Tohoku Ricoh Co., Ltd.

Nitto-denko Corporation

Hideo Numabe

Hideaki Matsuda

Mitsuyoshi Satoh

Genji Oshino

In a printer for printing on a recording medium using a transfer medium, a transfer medium capable of being repeatedly used at the same portion thereof (e.g., a multi-pass thermal transfer ribbon) is conveyed in the normal direction in performing the printing process by a recording means such as a thermal head etc. and the conveying amount of the transfer medium which is used for printing is measured at that time. The transfer medium is conveyed in the reverse direction by a given amount based on the result of the measurement and the reverse direction conveying ratio of the transfer medium to the used length of the transfer medium which is arbitrarily set by a transfer medium reverse direction conveying ratio setting means irrespective of the used amount of the transfer medium every time a unit of printing is completed. Thereafter the transfer medium is conveyed in the normal direction for printing. Repeating these processes, it is possible to use up the transfer medium so far as it is can be practically used for printing.

Printer and method of printing using the same

A line-type thermal printing apparatus includes a thermal head for recording on a sheet whose thickness is even in the feeding direction thereof and uneven in the print line direction. The apparatus also includes a platen having a platen body portion that rotates integrally with a platen shaft and that feeds the sheet by pinching a part of the sheet between the thermal head and the platen body portion, and separate platen portion that face other parts of the sheet which have thicknesses different from that of the part of the sheet pinched between the thermal head and the platen body portion. The separate platen portions have center holes that are dimensioned to loosely fit the platen shaft. Urging mechanisms are provided for urging the separate platen portions so as to press the other parts of the sheet against the thermal head. For example, a part of a sheet is located opposite to the platen body portion and the other parts of the sheet are located opposite to the separate platen portions. While the part of the sheet is pressed against the platen body portion, the separate platen portions are urged by the urging mechanisms so as to press the other parts of the sheet against the thermal head. The sheet is fed by rotating the platen body portion while recording is sequentially performed by the thermal head.

Growing community of inventors

Miyagi, Japan

Hideo Numabe