A bidirectional ribbon supply system for a printer includes: a shaft supported by a frame of the printer, the shaft to rotate about an axis; a pulley affixed to the shaft; and a bias member coupled between the frame and the pulley to apply a force to the pulley in either of a first or second direction responsive to rotation of the pulley in the other of the first or second direction, wherein rotation of a spindle supported on the shaft in the first direction dispenses inside-coated ribbon toward a printhead, and rotation of the spindle in the second direction dispenses outside-coated ribbon toward the printhead.

A bidirectional ribbon supply system for a printer includes: a shaft supported by a frame of the printer, the shaft to rotate about an axis; a pulley affixed to the shaft; and a bias member coupled between the frame and the pulley to apply a force to the pulley in either of a first or second direction responsive to rotation of the pulley in the other of the first or second direction, wherein rotation of a spindle supported on the shaft in the first direction dispenses inside-coated ribbon toward a printhead, and rotation of the spindle in the second direction dispenses outside-coated ribbon toward the printhead.

Various embodiments disclose a printing apparatus. The apparatus includes a ribbon supply spool configured to facilitate traversal of ribbon along a ribbon conveyance path. Further, the apparatus includes a ribbon take-up spool positioned downstream of the ribbon supply spool along the ribbon conveyance path configured to receive the ribbon after a printing operation. Further, the apparatus includes a ribbon support plate positioned in the ribbon conveyance path between the ribbon supply spool and the ribbon take-up spindle, wherein the ribbon support plate includes a plurality of protruding segments extending along the ribbon conveyance path, wherein the plurality of protruding segments facilitates stretching of the ribbon as the ribbon traverses along the ribbon conveyance path.

Various embodiments disclose a printing apparatus. The apparatus includes a ribbon supply spool configured to facilitate traversal of ribbon along a ribbon conveyance path. Further, the apparatus includes a ribbon take-up spool positioned downstream of the ribbon supply spool along the ribbon conveyance path configured to receive the ribbon after a printing operation. Further, the apparatus includes a ribbon support plate positioned in the ribbon conveyance path between the ribbon supply spool and the ribbon take-up spindle, wherein the ribbon support plate includes a plurality of protruding segments extending along the ribbon conveyance path, wherein the plurality of protruding segments facilitates stretching of the ribbon as the ribbon traverses along the ribbon conveyance path.

A tape drive comprises a spool support (30) for supporting a tape spool (32), wherein the spool support comprises a support surface (34) mounted to a tape drive base plate (36) such that the support surface (34) is fixed against rotation relative to the base plate (36), the support surface (34) being configured such that, in use, as tape is removed from or wound onto the spool (32), the spool (32) rotates relative to the spool support (30) such that the spool (32) rotates around the support surface (34).

A tape drive comprises a spool support (30) for supporting a tape spool (32), wherein the spool support comprises a support surface (34) mounted to a tape drive base plate (36) such that the support surface (34) is fixed against rotation relative to the base plate (36), the support surface (34) being configured such that, in use, as tape is removed from or wound onto the spool (32), the spool (32) rotates relative to the spool support (30) such that the spool (32) rotates around the support surface (34).

A printing system includes a printing device, a platen roller, a controller, and an interface. The printing device includes a thermal head, a ribbon drive source, and a head drive source. When receiving a print command, the controller executes head movement control for moving the thermal head and ribbon acceleration control for accelerating a transport speed of an ink ribbon to a target speed. After completion of the head movement control and the ribbon acceleration control, the controller is configured to control the thermal head to perform printing on the print medium. At least before receiving the print command, the controller is configured to determine a printable distance over which the print medium is transported from the reception of the print command till the completion of the head movement control and the ribbon acceleration control and outputs the determined printable distance through the interface.

A printing system includes a printing device, a platen roller, a controller, and an interface. The printing device includes a thermal head, a ribbon drive source, and a head drive source. When receiving a print command, the controller executes head movement control for moving the thermal head and ribbon acceleration control for accelerating a transport speed of an ink ribbon to a target speed. After completion of the head movement control and the ribbon acceleration control, the controller is configured to control the thermal head to perform printing on the print medium. At least before receiving the print command, the controller is configured to determine a printable distance over which the print medium is transported from the reception of the print command till the completion of the head movement control and the ribbon acceleration control and outputs the determined printable distance through the interface.

A printer includes a printing portion configured to print on a print medium, a ribbon supply shaft configured to hold an ink ribbon to be supplied to the printing portion, and a ribbon roll up shaft configured to roll up the used ink ribbon, wherein the ribbon supply shaft is provided movably between a ribbon supply position where the ink ribbon is supplied to the printing portion, and a ribbon replacement position where the ribbon supply shaft is attachable to and detachable from the printer, and rotated in the direction in which the ink ribbon is rolled up in the middle of moving from the ribbon replacement position to the ribbon supply position.

A printer includes a printing unit having a printing head and a platen positioned opposite the printing head, the printing head being configured to print on a print medium that is fed between the printing head and the platen, a ribbon holding shaft configured to hold an ink ribbon that is wound thereon, a ribbon winding shaft configured to wind and collect the ink ribbon supplied from the ribbon holding shaft, and first and second guide shafts provided along a feeding route of the ink ribbon between the ribbon holding shaft and the ribbon winding shaft to apply tension to the ink ribbon. At least one of the first and second guide shafts has a tilt adjuster that applies a twist to the ink ribbon in a width direction of the ink ribbon through said at least one of the first and second guide shafts.