EP0927642B1 - Ink ribbon cartridge - Google Patents
Ink ribbon cartridge Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0927642B1 EP0927642B1 EP19980124701 EP98124701A EP0927642B1 EP 0927642 B1 EP0927642 B1 EP 0927642B1 EP 19980124701 EP19980124701 EP 19980124701 EP 98124701 A EP98124701 A EP 98124701A EP 0927642 B1 EP0927642 B1 EP 0927642B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- ribbon
- shell
- cartridge
- printer
- guiding element
- 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
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- 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
- B41J33/00—Apparatus or arrangements for feeding ink ribbons or like character-size impression-transfer material
- B41J33/02—Ribbon arrangements
- B41J33/06—Ribbons associated, but not moving, with typewriter platens, e.g. extending transversely to the length of the platen
- B41J33/08—Ribbons associated, but not moving, with typewriter platens, e.g. extending transversely to the length of the platen and extending parallel to the length of the platen
-
- 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
- B41J32/00—Ink-ribbon cartridges
-
- 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
- B41J32/00—Ink-ribbon cartridges
- B41J32/02—Ink-ribbon cartridges for endless ribbons
-
- 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
- B41J35/04—Ink-ribbon guides
- B41J35/08—Ink-ribbon guides with tensioning arrangements
Definitions
- This invention relates to a print or typing cartridge, comprising a shell and an ink ribbon housed inside the shell to form a store of ink ribbon, wherein the cartridge is arranged to be removably fitted in a printer for the purpose of printing, or typing, a line of print by means of the ink ribbon.
- the known art comprises numerous examples of cartridges, usually intended to be used on a needle type printer, having the characteristics outlined above.
- these known type cartridges are arranged to be stably disposed with their shell in a prearranged seat in the printer for feeding, when in use, the ink ribbon towards a printing zone of the printer, where the ribbon is subjected to the generally impact type action of a printhead of the same printer in order to print the line of print.
- the known cartridges are normally provided with one or more guides made as one piece with the shell and suitable for guiding the movement of the ribbon to and from the printing zone.
- these guides define a predetermined path for the ribbon intended to enable the latter to reach the printing zone when coming from the shell wherein the ribbon is stored, and then to leave the printing zone and return again to the shell, after the ribbon has been used for printing.
- Document US-A-4 486 107 discloses a print cartridge comprising a case, a ribbon supply roll and a ribbon take-up roll which are coaxially accommodated in the case, and two articulated ribbon guides which are mounted on pivot blocks arranged at two opposite sides of the case, wherein each of the articulated ribbon guide is composed by a primery arm and by a secondary arm.
- the two articulated ribbon guides are arranged rotated at a right angle with respect to the plane of the case for guiding respectively towards a printing zone the ribbon out going from the case, and for guiding the same ribbon, after it has been used for printing, back to the case.
- the object of this invention is accordingly that of producing an ink ribbon cartridge suitable for being fitted in a printer having a relative printing zone at a considerable distance from the seat prearranged in the printer for housing the shell of the cartridge, and comprising in particular a ribbon feeding plane inside the printing zone that is very different from the plane defined by the seat, and also of producing a cartridge that is of compact dimensions and easily manipulated by its user.
- Another object of this invention is that of producing an ink ribbon cartridge of the above type in which the ribbon is guided and its tension is controlled in a more efficient way, with respect to the solutions of the prior art, while the ribbon advances along the two different planes respectively defined by the seat and adjacent to the print zone.
- a cartridge according to this invention and containing a ribbon 12 impregnated with ink is generically indicated with the numeral 10.
- the cartridge 10 When in use, the cartridge 10 is arranged to be fitted in a printer, not depicted in the drawings, provided with a printhead, for the purpose of printing, by way of the action exerted on the ribbon 12 by the printhead, a line of print on a printing medium, such as for instance a sheet of paper, in correspondence with a printing zone of the printer .
- the cartridge 10 comprises a hollow, flat shaped shell 11, housing the ribbon 12 inside and accordingly forming a ribbon store 13, and additionally arranged to be placed and fixed in an appropriate, prearranged seat in the printer; and also a feeding device 14 of the ribbon 12 comprising a pair of gearwheels 16 disposed at the entrance of the ribbon 12 in the store 13.
- the two gearwheels 16 are urged one against the other so as to mesh together, with the ribbon 12 in between, by a spring 15 acting on a mobile support 30, upon which one of the gearwheels 16 is rotatingly fitted. Further, the two gearwheels 16 are suitable for being rotated in the direction of the arrow 17 by a motor shaft of the printer in order to push the ribbon into the store 13, so that the ribbon is disposed therein forming a plurality of turns, and for feeding the ribbon 12 according to the direction indicated by the arrow 18 (Fig. 2).
- the ink ribbon 12 is, for example, of the endless type, namely it is formed by a closed loop of ribbon, and is additionally liable to perform a semi-rotation about itself, as is well-known in the sector art, in the area of a twisting zone 19, so as to present its two faces alternatively to the printing medium, and accordingly uniformly distribute ribbon wear and ink consumption between the two faces of the ribbon 12 itself.
- the cartridge 10 also comprises a guide body 20, slidingly coupled with a portion of the ribbon 12 extending outside the shell 11, and arranged to be fitted on a movable carriage of the printer, so that when the carriage moves back and forward parallel to the line of print, the guide body 20 also moves integrally with the carriage back and forward in the directions indicated by the arrows 28 in order to guide the ribbon 12 immediately facing the line of print, as it is printed.
- the ribbon 12 is appropriately guided, for example by posts, so as to follow a predetermined feeding path both downstream of the store 13, and also upstream of the latter, and so as to reach again the store 13, after it has been used for printing.
- the cartridge 10 is also provided with means for constantly maintaining the ribbon 12 taut for correct use thereof during printing, comprising for example a leaf spring 25 acting directly on the ribbon 12 to exert a sliding friction on the latter as it is fed due to the rotation of the gearwheels 16.
- the cartridge 10 is provided with two arms or guiding elements, 21 and 22, having an elongated shape and fulcrum-mounted at one end on the sides of the shell 11 to guide the ink ribbon 12, while it is being fed outside the shell 11.
- the arm 21 is arranged to guide the ribbon 12 coming from the store 13 towards the printing zone, and has a pin 23 pivotingly fitted in a seat made in a first side of the shell.
- the arm 22 is arranged to guide the ribbon 12 coming away from the printing zone towards the store 13, and has a pin 24 rotating in a seat made in a second side, opposite the first side, of the shell 11.
- Either arm 21 and 22 is provided, at the end opposite that fulcrum-mounted on the shell 11, with a slot 31 through which the ribbon 12 extends for sliding during printing.
- the two arms 21 and 22 are suitable for rotating with respect to the shell 11 according to the directions indicated by the arrow 32 to assume, when the cartridge is not fitted in the printer, an idle position, represented by a dot and dash line, wherein the two arms 21 and 22 are withdrawn upon the shell 11, i.e. are arranged along the sides of the latter; and to assume, when the cartridge 11 is fitted in the printer, a work position, represented by an unbroken line, wherein the two arms 21 and 22 are rotated with respect to the shell 11, so as to distance themselves from the latter with their end opposite the end which is fulcrum-mounted.
- the cartridge 10 once fitted in the printer, allows guiding of the ribbon 12 from the shell 11 to the printing zone and then from the latter back to the shell 11, despite the fact that the ribbon 12 is fed in the area of the printing zone along a plane that is at an angle to that along which the same ribbon 12 is fed inside the shell 11.
- the cartridge 10 is compact and without any protruding parts when it is not fitted in the printer, so that the part may be packaged for shipping in a simply shaped, small-size box.
- the cartridge 10 When in use, the cartridge 10 is fitted in the printer by setting and blocking the shell 11 in the seat expressly made in the printer, and by rotating the two arms 21 and 22 with respect to the shell 11 so as to put them in the correct position for guiding the ribbon in the area of the printing zone. More particularly, the two arms 21 and 22 are blocked in their correct positions, with respect both to the shell 11 and to the printer frame, by way of blocking means not depicted in the drawings and already provided in the printer.
- the ribbon 12, when the cartridge 10 is fitted in the printer and in correspondence with the zone where the arms 21 and 22 are fulcrum-mounted on the shell 11, is subject to a change in its feeding plane. More specifically, the ribbon 12 inside the shell 11 is fed along a first feeding plane parallel to the shell 11 itself, whereas the ribbon 12, outside the shell 11, namely along the arms 21 and 22 and in the area of the printing zone, is fed along a second feeding plane, inclined with respect to the first one and defined by the rotated position of the arms 21 and 22 with respect to the shell 11.
- the shell 11 is provided at its sides, adjacent to the zones where the two arms 21 and 22 are fulcrum-mounted, with two inclined edges 27 which link the trajectory of the ribbon 12 along the first feeding plane parallel to the shell 11 with the trajectory of the ribbon 12 along the second plane parallel to the rotated position of the arms 21 and 22.
- the cartridge 10 may be removed from the printer by extracting the shell 11 from its seat and rotating the arms 21 and 22 so as to withdraw them with respect to the shell 11.
- the cartridge 10 when not being used for printing, is of compact dimensions and may be stored away quite easily. It remains understood that changes and/or improvements may be made to the print cartridge described up to now, without departing from the scope of the scope of the appended claims.
Landscapes
- Impression-Transfer Materials And Handling Thereof (AREA)
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
ITTO971144 IT1297349B1 (it) | 1997-12-29 | 1997-12-29 | Cartuccia per nastro inchiostrato di scrittura |
ITTO971144 | 1997-12-29 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0927642A1 EP0927642A1 (en) | 1999-07-07 |
EP0927642B1 true EP0927642B1 (en) | 2003-03-12 |
Family
ID=11416236
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP19980124701 Expired - Lifetime EP0927642B1 (en) | 1997-12-29 | 1998-12-23 | Ink ribbon cartridge |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0927642B1 (it) |
DE (1) | DE69812058T2 (it) |
IT (1) | IT1297349B1 (it) |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE29818398U1 (de) * | 1998-10-15 | 2000-02-24 | PSi Printer Systems international GmbH, 57080 Siegen | Farbbandkassette mit einer Farbbandführung für Schreibgeräte |
Family Cites Families (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JPS6310305Y2 (it) * | 1980-12-11 | 1988-03-28 | ||
US4486107A (en) * | 1982-09-24 | 1984-12-04 | Willcox Frederick P | Ribbon guiding and directing structure and cartridge |
JPS60171357U (ja) * | 1984-04-23 | 1985-11-13 | 沖電気工業株式会社 | リボンカ−トリツジ |
US4728207A (en) * | 1986-08-25 | 1988-03-01 | Xerox Corporation | Ribbon cartridge with pivotable ribbon guide arms |
-
1997
- 1997-12-29 IT ITTO971144 patent/IT1297349B1/it active IP Right Grant
-
1998
- 1998-12-23 DE DE69812058T patent/DE69812058T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1998-12-23 EP EP19980124701 patent/EP0927642B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP0927642A1 (en) | 1999-07-07 |
DE69812058T2 (de) | 2004-03-04 |
IT1297349B1 (it) | 1999-09-01 |
DE69812058D1 (de) | 2003-04-17 |
ITTO971144A1 (it) | 1999-06-29 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US4669902A (en) | Multitrack ribbon cartridge for printing machines | |
US4397574A (en) | Reloadable ribbon cassette | |
EP0914960B1 (en) | Image recording device having detachable web roll cassette | |
US4934847A (en) | Thermal transfer printer with ribbon tensioning mechanism | |
JP2009269319A (ja) | カッター付きプリンタ | |
US4341480A (en) | Feed mechanism for continuous and cut form paper | |
JPS5917955B2 (ja) | プリンタ用リボン・カ−トリツジ | |
US4741639A (en) | Cartridge for an inked ribbon with a re-inking pad | |
EP0927642B1 (en) | Ink ribbon cartridge | |
US5709487A (en) | Ribbon cassette with guide member | |
JPH0651417B2 (ja) | リボンカ−トリツジ | |
US4611937A (en) | Ribbon feed mechanism for a printer | |
EP0287365B1 (en) | Printer having pivotable ribbon guide | |
US6412995B2 (en) | Printing apparatus and platen with a plurality of impact surfaces | |
JPS62221584A (ja) | リボンガイド機構を備えた印字装置 | |
US5007749A (en) | Cartridge including tension means for a typewriter correction ribbon | |
EP0016657B1 (en) | Cartridge for an inked ribbon for typewriters and the like | |
US4405247A (en) | Fully self-contained disposable cartridge for inked ribbons and the like | |
EP0338970B1 (en) | High-symbol density printer cartridge | |
US9056513B2 (en) | Ink ribbon cartridge and printer | |
US5074689A (en) | Ribbon cassette with integral paper guide | |
US4758105A (en) | Ribbon cassette with guide mechanism | |
GB1565189A (en) | Printer | |
JPS6354558B2 (it) | ||
JPH04189166A (ja) | プリンタ |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): DE FR GB |
|
AX | Request for extension of the european patent |
Free format text: AL;LT;LV;MK;RO;SI |
|
17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 19991215 |
|
AKX | Designation fees paid |
Free format text: AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE |
|
RBV | Designated contracting states (corrected) |
Designated state(s): DE FR GB |
|
RBV | Designated contracting states (corrected) |
Designated state(s): AT BE DE FR GB |
|
RBV | Designated contracting states (corrected) |
Designated state(s): DE FR GB |
|
17Q | First examination report despatched |
Effective date: 20010214 |
|
GRAG | Despatch of communication of intention to grant |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS AGRA |
|
GRAG | Despatch of communication of intention to grant |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS AGRA |
|
GRAH | Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA |
|
RAP1 | Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred) |
Owner name: OLIVETTI TECNOST S.P.A. |
|
GRAH | Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA |
|
GRAA | (expected) grant |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Designated state(s): DE FR GB |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: GB Ref legal event code: FG4D |
|
REF | Corresponds to: |
Ref document number: 69812058 Country of ref document: DE Date of ref document: 20030417 Kind code of ref document: P |
|
ET | Fr: translation filed | ||
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: GB Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20031223 |
|
PLBE | No opposition filed within time limit |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261 |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT |
|
26N | No opposition filed |
Effective date: 20031215 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: DE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20040701 |
|
GBPC | Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 20031223 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: FR Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20040831 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: FR Ref legal event code: ST |