PRINTER COVER OPENING METHOD AND MECHANISM

摘要

A printer that may be part of a point of sales terminal. The printer includes a latching mechanism that helps hold the printer's cover in the closed position when latched, but allows the cover to open when unlatched. The latching mechanism is automatically moved to an unlatched state by reversing the paper feed motor. Related methods of operating a printer are also disclosed.

主权项

1. A printer, comprising:
a base housing; a paper supply cavity; a cover moveably mounted to the base housing for movement between a closed position where the cover helps enclose the paper supply cavity and at least one open position where the paper supply cavity is accessible; a printhead movably associated with one of the base housing and the cover; a platen roller rotatably mounted to the other of the base housing and the cover for rotation about a platen axis in a forward feed direction and a reverse direction; a drive motor operatively coupled to the platen roller to drive the platen roller to rotate; a latch movable between a latching position, where the latch connects the base housing to the cover such that the cover is latched in the closed position, and a release position where the latch is displaced relative to the latching position so as to allow movement of the cover toward the open position; wherein, with the cover in the closed position:
the printhead and platen roller are positioned relatively closer to each other for printing on paper therebetween;rotation of the platen roller in the reverse direction urges the latch toward the release position; wherein, with the cover in the open position:
the printhead and platen roller are positioned relatively farther from each other so as to be positioned unsuitably for printing on paper therebetween.