There is provided a thermal transfer printer 1, which comprises: a printhead 5; a tape drive configured to cause an inked ribbon 7 to be advanced past the printhead 5 so as to allow ink to be removed from the inked ribbon by the printhead and transferred to a substrate during a printing operation; and a printhead carriage 11 on which the printhead 5 is mounted, wherein the printhead carriage 11 is supported by a rail 34 coupled to a body 2 of the printer, and the rail 34 extends along a direction parallel to a direction of travel of the inked ribbon 7; wherein the printhead carriage 11 further comprises a first structure 40 which is arranged to engage with a second structure 50 coupled to the body 2 of the printer, and wherein the first and second structures 40, 50 are configured such that the printhead carriage 11 is rotatable around the rail 34 but a rotation of the printhead carriage around the rail remains within a predetermined range.

There is provided a thermal transfer printer 1, which comprises: a printhead 5; a tape drive configured to cause an inked ribbon 7 to be advanced past the printhead 5 so as to allow ink to be removed from the inked ribbon by the printhead and transferred to a substrate during a printing operation; and a printhead carriage 11 on which the printhead 5 is mounted, wherein the printhead carriage 11 is supported by a rail 34 coupled to a body 2 of the printer, and the rail 34 extends along a direction parallel to a direction of travel of the inked ribbon 7; wherein the printhead carriage 11 further comprises a first structure 40 which is arranged to engage with a second structure 50 coupled to the body 2 of the printer, and wherein the first and second structures 40, 50 are configured such that the printhead carriage 11 is rotatable around the rail 34 but a rotation of the printhead carriage around the rail remains within a predetermined range.

A method of operating a thermal transfer printer, the thermal transfer printer comprising first and second spool supports (3a, 4a) each being configured to support a spool of ribbon (3,4); a ribbon drive (3b, 4b) configured to cause movement of ribbon from the first spool support to the second spool support along a predetermined ribbon path; and a printhead (7). The printhead (7) is moveable towards and away from a printing surface, and, during printing, is configured to selectively transfer ink from the ribbon to a substrate as the substrate and printhead are moved relative to one another at a print speed (V-substrate). The method comprising causing relative movement between the ribbon and the printhead at a ribbon speed (V-ribbon). A relative speed of movement between the ribbon and the substrate during printing is controlled based upon a force exerted upon the ribbon by the printhead (F-printhead) during a printing operation, and/or a parameter indicative of an area of contact between a portion of the printhead and a portion of the printing surface.

A method of operating a thermal transfer printer, the thermal transfer printer comprising first and second spool supports (3a, 4a) each being configured to support a spool of ribbon (3,4); a ribbon drive (3b, 4b) configured to cause movement of ribbon from the first spool support to the second spool support along a predetermined ribbon path; and a printhead (7). The printhead (7) is moveable towards and away from a printing surface, and, during printing, is configured to selectively transfer ink from the ribbon to a substrate as the substrate and printhead are moved relative to one another at a print speed (V-substrate). The method comprising causing relative movement between the ribbon and the printhead at a ribbon speed (V-ribbon). A relative speed of movement between the ribbon and the substrate during printing is controlled based upon a force exerted upon the ribbon by the printhead (F-printhead) during a printing operation, and/or a parameter indicative of an area of contact between a portion of the printhead and a portion of the printing surface.

The disclosure discloses a printer including a memory. The memory stores computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the printer to perform a first process, a second process, and a third process. In the first process, an N-th determination target value is calculated, from an N-th pulse count index value and an (N+1).sup.th pulse count index value. In the second process, a mean value of a plurality of consecutive pulse count index values within a predetermined range is calculated. In the third process, a comparison value is calculated by comparing (N−1).sup.th the determination target value with the mean value. The first process to the third process are performed while increasing N one by one. A first determination step includes determining whether the elongated medium has reached a consumption completion status or not, on the basis of a magnitude relation between the comparison value and a first threshold value.

The disclosure discloses a printer including a memory. The memory stores computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the printer to perform a first process, a second process, and a third process. In the first process, an N-th determination target value is calculated, from an N-th pulse count index value and an (N+1).sup.th pulse count index value. In the second process, a mean value of a plurality of consecutive pulse count index values within a predetermined range is calculated. In the third process, a comparison value is calculated by comparing (N−1).sup.th the determination target value with the mean value. The first process to the third process are performed while increasing N one by one. A first determination step includes determining whether the elongated medium has reached a consumption completion status or not, on the basis of a magnitude relation between the comparison value and a first threshold value.

A thermal transfer printer, including first and second spool supports each being configured to support a spool of ribbon; a ribbon drive configured to cause movement of ribbon from the first support to the second spool support; a printhead for selectively transferring ink from the ribbon to a substrate; an electromagnetic sensor arranged to sense electromagnetic radiation and to generate data indicative of a property of the ribbon based upon sensed electromagnetic radiation; and a controller for processing data generated by the electromagnetic sensor.

A thermal transfer printer, including first and second spool supports each being configured to support a spool of ribbon; a ribbon drive configured to cause movement of ribbon from the first support to the second spool support; a printhead for selectively transferring ink from the ribbon to a substrate; an electromagnetic sensor arranged to sense electromagnetic radiation and to generate data indicative of a property of the ribbon based upon sensed electromagnetic radiation; and a controller for processing data generated by the electromagnetic sensor.

A tape drive comprising: first and second motors; first and second spool supports, respectively receiving first and second spools of tape, the first spool support being driveable by the first motor and the second spool support being drivable by the second motor; a sensor arranged to provide a signal indicative of linear movement of tape between the tape spools along a predetermined tape path; a controller arranged to control energization of said first and second motors for transport of the tape in at least one direction between the first and second spools of tape along the predetermined tape path; wherein the controller is arranged to generate data indicating the diameter of said first and second spools of tape based upon said signal provided by the sensor and data indicating rotation of each of said first and second spools.

A tape drive comprising: first and second motors; first and second spool supports, respectively receiving first and second spools of tape, the first spool support being driveable by the first motor and the second spool support being drivable by the second motor; a sensor arranged to provide a signal indicative of linear movement of tape between the tape spools along a predetermined tape path; a controller arranged to control energization of said first and second motors for transport of the tape in at least one direction between the first and second spools of tape along the predetermined tape path; wherein the controller is arranged to generate data indicating the diameter of said first and second spools of tape based upon said signal provided by the sensor and data indicating rotation of each of said first and second spools.