Cartridge and roller for a consumable ribbon, receiving apparatus, and rotational roller coupling method

A ribbon-carrier roller comprising a tube made of relatively rigid material and means for rotational coupling with a support spindle belonging to an apparatus capable of receiving said roller, wherein said rotational coupling means comprise a soft material which is fixed to the tube and defines at least part of the bore of the roller.

A ribbon-consuming apparatus, comprising two parallel spindles at least one of which is a motor spindle, in order to simultaneously receive two rollers respectively for unwinding and for taking up a ribbon consumed by the apparatus, the motor spindle having means for rotational coupling with the corresponding roller, wherein the coupling means are configured to allow coupling irrespective of the angular position in which the corresponding roller is engaged on the motor spindle.

A method of fitting two rollers, each supporting one of the ends of a ribbon, into a ribbon-consuming apparatus, provided with two spindles at least one of which is provided with a locking projection, said method comprising sliding said two spindles of the apparatus each into a central bore of one of the rollers, and during said sliding, bringing a soft wall portion of the bore of one of the rollers in a position to be penetrated by said projection.

An interchangeable cartridge comprising a casing, two rollers which are rotationally supported in said casing, a ribbon which is wound from each of its ends on a respective one of said rollers, each roller including an axial bore so that it can be slid onto a spindle of a receiving apparatus, at least a first roller of said rollers including means for rotational coupling with the corresponding spindle wherein said first roller includes a ring made of soft material and a more rigid outer tube into which said ring is fitted, and wherein said rotational coupling means comprise said soft material, which defines at least part of the bore of the first roller.

An interchangeable cartridge comprising a casing, two rollers which are rotationally supported in said casing, a ribbon having two ends and which is wound from each of its ends on a respective one of said rollers, each roller including an axial bore so that it can be slid onto a spindle of a receiving apparatus, at least a first roller of said rollers including means for rotational coupling with the corresponding spindle, wherein said cartridge comprises at least one face plate provided with holes, a bearing ring made of plastic fitted in at least one of said holes, wherein said first roller has an end region made of cardboard and rotationally supported in said bearing ring, and wherein said rotational coupling means comprise said cardboard, which defines at least part of the bore of the first roller.

An interchangeable cartridge comprising a casing, two rollers which are rotationally supported in said casing, a ribbon which is wound from each of its ends on a respective one of said rollers, each roller including an axial bore so that it can be slid onto a spindle of a receiving apparatus, at least a first roller of said rollers including means for rotational coupling with the corresponding spindle, wherein said rotational coupling means comprise a flexible synthetic material which defines at least part of the bore of the first roller.

An interchangeable cartridge comprising a casing, two rollers which are rotationally supported in said casing, a ribbon which is wound from each of its ends on a respective one of said rollers, each roller including an axial bore so that it can be slid onto a spindle of a receiving apparatus, at least a first roller of said rollers including means for rotational coupling with the corresponding spindle, disengageable means for selectively preventing each roller from turning in a direction of tension release in the ribbon between said rollers, wherein the disengageable means comprise two toothed wheels each of which is integral with a respective said roller, two pawls each of which interacts with a respective one of said two toothed wheels, said two pawls having an actuation portion which is exposed to external action, the two pawls are disposed opposite one another on either side of the actuation portion which is common to the two pawls and connects them to each other, wherein said two pawls and the actuation portion are made up of a single spring blade which is supported in the casing in two positions which form pivoting axes and are situated on either side of the actuation portion, and wherein said rotational coupling means comprise a soft material defining at least part of the bore of the first roller.

A ribbon-carrier roller for use with an apparatus configured for receiving said roller, said roller comprising a tube made of relatively rigid material and means for rotational coupling with a support spindle belonging to the apparatus configured for receiving said roller, wherein said rotational coupling means comprise a soft material which is fixed to the tube and defines at least part of the bore of the roller, and wherein said soft material is in the form of a ring slid into the relatively rigid tube.

A ribbon-consuming apparatus for use with a ribbon mounted on at least one roller, said apparatus comprising two parallel spindles at least one of which is a motor spindle, in order to simultaneously receive two of the rollers respectively for unwinding and for taking up the ribbon consumed by the apparatus, the motor spindle having means for rotational coupling with the corresponding roller, wherein the coupling means comprise clawing means configured for allowing coupling irrespective of the angular position in which the corresponding roller is engaged on the motor spindle.

A method of fitting two rollers, each supporting one of the ends of a ribbon into a ribbon-consuming apparatus provided with two spindles, at least one of which is provided with a locking projection, said method comprising:

• sliding said two spindles of the apparatus each into a central bore of one of the rollers, and during said sliding, bringing a soft wall portion of the bore of one of the rollers in a position to be penetrated by said projection, the method further comprising, during said sliding, pushing with a leading edge of said one roller a first tooth of a toothed coupling wheel provided on said one spindle, thereby to rotate said wheel and to move another tooth of said toothed wheel into interference with said soft wall portion, said other tooth being used as said projection.