A printing device includes a thermal printhead with a plurality of print elements. A controller is configured to identify an out of specification status of at least one print element, wherein the controller is further configured to determine whether printing of a specific print field requires use of the print element having the out of specification status and, if so, to determine whether a print location of the specific print field can be shifted such that the print element having out of specification status will be one of (i) aligned with a gap in the specific print field or (ii) offset to one side of the specific print field. A weighing scale incorporating the printing device is also provided.

A semiconductor device is adapted for controlling energization of a heating element that performs printing. The semiconductor device includes: a strobe signal input unit receiving a printing strobe signal that causes the heating element to generate heat for printing; a preheating strobe generation circuit generating a preheating strobe signal that causes the heating element to preheat by compressing a waveform of the printing strobe signal in a time axis direction; and an output controller outputting a control signal that controls energization of the heating element based on the printing strobe signal and the preheating strobe signal.

A semiconductor device is adapted for controlling energization of a heating element that performs printing. The semiconductor device includes: a strobe signal input unit receiving a printing strobe signal that causes the heating element to generate heat for printing; a preheating strobe generation circuit generating a preheating strobe signal that causes the heating element to preheat by compressing a waveform of the printing strobe signal in a time axis direction; and an output controller outputting a control signal that controls energization of the heating element based on the printing strobe signal and the preheating strobe signal.

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.

A method for printing includes analyzing print quality requirements for a printing area; adjusting settings for heater elements (e.g., energy and/or firing durations) of strobe lines based on the requirements analysis; and providing a plurality of individual strobe signals to the strobe lines. The strobe signals can be transmitted simultaneously, for example with a field-programmable gate array. Analyzing print quality requirements can include separating the printing area into one or more areas of interest, such as rows and/or columns. For each area of interest individual print quality settings (e.g., darkness, contrast, and/or media sensitivity) may be selected.

Various embodiments disclose a method for operating a printer apparatus. The method comprising monitoring a utilization rate of each heating element in a first set of heating elements defined by a print head arrangement. Further, the method comprises generating a utilization dataset based upon monitoring of the utilization rate of each heating element in the first set of heating elements print head arrangement. Furthermore, the method includes analyzing the utilization dataset to identify one or more overutilized heating elements of the first set of heating elements. Additionally, the method includes identifying a second set of heating elements defined by the print head arrangement. The second set of heating elements comprises a portion of the first set of heating elements exclusive of the one or more overutilized heating elements. The method further includes processing a print job. The processed print job utilized the second set of heating elements during printing.

A printing system includes a printing device, a platen roller, a controller, and an interface. The printing device includes a thermal head, a ribbon drive source, and a head drive source. When receiving a print command, the controller executes head movement control for moving the thermal head and ribbon acceleration control for accelerating a transport speed of an ink ribbon to a target speed. After completion of the head movement control and the ribbon acceleration control, the controller is configured to control the thermal head to perform printing on the print medium. At least before receiving the print command, the controller is configured to determine a printable distance over which the print medium is transported from the reception of the print command till the completion of the head movement control and the ribbon acceleration control and outputs the determined printable distance through the interface.

A printing apparatus includes a conveyor configured to convey a sheet along a conveyance path, a print head on the conveyance path, a main scan direction of the print head crossing the conveyance path, and a controller configured to control the print head to, in a first printing mode, set a print reference position to a first end of the print head in the main scan direction and print an image on the sheet from a leading end side of the image, and in a second printing mode, set the print reference position to a second end of the print head in the main scan direction and print the image on the sheet from a trailing end side of the image.

A printing apparatus includes a conveyor configured to convey a sheet along a conveyance path, a print head on the conveyance path, a main scan direction of the print head crossing the conveyance path, and a controller configured to control the print head to, in a first printing mode, set a print reference position to a first end of the print head in the main scan direction and print an image on the sheet from a leading end side of the image, and in a second printing mode, set the print reference position to a second end of the print head in the main scan direction and print the image on the sheet from a trailing end side of the image.