Abstract: A modular printer having a media take-up assembly, a support block assembly, a printhead assembly, a stepper motor assembly and a display assembly is provided. A support housing having a plurality of recesses formed on an internal wall of the modular printer is also provided. Each of the recesses is configured to receive and align one of the modular printer assemblies with the other modular printer assemblies. Each of the assemblies is configured as a module which can be easily accessed and quickly secured to or detached from the support housing. The support housing is adapted to receive assembly modules for both thermal ink printers and ribbon ink printers such that the modular printer can be easily converted from one to the other.

Abstract: A modular printer having a media take-up assembly, a support block assembly, a printhead assembly, a stepper motor assembly and a display assembly is provided. A support housing having a plurality of recesses formed on an internal wall of the modular printer is also provided. Each of the recesses is configured to receive and align one of the modular printer assemblies with the other modular printer assemblies. Each of the assemblies is configured as a module which can be easily accessed and quickly secured to or detached from the support housing. The support housing is adapted to receive assembly modules for both thermal ink printers and ribbon ink printers such that the modular printer can be easily converted from one to the other.

Abstract: A direct thermal barcode printer including a print assembly is provided. The print assembly is movably positioned relative to a print media for adjusting printing characteristics of an attached print head.

Abstract: A modular printer having a media take-up assembly, a support block assembly, a printhead assembly, a stepper motor assembly and a display assembly is provided. A support housing having a plurality of recesses formed on an internal wall of the modular printer is also provided. Each of the recesses is configured to receive and align one of the modular printer assemblies with the other modular printer assemblies. Each of the assemblies is configured as a module which can be easily accessed and quickly secured to or detached from the support housing. The support housing is adapted to receive assembly modules for both thermal ink printers and ribbon ink printers such that the modular printer can be easily converted from one to the other.

Abstract: A thermal transfer printhead is disclosed. The printhead includes a backplane having one or more one connector receptacles. The printhead also includes one or more modules each of which includes a connector adapted to interface with the connector receptacles. The modules also include a laser diode array having laser diodes. The module interfaces with the backplane at a predetermined angle with respect to a printing direction and pitch to achieve a desired printhead density.

Abstract: A print media sensor mounting assembly includes a housing having a sensor mounting element. The sensor mounting element has a sensor position movably mounted therein for movement of the sensor position amongst a plurality of positions corresponding to a width of a print media web.

Abstract: A thermal transfer print head is disclosed. The print head includes a housing configured and dimensioned to be installable within the printer, a plurality of resistive heating elements positioned on an external surface of the housing and in thermal contact with a printable media, the resistive heating elements receive electrical energy from the printer and have adjustable thermal output, and a print head memory positioned within the housing and accessible by the thermal printer, the print head memory including a first and second memory regions, the first memory region configured to store a printing profile pertaining to operating parameters of the resistive heating elements and the second memory configured to store usage data pertaining to operation of the print head.

Abstract: A direct thermal barcode printer including a print assembly is provided. The print assembly is movably positioned relative to a print media for adjusting printing characteristics of an attached print head.

Abstract: A modular printer having a media take-up assembly, a support block assembly, a printhead assembly, a stepper motor assembly and a display assembly is provided. A support housing having a plurality of recesses formed on an internal wall of the modular printer is also provided. Each of the recesses is configured to receive and align one of the modular printer assemblies with the other modular printer assemblies. Each of the assemblies is configured as a module which can be easily accessed and quickly secured to or detached from the support housing. The support housing is adapted to receive assembly modules for both thermal ink printers and ribbon ink printers such that the modular printer can be easily converted from one to the other.

Abstract: A modular printer having a media take-up assembly module, a support block assembly module, a printhead assembly module, a stepper motor assembly module and a display assembly module is provided. A support body having a plurality of recesses formed on an internal wall of the modular printer is also provided. Each of the recesses is configured to receive and align one of the modular printer assemblies with the other modular printer assemblies. Each of the assemblies is configured as a module which can be easily accessed and quickly secured to or detached from the support body. The support body is adapted to receive assembly modules for both thermal ink printers and ribbon ink printers such that the modular printer can be easily converted from one to the other.

Abstract: A modular printer having a media take-up assembly module, a support block assembly module, a printhead assembly module, a stepper motor assembly module and a display assembly module is provided. A support body having a plurality of recesses formed on an internal wall of the modular printer is also provided. Each of the recesses is configured to receive and align one of the modular printer assemblies with the other modular printer assemblies. Each of the assemblies is configured as a module which can be easily accessed and quickly secured to or detached from the support body. The support body is adapted to receive assembly modules for both thermal ink printers and ribbon ink printers such that the modular printer can be easily converted from one to the other.

Abstract: A print media sensor mounting assembly includes a housing having a sensor mounting element. The sensor mounting element has a sensor position movably mounted therein for movement of the sensor position to a plurality of predetermined positions corresponding to a width of a print media web.

Abstract: A pulley tensioner for applying torque or tension to a pulley includes a spring system configured to encircle the periphery of the pulley. The spring system is anchored to the pulley housing or some other fixed location. The spring system is made up of one or more coil springs which are wrapped around the periphery of the pulley. Where multiple springs are used, preferably each spring has a different spring constant and length. This allows the operator to select the desired tension depending upon the operating parameters of the printer. The applied tension may be further modified/tuned by using an additional spring member to anchor the spring system to the pulley housing or some other fixed location.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a media tracking guide mechanism for guiding the transport of printing media in a printing apparatus. The media tracking guide mechanism is designed to provide positive tracking to print media of various types passing through the guide as the print media is supplied to a printing apparatus. The print media tracking guide preferably includes a guide housing configured and dimensioned for mounting along a hub portion of a printing apparatus and an armature rotatably coupled to the guide housing. The guide housing includes a core member having a print media transport path along an outer peripheral portion thereof and an overhang support positioned in a spaced relationship from the core member. The overhang support includes a slotted area for receiving a lever component. The core member and overhang support are rigidly coupled to a flange portion along a common side thereof.

Abstract: A linerless label media cutting apparatus adapted for receiving linerless label media from a printer is provided. The apparatus includes a cutting assembly and a cutter mount. The cutting assembly has a first cutting blade and a second cutting blade that cooperate to sever at least one label. The cutter mount supports the cutting assembly and is mountable to the printer. A drive actuator assembly may be included. The cutter mount may include mounting structure to facilitate mounting and alignment to the printer. The cutter mount may also include a blade carrier and base plate for supporting the cutting blades. The base plate may define a cavity for receipt of linerless label media. The apparatus may also include a blade lubricator. In an alternate embodiment, the apparatus includes an input guide for guiding linerless label media travel. The input guide may be plasma coated. A method for preparing labels is disclosed.

Abstract: A media supply for a thermal ink printer, includes a central shaft defining a longitudinal axis, a media hub for supporting a supply of media in a coiled configuration coaxially mounted about the central shaft and adapted for rotational movement thereabout, a hub clamp mounted to the media hub and adapted for axial movement therealong to accommodate media supplies of various lengths and a torsion spring mounted about the central shaft and operatively engageable with the media hub to rotatably bias the media hub to an initial position corresponding to an unstressed condition of the torsion spring in response to movement of the media hub through a predetermined angular sector of rotation in one rotational direction, to thereby maintain a predetermined level of tension on the media. A locking member may be associated with the hub clamp to selectively secure the hub clamp at a predetermined axial position.

Abstract: A ribbon tensioning assembly includes a knob having a top wall, an internal raised portion attached to the top wall having a first helical camming surface and a second helical camming surface out of phase and disposed about a center point. A compression helix has a first end portion forming a first helical camming surface and a second helical camming surface for engaging first and second helical camming surfaces of the knob, compression helix having a second end portion for receiving a spring. A clutch engages a surface and connects to a spring. A spindle, attaching to a ribbon supply roll, secures the knob, the compression helix, the spring and the clutch in relative position such that turning the spindle causes frictional resistance between the clutch and the surface for creating increased tension in a ribbon dispensed from the supply roll.

Abstract: A print media sensor mounting assembly includes a housing having a sensor mounting element. The sensor mounting element has a sensor position movably mounted therein for movement of the sensor position to a plurality of predetermined positions corresponding to a width of a print media web.

Abstract: An ink supply spool for a thermal ink printer includes a central shaft defining a longitudinal axis, a ribbon hub coaxially mounted about the central shaft for rotational movement thereabout and adapted to support a supply of ink transfer ribbon in a coiled configuration, a torsion spring mounted about the central shaft and operatively engageable with the ribbon hub to rotatably bias the ribbon hub to an initial position corresponding to an unstressed condition of the torsion spring in response to movement of the ribbon hub through a predetermined angular sector of rotation in one rotational direction, to thereby maintain a predetermined level of tension on the ink transfer ribbon, a clutch mechanism associated with the ribbon hub to permit the torsion spring to return to the unstressed condition in response to movement of the ribbon hub beyond the predetermined angular sector of rotation, and a support collar mounted about the central shaft adjacent the torsion spring for supporting the torsion spring during