Tension balancer device for ink ribbon

A tension balancer for an ink ribbon adapted for a printer for thermally transferring an image onto the printing paper while moving the ink ribbon together with the printing paper, said printer including:

• a platen for moving a piece of printing paper wound around the platen;
• and
• a thermal head for pressingly contacting the ink ribbon, interposed between a supply reel and a take-up reel, against the printing paper on an outer circumference of the platen;
• said tension balancer comprising:
• means for balancing transversal tension of said ink ribbon, said tension balancing means being interposed between said platen and said take-up reel, said tension balancing means including:
• a ribbon balancer which is brought into contact with said ink ribbon over its full width;
• and
• a pivot disposed on a transveral center of said ink ribbon for rotatably supporting said ribbon balancer in a direction substantially perpendicular to said ink ribbon.

A tension device for an ink ribbon adapted for a printer for thermally transferring an image onto the printing paper while moving the ink ribbon together with the printing paper, said printer including:

• a platen for moving a piece of printing paper wound around the platen;
• and
• a thermal head for pressingly contacting the ink ribbon, interposed between a supply reel and a take-up reel, against the printing paper on an outer circumference of the platen;
• said tension device comprising:
• means for balancing transversal tension of said ink ribbon, said tension balancing means being interposed between said platen and said take-up reel, said balancing means being brought into contact at its front face with said ink ribbon over its full width;
• and
• a pivot disposed on a transveral center of said ink ribbon for rotatably supporting said ribbon balancer in a direction substantially perpendicular to said ink ribbon;
• wherein at least one projection is provided on said end face of said tension balancing means.