Disclosed is a label printer, having a printhead and a counter-element to the printhead, wherein a carrier tape is led between the printhead and the counter-element; a drive mechanism for the carrier tape having a driven carrier tape drawing roller; and at least one non-driven carrier tape pressure roller that is associated with the carrier tape drawing roller, wherein, the carrier tape drawing roller and the respective carrier tape pressure roller are arranged after the printhead and the counter-element, wherein the drive mechanism for the carrier tape comprises a further driven carrier tape drawing roller and a further non-driven carrier tape pressure roller associated with the further carrier tape drawing roller is provided, with the further carrier tape drawing roller and the further carrier tape pressure roller, arranged in front of the printhead and the counter-element.

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 printer includes a shaft-shaped member, a movable support portion, paired strain detection units, and a control unit. The shaft-shaped member that sets a path of an ink ribbon from a supplying shaft to a winding shaft is provided at least on a downstream side between an upstream side and the downstream side in a conveying direction at a position where a thermal head and a platen face each other with a recording medium interposed therebetween, and the ink ribbon is hung around the shaft-shaped member. The movable support portion movably supports at least one end portion of the shaft-shaped member in a direction in which a tension of the ink ribbon varies. The paired strain detection units are provided at both end portions of the shaft-shaped member, and an output thereof is varied according to a strain of the shaft-shaped member. The control unit controls movement of the shaft-shaped member in a direction in which a difference in output between the paired strain detection units becomes small.

A printer includes a shaft-shaped member, a movable support portion, paired strain detection units, and a control unit. The shaft-shaped member that sets a path of an ink ribbon from a supplying shaft to a winding shaft is provided at least on a downstream side between an upstream side and the downstream side in a conveying direction at a position where a thermal head and a platen face each other with a recording medium interposed therebetween, and the ink ribbon is hung around the shaft-shaped member. The movable support portion movably supports at least one end portion of the shaft-shaped member in a direction in which a tension of the ink ribbon varies. The paired strain detection units are provided at both end portions of the shaft-shaped member, and an output thereof is varied according to a strain of the shaft-shaped member. The control unit controls movement of the shaft-shaped member in a direction in which a difference in output between the paired strain detection units becomes small.

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.

To provide a printing apparatus of high printing quality for decreasing a transport amount of a film-shaped medium used in the printing apparatus, and suppressing skew of the film-shaped medium, a control section 100 that controls a transport section 49 for transporting a film-shaped medium 46 controls a transport amount of the film-shaped medium 46, corresponding to information on whether or not to print on only one side of a recording medium in detecting a type and/or Empty of the film-shaped medium 46, based on a mark detection result in initializing operation of the film-shaped medium 46.

To provide a printing apparatus of high printing quality for decreasing a transport amount of a film-shaped medium used in the printing apparatus, and suppressing skew of the film-shaped medium, a control section 100 that controls a transport section 49 for transporting a film-shaped medium 46 controls a transport amount of the film-shaped medium 46, corresponding to information on whether or not to print on only one side of a recording medium in detecting a type and/or Empty of the film-shaped medium 46, based on a mark detection result in initializing operation of the film-shaped medium 46.

Disclosed is a label printer, having a printhead and a counter-element to the printhead, wherein a carrier tape is led between the printhead and the counter-element; a drive mechanism for the carrier tape having a driven carrier tape drawing roller; and at least one non-driven carrier tape pressure roller that is associated with the carrier tape drawing roller, wherein, the carrier tape drawing roller and the respective carrier tape pressure roller are arranged after the printhead and the counter-element, wherein the drive mechanism for the carrier tape comprises a further driven carrier tape drawing roller and a further non-driven carrier tape pressure roller associated with the further carrier tape drawing roller is provided, with the further carrier tape drawing roller and the further carrier tape pressure roller, arranged in front of the printhead and the counter-element.