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, a ribbon roll up shaft configured to roll up the ink ribbon used in the printing portion, a partition member provided swingably, the partition member partitioning the ink ribbon and the print medium; and a ribbon supply shaft lock mechanism configured to regulate rotation of the ribbon supply shaft, wherein the ribbon supply shaft lock mechanism is switched between a lock state where the rotation of the ribbon supply shaft is regulated and a non-lock state where the rotation of the ribbon supply shaft is permitted in conjunction with swing actions of the partition member.

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, a ribbon roll up shaft configured to roll up the ink ribbon used in the printing portion, a partition member provided swingably, the partition member partitioning the ink ribbon and the print medium; and a ribbon supply shaft lock mechanism configured to regulate rotation of the ribbon supply shaft, wherein the ribbon supply shaft lock mechanism is switched between a lock state where the rotation of the ribbon supply shaft is regulated and a non-lock state where the rotation of the ribbon supply shaft is permitted in conjunction with swing actions of the partition member.

Provided herein is a printer comprising a printing assembly. The printing assembly comprises a printhead bracket fixedly attached to the printer, a printhead that defines a groove, the printhead aligned at a first alignment, an alignment adjuster fastened between the printhead bracket and the printhead, and a plurality of fasteners operatively engaged with the alignment adjuster. The alignment adjuster comprises a gear rack that is adjacent to the printhead bracket, and a protrusion that is received by the groove of the printhead. The plurality of fasteners comprises at least one selected from a group of a lateral adjustment fastener operatively engaged with the gear rack, and a rotational adjustment fastener operatively engaged with a transverse edge of the printhead. The lateral adjustment fastener is configured to provide lateral movement to the alignment adjuster and the printhead. The rotational adjustment fastener is configured to provide rotational movement to the printhead.

Provided herein is a printer comprising a printing assembly. The printing assembly comprises a printhead bracket fixedly attached to the printer, a printhead that defines a groove, the printhead aligned at a first alignment, an alignment adjuster fastened between the printhead bracket and the printhead, and a plurality of fasteners operatively engaged with the alignment adjuster. The alignment adjuster comprises a gear rack that is adjacent to the printhead bracket, and a protrusion that is received by the groove of the printhead. The plurality of fasteners comprises at least one selected from a group of a lateral adjustment fastener operatively engaged with the gear rack, and a rotational adjustment fastener operatively engaged with a transverse edge of the printhead. The lateral adjustment fastener is configured to provide lateral movement to the alignment adjuster and the printhead. The rotational adjustment fastener is configured to provide rotational movement to the printhead.

Methods, systems, and apparatus for thermal transfer printing include, in at least one aspect, a printing apparatus including: a band (105) to hold hot melt ink; rollers (110) to hold and transport the band with respect to a substrate (120); a printhead (125) to thermally transfer a portion of hot melt ink from the band to the substrate; an ink feed device (135) to add hot melt ink to the band, a heating device (140) to heat the hot melt ink on the band, and a rigid blade (155) to control ink thickness of the hot melt ink on the band; a meniscus sensor (245) to monitor a meniscus of melted hot melt ink on the band; and a controller (160) communicatively coupled with the meniscus sensor and the ink feed device, wherein the controller can cause the ink feed device to add hot melt ink to the band based on data from the meniscus sensor.

A control information generating method includes generating thermal transfer control information based on an amount of ink to be used for printing of a printing medium, in a case where thermal transfer control information for heating a printing medium printed on a first medium based on image data and thermally transferring the printing medium to a second medium is generated.

A control information generating method includes generating thermal transfer control information based on an amount of ink to be used for printing of a printing medium, in a case where thermal transfer control information for heating a printing medium printed on a first medium based on image data and thermally transferring the printing medium to a second medium is generated.

In some embodiments, a printing apparatus comprises a band capable of holding hot melt ink thereon, rollers configured and arranged to hold and transport the band with respect to a substrate, a printhead configured to thermally transfer a portion of hot melt ink from the band to the substrate to print on the substrate, an ink feed device configured to add hot melt ink to the band and to heat the hot melt ink on the band, and a rigid blade configured and arranged to cause hot melt ink to pass between a blade edge of the rigid blade and the band, wherein the rigid blade is shaped to minimize a contact area between the rigid blade and the band while controlling ink thickness of the hot melt ink on the band.

In some embodiments, a printing apparatus comprises a band capable of holding hot melt ink thereon, rollers configured and arranged to hold and transport the band with respect to a substrate, a printhead configured to thermally transfer a portion of hot melt ink from the band to the substrate to print on the substrate, an ink feed device configured to add hot melt ink to the band and to heat the hot melt ink on the band, and a rigid blade configured and arranged to cause hot melt ink to pass between a blade edge of the rigid blade and the band, wherein the rigid blade is shaped to minimize a contact area between the rigid blade and the band while controlling ink thickness of the hot melt ink on the band.

A thermal printer comprises a base part, a platen roller and a thermal head oppositely arranged, a pickup roller, and a gear set connecting the platen roller and the pickup roller. The base part is provided with a printing paper accommodating cavity and a pickup roller mounting frame, a plurality of printing paper sheets are disposed in the printing paper accommodating cavity, and a clutch mechanism is further provided. The clutch mechanism comprises a driving portion driven by the gear set and a driven portion for driving the pickup roller to rotate. The driving portion is disposed outside the pickup roller mounting frame, such that the impact force, which is generated by the remaining printing paper sheet that falls down when the printing paper sheet departs from the pickup roller and which is transmitted to the platen roller, can be reduced. The thermal printer is capable of providing smooth printing.