Media application system with a moveable platen assembly for autonomous media replenishment

A system comprising:

• a printhead;
• a motor;
• a drive train operatively coupled to the motor;
• and
• a platen assembly including a platen roller, the platen assembly operatively coupled to the drive train and configured to rotate about a platen assembly axis of rotation, in response to an operation of the motor, between a media processing position in which the platen roller forms a nip with the printhead and a media loading position in which the platen roller is rotated away from the printhead about the platen assembly axis of rotation
• a printhead assembly configured to include the printhead and a latch, the latch configured to retain the platen assembly in the media processing position,
• the latch comprises a latch arm extending from the printhead assembly,
• the latch arm is biased towards a latched position and is configured to engage the platen assembly when the platen assembly is in the media processing position.

A system comprising:

• a media applicator, comprising:
• a printhead;
• a motor;
• a drive train operatively coupled to the motor;
• a platen assembly including a platen roller, the platen assembly operatively coupled to the drive train and configured to rotate about a platen assembly axis of rotation, in response to an operation of the motor, between a media processing position in which the platen roller forms a nip with the printhead and a media loading position in which the platen roller is rotated away from the printhead about the platen assembly axis of rotation;
• and
• a housing including the printhead, the motor, the drive train, and the platen assembly;
• a media replenishment system configured to present a supply of media for autonomous installation of the supply of media in the media applicator;
• a robotic device operatively coupled to the media applicator, the robotic device configured to move the media applicator, the robotic device being configured to move the media applicator relative to the media replenishment system to facilitate transfer of the supply of media from the media replenishment system to the media applicator,
• wherein the media replenishment system comprises:
• a first panel;
• a second panel, the first and second panels being moveable relative to each other to move between a media presentation position and a media transfer position;
• and
• a plurality of shafts extending from the first panel through and beyond the second panel, the plurality of shafts configured to support the supply of media with the second panel disposed between the supply of media and the first panel.

A method comprising:

• disposing a printhead in a housing;
• disposing a motor in the housing;
• disposing a drive train in the housing, the drive train operatively coupled to the motor;
• and
• disposing a platen assembly including a platen roller in the housing, the platen assembly operatively coupled to the drive train and configured to rotate about a platen assembly axis of rotation, in response to an operation of the motor, between a media processing position in which the platen roller forms a nip with the printhead and a media loading position in which the platen roller is rotated away from the printhead about the platen assembly axis of rotation,
• wherein disposing the drive train in the housing comprises:
• operatively coupling a first gear to the motor;
• operatively coupling a second gear to the first gear, the motor is configured to rotate the platen assembly by driving the first and second gears;
• and
• operatively coupling a third gear to the second gear, the third gear configured to engage a latch to move the latch between the latched position and the unlatched position.