JP2000103149A - Tape cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a tape cassette with which a travel distance of a tape drawn out from the tape cassette as a medium to be printed and its related information can be known easily, so that a user can surely judge whether the tape cassette can be used or not. SOLUTION: A tape cassette T which supports and stores in a tape unit- storing part 27 a setting tape T1 as a means to be set for use in a tape-setting apparatus is used. The tape cassette T has an idle gear IG or the like for detecting a travel distance of the setting tape T1 drawn out from the tape cassette, and a rotary display plate WH for displaying the detected travel distance or information related to the travel distance (any one of displays '1', '2', '3', '4').

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tape cassette for use in a tape printing apparatus, which stores a tape as a print-receiving medium in a refillable manner, and more particularly to a running of the tape as a print-receiving medium stored in the tape cassette. The present invention relates to a tape cassette capable of displaying a distance and information related thereto.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various tape printers using a tape cassette have been proposed for producing a tape with characters. Such a tape cassette generally includes a ribbon reel wound around an ink ribbon, a tape reel wound around a print-receiving tape, and an adhesive tape reel wound around an adhesive tape in a cassette case. At the time of production, characters and other characters are printed on the tape to be printed via the ink ribbon by the thermal head attached to the tape printing device while transporting each ink ribbon and the tape to be printed, and then printing the characters on the tape to be printed An adhesive tape is stuck on the surface to create a tape with characters. In the conventional tape cassette, when the print-receiving tape, the ink ribbon, and the adhesive tape are used up, no consideration is given to refilling a new print-receiving tape, an ink ribbon, and an adhesive tape in the tape cassette. In the case of using up all of the tape cassettes, the tape cassette is no longer useful and the disc cassette is thrown away even though there are still recyclable parts such as a tape feed roller and a tape spool.

[0003]

In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for recycling due to the problem of dust, and it is desirable to recycle a tape cassette by newly refilling a print-receiving tape, an ink ribbon, and the like. However, recycling does not mean that the adhesive material sticking out of the adhesive tape adheres to the tape feed roller or that the cassette boss or the like on which the tape spool is mounted is worn, so that it cannot be used permanently. Therefore, when collecting and reusing used tape cassettes, it is necessary to consider the number of reuses of these tape cassettes. Needs to be inspected in detail each time it is collected, which makes the re-use process complicated and increases costs.

Further, in the case of a tape cassette, since the color and the tape width of the ink ribbon are various, the ink ribbon and the tape once mounted in the tape cassette are refilled without being used up to the end. May be used. Therefore, even if the number of reuses of the tape cassette is known, it is necessary to inspect the tape feed roller, the cassette boss, and the like in detail, and there is a problem that the cost is increased.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and makes it possible to easily know the travel distance of a tape as a print-receiving medium drawn out of a tape cassette and information related thereto. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a tape cassette that allows a user to accurately determine whether or not the tape cassette can be used.

[0006]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a tape as a print-receiving medium used in a tape printing apparatus is supported by a tape supporting portion. A tape cassette for storing the tape, wherein, in the refillable tape cassette, a traveling distance detecting means for detecting a traveling distance of the tape pulled out from the tape cassette; and a traveling distance detected by the traveling distance detecting means. Alternatively, an information display means for displaying information related to the traveling distance is provided. As described above, the traveling distance detecting means detects the traveling distance of the tape pulled out from the tape cassette, and the information display means displays information relating to the traveling distance or the traveling distance of the tape or information relating to the traveling distance. The distance traveled by the tape of the tape cassette and information related thereto can be easily known, and the user can accurately judge whether or not the tape cassette can be used. Thus, when the number of re-uses is small, it is not necessary to perform a detailed inspection of the tape feed roller, the cassette boss, and the like, thereby preventing an increase in cost.

Further, the tape cassette according to claim 2 is
In the invention according to claim 1, the information display means is configured to rotate a display member on which a plurality of display sections for displaying the travel distance of the tape or information related to the travel distance are arranged, so that any one of the plurality of display sections is provided. Is configured to be visible from the outside via a window, and the traveling distance detecting means detects a traveling distance by receiving rotation of a tape feed roller rotated by a tape to be pulled out, and displays a display section of the display member. A rotation mechanism for rotating the to the position of the window. According to such a tape cassette, the running distance detecting means detects the running distance by receiving the rotation of the tape feed roller rotated by the tape to be pulled out, and the rotating mechanism sets the display of the display member to the running distance. Since the display is rotated to the position of the window, the user can easily visually recognize the display from the outside through the window. As a result, the running distance of the tape of the tape cassette and information related thereto can be easily known, and the user can accurately determine whether or not the tape cassette can be used.

The tape cassette according to claim 3 is
In the invention according to claim 1, the information display means includes:
Along with rotating a display member in which a plurality of display units that display information related to the travel distance or the travel distance of the tape are arranged, an indicator that indicates one of the plurality of display units is provided, and the travel distance detection unit includes: A rotation mechanism is provided for detecting a travel distance in response to rotation of a tape feed roller rotated by a tape to be pulled out, and rotating a display unit of the display member to a position of an instruction unit. According to such a tape cassette, the running distance detecting means detects the running distance by receiving the rotation of the tape feed roller rotated by the tape to be pulled out, and the rotating mechanism sets the display of the display member to the running distance. Since the display unit is rotated to the position of the indicating unit correspondingly, the user can easily visually recognize the display unit suggested by the indicating unit. As a result, the running distance of the tape of the tape cassette and information related thereto can be easily known, and the user can accurately determine whether or not the tape cassette can be used.

Further, according to the tape cassette of the fourth aspect, in the invention of the second or third aspect,
The display member rotates substantially once when the running distance of the tape matches a predetermined running distance. As described above, when the running distance of the tape as the print medium matches the predetermined running distance (for example, 40 m), the distance to the predetermined running distance can be appropriately displayed by rotating the display member substantially once, so that an extremely simple configuration is achieved. Becomes

[0010]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention; First, a tape printing apparatus to which a tape cassette according to the present embodiment is applied will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a plan view of the tape printing apparatus in which a storage cover of a tape cassette storage unit is opened. In FIG. 1, a tape printer 1 has character input keys 2 for inputting characters such as characters over a plurality of lines to create a text composed of document data (code data), and a print key for instructing text printing. 3. A keyboard 6 provided with a cursor key C for moving the cursor up, down, left and right on the liquid crystal display 7, and a return key R for instructing the execution of a line feed command and various processes, and selection, and the like. A liquid crystal display 7 for displaying characters and the like, and a cassette storage section 8 for storing a tape cassette T (see FIGS. 2 to 4) described later.
Are arranged. The cassette storage unit 8 includes a storage cover K pivotably supported behind the tape printer 1.
The tape cassette T is exchanged in the open state.

As shown in FIG. 1, a ribbon take-up shaft 9 which is rotatably driven by a tape feed motor (not shown) via an appropriate drive mechanism is provided upright in the cassette housing portion 8. . When a conventional tape cassette (that is, a tape cassette having a built-in ink ribbon and performing printing of characters or the like on a film tape via the ink ribbon) is mounted on the ribbon winding shaft 9, the ink ribbon Since the tape cassette T according to the present embodiment uses a printing tape T1 capable of printing characters and the like without using an ink ribbon, the ribbon winding shaft 9 is used for printing. It does not participate in the feeding operation of the tape T1.

A tape feed roller shaft 10 is provided upright on the left side of the cassette housing portion 8 in FIG. 1 (on the keyboard 6 side), and the tape feed roller shaft 10 is appropriately transmitted from a tape feed motor. It is rotationally driven through a mechanism,
The tape feed roller 26 (see FIG. 2) described later is rotated. Further, a printing tape T is provided in front of the cassette housing section 8.
1, a thermal head 11 for printing characters and the like is fixedly provided. In addition, a tape width detector SK having a plurality of photo sensors S is provided behind the cassette storage unit 8, and the tape width detection unit SK is provided in the tape cassette T shown in FIG. Tape discriminating member 1
The tape width of the printing tape T1 stored in the tape cassette T is detected in cooperation with the tape specifying unit 14 of the third embodiment.

Here, each photosensor S comprises a known photocoupler having a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element as a pair, and detects whether or not a shielding plate 15 described later has entered each photosensor S, and The tape width of the print tape T1 is detected by a combination of the ON / OFF signals. The tape width detector SK is a photo sensor S
Alternatively, a mechanical sensor such as a microswitch, a magnetic sensor, or the like may be used.

Next, the configuration of the tape cassette T stored in the cassette storage section 8 of the tape printer 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 shows a tape cassette T.
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the tape cassette T, which is shown by disassembling the tape cassette T;
The tape cassette T is basically a tape cassette body T
2 and a tape cassette lid T3 detachable from the tape cassette body T2. FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view showing the tape cassette body T2 with the tape cassette cover T3 removed.

As shown in FIG. 2, the tape cassette body T2 comprises a rectangular case having an open upper side.
A pair of locking holes 16 are formed at both sides of the rear wall T2A of the tape cassette body T2. Each of the locking holes 16 has a corresponding one of the locking projections T3 of the tape cassette lid T3.
A is locked.

A pair of projections 17 are formed on the right side of the front wall T2B in the tape cassette body T2, and each of the projections 17 forms a locking groove 18 between them. The locking groove 18 has a tape cassette lid T3
Is locked by the elastic locking member 20 provided at the first position. Further, a tape guide piece 21 is integrally provided continuously to the left side of the front wall T2B, and a thermal head guide member 22 is provided behind the tape guide piece 21.

The thermal head guide member 22 is formed in a U-shape in plan view, and the thermal head 11 is disposed in the U-shaped recess 23. A long slot 24 is formed in the rear wall of the recess 23, and the long slot 24 is formed.
Is locked by a locking piece 25 formed on the tape cassette lid T3. Further, between the thermal head guide member 22 and the left side wall of the tape cassette main body T2, a tape feed roller shaft that stands upright from the bottom wall of the cassette storage section 8 of the tape printer 1 and is driven to rotate by a tape feed motor. A tape feed roller 26 that can be engaged with 10 is disposed.

Further, in the tape cassette body T2,
As shown in FIG. 3, a tape unit storage section 27 for storing the tape unit U is provided at the left rear position, and the tape unit U is provided with a tape spool 28 (in the tape unit storage section 27). (See FIG. 3). In order to guide the print tape T1 wound on the tape spool 28 of the tape unit U to the thermal head 11, four tape guides R1, R2, R are provided from the bottom wall of the tape cassette body T2.
3 and R4 (see FIG. 3 for the tape guides R3 and R4).

As a result, the print tape T1 pulled out from the tape spool 28 of the tape unit U is smoothly fed to the thermal head 11 via each of the tape guides R1, R2, R3, R4. Here, the printing tape T
No. 1 has a configuration in which a thermosensitive coloring layer is formed on one surface of a base tape, and a release paper is adhered to the other surface via an adhesive layer. Further, since the printing tape T1 is wound around the tape spool 28 with the heat-sensitive coloring layer inside, the discoloration of the heat-sensitive coloring layer can be prevented.

Further, one end of a tape discriminating member 13 is rotatably attached to the tape spool 28, and the other end of the tape discriminating member 13 has a print tape T1 wound around the tape spool 28. The tape width specifying section 14 for specifying the tape width of the tape is formed. From the lower surface of the tape width specifying unit 14, the tape width detector SK
Plate 1 for selectively shielding each photo sensor S in the above
5 is erected.

In the vicinity of the tape guide R2, the ribbon drive shaft 9 erected from the bottom wall of the cassette accommodating portion 8 in the tape printer 1 is accommodated in a conventional tape cassette as described above. Although used as a winding shaft for the thermal ribbon, in the tape cassette T according to the present embodiment, the driving mechanism is not involved in the feeding operation of the printing tape T1 and is driven by the rotation of the ribbon driving shaft 9. The noise canceling spool P is fitted to reduce the driving noise generated from the noise.

In the tape cassette body T2,
A tape discharge unit 29 is provided near the tape feed roller 26. The tape discharge unit 29 is provided with a guide piece 30 extending from the front end of the left side wall of the tape cassette body T2 and the left side wall of the tape cassette body T2. And a gap formed between them. As a result, the print tape T1 pulled out from the tape spool 28 is
The print head T is guided to the thermal head 11 by R4, and characters and the like are colored and printed on the heat-sensitive coloring layer of the print tape T1 via the thermal head 11, and then discharged from the tape discharge unit 29 to the outside of the tape cassette T.

Next, a description will be given of the tape cassette lid T3 which can be attached to and detached from the tape cassette body T2. The tape cassette lid T3 covers the open surface of the tape cassette main body T2 from the upper side, and has a pair of rear ends inserted into the respective locking holes 16 formed in the tape cassette main body T2. A locking projection T3A is formed. Also,
A recess 31 is formed at the right side of the front of the tape cassette lid T3. The recess 31 is provided with an elastic locking member 20. The elastic locking member 20 is provided with a bent portion 33 extending downward from the bottom surface of the tape cassette lid T <b> 3 and a horizontal direction extending from the bent portion 33. And the elastic locking member 20 is connected to each of the protrusions 1.
It is elastically locked in the locking groove 18 formed between the gaps 7. Further, a locking piece 25 is vertically provided from the bottom surface of the tape cassette lid T3 at a left position in a front portion of the tape cassette lid T3.
Is elastically locked in a locking long hole 24 formed in the rear wall.

The tape guide piece 35 vertically provided at the left end of the front end of the tape cassette cover T3 is attached to the tape cassette cover T3.
Is mounted on the tape cassette body T2 to guide the print tape T1 in cooperation with the tape guide piece 21 of the tape cassette body T2. When the tape cassette lid T3 is similarly attached to the tape cassette main body T2, the guide piece 36 cooperates with the guide piece 30 formed on the cassette main body T2 to form the tape discharge section 29.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, three ribs 37 extend downward from the bottom surface of the tape cassette lid T3 at the rear left position. This rib 37
When the tape cassette lid T3 is attached to the tape cassette body T2, the tape cassette lid T3 comes into contact with the upper surface of the tape width specifying section 14 to restrict the upward movement of the tape width specifying section 14.
This prevents the tape width specifying unit 14 from floating from the tape width detector SK and being erroneously detected.

Next, a description will be given of a method of detecting the traveling distance of the printing tape T1 drawn from the tape cassette T and displaying the detected traveling distance. FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view showing a mechanism for detecting the travel distance of the printing tape T1 and displaying the detected value. The mechanism for detecting the travel distance and displaying the detected value is shown in FIG. It is provided on the back side of the tape cassette lid T3.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, on the tape cassette cover T3 side of the tape feed roller shaft 10,
The gear portion 10A is rotatably mounted, and as shown in FIG. 4, the gear portion 10A meshes with an idle gear IG rotatably mounted on the back surface of the tape cassette lid T3. are doing. And idle gear IG
Is meshed with the peripheral gear portion HG1 of the display gear HG rotatably mounted on the back surface of the tape cassette lid T3, so that the display gear HG receiving the rotation of the idle gear IG is the idle gear IG. Rotate according to the amount of rotation of. A latch TR is provided on the back side of the tape cassette lid T3 on the display gear HG so as to displace the four projections TR1 to TR4 at intervals of 90 degrees. Therefore, when the display gear HG rotates by a predetermined amount, the latch portion TR that rotates integrally with the display gear HG rotates.
By rotating according to the rotation amount, one of the protrusions TR1 to TR4 is arranged at a predetermined position. Further, on the back side of the tape cassette lid T3 on the latch portion TR, a ratchet LT that rotates integrally with the latch portion TR is attached, and around the ratchet LT, a plurality of claw portions are provided. LT1 is formed, and a stopper ST that engages with the claw portion LT1 to prevent rotation of the ratchet wheel LT is attached to the back side of the tape cassette lid T3.
T and the latch unit TR are held in a rotation stopped state.

On the side of the latch portion TR, a rotary display plate WH as information display means is provided.
3 is rotatably mounted on the back surface, and the rotating display plate WH is provided on the front side with the travel distance of the printing tape T1 and information related thereto (for example, the display “1”, which is obtained by dividing the travel distance 40 m into four, “ 2), "3", "4") and four hooks WHa to WHd on the back side (the hook WHc is arranged on the opposite side of the hook WHa in FIG. 4).
Are shifted by 90 degrees. And the rotation display plate W
The hook portion WHd on the back side of H corresponds to the display “1” on the front side of the rotary display plate, and similarly, the hook portion WHa corresponds to the display “4”, the hook portion WHb corresponds to the display “3”, The hook portion WHc corresponds to the display “2”. As a result, the display gear H receives the rotation of the idle gear IG.
When the G, the latch TR, and the ratchet LT rotate integrally, any one of the four protrusions TR1 to TR4 of the latch TR engages with any one of the four hooks WHa to WHd, and rotates. The display panel WH is rotated every 90 degrees. Specifically, the protrusion TR4 of the latch TR shown in FIG. 4 is engaged with the hook WHb, and the latch TR is further moved from that state by nine.
When rotated 0 degrees, the projection TR1 of the latch TR engages with the hook WHa. The gear ratio between the gear portion 10A, the idle gear IG, and the peripheral gear portion HG1 of the display gear HG is such that the latch portion TR is rotated by a predetermined amount corresponding to the traveling amount of feeding the print tape T1. Each time the print tape T1 runs every 10 m, the rotary display plate WH rotates by 90 degrees.

Therefore, the rotary display plate WH is provided with the printing tape T
When the vehicle 1 travels a predetermined traveling distance (for example, 40 m), it makes one revolution, and the traveling distance 40 m provided on the rotary display plate WH
Are divided into four equal parts, "1", "2", "3", and "4", for example, every time the print tape T1 travels 10 m,
For example, as shown in FIG.
Rotate 90 degrees clockwise. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, a window portion T is formed on the tape cassette lid T3.
J is provided, and through this window portion TJ, the user can view information (displays “1”, “2”,
Either “3” or “4”) can be visually recognized from the outside.

As described above, the idle gear IG and the like (traveling distance detecting means) detect the traveling distance in response to the rotation of the tape feed roller 10 rotated by the printing tape T1 pulled out, and display gear HG and the ratchet wheel. The LT or the like (rotating mechanism) rotates the display portion of the rotary display plate WH (display member) to the position of the window portion TJ, so that the travel distance of the print tape T1 or information (display “1”,
When a rotating display plate WH (display member) on which a plurality of display units displaying “2”, “3”, and “4” are arranged is rotated by a predetermined amount, the user can display any of the plurality of pieces of information on the window TJ. Visible from the outside via

Next, the used tape cassette T is collected, and the unused printing tape T1 is refilled in the tape cassette T to recycle the tape cassette T, or the printing tape T1 of a different color or type is used. Tape cassette T
A case where the contents are re-packed and reused will be described. First, the tape cassette lid T3 is removed from the tape cassette T. To this end, the operator presses the locking piece 25 of the tape cassette lid T3 so as to be removed from the locking long hole 24, further grips the knob 34 of the elastic locking member 20 with a finger, and pulls it upward. By this lifting operation, the fitting between the bent portion 33 and the locking groove 18 and the fitting between the locking piece 25 and the locking long hole 24 are released, and the tape cassette lid T3
Becomes rotatable around the respective locking holes 16 with respect to the tape cassette body T2. Thereafter, when the knob 34 is further pulled upward, the tape cassette lid T3 is
The tape cassette lid T3 is detached from the tape cassette main body T2 by rotating upwardly around 6 and detaching each locking projection T3A from each locking hole 16 at an appropriate position.

Then, the position of the tape discriminating member 13 is shifted so that the tape spool 2
Then, the used print tape T1 is removed from the print tape 8 and the unused print tape T1 or the print tape T1 of a desired color or type is mounted on the tape spool 28, and the tape discriminating member 13 is set at a proper position. At this time, in order to detect the traveling distance of the printing tape T1, work is performed so that the positions of the display gear HG, the latch unit RT, the ratchet LT, the rotary display plate WH, and the like do not shift.

Thereafter, in order to assemble the tape cassette T by attaching the tape cassette lid T3 to the tape cassette main body T2, first, the respective locking projections T3A of the tape cassette lid T3 must be inserted into the respective locking holes 16 of the tape cassette main body T2. Insert into. Thereafter, the tape cassette lid T3 is rotated downward around each of the locking holes 16 so that the bent portion 33 of the elastic locking member 20 is elastically fitted into the locking groove 18 and the locking piece 25 is It is elastically locked in the locking long hole 24. Thereby, the tape cassette lid T3 is fitted with a click feeling to the tape cassette body T2, and the tape cassette T
Is assembled.

Next, a state in which the tape cassette T is stored in the cassette storage section 8 of the tape printer 1 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 3, when the tape cassette T is stored in the cassette storage section 8 of the tape printer 1,
The thermal head 11 fixed to the cassette storage section 8 is disposed in the concave portion 23 of the thermal head guide member 22.
Here, the thermal head 11 is disposed inside the tape cassette T, and the plurality of heating elements provided on the thermal head 11 are connected to the printing tape T as described above.
Since the thermosensitive coloring layer 1 is wound around the tape spool 28 with the thermosensitive coloring layer facing inward, it is opposed to the thermosensitive coloring layer of the printing tape T1.

In the cassette storage section 8, a roller holder (not shown) is rotatably disposed so as to face the thermal head 11 and the tape feed roller 26. A platen roller 38 is rotatably supported on the roller holder so as to face the thermal head 11, and a tape feed auxiliary roller 39 is provided on the tape feed roller 26.
And rotatably supported. When the tape printer 1 operates, the platen roller 38 comes into contact with the thermal head 11, and the tape feed assist roller 39 comes into contact with the tape feed roller 26.

Thus, the printing tape T1 pulled out of the tape unit U accommodated in the tape cassette body T2 causes the tape guides R1 to R4 to cooperate with the tape feed roller 26 and the tape feed auxiliary roller 39. The thermal head 11 and the platen roller 38 cooperate with each other in the concave portion 23 of the thermal head guide member 22 to print characters and the like on the thermosensitive coloring layer of the printing tape T1. Thereafter, the print tape T1 on which characters and the like are printed is discharged from the tape discharge unit 29 to the outside of the tape printer 1 by cooperation of the tape feed roller 26 and the tape feed auxiliary roller 39. At that time, the tape feed roller 26 and the gear portion 10A rotate integrally, and the idle gear IG or the like meshing with the gear portion 10A detects the travel distance of the print tape T1 drawn from the tape cassette T, The display gear HG, the latch TR, and the ratchet LT are integrally rotated, and furthermore, the rotary display plate WH engaged with the latch TR is rotated by a predetermined amount.
1 mileage and related information (display "1",
The display of “2”, “3”, or “4”) can be easily known.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the printing tape T1 as the print-receiving medium used in the tape printing apparatus 1
A tape cassette T for supporting and storing the print tape T in the tape unit storage portion 27. In the tape cassette T capable of refilling the print tape T1, an idle gear for detecting a traveling distance of the print tape T1 pulled out from the tape cassette T. The IG and the like and the detected travel distance or information related to the travel distance (displays “1”, “2”, “3”,
(4)) is provided with a rotary display plate WH (information display means), so that the travel distance of the print tape T1 of the tape cassette T and information related thereto can be easily known through the window TJ. The user enters the tape cassette T
It is possible to accurately judge whether or not to use this. Thus, by using this tape cassette T, it is possible to always produce a print tape T1 with normal quality characters. Then, as long as the travel distance of the printing tape T1 does not exceed a predetermined value (for example, 40 m), the printing tape T1 is refilled in the tape cassette T to recycle the tape cassette T, or a printing tape of a different color or type is used. T1 to tape cassette T
It will be repacked and reused.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it is needless to say that various improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the printing tape T1 housed in the tape cassette T does not necessarily need to have a configuration in which a thermosensitive coloring layer is formed on one surface and a release paper is adhered to the other surface via an adhesive layer. A thing may be used.

Specifically, when a tape cassette of a type in which an ink ribbon, a double-sided adhesive tape and a laminating cover tape are mounted in a tape cassette T is used, and the ink ribbon, the double-sided adhesive tape and the laminating cover tape are used up, Alternatively, a new ink ribbon, a double-sided adhesive tape, and a cover tape for lamination may be packed in the tape cassette T to recycle the tape cassette T. However, in the tape cassette T, it is not always necessary to have a cover tape, and as another embodiment, for example, a non-laminate type tape cassette that transfers ink of an ink ribbon to the surface of a print-receiving tape with an adhesive layer is used. May be used.

Further, it is not always necessary to provide the rotary display plate WH which can be visually recognized from the outside through the window TJ. In another embodiment, it is possible to change the configuration as shown in FIG. 5, for example. is there. That is, the printing tape T1 pulled out from the opening T6 of the tape cassette T is sandwiched between the thermal head 41 and the platen 42, and further,
The sheet is conveyed by being nipped by a pair of tape feed rollers 43 and 44. Then, the tape feed rollers 43 and 44
The gear portions 43a and 44a, which rotate integrally with the tape feed roller 44, mesh with each other, and the gear portion 44b, which rotates integrally with the tape feed roller 44, meshes with the peripheral gear WH1 of the rotary display plate WH. When the feed rollers 43 and 44 are transported by a predetermined amount, the travel distance of the print tape T1 (“10 m”,
A rotation display plate WH (display member) provided with a plurality of display units for displaying information relating to "20 m", "30 m") or traveling distance ("end") is rotated by a predetermined amount. And
On the outside of the tape cassette T, a display unit (displays “10 m”, “20 m”,
"30m", "End") indicating part F
It has a T.

Then, the gear portion 44b and the peripheral gear WH1
Since the distance (traveling distance detecting means) has a predetermined gear ratio,
The running distance is detected in response to the rotation of the tape feed rollers 43 and 44 rotated by the print tape T1 pulled out, and the display unit (display “10m”, “20m”, “30m”) of the rotation display plate WH (display member) is detected. , "End") to the position of the indicating section FT, so that the travel distance of the printing tape T1 of the tape cassette T and information related thereto can be easily known, and the user can use the tape. It is possible to accurately determine whether the cassette can be used.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a tape printer in which a storage cover of a tape refilling jig storage section is opened.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a tape cassette used in the tape printing apparatus according to the embodiment, showing the inside of the tape cassette main body with a tape cassette lid removed.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view showing a tape cassette main body with a tape cassette lid removed.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view showing a mechanism for detecting a travel distance of the tape according to the embodiment and displaying the detected value.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a tape cassette and the like according to another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Tape printing device 8 Cassette storage part 10A Gear part IG idle gear 11 Thermal head 26 Tape feed roller 27 Tape unit storage part T Tape cassette T1 Printing tape T2 Tape cassette body T3 Tape cassette cover WH Rotation display plate IG Idle gear HG display Gear TR Latch LT Bail TJ Window FT Indicator

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Naoya Yamagishi 15-1, Naeshiro-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya-shi Inside Brother Industries, Ltd. (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Okuchi 15-1 Naeshiro-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya-shi Brother Industries, Ltd. (72) Inventor Tsuyoshi Nagae 15-1 Naeshiro-machi, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya F-term (reference) 2C055 CC01 CC05 2C060 BA09 BC94 2C061 AP10 AQ04 AS06 CQ23 CQ34 LL01 2C068 AA01 AA05 AA15 EE03 EE57 EE82

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A tape cassette for supporting a tape as a print-receiving medium used in a tape printer on a tape supporting portion and storing the tape, wherein the tape cassette is refillable and is pulled out from the tape cassette. A tape cassette comprising: a traveling distance detecting means for detecting a traveling distance of a tape; and an information displaying means for displaying information relating to the traveling distance or the traveling distance detected by the traveling distance detecting means. 2. The information display means according to claim 1, further comprising: rotating a display member on which a plurality of display sections for displaying the travel distance of the tape or information related to the travel distance are arranged, so that any one of the plurality of display sections is opened. The travel distance detecting means detects the travel distance by receiving rotation of a tape feed roller rotated by a tape to be pulled out, and displays the display section of the display member. The tape cassette according to claim 1, further comprising a rotation mechanism for rotating the tape cassette to a position of the window. 3. The information display means rotates a display member on which a plurality of display units for displaying the travel distance of the tape or information related to the travel distance are arranged, and an instruction indicating one of the plurality of display units. The traveling distance detecting means detects a traveling distance by receiving rotation of a tape feed roller rotated by a tape to be pulled out, and rotates the display unit of the display member to a position of an instruction unit. The tape cassette according to claim 1, further comprising a mechanism. 4. The tape cassette according to claim 2, wherein the display member makes one rotation when the running distance of the tape matches a predetermined running distance.