Ribbon changing mechanism for a typewriter

Claim 1

In a typewriter having a machine frame, a top cover movably supported on said machine frame between an open position and a closed position, and a ribbon vibrator vertically movable between a lifted printing position and a lowered non-printing position, in response to a printing operation, a ribbon changing mechanism comprising: (a) an actuating member operably connected with said ribbon vibrator to shift said ribbon vibrator between said lowered position and a ribbon changing position located above said lowered position, independently of the printing operation; (b) a first operating means for moving said actuating member to a first position where said ribbon vibrator is shifted to said ribbon changing position; (c) means for retaining said actuating member in one of said first position and a second position where said ribbon vibrator is shifted to said lowered position; (d) a ribbon retaining portion including a rear ribbon retaining member and a front ribbon retaining member on said ribbon vibrator, said front ribbon retaining member defining a pair of ribbon passages including closed top and bottom portions in combination with said rear ribbon retaining member, said front ribbon retaining member being supported on a lower portion of said ribbon vibrator to be movable toward a direction for opening said closed top portions of said ribbon passages; (e) an opener pivotally mounted on said machine frame to be engagable with said front ribbon retaining member and operably connected with said actuating member, said front ribbon retaining member being moved to open said closed top portions of said ribbon passages when said actuating member is shifted to said first position by the operation of said first operating means; (f) a guide member provided on said machine frame for guiding the opening and closing movements of said top cover; (g) a returning actuator provided on said top cover for returning said actuating member to said second position; and, (h) a second operating means including said top cover and a returning member operably connected with said actuating member, said returning member having a cam portion engagable with said returning actuator for returning said actuating member to said second position by the closing movement of said top cover.