Ink ribbon and correction tape cassette compatibility

• US 4,900,171 A
• Filed: 11/30/1987
• Issued: 02/13/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Smith Corona Corporation (Pubco Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Smith Corona Corporation (Pubco Corporation)
• Inventors: Cappotto, Samuel D., Mueller, Hans W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wright, Jr., Ernest T.
• Application Number:
  US07/126,152
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: 400/54, 400/194, 400/195, 400/196, 400/196.1, 400/207, 400/208, 400/208.1, 400/249, 400/695, 400/696, 400/697, 400/697.1, 400/232, 400/234
• US Class Current: 400/208
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 32/00 Ink-ribbon cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 35/23 with two or more ribbon guides

Abstract

A means for assuring ink ribbon and correction tape compatibility in a device which utilizes a first cassette having an ink ribbon therein and second cassette having a correction tape therein including a switch means in the device that controls the on-off condition of the device, and means located on one of the cassettes which will activate the on-off switch only when the device contains an ink ribbon in the first cassette which is functionally compatible with the correction tape in the second cassette, such as, for example, functional compatibility between a single-strike ink ribbon and a lift-off correction tape, or functional compatibility between a multiple-strike ink ribbon and a cover-up correction tape.

Claims

1. In a system utilizing a first and second cassette, said system comprising in combination:

a device in which a first and second cassette are inserted for operation of the device;

a switch mounted on said device and connected to a power source for controlling the flow of electricity to said device;

a first cassette for use in said device, said first cassette having an ink ribbon;

a second cassette for use in said device, said second cassette having a correction tape; and

means for assuring that the ink ribbon in the first cassette and the correction tape in the second cassette are functionally compatible with each other and for conditioning the switch to permit the flow of electricity from the power source to said device to activate said device only when the functional compatibility of said ink ribbon in the first cassette and the correction tape in the second cassette is assured.

2. In a system utilizing a first and second cassette in accordance with claim 1 wherein the means for assuring that the ink ribbon of the first cassette and the correction tape of the second cassette are functionally compatible with each other when said cassettes are inserted in said device includes:

said assuring means being located on said first cassette; and

means on the second cassette for accommodating said assuring means on the first cassette to condition the switch to allow the flow of electricity to said device.

3. In a system utilizing a first and second cassette in accordance with claim 2 wherein the assuring means on the first cassette for conditioning the switch to allow the flow of electricity to the device is a tab portion.

4. In a system utilizing a first and second cassette in accordance with claim 3, wherein the tab portion is located on the bottom surface of the first cassette.

5. In a system utilizing a first and second cassette in accordance with claim 4, wherein the second cassette has an opening therein through which the tab portion extends.

6. In a system utilizing a first and second cassette in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first and second cassettes are carried by a bracket section on said device, said bracket section including said switch.

7. In a system utilizing a first and second cassette in accordance with claim 5, wherein the tab portion is on the right-hand side of the first cassette and wherein the opening in the second cassette is on the right-hand side of the second cassette.

8. In a system utilizing a first and second cassette in accordance with claim 5, wherein the tab portion is on the left-hand side of the first cassette and wherein the opening in the second cassette is on the left-hand side of the second cassette.

9. In a system utilizing a first and second cassette in accordance with claim 2, wherein the device is a typewriter, the first cassette includes a compatible single-strike ribbon and the second cassette includes a lift-off correction tape.

10. In a system utilizing a first and second cassette in accordance with claim 2, wherein the device is a typewriter, the first cassette includes a multiple-strike ribbon and the second cassette includes a compatible cover-up correction tape.

11. A ribbon cassette for a system including a device utilizing a ribbon cassette and a correction tape cassette having a correction tape which are inserted into the device for the operation thereof, the device operating on a flow of electricity and including a switch for controlling the flow of electricity thereto, said ribbon cassette comprising:

a housing having a bottom;

an ink ribbon substantially disposed within said housing; and

means on said ribbon cassette engaging an opening in the correction tape cassette to assure that said ribbon and the correction tape are functionally compatible, said assuring means conditioning the switch to control the flow of electricity to the device.

12. A ribbon cassette in accordance with claim 11, wherein said device is an electric typewriter.

13. A ribbon cassette in accordance with claim 11, wherein said assuring means is a tab extending from said housing.

14. A ribbon cassette in accordance with claim 13 wherein said tab extends from a side portion of said bottom of said housing.

15. A ribbon cassette for a system including a device utilizing a ribbon cassette and a correction tape cassette having a correction tape, said ribbon cassette being inserted into the device for the operation thereof, said ribbon cassette comprising:

a housing having a top surface and a bottom surface;

an ink ribbon substantially disposed within said housing; and

a tab portion extending from a specified side portion of the bottom surface of said ribbon cassette, said tab portion matingly engaging and extending through an opening located in a corresponding side portion of the correction tape cassette for assuring that said ink ribbon and the correction tape are functionally compatible and, in the event that said tab does not engage the opening, for indicating that said ribbon and the correction tape are not functionally compatible with each other.

16. A correction tape cassette for use in a system including a device operating on a flow of electricity and including a switch for controlling the flow of electricity thereto, a ribbon cassette having an ink ribbon and a correction tape cassette having a correction tape which are inserted in the device for operation thereof, the ribbon cassette including a housing and having a tab extending from the housing for assuring that the ink ribbon and the correction tape are functionally compatible, and for conditioning the switch to control the flow of electricity to the device, said tape cassette comprising means for enabling the conditioning of the switch by the tab.

17. The correction tape cassette in accordance with claim 16 further including a housing, said enabling means being located on said housing.

18. The correction tape cassette in accordance with claim 17 wherein said enabling means is an opening.

19. The correction tape cassette in accordance with claim 18 wherein includes a tab formation for assuring the functional compatibility of the ink ribbon cassette with the tape said opening accommodates the insertion of the tab formation therethrough to condition the switch.

20. A correction tape cassette for an electric typewriter using an ink ribbon in a cassette and a correction tape cassette, said correction tape cassette comprising:

a housing;

a correction tape substantially disposed within said housing; and

an opening positioned in a specified side portion of said housing to accommodate a tab formation extending from a corresponding side portion of the ribbon cassette for assuring functional compatibility between said correction tape and the ink ribbon and, in the event that the tab is not aligned with, and accommodated by said opening, for indicating the functional incompatibility of the ink ribbon and said correction tape.

21. In a system including a device, an ink ribbon cassette having an ink ribbon and a correction tape cassette having a correction tape, a method for inserting the ink ribbon and correction tape cassettes into the device to assure compatibility of the ink ribbon in the ink ribbon cassette with the correction tape in the correction tape cassette and to effect the operation of the device, comprising:

providing the ribbon cassette with means for assuring cassette compatibility;

providing the correction tape cassette with accessibility means through which the assuring means extends;

providing the device with a switch conditionable to activate the device;

inserting the correction tape cassette in the device; and

inserting the ink ribbon cassette in the device so that said assuring means engages said accessibility means and conditions said switch to activate the device.

22. The method in accordance with claim 21 further comprising providing said assuring means as a tab.

23. The method in accordance with claim 21 further comprising providing said accessability means as an opening dimensioned to accommodate said assuring means therethrough.