Texas Instruments Corporation

John W Richardson

Michael J Cochran

Stephen P Hamilton

Larry D Propst

Richard D Harris

Robert E Belland

A method of assembling, positioning, and making connections to a thermal printhead is disclosed. A substrate is provided upon which heating elements or mesas are mounted. Leads from these heating elements are continued on the same side of the substrate as the one on which the elements are located. The leads are brought to terminal pads where connections may be made to the logic circuit which selectively energizes the heating elements to form numerals or characters on heat sensitive paper. A flat flexible cable with conductor ends exposed is held in place so that the exposed conductor ends make contact with the terminal pads of one or more of such substrates. The substrates and cable are clamped together by two metal plates. This entire assembly is mounted on a spring-loaded pivot arrangement so as to hold the heating elements against the heat sensitive paper on an advancing platen. Connections may be made between the cable conductors and the printing logic to allow the heating elements to be energized.

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Garland, TX, United States of America

John W Richardson