A printer comprising a printhead configured to selectively cause a mark to be created on a substrate provided adjacent to the printer, the printhead having a first configuration in which the printhead is spaced apart from the printing surface and a second configuration in which the printhead is configured to press the substrate against a printing surface during a printing operation. The printer further comprises a printhead drive assembly configured to cause movement of the printhead towards and away from the printing surface between the first and second configurations, the printhead drive assembly comprising a permanent magnet and an electromagnet. When the electromagnet is in a first condition, an attractive magnetic force is generated between the permanent magnet and the electromagnet, and when the electromagnet is in a second condition, a repulsive magnetic force is generated between the permanent magnet and the electromagnet, each of said attractive and repulsive magnetic forces being configured to one of urge the printhead away from and towards the printing surface. The printhead drive assembly is configured such that, when the printhead is in each of the first and second configurations, it is retained in that configuration by the printhead drive assembly when the electromagnet is in the first condition, the printhead being retained in one of the first and second configurations by said attractive magnetic force generated between the permanent magnet and the electromagnet.

A printer comprising a printhead configured to selectively cause a mark to be created on a substrate provided adjacent to the printer, the printhead having a first configuration in which the printhead is spaced apart from the printing surface and a second configuration in which the printhead is configured to press the substrate against a printing surface during a printing operation. The printer further comprises a printhead drive assembly configured to cause movement of the printhead towards and away from the printing surface between the first and second configurations, the printhead drive assembly comprising a permanent magnet and an electromagnet. When the electromagnet is in a first condition, an attractive magnetic force is generated between the permanent magnet and the electromagnet, and when the electromagnet is in a second condition, a repulsive magnetic force is generated between the permanent magnet and the electromagnet, each of said attractive and repulsive magnetic forces being configured to one of urge the printhead away from and towards the printing surface. The printhead drive assembly is configured such that, when the printhead is in each of the first and second configurations, it is retained in that configuration by the printhead drive assembly when the electromagnet is in the first condition, the printhead being retained in one of the first and second configurations by said attractive magnetic force generated between the permanent magnet and the electromagnet.

A printer comprising a printhead configured to selectively cause a mark to be created on a substrate. The printer comprises in a stepper motor having an output shaft coupled to the printhead, the stepper motor being arranged to vary the position of the printhead relative to a printing surface against which printing is carried out, and to control the pressure exerted by the printhead on the printing surface. The printer further comprises a sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of an angular position of the output shaft of the stepper motor. The printer further comprises a controller arranged to generate control signals for the stepper motor so as to cause a predetermined torque to be generated by the stepper motor; said control signals being at least partially based upon an output of said sensor.

A printer comprising a printhead configured to selectively cause a mark to be created on a substrate. The printer comprises in a stepper motor having an output shaft coupled to the printhead, the stepper motor being arranged to vary the position of the printhead relative to a printing surface against which printing is carried out, and to control the pressure exerted by the printhead on the printing surface. The printer further comprises a sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of an angular position of the output shaft of the stepper motor. The printer further comprises a controller arranged to generate control signals for the stepper motor so as to cause a predetermined torque to be generated by the stepper motor; said control signals being at least partially based upon an output of said sensor.

A thermal printer comprises a base part, a holding member, a printing device and a platen roller. When an uneven pressing force is applied to the printing device by the recording paper sheet, the printing device is capable of swinging about the support pin serving as a fulcrum in order to even out the pressing force. The deformable mechanism is capable of being plastically deformed to keep the position of the printing device. An elastic element is disposed between the holding member and the base part, and due to the elastic element, both the printing device and the platen roller are in close contact with the recording paper sheet when the recording paper sheet is clamped between the printing device and the platen roller. The printing force of the printing device acting on the printing paper sheet can be distributed more even to achieve clearer printing.

A thermal printer comprises a base part, a holding member, a printing device and a platen roller. When an uneven pressing force is applied to the printing device by the recording paper sheet, the printing device is capable of swinging about the support pin serving as a fulcrum in order to even out the pressing force. The deformable mechanism is capable of being plastically deformed to keep the position of the printing device. An elastic element is disposed between the holding member and the base part, and due to the elastic element, both the printing device and the platen roller are in close contact with the recording paper sheet when the recording paper sheet is clamped between the printing device and the platen roller. The printing force of the printing device acting on the printing paper sheet can be distributed more even to achieve clearer printing.

In a printing apparatus, the thermal head includes a plurality of heater elements arranged in line. A sheet which is conveyed in a conveyance direction is nipped between a platen member and the thermal head. The urging member urges at least one of the thermal head and the platen member to approach each other to generate pressure to the sheet nipped between the thermal head and the platen member. The pressure varies in accordance with a position in a width direction crossing the conveyance direction. The processor sets energy to be supplied to the plurality of heater elements so that the lower pressure a portion of the sheet in the width direction receives, the higher energy is to be supplied to a heater element corresponding to a position of the portion in the width direction. The processor controls the set energy to be supplied to the plurality of heating elements.

In a printing apparatus, the thermal head includes a plurality of heater elements arranged in line. A sheet which is conveyed in a conveyance direction is nipped between a platen member and the thermal head. The urging member urges at least one of the thermal head and the platen member to approach each other to generate pressure to the sheet nipped between the thermal head and the platen member. The pressure varies in accordance with a position in a width direction crossing the conveyance direction. The processor sets energy to be supplied to the plurality of heater elements so that the lower pressure a portion of the sheet in the width direction receives, the higher energy is to be supplied to a heater element corresponding to a position of the portion in the width direction. The processor controls the set energy to be supplied to the plurality of heating elements.

A head pressurizing mechanism in which in a state in which a first tape cartridge is mounted, a first contact pin is positioned at a first switching position in which the first contact pin comes in contact with a pressure receiving portion provided on a side of a thermal head opposite a platen roller, and in a state in which the second tape cartridge is mounted, by pushing the pressurizing position switching portion in a mounting direction with the second tape cartridge, a second contact pin is positioned at a second switching position in which the second contact pin comes in contact with the pressure receiving portion at, with respect to the first switching position, a portion in a direction opposite the mounting direction.

A head pressurizing mechanism in which in a state in which a first tape cartridge is mounted, a first contact pin is positioned at a first switching position in which the first contact pin comes in contact with a pressure receiving portion provided on a side of a thermal head opposite a platen roller, and in a state in which the second tape cartridge is mounted, by pushing the pressurizing position switching portion in a mounting direction with the second tape cartridge, a second contact pin is positioned at a second switching position in which the second contact pin comes in contact with the pressure receiving portion at, with respect to the first switching position, a portion in a direction opposite the mounting direction.