Thermal printer and components
First Claim
1. A thermal printer, comprising:
- a thermal print head for printing barcodes and alphanumeric information on a web of record members;
a stepper motor that is responsive to a periodic drive signal to advance the web of record members past the print head for printing wherein the drive signal controls speed of the stepper motor;
a controller that comprises a microprocessor which operates in accordance with software routines stored in a memory so as to control operations of the bar code printer;
a plurality of sensors, monitors, and detectors to monitor operating conditions of the bar code printer;
a frame comprising a female receptor with a matched slot for receiving a radial pin; and
a platen roller with a bayonet connector and a vertical spring that aligns a shaft of the platen roller and depresses for insertion into the slot and then is pushed upwards into the slot, such that the bayonet connector is no longer free to rotate unless pressure is depressed against the vertical spring to release it from the slot.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides for an improved printer provides a user with a simple, intuitive user-friendly touchscreen interface, is easy to assemble, and has a low cost to repair. The printer comprises a platen roller that can be changed without tools via the use of a bayonet connector, and an easy change print head that mechanically guides the print head into the carrier via mechanical guiding pins. Further, the printer comprises a universal supply holder to accommodate different sizes of inner diameter cores for tag and laminated supplies. The printer also discloses a ribbon spindle that accommodates both a cardboard core and a plastic core on the same printer device. Additionally, the printer discloses a media low sensor for providing a low supply indicator, and a gap sensor that comprises an LED array and a resistor array for gap sensing across the supply web.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A thermal printer, comprising:
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a thermal print head for printing barcodes and alphanumeric information on a web of record members; a stepper motor that is responsive to a periodic drive signal to advance the web of record members past the print head for printing wherein the drive signal controls speed of the stepper motor; a controller that comprises a microprocessor which operates in accordance with software routines stored in a memory so as to control operations of the bar code printer; a plurality of sensors, monitors, and detectors to monitor operating conditions of the bar code printer; a frame comprising a female receptor with a matched slot for receiving a radial pin; and a platen roller with a bayonet connector and a vertical spring that aligns a shaft of the platen roller and depresses for insertion into the slot and then is pushed upwards into the slot, such that the bayonet connector is no longer free to rotate unless pressure is depressed against the vertical spring to release it from the slot. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A thermal printer, comprising:
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a thermal print head for printing barcodes and alphanumeric information on a web of record members; a stepper motor that is responsive to a periodic drive signal to advance the web of record members past the print head for printing;
wherein the drive signal controls speed of the stepper motor which in turn controls print speed of the bar code printer;a controller that comprises a microprocessor which operates in accordance with software routines stored in a memory so as to control operations of the bar code printer; a plurality of sensors, monitors, and detectors to monitor operating conditions of the bar code printer; a supply holder assembly for retaining different sizes of supplies; and a ribbon spindle that can accommodate different ribbon cores and the ribbon spindle comprises a retaining pin for securely retaining a cardboard core to the ribbon spindle. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification