Printer with a device for controlling the velocity of the ribbon

A printer particularly for printing magnetic characters on bank documents such as cheques and the like, comprising:

• drive means adapted to move documents to be printed at a predetermined velocity along a path of movement, said drive means comprising a plurality of motor driven rollers driven by a first motor with a plurality of belts and a plurality of idle rollers resiliently pressed against said plurality of motor driven rollers;
• a cartridge containing a ribbon;
• control means controlling the velocity at which said ribbon is advanced at a rate substantially equal to the velocity of movement of the document, said control means comprising a pair of idle rollers which press said ribbon against a motor driven roller driven by a second motor;
• an electronic unit for controlling said first and second motors and being configured for synchronizing the velocities of the documents and said ribbon;
• and
• a device for the take up of the ribbon, said take up device comprising a first temporary take up device outside said cartridge and a second permanent take up device inside said cartridge, said temporary take up device comprising an arm rotatable about an axis and having an appendage which cooperates with a first stationary sensor, said first sensor sending a signal to said electronic unit which controls a third motor driving said permanent take up device for collecting the ribbon.