Abstract: A ribbon cartridge is disclosed for typewriters and similar office machines which require frequent changes of the ribbon. The ribbon cartridge includes a tub-shaped base and cover and an integral sealing member by means of which the openings in the ribbon cartridge can be hermetically sealed for shipping and storage and which is easily removable prior to insertion in the holding device of the office machine.

Abstract: A ribbon cassette for an office machine, composed of: a cassette housing removably mountable in the machine, the housing having an entrance opening, an exit opening, an openable cover and elements constituting deflection points; a supply spool and a take-up spool having a core, each of the spools being removably mounted in the cassette housing; a carbon ribbon initially wound in the form of a coil on the supply spool, the ribbon having a leading end at the outer surface of the coil to be received by the take-up spool core to permit the ribbon to be wound up on the take-up spool while being unwound from the supply spool; and a fastening member secured to the leading end of the ribbon for threading the ribbon around the deflection points; and wherein the core is formed for enabling the fastening member to be fixed thereto to aid winding of the ribbon on the take-up spool.

Abstract: A dog clutch is disclosed for interconnecting the drive mechanism of a cartridge holder and the ribbon drive in a cartridge, which clutch permits a coupling in any position of the coupling parts. One coupling component is a hollow pin in the opening of which the spindle with knife-like entrainment componets can be inserted for rotary entrainment under elastic deformation of the wall of the hollow pin.

Abstract: A cassette containing a printing head removably installed in an ink jet printing machine. The cassette includes a housing which encloses the printing head in a protective manner when the cassette is removed from the machine and when the cassette is installed in the machine and the printing head is in an inoperative position. The head and housing are provided with locking elememts for securing the head in the housing when the cassette is to be removed.The machine includes a carriage for moving the printing head past a record carrier during printing operations, locking elements for locking the printing head onto the carriage when the cassette is installed in the machine, a receptacle for holding the housing in the machine, and a mechanism for releasing the locking elements when the printing head is in the inoperative position to permit removal of the cassette from the machine.

Abstract: A fluid coupler for making a leakage-free connection between first and second fluid-containing members. One half of the coupler comprises a plate having a conical opening in one surface across which an elastic sealing membrane is stretched by a clamping ring, the elastic sealing membrane having a slit at its center which is kept closed by the stretching action of the clamping ring. The other half of the fluid coupler comprises a hemispherical member having an axial aperture and a valve which is positioned within the aperture. When the two coupling halves are brought together, the hemispherical member presses against the elastic sealing membrane thereby opening the slit and expelling any air present in the coupling region.