Abstract: A ribbon tensioning assembly includes a knob having a top wall, an internal raised portion attached to the top wall having a first helical camming surface and a second helical camming surface out of phase and disposed about a center point. A compression helix has a first end portion forming a first helical camming surface and a second helical camming surface for engaging first and second helical camming surfaces of the knob, compression helix having a second end portion for receiving a spring. A clutch engages a surface and connects to a spring. A spindle, attaching to a ribbon supply roll, secures the knob, the compression helix, the spring and the clutch in relative position such that turning the spindle causes frictional resistance between the clutch and the surface for creating increased tension in a ribbon dispensed from the supply roll.

Abstract: A ribbon tensioning assembly includes a knob having a top wall, an internal raised portion attached to the top wall having a first helical camming surface and a second helical camming surface out of phase and disposed about a center point. A compression helix has a first end portion forming a first helical camming surface and a second helical camming surface for engaging first and second helical camming surfaces of the knob, compression helix having a second end portion for receiving a spring. A clutch engages a surface and connects to a spring. A spindle, attaching to a ribbon supply roll, secures the knob, the compression helix, the spring and the clutch in relative position such that turning the spindle causes frictional resistance between the clutch and the surface for creating increased tension in a ribbon dispensed from the supply roll.

Abstract: A ribbon assembly having a ribbon supply spool and a ribbon take-up spool. Attached to either the ribbon supply spool or the ribbon take-up spool is a bar code. The bar code is machine readable and is encoded with data relevant to the operation of printing means suitable to employ the ribbon assembly. The printing means comprises reading means for reading the bar code present on the ribbon assembly. Based on the information encoded on the bar code and read by the reading means, the operating parameters of the printing means are adjusted for the specific ribbon assembly employed.

Abstract: A multi-format document printer and processor has a plurality of data writing and reading means for data in different formats, disposed along a transport path. Forms are separated from a continuous perforated form supply and advanced along the transport path. Bidirectional drive rollers disposed along the path advance the documents and reverse them for reprocessing as necessary. At the end of the transport path, the documents are routed to an exit hopper or a reject hopper and a sensor at the exit detects already-issued forms manually loaded by an operator, which already-issued forms can be likewise bidirectionally processed for reading, verification, modification and the like. The processor is preferably embodied for transportation tickets and boarding passes, having: optical character recognition (OCR) write and read devices, magnetic strip write and read devices and a dot matrix printer having an array of print heads operable to print a document in one pass.

Abstract: A multi-format document printer and processor has a plurality of data writing and reading means for data in different formats, disposed along a transport path. Forms are separated from a continuous perforated form supply and advanced along the transport path. Bidirectional drive rollers disposed along the path advance the documents and reverse them for reprocessing as necessary. At the end of the transport path, the documents are routed to an exit hopper or a reject hopper and a sensor at the exit detects already-issued forms manually loaded by an operator, which already-issued forms can be likewise bidirectionally processed for reading, verification, modification and the like. The processor is preferably embodied for transportation tickets and boarding passes, having: optical character recognition (OCR) write and read devices, magnetic strip write and read devices and a dot matrix printer having an array of print heads operable to print a document in one pass.