Patent ID: 6877918

Claim:
A mechanism for adjusting tension of an inked ribbon of a printer having a pair of frames, comprising: a ribbon winding side ribbon holder rotatably supported on the frames; a ribbon supply side ribbon holder rotatably supported on the frames; guide rollers provided for guiding an inked ribbon expanded between the winding side ribbon holder and the supply side ribbon holder; at least one ribbon tension detecting plate rotatably supported on one of the frames and supporting one of the guide rollers so as to be rotated in dependency on tension of the inked ribbon; ribbon tension adjusting means responsive to angular position of the ribbon tension detecting plate for applying a load on the corresponding ribbon holder so that the tension of the inked ribbon is adjusted to a predetermined value, wherein the ribbon tension adjusting means comprises a brake drum provided to be rotated together with the corresponding ribbon holder, and a brake belt slidably contacted with the surface of the brake drum, a base end of the brake belt is fixed, so that the fixed position of the brake belt can be adjusted in a longitudinal direction of the brake belt, and a movable end of the brake belt is connected to the ribbon tension detecting plate so as to be moved by the ribbon tension detecting plate in a brake belt pulling direction.