Mechanism for operator-replaceable printhead

A mechanism for mounting a print head or like device to the shuttle of a printer, said device including a cylindrical head section and a generally tapering guide section, said mechanism comprising:

• a generally upright member on said shuttle, having an opening through which said guide section is insertable,
• at least one projection extending from sad guide section, said projection being a wedge-shaped locking fin that includes an angled locking surface,
• a releasable retaining assembly mounted on said shuttle, including at least one movable locking memer adapted for clamping engagement with said guide section projection, said locking member being wedge-shaped and including a mating surface sloped to generally correspond to the angle of said fin locking surface,
• bias spring means for urging said locking member into clamping engagement with said guide section projection, so that said bias means exerts force via said locking member and said projecting to urge said cylindrical head section into tight abutting relationship with said upright member, said mating surface of said locking member being urged into firm contact with said fin locking surface by said bias spring means to produce said clamping engagement.

A self-aligning mechanism for mounting a print head or like device to the shuttle of a printer, said device having an enlarged actuator housing section and an elongated wire guide housing extending therefrom, said mechanism comprising:

• a generally upright member on said shuttle, having an opening through which said wire guide housing is insertable,
• a pair of wedge-shaped projections extending from opposite sides of said guide housing, and
• a releasable retaining assembly mounted on said shuttle on the platen side of said upright member, including:
• first and second opposed slideably mounted locking wedges, and
• bias spring means for urging said locking wedges toward one another, said guide housing seating between said locking wedges, said wedges in clamping engagement with said wedge-shaped projections, so that said bias means exerts force via said locking wedges and said projections to urge said actuator housing into tight relationship with said upright member.