Patent ID: 8562231

Claim:
A printer that performs printing by overlapping a printing medium and an ink ribbon, the printer comprising: a ribbon winding shaft and a ribbon supply shaft positioned and configured for suspending the ink ribbon therebetween, a platen roller and an opposing print head positioned for the ink ribbon and the printing medium to pass between them, devices for conveying said printing medium and said ink ribbon together between said platen roller and said print head in a sandwiched fashion; a printer main body having an upper portion, an upper lid portion covering said upper portion of said main body, a printing unit including said print head, said ribbon winding shaft and said ribbon supply shaft, said printing unit is disposed between said main body and said upper lid portion a common support shaft supporting said upper lid portion and said printing unit to be on said upper portion of said main body configured such that each of said upper lid portion and said printing unit is free to rotate relative to each other to open space for enabling replacement of said printing medium and said ink ribbon after opening of said upper lid portion and said printing unit around said support shaft; an upper lid portion support configured for supporting said upper lid portion in a first rotated position relative to said main body and for releasing support of said upper lid portion when a closing direction force is exerted on said upper lid portion; a printing unit support configured for supporting said printing unit in a second rotated position relative to and on said main body independent of said upper lid portion at a smaller rotated angle than said first rotated position of said upper lid portion and for releasing support of said printing unit when a closing direction force is exerted on said printing unit; and a connecting device configured for connecting said upper lid portion and said printing unit in a fitted state wherein said printing unit is fitted to said upper lid portion, wherein said upper lid portion and said printing unit are connected by said connecting device when said upper lid portion and said printing unit are closed on said main body and wherein said upper lid portion and said printing unit are disconnected when said printing unit is in said second rotated position and said upper lid portion is in said first rotated position.