Patent ID: 8302529

Claim:
A stamp-type printer comprising: a receiving section for receiving image data including character information; a transfer member; a print head for printing an image on a portion of the transfer member with ink based on the received image data; a transport member for transporting the printed portion of the transfer member to a contact transfer position; a contacting mechanism for causing the transfer member to come in contact with the print head when the print head does not print the image on the portion of the transfer member; a housing that accommodates the print head, the transfer member and the transport member; and a cover detachably attached to the housing, wherein a stamping operation is performed by causing the printed portion to come in contact with a desired recording medium at the contact transfer position, and wherein the contacting mechanism causes the transfer member to come in contact with the print head when the cover is attached to the housing and the stamping operation is performed when the cover is detached from the housing.