Patent ID: 8296933

Claim:
A fastening apparatus for fastening a flexible printed circuit board (PCB) to a printhead assembly, the fastening apparatus comprising: a support assembly defining an internal space for receiving therein the PCB and the printhead assembly; an authentication system having a scanner for scanning a printhead code provided on the printhead assembly, the scanner being arranged on the support assembly; a bonding assembly arranged within the internal space of the support assembly, the bonding assembly including one or more heater assemblies for bonding the PCB to the printhead assembly; and a controller operatively connected to the authentication system and the bonding assembly, the controller for comparing the printhead code scanned by the scanner with a list of authentic codes, and for further controlling the one or more heater assemblies to bond the PCB to the printhead assembly in accordance with a result of the comparison, wherein the bonding assembly further includes a pneumatic carriage defining a nest in which the printhead assembly is nested, and the pneumatic carriage includes a pneumatic actuator for moving the nest from outside of the internal space to inside of the internal space.