Abstract: A ribbon cassette includes an impeller actuating element mounted at the end of a ribbon guide roller. A feed reel, on which the ribbon is mounted, rotates the guide roller, by means of the ribbon, and is mounted so as to be displaceable relative to the guide roller. The ribbon continues to rotate the guide roller as it is transported from the reel. When the remaining ribbon is at a specific length, the core of the reel halts the impeller, thereby discontinuing signals in a scanning device. Nevertheless the remaining ribbon can still be unreeled from the feed reel. The scanning of the movement of the impeller can be carried out by using a sensing mandrel attached to a spring member.

Abstract: A ribbon cartridge has openings through its lower casing in order to selectively receive an electric conduction type ribbon end sensor or a photoelectric type ribbon end sensor on a printer. Ribbon housed in the ribbon cartridge extends across one of the openings which is separated from the other by a webbing. Where the sensor is of the electric conduction type, the webbing ensures the location of its electrodes to the back of the ribbon which carries a conductive member on its back. The ribbon is provided with, in addition to a transparent tape section at its tail end, a thin piece which is connected by means of an adhesive to the ribbon adjacent to the tail end. An upper casing is formed with a window to facilitate visual checks on a remaining length of the ribbon. An area of the inner surface of the lower casing which corresponds to the window is painted in a color different from that of the ribbon, thereby promoting quicker and more accurate checks on the remaining length.

Abstract: A cartridge which contains two spools. The supply spool has wound about it a printing ribbon and the take-up spool being used for wrapping the used ribbon. The cartridge has a ribbon exit at one location and a ribbon entry at a remote location to define a path for the ribbon to pass therealong. Two drive gears are engaged with each other and a pressure roller. The drive gears are located and their lower portions are configured to engage the respective drive shafts of various printers. When the first drive gear is driven by a printer, the second gear, which includes the drive wheel, rotates in the opposite direction of the drive shaft of the printer. When the second gear is driven, the integral drive wheel rotates in the same direction as the drive shaft of the printer. The pressure roller is provided with internal flexible spokes, or springs, and provides a self-adjusting bias against the drive wheel to drive the ribbon and provides an extremely efficient pinching action.

Abstract: An arrangement for monitoring the operation of the ink ribbon (2) of an ink-ribbon magazine (1) for electromechanical print units or print mechanisms comprises contacts (12,6) on the ink-ribbon magazine (1) on either side of the ink ribbon's path (4) and intended to lie against the ink ribbon (2), and opposite contacts (7,8) on the print unit which, when the ink ribbon magazine (1) is inserted, are in contact with the contacts (21,6) of the later and are connected electrically to a function or malfunction indication (10). When holes or tears occur on the ink ribbon (2), the contacts (12,6) on the ink-ribbon magazine (1) come in contact with one another and thereby set off a signal which can be used to switch off the print unit and/or for a malfunction indication.

Abstract: A cassette for storing a ribbon having a top portion and a bottom portion. The top portion has a front area having a print station area thereat and a rear area, and also has a first resilient arm having one end extending from the front area to the rear area and also having a free end. A ribbon supply reel is rotatably supported on the first arm and the top portion also has a second resilient arm formed therewith having a free end which engages the rim of the supply reel to form a drag thereon. The ribbon from the supply reel passes around the free end of the first arm, around a ribbon usage sensor, to the print station and is withdrawn back into the cassette by a take up reel located underneath the supply reel, with the take-up reel driven by a spindle.

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: An end-of-ribbon sensing system which is equally compatible with various arrangements of light emitters and light detectors as utilized in different models of serial impact printers, the sensing system including a unique compound reflector, having a first reflective portion for use in cooperation with one sensing device and having a second reflective portion for use in cooperation with another sensing device. A clear transparent tape segment located near the end of the ribbon is provided to allow light to pass from a light source on the sensors to the reflective portions and back to a photodetector on the sensors.

Abstract: A printer/plotter system for producing a multiple color hard copy output in response to digital input data. The system includes one or more impact hammers, each capable of printing a single dot with the hammers being arranged to selectively print dots along a defined print line. The system further includes an ink ribbon having multiple zones of different colors carrying encoded identifying indicia. In response to input data defining a dot pattern and the color in which it is to be printed, the ribbon is searched to position the first identified ribbon color zone in front of the impact hammers. After the pattern for that color is printed, the ribbon is again searched and the next identified color zone is moved into print station, i.e. in front of the impact hammers, and the pattern associated therewith is printed. A paper control system is provided to move the paper to be printed upon in a forward direction as information is printed in each color.

Abstract: A ribbon feed failure in a printer can cause serious problems, particularly for a printer that uses heat to cause selective ink transfers. Localized heat buildup may injure the printhead and, if allowed to continue, might injure other printer instrumentalities.According to the invention, it is recognized that for ribbons having a degree of electrical conductivity, a mechanical ribbon failure will almost always result in a detectable change of electrical properties. By monitoring the characteristics of an electrical circuit passing through a section of the ribbon around the print point and, preferably, also the printhead-ribbon interface, abnormal electrical parameter values that indicate ribbon failure may be detected to trigger a cessation of printer operation.

Abstract: A microcomputer controls a ribbon drive assembly in a high speed wire matrix printer to eliminte ribbon slack, to insure proper ribbon positioning and to conduct diagnostics in conjunction with turning on the printer such as start-up time each day and after replacement of the ribbon with a new ribbon, the diagnostics checking to be sure that a ribbon is actually in the proper position, that it is threaded across the print line and also checking for proper operation of the ribbon drive, logic, and electronics. Tests are also made for proper ribbon drive during normal ribbon feeding operations.

Abstract: A device for detecting a travel condition of an inkribbon for printers is disclosed. The device is composed of a rotary member rotatable in response to the travel of the inkribbon and a signal generation means interlocked with the rotary member. The signal generation means generates a detection signal and can not only detect trouble of the detection device but also detect a mode in operation of a carrier on which the detection device is arranged as well as detect the travel of the inkribbon.

Abstract: In a conventional ribbon supply spool structure which comprises a supply of ribbon wound on a hub rotatable about and axially movable with respect to a hub receiving member on which the hub is seated and which is coaxial with respect to the hub, an improved end of ribbon detection device is provided by the combination of deflectable spring means within the spool hub which exert a force when deflected having a first force component acting against but restrained by wound ribbon on the hub and a second component acting along the hub axis. A spring tensioned member exerts a force along the hub axis which opposes the component of force of the deflectable spring along the hub axis. In this manner, the deflectable spring and the spring tensioned member are maintained in static equilibrium at a selected point along said axis so long as the deflectable spring is restrained by a predetermined minimum of ribbon remaining wound on the hub.

Abstract: In an impact printer with a conventional combination of platen and cardholder wherein the cardholder has an inner surface with a curvature matching that of the platen and is mounted adjacent to but spaced from the platen so that a sheet of printing medium may be moved between the cardholder and platen and wherein conventional impact printing is carried out by impact means acting upon the sheet through an opening in the cardholder, an improved cardholder structure is provided wherein the cardholder comprises integral ribbon guide means for guiding the printer ribbon in a path along the outer surface of the cardholder across the opening whereby the impact means may selectively drive the ribbon through the opening to print upon the sheet.In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the cardholder further comprises integral end of ribbon sensing means mounted in a fixed position along said ribbon path.

Abstract: End-of-ribbon sensor circuitry for use with an end-of-ribbon sensor of an electronic typing system comprises an input voltage divider for receiving the output signal of the end-of-ribbon sensor. The two signals from the voltage divider are applied to a differentiating circuit providing different time constants to the two signals. The differentiating circuit compensates for varying conditions of ambient light within the ribbon cartridge and provides a delay which eliminates false signals due to rapid fluctuations of the ribbon. After differentiation, the two signals are compared utilizing delayed switching time to determine the presence of an end-of-ribbon signal. The output, if any, of the comparator is applied to a sampling circuit where the signal is sampled for a predetermined period of time after the print hammer is fired.

Abstract: An end-of-ribbon sensor for use with an electronic typing system comprises a housing which protrudes from a mounting block and plate attached to the ribbon cartridge mounting plate. The housing protrudes through an aperture in the ribbon cartridge and within the interior volume thereof and contains a light source for directing a beam of light at a predetermined angle at the ribbon and a light detector directed at a predetermined angle for receiving the reflected light. Upon sensing a reflective marker attached to the ribbon, the output of the sensor provides an appropriate signal indicating the end-of-ribbon. The housing also comprises a portion of the mounting means for the ribbon cartridge.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for providing an indication of when the web material remaining on the supply spool has been depleted to a predetermined amount, such as the end portion. An end portion of the web material is coupled to the supply spool hub and a predetermined amount of the web material is wound onto the spool in a first direction. The web material is then folded back onto itself and the remaining amount of web material to be placed on the supply spool is wound onto the spool in a second and opposite direction. As the web material is removed from the supply spool, the supply spool hub and/or the shaft for the supply spool will reverse direction of rotation upon reaching the portion of the web material, which has been folded back onto itself. Also, the angle and point of departure of the web material from the supply spool hub will change.