Tilting touch screen for printer and printer with tilting touch screen

A method of providing a tilting touch screen, comprising the steps of:

• providing a touch screen housing;
• providing a touch screen arranged in the touch screen housing, the touch screen comprising at least a touch screen overlay and an LCD;
• providing means for pivotally connecting the touch screen housing directly to a printer housing, the printer housing defining an opening closable by the touch screen housing;
• and
• providing a controller for controlling the printer in communication with the touch screen, the LCD, and print mechanisms of the printer;
• wherein:
• the touch screen housing is a cover for the opening of the printer housing;
• the touch screen is accessible when the cover is closed;
• a layout of the touch screen overlay is configurable;
• and
• a partially translucent overlay is provided between the touch screen overlay and the LCD, permanent buttons being provided for controlling main printer functions on an area of the partially translucent overlay which extends outside of an area of overlap of the LCD.

A printer having a tilting touch screen, comprising:

• a printer housing;
• a touch screen housing;
• a touch screen arranged in the touch screen housing, the touch screen comprising at least a touch screen overlay and an LCD;
• means for pivotally connecting the touch screen housing directly to the printer housing, the printer housing defining an opening closable by the touch screen housing;
• and
• a controller for controlling the printer in communication with the touch screen, the LCD, and print mechanisms of the printer;
• wherein:
• the touch screen housing is a cover for the opening of the printer housing;
• the touch screen is accessible when the cover is closed;
• a layout of the touch screen overlay is configurable;
• and
• a partially translucent overlay is provided between the touch screen overlay and the LCD, permanent buttons being provided for controlling main printer functions on an area of the partially translucent overlay which extends outside of an area of overlap of the LCD.

A tilting touch screen for a printer, comprising:

• a touch screen housing;
• a touch screen arranged on an outside of the touch screen housing;
• means for pivotally connecting the touch screen housing directly to a printer housing, the printer housing defining an opening closable by the tilting touch screen;
• and
• a controller for controlling the printer in communication with the touch screen;
• wherein:
• the touch screen housing comprises a cover for the opening of the printer housing;
• the means for pivotally connecting the touch screen housing to the printer housing comprises pivot arms pivotally coupling the touch screen housing to oppositely disposed inside surfaces of the printer housing at corresponding pivot points;
• the pivot arms each having a free end which extends beyond the corresponding pivot point;
• the free ends of the pivot arms are resilient;
• each of the free ends of the pivot arms bears a corresponding protrusion;
• each of the free ends of the pivot arms with the corresponding protrusion is adapted to springingly engage into corresponding recesses in the oppositely disposed inside surfaces of the printer housing upon tilting of the touch screen into at least one of a fully open and a fully closed position;
• and
• the protrusion is adapted to be released from engagement with the corresponding recess upon tilting of the touch screen from the at least one of the fully open and the fully closed position.