APPARATUS FOR REPLACING A RIBBON CARTRIDGE IN A PRINTER, AND RIBBON CARTRIDGE TO BE USED THEREWITH

摘要

The present invention resides in an improved apparatus and method for replenishing the ribbon supply in a high speed printer or the like. A stationary ribbon supply is provided in a two reel, cartridge (2). Connected to the printer frame adjacent the stationery cartridge on either side is a flexible ribbon guide (6) for maintaining the ribbon in operative relation to a print element (10) on a moving carrier (12).
When the ribbon supply is exhausted, the specially designed ribbon segments extending from the cartridge are severed. The flexible ribbon guide (6) still contains a segment of the old ribbon in the properly threaded position for printing. The old cartridge is removed. A new cartridge with ribbon leaders having adhesive portions for splicing with the old ribbon segment remaining in the flexible guide structure is inserted. The operator then manually performs adjustments required to resume printing.