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. 10, 2006
Filed:
Sep. 22, 2005
Mitsuhiko Nebashi, Nagano, JP;
Motoyoshi Shirotori, Nagano, JP;
Mitsuhiko Nebashi, Nagano, JP;
Motoyoshi Shirotori, Nagano, JP;
Seiko Epson Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A first frame supports one of a platen and a dot-impact type print head. A second frame supports the other one of the platen and the print head. The second frame is supported by the first frame so as to be pivotable between a first position and a second position. The first position is a position where the print head opposes the platen to define a printing position at which printing is performed on a printing medium through an ink ribbon which are placed between the print head and the platen. The second position is a position where the print head and the platen are not opposed to each other. The printing medium which has been passed through the printing position is discharged from a discharge port. A first path for guiding the printing medium is defined by a first member provided on the first frame and a second member provided on the second frame so as to extend through the printing position to the discharge port, in a case where the second frame is placed at the first position. A second path for guiding the ink ribbon to be placed at the printing position is defined by a third member and a fourth member provided on the first frame so as to branch from a downstream portion of the printing position.