Patent ID: 7537404

Claim:
A printer comprising: a printhead assembly having a first end and a second end and including a printhead extending therebetween; a ribbon supply assembly adapted and configured for rotatably receiving a spool having a quantity of ribbon; a ribbon take-up assembly configured and adapted to receive the ribbon; a support block assembly having first and second ends and including a platen roller extending therebetween, wherein the platen roller is independently mountable to and detachable from the support block assembly, the printhead assembly and the support block assembly forming a removable unit, wherein the first end of the printhead assembly is pivotably attached to the first end of the support block assembly and the second end of the printhead assembly is selectively secured to the second end of the support block assembly, wherein the second end of the printhead assembly moves away from and towards the second end of the support block assembly as the printhead assembly pivots about the first end of the support block assembly; a media sensing assembly including a sensor and an indicator, said indicator being rotatable relative to said sensor and said indicator includes alternating regions of at least two different reflectivities; and a motor assembly.