US3786906A - Printing ribbon feeding mechanism in a printer - Google Patents
Printing ribbon feeding mechanism in a printer Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3786906A US3786906A US00270865A US3786906DA US3786906A US 3786906 A US3786906 A US 3786906A US 00270865 A US00270865 A US 00270865A US 3786906D A US3786906D A US 3786906DA US 3786906 A US3786906 A US 3786906A
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- ratchet
- ribbon
- reel
- feeding
- detent
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- 230000006835 compression Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 8
- 238000007906 compression Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 8
- 210000000078 claw Anatomy 0.000 claims description 36
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 claims description 7
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 claims description 7
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 claims description 7
- 230000000903 blocking effect Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 5
- 241000016649 Copaifera officinalis Species 0.000 description 1
- 239000004859 Copal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000003795 chemical substances by application Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000004804 winding Methods 0.000 description 1
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Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J33/00—Apparatus or arrangements for feeding ink ribbons or like character-size impression-transfer material
- B41J33/14—Ribbon-feed devices or mechanisms
- B41J33/40—Ribbon-feed devices or mechanisms with arrangements for reversing the feed direction
- B41J33/44—Ribbon-feed devices or mechanisms with arrangements for reversing the feed direction automatically
- B41J33/46—Ribbon-feed devices or mechanisms with arrangements for reversing the feed direction automatically and characterised by its application to mechanism in which two spools are driven by pawl-and-rachet mechanism
- B41J33/50—Ribbon-feed devices or mechanisms with arrangements for reversing the feed direction automatically and characterised by its application to mechanism in which two spools are driven by pawl-and-rachet mechanism comprising a single pawl or integral double-tooth pawl selectively engageable with two ratchets, one for each spool
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J33/00—Apparatus or arrangements for feeding ink ribbons or like character-size impression-transfer material
- B41J33/14—Ribbon-feed devices or mechanisms
- B41J33/40—Ribbon-feed devices or mechanisms with arrangements for reversing the feed direction
- B41J33/44—Ribbon-feed devices or mechanisms with arrangements for reversing the feed direction automatically
- B41J33/51—Ribbon-feed devices or mechanisms with arrangements for reversing the feed direction automatically and characterised by the use of particular reversing control means
- B41J33/512—Ribbon-feed devices or mechanisms with arrangements for reversing the feed direction automatically and characterised by the use of particular reversing control means using a pivoted reversing-feeler engaging the external periphery of the wound ribbon
Definitions
- ABSTRACT Printing ribbon feeding mechanism in a printer having a pair of ribbon reel supporting shafts alternately driven in the opposite directions to each other so as to feed the printing ribbon from a reel supported on one of the shafts to a reel supported on the other shaft and vice versa.
- the feeding mechanism has a ratchet feeding member reciprocably moved between a pair of ratchet wheels secured to the shafts, respectively, each time the printing operation is effected, and swingable to alternately engage with either of the ratchet for driving the same, a detent member alternately engageable with either of the ratchet wheels so as to prevent the reverse rotation of the same, a compression spring connecting the ratchet feeding member to the detent member so that, when the ratchet feeding member engages with either one of the ratchet wheels, the detent member is also engaged with the ratchet wheel with which the ratchet feeding member engages, whereas, when the ratchet feeding member is swung to engage with the other ratchet wheel, the detent member is also swung to engage with the other ratchet wheel with which the ratchet feeding member engages, and a pair of detecting levers each adapted to detect the amount of the ribbon wound on the reel which is mounted on the respective shaft and cooperating with the
- the present invention relates to a printing ribbon feeding mechanism in a printer.
- a printing ribbon feeding mechanism which has a pair of ribbon reel shafts adapted to be alternately driven in the opposite direction from each other so that the ribbon is fed from one reel mounted on a shaft to the other mounted on the other shaft until the length of the ribbon on the one reel is reduced to a predetermined value, and then the direction of feeding of the ribbon is automatically reversed so as to unwind the ribbon from the other reel and wind the same on the one reel until the length of the ribbon on the other reel is reduced to the predetermined value, the reversing of the feeding of ribbon being repeated during the operation of the printer.
- the present invention aims at avoiding the disadvantages of the prior art ribbon feeding mechanism as described above.
- the object of the present invention is to provide a novel and useful printing ribbon feeding mechanism of the type described above which avoids the disadvantages of the prior art ribbon feeding mechanism and which is compact and simple in construction and accurate in operation in alternately feeding the ribbon from one ribbon reel to the other reel and vice versa.
- a printing ribbon feeding mechanism having a pair of ribbon reel supporting shafts each for mounting a ribbon reel thereon and provided with a ratchet wheel coaxially fixed thereto, which is characterized by a ratchet feeding member reciprocably driven between the ratchet wheels each time the printing operation is effected and reciprocably swung in the opposite directions so as to be alternately engaged with either of the ratchet wheels for feeding the same, a detent member swingably located between the ratchet wheels and alternately engageable with either of the ratchet wheels so as to prevent the same from rotating in the reverse direction to the feeding, a compression spring swingably connecting the ratchet feeding member to the detent member so that, when the ratchet feeding member is swung in one direction to engage with one of the ratchet wheels, the detent member is swung by the action of the spring to engage with the one ratchet wheel engaged with the ratchet feeding member, whereas,
- the ratchetfeeding member is coupled with the detent member by a single compression spring thereby permitting the number of parts for operating them to be extremely reduced so that the feeding mechanism is made very compact and simple in construction while the accurate operation is insured.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing the general construction of the ribbon feeding mechanism of the present invention
- FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the detecting lever cooperating with a ribbon reel mounted on the ribbon reel mounting shaft of FIG. 1;
- FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the pawl or ratchet feeding member and the detent member cooperating with the ratchet wheel of FIG. 1.
- the printer incorporating the ribbon feeding mechanism of the present invention has a pair of parallel ribbon reel mounting shafts 1', 2' freely rotatably mounted in the printer at a relatively short distance from each other. Ribbon reels 1, 2 are detachably mounted on the respective shafts l, 2 so as to be rotated therewith.
- the shafts 1, 2 are provided with ratchet wheels 3, 4 coaxially secured thereto, respectively.
- a printing ribbon 16 wound on either one of the reels 1, 2 is lead to the other of the reels over guide rollers R, R so that, when the other of the reels is driven in one direction so as to wind the ribbon thereon while the one reel is left freely rotatable, the ribbon is unwound from the one reel and fed to the other reel over the guide rollers R, R between which a non-illustrated printing mechanism of the printer is arranged so that the printing operation is effected thereby.
- the driving of the other reel is released and the one reel is driven in the opposite direction so as to feed the ribbon in the reverse direction from the other reel to the one reel for winding the ribbon thereon. This operation is repeated during the operation of the printer so as to alternately feed the ribbon from the one reel to the other and vice versa.
- a pawl or ratchet feeding member 9 is located between the ratchet wheels 3, 4.
- the member 9 is in the form of a general T-shape and is pivotally mounted on the free end of an actuating lever 10 at a position intermediate the two arms of the T-shape by a pivot shaft 10a and is provided with a pair of abutments or ribbon feed reversing arms 9", 9" formed by the two arms of the T-shape the operation of which will be described later as well as a pair of ratchet feeding claws 9', 9' formed at the free end of the stem of the T-shape.
- the actuating lever 10 per se is swingably mounted in the printer at the center thereof by a pivot shaft 11 and is reciprocably swung by a connecting lever 12 coupled with the printing mechanism and pivoted at the other end of the lever by a pivot shaft 10b each time the printing operation is effected.
- the ratchet feeding member 9 is reciprocably moved by the operation of the actuating lever 10 between the ratchet wheels 3, 4 in the direction substantially perpendicular to the line passing through the axes of the shafts 1', 2'.
- One of the ratchet feeding claws 9' is engageable with the ratchet wheel 4 when the member 9 is swung in the direction D as shown in FIG.
- a detent member 14 having detent claws 14' at the respective free ends thereof is pivotally supported in the printer adjacent to the ratchet feeding claws 9', 9' between the ratchet wheels 3, 4 at its intermediate portion by a pivot shaft as shown.
- the detent claws 14' are alternately engageable with either of the ratchet wheels 3, 4 when the detent member 14 is swung in either of the opposite directions so that the ratchet wheel engaged with the detent claw is prevented from rotating in the reverse direction to the feeding.
- the detent member 14 has a pivot shaft 14a secured thereto at a position offset from the pivot point (15) toward the ratchet feeding member 9.
- a coupling spring 13 is pivotally connected at its one end to the pivot shaft 140 while the other end is pivotally connected to a pivot shaft 9a secured to the ratchet feeding member 9 at the free end of the stem of the T- shape.
- the detent member 14 is swung by the action of the spring 13 to engage one of the detent claws 14 with the ratchet wheel 4 when the ratchet feeding member 9 is swung in the direction D so as to engage one of the ratchet feeding claws 9' with the ratchet wheel 4, whereas, when the ratchet feeding member 9 is swung in the direction C so as to engage the other of the ratchet feeding claws 9 with the ratchet wheel 3, the detent member 14 is swung in the opposite direction by the action of the spring 13 so that the other of the detent claws 14 is engaged with the ratchet wheel 3 while the ratchet wheel 4 is disengaged from the detent member 14 to allow the free rotation of the ratchet wheel 4.
- a detecting lever 5 is pivotally supported in the printer adjacent to the ratchet wheel 3 by a pivot shaft 6 as shown and is urged in the clockwise direction by a spring (not shown).
- the detecting lever 5 has a detecting arm 5' and an operating arm 5" integral therewith.
- the detecting arm 5 is adapted to contact with the coil of ribbon 16 wound on the reel I mounted on the shaft 1 and resiliently urged thereto by the action of the spring urging the lever 5 so that the angular position of the operating arm 5" is made to correspond to the diameter d of the coil of ribbon 16 on the reel 1.
- another detecting lever 7 is pivotally mounted in the printer by a shaft 8 adjacent to the ratchet wheel 4 and is urged toward the same by a spring (not shown).
- the detecting lever 7 has a detecting arm 7' and an operating arm 7.
- the configuration and arrangement of the lever 7 with respect to the ratchet wheel 4 are in symmetrical relation to those of the lever 5 with respect to the ratchet wheel 3.
- the angular position of the operating arm 7" corresponds to the diameter d of the coil of ribbon wound on the reel 2 mounted on the shaft 2'.
- Each of the operating arms 5", 7" is so shaped that it engages with the respective feed reversing arm 9" of the ratchet feeding member 9 during the operation of the actuating lever 10 when the diameter of the coil of ribbon detected by the detecting lever is reduced to a predetermined value, so that the ratchet feeding member 9 is swung in the direction so as to be disengaged from the ratchet wheel which has been engaged therewith and engaged with the ratchet wheel which has been disengaged therefrom, thereby permitting the direction of feeding of the ribbon to be reversed.
- the ratchet wheel 4 in operation starting from the initial condition, for example, wherein the ratchet feeding member 9 and the detent member 14 are engaged with the ratchet wheel 4 as shown in FIG. 1, the ratchet wheel 4 is driven in the direction E by the ratchet feeding member 9 during the operation of the actuating lever 10 to feed the ribbon 16 from the reel 1 to the reel 2 over the guide rollers R, R.
- the diameter d of the coil of ribbon on the reel 1 is being reduced while the diameter d of the coil of ribbon on the reel 2 is increased.
- the operating arm 5" of the lever 5 is swung toward the ratchet wheel 3 correspondingly to the reduced diameter cl of the coil of ribbon so that the operating arm 5" is brought into the path of movement of the feed reversing arm 9" of the ratchet feeding member 9 during the operation of the actuating lever 10 so as to be engaged with the feed reversing arm 9", thereby swinging the ratchet feeding member 9 in the direction C so as to disengage the ratchet feeding claw 9 from the ratchet wheel 4 and engage the ratchet feeding claw 9 with the ratchet wheel 3, while, at the same time, the detent claw 14' of the detent member 14 is disengaged from the ratchet wheel 4 and engaged with the ratchet wheel 3 by the action of the spring 13. Therefore, the ratchet wheel 3 is driven in the direction
- the operating arm 7" of the detecting lever 7 detecting the diameter d is brought into the path of movement of the feeding reversing arm 9" of the ratchet feeding member 9, so that the ratchet feeding member 9 is swung in the direction D so as to again engage the ratchet feeding claw 9' and the detent claw 14' with the ratchet wheel 4 while the ratchet wheel 3 is made freely rotatable by the disengagement thereof from the ratchet feeding member 9 and the detent member 14.
- a ribbon feeding mechanism having a pair of ribbon reel supporting shafts each adapted to mount thereon a printing ribbon reel and having a ratchet wheel coaxially secured thereto, and means for alternately driving said shafts in respective opposite directions so as to wind a printing ribbon onto the reel mounted on the driven shaft while unwinding the ribbon from the reel mounted on the other shaft
- the improvement comprises an actuating lever; means for swinging said lever; a ratchet feeding member having two arms interposed between said pair of ratchet wheels, a portion of said member intermediate said two arms being pivotally mounted on said actuating lever in such a manner that said member is reciprocated between said ratchet wheels in a direction substantially perpendicular to a line passing through the axes of said shafts, said member having a pair of ratchet feeding claws one of said claws engaging one of said ratchet wheels when said member is pivoted in one direction on said actuating lever while the other claw engages the other ratchet wheel when said member is sw
- a printing ribbon feeding mechanism comprising, in combination:
- a ribbon reel secured on each of said shafts for rotation about the axis of the associated shaft and adapted to carry a portion of a ribbon in the form of a coil of ribbon wound on said reel;
- coupling means coupling said pawl member and said detent member for simultaneous movement between the respective positions thereof;
- sensing means associated with each of said reels for sensing the diameter of the coil of ribbon on each of said reels each sensing means including 1. a sensing member pivotally mounted for engagement with a coil of ribbon wound on the associated reel, and for pivoting movement when the diameter of the engaged coil changes; i. operating means connected to each of said sensing means and responsive to said pivoting movement when the diameter of said engaged coil reaches a predetermined minimum value, for moving said pawl between said positions thereof, said operating means including an operating member fixedly fastened to said sensing member for joint pivoting movement therewith, said operating member having an abutment portion; and j.
- said drive means include an actuating member, said pawl member being pivotally mounted on a portion of said actuating member for movement between said positions thereof, and means for reciprocating said portion in said path.
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Abstract
Printing ribbon feeding mechanism in a printer having a pair of ribbon reel supporting shafts alternately driven in the opposite directions to each other so as to feed the printing ribbon from a reel supported on one of the shafts to a reel supported on the other shaft and vice versa. The feeding mechanism has a ratchet feeding member reciprocably moved between a pair of ratchet wheels secured to the shafts, respectively, each time the printing operation is effected, and swingable to alternately engage with either of the ratchet for driving the same, a detent member alternately engageable with either of the ratchet wheels so as to prevent the reverse rotation of the same, a compression spring connecting the ratchet feeding member to the detent member so that, when the ratchet feeding member engages with either one of the ratchet wheels, the detent member is also engaged with the ratchet wheel with which the ratchet feeding member engages, whereas, when the ratchet feeding member is swung to engage with the other ratchet wheel, the detent member is also swung to engage with the other ratchet wheel with which the ratchet feeding member engages, and a pair of detecting levers each adapted to detect the amount of the ribbon wound on the reel which is mounted on the respective shaft and cooperating with the ratchet feeding member so that, when the diameter of the coil of ribbon on either of the reels is reduced to a predetermined value, the detecting lever detecting the diameter reduced to the predetermined value engages with the ratchet feeding member so as to swing the same to disengage from the ratchet wheel with which it has been engaged and engage with the other ratchet wheel from which it has been disengaged thereby permitting the ribbon to be fed in the reverse direction. The reversing of the direction of feeding of the ribbon is automatically repeated during the printing operation of the printer.
Description
United States Patent [191 Okabe Jan. 22, 1974 PRINTING RIBBON FEEDING MECHANISM IN A PRINTER [75] Inventor: Katsuhiko Okabe, Tokorozawa,
Japan [73] Assignee: Kabushikikaisha Copal, ltabashi-ku,
Tokyo, Japan 221 Filed: Julyll, 1972 2] Appl. No.: 270,865
[30] Foreign Application Priority Data [58] Field of Search 197/151, 160-165;
[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,542,183 11/1970 Stiffler 197/165 1,980,723 11/1934 Hartley.... 197/161 3,658,164 4/1972 Fujimoto 197/165 3,037,448 6/1962 Blodgett et al. 197/165 X 1,937,145 ll/l933 Gollwitzer 101/336 917,803 4/1909 Scott 197/160 1,309,403 7/1919 Fort 197/160 Primary ExaminerRobert E. Pulfrey Assistant ExaminerR. T. Rader Attorney, Agent, or FirmKurt Kelman et al.
[5 7] ABSTRACT Printing ribbon feeding mechanism in a printer having a pair of ribbon reel supporting shafts alternately driven in the opposite directions to each other so as to feed the printing ribbon from a reel supported on one of the shafts to a reel supported on the other shaft and vice versa. The feeding mechanism has a ratchet feeding member reciprocably moved between a pair of ratchet wheels secured to the shafts, respectively, each time the printing operation is effected, and swingable to alternately engage with either of the ratchet for driving the same, a detent member alternately engageable with either of the ratchet wheels so as to prevent the reverse rotation of the same, a compression spring connecting the ratchet feeding member to the detent member so that, when the ratchet feeding member engages with either one of the ratchet wheels, the detent member is also engaged with the ratchet wheel with which the ratchet feeding member engages, whereas, when the ratchet feeding member is swung to engage with the other ratchet wheel, the detent member is also swung to engage with the other ratchet wheel with which the ratchet feeding member engages, and a pair of detecting levers each adapted to detect the amount of the ribbon wound on the reel which is mounted on the respective shaft and cooperating with the ratchet feeding member so that, when the diameter of the coil of ribbon on either of the reels is reduced to a predetermined value, the detecting lever detecting the diameter reduced to the predetermined value engages with the ratchet feeding member so as to swing the same to disengage from the ratchet wheel with which it has been engaged and engage with the other ratchet wheel from which it has been disengaged thereby permitting the ribbon to be fed in the reverse direction. The reversing of the direction of feeding of the ribbon is automatically repeated during the printing operation of the printer.
4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PRINTING RIBBON FEEDING MECHANISM IN A PRINTER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a printing ribbon feeding mechanism in a printer.
Heretofore, a printing ribbon feeding mechanism has been proposed which has a pair of ribbon reel shafts adapted to be alternately driven in the opposite direction from each other so that the ribbon is fed from one reel mounted on a shaft to the other mounted on the other shaft until the length of the ribbon on the one reel is reduced to a predetermined value, and then the direction of feeding of the ribbon is automatically reversed so as to unwind the ribbon from the other reel and wind the same on the one reel until the length of the ribbon on the other reel is reduced to the predetermined value, the reversing of the feeding of ribbon being repeated during the operation of the printer.
However, the ribbon feeding mechanism of the prior art described above is very complicated in construction and requires a relatively large space, thereby making the printer bulky and inaccurate in operation.
The present invention aims at avoiding the disadvantages of the prior art ribbon feeding mechanism as described above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to provide a novel and useful printing ribbon feeding mechanism of the type described above which avoids the disadvantages of the prior art ribbon feeding mechanism and which is compact and simple in construction and accurate in operation in alternately feeding the ribbon from one ribbon reel to the other reel and vice versa.
The above object is achieved in accordance with the present invention by the provision of a printing ribbon feeding mechanism having a pair of ribbon reel supporting shafts each for mounting a ribbon reel thereon and provided with a ratchet wheel coaxially fixed thereto, which is characterized by a ratchet feeding member reciprocably driven between the ratchet wheels each time the printing operation is effected and reciprocably swung in the opposite directions so as to be alternately engaged with either of the ratchet wheels for feeding the same, a detent member swingably located between the ratchet wheels and alternately engageable with either of the ratchet wheels so as to prevent the same from rotating in the reverse direction to the feeding, a compression spring swingably connecting the ratchet feeding member to the detent member so that, when the ratchet feeding member is swung in one direction to engage with one of the ratchet wheels, the detent member is swung by the action of the spring to engage with the one ratchet wheel engaged with the ratchet feeding member, whereas, when the ratchet feeding member is swung in the opposite direction to engage with the other ratchet wheel, the detent member is swung to engage with the other ratchet wheel, and a pair of detecting levers each swingably supported adjacent to and urged toward the respective reel supporting shaft so as to detect the diameter of the coil of ribbon wound on the reel mounted on the respective shaft, each of the detecting levers having an operating arm for engaging with the ratchet feeding member when the diameter of the coil of ribbon detected thereby is reduced to a predetermined value thereby reversing the swinging of the ratchet feeding member so that the direction of feeding of the ribbon is automatically reversed.
By the construction of the feeding mechanism of the present invention described above, the ratchetfeeding member is coupled with the detent member by a single compression spring thereby permitting the number of parts for operating them to be extremely reduced so that the feeding mechanism is made very compact and simple in construction while the accurate operation is insured.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing the general construction of the ribbon feeding mechanism of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the detecting lever cooperating with a ribbon reel mounted on the ribbon reel mounting shaft of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the pawl or ratchet feeding member and the detent member cooperating with the ratchet wheel of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, the printer incorporating the ribbon feeding mechanism of the present invention has a pair of parallel ribbon reel mounting shafts 1', 2' freely rotatably mounted in the printer at a relatively short distance from each other. Ribbon reels 1, 2 are detachably mounted on the respective shafts l, 2 so as to be rotated therewith. The shafts 1, 2 are provided with ratchet wheels 3, 4 coaxially secured thereto, respectively.
A printing ribbon 16 wound on either one of the reels 1, 2 is lead to the other of the reels over guide rollers R, R so that, when the other of the reels is driven in one direction so as to wind the ribbon thereon while the one reel is left freely rotatable, the ribbon is unwound from the one reel and fed to the other reel over the guide rollers R, R between which a non-illustrated printing mechanism of the printer is arranged so that the printing operation is effected thereby. When the length of ribbon on the one reel is reduced to a predetermined value, the driving of the other reel is released and the one reel is driven in the opposite direction so as to feed the ribbon in the reverse direction from the other reel to the one reel for winding the ribbon thereon. This operation is repeated during the operation of the printer so as to alternately feed the ribbon from the one reel to the other and vice versa.
In order to alternately driving either of the shafts l, 2', a pawl or ratchet feeding member 9 is located between the ratchet wheels 3, 4. The member 9 is in the form of a general T-shape and is pivotally mounted on the free end of an actuating lever 10 at a position intermediate the two arms of the T-shape by a pivot shaft 10a and is provided with a pair of abutments or ribbon feed reversing arms 9", 9" formed by the two arms of the T-shape the operation of which will be described later as well as a pair of ratchet feeding claws 9', 9' formed at the free end of the stem of the T-shape.
The actuating lever 10 per se is swingably mounted in the printer at the center thereof by a pivot shaft 11 and is reciprocably swung by a connecting lever 12 coupled with the printing mechanism and pivoted at the other end of the lever by a pivot shaft 10b each time the printing operation is effected. Thus, the ratchet feeding member 9 is reciprocably moved by the operation of the actuating lever 10 between the ratchet wheels 3, 4 in the direction substantially perpendicular to the line passing through the axes of the shafts 1', 2'. One of the ratchet feeding claws 9' is engageable with the ratchet wheel 4 when the member 9 is swung in the direction D as shown in FIG. 1 so that the ratchet wheel 4 is driven thereby during the operation of the actuating lever 10, while the other ratchet feeding claw 9' is engageable with the ratchet wheel 3 when the ratchet feeding member 9 is swung in the opposite direction as indicated by C.
A detent member 14 having detent claws 14' at the respective free ends thereof is pivotally supported in the printer adjacent to the ratchet feeding claws 9', 9' between the ratchet wheels 3, 4 at its intermediate portion by a pivot shaft as shown. The detent claws 14' are alternately engageable with either of the ratchet wheels 3, 4 when the detent member 14 is swung in either of the opposite directions so that the ratchet wheel engaged with the detent claw is prevented from rotating in the reverse direction to the feeding. The detent member 14 has a pivot shaft 14a secured thereto at a position offset from the pivot point (15) toward the ratchet feeding member 9.
A coupling spring 13 is pivotally connected at its one end to the pivot shaft 140 while the other end is pivotally connected to a pivot shaft 9a secured to the ratchet feeding member 9 at the free end of the stem of the T- shape. Thus, the detent member 14 is swung by the action of the spring 13 to engage one of the detent claws 14 with the ratchet wheel 4 when the ratchet feeding member 9 is swung in the direction D so as to engage one of the ratchet feeding claws 9' with the ratchet wheel 4, whereas, when the ratchet feeding member 9 is swung in the direction C so as to engage the other of the ratchet feeding claws 9 with the ratchet wheel 3, the detent member 14 is swung in the opposite direction by the action of the spring 13 so that the other of the detent claws 14 is engaged with the ratchet wheel 3 while the ratchet wheel 4 is disengaged from the detent member 14 to allow the free rotation of the ratchet wheel 4.
A detecting lever 5 is pivotally supported in the printer adjacent to the ratchet wheel 3 by a pivot shaft 6 as shown and is urged in the clockwise direction by a spring (not shown). The detecting lever 5 has a detecting arm 5' and an operating arm 5" integral therewith. The detecting arm 5 is adapted to contact with the coil of ribbon 16 wound on the reel I mounted on the shaft 1 and resiliently urged thereto by the action of the spring urging the lever 5 so that the angular position of the operating arm 5" is made to correspond to the diameter d of the coil of ribbon 16 on the reel 1.
in like manner, another detecting lever 7 is pivotally mounted in the printer by a shaft 8 adjacent to the ratchet wheel 4 and is urged toward the same by a spring (not shown). The detecting lever 7 has a detecting arm 7' and an operating arm 7. The configuration and arrangement of the lever 7 with respect to the ratchet wheel 4 are in symmetrical relation to those of the lever 5 with respect to the ratchet wheel 3. Thus, the angular position of the operating arm 7" corresponds to the diameter d of the coil of ribbon wound on the reel 2 mounted on the shaft 2'.
Each of the operating arms 5", 7" is so shaped that it engages with the respective feed reversing arm 9" of the ratchet feeding member 9 during the operation of the actuating lever 10 when the diameter of the coil of ribbon detected by the detecting lever is reduced to a predetermined value, so that the ratchet feeding member 9 is swung in the direction so as to be disengaged from the ratchet wheel which has been engaged therewith and engaged with the ratchet wheel which has been disengaged therefrom, thereby permitting the direction of feeding of the ribbon to be reversed.
in operation starting from the initial condition, for example, wherein the ratchet feeding member 9 and the detent member 14 are engaged with the ratchet wheel 4 as shown in FIG. 1, the ratchet wheel 4 is driven in the direction E by the ratchet feeding member 9 during the operation of the actuating lever 10 to feed the ribbon 16 from the reel 1 to the reel 2 over the guide rollers R, R. Thus, the diameter d of the coil of ribbon on the reel 1 is being reduced while the diameter d of the coil of ribbon on the reel 2 is increased.
When the diameter d, of the coil of ribbon on the reel 1 detected by the detecting lever 5 is reduced to a predetermined value for reversing the direction of feeding of the ribbon, the operating arm 5" of the lever 5 is swung toward the ratchet wheel 3 correspondingly to the reduced diameter cl of the coil of ribbon so that the operating arm 5" is brought into the path of movement of the feed reversing arm 9" of the ratchet feeding member 9 during the operation of the actuating lever 10 so as to be engaged with the feed reversing arm 9", thereby swinging the ratchet feeding member 9 in the direction C so as to disengage the ratchet feeding claw 9 from the ratchet wheel 4 and engage the ratchet feeding claw 9 with the ratchet wheel 3, while, at the same time, the detent claw 14' of the detent member 14 is disengaged from the ratchet wheel 4 and engaged with the ratchet wheel 3 by the action of the spring 13. Therefore, the ratchet wheel 3 is driven in the direction F by the ratchet feeding member 9 so as to feed the ribbon 16 from the reel 2 to the reel 1 thereby reducing the diameter 41 of the coil of ribbon on the reel 2.
When the diameter d of the coil of ribbon on the reel 2 is reduced to the predetermined value during the operation of the printer, the operating arm 7" of the detecting lever 7 detecting the diameter d is brought into the path of movement of the feeding reversing arm 9" of the ratchet feeding member 9, so that the ratchet feeding member 9 is swung in the direction D so as to again engage the ratchet feeding claw 9' and the detent claw 14' with the ratchet wheel 4 while the ratchet wheel 3 is made freely rotatable by the disengagement thereof from the ratchet feeding member 9 and the detent member 14.
The above described operation is repeated during the printing operation of the printer so as to alternately feed the ribbon from one reel to the other and vice versa.
I claim:
1. In a ribbon feeding mechanism having a pair of ribbon reel supporting shafts each adapted to mount thereon a printing ribbon reel and having a ratchet wheel coaxially secured thereto, and means for alternately driving said shafts in respective opposite directions so as to wind a printing ribbon onto the reel mounted on the driven shaft while unwinding the ribbon from the reel mounted on the other shaft, wherein the improvement comprises an actuating lever; means for swinging said lever; a ratchet feeding member having two arms interposed between said pair of ratchet wheels, a portion of said member intermediate said two arms being pivotally mounted on said actuating lever in such a manner that said member is reciprocated between said ratchet wheels in a direction substantially perpendicular to a line passing through the axes of said shafts, said member having a pair of ratchet feeding claws one of said claws engaging one of said ratchet wheels when said member is pivoted in one direction on said actuating lever while the other claw engages the other ratchet wheel when said member is swung in the opposite direction, said claws rotating the respective engaged wheels when said member is reciprocated; a detent member pivotally mounted between said ratchet wheels and having a pair of detent claws, one of said detent claws being engaged with one of said ratchet wheels when said detent member is pivoted in one direction so as to prevent said one ratchet wheel from rotating in the direction opposite to the direction of rotation imparted by the associated ratchet feeding claw, while the other detent claw engages the other ratchet wheel when said detent member is pivoted in the opposite direction; a compression spring having respective ends secured to said ratchet feeding member and to said detent member in such a manner that, when said ratchet feeding member is pivoted in a direction to engage said one ratchet feeding claw with said one ratchet wheel, said detent member is pivoted by said spring in a direction to engage said one ratchet wheel with said one detent claw, whereas, when said ratchet feeding member is pivoted in the opposite direction, said detent member is pivoted in the opposite direction by said spring; a pair of detecting levers pivotally mounted adjacent respective ratchet wheels, each detecting lever having a detecting arm engageable with a coil of printing ribbon wound on a reel mounted on the associated shaft for detecting the diameter of the ribbon coil wound on the reel, and an operating arm, whereby each operating arm is moved according to changes in the diameter of the coil of ribbon on the associated reel, said operating arms respectively abutting against the arms of said ratchet feeding member during the reciprocating movement of the latter when the diameter of the associated coil of ribbon is reduced to a predetermined value as the coil of ribbon is unwound from the reel, and thereby pivoting said ratchet feeding member from the engaged ratchet wheel to the other ratchet wheel whereby the ribbon feed is reversed.
2. A printing ribbon feeding mechanism comprising, in combination:
a. two shafts having respective axes;
b. a ribbon reel secured on each of said shafts for rotation about the axis of the associated shaft and adapted to carry a portion of a ribbon in the form of a coil of ribbon wound on said reel;
c. two ratchet wheels respectively coaxially mounted on said shafts for joint rotation with said reels;
d. a single pawl member movable between respective positions of driving engagement with said wheels;
e. a single detent member movable between respective positions of blocking engagement with said wheels;
f. coupling means coupling said pawl member and said detent member for simultaneous movement between the respective positions thereof;
g. guide means for guiding said ribbon between said reels;
h. sensing means associated with each of said reels for sensing the diameter of the coil of ribbon on each of said reels, each sensing means including 1. a sensing member pivotally mounted for engagement with a coil of ribbon wound on the associated reel, and for pivoting movement when the diameter of the engaged coil changes; i. operating means connected to each of said sensing means and responsive to said pivoting movement when the diameter of said engaged coil reaches a predetermined minimum value, for moving said pawl between said positions thereof, said operating means including an operating member fixedly fastened to said sensing member for joint pivoting movement therewith, said operating member having an abutment portion; and j. drive means operatively connected to said pawl member for reciprocating the same in a predetermined path for thereby rotating each engaged wheel in a predetermined direction while said detent member blocks movement of said engaged wheel in a direction opposite to said predetermined direction, said abutment portion of each operating means being located in said path when the diameter of the coil engaged by the connected sensing means reaches said predetermined minimum value. 3. A mechanism as set forth in claim 2, wherein said coupling means include an elongated compression spring having two end portions respectively secured to said pawl member and to said detent member, said detent member being mounted for pivoting movement between said positions thereof. I
4. A mechanism as set forth in claim 2, wherein said drive means include an actuating member, said pawl member being pivotally mounted on a portion of said actuating member for movement between said positions thereof, and means for reciprocating said portion in said path.
Claims (4)
1. In a ribbon feeding mechanism having a pair of ribbon reel supporting shaftS each adapted to mount thereon a printing ribbon reel and having a ratchet wheel coaxially secured thereto, and means for alternately driving said shafts in respective opposite directions so as to wind a printing ribbon onto the reel mounted on the driven shaft while unwinding the ribbon from the reel mounted on the other shaft, wherein the improvement comprises an actuating lever; means for swinging said lever; a ratchet feeding member having two arms interposed between said pair of ratchet wheels, a portion of said member intermediate said two arms being pivotally mounted on said actuating lever in such a manner that said member is reciprocated between said ratchet wheels in a direction substantially perpendicular to a line passing through the axes of said shafts, said member having a pair of ratchet feeding claws one of said claws engaging one of said ratchet wheels when said member is pivoted in one direction on said actuating lever while the other claw engages the other ratchet wheel when said member is swung in the opposite direction, said claws rotating the respective engaged wheels when said member is reciprocated; a detent member pivotally mounted between said ratchet wheels and having a pair of detent claws, one of said detent claws being engaged with one of said ratchet wheels when said detent member is pivoted in one direction so as to prevent said one ratchet wheel from rotating in the direction opposite to the direction of rotation imparted by the associated ratchet feeding claw, while the other detent claw engages the other ratchet wheel when said detent member is pivoted in the opposite direction; a compression spring having respective ends secured to said ratchet feeding member and to said detent member in such a manner that, when said ratchet feeding member is pivoted in a direction to engage said one ratchet feeding claw with said one ratchet wheel, said detent member is pivoted by said spring in a direction to engage said one ratchet wheel with said one detent claw, whereas, when said ratchet feeding member is pivoted in the opposite direction, said detent member is pivoted in the opposite direction by said spring; a pair of detecting levers pivotally mounted adjacent respective ratchet wheels, each detecting lever having a detecting arm engageable with a coil of printing ribbon wound on a reel mounted on the associated shaft for detecting the diameter of the ribbon coil wound on the reel, and an operating arm, whereby each operating arm is moved according to changes in the diameter of the coil of ribbon on the associated reel, said operating arms respectively abutting against the arms of said ratchet feeding member during the reciprocating movement of the latter when the diameter of the associated coil of ribbon is reduced to a predetermined value as the coil of ribbon is unwound from the reel, and thereby pivoting said ratchet feeding member from the engaged ratchet wheel to the other ratchet wheel whereby the ribbon feed is reversed.
2. A printing ribbon feeding mechanism comprising, in combination: a. two shafts having respective axes; b. a ribbon reel secured on each of said shafts for rotation about the axis of the associated shaft and adapted to carry a portion of a ribbon in the form of a coil of ribbon wound on said reel; c. two ratchet wheels respectively coaxially mounted on said shafts for joint rotation with said reels; d. a single pawl member movable between respective positions of driving engagement with said wheels; e. a single detent member movable between respective positions of blocking engagement with said wheels; f. coupling means coupling said pawl member and said detent member for simultaneous movement between the respective positions thereof; g. guide means for guiding said ribbon between said reels; h. sensing means associated with each of said reels for sensing the diameter of the coil of ribbon on each of said reels, each sensing means including
3. A mechanism as set forth in claim 2, wherein said coupling means include an elongated compression spring having two end portions respectively secured to said pawl member and to said detent member, said detent member being mounted for pivoting movement between said positions thereof.
4. A mechanism as set forth in claim 2, wherein said drive means include an actuating member, said pawl member being pivotally mounted on a portion of said actuating member for movement between said positions thereof, and means for reciprocating said portion in said path.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP1971063647U JPS5121768Y2 (en) | 1971-07-19 | 1971-07-19 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| US3786906A true US3786906A (en) | 1974-01-22 |
Family
ID=27954955
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| US00270865A Expired - Lifetime US3786906A (en) | 1971-07-19 | 1972-07-11 | Printing ribbon feeding mechanism in a printer |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US3786906A (en) |
| JP (1) | JPS5121768Y2 (en) |
| DE (1) | DE2235372A1 (en) |
Cited By (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3910399A (en) * | 1972-07-19 | 1975-10-07 | Suwa Seikosha Kk | Reversible ink ribbon feed device having unitary bulk sensors |
| US4008795A (en) * | 1972-10-20 | 1977-02-22 | Ing. C. Olivetti & C., S.P.A. | Removable cartridge for the inked ribbon for typewriters, calculating machines or other office machines |
| US4083444A (en) * | 1975-07-10 | 1978-04-11 | Ing. C. Olivetti & C., S.P.A. | Removable cartridge for an inked ribbon and ribbon feed mechanism for printing machines |
| US4205923A (en) * | 1978-03-13 | 1980-06-03 | Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. | Ink ribbon feed mechanism |
| DE3011992A1 (en) * | 1979-03-29 | 1980-10-02 | Oki Electric Ind Co Ltd | RIBBON FEEDING MECHANISM FOR A PRINTER |
| US4234260A (en) * | 1979-01-24 | 1980-11-18 | Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. | Device for feeding ink ribbon |
Citations (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US917803A (en) * | 1906-05-25 | 1909-04-13 | Detroit Typomarker Company | Automatically-reversible ink-ribbon-feeding mechanism. |
| US1309403A (en) * | 1919-07-08 | Type writing machine | ||
| US1937145A (en) * | 1930-07-14 | 1933-11-28 | Speedaumat Mfg Company | Printing machine |
| US1980723A (en) * | 1930-12-15 | 1934-11-13 | Addressograph Co | Ink ribbon feeding and reversing mechanism |
| US3037448A (en) * | 1961-03-28 | 1962-06-05 | Commercial Controls Corp | Print ribbon feed mechanism |
| US3542183A (en) * | 1967-11-06 | 1970-11-24 | Singer Co | Print ribbon feed structure |
| US3658164A (en) * | 1969-02-20 | 1972-04-25 | Ricoh Kk | Device for reversing long tape |
Family Cites Families (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2986260A (en) * | 1957-12-20 | 1961-05-30 | Ibm | Ribbon mechanism |
| JPS4318568Y1 (en) * | 1965-08-31 | 1968-08-01 | ||
| BE703962A (en) * | 1966-09-20 | 1968-02-01 |
-
1971
- 1971-07-19 JP JP1971063647U patent/JPS5121768Y2/ja not_active Expired
-
1972
- 1972-07-11 US US00270865A patent/US3786906A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1972-07-19 DE DE2235372A patent/DE2235372A1/en active Pending
Patent Citations (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US1309403A (en) * | 1919-07-08 | Type writing machine | ||
| US917803A (en) * | 1906-05-25 | 1909-04-13 | Detroit Typomarker Company | Automatically-reversible ink-ribbon-feeding mechanism. |
| US1937145A (en) * | 1930-07-14 | 1933-11-28 | Speedaumat Mfg Company | Printing machine |
| US1980723A (en) * | 1930-12-15 | 1934-11-13 | Addressograph Co | Ink ribbon feeding and reversing mechanism |
| US3037448A (en) * | 1961-03-28 | 1962-06-05 | Commercial Controls Corp | Print ribbon feed mechanism |
| US3542183A (en) * | 1967-11-06 | 1970-11-24 | Singer Co | Print ribbon feed structure |
| US3658164A (en) * | 1969-02-20 | 1972-04-25 | Ricoh Kk | Device for reversing long tape |
Cited By (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3910399A (en) * | 1972-07-19 | 1975-10-07 | Suwa Seikosha Kk | Reversible ink ribbon feed device having unitary bulk sensors |
| US4008795A (en) * | 1972-10-20 | 1977-02-22 | Ing. C. Olivetti & C., S.P.A. | Removable cartridge for the inked ribbon for typewriters, calculating machines or other office machines |
| US4083444A (en) * | 1975-07-10 | 1978-04-11 | Ing. C. Olivetti & C., S.P.A. | Removable cartridge for an inked ribbon and ribbon feed mechanism for printing machines |
| US4205923A (en) * | 1978-03-13 | 1980-06-03 | Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. | Ink ribbon feed mechanism |
| US4234260A (en) * | 1979-01-24 | 1980-11-18 | Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. | Device for feeding ink ribbon |
| DE3011992A1 (en) * | 1979-03-29 | 1980-10-02 | Oki Electric Ind Co Ltd | RIBBON FEEDING MECHANISM FOR A PRINTER |
| US4342520A (en) * | 1979-03-29 | 1982-08-03 | Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. | Inkribbon feed mechanism |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JPS5121768Y2 (en) | 1976-06-05 |
| JPS4820509U (en) | 1973-03-08 |
| DE2235372A1 (en) | 1973-02-08 |
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