JP2022015865A - cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

To suppress the contact of a label with a marginal part of a tape discharge port.SOLUTION: A ribbon cartridge 101 to be attached to a cartridge attachment part of a tape printer for printing on a label tape comprises: a cartridge case 109; a tape path 115 which is provided on the cartridge case 109 and into which the label tape is inserted from one marginal part in the tape width direction; and a cartridge side tape discharge port 125 which is provided on the cartridge case 109 and from which the label tape sent through the tape path 115 is discharged. The label tape has a plurality of labels, which are shorter in the tape width direction than a peel-off paper tape, stuck to one face of the peel-off paper tape at prescribed intervals in the tape length direction. The cartridge side tape discharge port 125 includes: a first aperture 173 through which the peel-off paper tape passes; and a second aperture 175 through which the labels pass and which is shorter in the width direction of the tape path 115 than the first aperture 173.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

The present invention relates to a cartridge mounted on a tape printing apparatus.

Conventionally, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, there is known a cartridge that accommodates a label tape having a plurality of labels attached to one surface of a release paper tape and is mounted on a tape printing apparatus. The cartridge case of this cartridge is formed with a tape ejection port from which the printed label tape is ejected. The tape ejection port is designed so that the opening shape is rectangular and the opening thickness, which is the length in the thickness direction of the label tape, is larger than the thickness of the label-attached portion of the label tape.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-030915

In the conventional cartridge, since the opening shape of the tape ejection port is rectangular, the position of the label tape in the thickness direction of the label tape cannot be determined, and the label may come into contact with the edge of the tape ejection port. When the label comes into contact with the edge of the tape ejection port, the label tape is not ejected from the tape ejection port, and tape jamming occurs, the label is peeled off from the release paper tape, the label is peeled off, and the printed surface of the label is rubbed.

The cartridge of the present invention is a cartridge mounted on a cartridge mounting portion of a tape printing device that prints on label tape, and is provided on the cartridge case and the cartridge case, and the label tape is provided from one edge in the tape width direction. It is provided with a tape path to be inserted and a tape ejection port provided in the cartridge case to discharge the label tape sent through the tape path. The label tape has a tape on one side of the release paper tape from the release paper tape. A plurality of labels having a short length in the width direction are attached at predetermined intervals in the tape length direction, and the tape ejection port has a first opening through which the release paper tape passes and a first label through which the label passes. It includes a second opening whose length in the width direction of the tape path is shorter than that of the opening.

It is a figure which looked at the tape printing apparatus in the state which the ribbon cartridge is not attached from the + Z direction. It is a figure which looked at the tape printing apparatus with the ribbon cartridge attached from the + Z direction. It is a top view of the label tape. It is sectional drawing of a label tape. It is a perspective view of a ribbon cartridge. It is a perspective view of the 1st front side case. It is the figure which looked at the ribbon cartridge from the -X direction. It is an enlarged view around the tape discharge port of FIG. 7.

Hereinafter, the ribbon cartridge 101, which is an embodiment of the cartridge, will be described with reference to the attached drawings. In the following, the direction seen from the ribbon cartridge 101 or the direction seen from the tape printing device 1 on which the ribbon cartridge 101 is mounted will be described using the directions according to the XYZ Cartesian coordinate system shown in each figure. The direction of is merely for convenience of explanation, and does not limit the following embodiments in any way.

[Overview of tape printing equipment and ribbon cartridges]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the tape printing apparatus 1 includes an apparatus case 3 and a mounting portion cover 5. The device case 3 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. A device-side tape introduction port 7 is provided on the surface of the device case 3 in the + X direction, and a device-side tape discharge port 9 is provided on the surface of the device case 3 in the −X direction. A label tape 201 unwound from a tape roll (not shown) provided outside the tape printing apparatus 1 is introduced into the apparatus case 3. That is, the label tape 201 unwound from the tape roll is introduced into the device case 3 from the device-side tape introduction port 7, and is discharged from the device-side tape discharge port 9 to the outside of the device case 3.

The mounting portion cover 5 is rotatably attached to the + Y direction end of the device case 3 and opens and closes the cartridge mounting portion 11. Further, a sensor 6 is provided on the inner surface of the mounting portion cover 5. The sensor 6 is used to detect the position of the label 233 (see FIG. 3 and the like) of the label tape 201 described later.

The ribbon cartridge 101 is detachably mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 11. The cartridge mounting portion 11 is formed in a concave shape with the + Z direction open. A head portion 14 is provided on the mounting bottom surface 13 which is the bottom surface of the cartridge mounting portion 11. The head portion 14 includes a thermal head 15 and a head cover 16. The thermal head 15 includes a heat generating element (not shown). The head cover 16 covers a part of the thermal head 15. Further, the mounting bottom surface 13 is provided with a platen shaft 17, a feeding shaft 19, and a winding shaft 21.

The head cover 16 and the platen shaft 17 have a larger amount of protrusion in the + Z direction than the feeding shaft 19 and the winding shaft 21. When the ribbon cartridge 101 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 11, the head cover 16 and the platen shaft 17 are inserted into the head insertion hole 113 and the platen roller 103, which will be described later, respectively, to guide the mounting of the ribbon cartridge 101.

As shown in FIG. 2, the ribbon cartridge 101 includes a platen roller 103, a feeding core 105, a winding core 107, and a cartridge case 109 containing these. An ink ribbon 111 is wound around the feeding core 105. The ink ribbon 111 unwound from the feeding core 105 is wound around the winding core 107. The tape printing apparatus 1 can also rewind the ink ribbon 111 to the feeding core 105 by rotating the feeding shaft 19. The cartridge case 109 is provided with a head insertion hole 113 penetrating in the Z direction. When the ribbon cartridge 101 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 11, the head portion 14, the platen shaft 17, the feeding shaft 19 and the take-up shaft 21 have the head insertion hole 113, the platen roller 103, the pay-out core 105 and the take-up core, respectively. It is inserted in 107.

The cartridge case 109 is provided with a groove-shaped tape path 115 whose + Z direction is open. The tape path 115 extends diagonally with respect to the X direction. Further, on the surface of the cartridge case 109 in the + Z direction, an exposed area 163 is provided in which a part of the label tape 201 to which the tape path 115 is sent is exposed.

The end of the tape path 115 in the + X direction is referred to as a cartridge-side tape introduction port 123, and the end of the tape path 115 in the −X direction is referred to as a cartridge-side tape discharge port 125. The cartridge side tape discharge port 125 is an example of a “tape discharge port”. The label tape 201 introduced into the device case 3 from the device-side tape introduction port 7 is introduced into the tape path 115 from the cartridge-side tape introduction port 123. The label tape 201 introduced into the tape path 115 is sent from the cartridge side tape discharge port 125 toward the device side tape discharge port 9. The tape path 115 passes between the head insertion hole 113 and the platen roller 103.

In the tape path 115, before the ribbon cartridge 101 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 11, the label tape 201 is subjected to the label tape 201 by the user from one edge portion in the width direction of the label tape 201, that is, the edge portion in the −Z direction. -Insert in the Z direction. The ribbon cartridge 101 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 11 with the label tape 201 inserted in the tape path 115.

When the mounting portion cover 5 is closed after the ribbon cartridge 101 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 11, the thermal head 15 moves toward the platen shaft 17 by the head moving mechanism (not shown). As a result, the label tape 201 and the ink ribbon 111 are sandwiched between the thermal head 15 and the platen roller 103. In this state, the tape printing device 1 is based on the print data generated by the input operation of characters or the like to the tape printing device 1 or the print data received by the tape printing device 1 from a PC (Personal Computer) or the like. Perform print processing. That is, the tape printing device 1 prints print information such as characters based on the print data on the label tape 201 by generating heat from the thermal head 15 while feeding the label tape 201 and the ink ribbon 111 by the platen roller 103.

[Label tape]
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the label tape 201 is a printing tape on which a plurality of labels 233 to be printed are attached to one surface of the long release paper tape 231, that is, the surface in the −Y direction. Is. The plurality of labels 233 are attached to the release paper tape 231 at predetermined intervals in the tape length direction of the label tape 201, that is, in the X direction. The "predetermined interval" does not necessarily mean a constant length, and may have a different length for each interval of adjacent labels 233. Further, the plurality of labels 233 are attached to the release paper tape 231 at substantially the center position in the tape width direction of the label tape 201, that is, in the Z direction. That is, in the tape width direction of the label tape 201, the length of the label 233 is shorter than the length of the release paper tape 231. In the following description, the "tape width direction of the label tape 201" is simply referred to as the "tape width direction".

Further, the plurality of labels 233 all have the same rectangular shape and the same thickness, and are releasably attached to the release paper tape 231. Needless to say, "same" means that manufacturing variations within an allowable range are included. Label 233 is obtained by crushing and flattening a cylindrical tube whose + Z direction and −Z direction are open.

The material of the release paper tape 231 and the label 233 is not particularly limited, and various materials such as paper-based and resin film-based can be used. Further, although the label 233 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 has a cylindrical shape, it may have a strip shape. Further, the shape of the label 233 attached to the release paper tape 231 is not limited to a rectangular shape, and may be, for example, a circular shape or an elliptical shape.

A plurality of detection recesses 235 are provided on the side portion of the release paper tape 231 in the + Z direction. The plurality of detection recesses 235 are formed by partially cutting out the side portions of the release paper tape 231 in the + Z direction, and are provided at substantially equal intervals so as to be spaced apart from each other in the tape length direction of the release paper tape 231. ing. The detection recess 235 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape long in the tape width direction of the label tape 201, and is provided for each label 233. Further, the detection recess 235 is detected by the above sensor 6 (see FIG. 1 and the like). That is, the sensor 6 detects the detection recess 235 of the label tape 201 exposed from the exposed area 163 of the first front side case 116 of the ribbon cartridge 101 with the mounting portion cover 5 closed.

Although not shown, the tape printing apparatus 1 prints not only on the label tape 201 shown in FIG. 3 and the like, but also on a printing tape in which a long release paper tape and a long label member are laminated. It is possible.

[Details of ribbon cartridge]
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the cartridge case 109 includes a first front side case 116, a second front side case 118, and a back side case 120. The first front side case 116 and the back side case 120 are examples of a "first cartridge case" and a "second cartridge case".

When the ribbon cartridge 101 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 11, the first front side case 116 and the second front side case 118 are on the front side in the mounting direction of the ribbon cartridge 101, and the back side case 120 is the ribbon cartridge. It is on the back side of the 101 in the mounting direction. The mounting direction of the ribbon cartridge 101 means the direction in which the ribbon cartridge 101 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 11, that is, the −Z direction, and is parallel to the direction in which the platen shaft 17 extends. The front side in the mounting direction of the ribbon cartridge 101 means the + Z direction, and the back side in the mounting direction of the ribbon cartridge 101 means the −Z direction.

The first front case 116 is combined with the back case 120. Similarly, the second front case 118 is combined with the back case 120. A tape path 115 is provided between the first front side case 116 and the second front side case 118. That is, the first front side case 116 is provided in the −Y direction with respect to the tape path 115, and the second front side case 118 is provided in the + Y direction with respect to the tape path 115.

The front side case 116 is provided with a front side head insertion port 122. The front head insertion port 122 constitutes an end portion of the head insertion hole 113 in the + Z direction. Further, an exposed area 163 on which the detection recess 235 of the label tape 201 is exposed is provided on the surface of the first front side case 116 in the + Z direction.

A slide member 167 that moves in the Y direction is provided on the −Y side of the second front side case 118. Further, the slide member 167 is provided with a slide knob 167a for the user to move the slide member 167. When inserting the label tape 201 into the tape path 115, the user pinches the slide knob 167a and inserts the label tape 201 from the edge portion in the −Z direction with the slide member 167 moved in the + Y direction. After inserting the label tape 201 into the tape path 115, when the user pinches the slide knob 167a and moves the slide member 167 in the −Y direction, the state shown in FIG. 5 is obtained.

As shown in FIGS. 5, 7 and 8, the cartridge case 109 is provided with a cartridge-side tape discharge port 125 from which the label tape 201 is discharged. The cartridge-side tape ejection port 125 includes a first opening 173 through which the release paper tape 231 passes and a second opening 175 through which the label 233 passes.

The length of the first opening 173 in the tape width direction, that is, the width direction of the tape path 115 corresponds to the length of the release paper tape 231 in the tape width direction. "Corresponding to the length of the release paper tape 231" means that the length of the first opening 173 in the Z direction is the Z direction of the release paper tape 231 so that the passing release paper tape 231 does not move in the Z direction. Means slightly longer than the length.

Further, the length of the first opening 173 in the thickness direction of the label tape 201 corresponds to the thickness of the release paper tape 231 which is the length of the release paper tape 231 in the thickness direction of the label tape 201. "Corresponding to the thickness of the release paper tape 231" means that the length of the first opening 173 in the Y direction is slightly smaller than the thickness of the release paper tape 231 so that the passing release paper tape 231 does not move in the Y direction. It means long.

On the other hand, the length of the second opening 175 in the tape width direction, that is, the width direction of the tape path 115 corresponds to the length of the label 233 in the tape width direction. "Corresponding to the length of the label 233" means that the length of the second opening 175 in the Z direction is slightly longer than the length of the label 233 in the Z direction. As shown in FIG. 3, the length of the label 233 in the Z direction is shorter than the length of the release paper tape 231 in the Z direction. Therefore, the length of the second opening 175 in the Z direction is shorter than the length of the first opening 173 in the Z direction.

Further, the length of the second opening 175 in the thickness direction of the label tape 201 corresponds to the thickness of the label 233, which is the length of the label 233 in the thickness direction of the label tape 201. "Corresponding to the thickness of the label 233" means that the length of the second opening 175 in the Y direction is slightly longer than the thickness of the label 233.

As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the first opening 173 has a release paper path surface 173a facing the surface in the −Y direction, that is, one surface to which the label 233 of the release paper tape 231 to pass is attached. is doing. Here, "opposing" means that the surface of the release paper tape 231 passing through in the −Y direction and the release paper path surface 173a are parallel to each other. The release paper path surface 173a comes into contact with the + Z direction end portion and the −Z direction end portion to which the label 233 is not attached in the tape width direction of the release paper tape 231 to guide the release of the release paper tape 231. The release paper path surface 173a is composed of the first front side case 116.

Further, at the end of the first opening 173 in the + Z direction, a tape insertion portion 173b into which the label tape 201 can be inserted when the label tape 201 is inserted into the tape path 115 from the edge portion in the −Z direction is provided. Has been done. The tape insertion portion 173b appears when the user pinches the slide knob 167a and moves the slide member 167 in the + Y direction.

Further, in the −Z direction of the first opening 173, a first inner portion 173c is provided in which the edge portion of the label tape 201 in the −Z direction is inserted when the label tape 201 is inserted into the tape path 115. ing. Further, at the central portion of the first opening 173 in the Z direction, when the label tape 201 is inserted into the tape path 115 from the edge portion in the −Z direction, the label tape 201 is inserted into the first inner portion 173c. A first guide slope 173d for guiding is provided.

The second opening 175 has a label path surface 175a on which the -Y direction surfaces of the passing label 233 face each other. Here, "opposing" means that the surface of the passing label 233 in the −Y direction and the label path surface 175a are parallel to each other. The label path surface 175a is provided in parallel with the release paper path surface 173a. Further, the label path surface 175a is composed of the first front side case 116 together with the release paper path surface 173a.

Further, the second opening 175 has a second back end portion 175b, which is an end portion of the second opening 175 in the insertion direction of the label tape 201, that is, a direction opposite to the insertion direction of the label tape 201. That is, it has a second front end portion 175c which is an end portion of the second opening 175 in the + Z direction. The second inner end portion 175b is located in the + Z direction from the first inner portion 173c of the first opening 173. Further, the second front end portion 175c is located in the −Z direction from the end portion of the first opening 173 in the + Z direction.

Further, in the second inner end portion 175b, when the label tape 201 is inserted into the tape path 115 from the edge portion in the −Z direction, the second inner portion 175b is guided to insert the label tape 201 into the first inner portion 173c. A guide slope 175d is provided. The second guide slope 175d is an example of the “guide slope”.

As described above, the cartridge-side tape discharge port 125 of the ribbon cartridge 101 according to the present embodiment has a tape width from the first opening 173 through which the release paper tape 231 passes through the first opening 173 and the label 233. It has a second opening 175 with a short length in the direction.

As described above, since the cartridge side tape discharge port 125 has a first opening 173 through which the release paper tape 231 of the label tape 201 passes and a second opening 175 through which the release paper tape 231 cannot pass, the first The position of the label tape 201 in the thickness direction is determined by the opening 173, and it is possible to prevent the label 233 from coming into contact with the edge of the second opening 175. With this configuration, even if the thickness of the plurality of labels 233 attached to the release paper tape 231 varies, it is possible to prevent the label 233 from coming into contact with the edge of the second opening 175. Further, by suppressing the label 233 from coming into contact with the edge of the second opening 175, the label tape 201 is not discharged from the cartridge side tape discharge port 125, the tape is jammed, and the label 233 is peeled off from the release paper tape 231. , The printed surface of the label 233, that is, the surface in the −Y direction is rubbed, and the rub on the printed surface can be suppressed.

Further, since the first opening 173 has a structure having a release paper path surface 173a facing the surface in the −Y direction of the release paper tape 231 to pass through, the label tape 201 can be stably discharged.

Further, since the second guide slope 175d for guiding the insertion of the label tape 201 into the first back portion 173c is provided at the second back end portion 175b of the second opening 175, the user can use the label tape. The 201 can be smoothly inserted into the tape path 115.

Further, since the label path surface 175a of the second opening 175 is composed of only the first front side case 116 and is not composed of a plurality of members, it is possible to prevent the label 233 from being caught at the joint of the members. be able to.

[Modification example]
Needless to say, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various configurations can be adopted without departing from the spirit. For example, the above embodiment can be changed to the following form in addition to the above. Further, the configuration may be a combination of embodiments and modifications.

For example, when the end portion of the release paper tape 231 in the + Z direction and the end portion of the label 233 in the + Z direction are at the same position, the second front end portion 175c of the second opening 175 is the first opening 173. It may be at the same position as the end in the + Z direction. Alternatively, when the end portion of the release paper tape 231 in the −Z direction and the end portion of the label 233 in the −Z direction are at the same position, the second back end portion 175b of the second opening portion 175 is the first opening portion. It may be at the same position as the end of 173 in the −Z direction.

Further, the first opening 173 may have a structure having a release paper path surface 173a that does not face the surface in the −Y direction of the release paper tape 231 that passes through. For example, the release paper path surface 173a may be provided diagonally with respect to the Z direction. Similarly, the second opening 175 may be configured to have a label path surface 175a that does not face the −Y direction surface of the passing label 233. For example, the label path surface 175a may be provided diagonally with respect to the Z direction.

Further, when there are a plurality of types of label tapes 201 to which labels 233 having different thicknesses are attached and a plurality of types of ribbon cartridges 101 corresponding to them exist, the Y direction of the second opening 175 of each ribbon cartridge 101. The length of may be different depending on the corresponding label tape 201. Alternatively, when one ribbon cartridge 101 corresponds to a plurality of types of label tapes 201 to which labels 233 having different thicknesses are attached, the length of the second opening 175 of the ribbon cartridge 101 in the Y direction is the maximum. It may be designed to be slightly longer than the length of the thick label 233 in the Y direction.

Further, when there are a plurality of types of label tapes 201 to which labels 233 having different lengths in the Z direction are attached and a plurality of types of ribbon cartridges 101 corresponding to them exist, the second opening of each ribbon cartridge 101. The length of the 175 in the Z direction may be different depending on the corresponding label tape 201. Alternatively, when one ribbon cartridge 101 corresponds to a plurality of types of label tape 201 to which labels 233 having different lengths in the Z direction are attached, the length of the second opening 175 of the ribbon cartridge 101 in the Z direction is in the Z direction. May be designed to be slightly longer than the length of the label 233, which has the maximum length, in the Z direction.

Further, the tape printing apparatus 1 may use another printing method such as printing using thermal paper instead of printing using the ink ribbon 111. Further, the tape printing device 1 may be configured to mount a cartridge that does not contain the ink ribbon 111, instead of the ribbon cartridge 101 that contains the ink ribbon 111.

[Additional Notes]
The ribbon cartridge will be described below.
The cartridge is a cartridge mounted on the cartridge mounting portion of a tape printing device that prints on label tape, and is provided in the cartridge case and the cartridge case, and the label tape is inserted from one edge in the tape width direction. The label tape is provided with a tape path and a tape ejection port provided in the cartridge case for discharging the label tape sent through the tape path, and the label tape has one side of the release paper tape in the tape width direction from the release paper tape. A plurality of labels having a short length are attached at predetermined intervals in the tape length direction, and the tape ejection port is from the first opening through which the release paper tape passes and from the first opening through which the label passes. Includes a second opening with a short widthwise length of the tape path.

The tape ejection port of this cartridge includes a first opening through which the release paper tape passes and a second opening through which the label passes and the length in the tape width direction is shorter than the first opening. As described above, since the cartridge has a structure in which the release paper tape of the label tape passes through the first opening and cannot pass through the second opening, the position of the label tape in the thickness direction is determined, and the edge portion of the second opening is determined. It is possible to prevent the label from coming into contact with the label.

In the above cartridge, it is preferable that the first opening has a release paper path surface facing one surface of the release paper tape through which the cartridge is passed.

According to this configuration, since the cartridge has a structure in which the first opening has a release paper path surface facing one surface of the release paper tape through which the cartridge is passed, the label tape can be stably discharged.

In the above cartridge, the first opening has a first inner portion located in the insertion direction of the label tape, rather than a second inner end portion which is an end portion of the second opening in the insertion direction of the label tape. However, the second inner end may be provided with a guide slope for guiding the insertion of the label tape into the first inner portion when the label tape is inserted into the tape path from one edge. preferable.

According to this configuration, the second inner end of the second opening is provided with a guide slope for guiding the insertion of the label tape into the first inner portion, so that the user can tape the label tape to the tape path. Can be inserted smoothly.

In the above cartridge, the cartridge case has a first cartridge case and a second cartridge case, the second opening has a label path surface on which the passing label faces, and the label path surface is the first. It is preferable that one of the one cartridge case and the second cartridge case is configured.

According to this configuration, since the label path surface of the second opening is configured in either the first cartridge case or the second cartridge case, it is possible to prevent the label from being caught at the joint of the cartridge cases. Can be done.

1 ... Tape printing device, 11 ... Cartridge mounting part, 101 ... Ribbon cartridge, 109 ... Cartridge case, 115 ... Tape path, 125 ... Cartridge side tape outlet, 173 ... First opening, 173a ... Release paper path surface, 173c ... 1st inner part, 175 ... 2nd opening, 175a ... Label path surface, 175b ... 2nd inner side end, 175d ... 2nd guide slope, 201 ... Label tape, 231 ... Release paper tape, 233 ... Label.

Claims (4)

A cartridge mounted on the cartridge mounting part of a tape printing device that prints on label tape.
Cartridge case and
A tape path provided in the cartridge case and into which the label tape is inserted from one edge in the tape width direction.
A tape ejection port provided in the cartridge case and ejecting the label tape sent through the tape path is provided.
A plurality of labels having a length shorter in the tape width direction than the release paper tape are attached to one surface of the release paper tape at a predetermined interval in the tape length direction.
The tape ejection port includes a first opening through which the release paper tape passes and a second opening through which the label passes and the length of the tape path in the width direction is shorter than that of the first opening. Characterized cartridge. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the first opening has a release paper path surface facing the one surface of the release paper tape through which the release paper tape passes. The first opening has a first inner portion located in the insertion direction of the label tape, rather than a second inner end portion which is an end portion of the second opening in the insertion direction of the label tape. ,
The second inner end portion is provided with a guide slope for guiding the insertion of the label tape into the first inner portion when the label tape is inserted into the tape path from the one edge portion. The cartridge according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cartridge is provided. The cartridge case has a first cartridge case and a second cartridge case.
The second opening has a label path surface, on which the label passing through is opposed.
The cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the label path surface is configured by either one of the first cartridge case and the second cartridge case.

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