US3554349A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High-speed printer having improved ribbon tensioning and reversing drive mechanism
Assignee: Genicom Corp
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Filing: 1968-06-04
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Granted: 1971-01-12
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Expires: 1988-06-04
Abstract
Abstract A high-speed printer of the type having an inked ribbon traversing across a printing area and which is selectively movable to permit character impression and subsequent visibility of the character formed. A pair of pivoted cantilever arms are provided on each side of the printing area of the high-speed printer with a first ribbon guide being mounted adjacent the end of each pivoted cantilever arm. The inked ribbon is supported under tension between the two guides across the width of the printing area and pivoting means are provided for pivoting the cantilever arms in unison about a common pivot axis whereby the printing ribbon is selectively moved as a relatively rigid beam between the printing and viewing positions by pivotal movement of the cantilever arms. A second ribbon guide is mounted on each side of the high-speed printer for supporting the ribbon at points intermediate ribbon takeup and payout spools and the respective first ribbon guides. Each of the second ribbon guides are mounted with their peripheral surface supporting the ribbon in axial alignment with the pivot axis of the pivoted cantilever arm and the ribbon is twisted through substantially a right angle in the space between each second ribbon guide and its associated first ribbon guide so as to extend along a path that bisects the angular movement of the pivoted cantilever arms. Reversible, tensioning ribbon spool drive mechanisms are supported on opposite sides of the high-speed printer for moving the ribbon in either direction between the pair of takeup and payout spools. The spool drive mechanisms are selectively operable alternately to cause the spools to take up or pay out the ribbon and comprise rotatable supporting plates having driving and neutral freewheeling positions. A movable center gear and ratchet arrangement is supported on each supporting plate and coacts with a fixed center gear when the rotatable supporting plate is in its driving position. A spindle for supporting a ribbon spool is rotated by the fixed center gear and includes an actuable finger which is extended upon exhaustion of a ribbon from a spool under conditions where the spool is operating as a payout spool with the supporting plate in its neutral freewheeling position. An interposer lever is actuated by the extended finger upon exhaustion of the ribbon from the spool which then coacts with the ratchet to rotate the rotatable supporting plate from its neutral freewheeling position into a driving position thereby reversing the operation of the spool. A rotatable shaft interconnects the ribbon spool drive mechanisms on opposite sides of the printer with respective connecting links interconnecting the supporting plate of each spool drive mechanism with the rotatable shaft in a manner such that rotation of one of the supporting plates from the neutral freewheeling position to the driving position results in automatic rotation of the opposite supporting plate from the driving position to the neutral freewheeling position thereby providing jam-proof operation.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald G Hebert
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 03:33
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J33/00; B41J33/14; B41J33/40; B41J33/44; B41J33/51; B41J35/00; B41J35/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
395 words
A nonjamming, reversible, tensioning ribbon spool drive mechanism for moving a ribbon in either direction between a pair of ribbon spools supported on opposite sides of a work area under substantially constant tension and at some predetermined speed, said drive mechanism being operable alternately to cause its spool to take up or pay out ribbon and comprising first pinion gear means secured to and rotated by suitable drive shaft means, first driven gear means meshing with and driven by said first pinion gear means, rotatable supporting plate means having said first driven gear means rotatably supported thereon and rotatably movable in an arc between a driving position and a neutral freewheeling position in a manner which permits continuous meshing of said first driven gear means with the first pinion gear means, ratchet wheel means and second pinion gear means rotatably supported on said rotatable supporting plate and rotated in synchronism with said first driven gear means, intermediate driven gear means for meshing with and rotation by said second pinion gear means upon said rotatable supporting plate being rotated to the driving position third pinion gear means rotated by said intermediate driven gear means, output gear means meshing with and driven by said third pinion gear means, spindle means for supporting a ribbon spool rotated by said output gear means, said spindle means including spring loaded finger means held in a depressed position by a ribbon spool having ribbon wound thereon, the ribbon spool having a slot therein for emergence of said finger means upon the ribbon being completely unwound therefrom under conditions where the spool is operated to pay out ribbon and the rotatable supporting plate means associated therewith is in the neutral freewheeling position, and pivoted lever means having one end engaged by said finger means in the emerged position, the remaining end of said pivoted lever means engaging said ratchet wheel upon the lever means being pivoted by the finger means and serving to rotate the rotatable supporting plate means from the neutral freewheeling position to the driving position whereby said second pinion gear means, which is maintained out of engagement with said intermediate driven gear means with the rotatable supporting plate means in the neutral freewheeling position, is brought into engagement with said intermediate driven gear means to thereby reverse the action of the spool and cause it to take up ribbon.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
395 words
A nonjamming, reversible, tensioning ribbon spool drive mechanism for moving a ribbon in either direction between a pair of ribbon spools supported on opposite sides of a work area under substantially constant tension and at some predetermined speed, said drive mechanism being operable alternately to cause its spool to take up or pay out ribbon and comprising first pinion gear means secured to and rotated by suitable drive shaft means, first driven gear means meshing with and driven by said first pinion gear means, rotatable supporting plate means having said first driven gear means rotatably supported thereon and rotatably movable in an arc between a driving position and a neutral freewheeling position in a manner which permits continuous meshing of said first driven gear means with the first pinion gear means, ratchet wheel means and second pinion gear means rotatably supported on said rotatable supporting plate and rotated in synchronism with said first driven gear means, intermediate driven gear means for meshing with and rotation by said second pinion gear means upon said rotatable supporting plate being rotated to the driving position third pinion gear means rotated by said intermediate driven gear means, output gear means meshing with and driven by said third pinion gear means, spindle means for supporting a ribbon spool rotated by said output gear means, said spindle means including spring loaded finger means held in a depressed position by a ribbon spool having ribbon wound thereon, the ribbon spool having a slot therein for emergence of said finger means upon the ribbon being completely unwound therefrom under conditions where the spool is operated to pay out ribbon and the rotatable supporting plate means associated therewith is in the neutral freewheeling position, and pivoted lever means having one end engaged by said finger means in the emerged position, the remaining end of said pivoted lever means engaging said ratchet wheel upon the lever means being pivoted by the finger means and serving to rotate the rotatable supporting plate means from the neutral freewheeling position to the driving position whereby said second pinion gear means, which is maintained out of engagement with said intermediate driven gear means with the rotatable supporting plate means in the neutral freewheeling position, is brought into engagement with said intermediate driven gear means to thereby reverse the action of the spool and cause it to take up ribbon.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A ribbon spool drive according to claim 1 further including overcenter spring means connected to each of said rotatable supporting plate means for holding the supporting plate means in either the driving or neutral freewheeling position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
91 words
A ribbon spool drive according to claim 2 further including rotatable shaft means interconnecting the ribbon spool drive mechanisms on opposite sides of the work area and respective connecting link means interconnecting the respective rotatable supporting plate means of each spool drive mechanism to respective ends of the rotatable shaft means in a manner such that rotation of one of the supporting plate means from the neutral freewheeling position to the driving position results in rotation of the opposite supporting plate means from the driving position to the neutral freewheeling position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
A ribbon spool drive according to claim 3 further including compression spring means for forcing the output gear means into frictional engagement with a supporting member for creating frictional drag that serves to tension the ribbon.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
111 words
A ribbon spool drive according to claim 4 wherein said compression spring means also comprises a torsion spring and is supported within said spindle means, and said spindle means is coupled to the output drive gear means at least in part through the medium of said combined compression and torsional spring means, Said spindle means being relatively rotatable a predetermined amount with respect to the output gear drive means for torsionally preloading the spring means prior to said spindle means and output drive gear means rotating as a unit to thereby provide resiliency to the spindle means relative to the output drive gear means and prevent instantaneous slackening of the ribbon.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
203 words
A nonjamming, reversible, tensioning ribbon spool drive mechanism for moving a ribbon under substantially constant tension and at some predetermined speed, in either direction between a pair of ribbon spools supported on opposite sides of an intermediate space, said drive mechanism being selectively operable alternately to cause its spool to take up or pay out ribbon, said spool drive mechanism comprising rotatable supporting plate means having driving and neutral freewheeling positions, movable center gear and ratchet means supported on said supporting plate means, fixed center gear means coacting with said movable center gear means with the rotatable supporting plate in the driving position, spindle means for supporting the ribbon spool and rotatable by said fixed center gear means, said spindle means including finger means actuable by the exhaustion of ribbon from a spool supported thereon where the rotatable supporting plate is in the freewheeling position and the spool is operating as a payout spool, and interposer lever means actuable by said finger means upon the ribbon on a spool being exhausted, said interposer lever means coacting with the ratchet means to rotate the rotatable supporting plate means from its neutral freewheeling position into its driving position thereby reversing the operation of the spool.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
203 words
A nonjamming, reversible, tensioning ribbon spool drive mechanism for moving a ribbon under substantially constant tension and at some predetermined speed, in either direction between a pair of ribbon spools supported on opposite sides of an intermediate space, said drive mechanism being selectively operable alternately to cause its spool to take up or pay out ribbon, said spool drive mechanism comprising rotatable supporting plate means having driving and neutral freewheeling positions, movable center gear and ratchet means supported on said supporting plate means, fixed center gear means coacting with said movable center gear means with the rotatable supporting plate in the driving position, spindle means for supporting the ribbon spool and rotatable by said fixed center gear means, said spindle means including finger means actuable by the exhaustion of ribbon from a spool supported thereon where the rotatable supporting plate is in the freewheeling position and the spool is operating as a payout spool, and interposer lever means actuable by said finger means upon the ribbon on a spool being exhausted, said interposer lever means coacting with the ratchet means to rotate the rotatable supporting plate means from its neutral freewheeling position into its driving position thereby reversing the operation of the spool.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A ribbon spool drive according to claim 6 further including overcenter spring means connected to each of said rotatable supporting plate means for holding the supporting plate means in either the driving or neutral freewheeling position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
91 words
A ribbon spool drive according to claim 7 further including rotatable shaft means interconnecting the ribbon spool drive mechanisms on opposite sides of the work area and respective connecting link means interconnecting the respective rotatable supporting plate means of each spool drive mechanism to respective ends of the rotatable shaft means in a manner such that rotation of one of the supporting plate means for the neutral freewheeling position to the driving position results in rotation of the opposite supporting plate means from the driving position to the neutral freewheeling position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
A ribbon spool drive according to claim 8 further including compression spring means for forcing the output gear means into frictional engagement with a supporting member for creating frictional drag that serves to tension the ribbon.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
111 words
A ribbon spool drive according to claim 9 wherein said compression spring means also comprises a torsion spring and is supported within said spindle means and said spindle means is coupled to the output drive gear means at least in part through the medium of said combined compression and torsional spring means, said spindle means being relatively rotatable a predetermined amount with respect to the output gear drive means for torsionally preloading the spring means prior to said spindle means and output drive gear means rotating as a unit to thereby provide resiliency to the spindle means relative to the output drive gear means and prevent instantaneous slackening of the ribbon.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
425 words
In a high-speed printer including an inked ribbon traversing across a printing area and which is selectively movable to permit character impression and subsequent visibility of the character formed, a pair of pivoted cantilever arms, one mounted on each side of the printing area, a first ribbon guide mounted adjacent the end of each pivoted cantilever arm, the ribbon being supported under tension between the two guides across the width of the printing area, and pivoting means for pivoting the cantilever arms in unison about a commOn pivot axis whereby the printing ribbon is selectively moved as a relatively rigid beam between the printing and viewing positions by pivotal movement of the cantilever arms, the improvement comprising a second ribbon guide mounted on each side of the high-speed printer for supporting the ribbon at points intermediate ribbon takeup and payout spools and the respective first ribbon guides, each second ribbon guide being mounted with the peripheral surface thereof supporting the ribbon in axial alignment with the pivot axis of the pivoted cantilever arms, the ribbon being twisted through substantially a right angle in the space between each second ribbon guide and its respective first ribbon guide and extending along a path that bisects the angle of movement of the pivoted cantilever arms, said high-speed printer further including nonjamming, reversible, tensioning ribbon spool drive mechanisms supported on opposite sides of the high-speed printer for moving the ribbon in either direction between the pair of ribbon takeup and payout spools under substantially constant tension and at some predetermined speed, said spool drive mechanisms being selectively operable alternately to cause the spools to take up or pay out ribbon, each of said spool drive mechanisms comprising rotatable supporting plate means having driving and neutral freewheeling positions, movable center gear and ratchet means supported on said supporting plate means, fixed center gear means coacting with said movable center gear means with the rotatable supporting plate in the driving position, spindle means for supporting the ribbon spool and rotatable by said fixed center gear means, said spindle means including finger means actuable by the exhaustion of ribbon from a spool supported thereon where the rotatable supporting plate is in the freewheeling position and the spool is operating as a payout spool, and interposer lever means actuable by said finger means upon the ribbon on a spool being exhausted, said interposer lever means coacting with the ratchet means to rotate the rotatable supporting plate means from its neutral freewheeling position into its driving position thereby reversing the operation of the spool.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
425 words
In a high-speed printer including an inked ribbon traversing across a printing area and which is selectively movable to permit character impression and subsequent visibility of the character formed, a pair of pivoted cantilever arms, one mounted on each side of the printing area, a first ribbon guide mounted adjacent the end of each pivoted cantilever arm, the ribbon being supported under tension between the two guides across the width of the printing area, and pivoting means for pivoting the cantilever arms in unison about a commOn pivot axis whereby the printing ribbon is selectively moved as a relatively rigid beam between the printing and viewing positions by pivotal movement of the cantilever arms, the improvement comprising a second ribbon guide mounted on each side of the high-speed printer for supporting the ribbon at points intermediate ribbon takeup and payout spools and the respective first ribbon guides, each second ribbon guide being mounted with the peripheral surface thereof supporting the ribbon in axial alignment with the pivot axis of the pivoted cantilever arms, the ribbon being twisted through substantially a right angle in the space between each second ribbon guide and its respective first ribbon guide and extending along a path that bisects the angle of movement of the pivoted cantilever arms, said high-speed printer further including nonjamming, reversible, tensioning ribbon spool drive mechanisms supported on opposite sides of the high-speed printer for moving the ribbon in either direction between the pair of ribbon takeup and payout spools under substantially constant tension and at some predetermined speed, said spool drive mechanisms being selectively operable alternately to cause the spools to take up or pay out ribbon, each of said spool drive mechanisms comprising rotatable supporting plate means having driving and neutral freewheeling positions, movable center gear and ratchet means supported on said supporting plate means, fixed center gear means coacting with said movable center gear means with the rotatable supporting plate in the driving position, spindle means for supporting the ribbon spool and rotatable by said fixed center gear means, said spindle means including finger means actuable by the exhaustion of ribbon from a spool supported thereon where the rotatable supporting plate is in the freewheeling position and the spool is operating as a payout spool, and interposer lever means actuable by said finger means upon the ribbon on a spool being exhausted, said interposer lever means coacting with the ratchet means to rotate the rotatable supporting plate means from its neutral freewheeling position into its driving position thereby reversing the operation of the spool.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
89 words
A high-speed printer according to claim 11 further including rotatable shaft means interconnecting the ribbon spool drive mechanisms on opposite sides of the printer and respective connecting link means interconnecting the respective rotatable supporting plate means of each spool drive mechanism to respective ends of the rotatable shaft means in a manner such that rotation of one of the supporting plate means from the neutral freewheeling position to the driving position results in rotation of the opposite supporting plate means from the driving position to the neutral freewheeling position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
409 words
A high-speed printer according to claim 11 further including nonjamming, reversible, tensioning ribbon spool drive mechanisms supported on opposite sides of the printer for moving a ribbon in either direction between the pair of ribbon takeup and payout spools under substantially constant tension and at some predetermined speed, each of said drive mechanisms being operable alternately to cause the spools to take up or pay out ribbon and comprising first pinion gear means secured to and rotated by suitable drive shaft means, first driven gear means meshing with and driven by said first pinion gear means, rotatable supporting plate means having said first driven gear means rotatably supported thereon and rotatably movable in an arc between a driving position and a neutral freewheeling position in a manner which permits continuous meshing of said first driven gear means with the first pinion gear means, ratchet wheel means and second pinion gear means rotatably supported on said rotatable supporting plate and rotated in synchronism with said first driven gear means, intermediate driven gear means for meshing with and rotation by said second pinion gear means with said rotatable supporting plate rotaTed to the driving position, third pinion gear means rotated by said intermediate driven gear means, output gear means meshing with and driven by said third pinion gear means, spindle means for supporting a ribbon spool rotated by said output gear means, said spindle means including spring loaded finger means held in a depressed position by a ribbon spool having ribbon wound thereon, the ribbon spool having a slot therein for emergence of said finger means upon the ribbon being completely unwound therefrom under conditions where the spool is operated to pay out ribbon and the rotatable supporting plate means associated therewith is in the neutral freewheeling position, and pivoted lever means having one end engaged by said finger means in the emerged position, the remaining end of said pivoted lever means engaging said ratchet wheel upon the lever means being pivoted by the finger means and serving to rotate the rotatable supporting plate means from the neutral freewheeling position to the driving position whereby said second pinion gear means which previously had been maintained out of engagement with said intermediate driven gear means while the rotatable supporting plate means was in the neutral freewheeling position is brought into engagement with said intermediate driven gear means to thereby reverse the action of the spool and cause it to take up ribbon.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
A high-speed printer according to claim 13 further including overcenter spring means connected to each of said rotatable supporting plate means for holding the supporting plate means in either the driving or neutral freewheeling position.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
89 words
A high-speed printer according to claim 14 further including rotatable shaft means interconnecting the ribbon spool drive mechanisms on opposite sides of the printer and respective connecting link means interconnecting the respective rotatable supporting plate means of each spool drive mechanism to respective ends of the rotatable shaft means in a manner such that rotation of one of the supporting plate means from the neutral freewheeling position to the driving position results in rotation of the opposite supporting plate means from the driving position to the neutral freewheeling position.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
A high-speed printer according to claim 15 further including compression spring means for forcing the output gear means into frictional engagement with a supporting member for creating frictional drag tat serves to tension the ribbon.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
110 words
A high-speed printer according to claim 16 wherein said compression spring means also comprises a torsion spring and is supported within said spindle means, and said spindle means is coupled to the output drive gear means at least in part through the medium of said combined compression and torsional spring means, said spindle means being relatively rotatable a predetermined amount with respect to the output drive gear means for torsionally preloading the spring means prior to said spindle means and output drive gear means rotating as a unit to thereby provide resiliency to the spindle means relative to the output drive gear means and prevent instantaneous slackening of the ribbon.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-01-11 | 1974-07-13 | 1975-01-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-01-11 | 1978-07-13 | 1979-01-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-01-11 | 1982-07-13 | 1983-01-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |