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AssigneeIbex Inking Systems, Inc.
InventorJohn W. H. Bishop
Estimating the term…
A printing ribbon spool and method of replenishing ink to printing ribbons are disclosed. The spool has a central ink reservoir, and a pad of cellular material, preferably a spun-bonded fibrous material, which receives ink from the reservoir and has an exposed periphery beneath the lower edge of the ribbon as it pays on and off the spool. Ink is conveyed from the reservoir through the pad of cellular material to the exposed area of the pad, and a lower area of the ribbon contacts the exposed area of the pad to pick up ink therefrom and to transmit ink upwardly of the ribbon by capillary action to the type slug impact area of the ribbon. Preferably, both the supply ribbon spool and a take-up ribbon spool have a similar construction, so ink is supplied to the ribbon both as it is unwound from the supply spool and as it is wound up on the take-up spool. The ink reservoir can be closed for storage and shipping and opened when the spool is prepared for use.
A printing ribbon spool comprising a spool body, said spool body having a hub with an ink reservoir and spaced flange portions extending radially outwardly from said hub, said hub being between said spaced flange portions and having a surface to receive a ribbon wound thereon between said spaced flange portions to define a zone of ribbon wrap, said ribbon advancing from said zone of ribbon wrap when said spool is unwound, one of said flange portions being defined as an upper flange portion when said spool is in an operating position about a vertical axis and another of said flange portions being defined as a lower flange portion with respect to said upper flange portion when said spool is in said operating position, said ribbon having an upper portion corresponding to the upper flange portion and a lower portion corresponding to the lower flange portion, an ink delivery pad at said lower flange portion as the sole ink delivery means for said spool, said ink delivery pad having an exposed portion in the path of the advancing ribbon to contact said lower portion of said ribbon as said ribbon advances therepast, said lower flange portion being disposed below the zone of ribbon wrap on the spool, said lower flange portion including support means for supporting said exposed portion of the ink delivery pad in the path of ribbon advance, said ink delivery pad communicating in ink receiving relation with the ink reservoir to receive ink from said ink reservoir when said spool is in said operating position and convey the ink to said exposed portion of the ink delivery pad, said spool further including an ink impervious member disposed above said ink delivery pad, said ink impervious member being disposed between said ink delivery pad and the link reservoir whereby said ink impervious member isolates said ink delivery pad from ink in the ink reservoir, said ink impervious member having at least one opening there through to permit ink to pass therethrough from the ink reservoir to said ink delivery pad.
An inking device comprising a spool-like body, said body having a hub and a lower flange extending radially outwardly from said hub, said hub being above said flange and having a surface to receive ink delivery means thereon above said flange, an ink reservoir in said hub, means to receive ink from said reservoir and to transfer the ink to the ink delivery means, said lower flange having a separable cap member to close said ink reservoir, a first depending rib on a wall defining said reservoir, said depending rib projecting toward said cap member, a cooperating upstanding rib on said cap member adjacent said depending rib and sealing thereagainst to close said reservoir against ink leakage past said ribs, said depending rib and said upstanding rib each having at least one opening therethrough, the opening through said ribs being positioned to be aligned to form an ink escape passage from said reservoir through said ribs, said upstanding rib being movable relative to said depending rib from a closed position in which the opening in one rib is closed by a facing portion of the other rib to close the reservoir to an open position in which the openings are so aligned.
A printing ribbon device comprising in combination a printing ribbon spool and a printing ribbon having a type slug impact area in an upper portion of said ribbon, said ribbon spool having a spool body, said body having a hub and an upper and a lower flange each extending radially outwardly from said hub, said hub being between said flanges and having a surface to receive said ribbon wound thereon between said flanges, a pad at said lower flange and having a portion thereof exposed in ribbon contacting position near the outer edge of said lower flange, an ink reservoir in said hub, said pad communicating in ink receiving relation with the ink reservoir to receive ink from said reservoir and convey the ink to said exposed ribbon contacting portion of the pad, means directing said ribbon to said spool to contact said exposed portion of said pad with a lower portion of said ribbon by advancing the ribbon through a zone slightly below the zone of ribbon wrap on the spool and with the ribbon's lower portion in contact with the exposed portion of the pad to transfer ink from said pad to said lower portion of said ribbon, said ribbon having capillaries to transfer ink upwardly of said ribbon to said type slug impact area of said ribbon.
A printing ribbon device comprising in combination a let-off printing ribbon spool and a wind-up printing ribbon spool, a printing ribbon extending therebetween, each said spool having a spool body, said body having a hub and an upper and a lower flange each extending radially outwardly from said hub, said hub being between said flanges and having a surface to receive said ribbon wound thereon between said flanges, a pad at said lower flange and having a portion thereof exposed in ribbon contacting position near the outer periphery of said lower flange, walls of said hub defining an ink receiving cavity, said pad communicating in ink receiving relation with the ink receiving cavity to receive ink from said cavity and convey the ink to said exposed ribbon contacting portion of the pad, means directing said ribbon to each said spool to contact said exposed portion of said pad with a lower portion of said ribbon by advancing the ribbon through a zone slightly below the zone of ribbon wrap on the spool and with the ribbon's lower portion in contact with the exposed portion of the pad to transfer ink from said pad to said lower portion of said ribbon, said ribbon having capillaries to transfer ink upwardly of said ribbon to a type slug impact area of said ribbon.
A method of replenishing ink to a printing ribbon which comprises storing ink in a spool for the ribbon in an ink reservoir located generally inwardly of a wall of the spool on which the ribbon is wound, transmitting ink from the reservoir to an ink receiving portion of a pad, transmitting ink through the pad to a portion thereof lying exposed beneath the ribbon and in the path of the ribbon as the ribbon passes the pad, contacting the exposed portion of the pad with a lower portion of the ribbon as the ribbon travels therepast in operation of a business machine by advancing the ribbon through a zone slightly below the zone of ribbon wrap on the spool and with the ribbon's lower portion in contact with the exposed portion of the pad and transferring ink in the ribbon from the exposed portion of the pad to the lower portion of the ribbon as they so contact, and conveying ink upwardly of said ribbon from said lower portion thereof to a type slug impact area thereof by capillary action in the ribbon.
A method of replenishing ink to a printing ribbon of a business machine at a supply printing ribbon spool and at a take-up printing ribbon spool which comprises storing ink in each of the supply and take-up ribbon spools in an ink reservoir located generally inwardly of a wall of the spool on which the ribbon is wound, transmitting ink from each reservoir to an ink receiving portion of a pad at each spool, transmitting ink through the pad to a portion thereof lying exposed beneath the ribbon and in the path of the ribbon as the ribbon passes the pad, at each spool contacting the exposed portion of the the pad with a lower portion of the ribbon as the ribbon travels therepast in operation of the business machine by advancing the ribbon through a zone slightly below the zone of ribbon wrap on the spool and with the ribbon's lower portion in contact with the exposed portion of the pad and transferring ink to the ribbon from the exposed portion of the pad to the lower portion of the ribbon as they so contact as the ribbon is let-off and wound-up, and conveying ink upwardly of said ribbon from said lower portion thereof to a type slug impact area thereof by capillary action in the ribbon.
A printing ribbon spool comprising a spool body, said spool body having a hub with an ink reservoir and spaced flange portions extending radially outwardly from said hub, said hub being between said spaced flange portions and having a surface to receive a ribbon wound thereon between said spaced flange portions to define a zone of ribbon wrap, said ribbon advancing from said zone of ribbon wrap when said spool is unwound, one of said flange portions being defined as an upper flange portion when said spool is in an operating position about a vertical axis and another of said flange portions being defined as a lower flange portion with respect to said upper flange portion when said spool is in said operating position, said ribbon having an upper portion corresponding to the upper flange portion and a lower portion corresponding to the lower flange portion, a pad at said lower flange portion as the sole ink delivery means for said spool, said pad having an exposed portion in the path of the advancing ribbon to contact said lower portion of said ribbon as said ribbon advances therepast, said lower flange portion being disposed below the zone of ribbon wrap on the spool, said lower flange portion including support means for supporting said exposed portion of the pad in the path of ribbon advance, said pad communicating in ink receiving relation with the ink reservoir to receive ink from said ink reservoir when said spool is in said operating position and convey the ink to said exposed portion of the pad and wherein said lower flange portion comprises first and second outwardly projecting flange elements, said second outwardly projecting flange element projecting radially outwardly a greater distance from the axis of said spool than said first outwardly projecting flange element, said first and second outwardly projecting flange elements being spaced apart axially of said spool with said first outwardly projecting flange element disposed between said second outwardly projecting flange element and said upper flange portion, said pad being a washer-like pad having a central opening, said washer-like pad being disposed between said first and second outwardly projecting flange elements, said portion of said pad exposed in ribbon contacting position being an exposed outer peripheral portion of said pad lying radially outwardly of the periphery of said first outwardly projecting flange element, said support means projecting upwardly from said second outwardly projecting flange element toward the path of ribbon advance toward said surface and underlying said exposed portion of said pad to support said exposed portion of said pad in position to wipe the lower portion of the ribbon as said ribbon advances therepast and wherein said ink reservoir is a closed reservoir, and said ink reservoir is disposed inwardly of the washer-like pad's central opening, the walls defining said ink reservoir having at least one ink escape passage therethrough adjacent said pad and communicating between the interior of said ink reservoir and an inner portion of the washer-like pad to feed ink from said ink reservoir to said pad and wherein said hub in at least one area of the hub surface on which the ribbon is to be wound has a plurality of radially outwardly extending ridges, and valleys between said ridges to drain ink squeezed from the ribbon back to said pad.
A printing ribbon spool comprising a spool body, said spool body having a hub with a ink reservoir and spaced flange portions extending radially outwardly from said hub, said hub being between said spaced flange portions and having a surface to receive a ribbon wound thereon between said spaced flange portions to define a zone of ribbon wrap, said ribbon advancing from said zone of ribbon wrap when said spool is unwound, one of said flange portions being defined as an upper flange portion when said spool is in an operating position about a vertical axis and another of said flange portions being defined as a lower flange portion with respect to said upper flange portion when said spool is in said operating position, said ribbon having an upper portion corresponding to the upper flange portion and a lower portion corresponding to the lower flange portion, a pad at said lower flange portion as the sole ink delivery means for said spool, said pad having an exposed portion in the path of the advancing ribbon to contact said lower portion of said ribbon as said ribbon advances therepast, said lower flange portion being disposed below the zone of ribbon wrap on the spool, said lower flange portion including support means for supporting said exposed portion of the pad in the path of ribbon advance, said pad communicating in ink receiving relation with the ink reservoir to receive ink from said ink reservoir when said spool is in said operating position and convey the ink to said exposed portion of the pad and wherein said lower flange portion comprises first and second outwardly projecting flange elements, said second outwardly projecting flange element projecting radially outwardly a greater distance from the axis of said spool than said first outwardly projecting flange element, said first and second outwardly projecting flange elements being spaced apart axially of said spool with said first outwardly projecting flange element disposed between said second outwardly projecting flange element and said upper flange portion, said pad being a wasker-like pad having a central opening, said washer-like pad being disposed between said first and second outwardly projecting flange elements, said portion of said pad exposed in ribbon contacting position being an exposed outer peripheral portion of said pad lying radially outwardly of the periphery of said first outwardly projecting flange element, said support means projecting upwardly from said second outwardly projecting flange element toward the path of ribbon advance toward said surface and underlying said exposed portion of said pad to support said exposed portion of said pad in position to wipe the lower portion of the ribbon as said ribbon advances therepast, and wherein an inner portion of said pad lies in the ink reservoir, said second outwardly projecting flange element having an upwardly extending rib, said first outwardly projecting flange element having a downwardly extending rib facing said upwardly extending rib and mating therewith, said ribs contacting the surfaces of said pad and sealing the surfaces of said pad against ink leakage thereacross to confine ink passage therepast to the internal structure of the pad.
A printing ribbon spool comprising a spool body, said spool body having a hub with an ink reservoir and spaced flange portions extending radially outwardly from said hub, said hub being between said spaced flange portions and having a surface to receive a ribbon wound thereon between said spaced flange portions to define a zone of ribbon wrap, said ribbon advancing from said zone of ribbon wrap when said spool is unwound, one of said flange portions being defined as an upper flange portion when said spool is in an operating position about a vertical axis and another of said flange portions being defined as a lower flange portion with respect to said upper flange portion when said spool is in said operating position, said ribbon having an upper portion corresponding to the upper flange portion and a lower portion corresponding to the lower flange portion, an ink delivery pad at said lower flange portion as the sole ink delivery means for said spool, said ink delivery pad having an exposed portion in the path of the advancing ribbon to contact said lower portion of said ribbon as said ribbon advances therepast, said lower flange portion being disposed below the zone of ribbon wrap on the spool, said lower flange portion including support means for supporting said exposed portion of the ink delivery pad in the path of ribbon advance, said ink delivery pad communicating in ink receiving relation with the ink reservoir to receive ink from said ink reservoir when said spool is in said operating position and convey the ink to said exposed portion of the ink delivery pad and wherein said lower flange portion comprises first and second outwardly projecting flange elements, said second outwardly projecting flange element projecting radially outwardly a greater distance from the axis of said spool than said first outwardly projecting flange element, said first and second outwardly projecting flange elements being spaced apart axially of said spool with said first outwardly projecting flange element disposed between said second outwardly projecting flange element and said upper flange portion, said ink delivery pad being a washer-like pad having a central opening, said washer-like pad being disposed between said first and second outwardly projecting flange elements, said portion of said ink delivery pad exposed in ribbon contacting position being an exposed outer peripheral portion of said ink delivery pad lying radially outwardly of the periphery of said first outwardly projecting flange element, said support means projecting upwardly from said second outwardly projecting flange element toward the path of ribbon advance toward said surface and underlying said exposed portion of said ink delivery pad to support said exposed portion of said ink delivery pad in position to wipe the lower portion of the ribbon as said ribbon advances therepast, said spool further including an upper ink impervious member disposed above said ink delivery pad, the upper ink impervious member being disposed between said ink delivery pad and the ink reservoir whereby said upper ink impervious member isolates said ink delivery pad from ink in the ink reservoir, said upper ink impervious member having at least one opening therethrough to permit ink to pass therethrough from the ink reservoir to said ink delivery pad.
A printing ribbon spool comprising a spool body, said spool body having a hub with an ink reservoir and spaced flange portions extending radially outwardly from said hub, said hub being between said space flange portions and having a surface to receive a ribbon wound thereon between said spaced flange portions to define a zone of ribbon wrap, said ribbon advancing from said zone of ribbon wrap when said spool is unwound, one of said flange portions being defined as an upper flange portion when said spool is in an operating position about a vertical axis and another of said flange portions being defined as a lower flange portion with respect to said upper flange portion when said spool is in said operating position, said ribbon having an upper portion corresponding to the upper flange portion and a lower portion corresponding to the lower flange portion, a pad at said lower flange portion as the sole ink delivery means for said spool, said pad having an exposed portion in the path of the advancing ribbon to contact said lower portion of said ribbon as said ribbon advances therepast, said lower flange portion being disposed below the zone of ribbon wrap on the spool, said lower flange portion including support means for supporting said exposed portion of the pad in the path of ribbon advance, said pad communicating in ink receiving relation with the ink reservoir to receive ink from said ink reservoir when said spool is in said operating position and convey the ink to said exposed portion of the pad and wherein said lower flange portion comprises first and second outwardly projecting flange elements, said second outwardly projecting flange element projecting radially outwardly a greater distance from the axis of said spool than said first outwardly projecting flange element, said first and second outwardly projecting flange elements being spaced apart axially of said spool with said first outwardly projecting flange element disposed between said second outwardly projecting flange element and said upper flange portion, said pad being a washer-like pad having a central opening, said washer-like pad being disposed between said first and second outwardly projecting flange elements, said portion of said pad exposed in ribbon contacting position being an exposed outer peripheral portion of said pad lying radially outwardly of the periphery of said first outwardly projecting flange element, said support means projecting upwardly from said second outwardly projecting flange element toward the path of ribbon advance toward said surface and underlying said exposed portion of said pad to support said exposed portion of said pad in position to wipe the lower portion of the ribbon as said ribbon advances therepast and wherein pad is a spun-bonded fibrous sheet, said spool further including a booster ring overlying said support means and underlying the outer periphery of said spun-bonded fibrous sheet where said support means projects upwardly toward the path of ribbon advance.
A printing ribbon spool comprising a spool body, said spool body having a hub with an ink reservoir and spaced flange portions extending radially outwardly from said hub, said hub being between said spaced flange portions and having a surface to receive a ribbon wound thereon between said spaced flange portions to define a zone of ribbon wrap, said ribbon advancing from said zone of ribbon wrap when said spool is unwound, one of said flange portions being defined as an upper flange portion when said spool is in an operating position about a vertical axis and another of said flange portions being defined as lower flange portion with respect to said upper flange portion when said spool is in said operating position, said ribbon having an upper portion corresponding to the upper flange portion and a lower portion corresponding to the lower flange portion, a pad at said lower flange portion as the sole ink delivery means for said spool, said pad having an exposed portion in the path of the advancing ribbon to contact said lower portion of said ribbon as said ribbon advances therepast, said lower flange portion being disposed below the zone of ribbon wrap on the spool, said lower flange portion including support means for supporting said exposed portion of the pad in the path of ribbon advance, said pad communicating in ink receiving relation with the ink reservoir to receive ink from said ink reservoir when said spool is in said operating position and convey the ink to said exposed portion of the pad and wherein said lower flange portion comprises first and second outwardly projecting flange elements, said second outwardly projecting flange element projecting radially outwardly a greater distance from the axis of said spool than said first outwardly projecting flange element, said first and second outwardly projecting flange elements being spaced apart axially of said spool with said first outwardly projecting flange element disposed between said second outwardly projecting flange element and said upper flange portion, said pad being a washer-like pad having a central opening, said washer-like pad being disposed between said first and second outwardly projecting flange elements, said portion of said pad exposed in ribbon contacting position being an exposed outer peripheral portion of said pad lying radially outwardly of the periphery of said first outwardly projecting flange element, said support means projecting upwardly from said second outwardly projecting flange element toward the path of ribbon advance toward said surface and underlying said exposed portion of said pad to support said exposed portion of said pad in position to wipe the lower portion of the ribbon as said ribbon advances therepast and wherein said pad includes two spun-bonded fibrous sheets, said spool further including a booster ring overlying said support means and underlying the outer periphery of said spun-bonded fibrous sheet where said support means projects upwardly toward the path of ribbon advance.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.