Thermal transfer printer for selectively transferring a meltable ink material carried on a tape to a substrate intended to receive ink from said tape for printing an image on the substrate, the printer comprising a supply spool for the tape, a take-up spool for the tape, and a printhead between the supply spool and the take-up spool, wherein the supply spool is driven by a supply motor and the take-up spool is driven by a take-up motor, and that the printer comprises a spool drive controller which is configured to energize the supply motor and the take-up motor so as to arrange that the tape is un-wound from the supply spool and wound onto the take-up spool, wherein the spool drive controller is embodied with field oriented control driving the supply motor and the take-up motor so as to continuously and uninterruptedly control motor torque of said motor's.

Thermal transfer printer for selectively transferring a meltable ink material carried on a tape to a substrate intended to receive ink from said tape for printing an image on the substrate, the printer comprising a supply spool for the tape, a take-up spool for the tape, and a printhead between the supply spool and the take-up spool, wherein the supply spool is driven by a supply motor and the take-up spool is driven by a take-up motor, and that the printer comprises a spool drive controller which is configured to energize the supply motor and the take-up motor so as to arrange that the tape is un-wound from the supply spool and wound onto the take-up spool, wherein the spool drive controller is embodied with field oriented control driving the supply motor and the take-up motor so as to continuously and uninterruptedly control motor torque of said motor's.

An object is to provide a thermal transfer printer having an inexpensive configuration and capable of making a tension given to an ink ribbon as constant as possible, even when a secular change and an environmental change occur in a DC motor used as a supply motor and a winding motor. A supply motor control unit controls a supply motor of an ink ribbon supply unit. A winding motor control unit controls a winding motor of an ink ribbon winding unit. A remaining amount detection unit detects a remaining amount of an ink ribbon. A variable calculation unit acquires parameters for an armature current, an applied voltage, and a rotational speed of each of the supply motor and the winding motor, and calculates variables to be used for controlling the supply motor and the winding motor on the basis of the acquired parameters.

An object is to provide a thermal transfer printer having an inexpensive configuration and capable of making a tension given to an ink ribbon as constant as possible, even when a secular change and an environmental change occur in a DC motor used as a supply motor and a winding motor. A supply motor control unit controls a supply motor of an ink ribbon supply unit. A winding motor control unit controls a winding motor of an ink ribbon winding unit. A remaining amount detection unit detects a remaining amount of an ink ribbon. A variable calculation unit acquires parameters for an armature current, an applied voltage, and a rotational speed of each of the supply motor and the winding motor, and calculates variables to be used for controlling the supply motor and the winding motor on the basis of the acquired parameters.

A described example includes a ribbon cartridge having a first spool housing configured to receive a first spool. The ribbon cartridge having a second spool housing that is configured to receive a second spool. The ribbon cartridge having a first frame member that extends between the first spool housing and the second spool housing. The ribbon cartridge having a first locking feature defining a locked position and an unlocked position, the first locking feature adapted to lock the ribbon cartridge within a ribbon positioning assembly.

A described example includes a ribbon cartridge having a first spool housing configured to receive a first spool. The ribbon cartridge having a second spool housing that is configured to receive a second spool. The ribbon cartridge having a first frame member that extends between the first spool housing and the second spool housing. The ribbon cartridge having a first locking feature defining a locked position and an unlocked position, the first locking feature adapted to lock the ribbon cartridge within a ribbon positioning assembly.

In accordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure, a printing apparatus includes: a supply spool support for supporting a supply spool and a take-up spool support for supporting a take-up spool, the supply spool support and the take-up spool support being drivable by at least one motor; a housing defining an enclosure; and a device having an input for receiving an input voltage and an output for delivering an output voltage to the at least one motor, the output voltage being lower than the input voltage, wherein the device is located within the enclosure, and the printing apparatus including a heat sink for dissipating heat away from the device.

In accordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure, a printing apparatus includes: a supply spool support for supporting a supply spool and a take-up spool support for supporting a take-up spool, the supply spool support and the take-up spool support being drivable by at least one motor; a housing defining an enclosure; and a device having an input for receiving an input voltage and an output for delivering an output voltage to the at least one motor, the output voltage being lower than the input voltage, wherein the device is located within the enclosure, and the printing apparatus including a heat sink for dissipating heat away from the device.

An object is to provide a thermal transfer printer having an inexpensive configuration and capable of making a tension given to an ink ribbon as constant as possible, even when a secular change and an environmental change occur in a DC motor used as a supply motor and a winding motor. A supply motor control unit controls a supply motor of an ink ribbon supply unit. A winding motor control unit controls a winding motor of an ink ribbon winding unit. A remaining amount detection unit detects a remaining amount of an ink ribbon. A variable calculation unit acquires parameters for an armature current, an applied voltage, and a rotational speed of each of the supply motor and the winding motor, and calculates variables to be used for controlling the supply motor and the winding motor on the basis of the acquired parameters.

An object is to provide a thermal transfer printer having an inexpensive configuration and capable of making a tension given to an ink ribbon as constant as possible, even when a secular change and an environmental change occur in a DC motor used as a supply motor and a winding motor. A supply motor control unit controls a supply motor of an ink ribbon supply unit. A winding motor control unit controls a winding motor of an ink ribbon winding unit. A remaining amount detection unit detects a remaining amount of an ink ribbon. A variable calculation unit acquires parameters for an armature current, an applied voltage, and a rotational speed of each of the supply motor and the winding motor, and calculates variables to be used for controlling the supply motor and the winding motor on the basis of the acquired parameters.