Ribbon loading system for printers
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsSteven L. Applegate, James J. Molloy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A ribbon loading system for a printer utilizes a ribbon cartridge that includes a container enclosing two coaxially arranged ribbon reels. By providing flexible blades in the floor of the container, the reels are urged toward a top cover where relative movement is restrained. Upon loading of the cartridge, camming arms enter apertures in the container and are moveable to a clamping position to draw the blades from the ribbon reels and allow free rotational movement. For a presently preferred implementation, the structure including the camming arms is coupled through linkages to clear the ribbon threading path and thereby facilitate ribbon insertion.
Claims18
A cartridge for printer ribbon comprising:
- first and second ribbon reels arranged to have a common rotational axis;
- a container for said reels having a cover portion and a base portion including a generally flat floor that is opposite said cover portion, and a sidewall extending to receive said cover section, said first reel being arranged toward said floor and said second reel being arranged toward said cover;
- resilient means, arranged to project from said floor, for engaging said first reel and for urging said first reel toward said second reel and said cover;
- and
- means defining at least one access aperture in said base portion to permit interaction with said resilient means from outside said container.
A ribbon loading system for a printer comprising:
- a cartridge including first and second reels arranged coaxially within a container, said container including a base section and a cover, said first reel being toward a floor portion of said base section and said second reel being toward said cover;
- resilient means projecting from said base section for engaging said first reel and for urging said first and second reels toward said cover;
- means defining an access aperture in said base section for accessing said resilient means;
- a support for receiving said cartridge;
- an operator manipulable load member mounted to said support and including at least one cam arm arranged for entering said access aperture and being moveable for pressing against said resilient means to release said first reel from the urging thereof.
A ribbon cartridge for a printer comprising:
- a container having a cover portion that includes inner surface irregularities and a base that defines a drive aperture for receiving a drive spindle;
- a first reel and a second reel that are coaxially arranged in relation to said drive aperture with said second ribbon reel being toward said cover;
- a ribbon extending between said first and second ribbon reels;
- means, associated with said base, for providing a bearing surface for rotation of said first reel;
- said second reel having irregularities at one surface arranged for interference with said surface irregularities of said cover when proximate thereto;
- biasing means arranged within said container to urge said first and second reels toward said cover for causing interference engagement between said cover irregularities and said second reel irregularities;
- means for defining at least one access opening in said base to permit interaction for relaxing said biasing means from said first and second reels whereby said reels may be released for rotation.
A ribbon mounting arrangement for a printer comprising:
- a support member;
- a drive spindle projecting from said support member;
- a ribbon cartridge receivable on said support member including,
- a container having a cover that includes inner surface irregularities and a base that defines a drive aperture for receiving said drive spindle,
- a first ribbon reel and a second ribbon reel that are coaxially arranged respective of said drive aperture with said second ribbon reel being toward said cover,
- means, associated with said base, for providing a bearing surface for rotation of said first reel;
- said second reel having irregularities at a surface arranged for interference with said irregularities of said cover when proximate thereto;
- biasing blades arranged within said container to urge said first and second reels toward said cover for causing interference engagement between said cover irregularities and said first reel irregularities;
- means for defining at least one access opening in said container;
- and
- a load member mounted to said support member for movement between a load position and a clamp position, said load member being connected to at least one projecting arm that for the load position of said load member is arranged to enter said access opening and, upon a transfer to the clamp position, deflects said biasing blades whereby said reels are released for movement.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.