Patent ID: 7220068

Claim:
A marking device for printing indicia on print media, the marking device including: a housing comprising a base housing, an upper housing moveable with respect to the base housing and an opening in said base housing defining a printing zone; a printing mechanism within the housing, including: a printing means for printing said indicia through said opening; storage means for storing information required to print said indicia said storage means including memory means; moving means for moving said printing means with respect to said housing and said print media during printing; ink supply means fixed relative to part of the housing, the ink supply means supplying ink to the printing means via at least one flexible tube; and processor means for processing said information and for controlling said printing means to print said indicia as said printing means is moved with respect to said print media; wherein compression of the housing causes the upper housing to move with respect to the base housing, said compression causing said moving means to move said printing means across said opening; and wherein said moving means comprises an arm pivotally attached at a first end to said printing means and pivotally attached at a second end to said upper housing, the marking device further including guide means to constrain motion of the printing means to a linear motion across the opening; wherein said ink supply means includes an ink connector compartment disposed between an ink cartridge and the at least one flexible tube; wherein said ink cartridge is replaceable and comprises: a body; one or more flanges at an exterior face of said body, said one or more flanges being received in a recess of at least one side wall of said base housing; said one or more flanges providing a gripping portion for removal of said body from said base housing; wherein said body is received in said base housing such that said exterior face of said body is mounted flush with said base housing such that said body does not impede the movement of said upper housing with respect to said base housing.