EP0274583B1 - End-of-ribbon indicating device for typewriters and the like - Google Patents

End-of-ribbon indicating device for typewriters and the like Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0274583B1
EP0274583B1 EP87115469A EP87115469A EP0274583B1 EP 0274583 B1 EP0274583 B1 EP 0274583B1 EP 87115469 A EP87115469 A EP 87115469A EP 87115469 A EP87115469 A EP 87115469A EP 0274583 B1 EP0274583 B1 EP 0274583B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
ribbon
scanning
scanning device
cassette
optical
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP87115469A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0274583A1 (en
Inventor
Alfred Keiter
Manfred Dipl.-Ing. Sauer
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AEG Olympia Office GmbH
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AEG Olympia Office GmbH
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Publication of EP0274583A1 publication Critical patent/EP0274583A1/en
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J35/00—Other apparatus or arrangements associated with, or incorporated in, ink-ribbon mechanisms
    • B41J35/36—Alarms, indicators, or feed disabling devices responsive to ink ribbon breakage or exhaustion

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a ribbon device in typewriters or similar office machines of the type specified in the preamble of claim 1.
  • a ribbon device is known from US-A-4 115 013, in which the ribbon has a light-reflecting marking area at the end, which can be scanned by an optical scanner for processing receiver signals to trigger a ribbon end signal.
  • the ribbon end message is thereby generated without contact, but the switching reliability is no longer guaranteed if the transmitter and receiver surfaces of the optical scanning device become dirty. Contamination of the optical scanner can result in the end of the ribbon not being shown to the machine operator. This can cause the type run to be repeated at the same point on the belt. The generation of a clean typeface is disturbed, so that the whole copying process has to be started again.
  • the invention has for its object to design the generic ribbon device such that the switching reliability for the ribbon end message is increased. This object is achieved by the invention characterized in claim 1.
  • the ribbon device has a monitoring device for the ribbon, which reports the end of the ribbon securely and always ensures good use of the ribbon.
  • the contamination of the switching elements by ribbon carrier, paper and space dust is removed in the simplest way, which greatly increases the switching reliability.
  • the advantageous embodiment of the ribbon device according to claim 5 prevents a false message from being triggered by extraneous light.
  • the ink ribbon cassette is removed, covering it with a brush or some other wiping agent signals that the machine is ready to write and function. This is e.g. required for wax lettering.
  • the ribbon cassette according to claim 12 can be used advantageously both in machines with an optical and in such machines with an electrically controllable scanning device.
  • FIG. 1 shows a receiving device for an ink ribbon device in typewriters or similar office machines with a single-use ink ribbon 3 arranged in particular within an ink ribbon cassette 2, which is moved through the printing station by a drive device and in particular unwound from a supply spool 4 and onto a take-up spool 5 is rewound.
  • the ribbon 3 is coming from the supply reel 4 around deflection rollers 6 and 7 and then slides over two spaced guide pins 8, 9 to an outlet 11 of the ribbon cassette 2.
  • This ribbon cassette 2 consists of a pot-shaped base part 12 and a cover 13. By one The ribbon 3 reaches the take-up spool 5 via guide pins (not shown).
  • the two guide pins 8, 9 are arranged upright on the bottom 14 of the bottom part 12 on both sides of a recess 10 in the bottom 14.
  • a recess 10 in the bottom 14 When the ink ribbon cassette 2 is placed, scanning elements of the ink ribbon 3 scanning devices 15, 16 protrude into the cassette in such a way that the ink end is reliably displayed to the person operating the machine via a control circuit 17.
  • the optical scanning device 15 which has a light transmitter 18 and a light receiver 19, is fastened to an upright arm 20 in the receiving device 1. Furthermore, the recording device 1 has a movably arranged cover element for the scanning elements of the scanning devices, which, when the ribbon spools or the ribbon cassette 2 is placed on the recording device 1 in the machine, by a design feature of the ribbon spools or the ribbon cassette 2 in one of the scanning elements of the scanning devices Scanning of the markings at the position releasing the ribbon is movable and is arranged to be resettable when the ribbon spools or the ribbon cassette 2 are removed into the covering position of the scanning elements of the scanning directions.
  • the transmitter 18 and receiver surfaces 19 of the optical scanning device 15 can be covered and cleaned by the covering element 24.
  • the cover element 24 has a stripping material on its cover surface which interacts with the transmitter 18 and the receiver surfaces 19. This stripping material of the cover surface has a black color, such that the machine is ready for writing and functioning, for example, for wax lettering when the ink ribbon cassette 2 has been removed from the receiving device 1.
  • the stripping material of the cover element 24 is made 1 and 2 from a black brush 25.
  • the cover element 24 is in the cover position for the optical scanning device 15, the ink ribbon cassette 2 having been removed from the receiving device 1.
  • the cover element 24 is arranged on a free end 26 of a leaf spring 28 which is fixedly connected to the receiving device 1 at the other end 27.
  • the leaf spring 28 has an upright pin 29 with a stop head 30 for the bottom 14 of the bottom part 12 of the ribbon cassette 2.
  • the bottom 14 of the ink ribbon cassette 2 comes into contact with the stop head 30 of the pin 29 such that the leaf spring 28 is pivoted clockwise with the cover element 24.
  • the brush 25 of the cover element 24 comes out of engagement with the transmitter 18 and the receiver surfaces 19 of the optical scanning device 15.
  • the transmitter 18 and the receiver surfaces 19 of the optical device 15 pass through the recess 10 in the bottom 14 in front of the ribbon 3 in the working position.
  • the black coating of the ink ribbon 3 is guided past the surfaces 18, 19 of the optical device 15 without contact. Since the light emitted by the light transmitter 18 of the optical scanning device 15 is not reflected by the black layer of the ink ribbon 3, the light receiver 19 also receives no light. In this case, no control signal is given to the control circuit 17.
  • the end of the ink ribbon 2 has on its ink layer side 31 a light-reflecting layer 32 as a marking area. If this light-reflecting layer 32 reaches the area of the optical scanning device 15, then the light receiver 19 receives the light emitted by the light transmitter 18. As a result, a control pulse is given to the control circuit 17 via the lines 21, 22, 23, which then generates receiver signals for triggering a ribbon end signal.
  • the end of the ribbon can be indicated to the person operating the machine by an optical or acoustic signal. It is also possible that the control circuit renders the machine inoperative.
  • the brush 25 of the cover element 24 sweeps over the light emitting surfaces 18 and the light receiving surfaces 19 of the optical device 15 into the covering position.
  • This covering of the optical device prevents the light transmitter 18 and the light receiver surfaces 19 from becoming dirty when the ink ribbon cassette 2 is removed.
  • dust particles are removed from the surfaces 18, 19 of the optical device 15 by the upward and downward movement of the brush 25 with the cover element 24, as a result of which a late indication of the ribbon end is reliably avoided.
  • the cover element 24 with the brush 25 can of course also be brought into operative connection with another electrically controllable scanning device.
  • An electrical scanning device 16 is shown in FIG. 3, the contact pins 33, 34 of which have resilient contact tongues 35, 36 which scan an electrically conductive layer 37 of the ink ribbon 3.
  • these contact spring tongues 35, 36 can be covered and cleaned by the holding device 1 by the brushes 25 of the cover element 24. Since the ink ribbon 3 according to FIG.
  • the ink ribbon end has a light-reflecting layer 32 on the ink layer side 31 and carries an electrically conductive layer 37 on the rear side opposite the ink layer side 31, it is possible for the ink ribbon end to be both via a contactless optical scanning device 15 and via an electrical scanning device 16 which is in direct contact with the ink ribbon 3 can be displayed. Therefore, the ribbon cassette can be used optionally in typewriters with an optical or an electrical scanner.

Description

Die Erfindung betrifft eine Farbbandeinrichtung in Schreib- oder ähnlichen Büromaschinen der im Oberbegriff des Patentanspruchs 1 angegebenen Art.The invention relates to a ribbon device in typewriters or similar office machines of the type specified in the preamble of claim 1.

Durch die US-A-4 115 013 ist eine Farbbandeinrichtung bekannt, bei der das Farbband an dem Ende eine lichtreflektierende Markierungsfläche aufweist, die von einer optischen Abtasteinrichtung zur Verarbeitung von Empfängersignalen zum Auslösen eines Farbbandendesignals abtastbar ist. Die Farbbandendemeldung wird hierdurch zwar berührungslos erzeugt, aber die Schaltsicherheit ist nicht mehr gewährleistet, wenn die Sender- und die Empfängerflächen der optischen Abtasteinrichtung verschmutzen. Die Verschmutzung der optischen Abtasteinrichtung kann dazu führen, daß dem Bediener der Maschine das Ende des Farbbandes nicht angezeigt wird. Dies kann dazu führen, daß der Typenschlag wiederholt an der gleichen Stelle des Bandes ausgeführt wird. Die Erzeugung eines sauberen Schriftbildes ist gestört, so daß die ganze Abschreibarbeit wieder von vorne begonnen werden muß.A ribbon device is known from US-A-4 115 013, in which the ribbon has a light-reflecting marking area at the end, which can be scanned by an optical scanner for processing receiver signals to trigger a ribbon end signal. The ribbon end message is thereby generated without contact, but the switching reliability is no longer guaranteed if the transmitter and receiver surfaces of the optical scanning device become dirty. Contamination of the optical scanner can result in the end of the ribbon not being shown to the machine operator. This can cause the type run to be repeated at the same point on the belt. The generation of a clean typeface is disturbed, so that the whole copying process has to be started again.

Weiterhin ist durch die US-A-4,212,552 eine Abtasteinrichtung für Farbbandendemarkierungen bekannt, aber auch hierdurch wird eine Abdeckung und Reinigung der Abtasteinrichtung nicht nehegelegt.Furthermore, a scanning device for ribbon end markings is known from US-A-4,212,552, but this also does not neglect to cover and clean the scanning device.

Der Erfindung liegt die Aufgabe zugrunde, die gattungsgemäße Farbbandeinrichtung derart auszubilden, daß die Schaltsicherheit für die Farbbandendemeldung erhöht wird. Diese Aufgabe wird durch die im Patentanspruch 1 gekennzeichnet Erfindung gelöst.The invention has for its object to design the generic ribbon device such that the switching reliability for the ribbon end message is increased. This object is achieved by the invention characterized in claim 1.

Die Farbbandeinrichtung hat eine Überwachungsvorrichtung für das Farbband, die das Farbbandende sicher meldet und eine gute Ausnutzung des Farbbandes stets gewährleistet. Die Verschmutzung der Schaltelemente durch Farbbandträger-, Papier- und Raumstaub wird auf einfachste Weise beseitigt, wodurch die Schaltsicherheit sehr erhöht wird.The ribbon device has a monitoring device for the ribbon, which reports the end of the ribbon securely and always ensures good use of the ribbon. The contamination of the switching elements by ribbon carrier, paper and space dust is removed in the simplest way, which greatly increases the switching reliability.

Die vorteilhafte Ausgestaltung der Farbbandeinrichtung nach Patentanspruch 5 verhindert, daß durch Fremdlichteinfall eine Fehlmeldung ausgelöst wird. Die Abdeckung durch eine Bürste oder durch ein sonstiges Abstreifmittel signalisiert bei abgenommener Farbbandkassette, daß die Maschine schreib- und funktionsbereit ist. Dieses ist z.B. für eine Wachs-Beschriftung erforderlich. Die Farbbandkassette nach Patentanspruch 12 ist sowohl bei Maschinen mit einer optischen als auch bei solchen Maschinen mit einer elektrisch steuerbaren Abtasteinrichtung wahlweise vorteilhaft einsetzbar.The advantageous embodiment of the ribbon device according to claim 5 prevents a false message from being triggered by extraneous light. When the ink ribbon cassette is removed, covering it with a brush or some other wiping agent signals that the machine is ready to write and function. This is e.g. required for wax lettering. The ribbon cassette according to claim 12 can be used advantageously both in machines with an optical and in such machines with an electrically controllable scanning device.

Weitere vorteilhafte Ausgestaltungen des Erfindungsgegenstandes sind den weiteren Unteransprüchen zu entnehmen.Further advantageous refinements of the subject matter of the invention can be found in the further subclaims.

Nachstehend werden Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung anhand der Zeichnungen beschrieben. Es zeigt:

  • Figur 1 die wesentlichen Teile der Farbbandeinrichtung in schaubildlicher Darstellung mit abgenommener Farbbandkassette,
  • Figur 2 die Abtasteinrichtung in Arbeitsstellung und
  • Figur 3 eine schematische Draufsicht auf das Farbbandende mit den Abtasteinrichtungen.
Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the drawings. It shows:
  • FIG. 1 shows the essential parts of the ribbon device in a diagrammatic representation with the ribbon cassette removed,
  • Figure 2 shows the scanner in the working position and
  • Figure 3 is a schematic plan view of the ribbon end with the scanning devices.

In der Figur 1 ist eine Aufnahmevorrichtung für eine Farbbandeinrichtung in Schreib- oder ähnlichen Büromaschinen mit einem insbesondere innerhalb einer Farbbandkassette 2 angeordneten, einmal verwendbaren Farbband 3, das durch eine Antriebsvorrichtung durch die Druckstation bewegt wird und insbesondere von einer Vorratsspule 4 abgewickelt und auf eine Aufnamespule 5 wieder aufgewickelt wird. Das Farbband 3 wird von der Vorratsspule 4 kommend um Umlenkrollen 6 und 7 geführt und gleitet dann über zwei beabstandete Führungsstifte 8, 9 zu einer Austrittsöffnung 11 der Farbbandkassette 2. Diese Farbbandkassette 2 besteht übrigens aus einem topfförmigen Bodenteil 12 und einem Dekkel 13. Über eine nicht dargestellte Eintrittsöffnung gelangt das Farbband 3 über ebenfalls nicht dargestellte Führungsstifte zu der Aufnahmespule 5. Die beiden Führungsstife 8, 9 sind auf dem Boden 14 des Bodenteils 12 aufrecht auf beiden Seiten einer Ausnehmung 10 in dem Boden 14 angeordnet. Durch die Ausnehmung 10 in dem Boden 14 ragen bei aufgesetzter Farbbandkassette 2 auf die Aufnahmevorrichtung 1 Abtastelemente von das Farbband 3 abtastenden Abtasteinrichtungen 15, 16 in die Kassette derart hinein, daß das Farbandende über eine Steuerschaltung 17 der die Maschine bedienenden Person sicher angezeigt wird.1 shows a receiving device for an ink ribbon device in typewriters or similar office machines with a single-use ink ribbon 3 arranged in particular within an ink ribbon cassette 2, which is moved through the printing station by a drive device and in particular unwound from a supply spool 4 and onto a take-up spool 5 is rewound. The ribbon 3 is coming from the supply reel 4 around deflection rollers 6 and 7 and then slides over two spaced guide pins 8, 9 to an outlet 11 of the ribbon cassette 2. This ribbon cassette 2 consists of a pot-shaped base part 12 and a cover 13. By one The ribbon 3 reaches the take-up spool 5 via guide pins (not shown). The two guide pins 8, 9 are arranged upright on the bottom 14 of the bottom part 12 on both sides of a recess 10 in the bottom 14. Through the recess 10 in the bottom 14 when the ink ribbon cassette 2 is placed, scanning elements of the ink ribbon 3 scanning devices 15, 16 protrude into the cassette in such a way that the ink end is reliably displayed to the person operating the machine via a control circuit 17.

Die einen Lichtsender 18 und einen Lichtempfänger 19 aufweisende optische Abtasteinrichtung 15 ist an einem aufrecht angeordneten Arm 20 in der Aufnahmevorrichtung 1 befestigt. Weiterhin weist die Aufnahmevorrichtung 1 ein bewegbar angeordnetes Abdeckelement für die Abtastelemente der Abtasteinrichtungen auf, das beim Aufsetzen der Farbbandspulen bzw. der Farbbandkassette 2 auf die Aufnahmevorrichtung 1 in der Maschine durch ein Ausbildungsmerkmal der Farbbandspulen bzw. der Farbbandkassette 2 in eine die Abtastelemente der Abtasteinrichtungen zum Abtasten der Markierungen an dem Farbbandende freigebenden Stellung beweg- und bei Entnahme der Farbbandspulen bzw. der Farbbandkassette 2 in die Abdeckstellung der Abtastelemente der Abtastenrichtungen rückstellbar angeordnet ist. So sind gemäß den Figuren 1 und 2 die Sender- 18 und Empfängerflächen 19 der optischen Abtasteinrichtung 15 durch das Abdekkelement 24 abdeck- und reinigbar. Das Abdeckelement 24 weist auf seiner mit den Sender- 18 und den Empfängerflächen 19 zusammenwirkenden Abdeckfläche ein Abstreifmaterial auf. Dieses Abstreifmaterial der Abdeckfläche weist eine schwarze Färbung auf, derart, daß die Maschine bei abgenommener Farbbandkassette 2 von der Aufnahmevorrichtung 1 z.B. für Wachs-Beschriftung schreib- und funktionsbereit ist. Das Abstreifmaterial des Abdeckelementes 24 besteht gemäß den Figuren 1 und 2 aus einer schwarzen Bürste 25. In der Figur 1 befindet sich das Abdekkelement 24 in der Abdeckstellung für die optische Abtasteinrichtung 15, wobei die Farbbandkassette 2 von der Aufnahmevorrichtung 1 entfernt worden ist. Das Abdeckelement 24 ist an einem freien Ende 26 einer mit dem anderen Ende 27 fest mit der Aufnahmevorrichtung 1 verbundenen Blattfeder 28 angeordnet. Die Blattfeder 28 weist einen aufrecht angeordneten Stift 29 mit einem Anschlagkopf 30 für den Boden 14 des Bodenteils 12 der Farbbandkassette 2 auf.The optical scanning device 15, which has a light transmitter 18 and a light receiver 19, is fastened to an upright arm 20 in the receiving device 1. Furthermore, the recording device 1 has a movably arranged cover element for the scanning elements of the scanning devices, which, when the ribbon spools or the ribbon cassette 2 is placed on the recording device 1 in the machine, by a design feature of the ribbon spools or the ribbon cassette 2 in one of the scanning elements of the scanning devices Scanning of the markings at the position releasing the ribbon is movable and is arranged to be resettable when the ribbon spools or the ribbon cassette 2 are removed into the covering position of the scanning elements of the scanning directions. Thus, according to FIGS. 1 and 2, the transmitter 18 and receiver surfaces 19 of the optical scanning device 15 can be covered and cleaned by the covering element 24. The cover element 24 has a stripping material on its cover surface which interacts with the transmitter 18 and the receiver surfaces 19. This stripping material of the cover surface has a black color, such that the machine is ready for writing and functioning, for example, for wax lettering when the ink ribbon cassette 2 has been removed from the receiving device 1. The stripping material of the cover element 24 is made 1 and 2 from a black brush 25. In FIG. 1, the cover element 24 is in the cover position for the optical scanning device 15, the ink ribbon cassette 2 having been removed from the receiving device 1. The cover element 24 is arranged on a free end 26 of a leaf spring 28 which is fixedly connected to the receiving device 1 at the other end 27. The leaf spring 28 has an upright pin 29 with a stop head 30 for the bottom 14 of the bottom part 12 of the ribbon cassette 2.

Beim Aufsetzen der Farbbandkassette 2 auf die Aufnahmevorrichtung 1 gelangt der Boden 14 der Farbbandkassette 2 mit dem Anschlagkopf 30 des Stiftes 29 in Berührung, derart, daß die Blattfeder 28 mit dem Abdeckelement 24 im Uhrzeigersinn verschwenkt wird. Hierbei gelangt gemäß Figur 2 die Bürste 25 des Abdeckelementes 24 außer Eingriffsstellung mit den Sende- 18 und den Empfängerflächen 19 der optischen Abtasteinrichtung 15. Bei dieser Aufsetzbewegung der Farbbandkassette 2 gelangen die Sender- 18 und die Empfängerflächen 19 der optischen Einrichtung 15 durch die Ausnehmung 10 in dem Boden 14 vor das Farbband 3 in Arbeitsstellung. Zu Beginn des Abwickelvorganges des Farbbandes 3 von der Vorratsspule 4 wird die schwarze Beschichtung des Farbbandes 3 berührungslos an den Flächen 18, 19 der optischen Einrichtung 15 vorbeigeführt. Da das von dem Lichtsender 18 der optischen Abtasteinrichtung 15 ausgesendete Licht durch die schwarze Schicht des Farbbandes 3 nicht reflektiert wird, empfängt der Lichtempfänger 19 auch kein Licht. In diesem Fall wird auch kein Steuersignal an die Steuerschaltung 17 gegeben.When the ink ribbon cassette 2 is placed on the receiving device 1, the bottom 14 of the ink ribbon cassette 2 comes into contact with the stop head 30 of the pin 29 such that the leaf spring 28 is pivoted clockwise with the cover element 24. 2, the brush 25 of the cover element 24 comes out of engagement with the transmitter 18 and the receiver surfaces 19 of the optical scanning device 15. During this mounting movement of the ink ribbon cassette 2, the transmitter 18 and the receiver surfaces 19 of the optical device 15 pass through the recess 10 in the bottom 14 in front of the ribbon 3 in the working position. At the beginning of the unwinding process of the ink ribbon 3 from the supply reel 4, the black coating of the ink ribbon 3 is guided past the surfaces 18, 19 of the optical device 15 without contact. Since the light emitted by the light transmitter 18 of the optical scanning device 15 is not reflected by the black layer of the ink ribbon 3, the light receiver 19 also receives no light. In this case, no control signal is given to the control circuit 17.

Das Ende des Farbbandes 2 weist auf seiner Farbschichtseite 31 eine lichtreflektierende Schicht 32 als Markierungsfläche auf. Gelangt diese lichtreflektierende Schicht 32 in den Bereich der optischen Abtasteinrichtung 15, dann empfängt der Lichtempfänger 19 das von dem Lichtsender 18 ausgesandte Licht. Hierdurch wird ein Steuerimpuls an die Steuerschaltung 17 über die Leitungen 21, 22, 23 gegeben, die dann Empfängersignale zum Auslösen eines Farbbandendesignals erzuegt. Das Farbbandende kann der die Maschinen bedienenden Person durch ein optisches oder auch akustisches Signal angezeigt werden Auch ist es möglich, daß die Steuerschaltung die Maschine betriebsunfähig macht.The end of the ink ribbon 2 has on its ink layer side 31 a light-reflecting layer 32 as a marking area. If this light-reflecting layer 32 reaches the area of the optical scanning device 15, then the light receiver 19 receives the light emitted by the light transmitter 18. As a result, a control pulse is given to the control circuit 17 via the lines 21, 22, 23, which then generates receiver signals for triggering a ribbon end signal. The end of the ribbon can be indicated to the person operating the machine by an optical or acoustic signal. It is also possible that the control circuit renders the machine inoperative.

Wenn die Farbbandkassette 2 von der Aufnahmevorrichtung 1 entfernt wird, dann streicht die Bürste 25 des Abdeckelementes 24 über die Lichtsende- 18 und die Lichtempfängerflächen 19 der optischen Einrichtung 15 in die Abdeckstellung. Durch dieses Abdecken der optischen Einrichtung wird vermieden, daß die Lichtsender- 18 und die Lichtempfängerflächen 19 bei abgenommener Farbbandkassette 2 verschmutzen. Außerdem werden durch die Auf- und Abwärtsbewegung der Bürste 25 mit dem Abdeckelement 24 Staubteilchen von den Flächen 18, 19 der optischen Einrichtung 15 entfernt, wodurch ein zu spätes Anzeigen des Farbbandendes sicher vermieden wird.When the ink ribbon cassette 2 is removed from the receiving device 1, the brush 25 of the cover element 24 sweeps over the light emitting surfaces 18 and the light receiving surfaces 19 of the optical device 15 into the covering position. This covering of the optical device prevents the light transmitter 18 and the light receiver surfaces 19 from becoming dirty when the ink ribbon cassette 2 is removed. In addition, dust particles are removed from the surfaces 18, 19 of the optical device 15 by the upward and downward movement of the brush 25 with the cover element 24, as a result of which a late indication of the ribbon end is reliably avoided.

Das Abdeckelement 24 mit der Bürste 25 kann selbstverständlich auch mit einer anderen elektrisch steuerbaren Abtasteinrichtung in Wirkverbindung gebracht werden. So ist in der Figur 3 eine elektrische Abtasteinrichtung 16 dargestellt, deren Kontaktstifte 33, 34 federnde Kontaktzungen 35, 36 aufweisen, die eine elektrisch leitende Schicht 37 des Farbbandes 3 abtasten. Diese Kontaktfederzungen 35, 36 können bei abgenommener Farbbandkassette von der Aufnahmevorrichtung 1 durch die Bürsten 25 des Abdeckelementes 24 abgedeckt und gereinigt werden. Da das Farbband 3 gemäß der Figur 3 auf der Farbschichtseite 31 eine lichtreflektierende Schicht 32 aufweist und auf der der Farbschichtseite 31 gegenüberliegenden Rückseite eine elektrisch leitende Schicht 37 trägt, ist es möglich, daß das Farbbandende sowohl über eine berührungslos arbeitende optische Abtasteinrichtung 15 als auch über eine mit dem Farbband 3 direkt in Berührung stehende elektrische Abtasteinrichtung 16 anzeigbar ist. Daher ist die Farbbandkassette in Schreibmaschinen mit einer optischen oder auch einer elektrischen Abtasteinrichtung wahlweise einsetzbar.The cover element 24 with the brush 25 can of course also be brought into operative connection with another electrically controllable scanning device. An electrical scanning device 16 is shown in FIG. 3, the contact pins 33, 34 of which have resilient contact tongues 35, 36 which scan an electrically conductive layer 37 of the ink ribbon 3. When the ink ribbon cassette has been removed, these contact spring tongues 35, 36 can be covered and cleaned by the holding device 1 by the brushes 25 of the cover element 24. Since the ink ribbon 3 according to FIG. 3 has a light-reflecting layer 32 on the ink layer side 31 and carries an electrically conductive layer 37 on the rear side opposite the ink layer side 31, it is possible for the ink ribbon end to be both via a contactless optical scanning device 15 and via an electrical scanning device 16 which is in direct contact with the ink ribbon 3 can be displayed. Therefore, the ribbon cassette can be used optionally in typewriters with an optical or an electrical scanner.

Claims (11)

1. A ribbon device in typewriters or similar business machines having a ribbon (3) which is arranged inside a cassette (2) and can be used once only and which is moved through the printing station by a driving device and is unwound from a delivery spool (4) and wound onto a take-up spool (5), having a scanning device (15, 16) disposed on a receiving device (1) for the ribbon spools (4, 5) or for the ribbon cassette (2) in the machine for scanning markings which can be scanned and which are arranged at the end of the ribbon, and a control circuit (17) to process the receiver signals which can be produced by the scanning device (15, 16), in order to release an end-of-ribbon signal, characterised by a covering element (24) for the scanning elements of the scanning device (15, 16), which covering element, when the ribbon spools or the ribbon cassette (2) is placed on the receiving device (1) in the machine, is adapted to be moved, by a construction feature of the ribbon spools or of the ribbon cassette (2), into a position freeing the scanning elements of the scanning device (15, 16) for scanning the markings at the end of the ribbon and, on removal of the ribbon spools or the ribbon cassette (2) is adapted to be restored into the position covering the scanning elements of the scanning device (15, 16) and by means of which (24) the scanning elements of the scanning devie (15, 16) can be cleaned.
2. A device according to Claim 1, wherein the markings at the rear end of the ribbon consist of a light-reflecting or light-emitting marking surface which can be scanned by an optical scanning device to indicate the end of the ribbon, characterised in that when the ribbon cassette (2) is removed from the receiving device (1 the optical scanning device (15) can be covered by the covering element (24), no light reflection being effected when the optical scanning device is covered in such a manner that the machine is ready for use, for example for typing stencils.
3. A device according to Claim 1, wherein the ribbon is provided at its end with a light-reflecting marking surface and the optical scanning device consists of an optical transmitter and an optical receiver, characterised in that the transmitter (18) and receiver (19) surfaces of the optical scanning device (15) can be covered and cleaned by the covering element (24).
4. A device according to Claim 3, characterised in that the covering element (24) comprises a wiping material on its covering surface cooperating with the transmitter (18) and receiver (19) surfaces.
5. A device according to Claim 4, characterised in that the wiping material is coloured black.
6. A device according to Claim 4 or 5, characterised in that the wiping material-consists of a black brush (25).
7. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the ribbon disposed inside a cassette can be guided from a delivery spool via two guide channels arranged spaced apart from one another through the printing station and be wound up again on a take-up spool, characterised in that the ribbon cassette (2) has, in the bottom (14) of the cup-shaped bottom portion (12), an opening (10) through which the transmitter (18) and the receiver (19) of the optical scanning device (15) can be pushed into the scanning position in front of the ribbon (3).
8. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the covering element (24) is disposed at a free end (26) of a leaf spring (28) which is rigidly connected to the receiving device (1) by the other end (27), and that the leaf spring (28) comprises a pin (29) which is arranged upright and has an impact head (30) which can be brought into engagement with the bottom (14) of the bottom portion (12) of the ribbon cassette (2) to pivot the covering element (24).
9. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the transmitter (18) and the receiver (19) of the optical scanning device (15) are rigidly mounted on an arm (20) arranged vertically in the receiving device (1) and that the covering element (24) with the brush (25) is mounted for pivoting in front of the scanning device (15).
10. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the ribbon disposed in a cassette is a ribbon coated on one side, for example a carbon ribbon, characterised in that the end of the ribbon comprises a light-reflecting layer (32) at the coated side (31) and carries an electrically conducting layer (37) on the back opposite the coated side (31) in such a manner that the end of the ribbon can be indicated both via an optical scanning device (15) working without contact and via an electrical scanning device (16) which is in direct contact with the ribbon (3).
11. A device according to Claim 10, characterised in that the bottom portion (12) has openings (10) for the passage of the optical (15) or of the electrical scanning device (16) to scan the ribbon (3) when the ribbon cassette (2) is placed on the receiving device (1).
EP87115469A 1987-01-12 1987-10-22 End-of-ribbon indicating device for typewriters and the like Expired - Lifetime EP0274583B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE3700636A DE3700636C1 (en) 1987-01-12 1987-01-12 Ribbon device in typewriters or similar office machines
DE3700636 1987-01-12

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0274583A1 EP0274583A1 (en) 1988-07-20
EP0274583B1 true EP0274583B1 (en) 1991-01-09

Family

ID=6318689

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP87115469A Expired - Lifetime EP0274583B1 (en) 1987-01-12 1987-10-22 End-of-ribbon indicating device for typewriters and the like

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US4820125A (en)
EP (1) EP0274583B1 (en)
JP (1) JPS63218391A (en)
DE (2) DE3700636C1 (en)

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3710251A1 (en) * 1987-03-28 1988-10-13 Olympia Aeg Ink-ribbon cartridge for typewriters or office machines of similar design
US5057930A (en) * 1990-02-08 1991-10-15 Smith Corona Corporation Plain paper cartridge for facsimile machine
US5060076A (en) * 1990-02-08 1991-10-22 Smith Corona Corporation Thermal paper cartridge for facsimile machine
US5089897A (en) * 1990-02-08 1992-02-18 Smith Corona Corporation Facsimile paper supply cartridge system
US5369285A (en) * 1992-08-24 1994-11-29 Exabyte Corporation Method and apparatus for optical detection of cleaning medium in an information storage drive
US6089768A (en) * 1998-05-05 2000-07-18 Printronix, Inc. Print ribbon feeder and detection system
USD458295S1 (en) 2000-07-27 2002-06-04 Iimak Printer cassette
USD453179S1 (en) 2000-07-27 2002-01-29 Iimak Printer cassette

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US4115013A (en) * 1977-03-30 1978-09-19 Xerox Corporation End-of-ribbon sensor device
US4212552A (en) * 1978-11-06 1980-07-15 International Business Machines Corporation Impact printer cardholder with integral ribbon guide and end of ribbon sensor
JPS56130038A (en) * 1980-03-15 1981-10-12 Omron Tateisi Electronics Co Photoelectric switch
US4450454A (en) * 1980-11-20 1984-05-22 Epson Corporation Small size ink jet printer
US4479730A (en) * 1981-06-05 1984-10-30 Ricoh Company, Ltd. Ribbon cartridge
DE3128859C2 (en) * 1981-07-22 1983-05-19 Triumph-Adler Aktiengesellschaft für Büro- und Informationstechnik, 8500 Nürnberg Reflex light barrier
US4401394A (en) * 1981-10-13 1983-08-30 Xerox Corporation Universal end of ribbon sensing system
JPS5955781A (en) * 1982-09-27 1984-03-30 Nec Corp Printing head cleaning system
JPS59199279A (en) * 1983-04-28 1984-11-12 Ricoh Co Ltd Thermal transfer type printer
JPS6092871A (en) * 1983-10-27 1985-05-24 Fujitsu Ltd Thermal printer
JPS61121985A (en) * 1984-11-20 1986-06-09 Canon Inc Apparatus for detecting tape material part
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DE3607228A1 (en) * 1986-03-05 1987-09-10 Siemens Ag Device for the automatic rinsing of an ink jet print head

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS63218391A (en) 1988-09-12
DE3700636C1 (en) 1988-05-26
EP0274583A1 (en) 1988-07-20
US4820125A (en) 1989-04-11
DE3767296D1 (en) 1991-02-14

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