis, overlaps at least a part of a footprint of the printing apparatus defined in a second plane, which is substantially transverse to the first axis.

A mounting apparatus for mounting a printing apparatus to a structure includes an attachment part, which is attachable to the structure, and a support member upon which a printing apparatus is supportable. The support member enables the printing apparatus to be located in a desired position along a first axis, which extends in a first direction relative to the structure, and wherein at least a part of a footprint of the support member defined in a first plane, which is substantially transverse to the first axis, overlaps at least a part of a footprint of the printing apparatus defined in a second plane, which is substantially transverse to the first axis.

Printhead carriers and adapters are disclosed. An example disclosed printhead carrier includes a base to carry a printhead assembly; a first pivot mechanism to pivot the base about a first axis; and a second pivot mechanism to pivot a connector about a second axis different than the first axis, the printhead assembly to be removably coupled to the connector.

Methods and systems for thermal printing of thermally printable photonic crystal materials and assemblies. The photonic crystal materials and assemblies are responsive to thermal stimuli, wherein temperatures above a thermal threshold results in an optically detectable change in the appearance of the materials and assemblies. Heat is selectively applied to one or more portions of the materials and assemblies, in order to thermally print a graphic onto the materials and assemblies.

Methods and systems for thermal printing of thermally printable photonic crystal materials and assemblies. The photonic crystal materials and assemblies are responsive to thermal stimuli, wherein temperatures above a thermal threshold results in an optically detectable change in the appearance of the materials and assemblies. Heat is selectively applied to one or more portions of the materials and assemblies, in order to thermally print a graphic onto the materials and assemblies.

A printing module configured to print a label on a curved surface of an article includes an expandable printing mechanism configured to be expanded to an open configuration for receiving the article or contracted to a closed configuration placing the curved surface in an operative position with respect to a print head and an article moving assembly configured to grasp and hold the article and effect relative movement between the curved surface and the print head. The printing mechanism includes contact elements, such as rollers, that contact or otherwise engage the article when the printing mechanism is in the closed configuration and maintain the curved surface in the operative position with respect to the print head during relative movement between the curved surface and the print head.