Toolless Thermal Print Head Mounting Bracket
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current thermal print head replacement in thermal printers requires tool usage, is time-consuming, and cannot accommodate print heads with varying dimensions, leading to increased costs and limited supplier compatibility.
Innovation Solution
A toolless thermal print head mounting apparatus featuring a print head mounting bracket with side slots and stud holes, a floating cable clamp with shoulder pins, and a dual key-slot capture latch that allows for easy installation and removal of thermal print heads, accommodating a range of dimensions through pivoting and adjustable clamps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional tool-based mounting methods are used, then secure print head attachment is achieved, but replacement time and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system is divided into separate functional components: a mounting bracket with side slots for cable clamp positioning, a capture latch with key-slots for stud engagement, and a floating cable clamp with shoulder pins. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, enabling toolless assembly and disassembly while maintaining secure attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable clamp is designed with floating capability, allowing it to pivot and adjust its position dynamically. The shoulder pins engage with side slots that permit movement, enabling the cable clamp to adapt to different print head positions and dimensions without requiring tools for adjustment.
2Adaptability or versatility
If fixed-dimension mounting structures are used, then precise positioning is achieved, but adaptability to different print head dimensions is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting bracket and cable clamp are designed with universal features that accommodate multiple print head dimensions. The side slots in the bracket and the corresponding shoulder pins in the cable clamp create an adjustable interface that can accommodate varying vertical distances between print lines and cable connectors while maintaining proper positioning through the key-slot/stud engagement mechanism.
3Ease of operation
If separate carriage assemblies with fastening structures are introduced, then print head replacement is simplified, but device size and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting bracket, capture latch, and floating cable clamp are combined into a single integrated assembly that attaches directly to the print head and printer structure. This merging eliminates the need for separate carriage assemblies with complex fastening structures, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining ease of print head replacement through the toolless side-slot/shoulder pin and key-slot/stud engagement mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A toolless thermal print head mounting apparatus including; a print head mounting bracket including a front face and a rear face, a plurality of print head mounting stud holes and a plurality of cable clamp mounting slots formed in the print head mounting bracket, each of the plurality of cable clamp mounting slots including a side slot and a vertical slot, a capture latch operatively connected to the print head mounting bracket, a plurality of key-slots formed in the capture latch and aligned with the plurality of mounting stud holes, and a floating cable clamp including a plurality of shoulder pins disposed on a rear face thereof, each of the plurality of shoulder pins including a neck configured to pass through the plurality of cable clamp mounting slots and a head configured to be larger than a width of the vertical slot of the cable clamp mounting slots.