Patent ID: 6520696
Filing Date: 2003-02-18
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
A tape supply cartridge for a printer of the type having a cartridge receiving cavity, a fixed print head defining a print station, a platen roller movable toward and away from said print head between a print and non print position and a pair of rollers for advancing the tape between the platen roller and print head, said cartridge comprising:a cartridge top, a cartridge bottom and a cartridge edge wall joining said cartridge top and bottom and extending substantially around said cartridge; a supply of printing tape housed in said cartridge on a tape supply spool between said cartridge top and said cartridge bottom; a supply of ribbon; a guide arm having adjacent channels, each channel having upper and lower edge guides, respectively, fixed to an inner surface of the cartridge top and an inner surface of the cartridge bottom for guiding one of the ribbon and tape toward the print station; a pair of tape guide posts positioned between said tape supply spool and said guide arm extending between said cartridge top and said cartridge bottom; and a roller rotatably mounted on each of said tape guide posts wherein said tape moves from said tape supply spool, around said rollers and to said guide arm during movement through said cartridge.