Abstract: A printer for use with an ink ribbon having at least two printing tracks is provided with a print head that moves along a predetermined path adjacent to a recording medium. A line driver reciprocates the print head along the path in first and second directions. A multi-track ribbon comprises a plurality of printing tracks having portions thereof disposed between the print heads and a recording medium. A ribbon shift mechanism positions a preselected one of the tracks on the ink ribbon adjacent the print head for use in printing a response to movement of the print head. The ribbon shift mechanism comprises a printing track setting mechanism for moving the ribbon in one direction to set at one desired track height from among several preselected track heights corresponding to a selected one of predetermined amounts of movement of the print head in the first direction to a first end portion of the path.

Abstract: A compact, lightweight printer capable of using multi-track ink ribbons that facilitates multicolor printing, without having a dedicated track switching drive system. The printer employs a printing track setting member that is activated by contact pressure from a print head carriage when it moves in one direction and vertically displaces a ribbon frame supporting the ribbon to one of several preselected heights with respect to the print head. The setting member is preferably made in the form of a setting lever with a drive end for interacting with the print head carriage and a setting end with a series of setting height stops that interact with the ribbon frame. Rotation of the setting lever places different setting level stops under the frame which varies its height accordingly.

Abstract: A printer having extended ribbon capacity is provided with a vacuum buffering system which stores ribbon on either side of a ribbon utilization mechanism, illustratively an impact print head. In a preferred embodiment, the ribbon is stored in a pair of vacuum chambers which are arranged to pivot about a common axis as a carriage which bears the print head is translated along a carriage path. The vacuum chambers are each provided with telescopically extendable members which compensate for variations in the distance between the pivot of the vacuum chambers and the print carriage, as the print carriage is translated. A ribbon lift system for multitrack embodiments utilizes off-carriage drive and a direction-determining clutch toggle system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mechanism for raising and lowering a ribbon in front of the typing area of a typewriter or similar machine. The mechanism is so designed that only a few lightweight plastic parts need be moved thereby greatly reducing the actuating force necessary to elevate a ribbon. The mechanism also is configured to track the ribbon such that deformation of the ribbon as could impair proper functioning of the lifting and/or transporting of the ribbon during the ribbon lifting motion is minimized.

Abstract: The typewriter has a drive mechanism including a vibrating mechanism and a feeding mechanism for a correction ribbon. The vibrating mechanism has a pair of ribbon vibrators, a cam follower provided to one of the vibrators, an eccentric cam designed to make one complete revolution for each printing operation in response to depression of associated key, and a spring member for resiliently biasing the cam follower toward the peripheral surface of the eccentric cam. The feeding mechanism has a pair of spindles for carrying ribbon spools, a ratchet wheel mounted on one of the spindles and a feed lever connected to the other vibrator. Upon depression of a correction key for setting the ribbon vibrators to be actuatable, followed by depression of an alphanumeric key, the ribbon vibrators are actuated by rotion of the eccentric cam so that the correction ribbon is raised from its inoperative position to its operative position.

Abstract: The invention is a mechanism for raising and lowering the ribbon in typewriters to make typed text visible. No separate drive such as a motor or magnet is required to raise the ribbon. The ribbon is raised by means of a spring-loaded bar prior to each character reproduction. To accomplish this, an armature of a control magnet releases a pivoting lever and the spring loaded bar. A pin wheel, driven by a motor and acting on the lever serves to return the bar and allow return of the ribbon. The motor is energized after each character reproduction to advance either a type element carrier or the paper carrier by one character space. In typewriters with ribbon spools fixed to the machine frame, the ribbon spool drive also can be derived from the spring powered bar.

Abstract: A ribbon drive mechanism for a typewriter or similar machine in which the supply spool and a first ribbon guide are fixed with respect to the machine frame, and the take-up spool and a second ribbon guide are vertically moveable with respect to the machine frame. The ribbon is fed past the print point when the take-up spool and the second ribbon guide adjacent thereto are in their raised position. Means are also provided for feeding a constant increment of ribbon, regardless of the amount of ribbon on the take-up spool.