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:
Jun. 10, 1997
Filed:
Sep. 11, 1995
David S Nierescher, Renton, WA (US);
Intermec Corporation, Everett, WA (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for adjusting a printhead. The position of a thermal printhead for printing on a print medium that passes between the printhead and a print medium support member can be adjusted relative to the print medium support member. The adjustment is accomplished by adjusting the position of a shaft, attached to a printhead heat sink and passing through a printhead support member, relative to the printhead support member. The adjustment mechanism, placed at the end of the shaft passing through the printhead support member, includes a lever that can be adjusted rotationally with respect to the axis of the shaft. In one embodiment, the lever has a series of wedging surfaces of differing longitudinal thickness which engage a fastener near the end of the shaft. In another embodiment, the adjustment mechanism includes two levers, each having a series of wedging surfaces, but the longitudinal thicknesses of the wedging surface on one of the levers is greater than the thickness of any of the wedging surfaces on the other lever. The two levers interact with one another, with the printhead support member, and with the fastener on the shaft to provide for coarse and fine adjustments of the printhead position relative to the print medium support member. The spacing between the printhead support member and the printhead heat sink is adjusted by a compliant washer.