Printing device

Claim 2

A printing device comprising a chamber, a supply of ribbon contained within said chamber, an opening for exit and entrance of said ribbon from and into said chamber; a ribbon guiding means provided along a threading path on which said ribbon advances, for guiding said ribbon and for restraining lateral movement of said ribbon; and a resiliently deformable, integrally constructed, elastic movement means for changing said threading path to change the tension on said ribbon, said movement means comprising a base member connected to a case, a contacting member which contacts said ribbon and a flexible member extending from said base member, said flexible member comprising a pair of elastic arms extending symmetrically from said base member, each having a support member extending therefrom, said movement means selectively conforming to a first form and a second form, said movement means in said first form causing a decrease in a contact area established between said ribbon and said ribbon guiding means, and said movement means in said second form causing an increase in said contact area.

Claim 3

A printing device according to claim 1 wherein said ribbon guiding means includes a roller having an outer peripheral surface and a pair of a flanges extending therefrom for guiding said ribbon around said outer peripheral surface.

Claim 4

A printing device according to claim 1 wherein said flexible member includes a pair of elastic arm of small width extending symmetrically from said base member, each having a support member extending therefrom and said movement means further comprises a contacting member which contacts said ribbon.

Claim 5

A printing device according to claim 3 wherein said case is symmetrical and reversible.

Claim 6

A printing device according to claim 3 wherein opposite sides of said base member are engaged with said hold member to restrain lateral shift of said movement means, said base member being fixed between a case and a cover, preventing said flexible member from being unstable, thereby providing stable and smooth supply of said ribbon.

Claim 7

A printing device according to claim 5 wherein said contacting member has a greater width than said ribbon and is fixed on one side of said support member of said movement means and said movement means deforms into said first and second forms in a space defined between said case and cover.

Claim 8

A printing device according to claim 1 wherein top and bottom portions of said base member are engaged with hold members provided in said case, and are inserted between said hold members along inclined surfaces on the hold members, thereby restraining flection of said movement means.

Claim 9

A printing device according to claim 1 wherein opposite sides of said base member are engaged with said hold member to restrain lateral shift of said movement means, said base member being fixed between a case and a cover, preventing said flexible member from being unstable, whereby providing stable and smooth supply of said ribbon.

Claim 10

A printing device including a chamber having a supply of ribbon contained therein between a supply drum and a take-up drum, said device comprising: an outlet and inlet in said chamber defining an exit and an entrance of said ribbon from and into said chamber; a ribbon guiding means adjacent said inlet and outlet, a thread path being defined from said supply drum and across said ribbon guiding means to said take-up drum; a resilient planar member located along said thread path between said ribbon guiding means for extending and shortening said thread path in response to tension in said ribbon, said resilient planar member comprising a base member connected to a case, a contacting member which contacts said ribbon and a flexible member extending from said base member, said flexible member comprising a pair of elastic arms extending symmetrically from said base member, each having a support member extending therefrom, said movement means comprising an integrally constructed elastic member selectively conforming to a first position for extending said thread path to increase a contact area between said ribbon and said ribbon guiding means, and a second position for shortening said thread path to decrease the contact area.

Claim 11

A printing device including a chamber having a supply of ribbon contained therein between a supply drum and a take-up drum, said device comprising: an outlet and inlet in said chamber defining an exit and an entrance of said ribbon from and into said chamber; a ribbon guiding means adjacent said inlet and outlet, a thread path being defined from said supply drum and across said ribbon guiding means to said take-up drum; a resilient planar member located along said thread path between said ribbon guiding means for extending and shortening said thread path in response to tension in said ribbon, said resilient planar member comprising a base member connected to a case, a contacting member which contacts said ribbon and a flexible member extending from said base member, said flexible member comprising a pair of elastic arms extending symmetrically from said base member, each having a support member extending therefrom, said movement means comprising an integrally constructed elastic member selectively conforming to a first position for extending said thread path to increase a contact area between said ribbon and said ribbon guiding means, and a second position for shortening said thread path to decrease the contact area.

Claim 12

The printing device of claim 9 wherein said resilient planar member in the first position extends the thread path in response to a decrease in tension in said ribbon, and said resilient planar member in the second position shortens the thread path in response to an increase in tension.

Claim 13

The printing device of claim 9 wherein said resilient planar member defines a plate shape in said first position, and a V-shape in said second position.

Claim 14

The printing device of claim 9 wherein said resilient planar member includes a fixed pivot section and two arm sections extending therefrom and contacting said ribbon.

Claim 15

The printing device of claim 12 wherein said arm sections move toward said ribbon guiding means in the second position.

Claim 16

A printing device comprising a chamber, a supply of ribbon contained within said chamber, an opening for exit and entrance of said ribbon from and into said chamber; a ribbon guiding means for guiding said ribbon and restraining lateral movement of said ribbon; a printhead reciprocating between a printing position and a non-printing position wherein said printhead in said printing position contacts said ribbon and said printhead in said non-printing position separates from said ribbon; and movement means for resiliently changing tension of said ribbon, said movement means comprising a base member connected to a case, a contacting member which contacts said ribbon and a flexible member extending form said base member, said flexible member comprising a pair of elastic arms extending symmetrically from said base member, each having a support member extending therefrom, said movement means comprising an integrally constructed elastic member capable of bending into a first form when said printhead is in said printing position, and into a second form when said printhead is in said non-printing position, the bending of said movement means causing a decrease in a contact area established between said ribbon and said ribbon guiding means in said first form, and causing an increase in said contact area in said second form.

Claim 17

A printing device comprising a chamber, a supply of ribbon contained within said chamber, an opening for exit and entrance of said ribbon from and into said chamber; a ribbon guiding means for guiding said ribbon and restraining lateral movement of said ribbon; a printhead reciprocating between a printing position and a non-printing position wherein said printhead in said printing position contacts said ribbon and said printhead in said non-printing position separates from said ribbon; and movement means for resiliently changing tension of said ribbon, said movement means comprising a base member connected to a case, a contacting member which contacts said ribbon and a flexible member extending form said base member, said flexible member comprising a pair of elastic arms extending symmetrically from said base member, each having a support member extending therefrom, said movement means comprising an integrally constructed elastic member capable of bending into a first form when said printhead is in said printing position, and into a second form when said printhead is in said non-printing position, the bending of said movement means causing a decrease in a contact area established between said ribbon and said ribbon guiding means in said first form, and causing an increase in said contact area in said second form.