Abstract: A paper sheet feeding apparatus includes paper sheet feed rollers of friction type which are unidirectionally driven through a clutch mechanism provided between the paper sheet feed rollers and a platen of a printer to feed, one by one, paper sheets to the platen. The clutch mechanism establishes a coupling relation between them when the platen is driven in a direction in which the paper sheet is taken therein, until a front end portion of the paper sheet is taken therein and then the coupling relation is released by driving the platen in the reverse direction slightly while the front end portion is retracted from the platen.

Abstract: A printing apparatus having a printing unit and a paper supply unit mounted thereon is provided with a control means which controls a carriage such that it occupies a position other than its home position when a front end of a paper passes through a guide member for guiding a printed paper. The apparatus can be provided with a movable paper guide which is movable between a use position and a wait position. A clutch mechanism is provided for transferring rotation from the platen to a feed roller associated with the paper supply unit.

Abstract: A ribbon cartridge has openings through its lower casing in order to selectively receive an electric conduction type ribbon end sensor or a photoelectric type ribbon end sensor on a printer. Ribbon housed in the ribbon cartridge extends across one of the openings which is separated from the other by a webbing. Where the sensor is of the electric conduction type, the webbing ensures the location of its electrodes to the back of the ribbon which carries a conductive member on its back. The ribbon is provided with, in addition to a transparent tape section at its tail end, a thin piece which is connected by means of an adhesive to the ribbon adjacent to the tail end. An upper casing is formed with a window to facilitate visual checks on a remaining length of the ribbon. An area of the inner surface of the lower casing which corresponds to the window is painted in a color different from that of the ribbon, thereby promoting quicker and more accurate checks on the remaining length.