EP0061776A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Printing apparatus and printing cartridge therefor
Assignee: Kroy LLC
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Filing: 1982-03-30
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2002-03-30
Abstract
Abstract An improved printing apparatus and tape-ribbon cartridge for use in a dry lettering printing process. The printing apparatus includes a printing station, a mechanism for generating a printing force at the printing station, a rotatable font element having a plurality of raised characters on its underside, an improved mechanism, in cooperation with the printing cartridge, for advancing the tape and ribbon into printing alignment with the printing station and means for aligning the printing font. The printing cartridge includes a cartridge housing, a supply of tape and ribbon within the cartridge and a reciprocally movable shuttle assembly for advancing the tape and ribbon toward the printing station. The cartridge also includes a mechanism for rewinding used ribbon onto a rewind spool within the cartridge.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael W. Paque
- 👤 Franklin C. Bradshaw
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 15:05
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41K; B41K3/00; B41K3/54; B41K3/58; B41J; B41J3/00; B41J3/38
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 41
Claim 1
Independent Claim
89 words
A cartridge for supplying printing tape and ribbon to a printing apparatus, said cartridge comprising: a cartridge housing (121, 122); a supply of printing tape (130); a supply of printing ribbon (131); advancing means (123) for advancing said printing tape and printing ribbon toward printing alignment with respect to the printing apparatus; a ribbon rewind spool (128); ribbon guide means (161, 162, 164a, 164b, 167) for guiding said printing ribbon from said'printing ribbon supply, toward printing alignment with respect to the printing apparatus and onto said ribbon rewind spool.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
89 words
A cartridge for supplying printing tape and ribbon to a printing apparatus, said cartridge comprising: a cartridge housing (121, 122); a supply of printing tape (130); a supply of printing ribbon (131); advancing means (123) for advancing said printing tape and printing ribbon toward printing alignment with respect to the printing apparatus; a ribbon rewind spool (128); ribbon guide means (161, 162, 164a, 164b, 167) for guiding said printing ribbon from said'printing ribbon supply, toward printing alignment with respect to the printing apparatus and onto said ribbon rewind spool.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The cartridge of claim 1 wherein said supply of printing ribbon (131) includes a spool (145).of printing ribbon rotatably supported within said housing (121, 122).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The cartridge of claim 1 or 2 wherein said supply of printing tape (130) includes a spool (129) of printing tape rotatably supported within said housing (121, 122) .
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The cartridge of claim 3 wherein said ribbon rewind spool (128) is rotatable in response to the rotation of said spool (129) of printing tape.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The cartridge of claim 4 wherein said ribbon rewind spool (128) and said spool (129) of printing tape rotate together on a common axis (124).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The cartridge of claim 5 wherein said ribbon rewind spool (128) and said spool (129) of printing tape are in side-by-side relationship on a common axis (124).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The cartridge of any of claims 1 to 6 wherein said advancing means includes a shuttle means (123) reciprocally movable between forward and rearward positions relative to said housing (121, 122).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The cartridge of any of claims 1 to 7 including tape guide means (165). for guiding said printing tape (13o) from said printing tape supply toward printing alignment with respect to the printing apparatus.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
The cartridge of claim 8 wherein said ribbon guide means (161, 162, 164a, 164b, 167) and said tape guide means (165) guide said printing ribbon (131) and said printing tape (13o), one above the other, toward printing alignment with respect to the printing apparatus.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
1 0 . The cartridge of claim 9 wherein said tape guide means includes a metal clip (165) having a pair of inwardly facing tabs (166).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The cartridge of claim 9 or 1o wherein said ribbon guide means (161, 162, 164a, 164b, 167) includes ribbon reversing means (164a, 164b) for reversing the direction of movement of said printing ribbon (131).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
The cartridge of claim 11 wherein said tape guide means (165) and said ribbon reversing means (164a, 164b) are mounted on an arm (16o) positioned forward of said cartridge housing (121, 122).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The cartridge of claim 12 including a rotatable roller (132) for guiding said printing ribbon (131) from said reversing means (164a, 164b) to said ribbon rewind spool (128).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
The cartridge of any of claims 7 to 13 wherein said shuttle means (123) includes a ribbon guide element (134) movable with said shuttle means and reciprocally movable relative to said printing ribbon supply (145).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The cartridge of claim 14 wherein said ribbon guide element (134) is positioned upwardly and rearwardly relative to said supply of printing ribbon (131).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The cartridge of claim 15 wherein said ribbon guide element comprises a roller (134) rotatably supported by and movable with a portion (158) of said shuttle means (123).
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
The cartridge of claim 16 wherein said shuttle means (123) includes a generally flat ribbon supporting surface (153) disposed at generally right angles relative to the side walls of said cartridge housing (121, 122) .
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
45 words
The cartridge of claim 17 wherein said supply of printing ribbon (131) includes a spool (145) of printing ribbon rotatably mounted between the side walls of said housing (121, 122) and means (146) for resisting the free spinning rotation of said spool of printing ribbon.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
37 words
The cartridge of any of claims 7 to 18 including means for guiding said shuttle means (123) in reciprocal movement including a pair of guide rails (127) connected with the side walls of said housing (121, 122).
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
75 words
2 0 . A cartridge for supplying printing tape and ribbon to a printing apparatus, said cartridge comprising: a cartridge housing (121, 122); a supply of printing tape (130); a supply of printing ribbon (131); and advancing means for advancing said printing tape and printing ribbon toward printing alignment with respect to the printing apparatus, said advancing means including a shuttle means (123) reciprocally movable between forward and rearward positions relative to said cartridge housing.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
75 words
2 0 . A cartridge for supplying printing tape and ribbon to a printing apparatus, said cartridge comprising: a cartridge housing (121, 122); a supply of printing tape (130); a supply of printing ribbon (131); and advancing means for advancing said printing tape and printing ribbon toward printing alignment with respect to the printing apparatus, said advancing means including a shuttle means (123) reciprocally movable between forward and rearward positions relative to said cartridge housing.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
53 words
The cartridge of any of claims 7 to 2o wherein said advancing means includes first clutch means {141, 142) for preventing rearward movement of said printing tape (130) relative to said housing (121, 122) and second clutch means (15o, 155) for preventing rearward movement of said printing tape relative to said shuttle means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
68 words
The cartridge of claim 21 wherein said first clutch means (141, 142) includes a first leaf spring member (142) connected with said housing (121, 122) and having an edge engaging a surface of said printing tape (130) and said second clutch means (15o, 155) includes a second leaf spring member (155) connected with said shuttle means (123) and having an edge engaging a surface of said printing tape.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
37 words
The cartridge of any of claims 7 to 22 wherein said shuttle means (123) includes an indexing tab (149) extending above the top of said housing (121, 122) for limiting the rearward movement of said shuttle means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
43 words
The cartridge of any of claims 7 to 23 wherein said shuttle means (123) includes an indexing edge (117) disposed at an angle relative to the direction of reciprocal movement of said shuttle means for limiting the forward movement of said shuttle means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
56 words
The cartridge of any of claims 7 to 24 wherein said shuttle means (123) includes a shuttle tongue (119) positioned forward of said printing tape (13o) and printing ribbon (131) supply and comprising a pair of outer side surfaces, said outer side surfaces being disposed generally parallel to the side walls of said housing (121, 122).
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
40 words
The cartridge of any of claims 1 to 25 including a fontTrotation post (11 0 ) connected with the top of said housing (121, 122) and extending generally perpendicular to the direction of reciprocal movement of said shuttle means (123).
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
83 words
A printing apparatus comprising: a print station; a printing cartridge including a cartridge housing (121, 122), a supply of printing tape (130) and printing ribbon (131) and shuttle means (123) reciprocally movable relative to said cartridge housing for advancing said printing tape and printing ribbon into printing alignment at said print station:, a rotatable font (13) having a plurality of raised characters (1 0 5) about its peripheral edge; and means (1 0 ) for generating a print force at said print station.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
83 words
A printing apparatus comprising: a print station; a printing cartridge including a cartridge housing (121, 122), a supply of printing tape (130) and printing ribbon (131) and shuttle means (123) reciprocally movable relative to said cartridge housing for advancing said printing tape and printing ribbon into printing alignment at said print station:, a rotatable font (13) having a plurality of raised characters (1 0 5) about its peripheral edge; and means (1 0 ) for generating a print force at said print station.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
23 words
The printing apparatus of claim 27 including means for retaining said printing cartridge .(16) in a fixed position relative to said print station.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
133 words
The printing apparatus of claim 27 or 28 wherein said means for generating print force at said print station includes a print bar assembly (1o) pivotable at one end to the printing apparatus frame (11, 12) and means for pivoting said print bar assembly comprising a fixed link (31) having one end pivotally connected with the printing apparatus frame, a movable link (29) having one end pivotally connected with the other end of said fixed link and the other end of said movable link pivotally connected with the other end of said print bar assembly, a crank link (3o) having one end pivotally connected with said fixed link at a point between its ends and means (14, 4 0 ) for moving the other end of said crank link in generally translational movement.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
44 words
3 0 . The printing apparatus of any of claims 27 to 29 including an upper print pad assembly (80...86), said upper print pad assembly being movable longitudinally with respect to said print station and including an upper print pad (85) of varying thickness.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
37 words
The printing apparatus of claim 3o including means (81, 82, 88) for selectively moving said upper print pad assembly (8 0 ...86) into one of a plurality of selectable longitudinal positions with respect to said print station.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
23 words
The printing apparatus of claim 3o or 31 including a stop tab (99) for limiting the forward movement of said shuttle means (123).
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
29 words
The printing apparatus of claim 32 wherein said rotatable font (13) includes a spacing surface (1 0 9) adapted for limiting the rearward movement of said shuttle means (123).
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
58 words
The printing apparatus of claim 33 wherein said shuttle means .(123) includes a beveled indexing surface (117) adapted for engagement with said stop tab (99) for limiting the forward movement of said shuttle means and an indexing tab (149) adapted for engagement with said spacing surface (1 0 9) for limiting the rearward movement of said shuttle means.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
21 words
The printing apparatus of claim 34 including means (92, 1 00 ) for adjusting the position of said stop tab (99).
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
41 words
The printing apparatus of any of claims 27 to 35 wherein said shuttle means.(123) includes a shuttle tongue (119) and said printing apparatus includes a pair of gripping arms (114, 115) adapted for engagement with side surfaces of said shuttle tongue.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
39 words
The printing apparatus of claim 36 wherein said gripping arms (114, 115) include gripping ends adapted for gripping the side surfaces of said shuttle tongue (119) and are pivotally secured to a portion (12) of the printing apparatus frame.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
45 words
The printing apparatus of claim 37 wherein said means for generating a print force includes a print bar (21, 22) wherein said printing apparatus further includes means (111, 112) for pivotally moving said gripping arms (114, 115) in response to movement of said print bar.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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