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:
Aug. 30, 1983
Filed:
Nov. 04, 1982
Douglas E Alexander, Raleigh, NC (US);
Charles M McCray, Raleigh, NC (US);
International Business Machines Corp., Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
An improved, disposable inexpensive feed mechanism is uniquely incorporated in a cassette having a flexible or movable wall driven by contact with a moving printer carriage or the like. Friction facing of the moving wall cooperates with a fixed friction facing on an interiorly placed portion of a cassette wall with a ribbon between the two friction faces. The friction facing of the movable part has angled fiber elements that engage the ribbon in one direction but slip easily over the ribbon in the opposite direction. The moving printer carriage or the like contacts a movable portion of the cassette wall in each pass and indexes the ribbon slightly to provide a fresh supply across a platen. The platen may be integrally molded as a part of the cassette and can be made of plastic. The entire mechanism is disposable, is contained in a single clean package and is very low cost. No rollers, feed roll drives or motors are required.