An example thermal printhead apparatus includes a top end; a bottom end located opposite the top end; an electrical interface positioned proximate to the bottom end; a first distal end; a second distal end located opposite the first distal end; a printing face defined by the top end, the bottom end, the first distal end and the second distal end, the printing face includes a thermal element; a mounting face that is opposite the printing face, the mounting face defined by the top end, the bottom end, the first distal end and the second distal end, the mounting face including at least two mounting components, comprising: one or more holes configured to mount the printhead apparatus to a printer; and one or more grooves configured to mount the printhead apparatus to a printer, the one or more grooves extending substantially parallel to the top end and the bottom end.

A thermal printer includes a thermal head, a drive data generation unit, a clock generation unit, and a drive data supply unit. The thermal head is configured such that a large number of heating elements divided into a plurality of blocks are mounted thereon, and is configured to input drive data for driving the large number of heating elements to the plurality of blocks in parallel in synchronization with a plurality of different first clock signals. The drive data generation unit is configured to generate a plurality of pieces of drive data for each of the plurality of blocks from print data and to output the plurality of pieces of drive data in synchronization with a plurality of second clock signals. The clock generation unit is configured to generate a plurality of clock signals whose phases are shifted from each other. The drive data supply unit is configured to take in the plurality of pieces of drive data, which are output from the drive data generation unit, in synchronization with the plurality of second clock signals and to supply the plurality of pieces of drive data to the thermal head in synchronization with the plurality of first clock signals.

An example disclosed printer configured to peel media from a backing includes a peeler assembly that is engageable between a peeling position, wherein the printer is configured to peel the media from the backing, and a non-peeling position, wherein the printer is not configured to peel the media from the backing; a sensor configured to send a signal corresponding to a position of the peeler assembly; and a printer controller configured to receive the position of the peeler assembly from the sensor and configured to adjust at least one print setting in response to receiving the signal corresponding to the position of the peeler assembly.

Provided is a photo printer including: a base adapted to accommodate paper therein; a pickup roller protruding from the bottom of the base to feed the paper accommodated in the base forwardly; a platen roller disposed in front of the base to discharge the paper fed by the pickup roller forwardly; a head located above the platen roller to apply given heat to the paper; a swing bracket having a mounting portion formed at the front side thereof in such a manner as to be coupled to the head and coupling portions formed at the rear side thereof in such a manner as to be rotatably coupled to the base to allow the head to swing; and pressurizing means adapted to pressurize the head downwardly to allow the head to come into close contact with the paper advancing into the space between the head and the platen roller.

A thermal printer with a thermal head including a heating element forms an image on a medium. The printer includes a temperature sensor that measures a temperature of the medium, a heater that heats an interior of the thermal printer, and a processor. The processor determines whether a temperature measured by the temperature sensor is equal to or greater than a preset temperature threshold, operate the heater if the measured temperature is less than the temperature threshold, and determine an application energy amount for the thermal head based on the measured temperature if the measured temperature is equal to or greater than the temperature threshold.

A printer includes a casing in which a confronting portion is provided between a platen roller and a thermal line head. The casing has an opening. A guide member provides an inlet passage in the casing and includes a plurality of ribs and a flat surface portion. The ribs are spaced away from each other in a widthwise direction of a sheet. The ribs are in contact with the sheet to guide the sheet. The flat surface portion is positioned at a portion other than the plurality of ribs. An optical sensor is provided to optically detect the sheet. A light shielding member is provided in the casing and protrudes toward the inlet passage at a position closer to the opening than the optical sensor to the opening. The light shielding member has a protruding end in intimate contact with the flat surface portion.

An embodiment of the present invention is a thermal head including: a heat dissipation plate having a first surface of a substantially rectangular shape in a plane view, and a second surface that is on an opposite side to the first surface; a board attached to the heat dissipation plat in such a manner as to extend from the first surface to the second surface, via a first end part interposed between the first surface and the second surface; a heating part having a plurality of heating elements, the heating part being disposed on the board over the first surface; and surface-mount devices mounted on the board over the second surface.

A printer includes a casing in which a confronting portion is provided between a platen roller and a thermal line head. The casing has an opening. A guide member provides an inlet passage in the casing and includes a plurality of ribs and a flat surface portion. The ribs are spaced away from each other in a widthwise direction of a sheet. The ribs are in contact with the sheet to guide the sheet. The flat surface portion is positioned at a portion other than the plurality of ribs. An optical sensor is provided to optically detect the sheet. A light shielding member is provided in the casing and protrudes toward the inlet passage at a position closer to the opening than the optical sensor to the opening. The light shielding member has a protruding end in intimate contact with the flat surface portion.

A thermal head includes: a heat dissipation plate having a first surface, and a second surface that is on an opposite side to the first surface; a board attached to the heat dissipation plate, the board having a first part located on the first surface, a second part located on the second surface, and an end part connecting the first part and the second part; a heat generating part including a plurality of heating elements, the heat generating part being disposed over the first surface; and at least one surface-mount device mounted on the board over the second surface.

Provided herein is a printhead for a printing apparatus. The printhead comprises a first burn line of heating elements disposed on a first surface of the printhead, and a second burn line of heating elements disposed on a second surface of the printhead. The second surface is opposite to the first surface. Thereafter, one of the first burn line of heating elements or the second burn line of heating elements is configured to perform a printing operation.