US3788442A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Erase ribbon feed
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1972-06-27
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Granted: 1974-01-29
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Expires: 1992-06-27
Abstract
Abstract An erase ribbon feed mechanism incrementally feeds ribbon both before and after, but not during print impact to break an adhesive type erase ribbon loose from adjacent structures such as a card holder to which it may have become attached. The mechanism is thus made suitable for feeding an adhesive erase ribbon without creating shedding conditions that would make it unsuitable for feeding a cover-up type erase ribbon. Preferably, the card holder is made of polytetraflouroethylene and includes surface contact minimizing ridges adjacent the path of the erase ribbon. Where the ribbon lift action increases the span length of the erase ribbon, the feed occurring after impact is designed to take-up ribbon at a rate at least as great as the rate of decrease in ribbon span length to prevent accumulation of slack in the ribbon span.
Inventors
- 👤 R Lehnhardt
- 👤 J Schaefer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 21:51
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J35/00; B41J35/22; B41J35/23; B41J29/00; B41J29/26; B41J29/36; B41J33/00; B41J33/02; B41J33/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
237 words
In a character-by-character printer having impacting means defining a print point and first timed driving means for establishing the time of impact occurrence, an erase ribbon handling mechanism separate from an inking ribbon mechanism and capable of lifting and feeding an adhesive erase ribbon, said erase ribbon handling mechanism including means supporting a spool of erase ribbon, guide means for receiving a span of said erase ribbon and including at least one lift member that is movably mounted for interposing said span at said print point of said impacting means, said printer having structure adjacent said span, and advancing means drivingly connected with said erase ribbon for advancing said erase ribbon along its length past said print point, the improvement comprising: second timed driving means comprising cam means having a preprint feed rise portion for positively driving said advancing means to advance a first increment of said erase ribbon past said print point prior to said impact time, said second timed driving means further controlling said advancing means to prevent advancement of said erase ribbon thereby during said impact, and said cam means having a post-print feed rise portion for positively driving said advancing means to advance a further increment of said erase ribbon subsequent to said impact time so that said cam rise portions provide a positive force to shear the ribbon from any structure to which it may become attached both before and after impact.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
237 words
In a character-by-character printer having impacting means defining a print point and first timed driving means for establishing the time of impact occurrence, an erase ribbon handling mechanism separate from an inking ribbon mechanism and capable of lifting and feeding an adhesive erase ribbon, said erase ribbon handling mechanism including means supporting a spool of erase ribbon, guide means for receiving a span of said erase ribbon and including at least one lift member that is movably mounted for interposing said span at said print point of said impacting means, said printer having structure adjacent said span, and advancing means drivingly connected with said erase ribbon for advancing said erase ribbon along its length past said print point, the improvement comprising: second timed driving means comprising cam means having a preprint feed rise portion for positively driving said advancing means to advance a first increment of said erase ribbon past said print point prior to said impact time, said second timed driving means further controlling said advancing means to prevent advancement of said erase ribbon thereby during said impact, and said cam means having a post-print feed rise portion for positively driving said advancing means to advance a further increment of said erase ribbon subsequent to said impact time so that said cam rise portions provide a positive force to shear the ribbon from any structure to which it may become attached both before and after impact.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
130 words
A printer as defined in claim 1 wherein the improvement further comprises: third timed driving means operatively connected with said lift member for causing said lift member to displace said span from a rest position wherein said span is displaced from said print point to an active position wherein said span is superimposed upon said print point prior to said impact time and simultaneously with at least a portion of the time said advancing means is advancing said first increment of said erase ribbon, and further for moving said lift member to restore said span from said active position to said rest position subsequent to said impact time and simultaneously with at least a portion of the time said advancing means is advancing said further increment of said erase ribbon.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
142 words
A printer as defined in claim 2 wherein said span of said erase ribbon has a length defined by said guide means that is substantially greater when said lift member is in its said active position than when said lift member is in its said rest position whereby the span length defined by said guide means decreases as said lift member is restored to its said rest position at a rate determined by said third timed driving means and wherein the improvement further comprises: said post-print feed rise portion of said cam means having a rise sufficient to operate said advancing means to advance said further increment of said erase ribbon at a rate that is at least substantially as great as the rate of decrease in said span length occurring during restoration of said lift member to its said rest position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
A printer as defined in claim 1, wherein said erase ribbon comprises a contact adhesive surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A printer as defined in claim 4 wherein said structure located adjacent said span of erase ribbon has an external surface comprised of polytetraflouroethylene.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
A printer as defined in claim 5 wherein said structure located adjacent said span comprises an external surface including protrusions for reducing the potential contact area between said erase ribbon and said structure.
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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) | 1977-01-28 | 1977-07-30 | 1978-01-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-28 | 1981-07-30 | 1982-01-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-28 | 1985-07-30 | 1986-01-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |