Ribbon cartridge with endless ribbon reinking mechanism
US5005996A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 15, 1989 |
| Grant date | Apr 9, 1991 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 15, 2009 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB41J32/02
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A ribbon cartridge for an endless ribbon used in high speed printers, with increased reliability due to fewer parts, is constructed from a molded casing which is rectangular in shape into which are formed a post on which a cylindrical porous ink reservoir is mounted, a ribbon protector which isolates the ink reservoir from the ribbon in the stuffer box portion of the cartridge, and a forked bracket for mounting a shaft on which gears are mounted. A combination gear for driving a ribbon into the stuffer box and for re-inking the ribbon is mounted on a post and then rotatably mounted on the bracket formed into the housing and is inked by contact with the ink reservoir. An idler gear is rotatably mounted on a bracket which is pivoted from a socket molded into the socket wall and is spring biased into contact with the drive and transfer gear, which is turned by its extended shaft advance and ink the ribbon. As a result a simplified re-inking arrangement is achieved with the minimum of components. Also, by re-inking a central drive and transfer gear, only the print track of a ribbon is reinked thereby extending the re-inking life by conserving ink.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.