JP7056211B2 - Media adapter - Google Patents

Description

The disclosure herein relates to media adapters.

Conventionally, a label printer that prints characters, figures, and the like on a recording medium that is wound in the longitudinal direction and has a roll shape to create a label has been known. In this type of label printer, a tape cartridge in which a recording medium is housed is attached to a box-shaped member, and characters, figures, and the like are printed on the recording medium drawn out from the tape cartridge.

Patent Document 1 describes a label printer that houses a tape cartridge that houses a recording medium. Further, in Patent Document 2, the lower case of the box-shaped cassette case including the upper case and the lower case is provided with a separation wall for restricting the movement of the recorded medium in the width direction when the recorded medium is unwound. The tape cartridge is listed.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-028448 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-206910

When the recording medium is unwound from the tape cartridge containing the roll-shaped recording medium, it is desired to regulate the movement of the recording medium in the width direction as well as the movement of the recording medium in the printing surface direction. .. Therefore, in the cassette case described in Patent Document 2, the movement of the recording medium in the width direction is restricted and the movement in the printing surface direction is restricted in the separation portion provided with the separation wall in the lower case. There is.

By the way, there are various types of recording media used in a label printer depending on the color of the printing surface and the like. The user can use a plurality of different types of recorded media properly by mounting the recorded medium selected according to the intended use and preference on the printing apparatus by himself / herself. Therefore, in the cassette case of the tape cartridge attached to this type of printing apparatus, the upper case and the lower case are attached in such a manner that the internal space accommodating the recording medium can be opened and closed.

However, when the lower case of the cassette case that can be opened and closed is provided with a separation portion that restricts the movement of the recorded medium in the width direction and the movement in the printing surface direction, the user passes the recording medium through the separation portion. The case will be closed from. Therefore, the workability in the work of the user accommodating the recording medium in the cassette case is lowered.

An object of the present invention is to provide a technique for improving the workability of a user accommodating a recording medium in a medium adapter, based on the above circumstances.

The medium adapter according to one aspect of the present invention is a medium adapter that accommodates a recorded medium including a tape wound in the longitudinal direction, and has an adapter main body having a medium accommodating portion for accommodating the recorded medium and the adapter. An adapter lid attached to the adapter body is provided so that the medium accommodating portion of the main body can be opened and closed. A regulating portion for restricting the movement of the tape in the width direction is formed at a position serving as an outlet.

According to the above aspect, it is possible for the user to improve the workability of the work of accommodating the recording medium in the medium adapter.

It is a top view of the printing apparatus 1 in a state where a lid 4 is closed. It is a top view of the printing apparatus 1 in the state which the lid 4 is opened. It is a perspective view for demonstrating the structure of the medium adapter 10 and the recording medium 40. It is an enlarged perspective view of the tape feeding part in the medium adapter 10 with the adapter lid 30 closed. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the example of the regulation part 210 in the case where the movement of a heat sensitive tape 42 in a width direction is restricted only by the regulation part 210 provided in the adapter main body 200. It is sectional drawing which shows the example which provided the protrusion 26 which regulates the movement of a heat sensitive tape 42 in a width direction to the adapter main body 20.

First, the configuration of the printing apparatus to which the medium adapter according to the embodiment can be applied will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the printing apparatus 1 with the lid 4 closed. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the printing apparatus 1 with the lid 4 open.

The printing apparatus 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a label printer that prints on the heat-sensitive tape 42 included in the recording medium 40. The thermal tape 42 is an example of a printing tape. Hereinafter, a heat-sensitive label printer using the heat-sensitive tape 42 will be described as an example of the printing device 1, but the printing method of the printing device 1 is not particularly limited. For example, the printing device 1 may be a thermal transfer type label printer using an ink ribbon. Further, the printing device 1 which is a label printer is not limited to the thermal printer. For example, the printing device 1 may be an inkjet printer, a laser printer, or the like. Further, the printing apparatus 1 may perform printing by a single-pass (one-pass) method or may perform printing by a multi-pass (scan) method.

As shown in FIG. 1, the printing apparatus 1 includes an apparatus housing 2, an input unit 3, an openable / closable lid 4, a window 5, and a display unit 6. Although not shown, the device housing 2 is provided with a power cord connection terminal, an external device connection terminal, a storage medium insertion port, and the like.

The input unit 3 is provided on the upper surface of the device housing 2. The input unit 3 includes various keys such as an input key, a cross key, a conversion key, and a decision key. The lid 4 is arranged on the device housing 2 so as to be openable and closable. The lid 4 is held in the closed state shown in FIG. 1 by a locking mechanism (not shown). The user can open the lid 4 as shown in FIG. 2 by pressing the button 4a provided on the lid 4 to release the lock mechanism. A window 5 is formed on the lid 4 so that it can be visually confirmed whether or not the recording medium 40 is housed in the printing apparatus 1 even when the lid 4 is closed. Further, the lid 4 has a display unit 6.

The display unit 6 is, for example, a liquid crystal display, an organic EL (electro-luminescence) display, or the like. The display unit 6 displays characters and the like corresponding to the input from the input unit 3, selection menus for various settings, messages related to various processes, and the like. The display unit 6 may have a function that can be used as a part of the input unit 3, such as a display with a touch panel.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the apparatus housing 2 has a medium adapter accommodating portion 2a, a platen roller 7, and a thermal head 8 in a region below the lid 4 when the lid 4 is closed. And are provided. The medium adapter 10 accommodating the recording medium 40 is accommodated in the medium adapter accommodating portion 2a. The medium adapter 10 and the recorded medium 40 will be described later.

The platen roller 7 is a transport unit for transporting the heat-sensitive tape 42 unwound from the medium adapter 10. The platen roller 7 is rotated by the rotation of a transport motor (not shown). The transport motor is, for example, a stepping motor, a direct current (DC) motor, or the like. The platen roller 7 conveys the heat-sensitive tape 42 in the transport direction by rotating the heat-sensitive tape 42 unwound from the medium adapter 10 while holding the heat-sensitive tape 42 between the platen roller 7 and the thermal head 8.

The thermal head 8 is a print head that prints on the thermal tape 42. The thermal head 8 has a plurality of heat generating elements arranged in the main scanning direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the heat sensitive tape 42, and prints line by line by heating the heat sensitive tape 42 with the heat generating elements.

In the printing apparatus 1, the medium adapter 10 is accommodated in the medium adapter accommodating portion 2a of the apparatus housing 2 as described above. The medium adapter 10 is a case for accommodating the recorded medium 40 including the thermal tape 42, and accommodates the recorded medium 40 so that the user can replace the recorded medium 40. That is, the medium adapter 10 according to the present embodiment is designed on the premise that the user appropriately puts the recorded medium 40 in and out of the medium adapter 10.

Hereinafter, the configuration and operation / effect of the medium adapter 10 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view for explaining the configurations of the medium adapter 10 and the recorded medium 40.

As shown in FIG. 3, the medium adapter 10 includes an adapter main body 20 and an adapter lid 30. The adapter lid 30 is attached to the adapter body 20 so as to be openable and closable. Further, when the adapter lid 30 is in the closed state (the state shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 3), the adapter lid 30 is engaged with an engaging portion (not shown) provided on the adapter main body 20 to attach the adapter lid 30. A lock portion 32 for holding the closed state is provided. The recording medium 40 is housed in the internal space of the medium adapter 10 partitioned by the adapter main body 20 and the adapter lid 30 in a closed state.

The medium adapter 10 is designed according to the tape width of the heat-sensitive tape 42 of the recording medium 40. The tape width of the thermal tape 42 to be accommodated by the medium adapter 10 is displayed in the region 20a of the adapter main body 20. For example, in the case of the medium adapter 10 accommodating the recording medium 40 including the heat-sensitive tape 42 having a tape width of 6 mm, information indicating the tape width such as “6” or “6 mm” is displayed in the region 20a of the adapter main body 20. ..

The printing apparatus 1 that can use the medium adapter 10 of the present embodiment can accommodate medium adapters corresponding to different tape widths. Specifically, the printing apparatus 1 is, for example, in addition to the medium adapter 10 for a tape having a width of 6 mm, a medium adapter for a tape having a width of 9 mm, a medium adapter for a tape having a width of 12 mm, and a medium for a tape having a width of 18 mm. Can accommodate adapters and the like.

The recording medium 40 accommodated in the medium adapter 10 includes a heat-sensitive tape 42, a loosening prevention sheet 43, and an attention sheet 44.

The thermal tape 42 is a printing tape that is wound in the longitudinal direction and has a ring shape. The heat-sensitive tape 42 is wound around a tubular member such as a paper tube (not shown), for example. The tubular member around which the heat-sensitive tape 42 is wound has, for example, a hollow portion that rotatably fits with the first support portion 23a provided on the adapter main body 20 of the medium adapter 10. In the following description, the heat-sensitive tape 42 that is wound in the longitudinal direction and has a ring shape is also referred to as a “ring-shaped heat-sensitive tape 42”.

In the heat-sensitive tape 42, for example, a separator, an adhesive layer, a base material, a coloring layer, and a protective layer are laminated in this order. The separator is detachably attached to the substrate so as to cover the adhesive layer. The material of the separator is, for example, paper, but the material is not limited to paper, and PET (polyethylene terephthalate) may be used. The adhesive layer is an adhesive material applied to the base material. The material of the base material is, for example, colored PET. The color-developing layer is a heat-sensitive color-developing layer that develops color by heating with heat energy. The material of the protective layer is, for example, transparent PET.

The thermal tape 42 is not limited to the above configuration. For example, the heat-sensitive tape 42 may have no separator and the adhesive layer may be exposed. Further, the heat-sensitive tape 42 may have no protective layer and the color-developing layer may be exposed.

The disintegration prevention sheet 43 is an adhesive sheet attached to one of the side surfaces of the ring-shaped thermal tape 42 (in other words, the surface of the thermal tape 42 on the one end 42b side in the width direction).

The disintegration prevention sheet 43 is an adhesive sheet for maintaining the shape of the heat-sensitive tape 42. The thermal tape 42 may expand due to changes in humidity. However, by attaching the disintegration prevention sheet 43 to the side surface (the surface on the end portion 42b side) of the heat-sensitive tape 42, it is possible to prevent the shape change of the heat-sensitive tape 42 due to expansion, that is, the disintegration of the heat-sensitive tape 42. can do. Further, by attaching the disintegration prevention sheet 43, it is possible to suppress the shape change of the thermal tape 42 even when an impact is applied to the thermal tape 42 due to a drop of the recording medium 40 or the like.

The disintegration prevention sheet 43 is a ring-shaped adhesive sheet having an opening having the same size as the hollow portion of the tubular member around which the heat-sensitive tape 42 is wound, or an opening larger than the hollow portion of the tubular member. The disintegration prevention sheet 43 is attached to the side surface (the surface on the end portion 42b side) of the ring-shaped thermal tape 42 so that the opening faces the hollow portion of the thermal tape 42 (cylindrical member). It is desirable that the disintegration prevention sheet 43 has a size that covers the side surface of the ring-shaped thermal tape 42. That is, it is desirable that the diameter of the disintegration prevention sheet 43 is larger than the diameter (maximum diameter) of the ring-shaped thermal tape 42. As a result, the entire ring-shaped heat-sensitive tape 42 can be held on the adhesive surface, so that the shape can be maintained more reliably.

Further, it is desirable that the shape of the disintegration prevention sheet 43 is similar to the shape of the side surface of the ring-shaped thermal tape. That is, if the side surface of the ring-shaped heat-sensitive tape 42 has an annular shape, it is desirable that the disintegration prevention sheet 43 also has an annular shape. As a result, it is possible to reduce the area of the heat-sensitive tape 42 that does not contribute to maintaining the shape of the disintegration prevention sheet 43, and it is possible to reduce the size of the disintegration prevention sheet 43. Further, since the exposure of the adhesive surface of the loosening prevention sheet 43 is reduced, it is possible to suppress the adhesion of dust, dust, etc. to the loosening prevention sheet 43.

The attention sheet 44 is an adhesive sheet attached to the other side surface of the ring-shaped heat-sensitive tape 42 (in other words, the side surface on the other end portion 42c side in the width direction of the heat-sensitive tape 42).

The attention sheet 44 is an adhesive sheet indicating the type of the recording medium 40 (more strictly, the type of the thermal tape 42). There are various types of the heat-sensitive tape 42 depending on the tape width and the color of the surface to be printed. Since the attention sheet 44 contains information for specifying the type, the user can easily specify the type of the recording medium 40 by attaching the attention sheet 44 to the side surface of the thermal tape 42. Is possible.

The attention sheet 44 is a ring-shaped adhesive sheet having an opening 44a smaller than the hollow portion of the tubular member around which the thermal tape 42 is wound. The opening 44a of the attention sheet 44 is formed, for example, in a shape and size that rotatably fits with the second support portion 23a provided in the adapter main body 20 of the medium adapter 10. The attention sheet 44 is attached to the side surface of the ring-shaped thermal tape 42 so that the opening 44a faces the hollow portion of the tubular member around which the thermal tape 42 is wound. Further, it is desirable that the attention sheet 44 is smaller than the side surface of the ring-shaped thermal tape 42 at least before the start of use of the recorded medium 40, such as when the recorded medium 40 is sold. As a result, the area of the side surface 42b of the heat-sensitive tape 42 covered by the attention sheet 44 becomes smaller, so that it becomes easy to check the remaining amount of the heat-sensitive tape 42.

When accommodating the recording medium 40 in the medium adapter 10, the user can see that the side surface of the recording medium 40, which is one end side in the width direction of the thermal tape 42, is the bottom surface 22a of the medium accommodating portion 22 of the adapter body 20. The recording medium 40 is accommodated in the medium accommodating portion 22 in the opposite direction. When the recording medium 40 includes the loosening prevention sheet 43 and the attention sheet 44, the user makes the loosening prevention sheet 43 face the bottom surface 22a of the medium accommodating portion 22 of the adapter main body 20 as shown in FIG. The recording medium 40 is accommodated in the medium accommodating section 22. At this time, the user fits the opening of the disintegration prevention sheet 43 and the hollow portion of the tubular member around which the thermal tape 42 is wound, and the first support portion 23a provided on the bottom surface 22a of the medium accommodating portion 22. Let me. Further, the user fits the opening of the attention sheet 44 with the second support portion 23b provided on the first support portion 23a. As a result, the recorded medium 40 can rotate with respect to the medium support portion 23 (first support portion 23a and second support portion 23b) provided on the adapter main body 20 with a direction substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface 22a as a rotation axis. Be supported. Further, the user pulls out one end of the heat-sensitive tape 42 on the outer peripheral side of the recording medium 40 and inserts the end of the heat-sensitive tape 42 into the tape feeding groove 24 provided in the adapter main body 20. When the user closes the adapter lid 30 with the recording medium 40 supported by the medium support portion 23 and the end portion of the heat-sensitive tape 42 inserted into the tape feeding groove 24, the adapter main body 20 is closed. The recording medium 40 is housed in the internal space of the medium adapter 10 partitioned by the adapter lid 30. At this time, in the recorded medium 40, the attention sheet 44 (in other words, the side surface of the recorded medium 40 on the other end side in the width direction of the thermal tape 42) faces the adapter lid 30.

When the adapter lid 30 is closed, the hook portion 32 of the adapter lid 30 engages with the hook receiving portion (not shown) of the adapter main body 20, and the adapter lid 30 is held in the closed state. The hook portion 32 is movable in the direction of the in-plane center of the bottom surface 33a of the medium accommodating portion 33 of the adapter lid 30, and stress (elastic restoring force) is generated by moving the hook portion 32. Therefore, when the adapter lid 30 is held in the closed state, the user applies a pressing load to the hook portion 32 of the adapter lid 30 to engage the hook portion 32 with the hook receiving portion of the adapter main body 20. When the above is released, the adapter lid 30 can be opened.

As shown in FIG. 3, the adapter main body 20 in the medium adapter 10 of the present embodiment includes a guide 21, a medium accommodating portion 22, a medium supporting portion 23, a tape feeding groove 24, a rib 25, and a lid supporting portion 27. And.

The guide 21 is a regulating unit that regulates the transport direction of the heat-sensitive tape 42 that is fed out from the medium accommodating section 22 to the outside of the medium adapter 10 through the tape feeding groove 24. The guide 21 is provided at a position in the adapter main body 20 where the tape 42 after printing is conveyed when the medium adapter 10 is attached to the printing device 1. The guide 21 has a first regulating surface 21a and a second regulating surface 21b that face each other side by side in the width direction of the thermal tape 42. The first regulatory surface 21a is a regulatory surface that regulates the movement of the thermal tape 42 toward one end 42b in the width direction of the thermal tape 42. The second regulatory surface 21b is a regulatory surface that regulates the movement of the thermal tape 42 toward the other end portion 42c in the width direction of the thermal tape 42. The first regulation surface 21a and the second regulation surface 21b are provided so as to face each other at substantially the same interval as the tape width (width of the heat sensitive tape 42). The heat-sensitive tape 42 unwound from the medium adapter 10 is restricted from moving in the tape width direction by abutting on the first regulating surface 21a or the second regulating surface 21b of the guide 21.

The medium accommodating portion 22 has a concave shape that becomes a part of the inner wall surface in the internal space partitioned by the medium adapter 10. The bottom surface 22a of the medium accommodating portion 22 is provided with a medium support portion 23 (first support portion 23a and second support portion 23b) that rotatably supports the recording medium 40, and ribs 25.

The medium support portion 23 is inserted into an opening of a heat-sensitive tape 42 (cylindrical member) or the like of the recorded medium 40 in a state where the recorded medium 40 is housed in the medium adapter 10, and the recorded medium 40 can be rotated. To support. The medium support portion 23 includes a first support portion 23a projecting from the bottom surface 22a of the medium accommodating portion 22, and a second support portion 23b further projecting from the tip surface 23c of the first support portion 23a.

The first support portion 23a is a hollow portion of a tubular member around which the heat-sensitive tape 42 is wound, and a portion that fits into the opening of the loosening prevention sheet 43. Therefore, the outer diameter of the first support portion 23a is smaller than the inner diameter of the hollow portion of the tubular member and the inner diameter of the opening of the loosening prevention sheet 43. Further, the height of the first support portion 23a from the bottom surface 22a is lower than the tape width of the heat-sensitive tape 42 supported by the medium adapter 10.

The second support portion 23b is a portion that fits into the opening of the attention sheet 44. Therefore, the outer diameter of the second support portion 23b is smaller than the inner diameter of the opening of the attention sheet 44. Further, the height of the second support portion 23b from the bottom surface 22a is higher than the tape width of the heat-sensitive tape 42 supported by the medium adapter 10.

The rib 25 of the adapter main body 20 abuts on the side surface (disjoint prevention sheet 43) of the recorded medium 40 housed in the medium accommodating portion 22 to support the recorded medium 40. That is, the rib 25 reduces the contact area between the bottom surface 22a of the medium accommodating portion 22 and the side surface (disjoint prevention sheet 43) of the recorded medium 40. As a result, the frictional resistance between the adapter main body 20 and the recorded medium 40 is reduced when the recorded medium 40 rotates inside the medium adapter 10. Therefore, the smooth rotation of the recording medium 40 can be realized, and the heat-sensitive tape 42 can be stably fed and conveyed. In particular, by providing the ribs 25 radially with respect to the medium support portion 23 as shown in FIG. 3, the frictional force can be evenly applied to each position in the radial direction of the recorded medium 40.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the medium accommodating portion 22 of the adapter main body 20 has a flat region 20b at a position between the radially extending portions of the rib 25 of the bottom surface 22a. A sticker on which information for specifying the tape width of the recording medium 40 to be accommodated is printed is attached to the region 20b, for example. That is, the region 20b indicates that the medium adapter 10 is a medium adapter that accommodates the heat-sensitive tape 42 having a tape width of several mm. As a result, when the user attaches the recording medium 40 to the medium adapter 10, the user compares the information in the area 20b with the information in the attention sheet 44, so that the tape width of the recording medium 40 becomes the medium adapter 10. You can check at a glance whether or not the tape width is compatible. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the recorded medium 40 having the wrong tape width from being attached to the medium adapter 10.

The tape feeding groove 24 is a groove provided for feeding (pulling out) the heat-sensitive tape 42 of the recorded medium 40 housed in the medium adapter 10 to the outside of the medium adapter 10. The tape feeding groove 24 has a tapered shape in which the dimension in the thickness direction of the heat-sensitive tape 42 passing through the groove becomes smaller toward the outer surface of the adapter main body 20 from the medium accommodating portion 22. The bottom surface portion continuous from the bottom surface 22a of the medium accommodating portion 22 in the tape feeding groove 24 restricts the movement of the heat-sensitive tape 42 toward one end 42b in the width direction of the heat-sensitive tape 42 feeding out from the tape feeding groove 24. It is a regulatory department.

The lid support portion 27 is a support portion that rotatably supports the adapter lid 30. The lid support portion 27 is provided at an end portion of the adapter main body 20 opposite to the engaging portion that holds the adapter lid 30 in a closed state when viewed from the medium support portion 23.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, the adapter lid 30 in the medium adapter 10 of the present embodiment has a rotation fulcrum portion 32, a medium accommodating portion 33, a rib 35, and a protruding portion 36.

The rotation fulcrum portion 31 is a portion that rotatably engages with the lid support portion 27 of the adapter main body 20 and serves as a fulcrum when the adapter lid 30 rotates with respect to the adapter main body 20.

The hook portion 32 engages with the hook receiving portion (not shown) provided in the adapter main body 20 when the adapter lid 30 is closed. The hook portion 32 and the hook receiving portion of the adapter main body 20 are engaged in a manner of restricting the movement of the adapter lid 30 in the opening direction. That is, when the adapter lid 30 is closed, the adapter lid 30 is held in the closed state. Further, when the hook portion 32 is moved in a predetermined direction (the direction in which the medium support portion 23 of the adapter main body 20 is located) while the adapter lid 30 is held, the hook portion 32 and the hook receiving portion of the adapter main body 20 are engaged with each other. The connection is released, and the adapter lid 30 can be opened.

The medium accommodating portion 33 of the adapter lid 30 has a concave shape that becomes a part of the inner wall surface in the internal space partitioned by the medium adapter 10. The position of the bottom surface 33a of the medium accommodating portion 33 facing the second support portion 23b of the adapter main body 20 with the adapter lid 30 closed is open. Further, ribs 35 are provided around the opening on the bottom surface 33a.

The rib 35 of the adapter lid 30 reduces the contact area between the bottom surface 33a of the medium accommodating portion 33 of the adapter lid 30 and the side surface (attention sheet 44) of the recorded medium 40. Therefore, the frictional resistance between the adapter lid 30 and the recorded medium 40 is reduced when the recorded medium 40 rotates inside the medium adapter 10. Therefore, the smooth rotation of the recording medium 40 can be realized, and the heat-sensitive tape 42 can be stably conveyed. In particular, by providing the ribs 35 radially as shown in FIG. 3, the frictional force can be evenly applied to each position in the radial direction of the recording medium 40.

The protruding portion 36 of the adapter lid 30 is a portion protruding (raised) from the bottom surface 33 of the medium accommodating portion 33, and faces the tape feeding groove 24 of the adapter main body 20 when the adapter lid 30 is closed. It is provided at the position. The protruding portion 36 of the adapter lid 30 is a regulating portion that regulates the movement of the heat-sensitive tape 42 toward the other end 42c in the width direction of the heat-sensitive tape 42 that is fed out of the medium adapter 10 through the tape feeding groove 24. be. That is, in the medium adapter 10 of the present embodiment, when the adapter lid 30 is closed, the heat-sensitive tape 42 accommodated in the internal space is placed outside the medium adapter by the tape feeding groove 24 of the adapter main body 20 and the protruding portion 36 of the adapter lid 30. A delivery outlet is formed. Then, in the medium adapter 10 of the present embodiment, the movement of the heat-sensitive tape 42 to the outside from the feeding port in the width direction is performed by the bottom surface portion of the tape feeding groove 24 provided at the position serving as the feeding port of the adapter main body 20. It is regulated by the protruding portion 36 provided at the position where the adapter lid 30 serves as the carry-out port.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a tape feeding portion in the medium adapter 10 with the adapter lid 30 closed. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG.

The heat-sensitive tape 42 of the recording medium 40 housed in the medium adapter 10 is fed out to the outside of the medium adapter 10 through the tape feeding groove 24 of the adapter main body 20. At this time, as shown in FIG. 4, the heat-sensitive tape 42 unwound through the tape feeding groove 24 moves in the thickness direction with the first surface 24a of the tape feeding groove 24, the rising surface 37 of the adapter lid 30, and the tape. It is regulated by the second surface 24b in the feeding groove 24. The first surface 24a and the second surface 24b of the tape feeding groove 24 are planes facing each other side by side in the thickness direction of the heat-sensitive tape 42 provided at a position serving as a feeding outlet of the adapter main body 20, respectively. be. The rising surface 37 of the adapter lid 30 is a surface that is continuous with the first surface 24a in the tape feeding groove 24 and is connected to the protruding portion 36 of the adapter lid 30 when the adapter lid 30 is in the closed state. As described above, the protruding portion 36 of the adapter lid 30 is a portion of the adapter lid 30 that protrudes from the bottom surface 33a of the accommodating portion 33. In FIG. 4, the area of the adapter lid 30 in contact with the adapter main body 20 is shaded.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the heat-sensitive tape 42 fed out through the tape feeding groove 24 is moved in the width direction to the bottom surface portion of the tape feeding groove 24 continuous from the bottom surface 22a of the medium accommodating portion 22 in the adapter main body 20. It is regulated by the protruding portion (regulating portion) 36 of the adapter lid 30.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the internal space partitioned by the adapter main body 20 and the adapter lid 30, the distance D2 from the rib 25 of the adapter main body 20 to the rib 35 of the adapter lid 30 is the width W1 of the recording medium 40. It will be almost the same. The distance D2 is shorter than the distance D1 from the bottom surface 22a of the adapter body 20 to the bottom surface 33a of the adapter lid 30. Further, the width W1 is wider than the width W2 of the heat-sensitive tape 42 of the recording medium 40. Therefore, the heat-sensitive tape 42 of the recording medium 40 is fed out to the outside of the medium adapter 10 through the portion where D2> W2 in the internal space of the medium adapter 10 and the tape feeding groove 24.

However, there are tolerances in the adapter body 20, the adapter lid 30, and the recorded medium 40 in the medium adapter 10 of the present embodiment. Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, the recorded medium 40 accommodated in the medium adapter 10 may be in a state of being movable in the width direction. When the recording medium 40 is in a state where it can be moved in the width direction, for example, the heat-sensitive tape 42 may move in the width direction and skew, causing a shift in the position of the print area 8a.

On the other hand, in the medium adapter 10 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the bottom surface 33a of the adapter lid 30 to the bottom surface of the adapter body 20 are located at the portion serving as the feeding port for feeding out the heat-sensitive tape 42 to the outside. A protruding portion 36 is provided so as to project toward the 22a side. Therefore, the dimension in the width direction at the outlet of the medium adapter 10, that is, the distance D3 from the bottom surface 22a of the adapter body 20 to the protruding surface 36 of the adapter lid 30, is from the bottom surface 22a of the adapter body 20 to the bottom surface 33a of the adapter lid 30. Distance shorter than D1. As described above, in the medium adapter 10 of the present embodiment, the movable range of the heat-sensitive tape 42 in the width direction is narrowed at the feeding port of the heat-sensitive tape 42, so that the medium adapter 10 is skewed due to the movement of the heat-sensitive tape 42 in the width direction. Can be prevented. Therefore, when the medium adapter 10 is attached to the printing apparatus 1 and printing is performed on the heat-sensitive tape 42, it is possible to prevent the heat-sensitive tape 42 and the printing area 8a from being displaced due to the skew of the heat-sensitive tape 42.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an example of the regulation unit 210 in the case where the movement of the heat sensitive tape 42 in the width direction is restricted only by the regulation unit 210 provided on the adapter main body 200.

The adapter main body 200 shown in FIG. 6 is provided with a regulating unit 210 for restricting the movement of the heat-sensitive tape 42 in the width direction and the thickness direction at a position serving as an outlet in the medium adapter. The regulating portion 210 has a first regulating surface 210a that restricts the movement of the heat-sensitive tape 42 toward one end 42b in the width direction of the heat-sensitive tape 42, and a heat-sensitive tape 42 toward the other end 42c in the width direction. It has a second regulatory surface 210b that regulates the movement of the surface. Further, the regulating portion 210 has a third regulating surface 210c that regulates the movement of the heat sensitive tape 42 toward one end side in the thickness direction of the heat sensitive tape 42, and heat sensitivity toward the other end side in the thickness direction. It has a fourth regulatory surface 210b and a fifth regulatory surface 210e that regulate the movement of the tape 42.

The regulation unit 210 of the adapter main body 200 shown in FIG. 6 is fed out from the delivery port of the medium adapter by inserting the thermal tape 42 into the space partitioned by the first regulation surface 210a to the fifth regulation surface 210e. The movement of the thermal tape 42 in the width direction and the movement in the thickness direction are restricted. However, when the recorded medium 40 is accommodated in the medium adapter having the adapter main body 200 provided with the restricting portion 210 as shown in FIG. 6, the user inserts the thermal tape 42 through the ring-shaped regulating portion 210. Work will be done. Since the regulating portion 210 regulates the movement of the heat-sensitive tape 42 in the width direction and the thickness direction, the dimension of the space through which the heat-sensitive tape 42 is inserted in the regulating portion 210 is the dimension of the cross section of the heat-sensitive tape 42. It is almost the same. Therefore, in the medium adapter provided with the adapter main body 200 of FIG. 6, it takes time for the user to insert the heat-sensitive tape 42 into the regulating portion 210, and the workability of accommodating the recorded medium 40 is reduced.

On the other hand, when the recording medium 40 is housed in the medium adapter 10 of the present embodiment, the user simply inserts the heat-sensitive tape 42 into the substantially U-shaped tape feeding groove 24 of the adapter main body 20 and closes the adapter lid 30. It's fine. Therefore, according to the medium adapter 10 of the present embodiment, the workability of the work of accommodating the recorded medium 40 by the user is improved.

Further, the adapter body 20 in the medium adapter 10 of the present embodiment can move the heat-sensitive tape 42 in the width direction and the thickness direction without forming the regulating portion 210 (see FIG. 6) having an open ring shape. It is possible to regulate. Therefore, it is possible to simplify the shape of the position of the carry-out port in the adapter main body 20. Therefore, for example, when the adapter main body 20 is manufactured by resin molding using a mold, it is possible to prevent a decrease in the manufacturing yield due to a defective filling of the resin or the like.

Further, for example, when there is an elongated protrusion having a large protrusion amount with respect to the bottom area such as an open ring-shaped regulating portion 210 as in the adapter main body 200 of FIG. 6, an external force acting on the regulating portion 210 during use causes. The elongated protrusions may be damaged or deformed. On the other hand, since the protruding portion 36, which is the regulating portion in the medium adapter 10 of the present embodiment, has a small protruding amount with respect to the bottom area, it is unlikely to be deformed or damaged even if an external force acts on the protruding portion 36. Therefore, according to the medium adapter 10 of the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent damage or deformation of parts and extend the life of the medium adapter 10.

As described above, in the medium adapter 10 of the present embodiment, the adapter body 20 and the adapter lid 30 form a payout outlet for feeding the heat-sensitive tape 42 of the recorded medium 40 housed in the internal space to the outside of the medium adapter 10. do. Further, the medium adapter 10 of the present embodiment has a bottom surface 33a of the medium accommodating portion at a position of the adapter lid 30 facing the tape feeding groove 24 provided at the feeding port of the adapter main body 20 when the adapter lid 30 is in the closed state. A protrusion 36 is provided so as to project from the adapter body 20 to the side of the adapter body 20, and the dimension in the tape width direction at the delivery port is narrowed. Thereby, the medium adapter 10 of the present embodiment can restrict the movement of the heat-sensitive tape 42 in the width direction at the carry-out port formed by the adapter main body 20 and the adapter lid 30, and prevent the heat-sensitive tape 42 from skewing. Is possible. Further, when the skewing of the thermal tape 42 is restricted by setting the entire surface of the adapter main body 20 and the adapter lid 30 at a distance matching the width of the thermal tape 42, the rotation of the non-recording medium 40 may be suppressed. However, by restricting at the delivery port as in the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent the heat-sensitive tape 42 from skewing without suppressing the rotation of the recording medium 40.

Further, according to the medium adapter 10 of the present embodiment, it is possible for the user to improve the workability of the work of accommodating the recorded medium 40 in the medium adapter 10.

Further, in the medium adapter 10 of the present embodiment, a second support portion 23b having a smaller outer diameter than the first support portion 23a is provided on the first support portion 23a of the adapter main body 20. Further, in the recording medium 40 accommodated in the medium adapter 10, the opening dimension of one end in the width direction of the thermal tape 42 corresponds to the outer diameter of the first support portion 23a, and the opening dimension of the other end is set. It corresponds to the outer shape of the second support portion 23b. Therefore, according to the medium adapter 10 of the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent the recorded medium 40 from being mounted in the wrong direction.

The above-described embodiments show specific examples for facilitating the understanding of the invention, and the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. The medium adapter 10 can be variously modified and modified without departing from the description of the claims.

For example, the medium adapter 10 shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 is only an example of the medium adapter 10 according to the present embodiment. The configurations of the adapter main body 20 and the adapter lid 30 in the medium adapter 10 can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist of the present embodiment.

For example, the shapes of the tape feeding groove 24 of the adapter main body 20 forming the feeding port of the medium adapter 10 and the protruding portion 36 of the adapter lid 30 are not limited to the combination of the shapes shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, and can be appropriately changed. be. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the tape feeding groove 24 of the adapter main body 20 may be provided with a protruding portion protruding toward the protruding portion side of the adapter lid 30 on the bottom surface portion continuous from the bottom surface 22a of the medium accommodating portion 22. ..

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing an example in which the adapter main body 20 is provided with a protrusion 26 for restricting the movement of the heat sensitive tape 42 in the width direction.

When the projecting portion 26 of the adapter main body 20 is provided together with the projecting portion 36 of the adapter lid 30 at the position serving as the carry-out port of the medium adapter 10, the dimension D3 in the width direction of the heat-sensitive tape 42 at the pay-out port is shown in FIG. It is possible to further narrow the distance D3. At this time, the distance D3 from the protruding portion 26 of the adapter main body 20 to the protruding portion 36 of the adapter lid 30 is set to be substantially the same as the width W2 of the heat-sensitive tape 42 of the recording medium 40. Further, the positions of the protruding surface of the protruding portion 26 in the width direction and the first regulating surface 21a of the guide 21 and the positions of the protruding surface of the protruding portion 36 in the width direction and the second regulating surface 21b of the guide 21 coincide with each other. Let me do it. This makes it possible to further narrow the movable range of the heat-sensitive tape 42 drawn out of the medium adapter 10 in the width direction. Therefore, when the medium adapter 10 is attached to the printing apparatus 1 and printing is performed on the heat-sensitive tape 42, the effect of preventing the positional deviation between the heat-sensitive tape 42 and the printing area 8a due to the skew of the heat-sensitive tape 42 is further enhanced.

When the projecting portion 26 is also provided in the adapter body 20, as shown in FIG. 7, the dimension L2 in the transport direction of the heat-sensitive tape 42 in the projecting portion 36 of the adapter lid 30 is the heat-sensitive tape 42 in the projecting portion 26 of the adapter body 20. It is more preferable to make it larger than the dimension L1 in the transport direction of. By doing so, it is possible to prevent the longitudinal direction of the heat-sensitive tape 42 from being slanted with respect to the transport direction when passing between the protrusions 26 and 36, and the effect of preventing the heat-sensitive tape 42 from skewing is further enhanced. It will increase.

Further, for example, the rib 25 on the bottom surface 22a of the adapter main body 20 and the rib 35 on the bottom surface 33a of the adapter lid 30 are not limited to radial, and may have different patterns.

Further, for example, in the medium adapter 10 accommodating the recording medium 40 including the attention sheet 44, the adapter lid 30 is formed of a transparent resin, and the information of the attention sheet 44 can be visually recognized with the adapter lid 30 closed. Is preferable. When the adapter lid 30 is made of a transparent resin, for example, the bottom surface 33a of the medium accommodating portion 33 is textured to reduce the amount of light that passes through the adapter lid 30 and reaches the internal space of the medium adapter 10. May be good.

Further, the recorded medium 40 accommodated in the medium adapter 10 may be, for example, a recorded medium that does not include the attention sheet 44.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the printing device 1 having the input unit 3 and the display unit 6 is exemplified, but the printing device that prints on the heat-sensitive tape (tape) 42 housed in the medium adapter 10 according to the above-described embodiment. Does not have to have an input unit or a display unit. For example, print data may be input from an electronic device other than the printing device, such as a computer.

Hereinafter, the inventions described in the scope of claims at the time of filing the application of the present application will be added.
[Appendix 1]
A media adapter that accommodates a recording medium containing tape wound in the longitudinal direction.
It is provided with an adapter main body having a medium accommodating portion for accommodating the recording medium, and an adapter lid attached to the adapter main body so as to be able to open and close the medium accommodating portion of the adapter main body.
The adapter body and the adapter lid form a feeding port for feeding the tape to the outside of the medium adapter, and a regulating portion for restricting the movement of the tape in the width direction at a position serving as the feeding port.
A medium adapter that features that.

[Appendix 2]
In the medium adapter described in Appendix 1,
The regulatory department
The distance from the adapter body to the adapter lid in the regulation section with the adapter lid closed is from the surface of the adapter body facing the side surface of the recording medium in the adapter body with the adapter lid closed. A medium adapter characterized by being shorter than the distance to a surface of the adapter lid facing the side surface of the recorded medium.

[Appendix 3]
In the medium adapter described in Appendix 1 or 2,
When the adapter lid is closed, the adapter body and the adapter lid have a side surface of the recorded medium, which is one end side in the width direction of the tape, facing the medium accommodating portion of the adapter body. The internal space that can accommodate the recorded medium is partitioned so that the side surface of the recorded medium, which is the other end side in the width direction of the tape, faces the adapter lid.
A medium adapter that features that.

[Appendix 4]
In the medium adapter described in Appendix 3,
The medium is characterized in that the adapter lid projects toward the bottom surface of the medium accommodating portion from a surface of the adapter body facing the bottom surface of the medium accommodating portion in a state where the adapter lid is closed. adapter.

[Appendix 5]
In the medium adapter described in Appendix 4,
The protrusion amount of the restricting portion of the adapter lid is an amount in which the distance from the adapter main body to the adapter lid in the restricting portion with the adapter lid closed substantially matches the dimension in the width direction of the tape. A medium adapter characterized by that.

[Appendix 6]
In the medium adapter according to any one of Supplementary note 3 to Supplementary note 5,
Ribs are formed on the bottom surface of the medium accommodating portion of the adapter body and the surface of the adapter lid facing the bottom surface of the medium accommodating portion of the adapter body with the adapter lid closed.
The feature is that the distance from the rib of the adapter body to the rib of the adapter lid in the state where the adapter lid is closed substantially matches the dimension in the width direction of the tape in the recording medium. Medium adapter.

[Appendix 7]
The medium adapter according to any one of Supplementary note 3 to Supplementary note 6 is
A medium adapter characterized in that, in the restricting portion, the adapter main body protrudes from the bottom surface of a position serving as a payout that is continuous with the bottom surface of the medium accommodating portion.

[Appendix 8]
In the medium adapter described in Appendix 7,
A medium adapter characterized in that the adapter lid and the adapter main body in the regulation portion have different dimensions in the transport direction of the tape delivered from the feeding port.

[Appendix 9]
In the medium adapter according to any one of Supplementary note 1 to Supplementary note 8,
The adapter body has a first regulating surface that regulates the movement of the tape in the width direction and a second regulation that regulates the movement of the tape to a position separated from the position of the feeding port on the outer surface. A guide including the surface is provided,
The distance from the restricting portion of the adapter body to the restricting portion of the adapter lid with the adapter lid closed substantially coincides with the distance from the first regulating surface to the second regulating surface. A medium adapter featuring.

[Appendix 10]
In the medium adapter described in Appendix 9,
The guide is a medium adapter that is provided at a position in the adapter main body where the tape after printing is conveyed when the medium adapter is attached to a printing device that prints on the tape.

[Appendix 11]
In the medium adapter described in Appendix 9,
The position of the restricting portion of the adapter body and the first restricting surface of the guide in the width direction of the tape when the adapter lid is closed, and the restricting portion of the adapter lid and the guide. A medium adapter characterized in that the positions of the tape in the width direction with the second regulation surface substantially coincide with each other.

[Appendix 12]
In the medium adapter according to any one of Supplementary Note 1 to Supplementary Note 11.
The adapter main body is a medium adapter characterized in that a feeding groove for restricting movement of the tape to be fed from the feeding port in the thickness direction is provided at a position serving as the feeding outlet.

1 ... printing device, 2 ... device housing, 2a ... medium adapter housing, 3 ... input section, 4 ... lid, 4a ... button, 5 ... window, 6 ... Display unit, 7 ... Platen roller, 8 ... Thermal head, 8a ... Print area, 10 ... Medium adapter, 20,200 ... Adapter body, 20a, 20b ... Area , 21 ... Guide, 21a, 210a ... First regulation surface, 21b, 210b ... Second regulation surface, 22, 32 ... Medium accommodating portion, 22a, 32a ... Bottom surface, 23 ... Medium support portion, 23a ... First support portion, 23b ... Second support portion, 23c ... Tip surface, 24 ... Tape feeding groove, 25, 35 ... Ribs, 26, 36 ... projecting part, 27 ... lid support part, 30 ... adapter lid, 31 ... rotation fulcrum part, 32 ... lock part, 37 ... rising surface, 40 ... Recorded medium, 42 ... heat-sensitive tape, 42b, 42c ... end, 43 ... disintegration prevention sheet, 44 ... attention sheet, 210 ... regulation part, 210c ... third Regulatory aspect, 210d ... 4th regulatory aspect, 210e ... 5th regulatory aspect

Claims (12)

A media adapter that accommodates a recording medium containing tape wound in the longitudinal direction.
The adapter main body has a medium accommodating portion for accommodating the recording medium, and an adapter lid attached to the adapter main body so as to be able to open and close the medium accommodating portion of the adapter main body.
The adapter body and the adapter lid form a feeding port for feeding the tape to the outside of the medium adapter, and a regulating portion for restricting the movement of the tape in the width direction at a position serving as the feeding port .
The regulatory department
The distance from the adapter body to the adapter lid in the regulation section with the adapter lid closed is from the surface of the adapter body facing the side surface of the recording medium in the adapter body with the adapter lid closed. A medium adapter characterized by being shorter than the distance to a surface of the adapter lid facing the side surface of the recorded medium . In the medium adapter according to claim 1 ,
When the adapter lid is closed, the side surface of the recorded medium, which is one end side in the width direction of the tape, faces the medium accommodating portion of the adapter body. A medium characterized in that an internal space capable of accommodating the recorded medium is partitioned so that the side surface of the recorded medium, which is the other end side in the width direction of the tape, faces the adapter lid. adapter. A media adapter that accommodates a recording medium containing tape wound in the longitudinal direction.
The adapter main body has a medium accommodating portion for accommodating the recording medium, and an adapter lid attached to the adapter main body so as to be able to open and close the medium accommodating portion of the adapter main body.
The adapter body and the adapter lid form a feeding port for feeding the tape to the outside of the medium adapter, and a regulating portion for restricting the movement of the tape in the width direction at a position serving as the feeding port.
When the adapter lid is closed, the adapter body and the adapter lid have a side surface of the recorded medium, which is one end side in the width direction of the tape, facing the medium accommodating portion of the adapter body. With the side surface of the recorded medium facing the other end side in the width direction of the tape facing the adapter lid, an internal space capable of accommodating the recorded medium is partitioned.
The medium is characterized in that the adapter lid projects toward the bottom surface of the medium accommodating portion from a surface of the adapter body facing the bottom surface of the medium accommodating portion in a state where the adapter lid is closed. adapter. In the medium adapter according to claim 3 ,
The protrusion amount of the restricting portion of the adapter lid is an amount in which the distance from the adapter main body to the adapter lid in the restricting portion with the adapter lid closed substantially matches the dimension in the width direction of the tape. A medium adapter characterized by that. In the medium adapter according to claim 3 or 4 .
Ribs are formed on the bottom surface of the medium accommodating portion of the adapter body and the surface of the adapter lid facing the bottom surface of the medium accommodating portion of the adapter body with the adapter lid closed.
The feature is that the distance from the rib of the adapter body to the rib of the adapter lid in the state where the adapter lid is closed substantially matches the dimension in the width direction of the tape in the recording medium. Medium adapter. The medium adapter according to any one of claims 3 to 5 is
A medium adapter characterized in that, in the restricting portion, the adapter main body protrudes from the bottom surface of a position serving as a payout that is continuous with the bottom surface of the medium accommodating portion. A medium adapter that accommodates a recording medium containing tape wound in the longitudinal direction.
It is provided with an adapter main body having a medium accommodating portion for accommodating the recording medium, and an adapter lid attached to the adapter main body so as to be able to open and close the medium accommodating portion of the adapter main body.
The adapter body and the adapter lid form a feeding port for feeding the tape to the outside of the medium adapter, and a regulating portion for restricting the movement of the tape in the width direction at a position serving as the feeding port.
When the adapter lid is closed, the adapter body and the adapter lid have a side surface of the recorded medium, which is one end side in the width direction of the tape, facing the medium accommodating portion of the adapter body. With the side surface of the recorded medium facing the other end side in the width direction of the tape facing the adapter lid, an internal space capable of accommodating the recorded medium is partitioned.
In the restricting portion, the adapter body protrudes from the bottom surface of the position serving as the delivery port continuous with the bottom surface of the medium accommodating portion.
A medium adapter that features that. In the medium adapter according to claim 7,
A medium adapter characterized in that the adapter lid and the adapter main body in the regulation portion have different dimensions in the transport direction of the tape delivered from the feeding port. The medium adapter according to any one of claims 1 to 8.
The adapter main body is provided with a guide including a first regulation surface and a second regulation surface for restricting the movement of the tape in the width direction at a position separated from the position of the delivery port on the outer surface. ,
The distance from the restricting portion of the adapter body to the restricting portion of the adapter lid with the adapter lid closed substantially coincides with the distance from the first regulating surface to the second regulating surface. A medium adapter featuring. In the medium adapter according to claim 9,
The guide is a medium adapter that is provided at a position in the adapter main body where the tape after printing is conveyed when the medium adapter is attached to a printing device that prints on the tape. In the medium adapter according to claim 9,
The position of the restricting portion of the adapter body and the first restricting surface of the guide in the width direction of the tape when the adapter lid is closed, and the restricting portion of the adapter lid and the guide. A medium adapter characterized in that the positions of the tape in the width direction with the second regulation surface substantially coincide with each other. In the medium adapter according to any one of claims 1 to 11.
The adapter main body is a medium adapter characterized in that a feeding groove for restricting movement of the tape to be fed from the feeding port in the thickness direction is provided at a position serving as the feeding outlet.

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