July 12, 1966
J. c. DOYLE
3,260,344
TYPEWRITER RIBBON CARTRIDGE
Filed Feb. 24, 1964
FIG. 1
28 45
m
29
45
II- .".I I
3
INVENTOR.
JOSEPH CARROLL DOYLE
BY
ATTORNEY‘ ;
United States Patent 0
1 ,.
IC€
3,250,344
Patented July 12, 1966
1
2
3,260,344
slots 17, the marginal edges of which ‘are rounded. o?
(FIG. 1) for passage of a ribbon therethrough. Also,
the outer face of wall 14 at opposite ends thereof is
TYPEWRITER RIBBON CARTRIDGE
Joseph Carroll Doyle, Pittsford, N.Y., assignor to Kee Lox
Manufacturing Company, Rochester, N.Y., a corpora
tion of New York
notched or grooved in a conventional manner as at 18
for accommodating conventional clamps (not illustrated)
which hold the cartridge removably in a typewriter.
Integral with the side wall 14 of the cartridge at oppo
Filed Feb. 24, 1964, Ser. No. 346,897
6 Claims. (til. 197—151)
site sides thereof are lugs 19 and 20.
This invention relates to cartridges for holding inked
lugs are identical covers 21 and 22.
Hinged to these
Each cover has a
ribbons, and more particularly to a cartridge for housing 10 pair of hinge members 28, 29 integral with it at one end
and projecting upwardly from it and engaging in bearing
the ribbon and spools in a typewriter or similar printing
holes 23, 24 formed in the lugs 19, 20, respectively. Each
machine.
In certain typewriters replaceable cartridges are used
cover section is adapted to cover substantially one half
for holding the typewriter ribbon and spools or cores on
of the upper end of casing 12. For clearance, the covers
which the ribbon is wound. As previously made, how
ever, these cartridges have had their side walls permanent
ly connected to their top and bottom walls. As a result,
when the typewriter ribbon will no longer make accept
ably legible impressions, or in the case of a plastic ribbon
These enable each of the covers to be hinged through a
full 180° without interference with one another. Cen
trally between their sides the covers are provided at ad
jacent ends with confronting arcuat-e recesses 26.
are notched at 25, 27, adjacent the hinge lugs 19, 20.
which has been used once or at most twice, the whole
Remote from the recesses 26 the covers 21 and 22 are
cartridge including the ribbon and the spools or cores has
provided with notches or recesses ‘34 which register with
the recesses 18 in the ends of the casing 12. Each cover
has an integral tab or lug 36 at one side, only one of
to be thrown away, and a new cartridge with new ribbon
and spools has to be installed in the machine.
This is
which is shown in FIG. 1, which projects slightly later
There is another disadvantage with the prior construc 25 ally beyond the wall 14 of the case when the cover is
closed, to form a thumb hold for lifting the cover. Ad
tion also. Today there is a large demand for typewriters
jacent its thumb tab ‘36 each cover 21 and 22 has there
that can be converted to a polyethylene, “Mylar” or car
through a small circular hole 37 (FIG. 3). When the
bon paper type ribbon and can also use a fabric ribbon of
covers are closed, each of these openings 37 is adapted
nylon, silk, cotton, etc. With the prior cartridges, a sep
to be pressed over one of a pair of circular bosses 38
arate cartridge has to be provided for each different type
(FIGS. 1 and 3) which project from the upper edge of
ribbon thereby making it costly to effect a conversion
the side wall 14 adjacent opposite ends thereof, thereby
from one to another type of ribbon. Aside from this
resiliently to hold the cover latched in its down position.
there is the expense of inventorying many ditferent car
Each cover 21, 22 also has therethrough a circular
tridges, vand their ribbons and spools.
An object of this invention is to provide an improved 35 opening 41. When a respective cover is closed, its open
ing 41 is adapted to register coaxially with one of a
typewriter ribbon cartridge which will reduce the cost of
pair of spaced openings 42 (FIG. 3) in the casing bot
replacing ribbons in typewriters of the type described. To
expensive.
this end, one purpose of this invention is to effect a sav
tom 13.
ing in cost by making ribbon cartridges that can become 40 The ribbon spools 43 and 44 are identical and are
adapted to be removably mounted within the casing 12.
a more or less permanent attachment to typewriters and
Each spool 43, 44 has a pair of upwardly projecting
like printing machines, and that need not be removed
prongs 45 at its upper end, which are disposed at oppo
from the machine when changing ribbons.
site sides of the axis of the spool and are rounded on
Another object of this invention is to provide an im~
to manufacture, and which can house selectively various
their outsides, and are adapted to engage loosely in one
of the circular openings 41 in the covers 21 and 22, when
diiierent types of typewriter ribbons.
the latter are closed.
Another object of the invention is to provide a ribbon
cartridge so constructed that it is convenient to change
of diametrally opposite, axially extending grooves 47,
the typewriter or other machine from one using a fabric
to a machine using a polyethylene, “Mylar,” carbon pa
which are diametrally aligned with the associated prongs
or bearing members 45. Between each pair of grooves
proved typewriter cartridge that is relatively inexpensive
In its outer peripheral surface, each spool has a pair
per, or any other ribbon, and vice versa, by simply chang
47 diametrally opposite outer portions of each spOOl
ing from one ribbon to another.
are ?atted off as at 49.
At its lower end each spool has a pair
Other objects of the invention will be apparent herein
after from the speci?cation and from the recital of the 55 opposite, axially extending notches 51,
which the lower ‘ends of the spools are
appended claims, particularly when read in conjunction
connected to the driving mechanism (not
with the accompanying drawing.
the typewriter, when the cartridge 11
In the drawing:
of diametrally
by means of
adapted to be
illustrated) in
is positioned
therein.
FIG. '1 is a plan view of a cartridge made in accordance
For use, a spool or core, on which the typewriter rib
with one embodiment of this invention, part of one cover 60
bon is wound, is put in one chamber of the cartridge 11,
of the cartridge being broken away to illustrate more
and an empty spool or core is put in the other chamber.
clearly one of the ribbon spools disposed in the cartridge;
The lead end of the ribbon, or the like, R (broken lines
FIG. 2 is an end view of this cartridge; and
in FIG. 1) is then drawn out through one of the slots
FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of this cartridge,
partly cut away and in section, and showing one of its 65 17 in the casing wall and fed int-o the other slot 17 and
attached to the empty spool or core. With the covers 21
covers pivoted part~way toward its fully open position.
and 22 open this can easily be done.
Referring now to the drawing by numerals of refer
For securing the ends of the ribbon to the two spools
ence, the ribbon cartridge is designated at 11. It com
or cores, a resilient spring clamp 53 may be used. Each
prises a hollow casing or housing 12, open at its top and
having a generally ?at, rigid bottom wall 13 and an inte 70 clamp 53 is generally C-shap'ed in cross section to con
form to the shape of a spool. Its ends are bent inwardly
gral upwardly-projecting perimetric side wall 14. Ad
jacent opposite ends, the side wall 14 is provided with
toward one another to snap into the grooves 47 of the
3,260,344
3
spool; and at its lower end it is provided with a notch
54 (FIG. 3) which registers with the notches 51 of a
spool, when the clamp is secured thereon.
After the cartridge has been loaded with the spools
and ribbon, it is placed in the typewriter. The ribbon 5
A.
(a) a hollow casing closed at its bottom and open at
its top and having a perimetric side wall,
(b) a pair of ribbon spools mounted in said casing to
with and engage through one of the openings 42 in the
casing bottom 13 with one of the spools 43, 44 to drive
rotate about spaced, parallel axes which extend be
tween the top and bottom of said casing,
(c) a pair of covers for closing the top of said casing,
and
((1) means hingedly connecting each cover to said
the same. At this time the covers 21 and 22 are closed;
casing centrally of its top to pivot independently of
feeding mechanism of the typewriter will then register
the pins 38 are snugly seated in the openings 37; and the
spool bearings 45 are seated in the cover openings 41.
When it is desired to change ribbons, all that is neces
sary to do it to hinge the covers 21 and 22 to their open
positions, remove the spools and ribbon and replace them
one another between open and closed positions, re
spectively over said top of said casing, and about
closely spaced, parallel axes which extend trans
verse to the ?rst-named axes.
4. A ribbon cartridge for typewriters and the like,
comprising
with other spools and ribbon. Then the covers are
closed again. It is not necessary to remove the cartridge
from the typewriter.
(a) a hollow casing closed at its bottom and open at
The hinged covers permit ready
its top and having a perimetric sidewall,
(b) a pair of ribbon spools mounted in said casing
to rotate about spaced, parallel axes,
(c) a pair of covers for closing the top of said casing,
access to the ribbon and spools.
The notches 25, 27 permit the covers 21 and 22 to be
pivoted more than 90 degrees upon being opened. The
notches 26 prevent the covers from interferring with one
said covers having arcuate recesses in their adjacent
another when opened fully, thereby permitting housing in
ends,
the cartridge spools larger than are ordinarily used in
'
(d) means hinging said covers at said ends to the side
ribbon cartridges.
wall of said casing to pivot between open and closed
The casing 12 and its cover sections 21 and 22 may 25
be made of plastic, metal, or any material that can be
positions, respectively, over the top of said casing,
about closely spaced, parallel axes which extend
molded, bent or pressed into the desired shape.
While the invention has been described in connection
with a speci?c embodiment thereof, it will be understood
that it is capable of further modi?cation, and this appli 30
(e) means for releasably holding said covers in their
closed positions, said recesses being in confronting,
registering relation to one another, when said covers
cation is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adap
transverse to the ?rst-named axes, and
are closed.
tations of the invention following, in general, the prin
ciples of the invention and including such departures from
5. A ribbon cartridge for typewriters and the like,
comprising
.
the present disclosure as come within known or custo—
(a) a hollow casing closed at its bottom and open at
mary practice in the art to which the invention pertains
and as may be applied to the essential features hereinbe
fore set forth, and as fall within the scope of the inven
tion or the limits of the appended claims.
Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:
its top and having a perimetric side wall,
(b) a pair of ribbon spools mounted in said casing
to rotate about spaced parallel axes,
(c) a pair of covers for closing the top of said casing,
each of said covers having therethrough a circular
opening,
1. A ribbon cartridge for typewriters and the like,
comprising
(d) means connecting said ‘covers to said casing to
pivot between open and closed positions over the top
(a) a casing closed at its bottom and open at its top
and having a perimetric side wall,
(b) a pair of covers hinged to said casing to pivot
into and out of closed positions in which they sub
stantially cover the top of the casing,
(c) a pair of ribbon spools removably mounted in said
casing to rotate about spaced, parallel axes which ex
tend between the top and bottom of said casing, and
of said casing, and about closely'spaced, parallel
axes, which extend between and at right angles to
the axes of rotation of said spools, and
(e) a pair of diametrally opposite lugs projecting
axially beyond one end of each spool to engage di
ametrally opposite sides of the circular opening in
((1) guide means on one end of each of said spools >
adapted to register with corresponding guide sur
one of said covers, when the latter is closed, there
by to ?x the axes of rotation of said spools in said
casing.
faces on said covers, when said covers are in their
6. A ribbon cartridge for typewriters and the like,
closed positions, to guide said spools for rotation
comprising
(a) a casing closed at its bottom and open at its top
about said axes.
2. A ribbon cartridge for typewriters and the like,
and having a perimetric side wall,
(b) a pair of covers hinged to said casing to cover,
(a) a casing closed at its bottom and open at its top
when closed, the top opening of said casing,
(c) said casing having a pair of openings in its bot—
comprising
and having a perimetric side wall,
(b) a pair of rigid covers hinged to said casing at
its top and pivotal into and out of closed positions
in which each cover closes substantially one half of
said casing,
tom, and
(d) each of said covers having an opening through it,
(e) the openings in the two covers aligning with the
bottom openings in said casing when the covers are
(c) a pair of ribbon spools removably mounted in said
casing to rotate about spaced, parallel axes, each of
said spools at one end thereof having
(f) means for mounting a pair of ribbon spools in
(d) a pair of diametrally opposite, axially extending
lugs, which project through a circular opening in
the hole in one cover and the aligned bottom hole.
closed, and
said casing, each spool being in axial alignment with
References Cited by the Examiner
UNITED STATES PATENTS
one of said covers when the latter is closed,
(e) the lugs of each pair having concave outer sur
faces engageable with diametrally opposite sides of
the circular opening in the corresponding cover
through which they project, thereby to guide said
spools for rotation about said axes.
3. A ribbon cartridge for typewriters and the like,
comprising
2,825,450
2,986,260
3/1958
Lambert
5/1961
Whippo __________ __ l97—15l
__________ __ 206-——52
LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner.
75 M. L. RICE, Assistant Examiner.