JP2002179300A - Tape cassette and tape unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To restrict the change times of a tape unit after a wound printing tape T is finally used. SOLUTION: A wound part T0 of a printing tape T is irremovably and rotatably clamped by a support part of the tape unit and a lower spool 22. An outer periphery edge of a thin plate-like circular chip piece 69 made of synthetic resin is fitted/inserted and supported in an engagement groove 70 on a large diameter cylindrical part 24a in the lower spool 22. When the tape unit is set in a tape unit accommodation part, a spear-like engagement part 65b at a tip end of a shaft 65a projected from a bottom plate 41b of the tape unit accommodation part is inserted to an engagement hole 69a at a center of the chip piece 69 and the chip piece 69 is irremovably engaged with the shaft 65a. When the tape unit is removed for an change, the chip piece 69 is remained on the shaft 65a and is superposed. When the sheet number of the superposed chip piece 69 becomes a fixed number or more, when the more tape unit is set, it is floated up from a cylindrical part 66a and the setting becomes impossible.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tape cassette in which a tape unit used in a tape printing apparatus for producing a tape with characters can be exchangeably mounted, and a structure of the tape unit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in consideration of the purpose of use of a tape with character created by a tape printer, a printing tape having a plurality of types of tape widths is required.
From the viewpoint of resource saving in the hope of reusing the cassette case when the printing tape is used up, the present applicant previously proposed,
In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-25123, when a tape is used up, a tape unit in which a new print tape is set in advance is configured to be refillable in a cassette case body, and each print tape having a plurality of types of tape widths is supported. It is disclosed that a plurality of types of tape units can be stored in one type of cassette case main body, and in that case, each tape unit is provided with a tape width determining member.

[0003]

By the way, an adhesive is applied in advance on one side of this kind of tape so that the printed tape can be stuck to a desired place.
The adhesive slightly exudes to both end surfaces of the winding part of the case. Then, the widthwise side edges of the print tape pulled out from the inside of the cassette case main body are rubbed by a drawer portion or the like of the cassette case main body, whereby the adhesive is stuck to these rubbed portions, and the number of replacements of the cassette unit is large. Indeed, the deposition amount of the pressure-sensitive adhesive becomes large, and it becomes impossible to smoothly pull out the printing tape, or the conveyance direction of the printing tape becomes oblique, and defects such as displacement of characters and the like printed on the printing tape occur. There was a problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems. A tape cassette capable of guaranteeing good print quality by restricting replacement of a tape unit more than a predetermined number of times and a tape unit for the same are provided. It is intended to provide.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tape cassette wherein a tape unit having a printing tape wound around a tape spool is exchangeable with a cassette case body. In a tape cassette used in a tape printer configured to be stored in a tape unit, the tape unit storage section of the cassette case main body is provided with a tape each time a new tape unit to be replaced is mounted in the relevant location. Capturing means for capturing a chip piece detachably mounted on the unit,
A discriminating section for stacking and holding the taken chip pieces.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the tape cassette according to the first aspect, the take-in means is configured to irreversibly enter an engaging hole formed in the chip piece. Things.

On the other hand, a tape unit according to a third aspect of the present invention is a tape unit which is exchangeably housed in a tape unit housing portion of a cassette case main body of a tape cassette used in a tape printer. The inner diameter portion of the tape spool is provided with a chip piece which is taken in and taken off by a take-in means provided in the tape unit storage section every time a new tape unit to be replaced is mounted.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the tape unit according to the third aspect, the chip piece is provided on an outer peripheral portion of the tape unit or the tape spool at an inner diameter portion from a winding portion of the printing tape. Only the part is supported.

The invention described in claim 5 is the third invention.
Alternatively, in the tape unit according to claim 4, the chip piece is made of an elastic thin plate, and a center portion of the chip piece is provided with an engagement hole that fits into the take-in means.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 is a plan view of the tape printing apparatus 1 in a state where a storage cover 6 of a cassette storage section 8 is closed, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a tape cassette, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a cassette case main body in a state where a tape unit is set. 4 (a) is a plan view of the cassette lid, FIG. 4 (b) is a plan view of the cassette case main body, FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a main part of the tape unit, and FIG.

In FIG. 1, a main body 1 of a tape printer 1 is shown.
On the upper surface of a, a character input key for inputting characters such as characters over a plurality of lines to create a text composed of document data (code data), a print key for instructing text printing, and a liquid crystal display 3 To move the cursor up and down,
A keyboard unit 2 provided with a cursor key for moving the cursor left and right, a control key for instructing a line feed command and execution of various processes, and a selection, a liquid crystal display 3 for displaying characters and the like input on the keyboard unit 2; A cassette accommodating portion 8 for accommodating a tape cassette 5 described later is provided, and an accommodating cover 6 for covering the cassette accommodating portion 8 is pivotally supported at the rear end of the main body 1a so as to be openable and closable. As shown in FIG. 1, a tape cutter 7 for cutting the tape where the printed tape is to be discharged from the discharge port 1b of the main body 1a is disposed on the left side of the cassette storage section 8. 7a is arranged at a rearward portion of the left side surface of the main body 1a.

A tape feed roller shaft 9 rotatably driven by a tape feed motor disposed in the main body 1a via an appropriate drive mechanism (both not shown) is provided in the cassette housing portion 8.
And a ribbon winding shaft 10 are provided upright. However, the ribbon take-up shaft 10 has a built-in ink ribbon, and is used for winding the ink ribbon in a conventional tape cassette used when printing characters and the like on a film tape via the ink ribbon. However, the tape cassette 5 according to the present embodiment does not include an ink ribbon and its take-up spool, and uses a thermosensitive coloring tape T capable of printing characters and the like without using an ink ribbon. Therefore, the ribbon winding shaft 10 does not participate in the feeding operation of the printing tape T.

The tape feed roller shaft 9 located diagonally forward (on the keyboard 2 side) of the ink ribbon winding shaft 10.
Is set up so as to be fitted to the tape feed roller 11 of the tape cassette 5. Further, a thermal head 12 for printing characters and the like on the print tape T is fixedly provided in front of the cassette storage section 8. Further, a platen roller 13a and a tape feeding auxiliary roller 13b for pressing the printing tape T against the thermal head 12 and the tape feeding roller 11 are provided with a roller holder (not shown).
, And the roller holder is disposed so as to be able to contact and separate from the tape cassette 5.

At the rear of the cassette accommodating section 8 (to the right in FIG. 1), seven micro switches (not shown) are provided to detect a tape type and a tape width (not shown). The tape type detecting means includes a tape detection unit 50a, 50b and a tape unit 2 provided in a tape cassette 5 described later.
0 in cooperation with the tape identification unit 30 in the tape cassette 5 and the tape width and type of the printing tape T (tape color, transparent and translucent, color of characters that can be colored, tape material, etc.) ) Is detected.

It is to be noted that it is detected whether or not a shielding portion 51 described later is in contact with or pressed against each of the microswitches, and the combination of the ON / OFF signals is used to detect the tape type such as the tape width of the printing tape T. Is what you do.
Incidentally, the tape type detecting means may use an optical sensor such as a photo sensor, a magnetic sensor, or the like instead of the microswitch.

The control of the tape printer 1 having such a configuration is performed by a CPU, a ROM, a CGROM, and an R
It is executed by an electronic control device such as a microcomputer including an AM and a bus. The ROM stores various programs, and stores various programs necessary for controlling the tape printer 1 such as a print control program. The CPU performs various calculations based on various programs stored in the ROM. In the ROM, contour data (outline data) defining the contour of each character is classified into each typeface (Gothic typeface, Mincho typeface, etc.) for each of a large number of characters. It is stored corresponding to the code data. The dot pattern data is developed on the image buffer based on the outline data.

The CGROM stores dot pattern data corresponding to each character input from the keyboard unit 2, and stores the dot pattern data in the CGRO.
M, and a dot pattern is displayed on the liquid crystal display 7 based on the dot pattern data.
Further, the RAM is for temporarily storing various calculation results calculated by the CPU, and the RAM is provided with various memories such as a text memory, an image buffer, and a print buffer.

The keyboard unit 2 and the tape type detecting unit for detecting the width of the printing tape T are connected to the control unit via the input / output interface, and the liquid crystal display 3 and the display controller are connected to the control unit via the input / output interface. Connected, keyboard part 2
When a character or the like is input via the character input key, the document data is sequentially stored in the text memory, and corresponding to the input character or the like based on the dot pattern generation control program and the display control program. Is displayed on the liquid crystal display 3. The thermal head 12 is driven via a drive circuit (not shown) to print the dot pattern data transferred from the image buffer to the print buffer. In synchronization with this, the tape feed motor drives the print tape T via the drive circuit. Is performed.

Next, the configuration of the tape cassette 5 stored in the cassette storage section 8 of the tape printer 1 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the tape cassette 5, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the tape cassette 5 in which the tape unit 20 is stored with the cassette lid 33 removed. The tape cassette 5 basically includes a cassette case main body 32, a cassette lid 33 detachable from the cassette case main body 32, and the cassette case main body 3.
2, the tape cover 36 is not covered by the cassette cover 33, and the auxiliary cover body 31 covers the upper part of the tape feeder and the like where the tape feed roller 11 and the like are arranged. These are injection molded articles made of synthetic resin, respectively. 2 and 4 (b), the tape feed roller 11 and the auxiliary cover body 31 are removed to clearly show the shape of the front part of the cassette case main body 32 such as the locking long hole 39 described later.

The cassette case body 32 is formed of a substantially rectangular case having an open upper side, and a pair of locking holes 34 as first locking holes are provided at both sides of the rear wall 32a of the cassette case body 32. , 34 are drilled. In each of the locking holes 34, locking claws 35 projecting downward from the rear edge of a cassette lid 33 described later are locked.

A tape drawer 36 is integrally provided from the right side of the front wall 32b of the cassette case main body 32 to the left, and a thermal head guide 37 is provided behind the tape drawer 36. Are provided integrally. The thermal head guide portion 37 is formed in a U-shape in a plan view, and the concave space 3 having a U-shape is formed.
8 is provided with a thermal head 12. Recessed space 38
A long locking hole 39 as a second locking hole is formed in the intermediate wall 29 on the rear side of FIG. 2 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). An elastic locking hook body 40 (see FIGS. 2 and 4A) formed on the cassette lid 33 to be described later is locked in the locking long hole 39.

Further, between the thermal head guide portion 37 and the left side wall of the cassette case main body 32, the tape feed roller shaft 9 which is provided upright from the bottom wall of the cassette accommodating portion 8 of the tape printer 1 is engaged. Possible tape feed roller 1
1 (see FIGS. 1 and 4B).

In the cassette case main body 32, a tape unit storage portion 41 (see FIGS. 2 and 4B) for storing the tape unit 20 is provided at a left rear position thereof. The turn part T0 is rotatably stored in the tape unit storage part 41.

Further, at the center of the tape unit storage section 41 in the cassette case main body 32, a taking-in means 65 for judging the number of newly exchanged tape units 20, which will be described later, and restricting a predetermined number or more of exchanges. And discriminator 6
6 is provided. As an embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2, 11 and 12, the tape unit storage 41
The shaft 65a projecting upward from the bottom plate 41b and a spear-shaped engaging portion 65b having a base at the tip thereof having a larger diameter than the shaft 65a constitute a take-in means 65, and are concentric with the shaft 65a and its axis. And a discriminating section 66 composed of a large upwardly opening cylindrical portion 66a.
The disc-shaped chip piece 69 which is detachably provided to the disc 0 is taken in with the engaging portion 65b of the taking-in means 65 fitted into the engaging hole 69a at the center thereof, and is inserted into the cylindrical portion 66a of the discriminating portion 66. They are held in layers.

The lower end of the engaging portion 65b (the height of the base with the shaft 65a) of the take-in means 65 is set higher than the upper edge surface of the discriminating portion 66 by several chips 69. In addition, the depth in the cylindrical portion 66a from the upper edge surface to the bottom plate 41b of the discriminating portion 66 can be stacked and stored only for a predetermined number of chip pieces 69 of about several to several tens.
With a larger number, the engaging hole 69a of the chip piece 69 does not reach the lower end of the engaging portion 65b, in other words, the shaft 65a
When a predetermined number of chip pieces 69 are fitted and stacked,
The further chip pieces 69 are set so that they cannot be stacked and held by the shaft 65a (see FIG. 12).

In order to smoothly guide the print tape T wound around the tape unit 20 to the thermal head guide portion 37, a tape guide wall 42 having an arc shape in a plan view is formed from the bottom wall of the cassette case main body 32. 43 are protruded (see FIGS. 2 and 4B). Also, a pair of square holes 44 formed between the tape guide walls 42 and 43,
Although not shown, a photosensor consisting of a light emitting device and a light receiving device standing upright in the cassette accommodating portion 8 is fitted into 45, and the presence or absence of the printing tape T passing immediately before the tape guide walls 42 and 43 is present. Is detected.

Cassette case body 32 and cassette lid 3
In the right rear part of the tape unit 3, tape detection units 50a and 50b are provided in which a shielding unit 51 of the tape specifying unit 30 of the tape unit 20 described later is fitted and set. The embodiment of the tape detected portions 50a and 50b is as follows.
It is composed of seven round holes, and the protruding shielding portion 51 such as a round bar shape is selectively fitted. In addition, the tape detection section 50a on the cassette case main body 32 side includes the tape unit 2
A set protrusion 52, such as a round bar, for determining the set position of 0 is protruded upward (see FIGS. 2 and 4B).

Next, the structure of the tape unit 20 will be described with reference to FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 5 (a), FIG.
0 is a printing tape T wound around a winding tube 53, a support 21 as a main body that supports the upper side of the printing tape T,
And a lower spool 22 which is fitted from below the winding tube 53 to prevent the winding portion T0 of the printing tape T from coming out. The support 21 and the lower spool 22 are both made of the same kind of synthetic resin such as ABS resin.

The support 21 is formed with a plate-shaped rotation support portion 21a which supports the winding portion T0 of the printing tape T so as to face the upper side surface. And the rotation support 21
A continuous portion 55 bent toward the lower edge in the width direction of the printing tape T and the tape specifying portion 30 are formed integrally with the leading end of the printing tape T following the continuous portion 55.

The connecting portion 55 has a substantially U-shaped cross section for guiding the lower edge in the width direction of the printing tape T unwound from the winding portion T0 toward the pair of tape guide walls 42 and 43. (See FIGS. 2 and 3).

On the bottom plate 41b of the tape unit accommodating portion 41 of the cassette case main body 32, seven ribs 41a are formed so as to project radially.
When 0 is stored in the tape unit storage section 41, the winding section T0 of the printing tape T is placed on the rib 41a.
And the print tape T pulled out from the winding part T0 is
In order to travel without moving up and down in the width direction, the portion forming the bottom surface of the guide groove 55a is thinned so that the bottom surface of the guide groove 55a and the upper surface of the rib 41a are substantially at the same height. ing. Therefore, this guide groove 55a
Guide groove 55a to reinforce the portion forming the bottom surface of
On the back side of the guide groove 55a, a projecting portion 55b projecting downward is formed to increase the thickness of a portion forming the bottom surface of the guide groove 55a.

When the tape unit 20 is accommodated in the tape unit accommodating portion 41, an escape hole 46 into which the projecting portion 55b is inserted is formed at a position facing the projecting portion 55b. In addition, the projecting portion 55a is
6, the upper surface of the rib 41a of the tape unit storage portion 41 and the bottom surface of the guide groove 55a have substantially the same height, and the printing tape T pulled out from the winding portion T0 moves up and down in the width direction. The vehicle travels toward the guide groove 55a without moving. Further, the lower surface of the cassette case main body 32 and the lower surface of the protruding portion 55b form the same plane, and the protruding portion 55b does not protrude from the lower surface of the cassette case main body 32.

On the lower surface side of the rotation support portion 21a, a convex seat portion 56 fitted on the inner periphery of the winding tube 53 is projected downward, and on the outer periphery of the convex seat portion 56, a lower spool 22 to be described later is provided. A plurality of (four in the embodiment) locking holes 57 for locking the locking claws 24a are formed (see FIGS. 7, 8 and 9).

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 7, 8, 9 and 10, a large-diameter cylindrical portion 24a protruding upward from a flange portion 23 of the lower spool 22 and then a cylindrical portion 24 protruding upward. A plurality of (four in the embodiment) locking claws 24a are protruded inward from the wall surface, and the cylindrical portion 24 and the large-diameter cylindrical portion 24 are provided.
a into the winding tube 53 of the winding part T0,
By locking a in each of the locking holes 57, the two are in a state in which they cannot be released, and the winding portion T0 of the print tape T is rotatably supported on the cylindrical portion 24 so as to be inseparable. Will be. The upper end of the cylindrical portion 24 has an open groove 25 upward.
When the locking claws 24a are locked in the locking holes 57, the upper end of the cylindrical portion 24 is elastically narrowed.

As shown in FIGS. 7, 10, and 12, a ring-shaped locking groove 70 is formed on the inner peripheral wall of the large-diameter cylindrical portion 24a of the lower spool 22 near the flange portion 23. The whole or a part of the outer periphery of the thin disk-shaped chip piece 69 made of a synthetic resin plate such as polyethylene terephthalate and having elasticity is fitted in the locking groove 70 in advance.

The support 2 of the tape unit 20
1, the observation window 5 extending in the winding radial direction of the winding portion T0 of the printing tape T is provided on the plate-shaped rotation support portion 21a.
9 is provided. In the embodiment, one end of the observation window 59 (the end closer to the inner radius) extends to a portion near the outer peripheral edge of the convex seat 56 so that the end of the printing tape T wound around the winding tube 53 can be visually recognized. The winding portion T0 extends in the direction of the connecting portion 55 so that it can be observed even when the winding radius of the winding portion T0 is maximum (when not in use).

The upper plate 33a of the cassette lid 33 is provided with a support portion 60 into which the plate-shaped rotary support portion 21a is immovably fitted, so that the entire observation window 59 can be seen from the support portion 60. In the embodiment,
The rotation support portion 21a is formed in a non-circular shape, and a hole-shaped support portion 60 into which a part or all of the rotation support portion 21a fits exactly is formed. As another embodiment of the support part 60, only a part of the rotation support part 21 a is projected upward, and the support part 60 which is recessed above the upper plate part 33 a of the cassette lid 33 so that the protrusion is fitted. Then, the supporting portion 60 may be formed by two-color molding with a transparent material. Further, an engagement hole (not shown) is formed in the rotation support portion 21a,
An engagement protrusion that engages with the engagement hole may be provided on the lower surface of the upper plate portion 33a, and a watermark hole (not shown) of the same shape may be provided at the same position as the observation window 59. In any case, it is important to make the entire observation window 59 visible from the outside of the cassette lid 33.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 8 and 11, a thin disk-shaped spacer 54 made of a synthetic resin (for example, a material having a small friction coefficient such as polyethylene terephthalate) is provided at the winding portion. It is arranged so as to face both upper and lower end surfaces of T0. In the embodiment, an adhesive is applied to one surface of the spacer 54 (the side facing the side end surface of the winding portion T0) so that the spacer 54 does not separate from the upper and lower end surfaces of the winding portion T0. ing. Further, since the upper and lower spacers 54 are sandwiched between the rotation supporting portion 21a and the lower spool 22 together with the winding portion T0 of the tape, the inner peripheral edge slightly larger than the outer diameter of the winding tube 53 and the winding portion An outer peripheral edge having a diameter slightly larger than the maximum diameter of T0, and at least one, preferably two diametrically-perforated perforated cut lines 63 are formed from the outer peripheral edge toward the inner peripheral edge. (See FIGS. 2 and 3).

With this configuration, after the tape T has been used up in the tape unit 20, the tape unit 2
When discarding the support 21 and the lower spool 22, which are the main body of the spacer 5, the spacer 5
4 is cut from the outer peripheral side to the inner peripheral edge along the score line 63, and the spacer 54 is attached to the support 21 (the lower spool 22).
It can be easily removed from. In addition, it is more preferable that V
If a notch in the shape of a letter is formed, the cut line
The start of cutting of No. 3 becomes extremely easy.

In the above configuration, when the tape unit 20 is set in the cassette case main body 32, the flange portion 23 of the lower spool 22 is attached to the upper end surface of the cylindrical portion 66a as the discriminating portion 66 in the tape unit storage portion 41. Press so that the lower surface of the is in contact. At the time of replacement of the tape unit 20 from the first time to the predetermined number of times, since the chip pieces 69 stacked in the cylindrical portion 66a are located at a position lower than the upper end surface of the cylindrical portion 66a, the upper end surface of the cylindrical portion 66a A tapered engaging portion 65b as a protruding intake means 65 is fitted into the engaging hole 69a of the chip piece 69 in the tape unit 20 and is held at the shaft 65a so as not to be dislodged upward. When the tape unit 20 is taken out of the tape unit storage portion 41, the fitted chip piece 69 is elastically deformed by the elastic deformation of the chip piece 69 so that the outer peripheral portion of the chip piece 69 has an annular locking groove in the lower spool 22. The chip piece 69 falls out along the axis 65a, and is stacked and held in the cylindrical portion 66a.

Thus, a new tape unit 2
When 0 is sequentially replaced, the number of chip pieces 69 stacked and held in the cylindrical portion 66a increases in proportion to the number of replacements, and the height of the stacked chip pieces 69 is reduced by the predetermined number of replacements. The engagement portion 65b is higher than the upper end surface of the portion 66a.
Up to the height of the lower end (the base of the shaft 65a and the burrs), when the tape unit 20 is further replaced, the engagement hole 69a in the chip piece 69 provided on the tape unit 20 side is required. Does not reach the lower end of the engaging portion 65b, and the flange portion 23 of the lower spool 22 in the tape unit 20 does not come into contact with the upper end surface of the cylindrical portion 66a, so that the tape unit 20 rises and tilts. In other words, the user can be notified that the tape unit cannot be replaced any more.

When the tape cassette 5 is stored in the tape storage section 8 with the cassette lid 33 closed with respect to the cassette case main body 32, the tape cassette 5 hangs on the lower surface of the tape specifying section 30 of the support 21 in the tape unit 20. The provided bar-shaped shielding portion 51 selectively presses the tape type detecting means. That is, based on an on / off signal output from each detecting means for detecting a combination of the number and the position of the plurality of shielding portions 51, a tape width and a tape width of the printing tape T mounted on the tape unit 20 are determined. Can be detected.

The same position and number of shielding portions 51 are protrudingly provided on the upper surface of the tape specifying portion 30, and the shielding portions 51 are fitted to the tape detection portions 50 b of the cassette lid 33, thereby forming the tape unit 20. Support 2 in
1 can be avoided from being tilted or displaced. In addition,
Since a combination in which the shielding portion 51 does not exist is also conceivable,
A positioning hole 61 is drilled in the tape specifying section 30, and the tape unit 20 is inserted into the tape unit storage section 41.
At the time of setting, the tape unit 20 can be set at a regular position without rattling by engaging the positioning hole 61 with the upwardly protruding set projection 52 of the tape detection portion 50a on the cassette case main body 32 side. (See FIGS. 2 and 4 (b)).

The tape cassette 5 constructed as described above
Is stored in the cassette storage unit 8 of the tape printing apparatus 1, the thermal head 12 fixed to the cassette storage unit 8 is used.
Are arranged in the concave guide portion 38 of the thermal head guide portion 37. Here, the thermal head 12 is disposed inside the tape cassette 5, and the thermal head 12
Since the printing tape T is wound around the lower spool 22 with the thermosensitive coloring layer facing inward as described above, the plurality of heating elements provided in They are opposed to each other.

When the tape printer 1 is in operation, the platen roller 13a is in contact with the thermal head 12, and the tape feed assist roller 13b is in contact with the tape feed roller 11. Thereby, the print tape T pulled out from the tape unit 20 stored in the tape unit storage portion 41 of the cassette case main body 32 is
By cooperation of the tape feed roller 11 and the tape feed auxiliary roller 13b, the tape guide wall 42, 43 smoothly guides the tape to the tape drawer 36 and pulls it out.
8, the thermal head 12 and the platen roller 13a
In cooperation with the above, characters and the like are printed on the thermosensitive coloring layer of the printing tape T. Thereafter, the print tape T on which characters and the like are printed is fed to the tape discharge unit 1 by the cooperation of the tape feed roller 11 and the tape feed auxiliary roller 13b.
b to the outside of the tape printer 1.

As described above, the letters and the like are printed on the heat-sensitive coloring layer of the printing tape T to prepare the lettering tape, so that the remaining amount of the printing tape T wound around the winding tube 53 is reduced. It can be easily recognized by simply observing the radius of the winding part T0 at the observation window 59 from above the cassette lid 33. When the print tape T runs out, it is replaced with a tape unit 20 formed by winding a new unused print tape T.

In this case, first, the tape cassette 5 is taken out of the cassette storage section 8. Next, the tab of the elastic locking hook body 40 on the cassette lid 33 is pushed in the inner diameter direction of the cassette case main body 32, and the cassette case main body 32 is pressed.
Of the cassette case main body 32, the cassette lid 33 is rotated upward about the position of the locking hole 34 on the rear wall surface 32a side of the cassette case body 32, and the locking claw 35 is removed. The lid 33 is removed from the cassette case main body 32. Thereafter, the support 21 on which the printing tape T has been used up is used.
Is taken out of the tape unit accommodating section 41 together with the lower spool 22, and a new replacement tape unit 20 formed by winding an unused print tape T is inserted into the tape unit accommodating section 41.
To be stored.

Since the upper surface of the cassette case main body 32 is open because the cassette lid 33 is removed, the user grasps the upper end of the print tape T in the width direction and starts the print tape T from the winding portion T0. Pull out T,
Guide groove 55a of tape unit 20, tape guide wall 4
The print tape T is sent to the tape pull-out section 36 via the tapes 2 and 43, and is further sent to a position where the leading end of the print tape T faces the tape feed roller 11.

At this time, the winding tube 53 and the winding portion T0 of the printing tape T are integrally attached so as not to be detachable and rotatable by the support 21 and the lower spool 22. Since the tape specifying unit 30 is integrally formed, the tape unit 20 is replaced, the leading end of the print tape T is fed to a position facing the tape feed roller 11, and then the tape cassette 5 is moved to the original position. Returning to (the cassette storage section 8 of the tape printer 1), the tape printer 1 can automatically determine the tape type and the like.

As described in detail above, in the tape cassette 5 according to the present embodiment, when the tape unit 20 is replaced, the cassette case main body 32 and the cassette lid 33 can be reused, and the running cost can be reduced. If the number of replacements of the tape unit 20 is equal to or more than a certain value, the next tape unit 20 cannot be mounted in the cassette case body 32, and the tape unit 2
Inconvenience due to too many replacements of 0 can be prevented.

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 gist of the present invention.

For example, in this embodiment, the cassette lid 33
However, the cassette lid 33 is not always necessary, and the cassette lid 33 may be composed of only the cassette case main body 32 and the tape unit 20. Further, the rotation support portion 21a of the tape unit 20 and the cassette lid 33 are integrated. It may be a configuration.

In this embodiment, the cassette lid 33 is separated from the cassette case main body 32. However, the cassette lid 33 is connected to the cassette case main body 32 using a well-known hinge mechanism, and It may be configured to open and close, but not be separated from the cassette case body 32.

[0054]

As described above, the tape cassette according to the first aspect of the present invention is configured such that a tape unit having a print tape wound around a tape spool is exchangeably housed in a cassette case body. In the tape cassette used in the tape printing apparatus having the configuration, in the tape unit storage section of the cassette case body,
Each time a new tape unit to be replaced is mounted in the location, a capturing unit for capturing a chip piece detachably mounted on the tape unit, and a determination unit for stacking and holding the captured chip piece. It is provided with.

According to this configuration, when the tape unit is replaced a predetermined number of times, chip pieces are stacked at a predetermined height on the discriminating section, and when a further tape unit is replaced, the chip mounted on the tape unit is replaced. The piece cannot be taken in by the taking-in means, so that it is possible to inform the user that the tape unit cannot be replaced anymore, and to carry out printing work using such a tape cassette. It is possible to prevent the problem beforehand and to ensure an excellent printing operation and printing quality in the tape printer.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the tape cassette according to the first aspect, the take-in means is configured to be irreversibly inserted into an engagement hole formed in the chip piece. Things. Therefore, in addition to the effect according to the first aspect of the present invention, by simply pressing the tape unit so as to be set in the tape unit storage section, the engaging hole of the chip piece on the tape unit side automatically enters the intake means. As a result, since the chip pieces can be taken in and cannot be removed, there is an effect that no error occurs in the determination of the number of replacements of the tape unit.

On the other hand, the tape unit according to the third aspect of the present invention is a tape unit which is exchangeably housed in a tape unit housing portion of a cassette case main body of a tape cassette used in a tape printer. Since the inner diameter portion of the tape spool is provided with a chip piece which is taken in and taken off by a take-in means provided in the tape unit storage portion each time a new tape unit to be replaced is mounted, the tape unit is provided. By simply setting the tape unit in the tape unit storage section, the chip piece on the tape unit side is automatically taken in by the take-in means and detached,
It is possible to determine the number of replacements of the tape unit on the fetching means side (tape cassette side), and it is possible to prevent the chip pieces from being exposed to the outside of the tape unit, not to interfere with the tape unit, and to prevent the chip pieces from being carelessly removed. .

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the tape unit according to the third aspect, wherein the chip piece is provided on an outer peripheral portion of the tape unit or the tape spool from a winding portion of the printing tape. Since only the portion is supported, the chip piece is not exposed to the outside of the tape unit, can be prevented from being disturbed, and can be prevented from being accidentally detached, and the work of attaching the chip piece to the tape unit is also easy. There is an effect that there is.

The invention described in claim 5 is the same as the claim 3.
Alternatively, in the tape unit according to claim 4, the chip piece is made of an elastic thin plate material, and a center portion of the chip piece is provided with an engagement hole that fits into the take-in means. In addition to the effects of the invention according to claim 3 or 4, when the tape unit is inserted into the take-in means, the chip piece is elastically deformed against its elasticity, and the engaging hole of the chip piece is taken into the take-in means. And the chip piece can be detached from the tape unit very easily when the tape unit is removed when the tape unit is replaced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a tape printing apparatus showing a closed state of a cover body of a tape cassette storage unit.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the tape cassette.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the tape cassette with a cassette lid removed and a tape unit set therein.

4A is a plan view of a cassette lid, and FIG. 4B is a plan view of a cassette case main body.

5A is a plan view of the tape unit, and FIG. 5B is a bottom view of the tape unit.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the tape unit with a lower spool removed.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a rotation support section, a tape winding section, and a lower spool in the tape unit.

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the rotation support portion.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the lower spool as viewed in the direction of arrows IX-IX in FIG. 7;

10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line XX of FIG. 2 in a state where a cassette lid is put on the tape unit.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a chip piece, a capturing unit, and a determination unit.

FIG. 12 is a side sectional view showing an operation of determining the number of replacements of a tape unit by taking in and stacking chip pieces;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Tape printer 5 Tape cassette 20 Tape unit 21 Support 21a Rotation support part 22 Lower spool 24a Large-diameter tube part 32 Cassette case main body 33 Cassette lid 41 Tape unit storage part 41a Bottom plate 53 Winding tube 65 Take-in means 65a Shaft 65b Engagement Part 66 discriminating part 66a cylindrical part T printing tape T0 winding part

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A tape cassette for use in a tape printing apparatus, wherein a tape unit having a printing tape wound around a tape spool is exchangeably housed in a cassette case main body. The tape unit housing section of the case body includes a take-in means for taking in a chip piece detachably attached to the tape unit each time a new tape unit to be replaced is mounted in the relevant place, A discriminating section for stacking and holding the chip pieces. 2. The tape cassette according to claim 1, wherein the take-in means is configured to irreversibly enter an engagement hole formed in the chip piece. 3. A tape unit which is exchangeably stored in a tape unit storage portion of a cassette case main body of a tape cassette used in a tape printing apparatus, and a tape spool inner diameter portion has a new tape unit to be replaced. A tape unit comprising a chip piece which is taken in and taken off by a take-in means provided in the tape unit storage section each time a tape unit is mounted. 4. The tape unit according to claim 3, wherein the chip piece is supported only at an outer peripheral portion of the tape unit or the tape spool at an inner diameter portion from a winding portion of the print tape. . 5. The chip piece is made of an elastic thin plate material,
The tape unit according to claim 3 or 4, wherein a center portion of the chip piece is provided with an engagement hole that fits into the take-in means.