Disclosed is a mechanism for mounting a print head or like device to the shuttle of a printer. The mechanism includes means for securely fastening the print head to the shuttle and is designed to facilitate easy removal and replacement of the print head. The print head includes a cylindrical head section and a generally tapering guide section and has a pair of wedge-shaped locking fins integrally molded on opposite side of the guide sections. In addition, a pair of bosses are molded on the guide section a spaced distance from the locking fins. The shuttle includes a generally upright member having an opening through which the guide section is insertable, and includes two slots whose shape corresponds to that of the molded bosses. The bosses fit into the slots and secure the print head into the proper operating alignment. A releasable retaining assembly is mounted on the shuttle and includes two locking members adapted for clamping engagement with the locking fins. Bias spring means are utilized to urge the locking members into clamping engagement with the locking fins so as to urge the cylindrical head section into tight abutting relationship with the upright member of the shuttle.

A liquid injection recording apparatus includes a head having orifices provided to discharge liquid and form flying droplets, and energy generating members for generating energy utilized to form the droplets. Electrical contacts for inputting an electrical signal to the energy generating members are provided on a surface different from a surface in which the orifices are provided. The liquid injection recording apparatus has such liquid injection recording head mounted on a mounting portion on which is provided electrical contacts adapted to be connected to the electrical contacts of the recording head when the recording head is mounted on the mounting portion.

A thermal printer is provided with a free floating print head and a sliding top supporting a platen roller. The platen roller is engageable with the print head such that a biased uniform force is applied to the print head. The sliding top is movable between a print ready position and a paper loading position. A wide gap is provided between the platen roller and the print head which in the paper loading position, allowing for easy paper loading without need for threading.

A cable connection mechanism for a thermal print head includes an integral carriage and clamp assembly which is formed to receive the leads of a flat cable and which contains the print head in position to engage the cable leads. Pressure required to maintain contact of the cable leads with the print head is provided by resilient means carried in a slot in the clamp assembly.

A printer having a print head with a mounting portion, and a carriage with a supporting structure engaging the mounting portion of the print head to hold it in place on the carriage. The supporting structure includes a lateral positioning portion for positioning the print head laterally in a direction of movement of the carriage, a downward positioning portion for positioning the print head downwardly of the carriage, and a rear wall for receiving a force of reaction of the print head upon printing action on a platen. The printer comprises a biasing device for biasing the mounting portion of the print head downwardly and rearwardly against the downward positioning portion and rear wall of the supporting structure of the carriage, respectively. The carriage may include a serrated portion fixedly engaging a toothed belt for driving the carriage along the platen. In this instance, the printer includes a retainer member supported by the carriage to hold a linear section of the belt in engagement with the serrated portion, and hold a flexible cable connected to the print head in pressed contact with the linear section of the toothed belt.