Patent US3880271A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3880271A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ribbon feed
Assignee: AST Research Inc
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Filing: 1973-09-17
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Granted: 1975-04-29
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Expires: 1993-09-17
Abstract
Abstract Pivotally mounted plastic ribbon deck for an electronic business machine printer rotatably supporting two spools to normally present an operable position of ribbon in a lower inoperative position and liftable to move the ribbon to first or second upper operative positions by a rotatable plastic cam and a plastic lifting link, the latter being selectively moveable laterally to be engaged by different portions of the cam. Automatically reversible ribbon feed comprising a plastic feed pawl beam slidable on the ribbon deck and having one of two edge notches held by springs in engagement with a laterally oscillatable drive stud and one or the other of its pawl ends engaging a ribbon spool ratchet. When sliding of beam is prevented by ribbon resistance due to unwinding of all of ribbon from one spool to which its end is secured, the drive stud moves relative to the beam into engagement with the other edge notch and the springs tilt the beam to engage its other pawl end with the ratchet of the other spool to reverse the direction of the ribbon feeding.
Inventors
- 👤 Terrance J Hebron
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 13:41
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J35/00; B41J35/04; B41J35/10; B41J35/12; B41J35/14; B41J33/00; B41J33/14; B41J33/40; B41J33/44; B41J33/51; B41J33/516
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
235 words
In a business machine printer having a printing area defined by a platen for backing paper to receive line printing, horizontal pivot means spaced forwardly from said platen, a ribbon deck pivotally supported at its front by said horizontal pivot means and having a ribbon guide at its rear adjacent each end of said platen, a ribbon spool spindle upstanding from said deck adjacent each ribbon guide, a ribbon, a spool connected to each end of said ribbon and rotatable on a said spindle, cyclically operable feed means for winding the ribbon from one of said spools across said guide to the other of said spools, and means normally supporting the rear of said deck to present a portion of said ribbon extending between said ribbon guides in a lower inoperative position and selectively operable to lift said portion of said ribbon to first or second upper operative positions and maintain the same therein during printing of each line, wherein said last recited means for supporting the rear of said deck comprises a cyclically operable lifting cam, and a link having a first end engaging said cam, a second pivotally mounted end and a connection intermediate said ends with said deck, whereby said cam raises said free end of said link to lift the rear of said deck to maintain said ribbon in an upper operative position during the printing portion of a machine cycle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
235 words
In a business machine printer having a printing area defined by a platen for backing paper to receive line printing, horizontal pivot means spaced forwardly from said platen, a ribbon deck pivotally supported at its front by said horizontal pivot means and having a ribbon guide at its rear adjacent each end of said platen, a ribbon spool spindle upstanding from said deck adjacent each ribbon guide, a ribbon, a spool connected to each end of said ribbon and rotatable on a said spindle, cyclically operable feed means for winding the ribbon from one of said spools across said guide to the other of said spools, and means normally supporting the rear of said deck to present a portion of said ribbon extending between said ribbon guides in a lower inoperative position and selectively operable to lift said portion of said ribbon to first or second upper operative positions and maintain the same therein during printing of each line, wherein said last recited means for supporting the rear of said deck comprises a cyclically operable lifting cam, and a link having a first end engaging said cam, a second pivotally mounted end and a connection intermediate said ends with said deck, whereby said cam raises said free end of said link to lift the rear of said deck to maintain said ribbon in an upper operative position during the printing portion of a machine cycle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A business machine printer according to claim 1, wherein said cam and said link comprise molded plastic parts.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
95 words
In a business machine printer according to claim 1, a lever connected to said second end of said link, said cam having one part normally supporting said first end and a normally inoperative second part, and means selectively operable to actuate said lever to swing the same from normal position to move said link relative to said lifting cam to engage said first end with said second part, whereby said cam lifts the rear of said deck to maintain said ribbon in a second upper operative position during the printing portion of a machine cycle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
75 words
A business machine printer according to claim 3, wherein the peripheral surface of said lifting cam defines said parts and comprises parallel tracks of different diameters each having a dwell, with the free end of said link normally resting upon the dwell in the smaller diameter said track, and a lateral extension on said link movable into operative association with the dwell in the larger diameter said track in response to actuation of said lever.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
In a business machine printer according to claim 4, stop means cooperating with said lever to determine its normal position, and means connected to said link resiliently constraining the free end of the latter into contact with said lifting cam and said lever into contact with said stop means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A business machine printer according to claim 5, wherein said selectively operable means comprises a solenoid having a plunger connected to said lever.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A business machine printer according to claim 1, wherein said ribbon deck and said ribbon guides are formed as a unitary molded plastic part.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
159 words
A business machine printer according to claim 2, wherein each said spool is drivingly connected to a ratchet, and said feed means comprises said ratchets, a laterally oscillatable drive stud supported by said deck, a feed pawl beam having two edge notches intermediate its ends with each end associated with a said ratchet, and spring means for resiliently retaining one or the other of said notches in engagement with said drive stud and the end of said beam remote therefrom in engagement with its associated said ratchet, wherein the ends of said ribbon are secured, respectively, to said spools, whereby lateral movement of said feed pawl beam by said drive stud is prevented by said ribbon when it is completely unwound from one of said spools and said drive stud resultingly moves from engagement with one into engagement with the other said edge notch to automatically reverse the direction of ribbon feeding by subsequent oscillation of said feed means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
In a business machine printer according to claim 8, means cooperating with the active end of said feed pawl beam to insure proper engagement thereof with the associated said ratchet and of said drive stud with said other edge notch.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
A business machine printer according to claim 8, wherein said feed pawl beam and said ratchet comprise molded plastic parts.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
54 words
A business machine printer according to claim 8, wherein said ribbon deck is provided with a laterally extending recess in its upper surface, and a power slide slidably mounted on said deck, connected to said drive stud for oscillating the same and disposed in said recess, whereby the latter guides movements of said slide.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
54 words
In a business machine printer according to claim 11, wherein a portion of said recess extends through said deck and a depending part of said power slide extends therethrough, a feed lever pivotally connected to said depending part, and a ribbon feed cam cyclically operable to oscillate said feed lever and said power slide.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
57 words
In a business machine printer according to claim 11, wherein said spring means comprises a pair of springs connected at one end to said feed pawl beam, a finger extending upwardly from said power slide in laterally spaced relation to said drive stud at each side thereof and connected, respectively, to the other ends of said springs.
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) | 1978-04-28 | 1978-10-28 | 1979-04-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-28 | 1982-10-28 | 1983-04-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-28 | 1986-10-28 | 1987-04-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |