(19) | |
| (11) | EP 0 266 987 A3 |
(12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
(88) | Date of publication A3: | | 06.12.1989 Bulletin 1989/49 |
(43) | Date of publication A2: | | 11.05.1988 Bulletin 1988/19 |
(22) | Date of filing: 02.11.1987 |
| (51) | International Patent Classification (IPC)4: B41J 35/10 |
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(84) | Designated Contracting States: | | DE FR GB |
(30) | Priority: | 05.11.1986 JP 170082/86 U
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(71) | Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD. | | Meguro-ku
Tokyo (JP) |
| (72) | Inventor: | | - Imai, Minoru
Tagata
Shizuoka (JP)
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(74) | Representative: Evans, David Charles et al | | F.J. CLEVELAND & COMPANY
40-43, Chancery Lane London, WC2A 1JQ London, WC2A 1JQ (GB) |
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(57) The application provides a ribbon feed device wherein a ribbon take-up mechanism located on a ribbon frame (31) which is mounted for up and down pivotal motion on a carrier and carrying thereon an elongated ribbon (24) along a plate (21) takes up the ribbon (24) in response to upward pivotal motion of the ribbon frame (31) in order to effect printing of a character or erasing of a printed character. During downward pivotal motion of the ribbon frame (31), the path of the ribbon (24) is bent by a pressing member (42) secured to the carrier to remove possible slacking of the ribbon (24) which may appear along a ribbon feeding route upon printing or erasing operation so as to apply suitable tension to the ribbon (24).