Patent attributes
The present invention reduces the peak torque of a motor used in a ribbon takeup mechanism and makes the motor, used for driving, smaller and less costly. A ribbon takeup device includes ratchet wheels (5) provided on ribbon takeup axes (4), a feed claw (6) that engages the ratchet wheels, a displacement member (9) driven and displaced by a motor (11) so that at least a linear displacement is given, a slide member (3) that moves the feed claw, and an elastic member (15). The configuration is that the elastic member engages the slide member that has the ribbon feed claw for taking up a ribbon and, with force applied to the slide member into one direction by the elastic member, a motor driving force is added to the slide member into the same direction as the direction in which the elastic member applies force. This configuration allows the elastic member and the motor to share the load of ribbon feeding and the load of ribbon feed claw switching, reduces the required motor torque, and makes it possible to employ a less powerful, less costly motor.
