US3184028A - Ribbon feed and reverse mechanism - Google Patents

Description

y 1955 E. F. KLEINSCHMIDT ETAL 3,184,028

RIBBON FEED AND REVERSE MECHANISM Original Filed Nov. 30, 1954 I I'M 1 AN I we, 70/ 1, l

l 1- 66/ 680) t 639 70:; E 3 1 663 1 I 11 706 7 W V (65L. 0 1 g a I 1 2 I" firu\ ea 1' 656 \LA H 77 679 @"M' 643 L) INVENTOR Eon/4R0 F KLE/NGCHM/DT i JOSEPH A. MANKAW/CH 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 18, 1965 E. F. KLEINSCHMIDT ETAL 3,134,023

RIBBON FEED AND REVERSE MECHANISM Original Filed Nov. 30, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet S INVENTOR fan 4R0 kLc'M/schw/ar JOSEPH A. MANKAW/c/I ATTORNEYS May 18, 1965 E. F. KLEINSCHMIDT ETAL 3,134,028

RIBBON FEED AND REVERSE MECHANISM Original Filed Nov. 30, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS EDWARD l. KLEI/VscHM/DT Flt- JmsEPH A. MANKAWICH BY YW.

ATTORNEYS May 18, 1965 E. F. KLEINSCHMIDT ETAL 8 8 RIBBON FEED AND REVERSE MECHANISM Original Filed Nov. 30, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VENTOR [ow/m0 E KLE/Nsc HMIAr JOSEPH A. MANKAWICH /M MQM ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,184,028 RIBESN FEED AND REVERSE MECHANISM Edward F. Kleinschmidt, Wilmette, Eli and Joseph A.

Mankawich, Las Vegas, Nev., assignors to SUM Corporation, a corporation of New York Original application Nov. 3%, 195 Ser. N 0. 472,076, new Patent No. 3,(i14,tl95, dated Dec. 19, 1961. Divided and this application June 12, 1961, Ser. No. 116,493 11 Claims. (Cl. 197-161) This invention relates to a recording printing and perforating mechanism and more particularly to the ink ribbon feed and reverse mechanism for a combined mechanism adapted to receive coded signaling conditions and convert them into printed character and perforated code manifestations on a single message medium, such as tape. This application is a division of co-pending application Serial No. 472,076, filed on November 30, 1954, now Patent No. 3,014,095, dated December 19, 1961, for Printer and Perforator.

Novel features such as the specific ink ribbon feed and reversing unit, have been incorporated in the printer of the parent application to provide a high-speed, small, compact lightweight and rugged receiver. The ink ribbon feed and reversing device, as an example, is constructed of a minimum number of parts so arranged to occupy minimum width, height and depth, yet it utilizes standard ribbon lengths with dependable feed, reversing and self-inking of the ribbon. A novel cooperative relationship between the ribbon mechanism and the other machine functions permits a very high-speed operation of the punching and printing mechanisms while at the same time enabling a relatively slow and hence smoother ribbon feed operation.

A primary object resides in the provision of a novel small compact inked ribbon feed and reversing mechanism for use with printing machines.

A further object resides in the provision of a novel inked ribbon feed and reversing mechanism in novel combination with the reciprocable typewheel and power means of a tape printer and perforator.

Further novel features and objects of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and the appended claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings showing a preferred embodiment thereof, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the ink ribbon mechanism with the spools removed;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevation view of the ink ribbon assembly;

FIGURE 3 is a left-hand elevation of the ink ribbon assembly;

FIGURE 4 is a right-hand perspective of the ink ribbon operating mechanism;

FIGURE 5 is a front perspective view of a covered reperforator unit embodying the ink ribbon mechanism of the present invention;

FIGURE 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the various major sub-assemblies of the reperforator;

FIGURE 7 is a diagrammatic view showing the typewheel reciprocating mechanism;

FIGURE 8 is an elevation view of the typewheel reciprocating and figure shifting mechanism as seen from the rear of the machine; and

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of a prior art ribbon spool compatible for use in the present invention.

General As illustrated in the drawings, the ink ribbon feed and reverse mechanism of this invention is embodied in a compact, self-contained code receiver having provisions for receiving and converting signaling conditions, such as ice the electrical mark and space signals of either polar or neutral type, to mechanically positioned elements and from them to accomplish a printed and perforated character representation of the received code on a message tape. Although the drawings disclose only a receiver unit, it is to be understood that this unit can be used in conjunction with a printer monitor for a keyboard transmitter.

With particular reference to FIGURE 5, the recorder is embodied in a tape printing and perforating receiver unit 1599. The unit is enclosed in a dust cover 162 fabricated in two parts, 103 and H94, hinged along a rear edge at 1535. Access to the receiver for various operating controls, replenishing message tape and changing the inked ribbon is enabled by swinging the upper section 193 of the dusk cover 162 up and to the rear.

In FIGURE 6, the component subassemblies of the receiver unit (excepting the dust cover) are illustrated in exploded perspective. These components include the base frame 110, which supports and positions the dust cover M2, houses and mounts various electric components and terminals and provides support structure, either directly or indirectly, for the other component subassemblies. Mounted directly on the base frame is the message tape supply reel assembly 112 and the power distribution assembly 114. The power distribution assembly includes the various drive shafts and clutches and the two vertical frame members 115 and 116, which support the selector group 118 including the polar magnet 12%), the motor 122;, the printing and punching assembly 1.24 and the inked ribbon feed and reversing assembly 126.

Motor and power distribution The illustrated embodiment of this printing and perforating receiver utilizes a synchronous motor 122, designed to operate at a constant speed of 3,600 rpm, mounted on the rear of vertical frame 116 (FIGURE 5) which transfers power to the main shaft through a gear set.

Eight cams on the function shaft permit the shaft to initiate and supply the necessary power for a number of operations. The eight cams are listed in sequence below. The use of each of the cams is covered in the description of the mechanisms of the reperforator in the aforesaid parent application, but are noted herein to indicate the coordination between inked ribbon feed action and other machine operations.

(1) Code ring locking lever stud cam.

(2) Typewheel reciprocating and detent cam.

(3) Sensing levers restoring cam.

(4) Transfer lever restoring cam.

(5) Print cam.

(6) Typewheel register cam.

(7) Ribbon feed cam 248.

(8) Punch arm cam.

All of the foregoing eight cams are double with the exception of the ribbon feed cam 248, hence for each /2 revolution of the function shaft 194 each of seven cams will accomplish one operation while the ribbon feed cam 24% completes an operation for each full revolution of the function shaft.

Ribbon feed and ribbon reversing As clearly shown in FIGURE 6, the ribbon supply mechanism 126 is separable from the reperi'orator as a unit. Referring specifically to FIGURES 1-4, the ribbon mechanism includes a support 637 that is bolted to the punching and printing assembly support frame 258. The ribbon mechanism operating lever 638 has one arm can formed as a yoke shaped cam follower, which in assembly fits around the periphery of the ribbon feed cam 3 248 on the function shaft 194 (FIGURE 6). Ribbon feed cam 248 is an eccentric with only one high and one low portion as compared with the two high and two low portions for most other cams in this unit. Thus, as the function shaft 194 only rotates one half revolution upon reception of one code group, reception of two code groups is required to operate the ribbon mechanism cam follower arm 639 through one cycle. This permits the ribbon feed to operate at a slow speed compared to the printing, punching and tape feeding and eliminates high speed, jumpy ribbon action.

Operation of the function shaft 194 swings the follower arm 639 of operating lever 638 to left and right. Lever 638 is pivoted on an adjustable eccentric post 640 mounted in support 637 and includes an upper bifurcated arm 641 that moves up and down as the cam follower arm 639 moves left and right. The bifurcated lever end 641 engages the bight or bridge 642 of a U-shaped vertically disposed link 643 through a slot 64-4- provided in one side leg of the U-shaped link. Fastened to the top of support 637 is a horizontal plate 645 having two vertical ears 646 journailing a shaft 647. A cross link 656, pivotally disposed on shaft 647 between the two ears 646, extends back to and is pivotally connected to the two legs of the U-shaped link 643 by pin 653. The U-shaped link 643 is thus maintained in substantially vertical alignment by cooperation between bifurcated lever end 641 and the slot 644 and by the cross link 650, while also being reciprocated up and down by movement of lever 638.

Feed mechanism 126 includes two ribbon feed pawls 652, two ribbon feed detent levers 653, two feed ratchet wheels 654, and two ribbon sensing levers 655, one of each for each spool 636.

The two feed pawls 652 are pivotally mounted on and extended upward from a shaft 656 carried by the U- shaped link 643. just above the slot 644. Closely adjacent the top of support 637 a ratchet wheel and spool axle 657 passes through and is fixed in the support by a set screw. The right and left hand ratchet wheels 654 are journalled on the axle 657 on either side of the support 637 and maintained in fixed axial relationship by fingers 660 integral with plate 645. Each ratchet wheel 654 includes a fixed drive hub 661 with a driving key 662 adapted, in assembly, to be engaged by a slotted hub 636a in the ribbon spool 636 (see FIGURE 9). Intermediate the length of each feed pawl 652 is an integral 7 horizontal bar 663 extending parallel to the axle 657 and across the periphery of each ratchet wheel 654.

To maintain one of the feed pawls 652 pivoted so the transverse'bar 663 engages its respective ratchet wheel 654 and the other pawl pivoted so its transverse bar 663 is out of engagement with its respective ratchet wheel 654, an interconnected toggle arrangement is provided at the upper end of the U-shaped link 643. l'ournalled, and retained by spring clips 664 on each side of the vertical legs of the U-shaped link 643, on a rod 665 passing through the vertical legs is a toggle lever 666. Depending from each toggle lever 666 is a short arm 667 positioned between two laterally extended spaced lugs 668 on the upper end of the corresponding pawl 652. A small compression spring 670 is retained on arm 667 between the main body of the toggle lever 666 and the two spaced lugs 668 on the pawl, a washer 671 being provided at both ends of the spring. Extending toward the front of each toggle lever is a yoke arm 672. Pivotally mounted between the forward extending yoke arms 672 of the right and left toggle levers on a vertical lug 673 of one of the legs of the U-shaped link 643, is a rocker 674 with its right and left hand lateral arms positioned within the respective right and left hand yoke arms 672. With this arrangement, pivotal movement of one of the toggle levers will result in opposite pivotal movement of the other toggle lever, thus in FIGURE 4, the near toggle is pivoted counterclockwise which, through rocker 674,

causes the far toggle to pivot clockwise, which positions the near pawl 652 clockwise toward its ratchet wheel and the far pawl 652 counterclockwise away from its ratchet wheel.

With the right-hand toggle lever 666 positioned as in FIGURE 4, the line of force of its spring 670 passes to the rear of pawl journal 656, biasing and maintaining the right-hand pawl 652 into engagement with its corresponding ratchet wheel 654. Since the left-hand toggle lever is pivoted opposite to the right-hand toggle lever the line of force of its spring 670 passes toward the front of the pawl journal 656, biasing and maintaining the left-hand pawl 652 out of engagement with its ratchet wheel. The upper end of each vertical leg of the U-shaped link 643 is formed as a toggle limiting tab 675 disposed above the yoke arm 72 of each toggle lever 666. The left tab 6'75 provides a limit stop for the left toggle lever 666 and limits the ratchet engagement or clockwise pivoted position of the right-hand pawl 652 to prevent the bar 663 from being spring biased into bottoming engagement with the ratchet wheel teeth. Similarly, theright tab 675 limits pivoted ratchet engagement movement of the left pawl. By the toggle mechanism just described, one of the pawls is always pivoted away from ratchet engagement when the opposite pawl is in ratchet engaging position. As the toggle mechanism and pawls are mounted on the U-shaped link 643 coupled to the operating lever arm 638, pivotal movement of lever 638 will reciprocate link 643 and both pawls 652 up and down. On the up stroke, one pawl 652 engages its ratchet wheel 654 and rotates the corresponding ribbon spool 636 enough to feed the ribbon 664 one character space. On the down stroke of U-sh-aped link 6 43 the driving pawl slides back over the teeth of its ratchet Wheel in preparation for the next feed stroke. The other feed pawl also moves up and down but is biased away from engagement with its ratchet wheel by the toggle mechanism just described.

To prevent the driving ratchet wheel from backing freely during the return stroke of the drive pawl, the previously mentioned detent levers 653 are pivotally journalled on a shaft 677 passing through and fixed in the support 637 just below the ratchet wheels 654. Each of the detent levers 653 is biased by a spring 678 in a direction placing a transverse ratchet wheel engaging bar 679 toward engagement with its respective ratchet wheel 654. However, a vertical finger 686 extends upward from each detent lever 653 in front of the transverse bar 663 on its corresponding pawl 652. Thus whenever a pawl 652 is in the disengaged position it Will also move its detent lever 653 away from engagement with the ratchet wheel 654 to permit ribbon unwinding of the spool carried by that ratchet wheel.

To enable automatic reversal of the direction of ribbon feed a ribbon sensing 1ever'655 is provided for each spool 61% and is pivoted on the same shaft 677 as the detent levers 653. When a ribbon spool is empty, an opening 6360 (see FEGURE 9) in the spool core 6365b is uncovered by the unwound ribbon, and a curved finger 682 on the sensing lever 655 is enabled to move forward (to the right as reviewed in FIGURE 3) through the spool core opening 6360 under bias of a spring 683. As the finger 682 is an integral part of the sensing lever 655 it moves forward (to the right) and places an upper arm 684 under a rearwardly (to the left as viewed in FIGURE 3) directed lug 685 on the corresponding toggle lever 666. On the next downward movement of the operating lever 638, the toggle assembly which is spring-coupled to each of the two ribbon feed pawls 652 is operated by engagement between the empty spool sensing lever 655 and the lug 655 on its corresponding toggle lever 666. This action causes the pawl 652 of the full ribbon spool 636 to move away from its mating ratchet wheel 654, and the other pawl 652 to i move toward its mating ratchet wheel 654. As the reperforator continues to operate in response to received messages, the ribbon feed pawl 652 associated with the empty ribbon spool 635 now engages its associated ratchet wheel 654- on each upward movement, and the ribbon 6%4 begins to wind on the empty spool 636. This reversing action occurs automatically on either side as each ribbon spool in turn becomes empty.

As the ribbon 604 is unwound from either spool 636, it passes over a ribbon inking roller 6%, j-ournalled on the ends of shaft 647, then downward around the typewheel 360, and upward over another inking roller 6% to the other spool 636. An ink reservoir 691, mounted below the ribbon inking rollers 690, has two wicks 692 which extend upward to contact the rollers 6%. Ink drawn upward by the wicks 92 adheres to the inking rollers 690 and is absorbed by the ribbon 594 as it passes over the rollers. Thus the ink ribbon 694 need not be changed until it becomes worn.

Between the spools 636, the ink ribbon 604 forms a depending loop which is retained in position relative to the typewheel 369 by a ribbon guide 605 which is axially fixed relative to the typewheel. In the exemplary embodiment the typewheel 360 is axially shiftable and the ribbon guide 665 shifts concurrently and along with the typewheel.

With references to FIGURES 7 and 8, power to move the typewheel forward is supplied by the typewheel reciprocating cam 243 on the function shaft =194, which begins rotating after the transfer operation. As the reciprocating cam 243 rotates, a high portion 570 of the cam (PiGURE S) pushes one arm 57d, carrying a roller 572, of a reciprocating cam follower 573 downward. This action causes the opposite arm 574- of the cam follower 573, coupled to a typewheel drive lever assembly 575, to move upward and rotate the drive lever assembly 575 clockwise, as viewed from the rear, about a pivot post 576 mounted in the machine frame plate 339. The drive lever assembly includes a drive lever 578 and two side plates 575 journalled on the same pivot post 5'76. Lever arm 574 is coupled to positively shift the plates 57?. Drive lever 578 is held against a pin 53% fixed between plates 579, by a spring 551. Thus drive lever 578 will shift with the plates 579 until blocked in its path of movement whereupon the drive lever 57 S will remain stationary and the plates will complete the reciprocating movement, the differential movement between the plate and lever resulting from the connecting spring 581. When the typewheel drive lever assembly 575 rotates, the drive lever 578 is moved to abut and shift a typewheel transfer lever arm 58 (seen in both of FIGURES 7 and 8) of a transfer lever 585 which is pivotally journalled, between the arm 584 and an oppositely directed arm 586, on an adjustable eccentric stud 587 which is mounted on a lateral extension 538 of a machine frame plate 339. Ann 586 has two, spaced, downwardly directed lugs 590 which bridge a pin 591 in the upper arm 592 of a vertically journalled bell crank assembly 593 which can be seen in FIGURES 5, 6 and 7. The bell crank assembly has a shaft 594- journalled in extensions of the punch and printing support frame 258, and is maintained in axially fixed relation by collars 5*)6. Firmly clamped to the lower end of shaft 594- is a lo ver bell crank arm 598 extending over a hollow typewheel hub shaft 361. The end of arm 598 carries a depending stud 599 which projects, with a close free-running fit, into an annular groove 6% in the hollow shaft 36d.

Pivotal rotation of the drive lever 578, pivots the transfer lever 585 thereby pivoting the bell crank assembly 5%, which moves the typewheel 360 forward above the front edge of the message tape 172 just before printing occurs. Seen in FIGURE 5, the inking ribbon 604, coacts with the type-wheel assembly through a ribbon guide 6-35 mounted on an upper pin extension 6% of the lower bell crank pin 599, reciprocatcs forward, carrying the ink ribbon with the typewheel 36%. As the reciprocating cam 24-3 continues to rotate after printing occurs, a low portion of the cam 243 permits a spring 608 (FIG- URE 8), connected between the cam follower 573 and an anchor bar 567, to return the reciprocating cam follower 573 and the drive lever 578 to their original positions. This action permits a spring 619 (FIGURE 7), connected to the lower bell crank arm 598, to return the typewheel 368 and the ribbon guide 605 to their normal rear position, determined by engagement of transfer lever arm 584 with the drive lever 578, and exposes the print character on the tape of the view of the operator.

Bolted on the sides of the rear part of support 637 are complementary brackets 695 and 6%. Fixed at the top of the brackets 695 and 696 is a rod 697 on which a ribbon retainer 698 is lightly biased by a spring 699 so its lower end 765) rides on and exerts a slight friction against the ribbon wound on each spool. Rear ears 701 on each bracket 655 and 6% are bent laterally and forward and provide a pivotal mount for a U-shaped wire rod 702 which can pivot to retain the spools 636 on the ratchet hubs 661. To maintain the retainer rod 702 in a spool retaining position a spring biased detent pin 793 is disposed in a blind bore 764 in the rear face of the support 637, and engages a flat surface 7 G5 on the rod 7 02. Ears 706 on each bracket 695, 6% provide anchors for the detent lever and sensing finger springs 678 and 683 while the retainer rod hi2 serves as the anchor for the ribbon retainer springs 699. Note the ribbon retainers 698 provide only sufficient friction on the ribbon to prevent a free rotation of the unwinding spool which is otherwise free to rotate.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. An ink ribbon feeding and reversing assembly comprising: a support; a pair of rotatable ribbon spools; a spool drive hub and ratchet wheel for and connected to each spool, all rotatably mounted on a common axis; linkage means reciprocably mounted between said spool drive hubs, including a pawl for each ratchet wheel and a common reciproca-ble carrying means mounting said parwls, for alternatively drivingly engaging one or the other of said ratchet wheels to rotate the corresponding spool; means fastened to said reciprocable pawl carrying means adapted to engage a cyclically operated member to reciprocate said pawl carrying means and rotate one of said spools to feed a ribbon; and means actuated by said reciprocable linkage means and automatically responsive to the other of said spools being completely unwound of a ribbon to cause said reciprocaible linkage means to engage the ratchet wheel of said other spool to feed a ribbon in the opposite direction.

2. In a printer having an intermittently rotatable power driven shaft, an ink ribbon feeding and reversing assembly mounted on a fixed portion of the printer comprising: a pair of rotatable spools having an ink ribbon wound thereon; a spool drive hub and ratchet wheel for each spool, all rotatably mounted on a common axis; means mounted for reciprocation between said spool drive hubs in a path transverse to said common axis, including a drive pawl for each ratchet wheel and a common reciprocable carrying means mounting said pawls, for alternatively drivingly engaging one or the other of said ratchet wheels to wind the ribbon on the corresponding spool; means interconnecting said power driven shaft and said reciprocable pawl carrying means whereby rotation of the shaft will invariably reciprocate said pawl carrying means and positively engage to cause a pawl to rotate one of said spools to feed said ribbon; and

means automatically responsive to the other of said spools being completely unwound of ribbon to cause said reciprocated pawl carrying means to transfer positive engagement of one pawl with the ratchet Wheel of said one spool to positive engagement of the other pawl with the ratchet wheel of the alternate spool during reciprocation to rotate the alternate spool and feed the ribbon in the opposite direction.

3. A printer as set forth in claim 2, wherein said ribbon assembly includes an ink reservoir mounted below the ribbon spools with means for transferring ink from the reservoir to the ribbon.

4. In a printer having a selectively positioned and axially shiftable typewheel and an intermittently rotatable function shaft, an ink feeding and reversing assembly mounted on a fixed portion of the printer comprising: a pair of rotatable spools having an ink ribbon wound thereon with a loop of said ribbon passing between said spools; a spool drive hub and ratchet wheel for each spool, all rota-tably mounted on a common axis; means coaxially connecting a said spool to an associated said spool drive hub; pawl carrying means reciprocably mounted between said spool drive hubs for alternatively drivingly engaging one or the other of said ratchet wheels to enable the winding of a ribbon on the corresponding spool; means interconnecting said function shaft and said reciprocable pawl carrying means whereby rotation of the function shaft will reciprocate the pawl carrying means and rotate one of said spools; means in said reversing assembly automatically responsive to the other of said spools being completely unwound of ribbon to cause the reciprocable means to engage the ratchet wheel of the alternate spool to feed the ribbon in the opposite direction; and means interconnecting said function shaft and said typewheel for axially shifting said type-wheel and including a ribbon guide shiftable with said type-wheel for guiding the ribbon loop around the typewheel and shifting said loop coincident with typewheel shift.

5. An ink ribbon feeding and reversing assembly for a type machine, having a pair of spool drive hubs for the ink ribbon spools, each spool drive hub being fixed to a separate ratchet wheel, said spool drive hubs being freely rotatable in slightly spaced apart disposition on a common axis, both of said ratchet wheels being disposed on said common axis between said drive hubs, a reciproeating pawl carrier slidably mounted for reciprocation in a path normal to and closely adjacent said axis between the drive hubs, and having shiftable pawl means operatively positionable so that either of said ratchet Wheels can be selectively positively driven to the exclusion of positive drive to the other wheel, a dual toggle assembly carried by said pawl carrier, and ribbon sensing means adapted to be shifted into operative engagement with said toggle assembly each time a spool is completely unwound to shift said toggle assembly whereby the ratchet wheel associated with the spool drive hub for the unwound spool, during subsequent pawl carrier reciprocation, is engaged by the cooperating pawl and the other pawl is shifted to a position where it does not engage its ratchet wheel.

6. An ink ribbon feeding and reversing assembly as defined in claim 5, wherein said dual toggle assembly includes an interconnecting rocker carried .by said pawl carrier for assuring opposite conjoint actuation of both toggle devices of said dual toggle assembly.

7. An ink ribbon feeding and reversing assembly as defined in claim 6, wherein each of said dual toggle assemblies engages and positions an associated pawl means in either an operative or inoperative path, a one-way reverse latching detent is provided for each of said ratchet wheels, and a means on each of said pawl means is adapted to engage and shift the associated reverse latching detent to an inoperative position during the time said associated pawl means is positioned to its inoperative path.

8. An ink ribbon feeding and reversing assembly as defined in claim 5, wherein idler rollers are mounted on a common axis parallel to said drive hub axis and are positioned in front of said ribbon drive hubs enabling a loop of ribbon from spools on the hubs to pass over the rollers and hang between the rollers.

9. An ink ribbon feeding and reversing assembly as defined in claim 8, wherein said rollers are also ribbon inking rollers, and an ink reservoir device is mounted below said rollers and includes means for transferring ink from said reservoir to said ribbon.

10. An ink ribbon feeding and reversing assembly for a type machine having a pair of spool drive hubs for the ink ribbon spools, both drive hubs being freely rotatable on a common axis, a separate ratchet wheel fixed to each of said spool drive hubs and both of said ratchet wheels disposed bet-ween said drive hubs, separate pawl type driving means for each ratchet wheel, each of said pawl driving means including a two position component having a ratchet driving position and a ratchet non-driving position, and a spring loaded overcenter linkage which detains the two position component selectively in both positions, a common reciprocable carrier for both of said pawl type driving means, means connected to said pawl type driving means including interconnecting means between said overcenter linkages, and ink ribbon spool condition sensing means operative to change over the ratchet drive each time a spool is unwound whereby the ratchet wheel of such unwound spool is engaged by its cooperating pawl type driving means and the other pawl type driving means is disengaged from its associated ratchet wheel.

'11. An ink ribbon feeding and reversing assembly as defined in claim 10, wherein machine power means connect with said carrier to reciprocate said carrier so that the inked ribbon is moved each time after two machine operation cycles.

7 References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,082,774 12/13 SOhm 197-151 1,474,111 11/23 Gabrielson 197-175 1,609,119 11/26 Kassner 197161 1,788,376 1/31 Barrett 197-160 2,102,216 12/37 Pelton 197l'71 EUBENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner. ROBERT A. LEIGH EY, ROBERT E. PULFREY,

Examiners.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,184,028 May 18, 1965 Edward F. Kleinschmidt et a1.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 2, line 16, for "dusk" read dust column 6, line 74, for "and" read to cause a pawl to lines 74 and 75, for to cause a pawl to" read and Signed and sealed this 26th day of October 1965.

:SEAL) Allest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

Claims (1)

1. AN INK RIBBON FEEDING AND REVERSING ASSEMBLY COMPRISING: A SUPPORT A PAIR OF ROTATABLE RIBBON SPOOLS; A SPOOL DRIVE HUB AND RATCHET WHEEL FOR AND CONNECTED TO EACH SPOOL, ALL ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON A COMMON AXIS; LINKAGE MEANS RECIPROCABLY MOUNTED BETWEEN SAID SPOOL DRIVE HUBS, INCLUDING A PAWL FOR EACH RATCHET WHEEL AND A COMMON RECIPROCABLE CARRYING MEANS MOUNTING SAID PAWLS, FOR ALTERNATIVELY DRIVING ENGAGING ONE OR THE OTHER OF SAID RATCHET WHEELS TO ROTATE THE CORRESPONDING SPOOL; MEANS FASTENED TO SAID RECIPROCABLE PAWL CARRYING MEANS ADAPTED TO ENGAGE A CYCLICALLY OPERATED MEMBER TO RECIPROCATE SAID PAWL CARRYING MEANS AND ROTATE ONE OF SAID SPOOLS TO FEED A RIBBON; AND MEANS ACTUATED BY SAID RECIPROCABLE LINKAGE MEANS AND AUTOMATICALLY RESPONSIVE TO THE OTHER OF SAID SPOOLS BEING COMPLETELY UNWOUND OF A RIBBON TO CAUSE SAID RECIPROCABLE LINKAGE MEANS TO ENGAGE THE RATCHET WHEEL OF SAID OTHER SPOOL TO FEED A RIBBON IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION.

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