Abstract: A flexible member is mounted in an inked ribbon cartridge such that it presses a high friction pad against a cartridge wall between a ribbon entry aperture, and the nip of a take-up spool and an associated drive wheel, thereby to apply a drag force on and to smooth out ribbon passing between the pad and cartridge wall in advance of winding on the take-up spool.In one embodiment a cantilever member formed with the cartridge is flexed by a cam on the cartridge cover to produce pressure on the friction pad secured to the member. In another embodiment, the member is wedged between spaced abutments in the cartridge such that overcentering action applies pressure to the friction pad.

Abstract: An ink ribbon cartridge is provided with means to control ribbon tension which takes the form of an O-ring driven by the supply spool which is trained around a drag post. When ribbon is to be drawn from the supply spool as by ribbon feed mechanism operative incident to a print action, the rotation of the supply spool is resisted by the drag or friction between the O-ring and the post. The drag force to be overcome to rotate the supply spool is low and does not vary significantly from full to empty supply spool. The resilience of the O-ring also stores energy which acts oppositely on the supply spool when the force to draw off ribbon is removed.

Abstract: Cartridges housing ribbon spools with a length of ribbon extending externally of the cartridge between exit and inlet openings in the cartridge are provided with an integral anti spool rotation device to prevent spool rotation as would allow inadvertent or accidental withdrawal of an undue length of ribbon externally of the cartridge. Incident to mounting the cartridge on a machine, the locking device is moved to a spool release position without detachment or separation from the cartridge for later movement to anti rotation position if removal of an unspent cartridge is required.

Abstract: A top loading ribbon cartridge having a threaded ribbon guide for directing ribbon in the cartridge out of and back into the cartridge which is mountable on one side of a machine printing point. The threaded ribbon guide is movable relative to the cartridge from a retracted position away from the printing point to an extended position to expose ribbon in front of the printing point incident to typing actions. The movement of the ribbon guide is in a lateral direction which permits the mounting of a similar cartridge on the opposite side of the printing point which may contain error correction ribbon or ribbon of a different color in readiness for operation under operator control.