Business machine printing ribbon spool apparatus and method of inking the type slug impact portion of printing ribbons

Claim 2

A printing ribbon spool comprising a spool body, said spool body having a hub with an ink reservoir and spaced flange portions extending radially outwardly from said hub, said hub being between said spaced flange portions and having a surface to receive a ribbon wound thereon between said spaced flange portions to define a zone of ribbon wrap, said ribbon advancing from said zone of ribbon wrap when said spool is unwound, one of said flange portions being defined as an upper flange portion when said spool is in an operating position about a vertical axis and another of said flange portions being defined as a lower flange portion with respect to said upper flange portion when said spool is in said operating position, said ribbon having an upper portion corresponding to the upper flange portion and a lower portion corresponding to the lower flange portion, an ink delivery pad at said lower flange portion as the sole ink delivery means for said spool, said ink delivery pad having an exposed portion in the path of the advancing ribbon to contact said lower portion of said ribbon as said ribbon advances therepast, said lower flange portion being disposed below the zone of ribbon wrap on the spool, said lower flange portion including support means for supporting said exposed portion of the ink delivery pad in the path of ribbon advance, said ink delivery pad communicating in ink receiving relation with the ink reservoir to receive ink from said ink reservoir when said spool is in said operating position and convey the ink to said exposed portion of the ink delivery pad, said spool further including an ink impervious member disposed above said ink delivery pad, said ink impervious member being disposed between said ink delivery pad and the link reservoir whereby said ink impervious member isolates said ink delivery pad from ink in the ink reservoir, said ink impervious member having at least one opening there through to permit ink to pass therethrough from the ink reservoir to said ink delivery pad.

Claim 3

A printing ribbon spool in accordance with claim 1 in which said ink delivery pad is a spun-bonded fibrous sheet.

Claim 4

A printing ribbon spool in accordance with claim 2 in which said ink delivery pad includes two spun-bonded fibrous sheets.

Claim 5

A printing ribbon spool in accordance with claim 1 in which said lower flange portion comprises first and second outwardly projecting flange elements, said second outwardly projecting flange element projecting radially outwardly a greater distance from the axis of said spool than said first outwardly projecting flange element, said first and second outwardly projecting flange elements being spaced apart axially of said spool with said first outwardly projecting flange element disposed between said second outwardly projecting flange element and said upper flange portion, said ink delivery pad being a washer-like pad having a central opening, said washer-like pad being disposed between said first and second outwardly projecting flange elements, said portion of said washer-like pad exposed in ribbon contacting position being an exposed outer peripheral portion of said washer-like pad lying radially outwardly of the periphery of said first outwardly projecting flange element, said support means projecting upwardly from said second outwardly projecting flange element toward the path of ribbon advance toward said surface and underlying said exposed portion of said washer-like pad to support said exposed portion of said washer-like pad in position to wipe the lower portion of the ribbon as said ribbon advances therepast.

Claim 6

A printing spool in accordance with claim 4 in which said ink reservoir is a closed reservoir, and said ink reservoir is disposed inwardly of the washer-like pad's central opening, the walls defining said ink reservoir having at least one ink escape passage therethrough adjacent said washer-like pad and communicating between the interior of said ink reservoir and an inner portion of the washer-like pad to feed ink from said ink reservoir to said washer-like pad.

Claim 7

A printing ribbon spool in accordance with claim 4 in which said support means is an upwardly projecting rib underlying said washer-like pad near the radially outermost periphery of said washer-like pad to cock upwardly over said upwardly projecting rib the outer exposed periphery of said washer-like pad.

Claim 8

A printing ribbon spool in accordance with claim 6 in which said washer-like pad has a generally cylindrical outer surface and is annular in plan, whereby the tipped up edge presents a generally inverted V-shaped section of the washer-like pad to the lower portion of the ribbon.

Claim 9

A spool in accordance with claim 4 in which said hub has a central spindle receiving tube and an enlarged inverted conical cavity at the upper end of the spindle receiving tube to receive beneath the plane of the upper surface of the spool a locking mechanism to lock the spool on a business machine spindle.

Claim 10

A printing ribbon spool in accordance with claim 4 in which said ink delivery pad is a spun-bonded fibrous sheet.

Claim 11

A printing ribbon spool in accordance with claim 4 in which said ink delivery pad includes two spun-bonded fibrous sheets.

Claim 12

An inking device comprising a spool-like body, said body having a hub and a lower flange extending radially outwardly from said hub, said hub being above said flange and having a surface to receive ink delivery means thereon above said flange, an ink reservoir in said hub, means to receive ink from said reservoir and to transfer the ink to the ink delivery means, said lower flange having a separable cap member to close said ink reservoir, a first depending rib on a wall defining said reservoir, said depending rib projecting toward said cap member, a cooperating upstanding rib on said cap member adjacent said depending rib and sealing thereagainst to close said reservoir against ink leakage past said ribs, said depending rib and said upstanding rib each having at least one opening therethrough, the opening through said ribs being positioned to be aligned to form an ink escape passage from said reservoir through said ribs, said upstanding rib being movable relative to said depending rib from a closed position in which the opening in one rib is closed by a facing portion of the other rib to close the reservoir to an open position in which the openings are so aligned.

Claim 13

An inking device comprising a spool-like body, said body having a hub and a lower flange extending radially outwardly from said hub, said hub being above said flange and having a surface to receive ink delivery means thereon above said flange, an ink reservoir in said hub, means to receive ink from said reservoir and to transfer the ink to the ink delivery means, said lower flange having a separable cap member to close said ink reservoir, a first depending rib on a wall defining said reservoir, said depending rib projecting toward said cap member, a cooperating upstanding rib on said cap member adjacent said depending rib and sealing thereagainst to close said reservoir against ink leakage past said ribs, said depending rib and said upstanding rib each having at least one opening therethrough, the opening through said ribs being positioned to be aligned to form an ink escape passage from said reservoir through said ribs, said upstanding rib being movable relative to said depending rib from a closed position in which the opening in one rib is closed by a facing portion of the other rib to close the reservoir to an open position in which the openings are so aligned.

Claim 14

A device in accordance with claim 11 in which said means to receive ink from said reservoir and to transfer ink to the ink delivery means is a washer-like pad disposed at said lower flange and having a portion thereof exposed to contact a lower portion of the ink delivery means, and the central opening of the washer-like pad surrounds said cooperating ribs so ink passing through said ink escape passage is transferred to said pad.

Claim 15

A device in accordance with claim 11 in which said opening in said depending rib is a notch in the lower edge of said depending rib and in which said opening in said upstanding rib is a notch in the upper edge of said upstanding rib.

Claim 16

A device in accordance with claim 13 in which there are a plurality of said notches in both said upstanding rib and said depending rib alignable to form a plurality of ink escape passages from said reservoir through said ribs.

Claim 17

A device in accordance with claim 13 in which one of said ribs has a locking block thereon and the other of said ribs has a first block positioning notch and a second block positioning notch in the surface thereof facing said block, said first block positioning notch being positioned to receive said block when said openings are in the closed position, said first positioning notch having a sloping wall on the side thereof adjacent said second positioning notch, said second positioning notch being positioned to receive said block when said openings are in the open position, whereby said ribs may be moved relative to each other to move said block from said first positioning notch in a passage closing position past said sloping wall to said second positioning notch in a passage open position.

Claim 18

A printing ribbon device comprising in combination a printing ribbon spool and a printing ribbon having a type slug impact area in an upper portion of said ribbon, said ribbon spool having a spool body, said body having a hub and an upper and a lower flange each extending radially outwardly from said hub, said hub being between said flanges and having a surface to receive said ribbon wound thereon between said flanges, a pad at said lower flange and having a portion thereof exposed in ribbon contacting position near the outer edge of said lower flange, an ink reservoir in said hub, said pad communicating in ink receiving relation with the ink reservoir to receive ink from said reservoir and convey the ink to said exposed ribbon contacting portion of the pad, means directing said ribbon to said spool to contact said exposed portion of said pad with a lower portion of said ribbon by advancing the ribbon through a zone slightly below the zone of ribbon wrap on the spool and with the ribbon's lower portion in contact with the exposed portion of the pad to transfer ink from said pad to said lower portion of said ribbon, said ribbon having capillaries to transfer ink upwardly of said ribbon to said type slug impact area of said ribbon.

Claim 19

A printing ribbon device comprising in combination a printing ribbon spool and a printing ribbon having a type slug impact area in an upper portion of said ribbon, said ribbon spool having a spool body, said body having a hub and an upper and a lower flange each extending radially outwardly from said hub, said hub being between said flanges and having a surface to receive said ribbon wound thereon between said flanges, a pad at said lower flange and having a portion thereof exposed in ribbon contacting position near the outer edge of said lower flange, an ink reservoir in said hub, said pad communicating in ink receiving relation with the ink reservoir to receive ink from said reservoir and convey the ink to said exposed ribbon contacting portion of the pad, means directing said ribbon to said spool to contact said exposed portion of said pad with a lower portion of said ribbon by advancing the ribbon through a zone slightly below the zone of ribbon wrap on the spool and with the ribbon's lower portion in contact with the exposed portion of the pad to transfer ink from said pad to said lower portion of said ribbon, said ribbon having capillaries to transfer ink upwardly of said ribbon to said type slug impact area of said ribbon.

Claim 20

A printing ribbon spool in accordance with claim 16 in which said pad is a pad of cellular plastic material.

Claim 21

A printing ribbon spool in accordance with claim 17 in which said pad is a pad of cellular polyurethane.

Claim 22

A printing ribbon spool in accordance with claim 16 in which said pad is a pad of spun-bonded fibrous sheet.

Claim 23

A printing ribbon spool in accordance with claim 16 in which said lower radially outwardly extending flange comprises first and second outwardly projecting flange elements, said second outwardly projecting flange element projecting radially outwardly a greater distance from the axis of said spool than said first outwardly projecting flange element, said first and second outwardly projecting flange elements being spaced apart axially of said spool with said first outwardly projecting flange element disposed between said second outwardly projecting flange element and said upper flange, and said pad being disposed between said first and second outwardly projecting flange elements, said portion of said pad exposed in ribbon contacting position being the exposed outer peripheral portion of said pad lying radially outwardly of the periphery of said first outwardly projecting flange element and in position to be wiped by said lower portion of said ribbon as the ribbon advances therepast.

Claim 24

A printing spool in accordance with claim 20 in which said reservoir is a closed reservoir, said pad is a flat washer-like pad and said reservoir is disposed inwardly of the washer-like pad's central opening, the walls defining said reservoir having at least one ink escape passage therethrough adjacent said pad and communicating between the interior of said ink reservoir and an inner portion of the washer-like pad to feed ink from said reservoir to said pad.

Claim 25

A printing ribbon spool in accordance with claim 21 in which said hub in at least one area of the hub surface on which the ribbon is to be wound has a plurality of radially outwardly extending ridges, and valleys between said ridges to drain ink squeezed from the ribbon back to said pad.

Claim 26

A printing ribbon spool in accordance with claim 20 in which said second outwardly extending flange element has an upwardly projecting rib underlying said pad near the radially outermost periphery of said pad to cock the outer exposed periphery of said pad upwardly over said upwardly projecting rib.

Claim 27

A printing ribbon spool in accordance with claim 20 in which said pad has a generally cylindrical outer surface and is annular in plan, whereby the tipped up edge presents a generally inverted V-shaped section of the pad to the lower portion of the ribbon.

Claim 28

A printing ribbon spool in accordance with claim 20 in which said hub has a spindle receiving central tube and an enlarged invented conical cavity at the upper end of the spindle receiving tube to receive beneath the plane of the upper surface of the spool a locking mechanism to lock the spool on a business machine spindle.

Claim 29

A printing spool in accordance with claim 20 in which an inner portion of said pad lies in the ink reservoir, said second outwardly projecting flange element having an upwardly extending rib, said first outwardly projecting flange element having a downwardly extending rib facing said upwardly extending rib and mating therewith, said ribs contacting the surfaces of said pad and sealing the surfaces of said pad against ink leakage thereacross to confine ink passage therepast to the internal structure of the pad.

Claim 30

A printing ribbon spool in accordance with claim 26 in which said hub in at least one area of the hub surface on which the ribbon is to be wound has a plurality of radially outwardly extending ridges, and valleys between said ridges to drain ink squeezed from the ribbon back to said pad.

Claim 31

A printing ribbon spool in accordance with claim 24 including an upper ink impervious member disposed above said pad, said upper ink impervious member being disposed between said pad and the ink reservoir whereby said upper ink impervious member isolates said pad from ink in the ink reservoir, said upper ink impervious member having at least one opening therethrough to permit ink to pass therethrough from the reservoir to said pad.

Claim 32

A printing ribbon device comprising in combination a let-off printing ribbon spool and a wind-up printing ribbon spool, a printing ribbon extending therebetween, each said spool having a spool body, said body having a hub and an upper and a lower flange each extending radially outwardly from said hub, said hub being between said flanges and having a surface to receive said ribbon wound thereon between said flanges, a pad at said lower flange and having a portion thereof exposed in ribbon contacting position near the outer periphery of said lower flange, walls of said hub defining an ink receiving cavity, said pad communicating in ink receiving relation with the ink receiving cavity to receive ink from said cavity and convey the ink to said exposed ribbon contacting portion of the pad, means directing said ribbon to each said spool to contact said exposed portion of said pad with a lower portion of said ribbon by advancing the ribbon through a zone slightly below the zone of ribbon wrap on the spool and with the ribbon's lower portion in contact with the exposed portion of the pad to transfer ink from said pad to said lower portion of said ribbon, said ribbon having capillaries to transfer ink upwardly of said ribbon to a type slug impact area of said ribbon.

Claim 33

A printing ribbon device comprising in combination a let-off printing ribbon spool and a wind-up printing ribbon spool, a printing ribbon extending therebetween, each said spool having a spool body, said body having a hub and an upper and a lower flange each extending radially outwardly from said hub, said hub being between said flanges and having a surface to receive said ribbon wound thereon between said flanges, a pad at said lower flange and having a portion thereof exposed in ribbon contacting position near the outer periphery of said lower flange, walls of said hub defining an ink receiving cavity, said pad communicating in ink receiving relation with the ink receiving cavity to receive ink from said cavity and convey the ink to said exposed ribbon contacting portion of the pad, means directing said ribbon to each said spool to contact said exposed portion of said pad with a lower portion of said ribbon by advancing the ribbon through a zone slightly below the zone of ribbon wrap on the spool and with the ribbon's lower portion in contact with the exposed portion of the pad to transfer ink from said pad to said lower portion of said ribbon, said ribbon having capillaries to transfer ink upwardly of said ribbon to a type slug impact area of said ribbon.

Claim 36

A method in accordance with claim 30 including bending said ribbon so that a narrow area of the ribbon at its lower edge contacts the exposed portion of the pad lying in the ribbon path, and rubbing and flexing the exposed portion of the pad with the ribbon as the ribbon travels past the pad.

Claim 37

A method in accordance with claim 31 in which said ink is conveyed from the reservoir through ink transmitting channels in a wall of the reservoir to the ink receiving portion of the pad disposed outside the reservoir walls.

Claim 38

A method in accordance with claim 3 in which said pad is disposed at least partially in the bottom of the reservoir and has a portion in the ink and projects outwardly of the reservoir and terminates in the portion thereof lying exposed in the path of the ribbon as the ribbon passes the pad, and conveying ink from said reservoir through the pad.

Claim 39

A method in accordance with claim 33 including sealing the surfaces of the pad between the reservoir and the ribbon to confine ink passage therebetween to the interior of the pad.

Claim 40

A method in accordance with claim 30 which comprises draining ink pressed from the ribbon back to the pad by means of corrugations in a wall of the spool on which the ribbon is wound.

Claim 43

A method in accordance with claim 36 including at each spool bending said ribbon so that a narrow area of the ribbon at its lower edge contacts the exposed portion of the pad lying in the ribbon path, and rubbing and flexing the exposed portion of the pad with the ribbon as the ribbon travels past the pad.

Claim 44

A method in accordance with claim 36 in which said ink is conveyed from each reservoir through ink transmitting channels in a wall of the reservoir to the ink receiving portion of the pad disposed outside the reservoir walls.

Claim 45

A method in accordance with claim 36 in which said pad at each spool is disposed at least partially in the bottom of the reservoir and has a portion in the ink and projects outwardly of the reservoir and terminates in the portion thereof lying exposed in the path of the ribbon as the ribbon passes the pad, and conveying ink from said reservoir through the pad.

Claim 46

A method in accordance with claim 39 including at each spool sealing the surfaces of the pad between the reservoir and the ribbon to confine ink passage therebetween to the interior of the pad.

Claim 47

A method in accordance with claim 39 which comprises draining ink pressed from the ribbon back to the pad by means of corrugations in a wall of the spool on which the ribbon is wound.

Claim 48

A printing ribbon spool comprising a spool body, said spool body having a hub with an ink reservoir and spaced flange portions extending radially outwardly from said hub, said hub being between said spaced flange portions and having a surface to receive a ribbon wound thereon between said spaced flange portions to define a zone of ribbon wrap, said ribbon advancing from said zone of ribbon wrap when said spool is unwound, one of said flange portions being defined as an upper flange portion when said spool is in an operating position about a vertical axis and another of said flange portions being defined as a lower flange portion with respect to said upper flange portion when said spool is in said operating position, said ribbon having an upper portion corresponding to the upper flange portion and a lower portion corresponding to the lower flange portion, a pad at said lower flange portion as the sole ink delivery means for said spool, said pad having an exposed portion in the path of the advancing ribbon to contact said lower portion of said ribbon as said ribbon advances therepast, said lower flange portion being disposed below the zone of ribbon wrap on the spool, said lower flange portion including support means for supporting said exposed portion of the pad in the path of ribbon advance, said pad communicating in ink receiving relation with the ink reservoir to receive ink from said ink reservoir when said spool is in said operating position and convey the ink to said exposed portion of the pad and wherein said lower flange portion comprises first and second outwardly projecting flange elements, said second outwardly projecting flange element projecting radially outwardly a greater distance from the axis of said spool than said first outwardly projecting flange element, said first and second outwardly projecting flange elements being spaced apart axially of said spool with said first outwardly projecting flange element disposed between said second outwardly projecting flange element and said upper flange portion, said pad being a washer-like pad having a central opening, said washer-like pad being disposed between said first and second outwardly projecting flange elements, said portion of said pad exposed in ribbon contacting position being an exposed outer peripheral portion of said pad lying radially outwardly of the periphery of said first outwardly projecting flange element, said support means projecting upwardly from said second outwardly projecting flange element toward the path of ribbon advance toward said surface and underlying said exposed portion of said pad to support said exposed portion of said pad in position to wipe the lower portion of the ribbon as said ribbon advances therepast and wherein said ink reservoir is a closed reservoir, and said ink reservoir is disposed inwardly of the washer-like pad's central opening, the walls defining said ink reservoir having at least one ink escape passage therethrough adjacent said pad and communicating between the interior of said ink reservoir and an inner portion of the washer-like pad to feed ink from said ink reservoir to said pad and wherein said hub in at least one area of the hub surface on which the ribbon is to be wound has a plurality of radially outwardly extending ridges, and valleys between said ridges to drain ink squeezed from the ribbon back to said pad.

Claim 49

A printing ribbon spool comprising a spool body, said spool body having a hub with an ink reservoir and spaced flange portions extending radially outwardly from said hub, said hub being between said spaced flange portions and having a surface to receive a ribbon wound thereon between said spaced flange portions to define a zone of ribbon wrap, said ribbon advancing from said zone of ribbon wrap when said spool is unwound, one of said flange portions being defined as an upper flange portion when said spool is in an operating position about a vertical axis and another of said flange portions being defined as a lower flange portion with respect to said upper flange portion when said spool is in said operating position, said ribbon having an upper portion corresponding to the upper flange portion and a lower portion corresponding to the lower flange portion, a pad at said lower flange portion as the sole ink delivery means for said spool, said pad having an exposed portion in the path of the advancing ribbon to contact said lower portion of said ribbon as said ribbon advances therepast, said lower flange portion being disposed below the zone of ribbon wrap on the spool, said lower flange portion including support means for supporting said exposed portion of the pad in the path of ribbon advance, said pad communicating in ink receiving relation with the ink reservoir to receive ink from said ink reservoir when said spool is in said operating position and convey the ink to said exposed portion of the pad and wherein said lower flange portion comprises first and second outwardly projecting flange elements, said second outwardly projecting flange element projecting radially outwardly a greater distance from the axis of said spool than said first outwardly projecting flange element, said first and second outwardly projecting flange elements being spaced apart axially of said spool with said first outwardly projecting flange element disposed between said second outwardly projecting flange element and said upper flange portion, said pad being a washer-like pad having a central opening, said washer-like pad being disposed between said first and second outwardly projecting flange elements, said portion of said pad exposed in ribbon contacting position being an exposed outer peripheral portion of said pad lying radially outwardly of the periphery of said first outwardly projecting flange element, said support means projecting upwardly from said second outwardly projecting flange element toward the path of ribbon advance toward said surface and underlying said exposed portion of said pad to support said exposed portion of said pad in position to wipe the lower portion of the ribbon as said ribbon advances therepast and wherein said ink reservoir is a closed reservoir, and said ink reservoir is disposed inwardly of the washer-like pad's central opening, the walls defining said ink reservoir having at least one ink escape passage therethrough adjacent said pad and communicating between the interior of said ink reservoir and an inner portion of the washer-like pad to feed ink from said ink reservoir to said pad and wherein said hub in at least one area of the hub surface on which the ribbon is to be wound has a plurality of radially outwardly extending ridges, and valleys between said ridges to drain ink squeezed from the ribbon back to said pad.

Claim 50

A printing ribbon spool comprising a spool body, said spool body having a hub with a ink reservoir and spaced flange portions extending radially outwardly from said hub, said hub being between said spaced flange portions and having a surface to receive a ribbon wound thereon between said spaced flange portions to define a zone of ribbon wrap, said ribbon advancing from said zone of ribbon wrap when said spool is unwound, one of said flange portions being defined as an upper flange portion when said spool is in an operating position about a vertical axis and another of said flange portions being defined as a lower flange portion with respect to said upper flange portion when said spool is in said operating position, said ribbon having an upper portion corresponding to the upper flange portion and a lower portion corresponding to the lower flange portion, a pad at said lower flange portion as the sole ink delivery means for said spool, said pad having an exposed portion in the path of the advancing ribbon to contact said lower portion of said ribbon as said ribbon advances therepast, said lower flange portion being disposed below the zone of ribbon wrap on the spool, said lower flange portion including support means for supporting said exposed portion of the pad in the path of ribbon advance, said pad communicating in ink receiving relation with the ink reservoir to receive ink from said ink reservoir when said spool is in said operating position and convey the ink to said exposed portion of the pad and wherein said lower flange portion comprises first and second outwardly projecting flange elements, said second outwardly projecting flange element projecting radially outwardly a greater distance from the axis of said spool than said first outwardly projecting flange element, said first and second outwardly projecting flange elements being spaced apart axially of said spool with said first outwardly projecting flange element disposed between said second outwardly projecting flange element and said upper flange portion, said pad being a wasker-like pad having a central opening, said washer-like pad being disposed between said first and second outwardly projecting flange elements, said portion of said pad exposed in ribbon contacting position being an exposed outer peripheral portion of said pad lying radially outwardly of the periphery of said first outwardly projecting flange element, said support means projecting upwardly from said second outwardly projecting flange element toward the path of ribbon advance toward said surface and underlying said exposed portion of said pad to support said exposed portion of said pad in position to wipe the lower portion of the ribbon as said ribbon advances therepast, and wherein an inner portion of said pad lies in the ink reservoir, said second outwardly projecting flange element having an upwardly extending rib, said first outwardly projecting flange element having a downwardly extending rib facing said upwardly extending rib and mating therewith, said ribs contacting the surfaces of said pad and sealing the surfaces of said pad against ink leakage thereacross to confine ink passage therepast to the internal structure of the pad.

Claim 51

A printing ribbon spool comprising a spool body, said spool body having a hub with a ink reservoir and spaced flange portions extending radially outwardly from said hub, said hub being between said spaced flange portions and having a surface to receive a ribbon wound thereon between said spaced flange portions to define a zone of ribbon wrap, said ribbon advancing from said zone of ribbon wrap when said spool is unwound, one of said flange portions being defined as an upper flange portion when said spool is in an operating position about a vertical axis and another of said flange portions being defined as a lower flange portion with respect to said upper flange portion when said spool is in said operating position, said ribbon having an upper portion corresponding to the upper flange portion and a lower portion corresponding to the lower flange portion, a pad at said lower flange portion as the sole ink delivery means for said spool, said pad having an exposed portion in the path of the advancing ribbon to contact said lower portion of said ribbon as said ribbon advances therepast, said lower flange portion being disposed below the zone of ribbon wrap on the spool, said lower flange portion including support means for supporting said exposed portion of the pad in the path of ribbon advance, said pad communicating in ink receiving relation with the ink reservoir to receive ink from said ink reservoir when said spool is in said operating position and convey the ink to said exposed portion of the pad and wherein said lower flange portion comprises first and second outwardly projecting flange elements, said second outwardly projecting flange element projecting radially outwardly a greater distance from the axis of said spool than said first outwardly projecting flange element, said first and second outwardly projecting flange elements being spaced apart axially of said spool with said first outwardly projecting flange element disposed between said second outwardly projecting flange element and said upper flange portion, said pad being a wasker-like pad having a central opening, said washer-like pad being disposed between said first and second outwardly projecting flange elements, said portion of said pad exposed in ribbon contacting position being an exposed outer peripheral portion of said pad lying radially outwardly of the periphery of said first outwardly projecting flange element, said support means projecting upwardly from said second outwardly projecting flange element toward the path of ribbon advance toward said surface and underlying said exposed portion of said pad to support said exposed portion of said pad in position to wipe the lower portion of the ribbon as said ribbon advances therepast, and wherein an inner portion of said pad lies in the ink reservoir, said second outwardly projecting flange element having an upwardly extending rib, said first outwardly projecting flange element having a downwardly extending rib facing said upwardly extending rib and mating therewith, said ribs contacting the surfaces of said pad and sealing the surfaces of said pad against ink leakage thereacross to confine ink passage therepast to the internal structure of the pad.

Claim 52

A printing ribbon spool in accordance with claim 43 in which said hub in at least one area of the hub surface on which the ribbon is to be wound has a plurality of radially outwardly extending ridges, and valleys between said ridges to drain ink squeezed from the ribbon back to said pad.

Claim 53

A printing ribbon spool comprising a spool body, said spool body having a hub with an ink reservoir and spaced flange portions extending radially outwardly from said hub, said hub being between said spaced flange portions and having a surface to receive a ribbon wound thereon between said spaced flange portions to define a zone of ribbon wrap, said ribbon advancing from said zone of ribbon wrap when said spool is unwound, one of said flange portions being defined as an upper flange portion when said spool is in an operating position about a vertical axis and another of said flange portions being defined as a lower flange portion with respect to said upper flange portion when said spool is in said operating position, said ribbon having an upper portion corresponding to the upper flange portion and a lower portion corresponding to the lower flange portion, an ink delivery pad at said lower flange portion as the sole ink delivery means for said spool, said ink delivery pad having an exposed portion in the path of the advancing ribbon to contact said lower portion of said ribbon as said ribbon advances therepast, said lower flange portion being disposed below the zone of ribbon wrap on the spool, said lower flange portion including support means for supporting said exposed portion of the ink delivery pad in the path of ribbon advance, said ink delivery pad communicating in ink receiving relation with the ink reservoir to receive ink from said ink reservoir when said spool is in said operating position and convey the ink to said exposed portion of the ink delivery pad and wherein said lower flange portion comprises first and second outwardly projecting flange elements, said second outwardly projecting flange element projecting radially outwardly a greater distance from the axis of said spool than said first outwardly projecting flange element, said first and second outwardly projecting flange elements being spaced apart axially of said spool with said first outwardly projecting flange element disposed between said second outwardly projecting flange element and said upper flange portion, said ink delivery pad being a washer-like pad having a central opening, said washer-like pad being disposed between said first and second outwardly projecting flange elements, said portion of said ink delivery pad exposed in ribbon contacting position being an exposed outer peripheral portion of said ink delivery pad lying radially outwardly of the periphery of said first outwardly projecting flange element, said support means projecting upwardly from said second outwardly projecting flange element toward the path of ribbon advance toward said surface and underlying said exposed portion of said ink delivery pad to support said exposed portion of said ink delivery pad in position to wipe the lower portion of the ribbon as said ribbon advances therepast, said spool further including an upper ink impervious member disposed above said ink delivery pad, the upper ink impervious member being disposed between said ink delivery pad and the ink reservoir whereby said upper ink impervious member isolates said ink delivery pad from ink in the ink reservoir, said upper ink impervious member having at least one opening therethrough to permit ink to pass therethrough from the ink reservoir to said ink delivery pad.

Claim 54

A printing ribbon spool comprising a spool body, said spool body having a hub with an ink reservoir and spaced flange portions extending radially outwardly from said hub, said hub being between said spaced flange portions and having a surface to receive a ribbon wound thereon between said spaced flange portions to define a zone of ribbon wrap, said ribbon advancing from said zone of ribbon wrap when said spool is unwound, one of said flange portions being defined as an upper flange portion when said spool is in an operating position about a vertical axis and another of said flange portions being defined as a lower flange portion with respect to said upper flange portion when said spool is in said operating position, said ribbon having an upper portion corresponding to the upper flange portion and a lower portion corresponding to the lower flange portion, an ink delivery pad at said lower flange portion as the sole ink delivery means for said spool, said ink delivery pad having an exposed portion in the path of the advancing ribbon to contact said lower portion of said ribbon as said ribbon advances therepast, said lower flange portion being disposed below the zone of ribbon wrap on the spool, said lower flange portion including support means for supporting said exposed portion of the ink delivery pad in the path of ribbon advance, said ink delivery pad communicating in ink receiving relation with the ink reservoir to receive ink from said ink reservoir when said spool is in said operating position and convey the ink to said exposed portion of the ink delivery pad and wherein said lower flange portion comprises first and second outwardly projecting flange elements, said second outwardly projecting flange element projecting radially outwardly a greater distance from the axis of said spool than said first outwardly projecting flange element, said first and second outwardly projecting flange elements being spaced apart axially of said spool with said first outwardly projecting flange element disposed between said second outwardly projecting flange element and said upper flange portion, said ink delivery pad being a washer-like pad having a central opening, said washer-like pad being disposed between said first and second outwardly projecting flange elements, said portion of said ink delivery pad exposed in ribbon contacting position being an exposed outer peripheral portion of said ink delivery pad lying radially outwardly of the periphery of said first outwardly projecting flange element, said support means projecting upwardly from said second outwardly projecting flange element toward the path of ribbon advance toward said surface and underlying said exposed portion of said ink delivery pad to support said exposed portion of said ink delivery pad in position to wipe the lower portion of the ribbon as said ribbon advances therepast, said spool further including an upper ink impervious member disposed above said ink delivery pad, the upper ink impervious member being disposed between said ink delivery pad and the ink reservoir whereby said upper ink impervious member isolates said ink delivery pad from ink in the ink reservoir, said upper ink impervious member having at least one opening therethrough to permit ink to pass therethrough from the ink reservoir to said ink delivery pad.

Claim 55

A printing ribbon spool in accordance with claim 45 including a booster ring overlying said support means and underlying the outer periphery of said ink delivery pad where said support means projects upwardly toward the path of ribbon advance.

Claim 56

A printing ribbon spool comprising a spool body, said spool body having a hub with an ink reservoir and spaced flange portions extending radially outwardly from said hub, said hub being between said space flange portions and having a surface to receive a ribbon wound thereon between said spaced flange portions to define a zone of ribbon wrap, said ribbon advancing from said zone of ribbon wrap when said spool is unwound, one of said flange portions being defined as an upper flange portion when said spool is in an operating position about a vertical axis and another of said flange portions being defined as a lower flange portion with respect to said upper flange portion when said spool is in said operating position, said ribbon having an upper portion corresponding to the upper flange portion and a lower portion corresponding to the lower flange portion, a pad at said lower flange portion as the sole ink delivery means for said spool, said pad having an exposed portion in the path of the advancing ribbon to contact said lower portion of said ribbon as said ribbon advances therepast, said lower flange portion being disposed below the zone of ribbon wrap on the spool, said lower flange portion including support means for supporting said exposed portion of the pad in the path of ribbon advance, said pad communicating in ink receiving relation with the ink reservoir to receive ink from said ink reservoir when said spool is in said operating position and convey the ink to said exposed portion of the pad and wherein said lower flange portion comprises first and second outwardly projecting flange elements, said second outwardly projecting flange element projecting radially outwardly a greater distance from the axis of said spool than said first outwardly projecting flange element, said first and second outwardly projecting flange elements being spaced apart axially of said spool with said first outwardly projecting flange element disposed between said second outwardly projecting flange element and said upper flange portion, said pad being a washer-like pad having a central opening, said washer-like pad being disposed between said first and second outwardly projecting flange elements, said portion of said pad exposed in ribbon contacting position being an exposed outer peripheral portion of said pad lying radially outwardly of the periphery of said first outwardly projecting flange element, said support means projecting upwardly from said second outwardly projecting flange element toward the path of ribbon advance toward said surface and underlying said exposed portion of said pad to support said exposed portion of said pad in position to wipe the lower portion of the ribbon as said ribbon advances therepast and wherein pad is a spun-bonded fibrous sheet, said spool further including a booster ring overlying said support means and underlying the outer periphery of said spun-bonded fibrous sheet where said support means projects upwardly toward the path of ribbon advance.

Claim 57

A printing ribbon spool comprising a spool body, said spool body having a hub with an ink reservoir and spaced flange portions extending radially outwardly from said hub, said hub being between said space flange portions and having a surface to receive a ribbon wound thereon between said spaced flange portions to define a zone of ribbon wrap, said ribbon advancing from said zone of ribbon wrap when said spool is unwound, one of said flange portions being defined as an upper flange portion when said spool is in an operating position about a vertical axis and another of said flange portions being defined as a lower flange portion with respect to said upper flange portion when said spool is in said operating position, said ribbon having an upper portion corresponding to the upper flange portion and a lower portion corresponding to the lower flange portion, a pad at said lower flange portion as the sole ink delivery means for said spool, said pad having an exposed portion in the path of the advancing ribbon to contact said lower portion of said ribbon as said ribbon advances therepast, said lower flange portion being disposed below the zone of ribbon wrap on the spool, said lower flange portion including support means for supporting said exposed portion of the pad in the path of ribbon advance, said pad communicating in ink receiving relation with the ink reservoir to receive ink from said ink reservoir when said spool is in said operating position and convey the ink to said exposed portion of the pad and wherein said lower flange portion comprises first and second outwardly projecting flange elements, said second outwardly projecting flange element projecting radially outwardly a greater distance from the axis of said spool than said first outwardly projecting flange element, said first and second outwardly projecting flange elements being spaced apart axially of said spool with said first outwardly projecting flange element disposed between said second outwardly projecting flange element and said upper flange portion, said pad being a washer-like pad having a central opening, said washer-like pad being disposed between said first and second outwardly projecting flange elements, said portion of said pad exposed in ribbon contacting position being an exposed outer peripheral portion of said pad lying radially outwardly of the periphery of said first outwardly projecting flange element, said support means projecting upwardly from said second outwardly projecting flange element toward the path of ribbon advance toward said surface and underlying said exposed portion of said pad to support said exposed portion of said pad in position to wipe the lower portion of the ribbon as said ribbon advances therepast and wherein pad is a spun-bonded fibrous sheet, said spool further including a booster ring overlying said support means and underlying the outer periphery of said spun-bonded fibrous sheet where said support means projects upwardly toward the path of ribbon advance.

Claim 58

A printing ribbon spool comprising a spool body, said spool body having a hub with an ink reservoir and spaced flange portions extending radially outwardly from said hub, said hub being between said spaced flange portions and having a surface to receive a ribbon wound thereon between said spaced flange portions to define a zone of ribbon wrap, said ribbon advancing from said zone of ribbon wrap when said spool is unwound, one of said flange portions being defined as an upper flange portion when said spool is in an operating position about a vertical axis and another of said flange portions being defined as lower flange portion with respect to said upper flange portion when said spool is in said operating position, said ribbon having an upper portion corresponding to the upper flange portion and a lower portion corresponding to the lower flange portion, a pad at said lower flange portion as the sole ink delivery means for said spool, said pad having an exposed portion in the path of the advancing ribbon to contact said lower portion of said ribbon as said ribbon advances therepast, said lower flange portion being disposed below the zone of ribbon wrap on the spool, said lower flange portion including support means for supporting said exposed portion of the pad in the path of ribbon advance, said pad communicating in ink receiving relation with the ink reservoir to receive ink from said ink reservoir when said spool is in said operating position and convey the ink to said exposed portion of the pad and wherein said lower flange portion comprises first and second outwardly projecting flange elements, said second outwardly projecting flange element projecting radially outwardly a greater distance from the axis of said spool than said first outwardly projecting flange element, said first and second outwardly projecting flange elements being spaced apart axially of said spool with said first outwardly projecting flange element disposed between said second outwardly projecting flange element and said upper flange portion, said pad being a washer-like pad having a central opening, said washer-like pad being disposed between said first and second outwardly projecting flange elements, said portion of said pad exposed in ribbon contacting position being an exposed outer peripheral portion of said pad lying radially outwardly of the periphery of said first outwardly projecting flange element, said support means projecting upwardly from said second outwardly projecting flange element toward the path of ribbon advance toward said surface and underlying said exposed portion of said pad to support said exposed portion of said pad in position to wipe the lower portion of the ribbon as said ribbon advances therepast and wherein said pad includes two spun-bonded fibrous sheets, said spool further including a booster ring overlying said support means and underlying the outer periphery of said spun-bonded fibrous sheet where said support means projects upwardly toward the path of ribbon advance.

Claim 59

A printing ribbon spool comprising a spool body, said spool body having a hub with an ink reservoir and spaced flange portions extending radially outwardly from said hub, said hub being between said spaced flange portions and having a surface to receive a ribbon wound thereon between said spaced flange portions to define a zone of ribbon wrap, said ribbon advancing from said zone of ribbon wrap when said spool is unwound, one of said flange portions being defined as an upper flange portion when said spool is in an operating position about a vertical axis and another of said flange portions being defined as lower flange portion with respect to said upper flange portion when said spool is in said operating position, said ribbon having an upper portion corresponding to the upper flange portion and a lower portion corresponding to the lower flange portion, a pad at said lower flange portion as the sole ink delivery means for said spool, said pad having an exposed portion in the path of the advancing ribbon to contact said lower portion of said ribbon as said ribbon advances therepast, said lower flange portion being disposed below the zone of ribbon wrap on the spool, said lower flange portion including support means for supporting said exposed portion of the pad in the path of ribbon advance, said pad communicating in ink receiving relation with the ink reservoir to receive ink from said ink reservoir when said spool is in said operating position and convey the ink to said exposed portion of the pad and wherein said lower flange portion comprises first and second outwardly projecting flange elements, said second outwardly projecting flange element projecting radially outwardly a greater distance from the axis of said spool than said first outwardly projecting flange element, said first and second outwardly projecting flange elements being spaced apart axially of said spool with said first outwardly projecting flange element disposed between said second outwardly projecting flange element and said upper flange portion, said pad being a washer-like pad having a central opening, said washer-like pad being disposed between said first and second outwardly projecting flange elements, said portion of said pad exposed in ribbon contacting position being an exposed outer peripheral portion of said pad lying radially outwardly of the periphery of said first outwardly projecting flange element, said support means projecting upwardly from said second outwardly projecting flange element toward the path of ribbon advance toward said surface and underlying said exposed portion of said pad to support said exposed portion of said pad in position to wipe the lower portion of the ribbon as said ribbon advances therepast and wherein said pad includes two spun-bonded fibrous sheets, said spool further including a booster ring overlying said support means and underlying the outer periphery of said spun-bonded fibrous sheet where said support means projects upwardly toward the path of ribbon advance.