JP2016203644A - Tape cartridge and tape printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a tape cartridge or the like, capable of preventing a tip of a tape-like member from entering inside a cartridge case and preventing wrinkles from occurring on a printing tape.SOLUTION: A tape cartridge includes: a cartridge case; a label tape 101 accommodated in the cartridge case so as to be delivered; a platen roller 103 accommodated in the cartridge case so as to come in contact with a release tape side of the label tape 101 in a rotatable manner and moving within a predetermined range in a tape feeding direction accompanied with delivering and retracting of the label tape 101; and a retracting prevention part 138 coming in contact with a printing tape side of the label tape 101 and holding the label tape 101 between the retracting prevention part 138 and the platen roller 103, when the platen roller 103 moves to an upstream side in a tape feeding direction accompanied with retracting of the label tape 101. A surface of the retracting prevention part 138 brought contact with the printing tape side of the label tape 101 is formed in an arc shape.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

  The present invention relates to a tape cartridge mounted on a tape printer having a print head for printing on a print tape, and a tape printer.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a tape cartridge that is mounted on a tape writer equipped with a print head, and has a cartridge case and a release tape attached to the back side of the printing tape, and is stored in a cartridge case so that it can be fed out A tape cartridge is known that includes a member and a platen that is rotatably accommodated in a cartridge case on the peeling tape side of the tape-like member and rotates and feeds the tape-like member sandwiched between the print head. In this tape cartridge, the platen is configured to move within a predetermined range in the tape feeding direction as the tape-shaped member is fed and retracted. The tape cartridge is provided with a tape guide pin that contacts the printing tape side of the tape-like member at a position upstream of the platen in the tape feeding direction and at a position overlapping the platen in the transverse direction crossing the tape feeding path. ing. The tape guide pin protrudes from the bottom wall of the tape cartridge and has a tip fitted to the top wall, and is in contact with the entire tape width direction of the tape-shaped member with respect to the printing tape side. In the tape cartridge configured as described above, when the platen moves to the upstream side in the tape feeding direction as the tape-like member is retracted, the tape-like member is sandwiched between the platen and the tape guide pin, and the tape-like member is Since the tape is not drawn any further, the tape tip is prevented from entering the cartridge case (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-157235

  In the conventional tape cartridge, the platen (platen roller) and the tape guide pin (retraction prevention unit) are provided at positions overlapping each other in the transverse direction crossing the tape feeding path, so that the tape guide pin reaches the platen. In the feed path, the tape-like member is curved in an “S” shape over the entire tape width. However, the printing tape is partially peeled off from the peeling tape at the curved portion. For this reason, the printing tape of the part which peeled (it floated from the peeling tape) was folded in the back surface side so that it might shrink in the tape length direction, and the back surfaces adhered, and as a result, there was a possibility that wrinkles might occur in the printing tape . When this wrinkle occurs, not only can the printing on the printing tape at that location not be performed properly, but the wrinkle is caught at the tape delivery port formed in the cartridge case, which may cause jamming.

  It is an object of the present invention to provide a tape cartridge that prevents the print tape from wrinkling while preventing the tip of the tape-like member from entering the cartridge case, and a tape printer provided with the tape cartridge. It is said.

  The tape cartridge of the present invention is a tape cartridge that is mounted on a tape printing apparatus including a print head that performs printing on a printing tape, and includes a cartridge case, a printing tape, and a release tape that is attached to the back side of the printing tape. A tape-like member that is housed in the cartridge case so as to be able to be fed out, and a tape-like member that is rotatably housed in the cartridge case so as to be in rolling contact with the peeling tape side of the tape-like member and is sandwiched between the print head A platen roller that moves within a predetermined range in the tape feeding direction as the tape-like member is fed and retracted, and feeds the tape-like member at a position upstream of the platen roller in the tape feeding direction. It is provided at a position that overlaps with the platen roller in the transverse direction that crosses the path. A pull-in preventing portion that is in contact with the tape side and sandwiches the tape-like member with the platen roller when the platen roller moves to the upstream side in the tape feeding direction with the drawing of the tape-like member. The surface of the pull-in preventing portion that contacts the printing tape side of the member is formed in an arc shape.

  In this case, the cartridge case has a covering wall portion that covers the end surface of the tape-shaped member on the opposite side to the one side in the tape width direction, and the pull-in preventing portion protrudes from the covering wall portion. In addition, it is preferably configured to be shorter than the tape width of the tape-shaped member.

  In this case, the cartridge case has a covering wall portion that covers the end surface of the tape-shaped member on the opposite side to the one side in the tape width direction, and the pull-in preventing portion protrudes from the covering wall portion. In addition, it is preferable that the platen roller is configured to be elastically tiltable to the side opposite to the platen roller in the transverse direction.

  In this case, it is preferable that the other side of the tape-like member is curved in an S shape in the path from the pull-in preventing portion to the platen roller, and one side of the tape-like member is arcuate.

  A tape printer according to the present invention includes the above tape cartridge, a cartridge mounting portion in which the tape cartridge is mounted, a print head that performs printing on the tape-like member, and a feed portion that rotationally drives the platen roller. It is characterized by.

In this case, the tape-shaped member has a plurality of detection target portions provided along the tape length direction at one end in the tape width direction, and the pull-in prevention portion and the platen roller in the tape feeding direction. It is preferable to further include a detection unit that is positioned between and to detect the passage of each detection target unit.
Note that “between the pull-in prevention unit and the platen roller in the tape feed direction” is a concept including a position that matches the pull-in prevention unit or a position that matches the platen roller in the tape feed direction.

It is a perspective view which shows the cover closed state of the label production apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the cover open state of the label production apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the label tape accommodated in the tape cartridge of the label production apparatus. It is a perspective view of a tape cartridge. It is a top view of a tape cartridge. It is a perspective view of the tape cartridge which removed the upper case. It is a top view of the tape cartridge which removed the upper case. It is the perspective view which looked at the opening-and-closing lid in the opened state from the left side. It is a bottom view around the optical sensor of the open / close lid. It is a cross-sectional view around the optical sensor of the label producing apparatus. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view around the optical sensor of the label producing apparatus. It is a figure which shows the printing / cutting operation | movement in a label production apparatus. It is a perspective view of the tape cartridge based on the prior art which removed the upper case. It is a top view of the tape cartridge based on the prior art which removed the upper case.

  Hereinafter, a label producing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The label creating apparatus of the present embodiment is used by connecting to a print data creating apparatus (for example, a personal computer) by wire or wirelessly, acquires print data created and edited by the print data creating apparatus, and based on the acquired print data Thus, printing is performed on each label portion of the label tape.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the label producing apparatus 1 includes a tape cartridge 100 and an apparatus main body 200 to which the tape cartridge 100 is detachably attached. The tape cartridge 100 includes a label tape 101, an ink ribbon 102, a platen roller 103, and a cartridge case 104 that accommodates these (see FIG. 6). The label tape 101 has a plurality of label portions 105 provided along the tape length direction (see FIG. 3). The label producing apparatus 1 performs printing on each label unit 105 based on the print data acquired from the print data producing apparatus (not shown) while feeding the label tape 101 from the mounted tape cartridge 100 and sending it. By separating each of the label portions 105, a label on which desired printing is performed is created.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the label tape 101 is a so-called die-cut label, and a plurality of rounded rectangular label portions 105, for example, are provided at an equal pitch along the tape length direction. The label tape 101 includes a printing tape 106 and a peeling tape 107 attached to the back side of the printing tape 106 with an adhesive, and only the printing tape 106 is cut into a rounded rectangular shape (half cut). As a result, each label portion 105 is formed. The label tape 101 may be one in which the other portions (frame portions) of the printing tape 106 are peeled off in advance, leaving the label portions 105.

  The label tape 101 has a plurality of detection target portions 109 protruding in a rectangular shape in the tape width direction at one end portion (upper side in FIG. 3) in the tape width direction. The plurality of detection target portions 109 are provided along the tape length direction at the same pitch as the plurality of label portions 105 so as to correspond to the plurality of label portions 105 on a one-to-one basis. That is, the end (detection tip portion 109a) of each detection target portion 109 on the feed tip side (detection tip portion 109a) is a predetermined distance from the end portion (label tip portion 105a) on the feed tip side (tape feed direction downstream side) of each label portion 105. It is located on the leading end side of the feeding, and the end portion (detection end side) of each detection target portion 109 with respect to the end portion (label rear end portion 105b) on the feeding end side (upstream side in the tape feeding direction) of each label portion 105. The rear end 109b) is at the same position in the tape length direction. Of course, the positional relationship between each label portion 105 and each detection target portion 109 in the tape length direction is not limited to this, and may be a predetermined positional relationship.

  Although details will be described later, the apparatus main body 200 controls the feeding of the label tape 101 based on the passage detection of each detection target portion 109 (the detection front end portion 109a and the detection rear end portion 109b). Accordingly, the apparatus main body 200 starts printing from the label leading end portion 105a to each label portion 105, and cuts the label tape 101 at a predetermined distance behind the label trailing end portion 105b. That is, in the label tape 101, the label leading end portion 105a of each label portion 105 is a printing start location 111, and a predetermined distance behind the label rear end portion 105b of each label portion 105 is a cutting location 112. Of course, the positions of the print start location 111 and the cut location 112 for each label portion 105 can be arbitrarily set. The user may change the positions of the print start location 111 and the cut location 112 in the print data creation apparatus.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, the cartridge case 104 is joined so that the upper case 113 and the lower case 114 are brought into contact with each other. The upper case 113 includes a top wall 115 and an upper peripheral wall 116 protruding from the peripheral edge of the top wall 115. The lower case 114 includes a bottom wall portion 117 (covering wall portion) and a lower peripheral wall portion 118 protruding from the peripheral edge portion of the bottom wall portion 117. The upper case 113 is made of a translucent resin, and the lower case 114 is made of a light shielding (for example, black opaque) resin.

  In the cartridge case 104, a tape core 121 is accommodated on the rear side, a ribbon feeding reel 122 and a ribbon take-up reel 123 are accommodated on the front right end, and a platen roller 103 is accommodated on the left end. The label tape 101 is wound around the tape core 121 so that it can be fed out. The ink ribbon 102 is wound around the ribbon feeding reel 122 so that the ink ribbon 102 can be fed out, and the ink ribbon 102 fed out from the ribbon feeding reel 122 is wound around the ribbon take-up reel 123. The label tape 101 is accommodated in the cartridge case 104 so that the detection target portion 109 is on the upper case 113 side.

  On the left side wall of the cartridge case 104, a slit-like tape delivery port 124 that is long in the vertical direction is formed in order to feed the label tape 101 out of the cartridge case 104. In addition, a head opening 125 through which a print head 225 (described later) is inserted is formed vertically through the left front corner of the cartridge case 104.

  The top wall 115 of the upper case 113 has a high wall 126 formed in a region where the tape core 121 and the ribbon supply reel 122 are located, the ribbon take-up reel 123, the platen roller 103, and the head opening 125 in a plan view. The lower wall portion 127 formed one step lower than the high wall portion 126 (closer to the bottom wall portion 117), and extends in a substantially horizontal “Γ” shape, and the high wall portion 126 and the lower wall portion 127. And a vertical wall portion 128 that connects the two.

  Further, the upper case 113 protrudes at substantially the same height as the vertical wall portion 128 so as to extend upward from the upper peripheral wall portion 116 on the front side edge portion and the left side edge portion of the low wall portion 127. An L-shaped protruding wall portion 129 is provided. A concave space 131 having a substantially rectangular shape in plan view is formed on the upper surface of the upper case 113 by the low wall portion 127, the vertical wall portion 128, and the protruding wall portion 129.

  In the region where the high wall portion 126 is formed, the tape cartridge 100 has a thickness corresponding to the tape width of the entire label tape 101 (tape width including the detection target portion 109), and the wound label tape 101 is wound. The upper end face (on the detection target part 109 side) is covered with a high wall part 126. Note that the remaining amount of the label tape 101 wound around the tape core 121 can be visually recognized through the translucent high wall portion 126. On the other hand, the tape cartridge 100 has a thickness corresponding to the tape width excluding the detection target portion 109 in the region where the low wall portion 127 is formed, and each detection target portion 109 to be sent is a low wall portion 127. It protrudes upward from a projecting opening 133 (described later) formed in the above.

  The vertical wall portion 128 is formed with a passage port 132 through which each detection target portion 109 of the label tape 101 fed out from the tape core 121 passes. The low wall portion 127 is formed with a slit-like protruding opening 133 that connects the passage port 132 and the tape delivery port 124, and each detection target portion 109 that passes through protrudes upward from the protruding opening 133. ing. The protruding opening 133 is formed wide on the passage port 132 side (upstream side in the tape feeding direction) in response to fluctuations in the feeding path according to the remaining amount of the label tape 101 (the amount of the label tape 101 wound around the tape core 121). Has been.

  Further, a pair of front and rear tape cover portions 134 are formed at the upstream end portion of the protruding opening 133 in the tape feeding direction so as to extend in a rib shape from the edge portion of the passage port 132 to the downstream side in the tape feeding direction. Yes. In other words, the pair of tape cover portions 134 project from the front edge and the rear edge of the protruding opening 133 at the upstream end of the protruding opening 133 in the tape feeding direction. The height of the pair of tape cover portions 134 is slightly lower than the height of the vertical wall portion 128. For this reason, the upper end portions of the pair of tape cover portions 134 are located below the upper end portion of the high wall portion 126.

  At the upstream side of the protruding opening 133 from the downstream end in the tape feed direction of the tape cover part 134 (see the cover part downstream end 134a, see FIG. 12A), each detection target part 109 protruding upward from the protruding opening 133 is a pair. The tape cover part 134 covers the printing tape 106 side and the peeling tape 107 side. On the other hand, on the downstream side of the cover portion downstream end 134a in the protruding opening 133, each detection target portion 109 protruding upward from the protruding opening 133 is exposed so that it can be detected by the optical sensor 206 described later. That is, between the cover portion downstream end 134a and the tape delivery port 124 is an exposed area 135 that exposes each detection target portion 109 in order to detect passage of each detection target portion 109 by the optical sensor 206.

  On the other hand, the bottom wall portion 117 of the lower case 114 covers the end surface of the lower side of the accommodated label tape 101 (the side opposite to the detection target portion 109 side). A guide wall 136 protrudes from the bottom wall 117 so as to surround the four circumferences of the head opening 125 except for a portion where the platen roller 103 faces the print head 225. Guide engaging holes 137 with which engaging pins (not shown) formed in the upper case 113 are engaged are formed at a plurality of locations on the upper end surface of the guide wall 136. The ink ribbon 102 fed out from the ribbon feeding reel 122 wraps around the outer peripheral surface of the guide wall 136 and is taken up by the ribbon take-up reel 123. The ink ribbon 102 has a width corresponding to the width of each label portion 105 (length in the tape width direction).

  Further, the bottom wall 117 overlaps with the platen roller 103 in the vicinity of the upstream side of the platen roller 103 in the tape feeding direction and in the transverse direction (direction perpendicular to the feeding path) across the feeding path of the label tape 101. (See FIG. 7), an elongated plate-like pull-in preventing portion 138 is provided so as to protrude. Although the details will be described later, the pull-in prevention unit 138 prevents the label tape 101 from being pulled into the cartridge case 104 in cooperation with the platen roller 103.

  The height of the pull-in preventing portion 138 is lower than the tape width of the label tape 101 excluding the detection target portion 109, and is formed to have a height of about 50% to 90% with respect to the tape width, for example. That is, the leading end of the pull-in preventing portion 138 is not engaged with the top wall portion 115 (low wall portion 127) of the upper case 113. The pull-in prevention portion 138 is formed thin in the transverse direction that crosses the feeding path of the label tape 101, and can be elastically inclined to the side opposite to the platen roller 103 (head opening 125 side) in the transverse direction. It has become.

  The rear surface of the pull-in prevention portion 138 is formed in a gentle arc shape and is in contact with the printing tape 106 side of the label tape 101. Here, as described above, since the height of the pull-in prevention unit 138 is lower than the tape width of the label tape 101 excluding the detection target unit 109, the lower side of the label tape 101 is in contact with the upper side, Not touching. On the other hand, the front surface of the pull-in prevention unit 138 is in contact with the ink ribbon 102. That is, the printing tape 106 is fed while being in sliding contact with the rear surface of the pull-in prevention unit 138, and the ink ribbon 102 is fed while being in sliding contact with the rear surface of the pull-in prevention unit 138. The print tape 106 and the ink ribbon 102 are joined in the vicinity of the downstream side of the pull-in prevention unit 138 and then sandwiched between the platen roller 103 and the print head 225.

  The tape outlet 124 is formed to be slightly longer than the tape width of the label tape 101 (the tape width including the detection target portion 109), and has the same width over the entire length and slightly less than the thickness of the label tape 101. It is formed wide. The upper end portion of the tape delivery port 124 is constituted by the upper case 113, and serves as a detection target passage portion 124a through which each detection target portion 109 passes. C chamfered portions 139 are formed at the corners on the inner surface side of the cartridge case 104 at both front and rear edges of the detection target passage portion 124a (see FIG. 10).

  The platen roller 103 is provided so as to face the print head 225 inserted through the head opening 125, and is rotated by the apparatus main body 200 to rotate and feed the label tape 101 and the ink ribbon 102 sandwiched between the print head 225. To do.

  The platen roller 103 has a cylindrical roller body 141 and a platen rubber 142 wound around the roller body 141. The platen roller 103 (platen rubber 142) is in rolling contact with the peeling tape 107 side of the label tape 101. Similar to the ink ribbon 102, the platen rubber 142 has a length corresponding to the width of each label portion 105 (length in the tape width direction).

  An upper platen engagement hole 143 with which the upper end portion of the roller body 141 is engaged is formed in the top wall portion 115 (low wall portion 127) of the upper case 113. Similarly, the bottom wall portion 117 of the lower case 114 is formed in the bottom wall portion 117. A lower platen engagement hole (not shown) for engaging the lower end portion of the roller body 141 is formed.

  The upper platen engagement hole 143 and the lower platen engagement hole are each formed as a long hole that is long in the tape feeding direction. As a result, the platen roller 103 is rotatably accommodated in the cartridge case 104, and moves within a predetermined range in the tape feeding direction as the label tape 101 is fed and retracted. Therefore, even if the label tape 101 is pulled in such a manner that the tape core 121 is rotated by vibration while the tape cartridge 100 is not attached to the apparatus main body 200, the platen roller 103 is moved along with the pull-in of the label tape 101. The label tape 101 is sandwiched between the platen roller 103 and the pull-in preventing portion 138 by moving upstream in the tape feeding direction. In this way, the label tape 101 is not drawn any further, and the leading end of the label tape 101 is prevented from entering the cartridge case 104.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the apparatus main body 200 has an outer shell formed by an apparatus case 201 formed in a substantially cubic shape. An opening / closing lid 202 is provided on the upper surface of the device case 201. The open / close lid 202 opens and closes a cartridge mounting portion (not shown) to which the tape cartridge 100 is mounted. A lid opening button 203 for opening the opening / closing lid 202 is provided at the left front corner of the apparatus main body 200. When the user presses the lid opening button 203, the opening / closing lid 202 rotates upward about the hinge portion 204 provided at the right end.

  The tape cartridge 100 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion with the upper case 113 on the upper side and the lower case 114 on the lower side. For this reason, when the tape cartridge 100 is mounted in the cartridge mounting portion, each detection target portion 109 protruding upward from the protruding opening 133 formed in the upper case 113 (low wall portion 127) is closed. It will face the back side of the.

  As shown in FIGS. 8 to 11, the open / close lid 202 is formed with an elongated rectangular round viewing window 205 at the right and left at a substantially central portion, and on the back side of the open / close lid 202, in front of the viewing window 205. An optical sensor 206 that is positioned and detects the passage of each detection target portion 109 is attached.

  The viewing window 205 is made of a translucent resin, and the mounting / non-mounting of the tape cartridge 100 to the cartridge mounting portion can be visually confirmed through the viewing window 205. Except for the viewing window 205, the device case 201 is made of a light-shielding resin including the opening / closing lid 202. On the back side of the opening / closing lid 202, a rib-like annular convex portion 207 protrudes from the periphery of the viewing window 205. The annular convex portion 207 is also made of a light shielding resin. The annular convex portion 207 is formed to have such a height that a slight gap is generated between the annular convex portion 207 and the upper surface of the tape cartridge 100 mounted on the cartridge mounting portion in a state where the opening / closing lid 202 is closed.

  The optical sensor 206 is composed of a transmissive photo interrupter, and is mounted with a light emitting element 216 and a light receiving element 217 facing each other, a sensor case 208 in which the light emitting element 216 and the light receiving element 217 are accommodated, and a circuit element. Sensor substrate 209. The light emitting element 216 is made of, for example, an infrared light emitting diode, and the light receiving element 217 is made of, for example, an infrared phototransistor. The sensor substrate 209 is accommodated in a substrate accommodating portion 211 that protrudes low from the back surface of the open / close lid 202 in a lateral “L” shape when viewed from below. The optical sensor 206 is located in a concave space 131 (exposed area 135) formed on the upper surface of the cartridge case 104 in the closed state. The substrate accommodating portion 211 is adapted to be accommodated in a concave space 131 formed in the tape cartridge 100 when the opening / closing lid 202 is closed, and the substrate accommodating portion 211 is connected to the top wall portion 115 of the tape cartridge 100. There is no interference (see FIG. 10).

  The sensor case 208 has a substantially inverted “U” shape when viewed from the side, and the light emitting side accommodating portion 213 and the light receiving side accommodating portion 214 in which the light emitting element 216 and the light receiving element 217 are accommodated respectively have a groove 212 serving as a feed path. It is formed sandwiched between the front and rear. That is, in the state where the open / close lid 202 is closed, the optical sensor 206 is configured such that the light emitting side accommodation portion 213 (light emitting element 216) is on the front side and the light receiving side accommodation portion 214 (light receiving element 217) is on the rear side (viewing window 205 side). In this manner, the lid is attached to the opening / closing lid 202. That is, the light receiving element 217 faces away from the viewing window 205. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 10, the position of the optical axis of the detection light of the optical sensor 206 coincides with the position of the axis of the platen roller 103 in the tape feeding direction. That is, in the tape feeding direction, the detection position P1 (see FIG. 12) of the optical sensor 206 coincides with the printing position P2 (see FIG. 12) by the print head 225.

  The light emitting side accommodating portion 213 and the light receiving side accommodating portion 214 have a light emitting side facing surface 213a and a light receiving side facing surface 214a that face each other. Each detection target portion 109 passes between the light emitting side facing surface 213a and the light receiving side facing surface 214a, that is, through the groove portion 212. The distance between the light emitting side facing surface 213a and the light receiving side facing surface 214a (facing distance D1, see FIG. 9), that is, the width of the groove 212 is, for example, about 4 mm. Further, slits for transmitting the detection light emitted from the light emitting element 216 are formed in the light emitting side facing surface 213a and the light receiving side facing surface 214a, respectively.

  Further, a light emitting side convex portion 218 having a reverse “U” shape in a bottom view and a light receiving side convex portion 219 having a lateral “C” shape in a bottom view are projected from the lower surface of the substrate housing portion 211. The light emitting side convex portion 218 and the light receiving side convex portion 219 are each made of a light shielding resin. Note that the upstream corner of the light emitting side convex portion 218 and the upstream corner of the light receiving side convex portion 219 are chamfered, and the detection leading end 109a of each detection target portion 109 sent is the corner. It is prevented from getting caught in the part.

  The light emitting side convex portion 218 covers the peripheral surface of the light emitting side accommodating portion 213 except for the light emitting side facing surface 213a. On the other hand, the light-receiving-side convex portion 219 and the light-receiving-side upstream guide portion 221 formed at one end so as to block a part of the upstream-side opening portion (light-receiving side) of the groove portion 212 and the downstream opening of the groove portion 212. The peripheral surface excluding the light receiving side facing surface 214a of the light receiving side downstream guide part 222 formed at the other tip and the light receiving side accommodating part 214 so as to block a part of the light receiving side (light receiving side) The covered light receiving side cover 223 is integrally formed.

  The light receiving side upstream guide portion 221 and the light receiving side downstream guide portion 222 extend inward to the front side of the light receiving element 217, respectively, along the light receiving side facing surface 214a. Each detection target portion 109 passes through the groove portion 212 while being guided by the front surface of the light receiving side upstream guide portion 221 and the light receiving side downstream guide portion 222 and the light emitting side facing surface 213a. That is, each detection target portion 109 is sent between the light receiving side upstream guide portion 221 and the light receiving side downstream guide portion 222 and the light emitting side facing surface 213a with a guide width D2 narrower than the facing distance D1 (FIG. 9).

  As shown in FIG. 2, a thermal type print head 225 projects from the left front corner of the cartridge mounting portion. The tape cartridge 100 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion so that the head opening 125 of the tape cartridge 100 is inserted into the print head 225. Further, a platen driving shaft 226 that engages with the platen roller 103 in the tape cartridge 100 and rotates the platen driving shaft 226 is provided upright on the cartridge mounting portion. Although not shown, a guide protrusion for guiding the mounting of the tape cartridge 100 protrudes from a substantially central portion of the cartridge mounting portion, and the right side of the print head 225 engages with the ribbon take-up reel 123. A ribbon take-up drive shaft for rotating this is erected.

  Further, a feed portion 231 for rotating the platen drive shaft 226 and the ribbon take-up drive shaft is provided on the back side of the cartridge mounting portion. The feed unit 231 includes a feed motor 232 serving as a power source, and a feed power transmission mechanism (not shown) including a gear train that branches and transmits the power of the feed motor 232 to the platen drive shaft 226 and the ribbon take-up drive shaft. (See FIG. 12A). When the feeding unit 231 rotates the platen drive shaft 226 and the ribbon take-up drive shaft, the platen roller 103 and the ribbon take-up reel 123 rotate, and the label tape 101 and the ink ribbon 102 are fed.

  On the left side of the device case 201, a slit-like tape discharge port 234 that is long in the vertical direction is formed. The tape discharge port 234 is connected to the cartridge mounting portion, and the label tape 101 sent from the tape cartridge 100 mounted on the cartridge mounting portion is discharged from the tape discharge port 234 to the outside of the apparatus.

  A cutting part 241 for cutting the label tape 101 is built in between the cartridge mounting part and the tape discharge port 234. The cutting unit 241 includes a fixed blade 242 and a movable blade 243 provided across the feed path of the label tape 101, and a cutter 244 that cuts the label tape 101 in a scissors manner and a cutter that is a power source for the movable blade 243 The motor 245 and a cutter power transmission mechanism (not shown) that transmits the power of the cutter motor 245 to the movable blade 243 are configured (see FIG. 12A).

  In the tape feeding direction, the position where the blade edges (blade lines) of the fixed blade 242 and the movable blade 243 rub against each other is a cut position P3 where the label tape 101 is cut. In the tape feed direction, the distance L1 to the cover portion downstream end 134a (upstream end of the exposed area 135) with respect to the cut position P3 is a detection target portion corresponding to the nth label portion 105 as counted from the leading end side. It is shorter (L1 <L2) than the distance L2 between the 109 detection tip 109a and the cut location 112 of the (n-1) th label 105 (see FIG. 12A).

  Furthermore, the apparatus main body 200 includes a control unit 250 (see FIG. 12) configured with a CPU (Central Processing Unit), various storage elements, and the like. As described below, the control unit 250 controls driving of the feed motor 232 and the cutter motor 245 based on detection of passage of each detection target unit 109 by the optical sensor 206 (change in output voltage).

  With reference to FIG. 12, the printing / cutting operation in the label producing apparatus 1 will be described. In FIG. 12, the platen roller 103, the print head 225, and the movable blade 243 are shown in black when driven, and white when not driven. Further, the optical sensor 206 is shown in black when the passage of each detection target portion 109 (detection front end portion 109a and detection rear end portion 109b) is detected, and is shown in white when not detected.

  First, in the previous printing / cutting operation, it is assumed that the (n-1) th label portion 105 is cut off at a predetermined cutting point 112 counted from the upstream side (feeding tip side) in the tape feeding direction. At this time, the leading end of the label tape 101 coincides with the cut position P3 until the printing / cutting operation for the label tape 101 is started. Further, the detection tip 109a of the detection target portion 109 corresponding to the nth label portion 105 is positioned slightly upstream (for example, 4 mm) upstream of the detection position P1 by the optical sensor 206 (FIG. 12). (See (a)).

  When the user inputs printing execution in this state, the control unit 250 drives the feed motor 232, and the platen roller 103 rotates to start feeding the label tape 101 (and the ink ribbon 102). When the detection tip 109a of the detection target portion 109 corresponding to the nth label portion 105 reaches the detection position P1, the optical sensor 206 detects the passage of the detection tip 109a, and the detection result is indicated by the control unit 250. (See FIG. 12B).

  When the control unit 250 acquires the detection result indicating that the detection leading end portion 109a has passed, the label tape 101 is set so that the printing start location 111 (label leading end portion 105a) of the nth label portion 105 reaches the printing position P2. Then, the print head 225 is driven to start printing on the nth label portion 105 from the print start location 111 (see FIG. 12C).

  Thereafter, when the detection rear end 109b of the detection target portion 109 corresponding to the nth label portion 105 reaches the detection position P1, the optical sensor 206 detects the passage of the detection rear end 109b and controls the detection result. It outputs to the part 250 (refer FIG.12 (d)). At this time, the label rear end portion 105b of the nth label portion 105 has reached the printing position P2, and printing on the nth label portion 105 is completed.

  After acquiring the detection result indicating that the detection rear end 109b has passed, the control unit 250 sends the label tape 101 by a predetermined amount so that the cut portion 112 of the nth label unit 105 reaches the cut position P3. Then, the movable blade 243 is driven, the label tape 101 is cut at the cutting point 112, and the nth label portion 105 is cut off (see FIG. 12E). In this manner, the label producing apparatus 1 can produce a label on which desired printing has been performed. Note that, here, a case has been described in which a single label unit 105 is printed and then separated, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of label units 105 are continuously printed. Thereafter, the label tape 101 may be cut at the cutting portion 112 of the last label portion 105, and the plurality of label portions 105 may be cut off collectively.

  As described above, in the tape cartridge 100, the platen roller 103 and the pull-in prevention unit 138 are provided at positions overlapping each other in the transverse direction crossing the tape feeding path. Further, in the conventional tape cartridge 100, the pull-in preventing portion 138 has a length that engages with the top wall portion 115 of the upper case 113, and is in contact with the entire tape width of the label tape 101 (see FIG. 13). For this reason, in the conventional tape cartridge 100, the label tape 101 is curved in an “S” shape over the entire tape width in the feed path from the pull-in prevention unit 138 to the platen roller 103 (see FIG. 14). . In this case, the printing tape 106 is likely to be partially peeled off from the peeling tape 107 at the curved portion of the label tape 101, and the printing tape 106 may be wrinkled. That is, the printing tape 106 at the place where it has been peeled off (floating from the peeling tape 107) is folded to the back surface (adhesive surface) side so as to shrink in the tape length direction, and the back surfaces stick to each other. May occur.

  On the other hand, in this embodiment, as described above, the pull-in prevention unit 138 is not in contact with the upper side of the label tape 101 and is in contact with only the lower side (see FIG. 6). For this reason, in the feed path from the pull-in preventing unit 138 to the platen roller 103, the lower side of the label tape 101 that contacts the pull-in preventing unit 138 is curved in an “S” shape, but is in contact with the pull-in preventing unit 138. The upper side that is not present is substantially linear (gradual arc shape) (see FIG. 7). Therefore, compared with the case where the label tape 101 is curved in an “S” shape over the entire tape width direction, the portion of the printing tape 106 from the peeling tape 107 in the feeding path from the pull-in prevention unit 138 to the platen roller 103. Peeling is prevented, and the print tape 106 is prevented from wrinkling. Also in this case, when the platen roller 103 moves to the upstream side in the tape feeding direction with the drawing of the label tape 101, the lower side of the label tape 101 is sandwiched between the platen roller 103 and the drawing-in preventing portion 138. Therefore, the leading end of the label tape 101 can be prevented from entering the cartridge case 104. Therefore, it is possible to prevent wrinkles on the printing tape 106 while preventing the leading end of the label tape 101 from entering the cartridge case 104.

Further, the pull-in preventing portion 138 protruding from the bottom wall portion 117 is configured to be elastically tiltable to the opposite side to the platen roller 103 in the transverse direction, thereby preventing pull-in when the label tape 101 is fed. The portion 138 is pressed by the label tape 101 that is fed in a stretched state, and is inclined to the side opposite to the platen roller 103. Therefore, even in this configuration, in the feed path from the pull-in prevention unit 138 to the platen roller 103, the lower side of the label tape 101 that is the base end side of the pull-in prevention unit 138 is curved in an “S” shape. The upper side that is the front end side of the pull-in preventing portion 138 is substantially linear (gradual arc shape). For this reason, the upper side of the label tape 101 can be made more linear. Therefore, it is possible to more effectively prevent wrinkles from occurring on the printing tape 106.
In the tape cartridge 100 of the present embodiment, the pull-in prevention unit 138 does not come into contact with the upper side of the label tape 101 and the pull-in prevention unit 138 protruding from the bottom wall unit 117 is traversed. Although the print tape 106 is prevented from wrinkling by the configuration that can be elastically inclined to the side opposite to the platen roller 103 in the direction, it is not necessary to have both configurations, either one It is possible to prevent wrinkles from occurring on the print tape 106 even with this configuration alone.

  In addition, since the upper side of the label tape 101 is fed in a substantially straight line in the feeding path from the pull-in prevention unit 138 to the platen roller 103, the platen roller in the tape feeding direction is compared with a case where the label tape 101 is curved in an “S” shape. Each detection target unit 109 can be appropriately entered with respect to the optical sensor 206 at a position that matches 103, without changing the entry route of each detection target unit 109 each time. Therefore, since the passing position of the detection target portion 109 in the facing direction of the light emitting element 216 and the light receiving element 217 of the optical sensor 206 is stabilized, the output voltage at the time of passing does not vary due to the variation of the passing position, and the optical sensor 206 Thus, the passage detection of the detection target part 109 can be appropriately performed.

  As described above, according to the tape cartridge 100 of the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent wrinkles on the printing tape 106 while preventing the leading end of the label tape 101 from entering the cartridge case 104. Moreover, the label producing apparatus 1 can appropriately print on the printing tape 106 (each label unit 105) by including such a tape cartridge 100.

  In this embodiment, as an example of the pull-in prevention unit 138 that does not contact the upper side of the label tape 101, the bottom wall unit 117 protrudes at a height lower than the tape width of the label tape 101 excluding the detection target unit 109. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the pull-in preventing portion 138 may be bent in a crank shape or stepped shape in a direction away from the platen roller 103 (label tape 101), and in an arc shape so as to move away from the platen roller 103 toward the upper end portion. It may be curved. In the present embodiment, the label tape 101 having the plurality of label portions 105 and the plurality of detection target portions 109 has been described as an example of the tape-shaped member. However, the present invention is not limited to this example. It may be a general tape-like member composed of a printing tape and a release tape formed in the same width.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Tape cartridge, 101 ... Label tape, 102 ... Ink ribbon, 103 ... Platen roller, 109 ... Detection target part, 114 ... Lower case, 118 ... Lower peripheral wall part, 121 ... Tape core, 122 ... Ribbon feeding reel, 123 ... Ribbon Take-up reel, 136 ... guide wall, 137 ... guide engagement hole, 138 ... retraction-in prevention part, 141 ... roller body, 142 ... platen rubber

Claims (6)

A tape cartridge mounted on a tape printer having a print head for printing on a printing tape,
A cartridge case,
A tape-like member having the printing tape and a release tape attached to the back side of the printing tape, and housed in the cartridge case so as to be able to be fed
The tape-shaped member is rotatably accommodated in the cartridge case so as to be brought into rolling contact with the peeling tape side of the tape-shaped member, and the tape-shaped member sandwiched between the print head is rotated and fed. A platen roller that moves within a predetermined range in the tape feed direction along with the retraction,
Provided at a position upstream of the platen roller in the tape feeding direction and at a position overlapping the platen roller in a transverse direction crossing the feeding path of the tape-like member, and is in contact with the printing tape side of the tape-like member. In addition, when the platen roller moves to the upstream side in the tape feed direction with the pulling of the tape-like member, a pull-in preventing portion that sandwiches the tape-like member between the platen roller, and
The tape cartridge is characterized in that a surface of the pull-in preventing portion in contact with the printing tape side of the tape-shaped member is formed in an arc shape. The cartridge case has a covering wall portion covering an end surface on the other side opposite to one side in the tape width direction of the tape-shaped member,
2. The tape cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the pull-in preventing portion is protruded from the covering wall portion and configured to be shorter than a tape width of the tape-shaped member. The cartridge case has a covering wall portion covering an end surface on the other side opposite to one side in the tape width direction of the tape-shaped member,
The said drawing-in prevention part is comprised from the said coating | coated wall part, and is comprised so that it can be elastically inclined to the opposite side to the said platen roller in the said cross direction. Tape cartridges. In the path from the pull-in prevention part to the platen roller,
The other side of the tape-shaped member is curved in an S shape,
The tape cartridge according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the one side of the tape-shaped member has an arc shape. A tape cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A cartridge mounting portion to which the tape cartridge is mounted;
The print head for printing on the tape-like member;
A feed section for rotationally driving the platen roller;
A tape printing apparatus comprising: The tape-shaped member has a plurality of detection target portions provided along the tape length direction at an end portion on one side in the tape width direction,
The tape according to claim 5, further comprising a detection unit that is positioned between the pull-in prevention unit and the platen roller in the tape feeding direction and detects passage of each detection target unit. Printing device.

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