Patent ID: 7417658

Claim:
A thermal printing mechanism, comprising: a chassis made in plastic material housing driving means for a printable tape, a thermal printing head, means for contacting the tape against the printing head, and electronic means for controlling dynamic members of the mechanism, the tape driving means comprising a motor for driving a reserve roll of tape so that the tape circulates between the printing head and a support roller driven into rotation by the motor, the means for contacting the tape against the printing head comprising an elastic member for pushing the printing head towards the support roller, the chassis being equipped with a rigidification plate made in a metallic material extending substantially over its length, the chassis and the rigidification plate being separate components, wherein the rigidification plate is fixed to the chassis so that the rigidification plate is immobilized on the chassis in translation as well as in rotation about itself, and the motor is fixed to the rigidification plate so that the motor and the rigidification plate are capable of exchanging heat, the rigidification plate, as a metal plate, forming means for sinking the heat generated by the motor.