Device for the mounting of a printing head and for the mounting and guidance of an ink ribbon for a printer

Claim 1

Apparatus for receiving and locating a printer ink ribbon cartridge and a printer element relative to a print plane through which the ribbon runs in normal operation comprising: a carrier constructed to receive and hold a printer ink ribbon cartridge and a printer element in operative association with one another and having a head part disposed parallel to and adjacent the print plane; first locking means on said carrier for receiving and holding said cartridge in place; second locking means on said carrier for receiving and holding said printer element in place; a plurality of flange plates disposed on said head part in parallel spaced relationship and having parallel front ink ribbon guide edges, a pair of pins disposed in parallel spaced apart relationship on said head part, said flange plates and pins being located such that in the direction of ink ribbon travel the ribbon first passes at least one flange plate, and then passes one pin, and then passes at least one more flange plate before passing the second pin and the final flange plate, at least two of said flange plates further having guide means comprising upper edges having different angularities with respect to the print plane for receiving and progressively guiding the ink ribbon from the upper edges to the print plane as the ink ribbon is caused to be fed in the direction of ribbon travel relative to the flange plates, each of said pins having an axial height which is greater than the height of the flange plates.