Abstract: A printing ribbon spool and method of replenishing ink to printing ribbons are disclosed. The spool has a central ink reservoir, and a pad of cellular material, preferably a spun-bonded fibrous material, which receives ink from the reservoir and has an exposed periphery beneath the lower edge of the ribbon as it pays on and off the spool. Ink is conveyed from the reservoir through the pad of cellular material to the exposed area of the pad, and a lower area of the ribbon contacts the exposed area of the pad to pick up ink therefrom and to transmit ink upwardly of the ribbon by capillary action to the type slug impact area of the ribbon. Preferably, both the supply ribbon spool and a take-up ribbon spool have a similar construction, so ink is supplied to the ribbon both as it is unwound from the supply spool and as it is wound up on the take-up spool. The ink reservoir can be closed for storage and shipping and opened when the spool is prepared for use.

Abstract: An inking device and a method of inking business machines are disclosed in which the inking device has a spool-like body with a central ink reservoir, and an ink conducting washer-like pad of cellular plastic material is in communication with the ink reservoir to receive ink from the reservoir near its inner periphery and to conduct it by capillary action to its exposed outer periphery situated beneath a tubular inking pad mounted on the hub of the spool-like body. The bottom of the inking pad is in contact with the exposed periphery of the ink conducting pad near the outer surface of the inking pad to pick up ink therefrom and to transmit ink upwardly of the inking pad by capillary action. Ink is delivered from the inking pad to a ribbon, or to a type slug, which contacts the inking pad to pick up ink therefrom as the ribbon or type slug moves past the inking pad.