EP0358520A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ink ribbon cartridges for printing apparatus
Assignee: Sony Corp
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Filing: 1989-09-08
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-09-08
Abstract
Abstract An ink ribbon cartridge (100) for printing apparatus in which two reels (18, 19) for the supply and take-up of ink ribbon (17) are rotatably mounted, incorporates a cartridge body and cover (20, 30) in which support sections (23) for retaining the ends of the reels (18, 19) are provided. At an end of the cartridge (100), leaf springs (29, 39) apply a constant frictional force to the reel hubs (18b, 19b) to prevent unwanted rotation of the reels (18, 19). Therefore unwanted slackening of the ribbon 917) is prevented, whether or not the printing apparatus is engaged in a printing operation.
Inventors
- 👤 Hiroshi C/O Patents Division Katsuno
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 06:21
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J32/00; B41J17/00; B41J17/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
214 words
An ink ribbon cartridge (100) for a printing apparatus, the cartridge (100) comprising: supply and take-up reels (18, 19) for winding ink ribbon (17) thereon, each of said reels (18, 19) including supported portions (18b, 18c, 19b, 19c) at both ends thereof; a cartridge casing (20, 30) for accommodating said reels (18, 19) therein, said casing (20, 30) including means (23, 24) formed integrally on the inner wall thereof for rotatably supporting said supported portions (18b, 18c, 19b, 19c) of said reels (18, 19); an opening (37) disposed on said casing (20, 30) for exposing a portion of the ink ribbon (17) stretched between said reels (18, 19); and means (29, 39) for continuously applying a constant frictional force to the outer peripheral surface of at least one end of both of said reels (18, 19) at the supported portions (18b, 19b) thereof so as to prevent unnecessary rotation of said reels (18, 19); said applying means (29, 39) including a plurality of spring elements (29, 39) formed on at least one end of said casing (20, 30) in such a manner as to apply pressure to diametrically opposing areas on the outer peripheral surface of at least one end of both of said reels (18, 19) at the supported portions (18b, 19b) thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
214 words
An ink ribbon cartridge (100) for a printing apparatus, the cartridge (100) comprising: supply and take-up reels (18, 19) for winding ink ribbon (17) thereon, each of said reels (18, 19) including supported portions (18b, 18c, 19b, 19c) at both ends thereof; a cartridge casing (20, 30) for accommodating said reels (18, 19) therein, said casing (20, 30) including means (23, 24) formed integrally on the inner wall thereof for rotatably supporting said supported portions (18b, 18c, 19b, 19c) of said reels (18, 19); an opening (37) disposed on said casing (20, 30) for exposing a portion of the ink ribbon (17) stretched between said reels (18, 19); and means (29, 39) for continuously applying a constant frictional force to the outer peripheral surface of at least one end of both of said reels (18, 19) at the supported portions (18b, 19b) thereof so as to prevent unnecessary rotation of said reels (18, 19); said applying means (29, 39) including a plurality of spring elements (29, 39) formed on at least one end of said casing (20, 30) in such a manner as to apply pressure to diametrically opposing areas on the outer peripheral surface of at least one end of both of said reels (18, 19) at the supported portions (18b, 19b) thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
A cartridge (100) according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of spring elements (29, 39) comprises two pairs of spring members (29, 39), each pair of spring members (29, 39) being disposed opposite each other, on each side of said casing (20, 30).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A cartridge (100) according to claim 2 wherein said spring members (29, 39) are formed integrally with said casing (20, 30), said spring members (29, 39) and said casing (20, 30) being formed of synthetic resin.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A cartridge (100) according to claim 2 wherein said spring members (29, 39) are formed of metal materials and are respectively attached to said casing (20, 30) by an adhesive agent.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
70 words
A cartridge (100) according to claim 2 wherein the magnitude of said frictional force is determined by the distance between said opposing spring members (29, 39), the distance being set such that when said frictional force is compared with a force generated by torque transmitted from a drive shaft provided in said printing apparatus to said reels (18, 19), said frictional force is at a ratio from 1/10 to 1/5.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A cartridge (100) according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said casing (20, 30) is formed of two halves.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
85 words
A cartridge (100) according to claim 6 wherein said supporting means (23, 24) includes first support members (23, 24) formed on both sides of each end of one half (20) of said casing (20, 30) for rotatably supporting said supported portions (18b, 19b) of said reels (18, 19) and includes second support members (33, 34) formed on both sides of each end of the other half (30) of said casing (20, 30) for rotatably supporting said supported portions (18c, 19c) of said reels (18, 19).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
A cartridge (100) according to claim 7 wherein said opening (37) is formed substantially in the centre of said casing (20, 30) for inserting a print head and a platen provided in said printing apparatus.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
65 words
A cartridge (100) according to claim 8 wherein said casing (20, 30) includes second openings disposed opposing each other on each side in the vicinity of at least one end of the supported portions (18b, 19b) of each of said reels (18, 19), and said spring members (29, 39) comprise leaf springs (29, 39) protruding from each inner peripheral edge portion of said second openings.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
88 words
A cartridge (100) according to claim 9 wherein a pair of concavities are defined by the inner peripheral edge portions of said second openings and the outer surfaces of said leaf springs (29, 39), and when said cartridge (100) is fully inserted into a cartridge holder (40) provided in said printing apparatus, a projection-like lock member (41a, 42a) provided on said holder (40) fits into said pair of concavities, whereby said cartridge (100) is reliably held at a predetermined set position thereof by the lock member (41a, 42a).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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