Compliant ribbon-guiding structure

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 comprising a bond for guiding said 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,
• a casing for said ribbon supply means and adapted to be supported by said stationary means, and
• flexible ribbon-guide-means attached to said casing and comprising a non-articulated closed loop for connecting to said printing apparatus to guide the ribbon from said output of said printing apparatus and then back to a position adjacent said output 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 including means enabling it to be supported by said stationary means, and
• flexible ribbon-guide-means attached to said casing and including means for connecting it 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 said ribbon guide means being continuously flexible along substantially its entire length.

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 flexible ribbon, said ribbon supply means having an output,
• ribbon directing means on the movable printing carriage for directing flexible 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 flexible ribbon from the ribbon supply means to the ribbon directing means,
• said flexible-ribbon guide means including a band for guiding flexible 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 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 comprising a band having one end of which band being supported adjacent said output for receiving ribbon from said supply means and another end of which band being 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.

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 continuously flexible along substantially its entire length and 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 provide 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.