Self-tensioning and re-inking ribbon cartridge for endless ribbons

Claim 1

A self-tensioning and re-inking ribbon cartridge for use in a printing device for printing on a paper tape, said printing device having a friction ribbon feed roller and a selectively rotatable print wheel with type characters disposed along the periphery thereof, said cartridge comprising: a. a case having predeterminedly configured partitions and a plurality of pins disposed normally to the case, such partitions forming a first, second and third cylindrical compartment each having a wall discontinuity, and forming also a peripheral channel communicating with each of said cylindrical compartments at said wall discontinuity thereof, said first cylindrical compartment operably accommodating said rotatable print wheel and said second cylindrical compartment accommodating said friction ribbon feed roller when said cartridge is installed in said printing device, b. an endless inked ribbon movably disposed within said peripheral channel in communicating relationship with said wall discontinuities of said first, said second and said third cylindrical compartments, and in cooperating driven relationship with said friction ribbon feed roller when said cartridge is installed in said printing device, c. a pair of ramps formed in said peripheral channel by predetermined portions of said partitions, said ramps being disposed in straddling relationship relative to said wall discontinuity of said first cylindrical compartment such that said endless inked ribbon is linearly disposed to define a print position parallel to an outer edge of said case, d. a cylindrical re-inking member disposed within said third cylindrical compartment and effective for absorbably dispensing ink to said endless inked ribbon, e. a plurality of ridge-like deformations formed in said peripheral channel by means of other portions of said partitions, said deformations defining a first ribbon tensioning means effective for holding said endless inked ribbon in frictional contact with said re-inking member during the movement of said endless inked ribbon through said wall discontinuity of said third cylindrical compartment as driven by said friction ribbon feed roller, and defining also a second ribbon tensioning means effective for holding said endless inked ribbon in a taut state in said print position, and f. a removable base cover having a plurality of pin holes, said cover being attachable to said case by means of said pins and said pin holes, said cover having also a first and second substantially circular aperture which communicate with said first and second cylindrical compartments of said case when said cover is assembled thereon.