Abstract: A ribbon metering drive accurately advances ribbon in a ribbon cartridge. The drive includes the drive roller, driven by the printer, and an idler roller mounted adjacent the drive roller. The drive and idler rollers have roughened, typically serrated, drive surfaces. The idler roller is lightly biased against the drive roller. The ribbon is guided through the ribbon drive so that it contacts substantially more than half the roughened drive surface of the idler roller. The ribbon is pulled through the ribbon drive by the action of the idler and drive rollers at the nip and also by the frictional engagement of the ribbon contacting the roughened surface of the idler roller. The low biasing force on the idler roller reduces wear and creep in the components to provide accurate ribbon metering over a longer life than is available with prior art ribbon drives.

Abstract: A cartridge for accommodating a daisy wheel type printer includes a supply spool for holding a fresh supply of ribbon and a take-up spool for holding used ribbon. The cartridge includes two arms which define a path for the ribbon to pass between the paper and the printer mechanism. In one embodiment, two drive gears are serially engaged with each other and with a ribbon drive wheel. When the first drive gear is driven by a drive shaft of the printer, the direction of ribbon advance is the same as that of the rotation of the drive shaft. When the second gear is driven, the rotational direction of the ribbon advance is opposite that of the drive shaft. In an alternate embodiment, a ribbon drive gear is mounted on a common shaft with the first drive gear and biased against a single idler wheel.

Abstract: A protective pack for holding a cartridge for a daisy wheel type printer is disclosed. The cartridge has a supply spool for holding a fresh ribbon pancake and a take-up spool for holding used ribbon. The cartridge body has a viewport extending radially adjacent the ribbon pancake to allow observation thereof. The cartridge includes two arms which define a path for the ribbon to pass between the paper and the printer mechanism. Two drive gears are serially engaged with each other and with the ribbon drive means. When the first drive wheel is driven by a drive shaft of the printer, the second acts as an idler gear so that the direction of ribbon take-up is the same as the direction of the rotation of the drive shaft. When the second gear is driven, it drives the ribbon drive gear means directly so that the rotational direction of the ribbon take-up is opposite that of the drive shaft. The drive gears are located and their lower portions are configured to engage the respective drive shafts of various printers.

Abstract: A protective carton-enclosed typewriter ribbon pancake assembly and associated cartridge frame having a biased-open top are disclosed. The pancake assembly includes a typewriter ribbon pancake spirally wrapped around a supply hub. The ribbon and supply hub are enclosed by a protective paper carton configured for insertion within the cartridge frame. The carton has holes through which the ends of the supply hub pass. The free end of the ribbon is attached to a take-up hub. A used ribbon pancake assembly is disposed of by merely releasing the biased top of the frame so that the used ribbon, protective carton and hubs free fall into an underlying waste receptacle. The carton is shaped to insure proper alignment of the pancake assembly within the cartridge.

Abstract: A cartridge for accommodating a daisy wheel type printer is disclosed. The cartridge has a supply spool for holding a fresh supply of ribbon and a take-up spool for holding used ribbon. The cartridge includes two arms which define a path for the ribbon to pass between the paper and the printer mechanism. Two drive gears are serially engaged with each other and with the ribbon drive means. When the first drive wheel is driven by a drive shaft of the printer, the second acts as an idler gear so that the direction of ribbon take-up is the same as the direction of the rotation of the drive shaft. When the second gear is driven, it drives the ribbon drive gear means directly so that the rotational direction of the ribbon take-up is opposite that of the drive shaft. The drive gears are located and their lower portions are configured to engage the respective drive shafts of various printers.