US4252450A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ribbon drive with spring-loaded idler
Assignee: Xerox Corp
•
Filing: 1978-10-03
•
Granted: 1981-02-24
•
Expires: 1998-10-03
Abstract
Abstract A ribbon drive device comprising a rotatably supported drive roller, a rotatably supported idler roller and a device for biasing the idler roller against the drive roller to form a nip therebetween through which a ribbon is fed. The device for biasing the idler roller is positioned to apply a bias force to the idler roller at the longitudinal center thereof. The device for biasing comprises a straight piece of round or rectangular spring wire positioned in a groove formed in the periphery of the idler roller.
Inventors
- 👤 L. Neil Goodman
- 👤 Charles J. Kubasta
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 08:58
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J32/00; B41J33/00; B41J33/14; B41J33/24; B41J33/26
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
In a ribbon cartridge having a top cover section, a bottom cover section, a sidewall connecting section, a ribbon and a ribbon take-up means, an improved ribbon drive means comprising: a rotatably supported drive roller; a rotatably supported idler roller, said idler roller having a groove formed in the periphery thereof, said groove being formed at the center of the longitudinal dimension; and means for biasing said idler roller against said drive roller to form a nip therebetween through which said ribbon is fed, said means for biasing being positioned to provide a single line of tangential contact in said groove of said idler roller to apply a bias force to the idler roller at the longitudinal center thereof, whereby the idler roller will align itself with the position of the drive roller to provide equal force distribution along the nip by pivoting around said single line of tangential contact.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
150 words
In a ribbon cartridge having a top cover section, a bottom cover section, a sidewall connecting section, a ribbon and a ribbon take-up means, an improved ribbon drive means comprising: a rotatably supported drive roller; a rotatably supported idler roller, said idler roller having a groove formed in the periphery thereof, said groove being formed at the center of the longitudinal dimension; and means for biasing said idler roller against said drive roller to form a nip therebetween through which said ribbon is fed, said means for biasing being positioned to provide a single line of tangential contact in said groove of said idler roller to apply a bias force to the idler roller at the longitudinal center thereof, whereby the idler roller will align itself with the position of the drive roller to provide equal force distribution along the nip by pivoting around said single line of tangential contact.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein said means for biasing comprises a single straight spring member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
65 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein said ribbon drive means includes ribbon guide means positioned for guiding the ribbon from the nip area at a predetermined angle with respect to a line formed by the path of travel of the ribbon between a point of entry of the ribbon to the ribbon cartridge and a point of contact of the ribbon with the nip area.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein said ribbon drive means includes means for coupling said drive roller to said ribbon take-up means in order to rotate said take-up means in the appropriate direction and at the appropriate speed to take up the ribbon fed through said nip.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein said drive roller has serrations formed in the outside surface area of the drive roller forming one portion of the nip.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein said idler roller has serrations formed in the outside surface area of the idler roller forming one portion of the nip.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US746765A
Cited
US2597176A
Cited
US3424360A
Cited
US3356202A
Cited
US3672655A
Cited
US3960259A
Cited
US3974906A
Cited
US3904016A
Cited
US3831731A
Cited
US3977512A
Cited
US3973707A
Cited
US4011933A
Cited
US3993182A
Cited
US4092921A
Cited
US4091913A
Cited
US4091914A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-02-24 | 1984-08-25 | 1985-02-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-02-24 | 1988-08-25 | 1989-02-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-02-24 | 1992-08-25 | 1993-02-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |