Abstract: A ribbon supply cartridge for use in a card personalization machine. The ribbon supply cartridge is manually adjustable by a user before installation into the card personalization machine from a first, collapsed (or pre-use) configuration to a second, extended or open (or use) configuration. When the ribbon supply cartridge is adjusted from the first configuration to the second configuration, a distance between the supply and take-up is increased. The first, collapsed configuration may be useful for packaging or shipping the ribbon supply cartridge whereby the collapsed configuration reduces the size of the packaging or shipping box containing the ribbon supply cartridge. When the ribbon supply cartridge is to be used, the user can manually adjust the ribbon supply cartridge to the open configuration and then install the ribbon supply cartridge in the card personalization machine.

Abstract: A tape cartridge includes a platen roller, a winding up core, and a cartridge casing that accommodates a printing tape, an ink ribbon, the platen roller, and the winding up core. The cartridge casing includes an insertion hole in which a head cover on a cartridge installation portion of a tape printing apparatus is inserted when the tape cartridge is installed on the cartridge installation portion. The insertion hole includes a first concave portion and a second concave portion that face a first convex portion and a second convex portion, respectively, on the head cover when the tape cartridge is installed on the cartridge installation portion, and the first concave portion and the second concave portion are formed on an inner wall of the insertion hole.

Abstract: A cartridge assembly is disclosed with improved protection of its media and/or ink ribbon. The cartridge assembly includes a cartridge housing for receiving media. The cartridge housing includes an exit opening through which the media exits the cartridge housing along a media path. A media guide is also located on the media path and is spaced from the exit opening a predetermined distance. An edge protector extends between the exit opening and the media guide adjacent a lower edge of the media path to protect a lower edge of the media.

Abstract: A printing unit is provided having a moveable printing head with a nozzle plate having a plurality of nozzles to eject liquid ink; a cleaning station having a cleaning surface with at least one suction element to generate air suction; the cleaning station configured to clean the nozzles when the printing head overlaps with the cleaning station so that the nozzle plate and the cleaning surface at least partially overlap; a movement actuator means configured to move the printing head with respect to the cleaning station between a first position in which the suction element overlaps a first end of the nozzle plate and a second position in which the suction element overlaps a second end, opposite the first end, of the nozzle plate. A proximity sensor means measures a distance between the nozzle plate and the cleaning surface.

Abstract: The disclosure discloses a tape printer that includes a cartridge holder, a cartridge sensor, a feeding device, a printing device, a communication device, and a controller. The controller is configured to detect attribute information of a tape cartridge, identify a model of the mounted tape cartridge, and acquire corresponding current model information, acquire latest model information of the tape cartridge, from an information providing device related to the tape cartridge, generate purchase support information based on the acquired current model information and the acquired latest model information, when the tape cartridge of a model indicated by the current model information or the latest model information is newly purchased, and control the printing device so that the generated purchase support information is formed into print on a print-receiving tape.

Abstract: An ink ribbon cassette is used in a printing apparatus. The cassette is able to prevent dual movement of an ink ribbon from moving across a lengthways embankment even if the ink ribbon is extended. In the ink ribbon cassette, a lengthways embankment is furnished near an ejecting opening of ink ribbon cassette in an ink ribbon lodging section. The lengthways embankment makes a portion of a space that the ink ribbon passes through narrower. Dual embankments may also be furnished on the ink ribbon movement path at the downstream side of ink ribbon lodging section. The dual embankments respectively protrude from an upper cover and a lower cover. Protruding portions may also be respectively furnished near an entering opening and an ejecting opening of ink ribbon lodging section.

Abstract: A tape cassette that includes a housing, at least one tape, and a color indicator portion disposed between the tape housing area and the periphery, and in a specified area adjacent to the tape housing area on a rear edge side of the bottom wall, the color indicator portion indicating color information relating to the at least one tape and including a plurality of lateral information sections that are a plurality of strip-shaped sections extending along the left-and-right direction of the housing and aligned in a front-rear direction of the housing, wherein, of the plurality of lateral information sections, whether a protrusion is formed in a first lateral information section indicates a base material color of the at least one tape, and whether a protrusion is formed in a second lateral information section indicates a print color of the at least one tape.

Abstract: An ink ribbon cassette includes first and second rotatable bodies that rotate with an ink ribbon held between the rotatable bodies in sandwiched relation. The second rotatable body includes a hole through which a shaft extends such that the second rotatable body is rotatably supported on the shaft. The shaft may have a circumferential surface conical toward the free end, and the hole may be a conical hole into which the conical shaft extends. The shaft may include a plurality of cylindrical shaft portions that are in line with one another and that have different diameters. The second rotatable body is formed with a plurality of cylindrical hole portions having different diameters corresponding to the cylindrical shaft portions such that the second rotatable body is rotatably supported on the shaft.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a ribbon cassette includes two rows of spherical bumps extending between sidewalls of the cassette on both a floor and ceiling of the cassette and a pair of concentric arched retaining walls on both the floor and ceiling between an exit gate and the rows of bumps. In another embodiment, there is only one row of bumps and one retaining wall on the floor and ceiling. In another embodiment, the retaining walls are straight. The two rows and retaining walls, along with cassette sidewalls, form three distinct zones for densely packing the ribbon, unpacking the ribbon, and isolating the ribbon, resulting in less jamming with longer lengths of ribbon.

Abstract: A method relating to ascertaining and adjusting friction between media pages in a document feeder. The method includes: detecting slipping of a media page when traversing from a stack of media pages to passing through a path defined by the document feeder; and sending a signal to a fluid-containing cartridge to spray small drops of fluid onto the slipping media page soon after the slipping is detected while the media page passes through the document feeder. A system and apparatus are also associated with the above method.

Abstract: A ribbon cartridge for a printer. The ribbon cartridge including a simple mechanism that prevents an ink ribbon from being twisted or excessively drawn out in mounting thereof. Provided is a ribbon cartridge for printing, which includes: an ink ribbon; a cartridge main body which stores the ink ribbon so as to expose a part of the ink ribbon; a ribbon guide which is engaged with the exposed part of the ink ribbon so as to guide the exposed part; and a guide tape which forms a loop so as to support the ribbon guide while having one end in its longitudinal direction fixed to a first position on the ribbon guide and having the other end fixed to a second position on the ribbon guide and which is disposed so that a surface of the guide tape can face a surface of the exposed part of the ink ribbon.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a feeding device feeding a recording medium to be recorded, a thermal transfer sheet having an ink layer to form an image and a protective material layer to form a protective layer protecting the image, a thermal transfer sheet transporting device, a surface property reforming sheet having an image printing opening disposed in such a way that the thermal transfer sheet comes into direct contact with a surface of the recording medium to be recorded and a surface property reforming portion to reform the surface state of the protective layer protecting the image, a reforming sheet moving device, and a thermal head to thermally transfer the ink layer or the protective material layer, wherein a non-adhesion treatment layer is formed on at least a surface of the surface property reforming sheet on the side to come into contact with the thermal transfer sheet.

Abstract: A tape cassette includes a cassette case having a pair of side faces, a tape roll contained within the cassette case, a discharge guide portion positioned in the cassette case in a first corner portion provided farthest downstream on a feed path for a tape, a tape exposing portion located on the feed path, in the vicinity of the discharge guide portion and on an upstream side in relation to the discharge guide portion, a tape feed roller provided on the upstream side on the feed path from the discharge guide portion and adjacent to a rear side of the tape exposing portion, a first recessed portion formed in the vicinity of the discharge guide portion in one of the side faces included in the first corner portion, and a second recessed portion disposed in a diagonally opposite position in the cassette case from the first corner portion.

Abstract: A printer device is disclosed. The printer device includes: a base chassis that accepts therein and ejects therefrom the printing medium; a top chassis that is disposed to be able to freely open and close in a direction vertical to the basis chassis; an ink ribbon cartridge holder that is disposed between the top chassis and the base chassis, and is attached with an ink ribbon cartridge including therein the ink ribbon; and a thermal head that prints an image to the printing medium by heating the ink ribbon in the ink ribbon cartridge attached to the ink ribbon cartridge holder.

Abstract: An integrated ink-and-paper cassette (1) mountable to a thermal transfer printer includes a casing (11) defining an ink-sheet supply unit housing (20) and an ink-sheet take-up unit housing (21) with an opening (34) provided therebetween for feeding a recording sheet (13). An engagement unit (35, 36) is provided at a surface of the casing (11) substantially perpendicular to an axis of a first bobbin (12a), for engaging an engagement portion (56, 57) of the printer to prevent deformation of the cassette (1) when the cassette (1) is mounted to the printer.

Abstract: An integrated ink-and-paper cassette (1) mountable to a thermal transfer printer (40) includes an ink-sheet supply unit housing (20) between an opening (30) for ejecting the recording sheet (13) and an ink-sheet take-up unit housing (21). Also, an upper case (10) mainly defining a recording sheet housing (22) is welded to a lower case (11) defining ink-sheet housings when assembled with the upper case (10), in the vicinity of a conveyance path of the ink sheet (12) at which a load is likely applied.

Abstract: An ink ribbon cassette is inserted into and removed from a thermal transfer printer in the longitudinal direction of the thermal head. The thermal head is provided with a lifting member, while the ink ribbon cassette is provided with a contact element. The lifting member and the contact element of the ink ribbon cassette are configured to be in contact with each other during insertion and removal of the ink ribbon cassette, and thereby lift the thermal head to widen the space for the ink sheet to pass through.

Abstract: An ink ribbon cassette includes first and second rotatable bodies that rotate with an ink ribbon held between the rotatable bodies in sandwiched relation. The second rotatable body includes a hole through which a shaft extends such that the second rotatable body is rotatably supported on the shaft. The shaft may have a circumferential surface conical toward the free end, and the hole may be a conical hole into which the conical shaft extends. The shaft may include a plurality of cylindrical shaft portions that are in line with one another and that have different diameters. The second rotatable body is formed with a plurality of cylindrical hole portions having different diameters corresponding to the cylindrical shaft portions such that the second rotatable body is rotatably supported on the shaft.

Abstract: Disclosed are a printer and a stacker and methods. The printer prints selectively on one or both sides of a printable web and sheets or labels are cut from the web and stacked in the stacker. The printer has an unwind mechanism that accepts and holds web rolls of different widths in center-justified relationship with respect to a print head. The printer has a spindle for mounting an ink ribbon core with a detent or latch for center-justifying the ink-ribbon with respect to the print head. A spindle assembly has two latches for counter-justifying a wide range of cores of different widths.

Abstract: There is provided an ink ribbon cassette which prevents damage and pollution of a part of an ink ribbon exposed outside of a cassette case housing the ink ribbon. In the ink ribbon cassette in which the part of the ink ribbon housed in the cassette case is exposed outside of the cassette case, a detachably attached cover body for covering the part of the ink ribbon exposed outside of the cassette case is provided.

Abstract: The invention concerns a replaceable cassette comprising first and second rotary rollers (BO1 and BO2) on each of which is wound a tape (RE) from one of its ends, each roller (BO1 and BO2), being capable of being locked on a receiving apparatus spindle drive. The cassette comprises a mechanism tensioning the tape, capable, when the cassette is outside the receiving apparatus, of maintaining said tape constantly stretched even if an impact, a change in temperature, a mechanical stress or the like occurs.

Abstract: A disposable ink ribbon cartridge for use in a shorthand machine. The cartridge includes an endless loop ribbon threaded through an advancing mechanism in contact with a movable ink reservoir. The advancing mechanism advances the ribbon and also transfers ink from the ink reservoir to the ribbon. The ink reservoir is made from a reticulated foam which provides an even supply of ink over a long period of time. The movable ink reservoir and the advancing mechanism interact to minimize friction between the moving parts of the cartridge. The ink reservoir and advancing mechanism deliver consistent and even doses of ink to the ribbon throughout the life of the cartridge.

Abstract: There are provided a tape cartridge-holding mechanism which is capable of reliably and immovably holding a tape cartridge in a cartridge compartment without spoiling the ease of mounting and removal of the tape cartridge, and a tape printing apparatus including the tape cartridge-holding mechanism. The tape cartridge-holding mechanism comprises a lid for opening/closing a cartridge compartment, at least one pair of left and right holding nails for engaging with a tape cartridge mounted in the cartridge compartment and thereby sandwiching the tape cartridge such that the holding nails press the tape cartridge against a bottom surface of the cartridge compartment, and an urging mechanism arranged in contact with at least one of the pair of holding nails, for urging the holding nail in a direction of sandwiching the tape cartridge as closing operation of the lid is carried out.

Abstract: A printer ribbon cartridge having a base and a removable hinged lid is disclosed, wherein ribbon is driven through the cartridge by a drive gear coupled with first and second idler gears. A foam reinking roller supplies ink to an ink transfer roller which transfers ink to the ribbon as it passes thereby. The reinking roller includes sandwiched foam layers with an ink impervious layer therebetween, in order to control ink seepage and ensure an adequate reinking across the width of the ribbon. A ribbon chamber surrounds the reinking roller in a semicircular formation to store the ribbon in folds corresponding to the width of the ribbon chamber, thus maximizing ribbon storage space in the cartridge.

Abstract: A ribbon protector is attached to a ribbon cartridge to prevent an ink ribbon from being soiled. The ribbon protector includes mounting portions, a protecting portion, and a paper guide. The ribbon protector is mounted to the ribbon cartridge by means of the mounting portions. The protecting section opposes an ink ribbon such that the ink ribbon is between the protecting section and the ribbon cartridge when the mounting portions have been mounted to the ribbon cartridge. The paper guide projects from the protecting section to incline toward the ribbon cartridge. The mounting portion may have a first base portion continuous to the protector and the paper guide has a second base portion continuous to the protecting section. The first base portion is thicker than other portions of the first projecting portion and the second base portion is thicker than other portions of the mounting portion.

Abstract: A cartridge is attached to a printer that performs a printing operation only when the cartridge is a predetermined kind of the cartridge. The cartridge includes a first predetermined number of magnet holders provided on the cartridge and a second predetermined number of magnets each of which is received in a corresponding one of the magnet holders. A maximum value of the second predetermined number is equal to the first predetermined number. A combination of the magnet holders having the magnets therein indicates the kind of the cartridge. The image forming apparatus comprises a detector section and an identifying section. The detector has magnetic sensor elements each of which detects a magnetic flux of a corresponding one of the magnets. The identifying section compares reference data with a combination of outputs of the magnetic sensor elements so as to identify the kind of the cartridge.

Abstract: The reuse of an ink ribbon is prevented and the image quality and the proper paper feeding operation are secured by providing an ink ribbon damaging means to a ink ribbon cartridge of a color video printer. For example, a ring cutter is provided to the spool shaft of a spool on which an ink ribbon used for printing is wound so that the ink ribbon wound on the spool is cut.

Abstract: When different tape cartridges accommodating printing tapes having different hardness, thicknesses or widths are exchangeably mounted in the same printing apparatus, excellent printing can be obtained using the present embodiment. In a platen 12 provided in a tape cartridge 10, the harder, thicker or wider the tape T accommodated in the tape cartridge 10, the softer a platen rubber provided on a surface of the platen. The platen rubber 14 having a hardness corresponding to the properties of the tape T is used so as to obtain an ideal contact state between a printing head and the tape T regardless of the properties of the tape T when the tape cartridge 10 is mounted in a tape writer 1. Accordingly, the tape T can be properly conveyed by the platen 12 and a tape guide pin 26 regardless of its properties, and can be brought into contact with a printing head through an ink ribbon R in an ideal and consistent contact state.

Abstract: The ribbon cartridge includes a re-inker assembly having a pair of idler rollers defining a nip therebetween through which the print ribbon is advanced. The idler rollers have teeth intermeshing one with the other and with the print ribbon therebetween such that the idler rollers are positively driven when the ribbon is advanced. One of the idler rollers lies in contact with a re-inker roller or wick for transferring ink from the re-inker roller or wick to the print ribbon as the ribbon passes through the nip of the idler rollers.

Abstract: A thermal transfer recording medium is disclosed, comprising a substrate having thereon a wax release layer, and a heat-fusible ink layer provided on the wax release layer, wherein the wax release layer has a maximum probe tack of from 0.1 to 60 gf in a temperature range of 40.degree. to 150.degree. C. as measured in accordance with ASTM D2979. The thermal transfer recording medium enables low-energy printing without causing background stains and exhibits high transfer sensitivity to provide a transferred image with improved durability and improved print quality.

Abstract: A printing method includes an ink image forming step and an ink image retransferring step. In the ink image forming step, an ink image is formed on a hot melting type adhesive layer of a transfer sheet by using a heat-sensitive image transfer type recording device. In the image retransferring step, the ink image and the hot melting type adhesive layer are transferred onto an image receiving member such as a cloth by heatedly pressing the transfer sheet.

Abstract: An ink ribbon cartridge includes a detachable ink ribbon spool which may be rotatably mounted in a lower shell of the cartridge via first and second shank portions axially projected from opposite sides of the spool. The first shank is of a rod shaped configuration, and includes at least large and small circumference sections which are longitudinally spaced apart. According to such configuration, the spool may be installed only in a compatible ink ribbon cartridge having a lower shell including a first bearing member formed with a first bearing groove rotatably supporting the large circumference section of the first shank and having a width proportional thereto. A second bearing member is disposed adjacent to, and spaced apart from, the first bearing member. The second bearing member includes a second bearing groove having a width proportional to the small circumference section of the first shank.

Abstract: An ink transfer roller for transferring ink from a re-inking roller to an endless ribbon in ink ribbon cartridges for, for instance, impact printers being contoured on the outer surface. The roller is a cylinder having a central ridge raised in the middle of the outer surface of the roller and a plurality of branch ridges extending from both edges of the central ridge so as to be equally spaced from each other in the circumferential direction for inking the ribbon in proportion to the ratio as the ink is used.

Abstract: A ribbon subcartridge having an endless ribbon folded and held therein, and a plate member with a slit portion through which the ribbon passes. The plate member also includes a holding portion for holding the plate member during placement of the ribbon within a ribbon guiding passage of a ribbon cartridge in which the ribbon subcartridge is placed. Once the ribbon is properly positioned in the ribbon guiding passage, the plate member is attached to the ribbon cartridge. The shape and thickness of the plate member is selected so that the plate member is able to pass through the ribbon guiding passage in the ribbon cartridge, further facilitating ribbon replacement. Thus, a ribbon may be replaced without staining the operator's hands or clothes.

Abstract: A replaceable ribbon cartridge for printers is disclosed and which has a user controllable re-inking capability. The cartridge includes both a movable ink transfer roller and a fixedly disposed drive roller, both of which contact the advancing ribbon during printing operations. Also, a re-inking roller is provided, and the re-inking roller is laterally movable so as to permit the user to selectively move the re-inking roller from a neutral, first position, wherein it has no contact with the ink transfer roller, to a second operative position wherein the re-inking roller is in contact with the ink transfer roller. The re-inking roller is in contact with the drive roller both in the first operative position as well as in the second operative position.

Abstract: A transfer ribbon cassette a feed core for winding a transfer ribbon having a transfer film applied to one surface thereof, a takeup core for taking up the transfer ribbon fed from the feed core, a case for containing the feed core and takeup core, and a holder for supporting the feed core and takeup core in a relative positional relationship for mounting in the case. Each core is rotatably supported at one end thereof and, when mounted in the case, has a free axial end thereof supported by the case. This cassette may be used as a paint film transfer device.

Abstract: A transfer printer comprises a printer body having first and second support frames separated from and opposing to each other. A printing portion includes a platen roller supported by the first and second support frame, and a line thermal head having one end portion supported by the first support frame and a free end located near the second support frame. A ribbon magazine having an ink ribbon is detachably fitted in the printer body from a free end side of the thermal head. The first support frame has first magazine positioning pins for engaging the support body of the fitted ribbon magazine to position and support the ribbon magazine. The second support frame has second magazine positioning pins for engaging the support body of the fitted ribbon magazine to position and support the ribbon magazine. The support body of the ribbon magazine has head positioning pins for engaging the free end of the thermal head to position and support the free end.

Abstract: A spool retainer prevents the spools of a tape cartridge from unwinding during shipping or storage and also serves as an installation aid that remains on the cartridge during installation into a printing mechanism to retain and precisely locate the ribbon within the cartridge during installation. The retainer includes a substantially flat back wall; two spaced apart tabs projecting in a direction perpendicular to the back wall; and a protruding wall extending in the direction from a lower end of the back wall substantially parallel with the tabs. The two spaced apart tabs are adapted for mating with splines within spools of a ribbon cartridge and fixedly engage the splines to prevent relative movement between the spools. The protruding wall protects exposed ribbon during both storage and installation.

Abstract: An ink ribbon cassette containing an endless ink ribbon (1) and replenishing ink to be supplied to said ink ribbon (1), and intends to stabilize PCS at an early stage of printing. For attaining the purpose, provided is an auxiliary ink supplying member (16, 32 and 42) to be brought into contact with the forward end of an ink supplier (10) for supplying ink in an ink occluding body (11) to a follower gear (7). The auxiliary ink supplying member (16, 32 and 42) is impregnated beforehand with ink to be supplied to the follower gear (7) at an early stage of printing.

Abstract: A device for loading an ink film and printing papers in a color video printer. The loading device comprises an integrated-type container for containing both of ink film and printing papers therein. The integrated-type container comprises an ink film cartridge portion formed at one side of the container, a printing papers receiving chamber formed at the other side of the container, and a guide opening formed between said ink film cartridge portion and said chamber. A printing paper guiding plate is fixedly mounted to the upper portion of the printer body in the interior of the printer body in order to guide the printing paper fed from the printing papers receiving chamber to the guide opening formed at the container.

Abstract: Assembly fixtures for assembling and stuffing a ribbon into a ribbon cartridge for use with a typewriter, or a printer, comprises a base plate, stops on the base plate forming a space for receiving a ribbon cartridge, and an instruction card mounted on the base plate for instructing the operator how to assemble and stuff a ribbon cartridge. The instruction card may include three-dimensional drawings of the ribbon cartridge and its parts. A method of assembling and stuffing a ribbon cartridge includes the steps of providing an assembly fixture having a base plate and a ribbon cartridge space providing instruction cards mounted on the base plate for instructing an operator, guiding the ribbon cartridge into the cartridge space on the base plate, and following the instructions mounted on the base plate to assemble and stuff the ribbon cartridge.

Abstract: An adaptation of an inked ribbon cassette to printers of higher printing speed is achieved where a supply spool is used as inked ribbon storage. Furthermore, the problem of an environmentally proper disposal of used inked ribbon cassettes is solved. At least two rotary drivable spool axles (3, 4) are spaced apart from each other on a base plate (1), open toward the upper side and open on the bottom side, where the spool axles (3, 4) are rotary supported on the base plate (1). The inked ribbon reels (2, 5) can be individually attached onto the spool axles (3, 4). A first inked ribbon guide element (7) is coordinated to one spool axle (3, 4). The inked ribbon (6) is guided from a first inked ribbon reel (2) along the first inked ribbon guide element (7) and parallel to the print path (17) and back via a second inked ribbon guide element (8) onto the second inked ribbon reel (5).

Abstract: A label printer comprises a supporting frame having a pair of side plates facing each other. A print head and a platen roller are arranged between the side plates. Above the print head is arranged a ribbon supply device for running a transfer ribbon between the print head and the platen roller. The ribbon supply device includes a ribbon drive section, and a ribbon unit supported on a supporting member and movable between a first position wherein the unit engages the drive section and a second position wherein the unit is located outside the supporting frame. A fixing member is attached to one of the side plates and movable between a release position wherein the fixing member allows the ribbon unit to move and a fixing position wherein the fixing means engages the ribbon unit to hold it in the first position.

Abstract: A ribbon cartridge with an ink ribbon for use in a printer. The printer includes a print head and a carrier, the carrier carrying the print head and ribbon cartridge along a printing position. The carrier has a mounting member for rotatably mounting a first end of the ribbon cartridge and a guide member for positioning a second end of the ribbon cartridge such that the ink ribbon is disposed between the print head and printing position. The second end of the ribbon cartridge has an opening for exposing a part of the ink ribbon loaded in the body of the cartridge. The ribbon cartridge includes a biasing member for producing a force to bias the ribbon cartridge against the guide member by elastic deformation of the biasing member in contact with a part of the carrier. The biasing member is integrally formed as part of the ribbon cartridge, thus eliminating additional and separate components and reducing part and assembling costs.

Abstract: A label printer comprises a supporting frame having a pair of side plates facing each other. A platen roller and a head unit having a print head are arranged between the side plates. A supporting shaft extends parallel to the platen roller and has one end fixed to one of the side plates and a free end adjacent to the other side plate. The head unit is supported on the supporting shaft and located in an operative position wherein the print head is opposite to the platen roller. The head unit is slidable from the operative position to the outside of the supporting frame along the supporting shaft. The free end of the shaft and the head unit in the operative position is fixed by a fixing member mounted on the other side plate.

Abstract: A cassette for a printing ribbon comprises a casing accommodating a supply spool which has a tube on which the printing ribbon is wound. An anti-unrolling element of plastics material comprises two portions of elongate shape, which are connected by means of an integral elastic hinge. The first portion performs a guiding and positioning function and is accommodated by means of a slot within the casing. The second portion has a blocking function with regard to the tube, and is movable on the outside of the casing, by means of the elastic hinge, from an inoperative position in which it is aligned with the first portion to an operative position in which it is rotated through 180.degree. and is substantially in superposed relationship with the first portion.

Abstract: A printing cartridge adapted for use with thermal transfer printing apparatus. The cartridge includes a frame defining first and second printing stations, a ribbon supply spool, and a ribbon take-up spool, both of the spools being rotatably mounted on the frame. The ribbon has a backing layer and an ink donor layer and is guided in a feed path extending from the supply spool through the first and second printing stations, again through the first station, then to the take-up spool. The frame of the cartridge is adapted to receive a thermal printing head for engaging the ribbon at each of the first and second printing stations. The feed path has a first leg extending from the supply spool, through the first printing station, to the second printing station; a second leg extending through the second printing station to the first printing station; and a third leg extending through the first printing station to the take-up spool.

Abstract: A receptacle for a holder of a ribbon of a typewriter or similar machine. The holder has a base plate on which laterally pivotable retaining elements are disposed. The retaining elements support drive, braking and tensioning elements for the ribbon. If the retaining elements are pivoted away, a holder, e.g. in the shape of a ribbon cassette, can be inserted into the device. When the retaining elements have again been pivoted back, they surround the holder of the ribbon in the form of a shell. The drive, braking and tensioning elements then automatically take up their functionally correct positions. The device has the advantage that only the holder with the used-up ribboon need be discarded, while the drive, braking and tensioning elements remain in the device and thus can be repeatedly used. Manufacture of the holder with the ribbon is made considerably more economical this way and the value of the material to be discarded is reduced.

Abstract: A pivotally journalled ink ribbon cassette and an ink ribbon fork are coupled to the carriage of a printing head and arranged so as to be displaceable transversely to the line direction, in a simple manner such that both a multi-color and a single-color mode of operation are obtained. The ink ribbon fork is arranged at its free end so as to be pivotable and longitudinally displaceable on a guide rod journalled in guide arms of the ink ribbon cassette, and in that with respect to the position of the printing roller and of the printing head both means for transverse displacement of the ink ribbon fork and means for oblique positioning of the ink ribbon cassette with ink ribbon are provided.