Vacuum buffered ribbon transport system
US4747715A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 8, 1987 |
| Grant date | May 31, 1988 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 8, 2007 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB41J35/06
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A printer having extended ribbon capacity is provided with a vacuum buffering system which stores ribbon on either side of a ribbon utilization mechanism, illustratively an impact print head. In a preferred embodiment, the ribbon is stored in a pair of vacuum chambers which are arranged to pivot about a common axis as a carriage which bears the print head is translated along a carriage path. The vacuum chambers are each provided with telescopically extendable members which compensate for variations in the distance between the pivot of the vacuum chambers and the print carriage, as the print carriage is translated. A ribbon lift system for multitrack embodiments utilizes off-carriage drive and a direction-determining clutch toggle system.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.