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.

A disclosed ribbon cartridge includes a first spool housing configured to receive a first spool; a second spool housing configured to receive a second spool; a first frame member extending between the first and second spools; and a second frame member extending between the first spool and the second spool; wherein a printhead assembly opening is defined and bounded by the first spool housing, the second spool housing, the first frame member, and the second frame member, wherein the first frame member defines a first channel adjacent to the printhead assembly opening, wherein the second frame member defines a second channel adjacent to the printhead assembly opening, and wherein the first channel and the second channel each comprise a drive surface, wherein the drive surface is configured to be engaged by a printhead assembly to drive the ribbon cartridge to an installed position within the media processing device.

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.

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.

An example media processing device includes a base; a lid hingedly attached to the base movable relative to the base between a closed position and an open position, wherein a cavity is defined between the base and the lid; a printhead assembly attached to the lid; and 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: at least one cartridge channel configured to receive therein a ribbon cartridge; and at least one printhead assembly channel configured to guide the printhead assembly along the printhead assembly channel in response to the lid being moved between the open position to the closed position.

An example media processing device includes a base; a lid hingedly attached to the base movable relative to the base between a closed position and an open position, wherein a cavity is defined between the base and the lid; a printhead assembly attached to the lid; and 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: at least one cartridge channel configured to receive therein a ribbon cartridge; and at least one printhead assembly channel configured to guide the printhead assembly along the printhead assembly channel in response to the lid being moved between the open position to the closed position.

A mounting of a ribbon supply on a re-useable cartridge is described where the mounting is designed so that the supply friction, supply and control of the ribbon supply are substantially independent of the cartridge. When the supply rolls are initially mounted on the cartridge, the supply rolls are frictionally engaged with the cartridge to reduce the tendency for the supply rolls to rotate or move prior to being loaded into the printer, which would loosen the ribbon material by unwinding, thereby reducing slack in the ribbon material. When the cartridge is loaded into a card personalization machine, features on the card personalization machine automatically reduce the frictional engagement between the supply rolls and the cartridge, permitting the supply rolls to rotate substantially freely relative to the cartridge so that the supply friction, supply and control are substantially independent of the cartridge.

An example media processing device includes a base; a lid hingedly attached to the base movable relative to the base between a closed position and an open position, wherein a cavity is defined between the base and the lid; a printhead assembly attached to the lid; and 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: at least one cartridge channel configured to receive therein a ribbon cartridge; and at least one printhead assembly channel configured to guide the printhead assembly along the printhead assembly channel in response to the lid being moved between the open position to the closed position.

A tape cassette that includes a housing, a wound tape, an arm portion, and a first surface. The housing has a top surface, a bottom surface, and a front surface. The front surface extends from the bottom surface toward the top surface in a first direction. The arm portion is defined by a section of the front surface and a first wall. An opening extends through the housing in the first direction. The opening is defined by the first wall, a second wall, and a connection portion. The first surface is provided in the connection portion. The first surface is disposed between the top surface and the bottom surface in the first direction. The housing has a first indentation extending from the bottom surface to the first surface.

A tape cassette includes a cassette case, a tape roll, an ink ribbon, an arm portion, a long hole, and a ribbon take-up spool. A first distance, which is a length of the long hole in a left-right direction, is larger than a second distance, which is a length from a right side surface of the cassette case to a right side end portion of the long hole. A center of gravity of the tape cassette is located in a specific area, which is an area whose both end positions in the left-right direction are the same as both left and right side end portions of the long hole, and which extends in a front-rear direction of the cassette case. The right side end portion of the long hole is located further to the right than a center of the ribbon take-up spool.