Abstract: A printer is capable of preventing the formation of creases in a portion of an ink ribbon corresponding to a print head and of printing characters and images in good print quality without forming streaks attributable to creases in the ink ribbon. A main frame supports a feed spool and a takeup spool so that an ink ribbon extends between the feed spool and the takeup spool. A print head support frame supporting a print head and an ink ribbon guide is supported pivotally at one end thereof on the main frame. When the print head support frame is locked in place on the main frame, the ink ribbon guide depresses the ink ribbon so that the tension of a portion of the ink ribbon on one side of the main frame is higher than that of a portion of the same on the other side of the main frame while the printer is in an unoperational state and tension is distributed uniformly across a portion of the ink ribbon corresponding to the print head while the printer is in an operational state.

Abstract: A thermal printer has a dye donor supply spool with a body and first and second end portions extending from the body. First and second receptacles are positioned for matingly receiving the first and second end portions of the dye donor supply spool. The supply spool is correctly loaded only when the first and second end portions of the supply spool matingly engage the first and second receptacles, respectively. A mechanical stop prevents incorrect end for end loading of a supply spool that has an off center web wound thereon by engaging the web and preventing the end of the spool from engaging the receptacle.

Abstract: A thermal printer includes a web transport for positioning a dye donor web along a path; a sensor along the path and spaced from the print line for detecting the arrival of a leading edge of a dye frame, and a control for the web transport. The control is adapted to reposition the dye donor web along the path so that the leading edge of the dye frame is in substantial alignment with the print line before printing the dye frame begins. The web transport moves the dye donor web in both forward and reverse directions past the print line, and the sensor detects the leading edge of a frame while the donor web moves in a forward direction. The control stops the web and reverses it to thereby rewind the dye donor web until the edge of the dye frame is in substantial alignment with the print line. The control adjusts the amount of repositioning of the dye donor web that is effected as a function of the detected leading edge's location along dye donor web.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling tension on a sheet material in a reel-to-reel transport system. The sheet material is feed along a defined path from a supply reel to a take-up reel. A motor is operatively connected to the take-up reel for applying a torque to the take-up reel while a sensor is positioned to detect rotation of the supply reel. A microcontroller enables the motor with an initial PWM pwm.sub.o to create torque on the take-up reel and then incrementally increases the PWM. When the sensor indicates that the supply reel has moved, the current PWM is stored in memory as pwm.sub.i. This pwm.sub.i is subsequently used by the apparatus to determine a desired tension on the thermal ribbon.

Abstract: An entry controlled ribbon core engager for a recorder having an interior space accessible through a selectively movable cover when in an open position during which providing or removing of a ribbon cassette with a supply ribbon thereon may be effected. The ribbon core engager has a rotatable drive hub potion and a rotatable and axially movable positioning hub portion that are selectively rotatable about a hub axis to engage and correspondingly force rotation of a ribbon core when said drive hub portion is rotated. A motion converter connected to both said cover and said positioning hub permits movement of said positioning hub portion axially back and forth along said hub axis when said cover is correspondingly moved between said open and closed positions therefor.

Abstract: An ink sheet cartridge mountable on a recording apparatus includes a frame, an ink sheet provided in the frame, a takeup reel for winding the ink sheet, a supply reel for unwinding the ink sheet, and a driving force transmission means for transmitting a driving force to the ink sheet changing a driving speed from the side of the recording apparatus so as to move the ink sheet from the supply reel to the takeup reel with a moving speed corresponding to the kind of the ink sheet, The recording apparatus can mount the ink sheet cartridge.

Abstract: A ribbon cartridge includes two hubs, each hub having two sets of longitudinally extending splines. The two sets are offset from each other circumferentially and longitudinally and form a detent between the sets. A latch mechanism includes a retaining member fixed to a mandrel assembly, the retaining member including first and second pairs of elastic locking members having raised surfaces. The raised surfaces of one of the pairs of locking members engage the detent formed between the first and second sets of hub splines, and the raised surfaces of the other pair of locking members engage a spindle of the mandrel assembly, effectively securing the ribbon cartridge to the mandrel assembly.

Abstract: A ribbon supply apparatus including a support in which a ribbon supply spool and a take-up spool are rotatably mounted. The supply and take-up spools and the support are designed so that these spools can be mounted in the support in only one way, the correct way. The ribbon is supplied on a tubular core member which is mounted on a cylindrical member which is part of the supply spool. The ribbon supply spool has a large gear thereon which is used in a braking and feeding mechanism which is used to incrementally feed the ribbon to a print station associated with the apparatus. The ribbon take-up spool is identical to the ribbon supply spool, but the ribbon take-up spool is mounted in a reversed manner when compared to the ribbon supply spool. A driving gear, coupled to the large gear on the take-up spool is part of the braking and feeding mechanism which also includes a "dancer arm". The dancer arm controls a loop of ribbon which is fed to the print station.

Abstract: A first power transmitting shaft is fitted to a second power transmitting shaft in such a manner as to be freely rotated independently of each other, The first power transmitting shaft is applied to a cartridge provided with a wide ribbon taking-up spool while the second power transmitting shaft 56 is applied to a cartridge provided with a narrow ribbon taking-up spool. First engaging portions engage with the locking grooves formed near the tip end on the inner circumference of the wide ribbon taking-up spool and are disposed on the outer periphery at the tip end of the first power transmitting shaft while second engaging portions engage with the locking grooves formed near the base end on the inner circumference of the narrow ribbon taking-up spool and are disposed on the outer periphery at the tip end of the second power transmitting shaft. Clutch springs are wound around the first power transmitting shaft and the second power transmitting shaft, respectively, for generating adequate slide torque.

Abstract: An entry controlled ribbon core engager for a recorder having an interior space accessible through a selectively movable cover when in an open position during which providing or removing of a ribbon cassette with a supply ribbon thereon may be effected. The ribbon core engager has a rotatable drive hub portion and a rotatable and axially movable positioning hub portion that are selectively rotatable about a hub axis to engage and correspondingly force rotation of a ribbon core when said drive hub portion is rotated. A motion converter connected to both said cover and said positioning hub permits movement of said positioning hub portion axially back and forth along said hub axis when said cover is correspondingly moved between said open and closed positions therefor.

Abstract: There is disclosed a thermal transfer recording apparatus for recording an image by transferring the ink contained in an ink sheet onto a recording medium, wherein the apparatus comprises ink sheet conveying means for conveying said ink sheet, recording medium conveying means for conveying said recording medium, recording means for recording onto said recording medium by acting on said ink sheet, and control means for controlling the driving amount of said ink sheet conveying means when the power is turned on.

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: The thermal printing apparatus includes a base supported registration wall. The registration wall has claps mounted thereto for supporting a thermal ribbon cassette. Also, mounted to the registration wall is a thermal print head which extends over the deck of the thermal print apparatus to define a print station. A platen roller support assembly is mounted in the base for supporting the platen roller parallel to the thermal print head and causing the platen roller to bias an envelope against the thermal print head and causing the envelope and thermal transfer ribbon to simultaneously traverse the thermal print head during a print cycle of the thermal printing apparatus under the influence of a drive motor. An encoder is mounted to the registration wall to interact with the thermal transfer ribbon for position encoding displacement of the thermal ribbon of the thermal ribbon cassette relative to the thermal print head.

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 transfer ribbon cassette including a cassette case rotatably supporting first and second reels of the same shape disposed in the same plane, wherein ribbon exposing openings are formed, in the opposite sides of the cassette, parallel with the common side tangents to the cylindrical surfaces of the two reels, the cassette case and cassette interior being of symmetrical construction with respect to an axis parallel with and intermediate between the reel axes; and wherein a thermal transfer ribbon is wound on one of the first and second reels using as the delivery side at first, the delivery end of the ribbon being secured to the other reel in an S-shaped pattern so that the ribbon can be taken up.

Abstract: A unitary cassette for a typewriter comprises a container and two arms. The container comprises two support elements and which project from the bottom and which are capable of rotatably supporting a supply spool and a take-up spool for a correction ribbon. Two guide elements projecting from the ends of the arms guide a portion of the ribbon below the typing ribbon, and a tensioning device holds the ribbon taut. The cassette can be mounted on a carriage of the machine by means of two projections projecting from the underneath of the bottom and which are capable of being pivotally mounted in two respective grooves and moving against two co-operating surfaces for oscillating movement about an axis parallel to the roller. A pin on one side of the container can be removably engaged into a seat of a connecting lever of the machine, which is connected to a displacement means.

Abstract: A thermal printer includes motor control apparatus for variably controlling the rotational speed of a take-up spool used to wind-up an expended dye-bearing donor web after passage through a print zone. The donor web is moved through the print zone at a substantially constant velocity by a rotatably driven print drum which cooperates with a thermal print head to unwind the donor web from a supply spool. The motor control apparatus operates to rotate the take-up spool at a speed inversely proportional to the instantaneous take-up spool diameter, whereby the expended donor web is accummulated at a rate slightly slower than the rate at which it is payed-out of the print zone during the printing operation. Preferably, the desired rate of rotations of the take-up spool, which gradually decreases with the number of prints made, is determined by the use of a shaft encoder mounted on the support shaft of the supply spool.

Abstract: A cassette comprises a driving roller provided with a device for preventing the reverse rotation, a driving pulley connected with the driving roller, a rubber belt for transmitting a motion of the driving pulley and a take-up spool on which a film ribbon is wound, and optionally a mechanism for maintaining tension occurred in the film ribbon constant. This arrangement ensures a unidirectional rotation of the driving roller and a correct tension of the ribbon at all times, whereby high quality in printing can be attained.

Abstract: A thermal head of a printer is provided to contact a platen through an elongated print paper and an elongated ink ribbon. One end of the ink ribbon is wound and retained on a ribbon core, and the other end is taken up by a take up spool. The print paper and the ink ribbon can be fed back at the same speed by reversely rotating the platen. At the same time, rotation resistance to be applied from the take-up spool to the ink ribbon is removed by a resistance removing device. Further, the ribbon core is reversely rotated by a ribbon core reverse driving device to rewind the ink ribbon, thereby preventing slacking of the ink ribbon.

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 recorder has a feeder for feeding a sheet of recording paper and an ink sheet wound around a circumferential face of a winding member from a supplying roller portion between a recording head and a platen in a state in which the ink sheet overlaps with the sheet of recording paper and a relative feed speed ratio of the sheet of recording paper to the ink sheet is set to be greater than one; and a device for performing a thermal transfer recording operation with respect to the sheet of recording paper through the ink sheet, the winding member being rotated by a rotary driving source rotating at a constant speed, the rotary driving source being adapted to determine a feed speed of the ink sheet. A feeding amount of the ink sheet is smaller than that of the sheet of recording paper.

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: A cartridge for a correction ribbon for typewriters comprises a container for a supply reel and a receiving reel. A tensioning device comprises a toothed ring on the supply rell and a spring which is pivoted in the container and which has one end engaged with the toothed ring to tension the ribbon. The container can be removably fixed to the lower part of a cartridge for a typing ribbon which in turn can be fitted on a support of the machine. The support is movable from a viewing position to a typing position in which the typing ribbon is in front of the point of typing and to a correction position in which the correction ribbon is in front of the point of typing. The receiving reel of the cartridge, in use, is capable of co-operating with a feed mechanism which provides for forward feed movement of the ribbon in each correction cycle.

Abstract: A color ink ribbon positioning system for use with color printing apparatus that uses a color ink ribbon having a plurality of different colored ink regions formed at predetermined intervals on a ribbon base, in which only a single ink region marker block is provided for each set of colored ink regions, includes a detector for detaching the ink region marker block and a calculating unit for determining the leading edge of each color ink region that is to be successively arranged next to the printer head, so that is it only necessary to detect the single marker block in order to advance the ribbon to print the successive colors of a set.

Abstract: A ribbon cartridge for a printer is disclosed which is low in production cost and which is applicable to various kinds of ribbons including one-time ribbons and multiuse ribbons, and in which loadability of the ribbon cartridge in a printer is improved, and in which it is easy to remedy slack in the printing portion of a ribbon. The ribbon cartridge includes a cartridge casing housing therein a ribbon-feeding member and a ribbon-winding member with a printing ribbon entrained therebetween, the cartridge casing having a lid member detachably secured thereto. A projectionless ribbon-feeding roller is rotatably mounted on the cartridge casing and has its outer periphery formed of a high friction material such as rubber. The ribbon-feeding roller is adapted to be housed in the cartridge casing with a part thereof exposed outwardly of the cartridge casing.

Abstract: A symmetrical printer ribbon cartridge which is refillable. An internal, continuous drive belt (15) provides tension to push studs (33, 35) of the supply spool (23) and of a take-up spool (29) to the ends of notches (31, 32) in cartridge wall 1. When the original supply spool is emptied, a new spool need only be moved into place and the free end of the ribbon pulled from the new spool, directed through the ribbon path in the cartridge, and attached to the remaining spool.

Abstract: An apparatus for use with a cassette having accommodated therein an ink material, a feed roller and a take-up roller for the material. A pair of driving heads in the cassette loading portion of the apparatus are automatically connectable to or disconnectable from the opposite ends of the take-up roll by spring levers which are movable in response to the loading or unloading of the cassette. When connected to the take-up roll, the heads center the take-up roll and position the roll in place axially thereof. The feed roll is positioned in place by V-shaped bearings in the loading portion. Thus, the two rolls can be positioned accurately automatically without necessitating any special procedure.

Abstract: A dog clutch is disclosed for interconnecting the drive mechanism of a cartridge holder and the ribbon drive in a cartridge, which clutch permits a coupling in any position of the coupling parts. One coupling component is a hollow pin in the opening of which the spindle with knife-like entrainment componets can be inserted for rotary entrainment under elastic deformation of the wall of the hollow pin.

Abstract: A print ribbon cassette includes a supply roll and a take-up roll so that the print ribbon unwound from the supply roll is presented for use in printing and thereafter wound around the take-up roll. The cassette also includs an endless belt extended around a driving roller and a pair of belt rollers. The driving roller is provided fixed in position and coupled to a driving motor of a printer when the cassette is mounted on the printer. On the other hand, the belt rollers are rotatably mounted on separate support arms which are pivotally mounted on the cassette. When the support arms are located at an operative position as extending substantially in a line and opposite in direction, the belt is brought into driving engagement with both of the supply and take-up rollers.

Abstract: A thermal recording apparatus for recording onto a recording paper comprises a printing head, an ink ribbon member, and a movement member for moving the printing head between a first position in which the printing head is in contact with the recording paper via the ink ribbon member and a second position in which the printing head is not in contact with the recording paper.

Abstract: A printer having a print ribbon feed mechanism is disclosed which allows optimal feeding of a print ribbon, eliminating unnecessary consumption of the ribbon. The mechanism includes first and second clamp means mounted on a stationary section and a print carrier of the machine, respectively, which are both controlled in accordance with movement of a print head from and to a print enabling position. Means are provided which are connected to a carrier indexing mechanism for impositively driving print ribbon supply and takeup spools disposed on the stationary section to wind a print ribbon onto them during a carrier return operation whereas they allow the ribbon to be unwound from the ribbon spools when the carrier advances.

Abstract: A drive system to raise and transport both print and correction ribbons on typewriters or like machines is powered by a single bidirectional stepping motor. In one direction of rotation the motor acts via a special action clutch to first drive mechanisms for raising a print ribbon and then to establish gear connections for driving mechanisms for transporting the print ribbon. In the other direction, the motor acts to establish gear connections for driving mechanisms for raising and transporting a correction ribbon.

Abstract: A single stepping motor 10 driven to effect ribbon feed, ribbon lift, correction tape feed, correction tape lift is disclosed. The stepping motor 10 controls a cam 60/follower 64 pair to effect lift through a connection link 54 to a depending coupling 56 on the ribbon cartridge 22. The link 54 provides accurate positioning of the ribbon cartridge 22 without regard to the cam position and further transmits ribbon feed motion through to the depending coupling to the ribbon driver 30. Correction tape feed is effected through link 54 controlling the oscillation of the cartridges 22, 24 relative to a tape feed cam member 44.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring material wound on a feed spool to a take-up spool such as in a ribbon cassette for a typewriter or word processor. The apparatus includes a base, a centerpost, a feed spool positioned to rotate about the centerpost, a take-up spool, and a generally circular coil spring attached at one end to the centerpost. The outer surface of the spring exerts a frictional drag force on the feed spool which resists rotation of the spool during a transfer procedure. The spring also deforms during the transfer procedure and exerts a force on the spool in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation thereby providing a minimum tension on the material to avoid problems common to conventional cassettes such as jamming.

Abstract: A head-driving and ink ribbon feeding mechanism for an ink-transfer thermal printer comprises a print carriage mounted for parallel and non-rotational movement in a direction parallel to the platen of the printer. A support element carrying a thermal print head at a free end thereof is pivotally mounted on the carriage and is normally resiliently biased to press the thermal print head against the platen in a head-down position. Mechanical actuating means are switched selectively between a first position for advancing a thermo-ink ribbon in a cartridge received on said carriage past the thermal print head in the head-down position and to a second position in which the drive for the ribbon is disengaged and in which the elongated support element is engaged and pivoted to switch the thermal print head to a head-up position.

Abstract: An engage/disengage coupling between a drive and driven part for imparting rotational force without axial force components.

Abstract: A motion translator is used in an impact printer of the type having a printhead and platen that move relative to each other, for driving the print ribbon in a single, fixed direction. A drive cable has each end connected to opposite sides of the frame of the printer and is wrapped 360.degree. around a flange of the outer housing of the translator. The translator is rotatably mounted on the printhead carriage so that as the carriage moves relative to the platen, the housing is rotated by the drive cable. An upper clutch engages a driven, output shaft when the housing is rotated in one direction and does not engage the shaft when the housing is rotated in the opposite direction. A hubbed drive gear is positioned to rotate opposite the rotation of the housing. A lower clutch turns the driven, output shaft in the fixed direction when the housing rotates in the opposite direction by engaging the hub of the drive gear. When the housing is rotated in the one direction, the lower clutch does not engage.

Abstract: A typewriter ribbon cassette contains a feed spool and a take-up spool which are both displaceably arranged in guide slots in the cassette housing. The guide slot for the feed spool leads to a control corner edge opening into an enlarged recess. The feed spool is biased with a spring force towards the control edge of the slot during unwinding of the ribbon roll, so that, when the feed spool has overrun the control edge, the spool is pivoted into a switching position which can be detected by a monitoring device for signalling an end of tape state of the ribbon roll. The hub of the feed spool is provided with a guide pilot for sliding along the guide slot which has a cornered plan profile for holding the hub in a straight line path along the slot until after the control edge is overrun.

Abstract: A drive mechanism for printer carriage and printing ribbon includes a roller for feeding an ink ribbon, a shaft rotatably mounted on the printing carriage, first and second pulleys rotatably mounted on the shaft, first and second one-way clutches for transmitting the rotation of the first and second pulleys in a predetermined direction to the shaft, a cord stretched on the first and second pulleys so as to cause translational movement of the shaft and first and second pulleys in first and second directions. In this drive mechanism, the pulleys are respectively rotated in opposite directions when they are translationally moved in the first or second direction. The rotation of these pulleys in a predetermined direction is transmitted through the first and second one-way clutches to the shaft, and the rotation thereof is transmitted through a coupler to the ink ribbon feed roller.

Abstract: A ribbon cartridge is provided to be used in a high speed impact printer having means for driving only one reel in the ribbon cartridge, the take-up reel. The ribbon cartridge comprises a cartridge housing having an open end, and supply and take-up reels rotatably mounted in said housing. The supply reel supports an inventory of unused ribbon web which runs from the supply reel to the take-up reel. The rib is mounted in the cartridge housing facing the open end in a position closer to the supply reel than to the take-up reel.The printer into which the ribbon cartridge is to be inserted contains driving means for driving only the take-up reel. The printer receiving means into which the cartridge is to be inserted includes a stop element disposed so as to block the rib to stop the engagement of the cartridge and the receiving means when the cartridge is being inserted in a direction towards the undesirable engagement of the drive means with the supply reel rather than with the take-up reel.

Abstract: A ribbon drive for an ink printer ribbon housed in a cartridge and mounted on a reciprocating print head carriage is disclosed. The ribbon drive includes a vertically oriented drive shaft supported on the carriage for rotary motion. A pair of hubs are supported one above the other on the shaft by oppositely operating one-way clutch bearings. Each of the hubs has coiled therearound a constant force, self-coiling band spring. An end of each of the band springs is secured to the printer frame. As the print head carriage translates, the drive shaft is alternately driven by the hubs as the springs wind and unwind therefrom.

Abstract: A bidirectional belt-drive for printers and the like comprising a carriage assembly movable across a paper web and supporting a print head mounting bracket. A belt has upper and lower runs extending through guide passageways in the carriage assembly. Independent jam cleat assemblies are normally biased by single spring means to a neutral position so as to be displaced from both runs of the belt.Swingably mounted knurled supporting surfaces cooperate with the jam cleat assemblies to enhance gripping of the fabric belt. Each jam cleat assembly has a pair of cooperating arms whose free ends are arranged to engage one another and extend between the arms of the single torsion spring means.The carriage assembly print head slidably receives the mounting bracket which is urged in the forward direction by bias means and may be adjustably positioned by adjustable cam means to enable the carriage assembly to maintain a fixed position relative to the platen and requiring only movement of the print head mounting bracket.

Abstract: In a high speed printer, apparatus is provided for rotatably driving a ribbon take-up reel and a ribbon supply reel, each reel being adapted to support a portion of an inventory of ribbon running from the supply reel to the take-up reel at a constant speed differential between reels. This apparatus comprises a first inelastic drive belt for peripherally non-slip driving the ribbon portion on the take-up reel and a second inelastic drive belt unattached to the first drive belt for peripherally non-slip driving the ribbon portion on the supply reel. Means are provided for driving the first belt at a constant selected speed and drive coupling means provided which are non-slip driven by the first belt and are for non-slip driving the second belt at a constant speed which is slower than the first belt. In this manner, the web or ribbon between the supply reel and the take-up reel is maintained under a constant uniform strain level.

Abstract: An ink ribbon cartridge for a printing machine of the type which includes a carriage moving in a direction parallel to the line of typing and a needle printing head, which can move on the carriage perpendicular to its direction of movement to advance and retract the head with respect to that on which printing is effected. The cartridge is supported by the carriage and includes a container having a cover, a base and a series of inner walls which bound an opening to house the needle printing head. The cartridge comprises two arms to guide out a portion of an inked ribbon near the head. The container arranges the ribbon in loose folds and supports a pair of rollers for the single directional feed of the ribbon. A tensioning unit in the cartridge includes a roller borne by a coupling having two ends housed and guided in corresponding slots of the base and of the cover, substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the head in relation of the carriage.

Abstract: In a high speed impact printer having means for receiving a ribbon cartridge and for driving the ribbon in said cartridge, the improved apparatus comprising a ribbon cartridge to be inserted in said receiving means and adapted to be reversed one time only which comprises a cartridge housing with first and second reels rotatably mounted in said housing; each of the reels is adapted to support a portion of inventory of a ribbon web which is being driven from one reel to the other reel by the impact printer means for driving said ribbon. A keyed tenon projects from said housing and has an initial position and a second position; the keyed tenon is switchable from the initial position to the second position but irreversible from said second position.

Abstract: A mechanism for winding a ribbon on a take-up spool effects a constant winding rate as the diameter of the wound ribbon on the spool increases. A wrap spring intermittently drives a gear which rotates the spool in a stepwise fashion, the free end of the wrap spring being reciprocated by the stroke of an actuating arm. The amount of ribbon which is wound on the spool is sensed by a diameter sensor, which sensor controls the point on the free end of the wrap spring which is contacted by the actuating arm.

Abstract: A ribbon feed mechanism for a typewriter has a linkage for incrementally feeding a ribbon, a power roll rotated by a motor and a control member actuated by a printing mechanism for connecting the power roll to the linkage to incrementally feed the ribbon. The control member is also actuated by a carriage shift mechanism when shifting a carriage from an upper case position to a lower case position for connecting the power roll to the linkage to incrementally feed the ribbon.