Abstract: An ink ribbon cassette is pivotably mounted to a printer. Ink ribbon is accommodated in the ink ribbon cassette and is caused to travel by a ribbon feed roller driven by a drive shaft provided in the printer. Printing operation is carried out at the cassette end arm portion by a printing head, while the cassette end arm portion is reciprocatingly moved in the widthwise direction of the ink ribbon relative to the fixed printing head by an actuating mechanism so that a printing region of the ink ribbon is diffused and becomes wider than a printing width of the printing head. The actuating mechanism includes a small gear integral with the ribbon feed roller, a cam driven by the small gear, and a lever engaging with the cam.

Abstract: A cassette for a printer unit which includes an endless ribbon, a mechanism for transporting the ribbon, and a mechanism for causing the ribbon to move reciprocally comparatively slowly in a direction substantially transversely of the direction of movement of the ribbon. A camming track may be utilized for moving the ribbon wherein the driving of the camming track is coupled to the transporting mechanism for the ribbon.

Abstract: A feed wheel 10 provided at front and rear sides thereof with an intermittent gear 10b and a notched gear 10d, is formed on one end portion of a cylindrical cam shaft 5 for moving a printer, with a mesh-prevention side 10c left at its center. A switch cam 11 for moving a ribbon cassette upwardly and downwardly is integrally formed on one end portion of a guide shaft 4 of the printer. A notched pinion 9 having a feed gear 9a and an intermittent feed gear 9b arranged alternately on its peripherals surface is also slidably mounted on the end portion of the guide shaft 4. When the printer is moved to a two-color shifting position in accordance with a program, the printer pushes the notched pinion 9 for movement against a compression spring 8, so that the intermittent feed gear 9b and the feed gear 9a of the notched pinion 9 is brought into mesh with the intermittent gear 10b and the notched gear 10d of the feed wheel 10, respectively, to rotate the notched pinion 9 in order to pivot a switch cam 11.

Abstract: A mono color ink ribbon is held by a pivotable ribbon holder in front of a print head being moved along the platen, and the ribbon holder rides on a rail which has a raised center or central portion and lower ends, so that on a pass by the print head from one end to the other, the ribbon holder is moved up and down over a full cycle. This way, full use is made of the ribbon which is run in a Moebius loop in a cartridge.

Abstract: An ink ribbon cartridge for a printer comprising a storage reel for an ink ribbon, a take-up reel for the ink ribbon, drive wheels for longitudinally advancing the ink ribbon from the storage reel to the take-up reel for printing on the ribbon, and a pulley or roller which rides on the cam and which is coupled to a further pulley or roller, these parts cooperating for transversely displacing the ribbon during its longitudinal advance to offset the area of the ribbon utilized in printing.

Abstract: A printing ribbon positioning apparatus and method of operation thereof advances a ribbon in connection with the printing of a character with one of a plurality of print rows across the width of the ribbon by an amount that takes into consideration the past advancement of the ribbon in connection with the last characters printed with each of the other rows of the ribbon and the widths of the character to be printed and the last character printed with the same print row of the ribbon as the character to be printed.

Abstract: A stationary dot matrix printer for printing both continuously variable and repetitive information on a moving substrate utilizing a continuously driven endless loop of ink absorbing web material and either a solvent laden wick to wipe the print wires or a composite web having a non ink-absorbing impact layer on the print head side of the web. A shuttle element drives the web reciprocally in a lateral direction to distribute the wear.

Abstract: A ribbon supply arrangement for a printer is provided with a first ribbon supply portion having supply and take-up reels therein, the ribbon being provided to a second ribbon supply portion which is installed on a carriage of the printer. In one embodiment, the first ribbon supply portion is pivotally coupled to the second ribbon supply portion, and also pivotally coupled to a pivot coupling on the frame of the printer such that the bulk of the weight of the first ribbon supply portion, including the ribbon supply therein is borne by the frame, and not the print carriage. In a further embodiment, the first ribbon supply portion is provided with a large supply reel and a plurality of take-up reels.

Abstract: An ink ribbon cartridge for a printer comprising a storage reel for an ink ribbon, a take-up reel for the ink ribbon, drive wheels for longitudinally advancing the ink ribbon from the storage reel to the take-up reel for printing on the ribbon and a pulley which rides on a cam for transversely displacing the ribbon during its longitudinal advance to produce a saw-tooth path of travel of the ribbon and offset the area of the ribbon utilized in printing.

Abstract: The invention concerns a mechanism for raising and feeding different types of ink ribbons in typewriters and similar machines. With a simple design and using only one motor under programmed control, the mechanism is capable of utilizing ink ribbons economically, e.g. printing alternately in several printing zones of a ribbon or in several colors. It also feeds ribbon by a length which corresponds to the type of ribbon, or type of operation, e.g. proportional typing. The starting point for the various functions is a basic position to which the mechanism is positioned by the motor.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for proportional ribbon (23) tracking on a printer (20), the printer (20) including a carrier (30) upon which implements of printing, for example the printwheel (25), ribbon (23) and hammer (28) are all mounted for translation opposite a platen (21). Ribbon lift mechanism is provided for effecting elevation of a ribbon (23) to multiple predetermined positions or tracks (1-10) (FIG. 3B) intermediate a printwheel (25) and a platen (21) so that indicia or character may be printed on print receiving medium (22) held thereby. In essence, an input means (11) receives a character to be printed. The microprocessor (13), in conjunction with the ROM (15), characterizes the character in accordance with a predetermined plurality of characteristics. In accordance with ribbon lift and feed algorithms, a particular characteristic of the character to be printed is added to a position on the ribbon upon which at least one prior character has been printed.

Abstract: A ribbon feed and elevating mechanism is so constructed that active parts for incrementally feeding and for elevating a ribbon from a rest position into one or more working positions form one structural unit mounted on a common shaft thereby providing a compact, easy to assemble unit for association with a typewriter of the type having a print element supported on a movable carriage. Due to the interaction of a lifting lever with a control lever and a pivoting lever to which a ribbon guide is linked, it is possible in a simple manner to raise the ribbon alternately into two different reproduction levels. A rocker, arm also mounted on the common shaft, serves to establish the increment of feed by which ribbon is to be advanced.

Abstract: A ribbon and tape feed mechanism for a single element typewriter is disclosed. The ribbon feed mechanism and correction tape mechanism are mounted and configured to oscillate with the ribbon and correction tape cartridges when the cartridges and support therefore are tilted to present a portion of the ribbon or the correction tape to the print point of the typewriter for impact. The ribbon feeding and the tilt control of the cartridge is accomplished from a single cam having a plurality of sets of rises. The correction tape feed is driven from a second cam which is only engaged during those machine cycles when the machine is in a correction mode. The control of the correction mode is through the depression of the rear of the cartridge thus effecting the raising of the front portion of the cartridge and the correction tape to its operative position.

Abstract: An inked ribbon winding device and an inked ribbon cartridge for use in a printing apparatus. A dispensing and a takeup spool, located closely together and at different elevations in the cartridge, establish a skewed angle of the ribbon traversing the exterior of the cartridge. The ribbon wound about the takeup spool engages a rotatable member fixedly rotatably mounted on a support structure for rotating the takeup spool and drawing the ribbon across a printing position at a substantially constant average rate of movement. The cartridge is longitudinally slidably mounted on the support structure and is urged toward the rotatable member by a biasing means.

Abstract: Printing apparatus, in particular for performing multi-color printing operations, has a ribbon shift mechanism for selectively interposing different transversely spaced portions of a print ribbon between a print head and platen. The print head is of the impact type and probably, although not necessarily, of the type which moves along the platen to define a print row. When color printing is required, a ribbon having a plurality of longitudinally extending stripes of different colors transversely spaced across its width is used. Selection of required portions or colors of the ribbon is performed by moving the head to pre-selected positions along the print row to engage, for example, a camming mechanism (including a cam and follower) which moves the shift mechanism the required amount to make the selection. Selection of the ribbon portion or color is by program control and in the case of color printing, the range of colors is increased by superimposed printing of the available colors on the print ribbon.

Abstract: To simplify transport of a recording ribbon, such as an inked ribbon, making an impression record on a recording strip of a chart-type instrument recorder, the ribbon is formed as a closed, endless loop which is guided in a path adjacent the printing mechanism to impress a mark recording paper; the ribbon transport operates in one direction only to move the ribbon, in steps, thereby avoiding difficulties with respect to ribbon reversal and attendant constructional complications.

Abstract: The present mechanism includes a vertically moving platform which raises and lowers a printing ribbon relative to the moving printhead of a printer. When the printhead is at its home position, the platform is at its raised position thereby locating the lowermost portion of the ribbon at the printhead. As the printhead starts to move during its printing cycle, the platform will progressively lower so that when the printhead is at the center of its travel, the platform will be in its lowered position, thus locating the uppermost portion of the ribbon at the printhead. As the printhead continues to the end of its travel, the platform will end up at its raised position thus locating the lowermost portion of the ribbon at the printhead. This raising and lowering of the platform presents the ribbon to the printhead in overlapping arched patterns, thereby utilizing the full width of a printing ribbon.

Abstract: To more fully utilize the surface area of a typewriter ribbon in a cartridge ribbon receptacle, the cartridge locating plate supporting the receptacle is caused to oscillate with respect to the print head assembly. The ribbon cartridge assembly is a part of a print head and ribbon carrier that is positionable along a line of print by a drive motor through a belt drive engaging a drive pulley rotatably mounted to the carrier. Mounted to rotate with the drive pulley is a cam that engages a cam follower also mounted to the head and ribbon carrier. An upstop forms a part of the cam follower and engages the cartridge locating plate. With the cam follower driven by the cam, an oscillating motion is imparted to the upstop with reference to the head and ribbon carrier which motion is then imparted to the cartridge locating plate. Also fastened to the head and ribbon carrier is a solenoid that when energized spring biases the cartridge locating plate through a leaf spring attached to the plate.

Abstract: A print ribbon handler for an impact type printer maintains the ribbon at a constant slant angle from the horizontal. A ribbon guide surface having threaded grooves is provided to guide the ribbon up and down at a constant vertical rate of change with respect to the horizontal/printhead travel back and forth across the printing span to keep the ribbon at the constant slant angle.

Abstract: A printing device is provided in which a flexible strip supported by a fixed guide bar extending over the full printing width of the printing device serves to press the record media into contact with the printer platen to achieve more accurate control of the printing impacts, and serves as a track for guide rollers associated with the print head, thus giving a smooth transition between adjacent different thicknesses of record media in the printing device. The flexibility and low co-efficient of friction of the strip allow insertion and movement of the record media without raising the strip or the printing head. The guide bar acts as a guide for insertion of the record media, and also provides a camming surface co-operating with a suitable follower operatively connected to the print ribbon cassette so as to rock the cassette laterally to minimize the ribbon wear as the print head traverses a line of printing. The bar may also be designed to co-operate with a cover enclosing the print mechanism.