Abstract: A ribbon guide for use with a dot matrix printer having a printhead traversable along a path parallel to a printing platen and which includes means for selectively shifting the ribbon guide to one of several positions. The ribbon guide includes a central body portion which pivotally mounts on pivot pins to the printhead. A pair of faceted ring segments are formed on the central body portion for supporting the ribbon as it passes through the ribbon guide and over an opening in the central body portion adjacent to the printhead. The central body portion is also formed with a pair of support members at opposite ends each having a faceted outer surface for contact with the printing paper. In addition, the support members include a slit for releasably securing an endless loop of ribbon to the ribbon guide to allow field replacement of a ribbon guide.

Abstract: A ribbon protector is used for protecting paper from contamination by an ink ribbon in a printer, where the protector is inserted between paper located between a platen and a printing head. The printing head facing the platen performs spacing movement for printing. Two connected plate-like elements are provided with through openings for passage of the pin of the printing head. Mutually engageable electroconductive elements are provided on the inner walls of the two plate-like elements, at least in the area where they are compressed by the tip of the printing head, and spacers which are made from resilient materials are located between the two plate-like elements.

Abstract: A cartridge for a printing ribbon for a typewriter having a character-carrying disc comprises a casing and two oscillating arms between the ends of which a run of the ribbon extends in a straight line on the outside of the casing between the disc and the platen. The arms oscillate from a rest position in which they make the typing point visible, to three or more working positions in which they make it possible to print using one of three tracks of the ribbon. The two oscillating arms are pivoted by means of pins on seats of fixed supports of the casing. Pivotally mounted at the free end of each arm is a guide element, a stem of the guide element being received in a sleeve of the arm. Each guide element is thus capable of modifying its angular position with respect to the respective arm in response to the selection movement so that the ribbon is always held in tension in a uniform manner, irrespective of the track selected.

Abstract: A print wheel impact printer in a document encoder comprises a flexible shield (38) made from laminar polyester sheet, the shield (38) having a shielding portion (40) at either end of which is provided a folded portion (44), each folded portion (44) being operative by virtue of non-90 degree fold lines and by virtue of the folds (50,52) forming at least three sides of a polyhedron to support the flexible shielding section distant from the print wheel (14). The shielding portion (44) is maintained tilted relative to the line between the hammer (26) and the print wheel (14) thereby to provide an opening (68) wherethrough the ink ribbon may be passed when an ink ribbon cassette (10) is changed. In operation the flexible shielding portion (40) is moved and carried by the paper (30), driven by the hammer (26), against the ink ribbon (12) and print wheel (14) with the paper (30) protruding through an aperture (42) in the shielding portion (40).

Abstract: A shuttle matrix printer cartridge has a housing for storing the ribbon, an exit arm, an entrance arm spaced from the exit arm and a drive mechanism for removing ribbon from the storage chamber through the exit arm into position for printing between a printhead and a substrate and reentry into the cartridge through the entrance arm. The entrance arm is flexible in the plane of the cartridge toward and away from the exit arm to facilitate changes in ribbon drag produced during high dot density printing. The cartridge has three spacer legs along its underside for supporting the cartridge on the printer platform in use. Additionally, a post engages a recess in the exit arm to maintain the latter arm rigid during use, while such post, in conjunction with a drive shaft carried by the printer and received in a cartridge drive wheel, positions the cartridge in the printer against lateral movement.

Abstract: An ink ribbon cassette is removably mounted on a printer and coacts with a reciprocable printing head to effect a printing operation. The cassette has a case containing an ink ribbon, and a pair of arms extending in opposed relation from opposite ends of the case and having slits through which the ink ribbon extends to form an exposed ribbon portion in the region between the arms. A ribbon guide is slideable along a guide shaft mounted on the case and is releasably carried on the printing head to reciprocate together with the printing head during the printing operation for guiding the ink ribbon. The ribbon guide has sets of retaining claws which slidably engage lengthwise with the upper and lower marginal edge portions of the ink ribbon for restricting vertical displacement of the ink ribbon relative to the case while allowing lengthwise sliding movement of the ink ribbon.

Abstract: A printer including a first and a second guide shaft which extend parallel to an elongate platen, to slidably support a carriage on which a print head is mounted. The second guide shaft is spaced by a greater distance away from the platen than the first guide shaft. An active length of a print ribbon is exposed outside a container of a ribbon cassette. A ribbon guide is supported by the second guide shaft pivotally about an axis of the second guide shaft, for supporting the active length of the ribbon so as to pass between the platen and the print head. The ribbon guide is pivoted by drive means, so that the active length of the print ribbon is moved relative to the print head and the platen, in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the platen.

Abstract: A printer, and in particular a matrix printer, is provided with a carriage guide running parallel in front of a print-surface support for a print-head carriage (3). The print-head carriage (3) supports a print head (4) and an ink-ribbon guide (8), disposed on the print-head carriage (3). The print head (4) can be exchanged even by the operating personnel of the matrix printer by using a print head (4) which is exchangeable in a mechanical guide (6) and which is connected with an electric plug connection (7) and is thus removable and again insertable into the print-head carriage (3). At least one tiltable ink-ribbon guide (8) is disposed on the print-head carriage (3) and serves as a locking means (9) for the inserted print head (4) on the print-head carriage (3).

Abstract: A ribbon cassette for writing and/or printing machines, the ribbon cassette including a casing with an upper part, a lower part as well as two ribbon-guide arms extending substantially parallel to one another away from the casing, an ink ribbon, a feed spool, a take-up spool as well as a drive member controllable by the machine for the onward transport of the ink ribbon, in which the ribbon has a ribbon section running freely between the two ribbon-guide arms outside the casing, and in which the ribbon-guide arms are borne on the casing in such a way that the ink ribbon, for the selection of one of several writing tracks, is movable against the force of restoring springs perpendicular to the band longitudinal axis in the ribbon plane of the ribbon section. The ribbon-guide arms are tied over film hinges in one piece to the casing.

Abstract: A thin metal ribbon shield for mounting in a standard data processing printer ribbon guide. The ribbon shield has a short insert tab and a long insert tab, and is particularly designed for ease of installation and removal. The thin metal ribbon shield is durable and permits printhead gap settings from the paper of the minimum distance capable in a printer. The ribbon shield is unlikely to kink during installation or removal because the stress when bending the shield is at the juncture of the long insert tab and the ribbon shield, rather than down the middle of the shield face.

Abstract: An ink ribbon cartridge for a printer comprising a storage reel for an ink ribbon, a take-up reel for the ink ribbon, drive wheels for longitudinally advancing the ink ribbon from the storage reel to the take-up reel for printing on the ribbon, and a pulley or roller which rides on the cam and which is coupled to a further pulley or roller, these parts cooperating for transversely displacing the ribbon during its longitudinal advance to offset the area of the ribbon utilized in printing.

Abstract: A printing device according to the present invention, the contact of a ribbon-guiding-member surface with the ribbon is increased, restraining the movement of the ribbon with the threading path bent by elastic restitution of the flexible ribbon guiding member. A printing device according to another features, accurate printing and correction is effected disregarding the play within the support arm or deformation of the carriage and limit a printhead to a predetermined printing line on a platen by restraining the movement of the nose end of a support arm with positioning members coupled thereto within proximity of the platen.

Abstract: A ribbon cartridge comprises a housing including a main body with upper and lower substantially planar main surfaces and ribbon inlet and outlet apertures at one side of the main body and two ribbon guide arms extending upwardly and outwardly from the ribbon inlet and outlet apertures at the one side with the termini spaced apart to form a gap and such that the upper and lower surfaces of the ribbon guide arms at the termini thereof are higher than the upper and lower main surfaces respectively.

Abstract: An impact printer has a print ribbon that is divided into horizontal colored strips to enable color printing. A printhead is mounted on a moving carriage that moves across the width of a printing medium upon which the printing is to be deposited. The print ribbon also moves relative to the carriage. A ribbon shift mechanism is configured to include a print ribbon guide, the ribbon shift mechanism being slideably mounted in the carriage to move in a vertical direction relative thereto. A wire matrix printhead is connected to the carriage and has a printing end adjacent the print ribbon. A gear shaft is positioned to engage the gear sections of a pair of racks that are connected to the ribbon shift mechanism and which pass through the carriage. When the gear shaft is turned, the racks are engaged which cause the ribbon shift mechanism, and the print ribbon, to move either up or down thereby presenting a desired color to the printing end of the printhead.

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: 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: 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). 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 and a single drive shaft provides for the advancement of the ribbon. The cartridge comprises a feed spool and a take-up spool for the ribbon, a drive roller and a pressure roller which nip the ribbon internally to the casing, a transmission mechanism having a series of pinions and gears for transmitting the drive motion from the drive shaft of the typewriter to the pressure roller and to the take-up spool of the cartridge.

Abstract: In a thermal printer including a thermal head, an ink ribbon interposed between the thermal head and a recording paper, the thermal head generating heat for effecting printing, and a movable ink ribbon guide for guiding the ink ribbon provided on a downstream side of the thermal head with respect to a scanning direction of the thermal head; the improvement comprising a drive source for driving the movable ink ribbon guide, and an elastic member provided in a path of transmission of a driving force to be transmitted from the drive source to the movable ink ribbon guide.

Abstract: There is disclosed a printer having a thermal print head and a cooperable platen roll. The platen roll is driven to advance a web of record medium and an ink ribbon into cooperation with the print head. The printer can use an ink ribbon cartridge. The printer has a compact arrangement for the record medium supply roll, the ink ribbon cartridge, the printing mechanism, the drive mechanism, the keyboard, and the cutting mechanism for cutting tags from the web. The ink ribbon cartridge has shiftable guide rolls cooperating with pins on the printer to assure accurate alignment of the ribbon on the print head.

Abstract: A printer ribbon cartridge having flexible ribbon guides and an integral, resilient ribbon shield in pressure contact with paper to deaden noise from the printing operation. Also disclosed is a method of preparing paper which may have been folded or had corners bent from handling for printing and feeding through a printer in which the ribbon shield is pressed against the paper while the printer head carriage traverses across the paper to flatten the paper and urge the paper toward a nip of opposed paper feed rolls of a paper handling module associated with the printer.

Abstract: In a printer having a platen, a printhead carriage moving along the platen, the mounting of a multicolor band ribbon with ribbon case and of a ribbon guide is improved by pivoting one end of the ribbon casing to the frame, and one end of the guide to the carriage; two cams are mounted axially immobile on a shaft and against the ribbon case such that different portions of these cams depending upon the rotational position of the shaft determines the pivot position of the case to thereby place different color bands in between said print heads and said platen; the frame for the ribbon guide is held by another cam mounted for axial movement with said carriage but rotating with the shaft so that all cams rotate in synchronism.

Abstract: An apparatus for guiding a carbon ribbon from a supply reel to a take-up reel includes an adjusting member which is used for securing a guide rod around which the carbon ribbon passes to a fixed plate. A bolt passes through an off-center hole in the adjusting member and upon tightening of the bolt, one end of the rod is secured to the fixed plate. The other end of the rod is pivotably secured in a base plate. Therefore, by turning the adjustment member, the location of the off-center hole is changed and the inclination of the rod is adjusted. By suitable setting of the adjustment member, the orientation of the rod is adjusted so that a uniform tension is applied across the ribbon tape to thereby prevent wrinkling or misalignment thereof.

Abstract: A ribbon stabilizer or guide member is provided in a ribbon reversing section of a ribbon cassette to prevent adverse twisting of the ribbon and to correct irregular twisting thereof and to maintain the normal reverse action or operation of the ribbon in its travel through the cassette.

Abstract: A printing head apparatus for a dot printer including a frame and at least one printing wire unit which is secured to the frame. The printing wire unit has an electromagnetic actuator and a printing spring with one stationary end and a printing wire attached to the other end thereof. The printing spring carries an armature at an appropriate central portion thereof facing the core of the electromagnetic actuator. The printing spring is flat and tapered toward the distal end, and a bent portion is provided on the flat portion for securing the printing wire, while an indented portion is provided on the base portion of the printing spring. A wire mask enables the ink ribbon to be smoothly fed.

Abstract: In a replaceable ribbon cartridge (12) for printers in which the ribbon (14) can be guided out of the cartridge through an exit opening (16) and at the end of a tension segment extending outside the cartridge can be reintroduced into the cartridge through an entrance opening (18), there is arranged on the cartridge (12) in the zone of the tension segment at least one deflection slide (24, 26) displaceable in a direction approximately perpendicular to the ribbon plane between a position of retraction into the cartridge (12) and an extended position deflecting the ribbon (14). Through the deflection slide or slides (24, 26), the ribbon (14) is generally spread away from the cartridge sufficiently so that upon insertion of the cartridge into the printer, it places itself around the printer head.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ink sheet cassette which can change the path of an ink sheet from one to another depending on the properties of the ink sheet, that is, can vary a timing or angle at which the ink sheet is separated from a recording medium after being recorded such that an image can be recorded depending on the properties of the ink sheet, and an image recording apparatus using such an ink sheet cassette.

Abstract: A ribbon cartridge comprises a case, a sliding guide slidably mounted in the case, and an endless ink ribbon enclosed in the case. A greater part of the ribbon is enclosed in the case at a space between the sliding guide and an inlet side of the case. The sliding guide has a front guide plate at an inlet side thereof, and a rear guide plate at an outlet side. The front guide plate has a vertical inlet slit and the rear guide plate has an inclined outlet slit. The ink ribbon is engaged with both the slits so as to correct any twist thereof.

Abstract: A ribbon cartridge having a pair of movable arms extending outwardly from the body, over which the ribbon passes on its transit from an internal ribbon supply to an internal used ribbon storage. Each of the arms is supported for movement about an oblique axis which moves the active marking portion of the ribbon so that the path traversed by one edge is equal in length to the path traversed by the opposite edge.

Abstract: A color printer includes a carriage slidably movable on a printer frame. A print head is mounted on the carriage. A multiple-color ink ribbon having bands of color is stored in a cartridge which guides the multiple-color ink ribbon to the print head. A color selecting mechanism moves the cartridge and the multiple-color ink ribbon relative to the print head to select a color band for printing. An advancing mechanism winds the multiple-color ink ribbon in the storage member to tension the multiple-color ink ribbon after a color band has been selected and prior to printing.

Abstract: When a ribbon cassette containing a print ribbon and having a looped portion exposed to the outside is mounted on a printer frame, a ribbon guide member movable along a print line of a platen, while in its initial position, is located within a region surrounded by the looped ribbon portion. The ribbon guide member is moved as a carriage mounted with a print head travels. While in engagement with the looped ribbon portion, the ribbon guide member moves to a position beyond one end of a printing range, where it is releasably latched. Thus, the ribbon is automatically stretched to cover the whole printing range.

Abstract: A system for positioning correction ribbons having a layer of opaque dry correction material over a letter or image on a surface such as paper for subsequent covering of the image. The system includes a supply spool rotatably mounted in a supply spool holder and a take-up spool rotatably mounted in a take-up spool holder. A hold-down member is adapted to pass the ribbon between the spool holders under the hold-down member in contact with the image. A window is formed by the hold-down member to allow placement of the ribbon and access to the ribbon by a stylus which is rubbed against the ribbon by the user in order to adhere the opaque material to the image.

Abstract: An apparatus for supplying a newly re-coated continuous ribbon to a moving printhead carrier in a printer. The present invention is particularly adaptable for use in thermal printers having multicolored ribbons. The apparatus comprises a cartridge housing which is mounted on the printer frame, and which contains the ribbons. The newly re-coated ribbons exit the cartridge housing, become coupled to the moving printhead carrier, and then reenter the cartridge housing as used ribbon. The used ribbon passes a re-coating station where it is re-inked through contact with a donor ribbon and heated pressure rollers to become newly re-coated ribbon. A lift arm on the printhead carrier selects the desired colored ribbon which has been newly re-coated for printing.

Abstract: A stationary dot matrix printer for printing both continuously variable and repetitive information on a moving substrate utilizing a continuously driven endless loop of ink absorbing web material and either a solvent laden wick to wipe the print wires or a composite web having a non ink-absorbing impact layer on the print head side of the web. A shuttle element drives the web reciprocally in a lateral direction to distribute the wear.

Abstract: A color printer inludes an ink ribbon supporting frame mounted on a base unit swingingly about an axis parallel to a platen. A ribbon cassette comprises a cassette case for accommodating a color ink ribbon which has a plurality of different color longitudinal stripes so that at least a part of the ink ribbon forms a loop exposed from and extending to the cassette case. The ribbon loop is positioned along the platen and between a printing head and the platen, when the ribbon cassette is set on the ribbon frame. A ribbon guide is slidably mounted on a carrier for supporting the ink ribbon at a position adjacent to the printing head. The ribbon frame and ribbon guide are simultaneously shifted so that a desired one of color stripes of the ink ribbon is positioned on a predetermined printing line.

Abstract: A serial printer having a platen (5) and a carriage (4) having a printer head (6) with a plurality of aligned print needles close to the platen (5) for mosaic printing is disclosed. According to the present invention, an ink ribbon is in a detachable ribbon cartridge (3) under tension, and the printer head (6) has a smooth slope at the top of the head (5) that slopes towards the platen, thus, when the ribbon cartridge is put on the printer, the ink ribbon is temporarily twisted at the top of the slope on the head (6), and by swinging the printer head (5) a few times along the platen (6), the ink ribbon (1) at the top of the slope slides down along the slope into the narrow gap between the head (6) and the platen (6), and thus, the ink ribbon (1) is positioned in front of the print needles.

Abstract: A ribbon fault detection system within an impact printer has a pair of resilient electrical contacts disposed in spaced-apart relation across the width of an ink ribbon within each of a pair of ribbon guides located between the opposite ends of a print station and a pair of spools for receiving the opposite ends of the ink ribbon and driving the ink ribbon. Each of the electrical contacts which is silicone coated to minimize ink migration and which is normally held out of engagement with a mating contact due to engagement by the ribbon is coupled in parallel with the other resilient electrical contacts so that closure of any one of the resilient electrical contacts onto its mating contact will generate an indication of a ribbon fault condition.

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 and an improved mechanism for interfacing and aligning the cartridge with respect to the lettering machine.

Abstract: A printing apparatus having a printing base with a printing head located to perform a printing operation along said printed base operating with a color transfer band and a recording medium and with a scraper device separating the color transfer band and the recording medium. The printing head swivels between a work position and an insertion position at which the color transfer band and the recording carrier are inserted into the apparatus and the scraper device is supported in the vicinity of the printing base so that it will retain a position between the color transfer band and the printing carrier when the print head is swiveled into the insertion position so that during insertion of the color transfer band and the printing carrier, the scraper means is retained therebetween while the print head is supported on the color transfer band and the printing base during swiveling into the work position.

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: A ribbon supply arrangement for a printer is provided with a first ribbon supply portion having supply and take-up reels therein, the ribbon being provided to a second ribbon supply portion which is installed on a carriage of the printer. In one embodiment, the first ribbon supply portion is pivotally coupled to the second ribbon supply portion, and also pivotally coupled to a pivot coupling on the frame of the printer such that the bulk of the weight of the first ribbon supply portion, including the ribbon supply therein is borne by the frame, and not the print carriage. In a further embodiment, the first ribbon supply portion is provided with a large supply reel and a plurality of take-up reels.

Abstract: A multicolor inked ribbon cartridge for an impact serial printer comprising a ribbon housing body and two arms protruding from such body to allow the interposition of a ribbon portion between a printing head and a printing support for the whole length of the platen when the cartridge is rotatably attached to the frame of an impact serial printer by means of two lateral cylindrically-shaped projections provided on the body of a cartridge thus permitting rotation of the body around a common axis of said cylindrical projections, parallel to the platen. The cartridge rotation around such axis and therefore the positioning of a suitable multicolor band between the printing head and printing support is assured by a cam actuated by a motor and interacting with the body of such cartridge. The cartridge is further provided with a string made tight between the ends of its arms upon the multicolor ribbon portion which is interposed between the head and printing support.

Abstract: A pivotal guide for changing the direction of a typing ribbon in typewriters such that when raising or lowering the ribbon at the printing location relative to the printing element, transverse forces are eliminated. The guide comprises a cylindrical body having a longitudinal slot which receives an end wall of the magazine, the bottom of the slot being formed with two projecting sloped surfaces which intersect midway of the body to form a pivot axis for the body on the edge of the end wall. The body has cylindrical end surfaces confined between cover plates of the magazine to limit axial movement of the guide body and the ribbon thereon.

Abstract: A fan-folded type ink ribbon cartridge in which an ink ribbon is regularly folded to have a constant width and is enclosed in an enclosing space of a cartridge casing. This cartridge is provided with a plurality of projections which are arranged to face one another on the mutually facing inner surfaces of the cartridge casing near the outlet of the enclosing space of the cartridge casing. Each gap which is formed by the projections facing each other is set to be more narrow than the folding width of the ink ribbon. These gaps may be set to be constant or they may be set so as to gradually become more narrow towards the outlet of the enclosing space. The ink ribbon is hooked by the projections and the folding width is gradually reduced, so that the ink ribbon can be stably pulled out with minimal load variation. In addition, the ink ribbon is prevented from falling down due to the pressure of the inlet side of the enclosing space or due to the weight of the ribbon itself.

Abstract: A ribbon positioning mechanism comprises a ribbon cartridge, a nosepiece, a stepper motor and flexible ribbon guides connecting the ribbon cartridge to the nosepiece. The nosepiece has two side members connected by a bridge, one of which has a downwardly extending leg. A rack located on the bottom of the leg engages a pinion attached to the stepper motor for lifting the nosepiece into a desired position. A ribbon, having a plurality of parallel color bands, passes from the ribbon cartridge via the flexible ribbon guides and through the nosepiece where it is aligned with a print head. The nosepiece freely slides on vertical guide posts attached to a print head carrier and printer logic controls the stepper motor to align the desired color band with the print head.

Abstract: A wear-resistant ribbon guide surface (11 or 25a, 25b) is added to a thermal printhead (1) to lower the ribbon exit angle after printing or to shift the ribbon exit position away from the printing. The angle past that surface remains large enough for visibility of prior printing. The modification of exit conditions makes the printing darker and significantly improves printhead life.

Abstract: A stationary dot matrix printer for printing both continuously variable and repetitive information on a moving substrate utilizing a readily replaceable ink applicator for applying ink to a blank foil adjacent to the printing station.

Abstract: An improved flexible leader for use in conveying ink ribbon from a ribbon box to the print point of a printer or typewriter is disclosed. The leader is a U-shaped channel with top latches which protects the ribbon from operator contact and provides good ribbon tracking. Vertical raised ridges on the insides of the channel reduce frictional contact between the ribbon and the leader. The leader is easy to install.

Abstract: An auxiliary ribbon separator for use on a dot-line printer is positioned to prevent vertical ribbon displacement in the presence of upward forces such as caused by perforations on continuous feed paper. The auxiliary separator is located so that the ribbon is guided past an end of a front yoke. The front yoke serves as a course ribbon guide and is a component of the electro-magnetic assembly of the print head associated with the printer. The auxiliary separator may be shaped so as to facilitate loading of the ribbon in the printer.

Abstract: A color printer inludes an ink ribbon supporting frame mounted on a base unit swingingly about an axis parallel to a platen. A ribbon cassette comprises a cassette case for accommodating a color ink ribbon which as a plurality of different color longitudinal stripes so that at least a part of the ink ribbon forms a loop exposed from and extending to the cassette case. The ribbon loop is positioned along the platen and between a printing head and the platen, when the ribbon cassette is set on the ribbon frame. A ribbon guide is slidably mounted on a carrier for supporting the ink ribbon at a position adjacent to the printing head. The ribbon frame and ribbon guide are simultaneously shifted so that a desired one of color stripes of the ink ribbon is positioned on a predetermined printing line.