WO1994022673B1

WO1994022673B1 - Disposable ribbon cassette within a reloadable cartridge

Info

Publication number: WO1994022673B1
Application number: PCT/US1994/003662
Authority: WO
Filing date: 1994-04-04
Publication date: 1994-11-24

Abstract

A ribbon cartridge system for use on computer printers, typewriters, office machines, stenographic machines, and other printing devices. The ribbon cartridge system is for use with endless loop ribbons, ribbons with an end, and spooled ribbons. The cartridge system comprises a reloadable cartridge (2) and a ribbon cassette (1). The ribbon cassette (1), containing a ribbon (3), is disposable and inserts into the reloadable cartridge (2). When the ribbon cassette (1) has been depleted through the course of printing activity, the ribbon cartridge system is removed from the printer. The ribbon cassette (1) is removed from the reloadable cartridge (2) and is disposed. A fresh ribbon cassette (1) is inserted into the reloadable cartridge (2). The ribbon cartridge system is then reinserted into the printer for continued printing activity. The cassette has an exit opening (54) and an entry opening (173). The exit opening (54) is connected to an exit guide path (174). The entry opening (173) is connected to an entry guide path (175). Both guide paths connect to a storage chamber (5). The storage chamber (5) has disposed within it a ribbon (3). The ribbon (3) is extensible from the storage chamber (5) and is conveyable along the exit guide path (174) and to and out the exit opening (54). The ribbon (3) then reenters the ribbon cassette (1) through the entry opening (173) and is conveyable along the entry guide path (175) back into the storage chamber (5).

Claims

AMENDED CLAIMS

[received by the International Bureau on 27 September 1994 (27.09.94); original claims 1-33 cancelled; new claims 34-42 added (4 pages)]

Claim 34. A two-part ribbon cartridge and cassette system for use on a printing device, comprising in combination: a reloadable cartridge independent of said printing device but releasably carried by the printing device; ribbon driving means carried by the cartridge; a disposable cassette releasably connected to said reloadable cartridge, said cassette being removable from said reloadable cartridge without requiring removal of the cartridge from the printing device; a storage chamber in the cassette for said ribbon; an exit opening and an entry opening for the storage chamber; a ribbon entry guide path to the entry opening of the storage chamber; a ribbon exit guide path from the exit opening of the storage chamber; said ribbon extending from the storage chamber via the exit opening and the exit guide path into the storage chamber via the entry guide path and the entry opening as an endless loop for passing through the printing device; said driving means comprising at least a pair of rotary means carried by the cartridge but engaging the ribbon in the cassette; said cassette having an opening to permit ribbon driving; at least a portion of the driving means penetrating the cassette via said opening when it is connected to the cartridge; biasing means effective at the driving means to cause the driving means to grip the ribbon for driving ribbon contacting engagement therewith; means permitting release of the biasing means to allow the cassette ribbon to be inserted into the driving means for driving and to be removed therefrom for cassette replacement; and said cassette being removable from the ribbon contacting engagement driving means for disposal.

Claim 35. The cartridge system of claim 34, wherein: said driving means is separable to receive the ribbon for propelling it out of and into the storage means. Claim 36. A ribbon cartridge system for use on a printing device, comprising: a reloadable cartridge; a cassette to fit said reloadable cartridge, said cassette being removable from said reloadable cartridge even while the cartridge remains installed in the printing device, said cassette having a body member; said cartridge having an integral back member; a storage chamber in the cassette body for said ribbon; a take-up spool and a supply spool for ribbon contained in said storage chamber; ribbon tensioning means for ribbon carried by the integral back member having a fixed perimeter; an exit opening and an entry opening for the storage chamber; a ribbon entry guide path to the entry opening of the storage chamber; a ribbon exit guide path from the exit opening of the storage chamber; said ribbon extending from the supply spool in the storage chamber via the exit opening and the exit guide path into the storage chamber via the entry guide path and the entry opening and onto the take-up spool; the ribbon between the guide paths passing through the printing device; means carried by the integral back member at a fixed location thereon within the fixed perimeter of the back member for driving the ribbon; a spool pivot member supported by the integral back member carrying at least one of said.spools via an opening in the cassette when the cassette is installed in the cartridge; tensioning means carried by the spool pivot member for biasing said one spool against the.driving means; an arcuate guide path in the cassette; follower pin means permitting at least one of the spools to follow said arcuate path along the back member as the spool changes in diameter due to changing ribbon volume; said spool pivot member permitting at least one of said spools to move away from the driving means for replacement of the cassette; the combination of said spool pivot member, tensioning means, arcuate path, and said follower pin means all disposed within the fixed perimeter of the back member enables said cassette to be directly removed from the printing device retained cartridge; and, said exit and entry guide paths being integral with said body member and serving to guide the ribbon through the printing device when the cassette is inserted into the already positioned cartridge, or when the cartridge, including the cassette, is positioned in the device. Claim 37. A two-part ribbon cartridge and cassette system for use on a printing device, comprising in combination: a reloadable cartridge for use in said device but being removable therefrom; a ribbon cassette insertable into and removable from the cartridge even when the cartridge is installed in the device; a ribbon storage chamber in said cassette; said cartridge having an integral back member having a fixed perimeter; a driving means for the ribbon carried by the back member for causing the ribbon to exit and enter said storage chamber; ribbon tensioning means carried by the back member; said cassette having a body deployable against said back member when the cassette is inserted in the cartridge; said driving means comprising rotary means carried by the cartridge but engaging the ribbon in the cassette; said cassette having an opening to permit ribbon driving; at least a portion of the driving means penetrating the cassette via said opening when it is connected to the cartridge; biasing means effective with the driving means to cause the driving means to bear against the ribbon for driving ribbon contacting engagement therewith; means permitting release of the biasing means to allow the cassette ribbon to be inserted for driving and to be removed for cassette replacement; said cassette being removable from the ribbon contacting engagement driving means for disposal; ribbon tensioning means for ribbon carried by the integral back member having a fixed perimeter; entrance means for the ribbon to the storage chamber and exit means for the ribbon from the storage chamber; said driving means carried by the integral back member at a fixed location thereon within the fixed perimeter of the back member for driving the ribbon; and the combination of the driving means, the ribbon tensioning means, and the cassette within the back member fixed perimeter enabling said cassette to be directly removed from the printing device retained cartridge. Claim 38. The cartridge system of claim 37, wherein: said storage chamber is spooless and the ribbon is contained therein in short loop fashion.

Claim 39. The cartridge system of claim 38, wherein: said driving means is separable to receive the ribbon for propelling it out of and into the storage means.

Claim 40. The cartridge system of claim 39, wherein: said driving means comprise at least two rotatable driving elements carried by the cartridge integral back member for gripping the ribbon. Claim 41. The cartridge system of claim 40, further comprising resilient means carried by one of the cartridge for supporting at least one part of the driving means for driving and tensioning the ribbon.

Claim 42. The cartridge system of claim 37 further comprising at least one spool in the storage chamber for storing the ribbon.

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