Abstract: A printer is provided with a platen having a sloping plane platen surface, a medium guide path for smoothly guiding paper along the plane including the platen surface, a transparent open/close paper guide positioned above the medium guide path, and two pairs of drive rollers and driven rollers arranged along the platen, with one pair of drive roller and driven roller being disposed in an upstream direction and the other pair of drive roller and driven roller being disposed in a downstream direction with respect to the platen and the paper print movement. The printer is further provided with a ribbon cassette which makes it possible to position a linear portion of an ink ribbon in parallel to the platen surface, a mechanism for switching the linear portion of the ink ribbon between a printable position and a nonprintable position, and a mechanism for attaching a ribbon cassette to a carriage while moving it in a downwardly forward direction.

Abstract: An improved ribbon cartridge has an endless printing ribbon and a ribbon inlet and outlet through which a portion of the printing ribbon is fed outside the cartridge for use by a printing device in a printing operation. The ribbon cartridge includes a self adjusting, low torque ribbon drive system, and more particularly, a gear system having a drive gear and one or more idler gears arranged in intermeshing engagement. Each of the gears has a compound curvilinear tooth configuration including one or more ribbon engagement ribs. At least one of the gears may be slideably mounted in the ribbon cartridge for positioning relative to an adjacent intermeshing gear in response to tension on the ribbon.

Abstract: An ink ribbon cassette includes a supply side ribbon spool, a take-up side ribbon spool, a cassette case containing therein the supply side and take-up side ribbon spools and pivotably supporting at least the take-up side ribbon spool through a lever member and having an opening through which an outside feed tooth may mesh with the take-up side ribbon spool. A support portion provided in the opening for contacting the peripheral surface of the take-up side ribbon spool prevents the take-up side ribbon spool from protruding outwardly, and a biasing device impart a rotational force to the lever member so that the take-up side ribbon spool is urged against the support portion.

Abstract: In a thermal transfer type color printer, an ink film on which plural color inks are sequentially painted in its longitudinal direction is sequentially transported forward between an ink film supply roll and winding roll, while a printing paper is repeatedly transported forward and backward in order to print out a color image by overlapping plural color inks. In color printing, the printing paper and ink film are partially overlapped and wound around a platen roller, and a thermal head is pressed against the platen roller by sandwiching the ink film and printing paper therebetween so that the thermal head transfers the color inks on the printing paper. In order to prevent wrinkles from being formed on the ink film, tension applying means applies tension force to the ink film by temporarily controlling or stopping revolution of the ink film supply roll.

Abstract: A receptacle for a holder of a ribbon of a typewriter or similar machine. The holder has a base plate on which laterally pivotable retaining elements are disposed. The retaining elements support drive, braking and tensioning elements for the ribbon. If the retaining elements are pivoted away, a holder, e.g. in the shape of a ribbon cassette, can be inserted into the device. When the retaining elements have again been pivoted back, they surround the holder of the ribbon in the form of a shell. The drive, braking and tensioning elements then automatically take up their functionally correct positions. The device has the advantage that only the holder with the used-up ribboon need be discarded, while the drive, braking and tensioning elements remain in the device and thus can be repeatedly used. Manufacture of the holder with the ribbon is made considerably more economical this way and the value of the material to be discarded is reduced.

Abstract: An ink ribbon cassette with two projecting arms between which an ink ribbon is held exposed for printing. The cassette has a positioning slit in one of the arms, extended perpendicular to the running direction of the ink ribbon, and two side fixing projections. The former fixes the cassette in the running direction of the ribbon while the latter fix the cassette in the vertical direction, thus securing improved mounting of the cassette and preventing undesirable movement of the cassette.

Abstract: A reloadable ribbon cassette system for typewriters or office machines of similar construction employs a bottom housing in which an exchangeable supply spool core for the ribbon and an exchangeable take-up spool core can be rotatably mounted. To facilitate the reloading process a cover plate is placed onto the top face of the ribbon coiled on the supply spool core, the cover plate inserted into the bottom housing member along with the supply spool core and ribbon when they are loaded. The cover plate has a contact surface for helping to steady a fastening element disposed at the free end of the ribbon during reloading. The cover plate projects beyond the ribbon coil at least in the region of the contact shelf to prevent accidental removal of the first few turns of the coiled ribbon in axial direction.

Abstract: A reloadable ribbon cassette system for typewriters or office machines of similar construction employs a housing which receives an exchangeable supply spool for the ribbon and an exchangeable take-up spool core. To facilitate the reloading process, the take-up spool core is mounted in the housing on a bearing pin which extends upward from a contact surface. The take-up spool core has a bearing bore into which the bearing pin extends and a bearing surface which rests on the contact surface. The contact surface is disposed closely below a receiving bore in the take-up spool core which accommodates a fastening element attached to the end of the ribbon.

Abstract: The ribbon (17) has an external run between the type element (25) and platen of a daisy-wheel typewriter. This run stretches between terminal members (59) which protrude from side arms (33 and 34) of the cartridge casing (18) and are fixed to the distal ends of arms (39, 41) pivotally mounted in the casing (18) at pivot (52). Ribbon lift levers of the typewriter raise the arms simultaneously to position a selected one of three tracks on the ribbon at the level of the typing. The ribbon is transferred from a feed spool having a flange to a take-up spool having a core tube and which are rotatably supported by the casing. The casing comprises a bottom portion having a resilient tongue with a pawl member positioned adjacent to the take-up spool and a resilient blade adjacent to the feed spool.

Abstract: There is provided an ink ribbon cassette detachably mounted on a carriage of a recording apparatus, housing an ink ribbon supplied from a casing and taken up therein after passing through a recording section and including first positioning means for positioning the ink ribbon cassette in a first direction when the ink ribbon cassette is mounted on the carriage, and second positioning means for positioning the ink ribbon cassette in a second direction when the ink ribbon cassette is mounted on the carriage, wherein at least one of the first and second positioning means is elastically engaged with positioning means of the carriage, and inclined portions are formed at ink ribbon exit and entrance portions in the widthwise direction of the ink ribbon. A tension spring is included to prevent slackening of the ink ribbon in the cassette.

Abstract: A ribbon cassette for an office machine, composed of: a cassette housing removably mountable in the machine, the housing having an entrance opening, an exit opening, an openable cover and elements constituting deflection points; a supply spool and a take-up spool having a core, each of the spools being removably mounted in the cassette housing; a carbon ribbon initially wound in the form of a coil on the supply spool, the ribbon having a leading end at the outer surface of the coil to be received by the take-up spool core to permit the ribbon to be wound up on the take-up spool while being unwound from the supply spool; and a fastening member secured to the leading end of the ribbon for threading the ribbon around the deflection points; and wherein the core is formed for enabling the fastening member to be fixed thereto to aid winding of the ribbon on the take-up spool.

Abstract: Ribbon cartridges for typewriters or similar office machines must meet various design requirements, especially, must be easily exchangeable without soiling one's fingers, must be inexpensive to manufacture, and must dampen the noise in the printing area. To be avoided in addition is a soiling of the machine components when using the cartridge, through ribbon rub-off dropping through the holes in the bottom of the cartridge, and a smooth ribbon drive must be possible. These various problems are inventionally solved in that the cup-shaped base component of the cartridge casing features on the inside of the bottom protruding stiffening ribs which likewise serve to support the spools of the flangeless supply and take-up reels and/or prevent ribbon rub-off accruing in the cartridge casing from dropping out of the openings.

Abstract: The ribbon (17) has an external run between the type element (25) and platen of a daisy-wheel typewriter. This run stretches between terminal members (59) which protrude from side arms (33 and 34) of the cartridge casing (18) and are fixed to the distal ends of arms (39, 41) pivotally mounted in the casing (18) at (52). The arms (39, 41) are biased downwardly by wire springs (67) to expose the typing line. Ribbon lift levers of the typewriter raise the arms simultaneously to position a selected one of three tracks on the ribbon at the level of the typing point. The terminal members (59) slide on guides (62) at the ends of the side arms (33, 34), constraining the external ribbon run to lie always within and translate within a single plane. The edges of the guides (62) are curved so that the tilt of the terminal members (59) varies as they move up and down, in such a way as to maintain the ribbon tension uniform across the width of the ribbon (17).

Abstract: An ink ribbon cassette for winding an ink ribbon from a feed spool to a winding spool is provided. The cassette includes a base with a guide path for receiving a guide projection formed on a support member having a feed spool sleeve. A drive roller and controlling roller are rotatably mounted on the cassette base. A winding spool is rotatably mounted on the feed spool sleeve and biased towards the drive roller, and a feed spool is rotatably mounted on the feed spool sleeve and biased towards the controlling roller. The spool sleeves are positioned so that when the guide projection of the support moves within the guide path the winding spool operatively engages the drive roller and the support member pivots about the guide projection so that when the ribbon is wound from the feed spool to the winding spool, the feed spool maintains engagement with the controlling roller.

Abstract: A ribbon cartridge (10) is attached to a carrier (1) of a printing device such that it is tiltable along an axis that is parallel to the print line to drop the ribbon such that the print line is visible. That part of cartridge (10) which is opposite of the ribbon exposing part and on the other side of tilting axis (18) is on its bottom provided with a ribbon advance knob (8). Into this knob (8) two essentially upright standing walls and inclined ramps (11) are molded. The ribbon feed device (6), provided on carrier (1), has a blade (5) or noses (17) which cooperate with slot-forming walls (12) of knob (8). In ribbon drive direction (14) cartridge (10) automatically drops into coupling interconnection for ribbon feed. Upon turning ribbon feed device (6) in reverse direction (16) blade (5) or noses (17) slide up ramp (11) and lift the rear part and drop the front part of the cartridge (10) so that the print line is rendered visible.

Abstract: The cartridge comprises a container (7) of substantially parallelepipedal form with its corners radiused and rounded off. The container is provided with a back (8) having a slot (27) adapted to guide a slide (26) on the ends of which are rotatably mounted a feed spool (22) and a take-up spool (32) on which the ribbon (21) is wound. A spring (36) engaged with a stud (41) on the slide keeps the slide (26) towards the right-hand side of the container with the take-up spool (32) engaged with the pin teeth of a feed roller (42). As the turns of ribbon wound on the take-up spool increase, the slide shifts with the two spools towards the left-hand side of the container in opposition to the action of the spring. The cartridge is mounted removably on a support of the machine which is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane of the machine passing through the printing point in a manner such as to permit visibility of the printed characters.

Abstract: A printing ribbon cassette having in a casing a supply spool carrying a printing ribbon thereon and a take-up spool on which the ribbon is wound as it is released from the supply spool having an axis of rotation which is movable as the ribbon is released therefrom. A ribbon tensioner in the casing has a base rotatably supported on a supply spool shaft, and one end engaged with the ribbon released from the supply spool, while the other end of the tensioner is engaged with a guide member in the casing. The outer end of the tensioner is movable along the guide member with the displacement of the supply spool shaft to enable one end of the tensioner to maintain a constant range of tension on the ribbon.

Abstract: A print ribbon cassette of a simplified construction which can prevent slackening of a print ribbon and normally keep the print ribbon in taut condition for printing. The print ribbon cassette comprises a lock member having a locking position for preventing inadvertent rotation of a feed spool on which a print ribbon to be supplied is wound. The cassette further comprises a ribbon lock control member which is moved between an operative position and an inoperative position in response to a tensile force of a print ribbon applied thereto. In the operative position of the ribbon lock control member, it engages with the lock member and holds the same to the lock position.

Abstract: A ribbon feeding mechanism for a typewriter or printer includes a pivotally mounted platform for removably receiving a fabric or carbon ribbon cassette. A manually operable lever carries ribbon feeding components including a toothed wheel for engaging the carbon ribbon takeup unit in the carbon ribbon cassette and a gear for engaging a driven gear of a fabric ribbon cassette. The ribbon feeding components are rotated about a common axis by a cam-driven pawl and rachet mechanism.

Abstract: A ribbon feed mechanism for printing machines has a toothed wheel rigidly mounted on a drive shaft at an angle relative to a plane perpendicular to the drive shaft axis. The toothed wheel will penetrate layers of outer convolutions of a roll of film ribbon on a take-up spool at varying locations relative to the ribbon width for feeding the film ribbon with equal length increments more consistently.

Abstract: A frame-supported disposable ribbon supply and take-up cartridge for typewriters and printers of the type employing a carriage-transported printing device is equipped with a constant path length ribbon guiding and directing structure which can be collapsed and folded for compact packaging and which can also be factory pre-threaded to eliminate any need for the operator to fit a ribbon leader around any guides on the print carriage. One form of the invention uses twin one-way articulated ribbon guides which are connected by a ribbon directing bar and are each orthogonally pivoted to the sides of the cartridge for collapsing, rotating, and folding against the sides of the cartridge. The other form uses a single two-way articulated ribbon-guiding structure pivoted to the cartridge and having a second articulated structure, all of which can be folded against the sides of the cartridge.

Abstract: A ribbon cartridge in a movable print point printer remains stationary while the ribbon moves to and from the print point along a path of fixed length. The path length is established by a first flexible leader which extends from the cartridge to the print point and a second flexible leader which extends from the print point back to the cartridge. The cartridge includes a supply reel for storing ribbon before the ribbon advances to the movable print point and a take-up reel for storing ribbon after it returns from the movable print point. The flexible leader comprises a steel member having a transverse curvature for preventing the leaders from assuming a reverse curvature and maintaining a curvature of substantially constant radius.

Abstract: Disclosed is a spring operating beyond the elastic limit of the material of which it is constructed, the spring including a length of resilient material having terminal end portions and a central body portion, one of the terminal end portions being adapted for connection to a first member. A convoluted portion of the resilient material has a central axis substantially perpendicular to the body portion and is adapted for connection to a second member, at least the convoluted portion being dimensioned so that upon separation of the first and second members due to a predetermined load, the convoluted portion uncoils and is stressed beyond the yield point of the material so that a substantially constant load placed on the convoluted portion by member separation effects further uncoiling of the convoluted portion.

Abstract: An inked ribbon winding device and an inked ribbon cartridge for use in a printing apparatus. A dispensing and a takeup spool, located closely together and at different elevations in the cartridge, establish a skewed angle of the ribbon traversing the exterior of the cartridge. The ribbon wound about the takeup spool engages a rotatable member fixedly rotatably mounted on a support structure for rotating the takeup spool and drawing the ribbon across a printing position at a substantially constant average rate of movement. The cartridge is longitudinally slidably mounted on the support structure and is urged toward the rotatable member by a biasing means.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cartridge and a cartridge assembly for a typewriter, the assembly comprising a pair of case members, each case having a separate chamber and including means for releasably connecting the two cases in superimposed overlapping relation. First and second pairs of spaced apart ribbon guide means are associated with each of the cases and dimensioned to be aligned, first pair to second pair. Each of the case members includes a separate supply and take-up spool, the supply spool having a fixed axis of rotation and the take-up spool having a shiftable axis of rotation along a translatory path. An opening is provided along one edge of each of the cases, the openings being aligned in the paths while the take-up spools are biased in their respective paths towards the opening.

Abstract: An ink ribbon cartridge for a printer drives an endless loop of ribbon by passing the ribbon between a feed roller having teeth of one pitch and a pinch roller having teeth of another pitch.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cartridge and a cartridge assembly for a typewriter, the assembly comprising a pair of case members, each case member having a separate chamber and including means for releasably connecting the two case members in superimposed overlapping relation. First and second pairs of spaced apart ribbon guide means are associated with each of the case members and dimensioned to be aligned, first pair to second pair. Each of the case members includes a separate supply and take-up spool, the supply spool having a fixed axis of rotation and the take-up spool having a shiftable axis of rotation along a translatory path. An opening is provided along one edge of each of the case members, the openings being aligned in the paths while the take-up spools are biased in their respective paths towards the opening.

Abstract: A frame-supported ribbon supply and take-up system for typewriters and teleprinters of the type having a carriage-transported printing device. The system incorporates an articulated ribbon-guiding structure connected between the ribbon supply and take-up assembly for guiding and supporting the ribbon along a path of substantially constant length regardless of carriage position. The articulated structure is also incorporated into an easily installable ribbon cartridge.