JPH09263027A - Tape cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the slackening of an ink ribbon even in a state detached from a tape printer. SOLUTION: Ratchet teeth 15b are formed to the upper end of the ribbon taking-up spool 15 housed in a tape cassette and one end of an engaging spring 23 is fixed to the lid member 13 of the tape cassette. The engaging part 23b positioned at the intermediate part of the engaging spring 23 is engaged with the ratchet teeth 15b to prevent the rotation of the ribbon taking-up spool 15 in the direction reverse to the taking-up direction of the ink ribbon of the spool 15. The other end of the engaging spring 23 extends into the hollow part of the ribbon taking-up spool and, when the tape cassette is mounted on a tape printer, a ribbon taking-up drive shaft 55 enters the hollow part of the ribbon taking-up spool 15. The ribbon taking-up drive shaft 55 pushes up the other end of the engaging spring 23 by this entry to release the engaged state of the engaging part 23b and the ratchet teeth.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tape cassette detachably attached to a tape printer having a print head for printing a tape-shaped medium using an ink ribbon.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, there has been known a tape printer having a thermal head for printing characters, symbols and the like on a tape to be printed using an ink ribbon. This tape printer 51
As shown in FIG. 6, the printed tape 62 is
A holding portion 54 for mounting a tape cassette 61 accommodating the tape cassette 61 is formed, and a ribbon winding drive shaft 55 for winding the ink ribbon 64 in the tape cassette 61 and a print target tape 62 are fed to the holding portion 54. And a tape feed roller drive shaft 56. When the tape cassette 61 is mounted on the holding portion 54, the ribbon take-up drive shaft 55 enters and fits into a hollow ribbon take-up spool 64b described later, and the roller drive shaft 56 is a hollow tape described later. It enters into the feed roller 68 and is fitted therein.

The holding portion 54 has a print-receiving tape 62.
A thermal head 57 for printing characters, symbols and the like is arranged on the tape cassette 6 when the tape cassette 61 is mounted on the holding portion 54.
It is arranged so as to be located in the first opening 68.

As shown in FIG. 7, a print-receiving tape spool 62a and a double-sided tape spool 63a are rotatably disposed inside the tape cassette 61, and the print-receiving tape spool 62a has a transparent print-receiving tape. 62 is wound, and the double-sided tape 63 having only one surface attached with release paper is wound around the double-sided tape spool 63a.

A ribbon supply spool 64a and a ribbon take-up spool 64b are rotatably arranged inside the tape cassette 61, and a thermal transfer ink ribbon (hereinafter simply referred to as an ink ribbon) 64 is printed by the thermal head 57. The front part is wound around the ribbon supply spool 64a, and the post-printing part is wound around the ribbon take-up spool 64b.

The print-receiving tape 62 reaches the roller entrance 66 from the print-receiving tape spool 62a via the guide shaft 65, passes under the tape retainer 67, and reaches the outside from the tape feed roller 68. .

On the other hand, the ink ribbon 64 passes from the ribbon supply spool 64a between the print-receiving tape 62 and the guide shaft 65, reaches the roller entrance 66 while overlapping the print-receiving tape 62, and advances through the peeling plate 69. The direction is rotated by 180 ° and reaches the ribbon take-up spool 64b. The peeling plate 69 is fixed at a position separated from the thermal head 57 on the downstream side in the traveling direction of the ink ribbon 64 by a predetermined distance, and peels the ink ribbon 64 from the printing tape 62.

The double-sided tape 63 is a double-sided tape spool 6
From 3a to the tape feed roller 68, the print-receiving tape 6
The label tape 70 is adhered to the second printing surface to reach the outside.

Inside the roller entrance 66, the opening 68 is surrounded by the ink ribbon 64 and the peripheral wall 71.
Is opened, and the thermal head 57 has an opening 68.
It is possible to enter. Thermal head 57
Has a heating element 57a at the tip thereof, which is orthogonal to the feeding direction of the ink ribbon 64 and arranged in a line.

A platen roller 73 and a drive roller 74 are rotatably held by a roller holder 72 which is swingably supported by a holding portion 54 of the tape printer 51. Then, the platen roller 7 is moved by the roller release lever 58 (see FIG. 6) that swings the roller holder 72.
3 and the driving roller 74 are inserted from the roller entrance 66, the print tape 62 exposed at the roller entrance 66 and the ink ribbon 64 are overlapped with each other between the heating element 57a of the thermal head 57. , Can be held. On the other hand, downstream thereof, the drive roller 74 and the tape feed roller 68 are configured to superpose and bond the print-receiving tape 62 to the double-sided tape 63.

When the label tape 70 is produced by the conventional tape printer 51 constructed as described above, first, the tape cassette 61 is attached to the holding portion 54 of the tape printer 51. Then, the ribbon winding drive shaft 55
Fits on the ribbon take-up spool 64b, and the tape feed roller drive shaft 56 fits on the tape feed roller 68. At the same time, the thermal head 57 drives the tape cassette 6
1 into the opening 68.

Next, the roller holder 72 is swung by the operation of the roller release lever 58, the platen roller 73 and the driving roller 74 enter the roller entrance 66, and the platen roller 73 and the printing tape 62 overlapping each other. The ink ribbon 64 is sandwiched by the heat generating element 57a, and the drive roller 74 sandwiches the overlapping print-receiving tape 62 and double-sided tape 63 by the tape feed roller 68.

When the operator inputs a desired character and operates the print key, the printing tape 62 and the ink ribbon 64 are fed, and the heating element 57a of the thermal head 57 generates heat in accordance with the input character or symbol. To do. As a result, the characters and symbols input to the print-receiving tape 62 are printed in a reversed state, the double-sided tape 63 is adhered to the printing surface, and the label tape 70 is ejected. Then, when the cutting lever 75 is swung in the arrow direction, the rotary cutter 76 rotates in the arrow direction, and the label tape 70 is cut.

[0014]

However, since the ribbon take-up spool 64b is rotatably supported with respect to the tape cassette 61, when it is detached from the tape printer 51, the ink is caused by vibration or the like. Ribbon 64
It may rotate in the direction opposite to the winding direction. This rotation causes slack in the ink ribbon 64, and when the tape cassette 61 is mounted in the tape printer 51, the slack ink ribbon 64 is hooked on the thermal head 57 and cut.

If the ink ribbon 64 is loose,
At the time of printing, the winding of the ink ribbon 64 is delayed, and the ink ribbon 64 is not peeled off from the printing tape 62 by the action of the peeling plate 69. Various problems occur such as entering the space and being adhered to the double-sided tape 63.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a tape cassette in which the ink ribbon is not loosened even when it is removed from the tape printer.

[0017]

In order to achieve this object, the tape cassette according to claim 1 is removably mounted in a tape printer having a print head for printing on a tape-shaped medium by using an ink ribbon. A tape cassette that stores the tape-shaped medium and the ink ribbon, and the take-up spool for winding the used ink ribbon provided in the tape cassette and the tape cassette are installed in the tape printer. When the tape cassette is installed in the tape printer, it disengages from the take-up spool by engaging the take-up spool in the unworn state and preventing it from rotating in the direction opposite to the direction in which the ink ribbon is taken up. , And a locking piece that allows rotation of the take-up spool.

In the tape cassette according to the first aspect of the present invention, the locking piece engages with the take-up spool to wind the ink ribbon of the take-up spool when the tape cassette is not mounted in the tape printer. Rotation in the direction opposite to the take-up direction is prevented, and in the state where the tape-printing device is mounted, the locking piece is disengaged from the take-up spool to allow the take-up spool to rotate.

The tape cassette according to claim 2 is
The winding spool has a structure similar to that of claim 1, but the take-up spool is hollow.

According to the tape cassette of the second aspect having the above-described structure, the same operation as that of the first aspect of the invention is achieved, but when the tape cassette is mounted in the tape printer, the tape cassette is installed on the tape printer side. The rotary shaft is inserted into the hollow portion of the take-up spool, and rotates in the winding direction of the ink ribbon as the rotary shaft rotates.

The tape cassette according to claim 3 is
A structure similar to that of claim 2 is provided, but ratchet teeth are formed at the upper end of the take-up spool, and the locking piece has one end when the tape cassette is not mounted in the tape printer. The ratchet teeth extend into the hollow portion of the take-up spool while engaging with the ratchet teeth.

According to the tape cassette of the third aspect thus constructed, the same action as that of the second aspect of the invention is achieved, but when the tape cassette is not attached to the tape printer, the locking piece is provided. Engages with the ratchet teeth to prevent the take-up spool from rotating in the direction opposite to the direction in which the ink ribbon is taken up, and when the tape cassette is installed in the tape printer, one end of the locking piece is inserted into the hollow part. The locking piece is pushed by the rotating shaft to be separated from the ratchet teeth, and the rotation of the take-up spool is allowed.

[0023]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The same members as those of the conventional device are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The tape cassette 11 embodying the present invention is
It is configured so that it can be attached to the holding portion 54 of the conventional tape printer, and includes a cassette body 12 and a lid 13. In the cassette body, a print tape spool around which a print tape is wound, a ribbon supply spool around which an ink ribbon is wound, a ribbon take-up spool 15 around which an ink ribbon after printing described below is wound, and a double-sided tape are wound around. A double-sided tape spool and a tape feed roller 17 for feeding the double-sided tape while adhering the double-sided tape to the tape to be printed are rotatably arranged.

Each of the ribbon take-up spool 15 and the tape feed roller 17 is formed in a hollow shape, and the ribbon take-up spool 15 and the tape feed roller 17 on the bottom surface of the cassette body 12 are located at positions facing each other as shown in FIG. As shown in c), openings 19 are formed, and when the tape cassette 11 is mounted on the holding portion 54, through these openings,
The ribbon take-up drive shaft 55 arranged in the holding portion 54 enters the ribbon take-up spool 15, and the roller drive shaft 56 enters the tape feed roller 17.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, on the inner peripheral surface of the hollow portion of the ribbon take-up spool 15, there is provided an engaging projection 15a projecting toward the center and having a predetermined length in the axial direction. A plurality is formed. On the other hand, on the outer peripheral surface of the ribbon winding drive shaft 55, a projection 55a having a predetermined length in the axial direction is formed, and the ribbon winding drive shaft 55 is formed.
Of the ribbon take-up spool 15, the protrusions of the ribbon take-up drive shaft 55 and the engaging protrusions of the ribbon take-up spool 15 engage with each other, and the ribbon take-up drive shaft 55 rotates in synchronization with the ribbon take-up drive shaft 55. The spool can rotate 15 times.

The roller drive shaft 56 and the tape feed roller 17 are also formed with projections and engagement projections similar to those of the ribbon take-up drive shaft 55 and the ribbon take-up spool 15, and the roller drive shaft 56 feeds the tape. By entering the inside of the roller 17, the projection and the engaging projection are engaged with each other, and the tape feed roller 17 rotates as the roller drive shaft 56 rotates.

An opening 21 through which the upper end of the ribbon take-up spool 15 is seen is formed at a position of the lid 13 of the tape cassette 11 facing the ribbon take-up spool 15. One end of a locking spring 23 is fixed to the lid 13 near the opening 21. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the lid 13 is formed with a locking hole 13a,
The bent portion 23a formed at one end of the locking spring 23 is inserted into the locking hole 13a, and the front end of the bent portion 23a engages with the back surface of the lid 13, so that the one end of the locking spring 23 moves. It is fixed to the lid 13.

The locking spring 23 extends from the bent portion 23a toward the ribbon winding spool 15, and a narrow locking portion 23 is formed in an intermediate portion facing the ribbon winding spool 15. . On the other hand, ratchet teeth 15b are formed on the upper end of the ribbon take-up spool 15, and the ratchet teeth 15b and the engaging portion 2 of the engaging spring 23.
By engaging with 3b, the ribbon take-up spool 1
5 is prevented from rotating in the direction opposite to the ribbon winding direction. As shown in FIG. 4, the ratchet tooth 15b has an inclined surface, and the engaging portion 23b is movable in the inclined surface so that the engaging portion 23b and the ratchet tooth 15b are engaged with each other. Ribbon winding spool 15
The ribbon can only be rotated in the winding direction.

The locking spring 23 is bent toward the cassette body 12 from the locking portion 23b to the other end, and enters the hollow portion of the ribbon take-up spool 15. The other end of the locking spring 23 is bent toward the lid side, and the ribbon take-up drive shaft 55 that has entered the hollow portion of the ribbon take-up spool 15.
It is a contact piece 23c that comes into contact with the tip of the. The contact piece 23c is always moved by the elastic force of the locking spring 23 from the upper end of the ribbon take-up spool 15 to a position facing the cassette body 13 by a length of about ¼ of the total length of the ribbon take-up spool 15. Therefore, after the contact piece 23c comes into contact with the tip of the ribbon winding drive shaft 55, the contact piece 23c is pushed upward as the ribbon winding drive shaft 55 enters. Along with this pushing up, the locking portion 23b
Moves upwards against the elastic force of the locking spring 23, and as shown in FIG.
5b is separated, and the engagement state of both is released.

On the upper surface of the lid body 13, there is formed a projecting part 25 for restricting the movement of the locking spring 23 in the direction perpendicular to the lengthwise direction from the locking hole 13a toward the opening 21. . The restricting portion 25 is an inclined projection whose height gradually decreases as the distance from the position close to the opening 21 of the lid 13 increases, and the height of the restricting portion 25 is smaller than that of the ribbon winding drive shaft 55. It is formed so as to be higher than the uppermost position when the locking spring 23 moves upward due to the entry.

In the tape cassette constructed as described above, as shown in FIG. 4, when the tape cassette is removed from the holding portion 54 of the tape printer 51, the locking spring 23 is provided.
The contact piece 23c enters into the hollow portion of the ribbon take-up spool 15 and the locking portion 23b engages with the ratchet teeth 15b of the ribbon take-up spool 15. The engagement between the locking portion 23b and the ratchet teeth 15b prevents the ribbon take-up spool 15 from rotating in the direction opposite to the ribbon take-up direction, and the ink ribbon that has been taken up even if the ribbon cassette 11 is vibrated. Never slacks.

Even if the ink ribbon is loose, the ribbon take-up spool 15 can rotate in the ribbon take-up direction, so that the operator can rotate the ribbon take-up spool 15 in the ribbon take-up direction. The slack of the ink ribbon can be removed by winding the ink ribbon.

When the tape cassette 11 is attached to the holding portion 54 of the tape printer 51, the ribbon winding drive shaft 55 enters the ribbon winding spool 15 through the opening 19 in the bottom surface of the cassette body 12, and the roller is also rolled. The drive shaft 56 enters the tape feed roller 17.

With this entry, first, the tip of the ribbon take-up drive shaft 55 comes into contact with the contact piece 23c of the locking spring 23 of the tape cassette 11, and as the ribbon take-up drive shaft 55 is further entered, as shown in FIG. Then, the contact piece 23 is pushed upward. With this pushing up, the locking portion 2
3b moves upward against the elastic force of the locking spring 23, the locking portion 23b separates from the ratchet teeth 15b, and the engagement state between the two is released. As a result, the ribbon take-up spool 55 is placed in an unloaded state, and the ribbon take-up spool 15 rotates as the ribbon take-up drive shaft 55 rotates, so that the used ink ribbon can be taken up.

If the tape cassette 11 is constructed, the ribbon take-up spool 15 can be released without releasing the engagement between the engaging portion 23b of the engaging spring 23b and the ratchet teeth 15b of the ribbon take-up spool 15. Can be rotated in the ribbon winding direction. However, if the ink ribbon is wound around the ribbon winding drive shaft 55 with a winding torque that is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, the ink ribbon will be cut off.
A slip mechanism for cutting off the transmission of the driving force of the drive source to the drive shaft 55 is provided. When the engagement portion 23c and the ratchet teeth 15b remain engaged, the slip mechanism drives the drive shaft. There is a problem that the transmission of force is interrupted and the ink ribbon is not wound up.

In the tape cassette 11 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the engagement state between the locking portion 23c and the ratchet teeth 15b is released only by mounting the tape cassette 51, and the ribbon take-up spool 15 is unloaded. As a result, the above-mentioned problem that the slip mechanism is activated and the ink ribbon is not wound up does not occur.

The tape cassette 11 is the tape printer 51.
When the print key is operated after inputting a predetermined character or symbol while being attached to the holder 54, the thermal head 57 is driven and the character or symbol input to the print target tape via the ink ribbon. Is printed, the roller drive shaft 56 is driven to rotate, and the tape feed roller 17 is rotated, and the double-sided tape is attached to the printing surface of the printing target tape and is fed out of the tape printer 51. At the same time, the ribbon take-up drive shaft 55 is also rotationally driven, and the used ink ribbon is taken up by the ribbon take-up spool 15.

When the tape cassette 11 is removed from the tape printer 51 after a predetermined printed tape is formed, the ribbon take-up drive shaft 55 retracts from the hollow portion of the ribbon take-up spool 15. With this exit, the contact piece 23c
However, due to the elastic force of the lock spring 23, the lock spring 23 moves toward the cassette body 12, and along with this movement, the lock portion 23b of the lock spring 23 also moves toward the cassette body 12,
As shown in, the ratchet teeth 15b are engaged. This engagement prevents the ribbon take-up spool 15 from rotating in a direction opposite to the direction in which the ink ribbon is taken up.

[0040]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the tape cassette of the first aspect, the direction in which the ink ribbon of the take-up spool is taken up when the tape cassette is not mounted in the tape printer. Since rotation in the opposite direction is prevented, even if the tape cassette receives vibration,
The ink ribbon will not come loose. Therefore, ribbon breakage or adhesion to the double-sided tape due to the looseness of the ink ribbon does not occur.

The tape cassette according to the second aspect of the invention has the same effect as that of the first aspect of the invention, but the take-up spool is rotated only by mounting the tape cassette on the tape printer, and the ink ribbon is rotated. Can be wound up.

The tape cassette according to the third aspect of the invention has the same effect as that of the first aspect of the invention, but the ink ribbon of the take-up spool is taken up when the tape cassette is removed from the tape printer. Rotation in the opposite direction can be prevented, and rotation of the take-up spool can be permitted only by mounting the tape cassette on the tape printer.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tape cassette according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a plan view of a tape cassette,
(B) is a front view of the tape cassette, and (c) is a rear view of the tape cassette.

FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged plan view showing the vicinity of the ribbon take-up spool of the tape cassette.

FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of the ribbon take-up spool before mounting the tape cassette on the tape printer.

FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of the ribbon take-up spool after the tape cassette is attached to the tape printer.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the back surface of the tape printer.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the internal configuration of the tape cassette.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 tape cassette 15 ribbon take-up spool 15b ratchet teeth 23 locking spring

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A tape cassette, which is detachably mounted on a tape printing device having a print head for printing on a tape-shaped medium using an ink ribbon, and stores the tape-shaped medium and the ink ribbon. A take-up spool for winding the used ink ribbon provided in the cassette, and a take-up spool that engages with the take-up spool when the tape cassette is not mounted on the tape printer, and winds the ink ribbon on the take-up spool. Prevents rotation in the direction opposite to the direction,
A tape cassette, comprising: a locking piece that is disengaged from the take-up spool when the tape cassette is mounted in a tape printer and that allows the take-up spool to rotate. 2. The take-up spool is formed in a hollow shape, and when the tape cassette is mounted in a tape printer,
2. The tape cassette according to claim 1, wherein a rotary shaft on the side of the tape printer is inserted into a hollow portion of the take-up spool and is rotated in a direction for winding the ink ribbon as the rotary shaft rotates. 3. A ratchet tooth is formed on an upper end of the take-up spool, and the locking piece has one end engaged with the ratchet tooth in a state where a tape cassette is not mounted in a tape printer. The rotation of the take-up spool is prevented by extending into the hollow part of the take-up spool, and when the tape cassette is mounted on the tape printer, the one end is pushed by the rotary shaft inserted into the hollow part and the ratchet teeth. The tape cassette according to claim 2, wherein the tape cassette is separated from the tape cassette.