Abstract: A dry lettering printing apparatus comprising a printing station, a means for providing a color carrying ribbon and image carrying tape at the printing station, a means for providing a raised character in printing alignment at the printing station, an improved force generating means for exerting a printing force at the printing station and an improved means for advancing the tape and ribbon into printing alignment at the printing station. The improved advancement means includes a cartridge carrier movable reciprocally toward and away from the printing station for advancing the tape into printing alignment.

Abstract: A printing cartridge for supplying tape and ribbon in a printing apparatus in which the tape and ribbon is advanced by reciprocal movement of the cartridge carrier toward and away from the printing station. The printing cartridge includes a cartridge housing, a spool of image carrying tape and a spool of printing ribbon, both rotatably supported within the housing, a guide means for guiding the tape and ribbon from the cartridge toward the printing station and a means for creating a braking action with respect to the tape and the ribbon for resisting free movement thereof from said tape cartridge.

Abstract: An improved force exerting means for a printing apparatus of the type having a printing station, a printing force resisting means, a front element and an image carrier wherein said improved force exerting means includes a curved force exerting surface, a means for guiding and supporting the curved surface in rolling movement relative to a printing station between first and second positions such that a printing force is exerted against successive portions of a printing surface, and means for moving the curved surface in rolling movement between said first and second positions.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing film by scrubbing having a rotatable scrubbing roller, an acurately shaped scrubbing plate with its inner surface adjacent to and in scrubbing relationship with the scrubbing roller and means for guiding the film to be processed in linear movement between the roller and the plate. A method for processing film by scrubbing which comprises the steps of guiding the film in an arcuate path in scrubbing relationship with the peripheral surface of a scrubbing roller and rotating the scrubbing roller.

Abstract: A mechanism for moving a tape through a printing apparatus in which said mechanism includes a back-space shuttle mounted to a frame for reciprocal movement and an advancing shuttle mounted to the back-space shuttle for reciprocal movement. Movement of the advancing shuttle in its operative direction by an advancing actuation arm of the printing apparatus causes the tape to be gripped by the advancing shuttle and advanced. The tape slips through the back-space shuttle during movement of the advancing shuttle in its operative direction. Movement of the back-space shuttle in its operative direction by a back space actuation slide of the printing apparatus causes the tape to be gripped by the back-space shuttle and back-spaced. The tape slips through the advancing shuttle during movement of the back-space shuttle in its operative direction.