Patent ID: 7758262

Claim:
An ink ribbon cartridge, comprising: a frame; supply shaft supporting members, the supply shaft supporting members supporting a supply shaft; and take-up shaft supporting members, the take-up shaft supporting members supporting a take-up shaft, wherein: the frame comprises: a first bearing member, a second bearing member, a front connecting member connecting front ends of the first and second bearing members together, the front connecting member including: a groove arranged substantially in a central part, the groove extending in a direction that is parallel to the supply and take-up shafts, and having a right and a left side, a first grip portion arranged on the left side of the groove, and a second grip portion arranged on the right side of the groove, and a back connecting member connecting back ends of the first and second bearing members together, wherein the back connecting member has one of a groove or a hole arranged substantially in a central part, along a length and width direction, of the back connecting member such that the groove or hole is on a top face of the back connecting member when the ink ribbon cartridge is installed in an operating position, wherein the groove, when present, is formed from a center portion of the top face of the back connecting member that extends below adjacent portions of the top face of the back connecting member, each of the first and second grip portions having a top wall and a front wall, the top wall and the front wall defining an open space inside each of the first and second grip portions, a back side of each of the first and second grip portions having an opening which permits fingers of a user to grip around the top and front walls and into the open space of each of the first and second grip portions, wherein the front wall of each of the first and second grip portions is provided with multiple ribs, each of the multiple ribs extending in a direction parallel to the supply and take-up shafts.