POS terminal with replaceable printer cartridge
AssigneeHypercom Corporation
InventorGeorge Wallner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A point of service (POS) terminal having an integral field replaceable printer for printing a customer receipt and a method for replacing the integral printer are provided. The POS terminal comprises a single, unitary housing which houses the various components typically associated with a POS terminal, but which is also configured to accommodate an integral printer within the terminal housing. The integral print module may be easily accessed, removed and replaced by a merchant without the use of tools or special training and instruction. A moveable access panel associated with the terminal housing provides access to the removable, replaceable printer cartridge and allows the printer cartridge to be removed from the POS terminal and replaced without having to disassemble the POS terminal.
Claims17
A point of sale terminal, comprising:
- a housing;
- card data input means, integral with said housing, for communicating with a transaction card;
- and
- a printer assembly including a printing head configured to print transaction data on a receipt;
- paper holder retaining arms configured to hold paper, wherein said printer assembly is removably received within said housing while said paper holder retaining arms remain stationary;
- and,
- a bracket rigidly secured to and substantially within said housing, and wherein said printer assembly is removably affixed to said bracket, said bracket comprises a substantially rigid first planar surface having a finger extending therefrom, and said printer assembly comprising a second planar surface having an aperture disposed to engage said finger when said printer assembly is secured within said housing, and wherein said second planar surface is disposed to disengage said finger from said aperture when said second planar surface including a flexible tongue is manually pulled upward above said finger.
In a POS terminal for use in sales transactions of the type comprising:
- an integral printer substantially disposed within the terminal housing;
- a bracket rigidly secured to and substantially within said housing, and said integral printer is removably affixed to said bracket, said bracket comprises a substantially rigid first planar surface having a finger extending therefrom, and said printer assembly comprises a second planar surface having an aperture disposed to engage said finger when said printer assembly is secured within said housing;
- a card data input mechanism;
- a human readable display;
- and a transmission circuit for transmitting messages to a remote host computer, a method for replacing said printer, comprising the steps of:
- grasping said printer;
- disengaging said finger from said aperture by manually pulling said second planar surface including a flexible tongue upward above said finger;
- and
- removing said printer from said housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.