Tape drive and printing apparatus

A method for adjusting the position of a print head in a thermal transfer printing apparatus in which tape is moved past the print head having selectively energizeable heating elements to transfer material on the tape to a substrate intended to receive printing when the heating elements are in contact with the tape and the tape is in contact with the substrate, the apparatus comprising a housing, a tape drive for transporting tape past the print head in a tape transport direction, a print head support on which the print head is mounted and which is displaceable relative to the housing in a direction parallel to the tape transport direction of the tape wherein the tape transport direction is a direction of movement of the tape past the selectively energizeable heating elements of the print head between the print head, a first drive mechanism for displacing the print head support relative to the housing, a platen roller which in use supports the substrate to be printed on the side of the tape remote from the print head during a continuous printing mode, a flat platen which in use supports the substrate to be printed on the side of the tape remote from the print head during an intermittent printing mode and a second drive mechanism for displacing the print head relative to the print head support to a printing position in which a portion of the print head bears against the tape and the substrate interposed between the print head and print roller, and a controller for adjusting the first drive mechanism to adjust the angular position of the print head relative to the rotation axis of the roller, wherein the print head is positioned adjacent the platen roller, and the controller is configured to selectively control the operation of the first drive mechanism and the tape drive for either operating in the continuous or intermittent printing modes, the method comprising:

• displacing the print head relative to the print head support, by operation of the second drive mechanism, to the printing position to perform a test print on a substrate using the printing apparatus;
• adjusting, by the controller, the first drive mechanism to change the angular position of the print head relative to the rotation axis of the platen roller;
• performing a further test print,
• repeating, by the controller, the adjusting of the first drive mechanism and performing of test prints until an acceptable print quality is achieved;
• controlling the tape drive, by selective operation of the controller, to move the tape a predetermined length in the tape transport direction past the print head between the selectively energizeable elements and the platen roller during the continuous printing mode;
• controlling the first drive mechanism, by selective operation of the controller, to hold the print head support generally stationary during the continuous printing mode;
• displacing the print head relative to the print head support, by operation of the second drive mechanism, in a direction generally transverse to the tape transport direction into engagement with the tape for transferring material from the tape to the substrate, supported on the roller platen, as the tape moves in the tape transport direction past the print head during the continuous printing mode;
• controlling the tape drive, by selective operation of the controller, to hold the tape generally stationary during the intermittent printing mode;
• controlling the first drive mechanism, by selective operation of the controller, to move the print head support parallel to the tape transport direction during the intermittent printing mode;
• and,
• displacing the print head relative to the print head support, by operation of the second drive mechanism, in a direction generally transverse to the tape transport direction and into engagement with the tape for transferring material from the tape to the substrate, supported on the flat platen, as the tape remains generally stationary and the print head support moves parallel to the tape transport direction during the intermittent printing mode.

A thermal transfer printing apparatus in which tape is moved past a print head having selectively energizeable heating elements to transfer material on the tape to a substrate intended to receive printing when the heating elements are in contact with the tape and the tape is in contact with the substrate, the printing apparatus being selectively operable in either an intermittent printing mode, in which the tape and substrate are held generally stationary as the print head is moved along the tape while in contact with the tape and the tape is in contact with the substrate on a platen for printing, or in a continuous printing mode in which a predetermined length of the tape and substrate are moved past the print head in a tape transport direction past the print head as the print head remains generally stationary, with the print head held in contact with the tape and the tape in contact with the substrate on a platen, the apparatus comprising:

• a housing;
• a tape drive configured to selectively transport the predetermined length of tape past the print head in the tape transport direction for the continuous printing mode, and to hold the tape generally stationary for the intermittent printing mode;
• a print head support mounted on the housing for movement relative to the housing, tape and substrate;
• the print head being mounted on the print head support for movement relative to the print head support in a direction generally transverse to the tape transport direction;
• a first drive mechanism configured to reciprocate the print head support relative to the housing in a direction generally parallel to the tape transport direction of the tape for the intermittent printing mode;
• the platen positioned adjacent the print head for supporting the substrate to receive the material from the tape when printing;
• a second drive mechanism configured to displace the print head relative to the print head support generally transverse to the tape transport direction to a printing position in which there is engagement of a portion of the print head, the platen, the substrate and the tape for a printing operation;
• a controller configured to selectively control the operation of the tape drive and the first drive mechanism for either the continuous printing mode or the intermittent printing mode,
• wherein the controller controls the first drive mechanism to hold the print head support generally stationary relative to the housing and controls the tape drive to move the predetermined length of tape in the tape transport direction past the print head, while the second drive mechanism displaces the print head relative to the print head support in the direction generally transverse to the tape transport direction to its printing position, for the continuous printing mode;
• and,
• wherein the controller controls the first drive mechanism to move the print head support in the direction generally parallel to the tape transport direction and controls the tape drive to hold the tape generally stationary, while the second drive mechanism displaces the print head relative to the print head support generally transverse to the tape transport direction to its printing position, for the intermittent printing mode.

A method for printing in a continuous printing mode and an intermittent printing mode using a single thermal transfer printer printing apparatus having a print head with selectively energizeable heating elements to transfer material on the tape to a substrate intended to receive printing when the heating elements are in contact with the tape and the tape is in contact with the substrate, the apparatus comprising a housing, a tape drive for transporting tape past the print head and heating elements in a tape transport direction, a print head support on which a print head is mounted and which is displaceable relative to the housing in a direction generally parallel to the tape transport direction of the tape past the print head and heating elements, a first drive mechanism for displacing the print head support relative to the housing, a platen which in use supports a substrate to be printed on the side of the tape remote from the print head, a second drive mechanism for displacing the print head relative to the print head support generally transverse to the tape transport direction to a printing position in which a portion of the print head bears against the tape and the substrate interposed between the print head and a platen, and a controller configured to selectively control the operation of first drive mechanism and the tape drive for either the continuous or the intermittent printing modes, the method comprising:

• actuating the tape drive, by selective operation of the controller, to move the tape a predetermined length in the tape transport direction past the print head between the selectively energizeable elements and the platen during the continuous printing mode;
• controlling the first drive mechanism, by selective operation of the controller, to hold the print head support generally stationary during the continuous printing mode;
• displacing the print head relative to the print head support, by operation of the second drive mechanism, into engagement with the tape as the tape moves past the print head and selectively energizing the heating elements for transferring material from the tape to the substrate as the tape moves past the print head the predetermined length in the tape transport direction and the print head support remains generally stationary for the continuous printing mode;
• controlling the tape drive, by selective operation of the controller, to hold the tape generally stationary during an intermittent printing operation;
• actuating the first drive mechanism, by selective operation of the controller, to move the print head support generally parallel to the tape transport direction for the intermittent printing mode;
• and,
• displacing the print head relative to the print head support, by operation of the second drive mechanism, into engagement with the tape as the print head support moves generally parallel to the tape transport direction for transferring material from the tape to the substrate as the tape remains generally stationary during the intermittent printing mode.