Label printer dot line registration assembly

A label printer comprising:

• a cover portion having a cover portion frame attached to the cover portion;
• a base portion having a base portion frame, the base portion frame connected to the base portion and to the cover portion frame;
• and
• a dot line registration assembly comprising:
• a registration roller securable to the base portion frame of the label printer, and
• a print head assembly mountable to the cover portion frame of the label printer,
• the print head assembly comprising:
• a variably loadable, thermal print head for printing a dot line to a label media;
• and
• a registration face attached to the print head;
• wherein the registration face is engageable with the registration roller to maintain dot line registration between the thermal print head and the registration roller.

In a label printer having a cover portion with a cover portion frame attached to the cover portion and a base portion with a base portion frame attached to the base portion and the cover portion frame, a dot line registration assembly, the dot line registration assembly comprising:

• a platen roller, rotatable about an axis of rotation, the platen roller having a pair of shaft portions, with each of the shaft portions having a groove formed therein, the platen roller shaft portions securable to the base portion frame of the label printer;
• and
• a print head assembly mountable to the cover portion frame of the label printer,
• the print head assembly comprising:
• a variably loadable print head for printing a dot line to a label media, the print head variably loadable to a media-specific load;
• and
• a pair of opposing registration faces attached to the print head, the pair of opposing registration faces each having a notch formed therein;
• and
• wherein each of the registration face notches are engageable with the grooves of the platen roller shaft portions so as to maintain dot line registration by substantially preventing both axial and transverse movement of the print head with respect to the platen roller axis of rotation.

A method of printing to a label media, the method comprising:

• providing a dot line registration assembly, the dot line registration assembly including:
• a registration roller securable to a base portion frame of a label printer;
• and a print head assembly mountable to a cover portion frame of the label printer, the print head assembly including:
• a variably loadable, thermal print head for printing the registered dot line to the label media;
• and
• registration face attached to the print head;
• engaging the registration face with the registration device so as to achieve and maintain dot line registration;
• loading the variably loadable print head to a label media-specific load to achieve loaded registration between the print head and the registration roller;
• and
• thermally printing, at the media-specific load, a dot line to the label media, using the print head.

A printing system for use in a label printer having a cover portion with a cover portion frame attached to the cover portion and a base portion with a base portion frame attached to the base portion and the cover portion frame, the printing system comprising:

• a label media supply for supplying a label media;
• an ink ribbon supply for supplying a thermally-sensitive ink to the label media;
• and
• a dot line registration assembly comprising:
• a platen roller, rotatable about an axis of rotation, the platen roller having a pair of shaft portions, with each of the shaft portions having a groove formed therein, the platen roller shaft portions securable to the base portion frame of the label printer;
• and
• a print head assembly mountable to the cover portion frame of the label printer,
• the print head assembly comprising:
• a variably loadable print head for printing a dot line to the label media, the print head variably loadable to a media-specific load;
• and
• a pair of opposing registration faces attached to the print head, the pair of opposing registration faces each having a notch formed therein;
• wherein the ink ribbon and label media can pass in overlay relationship with each other between the print head and the platen roller;
• and wherein each of the registration face notches are engageable with the grooves of the platen roller shaft portions so as to maintain dot line registration by substantially preventing both axial and transverse movement of the print head with respect to the platen roller axis of rotation.