阅读说明：本技术 带盒 (Tape box ) 是由 村山健太郎 于 2020-03-13 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种能够在与上下方向垂直的垂直方向上小型化的带盒,包括色带壳体(21),色带壳体包括在与第一方向垂直的第二方向上延伸的第一侧壁(16a)、在与第一方向垂直且与第二方向交叉的第三方向上延伸的第二侧壁(16b)和限定从第二侧壁(16b)向第二方向一侧延伸且在相对于第二侧壁(16b)位于第二方向一侧的位置在第三方向上延伸的凹部(99)的凹部壁(16c)。凹部(99)至少一部分与打印带卷(26)在第一方向上重叠。由此,包括打印带卷(26)的打印带壳体(20)与包括凹部壁(16c)的色带壳体(21)在第一方向即上下方向上重叠,凹部(99)至少一部分与打印带卷(26)在第一方向上重叠,因而带盒(10)在与上下方向垂直的垂直方向上小型化。(A tape cassette that can be miniaturized in a vertical direction perpendicular to an up-down direction includes an ink ribbon housing (21) including a first side wall (16a) extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, a second side wall (16b) extending in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and intersecting the second direction, and a recess wall (16c) defining a recess (99) extending from the second side wall (16b) to a side of the second direction and extending in the third direction at a position on the side of the second direction with respect to the second side wall (16 b). At least a part of the recess (99) overlaps the print tape roll (26) in the first direction. Thus, the print tape case (20) including the print tape roll (26) and the ink ribbon case (21) including the recess wall (16c) overlap in a first direction, i.e., the up-down direction, and at least a part of the recess (99) overlaps with the print tape roll (26) in the first direction, so that the tape cassette (10) is miniaturized in a vertical direction perpendicular to the up-down direction.)

1. A tape cartridge, comprising:

a rotatable print tape roll around which a print tape as a to-be-printed medium is wound; and

a peripheral wall located on a side of a first direction with respect to the print tape roll, the first direction being a width direction of the print tape, the peripheral wall including:

a first sidewall extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction;

a second sidewall extending in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and crossing the second direction; and

a recess wall defining a recess extending from the second side wall to one side of the second direction and extending in the third direction at a position on one side of the second direction with respect to the second side wall,

at least a portion of the recess overlaps the print tape roll in the first direction.

2. The tape cartridge of claim 1, wherein the print tape roll is formed by winding the print tape on a rotatable print tape shaft,

at least a portion of the recess wall overlaps the print tape axis in the first direction.

3. The tape cassette of claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the recess overlaps the print tape axis in the first direction.

4. The tape cassette according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein in the third direction, a center of rotation of the print tape roll is located between one side end and the other side end of the recess in the third direction.

5. The cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the print tape roll is formed by winding the print tape on a rotatable print tape shaft,

in the third direction, at least a part of the printing tape shaft is located between one side end and the other side end of the recess in the third direction.

6. The tape cassette according to claim 5, wherein a center of rotation of the printing tape shaft in the third direction is located between the one-side end portion and the other-side end portion of the recess in the third direction.

7. The cartridge as claimed in claim 5 or 6, comprising:

a first housing that houses the print tape roll; and

a second housing located on the one side in the first direction with respect to the first housing, having the outer peripheral wall,

the second casing includes a discharge port defined by the second side wall, located between one side end and the other side end of the recess in the third direction, for discharging the print tape fed from the print tape roll from the second casing to the recess,

in the third direction, a center of rotation of the print tape shaft is located between the discharge port and the one-side end portion of the concave portion in the third direction.

8. The cartridge of claim 7, wherein the recess overlaps at least a portion of the first housing in the first direction.

9. The cartridge as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, comprising:

a rotatable supply shaft located on one side of the first direction with respect to the print tape roll, for winding an ink ribbon used for printing the print tape supplied from the print tape roll; and

a rotatable take-up shaft located on one side of the first direction with respect to the print tape roll for taking up the ink ribbon supplied from the supply shaft,

at least a portion of the supply spool and at least a portion of the take-up spool overlap the print ribbon roll in the first direction.

10. The tape cassette according to any one of claims 1 to 9, comprising a rotatable adhesive tape roll located on one side of the first direction with respect to the print tape roll, winding an adhesive tape for adhering to the print tape,

at least a portion of the roll of adhesive tape overlaps the roll of print tape in the first direction.

11. The tape cassette according to claim 10, wherein the adhesive tape roll is constituted by winding the adhesive tape around an adhesive tape shaft,

the adhesive tape shaft overlaps the print tape roll in the first direction.

12. The tape cassette according to claim 11, wherein a rotation center of the adhesive tape shaft is located between one side end and the other side end of the recess in the third direction.

13. The tape cassette according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein in the second direction and the third direction, a distance from a center position of the tape cassette as a center in the second direction and a center in the third direction to a rotation center of the print tape roll is smaller than a distance from the center position to the recessed portion.

14. A tape cartridge, comprising:

a print tape roll around which the print tape is wound;

a spacer that abuts against the print tape roll in a first direction that is a width direction of the print tape; and

an outer peripheral wall located on one side of the first direction with respect to the print tape roll and the spacer, the outer peripheral wall including:

a first sidewall extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction;

a second sidewall extending in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and crossing the second direction; and

a recess wall defining a recess extending from the second side wall to one side of the second direction and extending in the third direction at a position on one side of the second direction with respect to the second side wall,

at least a portion of the recess overlaps with the spacer in the first direction.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a tape cassette that can be attached to and detached from a printing apparatus.

Background

Conventionally, there is known a tape cassette including a printing tape and an ink ribbon for printing on the printing tape. For example, the ink ribbon cassette described in patent document 1 includes an ink ribbon cassette and a printing sheet cassette. An ink ribbon and a take-up shaft for taking up the ink ribbon are housed in the ribbon cassette. A print sheet is accommodated in the print sheet cassette. A plurality of positioning claws are provided on the outer peripheral wall of the print sheet cassette. The printing sheet cassette is overlapped above the ribbon cassette and integrated with the ribbon cassette by a plurality of positioning claws engaging with the ribbon cassette. The ribbon cartridge is provided with a head opening into which a print head of the printer is inserted. At a position opposite to the head opening with respect to the print sheet roll in the print sheet cassette, a sheet opening through which the print sheet passes is provided. After being pulled out from the print sheet roll, the print sheet is pulled out to the outside of the print sheet cassette via the sheet opening portion. Then, the print sheet passes around the outer peripheral wall of the print sheet cassette, passing through the head opening portion. At the head opening, the print sheet and the ink ribbon are overlapped with each other, and printing is performed by a print head of the printer. The printed print sheet is guided by the fixing claw on the head opening portion side to the sheet gate for discharging the print sheet. The ink ribbon used for printing is taken up by the take-up shaft.

Patent document 1: japanese Utility model laid-open publication No. 63-156762

Disclosure of Invention

In the ink ribbon cassette, the ink ribbon and the head opening are provided at different positions in the vertical direction, which is the direction in which the ink ribbon cassette and the printing sheet cassette are arranged, and the cassette is downsized in the vertical direction perpendicular to the vertical direction. Further miniaturization of the tape cassette in the vertical direction perpendicular to the up-down direction is required.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a tape cassette that can be miniaturized in a vertical direction perpendicular to a vertical direction.

A first aspect of the present invention provides a tape cassette comprising: a rotatable print tape roll around which a print tape as a to-be-printed medium is wound; and an outer peripheral wall located on a side of a first direction with respect to the print tape roll, the first direction being a width direction of the print tape. The outer peripheral wall includes: a first sidewall extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; a second sidewall extending in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and crossing the second direction; and a recess wall defining a recess extending from the second side wall to one side of the second direction and extending in the third direction at a position on one side of the second direction with respect to the second side wall. At least a portion of the recess overlaps the print tape roll in the first direction.

In a second aspect of the present invention, the print tape roll is formed by winding the print tape around a rotatable print tape shaft, and at least a part of the wall of the recess overlaps with the print tape shaft in the first direction.

In a third aspect of the present invention, at least a part of the recess overlaps with the print tape shaft in the first direction.

In a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third direction, a center of rotation of the print tape roll is located between one side end portion and the other side end portion of the recess in the third direction.

In a fifth aspect of the present invention, the print tape roll is formed by winding the print tape around a rotatable print tape shaft, and in the third direction, at least a part of the print tape shaft is located between one side end portion and the other side end portion of the recess in the third direction.

In a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the third direction, a rotation center of the printing tape shaft is located between the one side end portion and the other side end portion of the concave portion in the third direction.

A seventh aspect of the present invention includes: a first housing that houses the print tape roll; and a second housing located on the one side in the first direction with respect to the first housing, having the outer peripheral wall, the second housing including a discharge port defined by the second side wall, located between one side end portion and another side end portion of the recessed portion in the third direction, between which a rotation center of the printing tape shaft is located, for discharging the printing tape fed from the printing tape roll from the second housing to the recessed portion.

In an eighth aspect of the present invention, the recess portion overlaps with at least a part of the first housing in the first direction.

A ninth aspect of the present invention includes: a rotatable supply shaft located on one side of the first direction with respect to the print tape roll, for winding an ink ribbon used for printing the print tape supplied from the print tape roll; and a rotatable take-up shaft located on one side of the first direction with respect to the print tape roll, for taking up the ink ribbon supplied from the supply shaft, at least a part of the supply shaft and at least a part of the take-up shaft overlapping with the print tape roll in the first direction.

A tenth aspect of the present invention includes a rotatable adhesive tape roll that is located on one side of the first direction with respect to the print tape roll, an adhesive tape that is wound for adhesion to the print tape, at least a portion of the adhesive tape roll overlapping with the print tape roll in the first direction.

In an eleventh aspect of the present invention, the adhesive tape roll is configured by winding the adhesive tape around an adhesive tape shaft that overlaps the print tape roll in the first direction.

In a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the third direction, a rotation center of the adhesive tape shaft is located between one side end portion and the other side end portion of the recess in the third direction.

In a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the second direction and the third direction, a distance from a center position of the tape cassette, which is a center in the second direction and a center in the third direction, to a rotation center of the print tape roll is smaller than a distance from the center position to the recess.

A fourteenth aspect of the present invention provides a tape cassette comprising: a print tape roll around which the print tape is wound; a spacer that abuts against the print tape roll in a first direction that is a width direction of the print tape; and an outer peripheral wall located on one side of the first direction with respect to the print tape roll and the spacer. The outer peripheral wall includes: a first sidewall extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; a second sidewall extending in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and crossing the second direction; and a recess wall defining a recess extending from the second side wall to one side of the second direction and extending in the third direction at a position on one side of the second direction with respect to the second side wall. At least a portion of the recess overlaps with the spacer in the first direction.

A tape cassette of a first aspect of the present invention includes: a rotatable print tape roll around which a print tape as a to-be-printed medium is wound; and an outer peripheral wall located on a side of a first direction with respect to the print tape roll, the first direction being a width direction of the print tape. The outer peripheral wall includes: a first sidewall extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; a second sidewall extending in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and crossing the second direction; and a recess wall defining a recess extending from the second side wall to one side of the second direction and extending in the third direction at a position on one side of the second direction with respect to the second side wall. At least a portion of the recess overlaps the print tape roll in the first direction. Thus, since the first casing including the print tape roll overlaps the second casing including the wall of the recess in the first direction, i.e., the up-down direction, and at least a part of the recess overlaps the print tape roll in the first direction, the tape cassette is miniaturized in the vertical direction perpendicular to the first direction.

In a second aspect of the present invention, the print tape roll is formed by winding the print tape around a rotatable print tape shaft, and at least a part of the wall of the recess overlaps with the print tape shaft in the first direction. Thereby, the tape cassette is miniaturized in the vertical direction perpendicular to the first direction, compared to a case where at least a part of the wall of the recess does not overlap the printing tape axis in the first direction.

In a third aspect of the present invention, at least a part of the recess overlaps with the print tape shaft in the first direction. Thereby, the tape cassette is miniaturized in the vertical direction perpendicular to the first direction, compared to a case where at least a part of the recess does not overlap with the printing tape axis in the first direction.

In a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third direction, a center of rotation of the print tape roll is located between one side end portion and the other side end portion of the recess in the third direction. Thereby, the tape cassette is downsized in the vertical direction perpendicular to the first direction, compared with the case where the tape cassette is not positioned between the one side end portion and the other side end portion of the recess in the third direction.

In a fifth aspect of the present invention, the print tape roll is formed by winding the print tape around a rotatable print tape shaft, and in the third direction, at least a part of the print tape shaft is located between one side end portion and the other side end portion of the recess in the third direction. Thus, the tape cassette is miniaturized in the vertical direction perpendicular to the first direction, as compared with a case where at least a part of the printing tape shaft is not located between the one side end portion and the other side end portion of the recess in the third direction.

In a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the third direction, a rotation center of the printing tape shaft is located between the one side end portion and the other side end portion of the concave portion in the third direction. Thus, the tape cassette is miniaturized in the vertical direction perpendicular to the first direction, as compared with a case where the rotation center of the printing tape shaft is not located between the discharge port and the one end portion in the third direction of the recess.

A seventh aspect of the present invention includes: a first housing that houses the print tape roll; and a second housing located on the one side in the first direction with respect to the first housing, having the outer peripheral wall, the second housing including a discharge port defined by the second side wall, located between one side end portion and another side end portion of the recessed portion in the third direction, between which a rotation center of the printing tape shaft is located, for discharging the printing tape fed from the printing tape roll from the second housing to the recessed portion. Thereby, the tape cassette is miniaturized in the vertical direction perpendicular to the first direction, as compared with a case where the rotation center of the print tape roll is not located between the discharge port and the third-direction one-side end portion of the recess in the third direction.

In an eighth aspect of the present invention, the recess portion overlaps with at least a part of the first housing in the first direction. Thereby, the tape cassette is miniaturized in the vertical direction perpendicular to the first direction, as compared with a case where the recess does not overlap with at least a part of the first housing in the first direction.

A ninth aspect of the present invention includes: a rotatable supply shaft located on one side of the first direction with respect to the print tape roll, for winding an ink ribbon used for printing the print tape supplied from the print tape roll; and a rotatable take-up shaft located on one side of the first direction with respect to the print tape roll, for taking up the ink ribbon supplied from the supply shaft, at least a part of the supply shaft and at least a part of the take-up shaft overlapping with the print tape roll in the first direction. Thereby, the tape cassette is miniaturized in the vertical direction perpendicular to the first direction, compared to a case where at least a part of the supply shaft and at least a part of the take-up shaft are not overlapped with the print tape roll in the first direction.

A tenth aspect of the present invention includes a rotatable adhesive tape roll that is located on one side of the first direction with respect to the print tape roll, an adhesive tape that is wound for adhesion to the print tape, at least a portion of the adhesive tape roll overlapping with the print tape roll in the first direction. Thereby, the tape cassette is miniaturized in the vertical direction perpendicular to the first direction, compared to a case where at least a part of the adhesive tape roll and the print tape roll are not overlapped in the first direction.

In an eleventh aspect of the present invention, the adhesive tape roll is configured by winding the adhesive tape around an adhesive tape shaft that overlaps the print tape roll in the first direction. Thereby, the tape cassette is miniaturized in the vertical direction perpendicular to the first direction, compared to a case where the adhesive tape shaft and the print tape roll are not overlapped in the first direction.

In a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the third direction, a rotation center of the adhesive tape shaft is located between one side end portion and the other side end portion of the recess in the third direction. Thereby, the tape cassette is miniaturized in the vertical direction perpendicular to the first direction, as compared with a case where the rotation center of the adhesive tape roll is not located between the one side end portion and the other side end portion of the recess in the third direction.

In a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the second direction and the third direction, a distance from a center position of the tape cassette, which is a center in the second direction and a center in the third direction, to a rotation center of the print tape roll is smaller than a distance from the center position to the recess. Thereby, the tape cassette is miniaturized in the vertical direction perpendicular to the first direction, compared to a case where the distance from the center position of the tape cassette to the rotation center of the print tape roll is larger than the distance from the center position to the recess.

A fourteenth aspect of the present invention provides a tape cassette comprising: a print tape roll around which the print tape is wound; a spacer that abuts against the print tape roll in a first direction that is a width direction of the print tape; and an outer peripheral wall located on one side of the first direction with respect to the print tape roll and the spacer. The outer peripheral wall includes: a first sidewall extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; a second sidewall extending in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and crossing the second direction; and a recess wall defining a recess extending from the second side wall to one side of the second direction and extending in the third direction at a position on one side of the second direction with respect to the second side wall. At least a portion of the recess overlaps with the spacer in the first direction. Thus, since the first casing including the print tape roll overlaps the second casing including the recess wall in the first direction, i.e., the up-down direction, and at least a part of the recess overlaps the spacer in the first direction, the tape cassette is miniaturized in the vertical direction perpendicular to the first direction.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an upper surface side of a tape cassette according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a lower surface side of the tape cassette of fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a structure and an internal structure of a case of the tape cassette of fig. 1, separately illustrating a first case member, a second case member, a third case member, and a fourth case member constituting the case.

Fig. 4 is a front view showing an upper surface side of the first case member of fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing a lower surface side of the first case member of fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a front view showing the upper surface side of the second case member of fig. 1 and a print tape roll.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the tape cassette of fig. 1 with the first housing member removed.

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view VIII-VIII of fig. 6 showing the print tape being cradled within the ink ribbon housing from the print tape housing.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing a lower surface side of the second case member of fig. 1.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing an upper surface side of the third housing member of fig. 1.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing a lower surface side of the third case member of fig. 1.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view showing an upper surface side of the fourth housing member of fig. 1.

Fig. 13 is a bottom view showing a lower surface side of the fourth housing member of fig. 1.

Fig. 14 uses a view showing the lower surface of the third case member of fig. 1 to show the paths of the print tape pulled out from the print tape roll and the adhesive tape pulled out from the adhesive tape roll and the path of the ink ribbon pulled out from the ink ribbon, respectively.

Fig. 15 is a diagram for explaining a laminate of a printing tape and an adhesive tape fed from the tape cassette of fig. 1.

Fig. 16 is a plan view of the tape cassette of fig. 1, showing relative positions of a print tape roll, an adhesive tape roll, an ink ribbon, and a take-up shaft.

Fig. 17 is a cross-sectional view of XVII-XVII of fig. 6.

Fig. 18 is a diagram for explaining a cassette mounting section of a printing apparatus for mounting the tape cassette of fig. 1.

Fig. 19 is a perspective view showing the upper surface side of a non-laminated tape cassette according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 20 is a perspective view showing a lower surface side of the tape cassette of fig. 19.

Fig. 21 is a perspective view showing the structure and the internal structure of the case of the tape cassette of fig. 19, with a first case member, a second case member, a third case member, and a fourth case member constituting the case being shown separately.

Fig. 22 is a front view showing an upper surface side of the first housing member of the tape cassette of fig. 19.

Fig. 23 is a perspective view showing a lower surface side of the first housing member of the tape cassette of fig. 19.

Fig. 24 is a front view showing an upper surface side of the second housing member of the tape cassette of fig. 19 and a print tape roll.

Fig. 25 is a perspective view showing the tape cassette of fig. 19 with the first housing member removed.

Fig. 26 is a cross-sectional view XXVI-XXVI of fig. 24, showing a state in which the print tape is set in the ink ribbon housing from the print tape housing in the tape cassette of fig. 19.

Fig. 27 is a perspective view showing a lower surface side of the second housing member of the tape cassette of fig. 19.

Fig. 28 is a perspective view showing an upper surface side of the third housing member of the tape cassette of fig. 19.

Fig. 29 is a perspective view showing a lower surface side of the third housing member of the tape cassette of fig. 19.

Fig. 30 is a perspective view showing an upper surface side of a fourth housing member of the tape cassette of fig. 19.

Fig. 31 is a bottom view showing a lower surface side of the fourth housing member of the tape cassette of fig. 19.

Fig. 32 is a longitudinal cross section of the tape cassette of fig. 19, which is a sectional view taken along XXXII-XXXII in fig. 24.

Fig. 33 uses a view showing the lower surface of the third case member of fig. 19 to show the path of the print tape pulled out from the print tape roll and the path of the ink ribbon pulled out from the ink ribbon, respectively.

Fig. 34 is a view for explaining a laminate of a printing tape and an adhesive tape fed from the tape cassette of fig. 19.

Fig. 35 is a diagram showing relative positions of a print tape roll, an ink ribbon, and a take-up shaft and a recess of the tape cassette of fig. 19.

Fig. 36 is a perspective view showing an upper surface side of a tape cassette according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 37 is a perspective view showing a lower surface side of the tape cassette of fig. 36.

Fig. 38 is a perspective view showing the structure of the tape cassette of the embodiment of fig. 36, showing the first, second, third, and fourth case members constituting the case separately.

Fig. 39 is a front view showing an upper surface side of the first housing member of the tape cassette of fig. 36.

Fig. 40 is a perspective view showing a lower surface side of the first housing member of the tape cassette of fig. 36.

Fig. 41 is a front view showing an upper surface side of the second housing member of the tape cassette of fig. 36 and a print tape roll.

Fig. 42 is a perspective view showing a lower surface side of the second housing member of the tape cassette of fig. 36.

Fig. 43 is a perspective view showing an upper surface side of the third housing member of the tape cassette of fig. 36.

Fig. 44 is a perspective view showing a lower surface side of the third housing member of the tape cassette of fig. 36.

Fig. 45 is a perspective view showing an upper surface side of a fourth housing member of the tape cassette of fig. 36.

Fig. 46 is a bottom view showing a lower surface side of the fourth housing member of the tape cassette of fig. 36.

Fig. 47 uses a view showing the lower surface of the third housing member of fig. 36 to respectively show the path of the print tape pulled out from the print tape roll and the path of the adhesive tape pulled out from the adhesive tape roll.

Fig. 48 is a diagram for explaining a printing tape fed from the tape cassette of fig. 36.

Fig. 49 is a diagram showing relative positions of the print tape roll, the adhesive tape roll, and the concave portion of the tape cassette of fig. 36.

Fig. 50 is a perspective view showing an upper surface side of a tape cassette according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 51 is a perspective view showing a lower surface side of the tape cassette of fig. 50.

Fig. 52 is a perspective view showing the structure of the tape cassette of the embodiment of fig. 50, showing a first case member, a second case member, a third case member, and a fourth case member constituting a case separately.

Fig. 53 is a diagram for explaining a printing tape fed from the tape cassette of fig. 50.

Fig. 54 is a schematic view showing a structure of a tape cassette according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[ first embodiment ]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a tape cassette 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention from a front side, i.e., an upper surface. In the description of the present embodiment, the upper side in fig. 1 is the front side of the tape cassette 10, the lower side is the rear side of the tape cassette 10, the right side is the left side of the tape cassette 10, the left side is the right side of the tape cassette 10, the left upper side is the upper side of the tape cassette 10, and the right lower side is the lower side of the tape cassette 10. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the tape cassette 10 from the back side, i.e., the lower surface. Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the internal structure of the tape cassette 10 by separating the first, second, third and fourth housing members 12, 14, 16 and 18 of the tape cassette 10. The tape cassette 10 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole, and is detachably mounted to a cassette mounting portion 104 of a printing apparatus 102 shown in fig. 18 described later. The tape cassette 10 includes a first casing, i.e., a print tape casing 20, constituted by a first casing member 12 and a second casing member 14, and a second casing, i.e., a ribbon casing 21, constituted by a third casing member 16 and a fourth casing member 18. The first case member 12 to the fourth case member 18 are stacked and overlapped in the up-down direction shown in fig. 1. The first housing member 12, the second housing member 14, the third housing member 16, and the fourth housing member 18 are fixed to each other in a state of being overlapped with each other by engagement of a plurality of engaging claws 27 and fixing claws 28 respectively provided between the outer peripheral walls of each other and positioning of the positioning projections 29. In the present embodiment, the upper surface of each of the housing members 12 to 18 is referred to as an upper surface or a front surface, and the lower surface is referred to as a lower surface or a rear surface.

The ink ribbon housing 21 is located on one side in the up-down direction with respect to the print ribbon housing 20. In the present embodiment, the ink ribbon housing 21 is located on one side in the vertical direction, i.e., on the lower side, with respect to the print ribbon housing 20. The print tape casing 20 rotatably accommodates the print tape roll 26 in a first space S1 formed inside thereof, the print tape roll 26 winding the print tape 22 as a medium to be printed. The print tape roll 26 is configured to wind the tape-shaped print tape 22 around a print tape shaft 24 as a cylindrical shaft core member. The width direction in which the print tape 22 is wound into the print tape 22 is the up-down direction as the first direction. The radial direction of the print tape roll 26 is the front-back direction and the left-right direction, and the radial direction is the vertical direction perpendicular to the up-down direction. The vertical direction may be any direction parallel to a plane perpendicular to the up-down direction. The print tape 22, print tape spool 24, and print tape spool 26 correspond to a to-be-printed medium, print medium spool, and print medium roll.

The ink ribbon housing 21 rotatably accommodates the ink ribbon roll 72, the adhesive tape roll 64, and the take-up shaft 76, respectively, in a second space S2 formed inside thereof. The ink ribbon 68 configured in a ribbon shape with the ink ribbon roll 72 is wound by the take-up shaft 76 such that the width direction of the ink ribbon 68 is the up-down direction. The ink ribbon 68 is used for printing on the tape-like print tape 22. The take-up shaft 76 takes up the ink ribbon 68 pulled out from the ribbon roll 72. The adhesive tape roll 64 is configured such that the tape-shaped adhesive tape 60 for adhering to the printed print tape 22 is wound on the adhesive tape shaft 62 such that the width direction of the adhesive tape 60 is the up-down direction.

As shown in fig. 2, a take-up shaft support hole 94 is provided in the lower surface of the fourth housing member 18 of the tape cassette 10. The coupling hole 96 of the winding shaft 76, which will be described later, is exposed through the winding shaft support hole 94. When the tape cassette 10 is mounted in the cassette mounting section 104 of the printing apparatus 102, the take-up shaft drive shaft 108 provided in the cassette mounting section 104 is inserted into the coupling hole 96. Further, a recess 99 is formed in the side surfaces of the third and fourth case members 16 and 18, that is, in a part of the outer peripheral wall 16w of the ribbon case 21 and a part of the outer peripheral wall of the second case member 14. When the tape cassette 10 is mounted on the cassette mounting section 104 of the printing apparatus 102, a print head 106, which will be described later, provided on the cassette mounting section 104 is inserted into the recess 99. As shown in fig. 2, the upper end of the recess 99 is defined by the surface of the lower side of the second case member 14.

Fig. 4 is a front view showing the upper surface side of the first case member 12, and fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the lower surface side of the first case member 12. Fig. 6 is a front view showing the upper surface side of the second case member 14 and the print tape roll. In fig. 6, the print tape 22 pulled out from the print tape roll 26 is omitted. Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the upper surface side of the second case member 14. Fig. 8 is a sectional view VIII-VIII of fig. 6, showing a state in which the print tape 22 is housed in the ink ribbon housing 21 from the inside of the print tape housing 20. Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing the lower surface side of the second case member 14, fig. 10 is a perspective view showing the upper surface side of the third case member 16, and fig. 11 is a perspective view showing the lower surface side of the third case member 16. Fig. 12 is a perspective view showing the upper surface side of the fourth housing member 18, and fig. 13 is a bottom view showing the lower surface side of the fourth housing member 18.

In the first space S1 between the first case member 12 and the second case member 14, the print tape roll 26 is accommodated so as to be rotatable about a first rotation center line C1 parallel to the up-down direction. The first rotation center line C1 is not only the rotation center of the print tape roll 26 but also the rotation center of the print tape shaft 24. The first case member 12 and the second case member 14 are rectangular, and the first rotation center line C1 is located slightly to the right of the center in the left-right direction as the second direction in the first case member 12 and the second case member 14, and is located in the vicinity of the substantial center in the front-rear direction as the third direction. For example, as shown in fig. 15, the print tape 22 is configured by laminating a release tape 22c on the surface of the print target tape 22a opposite to the print surface via an adhesive 22 b.

As shown in fig. 3 and 5, on the lower surface side of the first case member 12, a cylindrical first support protrusion 30 and a first circumferential wall 34 are provided. The first support projection 30 is inserted into the cylindrical print tape shaft 24, and rotatably supports the print tape roll 26. The inner diameter of the first circumferential wall 34 is greater than the outer diameter of the print tape roll 26. The first support projections 30 and the first circumferential wall 34 are provided to project downward from the lower surface side of the first case member 12 in a state of having the same center line as the first rotation center line C1. As shown in fig. 6 and 7, on the upper surface side of the second case member 14, a cylindrical second support protrusion 32 and a second circumferential wall 36 are provided. The second support projection 32 is inserted into the cylindrical print tape shaft 24, and rotatably supports the print tape roll 26. The second circumferential wall 36 has an inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of the print tape roll 26. The second support projections 32 and the second circumferential wall 36 are provided to project upward from the upper surface side of the second housing member 14 in a state of having the same center line as the first rotation center line C1. The print tape roll 26 is disposed between the first case member 12 and the second case member 14 in a state where circular spacers 38 having an outer diameter substantially the same as that of the print tape roll 26 are respectively positioned above and below the print tape roll 26. The spacer 38 is used to smoothly rotate the print tape roll 26, and is made of a tetrafluoroethylene resin sheet, for example.

As shown in fig. 5 and 6, on the lower surface side of the first case member 12 and the upper surface side of the second case member 14, print tape doors 40, 42 for pulling out the print tape 22 from a certain position from the print tape roll 26 are formed by cutting out a part of the first circumferential wall 34 and the second circumferential wall 36. As shown in fig. 7, on the upper surface side of the second housing member 14, a guide wall 50 extending leftward from the left end of the print tape door 42 is formed for guiding the print tape 22 drawn from the print tape roll 26 in a certain direction.

As shown in fig. 6, the guide wall 50 extending leftward from the left end of the print tape door 42 is bent rearward toward the long side portion 46b before reaching the short side portion 46a of the outer peripheral wall 46, extends along the second peripheral wall 36, and is connected to the long side portion 46 b.

As shown in fig. 6, a through hole 52 is formed in the bottom plate 14a of the second case member 14 to extend in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction along the guide wall 50 and the long side portion 46b of the outer peripheral wall 46 and to have a substantially L-shape in front view. In the bottom plate 14a, between the portion of the second circumferential wall 36 opposed to the guide wall 50 and the long side portion 46b and the through hole 52, a plurality of guide ribs 54 are formed. The plurality of guide ribs 54 guide the print tape 22, which is pulled out from the print tape roll 26 and passes through the print tape doors 40, 42, into the through hole 52.

Fig. 7 shows the tape cassette 10 with the first housing member 12 removed. As shown in fig. 7, the print tape 22 pulled out from the print tape roll 26 is guided into the second space S2 between the third case member 16 and the fourth case member 18 through the through hole 52. The print tape 22 is bridged between the print tape housing 20 and the ink ribbon housing 21 through a through hole 52 formed in the bottom plate 14a, the bottom plate 14a serving to partition the first space S1 and the second space S2.

As shown in fig. 8, the print tape 22 is skewed from within the print tape housing 20 into the ink ribbon housing 21 by passing through the through hole 52. More specifically, as shown in fig. 14 described later, the print tape 22 rides in the recess 99 of the ribbon housing 21. Fig. 9 shows the lower surface side of the second case member 14. As shown in fig. 9, the through hole 52 is opened in the rear surface of the bottom plate 14a of the second case member 14, and a guide wall 56 is provided vertically along the through hole 52. Fig. 10 shows the upper surface side of the third case member 16. In the top plate 16e of the third case member 16, there are formed a through hole 58, an adhesive tape roll support hole 66, a ribbon support hole 74, a take-up shaft support hole 78, and a roller support hole 82. A through hole 58 is formed at a position corresponding to the through hole 52 of the second case member 14 for passing the print tape 22 pulled out from the print tape roll 26 to the second space S2. That is, a part of the through hole 52 and a part of the through hole 58 overlap each other in the vertical direction.

The bottom plate 14a of the second case member 14 and the top plate 16e of the third case member 16 partition a first space S1 in the print tape case 20 and a second space S2 in the ink ribbon case 21.

The adhesive tape roll support hole 66 is fitted into one end of the adhesive tape shaft 62 around which the adhesive tape 60 is wound, and supports the adhesive tape roll 64 so as to be rotatable about a second rotation center line C2 parallel to the first rotation center line C1. The second rotation center line C2 is not only the rotation center of the adhesive tape roll 64 but also the rotation center of the adhesive tape shaft 62. As shown in fig. 15, the adhesive tape 60 for protecting the printing surface of the print tape 22 is made of a transparent film 60a whose surface in contact with the printing surface is coated with an adhesive 60 b. One end of the supply shaft 70 around which the ink ribbon 68 is wound is fitted into the ribbon support hole 74, so that the ribbon support hole 74 supports the ink ribbon roll 72 in a rotatable manner about a third rotation center line C3 parallel to the first rotation center line C1. The third rotation center line C3 is not only the rotation center of the ink ribbon roll 72 but also the rotation center of the supply shaft 70. One end of the take-up shaft 76 that takes up the ink ribbon 68 pulled out of the ribbon roll 72 is fitted into the take-up shaft support hole 78, so that the take-up shaft support hole 78 supports the take-up shaft 76 rotatably about a fourth rotation center line C4 parallel to the first rotation center line C1. The fourth rotation center line C4 is the rotation center of the take-up shaft 24. In order to press the printing surface of the printing tape 22 and the adhesive surface of the adhesive tape 60 together, the roller 80 presses the printing tape 22 and the adhesive tape 60 between them and the roller of the printing apparatus 102, and one end of the roller 80 is fitted into the roller support hole 82, so that the roller support hole 82 supports the roller 80 in a manner rotatable about a fifth rotation center line C5 parallel to the first rotation center line C1.

As shown in fig. 11, a tape roll holding wall 84, a ribbon roll holding wall 86, a cylindrical protrusion 88, and an arc-shaped wall 92 are formed on the lower surface of the third case member 16. The adhesive tape roll holding wall 84 and the arc-shaped wall 92 are used to determine the arrangement position of the adhesive tape roll 64, and are formed in an arc shape surrounding the adhesive tape roll support hole 66 with the adhesive tape roll support hole 66 as the center. The ribbon roll holding wall 86 is formed in an arc shape surrounding the winding shaft support hole 78 with the winding shaft support hole 78 as a center, for determining the ribbon roll arrangement position of the ink ribbon 68 wound around the winding shaft 76. The cylindrical protrusion 88 is formed to protrude downward from the periphery of the ribbon support hole 74 and the head end surface has irregularities arranged in the circumferential direction. Further, on the lower surface of the third housing member 16, there is provided a support protrusion 93, and the support protrusion 93 rotatably supports the upper end portion of the adhesion preventing roller 91 for preventing the adhesion of the adhesive tape 60. Further, as shown in fig. 12, on the upper surface of the fourth housing member 18, there is provided a support protrusion 95, and the support protrusion 95 supports the lower end portion of the adhesion-preventing roller 91 in such a manner as to be able to be coupled to the lower end portion of the adhesion-preventing roller 91.

As shown in fig. 3, a clutch spring holding portion 90 that accommodates a clutch spring is fitted on the other end of the supply shaft 70 that winds the ink ribbon 68, and the supply shaft 70 applies an appropriate rotational resistance to the ink ribbon roll 72 by the clutch spring located in the clutch spring holding portion 90.

Fig. 12 and 13 show the upper and lower surfaces of the fourth housing member 18. The fourth housing member 18 is formed with a winding shaft support hole 94 therethrough, the other end of the winding shaft 76 is fitted into the winding shaft support hole 94, and the winding shaft support hole 94 rotatably supports the winding shaft 76. The fourth housing member 18 is formed with a cylindrical support projection 97, the other end of the supply shaft 70 is fitted into the support projection 97, and the support projection 97 rotatably supports the supply shaft 70. A coupling hole 96 formed on the end surface of the other end side of the take-up shaft 76 is exposed to the lower surface of the fourth housing member 18 through the take-up shaft support hole 94, as shown in fig. 2. When the tape cassette 10 is mounted on the printing apparatus 102, a winding shaft driving shaft 108 of the printing apparatus 102, which will be described later, is inserted into the coupling hole 96 and coupled to the winding shaft 76, and the winding shaft 76 is driven to rotate by the driving shaft.

The fourth housing member 18 is provided with a roller exposure hole 98 at a position corresponding to the roller support hole 82 formed in the third housing member 16, and the roller exposure hole 98 exposes the shaft end of the roller 80. The coupling portion 80a of the roller 80 formed at the end portion on the fourth housing member 18 side is exposed to the lower surface of the fourth housing member 18 through the roller exposure hole 98, as shown in fig. 2. When the tape cassette 10 is mounted on the printing apparatus 102, a roller drive shaft 110 of the printing apparatus 102 described later is coupled to the coupling portion 80a, and the roller 80 is rotationally driven by the roller drive shaft 110.

As shown in fig. 2 and 11, a recess 99 is formed in the ink ribbon housing 21 formed by the third housing member 16 and the fourth housing member 18, the recess 99 accommodating a head holding plate 114 when the tape cassette 10 is mounted in the cassette mounting section 104 shown in fig. 18, the head holding plate 114 holding the head 106 provided upright on the cassette mounting section 104. As shown in fig. 11, in a part of the outer peripheral wall 16w of the third case member 16: a first side wall 16a extending in a front-rear direction, which is a second direction perpendicular to the up-down direction corresponding to the stacking direction; a second side wall 16b extending in a third direction perpendicular to the up-down direction and the front-rear direction, that is, in the left-right direction, from a front end portion of the first side wall 16 a; and a U-shaped recess wall 16c surrounding the recess 99. The recess wall 16c is constituted by an inner wall 16h extending in the left-right direction opposite to the second side wall 16b in the front-rear direction, an inner wall 16i extending rearward from a right end of the inner wall 16h, an inner wall 16j extending leftward from a rear end of the inner wall 16i, and an inner wall 16k extending forward from a left end of the inner wall 16 j. The recess 99 is defined by the second side wall 16b and the recess wall 16c to extend rearward from the left end of the second side wall 16b and to extend in the left-right direction rearward of the second side wall 16 b. As shown in fig. 12 and 13, the fourth housing member 18 is formed with a U-shaped cutout 18a corresponding to the recessed wall portion 16 c. The recess 99 is formed by the recess wall 16c and the cutout 18 a. As shown in fig. 2, a portion of the upper end of the recess 99 is defined by the lower surface of the second housing member 14. That is, the recess 99 overlaps with the second case member 14 and the first case member 12 in the up-down direction.

Fig. 14 shows a lower surface of the third housing member 16 when the tape cassette 10 is mounted in the cassette mounting section 104 of the printing apparatus 102. As described above, the print tape 22 is pulled out from the print tape roll 26, and is tilted from the first space S1 in the print tape housing 20 to the second space S2 in the ink ribbon housing 21 through the through hole 52 and the through hole 58. Thus, in fig. 14 showing the third housing member 16, the print tape 22 is shown from the through hole 58 at the rear of the third housing member 16. As shown in fig. 14, the print tape 22 and the adhesive tape 60 are nipped with pressure by the roller 80 and the pressure roller 118 of the printing apparatus 102, and are pulled out from the print tape roll 26 and the adhesive tape roll 64, respectively, by the driving of the roller 80. The ink ribbon 68 is pulled out from the ribbon roll 72 by driving the take-up shaft 76, and is taken up on the take-up shaft 76. Fig. 14 shows the conveyance paths of the print tape 22, the ink ribbon 68, and the adhesive tape 60. The print tape 22 is indicated by a two-dot chain line, the adhesive tape 60 is indicated by a broken line, and the ink ribbon 68 is indicated by a one-dot chain line.

As shown in fig. 14, when the take-up shaft 76 and the roller 80 are rotationally driven, the print tape 22 and the ink ribbon 68 are discharged from the discharge port 130 toward the print position P in an overlapped state. The discharge port 130 is a gap defined by the left end portion of the second side wall 16b and the left end portion of the side wall 16h, penetrating in the left-right direction. At a printing position P between the print head 106 and the platen roller 116, the print tape 22 is pressed against the print head 106 via the ink ribbon 68. In this state, the plurality of heat generating elements arranged on the surface of the print head 106 are selectively driven to generate heat locally, whereby a part of the ink 68a provided on one surface of the ink ribbon 68 is transferred to the print tape 22, and characters, symbols, and the like are printed on the print tape 22. The used ink ribbon 68 that has passed through the printing position P is fed from the inlet 132 into the ribbon housing 21 and wound up on the winding shaft 76. The input port 132 is located to the left of the exhaust port 130 and is provided in the third housing member 16. The roller 80 presses and adheres the transparent adhesive tape 60 to the print surface of the print tape 22 that has passed the print position P. Thereby, the printing surface of the print tape 22 is protected by the adhesive tape 60.

Fig. 15 schematically illustrates a laminated body of the print tape 22 and the adhesive tape 60 fed out from the tape cassette 10. The adhesive tape 60, which is composed of a transparent film 60a coated with an adhesive 60b on one surface, is adhered to the print tape 22 on the print tape 22a side, i.e., the print surface side. Thereby, the ink 68a transferred to the print surface of the print tape 22 is protected. The sizes and size ratios and the like of the respective constituent parts 22a to 22c, 60a, 60b, 68a of the laminated body in fig. 15 are merely illustrative, and are not accurate.

Fig. 16 is a view showing a lower surface of the third case member 16. In the second space S2 between the third case member 16 and the fourth case member 18, i.e., in the ink ribbon case 21, the adhesive tape roll 64, the ink ribbon roll 72, the take-up shaft 76, and the roller 80 are accommodated. As described above, the ribbon housing 21 is arranged to overlap below with respect to the print ribbon housing 20. When the print tape roll 26 and the spacer 38 accommodated in the print tape housing 20 are projected in the up-down direction onto the projection surface extending in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction within the second space S2, the projected positions of the print tape roll 26 and the spacer 38 are indicated by the one-dot chain lines in fig. 16. Since the spacer 38 has substantially the same diameter as the print tape roll 26, only the one-dot chain line showing the print tape roll 26 is shown in fig. 16. As shown in fig. 16, the adhesive tape roll 64, the ribbon roll 72, and the take-up shaft 76 are arranged at positions overlapping the print tape roll 26 in the vertical direction. At least a portion of the adhesive tape roll 64 and at least a portion of the adhesive tape shaft 62 overlap the print tape roll 26 in the up-down direction. More specifically, a part of the adhesive tape roll 64 and a part of the adhesive tape shaft 62 overlap the print tape shaft 24 and the print tape 22 wound on the print tape shaft 24, respectively, in the up-down direction.

In fig. 16, the print tape roll 26 and the spacer 38 having substantially the same diameter overlap in the up-down direction with at least a portion of the adhesive tape roll 64 having the adhesive tape shaft 62 and the second rotation center line C2 thereof, at least a portion of the ink tape roll 72 and the third rotation center line C3 thereof, at least a portion of the take-up shaft 76 and the fourth rotation center line C4 thereof, the recess 99, and at least a portion of the recess wall 16C. In the case where the print tape roll 26 and the spacer 38 are projected in the up-down direction, the adhesive tape roll 64 and the second rotation center line C2 thereof, the ribbon roll 72 and the third rotation center line C3 thereof, the winding shaft 76 and the fourth rotation center line C4 thereof, the concave portion 99, and the concave portion wall 16C are located within the plane of projection of the print tape roll 26 and the spacer 38. Further, the recess 99 and at least a part of the recess wall 16c overlap the print tape shaft 24 in the up-down direction. Further, in the left-right direction, a portion of the print tape roll 26 and the first rotation center line C1 as the rotation center of the print tape shaft 24 are located between the right end portion 99a, which is one side end portion in the left-right direction, and the left end portion 99b, which is the other side end portion of the recessed portion 99. Further, the first rotation center line C1 as the rotation center of the print tape shaft 24 is located between the discharge port 130 and the right side end portion 99a of the recessed portion 99 in the left-right direction. Further, the adhesive tape shaft 62 is located between the right and left side end portions 99a and 99b of the recess 99 in the left-right direction. In particular, the second rotation center line C2, which is the rotation center of the adhesive tape roll 62, is located between the right-side end 99a of the recessed portion 99 and the discharge port 130 in the left-right direction. Further, in fig. 16, in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction, the distance from the center position M, which is the center in the front-rear direction of the tape cassette 10 and the center in the left-right direction, to the first rotation center line C1 of the print tape roll 26 is set to be smaller than the distance from the center position M to the recessed portion 99.

Fig. 17 is a cross-sectional view of XVII-XVII of fig. 6. In the up-down direction, a distance D between one side (lower side) end of the print tape roll 26 in the up-down direction and the other side (upper side) end of the adhesive tape roll 64 in the up-down direction is smaller than the width dimension W1 of the adhesive tape 60. Since the print tape 22 and the adhesive tape 60 have the same width dimension, the distance D is smaller than the width dimension of the print tape roll 26.

Fig. 18 illustrates a cartridge mounting section 104 provided in a part of the printing apparatus 102 included in the printing system 122. The cartridge mounting section 104 is provided with a rectangular positioning hole 112 for positioning the inserted cartridge 10, and a take-up shaft drive shaft 108 and a roller drive shaft 110 provided upright on the lower surface of the positioning hole 112. The positioning hole 112 serves as a housing portion that houses a part of the ink ribbon housing 21 as a lower housing of the tape cartridge 10. The take-up shaft drive shaft 108 and the roller drive shaft 110 are rotationally driven in the same direction by a stepping motor, not shown, via a gear mechanism. A head holding plate 114 to which a thermal head (thermal head) 106 is fixed is provided so as to stand on the lower surface of the positioning hole 112 of the cartridge mounting section 104, a platen roller holding member 120 is provided so as to be rotatable around a base end portion, and a platen roller 116 and a pressure roller 118 are provided rotatably at a head end portion of the platen roller holding member 120. The head holding plate 114 is, for example, a metal plate made of aluminum, and also serves as a heat sink for the print head.

When the tape cassette 10 is mounted to the cassette mounting section 104 of the printing apparatus 102, the take-up shaft drive shaft 108 and the roller drive shaft 110 provided upright on the cassette mounting section 104 are coupled to the take-up shaft 76 and the roller 80. Next, when a cover, not shown, of the printing apparatus 102 is closed in a state where the tape cassette 10 is mounted in the cassette mounting section 104, the platen roller holding member 120 rotates around its base end portion, and the platen roller 116 and the pressure roller 118 are pressed toward the print head 106 and the roller 80 of the tape cassette 10. The printing device 102 and the tape cassette 10 constitute a printing system 122.

The tape cassette 10 of the present embodiment includes: a print tape roll 26 on which the print tape 22 as a print medium is wound so as to be rotatable; and an outer peripheral wall 16w located on one side (lower side) in the width direction of the print tape 22, i.e., the first direction, with respect to the print tape roll 26, and having a first side wall 16a extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, a second side wall 16b extending in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and intersecting the second direction, and a recess wall 16c for defining a recess 99 extending in the third direction from the second side wall 16b on the side in the second direction. At least a portion of the recess 99 overlaps the print tape roll 26 in the first direction. Thus, since the print tape roll 26 overlaps the recess wall 16c on the lower side thereof in the first direction, i.e., the up-down direction, and at least a part of the recess 99 overlaps the print tape roll 26 in the first direction, the tape cassette 10 is miniaturized in the vertical direction perpendicular to the up-down direction.

In the tape cassette 10 of the present embodiment, the print tape roll 26 winds the print tape 22 around the rotatable print tape shaft 24, and at least a part of the recess wall 16c overlaps the print tape shaft 24 in the first direction. Thereby, the tape cassette 10 is miniaturized in the vertical direction perpendicular to the up-down direction, compared to a case where at least a part of the recess wall 16c does not overlap the printing tape shaft 24 in the first direction.

In the tape cassette 10 of the present embodiment, at least a part of the recess 99 overlaps the printing tape shaft 24 in the first direction. Thereby, the tape cassette 10 is miniaturized in the vertical direction perpendicular to the vertical direction, compared to a case where at least a part of the recess 99 does not overlap with the printing tape shaft 24 in the first direction.

In the tape cassette 10 of the present embodiment, the first rotation center line C1, which is the rotation center of the print tape roll 26, is located between the third-direction one-side end portion 16a and the other-side end portion 16b of the recess 99 in the third direction. Thereby, the tape cassette 10 is downsized in the vertical direction perpendicular to the vertical direction, compared to the case where it is not positioned between the one side end portion and the other side end portion of the recess 99 in the third direction.

In the tape cassette 10 of the present embodiment, the printing tape roll 26 winds the printing tape 22 around the rotatable printing tape shaft 24, and at least a part of the printing tape shaft 24 is positioned between one side end portion and the other side end portion of the recess 99 in the third direction. Thereby, the tape cassette 10 is downsized in the vertical direction perpendicular to the vertical direction, compared to a case where at least a part of the printing tape shaft 24 is not located between the one side end portion 16a and the other side end portion 16b of the recess 99 in the third direction.

In the tape cassette 10 of the present embodiment, the first rotation center line C1, which is the rotation center of the tape shaft 24, is located between the discharge port 130 and the end of the recess 99 on the third direction side in the third direction. Thus, the tape cassette 10 is smaller in the vertical direction perpendicular to the vertical direction, compared to a case where the first rotation center line C1, which is not the print tape shaft 24, is located between the discharge port 130 and the third-direction one-side end portion of the recess 99.

The tape cassette 10 of the present embodiment includes a print tape casing (first casing) 20 accommodating a print tape roll 26, and an ink ribbon casing (second casing) 21 located on the first direction side with respect to the print tape casing 20 and having an outer peripheral wall 16 w. The ribbon housing 21 includes a discharge port 130, the discharge port 130 being defined by the second side wall 16b, between the third-direction one-side end portion 16a and the other-side end portion 16b of the recess 99 in the third direction, for discharging the print tape 22 fed from the print tape roll 26 from the print tape housing 20 to the recess 99. In the third direction, the first rotation center line C1, which is the rotation center of the print tape roll 26, is located between the discharge port 130 and the third-direction one-side end portion of the concave portion 99. Thereby, the tape cassette 10 is downsized in the vertical direction perpendicular to the vertical direction, compared to the case where the first rotation center line C1 of the print tape roll 26 is not located between the discharge port 130 and the third direction one side end portion 16a of the concave portion 99 in the third direction.

In the tape cassette 10 of the present embodiment, the recess 99 overlaps at least a part of the print tape housing (first housing) 20 in the first direction. Thereby, the tape cassette is miniaturized in the vertical direction perpendicular to the vertical direction, compared to a case where the recess 99 does not overlap at least a part of the print tape housing (first housing) 20 in the first direction.

The tape cassette 10 of the present embodiment includes: a rotatable supply shaft 70 located on the first direction side with respect to the print tape roll 26, and on which the ink ribbon 68 for printing the print tape 22 supplied from the print tape roll 26 is wound; and a rotatable take-up shaft 76 located on the first direction side with respect to the print tape roll 26, and taking up the ink ribbon 68 supplied from the supply shaft 70. At least a portion of the supply shaft 70 and at least a portion of the take-up shaft 76 overlap the print ribbon roll 26 in the first direction. Thereby, the tape cassette 10 is miniaturized in the vertical direction perpendicular to the up-down direction, compared to a case where at least a part of the supply shaft 70 and at least a part of the take-up shaft 76 do not overlap with the print tape roll 26 in the first direction.

The tape cassette 10 of the present embodiment includes a rotatable adhesive tape roll 64, and the adhesive tape roll 64 is located on the first direction side with respect to the print tape roll 26, and winds the adhesive tape 60 for adhering to the print tape 22. At least a portion of the roll of adhesive tape 64 overlaps the roll of print tape 26 in the first direction. Thereby, the tape cassette 10 is miniaturized in the vertical direction perpendicular to the up-down direction, compared to a case where at least a part of the adhesive tape roll 64 and the print tape roll 26 do not overlap in the first direction.

In the tape cassette 10 of the present embodiment, the adhesive tape roll 64 is configured by winding the adhesive tape 60 around the adhesive tape shaft 62. The adhesive tape shaft 62 overlaps the print tape roll 26 in the first direction. Thereby, the tape cassette 10 is miniaturized in the vertical direction perpendicular to the up-down direction, compared to the case where the adhesive tape shaft 62 and the print tape roll 26 are not overlapped in the first direction.

In the tape cassette 10 of the present embodiment, the second rotation center line C2, which is the rotation center of the adhesive tape roll 62, is located between the third-direction one-side end portion and the other-side end portion 16b of the concave portion 99 in the third direction. Thereby, the tape cassette 10 is downsized in the vertical direction perpendicular to the vertical direction, compared to a case where the second rotation center line C2 of the adhesive tape roll 62 is not located between the one side end portion and the other side end portion 16b of the concave portion 99 in the third direction.

In the tape cassette 10 of the present embodiment, in the second direction and the third direction, a distance from a center position M, which is a center of the tape cassette 10 in the second direction and a center in the third direction, to the first rotation center line C1 of the print tape roll 26 is smaller than a distance from the center position M to the recessed portion 99. Thereby, the tape cassette 10 is miniaturized in the vertical direction perpendicular to the up-down direction, compared to the case where the distance from the center position M of the tape cassette 10 to the first rotation center line C1 of the print tape roll 26 is larger than the distance from the center position M to the concave portion 99.

The tape cassette 10 of the present embodiment includes: a print tape roll 26 on which the print tape 22 is wound; a spacer 38 abutting against the print tape roll 26 in the first direction; a first side wall 16a extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; a second side wall 16b extending in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and crossing the second direction; and a recess wall 16c formed in a U-shape for defining the recess 99, the recess 99 extending from the second side wall 16b to the second direction side, and extending in the third direction on the second direction side (left side in fig. 16) of the second side wall 16b, wherein the first side wall 16a, the second side wall 16b, and the recess wall 16c are portions of the outer peripheral wall 16w located on the first direction side with respect to the print tape roll 26 and the spacer 38. At least a portion of the recess 99 overlaps the spacer 38 in the first direction. Thus, since at least a part of the recess 99 overlaps the spacer 38 in the first direction, the tape cassette 10 is miniaturized in the vertical direction perpendicular to the vertical direction.

[ second embodiment ]

Next, other embodiments of the present invention will be explained. In the following description, portions common to each other in the respective embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

Fig. 19 is a perspective view showing a non-laminated tape cassette 210 without using an adhesive tape roll 64 according to another embodiment of the present invention from the front side, i.e., the upper surface, and fig. 20 is a perspective view showing the tape cassette 210 from the rear side, i.e., the lower surface. The tape cassette 210 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole and is detachably mounted to a printer having the same structure as that of fig. 18 except for a slightly different size and excluding the roller drive shaft 110. This printer will be described below using the printing apparatus 102 of fig. 18. The tape cassette 210 of the present embodiment is a non-lamination type tape cassette that does not include the adhesive tape roll 64 and the roller 80, and is therefore smaller than the tape cassette 10 of the lamination type. The tape cassette 210 includes a print tape casing 220, which is a first casing formed of a first casing member 212 and a second casing member 214, and a tape casing 221, which is a second casing formed of a third casing member 216 and a fourth casing member 218, in the same manner as the tape cassette 10. The first housing member 212 to the fourth housing member 218 are stacked in the up-down direction shown in fig. 18. The first housing member 212, the second housing member 214, the third housing member 216, and the fourth housing member 218 are fixed to each other in a state of being overlapped with each other by engagement of a plurality of engagement claws 227 and fixing claws 228, and positioning of positioning protrusions 229, which are respectively provided between the outer peripheral walls of each other. In the present embodiment, the upper surface of each of the housing members 212 to 218 is referred to as an upper surface or a front surface, and the lower surface is referred to as a lower surface or a rear surface.

The ribbon housing 221 is located on one side in the up-down direction with respect to the print ribbon housing 220. In the present embodiment, the ink ribbon housing 221 is located on one side in the vertical direction, i.e., on the lower side, with respect to the print ribbon housing 220. The print tape housing 220 rotatably accommodates a print tape roll 226 in a first space S1 formed inside thereof, the print tape roll 226 winding a print tape 222 as a medium to be printed. The print tape roll 226 is configured to wind the tape-like print tape 222 around a print tape shaft 224 as a cylindrical shaft core member. The width direction in which the print tape 222 is wound is the up-down direction as the first direction. The radial direction of the print tape roll 226 is the front-back direction and the left-right direction, and the radial direction is the vertical direction perpendicular to the up-down direction. The vertical direction may be any direction parallel to a plane perpendicular to the up-down direction. The print tape 222, print tape spool 224, and print tape spool 226 correspond to a to-be-printed medium, print medium spool, and print medium roll. The ink ribbon housing 221 rotatably accommodates the ink ribbon roll 272 and the take-up shaft 272 in a second space S2 formed inside thereof. The ink ribbon 268, which is configured in a ribbon shape, of the ink ribbon roll 272 is wound by a winding shaft 276 such that the width direction of the ink ribbon 268 is the up-down direction. The ink ribbon 268 is used for printing on the ribbon-like print tape 222. The take-up shaft 276 takes up the ink ribbon 268 pulled out from the ribbon roll 272.

As shown in fig. 20, a take-up shaft support hole 294 is provided in the lower surface of the fourth housing member 218 of the tape cassette 210. The coupling hole 296 of the winding shaft 276, which will be described later, is exposed through the winding shaft support hole 294. When the tape cassette 210 is mounted in the cassette mounting section 104 of the printing apparatus 102, the take-up shaft drive shaft 108 provided in the cassette mounting section 104 is inserted into the coupling hole 296. Further, on the side surfaces of the third and fourth case members 216 and 218, that is, on a part of the outer peripheral wall 216w of the ribbon case 221 and a part of the outer peripheral wall of the second case member 214, a recess 299 is formed. When the tape cassette 210 is mounted in the cassette mounting section 104 of the printing apparatus 102, the print head 106 provided in the cassette mounting section 104 is inserted into the recess 299. As shown in fig. 20, the upper end of the recess 299 is defined by the surface of the underside of the second housing member 214.

Fig. 21 is a perspective view for explaining the internal structure of the tape cassette 210, showing the first housing member 212, the second housing member 214, the third housing member 216, and the fourth housing member 218 separated. Fig. 22 is a front view showing an upper surface side of the first case member 212, and fig. 23 is a perspective view showing a lower surface side of the first case member 212. Fig. 24 is a perspective view showing the upper surface side of the second housing member 214, fig. 25 is a perspective view showing the lower surface side of the second housing member 214, and fig. 26 is a sectional view taken from XXVI to XXVI of fig. 24, showing a state in which the print tape 222 is housed in the ink ribbon housing 221 from inside the print tape housing 220. Fig. 27 is a side view showing the lower surface side of the second case member 214. Fig. 28 is a perspective view showing the upper surface side of the third case member 216, and fig. 29 is a perspective view showing the lower surface side of the third case member 216. Fig. 30 is a perspective view showing the upper surface side of the fourth housing member 218, and fig. 31 is a bottom view showing the lower surface side of the fourth housing member 218.

In the first space S1 between the first case member 212 and the second case member 214, the print tape roll 226 is accommodated so as to be rotatable about a first rotation center line C1 parallel to the up-down direction. The first and second case members 212, 214 are rectangular, and the first rotation center line C1 is located slightly to the right of the center in the left-right direction as the second direction in the first and second case members 212, 214 and is located in the vicinity of the substantial center in the front-rear direction as the third direction. For example, as shown in fig. 34, the print tape 222 is configured by laminating a release tape 222c on the surface of the print target tape 222a opposite to the print surface via an adhesive 222 b.

As shown in fig. 21 and 23, on the lower surface side of the first housing member 212, a cylindrical first support protrusion 230 and a first circumferential wall 234 are provided. The first support protrusion 230 is inserted into the cylindrical print tape spool 224, and rotatably supports the print tape roll 226. The inner diameter of the first circumferential wall 234 is larger than the outer diameter of the print tape roll 226. The first support protrusions 230 and the first circumferential wall 234 are provided to protrude downward from the lower surface side of the first case member 212 in a state of having the same center line as the first rotation center line C1. As shown in fig. 24 and 25, on the upper surface side of the second case member 214, a cylindrical second support protrusion 232 and a second circumferential wall 236 are provided. The second support protrusion 232 is inserted into the cylindrical print tape spool 224, and rotatably supports the print tape roll 226. The second circumferential wall 236 has an inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of the print tape roll 226. The second support protrusion 232 and the second circumferential wall 236 are provided to protrude upward from the upper surface side of the second case member 214 in a state of having the same center line as the first rotation center line C1. The print tape roll 226 is disposed between the first case member 212 and the second case member 214 in a state where circular spacers 238 having an outer diameter substantially the same as that of the print tape roll 226 are respectively positioned above and below the print tape roll 226.

As shown in fig. 23 and 24, on the lower surface side of the first case member 212 and the upper surface side of the second case member 214, print tape doors 40, 42 for pulling out the print tape 222 from a certain position from the print tape roll 226 are formed by cutting out a part of the first circumferential wall 234 and the second circumferential wall 236. As shown in fig. 23, on the lower surface side of the first housing member 212, a guide wall 248 extending leftward from the print tape door 240 is formed for guiding the print tape 222 pulled out from the print tape roll 226 in a certain direction. As shown in fig. 24, on the upper surface side of the second case member 214, a guide wall 250 extending leftward from the left end of the print tape door 242 is formed for guiding the print tape 222 pulled out from the print tape roll 226 in a certain direction.

As shown in fig. 24, a through hole 252 extending in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction between the second circumferential wall 236 and the short side portion 246a and the long side portion 246b of the outer circumferential wall 246 and having a substantially L-shape in front view is formed in the bottom plate 214a of the second case member 214. Between the through hole 252 and portions of the second circumferential wall 236 that are opposed to the corners of the short side portions 246a and the long side portions 246b, a plurality of guide ribs 254 are formed. The plurality of guide ribs 254 guide the print tape 222 drawn out from the print tape spool 226 and sent out through the print tape doors 240, 242 into the through hole 252. Fig. 25 shows the tape cassette 210 with the first housing member 212 removed. As shown in fig. 25, the print tape 222 pulled out from the print tape roll 226 is guided into the second space S2 between the third case member 216 and the fourth case member 218 through the through hole 252. The print tape 222 is bridged between the print tape housing 220 and the ribbon housing 221 through a through hole 252 formed in the bottom plate 214a, the bottom plate 214a serving to partition the first space S1 and the second space S2.

As shown in fig. 26, the print ribbon 222 is skewed from within the print ribbon housing 220 into the ribbon housing 221 by passing through the through hole 252. More specifically, as shown in fig. 33 described later, the print tape 222 rides in a recess 299 of the ribbon housing 221. Fig. 27 shows the lower surface side of the second case member 214. As shown in fig. 27, the through hole 252 is opened in the rear surface of the bottom plate 214a of the second housing member 214, and a guide wall 256 is provided vertically along the through hole 252. Fig. 28 shows the upper surface side of the third case member 216. On the top plate 216e of the third case member 216, a through hole 258, a ribbon support hole 274, and a take-up shaft support hole 278 are formed. A through hole 258 is formed at a position corresponding to the through hole 252 of the second case member 214 for passing the print tape 222 pulled out from the print tape roll 226 to the second space S2. That is, a part of the through-hole 252 and a part of the through-hole 258 overlap each other in the vertical direction.

The bottom plate 214a of the second case member 214 and the top plate 216e of the third case member 216 partition a first space S1 in the print tape case 220 and a second space S2 in the ribbon case 221.

One end of the supply shaft 270 around which the ink ribbon 268 is wound is fitted into the ribbon support hole 274, so that the ribbon support hole 274 supports the ink ribbon roll 272 rotatably about a third rotation center line C3 parallel to the first rotation center line C1. One end of a take-up shaft 276 that takes up the ink ribbon 268 pulled out from the ribbon roll 272 is fitted into the take-up shaft support hole 278, so that the take-up shaft support hole 278 supports the take-up shaft 276 in a manner rotatable about a fourth rotation center line C4 parallel to the first rotation center line C1.

As shown in fig. 29, a ribbon roll holding wall 286 and a cylindrical protrusion 288 are formed on the lower surface of the third case member 216. The ribbon roll holding wall 286 determines the ribbon roll arrangement position of the ink ribbon 268 wound around the winding shaft 276, and is formed in an arc shape surrounding the winding shaft support hole 278 around the winding shaft support hole 278. The cylindrical protrusion 288 is formed to protrude downward from the periphery of the ribbon support hole 274 and the head end surface has irregularities arranged in the circumferential direction.

As shown in fig. 21, a clutch spring holding portion 290 containing a clutch spring is fitted between one end of the supply shaft 270 on which the ink ribbon 268 is wound and the head end surface of the cylindrical projection 288, and the supply shaft 70 applies an appropriate rotational resistance to the ink ribbon roll 72 by the clutch spring located in the clutch spring holding portion 90.

Fig. 30 and 31 show the upper and lower surfaces of the fourth housing member 218. The fourth housing member 218 is formed with a winding shaft support hole 294 penetrating the fourth housing member 218, the other end of the winding shaft 76 is fitted into the winding shaft support hole 294, and the winding shaft support hole 294 rotatably supports the winding shaft 76. The fourth housing member 218 is formed with a cylindrical support protrusion 297, and the other end of the supply shaft 270 is fitted into the support protrusion 297, and the support protrusion 297 rotatably supports the supply shaft 270. The coupling hole 296 formed on the end surface of the other end side of the take-up shaft 276 is exposed to the lower surface of the fourth housing member 218 through the take-up shaft support hole 294, as shown in fig. 21. When the tape cassette 210 is mounted on the printing apparatus 102, the take-up shaft drive shaft 108 of the printing apparatus 102 is inserted into the coupling hole 296 and coupled to the take-up shaft 276, and the take-up shaft 276 is rotationally driven by the take-up shaft drive shaft 108.

FIG. 32 is a cross-sectional view of XXXII-XXXII of FIG. 24. Between the print tape housing 220 and the ink ribbon housing 221, that is, between the bottom plate 214a of the second housing member 214 and the top plate 216e of the third housing member 216, a third space S3 of a predetermined volume is formed.

As shown in fig. 20 and 29, a recess 299 is formed in the ink ribbon housing 221 formed by the third housing member 216 and the fourth housing member 218, the recess 299 accommodating the head holding plate 114 when the tape cassette 210 is mounted in the cassette mounting section 104 shown in fig. 18, and the head holding plate 114 holding the head 106 provided upright on the cassette mounting section 104. As shown in fig. 29, in a part of the outer peripheral wall 216w of the third housing member 216, there are formed: a first side wall 216a extending in a front-rear direction, which is a direction perpendicular to the up-down direction; a second side wall 216b extending in the left-right direction perpendicular to the up-down direction and the front-rear direction; and a U-shaped recess wall 216c surrounding the recess 299. The recess wall 216c is constituted by an inner wall 216h extending in the left-right direction opposite to the second side wall 216b in the front-rear direction, an inner wall 216i extending rearward from the right end of the inner wall 16h, an inner wall 216j extending leftward from the rear end of the inner wall 216i, and an inner wall 216k extending forward from the left end of the inner wall 216 j. The recess 299 is defined by the second side wall 216b and the recess wall 216c to extend rearward from the left end of the second side wall 216b, and to extend in the left-right direction rearward of the second side wall 216 b. As shown in fig. 30 and 31, a U-shaped notch 218a corresponding to the recessed wall portion 16c is formed in the fourth housing member 218. Recess 299 is formed by recess wall 216c and cutout 218 a. As shown in fig. 21, a portion of the upper end of the recess 299 is defined by the lower surface of the second housing member 214. That is, the recess 299 overlaps the second case member 214 and the first case member 212 in the up-down direction.

Fig. 33 shows a lower surface of the third housing member 216 when the tape cassette 10 is mounted in the cassette mounting section 104 of the printing apparatus 102. As described above, the print tape 222 is pulled out from the print tape spool 226, and is tilted from the first space S1 in the print tape housing 20 to the second space S2 in the ribbon housing 221 through the through hole 252 and the through hole 258. Thus, in fig. 33 showing the third housing member 216, the print tape 222 is shown from the through hole 258 at the rear of the third housing member 216. When the tape cassette 210 is mounted on the cassette mounting section 104 on which the take-up shaft drive shaft 108 stands, the take-up shaft 276 rotationally driven by the take-up shaft drive shaft 108 takes up the ink ribbon 268, so that the print tape 222, which is pressure-sandwiched between the print head 106 and the platen roller 116 together with the ink ribbon 268, is pulled out from the print tape roll 226. In fig. 33, the path of the print tape 222 and the path of the ink ribbon 268 drawn out from the ribbon roll 272 by driving the take-up shaft 276 are shown by a two-dot chain line and a broken line, respectively.

As shown in fig. 33, the print tape 222 and the ink ribbon 268 are discharged from the discharge port 300 toward the print position P. The discharge port 300 is a gap defined by the left end portion of the second side wall 216b and the left end portion of the side wall 216h, penetrating in the left-right direction. At the print position P between the print head 106 and the platen roller 116, the print tape 222 is pressed against the print head 106 via the ink ribbon 268. In this state, the plurality of heat generating elements arranged on the surface of the print head 106 are selectively driven to generate heat locally, whereby a part of the ink 68a provided on one surface of the ink ribbon 68 is transferred to the print tape 22, and characters, symbols, and the like are printed on the print tape 22. The used ink ribbon 268 that has passed through the printing position P is fed from the inlet 302 into the ribbon case 221 and wound around the winding shaft 276. The input port 302 is located on the left side of the exhaust port 300 and is provided in the third housing member 216.

Fig. 34 schematically shows a stacked structure of the print tape 222 fed from the tape cassette 210. The printing tape 222 is a laminate of a tape 222a to be printed and a release tape 222c adhered to the non-printing surface side of the tape 222a via an adhesive 222 b. The printing surface of the to-be-printed tape 222a is transferred with the ink 68a from the printing tape 222. The dimensions, the dimensional ratios, and the like of the components of the laminate in fig. 34 are merely illustrative, and are not exact.

Fig. 35 is a view showing the lower surface of the third case member 216. In the second space S2 between the third case member 216 and the fourth case member 218, i.e., in the ink ribbon case 221, the ribbon roll 272 and the take-up shaft 276 are accommodated. As described above, the ribbon housing 221 is configured to overlap below with respect to the print ribbon housing 220. When the print tape roll 226 and the spacer 238 accommodated in the print tape housing 220 are projected in the up-down direction onto a projection surface extending in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction within the second space S2, the projected positions of the print tape roll 226 and the spacer 238 are indicated by a one-dot chain line in fig. 35. Since the spacer 238 has substantially the same diameter as the print tape roll 226, only a one-dot chain line showing the print tape roll 226 is shown in fig. 35. As shown in fig. 35, the ribbon roll 272 and the take-up shaft 276 are disposed at positions overlapping the print tape roll 226 in the vertical direction.

At least a part of the supply shaft 270, at least a part of the ink ribbon 268 or the ink ribbon roll 272, and at least a part of the ink ribbon 268 wound around the winding shaft 276 by the winding shaft 276 and the printing position P overlap the print ribbon roll 226 and the spacer 238 in the up-down direction. That is, at least a part of the ink ribbon 268 or the ink ribbon roll 272 that has been wound up on the winding shaft 276 or is being wound up from the input port 302 to the winding shaft 76 is located in the projection plane of the print tape roll 226 and the spacer 238 in the up-down direction.

In fig. 35, print tape roll 226 and spacer 238, which have substantially the same diameter, overlap at least a portion of ink tape roll 272 and its third center of rotation C3, at least a portion of take-up shaft 276 and its fourth center of rotation C4, recess 299, and at least a portion of recess wall 216C in the up-down direction. In the case where print tape roll 226 and spacer 238 are projected in the up-down direction, at least a portion of ink tape roll 272 and its third rotation center line C3, at least a portion of take-up shaft 276 and its fourth rotation center line C4, recess 299, and at least a portion of recess wall 216C are located within the plane of projection of print tape roll 226 and spacer 238. Further, the recess 299 and at least a part of the recess wall 216c overlap the print tape shaft 224 in the up-down direction. Further, in the left-right direction, a part of the print tape roll 226 and a first rotation center line C1 as a rotation center of the print tape shaft 224 are located between a right side end 299a and a left side end 299b, which are one side ends in the left-right direction, of the recessed portion 299. Further, a first rotation center line C1 as a rotation center of the print tape shaft 224 is located between the ejection port 300 and the right side end 299a of the recess 299 in the left-right direction. Further, in fig. 35, in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction, the distance from the center position M, which is the center in the front-rear direction of the tape cassette 10 and the center in the left-right direction, to the first rotation center line C1 of the print tape roll 226 is set smaller than the distance from the center position M to the recessed portion 299.

The tape cassette 210 of the present embodiment includes: a print tape roll 226 on which a print tape 222 as a print medium is wound so as to be rotatable; and an outer peripheral wall 215 located on one side in the first direction, which is the width direction of the print tape 222, with respect to the print tape roll 26, and having a first side wall 216a extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, a second side wall 216b extending in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and intersecting the second direction, and a U-shaped recess wall 216c for defining a recess 299 extending in the third direction from the second side wall 216b on the one side in the second direction. At least a portion of the recess 299 overlaps the print tape roll 226 in the first direction. Thus, since the print tape housing 220 having the print tape roll 226 overlaps the ink tape housing 221 having the recess wall 216c in the first direction, i.e., the up-down direction, and at least a part of the recess 299 overlaps the print tape roll 226 in the first direction, the tape cassette 210 is miniaturized in the vertical direction perpendicular to the up-down direction.

In the tape cassette 210 of the present embodiment, the print tape roll 224 winds the print tape 222 around the rotatable print tape shaft 224, and at least a part of the recess wall 216c overlaps the print tape shaft 224 in the first direction. Thereby, the tape cassette 210 can be downsized in the vertical direction perpendicular to the vertical direction, compared to a case where at least a part of the recess wall 216c does not overlap with the printing tape shaft 226 in the first direction.

In the tape cassette 210 of the present embodiment, at least a part of the recess 299 overlaps the printing tape shaft 224 in the first direction. Thus, the tape cassette 210 can be downsized in the vertical direction perpendicular to the vertical direction, compared to a case where at least a part of the recess 299 does not overlap with the printing tape shaft 224 in the first direction.

In the tape cassette 210 of the present embodiment, the first rotation center line C1, which is the rotation center of the print tape roll 226, is located between the one side end and the other side end of the recess 299 in the third direction. Thus, the tape cassette 210 can be downsized in the vertical direction perpendicular to the vertical direction, compared to the case where it is not positioned between the one side end and the other side end of the third direction of the recess 299.

In the tape cassette 210 of the present embodiment, the print tape roll 226 winds the print tape 222 around the rotatable print tape shaft 224, and at least a part of the print tape shaft 224 is positioned between one end portion and the other end portion of the recess 299 in the third direction. Thereby, the tape cassette 210 can be downsized in the vertical direction perpendicular to the vertical direction, compared to a case where at least a part of the printing tape shaft 224 is not located between the one side end portion and the other side end portion of the third direction of the recess 299.

In the tape cassette 10 of the present embodiment, the first rotation center line C1, which is the rotation center of the tape shaft 224, is located between the discharge port 300 and the end of the recess 299 on the third direction side. Thus, the tape cassette 210 can be downsized in the vertical direction perpendicular to the vertical direction, compared to a case where the first rotation center line C1, which is not the print tape shaft 224, is located between the discharge port 300 and the third-direction one-side end portion of the recess 299.

The tape cassette 10 of the present embodiment includes a print tape housing (first housing) 220 accommodating a print tape roll 226, and an ink ribbon housing (second housing) 221 located on the first direction side with respect to the print tape housing 220 and having a peripheral wall 215. The ribbon housing 221 includes a discharge opening 300, the discharge opening 300 being defined by a second side wall 216b, between a third-direction one-side end portion 216a and the other-side end portion 216b of the recess 299 in the third direction, for discharging the print tape 222 fed from the print tape spool 226 from the print tape housing 220 to the recess 299. In the third direction, the center of rotation of the print tape roll 226, i.e., the first rotation center line C1, is located between the discharge port 300 and the third-direction one-side end portion of the recessed portion 299. Thereby, the tape cassette 210 can be downsized in the vertical direction perpendicular to the vertical direction, compared to the case where the first rotation center line C1 of the print tape roll 226 is not located between the ejection opening 300 and the third direction one side end portion 216a of the recessed portion 299.

In the tape cassette 210 of the present embodiment, the recess 299 overlaps at least a part of the print tape housing (first housing) 220 in the first direction. Thereby, the tape cassette 210 can be downsized in the vertical direction perpendicular to the vertical direction, compared to a case where the recess 299 does not overlap at least a part of the first housing 210 in the first direction.

The tape cassette 210 of the present embodiment includes: a rotatable supply shaft 270 located on the first direction side with respect to the print tape roll 226, and on which an ink ribbon 268 for printing the print tape 222 supplied from the print tape roll 226 is wound; and a rotatable take-up shaft 276 located on the first direction side with respect to the print tape roll 226, and taking up the ink ribbon 268 supplied from the supply shaft 270. At least a portion of the supply shaft 270 and at least a portion of the take-up shaft 276 overlap the print tape spool 226 in the first direction. Thereby, the tape cassette 210 can be downsized in the vertical direction perpendicular to the vertical direction, compared to a case where at least a part of the supply shaft 270 and at least a part of the take-up shaft 276 do not overlap with the print tape roll 26 in the first direction.

In the tape cassette 210 of the present embodiment, in the second direction and the third direction, a distance from a center position M, which is a center of the tape cassette 210 in the second direction and a center in the third direction, to the first rotation center line C1 of the print tape roll 226 is smaller than a distance from the center position M to the recessed portion 299. Thereby, the tape cassette 210 can be downsized in the vertical direction perpendicular to the vertical direction, compared to the case where the distance from the center position M of the tape cassette 10 to the first rotation center line C1 of the print tape roll 226 is larger than the distance from the center position M to the recessed portion 299.

The tape cassette 210 of the present embodiment includes: a print tape roll 226 on which the print tape 222 is wound; a spacer 238 abutting the print tape roll 226 in the first direction; a first sidewall 216a extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; a second side wall 216b extending in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and crossing the second direction; and a recess wall 216c formed in a U-shape for defining a recess 299, the recess 299 extending from the second side wall 216b to the second direction side and extending in the third direction on the second direction side (left side in fig. 16) of the second side wall 216 b. The first side wall 216a, the second side wall 216b, and the recess wall 216c are portions of the outer peripheral wall 215 located on the first direction side with respect to the print tape roll 226 and the spacer 238. At least a portion of the recess 299 overlaps the spacer 238 in the first direction. Thus, since at least a part of the recess 299 overlaps the spacer 238 in the first direction, the tape cassette 210 is miniaturized in the vertical direction perpendicular to the vertical direction.

[ third embodiment ]

Fig. 36 is a perspective view showing a tape cassette 410 according to another embodiment of the present invention from the front side, i.e., the upper surface, and the tape cassette 410 is a thermal type tape cassette in which a print tape 422 itself develops color by heat. Fig. 37 is a perspective view showing the tape cassette 410 from the back surface side, i.e., the lower surface. The tape cassette 410 is of a rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole, and is detachably mounted to a cassette mounting portion 104 having the same structure as that of fig. 18 except for a slightly different size and excluding the ink ribbon roll 72 and the take-up shaft 76. The cartridge mounting section 104 herein does not include the take-up shaft drive shaft 108, and a roller drive shaft 110 is provided to protrude therefrom.

The tape cassette 410 of the present embodiment includes the adhesive tape roll 464 and the roller 480, but does not include a take-up shaft and a ribbon roll. The printing tape 422a of the printing tape 422 included in the tape cassette 410 is made of thermal paper that develops color by itself when heated. The tape cassette 410 includes a print tape casing 420, which is a first casing including a first casing member 412 and a second casing member 414, and a tape casing 421, which is a second casing including a third casing member 416 and a fourth casing member 418, in the same manner as the tape cassettes 10 and 210. The print tape housing 420 has a print tape roll 426 in a first space S1 formed inside thereof. The tape housing 421 is located on the lower side of the print tape housing 420, and has an adhesive tape roll 464 in a second space S2 formed inside thereof. The first housing member 412, the second housing member 414, the third housing member 416, and the fourth housing member 418 are fixed to each other in a state of being overlapped with each other by engagement of a plurality of engagement claws 427 and fixing claws 428 respectively provided between the outer peripheral walls thereof and positioning of the positioning protrusions 429. In the present embodiment, the upper surface of each of the case members 412 to 418 is referred to as an upper surface or a front surface, and the lower surface is referred to as a lower surface or a rear surface.

The ribbon case 421 is located on one side in the up-down direction with respect to the print ribbon case 420. In the present embodiment, the ink ribbon case 421 is located on one side in the vertical direction, i.e., on the lower side, with respect to the print ribbon case 420. The print tape housing 240 rotatably accommodates a print tape roll 426 in a first space S1 formed inside thereof, the print tape roll 426 winding a print tape 422 as a medium to be printed. The print tape roll 426 is configured to wind a tape-shaped print tape 422 around a print tape shaft 424 as a cylindrical shaft core member. The width direction of the print tape 422 wound into the print tape 22 is the up-down direction as the first direction. The radial direction of the print tape roll 426 is the front-back direction and the left-right direction, and the radial direction is the vertical direction perpendicular to the up-down direction. The vertical direction may be any direction parallel to a plane perpendicular to the up-down direction. The print tape 422, print tape spool 424, and print tape spool 426 correspond to a to-be-printed medium, print medium spool, and print medium roll.

The ink ribbon housing 421 rotatably accommodates the adhesive tape roll 464 in a second space S2 formed inside thereof. The adhesive tape roll 464 winds the adhesive tape 460 in a tape shape for adhering to the printed print tape 422 around an adhesive tape shaft 462 such that the width direction of the adhesive tape 460 is the up-down direction.

As shown in fig. 37, a roller exposure hole 498 is provided in the fourth case member 418 of the tape cassette 410. The roller exposing hole 498 exposes a shaft end of a roller 480 to be described later. The shaft end of the roller 480 is inserted with the roller drive shaft 110 provided in the cartridge mounting portion 104 when the cartridge 410 is mounted in the cartridge mounting portion 104 of the printing apparatus 102. Further, a recess 499 is formed in the side surfaces of the third and fourth case members 416, 418, that is, in a portion of the outer peripheral wall 416w of the ribbon case 421 and a portion of the outer peripheral wall of the second case member 414. When the tape cassette 410 is mounted in the cassette mounting section 104, the print head 106 provided in the cassette mounting section 104 is inserted into the recess 499. As shown in fig. 37, the upper end of the recess 499 is defined by the surface of the lower side of the second case member 14.

Fig. 38 is a perspective view for explaining the internal structure of the tape cassette 410, showing the first case member 412, the second case member 414, the third case member 416, and the fourth case member 418 separated. Fig. 39 and 40 show the upper surface side and the lower surface side of the first housing member 412, and are the same in structure as the first housing member 212 of the tape cassette 210 according to the second embodiment. Fig. 41 and 42 show the upper surface side and the lower surface side of the second housing member 414, which has the same structure as the first housing member 212 of the tape cassette 210 according to the second embodiment. The upper surface side of the first case member 412 is configured as shown in fig. 22, and the lower surface side of the first case member 412 is configured as shown in fig. 23. Fig. 43 and 44 are views showing the upper surface side and the lower surface side of the third case member 216. Fig. 45 and 46 are views showing the upper surface side and the lower surface side of the fourth case member 418.

In the first space S1 between the first case member 412 and the second case member 414, the print tape roll 426 is accommodated so as to be rotatable about a first rotation center line C1 parallel to the up-down direction. The first case member 412 and the second case member 414 are rectangular, and the first rotation center line C1 is located slightly to the right of the center in the left-right direction as the second direction in the first case member 412 and the second case member 414, and is located in the vicinity of the substantial center in the front-rear direction as the third direction. In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 47, the printing target tape 422a is made of a thermosensitive material that develops its color into black by heating, for example, and a partial color development region 422d is shown in a part of the printing target tape 422 a.

As shown in fig. 38 and 40, on the lower surface side of the first housing member 412, a cylindrical first support protrusion 430 and a first circumferential wall 434 are provided. The first support protrusion 430 is inserted into the cylindrical print tape shaft 424 to rotatably support the print tape roll 426. The first circumferential wall 434 has an inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of the print tape roll 426. The first support protrusion 430 and the first circumferential wall 434 are provided to protrude downward from the lower surface side of the first case member 412 in a state of having the same center line as the first rotation center line C1. As shown in fig. 41, on the upper surface side of the second case member 414, a cylindrical second support projection 432 and a second circumferential wall 436 are provided. The second support protrusion 432 is inserted into the cylindrical print tape shaft 424 to rotatably support the print tape roll 426. The second circumferential wall 436 has an inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of the print tape roll 426. The second support protrusion 432 and the second circumferential wall 436 are provided to protrude upward from the upper surface side of the second case member 414 in a state of having the same center line as the first rotation center line C1. The print tape roll 426 is provided between the first case member 412 and the second case member 414 in a state where circular spacers 438 having an outer diameter substantially the same as the outer diameter of the print tape roll 426 are respectively positioned above and below the print tape roll 426.

As shown in fig. 41, a through hole 452 extending in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction along the second circumferential wall 436 and between the short side portion 446a and the long side portion 446b of the outer circumferential wall 446 is formed in the bottom plate 414a of the second case member 414 so as to be substantially L-shaped when viewed from the front. Between the portion of the second circumferential wall 436 that opposes the corner of the short side 446a and the long side 446b and the through hole 452, a plurality of guide ribs 454 are formed. The plurality of guide ribs 454 guide the print tape 422 pulled out from the print tape spool 426 into the through hole 452. Thus, the print tape 422 is bridged between the print tape housing 420 and the ink ribbon housing 421 through the through hole 452 formed in the bottom plate 414a, the bottom plate 414a serving as a partition wall that partitions the first space S1 and the second space S2.

As shown in fig. 42 and 43, the bottom plate 414a of the second case member 414 and the top plate 416e of the third case member 416 partition the first space S1 in the print tape case 420 and the second space S2 in the ink ribbon case 421.

As shown in fig. 44, an adhesive tape roll holding wall 486 and a cylindrical projection 488 are formed on the lower surface of the third housing member 416. The adhesive tape roll holding wall 486 is used to determine the arrangement position of the adhesive tape roll 464. The cylindrical protrusion 488 is fitted into the adhesive tape shaft 462 to rotatably support the adhesive tape roll 464. The adhesive tape roll holding wall 486 is formed in an arc shape concentric with the cylindrical projection 488 for holding the adhesive tape shaft 462.

Fig. 45 and 45 show the upper and lower surfaces of the fourth housing member 418. In the fourth case member 418, an adhesive tape shaft support hole 494 is formed to penetrate in the up-down direction. The adhesive tape shaft supporting hole 494 is fitted so as to rotatably support the end portion of the adhesive tape shaft 462 on the fourth housing member 218 side. Further, a roller exposure hole 498 that penetrates in the vertical direction is formed in the fourth case member 418. The roller exposure hole 498 is fitted to rotatably support the end portion of the roller 480 on the fourth casing member 218 side, and the shaft end of the roller 480 on the fourth casing member 218 side is exposed, whereby the roller 480 and the roller drive shaft 110 can be coupled.

As shown in fig. 37, a recess 499 is formed in the ink ribbon housing 421 formed by the third housing member 416 and the fourth housing member 418, the recess 499 being configured to accommodate the head holding plate 114 when the tape cassette 410 is mounted in the cassette mounting section 104 shown in fig. 18, the head holding plate 114 being configured to hold the head 106 standing on the cassette mounting section 104. As shown in fig. 44, in a part of the outer peripheral wall 416w of the third housing member 416, there are formed: a first side wall 416a extending in a front-rear direction perpendicular to the up-down direction; a second side wall 416b extending in the left-right direction perpendicular to the up-down direction and the front-rear direction; and a U-shaped recess wall 416c surrounding the recess 499. The recess wall 416c is constituted by an inner wall 416h extending in the left-right direction opposite to the second side wall 416b in the front-rear direction, an inner wall 416i extending rearward from a right end of the inner wall 416h, an inner wall 416j extending leftward from a rear end of the inner wall 416i, and an inner wall 416k extending forward from a left end of the inner wall 416 j. The recess 499 is defined by the second side wall 416b and the recess wall 416c to extend rearward from the left end of the second side wall 416b and to extend in the left-right direction rearward of the second side wall 416 b. As shown in fig. 45 and 46, a U-shaped notch 418a corresponding to the recessed wall portion 416c is formed in the fourth housing member 418. Recess 499 is formed by recess wall 416c and cutout 418 a. As shown in fig. 37, a portion of the upper end of the recess 499 is defined by the lower surface of the second housing member 414. That is, the recess 299 overlaps the second case member 414 and the first case member 412 in the up-down direction.

Fig. 47 is a view showing a lower surface of the third housing member 416 when the tape cassette 410 is mounted in the cassette mounting section 104 of the printing apparatus 102. The print tape 422 is pulled out from the print tape spool 426, and is tilted from the first space S1 in the print tape housing 420 to the second space S2 in the ink tape housing 421 through the through hole 452 and the through hole 458. Thus, in fig. 47, which shows the third housing member 416, the print tape 422 is shown from the through hole 458 at the rear of the third housing member 416. When the tape cassette 410 is mounted on the cassette mounting section 104 in which the roller drive shaft 110 stands, the roller 480 rotated by the roller drive shaft 110 is transported while nipping the print tape 422 and the adhesive tape 460 with pressure. Thus, between the print head 106 and the platen roller 116, the print tape 422 is pulled out from the print tape spool 426 and discharged from the discharge port 500. In fig. 47, the path of the print tape 422 and the path of the adhesive tape 460 are shown by a two-dot chain line and a broken line, respectively. In fig. 47, when a roller 480 not shown is rotationally driven, the print tape 422 is pulled out from the discharge port 500 toward the print position P, and is overlapped with the adhesive tape 460 by the roller 480. The discharge port 500 is a gap defined by the left end portion of the second side wall 416b and the left end portion of the side wall 416h, penetrating in the left-right direction.

At a print position P between the print head 106 and the platen roller 116, the print tape 422 is pressed against the print head 106. In this state, the plurality of heating elements disposed on the surface of the print head 106 are selectively driven to generate heat locally, whereby the print tape 422a of the print tape 422 develops color by itself, and characters, symbols, and the like are printed on the print tape 422.

Fig. 48 schematically shows a stacked structure of the print tape 422 fed from the tape cassette 410. The printing tape 422 is a laminate of a tape 422a to be printed and a release tape 422c adhered to the non-printing surface side of the tape 422a via an adhesive 422 b. The print target tape 422a is formed with a partial color development region 422 d. A transparent film 460a of an adhesive tape 460 is laminated on a print target tape 422a as a base material of the print tape 422 with an adhesive 460b interposed therebetween.

Fig. 49 is a view showing the lower surface of the third housing member 416. In the second space S2 between the third case member 416 and the fourth case member 418, that is, in the ink ribbon case 421, the adhesive tape roll 464 is accommodated. As described above, the ribbon housing 421 is configured to overlap below with respect to the print ribbon housing 420. When the print tape roll 426 and the spacer 438 accommodated in the print tape housing 420 are projected in the up-down direction onto the projection surface extending in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction within the second space S2, the projection positions of the print tape roll 426 and the spacer 438 are indicated by the one-dot chain line in fig. 49. Since the spacer 438 has substantially the same diameter as the print tape spool 426, only the one-dot chain line showing the print tape spool 426 is shown in fig. 49. As shown in fig. 49, the adhesive tape roll 464 is disposed at a position overlapping the print tape roll 426 in the vertical direction.

At least a portion of the adhesive tape roll 464 and the second rotation center line C2 overlap the print tape roll 426 and the spacer 438 in the up-down direction. That is, at least a portion of the adhesive tape roll 464 and the second rotation center line C2 are located in the projection plane of the print tape roll 426 and the spacer 438 in the up-down direction.

In fig. 49, print tape roll 426 and spacer 438 having substantially the same diameter overlap at least a portion of adhesive tape roll 464 and second rotational center line C2, and at least a portion of recess 499 and recess wall 416C in the up-down direction. In the case where the print tape roll 426 and the spacer 438 are projected in the up-down direction, at least a portion of the adhesive tape roll 464 and the second rotation center line C2 and at least a portion of the recess 499 and the recess wall 416C are located within the plane of projection of the print tape roll 426 and the spacer 438. Further, at least a part of the recess 499 and the recess wall 416c overlaps with the print tape shaft 424 in the up-down direction. Further, in the left-right direction, the print tape roll 426 and the first rotation center line C1 as the rotation center of the print tape shaft 424 are located between a right-side end 499a, which is one side end of the concave portion 499 in the left-right direction, and a left-side end 499b, which is the other side end. Further, a first rotation center line C1 as the rotation center of the print tape shaft 426 is located between the discharge port 500 and the right side end 499a of the recess 499 in the left-right direction. Further, in fig. 49, in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction, the distance from the center position M, which is the center in the front-rear direction of the tape cassette 410 and the center in the left-right direction, to the first rotation center line C1 of the print tape roll 426 is set to be smaller than the distance from the center position M to the recess 499.

The tape cassette 410 of the present embodiment includes, as in the first and second embodiments, the following: a print tape roll 426 around which a print tape 422 as a print medium is wound; and a peripheral wall 415 located on one side in the first direction, which is the width direction of the print tape 422, with respect to the print tape roll 426, and having a first side wall 416a extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, a second side wall 416b extending in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and intersecting the second direction, and a U-shaped recess wall 416c for defining a recess 499 extending in the third direction from the second side wall 416b on one side in the second direction. At least a portion of the recess 499 overlaps the print tape roll 426 in the first direction. Thus, since the print tape housing 420 having the print tape roll 426 overlaps the ink tape housing 421 having the recess wall 416c in the first direction, i.e., the up-down direction, and at least a part of the recess 499 overlaps the print tape roll 426 in the first direction, the tape cassette 410 is miniaturized in the vertical direction perpendicular to the up-down direction.

In the tape cassette 410 of the present embodiment, the print tape roll 424 winds the print tape 422 around the rotatable print tape shaft 424, and at least a part of the recess wall 416c overlaps the print tape shaft 424 in the first direction. Thereby, the tape cassette 410 can be downsized in the vertical direction perpendicular to the vertical direction, compared to a case where at least a part of the recess wall 416c does not overlap with the printing tape shaft 426 in the first direction.

In the tape cassette 410 of the present embodiment, at least a part of the recess 499 overlaps the printing tape shaft 424 in the first direction. Thereby, the tape cassette 410 can be miniaturized in the vertical direction perpendicular to the up-down direction, compared to the case where at least a part of the recess 499 does not overlap with the print tape shaft 424 in the first direction.

In the tape cassette 410 of the present embodiment, the first rotation center line C1, which is the rotation center of the print tape roll 426, is located between the one side end and the other side end of the recess 499 in the third direction. Thereby, the tape cassette 410 can be downsized in the vertical direction perpendicular to the vertical direction, compared to the case where it is not positioned between the one side end portion and the other side end portion of the recess 249 in the third direction.

In the tape cassette 410 of the present embodiment, the print tape roll 426 winds the print tape 422 around the rotatable print tape shaft 424, and at least a part of the print tape shaft 424 is located between the third-direction one-side end portion and the other-direction side end portion of the recess 499 in the third direction. Thus, the tape cassette can be downsized in the vertical direction perpendicular to the vertical direction, compared to a case where at least a part of the printing tape shaft 424 is not located between the one side end portion and the other side end portion of the recess 499 in the third direction.

In the tape cassette 410 of the present embodiment, the first rotation center line C1, which is the rotation center of the tape shaft 424, is located between the discharge port 500 and the third-direction one-side end of the recess 499 in the third direction. Thus, the tape cassette 410 can be downsized in the vertical direction perpendicular to the vertical direction, compared to a case where the first rotation center line C1, which is not the print tape shaft 424, is located between the discharge port 500 and the third-direction one-side end portion of the recess 99.

In the tape cassette 410 of the present embodiment, the recess 299 overlaps at least a part of the print tape housing (first housing) 420 in the first direction. Thereby, the tape cassette 410 can be downsized in the vertical direction perpendicular to the vertical direction, compared to a case where the recess 299 does not overlap at least a part of the first housing 210 in the first direction.

The tape cassette 410 of the present embodiment includes the adhesive tape roll 264 capable of rotating, and the adhesive tape roll 464, which is located on the first direction side with respect to the print tape roll 426, winds the adhesive tape 460 for adhering to the print tape 422. At least a portion of the adhesive tape roll 464 overlaps the print tape roll 426 in the first direction. Thereby, the tape cassette 410 can be downsized in the vertical direction perpendicular to the up-down direction, compared to a case where at least a part of the adhesive tape roll 464 does not overlap with the print tape roll 426 in the first direction.

In the tape cassette 410 of the present embodiment, the adhesive tape roll 464 is configured by winding the adhesive tape 260 around the adhesive tape shaft 462. The adhesive tape shaft 462 overlaps the print tape roll 426 in the first direction. Thereby, the tape cassette 410 can be downsized in the vertical direction perpendicular to the vertical direction, compared to the case where the adhesive tape shaft 462 and the print tape roll 426 do not overlap in the first direction.

In the tape cassette 410 of the present embodiment, the second rotation center line C2 as the rotation center of the adhesive tape roll 462 is located between the third direction one-side end portion and the other side end portion 416b of the concave portion 499 in the third direction. Thereby, the tape cassette 410 can be downsized in the vertical direction perpendicular to the vertical direction, compared to a case where the second rotation center line C2 of the adhesive tape roll 462 is not located between the one side end portion and the other side end portion 416b of the concave portion 499.

In the tape cassette 410 of the present embodiment, in the second direction and the third direction, a distance from a center position M, which is a center of the tape cassette 410 in the second direction and a center in the third direction, to the first rotation center line C1 of the print tape roll 426 is smaller than a distance from the center position M to the recess 499. Thereby, the tape cassette 410 can be downsized in the vertical direction perpendicular to the up-down direction, compared to the case where the distance from the center position M of the tape cassette 410 to the first rotation center line C1 of the print tape roll 426 is larger than the distance from the center position M to the concave portion 499.

The tape cassette 410 of the present embodiment includes: a print tape roll 426 on which the print tape 422 is wound; a spacer 438 abutting the print tape roll 426 in the first direction; a first sidewall 416a extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; a second side wall 416b extending in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and crossing the second direction; and a recess wall 416c formed in a U-shape to define a recess 499, the recess 499 extending from the second side wall 416b to the second direction side and extending in the third direction on the second direction side (left side in fig. 49) of the second side wall 416 b. The first side wall 416a, the second side wall 416b, and the recess wall 416c are portions of the outer peripheral wall 415 located on the first direction side with respect to the print tape roll 426 and the spacer 438. At least a portion of the recess 499 overlaps the diaphragm 438 in the first direction. Thus, since at least a part of the recess 499 overlaps the spacer 438 in the first direction, the tape cassette 410 is miniaturized in the vertical direction perpendicular to the vertical direction.

[ fourth embodiment ]

Fig. 50 and 51 are perspective views showing an upper surface side and a lower surface side of a tape cassette 510 according to other embodiments of the present invention. As shown in fig. 52, the tape cassette 510 of the present embodiment includes only a print tape roll 526. The print tape 522 of the print tape roll 526 of the present embodiment is configured by laminating a release tape 522c on the surface of the print target tape 522a as a base material on the opposite side of the print surface via an adhesive 522b, similarly to the print tape 422 of the third embodiment. Fig. 53 shows the printed print tape 522 sent out from the tape cassette 510. The print tape 522 of the present embodiment is composed of a print target tape 522a as a base material and a release tape 522c laminated to the print target tape 522a via an adhesive 522b, and the print target tape 522a is composed of a thermosensitive material that develops its color into black by heating, for example, as in the print tape 422 of the third embodiment shown in fig. 34. A part of the print target tape 522a is shown with a local color development region 522d formed by local heating.

The tape cassette 510 of the present embodiment is configured by a first case member 512, a second case member 514, a third case member 516, and a fourth case member 518, as shown in fig. 52, similarly to the first case member 212, the second case member 214, the third case member 216, and the fourth case member 218 of the tape cassette 210 shown in fig. 21 of the second embodiment, but the tape cassette 510 does not have an ink ribbon roll 272 for winding the ink ribbon 268 around a supply shaft 270 and a take-up shaft 276 for taking up the ink ribbon 268, unlike the tape cassette 210.

In the tape cassette 510 of the present embodiment, the third case member 516 of the tape cassette 510 has the first side wall 516a, the second side wall 516b, and the recess wall 516c for forming the recess 599, similarly to the first side wall 216a and the second side wall 216b of the third case member 216 of the tape cassette 210 and the recess wall 216c for forming the recess 299, and therefore, the tape cassette 510 has the same effects as the tape cassette 210.

The above are merely specific embodiments of the present invention, and various changes may be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof.

In the tape cassette 10, 210, 410, 510 of the above embodiment, the 4 housing members of the first housing member 12, 212, 412, 512, the second housing member 14, 214, 414, 514, the third housing member 16, 216, 416, 516, and the fourth housing member 18, 218, 418, 518 are overlapped in the up-down direction, but the tape cassette 10 is not limited to such a structure. For example, as shown in fig. 54, the tape cassettes 10, 210, 410, 510 may be configured such that 3 housing members, i.e., the first housing member 12, 212, 416, 516, the fifth housing member 501, and the fourth housing member 18, 218, 418, 518, are stacked in the vertical direction. The fifth case member 501 has a through hole 502 penetrating in the up-down direction, which corresponds to the through holes 52, 58, etc. of the above-described embodiment, and serves to partition the first space S1 and the second space S2. The fifth casing member 501 may have the same shape as the upper surface side of the second casing members 14, 214, 414, and 514 in the upper surface side structure and the same shape as the lower surface side of the third casing members 16, 216, 416, and 516 in the lower surface side structure. In the case of this modification, the first case member 12, 212, 414, 514 and the fifth case member 501 constitute a first case having the first space S1 therein, and the fifth case member 501 and the fourth case member 18, 218 constitute a second case having the second space S2 therein.

In the above embodiment, the recess 99, 299, 499, 599 has a shape surrounded by the U-shaped recess walls 16c, 216c, 416c, 516c, but is not limited to such a shape. For example, a circular recess may be provided.

Further, the radial directions of the print tape roll, the adhesive tape roll, the ink tape roll, and the take-up shaft of the above-described embodiments are set to be horizontal with respect to the front-rear direction and the left-right direction, but may not be set to be horizontal. For example, in the case where the print tape roll is not horizontal with respect to the front-rear direction and the left-right direction, the first direction, which is the width direction of the print tape, is a direction different from the up-down direction of the above-described embodiment. In this case, the second direction perpendicular to the first direction, which is the width direction of the print tape, and the third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction are directions different from the front-back direction and the left-right direction of the above-described embodiment, respectively.

Further, the arrangement of the print tape roll, the adhesive tape roll, the ink tape roll, and the take-up shaft is not limited to the positions shown in the above-described embodiments. For example, in the first embodiment, the adhesive tape roll 64 may be disposed on the right side of the take-up shaft 76, and the take-up shaft 76 may be disposed on the front side of the ribbon roll 72.

Further, in the first embodiment, the concave portion 99, the adhesive tape roll 64, the supply shaft 70, and the take-up shaft 76 are all disposed at positions that overlap the print tape roll 26 in the up-down direction, but are not limited to this configuration. At least the concave portion 99 may be arranged at a position overlapping the print tape roll 26 in the up-down direction. Similarly, in the second to fourth embodiments, at least the concave portion may be disposed at a position overlapping the print tape roll in the vertical direction. Further, in the first to fourth embodiments, the recess or the recess wall overlaps the print tape shaft in the up-down direction, but at least the recess or the recess wall may overlap the print tape wound around the print tape shaft in the up-down direction.

Further, although the print tape roll of the first to fourth embodiments is configured such that the print tape is wound around the print tape shaft as the cylindrical shaft core member, the print tape roll may be configured such that the first support projection and the second support projection are wound around the print tape shaft without winding the print tape. Likewise, the adhesive tape 60 may be wound so as not to be wound on the adhesive tape shaft 62, and the outer periphery of the adhesive tape 60 is defined by the adhesive tape roll holding wall 84 and the arc-shaped wall 92.

Description of the reference numerals

10. 210, 410, 510: tape box

12. 212, 412, 512: first housing member

14. 214, 414, 514: second housing member

16. 216, 416, 516: third housing member

16a, 216a, 416a, 516 a: first side wall (outer peripheral wall)

16b, 216b, 416b, 516 b: second side wall (outer peripheral wall)

16c, 216c, 416c, 516 c: wall of recess

16h, 216h, 416h, 516 h: inner wall

16i, 216i, 416i, 516 i: inner wall

16j, 216j, 416j, 516 j: inner wall

16k, 216k, 416k, 516 k: inner wall

18. 218, 418, 518: fourth housing member

20. 220, 420, 520: printing tape casing (first casing, upper casing)

21. 221, 421, 521: ribbon case (second case, lower case)

22. 222, 422, 522: printing tape (to-be-printed medium, first medium)

22a, 222a, 422a, 522 a: printed tape

22b, 222b, 422b, 522 b: adhesive agent

22c, 222c, 422c, 522 c: stripping belt

24. 224, 424: printing tape spool

26. 226, 426, 526: printing tape roll

27. 227, 427: matching claw

28. 228, 428: fixed claw

29. 229, 429: positioning projection

30. 230, 430: first supporting protrusion

32. 232, 432: second supporting protrusion

34. 234, 434: first circumferential wall

36. 236, 436: second circumferential wall

38. 238, 438: spacer

40. 240: printing tape door

42. 242: printing tape door

44. 244, 444: outer peripheral wall of the first housing member

44a, 244a, 444 a: short edge part

46. 246, 446: outer peripheral wall of the second housing member

46a, 246a, 446 a: short edge part

46b, 246 b: long edge part

48. 248, 448: guide wall

50. 250, 450: guide wall

52. 252, 452: through hole

54. 254, 454: guide rib

56. 256, 456: guide wall

58. 258, 458: through hole

60. 260: adhesive tape

60a, 260 a: transparent film

60b, 260 b: adhesive agent

62. 462: adhesive tape shaft

64: 464: adhesive tape roll

66. 466: adhesive tape roll support hole

68. 268: ink ribbon

68a, 268 a: ink(s)

70. 270: supply shaft

72. 272: ink ribbon roll

74. 274: ink ribbon support hole

76. 276: winding shaft

78. 278: support hole of winding shaft

80. 280, 480: roller

80a, 280 a: connecting part

82. 482: roller support hole

84. 484: adhesive tape roll holding wall

86. 286: ribbon roll holding wall

88. 288: cylindrical protrusion

90. 290: clutch spring holding part

92. 292: holding member

94. 294: support hole of winding shaft

96. 296: connecting hole

98. 498: roller exposure hole

99. 299, 499, 599: concave part

102: printing apparatus

104: cassette mounting part

106: printing head

108: driving shaft of winding shaft

110: roller drive shaft

112: locating hole

114: print head holding plate

116: paper pressing roller

118: pressure applying roller

120: platen roller holding member

122: printing system

130. 300, 500: discharge port

132. 302: input port

S1: the first space

S2: second space

C1: first center line of rotation

C2: second center line of rotation

C3: third center line of rotation

C4: the fourth rotation center line

C5: fifth center line of rotation