Ribbon loading system for printers

摘要

A ribbon loading system for a printer utilizes a ribbon cartridge that includes a container enclosing two coaxially arranged ribbon reels. By providing flexible blades in the floor of the container, the reels are urged toward a top cover where relative movement is restrained. Upon loading of the cartridge, camming arms enter apertures in the container and are moveable to a clamping position to draw the blades from the ribbon reels and allow free rotational movement. For a presently preferred implementation, the structure including the camming arms is coupled through linkages to clear the ribbon threading path and thereby facilitate ribbon insertion.