Printer assembly with easily loaded paper cartridge

An electronic camera for providing instant hard copy pictures, comprising:

• an image sensor including a plurality of photosensors arranged in an array for providing analog image data outputs proportional to the intensity of light incident on the respective photosensors;
• processing circuitry coupled with said image sensor, said processing circuitry operable to process image data from said image sensor and to prepare said image data for printing;
• a printer assembly including a print head which operates under control of said processing circuitry to provide a hard copy picture;
• a replaceable preloaded paper cassette adapted for insertion in said printer assembly, said paper cassette being structured such that preloaded paper is disposed between the print head of said printer assembly and a cassette housing when the cassette is inserted into the printer assembly so that the cassette housing operates as a printing platen;
• and
• a print head cover which shields said print head when said paper cassette is removed from the printer assembly.

An electronic camera for providing instant hard copy pictures, comprising:

• an image sensor including a plurality of photosensors arranged in an array for providing analog image data outputs proportional to the intensity of light incident on the respective photosensors;
• processing circuitry coupled with said image sensor, said processing circuitry operable to process image data from said image sensor and to prepare said image data for printing;
• a printer assembly including a print head which operates under control of said processing circuitry to provide a hard copy picture;
• a replaceable preloaded paper cassette adapted for insertion in said printer assembly, said paper cassette being structured such that preloaded paper is disposed between the print head of said printer assembly and a cassette housing when the cassette is inserted into the printer assembly so that the cassette housing operates as a printing platen;
• and
• a pressure pad mounted on a portion of said cassette housing adjacent said print head when said cassette is inserted in the printer assembly.

An electronic camera for providing instant hard copy pictures, comprising:

• an image sensor including a plurality of photosensors arranged in an array for providing analog image data outputs proportional to the intensity of light incident on the respective photosensors;
• processing circuitry coupled with said image sensor, said processing circuitry operable to process image data from said image sensor and to prepare said image data for printing;
• a printer assembly including a moveable print head which operates under control of said processing circuitry to provide a hard copy picture, a rotary encoder gear having a plurality of spaced lugs, a light source arranged on one side of said spaced lugs, and a light detector arranged on the other side of said spaced lugs, said rotary encoder gear operable to rotate at a rate proportional to the print head speed, whereby said spaced lugs move through a light path between said light source and said light detector, said light sensor producing a series of electrical pulses indicative of the print head speed;
• and
• a replaceable preloaded paper cassette adapted for insertion in said printer assembly, said paper cassette being structured such that preloaded paper is disposed between the print head of said printer assembly and a cassette housing when the cassette is inserted into the printer assembly so that the cassette housing operates as a printing platen.

A printer comprising:

• a printer chassis;
• a print head mounted on a moveable print head carrier arranged in said printer chassis;
• a paper advance roller arranged in said printer chassis;
• and
• a replaceable, preloaded paper cassette for insertion into said printer chassis, said paper cassette including a housing having an exterior portion that operates as a printing platen and at least one roller for urging said paper against said paper advance roller when said paper cassette is inserted into said printer chassis.

A printer comprising:

• a printer chassis;
• a print head mounted on a moveable print head carrier arranged in said printer chassis;
• a paper advance roller arranged in said printer chassis;
• a replaceable, preloaded paper cassette for insertion into said printer chassis, said paper cassette including a housing having a printing platen and at least one roller for urging said paper against said paper advance roller when said paper cassette is inserted into said printer chassis;
• and
• a print head cover arranged in said printer chassis, said print head cover operable to shield said print head when said paper cassette is removed from the printer chassis.

A printer comprising:

• a printer chassis;
• a print head mounted on a moveable print head carrier arranged in said printer chassis;
• a paper advance roller arranged in said printer chassis;
• a replaceable, preloaded paper cassette for insertion into said printer chassis, said paper cassette including a housing having a printing platen and at least one roller for urging said paper against said paper advance roller when said paper cassette is inserted into said printer chassis;
• and
• a rotary encoder gear having a plurality of spaced apertures, a light source arranged on one side of said spaced apertures, and a light detector arranged on the other side of said spaced apertures, said rotary encoder gear operable to rotate at a rate proportional to the print head speed, whereby said spaced apertures move through a light path between said light source and said light detector, said light sensor producing a series of electrical pulses indicative of the print head speed.

A paper cassette for use in a printer assembly having a print head and a paper advance roller arranged in a printer chassis, said paper cassette comprising:

• a housing including an interior cavity;
• a paper supply roll provided in said interior cavity;
• a first paper guide slot provided in said housing;
• a second paper guide slot provided in said housing, said second paper guide slot being parallel to and spaced from said first paper guide slot;
• a platen formed by an exterior portion of said housing between said first and second paper guide slots, so that paper from said paper supply roll can be threaded through said first paper guide slot, across said platen, and through said second paper guide slot.