JPH1191170A - Tape printer and heat sensitive photoresponsive printing medium storing cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a tape printer capable of printing, using a heat sensitive photoresponsive printing medium. SOLUTION: A cassette 50 is placed in a cassette storing part 35. A guiding plate 40, a platen 39 and a fixed blade 41a are disposed above a conveyance path 38 and a tape sensor 42, a shutter 43, a lamp 44, a head 45 and a movable blade 41b are disposed below the conveyance path 38. The head 45 prints (colors) yellow, and detaches from the platen 39. Interlocked therewith, the shutter 43 presses the guiding plate 40 so as to block unnecessary irradiation from the lamp 44 to the upstream side. A reel driving shaft 36 starts rewinding of a tape 53. When the rear end margin reaches the shutter after finishing the print of the tape 53, the yellow fixing lamp of the lamp 44 is turned on. The rewinding operation is stopped when the tip of the tape 53 is at a point before by the length of an feeding opening 56 of the cassette 50. Similarly, printing, fixation and rewinding of magenta are conducted. After printing cyan, the tape 53 is cut off with the rear margin attached.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tape printing apparatus for forming a full-color image on a recording sheet responsive to heat and light whose color is stopped by irradiation of ultraviolet rays and irradiation of ultraviolet rays, and a heat-sensitive light mounted on the apparatus. The present invention relates to a responsive print medium storage cassette.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various proposals have been made as printing methods. Among them, typical ones currently used for office or home use include an electrophotographic system, an inkjet system, and a thermal system. In addition, various types of printing apparatuses using these methods have been put to practical use.

In recent years, there has been a strong demand for color printing of printed images. However, various improvements have been made in any of the above-described printing apparatuses in response to the demand for color printing.
The printing quality has reached a level that can be practically used. Therefore, in recent years, it has been desired to provide a more inexpensive apparatus in addition to further improving the printing quality.

In each of the above-described printing apparatuses, instead of printing on a continuous sheet mainly for printing a form and total data as in the past days, cut sheets are now used from the viewpoint of high-speed printing and document printing. The form of printing out is predominant. Among the above-mentioned methods, the printing mechanism based on the thermal method is a printing apparatus designed to be inexpensive because the structure of the thermal head for executing printing is simple, or a printing apparatus intended for use in a small-scale printing mode. It is often used by being incorporated into.

[0005] Printing by the thermal system includes a thermal transfer system using an ink ribbon and a thermal system using a thermal paper generally used for facsimile and the like. In order to cope with the colorization, a thermal transfer method using a color ink ribbon has been mainly adopted. However,
In the configuration using the ink ribbon, for example, even in the case of printing a text using the black monochromatic ink ribbon, the printing rate is generally 5%.
95% of the ink ribbon is discarded without being used because of the degree, and when it comes to colors, each color of the color ink ribbon is discarded while being used only partially in the whole paper. , Is being shunned as wasteful. In recent years, the inkjet type has emerged as a simple color printing apparatus.

In such a background, a paper (recording paper) having three thermosensitive coloring layers of yellow, magenta and cyan formed on an appropriate sheet-like base material using the above-described thermosensitive system as a base material is used. Printing method for recording (forming) a full-color image by printing (Japanese Patent Publication 4-10879, Japanese Patent Publication 6-51)
425) has been proposed and some have been put to practical use.

The above-mentioned yellow or magenta coloring layer is
It is formed by uniformly applying a color former having a dispersed phase in which a compound having active methylene in a molecule called a coupler and a diazonium salt are mixed as fine particles in a micron unit. The coupler is activated by heat above a certain temperature, and the compound and the diazonium salt react under a basic atmosphere to form a yellow dye or a magenta dye. Further, the diazonium salt is configured to be decomposed by ultraviolet light of a specific wavelength and lose the function of reacting with the coupler. The cyan coloring layer is also formed by uniformly applying a coloring agent composed of a dispersed phase in which a leuco dye of fine particles in a micron unit and a developer are mixed. The cyan layer reacts with heat at a certain temperature or higher to develop a color.

FIG. 18 shows an example of a thermal recording apparatus (printing apparatus) for forming an image using such recording paper (thermosensitive light responsive recording paper). The thermal recording device shown in FIG.
The recording paper 1 wound in a roll shape is brought into close contact with the peripheral surface of the drum 3 via the paper feed roller 2, and the recording paper 1 ′ in close contact
Is transported below the thermal head 4 and the light source unit 5 by the drum 3 in the arrow N or arrow R direction. The thermal head 4 is formed in a line along the long axis direction of the drum 3 (a direction perpendicular to the paper surface), and the light source unit 5
Is provided with a light source 5b that emits light at a predetermined frequency inside a housing 5a made of a light-shielding member, and generates light having different wavelengths corresponding to two colors of yellow and magenta below the light source 5b. Is provided on the heat-sensitive recording material 1 '. A delivery roller 6, a cutter 8, and a paper discharge tray 7 are disposed on the right side of the drum 3.

FIG. 19A is a sectional view of a recording paper used in such a thermal recording apparatus, and FIG.
The relationship between the color density of each color layer of the recording paper and the heat energy is shown. The recording paper 1 shown in FIG. 3A is a thermo-sensitive light responsive recording paper, and has a yellow layer 1-1 and a magenta layer 1-.
2, and three heat-sensitive coloring layers of cyan layer 1-3 are evenly laminated on a sheet-like support substrate 1-4, and a heat-resistant protective layer 1 is formed on them (on the yellow layer 1-1). -5 is formed so as to adhere. In the thermosensitive coloring layers of the yellow layer 1-1, the magenta layer 1-2, and the cyan layer 1-3, the main coloring material is encapsulated in a thermoresponsive microcapsule having a diameter of about 1 μm, and these are formed together with other components. It is formed by being dispersed in a binder. This thermoresponsive microcapsule is used to control the development of three primary colors by thermal energy.
As shown in (b), the thermal sensitivity of the yellow (Y) layer is the highest (that is, the color develops at the lowest temperature) and the magenta (M)
It is designed so that the thermal sensitivity decreases in order of the layer and the cyan (C) layer. As a result, yellow, magenta, and cyan can be recorded with different thermal energy differences. However, if the thermal sensitivity difference is provided in each layer as described above, high energy always passes through low energy, so that even if only magenta is to be developed, for example, yellow is also developed and a desired color cannot be obtained.
In order to prevent this inconvenience, the upper two layers should not be colored with the next-colored thermal energy difference after each color development.
Other components are mixed and dispersed so that the coloring property is stopped by light of a specific wavelength, that is, the coloring is fixed.

As a result, in FIG. 18, first, the thermal head 4 selectively generates heat corresponding to a yellow image with a heat amount suitable for a color forming layer (usually a yellow color forming layer) which forms a color at the lowest temperature. On the recording paper 1 ′ conveyed in the direction of arrow N by the forward rotation of the paper feed roller 2,
A yellow image is developed. Then, the recording paper 1 '
Until the rear end of the paper on which the yellow image has been colored is positioned below the light source unit 5, and then
While transporting the recording paper 1 'in the direction of arrow R by rotating the paper feed roller 2 in the reverse direction, the light source unit 5 receives the first layer (yellow yellow) of the recording paper from the light source 5b through the filter 5c. Ultraviolet rays having a specific wavelength acting only on the color-forming layer) are irradiated to decompose the yellow color-forming agent so that yellow does not react any more. That is, the coloring of the background portion of the colored yellow image is stopped. Thereby, the yellow image is fixed. The recording paper 1 'is directly conveyed backward in the direction of arrow R to the color development start position of the yellow image.

Subsequently, the paper feed roller 2 is again rotated in the forward direction, and while the recording paper 1 'is being conveyed in the direction of the arrow N, the thermal head 4 causes the layer (usually magenta) to develop a color at the second lowest temperature. The heat is selectively generated corresponding to the magenta image with a heat amount suitable for the color-forming layer, and the magenta image is colored on the recording paper 1 '. Also in this case, the recording paper 1 'on which the magenta image has been colored is sent out until the trailing edge of the image is located below the light source unit 5, and then the paper feed roller 2 is rotated in the reverse direction to move in the direction of arrow R. While the recording paper 1 'is reversely conveyed to the light source unit 5, the light source unit 5
The ultraviolet rays having a specific wavelength acting only on the second layer (the magenta coloring layer) that has just developed are irradiated through c to decompose the magenta coloring agent so that the magenta does not undergo a heat-sensitive reaction any more. That is, the coloring of the background portion of the colored magenta image is stopped. Thus, a magenta image formed over the yellow image is fixed. The recording paper 1 'is again conveyed in the direction of arrow R again to the first color development start position (color development position of the yellow image).

Next, while the paper feed roller 2 is rotated in the forward direction and the recording paper 1 'is conveyed in the direction of the arrow N, the thermal head 4 moves the last coloring layer (usually a cyan coloring layer).
With a high heat quantity suitable for the above, a cyan image is formed on the recording paper 1 'while selectively generating heat corresponding to the cyan image. As a result, a cyan image is further formed on the already-fixed two-color image of yellow and magenta, and a full-color image is developed.

The recording paper 1 'on which the full-color image has been formed is conveyed as it is in the direction of the arrow N, and is separated from the drum 3 by the delivery roller 6 disposed downstream in the conveyance direction, and is discharged from the discharge tray 7 And is cut by a cutter 8 arranged near the upstream end of the paper discharge tray 7 in the transport direction, and is sequentially stacked on the paper discharge tray 7.

By the way, apart from the above, for the purpose of a printing device which is also a printing device but is different from the above-mentioned application,
Printing devices that take advantage of the convenience of the thermal system have appeared, and have been widely used for office or home use. The printing device uses a tape-shaped printing medium having a width of about 10 mm to 50 mm, and an input unit for easily printing with an ink ribbon on the tape-shaped printing medium.
A display unit and an output unit are provided as a whole. In general, a tape cassette in which the tape-shaped print medium and the ink ribbon are housed as a set is detachably mounted on the apparatus main body for use.

FIG. 20 is a sectional view of a main part showing a state where such a tape cassette is mounted on a tape printer. As shown in FIG. 1, a tape reel 12, a ribbon sending reel 14, and a ribbon take-up reel 15 are provided inside a tape cassette 12 mounted on a cassette mounting unit 11 of the tape printer 10. , A tape-shaped paper 16 is wound thereon, and an ink ribbon 17 is wound on the ribbon delivery reel 14. The paper reel 13 is rotatably driven in both forward and reverse directions (clockwise and counterclockwise in the figure) by engaging the engagement holes 13a with the paper reel drive shaft of the apparatus main body. Further, the ribbon take-up reel 15 is rotated in the forward direction (clockwise direction in the drawing, print transport direction) by engaging the engagement hole 15a with the take-up reel drive shaft of the apparatus main body. Then, the ribbon delivery reel 14 is engaged with a braking shaft of the apparatus main body, and the driven rotation is appropriately braked. On both sides (up and down in the figure) of the paper discharge port on the side (right side in the figure) of the cassette mounting section 11 of the apparatus body 10, a cutting blade 18a for cutting the paper 16 'discharged to the outside after printing is completed. , 1
8b are provided.

When the tape cassette 12 is mounted on the apparatus main body 10 as shown in FIG. 20, the tape cassette 12 is fixedly supported by one end of a bracket (not shown) of the apparatus main body in a recess 19 formed in the tape cassette 12. The print head 21 is inserted. The print head 21 pivots upward and downward in the concave portion 19 by the pivotal movement of the bracket and presses against the platen 22 via the paper 16 and the ink ribbon 17 during printing, and pivots downward during non-printing. Retract from the print position.

The paper 16 is sent from the paper reel 13 to a printing section where the print head 21 and the platen 22 are opposed to each other. 1
4, the ink is transferred to the paper 16 by the print head 21 and is stretched at the opening of the recess 19 below the paper 16. The paper 16 on which the image is formed by transferring the ink is discharged to the outside as a printed paper 16 ', and is cut into an appropriate length by the cutting blades 18a and 18b.

The paper (tape) used for this printing is
As shown in an enlarged manner in a dashed circle A in the figure, an adhesive layer b with release paper c is usually formed on the surface opposite to the printing surface a. The stripped printed paper c that has been cut into strips is removed, and the tape is used by attaching it to a desired location such as a belonging, a book, a video cassette, or a locker. Generally, as the above-mentioned tape cassette 12, a cassette containing a combination of a predetermined ground color tape (usually a resin film tape) and a single color ink ribbon such as black is widely used. In order to respond to the demand for the development, a tape cassette in which an ink ribbon is formed into a multicolor ink ribbon has appeared.

Of course, this does not necessarily eliminate the waste of the ink ribbon described above, but it can be said that tape printing has been accepted because it is an application in which the amount of paper and ink used is small as a whole. However, in such a tape printer, the tape and the ink ribbon are used in combination. Therefore, even though the amount of use is small as described above, the tape length and the ink ribbon are still considered in consideration of economy. Design to use both ribbon lengths at the same time. However, it is almost impossible to use them all at the same time as designed, mainly due to various mistakes on the user side that occur during use, and waste of tape or ink ribbon generated from this surface cannot be avoided.

Further, such a tape printing apparatus has a problem that the capacity of the tape is reduced due to the volume occupied by the ink ribbon in the tape cassette, so that frequent replacement of the tape cassette is required. Was.
Although it has been proposed to attach and detach the tape and the ink ribbon individually, it is not practical because the structure is complicated and the handling is complicated and troublesome.

[0021]

Incidentally, this type of tape printing apparatus (tape printer) performs printing with a thermal head, so that thermal paper can be used for printing in the same manner as a facsimile apparatus. In that case, the above-mentioned problem should be solved by using a tape cassette containing only a printing tape without an ink ribbon, but in reality, color printing is sufficiently satisfied as a heat-sensitive tape. Because there is nothing to do, colorization cannot be handled. For this reason, the color ink ribbon system has been fixed for colorization, and it has not been possible to escape from the system, and there has been no idea to solve the above problem.

When a new printing method is to be adopted, the tape printing apparatus requires appropriate measures to cope with a structure according to a special specification of tape printing. In other words, considering the various problems described above, using the printing method based on the above-described thermal method seems to be the first step in solving the problem, but simply using a new material is sufficient. Instead, there are various problems to be solved, such as the mounting method of the printing mechanism, the tape transport mechanism and control method, and the structure of the tape cassette.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to provide
An object of the present invention is to provide a tape printing apparatus which makes it possible to practically use a method of printing with a thermo-sensitive light responsive printing medium in order to eliminate the weak points of the tape printing apparatus.

[0024]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tape printing apparatus which develops a different color by heat energy and changes its color in response to irradiation with light of a different wavelength. A tape cassette which is wound and accommodates a thermosensitive light-responsive tape-shaped printing medium provided with a plurality of thermochromic materials to be stopped and fixed on a support, and is detachably mountable to an apparatus main body; Tape transport means for performing a forward operation of feeding and transporting the print-receiving medium and a return operation of transporting the tape-like print medium into the tape cassette for rewinding the tape-like print medium; At the time of operation, a thermal head that applies dot-like thermal energy based on image information to the tape-shaped print-receiving medium to form a color, Fixing light irradiating means for irradiating the light onto the colored tape-shaped print-receiving medium to fix the color development; light-shielding means for limiting the irradiation area of the fixing light by the fixing light irradiating means to a predetermined range; and And a cutter member for cutting the fixed tape-shaped print-receiving medium into a predetermined length.

In addition, for example, a platen facing the thermal head and supporting means for supporting the thermal head so as to be able to contact and separate from the platen are provided. A tape detecting unit configured to detect the tape-shaped print-receiving medium fed from the tape cassette, for example, as described in claim 6, In response to the detection of the tape detecting means, at least before the tape cassette is detached from the apparatus main body or when a series of printing operations are completed, the portion of the tape-shaped print-receiving medium that has been unwound from the tape cassette is subjected to the The apparatus is further provided with transport control means for controlling the transport means so as to automatically return the tape to the feed-out opening of the tape cassette.

Further, the fixing light irradiating means includes a fixing light irradiating control means so as to emit light at the time of the returning operation of the tape-shaped print-receiving medium. Further, the light shielding means is formed to include a shutter structure which is movable so as to limit the light irradiation area to a predetermined range, for example, as described in claim 3, and for example, as described in claim 5, The fixing light irradiation means is provided with a slit for passing the light only in a predetermined direction.

[0027] In the tape printing apparatus according to the seventh aspect of the present invention, a plurality of colors are formed in different colors by thermal energy, and the color development is stopped and fixed in response to irradiation of light of different wavelengths. A tape cassette in which a thermosensitive light-responsive tape-shaped print-receiving medium provided with a thermochromic material on a support is wound and stored, and the tape-like print-receiving medium is fed out from the tape cassette, and the forward operation and the tape are performed. Tape transport means for performing a return operation of transporting the tape-shaped print-receiving medium into the cassette so as to rewind the tape-shaped print-receiving medium; and a dot-like heat based on image information during forward movement of the tape-shaped print-receiving medium by the tape transport means. A thermal head for applying energy to the tape-shaped print medium to form a color, and irradiating the colored tape-shaped print medium with the light when the tape-shaped print medium is restored. Fixing light irradiating means, and a cutter member for cutting the color-fixed tape-shaped print medium to a predetermined length by light irradiation by the fixing light irradiating means and thermal energy of the thermal head. .

[0028] For example, as set forth in claim 8, the apparatus further comprises a light blocking means for limiting the irradiation area of the fixing light by the fixing light irradiation means to a predetermined range. The light shielding means includes a shutter structure which is movable to limit the light irradiation area to a predetermined range, for example, as described in claim 9. Further, for example, as set forth in claim 10, a platen facing the thermal head, and a support means for supporting the thermal head so as to be able to freely contact and separate from the platen, wherein the light shielding means is provided with respect to the platen of the thermal head. It is provided with an interlocking mechanism that interlocks with contact and separation. Further, the light shielding means is provided with, for example, a slit for passing the light of the fixing light irradiation means only in a predetermined direction. Also,
For example, as described in claim 12, a tape detecting means for detecting the tape-shaped print medium fed from the tape cassette, and in response to the detection of the tape detecting means, at least the tape cassette from the apparatus main body. A transport for controlling the transport means to automatically return a portion of the tape-shaped print-medium fed from the tape cassette to a feed-out opening of the tape cassette before dismounting or when a series of printing operations is completed. It further comprises control means.

The print tape cassette of the invention according to claim 13 (third invention) develops a plurality of colors by heat energy in different colors and stops the color development in response to irradiation with light of different wavelengths and is fixed. A heat-sensitive and light-responsive tape-shaped medium to be printed, which is provided with a thermochromic material on a support, and is detachably mountable to a tape printing apparatus, wherein A slit-shaped opening that allows the tape-shaped print medium to pass through the inside and outside of the print tape cassette, and a transport roll pair that is provided near the slit-shaped opening and that sandwiches the tape-shaped print medium. It is composed. And it has a substantially square box shape, for example.

[0030] The transport roll pair is configured to engage with driving means provided in the tape printing device to assist transport of the tape-shaped print-receiving medium, for example. Further, for example, as described in claim 15,
The tape-shaped print-receiving medium accommodated in the print tape cassette is also arranged so as to also serve as a light blocking member for preventing the light from being exposed to the light through the slit-shaped opening.

The print medium storage cassette according to the seventeenth aspect of the present invention (fourth invention) develops a different color by thermal energy and stops its color development in response to irradiation with light of a different wavelength to be fixed. A thermosensitive light-responsive print medium provided with a plurality of thermochromic materials on a carrier, and applying thermal energy in the form of dots based on image information to the print medium to form a color. A print medium storage cassette that is detachable from a printing apparatus including a head and a fixing light irradiating unit that irradiates the light onto the colored print medium, wherein the print medium storage cassette main body includes a plurality of the plurality of print medium storage cassettes. The thermochromic material is made of a material that blocks light having a wavelength at which the coloring property of the thermochromic material is stopped and fixed, and is provided with a window for checking the stored printing medium.

The print tape cassette according to the eighteenth aspect of the present invention (fifth invention) develops a plurality of colors by heat energy in different colors and stops the color development in response to irradiation of light of different wavelengths and is fixed. A heat-sensitive and light-responsive tape-shaped medium to be printed provided with a thermochromic material on a support, which is wound and housed, and is a printing tape cassette detachable to a tape printing apparatus. The thermochromic material is made of a material that blocks light having a wavelength at which the coloring property of the thermochromic material is stopped and fixed, and is provided with a window through which the stored tape-shaped print-receiving medium can be checked.

And, for example, as described in claim 19,
A slit-shaped opening provided at a side portion of the print tape cassette for passing the tape-shaped print-receiving medium into and out of the cassette, and a transport roll pair provided near the opening and sandwiching the tape-shaped print-receiving medium. Is done.

In the tape printing apparatus according to the twentieth aspect (sixth aspect), a plurality of colors are formed into different colors by thermal energy, and the color developing properties are stopped and fixed in response to irradiation of light of different wavelengths. A thermosensitive photoresponsive tape-shaped print-receiving medium provided with a thermochromic material on a support, and a tape cassette detachably mounted on the apparatus main body, and the tape-shaped print-receiving medium fed out from the tape cassette and conveyed. A tape transport means for performing a forward operation to perform a rewind operation of transporting the tape-shaped print medium into the tape cassette, and a dot-like operation based on image information during the forward operation of the tape-shaped print medium. A thermal head that applies heat energy to the tape-shaped print-receiving medium to form a color; and And a fixing light irradiation means for irradiating said tape cassette is formed by wound and housed in the surface applied thermal energy by the thermal head to the tape-like printed medium support on the inside.

In the print tape cassette according to the twenty-first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of print tape cassettes are colored in different colors by thermal energy, and their color-forming properties are stopped and fixed in response to irradiation of light of different wavelengths. A heat-sensitive and light-responsive tape-shaped print-receiving medium having a thermochromic material provided on a support, the tape-type print-receiving medium detachably mountable to a tape printing device, Are wound and housed with the surface to which the thermal energy is applied facing inward.

Then, for example, as described in claim 22,
The cassette main body is made of a material that blocks light having a wavelength at which the coloring properties of the plurality of thermochromic materials are stopped and fixed, and includes a window through which the stored tape-shaped print-receiving medium can be checked. . Further, for example, the cassette body is configured in a box shape having a substantially square flat surface portion. Further, for example, as set forth in claim 24, a slit-shaped opening provided on a side portion of the cassette main body to allow the tape-shaped print-receiving medium to pass through the inside and outside of the cassette, And a transport roll pair for nipping.

In the first or second aspect of the present invention, the light having a wavelength at which the coloring property of the thermochromic material is stopped and fixed is:
For example, it is ultraviolet light having a predetermined wavelength. Further, the tape-shaped print-receiving medium is provided with, for example, a color-forming layer of three primary colors as described in claim 26, and, for example, as described in claim 27, a side opposite to a color-forming surface of the support. And an adhesive layer with release paper.

In the third, fifth or seventh aspect of the present invention, the light having a wavelength at which the color developing property of the thermochromic material is stopped and fixed is, for example, a predetermined wavelength. UV light. Further, the tape-shaped print-receiving medium is constituted, for example, as described in claim 29, including a color-developing layer of three primary colors, and, for example, as described in claim 30, the side opposite to the color-developing surface of the support. And an adhesive layer with release paper.

In the fourth aspect of the present invention, the light having a wavelength at which the coloring property of the thermochromic material is stopped and fixed is, for example, ultraviolet light having a predetermined wavelength. Further, the tape-shaped print-receiving medium is provided with, for example, a color developing layer of three primary colors.

Further, in the sixth invention, the light having a wavelength at which the color developing property of the thermochromic material is stopped and fixed is ultraviolet light having a predetermined wavelength, for example. The tape-shaped print-receiving medium may be, for example,
As described in Item 4, the image forming apparatus is provided with a color developing layer of three primary colors, and as in Claim 35, the image forming apparatus is provided with an adhesive layer with release paper on the opposite side of the color forming surface of the support.

[0041]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1A shows a printer (tape printing apparatus) according to the first embodiment and a tape cassette (thermosensitive light responsive print medium storage cassette, print tape cassette, print medium storage cassette) used by being mounted on the printer. 1) is a perspective view, and FIG. 1 (b) is a plan sectional view of the tape cassette.

FIG. 2A is an exploded perspective view of the tape cassette, FIG. 2B is a perspective view showing the configuration of a printing tape accommodated in the tape cassette, and FIG. FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the printer 30
A key input unit 32 is provided below the upper surface of the housing 31. The key input unit 32 includes a plurality of operation keys 33 including a cursor key, a kana / alphanumeric input key, a kanji conversion key, a print key, and an execution key. It is arranged. In addition, an LCD display unit 34 composed of a liquid crystal display device is provided at the upper left of the upper surface.
A tape cassette storage section 35 is formed between the LCD display section 34 and the key input section 32. In FIG. 3, the tape cassette storage unit 35 is shown without a cover member so that the inside can be seen.

The tape cassette storage section 35 forms a substantially square chamber, and a reel drive shaft 36 (tape transport means) is protruded at substantially the center of the chamber bottom. At the upper right of the side wall of the air chamber, a transport path 38 is formed which communicates with a tape discharge port 37 which opens to the outer side surface of the housing 31. Various devices shown in phantom lines or broken lines in FIG. That is, a guide plate 40, a platen roller 39, and a fixed blade 41a of a cutter member are disposed above the transport path 38 in order from the upstream side to the downstream side, and below the transport path 38 in order from the upstream side to the downstream side. Tape sensor 42 (tape detecting means), light shielding shutter 43
(Shading means), fixing light irradiator 44 (fixing light irradiating means),
Thermal head 45 and movable blade 41b of cutter member
Is arranged.

The tape cassette 50 does not have an ink ribbon, and as shown in FIG. 2A, a container 51 having a substantially square box-like shape and a lid 51b. Only the printing tape 53 (tape-shaped print-receiving medium) is housed in the inside. The printing tape 53 is wound around a reel 52.

The printing tape 53 is made of thermosensitive light-responsive recording paper whose color is stopped by fixing light (ultraviolet light of a specific wavelength) emitted from the fixing light irradiator 44, as will be described in detail later. The ultraviolet light itself is present together with visible light in a normal environment. Therefore, even if the tape cassette 50 is mounted in the printer 30 and shielded from the outside by a cover member (not shown), the ultraviolet light itself will not be used for a long time. In the case of (1), the internal printing tape 53 is gradually exposed to light by light irradiation. Of course, the same applies to the case where the tape cassette 50 is stored alone.

In order to avoid unnecessary exposure before using the printing tape 53, the container 51 of the tape cassette 50 is formed of a material that blocks ultraviolet rays having the same wavelength as the fixing light. In addition, the lid 51b is provided with a window 54 that also has a light shielding property against ultraviolet rays and is transparent to the naked eye.
Through this window 54, it is possible to know the remaining amount of the printing tape 53 wound and stored.
Further, in order to completely prevent the above-mentioned natural exposure, the reel 52 is also made of a material which shields the ultraviolet rays so as to prevent the ultraviolet rays penetrating from both ends exposed to the outside of the reel 52 and the reel holes 52a. It can be said that it is preferable to use them.

When the tape cassette 50 is stored and mounted in the tape cassette storage section 35 of the printer 30 shown in FIG. 1A, the reel 5 on which the printing tape 53 is wound.
The reel drive shaft 3 of the printer 30 is
6 engage.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the corner of the tape cassette 50 located to the left of the window 54 is provided with a cassette type detecting section 55 which is cut out at the top and bottom and protrudes in a plate shape. Is formed. This cassette type detection unit 55 is
As shown in the dashed circle B or C in (b), the protruding end of the corner has a circular arc shape and is notched in a concave shape. The size of the concave arc (the depth of the radius of the arc) corresponds to the type of the tape cassette 50. The type of the tape cassette 50 is classified according to the width of the printing tape 53 housed in the container 51. When the tape cassette 50 is stored and mounted in the tape cassette storage unit 35, a detection device (not shown) detects the depth of the arc at the tip of the cassette type detection unit 55, and determines the type of the mounted tape cassette 50. That is, the printing tape 53 housed therein.
Is automatically recognized as, for example, a width of 20 mm or a width of 50 mm.

In the vicinity of the opposite corner of the cassette type detecting section 55 across the window 54 of the tape cassette 50,
As shown in FIGS. 1 (b) and 2 (a), the printing tape 53
The feeding port 56 (slit-shaped opening) of the printing tape 53 is formed so as to pass through the inside and outside of the tape cassette 50. A sealing member 57 made of felt, sponge, or the like is provided at the feed port 56. The sealing member 57 functions to seal the feeding port 56 so as to prevent dust and dirt from entering from outside, and to block light from outside. Further, inside the container 51, a pair of transport rolls 58 is arranged close to the sealing member 57. This transport roll pair 5
Numeral 8 is provided to assist the transport of the printing tape 53 and also serve as a light shielding member.

The printing tape 53 accommodated in the tape cassette 50 is fed out from a feeding port 56, and is subjected to a printing process described later in detail, and is then subjected to a cutter member 41.
(The fixed blade 41a and the movable blade 41b) are cut out as shown in FIG. This printing tape 53 is shown in FIG.
As shown in (b) and (c), the printed portion 53-1 and the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 53-2 formed on the back surface of the printed portion 53-1;
Release paper 53-3 adhered on this adhesive layer 53-2
Consisting of

As shown in FIG. 3 (c), the printed portion 53-1 includes a support 60 disposed on the back surface, and a cyan layer 61, a magenta layer 62, and a yellow layer 63 laminated thereon. And a heat-resistant protective layer 64 forming a surface (surface) to which thermal energy is applied. The heat-sensitive coloring layers of the yellow layer 63, the magenta layer 62, and the cyan layer 61 each emit a different color due to a specific range of thermal energy, and their coloring stops in response to irradiation with light (ultraviolet light) of a different wavelength. It is configured to be fixed. Further, the heat-resistant protective layer 64 has a high light-transmitting property for transmitting light of a wide range of wavelengths.
These form a thermosensitive light-responsive recording paper as a whole.

The printing tape 53 is wound around the reel 52 with the above-mentioned heat-resistant protective layer 64 surface (printing surface, ie, light fixing surface) inside. With this, even when the outermost portion wound on the reel 52 is located, the printing surface can be
This blocks light from penetrating into the inside, thereby further maintaining the light shielding property. In addition, if the printing tape 53 is wound with the printing surface inside as described above, even if the printing tape 53 rubs against the case wall in the tape cassette 50, the color is generated by frictional heat. The problem described above can be avoided.

FIG. 3A is a diagram showing a driving mechanism of each part shown in FIG. 1A, and FIG. 3B is a side view thereof. The drive mechanism shown in these figures corresponds to the housing 31 shown in FIG.
The tape cassette accommodating section 35 and the lower portion of the bottom of the tape cassette accommodating section 35 are disposed.
Each component driven by this drive mechanism is denoted by the same reference numeral as in FIG.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams showing the operating states of the thermal head 45 and the light shielding shutter 43 which are driven in conjunction with each other by the above-mentioned driving mechanism. As shown in FIG. 3A, the rear end of the thermal head 45 is integrally connected to one end of a curved arm 66 (supporting means), and the connection is rotatably supported by a fulcrum shaft 67. ing. The fixing light irradiator 44 is disposed in the curved concave portion of the curved arm 66, and a yellow light fixing lamp 44a and a magenta light fixing lamp 44b are disposed in the fixing light irradiator 44. The light-blocking shutter 43 is attached to the other end of the curved arm 66. The distal end 43a of the light-shielding shutter 43 is made of a soft member such as sponge or felt, and has a light-shielding property.

A groove 66a is provided in the curved arm 66 on the side of the thermal head 45 support portion, and a cam pin (not shown) is slidably engaged with the groove 66a in the vertical direction. The curved arm having the slot 66a and the body frame member 6
A helical spring 69 is interposed between the eight. When the cam pin (not shown) moves upward from below in the slot 66a in the state shown in FIG. 3 (a), the curved arm 66 receives the urging force of the helical spring 69 as shown in FIG. The thermal head 45 is rotated counterclockwise around the fulcrum shaft 67 as a fulcrum, thereby separating the thermal head 45 from the platen roller 39 and bringing the light-shielding shutter 43 into contact with the guide plate 40. When the cam pin moves downward in the slot 66a from this state, as shown in FIG. 4B, the bending arm 66 pivots the fulcrum shaft 67 in the clockwise direction by the urging force of the helical spring 69. The thermal head 45 is pressed against the platen roller 39 and the light-shielding shutter 43 is separated from the guide plate 40.

As described above, the curved arm 66 and the slot 6
6a, a cam pin (not shown), a fulcrum shaft 67, a helical spring 6
9, the light-blocking shutter 43
Is configured to be movable in conjunction with the contact / separation of the thermal head 45 with respect to the platen roller 39, and by contacting the guide plate 40 as described above, the yellow light fixing lamp 44a of the fixing light irradiator 44 and the magenta light fixing lamp 44a. The irradiation area of the fixing light emitted from the light fixing lamp 44b is limited to a predetermined range.

The platen roller 39 described above is
As shown in FIG.
, Via the idle gears 72, 73, 74 and the like. And the cutter member 41 (41a, 41b)
As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the worm gear 77 of the drive shaft, the worm wheel 78 meshing with the worm gear, the reduction gear 79 meshing with the small-diameter gear integrated therewith, Through a spur gear 81 meshing with the gear, a bevel gear 82 integrated therewith, a bevel gear 83 meshing therewith, a cutter cam 84 integrated therewith, and a pin 85 disposed at a predetermined position on the circumference thereof. Is driven to open and close.

FIGS. 5A to 5F show the cutter cam 84 and the cutter member 41 driven by the DC motor 76.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a basic operation state of cutting the printing tape by the movable blade 41b of FIG. 3 (a) is a reproduction of FIG. 3 (b), in which only the portion relating to the cutting of the printing tape is shown, and the other portions are not shown.

First, FIG. 5A shows a state where the cutter cam 84 is at the reference position (home position). The position of the cutter cam 84 is detected by a detection switch 86. In this state, the pin 85 is stopped almost at the intermediate position of the long hole 87 of the rotary arm 41c forming a V-shape integrally with the movable blade 41b.
c is stopped horizontally, that is, at the reference position. Also,
Thereby, the movable blade 41b is maximally opened with respect to the fixed blade 41a.

When the DC motor 76 starts rotating, the pin 85 starts rotating clockwise as shown by the arrow D1 in FIG. Then, the arrow D2 in FIG.
When the pin 85 reaches the left end of the long hole 87 of the rotating arm 41c as the rotational movement progresses as shown in FIG.
b starts the shearing operation (cutting of the tape with print) by the fixed blade 41a.

With the continuous rotation of the cutter cam 84,
As shown by an arrow D4 in FIG. 4D, the pin 85 further rotates and returns to the right of the long hole 87, and the rotating arm 41c moves.
As a result, the clockwise rotation of the movable blade 41b further proceeds, and the movable blade 41b and the fixed blade 41b are rotated.
a is completely closed. Thereby, the cutter member 4
1 terminates the shearing operation.

Next, the cutter cam 84 starts reverse rotation as shown by an arrow D5 in FIG. As a result, the pin 85 changes its rotational movement from the previous pulling direction to the pressing direction with respect to the rotating arm 41c, and therefore, the rotating arm 41c rotates downward, thereby causing the movable blade 41b to move counterclockwise. The rotation starts in the clockwise direction and starts to open with respect to the fixed blade 41a. Then, an arrow D in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6, the pin 85 reaches the lowermost point, the rotating arm 41c falls down horizontally, whereby the movable blade 41b is fully opened with respect to the fixed blade 41a, and the whole is the same as FIG. When the initial state (comes to the reference position) is reached, the detection switch 8
The position is detected by 6 and stops at the reference position.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a control unit for driving and controlling each unit of the printer 30 configured as described above.
As shown in the figure, the control unit includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 90, a key input unit 32 and a display unit 34 connected to the CPU 90 shown in FIG. , A variable memory RAM 92, a lamp driver 93, a DC motor driver 94, a thermal head driver 95, and a clutch driver 96 are connected. On the input side of the CPU 90, a key operation status signal of the operation key 33 is input from the key input unit 32, and a detection signal of the reference position of the cutter cam 84 is input from the detection switch 86.

The output side of the CPU 90 outputs an LCD
A display drive signal is output to the display unit 34, and an instruction signal for rotating the DC motor 76 to cut and operate the cutter member 41 is output to the DC motor driver 94 via the cutter cam 84 as shown in FIG. An instruction signal for driving the thermal head 45 to generate heat is output to the thermal head driver 95, and the instruction signal is output to the clutch driver 96 as shown in FIG.
As shown in (b), an instruction signal for driving the cam clutch 97 of the cam pin for rotating the thermal head 45 and the light shielding shutter 43 is output, and the platen roller 39 or the reel drive shaft 36 is supplied to the drive circuit 98 of the stepping motor 45. A driving instruction signal is output, and the yellow light fixing lamp 44 of the fixing light irradiator 44 is supplied to the lamp driver 93.
a or an instruction signal for driving the magenta light fixing lamp 44 to emit light is output.

The CPU 90 reads out the control program stored in the ROM 91, controls the above-mentioned parts based on the key operation status signal from the operation key 33 according to the read out program, and detects the detection switch 86
The cutter cam 84, that is, the cutter member 41, is set to the initial position based on the detection signal from. Subsequently, in the above configuration, the operation of the printing process by the CPU 90 is
This will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 (a) and 7 (b) and FIG.

FIG. 7 (a) is a diagram schematically showing the arrangement of each part (see FIG. 1 (a)) related to the printing process. The position of the feeding port 56 (refer to FIG. 1 (b) and FIG. 2 (a)) 50 of the cassette 50 is shown. , Simply referred to as a shutter) 43. Further, the distance "L
"L" shown in the circle with "2" is the position of the fixing light irradiator (hereinafter simply referred to as lamp) 44, and "H" shown in the circle with the distance "L3" further from this is thermal. “CT” shown in the circle with the position of the head 45 and a further distance “L4” is the position of the cutter member (hereinafter simply referred to as a cutter) 41. The illustration of the arrangement of the tape sensor 42 is omitted.

FIG. 7B is a diagram showing a printing state of a printing tape (hereinafter, simply referred to as a tape) 53.
Indicates the total length of the printed tape cut out by the cutter 41 (in the figure, “ABC” is printed out from the beginning), “Q” indicates the length of the print area, and “X1” at both ends And “X2” (X1 = X2 = X) indicate the length of the front and rear margins, respectively.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the printing process by the CPU 90 (fixing light irradiation control means, transport control means). As shown in FIG. 7A, the tape 53 of the cassette 50 to be mounted on the printer 30 has been drawn out from the feed-out opening "O" by a length N in advance. The CPU 90 recognizes this by the tape sensor 42, and first moves the tape 53 to the distance “L1 + L2 + L3 + X”.
-N "(Step S1). As a result, the leading end of the tape 53 that has been initially pulled out from the pay-out port “O” by the length N becomes the distance “L1 + L2 + L3” from the pay-out port “O” as shown in the tape 53 ′ of FIG.
From the position of the thermal head "H" in the length "X" (=
Stops ahead by X1). That is, the head print position of the print area "Q" shown in FIG. 7B with the margin "X1" of the tape 53 left is set to the thermal head position "H". In this case, if “N <X” is set in advance, the length N portion loses luminous property due to natural fixation by exposure over time due to being pulled out from the feeding port “O” by the length N. Also, there is no problem because that part is included in the range of the front margin.

Thereafter, the print data (first the print data of yellow Y) is developed in a predetermined area of the RAM 92 (step S2), and then a drive instruction signal is output to the clutch driver 96 to release the bending arm 66. By rotating the thermal head 45 clockwise, the thermal head 45 is down (pressed against the platen roller 39) and the shutter 43 is opened (separated from the guide plate 40) (step S3, see FIG. 4B). Thus, the thermal head 45 is set at the print start position of the tape 53.

Next, an instruction signal is output to the drive circuit 98 to output a drive signal of a predetermined frequency to the stepping motor 71, and the platen roller 39 is moved in the forward direction (transport direction, FIG. 3).
(a), and outputs the developed print data to the thermal head driver 95 line-sequentially to start printing by the thermal head 45 (step S4). Until all the lines up to the line are output, that is, until printing of the developed print data is completed (step S5, determination is N)). When it is confirmed that the printing is completed (S5 is Y), the clutch driver 96 is checked. To rotate the bending arm 66 clockwise to move the thermal head 45 up (separate from the platen roller 39) and close the shutter 43 (press against the guide plate 40) (step S6). 4 (a)).

Subsequently, the stepping motor 71 is rotated in the reverse direction to rotate the reel drive shaft 36 in the winding direction, and the tape 53 is rewound by the distance "L2 + L3-X" (step S7). As a result, the print end position (the rear end of the print area Q) of the tape 53 is located behind the thermal head position "H" by the distance "L2 + L3" and the distance "X" (= X2) at the shutter position "S". , That is, the rear end of the rear margin “X2” is set to the shutter position “S”.

Next, an instruction signal is output to the lamp driver 93 to turn on the lamp 44 (the yellow light fixing lamp 44a because yellow Y is initially printed) (step S).
8) Rewind the tape 53 again (step S9). As a result, the rear margin “X2”, the print area “Q”, and the front margin “X1” are sequentially exposed to the fixing light, and are exposed.
After that, the yellow color due to the heat energy applied is stopped (prohibited) and fixed. As described above, in the present embodiment, the optical fixing is activated at the time of the return operation of transporting the tape 53 to rewind.

During the fixing, the detection signal input from the tape sensor 42 is monitored (step S10), and the tape is rewound by a total distance "L3 + L2 + L1-N" from the first rewound position, that is, FIG. Tape 5 shown to the left of
3 (S10: Y), the stepping motor 71 is stopped, and the lamp 44 is turned off (Step S11). It is determined whether the printing just completed is magenta M printing. It is determined (step S12).

If the current printing is yellow Y (N in S12), the flow returns to step S1 to convey the tape 53 to the position of the tape 53 ', and in step S2 the print data of magenta M is developed in the RAM 92. And step S3
To S12 are repeated. As a result, magenta printing (coloring) and optical fixing are performed, the tape 53 is rewound to the initial position, and it is determined whether or not the printing that has just finished is magenta M printing again.

This time, step S12 is YES. In this case, cyan C data is developed in the RAM 92 (step S14). Subsequent steps S14, S15 and S16
Is the same as the processing in steps S3, S4 and S5 described above. Then, when it is confirmed that the printing of cyan C has been completed (Y in S16), the tape 53 is further transported in the forward direction by the distance "L4 + X" (step S17). This allows
A printing end portion of the tape 53 (the rear end of the printing area "Q") further forward by a distance "X" (= X2) from the cutter position "CT" at a distance "L4" from the thermal head position "H".
Stops. That is, the rear end of the rear margin X2 stops at the cutter position “CT”.

Subsequently, an instruction signal is output to the DC motor driver 94 to drive the DC motor 76 to drive the movable blade 41a as shown in FIG. 5 to cut the printed tape 53 (step S18). As a result, as shown in FIG. 7B, a printed tape 53 having a length P with margins “X1” and “X2” at the front and back is cut out.

Thereafter, the thermal head 45 is turned up (step S19), and the tape 53 is moved to the distance "L1 + L2 +
L3 + L4-N "(step S20),
The process ends. As a result of the above-described rewinding, the leading end of the unused portion of the tape 53 whose printed portion has been cut has a distance “L1 + L2 +” from the cut cutter position “CT”.
It stops at the position of the distance "N", just before the feeding port "O" located behind "L3 + L4", and is set in a state of waiting for the next printing.

Although it has been described above that there is no problem even if the length N portion loses the luminous property due to the natural fixing due to the fact that the length N was first drawn out from the feed-out opening "O", the non-use time was long. A front margin X1 is formed after the length N in preparation for a case where the naturally fixed portion may be discolored, such as when
In the tape cutting after printing is completed, first, the length N portion may be cut off, and then the length P may be conveyed to cut out the printed tape. In this case, a method of recognizing the transport distance by a driving pulse of a stepping motor or a method of printing a cut-off mark at the rear end of the length N and recognizing the mark with an optical sensor to confirm the cut-off position may be used. .

Further, with respect to the rewinding conveyance to the above-mentioned feeding port "O" after cutting out the printed tape, immediately before the cassette 50 is detached from the printer 30, for example, the drive power supply is opened and closed by opening and closing the lid of the tape cassette accommodating section 35. Rewinding may be performed by interlocking a switch or the like. By doing so, when the cassette 50 is in the printer 30, the tape 53 'is always in the state, and the set time until the start of printing is reduced. In this case, in the processing shown in FIG. 8, if the determination is negative (N) in step S12, the processing procedure is changed so as to return to the next step S2 instead of step S1.

When the tape 53 is fed to the printing position (thermal head position "H"), the shutter 43 is brought into the initial position, that is, as shown in FIG. Then, the cam pins that move through the slot 66a are stopped halfway, and set to a state intermediate between FIGS. 4A and 4B, that is, a state in which both the thermal head 45 and the shutter 43 open the transport path. You may do so. Also,
Setting the printing position of the tape 53 (tape 5 in FIG. 7A)
3 ') may be performed manually, and the set position is detected by the tape sensor 42 and is referred to in subsequent printing processing. When the printing position is set by automatic conveyance, the conveyance roll pair 58 in the cassette 50 needs to be driven by the printer body. Further, the light-shielding shutter may be constituted by a pair of rolls to assist the transport of the tape. This will be described below as a second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a printer according to the second embodiment. The printer 100 shown in FIG.
A part of the configuration is different from that of the printer 30 shown in (a), and a new configuration is added. In FIG. 9, a new number is given only to components different from those in FIG. 1 (a) and added components, and other components including the cassette are the same as those in FIG. 1 (a). Therefore, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 (a) are assigned to only those parts that are necessary for the explanation.

The printer 100 shown in FIG. 9 includes a transport roll pair driving pin 101 at the upper right of the tape cassette storage section 35. Although not particularly shown, the transport roll pair drive pin 101 is provided with the idle gear 72 shown in FIG.
Rotational drive is transmitted by a drive system appropriately branched from the gear trains 73 and 74, and engages with and drives the transport roll pair 58 shown in FIGS. 1 (b) and 2 (a).

As a result, as shown in FIG. 7A, the tape 53 is conveyed to the position of the tape 53 '(forward operation of feeding and conveying). When a series of printing operations is completed, as described in the processing in step S20, the feed-out opening “O” of the cassette 50 from the cutter position “CT”.
Until then, the unwinding portion is automatically rewound into the cassette while leaving only the leading end portion “N”.

In the transport path 38, instead of the shutter 43 shown in FIG. 1A between the tape sensor 42 and the lamp (fixing light irradiator) 44, the auxiliary roll pair 102a is sandwiched by the transport path 38. And 102b are provided. Guide plate 1
Reference numeral 03 denotes an arrangement space which is narrowed by an amount corresponding to the position of one of the rollers 102a of the auxiliary roll pair 102 fixed above the conveyance path 38, and is formed shorter than the case of the guide plate 40 in FIG. ing.

FIGS. 10A and 10B are diagrams showing the operation state of the thermal head 45 and the auxiliary roll pair 102 in the above configuration. As shown in FIG. 10A, the other roller 102b of the pair of auxiliary rolls 102 is attached to the other end of the curved arm 66 integrally connected to the thermal head 45. The auxiliary roll pair 102 is made of a flexible material such as sponge or felt, and the bending arm 66 rotates counterclockwise about the fulcrum shaft 67 as a fulcrum as shown in FIG. The roller is separated from the platen roller 39, and at the same time, the two rollers 102a and 102
When b is pressed, the left side of the auxiliary roll pair 102, that is, the unused portion of the tape 53 is shielded from the irradiation light of the lamp 41.

When the curved arm 66 rotates clockwise about the fulcrum shaft 67 as a fulcrum as shown in FIG. 10B, the thermal head 45 comes into pressure contact with the platen roller 39 to enter the printing posture. At the same time, two rollers 10
2a and 102b are separated to open the tape transport path. Even in the case of such a configuration, the print processing operation is performed as shown in FIG.
This is the same as the case shown in (a), (b) and FIG.

FIG. 11A is a perspective view showing a printer according to the third embodiment, and FIG. 11B is a view showing a lamp (fixing light irradiator) provided in the printer. is there. Also in this case, a new number is assigned to only a component different from the printer 30 shown in FIG. 1A, and other components including the cassette are the same as those in FIG. 1A. Only the parts necessary for explanation are given the same reference numerals as in FIG. 1 (a). The lamp 106 provided in the printer 105 shown in FIG. 11A in place of the lamp 44 of the printer 30 shown in FIG. 1A has a cylindrical light-shielding container 107 as shown in FIG. 11B. Light fixing lamp for yellow 4 inside
4a and a magenta light fixing lamp 44b are housed.

The light shielding container 107 has a slit 108.
Are formed, and the slit 108 is formed as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, the guide plate 40 is formed at a position facing the guide plate 40. In contrast to the lamp 44 shown in FIG. 1 (a) having an open irradiation container as shown in FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b), FIG.
The lamp 106 shown in FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b) shields the irradiation light of the internal yellow light fixing lamp 44a or magenta light fixing lamp 44b with a cylindrical container 107, and the slit 1
08 passes only in a predetermined direction (direction perpendicular to the guide plate 40). The cylindrical container 107 is supported by a bracket 109, and the bracket 109 forms a rotating arm (not shown) and is connected to the thermal head 45. Thus, when the thermal head 45 is rotated to the printing position, it is separated from the guide plate 40, and when the thermal head 45 is rotated to the non-printing position, the thermal head 45 is rotated toward the guide plate 40 in conjunction therewith. The slit 108 is brought into close contact with the tape 53 guided by the guide plate 40 and rewound for fixing, so that fixing light is emitted only to the tape surface.

In the printing process in this case, the lamp position "L" and the shutter position "S" are set to be the same, that is, the distance "L2 = 0" in the arrangement diagram of FIG. Should be executed.

In the first, second, and third embodiments, the shutter and the lamp are arranged on the upstream side of the thermal head in the tape forward direction in all cases. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The shutter and the lamp may be arranged downstream of the thermal head in the tape forward direction. This will be described below as a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 12A is a perspective view of a printer according to the fourth embodiment, and FIG. 12B is a diagram showing the configuration of an internal drive system. The printer 110 shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B has a platen roller 3 having the configuration shown in FIG.
9, guide plate 40, thermal head 45, shutter 43
3A and FIG. 3B.
12B is different from FIG. 12B in that the curved arm 66 is divided into two members, a rotating arm 111 that supports the shutter 43 and a rotating vertical member 112 that supports the thermal head 45. However, the function of each device is the same as in FIG. 1 (a), and is also substantially the same in FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b). The configuration of the control unit that controls the operation of each unit is the same as the configuration shown in FIG.

In this printer 110, FIG.
As shown in (a), a platen roller 39, a guide plate 40, and a fixed blade 41a of a cutter member are sequentially arranged from the upstream side to the downstream side above the transport path 38, and opposed to these, the transport path 38 Below the thermal head 4 from the upstream side
5. The shutter 43, the lamp 44, and the movable blade 41b of the cutter member are sequentially arranged on the downstream side.

One rotating arm 11 instead of the curved arm
Reference numeral 1 denotes a central portion rotatably supported by a fulcrum shaft 118, a shutter 43 is supported on the right arm end, and a slot 115 is formed substantially horizontally in the left arm, and is engaged with a drive system (not shown). Then, it is driven to rotate clockwise and counterclockwise.

The other rotating vertical member 112 supports the thermal head 45 at the upper end, and connects the supporting portion to the fulcrum shaft 1.
A pin 114 pivotally supported by the shaft 13 and attached substantially at the center of a vertical portion extending downward from the fulcrum shaft 113 is slidably fitted into the slot 115 of the rotating arm 111. Then, a substantially spiral intermediate portion between the fulcrum shaft 113 and the pin 114 is urged clockwise by a pulling spiral spring 116 interposed between the frame member on the printer main body side and another frame on the printer main body side. The lower end of the vertical portion is urged in the counterclockwise direction by another pulling spiral spring 117 interposed between the members.

In the above configuration, the rotating arm 111 is rotated clockwise, and as shown in FIG. 12B, the shutter 43 at the end of the right arm is separated from the guide plate 40 and the ramp 44 adjacent to the right. And the left arm of the rotating arm 111 is simultaneously rotated clockwise in a state where the transporting path 38 is opened, so that the rotating vertical member 112 is deflected through the slot 115 and the pin 114. Rotating clockwise, the thermal head 45 comes into pressure contact with the platen roller 39 and is set at the printing position.

When the rotating arm 111 is driven to rotate clockwise, the tip 43a of the shutter 43 comes into contact with the guide plate 40, and the fixing light emitted from the lamp 44 is moved upstream. The irradiation and diffusion are shut off, and at the same time, the thermal head 45 is separated from the platen roller 39 to open the transport path 38.

FIG. 13 is a diagram schematically showing the arrangement of each part relating to the above-described printing process. In FIG. 13, "O" shown in the circle indicates the position of the feeding port 56 of the cassette 50, and the distance " “H” shown in a circle with “L5” is the position of the thermal head 45, and “S” shown in a circle with a distance “L6” from this is the position of the shutter 43, and a distance “L” from this
"L" in the circle with "7" is the position of the lamp 44,
Then, further place the distance “L8” and indicate “C” shown in the circle.
“T” is the position of the cutter 41. In addition, the tape sensor 4
The illustration of the arrangement of No. 2 is omitted.

Also in this case, the tape 53 has been pulled out from the cassette 50 by the length N in advance. Although not shown here, the printed tape cut out by the cutter 41 has a total length P, a print area Q, and margins X1 and X2 (X1 = X2 = X) as shown in FIG. 7B. is there.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart for explaining the processing operation by the CPU 90 of the control unit which controls each unit having the above configuration and executes the printing process. The printing process will be described below with reference to the flowchart in FIG. 13 and the layout of each device in FIG.

First, the tape 53 is moved to the distance “L5 + X−N”.
(Step S101). As a result, as shown in the tape 53 'of FIG. 13, the leading end of the tape 53 which was initially pulled out from the pay-out port "O" by the length N is located at a distance "L5" from the pay-out port "O". The head is stopped before the position of the head "H" by the length "X" (the leading margin), and the head print position of the print area Q is set to the thermal head position "H".

Subsequently, the print data (initially, the print data of yellow Y) is developed in a predetermined area of the RAM 92 (step S102), and the rotating arm 111 is rotated clockwise to make the thermal head 45 down. At the same time, the shutter 43 is opened to set the thermal head 45 at the printing start position (step S103), the platen roller 39 is rotated in the forward direction, and the thermal head 45 is heated by the developed print data to start printing. (Step S104).

Then, the end of the printing is monitored (step S).
105, determination N)), and confirms the end of printing (S10
5 is Y), the heat generation drive of the thermal head 45 is stopped,
The transport of the tape 53 is continued for the distance “L6 + X” (step S106). As a result, the end of the printing in the printing area Q is further away from the thermal head position “H” by a distance “L6” than the shutter position “S” by a distance “X”.
(The trailing edge margin), and is fed to the downstream side and stopped.

Next, the rotating arm 111 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction to turn up the thermal head 45 and close the shutter 43 (step S107). This allows
Unused portions of the tape 53 are shielded from the ramp position "S" with the print portion of the full length P including the front and rear margins protruding from the shutter position "S" in the direction of the ramp position "L".

Subsequently, the lamp 44 (yellow light fixing lamp 44a because yellow Y is initially printed) is turned on (step S108), and while the tape 53 is rewound (step S109), the beginning of the tape 53 is initialized. It is monitored whether or not the tape has been rewound to the position (the position of the tape 53 shown on the left side of FIG. 13) (Step S110). The lamp 44 is turned off (step S111). As a result, the yellow portion of the print portion of the entire length P including the margins before and after the tape 53 is fixed. Thus, also in this embodiment, the light fixing is performed with the tape 53.
This is activated at the time of the return operation of transporting the.

Following the above, it is determined whether or not the printing that has just been completed is the printing of magenta M (step S11).
2) If the current printing is yellow Y (N in S112), the flow returns to step S101 to return to the tape 53 in FIG.
Is transported to the position of the tape 53 ', the print data of magenta M is developed in the RAM 92 in step S102, and steps S103 to S112 are repeated. As a result, magenta printing (coloring) and optical fixing are performed, the tape 53 is rewound to the initial position, and it is determined whether or not the printing that has just finished is magenta M printing again.

This time, step S112 is Y. In this case, cyan C data is developed in the RAM 92 (step S114). Subsequent processing in steps S114, S115 and S116 is performed in steps S103 and S104 described above.
And the processing of S105. When the end of printing of cyan C is confirmed (Y in S116), the tape 53 is transported in the forward direction by the distance "X + L6 + L7 + L8" (step S117). As a result, the printing end portion of the tape 53 stops further from the cutter position “CT” at the distance “L6 + L7 + L8” from the thermal head position “H” by a distance “X” (for the rear margin). That is, the rear end of the rear margin stops at the cutter position “CT”.

Subsequently, the movable blade 41a is driven to cut the printed tape 53 (step S118), the thermal head 45 is turned up (step S119), and the tape 53 is rewound by the distance "L5 + L6 + L7 + L8-N". (Step S120), the process ends. Also in this case, the leading end of the unused portion of the tape 53 whose printed portion has been cut by the above-described rewinding has a distance “L5 + L6 + L7 + L8” from the cut cutter position “CT”.
Is stopped at the position of the distance "N", just before the feeding port "O" located behind, and is set in a state of waiting for the next printing.

In this case, the rewinding conveyance to the feeding port "O" may be performed immediately before the cassette 50 is detached from the printer 30. Further, in this case, in the processing shown in FIG. 14, if the determination is negative (N) in step S112, the processing procedure is changed so as to return to the next step S102 instead of step S101.

Even in such a case where the shutter and the lamp are arranged downstream of the thermal head in the tape forward direction, the shutter 43 can be changed to the auxiliary roll pair 102 shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. . This will be described below as a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 15A is a perspective view of a printer according to the fifth embodiment, and FIG. 15B is a diagram showing the configuration of a drive system inside the printer. In the printer 120 shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B, the shutter 43 of the printer 110 shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B is provided with a pair of auxiliary rolls 102 (102a, 102a, 102b), except that the guide plate 40 is formed slightly shorter by the amount occupied by the roller 102a. The other components are the same as those shown in FIGS.

FIGS. 16 (a) and 16 (b) are diagrams showing an operation state in which the auxiliary roll pair 102 and the thermal head 45 are interlocked, just in case. As shown in FIG. 1A, one roller 102a of the auxiliary roll pair 102 is
9 and is fixed to the printer body side by side. A rotating arm 111 is rotatably supported at the center by a fulcrum shaft 118, and the other roller 102b of the auxiliary roll pair 102 is supported at the right arm end. FIG. 7A shows a state in which the rotating arm 111 is driven clockwise,
By the rotation, the right arm rotates downward to separate the roller 102b from the roller 102a, and the slot 115 of the left arm rotates upward, so that the pin 114 of the rotation vertical member 112 moves upward. As a result, the rotating vertical member 112 rotates counterclockwise about the fulcrum shaft 113 as a fulcrum, and presses the thermal head 45 against the platen roller 39.

FIG. 13B shows a state in which the rotating arm 111 is driven to rotate counterclockwise. In this case, the right arm rotates upward to press the roller 102b against the roller 102a. Then, the irradiation light of the lamp 44 adjacent to the right is blocked to protect the tape on the upstream side from the fixing light. On the other hand, when the slot 115 of the left arm part rotates downward, the rotation vertical member 112 is rotated. Is pulled down via the pin 114, whereby the rotating vertical member 112 rotates clockwise to separate the thermal head 45 from the platen roller 39. Also in this case, in the printing process, FIG.
It operates as described in Section 4.

FIG. 17 shows a case in which the shutter mechanism and the lamp are arranged downstream of the thermal head in the tape forward direction, and the lamp 106 is provided with the light blocking function shown in FIGS. 11 (a) and 11 (b). FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer according to a sixth embodiment. As shown in the figure, this printer is a printer 120 having the configuration shown in FIG.
Instead of the lamp 44, a lamp 106 shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B is provided. In this case, the lamp 106 is fixedly disposed on the printer main body side, and a pushing spiral spring 103 is interposed between the frame member 121 of the printer main body and the guide plate 122 so that the guide plate 122 is always fixed to the lamp 1.
06 is pressed against the slit 108. In this case, in the arrangement diagram of FIG.
And the shutter position “S” are the same, that is, the distance “L”
7 = 0 ”and the process shown in FIG. 14 may be executed.

Note that, in any of the above embodiments,
The driving of the cutter 41 is not limited to the automatic cutting by the DC motor 76, and a tape may be cut manually by, for example, providing a push button or an operation lever linked to the movable blade.

[0116]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the light-shielding shutter is provided so as to interlock with the movement of the thermal head to the non-printing position after performing the heating printing. It is possible to accurately set the timing and positional relationship between light shielding and light fixing start due to, and thereby, it is possible to accurately set the light fixing range of the printed tape and obtain a high quality color image by overlapping and developing the correct three primary colors, In addition, it is possible to provide a special type of printing device called a tape printing device using a thermosensitive light responsive printing medium.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a printer according to a first embodiment and a tape cassette mounted on the printer and used, and FIG. 1B is a plan sectional view of the tape cassette.

2A is an exploded perspective view of a tape cassette, FIG. 2B is a perspective view showing a configuration of a printing tape, and FIG. 2C is a sectional view thereof.

FIG. 3A is a diagram showing a driving mechanism of each part of the printer, and FIG.
Is a side view thereof.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams showing an operation state of a thermal head and a light shielding shutter which are driven in conjunction with each other by the driving mechanism of FIG. 3A.

FIGS. 5A to 5F are diagrams showing a basic operation state of printing tape cutting by a cutter cam driven by a DC motor and a movable blade of a cutter member.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a control unit that drives and controls each unit of the printer having the configuration shown in FIGS. 1 to 5;

FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams schematically illustrating the arrangement of each unit related to a printing process, and FIG. 7B is a diagram illustrating a printing state of a printing tape.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a printing process by a CPU.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a printer according to a second embodiment.

FIGS. 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating an operation state of a thermal head and an auxiliary roll pair of a printer according to a second embodiment.

11A is a perspective view illustrating a printer according to a third embodiment, and FIG. 11B is a diagram illustrating a fixing light irradiator provided in the printer.

FIG. 12A is a perspective view of a printer according to a fourth embodiment, and FIG. 12B is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a drive system inside the printer.

FIG. 13 is a diagram schematically illustrating an arrangement of each unit related to a printing process of a printer according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a processing operation by a CPU of a control unit that executes print processing of a printer according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 15A is a perspective view of a printer according to a fifth embodiment, and FIG. 15B is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a drive system inside the printer.

FIGS. 16A and 16B are diagrams showing an operation state in which a pair of auxiliary rolls of a printer and a thermal head are interlocked in a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer according to a sixth embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an example of a conventional printing apparatus that forms an image using thermosensitive light-responsive recording paper.

19A is a cross-sectional view of a thermosensitive light-responsive recording paper, and FIG. 19B is a diagram showing the relationship between the color density of each color forming layer and heat energy.

FIG. 20 is a sectional view of a main part showing a state in which a tape cassette is mounted on a conventional tape printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Recording paper 1 'Recording paper 2 Paper feed roller 3 Drum 4 Thermal head 5 Light source unit 5a Housing 5b Light source 5c Filter 6 Sending roller 7 Paper discharge tray 8 Cutter 10 Tape printer 11 Cassette mounting part 12 Tape cassette 13 Paper Reel 13a Engagement hole 14 Ribbon delivery reel 15 Ribbon take-up reel 15a Engagement hole 16 Paper (tape) 16 'Printed paper 17 Ink ribbon 17' Used ink ribbon 18a, 18b Cutting blade 19 Recess 21 Printhead 22 Platen 30 , 30-2 printer 31 housing 32 key input unit 33 operation key 34 LCD display unit 35 tape cassette storage unit 36 reel drive shaft 37 tape discharge port 38 transport path 39 platen roller 40 guide plate 41 cutter member 41a fixed blade 41b movable 41c Rotating arm 42 Tape sensor 43 Light shielding shutter 43a Tip 44 Fixing light irradiator 44a Light fixing lamp for yellow 44b Light fixing lamp for magenta 45 Thermal head 50 Tape cassette 51 Container 51a Box 51b Cover 52 Reel 52a Reel hole 53 Printing Tape (tape) 53-1 Printed portion 53-2 Adhesive layer 53-3 Release paper 54 Window portion 55 Tape width detecting piece 56 Feeding port 57 Sealing member 58 Transport roll pair 60 Support body 61 Cyan layer 62 Magenta layer 63 Yellow layer 64 Heat-resistant protective layer 66 Curved arm 66a Slot 67 Support shaft 68 Body frame member 69 Spiral spring 71 Stepping motor 72, 73, 74 Idle gear 76 DC motor 77 Worm gear 78 Worm wheel 79 Reduction gear 81 Spur gear 82, 83 bevel gear 84 cutter cam 85 pin 86 detection switch 87 long hole 90 control unit is CPU (central processing unit) 91 ROM 92 RAM 93 lamp driver 94 DC motor driver 95 thermal head driver 96 clutch driver 97 cam clutch 98 drive Circuit 100, 105, 110, 120 Printer 101 Conveying roll pair drive pin 102 (102a, 102b) Auxiliary roll pair 103 Guide plate 106 Lamp 107 Light shielding container 108 Slit 109 Bracket 111 Rotating arm 112 Rotating vertical member 113 Support shaft 114 Pin 115 Slot 116, 117 Spiral spiral spring 118 Support shaft 121 Frame member 122 Guide plate 123 Push spiral spring

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Masayuki Ikeda 3-2-1 Sakaemachi, Hamura-shi, Tokyo Casio Computer Co., Ltd. Hamura Technical Center (72) Inventor Kensaku Takeuchi 3-2-1, Sakaemachi, Hamura-shi, Tokyo Casio Computer Hamura Technical Center Co., Ltd.

Claims (35)

[Claims] 1. A thermo-sensitive photo-responsive device having a plurality of thermo-color-forming materials on a support, the plurality of thermo-color-forming materials being colored in different colors by thermal energy and being stopped and fixed in response to irradiation of light of different wavelengths. A tape cassette which is wound and accommodated in the main body of the tape and is detachably attached to the apparatus main body; and a forward operation of feeding and transporting the tape-shaped print medium from the tape cassette, and loading the tape-shaped print medium into the tape cassette. A tape transport unit for performing a return operation of transporting the tape to be rewound, and applying a dot-like thermal energy based on image information to the tape-shaped print target medium when the tape transport unit performs a forward operation of the tape-type print target medium. A thermal head for coloring by applying thermal energy from the thermal head, and irradiating the light to the colored tape-shaped print-receiving medium to fix the coloring. Light-irradiating means, light-blocking means for limiting the fixing light irradiation area by the fixing light irradiating means to a predetermined range, and a cutter member for cutting the colored and fixed tape-shaped print-receiving medium into a predetermined length, A tape printing device comprising: 2. The tape printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fixing light irradiating means includes a fixing light irradiating control means for emitting light when the tape-shaped printing medium is returned. 3. The tape printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light shielding means is formed to include a movable shutter structure so as to limit the light irradiation area to a predetermined range. 4. A platen facing the thermal head, and supporting means for supporting the thermal head so as to be able to freely contact and separate from the platen, wherein the light-shielding means is interlocked with the contact and separation of the thermal head with respect to the platen. The tape printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an interlocking mechanism that operates. 5. The tape printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light shielding unit includes a slit for passing the light of the fixing light irradiation unit only in a predetermined direction. 6. A tape detecting means for detecting the tape-shaped print medium fed from the tape cassette, and at least before removing the tape cassette from the apparatus main body in response to the detection by the tape detecting means. When a series of printing operations is completed, the apparatus further comprises transport control means for controlling the transport means to automatically return a portion of the tape-shaped print-receiving medium fed from the tape cassette to a feed-out opening of the tape cassette. 2. The tape printer according to claim 1, wherein: 7. A thermo-sensitive photo-responsive device having a plurality of thermo-color-forming materials on a support, the thermo-color-forming materials being colored in different colors by heat energy and being stopped and fixed in response to irradiation with light of different wavelengths. A tape cassette in which the tape-shaped print-receiving medium is wound and stored; a forward operation of feeding and transporting the tape-shaped print-receiving medium from the tape cassette; And a thermal head that applies dot-shaped thermal energy to the tape-shaped print-receiving medium based on image information during forward movement of the tape-shaped print-receiving medium by the tape transporting means. Fixing light irradiating means for irradiating the light to the colored tape-shaped print medium at the time of returning operation of the tape-shaped print medium; and light from the fixing light irradiating means. Tape printing apparatus characterized by comprising: a cutter member for cutting morphism and a tape-like printing medium described above color fixed by heat energy of the thermal head to a predetermined length, a. 8. The tape printing apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a light-shielding unit that limits an irradiation area of the fixing light by the fixing light irradiation unit to a predetermined range. 9. A tape printing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said light shielding means includes a movable shutter structure for limiting an irradiation area of said light to a predetermined range. 10. A thermal head, comprising: a platen facing the thermal head; and support means for supporting the thermal head so that the thermal head can be freely moved toward and away from the platen. 10. The tape printer according to claim 7, further comprising a mechanism. 11. The tape printing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the light shielding unit includes a slit that allows the light of the fixing light irradiation unit to pass only in a predetermined direction. 12. A tape detecting means for detecting the tape-shaped print medium fed from the tape cassette;
In response to the detection of the tape detecting means, at least before the tape cassette is removed from the apparatus main body or when a series of printing operations is completed, a portion of the tape-shaped print-receiving medium that has been fed from the tape cassette is read. 8. The tape printing apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a conveyance control unit for controlling the conveyance unit to automatically return the tape cassette to a feeding port of the tape cassette. 13. A thermo-sensitive photo-responsive device having a plurality of thermo-color-forming materials on a support, the plurality of thermo-color-forming materials being colored in different colors by heat energy and being stopped and fixed in response to irradiation with light of different wavelengths. A print tape cassette which is wound around and accommodates a tape-shaped print-receiving medium, and is detachably attached to a tape printing apparatus, provided on a side portion of the print tape cassette main body, wherein the tape-type print-receiving medium includes the print tape cassette. A printing tape cassette, comprising: a slit-shaped opening that passes inside and outside of the device; and a pair of transport rolls that are provided near the slit-shaped opening and that hold the tape-shaped print-receiving medium. 14. The printing tape according to claim 13, wherein the pair of transport rolls engages with a driving unit provided in the tape printing apparatus to assist in transporting the tape-shaped print-receiving medium. cassette. 15. The transport roll pair is arranged so as to also serve as a light shielding member for preventing the tape-shaped print medium stored in the print tape cassette from being exposed to the light through the slit-shaped opening. The printing tape cassette according to claim 13, wherein the printing is performed. 16. The print tape cassette according to claim 13, wherein the print tape cassette has a substantially square box shape. 17. A thermosensitive light responsiveness comprising a plurality of thermochromic materials provided on a holding body, wherein the thermochromic materials are colored in different colors by thermal energy and whose colorability is stopped and fixed in response to irradiation with light of different wavelengths. A thermal head for applying the dot-shaped thermal energy based on image information to the print medium to form a color, and irradiating the color print medium with the fixing light. And a print medium storage cassette detachable from a printing apparatus, wherein the print medium storage cassette main body shields light having a wavelength at which color development of the plurality of thermochromic materials is stopped and fixed. A print medium storage cassette comprising a window portion made of a material which can be used to check the stored print medium. 18. A thermo-sensitive photo-responsive device having a plurality of thermo-color-forming materials on a support, the plurality of thermo-color-forming materials being colored in different colors by heat energy and being stopped and fixed in response to irradiation with light of different wavelengths. A print tape cassette which is wound around and accommodates a tape-shaped print-receiving medium, and is detachably attached to a tape printing apparatus, wherein the print tape cassette main body is fixed by stopping coloring of the plurality of thermochromic materials. A printing tape cassette comprising a window portion made of a material for blocking light of a predetermined wavelength and capable of confirming the stored tape-shaped printing medium. 19. A slit-shaped opening provided on a side portion of the print tape cassette for allowing the tape-shaped print medium to pass through the inside and outside of the cassette, and a pair of transport rolls provided near the opening and sandwiching the tape-shaped print medium. 19. The print tape cassette according to claim 18, comprising: 20. A thermo-sensitive photo-responsive device having a plurality of thermo-color-forming materials on a support, wherein the thermo-color-forming materials are colored in different colors by thermal energy and are stopped and fixed in response to irradiation with light of different wavelengths. A tape cassette which is wound around and accommodates the tape-shaped print-receiving medium and is detachable from the apparatus main body; and a forward operation of feeding and transporting the tape-shaped print-receiving medium from the tape cassette, and placing the tape-shaped print-receiving medium in the tape cassette. A tape conveying means for performing a return operation of conveying the material to be rewound, and a thermal for applying a dot-like thermal energy based on image information to the tape-shaped print medium during the forward operation of the tape-shaped print medium to form a color. A head; and a fixing light irradiating unit that irradiates the light to the colored tape-shaped print-receiving medium by applying thermal energy by the thermal head, wherein the tape Set, the tape printing apparatus characterized by being wound and housed the surface to be applying thermal energy to the inside by the tape-like printing medium support the thermal head. 21. A thermo-sensitive photo-response comprising a plurality of thermo-chromogenic materials provided on a support, wherein the thermo-chromic materials are colored in different colors by thermal energy and whose color developing properties are stopped and fixed in response to irradiation of light of different wavelengths. A tape cassette in which a tape-shaped print-receiving medium is wound and housed, and is detachable from a tape printing apparatus, wherein the tape-shaped print-receiving medium is wound with the surface to which the heat energy is applied being inward. A printing tape cassette that is housed. 22. A cassette main body made of a material that blocks light having a wavelength at which color development of the plurality of thermochromic materials is stopped and fixed, and has a window through which the stored tape-shaped print-receiving medium can be confirmed. 22. The print tape cassette according to claim 21, further comprising: 23. The cassette body according to claim 21, wherein the cassette body has a box shape having a substantially square plane portion.
Printed tape cassette as described. 24. A slit-shaped opening provided on a side portion of the cassette main body to allow the tape-shaped print-receiving medium to pass through the inside and outside of the cassette, and a transport roll pair provided near the opening and sandwiching the tape-shaped print-receiving medium. The print tape cassette according to claim 21, 22 or 23, comprising: 25. The tape printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light having a wavelength at which the coloring property of the thermochromic material is stopped and fixed is ultraviolet light having a predetermined wavelength. 26. The printing medium according to claim 1, wherein the tape-shaped print-receiving medium includes three primary color developing layers.
The tape printer according to the above. 27. The tape printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tape-shaped print-receiving medium includes an adhesive layer with a release paper on a side opposite to a coloring surface of the support. 28. The print tape cassette according to claim 13, wherein the light having a wavelength at which the coloring property of the thermochromic material is stopped and fixed is ultraviolet light having a predetermined wavelength. 29. The printing medium according to claim 13, wherein the tape-shaped print-receiving medium includes three primary color developing layers.
22. The printing tape cassette according to 8 or 21. 30. The print tape cassette according to claim 13, wherein the tape-shaped print-receiving medium is provided with an adhesive layer with a release paper on a side of the support opposite to a coloring surface. 31. The print medium storage cassette according to claim 17, wherein the light having a wavelength at which the coloring property of the thermochromic material is stopped and fixed is ultraviolet light having a predetermined wavelength. 32. The print medium storage cassette according to claim 17, wherein said tape-shaped print medium includes three primary color layers. 33. The tape printing apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the light having a wavelength at which the coloring property of the thermochromic material is stopped and fixed is ultraviolet light having a predetermined wavelength. 34. The tape printing apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the tape-shaped print-receiving medium includes a color developing layer for three primary colors. 35. The tape printing apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the tape-shaped print-receiving medium includes an adhesive layer with a release paper on a side opposite to a coloring surface of the support.