Abstract: A mounting table on which a housing section including a tape supply section having a tape roll around which a tape to be sent to a tape printing device is wound, and a housing case that houses the tape supply section is mounted, the mounting table includes: a mounting surface on which the housing section is mounted; and a rotation support portion that is provided to protrude from the mounting surface, is inserted into a shaft portion of the tape supply section when the housing section is mounted on the mounting surface, and rotatably supports the tape supply section.

Abstract: A ribbon guide used to install a thermal ribbon in a thermal printer, the ribbon guide having a bottle shaped profile and being formed of V-Max® brand synthetic paper. The ribbon guide has three integral portions, a first portion having a cross-shaped slit and a hole, a second portion that may be used for gripping by an operator, and a third portion for receiving printed advertising and/or other useful information. The cross-shaped slit receives the very thin thermal ribbon and allows the ribbon guide to connect and hold the thermal ribbon during installation of the thermal ribbon in the thermal printer. After loading a reel of thermal ribbon onto a supply spindle and connecting the thermal ribbon to the ribbon guide, an operator may grip the second portion of the ribbon guide, and thread the ribbon guide through the internal mechanisms of the thermal printer including passed a print head to a reel on a take-up spindle. Using the ribbon guide reduces thermal ribbon handling by an operator.

Abstract: A rewinding reel for rewinding a carbon ribbon or a label carrier in a label printer is provided, including a shaft, a gear, at least two sliding bases, at least two outer casing members, a resilient element, and a knob. The gear is mounted to the shaft to mate a transmission of the label printer for driving rotation of the shaft. The sliding bases are mounted to the shaft and are rotatable by the shaft. The sliding bases include movable portions that form camming projections and follower projections respectively in camming engagement with follower projections and camming faces formed on the outer casing members to radially move the outer casing members away from and toward the sliding bases for expanding and contracting the outer casing members in order to selectively loosen the carbon ribbon or the label carrier wound around the outer casing members. The knob is fixed to the movable portions and is manually depressible to move the movable portions.

Abstract: A tape printing apparatus uses a tape cassette having two guide holes, the tape printing apparatus has a tape cassette holder including at least first and second guide members; the first guide member having a height that is shorter than a height of the second guide member; such that the second guide member is inserted into a second guide hole on the tape cassette before the first guide member is inserted into a first guide hole of the tape cassette.

Abstract: A printer system includes an ink ribbon end detector for detecting that the ink ribbon cassette has been used to the end; an used ink ribbon cassette holding position memory device for storing therein information indicative of holding position of a used ink ribbon cassette held on a stocker when the ink ribbon cassette end detection means detects that an ink ribbon has been used to the end, and a cassette holding determining device for determining whether or not an ink ribbon cassette whose ink ribbon has not been used is set in the stocker based on holding information. In the printer system having the described arrangement, an optimal available ink ribbon cassette is selected, and in the case of storing plural ink ribbon cassettes in the same color, a continuous printing operation of a large capacity may be performed without using user's hands.

Abstract: A dye donor cartridge and method for use in a printer. The cartridge comprises a dye donor ribbon formed into a roll. The dye donor ribbon has an end portion. A shield is attached to the end portion of the dye donor ribbon and surrounds the dye donor ribbon as the dye donor ribbon forms the roll. In this manner, the shield shields the dye donor ribbon from damage during handling of the ribbon roll. The dye donor ribbon roll including its shield is mountable on a supply spool, so that the dye donor ribbon unrolls from about the supply spool as the supply spool rotates. The shield preferably has a plurality of sprocket holes for engaging the sprockets of a take-up spool, so that the dye donor ribbon is precisely taken-up onto the take-up spool without "jamming" as the take-up spool rotates. An alternative embodiment of the invention comprises an encasement surrounding the shield as the shield surrounds the dye donor ribbon for enhancing protection of the dye donor ribbon roll during handling.

Abstract: A printer system includes an ink ribbon end detector for detecting that the ink ribbon cassette has been used to the end; an used ink ribbon cassette holding position memory device for storing therein information indicative of holding position of a used ink ribbon cassette held on a stocker when the ink ribbon cassette end detection means detects that an ink ribbon has been used to the end, and a cassette holding determining device for determining whether or not an ink ribbon cassette whose ink ribbon has not been used is set in the stocker based on holding information. In the printer system having the described arrangement, an optimal available ink ribbon cassette is selected, and in the case of storing plural ink ribbon cassettes in the same color, a continuous printing operation of a large capacity may be performed without using user's hands.

Abstract: A ticket-printing device has a ribbon sensor and a mode-switching circuit. The mode-switching circuit automatically selects different printing conditions depending on whether or not the ribbon sensor detects the presence of an ink ribbon. The ink ribbon is wound on a supply spool and take-up spool. When the ink ribbon is replaced, a ribbon fixture holds the supply spool and take-up spool in correct relative positions so that they can be easily slipped onto a supply spool shaft and take-up spool shaft in the ticket-printing device.

Abstract: A ribbon cartridge device for electronic equipment includes a ribbon cartridge for being removably mounted in the electronic equipment. The ribbon cartridge comprises a supply reel, a take-up reel, and a path-setting member for bending a path of the ink ribbon along which the ink ribbon is routed between the supply reel and the take-up reel, each arranged within a casing. The path-setting member is capable of changing the path of the ink ribbon.

Abstract: A method for consistently inserting pads into ribbons cassettes and a plunger for performing such method are provided. The specially designed plunger insures each pad is subject to the same amount of compression upon insertion into the reinker housing walls of each ribbon cassette. Since each pad is subject to the same amount of compression, each pad consistently absorbs the same quantity of ink without pooling.

Abstract: A thermal transfer ribbon cassette system for use with a thermal transfer printer comprises supply and take-up spools, a thermal transfer ribbon extending between the spools with one end loaded onto the supply spool and the other onto the take-up spool, a cassette casing (10) with spool-locating means (15, 16) to locate and retain the two ribbon-carrying spools (5) spaced-apart, parallel and rotatable during printing, the spacing between the spools being predetermined to fit the printer, and a disposable loading member (20) comprising a rigid body portion (21) shaped to be manually transportable and having spool-holding means (23) releasably to hold the loaded spools (5) parallel, non-rotatable and spaced apart with the same predetermined spacing as the spool-locating means (15, 16); the spools (5), casing (10) and loading member (20) being adapted to enable the spools (5) to be inserted into the spool-locating means (15, 16) of the casing (10) while being held by the loading member (20), and to enable the lo

Abstract: A cartridge (1) for loading a thermal transfer printing ribbon (10) into a thermal transfer printer is disclosed. The cartridge (1) is adapted to receive and detachably hold a ribbon pay-out roll (5) and a ribbon take-up roll (6) in their operating positions relative to each other. Each cartridge is provided with means (8, 9) for fixing the cartridge (1) to the printer while leaving the fixing means (8, 9) exposed.

Abstract: A printer has a thermal head and a cooperable platen roll, which are moveable relatively apart to provide a gap. The cartridge is supplied with a removable installation device which has a guide which can swing outwardly to align the ink ribbon with the gap. When the cartridge is loaded onto locator pins on the printer, the ink ribbon is guided into the gap.

Abstract: A spool retainer prevents the spools of a tape cartridge from unwinding during shipping or storage and also serves as an installation aid that remains on the cartridge during installation into a printing mechanism to retain and precisely locate the ribbon within the cartridge during installation. The retainer includes a substantially flat back wall; two spaced apart tabs projecting in a direction perpendicular to the back wall; and a protruding wall extending in the direction from a lower end of the back wall substantially parallel with the tabs. The two spaced apart tabs are adapted for mating with splines within spools of a ribbon cartridge and fixedly engage the splines to prevent relative movement between the spools. The protruding wall protects exposed ribbon during both storage and installation.

Abstract: A disposable ribbon cassette is releasably received by a reloadable cartridge which is removable from a printing device. The cassette contains the ribbon and guide paths therefore. The ribbon drive is from the printing device directly or via cartridge gears. For endless loop ribbon machines, the cassette includes a storage chamber into which the ribbon is loop piled, but for typewriter printing devices the cassette storage chamber includes a supply spool and a take-up spool. The cassette includes an exit guide path extending outwardly of the storage chamber with the ribbon coming from a storage chamber exit opening. An entry guide path in spaced apart relation to the exit guide path receives the used ribbon from the printing device and directs it to an entry opening in the storage chamber. These guide paths serve for automatic threading of the ribbon to the printing device. For devices using endless loop ribbon and some spool types, the drive is openable to receive the ribbon.

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.

Abstract: A holder of a ribbon with supply and take-up spools for typewriters and similar machines where the holder is insertable into a receptacle of the machine and has guide elements for the ribbon. The retention elements for the ribbon are designed so that the ribbon slides out of them when the side elements of the receptacle are pivoted back into their operational position. This assures on the one hand, that the ribbon is secured in a position during movement in the course of shipment which easily makes possible the insertion of the holder into the receptacle. On the other hand it is also assured that the ribbon is pushed out of these guidance elements during insertion of the holder into the receptacle and in this way attains its functionally correct position in the typewriter.

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

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

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

Abstract: 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: To facilitate insertion of a rubber blanket into the groove or slot (2) of a blanket cylinder (1) of a printing machine, and to reduce the width of the opening (3) leading to the groove or slot, the thickness of the blanket is reduced in the end portion (11, 12), for example by removing a portion of the rubber blanket material; a reinforcement strip (14, 15, 20) is bonded to a textile substrate (9) on which the blanket layer (10) is applied, preferably at the side opposite of the blanket layer only. The end portions (11, 12) are formed with zones of reduced thickness, for example in the form of cut-outs in the textile substrate and extending into the rubber layer, to permit insertion of an inserting tool, such as metal strips, preferably in the form of tines (FIG.

Abstract: A ribbon cartridge construction and a ribbon cartridge loading adapter for use with a ribbon cartridge having a substantially planar top surface. The adapter has a substantially planar body portion and is cooperative with the top surface of the ribbon cartridge for slidably mounting same on the top surface of the ribbon cartridge for movement between an extended and a retracted position. The adaptor has two substantially planar spaced apart arms extending outwardly from the body portion parallel thereto and has downwardly depending portions at the termini thereof for releasably retaining a run of ribbon for insertion in a ribbon guide when in the extended position.

Abstract: Disclosed is an assembly for threading a ribbon, preferably an erase ribbon through an impact printer such as a typewriter. One end of the ribbon is stored at a ribbon storage means, while the other end of the ribbon has a tab fastened thereto. The longitudinal dimension of the tab is perpendicular to the longitudinal dimension of the ribbon and the tab contains a frangible portion which is used for finger engagement during the threading operation. The ribbon take-up reel contains a slot in one of the flanges thereof such that the ribbon tab may be inserted into the slot after the ribbon has been threaded through the printer. The frangible portion is then separated from the ribbon and discarded.