There is provided a printing apparatus including: a frame; a casing; a thermal head; a platen; a moving mechanism supported by the frame; a motor; a transmitting mechanism; a sensor detecting a position of the moving mechanism; a communication interface; and a controller. The controller is configured to: perform determination as to whether the moving mechanism is located at a reference position; perform determination as to whether a print signal is received from the external apparatus; and selectively execute one of first processing and second processing in accordance with results of these two determinations. The controller selectively executes the first processing when the moving mechanism is not located at the reference position and the print signal is received; and the controller selectively executes the second processing when the moving mechanism is located at the reference position and the print signal is received.

There is provided a printing apparatus including: a thermal head having a plurality of heating elements arranged in a first direction; a first engaging member; a head holder having a second engaging member which is configured to engage with the first engaging member so that the thermal head is rotatable about a first axis line extending in the second direction, the head holder holding the thermal head in a posture in which the plurality of heating elements are oriented in a third direction; a pair of urging members each having an end projecting toward the thermal head; a contacting member with which the end of each of the pair of urging members is brought into contact; and a locking part which locks the end of each of the pair of urging members.

A method of operating a thermal transfer printer, the thermal transfer printer comprising first and second spool supports each being configured to support a spool of ribbon; a ribbon drive configured to cause movement of ribbon from the first spool support to the second spool support along a predetermined ribbon path; and a printhead. The printhead 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. The method comprising causing relative movement between the ribbon and the printhead at a ribbon speed. 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 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.

Embodiments of the present invention describe a thermal print head (TPH) that is easily replaced in a slot on the side of a thermal printing device using a push/eject mechanism. Other embodiments of the present invention describe a thermal printing device where the print pressure is easily adjusted for different types of printing media (labels) by turning a turnknob. In preferred embodiments, the turnknob has three print pressure settings, high, medium, and low.

Embodiments of the present invention describe a thermal print head (TPH) that is easily replaced in a slot on the side of a thermal printing device using a push/eject mechanism. Other embodiments of the present invention describe a thermal printing device where the print pressure is easily adjusted for different types of printing media (labels) by turning a turnknob. In preferred embodiments, the turnknob has three print pressure settings, high, medium, and low.

A printing system includes a print station for receiving print medium traveling along a transport pathway and an adjustable print head assembly. A medium dispenser transports the print medium on the transport pathway to the print station, and a medium width sensor detects the width of the print medium. A pressure sensor arrangement detects pressure imposed by the print head assembly at points along the width of the transport pathway when an image is printed on the print medium. A monitoring subsystem in communication with the medium width sensor and the pressure sensor arrangement calculates, based upon the detected width and the detected pressure, amounts of pressure imposed by the print head assembly along the width of the print medium.

A printing system includes a print station for receiving print medium traveling along a transport pathway and an adjustable print head assembly. A medium dispenser transports the print medium on the transport pathway to the print station, and a medium width sensor detects the width of the print medium. A pressure sensor arrangement detects pressure imposed by the print head assembly at points along the width of the transport pathway when an image is printed on the print medium. A monitoring subsystem in communication with the medium width sensor and the pressure sensor arrangement calculates, based upon the detected width and the detected pressure, amounts of pressure imposed by the print head assembly along the width of the print medium.

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 portable printer comprises a base and a cover covering the top of the base. A print head arranged in a vertical direction and a paper feed roller provided opposite to the print head are provided in the base. The paper feed roller rotates about a first axis. The paper feed roller conveys recording paper by rotating in the state that the recording paper is clamped between the paper feed roller and the print head. An actuating rod driving the print head to be close to or away from the paper feed roller in response to an opening/closing action of the cover is provided in the base. The actuating rod is configured to swing around a second axis parallel to the first axis, and is provided with an installation part suitable for mounting the print head and a drive part suitable for being driven by the cover.

A portable printer comprises a base and a cover covering the top of the base. A print head arranged in a vertical direction and a paper feed roller provided opposite to the print head are provided in the base. The paper feed roller rotates about a first axis. The paper feed roller conveys recording paper by rotating in the state that the recording paper is clamped between the paper feed roller and the print head. An actuating rod driving the print head to be close to or away from the paper feed roller in response to an opening/closing action of the cover is provided in the base. The actuating rod is configured to swing around a second axis parallel to the first axis, and is provided with an installation part suitable for mounting the print head and a drive part suitable for being driven by the cover.