JP3536370B2 - Cassette case for printing tape and printing tape making device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention comprises a printing unit such as a thermal head, a platen, and a tape feeding means, and printing for printing images such as characters and figures on a tape in accordance with pre-input data. A cassette case that is detachably attached to a tape making device, and that facilitates the work of recombining the color and type of a printing tape with the color and type of an ink ribbon stored in the cassette case. It was done.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The present applicant has previously filed Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-56666.
In the publication, a printing tape making apparatus is proposed for displaying a receptor type label. This device is configured such that a cassette case that stores a printing tape that is a print medium and an ink ribbon can be detachably attached to a cassette housing portion of a printing tape creating apparatus, and the cassette housing portion includes: A printing unit provided with a thermal head, and a roller-shaped platen that comes into contact with and separates from the printing unit,
An ink ribbon take-up device or the like is provided, and an image such as a character string is printed on the tape while the tape is pulled out from the cassette case at an appropriate speed based on the data previously input to the printing tape making device. The tape cutting device was provided for cutting the printed tape into a predetermined length.

By the way, in a conventional cassette case, an ink ribbon and a printing tape are incorporated in advance,
Since the combination was fixed, for example, when performing black printing on a white tape and when performing red printing on a white tape, a cassette of a combination of a predetermined printing color and a tape color should be used. However, there is a problem that the user has to prepare in advance, and if a cassette case having various combinations of printing colors and tape colors is purchased, it will be a considerable expense.

In order to solve this problem, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-17
In Japanese Patent No. 3381, in order to display a laminated type label, a through hole is formed in an inner diameter portion of a tape case for accommodating a transparent printing tape and a double-sided adhesive tape so that an ink ribbon case can be inserted in a width direction of the tape. It is proposed that the ink ribbon case be detachably attached to the tape case, and the two cases be integrally detachably attached to the printing tape making apparatus.

[0005]

However, according to the prior art (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-173381), both the ink ribbon case and the tape case are hermetically sealed except for the portion corresponding to the printing portion in the printing tape making apparatus. Moreover, since there is no means for rewinding the ink ribbon or tape, it is difficult for the user to correct the slack of the ink ribbon or tape. Moreover, since the shape of the through hole into which the ink ribbon case formed in the inner diameter portion of the tape case fits is exactly the same as the outer diameter shape of the ink ribbon case, the tape case containing the tape of a predetermined color is stored. In order to change the combination of the ink ribbon case and the ink ribbon case of a predetermined color, it is difficult to assemble the tape case and the ink ribbon case of the different color tape after removing both cases. It was

For example, when the tape case is removed from the state where the two cases are mounted on the printing apparatus and the tape case containing the tape of another color to be replaced is mounted, the vicinity of the printing section It is necessary to insert the tape case into the ink ribbon case so that the tape partially exposed outside the tape case overlaps with the width direction of the ink ribbon exposed from the ink ribbon case. Alternatively, if any of the tapes is slightly loose, it is extremely difficult to mount the ink ribbon and the tape on the printing portion so as to overlap each other.

This problem similarly occurs when the tape case and the ink ribbon case are recombined before being mounted in the printing tape forming apparatus. Further, since there is no means for rewinding the tape as described above, it becomes impossible to return the once printed tape portion to the original printing portion portion. Therefore, because of character modification, it is not possible to overlap characters on the tape part of a character that has already been printed, or to print an outline frame around the already printed character string. There was a problem.

In addition, as described above, when the edging character is overprinted on the already printed character, or when the overprinting is performed by printing the enclosing frame around the already printed character string,
It is necessary to align the print start position such as the tip of the tape between the previous time and this time, but it was extremely difficult to align this print start position as a guide. The present invention has been made to solve these problems, and makes it possible to replace tapes extremely easily, and also to perform cassette printing, and a cassette case for printing tapes, and a printing tape. The purpose is to provide a device.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, a cassette case for producing a printing tape according to the invention of claim 1 is provided with a printing portion and a platen which comes into contact with and separates from the printing portion. A cassette case that is detachably mounted in the main body of a printing tape creating apparatus configured to pass an ink ribbon and a printing tape between both sides for printing, and a cassette case in which the ink ribbon is stored. Includes a storage part for detachably mounting a tape case in which a printing tape is wound and stored, and a tape formed in the cassette case or the tape case for transporting the tape to the printing part. At least a part of the path is opened so that the tape can be touched with a finger, and the tape case includes rewinding means for rewinding the tape, When pulling out the-loop, in which is provided a stopper means for positioning the distal end portion of the tape.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing tape producing apparatus, comprising a tape feeding means for printing by passing an ink ribbon housed in a cassette case and a printing tape between the printing section and the platen. When the tape is pulled out via the tape feeding means, a position detecting means for detecting the position of the tip of the tape or the print start position is provided.

[0011]

EXAMPLES Next, examples embodying the present invention will be described. 1 is a schematic plan view of the printing tape making apparatus 1, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cassette case 4, and FIG. 3 is a plan view of the cassette case 4 with the tape case 12 removed. Lower case 2
A cover body 6 is provided on one side of the upper surface of the upper case 3 that fits in the open / close manner so as to cover a housing portion 5 for detachably housing a cassette case 4 described later. The upper and lower cases 3 and 2 and the cover body 6 are injection molded products made of synthetic resin. Further, on the upper surface of the upper case 3, a keyboard section 7 for inputting characters and the like, a switch panel 8 for various operations,
Also, a display unit 9 such as a liquid crystal for displaying input characters and operation instructions is arranged, and a mechanical mechanism unit and a microcomputer (not shown) for control are built in between the upper and lower cases 3 and 2. ing.

Next, the structure of the tape feeding means and the printing portion will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the accommodation portion 5 is fitted to the inner diameter portion of the ribbon take-up spool 13 in the cassette case 4 described later. The ribbon drive cam shaft 30 and the tape drive cam shaft 31 fitted to the inner diameter portion of the tape feed roller 14 in the cassette case 4 are erected, and the rotational force of the tape drive motor is arranged on the lower surface of the frame. Ribbon drive cam shaft 3 via a gear train (not shown)
0 and the tape drive cam shaft 31.

Further, the tape 1 is provided via the ink ribbon 11.
Printing unit 32 including a thermal head for printing 0
And a platen holder 35 provided with a platen 33 that comes into contact with and separates from a heating element of the thermal head and a pressing roller 34 that presses the tape feeding roller 14, and are arranged in the housing portion 5 so as to face each other. Holder 35
The platen actuating lever 36 for rotating the cassette case 4 is arranged in the housing portion 5 so as to be vertically rotatable.
When the cover body 6 is closed so as to cover the storage portion 5 of the platen, the platen actuating lever 36 is pressed by the pressing portion 37 provided on the inner surface of the cover body 6, and the platen 33 is printed by the platen holder 35 via the platen holder 35. The surface of the heating element in 32 is pressed, and at the same time, the pressing roller 34 is pressed against the surface of the tape feeding roller 14 so that the tape 10 is printed from the cassette case 4 placed in the storage section 5 while being printed. It is configured.

On the contrary, when the cover body 6 is opened, the platen 33 attached to the platen holder 35 is separated from the printing portion 32 by the urging force of a spring (not shown), and the pressing roller 34 of the tape feed roller 14 is moved. It is configured to rotate in a direction away from the surface. It should be noted that the housing portion 5
A tape cutter 38 for cutting the fed tape 10 in the width direction is provided on one side of the upper and lower cases 3 and 2 adjacent to.

Next, the configurations of the cassette case 4 and the tape case 12 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, an ink ribbon 11 is stored in a synthetic resin cassette case 4, and a tape case 12 containing a printing tape 10 is attached to and detached from the cassette case 4. The cassette case 4 can be freely mounted, and the upper surface of the cassette case 4 is open. The receptor type tape 10 in the present embodiment is printed on the surface facing the ink ribbon 11, an adhesive layer is pre-applied to the back side of the tape 10, and a release tape is temporarily adhered to this adhesive layer. There is.

FIG. 4 shows the upper surface of the storage portion 16 of the ink ribbon 11 in the cassette case 4 and the tape feed roller 14.
2 is a plan view with a cover plate 15 for integrally covering the upper surface of the ink ribbon 11 removed, in which an accommodating portion 16 of the ink ribbon 11 is arranged in an inner diameter portion of the cassette case 4. The storage section 1
The ink ribbon 11 pulled out from the ink ribbon winding reel 17 in 6 is discharged from one of the two guide rollers 18 on the outer wall 4b surrounding the printing portion 32.
After being discharged to the tape, the print portion 32 is attached to the tape 10 substantially parallel to the tape 10 and the entrance 21 near the tape feed roller 14 is provided.
Is wound around the ribbon take-up spool 13 via
A back tension member 22 is provided on the ink ribbon take-up reel 17, and a reverse rotation preventing spring member 23 is provided on the ribbon take-up spool 13.

A housing portion 4c of the case into which the tape case 12 is fitted from above is arranged on the outer periphery of the housing portion 16 of the ink ribbon 11, and is connected to the housing portion 4c to form a guide groove 24 having an open upper surface. It is formed along the outer periphery of the storage portion 16. The tape case 1 along the guide groove 24
The tape 10 drawn out from the tape 2 is attached to the outer surface (wide surface) of the ink ribbon 11 at the printing portion 32. In the vicinity of the discharge port 19 of the ribbon 11, the width surface and the upper and lower longitudinal edges of the tape 10 do not contact (interfere) with other members such as the platen holder 35 when the cassette case 4 is attached / detached, and the outer wall of the cassette case 4 is prevented. 4a and the tip portion 15a of the cover plate 15 are covered and protected.

As shown in FIGS. 8 to 11, the synthetic resin tape case 12 communicates with the tape winding housing portion 25 having a substantially cylindrical shape in plan view, and the winding housing portion 25 to the guide groove 24. And the guide groove portion 26 surrounding a part of the outer circumference of the storage portion 16, and
The guide groove portion 26, which is a part of the path for transporting 0, is formed such that the section from the winding storage portion 25 to the start end of the guide groove 24 is open on the upper surface.

The tape 1 is placed in the winding storage portion 25.
Tape reel 2 with the end of 0 joined with adhesive tape
7 is rotatably disposed on the spacer sheet 28, and a disc-shaped tape cap 29 made of a transparent plate for covering the upper surface of the winding storage portion 25 has a lower surface on which an engaging groove 27 a of the tape reel 27 is provided. An engaging projection 29a that is detachably fitted to the tape cap 29 is integrally projected. On the upper surface of the tape cap 29, a knob 29b that the user holds with a finger and turns is integrally projected.
By the rewinding means configured in this way, prior to removing the tape case 12 from the cassette case 4,
The tape 10 can be rewound in the direction of the winding storage portion 25. Further, as will be described later, even when performing overprinting on a portion which has been printed once, the work of returning the tip of the tape 10 which has passed through the printing section 32 to the original position can be executed very easily.

The circumference of the winding storage section 25 is
As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, when the window portion 40 is bored and the tip of the tape 10 enters the winding storage portion 25,
By turning the width surface of the tape wound by the user's fingers,
The tip of the tape 10 can be easily extended to the guide groove 26. In this way, by forming the upper surface of the cassette case 4 into an open shape, the cover body 6
When the cassette case 4 is opened, even if the cassette case 4 is mounted in the housing portion 5 of the printing tape making apparatus 1, the tape case 12
It is possible to easily replace only the tape case 12 by replacing the tape case 12 by replacing the upper surface of the guide groove 24 in the cassette case 4 and / or the guide groove portion 26 in the tape case 12.
The user picks the tape 10 with his or her finger at the guide groove 24 or / and the guide groove portion 26, and the tape 10
Of the ink ribbon 11 toward the discharge port 19 of the ink ribbon 11.

The cassette case 4 has six holes which are pre-positioned according to the ink color of the ink ribbon 11 mounted on the cassette case 4, the color and paper quality of the printing tape 10, the type of tape width, and the like. The detection target portion 41 is shaped like a limit switch provided in the storage portion 5 and can be detected by the detection portion 42. In this case, the tape case 12
The tape 10 in the tape case 12 is replaced with respect to the cassette case 4 so that the projection-shaped detected portion 43 protruding downwardly is fitted into the hole-shaped detected portion 41.
It is possible to discriminate the color and so on.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 2, 5 and 7, the central portion 14a of the tape feed roller 14 is formed to have a small diameter, and the upper and lower guide portions 14b and 14b are formed to have a large diameter. A tape outlet 44 is provided in the cassette case 4 near the feed roller 14, and a slide 45 is projected from the tape outlet 44 toward the central portion 14a having the small diameter. The surface of the slide 45 is set so as to be located inside (radially inside) the outer peripheral surface of the large-diameter guide portion 14a, whereby the tip (free end) of the tape 10 has a curl. Even if curled up, the tape is smoothly guided to the tape outlet 44.

The cassette case 4 has a tape 10
A stopper means is provided for positioning the tip position of the tape when pulling out (feeding) the tape or for aligning the printing position when executing the overprinting described later. As one example thereof, an abutting step portion 46 with which the leading edge of the tape 10 abuts is formed on the base side surface of the slide 45 (see FIG. 7), and the leading end of the tape 10 pulled out from the cassette case 4 is formed. It is designed to determine the position of.

Next, the usage of the cassette case 4 and the tape case 12 having the above construction will be described. First,
In the cassette case 4 in which the red ink ribbon 11 is stored, the user loosens the ink ribbon 11 by rotating the crown portion of the ribbon take-up spool 13 projecting from the cover body 15 with a finger. Next, when the cover body 6 of the printing tape creating apparatus 1 is opened, the platen 33 and the pressing roller 34 in the platen holder 35 rotate so as to retract from the printing unit 32 and the tape feeding roller 14. The cassette case 4 is set in the accommodation portion 5 of the printing tape making apparatus 1, and then the tape case 12 in which the yellow tape 10 is accommodated is fitted and set in the case accommodation portion 4c. As a result, the open top guide groove portion 26 of the tape case 12 communicates with the open top guide groove 24 of the cassette case 4.

In this case, when the tip of the tape 10 is not pulled out into the guide groove portion 26 of the tape case 12, before inserting the tape in the cassette case 4, put a finger into the window 40 to insert the tape winding storage portion 25. The width surface of the tape 10 inside is pushed and rotated so that the tip portion of the tape 10 is positioned in the guide groove portion 26. When the user picks the tip of the tape 10 with his / her finger and sends it out from the guide groove portion 26 in the direction of the guide groove 24, and further repeats the operation of sending the tape 10 at the guide groove 24, the tape 1
The leading edge of 0 passes along the outer surface of the ink ribbon 11 at the discharge port 19 between the printing unit 32 and the platen 33, and is then conveyed toward the tape feed roller 14. At the 14 points of the tape feed roller, even if the tip (free end) of the tape 10 is curled due to the curl, it is smoothly guided to the point before the tape outlet 44 along the surface of the slide 45. In this case, in the contact step portion 46 provided on the surface of the slide 45 on the base side,
Since the leading edge of the tape 10 contacts, the cassette case 4
The position of the tip of the tape 10 pulled out from the
Positioned.

As described above, by forming the upper surface of the cassette case 4 so that the cover body 6 is opened, even if the cassette case 4 is mounted in the housing portion 5 of the printing tape making apparatus 1. , The tape case 12 can be easily replaced. In addition, the guide groove 24 in the cassette case 4
Or / and the guide groove portion 26 in the tape case 12
When the tape case 12 is exchanged, it is used at the guide groove 24 or / and the guide groove 26 when the tape case 12 is mounted in the cassette case 4 when the tape case 12 is replaced. The operator picks the tape 10 with his / her finger and attaches the tip of the tape 10 to the ink ribbon 1
It is designed to be easily transported from the first discharge port 19 to the tape outlet 44.

As described above, the cassette case 4 and the tape case 1
The second set and the positioning and setting work of the tape 10 are completed. Next, when the cover body 6 of the printing tape creating apparatus 1 is closed, the platen actuating lever 36 is rotated, the platen holder 35 is moved into the accommodating portion 5, and the platen 33 is the tape at the printing portion 32. 10 and the ink ribbon 11 are press-contacted with each other, and the pressing roller 34 presses the tip end side of the tape 10 with the guide portion 14b of the tape feed roller 14 and press-contacts. At this time, the curled state of the tape 10 changes at the contact step portion 46, and the leading edge of the tape 10 can advance to the tape outlet 44.

Subsequently, the user turns on the power supply of the printing tape making apparatus 1 and inputs a text sentence to be printed by operating the keys of the keyboard portion 7 while watching the display on the display portion 9 such as a liquid crystal display. When the print key (not shown) is pressed after the input, the print menu is displayed on the display unit 9. Here, on one kind of tape 10 (yellow tape 10 in the embodiment), arbitrary characters (may be plural characters) in the text sentence are printed by the red ink ribbon 11, and Black ink ribbon 11
The operation of printing will be described.

To execute this color-separated division printing, select "division printing mode" from the print menu.
The input text sentence is displayed again on the display unit 9. Next, in order to specify the portion of the character to be printed first, the cursor is moved to the left or right, and the cursor is moved to the first portion of the character string not to be printed in the character string on the display unit 9 to select not to print. When a command switch (for example, an up arrow key (↑) and the same applies hereinafter) is pressed, the character disappears from the display section 9 and becomes a blank section. By repeating this operation, you can specify the first part of multiple characters that should not be printed. When the cursor is moved and set to the "confirmation" display portion at the end of the text and the print command key is pressed, the first printing operation is started. In this printing operation, the part of the character that is not printed is left blank and the other characters (rows) are printed in red.

When the printing operation is completed, the display section 9 displays "Please set the tape". Here, when the user opens the cover body 6, a cover switch (not shown)
Is activated, the platen holder 35 is retracted away from the printing unit 32 and the like, the power supply of the printing tape making apparatus 1 is turned off, and the display on the display unit 9 disappears. Subsequently, when the user rotates the knob 29 in the tape case 12 in the direction of arrow A in FIGS. 2 and 3, the tape reel 27 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 10 via the tape cap 29. The tip end of the rewound tape 10 is separated from the printing section 32, passes through the discharge port 19 of the cassette case 4, and is pulled back from the guide groove 24 to the guide groove section 26.

Next, when the cassette case 4 is pulled up from the accommodating portion 5, the tape case 12 can be removed together with the printing tape making apparatus 1. A tape case 1 in which this yellow tape 10 is stored in order to change the printing color.
2 is a cassette case 4 containing a red ink ribbon
Then, another cassette case 4 in which the black ink ribbon 11 is stored is set in the storage portion 5 of the printing tape making apparatus 1. In this case, the work for removing the slack of the ink ribbon 11 of the cassette case 4 is the same as described above. Next, the tape case 12 of the yellow tape 10 that has been printed for the first time is fitted into the accommodation portion 5 of the set cassette case 4, and the tape 10 is picked up with a finger in the same manner as described above, and the printing portion is inserted from the guide groove 24. 32 and the tape feed roller 14 are fed. Also in this case, if the tip of the tape 10 is set so as to come into contact with the contact step portion 46,
The position of the second printing after that can be accurately printed on a portion which was not printed in the first printing operation.

Next, when the cover body 6 is closed, the cover switch is actuated and the power is turned on, and the above-mentioned "Please set the tape" display on the display unit 9 is restored. Since the setting of the tape case 12 is completed, when the return key is pressed, the display section 9 displays "Do you want to continue the divided print mode (Y / N)?". Press the Y key to continue division printing. Then, the erased character appears as the first (previously) non-printed portion on the display unit 9, while the previously printed character portion is displayed as black (■).

When printing all the areas that were not printed last time (first time), move the cursor to the "fixed" area at the end of the sentence, and press the print command key to start the second printing operation Will be printed as. When printing only a part of the character string that was not printed the first time in black, specify only the part that you do not want to print in the same way as in the first operation, and then press the print command key. Execute the second printing operation.

In this way, the tape 10 of one color
It is possible to print a plurality of characters of different colors. In this way, when printing of all texts is completed by repeating printing several times, "Do you want to continue split print mode (Y / N)" appears, so press the N key to finish. . When the Y key is pressed, the message "Please set the tape" is displayed. Therefore, it is sufficient to continue the above-mentioned operation by repeating the printing operation in which the designated characters are corrected and the color is changed.

As described above, the plurality of cassette cases 4 in which the ink ribbons 11 having different colors of ink are stored
And a tape case 1 containing tapes 10 of different colors
If 2 is prepared, the color of the tape 10 and the color of the ink can be freely combined, and the combination of the color of the tape 10 and the color of the ink can be combined with a small number of types of cassette case 4 and tape case 12. Many types can be selected.

Then, after the tape case 12 is once removed from the cassette case 4 and another tape case 12 is incorporated, the tape 10 in the tape case 12 is removed.
When the ink ribbon 11 and the tape 10 are overlapped and attached in the vicinity of the printing portion 32 or the discharge port 19, the guide groove portion 26 of the tape case 12 having an upward opening shape and / or the upper opening of the cassette case 4 is opened. The tape 10 may be picked up with a finger at the position of the guide groove 24 and conveyed in the direction of the printing unit 32 or the discharge port 19.

In other words, in the cassette case 4, the ink ribbon 11 is already arranged in the direction from the discharge port 19 toward the printing portion 32. When the cassette case and the tape case are assembled so that the tape 10 already exposed from the tape case is moved in the width direction and attached, the edges of the tape 10 and the ink ribbon 11 along the both widths are Interfering with each other, the tape 10 or the ink ribbon 1
Although there is a risk that the edge of No. 1 will be twisted or the ink ribbon 11 made of a weak material will be cut off, the tape 10 pulled out from the tape case 12 mounted on the cassette case 4 will be broken in the longitudinal direction (according to the present invention). (Transfer direction)
When the tape 10 and the ink ribbon 11 are moved along, it is possible to attach the tape 10 and the ink ribbon 11 in a state where the both wide surfaces thereof face each other, and it is possible to easily avoid damage to the tape 10 or the ink ribbon 11 and defective attachment of both. Of.

Incidentally, on the upper surface side of the cassette case 4, the guide groove 24 as a conveying path of the tape 10 is open upward, or the tape 1 in the tape case 12 is formed.
If either one of the guide groove portions 26 as the transport path of 0 is open upward, even if the cassette case 4 in which the tape case 12 is set is set in the housing portion 5 of the printing tape making apparatus 1 in advance. With the cover body 6 open, the tape 10 can be easily pulled out from the tape case 12 toward the printing portion 32 with a finger.

The guide groove 24 and the guide groove portion 26 may be opened on the lower surface side of the cassette case 4, or the guide groove 24 and the guide groove portion 26 may be opened on the side surface side of the cassette case 4. The tape 10 may be fed in the direction of the printing unit 32 by putting a finger on the wide outer peripheral surface of the tape 10 in the transport path. In this case, a separate cover body may be detachably attached to the upper surface side of the cassette case 4 for covering the entire upper surface side of the tape case 12.

Further, the window portion 40 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the winding storage portion 25 in the tape case 12 is made to face an operation hole (not shown) formed or cut out on the side surface of the cassette case 4, and the cassette case is formed. 4 From the outside, the window 40
The tape 10 may be sent out by inserting a finger into the. Further, in the display of the display unit 9, when it is desired to modify the character at the (■) portion printed last time (the same applies to the previous time, etc.), for example, when it is desired to use a edging character to give a stereoscopic effect to the character, or the character decoration Therefore, when you want to print the character frame with the second color ink ribbon, move the cursor to the above (■) position, press the character edging designation key or edging frame designation key, and press the print command key. With this, it is possible to create a shape in which a predetermined border character or a character string is surrounded by a decorative frame.

Such an overprinting operation can be performed even when printing with one color ink ribbon on one type of color tape. In that case, the first printed portion is the printing portion 32. Cover body 6 to return to
Open the tape cap 29 in the tape case 12
Is rotated in the direction of arrow A, the tape 10 is rewound until the tip thereof is positioned at the contact step portion 46, and then the cover body 6 is closed, the cover switch is activated and the power is turned on.
The above-mentioned "Please set the tape" display on the display unit 9 is restored. Since the setting of the tape case 12 is completed, when the return key is pressed, the display section 9 displays "Do you want to continue the divided print mode (Y / N)?".

Here, the Y key is pressed. In the display of the display unit 9, when you want to modify the character at the (■) part printed last time (the same applies to the previous time, etc.), for example, if you want to make it a edging character to give a three-dimensional effect, or for character decoration When you want to print the character frame, move the cursor to the above (■), press the character edging specification key or the edging frame specification key, and press the print command key. It is possible to create a shape that surrounds the area with a decorative frame.

The rewinding means for rewinding the tape 10 to the side of the winding housing portion 25 of the tape case 12 is a tape cap with an engaging projection 29a that fits in an engaging groove 27a formed in the end surface of the tape reel 27. In addition to the embodiment in which the entire 29 is rotated, another handle member (not shown) may be rotatably attached to the central portion of the tape cap 29, and the engaging protrusion 29a may be provided on this handle member. is there.

By providing the tape rewinding means for the tape 10 in the tape case 12 as described above, when the input text sentence is trial-printed, the tape can be repeatedly printed on a portion of an appropriate length at the tip of the tape. After the printing operation, the tape 10 may be rewound by a predetermined length. As a means for locating the print start position such as the tip end position of the tape 10, as shown in FIG. A light reflection type photo sensor 47 as a contact type sensor is provided, and when the photo sensor 47 senses the tip of the tape 10 which is conveyed while being sandwiched between the pressing roller 34 as the tape conveying means and the tape feeding roller 14. The printing operation may be started.
In addition, a photo sensor (not shown) protruding upwardly from the accommodating portion 5 is provided with a guide groove 24 in the cassette case 4.
When the tape 10 is conveyed, a print start position mark preprinted on the back surface of the release tape (not shown) which is the back surface of the tape 10 is detected when the tape 10 is conveyed, and the print start operation is controlled by this detection signal. It may be configured as follows.

[0045]

As described above, claim 1
The invention as set forth in claim 1, wherein the printing tape is provided with a printing portion and a platen that is brought into contact with and separated from the printing portion, and is configured to print by passing an ink ribbon and a printing tape between them. It is a cassette case that is detachably mounted in the main body of the, and the cassette case in which the ink ribbon is stored has a storage portion for detachably mounting the tape case in which the printing tape is wound and stored. It is provided that at least a part of a tape path formed in the cassette case or the tape case for conveying the tape to the printing unit is opened so that the tape can be touched with a finger.

Therefore, when changing the combination of the color of the tape and the color of the ink ribbon, the tape case is once removed from the cassette case accommodating the ink ribbon, and another tape case is installed, When the tape in the tape case is conveyed in the direction of the printing section by pinching the tape with the finger at the open path of the tape case and / or the cassette case, the ink ribbon and the tape are superposed on each other in the vicinity of the printing section. This has the effect of making the installation work extremely simple.

Since the tape case is provided with rewinding means for rewinding the tape, the front end side of the already printed tape is kept away from the printing section before the tape case is removed from the cassette case. Thus, the pretreatment work for returning the tip end side of the already printed tape to the position of the printing portion for returning to the tape case side or performing the overprinting work is extremely easy.

Further, according to the first aspect of the present invention, since the cassette case is provided with the stopper means for positioning the leading end portion of the tape when the tape is pulled out, the printing position when executing the overprinting is performed. This has the effect of making it extremely easy to determine. In addition, claim 2
In the invention described in (1), since the printing tape creating apparatus is provided with a tape feeding unit that prints by passing the ink ribbon and the printing tape housed in the cassette case between the printing unit and the platen, printing is started. At the same time, it becomes easy to convey or bite the tip of the tape in the direction of the printing section, and when the tape is pulled out via the tape feeding means, the position of the tip of the tape or the print start position is detected. Since it is provided with the position detecting means, there is an effect that the printing start operation can be automatically performed in the overprinting or the like.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a printing tape producing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a cassette case accommodating a tape case.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the cassette case with the tape case removed.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the cassette case with a cover body removed.

5 is a view taken along the line VV of FIG.

6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI of FIG.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part of a tape feed roller portion.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the tape case.

9 is a side view taken along the line IX-IX in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a partially cutaway plan view of the tape case with the tape cap removed.

11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XI-XI of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Printing tape making device 4 cassette cases 4a, 4b outer wall 5 accommodation 6 cover body 10 tapes 11 ink ribbon 12 tape case 13 Ribbon take-up spool 14 Tape feeding roller 15 Cover plate 24 Guide groove 25 Tape winding storage 26 Guide groove 27 tape reel 27a engagement groove 29 tape cap 29a engagement protrusion 32 printing section 33 Platen 34 Pressing roller 35 Platen holder 45 slide 46 Abutment step 47 photo sensor

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) Reference JP-A-5-155067 (JP, A) JP-A-6-115234 (JP, A) JP-A-4-173381 (JP, A) JP-A-2- 56666 (JP, A) Actually open 6-53560 (JP, U) Actually open Sho 60-145064 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41J 32/00 B41J 3 / 36 B41J 17/32

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A printing tape producing apparatus comprising a printing section and a platen which comes into contact with and separates from the printing section, and is configured to pass an ink ribbon and a printing tape between them to perform printing. A cassette case that is detachably mounted in the main body, in which the cassette case in which the ink ribbon is stored is provided with a storage portion for detachably mounting the tape case in which the printing tape is wound and stored. , At least a part of a tape path formed in the cassette case or the tape case for transporting the tape to the printing unit is opened so that the tape can be touched with a finger, and And rewinding means for rewinding the tape, and stopper means for positioning the tip of the tape when the tape is pulled out. A cassette case for making printing tape. 2. The printing tape producing apparatus comprises a tape feeding means for passing an ink ribbon housed in a cassette case and a printing tape between the printing section and the platen for printing. An apparatus for producing a printing tape, comprising position detecting means for detecting a position of a tip end portion of the tape or a printing start position when the tape is pulled out through the tape.