Patent ID: 7563045

Claim:
A roll paper printer comprising: a roll paper compartment; a cover for the roll paper compartment; and a cover opening and closing mechanism connected to the cover for opening and closing the cover; wherein the cover opening and closing mechanism comprises a four-node parallel linkage mechanism including a plurality of links supported for pivotal movement about each of the four nodes in the four-node parallel linkage mechanism with at least two links adapted to rotatably swing in a direction to cause the four-node parallel linkage mechanism to fold into a full open position with the four nodes in substantial horizontal alignment or into a closed position for opening and closing the cover respectively, and a linkage urging member connected to at least one link for urging said parallel linkage mechanism toward the closed position such that the parallel linkage mechanism will not swing below a horizontal position where it may become locked into a fixed position when the parallel linkage mechanism is folded to the full open position from the closed position.