# US 5,709,486 A · Printing device construction > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,709,486 A - Document ID: US5709486A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/674,950 - Filed: 1996-07-03 - Granted: 1998-01-20 - Earliest claimed: 1995-07-04 - Assignees: Esselte N.V. - Inventors: Robert Charles Lewis Day - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5709486A ## CPC - B41J 35/28: Detachable carriers or holders for ink-ribbon mechanisms - B41J 3/4075: {Tape printers; Label printers} - B41J 29/02: Framework - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS ## Abstract The present invention relates to a printing device having a baseplate with a flat base portion and upstanding elements. The flat base portion and upstanding elements are provided as a unitary part which may be formed from die casting, injection molding, outsert molding, or similar construction techniques. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A printing device comprising: a baseplate having a substantially flat base portion and a plurality of upstanding elements positioned at predetermined locations on the base portion, wherein the base portion and the plurality of upstanding elements are together a single part of unitary construction; a printer mounted on at least one of said upstanding elements for printinq on a printinq substrate; a printing substrate support mounted on at least one of said upstanding elements for supporting a printing substrate; and a printing substrate advancement mechanism mounted on at least one of said upstanding elements for advancing a printing substrate through the printer. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The printing device of claim 1, wherein the printer comprises a printhead pivotably mounted on one of said upstanding elements. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The printing device of claim 2, wherein the upstanding elements further comprise an ink ribbon sprocket support pin for mounting an ink ribbon sprocket thereon for tensioning an ink ribbon used in printing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The printing device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of upstanding elements include at least one cassette support pin for supporting a cassette that houses the printing substrate. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The printing device of claim 4, wherein the at least one cassette support pin includes first and second cassette support pins arranged at opposite sides of the flat base portion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The printing device of claim 4, wherein the upstanding elements further include a cassette locating pin for locating the cassette thereon. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The printing device of claim 5, wherein the first and second cassette support pins are configured and dimensioned for supporting the cassette at a position above the flat base portion of the baseplate. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The printing device of claim 1, wherein the baseplate further comprises a cutter mount for mounting a cutter assembly thereon for cutting said printing substrate, said cutter mount being constructed as a unitary part of the baseplate. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The printing device of claim 1, wherein the baseplate is flat and has a coating thereon having a shape that defines said upstanding elements. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The printing device of claim 1, wherein the printing substrate support includes a rotatable platen rotatably mounted on one of said upstanding elements. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The printing device of claim 10, wherein the printing substrate advancement mechanism is configured for rotatably driving the rotatable platen. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The printing device of claim 11, further comprising a plurality of gears arranged in a gear train, each gear being rotatably mounted on one of said upstanding elements, wherein said gear train is operatively associated with the substrate advancement mechanism and the platen for rotating the platen. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The printing device of claim 11, wherein the baseplate has a side, the gear train and the platen being disposed on said side. ### Claim 14 A printing device which comprises: a cassette receiving bay; and a baseplate associated with the cassette receiving bay, said baseplate comprising a substantially flat base portion and a plurality of upstanding elements positioned at predetermined locations on said base portion, wherein the base portion and the plurality of upstanding elements are together a single part of unitary construction; and wherein the plurality of upstanding elements include a platen support element for supporting a rotatable platen. ### Claim 15 A printing device which comprises: a cassette receiving bay; and a baseplate associated with the cassette receiving bay, said baseplate comprising a substantially flat base portion and a plurality of upstanding elements positioned at predetermined locations on said base portion, wherein the base portion and the plurality of upstanding elements are together a single part of unitary construction, wherein the plurality of upstanding elements include: a platen support element for receiving a rotatable platen; a printhead support element for supporting a printhead; and at least one cassette support pin for supporting a cassette, which houses a recording medium on which an image is to be printed, at a predetermined spacing from the flat base portion of the baseplate. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The printing device of claim 15, wherein the plurality of upstanding elements of the baseplate further include a plurality of gear pins for receiving a plurality of gears to form a gear train arranged to rotate the platen. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The printing device of claim 16, which further comprises a cassette bay floor positioned on said gear pins over said gears and being secured by securing means to the baseplate to hold the gears in position. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The printing device of claim 15, wherein the printhead is movable between an operative position, in which it cooperates with the platen to print an image on the recording medium, and an inoperative position. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The printing device of claim 13, which further comprises: a motor associated with said baseplate for rotating the platen about a first axis, wherein said motor has a rotor that is rotatable about a second axis which lies in a plane perpendicular to said first axis; and a bevel gear associated with said rotor for converting the rotation of the motor about the second axis to drive the platen about the first axis. ### Claim 20 A printing device which comprises: a cassette receiving bay; and a baseplate associated with the cassette receiving bay, said baseplate comprising a substantially flat base portion and a plurality of upstanding elements positioned at predetermined locations on said base portion, wherein the base portion and the plurality of upstanding elements are together a single part of unitary construction, and wherein the plurality of upstanding elements include a printhead support element adapted for supporting a rotatably mounted printhead.