Patent ID: 7195410

Claim:
A printing apparatus comprising: a main body unit for performing recording on a recording medium and a first detachable unit, and a second detachable unit provided detachably in the main body unit; wherein the printing apparatus further comprises an unit fixing means attached to at least one of the main body unit the first detachable unit and the second detachable unit; wherein the unit fixing means is switched to a lock position to engage with at least one remaining unit so that the first and second detachable units are fixed to the main body unit and to an unlock position at which the first and second detachable units are detachably mounted to the main body unit; wherein the main body unit comprises a chassis, a head unit for transferring an ink of an ink ribbon on an intermediate transfer sheet serving as the recording medium having an end supported by the chassis in a cantilever manner, and a pinch roller unit for guiding the ink ribbon and/or the intermediate transfer sheet having an end supported by the chassis in a cantilever manner; the first detachable unit comprises the ink ribbon; the second detachable unit comprises the intermediate transfer sheet; the unit fixing means comprises connecting means for connecting or disconnecting the other end of the head unit to or from the other end of the pinch roller unit; when the unit fixing means is switched to the lock position, the other end of the head unit and the other end of the pinch roller unit are connected to each other through the connecting means so that the first and second detachable units are fixed to the main body unit undetachably; and when the unit fixing means is switched into the unlock position, the other end of the head unit and the other end of the pinch roller unit are disconnected from each other so that the first and second detachable units are detachably mounted to the main body. unit.