GB2213131A - Holders for print ribbon carriers - Google Patents

Abstract

A holder for ribbon carriers in typewriters or other imprinting machines comprises a base plate (2) on which there are mounted retaining elements (7, 8) which can be swung away laterally. The retaining elements carry ribbon driving (12), braking (9) and tensioning (10, 11) elements. When the retaining elements have been swung away, a carrier (e.g. a ribbon cassette) can be inserted in the holder to engage pins (6) and a slot (5). When the retaining elements (7, 8) are swung back again, they surround the ribbon carrier in a shell-like manner, and the driving, braking and tensioning elements automatically engage the ribbon. Thus only the carrier with the used ribbon has to be thrown away while the driving, braking and tensioning elements remain on the device and can thus be often re-used. The production of the carrier with the ribbon thus becomes cheaper. <IMAGE>

Description

Holder for a ribbon carrier in typewriters or similar machines The subject of the invention is a holder for a ribbon carrier in a typewriter or other imprinting machines. Such carriers are usually constructed in the form of ribbon cassettes. If the ribbon cassettes are provided with a ribbon which can be used once only, they are usually thrown away. Thereupon, the ribbon guiding, tensioning and driving elements in the ribbon cassette are also wasted. This means that on the one hand a great deal of expense on production and assembly is necessary for the production of ribbon cassettes and on the other hand very many parts have to be thrown away. This is uneconomical and does not assist the requirement of being harmless to the environment.

It is known from DE-PS 24 05 099 to provide a carrier which facilitates the insertion of the ribbon with its spools in a receiving device. The handling of this carrier requires a certain amount of skill which the operator first has to learn. In addition, this carrier likewise consists of a plurality of parts and it is a comparatively complicated assembly.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a holder for a ribbon carrier in typewriters or other imprinting machines, wherein the holder comprises a base plate on which there are mounted opposed hinged retaining elements which, in the working position, partially enclose the ribbon carrier and comprise driving, braking and tensioning elements for the ribbon.

Since the holder is not a fixed component of the machine or of the printer, it can be removed from the machine to facilitate insertion of a new carrier with a ribbon. It can also be used many times since it is not subject to any wear. With appropriate handling, it is conceivable that the holder will have the life of the machine. After the ribbon has been used up, only the carrier is thrown away while the guiding and tensioning and other elements remain part of the holder.

According to a preferred feature of the invention, a spiked wheel, which has proved satisfactory in itself, serves as the driving element.

The winding spool of the carrier is urged against this spiked wheel so that the ribbon can be fed. As usual with ribbon cassettes, when the receiving device is inserted in the typewriter or the printer, a coupling of the spiked wheel is effected to the drive provided at the machine side, for example a motor-driven coupling pin.

One form of holder in accordance with the invention is described below, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the holder in the open state; and Figure 2 is a section through the holder, with the ribbon carrier inserted, in the closed position.

The holder is designated in general by 1. It consists of a base plate 2 to having a rear wall 3.

Raised guide webs 4, between which there is is provided a slot 5, extend parallel to this wall. In addition, pins 6, which are adapted as positioning elements for the carrier to be described later, are formed on the base plate 2.

Mounted on the base plate 2, one at each side, are hinged retaining elements 7 and 8. Mounted on the retaining element 7 is a spring 8 which has a free arm 9. In addition, a wire spring 10 is provided which has a freely rotatable roller 11 at its free end.

Mounted on the other hinged retaining element 8 is a small wheel 12 on the shaft 13 of which there is mounted a spiked wheel 14 for engaging the ribbon.

The wheel 12 serves to tension the ribbon. For this purpose, it may be provided with a catch, known per se, which only permits rotation in one specific direction.

At the forward level of each retaining element 7 and 8, there is mounted a catch member in the form of a slide 31 carrying a hook 32 at its forward end.

In Fig. 1 the left hand slide is in its forward position and the right hand slide is in its locking position.

In the embodiment shown, the carrier 15 is in the form of a cassette in which the delivery spool 17 and the winding spool 1 8 are rotatably mounted on a slide 16. The bearing pins 19 and 20 of the spools 17 and 18 are extended upwards and project through a slot 21 in the carrier 15. Additionally mounted on the slide 16 are downwardly directed sliding members 22 and 23 which project into the slot 5 in the base plate 2 of the holder 1. Thus-, the slide 16 rests on the guide webs 4 and is guided on the one hand by the sliding members 22 and 23 in the slot 5 and on the other hand by the bearing pins 19 and 20 in the slot 21 in the carrier member 15. In addition, it can be seen from Figure 2 how the arm 9 of the spring 8 presses against the core 24 of the delivery spool 17.

The spring arm 9 has two functions. On the one hand it brakes rotary movement of the delivery spool 1 by bearing against the spool core 24. On the other hand, the arm 9 of the spring 8 urges the slide 16, with the two spools 17 and 18, towards the spiked wheel 14 so that it bears against the delivery spool 18.

The operation of the device is as simple as possible and it does not require any special skill to exchange a used ribbon for a new one. First, the holder 1 is removed in the closed state, with the carrier 15, from the typewriter. Then the slides 31 are moved fowardly and the retaining elements 7 and 8 are swung away sideways so that the carrier 15 can be removed upwardly from the base plate 2. A new carrier 15 can then be inserted, the two pins 6 of the base plate 2 ensuring that the carrier 15 is correctly positioned. The two retaining elements 7 and 8 are then swung inwards again so that they surround the outer parts of the carrier 15, constructed in the form of a cassette, in a shell-like manner. In the course of the closing movements, the spring arm 9 comes automatically to bear against the core 24 of the delivery spool 17.As a result, assurance is again provided that the winding spool 18 bears against the spiked wheel 14. The roller 11 of the spring 10 comes to rest from the outside against the ribbon so that the ribbon partially surrounds this roller. As a result, the ribbon is subjected to a tension which is necessary in order to convey it properly past the impression point. As a result of the fact that the driving (14), braking (9) and tensioning elements (10,11) for the ribbon remain in the receiving device, the carrier for the ribbon can be produced considerably more cheaply and simply.

Finally, the slides 31 are moved rearwardly into their locking positions in which the locks engage with the carrier to lock the assembly in its operation condition.

Thus, the whole device is more attractive to the customer because the purchase of new replacement ribbon carriers is considerably cheaper. The holder 1, with the inserted carrier 15, can be handled as a single unit like a ribbon cassette of conventional kind and consequently can be readily be inserted in the typewriter or removed therefrom. Given adequate strength and appropriate handling, the holder can be used many times. Naturally, it is also possible to offer the holder device for sale separately so that it can be purchased as a replacement item.

The spring 8 and the small wheel 12 with the spiked roller 14 can be fitted in the retaining elements 7 and 8 by simple insertion. The same applies to the spring 10 with its roller 11.

Claims (7)

Claims:

1. A holder for a ribbon carrier in typewriters or other imprinting machines, wherein the holder comprises a base plate on which there are mounted opposed hinged retaining elements which, in the working position, partially enclose the ribbon carrier and comprise driving, braking and tensioning elements for the ribbon.

2. A holder according to Claim 1, wherein the driving element is constructed in the form of a spiked wheel which is engageable with the winding spool of the ribbon.

3. A holder according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the braking element is formed as a spring arm which exerts a braking action on the core of the delivery spool of the ribbon and at the same time urges the winding spool against the driving element.

4. A holder according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the tensioning element is in the form of a roller which is mounted for rotation on a spring arm and round which the ribbon can be deflected and tensioned.

5. A holder according to any preceding claim, wherein the said retaining elements each carry movable catch members operable to engage the carrier and lock the assembly in its operative position.

6. A holder according to claim 5, wherein each said catch comprises a slide formed with a hook for engaging the carrier.

7. A holder device for a ribbon carrier, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.