# US 10,870,288 B2 · Printhead for a printing apparatus

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- Number: US 10,870,288 B2
- Document ID: US10870288B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/533,325
- Filed: 2019-08-06
- Published: 2019-11-28
- Granted: 2020-12-22
- Earliest claimed: 2018-03-15
- Assignees: Datamax-O'Neil Corporation
- Applicants: Datamax-O'Neil Corporation
- Inventors: Yong Chiap Cheng; Chin Young Wong; Dionne Lim
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10870288B2

## CPC

- B41J 2/375: Protection arrangements against overheating
- B41J 2/325: by selective transfer of ink from ink carrier, e.g. from ink ribbon or sheet
- B41J 2/33505: {Constructional details}
- B41J 2/3355: {characterised by materials}
- B41J 11/00: Devices or arrangements {of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers,} for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form (script supports connected to the typewriter or printer B41J29/15)
- B41J 29/02: Framework
- B41J 2202/31: Thermal printer with head or platen movable
- B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS

## Abstract

Provided herein is a printing apparatus including a printhead movable between a first position and a second position. The printhead includes a first substrate and a second substrate. The first substrate and the second substrate define at least a first burn line and a second burn line, respectively, of heating elements disposed adjacent to a first edge and a second edge, respectively of the printhead. A printhead bracket receives the printhead in one of the first position or the second position. In the first position, the heating elements of the first burn line perform a printing operation and the printhead bracket is configured to preclude operation of the heating elements of the second burn line. In the second position, the heating elements of the second burn line perform a printing operation, and the printhead bracket is configured to preclude operation of the heating elements of the first burn line.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A printer apparatus comprising:
a printhead movable between a first position and a second position, the printhead comprising:
a heat sink element;
a substrate comprising: a first burn line and a second burn line located at two opposite ends of the substrate, and the first burn line and the second burn line comprise a plurality of printing elements configured for printing;
a bracket engaged to the heat sink element and the substrate in one of the first position utilizing the first burn line or the second position utilizing the second burn line; and
an engagement and re-engagement mechanism configured for automatic release and securing of the printhead from the first position to the second position.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The printer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printer is one of a direct thermal printer and a thermal transfer printer.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The printer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the disengaging is based upon detection of a malfunctioning condition of at least the printing elements corresponding to the first burn line of the substrate in the print head assembly.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The printer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the engagement and re-engagement mechanism includes one or more magnetic fasteners for facilitating the automatic release of the printhead from the printhead bracket and automatic securing of the printhead within the printhead bracket.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The printer apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the magnetic fastening mechanism releases the substrate engaged in a first position from the printhead bracket.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The printer apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the magnetic fastening mechanism rotates the substrate from the first position to the second position for printing.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The printer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the printing elements corresponds to heating elements comprising a plurality of resistors for heating the burn line for providing deposition of a printing material on a media.