Ribbon lifting mechanism

Claim 1

In a printer wherein a ribbon is driven against a platen by a print element, ribbon lifting apparatus for controllably positioning different transverse regions of the ribbon between the platen and the print element at the time of impact, said apparatus comprising ribbon guide means for supporting a ribbon between the platen and the print element, pivotable support means for supporting said guide means to pivot through an arc such that different transverse regions of ribbon are available for impact against the platen, spring means for biasing said guide means to pivot in a given direction, a one revolution drive means, an n-to-one reduction gear driven by said drive means, an n-lobe cam driven by said reduction gear, a shaft, a cam roller rotatably supported by said shaft and resting on said cam, means for supporting said shaft to pivot about a point remote from said shaft, a link having one end connected to said shaft, connecting means for fixedly connecting the other end of said link to said guide means, said connecting means being adjustable so that the rest position of said guide means can be controllably located and disengaging means for disengaging said cam from said follower means whereby said guide means is moved by said spring means out of interposition between said print head and said platen.