Typewriting machines – Including interposed inking device for record-medium – Renovation of used ribbon
Patent
1995-01-06
1996-04-30
Burr, Edgar S.
Typewriting machines
Including interposed inking device for record-medium
Renovation of used ribbon
400200, B41J 3114
Patent
active
055118895
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a device for inking a ribbon of the type comprising a cartridge with a loop of the ribbon exposed from the cartridge and a drive member on the cartridge for feeding the ribbon from the loop back into the cartridge.
Apparatus for inking ribbons are well known in the art and basically comprise ink supply means, ribbon guide and drive means and ink transfer means to apply ink to the ribbon from the supply means as it passes over the ink transfer means. The supply of ink has most commonly been a reservoir with the ink being transferred by a wick to a roller which transfers the ink onto the ribbon. The roller and ribbon drive being driven by a small electric motor. Some ink supply means were by gravity feed and proved very difficult to regulate and were consequently very messy. The amount of ink being applied was normally a timing process, others used the spatial relationship or amount of pressure contact between the feed and inking rollers to determine the amount of inking composition to be transferred.
A search of the prior art has revealed the following Canadian Patents 1059740, 1052560, 676889 and 656611. In Canadian Patent "740" there is disclosed both a gravity feed, wick transfer of ink to the ribbon and a conventional spraying device for transfer of ink to the ribbon In Canadian Patent "560", there is basically disclosed a cam controlled ink applying means the ink being transferred from a reservoir to an inking roller, while applicants application of ink is by a stepper motor driven syringe applying ink to a porous inking and main driving wheel. Looking at Canadian Patent "611" we have an ink cartridge feeding a felt wick contracting a transfer roller Canadian Patent "889" teaches only a special type wick applying ink to a roller from a supply basin.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is one object of the present invention to provide a device for inking ribbons of the above type which effectively enables automatic inking by reducing requirement for operator action in handling and controlling the movement of the inked ribbon and by enabling the device to operate on different types of cartridge.
According to the invention there is provided ribbon inking device for inking an endless ribbon movably mounted in a ribbon cartridge with a loop of the ribbon exposed from the cartridge and a drive member on the cartridge for feeding the ribbon from the loop back into the cartridge, the device comprising a base, main drive means mounted on the base, ink applying means mounted on the base and including an ink supply, ribbon driving means for driving said ribbon from said loop over said inking means, said ribbon driving means being driven from said main drive means, ribbon positioning means for grasping said ribbon at said loop and for moving the ribbon into position for driving by said ribbon driving means, cartridge drive means for driving said drive member on the cartridge, cartridge support means including a support table mounted on said base and means for moving the cartridge drive means to a required location for engagement with said drive member of said cartridge on said cartridge support means.
Preferably the apparatus includes an adapter plate to be placed on the cartridge with the ribbon to be inked. The cartridge with adapter is inserted onto the base plate of the device where it is held in engagement with a friction drive head. The drive head is driven by a main motor gear box assembly located beneath a supporting table. The main motor gear box assembly also drives an inking wheel which is also the main ribbon driving wheel. A syringe type ink supply cartridge has a piston driven by a stepper motor controlled by a requirement sensor to apply ink to the porous inking wheel. Puller arms operated by the main motor gear box are located below the supporting table but have fingers that protrude above the table and engage the cartridge ribbon and draw it out into engagement with the inking drive wheel where it is inked and driven when the syringe is activated.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4126715 (1978-11-01), Schiffmacher et al.
patent: 5048986 (1991-09-01), Czesnik et al.
patent: 5190385 (1993-03-01), Taguchi et al.
patent: 5201592 (1993-04-01), Mizutani et al.
patent: 5372438 (1994-12-01), Chung
Battison Adrian D.
Burr Edgar S.
Nguyen Anthony H.
T-3 Enterprises Inc.
Thrift Murray E.
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