Thermal printing apparatus and tape supply cartridge therefor
AssigneeKroy Inc.
InventorMichael W. Paque
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A thermal printing device and tape supply cartridge therefor which includes a printing mechanism having a print head incorporated within the machine and a separate printing platen embodied within the cartridge. An alignment mechanism is also provided for insuring printing alignment between the cartridge embodied platen and the print head. The cartridge also includes a mechanism for laminating a film of protective material over the printed tape and a fully incorporated, manually operated tape cut-off mechanism.
Claims18
A tape supply cartridge for operative insertion into and use with a thermal printing device or the like having cartridge receiving and alignment means, a platen alignment post and a printhead, said cartridge comprising:
- a cartridge housing having top and bottom walls and an end wall joining said top and bottom walls;
- a printhead opening in one of said top and bottom walls;
- a tape opening in a portion of said end wall;
- a supply of tape;
- a printing platen disposed between and mounted for limited alignment positioning relative to, said top and bottom walls and adapted for alignment relative to said platen alignment post, said platen cooperating with said printhead to define a print station for generating printed characters on said tape;
- and
- guide means for guiding said tape past said print station.
A thermal printing device comprising:
- a device housing;
- an associated keyboard;
- a cartridge receiving cavity having a bottom cartridge support surface;
- a thermal printhead extending above said support surface;
- a platen alignment post;
- a tape supply cartridge including:
- a cartridge housing having top and bottom walls and an end wall joining said top and bottom walls;
- a printhead opening in one of said top and bottom walls;
- a tape opening in a portion of said end wall;
- a supply of tape;
- a platen disposed between and mounted for limited alignment positioning relative to, said top and bottom walls and adapted for alignment relative to said platen alignment post, said platen cooperating with said printhead to define a print station for generating printed characters on said tape;
- means for guiding said tape past said print station and around a portion of said platen;
- and
- means for retaining said tape supply cartridge in operative position within said cartridge receiving cavity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.