James C Echols

US Patent:

46539476, Mar 31, 1987

Filed:

Mar 5, 1986

Appl. No.:

6/836298

Inventors:

James R. Echols - Duluth GA

Assignee:

Echodata Corporation - Norcross GA

International Classification:

B41J 3114

US Classification:

4002024

Abstract:

A reinking device for an endless-ribbon cartridge used with computer printers, typewriters and the like. A pinch roller is mounted for rotation on an inker case, and a porous ink-impregnated inking roller is mounted on the inker case tangent to the pinch roller to maintain a constant relation therewith. The inker case is pivotally mounted within the cartridge housing and spring biased such that the pinch roller mounted to the inker case is urged into frictional contact with a drive roller with the ribbon passing therebetween. As the drive roller is rotated by the printer mechanism to transport the ribbon, the pinch roller in frictional contact therewith rotates. The inking roller is rotated by the pinch roller and transfers a coating of ink to the pinch roller such that the pinch roller not only maintains the ribbon in frictional engagement with the drive roller but also reinks the ribbon as the ribbon passes thereagainst.