Portable modular work station including printer and portable data collection terminal
First Claim
1. A printing apparatus for use with a portable computer, the portable computer having a user interface thereon and a top end to which an accessory or an antenna may optionally be attached, comprising:
- a) a housing,b) a printer module, located in said housing, having a printer for printing information,c) a docking module, located in said housing, for mechanically receiving the portable computer, andd) a connector system for electrically connecting the portable computer, while received by said docking module, to said printer module, so that information can be communicated from the portable computer to said printer,wherein said docking module is capable of receiving portable computers of various sizes.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Data collection apparatus includes an assemblage of a data collection terminal and a carrying case which is a combination of a printer module and a docking module which are joined and combined into a unitary structure. The carrying case has an attached handle which is preferably attached to the printer module. The carrying case further includes a holder for temporarily grasping an data collection accessory, such as a bar code scanner. The data terminal is quickly insertible and removable from the docking module. Communication connectors and communication wiring becomes coupled to the data collection terminal upon insertion of the data collection terminal into the docking module. If the data collection terminal is equipped with a scanner device attached by cable to the data collection terminal, the scanner device may temporarily be stored in the holder, such that the data collection terminal, including such a scanner, and a printer within the printer module can be ported at a single unit between various use points. The data collection terminal including the scanner may be operated while disposed within the docking module of the carrying case. As an assemblage with the apparatus, a support structure in form of a formed tray includes provisions for attachment to a shopping cart. The tray also includes a support frame about a cavity of the tray. The carrying case may be placed into the support frame such that the data collection terminal may be operated from within the docking module of the carrying case while the carrying case is supported by the tray within a shopping cart.
112 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A printing apparatus for use with a portable computer, the portable computer having a user interface thereon and a top end to which an accessory or an antenna may optionally be attached, comprising:
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a) a housing, b) a printer module, located in said housing, having a printer for printing information, c) a docking module, located in said housing, for mechanically receiving the portable computer, and d) a connector system for electrically connecting the portable computer, while received by said docking module, to said printer module, so that information can be communicated from the portable computer to said printer, wherein said docking module is capable of receiving portable computers of various sizes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification