Abstract: A cartridge using an endless printer ribbon includes a re-inker and a drive assembly which pulls the ribbon through the re-inker and advances it while folding it in fan fold fashion into a storage compartment. The fan folds are compressed before they exit from the storage compartment into an expansion area where the fan folds unfold. From the expansion chamber the ribbon passes through a straightening compartment to ensure that all the folds in the ribbon have been eliminated before the ribbon leaves the cartridge.

Abstract: Apparatus for mounting a print head on a movable carriage which moves the print head across a record medium supported by a platen. The apparatus includes a projection extending from the front portion of the carriage, an opening in the print head arranged to accommodate the projection aligning the print head with respect to the platen, a compression spring maintaining the projection in the opening and a movable camming surface in contact with the projection for positioning the print head a variable distance away from the platen.

Abstract: A printer ribbon cartridge mounting assembly includes a printer cartridge having a resilient cantilevered tab with a stepped surface which is arranged to push against a portion of a mounting bracket. The bracket also has an opening which accommodates a portion of the stepped surface, thereby locking the cartridge in place.

Abstract: An assembly for processing paper tape for data processing and communication applications. The punch and reader are in a common housing which includes a self contained chad box. The assembly has a substantially flat bottom surface thus permitting the assembly to be mounted on a table. The entire operating mechanism is arranged such that it is mechanically isolated from the housing.The punch and reader assemblies utilize identical paper drive assemblies which are mechanically linked by a rigid bar. The one drive assembly is driven from an eccentric which in turn is driven by a flexible belt coupled to a motor pulley.

Abstract: A cartridge for an endless band printer ribbon includes a chamber for storing the ribbon in a convolute therewithin. One or more segments of the ribbon are maintained exteriorly of the cartridge to overlie and close the open end of a corresponding depression(s) formed in the cartridge's periphery to form a protrudent member-receiving compartment. The number of depressions corresponds to the number of protrudent ribbon guides (rollers, posts, etc.) in the printer. The protrudent member-receiving compartments are positionable so that their corresponding guides may be simultaneously received therein. After such reception, the cartridge is moved away from the guides, which thereupon engage and withdraw the ribbon from the convolute by unwinding it until the cartridge is mounted to the printer and a portion thereof is properly adjacent a printing location on a platen. The cartridge may also contain a one-way clutch to effect unidirectional ribbon movement and a ribbon re-inker.