Post Technologies, Inc.

Russell Fish, Iii

James Rolfe Yurchenco

An electronic mail terminal 10 that includes a keyboard 12, multi-character display 14, thermal printer 22, tape drive 118, and communication and control circuitry. The tape drive and printer mount to molded-in features of a base housing 20. A printed circuit board 28 containing the communication and control circuitry and the display is mounted to molded-in features of the base housing. The keyboard plugs into the printed circuit board from above and is supported at the sides by stand-offs in the base housing. A cover housing 88 mates with molded-in features of the base housing. The tape drive mechanism includes cassette guides 98 and 376 that are molded into the base and cover housings and a spring loaded motor mount that automatically compensates for wear and positioning tolerances. A printer carriage motor 184 drives a toothed belt 182 to position a carriage 138 which holds a thermal print head 140. An optical encoder 146 and a mechanical switch 194 provide position feedback of carriage position to the control circuitry. A paper advance motor 256 advances the paper through a worm gear train 256, 262 with position feedback provided by a mechanical switch 280. The printer carriage is a molded plastic runner to which the toothed belt and the thermal print head attaches. A metal clip 340 provides an easily removable mounting for the print head.

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Mountain View, CA, United States of America

Russell Fish, Iii