Abstract: Systems and techniques relating to printing include an apparatus including a base mounting a storage spool to store printing ribbon including a web carrying marking medium, the base mounting a ribbon take-up spool. A ribbon path from the storage to the take-up spool runs through a printing station where there is a print head, and printing is effected at the printing station when relatively moving the head and the substrate with the ribbon interposed between. The apparatus includes a movable ribbon guide member, a ribbon guide member drive device to move the ribbon guide member, and a controller which, during or in between at least some printing operations, controls drive of at least the take-up spool to advance ribbon through the printing station. The controller controls the ribbon guide member in response to an input signal representative of ribbon tension along the ribbon path to adjust the ribbon tension.

Abstract: A drive train for a printer is disclosed that provides and maintains a desired tension in the ribbon during transfer of the ribbon between a supply spool and a take-up spool. The drive train is configured to pre-tension the ribbon proximate the driven spool prior to driving the drive roller. During operation, the drive train provides and maintains the requisite tension in the ribbon proximate the driven spool with use of a slip-overdrive assembly. Additionally, the drive train induces a drag on the spool from which ribbon is being unwound with the use of a drag-overrun assembly.

Abstract: A tape drive for use in for example a transfer printing apparatus to drive a printer ribbon. The printer ribbon is mounted on two spools each of which is driven by a respective stepper motor. A controller controls the energization of the motor such that the ribbon is transported in at least one direction between spools mounted on the spool support. The controller is operative to energize both motors to drive the spools of ribbon in the direction of ribbon transport to achieve push-pull operations. Ribbon tension is monitored to enable accurate control of ribbon supply and ribbon take-up, the ribbon tension being monitored, for example, by monitoring power supply to the two stepper motors.

Abstract: Incorporates means for maintaining a constant tension in the printing ribbon (3) consisting of a loading drum (9-9') placed after the thermal print head (1) that attracts the ribbon to define a loop, thereby maintaining a constant tension throughout the printing stage to ensure the quality of this operation. The printing method consists of attracting or suctioning the printing ribbon (1) against the loading drum (9-9'), using an electrostatic system that involves creating an electric field between conductors (10) placed on the loading drum (9), or a pneumatic system that involves attracting the ribbon (1) by Venturi tubes (17) located inside the loading drum (9').

Abstract: An ink ribbon cartridge, having a frame, a pair of supply shaft connecting members for connecting ends of a supply shaft to the frame, a first take-up shaft connecting member for connecting an end of a take-up shaft to the frame, the first take-up shaft connecting member including a gear member, and a second take-up shaft connecting member for connecting another end of the take-up shaft to the frame is provided. The first take-up shaft connecting member includes a gear portion and a spool portion which is substantially housed inside the take-up shaft. The gear portion includes at least one flexible member with at least one of a projecting portion and an angled end, the flexible member including two surfaces which become closer to each other when the flexible member is being inserted into a receiving portion of the spool portion.

Abstract: A recording deice includes a cylinder (1) of heat-sensitive ink ribbon (2), a rewinding cylinder (5), and a marking header (19). The device prevents unused segments of ribbon being left between markings. The device has a moving support (6) guiding the ribbon (2) along an additional path (16), a braking mechanism (10, 11, 12, 14) for the cylinder (1). When the ribbon (2)is tractioned and the cylinder is braked, the support (6) is forced to move against the action of an elastic element (13), reducing the additional path (16). Thus, after a marking (a-b) the ribbon and the support (6) move back to (c) so that the next marking (b-d) is made immediately after the first marking (a-b). The braking mechanism, after one or more markings, are released, unrolling a length of ribbon (2) from the cylinder, then braking again, with the process repeated.

Abstract: A ribbon cassette containing a supply core, a web located on the supply core, a storage core, a device for increasing the tension on the web as it passes from said supply core to said storage core to produce a tensioned web, a drive roller contiguous with the web, and a nip roller contiguous with the web. The said tensioned web is passed in a first rotary direction around a portion of the drive roller, and then it is passed in a second rotary direction around a portion of the nip roller, and then it is passed in a in rotary direction identical to the first rotary direction around a portion of the storage core. A nip is formed between the nip roller, the web, and the drive roller such that either the nip roller or the drive roller is compressed by at least about 0.001 percent.

Abstract: A disposable ink ribbon cartridge for use in a shorthand machine. The cartridge includes an endless loop ribbon threaded through an advancing mechanism in contact with a movable ink reservoir. The advancing mechanism advances the ribbon and also transfers ink from the ink reservoir to the ribbon. The ink reservoir is made from a reticulated foam which provides an even supply of ink over a long period of time. The movable ink reservoir and the advancing mechanism interact to minimize friction between the moving parts of the cartridge. The ink reservoir and advancing mechanism deliver consistent and even doses of ink to the ribbon throughout the life of the cartridge.

Abstract: A ribbon winding side ribbon and a ribbon supply side ribbon holder are provided for supplying an inked ribbon to a thermal printer. A ribbon tension detecting plate is rotatably supported on a frame so as to be rotated in dependency on tension of the inked ribbon. A ribbon tension adjusting means is provided to be responsive to angular position of the ribbon tension detecting plate for applying a load on the ribbon holder so that the tension of the inked ribbon is adjusted.

Abstract: A disposable ink ribbon cartridge for use in a shorthand machine. The cartridge includes an endless loop ribbon threaded through an advancing mechanism in contact with a movable ink reservoir. The advancing mechanism advances the ribbon and also transfers ink from the ink reservoir to the ribbon. The ink reservoir is made from a reticulated foam which provides an even supply of ink over a long period of time. The movable ink reservoir and the advancing mechanism interact to minimize friction between the moving parts of the cartridge. The ink reservoir and advancing mechanism deliver consistent and even doses of ink to the ribbon throughout the life of the cartridge.

Abstract: A thermal printer that transfers print from a ribbon onto a moving web, and methods therefor, by dispensing ribbon from a supply spindle with one or more feed rollers rotating in a first direction, and winding the ribbon on a rewind spindle when dispensing ribbon from the supply spindle when printing. The dispensing direction of the ribbon is reversible before or after printing by rotating the one or more feed rollers in a second direction opposite the first direction to utilize ribbon more efficiently. The reversed ribbon is either rewound on the supply spindle or tensioned with a dancer arm.

Abstract: A compact ribbon cassette for dispensing and storing a ribbon or tape upon integrally formed dispensing and storage spools. The dispensing and storage spools are disposed upon a common rotatable shaft mounted for rotation within the housing. A pair of meshing gears provide a positive ribbon drive that ensures that fresh ribbon is in place at the thermal print head for each MICR encode operation. The meshing gear positive ribbon drive system provides the optimum amount of ribbon for the print cycle to assure that MICR encode characters meet accepted industry quality standards.

Abstract: A printing apparatus for printing on a substrate, including a base mounting a storage spool for printing ribbon, a ribbon take-up spool, and there being a ribbon path from the storage to the take-up spool through a printing station, a print head relative to which the substrate and the ribbon move during a printing operation. The apparatus further including a shuttle moveable relative to the base, the shuttle having a ribbon guide about which the ribbon is entrained, the arrangement being such that relative movement between the print head and the ribbon is achieved by movement of the shuttle relative to the base.

Abstract: Printer adapted to guide a dye donor therein and method therefor. The dye donor ribbon has a leading end portion, which in turn has a plurality of sprocket holes spaced along parallel side portions of the leading end portion. A print head activates the dye donor ribbon to transfer dye therefrom onto a receiver for forming an image on the receiver. A dye donor ribbon take-up spool is disposed near the print head for taking-up the dye donor ribbon as the print head activates the dye donor ribbon. The take-up spool has a plurality of sprockets therearound sized to engage the sprocket holes in the leading end portion. A dye donor ribbon supply spool is spaced-apart from the take-up spool for supplying the dye donor ribbon therefrom as the print head activates the dye donor ribbon. A pair of spaced-apart oppositely disposed parallel guide rails extend between the take-up pool and the supply spool. Each of the rails defines a passage for guiding the dye donor ribbon along the passages.

Abstract: A printer includes a variable torque assembly that allows a printer controller to vary torque on supply and take-up reels in response to monitored diameter of the supply or take-up reels. In one embodiment, the variable torque assembly is a torque divider that divides a fixed amount of torque between a supply reel and a take-up reel. The ratio of torques on the supply and take-up reels is controller by a control stepper motor that adjusts respective Acme gears to adjust pressure on respective clutch plates to increase or decrease the amount of "drag" applied by the clutch plates. In another embodiment, separate control stepper motors control torque to each of the supply and take-up reels so that the overall amount of torque can be varied to accommodate changes in print media lengths.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in a thermal printer for printing bar code symbols onto a paper substrate material is provided which utilizes a ribbon having a multi-transfer ink layer. The thermal printer enables the ink ribbon to be transported at a rate that is selectively lower than the transporting rate of the paper substrate. The thermal printer comprises a platen and a thermal head disposed adjacent to the platen having a region defined therebetween through which the paper substrate material is transported at a first rate. Images or symbols are imprinted onto the paper substrate material by operation of the thermal head in cooperation with ink from the multi-transfer ink ribbon advanced to the region. A supply hub carries a supply of the ribbon, and a first motor is mechanically linked to the supply hub. The first motor rotates the hub in a direction opposite to a direction of advancement of the ribbon.

Abstract: An ink ribbon cassette for use in a thermal transfer printer, the ink ribbon cassette including an opening and containing an ink ribbon wound on a draw-out reel and a windup reel and having a portion exposed through the opening. The ink ribbon cassette includes ribbon feed rollers, the ribbon feed rollers contacting the ink ribbon between the draw-out reel and the opening and between the windup reel and the opening. The ribbon feed rollers include keyed central passages for receiving driving shafts located on a mounting carriage of the thermal transfer printer, and the ribbon feed rollers have high friction surfaces for providing constant tension to the ink ribbon portion located at the opening in the ink ribbon cassette.

Abstract: A thermal transfer printer in which printing is performed by melting ink from an ink ribbon and transferring the molten ink to a printing sheet, and which is capable of erasing printed characters as desired by attaching the transferred ink to the ink ribbon and drawing the ink ribbon to separate the ink from the printing sheet. At least one ribbon feed roller having its surface formed of a material of a large friction coefficient is provided in a ribbon cassette housing the ink ribbon. The ribbon feed roller is rotated by a drive shaft provided on a carriage to assist in separating the ink ribbon from the printing sheet, thereby enabling the ink ribbon to be separated and wound up constantly with stability during each of the printing and correction operations.

Abstract: A thermal transfer printer includes an arrangement for continuously and automatically varying the rate of advance of the thermal transfer ribbon during printing, the rate of advance being correlated with the nature of the image being printed, and the variable advance rate being provided by a driven friction feed roller and a pair of ribbon guides which cooperate with the friction feed roller and are so positioned that the transfer ribbon is held tightly against the friction feed roller, contacting the circumference of the friction feed roller over more than 90.degree. its circumference and preferably at least 180.degree. of its circumference.

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: There is disclosed a thermal transfer recording apparatus capable of regulating the amount of transport of ink sheet according to the selected recording sheet, thereby maintaining uniform quality of image recording. The apparatus is provided with an ink sheet transporting mechanism, a recording sheet transporting mechanism, a thermal recording head, a selector for selecting the recording sheet, and a controller for regulating the transport amount of ink sheet according to the selected recording sheet. For a recording sheet with rougher recording surface, the transport amount of ink sheet is so regulated to increase the amount of transferred ink, thereby better covering the rougher recording surface.

Abstract: A printer apparatus including a slide assembly for advancing a receptor material and a ribbon material relative to a print head and platen for printing color images.

Abstract: A thermal printer has a donor web positioning system that uses a single sensor in conjunction with a capstan roller. The roller is driven by a stepper motor to precisely meter the donor web. The roller is positioned between the print drum and the take-up spool and drivingly engages the donor web and controllably advances the donor web towards the take-up spool at a known rate as the web is paid out of the print zone. The single sensor is positioned between the print drum and the supply spool to detect the start of the plurality of frames of dye, as the donor web advances. Each individual frame is then positioned properly by causing the capstan drive motor to advance a known, pre-programmed number of steps to place the beginning of each color frame at the heater line of the thermal head.

Abstract: A thermal printer has a rotatably mounted supply spool, and a rotatably driven print drum for unwinding a dye donor web from the supply spool and advancing the web past a thermal print head at a print zone where dye is transferred to a print receiving medium by the print head. The print drum causes the supply spool to rotate as it unwinds web therefrom and further causes the web to be paid out of the print zone at a constant rate. A rotatably mounted take-up spool accumulates web paid out of the print zone and tensions the web. A capstan roller is interposed between the print drum and the take-up spool. The capstan roller drivingly engages the web and controllably advances the web towards the take-up spool as the web is paid out of the print zone. The capstan roller advances the web at a slower rate than the web is paid out of the print zone to eliminate tension on the donor web caused by the take-up spool as the donor web exits the print zone.

Abstract: A thermal printer includes a ribbon supply device for running a transfer ribbon through a printing section. The device includes a ribbon unit and a ribbon drive section which are removably mounted on a head supporting frame of the printing section. The ribbon unit includes a supply shaft on which the ribbon is wound, a take-up shaft for take-up the ribbon drawn from the supply shaft, a tension shaft, and a ribbon drive shaft. The supply and tension shafts are arranged to be symmetrical to the take-up and ribbon drive shafts, respectively, about an imaginary plane which extends between the supply shaft and the take-up shaft and between the tension shaft and the ribbon drive shaft, in parallel with these shafts, so that the unit is capable of being remounted on the head supporting frame while the unit is turned through 180 degrees.

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: An endless loop ribbon cassette wherein the storage of a ribbon in a ribbon cassette is effected by a belt assembly which causes the ribbon to move along a generally linear path substantially corresponding to one dimension of a storage cavity. This effects an ordered, rather than a random, storage of a ribbon. In addition, a ribbon is obliquely positioned with respect to a line of print of a printer with which a cassette is to be used.

Abstract: A printer ribbon cartridge of the type employing two ribbon spools mounted in spaced relation in the cavity formed in the case of the cartridge. In this one, the ribbon is driven by a belt engaging the spools and, in turn, the belt is engaged by both of two alternately driven drive rollers. Alignment and guide devices keep the center lines of the ribbon and belt in coincident alignment and also keep the edges of the ribbon from frictional engagement with the top and bottom of the case.

Abstract: A ribbon cassette, such as in inked ribbon for a printing machine, has a supply spool and a take-up spool. An unwinding force is applied to the ribbon and the take-up spool is driven from the supply spool through a slip coupling. The configuration of the driving connection between the spools is such as to lead to a theoretical speed of the take-up spool which is always greater than is actually needed to match the speed of unwinding from the supply spool. Slip however occurs to match the speeds and to maintain tension in the ribbon.

Abstract: A thermal printing apparatus is disclosed in which ribbon advancing mechanism including a supply spool and a take-up spool operated by a stepping motor is disclosed. Mechanism is provided for reversing the direction in which the take-up spool is driven by a specified amount during the printing cycle, in order to provide ribbon slack, so as to avoid smudging of the transferred ink on the receiving document and possible ribbon breakage during printing. The circumference of the accumulated ribbon on the take-up spool at any given time is considered in determining the number of steps and the step rate of the stepping motor in the reverse direction which must be taken in order to produce the desired amount of ribbon slack and slack take-up.

Abstract: A movement monitoring device for monitoring the movement of items past or through a work station wherein the items move synchronously with a ribbon through or past the work station. The transport of the items is monitored by a detector which monitors the linear movement of the ribbon. Signals from the detector can be used to activate the work station at intervals corresponding to the passage of the items.

Abstract: A thermal printer (10) has a thermal transfer medium (28) fed past a thermal printhead (21) at a substantially constant velocity by a feed roll (82) engaging the thermal transfer medium just prior to the printhead to maintain a portion of the thermal transfer medium between the printhead and the feed roll relatively stiff. The feed roll is mounted on a cartridge (30) having the thermal transfer medium supplied therefrom. A drag brake (70) is disposed in the feed path of the thermal transfer medium prior to the feed roll to cause a substantially constant premetering tension to be applied to the thermal transfer medium irrespective of the coefficient of friction between the drag brake and the thermal transfer medium. A carrier (14), which supports the printhead and a feed roll driver (90), is driven separately from the feed roll driver so that various ratios between the velocities of the thermal transfer medium and the carrier are obtained to produce various print qualities.

Abstract: The inked ribbon cartridge comprises an endless ribbon, an elongated housing for the ribbon, a first laterally extending finger at on end of the housing, a longitudinally slidable arm at the other end of the housing carrying a second finger disposed generally parallel to the first finger. A drive wheel is located behind the ribbon and is rotatable for withdrawing ribbon from the front section and is operative to create folds in the used ribbon and to stuff the folds of ribbon between the drive wheel and the ribbon. A fixedly mounted stripper ring encircles the drive wheel and carries a stripper foot to strip the ribbon from the wheel. At the exit port are three aligned support members with the middle support member being over center with respect to the other two. A leaf spring member is located in contact with all three support members. The ribbon passes between one of the support members and the spring.

Abstract: An ink ribbon cassette for a printer includes a ribbon storage chamber in which an endless ink ribbon is stored. The ribbon has a portion lying outside the chamber, and is movable out of and into the chamber by a feed roller. A roller is provided in the vicinity of the ribbon outlet of the chamber. A spring is provided adjacent to the chamber for holding the ribbon against the roller to impart tension to the outwardly lying ribbon portion. A lever contacts the spring, and is rotatable to deform the spring so that the spring may hold the ribbon against the roller with an increased force.

Abstract: A tape supply cartridge for supplying tape and ribbon to a lettering apparatus having a mechanism for creating a lettering force and a mechanism for positioning a character to be lettered into lettering position. The cartridge includes an improved device for advancing and assuring alignment of the tape. The cartridge also includes a mechanism for preventing the ribbon supply spool from free wheeling and improved structure for interfacing with the lettering machine to advance the tape.

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 improved, disposable inexpensive feed mechanism is uniquely incorporated in a cassette having a flexible or movable wall driven by contact with a moving printer carriage or the like. Friction facing of the moving wall cooperates with a fixed friction facing on an interiorly placed portion of a cassette wall with a ribbon between the two friction faces. The friction facing of the movable part has angled fiber elements that engage the ribbon in one direction but slip easily over the ribbon in the opposite direction. The moving printer carriage or the like contacts a movable portion of the cassette wall in each pass and indexes the ribbon slightly to provide a fresh supply across a platen. The platen may be integrally molded as a part of the cassette and can be made of plastic. The entire mechanism is disposable, is contained in a single clean package and is very low cost. No rollers, feed roll drives or motors are required.

Abstract: In order to maintain constant tension on a relatively long expanse of ribbon stretched along the carrier path in impact printer apparatus having off-the-carrier ribbon drive and feed, apparatus is provided for driving a first and a second reel in forward and reverse directions, each reel being adapted to support a portion of an inventory of a ribbon web running along said carrier path from one of said reels to the other at a constant speed differential between the portion of the web being taken up on one of the reels and the portion of the web being supplied on the other of said reels irrespective of the drive direction which comprises a first inelastic drive belt for peripherally non-slip driving the web portion on the first reel and a second inelastic drive belt for peripherally non-slip driving the web portion on the second reel.