A printer is disclosed for printing on plastic film which comprises a pivotal printer carriage carried by a printer frame of the printer. The printer carriage includes a thermal transfer print head and at least one driven ribbon roll for drawing an ink ribbon across the print head. The print frame includes a plurality of directional rollers which direct the plastic film to a driven platen roller and to a downstream driven film roller. The drives of the film and ribbon rollers are synchronized so that the film and ribbon are advanced in a superposed relation across the print head. The printer carriage is pivoted to a printing position from a non printing position by a rotary actuator. In the printing position, the platen roller which consists of an neoprene roller having a durometer of 45, is spring biased against the print head with a controlled spring rate, and with the film and ribbon sandwiched therebetween. In this position, and with proper temperature control, the thermal print head transfers print onto the plastic in a reliable and clear manner. In particular, bar codes printed are of particularly sharp contrast and clear for accurate and reliable scanning. By positively engaging and advancing the film and ribbon together by means of the synchronized arrangement of the driven rollers positive advancement of even multiple layers of plastic sheeting may be had through the printer to print in a highly accurate manner. Sensors and a print controller are utilized to control the operation of the carriage actuator, synchronized drive, and print data, during the print cycle.
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