A printer includes a thermal head that performs printing on a print medium, a head unit to which the thermal head is attached, a holding part movable between a first position for holding the thermal head at an attachment position of the head unit and a second position for canceling the holding of the thermal head to the attachment position, and a receiving part that receives the thermal head when the holding part is at the second position.

A printing system includes a platen roller, a storage unit, a controller, and a printing device including a thermal head, a head drive source that is configured to move the thermal head in a first direction along which the thermal head approaches or separates from the platen roller, and at least a sensor that is configured to detect a position of the thermal head. In the printing system, the controller is configured to determine whether setting information of a print position is stored in the storage unit, detect the print position with the head drive source and the sensor when the setting information is not stored in the storage unit, and cause the head drive source to move the thermal head from a first position to a second position, when the setting information is stored in the storage unit.

A thermal printer includes a thermal head configured to perform printing on recording paper; a platen roller, which is arranged at a position opposed to the thermal head, and is configured to convey the recording paper by nipping the recording paper between the thermal head and the platen roller; a head support plate having conductivity, which has the thermal head to be fixed thereto; a frame, which is configured to support the head support plate, and includes a shaft support portion configured to rotatably support the platen roller about an axis; and a conductive member having conductivity, which is provided between a side surface of the shaft support portion and the head support plate.

Provided is a photo printer and a method for manufacturing the same that are capable of allowing a gap formed between a head and a platen roller to be kept constantly. The photo printer includes: a frame having both side walls; a paper accommodating part disposed between both side walls of the frame to accommodate the paper therein; a pickup roller located protrudingly from a bottom surface of the paper accommodating part to forward feed the paper accommodated in the paper accommodating part; a platen roller coupled to the frame to discharge the paper fed from the pickup roller forward; a head disposed above the platen roller to apply the heat to the paper; and a pair of brackets each having one side swingably coupled to the head and the other side hinge-coupled to the 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.

In accordance with an embodiment, a ribbon holding shaft winds an ink ribbon before printing. A ribbon winding shaft winds the ink ribbon after printing to collect the ink ribbon. A feed motor rotationally drives the ribbon holding shaft. A winding motor rotationally drives the ribbon winding shaft. A detection module detects slackness of the ink ribbon stretched between the ribbon holding shaft and the ribbon winding shaft. A ribbon feed control module forward rotates the winding motor to draw out the ink ribbon from the ribbon holding shaft to the printing section and further controls the ribbon winding shaft to wind the ink ribbon. A reverse rotation control module reversely rotates the feed motor to stretch the ink ribbon between the ribbon holding shaft and the ribbon winding shaft if the detection module detects the slackness of the ink ribbon.

Provided is a driving mechanism for a photo printer, the photo printer having a frame for accommodating paper therein and a platen roller coupled to the frame to transfer paper, and the driving mechanism includes: a motor for providing a rotary force to the platen roller; a motor pinion disposed on one side of the frame to output the rotary force of the motor; at least one or more reduction gears coupled to a side wall of the frame to reduce the rotary force of the motor pinion; a final gear coupled to the platen roller to receive the reduced rotary force from the reduction gears; and a pressurizing member for elastically pressurizing the reduction gears against the side wall of the frame.

The invention relates to an arrangement for double-sided printing of thermal paper, with a first print head for printing the front side of the thermal paper and a second print head for printing the back side of the thermal paper. The arrangement comprises a first counter-pressure element lying opposite to the first print head and a second counter-pressure element lying opposite to the second print head, the thermal paper being guided between the first print head and the first counter-pressure element and between the second print head and the second counter-pressure element. A first unit is provided which can be moved relative to a second unit, the first print head being arranged in the first unit, and the second print head, the first counter-pressure element and the second counter-pressure element being arranged in the second unit.

Printhead carriers and adapters are disclosed. An example disclosed print mechanism includes an adapter to simultaneously couple a printhead assembly to both a logic circuit of a media processing device and a power source of the media processing device; a printhead carrier coupled to the adapter; and wherein a first connection, between data input connector and the logic circuit, and a second connection, between the power input connector and the power source, are maintained when the printhead assembly is removed from the print mechanism.

A thermal-transfer printer, having a case, an ink ribbon supporting member, a movable member, a head holder, and an arm, is provided. When the movable member is at a first position, a first engageable portion in the head holder and a second engageable portion in the arm are separated. When the movable member is in transition from a first position to a second position, the first engageable portion and the second engageable portion contact each other, and the arm moves in conjunction with the movable member from a third position to a fourth position. A minimum distance between the first engageable portion and the movable member when the arm is at the fourth position is shorter than a minimum distance between those when the first engageable portion and the second engageable portion contact each other while the movable member is in transition from the first position to the second position.