WO2011030579A1

WO2011030579A1 - Tape cassette

Info

Publication number: WO2011030579A1
Application number: PCT/JP2010/055310
Authority: WO
Inventors: 努加藤; 強長江; 誉史堀内; 智彦杉野
Original assignee: ブラザー工業株式会社
Priority date: 2009-09-09
Filing date: 2010-03-26
Publication date: 2011-03-17
Also published as: JP5233923B2; JP2011056755A

Abstract

A second tape spool (41) on which a film tape (59) is wound is rotatably supported by a lower tape support section (66B) provided to a lower case (31B). The second tape spool (41) is prevented from rotating in the counterclockwise direction by a rotation member (71) and a clutch spring (72). A ribbon spool (42) on which an ink ribbon (60) is wound is rotatably supported by an upper ribbon support section (68A) provided to an upper case (31A). The ribbon spool (42) is prevented from rotating in the clockwise direction by the rotation member (71) and the clutch spring (72).

Description

Tape cassette

The present invention relates to a tape cassette that is detachable from a tape printer.

Conventionally, a laminate-type tape cassette is known in which a transparent film tape, a double-sided adhesive tape with a release paper attached on one side, and an ink ribbon are stored. A spool around which a film tape, a double-sided adhesive tape, and an ink ribbon are wound is rotatably supported in a cassette case. When performing a printing operation using a laminate-type tape cassette, the tape printer draws out a film tape, a double-sided adhesive tape, and an ink ribbon from each spool. Printing is performed using an ink ribbon on the printing surface of the film tape. A double-sided adhesive tape is adhered to the printing surface of the film tape. As a result, a printed label is created.

速度 The speed at which the ink ribbon is pulled out during the printing operation of the tape printer is not necessarily constant. In order to stabilize the drawing out of the ink ribbon, it is known to apply a back tension to the ink ribbon using a clutch spring (see, for example, Patent Document 1). According to this, even when the drawing speed of the ink ribbon varies, it is possible to prevent the ink ribbon from being pulled out excessively due to the inertia accompanying the rotation of the ribbon spool. As a result, deterioration of print quality and running failure of the ink ribbon are suppressed.

JP-A-8-25768

It is desirable that the film tape drawer is stable during the printing operation of the tape printer. Thus, it is conceivable to apply a back tension to the film tape using a clutch spring, as in the ink ribbon described in Patent Document 1. However, when the clutch spring is used, the back tension is not applied to the ink ribbon until the upper case and the lower case are assembled.

Resin film tape has a greater elasticity than ink ribbons, and therefore, when wound on a spool, it tends to bulge on the outer peripheral side of the ink ribbon. In other words, the film tape wound around the spool is more likely to be separated than the ink ribbon wound around the spool. When the clutch spring is used with the same configuration as the ink ribbon described in Patent Document 1, there is a possibility that the film tape may be broken before the upper case and the lower case are assembled. As a countermeasure, it is assumed that in the process of assembling the spool on which the film tape is wound into the cassette case, the worker does not separate the tape by separately performing an operation such as fixing the spool so as not to rotate. Is done.

An object of the present invention is to provide a tape cassette in which the drawing of the tape and the ink ribbon is both stable and the assembling property of the case is improved.

A tape cassette according to an aspect of the present invention includes a cassette case in which an upper case and a lower case are combined in a vertical direction, a tape roll around which a tape is wound and having a shaft hole penetrating in a vertical direction, and an ink ribbon is wound. A rotated ribbon roll having a shaft hole penetrating vertically, a tape storage area in which the tape roll is stored in the cassette case, and a ribbon storage area in which the ribbon roll is stored in the cassette case; A first support projecting upward from the lower case and inserted into a shaft hole of the tape roll housed in the tape housing area to rotatably support the tape roll in the tape housing area And a portion projecting downward from the upper case and inserted into the shaft hole of the ribbon roll stored in the ribbon storage region. A second support portion that rotatably supports the ribbon roll within the ribbon storage area, and is attached to a shaft hole of the tape roll to rotate integrally with the tape roll, and the tape roll is A first brake member that restricts rotation in one direction or the other direction of the tape roll when supported by one support portion, and is attached to the shaft hole of the ribbon roll and rotates integrally with the ribbon roll; And when the said ribbon roll is supported by the said 2nd support part, the 2nd brake member which controls the rotation of the said one direction or the said other direction of the said ribbon roll is provided.

According to this, since the back tension is applied to the tape drawn out from the tape roll and the ink ribbon drawn out from the ribbon roll, both the drawing out of the tape and the ink ribbon is stabilized. Before the upper case is assembled to the lower case, back tension is applied to the tape by the first brake member. As a result, when the upper case is assembled to the lower case, the tape roll is less likely to be scattered within the tape storage area, and the assembling property of the cassette case can be improved.

In the tape cassette according to the above aspect, when the tape roll is supported by the first support portion, the tape roll rotates in the one direction as the tape is pulled out, and the ribbon roll is When the ink ribbon is supported by the support part, the ink ribbon rotates in the other direction as the ink ribbon is pulled out, and the first brake member is supported when the tape roll is supported by the first support part. The tape roll restricts rotation in the other direction, and the second brake member restricts rotation of the ribbon roll in the one direction when the ribbon roll is supported by the second support portion. The first brake member and the second brake member have a common configuration that restricts rotation in a predetermined direction, and the tape roll and the second brake member Each of the vertical direction may be mounted so as to reverse the Bonroru.

According to this, by designing the first brake member and the second brake member in a common configuration, the tape cassette can be easily designed and manufactured. In particular, when the first brake member and the second brake member are common parts, the parts management of the brake members can be facilitated. Furthermore, the assembly error of the brake member with respect to a tape roll and a ribbon roll can be suppressed.

In the tape cassette according to the above aspect, the first brake member and the second brake member include a spring receiving member in which a cylindrical protrusion is provided at a distal end of a main body portion, and a coiled circle attached to the cylindrical protrusion. A clutch spring having an annular portion and a locking portion extending from the annular portion, and the main body portion of the first brake member is engaged with a shaft hole of the tape roll; And the said latching | locking part is latched by the said 1st support part, as for the said 2nd brake member, the said main-body part is engaged with the axial hole of the said ribbon roll, and the said latching | locking part is said 2nd support. The annular portion is increased in diameter when a force that rotates in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction is applied to the spring receiving member, while the force that rotates in the predetermined direction is applied to the spring receiving member. The diameter may be reduced when acted on.

According to this, the back tension is applied to the tape and the ink ribbon by the clutch action of the clutch spring. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of slack and wrinkles when the tape and the ink ribbon are pulled out, and to facilitate the assembly of the components of each brake member.

In the tape cassette according to the above aspect, the first support portion and the second support portion are disposed on an outer peripheral side of a cylindrical portion that holds the spring receiving support portion and an annular portion of the clutch spring in the cylindrical portion. A locking groove for locking the locking portion; and provided on an outer peripheral side of the annular portion of the clutch spring in the cylindrical portion, the annular portion having a diameter exceeding a predetermined width. A diameter-expansion preventing member may be provided.

According to this, when each brake member is fitted to the first support part and the second support part, back tension is applied to the tape and the ink ribbon. The expansion prevention member suppresses the swelling of the annular portion of the clutch spring. As a result, it is possible to make it difficult for the already drawn tape and ink ribbon to be pulled back into the case when the annular portion returns from the expanded diameter state to the reduced diameter state.

In the tape cassette according to the above aspect, the tape pulled out from the tape roll is conveyed along the outer periphery of the ribbon roll stored in the ribbon storage section and at an interval with respect to the ribbon roll. A bending portion that bends the tape in the tape roll direction along the outer periphery of the ribbon roll at an acute angle, and a cylindrical rotating body provided at the bending portion, A roller member that rotates with the conveyance of the tape bent in the conveyance direction.

According to this, the tape is smoothly conveyed in the cassette case by the roller member provided at the bent portion where the tension of the tape increases. Since the load applied to the tape on the tape transport path is reduced, the back tension due to the first brake member can be stably applied to the tape. Since the tape is transported along the outer periphery of the ribbon roll and spaced from the ribbon roll, it is possible to suppress the tape being transported from coming into contact with the ribbon roll.

In the tape cassette according to the above aspect, a transport direction of the tape drawn out from the tape roll is opposite to a transport direction of the ink ribbon pulled out from the ribbon roll, and the tape pulled out from the tape roll is The ink ribbon drawn out from the ribbon roll may be conveyed in a state separated to a predetermined position where the tape is printed.

According to this, even when the tape storage area and the ribbon storage area are adjacent to each other, the tape and the ink ribbon are transported in the opposite directions in a separated state. Therefore, it can suppress that a tape and an ink ribbon are dragged by mutual conveyance. It is possible to suppress the back tension applied to the tape and the ink ribbon from interfering with each other.

2 is a plan view of the tape cassette 1. FIG. It is a top view of the tape cassette 1 which removed the upper case 31A. FIG. 2 is a component development view of the tape cassette 1. FIG. 2 is a component development view of the tape cassette 1 showing a cross-section in the direction of the arrows along the line II in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II in FIG. FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing a state before the rotating member 71 to which the clutch spring 72 is attached is fitted to the lower tape support portion 66B. It is a partial expansion perspective view which shows the state after the rotating member 71 with which the clutch spring 72 was mounted | worn was fitted by the lower tape support part 66B.

Hereinafter, an embodiment in which one embodiment of the present invention is embodied will be described with reference to the drawings. The drawings to be referred to are used to explain technical features that can be adopted by the present invention. The configuration of the device described in the drawings is not intended to be limited to that, but merely an illustrative example.

The tape cassette 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In the description of this embodiment, the lower side, upper side, right side, and left side of FIGS. 1 and 2 are the front side, rear side, right side, and left side of the tape cassette 1, respectively. Below, the tape cassette 1 which mounted the general purpose cassette which can be mounted in various tape types in the laminate type is illustrated.

The overall structure of the tape cassette 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the tape cassette 1 has a cassette case 31 that is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped (box-shaped) housing having rounded corners in plan view as a whole. The cassette case 31 includes a lower case 31B and an upper case 31A assembled in the vertical direction with respect to the lower case 31B.

In the cassette case 31, a double-sided adhesive tape 58, a transparent film tape 59, and an ink ribbon 60 are accommodated. The double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive tape 58 is a double-sided tape having a release paper attached on one side, and is attached to the printing surface side of the printed film tape 59. The double-sided adhesive tape 58 is wound around the first tape spool 40 with the release paper facing outward. The film tape 59 is wound around the second tape spool 41. The ink ribbon 60 is wound around the ribbon spool 42.

The double-sided adhesive tape 58 is stored in the first tape storage portion 101 provided at the left rear portion (the upper left portion in FIGS. 1 and 2) in the cassette case 31. In the first tape storage unit 101, the first tape spool 40 around which the double-sided adhesive tape 58 is wound is rotatably supported by the support unit 65. The support part 65 includes a cylindrical body 65A and a cylindrical body 65B coupled to the cylindrical body 65A (see FIG. 3). The cylindrical body 65A is erected downward from the upper case 31A. The cylindrical body 65B is erected upward from the lower case 31B.

The film tape 59 is stored in a second tape storage portion 102 provided at the right rear portion in the cassette case 31 (upper right portion in FIGS. 1 and 2). In the second tape storage portion 102, the second tape spool 41 around which the film tape 59 is wound is rotatably supported by the support portion 66. The ink ribbon 60 is stored in an ink ribbon storage portion 103 provided at the right front portion (lower right portion in FIGS. 1 and 2) in the cassette case 31. In the ink ribbon storage unit 103, the ribbon spool 42 around which the ink ribbon 60 is wound is rotatably supported by the support unit 68. Details of the

support portions

66 and 68 will be described later.

The tape drive roller 46 is pivotally supported by the support 64 at the left front corner of the cassette case 31 (lower left corner in FIGS. 1 and 2). The tape drive roller 46 pulls out the film tape 59 and the double-sided adhesive tape 58. The support part 64 includes a pair of

holes

64A and 64B penetrating the upper case 31A and the lower case 31B in the vertical direction (see FIG. 3). The support part 64 supports the tape drive roller 46 rotatably by inserting the upper end and the lower end of the tape drive roller 46 into the pair of

holes

64A and 64B, respectively.

Between the first tape spool 40 and the ribbon spool 42 in the cassette case 31, the ribbon take-up spool 44 is rotatably supported by a support portion 67. The ribbon take-up spool 44 pulls out the ink ribbon 60 from the ribbon spool 42 and takes up the ink ribbon 60 used for printing characters or the like. The support part 67 includes a pair of

holes

67A and 67B penetrating the upper case 31A and the lower case 31B in the vertical direction (see FIG. 3). The support portion 67 supports the ribbon take-up spool 44 rotatably by inserting the upper end and the lower end of the ribbon take-up spool 44 into the pair of

holes

67A and 67B, respectively.

When the tape cassette 1 is mounted on the tape printer and the printing operation is executed, the tape drive roller 46 is rotationally driven via the tape drive shaft (not shown) of the tape printer. The tape drive roller 46 pulls out the film tape 59 from the second tape spool 41 and pulls out the double-sided adhesive tape 58 from the first tape spool 40 in cooperation with a movable conveyance roller (not shown) of the tape printer. A ribbon take-up spool 44 that is rotationally driven via a tape drive shaft (not shown) of the tape printer draws the ink ribbon 60 from the ribbon spool 42 in synchronization with the printing speed.

The second tape spool 41 rotates clockwise in plan view as the film tape 59 is pulled out. The film tape 59 pulled out from the second tape spool 41 is conveyed toward the right front corner of the cassette case 31 (lower right corner in FIGS. 1 and 2). At the right front corner of the cassette case 31, the film tape 59 is conveyed along the outer periphery of the ink ribbon 60 wound around the ribbon spool 42 and at a distance from the ink ribbon 60. Therefore, the film tape 59 being conveyed is prevented from coming into contact with the ink ribbon 60 wound around the ribbon spool 42, and the film tape 59 is stably conveyed.

A bent portion 33 is erected on the right front corner of the cassette case 31. The bent portion 33 is a pin that bends the film tape 59 in the acute direction along the outer periphery of the ribbon spool 42 around which the ink ribbon 60 is wound. In the bent portion 33, the film tape 59 is conveyed toward the left front corner of the cassette case 31. The bent portion 33 is inserted into the shaft hole of the roller member 35 that is a cylindrical rotating body, and supports the roller member 35 rotatably. The roller member 35 rotates in contact with the film tape 59 that passes through the bent portion 33. As a result, the film tape 59 passing through the bent portion 33 is smoothly fed out toward the left front corner of the cassette case 31 by the roller member 35.

The ribbon spool 42 rotates counterclockwise in plan view as the ink ribbon 60 is pulled out. The ink ribbon 60 pulled out from the ribbon spool 42 is conveyed toward the left front corner of the cassette case 31. Similarly, the first tape spool 40 rotates counterclockwise in plan view as the double-sided adhesive tape 58 is pulled out. The double-sided adhesive tape 58 pulled out from the first tape spool 40 is conveyed toward the left front corner of the cassette case 31.

The film tape 59 pulled out from the second tape spool 41 and the ink ribbon 60 pulled out from the ribbon spool 42 are guided together inside the arm portion 34 extending leftward from the right front portion of the tape cassette 1. In the opening 34A formed on the distal end side of the arm portion 34, the film tape 59 and the ink ribbon 60 passing through the arm portion 34 are overlapped. The film tape 59 and the ink ribbon 60 are discharged toward the opening 77 provided on the front surface side of the tape cassette 1 through the opening 34A.

A head insertion portion 39 is provided on the front side of the cassette case 31 and on the left side of the ink ribbon storage portion 103. The head insertion part 39 is a part into which a thermal head (not shown) of the tape printer is inserted. The head insertion portion 39 is connected to the outside on the front side of the tape cassette 1 through the opening 77. The film tape 59 discharged to the opening 77 is printed by a thermal head (not shown) using the ink ribbon 60 superimposed on the film tape 59. That is, the opening 77 is a printing position by a thermal head (not shown).

The film tape 59 on which printing has been performed by a thermal head (not shown) is conveyed toward the tape drive roller 46. The double-sided adhesive tape 58 drawn out from the first tape spool 40 is guided and wound between the tape driving roller 46 and the movable conveying roller (not shown). At this time, the double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive tape 58 is laminated and stuck on the printing surface of the printed film tape 59. The printed film tape 59 (that is, the printed tape 50) to which the double-sided adhesive tape 58 is attached is further conveyed toward the tape discharge port 49 and cut by a cutting mechanism (not shown) of the tape printer. . The ink ribbon 60 used for printing by a thermal head (not shown) is separated from the film tape 59 by a guide wall 47 erected on the right side of the tape drive roller 46 and then taken up on the ribbon take-up spool 44. It is done.

A structure for applying a back tension to the film tape 59 and the ink ribbon 60 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5, the first tape spool 40, the ribbon take-up spool 44, the double-sided adhesive tape 58, the tape driving roller 46, etc. are removed for easy understanding.

A structure for applying a back tension to the film tape 59 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the support portion 66 that rotatably supports the second tape spool 41 includes an upper tape support portion 66A and a lower tape support portion 66B connected to the upper tape support portion 66A. The upper tape support portion 66A is provided on the lower surface side of the upper case 31A. The lower tape support portion 66B is provided on the upper surface of the lower case 31B.

The upper tape support portion 66 A has an upper base portion 81 and a cylindrical portion 82. The upper base 81 is a cylindrical body that protrudes downward from the upper case 31A and has a lower end surface. The upper base 81 is inserted into the shaft hole 41A of the second tape spool 41 from above. The cylindrical portion 82 is a small-diameter cylindrical body that protrudes downward from the center of the lower end surface of the upper base 81 and has a shaft hole that penetrates in the vertical direction.

The lower tape support portion 66B includes a lower base 83, a support shaft 84, a plurality of locking protrusions 85, a plurality of locking grooves 86, and a diameter expansion prevention body 87 (see FIGS. 6 and 7). The lower base 83 is a cylindrical body that protrudes upward from the lower case 31B and has an upper end surface. The lower base 83 is inserted into the shaft hole 41A of the second tape spool 41 from below. The support shaft 84 is a small-diameter shaft body provided upright at the center of the upper end surface of the lower base portion 83, and the upper end portion is fitted into the shaft hole of the cylindrical portion 82. The plurality of locking projections 85 are a plurality of prisms arranged radially around the support shaft 84 in plan view along the periphery of the upper end surface of the lower base 83. The plurality of locking grooves 86 are a plurality of grooves formed respectively between the adjacent locking protrusions 85. The diameter expansion preventing body 87 will be described later separately.

The rotating member 71 includes a cylindrical protrusion 71A, a pair of protrusions 71B, and a main body 71C. The main body 71C is a cylindrical body having substantially the same diameter as the shaft hole 41A. The pair of protrusions 71B are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the main body 71C, and protrude radially outward at positions facing each other. The cylindrical protrusion 71A is a cylindrical body that projects from one end side of the main body 71C and has a smaller diameter than the main body 71C. A clutch spring 72 is mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical protrusion 71A.

The clutch spring 72 is a coil spring including an annular portion 72A and a locking portion 72B. The annular portion 72A is a coil attached to the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical protrusion 71A. The locking portion 72B is a tip portion of the coil extending outward from the rear end (the lower end in FIGS. 3 to 5) of the annular portion 72A. The annular portion 72A is wound in the clockwise direction from the front end (upper end in FIGS. 3 to 5) to the rear end (that is, the locking portion 72B) of the annular portion 72A. The clutch spring 72 is wound so as to have a slightly smaller diameter than the outer diameter of the cylindrical protrusion 71A.

The cylindrical protrusion 71A is inserted into the shaft hole of the annular portion 72A slightly enlarged in diameter so as to penetrate from the front end side to the rear end side of the annular portion 72A. Thereby, the annular portion 72A is brought into close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical projection 71A by the elastic force, and the circular locking portion 72B is disposed on the distal end side of the cylindrical projection 71A. The winding direction of the circular portion 72A (that is, the clockwise direction from the front end to the rear end of the circular portion 72A) coincides with the drawing direction of the film tape 59 in plan view.

The rotating member 71 to which the clutch spring 72 is mounted is mounted in the shaft hole 41A of the second tape spool 41 so that the cylindrical protrusion 71A faces the lower tape support portion 66B. A pair of sliding grooves 41B having a groove shape extending in the vertical direction is formed at positions facing each other on the inner peripheral surface of the shaft hole 41A. In the shaft hole 41 A, each protrusion 71 B of the rotating member 71 is fitted in each sliding groove 41 B of the second tape spool 41. Thereby, the protrusion 71B and the sliding groove 41B cooperate, and the rotating member 71 can rotate integrally with the second tape spool 41. Further, the support shaft 84 of the lower tape support portion 66B is inserted into the rotating member 71 (specifically, the shaft hole of the cylindrical protrusion 71A) mounted on the second tape spool 41. As a result, the second tape spool 41 is rotatable about the support shaft 84 via the rotating member 71.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the cylindrical protrusion 71A faces the upper end surface of the lower base 83 in a state where the support shaft 84 is inserted into the rotating member 71 (see FIGS. 4 and 5). The clutch spring 72 is disposed between the cylindrical projection 71A with which the annular portion 72A is in close contact and the plurality of locking projections 85. The locking portion 72 B is locked in one of the plurality of locking grooves 86. As described above, the winding direction of the annular portion 72A coincides with the drawing direction (clockwise direction) of the film tape 59. For this reason, the annular portion 72A increases in diameter when a clockwise rotational force acts in a plan view, and decreases in diameter when a counterclockwise rotational force acts in a plan view.

A plurality of diameter expansion prevention bodies 87 are provided on the upper end surface of the lower base 83. Each diameter-expansion prevention body 87 is a small-diameter substantially cylindrical body that is erected along the surface of each locking projection 85 that faces the support shaft 84. In other words, the plurality of diameter expansion preventing bodies 87 are provided radially around the support shaft 84 in plan view, and are provided slightly inside the plurality of locking projections 85. The annular portion 72A is located inside the plurality of diameter expansion preventing bodies 87 in plan view. When the diameter of the annular portion 72A is increased to a predetermined width, the annular portion 72A comes into contact with the plurality of diameter-expansion preventing bodies 87. When the diameter of the annular portion 72A is increased until it comes into contact with the plurality of diameter-expansion preventing bodies 87, the intimate state between the annular portion 72A and the cylindrical protrusion 71A is released.

When the second tape spool 41 rotates in the clockwise direction by pulling out the film tape 59, a clockwise rotational force acts on the rotating member 71 through the second tape spool 41. At this time, since the locking portion 72B is locked in the locking groove 86, sliding friction is generated between the cylindrical protrusion 71A and the annular portion 72A, and a clockwise torque is applied to the annular portion 72A. Added. Thereby, the annular portion 72A is rewound and expanded in diameter, and the sliding friction generated between the cylindrical protrusion 71A and the annular portion 72A is reduced. When the diameter of the annular portion 72A is increased to a predetermined width that contacts the plurality of diameter expansion preventing bodies 87, the connection between the clutch spring 72 and the second tape spool 41 is released. At this time, since the rotational load applied to the second tape spool 41 by the clutch spring 72 is relatively small, the second tape spool 41 can rotate smoothly.

On the other hand, when an external force is applied to rotate the second tape spool 41 in the direction opposite to the drawing direction of the film tape 59 (that is, counterclockwise direction), the rotation member 71 is counterclockwise via the second tape spool 41. Directional rotational force acts. At this time, torque in the counterclockwise direction is applied to the annular portion 72A by sliding friction generated between the cylindrical protrusion 71A and the annular portion 72A. As a result, the annular portion 72A is wound and reduced in diameter, and the sliding friction generated between the cylindrical protrusion 71A and the annular portion 72A increases. That is, the clutch spring 72 and the second tape spool 41 are connected, and a rotational load is applied to the second tape spool 41.

The diameter of the annular portion 72A can be increased to a predetermined width that contacts the plurality of diameter expansion prevention bodies 87 (diameter expansion width that satisfies the condition that the rotation of the second tape spool 41 is smooth). Excessive diameter expansion of the annular portion 72 A is regulated by the plurality of diameter expansion prevention bodies 87. In this case, when the annular portion 72A returns from the expanded diameter state to the reduced diameter state, the action of reversing the annular portion 72A is reduced. Therefore, the film tape 59 that has already been pulled out from the second tape spool 41 is less likely to be pulled back into the cassette case 31 when the annular portion 72A returns from the expanded diameter state to the reduced diameter state.

The structure for applying the back tension to the ink ribbon 60 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the support portion 68 that rotatably supports the ribbon spool 42 includes an upper ribbon support portion 68A and a lower ribbon support portion 68B connected to the upper ribbon support portion 68A. The upper ribbon support portion 68A is provided on the lower surface side of the upper case 31A. The lower ribbon support portion 68B is provided on the upper surface side of the lower case 31B.

The upper ribbon support portion 68A includes an upper base 91, a cylindrical portion 92, a plurality of locking protrusions 93, and a plurality of locking grooves 94. The upper base 91 is a cylindrical body that protrudes downward from the upper case 31A and has a lower end surface. The upper base 91 is inserted into the shaft hole 42A of the ribbon spool 42 from above. The cylindrical portion 92 is a small-diameter cylindrical body that protrudes downward from the center of the lower end surface of the upper base portion 91, and has a shaft hole that penetrates in the vertical direction. The plurality of locking projections 93 are a plurality of prisms arranged radially around the cylindrical portion 92 in plan view along the periphery of the lower end surface of the upper base 91. The plurality of locking grooves 94 are a plurality of grooves formed respectively between the adjacent locking protrusions 93.

The lower ribbon support portion 68B includes a lower base portion 95 and a support shaft 96. The lower base 95 is a cylindrical body that protrudes upward from the lower case 31B and has an upper end surface. The lower base 95 is inserted into the shaft hole 42A of the ribbon spool 42 from below. The support shaft 96 is a small-diameter shaft body provided upright at the center of the upper end surface of the lower base portion 95, and the upper end portion is fitted into the shaft hole of the cylindrical portion 92.

In this embodiment, the support part 66 of the second tape spool 41 and the support part 68 of the ribbon spool 42 have substantially the same connection structure. Therefore, the shaft diameters of the

support shafts

84 and 96, the hole diameters of the

cylindrical portions

82 and 92, the number, shape, and positional relationship of the plurality of locking projections 85 and 93 (that is, the locking grooves 86 and 94) are common to each other. is there. The ribbon spool 42 has substantially the same configuration as the second tape spool 41. Therefore, the shaft holes 41A and 42A have the same shape and the same hole diameter, and a sliding groove 42B similar to the sliding groove 41B is also provided on the inner peripheral surface of the shaft hole 42A. However, in the support portion 66, the locking projection 85 and the locking groove 86 are provided in the lower case 31B, whereas in the support portion 68, the locking projection 93 and the locking groove 94 are provided in the upper case 31A. It is different in point.

The rotating member 71 and the clutch spring 72 mounted on the ribbon spool 42 are common parts with the rotating member 71 and the clutch spring 72 mounted on the second tape spool 41. As in the case of being mounted on the second tape spool 41, the rotating member 71 on which the clutch spring 72 is mounted is mounted on the shaft hole 42A of the ribbon spool 42. In the shaft hole 42 A, each protrusion 71 B of the rotating member 71 is fitted in each sliding groove 42 B of the ribbon spool 42. The support shaft 96 of the lower ribbon support portion 68B is inserted into the rotating member 71 (specifically, the shaft hole of the cylindrical protrusion 71A) mounted on the ribbon spool 42.

However, the rotating member 71 to which the clutch spring 72 is mounted is mounted in the shaft hole 42A so that the cylindrical protrusion 71A faces the upper ribbon support portion 68A. That is, the rotating member 71 and the clutch spring 72 are attached to the ribbon spool 42 in the up-down direction opposite to the case of being attached to the second tape spool 41. Thereby, the winding direction of the annular portion 72A (that is, the clockwise direction from the front end to the rear end of the annular portion 72A) coincides with the drawing direction (clockwise direction) of the ink ribbon 60 in the bottom view. . That is, the winding direction of the annular portion 72A coincides with the drawing direction (counterclockwise direction) of the ink ribbon 60 in plan view.

In the state where the support shaft 96 is inserted into the rotating member 71, the cylindrical protrusion 71 A faces the lower end surface of the upper base 91. The clutch spring 72 is disposed between the cylindrical protrusion 71 A with which the annular portion 72 A is in close contact and the plurality of locking protrusions 93. The locking portion 72B is locked in one of the plurality of locking grooves 94. As described above, the winding direction of the annular portion 72A coincides with the drawing direction (counterclockwise direction) of the ink ribbon 60. Therefore, the diameter of the annular portion 72A is increased when a counterclockwise rotational force is applied in a plan view, and is reduced when a clockwise rotational force is applied in a plan view.

When the ribbon spool 42 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction by pulling out the ink ribbon 60, the ribbon spool 42 is smoothly smoothed by the enlarged diameter of the annular portion 72A in the same manner as when the second tape spool 41 is rotated in the clockwise direction. It can be rotated. On the other hand, when the ribbon spool 42 is rotated in the direction opposite to the pulling-out direction of the ink ribbon 60 (that is, in the clockwise direction), as in the case where the second tape spool 41 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction, A large rotational load is applied to the ribbon spool 42 by the reduced diameter of the annular portion 72A.

In order to mount the above structure, when the tape cassette 1 is assembled, the operator first stores the second tape spool 41 around which the film tape 59 is wound in the second tape storage portion 102. At this time, the operator inserts the support shaft 84 of the lower case 31 B into the shaft hole 41 A of the second tape spool 41.

Next, the operator mounts the rotating member 71 on which the clutch spring 72 is mounted in the shaft hole 41 A of the second tape spool 41. At this time, the operator inserts each protrusion 71B into each sliding groove 41B, and inserts the support shaft 84 into the shaft hole of the cylindrical protrusion 71A. However, the operator mounts the rotating member 71 in the shaft hole 41A so that the cylindrical protrusion 71A (that is, the clutch spring 72) faces downward. Then, since the locking portion 72B is locked in one of the locking grooves 86 in the shaft hole 41A, back tension is applied to the film tape 59. Therefore, even before the upper case 31A is assembled to the lower case 31B, the film tape 59 wound around the second tape spool 41 can be prevented from bulging to the outer peripheral side.

On the other hand, the operator stores the ribbon spool 42 around which the ink ribbon 60 is wound in the ink ribbon storage unit 103. At this time, the support shaft 96 of the lower case 31B is inserted into the shaft hole 42A of the ribbon spool 42.

Next, the operator mounts the rotating member 71 on which the clutch spring 72 is mounted in the shaft hole 42 A of the ribbon spool 42. At this time, the operator inserts each protrusion 71B into each sliding groove 42B, and inserts the support shaft 96 into the cylindrical protrusion 71A. However, the operator mounts the rotating member 71 in the shaft hole 42A so that the cylindrical protrusion 71A (that is, the clutch spring 72) faces upward. In other words, the operator attaches the rotating member 71 to which the clutch spring 72 is attached to the second tape spool 41 and the ribbon spool 42 so that the respective vertical directions are reversed.

In a state before the upper case 31A is assembled to the lower case 31B, the back tension is not applied to the ink ribbon 60 because the locking portion 72B is not locked to the locking groove 94. However, the ink ribbon 60 is thinner than the film tape 59 and the like, and contains a magnetic material as a material component. For this reason, the ink ribbon 60 is easily maintained in a wound state due to the influence of static electricity or the like. That is, the ink ribbon 60 wound around the ribbon spool 42 is unlikely to bulge to the outer peripheral side even if no back tension is applied.

Finally, the operator attaches the upper case 31A to the lower case 31B, and fits the upper ends of the

support shafts

84 and 96 of the lower case 31B into the shaft holes of the

cylindrical portions

82 and 92 of the upper case 31A, respectively. Since the locking portion 72B is locked in one of the locking grooves 94 in the shaft hole 42A, back tension is also applied to the ink ribbon 60. Therefore, when the upper case 31A and the lower case 31B are assembled, the film tape 59 and the ink ribbon 60 are not easily broken. The operator does not need to perform an operation such as fixing the second tape spool 41 so as not to rotate when the second tape spool 41 around which the film tape 59 is wound is assembled to the cassette case 31. As a result, the assembling property of the cassette case 31 can be improved.

By using a common configuration for the brake members (rotating member 71 and clutch spring 72) for applying back tension to the film tape 59 and the ink ribbon 60, the design and manufacture of the tape cassette 1 can be facilitated. . In particular, by making the brake member the same component, the component management of the brake member can be facilitated. Assembling errors of the brake member with respect to the second tape spool 41 and the ribbon spool 42 can be suppressed. Since the brake member has a simple structure including the rotation member 71 and the clutch spring 72, the assembly of the brake member can be facilitated.

When the second tape spool 41 is rotated in the drawing direction of the film tape 59, the film tape 59 is drawn out smoothly. At this time, a small back tension is applied to the film tape 59 to such an extent that the film tape 59 is not pulled out excessively. When the second tape spool 41 is rotated in the direction opposite to the drawing direction of the film tape 59, a large back tension is applied to the film tape 59 so as to restrict the rotation of the second tape spool 41. Thereby, the film tape 59 can be conveyed stably and generation | occurrence | production of the wrinkles and slack in the film tape 59 can be suppressed.

When the ribbon spool 42 is rotated in the drawing direction of the ink ribbon 60, the ink ribbon 60 is drawn out smoothly. At this time, a small back tension is applied to the ribbon spool 42 such that the ink ribbon 60 is not pulled out excessively. When the ribbon spool 42 is rotated in the direction opposite to the drawing direction of the ink ribbon 60, a large back tension is applied to the ink ribbon 60 so as to restrict the rotation of the ribbon spool 42. Thereby, the ink ribbon 60 can be stably conveyed, and the occurrence of wrinkles and slack in the ink ribbon 60 can be suppressed.

Since the roller member 35 is provided in the bent portion 33, the load applied to the film tape 59 on the tape transport path is reduced. Therefore, the back tension due to the brake member can be stably applied to the film tape 59. Further, the film tape 59 and the ink ribbon 60 are transported in a state where the transport directions of the film tape 59 and the ink ribbon 60 are opposite to each other and separated to the printing position. Therefore, even when the second tape storage unit 102 and the ink ribbon storage unit 103 are adjacent to each other, the film tape 59 and the ink ribbon 60 are not easily dragged to each other. As a result, the back tension applied to the film tape 59 and the ink ribbon 60 can be prevented from interfering with each other. As a result, the film tape 59 and the ink ribbon 60 can be stably conveyed.

In the above embodiment, the film tape 59 wound around the second tape spool 41 corresponds to the “tape roll” of the present invention. The ink ribbon 60 wound around the ribbon spool 42 corresponds to the “ribbon roll” of the present invention. The second tape storage unit 102 corresponds to the “tape storage area” of the present invention. The ink ribbon storage unit 103 corresponds to the “ribbon storage area” of the present invention. The lower tape support portion 66B corresponds to the “first support portion” of the present invention. The upper ribbon support portion 68A corresponds to the “second support portion” of the present invention. The rotating member 71 and the clutch spring 72 attached to the second tape spool 41 correspond to the “first brake member” of the present invention. The rotating member 71 and the clutch spring 72 mounted on the ribbon spool 42 correspond to the “second brake member” of the present invention. The rotating member 71 corresponds to the “spring receiving member” of the present invention.

The tape cassette of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it is needless to say that various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

In the above embodiment, the tape cassette 1 mounted on the laminate type is illustrated, but the tape cassette 1 may be mounted on other tape types. For example, the tape cassette 1 may be mounted in a so-called receptor type in which the printing tape is wound around the second tape spool 41 and the ink ribbon 60 is wound around the ribbon spool 42. In this case as well, back tension is applied to the printing tape in the same manner as the film tape 59 of the above embodiment.

The support unit 65 of the first tape storage unit 101 may have the same configuration as the support unit 66 of the second tape storage unit 102. Thereby, back tension is applied to the tape wound around the first tape spool 40 in the same manner as the film tape 59 of the above-described embodiment. However, in order to use the brake member as a common component, it is preferable that the transport direction of the tape wound around the first tape spool 40 is opposite to the transport direction of the ink ribbon 60.

The film tape 59 may be a so-called coreless type tape roll wound without using the second tape spool 41. Similarly, the ink ribbon 60 may be a so-called coreless type ribbon roll wound without using the ribbon spool 42.

Claims

A cassette case in which the upper case and the lower case are combined in the vertical direction;
A tape roll having an axial hole penetrating in the vertical direction and wound with a tape;
A ribbon roll having an axial hole penetrating in the vertical direction and wound with an ink ribbon;
A tape storage area in which the tape roll is stored in the cassette case;
A ribbon storage area in which the ribbon roll is stored in the cassette case;
A first support portion that protrudes upward from the lower case and is inserted into a shaft hole of the tape roll stored in the tape storage area, and rotatably supports the tape roll in the tape storage area. When,
A second support portion that protrudes downward from the upper case and is inserted into the shaft hole of the ribbon roll stored in the ribbon storage area, and rotatably supports the ribbon roll in the ribbon storage area. When,
When the tape roll is attached to the shaft hole and rotates integrally with the tape roll, and the tape roll is supported by the first support portion, the tape roll rotates in one direction or the other direction. A first brake member to be regulated;
When the ribbon roll is attached to the shaft hole of the ribbon roll and rotates integrally with the ribbon roll, and the ribbon roll is supported by the second support portion, the ribbon roll is in one direction or the other direction. A tape cassette comprising a second brake member that regulates rotation.
When the tape roll is supported by the first support portion, the tape roll rotates in the one direction as the tape is pulled out;
When the ribbon roll is supported by the second support portion, the ribbon roll rotates in the other direction as the ink ribbon is pulled out,
The first brake member regulates rotation of the tape roll in the other direction when the tape roll is supported by the first support portion;
The second brake member regulates the rotation of the ribbon roll in the one direction when the ribbon roll is supported by the second support part,
The first brake member and the second brake member have a common configuration that restricts rotation in a predetermined direction, and are mounted on the tape roll and the ribbon roll so that their vertical directions are reversed. Item 2. The tape cassette according to Item 1.
The first brake member and the second brake member are:
A spring receiving member provided with a cylindrical protrusion at the tip of the main body,
Each comprising a coiled annular part mounted on the cylindrical projection and a clutch spring having a locking part extending from the annular part,
In the first brake member, the main body portion is engaged with the shaft hole of the tape roll, and the locking portion is locked to the first support portion,
In the second brake member, the main body is engaged with the shaft hole of the ribbon roll, and the locking part is locked with the second support part,
The annular portion expands when a force that rotates in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction acts on the spring receiving member, while the ring portion contracts when a force that rotates in the predetermined direction acts on the spring receiving member. The tape cassette according to claim 2, wherein the tape cassette has a diameter.
The first support part and the second support part are:
A cylindrical portion for holding the spring support portion;
A locking groove provided on the outer peripheral side of the annular portion of the clutch spring in the cylindrical portion, and the locking portion being locked;
The diameter expansion prevention member which is provided in the outer peripheral side of the annular part of the said clutch spring in the said cylindrical part, and prevents the said annular part from expanding beyond a predetermined width, respectively. Tape cassette.
In the tape transport path in which the tape drawn out from the tape roll is transported along the outer periphery of the ribbon roll stored in the ribbon storage section and spaced from the ribbon roll, the tape A bending portion that bends the conveying direction of the ribbon roll in an acute angle along the outer periphery of the ribbon roll;
5. A cylindrical rotating body provided at the bent portion, comprising: a roller member that rotates along with the conveyance of the tape whose conveyance direction is bent at the bent portion. The tape cassette described.
The direction of transport of the tape drawn from the tape roll is opposite to the direction of transport of the ink ribbon pulled from the ribbon roll;
The tape cassette according to claim 5, wherein the tape drawn from the tape roll is conveyed in a state separated to a predetermined position where printing of the tape is performed with respect to the ink ribbon drawn from the ribbon roll.