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:
Dec. 21, 1999
Filed:
Sep. 11, 1998
Steven F Petteruti, East Greenwich, RI (US);
Richard J Preliasco, North Kingston, RI (US);
Comtec Informationsystems, Inc., Warwick, RI (US);
Abstract
A miniature printer is provided with a printer mechanism in a housing. A thermal printhead is fixedly mounted in the mechanism. The mechanism and the housing define a compartment for a roll of paper which is loosely disposed in the housing and is extended over the thermal printhead. The compartment is closed by a cover hinged to the housing at one end thereof. A platen roller is located in the cover in an opening larger than the shaft of the roller, which opening and cover provides a floating mount for the platen roller. A driven gear which rotates the platen roller is mounted on the shaft near one end thereof. A pair of hairpin springs have ends which are located in the path which the platen roller takes as the cover is closed and moves into engagement with the platen roller. These springs are deflected backwardly away from the printhead as the platen roller passes over the springs and then toward the printhead so as to reseat a portion of the springs to the platen roller shaft, and specifically to bushings on opposite sides of the platen roller on the shaft. The springs align the platen roller with the printing elements on the printhead and bias the platen roller into engagement with the printhead, while latching the platen roller and the cover in closed position. The driven gear on the shaft also is aligned with the last gear of a train of gears from a motor to drive the platen. The housing mounts the electronics of the printer, which are on a printed circuit board, and also a magnetic card reader. Another cover extends from the cover carrying the platen roller and covers the housing while exposing an opening in the magnetic card reader across which a magnetic card may be swiped for reading the data on the magnetic track of the card.