Abstract: A clean print ribbon feed system and method for a printer having a ribbon with two non-inked clean hands portions wound around a pair of spools is disclosed. Detection of the spool having greater angular velocity and lesser angular velocity determines the direction of feed. The spool having greater angular velocity winds and takes up the print ribbon. The non-inked portion can be formed as a conductive plastic and is initially wound on each spool. Detection of the non-inked portion of the ribbon takes place by two electrical contactors. The determination of the angular velocity of the spools determines the amount of print ribbon on one of the spools so that the spool having the lesser ribbon can be driven as a take-up spool to provide proper directional drive for winding the clean hands portion and the inked portion which follows.

Abstract: An ink ribbon for a printer or the like has a leading and/or trailing, optically operative control strip. The control strip has only a first light-impervious or opaque control portion and a second transparent control portion. The control portion adjoining the ink ribbon is of a length of between 1 and 4 cm.

Abstract: This disclosure sets forth a dot matrix printer having an improved ribbon drive. The ribbon drive is provided by two respective stepper motors. When one stepper motor is in a take-up mode, the second is in a feed mode. The process is reversed proximate the end of the tape as it is unwound. A re-generative mode for the feed motor is provided and a resistance bank varies amounts of drag on the ribbon as it is fed from the feed motor spool. Both motors when in the take-up mode are driven by full H bridge drivers and amplifiers controlled by a micro controller through an address and decode input and output latch. In order to provide for a uniform velocity of the print ribbon the angular velocity of the take up motor is controlled by counting the zero crossings of the feed motor, and then loading it into the micro controller to compare it with a look-up table for purposes of providing a proper speed to the take-up motor and the proper peak drag through the resistance bank to the feed motor.

Abstract: A recording device in which an ink ribbon is used and recording is performed shifting the ribbon in the direction of the width of the ribbon and having a sensor for detecting the end of an effective portion of the ribbon. Using the end sensor, the vertical position of the region of the ribbon used for recording is detected.

Abstract: A printing device including a mounting base on which a ribbon cassette accommodating a ribbon having a transparent terminal end part is removably loaded, light emitting and receiving elements fixed on the mounting base and a reflective plate fixed on the mounting base, wherein when the ribbon in the ribbon cassette loaded on the mounting base comes to the end, light emitted from the light emitting element impinges upon and reflects back from the reflective plate through the transparent terminal end part of the ribbon interposed between the light emitting element and the reflective plate and then enters into the light receiving element.

Abstract: An ink ribbon cassette includes two rotatable bearings for respective spools, a drive system for alternately rotating one or the other of the two bearings so that a ribbon extending between the spools positioned on the bearings will be moved in opposite directions depending on which bearing is being rotated, and a control system for controlling which bearing is being driven by the drive system based on actuation by respective trip elements on the ribbon near its opposite ends.