Media processing device with enhanced media and ribbon loading and unloading features

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9844962-B2
Application number	US-201715491577-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 19, 2017
Priority date	Dec 16, 2013
Publication date	Dec 19, 2017
Grant date	Dec 19, 2017

Abstract

A disclosed ribbon cartridge includes a first spool housing configured to receive a first spool; a second spool housing configured to receive a second spool; a first frame member extending between the first and second spools; and a second frame member extending between the first spool and the second spool; wherein a printhead assembly opening is defined and bounded by the first spool housing, the second spool housing, the first frame member, and the second frame member, wherein the first frame member defines a first channel adjacent to the printhead assembly opening, wherein the second frame member defines a second channel adjacent to the printhead assembly opening, and wherein the first channel and the second channel each comprise a drive surface, wherein the drive surface is configured to be engaged by a printhead assembly to drive the ribbon cartridge to an installed position within the media processing device.

First claim

That which is claimed:

1. A ribbon cartridge for use in a media processing device, the ribbon cartridge comprising:
a first spool housing configured to receive a first spool;
a second spool housing configured to receive a second spool;
a first frame member extending between the first spool and the second spool; and
a second frame member extending between the first spool and the second spool;
wherein a printhead assembly opening is defined and bounded by the first spool housing, the second spool housing, the first frame member, and the second frame member, wherein the first frame member defines a first channel adjacent to the printhead assembly opening, wherein the second frame member defines a second channel adjacent to the printhead assembly opening, and wherein the first channel and the second channel each comprise a drive surface, wherein the drive surface is configured to be engaged by a printhead assembly to drive the ribbon cartridge to an installed position within the media processing device.

2. The ribbon cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the first spool housing defines an alignment recess comprising an alignment surface, and wherein the alignment recess is configured to receive therein an alignment pin in response to the ribbon cartridge being in the installed position of the media processing device.

3. The ribbon cartridge of claim 2 , further comprising a radio frequency identification chip disposed proximate to the alignment recess, wherein the radio frequency identification chip is aligned with a radio frequency reader of the media processing device in response to the alignment recess being engaged by the alignment pin of the media processing device.

4. The ribbon cartridge of claim 1 , further comprising a raised alignment feature, wherein the raised alignment feature is configured to engage a complementary raised alignment feature of the media processing device in response to the ribbon cartridge being advanced to the installed position in the media processing device.

5. The ribbon cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the first channel includes a first surface, and the drive surface of the first channel is angled relative to the first surface.

6. The ribbon cartridge of claim 5 , wherein the second channel includes a second surface, and the drive surface of the second channel is angled relative to the second surface.

7. The ribbon cartridge of claim 6 , wherein the drive surface of the first channel and the drive surface of the second channel are similarly angled relative to the first channel and the second channel, respectively.

8. The ribbon cartridge of claim 1 , further comprising a first flexible member to retain the ribbon cartridge in the installed position.

9. The ribbon cartridge of claim 8 , wherein the first flexible member is biased away from the first spool housing.

10. The ribbon cartridge of claim 9 , further comprising a second flexible member to retain the ribbon cartridge in the installed position.

11. The ribbon cartridge of claim 10 , wherein the second flexible member is biased away from the first spool housing.

12. The ribbon cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the first flexible member is configured to engage a recess of a cartridge channel of the media processing device.

13. The ribbon cartridge of claim 12 , wherein the printhead assembly is to engage the drive surface to drive the ribbon cartridge to the installed position when the ribbon cartridge is partially installed and the first flexible member is not fully engaged in the recess.

Assignees

• Zih Corp

Inventors

• Balcan Petrica Dorinel
• Wong Mun Hon Randal
• Lu Kuan-Ying

Classifications

• B41J33/34 Primary

  driven by motors independently of the machine as a whole · CPC title

• B41J32/00

  Ink-ribbon cartridges · CPC title

• B41J33/02

  Ribbon arrangements · CPC title

• B41J33/003

  Ribbon spools · CPC title

• B41J15/044 Primary

  Cassettes or cartridges containing continuous copy material, tape, for setting into printing devices · CPC title