Printer

A method of applying uniform tension to an ink ribbon in a printer, comprising:

• setting by a shaft-shaped member a path of an ink ribbon from a supplying shaft to a winding shaft 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, the ink ribbon being hung around the shaft-shaped member;
• movably supporting at least one end portion of the shaft-shaped member in a direction in which a tension of the ink ribbon varies;
• varying an output of paired strain detection components provided at both end portions of the shaft-shaped member according to a strain of the shaft-shaped member;
• and
• controlling movement of the shaft-shaped member in a direction in which a difference in output between the paired strain detection components decreases.

A thermal printer, comprising:

• a shaft-shaped member that sets a path of an ink ribbon from a supplying shaft to a winding shaft and 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, the ink ribbon being hung around the shaft-shaped member;
• a movable support portion that movably supports at least one end portion of the shaft-shaped member in a direction in which a tension of the ink ribbon varies;
• paired strain detection components that 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;
• and
• a controller that controls movement of the shaft-shaped member in a direction in which a difference in output between the paired strain detection components decreases.