International Business Machines Corporation

Billy D Purcell

Edward E Toutant

Tristan A Merino

Jeffrey L Kline

Edward J Sabella

William J Thornhill

Francis W Bogaczyk

Edward Arnold Halter

Richard C Croll

Robert L Bullock

Front panel for a data processing system

A cartridge (1) is attached to a carrier and tiltable around a tilting axis (2). The carrier is movable along platen (3) and parallel to the print line and tilting axis (2). On the rear and on the bottom of the cartridge a drive knob (4) is provided as part of the internal cartridge ribbon drive. On the carrier a ribbon feed device with wheel (6) and upright standing blades (7) is provided. Those blades (7) cooperate with walls (9) inside the knob surface and form a kind of screw driver interconnection. Both engaging parts (7) and walls (9) allow a movement perpendicular to their rotational axis and to each other. Wheel (6) with blades (7) rotates around an axis (11) and knob (4) rotates around axis (12). Intentionally the two rotational axes (11, 12) are offset to each other relative to tilting axis (2). Thus, always a moment around this tilting axis (2) is created. To force cartridge (1 ) with knob (4) down onto ribbon feed wheel (6) the rotational axis (11) of wheel (6) is closer to tilting axis (2) than rotational axis (12) of the cartridge ribbon drive.

Ribbon cartridge motion control with a non-concentric drive

A ribbon cartridge (10) is attached to a carrier (1) of a printing device such that it is tiltable along an axis that is parallel to the print line to drop the ribbon such that the print line is visible. That part of cartridge (10) which is opposite of the ribbon exposing part and on the other side of tilting axis (18) is on its bottom provided with a ribbon advance knob (8). Into this knob (8) two essentially upright standing walls and inclined ramps (11) are molded. The ribbon feed device (6), provided on carrier (1), has a blade (5) or noses (17) which cooperate with slot-forming walls (12) of knob (8). In ribbon drive direction (14) cartridge (10) automatically drops into coupling interconnection for ribbon feed. Upon turning ribbon feed device (6) in reverse direction (16) blade (5) or noses (17) slide up ramp (11) and lift the rear part and drop the front part of the cartridge (10) so that the print line is rendered visible.

Ribbon drive coupling and cartridge tilt arrangement for print line

For the retention of a ribbon cartridge (1) on a carrier (2) in a printer or a typewriter or the like, a flexible retaining arm (3) is disclosed. This retaining arm (3) is attached to carrier (2) and stands upright from it. Arm (3) includes a protruding leg (12) underneath cartridge (1) and a tenon (8) adapted to snap back into a recess (7) in cartridge (1) after deflection of retaining arm (3). On its opposite side cartridge (1) is supported with its trunnion (5) in a hole in a fixed retaining arm (6) of carrier (2). Trunnion (5) and tenon (8) are arranged on tilting axis (4) which is parallel to the print line. Upon loading cartridge (1) on carrier (2) protruding leg (12) is biased so that upon removal of cartridge (1) protruding leg (12) urges cartridge (1) upwardly. Retaining arm (3) with its protruding leg (12) is made of spring steel in leaf spring form.

Ribbon cartridge retention

A ribbon cartridge comprising a cartridge housing having take-up and supply reels rotatably mounted in the housing; each reel supports a portion of a ribbon web running in a path from the supply to the take-up reel in combination with a ribbon stuffer box disposed along the path of the ribbon between the supply and take-up reel whereby the ribbon running between these two reels passes through the stuffer box.

Ribbon cartridge comprising a stuffer box intermediate a supply reel and

A ribbon cartridge is provided to be used in a high speed impact printer having means for driving only one reel in the ribbon cartridge, the take-up reel. The ribbon cartridge comprises a cartridge housing having an open end, and supply and take-up reels rotatably mounted in said housing. The supply reel supports an inventory of unused ribbon web which runs from the supply reel to the take-up reel. The rib is mounted in the cartridge housing facing the open end in a position closer to the supply reel than to the take-up reel. The printer into which the ribbon cartridge is to be inserted contains driving means for driving only the take-up reel. The printer receiving means into which the cartridge is to be inserted includes a stop element disposed so as to block the rib to stop the engagement of the cartridge and the receiving means when the cartridge is being inserted in a direction towards the undesirable engagement of the drive means with the supply reel rather than with the take-up reel.

Growing community of inventors

Austin, TX, United States of America

Billy D Purcell