JP4023847B2 - Tape cassette - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a tape cassette that is detachably mounted on a tape printer having a print head that prints on a tape-like medium using an ink ribbon.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a tape printing apparatus including a thermal head that prints characters, symbols, and the like using an ink ribbon on a print-receiving tape is known. As shown in FIG. 6, the tape printer 51 has a holding portion 54 for mounting a tape cassette 61 containing a print-receiving tape 62 formed on the back surface thereof. The holding portion 54 includes a tape cassette 61 in the tape cassette 61. A ribbon take-up drive shaft 55 for taking up the ink ribbon 64 and a tape feed roller drive shaft 56 for feeding the printing tape 62 are provided. When the tape cassette 61 is mounted on the holding portion 54, the ribbon take-up drive shaft 55 enters and fits into a hollow ribbon take-up spool 64b described later, and the roller drive shaft 56 is a hollow tape described later. The feed roller 68 enters and fits.
[0003]
The holding unit 54 is provided with a thermal head 57 for printing characters, symbols, and the like on the print-receiving tape 62. When the tape cassette 61 is mounted on the holding unit 54, the thermal head 57 is connected to the tape cassette. It arrange | positions so that it may be located in the opening part 68 of 61. FIG.
[0004]
As shown in FIG. 7, a tape tape 62a to be printed and a double-sided tape spool 63a are rotatably disposed in the tape cassette 61, and a transparent tape 62 to be printed is wound around the tape tape 62a to be printed. A double-sided tape 63 having a release paper attached to only one side is wound around the double-sided tape spool 63a.
[0005]
A ribbon supply spool 64a and a ribbon take-up spool 64b are rotatably disposed inside the tape cassette 61, and a thermal transfer ink ribbon (hereinafter simply referred to as an ink ribbon) 64 is ribbon before printing by the thermal head 57. It is wound around a supply spool 64a and is wound around a ribbon take-up spool 64b after printing.
[0006]
The print-receiving tape 62 reaches the roller entrance 66 from the print-tape spool 62a via the guide shaft 65 and passes under the tape press 67 to reach the outside from the tape feed roller 68.
[0007]
On the other hand, the ink ribbon 64 passes between the printing tape 62 and the guide shaft 65 from the ribbon supply spool 64a, reaches the roller entrance 66 while overlapping with the printing tape 62, and the traveling direction thereof is 180 through the peeling plate 69. Rotate to reach the ribbon take-up spool 64b. The peeling plate 69 is fixed at a position separated by a predetermined distance from the thermal head 57 to the downstream side in the traveling direction of the ink ribbon 64, and is for peeling the ink ribbon 64 from the print-receiving tape 62.
[0008]
The double-sided tape 63 extends from the double-sided tape spool 63a to the tape feed roller 68 and adheres to the printing surface of the print-receiving tape 62 to become the label tape 70 and to the outside.
[0009]
Inside the roller entrance 66, the opening 68 is opened so as to be surrounded by the ink ribbon 64 and the surrounding wall 71, so that the thermal head 57 can enter the opening 68. The thermal head 57 includes a heating element 57a arranged in a line at a tip thereof in a direction orthogonal to the feeding direction of the ink ribbon 64.
[0010]
A platen roller 73 and a driving roller 74 are rotatably held by a roller holder 72 supported in a swingable manner by the holding portion 54 of the tape printer 51. Then, when the platen roller 73 and the drive roller 74 are entered from the roller entrance 66 by a roller release lever 58 (see FIG. 6) that swings the roller holder 72, the printing target exposed at the roller entrance 66 is exposed. The tape 62 and the ink ribbon 64 are overlapped with each other and can be sandwiched between the heating elements 57a of the thermal head 57. On the other hand, on the downstream side, the drive roller 74 is overlapped with the tape feed roller 68 so that the print-receiving tape 62 is superposed and bonded to the double-sided tape 63.
[0011]
When the label tape 70 is produced by the conventional tape printer 51 configured as described above, the tape cassette 61 is first mounted on the holding portion 54 of the tape printer 51. Then, the ribbon take-up drive shaft 55 is fitted into the ribbon take-up spool 64 b and the tape feed roller drive shaft 56 is engaged with the tape feed roller 68. At the same time, the thermal head 57 enters the opening 68 of the tape cassette 61.
[0012]
Next, the roller holder 72 is swung by the operation of the roller release lever 58, the platen roller 73 and the drive roller 74 enter the roller entrance 66, and the platen roller 73 is overlapped with the print-receiving tape 62 and the ink ribbon 64 that overlap each other. Are sandwiched between the heat generating elements 57a, and the drive roller 74 sandwiches the overlapping print-receiving tape 62 and double-sided tape 63 with the tape feed roller 68.
[0013]
When the operator inputs a desired character and operates the print key, the heat generating element 57a of the thermal head 57 generates heat according to the input character or symbol while the printing tape 62 and the ink ribbon 64 are fed. As a result, the characters and symbols input to the print-receiving tape 62 are printed in an inverted state, and the double-sided tape 63 is adhered to the printed surface and discharged as a label tape 70. When the cutting lever 75 is swung in the arrow direction, the rotary cutter 76 rotates in the arrow direction, and the label tape 70 is cut.
[0014]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, since the ribbon take-up spool 64b is rotatably supported with respect to the tape cassette 61, the ribbon take-up spool 64b is opposite to the direction in which the ink ribbon 64 is taken up due to vibration or the like when removed from the tape printer 51. May rotate in the direction. This rotation causes slack in the ink ribbon 64, and when the tape cassette 61 is mounted on the tape printer 51, the slackened ink ribbon 64 is hooked on the thermal head 57 to cut the ink ribbon.
[0015]
If the ink ribbon 64 is slack, the winding of the ink ribbon 64 is delayed during printing, and the ink ribbon 64 does not peel from the printing tape 62 due to the action of the peeling plate 69 and overlaps the printing tape 62. Various problems such as entering between the tape feeding roller 68 and the driving roller 74 and being adhered to the double-sided tape 63 occur.
[0016]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a tape cassette in which an ink ribbon does not sag even when removed from a tape printer.
[0017]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve this object, the tape cassette according to claim 1 is detachably attached to a tape printer having a print head for printing on a tape-like medium using an ink ribbon, and the tape-like medium and ink are provided. In a tape cassette containing a ribbon, a take-up spool for taking up a used ink ribbon provided in the tape cassette, and the take-up spool in a state where the tape cassette is not attached to a tape printer. In this case, the take-up spool is prevented from rotating in the direction opposite to the direction in which the ink ribbon is taken up. The winding spool is formed in a hollow shape, and the tape cassette is mounted on the tape printing device on the inner peripheral surface. An engagement projection that engages with the rotary shaft on the tape printing device side inserted into the hollow portion is formed, and the used ink ribbon is wound around an outer peripheral surface. Furthermore, ratchet teeth are formed at the upper end of the take-up spool, and the locking piece engages with the ratchet teeth in a state where the tape cassette is not mounted on the tape printer, A contact piece, which is one end, extends into the hollow portion of the take-up spool to prevent the rotation of the take-up spool, and when the tape cassette is mounted on the tape printer, the contact piece is inserted into the hollow portion. pushed upward into the rotary shaft, the locking piece is configured so as to be separated from the ratchet teeth, the tape cassette, the lid is provided, the ribbon take-up spool of said lid Is formed at the position facing the upper end of the ribbon take-up spool, and the base end of the locking piece is fixed to a portion of the lid in the vicinity of the opening. A narrow portion is formed in an intermediate portion that extends toward the take-up spool and faces the ribbon take-up spool, and the distance between the base end of the locking piece and the portion that engages with the ratchet teeth is It is configured to be smaller than the distance between the base end and the contact piece .
[0018]
In the tape cassette according to claim 1, configured in this manner, when not attached to the tape printer, the locking piece engages with the take-up spool and takes up the ink ribbon of the take-up spool. Is prevented from rotating in the reverse direction, and when the tape is mounted on the tape printer, the locking piece is disengaged from the take-up spool and the take-up spool is allowed to rotate.
[0019]
[0020]
Also, the locking piece extending toward the ribbon take-up spool has a narrow portion facing the ribbon take-up spool, and the portion beyond the narrow portion is inserted into the hollow portion of the ribbon take-up spool from the opening. Is done.
[0021]
In addition to the configuration of the tape cassette according to claim 1 , the tape cassette according to claim 2 regulates movement in a direction orthogonal to the length direction of the locking piece on the upper surface of the lid. The restricting portion to be protruded is formed.
[0022]
In the tape cassette according to claim 2 configured as described above, in addition to the action of the invention according to claim 1 , the movement of the locking piece in the direction perpendicular to the length direction is restricted.
[0023]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the same members as those in the conventional apparatus are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
[0024]
The tape cassette 11 embodying the present invention is configured to be attachable to a holding portion 54 of a conventional tape printer, and includes a cassette body 12 and a lid 13. In the cassette body, a tape tape to be printed on which a tape to be printed is wound, a ribbon supply spool on which an ink ribbon is wound, a ribbon take-up spool 15 for winding an ink ribbon after printing, and a double-sided tape are wound. A tape feed roller 17 for feeding both tapes while adhering the double-sided tape to the double-sided tape spool and the print-receiving tape is rotatably arranged.
[0025]
The ribbon take-up spool 15 and the tape feed roller 17 are each formed in a hollow shape, and the bottom of the cassette body 12 is opposed to the ribbon take-up spool 15 and the tape feed roller 17 as shown in FIG. As shown, when the opening 19 is formed and the tape cassette 11 is mounted on the holding portion 54, the ribbon take-up drive shaft 55 disposed in the holding portion 54 passes through these openings to enter the ribbon take-up spool 15. Further, the roller drive shaft 56 enters the tape feed roller 17.
[0026]
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a plurality of engaging protrusions 15 a that protrude toward the center and have a predetermined length in the axial direction are formed on the inner peripheral surface of the hollow portion of the ribbon take-up spool 15. Has been. On the other hand, a protrusion 55 a having a predetermined length in the axial direction is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the ribbon take-up drive shaft 55, and the ribbon take-up drive shaft 55 enters the ribbon take-up spool 15 to enter the ribbon take-up spool 15. The protrusion of the take-up drive shaft 55 and the engagement protrusion of the ribbon take-up spool 15 are engaged, and the ribbon take-up spool rotates 15 times in synchronization with the rotation of the ribbon take-up drive shaft 55.
[0027]
The roller drive shaft 56 and the tape feed roller 17 are also formed with projections and engagement projections similar to those of the ribbon take-up drive shaft 55 and the ribbon take-up spool 15, and the roller drive shaft 56 is located inside the tape feed roller 17. As the roller drive shaft 56 rotates, the tape feed roller 17 is rotated.
[0028]
At a position facing the ribbon take-up spool 15 of the lid 13 of the tape cassette 11, an opening 21 is formed to look into the upper end of the ribbon take-up spool 15. One end of a locking spring 23 is fixed to the lid 13 in the vicinity of the opening 21. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, a locking hole 13a is formed in the lid 13, and a bent portion 23a formed at one end of the locking spring 23 is inserted into the locking hole 13a. One end of the locking spring 23 is fixed to the lid body 13 by engaging the tip of the bent portion 23 a with the back surface of the lid body 13.
[0029]
The locking spring 23 extends from the bent portion 23 a toward the ribbon take-up spool 15, and a narrow lock portion 23 is formed at an intermediate portion facing the ribbon take-up spool 15. On the other hand, ratchet teeth 15 b are formed at the upper end of the ribbon take-up spool 15, and the ribbon of the ribbon take-up spool 15 is engaged with the ratchet teeth 15 b and the engaging portion 23 b of the engaging spring 23. Rotation in the direction opposite to the winding direction is prevented. As shown in FIG. 4, the ratchet teeth 15b have an inclined surface, and the locking portion 23b can move on the inclined surface so that the locking portion 23b and the ratchet teeth 15b are engaged. Even in this state, the ribbon take-up spool 15 can only be rotated in the ribbon take-up direction.
[0030]
From the locking portion 23 b of the locking spring 23 to the other end, it is bent toward the cassette body 12 and enters the hollow portion of the ribbon take-up spool 15. The tip of the other end of the locking spring 23 is bent toward the lid, and a contact piece 23c that comes into contact with the tip of the ribbon take-up drive shaft 55 that has entered the hollow portion of the ribbon take-up spool 15; It has become. The contact piece 23c always enters from the upper end of the ribbon take-up spool 15 to a position toward the cassette body 13 by about 1/4 of the total length of the ribbon take-up spool 15 by the elastic force of the locking spring 23. After the contact piece 23c and the tip of the ribbon take-up drive shaft 55 come into contact with each other, the contact piece 23c is pushed upward as the ribbon take-up drive shaft 55 enters. With this push-up, the locking portion 23b moves upward against the elastic force of the locking spring 23, and the locking portion 23b moves away from the ratchet teeth 15b as shown in FIG. The combined state is released.
[0031]
On the upper surface of the lid 13, a restricting portion 25 that restricts the movement of the locking spring 23 in the direction orthogonal to the length direction is projected from the locking hole 13 a toward the opening 21. The restricting portion 25 is an inclined protrusion whose height gradually decreases as it moves away from the position close to the opening 21 of the lid 13, and the height of the restricting portion 25 is that of the ribbon winding drive shaft 55. It is formed so as to be higher than the uppermost position at the time of upward movement of the locking spring 23 with entry.
[0032]
In the tape cassette configured as described above, as shown in FIG. 4, the contact piece 23 c of the locking spring 23 is not attached to the ribbon take-up spool 15 when it is removed from the holding portion 54 of the tape printer 51. The locking portion 23 b is engaged with the ratchet teeth 15 b of the ribbon take-up spool 15 while entering the hollow portion. The engagement of the locking portion 23b and the ratchet teeth 15b prevents the ribbon take-up spool 15 from rotating in the direction opposite to the ribbon take-up direction, and even if the ribbon cassette 11 is vibrated, the taken-in ink ribbon is taken up. Will not sag.
[0033]
Even if the ink ribbon is slack, the ribbon take-up spool 15 can be rotated in the direction of taking up the ribbon, so that the operator can rotate the ribbon take-up spool 15 in the direction of taking up the ribbon to make ink. By winding the ribbon, the slack of the ink ribbon can be removed.
[0034]
When the tape cassette 11 is mounted on the holding portion 54 of the tape printer 51, the ribbon take-up drive shaft 55 enters the ribbon take-up spool 15 through the opening 19 on the bottom surface of the cassette body 12, and the roller drive shaft 56. Enters the tape feed roller 17.
[0035]
With this approach, the tip of the ribbon take-up drive shaft 55 first comes into contact with the contact piece 23c of the locking spring 23 of the tape cassette 11, and the further advance of the ribbon take-up drive shaft 55 causes contact as shown in FIG. The piece 23 is pushed upward. With this push-up, the locking portion 23b moves upward against the elastic force of the locking spring 23, the locking portion 23b is separated from the ratchet teeth 15b, and the engagement state of both is released. As a result, the ribbon take-up spool 55 becomes unloaded, and the ribbon take-up spool 15 rotates with the rotation of the ribbon take-up drive shaft 55 so that the used ink ribbon can be taken up.
[0036]
If the tape cassette 11 is configured as described above, the ribbon take-up spool 15 can be removed from the ribbon take-up spool 15 without releasing the engagement between the lock portion 23b of the lock spring 23b and the ratchet teeth 15b of the ribbon take-up spool 15. It is possible to rotate in the taking direction. However, if the ink ribbon is wound around the ribbon winding drive shaft 55 with a winding torque of a predetermined value or more, the ink ribbon is cut off. A slip mechanism that interrupts transmission of the driving force of the driving source is provided, and when the locking portion 23c and the ratchet teeth 15b remain engaged, the slip mechanism transmits the driving force to the driving shaft. There is a problem that the ink ribbon is not taken up due to the interruption.
[0037]
In the tape cassette 11 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the engagement state between the locking portion 23c and the ratchet teeth 15b is released simply by mounting the tape cassette 51 on the tape printer 51, and the ribbon take-up spool 15 becomes in an unloaded state. Therefore, the problem that the slip mechanism is activated and the ink ribbon is not taken up does not occur.
[0038]
When the print key is operated after inputting a predetermined character or symbol or the like in a state where the tape cassette 11 is mounted on the holding portion 54 of the tape printer 51, the thermal head 57 is driven and is covered via the ink ribbon. The characters and symbols entered on the printing tape are printed, and the roller drive shaft 56 is driven to rotate to rotate the tape feed roller 17, and the tape is fed out of the tape printer 51 while the double-sided tape is being applied to the printing surface of the printing tape. It is. At the same time, the ribbon take-up drive shaft 55 is also rotated, and the used ink ribbon is taken up by the ribbon take-up spool 15.
[0039]
When the tape cassette 11 is removed from the tape printer 51 after a predetermined printed tape is created, the ribbon take-up drive shaft 55 is retracted from the hollow portion of the ribbon take-up spool 15. Along with this withdrawal, the contact piece 23c moves toward the cassette body 12 by the elastic force of the locking spring 23. With this movement, the locking portion 23b of the locking spring 23 also moves toward the cassette body 12. 4 and engages with the ratchet teeth 15b as shown in FIG. This engagement prevents the ribbon take-up spool 15 from rotating in the direction opposite to the direction of taking up the ink ribbon.
[0040]
【The invention's effect】
As is apparent from the above description, according to the tape cassette of the first aspect, when the tape cassette is not attached to the tape printer, the direction opposite to the direction in which the ink ribbon of the take-up spool is taken up is obtained. Therefore, even if the tape cassette is vibrated, the ink ribbon does not loosen. Therefore, ribbon breakage or adhesion to double-sided tape due to slack of the ink ribbon does not occur.
[0041]
Further, the engaging piece that extends toward the ribbon take-up spool is opposed to the narrow portion is ribbon take-up spool, in the hollow portion of the ribbon take-up spool preceding part than its narrow portion from the opening Can be inserted.
[0042]
Further, in the tape cassette according to claim 2 , in addition to the effect of the invention according to claim 1 , the movement of the locking piece in the direction orthogonal to the length direction thereof can be restricted.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tape cassette according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2A is a plan view of the tape cassette, FIG. 2B is a front view of the tape cassette, and FIG. 2C is a rear view of the tape cassette.
FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged plan view showing the vicinity of a ribbon take-up spool of a tape cassette.
FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of the ribbon take-up spool before the tape cassette is mounted on the tape printer.
FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of the ribbon take-up spool after the tape cassette is mounted on the tape printer.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the back surface of the tape printer.
FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the internal configuration of the tape cassette.
[Explanation of symbols]
11 Tape cassette 15 Ribbon take-up spool 15b Ratchet teeth 23 Locking spring

Claims (2)

In a tape cassette that is detachably mounted on a tape printing apparatus that includes a print head that prints on a tape-like medium using an ink ribbon, and that contains the tape-like medium and the ink ribbon,
A take-up spool for winding up a used ink ribbon provided in the tape cassette;
When the tape cassette is not attached to the tape printer, it engages with the take-up spool and prevents the take-up spool from rotating in the direction opposite to the direction of winding the ink ribbon. And a disengagement piece that disengages from the take-up spool when attached and allows the take-up spool to rotate,
The take-up spool is formed in a hollow shape, and when the tape cassette is mounted on the tape printer, the rotary shaft on the tape printer side inserted into the hollow portion is engaged with the inner peripheral surface. A mating protrusion is formed, and the used ink ribbon is wound around the outer peripheral surface.
Furthermore, ratchet teeth are formed at the upper end of the take-up spool, and the locking piece engages with the ratchet teeth in a state where the tape cassette is not mounted on the tape printer, A contact piece, which is one end, extends into the hollow portion of the take-up spool to prevent the rotation of the take-up spool, and when the tape cassette is mounted on the tape printer, the contact piece is inserted into the hollow portion. It is configured to be pushed upward by the rotating shaft, and the locking piece is separated from the ratchet teeth ,
The tape cassette is provided with a lid,
At the position of the lid facing the ribbon take-up spool, an opening is formed to look into the upper end of the ribbon take-up spool,
The base end of the locking piece is fixed to a portion of the lid near the opening,
The locking piece extends toward the ribbon take-up spool, a narrow portion is formed at an intermediate portion facing the ribbon take-up spool, and the base end of the locking piece and the ratchet teeth The tape cassette is characterized in that a distance to the engaging portion is smaller than a distance between the base end and the contact piece . Wherein the top surface of the lid, the tape cassette according to claim 1, characterized in that the regulating portion for regulating the movement in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the locking piece is formed to project.

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