Recording apparatus and ribbon cassette installed therein

A ribbon cassette detachably installed in an installation section of a recording apparatus, comprising:

• an ink ribbon;
• a case constituted by a top surface, a bottom surface and walls therebetween and accommodating the ink ribbon;
• a take-up member rotatively and slidably mounted in the case;
• a drive roller rotatably mounted in the case adjacent to the take-up member for driving the take-up member, the drive roller having an axial hole therethrough;
• and
• a movable member mounted in the axial hole so as to be movable in the axial direction of the drive roller.

A ribbon take-up mechanism for an ink ribbon housed in a ribbon cassette that is mounted on a carriage of a printing apparatus and engaging with an axially movable drive gear projecting from the carriage, comprising:

• a case for the ribbon cassette;
• a take-up spool for taking-up used ink ribbon housed in the case;
• a drive roller drivingly engaged with the take-up spool, the drive roller rotatably mounted between an opening in a top of the case and an opening in a bottom of the case and having an engaging hole for receiving the drive gear in an end of the drive roller received in the opening in the bottom of the case;
• and
• at least one regulating element for fixing a position of the ribbon cassette on the carriage, wherein the drive roller has a hollow interior with the engaging hole in the end part of the hollow interior, and further comprising an actuating section mounted within the hollow interior and extending from an opposite end of the drive roller to the engaging hole to be accessible at a top of the case, the actuating section being axially movable.

A ribbon take-up mechanism for an ink ribbon housed in a ribbon cassette that is mounted on a carriage of a printing apparatus and engaging with an axially removable drive gear projecting from the carriage, comprising;

• a case for the ribbon cassette;
• said case having an opening in the top thereof and an opening in the bottom thereof,
• a take-up spool for taking-up used ink ribbon housed in the case;
• a drive roller drivingly engaged with a take-up spool, the drive roller rotatably mounted between said opening in a top of the case and said opening in a bottom of the case and having an engaging hole for receiving the drive gear in an end of the drive roller received in the opening in the bottom of the case;
• and
• at least one regulating element for fixing a position of the ribbon cassette on the carriage, the opening in the bottom of the case being an elongated opening and the end of the drive roller being slidably mounted in the elongated opening to slide therein when the ribbon cassette is removed from the carriage.