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:
Sep. 21, 1982
Filed:
Mar. 31, 1980
Edward N Dials, Versailles, KY (US);
Drew A Kightlinger, Lexington, KY (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
A ribbon loading system for a printer of the kind having a moveable printhead carrier establishes a ribbon loading position for the carrier at one end of the carrier travel axis. In response to an operator initiation, the printhead carrier is driven to the loading position where the ribbon cartridge is operator mounted at a fixture adjacent the printhead. The cartridge includes a path defining section that extends to arrange a loop of ribbon around the distal side of the printhead, effectively threading the ribbon. Subsequent carrier movement is selectively coupled to the ribbon to provide ribbon drive motion. For a preferred cartridge implementation, the path defining section is detachable to travel with the printhead carrier and includes ribbon guides for defining at least a portion of the ribbon path around the printhead during printing. The preferred detachable section is held to a bulk ribbon supply section of the cartridge by a catch which is automatically released by mounting the cartridge. For the mounting and removal operations, which involve the operator, the preferred two section cartridge is connected for convenient handling as a unit.