JP3160173B2 - Tape printer - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tape printer for printing relatively simple characters, figures, symbols and the like on a tape-like recording medium such as a label.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a tape printer capable of printing relatively simple characters, symbols, figures, etc., such as names, on a tape-shaped recording medium called a label made of, for example, thermal paper or resin film has been developed. Proposed.

As such a conventional tape printing apparatus, for example, as described in JP-A-5-185707, a character input key for inputting characters, symbols, figures, etc. An operation unit provided with function keys and the like, a display unit including a liquid crystal element for displaying input characters and the like, and a cassette storage unit for storing a tape cassette containing a tape-shaped recording medium therein are provided. And based on the input print data,
It is configured to print on the recording medium while transporting the tape-shaped recording medium using a print head such as a thermal head.

[0004] Then, the tape-shaped recording medium on which printing has been completed is sent out of the tape printing apparatus and cut by an operator so that a recording medium on which desired characters, symbols, figures, etc. are printed can be obtained. Has been. The tape-shaped recording medium that has been cut after the printing is attached to the back or the surface of the video cassette and used as an index or the like for the video cassette.

[0005] When the recording medium is thermal paper, the tape-shaped recording medium used in such a tape printer is housed in a case alone to form a tape cassette, and the recording medium itself is made of a resin film or the like. If the color is not developed, the tape is stored inside the case together with the ink ribbon to form a tape cassette, which is fed out of the tape cassette for the length (length) to be used and printed. It is used by being mounted on a cassette storage section provided in a printing section of the apparatus.

[0006] The tape cassette is attached to and detached from the tape printing apparatus by opening a cover of a cassette accommodating section provided on a front surface (upper surface) of the tape printing apparatus.

[0007]

However, the above-mentioned conventional tape printing apparatus is formed on the assumption that the tape printing apparatus is used alone, and the tape printing of the tape cassette is performed by opening the cover of the cassette housing. It is designed to be attached to and detached from the device. For this reason, it is necessary to attach / detach the tape cassette to / from the tape printing device in a place where there is a space for opening the cover. Therefore, there has been a problem that the tape cassette cannot be attached to or detached from the tape printer.

In recent years, a title or the like indicating the content recorded on a video tape is printed on a tape-shaped recording medium using a tape printer, and the printed recording medium is attached to a video cassette. The usage of the tape printer is increasing, and there is a demand for a tape printer integrated with a video cassette tape recorder (VTR).

However, as described above, it is necessary to open the cover in order to attach / detach the tape cassette to / from the tape printer, and the tape printer is mounted on a VTR which is used by being housed in a rack or the like. In the case of (integration), the tape printing device cannot be arranged on the upper surface of the VTR. Therefore, the tape printing device is arranged on the upright front surface of the VTR, and the cover is opened and closed on the front surface of the VTR. With this configuration, the mounting area of the tape printer with respect to the front surface of the VTR increases, and the height of the VTR increases.
There is a problem that the TR itself becomes large.

Therefore, there is a demand for a thin tape printing apparatus which has a small operation space when a tape cassette is attached and detached and is suitable for integration with various kinds of equipment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has as its object to provide a thin tape printing apparatus which has a small operation space at the time of attaching and detaching a tape cassette and is suitable for integration into a variety of devices. And

[0012]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tape printing apparatus in which a tape cassette containing a tape-shaped recording medium is mounted on a main body and a print head is used. A tape printing apparatus for performing printing on the tape-shaped recording medium, wherein a tape cassette including a cassette insertion opening formed in a front surface of the main body, and at least a platen roller and a platen driving gear that rotationally drives the platen roller is a side surface thereof. A cassette mounting portion communicating with the cassette insertion opening so as to be detachable from the printer, a print head for printing on the tape-shaped recording medium, a driving motor for driving a platen roller via the platen driving gear, and the cassette mounting The tape cassette for the part
The print head is placed in the
When it comes into contact with the ten roller via a tape-shaped recording medium,
In conjunction with the tape cassette removal operation,
The print head is separated from the platen roller.
And a drive mechanism .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the tape printing apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the tape cassette
In addition, the tape cassette loading and unloading operations
This head is used to transmit the operating force to the head drive mechanism.
The cam is formed in contact with the drive mechanism .

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the tape printing apparatus according to the first or second aspect, when the tape cassette is mounted on the cassette mounting portion, the platen drive of the tape cassette is performed. A driving force transmission mechanism connected to a gear and capable of transmitting the driving force of the driving motor to the platen driving gear is provided.

[0015]

According to the tape printing apparatus of the first aspect of the present invention, the tape cassette is attached to and detached from the side of the tape cassette through a cassette insertion opening formed in the front of the tape printing apparatus. Therefore, the tape printer can be made thinner with a low front surface, and the tape cassette can be attached and detached in a small operation space. Meanwhile, the head drive mechanism
Is to attach the tape cassette to the cassette
Print head to the platen roller of the tape cassette
The contact can be made via a tape-shaped recording medium.

Further, according to the tape printing apparatus of the present invention described in claim 2, the tape cassette loading operation and removal
The operating force of the operation is controlled by the cam formed on the tape cassette.
It can be transmitted to the head drive mechanism.

Further, according to the tape printing apparatus of the present invention, by mounting the tape cassette on the cassette mounting portion, the driving force transmission mechanism can rotate the platen roller with the platen driving gear. It is connected and can transmit the driving force of the driving motor to the platen roller.

[0018]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings.

First, the schematic configuration of the tape printer of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of an embodiment of the tape printer according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the tape printing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment has a main body 2 formed in a box shape. One of the side surfaces of the main body 2 shown on the left front side in FIG. 1 is a front surface 3 serving as an operation side. 2 is opened parallel to the longitudinal direction of the front surface 3. A cassette mounting portion 5 indicated by an imaginary line in FIG. 1 is provided inside the main body 2 so as to communicate with the cassette insertion slot 4.

A tape cassette 7 in which a tape-shaped recording medium 6 is housed and one end of which can be drawn out is provided as shown by arrows A and B in FIG. Can be mounted on the cassette mounting portion 5 through the cassette insertion opening 4 formed in the first position. That is, the tape printer 1 of the present embodiment is configured so that the tape cassette 7 can be attached and detached from the front surface 3 of the main body 2. In FIG. 1, arrow A indicates the tape cassette 7
The arrow B indicates the tape cassette 7
2 shows the cassette removal direction.

Further, the tape printer 1 in the present embodiment
Is a video cassette tape recorder (VTR)
72 is used.

Next, the tape printer of the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

FIGS. 2 to 4 show in detail one embodiment of the tape printing apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a partially cut plan view of a main part, and FIG. 3 is a part of FIG. 4 is a left side view showing an internal configuration of a main part in which a part of FIG. 2 is omitted, and FIG. 5 is a left side view showing an internal configuration of a main part in which a part is omitted. It is a top view.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the tape printing apparatus 1 of this embodiment has a main body 2 which is a pair of upper and lower parts, and is formed in a substantially box-like shape as a whole in a substantially square plane shape. One of the side surfaces of the main body 2 shown below in FIG. 2 is a front surface 3 serving as an operation side, and a cassette insertion slot 4 is opened in the front surface 3. As shown in FIG. 3, the cassette insertion slot 4 is formed in a front rectangular shape, and is opened with its longitudinal direction being parallel to the longitudinal direction of the front surface 3 of the main body 2. Further, inside the main body 2, an inner case 8 which constitutes a cassette mounting portion 5 whose front surface 3 is open is provided so as to communicate with the cassette insertion slot 4.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, a drive motor 10 is disposed on the right side of the bottom surface 9 inside the main body 2 with its output shaft 10a facing downward. 10
A drive gear 11 is attached to a (FIG. 4). The drive gear 11 is connected (engaged) with an input gear 12 composed of a two-stage gear having two large and small gears rotatably supported on the bottom surface 9 so as to be positioned on the front surface 3 side of the drive gear 11. The input gear 12 is a first gear composed of a two-stage gear having two large and small gears rotatably supported on the bottom surface 9 so as to be located on the front surface 3 side of the input gear 12.
It is connected (engaged) with the intermediate gear 13. Furthermore, the first
The intermediate gear 13 is connected (engaged) with a second intermediate gear 14 rotatably supported on the bottom surface 9 so as to be located on the front surface 3 side of the first intermediate gear 13. Are connected (engaged) with an output gear 15 rotatably supported on the bottom surface 9 so as to be located on the front surface 3 side of the second intermediate gear 14. Each of the gears 12, 13, 14, and 15 connected to the drive gear 11 has a bottom surface 9 and a front surface 3
The drive motors 1 are arranged substantially in a line toward the side.
0 driving force is sequentially transmitted. When the cassette is mounted, the output gear 15 is connected to a platen driving gear 6 (described later) disposed on the tape cassette 7.
3 can be connected.

The input gear 12, the first intermediate gear 13, the second intermediate gear 14, and the output gear 15 form a driving force transmission mechanism 16 according to the present embodiment.

The drive motor 10, the drive force transmission mechanism 16, a platen roller 60 and a platen drive gear 63, which will be described later, provided on the tape cassette 7, constitute a tape traveling mechanism 81 of this embodiment.

On the left side of the output gear 15, there is provided a head lever 18 rotatably supported at a substantially central portion in the longitudinal direction on a support shaft 17 erected on the bottom surface 9. The head lever 18 is formed in a substantially flat plate shape, and is disposed so as to extend substantially parallel to the bottom surface 9. Further, the head lever 18 has a front arm 19 located on the front surface 3 side of the main body 2 about the support shaft 17 and a rear arm 20 located on the back side of the main body 2. 2, the support shaft 17 is disposed in the front-rear direction shown in the vertical direction.
About the center.

On the upper surface of the head arm 18 on the free end side of the front arm 19, there is provided a thermal head 21 in which a plurality of heating elements (not shown) as print heads are arranged. The thermal head 21 applies the tape-shaped recording medium 6 to the outer peripheral surface of a platen roller 60, which will be described later, provided on the tape cassette 7 in a cassette mounted state by rotating the head lever 18 about the support shaft 17. Can be separated from each other via On the lower surface near the free end of the rear arm 20 of the head lever 18, a locking pin 22 is provided upright toward the bottom surface 9.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, a thermal head 21 attached to the head lever 18 is mounted on the tape cassette 7 at the rear side of the head lever 18 when the cassette is mounted, which will be described later. A plate-shaped head lever drive arm 23 for operating so as to come into contact with and separate from the platen roller 60 is provided. The base end of the head lever drive arm 23 is rotatably supported by a rotation support shaft 24 erected on the left rear side of the bottom surface 9 so as to extend substantially parallel to the bottom surface 9. The free end is disposed below the free end of the rear arm 20 of the head lever 18.

In the vicinity of the free end of the head lever driving arm 23, a pin 22 erected on the lower surface on the free end side of the rear arm 20 of the head lever 18 is fitted.
A substantially arc-shaped long hole 25 for restricting the rotation range of the head lever 18 around the center is formed. Further, a sub-arm 26 extending to the right in FIGS. 2 and 5 is formed at a substantially central portion in the longitudinal direction of the head lever drive arm 23. A roller-shaped rotatable cam follower 27 is provided. The cam follower 27 is provided with a cam surface 6 (described later) of the tape cassette 7 when the cassette is mounted.
5 and the head lever drive arm 23 is rotated
2 and 5 around the center 4 in a clockwise direction. A spring support 28 is provided upright on the left upper surface of the substantially central portion in the longitudinal direction of the head lever drive arm 23, and a torsion coil spring 29 abuts a front edge of the spring support 28. It is locked.

The lower end of the torsion coil spring 29 in FIGS. 2 and 5 contacts the right side of the tip of the rear arm 20 of the head lever 18 so as to bias the head lever 18 clockwise. The other end of the torsion coil spring 29, which is shown above in FIGS. 2 and 5, is erected from the base end of the sub arm 26 of the head lever drive arm 23 on the back side of the main body 2. The locking projection 30 is locked so as to be in contact with the front edge of the locking projection 30.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, a through hole 31 is formed in the vicinity of the base end of the head lever drive arm 23 so as to penetrate in the plate thickness direction. One end of a biasing spring 32 that constantly biases the lever drive arm 23 counterclockwise in FIGS. 2 and 5 around the rotation support shaft 24 is locked. The other end of the biasing spring 32 is locked by a spring locking body 33 (FIG. 2) disposed on the bottom surface 9.

The head lever 18, the head lever driving arm 23, the cam follower 27, and the torsion coil spring 29 constitute a head driving mechanism 80 of this embodiment.

That is, in this embodiment, the cam follower 27 is moved to the left in FIGS.
2 and 5, the torsion coil spring 29 is rotated clockwise in FIGS. 2 and 5, and one end of the torsion coil spring 29 shown in FIGS. Rear arm 20
2 and 5, the head lever 18 is moved counterclockwise in FIGS. 2 and 5 around the support shaft 17 by the spring force of the torsion coil spring 29. It is configured to be able to rotate.

As shown in FIG. 2, on the right side of the output gear 15, a substantially columnar engaging projection 34 used for positioning the tape cassette 7 in the cassette mounted state is provided upright. A tape cutting mechanism 35 for cutting the tape-shaped recording medium 6 to a desired length is provided near the left end on the front surface 3 side.

As shown in FIG. 2, the tape cutting mechanism 35
Has a cutting base 36 and a cutter lever 37 for operating the cutting base 36. And the cutting substrate 3
The base 6 has a flat base 38 that is rotatably supported on the bottom surface 9. The outer peripheral surface of the base 38 is used to cut the tape-shaped recording medium 6 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The cutting blade 39 is disposed so as to face a blade receiving portion 66 described later provided on the side surface of the tape cassette 7 when the cassette is mounted. The outer peripheral surface of the base 38 is disposed at a position separated from the side surface of the tape cassette 7 in the cassette mounted state, so as not to hinder the running of the tape-shaped recording medium 7 after printing which is fed from the tape cassette 7. I have. Further, a cutter driving gear 40 formed in a substantially sector shape is coaxially attached to the end face of the base 38 facing the bottom surface 9.

The cutter lever 37 is rotatably supported at the front left end of the bottom surface 9 of the main body 2. The cutter lever 37 has an operation arm 41 which projects outward from the main body 2 and is manually operated. And a gear portion 42 that meshes with the cutter drive gear 40.

That is, in this embodiment, by pulling the operating arm 41 of the cutter lever 37 toward the front side in FIG. 2 (rotating it counterclockwise), the gear portion 42 of the cutter lever 37 is turned counterclockwise in FIG. Drive gear 40 connected to this gear portion 42
Rotates clockwise in FIG. 2, and the cutter driving gear 4
2, the cutting blade 39 rotates clockwise in FIG. 2 and moves toward the blade receiving portion 66 provided on the side surface of the tape cassette 7 in the cassette mounted state to move the tape-shaped recording medium. 7 can be cut to a desired length.

Above the driving force transmission mechanism 16, an inner case 8 as a cassette mounting portion 5 formed in a case shape with the front surface 3 open is disposed so as to communicate with the cassette insertion slot 4. . The inner case 8 is supported above the bottom surface 9 by a plurality of support ribs (not shown) erected on the bottom surface 9 so as not to interfere with the operations of the above-described portions. And a left side plate 44 and a right side plate 45 both for positioning and guiding the left and right side surfaces of the tape cassette 7 when the cassette is mounted.
, A back plate 46, and a top plate 47, and each of the plates 43, 44, 45, 46, 47 is a bottom plate 9 of the main body 2.
A desired portion is opened so as not to interfere with the operation of each portion disposed in the tape cassette 7 and each portion described later of the tape cassette 7.

The top plate 47 and the right side plate 45 constituting the inner case 8 as the cassette mounting portion 5 may use the upper surface and the right side surface of the main body 2, and are particularly limited to the structure of this embodiment. Not something. Further, the inner case 8 may be attached to the upper surface of the main body 2, and if the inner case 8 does not interfere with the operation of each part disposed on the bottom surface 9 inside the main body 2, the inner case 8 is particularly suitable for the configuration of this embodiment. It is not limited.

An operation section 48 for manually inputting print information (not shown), a print information storage section 50 for storing print information,
In the present embodiment, a print control unit 51 that selectively heats a heating element disposed on the thermal head 21 based on the print information and controls the drive motor 10, a display unit 49 that displays print information, and the like are provided in the present embodiment. It is provided in a VTR 72 described later on which the tape printer 1 of the present embodiment is mounted. The print control unit 51 includes a CPU, a memory, and the like (not shown).

FIG. 6 shows a modification of the tape printer 1 of this embodiment.
Indicates a case where the tape printer 1a can be used alone. As shown in FIG. 6, the operation unit 48 for manually inputting print information to the tape printer 1a and the liquid crystal element for displaying the input characters and the like are shown in FIG. Display section 4 for displaying print information
9 is disposed on the front surface 3 of the main body 2a, and based on the print information storage section 50 for storing print information for the tape printer and the print information inside the main body 2a, as indicated by imaginary lines in FIG. A print control unit 51 that selectively heats the heat generating elements disposed on the thermal head 9 and controls the drive motor 10 is provided. Other configurations are the same as those of the tape printer 1 of the above-described embodiment.

It should be noted that the tape printer 1 is connected to, for example, a VTR.
When integrated with other devices such as, for example, the main body of the other device may be configured to also serve as the main body 2 of the tape printer 1.

Next, a tape cassette used in the tape printer of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing an essential part of an embodiment of a tape cassette used in the tape printer according to the present invention, with most of an upper cover case removed, and FIG. 8 is a left side view seen from a platen roller side. FIG.

As shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, the tape cassette 7 of this embodiment is
And a cassette body 54 having a substantially rectangular planar shape and a lower lid case 53. A tape reel 55 is rotatably supported inside the cassette main body 54 shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 8, the tape reel 55 has a mounting base 56 formed in a cylindrical shape.
In the vicinity of both ends of the outer peripheral surface of the mounting base 56, flat circular flanges 57 extending parallel to each other are provided.
Is formed so as to be orthogonal to the axial direction of The tape-shaped recording medium 6 is wound around the outer peripheral surface of the mounting base 56 located between the flanges 57.

One side (free end) of the tape-shaped recording medium 6 extends from the inside of the cassette body 54 to the outside under the left side surface shown on the left side in FIG. A tape outlet 58 for discharging is provided.

[0052] in the vicinity of one longitudinal end side shown upward in FIG. 7 of the tape exit 58 is the tape guide 59 for guiding the tape-like Symbol recording medium 6 is disposed, longitudinally shown below in FIG. 7 On the other end side, a platen roller 60 rotatably supported is provided so that a part of the outer peripheral surface thereof projects outside from the tape outlet 58.

As shown in FIG. 8, the tape guide 59 has a base 61 formed in a cylindrical shape. The tape guide 59 extends parallel to each other near both ends of the outer peripheral surface of the base 61. A flat circular flange body 62 is formed so as to be orthogonal to the axial direction of the base 61. The outer peripheral surface of the base 61 located between the flanges 62 contacts the tape-shaped recording medium 6 to guide the tape-shaped recording medium 6. The tape guide 59 may be rotatably supported by the cassette main body 54, and is not particularly limited to the configuration of the present embodiment. Also,
As the tape guide 59 of the present embodiment, a tape guide having a different distance between the flanges 62 according to the tape width of the tape-shaped storage medium 6 can be replaced as necessary. In other words, by exchanging the tape guide 59, one tape cassette 7 can correspond to various types of tape-shaped storage media 6 having different tape widths.

The platen roller 60 is a rubber roller having at least an outer peripheral surface formed of a rubber-like elastic material such as rubber, and when the cassette is mounted, the thermal head 21 of the tape printing apparatus 1 The contact can be made via the. The contact portion between the thermal head 21 and the platen roller 60 is a printing position. A platen driving gear 63 for rotating and driving the platen roller 60 is coaxially attached to the platen roller 60 below the platen roller 60 so as to rotate integrally with the platen roller 60. 63 can be connected (engaged) with the output gear 15 provided in the tape printer 1 in the cassette mounted state.

Then, one end (free end) of the tape-shaped recording medium 6 wound around the outer peripheral surface of the tape reel 55 is drawn out from the tape outlet 58 via the tape guide 59, and is drawn out from the tape outlet 58. 7 is drawn out along the tape running direction indicated by arrow C in FIG.

On the lower surface of the substantially central portion of the lower lid case 53 of the cassette body 54, a resilient projection 64 formed in a substantially horseshoe shape is provided so as to be exposed on the lower surface side of the cassette body 54. I have. When the cassette 64 is mounted in the cassette, the projection 64 is engaged with the engagement projection 34 of the tape printer 1.
And is configured to provide a click feeling that allows the operator to feel the positioning of the tape cassette 7 mounted on the cassette mounting section 5 and the completion of the mounting of the tape cassette 7 on the cassette mounting section 5. .

A cam surface 65 is recessed at the upper left corner of the lower lid case 53 of the cassette body 54 in FIG. The cam surface 65 serves as a drive source for operating the head drive mechanism 80, and the tape cassette 7
Is pushed into the cassette mounting portion 5 of the tape printer 1, the cam follower 27 of the tape printer 1
Is formed to move to the left.

A blade receiving portion 66 for receiving the cutting blade 39 of the tape cutting mechanism 35 at the time of cutting the tape is provided near the lower end of the left side surface shown on the left side in FIG.
Are provided so as to face the moving direction of the cutting edge of the cutting blade 39. The blade receiving portion 66 may be formed of hard rubber or the like, and may be attached to the cassette body 54.

On the upper side and the lower side of the cassette body 54 shown below in FIG. 7, an operation recess 6 having a substantially semicircular planar shape for an operator to pick with a finger when the cassette is mounted.
7 is recessed (see FIG. 1).

Next, a tape-shaped recording medium used in the tape cassette of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of a tape-shaped recording medium accommodated in a tape cassette used in the tape printer according to the present invention, and FIG. 10 is a winding state of the tape-shaped recording medium. FIG.

As shown in FIG. 9, the tape-shaped recording medium 6 of this embodiment is prepared by applying an appropriate pressure-sensitive adhesive to one surface of a continuous heat-sensitive paper 68 which is colored by applying heat. A pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 69 is formed, and a release paper 70 is attached to the surface of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 69.

The release paper 70 is cut at a desired interval smaller than the cut length, such as the length to be attached to the label attaching portion of the video cassette, to form a cut portion 71 called a so-called half cut. ing.

That is, the tape-shaped recording medium 6 of this embodiment
By folding the paper 70 toward the thermal paper 68 at the position of the cut part 71 of the release paper 70, the cut part 71 of the release paper 70 can be easily peeled off from the adhesive layer 69.

As shown in FIG. 10, the tape-shaped recording medium 6
Are wound with the thermal paper 68 facing outward.

A message or end mark for allowing the operator to recognize that the end of the tape-shaped recording medium 6 is near the surface of the thermal paper 68 on the inner peripheral side (tape reel-side end portion) of the tape-shaped recording medium. When the tape-shaped recording medium 6 is pulled out from the inside of the tape cassette 7, the operator is notified that the end of the tape-shaped recording medium 6 is near by providing an end display section (not shown) formed by printing or the like. This makes it easy to recognize and prevent the tape-shaped recording medium 6 from running out during the printing operation.

Next, a VTR equipped with the tape printer of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a cassette mounted state of a VTR equipped with a tape printer according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 11, the VTR 7 of this embodiment
2, a video cassette insertion port 74 for mounting a video cassette (not shown) is provided on an upright front surface 73 on the operation side of the apparatus main body 72a. The above-described tape printer 1 is disposed so as to be positioned. On the front face 73 of the apparatus, an operation unit 48 for manually inputting print information for the tape printer 1 is also provided.
And a display unit 49 for displaying the print information input to the tape printer 1 and for displaying the operation state and time of the VTR itself. A part 76 is provided. As shown by the imaginary line in FIG. 11, a print information storage unit 50 for storing at least print information for the tape printer 1 and a heat generation unit disposed on the thermal head based on the print information are provided inside the VTR 72. and a control unit 77 which CPU, composed of such as a memory (not shown) for controlling the VTR itself as well as organic and printing control unit 51 which controls the drive motor 10 causes selectively heating element is arranged.

In the VTR 72 of this embodiment,
For example, broadcast content information such as a title transmitted at the same time as audio and video is received by using the free band of the radio wave of the television, and the broadcast content being recorded is tape-recorded by the tape printer 1 based on this information. It is configured so that printing can be immediately performed on the medium 6.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment having the above-described configuration will be described.

First, the operation of the tape printing apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory view showing a cassette mounted state.

In the tape printer 1 of this embodiment,
As shown by an arrow A in FIG.
When the side of the tape cassette 7 is manually pushed into the cassette insertion opening 4 formed in the front face 3 of the tape printer 1 with the operation concave portion 67 facing the user, the mounting of the tape cassette 7 to the tape printer 1 is started. Is done.
At this time, one end (free end) of the tape-shaped recording medium 6 housed in the tape cassette 7 is externally connected to a tape outlet 58 through a tape guide 59 as shown by an imaginary line in FIG. And passes over the outer peripheral surface of the platen roller 60 protruding from the tape outlet 58 to the outside.

When the mounting of the tape cassette 7 is started, the tape cassette 7 is gradually pushed into the inner case 8 as the tape mounting portion 5 through the cassette insertion slot 4. At this time, the left and right sides of the tape cassette 7
The left and right plates 45 and 45 of the inner case 8 guide the left and right movement positions while being restrained, and the lower surface of the tape cassette 7 is guided while being supported by the bottom plate 43 of the inner case 8. Cassette insertion slot 4
The tape printer 1 can be reliably pushed from the front surface 3 of the tape printer 1 into the inside of the inner case 8 which is the tape mounting portion 5 via the.

Next, as the mounting (pushing) of the tape cassette 7 into the inner case 8 progresses, the head driving mechanism disposed on the upper surface of the tip of the sub arm 26 of the head lever driving arm 23 shown in FIG. 7, the cam surface 65 of the tape cassette 7 shown in FIG. 7 abuts on the cam follower 27, and the cam follower 27 is gradually moved to the left in FIG. Move.

The cam follower 27 moves to the left as the mounting of the tape cassette 7 progresses, so that the head lever driving arm 2 constituting a part of the head driving mechanism 80 is moved.
2 and FIG. 5 around the rotation support shaft 24 against the biasing force of the biasing spring 32 which constantly biases the head lever drive arm 23 in the counterclockwise direction in FIGS.
At a clockwise direction. With the clockwise rotation of the head lever drive arm 23, the torsion coil spring 29 rotates clockwise in FIGS. 2 and 5, and the torsion coil spring 29 is shown below in FIGS. 2 and 5. One end moves the tip of the rear arm 20 of the head lever 18 to the left in FIGS. 2 and 5. With the movement of the tip of the rear arm 20 to the left by the torsion coil spring 29, the head lever 18 rotates counterclockwise in FIGS. The thermal head 21 provided on the upper surface on the free end side of the forearm 19 is connected to the tape outlet of the platen roller 60 provided at the tape outlet 58 of the tape cassette 7 shown in FIG. It comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface projecting from 58 to the outside.

That is, as the mounting operation of the tape cassette 7 progresses (cooperates), the head drive mechanism 80 moves the thermal head 21 to the outer periphery of the platen roller 60 via the tape-shaped storage medium 6 by the cam surface 65. Acts to touch the surface.

When the tape cassette 7 is taken out from the cassette mounting portion 5, the head driving mechanism 80 operates so that the thermal head 21 is separated from the outer peripheral surface of the platen roller 60 by the urging force of the urging spring 32. I do.

Further, since the thermal head 21 can be brought into contact with the platen roller 60 via the tape-shaped storage medium 6 by the urging force of the torsion coil spring 29,
Since the pressing force between the thermal head 21 and the platen roller 60 can always be maintained at an appropriate value suitable for printing, high printing quality can always be obtained.

When the tape cassette 7 is mounted, a projection 64 provided to be exposed on the lower surface side of the cassette main body 54 of the tape cassette 7 is erected on the bottom surface 9 of the main body 2 of the printing apparatus 1. The platen drive gear 63 is disposed on the bottom surface 9 of the main body 2 of the tape printing apparatus 1 while the platen drive gear 63 is disposed coaxially with the platen roller of the tape cassette 7. The connection is completed by connecting to the transmission mechanism 16 and the output gear 15 forming a part of the tape running mechanism 81.

That is, the driving force transmission mechanism 16 and the tape traveling mechanism 8 are moved in accordance with the progress of the mounting operation of the tape cassette 7.
1 is a part of the output gear 15 is the platen drive gear 6
3, the drive force of the drive motor 10 can be reliably transmitted to a platen roller 60 that rotates integrally with the platen drive gear 63 of the tape cassette 7.

When the mounting of the tape cassette 7 is completed,
A tape cassette 7 mounted on the cassette mounting portion 5 is formed by fitting the elastic protrusion 64 having a substantially horseshoe shape to the outer peripheral surface of the engagement protrusion 34 of the tape printer 1.
The positioning of the tape cassette 7 and the completion of the mounting of the tape cassette 7 to the cassette mounting section 5 can be reliably felt by the operator as a click feeling, so that the mounting of the tape cassette 7 to the cassette mounting section 5 can be reliably performed. . FIG. 12 shows a cassette mounted state in which the mounting of the tape cassette 7 into the inside of the inner case 8 which is the cassette mounting section 5 of the tape printing apparatus 1 is completed.

Further, in the present embodiment, the timing at which the thermal head 21 abuts on the platen roller 60 via the tape-shaped storage medium 6 is arranged coaxially with the platen roller 60 immediately before the mounting of the tape cassette 7 is completed. The platen drive gear 63 provided is immediately before connection with the output gear 15 provided on the bottom surface 9 of the main body 2 of the tape printer 1. With such a configuration,
The tape cassette 7 is further pushed into the inner case 8 in a state where the thermal head 21 is in contact with the platen roller 60 via the tape-shaped storage medium 6, and the platen roller 60 is pressed by the contact force of the thermal head 21. 7, while being pressed in while rotating in the counterclockwise direction, the platen driving gear 63 is connected (engaged) to the output gear 15 while rotating with the rotation of the platen roller 60. 63
Of the tape cassette 7 and the output gear 15 are reliably prevented from being damaged due to collision between respective tooth tips (not shown) of the tape cassette 7 and the output gear 15. Tape printer 1
The mounting of the cassette mounting portion 5 inside the inner case 8 can be reliably and smoothly performed, and the operability can be reliably improved.

Next, when the printing operation is started in the cassette mounted state, the driving motor 10 of the tape traveling mechanism 81 is driven by the control command of the printing control unit 51,
The driving force of the driving motor 10 is transmitted to the platen driving gear 63 through the driving force transmitting mechanism 16, and the platen driving gear 63
At the same time, the platen roller 60 rotates integrally, and the tape-shaped recording medium 6 sandwiched between the thermal head 21 and the platen roller 60 is fed out in the tape running direction indicated by the arrow C in FIG. Then, the tape-shaped recording medium 6
Along with the travel, a plurality of heating elements (not shown) of the thermal head 21 are selectively heated by a control command of the printing control unit 51 based on printing information (not shown) stored in the printing information storage unit 50 in advance. The heat-sensitive paper 68 of the tape-shaped recording medium 6 that is in contact with the thermal head 21 is colored to print desired characters and the like on the tape-shaped recording medium 6. Thereafter, the tape-shaped recording medium 6 is fed out from the tape cassette 7 by a predetermined length, in this embodiment, by a length to be attached to a video cassette (not shown), thereby completing the printing operation.

Then, the tape-like recording medium 6 on which the print has been fed out of the tape cassette 7 is operated in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the tape-like recording medium 6 by operating the cutter lever 37 of the tape cutting mechanism 35. Is cut off. In the cut tape-shaped recording medium 6, since the cut portions 70 called half-cuts are formed on the release paper 70 at intervals smaller than the cut length of the tape-shaped recording medium 6, By folding the thermal paper 68 at the position 71, the cut portion 71 of the release paper 70 can be easily peeled off from the adhesive layer 69 without using a tool.

Thereafter, the tape-shaped recording medium 6 is sequentially fed from the tape cassette 7 for each printing operation. In the present embodiment, when the tape-shaped recording medium 6 fed from the tape cassette 7 approaches the end, an end display unit (not shown) including a message or an end mark provided at the end of the tape-shaped recording medium 6. ) Is exposed to the outside and the operator can easily recognize that the end of the tape-shaped recording medium 6 is near, and it is possible to prevent the tape-shaped recording medium 6 from running out during the printing operation.

Then, when an end indicator (not shown) formed of a message or an end mark provided at the end of the tape-shaped recording medium 6 is exposed to the outside, the tape cassette 7 is moved as indicated by an arrow B in FIG. Then, the operation concave portion 67 of the tape cassette 7 is pulled out to the near side to be taken out, and a new tape cassette 7 is mounted.

The upper case 52 of the tape cassette 7
When the tape-shaped recording medium 6 is consumed, a new tape-shaped recording medium 6 is wound around the tape reel 55 or a new tape-shaped recording medium 6 is wound. By replacing the tape cassette 55 with the tape cassette 55, it is possible to surely reduce the economical burden, although it takes time, as compared with the case where the tape cassette 7 is replaced.

Therefore, the tape printer 1 of the present embodiment
According to this, since the tape cassette 7 is detachable from the front surface 3 side of the main body 2 so that the side surface thereof faces the front surface 3 of the main body 2, the height of the front surface 3 of the tape printer 1 is low. The tape printer 7 can be made thin, and the tape cassette 7 can be attached and detached in a small operation space. For example, the tape printer 1 of the tape cassette 7 can be easily mounted even when the tape printer 1 is stored in a rack or the like.
Can be attached to and detached from.

Further, in the tape printer 1 of this embodiment, the tape cassette 7 can be attached to and detached from the tape printer 1 from the front surface 3, and as shown in FIG.
When the tape printer is mounted, the cassette insertion port 4 of the tape printer 1 is disposed on the front 73 of the apparatus, and the front 73 of the apparatus also serves as an operation unit 48 for manually inputting print information for the tape printer 1. An operation unit 75 for performing various operations as a VTR, and a display unit 49 for displaying print information input to the tape printer 1.
And the display unit 76 for displaying the operation state and time of the VTR itself can be provided, so that the area of the front surface 73 of the VTR 72 does not become too large, and the VTR 72 is placed inside a rack or the like. Even in the housed state, the tape cassette 7 can be easily attached to and detached from the tape printer 1 from the front face 73 of the apparatus.

Therefore, the tape printer 1 of the present embodiment
Is suitable for integration into a wide variety of devices such as TVs and VTRs, because the operation space required for attaching and detaching the tape cassette 7 is small.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but can be modified as needed.

[0094]

As described above, according to the tape printer of the present invention, the tape cassette can be detached from the tape printer so that the front surface of the tape printer and the side surface of the tape cassette face each other. Therefore, the tape printing apparatus can be made thin with a low front surface, and the tape cassette can be attached and detached in a small operation space.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of an embodiment of a tape printer according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially cut-away plan view showing details of a main part of one embodiment of the tape printer according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a main part in which a part of FIG. 2 is omitted.

FIG. 4 is a left side view showing an internal configuration of a main part in which a part of FIG. 2 is omitted.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing an internal configuration of a main part of a tape printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which a part of the tape printing apparatus is omitted.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a modified example of the tape printer of the present embodiment.
Figure similar to

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a main part of an embodiment of a tape cassette used in the tape printing apparatus according to the present invention, with most of an upper cover case being removed;

8 is a left side view as seen from the platen roller side in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of a tape-shaped recording medium accommodated in a tape cassette used in the tape printing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a wound state of a tape-shaped recording medium housed in a tape cassette used in the tape printing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 shows a VT equipped with a tape printer according to the present invention.
Perspective view showing the cassette mounted state of R

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 5, illustrating a cassette mounted state of the tape printing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Tape printing device 2 Main body 3 Front surface 4 Cassette insertion slot 5 Cassette mounting part 6 Tape-shaped recording medium 7 Tape cassette 10 Drive motor 16 Driving force transmission mechanism 21 Thermal head (as print head) 60 Platen roller 63 Platen drive gear 80 Head Drive mechanism 81 Tape running mechanism A Cassette mounting direction B Cassette unloading direction C Tape running direction

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-60-188821 (JP, A) JP-A-5-17056 (JP, A) JP-A-1-255575 (JP, A) JP-A-63-189651 (JP) , U) (58) Fields surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41J 3/36 B41J 35/28

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A tape printing apparatus for mounting a tape cassette containing a tape-shaped recording medium therein to a main body and performing printing on the tape-shaped recording medium by a print head, comprising a cassette inserted in a front surface of the main body. An opening, a cassette mounting portion communicating with the cassette insertion opening so that a tape cassette including at least a platen roller and a platen driving gear for rotatingly driving the platen roller can be detached from a side surface thereof, and printing on the tape-shaped recording medium. a print head for a drive motor for driving the platen roller through the platen driving gear, mounted in the tape cassette relative to the cassette mount
In conjunction with the operation, the print head is moved to the platen roller.
And abutting it via a tape-shaped recording medium,
The print head is linked with the removal operation of the tape cassette.
Drive mechanism for separating the plate from the platen roller
And a tape printer. 2. The tape cassette according to claim 2 ,
The operating force of the mounting and unloading operations of the
Abuts this head drive mechanism to transmit to the drive mechanism
The tape printing device according to claim 1, wherein a cam is formed . 3. A driving force transmitting mechanism connected to a platen driving gear of the tape cassette and transmitting a driving force of the driving motor to the platen driving gear when the tape cassette is mounted on the cassette mounting portion. The tape printer according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: