Printer and methods

An ink ribbon cartridge for use in a printer having a platen and a print head cooperable with the platen, the ink ribbon cartridge comprising:

• a cartridge housing, an ink supply roll having a tubular core onto which an ink ribbon has been wound, the core having an inner surface, means within the cartridge housing for mounting a roll of spent ink ribbon, and a brake member acting on the inner surface of the core for applying a braking force to the core.

A printer, comprising:

• a support, a print head mounted to the support, a platen roll cooperable with the print head, means for holding a supply roll of a web of record members, an ink ribbon cartridge including a housing with first and second housing members, the first housing member being adapted to receive an ink ribbon supply roll having an ink ribbon, the second housing section being adapted to receive spent ink ribbon, the first and second housing members being connected but spaced apart to provide an opening to enable the cartridge to be shifted over the support, the print head and the platen roll.

Method of installing an ink ribbon cartridge onto a printer including a print head having a line of printing elements and a platen roll cooperable with the print head and the platen roll being movable relatively apart to enable installation of the cartridge comprising:

• the steps of providing an ink ribbon cartridge including a housing with first and second housing members, the first housing member being adapted to receive an ink ribbon supply roll having an ink ribbon, the first and second housing members being spaced apart to provide an opening, separating the print head and the platen roll, passing a web of record members between the platen roll and the print head, and moving the cartridge in a direction generally perpendicular to the line of printing elements to bring the ink ribbon along a path adjacent the printing elements, and thereafter moving the print head into printing cooperation with the ink ribbon which in turn is in contact with the web for printing cooperation with the platen.

An ink ribbon cartridge for use in a printer having a platen and a print head cooperable with the platen for printing on a web of record members, the printer having a guide with a recess, the cartridge comprising:

• a cartridge housing, means for mounting a supply roll of ink ribbon in the housing means for mounting a roll of spent ink ribbon in the housing, the cartridge being movable from a position outside the printer to an operating position on the printer, the cartridge housing having a flexible wall which deflects resiliently while the cartridge is being loaded onto the printer in contact with the guide and which expands into the recess when the cartridge is essentially in the operating position.

An ink ribbon cartridge for use in a printer having a platen and a print head cooperable with the platen for printing on a web of record members, the printer having a guide with a recess, the cartridge comprising:

• a cartridge housing, means for mounting a supply roll of ink ribbon in the housing means for mounting a roll of spent ink ribbon in the housing, the cartridge being movable from a position outside the printer to an operating position on the printer, wherein the housing is comprised of two end-to-end housing sections, wherein each housing section is tapered to provide a tapered wall, the wall being flexible and resilient to deflect while the cartridge is being loaded onto the printer in contact with the guide and which detents into the recess when the cartridge is essentially in the operating position.

An ink ribbon cartridge for use in a printer having a printer housing, a platen and a print head cooperable with the platen for printing on a web of record members, spaced locating surfaces on the printer housing, the printer including a toggle mechanism having a latching gripper, the ink ribbon cartridge comprising:

• a cartridge housing, means for mounting a supply roll of ink ribbon in the cartridge housing, means for mounting a roll of spent ink ribbon in the cartridge housing, the cartridge housing having spaced cartridge locating surfaces for locating the cartridge housing against the locating surfaces in the printer housing, and a grip member on the cartridge housing to enable cooperation with the latching gripper.

An ink ribbon cartridge for use in a printer having a platen and a print head cooperable with the platen for printing on a web of record members, the ink ribbon cartridge comprising:

• a cartridge housing, means for mounting a supply roll of ink ribbon in the cartridge housing, the supply roll having a core with an inner surface, means for mounting a roll of spent ink ribbon in the cartridge housing, and means within the cartridge housing for applying a braking force to the inner surface of the core.

An ink ribbon cartridge for use in a printer having a platen and a print head cooperable with the platen for printing on a web of record members, the cartridge comprising:

• a cartridge housing having a pair of end walls, and first and second housing members extending laterally between the end walls, an ink ribbon roll received in the first housing member, the second housing member being capable of receiving a spent ink ribbon, the first and second housing members being spaced apart to provide an open space between the end plates, wherein the ink ribbon cartridge is inserted onto the printer by moving the print head relatively into the open space of the ink ribbon cartridge.

A new use for a tubular member, comprising the steps of:

• providing a tubular member having a frictional outer surface, the tubular member being essentially non-rotatable providing a tubular core having an inner surface and an ink ribbon wound thereon, and positioning the tubular member inside the core in frictional contact with the inner surface of the core to provide drag on the core.

In combination:

• a housing assembly comprising a first housing and a second housing, the first housing including means for supporting a supply roll of a web of record members, a print head and a platen for printing on the record members, the first and second housings having cooperating guide surfaces for guiding the web to between the print head and the platen, the second housing being operative in a thermal transfer mode as an ink ribbon cartridge.

In combination:

• a housing assembly comprising a first housing and a second housing, a print head and a platen disposed in the first housing, the print head and the platen being cooperable either in a thermal transfer mode to print on a web of record members using a thermal transfer ink ribbon or in a thermal direct mode directly onto thermally coated paper, means for releasably connecting the first and second housing, and wherein the second housing is adapted to supply a thermal transfer ink ribbon for use in the thermal transfer mode or to be empty for use in the thermal direct mode.

A printer, comprising, a housing, a print head and a cooperable platen, an ink ribbon cartridge containing a supply of ink ribbon, and a toggle mechanism for holding the cartridge to the housing.

A printer comprising:

• a housing assembly including first and second housings, the first housing having means for defining space for receiving a supply roll of a web of record members and means for printing on the web as record members, the second housing being received partly inside the first housing and partly outside the first housing, the second housing having a roll of ink ribbon and a core for receiving spent ink ribbon.

A printer, comprising:

• a housing assembly including first and second housings, means for releasably connecting the first and second housings, the first housing having means for defining space for receiving a supply roll of a web of record members, and means for printing on the web of record members, the second housing having first and second housing members spaced apart to provide an open space, wherein the second housing is inserted onto the printer by moving the printing means relatively into the open space, wherein the first housing member of the second housing is received in the first housing, a roll of ink ribbon mounted in the first housing member, and means in the second housing member for receiving the spent ink ribbon.

A printer, comprising:

• a housing, a mounting assembly mounted in the housing for movement between an operating position and an open position, wherein the mounting assembly includes a first section pivotally mounted on the housing and a second section pivotally connected to the first section, a print head mounted on the second section, an ink ribbon cartridge mounted on the second section, the cartridge having means for defining an open space for receipt of the print head, and a platen mounted in the housing and cooperable with the print head in the operating position.

A printer, comprising:

• a print head assembly including a print head, a plate for mounting the print head, a mounting member secured to the plate, a mounting section, means for biasing the mounting section and the print head assembly relatively away from each other, means for connecting the print head assembly to the mounting section to afford movement of the print head assembly in different planes, a platen roll cooperable with the print head, the platen roll having an axis of rotation, first stops adjacent the platen roll, second stops on the print head assembly cooperable with the first stops to locate the print head in axial alignment with the axis of the platen roll.