Measured leader length supply system
OwnerPaul E. Beckinginventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
There is provided an apparatus for supplying precisely measured lengths of leader ribbon for use in the assembly of printer ribbon cartridges. The apparatus includes a supply of leader ribbon, an accumulator for retaining a length of the ribbon when it is drawn from the ribbon supply and a drive assembly for drawing a measured length into the accumulator. The drive assembly includes a fixed roller and a pivotable roller positioned on opposite sides of the ribbon path for engaging the ribbon therebetween. A stepping motor is provided for rotating the rollers a prescribed number of revolutions and thereby stuffing a measured length of the engaged ribbon into the accumulator. The apparatus also includes a cutter for severing the measured leader length from the supply ribbon.
Claims24
Apparatus for supplying measured lengths of ribbon, comprising:
- a supply of ribbon;
- means for accumulating a length of said ribbon as it is drawn from said ribbon supply, said accumulating means including a ribbon path therethrough;
- means for drawing a measured length of said ribbon into said accumulating means, said drawing means comprising means for gripping an end of said ribbon and means for transporting said gripping means and the ribbon end into said accumulating means along said ribbon path;
- and
- means for severing said measured length from said ribbon.
Apparatus for supplying measured lengths of ribbon, comprising:
- a supply of ribbon;
- means for accumulating a length of said ribbon as it is drawn from said ribbon supply, said accumulating means including a ribbon path therethrough;
- means for drawing a measured length of said ribbon into said accumulating means, said drawing means comprising means for gripping an end of said ribbon and positioning said ribbon in said accumulating means along said ribbon path, and a drive assembly disposed about said ribbon path and engaging said ribbon for stuffing said measured length into said accumulating means;
- and
- means for severing said measured length from said ribbon.
Apparatus for supplying measured lengths of ribbon, comprising:
- a supply of ribbon, said ribbon having a leading end;
- a container for retaining a length of said ribbon;
- means for gripping the leading end of said ribbon and drawing said leading end into and through said container along a ribbon path;
- means for measuring a length of said ribbon and stuffing it into said container;
- means for clamping said ribbon;
- and
- means for severing said measured length from said ribbon.
Apparatus for severing measured lengths of ribbon from a supply of ribbon:
- a support plate;
- a supply of ribbon on said support plate, said ribbon having a leading end;
- an accumulator on said support plate for retaining a length of said ribbon;
- a gripper supported above said support plate for grasping said leading end of ribbon;
- means for transporting said gripper in the horizontal and vertical directions and for drawing said leading end of ribbon into and through said accumulator;
- a roller assembly on said support plate adjacent said accumulator for stuffing a length of said ribbon into said accumulator;
- a stepping motor coupled to said roller assembly for rotating said roller assembly a predetermined number of revolutions so as to stuff a measured length of said ribbon into said accumulator;
- means on said base for clamping said ribbon;
- means forming a part of said clamping means for severing said measured length from said ribbon when said ribbon is clamped.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.