A tape cartridge or the like which can be pulled out of a cartridge loading section while maintaining a loading posture is to be provided. A tape cartridge is configured to be able to be loaded in and unloaded from a tape printing device. The tape cartridge includes a tab portion which is gripped at least at the time of unloading. The tab portion is arranged at or near a position where pull-out resistance due to unloading is balanced within a plane intersecting with an unloading direction.

A tape cartridge or the like which can be pulled out of a cartridge loading section while maintaining a loading posture is to be provided. A tape cartridge is configured to be able to be loaded in and unloaded from a tape printing device. The tape cartridge includes a tab portion which is gripped at least at the time of unloading. The tab portion is arranged at or near a position where pull-out resistance due to unloading is balanced within a plane intersecting with an unloading direction.

A printer includes a thermal print head, a supply shaft, a winding shaft, a light emitting device, and a photodetector. The light emitting device and the photodetector are aligned along a line parallel to a line passing through rotational axes of the supply and winding shafts at a predetermined distance. The predetermined distance is greater than a radius of the supply shaft and a radius of the winding shaft. The predetermined distance is less than a radial distance from the rotational axis of the supply shaft to an outer surface of the ink ribbon on the supply shaft and a radial distance from the rotational axis of the winding shaft to an outer surface of the ink ribbon on the winding shaft when a length of the ribbon on the supply shaft is equal to a length of the ribbon on the winding shaft.

A printer includes a thermal print head, a supply shaft, a winding shaft, a light emitting device, and a photodetector. The light emitting device and the photodetector are aligned along a line parallel to a line passing through rotational axes of the supply and winding shafts at a predetermined distance. The predetermined distance is greater than a radius of the supply shaft and a radius of the winding shaft. The predetermined distance is less than a radial distance from the rotational axis of the supply shaft to an outer surface of the ink ribbon on the supply shaft and a radial distance from the rotational axis of the winding shaft to an outer surface of the ink ribbon on the winding shaft when a length of the ribbon on the supply shaft is equal to a length of the ribbon on the winding shaft.

A removable supporting device includes a frame; an endless ribbon; and a supporting system to support the endless ribbon, the supporting system including at least two rollers connected to the frame; the at least two rollers including a first connecting system adapted to cooperate with a first complementary connecting system of a thermal transfer printing apparatus.

A removable supporting device includes a frame; an endless ribbon; and a supporting system to support the endless ribbon, the supporting system including at least two rollers connected to the frame; the at least two rollers including a first connecting system adapted to cooperate with a first complementary connecting system of a thermal transfer printing apparatus.

A removable device adapted to cooperate with a conveyor system for the installation of an endless ribbon in the conveyor system, the removable device includes at least two support elements to support the endless ribbon, each support element being movable in rotation around a rotation axis and each support element having a convex portion to support a portion of the endless ribbon.

A removable device adapted to cooperate with a conveyor system for the installation of an endless ribbon in the conveyor system, the removable device includes at least two support elements to support the endless ribbon, each support element being movable in rotation around a rotation axis and each support element having a convex portion to support a portion of the endless ribbon.

A removable device adapted to cooperate with a conveyor system for the installation of an endless ribbon in the conveyor system, the removable device includes at least two support elements to support the endless ribbon, each support element being movable in rotation around a rotation axis and each support element having a convex portion to support a portion of the endless ribbon.

A removable device adapted to cooperate with a conveyor system for the installation of an endless ribbon in the conveyor system, the removable device includes at least two support elements to support the endless ribbon, each support element being movable in rotation around a rotation axis and each support element having a convex portion to support a portion of the endless ribbon.