Articulated ribbon-guiding structure

In a printing machine of the kind having a frame, and a printing carriage movable with respect to said frame along a printing path, said printing carriage comprising printing means,

• the improvement comprising:
• ribbon supply means carried by said frame and relatively stationary as compared to said movable printing carriage for storing a supply of ribbon, said ribbon supply means having an output,
• ribbon directing means on the movable printing carriage for directing said ribbon past the printing means, said ribbon directing means having an input on said movable printing carriage, and
• ribbon guiding means having one end supported adjacent said output for receiving ribbon from said supply means and another end connected to and moved by said printing carriage for supplying the ribbon to the input of said ribbon directing means,
• said ribbon guiding means including means that provides a substantially constant feed length between said output of the ribbon supply means and said input of the ribbon directing means irrespective of the position of said movable printing carriage along said printing path,
• said ribbon guiding means comprising articulated means pivotally supported adjacent said ribbon output and pivotally connected to and moved by said printing carriage.

In a printing machine of the kind having a frame, and a printing carriage moveble with respect to said frame along a printing path, said printing carriage comprising printing means,

• the improvement comprising:
• ribbon supply means carried by said frame and relatively stationary as compared to said movable printing carriage for storing a supply of ribbon, said ribbon supply means having an output,
• ribbon directing means on the movable printing carriage for directing said ribbon past the printing means, said ribbon directing means having an input on said movable printing carriage, and
• ribbon guiding means having one end supported adjacent said output for receiving ribbon from said supply means and another end connected to and moved by said printing carriage for supplying the ribbon to the input of said ribbon directing means,
• said ribbon guiding means including means that provides a substantially constant feed length between said output of the ribbon supply means and said input of the ribbon directing means irrespective of the position of said movable printing carriage along said printing path,
• said ribbon guiding means comprising a linkage made up of first and second links, each link having first and second ends,
• the first end of the first link being pivotally mounted adjacent said output of said ribbon supply means,
• the second end of the first link being pivotally attached to the first end of the second link, and
• the second end of said second link being pivotally attached to said movable printing carriage.

In a printing machine of the kind having a frame, and a printing carriage movable with respect to said frame along a printing path, said printing carriage comprising printing means,

• the improvement comprising:
• ribbon supply means carried by said frame and relatively stationary as compared to said movable printing carriage for storing a supply of ribbon, said ribbon supply means having an output,
• ribbon directing means on the movable printing carriage for directing said ribbon past the printing means, said ribbon directing means having an input on said movable printing carriage, and
• ribbon guiding means having one end supported adjacent said output for receiving ribbon from said supply means and another end connected to and moved by said printing carriage for supplying the ribbon to the input of said ribbon directing means,
• said ribbon guiding means including means that provides a substantially constant feed length between said output of the ribbon supply means and said input of the ribbon directing means irrespective of the position of said movable printing carriage along said printing path,
• said ribbon guiding means comprising linkage means that provides a path of substantially constant length over which the ribbon moves from the output of the ribbon supply means to the input of the ribbon directing means, said linkage means having first and second links each of which links has first and second ends,
• the first end of the first link being pivotally mounted adjacent said output of said ribbon supply means,
• the second end of the first link being pivotally attached to the first end of the second link,
• the second end of said second link being pivotally attached to said movable printing carriage.

In a printing machine of the kind having a frame, and a printing carriage movable with respect to said frame along a printing path, said printing carriage comprising printing means,

• the improvement comprising:
• ribbon supply means carried by said frame and relatively stationary as compared to said movable printing carriage for storing a supply of ribbon, said ribbon supply means having an output,
• ribbon directing means on the movable printing carriage for directing said ribbon past the printing means, said ribbon directing means having an input on said movable printing carriage,
• said ribbon directing means having a ribbon output, and
• ribbon guiding means having one end supported adjacent said output for receiving ribbon from said supply means and another end connected to and moved by said printing carriage for supplying the ribbon to the input of said ribbon directing means,
• said ribbon guiding means including means that provides a substantially constant feed length between said output of the ribbon supply means and said input of the ribbon directing means irrespective of the position of said movable printing carriage along said printing path,
• said ribbon guiding means including means for guiding the ribbon that passes the printing means from said ribbon output of said ribbon directing means to a given location with respect to said frame.

In a printing machine of the kind having a frame, and a printing apparatus which employs a ribbon, said printing apparatus movable with respect to said frame along a writing line to produce printing on a record medium supported thereat,

• the improvement comprising:
• ribbon supply and take-up means carried by said frame and relatively stationary as compared to said printing apparatus, for storing a supply of said ribbon and for taking up the ribbon after use, said ribbon supply and take-up means having a ribbon output and a ribbon input respectively, and
• an articulated ribbon-guiding means having one end pivotally supported adjacent said ribbon output and said ribbon input, and another end pivotally connected to and moved by said printing apparatus,
• said articulated ribbon-guiding means including means for guiding and supporting ribbon from said ribbon output to said printing apparatus and then back to said ribbon input along a path which is substantially unvarying in length irrespective of the position of the printing apparatus along said writing line.

A ribbon cartridge for use in a printing machine which machine has (a) stationary means for receiving said cartridge, (b) a printing carriage movable with respect to said stationary means along a printing path, said printing carriage comprising printing means, and in which (c) said printing carriage has means for directing a ribbon past the printing means,

• comprising:
• ribbon supply means for storing a supply of ribbon, said ribbon supply means having a ribbon output,
• a casing for said ribbon supply means including means to enable the casing to be supported by said stationary means, and
• ribbon guiding means connected to said casing and including means for connection to said printing carriage to guide the ribbon from said ribbon supply means to said printing carriage and then back to a position adjacent said ribbon output,
• said ribbon guiding means including means for guiding ribbon from said ribbon output to said ribbon directing means along a path of substantially unvarying length irrespective of the position of the printing carriage along said printing carriage path and then back to said position adjacent said ribbon output.

A ribbon cartridge for use in a printing machine which machine has (a) stationary means for receiving said cartridge, (b) a printing carriage movable with respect to said stationary means along a printing path, said printing carriage comprising printing means, and in which (c) said printing carriage has means for directing a ribbon past the printing means, said ribbon directing means having an output, comprising:

• a ribbon supply means for storing a supply of ribbon, said ribbon supply means having a ribbon output,
• ribbon take-up receiving means for storing used ribbin, said ribbon take-up receiving means having a ribbon input,
• a casing for said ribbon supply means and said ribbon take-up receiving means, said casing including means enabling the casing to be supported by said stationary means, and
• ribbon guiding means connected to said casing and including means enabling the ribbon guiding means to be connected to said printing carriage, to guide the ribbon from said supply means to said printing carriage and then back to said ribbon take-up and receiving means,
• said ribbon guiding means including means for guiding the ribbon from said output of said ribbon supply means to said ribbon directing means along a path of substantially unvarying length irrespective of the position of said printing carriage along the printing path and then guiding the ribbon from said output of said ribbon directing means back to said ribbon input.

In a printing machine of the kind having a frame, and a printing carriage movable with respect to said frame along a printing path, said printing carriage comprising printing means,

• the improvement comprising:
• ribbon supply means carried by said frame and relatively stationary as compared to said movable printing carriage for storing a supply of ribbon, said ribbon supply means having an output,
• ribbon directing means on the movable printing carriage for directing said ribbon past the printing means, said ribbon directing means having an input on said movable printing carriage, and
• ribbon guiding means, which continuously extends between said output of said ribbon supply means and said input of said ribbon directing means and guides the ribbon along a path conforming to the configuration of said ribbon guiding means, having one end supported adjacent said output of said ribbon supply means for receiving ribbon from said supply means and another end connected to and moved by said printing carriage for supplying the ribbon to the input of said ribbon directing means to thereby change the configuration of said ribbon guiding means as the printing carriage moves along said printing path,
• said ribbon guiding means including means that provides a substantially constant feed length between said output of the ribbon supply means and said input of the ribbon directing means irrespective of the position of said movable printing carriage along said printing path.

In a printing machine of the kind having a frame, and a printing carriage movable with respect to said frame along a printing path, said printing carriage comprising printing means,

• the improvement comprising:
• ribbon supply means carried by said frame and relatively stationary as compared to said movable printing carriage for storing a supply of pliant ribbon, said ribbon supply means having an output,
• ribbon directing means on the movable printing carriage for directing said ribbon past the printing means, said ribbon directing means having an input on said movable printing carriage, and
• flexible ribbon-guide-means for guiding the pliant ribbon from the ribbon supply means to the ribbon directing means,
• said flexible ribbon-guide-means including means for guiding the ribbon from said output to said input along a path of unvarying length irrespective of the position of said movable printing carriage along its printing path.

In a printing machine of the kind having a frame, and a printing apparatus which employs a pliant ribbon, said printing apparatus movable with respect to said frame along a writing line to produce printing on a record medium supported thereat,

• the improvement comprising:
• ribbon supply and take-up means carried by said frame and relatively stationary as compared to said printing apparatus, for storing a supply of said ribbon and for taking up the ribbon after use, said ribbon supply and take-up means having a ribbon output and a ribbon input, and
• flexible ribbon-guide-means connected between said ribbon supply and take-up means and said printing apparatus,
• said flexible ribbon-guide-means including means for guiding and ribbon from said ribbon output to the printing apparatus and then back to said ribbon input along a path of unvarying length irrespective of the position of the printing apparatus along said writing line.

A ribbon cartridge for use in a printing machine which machine has stationary means for receiving said cartridge, and has a printing apparatus which is movable with respect to said stationary means along a writing line to produce printing on a record medium supported thereat, comprising:

• ribbon supply means for storing a supply of ribbon, said ribbon supply means having a ribbon output,
• ribbon take-up receiving means for storing used ribbon, said ribbon take-up receiving means having a ribbon input,
• a casing for said ribbon supply means and said ribbon take-up receiving means, said casing supportable by said stationary means, and
• flexible ribbon-guide-means attached to said casing and connectable to said printing apparatus for guiding the ribbon from said output to the printing apparatus and then back to said input along a path of unvarying length irrespective of the position of the printing apparatus along said writing line.