JP2004058434A - Label tape cartridge for tape printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a low-cost configuration which can appropriately guide a travel route of a label tape 46 without separating a label part 47a inside a housing 41 in a label tape cartridge. <P>SOLUTION: The label tape cartridge made detachable to a tape printer includes the housing 41, the label tape 46 stored in the housing 41, and a guide member 51 set at the housing for guiding the travel route of the label tape 46. The guide member 51 has a recess 71 formed at a part corresponding to a tape width central part of the label tape 46, and is configured to make the label part 47a of the label tape pass the inside of the recess 71. Moreover, a width W of the recess 71 is made larger than a width W<SB>L</SB>of the label part 47a. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the technology of a label tape cartridge for a tape printing device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art The technology of a label tape cartridge detachably attached to a tape printing apparatus is conventionally known. The label tape cartridge has a housing in which a label tape is housed. The label tape has an adhesive layer formed on the surface opposite to the printing surface of the paper, and a release paper is attached to the adhesive layer side. It has a combined configuration. Then, half-cut processing (usually, die-cut processing) is performed on the paper on the printing side, so that a plurality of label portions having the same shape are arranged in a longitudinal direction of the tape so as to be peelable at regular intervals. ing.
In this configuration, a desired image can be formed on the label by attaching the label tape cartridge to the tape printer and supplying the label to the printing unit together with the release paper. The printed label tape is discharged from a discharge port provided at an appropriate position of the apparatus, and in the discharged label tape, the label portion may be peeled off from release paper, and attached to a desired location as an adhesive label to be used. it can.
[0003]
In order to guide such a label tape in various directions inside the housing and send it to a printing section or a tape discharge port of the apparatus, a configuration is known in which a guide member is provided in the housing.
Examples of the guide member include a columnar boss portion, a freely rotatable roller (rotating body), and a rib. For example, in the case of a boss portion, a label tape is brought into contact with the boss portion to slide. In this case, the label tape is guided while changing the running direction.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional configuration, when the label tape is guided while being in contact with the guide member, the above-described label portion comes into contact with the guide member and is turned up, and the label portion may be peeled off. If the label portion is peeled off in the housing as described above, not only cannot the label portion be properly printed, but also the peeled label portion adheres to a movable portion such as a roller, which may cause a failure of the apparatus. Had also occurred.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The problem to be solved by the present invention is as described above. Next, means for solving the problem will be described.
[0006]
That is, in claim 1, there is provided a label tape cartridge detachably mountable to a tape printing apparatus, comprising a housing, a label tape housed in the housing, and a housing for guiding a travel path of the label tape. And a guide member provided on the label tape, wherein the guide member forms a concave portion in a portion corresponding to a tape width center portion of the label tape, and the label portion of the label tape passes through the inside of the concave portion. It is what was constituted.
[0007]
In claim 2, the width of the concave portion is larger than the width of the label portion of the label tape.
[0008]
In the third aspect, the guide member is provided with convex portions on both sides in the tape width direction with the concave portion interposed therebetween for guiding while contacting portions other than the label portion of the label tape. is there.
[0009]
According to a fourth aspect, the guide member is a boss that guides the label tape while sliding it.
[0010]
In claim 5, the guide member is a rotating body that guides the label tape by rotating while contacting the label tape.
[0011]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Next, an embodiment of the invention will be described.
[0012]
〔overall structure〕
First, the outline of the tape printer will be described. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a tape printer connected to a personal computer. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which a laminated thermal transfer type label cartridge is set in a tape printer.
As shown in FIG. 1, the tape printer 2 is connected to a personal computer 1 as a higher-level device by a connection cable 3 for transmitting and receiving data.
In the personal computer 1, a liquid crystal display 5 as a display unit, a keyboard 6 and a mouse 7 as input units are connected to a control main unit 4 having a CPU, a RAM, and the like via appropriate connection lines. It has a configuration.
[0013]
The tape printer 2 has a configuration in which a discharge port 2b for discharging the label tape 8 is provided on the front surface of the housing 2a, and a tape cartridge described later can be mounted therein. The label tape pulled out from the tape cartridge is printed by a tape drive printing mechanism disposed inside the printing device 2 and cut by an appropriate tape cutting mechanism. Is discharged as indicated by reference numeral 8.
[0014]
FIG. 2 is a side view showing the internal configuration of the tape printer 2. The tape cartridge 30a having the configuration shown in the lower part of the figure is detachably attached to the cartridge mounting frame 11 of the tape printer 2 shown in FIG. The printing device 2 can print on various types of label tapes by exchanging the tape cartridge. In the following, first, a heat transfer type printing method that can form a laminate type adhesive label can be formed. The case where the tape cartridge 30a is mounted will be described.
[0015]
[Structure of printing mechanism and laminate thermal transfer type cartridge]
Next, the configurations of the printing mechanism and the cartridge will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state of tape running in the set laminated thermal transfer type label cartridge.
[0016]
The laminate type tape cartridge 30a includes a housing 41. The housing 41 includes a laminate spool 32, a ribbon supply spool 34, a ribbon take-up spool 35, a base material supply spool 37, and a joining roller 38. , Are provided rotatably.
[0017]
The housing 41 is made of a synthetic resin and is formed in a box shape. Inside the housing 41, a cylindrical first boss portion 51 is formed in a convex shape, and a cylindrical laminate spool 32 is idled on the first boss portion 51. Fits freely. A transparent laminate tape 31 such as a PET (polyethylene terephthalate) film is wound around the outer periphery of the laminate spool 32. Outside the laminated tape 31 wound in a roll, an arc-shaped wall 55 for protecting the laminated tape is formed in the housing 41.
[0018]
Similarly, a cylindrical second boss portion 52 and a third boss portion 53 are formed inside the housing 41. The second boss portion 52 has a ribbon supply spool 34 and the third boss portion 53 has a base material supply spool. 37 are fitted so as to freely rotate. The ink ribbon 33 is wound around the outer periphery of the ribbon supply spool 34, while the double tape 36 is wound around the outer periphery of the substrate supply spool 37. The double tape 36 has a double structure of a double-sided adhesive tape having a width 0.2 mm narrower than that of the laminate tape 31 and having an adhesive layer on both sides, and a release tape bonded to one side thereof. The tape is wound around the outer periphery of the substrate supply spool 37 with the side to which the tape is attached facing outward and the side where the adhesive layer is exposed facing inward.
[0019]
As described above, the joining roller 38 is rotatably supported in the housing 41. The joining roller 38 is configured to affix the double tape 36 from the base material supply spool 37 and the laminate tape 31 from the laminate spool 32 by pressure contact with a feed roller 22 (described later) on the apparatus side.
In addition, a ribbon take-up spool 35 is rotatably supported in the housing 41. The ribbon take-up spool 35 is configured to take up the used ink ribbon 33 supplied from the ribbon supply spool 34. It is composed.
[0020]
On the other hand, on the cartridge mounting frame 11 side of the printing apparatus 2, a roller drive shaft 16 is provided at a position corresponding to the joining roller 38, and a take-up drive shaft 15 is provided at a position corresponding to the ribbon take-up spool 35, respectively. Be placed. When the tape cartridge 30a is mounted on the cartridge mounting frame 11, as shown in FIG. 3, the roller drive shaft 16 and the joining roller 38, the winding drive shaft 15 and the ribbon winding spool 35, Each is adapted to engage.
[0021]
The printing device 2 is provided with an electric motor (not shown), and the driving force of the electric motor is transmitted to the roller drive shaft 16 and the winding drive shaft 15 via a gear train (not shown). As a result, the joining roller 38 and the ribbon take-up spool 35 on the tape cartridge 30a side can be driven via the two drive shafts 16 and 15, respectively.
The tape drive printing mechanism 10 is formed on the printing device 2 side by the two drive shafts 16 and 15, the thermal head 13 described below, the feed roller 22, and the like.
[0022]
As shown in FIG. 2, an arm 20 is attached to the cartridge mounting frame 11 so as to be swingable around a shaft 20a. At the end of the arm 20, a platen roller 21 and a feed roller 22, both of which have an elastic member such as rubber on the surface, are provided side by side, and are each rotatable.
A plate 12 protrudes from the cartridge mounting frame 11. When the tape cartridge 30 a is mounted at a predetermined position of the cartridge mounting frame 11, the plate 12 enters the concave portion 14 formed in the housing 41 and is located. Further, a thermal head 13 is arranged on the platen roller 21 side of the plate 12, and the thermal head 13 has a plurality of heating elements arranged in a line in a direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG.
[0023]
Here, a biasing spring (not shown) is attached to the above-described arm 20, and a biasing force for moving the arm 20 downward in FIG. 2 is constantly applied.
Therefore, when the tape cartridge 30a is mounted on the cartridge mounting frame 11, as shown in FIG. 3, the platen roller 21 is in pressure contact with the thermal head 13 disposed on the plate 12 described later, and the feed roller 22 is 38.
[0024]
The above is the configuration of the tape cartridge. Next, the state of printing using this tape cartridge will be described with reference to FIG.
The laminating tape 31 is sent from the pins 62 and 63 to the platen roller 21 and pressed against the thermal head 13, and the ink on the ink ribbon 33 is transferred to the laminating tape 31 by the selective heating of the heating elements of the thermal head 13. The image is transferred and a desired image such as a character or a symbol is printed on the laminated tape 31.
[0025]
After passing through the thermal head 13, the laminating tape 31 and the used ink ribbon 33 travel in two hands.
The laminate tape 31 is fed toward the feed roller 22, and at the same time, the double tape 36 drawn from the base material supply spool 37 is moved to the side where the adhesive layer is exposed (that is, the side where the release tape is not bonded). ) Is directed to the outside (the feed roller 22 side), and is sent to the joining roller 38. As a result, the laminating tape 31 and the double tape 36 are joined and adhered to each other by the pressure contact between the feed roller 22 and the joining roller 38.
As a result, a label tape 8 having a three-layer structure in which the laminated tape 31 on which characters and symbols are recorded is provided on the double tape 36 is formed, and the label tape 8 is discharged from the discharge port 2b. Is done.
The tape cutting mechanism 17 provided near the discharge port 2b has a fixed blade 17a and a rotary blade 17b, so that the label tape 8 after being discharged can be cut and separated. The cut label tape 8 can be used as a sticking label that can be stuck at any location by peeling the peeling tape.
[0026]
The used ink ribbon 33 that has passed through the thermal head 13 is sent from the pin 64 to the ribbon take-up spool 35, where it is taken up and collected.
[0027]
The drawing and running of the laminate tape 31 and the double tape 36 are performed by driving the joining roller 38 via the roller drive shaft 16. The drawing and running of the ink ribbon 33 is performed by driving the ribbon take-up spool 35 via the take-up drive shaft 15. As a result, since there is no need to provide a mechanism for driving the tape cartridge 30a, the manufacturing cost of the cartridge 30a can be reduced.
[0028]
[Configuration of half-cut thermal label type cartridge]
Next, the configuration of another type of tape cartridge which can be mounted on the cartridge mounting frame 11 will be described with reference to FIGS. This tape cartridge (label tape cartridge) 30b is of a type in which a thermal-sensitive paper tape on which a plurality of label portions having a predetermined size are formed by performing a half-cut process is subjected to thermal coloring by the thermal head 13 for printing. It is.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which a half-cut thermal label type cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention is set in a tape printer. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state of tape running in the cartridge in a set state.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the heat-sensitive label tape.
[0029]
The tape cartridge 30b includes a housing 41 as shown in FIG. 4. The housing 41 has exactly the same configuration as the housing 41 of the above-described laminated thermal transfer type tape cartridge 30a. That is, the housing 41 can be used for both types of tape cartridges 30a and 30b, so that the versatility of the housing 41 is increased, the types of parts are reduced, and the manufacturing cost is reduced. .
[0030]
A cylindrical label tape spool 45 is rotatably fitted to the third boss 53 of the housing 41.
A heat-sensitive label tape 46 is wound around the label tape spool 45. As shown in FIG. 6, the heat-sensitive label tape 46 is bonded to a heat-sensitive paper 47 having a heat-sensitive coloring layer formed on one side and an adhesive applied to the other side, and an adhesive side of the heat-sensitive paper. And a release paper 48. The heat-sensitive paper side of the heat-sensitive label tape 46 is subjected to half-cut processing (specifically, die-cut processing), and a plurality of label portions 47a having the same shape can be peeled at regular intervals in the longitudinal direction. The arrangement is arranged. The portion other than the portion where the label portion 47a is formed is a frame portion 47b and is not used as a label.
The heat-sensitive label tape 46 having such a configuration is wound on the label tape spool 45 as shown in FIG. 4 so that the label portion 47a faces inside.
[0031]
The traveling path of the heat-sensitive label tape 46 in the cartridge 30b having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to FIG. 5 in a state where the cartridge 30b is attached to the apparatus.
After being pulled out from the label tape spool 45, the heat-sensitive label tape 46 comes into contact with the peripheral surfaces of the cylindrical first boss portion 51 and the second boss portion 52 while turning the heat-sensitive paper 47 side inward, The running route can be bent. The running tape 46 is sent between the platen roller 21 and the thermal head 13, and is selectively heated by the heating element of the thermal head 13 provided to face the thermal paper side of the tape 46. Desired characters and symbols are thermally colored on the paper side, and printing is performed. The heat-sensitive label tape 46 after printing is further fed by the feed roller 22 and the joining roller 38, and is discharged from the discharge port 2b.
[0032]
As shown in FIG. 6, black marks M are provided at regular intervals on the release paper 48 side of the thermal label tape 46 by printing, and the intervals of the marks M are the same as those of the label on the thermal paper 47 side. The interval is the same as that of the portion 47a. The position of each mark M is determined so that the mark M has a specific positional relationship with the individual label portion 47a on the opposite side.
On the other hand, a photo sensor 18 for reading the mark M of the running tape 46 is provided on the cartridge mounting frame 11 side. Therefore, by setting the timing at which the mark M is detected by the photo sensor 18 and the timing at which the heating element of the thermal head 13 generates heat in a predetermined relationship, printing alignment is performed, and an image formed by the thermal head 13 is formed. Is not displaced from the label portion 47a. When the above-described laminate type cartridge 30a is mounted, the photo sensor 18 is not used.
[0033]
Since the ink ribbon is not required for printing on the thermal label tape 46, the above-described ribbon take-up spool 35 is not provided in the cartridge 30b. Therefore, when the cartridge 30b is mounted on the cartridge mounting frame 11 for printing, the take-up drive shaft 15 is configured to idle.
[0034]
[Shape of boss, shape of wall 55]
Next, the shapes of the first boss portion 51 and the second boss portion 52 (guide member) will be described in detail mainly with reference to FIG. Since the second boss portion 52 is formed in exactly the same shape as the first boss portion 51, the shape of the first boss portion 51 will be described here as a representative.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a state in which the heat-sensitive label tape is guided by the boss.
[0035]
The first boss portion 51 is formed in a columnar shape as described above. Then, the above-described heat-sensitive label tape 46 is guided and passed by sliding on the peripheral surface of the first boss portion 51, whereby the traveling path of the tape 46 is directed to the thermal head 13 as a printing portion. I'm trying to guide you.
As shown in FIG. 7, a concave portion 71 is formed in a portion of the peripheral surface corresponding to the tape width center portion of the heat-sensitive label tape 46. Width W of the recess 71, the than the width _{W L} of the label portion 47a of the thermal label tape 46, it is formed larger _{(W> W} L).
On both sides of the concave portion 71 in the tape width direction, convex portions 72 are provided, and the convex portions 72 contact a frame portion 47b other than the label portion 47a, and the frame portion 47b is It is configured to guide while sliding.
[0036]
By doing so, even when the heat-sensitive label tape 46 passes through the first boss portion 51, the label portion 47a passes through the area where the concave portion 71 is formed. They do not touch. The guide in the running direction of the heat-sensitive label tape 46 is performed by the protrusions 72 contacting portions other than the label portion 47a (the frame portion 47b).
As a result, it is possible to prevent the label portion 47a from being caught by the first boss portion 51 and peeling off from the release paper 48, avoiding the trouble of running the tape 46 inside the cartridge 30b, and moving the label portion 47a to the thermal head 13. It can be supplied reliably and smoothly. In addition, since the configuration for this is also a simple one in which the concave portion 71 is provided in the first boss portion 51, the manufacturing cost of the tape cartridge 30b (or 30a) hardly increases.
[0037]
Further, as described above, by determining increase the width W of the recess 71 than the width _{W L} of the label part 47a _{(W> W} L), because the label part 47a is able to reliably pass through the portion of the recess 71, The label portion 47a is prevented from peeling off in the course of traveling in the cartridge 30b, and can be more reliably supplied to the printing portion.
Further, since the convex portions 72 contact the portion (frame portion 47b) other than the label portion 47a, the convex portions 72 do not contact the label portion 47a. The peeling of 47a is more reliably prevented.
[0038]
As shown in FIG. 7, the concave portion 71 and the convex portions 72, 72 of the wall portion 55 formed around the first boss portion 51 also face the thermal paper 47 side of the thermal label tape 46. There are formed, the width W of the recess 71 is made larger than the width W _L of the label part 47a.
This is exactly the same reason that the concave portion 71 and the convex portions 72 are provided in the first boss portion 51 described above. That is, the diameter of the heat-sensitive label tape 46 wound on the label tape spool 45 gradually decreases as the tape 46 is unwound, and as a result, the running path of the tape 46 changes, and the heat-sensitive The paper 47 may come into contact with the wall 55. At this time, the wall portion 55 functions as a guide member for guiding the traveling path of the thermal label tape 46, but even in this case, the label portion 47a only passes through the concave portion 71. As a result, the trouble that the label portion 47a peels off inside the cartridge 30b d without contacting the wall portion 55 is prevented.
[0039]
As a form of the heat-sensitive label tape traveling in the cartridge 30b, as shown in FIG. 7, a type in which the frame portion 47b is peeled and removed in advance after die cutting (so-called scrap-up type) may be considered. Since the label portion 47a of the heat-sensitive label tape 46 'of this embodiment has a configuration in which the label portion 47a protrudes from the release paper 48, the label portion 47a is more peeled when the tape 46' is guided by the first boss portion 51 or the wall portion 55. It will be easy.
When the tape 46 'of this form is used, the first boss portion 51 and the wall portion 55 are formed as described above, and the depth of the concave portion 71 is determined by the thickness of the label portion 47a (the thickness of the thermal paper 47). + Thickness of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer). By doing so, as shown in FIG. 9, the convex portions 72, 72 contact the portion of the release paper 48 of the tape 46 'to guide the tape 46', and the label of the tape 46 ' Since the portion 47a passes through the inside of the concave portion 71 and does not contact the first boss portion 51 or the wall portion 55, peeling of the label portion 47a is prevented.
[0040]
Instead of forming the concave portion 71 and the convex portions 72 on the first boss portion 51 itself, a cylindrical rotating body (such as the above-described spool 45) is fitted so as to freely rotate, and the rotating body Even if the concave portions 71 and the convex portions 72 are formed around the peripheral portion, the effect of preventing the label portion 47a from peeling off can be achieved similarly. At this time, the rotating body rotates on the first boss portion 51 while contacting the heat-sensitive label tape 46 'to guide the heat-sensitive label tape 46'.
[0041]
Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. is there.
For example, the form of the guide member is not limited to the bosses 51 and 52, the wall 55, and the rotating body, and various forms are conceivable. For example, a pin, a flat rib, or a rectangle formed integrally with the housing Holes and grooves. In any case, the same effect as described above can be achieved by providing a concave portion at a portion corresponding to the label portion in a portion that contacts the label tape.
Although the label tapes 46 and 46 'are of the heat-sensitive type, the present invention can be similarly applied to a cartridge of a thermal transfer type label tape.
[0042]
【The invention's effect】
The present invention is configured as described above, and has the following effects.
[0043]
That is, as set forth in claim 1, a label tape cartridge detachably mountable to a tape printer, comprising a housing, a label tape housed in the housing, and a guide tape for guiding a travel path of the label tape. A guide member provided in the housing, and the guide member forms a concave portion in a portion corresponding to a tape width central portion of the label tape, and the label portion of the label tape passes through the inside of the concave portion. Because it was configured as
The label portion at the center of the tape width of the label tape does not contact the guide member. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the label portion from being peeled off from the release paper by the guide member while the tape is running. As a result, the label portion can be reliably and smoothly supplied to the printing portion of the apparatus.
[0044]
As shown in claim 2, since the width of the recess is larger than the width of the label portion of the label tape,
Since the label portion surely passes through the concave portion, the label portion can be more reliably supplied to the printing portion.
[0045]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, the guide member is provided with convex portions on both sides in the tape width direction with the concave portion interposed therebetween, for guiding while contacting portions other than the label portion of the label tape. ,
The convex portions protruding on both sides of the label portion contact the portions other than the label portion to guide the label tape, so that the label tape can be smoothly supplied to the printing portion of the apparatus. Further, since the projection does not contact the label, the label does not come off the release paper during the running of the tape.
[0046]
As shown in claim 4, the guide member is a boss that guides the label tape while sliding it.
The tape can be guided with a simple configuration, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.
[0047]
As shown in claim 5, since the guide member is a rotating body that guides the label tape by rotating while contacting the label tape,
By rotating the rotating body, the label tape can be smoothly supplied to the printing unit.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a tape printer connected to a personal computer.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which a laminated thermal transfer type label cartridge is set in a tape printer.
FIG. 3 is a view showing a state of tape running in a set laminating heat transfer type label cartridge.
FIG. 4 is a view showing a state in which a half-cut thermosensitive label type cartridge according to one embodiment of the present invention is set in a tape printer.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state of tape running in a set half-cut thermal label type cartridge.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a heat-sensitive label tape.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a state in which a heat-sensitive label tape is guided by a boss.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a heat-sensitive label tape in a mode in which a frame portion is removed.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a state in which the heat-sensitive label tape is guided by a boss. .
[Explanation of symbols]
30b Label tape cartridge 41 Housing 46 Label tape 47a Label section 51 Boss section (guide member)
55 wall (guide member)
71 concave part 72 convex part

Claims (5)

A label tape cartridge detachably attached to a tape printing device,
A housing,
A label tape stored in the housing,
A guide member provided on the housing to guide the travel path of the label tape, and
The guide member, wherein a concave portion is formed in a portion corresponding to a tape width center portion of the label tape, and the label portion of the label tape is configured to pass through the inside of the concave portion, the label tape being characterized in that: cartridge. The label tape cartridge according to claim 1, wherein
The width of the concave portion is larger than the width of the label portion of the label tape. The label tape cartridge according to claim 2, wherein
A label tape, characterized in that the guide member is provided on both sides in the tape width direction with the concave portion in between, and a convex portion for guiding while contacting a portion other than the label portion of the label tape is provided. cartridge. The label tape cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein
The guide member is a boss for guiding the label tape while sliding the label tape cartridge. The label tape cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein
The label tape cartridge, wherein the guide member is a rotating body that guides the label tape by rotating while contacting the label tape.

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