TAPE DRIVE

摘要

A thermal transfer printer incorporating a tape drive comprising a first torque- controlled motor (12) and a second position-controlled motor (13), two tape spool supports (3, 4) on which spools of tape may be mounted, each spool being drivable by a respective one of said motors, and a controller (14) for controlling the energisation of the motors such that the tape may be transported in at least one direction (15, 16) between spools mounted on the spool supports. The controller is arranged to determine a control signal to be provided to the torque-controlled motor to set the tape tension, and to provide said control signal to the torque-controlled motor, determination of the control signal including determination of a component intended to compensate for the inertia of a spool of tape driven by the torque-controlled motor.