Inked ribbon cartridge having a guide plate

Claim 1

An inked ribbon cartridge comprising: a chamber containing an inked ribbon therein; a first guide arm extending outwardly from said chamber and including an inner and outer side wall spaced from one another to define a passageway receiving ribbon leaving said chamber; a second guide arm extending outwardly from said chamber at a location spaced from said first guide arm and including an inner and outer side wall spaced from one another to define a passageway receiving ribbon returning to said chamber; and means extending between the outer end portions of said first and second guide arms for guiding said ribbon past a printing position while exposing said ribbon at said printing position only, said guiding means including first and second rear guide plates extending towards one another from the end portion of the respective inner side wall of said first and second guide arms and having a space therebetween defining said printing position, a front guide plate lying along said first and second rear guide plates and having an opening at said printing position, said front guide plate being formed of a resilient metallic material and having angled end portions having fastening portions thereon, and engaging means formed on the outer side wall of said first and second guide arms for receiving said fastening portions as said angled end portions are flexed towards one another and holding said angled end portions against their outward resilience whereby said ribbon may be positioned in said printing position and thereafter said front guide plate may be assembled to said first and second guide arms to simplify assembly.