Cassette for printing

Abstract

To provide a cassette for printing that is configured so that an ink ribbon can be conveyed properly.SOLUTION: In a casette for printing, a case 9 includes a first member 10 and a second member 20. The first member 10 has a tabular regulating part 14. The regulating part 14 contacts a lower end of an ink ribbon 3 to regulate downward movement of the ink ribbon 3. The second member 20 has a guide part 24. The guide part 24 has a columnar part 24A. The columnar part 24A extends downward from a lower surface of a wall 20A. The columnar part 24A has a recessed part 24D. The recessed part 24D is formed to be recessed upward from a lower surface 24B of the columnar part 24A. The recessed part 24D fits to a portion at a base part side of the regulating part 14. The ink ribbon 3 being conveyed in the case 9 is wound around the columnar part 24A to changes a conveying direction from a front side to a left side along an outer peripheral surface of the columnar part 24A.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 11

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a printing cassette. [Background technology]

[0002] An ink ribbon cassette that contains an ink ribbon is known. The ink ribbon described in Patent Document 1 includes a first separate case and a second separate case. The first separate case and the second separate case face each other in the width direction of the ink ribbon. A guide member is formed in the first separate case. The guide member extends from an end of an outer peripheral wall of the first separate case toward the second separate case, and changes the conveying direction by sliding against one side of the ink ribbon. The second separate case is formed with two protruding stepped portions that can abut against the ends of the ink ribbon in the width direction and restrict the movement of the ink ribbon in the width direction that slides against the guide member. The two protruding stepped portions are formed on the inner bottom surface of the second separate case with a gap between them, and are fitted onto the guide member. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 6-127096 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the ink ribbon cassette, there is a gap between the guide member and the protruding step, through which the protruding step fits onto the guide member. Therefore, the end of the ink ribbon may move widthwise during transportation and enter the gap, reaching the tip of the guide member. At this time, tension is applied to the ink ribbon in the radial direction of the guide member, so the end of the ink ribbon may get caught between the tip of the guide member and the second separate case, which may result in the ink ribbon not being transported correctly.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT An object of the present invention is to provide a printing cassette capable of correctly transporting an ink ribbon. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A printing cassette according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises an ink ribbon, and a case including a first case and a second case arranged in a predetermined direction to accommodate the ink ribbon, the first case having a first wall and a guide portion extending from the first wall parallel to the predetermined direction toward the second case, around which the ink ribbon is wound and which changes the transport direction of the ink ribbon, the second case having a second wall facing the first wall in the predetermined direction, and a regulating portion provided on the second wall and abutting one end of the ink ribbon in the width direction to regulate movement of the ink ribbon in the width direction during transport, the guide portion having a recess that opens toward the second wall and engages with a portion of the regulating portion.

[0007] According to the printing cassette, the recess fits into a portion of the regulating portion. The portion of the regulating portion that does not fit into the recess comes into contact with one end of the ink ribbon outside the guide portion. The end of the guide portion on the second wall side overlaps the end of the regulating portion on the first wall side and is closer to the second wall than the end of the regulating portion on the first wall side. This prevents the end of the ink ribbon from reaching the end of the guide portion on the second wall side, allowing the printing cassette to transport the ink ribbon correctly.

[0008] In the printing cassette, the case may house a master roll on which the ink ribbon is wound around an axis extending in the width direction, and an outlet may be formed in the case for discharging the ink ribbon unwound from the master roll to the outside of the case, and the guide portion and the regulating portion may be provided on a transport path of the ink ribbon transported between the master roll and the outlet. The ink ribbon is transported from the master roll toward the outlet, and is used for printing on a print medium after being discharged from the outlet. In the printing cassette, the guide portion and the regulating portion are provided on the transport path from the master roll to the outlet, and the ink ribbon is transported correctly. Thus, a printer using the printing cassette can print using the ink ribbon in a correctly transported state.

[0009] In the printing cassette, the portion of the regulating portion that is not fitted into the recess may extend from the portion that is fitted into the recess toward the outside in the radial direction of the axis extending parallel to the predetermined direction, and may be capable of abutting against the one end of the ink ribbon that changes the transport direction by the guide portion. In this case, the portion of the regulating portion that is not fitted into the recess abuts against the one end of the ink ribbon that changes the transport direction by the guide portion, thereby restricting the movement of the ink ribbon in the width direction. The portion of the regulating portion that is not fitted into the recess extends from the portion that is fitted into the recess toward the outside in the radial direction of the axis extending parallel to the predetermined direction. Therefore, the portion of the regulating portion that is not fitted into the recess is likely to abut against the one end of the ink ribbon. Therefore, the printing cassette can prevent the one end of the ink ribbon from reaching the end of the guide portion on the second wall side.

[0010] In the printing cassette, a circumferential size of the axis of the restricting portion may be smaller than a radial size of the restricting portion. In this case, the printing cassette can prevent one end of the ink ribbon from entering the recess.

[0011] In the printing cassette, the end of the inner wall constituting the recess on the first wall side may be spaced away from the end of the regulating portion on the first wall side. This allows the regulating portion of the printing cassette to fit into the recess even if there is a large deviation in the dimensions of the recess or the regulating portion. Therefore, the printing cassette can more reliably fit the regulating portion into the recess.

[0012] In the printing cassette, the guide portion may extend in the predetermined direction, open the guide portion toward the second wall side, and have a hole portion communicating with the recess, and the second case may have a press-fit portion extending from an end of the portion of the regulating portion on the first wall side in parallel with the predetermined direction and toward the first wall side, and press-fitted into the hole portion. In this case, the press-fit portion is press-fitted into the hole portion, so that the first case and the second case are more firmly engaged. Since the distance between the first wall and the second wall is maintained, the regulating portion can precisely regulate the movement of the ink ribbon in the width direction. Therefore, the printing cassette can transport the ink ribbon correctly.

[0013] In the printing cassette, the width of the recess at the end on the second wall side may be greater than the width of the end on the first wall side. In this case, the recess can easily guide a portion of the regulating portion. Therefore, the printing cassette can easily fit the portion of the regulating portion into the recess.

[0014] The printing cassette may further include a third case that contains a printing tape, which is a printing medium, and the ink ribbon is contained in at least the first case of the first and second cases, and the third case, the first case, and the second case are arranged in the order of the third case, the first case, and the second case in the specified direction, and the printing tape may be routed from the third case to the first case and overlapped on the ink ribbon. In this case, since the third case is located at a position different from the first and second cases in the specified direction, the size of the printing cassette in the case in the direction perpendicular to the specified direction can be reduced. Also, the printing cassette can transport the ink ribbon correctly, compared to a case in which the ink ribbon is routed from the first and second cases to the third case. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the printer 100 as viewed from above, front right. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the printer 100 with the cover 109 removed, as viewed from below and rear on the left side. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the printing cassette 1 as viewed from below and front left. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the printing cassette 1. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the printing cassette 1 as viewed from below and front left. [Figure 6] 2 is a perspective view of the first member 10 as viewed from above and to the front. [Figure 7] FIG. [Figure 8] 2 is a bottom view of the second member 20. FIG. [Figure 9] 2 is a perspective view of the second member 20 as viewed from above and in the front left. [Figure 10] 5 is a cross-sectional view of a first member 10 and a second member 20 taken along the line AA in FIG. 4. [Figure 11] 5 is a cross-sectional view of the printing cassette 1 taken along the line BB in FIG. 4. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The drawings are used to explain technical features that the present invention can employ. In other words, the configurations and the like shown in the drawings are not intended to be limited to those, but are merely illustrative examples. In the description of this embodiment, the upper left, lower right, lower left, upper right, upper, and lower in FIG. 1 are the left, right, front, rear, upper, and lower of the printer 100. The lower right, upper left, upper, lower, upper right, and lower left in FIG. 3 are the left, right, front, rear, upper, and lower of the printer 100 and the printing cassette 1, respectively.

[0017] <Thermal Printer Overview> The printer 100 shown in Fig. 1 is a thermal printer that uses a printing cassette 1 (see Fig. 3) of the present invention to perform printing. The printer 100 has a housing 101 and a cover 109. The housing 101 is a box that is generally rectangular in plan view. The cover 109 is detachable from the housing 101, and covers the entire bottom surface of the housing 101 from below.

[0018] 2, the housing 101 houses a platen roller 102, a print head 103, and a drive shaft 104. The housing 101 is formed with a mounting section 105 and an ejection port 106. The mounting section 105 is formed by recessing a portion of the bottom surface of the housing 101 upward, and is capable of mounting a printing cassette 1. The ejection port 106 opens from the mounting section 105 toward the rear of the housing 101, and ejects the tape 2, which will be described later, from the housing 101.

[0019] The platen roller 102, print head 103, and drive shaft 104 are provided in a mounting portion 105. The platen roller 102 is cylindrical with an axis extending parallel to the vertical direction, and is rotatable about its axis. A platen gear 107 is connected to the lower end of the platen roller 102. The platen gear 107 is an externally toothed gear with an axis extending parallel to the vertical direction. The axis of the platen roller 102 and the axis of the platen gear 107 are on the same line.

[0020] The print head 103 is provided to the right of the platen roller 102 in the mounting section 105. The print head 103 is a plate that is rectangular in side view and extends in the front-rear direction, and includes multiple heating elements. The drive shaft 104 is provided to the right of the print head 103 in the mounting section 105. The drive shaft 104 is a stepped shaft that extends in the up-down direction and is rotatable around its axis. The drive shaft 104 has shafts 104A and 104C. The shaft 104A forms the upper part of the drive shaft 104 and extends downward from the mounting section 105. The outer circumferential surface of the shaft 104A is provided with spline teeth 104B. The shaft 104C forms the lower part of the drive shaft 104 and extends downward from the lower end of the shaft 104A. The diameter of the shaft 104C is smaller than the diameter of the shaft 104A. The outer circumferential surface of the shaft 104C is provided with spline teeth 104D. The drive shaft 104 rotates about its axis by a driving force transmitted from a driving source such as a servo motor.

[0021] <Outline of Printing Cassette 1> An overview of the printing cassette 1 will be described with reference to Figs. 3 to 5. The printing cassette 1 is attached to a thermal printer (not shown) for use. As shown in Fig. 3, the printing cassette 1 has a case 9. The case 9 is a box that is generally rectangular when viewed from the bottom. The detailed structure of the case 9 will be described later.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 5, the case 9 accommodates the tape roll 2A, the tape spool 2B, the ribbon roll 3A, the ribbon spool 3B, the take-up spool 4, clutch spring holders 5A and 5B, a torsion spring 5C, and a transmission mechanism 6.

[0023] The tape spool 2B, the ribbon spool 3B, and the take-up spool 4 are all cylindrical with an axis extending parallel to the vertical direction and are rotatable about their axes. As will be described in detail later, the ribbon spool 3B and the take-up spool 4 are located at different positions from the tape spool 2B in the vertical direction.

[0024] The tape roll 2A is formed by winding the tape 2 around a tape spool 2B. The tape 2 is long and is a type of print medium. The clutch spring holder 5A has a clutch spring and applies rotational resistance to the tape spool 2B.

[0025] The ribbon roll 3A is an ink ribbon 3 wound around a ribbon spool 3B. The ink ribbon 3 is long and is used for printing on the tape 2. The clutch spring holder 5B has a clutch spring and applies rotational resistance to the ribbon spool 3B. The tape 2 and the ink ribbon 3 do not have to be wound around a spool (tape spool 2B, ribbon spool 3B) as long as they are in a rotatable roll shape. The tape 2 and the ink ribbon 3 may be so-called coreless type rolls, wound to form a hole in the center without using a spool, for example.

[0026] A drive shaft 104 (see FIG. 2) is inserted through the take-up spool 4. Spline teeth 4B are provided on an inner peripheral surface 4A of the take-up spool 4. The spline teeth 4B mesh with spline teeth 104B (see FIG. 2) of the drive shaft 104. The take-up spool 4 rotates about its axis due to the rotation of the drive shaft 104. A torsion spring 5C applies rotational resistance to the take-up spool 4.

[0027] The ink ribbon 3 is unwound from a ribbon spool 3B by the rotation of a platen roller 102 (see FIG. 2). The ink ribbon 3 is used in a print head 103 to print on the tape 2. The used ink ribbon 3 is wound around a take-up spool 4.

[0028] When the printing cassette 1 is mounted in the mounting portion 105, the transmission mechanism 6 transmits the driving force transmitted from the drive shaft 104 to the platen roller 102. The transmission mechanism 6 has an input gear 6A, an idle gear 6B, and an output gear 6C.

[0029] The input gear 6A is cylindrical with an axis extending parallel to the vertical direction. External teeth 6E are provided on the upper end of the outer circumferential surface 6D of the input gear 6A. Spline teeth 6F (see FIG. 4) are provided on the inner circumferential surface of the input gear 6A. The spline teeth 6F mesh with spline teeth 104B of the drive shaft 104. The input gear 6A rotates about the axis as the drive shaft 104 rotates.

[0030] The idle gear 6B is a stepped gear in which an upstream gear 6G and a downstream gear 6H are arranged on the same axis. The downstream gear 6H is provided above the upstream gear 6G. The diameter of the downstream gear 6H is smaller than that of the upstream gear 6G. The upstream gear 6G meshes with the external teeth 6E of the input gear 6A. The downstream gear 6H meshes with the output gear 6C, which will be described later.

[0031] The output gear 6C is an externally toothed gear, and meshes with a platen gear 107. The output gear 6C rotates about its axis by the rotation of the drive shaft 104 via the input gear 6A and the idle gear 6B. The rotation of the output gear 6C rotates the platen gear 107, and the platen roller 102 connected to the platen gear 107 rotates about its axis. The rotation of the platen roller 102 unwinds the tape 2 from the tape spool 2B.

[0032] <Case 9> The structure of the case 9 will be described with reference to Figures 3 and 5. As shown in Figure 3, the case 9 is composed of a first member 10, a second member 20, a third member 30, and a fourth member 40. As shown in Figure 5, the first member 10, the second member 20, the third member 30, and the fourth member 40 are each a box having a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 3 , in the case 9, the first member 10, the second member 20, the third member 30, and the fourth member 40 are aligned in the vertical direction. More specifically, the first member 10 constitutes the lower end of the case 9. The second member 20 is located above the first member 10 and is connected to the upper end of the first member 10. The third member 30 is located above the second member 20 and is connected to the upper end of the second member 20. The fourth member 40 is located above the third member 30 and is connected to the upper end of the third member 30. The fourth member 40 constitutes the upper end of the case 9.

[0034] The case 9 has a left wall 91, a right wall 92, a front wall 93, a rear wall 94, an upper wall 95, and a lower wall 96. The left wall 91 and the right wall 92 form outer walls in the left-right direction of the case 9 and are perpendicular to the left-right direction. The front wall 93 and the rear wall 94 form outer walls in the front-rear direction of the case 9 and are perpendicular to the front-rear direction. The upper wall 95 and the lower wall 96 form outer walls in the up-down direction of the case 9 and are perpendicular to the up-down direction.

[0035] The left wall 91, the right wall 92, the rear wall 94, and the upper wall 95 are rectangular plates. The front wall 93 is a generally inverted L-shaped plate that extends upward from the lower right end in a front view, and then bends and extends leftward. More specifically, the front wall 93 bends leftward at the third member 30 and the fourth member 40.

[0036] A head opening 9A that opens to the left is provided at the left end of the lower front part of the case 9. The head opening 9A is provided across the first member 10 and the second member 20, and opens the case 9 downward as well. That is, the lower wall 96 is substantially inverted C-shaped and opens to the left when viewed from the bottom. When the printing cassette 1 is mounted in the mounting portion 105 (see FIG. 2) of the printer 100, the print head 103 (see FIG. 2) is inserted into the head opening 9A. That is, printing on the tape 2 is performed inside the head opening 9A.

[0037] The head opening 9A is defined by walls 97A, 97B, and 97C. The walls 97A and 97B are perpendicular to the front-rear direction. The wall 97C is perpendicular to the left-right direction. The wall 97A extends leftward from the front end of the wall 97C. The wall 97B extends leftward from the rear end of the wall 97C. The left end of the wall 97A is located to the right of the left end of the wall 97B.

[0038] The portion of the first member 10 and the second member 20 that includes the wall 97A and extends to the left is referred to as the arm portion 9B. Openings 98A and 98B are provided at the left end of the arm portion 9B. The opening 98A ejects the tape 2 to the outside of the case 9. The opening 98B is located behind the opening 98A and ejects the ink ribbon 3 to the outside of the case 9.

[0039] The first member 10 and the second member 20 are provided with a protruding portion 9C that protrudes forward from the left end of the wall 97B. Openings 99A and 99B are provided at the upper end of the protruding portion 9C. The opening 99A guides the tape 2 that has been discharged to the outside of the case 9 through the opening 98A to the discharge port 106 of the printer 100 (see FIG. 2). The opening 99B inserts the ink ribbon 3 that has been discharged to the outside of the case 9 through the opening 98B into the inside of the case 9. The ink ribbon 3 that has been inserted into the inside of the case 9 through the opening 99B is wound around the take-up spool 4 inside the case 9 (see FIG. 8).

[0040] 5, in the case 9, the ribbon roll 3A, the clutch spring holder 5B, the take-up spool 4, and the torsion spring 5C are housed in the second member 20 and are covered by the first member 10. The transmission mechanism 6 is housed in the third member 30 and are covered by the second member 20. The tape roll 2A and the clutch spring holder 5A are housed in the third member 30 and are covered by the fourth member 40. That is, in the case 9, the tape roll 2A is located above the ribbon roll 3A. In the case 9, the ribbon roll 3A is in the same position in the up-down direction as the head opening 9A.

[0041] <First member 10> 6 and 7, the first member 10 has a wall 10A, a restricting portion 14, pins 15, 16A, 16B, and 16C, and a support portion 18. The wall 10A is perpendicular to the up-down direction and constitutes a bottom wall of the first member 10. The wall 10A constitutes a bottom wall 96 in the case 9.

[0042] Wall 10A is provided with walls 11A, 11C, 11E, and 11F. Wall 11A constitutes the left wall of the first member 10. Wall 11A extends upward from the left end of the upper surface of wall 10A and is perpendicular to the left-right direction. Wall 11C constitutes the front wall of the first member 10. Wall 11C extends upward from the front end of the upper surface of wall 10A and is perpendicular to the front-rear direction. Wall 11E extends upward from the upper surface of wall 10A and is perpendicular to the left-right direction. The front end of wall 11E is connected to the left end of wall 11C. Wall 11F will be described in detail later.

[0043] An opening 10B is provided at the left front end of the wall 10A, opening the wall 10A to the left. The opening 10B forms a part of the head opening 9A (see FIG. 3) of the case 9. The opening 10B is defined by walls 12A, 12B, 12C, and a disk wall 12D.

[0044] The walls 12A, 12B, 12C, and the disk wall 12D each extend upward from the upper surface of the wall 10A. The walls 12A and 12B are perpendicular to the front-rear direction. The wall 12C is perpendicular to the left-right direction. The disk wall 12D is provided at the front end of the wall 12C and has a circular shape in a plan view with an axis extending parallel to the up-down direction. Hereinafter, the axis of the disk wall 12D extending parallel to the up-down direction is referred to as axis C.

[0045] Wall 12A extends leftward from the left end of disc wall 12D. Wall 12B extends leftward from the rear end of wall 12C to near the left end of wall 10A. Wall 12B is located rearward of wall 11C. The left end of wall 12A is located to the right of the left end of wall 12B and is at the same position in the left-right direction as the left end of wall 11C. Walls 11C, 11E, and 12A form a part of arm portion 9B (see Figure 3). The left end of wall 12A and the rear end of wall 11E are spaced apart in the front-to-rear direction. Walls 10A, 11E, and 12A define a groove 10E. Groove 10E forms a part of opening 98B (see Figure 3).

[0046] Wall 11F extends upward from the upper surface of wall 10A and is perpendicular to the left-right direction. The rear end of wall 11F is connected to the left end of wall 12B. Axle 13A and wall 13B are provided at the front end of wall 11A. Axle 13A extends upward from the upper end of wall 11A. Wall 13B is provided rearward and spaced apart from axle 13A. Wall 13B extends upward from the upper end of wall 11A and is perpendicular to the left-right direction. Wall 13B is provided with a pin 13C extending upward from the front upper end of wall 13B. Wall 13B and wall 11F are spaced apart in the left-right direction.

[0047] The restricting portion 14 is a plate provided across the disc wall 12D and the wall 10A, and extends upward from the upper surface of the disc wall 12D and the upper surface of the wall 10A. The restricting portion 14 is rectangular and extends rightward and forward from the center of the disc wall 12D beyond the circumference of the disc wall 12D (see FIG. 7). That is, the restricting portion 14 extends radially outward from the axis C. The size of the restricting portion 14 in the circumferential direction of the axis C is smaller than the size of the restricting portion 14 in the radial direction of the axis C. The line AA in FIG. 4 extends along the restricting portion 14.

[0048] The pin 15 extends upward from the lower left end of the upper surface of the restricting portion 14. The axis of the pin 15 and the axis of the disk wall 12D are on the same line. That is, the axis of the pin 15 is common to the axis C. The outer peripheral surface of the pin 15 is formed with a plurality of protrusions 15B extending in the up-down direction. The plurality of protrusions 15B are arranged at equal intervals from one another on the outer peripheral surface of the pin 15 in the circumferential direction of the axis C.

[0049] Pin 16A extends upward from the upper left end of wall 12B. Pin 16B is located to the right rear of pin 15 and extends upward from the upper surface of wall 10A. Pins 16A and 16B are at the same position in the front-rear direction. Pin 16C is located between pins 16A and 16B in the left-right direction and extends upward from the upper surface of wall 10A. Pin 16C is located rearward of pins 16A and 16B. Pin 17 is located to the right front of pin 15 and extends upward from the upper surface of wall 10A. Support portion 18 is located to the right rear of pin 16C and extends upward from the upper surface of wall 10A. Support portion 18 is engageable with clutch spring holder 5B and supports clutch spring holder 5B.

[0050] <Second member 20> 8 and 9, the second member 20 has a wall 20A, a pin 27, and a guide 28. The wall 20A is perpendicular to the vertical direction. The wall 20A faces the wall 10A of the first member 10 in the vertical direction (see FIG. 5).

[0051] Holes 20F and 20H are formed in wall 20A (see FIG. 9). Hole 20F passes through the left rear portion of wall 20A in the vertical direction. Input gear 6A is inserted into hole 20F. Take-up spool 4 is provided below input gear 6A via torsion spring 5C. The axis of input gear 6A and the axis of take-up spool 4 are on the same line. Hole 20H will be described later.

[0052] Walls 21A, 21B, 21C, 21D, 21F, 21H, 21J, 21K, 21L, 22A, 22B, 22C, and a guide portion 24 are provided on the wall 20A. The wall 21A constitutes the left wall of the second member 20. The wall 21A extends downward from the left end of the lower surface of the wall 20A and is perpendicular to the left-right direction. The wall 21B constitutes the right wall of the second member 20. The wall 21B extends downward from the right end of the lower surface of the wall 20A and is perpendicular to the left-right direction. The wall 21C constitutes the front wall of the second member 20. The wall 21C extends downward from the front end of the lower surface of the wall 20A and is perpendicular to the front-rear direction. The right end of the wall 21C is connected to the front end of the wall 21B. The wall 21D constitutes the rear wall of the second member 20. Wall 21D extends downward from the rear end of the lower surface of wall 20A and is perpendicular to the front-rear direction. Wall 21D extends between the rear end of wall 21A and the rear end of wall 21B. The walls 21F, 21H, 21J, and 21L will be described in detail later.

[0053] Walls 22A, 22B, and 22C extend downward from the lower surface of wall 20A. Walls 22A and 22B are perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction. Walls 22A and 22B are located between the front end of wall 20A and the center of wall 20A in the front-to-rear direction. Wall 22A is located rearward of wall 21C. Wall 22B is located rearward of wall 22A. Wall 22C is perpendicular to the left-to-right direction.

[0054] Guide portion 24 is provided at the front end of wall 22C, and is cylindrical with an axis extending parallel to the up-down direction. Details of guide portion 24 will be described later. Wall 22A extends leftward from the left end of guide portion 24. Wall 22B extends leftward from the rear end of wall 22C to near the left end of wall 20A. The left end of wall 22A is located between the left end of wall 22B and the left end of wall 21C in the left-right direction.

[0055] The walls 20A, 22A, 22B, and 22C and the guide portion 24 define a groove 20B. The groove 20B constitutes a part of the head opening 9A (see FIG. 3). That is, the head opening 9A is constituted by the groove 20B and the opening 10B of the first member 10 (see FIG. 6). The walls 21C and 22A constitute a part of the arm portion 9B (see FIG. 3). That is, the arm portion 9B is a box surrounded by the walls 21C and 22A and the walls 11C, 11E, and 12A of the first member 10.

[0056] A cylindrical portion 22E is provided at the left end of the wall 22B, extending downward from the lower surface of the wall 20A. The cylindrical portion 22E extends downward from the lower surface of the wall 20A. A hole 26A that opens to the lower surface of the cylindrical portion 22E is formed in the cylindrical portion 22E. The pin 16A (see FIG. 6) of the first member 10 is inserted into the hole 26A. The front end of the wall 21A is located to the left rear of the cylindrical portion 22E, and is located in approximately the same position in the front-rear direction as the wall 13B (see FIG. 6) of the first member 10 in the case 9.

[0057] The wall 21F extends downward from the lower surface of the wall 20A and is perpendicular to the left-right direction. The rear end of the wall 21F is connected to the front end of the cylindrical portion 22E. The wall 21F faces the wall 13B of the first member 10 in the case 9 in the left-right direction.

[0058] A shaft portion 23A extending downward from the lower surface of the wall 20A is provided on the left front side of the wall 21F. The shaft portion 23A faces the shaft portion 13A of the first member 10 in the up-down direction in the case 9 (see FIG. 3). An opening 99A (see FIG. 3) is defined by the shaft portion 23A, the wall 20A, the shaft portion 13A of the first member 10, and the walls 11A and 13B (see FIG. 6).

[0059] A hole 23C that opens downward in the wall 20A is provided behind the shaft portion 23A. A pin 13C (see FIG. 6) of the first member 10 is inserted into the hole 23C. An opening 99B (see FIG. 3) is defined by the walls 21F and 20A and the walls 13B, 10A, and 11F (see FIG. 6) of the first member 10.

[0060] The wall 21H extends downward from the lower surface of the wall 20A. One end of the wall 21H is connected to the wall 22B at a position between the left end of the wall 22B and the center of the wall 22B in the left-right direction. The other end of the wall 21H is connected to the wall 22B at a position between the right end of the wall 22B and the center of the wall 22B in the left-right direction. The wall 21H extends from one end to the rear left, then bends and extends to the front right. A hole 26C that opens downward into the wall 21H is formed in the bent portion of the wall 21H. The pin 16C (see FIG. 6) of the first member 10 is inserted into the hole 26C.

[0061] Guide 28 is columnar and extends downward from the lower surface of wall 20A. Guide 28 is configured as part of an elliptical cylinder, and the side surface of guide 28 is curved. The lower surface of guide 28 is substantially U-shaped and opens forward when viewed from the bottom. To the left of guide 28 and below wall 21, hole 20H (see FIG. 8) is provided penetrating wall 20A in the up-down direction.

[0062] Walls 21J, 21K, and 21L extend downward from the lower surface of wall 20A. One end of wall 21J is connected to wall 21A, and the other end of wall 21J is connected to the left front end of guide 28. One end of wall 21J is connected to wall 21A at a position between the rear end of wall 21A and the center of wall 21A in the front-to-rear direction. Wall 21J extends in a generally arc shape bulging rearward from one end. In case 9, take-up spool 4 is stored in a space surrounded by walls 21A, 21H, 21J, and 22B (see FIG. 8).

[0063] One end of the wall 21K is connected to the other end of the wall 21J. That is, one end of the wall 21K is connected to the left front end of the guide 28. The wall 21K extends in a generally arc shape bulging to the right from one end. The other end of the wall 21K is on the right front side of the guide portion 24 and on the line AA shown in FIG. 4. On the right side of the wall 21K, a pillar 21M is provided extending downward from the lower surface of the wall 20A. The pillar 21M is connected to the wall 21K at a position between the front end of the wall 21K and the center of the wall 21K in the front-rear direction. The pillar 21M is formed with a hole 26B that opens the pillar 21M upward. The pin 16B (see FIG. 6) of the first member 10 is inserted into the hole 26B. In the case 9, the ribbon spool 3B is stored in a space surrounded by the walls 21H, 21J, 21K, and 22B (see FIG. 8).

[0064] Wall 21L extends leftward from the front end of wall 21K. The left end of wall 21L is located to the right of the left end of wall 22A and to the left of the left end of wall 21C. Wall 21L is located between walls 21C and 22A in the front-to-rear direction. In other words, wall 21L separates the front part of arm portion 9B from the rear part of arm portion 9B. A recess 21N recessed upward from the lower end is formed at the connection between wall 21L and wall 21K. Recess 21N extends along line AA (see FIG. 4).

[0065] As will be described in more detail below, the tape 2 is transported through the space between walls 21C and 21L in the arm portion 9B. Walls 21C and 21L define an opening 20D. Opening 20D constitutes a part of opening 98A (see FIG. 3). The ink ribbon 3 is transported through the space between walls 21L and 22A in the arm portion 9B. Walls 21L and 22A define an opening 20E. Opening 20E constitutes a part of opening 98B (see FIG. 3).

[0066] The pin 27 is located to the right of the recess 21N and extends downward from the bottom surface of the wall 20A. The pin 27 is formed with a hole 27A that opens to the bottom surface of the pin 27. The pin 17 is inserted into the hole 27A. The pin 27 is provided with a roller 8B. The roller 8B is cylindrical in shape with an axis extending parallel to the up-down direction. The roller 8B fits onto the outside of the pin 27 and is rotatably supported by the pin 27.

[0067] <Guide part 24> The guide portion 24 of the second member 20 will be described with reference to Fig. 5 and Figs. 8 to 10. As shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the guide portion 24 has a cylindrical portion 24A. The cylindrical portion 24A extends downward from the lower surface of the wall 20A. It has an axis that extends parallel to the vertical direction of the cylindrical portion 24A. The left end of the cylindrical portion 24A is connected to the wall 22A, and the rear end of the cylindrical portion 24A is connected to the wall 22C. The vertical size of the cylindrical portion 24A is larger than the width of the ink ribbon 3 (see Fig. 10).

[0068] 5 and 7 to 9, the cylindrical portion 24A has a hole 24C and a recess 24D. The hole 24C opens to the lower surface 24B of the cylindrical portion 24A. The hole 24C has a circular shape in bottom view, passing through the center of the lower surface 24B and extending in the vertical direction. The vertical size of the hole 24C is approximately the same as the vertical size of the cylindrical portion 24A.

[0069] As shown in FIG. 10, the pin 15 is inserted into the hole 24C. The diameter of the hole 24C is slightly smaller than the distance from the axis of the pin 15 to the protruding portion 15B. Therefore, when the case 9 is assembled, the pin 15 is press-fitted into the hole 24C. In the case 9, the lower surface 24B and the upper end of the disk wall 12D abut against each other, thereby determining the vertical distance between the wall 10A and the wall 20A. In the case 9, the axis of the cylindrical portion 24A, the axis of the pin 15, and the axis of the disk wall 12D are on the same line. That is, the axis of the cylindrical portion 24A is common to the axis C (see FIG. 6), and the hole 24C extends in the vertical direction along the axis C.

[0070] As shown in Figs. 5, 7 to 9, the recess 24D is formed by being recessed upward from the lower surface 24B of the cylindrical portion 24A. The recess 24D extends radially from the center of the cylindrical portion 24A and communicates with the hole 24C. The inner wall constituting the recess 24D includes an inclined wall 24E. The inclined wall 24E constitutes the lower end portion of the recess 24D and connects to the lower surface 24B. The inclined wall 24E is inclined radially outward as it extends downward. That is, the width of the recess 24D at the lower end is larger than the width of the recess 24D at the upper end.

[0071] 10, in the case 9, a portion of the restricting portion 14 on the base side is fitted into the recess 24D. A portion of the restricting portion 14 on the tip side is fitted into the recess 21N. In the space defined by the walls 22C, 21K, 21L, 22A and the guide portion 24, the restricting portion 14 is provided over the entire area on the line AA (see FIG. 4). The ink ribbon 3 is transported within the space defined by the walls 22C, 21K, 21L, 22A and the guide portion 24, as will be described in detail later.

[0072] In the case 9, the bottom of the recess 24D (the upper end of the inner wall of the cylindrical portion 24A that constitutes the recess 24D) is spaced upward from the upper end of the restricting portion 14. The vertical dimension from the upper end of the cylindrical portion 24A to the bottom of the recess 24D is approximately the same as the width of the ink ribbon 3 (see FIG. 11).

[0073] <Third Member 30, Fourth Member 40> The third member 30 and the fourth member 40 will be briefly described with reference to FIG. 5. The third member 30 has a wall 30A and a peripheral wall 30B. The wall 30A is substantially rectangular and perpendicular to the vertical direction. The peripheral wall 30B covers the outer peripheral end of the wall 30A in a plan view. The wall 30A is located substantially at the vertical center of the peripheral wall 30B. In other words, the wall 30A separates the upper and lower parts of the third member 30. A hole 30C (see FIG. 8) is provided at the right rear part of the wall 30A, penetrating the wall 30A in the vertical direction. In the case 9, the hole 30C is located at a position overlapping with the hole 20H in a plan view, and is located to the left of the guide 28 in a plan view.

[0074] A storage section 31 is provided on the underside of the wall 30A. The storage section 31 is provided in the center of the underside of the wall 30A in a bottom view, and stores the transmission mechanism 6. A storage section 33 and a guide (not shown) are provided on the upper surface of the wall 30A. The storage section 33 is provided in the center of the upper surface of the wall 30A in a plan view, and stores a part of the tape roll 2A. The guide is columnar and extends upward from the left rear end part on the upper surface of the wall 30A. The guide is composed of part of an elliptical cylinder, and its side surface is curved.

[0075] The fourth member 40 has a wall 40A. The wall 40A has a generally rectangular shape perpendicular to the up-down direction and faces the wall 30A in the up-down direction. The wall 40A constitutes an upper wall 95 of the case 9. An accommodation portion 41 and a support portion 42 are provided on the lower surface of the wall 40A.

[0076] The storage section 41 is provided at the center of the lower surface of the wall 30A in a bottom view, and stores a portion of the tape roll 2A and the clutch spring holder 5A. The entire tape roll 2A is stored in the storage section 41 and the storage section 33. The tape roll 2A is stored in the storage section 41 and the storage section 33 while being sandwiched vertically between a pair of spacer films 2C. The support section 42 is provided at the left end of the lower surface of the wall 40A. The support section 42 rotatably supports the roller 8A. The roller 8A is cylindrical in shape with an axis extending parallel to the vertical direction, and is rotatable around the axis.

[0077] <Tape 2 transport> 5 and 8, the transportation of the tape 2 in the case 9 will be described. The printing cassette 1 is loaded into the loading section 105, and the tape 2 discharged from the opening 98A is clamped between the platen roller 102 and the print head 103. When the drive shaft 104 rotates, a driving force is transmitted to the platen roller 102 via the transmission mechanism 6. The platen roller 102 rotates, and transportation of the tape 2 begins. The tape 2 is unwound from the tape roll 2A stored in the storage section 33 and the storage section 41.

[0078] The tape 2 is transported toward the guide 32 via the roller 8A. The tape 2 changes its transport direction to the lower left along the outer circumferential surface of the guide 32, and is transported toward the guide 28. The tape 2 reaches the guide 28 through the hole 30C of the third member 30 and the hole 20H of the second member 20. In this manner, the tape 2 is routed from the third member 30 to the second member 20.

[0079] When the tape 2 reaches the guide 28, it is transported inside the second member 20. The transport direction of the tape 2 changes to the forward direction along the outer circumferential surface of the guide 28, and is transported toward the roller 8B. The transport direction of the tape 2 changes to the left along the outer circumferential surface of the roller 8B, and is transported toward the opening 98A.

[0080] The tape 2 is transported through the space between walls 21C and 21L of the arm portion 9B, and is discharged to the outside of the case 9 through the opening 98A. The tape 2 discharged from the opening 98A is transported between a platen roller 102 and a print head 103 disposed in the head opening 9A (see FIG. 2). The print head 103 prints on the tape 2 using the ink ribbon 3. The printed tape 2 passes through the opening 99A and is discharged from the discharge port 106 to the outside of the housing 101 of the printer 100.

[0081] <Ink ribbon 3 transport> 5, 8, 9, and 11, the transportation of the ink ribbon 3 in the case 9 will be described. The printing cassette 1 is mounted in the mounting portion 105. When the drive shaft 104 rotates, the input gear 6A and the idle gear 6B rotate. The ribbon spool 3B rotates, and transportation of the ink ribbon 3 from the ribbon spool 3B to the take-up spool 4 begins.

[0082] By the rotation of the ribbon spool 3B, the ink ribbon 3 is unwound from the ribbon roll 3A. The ink ribbon 3 unwound from the ribbon roll 3A is transported forward along the wall 22C. The ink ribbon 3 is transported toward the guide portion 24 in the space between the wall 22C and the wall 21K.

[0083] The ink ribbon 3 that has reached the guide portion 24 is wound around the cylindrical portion 24A, and the transport direction is changed from the front to the left along the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 24A. The ink ribbon 3 wound around the cylindrical portion 24A is transported between the wall 20A and the regulating portion 14 in the width direction (up-down direction) of the ink ribbon 3 (see FIG. 11). A portion of the regulating portion 14 that is not fitted into the recesses 24D, 21N abuts against the lower end of the ink ribbon 3, thereby regulating the downward movement of the ink ribbon 3. Since the regulating portion 14 prevents the ink ribbon 3 from moving downward, it is difficult for the ink ribbon 3 to move to the lower end of the guide portion 24, which is lower than the upper end of the regulating portion 14.

[0084] The ink ribbon 3 is transported leftward from the guide portion 24 toward the opening 98B. The ink ribbon 3 is transported toward the opening 98B through the space between the wall 21L and the wall 22A. The ink ribbon 3 is discharged to the outside of the case 9 through the opening 98B with the ink ribbon 3 positioned in the width direction by the regulating portion 14.

[0085] The ink ribbon 3 discharged from the opening 98B is behind the tape 2 discharged from the opening 98A (see FIG. 8). The ink ribbon 3 is transported between the platen roller 102 and the print head 103 (see FIG. 2). The ink ribbon 3 is overlapped on the tape 2 from behind between the platen roller 102 and the print head 103, and is used for printing on the tape 2.

[0086] The ink ribbon 3 used for printing is inserted again into the case 9 through the opening 99B (see FIG. 11). The ink ribbon 3 inserted into the case 9 through the opening 99B passes through the space between the wall 21F and the wall 13B (see FIG. 3) and is wound around the take-up spool 4.

[0087] <Actions and Effects of the Present Embodiment> As described above, the case 9 includes the first member 10 and the second member 20. The first member 10 has a wall 10A, a disk wall 12D, and a restricting portion 14. The wall 10A is perpendicular to the vertical direction. The disk wall 12D extends upward from the upper surface of the wall 10A and has a circular shape in a plan view. The restricting portion 14 is a plate provided across the disk wall 12D and the wall 10A and extends upward from the upper surface of the disk wall 12D and the upper surface of the wall 10A. The second member 20 has a wall 20A and a guide portion 24. The wall 20A is perpendicular to the vertical direction and faces the wall 10A in the vertical direction. The guide portion 24 has a cylindrical portion 24A. The cylindrical portion 24A extends downward from the lower surface of the wall 20A. The cylindrical portion 24A has a recessed portion 24D. The recessed portion 24D is formed by recessing upward from the lower surface 24B of the cylindrical portion 24A. The recess 24D extends radially from the center of the cylindrical portion 24A. In the case 9, the recess 24D fits into a part of the regulating portion 14 on the base side. The ink ribbon 3 transported inside the case 9 is wound around the cylindrical portion 24A and changes the transport direction from the front to the left along the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 24A. The part of the regulating portion 14 that is not fitted into the recess 24D abuts against the lower end of the ink ribbon 3, thereby restricting the ink ribbon 3 from moving downward. As a result, the lower end of the cylindrical portion 24A in the guide portion 24 overlaps downward with the upper end of the regulating portion 14. Since the part of the regulating portion 14 restricts the downward movement of the ink ribbon 3, the lower end of the ink ribbon 3 is prevented from reaching the lower end of the cylindrical portion 24A. Therefore, the printing cassette 1 can transport the ink ribbon 3 correctly.

[0088] In the printing cassette 1, the guide portion 24 and the regulating portion 14 are located on the transport path from the ribbon roll 3A to the opening 98B. The ink ribbon 3 discharged from the opening 98B is used for printing on the tape 2. In the printing cassette 1, the ink ribbon 3 is transported correctly by the guide portion 24 and the regulating portion 14 located on the transport path from the ribbon roll 3A to the opening 98B. Therefore, the printer 100 using the printing cassette 1 can print using the ink ribbon 3 that has been transported correctly.

[0089] In the printing cassette 1, the restricting portion 14 extends radially outward from the axis C. A portion of the restricting portion 14 that is not fitted into the recess 24D comes into contact with the lower end of the ink ribbon 3, thereby restricting the ink ribbon 3 from moving downward. The portion of the restricting portion 14 that is not fitted into the recess 24D extends radially outward from the axis C outside the cylindrical portion 24A, and is therefore likely to come into contact with the ink ribbon 3 wound around the cylindrical portion 24A. Thus, the printing cassette 1 can prevent the lower end of the ink ribbon 3 from reaching the lower end of the cylindrical portion 24A.

[0090] In the restricting portion 14, the size in the circumferential direction of the axis C is smaller than the size in the radial direction of the axis C. This makes it possible to further reduce the size of the gap between the restricting portion 14 and the recess 24D, so that the printing cassette 1 can prevent the lower end of the ink ribbon 3 from entering inside the recess 24D.

[0091] When the case 9 is assembled, the bottom of the recess 24D is spaced upward from the upper end of the restricting portion 14. In the case 9, the lower surface 24B and the upper end of the disk wall 12D abut against each other, thereby determining the vertical distance between the first member 10 and the second member 20. In the case 9, when the lower surface 24B and the upper end of the disk wall 12D abut against each other, the bottom of the recess 24D is spaced upward from the upper end of the restricting portion 14. This allows the restricting portion 14 of the printing cassette 1 to fit into the recess 24D even if there is a large deviation in the dimensions of the recess 24D or the restricting portion 14.

[0092] The first member 10 has a pin 15. The pin 15 extends upward from the lower left end of the upper surface of the regulating portion 14. In the second member 20, the guide portion 24 has a hole 24C. The hole 24C extends vertically through the center of the lower surface 24B and opens into the lower surface 24B. When the case 9 is assembled, the pin 15 is pressed into the hole 24C. This allows the first member 10 and the second member 20 to be more firmly engaged. Since the vertical distance between the wall 10A and the wall 20A is maintained, the regulating portion 14 can precisely regulate the movement of the ink ribbon 3 in the width direction. Therefore, the printing cassette 1 can transport the ink ribbon 3 correctly.

[0093] The inner wall constituting the recess 24D includes an inclined wall 24E. The inclined wall 24E constitutes the lower end of the recess 24D and is connected to the lower surface 24B. Since the inclined wall 24E inclines radially outward as it extends downward, the width of the recess 24D at its lower end is greater than its width at its upper end. This allows the recess 24D to easily guide the restricting portion 14 when assembling the case 9. Therefore, the printing cassette 1 allows the restricting portion 14 to easily fit into the recess 24D.

[0094] In the case 9, the ribbon roll 3A is housed in the second member 20. The tape roll 2A is housed in the third member 30. In the case 9, the first member 10, the second member 20, and the third member 30 are arranged in the order of the first member 10, the second member 20, and the third member 30 from the bottom. The tape 2 unwound from the tape roll 2A is transported from the guide 32 of the third member 30 to the guide 28 of the second member 20 downward and to the left. The tape 2 is drawn around inside the second member 20 and then discharged to the outside of the case 9 through the opening 98A. The ink ribbon 3 is drawn around inside the second member 20 and then discharged to the outside of the case 9 through the opening 98B. The ink ribbon 3 is overlapped on the tape 2 from the rear between the platen roller 102 and the print head 103, and is used for printing on the tape 2. Thus, in the case 9, the third member 30 that houses the tape 2 is at a different position in the up-down direction from the second member 20 that houses the ink ribbon 3. This allows the size of the printing cassette 1 to be reduced in the direction perpendicular to the up-down direction of the case 9. Also, in the printing cassette 1, since the ink ribbon 3 is routed inside the second member 20, the ink ribbon 3 can be transported correctly compared to when the ink ribbon 3 is routed from the second member 20 to the third member 30.

[0095] <Modification> The present invention can be modified in various ways from the above-described embodiment. The various modifications described below can be combined with each other as long as no contradiction occurs.

[0096] In the above embodiment, the second member 20 houses the ribbon roll 3A and the first member 10 serves as a lid, but for example, the first member 10 may house the ribbon roll 3A and the second member 20 may serve as a lid. The ribbon roll 3A may be housed in both the first member 10 and the second member 20, and the first member 10 and the second member 20 may serve as lids for each other.

[0097] The guide portion 24 may be any that extends downward from the wall 20A toward the wall 10A and changes the transport direction when the ink ribbon 3 is wound around it. For example, the guide portion 24 may be an elliptical cylinder extending in the vertical direction. The transport direction of the ink ribbon 3 changed by the guide portion 24 may be changed as appropriate. The number of guide portions 24 may be changed as appropriate. For example, the second member 20 may have two guide portions 24.

[0098] The number of recesses 24D and regulating portions 14 is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the first member 10 may have a first regulating portion and a second regulating portion, and the guide portion 24 of the second member 20 may have a first recess that fits with the first regulating portion and a second recess that fits with the second regulating portion. The regulating portion 14 may be L-shaped in plan view, for example, extending upward and rightward from the center of the upper surface of the disc wall 12D. In this case, the L-shaped regulating portion 14 in plan view may fit into the first recess and the second recess.

[0099] In the above embodiment, the guide portion 24 and the regulating portion 14 are provided on the transport path from the ribbon roll 3A to the opening 98B in the case 9, but the positions of the guide portion 24 and the regulating portion 14 may be changed as appropriate. The guide portion 24 and the regulating portion 14 may be provided on the transport path from the opening 99B to the take-up spool 4, for example. The guide portion 24 and the regulating portion 14 may be provided on the transport path of the tape 2 in addition to the transport path of the ink ribbon 3.

[0100] The shape of the regulating portion 14 may be changed as appropriate. In the above embodiment, the regulating portion 14 has a rectangular shape in plan view extending radially outward from the axis C, but may have an elliptical shape in plan view with the major axis extending radially, for example. The regulating portion 14 does not have to extend along the radial direction of the axis C in plan view. The portion of the regulating portion 14 that is not fitted into the recess 24D does not have to extend along the radial direction of the axis C in plan view. The size of the regulating portion 14 in the circumferential direction of the axis C may be larger than the size of the axis C in the radial direction.

[0101] The shape of the recess 24D may be changed as appropriate. In the above embodiment, the lower end of the recess 24D is configured by the inclined wall 24E, but the recess 24D may not include the inclined wall 24E. The inclined wall 24E may be provided over the entire area of ​​the recess 24D in the vertical direction. When the case 9 is assembled, the bottom of the recess 24D may abut against the upper end of the restricting portion 14. In this case, the bottom of the recess 24D and the upper end of the restricting portion 14 abut against each other, and thus the vertical distance between the first member 10 and the second member 20 may be determined. The restricting portion 14 may be press-fitted into the recess 24D.

[0102] The first member 10 may not have the pin 15, and the guide portion 24 of the second member 20 may not have the hole 24C. The shape of the hole 24C and the shape of the pin 15 may be changed as appropriate. For example, the hole 24C may be shaped to open in a cross shape when viewed from the bottom, and the pin 15 may be shaped to extend in the vertical direction in a cross shape when viewed from the top. The number of the holes 24C and the number of the pins 15 may be changed as appropriate. For example, the columnar portion 24A may have three holes 24C that open to the lower surface 24B, and the first member 10 may have three pins 15 that are inserted into the three holes 24C. The pins 15 do not have to be press-fitted into the holes 24C.

[0103] In the case 9, the third member 30 accommodates the tape roll 2A and the fourth member 40 covers it, but for example, the fourth member 40 may accommodate the ribbon roll 3A and the third member 30 may cover it. The ribbon roll 3A may be accommodated in both the third member 30 and the fourth member 40, and the third member 30 and the fourth member 40 may cover each other. The tape roll 2A may be accommodated in at least one of the first member 10 and the second member 20. In this case, the tape 2 is transported in a space surrounded by the first member 10 and the second member 20. In the above embodiment, inside the second member 20, the transport path of the tape 2 and the transport path of the ink ribbon 3 are partitioned by the walls 21K and 21L, and the tape 2 is transported through different transport paths. In contrast, the transport path of the tape 2 and the transport path of the ink ribbon 3 may be transported through the same transport path inside the second member 20. In this case, the tape 2 may be overlapped on the ink ribbon 3 inside the second member 20.

[0104] In the above embodiment, the openings 98A and 98B are formed in the first member 10 and the second member 20. In contrast, the openings 98A and 98B may be formed in the third member 30 and the fourth member 40. In this case, the tape 2 is routed inside the third member 30 and then discharged through the opening 98A, and the ink ribbon 3 is routed from the second member 20 to the third member 30 and then discharged through the opening 98B. The openings 98A and 98B may be disposed at different positions in the vertical direction. For example, when the opening 98A is provided in the third member 30 and the fourth member 40 and the opening 98B is provided in the first member 10 and the second member 20, the tape 2 is routed inside the third member 30 and then discharged through the opening 98A, and the ink ribbon 3 is routed inside the second member 20 and then discharged through the opening 98B. For example, when an opening 98A is provided in the first member 10 and the second member 20, and an opening 98B is provided in the third member 30 and the fourth member 40, the tape 2 is pulled around the third member 30 to the second member 20 and then discharged through the opening 98A, and the ink ribbon 3 is pulled around the second member 20 to the third member 30 and then discharged through the opening 98B.

[0105] Another modified example will now be described. The printing cassette 1 in the above embodiment is a so-called receptor type having the tape 2 and the ink ribbon 3. In contrast, the printing cassette 1 may be a so-called laminate type having a double-sided adhesive tape, a film tape, and an ink ribbon.

[0106] In the above embodiment, the tape 2 is wound around the tape spool 2B and housed in the case 9, but it may be folded like fanfold paper and housed in the case 9. The ink ribbon 3 is wound around the ribbon spool 3B and housed in the case 9, but it may be folded like fanfold paper and housed in the case 9. The used ink ribbon 3 is wound around the take-up spool 4 and housed in the case 9, but it may be folded like fanfold paper and housed in the case 9. The used ink ribbon 3 does not have to be inserted into the second member 20 through the opening 99B, and may be discharged from the printing cassette 1 as it is.

[0107] <Other> The up-down direction is an example of a "predetermined direction" of the present invention. The second member 20 is an example of a "first case" of the present invention. The first member 10 is an example of a "second case" of the present invention. The wall 20A is an example of a "first wall" of the present invention. The wall 10A is an example of a "second wall" of the present invention. The ribbon roll 3A is an example of an "original roll" of the present invention. The opening 98B is an example of an "outlet" of the present invention. The axis C is an example of an "axis" of the present invention. The hole 24C is an example of a "hole portion" of the present invention. The pin 15 is an example of a "press-fit portion" of the present invention. The tape 2 is an example of a "printing tape" of the present invention. The third member 30 is an example of a "third case" of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0108] 1 Printing cassette 2 Tape 2A Tape Roll 3 Ink ribbon 3A Ribbon Roll 9 Cases 10 First member 10A, 20A Wall 14 Regulatory Department 15-pin 20 Second member 24 Guide section 24A Cylinder section 24C Hole 24D Recess 24E Slanted wall 30 Third member 40 Fourth member 98A, 98B opening 100 Printers

Claims

1. Ink ribbon and a case that contains the ink ribbon and includes a first case and a second case that are arranged in a predetermined direction; The first case is The first wall, a guide portion extending from the first wall in parallel with the predetermined direction toward the second case, around which the ink ribbon is wound, and which changes a transport direction of the ink ribbon; The second case is a second wall facing the first wall in the predetermined direction; a restricting portion provided on the second wall, the restricting portion contacting one end of the ink ribbon in the width direction to restrict movement of the ink ribbon in the width direction during transport of the ink ribbon, The printing cassette according to claim 1, wherein the guide portion has a recess that opens toward the second wall and that fits into a part of the regulating portion.

2. the case accommodates a master roll having the ink ribbon wound around an axis extending in the width direction, an outlet is formed in the case for discharging the ink ribbon unwound from the master roll to the outside of the case; 2. The printing cassette according to claim 1, wherein the guide portion and the regulating portion are provided on a transport path of the ink ribbon transported between the master roll and the outlet.

3. A printing cassette as described in claim 1, characterized in that the portion of the regulating portion that is not engaged with the recess extends radially outward from the portion that is engaged with the recess toward the radially outward direction of an axis extending parallel to the specified direction, and is capable of abutting against the one end of the ink ribbon that changes the transport direction by the guide portion.

4. 4. The printing cassette according to claim 3, wherein a size of the regulating portion in a circumferential direction of the axis is smaller than a size of the regulating portion in a radial direction.

5. 2. The printing cassette according to claim 1, wherein an end of the inner wall constituting the recess on the first wall side is spaced toward the first wall side from an end of the regulating portion on the first wall side.

6. the guide portion has a hole portion extending in the predetermined direction, opening the guide portion toward the second wall side, and communicating with the recess portion, A printing cassette as described in claim 1, characterized in that the second case has a press-fit portion extending from an end of the portion of the regulating portion on the first wall side parallel to the specified direction toward the first wall side and press-fitted into the hole portion.

7. 2. The printing cassette according to claim 1, wherein the width of the recess at the end on the second wall side is greater than the width of the recess at the end on the first wall side.

8. The printing medium further includes a third case for accommodating a printing tape, the ink ribbon is accommodated in at least the first case of the first and second cases, The cases are arranged in the order of the third case, the first case, and the second case in the predetermined direction, 2. The printing cassette according to claim 1, wherein the printing tape is routed from the third case to the first case and overlapped with the ink ribbon.

Images