Proposed is a dye-sublimation printer, and more particularly to a dye-sublimation printer that can systematically control upward and downward movements of a pick-up roller, upward and downward movements of a platen roller, and driving of a take-up reel gear according to forward and backward movements of a slide plate.

A tape drive comprises a spool support for supporting a tape spool, wherein the spool support comprises a support surface mounted to a tape drive base plate such that the support surface is fixed against rotation relative to the base plate, the support surface being configured such that, in use, as tape is removed from or wound onto the spool, the spool rotates relative to the spool support such that the spool rotates around the support surface.

A tape drive comprises a spool support for supporting a tape spool, wherein the spool support comprises a support surface mounted to a tape drive base plate such that the support surface is fixed against rotation relative to the base plate, the support surface being configured such that, in use, as tape is removed from or wound onto the spool, the spool rotates relative to the spool support such that the spool rotates around the support surface.

A tape drive comprises a spool support (30) for supporting a tape spool (32), wherein the spool support comprises a support surface (34) mounted to a tape drive base plate (36) such that the support surface (34) is fixed against rotation relative to the base plate (36), the support surface (34) being configured such that, in use, as tape is removed from or wound onto the spool (32), the spool (32) rotates relative to the spool support (30) such that the spool (32) rotates around the support surface (34).

A tape drive comprises a spool support (30) for supporting a tape spool (32), wherein the spool support comprises a support surface (34) mounted to a tape drive base plate (36) such that the support surface (34) is fixed against rotation relative to the base plate (36), the support surface (34) being configured such that, in use, as tape is removed from or wound onto the spool (32), the spool (32) rotates relative to the spool support (30) such that the spool (32) rotates around the support surface (34).

A tape cartridge mounted to a tape printer includes a ribbon feeding core on which an ink ribbon is wound so as to be capable of being fed and a ribbon winding core that winds the ink ribbon fed from the ribbon feeding core. In the tape cartridge, the ribbon feeding core includes a core body that winds the ink ribbon and a shaft engaging part formed at an end portion of the core body and engaged with a feeding-side driving shaft of the tape printer. The shaft engaging part protrudes in an axial direction of the core body from an end surface of the core body and is formed in a crown shape in which a plurality of convex portions and a plurality of concave portions are alternately arranged side by side in a circumferential direction.

A tape cartridge mounted to a tape printer includes a ribbon feeding core on which an ink ribbon is wound so as to be capable of being fed and a ribbon winding core that winds the ink ribbon fed from the ribbon feeding core. In the tape cartridge, the ribbon feeding core includes a core body that winds the ink ribbon and a shaft engaging part formed at an end portion of the core body and engaged with a feeding-side driving shaft of the tape printer. The shaft engaging part protrudes in an axial direction of the core body from an end surface of the core body and is formed in a crown shape in which a plurality of convex portions and a plurality of concave portions are alternately arranged side by side in a circumferential direction.

An example braking system is described including a support structure which is pivotable about a first axis and a braking mechanism including a gear engagement mechanism which is fixed with respect to the first axis. The gear engagement mechanism may have a first and a second toothed portion, a first gear wheel rotatable about a second axis, and a second gear wheel rotatable about a third axis. The first gear may be connected to a first damping mechanism to damp pivoting of the support structure in a first direction when the first gear wheel is engaged with the first toothed portion. The second gear wheel may be connected to a second damping mechanism to damp pivoting of the support structure in a second direction when the second gear wheel is engaged with the second toothed portion. A print target holder system and a printer system are also described.

An example braking system is described including a support structure which is pivotable about a first axis and a braking mechanism including a gear engagement mechanism which is fixed with respect to the first axis. The gear engagement mechanism may have a first and a second toothed portion, a first gear wheel rotatable about a second axis, and a second gear wheel rotatable about a third axis. The first gear may be connected to a first damping mechanism to damp pivoting of the support structure in a first direction when the first gear wheel is engaged with the first toothed portion. The second gear wheel may be connected to a second damping mechanism to damp pivoting of the support structure in a second direction when the second gear wheel is engaged with the second toothed portion. A print target holder system and a printer system are also described.

Proposed is a dye-sublimation printer, and more particularly to a dye-sublimation printer that can systematically control upward and downward movements of a pick-up roller, upward and downward movements of a platen roller, and driving of a take-up reel gear according to forward and backward movements of a slide plate.