AU638724B2 - Refillable ink ribbon cartridge - Google Patents

Description

Our Ref: 330296 638724 AUSTRALIA FORM Patents Act COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: S Priority: S* Related Art: Applicant(s): FRANZ BUTTNER AG Gewerbestrasse 9, CH-8132 Egg, Switzerland Address for Service: ARTHUR S. CAVE CO.

Patent Trade Mark Attorneys Level 10, 10 Barrack Street SYDNEY NSW 2000 Complete specification for the invention entitled "Refillable ink ribbon cartridge".

The following statement is a full desc.iption of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- 1 1048W/gs OM/rU la REFILLABLE INK RIBBON CARTRIDGE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates in general to a refillable ink ribbon cartridge, and in particular to a ribbon cartridge including a replaceable ink ribbon supply unit which fits an adapter having a ribbon driving mechanism for easy replacement after depletion of the ribbon.

Refillable ink ribbon cartridges are known in the art as shown in German Patent DE-OS No. 3 524 730. This re- So'* fillable ink ribbon cartridge includes a housing which contains a feed reel with a feed core. The feed core is fixed with respect to rotation on a brake disk rotatably mounted in a casing. A ribbon tensioning device interacts with the brake disk. The ink ribbon is pulled from the feed reel via the ribbon tensioning device and ribbon guiding elements on the free ends of two protruding legs of the housing to a *take-up core. The take-up core is rotatably mounted on a spring loaded swivel arm. The swivel arm presses the takeup core against a sprocket wheel which is fixedly mounted to the housing and includes a driving pin to engage the driving element of a typewriter or printer.

-2- A new ribbon is inserted by first removing the cartridge from the typewriter. The swivel arm with the takeup reel is swung away from the sprocket by means of a lever.

At this point, the take-up reel containing the used ribbon and the feed core are removed from the cartridge. The new feed reel is placed on the brake disk and a new take-up core is placed on the swivel arm. The free end of the ribbon is then pulled through the ribbon guiding elements to the takeup core. A pin with a preset breaking point is fastened at the beginning of the ribbon. The lower section of the pin is oooo finally placed into a slot of the take-up core and the re-

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mainder of the pin is broken off. After the cover has been closed, the reloaded cartridge is inserted into the typewriter.

This reloading procedure is both complicated and time consuming, because the entire cartridge must be re- 6*SS moved from the typewriter for reloading. Furthermore, when the lever is locked, the take-up core swings against the 0.

Soo sprocket wheel whereby the ribbon becomes loose. This causes the first windings on the take-up reel to be wound poorly which can cause difficulties with further winding.

Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a reloadable ink cartridge which overcomes the shortcomings of prior art device as described above and allows the easy reloading and refilling of the ribbon into a refillable ink ribbon cartridge.

0749k/lfg In accordance with one aspect of the invention there is provided a refillable ink ribbon cartridge which includes an adapter and a refill unit, said adapter comprising a housing formed with two housing legs protruding from a body portion, each of said housing legs adjacent its free end including a separate centering body, a drive wheel mounted on a free end of a drive lever which is spring loaded into an engaged position and manually pivotable into a loading position, said drive wheel being connected to a drive pin for engagement with a typewriter; said refill unit comprising a support containing a ribbon supply, said support having a support body and two support legs integrally formed with and extending from the support body, each support leg having a separate ribbon guide element at its free end and a separate centering "element adjacent said guide element, said centering elements being centered on the respective centering bodies of the housing legs, said drive wheel engaging the ribbon of said ribbon supply for advancing the ribbon over the ribbon guide elements.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a refill unit for use in a refillable ink ribbon cartridge, said refill unit comprising a support containing a ribbon supply, said support having a support body and two support legs integrally formed with and 0749k/lfg 4 extending from the support body, each support leg having a separate ribbon guide element at its free end and a separate centering element adjacent aid guide element for centering the support on corresponding centering bodies on housing legs of an adapter housing.

For a further understanding of the invention, reference is had to the following description of preferred embodiments taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a refillable ink ribbon cartridge in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the housing adapter of the cartridge of Fig. 1;

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55 S S S S T Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the housing adapter of the cartridge of Fig. 2, Fig. 4 is a top-rear perspective view of the ink ribbon supply cassette in its shipping condition; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the ink ribbon supply cassette prior to insertion into the housing adapter; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of an ink ribbon for use in the ink ribbon cassette of Figs. 4 and Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the cassette support of the cassette of Figs. 4 and S Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the ink ribbon supply .spool along line VIII-VIII of Fig. 1; Fig. 9 is a plan view of a refillable ink ribbon cartridge with feed and wind-up reels secured in a locked position constructed in accordance with an altern- S-•ative embodiment of the invention; Fig. 10 is a plan view of the refillable ink ribbon cartridge of Fig. 9 with the reels in an unlocked position; Fig. 11 is a top plan view of the cartridge of Fig. 1 inserted in a typewriter; Fig. 12 is a partial perspective view of a refillable ink ribbon cassette as it is inserted into an adapter in accordance with another embodiment of the invention; 6 Fig. 13 is a sectional view of a refillable ink ribbon cartridge in accordance with the embodiment of Fig. 12 being inserted into a typewriter; and Fig. 14 is a sectional view of the cartridge of Fig. 13 after insertion.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Fig. 1 is a plan view of a refillable ink ribbon cartridge 1 for insertion into a typewriter constructed in accordance with the invention. Refillable ink ribbon cartridge 1 includes afhsou4jng adapter 13 and a replaceable ink ribbon supply cassette unit 20. Adapter 13 is designed so Sthat it can remain permanently inserted in a typewriter or printer while cassette 20 is disposable and replaced after depletion of the ink ribbon. The mechanical parts needed to drive and tension a ribbon are housed in adapter 13. At the same time, cassette unit 20 contains a minimum number of individual parts. The two part system provides both an econom- *ical and ecological solution, and may be manufactured economically. Cassette 20 can be fabricated from environmentally 0" compatible, dispensable non-metallic materials which are not expensive to fabricate.

Referring specifically to Figs. 2 and 3, adapter 1i includes an injection molded plastic housing 13Ahaving an open top. Housing 13Ahas a flat base plate 13c and a side wall 13b. The rearmost region of housing 13Ais covered with 7 a narrow cover 14. Housing 13Ahas two protruding legs 13a with centering pins 7 which extends from base plate 13c. A centering pin 8 is disposed at the region where right protruding leg 13a joins the main portion of base plate 13c.

Several spacer webs 10 and two hollow pegs 3 and 4 are integrally formed on base plate 13c.

A brake disk 11 is integrally attached to a coaxial casing lla and cannot be rotated with respect thereto and is securely attached to peg 3. Casing lla is provided with a plurality of ribs llb on its outer circumference.

Brake disk 11 has teeth 50 about its outer circumference.

A ribbon tensioning element 12 in the form of a double-armed lever, is pivotably mounted on a pin 12a which is fixed in the bottom left hand corner of housing A 6 first arm 12b of tensioning element 12 includes a detent catch 19a at its free end. A projecting shoulder 18 is securely attached to the lower end of first arm 12b. A spring at pin 12a biases detent catches 19a to engage teeth of brake disk 11. A second arm 19c of tensioning element 12 supports a ribbon tensioning roll 54 at its free end in the region of the free end of left leg 13a.

A drive pin 55 at the right rear corner of housing 13 includes a cross-shaped penetration hole for engaging the drive shaft of a typewriter or printer is rotatably mounted in housing 3 A drive lever arm 2 is attached to pin I 4I -8- Arm 2 supports a sprocketed drive wheel 53 which is coupled to drive pin 55 by toothed intermediate wheels 56. The free end of arm 2 has a finger 17 which interacts with shoulder 18.

Arm 2 is pre-tensioned by a spring 16 to urge drive wheel 53 against a take-up reel 43a which is mounted on peg 4. Arm 2 has a control curve 52 to provide a path of movement for a double-bent activation lever 6. Lever 6 is snapped into a bearing 5 which is integrally attached to sidewall 13b within a cylindrical center section. When lever 6 is swung out in the direction of arrow A, a lever arm 51 of lever 6 rotates along control curve 52. This action forces arm 2 to swing against the force of spring 16 into a load position shown in Fig. 2. In this position lever arm 61 catches a detent notch 52a of control curve 52. In the load see* position, finger 17 swings tensioning element 12 clockwise *as* over projection 18, so that tension roll 54 is swung away from its operating position in the direction of arrow B.

At the same time, detent catches 19a disengage from teeth of brake disk 11.

As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, refill cassette includes an injection-molded plastic thin-wall support 21 formed with two protruding support legs 21a and a surrounding side wall 21b. Side wall 21b is interrupted at the free ends of legs 21a as well as on the right rear edge of support 21 to form a drive opening 31. Hollow pegs 27 serving -9as ribbon guiding elements are integrally attached at the free ends of legs 21a. Pegs 27 support a retainer collar 27b on the top as a guide for threading ribbon 42 through cassette 20. Two hollow pegs 23 and 24 are symmetrically disposed in the center of cassette 20 to act as further ribbon guiding elements 28. Hollow pegs 23 and 24 each have two detent projections 25, used as locking elements, at their free ends.

Ribbon supply 40 has ribbon 42 wound on a feed core 41 mounted on peg 23 and take-up core 43 mounted on peg 24.

Projections 25 on pegs 23 and 24 secure cores 41 and 43 to *0.

the pegs. Ribbon 42 is guided through cassette 20 from feed reel 41 past ribbon guiding elements 27 and 28 and is fastened on take-up core 43. Tension roller 54, shown in Figs. 1 and 2 mounted on adapter i, extends through an opening 30 formed in the base of left su'.port leg 21a.

Drive arm 2 extends into cassette 20 through an opening 31 at the right rear edge of support 21 to allow drive wheel 53 entry to ribbon 42. In each leg 21a, a longitudinal hole is cut out as a detent recess 29 to engage catches 9 of adapter 1 to hold it securely. Gripping tabs 33 are integrally attached to sidewall 21b to adjoin the free ends of legs 21a. This configuration enables cassette to be conveniently removed from adapter i.

10 Support 21 provided with feed reel 40 and takeup cos: 43 is placed in an enclosure 34 made in the form of a cardboard box as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Guide elements 32 located on sidewalls 21b of support 21 are used for centering support 21 in enclosure 34. Enclosure 34 is separated into a first rear part 35a and a second front part 35b by an all-around tear-out ribbon 36. First part 35a encloses the area of support 21 with feed reel 40 and take-up core 43. Enclosure 34 further includes two circular cut-out recesses 39 on the top surface for take-up core 43 and feed 0 core 41 to extend therethrough. Both cores with detent catches 44 protrude behind recesses 39 as shown in Fig. 8.

The underside of first part 35a has round openings 39a aligned with recesses 39 for penetration of casing lla and peg 4. On right bottom edge, a corner 37 of enclo- 0*0 sure 34 can be separated by means of tearing a perforation 37a to expose opening 31. A longitudinal hole 46 serves as ribbon supply indicator extending radially to feed core 41 along the upper side of first part 35a. Second part 35b encloses the region of cassette 20 containing legs 21a.

Second part 35b is removed before use of ink ribbon cartridge A plate 38 preferably made of cardboard used for safety purposes during transportation is inserted below the top surface of first part S6 1 11 During shipping, the free end of plate 38 is inserted between take-up reel 41 and the top side of x st part 35a so that feed core I1 is restricted without backlash between the underside of first part 35a and plate 38. Further, plate 38 covers longitudinal slot 46 and is removed together with part 35b before actual use. In this way, the necessary backlash is established for the free rotation of feed reel For further protection during transport, a catch 26 is integrally attached to hollow peg 23. Catch 26 engages dog claws 41a of feed core 51, as shown in Fig. 8, preventing feed reel 40 from turning counter-clockwise.

~When the supply of ribbon 42 is depleted during i printing with cartridge 1 in place and adapter 13 inserted, activation lever 6 is rotated to the refill position as shown in Fig. 2. The spent cassette 20 is removed from housing 13. Tear-off strip 36 is removed from a new cassette *050 and second part 35b with plate 38 are removed. Corner 37 is separated along perforations 37a. The rear end of first part 35a is placed under cover 14 of housing 13. Hollow pegs 27 and 28 are placed on centering pins 7 and 8. Pressure is applied on gripping tabs 33 to engage detent recesses 9, and projection 9 to secure the two members together.

When cassette 20 is loaded and activation lever 6 is in the loaded position, ribbon tension element 12 is 12 biased counterclockwise so that ribbon tension roller 54 is in the position shown in Fig. 1. Here, ribbon tension 54 is to the right of ribbon 42 which is tensioned in left support leg 21a between ribbon guiding elements 27 and 28 shown by dashes in Fig. 1. Upon insertion, casing lla with its dogs llb grip feed core 41 with its dog claws 41a simultaneously moving catch 26 out of engagement with claws 41a. At this point, take-up core 43 is centered about take-up 4. The underside of first part 35a of enclosure 35 lies between spacer webs 10 to lock the enclosure in a c ntered position.

Finally, activation lever 6 is returned back from the loading position as shown in Fig. 2 to the operating O position as shown in Fig. 1. This forces drive wheel 53 se 0 against take-up core 43. Ribbon tensioning roll 54 then swings into the position shown by the solid lines in Fig. 1 in which it is partially surrounded by 2ibbon 42. Detent catches 19a of arm 19 engage teeth 50 of brake disk 11.

During operation drive pin 55 is turned ahead during each keystroke of the typewriter. This rotation of drive pin 55 is transferred through intermediate wheels 56 to driving wheel 53 which turns take-up reel 43a counter-clockwise and pulls ribbon 42 over the ribbon guiding elements 27 and 28. If the ribbon tension increases, a force acts on ribbon tensioning roll 54 to swing ribbon tensioning element 12 clockwise until detent catch 29 ceases to engage the teeth 13 of brake disk 11. Thereby, feed reel 40 can rotate one step further. Spring 15 and ribbon tensioring element 12 maintains a constant tension on ribbon 42 during operation through the system.

This design of cartridge 1 described above provides for simple replacement of an ink ribbon in a fashion analogous to replac-.ment of an entire cartridge. In this embodiment, adapter 13 remains permanently inserted in the typewriter. Therefore, there is no complicated threading of a new ribbon. The ribbon is tensioned after insertion so that the take-up reel is wound tightly from the very beginning.

In view of this, later operating disturbances can be avoided.

Support 21 and cores 41 and 43 can be designed of a very light material and can be manufactured from the same material as the ribbon. Material costs and environmental burdens are kept low, particularly if the used material is recycled. Enclosure 34 is used both as transportation packaging and as a covering during operation providing further economical benefits.

Cassette 20' in accordance with another embodiment 0e of the invention shown in Figs. 9 and 10 is designed for use in adapter 13 of Figs. 2 and 3. Cassette 20' includes a support 21', a feed reel 40 including a feed core 41 take-up core 43 and a cardboard enclosure 60. Support 21' differs from support 21 of Fig. 7 only in that two hook-shaped detent 14 springs 61 and 62 protrude upwards from side walls 21b adjoining its center plane. Enclosure 60 differs from first part 35a of enclosure 34 of Figs. 4 and 5 with corner 37 removed only in that it additionally has two rectangular openings 63 and 64 through which extend detent springs 61 and 62. However, the transporation securing mechanism shown in Figs. 9 and 10 differs from that in Figs. 4 8. In the embodiment of Figs. 9 and 10, the securing mechanism includes a top cover slide 65 made of cardboard attached to the upper surface of enclosure 60. Slide 65 is t-e same width as enclosure 60, but is slightly shorter in length.

as I s Slide 65 is formed with two longitudinal keyholes 66 and 67 6* through which extend detent projections 44 of cores 41 and L ~43.

Holes 66 and 67 have two edge sections 68 and 69 which are circular segments. Section 68 has a diameter which is larger than the outside diameter of the detent projections 44. Edge section 69 is smaller than recesses 39 in Figs.

4 8. Slide 65 also has recesses 70 and 71 at its front and rear with an outer edge 73 parallel to longitudinal edge 72 of slide 65. A detent projection 74 extends from edge 73 and is engaged by the pair of hook-shaped springs 61 and 62.

Slide 65 also has two gripper notches 75 and 76 which permit movement from an engaged position shown in Fig. 9 to a release position shown in Fig. .4 4 15 In both positions, slide 65 is secured by detent springs 61 and 62 catching behind the detent projections 74. In the interlock position shown in Fig. 9, cores 41 and 43 are clamped in section 69 of holes 66 and 67 and are secured against rotation. At the same time, axial backlash between reel 40 and upper wall of enclosure 60 is eliminated in analogous fashion to Fig. 8, except that here the upper wall of enclosure 60 lies directly on feed reel In the release position of Fig. 10, the clamping of cores 41 and 43 is released and the upper wall of enclosure 60 is removed from reel 40. In this release position,

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longitudinal slot 77 of slide 65 lies flush with longitudinal hole 46 of enclosure 60 so that the ribbon supply indicator is visible. In order to highlight the interlock position visually from the release position, the upper side of en- *i closure 60 may be colored green at right edge 78 and red at left edge 79. In an alternative embodiment, edges 78 and 79 may be labeled appropriately. Hole 66 also has a projroction 69a at its edge section 69 to engage core 41 in a locked position and additionally secures feed reel 005 0 The embodiment of Figs. 9 and 10 has the primary advantage that cassette 20' may be removed from adapter 13 prior to exhaustion of supply of ribbon 42 and can be replaced with a ribbon of different quality or color. This permits switching a correctable with a non-correctable ribbon I 16 when it is desirable to be using permanent ink rather than erasable ink on the same typewriter. In such cases, slide of cassette 20' is returned to its original interlocked position and subsequently removed from adapter i. This secures feed reel 40 and take-up reel 43 against turning during the handling process so that the second cassette unit 20' may be easily inserted into adapter i.

Referring specifically to Fig. 11, a further alternative embodiment of the invention is shown in which adapter 13 of Fig. 2 is a component part of a typewriter 85. Hovsing legs 13a extend on both sides of the character printing device, such as a type wheel 86 against a platen 87 and centering pins 7 are directly adjacent to platen 87. Housing 13 is pivotably mounted in typewriter 85 about an axle 88 which is parallel to platen 87. In this configuration, ribbon 42, sees tensioned between the ribbon guide element 27, and guided between platen 87 and type wheel 86, can be switched between a raised write position to a lower read position. For pur- S poses of clarity, elements not mentioned here but shown in Fig. 11 are identical to those described in connection with the earlier embodiment.

A f-.'ther embodiment of the invention is shown in Figs. 12 14. Again, the same reference numerals are used for analogous parts as in Fig. 1 8 and a further detailed description is omitted here. In this embodiment, adapter 1' 1 1 17 and cassette unit 20" differs from that in Figs. 1 8 only in the manner of centering legs 21a" of support 21' on legs 13a" of adapter 1' and by the function of a ribbon guiding element 27". Parts not associated with the ribbon guide function and centering are omitted for clarity.

Housing legs 13a' contain centering elements 7' as semi-cylindrical bolts 90 which protrude vertically fro". the housing legs 13a'. Bolts 90 are closed on top by a flange 91 which protrudes in the direction of the free ends of housing legs 13a'. Accordingly, the centering elements 27b' of cassette 20" are semi-circular shells 92 adjoining the free ends of support legs 21a'. Support legs 21a" each have a longitudinal hole 93 for insertion of bolt 90. Ribbon guiding element 27" is formed by a front edge 94 of an extension of side wall 21b" of support 21". Ribbon 42, shown in a dashed line, is bound on the top by a projection 96 to re- *oo strict slippage during operation.

The embodiment of Fig. 12 is designed for a typewriter which includes a ribbon guiding element 97. In such a typewriter, ribbon guiding element 97 is adjacent to platen too a 87' as shown in Figs. 13 and 14. The outer spacing between two elements 97 is smaller than the spacing between an extension 95 of cassette unit 20'. To insert the cassette unit ribbon 42 is first inserted between ribbon guiding elements 97 and platen 87' by means of extensions 95 and support 18 legs 21" with bolts 90 inserted into longitudinal hole 93.

Cassette unit 20" is slanted wivh respect to adapter 1' as shown by arrow A of Fig. 13. At this point, cassette unit is pulled back in the direction of the arrow B until semi-circular receiving elements 92 embrace bolts 90 with a positive interlocking fitting. Finally, cassette 20" is pushed in a downward direction of arrow C so that feed core 41" is placed on casing lla".

In the position shown in Fig. 14, the typewriter is ready to commence normal operation. The relatively soft support legs 21a" are again centered precisely by rigid bolts 90. Flanges 91 overlap semi-circle receiving elements 92 so that the cassette unit 20" is securely held on adapter 1'.

In typewriters which do not contain ribbon guiding elements 97, longitudinal holes 93 may be designed shorter to accomodate the system disclosed in Figs. 12 14.

0906 Accordingly, by providing a refillable ink ribbon cartridge in accordance with the invention as described, a simple, economical and ecological ink ribbon cartridges will be available. A two part cartridge system containing an adapter with drive mechanism and a replaceable ink ribbon cassette unit enables a user to replace fewer parts. Therefore, refills can be provided at lower costs. This reduces production costs and storage costs as this ribbon refill is less expensive to replace and smaller to store. The system fc 19 provides a smooth running ribbon which is taut during operation creating accurate keystrokes with clear printed characters on the paper.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following i. claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

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Claims (10)

1. A refillable ink ribbon cartridge which includes an adapter and a refill unit, said adapter comprising a housing formed with two housing legs protruding from a body portion, each of said housing legs adjacent its free end including a separate centering body, a drive wheel mounted on a free end of a drive lever which is spring loaded into an engaged position and manually pivotable into a loading position, said drive wheel being connected to a drive pin for engagement with a typewriter; said refill unit comprising a support containing a ribbon supply, said support having a support body and two support legs integrally formed with and extending from the support body, each support leg having a separate ribbon guide element at its free end and a separate centering element adjacent said guide element, said centering elements being centered on the respective centering bodies of the housing legs, said drive wheel engaging the ribbon of said ribbon supply for advancing the ribbon over the ribbon guide elements. V 2. The ink ribbon cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said ribbon supply one-siic- ofa ribbon supply-spool wound onto a supply reel, a start of said ribbon being fixed to a take up reel, said supply reel and said take up reel being rotatably and unremovably supported on respective hollow pegs protruding from the support body, wherein a brake disk is rotatably mounted on a first pin of the housing, a coaxial first sleeve being formed on said brake disk, said supply reel being centered on and engaged with said first sleeve, said brake disk cooperating with a ribbon tensioning element, said take up reel being centered on a second pin protruding from the housing, said drive wheel being spring urged against said take up reel. 0749k/lfg 21

3. The ink ribbon cartridge of claim i, wherein the centering bodies at the free ends of the housing legs include projections which projections extend towards the free end of the legs for overlapping the centering elements on the support legs.

4. The ink ribbon cartridge of claim i, wherein the housing legs include snap elements for engaging the support legs. A refill unit for use in a refillable ink ribbon cartridge, said refill unit comprising a support containing a ribbon supply, said support having a support body and two support legs integrally formed with and extending from the support body, each support leg having a separate ribbon guide element at its free end and a separate centering element adjacent said guide element for centering the e support on corresponding centering bodies on housing legs of Se an adapter housing. 0o 0 0 6. The refill unit according to claim 5, wherein said a 0 Sgo ribbon supply comprises a ribbon supply spool wound onto a supply reel, a start of said ribbon being fixed to a take up reel, said take up reel and said supply reel being rotatably and unremovably snapped onto respective hollow pegs protruding from the support body. So

7. The refill unit according to claim 6, wherein the ribbon guide elements are further hollow pegs the interior surface of which constituting said centering elements, said further hollow pegs having an end flange each for retaining :0.00 the ribbon.

8. The refill unit according to claim 6, wherein the ribbon guide elements are formed at the free end of the support legs by extensions of a side wall extending from the support body, and wheLein the centering elements on the T 1q4 0' o0115q/dys 22 support legs have upwardly extending curved surfaces facing away from the free end of the respective support leg. 9 The refill unit according to claim 6, wherein a covering covers said support body in the area of said supply spool and said take up reel, said covering having two openings being protruded by the upper ends of the supply reel and the take up reel, said supply and take up reels at their upper end having noses overlapping said covering. The refill unit according to claim 9, wherein the covering is designed as an outer casing for enclosing the ribbon supply during shipment.

11. The refill unit according to claim 10, wherein the covering has a first portion covering the body portion of the support and a second, removable portion covering the support legs.

12. The refill unit according to claim 11, wherein the coverings includes a tear-off ribbon for removing the portion of the covering over the support legs.

13. The refill unit according to claim 11, wherein the covering includes a slide which can be moved from a first storage position engaging the feed reel and take up reel to prevent rotation thereof and a second operating position S wherein the feed reel and take up reel are free to rotate.

14. The refill unit according to claim 13, wherein the slide has two openings for receiving the upper portions of S the feed reel and take up reel, the openings being formed with a first opening portion having a circular cut-out for receiving the feed reel and the take up reel and an adjoining portion of reduced width for engaging the reels when the covering is displaced into the storage position. 0115q/dys 23 A ink ribbon cartridge substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

16. A refill unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 31st day of August, 1992. FRANK BUTTNER AG By His Patent Attorneys DAVIES COLLISON CAVE s o i I._Xd