A thermal printer having a printhead, a printhead arm to engage and disengage the printhead, a platen roller, a user interface, and a printhead pressure adjustment mechanism is provided. The improvement consists of at least one force sensor adapted to sense the pressure between the printhead and the platen roller in real-time. The force sensor is communicatively linked to the user interface. The user interface is configured to display the pressure measured by the force sensor in real-time.

A printhead mounting system includes one or more pins attached to a printhead, and configured to be inserted through one or more slots in a support frame coupled to a printer, and one or more fasteners configured to engage with the pins inserted through the support frame slots. The fasteners can be detachable, operably coupled to the support frame, or coupled to each other. Additionally, the system can have locating pins for aligning the printhead with the support frame. A method for attaching a printhead includes inserting posts located at a top of a printhead through openings in a printhead support frame, and engaging one or more quick-release fasteners with the posts above the support frame.

A printhead mounting system includes one or more pins attached to a printhead, and configured to be inserted through one or more slots in a support frame coupled to a printer, and one or more fasteners configured to engage with the pins inserted through the support frame slots. The fasteners can be detachable, operably coupled to the support frame, or coupled to each other. Additionally, the system can have locating pins for aligning the printhead with the support frame. A method for attaching a printhead includes inserting posts located at a top of a printhead through openings in a printhead support frame, and engaging one or more quick-release fasteners with the posts above the support frame.

There is provided a printing apparatus, including: a base; a thermal head including heating elements arranged in a first direction; a first engagement member; a second engagement member configured to engage with the first engagement member such that the thermal head pivotally moves, relative to the base, around a first axis extending in a second direction intersecting with the first direction; a head holding member being slidable with respect to the base in a third direction intersecting with the first direction and the second direction and holding the thermal head such that the heating elements face the third direction; a first magnetic member positioned on a first side in the first direction relative to the first engagement member; a second magnetic member positioned on the first side in the first direction relative to the second engagement member; and a head pressing member facing the head holding member from a first side in the third direction.

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.

A thermosensitive printing device includes a print roller, a printhead module, a printhead pressure adjusting mechanism and a casing. The printhead pressure adjusting mechanism is supported by the casing. When a print medium is transferred through a region between the printhead module and the print roller, the print medium is printed by the printhead module. The printhead pressure adjusting mechanism is located over the printhead module and contacted with the printhead At least a portion of the printhead pressure adjusting mechanism is penetrated through the casing groove and movable within the casing groove according to a width of the print medium. The printhead pressure adjusting mechanism includes an adjusting knob and an identification pattern. When an adjusting knob is rotated, a pressure of the printhead pressure adjusting mechanism applied to the printhead module is adjusted and the pressure is recognized according to the identification pattern.

A thermosensitive printing device includes a print roller, a printhead module, a printhead pressure adjusting mechanism and a casing. The printhead pressure adjusting mechanism is supported by the casing. When a print medium is transferred through a region between the printhead module and the print roller, the print medium is printed by the printhead module. The printhead pressure adjusting mechanism is located over the printhead module and contacted with the printhead At least a portion of the printhead pressure adjusting mechanism is penetrated through the casing groove and movable within the casing groove according to a width of the print medium. The printhead pressure adjusting mechanism includes an adjusting knob and an identification pattern. When an adjusting knob is rotated, a pressure of the printhead pressure adjusting mechanism applied to the printhead module is adjusted and the pressure is recognized according to the identification pattern.

A thermal printer includes a frame, a platen roller supported on the frame so as to be rotatable about a first direction, a head support plate supported on the frame, and a thermal head fixed to the head support plate. The head nips paper between the roller in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The frame includes a swing support portion supporting the plate so that the plate is swingable about the first direction and a third direction orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction. The head is fixed to a portion of the plate located on a first side in the third direction with respect to the swing support portion. Between a portion of the plate located on a second side and the frame, an urging member configured to urge the plate in a direction of causing the head to approach the roller is interposed.

A control assembly includes: a drive-belt assembly including a first motor which is operable to rotate a first spindle, and a second spindle, the first and second spindles defining at least a portion of a belt path, and a drive-belt engaged with and extending between the first and second spindles, the first motor being operable to cause movement of the drive-belt; and a printhead movement assembly, which includes a first movement assembly on which a printhead is supportable and allows movement of the printhead along a first axis, and a second movement assembly which extends along a second axis and is configured to support the first movement assembly, the second movement assembly permitting movement of the first movement assembly and the printhead along the second axis; wherein operation of the motor causes the printhead to move along at least one of the first and second axes.

A control assembly includes: a drive-belt assembly including a first motor which is operable to rotate a first spindle, and a second spindle, the first and second spindles defining at least a portion of a belt path, and a drive-belt engaged with and extending between the first and second spindles, the first motor being operable to cause movement of the drive-belt; and a printhead movement assembly, which includes a first movement assembly on which a printhead is supportable and allows movement of the printhead along a first axis, and a second movement assembly which extends along a second axis and is configured to support the first movement assembly, the second movement assembly permitting movement of the first movement assembly and the printhead along the second axis; wherein operation of the motor causes the printhead to move along at least one of the first and second axes.