Computer keyboard with internal printer
View Patent ↗A computer keyboard assembly includes a computer keyboard. The computer keyboard includes a housing on which a keypad is arranged. The housing defines oppositely disposed print media input and ejection slots though which print media can pass. A print media feed mechanism is located within the housing and is configured to feed print media along a print media path between the entry and ejection slots. A printer is located within the housing and is configured to print upon print media fed along the print media path.
1. A computer keyboard assembly comprising:
a housing defining oppositely disposed print media input and ejection slots;
a qwerty keyboard disposed on the housing;
a print media feed mechanism located within the housing and configured to feed the print media along a print media path extending between the entry and ejection slots, the print media feed mechanism comprising a belt-and-roller assembly and a planar member biased against the belt-and-roller assembly to maintain planarity of print media;
a printer located within the housing and configured to print upon the print media fed along the print media path; and
a serial data bus for connecting the qwerty keyboard and printer to an external computer, the serial data bus communicating keystrokes from the qwerty keyboard to the external computer for controlling the external computer and print control data from the external computer to the printer.
2. A computer keyboard assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the input slot is defined in a side of the housing which, in use, is closer to a user of the keyboard than an opposite side in which the ejection slot is defined.
3. A computer keyboard assembly as claimed in claim 1 , in which an exit tray extends outwardly from the ejection slot onto which the print media is fed after printing.
4. A computer keyboard assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the printer has a page width ink jet printhead mounted in a support.
5. A computer keyboard assembly as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the support has a plurality of galleries, each of which contains a different colour ink to be fed via passages to the printhead.
6. A computer keyboard assembly as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the printer also has an ink supply cartridge for feeding ink to the galleries of the support.
7. A computer keyboard assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the belt-and-roller includes an endless belt which is rotated by a drive roller and extends about an opposed, idler roller.