US3854670A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device for the automatic reversal of the lengthwise motion of the ink-ribbon in typewriters and printers
Assignee: Bull HN Information Systems Italia SpA
•
Filing: 1973-08-22
•
Granted: 1974-12-17
•
Expires: 1993-08-22
Abstract
Abstract A drive system for the automatic reversal of the motion of ink ribbons includes a driving gear which is mounted on a base plate through elastic return means, such as a flat spring. First and second driven gears are alternately engaged with a planentary gear meshed with the driving gear. When the driven gear engaged with the planetary gear is subjected to an increase in the resistant torque, deflection of the elastic return means causes relative displacement of the driving and driven gears to permit the planetary gear to rotate about the driving gear and engage the other driven gear.
Inventors
- 👤 U Bertolazzi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 04:57
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J33/00; B41J33/14; B41J33/40; B41J33/44; B41J33/51; B41J33/516; B41J33/16; B41J33/22; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/19; Y10T74/19219; Y10T74/19358; Y10T74/19367
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
195 words
A printing device, including a first take-up spool mounted on a first shaft; a second take-up spool mounted on a second shaft; a base plate supporting said shafts; an ink ribbon extending from one spool to the other spool and adapted to be wound on one spool and unwound from the other spool and vice versa; and drive means for alternately driving a first driven gear coupled to drive said first shaft and a second driven gear coupled to drive said second shaft, said drive means comprising: a driving gear; said first driven gear; said second driven gear; a planetary gear engaged with said driving gear and arranged for alternately engaging said first and said second driven gear by planetary rotation about said driving gear; and elastic support means for supporting said driving gear on said base plate to permit relative displacement of said driving and driven gears in response to an increase in resistant torque applied to one of the driven gears engaged by said planetary gear, whereby said planetary gear is permitted to disengage from one of said driven gears, rotate about said driving gear, and engage the other of said driven gears.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
195 words
A printing device, including a first take-up spool mounted on a first shaft; a second take-up spool mounted on a second shaft; a base plate supporting said shafts; an ink ribbon extending from one spool to the other spool and adapted to be wound on one spool and unwound from the other spool and vice versa; and drive means for alternately driving a first driven gear coupled to drive said first shaft and a second driven gear coupled to drive said second shaft, said drive means comprising: a driving gear; said first driven gear; said second driven gear; a planetary gear engaged with said driving gear and arranged for alternately engaging said first and said second driven gear by planetary rotation about said driving gear; and elastic support means for supporting said driving gear on said base plate to permit relative displacement of said driving and driven gears in response to an increase in resistant torque applied to one of the driven gears engaged by said planetary gear, whereby said planetary gear is permitted to disengage from one of said driven gears, rotate about said driving gear, and engage the other of said driven gears.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
188 words
A printing device, including a first take-up spool mounted on a first shaft; a second take-up spool mounted on a second shaft; a base plate supporting said shafts; an ink ribbon extending from one spool to the other spool and adapted to be wound on one spool and unwound from the other spool and vice versa; and drive means for alternately driving a first driven gear coupled to drive said first shaft and a second driven gear coupled to drive said second shaft, in response to an increase in the resistant torque applied to the gear being driven, said drive means comprising: a driving gear; said first driven gear; said second driven gear; a planetary gear engaged with said driving gear and arranged for alternately engaging said first and said second driven gear by a plantary rotation around said driving gear; and elastically deformable support means for supporting said driving gear on said base plate, for keeping said driving gear at a suitable distance from said driven gears, and for allowing a relative displacement of said driving gear from the driven gear being engaged by said planetary gear.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
188 words
A printing device, including a first take-up spool mounted on a first shaft; a second take-up spool mounted on a second shaft; a base plate supporting said shafts; an ink ribbon extending from one spool to the other spool and adapted to be wound on one spool and unwound from the other spool and vice versa; and drive means for alternately driving a first driven gear coupled to drive said first shaft and a second driven gear coupled to drive said second shaft, in response to an increase in the resistant torque applied to the gear being driven, said drive means comprising: a driving gear; said first driven gear; said second driven gear; a planetary gear engaged with said driving gear and arranged for alternately engaging said first and said second driven gear by a plantary rotation around said driving gear; and elastically deformable support means for supporting said driving gear on said base plate, for keeping said driving gear at a suitable distance from said driven gears, and for allowing a relative displacement of said driving gear from the driven gear being engaged by said planetary gear.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The device of claim 2, wherein said drive means reverses the motion of said two driven gears, and wherein said first and said second driven gears are permanently mutually engaged.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
The device of claim 2, wherein said drive means reverses the motion of said ink ribbon and further comprises a third driven gear permanently engaged with said second driven gear, said first and said second shafts being respectively integral with said first and said third gear.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-12-16 | 1978-06-17 | 1978-12-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-16 | 1982-06-17 | 1982-12-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-16 | 1986-06-17 | 1986-12-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |