JPH07314869A - Tape cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To remove positional shear at a position where a film tape is bonded to a pressure sensitive adhesive tape by a method wherein a tape feed width of a tape feed roller is set the same width as a tape width of the film tape and the tape width of the pressure sensitive adhesive tape. CONSTITUTION:A controlling member 14 is formed near a support hole 13 of a feed roller 12 formed in an upper case 2. A controlling wall 51 is disposed in upright near the support hole 13 of the tape feed roller 12 provided in a lower case 3, and a controlling member 15 is formed thereunder. When a tape cassette is assembled by bonding the upper case 2 to the lower case 3, a width W between a lower end of the upper controlling member 14 and an upper end of the lower controlling member 15 is set the same width as a width of a film tape. Further, a tape feed width in the tape feed roller 12 is set the same width as a width W between respective controlling members 14, 15. Furthermore, a guide wall 25 is disposed in upright adjacent to the controlling wall 51, and a guide groove 25A is provided between the controlling wall 51 and a guide wall 25.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention enables a film tape spool wound with a film tape, a ribbon spool wound with an ink ribbon, and an adhesive tape spool wound with an adhesive tape to be rotatable in a cassette case. A tape cassette that is supported and is used in a tape printing device to print characters and the like on a film tape through an ink ribbon, and then to create a character-attached tape in which an adhesive tape is attached to a character-printing surface of the film tape, , Adhere the adhesive tape to the film tape, and properly regulate and guide the width direction of the film tape through a pair of regulating members on the upstream side of the tape feed roller, and also set the tape feed width of the tape feed roller to the tape width of the film tape. And by making it the same as the tape width of the adhesive tape, there is no misalignment between the film tape and the adhesive tape. It relates the tape cassette capable of bonding both tape without raw.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, various tape cassettes have been proposed for use in a tape printer to produce a character-attached tape. In such a tape cassette, generally, a ribbon spool around which an ink ribbon is wound, a film tape spool around which a film tape as a print medium is wound, and an adhesive tape spool around which an adhesive tape is wound are provided in a cassette case. When creating a tape with letters, while printing each tape and film tape, after printing letters etc. on the film tape via the ink ribbon by the thermal head attached to the tape printer, An adhesive tape is attached to the character printing surface to create a character-attached tape.

In such a tape cassette, when sticking an adhesive tape on a character printing surface of a film tape on which characters or the like are printed, a tape feeding roller that performs a tape feeding operation of the film tape and a tape feeding operation of the adhesive tape is used. An adhesive tape is attached to the character printing surface of the film tape.

[0004]

However, there is no means for regulating and guiding the width direction of the film tape on the upstream side of the tape feed roller in the conventional tape cassette. Therefore, when the film tape is fed to the position near the tape feed roller, there is a possibility that the film tape may be shifted upward or downward with respect to the tape feed roller, or may be fed at an inclination. Further, the tape feeding roller provided inside the conventional tape cassette is not provided with a means for regulating the tape feeding width.

In such a case, the film tape and the adhesive tape will be attached in a state where they are displaced from each other, so that the produced tape with characters becomes very unattractive and difficult to use. There is a problem that becomes.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems in the prior art. The tape feeding width of the tape feeding roller is made to match the tape widths of the film tape and the adhesive tape, and the tape feeding roller is provided on the upstream side. By providing a regulating member that regulates and guides the film tape in the width direction, it is possible to prevent the film tape and the adhesive tape from being displaced from each other at the attaching position, which is good in appearance and easy. It is an object of the present invention to provide a tape cassette capable of producing a character-attached tape that can be used in a tape.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a film tape spool in which a film tape having a predetermined tape width is wound in a cassette case, and a ribbon larger than the tape width of the film tape. A ribbon spool around which an ink ribbon having a width is wound and an adhesive tape spool around which an adhesive tape having the same tape width as that of the film tape is wound are rotatably supported, and each film tape spool and ribbon spool While drawing the film tape and ink ribbon along the specified transport route, print characters etc. on the film tape through the ink ribbon, and also stick the adhesive tape drawn from the adhesive tape spool on the character printing surface of the film tape. A tape cassette for producing a tape with letters, the film tape The film tape from the adhesive tape spool and the adhesive tape from the adhesive tape spool, and a tape feed roller having a predetermined tape feed width and formed on the side wall of the cassette case upstream of the tape feed roller in the transport path. And a pair of regulating members, wherein the spacing between the regulating members is set to be substantially the same as the tape width of the film tape,
The tape feed width of the tape feed roller is set to be the same as the tape width of the film tape and the tape width of the adhesive tape.

[0008]

According to the present invention having the above-mentioned structure, when the tape with characters is produced, the film tape is pulled out from the film tape spool and the adhesive tape is pulled out from the adhesive tape spool via the tape feed roller. During this time,
Characters and the like are printed on the film tape via the ink ribbon, and an adhesive tape is attached to the character printing surface of the film tape to create a tape with characters.

At this time, on the side wall of the cassette case on the upstream side of the tape feed roller, a pair of regulating members having substantially the same spacing as the film tape are formed. It is fed to the tape feed roller while being guided in the width direction. Also,
The tape feed width of the tape feed roller is set to be the same as the tape width of the film tape and the adhesive tape. Therefore, since the film tape and the adhesive tape are mutually positioned in the width direction through the action of the tape feed width of each regulation member and the tape feed roller, the film tape and the adhesive tape are pasted together without any positional deviation between the two tapes. A tape with characters that can be worn and looks good can be created.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings based on embodiments embodying a tape cassette used in a tape printer. First, the schematic configuration of the tape cassette 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the tape cassette 1, which has an upper case 2 and a lower case 3.

In the tape cassette 1, a support hole 4 for rotatably supporting a tape spool 18 around which a film tape 17 described later is wound, and a character or the like to be printed on the film tape 17 by a thermal head H described later. A support hole 5 for supporting the ribbon take-up spool 21 for drawing out and winding up the ink ribbon 19 from the ribbon spool 20, and a tape spool 23 formed by winding a release paper of a double-sided adhesive tape 22 described later outward. A supporting hole 7 for supporting is formed.

Although only the support holes 4, 5, and 7 formed in the upper case 2 are shown in FIG. 1, the lower case 3 similarly faces the support holes of the upper case 2. Support holes 4, 5, and 7 are formed.

On the front side (the lower side in FIG. 1) of the tape cassette 1, the film tape 17 drawn from the tape spool 18 and the ink ribbon 19 drawn from the ribbon spool 20 are guided, and are opened from the opening 8A. An arm portion 8 (detailed configuration will be described later) is provided, and a head mounting portion 9 to which a thermal head H (described later) of the tape printer is mounted is provided behind the arm portion 8. ing. Further, in the head mounting portion 9, the tape cassette 1 is provided on the wall portion 9A facing the arm portion 8.
A first fitting portion 10 is formed to extend rearward of the first fitting portion 1 on the left side wall of the head mounting portion 9.
The 2nd fitting part 11 which entered in the direction (direction along wall 9A) orthogonal to 0 is formed. Each of the first fitting portion 10 and the second fitting portion 11 is formed on the head holder 44 that supports the thermal head H, as will be described later.
The head mounting portion 9 is fitted into each of the projecting portions 45 and 46.
Attach the thermal head H to each ink ribbon 1
9. This is to ensure the operation without interfering with the film tape 17.

Further, a tape feed roller 12 is rotatably supported by a support hole 13 on the downstream side of the head mounting portion 9 in the running direction of each ink ribbon 19 and film tape 17, and the tape feed roller 12 is , The film tape 17 from the tape spool 18 and the double-sided adhesive tape 22 from the tape spool 23 in cooperation with a pressure contact roller 49 (see FIG. 15) that is pressed against the tape feed roller 12 from the side opposite to it. The film tape 17 and the double-sided adhesive tape 22 on which characters and the like are printed by the thermal head H via the ink ribbon 19.
And are adhered to each other. A pair of upper and lower regulating members 14 and 15 are provided near the tape feed roller 12.
Is provided, and each of the restriction members 14 and 15 is
The film tape 17 on which characters and the like are printed is regulated and guided in the width direction on the downstream side of the thermal head H, and the film tape 17 and the double-sided adhesive tape 22 are properly bonded together without any positional deviation. It is for.
The detailed configurations of the tape feed roller 12 and the restriction members 14 and 15 will be described later.

A cassette detector 16 is formed at the right rear edge position of the tape cassette 1, and the cassette detector 16 has a type of the tape cassette 1 (for example, width of each film tape 17 and ink ribbon). A plurality of switch holes 16A are formed in a predetermined pattern to detect the type of the tape cassette 1 is specified by the color of the ink applied to 19). The formation pattern of the switch hole 16A is different according to the type of each tape cassette 1, and each switch hole 16A has a plurality of detection switches 81 arranged on the tape printer side.
It is detected based on the on / off combination (see FIGS. 21 and 23). Such a configuration will be described later.

The tape cassette 1 includes a tape printer having a cassette mounting portion X (see FIGS. 13 and 20) on its upper surface and a tape printer having the cassette mounting portion X on its lower surface. It can be mounted on any of them. For a tape printer having the cassette mounting portion X provided on the upper surface, it is mounted on the cassette mounting portion X from the lower case 3 side by front loading. With respect to the tape printer having the cassette mounting portion X provided on the lower surface, the cassette mounting portion X is mounted from the upper case 2 side by bottom loading. As described above, in order to be adapted to both the front loading method and the bottom loading method, the tape cassette 1 according to this embodiment has various characteristic configurations as described below. The characteristic configuration will be sequentially described.

Next, the internal structure of the tape cassette 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the outline of the internal configuration of the tape cassette 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the lower case 3 with the upper case 2 removed, and a tape spool 18 around which a transparent film tape 17 is wound at a rear portion (an upper portion in FIG. 2) of the lower case 3 has the support hole 4 formed therein. It is rotatably arranged via the. Further, a ribbon spool 20 around which an ink ribbon 19 is wound is rotatably arranged at the front part (lower part in FIG. 2) of the lower case 3, and the ink ribbon 19 is pulled out from the ribbon spool 20 and characters, etc. are drawn. Ribbon take-up spool 21 for taking up the ink ribbon 19 consumed by printing
Is rotatably arranged between the tape spool 18 and the ribbon spool 20 via the support hole 5.

The film tape 17 is pulled out from the tape spool 18 by the cooperation of the tape feed roller 12 and the pressure contact roller 49 (provided on the tape printer side) as described above, and the opening 8A of the arm portion 8 is formed. After passing through the front side (the lower side in FIG. 2) of the head mounting portion 9, it is bonded to the double-sided adhesive tape 22 and discharged from the tape discharging portion 24 to the outside of the tape cassette 1. In addition, the ink ribbon 19
The ribbon spool 2 via the ribbon take-up spool 21.
0, and after passing through the opening 8A of the arm portion 8 to the front side (the lower side in FIG. 2) of the head mounting portion 9, the guide hole 25 of the guide portion 25 formed inside each of the restricting members 14 and 15.
After passing through A, it is wound around the ribbon winding spool 21. A clutch spring 26 is attached to the lower portion of the ribbon take-up spool 21.
Is for preventing the ribbon take-up spool 21 from rotating in the reverse direction and the ink ribbon 17 wound up being loosened.

Here, the ribbon width of the ink ribbon 19 is
As shown in FIG. 1, it is configured to be wider than the tape width of the film tape 17. This is the restriction member 14, 1
The film tape 17 and the ink ribbon 19 are reliably separated on the upstream side of 5 so that the ink ribbon 19 is not pulled out along with the running of the film tape 17 on the downstream side of each of the regulating members 14 and 15. This is because That is, the width (height) W set between the restriction members 14 and 15
Is the same as the tape width of the film tape 17, and therefore is set smaller than the ribbon width of the ink ribbon 19. As a result, when the ink ribbon 19 is guided to travel from the opening 8A of the arm portion 8 through the guide hole 25A of the guide portion 25 according to the film tape 17, the width W between the restriction members 14 and 15 is the ribbon of the ink ribbon 19. Since the width is smaller than the width,
As a result, the ink ribbon 19 is prevented from entering into the space 15, and as a result, even if the ink ribbon 19 sticks to the film tape 17 and tries to travel with the film tape 17, the ink ribbon 19 travels to the downstream side of the respective regulation members 14 and 15. Can be reliably prevented. Therefore, each regulation member 14, 1
On the downstream side of 5, the ink ribbon 19 is the film tape 17
It will never be pulled out more than necessary as the car runs.

As a result, even when the ink ribbon 19 is loosened to some extent, the ink ribbon 19 attached to the film tape 17 is pulled out more than necessary due to the pulling out of the film tape 17, and the double-sided adhesion is caused. By adhering to the tape 22, the ink ribbon 19 is jammed in the tape cassette 1 and the tape cassette 1
It can be surely prevented from becoming unusable.

Further, by making the ribbon width of the ink ribbon 19 larger than the tape width of the film tape 17, the ribbon width of the ink ribbon 19 naturally becomes larger than the printing width of characters or the like on the film tape 17, As a result, even when characters or the like are continuously printed by using the print width of the film tape 17 to the maximum, the ink ribbon 19
It is possible to prevent the ink ribbon 19 from being cut because unused portions remain on both sides of the print width. Note that the tape width of the film tape 17 and the tape width of the double-sided adhesive tape 22 are the same tape width because they are bonded to each other to form a tape with characters.

Here, the end portions of the film tapes 17 and the ink ribbons 19 are respectively connected to the tape spool 1
8. How to attach to the ribbon spool 20
And FIG. 4 will be described. Figure 3 shows the film tape 1
7, the tape spool 18 at the end of the ink ribbon 19,
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing a method of attaching the ribbon tape 20 to the ribbon spool 20, and FIG.
It is a top view which shows the state which attached the end of 9 to the tape spool 18 and the ribbon spool 20.

In each of these figures, the film tape 1
7. The ends 17A and 19A of the ink ribbon 19 are both ends 27A and 2A of the adhesive tape 27 that is wound and bonded in a loop shape around the tape spool 18 and the ribbon spool 20.
By adhering and fixing between 7B, tape spool 1
8, attached to the ribbon spool 20.

In this way, the film tape 17 and the ink ribbon 19 become the tape spool 18 and the ribbon spool 2.
Film tape 1 when attached to 0
7. A force relationship when a pulling force acts on the ink ribbon 19 will be described with reference to FIG. At this time, the tape spool 18 and the ribbon spool 20 are supposed to rotate in the arrow A direction.

In this state, the film tape 1
7. When a pulling force is applied to the ink ribbon 19 at the arrow B, the pulling force acts as a force for removing the adhesive tape 27 from the tape spool 18 and the ribbon spool 20,
Specifically, the spools 18, 20 of the double-sided adhesive tape 27
The both ends 27A and 27B of the adhesive tape 27 are connected to the film tape 17 through a force that overcomes the shear resistance of the entire adhesive surface with the pulling force, and a component force that acts in the arrow C and arrow D directions.
It acts as a force for peeling from the ends 17A, 19A of the ink ribbon 19 or a force for peeling the adhesive tape 27 from the spools 18, 20.

At this time, the adhesive tape 27 is adhered to the tape spool 18 and the ribbon spool 20 in a loop shape over the periphery thereof, and therefore, the film tape 17 and the ends 17A and 19A of the ink ribbon 19 are Attach the adhesive tape 27 to the tape spool 18 and the ribbon spool 20.
The tape spool 18 and the ribbon spool 2 via the adhesive tape 27 to the extent that they can sufficiently oppose the force of peeling from the tape spool 18.
It will be firmly fixed to 0, spool 1 from this
It is possible to reliably prevent the peeling from the 8 and 20 easily.

The film tape 17 and the ink ribbon 19 may be attached to the tape spool 18 and the ribbon spool 20 by the method shown in FIGS. FIG. 5 shows an attachment method in which one end portion 27B of the adhesive tape 27 is made long and the film tape 17 and the ends 17A and 19A of the ink ribbons 19 are adhered to the end portion 27B. FIG. 6 shows that two adhesive tapes 27 are formed, and when the adhesive tapes 27 are wound and adhered to the tape spools 18 and 20, some of the adhesive tapes 27 are overlapped with each other and the end portions 27A of each adhesive tape 27 are overlapped. A method of fixing the film tape 17 and the ends 17A and 19A of the ink ribbon 19 between them will be described. Further, FIG. 7 is basically the same as the fixing method of FIG. 6, and shows a fixing method in which a part of each adhesive tape 27 is not overlapped. FIG. 8 shows a tape spool 1
8 shows a method of fixing by using the adhesive tape 27 in which the adhesive is not present in the portion around which the ribbon spool 20 is wound, and the adhesive is present only in each end 27A.

Whichever fixing method is used, the film tape 17 and the end 17 of the ink ribbon 19 are used.
Tape spool 1 with A and 19A via adhesive tape 27
8. It becomes possible to firmly fix it to the ribbon spool 20.

Next, the structure of the ribbon take-up spool 21 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the ribbon take-up spool 21. The ribbon take-up spool 21 is rotatably supported between the support hole 5 of the upper case 2 and the support hole 5 of the lower case 3. A plurality of engaging ribs 30 are provided on the inner wall of the ribbon take-up spool 21 at a substantially central position L (shown by a broken line L) in the vertical direction,
The engaging ribs 30 are vertically symmetrical with respect to the central position L.

Then, as will be described later, when the tape cassette 1 is set in the cassette mounting portion X of the tape printer, the ribbon winding shaft 65 disposed in the cassette mounting portion X is inserted into the ribbon winding spool 21. When the ribbon take-up shaft 65 is inserted into the ribbon take-up spool 21, a plurality of cam members 66 formed around the ribbon take-up shaft 65 are engaged with the engaging ribs 30. . At this time,
Since each of the engaging ribs 30 is formed vertically symmetrical with respect to the central position L, the cam member 66 of the ribbon winding shaft 65 is suitable for each of the engaging ribs 30 in both front loading and bottom loading. Can be engaged with.

The ribbon take-up spool 21 is rotated in the same direction in both the front loading and the bottom loading (see FIGS. 20 and 22), and the engaging ribs 30 are aligned with the rotating direction. Since it is formed in such a shape, the ribbon take-up spool 21 for each upper case 2 and lower case 3 of the tape cassette 1 is formed.
When the mounting direction of the ribbon is reversed, the ribbon take-up spool 21
Cannot rotate normally. In order to prevent this, the diameter of the support hole 5 in the upper case 2 is set to be larger than the diameter of the support hole 5 in the lower case 3, and the outer peripheral diameter of the upper end portion 21A of the ribbon take-up spool 21 is set to the lower end portion 21B. The diameter is set larger than the outer diameter, and the upper end portion 21A is fitted in the support hole 5 of the upper case 2 and the lower end portion 21B is fitted in the support hole 5 of the lower case 3. By adopting such a configuration, the ribbon take-up spool 21
9 is always mounted in the tape cassette 1 while maintaining the positional relationship shown in FIG. 9, whereby erroneous mounting of the ribbon take-up spool 21 in the tape cassette 1 can be reliably prevented.

Next, the structure for guiding the film tape 17 and the ink ribbon 19 in the arm portion 8 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of the arm portion 8. The arm portion 8 of the lower case 3 is
It is composed of an outer wall 8B and an inner wall 8C which is higher than the outer wall 8B and has a height substantially equal to the ribbon width of the ink ribbon 19. Further, a separation wall 31 having the same height as the inner wall 8C is provided upright between the outer wall 8B and the inner wall 8C. A pair of guide regulation pieces 32, 32 are formed at the lower ends of both sides of the separation wall 31. Further, in the arm portion 8 of the lower case 3, a guide pin 34 having a guide regulation piece 33 formed at its lower end is provided on the upstream side (right side in FIG. 10) of the separation wall 31. In addition, a pair of guide regulation pieces 35 are formed in the upper case 2 in the part that constitutes the arm portion 8 so as to correspond to the respective guide regulation pieces 32 provided at the lower ends of both sides of the separation wall 31.

When the tape cassette 1 is constructed by joining the upper case 2 and the lower case 3, the film tape 17 runs in the arm portion 8 by the outer wall 8B, the separating wall 31, and the guide pin 34. Thus, the film tape running path for guiding the ink ribbon 19 and the inner wall 8C and the separating wall 31 form a ribbon running path for guiding the running of the ink ribbon 19. At this time, the lower end of the film tape 17 is regulated by the guide regulation piece 33, and the guide pin 34
And the guide regulation pieces 32 at the lower end of the separating wall 31 and the guide regulation pieces 35 of the upper case 2 cooperate to regulate the guide in the tape width direction.
In the arm portion 8, the vehicle is guided between the outer wall 8B and the separation wall 31. Further, the ink ribbon 19 is guided by the inner wall 8C and the separation wall 31 having a height substantially the same as the ribbon width, and is guided to travel between the inner wall 8C and the separation wall 31 in the arm portion 8. Is.

As described above, the tape width of the film tape 17 and the ribbon width of the ink ribbon 19 are different from each other (the ribbon width of the ink ribbon 19 is larger than the tape width of the film tape 17). The film tape traveling path and the ribbon traveling path are separated by the separating wall 3 in the arm portion 8.
1, different paths separated from each other are formed, and therefore, the respective fill tapes 17 and the ink ribbons 19 are independent in each running path, even though their respective tape widths and ribbon widths are different. Therefore, it is possible to reliably guide the vehicle. Further, since the ink ribbon 19 is guided by the inner wall 8C provided on the arm portion 8 of the lower case 3 and the separation wall 31, the ink ribbon 19 only needs to be set in the lower case 3, and therefore the upper case 2 Ink ribbon between 1
Wrinkles do not occur on the case 9, and the ink ribbon 19 is not caught between the cases 2 and 3 when the upper case 2 and the lower case 3 are assembled. Further, regarding the inner wall 8C and the separation wall 31 which are formed higher than the outer wall 8B of the lower case 3 in consideration of the ribbon width of the ink ribbon 19, the lower case 3
It suffices to form only a necessary portion of the upper part of the upper part 2 higher, and the other part can be formed in consideration of the balance with the height of the outer wall 8B and the wall height of the upper case 2, and therefore, the inner wall 8C and the separating wall. It is not necessary to increase the height of the entire lower case according to the height of 31. As a result, the lower case 3 can be easily molded without causing any difficulty in molding.

2, the internal structure of the tape cassette 1 will be further described. At the left side position of the lower case 3, an adhesive tape 22 with release paper is placed with the release paper side facing outward. The wound tape spool 23 is rotatably supported via the support hole 7. Double-sided adhesive tape 22
As described above, the film tape on which characters and the like are printed through the thermal head H while being pulled out from the tape spool 23 by the cooperation of the tape feed roller 12 and the pressure contact roller 49 provided in the tape printer. 1
The tape is attached to the character printing surface 7 and then ejected from the tape ejecting section 24 to the outside of the tape cassette 1.

Next, the structure of the tape spool 23 will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 to 13. First, the state before the tape cassette 1 is mounted in the tape printer will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12. 11 is a sectional view showing the tape spool 23 with the lower case 3 of the tape cassette 1 arranged on the lower side, and FIG. 12 is a sectional view of the tape spool 23 with the lower case 3 arranged on the upper side. .

First, in FIG. 11, a plurality of locking ribs 36 are formed around the support hole 7 in the upper case 2 radially from the center thereof, and the support hole 7 in the lower case 3 is formed. Similar to each locking rib 36, a plurality of locking ribs 37 are radially formed from the center of the periphery. Further, the tape spool 23 has a double wall structure, and four sliding grooves 38 are formed on the inner inner wall 23A along the vertical direction. That is, each of the four sliding grooves 38
Are vertically formed on the inner wall 23A at intervals of 90 degrees.

Further, in the tape spool 23, four sliding protrusions 39 slidably fitted in the respective sliding grooves 38 are formed, and a cylindrical frame which slides vertically in the tape spool 23. The member 40 is inserted and fitted. Each sliding protrusion 39
The lower case 3 according to the arrangement state of the tape cassette 1.
It can be locked to the locking rib 37 of the above or the locking rib 36 of the upper case 2. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, when the tape cassette 1 is arranged so that the lower case 3 is on the lower side, each sliding protrusion 39 of the top member 40 has a locking rib 37 of the lower case 3. Is locked to, as shown in FIG.
When the tape cassette 1 is inverted so that the upper case 2 is on the lower side, the sliding protrusions 39 of the top member 40 are locked by the locking ribs 36 of the upper case 2. Further, when each sliding protrusion 39 of the top member 40 is not locked by either the locking rib 36 of the upper case 2 or the locking rib 37 of the lower case 3, the top member 40 is slid by each sliding rib 39. Since the moving projection 39 is fitted in the sliding groove 38 of the tape spool 23, it is rotated in synchronization with the tape spool 23.

In the above structure, the top member 40
In the state shown in FIG. 11, each sliding protrusion 39 of the lower case 3
It is locked by the locking ribs 37 and is also fitted in the sliding groove 38 of the tape spool 23, whereby the tape spool 23 is held in a state in which its rotation is locked. Similarly, in the state shown in FIG. 12, each sliding protrusion 39 of the top member 40 is locked by the locking rib 37 of the upper case 2 and the sliding groove 38 of the tape spool 23.
Therefore, the tape spool 23 is held in a state where its rotation is locked.

Therefore, even when the tape cassette 1 is arranged in any of the states shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the rotation of the tape spool 23 is locked,
As a result, the adhesive tape 22 is carelessly attached to the tape cassette 1.
It is possible to reliably prevent the tape cassette 1 from being pulled out to the outside or retracted inside the tape cassette 1.

Further, the state in which the tape cassette 1 is mounted in the cassette mounting portion X of the tape printer will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 13 is a sectional view showing a state of the top member 40 when the tape cassette 1 is mounted in the cassette mounting portion X. In FIG. 13, a boss 41 is provided upright in the cassette mounting portion X of the tape printer corresponding to the support hole 7 of the tape cassette 1. The boss 41 is provided in the support hole 7 when the tape cassette 1 is mounted. Is inserted.

When the tape cassette 1 is mounted in the cassette mounting portion X of the tape printer, the boss 41 is inserted into the support hole 7 of the tape cassette 1 and, along with this, the top member 40.
Are pushed upward in the tape spool 23. As a result, the engagement between the sliding protrusion 39 of the top member 40 and the engagement rib 37 of the lower case 3 is released, and the tape spool 23 becomes rotatable with the top member 40. Therefore, the double-sided adhesive tape 22 can be pulled out from the tape spool 23 via the tape feed roller 12 and the like, and a normal tape making operation can be performed. In FIG. 13, the tape cassette 1 has the lower case 3 on the lower side and the cassette mounting portion X.
However, in the case where the tape cassette 1 is turned upside down and the tape cassette 1 is mounted in the cassette mounting portion X so that the upper case 2 is on the lower side, the cassette mounting portion X provided in the tape printer is installed. The top member 40 is pushed upward in the tape spool 23 via a boss (not shown) formed on the lid that opens and closes the top member 4.
The sliding protrusion 39 of 0 and the locking rib 36 of the upper case 2 are unlocked, and as a result, the tape spool 23 becomes rotatable with the top member 40. Therefore, also in such a case, as in the case shown in FIG. 13, the double-sided adhesive tape 22 can be pulled out from the tape spool 23 via the tape feed roller 12 and the like, and a normal tape forming operation can be performed.

As described above, in the tape spool 23 wound with the double-sided adhesive tape 22, the sliding projection 39 of the top member 40 has the upper case when the tape cassette 1 is not mounted in the cassette mounting portion X of the tape printer. 2 locking ribs 36
Alternatively, since both the locking rib 37 of the upper case 3 and the sliding groove 38 of the tape spool 23 are locked and fitted,
It is possible to reliably prevent the double-sided adhesive tape 22 from being inadvertently pulled out from the tape cassette 1 and locked in the tape cassette 1 by locking the rotation of the tape spool 23. Further, when the tape cassette 1 is mounted in the cassette mounting portion X of the tape printer, the sliding projection 39 of the top member 40 and the locking rib of the upper case 2 are mounted via the boss 41 provided upright in the mounting portion X. Since the locking with the locking rib 36 of the upper case 3 or the upper case 3 is released, the tape spool 23 can be freely rotated and a tape forming operation can be performed without applying a rotational load to the tape spool 23. Is.

Next, the structure of the tape feed roller 12 will be described with reference to FIG. 14A and 14B are explanatory views showing the tape feed roller 12, FIG. 14A is a cross-sectional view of the tape feed roller 12, and FIG. 14B is a plan view of the tape feed roller 12.

In each of these figures, the tape feed roller 12 comprises a cylindrical portion 42 formed of a plastic material in a cylindrical shape, and a plurality of drive ribs 43 radially formed from the inner wall of the cylindrical portion 42 toward the center. It is configured.
Here, a plurality of drive ribs 43 are provided on both sides of the center position M so that the drive ribs 43 are vertically symmetrical with respect to the vertical center position of the cylindrical portion 42 (shown by a broken line M in FIG. 14A). Has been formed. Further, a cam member 69 of a tape drive cam 70 (described later) arranged in the cassette mounting portion X of the tape printer is engaged with each drive rib 43, and the tape feed roller 12 rotates the tape drive cam 70. According to the movement, the cam member 69 and the drive ribs 43 cooperate with each other to rotate. As a result, the tape feed roller 12 adheres the double-sided adhesive tape 22 to the film tape 17 by the cooperation of the pressure contact roller 49, and each tape 22,
The feeding operation of feeding the tape 17 from the tape ejecting section 24 to the outside of the tape cassette 1 is performed. In addition, each drive rib 43
Are vertically symmetrical on both sides of the central position M, so that in the case of front loading in which the tape drive cam 70 is inserted from below the tape feed roller 12,
In any case of bottom loading in which the tape drive cam 70 is inserted from above the tape feed roller 12, the cam member 69 of the tape drive cam 70 causes the drive ribs 4 to move.
3 can be engaged.

Next, the relationship between the head holder of the thermal head H and the head mounting portion 9, and the tape feed roller 1
The relationship between 2 and the restriction members 14 and 15 in the vicinity of the upstream side will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the head holder of the thermal head H and the head mounting portion 9
The relationship with and will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory view showing an enlarged relationship between the head holder of the thermal head H and the head mounting portion 9 when the tape cassette 1 is mounted in the cassette mounting portion X of the tape printer. As described above (see FIGS. 1 and 2), the first fitting portion 1 is provided on the wall portion 9A of the head mounting portion 9 in the head mounting portion 9 provided in
0 (which goes into the upper side in FIG. 15) is formed, and a second fitting portion 11 which goes into the direction orthogonal to the first fitting portion 10 is formed on the left side wall of the head mounting portion 9. . Further, the thermal head H is mounted on a head holder 44 fixed to the cassette mounting portion X, and the head holder 44 has a first protrusion 45 and a second protrusion 45 inserted into the first fitting portion 10. The second protrusion 4 inserted into the fitting portion 11
6 is provided.

In the above construction, when the tape cassette 1 is mounted in the cassette mounting portion X, first, the first fitting portion 10 of the head mounting portion 9 of the tape cassette 1 is attached to the first protruding portion 45 of the head holder 44. In addition to positioning, the second fitting portion 11 of the head mounting portion 9 is attached to the head holder 4
The tape cassette 1 is mounted on the cassette mounting portion X from above. When the tape cassette 1 is mounted, the tape cassette 1
The cassette mounting portion X is formed by the fitting portion 10 and the first protruding portion 45.
In the left-right direction (left-right direction in FIG. 15), and the second fitting portion 11 and the second protrusion 46 position the cassette mounting portion X in the front-rear direction (up-down direction in FIG. 15). Be seen. As described above, the tape cassette 1 includes the first fitting portion 10, the first protruding portion 45, and the second
Since the cassette can be properly mounted on the cassette mounting section X only after the cassette mounting section X is positioned in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction via the fitting section 11 and the second projection section 46, the cassette mounting section X can be mounted properly. It is possible to mount the tape cassette 1 while always maintaining a constant relationship with the section X.
Therefore, the tape cassette 1 is reliably and easily mounted in the cassette mounting portion X without the film tape 17 and the ink ribbon 19 exposed in the head mounting portion 9 coming into contact with the thermal head H and the head holder 44. It is possible to do.

In FIG. 15, the cassette mounting portion X of the tape printer is provided with a support shaft 47 facing the tape cassette 1.
A roller holder 48 that is rotatably supported around the roller holder 48 is provided. When the thermal head H prints characters or the like on the film tape 17 via the ink ribbon 19, the roller holder 48 is provided. , Tape feed roller 12
And a thermal head H, which is pressed against the tape and performs a tape feeding operation in cooperation with the tape feeding roller 12.
A platen roller 50, which is pressed against, is rotatably supported.

Next, the relationship between the tape feed roller 12 and each of the regulating members 14 and 15 in the vicinity of the upstream side will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure in the vicinity of the tape feed roller 12, and FIG. 17 is a side sectional view of the tape feed roller 12 portion.

In each of these figures, a regulating member 14 is formed in the vicinity of the support hole 13 of the tape feed roller 12 formed in the upper case 2, and the tape feed roller 12 formed in the lower case 3 is provided. A regulation wall 51 is provided upright in the vicinity of the support hole 13, and a regulation member 15 is formed below the regulation wall 51. When assembling the tape cassette 1 by joining the upper case 2 and the lower case 3,
The width W (see FIG. 1) between the lower end of the upper regulating member 14 and the upper end of the lower regulating member 15 is set to be the same as the tape width of the film tape 17 as described above, and the tape feeding is performed. The tape feed width of the roller 12 is set to be the same as the width W between the restriction members 14 and 15. A guide wall 25 is provided upright adjacent to the restriction wall 51, and a guide groove 25A is provided between the restriction wall 51 and the guide wall 25.

In the above structure, after the characters and the like are printed on the film tape 17 by the thermal head H via the ink ribbon 19, the ink ribbon 19 consumed by the printing is taken up by the ribbon spool 21 and the film The tape 17 is fed in the ejection direction by the tape feed roller 12 and the pressure contact roller 49. At this time, the ink ribbon 19 has a tape width larger than the tape width of the film tape 17 as described above, and therefore, the ink ribbon 19 is guided between the regulation wall 51 and the regulation wall 51 without being fed between the regulation members 14 and 15. The ribbon spool 21 is wound around the guide groove 25A between the wall 25 and the ribbon 25. On the other hand, the film tape 17
The tape width is equal to the width W between the regulation members 14 and 15, and the tape is fed to the tape feed roller 12 while being regulated and guided in the tape width direction by the regulation members 14 and 15. At the same time, the double-sided adhesive tape 22 is fed to the film tape 17 while being matched with the tape feed width W of the tape feed roller 12 which is equal to the tape width. As a result, the film tape 17 and the double-sided adhesive tape 22 having the same tape width can be properly bonded to each other by the cooperation of the tape feed roller 12 and the pressure contact roller 49 without causing a positional deviation between the two tapes. It is a thing.

Next, a description will be given of a characteristic structure that enables the tape cassette 1 to be used in the tape printer in both front loading and bottom loading. In the above description, the engaging ribs 30 of the ribbon take-up spool 2 are formed vertically symmetrically so as to be usable in both front loading and bottom loading (see FIG. 9), and
The configuration in which the drive ribs 43 of the tape feed roller 12 are formed vertically symmetrically (see FIG. 14) has been described, but the tape cassette 1 according to the present embodiment has the following features in addition to these configurations. Have a specific structure. That is, FIG.
8 is a side view of the tape cassette 1. The tape cassette 1 includes two upper cases 2 and 3 having different heights.
(The upper case 3 is higher than the lower case 2), but the tape cassette 1 is formed vertically symmetrical with respect to the center line N in the height (width) direction of the tape cassette 1. A common portion 52 having a height T is provided. The height T of the common portion 52 is equal to the film tape 1
The same size is set regardless of the tape width such as 7.

Therefore, the positions of both surfaces of the common portion 52 are
The tape cassette 1 is located at the same position with respect to the center line N from both the upward direction and the downward direction. Therefore, the tape cassette 1 uses the common portion 52 to perform either front loading or bottom loading. In the case of, it can be used. In addition, the upper and lower surfaces of the common portion 52 can be used for positioning in the height direction, and a pressing member provided on a lid for opening and closing the cassette mounting portion X of the tape printer is brought into contact with the common portion 52. By doing so, it becomes possible to easily design the lid regardless of whether the lid is arranged on the upper side or the lower side of the tape printer.

Further, the tape cassette 1 is shown in FIG.
As shown in the plan view of (A) and the back view of FIG. 19 (B),
When the tape cassette 1 is mounted in the cassette mounting portion X,
Two positioning pins 7 standing upright from the cassette mounting portion X
Pin holes 53 and 54 into which 2, 73 (described later) are inserted
, Are provided so as to be vertically symmetrical from both sides of the tape cassette 1. Thereby, the tape cassette 1 can be properly positioned in the cassette mounting portion X through the positioning pins 72, 73 and the pin holes 53, 54 in both cases of front loading and bottom loading. Is.

Next, FIG. 20 and FIG. 2 in the case where the tape cassette 1 configured as described above is front-loaded to the cassette mounting portion X of the tape printer.
1 and FIG. 24 will be described. FIG. 20 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the tape cassette 1 is front-loaded to the cassette mounting portion X of the tape printer, and FIG. 21 is a relationship between the cassette detection unit 16 and the detection switch when the tape cassette 1 is front-loaded. FIG. 24 is an explanatory view schematically showing the case of front loading and the case of bottom loading.

First, referring to FIG. 20, a tape printer P
The configuration of the cassette mounting portion X will be described. A head holder 44 is fixedly provided on the front side of the cassette mounting portion X, and a thermal head H is mounted on the head holder 44. A drive motor 60 is arranged outside the cassette mounting portion X (on the right side in FIG. 20), and a drive gear 61 is fixed to the lower end of the drive shaft of the drive motor 60. The drive gear 61 is meshed with a gear 63 rotatably supported on the bottom surface of the cassette mounting portion X through an opening 62 provided in the cassette mounting portion X, and the gear 63 is further meshed with a gear 64. ing. Such gear 6
A ribbon take-up shaft 65 for rotating the ribbon take-up spool 21 is erected on the upper surface of 4, and the ribbon take-up shaft 65 is formed around the ribbon take-up shaft 65 on the inner wall of the ribbon take-up spool 21. A cam member 66 that engages with the engagement rib 30 (see FIG. 9) is provided.

A gear 67 is meshed with the gear 64,
Further, a gear 68 is meshed with the gear 67. And
The gear 68 includes a drive rib 4 of the tape feed roller 12.
A gear 71 on which a tape drive cam 70 having a cam member 69 that engages 3 (see FIG. 14) is erected is meshed.

When the tape cassette 1 is mounted in the cassette mounting portion X from the state shown in FIGS. 20 and 24 (center view, lower view), the drive motor 60 in the tape drive system is driven to rotate counterclockwise. Then, the drive gear 61 and the gear 6
3, the ribbon take-up shaft 65 is rotationally driven in the counterclockwise direction via the gear 64. As a result, the ribbon take-up spool 21 cooperates with the cam member 66 of the ribbon take-up shaft 65 and the engaging rib 30. Is driven to rotate in the direction of arrow E and the ink ribbon 1
The winding operation of 9 is performed. Further, the rotation of the gear 64 is the same as that of the gear 6
7 is transmitted to the tape drive cam 70 via the gear 68 and the gear 71, whereby the cam member 6 of the tape drive cam 70 is transmitted.
9. The tape feeding roller 12 is rotationally driven in the clockwise direction via the drive ribs 43 of the tape feeding roller 12, and cooperates with the pressure contact roller 49 to bond the film tape 17 and the double-sided adhesive tape 22 to the tape ejecting section 24. From the tape cassette 1 to the outside.

Further, in the cassette mounting portion X, the gear 67
A boss (see FIG. 13) 41 is arranged between the gear and the gear 68. As described above, the boss 41 pushes the top member 40 in the tape spool 23 upward when the tape cassette 1 is mounted in the cassette mounting portion X, so that the sliding protrusion 39 of the top member 40 and the lower case 3 can be removed. Locking rib 37
The lock with is released. As a result, the tape spool 23 becomes free to rotate and can rotate together with the top member 40.

Furthermore, in the periphery of the cassette mounting portion X,
Two positioning pins 72, 73 are provided, and each of these positioning pins 72, 73 has the pin hole 5 described above.
3, 54 (see FIGS. 19A and 19B),
The tape cassette 1 is properly positioned in the cassette mounting portion X.

Next, the relationship between the cassette detector 16 and the detection switch when the tape cassette 1 is front-loaded will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 21, a switch support member 80 is arranged at the rear position of the cassette mounting portion X, and four detection switches 81 are arranged in parallel upward on the switch support member 80.
Each detection switch 81 has a switch terminal 81A, and each detection switch 81 is in an off state when each switch end 81A enters a switch hole 16A formed in the switch detection portion 16 of the tape cassette 1 in a predetermined pattern. On the other hand, the switch terminal 81A is pressed in the portion where the switch hole 16A does not exist, so that it is turned on. The type of the tape cassette 1 is detected based on the combination of ON / OFF of each detection switch 81.

When the tape cassette 1 is mounted in the cassette mounting portion X as described above, in the example of FIG. 21, two switches on both sides of the four detection switches 81 are removed except for the middle two switches 81. Since 81 is on, and therefore the on / off pattern is “on / off / off / on” from the left side, the type of the tape cassette 1 is detected based on this combination.

Next, a case where the tape cassette 1 is bottom loaded to the cassette mounting portion X of the tape printer will be described with reference to FIGS. 22, 23 and 24. 22 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the tape cassette 1 is bottom-loaded in the cassette mounting portion X of the tape printer, and FIG. 23 is a relationship between the cassette detection unit 16 and the detection switch when the tape cassette 1 is bottom-loaded. FIG.

In the bottom loading type tape printer P, the cassette mounting portion X is provided on the upper side unlike the case of FIG. 20, and the cassette mounting portion X has the configuration shown in FIG. The same tape drive system and head holder 44 as described above are arranged downward. The respective tape drive systems, the head holder 44, and the like have the same configuration, and thus the description thereof is omitted here.

As shown in FIGS. 22 and 24 (upper side view, center view), in the case of bottom loading, the tape cassette 1 is mounted in the cassette mounting portion X in an upward direction. At this time, in the tape cassette 1 according to the present embodiment, as described above, the engaging ribs 30 are vertically symmetrically formed within the ribbon take-up spool 21 (see FIG. 9), and the inside of the tape feed roller 12 is provided. The drive ribs 43 are vertically symmetrically formed (see FIG. 14), and the common portion 52 is vertically symmetrically provided along the height direction of the tape cassette 1 (see FIG. 18). Therefore, when the tape cassette 1 is bottom-loaded upward from the state shown in FIGS. 22 and 24 to the cassette mounting portion X, the tape cassette 1 is mounted on the cassette mounting portion X in the same manner as in the front loading. It is mounted in a relationship (relationship between each member in the tape cassette 1 and the tape drive system in the cassette mounting portion X). In the case of such bottom loading, the top member 40 arranged in the tape spool 23 is moved upward via a boss formed in a lid provided in the tape printer P for opening and closing the cassette mounting portion X, As a result, the tape spool 23 becomes the top member 4
It becomes a rotation-free state together with 0.

Next, the relationship between the cassette detector 16 and the detection switch when the tape cassette 1 is bottom loaded will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 23, a switch supporting member 80 is arranged at the rear position of the cassette mounting portion X, and the switch supporting member 80 is arranged above the tape cassette 1. On the switch support member 80, four detection switches 81 are arranged in parallel downward. Each detection switch 81 has a switch terminal 81A.
Each detection switch 81 maintains an off state when each switch end 81A is inserted into the switch hole 16A formed in the switch detection portion 16 of the tape cassette 1 in a predetermined pattern. In the portion where 16A does not exist, the switch terminal 81A is pressed, so that it is turned on. Turning on each detection switch 81
The type of the tape cassette 1 is detected based on the combination of OFF.

When the tape cassette 1 is mounted in the cassette mounting portion X as described above, in the example of FIG. 23, of the four detection switches 81, two switches on both sides are excluded except for the middle two switches 81. Since 81 is on, and therefore the on / off pattern is “on / off / off / on” from the left side, the type of the tape cassette 1 is detected based on this combination.

As described in detail above, in the tape cassette 1 according to the present embodiment, the ribbon width of the ink ribbon 19 is made wider than the tape width of the film tape 17, and a pair of ink ribbons 19 are provided near the tape roller 12. Control member 1
Since the widths W and 4 between the restriction members 14 and 15 are set to be substantially the same as the tape width of the film tape 17, the restriction members 14 and 15 are printed after the characters are printed by the thermal head H. The film tape 17 and the ink ribbon 19 are reliably separated via the 15, so that it is possible to reliably prevent the ink ribbon 19 from traveling to the downstream side of the restriction members 14 and 15. In addition, the ink ribbon 1 is provided on the downstream side of the restriction members 14 and 15.
9 is prevented from being unnecessarily pulled out as the film tape 17 runs.

As a result, even if the ink ribbon 19 is slightly loosened, the ink ribbon 19 attached to the film tape 17 is pulled out more than necessary due to the pulling out of the film tape 17, resulting in double-sided adhesion. By adhering to the tape 22, the ink ribbon 19 is jammed in the tape cassette 1 and the tape cassette 1
Can be reliably prevented from becoming unusable.

Further, by making the ribbon width of the ink ribbon 19 larger than the tape width of the film tape 17, the ribbon width of the ink ribbon 19 naturally becomes larger than the printing width of characters or the like on the film tape 17, As a result, even when characters or the like are continuously printed by using the print width of the film tape 17 to the maximum, the ink ribbon 19
It is possible to prevent the ink ribbon 19 from being cut because unused portions remain on both sides of the print width.

Further, the film tape 17 and the ink ribbon 19 are attached to the tape spool 18 and the ribbon spool 2 respectively.
For attachment to 0, the end 17A of the film tape 17 and the end 19A of the ink ribbon 19 are adhered to the tape spool 18 and the ribbon spool 20 in a loop shape around the ends thereof.
7A is adhered, and therefore film tape 1
7. The end portions 17A and 19A of the ink ribbon 19 are arranged so that the tape spool 18 and the ribbon spool 20 can be sufficiently opposed to the force of peeling the adhesive tape 27 from the tape spool 18 and the ribbon spool 20 through the adhesive tape 27.
The film tape 17 and the ink ribbon 19 can be reliably prevented from being easily peeled off from the spools 18 and 20.

Further, in the tape cassette 1 of this embodiment,
By forming the separation wall 31 in the arm portion 8, the film tape 17 is guided to travel between the outer wall 8B and the separation wall 31, and the ink ribbon 19 is formed as an inner wall 8C having a height substantially equal to the ribbon width. Since it is configured to guide the travel between the separation wall 31 and each of the fill tapes 17 and the ink ribbons 19, the fill tapes 17 and the ink ribbons 19 can be reliably and independently provided in each travel path, even though the tape width and the ribbon width are different. You can give directions. Further, since the ink ribbon 19 is guided by the inner wall 8C provided on the arm portion 8 of the lower case 3 and the separation wall 31, the ink ribbon 19 only needs to be set in the lower case 3, and therefore the upper case 2 Wrinkles occur on the ink ribbon 19 between the upper case 2 and the lower case 3 and the ink ribbon 19
Can be prevented from being caught between the cases 2 and 3. Further, in consideration of the ribbon width of the ink ribbon 19, the inner wall 8 formed higher than the outer wall 8B of the lower case 3.
As for the C and the separation wall 31, only the necessary part of the lower case 3 may be formed high, and the other parts may be formed in consideration of the balance with the height of the outer wall 8B and the wall height of the upper case 2. Therefore, it is not necessary to increase the height of the entire lower case according to the height of the inner wall 8C and the separation wall 31. As a result, the lower case 3 can be easily molded without causing any difficulty in molding.

Further, four sliding grooves 38 are formed on the inner wall 23A of the tape spool 23 on which the double-sided adhesive tape 22 is wound, and a top member 40 having sliding protrusions 39 fitted into the respective sliding grooves 38 is formed. The sliding projections 39 of the top member 40 are slidably arranged in the tape spool 23 and the locking ribs 36 formed around the support hole 7 of the upper case while the tape cassette 1 is stored. Since the rotation of the tape spool 23 is held in the locked state by engaging with the respective engaging ribs 37 formed around the support hole 7 of the lower case 3, the adhesive tape 22 is carelessly tape cassette. It is possible to reliably prevent the tape cassette 1 from being pulled out to the outside or retracted inside the tape cassette 1.

Further, regarding the relationship between the head holder 44 for mounting the thermal head H and the head mounting portion 9, the first fitting portion 10 and the head mounting portion 9 are attached to the wall portion 9A of the head mounting portion 9.
A second fitting portion 11 that is inserted in a direction orthogonal to the first fitting portion 10 is formed on the side wall of the first fitting portion 10, and the first projection portion 45 that is fitted into the first fitting portion 10 is formed on the head holder 44. By providing the second protrusion 46 that is inserted into the two-fitting portion 11, the tape cassette 1 always maintains a constant relationship with the cassette mounting portion X when the tape cassette 1 is mounted in the cassette mounting portion X. And the film tape 1 exposed at the head mounting portion 9
7. The tape cassette 1 can be reliably and easily mounted in the cassette mounting portion X without the ink ribbon 19 coming into contact with the thermal head H or the head holder 44.

Further, a plurality of engaging ribs 30 are vertically symmetrically formed on the inner wall of the ribbon take-up spool 21, and a plurality of drive ribs 43 are radially symmetrically vertically formed from the inner wall of the cylindrical portion 42 of the tape feeding roller 12. Since the tape cassette 1 is formed on the tape mounting device X of the tape printer P, the cam member 66 of the ribbon take-up shaft 65 and the tape drive cam 70 can be mounted on the cassette mounting portion X of the tape printer P both when front loading and bottom loading. It can be engaged with both of the cam members 71.

Further, since the tape feed width W of the tape feed roller 12 is set to be the same as the width between the regulation members 14 and 15 and the tape width of the film tape 17, the tape width of the film tape 17 is set. The ink ribbon 19 having a larger ribbon width is separated from the film tape 17 via the regulation members 14 and 15, and the film tape 17 is regulated and guided between the regulation members 14 and 15.
Thereby, the film tape 17 and the double-sided adhesive tape 22 having the same tape width are fed to the tape feed roller 12
Tape feed roller 1 while matching the tape feed width W of
By the cooperation of 7 and the pressure roller 49, it is possible to properly bond the both tapes without causing a positional deviation.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and it goes without saying that various improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0079]

As described above, according to the present invention, the tape feed width of the tape feed roller is matched with the tape width of the film tape and the adhesive tape, and the film tape is regulated and guided in the width direction on the upstream side of the tape feed roller. By providing a regulating member that prevents the film tape and the adhesive tape from being displaced at the attaching position, it is possible to create a character-attached tape that has a good appearance and is easy to use. It is possible to provide a tape cassette that can be used.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tape cassette.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a lower case with the upper case removed.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing a method of attaching the end portions of the film tape and the ink ribbon to the tape spool and the ribbon spool, respectively.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a state in which the film tape and the end of the ink ribbon are attached to the tape spool and the ribbon spool.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing another method of attaching the end portions of the film tape and the ink ribbon to the tape spool and the ribbon spool, respectively.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing still another method of attaching the end portions of the film tape and the ink ribbon to the tape spool and the ribbon spool, respectively.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing still another method of attaching the end portions of the film tape and the ink ribbon to the tape spool and the ribbon spool, respectively.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing still another method of attaching the end portions of the film tape and the ink ribbon to the tape spool and the ribbon spool, respectively.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a ribbon take-up spool.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration of an arm portion.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing the tape spool with the lower case of the tape cassette arranged on the lower side.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the tape spool with the lower case arranged on the upper side.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing a state of the top member when the tape cassette is mounted in the cassette mounting portion.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing a tape feed roller, and FIG.
4A is a sectional view of the tape feed roller, and FIG. 14B is a plan view of the tape feed roller.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory view showing an enlarged relationship between the head holder and the head mounting portion of the thermal head when the tape cassette is mounted in the cassette mounting portion of the tape printer.

FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration in the vicinity of the tape feed roller.

FIG. 17 is a side sectional view of a tape feed roller portion.

FIG. 18 is a side view of the tape cassette.

19 shows a tape cassette, FIG. 19 (A) is a plan view of the tape cassette, and FIG. 19 (B) is a back surface 1 of the tape cassette.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the tape cassette is front-loaded on the cassette mounting portion of the tape printer.

FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the cassette detection unit and the detection switch when the tape cassette is front-loaded.

FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the tape cassette is bottom-loaded in the cassette mounting portion of the tape printer.

FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the cassette detection unit and the detection switch when the tape cassette is bottom loaded.

FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a case of front loading and a case of bottom loading.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 tape cassette 2 upper case 3 lower case 12 tape feed rollers 14, 15 regulating member 17 film tape 18 tape spool 19 ink ribbon 20 ribbon spool 21 ribbon take-up spool 22 double-sided adhesive tape 23 tape spool 51 regulating wall

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Yoshifumi Horiuchi 15-1 Naeshiro-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya City Brother Industries, Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A film tape spool in which a film tape having a predetermined tape width is wound in a cassette case, and an ink ribbon in which an ink ribbon having a ribbon width larger than the tape width of the film tape is wound.
An adhesive tape spool around which an adhesive tape having the same tape width as that of the film tape is wound is rotatably supported, and the film tape and the ink ribbon are conveyed from each film tape spool and ribbon spool along a predetermined transport path. A tape cassette for printing characters, etc. on a film tape via an ink ribbon while drawing out, and for creating a tape with characters by sticking the adhesive tape drawn from the adhesive tape spool on the character printing surface of the film tape, A film tape is pulled out from the film tape, an adhesive tape is pulled out from the adhesive tape spool, and a tape feed roller having a predetermined tape feed width, and a side wall of the cassette case upstream of the tape feed roller in the transport path. And a pair of regulating members formed The interval between the respective regulation members is set to be substantially the same as the tape width of the film tape, and the tape feed width of the tape feed roller is set to be the same as the tape width of the film tape and the tape width of the adhesive tape. A tape cassette that is characterized by