Housing Structure Patents (Class 400/693)
  • Patent number: 8702330
    Abstract: A printer has a roll paper compartment that stores roll paper so that it can roll on a horizontal axis of rotation, a roll paper cover that pivots to open and close the roll paper compartment, and a tension roller that is displaced when the roll paper cover pivots open and closed. The roll paper compartment is supported to pivot in the direction in which the roll paper cover rotates when the roll paper cover pivots open or closed. The tension roller is disposed to a position where it urges the roll paper opposite the direction in which the roll paper compartment moves circularly when the roll paper cover pivots in the opening direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Nobuhiro Inoue
  • Patent number: 8696225
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, a thermal printer includes a housing in which a space is formed, printing means disposed in the housing, a cover disposed in the housing and which comes into contact with and separates from the housing when rotated, thereby opening and closing the space, urging means for urging the cover in a direction away from the housing, an engaging part which is disposed in the housing and which prevents the movement of the cover in a direction away from the housing when engaged with the cover, a pressed part which is disposed rotatably in the cover and which moves the engaging part when pressed, thereby releasing engagement between the cover and the engaging part, and elastic means arranged to urge the pressed part in a direction away from the engaging part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignees: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha, NCR Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiharu Sekino, Kousuke Takahashi, Takeshi Hiyoshi, Kiyotaka Nihashi, Tsuyoshi Sanada
  • Patent number: 8672569
    Abstract: A platen roller fixing structure includes a platen roller; a spring; a spring supporting part supporting the spring; a print head; a platen roller receiving part configured to receive the platen roller; and a spring receiving part configured to receive the spring. The platen roller, the spring, and the spring supporting part are provided on one of a body part and a movable part of a printer. The movable part is rotatably connected to the body part. The print head, the platen roller receiving part, and the spring receiving part are provided on the other one of the body part and the movable part. When the movable part is closed relative to the body part, the spring receiving part comes into contact with the spring to cause the spring to press the platen roller against the platen roller receiving part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Fujitsu Components Limited
    Inventors: Yuji Yada, Kunihiko Funada, Yukihiro Mori
  • Patent number: 8672565
    Abstract: A tape printing apparatus including a tape accommodation area for accommodating a supply of image receiving tape; a cutting arrangement; an outlet arranged adjacent said cutting arrangement, the outlet having a first part downstream of the cutting arrangement with a size such that a user is able to access an area adjacent the cutting arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Sanford, L.P.
    Inventor: Kris Vandermeulen
  • Patent number: 8662773
    Abstract: In order to cope with a change in design between a printer having a hip down design specification (first specification) and another printer having a hip up design specification (second specification), each of a lower frame and an upper frame has a structure common to both of the specifications. The lower frame and the upper frame are coupled to each other by a hinge structure removably attached to the lower frame and the upper frame. The hinge structure is selected from a first hinge structure and a second hinge structure. By changing the hinge structure from the first hinge structure to the second hinge structure and vice versa, the height of a hinge center can easily be changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: NEC Infrontia Corporation
    Inventor: Yukio Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 8651758
    Abstract: An exterior structure of an apparatus for covering the outside of an apparatus main body with a multiple number of panel elements uses shielding panels, heat-radiating panels and machine-interior anti-scatter panels as the multiple number of panel elements. The apparatus has a framework to which shielding panels, heat-radiating panels and machine-interior anti-scatter panels are appropriately arranged in combination to cover the apparatus in conformity with the functional configuration of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Nagao, Takashi Kikutani, Kazuhisa Yoneda, Yasushi Nakamura, Toshikazu Kitaura, Hidenobu Mandai
  • Patent number: 8651757
    Abstract: A platen support mechanism that movably supports a platen unit to which a platen is attached has a platen positioning mechanism that positions the platen unit in a specific posture at four locations, bosses that protrude from both sides at the front in the front-back direction of the printer, and shaft ends that protrude from both sides at the back in the front-back direction of the printer. The platen unit is thereby positioned in a specific posture at the closed position regardless of play in the platen support mechanism. As a result, the platen is positioned to the printing position in a specific posture with a constant gap to the nozzle surface of the print head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Nobuhiro Inoue
  • Patent number: 8634757
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus 1 is provided with a double-side transport unit 80 capable of clearing a paper jam. The double-side transport unit 80 is provided with a reverse transport passage 75 provided with a reverse roller 57 for switching back paper P having an image formed on one side thereof, a return transport passage 76 for transporting the paper P turned upside down through the reverse transport passage 75 to an image forming portion 10, and a reverse introduction passage 74a extending from a downstream side, with respect to a branch transport passage 74, of the second transport roller 56 that is disposed close to the reverse transport passage 75, to the reverse transport passage 75. The double-side transport unit 80 can be taken out of or put in an apparatus main body 1a in a direction perpendicular to a paper transport direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Masaru Takagi
  • Patent number: 8608394
    Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes: a plural image-holding members, each image-holding member holding an image and being rotatable around a rotation shaft; a frame member that at least partially defines a space for accommodating the plural image-holding members therein; a cover provided to the frame member to open and close the space with respect to an outside, an inner side of the cover being formed with rotation shaft insertion holes each for receiving an end portion of the rotation shaft of a corresponding one of the image-holding members accommodated in the space; a supporting shaft that supports the cover such that the cover is pivotable with respect to the frame member, the supporting shaft being inserted into a supporting shaft insertion hole provided to the frame member or to the cover, the supporting shaft insertion hole being elongated in a direction having a vertical component when the cover closes the space; and a positioning mechanism that positions the cover with respect to the frame member whe
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroki Ando, Toshiyuki Matsui, Satoshi Honobe, Tsuneo Fukuzawa, Tomonori Sato, Fumiaki Maekawa, Toshihiro Maruta
  • Patent number: 8605300
    Abstract: Am MFP (100) is provided with: a casing (22) which is turnably supported at a turning support point (25) to an apparatus main body (40) and which stores an image reading part (20) capable of optically reading a document; and an outer cover (23) which is turnably supported at a turning support point (21) to the apparatus main body (40) and which has a top surface (23a) opposing a bottom surface (66) of the casing (22) and a bottom surface (23b) covering image forming means, and is provided with a suspending mechanism that opens and closes the outer cover (23) in conjunction with opening and closing operation of the casing (22), and the turning support point (21) of the outer cover (23) is arranged with a distance from the turning support point (25) of the casing (22) toward a turning end of the casing (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Teruhiko Nagasgima, Akinori Matsuno
  • Patent number: 8600284
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording sheet storage unit for storing recording sheets substantially in an upright position, an image forming unit which forms an image on a recording sheet conveyed from the recording sheet storage unit, and a recording sheet receiving unit for storing the recording sheet conveyed from the image forming unit substantially in an upright position. In this image forming apparatus, a paper conveyance passage for conveying the recording sheet extends upward from a lower portion of the recording sheet storage unit toward the recording sheet receiving unit. The image forming unit positioned on the paper conveyance passage comprises a fixing device and a developer unit at least including a developer carrier, and the fixing device is arranged above the developer unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shougo Sato, Shigeharu Katayama, Mitsuko Hanai
  • Patent number: 8585305
    Abstract: A printer includes a rocking member with a rotary shaft and a bearing portion for axially supporting a platen roller, and a latch member having a protrusion. The latch member is rotatably connected to the rotary shaft portion of the rocking member so as to be rotatable about a rotary axis that is non-coaxial with and parallel to a platen axis. The rotary shaft portion of the rocking member projects along the rotary axis from an inner side surface of the rocking member. A stationary frame supports a recording head and includes a first recess into which the bearing portion of the rocking member is disengageably fitted and a second recess into which the protrusion of the latch member is disengageably fitted after the bearing portion is fitted in the first recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Akio Naito
  • Patent number: 8573872
    Abstract: A terminal unit comprising a base unit, in turn including a main body and a scanning device located in front of the main body, and a printing unit, distinct from the base unit, in which the scanning device has a width greater than that of the main body so that it has a lateral portion protruding from the latter, and also in which the base unit has a seat, defined by one edge of the main body and by the protruding portion of the scanning device, so as to removably accommodate the printing unit beside the base unit and behind the scanning device. The terminal unit, in the configuration with base unit and printer side by side, presents a clearance in the transverse direction that is significantly lower than the sum of the transverse clearances of the scanning device and of the printer, and in particular is within preestablished limits, so that the terminal unit can be used to advantage to replace existing terminals quickly and easily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Telecom Italia S.p.A.
    Inventors: Luciano Piazzai, Gianrico Scarton
  • Patent number: 8570724
    Abstract: An exemplary suspension apparatus for suspending built-in equipment is provided. The suspension apparatus includes a fixing plate having a main plate and a recessed portion formed at the main plate, and a rotator rotatably engaged with the fixing plate. The rotator includes an engagement head and a connection pole; the engagement head is received in the recessed portion of the fixing plate, an end of the connection pole is connected to the engagement head, and an opposite end of the connection pole is a suspended end for suspending the built-in equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignees: Fu Tai Hua Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Che-Yu Chou, Qun Huang, Tai-Shan Zhu, Tao Jiang, Yue-Ping Liu, Jun-Liang Zhang, Jian-Bin Zhou, Wei-Wei Yu, Zhi-Jun Shi, Hai-Qian Ge, Ya-Ping Gu, Wen-Chih Lan
  • Patent number: 8550733
    Abstract: A printing apparatus having shorter length in the longitudinal direction and a dust-protecting feature is disclosed. The printer includes a main frame, a subframe assembly, first and second pulse motors each have a reduction gear drive mechanism, a thermal head, a platen roller, a rotary blade, and a stationary blade. The first motor for driving the platen roller and the second motor for driving the rotary blade are disposed between two side plates provided one on each end of the main frame. The reduction gear drive mechanisms are substantially sealed and disposed inside the corresponding side plates. Two pulleys and a timing belt are provided outside each of the side plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Fujitsu Component Limited
    Inventors: Yukihiro Mori, Sumio Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8534940
    Abstract: A printer has a platen gap adjustment mechanism that can hold the platen gaps of two print heads substantially constant. A check processing device has a front print head unit on which are disposed a front print head, a first media transportation roller, and a back platen; a platen lever unit on which a second media transportation roller and front platen are disposed, and which can move toward and away from the first media transportation roller; a lever tension spring that urges the platen lever unit toward the first media transportation roller, and presses the second media transportation roller to the first media transportation roller; a back print head unit on which a back print head is disposed, and which can move toward and away from the first media transportation roller; and an unit tension spring that presses the back print head unit to the platen lever unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Norio Nagata
  • Patent number: 8529146
    Abstract: A printer including a lower frame on which roll paper is loaded, a cutter section mounted above the lower frame for cutting the roll paper on which printing is made, and a cover that allows a front of the lower frame to be opened and closed is provided. A slope portion for causing paper dust or a slip of paper, which falls from the cutter section, to slip down toward the front of the lower frame is provided at a portion of the lower frame below the cutter section. The cover is provided with a pocket portion for receiving the paper dust or the slip of paper slipping down on the slope, and the pocket portion is adjacent to the lowest portion of the slope portion when the cover is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: NEC Infrontia Corporation
    Inventor: Yukio Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 8517618
    Abstract: A cassette device is arranged to be removably mounted to or inserted into a printing device of a weighing scale housing a print-head mechanism and a drive roller. The cassette device includes a feed hub and a take-up hub rotatably mounted to a wall for cooperating with the drive roller. The wall forms a part of or closure for the weighing scale housing. Label roll end sensing, backing paper tension control, print head movement and pressure adjustment, and label feed/print line alignment arrangements are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin R. Cartwright, Nicholas L. Barnes, Junior Lescott, Ian Taylor, Denis Montagutelli
  • Patent number: 8517531
    Abstract: A printer includes a main body, a guiding plate secured within the main body, a cover rotatably connected to the main body and including at least one resisting block, and a shielding assembly arranged between the cover and the guiding plate. The printer includes a shielding plate rotatably connected to the main body and at least one elastic element secured to the shielding plate. The shielding plate is in an upright state when no external force is exerted on the shielding plate. When the cover is rotated to cover the main body, the resisting block resists the elastic element, causing the shielding plate to rotate from the upright state to a horizontal state, and causing a portion of the shielding plate to contact the guiding plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kai Fan Chiang
  • Patent number: 8506191
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main body having a first opening; a main cover supported by the main body, having a second opening and rotatable between a first closed position and a first opening position with respect to the first opening; a feeder cover supported by the main cover and rotatable between a second closed position and a second opening position with respect to the second opening; and a link arm jointed to the main body at a first joint, jointed to the main cover at a second joint, the first joint movable relative to the main body, and the link arm rotating the feeder cover from the second opening position toward the second closed position when the main cover rotates from the first closed position with the feeder cover at the second opening position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koyo Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8503921
    Abstract: A medium supply device includes a placing portion for placing a medium; a medium supply unit for picking up at least one medium urged against the medium supply unit from the placing portion; a cover member disposed to be movable; and a regulating member attached to the cover member for separating the placing portion from the medium supply unit when the cover member moves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8500351
    Abstract: A compact printer having improved operational features. The printer includes an articulating print frame assembly coupled to a 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 print frame includes a media guide bar that facilitates loading of ribbon and media. 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. a bottom housing having a top cover coupled thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Datamax-O'Neil Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth Colonel, Raul Palacios, Ching-Yang Chou, Dick Feng Yi Tai
  • Patent number: 8475068
    Abstract: A printer according to the present invention selectively comprises, a cutting configuration for a receipt printer for printing a receipt and a cutting configuration for a ticket printer for printing a ticket, as a cutting configuration for cutting a printed part of the paper roll. The cutting configuration for the receipt printer includes a fixed blade mounted to the upper frame and a movable cutter unit mounted on the lower frame to oppose the fixed blade through the paper roll to be driven by a driving source to cut the paper roll. The cutting configuration for the ticket printer includes a hand cutter mounted to at least one of the upper frame and the lower frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: NEC Infrontia Corporation
    Inventor: Yukio Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 8469616
    Abstract: A printing device has a print head, a platen roller, a main body frame supporting one of the print head and the platen roller, and a main body unit incorporating the main body frame. A sheet cutting device includes a first blade undergoing sliding movement relative to a second blade in a direction substantially orthogonal to a sheet material to be cut. A first frame slidably supports the first blade and undergoes movement in a direction orthogonal to a sliding direction of the first blade from a first position at which the first blade frame is incorporated to the main body frame to a second position at which the first blade frame is separated from the main body frame. A second frame supports the second blade and undergoes movement in the sliding direction of the first blade from a first position at which the second blade frame is mounted to the main body unit to a second position at which the second blade frame is detached from the main body unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Kouji Kawaguchi
  • Patent number: 8469617
    Abstract: A platen support mechanism of a printer moves a platen unit of the printer. When moving the platen unit from a closed position to an open position, the platen support mechanism of the printer first moves the platen unit along a straight first path, and then moves the platen unit along a curved second path. A posture of the platen unit is held constant during this time by a six joint linkage mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsugo Ishida
  • Patent number: 8459888
    Abstract: A paper cutting device comprising a fixed blade, a movable blade, a movable blade drive mechanism for moving the movable blade, wherein the movable blade and the fixed blade are disposed in substantially perpendicular positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Motoyoshi Shirotori, Hironori Maekawa
  • Patent number: 8401459
    Abstract: An image-forming device includes: an image-forming unit; a sheet discharge unit; a sheet support unit; and a reading unit. The image-forming unit forms images on a recording sheet. The sheet discharge unit discharges, in a sheet discharging direction, a recording sheet formed with an image by the image-forming unit. The sheet support unit is disposed above the image-forming unit, and supports sheet discharged from the sheet discharge unit. The reading unit is disposed above the sheet support unit, with an underside surface of the reading unit opposing a top surface of the sheet support unit. The sheet discharge unit is configured to discharge the sheet diagonally upwardly so that sheet discharged by the sheet discharge unit contacts the underside surface of the reading unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiteru Hattori, Sakae Ito
  • Patent number: 8371763
    Abstract: A mobile image forming apparatus is provided that comprises a casing, a support frame to surround a printing medium roll from which a printing medium is supplied and to guide the printing medium, an image forming unit to form an image on the printing medium guided by the support frame and a printing medium receiving portion disposed between the casing and the support frame to receive therein the printing medium on which the image is formed by the image forming unit. The mobile image forming apparatus may further comprise a roll support core disposed in the support frame to rotatably support the printing medium roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Sin-ae Kim, Yong-duk Lee, Ho-gun You, Dong-hun Han
  • Patent number: 8342763
    Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for a portable printer are provided. Personnel utilize features of the printer to manage products, store information on labels, and aid in shipping. A low battery shut-off feature shuts down the printer at a set battery power percentage; a battery charge control feature controls battery charging to stay within a set range of state of charge values to ensure longer battery life; a ribbon cartridge insertion feature allows for easy replacement of the ribbon cartridge; ribbon cartridge locating features lock the ribbon cartridge into place for printing; a ribbon guiding feature adjusts the ribbon during printing to reduce wrinkles; an RFID coupler mounting feature mounts and shields an RFID coupler inside the printer; a media guide locking feature fixes the media position to prevent misalignment; and a media alignment feature allows the user to properly align the media with the printhead during installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: ZIH Corp.
    Inventors: Huy Vo, Hussam E. Eassa, Michael L. Lamontagne, Brian Stormont, Gregory J. Klein, Michael E. Leclerc, Richard J. Preliasco, Roy P. Lyman, David F. Beck, Craig A. Horrocks
  • Patent number: 8337106
    Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus including: a recording medium conveying section; an image forming section, disposed to the recording medium conveying section and relatively moveably supported by the recording medium conveying section at one end side, that forms an image on a recording medium; a side panel that configures a side face portion of the image forming section in a width direction intersecting with the conveying direction, and supports a drive source that drives the image forming section; a support plate, provided between the recording medium conveying section and the image forming section to cover the bottom side of the image forming section, and is supported at a support portion provided at the other end side of the recording medium conveying section; and a resilient member that resiliently supports the support plate and the side panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shin Komatsu, Masanori Seto, Yasuhide Saito
  • Patent number: 8303200
    Abstract: A thermal printer with enhanced cutting performance includes a thermal head for performing printing on successively supplied recording sheets, and a platen roller for feeding the recording sheets. A cutter for cutting the recording sheets has a fixed blade and a movable blade. A main body unit supports the fixed blade, and a cover unit supports the movable blade and is removable with respect to the main body unit. A pinion gear meshes with a rack constructed integrally with the movable blade to move the movable blade. The main body unit supports the pinion gear, and the cover unit supports only the movable blade and the platen roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Yasumi Yokoyama, Mitsuhiro Kaiya, Shinji Nureki
  • Patent number: 8287198
    Abstract: A roll paper printer having a cover movable between an open and closed position with the printer having hooks on locking levers disposed to the cover to hold the cover in the locked position upon engaging pins located on the printer body side and having an opening lever to unlock the cover. The printer also includes a paper cutter device having a stationary knife which is attached to the cover and contact plate parts which extend from the stationary knife for contacting the front panel part on the printer body and having extension springs disposed in tension for pulling the stationary knife towards the back of the printer such that upon closing the cover the contact plate parts push the cover to the front of the printer. This causes the hooks of the locking levers to press from the back against the engagement pins to eliminate any play in the cover when in cover is in the locked position and to assist in opening the cover when the cover opening lever is operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Yamagata
  • Patent number: 8272798
    Abstract: In a printer which prints on a roll paper transported toward a discharge port and cuts the roll paper, an exchangeable lower cover is attached to the printer. The exchangeable lower cover defines a lower edge of the discharge port. A change of height of the discharge port is allowed by exchanging the exchangeable lower cover for another one. Hereby, it is possible to change specifications between one for holding a printed slip and the other for allowing the printed slip to fall freely. In the former specification, a brush provided at a periphery of an upper edge of the discharge port is in contact with a lower cover. On the other hand, in the latter specification, the brush is in distant from another lower cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: NEC Infrontia Corporation
    Inventor: Yukio Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 8235614
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an image forming portion that forms an image on a surface of a sheet, a feeding device that feeds the sheet in a sheet feeding direction, a sheet receiving portion, and an engagement portion selectively moves between a first position and a second position. When the engagement portion is in the first position, the engagement portion engages the leading end of the sheet. When the engagement portion is in the second position, the engagement portion does not engage the sheet. When the engagement portion is in the first position, the engagement portion engages a leading end of the sheet before a trailing end of the sheet passes the feeding device. The sheet receiving portion receives the sheet after the engagement portion engages the leading end of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masayuki Takata, Yoshikazu Takahashi, Kazama Goto, Naoya Okazaki
  • Patent number: 8235613
    Abstract: A label printer includes a cutter mechanism, a main body frame, and an upper cover. The cutter mechanism includes an upper blade which is a fixed blade and a lower blade which is a moving blade that advances and retreats relative to the upper blade, and that cuts a printing medium by causing the lower blade to advance and retreat relative to the upper blade. The lower blade is attached to the main body frame. The upper blade is attached to the upper cover, which opens and closes an upper portion of the main body frame. The upper blade is separated from the lower blade when the upper cover is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sato
    Inventor: Shinichiro Hosono
  • Patent number: 8231291
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, a thermal printer includes a housing in which a space is formed, printing means disposed in the housing, a cover disposed in the housing and which comes into contact with and separates from the housing when rotated, thereby opening and closing the space, urging means for urging the cover in a direction away from the housing, an engaging part which is disposed in the housing and which prevents the movement of the cover in a direction away from the housing when engaged with the cover, a pressed part which is disposed rotatably in the cover and which moves the engaging part when pressed, thereby releasing engagement between the cover and the engaging part, and elastic means arranged to urge the pressed part in a direction away from the engaging part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignees: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha, NCR Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiharu Sekino, Kousuke Takahashi, Takeshi Hiyoshi, Kiyotaka Nihashi, Tsuyoshi Sanada
  • Patent number: 8218301
    Abstract: A keyboard includes a casing, a retaining frame, and a keyboard module. The casing is made from a metallic sheet and has upper and lower parts. The lower part is bent from front and rear ends of the upper part so as to define a gap between the upper and lower parts and two opposite side openings. The casing is formed with a central hole extending through the upper part and in spatial communication with the gap and the side openings. The retaining frame is received detachably in the gap of the casing, has a loop-shaped frame body disposed around the central hole of the casing, and is insertable through one of the side openings of the casing into the gap of the casing. The keyboard module is received in the central hole of the casing and engages the frame body of the retaining frame in a tongue-and-groove engaging manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Sunrex Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Chien-Chung Lee
  • Patent number: 8202015
    Abstract: A media tray assembly for a printer includes an output tray that is removably and pivotally mounted onto an input tray. The output tray is configured such that it can be easily installed into and quickly removed from the printer. In addition, the output tray can be pivoted upward from a substantially horizontal position and latched into an inclined position in one continuous motion by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Choon Siang Peck, Shivaprasad AradhyA.B.S., Wan Yen Bernice Ong
  • Patent number: 8177445
    Abstract: An over-center mechanism includes a pivoting member, rotatable about a pivot point between first and second positions, a drive gear, having a first radius, fixedly attached to the pivoting member at the pivot point, a pinion gear, engaged with the drive gear, having a second radius, and an over-center tension spring, eccentrically attached between the drive gear and the pinion gear, to bias the pivoting member toward the first and second positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Jeffrey E. Jones, Glenn W Gaarder, Michael Janczyk
  • Patent number: 8162553
    Abstract: A label printer comprising a cassette-receiving bay, said cassette-receiving bay having a base, a top opening opposite the base, a locking mechanism, and an ejector mechanism extending from said base, said ejector mechanism having an ejector part having an upper surface for cooperation with a cassette, said ejector part being movable in a first direction towards said base and biased in a second direction towards said top opening such that a force on the ejector part directed towards said base causes the ejector part to move in the first direction and wherein said ejector part is biased to move in said second direction when the force is removed, said ejector mechanism being arranged whereby when a cassette is inserted into the cassette receiving bay, said ejector part extends through an opening in a base of the cassette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Dymo
    Inventor: Kris Vandermeulen
  • Patent number: 8157462
    Abstract: The mechanism for opening and closing an operating cover of a printer having a discharge guide that remains in the same posture while moving in conjunction with opening and closing the operating cover prevents the gap between the discharge guide and the cover case of the operating cover from widening when the operating cover opens and closes. In a roll paper printer 1, the top end part 32a of the cover case 32 of an operating cover 3 is pivotably attached on the side of the discharge guide 5, which remains in the same posture while moving in conjunction with the cover 3 opening and closing. So that the cover case 32 does not separate from the cover frame 31 when the cover 3 opens and closes, a torsion spring 37 constantly urges the cover case 32 to open and close in unison with the cover frame 31 through an intervening connector arm 34.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kenichi Hirabayashi
  • Patent number: 8152393
    Abstract: A printer device is disclosed that has a cutter function and a thermal head, and is low profile but is suitable for thick paper. The printer device includes a first module and a second module. The first module includes a turning blade driving motor, a platen roller driving motor, a platen roller driven to rotate by the platen roller driving motor, and a fixed blade provided on a first frame. The second module includes a printing head and a turning blade provided on a second frame. When the first module and the second module are connected together, the printing head faces the platen roller, the turning blade faces the fixed blade, and rotation of the turning blade driving motor is transmitted to the turning blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Fujitsu Component Limited
    Inventors: Masahiro Tsuchiya, Yukihiro Mori, Sumio Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8132975
    Abstract: A keyboard stiffening system comprising a keyboard assembly having a plurality of key assemblies coupled to a support plate, the support plate having at least one extension extending from a bottom surface thereof to engage a support pan of the electronic device to secure the keyboard assembly to the support pan of the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Mark S. Tracy, Jonathan R. Harris, Paul J. Doczy
  • Patent number: 8128298
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide for a method and apparatus for moving a cover of a device relative to a base of the device to provide access to an interior space. An indication to open a cover coupled to a base is received. Responsive to receiving the indication, the cover is sequentially pivoted around a first pivot and a second pivot to provide access to the interior space while maintaining the cover within a footprint of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Roger Guy Fowler, Dean Frederick Herring
  • Patent number: 8123422
    Abstract: An ADU is turned around a first hole section that operates as fulcrum and opened by a first angle relative to the lateral side of an apparatus main body when dissolving a jam. The lateral side cover is temporarily taken away from a stationary side plate when maintenance the inside of a color copying machine. Then, a second engaging pin is put into a second hole section to engage the lateral side cover with the stationary side plate. The ADU is turned around the second hole section that operates as fulcrum and opened by a second angle greater than the first angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshihiro Matsushima, Masataka Muratani
  • Patent number: 8096718
    Abstract: A printer according to the present invention selectively comprises, a cutting configuration for a receipt printer for printing a receipt and a cutting configuration for a ticket printer for printing a ticket, as a cutting configuration for cutting a printed part of the paper roll. The cutting configuration for the receipt printer includes a fixed blade mounted to the upper frame and a movable cutter unit mounted on the lower frame to oppose the fixed blade through the paper roll to be driven by a driving source to cut the paper roll. The cutting configuration for the ticket printer includes a hand cutter mounted to at least one of the upper frame and the lower frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: NEC Infrontia Corporation
    Inventor: Yukio Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 8075207
    Abstract: There is disclosed a lightweight portable printer having a frame or housing with a print head and a cooperable platen roll mounted in the housing. The housing pivotally mounts a subassembly. The subassembly mounts an electric motor and gearing driven by the motor for driving the platen roll. The subassembly is resiliently urged to press the print head against the platen roll. The printer has a front door which provides access to the inside of the housing. The front door mounts the platen roll, a label delaminator, a pressure roll, a holder for mounting a supply roll of labels or tags, and a latch for latching the door to the housing and for camming the pressure roll into and out of cooperation with the platen roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
    Inventors: Orville C. Huggins, Thomas P. Keller, David S. Prows, David R. Wisecup
  • Patent number: 8075212
    Abstract: In the tape printing apparatus 1, in the state that the back cover 11 is not attached to the apparatus body 2, the coil spring member 22 urges the stopper member 15 so as to rotate and the cutter lever 5 becomes inoperable based on that the engagement portion 15A of the stopper member 15 is engaged with the difference portion 19 of the cutter lever 5, and in the state that the back cover 11 is attached to the apparatus body 2, the stopper member 5 is rotated against the urging force of the coil spring member 22 based on that the engagement lib 14 of the back cover 11 is engaged with the engagement portion 15B of the stopper member 15 and the cutter lever 5 becomes operable based on that the engagement portion 15A of the stopper member 15 is released from the difference portion 19 of the cutter lever 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nobuo Kato
  • Patent number: 8070372
    Abstract: A printer having an opening/closing cover for providing access to a roll paper compartment, a peeler mechanism for peeling printed labels from a web and for dispensing the peeled printed labels from the printer and an opening and closing mechanism 50 which locks and unlocks the cover and a peeler unit 10 of the peeler mechanism in response to the manual operation of a manual operating member such as a release button 17 with a single easy operation. When the release button 17 is depressed into a first operating position 17B, a lock lever 52 of the opening/closing mechanism 50 slides from a locked position 52A to a released position 52B to disengage the lock lever 52 thus unlocking the opening/closing cover 9. At the same time, the sliding lock lever 52 pushes engaging claws 74a, 73a that lock or unlocks the peeler unit 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hideki Kawakami, Masahiko Yamada
  • Patent number: 8045913
    Abstract: An optional tray fastening device of an image forming apparatus, for providing a fastening connection between an optional receiving tray moving in and out with respect to a main body of the image forming apparatus and the main body when mounting the optional tray to a lower part of the main body, includes a fastening depression formed at a lower part of the main body; a connection boss that protrudes from an upper part of the optional tray to be inserted in the fastening depression; and a key member that restrains escape of the connection boss from the fastening depression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seung-sik Jeong, Woo-seog Kim