Ink ribbon guide for printer with matrix print head

PURPOSE: To obtain an ink ribbon guide means which facilitates the insertion of an ink ribbon by installing a ramp member moving rotatably to an inclined position and outer operative position on the upper edge of a shield member of the print head housing and by sliding the ink ribbon into a given position under the inclined condition of the ramp member. CONSTITUTION: A print element guide 3 facing to a platen 2 forms a gap 5 against the platen 2, and a shield member 7 for an ink ribbon 8, extending vertically and constituting the boundary on one side of the gap 5 by its plain surface, is provided on the print head housing 4. And, a ramp member 10 which can move rotatably to an inclined position and non-operative position is installed on the upper edge 9 of the shield member 7. In this way, the ink ribbon which runs between the beginning and end of a bar-shape cassette without being more or less strained can be inserted easily, and after that the ink ribbon is inserted in the gap between the platen or a receiver sheet and the needle guide, the printed portion typed by the print head can be observed. COPYRIGHT: (C)1993,JPO