Cover locking/unlocking mechanism and a printer having the cover locking/unlocking mechanism

A printer having a printer case, a cover for closing and opening a compartment in the printer case in which a recording medium is adapted to be stored, a feed roller for moving the recording medium along a paper path in the compartment, means for printing to the recording medium when the cover is closed and a locking/unlocking mechanism for the cover wherein said locking/unlocking mechanism comprises:

• a cover-side engaging part connected to the cover;
• a body-side engaging part for locking the cover to the case of the printer when engaging the cover-side engaging part;
• a cover lifting part for pushing the cover-side engaging part in a direction for opening the cover;
• a manual operating member for controlling the disengagement of the cover-side engaging part from the body-side engaging part to release the cover from the locked state;
• and
• a locking lever in an arrangement with the body-side engaging part and cover lifting part for sliding and swinging in a given sequence in response to movement of the manual operating member such that the locking lever slides in response to movement of the manual operating member to a first operating position for retracting the locking lever a specific distance from the locked position and for disengaging the cover from the case and
• swings in response to movement of the manual operating member to a second operating position into an uplifted position to cause the cover lifting part to lift the cover-side engaging part up a specific distance for opening the cover.