JPH0839907A - Tape cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent a component part, such as a roller, located inside a cassette from slipping off when a tape is loaded or replaced in the tape cassette permitting a tape to be replaced. CONSTITUTION:A tape cassette 1 comprises a cassette case formed by integrally molding claw parts 5, 6, that are to be engaged with a component part, such as a roller with a projected flange part 21A, placed inside the cassette case.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tape cassette in which tapes can be exchanged, and more specifically, it is possible to prevent the components arranged in the tape cassette from falling off when the tape is mounted or the tape is exchanged. Regarding tape cassettes.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a tape cassette used in a label printing apparatus or the like includes a tape for making a label, various components such as rollers for conveying the tape,
It is composed of this tape and a cassette case containing various components. Since this conventional tape cassette is not configured to open and close the cassette case, when the tape contained in the cassette case is finished, the old tape cassette is removed from the label printer and discarded. Then, another tape cassette containing an unused tape is attached to the label printing apparatus. However, in the conventional tape cassette, as described above, when the built-in tape is finished, the cassette case is discarded, so that there is a problem in that it has an adverse effect on the economy and environmental hygiene. Therefore, the inventors of the present application have devised a tape cassette in which only the tape contained in the cassette case can be replaced. This tape cassette is composed of a tape for making a label, components such as rollers for conveying the tape, and a cassette case in which the tape and the components are built in and a lid can be opened and closed. There is.

[0003]

However, among these components, the roller, for example, is only rotatably arranged at a predetermined position in the cassette case, and therefore the lid is opened and the used tape is used up. There is a problem that the roller may fall off the cassette case and be lost when the tape is replaced with a new one.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and even when the lid of the cassette case is opened at the time of exchanging the tape, the components such as the rollers are separated from the cassette case. It is an object of the present invention to provide a tape cassette that will not be dropped and lost.

[0005]

In order to achieve this object, a tape cassette according to the present invention comprises a cassette case whose lid can be opened and closed, a tape which is removably arranged in the cassette case, and a cassette case which is provided in the cassette case. And a holding means for detachably holding the component.

When the component is a roller for feeding the tape, the roller is detachably and rotatably held on either the lid or the cassette case by the holding means.

Further, the holding means is a claw portion which is integrally formed with the cassette lid or the cassette case, and the roller has an engaging portion which engages with the claw portion.

Further, the holding means is an engaging claw member formed on the roller, and the engaging claw member engages with the opening provided on either the lid or the cassette case.

[0009]

According to the tape cassette of the present invention having the above structure, even when the lid of the cassette case is opened,
Since the holding means detachably holds the component arranged in the cassette case, there is no risk of the component falling off and being lost.

Further, when the component is a roller for feeding the tape, this roller is effective because it is detachably and rotatably held on either the lid or the cassette case by the holding means.

Further, since the holding means is a claw portion integrally formed with the cassette lid or the cassette case, and the roller has an engaging portion that engages with the claw portion, this roller is a lid or a cassette. This is effective because it is detachably and rotatably held in either one of the cases.

Further, the holding means is an engaging claw member formed on the roller, and when the engaging claw member is engaged with the opening provided on either the lid or the cassette case, the roller is closed by the lid. Alternatively, since it is detachably and rotatably held in either one of the cassette cases, it is also effective.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, the structure of the tape cassette of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, FIG.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a tape cassette in which only a built-in tape can be replaced and used many times. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the tape cassette with the cassette lid partially broken. FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view of the vicinity of the tape feed roller.

The tape cassette 1 of this embodiment is roughly classified into a replacement tape unit 10 and a cassette case 11.
And a cassette lid 12 and a tape feed roller 21.

The replacement tape unit 10 is attachable to and detachable from the cassette case 11, and includes a tape spool 2, a printing tape 3 made of a thermal paper wound around the tape spool 2, and an upper end surface of the printing tape 3. And a film sheet 4 attached to the lower end surface (only the upper film sheet 4 is shown in FIG. 1).

The cassette case 11 is a rectangular case having an open upper side, and a pair of locking holes 13 are formed at both sides of the rear wall 11A of the cassette case 11. Each of the locking holes 13 has a cassette lid 12 which will be described later.
The respective locking protrusions 30 are locked.

The front wall 1 of the cassette case 11
A pair of protrusions 14 is formed at the right side position of 1B, and each of these protrusions 14 forms a locking groove 15 between them. The locking groove 15 has a cassette lid 12 which will be described later.
The elastic locking member 34 provided at the position is locked.

Further, a tape guide piece 16 is integrally provided on the cassette case 11 continuously on the left side of the front wall 11B, and a thermal head guide member 17 is provided behind the tape guide piece 16. Thermal head guide member 17
Is formed in a "U" shape in a plan view. When the tape cassette 1 is attached to a label printing device (not shown),
The thermal head disposed in a cassette storage portion (not shown) of the label printing device is provided with a thermal head guide member 17
It is configured to be disposed in the “U” -shaped recess 18 of the above. A locking elongated hole 19 is formed through the rear wall of the recess 18, and the locking elongated hole 19 has a cassette lid 12 to be described later.
The locking piece 35 formed on the rear wall is locked from the rear side of the wall.

Further, a tape feed roller 21 is rotatably arranged between the thermal head guide member 17 and the left side wall of the cassette case 11. The tape feed roller 21 has a roller drive shaft 20 at the center thereof. When the tape cassette 1 is mounted in the label printing apparatus, the drive shaft of a tape feed motor (not shown) which is erected from the bottom wall of the cassette housing of the label printing apparatus engages with the roller drive shaft 20. Therefore, the roller drive shaft 20
Is driven to rotate by a tape feed motor (not shown). Since the configuration of the cassette storage unit in such a label printing apparatus is known, its detailed description is omitted here.

The tape feed roller 21 is shown in FIG.
Further, as shown in FIG. 3, it has a substantially cylindrical shape, and a circular flange portion 21A having a diameter larger than the diameter of the tape feeding roller 21 is provided at the lowermost portion thereof. On the other hand, two claws 5 and 6 serving as holding means are fixedly arranged at a portion of the cassette case 11 where the tape feed roller 21 is arranged. One of the two claws 5 is
It is arranged to the right of the tape feed roller 21 in FIG. 3, and the other claw portion 6 is arranged on the other side of the tape feed roller 21 in FIG.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the facing surfaces 5A, 6A of the claw portions 5, 6 facing the tape feeding roller 21 are curved surfaces having substantially the same curvature as the circumferential surface of the tape feeding roller 21. ing. The two claws 5 and 6 are integrally formed on the bottom surface of the cassette case 11 with synthetic resin,
When the tape feeding roller 21 is mounted on the cassette case 11, the flange portion 21A of the tape feeding roller 21 is
It engages with one claw portion 5, 6. Further, the facing surfaces 5A and 6A of the claw portions 5 and 6 face the peripheral surface of the tape feeding roller 21. As a result, the tape feed roller 21 is rotatably and detachably held with respect to the cassette case 11.

Further, in the cassette case 11, at the left rear position thereof, a tape spool accommodating portion 42 for accommodating the replacement tape unit 10 constructed as described above.
Is provided, and the replacement tape unit 10 is rotatably housed in the tape spool housing portion 42. In order to guide the print tape 3 wound around the tape spool 2 of the replacement tape unit 10 accommodated in the tape spool accommodating portion 42 to the thermal head guide member 17, four tapes are provided from the bottom wall of the cassette case 11. Tape guides 22, 23, 24, 25 are provided. As a result, the printing tape 3 pulled out from the tape spool 2 of the replacement tape unit 10 is transferred to each tape guide 2
It is smoothly conveyed to the thermal head disposed in the recess 18 via 2, 23, 24 and 25.

In the vicinity of the tape guide 23, the drive shaft 26 erected from the bottom wall of the cassette housing portion of the label printing apparatus is used to wind the thermal ink ribbon housed in another type of tape cassette. It is used as an axis. However, the drive shaft 26 does not participate in the feeding operation of the printing tape 3 which is the thermal paper in the tape cassette 1 according to the present embodiment, and the drive shaft 26 is tuned to reduce the drive sound generated with the rotation of the drive shaft 26. The eraser spool 27 is fitted. Further, in the cassette case 11, the tape ejecting section 2 is provided near the tape feeding roller 21.
8 is provided, and the tape discharging portion 28 is composed of a gap formed between the front end portion of the left side wall of the cassette case 11 and a guide piece 29 extending from the left side wall of the cassette case 11. As a result, the printing tape 3 pulled out from the tape spool 2 is transferred to the respective tape guides 22, 2.
It is guided to the thermal head by 3, 24 and 25, and characters and the like are colored and printed on the printing tape 3 via the thermal head. Then, the printed printing tape 3 is discharged from the tape discharging portion 28 to the outside of the tape cassette 1.

Next, the cassette lid 12 which can be attached to and detached from the cassette case 11 will be described. The cassette lid 12 covers the open surface of the cassette case 11 from above, and a pair of locking projections 30 inserted into the locking holes 13 formed in the cassette case 11 at the rear end thereof. Are formed. A recess 31 is formed at the right side position in the front portion of the cassette lid 12, and the recess 31 extends downward from the bottom surface of the cassette lid 12 and extends horizontally from the bend 32. An elastic locking member 34 including a knob 33 that is continuously provided is provided. The elastic locking member 34 has a locking groove 15 formed between the protrusions 14.
Elastically locked to. Further, at the left side position in the front part of the cassette lid 12, from the bottom surface of the cassette lid 12 to the locking piece 35
The locking piece 35 is elastically locked in the locking elongated hole 19 formed in the rear wall of the thermal head guide member 17.

The tape guide piece 36 vertically provided at the left end of the front end of the cassette lid 12 prints in cooperation with the tape guide piece 16 of the cassette case 11 when the cassette lid 12 is attached to the cassette case 11. The tape 3 is fed and guided. Further, the guide piece 37 vertically provided at the left corner of the cassette lid 12 cooperates with the guide piece 29 formed on the cassette case 11 when the cassette lid 12 is attached to the cassette case 11, and the tape ejecting portion. And 28.

A method for replacing the replacement tape unit 10 when the printing tape 3 in the tape cassette 1 is used up will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

First, the user removes the tape cassette 1 from the cassette storage unit of the label printing apparatus (not shown). Then, in order to remove the cassette lid 12 from the tape cassette 1, the user grasps the knob 33 of the elastic locking member 34 of the cassette lid 12 with a finger and pulls it upward. By this pulling up operation, the fitting between the bent portion 32 and the locking groove 15 and the fitting between the locking piece 35 and the locking elongated hole 19 are released,
The cassette lid 12 is rotatable with respect to the cassette case 11 around each locking hole 13.

After that, when the user pulls up the picking portion 33 further upward, the cassette lid 12 is rotated upward around each locking hole 13. Further, if the user removes each locking projection 30 from each locking hole 13 at an appropriate position, the cassette lid 1
2 is removed from the cassette case 11.

Next, the user removes the entire used replacement tape unit 10 from the tape spool accommodating portion 42 of the cassette case 11. Further, the user inserts the new replacement tape unit 10 into the tape spool storage section 42.
And put the tip of the printing tape 3 between your fingers.
The printing tape 3 is attached to each tape guide 22, 23, 24, 2
5, the tape guide piece 16 and the tape feed roller 21 are used to slightly project the tape discharge portion 28 to the outside of the cassette case 11. At this time, the tape feed roller 2
As described above, 1 is rotatably and detachably held with respect to the cassette case 11 by the two claws 5 and 6 integrally formed on the bottom surface of the cassette case 11, so that the cassette lid is Even when 12 is removed from the cassette case 11, the tape feed roller 2
1 does not fall off and therefore there is no risk of loss.

Next, the user inserts the respective locking projections 30 of the cassette lid 12 into the respective locking holes 13 of the cassette case 11. After that, the user pivots the cassette lid 12 downward around each locking hole 13 to elastically fit the bent portion 32 of the elastic locking member 34 into the locking groove 15 and to lock the locking piece. 35 is elastically locked in the locking slot 19. As a result, the cassette lid 12 is fitted into the cassette case 11 with a click feeling, and the tape cassette 1 is assembled.
As a result, the printing tape exchange operation is completed.

Finally, the user mounts the tape cassette 1 in which a new tape unit is mounted in the cassette storage portion of the label printing apparatus (not shown).

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
Will be described below.

FIG. 4 shows a tape cassette 5 of the second embodiment.
It is a partial enlarged view of 0. In this case, the tape feed roller 5
3 does not have the flange portion as in the first embodiment.
A claw portion 55 provided integrally with the cassette case 51,
56 extends to the vicinity of the cassette lid 52. The claw portions 55 and 56 are engaged with the shoulder portion 53A of the tape feeding roller 53. Even with this configuration, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained, but since the claw portions 55 and 56 are long, they are easily broken as compared with the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 shows a tape cassette 6 according to the third embodiment.
It is a partial enlarged view of 0. In this case, the tape feed roller 6
3 is provided with a groove portion 63A substantially at the center thereof, and the claw portions 65 and 66 integrally provided with the cassette case 61 extend to the groove portion 63A of the tape feed roller 63. The claws 65 and 66 are provided on the groove 6 of the tape feeding roller 63.
It is configured to engage with 3A. In this case, the groove 63A may be provided in the upper portion or the lower portion in the vicinity of the cassette lid 62 instead of in the approximate center of the tape feeding roller 63. Even with this configuration, although the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained, as in the second embodiment, the claw portions 65 and 66 are easily broken as compared with the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged view of the tape cassette 70 of the fourth embodiment. In this case, the structure of the tape feed roller 73, the cassette case 71 and the cassette lid 72 is very similar to that of the tape cassette 1 of the first embodiment. However, the outer peripheral surface 73B of the flange portion 73A is provided with a male screw and the inner peripheral surfaces 75A and 76A of the claw portions 75 and 76 are provided with a female screw. Further, the diameter of the outer peripheral surface 73B of the flange portion 73A and the diameter of the inner peripheral surfaces 75A and 76A of the claw portions 75 and 76 are substantially the same. Then, in order to engage the tape feeding roller 73 with the claw portions 75 and 76, the flange portion 73 of the tape feeding roller 73
The male screw portion of the outer peripheral surface 73B of A is engaged with the female screw portion of the inner peripheral surfaces 75A and 76A of the claw portions 75 and 76, and the tape feed roller 73 is rotated. Then, the male screw portion and the female screw portion are disengaged, and the tape feed roller 73 is rotatably held by the claw portions 75 and 76 as in the first embodiment. In this case, the claw portions 75 and 76 are arranged so as to face each other.

FIG. 7 shows a tape cassette 8 of the fifth embodiment.
It is a partial enlarged view of 0. In this case, the tape feed roller 8
3 is provided with two flange portions 83A and 83B in its lower part, and the groove portion 8 is formed by the two flange portions 83A and 83B.
3C is formed. Further, the claw portions 85 and 86 formed integrally with the cassette case 81 are engaged with the groove portion 83C of the tape feed roller 83. Even with this configuration, the first
The same effect as that of the embodiment can be obtained. In this case, the groove 83
The C may be provided not in the lower part of the tape feed roller 83 but in the upper part near the cassette lid 82 or in the substantially central part. In this case, the claw portions 85 and 86 are arranged so as to face each other.

FIG. 8 shows a tape cassette 9 according to the sixth embodiment.
It is a partial enlarged view of 0. In this case, the tape feed roller 9
3 is provided with engaging claw members 95 and 96 in the upper part.
Further, the cassette lid 92 has an upper opening 97 at a portion where the tape feed roller 93 is arranged, and the cassette case 91
Has a lower opening 98. To engage the tape feed roller 93 with the cassette lid 92, proceed as follows.

The user grips the tape feed roller with his finger,
The engaging claw members 95, 96 are strongly inserted into the upper opening 97 so that the engaging claw members 95, 96 engage with the upper opening 97. Then, the engaging claw members 95 and 96 bend and the upper opening 9
Inserted in 7. Further, the tape feeding roller 93 is provided with a flange portion 93A and a lowermost portion 93B at its lower portion. When the cassette lid 92 is attached to the cassette case 91, the lowermost portion 93B of the tape feeding roller 93 is fitted into the lower opening 98 and the flange portion 93A.
Is locked at the peripheral edge of the lower opening 98.

This embodiment differs from the other embodiments described above in that the tape feed roller 93 is rotatably held by the cassette lid 92. Further, it is needless to say that the tape feed roller 93 may be rotatably held by the cassette lid 92, as in the other embodiments described above, such as a claw portion and a flange portion, and a claw portion and a groove portion. Yes. Further, the engaging claw members 95,
96 may be provided below the tape feed roller and engaged with the lower opening 98.

As is clear from the above description, the tape feed roller is rotatably and detachably held in either the cassette case or the cassette lid as described above, so that the cassette lid can be attached to the cassette lid. Even when the tape feed roller is removed from the case, the tape feed roller does not fall off, and thus there is no risk of loss.

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.

For example, in the present embodiment, since the printing tape is a thermal paper, only the tape feed roller near the tape ejecting portion 28 has been described. However, when plural kinds of tapes are arranged in the tape cassette, You may need feed rollers or other components to place in other positions, so
The constituent parts may be similarly held.

Further, although the tape cassette used in the label printing apparatus has been described in the present embodiment, it goes without saying that the present invention can be carried out as long as the tape cassette has a structure in which the tape can be exchanged.

Further, the present invention can be carried out as long as it is an apparatus having a structure in which tapes can be replaced without being a tape cassette.

[0045]

As is apparent from the above description, in the tape cassette of the present invention, there is no risk of losing the components even when the lid is removed from the cassette body.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tape cassette with a cassette lid removed.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a tape cassette with a cassette lid partially broken.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view of a roller portion according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged front view of a roller portion according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged front view of a roller portion according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged front view of a roller portion according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged front view of a roller portion according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged front view of a roller portion according to a sixth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 tape cassette 3 printing tape 5 claws 6 claws 10 replacement tape unit 11 cassette case 12 cassette lid 21 tape feed roller 21A flange

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A tape cassette comprising: a cassette case having a lid that can be opened and closed; a tape arranged in the cassette case; and a component arranged in the cassette case. A tape cassette comprising a holding means for detachably holding one of the cassette cases. 2. The component is a roller that feeds a tape, and the roller is detachably and rotatably held by either holding means on one of the lid and the cassette case. The tape cassette described in. 3. The holding means is a claw portion formed integrally with the cassette lid or the cassette case, and the roller is provided with an engaging portion that engages with the claw portion. The tape cassette according to claim 2. 4. The holding means is an engaging claw member formed on the roller, and the engaging claw member engages with an opening provided in either the lid or the cassette case. The tape cassette according to claim 2, wherein: