International Business Machines Corporation

Peter F Jagodzinski

Thomas R Field

John O Schaefer

Carl D Patrick

James F King

A typewriter correction tape cartridge for holding and feeding correction tape for a correcting typewriter is improved by the addition of a beam spring cantilever supported such that one end of the beam spring wipes the correction tape onto the takeup spool. This will act to eliminate bubbles, wrinkles and crimps in the tape as it is placed in a new convolution on the spool and will thus reduce the outside diameter of the ultimate disc of used tape. The advantage of this spring is that a reduced size cartridge may be used while utilizing the entire volume of tape supplied on the supply side of the cartridge and, secondly, a more reliable takeup is accomplished due to the elimination of irregularities in the takeup disc. Where space considerations dictate that the spring be bent back sufficiently to accommodate a full spool without contacting the disc of ribbon accumulated on the takeup spool, the cross section of the spring, at a point near the anchor point, may be reduced by notching to provide a stress concentrated flex point and allow the spring member to still perform its function without premature engagement with the disc at a point other than at the wiper end.

Cartridge for correction media or tacky tape with a wrap spring

In a typewriter ribbon cartridge, it is necessary to maintain tension on the span of ribbon extending outside the cartridge to prevent tangling and to insure high print quality during machine operation. One technique for insuring that adequate tension is maintained is disclosed herein as an anti-backup back check device. Connected to the takeup spool of the ribbon cartridge is a disc member supporting thereon a pair of thin flexible resilient arms with outwardly oriented pointed ends. These ends formed in the shape of points engage ratchet teeth formed around the interior surface of a cylinder. The cylinder is formed as a part of the ribbon cartridge and, thus, is permanently positioned and fixed with respect to it. As the takeup spool disc and arms are rotated by the ribbon feed mechanism, the arms will flex and permit a rotation of the disc and takeup spool with a minimal drag force. Upon reversal, the points on the ends of the arms engage the ratchet teeth and the arms become compression columns resisting the rotation of the disc and spool. The center of the disc and the takeup spool are free floating within reasonable physical constraints. The teeth of the arms are positioned such that they are one-half tooth pitch out of phase to insure that one tooth is always in engagement with a tip of one of the two pawls.

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Lexington, KY, United States of America

Peter F Jagodzinski