Systems and methods related to adaptive ribbon speed control for a line matrix impact printer are provided. A ribbon cartridge includes a ribbon configured to be driven at a ribbon speed, and a ribbon gear configured to rotate with movement of the ribbon. The ribbon includes a ribbon joint patch detectable via a first sensor to determine a first ribbon speed of the ribbon. Rotation of the ribbon gear is detectable via a second sensor to determine a second ribbon speed of the ribbon. A target ribbon speed is determined based on at least one print job characteristic. A current ribbon speed is determined based on the first ribbon speed and the second ribbon speed. The ribbon speed is adjusted based on a difference between the current ribbon speed and the target ribbon speed. Associated systems and methods are also provided.

A printer device in an embodiment includes a conveying unit including a platen roller configured to convey a medium, a supply unit configured to supply an ink ribbon at supply speed corresponding to conveying speed of the medium, a thermal head configured to transfer ink of the ink ribbon to the medium to perform printing, a moving unit configured to move a disposition position of the thermal head, and a control unit configured to control the supply unit and the moving unit and perform a ribbon save operation for, in a start position of a nonprinting region, separating the thermal head from the platen roller and starting deceleration of the ink ribbon and, according to an end position of the nonprinting region, accelerating the ink ribbon to the supply speed and bringing the thermal head close to the platen roller.

A printer device in an embodiment includes a conveying unit including a platen roller configured to convey a medium, a supply unit configured to supply an ink ribbon at supply speed corresponding to conveying speed of the medium, a thermal head configured to transfer ink of the ink ribbon to the medium to perform printing, a moving unit configured to move a disposition position of the thermal head, and a control unit configured to control the supply unit and the moving unit and perform a ribbon save operation for, in a start position of a nonprinting region, separating the thermal head from the platen roller and starting deceleration of the ink ribbon and, according to an end position of the nonprinting region, accelerating the ink ribbon to the supply speed and bringing the thermal head close to the platen roller.

The disclosure relates to a thermal printer for printing on a print media, comprising: a printhead (110, 110, 110), a printhead positioning arrangement (120) for displacing the printhead, a ribbon feeding arrangement comprising a print ribbon unwinder (150) and a ribbon rewinder (151), at least one roller (162). In operation, the printhead positioning arrangement is configured to displace the printhead into at least three positions: a first position applying a first amount of pressure on a print media, a second position applying a second amount of pressure on the print media, and a third position in which the printhead is distanced from the print media and applies no pressure on the print media.

The disclosure relates to a thermal printer for printing on a print media, comprising: a printhead (110, 110, 110), a printhead positioning arrangement (120) for displacing the printhead, a ribbon feeding arrangement comprising a print ribbon unwinder (150) and a ribbon rewinder (151), at least one roller (162). In operation, the printhead positioning arrangement is configured to displace the printhead into at least three positions: a first position applying a first amount of pressure on a print media, a second position applying a second amount of pressure on the print media, and a third position in which the printhead is distanced from the print media and applies no pressure on the print media.