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(11) | EP 0 336 540 A3 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Printing device and ribbon cartridge |
| (57) In a machine for reading and writing information, a scanning reading device (10)
converts the information on a document on a bed (2) into digital electrical signals.
Those signals are passed to a device for printing on plain paper for locally reproducing
the original document and/or passed over a telephone cable to transmit the information
to a remote receiving station. The printing device comprises a thermal printer (34)
and a replaceable cartridge (48) obtaining a reel (50) for feeding the ribbon (42)
which is covered with thermally transferable ink. The ribbon is as wide as a sheet
of normal paper and is disposed in superposed relationship therewith on a rotatable
platen roller (38) for printing information by means of a thermal print head (34).
To ensure a high level of quality and uniformity of printing, the inked ribbon must
be disposed in perfectly superposed relationship and without wrinkles on the sheet
of paper to be printed. That is achieved by means of a curved wall (70) of the cartridge,
which extends over the entire width of the inked ribbon. The wall holds the ribbon
(42) in a taut condition, eliminating any wrinkles and folds which may be present
in the supply reel (50). |