JPS5884787A - Ribbon cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a typewriter, and more particularly to a cartridge containing an ink ribbon or so-called carbon ribbon used in a typewriter.

It is known to place ribbons of the type cited in flat cassettes similar to the type of cassette in which magnetic recording tapes are placed. This allows the user to install and remove the ribbon with minimal ribbon handling.

Although the majority of the ribbon can always be contained in a cassette, until now it has been difficult to pull out a portion of the ribbon and pass it through a ribbon guide to a platen and typing device, such as a rotating spherical typing element or a so-called daisy-wheel typing element. It was necessary to insert it between the elements.

The object of the invention is to provide a cassette for a ribbon of the cited type, which allows its installation and removal without handling the ribbon.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a cassette containing an ink ribbon, carbon ribbon, or the like used in a typewriter or printer is provided. The typewriter or printer described above includes an integral and movable ribbon guide through which the ribbon is permanently threaded. The ribbon guide is also movable transversely to the length of the ribbon trajectory, thereby causing lateral displacement of the ribbon. Thus, in use, different areas across the width of the ribbon can be aligned with typing or printing elements.

Preferably, the integral ribbon guide includes a frame slidable within a slot guide in the cassette housing wall.

As a variant, the guide is a ring with one end movable arm and the other end fixed to the cassette.

Preferably, the arm is elastically displaceable relative to its fixed point.

In the preferred embodiment, the ribbon guide is a loop formed in one end of the spring steel wire, which is remote from where the wire is attached to the cassette.

-0- The invention also resides in a typewriter or printer in which a ribbon cassette of the type described is installed. The typewriter or printer includes an actuator that moves a ribbon guide in a direction transverse to the length of the ribbon. Thereby, different areas of the ribbon are aligned with the typing elements of a typewriter or printer.

According to another aspect of the invention, a cassette for storing ink ribbon, carbon ribbon, etc. for use in a typewriter or printer includes a 2 m arm that at least partially defines a ribbon trajectory between the exits of the ribbon; and a gap in the two arms forming the daisy wheel petal guide.

A second aspect of the invention may be combined with the advantages associated with an integral movable ribbon guide coupled to the cassette and positioned at a point along the ribbon trajectory. The guide is movable in a direction transverse to the ribbon trajectory, thus presenting different areas of the ribbon to the daisy wheel bevel.

Typically, a movable ribbon guide is placed on one side of the gap forming the daisy wheel petal guide.

The invention therefore also resides in a daisy-wheel typewriter or printer fitted with a ribbon cassette of the type described. A daisy-wheel typewriter or printer has two fs protruding from the cassette.
a daisy-wheel printing element protruding through a cutout area in the cassette toward the rear of the ribbon trajectory defined in part by the arms of A; and sequentially advancing selected betas of the daisy-wheel toward the rear of the ribbon. and actuator means for causing an imprint of the petal printing element during use. Here, the advancing petal is aligned between the gaps in the two arms making up the petal guide and thereby guided to its printing position.

Thus, the present invention allows the ribbon cassette to be attached to a typewriter without any handling of the ribbon or without any insertion of the ribbon into the ribbon guide or around the members forming the petal guide. or inserted into a printer, or replaced after use.

Other advantages of the invention are as follows. That is, the ribbon is better protected within the cassette because the ribbon guide is an integral part of the cassette and only the free portion of the ribbon needs to be struck by a typing element such as a daisy wheel petal. The free part of the ribbon is less likely to be accidentally damaged or caught on a protruding element during loading or the like.

Thus, the present invention has significant advantages over conventional devices. In conventional devices, the ribbon 9-guides and beta guides are mounted separately from the cassette, and the loops of ribbon from the cassette are pulled out and stitched through such guides before the typewriter or printer is used. It was necessary to pass.

By using a C-spring steel or similar arm for the ribbon guide support and by moving the arm against the resiliency of the spring steel forming the arm, the return movement in the opposite direction is achieved within the spring arm. This can be done easily by the restoring force.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a ribbon cassette embodying both aspects of the invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a typewriter in which cassette 1- is disposed.

In the drawings, the ribbon cassette is shown with a generally flat and narrow housing 10 of conventional configuration, within which there are winding and tearing reels 10- (not shown) for the ribbon. ) is stored. The ribbon extends from one reel to the other through the guides of two extension arms 12 and 14 within the housing. The two extension arms 12 and 14 extend across the cutout area 16 and meet approximately centrally. There, the two ends 18 and 20 define a gap 22.

Opposing ends 18 and 20 are chamfered with careful selection of gap size and bevel angle, so that when the cassette is placed in the typewriter, the ends 18 and 20 of the 2WA are may act as a beta guide for the beta of a daisy wheel (not shown) below.

Only the exposed portion of the ribbon is designated by reference numeral 24. When assembling the cassette, the ribbon is threaded across the outer surfaces of ends 18 and 20 from one arm 12 to the other arm 14.

For this purpose, slots 26 and 28 are formed in the arms 12 and 14 just ahead of the ends 18 and 20, so that the ends 18 and 20 are in the form of upright claws, as shown. ing.

Slot 26 is made larger than slot 28, thereby allowing a loop of wire 30 to be placed therein. A loop is formed at the end of the bent wire element, the first section 32 of which passes through a guide hole 34 in the arm 12.

The second section 36 of the wire element extends generally at right angles to the first section 32 and the third section 38 is bent at right angles to the second section located on the underside of the cassette 12. ing.

The wire elements 32, 36 and 38 constitute a movable support for the loop 30 which is displaceable upwards in response to the upward bending movement of the section 36. Reverse movement is accomplished by reverse movement of section 36.

The inner end of section 38 may be held moored within a cavity (not shown), thus allowing section 38 to
6. The upward or downward translation movement of the hollow guide hole 34
causing sliding movement of sections 32 and 38 within. In this case, elements 32, 36 and 38 are formed from a relatively rigid, non-stretchable material.

Alternatively, at least section 36 may be formed from a stretchable material (e.g. spring steel) and end 3
8 may be fixed within the cassette. Movement of the loop 30 is then ensured by applying a force pushing the section 36 upwardly against the spring biasing force of the material;
The reverse movement is also ensured by removing the upward pushing force and restoring the elasticity of the material to its unbiased position.

Therefore, the cassette contains <a> loop - 30 ml
ribbon guides and slots 26 and 28 of (b
) movable ribbon lifting arms 36 and 32;
c) a daisy wheel petal guide formed by the chamfered opposing ends 18 and 20 of the arms 12 and 113-4 of the 2@.

Additionally, the ribbon portion extending between the reels (not shown) is completely contained and protected by cassette arms 12 and 14 except for a small distance between slots 26 and 28. There is no need to handle the ribbon when installing or removing it.

The invention also finds particular use in the field of toy typewriters. In that field, it is clearly desirable that children not be required to handle delicate and carbonized ribbons.

The illustrated cassette may be modified for use with rotary typing elements as follows. That is, in that case, the gear 1 between the ends 18 and 20
Large comb and/or arms 12 and 1
The upright claw at the end of 24 will be removed.

If additional guidance for the ribbon is required 14-, slot 28 may be enlarged and a second loop (not shown) similar to loop 30 is inserted within the enlarged slot 2B. may be placed in The second loop is also located at the upper end of the second bent wire element, etc.

As an alternative to the use of reels, endless loops of ribbon may be employed.

FIG. 2 shows a typewriter into which a cassette of the type shown in FIG. 1 is fitted.

The typewriter includes a housing, generally designated by the reference numeral 100, a keyboard, generally designated by the reference numeral 102, and a raised platform 1.
04. The platforms 104 are themselves cut out and each accept a cassette of the type shown generally at reference 1@10 in FIG.

The cassette has a 21m arm 12 that defines the ribbon trajectory.
and 14, the arms of which generally border the cutout area of the cassette. A daisy wheel 106 and associated actuator 108 can protrude into the cutout area.

A cover plate 110 is fitted and shaped over the daisy wheel drive and actuator to cover and protect them. therefore,
It occupies just the most part of the cutout area of the cassette.

It will be apparent that the arms 12 and 14 project beyond the petals of the daisy wheel 106 and that the clearance or gap 22 between the opposing ends of the two arms 12 and 14 defines a petal guide. Through the petal guide, the individual petal elements are moved by actuators 108 during printing operations.

Although not shown, the typewriter is provided with an actuator designated by the reference numeral @112 in FIG. The actuator is movable in the direction indicated by arrow 114 and thus arm 3
6 and raise the ribbon guide 30. Movement of the ribbon guide in the opposite downward direction is accomplished by releasing the actuator 112 and returning the ribbon guide to its normal position. Its normal position is based on the natural elasticity of the material forming the arm 36.

Although the invention has been shown in connection with a typewriter, it will be apparent that cassette 10 may be adapted to daisy-wheel printers of the type commonly associated with computers, word processing systems, and the like.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a ribbon cassette embodying both aspects of the invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a typewriter in which a cassette is placed. In the figure, 10&t housing, 12 and 14 are extension arms, 16 is a cutout area, 18 and 2
0 is the end, 26 and 28 are the slots 17-, 30 is the loop of wire, 32 is the first section,
36 is the second section, 38 is the third section, 1
00 is a housing, 102 is a keyboard, 104 is a platform, 106 is a daisy wheel, 110 is a cover plate, and 112 is an actuator. Patent Applicant: BA Management Consultants Limited 18- Procedural Amendment (Method) 1981 Patent Application No. 191743 @2, Title of Invention Ribbon Cassette 3, Relationship with the Amendment Person Case Patent Applicant Address England, London Knightsbridge 60A, Hyde Park House (
(No street address) Name: BIA Management Consultants Ltd. Representative: D.G. Bukanan Representative: B. Hicks 4, Agent Address: Yachiyo Daiichi Building, 2-3-9 Tenjinbashi, Kita-ku, Osaka Telephone: Osaka ( 06) 351-6239 (Main) Voluntary correction 7ta) 6. Drawing 7 subject to correction, contents of correction The drawing drawn in dark ink will be supplemented as shown in the attached sheet. There are no changes to the content. Above 2-

Claims (10)

[Claims] (1) A ribbon cassette containing an ink or carbon ribbon or the like for use with a typewriter or printer, including an integral and movable ribbon guide, the ribbon being threaded through the ribbon guide; the ribbon guide being permanently threaded through the ribbon guide, said ribbon guide being movable transversely to the ribbon trajectory length, thereby effecting a lateral displacement of the ribbon; A ribbon cassette in which different areas across the width of the ribbon cassette can be aligned with typing or printing elements. 2. The ribbon cassette of claim 1, wherein the integral ribbon guide comprises a frame slidable within a slot guide in a cassette housing wall. (3) The ribbon cassette according to claim 1, wherein the guide includes a ring at one end of a movable arm, and the other end of the movable arm is fixed to the cassette. (4) The ribbon cassette according to claim 3, wherein the arm is elastically displaceable with respect to its fixed location. 5. The ribbon cassette of claim 3, wherein the ring is a loop formed in an end of the spring steel wire remote from the point where it is secured to the cassette. (6) an actuator adapted to move the ribbon guide in a direction transverse to the length of the ribbon, thereby aligning different regions of the ribbon with typing elements of a typewriter or printer;
The ribbon force set according to any one of claims 1 to 5 is WA! It is a typewriter or printer. (7) A ribbon cassette for containing an ink or carbon ribbon, etc. for use in a typewriter or printer, comprising two arms defining at least partially a ribbon trajectory between the ribbon exits and a daisy-wheel printing element. 2. Forming a daisy wheel petal guide with a notch area towards the rear of the arm to provide convenience to the
Ribbon cassette with gaps in the arms. (8) including an integral movable ribbon guide at different points along the ribbon trajectory, said guide being movable in a direction transverse to the ribbon trajectory, thereby daisy-wheeling different areas of the ribbon; Claim No. 7 provided for
Ribbon cassette as described in section. (9) The ribbon cassette according to claim 8, wherein the ribbon guide is located on one side of a gap forming a daisy wheel beta guide. (10) A daisy-wheel typewriter or printer in which a ribbon cassette is inserted through a cutout area in the cassette toward the rear of a ribbon trajectory defined in part by two arms projecting from said cassette. and an actuator means for advancing selected petals of the daisy wheel in sequence toward the rear of the ribbon, thereby causing imprinting of the petal printing elements in use; a daisy wheel fitted with a ribbon cassette according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the cassette is aligned between the gaps in the two arms and thereby guided into its printing position. Typewriter or printer.