CA1115231A - Ink ribbon cartridge, cartridge refill and method of loading same - Google Patents

Abstract

INK RIBBON CARTRIDGE, CARTRIDGE
REFILL AND METHOD OF LOADING SAME
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
This specification discloses an apparatus and method for transporting, loading, and reusing an inking ribbon in a printing means such as a wire matrix data printer. The invention reduces jamming and binding of the inking ribbon and promotes easy and effective loading, and it thus improves the operation of the overall printing device itself. The disclosure includes a ribbon cartridge which has a narrow and configured outlet opening which provides an exit from a central storage area which ideally allows only a single thickness of ribbon to exit from the cartridge. Thus, ribbon can be loaded into a cartridge as a circular spool, stripped from the spool within the cartridge, removed from the cartridge through the exit and stuffed back into the cartridge to form a rectangular ribbon pack within a generally rectangular storage area within the cartridge. If desired, the rectangular ribbon pack can be removed from one ribbon cartridge and shipped in that form, for loading into a second ribbon cartridge at some other location.

Description

3~

1 BACKGROUND OF TlIE IN~ENTION
1) Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to printing means o~ the type using an elongated inked ribbon; and, more particularly, to a transport and storage apparatus for such ribbon~ and a method of transporting and/or storing an inking ribbon for the printing means.

2) Prior Art The use of an inking ribbon cartridge in connection ; 10 with printing means such as a data printer is known. For example, inking ribbon can be wound from one spool onto ~ another and then rewound for each subsequent use. Further, ; continuous ribbon cartridges are also known. That is, inking ribbon exits from a cartridge~ passes a printing head and then re-enters the same cartridge. A significant problem with such cartridges has been jamming of the inking ribbon, which is saturated with ink and tends to adhere to itself, causing it to double upon itself and catch or jam. For example~ one known way of loading inking ribbon into such a cartridge is to use a wound roll or spool of inking ribbon and then withdraw ribbon from the cartridge to unwind the roll. Unwinding the inking ribbon from the roll can easily jam the ribbon within the cartridge~ causing malfunction of the printer and requiring manual adjustment for restarting ` 25 of the printer. Thus, valuable printer time is lost and additional time and expense is involved in restarting and maintaining the printer. Further, variations in the quality oE ribbon and/or ribbon ink, and other environmental conditions like humidity, static charge, temperature, etc., af:Eect the ease with which the ribbon unrolls and also tend to cause jamming. These are some of the problems whose solution this , ~ . ' ~ , . . ,' ' , "

1 invention addresses.
SU~MARY OF THE IN~ENTION
This invention recognizes that properly organizing the size and shape of the exit opening of a ribbon cartridge on a printer, or even on a ribbon-winding or packaging ap-paratus, when unwinding a spool of ribbon from within the cartridge can be very advantageous, since in this way one can permit a single thickness of ribbon to exit from the cartridge at a time. When a single thickness of ribbon passes through the exit opening of the cartridge, chances of jamming are substantially reduced. Further, an embodiment of this invention provides recognition that ink ribbon unwound from the spool within the cartridge can be driven back (i.e., stuffed) into a rectangular storage area within the inking cartridge to form a rectangular ribbon pack3 which can continue as the supply of ribbon or can be removed and used as a filler, or refill, ribbon pack for a different inking cartridge.
Thus, the invention also encompasses a method of forming a rectangular inking ribbon pack for a cartridge, the ribbon in which is generally rectangularly folded, or pleated, into a pack within accordion-like zigzags. That is, the inking ribbon is folded in~ lengths generally extending the full width of the cartridge case, with the folds alternating in direction. The invention also recognizes a method of loading a rlbbon cartridge with such a folded ribbon pack. The controlled exit is advantageous to permit a single thickness o ribbon to exit from the ribbon cartridge, thus tending to preclude loops and kwists from exiting and promoting the passage of a single thickness of ribbon in front of the printing head and back into the ribbon pack. Further, the controlled exit inclucles means ~ ::- .. . . . . . , . -. . . .. , - . . , 1 for positioning an unwinding spool o-f inking ribbon within the storage space of the inking cartridge. Thus, as the inking ribbon is stuffed back into the storage area of the cartridge ~he unwinding spool remains relatively clear of the progressively-forming, rectangular ribbon pack and of the exit opening, where it tends to locate otherwise and where it can ; cause jamming of the ribbon exiting the case.
The folded or pleated rectangular-form ribbon pack is advantageous because the alternating folds of ribbon gradually proceed from the cartridge inlet to the outlet by following a relatively easily-traversed back-and-forth path within the cartridge. Further~ once the ink ribbon pack is in the rectangular zigzag storage configuration, it remains in that configuration during subsequent operation of the printing means.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF T~IE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of the exit portion of an ink cartridge in accordance herewith;
Fig. 2 is~ a fragmentary top plan view of an inking ribbon cartridge with a ribbon spool positioned within a central storage area and ready for unrolling;
Fig. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view as in Fig. 2 with the spool of inking ribbon positioned in one end and a portion of the inking ribbon driven back into the storage area to start to form a rectangular pack;
Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view similar and ` sequential to Fig. 3, where more of the inking ribbon spool has unwound and more of the inking ribbon is in a rectanguIar packing form; and ,.
Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view similar and sequential to Fig. 4, with all of the inking ribbon unwound iZ3~

1 from the spool and in a rectangular ribbon pack.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE TNVEN~ION
Typically, a data printer includes a print head (not shown) laterally movable by a dri~e mechanism to print against a surface like a platen. The print head includes a needle guide which provides a guide for the ends of the printing needle and directs a ribbon 11 past the printing needles. Ribbon 11 is a continuous loop provided ~rom a ribbon cartridge 10 ~Figs. 2-5) and guided around part of its path by ribbon guide and reinking means (not shown3.
Referring to Figs. 2-5, ribbon cartridge 10 includes a structural shell 12 forming a generally rectangular enclosed storage area 19 having a ribbon inlet 16 and ribbon outlet 17. ~nlet 16 is bounded by a generally cylindrical drive roller 13 and an adjacent generally cylindrical pinch roller 1~. Pinch roller 14 is spring biased toward drive roller 13 so that a single thickness of ribbon 11 can be pressed between rollers 13 and 14 and driven into the interior of ribbon cartridge 10. Referring also to Fig. 1, a pair of outlet points or stripper fingers 15 are positioned at ribbon outlet 17. Stripper fingers 15 are generally sym-metric about outlet 17 and restrict the size of the outlet opening so that ideally it will pass only a single thickness of ribbon 11. Stripper fingers 15 generally extend inward into storage area l9, toward each other with increasing distance from outlet 17, and preferably tapering with increasing distance from outlet 17. To help ensure that only a single thickness of ribbon ll passes, stripper fingers 15 are ideally spaced less than three thicknesses o~ the particular ribbon to be used (normally about 0.012-0.014 inch) at their closest point, i.e., their innermost tips. Further, the fingers each preferably -1 taper to a relatively sharp chisel-like edge, but it is also preferable that such edge not be so sharp so as to be a knife-edge but instead have at least a very small rounded radius at its end extremity.
In its typical spool form, ribbon 11 is initially doubled and wound into a spool or roll 20. Thus, as spool 20 is unwound, two thicknesses of ribbon 11 are released at a time. ~dvantageously9 ribbon 11 is a continuous loop and includes a twist (i.e., a Mobius loop) which permits alternating printing on opposite sides of ribbon 11 thus extending ribbon life.
Storage area 19 within ribbon cartridge 10 is sufficiently large to easily receive ribbon spool 20.
Ribbon cartridge 10 is typically a molded plastic receptacle and has a removable or hingeable top for easy loading of ribbon spool 20. Stripper fingers 15 may be integrally molded with the shell 12 or may be separately fabricated of another material, and attached to tlie ribbon cartridge 10.
If desired, the width of the exit opening may be made adjustable, as by securing one of stripper fingers (designated 15a, Pig. 1) so that it is laterally movable toward and away from the other stripper finger 15. For example, as shown in Fig. 1, a screw 24 may be used to adjustably mount one of the stripper fingers upon the end of the rlbbon cartridge. Screw 24 threads into the over-hanging portion of finger 15a and is movable within a slot 25 in the end of ribbon cartridge 10, thus enabling the movable strlpper finger 15a to be secured to ribbon cartridge 10 at any of a plurality of positions. Also, a finger so secured may be made slightly flexible so as to be 1exed outwardly to open the exit wider and release the ribbon 1 should it tend to clog or catch at the outlet.
METHOD OF LOADIN~
-First, a roll or spool 20, comprising a double thickness of circularly-wound ribbon 11 emanating from the exterior of the spool 20 in a continuous loop, is positioned within storage area 19 of ribbon cartridge 10, lying flush against the bottom thereof but not secured in place. A small amount of ribbon 11 is unwound by hand ~rom the spool so that a loop of ribbon 11 leaves the spool.
1~ This loop is opened up and one thickness of ribbon is passed through ribbon outlet 17 while the other thickness passes through ribbon inlet 16, between rollers 13 and 1~
(Fig. 2). The path of ribbon 11 outside ribbon cartridge 10 typically passes in front o~ a print means and around a series of ribbon guides (not shown) leading back into the cartriclge. Applying power to drive roller 13 pushes ribbon into storage area 19 and also pulls ribbon 11 out of the cartridge through ribbon outlet 17. Pulling ribbon 11 out of ribbon outlet 17 rotates the spool 20, thus unwinding both strands of the doubled ribbon, causing one thickness of ribbon to exit storage area 19 while the other thickness unwinds into such area (Fig. 3).
Since ribbon is also being pushed into ribbon inlet 16 at the same time, a rectangular pack of ribbon is progressively formed in storage area 19 starting at the ribbon inlet 16 , and on that side of the spool 20, and gradually filling the entire storage area, the ribhon being packed in such area but in a relatively loose pack (Figs. 3-5).
Stripper fingers 15 are particularly acLvantageous because of their size, shape and separation, since they tend to permit only a single thickness of ribbon ll to pass . . . . . . . .. .. . . .... ......

i2~

1 through ribbon outlet 17 and thus separate the double thickness of ribbon 11 as it unwinds from the spool.
At the same time, they tend to shunt the ribbon spool to one side or the other relative to the narrow outlet opening while the spool is be:ing unwound and the doubled ribbon from it is being separated. That is, as the rlbbon is tensioned and pulled out of the cartridge by rollers 13 and 14, ~ it tends to pull spool 20 toward, and against, the outlet ; opening. Normally, this would result in a substantial : 10 tendency for the ribbon to jam in the outlet opening, as by two or more thicknesses of ribbon sticking together and entering the outlet before the di:E~erent ribbon thicknesses are separated. However, in accordance with the present outlet configuration, the extent of protrusion of the fingers into the cartridge, which may be from about 1/16 - 1/8 inch minimally and up to about 1/4 inch as a maximum, together with the sharply angled shape tips of the fingers and their slightly rounded tip extremities, plus the narrow spacing between them, all contribute to deflect the free rotating spool to one side or the other of the outlet, and in fact toward the rear corners of the cartridge, keeping the outlet opening free and continuously separating the doubled ribbon leaving the spool. Thus, unwinding of the spool is rapid and tends to be trouble free, as is the formation of the widely-pleated or ~olded, rectangula~rly~shaped ribbon pack within the cartridge. Figs. 3 5 comprise a somewhat generalized showing of the sequential unwindlng o:f ribbon 11 from the spool and forming thereof into a rectangular pack within storage area 19. In Fig. 2, the spool of ribbon .11 has just been placed into storage area 19 and single ribbon traces entrained through inlet 1~ and outlet 17.

.. . . . . . - . : . ~ . . .. . ..

z~

1 In Fig. 3, rotation of rollers 13 and 14 results in turning of the spool of ribbon 11, automatically drawing the spool toward an end of storage area 19, to one side of the outlet. Once ribbon 11 has been ~mwound -from the spool and packed into the rectangular configuration, continwed driving of ribbon 11 by rollers 13 and 14 maintains the ribbon in its rectangular configuration, stripping ribbon from the outlet and stuffing the same amount of ribbon back into the inlet. If desired, the rectangular pack of ribbon 11 can be removed from storage area 19 of ribbon caTtridge 10 (generally requiring at least some compression of the pack orthogonally across the folds) and taken to another location, where it may be put directly into the storage area of another ribbon cartridge, making it unnecessary to use the double-wound, round spools at such location, and largely obviating the need for the particular outlet configuration at such location.
Various modifications and variations will no doubt occur to those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains. For example, the particular means for adjusting the spacing of the stripper fingers may be ~aried from that dlsclosed herein, and the particular use of the ribbon is not restricted to matrix printers or indeed any particular type of printing device. These and all other variations which basically rely on the teachings through which this disclosure has advanced the art are properly considered within the spirit and broader aspects o~ this invention.

' :
g

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows.

A method of forming a generally rectangular ribbon pack for a ribbon cartridge including the steps of:
driving a ribbon lengthwise into a generally rectangular storage area by entraining the ribbon between at least one drive roller and a closely-adjacent member with the ribbon contacting the roller, and rotating such roller;
folding the ribbon first in one direction and then the other direction from one side toward the other across the storage area within the cartridge so as to form a generally rectangular ribbon pack therein which is comprised of a plurality of adjacent ribbon folds extending crosswise of the storage area;
compressively constraining said adjacent ribbon folds laterally against one another to generally retain the shape and unity of said ribbon pack; and removing said generally rectangular ribbon pack from said storage area while retaining the pack under said compressive constraint and in its generally rectangular shape.

A method of forming a generally rectangular ribbon pack as recited in claim 1 wherein said ribbon is folded in alternating lengths extending across the width of the cartridge substantially from one side to the other.

A method of forming a generally rectangular ribbon pack as recited in claim 1 wherein the ribbon pack is compressed generally perpendicularly relative to said alternating folds prior to or as part of said removal step.

The method according to claim 1, and including the step of inserting said generally rectangular ribbon pack into another container of generally similar shape.

The method according to claim 1, including the preliminary steps of:
inserting into said cartridge a generally flat, circular roll of ribbon wound comprising a continuous loop forming two adjacent ribbon lengths or traces connected to one another at their ends;
extending one trace of ribbon from said roll through an inlet of said cartridge and extending the other of said ribbon traces through an outlet of said cartridge;
driving said ribbon by means at said inlet to unwind ribbon from said roll and pull ribbon through said outlet while moving ribbon from the trace outside said cartridge into the inside of such cartridge for temporary storage, the ribbon entering the ribbon cartridge being folded into alternating ribbon folds inside the ribbon cartridge.

The method according to claim 1,and including the steps of:
inserting the said removed,generally rectangular ribbon pack while under its compressive restraint into a generally rectangular ribbon container for a data printer, said container having a size generally complementary to but at least slightly larger than said generally rectangular ribbon packs said ribbon pack which is so inserted comprising a continuous length of ribbon in loop form defining a plurality of serially interconnected adjacent ribbon folds having an external length of ribbon extending from and interconnecting the beginning and ending ribbon folds located at the opposite ends of the ribbon pack;
entraining the external length of ribbon from said pack through an inlet located at one end of said container and through an outlet located at the opposite end of said container;
releasing the said compressively constrained ribbon folds of said ribbon pack with the ribbon pack in place within the container, whereby said folds substantially fill the container from end to end;
driving said ribbon by ribbon drive means at the inlet of the container to pull ribbon from said pack out of said container through said outlet while moving ribbon from outside said container back inside such container for temporary storage; and re-folding the ribbon which re-enters the ribbon container into alternating ribbon folds having substantially the same size, shape, and orientation as the folds in the ribbon pack initially, thereby continuously maintaining the container substantially filled with a ribbon pack in substantially the same alternatingly-folded disposition and shape.

The method according to claim 6, wherein said ribbon re-entering said ribbon container is re-folded by driving the ribbon lengthwise into the container from one end thereof along a path extending medially of and lengthwise of said container.

An inking ribbon pack for filling or refilling the magazine or other ribbon container of a printing apparatus, said ribbon pack including inking ribbon folded into a generally rectangular pack for insertion into a ribbon-holding containment apparatus associated with said printing means, said ribbon pack including adjacent lengths of ribbon folded upon one another in alternating directions so that each successive length of ribbon is connected to adjacent lengths of ribbon at opposite ends and the multiple ribbon folds form a rectangular pack and means for holding said folded lengths of ribbon against one another and generally maintaining the rectangular shape of said ribbon pack prior to insertion thereof into said magazine or container.