Ribbon-position switching device for printer

Abstract

A printer includes a carriage, a printing head, a platen, a cartridge holder for removably holding a cartridge accommodating a multi-colored ink ribbon which is rockably mounted on the carriage so as to be able to move the multi-colored ink ribbon in the width direction relative to the printing head, and a ribbon-position switching device for driving the cartridge holder to bring a desired color zone on the multi-colored ink ribbon to a position corresponding to an end of the printing head for using the desired color zone. The ribbon-position switching device comprises: a stepping motor provided on the carriage for driving the cartridge holder; a step member provided on the cartridge and having engagement recesses corresponding in number to the number of color zones on the multi-colored ink ribbon; a guide member extending from the carriage in the width direction of the multi-colored ink ribbon; a supporting plate guided for movement by the guide member in the width direction of the multi-colored ink ribbon; coil springs for biasing the supporting plate away from the carriage; an adjusting screw for stopping the supporting plate at a desired position against the biasing force of the coil springs; and an engaging projection member provided on the supporting plate and biased to be in engagement with one of the engagement recesses of the step member.