CN111902293B

CN111902293B - Ribbon cartridge

Info

Publication number: CN111902293B
Application number: CN201980021720.7A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 石本章雄; 佐佐木泰志
Original assignee: Seiko Epson Corp; King Jim Co Ltd
Current assignee: Seiko Epson Corp; King Jim Co Ltd
Priority date: 2018-03-29
Filing date: 2019-03-28
Publication date: 2022-10-11
Anticipated expiration: 2039-03-28
Also published as: TWI795655B; JP2019171843A; EP3778247A4; JP7105688B2; KR102541083B1; TW201941975A; TWI700195B; KR20200136019A; TW202039267A; CN111902293A; EP3778247A1

Abstract

The invention provides a miniaturized ribbon cartridge (200). The ribbon cartridge (200) is provided with: a take-up side cylinder portion (279) which guides the ink ribbon (213) and into which a take-up shaft is inserted when the ink ribbon cassette (200) is mounted in the cassette mounting portion; a first ribbon guide (281) that guides the ink ribbon (213) at a position on the downstream side of the take-up side tube section (279) in the direction of conveyance of the ink ribbon (213); and a second ribbon guide (283) that guides the ink ribbon (213) at a position downstream of the first ribbon guide (281) in the transport direction, wherein the first ribbon guide (281) is provided further inside the ribbon cartridge (200) than a virtual guide line (325) connecting the take-up side cylindrical portion (279) and the second ribbon guide (283) when viewed from the front side in the mounting direction of the ribbon cartridge (200).

Description

Ribbon cartridge

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a ribbon cartridge containing an ink ribbon.

Background

Conventionally, as disclosed in patent document 1, there is known an ink ribbon cassette mounted in a printing apparatus including a cassette mounting portion to which the ink ribbon cassette is mounted and an ink ribbon mounting portion to which the ink ribbon cassette is mounted.

Prior art documents

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2017-024324

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

The printing apparatus disclosed in patent document 1 includes two printing units, i.e., a tape printing unit and a tube printing unit, and therefore the printing apparatus is large in size and the manufacturing cost is increased. The present inventors have conceived that, in a printing apparatus including a first cartridge mounting section to which a first ribbon cartridge is mounted and a second cartridge mounting section to which a second ribbon cartridge having a larger amount of ribbon than the first ribbon cartridge is mounted, a part of the first cartridge mounting section and a part of the second cartridge mounting section are shared. In such a printing apparatus, a first take-up shaft inserted into a first take-up core housed in the first ribbon cartridge is provided in an overlapping region where the first cartridge mounting portion and the second cartridge mounting portion overlap. In the second ribbon cartridge, a winding side cylindrical portion into which the first winding shaft is inserted is provided so as not to interfere with the first winding shaft when the second ink ribbon is guided and mounted in the second cartridge mounting portion. Further, a ribbon guide is provided on the downstream side of the take-up side cylindrical portion in the feeding direction of the second ink ribbon. In this configuration, the second ink ribbon is fed along the virtual guide line connecting the winding-side cylindrical portion and the ribbon guide, but further improvement is required to achieve downsizing of the second ribbon cartridge.

The present invention addresses the problem of providing a miniaturized ribbon cartridge in which the feed path of the ribbon is optimized.

Means for solving the problems

The ribbon cartridge according to the present invention is a second ribbon cartridge mounted in a printing apparatus including: a first cartridge mounting section in which a first ribbon cartridge in which a first winding core on which a first ink ribbon is wound is housed is mounted; a second cartridge mounting section in which a second ribbon cartridge in which a second ink ribbon is housed is mounted; a first winding shaft that is provided in an overlapping region of the first cartridge mounting portion and the second cartridge mounting portion and that is inserted into the first winding core when the first ribbon cartridge is mounted in the first cartridge mounting portion, the ribbon cartridge being characterized by comprising: a winding side tube portion that guides the second ink ribbon and into which the first winding shaft is inserted when the second ribbon cartridge is mounted in the second cartridge mounting portion; a first ribbon guide that guides the second ink ribbon at a position on a downstream side of the take-up side cylindrical portion in a feeding direction of the second ink ribbon; and a second ribbon guide for guiding the second ink ribbon at a position on a downstream side in the transport direction with respect to the first ribbon guide, wherein the first ribbon guide is provided on an inner side of the second ribbon cartridge with respect to a virtual guide line connecting the winding-side cylindrical portion and the second ribbon guide when viewed from a front side in the mounting direction of the second ribbon cartridge.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a tape printing apparatus in which an ink ribbon cassette and a tape guide according to an embodiment of the present invention are mounted.

Fig. 2 is a view of the tape printing apparatus in a state where the ink ribbon cassette and the tape guide are mounted, as viewed from the front side in the mounting direction.

Fig. 3 is a view of the tape printing apparatus in a state where the tape cassette is mounted, as viewed from the front side in the mounting direction.

Fig. 4 is a view of the tape printing apparatus as viewed from the front side in the mounting direction.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the ribbon cassette.

Fig. 6 is a view of the ribbon cartridge as viewed from the front side in the mounting direction.

Fig. 7 is a view of the ribbon cartridge as viewed from the-Y side.

Fig. 8 is a view of the ribbon cartridge as viewed from the + Y side.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the ribbon cassette with the front side case detached.

Fig. 10 is a view of the ribbon cartridge in a state where the front side case is detached from the front side in the mounting direction.

Fig. 11 is a view of the depth side housing as viewed from the front side in the mounting direction.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of an ink ribbon cassette according to a modification.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, an ink ribbon cassette 200 as an embodiment of the "second ink ribbon cassette" of the present invention will be described together with a tape printing apparatus P on which the ink ribbon cassette 200 is mounted, with reference to the drawings of the specification. The tape printing apparatus P is an example of the "printing apparatus" of the present invention. In the following drawings, an XYZ rectangular coordinate system is shown to clarify the arrangement relationship of each part, but the present invention is not limited to this, and it goes without saying that the description thereof is given.

[ tape printing apparatus ]

The tape printing apparatus P will be described with reference to fig. 1 to 4. The tape printer P is detachably provided with a tape cassette 100, an ink ribbon cassette 200, and a tape guide 400. The tape cassette 100 accommodates a first tape 111 and a first ink ribbon 113. The tape cassette 100 is an example of a "first ribbon cassette" of the present invention. In the ink ribbon cassette 200, a second ink ribbon 213 is housed. The ribbon cartridge 200 is an example of the "second ribbon cartridge" of the present invention. Further, the tape printing apparatus P is provided with a tape introduction port 11 for introducing the second tape 500 from the outside of the tape printing apparatus P. The tape guide 400 guides the second tape 500 introduced from the tape introduction port 11. The tape printing apparatus P can perform first tape printing for printing the first tape 111 with the tape cartridge 100 attached as shown in fig. 3, and second tape printing for printing the second tape 500 with the ink ribbon cartridge 200 and the tape guide 400 attached as shown in fig. 1 and 2.

The tape printing apparatus P includes: the apparatus includes an apparatus case 1, a mounting portion cover 3, a first cartridge mounting portion 5, and a second cartridge mounting portion 7. The device case 1 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The apparatus case 1 is provided with a tape discharge port 9 on the-X side surface and a tape introduction port 11 on the + X side surface. The printed first tape 111 or the printed second tape 500 is discharged from the tape discharge port 9. The second belt 500 is introduced into the belt introduction port 11 from the outside of the belt printing apparatus P.

The mounting portion cover 3 is provided on the apparatus case 1 so as to be rotatable about the + Y-side end portion. The cartridge cover 3 opens and closes the first cartridge mounting portion 5 and the second cartridge mounting portion 7. The mounting portion cover 3 is locked in a closed state by a cover lock mechanism (not shown). When a hood release button (not shown) is pressed, the hood lock mechanism is in an unlocked state, and the mounting portion hood 3 is opened.

A first pressing projection 13, a second pressing projection 15, and a third pressing projection 17 are provided so as to protrude from the inner surface of the mounting portion cover 3. When the mount cover 3 is closed in a state where the ink ribbon cassette 200 is mounted in the second cassette mount 7, the first pressing projection 13, the second pressing projection 15, and the third pressing projection 17 will hit the ink ribbon cassette 200. Therefore, the ribbon cartridge 200 is mounted in a state of being pressed by the first pressing protrusion 13, the second pressing protrusion 15, and the third pressing protrusion 17.

Although not shown in the drawings, a keyboard and a display are provided on the outer surface of the mounting portion cover 3. The keyboard receives input operations of various instructions such as print information such as character strings and print execution. The display displays various information in addition to the print information input from the keyboard. When the keyboard receives an input operation for executing printing, the tape printing apparatus P executes printing processing based on the printing information input from the keyboard. The tape printer P may be provided with an input display unit such as a touch panel display instead of the keyboard and the display. The tape printing apparatus P may be configured to execute a printing process based on print data and a command received from an external apparatus such as a personal computer or a smartphone. When the external device is configured to be connectable to the external device, the keyboard and the display may be provided or may not be provided.

The first cartridge mounting portion 5 and the second cartridge mounting portion 7 are provided on the + Z side surface of the apparatus case 1. The tape cartridge 100 is detachably mounted in the first cartridge mounting portion 5. The ink ribbon cartridge 200 is detachably mounted in the second cartridge mounting section 7. The first cartridge mounting portion 5 and the second cartridge mounting portion 7 are formed in a concave shape with the + Z side opened. Therefore, the tape cassette 100 and the ink ribbon cassette 200 are mounted from the + Z side with respect to the first cassette mounting part 5 and the second cassette mounting part 7, respectively. In addition, hereinafter, the mounting directions of the tape cassette 100 and the ink ribbon cassette 200 are simply referred to as "mounting directions". The term "front side in the mounting direction" means + Z side, and the term "back side in the mounting direction" means-Z side.

As shown in FIG. 4, the-Y side portion of the first cartridge mounting portion 5 and the-X side portion of the second cartridge mounting portion 7 are unified. Here, a portion where the first cartridge mounting portion 5 and the second cartridge mounting portion 7 overlap is referred to as an overlapping region 21. In addition, a portion of the first cartridge mounting portion 5 that is offset from the overlapping region 21 is referred to as a first non-overlapping region 23, and a portion of the second cartridge mounting portion 7 that is offset from the overlapping region 21 is referred to as a second non-overlapping region 25. The first non-overlapping area 23 functions as a guide attachment portion to which the tape guide 400 is detachably attached. In this way, by sharing a part of the first cartridge mounting portion 5 and a part of the second cartridge mounting portion 7, the tape printing apparatus P can be downsized compared to a configuration in which the first cartridge mounting portion 5 and the second cartridge mounting portion 7 are provided separately.

As shown in fig. 3, the tape cassette 100 is mounted in the first cassette mounting portion 5 at the time of first tape printing. In this state, the tape printing apparatus P performs printing on the first tape 111 while conveying the first tape 111 and the first ink ribbon 113 stored in the tape cassette 100.

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, when printing the second tape, the tape guide 400 is mounted in the first cartridge mounting section 5, and the ink ribbon cartridge 200 is mounted in the second cartridge mounting section 7. In this state, the tape printing apparatus P performs printing on the second tape 500 while conveying the second tape 500 introduced from the tape introduction port 11 and the second ink ribbon 213 stored in the ribbon cartridge 200.

The second tape 500 is provided as a roll wound in a roll shape, for example. Although the length of the second tape 500 and the length of the second ink ribbon 213 stored in the ribbon cartridge 200 in the unused state are not particularly limited, in the present embodiment, the lengths are longer than the lengths of the first tape 111 and the first ink ribbon 113 stored in the cartridge 100 in the unused state. Therefore, for example, in the case of making a large number of labels at a time, the second tape printing is performed.

[ tape cassette ]

The tape cartridge 100 will be described with reference to fig. 3. The tape cassette 100 includes: the tape cartridge includes a tape core 101, a first platen roller 103, a first unwinding core 105, a first winding core 107, and a first cartridge case 109 rotatably housing these components. A first tape 111 is wound around the tape core 101. A first ink ribbon 113 is wound around the first unwinding core 105 with the surface coated with ink facing the inside. In addition, the first cartridge case 109 includes a plurality of cases having different thicknesses, that is, different sizes in the mounting direction, depending on the widths of the first tape 111 and the first ink ribbon 113 stored therein.

The first cartridge case 109 is formed in a substantially L shape when viewed from the front side in the mounting direction. In a substantially half portion of the + Y side of the first cartridge case 109, a cored storage portion 115 is provided. The tape core 101 is rotatably housed in the tape core housing section 115.

In a substantially half portion of the-Y side of the first cartridge case 109, a first ribbon core housing section 117 is provided on the + X side, and a first head insertion section (not shown) is provided on the-X side. The first unwinding core 105 and the first winding core 107 are rotatably housed in the first toner core housing section 117. The first head insertion portion, the first unwinding core 105, and the first winding core 107 are provided at positions corresponding to the thermal head 27, the first unwinding shaft 29, and the first winding shaft 31 (see fig. 4) provided in the overlap region 21, respectively. When the tape cassette 100 is mounted in the first cassette mounting section 5, the thermal head 27 is inserted into the first head insertion section. A first ink ribbon exposure portion (not shown) for exposing the first ink ribbon 113 is provided at a peripheral edge portion of the first head insertion portion. The first ink ribbon 113 unwound from the first unwinding core 105 is wound around the first winding core 107 through the first ribbon exposure portion.

On the-X side surface of the first cartridge case 109, a tape feed-out port 123 is provided. The printed first tape 111 is fed out of the first cassette case 109 through the tape feed-out port 123. Although not shown, the first cartridge case 109 is provided with first hook engagement portions on the + X side surface and the-X side surface.

[ outline of the ribbon Cartridge ]

An outline of the ribbon cartridge 200 will be described with reference to fig. 2. The ribbon cartridge 200 includes: a second unwinding core 205, a second winding core 207, and a second cartridge case 209 for rotatably housing these components. A second ink ribbon 213 is wound around the second unwinding core 205 with the surface coated with ink facing the inside. Hereinafter, the side of the second ink ribbon 213 on which ink is applied is referred to as an ink side 213a. In addition, the second cartridge case 209 includes a plurality of cases having different thicknesses depending on the width of the second ink ribbon 213 to be stored.

The second cartridge case 209 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape that is long in the X direction when viewed from the front side in the mounting direction. A second ribbon core housing portion 217 is provided on the + X side of the second cartridge case 209, and a second head insertion portion 219 is provided on the-X side (see fig. 5). The second ribbon core housing unit 217 rotatably houses the second unwinding core 205 and the second winding core 207. The second head inserting portion 219, the second unwinding core 205, and the second winding core 207 are provided at positions corresponding to the thermal head 27 provided in the overlapping region 21, the second unwinding shaft 45 (see fig. 4) provided in the second non-overlapping region 25, and the second winding shaft 47, respectively. The second ink ribbon 213 is wound around the second unwinding core 205, and the second ink ribbon 213 is wound around the second winding core 207. Therefore, the center of gravity of the ribbon cartridge 200 is located on the side of the second ribbon core housing section 217 in which the second unwinding core 205 and the second winding core 207 are housed, that is, on the + X side.

When the ink ribbon cartridge 200 is mounted in the second cartridge mounting section 7, the thermal head 27 is inserted into the second head insertion section 219. A second ribbon exposure portion 221 (see fig. 5) for exposing the second ink ribbon 213 is provided at a peripheral edge portion of the second head insertion portion 219. The second ink ribbon 213 unwound from the second unwinding core 205 is wound around the second winding core 207 via the second ribbon exposure portion 221. Further, second hook engagement portions 225 are provided on the-Y side surface, the + X side surface, and the + Y side surface of the second cartridge case 209 (see fig. 5, 7 to 9).

[ tape guide ]

The tape guide 400 will be described based on fig. 2. The tape guide 400 includes a roller support portion 401 and a second platen roller 403. The roller support portion 401 rotatably supports the second platen roller 403. In addition, in the tape guide 400, there are a plurality of kinds of tape guides having different thicknesses depending on the width of the second tape 500 to be guided.

[ Cartridge-mounting part ]

The first cartridge mounting unit 5 and the second cartridge mounting unit 7 will be described with reference to fig. 4. As described above, the first cartridge mounting portion 5 and the second cartridge mounting portion 7 can be divided into the overlapping region 21, the first non-overlapping region 23, and the second non-overlapping region 25.

The thermal head 27, the first unwinding shaft 29, and the first winding shaft 31 are provided on the bottom surface of the overlap region 21, that is, on the surface on the deeper side in the mounting direction of the overlap region 21 so as to protrude toward the front side in the mounting direction. The thermal head 27 protrudes forward in the mounting direction by a larger amount than the first unwinding shaft 29 and the first winding shaft 31. Although not shown, a cutter is provided between the thermal head 27 and the tape discharge port 9. The cutter cuts the first tape 111 or the second tape 500 at a position between the thermal head 27 and the tape discharge port 9.

The thermal head 27 is covered with a head cover 33. When the tape cassette 100 is mounted in the first cassette mounting section 5, the head cap 33 is inserted into the first head insertion section. Further, when the ink ribbon cartridge 200 is mounted in the second cartridge mounting section 7, the head cap 33 is inserted into the second head insertion section 219.

The first unwinding rotating member 35 is rotatably provided on the first unwinding shaft 29. When the tape cassette 100 is mounted in the first cassette mounting section 5, the first unwinding shaft 29 is inserted into the first unwinding core 105, and the first unwinding rotary member 35 engages with the first unwinding core 105. Further, when the ink ribbon cassette 200 is mounted in the second cassette mounting portion 7, the first unwinding shaft 29 is inserted into an unwinding side tube portion 277 (refer to fig. 9) provided inside the ink ribbon cassette 200.

The first winding rotary member 37 is rotatably provided on the first winding shaft 31. When the tape cassette 100 is mounted in the first cassette mounting section 5, the first take-up shaft 31 is inserted into the first take-up core 107, and the first take-up rotary member 37 engages with the first take-up core 107. Further, when the ink ribbon cassette 200 is mounted in the second cassette mounting portion 7, the first take-up shaft 31 is inserted into a take-up side cylindrical portion 279 (refer to fig. 9) provided inside the ink ribbon cassette 200.

The platen shaft 39 and the two first hooks 41 are provided on the bottom surface of the first non-overlapping area 23 so as to protrude toward the front side in the mounting direction.

The platen rotation member 43 is rotatably provided on the platen shaft 39. When the tape cassette 100 is mounted in the first cassette mounting section 5, the platen shaft 39 is inserted into the first platen roller 103, and the platen rotation member 43 engages with the first platen roller 103. Further, when the tape guide 400 is mounted in the first non-overlapping area 23, the platen shaft 39 is inserted into the second platen roller 403, and the platen rotation member 43 engages with the second platen roller 403.

The two first hooks 41 are provided on both ends in the X direction of the first non-overlapping area 23, and engage with first hook engaging portions provided on the first cartridge case 109 when the tape cartridge 100 is mounted in the first cartridge mounting section 5. This suppresses the tape cartridge 100 from being mounted in a state of being lifted from the bottom surface of the first cartridge mounting section 5.

The second unwinding shaft 45, the second winding shaft 47, the three second hooks 49, and the receiving portion 51 are provided on the bottom surface of the second non-overlapping area 25 so as to protrude toward the front side in the mounting direction. Further, a substrate connection portion 53 is fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the second non-overlapping region 25 on the-Y side.

The second unwinding rotation member 55 is rotatably provided on the second unwinding shaft 45. When the ink ribbon cartridge 200 is mounted in the second cartridge mounting section 7, the second unwinding shaft 45 is inserted into the second unwinding core 205, and the second unwinding rotation member 55 engages with the second unwinding core 205.

The second winding rotary member 57 is rotatably provided on the second winding shaft 47. When the ink ribbon cartridge 200 is mounted in the second cartridge mounting section 7, the second winding shaft 47 is inserted into the second winding core 207, and the second winding rotary member 57 engages with the second winding core 207.

Three second hooks 49 are provided so as to surround the second unwinding shaft 45 and the second winding shaft 47. When the ink ribbon cartridge 200 is mounted in the second cartridge mounting section 7, the second hook 49 engages with a second hook engaging portion 225 provided on the second cartridge case 209.

The receiving portion 51 is provided so as to be located at the corner of the + X side and the-Y side of the second cartridge mounting portion 7. When the ink ribbon cartridge 200 is mounted in the second cartridge mounting section 7, the receiving portion 51 is inserted into a receiving insertion hole 297 (refer to fig. 10) provided on the second cartridge case 209.

The substrate connecting portion 53 is provided at the end of the + X side on the inner peripheral surface of the-Y side of the second cartridge mounting portion 7. That is, the substrate connecting portion 53 is provided at the-Y side of the socket 51. The board connection portion 53 is connected to a control circuit (not shown) provided in the tape printing apparatus P. When the ink ribbon cartridge 200 is mounted in the second cartridge mounting section 7, the substrate connecting section 53 is connected to a circuit substrate 311 (see fig. 5) provided in the ink ribbon cartridge 200. Thus, the control circuit can read various information stored in the circuit board 311 and write various information to the circuit board 311.

In the tape printing apparatus P configured in this manner, when the tape cassette 100 is mounted in the first cassette mounting portion 5 for the first tape printing, the platen rotation member 43, the first unwinding rotation member 35, and the first winding rotation member 37 are engaged with the first platen roller 103, the first unwinding core 105, and the first winding core 107, respectively. When the mounting portion cover 3 is closed, the thermal head 27 is moved toward the platen shaft 39 by a head moving mechanism (not shown). Thereby, the first ink ribbon 113 exposed at the first ribbon exposure portion is sandwiched between the thermal head 27 and the first platen roller 103 together with the first tape 111.

In this state, when the feed motor (not shown) rotates in the forward direction, the driving force of the feed motor is transmitted to the platen rotation member 43, the first take-up rotation member 37, and the second take-up rotation member 57. Then, the first platen roller 103 engaged with the platen rotation member 43 rotates clockwise as viewed from the front side in the mounting direction, and the first winding core 107 engaged with the first winding rotation member 37 rotates counterclockwise as viewed from the front side in the mounting direction. Thereby, the first tape 111 unwound from the tape core 101 is conveyed toward the tape discharge port 9, and the first ink ribbon 113 unwound from the first unwinding core 105 is wound around the first winding core 107. At this time, the second winding/rotating member 57 is in an idle state.

When the feed motor rotates in the reverse direction opposite to the forward direction, the driving force of the feed motor is transmitted to the platen rotation member 43, the first unwinding rotation member 35, and the second unwinding rotation member 55. Then, the first platen roller 103 engaged with the platen rotation member 43 rotates counterclockwise as viewed from the front side in the mounting direction, and the first unwinding core 105 engaged with the first unwinding rotation member 35 rotates counterclockwise as viewed from the front side in the mounting direction. Thereby, the first tape 111 unwound from the tape core 101 is conveyed toward the tape core 101, and the first ink ribbon 113 unwound from the first unwinding core 105 is wound back onto the first unwinding core 105. At this time, the second unwinding rotating member 55 is in an idle state.

In the tape printing apparatus P, when the first tape is printed, the feed motor is rotated in the forward direction, so that the first tape 111 is fed toward the tape discharge port 9, and the first ink ribbon 113 is wound around the first winding core 107, and the thermal head 27 is heated, so that the first tape 111 is printed. After the printing is completed, the tape printing apparatus P cuts the printed portion of the first tape 111 by causing the cutter to perform a cutting operation. Thereafter, the tape printing apparatus P rotates the feed motor in the return direction to feed the first tape 111 toward the tape core 101 and to rewind the first ink ribbon 113 onto the first unwinding core 105. Thereby, the first tape 111 is pulled back until the leading end of the first tape 111 comes near the nip position between the thermal head 27 and the first platen roller 103, that is, near the printing position. Therefore, the margin generated in the front in the longitudinal direction of the first tape 111 due to the separation distance between the thermal head 27 and the cutter can be shortened in the first tape 111 to be printed next time.

On the other hand, when the ink ribbon cartridge 200 is mounted in the second cartridge mounting unit 7 for the second tape printing, the second unwinding rotary member 55 and the second winding rotary member 57 are engaged with the second unwinding core 205 and the second winding core 207, respectively. Further, when the tape guide 400 is mounted in the first non-overlapping area 23, the platen rotation member 43 engages with the second platen roller 403. Further, the second tape 500 introduced from the tape introduction port 11 is set on the tape guide 400. Then, when the mounting-section cover 3 is closed, the thermal head 27 is moved toward the platen shaft 39. Thereby, the second ink ribbon 213 exposed at the second ribbon exposure portion 221 is sandwiched between the thermal head 27 and the second platen roller 403 together with the second tape 500.

In this state, when the feed motor rotates in the forward direction, the driving force of the feed motor is transmitted to the platen rotation member 43, the first winding rotation member 37, and the second winding rotation member 57. Then, the second platen roller 403 engaged with the platen rotation member 43 rotates clockwise as viewed from the front side in the mounting direction, and the second winding core 207 engaged with the second winding rotation member 57 rotates counterclockwise as viewed from the front side in the mounting direction. Thus, the second tape 500 introduced from the tape introduction port 11 is conveyed toward the tape discharge port 9, and the second ink ribbon 213 unwound from the second unwinding core 205 is wound around the second winding core 207. At this time, the first winding/rotating member 37 is in an idle state.

When the feed motor rotates in the return direction, the driving force of the feed motor is transmitted to the platen rotating member 43, the first unwinding rotating member 35, and the second unwinding rotating member 55. Then, the second platen roller 403 engaged with the platen rotation member 43 rotates counterclockwise as viewed from the front side in the mounting direction, and the second unwinding core 205 engaged with the second unwinding rotation member 55 rotates counterclockwise as viewed from the front side in the mounting direction. Thereby, the second tape 500 introduced from the tape inlet 11 is fed toward the tape inlet 11, and the second ink ribbon 213 unwound from the second unwinding core 205 is wound back onto the second unwinding core 205. At this time, the first unwinding rotation member 35 is in an idle state.

In the tape printing apparatus P, in the second tape printing, the second tape 500 is fed toward the tape discharge port 9 by rotating the feed motor in the forward direction, as in the first tape printing, and the second ink ribbon 213 is wound around the second winding core 207 and the thermal head 27 is caused to generate heat to print the second tape 500. After the printing is completed, the tape printing apparatus P cuts the printed portion of the second tape 500 by cutting the cutter. Thereafter, the tape printing apparatus P rotates the feed motor in the return direction to feed the second tape 500 toward the tape introduction port 11 and to wind the second ink ribbon 213 back to the second unwinding core 205. Thereby, the second tape 500 is pulled back until the leading end of the second tape 500 comes near the nip position between the thermal head 27 and the second platen roller 403, that is, near the printing position. Therefore, in the second band 500 to be printed next, the margin generated in the front in the longitudinal direction of the second band 500 due to the separation distance between the thermal head 27 and the cutter can be shortened.

[ details of the ribbon cartridge ]

The ribbon cartridge 200 will be further described with reference to fig. 5 to 11. As shown in fig. 5, the second cartridge case 209 includes a near-side case 227 and a far-side case 229. The front side housing 227 and the depth side housing 229 are examples of the "first housing" and the "second housing" of the present invention. The front housing 227 is located on the front side in the mounting direction when the ink ribbon cartridge 200 is mounted in the second cartridge mounting section 7. The depth-side case 229 is a mounting direction depth side when the ink ribbon cartridge 200 is mounted in the second cartridge mounting section 7. Although the front housing 227 is a molded article of translucent resin and the depth housing 229 is a molded article of non-translucent resin, the material and the manufacturing method of the front housing 227 and the depth housing 229 are not limited to these.

As shown in fig. 5 and 6, the front side casing 227 is provided with a clamp portion 231, and the clamp portion 231 is located on the + X side of the second cartridge casing 209 and clamps the second cartridge casing 209. As described above, since the second ribbon core housing section 217 housing the second unwinding core 205 and the second winding core 207 is provided on the + X side of the second cartridge case 209, the center of gravity of the ribbon cartridge 200 is located on the + X side. Therefore, the user can clamp the position of the center of gravity of the ribbon cartridge 200 on the + X side by the clamping portion 231 provided on the + X side of the front side housing 227. Therefore, the user can stably grip the ribbon cassette 200.

The front housing 227 includes a front wall 233 and a first peripheral wall 235. The front side wall 233 is located on the front side in the mounting direction when the ink ribbon cartridge 200 is mounted in the second cartridge mounting section 7. On the near side wall portion 233, a near side unwinding projection 237 and a near side winding opening 239 are provided. The near-side unwinding protrusion 237 and the near-side winding opening 239 are provided in the second ribbon core receiving portion 217. The near-side unwinding projection 237 and the near-side winding opening 239 are provided at positions corresponding to the second unwinding shaft 45 and the second winding shaft 47 provided in the second cartridge mounting section 7, respectively. The front unwinding projection 237 projects from the inner surface of the front wall 233 toward the depth in the mounting direction, and engages with the end of the second unwinding core 205 on the front side in the mounting direction. The end portion of the second winding core 207 on the front side in the mounting direction is engaged with the front winding opening 239.

The first peripheral wall portion 235 extends from the peripheral edge portion of the front side wall portion 233 toward the depth side in the mounting direction. The first peripheral wall portion 235 includes a near-side first wall portion 241 located on the-X side, a near-side second wall portion 243 located on the-Y side, a near-side third wall portion 245 located on the + X side, and a near-side fourth wall portion 247 located on the + Y side. A second ribbon exposure portion 221 where the second ink ribbon 213 is exposed is provided at a position where the near-side first wall portion 241 and the near-side fourth wall portion 247 intersect.

As shown in fig. 5 to 7, a second peripheral wall recess 249 is provided at a substantially middle portion in the X direction of the front-side second wall portion 243. The second peripheral wall recess 249 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape slightly elongated in the X direction when viewed from the front side in the mounting direction. The second peripheral wall recess 249 is recessed so that the front-side second wall 243 extends over the entire mounting direction.

At the end on the + X side of the near-front-side second wall portion 243, a fourth-peripheral-wall concave portion 251 is provided. The fourth peripheral wall concave portion 251 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape recessed in the X direction as viewed from the front side in the mounting direction. Like the second peripheral wall recess 249, the fourth peripheral wall recess 251 is recessed so that the proximal second wall 243 extends over substantially the entire surface in the mounting direction. In the region on the + X side of the proximal second wall portion 243, a substrate stopper 253 is provided on the end surface on the mounting direction depth side so as to protrude toward the mounting direction depth side. The board stopper 253 stops the circuit board 311 mounted on the board mounting portion 309 provided on the depth side case 229 from the board mounting portion 309.

In the front-side second wall portion 243, the first flat portion 255 located on the-X side of the second peripheral wall recessed portion 249 and the second flat portion 257 located between the second peripheral wall recessed portion 249 and the fourth peripheral wall recessed portion 251 are substantially flush with each other. If the ink ribbon cassette 200 is placed on a mounting surface such as a desk with the second peripheral wall portion 257 not provided and the second peripheral wall portion 249 and the fourth peripheral wall portion 251 connected to each other in a state in which the front-side second wall portion 243 is directed downward, the fourth peripheral wall portion 251 located on the gravity center side of the ink ribbon cassette 200 may be brought into contact with the mounting surface, and the first flat portion 255 may be brought into a state of being lifted up obliquely with respect to the mounting surface. In this case, the ribbon cartridge 200 is placed in a state of being easily shaken with respect to the placement surface. In contrast, in the present embodiment, since the second flat portion 257 is provided, when the ribbon cartridge 200 is placed on the placement surface with the near-side second wall portion 243 facing downward, the second flat portion 257 abuts against the placement surface, and therefore, the fourth peripheral wall concave portion 251 is prevented from abutting against the placement surface, and the first flat portion 255 is prevented from being in a state of being obliquely floated with respect to the placement surface. Therefore, the ribbon cartridge 200 can be placed on the placement surface in a stable state.

As shown in fig. 5 and 6, a third peripheral wall recess 259 is provided at the-Y-side end of the front-side third wall 245. The third peripheral wall concave portion 259 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape that is long and concave in the Y direction when viewed from the front side in the mounting direction. the-Y-side end of the third peripheral wall recess 259 is connected to the + X-side end of the fourth peripheral wall recess 251. The third peripheral wall recess 259 is recessed so that an end of the near-side third wall 245 on the far side in the mounting direction remains.

As shown in fig. 5, 6, and 8, the front-side fourth wall portion 247 includes a front-side first partial wall portion 261, a front-side second partial wall portion 263, and a front-side third partial wall portion 265. The front-side first partial wall 261 extends from the end of the front-side third wall 245 on the + Y side toward the-X side. The near-side second partial wall portion 263 extends from the end portion on the-X side of the near-side first partial wall portion 261 in a curved manner in an oblique direction between the-X side and the-Y side. The front-side third partial wall 265 extends from the end of the front-side second partial wall 263 on the-X side at an angle closer to parallel to the X direction than the front-side second partial wall 263.

On the proximal first partial wall portion 261, a first peripheral wall recess 267 is provided. The first peripheral wall concave portion 267 is formed in a substantially trapezoidal shape that is long recessed in the Y direction when viewed from the front side in the mounting direction. The first peripheral wall recess 267 is recessed so that an end portion of the front-side fourth wall portion 247 on the deeper side in the mounting direction remains, similarly to the third peripheral wall recess 259.

As shown in fig. 9, the depth side case 229 includes a depth side wall portion 269 and a second peripheral wall portion 271. The depth-side wall portion 269 is located on the mounting direction depth side when the ink ribbon cartridge 200 is mounted in the second cartridge mounting portion 7. The depth side wall portion 269 faces the front side wall portion 233 of the front housing 227.

As shown in fig. 9 to 11, the depth-side wall portion 269 is provided with a depth-side unwinding opening 273, a depth-side winding opening 275, an unwinding-side cylindrical portion 277, a winding-side cylindrical portion 279, a first ribbon guide 281, a second ribbon guide 283, and a receiving-and-inserting portion 285.

The depth-side unwinding opening 273 and the depth-side winding opening 275 are provided in the second ribbon core housing 217. The depth side unwinding opening 273 and the depth side winding opening 275 are provided at positions corresponding to the second unwinding shaft 45 and the second winding shaft 47 provided in the second cartridge mounting section 7, respectively. An end portion of the second unwinding core 205 on the deeper side in the mounting direction is engaged with the deeper side unwinding opening 273. An end portion of the second winding core 207 on the mounting direction back side is engaged with the back side winding opening 275. Hereinafter, the conveyance direction of the second ink ribbon 213 will be referred to simply as "conveyance direction". In the conveying direction, the upstream side means the second unwinding core 205 side, and the downstream side means the second winding core 207 side.

The unwinding-side cylindrical portion 277 and the winding-side cylindrical portion 279 are positioned between the second ribbon core housing portion 217 and the second head insertion portion 219 and are provided so as to protrude forward in the mounting direction from the depth side wall portion 269. The unwinding-side cylindrical portion 277 and the winding-side cylindrical portion 279 are provided at positions corresponding to the first unwinding shaft 29 and the first winding shaft 31 provided in the overlap region 21, respectively.

The unwinding side tube portion 277 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape with a cover, and is inserted with the first unwinding shaft 29 provided in the overlapping area 21 when the ink ribbon cartridge 200 is mounted in the second cartridge mounting section 7. Thereby, when the ink ribbon cassette 200 is mounted in the second cassette mounting section 7, the first unwinding shaft 29 is suppressed from interfering with the ink ribbon cassette 200. The unwinding side cylinder portion 277 has an inner diameter to the extent that a gap is generated between the first unwinding rotation member 35 provided on the first unwinding shaft 29 and the inner diameter. Therefore, even if the first unwinding rotation member 35 rotates, the first unwinding rotation member 35 does not slide on the inner peripheral surface of the unwinding side tube portion 277. Further, a press-fitting hole 287 into which a press-fitting pin (not shown) provided in the front side housing 227 is press-fitted is provided on the front side in the mounting direction of the unwinding side tube portion 277.

The unwinding side cylinder 277 is positioned on the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the second unwinding core 205, and guides the second ink ribbon 213 by bringing the second ink ribbon 213, which is conveyed from the second unwinding core 205 to the second ribbon exposure portion 221, into contact with a portion of the + Y side of the peripheral surface thereof. That is, the unwinding side cylinder portion 277 into which the first unwinding shaft 29 is inserted can also function as a guide member for guiding the second ink ribbon 213. Further, although the unwinding side cylindrical portion 277 may be configured by a cylindrical portion provided on the near side housing 227 and a cylindrical portion provided on the depth side housing 229, in the present embodiment, the unwinding side cylindrical portion 277 is provided only on the depth side housing 229, which is one of the near side housing 227 and the depth side housing 229. Therefore, the second ink ribbon 213 can be appropriately guided without a step being formed on the peripheral surface of the unwinding side cylinder portion 277. The unwinding side cylinder 277 is not limited to a cylindrical shape, and may be, for example, an elliptical cylindrical shape, a semi-cylindrical shape, or a rectangular cylindrical shape.

The take-up side cylinder portion 279 is formed into a substantially cylindrical shape, and is inserted with the first take-up shaft 31 provided in the overlap region 21 when the ink ribbon cassette 200 is mounted in the second cassette mounting portion 7. Thereby, when the ink ribbon cassette 200 is mounted in the second cassette mounting portion 7, the interference of the first take-up shaft 31 with the ink ribbon cassette 200 is suppressed. The winding-side tube portion 279 has an inner diameter to the extent that a gap is generated between the first winding-rotation member 37 provided on the first winding shaft 31. Therefore, even if the first winding-rotating member 37 rotates, the first winding-rotating member 37 does not slide with respect to the inner peripheral surface of the winding-side tube portion 279.

The winding side tube portion 279 is positioned on the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the second ribbon exposure portion 221, and guides the second ink ribbon 213 by bringing the second ink ribbon 213, which is conveyed from the second ribbon exposure portion 221 to the second winding core 207, into contact with a portion of the circumferential surface on the-Y side. That is, the winding-side tube portion 279 into which the first winding shaft 31 is inserted can also function as a guide member for guiding the second ink ribbon 213. Further, the winding-side tube portion 279 may be configured by a tube portion provided on the near-side housing 227 and a tube portion provided on the far-side housing 229, but in the present embodiment, the winding-side tube portion 279 is provided only on the far-side housing 229, which is one of the near-side housing 227 and the far-side housing 229. Therefore, the second ink ribbon 213 can be appropriately guided without forming a step on the circumferential surface of the winding side tube portion 279. The shape of the winding side cylinder portion 279 is not limited to a cylindrical shape, and may be, for example, an elliptical cylindrical shape, a semi-cylindrical shape, or a rectangular cylindrical shape, as in the case of the unwinding side cylinder portion 277.

The first ribbon guide 281 guides the second ink ribbon 213 at a position on the downstream side of the winding-side tube portion 279 in the conveyance direction of the second ink ribbon 213. The first ribbon guide 281 is formed integrally with the depth side wall portion 269. The first ribbon guide 281 includes a first guide body 289 and two first guide ribs 291. The first guide body 289 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and contacts the ink surface 213a of the second ink ribbon 213, thereby guiding the second ink ribbon 213. Two first guide ribs 291 protrude from the circumferential surface of the first guide body 289 to the + X side and the-Y side. The first guide rib 291 suppresses the first guide body 289 from being inclined by the pressure received from the second ink ribbon 213 that is conveyed in a properly tensioned state.

The second ribbon guide 283 guides the second ink ribbon 213 at a position on the downstream side in the conveyance direction from the first ribbon guide 281. The second ribbon guide 283 is integrally formed with the depth-side wall portion 269. The second ribbon guide 283 includes a second guide body 293 and two second guide ribs 295, as in the first ribbon guide 281. The second guide body 293 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and guides the second ink ribbon 213 by being in contact with a surface of the second ink ribbon 213 on the side opposite to the ink surface 213a. Two second guide ribs 295 protrude from the circumferential surface of the second guide body 293 to the-X side and the + Y side. The second guide rib 295 suppresses the inclination of the second guide body 293 by the pressure received from the second ink ribbon 213.

The receiving insertion portion 285 is located at a corner portion of the depth side wall portion 269 on the + X side and the-Y side, and is provided so as to protrude forward in the mounting direction. A receiving insertion hole 297 is provided in the receiving insertion portion 285 so as to penetrate in the mounting direction. When the ink ribbon cartridge 200 is mounted in the second cartridge mounting section 7, the receiving portion 51 is inserted into the receiving insertion hole 297.

The second peripheral wall portion 271 extends forward in the attaching direction from the peripheral edge portion of the depth side wall portion 269. An end surface of the second peripheral wall portion 271 on the front side in the mounting direction is in contact with an end surface of the first peripheral wall portion 235 of the front housing 227 on the back side in the mounting direction. The second peripheral wall 271 includes a depth side first wall 299 positioned on the-X side, a depth side second wall 301 positioned on the-Y side, a depth side third wall 303 positioned on the + X side, and a depth side fourth wall 305 positioned on the + Y side. At a position where the depth-side first wall 299 and the depth-side fourth wall 305 intersect, a second color band exposed portion 221 is provided.

As shown in fig. 7 and 9 to 11, a depth-side peripheral wall recess 307 is provided at the end of the depth-side second wall 301 on the + X side so as to correspond to the fourth peripheral wall recess 251. The deep-side peripheral wall concave portion 307 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape recessed in the X direction as viewed from the front side in the mounting direction, similarly to the fourth peripheral wall concave portion 251. In the region on the + X side and the + Y side of the depth side peripheral wall recess 307, a substrate mounting portion 309 is provided. A circuit board 311 is mounted on the board mounting portion 309. The circuit board 311 includes a memory element. The memory element stores information such as the width of the second ink ribbon 213 and the remaining amount of the second ink ribbon 213 wound around the second unwinding core 205. Further, since the substrate mounting portion 309 is provided in the region on the + X side and the + Y side of the deep-side peripheral wall concave portion 307, even when the ink ribbon cartridge 200 is erroneously dropped, for example, the circuit substrate 311 mounted on the substrate mounting portion 309 is prevented from hitting a floor surface or the like. This can prevent the circuit board 311 from being scratched or contaminated.

A peripheral wall convex portion 313 protruding from an end surface on the front side in the mounting direction toward the front side in the mounting direction is provided at a position corresponding to a second peripheral wall concave portion 249 that is a substantially middle portion in the X direction of the depth side second wall portion 301. The peripheral wall convex portion 313 is inserted into the second peripheral wall concave portion 249 from the mounting direction deep side.

As shown in fig. 8, 10, and 11, the depth-side fourth wall portion 305 includes a depth-side first partial wall portion 315, a depth-side second partial wall portion 317, and a depth-side third partial wall portion 319. The depth-side first partial wall portion 315 extends from the end portion on the + Y side of the depth-side third wall portion 303 to the-X side. The depth-side second partial wall 317 extends from the end of the depth-side first partial wall 315 on the-X side to curve in the oblique direction between the-X side and the-Y side. The depth-side third partial wall portion 319 extends from the end portion on the-X side of the depth-side second partial wall portion 317 by bending at an angle closer to parallel to the X direction than the depth-side second partial wall portion 317.

As shown in fig. 5 and 7 to 9, the second hook engaging portion 225 is provided in the depth-side second wall portion 301, the depth-side third wall portion 303, and the depth-side second partial wall portion 317. That is, the three second hook engagement portions 225 are provided at the peripheral edge portion of the second ribbon core housing portion 217 as viewed from the front side in the mounting direction. When the ink ribbon cartridge 200 is mounted in the second cartridge mounting section 7, the second hook 49 engages with the second hook engaging section 225. This suppresses the ink ribbon cartridge 200 from being mounted in a state of being lifted from the bottom surface of the second cartridge mounting section 7.

[ unwinding side tube part and winding side tube part ]

The configuration around the unwinding side tube portion 277 and the winding side tube portion 279 will be further described with reference to fig. 9 and 10. Here, a virtual guide line 325 is assumed which connects the winding-side cylindrical portion 279 and the second ribbon guide 283 when viewed from the front side in the mounting direction. More specifically, the virtual guide line 325 is a virtual line connecting a portion that contacts the second ink ribbon 213 at the winding-side cylindrical portion 279 and a portion that contacts the second ink ribbon 213 at the second ribbon guide 283 when viewed from the front side in the mounting direction. The first ribbon guide 281 is provided on the inner side of the ribbon cartridge 200 with respect to the virtual guide line 325 when viewed from the front side in the mounting direction. Therefore, the second ink ribbon 213 is fed between the winding-side cylindrical portion 279 and the second ribbon guide 283 inside the ribbon cartridge 200 from the virtual guide line 325.

Further, an inter-cylinder virtual line 327 connecting the unwinding-side cylinder portion 277 and the winding-side cylinder portion 279 is assumed when viewed from the front side in the mounting direction. More specifically, the inter-cylinder virtual line 327 is a virtual line connecting the center of the unwinding side cylinder portion 277 and the center of the winding side cylinder portion 279 when viewed from the front side in the mounting direction. The second ink ribbon 213 that is fed from the second unwinding core 205 to the second ribbon exposure portion 221 passes through one side of the inter-cylinder virtual line 327 when viewed from the front side in the mounting direction. The second ink ribbon 213 that is fed from the second ribbon exposure portion 221 to the second winding core 207 passes through the other side of the inter-cylinder virtual line 327 when viewed from the front side in the mounting direction. The first ink ribbon guide 281 is provided on the downstream side of the take-up side cylindrical portion 279 in the feeding direction of the second ink ribbon 213 so as to face a seal portion 329 described later when viewed from the front side in the mounting direction.

A sealing portion 329 for sealing a space between the unwinding side cylinder portion 277 and the winding side cylinder portion 279 is provided between the unwinding side cylinder portion 277 and the winding side cylinder portion 279. The closing portion 329 is formed integrally with the unwinding side cylinder portion 277 and the winding side cylinder portion 279 so as to extend from the mounting direction deep side to the mounting direction front side and substantially entirely so as to overlap with the inter-cylinder imaginary line 327 when viewed from the mounting direction front side. The closing portion 329 may be a member that can close the space between the unwinding side cylinder portion 277 and the winding side cylinder portion 279, and may be a member that is not overlapped with the inter-cylinder virtual line 327 when viewed from the front side in the mounting direction, or a member that is separate from the unwinding side cylinder portion 277 and the winding side cylinder portion 279. Further, the unwinding-side cylindrical portion 277 is provided with a cylindrical projection 331 projecting from the circumferential surface thereof toward the second ink ribbon 213 on the downstream side in the feeding direction with respect to the first ribbon guide 281. The cylindrical projection 331 extends in the axial direction of the unwinding side cylindrical portion 277, and is provided so as to extend over substantially the entire axial direction of the unwinding side cylindrical portion 277. It is preferable that the barrel projection 331 is formed to have a projection amount as large as possible within a range not in contact with the second ink ribbon 213.

As described above, the first guide body 289 of the first ink ribbon guide 281 contacts the ink surface 213a of the second ink ribbon 213. Therefore, when the second ink ribbon 213 is transported, the ink surface 213a of the second ink ribbon 213 and the circumferential surface of the first guide body 289 rub against each other, and therefore, ribbon residue may be generated from the second ink ribbon 213. When the generated ribbon residue diffuses into the second cartridge case 209, the ribbon residue adheres to the second ink ribbon 213 fed from the second unwinding core 205 to the second ribbon exposure portion 221, and further, the ribbon residue adhering to the second ink ribbon 213 adheres to the thermal head 27. This may cause print defects such as scratches and line missing in the printed image.

In contrast, in the present embodiment, the blocking portion 329 is provided between the unwinding side cylindrical portion 277 and the winding side cylindrical portion 279, so that the adhesion of the ribbon residue to the second ink ribbon 213 through the space between the unwinding side cylindrical portion 277 and the winding side cylindrical portion 279 can be suppressed. Further, by providing the cylindrical projection 331 on the unwinding side cylindrical portion 277, the adhesion of the ribbon residue to the second ink ribbon 213 from the + X side of the unwinding side cylindrical portion 277 can be suppressed. In other words, the first ribbon guide 281 that contacts the ink surface 213a of the second ink ribbon 213 is surrounded by the winding-side cylindrical portion 279, the closing portion 329, the unwinding-side cylindrical portion 277, and the cylindrical convex portion 331, whereby a trapping region for trapping the ribbon residue generated in the first ribbon guide 281 can be formed. This can suppress occurrence of a printing failure such as a scratch or a line defect in the printed image. The height of the closing portion 329, that is, the dimension in the mounting direction is substantially equal to the height of the unwinding side cylinder portion 277 or the height of the winding side cylinder portion 279, but the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, the height of the closing portion 329 may be lower than the height of the unwinding side cylindrical portion 277 or the height of the winding side cylindrical portion 279, or may be higher than the height of the unwinding side cylindrical portion 277 or the height of the winding side cylindrical portion 279.

As shown in fig. 10 and 11, the unwinding-side cylindrical portion 277 has, on its peripheral surface, an unwinding-side inclined portion 333 and an unwinding-side vertical portion 335 in the circumferential direction. That is, in fig. 10 and 11, a portion indicated by a thick line in the outline of the unwinding side cylinder portion 277, more precisely, a double line of the outline indicating the end portion on the near side in the mounting direction of the unwinding side cylinder portion 277 and the outline indicating the end portion on the far side in the mounting direction is the unwinding side inclined portion 333, and a portion indicated by a thin line is the unwinding side vertical portion 335.

The unwinding-side inclined portion 333 is inclined toward the front side in the mounting direction, and is inclined toward the center of the unwinding-side tube portion 277 as viewed from the front side in the mounting direction with respect to the depth side wall portion 269. The unwinding-side vertical portion 335 is substantially perpendicular to the deep-side wall portion 269. That is, the angle of inclination of the unwinding-side vertical portion 335 from the angle perpendicular to the depth-side wall portion 269 is smaller than the angle of inclination of the unwinding-side inclined portion 333 from the angle perpendicular to the depth-side wall portion 269. In addition, the tilt angle of the unwinding side vertical portion 335 may be zero. That is, the unwinding-side vertical portion 335 may be perpendicular to the deep-side wall portion 269, instead of being inclined from a perpendicular angle to the deep-side wall portion 269. The deep side wall 269 is an example of the "tube protruding wall" of the present invention.

The unwinding-side cylinder 277 guides the second ink ribbon 213 to the unwinding-side vertical portion 335. Therefore, the second ink ribbon 213 is guided so that the second ink ribbon 213 is fed between the second winding release core 205 and the second ribbon exposure portion 221 in a state where the width direction of the second ink ribbon 213 is substantially parallel to the rotation axis of the second winding release core 205. This can suppress the occurrence of wrinkles in the second ink ribbon 213. Further, since the unwinding-side inclined portion 333 is provided in the unwinding-side cylindrical portion 277, punching can be appropriately performed at the time of molding the depth-side housing 229.

Similarly to the unwinding side tube portion 277, a winding side inclined portion 337 and a winding side vertical portion 339 are provided on the circumferential surface of the winding side tube portion 279 in the circumferential direction of the winding side tube portion 279. That is, in fig. 10 and 11, a portion indicated by a thick line of the contour line of the winding-side tube portion 279, strictly speaking, by a double line of the contour line indicating the end portion on the near side in the mounting direction of the winding-side tube portion 279 and the contour line indicating the end portion on the deep side in the mounting direction is the winding-side inclined portion 337, and a portion indicated by a thin line is the winding-side vertical portion 339.

The take-up side inclined portion 337 is inclined toward the center side of the take-up side cylindrical portion 279 as viewed from the mounting direction front side with respect to the depth side wall portion 269 as it approaches the mounting direction front side. The winding-side vertical portion 339 is substantially perpendicular to the depth-side wall portion 269. That is, the tilt angle of the take-up side vertical portion 339 from the angle perpendicular to the depth side wall portion 269 is smaller than the tilt angle of the take-up side tilted portion 337 from the angle perpendicular to the depth side wall portion 269. In addition, the inclination angle of the winding-side vertical portion 339 may be zero. That is, the take-up side vertical portion 339 may be perpendicular to the depth-side wall portion 269 without being inclined from a perpendicular angle to the depth-side wall portion 269.

The winding-side tube portion 279 guides the second ink ribbon 213 at the winding-side vertical portion 339. Therefore, the second ink ribbon 213 is guided so that the second ink ribbon 213 is fed between the second ribbon exposure portion 221 and the second winding core 207 in a state where the width direction of the second ink ribbon 213 is substantially parallel to the rotation axis of the second winding core 207. This can suppress the second ink ribbon 213 from being wrinkled. Further, since the winding-side inclined portion 337 is provided in the winding-side tube portion 279, punching can be appropriately performed at the time of molding the depth-side housing 229. Further, although the angle occupied by the winding-side vertical portion 339 in the circumferential direction of the winding-side cylindrical portion 279 is not particularly limited, it is preferable that the angle occupied by the winding-side inclined portion 337 is increased by as small an amount as possible within a range in which the second ink ribbon 213 can be appropriately guided, and punching can be appropriately performed.

As described above, the ribbon cartridge 200 of the present embodiment includes: a second winding core 207, a winding-side cylinder portion 279, a first color ribbon guide 281, and a second color ribbon guide 283. The winding side tube portion 279 guides the second ink ribbon 213, and is inserted with the first winding shaft 31 when mounted in the second cartridge mounting portion 7. The first ribbon guide 281 guides the second ink ribbon 213 at a position on the downstream side in the transport direction from the winding-side tube portion 279. The second ribbon guide 283 guides the second ink ribbon 213 at a position on the downstream side in the conveyance direction from the first ribbon guide 281. The first ribbon guide 281 is provided on the inner side of the ribbon cartridge 200 with respect to the virtual guide line 325 connecting the winding-side cylindrical portion 279 and the second ribbon guide 283 when viewed from the front side in the mounting direction.

With this configuration, the second ink ribbon 213 is fed between the winding-side cylindrical portion 279 and the second ribbon guide 283 further toward the inside of the ink ribbon cassette 200 than the virtual guide line 325. Thereby, the ink ribbon cartridge 200 can be downsized compared to the configuration in which the second ribbon guide 283 is conveyed on the guide virtual line 325.

[ modification ]

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it is needless to say that various configurations can be adopted within a range not departing from the gist thereof. For example, in addition to the above, the above embodiment may be modified as follows.

A third color belt guide may be provided on the downstream side in the conveying direction of the take-up side cylindrical portion 279 and on the upstream side in the conveying direction of the first color belt guide 281. Further, the third color tape guide may be provided further outside the ribbon cartridge 200 than the virtual guide line 325 as viewed from the front side in the mounting direction. At this time, the second ink ribbon 213 that is conveyed from the second ribbon exposure portion 221 to the second winding core 207 may be conveyed to the first ribbon guide side after coming into contact with the third color ribbon guide without coming into contact with the winding side cylindrical portion 279.

The winding-side tube portion 279 may be guided by bringing the second ink ribbon 213, which is fed from the second ribbon exposure portion 221 to the second winding core 207, into contact with a portion of the + Y side of the circumferential surface thereof. At this time, since the take-up side tube portion 279 comes into contact with the ink surface 213a of the second ink ribbon 213, ribbon residue may be generated on the take-up side tube portion 279. Therefore, the closing portion 329 may extend from the unwinding side cylindrical portion 277 toward a space between the second ink ribbon 213 and the winding side cylindrical portion 279 that are conveyed from the unwinding side cylindrical portion 277 to the second ribbon exposure portion 221.

The first ribbon guide 281 is not limited to a structure integrally formed with the depth side wall portion 269, and may be formed in a cylindrical shape, for example, and rotatable with respect to the depth side wall portion 269. In this configuration, since the first ribbon guide 281 rotates following the conveyance of the second ink ribbon 213, friction between the circumferential surface of the first ribbon guide 281 and the ink surface 213a of the second ink ribbon 213 is reduced. This can reduce the occurrence of the toner scum from the second ink ribbon 213 in the first ribbon guide 281.

The "first ribbon cartridge" of the present invention is not limited to a configuration in which a print medium such as the first ribbon 111 is stored as in the ribbon cartridge 100 of the present embodiment, and may be a configuration in which no print medium is stored. Similarly, the "second ribbon cassette" of the present invention is not limited to the configuration in which the print medium is not stored like the ribbon cassette 200 of the present embodiment, and may be a configuration in which the print medium is stored.

The tape printing apparatus P may not include the first unwinding shaft 29. In this case, the ribbon cartridge 200 may not include the unwinding side tube portion 277. The tape printing apparatus P may not include the second unwinding shaft 45.

The printing device to which the ribbon cartridge 200 is attached is not limited to a configuration in which printing is performed on a tape-like printing medium such as the first tape 111 or the second tape 500. That is, the "printing apparatus" of the present invention may be, for example, an apparatus that performs printing on roll paper or a sheet of paper.

As shown in fig. 12, the ink ribbon cartridge 300 of the modification includes an ink ribbon section near-end housing 353, a roller section near-end housing 355, and a common depth-side housing 357. The ribbon portion near-front housing 353 includes a ribbon portion near-front wall section 359, and a ribbon portion near-front peripheral wall section 361 that protrudes from a peripheral edge portion of the ribbon portion near-front wall section 359 to a depth in the mounting direction. The roller near-front shell 355 includes a roller near-front wall 363, and a roller near-front peripheral wall 365 that protrudes from a peripheral edge of the roller near-front wall 363 in the mounting direction to the depth side. The common depth side housing 357 has a common depth wall 367, an ink ribbon portion depth side peripheral wall 369 protruding from the common depth wall 367 toward the front side in the mounting direction, and a roller portion depth side peripheral wall 371.

The ink ribbon near side housing 353 and the common depth side housing 357 are combined so that the ink ribbon near side peripheral wall portion 361 and the ink ribbon depth side peripheral wall portion 369 abut against each other, and constitute a housing of the ink ribbon housing 373. The ink ribbon housing portion 373 is configured substantially in the same manner as the ink ribbon cartridge 200 of the embodiment. The roller portion near-front side outer shell 355 and the common depth side outer shell 357 are combined so that the roller portion near-front side peripheral wall 365 and the roller portion depth side peripheral wall 371 abut against each other, and constitute an outer shell of the roller housing 375. The roller storage 375 supports and stores the platen roller similar to the second platen roller 403 in a rotatable manner, and is configured substantially in the same manner as the tape guide 400 of the embodiment. The ink ribbon housing portion 373 and the roller housing portion 375 are integrally formed via the common deep wall portion 367. That is, the ink ribbon cartridge 300 is a device in which the ink ribbon housing portion 373 corresponding to the ink ribbon cartridge 200 of the embodiment and the roller housing portion 375 corresponding to the ribbon guide 400 of the embodiment are integrated. Further, a second tape path 377 for feeding the second tape 500 introduced from the outside of the apparatus casing 1 is provided between the ink ribbon section near-side casing 353 and the roller section near-side casing 355.

Description of the symbols

200 \ 8230and ribbon cartridge; 205\8230anda second unwinding core; 207\8230anda second reeling core; 213 \ 8230a second ink ribbon; 213a 8230, ink surface; 217 8230and a second ribbon core accommodating part; 219 \ 8230and a second head inserting part; 221 \ 8230and a second color band exposed part; 229 \ 8230and a shell at the deep side; 269, 8230and deep side wall; 271 \ 8230and a second peripheral wall part; 277, 8230and unwinding side tube part; 279, 8230while rolling side cylinder part; 281, 8230a first ribbon guide; 283\8230asecond ribbon guide; 285, 8230and a bearing insertion part; 287, 8230, press-in holes; 289' \ 8230a first guide body; 291\8230afirst guide rib; 293\8230asecond guide part body; 295 \ 8230a second guide rib; 297' \ 8230, and a bearing insertion hole; 299\8230anda first wall part at the depth side; 301 \ 8230and a second wall part on the depth side; 303 \ 8230and a third wall part on the depth side; 305\8230afourth wall part at the depth side; 307 \ 8230a concave part of the peripheral wall of the depth inlet side; 309 \ 8230and a substrate mounting part; 311 823060, circuit substrate; 313 \ 8230and a convex part of the peripheral wall; 315' \ 8230, a first partial wall part at the depth side; 317 \ 8230and a second partial wall part at the depth side; 319, 8230and the third wall part on the depth side; 325\8230aguiding phantom line; 327 \ 8230and phantom lines between cylinders; 329, 8230and a sealing part; 331, 8230a cylindrical convex part; 333 \ 8230, an unreeling side inclined part; 335 \8230, unwinding side vertical part; 337 \ 8230a rolling side inclined part; 339\8230andvertical part at the winding side.

Claims

1. A second ribbon cartridge installed in a printing apparatus, the printing apparatus including: a first cartridge mounting section in which a first ribbon cartridge in which a first winding core on which a first ink ribbon is wound is housed is mounted; a second cartridge mounting section in which the second ribbon cartridge in which a second ink ribbon is housed is mounted; a first take-up shaft that is provided in an overlapping area of the first cartridge mounting section and the second cartridge mounting section and that is inserted into the first take-up core when the first ribbon cartridge is mounted in the first cartridge mounting section,

the second ribbon cartridge is characterized by comprising:

a winding side tube portion that guides the second ink ribbon and into which the first winding shaft is inserted when the second ribbon cartridge is mounted in the second cartridge mounting portion;

a first ribbon guide that guides the second ink ribbon at a position on a downstream side of the take-up side tube portion in a feeding direction of the second ink ribbon;

a second ribbon guide that guides the second ink ribbon at a position downstream of the first ribbon guide in the transport direction,

the first ribbon guide is provided on an inner side of the second ribbon cassette with respect to a virtual guide line connecting the winding-side cylindrical portion and the second ribbon guide when viewed from a front side in a mounting direction of the second ribbon cassette.

2. The ribbon cartridge of claim 1,

the first ink ribbon cartridge contains a first winding core around which the first ink ribbon is wound,

in the overlapping region, a first unwinding shaft is provided, the first unwinding shaft being inserted into the first unwinding core when the first ribbon cartridge is mounted in the first cartridge mounting part,

the second ribbon cartridge includes an unwinding side cylindrical portion that guides the second ink ribbon and into which the first unwinding shaft is inserted when the second ribbon cartridge is mounted in the second cartridge mounting portion.

3. The ribbon cartridge of claim 2,

a second ribbon exposure portion that exposes the second ink ribbon such that the thermal head provided in the overlap region can come into contact with the second ink ribbon when the second ribbon cartridge is mounted in the second cartridge mounting portion,

the second ink ribbon transported to the second ribbon exposure portion passes through one side of an inter-cartridge virtual line obtained by connecting the unwinding-side cylindrical portion and the winding-side cylindrical portion when viewed from the near side in the mounting direction,

the second ink ribbon fed from the second ribbon exposure portion passes through a side opposite to the one side of the inter-cylinder virtual line, that is, the other side of the inter-cylinder virtual line when viewed from the front side in the mounting direction,

a sealing part for sealing the space between the winding side cylinder part and the unwinding side cylinder part is arranged between the winding side cylinder part and the unwinding side cylinder part,

the first ribbon guide is provided on the second ink ribbon transport direction downstream side of the winding-side cylindrical portion so as to face the closing portion when viewed from the front side in the mounting direction, and the first ribbon guide contacts the ink surface of the second ink ribbon transported from the winding-side cylindrical portion.

4. The ribbon cartridge of claim 3,

the unwinding side cylindrical portion is provided with a cylindrical projection portion projecting from a circumferential surface so as to face the second ink ribbon on a downstream side in a transport direction with respect to the first ink ribbon guide.

5. The ribbon cartridge of any one of claims 2-4,

a second cartridge case that stores the second ink ribbon,

the second cartridge case has a tube projecting wall portion from which the take-up side tube portion projects,

a winding-side inclined portion that is inclined from an angle perpendicular to the tube protruding wall portion and a winding-side vertical portion that is smaller in inclination angle from an angle perpendicular to the tube protruding wall portion than the winding-side inclined portion are provided on a circumferential surface of the winding-side tube portion in a circumferential direction of the winding-side tube portion,

the take-up side cylinder portion guides the second ink ribbon at the take-up side vertical portion.

6. The ribbon cartridge of claim 5,

the unwinding side cylinder portion protrudes from the cylinder protruding wall portion,

an unwinding side inclined portion and an unwinding side vertical portion are provided on a circumferential surface of the unwinding side cylindrical portion in a circumferential direction of the unwinding side cylindrical portion, the unwinding side inclined portion being inclined from an angle perpendicular to the cylindrical protruding wall portion, the unwinding side vertical portion having a smaller inclination angle from an angle perpendicular to the cylindrical protruding wall portion than the unwinding side inclined portion,

unreel the side section of thick bamboo portion and be in unreel side vertical part department, right the second printing ink typewriter ribbon guides.

7. The ribbon cartridge of any one of claims 2-4, 6,

a second cartridge case that stores the second ink ribbon,

the second cartridge housing has a first housing and a second housing,

the winding side tube portion and the unwinding side tube portion are provided on one of the first housing and the second housing.

8. The ribbon cartridge of claim 5,

a second cartridge case that stores the second ink ribbon,

the second cartridge housing has a first housing and a second housing,