JPH09188051A - Tape and ribbon composite cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable this composite cassette to be mounted only when the type of a tape matches the type of an ink ribbon by forming an engaging projecting part on one of the opposite wall faces of a tape cassette side and a ribbon cassette side which are opposed to each other in mutual proximity and an engaging recessed part on the other. SOLUTION: On the peripheral wall face part 75 of the peripheral wall face of a storage recessed part 36 on a tape cassette 30, a lengthwise engaging projecting part 76 of almost the semicircular cross section is integrally formed in such a state that the projecting part 76 protrudes into the inside of the peripheral wall face. In addition, on the outer peripheral wall face part 77 of the outer peripheral wall face of a cassette main body part 51 for a ribbon cassette 50, an engaging recessed part 78 with which the engaging projecting part 76 is engaged leaving a slight gap, is integrally formed. Further, the peripheral wall face part 75 is opposed to the outer peripheral face part 77 in mutual proximity in such a state that the ribbon cassette 50 is mounted on the tape cassette 30. The engaging recessed part 78 is engaged with the engaging projecting part 76 only when the type of a tape 31 for the tape cassette 30 matches the type of an ink ribbon 54 for the ribbon cassette 50.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tape cassette having a tape cassette containing a tape as a printing medium to be printed by a printer, and a ribbon cassette containing an ink ribbon and detachably attached to the tape cassette from above.
The present invention relates to a ribbon composite cassette, and more particularly, to a ribbon cassette that can be attached to a tape cassette only when the type of tape in the tape cassette and the type of ink ribbon in the ribbon cassette match.

[0002]

The applicant of the present invention has put into practical use a label producing printer suitable for producing a tape-shaped label.
In this printer for label production, in order to enable multicolor printing, a tape cassette that accommodates a tape as a print medium and is detachably attached to the printer, and an ink ribbon that is detachably attached to the tape cassette are attached. A tape / ribbon composite cassette having a ribbon cassette is applied. As the tape of the tape cassette, plural kinds of tapes of various widths such as a normal film tape, a transfer tape, and a cloth transfer tape are applied, and as the ink ribbon of the ribbon cassette, a tape type Ink ribbons of a plurality of colors that are compatible with the width are applied. Here, basically, the same cassette is used for the tape cassette itself regardless of the type and width of the tape, and the cassette itself of the ribbon cassette is common regardless of the type and width of the ink ribbon. Applied.

On the other hand, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 3-74956 discloses that
A tape / ribbon composite cassette similar to that described above, which is applied to a printer for producing a tape-shaped label, is also described. In this tape / ribbon composite cassette, in order to mount and position the ribbon cassette on the tape cassette, a housing opening for mounting the ribbon cassette is formed on the tape cassette, and the outer peripheral shape of the ribbon cassette is set to the housing opening. The ribbon cassette is formed in the same shape as the peripheral wall surface, and the outer peripheral wall surface of the ribbon cassette is guided by the peripheral wall surface of the accommodation opening to positionally regulate the ribbon cassette with respect to the tape cassette.

[0004]

As described above, not all types of ribbon cassettes are suitable for each of a plurality of types of tape cassettes, but it is necessary to apply an ink ribbon according to the type and width of the tape. However, in the conventional tape / ribbon composite cassette, a ribbon cassette equipped with an ink ribbon that does not match the tape can also be installed,
In the case of such erroneous mounting, there is a problem that it is necessary to replace the ribbon cassette after noticing the incompatibility of the ink ribbon after the start of printing, or the desired printing cannot be executed even if printing is attempted. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to allow a ribbon cassette to be mounted in a tape / ribbon composite cassette only when the type of tape in the tape cassette and the type of ink ribbon in the ribbon cassette match.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tape / ribbon composite cassette which accommodates a tape as a print medium and is detachably attached to a printer having a print head, and an ink ribbon. In a tape / ribbon composite cassette having a ribbon cassette detachably attached to the tape cassette, a tape cassette-side facing wall surface and a ribbon cassette-side facing wall surface that closely face each other when the ribbon cassette is mounted on the tape cassette. An engaging projection is formed on one of the two and an engaging recess for engaging the engaging projection on the other, and the engaging projection engages only when the type of the tape and the type of the ink ribbon match. The arrangement positions of the engaging convex portion and the engaging concave portion are set so that the engaging concave portion is engaged.

When the ribbon cassette is mounted on the tape cassette, in the case of a ribbon cassette containing an ink ribbon suitable for the type of tape, the engaging convex portion and the engaging concave portion engage with each other, so that the smooth Can be installed. However, in the case of a ribbon cassette that accommodates an ink ribbon that does not match the type of tape, there is a positional relationship in which the engaging protrusion and the engaging recess do not correspond to each other, and the engaging protrusion and the engaging recess are associated with each other. Since it does not match, the ribbon cassette cannot be mounted, so it can be seen that the ribbon cassette is incompatible.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tape / ribbon composite cassette, which comprises a tape cassette which accommodates a tape as a print medium and which is detachably attached to a printer having a print head.
In a tape / ribbon composite cassette having an ink ribbon and a ribbon cassette detachably attached to the tape cassette, an accommodation recess for accommodating the cassette body of the ribbon cassette is formed in the tape cassette, and a circumference of the accommodation recess is formed. While forming the engaging convex part on a part of the wall surface,
An engaging concave portion with which the engaging convex portion engages is formed in a part of the outer peripheral wall surface of the cassette main body portion corresponding to the accommodating convex portion, and the engaging convex portion is provided only when the type of the tape and the type of the ink ribbon match. The arrangement positions of the engagement protrusion and the engagement recess are set so that the portion and the engagement recess are engaged with each other.

Here, the cassette body of the ribbon cassette means a portion of the ribbon cassette including the spool around which the ink ribbon is wound and the spool for winding. Similarly to the first aspect, when the ribbon cassette is mounted on the tape cassette, when the ribbon cassette accommodates an ink ribbon suitable for the type of tape, the engagement protrusion and the engagement recess engage each other. Therefore, it can be installed smoothly. However, in the case of a ribbon cassette that accommodates an ink ribbon that does not match the type of tape, there is a positional relationship in which the engaging protrusion and the engaging recess do not correspond to each other, and the engaging protrusion and the engaging recess are associated with each other. Since it does not match, the ribbon cassette cannot be mounted, so it can be seen that the ribbon cassette is incompatible.

Since the cassette body of the ribbon cassette is accommodated in the accommodating recess of the tape cassette, the ribbon cassette can be easily attached to the tape cassette, and the tape / ribbon composite cassette can be integrated in the attached state. It is also preferable in terms of sex. Since the engaging convex portion is formed on a part of the peripheral wall surface of the accommodating concave portion and the engaging concave portion is formed on a part of the outer peripheral wall surface of the cassette main body portion corresponding to the accommodating concave portion, the engaging convex portion and the engaging concave portion are formed. This is advantageous in setting a plurality of types of arrangement positions.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The present embodiment is a label producing printer for producing a tape-shaped label by multi-color printing characters, symbols and characters on a tape as a print medium,
The present invention is applied to a tape / ribbon composite cassette applied to this printer. The tape / ribbon composite cassette includes a tape cassette detachably attached to the printer and a ribbon cassette detachably attached to the tape cassette from above.

First, the label producing printer will be briefly described. As shown in FIG. 1, a keyboard 2, a liquid crystal display 3, a cassette cover 4, a cutter lever 5 and the like are provided on the upper surface of the label producing printer 1, and a printing mechanism 10 is arranged below the cassette cover 4. ing. When the cover open lever 6 is slid to the right in FIG. 1, the cassette cover 4 is opened, and the printing mechanism 10 is opened with the cassette cover 4 open.
The tape cassette 30 can be mounted on the tape cassette 30, and the ribbon cassette 50 can be mounted on the tape cassette 30.

Tape cassette 30 and ribbon cassette 50
The tape cassette 30 is configured separately from
The tape cassette 30 is detachably mounted from the upper side, and the ribbon cassette 50 is detachably mounted from the upper side. A tape cassette 30 and a ribbon cassette 50 are combined. It is a ribbon composite cassette 350 (see FIG. 6).

Next, the printing mechanism 10 will be briefly described. FIG. 2 is a view in which the tape cassette 30 and the ribbon cassette 50 are mounted on the printing mechanism 10 of the printer 1 and the inside of the tape cassette 30 and the ribbon cassette 50 is partially crossed so that the roller holder 11 is covered with a platen. 1
2 and the sub roller 13 are provided so as to swing integrally with the roller holder 11 about the pivot shaft 11a. The roller holder 11 is configured to swing open / close in response to opening / closing of the cassette cover 4. At the position near the rear side of the platen 12, for example, 9
A thermal head 14 including six heating elements and a head holder 15 that holds the thermal head 14 are provided. The thermal head 14 and the head holder 15
And correspond to the print head.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in the tape cassette 30, a tape 31 as a print medium is wound and mounted on a tape spool 30a.
From the vicinity of the rear side to the tape outlet 32 near the thermal head 14 while being guided by a tape guide path having a substantially U-shaped curve in a plan view, the tape is led out from the tape outlet 32 to the front surface of the thermal head 14, and the tape cassette. The tape feeding roller 33 of 30 and the sub roller 13 for feeding the tape are led out of the tape cassette 30.

The tape 31 is wound around the tape spool 30a, and the tape knob 34 is configured to engage with the tape spool 30a and rotate integrally with the tape spool 30a. Therefore, by manually rotating the tape knob 34, the tape 31 is rotated. 31 can be rewound. A head insertion portion 35 for inserting the thermal head 14 and the head holder 15 is formed in the central portion in the left-right direction near the front end of the tape cassette 30, and a right portion of the central portion of the tape cassette 30 is formed. A bottomed accommodating recess 36 for accommodating the cassette body 51 of the ribbon cassette 50 is formed. A partition wall 37 is formed between the head insertion portion 35 and the accommodating recessed portion 36 to partially partition the two.

On the other hand, the cassette body 51 of the ribbon cassette 50 has a housing recess 36 formed in the tape cassette 30.
Although the ribbon cassette 50 is loosely fitted with a slight clearance, the upper wall 52 of the ribbon cassette 50 is mounted so as to cover the upper surface of the tape cassette 30. The cassette body portion 51 is a portion that accommodates the ribbon spool 53 and the take-up spool 61, and is a portion that projects downward from the lower end of the upper wall portion 52. 3 shows the tape cassette 30, FIGS. 4 and 5 show the ribbon cassette 50, and FIG. 6 shows the tape / ribbon composite cassette 350 in which the ribbon cassette 50 is mounted on the tape cassette 30. The ribbon cassette 50 is positioned in the horizontal direction and the height direction with respect to the tape cassette 30, and is detachably fixed via three claws (not shown).

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, an ink ribbon 54 wound around a ribbon spool 53 is mounted on a ribbon cassette 50 and guided to the front surface of the thermal head 14 by being guided by ribbon guides 55 to 58. And guide rod 5
It is wound on the take-up spool 61 via 9 and the ribbon guide 60. A clutch spring 62 is attached to the lower portion of the take-up spool 61 to prevent the ink ribbon 54 from loosening. A head insertion portion 63 for inserting the partition wall 37 and the thermal head 14 is formed on the left portion near the front end of the ribbon cassette 50.

The upper wall portion 52 of the ribbon cassette 50 has one
Since the pair of knobs 64a and 64b are formed, the ribbon cassette 50 can be easily attached and detached by gripping these knobs 64a and 64b with fingers. By bringing the upper wall portion 52 of the ribbon cassette 50 into contact with the upper end surface of the tape cassette 50, the vertical position of the ribbon cassette 50 with respect to the tape cassette 30 is determined, and the three claws of the tape cassette 30 are fixed to the three positions of the ribbon cassette 50. When the two cassettes are engaged with each other, the ribbon cassette 50 becomes the tape cassette 3
It is removably fixed to 0.

The platen 12 and the sub roller 13 are mounted on the roller holder 11, and when the cassette cover 4 is closed, the roller holder 11 swings to the pressure contact side in conjunction with it, and the platen 12 is brought into pressure contact with the thermal head 14. , The sub roller 13 is brought into pressure contact with the tape feed roller 33. As shown in FIG. 2, the ink ribbon 54 led to the front surface of the thermal head 14 contacts the front surface of the thermal head 14, and the tape 3 is attached to the front surface of the ink ribbon 54.
1, the ink ribbon 54 and the tape 31 are pressed against the thermal head 14 by the platen 12, and the thermal head 14 prints a character string in a dot pattern on the tape 31 via the ink ribbon 54. It The front end portion of the printed tape 31 is led out to the outside from a slit 8 formed in the main body case 7 through a space between the active blade 16 and the passive blade 17 which constitute the cutter. The active blade 16 is connected to the cutter lever 5 by the connecting plate 18, and the tape 31 is cut by the active blade 16 and the passive blade 17 by operating the cutter lever 5.

Next, a guide positioning mechanism for guiding and positioning the ribbon cassette 50 with respect to the tape cassette 30 when and after mounting the ribbon cassette 50 on the tape cassette 30 will be described. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6, a vertical positioning pin 38 is provided at the rear end of the tape cassette 30, a vertical positioning pin 39 is provided at the right end of the tape cassette 30, and the rear of the partition wall 37 is provided. A vertical rib-shaped positioning portion 40 is provided at the end portion, and the upper ends of the positioning pins 38 and 39 are formed in a tapered shape.

In the ribbon cassette 50, a columnar portion 66 having an engaging hole 65 with which the positioning pin 38 engages with a minute gap, and a positioning pin 39 with a minute gap in the front-rear direction and a loose fit in the left-right direction. Engagement hole 67 to engage
And a columnar portion 68 having an engagement portion 69 with which the positioning rib 40 engages so that the positioning rib 40 can be precisely positioned in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction.
Is provided. The positioning portion 40 and the engaging portion 69
Is provided at the rear end of the head insertion portion 63 so as to correspond to the rear of the thermal head 14.

When the positioning accuracy of the ribbon cassette 50 in the front-rear direction with respect to the tape cassette 30 in the vicinity of the thermal head 14 is low, when the ribbon cassette 50 is mounted on the tape cassette 30 from above, the tape 31 is placed on the upper end of the tape 31. Although the lower end of the ink ribbon 54 may be caught and ribbon jam may occur and the print quality may become unstable, the ribbon cassette for the tape cassette 30 in the vicinity of the thermal head 14 via the positioning portion 40 and the engaging portion 69. Since the positioning accuracy of 50 in the front-rear direction is secured, the above problem does not occur.

The positioning pins 38 and 39 project from the upper end surface of the tape cassette 30. When the ribbon cassette 50 is mounted, the positioning pins 38 and 39 are engaged with the engagement holes 65 and 67, respectively. In order to mount the ribbon cassette 50 after the two-dimensional positioning in the horizontal direction,
The outer peripheral wall surface of the ribbon cassette 50 is mounted with almost no contact with the peripheral wall surface of the housing portion 36 of the tape cassette 30. Therefore, the tape / ribbon composite cassette can be mounted smoothly as compared with the conventional tape / ribbon composite cassette, in which both are positioned through contact between the outer peripheral wall surface of the ribbon cassette and the peripheral wall surface of the accommodating portion of the tape cassette. Further, since the ribbon cassette 50 is detached and replaced while the tape cassette 30 is attached to the printing mechanism 10, the ribbon cassette 50 can be smoothly attached and detached.

Next, only the ribbon cassette 50 having the ink ribbon 54 suitable for the tape 31 can be attached to the tape cassette 30, and the ribbon cassette 50 having the ink ribbon 54 not suitable for the tape 31 cannot be attached. The engagement mechanism for doing so will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, in the peripheral wall surface portion 75 (which corresponds to the tape cassette side facing wall surface) of the peripheral wall surface of the accommodating concave portion 36 of the tape cassette 30, a vertically-oriented engaging projection having a substantially semicircular cross section is formed. Part 7
6 is integrally formed in a state of projecting inward of the peripheral wall surface.

The outer peripheral wall surface portion 77 of the outer peripheral wall surface of the cassette body 51 of the ribbon cassette 50 (this is
An engaging concave portion 78 with which the engaging convex portion 76 engages with a slight gap is integrally formed on the wall surface facing the ribbon cassette). In the state where the ribbon cassette 50 is mounted on the tape cassette 30, the peripheral wall surface portion 75 and the peripheral wall surface portion 77 face each other in a close proximity. The type of tape 31 in the tape cassette 30 and the ink ribbon 5 in the ribbon cassette 50
The engaging concave portion 78 and the engaging convex portion 76 are configured to engage with each other only when the four types match.

Here, the tape 31 of the tape cassette 30
As a normal white or colored film tape,
A transfer tape, a cloth transfer tape that can be transferred to a cloth, or the like is applied. As the ink ribbon 54 of the ribbon cassette 50, a plurality of types of ink ribbons that are respectively adapted to the plurality of types of tapes are used. When the ribbon cassette 50 having the ink ribbon 54 that does not conform to 31 is attached to the tape cassette 30, desired printing cannot be performed. Therefore, the arrangement position of the engaging protrusion 76 is the tape 3
The position of the engagement recess 78 is set in association with the type of the ink ribbon 54, and the engagement protrusion 78 is set only when the type of the tape 31 and the type of the ink ribbon 54 match. Arrangement positions of the portion 76 and the engagement concave portion 78 are set so as to engage with each other. However, not only one set of the forming projection 76 and the engaging recess 78 but also a plurality of sets of the engaging projection 76 and the engaging recess 78 may be formed.

The opening window 41 shown in FIG. 3 is an opening for manipulating the tape 31 on the tape guide path with a finger to feed the tape, and an opening window similar to this is a front side wall portion opposite to the opening window 41. Is also formed. It is possible to print in a plurality of colors by replacing the ribbon cassette 50 of the tape / ribbon composite cassette 350, but in that case, the tape 31 may be rewound as necessary, so that the tape feeding as described above may be performed. An opening window 41 is provided for this purpose.

A plurality of detectors 42 for detection are attached to one corner of the tape cassette 30 so as to be retractable, and the printing mechanism 10 has a plurality of detectors 42 corresponding to the plurality of detectors 42. A plurality of detection switches (not shown) are provided to push up the detection operating elements 42 by a predetermined small stroke. At one corner of the ribbon cassette 50, one or a plurality of actuating portions 70 that selectively push down the plurality of detection actuators 42 and one or a plurality of escape holes 71 that do not push down are formed. The detection switch is operated by the detection operator 42 that is pressed down by the operation unit 70. These are tape cassette 3
The control unit side of the printer 1 detects the type of 0 (type of tape 31) and the type of ribbon cassette 50 (type of ink ribbon 50).

In the tape / ribbon composite cassette 350 applied to the above-described tape-shaped label producing printer 1, the positioning pins 38 and 39, the positioning portion 40, the columnar portions 66 and 68 having the engaging holes 65 and 67, and the engaging portions. Joint part 69
Since the guide positioning mechanism is provided, the ribbon cassette 50 can be accurately positioned with respect to the tape cassette 30 when and after mounting the ribbon cassette 50 on the tape cassette 30.

In particular, the positioning portion 40 and the engaging portion 69,
The ribbon cassette 50 with respect to the tape cassette 30 in the direction (that is, rearward) in which the ink ribbon 54 facing the head insertion portions 35 and 63 and the tape 31 near the outside thereof are separated.
Since the position of the ribbon cassette 50 can be regulated, the ribbon cassette 50
At the time of mounting, the lower end of the ink ribbon 54 does not interfere with the upper end of the tape 31 and the ribbon jam does not occur. Further, since the positional relationship between the tape 31 and the ink ribbon 54 in the vicinity of the thermal head 14 is kept constant, the print quality does not change.

Further, the outer peripheral wall of the main body portion 51 of the ribbon cassette 50 is configured so as to hardly contact the peripheral wall surface of the accommodating portion 36 of the tape cassette 30.
Since the sliding resistance between 8, 39 and the engaging holes 65, 67 is also small, the ribbon cassette 50 can be smoothly attached / detached with a light attaching / detaching force when the tape cassette 30 is attached / detached.

Further, the accommodating recess 36 of the tape cassette 30.
The engaging projection 76 is formed on the peripheral wall surface of the ribbon cassette 50.
Only when the type of the tape 31 of the tape cassette 30 and the type of the ink ribbon 54 of the ribbon cassette 50 match, an engaging concave portion 78 that engages with the engaging convex portion 76 is formed on the outer peripheral wall surface of the cassette main body 51 of FIG. Since the engaging convex portion 76 and the engaging concave portion 78 are configured to engage with each other, it is possible to reliably prevent the erroneous mounting of the ribbon cassette 50 having the ink ribbon 54 that is not suitable for the tape 31. Since the engaging convex portion 76 is formed on the peripheral wall surface of the accommodating concave portion 36, it is advantageous in forming the engaging convex portion 76 at a plurality of different positions, and the engaging concave portion is formed on the outer peripheral wall surface of the cassette body 51. 7
8 is advantageous in forming the engaging recesses 78 at a plurality of different positions.

The arrangement positions of the engaging convex portion 76 and the engaging concave portion 78 are not limited to those in the above-described embodiment, and for example, the engaging convex portion or the lower surface portion of the upper wall portion 52 of the ribbon cassette 50 may be provided. It is also possible to form an engaging concave portion, and also to form an engaging concave portion or an engaging convex portion at a position facing the engaging convex portion or the engaging concave portion on the upper end surface of the tape cassette 30. Forming an engaging projection on one of the tape cassette side facing wall surface and the ribbon cassette side facing wall surface, which face each other in a close proximity to each other when the ribbon cassette 50 is mounted on the tape cassette 30, and an engaging recessed portion on the other side. You can Of course, various modifications may be added and implemented without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0034]

According to the tape / ribbon composite cassette of the first aspect, in the tape / ribbon composite cassette, the tape cassette-side facing wall surface and the ribbon cassette which face each other closely in a state in which the ribbon cassette is mounted on the tape cassette. An engaging projection is formed on one of the side facing wall surfaces and an engaging recess is formed on the other side for engaging the engaging projection, and the engaging projection is formed only when the tape type and the ink ribbon type match. Since the arrangement positions of the engagement protrusion and the engagement recess are set so that the portion and the engagement recess are engaged with each other, the following effects can be obtained.

When the ribbon cassette is mounted on the tape cassette, in the case of a ribbon cassette containing an ink ribbon suitable for the type of tape, the engaging convex portion and the engaging concave portion are engaged with each other, so that the smooth Can be installed. However, in the case of a ribbon cassette that accommodates an ink ribbon that does not match the type of tape, there is a positional relationship in which the engaging protrusion and the engaging recess do not correspond to each other, and the engaging protrusion and the engaging recess are associated with each other. Since it does not match, the ribbon cassette cannot be mounted, so it can be seen that the ribbon cassette is incompatible. In this way, it is possible to reliably prevent the incompatible ribbon cassette from being attached to the tape cassette via the engagement convex portion and the engagement concave portion having a simple structure.

According to the tape / ribbon composite cassette of the second aspect, in the tape / ribbon composite cassette, a housing recess for housing the cassette body of the ribbon cassette is formed in the tape cassette, and a part of a peripheral wall surface of the housing recess. An engaging recess is formed on the outer peripheral wall surface of the cassette body corresponding to the accommodating protrusion, the engaging recess engaging the engaging protrusion is formed, and the type of the tape and the ink ribbon Since the arrangement positions of the engaging convex portion and the engaging concave portion are set so that the engaging convex portion and the engaging concave portion engage with each other only when the types match, the following effects can be obtained.

Similarly to the first aspect, when the ribbon cassette is mounted on the tape cassette, when the ribbon cassette accommodates an ink ribbon suitable for the type of tape,
Since the engaging convex portion and the engaging concave portion are engaged with each other, they can be mounted smoothly. However, if the ribbon cassette contains an ink ribbon that does not match the type of tape,
Since the engaging convex portion and the engaging concave portion are in a non-corresponding positional relationship and the engaging convex portion and the engaging concave portion do not engage with each other, the ribbon cassette cannot be mounted. I understand. In this way, it is possible to reliably prevent the incompatible ribbon cassette from being attached to the tape cassette via the engagement convex portion and the engagement concave portion having a simple structure.

Since the cassette body of the ribbon cassette is accommodated in the accommodating recess of the tape cassette, the ribbon cassette can be easily attached to the tape cassette, and the tape / ribbon composite cassette can be integrated in the attached state. It is also preferable in terms of sex. Since the engaging convex portion is formed on a part of the peripheral wall surface of the accommodating concave portion and the engaging concave portion is formed on a part of the outer peripheral wall surface of the cassette main body portion corresponding to the accommodating concave portion, the engaging convex portion and the engaging concave portion are formed. This is advantageous in setting a plurality of types of arrangement positions.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a label producing printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a printing mechanism of the printer and a tape / ribbon composite cassette.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a tape cassette.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a ribbon cassette.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a ribbon cassette.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a tape / ribbon composite cassette.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Printer for Label Creation 14 Thermal Head 30 Tape Cassette 31 Tape 36 Receiving Concave 50 Ribbon Cassette 51 Cassette Main Body 54 Ink Ribbon 75 Circumferential Wall Part 76 Engagement Convex 77 Outer Wall Part 78 Envelope Concave 350 Tape / Ribbon Composite Cassette

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A tape having a tape cassette that accommodates a tape as a print medium and is detachably attached to a printer having a print head, and a ribbon cassette that accommodates an ink ribbon and is detachably attached to the tape cassette. In the ribbon composite cassette, an engaging convex portion is formed on one of the tape cassette side facing wall surface and the ribbon cassette side facing wall surface that face each other in a close proximity to each other in the state where the ribbon cassette is mounted on the tape cassette and the other is engaged with the other. The engaging protrusion is formed so as to engage with the engaging protrusion so that the engaging protrusion engages with the engaging recess only when the type of the tape and the type of the ink ribbon match. A tape / ribbon composite cassette characterized in that the disposing position of the engaging recess is set. 2. A tape having a tape cassette that accommodates a tape as a print medium and is detachably attached to a printer having a print head, and a ribbon cassette that accommodates an ink ribbon and is detachably attached to the tape cassette. -In the ribbon composite cassette, the tape cassette is formed with a housing recess for housing the cassette body of the ribbon cassette, and an engaging projection is formed on a part of the peripheral wall surface of the housing recess, which corresponds to the housing projection. An engaging concave portion with which the engaging convex portion engages is formed on a part of the outer peripheral wall surface of the cassette main body, and the engaging convex portion and the engaging concave portion are formed only when the type of the tape and the type of the ink ribbon are matched. The tape / ribbon composite cassette is characterized in that the arrangement positions of the engaging convex portion and the engaging concave portion are set so as to engage with each other.