Dye cartridge system and method adapted to tension a dye ribbon associated therewith

Year	Description
1997	Invention patented by Terrence L. Sr. Fisher and Robert F. Mindler on October 8th, 1997. Abstract: A cartridge system and method adapted to tension a dye ribbon associated therewith. The cartridge system is disposed in a printer that includes an enclosure. A first spool belonging to the cartridge system is disposed in the enclosure. The first spool has the dye ribbon wound thereabout. The dye ribbon has a leading end portion extending from the first spool. A second spool is associated with the first spool, the second spool having the leading end portion of the dye ribbon connected thereto. A cartridge body, which houses the first spool and the second spool, has a flexible portion movable from a first position thereof spaced-apart from the dye ribbon wound about the first spool to a second position thereof into engagement with the dye ribbon wound about the first spool. When the flexible portion moves to the second position thereof, it imposes a drag force acting on the dye ribbon in order to tension the dye ribbon as the drag force acts on the dye ribbon. Moreover, a biasing member engages the flexible portion of the cartridge body for biasing the flexible portion, so that the flexible portion moves from the first position thereof to the second position thereof as the flexible portion is biased.
Source: selected by the editor from original sources.

Invention: Dye cartridge system and method adapted to tension a dye ribbon associated therewith