Printing ribbon cartridge with flexible ribbon guides

Claim 2

A printer comprising means for supporting a print receiving medium, laterally movable character printing means juxtaposed to said supporting means for establishing a laterally movable print point, a ribbon comprising a printing medium for advancing past said movable print point in printing relationship with said print receiving medium and said character printing means, stationary ribbon storage means for storing said ribbon, means for moving said ribbon between said print point and said storage means, the improvement comprising means for maintaining a substantially constant path length from said ribbon storage means to said print point including flexible leader means and flexible cover means extending across said leader means so as to form a channel for said ribbon to move therethrough for supporting said ribbon, said means for maintaining a substantially constant path length maintaining curvature in a single direction as said movable print point moves, said flexible cover means being slidable with respect to said flexible leader means.

Claim 3

The printer of claim 1 wherein said means for maintaining a substantially constant path length is characterized by curvature in a concave direction with respect to said print point such that said ribbon is in substantial contact with said flexible leader means and spaced from said flexible cover means.

Claim 4

The printer of claim 2 wherein said ribbon includes a first side in contact with said flexible leader means and a second side spaced from said cover means, said ribbon including ink on said second side.

Claim 5

The printer of claim 1 wherein said flexible leader means is characterized by a radius of curvature transverse to the length of said leader means in a substantially straight line segment of said leader means.

Claim 6

The printer of claim 4 wherein said transverse curvature is convex with respect to the center of curvature of said leader means.

Claim 7

The printer of claim 5 wherein said ribbon is in contact with said leader means on the side of said leader means facing away from said center of curvature of said leader means.

Claim 8

The printer of claim 1 wherein said ribbon includes an inked side facing generally away from the center of said curvature and an uninked side facing generally toward the center of said curvature and in contact with said leader means.

Claim 9

The printer of claim 6 wherein said leader means includes a steel portion.

Claim 10

The printer of claim 8 wherein said cover means may move relative to said leader means along the length thereof.

Claim 11

The printer of claim 9 wherein said cover means is slidable along the length of said leader means.

Claim 12

The printer of claim 10 wherein said cover means extends around the edges of said leader means for attaching said cover means to said leader means and is slidably fixed thereto.

Claim 13

The printer of claim 8 wherein said cover means comprises plastic attached to said steel portion.

Claim 14

The printer of claim 4 wherein said radius of transverse curvature is provided by said leader means being characterized by a first beam height when said leader means is substantially straight and a second beam height when said leader means is curved whereby the leader means is confined to a transverse curvature in said single direction as said print point moves.

Claim 15

The printer of claim 13 wherein said cover means is slidably attached to said leader means.

Claim 16

The printer of claim 13 wherein said leader means comprises a steel portion and said cover means is slidably attached thereto.

Claim 17

The printer of claim 15 wherein said cover means forms a channel including a channel base and channel walls, the extremities of said walls spaced from said base contacting the steel portion of said leader means.

Claim 18

The printer of claim 16 wherein said cover means also extends around the edges of said leader means for securing said cover means to said steel portion.

Claim 19

The printer of claim 1 including means for connecting a portion of said means for maintaining a substantially constant path length adjacent said print point to said storage means for stowing in a compact position.

Claim 20

A printer comprising means for supporting a print receiving medium, laterally movable character printing means juxtaposed to said supporting means for establishing a laterally movable print point, a ribbon comprising a printing medium for advancing past said movable print point in printing relationship with said print receiving medium and said character printing means, stationary ribbon storage means for storing said ribbon, means for moving said ribbon between said print point and said storage means, the improvement comprising means for maintaining a substantially constant path length from said ribbon storage means to said print point including steel flexible leader means extending from a point of attachment to said ribbon storage means for supporting said ribbon, said flexible leader means having a transverse curvature in a substantially straight line segment, means for mounting said flexible leader means for maintaining said transverse curvature at the point of attachment to said storage means so as to substantially restrict curvature of said flexible leader means to a single direction as said movable print point moves; and flexible cover means extending across said leader means so as to form a channel for said ribbon, said cover means extending substantially to said point of attachment to said ribbon storage means and said cover means is movable along the length of said leader means.

Claim 21

A printer comprising means for supporting a print receiving medium, laterally movable character printing means juxtaposed to said supporting means for establishing a laterally movable print point, a ribbon comprising a printing medium for advancing past said movable print point in printing relationship with said print receiving medium and said character printing means, stationary ribbon storage means for storing said ribbon, means for moving said ribbon between said print point and said storage means, the improvement comprising means for maintaining a substantially constant path length from said ribbon storage means to said print point including steel flexible leader means extending from a point of attachment to said ribbon storage means for supporting said ribbon, said flexible leader means having a transverse curvature in a substantially straight line segment, means for mounting said flexible leader means for maintaining said transverse curvature at the point of attachment to said storage means so as to substantially restrict curvature of said flexible leader means to a single direction as said movable print point moves; and flexible cover means extending across said leader means so as to form a channel for said ribbon, said cover means extending substantially to said point of attachment to said ribbon storage means and said cover means is movable along the length of said leader means.

Claim 22

A cartridge for use with a printer comprising: ribbon storage means for storing ribbon and flexible leader means extending from a point of attachment to said ribbon storage means for guiding said ribbon between said storage means and a print point in said printer while maintaining a substantially constant path length from said ribbon storage means to said print point, said flexible leader means having a transverse curvature in a substantially straight line segment, the improvedment comprising means for maintaining the transverse curvature of said flexible leader means at the point of attachment to said storage means including shaping means having said transverse curvature for contacting said flexible leader means, said shaping means being carried on said storage means so as to substantially restrict curvature of said flexible leader means to a single direction as said print point moves.

Claim 23

A cartridge for use with a printer comprising: ribbon storage means for storing ribbon and flexible leader means extending from a point of attachment to said ribbon storage means for guiding said ribbon between said storage means and a print point in said printer while maintaining a substantially constant path length from said ribbon storage means to said print point, said flexible leader means having a transverse curvature in a substantially straight line segment, the improvedment comprising means for maintaining the transverse curvature of said flexible leader means at the point of attachment to said storage means including shaping means having said transverse curvature for contacting said flexible leader means, said shaping means being carried on said storage means so as to substantially restrict curvature of said flexible leader means to a single direction as said print point moves.

Claim 24

The cartridge of claim 20 wherein said flexible leader means comprises steel.

Claim 25

The cartridge of claim 21 including flexible cover means extending across said flexible leader means so as to form a channel for said ribbon while still maintaining said transverse curvature of said flexible leader means.

Claim 26

The cartridge of claim 22 wherein said cover means extends substantially to said point of attachment.

Claim 27

The cartridge of claim 23 wherein said cover means is movable in the direction along the length of said leader means.

Claim 28

A printer comprising means for supporting a print receiving medium, laterally movable character printing means juxtaposed to said supporting means for establishing a laterally movable print point, a ribbon comprising a printing medium for advancing past said movable print point in printing relationship with said print receiving medium and said character printing means, stationary ribbon storage means for storing said ribbon, means for moving said ribbon between said print point and said storage means, the improvement comprising means for maintaining a substantially constant path length from said ribbon storage means to said print point including flexible leader means, said flexible leader means comprising a plastic cover means for forming a channel having a channel base and channel side wall for enclosing said ribbon as said ribbon moves along said leader means, said leader means further comprising means for preventing the reverse bending of said plastic cover means so as to prevent contact between said ribbon and said channel base; said means for preventing the reverse bending of said plastic cover means comprising a steel portion characterized by a first beam height when said leader means is substantially straight and a second beam height when said leader means is curved whereby curvature of said leader means is confined to a single direction of curvature whereby contact between said ribbon and said channel base may be avoided; and said plastic cover means is slidable along the length of said steel portion of said leader means.

Claim 29

A printer comprising means for supporting a print receiving medium, laterally movable character printing means juxtaposed to said supporting means for establishing a laterally movable print point, a ribbon comprising a printing medium for advancing past said movable print point in printing relationship with said print receiving medium and said character printing means, stationary ribbon storage means for storing said ribbon, means for moving said ribbon between said print point and said storage means, the improvement comprising means for maintaining a substantially constant path length from said ribbon storage means to said print point including flexible leader means, said flexible leader means comprising a plastic cover means for forming a channel having a channel base and channel side wall for enclosing said ribbon as said ribbon moves along said leader means, said leader means further comprising means for preventing the reverse bending of said plastic cover means so as to prevent contact between said ribbon and said channel base; said means for preventing the reverse bending of said plastic cover means comprising a steel portion characterized by a first beam height when said leader means is substantially straight and a second beam height when said leader means is curved whereby curvature of said leader means is confined to a single direction of curvature whereby contact between said ribbon and said channel base may be avoided; and said plastic cover means is slidable along the length of said steel portion of said leader means.

Claim 30

A printer comprising means for supporting a print receiving medium, laterally movable character printing means juxtaposed to said supporting means for establishing a laterally movable print point, a ribbon comprising a printing medium for advancing past said movable print point to print in relationship with said print receiving medium and said character printing means, stationary ribbon storage means for storing said ribbon, means for moving said ribbon between said print point and said storage means, the improvement comprising: means for maintaining a substantially constant path length from said ribbon storage means to said print point comprising flexible leader means including cover means extending across said leader means so as to form a channel, said leader means including said cover means maintaining curvature in a single direction as said movable print point moves; and means for maintaining tension on said ribbon so as to substantially prevent contact between said cover means and said ribbon; said leader means comprising a steel portion characterized by a first beam height when said leader means is substantially straight and a second beam height when said leader means is curved whereby the curvature of said leader means is confined to a single direction as said print point moves; and said cover means is slidable with respect to said sfteel portion of said leader means.

Claim 31

A printer comprising means for supporting a print receiving medium, laterally movable character printing means juxtaposed to said supporting means for establishing a laterally movable print point, a ribbon comprising a printing medium for advancing past said movable print point to print in relationship with said print receiving medium and said character printing means, stationary ribbon storage means for storing said ribbon, means for moving said ribbon between said print point and said storage means, the improvement comprising: means for maintaining a substantially constant path length from said ribbon storage means to said print point comprising flexible leader means including cover means extending across said leader means so as to form a channel, said leader means including said cover means maintaining curvature in a single direction as said movable print point moves; and means for maintaining tension on said ribbon so as to substantially prevent contact between said cover means and said ribbon; said leader means comprising a steel portion characterized by a first beam height when said leader means is substantially straight and a second beam height when said leader means is curved whereby the curvature of said leader means is confined to a single direction as said print point moves; and said cover means is slidable with respect to said sfteel portion of said leader means.

Claim 32

Flexible leader means for conveying a ribbon to a print point, comprising a first steel support portion and a second plastic cover portion, said steel support portion comprising a band of steel constrained by means confining the opposing edges of said band at an end thereof to positions spaced apart from one another a distance less than the width of said band to define a substantially constant first radius of curvature transverse said edges when said steel support portion is substantially straight, said first radius of curvature defining a substantially constant second radius of curvature assumed by said steel support portion perpendicular to said first radius, and said plastic cover portion extending between the edges of said steel band and permitting the flexure of said steel band between a first configuration in which said band is curved perpendicular to its edges, said curvature being defined by said first radius and assumed by said steel support portion when said flexible leader means is substantially straight, and a second configuration, in which said steel band is substantially flat perpendicular to its edges, assumed when said band is curved in a single direction perpendicular to said edges.

Claim 33

Flexible leader means for conveying a ribbon to a print point, comprising a first steel support portion and a second plastic cover portion, said steel support portion comprising a band of steel constrained by means confining the opposing edges of said band at an end thereof to positions spaced apart from one another a distance less than the width of said band to define a substantially constant first radius of curvature transverse said edges when said steel support portion is substantially straight, said first radius of curvature defining a substantially constant second radius of curvature assumed by said steel support portion perpendicular to said first radius, and said plastic cover portion extending between the edges of said steel band and permitting the flexure of said steel band between a first configuration in which said band is curved perpendicular to its edges, said curvature being defined by said first radius and assumed by said steel support portion when said flexible leader means is substantially straight, and a second configuration, in which said steel band is substantially flat perpendicular to its edges, assumed when said band is curved in a single direction perpendicular to said edges.

Claim 34

The leader means of claim 27 wherein said plastic cover portion is slidable along the length of said steel support portion.