Print head with uniform loading
First Claim
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1. A print head assembly for a printer providing uniform pressure over a print face, the print head assembly comprising:
- a frame having a pair of opposite-facing side walls;
a platen roller rotatably mounted between the side walls of the frame about an axis of rotation;
a print head having a print face extending between ends of the print head, the print head being pivotally movable relative to the frame about a pivot axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the platen roller; and
at least one biasing member located between the frame and the print head, the at least one biasing member urging the print head towards the pivot axis with a first force and also urging the print face towards the platen roller with a second force, the first force being greater than the second force such that the first force maintains the pivot axis of the print head and the second force applies a uniform pressure over a width of the print face.
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Abstract
An improved print head assembly is disclosed that provides even pressure over the width of a print face across a platen roller. Accordingly, the print head assembly can perform edge-justified printing operations without portions of the print being faint or skewing due to uneven pressure across the print head.
22 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A print head assembly for a printer providing uniform pressure over a print face, the print head assembly comprising:
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a frame having a pair of opposite-facing side walls; a platen roller rotatably mounted between the side walls of the frame about an axis of rotation; a print head having a print face extending between ends of the print head, the print head being pivotally movable relative to the frame about a pivot axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the platen roller; and at least one biasing member located between the frame and the print head, the at least one biasing member urging the print head towards the pivot axis with a first force and also urging the print face towards the platen roller with a second force, the first force being greater than the second force such that the first force maintains the pivot axis of the print head and the second force applies a uniform pressure over a width of the print face. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A print head assembly for a printer providing uniform pressure over a print face, the print head assembly comprising:
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an upper print frame and a lower print frame, the lower print frame having a pair of opposite-facing side walls with a platen roller extending therebetween and a pair of locating slots formed therein; a print head movably coupled to the upper print frame, the print head having an upper face facing the upper print frame, a locating pivot shaft proximate one end of the print head, and a print face proximate an other end of the print head; a plurality of biasing members located between the upper print frame and the upper face of the print head including at least a first biasing member proximate the locating pivot shaft and at least a second biasing member proximate the print face, each of the at least one first biasing member being further from a centerline of the print head along a direction of printing than the at least one second biasing member proximate the printing face; wherein, when the upper print frame and the lower print frame are coupled together, the at least one first biasing member proximate the locating pivot shaft urges the locating pivot shaft into the pair of locating slots such that the print head assembly can pivot about the locating pivot shaft while the at least one second biasing member proximate the print face provides uniform pressure across the print face over the length of the platen roller without skewing of the print head. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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Specification