JP3114726B1 - Tape printing method and tape printing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a tape printing method and a tape printing apparatus in which fine wrinkles and scratches do not occur on an ink tape carrying ink after printing. SOLUTION: An ink tape T having an ink layer 31 on the surface and a transfer tape R having a transfer layer 41 on the surface of which the ink of the ink tape T is transferred by a printing operation are used. The transfer tape R is disposed on the print head 81 side, and the print head 81 is driven to perform transfer printing.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tape printing method and a tape printing apparatus for performing printing on a tape by a thermal transfer method or a pressure transfer method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional tape printing method and apparatus for performing transfer-type printing, a printing tape and an ink ribbon are superposed and pressurized and sandwiched between a printing head and a platen. Printing is performed while the printing tape and the ink ribbon are relatively fed. In this case, the print head is provided on the ink ribbon side, while the platen is provided on the print tape side. When the print head is driven, the ink on the ink ribbon is printed on the print tape in a character form (image area). After being transferred, transfer printing is performed on a printing tape. On the other hand, there is also known a tape printing method and apparatus in which a double-sided tape is attached to an ink ribbon onto which ink has been transferred, and an ink ribbon on which white characters are printed is formed as a recording tape (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-29767).
No. 9). Also in this case, the print head is disposed on the ribbon tape (ink ribbon) side, while the platen is disposed on the tape to be printed (print tape).

[0003]

In such a conventional tape printing method and apparatus, when the print head is driven, heat and pressure act directly on the ink ribbon in the form of characters, so that the ink ribbon is partially covered. It expands and contracts and fine wrinkles occur. For this reason, if the ink ribbon is not fed with an appropriate tension, jamming may occur. On the other hand, in the latter tape printing method and apparatus,
Even if the print head is driven, the ink ribbon is formed thick, so that no noticeable wrinkles are generated. there were. Further, since the thermal conductivity of the print head is reduced due to the thick ink ribbon, it is necessary to drive the heating element of the print head at a high temperature. There was a problem that the consumption of the garbage increased.

An object of the present invention is to provide a tape printing method and a tape printing apparatus which do not cause fine wrinkles or scratches on an ink tape carrying ink after printing.

[0005]

Tape printing method of the present invention, in order to solve the problems] includes an ink tape having an ink layer on the surface, and the transfer tape having the transfer layer ink of the ink tape to the surface is transferred by a printing operation To the cartridge case
Using the housed tape cartridge , the ink tape is arranged on the platen side, the transfer target tape is arranged on the print head side, and the print head is driven to perform transfer printing.

According to this configuration, heat and pressure for transfer by the print head physically act on the ink layer of the ink tape via the transfer target tape, and the physical action causes the ink layer of the ink tape to move. The ink layer is transferred to the tape to be transferred in a character shape (image area). As described above, the heat and pressure of the print head directly act on the tape to be transferred, but indirectly act on the ink tape. Therefore, particularly, the base material of the ink tape is hardly affected by the heat and pressure. In addition, the tape to be transferred comes into sliding contact with the print head, so it may be damaged,
As long as the ink tape has a structure in which the platen rotates, no damage is caused by the rolling contact.

In this case, it is preferable that the ink tape is a recording tape for recording a printing result, and the transfer tape is a disposable waste tape.

According to this structure, the transfer tape which is a waste tape may cause wrinkles or scratches due to the physical action of the print head, but the ink tape which is the recording tape may have wrinkles or scratches due to the print head. , And a recording tape with good blank characters can be obtained.

[0009] Tape printing apparatus of the present invention includes an ink tape having an ink layer on the surface, the cartridge and a transfer tape having a transfer layer ink of the <br/> ink tape to the surface is transferred by a printing operation Tape cartridge stored in case
In a tape printer in which a cartridge is removably mounted, a table in which a tape cartridge is removably mounted.
Tape printing mechanism, which includes a tape cartridge mounting section, a tape feeding mechanism that feeds the mounted ink tape and the transfer tape in an overlapping manner, and a tape printing mechanism that performs a printing operation facing the ink tape and the transfer tape that are sent in an overlapping manner. The mechanism has a print head and a platen, and the print head is provided on the transfer tape side, and the platen is provided on the ink tape side.

According to this configuration, the heat and pressure for transfer by the print head physically act on the ink layer of the ink tape via the transfer-receiving tape, and the physical action causes the ink layer of the ink tape to move. The ink layer is transferred to the tape to be transferred in a character shape (image area). As described above, the heat and pressure of the print head directly act on the tape to be transferred, but indirectly act on the ink tape. Therefore, particularly, the base material of the ink tape is hardly affected by the heat and pressure. Also, the transfer tape fed by the tape feed mechanism may cause scratches due to sliding contact with the print head.However, as long as the platen rotates, the transfer tape will not scratch. Absent.

In this case, the cartridge case further includes
It is preferable that the platen is accommodated in the hopper .

According to this configuration, the handling of the ink tape and the tape to be transferred becomes easy, and the mounting of these tapes to the tape cartridge mounting portion can be performed easily.

In these cases , the cartridge case contains
A tape core in which the ink tape is wound in a roll shape, a feeding core in which the transfer tape is wound in a roll shape, and a winding core for winding the transfer tape in a roll shape are accommodated, and
One in the cartridge case, it is preferable that the tape outlet for guiding the ink tape to the outside of the case is formed.

According to this configuration, the ink tape is housed in the cartridge case in the same form as a normal printing tape, and the transfer target tape is housed in the cartridge case in the same form as a normal ink ribbon. For example, when this tape cartridge is mounted on the tape cartridge mounting portion, the ink tape is positioned on the platen side, and the tape to be transferred is positioned on the print head side, and can be handled in the same manner as a normal tape cartridge. Further, the ink tape can be used as a recording tape, and the transferred tape can be used as a waste tape.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A tape printing method and a tape printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in which the tape printing method and the tape printing apparatus are applied to a part of a stamp making system. This system completes a stamp by forming a desired stamp surface (seal image) on a stamp unit as a stamp material. At this time, a mask piece, which is a stamp master of the stamp image, is replaced with a commercially available (existing) personal computer. It is to be created using a computer (hereinafter referred to as a "PC") and a tape printer.

FIG. 1 is a system diagram of a stamp creation system according to an embodiment. As shown in the figure, this system has three types of creation patterns when creating a mask piece M. The first creation pattern is that a CD-ROM 1 as an external storage medium for creating a stamp is stored in a personal computer 2.
The stamp screen is edited and created on the display based on the stamp creation information, which is software of the CD-ROM 1, and the stamp is then printed by the tape printer 3 with an input unit linked to the personal computer 2. Printing is performed based on screen information to obtain a mask piece M. In this case, the tape printer 3 with an input unit is a word processor (tape word processor) that uses a print object as a tape. In this creation pattern, the personal computer 2 is used as an input, edit, and control means for a stamp screen. The tape printer 3 is used as a printing unit.

The second creation pattern uses a tape printer (tape printer) 4 without an input unit instead of the tape printer (tape word processor) 3 with an input unit. In this case, the tape printer 4 is linked to the personal computer 2 as a peripheral device. Again,
The personal computer 2 is used as a means for inputting, editing, and controlling a seal screen.

A third creation pattern is to edit and create a stamp screen on its display using a tape printer 5 with an input unit, which is not linked to the personal computer 2 or not linked to the personal computer 2, and then the stamp screen is edited. Printing is performed based on screen information to obtain a mask piece M. In this case, it is preferable to use a model in which software for creating a stamp is mounted on a ROM or a RAM.
In these tape printers 3, 4, and 5, printing is performed using a tape cartridge 6 for creating a stamp (details will be described later).

In this manner, a stamp image is formed as a so-called negative image (white characters) on the mask piece M prepared by any of the prepared patterns. And the stamp unit 8 together with the exposure unit 9. In the exposure device 9, the stamp unit 8 is exposed using the mask piece M as a mask. Although the details will be described later, the stamp face forming portion of the stamp unit 8 is made of a photosensitive resin (ultraviolet curable resin), and is exposed through a mask piece M, so that an image of the stamp image of the stamp face forming portion is formed. The lines harden.

When the exposure for a predetermined time is completed, the stamp unit 8 is taken out of the exposure device 9 and set in the cleaning device 10. In the cleaning by the cleaning device 10, the cleaning is performed such that the uncured portion of the stamp surface forming portion, that is, the non-image portion of the stamp image is scraped off. Thereby, a stamp having a so-called relief printing surface is completed.

Here, the structure of each of the above components will be briefly described, and the stamp unit 8 and the dedicated tape cartridge 6 used in the tape printers 3, 4, and 5 will be described. FIG. 2 is an internal structural view of the tape cartridge 6, and FIG. 3 is a sectional structural view of each tape mounted on the tape cartridge 6. The tape cartridge 6 is configured by mounting an ink tape T and a transfer-receiving tape (ink absorbing ribbon) R in a cartridge case 21 including an upper case 21a and a lower case 21b (see FIG. 1). As shown in FIG. 2, the cartridge case 21
Main tape storage unit 2 that stores ink tape T therein
2a and a sub-tape accommodating portion 22 accommodating the transfer-receiving tape R
b.

The main tape accommodating portion 22a has a tape core 2 in which an ink tape T is wound in a roll at the center position.
A shaft projection 24 to which the mounting member 3 is attached is formed. The sub tape accommodating portion 22b is formed with an opening 25 facing a print head 81 described later, and a platen 26 is rotatably mounted near the opening 25. In the sub-tape accommodating portion 22b, a delivery core 27 for delivering the transfer target tape R is provided.
A take-up core 28 for taking up the transfer-receiving tape R is rotatably attached to each. Extension core 27
The transferred tape R fed out of the opening 25
Is wound around the winding core 28 around the circumference of the ink tape T at a portion of the circumference of which the ink tape T overlaps.

That is, the ink tape T fed from the tape core 23 and the transfer tape R fed from the feed core 27 overlap at the platen 26, and printing is performed by the print head 81 pressed against the platen 26. .
When printing is completed, the ink tape T is sent out of the cartridge case 21 from the tape feed port 29 of the cartridge case 21, and the transfer target tape R is wound up by the winding core 28.
Thereafter, the printed portion (image creating portion) of the ink tape T is cut into a mask piece M.

The characteristic part of this tape cartridge 6 is that the ink tape T is used as a recording tape and the transfer tape R is disposable as a waste tape, and the printing tape (transfer tape R) is used. The tape configuration is the reverse of a general tape cartridge that uses a recording tape and uses an ink ribbon (ink tape T) as a waste tape. However, both tape cartridges 6
Cartridge case 21, platen 26, tape core 2
3. The same core is used for the feeding core 27 and the winding core 28. Therefore, the tape cartridge 6 of the embodiment can be used as it is in an existing tape printer.

On the other hand, in consideration of the above-mentioned purpose of use, the ink tape T is formed to be relatively thick, and the transfer tape R is formed to be relatively thin. The ink tape T is shown in FIG.
As shown in (a), in order from the front side, an ink layer 31, an undercoat layer 32, a base tape 33, a primer layer 3
4. The pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 35 and the release tape 36 are laminated. The ink layer 31 has a thickness of about 1.7 μm, and the ink portion heated by the heating element of the print head 81 is melted and transferred to the transfer tape R. The undercoat layer 32 has a thickness of about 0.4 μm, and adheres the ink layer 31 to the base tape 33.
Heat is applied to the heating element to reduce the adhesive strength. The base tape 33 has a thickness of about 38 μm to 50 μm, serves as a main body of the ink tape T, and maintains the rigidity (stiffness) of the ink tape T. The base tape 33 is made of a transparent tape so as to transmit ultraviolet rays.

The primer layer 34 has a thickness of about 1 μm and constitutes a base for applying the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 35 to the base tape 33. The pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 35 has a thickness of 5 μm
It has a thickness of about 10 μm and constitutes a transparent (ultraviolet transparent) adhesive for sticking the mask piece (ink tape) M to the set plate 7. Release tape 3
6 has a thickness of about 50 μm,
When the mask piece M is adhered to the set plate 7, the mask piece M is peeled off. It is preferable that the ink tape T configured as described above is formed to have a thickness of about 110 μm as a whole.

As shown in FIG. 3B, the tape R to be transferred includes a top coat layer 41 and a base ribbon 42 in this order from the front side.
And the back coat layer 43. The top coat layer 41 has a thickness of about 1 μm, and is a portion where the ink of the ink tape T is transferred and adhered. The top coat layer 41 is heated by the heating element of the print head 81 to exhibit an adhesive strength, and finally has a stronger adhesive strength than the undercoat layer 32 of the ink tape T. Actually, the ink of the ink tape T is transferred to the transfer tape R.
After the ink of the ink tape T is adhered to the ink tape T and the transfer tape R by driving the print head 81, the ink tape T and the transfer tape R are fed. When the ink leaves on the path, the ink remains on the transfer tape R having a strong adhesive force in a state of being adhered, so that the ink is transferred.

The base ribbon 42 has a thickness of about 6 μm, and is a portion that forms the main part of the tape R to be transferred. The back coat layer 43 has a thickness of 1 μm or less,
This is a coating layer for making the back surface of the base ribbon 42 a surface having low friction and high heat resistance. Although the details will be described later, the print head 81 is in sliding contact with the back surface of the transfer tape R, and the sliding resistance is reduced by the back coat layer 43. Further, the transfer tape (base ribbon 42) R is prevented from being melted or wrinkled by the heat of the print head 81.
It is preferable that the transfer target tape R configured as described above is formed to have a thickness of about 8 μm as a whole.
The base tape 33, the release tape 36, and the base ribbon 42 are made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate).

The stamp unit 8 is provided with a plurality of types such as a square stamp, a name stamp, a business stamp, and an address stamp. Each stamp unit 8, as shown in FIG.
A unit body 51 corresponding to a stock of the stamp, a thin sponge (urethane foam) 52 adhered to the tip end surface of the unit body 51, a resin base 53 adhered to the surface of the sponge 52 and not affected by ultraviolet rays, and a resin Stamped surface forming portion 54 made of an ultraviolet curable resin adhered to the surface of base 53
It is composed of Further, four positioning holes 55 for positioning when the stamp unit 8 is mounted on the exposure device 9 are formed on the back surface of the unit main body 51.

The stamp unit 8 configured as described above
Is mounted on the exposure device 9 and exposure is performed, the stamp image is exposed to the stamp surface forming section 5 via the mask piece M, and the exposed portion is cured. Then, the cured portion finally becomes a stamp face. Reference numeral 57 in the figure is a cap that covers the tip of the unit body 51. By attaching the cap 57, the ultraviolet curable resin (the stamp face forming part 5) of the stamp unit 8 is turned on by indoor lighting or the like. To prevent exposure.

Next, the components of the stamp creation system will be described. The personal computer 2 shown in FIG. 1 is a desktop personal computer including a personal computer main body 61, a keyboard 62, and a display 63, but this system is intended to use a commercially available personal computer, and a so-called notebook personal computer can also be used. It is.

The tape printer 3 used for the above-mentioned first production pattern and the tape printer 5 used for the third production pattern both use a commercially available tape printer (tape word processor). The tape printing apparatus 3 used for the first creation pattern has an interface for linking with the personal computer 2, and is configured to be connectable to the personal computer 2 with a cable. Therefore, the basic structure of the tape printers 3 and 5 will be described below with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 5, the tape printer 3
The upper case is formed by forming an outer shell by an upper and lower divided device case 71 and disposing a keyboard 72 on the upper surface of the front half of the device case 71. A small display 73 is disposed on the right side of the upper surface of the rear half of the device case 71, and an opening / closing lid 74 and a cutter button 75 are disposed on the left side.
A cartridge mounting portion 75 is formed inside the opening / closing lid 74, and the tape cartridge 6 is removably mounted in this portion.

At the left side of the apparatus case 71, a tape discharge port 77 for communicating the cartridge mounting section 76 with the outside of the apparatus is provided.
Is formed, and a tape cutter (see FIG. 6) 78 for cutting the fed ink tape T faces the tape discharge port 77. When the tape cartridge 6 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 76, the tape outlet 29 and the tape outlet 77 of the tape cartridge 6 face each other, and the tape outlet 2
The ink tape T sent out from the tape outlet 7
7 and is sent out of the apparatus. Here, by pressing the cutter button 75, the tape cutter 7 is pressed.
8 performs a cutting operation to cut the ink tape T. That is, the tape cutter 78 and the cutter button 75 constitute a tape cutting mechanism.

On the other hand, a print head 81 of a thermal transfer type covered with a head cover 80 and a platen shaft 82 facing the print head 81 are provided on the bottom surface of the cartridge mounting portion 76.
, A take-up shaft 83 and a guide projection 84 for guiding the mounting of the tape cartridge 6 are provided upright. A tape feed mechanism for rotating the platen shaft 82 and the take-up shaft 83 is provided below the cartridge mounting portion 76 (see FIG. 6).
There are 85 power systems. Cartridge mounting part 7
When the tape cartridge 6 is mounted on the platen 6, the shaft projection 24 of the tape cartridge 6
6 is a platen shaft 82, and the winding core 28 is a winding shaft 83
And the opening 25 is attached to the head cover 80, respectively. In this state, the print head 81 and the platen 26
Confront each other to constitute a tape printing mechanism.

After the user opens the cover 74 and mounts the tape cartridge 6 on the cartridge mounting section 76, the user inputs print information (image information) such as desired characters by operating the keys from the keyboard 72, and simultaneously displays the display. At 73, the input result is confirmed and edited. Here, when printing is instructed via the keyboard 72, the tape feed mechanism 85 is driven to feed the ink tape T and the transfer-receiving tape R, and the print head 81 is driven to drive the transfer from the ink tape T to the transfer-receiving tape R. Transfer printing to The printed portion (image forming portion) of the ink tape T is sent out of the apparatus from the tape outlet 77 in parallel with the printing operation, and when printing is completed, the feeding of the two tapes T and R stops. Here, by pressing the cutter button 75, the printed portion (mask piece M) of the ink tape T is cut off.

FIG. 6 is a structural view around the tape feed mechanism 85. As shown in FIG.
A head support shaft 88 on which a platen shaft 82, a take-up shaft 83, and a print head 81 are rotatably mounted is provided upright. The fixed blade 78 is provided on the side surface of the base frame 87.
a and a scissor-type tape cutter 7 having a movable blade 78b
8 is attached. Further, the base frame 87
A drive motor 89 is attached to the lower surface of the drive motor 89, and the main shaft of the drive motor 89 is connected to a reduction gear train 90 provided on a base frame 87. The platen shaft 82 and the take-up shaft 83 are rotatably attached to the base frame 87, and a platen gear 91 and a take-up gear 92 that mesh with the output end of the reduction gear train 90 are fixed below the platen shaft 82 and the take-up shaft 83, respectively.

When the drive motor 89 is driven, its rotational power is output to a platen gear 91 and a take-up gear 92 via a reduction gear train 90 to rotate the platen shaft 82 and the take-up shaft 83, respectively. As a result, the ink tape T and the transfer tape R are simultaneously sent forward by the platen 26, and the transfer tape R is wound around the winding core 28. The main body of the tape feed is the platen 26
The winding shaft 83 slides and rotates.

By the way, when the tape cartridge 6 is mounted on the cartridge mounting section 76, the ink tape T is attached to the platen 26 as shown in FIG.
The print head 81 slides on the transfer target tape R. That is, the tape carrying the ink is the platen 26
Is located on the print head 81 side, and the tape arrangement is opposite to that of normal thermal transfer printing. Thus, the heat of the heating elements of the print head 81 passes through the transfer tape R, reaches the ink layer of the ink tape T, melts the ink layer, and transfers the ink layer to the transfer tape R.

In such a configuration, in the ink tape T used as the mask piece M, the base tape 33 is used.
Is hardly affected by the thermal effect of the heating element, and wrinkles and the like do not occur together with its thickness. Further, since the ink tape T comes into contact with the platen 26 and does not come into sliding contact with the print head 81, no scratch or the like is generated on the surface. Therefore, finally, a good mask piece M having no irregularities or scratches on the surface.
Can be obtained.

The tape printer (printer) 4 used for the above-described second production pattern is not particularly described in detail, but an opening / closing lid 102 is provided on the side of an apparatus case 101 as shown in FIG. A cartridge mounting portion 103 is formed inside the opening / closing lid 102. The tape printer 4 does not include input means such as a keyboard and a display, but has a structure similar to that of the tape printer (tape word processor) 3, a tape feeding mechanism, a tape printing mechanism, and a tape cutting mechanism. It has.

Next, the exposure apparatus 9 will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in both figures, the exposure apparatus 9
Has a box-like shape as a whole, a large opening / closing lid 111 having a transparent window 111a at the center, and a rotary switch 112 at the left. Inside the opening / closing lid 111, a unit mounting portion 11 for mounting the stamp unit 8 is provided.
3 and a mask piece mounting portion 114 for mounting the mask piece M located at an end of the unit mounting portion 113.
The exposure lamp 115 faces the rear side of the mask piece mounting section 114.

The rotation switch 112 is rotated clockwise from the reference position to unlock and open the lid 111, and is turned counterclockwise from the reference position to turn on the exposure lamp 115. Let it. While the exposure lamp 115 is lit, the LED lamp 117 provided beside the rotary switch 112 is lit to indicate that exposure is being performed. The exposure lamp 115 is formed of, for example, a self-heating hot cathode tube, and exposes the stamp surface forming portion 54 of the stamp unit 8 to ultraviolet light by lighting for several tens of seconds.

Four positioning projections 118 are provided upright on the unit mounting portion 113. When the stamp unit 8 is mounted on the unit mounting portion 113, the four positioning holes 55 of the stamp unit 8 are aligned with the four positioning holes 55. Protrusion 1
18, the stamp unit 8 is set immovably. The mask piece mounting portion 114 is composed of a pair of left and right set receiving members 119, 119. Each set receiving member 119 can receive the set plate 7 from above.
It has a U-shaped cross section.

The mask pieces M created by the tape printers 3, 4 and 5 are attached to the set plate 7 and mounted on both set receiving members 119 and 119. The mask piece M separated from the ink tape T has an adhesive layer 35 and a release tape 36 on the back surface side, and after the release tape 36 is peeled off as shown in FIG. 9 (FIG. 9A). , Set plate 7
(FIG. 2B). As shown in FIG. 7A, a seal image of “(PCT)” is printed in white (actually transparent) on the mask piece M. The pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 35 is exposed by peeling the release tape 36, and the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 35 is attached to the set plate 7. As shown in FIG.
Is made of a translucent (transparent) rectangular resin or the like, and a scale 120 is formed on a peripheral portion thereof. The user uses the scale 120 as a guide to determine the mask piece M
At the center of the set plate 7.

Here, another embodiment of the set plate 7 will be described with reference to FIG. The set plate 7 includes a base plate 201 and frame portions 202 formed on three sides of the base plate 201, and is integrally formed of a translucent (transparent) resin or the like. Base plate 201
In the two frame portions 202a formed on the long sides of the mask pieces M, there are inward grooves 20 having a groove width corresponding to the thickness of the mask piece M.
3, 203 are formed respectively. Double groove 20
3 and 203 correspond to the width of the mask piece M, and the mask piece M is provided with two grooves 20 from one short side.
3, 203 is attached to the set plate 7.

On the other hand, the mask piece M used in this embodiment,
That is, the ink tape T has the above-described primer layer 34,
A material without the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 35 and the release tape 36 is used (total thickness of about 50 μm). In this case, the mask piece M is cut in advance in the tape printers 3, 4, and 5 such that the seal image is positioned at the center of the set plate 7 in a state of being completely mounted on the set plate 7. It has become.

Next, the cleaning device 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. The cleaning apparatus 10 includes a cleaning liquid tank 121 for storing a cleaning liquid such as tap water, and a cleaning liquid tank 1.
It comprises a stamp set unit 122 and a drive unit 123 provided so as to block 21. A brush body 124 is housed inside the cleaning liquid tank 121,
When the drive unit 123 is attached to the cleaning liquid tank 121, the motor (not shown) housed in the drive unit 123 and the brush body 124 are connected. A stamp holding mechanism (not shown) is incorporated in the stamp setting unit 122, and the stamp unit 8 is set downward on the stamp setting unit 122 via the stamp holding mechanism. In this state, when the stamp set part 122 is attached to the cleaning liquid tank 121,
The stamp surface forming portion 54 of the stamp unit 8 contacts the brush body 124 described above.

A start switch 125 is provided on the upper surface of the drive unit 123. When the start switch 125 is turned on, the motor is driven and the brush body 124 against which the stamp unit 8 is pressed makes a circular motion. As a result, the uncured portion of the stamp surface forming portion 54 is scraped off, leaving only the cured portion corresponding to the stamp image. The motor is controlled by a timer, and stops after a predetermined period of time, and the cleaning of the stamp unit 8 is completed.

As described above, in the tape printers 3, 4, and 5 of the present embodiment, the ink tape T carrying the ink is located on the platen 26 side, and the transfer target tape R receiving the ink is transferred to the print head 81 side. Will be located. For this reason, in the ink tape T used as the mask piece M, the base tape 33 is hardly affected by the thermal effect of the heating element, and does not have wrinkles or the like in conjunction with its thickness.
Further, since the ink tape T comes into contact with the platen 26 and does not come into sliding contact with the print head 81, no scratch or the like is generated on the surface. Therefore, finally, a good mask piece M having no irregularities or scratches on the surface can be reliably obtained.

The tape cartridge of the present embodiment is a special one for obtaining a mask piece. However, in a normal tape cartridge, in order to arrange a print head on the print tape side and a platen on the ink ribbon side, The structure of the printing mechanism of the tape printer may be changed.

[0052]

As described above, according to the tape printing method and the tape printing apparatus of the present invention, the platen is arranged on the ink tape side and the print head is arranged on the transfer tape side. It is hard to receive heat and pressure for transfer and does not slide on the print head. Therefore,
Fine wrinkles and scratches can be effectively prevented from occurring on the ink tape serving as the recording tape.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system diagram of a stamp creation system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an internal structural view of a tape cartridge mounted on the tape printer.

FIG. 3 is a sectional structural view of an ink tape and a transfer-receiving tape.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the stamp unit.

FIG. 5 is an overall perspective view of a tape printer (tape word processor).

FIG. 6 is a perspective view around a tape feeding mechanism of the tape printing apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the exposure apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the exposure apparatus with an opening / closing lid removed.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a mask piece and a set plate to which the mask piece is attached.

FIG. 10 is an overall perspective view of a set plate according to another embodiment.

FIG. 11 is an overall perspective view of a cleaning device.

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the cleaning device.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 CD-ROM 2 Personal computer 3 Tape printer (tape word processor) 4 Tape printer (printer) 5 Tape printer (tape word processor) 6 Tape cartridge 9 Exposure device 10 Cleaning device 21 Cartridge case 23 Tape core 26 Platen 27 Feeding core 28 Winding Take-up core 29 Tape outlet 31 Ink layer 33 Base tape 36 Peeling tape 41 Top coat layer 42 Base ribbon 76 Cartridge mounting part 77 Tape outlet 78 Tape cutter 81 Print head 82 Platen shaft 83 Take-up shaft 85 Tape feed mechanism 89 Drive motor T Ink tape R Transfer tape M Mask piece

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-61-141437 (JP, A) JP-A-6-171243 (JP, A) JP-A-4-99692 (JP, A) JP-A-4-41255 (JP) JP-A-63-242569 (JP, A) JP-A-6-155709 (JP, A) JP-A-6-278350 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB Name) B41J 2/325 B41J 3/36 B41J 31/00 B41J 32/00 B41K 1/02 B41M 5/26

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] An ink tape having an ink layer on a surface thereof and a transfer tape having a transfer layer onto which ink of the ink tape is transferred by a printing operation are cartridges.
Using a tape cartridge housed in a cartridge case, arranging the ink tape on the platen side, arranging the transfer-receiving tape on the print head side, and driving the print head to perform transfer printing. . 2. The tape printing method according to claim 1, wherein the ink tape is a recording tape for recording a print result, and the transferred tape is a disposable waste tape. An ink tape having an ink layer to 3. A surface and the transfer tape having the transfer layer ink of the ink tape to the surface is transferred by a printing operation Katori
In a tape printer in which a tape cartridge accommodated in a cartridge case is detachably mounted, a tape in which the tape cartridge is detachably mounted.
A cartridge mounting portion, a tape feeding mechanism for feeding the mounted ink tape and the transfer-receiving tape in an overlapping manner, and a tape printing mechanism for performing a printing operation facing the ink tape and the transfer-receiving tape that are sent in an overlapping manner; The tape printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tape printing mechanism includes a print head and a platen, and the print head is provided on the transfer tape side, and the platen is provided on the ink tape side. 4. The cartridge case further includes a front side.
The platen is housed therein.
The tape printing apparatus according to claim 1. 5. The cartridge case includes a tape core formed by winding the ink tape into a roll, a delivery core formed by winding the transfer-receiving tape into a roll, and a winding unit configured to wind the transfer-receiving tape into a roll. Take core and housed
Is, and the said cartridge case, a tape printing apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the tape outlet for guiding the ink tape to the outside of the case is formed.