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US4408909A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Printer with cartridge type wheel

Assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1981-09-03
•
Granted: 1983-10-11
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Expires: 2001-09-03
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Abstract

Abstract A printer having a mechanism for easy loading of a type wheel rotatably supported by a type wheel cartridge. The type wheel cartridge can be inserted into or withdrawn from a cartridge holder by moving the type wheel cartridge in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the type wheel supported by the type wheel cartridge. Coupling of a shaft of a type selection motor to the type wheel within the type wheel cartridge can be effected by relatively moving the cartridge holder and the type selection motor axially of the type wheel.

Inventors

  • 👤 Kiyomitsu Asano
  • 👤 Tetsuo Watanabe

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 15:41
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J1/00; B41J1/22; B41J1/24; B41J1/243

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim 175 words
A type wheel cartridge for a printer having a type selection motor with motor shaft and a type wheel mounted on the shaft for rotation of the type wheel when the cartridge is engaged with the printer, the type wheel having a center disk with a center opening for receiving the motor shaft and a plurality of fingers extending radially from the center disc comprising: a box-shaped cartridge defining a space for receiving the type wheel; and a resilient holding arm connected to the cartridge and having a projection extending into the center opening of the type wheel for centering the type wheel with the motor shaft disengaged from the type wheel, said projection being pushed out of the center opening by an introduction of the motor shaft into the center opening of the type wheel; the holding arm including a holding claw, the cartridge including an opening for receiving the holding claw, the type wheel formed with another opening for receiving the holding claw when the holding claw is positioned through the cartridge opening.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 175 words
A type wheel cartridge for a printer having a type selection motor with motor shaft and a type wheel mounted on the shaft for rotation of the type wheel when the cartridge is engaged with the printer, the type wheel having a center disk with a center opening for receiving the motor shaft and a plurality of fingers extending radially from the center disc comprising: a box-shaped cartridge defining a space for receiving the type wheel; and a resilient holding arm connected to the cartridge and having a projection extending into the center opening of the type wheel for centering the type wheel with the motor shaft disengaged from the type wheel, said projection being pushed out of the center opening by an introduction of the motor shaft into the center opening of the type wheel; the holding arm including a holding claw, the cartridge including an opening for receiving the holding claw, the type wheel formed with another opening for receiving the holding claw when the holding claw is positioned through the cartridge opening.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 187 words
A type wheel cartridge plus type wheel combination for use with a printer having a type selection motor with motor shaft, the type wheel adapted to be mounted on the shaft for rotation of the type wheel, the type wheel having a center disc with a center opening for receiving the motor shaft and a plurality of fingers extending radially from the center disc, comprising: a box-shaped cartridge (154) defining a space for receiving the type wheel, the type wheel being disposed in the space, the cartridge having a front plate (154a) with a front opening (158) and a rear plate (154b) with a rear opening (163) for receiving the motor shaft; and an elongated resilient spring member having one end fixed to said front plate and a portion extending to said front opening, said spring member portion having a projection inserted into the center opening of the type wheel for centering the type wheel with the motor shaft disengaged from the wheel, said projection being pushed out of the center opening by an introduction of the motor shaft into the center opening of the type wheel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 187 words
A type wheel cartridge plus type wheel combination for use with a printer having a type selection motor with motor shaft, the type wheel adapted to be mounted on the shaft for rotation of the type wheel, the type wheel having a center disc with a center opening for receiving the motor shaft and a plurality of fingers extending radially from the center disc, comprising: a box-shaped cartridge (154) defining a space for receiving the type wheel, the type wheel being disposed in the space, the cartridge having a front plate (154a) with a front opening (158) and a rear plate (154b) with a rear opening (163) for receiving the motor shaft; and an elongated resilient spring member having one end fixed to said front plate and a portion extending to said front opening, said spring member portion having a projection inserted into the center opening of the type wheel for centering the type wheel with the motor shaft disengaged from the wheel, said projection being pushed out of the center opening by an introduction of the motor shaft into the center opening of the type wheel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 41 words
A type wheel cartridge combination, as claimed in claim 2, wherein the type wheel has a hub extending into said front opening, said front opening being slightly larger than said hub and said rear opening being larger than said front opening.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 15 words
A type wheel cartridge combination, as claimed in claim 2, wherein said projection is conical.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 33 words
A type wheel cartridge combination as claimed in claim 2, wherein said box-shaped cartridge includes a wall having a guide recess integrally formed thereon for guiding and pressing a paper to be printed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 23 words
A type wheel cartridge combination, as claimed in claim 2, wherein said box-shaped cartridge includes a pair of ribbon guides integrally formed therewith.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 26 words
A type wheel cartridge combination as claimed in claim 6, wherein each of said ribbon guides is formed on a side plate of the box-shaped cartridge.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 34 words
A type wheel cartridge combination, as claimed in claim 2, wherein the type wheel has engaging means for engaging the shaft of the motor at a predetermined relative position in a rotating direction thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 40 words
A type wheel cartridge combination, as claimed in claim 8, wherein the engaging means of the type wheel is formed as an engaging opening and a connecting arm insertable into said opening is secured to the shaft of the motor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 35 words
A type wheel cartridge combination, as claimed in claim 2, wherein the type wheel further has holding means for holding the type wheel relative to the shaft of the motor at a predetermined axial position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 36 words
A type wheel cartridge combination, as claimed in claim 10, wherein said holding means is formed as holding openings in the type wheel for engaging with axial positioning means mounted on the shaft of the motor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 25 words
A type wheel cartridge as claimed in claim 11, wherein said axial positioning means has holding arms bifurcated at the forward end into two parts.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 214 words
A type wheel cartridge and type wheel combination for use with a printer having a type selection motor with motor shaft, the type wheel adapted to be mounted on the shaft for rotation of the type wheel, the type wheel having a center disk with a center opening for receiving the motor shaft and a plurality of fingers extending radially from the center disk, comprising: a box-shaped cartridge defining a space for receiving the type wheel, the type wheel disposed in the space, the cartridge having a front plate (25) with a support opening (8) for supporting the type wheel, the type wheel disposed in the space, the cartridge having a front plate (25) with a support opening (8) for supporting the type wheel, the type wheel having a portion engaged in the support opening so that the type wheel is rotatable and not slidable axially in the support opening; the type wheel portion comprising a projection (9) extending into said supporting opening and a bulge (9a) at the front end thereof which extends out of said cartridge space and over edges of said support opening; and home position holding means comprising an arm fixed to said cartridge front plate and having a projection insertable into at least one opening of the type wheel.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 214 words
A type wheel cartridge and type wheel combination for use with a printer having a type selection motor with motor shaft, the type wheel adapted to be mounted on the shaft for rotation of the type wheel, the type wheel having a center disk with a center opening for receiving the motor shaft and a plurality of fingers extending radially from the center disk, comprising: a box-shaped cartridge defining a space for receiving the type wheel, the type wheel disposed in the space, the cartridge having a front plate (25) with a support opening (8) for supporting the type wheel, the type wheel disposed in the space, the cartridge having a front plate (25) with a support opening (8) for supporting the type wheel, the type wheel having a portion engaged in the support opening so that the type wheel is rotatable and not slidable axially in the support opening; the type wheel portion comprising a projection (9) extending into said supporting opening and a bulge (9a) at the front end thereof which extends out of said cartridge space and over edges of said support opening; and home position holding means comprising an arm fixed to said cartridge front plate and having a projection insertable into at least one opening of the type wheel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 15 words
A type wheel cartridge as claimed in claim 13, wherein said arm comprising a spring.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4036348A Cited
US3964595A Cited
US4124312A Cited
US4127335A Cited
GB2022022A Cited
JPS5541205A Cited
US4212552A Cited
US4209262A Cited
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1986-10-10 1987-04-11 1987-10-11 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1990-10-10 1991-04-11 1991-10-11 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1994-10-10 1995-04-11 1995-10-11 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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