Abstract: A portable printer has a housing of impact resistant plastic material. The housing forms a printer cavity and a terminal cavity. A handle is integrally formed as part of the printer housing. Edges of housing elements forming the printer cavity are substantially sealed against each other to protect a printer mechanism, a paper supply, a battery and printer electronics within the printer cavity from water or other contaminants. The terminal cavity housing forms a receptacle for receiving a portable data entry terminal. A circuit board along an edge common to both the printer cavity and the terminal cavity of the housing carries a spring contact connector having a predetermined number of contact springs to engage a corresponding number of contact pads of such a portable data entry terminal when inserted into the receptacle. The circuit board further includes a seal in the region of the wall between the terminal cavity and the printer cavity to maintain the substantially sealed character of the printer cavity.

Abstract: A portable printing data entry terminal device includes a portable data entry terminal unit which has a display and keyboard for manual entry of data and control instructions. The data entry terminal unit is powered by a rechargeable battery pack which is housed within the terminal unit. A printer unit is mounted to one end of the data entry terminal unit. The printer unit has its own battery pack to power the printing function. An electrical and data interface between the terminal and printer units routes data to the printer unit for information to be printed. The interface also routes communication and power lines through the printer unit to external connectors disposed at one end of the printer unit. The printer power, though contained within the printer unit, is controlled by the data entry terminal unit to be selectively turned off. Controlling the printer power to be turned on only when information is to be printed tends to equalize the discharge cycle of the terminal and printer batteries.