Dot printer adjustable endless loop ribbon cartridge transport apparatus

摘要

Demountable, replaceable, printer ribbon cartridge transport apparatus comprising an elongated, flat, rigid, support member provided with oppositely disposed parallel recessed areas co-extensive with the longer dimension thereof and having means intermediate the ends for adjusting the length of the member and thereafter retaining the adjusted length. An endless inked ribbon is disposed within the recessed areas with each opposite end of the ribbon looped around the end of the support member and back upon itself so as to be moveable lengthwise in opposite directions along the long dimension of the support member. Demountable end caps are secured to each opposite end of the support member to protect the ribbon as it reverses direction about the end of the support and to enable the support member to be cammed into and out of engagement with ribbon drive means. Drive means is engageable with the ribbon effective to move one of the parallel lengths of the ribbon longitudinally along one recessed area so that the ribbon travels around the end of the support member and back to the opposite end in a continuous unending loop to present a fresh area of ribbon to a printing mechanism for printing therefrom until the ink is exhausted or the ribbon is too worn to print.