Printing device forms compensation and ribbon control means

Abstract

A printing device is provided in which a flexible strip supported by a fixed guide bar extending over the full printing width of the printing device serves to press the record media into contact with the printer platen to achieve more accurate control of the printing impacts, and serves as a track for guide rollers associated with the print head, thus giving a smooth transition between adjacent different thicknesses of record media in the printing device. The flexibility and low co-efficient of friction of the strip allow insertion and movement of the record media without raising the strip or the printing head. The guide bar acts as a guide for insertion of the record media, and also provides a camming surface co-operating with a suitable follower operatively connected to the print ribbon cassette so as to rock the cassette laterally to minimize the ribbon wear as the print head traverses a line of printing. The bar may also be designed to co-operate with a cover enclosing the print mechanism.