Patent ID: 9102180
Filing Date: 2015-08-11
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. A cartridge assembly comprising: a cartridge housing defining an internal chamber; a pair of rotatable spools housed in the internal chamber; and a ribbon lock formed in a wall of the cartridge housing having prongs integrally formed therein such that the ribbon lock, the wall, and the prongs constitute a unitary molded body, wherein the ribbon lock is a single arm extending from the wall in which the single arm has a pair of terminal ends that each support a respective prong, the ribbon lock having an engaged position and a disengaged position, in the engaged position the prongs of the ribbon lock are biased into simultaneous engagement with an end of each of the pair of rotatable spools to inhibit rotation of at least one of the pair of rotatable spools, and in the disengaged position the prongs of the ribbon lock are urged away from the pair of rotatable spools to simultaneously disengage the ribbon lock from the pair of rotatable spools to permit rotation of the pair of rotatable spools; wherein the cartridge assembly is configured to be inserted in a printer having a cartridge receptacle having a single unlocking post and, upon insertion of the cartridge assembly into the cartridge receptacle, the single unlocking post contacts the ribbon lock of the cartridge assembly to move the ribbon lock to the disengaged position.