Inkribbon feed mechanism

An inkribbon feed mechanism for an open reel type printer, the inkribbon feed mechanism comprising a reversible spacing motor, a timing belt connected to said spacing motor to be driven thereby to move said printer, said printer printing as it moves from left to right across the width of the printer, a take-up reel and a supply reel, control means coupled between said timing belt and said take up and supply reels to cause movement of said inkribbon under control of said take up and supply reels selectively, said control means controlling said supply reel to move said inkribbon when said printer is moving from left to right and said spacing motor is rotating in one direction, said control means disengaging said timing belt from being coupled to said supply reel to halt movement of said inkribbon as said printer moves to its return position from right to left, said control means comprising means to sense when said inkribbon reaches each end of said inkribbon, said control means comprising means responsive to sensing that said inkribbon is at one end to shift said control means to couple said timing belt to said take-up reel to control movement of said inkribbon by driving said take-up reel, said inkribbon being moved by said take-up reel as said printer returns to its original print position, wherein said control means comprises a pivotable arm having a pivot point, one end of said pivotable arm having an oblong slot in which a planetary gear is rotatably connected thereto, said take-up and supply reels each comprising respective gear members driven by said planetary gear to drive each respective reel, said spacing motor rotating in one direction as said planetary gear is coupled to said gear member of said supply reel, a control drive gear connected to said pivotable arm at the pivot point of said pivotable arm and being coupled to said timing belt, said control drive gear coupled to said planetary gear, said spacing motor reversing its direction when the printer reaches its far right position causing said timing belt to reverse its direction and move said planetary gear in said oblong slot decoupling from said gear member of said supply reel.