Patent Publication Number: US-2023133136-A1

Title: Pressure Mechanism for Holding a Position of a Printhead

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates generally to a printhead and, for example, to a pressure mechanism for controlling a position of a printhead. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A printhead of a printer may include an assembly with a mechanism that is configured to apply pressure toward a platen (or other surface) of the printer during a printing operation. Over time, debris may accumulate within the printer, within or on the printhead, and/or on the platen. Accordingly, there is a need for the mechanism to be adjustable to enable a user to easily perform maintenance on the printhead (e.g., to clean a roller of the platen, clean the printhead, address a media/paper jam, or the like), replace the printhead, and/or return the printhead to an operational position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a diagram of an example implementation of a print mechanism of a printer described herein. 
         FIG.  2    is a diagram of an example implementation of a print mechanism described herein. 
         FIG.  3    is a diagram of an example implementation of an actuator described herein. 
         FIG.  4    is a diagram of an example implementation of a retainer described herein. 
         FIG.  5    is a diagram of an example implementation of the retainer of  FIG.  4    and the actuator of  FIG.  3   . 
         FIG.  6    is a diagram of an example implementation of a retainer associated with a print mechanism in a closed position as described herein. 
         FIG.  7    is a diagram of an example implementation of a retainer associated with a print mechanism in an open position as described herein. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following detailed description of example implementations refers to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers in different drawings may identify the same or similar elements. 
     A toggle assembly of a print mechanism of a printer may allow for maintenance on the print mechanism and/or other components of the printer. For example, the toggle assembly may enable the print mechanism to be rotatable between a closed position for printing and an open position for access to one or more components of the printer (e.g., a platen or other components that may be inaccessible when the print mechanism is in the closed position). The toggle assembly, when in an open position (e.g., to correspondingly place the print mechanism in the open position), may reduce a pressure applied by a printhead of the print mechanism relative to the toggle assembly (and/or print mechanism) being in the closed position for printing. In some cases, the toggle assembly when rotated toward the open position is to be lifted upward, away from a print surface (e.g., a platen surface or other surface that receives or supports media during a printing operation) of the printer. Due to physical aspects of the toggle assembly and/or print mechanism, unless the toggle assembly is held in the open position by the user, the toggle assembly may return (or fall) back to the closed position (e.g., due to the toggle assembly being rotated upward, due to the print mechanism being lifted upward, and/or due to the weight of the print mechanism). Accordingly, the user may only have use of one hand or may need to prop the toggle assembly and/or the print mechanism in the open position using a tool or other object, which can cause damage to the print mechanism and/or other components of the printer. 
     Some implementations described herein provide a pressure mechanism for a print mechanism that is configured to hold a position of the print mechanism in either a closed position (e.g., a first position) or an open position (e.g., a second position). For example, the pressure mechanism may include an actuator and a retainer that is slidable within a sleeve of the actuator. The pressure loaded retainer may include one or more teeth that are to slide along a cam when the actuator is rotated between the closed position and the open position. The retainer may be spring loaded to cause, when being rotated away from the open position, the pressure mechanism to return to the closed position once a tooth surface of the tooth is slid into contact with the cam. In this way, the pressure mechanism and/or print mechanism may be configured to enable access to internal components without requiring additional support from a user or object in an open position, thereby improving accessibility for maintenance and/or facilitating maintenance on the print mechanism and/or other components of the printer. Furthermore, the pressure mechanism may ensure that the print mechanism is returned to the closed position, thereby ensuring that a desired amount of pressure is applied by the print mechanism during printing. 
       FIG.  1    is a diagram of an example implementation  100  of a print mechanism  102  of a printer described herein. As shown in  FIG.  1   , the print mechanism  102  is in an open position and is configured to enable access (e.g., through creating space) to a platen  104  or other components beneath the print mechanism  102  (e.g., to facilitate maintenance on the print mechanism  102 , the platen  104 , and/or other components of the printer). The platen  104  may receive or support media (e.g., paper or other type of material) during a printing operation to enable the printer to print content to the media via the print mechanism  102  according to the printing operation. 
     The print mechanism  102  includes a web pressure mechanism  106 , an actuator  108 , a handle  110 , a printhead carrier  112  that includes a printhead  114 , and a connection strap  116 . The platen  104  may be supported by a platen support frame  118 . The web pressure mechanism  106  may be configured to apply pressure toward the printhead  114  (e.g., when the print mechanism  102  is in a closed position), as described herein. 
     The connection strap  116  may be attached to the handle  110  and the printhead carrier  112 . Accordingly, when the actuator  108  is rotated in association with the handle  110 , the connection strap  116  may cause the printhead carrier  114  to pivot about a pivot axis  120 . In this way, when the handle  110  is moved between an open position and a closed position, the print mechanism  102  may correspondingly move between the open position and a closed position. 
       FIG.  2    is a diagram of an example implementation  100  of the print mechanism  102 . As shown in  FIG.  2   , the print mechanism  102  is in a closed position (e.g., a first position) and configured to provide pressure toward the platen  104  during a printing operation to enable the printhead  114  to print content on media supported by the platen  104 . 
     The print mechanism  102  may apply the pressure via one or more of the web pressure mechanisms  106  (downward pressure as indicated by solid arrows). As described herein, the actuator  108  of the print mechanism  102  may include a handle  110  (or toggle) that enables a user to rotate (as shown by a dotted arrow) the actuator  108  between the closed position and the open position (e.g., a second position) of the print mechanism  102  (e.g., to allow the user to access the platen  104  or other components obstructed by the print mechanism  102 ). The actuator  108  may be attached to or supported by a support member  202  (e.g., a cylindrical shaft or other suitably shaft support) of a support frame  204  of the print mechanism  102  that enables the actuator  108  to rotate about a support axis of the support member  202 , as described elsewhere herein. 
       FIG.  3    is a diagram of an example implementation  300  of the actuator  108  of the print mechanism  102 . As shown, the actuator  108  may include a sleeve  302  that is configured to receive a retainer that is described elsewhere herein. The sleeve  302  includes a recess  304  that is disposed on an end of the actuator  108 . The recess  304  of the sleeve  302  may include an edge that serves as a cam  306  (or other appropriately shaped surface), as described herein. The cam  306 , due to being in contact with a tooth of a retainer of the print mechanism  102 , to cause the retainer to rotate about a support axis  308  of the support member  202 . The support axis  308  may correspond to a rotational axis of the actuator  108 . As described elsewhere herein, the retainer may slide into the recess  304  or out of the recess  304  when the actuator  108  is rotated between the open position and closed position, respectively. 
     The cam  306  of the actuator  108  may be disposed on a handle end  310  of the actuator  108  to permit a portion of the retainer (e.g., a tooth or a surface of the tooth) to move into the sleeve  302  (e.g., within an opening plane of the sleeve  302 ) or out of the sleeve  302  (e.g., outside of the opening plane of the sleeve  302 ). 
     In some implementations, the actuator  108  may include different recesses in different configurations that enable the retainer to be received (or locked) into different positions when the actuator  108  is in the open position and in the closed position. For example, the sleeve  302  may include a first recess to receive a tooth of the retainer in the closed position and a second recess to receive the tooth of the retainer in the open position. In some implementations, one or more of the recesses may correspond to a surface of the handle end  310 . 
       FIG.  4    is a diagram of an example implementation  400  of a retainer assembly  402  of the print mechanism  102 .  FIG.  4    includes an exploded view of the retainer assembly  402  and the actuator  108 . 
     The retainer assembly  402  may include a spring  404 , a fastener  406 , and a retainer  408 . The spring  404  may be received within a compartment  410  of the retainer  408 . The fastener  406  may be received through the spring  404  (e.g., such that the spring  404  is coiled around the fastener  406 ) and through an opening in a base of the compartment (e.g., in a center of a proximal end of the retainer  408  that engages with the spring  404 ) of the retainer  408  and through the spring  404  (such that the spring is coiled around the fastener  406 ). The fastener  406  may be configured to attach to the support member  202  (shown in  FIG.  4    as a dashed line within the actuator  108 ). For example, the support member  202  may include a threaded opening in a support structure (e.g., a shaft of the support member  202  that attaches to the support frame  204 ) that enables the fastener  406  to be screwed into the support member  202 . The threaded opening and/or the fastener  406  may be axially aligned along the support axis  308  (e.g., an axis of rotation about which the actuator  108  pivots). 
     In this way, when the retainer assembly  402  is installed within the print mechanism  102  (and/or attached to the support member  202 ) the fastener  406  and/or the retainer  408  (via the compartment of the retainer  408 ) may hold the spring  404  within the compartment  410 . Furthermore, once the retainer assembly  402  is installed, the spring  404  may be loaded with pressure, thereby causing the retainer  408  to become a pressure-loaded retainer. For example, the spring  404  may be configured to apply the pressure in an inward direction  412  (e.g., toward the support member  202  of the actuator  108 ) based on being positioned against a head  414  of the fastener  406 . In this way, the retainer  408  may be biased via the spring  404 . 
     The retainer  408  may be slidable within the sleeve  302  based on a position of the actuator  108 . For example, as shown, the retainer  408  may include a tooth  416  that is to be received by a recess  304  when the actuator  108  (or print mechanism  102 ) is in an open position. Additionally, or alternatively, the tooth  416  of the retainer  408  may be configured to be engaged with the handle end  310  (or a surface of the handle end  310 ) of the actuator  108  (which may include or serve as another recess that receives the tooth  416 ) when the actuator  108  (or print mechanism  102 ) is in the closed position. Accordingly, the recess  314  may receive the tooth  416  when the print mechanism  102  is in the closed position, and the second recess  304 b may receive the tooth  416  when the print mechanism  102  is in the open position. A tooth surface  418  of the tooth  416  is configured to slide, as the actuator  108  is rotated between the closed position and the open position, along a cam surface of the cam  206  in an axial direction (e.g., the inward direction  412  or an outward direction  420  that is parallel to the support axis  308 ). 
     The retainer  408  (and/or retainer assembly  402 ) may have a proximal end  422  and a distal end  424 . As shown, the tooth  416  may extend from the distal end  424  toward the proximal end  422 . As described herein, in the closed position, the distal end  424  of the retainer  408  may be in an outward position relative to the sleeve  302  and/or an opening plane  426  of the sleeve  302 . Furthermore, in the open position, the distal end  424  of the retainer  408  may be in an inward position relative to the sleeve  302  (e.g., positioned nearer the sleeve  302  than when in the closed position). 
     When the fastener  406  is attached to the support member  202  to attach the retainer assembly  402  to the support member  202 , the retainer  408  may be rotationally fixed (e.g., configured not to rotate about the support axis  308 ) while the actuator  108  is configured to rotate while the retainer  408  engages with (e.g., is slidably in contact with) the cam  306  of the actuator  108 . For example, the retainer  408  may include one or more ribs  428  that are configured to be received within corresponding slots  430  of the support member  202 . Accordingly, when the ribs  428  are within the slots  430 , the retainer  408  may be prevented from rotating (e.g., while the actuator  108  rotates about the support axis  308 ). 
       FIG.  5    is an exploded view of an example implementation  500  of the retainer assembly  402  being received within the actuator  108 . As shown, the spring  404 , the fastener  406 , and the retainer  408  are aligned along the support axis  308  as the retainer assembly  402  is received within the sleeve  302  of the actuator  108 . 
       FIG.  6    is a diagram of an example implementation  600  of the print mechanism  102  in a closed position as described herein. As shown, in the closed position, the retainer assembly  402  is attached to the support member  202  via the fastener  406 . In some implementations, in the closed position, the proximal end  422  of the retainer  408  is within the sleeve  302  of the actuator  108  and the tooth  416  may engage or be in contact with the handle end  310  (e.g., at the opening plane  426 ). 
     When the actuator  108  is rotated upward toward the open position (as shown by the dotted arrow) the tooth  416  of the retainer  408  may lock in an inward position relative to the sleeve  302  (as shown in  FIG.  7   ), as the retainer assembly  402  moves axially (e.g., along the support axis  308 ) into the sleeve  302 . When the actuator  108  is in the closed position, the tooth  416  of the retainer  408  may lock in an outward position relative to the sleeve  302  (as shown in  FIG.  6   ). The retainer  408  may remain slidable between the inward position and the outward position when the actuator  108  is between the open position and the closed position. 
       FIG.  7    is a diagram of an example implementation  700  of the print mechanism  102  in an open position as described herein. As shown, in the open position, the retainer assembly  402  is received within the actuator  108  (e.g., within the sleeve  302  of the actuator), such that the distal end  424  of the retainer  408  is nearer the actuator  108  than when the print mechanism  102  is in the closed position (as shown in  FIG.  6   ). For example, the actuator  108  may move axially along the support axis  308  outward or toward the retainer  408  as the actuator  108  is rotated toward the open position. 
     When the actuator  108  is rotated downward toward the closed position (as shown by the dotted arrow) the tooth  416  of the retainer  408  may lock in an outward position relative to the sleeve  302  (as shown in  FIG.  6   ), as the tooth  416  of retainer assembly  402  moves axially (e.g., along the support axis  308 ) out of (or away from) the sleeve  302 . For example, retainer  408  may move axially along the support axis  308  inward or away from the actuator  108  as the actuator  108  is rotated toward the closed position. 
     As indicated above,  FIGS.  1 - 7    are provided as an example. Other examples may differ from what is described with regard to  FIGS.  1 - 7   . The number and arrangement of devices shown in  FIGS.  1 - 7    are provided as an example. In practice, there may be additional devices, fewer devices, different devices, or differently arranged devices than those shown in  FIGS.  1 - 7   . Furthermore, two or more devices shown in  FIGS.  1 - 7    may be implemented within a single device, or a single device shown in  FIGS.  1 - 7    may be implemented as multiple, distributed devices. Additionally, or alternatively, a set of devices (e.g., one or more devices) shown in  FIGS.  1 - 7    may perform one or more functions described as being performed by another set of devices shown in  FIGS.  1 - 7   . 
     The foregoing disclosure provides illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the implementations to the precise forms disclosed. Modifications and variations may be made in light of the above disclosure or may be acquired from practice of the implementations. 
     It will be apparent that systems and/or methods described herein may be implemented in different forms of hardware, firmware, or a combination of hardware and software. The actual specialized control hardware or software code used to implement these systems and/or methods is not limiting of the implementations. Thus, the operation and behavior of the systems and/or methods are described herein without reference to specific software code—it being understood that software and hardware can be designed to implement the systems and/or methods based on the description herein. 
     Even though particular combinations of features are recited in the claims and/or disclosed in the specification, these combinations are not intended to limit the disclosure of various implementations. In fact, many of these features may be combined in ways not specifically recited in the claims and/or disclosed in the specification. Although each dependent claim listed below may directly depend on only one claim, the disclosure of various implementations includes each dependent claim in combination with every other claim in the claim set. As used herein, a phrase referring to “at least one of” a list of items refers to any combination of those items, including single members. As an example, “at least one of: a, b, or c” is intended to cover a, b, c, a-b, a-c, b-c, and a-b-c, as well as any combination with multiple of the same item. 
     No element, act, or instruction used herein should be construed as critical or essential unless explicitly described as such. Also, as used herein, the articles “a” and “an” are intended to include one or more items, and may be used interchangeably with “one or more.” Further, as used herein, the article “the” is intended to include one or more items referenced in connection with the article “the” and may be used interchangeably with “the one or more.” Furthermore, as used herein, the term “set” is intended to include one or more items (e.g., related items, unrelated items, or a combination of related and unrelated items), and may be used interchangeably with “one or more.” Where only one item is intended, the phrase “only one” or similar language is used. Also, as used herein, the terms “has,” “have,” “having,” or the like are intended to be open-ended terms. Further, the phrase “based on” is intended to mean “based, at least in part, on” unless explicitly stated otherwise. Also, as used herein, the term “or” is intended to be inclusive when used in a series and may be used interchangeably with “and/or,” unless explicitly stated otherwise (e.g., if used in combination with “either” or “only one of”).