a hand held portable labeler includes a housing enclosing a movable print head , and the housing has a pivotal cover section which covers the print head . a molded plastic frame is pivotally supported by the cover section and has spaced u - shaped bearing surfaces for receiving the end journals of an ink roller positioned to apply ink to the selected printing characters of the print head . the journals are confined in the bearing surfaces by spaced arms of a molded plastic retainer pivotally supported by the frame and releasably secured by a finger depressable positive latch so that the ink roller may be quickly and conveniently replaced without contacting the ink applying surface of the roller .