Improved ribbon mask and guide for wire dot printers

A printing device for use in a wire dot printer having a plurality of printing wires, comprising a frame, a carriage means slidably supported on said frame for lateral translation thereacross, printing head means supported on said carriage means having a nose member for holding said plurality of wires, first and second holding means disposed on said carriage means so that said nose member is intermediate said first and second holding means, a ribbon mask constructed from an elastic material and disposed on said nose member, said ribbon mask being removably held between said first and second holding means so as to extend across said nose member, said printing head means including a nose guide coupled to said nose member, and an ink ribbon having upper and lower edges disposed intermediate said nose guide and said ribbon mask, said nose guide having first and second projections disposed proximate said upper and lower edges of said ink ribbon respectively to limit longitudinal movement of said ink ribbon therebetween, said ribbon mask including an opening through which said printing wires can extend, said ribbon mask including at least one slot for setting the tension in said ribbon mask when disposed between said first and second holding means.