Abstract:
A printer cartridge suitable for use in a cartridge-based printer houses and dispenses a roll of label media. The cartridge includes a housing having a top wall and a bottom wall. A yoke pivotally mounted between the top and bottom walls for pivotable movement about a pivot axis includes a label media supply shaft for holding a roll of label media. The label media supply shaft has a longitudinal axis spaced from, and parallel, to the pivot axis. A label media drive roller is rotatably mounted between the top and bottom walls, and a biasing means biases the yoke toward the label media drive roller to maintain the roll of label media in contact with the label media drive roller and defines a beginning of a media path. In one embodiment, the yoke is adjustable to accommodate different label media widths.

Description:
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
   Not Applicable 

   CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   Not Applicable 
   TECHNICAL FIELD 
   The present invention relates to a printer label media cartridge, and more particularly to a cartridge having a pivotally mounted label media spool. 
   DESCRIPTION OF THE BACKGROUND ART 
   There are a number of U.S. patents that disclose electronic apparatus for printing indicia on labels, some of these are restricted to hand held units and others that disclose tabletop units. Hand held label printers, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,113,293, and tabletop printers, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,266,075 and 5,078,523, include the same general combination of elements, a print head, means for feeding label media to be printed past the print head, a microprocessor, a read only memory programmed with appropriate instructions to operate the microprocessor, a random access memory, a keyboard with letter, number, and function keys for the entry of alphanumeric information and instructions concerning the indicia to be printed, and a visual display such as a light emitting diode (LED) or liquid crystal display (LCD) unit to assist the operator in using the printer. In a hand held printer, these components may all be enclosed in a single housing. 
   The label media comprises a series of labels that are attached to a carrier strip. The carrier strip is fed through the printer and legends, alphanumeric characters, and other indicia, are printed on the labels. The labels are then removed from the carrier and attached to the objects needing identification. As there are many types of label applications, there are many combinations of labels and carrier strips that provide labels of varying sizes, colors and formats. 
   A particular type of print head employs thermal transfer printing technology. Thermal transfer printing uses a heat generating print head to transfer a pigment, such as wax, carbon black, or the like, from a thermal transfer ribbon to a label media. By using digital technology, characters are formed by energizing a sequence of pixels on the print head which in turn melts the wax or other pigment on the ink ribbon transferring the image to the label media. 
   In a known thermal transfer printer such as a label printer, label media and ink ribbon are simultaneously fed past the print head by a platen roller in an overlay relationship between the print head and the platen roller. The platen roller is rotatably driven by a drive mechanism that may also rotatably drive ink ribbon take up and supply spools to maintain tension in the ink ribbon. 
   In a cartridge-based printing system, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,113,293, it is desirable to have a consistent label media path. In order to accomplish this, many cartridge-based printing systems have the label media path defined by a point tangent to the outside diameter of a roll of label media. This method, however, presents a problem as the label media is consumed. In particular, as the label media is consumed the diameter of the roll decreases and the beginning point of the label media path changes. 
   This problem becomes even more critical if the printing system prints on label media having die cut labels. In order to minimize wasting the die cut labels, it is necessary to feed the label media in a reverse feed direction to align the die cut label with the print head once the previously printed label has been dispensed. The changing beginning point of the label media path caused by the decreasing roll diameter makes it difficult to accurately align the label media with the print head. Therefore, a need exists for a printing cartridge which can be used in a cartridge-based printing system that defines a consistent beginning of the label media path. 
   Another problem with cartridge-based printing systems is that the cartridges are typically formed to accommodate a single label media width. As a result, a cartridge manufacturer must maintain an inventory of cartridges for each label media width. Therefore, a need exists for a label media cartridge that can be used for a variety of label media widths. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides a printer cartridge suitable for use in a cartridge-based printer. The printer cartridge houses and dispenses a roll of label media, and includes a housing having a top wall and a bottom wall. A yoke pivotally mounted between the top and bottom walls for pivotable movement about a pivot axis includes a label media supply shaft for holding a roll of label media. The label media supply shaft has a longitudinal axis spaced from, and parallel to, the pivot axis. A label media drive roller is rotatably mounted between the top and bottom walls, and a biasing means biases the yoke toward the label media drive roller to maintain the roll of label media in contact with the label media drive roller and define a beginning of a media path. In one embodiment, the yoke is adjustable to accommodate different label media widths. 
   A general objective of the present invention is to provide a cartridge that can house a roll of label media and define a consistent beginning of the label media path as the diameter of the roll of label media decreases. This objective is accomplished by providing a cartridge having a pivotally mounted yoke that maintains label media supported by the yoke in contact with a label media drive roller to define a consistent beginning of the label media path. 
   Another objective of the present invention is to provide a cartridge that can accommodate label media having different widths. This objective is accomplished by providing a yoke having a movable media guide that accommodates different label media widths. 
   The foregoing and other objectives and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description. In the description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which there is shown by way of illustration a preferred embodiment of the invention. Such embodiment does not necessarily represent the full scope of the invention, however, and reference is made therefore to the claims herein for interpreting the scope of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a hand held label printer incorporating the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the printer of  FIG. 1  with the cartridge and top portion, keyboard, and display removed; 
       FIG. 3  is a top perspective view of the cartridge of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a bottom perspective view of the cartridge of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a top view of the cartridge of  FIG. 1  received in the cartridge receptacle with the top wall of the cartridge removed; 
       FIG. 6  is a top perspective view of the base of the cartridge housing of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 7  is a top perspective view of the cartridge of  FIG. 3  with the cover removed; 
       FIG. 8  is a bottom perspective view of the cover of the cartridge housing of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 9  is a bottom perspective view of the cartridge of  FIG. 3  with the base removed; 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the yoke of  FIG. 7 ; 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the first media guide of  FIG. 10 ; 
       FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the second media guide of  FIG. 10 ; 
       FIG. 13  is a detailed perspective view of the pivot shaft interfacing with the second media guide of  FIG. 10 ; and 
       FIG. 14  is a detailed perspective view of the pivot shaft and torsion spring of the first media guide of  FIG. 10 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring particularly to  FIGS. 1–5 , a hand held thermal printer  10  employing a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a molded plastic housing  2  that supports a keyboard  4  on its front surface and a display  6  positioned above the keyboard  4 . An opening  8  formed in the housing  2  above the display  6  receives a cartridge  12  containing label media  14  and an ink ribbon  16 . The cartridge  12  is inserted through the opening  8  into a cartridge receptacle  18  housed in the printer housing  2 . The label media  14  and ink ribbon  16  from the cartridge  12  are threaded through a printer mechanism assembly  20 . The printer mechanism assembly  20  includes a print head  22  and a platen roller  24  for printing indicia on labels forming part of the label media  14 . The printed labels pass through a cutter mechanism  26  which cuts the label media  14  to separate the printed labels from unprinted labels. 
   The label media  14  is known in the art, and generally comprises a carrier web which supports a series of adhesive labels. The size, width, color, and type of web material varies depending upon the particular print application. The label media  14  is dispensed from the cartridge  12 , and urged along a web path as it is consumed by the printer  10 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 3–9 , the cartridge  12  includes a cartridge housing  28  having a top wall  30  and a bottom wall  32  joined by a periphery wall  34 . The periphery wall  34  defines a label media and ink ribbon container for housing the label media and ink ribbon on spools. The label media  14  and ink ribbon  16  from the cartridge housing  28  pass out of the cartridge housing  28  through an exit slot  29  and into a printing area  38  external to the cartridge housing  28  for engagement with the platen roller  24  and print head  22 . The used ink ribbon  16  reenters the cartridge housing  28 , and is wound onto an ink ribbon take up spool  40  rotatably mounted in the cartridge housing  28 . 
   The cartridge housing  28  disclosed herein is formed from a base  68  joined to a cover  70 . The base  68  includes the cartridge housing bottom wall  32  and a lower portion  72  of the periphery wall  34 . Ribs  74  spaced along the lower portion  72  of the periphery wall  34  include guide holes  76 . Each guide hole  76  is formed in the free end of each rib  74  adjacent the free edge of the periphery wall lower portion  72  for receiving guide pins  78  extending from the cover  70 . A pair of catches  80  are formed in an outwardly facing surface  82  of the periphery wall lower portion  72  for engaging latches  84  extending from the cover  70  to lock the base  68  and cover  70  together. 
   Drive shaft openings  86  formed in the bottom wall  32  receive drive shafts  92 ,  96 ,  100  therethrough for driving an ink ribbon supply spool  48 , ink ribbon take up spool  40 , and a label media drive roller  46  rotatably mounted in the cartridge housing  28 . A circular recess  88  is formed around each drive shaft opening  86  in the inwardly facing surface  90  of the bottom wall  32 . Each recess  88  receives a drag washer  95  for inducing drag during rotation of the ink ribbon supply spool  48 , ink ribbon take up spool  40 , and the label media drive roller  46 . A smaller opening  99  formed through the bottom wall  32  adjacent the periphery wall lower portion  72  receives one end of a pivot shaft  103  forming part of the yoke  42  supporting the label media  14 . 
   The cover  70  includes the cartridge housing top wall  30  and an upper portion  104  of the periphery wall  34 . Cover ribs  106  spaced along the upper portion  104  of the periphery wall  34  are aligned with the base ribs  74  and include the guide pins  78  received in the guide holes  76  formed in the base ribs  74 . Each guide pin  78  extends from each cover rib  106  adjacent the free edge of the periphery wall upper portion  104 . The pair of latches  84  extend from the free edge of the periphery wall upper portion  104  for engaging the catches  80  formed in the base  68 . An inwardly extending boss  108  formed in the cartridge housing top wall  30  receives the other end of the pivot shaft  103  forming part of the yoke  42 . 
   First, second, and third cylindrical support columns  110 ,  112 ,  114  extend inwardly from the cartridge housing top wall  30 . Each support column  110 ,  112 ,  114  rotatably supports either the ink ribbon supply spool  48 , ink ribbon take up spool  40 , or the label media drive roller  46 . A coil spring  116  wrapped around each support column  110 ,  112 ,  114  urges the respective spool  48 ,  40  and label media drive roller  46  toward the cartridge housing bottom wall  32  and into engagement with a drag washer  95  received in the respective recess  88 . 
   Unused ink ribbon  16  is housed in the cartridge housing  28  on the ink ribbon supply spool  48  and, once the ink ribbon  16  travels past the print head  22 , is wound onto the ink ribbon take up spool  40 . The ink ribbon supply and take up spools  48 ,  40  are both rotatably supported in the cartridge housing  28  on the second and third columns  112 ,  114 , respectively. The ink ribbon take up and supply spools  40 ,  48  are selectively rotatably driven by an ink ribbon rewind shaft  100  and ink ribbon unwind shaft  96 , respectively, which form part of a drive mechanism to maintain tension in the ink ribbon  16  in the forward and reverse feed directions. 
   The ink ribbon supply spool  48  is rotatably mounted on the second support column  112  between the cartridge housing top and bottom walls  30 ,  32 , and has a roll of ink ribbon  16  wound thereon. In the forward feed direction, the ink ribbon  16  unwinds from the ink ribbon supply spool  48  and passes out of the cartridge  12  with the label media  14  through the printing area  38  between the print head  22  and platen roller  24 . The print head  22  engages the ink ribbon  16  to transfer ink on the ink ribbon  16  onto the label media  14 . Once the ink has been transferred, the ink ribbon  16  reenters the cartridge  12 , and is wound onto the ink ribbon take up spool  40  supported between the top and bottom walls  30 ,  32 . 
   The ink ribbon take up spool  40  is rotatably mounted on the third support column  114  between the cartridge housing top and bottom walls  30 ,  32 , and, as described above, winds used ink ribbon  16  thereon in the forward feed direction. In the reverse feed direction, the ink ribbon  16  unwinds from the ink ribbon take up spool  40  and passes out of the cartridge  12  through the printing area  38  between the print head  22  and platen roller  24 , and is wound onto the ink ribbon supply spool  48 . 
   The label media drive roller  46  is rotatably mounted on the first support column  110  between the cartridge housing top and bottom walls  30 ,  32 , and engages the label media  14  to define the beginning of the label media path. The beginning of the label media path is defined as the point of contact between the label media drive roller  46  and the label media  14  on the roll supported by the yoke  42 . Preferably, the label media drive roller  46  is rubber coated, and in a forward feed direction provides a constant tension in the label media  14  between the label media drive roller  46  and the print head  22  and platen roller  24 . In a reverse feed direction, a label media drive shaft  92  forming part of the drive mechanism drives the label media drive roller  46  to maintain tension in the label media  14  between the label media drive roller  46  and platen roller  24  and print head  22 . 
   Each drag washer  95  is received in one of the circular recesses  88  formed around each drive shaft opening  86  of the cartridge housing  28 , and frictionally engages one of the ink ribbon supply spool  48 , take up spools  40 , and label media drive roller  46  to induce a drag, or torque level, on the rotating spools  48 ,  40  and roller  46  in order to maintain tension in the label media  14  and ink ribbon  16 . The coil springs  116  urge the spools  48 ,  40  and roller  46  against the drag washers  95  to provide the desired drag. The drag can be adjusted to a desired level using methods known in the art, such as texturing the washers, changing the spring constant of the coil springs, and the like, without departing from the scope of the invention. Of course, other methods for inducing drag can be used, such as introducing a drag in the spools and roller through the drive mechanism, frictionally engaging the spools and/or roller with the cartridge, a spring, or other structure, without departing from the scope of the invention. 
   The label media  14  engaging the label media drive roller  46  is housed in the cartridge housing  28  in the form of a roll rotatably mounted on the yoke  42 . Advantageously, in the embodiment disclosed herein, the yoke  42  is pivotally mounted to maintain a consistent beginning of the label media path as the diameter of the roll of label media  14  decreases. The yoke  42  pivots so that the label media drive roller  46  engages the roll of label media  14  at a point of tangency to the outside diameter of the roll of label media  14  to provide a constant beginning of the label media path regardless of the roll diameter. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 5–14 , the yoke  42  disclosed herein includes first and second label media guides  118 ,  120  joined by the pivot shaft  103  and label media supply shaft  122 . Each end of the pivot shaft  103  is received in either the boss  108  formed in the cartridge housing top wall  30  or the opening  99  formed in the cartridge housing bottom wall  32  to pivotally mount the yoke  42  in the cartridge housing  28 . The label media supply shaft  122  mounts the roll of label media  14 , either alone, or on a core  123 . Advantageously, the label media guides  118 ,  120  square the label media  14  relative to the cartridge exit slot  29  to prevent the label media  14  from jamming as it exits the cartridge housing  28 . 
   Preferably, the first label media guide  118  is fixed to, or formed as an integral part of, one end of the pivot shaft  103  and label media supply shaft  122 . The second label media guide  120  includes a pivot shaft opening  124  for slidably receiving the pivot shaft  103  and a label media supply shaft opening  126  for slidably receiving the label media supply shaft  122 . Advantageously, the second label media guide  120  is slidable along the pivot shaft  103  and label media supply shaft  122  to accommodate rolls of label media  14  having different widths. 
   The second label media guide  120  disclosed herein is positionable at a plurality of preset positions for accommodating rolls of label media  14  of predetermined widths. Although providing a yoke  42  having preset positions defining different widths is preferred, a yoke having infinite adjustability for accommodating any label media width between a minimum and a maximum, such as by sizing the pivot shaft and/or label media supply shaft to frictionally engage the pivot shaft opening and/or label media supply shaft opening, respectively, can be provided without departing from the scope of the invention. 
   In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 9–14 , the preset positions are defined by notches  128  formed in the pivot shaft  103  and label media supply shaft  122 . Latches  130  extending from the second label media guide  120  toward the first label media guide  118  engage the notches  128  to fix the second label media guide  120  relative to the first label media guide  118  at the desired preset position. Advantageously, this arrangement simplifies assembly of the cartridge  12  and minimizes the number of parts necessary for different widths of label media  14  because the same yoke  42  can be used to accommodate different label media widths. 
   The yoke  42  is pivotally biased by a torsion spring  44  toward the label media drive roller  46  rotatably mounted between the cartridge housing top and bottom walls  30 ,  32 . The torsion spring  44  is wrapped around the pivot shaft  103 , and has one end  132  engaging the first label media guide  118  and an opposing end  134  engaging the cartridge housing periphery wall  34  to urge the yoke  42 , and thus the roll of label media  14 , toward the label media drive roller  46 . Advantageously, the torsion spring  44  maintains the label media drive roller  46  in contact with the roll of label media  14  as the diameter of the roll of label media  14  decreases during use. Although a torsion spring is disclosed, any biasing means for biasing the yoke toward the label media drive roller, such as leaf springs, coil springs, elastomeric members, resilient media guides, or arms, and the like, can be used without departing from the scope of the invention. 
   Referring back to  FIGS. 1–5 , the cartridge  12  is received in the cartridge receptacle  18  housed in the printer housing  2 . The printer housing  2  is, preferably, formed from at least two portions  50 ,  52 , and houses printer components, such as the cartridge receptacle  18 , the keyboard  4 , display  6 , the cutter mechanism  26 , a printed circuit board  54  having printer circuitry, and the like. The opening  8  formed in the housing top portion  50  provides access to the cartridge receptacle  18  for insertion of the cartridge  12  into the cartridge receptacle  18 . A slot  56  formed in the housing  2  adjacent the cutter mechanism  26  provides an exit for label media  14  which has passed through the cutter mechanism  26 . 
   Referring to FIGS.  2  and  5 – 9 , the cartridge receptacle  18  has a periphery wall  58  generally shaped to conform with the cartridge periphery wall  34 , and a bottom wall  60  that supports the cartridge  12  therein. The cartridge receptacle periphery wall  58  surrounds the printer mechanism assembly  20  which is fixed in the printer housing  2  relative to the cartridge receptacle  18 . 
   The printer mechanism assembly  20  fixed relative to the cartridge receptacle  18  in the printer housing  2  includes the pivotable print head  22  and stationary platen roller  24 . The print head  22  cooperates with the ink ribbon  16  and the label media  14  such that the print head  22  can print characters or symbols on the label media  14 . This is described in greater detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,078,523 which is incorporated herein by reference. The platen roller  24  also forms part of the drive mechanism. 
   The drive mechanism drives the label media  14  and ink ribbon  16  past the print head  22 , and includes the platen roller drive shaft  62 , label media drive shaft  92 , ink ribbon rewind drive shaft  100 , and ink ribbon unwind drive shaft  96 . The drive mechanism selectively drives the rollers  24 ,  46  and spools  40 ,  48  to drive and tension the label media  14  and ink ribbon  16  in the forward and reverse feed directions. Preferably, the platen roller  24 , label media drive roller  46 , ink ribbon supply spool  48 , and ink ribbon take up spool  40  are all rotatably driven by a dual feed direction drive mechanism mounted to the bottom of the cartridge receptacle  18 , such as disclosed in a copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/639,548. Although the drive mechanism disclosed in the copending patent application is preferred, any drive mechanism known in the art that can feed the label media and ink ribbon in one or more feed directions can be used without departing from the scope of the invention. 
   The label media  14  and ink ribbon  16  passing through the printing area  38  are advanced past the print head  22  in the forward feed direction and reverse feed direction by the platen roller  24  which maintains the ink ribbon  16  and label media  14  in close cooperation with the print head  22 . The platen roller  24  is mounted on a platen roller drive shaft  62  which is rotatably mounted in the cartridge receptacle  18  by a bracket  66 . The print head  22  is pivotally mounted relative to the platen roller  24  in the cartridge receptacle  18  to provide space between the print head  22  and platen roller  24  when threading the label media  14  and ink ribbon  16  therebetween. 
   As the label media  14  and ink ribbon  16  are driven in the forward and reverse feed directions by the platen roller  24 , tension is maintained in the ink ribbon  16  and label media  14  by the label media drive shaft  92 , ink ribbon rewind drive shaft  100 , and ink ribbon unwind drive shaft  96 . The label media drive shaft  92 , ink ribbon rewind drive shaft  100 , and ink ribbon unwind drive shaft  96  are each received through one of the drive shaft openings  86  formed in the cartridge housing bottom wall  32  and into one of the first, second, and third support columns  110 ,  112 ,  114 . The drive shafts  92 ,  96 ,  100  extend through the support columns  110 ,  112 ,  114 , and engage inner surfaces  94 ,  98 ,  102  of, and rotatably drive, the label media drive roller  46 , ink ribbon supply spool  48 , and ink ribbon take up spool  40 , respectively. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1–14 , in use, the cartridge  12  is inserted into the cartridge receptacle  18  with the label media drive shaft  92  received in the label media drive roller  46 , the ink ribbon unwind drive shaft  96  received in the ink ribbon supply spool  48 , and the ink ribbon rewind drive shaft  100  received in the ink ribbon take up spool  40  to properly position the cartridge  12  in the cartridge receptacle  18  and thread the label media  14  and ink ribbon  16  between the platen roller  24  and print head  22 . The print head  22  is then urged toward the platen roller  24  to sandwich the label media  14  and ink ribbon  16  therebetween. 
   Once the cartridge  12  is locked in place, the printer  10  is ready to produce printed labels. When printing on the labels, the label media  14  and ink ribbon  16  are fed past the platen roller  24  and print head  22  by the platen roller  24  in the forward feed direction by driving the platen roller  24  in a first direction of rotation. The ink ribbon take up spool  40  is rotatably driven in the first direction of rotation to take up the used ink ribbon  16  fed past the print head  22  and maintain tension in the ink ribbon  16 . The label media drive roller  46  and ink ribbon supply spool  48  are not rotatably driven. The drag induced on the label media drive roller  46  and ink ribbon supply spool  48  by the drag washers  95  creates a tension in the label media  14  and ink ribbon  16  to prevent jams. 
   When a desired character is input by an operator or other means, the printer circuitry of the printer  10  energizes pixels on the print head  22  as the label media  14  and ink ribbon  16  advance past the print head  22 . The head pixels are variously energized to imprint the character on the label media  14 . This is described in greater detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,078,523 which has been incorporated herein by reference. 
   As label media  14  is unwound from the roll of label media  14 , the diameter of the roll of label media  14  is reduced. Advantageously, the yoke  42  pivots about the pivot axis defined by the pivot shaft  103  in the cartridge housing  28  to maintain the label media in contact with the label media drive roller  46  and define the consistent beginning of the label media path from the roll of label media  14 . 
   When a label has been printed, the platen roller  24  continues to drive the label media  14  and ink ribbon  16  in the forward feed direction to advance the label for removal by the user, such as by cutting the label media  14  using the cutter mechanism  26 . Once the portion of the label media  14  containing the printed label is removed, the remaining label media  14  and ink ribbon  16  are fed in the reverse feed direction by the platen roller  24  to position the next available label in position for printing without wasting the label media  14  and ink ribbon  16 . 
   The label media  14  and ink ribbon  16  are fed past the platen roller  24  and print head  22  in the reverse feed direction by driving the platen roller  24 , label media drive roller  46 , and ink ribbon supply spool  48  in a second direction of rotation. The platen roller  24  drives the label media  14  and ink ribbon  16  past the print head  22  while the ink ribbon  16  is wound onto the ink ribbon supply spool  48  and the label media  14  is urged onto the roll by the label media drive roller  46 . The pixels on the print head  22 , however, remain deenergized to avoid printing on the label as it is being repositioned for printing. The ink ribbon take up spool  40  is not rotatably driven, and the drag induced on the ink ribbon take up spool  40  by the drag washer  95  creates a tension in the ink ribbon  16  to prevent jams. 
   While there has been shown and described what is at present considered the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims. For example, the cartridge disclosed herein is for use with a roll of label media, however, any type of media in a roll and useable in a printer can be used without departing from the scope of the invention.