Portable printer with ribbon cartridge retaining feature
View Patent ↗Devices, systems and methods for a portable printer are provided. Personnel utilize features of the printer to manage products, store information on labels, and aid in shipping. A low battery shut-off feature shuts down the printer at a set battery power percentage; a battery charge control feature controls battery charging to stay within a set range of state of charge values to ensure longer battery life; a ribbon cartridge insertion feature allows for easy replacement of the ribbon cartridge; ribbon cartridge locating features lock the ribbon cartridge into place for printing; a ribbon guiding feature adjusts the ribbon during printing to reduce wrinkles; an RFID coupler mounting feature mounts and shields an RFID coupler inside the printer; a media guide locking feature fixes the media position to prevent misalignment; and a media alignment feature allows the user to properly align the media with the printhead during installation.
1. A printer comprising:
a housing defining a ribbon receiving area configured to receive a ribbon cartridge, wherein the housing defines a media receiving area configured to receive a supply of media;
a ribbon cover configured to move between a closed ribbon position and an opened ribbon position;
a ribbon cartridge retaining feature configured to engage at least part of the ribbon cartridge, wherein the ribbon cartridge retaining feature is configured to move the ribbon cartridge to an installed position when the ribbon cover is moved to the closed ribbon position, and wherein the ribbon cartridge retaining feature is further configured to move the ribbon cartridge to an accessible position when the ribbon cover is moved to the opened ribbon position; and
a media cover configured to move between a closed media position and an opened media position wherein the media cover comprises an electromagnetic shield, wherein the media cover is configured such that when the media cover is in the closed media position, the electromagnetic shield is positioned between the media receiving area and the ribbon receiving area.
2. A printer comprising:
a housing defining a ribbon receiving area configured to receive a ribbon cartridge, wherein the housing defines a media receiving area configured to receive a supply of media;
a ribbon cover configured to move between a closed ribbon position and an opened ribbon position;
a ribbon cartridge retaining feature configured to engage at least part of the ribbon cartridge, wherein the ribbon cartridge retaining feature is configured to move the ribbon cartridge to an installed position when the ribbon cover is moved to the closed ribbon position, and wherein the ribbon cartridge retaining feature is further configured to move the ribbon cartridge to an accessible position when the ribbon cover is moved to the opened ribbon position; and
a media cover configured to move between a closed media position and an opened media position, wherein the media cover is blocked from moving to the closed media position when the ribbon cartridge retaining feature is in a retrieval position.
3. The printer of claim 2 , wherein the ribbon cartridge retaining feature comprises a lifting portion configured to support at least a part of the ribbon cartridge, and a securing portion configured to maintain the ribbon cartridge in the installed position when the ribbon cartridge retaining feature is in an operational position.
4. The printer of claim 3 , wherein the lifting portion and the securing portion generally define a U-shape.
5. The printer of claim 4 , wherein the lifting portion is configured to at least partially move the ribbon cartridge between the installed position and the accessible position as the ribbon cartridge retaining feature is moved between the operational position and a retrieval position.
6. The printer of claim 2 , wherein the securing portion comprises contact areas configured to engage the ribbon cartridge to secure the ribbon cartridge in the installed position when the ribbon cartridge retaining feature is in the operational position.
7. The printer of claim 6 , wherein the contact areas comprise ridges.
8. The printer of claim 2 , wherein the media cover comprises an electromagnetic shield.
9. The printer of claim 2 further comprising:
a linkage connecting the ribbon cover to the ribbon cartridge retaining feature,
wherein movement of the ribbon cover from the closed ribbon position to the opened ribbon position is transmitted through the linkage to move the ribbon cartridge retaining feature from the operational position to a retrieval position.
10. The printer of claim 2 , wherein the ribbon cover and the ribbon cartridge retaining feature are configured to move substantially simultaneously.
11. The printer of claim 2 , wherein the second spool defines an axis about which the second spool rotates, and wherein the axis of the second spool remains generally stationary relative to the housing when the ribbon cover is moved between the closed ribbon position and the open ribbon position.
12. The printer of claim 2 , wherein the ribbon cartridge retaining feature is configured to engage a first end of the ribbon cartridge proximate the first spool.
13. The printer of claim 12 , wherein the ribbon cartridge retaining feature is configured to pivot the first end of the ribbon cartridge relative to a second end of the ribbon cartridge.
14. The printer of claim 12 , wherein the ribbon cartridge retaining feature is configured to not engage a second end of the ribbon cartridge proximate the second spool.
15. A printer comprising:
a housing defining a ribbon receiving area configured to receive a ribbon cartridge and defining a media receiving area configured to receive a supply of media;
a ribbon cover configured to move between a closed ribbon position and an opened ribbon position;
a ribbon cartridge retaining feature configured to engage at least part of the ribbon cartridge,
wherein the ribbon cartridge retaining feature is configured to move the ribbon cartridge to an installed position when the ribbon cover is moved to the closed ribbon position, and wherein the ribbon cartridge retaining feature is further configured to move the ribbon cartridge to an accessible position when the ribbon cover is moved to the opened ribbon position
a linkage connecting the ribbon cover to the ribbon cartridge retaining feature, wherein movement of the ribbon cover from the closed ribbon position to the opened ribbon position is transmitted through the linkage to move the ribbon cartridge retaining feature from the operational position to a retrieval position,
a media cover configured to move between a closed media position and an opened media position;
a ribbon cover button configured to facilitate movement of the ribbon cover from the closed ribbon position to the opened ribbon position wherein the ribbon cover button is only accessible by a user when the media cover is in the opened media position; and
a media cover button configured to facilitate movement of the media cover from the closed media position to the opened media position, wherein the media cover button is located generally proximate the ribbon cover button.
16. A printer comprising:
a housing defining a ribbon receiving area configured to receive a ribbon cartridge;
a ribbon cover configured to move between a closed ribbon position and an opened ribbon position;
a ribbon cartridge retaining feature configured to engage at least part of the ribbon cartridge,
wherein the ribbon cartridge retaining feature is configured to move the ribbon cartridge to an installed position when the ribbon cover is moved to the closed ribbon position, and wherein the ribbon cartridge retaining feature is further configured to move the ribbon cartridge to an accessible position when the ribbon cover is moved to the opened ribbon position
a linkage connecting the ribbon cover to the ribbon cartridge retaining feature, wherein movement of the ribbon cover from the closed ribbon position to the opened ribbon position is transmitted through the linkage to move the ribbon cartridge retaining feature from the operational position to a retrieval position, wherein the linkage comprises:
a sliding component defining a first end and a second end; and
a rotating component defining a first leg and a second leg,
wherein the first end of the sliding component is hingedly connected to the ribbon cover,
wherein the second end of the sliding component is slidingly engaged with the first leg of the rotating component, and
wherein the second leg of the rotating component further comprises a slot configured to receive an extension defined by the ribbon cartridge retaining feature,
wherein movement of the ribbon cover between the closed ribbon position and the opened ribbon position slides the second end of the sliding component along the first leg of the rotating component and rotates the rotating component with respect to the housing, thereby moving the ribbon cartridge retaining feature between the operational position and the retrieval position, respectively, via the extension.