Patent US4425046A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4425046A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ribbon cassette and sensor assembly
Assignee: Ricoh Printing Systems America Inc
•
Filing: 1982-10-12
•
Granted: 1984-01-10
•
Expires: 2002-10-12
Abstract
Abstract An improved multicolor ribbon cassette system for use with a printing mechanism. A ribbon cassette is carried on a plate which is pivotally connected to a shuttle mechanism. The plate rotates about an axis which is perpendicular to a printing medium and the portion of the ribbon adjacent the printing mechanism. The pivot plate is tilted up or down to position a different part of the ribbon in alignment with a printing mechanism. The configuration of the device is such that the ribbon will remain parallel to the printing medium as it is tilted. The position of the pivot plate is controlled by means of a barrel cam driven by a stepper motor. The stepper motor is controlled by a logic circuit. An optical sensor is also connected to the logic circuit to determine whether a single color or multicolor cassette is in position.
Inventors
- 👤 Arthur C. Van Horne
- 👤 Terry L. Branson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 04:52
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J35/00; B41J35/04; B41J35/10; B41J35/12; B41J35/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
A multiposition ribbon cassette system for positioning a ribbon having two or more printing bands with respect to the printhead of a printer or the like, comprising: a shuttle which is adapted to carry a printhead across a printing medium; and means, coupled to said shuttle and movable in conjunction with the printhead, for (a) supporting a ribbon cassette having a ribbon therein, said ribbon cassette carrying a portion of said ribbon in a plane parallel to the printing medium, and (b) shifting said ribbon cassette to a plurality of fixed positions to shift the entire ribbon cassette so as to change the vertical position of the ribbon cassette with respect to the printhead to position a different print band adjacent head while maintaining the ribbon parallel to and a constant distance from the printing medium.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
136 words
A multiposition ribbon cassette system for positioning a ribbon having two or more printing bands with respect to the printhead of a printer or the like, comprising: a shuttle which is adapted to carry a printhead across a printing medium; and means, coupled to said shuttle and movable in conjunction with the printhead, for (a) supporting a ribbon cassette having a ribbon therein, said ribbon cassette carrying a portion of said ribbon in a plane parallel to the printing medium, and (b) shifting said ribbon cassette to a plurality of fixed positions to shift the entire ribbon cassette so as to change the vertical position of the ribbon cassette with respect to the printhead to position a different print band adjacent head while maintaining the ribbon parallel to and a constant distance from the printing medium.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
172 words
A multiposition ribbon cassette system for positioning a ribbon having two or more printing bands with respect to the printhead of a printer or the like, comprising: a shuttle which is adapted to carry a printhead across a printing medium; and means, coupled to said shuttle and movable in conjunction with the printhead, for supporting a ribbon cassette having a ribbon therein, said ribbon cassette carrying a portion of said ribbon in a plane parallel to the printing medium, wherein said means for supporting are movable to a plurality of fixed positions to change the vertical position of the ribbon cassette with respect to the printhead while maintaining the ribbon parallel to the printing medium, wherein in each of said fixed positions a different printing band is positioned adjacent the printhead, wherein the means for supporting are pivotal about an axis perpendicular to said plane and printing medium, whereby the ribbon cassette is tilted in order to change the position of the printing bands of the ribbon with respect to the printhead.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
172 words
A multiposition ribbon cassette system for positioning a ribbon having two or more printing bands with respect to the printhead of a printer or the like, comprising: a shuttle which is adapted to carry a printhead across a printing medium; and means, coupled to said shuttle and movable in conjunction with the printhead, for supporting a ribbon cassette having a ribbon therein, said ribbon cassette carrying a portion of said ribbon in a plane parallel to the printing medium, wherein said means for supporting are movable to a plurality of fixed positions to change the vertical position of the ribbon cassette with respect to the printhead while maintaining the ribbon parallel to the printing medium, wherein in each of said fixed positions a different printing band is positioned adjacent the printhead, wherein the means for supporting are pivotal about an axis perpendicular to said plane and printing medium, whereby the ribbon cassette is tilted in order to change the position of the printing bands of the ribbon with respect to the printhead.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 2 wherein the means for supporting comprises a pivot plate pivotally secured to the shuttle, wherein said pivot plate is pivotal about said axis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 3 further comprising a ribbon drive motor attached to the pivot plate, said ribbon drive motor coupling to a ribbon cassette and operable to advance the ribbon in the cassette.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system of claim 3 further including a multiposition cam coupled to the pivot plate, said cam being movable to position the pivot plate in one of a plurality of locations corresponding to the fixed positions of the ribbon.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system of claim 5 wherein said cam is mounted on said shuttle and further including: a cam motor attached to the shuttle for controlling the position of the cam; and a cam follower connecting the cam to the pivot plate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 6 wherein said cam is cylindrical and includes a substantially spiral slot on its outer surface and wherein said cam follower comprises a rod coupled to said slot.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 7 wherein the slot includes a plurality of flat portions, one corresponding to each of the fixed positions of the ribbon, said flat portions facilitating accurate ribbon positioning.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 6 wherein said cam motor is a stepper motor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 3 further including an optical sensor for detecting the presence of a fin located on each ribbon cassette.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
79 words
The system of claim 10 wherein the configuration of said fin is a function of one of two types of ribbon carried within the ribbon cassette and wherein said sensor is such that when the pivot plate is in a first position either configuration of said fin will be detected and when the pivot plate is in a second position only one configuration will be detected, thereby facilitating determination of the type of ribbon carried within the ribbon cassette.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
188 words
In a printer or the like having a printhead which traverses a printing medium, a multiposition ribbon cassette system for positioning one of a plurality of printing bands of a ribbon with respect to the printhead, comprising: a shuttle which is adapted to carry the printhead perpendicular to and across the printing medium; a pivot plate located on the shuttle having one end pivotally secured to the shuttle along an axis perpendicular to the printing medium; a cam motor secured to the shuttle; a cam attached to the cam motor and movable to a plurality of predetermined fixed positions; a cam follower connected between the cam and the pivot plate; and a ribbon cassette detachably connected to the pivot plate and housing a ribbon having plural printing bands, wherein a portion of said ribbon is carried parallel to the printing medium; whereby movement of said cam will cause said pivot plate to pivot up or down, thereby changing the position of the ribbon cassette to a position a different printing band with respect to the printhead while maintaining the ribbon in a plane parallel to the printing medium.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
188 words
In a printer or the like having a printhead which traverses a printing medium, a multiposition ribbon cassette system for positioning one of a plurality of printing bands of a ribbon with respect to the printhead, comprising: a shuttle which is adapted to carry the printhead perpendicular to and across the printing medium; a pivot plate located on the shuttle having one end pivotally secured to the shuttle along an axis perpendicular to the printing medium; a cam motor secured to the shuttle; a cam attached to the cam motor and movable to a plurality of predetermined fixed positions; a cam follower connected between the cam and the pivot plate; and a ribbon cassette detachably connected to the pivot plate and housing a ribbon having plural printing bands, wherein a portion of said ribbon is carried parallel to the printing medium; whereby movement of said cam will cause said pivot plate to pivot up or down, thereby changing the position of the ribbon cassette to a position a different printing band with respect to the printhead while maintaining the ribbon in a plane parallel to the printing medium.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2883029A
Cited
US3503483A
Cited
US3863749A
Cited
US4011934A
Cited
US3986594A
Cited
US4073371A
Cited
US4050569A
Cited
US4088218A
Cited
US4132486A
Cited
US4111293A
Cited
US4203677A
Cited
DE2743256A1
Cited
US4280767A
Cited
GB2030076B
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-01-09 | 1987-07-11 | 1988-01-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-01-09 | 1991-07-11 | 1992-01-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-01-09 | 1995-07-11 | 1996-01-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |