Patent · US Expired

Ribbon print track reinking with a roll system

US5015108A · kind A · utility

2Cited by
8References
14Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 11, 1990
Grant dateMay 14, 1991
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 11, 2010

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB41J32/02
  • WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

Apparatus for selectively reinking an endless ribbon in that portion of the ribbon known as the ribbon print track. The ribbon print track is created in an endless ribbon by the repeated striking of the ribbon by a print mechanism thereby deforming the ribbon and depleting it of ink. Reinking the entire ribbon uses more ink than is necessary. Reinking only the print track extends the life of the ribbon by selectively using the available supply of ink. The apparatus achieves this result by use of an ink reservoir which supplies ink to a drive roller, which through a rotating pinching movement in cooperation with another roller, advances a ribbon into a stuffing cavity of an ink cartridge. The ink reservoir is rotatably mounted and formed to apply ink only to that portion of the drive roller which corresponds to the print track of the ribbon. The drive roller may be a composite of more than one roller in a stack of rollers and a single roller in the stack of rollers may receive the ink from the ink reservoir and transfer it to the ribbon print track.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.