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US5419643A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Attachment for ink ribbon replacement and ink ribbon cassette applicable thereto

Assignee: Alps Alpine Co Ltd
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Filing: 1994-04-01
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Granted: 1995-05-30
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Expires: 2014-04-01
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Abstract

Abstract The present invention aims at performing in a simple manner the replacement of an ink ribbon contained in an ink ribbon cassette. To this end, the attachment 11 for ink ribbon replacement according to the present invention is provided with a table portion 12 for resting the ink ribbon cassette thereon. On the upper surface of the table portion 12 is provided a positioning member 13 for positioning the ink ribbon cassette and are also provided projections 16 for pushing retaining members 10 which hold upper and lower cassette cases 6b, 6a integrally with each other, to release the engagement of both cassette cases. When the ink ribbon cassette is put on the attachment 11 for ink ribbon replacement, the retaining members 10 of the ink ribbon cassette are pushed by the projections 16 of the attachment to thereby disengage the upper and lower cassette cases 6b, 6a of the ink ribbon cassette from each other.

Inventors

  • 👤 Takanobu Matsuura

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-07 09:54
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J35/00; B41J35/28; B41J32/00

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim 99 words
An apparatus comprising: an ink ribbon cassette having upper and lower lower cassette cases connected by a retaining member, the ink ribbon cassette defining an interior for removably storing an ink ribbon; a table portion having an upper surface for receiving said ink ribbon cassette thereon; an ink ribbon cassette positioning member provided on the upper surface of said table portion; and a projection also provided on the upper surface of said table portion for pushing the retaining member which holds said upper and lower cassette cases integrally with each other, thereby releasing the engagement of said cassette cases.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 99 words
An apparatus comprising: an ink ribbon cassette having upper and lower lower cassette cases connected by a retaining member, the ink ribbon cassette defining an interior for removably storing an ink ribbon; a table portion having an upper surface for receiving said ink ribbon cassette thereon; an ink ribbon cassette positioning member provided on the upper surface of said table portion; and a projection also provided on the upper surface of said table portion for pushing the retaining member which holds said upper and lower cassette cases integrally with each other, thereby releasing the engagement of said cassette cases.
Claim 3
Independent Claim 129 words
An apparatus comprising: an ink ribbon cassette having upper and lower lower cassette cases connected by a retaining member, the ink ribbon cassette defining an interior for removably storing an ink ribbon; a table portion having an upper surface for receiving said ink ribbon cassette thereon; an ink ribbon cassette positioning member provided on the upper surface of said table portion; and a protection also provided on the upper surface of said table portion for pushing the retaining member which holds said upper and lower cassette cases integrally with each other, thereby releasing the engagement of said cassette cases; wherein said apparatus further includes a guide member provided on the upper surface of said table portion for guiding an ink ribbon feed roller disposed within said ink ribbon cassette.
Claim 4
Independent Claim 129 words
An apparatus comprising: an ink ribbon cassette having upper and lower lower cassette cases connected by a retaining member, the ink ribbon cassette defining an interior for removably storing an ink ribbon; a table portion having an upper surface for receiving said ink ribbon cassette thereon; an ink ribbon cassette positioning member provided on the upper surface of said table portion; and a protection also provided on the upper surface of said table portion for pushing the retaining member which holds said upper and lower cassette cases integrally with each other, thereby releasing the engagement of said cassette cases; wherein said apparatus further includes a guide member provided on the upper surface of said table portion for guiding an ink ribbon feed roller disposed within said ink ribbon cassette.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 100 words
A printing device comprising: an ink ribbon cassette having upper and lower lower cassette cases connected by a retaining member, the ink ribbon cassette defining an interior for removably storing an ink ribbon; a table portion having an upper surface for receiving said ink ribbon cassette thereon; an ink ribbon cassette positioning member provided on the upper surface of said table portion; and a projection also provided on the upper surface of said table portion for pushing the retaining member which holds said upper and lower cassette cases integrally with each other, thereby releasing the engagement of said cassette cases.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 100 words
A printing device comprising: an ink ribbon cassette having upper and lower lower cassette cases connected by a retaining member, the ink ribbon cassette defining an interior for removably storing an ink ribbon; a table portion having an upper surface for receiving said ink ribbon cassette thereon; an ink ribbon cassette positioning member provided on the upper surface of said table portion; and a projection also provided on the upper surface of said table portion for pushing the retaining member which holds said upper and lower cassette cases integrally with each other, thereby releasing the engagement of said cassette cases.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 34 words
The printing device according to claim 3, further comprising a guide member provided on the upper surface of said table portion for guiding an ink ribbon feed roller disposed within said ink ribbon cassette.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 17 words
(New) The printing device according to claim 3, wherein the printing device is a thermal transfer printer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 17 words
(New) The printing device according to claim 3, wherein the printing device is a dot matrix printer.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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US3432111A Cited
US4160605A Cited
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EP0489717A2 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) 1998-05-29 1998-11-28 1999-05-30 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2002-05-29 2002-11-28 2003-05-30 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2006-05-29 2006-11-28 2007-05-30 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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