US3666069A

US3666069A - Ribbon positioning mechanism for telegraph printers

Info

Publication number: US3666069A
Application number: US858081A
Authority: US
Inventors: Kiyoshi Suzuki
Original assignee: Teletype Corp
Current assignee: AT&T Teletype Corp
Priority date: 1969-09-15
Filing date: 1969-09-15
Publication date: 1972-05-30
Anticipated expiration: 1989-05-30

Abstract

An independently mounted ribbon shift mechanism facilitates two color printing in a telegraph page printer. The mechanism includes a slidably mounted ribbon lifter for reciprocally supporting an inked ribbon to be raised to one of two selected positions to interpose the raised ribbon between a printing element and a platen traversed by the printing element. The printing element is connected through a drive bracket to the ribbon lifter to impart the traversing movement of the printing element to the ribbon lifter.

Description

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positions to interpose the raised ribbon between a printing element and a platen traversed by the printing element. The printing element is connected through a drive bracket to the ribbon lifter to impart the traversing movement of the element to the ribbon lifter.

References Cited printing 13 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures 197/159 .....197/170 Palmer et 197/16 2,027,509 Avery 2,509,862 5/1950 Dreher....... 2,879,876 3/1959 Patented May 30, 1972 3,666,069

INVENTOR KIYOSHI suzum BY 9. M

ATTORNEY RIBBON POSITIONING MECHANISM FOR TELEGRAPH PRINTERS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention is concerned with ribbon positioning and shifting mechanisms for printing telegraph apparatus, and more specifically with an independently mounted traversable ribbon oscillator mechanism for raising an inked ribbon upward one of two selectively variable distances and interposing the raised ribbon between the printing element and the traversed platen of a telegraph page printer.

2. TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS In printing telegraph equipment, such as that of the general type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,505,729 to W. J. Zenner, a single color ribbon is extended across a stationary teletypewriter platen between a pair of ribbon spools pivotally supported on the side plates of the machine. The ribbon spools and the ribbon therebetween are oscillated vertically to inter pose the ribbon between the printing element and the platen.

It would be desirable to provide in printing telegraph equipment a mechanism which could selectively raise an inked ribbon one of two distances to interpose either an upper or lower inked half of the ribbon between the printing element and the platen.

One of the problems in modifying existing telegraph equipment, or designing new equipment to include auxiliary mechanisms such as a two-color ribbon shift mechanism, is the problem of the added weight of the auxiliary mechanism which may act to load the apparatus, thereby slowing down the speed of operation. Further, the added load of the auxiliary mechanism may introduce inertia problems on moving parts and lead to damage or increased wear on existing mechanisms within the apparatus. Thus, the ribbon lifting mechanism should be capable of functioning without interfering with or placing an undue drag on any of the other telegraph mechanisms, such as the printing mechanism.

With a telegraph printer operating at printing speeds of 150 words per minute or more and using a two color ribbon on a modified pivoted spool arrangement, a whipping effect may manifest itself in the ribbon spanning the spools. This whipping effect is caused by a lag between the movement of the spools and the ribbon due to the failure of the ribbon to follow the instantaneous movement of the spools and results in poor color registration. The end result is that many characters may be printed partially one color and partially the other color. Poor registration persists despite any increase in tension of the ribbon between the spools.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved independently supported two-color ribbon shift mechanism for a printing telegraph apparatus wherein acceptable color registration of the ribbon is insured by selectively moving the color half of the ribbon sector at the printing point into proper interpositional alignment between a printing element and a platen.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved ribbon shift mechanism for a printing telegraph apparatus of the type having a stationary platen traversed by a printing hammer on a carriage wherein the ribbon oscillator is mounted independently of the hammer carriage but follows the movement thereof.

With these and other objects in view, the present invention contemplates a mechanism for shifting an inked ribbon into a selected one of two positions by selectively blocking the movement of the mechanism so that either an upper or a lower portion of the ribbon is interposed between a selectively positioned type pallet and a platen. Following operation of the type pallet to print a character, or the execution of a spacing function, relative movement is imparted between the platen and an array of type pallets in anticipation of another cycle of operation. This relative movement is accomplished by a character space movement of the ribbon shifting mechanism through the agency of an independently mounted guide device which also functions to guide the ribbon shift mechanism during its subsequent operation.

The arrangement of the independently mounted guide device insures that the ribbon shift mechanism is moved and properly positioned following each printing or spacing operation. In addition, the shifting of ribbon is accomplished without placing any additional loads on any of the mechanisms that control the movement of a type pallet during a printing operation, thereby avoiding problems of reduced speed, inertia, and undue wear on the type pallet selecting and operating facilities.

The ribbon shift mechanism also includes a reciprocating ribbon lifter which is always vertically aligned with the printing element. The ribbon lifter directly supports a section of the ribbon to interpose the supported ribbon section between the printing element and the platen. This arrangement substantially eliminates the problem of whipping of the ribbon at the printing point thus insuring proper color registration during each printing cycle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING A more comprehensive understanding of the invention may be obtained by referring to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the two-color ribbon oscillator of the present invention together with certain elements of a teletypewriter printing unit showing the positioning and cooperation of the ribbon oscillator therewith; and

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrows, particularly illustrating the configuration of a reciprocally mounted ribbon support together with a showing of the connection of the support to a driving lever.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Reference is here made to US. Pat. No. 2,505,729 to W. J. Zenner which, while not essential to an understanding of the present invention, illustrates a general type of printing telegraph apparatus in which the invention may be utilized and is incorporated by reference in showing a printing and signal controlled selecting mechanism which can be utilized with the present invention.

With reference to FIG. 1 there is shown the printing zone of a telegraph page printer looking from within the apparatus outward toward an operator or observer. A cylindrical platen 11, similar to the platen 499 shown in the Zenner patent, is supported within the framework (not shown) of the apparatus and is mounted for rotary movement about a horizontal axis. A type box or carrier 12, spaced from the platen 11, is mounted for translatory movement in a plane parallel to the axis of the platen 11. The type box 12 supports a plurality of coordinately arrayed printing elements or type pallets 13-43. Each pallet 13 is resiliently supported within the type box 12 which may be coordinately positioned and selectively arrested to align any one of the arrayed pallets 13-13 with a print hammer 14 mounted on a rectilinearly movable hammer carriage 15.

Between the platen l1 and the type box 12, a ribbon 16 is reversibly advanced between a pair of ribbon spools (not shown) on both sides of the platen 11. The ribbon 16 extends along the length of the platen and is supported for vertical movement within a ribbon shift or oscillating mechanism 17, which is the subject matter of the present invention.

The platen 11 supports a recording medium 18, which may be a paper sheet, for receiving lines of printed information. The platen l 1 is mounted for rotation in predetermined increments by a line feed mechanism (not shown) to provide line spacing of the printed information. The type box 12 may be positioned by an aggregate motion mechanism under the control of a selector mechanism in accordance with a received telegraph code signal or in response to the depression of a local character key on the unit keyboard under the control of an operator.

The hammer carriage is mounted on rollers 19-19 and may be advanced rectilinearly along a guide shaft 21 by a wire band 22 secured by a clamp 23 to a bracket 24 fastened to the carriage 15 by a screw 26. The wire band 22 is wound about a pair of rotatable drums or pulleys (not shown) supported within the frame of the apparatus under the control of a character spacing mechanism.

The ribbon shift mechanism 17 of FIG. 1 includes a ribbon lifter 27 having a frame section 28 and a support section 29. The frame section 28 is open at its central portion to provide a window 31 through which a type pallet 13 may be advanced to move the ribbon 16 supported in frame section 28 into printing engagement with the recording medium 18 and against the platen 11. The frame section 28 is additionally provided with a pair of spaced upwardly bent tangs 32-32 which serve to retain, guide and support the ribbon 16 with respect to window 31 and to maintain a spaced distance between the platen 11 and the ribbon 16 to prevent smudging of printed characters on the recording medium.

The support or elongated section 29 of the ribbon lifter 27 is provided with a hooked end 33 through which is passed a pin 34 connected between the parallel arms 35-35 of a driving lever 36 to provide a loose connection between the ribbon lifter 27 and the lever 36 as shown in FIG. 2. The driving lever 36 is slidably mounted on a square-sectioned rock shaft 37 which extends horizontally along the length of the printer in parallel with the platen 1 1 and is joumaled at each end within a bearing 38 supported within the side frame 39 of the apparatus.

The rock shaft 37 may be rocked or oscillated about its central axis. Rock shaft 37 is connected through a bracket 41 to a drive link 42. A helical spring 43 connected between a pin 44 mounted on drive link 42 and the side frame 39 constantly urges the drive link 42 downwardly such that a lower knee 46 on the drive link 42 continuously engages the surface of a rotatable cam 47 which acts to reciprocate the drive link 42 vertically.

The distance of vertical travel of the drive link 42 is controlled by the selective interpositioning of a color selector bar 48 in the vertical path of a shoulder 49 formed on drive link 42. The interposition of color selector bar 48 and subsequent contact with shoulder 49 arrests the downward movement of drive link 42 to limit the angle through which shaft 37 may be rocked and hence limit the vertical distance through which the ribbon lifter 27 may be reciprocated by the drive lever 36. With this arrangement, an upper half 51 or a lower half 52 of the ribbon 16 may be selectively aligned with the print hammer 14. The upper half 51 of ribbon 16 may be impregnated with ink of a first color (e.g., black) and the lower half 52 of ribbon 16 may be impregnated with ink of a second color e. g., red) to provide for two-color printing.

The movement of rock shaft 37 may also be utilized to trip a hammer driving mechanism (not shown) to impact the print hammer 14 against an aligned type pallet 13 in type box 12, driving the pallet 13 through the window 31 to force the aligned half of ribbon 16 against sheet 18 and platen 11 to print a character on the sheet 18.

The ribbon lifter 27 is guided for vertical reciprocation in a rider 54 slidably mounted on a guide bar 55 which extends the length of the printer parallel to the axis of the platen. The elongated section 29 of the ribbon lifter 27 extends through a space between the guide bar 55 and a pair of upper and lower horizontal cross-braces 56 and 57, respectively, on the rider 54. The cross-braces 56 and 57 are bent horizontally at their extremities and are connected to each other thereat by a pair of spaced vertical connecting bars 58-58. The lower surfaces of the bent ends of cross-brace 56 slidably bear on guide bar 55. The bent ends of the lower cross-brace 57 prevent the rider 54 from tilting on the guide bar 55. The lower crossbrace 57 is formed with a pair of depending partially tubular legs 59-59 having oppositely located slots 61-61 and 62- 62 for receiving the outwardly bent ends 63-63 and 64-64, respectively, of a spacer 65.

The drive lever 36 and the lifter 27 are maintained in alignment by the spacer 65. The spacer 65 has a U-shaped guide section 66 which underlies the arms 35-35 of drive lever 36 and acts to centralize the lifter 27 in the rider 54 as well as to maintain the alignment between the drive lever 36 and lifter 54.

It will be noted that the ribbon shift mechanism thus far described is supported independently of the hammer and type carriers and thus represents no added weight to those carriers. The independent mounting of the ribbon shift mechanism therefore avoids any damage or increased wear to the apparatus which otherwise might result from the increased inertia of the rapidly moving carriers on return traverse.

To move the ribbon shift mechanism 17 along the guide bar 55 and the rock shaft 37, a follower bracket 67 is utilized. The bracket 67 is secured at one end to the carriage bracket 24 by a pair of screws 68-68 through an L-bend 69 in bracket 67. The follower bracket 67 is further bent downwardly under the guide bar 55 leftward, and rearward behind depending legs 59-59 of rider 54 and has two fingers 71-71 which are bent forward to straddle the depending right leg 59 of rider 54. The rectilinear movement of the hammer carriage 15 is imparted through follower bracket 67 to rider 54 sliding the rider 54 along guide bar 55. The sliding movement of rider 54 on guide bar 55 is imparted through the spacer 65 to the drive lever 36 and the lifter 27 connected thereto, thus sliding the lever 36 along the rock shaft 37 It can be seen that the follower bracket 67 and the spacer 65, act to move the ribbon shift mechanism 17 rectilinearly along the guide bar 55 and the rock shaft 37. The ribbon shift mechanism 77 therefore follows the movement of the hammer carriage 15 in order to maintain constant vertical alignment of the lifter 27 and the print hammer 14.

The ribbon shift mechanism 17 just described is capable of two modes of operation, both of which may be controlled by the selective positioning of the color selector bar 48. The color selector bar 48 may be initially positioned manually or automatically, (e.g., by the selection of a function bar similar to the function bars 39 shown in the above-identified Zenner patent) and will maintain its initial position until changed by an operator or upon receipt of a coded sequence of telegraph signals.

In the first mode of operation, the color selector bar 48 is in the blocking position, i.e., aligned with and interposed in the path of the shoulder 49 on drive link 42. In this mode of operation, the upper half 51 of ribbon 16 will be interposed between an aligned type pallet 13 and the platen 11 by the ribbon positioning mechanism 17 once during each printing cycle of the apparatus.

Initially, the type box 12 is positioned in accordance with the receipt of a coded signal to align one of the coordinately arrayed type pallets 13-13 therein with the print hammer 14. The cam 47 is then rotated to actuate the drive link 42 downwardly, rocking the shaft 57 clockwise until the shoulder 49 on the drive link 42 strikes the interposed color selector bar 48. The rocking movement of shaft 57 pivots the drive lever 36 clockwise raising the ribbon lifter 27 upward a first distance to interpose the upper half of window 31 and the upper half 51 of the supported section of ribbon 16 at the printing point, between the aligned type pallet 13 and the platen 11. It is seen that, whether or not the ribbon whips between the spools, the section of ribbon being utilized at the printing point is always properly aligned for good color registration.

As the shaft 37 is rocked, it trips the hammer actuating mechanism to impact the print hammer 14 against the aligned pallet 13 driving the pallet 13 through the upper half of the window 31 forcing the aligned upper half 51 of ribbon 16 against the recording medium 18 on the platen 11 to print a character. The tripping of the hammer actuating mechanism is timed to allow the ribbon lifter 27 to reach the end of its upward travel before the hammer 14 is actuated. The hammer actuating mechanism then retracts the hammer from the resiliently mounted pallet 13.

After the hammer 14 is retracted, the cam 47 continues to rotate moving the drive link 42 upwardly against the bias of spring 43 rocking the shaft 37 counterclockwise. The counterclockwise movement of shaft 37 pivots the lever 36 downwardly to lower the ribbon lifter 27 and await a sub sequent printing cycle. At this time, the spacing mechanism may advance the type box 12, the print hammer carriage l5 and the ribbon shift mechanism 17 through follower bracket 67, an incremental distance representing one character space along the platen 11. If subsequent character signals are not forthcoming, a retraction mechanism (not shown) may be operated to lower the type box 12 to provide full visibility of the printed character or characters.

In the second mode of operation of the ribbon shift mechanism 17, the color selector bar 48 is initially in an unblocking position, i.e., out of alignment with the shoulder 49 on drive link 42. In this mode of .operation, the lower half 52 of ribbon 16 will be interposed between an aligned type pallet 13 and the platen 11 by the ribbon shift mechanism 17 once during each printing cycle of the apparatus.

Upon rotation of the cam 47, the drive link 42 is moved downwardly rocking the shaft 37 clockwise until the lowermost position of the drive link 42 permitted by the cam 47 is achieved. The rocked shaft 37 pivots the drive lever 36 upwardly raising the ribbon lifter 27 upward a second distance to interpose the lower half 52 of ribbon 16 in the window 31 between the aligned type pallet 13 and the platen 11.

After the hammer 14 is actuated, the cam 47 continues its rotation to advance the drive link 42 upwardly against the bias of spring 43 rocking the shaft 37 counterclockwise pivoting the drive lever 36 downwardly to lower the ribbon lifter 27 to await a subsequent cycle of operation.

What is claimed is:

1. In a ribbon shift mechanism included within a printer having a printing device and a platen mounted for relative rectilinear movement with respect to each other:

means for supporting a ribbon;

means for guiding said ribbon supporting means along a reciprocatory path between the printing device and the platen;

stationary means mounted independently of the printing device for supporting said guiding means for movement along a path parallel to a path defined by the relative rectilinear movement of the printing device and the platen;

means for reciprocating said ribbon supporting means, said reciprocating means having a portion connecting to said ribbon supporting means which is movable by said guiding means in a direction parallel to said parallel path of movement; and

means responsive to relative movement between the printing device and the platen for moving said guiding means along said parallel path, thereby moving the connecting portion of said reciprocating means and said ribbon supporting means parallel to said parallel path of movement.

2. In a ribbon shift mechanism as set forth in claim 1, the combination wherein said means for supporting said guiding means comprises:

a bar mounted independently of the printing device and parallel to the relative rectilinear path of movement of the printing device and the platen; and

wherein said guiding means comprises a rider slidably mounted on said bar.

3. In a ribbon shifting mechanism for incorporation in a printing apparatus having a platen and print impressing means mounted on a carrier spaced from and movable along a path parallel to the longitudinal axis of the platen, the improvement which comprises:

a guide bar mounted parallel to the longitudinal axis of said platen;

a device for holding a ribbon; means connected to said device for moving said device to position the ribbon between the print impressing means and the platen, said moving means being movable parallel 5 to the path of movement of the carrier;

means slidably mounted on said bar for engaging said moving means; and

means responsive to movements of the carrier for moving said engaging means to move said moving means and said device with said carrier.

4. In a guide and shift mechanism for positioning a ribbon between a platen and a print device that is incrementally moved relative to the platen;

a guide bar mounted parallel to the path of movement of and independently of the print device;

a holder for supporting the ribbon, said holder being movably positioned adjacent to the guide bar for reciprocation out of and into interposing relation between the print device and the platen;

a rider mounted on the guide bar for movement along the guide bar said rider including means for guiding the movement of the holder between the print device and the platen;

means responsive to movement of the print device relative to the platen for moving the rider along the guide bar; and means for reciprocably moving the holder through the guide means to interpose the ribbon between the print device and the platen. 3O 5. A device for moving a ribbon relative to and between a print mechanism and the platen, where the print mechanism is moved longitudinally relative to the platen into successive print positions, which comprises:

a guide bar mounted parallel to the axis of the platen;

a guide unit having a pair of spaced guide sections riding on the guide bar and a connecting section spaced from the guide bar;

means responsive to longitudinal movement of the print mechanism for moving the guide unit along the guide bar;

a ribbon lifter having frame means for supporting the ribbon;

an actuator connected to the lifter and extending through the space between the guide bar and the connecting section; and

means connected to said actuator for reciprocating said actuator to move said lifter to position the ribbon between the print mechanism and the platen.

6. A device as defined in claim 5, wherein said reciprocating means comprises:

a lever connected to the end of the actuator and extending through the space between the guide bar and the connecting section;

a rock shaft slidably supporting the end of the lever for imparting oscillatory movement to the lever to reciprocate the actuator and move the lifter to position the ribbon between the print mechanism and the platen; and

means for oscillating the rock shaft.

7. In a ribbon oscillating mechanism for a page printer wherein a printing means is supported on a carriage mounted for movement in a horizontal rectilinear path;

an elongated shaft having a central axis in parallel with said path and mounted for oscillatory movement about said axis;

means for oscillating said shaft;

a drive lever slidably mounted on said shaft and movable therewith;

a lifter connected to and vertically aligned with said drive lever and mounted for reciprocating movement and for supporting said reciprocating a ribbon;

means mounted and supported independently of the carriage for holding said ribbon lifter in vertical alignment with said drive lever; and

means connecting said holding means to the carriage for imparting rectilinear movement of the carriage to the aligned ribbon guide and drive arm.

8. In a printing telegraph apparatus having a mechanism for selectively interposing a ribbon between a print hammer mounted to an assembly movable along an axis and a platen mounted parallel to said axis;

an elongated guide bar extending along an axis parallel to said platen;

a guide member slidably mounted on said guide bar;

a ribbon lifter vertically aligned with the print hammer and mounted for reciprocating movement in said guide member in a path normal to said guide bar axis;

a shaft extending parallel to said guide bar and mounted for oscillatory movement;

means for oscillating said shaft;

a drive lever slidably mounted on said shaft for imparting reciprocating movement to said ribbon lifter to interpose said ribbon guide between the platen and the print hammer; and

means connecting said guide member, said ribbon guide and said drive lever to the movable assembly for moving said guide member, said ribbon guide and said drive lever in response to movement of the assembly along the axis in paths parallel to the path of the assembly.

9. In a ribbon lifter mechanism for a printing telegraph apparatus having a movable printing unit;

a lifter having a pair of spaced tongs supporting the ribbon,

and a dependent actuator arm;

a lever connected at one end to said actuator arm;

a rock shaft mounted for oscillatory movement and connected to the other end of the lever for moving the actuator arm and the lifter to position the ribbon;

means for oscillating the rock shaft;

a guide bar;

a guide member having a pair of spaced sections spanning the actuator arm and being slidably mounted on the guide bar;

means for imparting movement of the printing unit to the guide member; and

means for maintaining the lifter and lever centrally positioned between said spaced sections of the guide member.

10. A mechanism for positioning a ribbon which comprises:

a rock shaft;

a lever slidably supported on said rock shaft;

a guide shaft parallel to said rock shaft;

a rider slidably supported on said guide shaft;

a spacer unit connected to said rider and bearing against said lever for aligning said lever with said rider;

means connected to said lever and extending between said rider and guide shaft for reciprocally supporting the ribbon; and

means for rocking said shaft to rock said lever and reciprocate said supporting means and said ribbon.

11. In a telegraph page printer having a platen, an inked ribbon extending along the platen, a print hammer assembly mounted on a carriage for traversing the ribbon and the platen, a hammer actuating mechanism, a rock shaft mounted for oscillatory movement about an axis parallel to the platen, and means for activating said hammer actuating mechanism in response to the movement of said rock shaft, the improvement which comprises:

a guide shaft;

a guide slidably mounted on said guide shaft;

a reciprocating ribbon support extending through said guide and supported for sliding movement relative to said guide shaft;

reciprocating means connected to said ribbon support riage traverses the platen. 12. In a page printer wherein a type unit moves parallel with respect to the axis of a cylindrical platen supporting a record carrier, and wherein a ribbon interposed between the type unit and the platen is selectively forced by the type unit to move toward the platen for producing markings on the record carrier, the improvement comprising:

a guide bar mounted in parallel and in fixed relation to the axis of the platen;

a guide slidably mounted on and spaced from the guide bar to move in parallel to the platen;

means for sliding the guide along the guide bar in response to movement of the type unit;

a ribbon holder having retaining means for holding the ribbon, the ribbon holder extending perpendicular to the guide bar and through the space between the guide bar and the guide for support by the guide bar and the guide;

means for reciprocating the ribbon holder between an upper position locating the lower portion of the ribbon in alignment with the type unit to allow the lower portion of the ribbon to be forced toward the platen and a lower position locating the ribbon away from the type unit; and

means acting on the reciprocating means for arresting the reciprocation of the holder to locate the upper portion of the ribbon in position to be forced toward the platen by the typing unit.

13. In a device for selectively positioning a ribbon between a platen and a printing element on a carriage which transverses the platen in response to motion of actuating mechanisms for moving the carriage:

means mounted independently of the carriage for traversing movement relative to the platen;

a holder for receiving the ribbon, said holder being guided by said traversing means for reciprocating movement relative to the platen;

means connecting to said holder for imparting reciprocatory movement and traversing movement to said holder to position the ribbon between the printing element and the platen, said connecting means being engaged by said traversing means for traversing movement relative to the platen;

means for reciprocating said connecting means, said reciprocating means slidably mounting said connecting means for traversing movement relative to the platen; and

follower means connecting the carriage to said traversing means for imparting traversing movement of the carriage to said traversing means, and thereby imparting traversing movement to said connecting means and said holder.

Claims

1. In a ribbon shift mechanism included within a printer having a printing device and a platen mounted for relative rectilinear movement with respect to each other: means for supporting a ribbon; means for guiding said ribbon supporting means along a reciprocatory path between the printing device and the platen; stationary means mounted independently of the prinTing device for supporting said guiding means for movement along a path parallel to a path defined by the relative rectilinear movement of the printing device and the platen; means for reciprocating said ribbon supporting means, said reciprocating means having a portion connecting to said ribbon supporting means which is movable by said guiding means in a direction parallel to said parallel path of movement; and means responsive to relative movement between the printing device and the platen for moving said guiding means along said parallel path, thereby moving the connecting portion of said reciprocating means and said ribbon supporting means parallel to said parallel path of movement.

2. In a ribbon shift mechanism as set forth in claim 1, the combination wherein said means for supporting said guiding means comprises: a bar mounted independently of the printing device and parallel to the relative rectilinear path of movement of the printing device and the platen; and wherein said guiding means comprises a rider slidably mounted on said bar.

3. In a ribbon shifting mechanism for incorporation in a printing apparatus having a platen and print impressing means mounted on a carrier spaced from and movable along a path parallel to the longitudinal axis of the platen, the improvement which comprises: a guide bar mounted parallel to the longitudinal axis of said platen; a device for holding a ribbon; means connected to said device for moving said device to position the ribbon between the print impressing means and the platen, said moving means being movable parallel to the path of movement of the carrier; means slidably mounted on said bar for engaging said moving means; and means responsive to movements of the carrier for moving said engaging means to move said moving means and said device with said carrier.

4. In a guide and shift mechanism for positioning a ribbon between a platen and a print device that is incrementally moved relative to the platen; a guide bar mounted parallel to the path of movement of and independently of the print device; a holder for supporting the ribbon, said holder being movably positioned adjacent to the guide bar for reciprocation out of and into interposing relation between the print device and the platen; a rider mounted on the guide bar for movement along the guide bar said rider including means for guiding the movement of the holder between the print device and the platen; means responsive to movement of the print device relative to the platen for moving the rider along the guide bar; and means for reciprocably moving the holder through the guide means to interpose the ribbon between the print device and the platen.

5. A device for moving a ribbon relative to and between a print mechanism and the platen, where the print mechanism is moved longitudinally relative to the platen into successive print positions, which comprises: a guide bar mounted parallel to the axis of the platen; a guide unit having a pair of spaced guide sections riding on the guide bar and a connecting section spaced from the guide bar; means responsive to longitudinal movement of the print mechanism for moving the guide unit along the guide bar; a ribbon lifter having frame means for supporting the ribbon; an actuator connected to the lifter and extending through the space between the guide bar and the connecting section; and means connected to said actuator for reciprocating said actuator to move said lifter to position the ribbon between the print mechanism and the platen.

6. A device as defined in claim 5, wherein said reciprocating means comprises: a lever connected to the end of the actuator and extending through the space between the guide bar and the connecting section; a rock shaft slidably supporting the end of the lever for imparting oscillatory movement to the lever to reciprocate the actuator and move the lifter to position the ribbon between The print mechanism and the platen; and means for oscillating the rock shaft.

7. In a ribbon oscillating mechanism for a page printer wherein a printing means is supported on a carriage mounted for movement in a horizontal rectilinear path; an elongated shaft having a central axis in parallel with said path and mounted for oscillatory movement about said axis; means for oscillating said shaft; a drive lever slidably mounted on said shaft and movable therewith; a lifter connected to and vertically aligned with said drive lever and mounted for reciprocating movement and for supporting said reciprocating a ribbon; means mounted and supported independently of the carriage for holding said ribbon lifter in vertical alignment with said drive lever; and means connecting said holding means to the carriage for imparting rectilinear movement of the carriage to the aligned ribbon guide and drive arm.

8. In a printing telegraph apparatus having a mechanism for selectively interposing a ribbon between a print hammer mounted to an assembly movable along an axis and a platen mounted parallel to said axis; an elongated guide bar extending along an axis parallel to said platen; a guide member slidably mounted on said guide bar; a ribbon lifter vertically aligned with the print hammer and mounted for reciprocating movement in said guide member in a path normal to said guide bar axis; a shaft extending parallel to said guide bar and mounted for oscillatory movement; means for oscillating said shaft; a drive lever slidably mounted on said shaft for imparting reciprocating movement to said ribbon lifter to interpose said ribbon guide between the platen and the print hammer; and means connecting said guide member, said ribbon guide and said drive lever to the movable assembly for moving said guide member, said ribbon guide and said drive lever in response to movement of the assembly along the axis in paths parallel to the path of the assembly.

9. In a ribbon lifter mechanism for a printing telegraph apparatus having a movable printing unit; a lifter having a pair of spaced tongs supporting the ribbon, and a dependent actuator arm; a lever connected at one end to said actuator arm; a rock shaft mounted for oscillatory movement and connected to the other end of the lever for moving the actuator arm and the lifter to position the ribbon; means for oscillating the rock shaft; a guide bar; a guide member having a pair of spaced sections spanning the actuator arm and being slidably mounted on the guide bar; means for imparting movement of the printing unit to the guide member; and means for maintaining the lifter and lever centrally positioned between said spaced sections of the guide member.

10. A mechanism for positioning a ribbon which comprises: a rock shaft; a lever slidably supported on said rock shaft; a guide shaft parallel to said rock shaft; a rider slidably supported on said guide shaft; a spacer unit connected to said rider and bearing against said lever for aligning said lever with said rider; means connected to said lever and extending between said rider and guide shaft for reciprocally supporting the ribbon; and means for rocking said shaft to rock said lever and reciprocate said supporting means and said ribbon.

11. In a telegraph page printer having a platen, an inked ribbon extending along the platen, a print hammer assembly mounted on a carriage for traversing the ribbon and the platen, a hammer actuating mechanism, a rock shaft mounted for oscillatory movement about an axis parallel to the platen, and means for activating said hammer actuating mechanism in response to the movement of said rock shaft, the improvement which comprises: a guide shaft; a guide slidably mounted on said guide shaft; a reciprocating ribbon support extending through said guide and supported for sliding movement relative to said guide shaft; reciprocating means connected to said ribbon support means and slidably mounted on the rock shaft for positioning the ribbon between the print hammer and the platen when the rock shaft is oscillated to activate the print hammer actuating mechanism; and means connecting said ribbon support and said reciprocating means to the hammer assembly carriage for sliding said ribbon support along said guide shaft and said reciprocating means along said rock shaft when the carriage traverses the platen.

12. In a page printer wherein a type unit moves parallel with respect to the axis of a cylindrical platen supporting a record carrier, and wherein a ribbon interposed between the type unit and the platen is selectively forced by the type unit to move toward the platen for producing markings on the record carrier, the improvement comprising: a guide bar mounted in parallel and in fixed relation to the axis of the platen; a guide slidably mounted on and spaced from the guide bar to move in parallel to the platen; means for sliding the guide along the guide bar in response to movement of the type unit; a ribbon holder having retaining means for holding the ribbon, the ribbon holder extending perpendicular to the guide bar and through the space between the guide bar and the guide for support by the guide bar and the guide; means for reciprocating the ribbon holder between an upper position locating the lower portion of the ribbon in alignment with the type unit to allow the lower portion of the ribbon to be forced toward the platen and a lower position locating the ribbon away from the type unit; and means acting on the reciprocating means for arresting the reciprocation of the holder to locate the upper portion of the ribbon in position to be forced toward the platen by the typing unit.

13. In a device for selectively positioning a ribbon between a platen and a printing element on a carriage which transverses the platen in response to motion of actuating mechanisms for moving the carriage: means mounted independently of the carriage for traversing movement relative to the platen; a holder for receiving the ribbon, said holder being guided by said traversing means for reciprocating movement relative to the platen; means connecting to said holder for imparting reciprocatory movement and traversing movement to said holder to position the ribbon between the printing element and the platen, said connecting means being engaged by said traversing means for traversing movement relative to the platen; means for reciprocating said connecting means, said reciprocating means slidably mounting said connecting means for traversing movement relative to the platen; and follower means connecting the carriage to said traversing means for imparting traversing movement of the carriage to said traversing means, and thereby imparting traversing movement to said connecting means and said holder.