Patent ID: 9227425
Filing Date: 2016-01-05
CPC Classification: B41J

Claim Text:
1. A ribbon tension control system for a ribbon printing system, the ribbon tension control system comprising: a cam lobe configured to pivot in opposite first and second pivoting directions, the cam lobe interconnected with a printing ribbon of the ribbon printing system and configured to change a length of a path traversed by the ribbon in the ribbon printing system from an unwind spindle to a windup spindle; and an articulating arm coupled with the cam lobe and configured to pivot in opposite third and fourth pivoting directions responsive to the cam lobe pivoting in the corresponding first and second pivoting directions, the articulating arm also coupled with a brake configured to engage the unwind spindle, wherein, responsive to tension in the ribbon changing, the cam lobe is configured to pivot and change the length of the path traversed by the ribbon in the ribbon printing system and the cam lobe is configured to pivot and cause the articulating arm to pivot to change a braking force applied to the unwind spindle by the brake.