The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 02, 1979
Filed:
Jan. 31, 1978
Lloyd E Norman, Dallas, TX (US);
Texas Instruments Incorporated, Dallas, TX (US);
Abstract
Described is a printer mechanism which includes a platen rotatably mounted above a base, a medium upon which printing is to be accomplished and a printer unit disposed in printing relationship to the medium and the platen. A holder holds the printer unit and includes a ball and socket assembly for permitting the holder and printer to pivot about first and second orthogonal axes with respect to the platen. The holder also includes a projection which projects into a channel for inhibiting the holder and the printer unit from pivoting about a third axis, the third axis being orthoganol to both a first and second axes. The channel and an end of the ball and socket assembly are attached to the base. The printer unit is preferably of a non-inpact type such as a thermal printer unit which is mounted on a ceramic substrate for instance. The holder is urged toward the platen by means of a spring, which is attached to the holder and to the base. This mechanism enables a relatively wide printhead to follow small irregularities in the printing medium and in the platen and substantially even pressure is thereby applied across the printhead to provide uniform printed characters.