US3604549A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dual feed rate ribbon mechanism and supply cartridge therefor
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
•
Filing: 1968-07-16
•
Granted: 1971-09-14
•
Expires: 1988-07-16
Abstract
Abstract A ribbon feed mechanism for feeding a substantially constant linear or longitudinal amount of single pass ribbon past a printing position during each ribbon feed cycle. A cartridge, which is removably mounted on a baseplate, has a supply spool and a takeup spool rotatably mounted therein with the ends of the single pass ribbon attached thereto. The bottom wall of the cartridge has a curved slot to receive a resiliently biased drive roller, which is rotatably mounted on a pivotal arm on the baseplate and has pointed projections thereon for penetrating the inked ribbon on the takeup spool to linearly advance the ribbon past its printing position. The drive roller is rotated by a gear train during each actuation of a character key on the typewriter. Means change the gear ratio of the gear train to cause a smaller amount of rotation of the drive roller during each actuation of a character key to advance the ribbon a smaller linear amount. The cartridge has a cylindrical recess to receive a portion of the gear train. When the ribbon is a solvent coated plastic transfer matrix whereby overstriking is desired, then resiliently biased means is disposed within the recess in the cartridge to render the change means operative to reduce the amount of rotation of the drive roller. If a total release ribbon is used wherein no overstriking is desired, then the recess in the cartridge is empty and the larger amount of rotation of the drive roller occurs because the change means is not rendered operative.
Inventors
- 👤 Allison H Caudill
- 👤 Willie Goff Jr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 11:55
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J33/00; B41J33/14; B41J33/36; B41J35/00; B41J35/36
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
185 words
A typewriter ribbon feed mechanism for selectively advancing a first or second type of ribbon, and including base means supporting first and second spindles for respectively receiving supply and takeup spools containing an ink ribbon attached therebetween wherein the improvement comprises: a ribbon drive roller for engaging a peripheral portion of ribbon wound on said takeup spool. an arm supported on said base means for pivotal movement about an axis and rotatably supporting said ribbon drive roller at a location distal from said axis, resilient means urging said arm toward said second spindle, a source of incremental motion, and speed change transmission means interconnected between said ribbon drive roller and said motion source and including a twoposition control member movably mounted at a location that is stationary with respect to said axis for selectively interconnecting said motion source through said speed incremental transmission means to said ribbon drive roller to convert said incremental motion into increments of motion of a first order of magnitude or into increments of motion of a second order of magnitude that is substantially less than said first order of magnitude.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
185 words
A typewriter ribbon feed mechanism for selectively advancing a first or second type of ribbon, and including base means supporting first and second spindles for respectively receiving supply and takeup spools containing an ink ribbon attached therebetween wherein the improvement comprises: a ribbon drive roller for engaging a peripheral portion of ribbon wound on said takeup spool. an arm supported on said base means for pivotal movement about an axis and rotatably supporting said ribbon drive roller at a location distal from said axis, resilient means urging said arm toward said second spindle, a source of incremental motion, and speed change transmission means interconnected between said ribbon drive roller and said motion source and including a twoposition control member movably mounted at a location that is stationary with respect to said axis for selectively interconnecting said motion source through said speed incremental transmission means to said ribbon drive roller to convert said incremental motion into increments of motion of a first order of magnitude or into increments of motion of a second order of magnitude that is substantially less than said first order of magnitude.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
65 words
A typewriter ribbon feed mechanism as defined in claim 1, further comprising: a cartridge containing said supply and takeup spools and being removably receivable by said base means, said cartridge having a portion thereof selectively constructed to differentially cooperate with said control member in dependence upon the type of ribbon contained in the cartridge to position said control member in one of its two positions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
A typewriter ribbon feed mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein said ribbon drive roller has pointed projections on its periphery at spaced locations for penetrating the ink ribbon on said takeup spool across its width to provide engagement therewith.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
A typewriter ribbon feed mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein: said second spindle consists of a rod mounted stationarily with respect to said base means, and said takeup spool comprises a smooth centerbore that is freely rotatably received by said rod.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A typewriter ribbon feed mechanism as defined in claim 1 further comprising resilient means biasing said two-position control member to one of its positions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
68 words
A typewriter ribbon feed mechanism as defined in claim 2 wherein: said speed change transmission means comprises a plurality of gears, and said control member in its said one position establishes a driving connection through a first series of said gears and in its other position establishes a driving connection through a second series of said gears including at least one gear not included in said first series.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
88 words
A typewriter ribbon feed mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein: said speed change transmission means comprises a plurality of gears, including a gear formed integrally with said two-position control member and mounted for rotation about said arm pivot axis, and said control member in one of its two positions establishes a driving connection through a first series of said gears and in its other position establishes a driving connection through a second series of said gears including at least one gear not included in said first series.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
173 words
A typewriter ribbon feed mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein said speed change transmission means comprises: first resilient means for yieldably exerting a force on said control member tending to position said control member in one of its positions, second resilient means selectively activatable to urge said control member in opposition to said first resIlient means at an increased force level with respect thereto so that said control member is displaced from its said one position to its other position upon activation of said second resilient means, and at least one pair of rotatable parts which are selectively engageable only when mutually aligned in a predetermined relationship, engagement of said parts being controlled by the position of said control member, and means connecting one of said parts with said motion source for rotation so that relative rotation of said parts by said motion source during resilient urging of said control member toward its said other position by said control resilient means enables engagement between said parts when said parts become properly aligned.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2127812A
Cited
US2986260A
Cited
US3171530A
Cited
US3346090A
Cited
US3346086A
Cited
US3349887A
Cited
US3444979A
Cited
US3401783A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-09-13 | 1975-03-15 | 1975-09-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-09-13 | 1979-03-15 | 1979-09-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-09-13 | 1983-03-15 | 1983-09-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |