The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 02, 1979
Filed:
Aug. 11, 1975
Ernst P Hess, Castro Valley, CA (US);
Qume Corporation, Hayward, CA (US);
Abstract
A low cost cartridge for supplying inked ribbon to the printing station of an associated printing device. The cartridge includes an internal tensioning mechanism for maintaining the length of inked ribbon positioned in the printing station at a constant tension independently of the quantity of ribbon remaining on the supply reel in the cartridge. The tensioning mechanism includes an elastic endless belt disposed in a closed path about a plurality of freely rotatable rollers, the path having an interference region in which portions of the belt are engaged by a portion of the outer layer of supply reel mounted ribbon and are deflected thereby to produce a drag force on the supply reel which varies with the pulling force required to withdraw ribbon from the supply reel.