Patent Document

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a divisional of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/974,456 entitled COMPACT PRINTER WITH PRINT FRAME INTERLOCK filed on Dec. 21, 2010, the entire contents of which are being incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to continuous feed printers, and more particularly, to a compact label or thermal printer having an articulating print frame assembly having a lockout link and a swinging ribbon guide. The disclosed printer also includes a fixed or adjustable media sensor, and is configurable to accommodate an internal supply of web (roll) media or an external supply of fanfold media. 
         [0003]    Compact or desktop printers are often used in commercial settings, e.g., in warehouses, in industrial and manufacturing environments, by shipping services, in restaurants, in the vending and gaming industries, and in other establishments for ticket printing, asset tracking, and inventory control. Ideally, compact printers weigh only a few pounds and are small enough to be readily provisioned in a work environment without significant site preparation. Such a printer may be operatively associated with an internal or external power supply that converts line voltage to the operating voltage(s) required by the printer. The printer may additionally or alternatively include a power source, such as a disposable or rechargeable battery, and may additionally communicate with a host terminal or network connection via a wired or wireless interface, such as an RS-232, Ethernet, USB, WiFi, or optical interface. 
         [0004]    A compact printer may utilize sheet-fed media, or, more popularly, continuous-feed media, e.g., rolls of paper, labels, tags, and the like. Compact printers commonly employ direct thermal transfer techniques, whereby thermochromic media passes over a thermal print head which selectively heats areas of the media to create a visible image. Also popular are thermal transfer printers which employ a heat-sensitive ribbon to transfer images to media. 
         [0005]    A continuous feed printer is particularly suitable for printing onto stock material which may include, but is not necessarily limited to, labels, receipts, item labels, shelf labels/tags, ticket stubs, stickers, hang tags, price stickers, and the like. Such media may be provided in web or roll configuration, or alternatively may be provided in a fanfold configuration, whereby individual media units (e.g., sheets or tags) are joined at the corresponding edges thereof and stacked in a zigzag manner. 
         [0006]    In the case of continuous roll media, the media may be wound around a generally tubular core which supports the roll media. The core may have a standard size, or arbitrarily-sized inner diameter. Roll media is available in a wide range of widths. 
         [0007]    The adjacent edges of contiguous fanfold media units may include scoring or perforations to facilitate stacking and/or separation of the individual media units. Fanfold media may also be provided in a wide variety of widths. 
         [0008]    Label printers may incorporate a media supply of self-adhesive labels adhered to a coated substrate wound in a rolled configuration. Alternatively, a media supply may include a plain paper roll suitable for ink-based, toner-based, direct thermal-based, or thermal transfer-based printing. During use, media may he drawn against a printing head, which, in turn, causes images to be created on the media stock by, e.g., impact printing (dot matrix, belt printing), by localized heating of thermochromic media (direct thermal printing), by transferring temperature-sensitive ink from a ribbon to the print media (thermal transfer printing), inkjet printing, toner-based printing, or other suitable printing methods. 
         [0009]    Compact or thermal printers may be designed for use with one type of printing media or one particular size of print media, e.g., 2-inch label stock or 3-inch label stock. Other compact printers may be configurable to accommodate different media types and sizes. Such printers may include a media centering mechanism which is designed to accommodate roll media of varying widths and/or core diameters. The media centering mechanism may include opposing support members configured to engage the media roll core. A media centering mechanism typically includes first and second support members that are generally biased towards each other to secure the media roll. Movement of the first and second support members may be synchronized by one or more gears or belts such that, when a support member is moved a distance from the centerline of the media roll, the other support member moves a corresponding distance in the opposing direction from the centerline of the media roll. 
         [0010]    A compact printer that readily accommodates many different media types and sizes, provides improved reliability and performance, and enables facile operation and reconfiguration by a casual user, would be a welcome advance in the state of the art. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0011]    The present disclosure is directed to a compact printer. The printer includes a housing having a bottom chassis, and a hinged top cover that is operatively associated with an articulating print frame assembly contained therein. The top cover is selectively movable from a closed position, suitable for printer operation, to an open position. The open position of the top cover is suitable for the loading of media, e.g., roll media or fanfold media, and for the configuration of the printer for the desired media, e.g., adjustment or installation of media guide elements as discussed in detail herein. The print frame assembly includes supports for a transfer ribbon supply roll and a transfer ribbon take-up roll, and is pivotable from a closed position, wherein the print frame is pivoted towards the top cover, to an open position wherein the print frame swing away from the top cover to provide access to the supply ribbon support and the take-up ribbon support. A print head is operatively positioned between the supply. During use, transfer ribbon is supplied from the transfer ribbon supply roll, over a print head, and to the transfer ribbon take-up roll. 
         [0012]    The disclosed printer includes a lockout link that cooperates with the top cover and print frame assembly that prevents the top cover from being moved from an open to a closed position when the print frame is in an open position. 
         [0013]    The print frame includes a transverse ribbon guide bar pivotably mounted thereto. The ribbon guide includes a biasing member, e.g., a v-spring, that biases the guide bar against the ribbon to take up slack and maintain tautness along the ribbon traversal. The guide bar include a smooth, arcuate surface over which the ribbon passes and which facilitates unwavering deliver of transfer ribbon to the print head, which improves print quality and reduces the likelihood of malfunction, e.g., jams, tangles, and the like. 
         [0014]    The disclosed printer also includes a media sensor that may be provisioned in a fixed configuration or an adjustable configuration. The disclosed printer may be additionally or alternatively be configured to accommodate an internal supply of web (roll) media, or an external supply of fanfold media. A selectively installable set of fanfold guide members are disclosed that, when installed, facilitate feeding of fanfold media in a smooth and controlled manner through the media path. To facilitate external media feeding, the disclosed printer additionally includes a media feed opening defined in the housing that is substantially aligned along a plane described by the optional guide members. 
         [0015]    In another aspect, a compact printer in accordance with the present disclosure includes a dual wall, frame housing that provides improved strength and shock resistance. The dual wall construction includes a continuous inner frame structure adapted to support one or more internal printer components, which may include, without limitation, a printhead, a roller assembly, a drive assembly, media centering assembly, and/or a battery assembly. The inner frame is surrounded at least in part by a second, outer structure that provides additional stiffness, strength, and drop resistance. The housing includes a media access opening and a corresponding media access cover configured to facilitate the loading of media into the printer. The size of the media access opening is kept to the minimum size necessary to accommodate the media for use with the printer. By minimizing the media opening, greater space is available for the inner frame and/or the outer structure, further improving the strength, rigidity, and impact resistance of the printer. 
         [0016]    The disclosed printer may include one or more connectors that extend from the interior of housing to the exterior. While the connector(s) may include an electrical connector, other connector types are contemplated within the scope of the present disclosure, e.g., moisture-proof connectors, fluidic connectors, security connectors (e.g., K-Slot), and the like. In embodiments, two electrical connectors are provided, wherein a first connector is adapted to couple a source of electrical power to the printer and a second connector is adapted to couple a data signal to the printer. In embodiments, the disclosed printer may include a USB connector, a serial (e.g., RS-232, RS-422, RS-485), connector, a Firewire (IEEE-1394) connector, a network (10Base-T, 100Base-TX, and 1000Base-T) connector, and/or a parallel (IEEE 1284) connector. 
         [0017]    Also disclosed is print frame lockout mechanism. The mechanism includes an upper chassis that is pivotable about a hinge between a closed position and an open position. An arcuate friction member is disposed about the hinge and includes a notch defined therein. A print frame is pivotably coupled to the upper chassis and is movable between a closed position and an open position. The mechanism further includes a lockout link having a first end operably coupled to the print frame, and a second end having a pawl. When the print frame is in an open position, the pawl engages the notch, which, in turn, prevents the chassis from pivoting. The arcuate friction member may include one or more detents configured to support the upper chassis in a fixed position. The disclosed mechanism may additionally or alternatively include a first pin extending from the print frame assembly that is configured to engage a corresponding opening defined in an upper portion of the lockout link, a second pin extending from the upper chassis, and a slot defined in the lockout link that slidably engages the second pin. 
         [0018]    In an embodiment, a compact printer in accordance with the present disclosure includes a bottom housing having a top cover coupled thereto. The top cover is adapted to rotate away from the bottom housing to an open position and rotate toward the bottom housing to a closed position. The compact printer includes a print frame assembly coupled to the top cover that is adapted to rotate out of the top cover to an open position and to rotate into the top cover to a closed position. When the print frame is in an open position, the top cover is prevented from rotating toward the bottom housing to a closed position. The disclosed printer may include a means for retaining the print frame assembly in a closed position, such as without limitation, a latch. The print frame includes a print head for transferring indicia onto the print media. 
         [0019]    A media sensor may be disposed along the path of the print media (e.g., the feed patch) and in an embodiment may be adjustable along an axis transverse to the print path. In embodiments, the print frame assembly may include a ribbon guide pivotably mounted thereto by at least one side arm. The ribbon guide includes a biasing member, such as without limitation, a v-spring, that is configured to bias the ribbon guide outward from the print frame assembly. The ribbon guide may include an arcuate ribbon-contacting surface. In embodiments, the printer includes first and second media support members that are reciprocally movable along a transverse axis of the printer and configured to support roll media held therebetween. An adjustable stop selectively adjustable along a transverse axis of the printer and adapted to prevent transverse motion of a media support member may additionally be included. In embodiments, the support member may configured to operably engage a fanfold guide. An elongate opening in an outer surface of the printer may be provided to facilitate the feeding of external media into the fanfold guide. 
         [0020]    Also disclosed is a fanfold guide that is selectively coupleable to a media support member of a compact printer. The fanfold guide includes an elongate member having a channel defined therein adapted to accept the edge of print media, wherein an end of the channel includes a flared portion. A tab is disposed on the elongate member adapted to operably engage a corresponding slot defined in the media support member, and a recess is defined in an edge of fanfold guide that is adapted to operably engage a corresponding protrusion defined in the media support member. The tab-and-recess combination promotes proper and secure alignment of the fanfold guide with the media support member. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]    Various embodiments of the subject instrument are described herein with reference to the drawings wherein: 
           [0022]      FIG. 1  is a view of an example embodiment of a compact printer in accordance with the present disclosure having a top cover in a closed position; 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  is a view of the  FIG. 1  embodiment of a compact printer in accordance with the present disclosure having a top cover in an open position and a print frame in an open position; 
           [0024]      FIG. 2A  is a view of the  FIG. 1  embodiment of a compact printer in accordance with the present disclosure having a top cover in an open position and a print frame in a closed position; 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  is a view of print frame module, lower chassis, and a lockout link of an example embodiment of a compact printer in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0026]      FIG. 4  is an alternative view of the  FIG. 3 , print frame module, lower chassis, and lockout link; 
           [0027]      FIG. 5  illustrates a print frame module and lockout link in an open position in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0028]      FIG. 5A  illustrates a print frame module and lockout link in a closed position in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0029]      FIG. 6  is a detail view of an example print frame module of an embodiment of a compact printer in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0030]      FIG. 7  is a detail view of the  FIG. 6  print frame showing a ribbon guide bar in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0031]      FIG. 8  is a detail view of an example embodiment of a compact printer in accordance with the present disclosure having an adjustable media sensor; 
           [0032]      FIG. 9  is a view of an example embodiment of an adjustable media sensor assembly in accordance with the present disclosure. 
           [0033]      FIG. 10  is a detail view of an example embodiment of a compact printer in accordance with the present disclosure having a fixed media sensor; 
           [0034]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of an example embodiment of a compact printer in accordance with the present disclosure configured with fanfold guides; 
           [0035]      FIG. 12  is another view of the  FIG. 11  example embodiment showing a relationship between a media feed opening and fanfold guides; and 
           [0036]      FIG. 13  is view of a media support member in relation to a removable fanfold guide. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0037]    Particular embodiments of the present disclosure are described hereinbelow with reference to the accompanying drawings; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the disclosure, which may be embodied in various forms. Well-known and/or repetitive functions and constructions are not described in detail to avoid obscuring the present disclosure in unnecessary or redundant detail. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present disclosure in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. In addition, as used herein, terms referencing orientation, e.g., “top”, “bottom”, “up”, “down”, “left”, “right”, “clockwise”, “counterclockwise”, and the like, are used for illustrative purposes with reference to the figures and features shown therein. It is to be understood that embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure may be practiced in any orientation without limitation. In this description, as well as in the drawings, like-referenced numbers represent elements which may perform the same, similar, or equivalent functions. 
         [0038]      FIGS. 1 and 2  present an example embodiment of a compact printer  10  in accordance with the present disclosure. The printer  10  includes a bottom housing  18  and a selectively positionable top cover  11  that may be positioned in a closed position as shown in  FIG. 1  and an open position as shown in  FIG. 2 . Top cover  11  and bottom housing  18  are pivotably joined by a hinge  19 . Top cover  11  includes a user interface panel  12 , one or more user input devices  14 , and one or more indicators  13 . User interface panel many be any suitable form of display panel, including without limitation an LCD screen. User input device may be any suitable form of input device, e.g., a snap dome or membrane pushbutton switch. Indicator  13  may be any suitable indication, such as without limitation a light-emitting diode (LED). Indicator  13  may illuminate to indicate the status an operational parameter, e.g., power, ready, media empty, media jam, self test, and the like. Printer  10  includes a power switch  15 . A pair of latches  16  are disposed on either side of top cover  11  to retain top cover  11  in a closed position, and may be disengaged using finger pressure to facilitate opening of top cover  11 . A media door  17  provides an alternative point of egress for media, which may be advantageous with self adhesive labels whereby the labels peel away from the substrate upon exiting the printer. 
         [0039]    With regard to  FIGS. 2 and 2A , top cover  11  includes a print frame assembly  20  pivotably mounted therein. Print frame assembly  20  includes a ribbon supply roll  22  and a ribbon take up roll  21  that are arranged to supply transfer ribbon  51  across a print head  68 . Print frame assembly  20  is selectively positionable between an open position as shown in  FIG. 2  and a closed position as shown in  FIG. 2A . Print frame assembly  20  includes a latch  71  that engages a retaining pin (not explicitly shown) provided within top housing  11  to retain print frame assembly  20  in a closed position. A release  70  is operatively associated with latch  71  that, when depressed, releases latch  71  from the retaining pin to enable print frame assembly  20  to swing outward to an open position. 
         [0040]    Printer  10  includes a first and a second media support members  24 ,  25 , respectively, that are configured to support roll media  23  held therebetween. Media support members  24  and  25  are moveable along a transverse axis and are operatively associated with a reciprocal movement mechanism (not explicitly shown) that is configured to translate a transverse movement of first media support member  24  into a corresponding opposite transverse movement of second media support member  25 , and vice versa. By this arrangement, roll media  23  of arbitrary width may be accommodated while concurrently centering roll media  23  with respect to the longitudinal axis “A-A” of the print head  68  and thus to the centerline of a feed path  76  corresponding thereto. First and a second media support members  24 ,  25  may be biased inwardly, e.g., toward the centerline, by a biasing member, e.g., a spring (not explicitly shown), to aid in gripping media roll  23  between the support members  24 ,  25 . A selectively adjustable stop  26  enables the position of media support members  24 ,  25  to be preset. Stop  26  is slidably disposed within an elongate slot  83  transversely defined in feed path  76  of lower chassis  34 . Stop  26  and elongate slot  83  are configured to provide sufficient friction therebetween to enable stop  26 , when positioned, to overcome the inward biasing force of media support members  24 ,  25  and maintain media support members  24 ,  25  in the desired position. 
         [0041]    A first media guide member  27  and a second media guide member  28  are moveable along a transverse axis and are operatively associated with a second reciprocal movement mechanism (not explicitly shown) that is configured to translate a transverse movement of first media guide member  27  into a corresponding opposite transverse movement of second media support member  28 , and vice versa. A platen roller  29  opposes print head  68  when top cover  11  is in the closed position to ensure intimate contact between print head  68 , transfer ribbon  51 , and media  23  during use, which, in turn, promotes consistent high print quality. Print head  68  includes pair of saddles  44  that engage a portion of platen roller  29  to ensure precise alignment between print head  68  and platen roller  29  when top cover  11  is in a closed position. 
         [0042]    Turning now to  FIGS. 3 ,  4 ,  5 , and  5 A, printer  10  includes a lockout link  30  that prevents closure of the top cover  11  when print frame assembly  20  is in an open position. An upper chassis  39  is provided within top cover  11 . Print frame assembly  20  is pivotably joined to upper chassis  39  by a pair of pivots  72 . A pair of arcuate friction members  32 ,  33  are disposed about hinge  19 . A series of detents  36  on friction member  32 , and a series of detents  37  on friction member  33  engages corresponding slots  73 ,  74 , respectively, in upper chassis  39 , which facilitates the positioning of top cover  11  in a fully open position, a fully closed position, and several intermediate positions therebetween. 
         [0043]    As best seen in  FIGS. 5 and 5A , lockout link  30  is configured to prevent closure of the top cover  11  when print frame assembly  20  is in an open position. Print frame assembly  20  includes a pin  69  operably coupled print frame assembly  20  to an upper portion of lockout link  30 . Lockout link  30  include slot  31  that slidably engages pin  41  of upper chassis  39  to facilitate the articulation of lockout link  30  when print frame  20  is moved between open and closed positions. In the open position, print frame assembly  20  is pivoted forward on pivot  72 , causing the lockout link  30  to ride upward and to rotate slightly clockwise on pin  41 , which, in turn, causes pawl  38  of lockout link  30  to engage notch  75  of friction member  32 . In this position, i.e., when pawl  38  of lockout link  30  is engaged with notch  75 , top cover  11  is prevented from moving to a closed position, e.g., top cover  11  cannot be pivoted counterclockwise. 
         [0044]    As print frame  20  moves clockwise from an open position to a closed position, pin  69  moves upward and leftward about pivot  72 , which in turn rotates lockout link  30  counterclockwise and draws lockout link  30  upward, thereby disengaging pawl  38  from notch  75  and establishing sufficient clearance between the lower portion of lockout link  30  and friction member  32  to enable top cover  11  to be moved into a closed position. 
         [0045]    Turning to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , print frame  20  includes transverse ribbon guide  45  pivotably mounted thereto by side arms  49 . Pins  48  engage a corresponding opening (not explicitly shown) provided in a side wall  52  of print frame  20  to facilitate pivoting motion of guide bar  45 . The ribbon guide  45  includes a biasing member  46 , e.g., a v-spring or a leaf spring, that biases guide bar  45  outwardly from ribbon supply roll  22 . During use, ribbon  51  passes over ribbon guide  45  which in turn reduces slack in ribbon  51  and maintains tautness of ribbon  51  along the traversal thereof. Guide bar  45  includes a smooth, arcuate surface  50  over which ribbon  51  passes and which promotes the steady delivery of transfer ribbon  50  over print head  68 . 
         [0046]    Printer  10  includes an adjustable media sensor assembly  53  transversely disposed in lower chassis  34  across a feed path  76 . Adjustable media sensor assembly  53  includes an elongate cavity  57  having a media sensor  54  slidably disposed therein. Media sensor  54  is selectively positionable along cavity  57 , which enables media sensor  54  to be aligned with index marks, media gaps, or other positional indicia characteristic of the print media, which, in turn, enables printer  10  to accurately feed and position media during use. Media sensor  54  includes an aperture  55  defined therein to enable a sensing element (not explicitly shown), such as without limitation a photodiode, to sense media indicia. In an alternative embodiment, printer  10  includes a fixed media sensor  59  having an aperture  60  defined therein to enable a sensing element (not explicitly shown), such as without limitation a photodiode, to sense media indicia therethrough. Advantageously, lower chassis  34  includes a scored opening  77  that eliminates the need for separate tooling to produce a printer  10  with an adjustable media sensor assembly  53  or a printer  10  with a fixed media sensor assembly  59 . During manufacturing, a removable member  78  may be removed from scored opening  77  to provide the appropriate opening to facilitate installation of adjustable media sensor assembly  53 . Alternatively during manufacture, removable member  78  may be retained and fixed media sensor  59  joined thereto. 
         [0047]    With reference to  FIGS. 11 ,  12 , and  13 , printer  10  may include a pair of fanfold guides  61 ,  62  that are configured to facilitate feeding non-roll media through printer  10 . Fanfold guides  61 ,  62  may have substantially identical construction with the exception that fanfold guide  61  may be a mirror image of fanfold guide  62 . Accordingly, and for the sake of brevity, the following description of fanfold guide  61  is applicable to the corresponding, reciprocal features of fanfold guide  62 . Media support member  24  includes similar reciprocal features to those of media support member  25  as will be described in detail below. 
         [0048]    Fanfold guide  61  has an elongate construction and includes a front portion  81 , a rear portion  80 , and a channel  79  defined therein that is adapted to accept the edge of print media during use. Rear portion  80  of channel  79  open to a flare  63  that is adapted to facilitate easy threading of media by a user. Flare  63  is aligned with an elongate media opening  65  defined in the bottom housing  18 , as best seen in  FIG. 12 , though which media, such as without limitation fanfold media, is fed into printer  10 . A lip  64  extends from the front portion  81  of fanfold guide  61  to promote a smooth and jam-free exit of media therefrom. 
         [0049]    Fanfold guide  61  includes features designed to enable the selective coupling thereof to corresponding features provided by media support member  25 . A pair of tabs  65  are disposed on fanfold guide  62  that are adapted to operably engage a corresponding slot  67  defined in media support member  65 . A recess  66  is defined in a closed edge  82  of fanfold guide  61  to promote horizontal alignment of fanfold guide  61  with media support member  25  when fanfold guide  61  and media support member  25  are engaged. During use, printer  10  may be reconfigured from a roll media configuration to a fanfold or external media configuration by removing media roll  23 , if present, and attaching fanfold guides  61 ,  62  to media support members  24 ,  25 . Media support members  24 ,  25  may additionally be adjusted for width as described hereinabove, and retained in place by slidably adjusting stop  26 , as needed. 
         [0050]    The described embodiments of the present disclosure are intended to be illustrative rather than restrictive, and are not intended to represent every embodiment of the present disclosure. Further variations of the above-disclosed embodiments and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be made or desirably combined into many other different systems or applications without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure as set forth in the following claims both literally and in equivalents recognized in law.

Technology Category: 7