An object is to provide a thermal transfer printer having an inexpensive configuration and capable of making a tension given to an ink ribbon as constant as possible, even when a secular change and an environmental change occur in a DC motor used as a supply motor and a winding motor. A supply motor control unit controls a supply motor of an ink ribbon supply unit. A winding motor control unit controls a winding motor of an ink ribbon winding unit. A remaining amount detection unit detects a remaining amount of an ink ribbon. A variable calculation unit acquires parameters for an armature current, an applied voltage, and a rotational speed of each of the supply motor and the winding motor, and calculates variables to be used for controlling the supply motor and the winding motor on the basis of the acquired parameters.

An object is to provide a thermal transfer printer having an inexpensive configuration and capable of making a tension given to an ink ribbon as constant as possible, even when a secular change and an environmental change occur in a DC motor used as a supply motor and a winding motor. A supply motor control unit controls a supply motor of an ink ribbon supply unit. A winding motor control unit controls a winding motor of an ink ribbon winding unit. A remaining amount detection unit detects a remaining amount of an ink ribbon. A variable calculation unit acquires parameters for an armature current, an applied voltage, and a rotational speed of each of the supply motor and the winding motor, and calculates variables to be used for controlling the supply motor and the winding motor on the basis of the acquired parameters.

There is provided an image recording apparatus including: a head; a driving element; a controller configured to output, to the driving element, a driving signal having a first voltage level or a second voltage level greater than the first voltage level; and a moving mechanism causing one of the recording medium and the head to move relative to the other of the recording medium and the head. The controller sets the voltage level of the driving signal to be the first voltage level in a case that the controller causes the head to move relative to the recording medium at the first velocity; and the controller sets the voltage level of the driving signal to be the second voltage level in a case that the controller causes the head to move relative to the recording medium at the second velocity.

A print medium in which a plurality of color development layers that develop colors to obtain colored portions by being heated are formed at different positions in the thickness direction is conveyed in a first direction. A plurality of heat generation elements that heat the print medium are controlled so as to selectively cause the plurality of color development layers to develop the respective colors. Heating positions on the print medium are controlled such that, in at least one of the color development layers in the print medium, in a case where lines each including a plurality of pixels which are formed by the colored portions and arranged at a predetermined resolution in the first direction are arranged in a second direction, positions of the plurality of pixels are shifted between the lines in the first direction by a distance smaller than an interval corresponding to a resolution.

A level change point detection section detects a level change point, at which an output level switches, in a first position detection signal Ens1 generated by an encoder or a second position detection signal obtained by increasing the resolution of the Ens1. Each time a predetermined number of level change points is detected, an energization timing determination section determines the timing, at which the predetermined number of level change points have been detected, to be an energization timing for the thermal head.

A tension detection device according to an embodiment includes a base, a support member, a continuous body, an external force detection unit, and a tension detection unit. One end or both ends of the support member are fixed to the base. The support member has an external force measurement section integrally provided at the one end or both ends thereof. The continuous body is conveyed while wound around an outer circumference of the support member. The external force detection unit is provided at the external force measurement section of the support member. The external force detection unit detects an external force. The tension detection unit detects tension of the continuous body based on a detection result from the external force detection unit.

A tension detection device according to an embodiment includes a base, a support member, a continuous body, an external force detection unit, and a tension detection unit. One end or both ends of the support member are fixed to the base. The support member has an external force measurement section integrally provided at the one end or both ends thereof. The continuous body is conveyed while wound around an outer circumference of the support member. The external force detection unit is provided at the external force measurement section of the support member. The external force detection unit detects an external force. The tension detection unit detects tension of the continuous body based on a detection result from the external force detection unit.

A printing system includes: a printing device including a thermal head, a supplier, a winder and a ribbon transport mechanism; a moving mechanism moving the printing device in a width direction of an ink ribbon; and a controller configured to: move the printing device in the width direction; when the printing device is moved for printing of a second row, rewind the ink ribbon; store the longest length of use of the ink ribbon by the printing in a first column of the ink ribbon; when printing with the thermal head proceeds to a second column, determine a transport amount of the ink ribbon based on the stored length; and after the first column of the ink ribbon is used by the printing, transport the ink ribbon based on the determined transport amount.

An embodiment of the present invention is a printer that includes a platen roller to feed a print medium, a print head to print on the print medium fed by the platen roller, a connector that is attachable and detachable with respect to the print head the print head, and a controller to stop power supply to the print head via the connector when the platen roller and the print head are separated.

An embodiment of the present invention is a printer that includes a platen roller to feed a print medium, a print head to print on the print medium fed by the platen roller, a connector that is attachable and detachable with respect to the print head the print head, and a controller to stop power supply to the print head via the connector when the platen roller and the print head are separated.