JP2006297677A - Tape cartridge and tape printer loaded with this - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a tape cartridge which can store and let out a printing tape with an IC tag embedded therein without causing any trouble in printing, and to provide a tape printer loaded with this. <P>SOLUTION: The printing tape T is printed while being caught by a printing head and a platen roller 27. Many IC tags 30 brought to near one side in a width direction and arranged in a row in a let-out direction of the printing tape T are embedded in the printing tape T. An embedding part 32 of the printing tape T with each IC tag 30 embedded rises in a thickness direction as compared with the other tape part. The platen roller 27 which feeds the printing tape T to print has both a small-diameter part 41 to which the tag embedding part 32 retreats and which receives the part 32, and a large-diameter part 42 in rolling contact with the other tape part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a tape cartridge that accommodates a printing tape in which an IC tag is embedded, and a tape printer to which the tape cartridge is mounted.

Conventionally, a tape cartridge of this type is known in which a raw label embedded with an RFID (IC tag) is releasably laminated on a single carrier tape, and the carrier tape is wound into a roll and accommodated. . This tape cartridge is detachably attached to a tape processing apparatus, and the tape processing apparatus with the tape cartridge prints on a raw label by a thermal method. The tape processing apparatus includes a print head and a platen roller opposite to the print head, sandwiches the carrier tape between the print head and the platen roller, and drives the print head while feeding the carrier tape by the platen roller. It prints on the raw label on the carrier tape. Thereby, a label in which a desired image is printed and RFID is embedded can be obtained from the raw label portion (see Patent Document 1).
JP 2004-245870 A

  However, according to the above configuration, the portion where the RFID of the raw label is embedded is raised and has a thickness. Therefore, when printing is performed by sandwiching the print head and the platen roller, the print head rises at the RFID portion, and printing is performed. There was a problem that would be bad.

  It is an object of the present invention to provide a tape cartridge that can store and feed out a printing tape in which an IC tag is embedded without causing any trouble in printing, and a tape printer to which the tape cartridge is mounted.

  The tape cartridge of the present invention is a tape cartridge that is detachably attached to a tape printing apparatus that includes a print head that prints on a print tape and a tape feeding mechanism that feeds the print tape as the print head is driven. The cartridge case, the print tape wound around the cartridge case and accommodated in a roll, and the print tape is sandwiched between the print tape and the print head while facing the print head and connected to the tape feed mechanism to feed out the print tape A platen roller to be fed while being positioned close to one side in the width direction of the printing tape, and a number of IC tags embedded in a line in the feeding direction of the printing tape, and a tag embedding portion of the printing tape in which each IC tag is embedded Is raised in the thickness direction compared to other tape parts, the platen roller is the print head Tag embedded portion is retracted sandwiched between, characterized in that it has a small diameter portion for receiving this, the rolling contact the large diameter portion to the other tape portion.

  According to this configuration, when the printing tape in which the IC tag is embedded while being attached to the tape printing apparatus is sandwiched between the printing head and the platen roller, the tag embedding portion is pressed by the printing head and has a small diameter. Will be evacuated. Thereby, the print head side of the raised tag embedding portion becomes flat following the other tape portions, and the print head can print well without being lifted.

  In this case, it is preferable that an elastic ring that is formed in the same diameter as the large-diameter portion in a free state and deforms by rolling contact with the tag embedded portion is preferably attached to the small-diameter portion.

  According to this configuration, when the elastic ring sandwiches the tag embedded portion, the elastic ring is deformed into a shape matching the tag embedded portion and absorbs the thickness of the tag embedded portion, so that the print head does not float. Further, the elastic ring comes into rolling contact with the tag embedding portion, and the skew of the printing tape is prevented. Similarly, a normal printing tape in which no IC tag is embedded can be appropriately printed and sent.

  In this case, the printing tape consists of a recording tape and a release tape attached to the back surface of the recording tape, and each IC tag has a recess formed on the back surface of the recording tape and a recess formed on the attachment surface of the release tape, It is preferable to be embedded in any one of the above.

  According to this configuration, by embedding the IC tag in the concave portion, the recording tape and the release tape are not wrinkled in the tag embedded portion, and printing can be performed satisfactorily.

  In this case, the tape printing apparatus further includes a cutting unit for cutting the printing tape and a detecting unit for detecting the position of each IC tag in the feeding direction of the printing tape, and the printing tape corresponds to a large number of IC tags. At the same time, it is preferable that a large number of detection elements to be detected by the detection means are provided.

  According to this configuration, since the position of each IC tag can be detected by detecting each detected element by the detecting means, the IC tag is not cut when the printing tape is cut off. In addition, printing can be performed at an appropriate position in the positional relationship with the IC tag.

  The tape printer of the present invention is characterized in that the above tape cartridge is detachably mounted and prints on a printing tape.

  According to this configuration, the print tape in which the IC tag is embedded can be appropriately processed, and a desired printed tape (label) can be created.

  Hereinafter, a tape cartridge and a tape printer according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The tape cartridge is mounted on a tape printer and accommodates a print tape to be used for printing by the tape printer. The tape printing apparatus prints on a printing tape fed out from the tape cartridge in a state where the tape cartridge is mounted, and cuts this to obtain a printed tape piece (label).

  With reference to FIG. 1, the structure of the tape printer according to the present embodiment will be briefly described. FIG. 1 is a structural diagram schematically showing a tape printer. As shown in the figure, the tape printing apparatus 1 has an outer case formed by an apparatus case 2. Inside the apparatus case 2, a cartridge mounting portion 3 to which a tape cartridge C is detachably mounted, and printing to be fed out therefrom. A tape feeding mechanism 5 for printing and feeding the tape T toward the outside of the apparatus, a print head 6 for printing on the printing tape T being fed, and a downstream side of the printing head 6 in the tape feeding direction. A detection unit 7 that detects the position of the tape, a tape cutting unit 8 that is provided on the downstream side of the detection unit 7 and cuts a printed portion of the printing tape T, and a control unit 9 that performs overall control thereof. .

  The device case 2 is provided with a tape discharge port 10 for discharging the printing tape T fed from the tape cartridge C to the outside of the device. A full cutter 11 that cuts the printing tape T in the width direction by driving, and a half cutter 4 that is provided downstream of the full cutter 11 in the tape feeding direction and cuts only the recording tape Ta (described later) of the printing tape T in the width direction by driving the motor. And a tape cutting portion 8 having the following. Although not shown in the drawing, a keyboard as an input unit, a display as a display unit, and the like are disposed on the surface of the device case 2.

  A print head (thermal head) 6 is erected on the cartridge mounting portion 3, and a tape feeding mechanism 5 is disposed therein. The cartridge mounting portion 3 has a positioning projection 12 for positioning a tape reel 23 described later, a platen drive shaft 13 facing the print head 6, and a winding drive shaft 14 for winding an ink ribbon R described later. , Is erected. The tape feed mechanism 5 includes a print feed motor M and a reduction gear train 19 and is connected to the platen drive shaft 13 and the take-up drive shaft 14 described above. That is, the platen drive shaft 13 and the take-up drive shaft 14 are driven synchronously by the tape feeding mechanism 5.

  The detection unit 7 is disposed between the print head 6 and the tape cutting unit 8 and includes, for example, a transmission type (or reflection type) optical sensor 17 including a light emitting element 15 and a light receiving element 16, and is simple and accurate. It is configured to detect well. In this case, the printing tape T faces between the light emitting element 15 and the light receiving element 16, and the optical sensor 17 detects a detected opening 31 of the printing tape T described later to thereby detect a printing position and a full cutter on the printing tape T. 11 and the cutting position by the half cutter 4 and the position of the IC tag 30 (described later) are detected.

  FIG. 2 is a plan view of the tape cartridge C shown with a part of the cartridge case 20 cut away. As shown in the figure, the tape cartridge C has an outer shape formed by a cartridge case 20 having an “L” shape in plan view, which includes an upper case 20a and a lower case 20b. A narrow tape housing portion 21 and a wide ribbon housing portion 22 are configured.

  The tape storage unit 21 stores a long printing tape T and a tape reel 23 obtained by winding the printing tape T in a roll shape. A non-return mechanism 18a is incorporated in the central portion of the tape reel 23 with the cartridge case 20, and the non-return state is released by engaging the positioning protrusion 12 of the cartridge mounting portion 3. ing. The long printing tape T is accommodated in the cartridge case 20 in a state in which the feeding end is slightly protruded from the tape delivery port 24.

  The ribbon storage unit 22 stores a long (somewhat longer than the printing tape T) ink ribbon R, a feeding reel 25 for feeding out the ink ribbon R, and a take-up reel 26 for winding up the ink ribbon R. In addition, a hollow cylindrical platen (platen roller) 27 around which platen rubber (rubber roller 40) is wound is accommodated. The feeding reel 25, the take-up reel 26, and the platen 27 are rotatably supported by the cartridge case 20. Further, the feeding reel 25 and the take-up reel 26 are incorporated with a non-return mechanism 18b between the cartridge case 20 and, in this case, also engage with a release protrusion (not shown) of the cartridge mounting portion 3. And the non-return state is to be solved. Further, a through-opening 28 is formed in the cartridge case 20 that faces the print head 6 to be described later, which is located on the left side of the ribbon accommodating portion 22 in the figure.

  When the thus configured tape cartridge C is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 3, the print head 6 has a through opening 28, the positioning projection 12 has a tape reel 23, the take-up drive shaft 14 has a ribbon take-up reel 26, and a platen. Platens 27 are respectively inserted into the drive shafts 13, and the print head 6 is in contact with the platen 27 with the printing tape T and the ink ribbon R sandwiched therebetween (actually, it is contacted by closing the lid of the cartridge mounting portion 3). ). When printing is instructed by a key operation from this print standby state, the platen 27 and the take-up reel 26 start rotating via the platen drive shaft 13 and the take-up drive shaft 14, and the print tape T and the ink ribbon R are moved. The print head 6 is driven at the same time, and the print head 6 is driven to perform printing on the print tape T. Thereafter, the printed portion of the printing tape T is cut by the tape cutting unit 8 while being discharged from the tape discharge port 10. On the other hand, the ink ribbon R separated from the printing tape T wraps around the peripheral wall of the through opening 28 and is taken up by the ribbon take-up reel 26.

  Next, the main part of the tape cartridge C will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the printing tape T is a so-called release paper-attached tape. The recording tape Ta has a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer (not shown) applied to the back surface, and the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer allows the recording tape Ta to be printed. And a release tape Tb affixed to the surface. Also, a large number of IC tags 30 are embedded in the printing tape T at a position close to one side in the width direction (the upper side in the drawing) so as to have an equal pitch in the tape feeding direction. Further, a rectangular detected opening 31 is formed between the adjacent IC tags 30 so as to penetrate the printing tape T. In this case, the printing tape T is wound in a roll shape and accommodated in the cartridge case 20 with the recording tape Ta on the outside and the release tape Tb on the inside.

  The recording tape Ta is made of a resin material such as PET (polyethylene terephthalate), and the release tape Tb is made of a paper material such as high-quality paper or a resin material. Then, as shown in FIG. 4A, an IC is formed in the concave portion (swelled portion) formed on the peeling tape Tb or the concave portion (swelled portion) formed on the recording tape Ta as shown in FIG. A tag 30 is embedded. Therefore, the tag embedding portion 32 of the printing tape T embedded with the IC tag 30 rises on the back side (the peeling tape Tb side) of the printing tape T in the case of FIG. 4A, and in the case of FIG. 4B. The surface of the printing tape T (the printing tape T side) is raised. As described above, since the concave portion is formed in the recording tape Ta or the peeling tape Tb and the IC tag 30 is embedded in this portion, wrinkles or the like do not occur in the tag embedded portion 32 of the printing tape T.

  The IC tag 30 includes a flat rectangular substrate (film) 35 made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate), an antenna 36 formed on the substrate 35 for transmitting and receiving data, an IC chip 37 connected to the antenna 36, It consists of The IC chip 37 is fixed on the base material 35 by a potting material that becomes the protective layer 38. The IC tag 30 includes a data transmission / reception unit that transmits and receives data, a power supply unit that supplies power to the IC tag, and a storage unit that stores data.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the platen 27 includes a cylindrical core member 44 with which the platen drive shaft 13 is engaged, and a rubber roller 40 wound around the outer peripheral surface of the core member 44. The rubber roller 40 is a printing tape. The small diameter portion 41 corresponding to the T tag embedded portion 32 and the large diameter portion 42 corresponding to a portion other than the tag embedded portion 32 of the printing tape T are integrally formed. That is, the rubber roller 40 is formed with a small-diameter portion 41 at the upper portion in the axial direction for retracting the tag embedded portion 32 during printing. Specifically, when the radius r1 of the small-diameter portion 41, the radius r2 of the large-diameter portion 42, and the tag thickness is d (see FIG. 4), the relationship between r2-r1 and d is greater for d. It will be a little small. In addition, the code | symbol 43 in a figure is an elastic ring with which the small diameter part 41 is mounted | worn, and the elastic ring 43 is mounted | worn as needed. The rubber roller 40 is made of a relatively hard rubber material, and the elastic ring 43 is made of a relatively soft rubber material and has the same diameter as the large diameter portion 42. Therefore, when the tag embedded portion 32 comes into contact with the elastic ring 43, the elastic ring 43 is deformed to receive the tag embedded portion 32. Of course, when sending a normal printing tape T in which the IC tag 30 is not embedded, the elastic ring 43 is in contact with the elastic ring 43 without being deformed, so that the skew of the printing tape T is prevented.

  When the thus configured tape cartridge C is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 3, in the print standby state, the print head 6 contacts the platen 27 with the print tape T and the ink ribbon R interposed therebetween. At this time, the tag embedded portion 32 of the printing tape T is received by being pressed by the print head 6 and retracted to the small diameter portion 41 of the platen 27. For this reason, the tag embedding part 32 protrudes to the platen 27 side, and the print head 6 side of the printing tape T is flat (the same applies when the elastic ring 43 is used). When printing feed of the printing tape T is started, the tag embedding part 32 is appropriately retracted to the small diameter part 41, and the printing head 6 performs printing on the flat surface of the recording tape Ta located on the printing head 6 side. Become. For this reason, printing is performed without the print head 6 floating.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, when printing (print feeding) is started, the optical sensor 17 detects the detected opening 31 of the printing tape T. The detected opening 31 and the position (IC tag area 45 in the tape feed direction) of the IC tag 30 corresponding to this detected opening 31 (nearest on the upstream side) are stored in advance in the control unit 9 (specified by the number of motor steps). . At the same time, the detected opening 31, the printing area 46 of the printing tape T, and the cutting position are also stored in the control unit 9 (specified by the number of motor steps). For this reason, printing is performed by the print head 6 below the tag embedding unit 32, and the printing tape T or the recording tape Ta is cut by the tape cutting unit 8 at a position off the IC tag 30. Yes. In addition, you may make it cut | disconnect the front and back of the to-be-detected opening 31 so that the to-be-detected opening 31 may not remain in the cut | disconnected printing tape T (refer FIG. 3). Further, when continuously producing tape pieces (labels), a half cut may be performed instead of the above-described cutting (full cut).

  According to said structure, since the thickness of the tag embedding part 32 of the printing tape T is absorbed by the small diameter part 41 and the elastic ring 43, it can print on the surface of the printing tape T favorably, and print quality Will not be damaged. Further, by providing the detected opening 31 in the printing tape T and detecting this on the apparatus side, the printing process and the cutting process can always be performed on a desired position of the printing tape T. Thereby, there is no possibility of damaging the IC tag 30, and a label with a built-in IC tag having a good appearance can be created.

  In addition, you may make it provide the reader / writer which accesses the IC tag 30 in the tape printer 1 of this embodiment. For example, data such as a printing position and a tag position may be input in advance to the IC chip 37 of the IC tag 30, and the processing may be performed by reading this data. It is also possible to create a label by inputting a serial number or individual identification information related to the printing process to the IC chip 37.

(A) is a structural view schematically showing the tape printer according to the embodiment, and (b) is a structural view schematically showing around the tape feeding mechanism. It is a top view of the tape cartridge which concerns on embodiment. It is a top view of a printing tape and a platen roller. (A) is sectional drawing of the printing tape which provided the recessed part in the peeling tape, (b) is sectional drawing of the printing tape which provided the recessed part in the recording tape. It is a three-dimensional view of a platen (platen roller).

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Tape printer 5 Tape feed mechanism 6 Print head 7 Detection part 8 Tape cutting part 11 Full cutter 15 Light emitting element 16 Light receiving element 17 Optical sensor 20 Cartridge case 27 Platen (platen roller) 30 IC tag 31 Detected opening 32 Tag embedding part 40 Rubber roller 41 Small diameter portion 42 Large diameter portion 43 Elastic ring C Tape cartridge R Ink ribbon T Printing tape Ta Recording tape Tb Release tape

Claims (5)

In a tape cartridge that is detachably attached to a tape printing apparatus that includes a print head that performs printing on a print tape, and a tape feeding mechanism that sends the print tape as the print head is driven.
A cartridge case,
In the cartridge case, the printing tape housed in a roll shape,
A platen roller that sandwiches the printing tape in a state of being attached to the tape printing apparatus and confronts the print head and is connected to the tape feeding mechanism and feeds the printing tape while being fed;
A plurality of IC tags that are positioned close to one side in the width direction of the printing tape and embedded in a line in the feeding direction of the printing tape,
The tag embedded portion of the printing tape in which each IC tag is embedded is raised in the thickness direction as compared with other tape portions,
The platen roller has a narrow diameter portion that retracts the tag embedded portion sandwiched between the print head and receives the tag embedded portion, and a large diameter portion that is in rolling contact with the other tape portion. A tape cartridge characterized by that.   2. The tape according to claim 1, wherein an elastic ring that is formed in the same diameter as the large diameter portion in a free state and is deformed by rolling contact with the tag embedded portion is attached to the small diameter portion. cartridge. The printing tape comprises a recording tape and a release tape attached to the back surface of the recording tape,
Each said IC tag is embedded in any one of the recessed part formed in the back surface of the said recording tape, and the recessed part formed in the sticking surface of the said peeling tape, The Claim 1 or 2 characterized by the above-mentioned. Tape cartridge. The tape printer further comprises a cutting means for cutting off the printing tape, and a detecting means for detecting the position of each IC tag in the feeding direction of the printing tape,
The tape according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the printed tape is provided with a plurality of detection elements that correspond to the plurality of IC tags and are detected by the detection means. cartridge.   5. A tape printing apparatus, wherein the tape cartridge according to claim 1 is detachably mounted and printing is performed on the printing tape.

Images