Platen roller assemblies for printer and methods of removal therefrom

摘要

A platen roller assembly for a printer includes a platen roller, a retaining clip, a plurality of bearings, and a pulley assembly. The platen roller defines a longitudinal axis. The retaining clip mounts to a support body of the printer and is positioned to retain the platen roller relative to the support body. The plurality of bearings is operably coupled to the platen roller. Each of the bearings permits rotational movement of the platen roller about the longitudinal axis thereof. The pulley assembly is mounted to the support body and is operably associated with one or more of the bearings. The pulley assembly includes a pulley and a belt. The belt is operably coupled to the pulley such that the platen roller rotates in response to rotational movement of the belt. The platen roller may be selectively coupled and uncoupled to/from the support body independent of the pulley assembly.

主权项

1. A method for removing a platen roller from a printer, comprising:
providing a printer including a support body and a platen roller assembly mounted to the support body, the platen roller assembly including a platen roller, a retaining clip, and a pulley assembly, the pulley assembly having a belt and a pulley; mounting the retaining clip to the support body of the printer; positioning the retaining clip to retain the platen roller relative to the support body; mounting the pulley assembly to the support body; operably coupling the belt and the pulley such that the platen roller rotates in response to rotational movement of the belt; removing the retaining clip from the support body; and removing the platen roller from the support body independent of the pulley assembly such that the belt and the pulley remain mounted to the support body with the belt being operably tensioned to the pulley after the platen roller has been removed from the support body.