Abstract: A device for regenerating with ink an ink ribbon which is set in an ink ribbon cassette and has consumed ink contained therein is disclosed. The device includes a housing having an upper surface for mounting the cassette thereon; a guide pin disposed on the upper surface for slidably guiding the ribbon drawn out of the cassette; a guide roller inserted into and movable along an elongated slot formed in the upper surface for guiding the ribbon under tension in cooperation with the guide pin; a rotatable ink pad disposed on the upper surface to contact with the ribbon being guided by the guide pin and the guide roller for transfer ink on the ribbon; and driving means for moving the ribbon in the cassette. In operation, the cassette is removably held on the upper surface, and the guide roller is releasably locked at its play position with a solenoid to thereby make the ribbon contacted with the ink pad.

Abstract: An inking system comprising an ink vessel removably mounted on a nose portion of a wire dot matrix printer. The ink vessel is stationarily connected to a capillary path member for transferring ink reserved within the ink vessel to the rear surface of a bearing plate which is disposed at the front end of the nose portion of the printer for supporting printing ends of printing wires. The ink vessel accommodates therein an ink absorbent member such as synthetic fibers in contact with the upper end portion of the capillary path member, and reserves ink in an absorbed state in the ink absorbent member. At least one slit is formed in the lower end portion of the capillary path member such that the slit permits a group of the printing wires to extend therethrough without causing any forced contact between the respective printing wire and the lower end portion. The lower end portion wetted with the ink is forcedly contacted with the rear surface of the bearing plate by pressing means disposed within the nose portion.