A printing device includes a base plate extending in a direction orthogonal to a first direction, a mounting portion provided rotatably on a surface, which is at one side in the first direction, of the base plate, in which a ribbon roll having an ink ribbon wound is to be mounted on the mounting portion, a thermal head provided on the surface of the base plate, and configured to perform printing on a printing medium disposed on one side in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction; and a printed circuit board located on one side, with respect to the base plate, in a third direction orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction, and extending in a direction intersecting the base plate.

A printing device includes a base plate extending in a direction orthogonal to a first direction, a mounting portion provided rotatably on a surface, which is at one side in the first direction, of the base plate, in which a ribbon roll having an ink ribbon wound is to be mounted on the mounting portion, a thermal head provided on the surface of the base plate, and configured to perform printing on a printing medium disposed on one side in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction; and a printed circuit board located on one side, with respect to the base plate, in a third direction orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction, and extending in a direction intersecting the base plate.

An enhanced paper for printing, including a substrate, an ablation resistant coating applied to the substrate, wherein the enhanced paper is ablation resistant so that it is not damaged by a light beam that illuminates enhanced paper with a fluence that ablates ink or toner but would damage standard printing paper that is made from cellulose fiber and is non-ablation resistant; and wherein the enhanced paper has physical properties of the standard printing paper for printing with laser printers and ink printers.

A thermal printer includes a frame having a first side plate portion and a second side plate portion, and a base portion which crosses over between the first side plate portion and the second side plate portion, a thermal head supported on the frame, a platen roller supported on respective shaft support portions of the first side plate portion and the second side plate portion, a drive source supported in a cantilevered state on a drive support portion of the first side plate portion, and is connected to the platen roller, an engaged portion arranged in the base portion, and an engagement portion which is connected to the drive source and is engageable with the engaged portion, and is configured to regulate displacement of the drive source with respect to the base portion.

An ink ribbon support cassette includes a plate, a shaft extending from the plate, a rotational body provided to be movable along the shaft between a first position and a second position that is farther separated from the plate than is the first position, and a support member switchable between a support state where at least a part of the support member is located outward, in a radial direction of the shaft, than an outer surface of the rotational body in a case where the rotational body is at the first position, and a separation state where the at least a part is located inward in the radial direction with respect than the outer surface of the rotational body in a state where the rotational body is at the second position, the support member being provided on the rotational body.

A printing device includes a main body, and a cassette attached to and detached from the main body. A locating shaft is provided on a back surface of the cassette. A ball that can protrude toward an outer side is provided in the locating shaft. A cylindrical guide body is provided at a position facing the locating shaft on a front surface of the main body. The cylindrical guide body guides and locates the locating shaft to a predetermined position on a side of the main body along an axis direction. When the locating shaft is located at the predetermined position, the ball engages with an engaged hole provided in the cylindrical guide body. The locating shaft is locked to the cylindrical guide body. A release button is pressed down by a user to release locking performed by the ball.

A printing device includes a main body, and a cassette attached to and detached from the main body. A locating shaft is provided on a back surface of the cassette. A ball that can protrude toward an outer side is provided in the locating shaft. A cylindrical guide body is provided at a position facing the locating shaft on a front surface of the main body. The cylindrical guide body guides and locates the locating shaft to a predetermined position on a side of the main body along an axis direction. When the locating shaft is located at the predetermined position, the ball engages with an engaged hole provided in the cylindrical guide body. The locating shaft is locked to the cylindrical guide body. A release button is pressed down by a user to release locking performed by the ball.

A method for monitoring a characteristic of a printed image of a thermal transfer printer. The method comprises providing a ribbon and a substrate at a printing location of the thermal transfer printer. The method further comprises printing an image on the substrate at the printing location by transferring ink from a region of the ribbon in a printing operation, a negative image being formed on the region of ribbon. The method further comprises transporting the region of ribbon, by a ribbon transport system, from the printing location towards an imaging location along a ribbon transport path. The method further comprises when a characteristic of the ribbon transport meets a predetermined criterion, obtaining, by an image capture system, a ribbon image of the negative image. The method further comprises processing said ribbon image to generate data indicative of the characteristic of the printed image.

A tape cassette includes a recess formed on a part of a side wall of a cassette case, an arm portion, a roller partly exposed from the tape cassette, a first protrusion including a first leading end, and a second protrusion including a second leading end. The first leading end and the second leading end protrudes toward first side. The first leading end is positioned on a first virtual line or further to the first side than the first virtual line. The first virtual line connects an exposed part of an outer peripheral surface of the roller with a connection portion between the recess and a wall comprising the arm portion. The second leading end is positioned further to the first side than a second virtual line. The second virtual line connects the exposed part of the outer peripheral surface of the roller with the first leading end.

A tape cassette includes a recess formed on a part of a side wall of a cassette case, an arm portion, a roller partly exposed from the tape cassette, a first protrusion including a first leading end, and a second protrusion including a second leading end. The first leading end and the second leading end protrudes toward first side. The first leading end is positioned on a first virtual line or further to the first side than the first virtual line. The first virtual line connects an exposed part of an outer peripheral surface of the roller with a connection portion between the recess and a wall comprising the arm portion. The second leading end is positioned further to the first side than a second virtual line. The second virtual line connects the exposed part of the outer peripheral surface of the roller with the first leading end.