Ink ribbon mechanism and cartridge for impact printers

Claim 2

In an impact printer wherein an inpactor is movable into and out of a printing mode and supported on a carriage arranged for reversible movement in a linear path to successive stations between line-start and carriage-return positions, the improvement comprising: an endless ribbon; means for driving the ribbon in a circuitous path for aligning successive ribbon segments with the impactor for printing; a pulley wheel mounted on the carriage and responsive to carriage movement for coupling the driving means to carriage movement; a pawl means connected to the driving means for enabling actuation of the driving means; and a ratchet connected to the pulley wheel for drivingly engaging the pawl means to actuate the driving means when the carriage moves in one direction, the pawl means being cammed over the ratchet as the carriage moves in the opposite direction thereby preventing actuation of the driving means.

Claim 3

A combination according to claim 1 wherein the driving means comprises a rotatable member coupled to the carriage and in engagement with the ribbon.

Claim 4

A combination according to claim 1 further characterized by: a framework for the printer; and a cord having opposed end portions connected to the framework and a medial portion coiled about the pulley wheel for enabling carriage movement to be translated into angular motion.

Claim 5

A combination according to claim 1, characterized by: a cartridge, the cartridge including the ribbon, the driving means and a case disposed thereabout; and means for releasably connecting the cartridge to the carriage.

Claim 6

A combination according to claim 4, wherein the case comprises: a cover disposed above the ribbon and the driving means; and a base having an opening exposing the driving means to the carriage.

Claim 7

A combination according to claim 1 wherein the pawl means comprises a plurality of angularly spaced segments and the ratchet is fashioned on a lower face of the pulley wheel, the ratchet and pawl means being arranged and proportioned so that as the carriage moves in one direction the pawl segments will be in driving engagement with the ratchet and so that when the carriage moves in the opposite direction the pawl segments will be cammed over the ratchet.

Claim 8

In combination with an impact printer of the type wherein an impactor is movable into and out of a printing mode and supported on a carriage arranged for reversible movement in a linear path to successive stations between line-start and carriage-return positions, an improved cartridge and ribbon mechanism, comprising: an endless ribbon; a case for the ribbon, including a cover disposed above the ribbon, a base and a plurality of ties secured to the cover for releasably supporting the base below the ribbon; means for releasably mounting the case on the carriage; means for driving the ribbon on a circuitous path for aligning successive ribbon segments with the impactor for printing; means for coupling the driving means to carriage movement, the coupling means including a pulley wheel rotatably mounted on the carriage for translating carriage movement into rotational motion; a first clutch element connected to the driving means for facilitating actuation of the driving means; and a second clutch element connected to the pulley wheel for drivingly engaging the first clutch element to rotate the first clutch element and actuate the driving means to advance successive segments of the ribbon to the impactor when the carriage moves from the line-start to the carriage-return position, the first clutch element being cammed over the second clutch element to prevent actuation of the driving means and advance of the ribbon when the carriage moves in an opposite direction.

Claim 9

In combination with an impact printer of the type wherein an impactor is movable into and out of a printing mode and supported on a carriage arranged for reversible movement in a linear path to successive stations between line-start and carriage-return positions, an improved cartridge and ribbon mechanism, comprising: an endless ribbon; a case for the ribbon, including a cover disposed above the ribbon, a base and a plurality of ties secured to the cover for releasably supporting the base below the ribbon; means for releasably mounting the case on the carriage; means for driving the ribbon on a circuitous path for aligning successive ribbon segments with the impactor for printing; means for coupling the driving means to carriage movement, the coupling means including a pulley wheel rotatably mounted on the carriage for translating carriage movement into rotational motion; a first clutch element connected to the driving means for facilitating actuation of the driving means; and a second clutch element connected to the pulley wheel for drivingly engaging the first clutch element to rotate the first clutch element and actuate the driving means to advance successive segments of the ribbon to the impactor when the carriage moves from the line-start to the carriage-return position, the first clutch element being cammed over the second clutch element to prevent actuation of the driving means and advance of the ribbon when the carriage moves in an opposite direction.

Claim 10

Apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein the base includes an aperture and the dRiving means includes a rotatable member disposed within the cartridge for driving the ribbon, the rotatable member including a drive roller rotatably mounted on the cover in a position located over the aperture in the base and the ribbon being positioned in the case in driving engagement with the drive roller so that rotation of the drive roller causes movement of the ribbon along the circuitous path.

Claim 11

Apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein: the first clutch element is a pawl; and the second clutch element is a ratchet.