US 4,304,496 AGranted

Ribbon guiding and re-inking means for data printers and the like

AssigneeSycor, Inc.

InventorMohan P. Vidwans

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Abstract

A printing ribbon guiding and re-inking means is positioned to guide a continuous looped printing ribbon through a 180.degree. twist between the exit and entry points of a ribbon cartridge. The guiding and re-inking means includes a twist-locator or arrestor comprising a pair of opposing elongated flanges, for passing a ribbon therebetween, positioned between the exit and entry points of the ribbon cartridge to positively locate the twist in the ribbon in a particular area along its path of travel. This prevents movement of the twist into other areas and other ribbon-carrying mechanisms, where the twist could cause jamming or undesirable ribbon twisting. A spool support means integrally coupled to the flanges carries a re-inking spool which both applies ink to the ribbon and guides the ribbon between the flanges and the cartridge. The spool orients the transverse position of the ribbon to be substantially the same as the transverse position of the ribbon at the entry to the cartridge. The opposing flanges orient the ribbon so it is rotated 90.degree. in a direction transverse to movement with respect to the orientation of the ribbon at the entry to the cartridge.

Claims4

Dependent claims

A printing ribbon guiding and re-inking apparatus comprising:

a pair of opposing, elongated, generally parallel flange portions defining an elongated opening therebetween for receiving and orienting a printing ribbon entrained therethrough;
said flange portions being mounted for movement as a unit with a print head having a continuous loop-type ribbon;
said ribbon being entrained lengthwise through said flange portions in a manner such that a ribbon twist results, thereby inverting said ribbon from a point upstream of the flange portions to a point downstream thereof;
roller support means integrally attached to said flange portions, for carrying re-inking means, said roller support means being located adjacent the path of the ribbon downstream from said flange portions in the direction of ribbon travel;
re-inking roller means having a generally cylindrical shape mounted on said roller support means, said ribbon contacting a portion of the perimeter of said roller means;
and
said re-inking roller means comprising a first re-inking roller, a second re-inking roller, and an idler member positioned between said first and second rollers for partially wrapping the ribbon around a portion of the periphery of said first and second rollers;
said first and second rollers having at least surface portions made of a material suitable for carrying ink.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.