Abstract: An example disclosed printer includes a base; a lid hingedly attached to the base movable between a closed position in which the lid is secured to the base, and an open position in which the lid is at least partially separated from the base; a cavity defined between the lid and the base, wherein the cavity is inaccessible when the lid is in the closed position and the cavity is accessible when the lid is in the open position; a ribbon positioning assembly disposed within the cavity that is pivotably attached to at least one of the lid or the base wherein the ribbon positioning assembly is configured to move between a printing position when the lid is in the closed position, and an accessible position when the lid is in the open position, wherein the ribbon positioning assembly comprises a ribbon tensioning mechanism.

Abstract: An example disclosed printer includes a base; a lid hingedly attached to the base movable between a closed position in which the lid is secured to the base, and an open position in which the lid is at least partially separated from the base; a cavity defined between the lid and the base, wherein the cavity is inaccessible when the lid is in the closed position and the cavity is accessible when the lid is in the open position; a ribbon positioning assembly disposed within the cavity that is pivotably attached to at least one of the lid or the base wherein the ribbon positioning assembly is configured to move between a printing position when the lid is in the closed position, and an accessible position when the lid is in the open position, wherein the ribbon positioning assembly comprises a ribbon tensioning mechanism.

Abstract: An example disclosed printer includes a base; a lid hingedly attached to the base movable between a closed position in which the lid is secured to the base, and an open position in which the lid is at least partially separated from the base; a cavity defined between the lid and the base, wherein the cavity is inaccessible when the lid is in the closed position and the cavity is accessible when the lid is in the open position; a ribbon positioning assembly disposed within the cavity that is pivotably attached to at least one of the lid or the base wherein the ribbon positioning assembly is configured to move between a printing position when the lid is in the closed position, and an accessible position when the lid is in the open position, wherein the ribbon positioning assembly comprises a ribbon tensioning mechanism.

Abstract: An example disclosed printer includes a base; a lid hingedly attached to the base movable between a closed position in which the lid is secured to the base, and an open position in which the lid is at least partially separated from the base; a cavity defined between the lid and the base, wherein the cavity is inaccessible when the lid is in the closed position and the cavity is accessible when the lid is in the open position; a ribbon positioning assembly disposed within the cavity that is pivotably attached to at least one of the lid or the base wherein the ribbon positioning assembly is configured to move between a printing position when the lid is in the closed position, and an accessible position when the lid is in the open position, wherein the ribbon positioning assembly comprises a ribbon tensioning mechanism.

Abstract: A device for processing media may include a system and method for loading and unloading consumable supplies of a printer, and more particularly, a system and method for providing a compact form factor printer which provides convenient access to the replaceable components of the printer. A printer may include a base and a lid hingedly attached to the base, moveable between a closed position in which the lid is secured to the base, and an open position. A cavity may be defined between the lid and the base, where the cavity is inaccessible when the lid is in the closed position and the cavity is accessible when the lid is in the open position. The printer may include a ribbon positioning assembly disposed within the cavity.

Abstract: A device for processing media may include a system and method for loading and unloading consumable supplies of a printer, and more particularly, a system and method for providing a compact form factor printer which provides convenient access to the replaceable components of the printer. A printer may include a base and a lid hingedly attached to the base, moveable between a closed position in which the lid is secured to the base, and an open position. A cavity may be defined between the lid and the base, where the cavity is inaccessible when the lid is in the closed position and the cavity is accessible when the lid is in the open position. The printer may include a ribbon positioning assembly disposed within the cavity.

Abstract: A device for processing media may include a system and method for loading and unloading consumable supplies of a printer, and more particularly, a system and method for providing a compact form factor printer which provides convenient access to the replaceable components of the printer. A printer may include a base and a lid hingedly attached to the base, moveable between a closed position in which the lid is secured to the base, and an open position. A cavity may be defined between the lid and the base, where the cavity is inaccessible when the lid is in the closed position and the cavity is accessible when the lid is in the open position. The printer may include a ribbon positioning assembly disposed within the cavity.

Abstract: A device for processing media may include a system and method for loading and unloading consumable supplies of a printer, and more particularly, a system and method for providing a compact form factor printer which provides convenient access to the replaceable components of the printer. A printer may include a base and a lid hingedly attached to the base, moveable between a closed position in which the lid is secured to the base, and an open position. A cavity may be defined between the lid and the base, where the cavity is inaccessible when the lid is in the closed position and the cavity is accessible when the lid is in the open position. The printer may include a ribbon positioning assembly disposed within the cavity.

Abstract: A printer having a sheet tray, a drive for advancing sheets past a marking mechanism, and a picker to remove sheets from an aligned tray includes a load position and a pick position. The trays are selectively moved between the load and pick positions. A transmission is engagable to connect the drive to the tray moving mechanism, whereby the tray is moved between the pick position and the load position by the media sheet advancing drive. The transmission is disengagable to enable advancement of the media sheets without movement of the tray. Starting with both trays in their load positions, one of the trays is moved to its pick position whereat a sheet can be picked; moving the other of the trays to its pick position whereat a sheet of media from each of the trays can be picked; and moving the tray remaining at its pick position from its pick position to its media load position.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of driving multiple printer functions using the same motor is provided. The method includes providing a motor; providing a selector pin; providing a cam member assembly including a cam member including a plurality of paths, each path corresponding to a printer function; and relatively moving the cam member and the selector pin through the plurality of paths to selectively permit the motor to drive the corresponding printer function.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of operating a maintenance station in a printer are provided. The method includes providing a feed roller shaft including an end, the feed roller shaft being connected to a motor; providing a maintenance station disposed near the end of the feed roller shaft, the maintenance station comprising a first pinion; a second pinion; and a maintenance sled including a rack with the rack including teeth positioned along a length dimension of the rack to provide a travel path for the maintenance sled; and using the motor that is connected to the feed roller shaft to cause the maintenance sled to travel back and forth along the travel path by separately engaging the first and second pinions, respectively, with the rack teeth.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of operating a maintenance station in a printer are provided. The method includes providing a feed roller shaft including an end, the feed roller shaft being connected to a motor; providing a maintenance station disposed near the end of the feed roller shaft, the maintenance station comprising a first pinion; a second pinion; and a maintenance sled including a rack with the rack including teeth positioned along a length dimension of the rack to provide a travel path for the maintenance sled; and using the motor that is connected to the feed roller shaft to cause the maintenance sled to travel back and forth along the travel path by separately engaging the first and second pinions, respectively, with the rack teeth.

Abstract: A printer includes a carriage and a channel for guiding the carriage along a path. The carriage includes a protrusion extending from the carriage. The channel includes a first wall and a second wall. The first and second walls are opposed to each other. The protrusion of the carriage extends between the first wall and the second wall. A first portion of the protrusion is in contact with the first wall and a second portion of the protrusion is in contact with the second wall.

Abstract: A printer having a sheet tray, a drive for advancing sheets past a marking mechanism, and a picker to remove sheets from an aligned tray includes a load position and a pick position. The trays are selectively moved between the load and pick positions. A transmission is engagable to connect the drive to the tray moving mechanism, whereby the tray is moved between the pick position and the load position by the media sheet advancing drive. The transmission is disengageable to enable advancement of the media sheets without movement of the tray. Starting with both trays in their load positions, one of the trays is moved to its pick position whereat a sheet can be picked; moving the other of the trays to its pick position whereat a sheet of media from each of the trays can be picked; and moving the tray remaining at its pick position from its pick position to its media load position.

Abstract: A printer having a sheet tray, a drive for advancing sheets past a marking mechanism, and a picker to remove sheets from an aligned tray includes a load position and a pick position. The trays are selectively moved between the load and pick positions. A transmission is engagable to connect the drive to the tray moving mechanism, whereby the tray is moved between the pick position and the load position by the media sheet advancing drive. The transmission is disengagable to enable advancement of the media sheets without movement of the tray. Starting with both trays in their load positions, one of the trays is moved to its pick position whereat a sheet can be picked; moving the other of the trays to its pick position whereat a sheet of media from each of the trays can be picked; and moving the tray remaining at its pick position from its pick position to its media load position.

Abstract: A printer having a sheet tray, a drive for advancing sheets past a marking mechanism, and a picker to remove sheets from an aligned tray includes a load position and a pick position. The trays are selectively moved between the load and pick positions. A transmission is engagable to connect the drive to the tray moving mechanism, whereby the tray is moved between the pick position and the load position by the media sheet advancing drive. The transmission is disengagable to enable advancement of the media sheets without movement of the tray. Starting with both trays in their load positions, one of the trays is moved to its pick position whereat a sheet can be picked; moving the other of the trays to its pick position whereat a sheet of media from each of the trays can be picked; and moving the tray remaining at its pick position from its pick position to its media load position.

Abstract: A printer includes a carriage and a channel for guiding the carriage along a path. The carriage includes a protrusion extending from the carriage. The channel includes a first wall and a second wall. The first and second walls are opposed to each other. The protrusion of the carriage extends between the first wall and the second wall. A first portion of the protrusion is in contact with the first wall and a second portion of the protrusion is in contact with the second wall.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of driving multiple printer functions using the same motor is provided. The method includes providing a motor; providing a selector pin; providing a cam member assembly including a cam member including a plurality of paths, each path corresponding to a printer function; and relatively moving the cam member and the selector pin through the plurality of paths to selectively permit the motor to drive the corresponding printer function.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of operating a maintenance station in a printer are provided. The method includes providing a feed roller shaft including an end, the feed roller shaft being connected to a motor; providing a maintenance station disposed near the end of the feed roller shaft, the maintenance station comprising a first pinion; a second pinion; and a maintenance sled including a rack with the rack including teeth positioned along a length dimension of the rack to provide a travel path for the maintenance sled; and using the motor that is connected to the feed roller shaft to cause the maintenance sled to travel back and forth along the travel path by separately engaging the first and second pinions, respectively, with the rack teeth.