Patent ID: 8139095

Claim:
A recording apparatus comprising: a thermal head including a heating portion in which a plurality of heating elements are linearly arranged; an ink ribbon on which ink is coated; a platen roller disposed opposite and parallel to the heating portion of the thermal head; a separating unit configured to separate the thermal head and the platen roller; a paper feed driving motor; a ribbon take-up motor; a torque limiter which can be driven and rotated by the ribbon take-up motor; a take-up bobbin which can be driven and rotated by the torque limiter and is configured to wind up used ink ribbon, and the torque limiter transmits a drive force of the ribbon take-up motor to the take-up bobbin; a supply bobbin configured to supply unused ink ribbon; a ratchet configured to act directly and indirectly on the supply bobbin, wherein the ratchet turns in conjunction with the take-up bobbin; an engaging member movable between an engaging state in which rotation of the supply bobbin is stopped by the engaging member engaging with the ratchet, and a disengaged state in which the supply bobbin is free to rotate; an engaging member switching unit configured to switch the engaging member between the engaging state and the disengaging state; and a control unit configured to control the separating unit to separate the thermal head and the platen roller, and control the recording apparatus to convey the recording paper while the engaging member is in the engaging state to prevent the supply bobbin from rotation, and control the ribbon take-up motor to be driven in the direction in which the ink ribbon is taken up such that the torque limiter transmits a drive force of the ribbon take-up motor to the take-up bobbin while skidding when the recording paper is moved between the thermal head and the platen roller without transferring ink of the ink ribbon.