Ribbon supply apparatus

In a ribbon supply apparatus, a combination comprising:

• a support including first and second side frames;
• a ribbon supply spool having:
• a cylindrical member having a large support portion near one end thereof and a small support portion smaller than said large support portion near the remaining end of said cylindrical member;
• said first and second side frames having first and second slots therein to receive, respectively, said large support portion and said small support portion therein to rotatably support said ribbon supply spool in said support;
• and
• a tubular core member having an open end and a partially closed end to enable said tubular core member to be mounted in only one direction on said cylindrical member prior to said ribbon supply spool being mounted in said support;
• a ribbon take-up spool having:
• a cylindrical member having a large support portion near one end thereof and a small support portion smaller than said large support portion near the remaining end of said cylindrical member;
• said first and second side frames having third and fourth slots therein to receive, respectively, said large support portion and said small support portion of said ribbon take-up spool therein to rotatably support said ribbon take-up spool in said support;
• and
• a tubular core member having an open end and a partially closed end to enable said tubular core member to be mounted in only one direction on said cylindrical member of said ribbon take-up spool prior to said ribbon take-up spool being mounted in said support;
• and
• said ribbon supply spool and said ribbon take-up spool being identical in construction.

A tubular core member for receiving a length of ribbon to be wound thereon, said tubular core member adapted to be mounted on a generally cylindrical support member having a large support portion near one end thereof and a small support portion near the remaining end of said support member, with said small support portion being smaller than said large support portion;

• said tubular core member having an inner surface, an outer surface for receiving said ribbon, an open end, and a partially closed end, with said partially closed end having an opening therein, with said opening in said partially closed end being concentric with said open end, and with said opening being dimensioned to receive said small support portion when said tubular core member is mounted on said cylindrical support member;
• said tubular core member having an annular recess on the inside surface thereof near said open end, with said annular recess cooperating with a detent member on said large support portion of said cylindrical support member to detachably retain said tubular core member on said cylindrical support member when said tubular core member is mounted thereon;
• and
• said inner surface of said tubular core member having teeth thereon near said partially closed end, which said partially closed end enables said tubular core member to be mounted in only one direction on said cylindrical support member, to enable the teeth to mesh with complementary teeth on said cylindrical support member.

A combination of a tubular core member and a length of ribbon wound thereon, said tubular core member adopted to be mounted on a generally cylindrical support member having a large support portion near one end thereof and a small support portion smaller than said large support portion near the remaining end of said cylindrical support member, with said small support portion being smaller than said large support port ion;

• said tubular core member having an inner surface, an outer surface for receiving said ribbon, an open end, and a partially closed end, with said partially closed end having an opening therein, with said opening in said partially closed end being concentric with said open end, and with said opening being dimensioned to receive said small support portion when said tubular core member is mounted on said cylindrical support member;
• said tubular core member having an annular recess on the inside surface thereof near said open end, with said annular recess cooperating with a detent member on said large support portion of said cylindrical support member to detachably retain said tubular core member on said cylindrical support member when said tubular core member is mounted thereon;
• and
• said inner surface of said tubular core member having teeth thereon near said partially closed end, which said partially closed end enables said tubular core member to be mounted in only one direction on said cylindrical support member, to enable the teeth to mesh with complementary teeth on said cylindrical support member.

In a ribbon supply apparatus, a combination comprising:

• a support including first and second side frames;
• a ribbon supply spool having:
• a cylindrical support member having a large support portion near one end thereof and a small support portion smaller than said large support portion near the remaining end of said cylindrical member;
• said first and second side frames having first and second slots therein to receive, respectively, said large support portion and said small support portion therein to rotatably support said ribbon supply spool in said support, and
• a tubular core member;
• said tubular core member having an inner surface, an outer surface for receiving a length of ribbon, an open end, and a partially closed end, with said partially closed end having an opening therein, with said opening in said partially closed end being concentric with said open end, and with said opening being dimensioned to receive said small support portion when said tubular support member is mounted on said cylindrical support member;
• said tubular core member having an annular recess on the inside surface thereof near said open end, with said annular recess cooperating with a detent member on said large support portion of said cylindrical support member to detachably retain said tubular core member on said cylindrical support member when said tubular core member is mounted thereon;
• and
• said inner surface of said tubular core member having teeth thereon near said partially closed end, which said partially closed end enables said tubular core member to be mounted in only one direction on said cylindrical support member, to enable the teeth to mesh with complementary teeth on said cylindrical support member.