RIBBON CARTRIDGE DRIVE

摘要

U.S. 873,714 A ribbon cartridge in a movable print point printer remains stationary while the ribbon moves to and from the print point along a path of fixed length. The path length is established by a first flexible leader which extends from the cartridge to the print point and a second flexible leader which extends from the print point back to the cartridge. The cartridge includes a supply reel for storing ribbon before the ribbon advances to the movable print point and a take-up reel for storing ribbon after it returns from the movable print point. A metering drive is associated with the supply reel to meter out the ribbon and take-up drive is associated with the take-up reel so as to control the tension on the ribbon and thereby control the friction through the flexible leaders.