JP3867183B2 - Printing apparatus and tape cassette used therefor - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a printing apparatus that performs color printing using a plurality of colors of ink and a tape cassette that houses a tape as a printing medium used for the printing apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, a tape printer that prints a color image by sequentially transferring yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) ink held by a color ink ribbon on a print medium tape has been put into practical use. Yes.
[0003]
This tape printer includes a transport mechanism for transporting a color ink ribbon (hereinafter referred to as an ink ribbon) and a print medium tape (hereinafter referred to as a tape), and a thermal head in which heating elements are arranged in the width direction of the tape and the ink ribbon. Including a printing mechanism, a cutter mechanism provided at the tape outlet, and sensors for detecting marks attached to the ink ribbon and the tape. A configuration is adopted in which only the tape is conveyed back to the upstream side.
[0004]
In this tape printer, a color image is printed while repeating the cueing of each color ink on the ink ribbon, the printing with each color ink, and the reverse conveyance to the printing start position of the tape. Specifically, this printing process includes (1) Y ink cueing, (2) reverse tape transport, (3) Y ink printing and M ink cueing, (4) tape reverse transport, 5) Printing with M ink and C ink cueing, (6) Reverse transport of tape, and (7) Printing with C ink are performed. Of these procedures, the odd number transports the tape and the ink ribbon to the downstream side simultaneously, and the even number transports only the tape reversely upstream by the same amount as the transport amount to the downstream side.
[0005]
The ink ribbon is provided with a cue mark at the head position of each of the Y, M, and C inks arranged in a surface sequence in the longitudinal direction, and the tape is attached to the back surface of the printing tape to be printed. A release paper is detachably attached via an adhesive, and position marks are printed on the release paper at an equal pitch with black ink along the longitudinal direction.
[0006]
The head of each color ink on the ink ribbon is detected by detecting the cue mark with a sensor, and the amount of tape transport is managed by counting the position mark during reciprocal transport of the tape.
[0007]
Recently, in addition to an adhesive type tape in which a printed tape is attached to an object with an adhesive on the back side, a magnetic type tape-like print medium that is adsorbed by a magnetic force to a whiteboard or the like has been developed. This magnet-type tape-shaped printing medium contains a tape member in which a printing tape and a magnetic tape are laminated and a monochrome ink ribbon of black or the like in a cassette, which is mounted on a tape printing device for thermal transfer to the tape member. Printing is performed. Since this magnet type tape-shaped print medium is not color printing, no position mark is attached.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, there has conventionally been a magnetic-type tape-shaped printing medium for monochrome printing or a tape cassette storing the same, but a color printing printing medium or a tape cassette storing the same has not existed.
[0009]
Therefore, development of a magnet-type tape-shaped print medium for color printing has been desired. However, since there is already an adhesive type tape-shaped print medium for color printing, it can be easily realized if the technique is used to print a position mark on the back surface of the magnetic tape.
[0010]
However, the surface of the magnetic tape is generally brownish brown, etc. If the position marks are printed at an equal pitch using white ink so that it can be easily detected by the sensor, the ink coating thickness must be increased to some extent. The surface of the magnetic tape, which is the contact surface to the adherend such as a whiteboard, is uneven due to the ink coating layer and the contact surface is reduced, and a distance is created between the magnetic tape and the adherend surface. The suction force of the tape will decrease. For this reason, in order to further increase the attracting force, waste such as the need to increase the magnetic force by increasing the thickness of the magnetic tape occurs. The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and a printing apparatus that prints a color image using a printing tape including a magnetic layer that does not require printing marks for controlling a transport distance, and the magnetic layer. It is an object of the present invention to provide a tape cassette that contains a printing tape including a plurality of color ink regions together with an ink ribbon arranged therein and supplies the printing tape to the printing apparatus.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
That is, the printing apparatus according to the present invention includes a printing tape including a magnetic layer whose magnetic characteristics regularly change along the longitudinal direction, and a conveying unit that reciprocates and conveys the printing tape, A printing unit that prints the printing tape using a plurality of different color inks at each of a plurality of forward and backward conveyances of the printing tape by the conveyance unit; and a magnetic property of the printing tape that is reciprocally conveyed by the conveyance unit. A detecting means for detecting a change, a counting means for counting the number of changes in the magnetic property detected by the detecting means during each of the forward and backward conveyance of the printing tape, and the forward conveyance of the counting means. Count during the time and during the reverse conveyance The amount of reverse conveyance after the printing of the ink of the predetermined color is Above Printing with specified color ink When of Going A conveyance control unit configured to control conveyance of the printing tape by the conveyance unit so as to be equal to a conveyance amount.
[0012]
According to the printing apparatus configured as described above, the detecting means for detecting the magnetic characteristics regularly changing along the longitudinal direction of the printing tape is provided, and the change in the magnetic characteristics detected by the detecting means is detected. Based on this, the conveyance amount of the printing tape is controlled by the conveyance control means.
[0013]
The tape cassette according to the present invention is round trip Detects changes in magnetic properties of conveyed tape-like print media At the same time, the number of changes in magnetic properties is counted during each of the forward and backward conveyances, and based on the count value By controlling the reciprocating conveyance amount of the print medium With multiple colors of ink A tape cassette mounted and used in a printing apparatus configured to print a color image, An ink receiving layer is provided on one surface, and an N pole and an S pole are alternately arranged on the other surface opposite to the one surface with a full width in the width direction and a constant width along the longitudinal direction. Can be attracted to a predetermined object by its magnetic force. Magnetic layer Is provided , In the longitudinal direction A printing tape as the printing medium in which a change in magnetic properties of the magnetic layer can be detected by the printing device; By the printing device The printing tape Against the ink receiving layer Color image By thermal transfer It comprises an ink ribbon in which a plurality of color ink areas for printing are regularly arranged, and a case containing the printing tape and the ink ribbon.
[0014]
The tape cassette configured as described above has an ink ribbon in which the printing tape has a magnetic characteristic in which the magnetic characteristic regularly changes along the longitudinal direction, and ink for printing a color image is arranged on the printing tape. At the same time, it is housed in a case, and color printing can be performed under printing tape conveyance control utilizing regular changes due to magnetic characteristics.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[0016]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of a color printer according to an embodiment of a printing apparatus of the present invention.
[0017]
As shown in FIG. 1, a keyboard 12 and a liquid crystal display unit 13 are provided on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 11, and a cassette housing unit 15 covered with an openable / closable lid 14 is provided.
[0018]
The keyboard 12 includes a power key 12a, a character / symbol input key 12b for inputting data of characters and symbols, a print key 12c operated when executing printing processing of the input character string, and the like.
[0019]
Reference numeral 16 denotes a tape discharge port through which printed magnetic tape T (printing tape) is discharged to the outside of the apparatus main body 11.
[0020]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the color printer of this embodiment.
[0021]
As shown in the figure, this color printer includes a control unit 21, a keyboard 12, a ROM 22, a RAM 23, a character generator 24, a display unit 13, and a printer unit 25.
[0022]
The control unit 21 is constituted by a CPU (central processing unit), and includes a keyboard 12, ROM 22, RAM 23, character generator 24, display unit 13, thermal head drive circuit 28 for driving the thermal head 26, a platen roller 30, and a tape supply shaft 32. , A motor drive circuit 29 for driving the step motor 27 for driving the ink ribbon take-up shaft 31, a motor drive circuit 33b for driving the DC motor 33a for driving the cutter 33, and a tape detection for detecting a change in magnetic characteristics of the magnetic tape T. A part 35, a ribbon detection part 34 for detecting the cueing mark of the ink ribbon R, and an input / output control part (I / O) 36 are connected. The control unit 21 executes a program stored in the ROM 22 in response to a control signal input from the keyboard 12.
[0023]
The ROM 22 stores various processing programs including a printing process executed by the CPU 21 in advance, and stores necessary data in advance.
[0024]
The RAM 23 is used as a work area for processing programs executed by the CPU 21. In the RAM 23, storage areas for various data described later are secured.
[0025]
That is, 23a is an input buffer for storing code data input in response to an operation of the character / symbol input key 12b of the keyboard 12, and 23b is bitmap data corresponding to an image (character string) to be displayed on the display unit 13. The display buffer 23b is a print buffer for storing bitmap data (print image data) corresponding to an image (character string) to be printed by the printer unit 25.
[0026]
Reference numeral 23d denotes a transport amount counter in which a count value corresponding to the number of times of switching is counted and stored in accordance with the change in magnetic characteristics of the magnetic tape T by the tape detection unit 35, that is, the switching of poles (S, N). It is.
[0027]
The character generator 24 stores in advance a bitmap pattern corresponding to a character, number or symbol code input from the character / symbol input key 12b.
[0028]
The display unit 13 is configured by a liquid crystal display device, and displays an image corresponding to a character input from the keyboard 12 or an image (character string) to be printed.
[0029]
The printer unit 25 prints an image on the magnetic tape T by a thermal transfer method.
[0030]
The printer unit 25 includes a thermal head 26, a step motor 27, a thermal head drive circuit 28, a motor drive circuit, as shown in the block diagram of the circuit configuration of FIG. 2, the external perspective view of FIG. 3, and the schematic sectional view of FIG. 29, a platen roller 30, an ink ribbon take-up shaft 31, a tape supply shaft 32, a cutter 33, a DC motor 33a, a ribbon detector 34, a tape detector 35, and a motor drive circuit 33b.
[0031]
As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. Tape cassette 41 is detachably mounted. Tape cassette As shown in FIGS. 5, 6, and 7, a belt-like magnet tape T wound around a reel and three colors of ink of yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) are provided. An ink ribbon R having a predetermined width W, which is repeatedly arranged with a fixed length L, is accommodated in the case.
[0032]
FIG. Tape cassette It is a figure which shows the mode of the magnetic tape T accommodated in the case of 41, and the ink ribbon R. FIG. Tape cassette In the case 41, the magnetic tape pancake 44 wound around the tape core 43 with the print receiving surface of the magnetic tape T (the surface on which printing is performed by the ink ribbon R) being inward, and the ink surface of the ink ribbon R are A ribbon pancake 47 wound around the ribbon core 46 on the inside and a ribbon take-up core 48 that winds up the ink ribbon R that is unwound from the ribbon pancake 47 and used for printing on the magnetic tape T are housed. The upper surface is covered with a cover (not shown).
[0033]
FIG. 6 is a view showing the ink ribbon R. FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, the ink ribbon R has a width corresponding to the width of the magnet tape T. At the boundary portions of the Y, M, C, Y,... Inks of the ink ribbon R, black cue marks M1 to M3 for cueing the respective color inks are provided. The cue marks M1 to M3 have different lengths, and it is determined which color and which color boundary is based on the difference in length.
[0034]
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of the magnetic tape T. As shown in FIG. 7, the magnetic tape T is processed into an elongated tape shape. For example, a substrate 50 (for example, a thickness of 0.3 mm) made of ferrite joined with chlorinated polyethylene as a binder, for example, PET. In order to bond the recording receiver 51 (for example, 38 μm in thickness), which is based on a film made of (polyethylene terephthalate) or the like and provided with a layer for receiving ink or the like on one side thereof, and the substrate 50 and the recording receiver 51. The pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 52 (for example, a thickness of 15 μm). An ink receiving layer 55 is provided on the surface of the recording receiver 51 opposite to the surface facing the adhesive layer 52. The surface of the substrate 50 opposite to the surface facing the adhesive layer 52 is a magnetized surface 53, and the magnetized surface 53 has the same magnetization direction as the width direction of the magnet tape T. Is provided with a magnetized band 54. The magnetized band 54 is provided on the magnetic tape T so that the magnetic characteristics regularly change along the longitudinal direction. For example, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the N pole and the S pole are continuous. Are alternately magnetized. Further, the switching of the poles of the magnetized band 54 is magnetized so as to have a certain width (for example, 2 mm).
[0035]
The thermal head 26 shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 includes a plurality of heating elements 26 a arranged in a line in the width direction of the magnetic tape T. When the thermal head drive circuit 28 drives the thermal head 26 according to print data described later, the heating element 26a generates heat, and the ink disposed on the ink ribbon R is thermally transferred to the magnet tape T.
[0036]
The thermal head 26 is rotationally driven about a shaft 26b by a step motor 27 and a driving mechanism (not shown), and the heating element 26a passes through the ink ribbon R and the magnet tape T when the ink is headed and an image is printed. 30 is pressed. The heating element 26a is released from the platen roller 30 when the ink is not being cued or the image is being printed, such as a rewinding operation of the magnetic tape T described later. That is, when the thermal head 26 is pressed against the platen roller 30, the magnetic tape T is transported and discharged and the ink ribbon R is transported and wound in the direction of the arrow A by the rotational drive of the platen roller 30 and the ink ribbon winding shaft 31. When the thermal head 26 is released from the platen roller 30 with the same transport amount, only the magnetic tape T is in the direction of arrow B as the magnetic tape T is rewound by driving the tape supply shaft 32. Is transported in reverse. The thermal head 26 is in a state in which the heating element 26 a is released from the platen roller 30 in an initial state such as when the cartridge 41 is attached or detached.
[0037]
The step motor 27 is driven by a motor drive circuit 29 and drives the thermal head 26, the platen roller 30, the ink ribbon take-up shaft 31, and the tape supply shaft 32 through a drive mechanism (not shown). The DC motor 33a is driven by the motor drive circuit 33b to drive the cutter 33.
[0038]
The platen roller 30 is driven by a step motor 27, and is rotated in the direction indicated by an arrow C in FIG. 4 when ink is cued and an image is printed. Thereby, the magnetic tape T and the ink ribbon R are conveyed together in the direction indicated by the arrow A in FIG.
[0039]
The ink ribbon take-up shaft 31 is driven together with the platen roller 30 by a step motor 27 to take up the used ink ribbon at the time of printing and take up the ink ribbon at the time of ink cueing.
[0040]
The tape supply shaft 32 is in a released state during image printing, and is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow E in FIG. 4 according to the rotation of the platen roller 13. The tape supply shaft 32 is driven by the step motor 27 when the printing of the image with the ink of any one of Y, M, and C is completed and when the next ink cueing is completed, and the arrow F in FIG. It is rotated in the direction shown. As a result, the magnetic ribbon T alone is reversely conveyed in the direction indicated by the arrow B in FIG.
[0041]
The cutter 33 is automatically operated when the DC motor 33a is driven after printing on the magnetic tape T, and cuts the magnetic tape T on which an image is printed at an appropriate position.
[0042]
Here, the thermal head 26, the platen roller 30, the ink ribbon take-up shaft 31, and the tape supply shaft 32 are driven by the step motor 27, and the cutter 33 is driven by the DC motor 33a, but each is driven by another motor. You may comprise.
[0043]
The ribbon detection unit 34 is configured by a light reflection type sensor, Tape cassette In the state where 41 is attached to the printer unit 25, Tape cassette A light emitting portion and a light receiving portion of the sensor are arranged at positions facing the conveyance path of the ink ribbon R partially exposed from 41. The light from the light emitting part of the ribbon detection part 34 is reflected by the Y, M, and C ink regions of the ink ribbon R and received by the light receiving part, but is absorbed and received by the black parts of the cue marks M1 to M3. It will not be done. The head positions of the Y, M, and C inks arranged on the ink ribbon R are detected by detecting the lengths of the black portions of the cue marks M1 to M3 by the ribbon mark detector 34a.
[0044]
FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the tape detection unit 35. As shown in FIG. 8, the tape detection unit 35 includes a magnetic sensor 35a, an A / D conversion unit 35b, and a binarization unit 35c. The tape detection unit 35 detects magnetic characteristics that change as the magnet tape T is transported. The tape transport position is detected by counting the number of changes. The magnetic sensor 35a is composed of, for example, a magnetoresistive element, detects a change in strength of the magnetic field, and outputs a signal corresponding to the strength level. A signal representing the strength level of the magnetic field detected by the magnetic sensor 35 a is A / D converted by the A / D converter 35 b, further binarized by the binarizer 35 c, and output to the controller 21.
[0045]
The control unit 21 monitors the output of the tape detection unit 35 (binarization unit 35c) at a predetermined time period during the reciprocating conveyance of the magnetic tape T. For example, when the magnetic tape T changes from "0" to "1", the magnetic tape It is counted that the position of switching of the pole of the T magnetic band 54 has passed. Conversely, counting may be performed when the value changes from “1” to “0”.
[0046]
Next, the operation of the printer unit 25 during color printing will be described.
[0047]
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the printing process of the color printer.
[0048]
The keyboard 12 has a print key 12c, and the printing operation is started by operating the print key 12c.
[0049]
When the printing operation is started, predetermined initial settings are made (step A1).
[0050]
When the print data stored in the print buffer 23c in the RAM 23 is color-printed in the printer unit 25, first, the cueing process of the yellow ink Y is performed (step ABy).
[0051]
That is, the ink ribbon take-up shaft 31 and the platen roller 30 are rotated by driving the step motor 27 so that the ink ribbon R and the magnet tape T are conveyed together in the direction indicated by the arrow A in FIG. Then, when the ribbon detection unit 34 detects the cueing mark M1 of the ink ribbon R, the cueing process of the yellow ink Y ends. During this cueing process, the amount of magnet tape T that is transported with the ink ribbon R is counted based on the output of the tape detector 34. As described above, when the magnetic tape T passes through the tape detection unit 34 at the fixed position, it appears in the switching output of the magnetic poles, so the number is up-counted by the transport amount counter 23d. When the heading of the Y ink is finished, the thermal head 26 is released from the platen roller 30 and the ribbon supply shaft 32 is rotated so that only the magnetic tape T is reversely conveyed in the direction indicated by the arrow B in FIG. A2). The reverse distance of the magnetic tape T is managed by counting down the carry amount counter 23d of the RAM 23 to zero based on the output signal from the tape detector 34.
[0052]
Next, in this state in which the thermal head 26 is pressed against the platen roller 30 via the ink ribbon R and the magnetic tape T, the thermal head drive circuit 28 moves the thermal head 26 in accordance with the print data stored in the print buffer 23c in the RAM 23. By driving, the heating element 26a generates heat, the Y ink arranged on the ink ribbon R is transferred to the magnetic tape T, and the motor drive circuit 29 drives the step motor 27 to drive the platen roller 30 and the ink ribbon. The shaft 31 is rotated, and the ink ribbon R and the magnetic tape T are conveyed together in the direction indicated by the arrow A in FIG. As a result, a Y ink color image is printed on the magnetic tape T. When the Y ink is printed, the carry amount of the magnetic tape T is up-counted based on the output of the tape detector 34 and stored in the carry amount counter 23d (step A3).
[0053]
Subsequent to the completion of the printing of the Y ink color image, the cueing process of the magenta ink M is performed while the magnet tape T and the ink ribbon R are conveyed further downstream. Also at this time, the carry amount of the magnetic tape T is up-counted based on the output of the tape detector 34, and the count value is added to the count value at the time of Y ink printing and stored in the carry amount counter 23d ( Step ABm).
[0054]
Next, the thermal head 26 is released from the platen roller 30, the ribbon supply shaft 32 is rotated, and only the magnetic tape T is reversely conveyed in the direction indicated by the arrow B in FIG. 4 (step A4). At this time, the carry amount of the magnet tape T in the reverse direction is managed by counting down to zero by the carry amount counter 23d of the RAM 23 based on the output signal from the tape detector 35.
[0055]
Next, the thermal head 26 is pressed against the platen roller 30 via the ink ribbon R and the magnet tape T. In this state, the thermal head drive circuit 28 drives the thermal head 26 in accordance with the print data stored in the print buffer 23c in the RAM 23 to cause the heating element 26a to generate heat, and the M color ink arranged on the ink ribbon R is magnetized. The platen roller 30 and the ink ribbon take-up shaft 31 are rotated by the motor drive circuit 29 driving the step motor 27 while being transferred to the tape T, and the ink ribbon R and the magnetic tape T are indicated by an arrow A in FIG. Are transported together in the direction. As a result, the print data of M color is printed on the magnetic tape T so as to overlap the print area printed with Y color ink (step A5).
[0056]
Next, C-color ink cueing processing is performed following the M-color ink printing processing (step ABc). Then, the magnetic tape T is reversely transported upstream by the same amount as the downstream transport amount during the M color ink printing process and the C color ink cueing process based on the output of the tape detector 35. (Step A6).
[0057]
Next, the print data of the C color ink is also printed in the same print area of the magnetic tape T in the same manner as the print data of the Y and M color inks (step A7).
[0058]
When the overprinting of the C color ink print data is completed, the motor drive circuit 29 continuously drives the step motor 27 to convey the magnet tape T in the direction indicated by the arrow A in FIG. Discharge out of the machine. (Step A8). In this state, the motor drive circuit 33b further operates the cutter 33 by driving the DC motor 33a to cut the magnet tape T (step A9).
[0059]
With the above operation, one color printing on the magnetic tape T is completed.
[0060]
In the above description, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the magnet tape T has a magnetic layer in which N poles and S poles are continuously and alternately magnetized with a constant width along the longitudinal direction. Although described, the N pole and the S pole may be magnetized discontinuously without being continuous, and the strength of the magnetized area is changed along the longitudinal direction of the tape by changing the magnitude of the magnetic force. May be provided. .
[0061]
Further, although the thermal transfer printer using the color ink ribbon has been described as an example, the present invention can be applied to an ink jet color printer.
[0062]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the tape cassette according to the present invention, since the transport distance of the printing tape is controlled by detecting the change in the magnetic property of the magnetic layer, the print marks for controlling the transport distance are not required. Printing tape can be used and its manufacture can be facilitated. Further, according to the printing apparatus according to the present invention, the transport distance of the print tape can be controlled by detecting the change in the magnetic property of the magnetic layer, and the print marks for controlling the transport distance are provided on the print tape. There is no need to provide it.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of a color printer according to an embodiment of a printing apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an electronic circuit of a color printer.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an external configuration in which a lid of a printer unit in a color printer is opened.
FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a printer unit extracted from a color printer.
[Figure 5] Tape cassette The figure which shows the mode of the magnetic tape T and the ink ribbon R which were accommodated in 41 cases.
FIG. 6 is installed in the printer unit of a color printer Tape cassette The top view which shows the structure of the ink ribbon incorporated in.
FIG. 7 is installed in the printer unit of a color printer. Tape cassette The figure which shows the detailed structure of the magnetic tape T incorporated in the inside.
FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the tape detection unit 35.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing print processing of a color printer.
[Explanation of symbols]
11 ... the device body,
12 ... keyboard,
12a ... Power key,
12b: Character / symbol input key,
12c: Print key,
13 ... Liquid crystal display,
14 ... the lid of the printer unit,
15 ... cassette housing part,
16 ... tape outlet,
21 ... Control unit (CPU),
22… ROM,
23 ... RAM,
23a ... input buffer,
23b ... display buffer,
23c ... print buffer,
23d ... Conveyance amount counter,
24 ... Character generator,
25 ... printer section,
26 ... thermal head,
26a ... heating element,
27 Step motor,
28 ... Thermal head drive circuit,
29 ... motor drive circuit,
30: Platen roller,
31 ... Ink ribbon take-up shaft,
32 ... tape supply shaft,
33 ... Cutter,
33a ... DC motor,
33b ... Motor drive circuit,
34 ... Ribbon detector,
35 ... tape detector,
41… Tape cassette ,
T ... tape
R: Ink ribbon,
M1 to M3: Ink cue marks.

Claims (3)

A printing tape including a magnetic layer whose magnetic properties change regularly along the longitudinal direction;
Conveying means for reciprocally conveying the printing tape;
Printing means for printing on the printing tape using a plurality of different color inks at each of the plurality of forward and backward conveyances of the printing tape by the conveying means;
Detecting means for detecting a change in magnetic properties of the printing tape that is reciprocally conveyed by the conveying means;
Counting means for counting the number of changes in magnetic characteristics detected by the detecting means during each of the forward and backward conveyance of the printing tape, and
Based on the往搬feed o'clock and counting of the recovery conveyance o'clock of said counting means, identical to the forward conveying amount when printing in the ink recovery conveyance amount of the predetermined color after printing a predetermined color ink has been completed A conveyance control means for controlling the conveyance of the printing tape by the conveyance means,
A printing apparatus comprising:   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing tape includes a magnetic layer in which N poles and S poles are alternately magnetized along a longitudinal direction. Changes in the magnetic properties of the tape-shaped print medium that is reciprocally conveyed are detected , and the number of changes in the magnetic properties is counted during each of the forward conveyance and the reverse conveyance, and the reciprocation of the print medium is performed based on the count value. A tape cassette used by being mounted on a printing apparatus configured to print a color image with a plurality of colors of ink by controlling a conveyance amount,
An ink receiving layer is provided on one surface, and on the other surface opposite to the one surface, the N pole and the S pole alternate with a full width in the width direction and a constant width along the longitudinal direction. A magnetic tape that is magnetized and is provided with a magnetic layer that can be attracted to a predetermined object by its magnetic force, and a printing tape as the printing medium that can be detected by the printing device in a change in magnetic properties of the magnetic layer in the longitudinal direction ;
An ink ribbon in which a plurality of color ink regions for regularly printing a color image by thermal transfer on the ink receiving layer of the printing tape by the printing device ;
A case containing the printing tape and the ink ribbon;
A tape cassette comprising:

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