Releasable ribbon locking device in a ribbon cartridge

Claim 1

A releasable ribbon locking device for use in a ribbon cartridge of the type removably mounted in a printing machine, the printing machine having a cartridge support and an actuable ribbon drive means, the cartridge including a housing, a ribbon, a ribbon supply spool having the ribbon wound thereon, a supply spool support mounted in the housing for rotation in an unwinding direction and having the ribbon supply spool rigidly mounted thereon, a ribbon take-up spool rotatably mounted in the housing, a ribbon feed mechanism located in the housing and operatively connected to the ribbon drive means when the ribbon cartridge is properly positioned on the cartridge support for printing, the ribbon feed mechanism tensioning the ribbon by winding spent ribbon onto the take-up spool in response to actuation of the ribbon drive means, and ribbon guide means in the housing for controlling movement of the ribbon from the supply spool to the take-up spool, the ribbon guide means including an exit and entrance opening in the housing for extending a portion of the ribbon external to the housing, the releasable ribbon locking device comprising: (a) a flange on said supply spool support, said flange having a continuous peripheral rim; (b) a locking member pivotally mounted in said housing, said locking member carrying a brake member movable therewith and positionable in abutting relationship with said rim; (c) a lock release member pivotally mounted in said housing; (d) means coupling said lock release member to said locking member, said coupling means comprising: (1) an arm on said locking member extending towards said lock release member; (2) a pin supported on said arm; (3) a first projection on said lock release member extending towards said locking member; and (4) a slot formed on said first projection closely receiving said pin for concomitant movement; (e) spring means connected to said lock release member and urging said locking member toward said flange to position said brake member in said abutting relationship thereby preventing the unwinding rotation of the supply spool support; and (f) a ribbon tensioning element supported on said lock release member and in engagement with a portion of said ribbon, said ribbon tensioning element operable to move towards said ribbon supply spool in response to take-up tensioning of said ribbon and through said coupling means said lock release member pivotally moves said locking member against the urging of said spring means for removing said brake member from said supply spool support rim.