A printing device includes a housing, a printing head, and an input unit. The housing includes a cassette accommodating portion to which a tape cassette accommodating a roll of a printing tape is detachably attachable. The cassette accommodating portion has an insertion opening through which the tape cassette can be inserted in an insertion direction. The printing head includes heat-generating elements arrayed in a scanning direction crossing an imaginary plane perpendicular to the insertion direction. The housing has: a principal surface at which the input unit is provided; a side surface crossing the principal surface and the imaginary plane; and a discharge opening formed in the side surface. The insertion opening is positioned above the input unit. At the discharge opening, a normal direction of a printed surface of the printing tape and a normal direction of the principal surface define an interior angle of less than 45 degrees therebetween.

A printing device includes a housing, a printing head, and an input unit. The housing includes a cassette accommodating portion to which a tape cassette accommodating a roll of a printing tape is detachably attachable. The cassette accommodating portion has an insertion opening through which the tape cassette can be inserted in an insertion direction. The printing head includes heat-generating elements arrayed in a scanning direction crossing an imaginary plane perpendicular to the insertion direction. The housing has: a principal surface at which the input unit is provided; a side surface crossing the principal surface and the imaginary plane; and a discharge opening formed in the side surface. The insertion opening is positioned above the input unit. At the discharge opening, a normal direction of a printed surface of the printing tape and a normal direction of the principal surface define an interior angle of less than 45 degrees therebetween.

A printable medium support for a printer comprises a support element to support a printable medium, wherein the support element is movable between a protruding configuration to support the printable medium, and a retracted configuration in which the support element is at least partially retracted in a first direction. The printable medium support comprises an actuating element to move the support element between the protruding configuration and the retracted configuration.

A printable medium support for a printer comprises a support element to support a printable medium, wherein the support element is movable between a protruding configuration to support the printable medium, and a retracted configuration in which the support element is at least partially retracted in a first direction. The printable medium support comprises an actuating element to move the support element between the protruding configuration and the retracted configuration.

A printer includes a platen, a first head, a second head, a first lamp, and a second lamp. The first head, the second head, the first lamp, and the second lamp are moved relatively with respect to the platen in a main scanning direction, and the platen is moved from the second head toward the first head relatively with respect to the first head, the second head, the first lamp, and the second lamp, repeatedly. The second head ejects the second ink onto the object to be printed placed on the platen while the first head, the second head, the first lamp, and the second lamp are moving in the main scanning direction. The first lamp irradiates light onto the second ink on the object to be printed while the first head, the second head, the first lamp, and the second lamp are moving in the main scanning direction.

Various embodiments of a universal hold down pallet system for garment printing are described. In one example, a system includes a gasket plate comprising a plate having an opening and a gasket disposed at a perimeter of the opening, the opening sized and configured to mate with a pallet to hold a garment in place, and a head frame comprising at least one gasket plate guide channel positioned on a bottom surface of the head frame and a gasket plate latch assembly positioned at a first end section of the head frame, the at least one gasket plate guide configured to slidably receive the gasket plate. Where the gasket plate and the pallet are a set sized for a specified printing area, the set being one of a plurality of sets that are interchangeable in the universal hold down pallet system.

Various embodiments of a universal hold down pallet system for garment printing are described. In one example, a system includes a gasket plate comprising a plate having an opening and a gasket disposed at a perimeter of the opening, the opening sized and configured to mate with a pallet to hold a garment in place, and a head frame comprising at least one gasket plate guide channel positioned on a bottom surface of the head frame and a gasket plate latch assembly positioned at a first end section of the head frame, the at least one gasket plate guide configured to slidably receive the gasket plate. Where the gasket plate and the pallet are a set sized for a specified printing area, the set being one of a plurality of sets that are interchangeable in the universal hold down pallet system.

An apparatus for stretching a surface of a pair of shoes for digitally printing onto the surface by an external device, the apparatus comprising: a main plate configured to receive the pair of shoes, the main plate comprising a front end, a rear end opposite the front end, and a medial portion extending between the front and the rear ends, the medial portion being laterally offset from an outer edge of each of the front and the rear ends, a pair of curved grooves disposed at the rear end and being adapted to receive an interior of the heel of each shoe of the pair of shoes; a pair of side arms each being adapted to traverse longitudinally along an edge of the medial portion, and having a V-shaped groove; and a pair of motors each configured to independently cause a longitudinal movement of the pair of side arms.

An apparatus for stretching a surface of a pair of shoes for digitally printing onto the surface by an external device, the apparatus comprising: a main plate configured to receive the pair of shoes, the main plate comprising a front end, a rear end opposite the front end, and a medial portion extending between the front and the rear ends, the medial portion being laterally offset from an outer edge of each of the front and the rear ends, a pair of curved grooves disposed at the rear end and being adapted to receive an interior of the heel of each shoe of the pair of shoes; a pair of side arms each being adapted to traverse longitudinally along an edge of the medial portion, and having a V-shaped groove; and a pair of motors each configured to independently cause a longitudinal movement of the pair of side arms.

A system for stretching a surface of a shoe for digitally printing onto the surface by an external device, the system comprising an apparatus and a controller in electrical communication, the system having: a main plate to receive and support the shoe; a side arm to traverse longitudinally along an edge of a medial portion of the main plate and to engage with at least a portion of the tongue of the shoe; and a driver causing the longitudinal traversal of the side arm, having: an end bearing and an end connector; a rotary band; an end bracket opposite the end bearing and beneath the main plate; a driving screw between the end bracket and the end bearing, and associated with the side arm; and a motor adapted to receive an electrical signal from the controller selectively causing a rotation of a rotary shaft of the motor.