Disclosed is a label printer, having a printhead and a counter-element to the printhead, wherein a carrier tape is led between the printhead and the counter-element; a drive mechanism for the carrier tape having a driven carrier tape drawing roller; and at least one non-driven carrier tape pressure roller that is associated with the carrier tape drawing roller, wherein, the carrier tape drawing roller and the respective carrier tape pressure roller are arranged after the printhead and the counter-element, wherein the drive mechanism for the carrier tape comprises a further driven carrier tape drawing roller and a further non-driven carrier tape pressure roller associated with the further carrier tape drawing roller is provided, with the further carrier tape drawing roller and the further carrier tape pressure roller, arranged in front of the printhead and the counter-element.

Disclosed is a layer transfer device for transferring a transfer layer onto a toner image formed on a sheet, in which a replacement of a film cartridge is easy for a user. The layer transfer device includes a housing, a film cartridge, and a holder. The film cartridge includes a supply reel including a supply shaft on which a multilayer film including a supported layer including a transfer layer, and a supporting layer supporting the supported layer is wound, and a take-up reel including a take-up shaft on which to take up the multilayer film. The holder supports the film cartridge, and is installable into and removable from the housing while supporting the film cartridge.

A printer comprising a printhead configured to selectively cause a mark to be created on a substrate. The printer comprises 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 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, a stepper motor having an output shaft coupled to the printhead, the stepper motor being arranged to vary the position of the printhead, a sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of an angular position of the output shaft of the stepper motor, and a controller arranged to generate control signals for the stepper motor. Said control signals being at least partially based upon an output of said sensor and at least partially based upon a target position. Said control signals for the stepper motor are arranged to cause a magnetic field to be generated by windings of the stepper motor. A field angle being defined between an angular position of the output shaft of the stepper motor, and an orientation of the generated magnetic field. Said control signals comprise a first control signal configured to cause said field angle to have a predetermined value, and a second control signal configured to cause said magnetic field to have a predetermined magnitude, and said controller is configured to vary said first and second control signals based upon said target position and said output of said sensor.

A printer comprising a printhead configured to selectively cause a mark to be created on a substrate, a stepper motor having an output shaft coupled to the printhead, the stepper motor being arranged to vary the position of the printhead, a sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of an angular position of the output shaft of the stepper motor, and a controller arranged to generate control signals for the stepper motor. Said control signals being at least partially based upon an output of said sensor and at least partially based upon a target position. Said control signals for the stepper motor are arranged to cause a magnetic field to be generated by windings of the stepper motor. A field angle being defined between an angular position of the output shaft of the stepper motor, and an orientation of the generated magnetic field. Said control signals comprise a first control signal configured to cause said field angle to have a predetermined value, and a second control signal configured to cause said magnetic field to have a predetermined magnitude, and said controller is configured to vary said first and second control signals based upon said target position and said output of said sensor.

There is provided a thermal transfer printer 1, which comprises: a printhead 5; a tape drive configured to cause an inked ribbon 7 to be advanced past the printhead 5 so as to allow ink to be removed from the inked ribbon by the printhead and transferred to a substrate during a printing operation; and a printhead carriage 11 on which the printhead 5 is mounted, wherein the printhead carriage 11 is supported by a rail 34 coupled to a body 2 of the printer, and the rail 34 extends along a direction parallel to a direction of travel of the inked ribbon 7; wherein the printhead carriage 11 further comprises a first structure 40 which is arranged to engage with a second structure 50 coupled to the body 2 of the printer, and wherein the first and second structures 40, 50 are configured such that the printhead carriage 11 is rotatable around the rail 34 but a rotation of the printhead carriage around the rail remains within a predetermined range.

There is provided a thermal transfer printer 1, which comprises: a printhead 5; a tape drive configured to cause an inked ribbon 7 to be advanced past the printhead 5 so as to allow ink to be removed from the inked ribbon by the printhead and transferred to a substrate during a printing operation; and a printhead carriage 11 on which the printhead 5 is mounted, wherein the printhead carriage 11 is supported by a rail 34 coupled to a body 2 of the printer, and the rail 34 extends along a direction parallel to a direction of travel of the inked ribbon 7; wherein the printhead carriage 11 further comprises a first structure 40 which is arranged to engage with a second structure 50 coupled to the body 2 of the printer, and wherein the first and second structures 40, 50 are configured such that the printhead carriage 11 is rotatable around the rail 34 but a rotation of the printhead carriage around the rail remains within a predetermined range.

The present invention relates to a thermal transfer device, and more particularly, to a thermal transfer device with a communication function and a management system thereof which can transfer state information and/or failure information of the thermal transfer device via the communication function, manage the received state information and failure information, and provide them to a user. The thermal transfer device according to the present invention comprises a driving unit provided with at least one motor to perform a conveying or blowing function under the control of a control unit, a heating unit provided with at least one heater to perform a heating operation under the control of the control unit, a communication unit for accessing the network, and the control unit for controlling the driving unit and the heating unit to perform a thermal transfer function and transferring state information related to the operation of the thermal transfer device to a management server through the communication unit.

Proposed is a dye-sublimation printer, and more particularly to a dye-sublimation printer that can systematically control upward and downward movements of a pick-up roller, upward and downward movements of a platen roller, and driving of a take-up reel gear according to forward and backward movements of a slide plate.