CA1318877C

CA1318877C - Printer and method

Info

Publication number: CA1318877C
Application number: CA000538893A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Ikuzo Sugiura; Mitsuo Uchimura; Kouichi Kawamura; Ronald L. Fogle; Orville C. Huggins
Original assignee: Monarch Marking Systems Inc
Current assignee: Avery Dennison Retail Information Services LLC
Priority date: 1986-07-15
Filing date: 1987-06-04
Publication date: 1993-06-08
Anticipated expiration: 2010-06-08
Also published as: GB2192591B; FR2618729B1; GB8716220D0; FR2601626B1; GB2232931A; FR2601626A1; US4776714A; HK10993A; SG111992G; JPH0457199B2; GB2192591A; JPS6328680A; DE3723279A1; FR2613667B1; MX170735B; FR2618730A1; GB9010520D0; JPS6328679A; FR2618730B1; AU7416487A

Abstract

Docket No. M-487 Abstract of the Disclosure There is disclosed a printer having a thermal print head and a cooperable platen roll. The platen roll is driven to advance a web of record medium and an ink ribbon into cooperation with the print head. The printer can use an ink ribbon cartridge. The printer has a compact arrangement for the record medium supply roll, the ink ribbon cartridge, the printing mechanism, the drive mechanism, the keyboard, and the cutting mechanism for cutting tags from the web.

Description

~3~7~

Docket M-487 PRINTEE~ AND METHQD
Background of the Invention Field of the Invention - This in~ention relates to the field of printers and ink ribbon cartridges and method of using ink ribbon cartridges.
Brief Description of the Pri Art The following U.S. patents are made of record:

2,7S5,905; 3,767,098; 4,160,605; 3,877,561, 3,830,3Sl;
4,476,510; 4r350~452; 4,122,985; 4,~73,426; and 4,5~8,950.
Summary of the Invention It i~ a feature of the invention to provide an improved ink ribbon cartridge having one or more floating guides that cause the ink ribbon to track in alignment with a print head.
The guide or guides are precisely positioned by means of a pin or pins precisely located on the printer~
It is another feature of the invention to provide a method of installing an ink ribbon cartridge in a printer.
According to the method, the portion of the ink ribbon which is expo~ed outside the hou~ing of the cartridge i5 caused to be trained along a non-linear path which generally duplicates or matche~ the printer path through which the ink ribbon passe~ when the cartridge i~ positioned in the printer. When the cartridge is loaded into the printer the exposed ink Docket No. M-487 ~ $7 7 ribbon portion passes between th print head and platen roll and partly about a guide. An installation devic~ i9 conveniently used to practice the method.
The printer of the invention includes an improved drive mechani~m for a platen roll and the cartr;idge to effect advance of both the record medium and the ink ribbon. A
single motor is used in the drive mechanism. A take-up roll for the ink ribbon is continuously driven through a ~lip-clutch.
The printer of the invention include~ an arrangement of guides for handling webs of record medium which are wound either face-~ide-in or fa~e-side-out.
The invention al50 include~ an improved reel assembly which can mount either large or small diameter rolls of record medium. For small diameter rolls, a hub passes through and supports the roll. For large diameter rolls, the hub mounts hub members which in turn mount the roll. , The invention also relates to a keyboard removably nested on the printer. The keyboard is rotat~ble relative to the printer or if desired the keyboard can be plac~d on a horizontal surface adjacent the printer while the keyboard and the printer are connected via a data cord. The keyboard has a base portion with a stuffing chamber wherein a portion of the data cord can be ~tored while the keyboard is nested on the printer. When the keyboard is placed on the horizontal surface adjacent the printer the data cord i~ ¦
removed from the stuffing chamber to enable the keyboard ~o be placed at a distance from the printer.
Other features and advantage~ will readily suggest themselves to the art-skilled person upon reference to the accompanying drawing~ and the following detailed description.
Brief Description of the Drawinqs FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a printer in accordance with the invention;
FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the printer shown in PIGURE 1, but depicting the rear ~ide thereof;

7 ~
Docket No. M-487 -3-FIGURE 3 is a partially exploded perspective view of the printer showing its housing and certain operative components;
FIGURE 4 is a partially exploded perqpective view of variou~ component~ of the printer and the lnk ribbon cartridge;
FIGURE 5 is a front elevational view of the printer with the front cover rPmoved;
FI&URE 6 is an exploded perspective view of the print head and structure for mounting the print head;
FIGURE 7 is an exploded perspective view of the ink ribbon cartridge and a fragmentary portion of the printer, with the cartridge housing sections being rotated to show their interior~;
FIGURE 8 is a perspective view showing the ink ribbon cartridge ready to be loaded into the printer;
FIGURE 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9--9 of FIGURE 5; ~ -FIGURE 10 is a sectional view taken along line 10--10 of FIGURE g;
FIGURE 11 is a ~ectional view taken along line 11--11 of FIGURE 5 and showing a guide roller of the ink ribbon cartridge aligned by a guide pin of the printer;
FIGURE 12 is an exploded perspective view of a supply roll mounting mechanism;
FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along line 13--13 of FIGURE 12;
FIGURE 14 is a sectional view taken generally along line 14--14 of FIGURE 13;
FIGQRE 15 is a fragmentary sectional view showing o~e hub member stored on the other hub member;
FIGURE 16 i~ a partly sectional elevated view of the keyboard mounted on the printer housing; and FIGUR~ 17 is a fragmentary top plan view of an ink ribbon used in the cartridge.

~3~7~
Docket No. M-487 -4-Detailed DescriPtion of the Preferred Embodiment With reference to FIGURE 1, there is shown a printer generally indicated at 20. The printer 20 includes ~n upper housing portion or printer body generally indicated at 21 and a lower housing portion qenerally indicated at 22. The upper housing portion 21 includes a main housing section 23, a front housing section 24 and a rear housing section 25. The housing section 23 includes a separate panel 23a having an opening 23b. A reel assembly generally indicated at 26 mounts a roll R o~ a web W of record members RM. The web W can be comprised either of a tag material as shown, or of pressure sensitive labels releasably adhered to a carrier web. A
keyboard generally indicated at 26' is mounted on the housing section 23. As shown in FIGURE 2, upper surface 27 of the main housing section 23 has a recess 28 comprised of a flat horizontal surface 29 and an inwardly and downwardly sloping frustro-conical wall 30 joining the surfaces 27 and 29. The keyboard 26' has a keyboard portion 31 inclined at an angle A
of about 15. with respect to the horizontal lFIGURE 16).
Joined to the keyboard portion 31 is a base portion 32. The lower portion of the base portion 32 is frusto-conical as indicated at 33. The base portion 32 thus rotatably nests in the rece~s 28 as shown in FIGURÉS 1 and 16. Thus, the keyboar~ 26' can be rotated to a position convenient to the user. There is a & ta cord 34 which connerts the keyboard 26' and the printer 20. The data cord 34 includes a coiled flexible portion 35 and a straight but flexible portion 36.
The base 32 is hollow ~o provide a stuffing chamber 37 (FIGUk~ ~6t so at least a portion of the data cord 34, preferably the entire coiled portion 35, can be stuffed into the stuffing chamber 37. FIGURE 2 shows the keyboard 26' removed form the printer 20 and thereupon the key~oard 26' can be placed in any convenient position on any flat horizontal surface for operation by the user as shown by phantom lines in FIGURE 2. When the keyboard 26' is in its operative position as shown in FIGURE 1, the cord portion 36 ,. ~4~\

ocket No. M-487 -5- ~318~77 is held captive between the rear housing section 25 and a removable cover plate 38.
With reference to FIGURE 3, the lower housing portion 22 is shown to include a generally open-top box-shaped bottom section 22' having four side walls 39 and a bottom wall 40.
Tbe bottom section 22'receives a horizontally disposed printed circuit board 41. A generally horizontal base or frame plate 42 is secured to the bottom section 22' by screws 43. The printed circuit board 41 containing the power supply is ~hus located in the space bekween walls 39, above bottom wall 40 and below the base plate 42. A vertical frame plate 44 or case is screwed to the base plate 42 in a generally T-shaped arrangement. A generally vertical printed circuit board 45 is mounted on posts 46 in spaced apart relationship to one side of the frame plate 44. The base plate 42 is preferably constructed of metal or at least includes enough metal to shield the printed circuit board 45 from radiation from the circuit board 41.
A drive mechanism generally indicated at 47 in FIGURE 4 is disposed in a plane between the frame plate 44 and the printed circuit board 45. Various operative components of the printer 20 to ~e described in detail hereinbelow and an ink ribbon cartridge generally indicated at 48 are disposed on the other side of the frame plate 44. The drive mechanism 47 includes an electric motor 49 mounted to posts 50 on the frame plate 44 b~ screws 51 (only one of which is shown).
The motor 49 directly drives a pinion 52 which in turn drives a flexible endless toothed belt 53. The belt 53 drives a toothed wheel 54 secured to a shaft 55 of a platen in the form of a platen roll 56. The shaft 55 is rotatably journaled in a bracket 57' secured to a support 58'rigidly cantilevered to the frame plate 44. When the motor 49 drives the toothed wheel 52, the belt 53 advances and rotates the toothed wheel 54 and in turn the shaft 5S and the platen roll 56. Advance of the belt 53 also causes rotation of a toothed wheel 57. The toothed wheel 57 drives a gear 58 through a ......

Docket No. M-487 -6- 13~887 7 slip-clutch 59. The gear 58 meshes with a gear 60 secured to a shaft 61. A spindle or ribbon feed shaft 62 is suitably keyed against rotation to the shaft 61. With reference to FIGURE 9, an E-ring 63 is secured to the s]haft 61. A light compression spring 64 encircles the shaft 61 and bears against a bearing 65 in the frame plate 44 and against the spindle 62.
The compression spring 64 urges the spindle 62 outwardly away from the ~rame plate 44. The shaft 61 has a step 66 and the axial hole 67 is also correspondingly stepped. The spindle 62 is captive between the step 66 and the E-ring 63, and relative axial movement of the spindle 62 and the shaft 61 is thus prevented. The shaft 61 has a flat 61' and the hole 67 has a corresponding flat 67' which cooperate to prevent relative rotation between the shaft 61 and the spindle 62. As is evident from FIGURE 9r the ~haft 61 and the ~pindle 62 can be shifted to the left as a unit, thereby compressing the spring 64, the sha~t 61 can rotate as well as shift axially in the bearing 65. The purpose for the axial shifting is brouyht out hereinafter. The outer free end portion of the spindle 69 is knurled as indicated at 73 to facilitate manual rotation of the spindle 62.
A spindle or ribbon take-up shaft 69 and shaft 70 are identical to the spindle 62 and the shaft 61. The spindle 69 is likewise urged to the right (FIGURE 9) by a light compression spring 71 and the shaft 70 is rotatable and axially shiftable in a bearing 72. As shown, spindles 62 and 69 have peripherally spaced teeth 74 and 75 with tapered ends 76 and 77. A disc 78 having elements 79 (FIGURE 4) capable of being sensed is keyed to the shaft 70. A disc-shaped brake member 80 (FIGURE 4) is keyed to the shaft 70. A bracket 81 secured to the frame plate 44 mounts an optical sensor 82 which cooperates with the elements 79 in the disc 78 to sense rotation of the disc 78 and the shaft 70. In the event the sensor 82 does not sense sufficient movement of the diæc 78, this w:ill indicate a jam and thus the operatlon o~ the printer will be . interrupted ln response to a æignal from the sensor 82. A
,,~"s ,~ j,~, ~... .
,J~"

Docket No. M-487 -7- ~ 3~8~ b~

brake disc 83 composed of a frictional material such as felt is dispo.~ed between the disc 80 and a stationary brake plate 84~ A compres~ion spring 85 i~ dispo ed between washe~s 86 and 87. The washer 86 bears against the brake plate 84 and the washer 87 bear~ again~t an E-ring 87' on the ~haft 70.
The ~haft 61 pas~es through the memb0r 80, the brake di~c 83, the brake plate 84, the washer 86, ~he spring 85 and the washer 87. The brake member 80, the brake ai~c 83 and the brake plate 84 cofflprise a continuous brake generally indicated at 88. The toothed wheel 57, the ~lip clutch 59 and the gears 58 and 60 are considered part of a take-up mechanism generally indicated at TM.
A print head support 8g ~FIGURE 6) is rigidly cantilevered to the frame plate 44. A generally U-shaped bracket 90 has a pair of spaced leg portions 91 and 92 and a ~onnecting bight portion 93. The bight portion 93 is secured to the underside of the support 89 by screws 94, only one of which ~s shown. The leg portions 91 and 92 have respective holes 95 and 96 for receiving a shaft 97. A plate 98 has a stud 99 received in a hole 100 in the leg portion 92. Spaced from the stud 98 is an oversize hole 101 ;n the plate 98. A
screw 102 passes through the hole 101 and is received in a threaded hole 103. The plate 9B has a hole 104 for receiv~ng end portion 105 of the shaft 97. ~ nut 106 is received on a threaded portion 107. The hole 96 is over~ize so that the angular position or skew of the shaft 97 can be adjusted.
This adjustment i8 accomplished by loosening the screw 102 and pivoting the plate 98 to a new adjusted position and thereupon re-tightening the screw 102.
A print head mounting plate 108 has a generally planar portion 109 having a pair of spaced tab~ 110. The tabs 110 have aligned holes 111 for receiving the ~haft 97. A cam follower in the form of a pre~sure plate 112 has a pair of ~paced tabs 113 with aligned holes 114 for receiving the shaft 97. The plate 112 ha~ a U-sh~ped flange 115 having holes 116. Pins 117 are ~lidably received in and extend Docket No. M-487 -8- ~ 3~ 7 through the holes 116. The pins 117 have grooves 118 and 119 for receiving respective E-rings 120 and 121. Wa~hers 122 and 123 are received on the pins 117. ComE,ression springs 124 encircle pins 117 and bear against the flange 115 and the washer~ 123. Flat ends 125 of the pins 11-/ bear against convex portions 12Ç on the planar portion 109 of thP plate 108.
A print head 127 is secured to the underside of a print head support plate 128. The plate 128 has a pair of holes 129 and 130 and an upstanding stud 131 having an annular groove 132. A pair of round studs 133 and 134 depend downwardly from the plate 108 and are received in re~pective holes 129 and 130. The hole 12g is elongated in the direction of the centerline CL, and the hole 130 is round to receive the stud 134. The stud 131 projects through a cutout 135 in the planar portion lOg. A plate 13~ has a pair of studs 137 received in holes 138 in the planar portion 109.
Screws 139 passing through holes 140 in the plate 136 are .
received in threaded hole~ 141 in planar portion 109. A
flexible resilient endless wire retainer 142 pa~ses about the studs 137~ The retainer 142 has generally parallel retainer portions 143 defining a gap. The support plate 1~8 is attached to the plate 108 by aligning the holes 129 and 131 with the pins 133 and 134 and inserted the tapered head of the stud 131 between the retainer portions 143. The spacing of the retainer portions 143 is less than the width of the ~tud 131 80 that insertion of the stud 31 spreads the portions 143. The portions 143 spring back when the portions 143 are in the groove 132. The retainer 142 thus grips the stud 131 and releasably holds the support plate 128 and the print head 127 which it mounts for easy replacement.
The record medium RM passes partly about the platen roll 56 (FIGURE 5). In order to urge the print head 127 against the record medium RM which in turn is urged against the platen roll 56, a manually operable, releasable, printing pressure applying mechanism generally indicated at 144 Docket No. M-487 -9- 1 3 ~ 8 ~ ~ I

(FIGURES 5 and 6~ is operable to compress the springs 124 and to urge the plates 108 and 128 counterclockwise SFI~;. 5) about the shaft 97. The mechanism 144 includes a cam 145 keyed against rotation relative to a shaft 146. A manually operable lever 147 keyed against rotation to the shaft 146 i8 used to manually pivot the shaft 146 and to move the cam 145 between its operating position ~hown in solid line~ in FIGURE
5 to it~ phantom line po~ition indicated by phantom lines PL.
The shaft 146 îs journaled in holes 147~ The support 12B and the print head 127 which it mounts can be removed from the support 108 when the cam 145 is in its phanto~ line po~ition.
A tension spring 108' pivots the plates 108 and 112 clockwise (FIGURE S) when the cam 145 is in its phantom line posit;on PL to move the print head 1~7 away from the platen roll 56.
This enables the record medium RM and/or khe ink ribbon IR to be inserted between or removed from between the print head 127 and the platen roll 56.
The printer 20 can accept a record medium RM which is either thermally coated paper stock or plain paper stock. A
heat-sensitive ink ribbon IR i~ used with plain paper stock.
The printer 20 conveniently uses an ink ribbon cartridge generally illdicated at 150 tFIGURES 7, 8 and 9). q~e cartridge lS0 includes a housing 150' and pair of essentially mirror-image ink cartridge housing section 151 and 152 composed of molded plastics material. The ~artridge housing 150' defines interior space S. The housing 150' ha holes 150~ for receiving locating asld mounting pins 44'. The housing section 151 has a generally planar end plate 153 joined to a ~all 154 having openings 155 and 156. Th~
housing s2ction 152 has a generally planar end plate 157 joined to a wall 158 having openings 159 and 160. The pair of openings 155 and 159 are aligned, and the pair of openings 156 and 160 are aligned. The ink ribbon IR from a supply roll SR, passes partly about guides or guide rolls 161 and 162, passes through the pair of opening~ 156 and 160, enters the pair of openings 155 and 159, passes partly about guides Docket No. M-487 -10- 1318~77 or guide rolls or shaft covers or cylindrical members 163 and 164 and is wound into a take-up roll TR. The guide rolls 161, 162, 163 and 164, which are identical in construction, are tubular. The supply roll SR is wound onto a rotatable spool or roll or core 165 and the take-up roll TR is wound onto a rotatable spool or roll or core 166. The end wall 153 has a pair of spaced tubular mountiny members or flanges 167 and 168, and the end wall 157 has a pair of spaced tubular mounting members or flanges 169 and 170. The members 167 and 169 are received in the end portions of the roll 166, and the members 168 and 170 are received in the end portions of the roll 165. The rolls 165 and 166 are tubular and their inside surfaces have angularly spaced teeth 171 and 172. The ends of the teeth 171 and 172 are tapered as indicated at 173 and 174.
The rolls 161 and 164 are tubular and are rotatably mounted on pairs of aligned tubular studs 175 and 176. The rolls 163 and 162 are loosely or floatingly retained in oversiæe pairs of recesses 177 and 178, as best shown in FIGURE 11. The pair of rece~ses 177 a~d the pair of r cesses 178 open into respective holes 179 and 180. FIGURE 11 shows the recesses 177 and holes 179 in detail, it being understood that recesses 178 and the holes 180 have the same construction. As shown, each reces 177 and its associated hole 179 are provided by a stepped diameter. Also shown in FIGURE 11 is that the roll 163 is shorter than the distance between surfaces 181 of the end walls 153 and 157. The frame member 44 has a pair of precisely located parallel locator or mounting pins 182 and 183 ~FIGURE 7). The pins 182 and 183 are received in the bores 184 and 185 of the respective tubular rolls 162 and 163. The fit between the outside of the pins 182 and 183 is preferably such that the rolls 162 and 163 can rotate but with clearance being at a minimum.
The pins 182 and 183 and not the cartridge housing 150' determine the positioning of the rolls 162 and 163. In that the rolls 162 and 163 are maintained parallel to each other by the pins 182 and 183, the ink ribbon IR can track in 13 ~ 8~77 mounting pins or guide shafts 182 and 183 ~FIGURE 7). The front ends of the pins 182 and 183 are shown to be cone shaped.
The pins 182 and 182 are received in the bores 184 and 185 of the respective tubular rolls 162 and 163. Like the roll 202, as shown, the rolls 161, 162, 163 and 164, the spindles 62 and 69 and the pins la2 and 183 extend in a cantilevered state from the frame plate 44. The fit between the outside of the pins 182 and 183 is preferably such that the rolls 162 and 163 can rotate but with clearance being at a minimum. The pins 182 and 183 and not the cartridge housing 150' determ:ine the positioning of the rolls 162 and 163. In that ~he rolls 162 and 163 are main~ained parallel to each other by the pins 182 and 183, the ink ribbon IR can track in ,,,~

Docket No. M-487 -11- 13~877 correct alignment against the record medium RM ~atween the print head 127 and the platen roll 56. It is to be noted that the housing 150' can even be misaligned or skewea relative to the rolls 162 and 163 because tlhe tracking of the ink ribbon IR i8 controlled by the rolls 162 and 163.
Sheets 186 and 187 of electrically con,ductive naterial are po~itioned along the respective end walls 153 and 157.
Ends 188 and 189 of the ink ribbon IR contact the ~heets 1~6 and 187. The sheets 186 and 187 have respective holes 190 and 191 for snugly receiving mounting member~ 167 and 168, and 169 and 170. Each wall 153 and 157 has a respective hole 150~. The pins 44' iFIGS. 4 and 9) enter the holes 150"
irre~pective of the orientation of the cartridge 150 to ground the sheet 186 or 187 which is lightly in contact with the ink ribbon IR. ~hus, static electricity is continuously drained from the ink ribbon IR.
The housing sections 151 a~d 152 are aligned and held together by pins 194 fitting snugly into recesses 195. The housing sections are shown to haYe openings 196 and 197.
Depending on the positioning of the cartridge 150 in the printer 20, either the openings 196 or the opening 197 is positioned to receive an optical sen30r 198 which forms a part of the printer 20. In the illu~trated embodiment, the ink ribbon IR i8 drawn off the supply roll SR and passe~
partly about the rolls 161 and 162. As shown the ink ribbon IR passes through the ~ensor 198 as it passes from the roll 161 to the roll 162. The sensor 198 is mounted on the frame plate 44 and pxojects into the opening lg7 when the cartridge 150 is in place in the printer 20. As shown in FIG~RE 17, the ink ribbon IR has a coating 199 of heat-activatable colorant throughout most of its length provided on an transparent or at lea~t translucent film 200. However, the end portion~ 201 of the film 200 are free of the coating 199 and thu~ light is capable of being transmitted through the film 200 and detected by the sensor 198. Thu~, ~hen the ink Docket No. M-487 -12- ~318~77 ribbon IR is nearly exhausted from the supply roll SR, the power to the printer 20 is interrupted.
Each end plate 153 and 154 and its respective ~heet 186 and 187 of electrically conductive material i3 provided with a respective 810t 153' and 154', and 186' and 187' so that the user can visually ob~erve how much of the ink ribbon IR
ha~ been ~pent. The slots 153' and 186' are aligned, and the slots 157' and 187' are aligned.
In that the spindle 62 and 69 are spring urged by respective ~pring~ 64 and 71, the cartridge~ 150 can be loaded fully into the printer 20 with studs 44' in holes 150" even though the spindle teeth 74 and/or 75 are aligned with the spool teeth 171 and/or 172. When the ~pindles 62 and 63 are advanced by the take-up mechanism TM, these teeth will move out of alignment, and the springs 64 and/or 71 will move the spindles 62 and/or 69 into their operating positions shown in FIGURE 9.
As is apparent from the drawings, the hou~ing sections 151 and 152 are symmetrical. Thus, the cartridge 150 can be loaded into the printer 20 with either the housing section 152 in position against the frame member 44 as illustrated or with the housing ~ection 151 against the frame plate 44.
A~suming the ink ribbon IR in the cartridge 150 is twice as wide a~ needed, the ink ribbon IR can be ~dvanced through the printer 20 ~o that ink 199 is used from the ink ribbon IR
only to the left of the centerline CL' in FIGURE 7. In 50 doing, the ink ribbon passes from the supply roll SR to the take-up roll TR. When the sensor 198 senses the area 201 of the ink ribbon IR, operation of the printer 20 is interrupted. The u~er thereupon removes the cartridge 150, flip~ the cartridge over, and reload~ the cartridge 150 80 that the housing section 151 is now against tbe frame plate 44. Ink is now used ~rom the ink r$bbon on the other side of the centerline CL'.
As best shown in FIGURE 5, the portion of the ink ribbon IR which is ou~side the housing 150' travel~ along a printer .

Docket No. M-487 -13-path which is angled. More particularly, the ink ribbon IR
pa~se~ upwardly and to the left after passing around :roll 162 to between the print head 127 and the platen roll 56~ From there the ink ribbon IR passe~ partly about a guide or guide roll 202 cantilevered to the frame plate 44. From there the ink ribbon IR passe~ upwardly and to the right until it passes partly about the roll 163.
Before a cartridge 150 is inserted into the printer 20, the ink ribbon path is as shown by phantom lines in FIGURE 7.
Insertion of the cartridge 150 is facilitated by use of an installation device generally indicated at 203. The device 203, which i~ preferably constructed or one-piece molded plastics material, includes an arm 204 having a pivot 205 received in the bore 185 in the roll 163. A stud 206 in the arm 204 is adapted to be in~erted in a recess 207 (FIGURE 4) in the housing section 151. The arm 204 mounts a guide 208 for the ink ribbon IR. The arm 204 also moun~s a resilient, split, tubular stud 209 adapted to be received in the bore 184 of the roll 162. The installation device 203 is shipped with the cartridge 150 assembled in the orientation shown in FIGURE 7.
With reference to FIGURE 4, there is shown ano~her retainer generally indicated at 210~ The retainer 210 is of one-piece lded pla~tics construction and includes a plate portion 211, a blade or locking portion 212 and a resilient, split, tubular brake-member 213. The plate portion 211 includes a finger-engageable hole 211'. When the cartridge 150 is shipped to the user, the retainer 210 is in place on the cartridge lS0 with the blade portion inserted into the roll 166 between teeth 171 so the roll 166 i~ locked in position and canno* rotate~ The tubular portion 213 is inserted into the roll 165 80 that the outside of the tubular portion frictionally contacts the teeth 172. Thus, the brake member 213 applies a light braking force to the roll 165.
When the user i~ ready to load the cartridge 150 into the printer 20 ! the user m~ve~ the arm 204 ~rom the stored Docket No. M-487 -14- ~3~7 ~

portion ~hown in FIGURE 7 to the extended position shown in FIGURE 8. In this position, the exposed ink ribbon IR i~
under tension. The blaae 212 of the retainer 210 prevent~
the roll 166 from rota~ing. However, the frictional 81ip-fit between the roll 165 and the tubular brake member 213 enable~
the roll 165 to rotate as the arm 204 is moved to the ~IGURE
8 position to enable ink ribbon IR to be paid out o~ the supply on the spool 165. In the FIGURE 8 position, the ~tud 206 ha~ been inserted into the recess 207. This is accomplished by flexing the portion 204' of the arm 204. As shown in FIGURE 8, the exposed portion of the ink ribbon IR, that i~, the portion of the ink ribbon IR which i5 outside the cartridge housing 150, takes a non-linear path corresponding generally to the printer path which the ink ribbon IR ~a~es when the cartridge lS0 is loaded in the printer 20.
When the cartridge 150, the installation device 203 and the retainer 210 are in the position shown in FIGURE 8, the cartridge 150 can be easily loaded into the printer 20. As the pins 182 and 183 enter the re~pective rolls 162 and 163 and as the spindles 69 ana 62 enter respective rolls 165 and 166, the exposed portion of the ink ribbon IR enters a gap between the print head 127 and the platen roll 56 and passes partly about the guide 202. Continued movement of the cartridge 150 toward the frame plate 44 results in the ~pindles 62 and 69 pushing against the blade 212 and the brake member 213 to push the retainer 210 away from the cartridge 150. Also, the pins 182 and 183 push the stud 209 and the pivot 205 out of the respective bores 184 and 185 to ~trip the installation device 203 from the cartridge 150.
When the cartridge 150 i~ positioned against the frame plate 44, the cartridge 150 is ready to be locked or latched in place. A lock or latch generally indicated at 214 include3 a ~haft 215 rotatably mounted in holes 217 (only one of which is ~hown) in leg portions 91 and 92 of the bracket 90. A lock member 218 is non-rotakably secured to the shaft ~3~7~
Docket No. M-487 -15-215. Toothed pulleys 146a and 215a are secured to respective shaft~ 146 and 215. A toothed belt 147a meshes with the pulleys 146a and 215a. Clockwi~e movement ~f the handle 147 moves the cam 145 to the ~olid line position in FIGURE 5 and 6imultaneously moves the lock 218 to the position also shown in FIGURE 5. Conversely, counterclockwise ~ovement of the handle 147 moves the cam 145 to the phantom line po3ition PL
and moves the lock 218 clear of the cartridge 1~0 to enable its removal. When the lock member 218 is in the gap betwsen the projections 220 and 221 (FIGURE 4) on the cartridge 150, removal of the cartridge is prevented. Therefore, the caxtridge 150 is locked in position by the lock 214.
With reference to FIGURE 3, there is shown the reel assembly 26. The assembly 26 is shown to include a tubular hub 223 having a shank 224 received in a recess 225. Th~
shank 224 is solid and closes off one end of the hub 223. A
~crew 226 extends through a hole in the shank 224 and secures the hub 223 to the frame plate 44. The outer surface of the hub 223 has axially spaced annular ridges 226 defining intervening grooves 227. The hub 223 ha~ a pair of diametrically located external axially extending grooves 228.
With reference to ~IGURES 3 and 13, a side plate 229 has a tubular member or flange 230 for receiving the hub 223.
The flange 230 abuts the shank 224. The side plate 229 has a pair of ~lots 231. The side plate 229 has a projection 232 received in a reces~ 233 in the frame plate 44. ~ hub member 234 has a pair of resilient ~naps 235 releasably ~napped into the ~lots 231. The hub member 234 has a central hole 236 for receiving the hub 223. A ~ide plate 237 has an integrally molded hub member 238. With reference to FIGURE 3, a roll R
of record medium RM is shown to have a core 239 which is adapted to be supported on the hub member~ 234 and 238. The hub member~ 234 and 238 are shown to be opposed and to extend inwardly toward each other. The core 239 has an inside diameter at least slightly larger than the outside diameter of the hub members 234 and 238. The hub members 234 and 238 ~3~ 7 Docket No. M-487 -16-and the side plate 237 are oriented as shown in FIGURE 3 in the event of a large diameter roll R is u~ed.
In the event a ~mall diameter roll i~ u~ed, the side plate 237 and its hub member 238 and the hu~b members 234 can be oriented as shown in FIGURE 13. In thi~ orientation, the core 29 is supported directly on the hub 223. The side plate 237 i~ oriented oppositely from the position shown in FIGURE

3. The hub member 238 (FIGURE 13) extends outwardly, that is, away from the end plate 229. The hub member 234 i8 stored on the hub member 238 as shown in FIGURES l, 13 and 15. Each snap member 235 i~ snapped into a respective groove 240 in the hub member 238 Thus, the roll R is positioned between and in contact with the end plates 229 and 237. The end plate 237 ha~ an integrally formed spring finger or deten$ 242 engageable in a groove 227. The tubular member 241 also has a pair of integral keys 243 received in grooves 228 which prevent rotation of the end plate 237.
With reference to FIGURE 4, there i~ ~hown a bracket 244 having a base portion 245 secured to the base plate 42 and a vertical portion 246. The vertical portion 246 rotatably mounts rolls 247 and 248. The roll 247 i~ disposed above the upper surface of the ba~e portion 245. The roll ~48 i~
di~posed generally between the roll 247 and the hub 223. The record medium RM i~ shown by both a solid line and a phantom line in FIGURE 5. The second medium RM in the solid line is shown to be in contact only with the roll 247. The roll R is wound ~ith the face F to be printed upon, face-side-in on the roll R. With the alternative arrangement represented by phantom line for the record meaium RM, the face F' to be printed upon is face-side-out on the roll R. When the record medium i~ wound face-side-out, the roll R is positioned ~o that the record medium RM is guided partly about roll 248 and, at a downstream location, partly about the roll 247.
From there the record medium RM pas~es between a ~kewed roll 249 which drive~ the edge of the web of record medium again~t the vertical portion 246. ~rom there the record medium RM

7 ~
Docket M-487-C -17-passes about a curved guide 250 from which the record medium RM pa~se6 upwardly and to the left a~ viewed in FIGURE 5 to between the print head 127 and the platen roll 56. The platen roll 56 advances the web of record medium RM while the print head 127 is printing on the record medium RM. The printed record medium RM is advanced ~o the left (FIG. 5) to a cutting mechanism generally indicated at 251 by which the web of record medium RM is cut into separate tickets or tags T. The cutting mechanism 251 includes an elongated knife 252 and a rotary knife 253 cooperable with the knife 252. The rotary knife i~ driven by an electric motor 254 (~IGURE 4).
The cutting mechanism 251 is generally in accordance,with the cut~ing mechanism disclosPd in UK patent application 2,169,237 published July 9, 1986. The entire cutting mechanism travels with the a~vancing web of recor medium RM
against the action of a return spring 255. ~or this purpose, the cutting mechani~m 251 pivots on a shaft 256 received in pockets 257 in a bracket 2S8.
During operation of the printer 2U, the electric motor 49 is driven which causes the platen roll 56 to advance both the record medium RM and the ink ribbon IR. The spindle 69 applies a slight braking force to the roll 165 due to the action of the brake 88. The spindle 62 is driven at a rate of speed such that the clutch 59 slips a little even when the roll 166 i8 es~entially empty (e.g. when the cartridge 150 is new). As the take-up roll 166 continues to load slippage of the clutch 59 increases.
Other embodiments and modification~ of the invention will suggest themselves to those ~killed in the art r and all such of these a~ come within the spirit of thi6 invention are included within its scope a6 best defined by the appended claimsO

7r~

Claims

1. An-ink ribbon cartridge, comprising: a cartridge housing defining interior space, an ink ribbon housed in the space but passing outside the housing and adapted to cooperate with a print head of a printer, means for mounting the housing on the printer, at least one ribbon guide, and means for mounting the guide in a fixed predetermined axial orientation with respect to the printer but enabling the guide to skew relative to the housing to cause the ink ribbon to track in alignment with the print head.

2. An ink ribbon cartridge, comprising: a cartridge housing defining interior space, an ink ribbon housed in the space but passing outside the housing and adapted to cooperate with a print head of a printer, means for mounting the housing on the printer, a pair of ribbon guides, and means for mounting the guides parallel to each other but enabling the guides to skew relative to the housing to cause the ink ribbon to track in alignment with the print head.

3. An ink ribbon cartridge, comprising: a cartridge housing defining interior space, an ink ribbon housed in the space but passing outside the housing and adapted to cooperate with a print head of a printer, means for mounting the housing on the printer, at least one ribbon guide, means for mounting the guide loosely on the housing so that the guide can skew relative to the housing, and the guide including means for holding the guide in a fixed predetermined axial orientation with respect to the printer to cause the ink ribbon to be guided in dependence on the orientation of the guide roll but not in dependence on the position of the housing.

4. An ink ribbon cartridge, comprising: a cartridge housing defining interior space, an ink ribbon housed in the space but passing outside the housing and adapted to cooperate with a print head of a printer, means for mounting the housing on the printer, a pair of ribbon guides, means for mounting the guides loo ely on the housing so that the guides can skew relative to the housing, and the guides including means for holding the guides parallel to each other to cause the ink ribbon to be guided in dependence on the orientation of the guides but not in dependenc:e on the position of the housing.

5. An ink ribbon cartridge, comprising: a cartridge housing defining interior space, an ink ribbon housed in the space but passing outside the housing and adapted to cooperate with a print head of a printer, means for mounting the housing on the printer, at least one ribbon guide roll, means for mounting the guide roll in a fixed predetermined axial orientation with respect to the printer but enabling the guide roll to skew relative to the housing to cause the ink ribbon to track in alignment with the print head.

6. An ink ribbon cartridge, comprising: a cartridge housing defining interior space, an ink ribbon hossed in the space but passing outside the housing and adapted to cooperate with a print head of a printer, means for mounting the housing on the printerJ at least one ribbon guide roll, means for mounting the guide loosely on the housing so that the guide can skew relative to the housing, and the guide roll including means for holding the guide roll in a fixed predetermined axial orientation with respect to the printer to cause the ink ribbon to be guided in dependence on the orientation of the guide roll but not in dependence on the position of the housing.

7. An ink ribbon cartridge, comprising: a cartridge housing defining interior space, an ink ribbon housed in the space but passing outside the housing and adapted to cooperate with a print head of a printer, means for mounting the housing on the printer, a pair of ribbon guide rolls, means for mounting the guide rolls parallel to each other but enabling tha guide rolls to skew relative to the housing to cause the ink ribbon to track in alignment with the print head.

8. An ink ribbon cartridge, comprising: a cartridge housing defining interior space, an ink ribbon housed in the space but passing outside the housing and adapted to cooperate with a print head of a printer, means for mounting the housing on the printer, a pair of ribbon guide rolls, means for mounting the guide rolls loosely on the housing so that the guide rolls can skew relative to the housing, and the guide rolls including means for holding the guide rolls parallel to each other to cause the ink ribbon to be guided in dependence on the orientation of the guide rolls but not in dependence on the position of the housing.

9. In combination with a printer having a pair of parallel locator pins, a cartridge housing defining interior space and being mounted in the printer, an ink ribbon housed in the space but passing outside the housing and adapted to cooperate with a print head of the printer, a pair of parallel guide rolls on the locator pins, means for mounting the guide rolls loosely on the housing so that the guide rolls can skew relative to the housing, the guide rolls being guidingly received on the locator pins to cause the ink ribbon to be guided in dependence on the orientation of the guide rolls but not in dependence on the position of the housing.

10. In combination with a printer having a pair of parallel locator pins, a cartridge housing defining interior space and being mounted in the printer, an ink ribbon housed in the space but passing outside the housing and adapted to cooperate with a print head of the printer, a pair of guide rolls, and means for mounting the guide rolls parallel to each other on the locator pins but enabling the guide rolls to skew relative to the housing to cause the ink ribbon to track in alignment with the print head.

11. In combination with a printer having a locator pin, a cartridge housing defining interior space, an ink ribbon housed in the space but passing outside the housing and adapted to cooperate with a print head of the printer, means for mounting the housing on the printer, a ribbon guide, means for mounting the ribbon guide on the locator pin in a fixed predetermined axial orientation with respect to the locator pin but enabling the guide to skew relative to the housing to cause the ink ribbon to track in alignment with the print head.

12. An ink ribbon cartridge, comprising: a cartridge housing defining interior space, an ink ribbon housed in the space but passing outside the housing and adapted to cooperate with a print head of a printer, means for mounting the housing on the printer, at least one ribbon guide, means for mounting the guide in a fixed predetermined axial orientation with respect to the printer but enabling the guide to skew relative to the housing to cause the ink ribbon to track in alignment with the print head, and a take-up roll in the space for drawing the ink ribbon over the guide.

13. An ink ribbon cartridge, comprising: cartridge housing defining interior space, an ink ribbon housed in the space but passing outside the housing and adapted to cooperate with a print head of a printer, means for mounting the housing on the printer, a pair of ribbon guides, means for mounting the guides parallel to each other but enabling the guides to skew relative to the housing to cause the ink ribbon to track in alignment with the print head, and a take-up roll in the space for drawing the ink ribbon over the guides.

14. An ink ribbon cartridge and an installation device therefor, comprising: a cartridge housing defining interior space, an ink ribbon housed in the space and having an ink ribbon portion passing outside the housing and adapted to extend along a non-linear printer path to a print head of a printer, an installation device to facilitate the mounting of the cartridge in the printer, means for movably mounting the installation device on the housing, the installation device being positionable in an effective position in which the ink ribbon portion is extended away from the housing along a non-linear path generally aligned with the printer path as the cartridge is loaded into the printer, the installation device includes a guide spaced from the housing and adapted to be in guided contact with the ink ribbon portion, and wherein the movable mounting means enables the installation device to be moved to an ineffective position.

15. The invention as defined in claim 14, wherein the movable mounting means includes means for enabling the installation device to be removed from the housing.

16. An ink ribbon cartridge and installation device therefor, comprising: an ink ribbon cartridge including a cartridge housing defining interior space, an ink ribbon housed in the space and having an ink ribbon portion passing outside the housing and adapted to extend along a non-linear printer path to a print head of a printer, an installation device to facilitate the mounting of the cartridge in the printer, wherein the installation device includes an arm, means for movably mounting the arm to the housing and a guide on the arm, the arm being pivotal to an effective position in which the guide is spaced from the housing and the ink ribbon portion passes about the guide along a non-linear path generally aligned with the printer path as the cartridge is loaded into the printer, wherein the mounting means enables the arm and its guide to be moved to an ineffective position upon loading of the ink ribbon cartridge into the printer.

17. The invention is defined in claim 16, wherein the mounting means includes means for both pivotally and removably mounting the arm to the housing.

18. The invention as defined in claim 16, wherein the cartridge includes a tubular guide roller for guiding the ink ribbon, wherein the tubular guide roller is adapted to receive a mounting pin on the printer, wherein the mounting means includes a pivot received in the tubular guide roller prior to loading the cartridge onto the printer, and wherein the mounting pin is adapted to strip the pivot from the guide roller as the cartridge is being loaded onto the printer.

19. Method of installing an ink ribbon cartridge onto a printer, comprising the steps of: providing an ink ribbon cartridge having a cartridge housing defining interior space for housing an ink ribbon, wherein an ink ribbon portion of the ink ribbon passes outside the housing, temporarily maintaining a guide spaced from the housing to cause the ink ribbon portion to follow a non-linear path corresponding generally to a printer path along which the ink ribbon portion would pass while in an operating position in a printer, loading the cartridge onto the printer, and moving the guide to an ineffective position.

20. Method of installing an ink ribbon cartridge onto a printer, comprising the steps of: providing an ink ribbon cartridge having a cartridge housing defining interior space for housing an ink ribbon, wherein an ink ribbon portion of the ink ribbon passes outside the housing, wherein the housing mounts a tubular guide roller for guiding the ink ribbon, wherein a printer mounting pin is adapted to be received by the guide roller, providing an arm with a pivot received in the guide roller and a guide/ temporarily maintaining the guide spaced from the housing to cause the ink ribbon portion to follow a non-linear path corresponding generally to a printer path along which the ink ribbon portion would pass while in an operating position in a printer, and locating the cartridge into the printer which causes both the insertion of the mounting pin into the tubular guide roller and stripping of the pivot from the tubular guide roller to effect removal of the installation from the cartridge.

21. A printer for printing on a web of record members that is wound into a roll either in face-side-in orientation or in face-side-out orientation, the printer comprising: a frame, means on the frame for mounting a roll of a web of record members, means for printing on the record members, means for guiding the web of record members from the roll to the printing means, wherein the guide means includes spaced first and second guides out of pressure contact with each other for defining a first path from the roll in one orientation and into contact with the first and second guides and for defining a second path from the roll in the opposite orientation and into contact with the second guide but not the first guide.

22. A printer as defined in claim 21, including an additional guide disposed along a third path extending from the second guide to the printing means.

23. A printer for printing on a web of record members that is wound into a roll either in face-side in orientation or in face-side-out orientation, the printing comprising: a frame, means on the frame for mounting a roll of a web of record members, means for printing on the record members, means for guiding the web of record members from the web roll to the printing means, wherein the guiding means includes spaced first and second guide rolls out of pressure contact with each other for defining a first path from the web roll and into contact with the first and second guide rolls and for defining a second path from the web roll and into contact with the second guide roll but not the first guide roll.

24. A printer as defined in claim 23, including a guide disposed along a third path extending from the second guide roll to the printing means.

25. A printer for printing on a web of record members that is wound into a roll either face-side-in or face-side-out, the printer comprising: a frame, means on the frame for mounting a roll of a web of record members, means for printing on the record members, means for guiding the web of record members from the roll to the printing means, wherein the guiding means includes spaced first and second guides out of pressure contact with each other for defining a first path from the roll in which the web is wound face-side-out and into contact with the first and second guides and for defining a second path from the roll in which the web is wound face-side-out and into contact with the second guide but not the first guide.

26. A printer as defined in claim 25, including an additional guide disposed along a third path extending from the second guide to the printing means.

27. A reel adapted to mount a roll of record members, comprising: first and second side plates, a hub for mounting the first and second side plates, a first hub member connected to the first side plate, the first hub member being positionable in a first position and extending toward the second side plate or in a second position and extending away from the second side plate, a second hub member, and means for releasably connecting the second hub member either to the second side plate in opposition to the first hub member in its first position so that the first and second hub members support a roll of record members or to the first hub member when the first hub member is in its second position so that the hub is adapted to support a roll of record members between the first and second side plates.

28. A reel as defined in claim 27, and means for removably connecting the first side plate to the hub.

29. A hub as defined in claim 27, wherein the huh has a series of axially spaced grooves, wherein the first side plate has a yieldable detent member cooperable with any selected groove, and means for keying the first side plate against rotation on the hub.

30. A reel as defined in claim 27, including means for removably connecting the first side plate to the hub.

31. A reel as defined in claim 30, including means for preventing rotation of the first and second side plates.

32. A printer comprising: a housing, means in the housing for printing on record members, a keyboard for the printing means, a data cord electrically connecting the keyboard and the printing means, the keyboard having a base portion, the base portion having means for mounting the keyboard for use on a flat horizontal surface, the housing having means defining a supporting surface for rotatably and removably supporting the base portion, and the data cord being long enough to enable the keyboard to be mounted either on a flat horizontal surface spaced from the housing or on the supporting means.

33. A printer as defined in claim 32, wherein the data cord extends from the keyboard at a location above the surface of the housing.

34. A printer as defined in claim 32, wherein the base portion includes a lower portion with a generally frusto-conical construction, and wherein the supporting surface comprises a recess shaped to receive the lower portion of the base portion.

35. A printer as defined in claim 32, wherein the keyboard includes a keyboard portion inclined at an acute angle with respect to the horizontal, and wherein the keyboard portion is above the base portion.

36. A printer as defined in claim 35, wherein the angle is about 15°.

37. A printer comprising: a housing, means in the housing for printing on record members, a keyboard for the printing means, a data cord electrically connecting the keyboard and the printing means, the keyboard having a base portion, the base portion having means for mounting the keyboard for use on a flat horizontal surface, wherein the base portion includes a stuffing chamber for storing a portion of the data cord, the housing having means defining a supporting surface for rotatably and removably supporting the base portion, the data cord being long enough to enable the keyboard to be mounted either on a flat horizontal surface spaced from the housing or on the supporting means.

38. A printer as defined in claim 37, wherein the data cord includes a coiled flexible portion and a straight flexible portion, and wherein the stuffing chamber is large enough to receive essentially the entire coiled portion.

39. A printer as defined in claim 37, wherein the stuffing chamber is large enough to receive a substantial portion of the data cord.

40. A printer as defined in claim 37, wherein the supporting-surface includes a recess, and wherein the data cord extends from the keyboard at a location above the recess.

41. A printer as defined in claim 37, wherein the keyboard includes a keyboard portion inclined at an acute angle with respect to the horizontal.

42. A printer as defined in claim 41, wherein the angle is about 15 .

43. A printer as defined in claim 37, wherein the base portion includes a lower portion with a generally frusto-conical construction, and wherein the supporting surface comprises a recess shaped to receive the lower portion of the base portion.

44. A printer as defined in claim 43, wherein the data cord extends from the keyboard at a location above the recess.

45. A printer, comprising: a housing, a frame disposed on the housing and including a generally vertical frame plate and a generally horizontal base plate secured to each other, means on one side of the vertical frame plate and above the horizontal base plate for mounting a roll of record members, a thermographic print head and a cooperable platen mounted to said one side of the vertically extending frame plate for printing on record members, a first electronic circuit board including a power supply positioned below the base plate, a second generally vertical electronic circuit board mounted to the other side of the vertically extending frame plate, and the base plate having means for shielding the second circuit board from the first circuit board.

46. A printer, comprising: a housing, a frame including a generally vertical frame plate and a generally horizontal base plate secured to each other, the housing including a lower housing portion, the lower housing portion being of molded plastics material and being hollow to define interior space, means on one side of the vertical frame plate and above the horizontal base plate for mounting a roll of record members, a thermographic print head and a cooperable platen mounted to said one side of the vertical frame plate for printing on record members, a first electronic circuit board including a power supply positioned below the base plate in the interior space of the lower housing portion, a second generally vertical electronic circuit board mounted to the other side of the vertical frame plate, and the base plate having means for radiation shielding the second circuit board from the first circuit board.

47. A printer as defined in claim 46, wherein the housing further includes an upper housing portion having a main housing section covering the vertical frame plate, a rear housing section connected to the main housing section and a front housing section connected to the main housing section, and wherein the second electronic circuit board is disposed between the vertical frame plate and the rear housing section.

48. A printer, comprising: a housing, a frame disposed in the housing and including a generally vertical metal frame plate and a generally horizontal base plate secured to each other, means on one side of the vertical frame plate and above the horizontal base plate for mounting a roll of record members, a thermographic print head and a cooperable platen mounted to said one side of the vertically extending frame plate for printing on record members, a first electronic circuit board including a power supply positioned below the base plate, a second generally vertical electronic circuit board mounted to the other side of the vertical frame plate, and the base plate being constructed of metal for shielding the second circuit board from radiation of the first circuit board.

49. A printer as defined in claim 45, wherein the housing includes an upper housing portion having a main housing section covering the vertical frame plate, a rear housing section connected to the main housing section and a front housing section connected to the main housing section, and wherein the second electronic circuit board is disposed between the vertical frame plate and the rear housing section.

50. A printer, comprising: a thermographic print head and a platen cooperable with the print head, a print head support plate for mounting the print head, a print head mounting plate, means for releasably securing the print head support plate to the print head mounting plate, a pressure plate spaced from the print head mounting plate, means for pivotally mounting the print head mounting plate, means for pivotally mounting the pressure plate, means for urging the print head mounting plate and the pressure plate relatively away from each other, and a cam for moving the pressure plate toward the print head mounting plate to cause the urging means to move the print head mounting plate, the print head support plate and the print head toward the platen.

51. A printer, comprising: a thermographic print head and a platen cooperable with the print head, means for moving the print head toward and away from the platen, means for mounting an ink ribbon cartridge, a lock for locking an ink ribbon cartridge in place on the mounting mean , and means for simultaneously operating the moving means to move the print head toward the platen and to lock the lock, or to move the print head away from the platen and to unlock the lock.

52. A printer as defined in claim 51, wherein the moving means includes a cam, wherein the operating means includes a first shaft secured to the cam and a second shaft secured to the lock, a first pulley secured to the first shaft, a second pulley secured to the second shaft, a belt for coupling the pulleys and a handle secured to one of the first and second shafts.

Docket M-487-C

53. In a printer having a frame and printing means supported by the frame for successively printing a series of record members and first and second parallel locator pins mounted to the frame and projecting outwardly in a cantilever manner, an ink ribbon cartridge including first and second spaced end plates connected to each other in a generally parallel relationship, an ink ribbon supply spool for mounting a supply of ink ribbon, an ink ribbon take-up spool, means for rotatably supporting the ink ribbon supply spool and the ink ribbon take-up spool between the end plates, and the cartridge having means for guiding the ink ribbon for passage between the supply spool and the take-up spool, the guiding means including first and second spaced tubular ribbon guides adapted to receive said first and second locator pins for positioning the first and second ribbon guides in parallel relation to promote alignment of the ink ribbon with the printing means, the first and second ribbon guides being retained in the cartridge.

54. In a printer as recited in claim 53, wherein the guides receive the pins with minimum clearance.

55. In a printer as defined in claim 54, wherein the guides are rotatably mounted loosely by the end plates.

56. In a printer as defined in claim 53, wherein the end plates and the guides have means for enabling the end plates to be misaligned relative to the parallel guides.

57. In a printer having a frame and printing means supported by the frame for successively printing a series of record members and first and second parallel locator pins mounted to the frame and projecting outwardly therefrom, an ink ribbon cartridge including first and second spaced end plates connected to each other in a generally parallel relationship, an ink ribbon supply spool for mounting a supply of ink ribbon, an ink ribbon take-up spool, means for rotatably supporting the Docket M-487-C

ink ribbon supply spool and the ink ribbon take-up spool between the end plates, the cartridge having means for guiding the ink ribbon in passage between the supply spool and the take-up spool, the guiding means including first and second spaced ribbon guides adapted to be maintained in parallel relationship by said locator pins to promote alignment of the ink ribbon with the printing means, wherein the one end plate has a pair of holes, and the locator pins being adapted to extend through the holes and extend in parallel adjacent relationship to the guides.

58. In a printer as recited in claim 57, the ink ribbon cartridge, having means for enabling the cartridge to receive the first and second locator pins respectively either adjacent the first and second ribbon guides or adjacent the second and first ribbon guides.

59. An ink ribbon cartridge for a printer having first and second locator pins, the cartridge comprising: spaced end plates, an ink ribbon supply spool for a supply of ink ribbon, means for rotatably mounting the ink ribbon supply spool between the end plates, an ink ribbon take-up spool for the ink ribbon, means for rotatably mounting the take-up spool between the end plates, the end plates being connected in laterally spaced relationship, means for guiding the ink ribbon, the guiding means including first and second portions on each end plate, the first portions of the spaced end plates being laterally aligned, the second portions of the spaced end plates being laterally aligned, a first tubular ink ribbon guide mounted on the aligned first portions, a second tubular ink ribbon guide mounted on the aligned second portions, means for defining a hole in each first and second portion of one of the end plates, wherein the first locator pin is adapted to extend through the hole in the first portion and into the first Docket M-487-C

tubular guide, and wherein the second locator pin is adapted to extend through the hole in the second portion and into the second tubular guide.

60. An ink ribbon cartridge as recited in claim 59, wherein the first and second ink ribbon guides are adapted to be rotatably mounted with minimum clearance on the first and second locator pins.

61. In a printer comprising a frame and printing means supported by the frame for successively printing a series of record members and an optical sensor for sensing an ink ribbon and first and second parallel locator pins mounted to the frame and projecting outwardly therefrom, an ink ribbon cartridge including first and second spaced end plates connected in a generally parallel relationship, a supply spool for mounting a supply of ink ribbon, an ink ribbon take-up spool, means for rotatably supporting the ink ribbon supply spool and the ink ribbon take-up spool between the end plates, the cartridge having means for guiding the ink ribbon from the supply spool and to the take-up spool, the guiding means including first and second elongate spaced tubular ribbon guides retained in the cartridge in a manner to enable the ribbon guides to be brought by the locator pins in a parallel relationship to promote alignment of the ink ribbon with the printing means, the cartridge being adapted to receive the first and second locator pins in a manner such that the longitudinal axes of ribbon guides held are parallel to the longitudinal axes of the pins, wherein the first and second locator pins are adapted to be received in the first and second tubular ribbon guides, at least one of the end plates being configured to receive the optical sensor adjacent one of the first and second ribbon guides.

Docket N-487-C

62. In a printer having a frame and printing means supported by the frame for successively printing a series of record members and an optical ribbon sensor and first and second parallel locator pins mounted to the frame and projecting outwardly therefrom in a cantilever manner, an ink ribbon cartridge including first and second, spaced-apart, generally parallel end plates, a supply of ink ribbon, means for supporting the supply of ink ribbon between the end plates, the cartridge having means for guiding the ink ribbon, the guiding means including first and second ribbon guides retained in the cartridge for positioning in the printer by the locator pins in parallel relation to promote alignment of the ink ribbon with the printing means, the first and second ribbon guides being adapted to be disposed adjacent the first and second locator pins, each end plate being configured to receive the optical sensor adjacent to the respective first and second ink ribbon guides for sensing the ink ribbon.

63. An ink ribbon cartridge for a printer having first and second elongate locator pins, the cartridge comprising:
spaced end plates, an ink ribbon supply spool for supply of ink ribbon, means for rotatably mounting the ink ribbon supply spool between the end plates, an ink ribbon take-up spool for the ink ribbon, means for rotatably mounting the take-up spool between the end plates, the end plates being connected in a generally parallel spaced relationship, means for guiding the ink ribbon including a first tubular ink ribbon guide mounted in the cartridge, a second tubular ink ribbon guide mounted in the cartridge, means for defining two pairs of aligned holes in the end plates, one pair of aligned holes in the end plates and the first tubular ink ribbon guide being adapted to receive the first locator pin therethrough, and the other pair of aligned Docket M-487-C

holes in the end plates and the second tubular ink ribbon guide being adapted to receive the second locator pin therethrough.

64. An ink ribbon cartridge for a printer having first and second elongate locator pins, the cartridge comprising:
spaced end plates, a supply of ink ribbon, means for mounting the ink ribbon supply between the end plates, the end plates being connected in a laterally spaced relationship, means for guiding the ink ribbon, the guiding means including first and second portions on each end plate, the first portions of the end plates being laterally aligned, the second portions of the end plates being laterally aligned, a first tubular ink ribbon guide retained by the aligned first portions, a second tubular ink ribbon guide retained by the aligned second portions, means for defining a hole in each first and second portion, the holes in the first portions and the first tubular guide being adapted to receive the first locator pin therethrough, and the holes in the second portions and the second tubular guide being adapted to receive the second locator pin therethrough.

65. An ink ribbon cartridge for a printer having first and second locator pins and an optical ink ribbon sensor, the cartridge comprising: spaced end plates, and ink ribbon supply spool for a supply of ink ribbon, means for rotatably mounting the ink ribbon supply spool between the end plates, an ink ribbon take-up spool for the ink ribbon, means for rotatably mounting the take-up spool between the end plates, means for guiding the ink ribbon, the guiding means including first and second portions on each end plate, the first portions of the spaced end plates being laterally aligned, the second portions of the spaced end plates being laterally aligned, a first ink ribbon guide retained by the aligned first portions, a second ink ribbon guide retained by the aligned second portions, means for defining a hole in each first and second portion, the holes Docket M-487-C

in the first portions being adapted to receive the first locator pin and the holes in the second portions being adapted to receive the second locator pin, and means in at least one of the end plates for receiving the optical sensor for sensing the ink ribbon, the receiving means being adjacent to at least one of the first and second ink ribbon guides.

66. An ink ribbon cartridge for a printer having first and second locator pins, the cartridge comprising: spaced end plates, an ink ribbon supply spool for a supply of ink ribbon, means for rotatably mounting the ink ribbon supply spool between the end plates, an ink ribbon take-up spool for the ink ribbon, means for rotatably mounting the take-up spool between the end plates, the end plates being connected in laterally spaced relationship, means for guiding the ink ribbon, the guiding means including first and second portions on each end plate, the first portions of the end plates being laterally aligned, the second portions of the end plates being laterally aligned, a first tubular ink ribbon guide retained by the aligned first portions, a second tubular ink ribbon guide retained by the aligned second portions, means for defining a hole in each first and second portion of at least one of the end plates, the hole in the first portion and the first tubular guide being adapted to receive the first locator pin therein, and the hole in the second portion and the second tubular guide being adapted to receive the second locator pin therein.

67. An ink ribbon cartridge as recited in claim 66, wherein the first and second tubular guides are adapted to be rotatably mounted with minimum clearance on the first and second locator pins.

68. An ink ribbon cartridge for a printer having first and second locator pins and an optical sensor for sensing an ink ribbon, the cartridge comprising: spaced end plates, a Docket M-487-C

supply of ink ribbon, means for mounting the ink ribbon supply between the end plates, the mounting means including an ink ribbon take-up spool for the ink ribbon and means for rotatably mounting the take-up spool between the end plates, means for guiding the ink ribbon, the guiding means including first and second portions on each end plate, the first portions of the end plates being laterally aligned, the second portions of the end plates being laterally aligned, a first tubular ink ribbon guide retained by the aligned first portions, a second tubular ink ribbon guide retained by the aligned second portions, means for defining a hole in each first and second portion of one of the end plates, the hole in the first portion and the first tubular guide being adapted to receive the first locator pin therein, the hole in the second portion and the second tubular guide being adapted to receive the second locator pin therein, means in at least one of the end plates for receiving said optical sensor for sensing the ink ribbon, said receiving means being adjacent one of the first and second tubular ink ribbon guides.

69. An ink ribbon cartridge for a printer having first and second locator pins and an optical sensor for sensing an ink ribbon, the cartridge comprising: a pair of end plates, a supply of ink ribbon, means for mounting the ink ribbon supply between the end plates, the mounting means including an ink ribbon take-up spool for the ink ribbon and means for rotatably mounting the take-up spool between the end plates, the end plates being connected in laterally spaced relationship, means for guiding the ink ribbon, the guiding means including first and second portions on each end plate, the first portions of the spaced end plates being laterally aligned, the second portions of the spaced end plates being laterally aligned, a first tubular ink ribbon guide retained by the aligned first Docket M-487-C

portions, a second tubular ink ribbon guide retained by the aligned second portions, the first tubular guide being adapted to receive the first locator pin therein, the second tubular guide being adapted to receive the second locator pin therein, each end plate being configured to receive said optical sensor for sensing the ink ribbon either adjacent the first tubular ink ribbon guide or adjacent the second tubular ink ribbon guide.

70. An ink ribbon cartridge for a printer having first and second parallel locator pins, the cartridge comprising:
first and second generally parallel end members connected to each other, a supply of ink ribbon between the end members means for guiding the ink ribbon including a pair of ink ribbon guides and a pair of first and second holes in the first end member and a pair of first and second holes in the second end member adjacent the guides, means mounted on the end members for advancing the ink ribbon in either one direction or in a direction opposite thereto, at least the first and second holes of one end member being adapted to receive the first and second locator pins respectively in one orientation of the cartridge and at least the first and second holes of the other end member being adapted to receive the second and first locator pins respectively in another orientation of the cartridge.

71. An ink ribbon cartridge for a printer having locator means for locating the cartridge, the cartridge comprising: a pair of symmetrical housing sections for mounting an ink ribbon, a pair of first and second ink ribbon spools, and means for rotatably supporting the ink ribbon spools between the housing sections, the housing sections having means for receiving the locator means in one orientation of the cartridge to wind the ink ribbon from the first spool onto the second spool or for receiving the locator means in another orientation Docket M-487-C

of the cartridge to wind the ink ribbon from the second spool onto the first spool.

72. An ink ribbon cartridge for a printer having locator means for locating the cartridge and an optical sensor for sensing ink ribbon, the cartridge comprising: a pair of housing sections, a pair of first and second ink ribbon spools, means for rotatably supporting the ink ribbon spools on the housing sections, the housing sections having means for receiving the locator means in one orientation of the cartridge to wind the ink ribbon from the first spool onto the second spool or for receiving the locator means in another orientation of the cartridge to wind the ink ribbon from the second spool onto the first spool, each housing section being configured such that one housing section is adapted to receive the optical sensor in the one orientation of the cartridge and the other housing section is adapted to receive the optical sensor in the other orientation of the cartridge.

73. An ink ribbon cartridge for use in a printer, the cartridge comprising a housing for reception in the printer in either a first orientation or a second orientation, first and second ink ribbon spools, means for rotatably mounting the first and second ink ribbon spools on the housing, and an ink ribbon received on the first and second ink ribbon spools for passage either from the first ink ribbon spool onto the second ink ribbon spool in the first orientation of the cartridge or from the second ink ribbon spool onto the first ink ribbon spool in the second orientation of the cartridge.

74. An ink ribbon cartridge for use in a printer having means for locating the cartridge and means for advancing an ink ribbon, the cartridge comprising: a housing having means for enabling reception in the printer in either a first orientation or in a second orientation, first and second ink ribbon spools, Docket M 487-C

means for rotatably mounting the first and second ink ribbon spools in the housing, the first and second ink ribbon spools having means for being selectively driven by the driving means, the cartridge having means separate from the first and second spools and cooperable with the locating means for locating the cartridge in the printer, and an ink ribbon adapted to be received on the first and second ink ribbon spools for travel either from the first ink ribbon spool onto the second ink ribbon spool in the first orientation of the cartridge or from the second ink ribbon spool onto the first ink ribbon spool in the second orientation of the cartridge.

75. An ink ribbon cartridge for use in a printer having a print head, the cartridge comprising: a housing having means for enabling reception in the printer in either a first orientation or a second orientation, first and second ink ribbon spools, means for rotatably mounting the first and second ink ribbon spools on the housing, an ink ribbon adapted to be received on the first and second ink ribbon spools for travel either from the first ink ribbon spool onto the second ink ribbon spool in the first orientation of the cartridge or from the second ink ribbon spool onto the first ink ribbon spool in the second orientation of the cartridge, the ink ribbon being wider than the print head so that when the cartridge is in the first orientation one lateral portion of the ink ribbon is cooperable with the print head and when the cartridge is in the second orientation a different lateral portion of the ink ribbon is cooperable with the print head.

76. An ink ribbon cartridge for use in a printer having means for locating the cartridge and means for driving an ink ribbon and an optical sensor for sensing the ink ribbon, the cartridge comprising: a housing for reception in the printer in either a first orientation or in a second orientation, first Docket M-487-C

and second ink ribbon spools, means for rotatably mounting the first and second ink ribbon spools in the housing, the first and second ink ribbon spools having means for being selectively driven by the driving means, means separate from the first and second spools and cooperable with the locating means for positioning the cartridge in the printer, an ink ribbon adapted to be disposed on the first and second ink ribbon spools for travel either from the first ink ribbon spool onto the second ink ribbon spool in the first orientation of the cartridge or from the second ink ribbon spool onto the first ink ribbon spool in the second orientation of the cartridge, means for defining a pair of openings in the housing, one opening being capable of receiving the optical sensor for sensing the ink ribbon in the first orientation of the cartridge and the other opening being capable of receiving the optical sensor for sensing the ink ribbon in the second orientation of the cartridge.

77. In a printer comprising a frame and printing means supported by the frame and first and second parallel locator pins mounted to the frame and projecting outwardly therefrom, an ink ribbon cartridge including a housing having first and second spaced end plates connected to each other in a generally parallel relationship, first and second ink ribbon spools, an ink ribbon, means for rotatably supporting the ink ribbon spools between the end plates, the cartridge having means for guiding the ink ribbon between the first and second spools, the guiding means including first and second spaced ink ribbon guides retained in the housing and held in parallel relation to promote alignment of the ink ribbon with the printing means, the first and second ink ribbon guides extending between the end plates, the housing having means for receiving the locator pins in one orientation of the cartridge to wind the ink ribbon Docket N-487-C

from the first spool onto the second spool or for receiving the locator pins in another orientation of the cartridge to wind the ink ribbon from the second spool onto the first spool.

78. An ink ribbon cartridge for a printer having first and second locator pins, the cartridge comprising: spaced end plates, the end plates being connected in laterally spaced relationship, first and second elongate ink ribbon spools, means for rotatably mounting the first and second ink ribbon spools between the end plates, an ink ribbon, means for guiding the ink ribbon, the guiding means including first and second portions on each end plate, the first portions of the spaced end plates being laterally aligned, the second portions of the spaced end plates being laterally aligned, a first tubular ink ribbon guide mounted between the aligned first portions, a second tubular ink ribbon guide mounted between the aligned second portions, means for defining a hole in each first and second portion of one of the end plates, either the hole in the first portion of one end plate and the first tubular guide or the hole in the second portion of the other end plate and the second tubular guide being adapted to receive the second locator pin depending upon the orientation of the cartridge, the ink ribbon being adapted to be received on the first and second ink ribbon spools for passage either from the first ink ribbon spool onto the second ink ribbon spool in one orientation of the cartridge or from the second ink ribbon spool onto the first ink ribbon spool in another orientation of the cartridge.

79. An ink ribbon cartridge for a printer having a print head and an optical ribbon sensor, the cartridge comprising: a housing having first and second housing sections, an ink ribbon contained in the housing but adapted to pass outside the housing for cooperation with the print head, the ink ribbon Docket M-487-C

being further adapted to be passed selectively in a selected one of two opposite directions, each housing section having means for defining an opening, the cartridge being selectively positionable in the printer so that the optical. sensor enters either the opening in the first housing section or the opening in the second housing section for sensing the ink ribbon.

80. An ink ribbon cartridge as defined in claim 79, wherein the housing sections are substantially identical in configuration.

81. An ink ribbon cartridge as defined in claim 79, wherein the housing sections are symmetrical.

82. An ink ribbon cartridge for a printer including a print head and a locating means for locating the cartridge on the printer, the cartridge comprising: a housing, means on the housing for positioning the cartridge with respect to the locating means, an ink ribbon contained in the housing but adapted to pass outside the housing for cooperation with the print head, means for passing the ink ribbon selectively in one direction or in a direction opposite thereto, and means for selectively cooperating with the locating means to enable the cartridge to be positioned in the printer so that the ink ribbon passes in said one direction or to enable the cartridge to be positioned in the printer so that the ink ribbon passes in said opposite direction.

83. In a printer comprising a frame and printing means supported by the frame for successively printing a series of record members and first and second, elongate parallel locator pins mounted to the frame and projecting outwardly therefrom, an ink ribbon cartridge including first and second spaced-apart generally parallel end plates, a supply of ink ribbon, an ink ribbon take-up spool, means for supporting the ink ribbon supply and the ink ribbon take-up spool between the end plates, Docket M-487-C

the cartridge having means for guiding the ink ribbon from the ink ribbon supply to the take-up spool, the guiding means including first and second spaced-apart ribbon guides adapted to be positioned by said locator pins in parallel relation to promote alignment of the ink ribbon with the printing means, the first and second ribbon guides extending between the end plates and mounted in a manner 90 as to permit a misaligned relationship between the parallel ribbon guides and the end plates.

84. In a printer as recited in claim 83, the ink ribbon cartridge further comprising third and fourth ink ribbon guides, the third guide being disposed in the path of the ink ribbon between the first guide and the ink ribbon supply and the fourth guide being disposed in the path of the ink ribbon between the second guide and the take-up spool.

85. In a printer as recited in claim 84, in which the printer further includes an optical ink ribbon sensor for sensing an ink ribbon, the ink ribbon cartridge being configured to enable the receipt of the optical ink ribbon sensor interiorly of the cartridge and adjacent to the path of the ink ribbon and either between the first and third guides in said first orientation of the cartridge or between the second and fourth guides in the second orientation of the cartridge.

86. In a printer as recited in claim 84, the first, second, third and fourth guides being disposed in the cartridge to permit, upon the receipt of the first and second locator pins in the first and second guides, both a parallel relationship between the first and second guides, on the one hand and a misaligned relationship between the first and second guides, on the other hand and the third and fourth guides and the end plates Docket M-487-C

87. In a printer as recited in claim 84, the third and fourth guides being disposed in said cartridge to enable a uniform orientation of the path of the ink ribbon past the optical ink ribbon sensor regardless of the amount of ink ribbon disposed about the take-up spool.

88. In a printer as recited in claim 83, the ink ribbon cartridge being configured to enable the receipt of the first and second locator pins in the first and second ribbon guides, respectively, upon the disposition of the first end plate proximate to the frame in a first orientation of the cartridge and being configured to enable the receipt of the first and second locator pins in the second and first ribbon guides, respectively, upon the disposition of the second end plate proximate to the frame in a second orientation of the cartridge.

89. In a printer as recited in claim 88, in which the printer further includes an optical ink ribbon sensor for sensing an ink ribbon, the ink ribbon cartridge having means for enabling receipt of the optical ink ribbon sensor interiorly of the cartridge either adjacent the first ribbon guide in the first orientation of the cartridge or adjacent the second ribbon guide in the second orientation of the cartridge.

90. An ink ribbon cartridge for a printer having first and second locator pins and an optical ink ribbon sensor, the cartridge comprising: spaced end plates, an elongate ink ribbon supply spool for a supply of ink ribbon, means for rotatably mounting the ink ribbon supply spool between the end plates, an elongate ink ribbon take-up spool fox the ink ribbon, means for rotatably mounting the take-up spool between the end plates, means for guiding the ink ribbon including first and second elongate tubular ink ribbon guides retained by the end plates, first and second pairs of aligned holes in the Docket M-487-C

end plates, the first pair of holes in the end plates and the first tubular ink ribbon guide being adapted in a first orientation of said cartridge in said printer to receive said first locator pin therethrough and in a second orientation of said cartridge in said printer to receive said second locator pin therethrough, the second pair of holes in the end plates and the second tubular ink ribbon guide being adapted in said first orientation of said cartridge in said printer to receive said second locator pin therethrough and in said second orientation of said cartridge in said printer to receive said first locator pin therethrough.

91. An ink ribbon cartridge as recited in claim 90, wherein the end plates are configured to enable the receipt of the optical sensor interiorly of the cartridge and either adjacent the first guide in the first orientation of the cartridge in the printer or adjacent the second guide in the second orientation of the cartridge in the printer.

92. An ink ribbon cartridge for a printer having a pair of locator pins, the cartridge comprising: a pair of spaced generally parallel end plates, a laterally extending ink ribbon supply spool rotatably mounted between the end plates, the ink ribbon supply spool having an ink ribbon wound thereon, a laterally extending take-up spool rotatably mounted between the end plates, first and second guides mounted between the end plates, wherein the ink ribbon is adapted to pass along a path from the supply spool, into contact with the first guide, to an exterior position, into contact with the second guide and onto the take-up spool, and means for enabling the first and second guides to be located in parallel relationship to each other by the locator pins to promote tracking of the ink ribbon.

93. An ink ribbon cartridge for a printer having a locating and mounting pin, the cartridge comprising: a pair of Docket M-487-C

connected generally parallel end plates, a laterally extending ink ribbon supply spool rotatably mounted between the end plates, the ink ribbon supply spool having an ink ribbon wound thereon, a laterally extending take-up spool rotatably mounted between the end plates, a hole in at least one of the end plates adapted to receive the locating and mounting pin, first and second guides having end positions, each end plate having means for retaining the end portions of the guides and for enabling the guides to be brought into parallel relationship with respect to each other irrespective of the alignment of the end plates relative to the guides, wherein the ink ribbon is adapted to pass along a path from the supply spool into contact with the first guide, to an exterior position, into contact with the second guide and onto the take-up spool.

94. An ink ribbon cartridge for a printer having a locating and mounting pin, the cartridge comprising: a pair of connected generally parallel end plates, a laterally extending ink ribbon supply spool rotatably mounted between the end plates, the ink ribbon supply spool having an ink ribbon wound thereon, a laterally extending take-up spool rotatably mounted between the end plates, a hole in at least one of the end plates adapted to receive the locating and mounting pin, first and second guides having end portions, each end plate having means for providing a pair of recesses, the end portions of the guides being received in the recesses, wherein the recesses enabling the guides to be held but enabling the guides to be brought into parallel relationship with respect to each other irrespective of the alignment of the end plates relative to the guides and wherein the ink ribbon is adapted to pass along a path from the supply spool into contact with the first guide, to an exterior position, into contact with the second guide and onto the take-up spool.

Docket M-487-C

95. An ink ribbon cartridge for a printer, the cartridge comprising: a housing including a pair of spaced generally parallel end plates, a laterally extending ink ribbon supply spool rotatably mounted between the end plates, the ink-ribbon supply spool having an ink ribbon wound thereon, a laterally extending take-up spool rotatably mounted between the end plates, first, second, third and fourth guides mounted between the end plates, wherein the ink ribbon is adapted to pass along a path from the supply spool, into contact with the third guide, into contact with the first guide, to an exterior position, into contact with the second guide, into contact with the fourth guide, and onto the take-up spool, and means both for enabling the first and second guides to be located in parallel relationship to each other to promote tracking of the ink ribbon and for tolerating misalignment between the first and second guides on the one hand and the housing and the third and fourth guides, on the other hand.

96. An ink ribbon cartridge for a printer having an optical sensor, the cartridge comprising: a housing, a laterally extending rotatably mounted ink ribbon supply spool in the housing and having a laterally extending supply of ink ribbon wound thereon, a laterally extending rotatably mounted ink ribbon take-up spool in the housing, first, second and third laterally extending guides in the housing, the first and third guides being adjacent each other and the second guide being distant from the first and third guides, the first, second and third guides lying along a path for the ink ribbon between the supply and take-up spools, and means for providing an opening in the housing between along the ink ribbon path between the first and third guides for receiving an optical sensor, wherein the portion of the path of the ink ribbon Docket M-487-C

between the first and third guides remains unchanged as the ink ribbon passes from the supply spool onto the take-up spool.

97. A method of using an ink ribbon cartridge in a printer, comprising the steps of: providing an ink ribbon cartridge having a housing, first and second ink ribbon spools rotatably mounted in the housing, an ink ribbon capable of being wound either from the first ink ribbon spool onto the second ink ribbon spool or from the second ink ribbon spool onto the first ink ribbon spool, positioning the cartridge in the printer in either one of two orientations, in one orientation of the cartridge performing the step of driving the second ink ribbon spool to wind ink ribbon drawn from the first ink ribbon spool onto the second ink ribbon spool and in the other orientation of the cartridge performing the step of driving the first ink ribbon spool to wind ink ribbon drawn from the second ink ribbon spool onto the first ink ribbon spool.

98. A method of using an ink ribbon cartridge in a printer having a print head, comprising the steps of:
providing an ink ribbon cartridge having a housing and an ink ribbon in the housing, positioning the cartridge in the printer in one orientation, moving the ink ribbon, in one direction within the housing, into cooperation with the print head for printing record members, repositioning the cartridge in the printer in a different orientation and, thereafter, moving the ink ribbon, in a direction within the housing opposite the one direction, into cooperation with the print head for printing record members.

99. A method of loading a supply of ink ribbon into a printer having a pair of parallel locator pins and a pair of spindles, comprising the steps of: providing an ink ribbon cartridge having an ink ribbon supply spool containing an ink Docket M-487-C

ribbon, an ink ribbon take-up spool for receiving the ink ribbon and a pair of tubular guides, positioning the cartridge so that the tubular guides are in general axial alignment with the locator pins and the supply and take-up spools are in general alignment with the respective ones of the pair of spindles, and locating the cartridge in the printer so that the tubular guides are brought into parallel relationship with respect to each other by the locator pins which extend into the tubular guides and so that the supply and take-up spools cooperate operatively with the respective spindles.

100. A method of printing in a printer having a thermal print head, a pair of parallel locator pins, a first spindle for an ink ribbon supply roll, and a second spindle for a take-up spool, comprising the steps of: providing a supply spool with a thermal ink ribbon wound thereon and a take-up spool for receiving the ink ribbon and a pair of tubular ink ribbon guides, positioning the tubular guides and the supply and take-up spools for loading into the printer, simultaneously moving the tubular guides and the supply and take-up spools into the printer so that the tubular guides internally receive the locator pins and are held in parallel relationship and so that the supply and take-up spools receive the respective first and second spindles, and passing the ink ribbon from the supply spool into guided contact with one of the tubular guides, into printing cooperation with the thermal print head, into guided contact with the other tubular guide, and onto the take-up spool to effect the printing on a web of record members.

101. Method of printing in a printer having a thermal print head, a pair of parallel locator pins, a pair of parallel locator pins, a first spindle for an ink ribbon supply, and a record spindle for a take-up spool, comprising the steps of:
providing an ink ribbon cartridge including a housing Docket M-487-C

containing a supply spool with a thermal ink ribbon wound thereon and a take-up spool for receiving the ink ribbon and a pair of ink ribbon guides, using the locator pins to bring the tubular guides into parallel relationship irrespective of the alignment of the housing relative to the guides, bringing the supply spool into engagement with the first spindle, bringing the take up spool into engagement with the second spindle, and driving the second spindle to move the ink ribbon from the supply spool into guided contact with one of the guides, into printing cooperation with the thermal print head, into guided contact with the other guide and onto the take-up spool to effect printing on a web of record members.

102. Method of printing in a printer having a thermal print head, a pair of parallel locator pins, a first spindle for an ink ribbon supply roll, and a second spindle for a take-up spool, comprising the steps of: providing a supply spool with a thermal ink ribbon wound thereon and a take-up spool for receiving the ink ribbon and a pair of tubular ink ribbon guides, positioning the supply spool in general alignment with the first spindle and the take-up spool in general alignment with the second spindle and the tubular guides in general alignment with the locator pins, simultaneously sliding the supply spool onto the first spindle and sliding the take-up spool onto the second spindle and sliding the tubular guides along the locator pins to load the ink ribbon into alignment with the thermal print head, and driving the second spindle to move the ink ribbon from the supply spool onto guided contact with one of the tubular guides, into printing cooperation with the thermal print head, into guided contact with the other tubular guide and onto the take-up spool to effect printing on a web of record members.

Docket M-487-C

103. A method for loading an ink ribbon comprising applying a shaft cover to the front end of a ribbon guide shaft projecting in a cantilevered state from a side i-ace of a case of a printer body; fitting cores of the ink ribbon respectively on the front ends of a ribbon feed shaft and a ribbon take-up shaft both projecting in a cantilevered state from said side face of said printer body case; the ink ribbon passing round the outer periphery of said shaft cover; and pushing in said cores and said shaft cover simultaneously to set the ink ribbon in a predetermined certain position.

104. An ink ribbon loading method according to claim 103, wherein said shaft cover is positioned outside said case during the operation for loading the ink ribbon.

105. An ink ribbon loading method according to claim 103, wherein said ribbon feed shaft is positioned inside said case.

106. An ink ribbon loading method according to claim 103, wherein said ribbon take-up shaft is positioned inside said case.

107. An ink ribbon loading method according to claim 103, wherein the width of the ink ribbon is almost equal to that of paper to be printed.

108. An apparatus for loading an ink ribbon, comprising a ribbon guide shaft; a ribbon feed shaft fitted in a core of the ink ribbon; a ribbon take-up shaft fitted in a core of the ink ribbon; a platen; a printing head; and a shaft cover constituted by a cylindrical member fitted slidably on said ribbon guide shaft; said ribbon guide shaft, said ribbon shaft, said ribbon take-up shaft, said platen and said printing head being projected in a cantilevered state from a side face of a case of a printer body.

109. An ink ribbon loading apparatus according to claim 108, wherein said printing head is a line thermal head.

Docket M-487-C-1

110. An ink ribbon loading apparatus according to claim 108, wherein said ribbon feed shaft is positioned inside said case.

111. An ink ribbon loading apparatus according to claim 108, wherein said ribbon take-up shaft is positioned inside said case.

112. An ink ribbon loading apparatus according to claim 108, wherein the width of the ink ribbon is almost equal to that of the paper to be printed.

113. An apparatus for loading an ink ribbon, comprising a plurality of ribbon guide shafts; a ribbon feed shaft fitted in a core of the ink ribbon; a ribbon take-up shaft fitted in a core of the ink ribbon; a platen; a printing head; and a shaft cover constituted by a cylindrical member fitted slidably on said ribbon guide shafts; said ribbon guide shafts, said ribbon feed shaft, said ribbon take-up shaft, said platen and said printing head being projected in a cantilevered state from a side face of a case of a printer body.

114. An ink ribbon loading apparatus according to claim 113, wherein said shaft cover comprises a plurality of cylindrical members fitted slidably on said ribbon guide shafts and a connecting member for integrally connecting the outside ends of said cylindrical members.

115. A method of loading a supply of ink ribbon onto a printer having a pair of spindles and a pin, comprising the steps of: providing an ink ribbon supply spool containing an ink ribbon, an ink ribbon take-up spool for receiving the ink ribbon and a tubular ink ribbon guide, positioning the ink ribbon supply spool, the ink ribbon take-up spool and the tubular ink ribbon guide in general axial alignment with the spindle and the pin, respectively, the ink ribbon passing along a path from the ink ribbon supply spool into contact with the Docket M-487-C

tubular ink ribbon guide and onto the take-up spool, and simultaneously sliding the supply and take-up spools onto the respective spindles and sliding the tubular guide on the pin so that the one spindle is in driving engagement with the take-up spool, the other spindle is in engagement with the supply spool, and the tubular guide is in guiding contact with the ink ribbon.

116. Apparatus for loading an ink ribbon, comprising a first spindle for driving an ink ribbon take-up spool, a second spindle for mounting an ink ribbon supply spool, a tubular ink ribbon guide for guiding an ink ribbon from the ink ribbon supply spool to the take-up spool, an elongate pin, a print head, a platen, means for mounting the elongate pin, the print head, the platen and the spindles in cantilevered relationship, and means for simultaneously sliding the ink ribbon supply spool onto its related spindle, the ink ribbon take-up spool onto its related spindle, and the tubular guide on the pin to load the ink ribbon.

117. Apparatus for loading an ink ribbon into a printer having a thermal print head, a pair of cantilevered locator pins, a first spindle for an ink ribbon supply spool, and a second spindle for a take-up spool, comprising: a thermal ink ribbon, a supply spool with the thermal ink ribbon wound thereon, a take-up spool for receiving the ink ribbon from the supply spool, a pair of tubular ink ribbon guides, means for enabling the ink ribbon, the supply spool, the take-up spool and the tubular ink ribbon guides to be moved in unison from a first loading position wherein the ink ribbon is laterally spaced outwardly from the print head to a second operating position wherein (a) the ink ribbon is in operative alignment with the print head for printing on record members (b) the locator pins are received in the tubular guides and (c) the Docket M-487-C

tubular guides are held in parallel relationship to cause the ink ribbon to track in alignment with the print head.

118. Apparatus as defined in claim 117, wherein the enabling means includes a pair of symmetrical end plates.

119. Apparatus for loading an ink ribbon into a printer having a thermal print head, a pair of cantilevered locator pins, a first spindle for an ink ribbon supply spool, and a second spindle for a take-up spool, comprising: a thermal ink ribbon, a supply spool with the thermal ink ribbon wound thereon, a take-up spool for receiving the ink ribbon from the supply spool, a pair of ink ribbon guides, means for enabling the ink ribbon, the supply spool, the take-up spool and the ink ribbon guides to be moved in unison from a first loading position wherein the ink ribbon is laterally spaced outwardly from the print head to a second operating position wherein the ink ribbon is in operative alignment with the print head for printing on record members and the guides are brought into and held in parallel relationship by the locator pins to cause the ink ribbon to track in alignment with the print head.

120. Apparatus as defined in claim 119, wherein the enabling means includes a pair of symmetrical end plates.

121. Method of loading an ink ribbon into a printer having a thermal print head, a pair of parallel cantilevered locator pins, a first spindle for an ink ribbon supply spool, and a second spindle for a take-up spool, comprising the steps of: providing a supply spool with a thermal ink ribbon wound thereon and a take-up spool for receiving the ink ribbon from the supply spool and a pair of ink ribbon guides, positioning the supply and take-up spools and the ribbon guides in general alignment with the first and second spindles and the locator pins, respectively, but spaced outwardly from the print head, and subsequently, simultaneously moving the supply and take-up Docket M-487-C

spools and the guides in unison to a position in which the ink ribbon can track in alignment with the print head by using the locator pins to orient and hold the guides in parallel relationship.

122 A printer, comprising: a thermographic print head and a platen cooperable with the print head, a print head support plate for mounting the print head, a movably mounted print head mounting plate, mean for releasably securing the print head support plate to the print head mounting plate, a movably mounted pressure plate spaced from the print head mounting plate, means for urging the print head mounting plate and the pressure plate relatively away from each other, means for moving the pressure plate toward the print head mounting plate to cause he urging means to move the print head mounting plate, the print head support plate and the print head toward the platen, means for mounting an ink ribbon cartridge, a lock for locking an ink ribbon cartridge in place on the mounting means, and means for simultaneously operating the moving means to move the print head toward the platen and to lock the lock, or to move the print head away from the platen and to unlock the lock.

123. A printer, comprising: a thermographic print head and a platen cooperable with the print head, a print head support plate for mounting the print head, a print head mounting plate, means for releasably securing the print head support plate to the print head mounting plate, a pressure plate spaced from the print head mounting plate, a shaft, means for pivotally mounting the print head mounting plate on the shaft, means for pivotally mounting the pressure plate on the shaft, means for urging the print head mounting plate and the pressure plate relatively away from each other, a cam for moving the pressure plate toward the print head mounting plate to cause the urging means to move the print head mounting plate, the print head support plate and the print head toward the platen, and a manually engageable handle for moving the cam.

124. A printer, comprising: a thermographic print head and a platen cooperable with the print head, a print head support plate for mounting the print head, a print head mounting plate, means for releasably securing the print head support plate to the print head mounting plate, a pressure plate spaced from the print head mounting plate, means for pivotally mounting the print head mounting plate, means for pivotally mounting the pressure plate, a pair of spaced springs for urging the print head mounting plate and the pressure plate relatively away from each other, and a cam acting directly on the pressure plate for moving the pressure plate toward the print head mounting plate to cause the urging means to move the print head mounting plate, the print head support plate and the print head toward the platen.