Tape cartridge and manufacturing method of the same

Abstract

To guide a delivery side end of a tape to a proper transport path.SOLUTION: A tape cartridge 1 is stored in a storage part 21 of a printer 2 which prints on a tape T and has a tape passage port 13 through which the tape T passes. The tape passage port 13 is provided in the middle of a tape T transport path ranging from a printing position where a print is made on the tape T to the tape delivery port 22 of the printer 2 from which the tape T with the print made thereon is sent to the outside of the printer. A tape receiving member 5 is provided between the tape passage port 13 and the tape delivery port 22. The tape receiving member 5 has a support part 52 which contacts with the tape T from the back surface side of the tape T.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a tape cartridge and a method for manufacturing a tape cartridge.

Background Art

[0002] As a conventional printing device, for example, in the printing device described in Patent Document 1, a tape cartridge (printing cassette) set in the device has an outlet for discharging an overlapping tape in which a first tape and a second tape are bonded to the outside, and the overlapping tape discharged from the outlet is discharged from the tape outlet of the printing device to the outside of the device after printing.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In this type of printing device, for example, when the end on the feeding side is lowered due to the weight of the tape or the like, the tape may not be properly received at the outlet (discharge port) on the printing device side and may enter a position other than the originally inserted position, which may cause a conveyance failure.

[0005] The present invention is for solving such problems, and an object thereof is to provide a tape cartridge and a method for manufacturing a tape cartridge that can guide the end on the feeding side of the tape to an appropriate conveyance path.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, the tape cartridge according to the present invention A tape cartridge that is housed in a housing portion of a printing apparatus that performs printing on a tape and has a tape passage opening through which the tape passes, The tape passage opening is provided in the middle of the conveyance path of the tape from the printing position where printing is performed on the tape to the tape outlet of the printing apparatus that sends out the printed tape outside the printing apparatus, A tape receiving member is provided between the tape passage opening and the tape outlet, The tape receiving member is characterized by having a support portion that contacts the tape from the back side of the tape.

Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, the leading end portion on the sending side of the tape can be guided to an appropriate conveyance path.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] While referring to the drawings, an embodiment of a tape cartridge 1 and a method for manufacturing the tape cartridge 1 according to the present invention will be described. The tape cartridge 1 of the present embodiment houses a tape T, which is a medium to be printed by a printing apparatus 2, therein and is used while being housed in a housing portion 21 of the printing apparatus 2. It should be noted that various technically preferable limitations are imposed on the following embodiments for carrying out the present invention, but the scope of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments and illustrated examples.

[0010] [Configuration of Printing Apparatus] First, as a premise, the configuration of a printing apparatus 2 in which the tape cartridge 1 is housed will be described. In the following embodiments, the x-axis direction, y-axis direction, and z-axis direction refer to the directions shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The x-axis direction is the lateral direction of the printing apparatus 2, the y-axis direction is the longitudinal direction of the printing apparatus 2, and the z-axis direction is the height direction of the printing apparatus 2. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, when the tape cartridge 1 is housed in the printing apparatus 2 in the embodiment, the long side direction L of the tape cartridge 1 shown in FIG. 3 coincides with the x-axis direction, the short side direction H of the tape cartridge 1 coincides with the y-axis direction, and the height direction (the width direction of the tape T housed in the tape cartridge 1) W of the tape cartridge 1 coincides with the z-axis direction.

[0011] As shown in FIG. 1, the printing apparatus 2 has a substantially box-shaped housing 20, and inside the housing 20, there is a storage portion 21 capable of mounting a tape cartridge 1 in which a tape T is stored. The housing 20 is provided with an openable and closable lid portion 20a at a position corresponding to the storage portion 21. As shown in FIG. 2, when the lid portion 20a is opened, the storage portion 21 is exposed, and the tape cartridge 1 can be attached and detached.

[0012] Also, when the tape cartridge 1 is stored in the storage portion 21, at a position downstream of the conveyance path D (indicated by a white arrow in FIG. 2 etc.) of the tape T from the tape passage port 13 of the tape cartridge 1 which will be described later, there is provided a tape outlet 22 for sending out the printed tape T (in the embodiment, the tape body t1 which is the first tape of the tape T) out of the apparatus. The tape outlet 22 has a receiving portion 22a (see FIG. 8) for receiving the tape T sent along the conveyance path D from the tape passage port 13 side.

[0013] It is preferable that the receiving portion 22a is somewhat lower on the tape passage port 13 side (storage portion 21 side) so as to easily receive the leading end portion of the conveyed tape T. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the receiving portion 22a is inclined such that the upstream side of the conveyance path D is somewhat lower than the downstream side, and has a shape that more easily receives the leading end portion of the tape T conveyed from the tape cartridge 1 in the storage portion 21.

[0014] The printing apparatus 2 of the present embodiment is a thermal printer that performs printing on a tape T which is a long printing medium. Inside the storage portion 21, there are provided a thermal head 23 which is a printing portion and a platen roller 24. The thermal head 23 and the platen roller 24 are arranged on the conveyance path D (see FIGS. 2 and 3 etc.) of the tape T from the feeding position P (see FIG. 3) where the tape T in the tape cartridge 1 is fed out when the tape cartridge 1 is stored until it passes through the tape passage port 13 of the tape cartridge 1.

[0015] For example, when the thermal head 23 accommodates the tape cartridge 1 in the accommodating portion 21, it is disposed within the printing space Arp (see FIGS. 2, 3, etc.) in the tape cartridge 1. Further, the platen roller 24 is disposed at a position facing the thermal head 23 with the tape T, which is the medium to be printed, interposed therebetween. The tape T fed out from the feeding position P within the accommodating portion 21 is sandwiched between the platen roller 24 and the thermal head 23 (see, for example, FIG. 8, etc.), and by rotating the platen roller 24, the tape T is conveyed from the upstream side to the downstream side along the conveyance path D.

[0016] The thermal head 23 has a heating element (not shown). By energizing this heating element, the heating element is heated, and heat is applied to the tape T. In the following embodiments, a printing apparatus 2 of a thermal transfer method using an ink ribbon t2 will be described as an example. For example, the tape T of the present embodiment is a two-layer tape in which a tape body t1, which is a "first tape" as will be described later, and an ink ribbon t2, which is a "second tape" provided on the back surface side of the tape body t1 (first tape), are integrated.

[0017] The tape body t1 and the ink ribbon t2 overlap at the feeding position P (see FIG. 3) and are fed out as an integrated tape T from the feeding position P to the conveyance path D. When heat is applied by the thermal head 23 in the printing space Arp, the heated portion of the ink ribbon t2 is transferred to the tape body t1, and predetermined printing is performed on the tape T (the tape body t1 of the tape T). Note that the printing method of the printing apparatus 2 is not particularly limited. For example, a printing apparatus that uses thermal paper as the tape T and performs printing by a thermal method may be used.

[0018] In the printing apparatus 2, a cutting unit 28 is provided between the tape T sent from the tape passage opening 13 of the tape cartridge 1 until the tape T is sent out of the apparatus from the tape outlet 22. The cutting unit 28 includes a cutter blade 281 and cuts the printed tape T (in this embodiment, the tape body t1 of the tape T) at a predetermined position. The cutting unit 28 is provided on the downstream side of the conveyance path D from the printing space Arp until the tape T is sent out of the apparatus. In the example shown in FIG. 8 and the like, it is arranged between the receiving portion 22a and the outlet side of the tape outlet 22.

[0019] The cutter blade 281 of the cutting unit 28 may be a cutter (full cutter) that cuts the entire tape T which is the medium to be printed, or a cutter (half cutter) that cuts a part of the tape T. For example, when the tape T has a multilayer structure having a tape layer and a protective film layer (e.g., release paper), etc., the full cutter cuts the entire tape T composed of multiple layers, and the half cutter cuts only a part of the layers of the tape T, such as only the tape layer. The cutting unit 28 may be provided with both cutter blades for full cutters and half cutters. Also, the cutter blade 281 may be a cutter that perforates the tape T, etc., and the cutting unit 28 may be provided with a plurality of types of cutter blades 281 that can be appropriately selected.

[0020] On the surface of the housing 20, an input operation unit 26 composed of various buttons, operation keys, etc. is provided. Further, on the surface of the housing 20, a display device 27 composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display panel is arranged. On the display device 27, a character string input by operating the operation keys of the input operation unit 26, the setting information of the printing apparatus 2, etc. are appropriately displayed. Note that a touch panel may be integrally formed on the display panel of the display device 27. In this case, the touch panel also functions as an input operation unit of the printing apparatus 2. The printing apparatus 2 also includes a control device (not shown) that operates each part of the apparatus.

[0021] [Configuration of the Tape Cartridge] Here, the tape cartridge 1 of the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 to 7. As described above, the tape cartridge 1 of the present embodiment is a tape cassette that is housed in the housing portion 21 of the printing apparatus 2 that performs printing on the tape T. Note that different types of tape cartridges 1 may be selectively housed in the housing portion 21. Different types of tape cartridges 1 may be, for example, differences in the configuration or material of the tape T, or differences in the width or thickness of the tape T.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 3, the tape cartridge 1 has a substantially box-shaped main body case 10, and a tape T formed in an elongated strip shape is housed inside the main body case 10. As described above, the printing apparatus 2 of the present embodiment is a thermal transfer type printing apparatus. The tape T of the present embodiment is a two-layer tape composed of a tape main body t1 (also referred to as the "first tape") and an ink ribbon t2 including an ink layer for thermal transfer (also referred to as the "second tape").

[0023] The tape main body t1 ("the first tape") is a printing medium on which printing is performed by the printing apparatus 2. Inside the main body case 10, a cylindrical tape core 11 extending in the W direction shown in FIG. 3 is provided, and the tape main body t1 is wound around the tape core 11 in a roll shape. The tape core 11 is rotatably supported about an axis in the W direction. Also, inside the main body case 10, a cylindrical ink ribbon supply core 12 extending in the W direction shown in FIG. 3 is provided, and the ink ribbon t2 ("the second tape") is wound around the ink ribbon supply core 12 in a roll shape. The ink ribbon supply core 12 is rotatably supported about an axis in the W direction.

[0024] The tape core 11 and the ink ribbon supply core 12 each have an internal space that penetrates in the W direction around the axis center. In the housing portion 21 of the printing apparatus 2, when the tape cartridge 1 is housed, there are support protrusions (not shown) that are inserted into each internal space at positions corresponding to the internal spaces of the tape core 11 and the ink ribbon supply core 12. Each support protrusion rotates around the axis while being synchronized with each other by a motor or the like (not shown). As a result, the tape core 11 and the ink ribbon supply core 12 into which each support protrusion is inserted rotate while being synchronized.

[0025] The ink ribbon t2 supplied from the ink ribbon supply core 12 is superposed on the back surface side of the tape body t1 supplied from the tape core 11 in front of the printing space Arp where printing is performed. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, at the feeding position P (see FIG. 3) where the tape T is fed out, the tape body t1 which is the "first tape" and the ink ribbon t2 which is the "second tape" provided on the back surface side of this tape body t1 (first tape) are integrated to form a two-layer tape T.

[0026] On the downstream side of the conveyance path D of the tape T (shown by the white arrow in FIGS. 2, 3, etc.) from the printing space Arp in the tape cartridge 1, there is provided a tape passage port 13 through which the printed tape T passes. The tape passage port 13 is arranged on the tape outlet 22 side of the printing apparatus 2 when the tape cartridge 1 is housed in the housing portion 21 of the printing apparatus 2. On both sides in the width direction (W direction in FIGS. 3, etc.) of the tape passage port 13, guide portions 131 (see FIG. 6) extend toward the central portion in the width direction (W direction), and the tape T passes through the gap portion 132 (see FIG. 7) of the tape passage port 13 which is below the guide portions 131.

[0027] In this embodiment, a tape receiving member 5 is provided between the tape passing port 13 and the tape sending port 22 on the printing device 2 side. In this embodiment, after the tape T is sent out from the tape passing port 13, only the tape body t1 which is the "first tape" passes over the tape receiving member 5 (the support portion 52 of the tape receiving member 5 described later) and is sent out from the tape sending port 22, and the ink ribbon t2 which is the "second tape" is separated from the tape body t1 and wound around the winding shaft portion 14 in the main body case 10.

[0028] Here, while referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the tape receiving member 5 will be described in detail. The tape receiving member 5 has a pair of locking portions 51 and a support portion 52 spanned between the pair of locking portions 51. The tape receiving member 5 before assembly is, for example, a plate-like member 50 punched out in a substantially U-shape as shown in FIG. 4, and has a pair of leg pieces 510 and a bridging portion 520 which is a plate-like member spanned between the leg pieces 510. The tape receiving member 5 is formed by appropriately bending such a flat plate-like member 50. The material of the plate-like member 50 is not particularly limited, but for example, it is a PET (polyethylene terephthalate) film.

[0029] For example, both end sides of the plate-like member 50 with appropriate cuts are valley-folded along the broken line portions shown in FIG. 4. The valley-folded both end portions constitute a pair of locking portions 51 that are locked to both side portions of the main body case 10 of the tape cartridge 1. On the surface of the locking portion 51 on the side adhered to the main body case 10, an adhering means 53 such as a double-sided tape is provided. In FIGS. 4 and 5, the adhering means 53 is shown by black hatching.

[0030] The upper end portion (the upper end in FIGS. 4 and 5) of the support portion 52 abuts on the tape T from the back side (the lower side in FIG. 7) of the tape T. As shown in FIG. 7 and the like, in the embodiment, the tape T on which the upper end portion of the support portion 52 abuts on the back side is the tape body t1 after the ink ribbon t2 is separated.

[0031] That is, as described above, the tape T of the present embodiment is a two-layer tape in which the tape body t1, which is the "first tape", and the ink ribbon t2, which is the "second tape" provided on the back side of the tape body t1, are integrated. After being sent out from the tape passage port 13, only the tape body t1 passes over the support portion 52 of the tape receiving member 5 and is sent out from the tape outlet 22 (see FIG. 11). When the ink ribbon t2, which is the "second tape", abuts against the support portion 52, the support portion 52 functions as an inhibiting member that inhibits the ink ribbon t2 from being sent toward the tape outlet 22 side. As a result, the ink ribbon t2, which is the "second tape", is separated from the tape body t1, which is the "first tape", and wound around the winding shaft portion 14.

[0032] The support portion 52 protrudes from the tape passage port 13 toward the tape outlet 22 side, and at least the protruding end portion is disposed near the tape outlet 22. The configuration for protruding the support portion 52 to the vicinity of the tape outlet 22 is not particularly limited. In the present embodiment, a bridging portion 520, which is a plate-like member passed between the leg pieces 510 (the portions that become the pair of locking portions 51 after assembly), is formed to be larger (longer) than the length (the thickness and width of the main body case 10) of the main body case 10 of the tape cartridge 1 in the W direction. Thereby, when the pair of locking portions 51 are adhered to both sides of the main body case 10, the bridging portion 520 (plate-like member) constituting the support portion 52 is given some deflection, and the support portion 52 bulges in an arc shape from the tape passage port 13 toward the tape outlet 22 side (see FIG. 6).

[0033] Note that the size of the plate-like member stretched over the locking portion 51 and the extent to which the support portion 52 protrudes toward the tape outlet 22 are set as appropriate. The tape receiving member 5 prevents the leading end side of the tape T from dropping by supporting the leading end side of the tape T in the conveyance direction from the back side. For this reason, it is preferable that the support portion 52 protrudes as close as possible to the tape outlet 22. On the other hand, the tape receiving member 5 must not interfere when the tape cartridge 1 is mounted in the housing portion 2, and it is preferable that it does not hit the receiving portion 22a of the tape outlet 22.

[0034] When the tape cartridge 1 as described above is housed in the housing portion 21 of the printing apparatus 2, the height position at which the support portion 52 of the tape receiving member 5 contacts the tape T from the back side is substantially the same as the position where the tape T passes through the tape passage port 13 of the tape cartridge 1, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. Thereby, even after passing through the tape passage port 13, the tape T is supported by the support portion 52 and is conveyed toward the tape outlet 22 while maintaining the height position.

[0035] On the other hand, the tape outlet 22 of the printing apparatus 2 has a receiving portion 22a for receiving the tape T sent from the tape passage port 13 side of the tape cartridge 1 as described above. As shown in FIG. 8, the height position at which the support portion 52 contacts the tape T from the back side is set to be at least higher than the position of the receiving portion 22a at the tape outlet 22. Thereby, even if the leading end side of the tape T drops somewhat downstream of the support portion 52 in the conveyance path D, it is received by the receiving portion 22a, and the tape T is conveyed to the outlet side outside the tape outlet 22 through the appropriate conveyance path D.

[0036] [Operation] Next, the manufacturing method of the tape cartridge 1 of the present embodiment and its operation will be described. When manufacturing the tape cartridge 1, a main body case 10 in which the tape T (the tape main body t1 and the ink ribbon t2 in the embodiment) is housed inside and a tape receiving member 5 are prepared.

[0037] When forming the tape receiving member 5, first, a plate formed of a PET film or the like is die-cut to cut out a plate-like member 50 (see FIG. 4) having a pair of leg pieces 510 constituting a pair of locking portions 51 and a bridging portion 520 spanned between the pair of leg pieces 510 in an assembled state. Then, by bending this plate-like member 50, a tape receiving member 5 having a pair of locking portions 51 and a support portion 52 spanned between the pair of locking portions 51 is formed. Then, the pair of locking portions 51 are locked to both side portions of the main body case 10 by an attaching means 53 such as double-sided tape. In the present embodiment, the length of the bridging portion 520 is made longer than the length in the W direction of the tape cartridge 1 (the width of the main body case 10). Thereby, as shown in FIG. 6, when the pair of locking portions 51 are locked to both side portions of the main body case 10, the support portion 52 (bridging portion 520) bends and bulges in an arc shape from the tape passage port 13 toward the tape outlet 22 side.

[0038] How much longer the length of the bridging portion 520 is made than the length in the W direction of the tape cartridge 1 (the width of the main body case 10), and how much the support portion 52 projects (bulges) toward the tape outlet 22 side when the locking portion 51 is attached to the main body case 10 are matters to be set as appropriate. The more it projects (bulges) greatly toward the tape outlet 22 side, the more possible it is to hold the height position of the tape T supported from the back side close to the tape outlet 22. However, on the other hand, there is a limit according to the size of the tape cartridge 1 and the size of the accommodating portion 2 that accommodates the tape cartridge 1 in the space between the tape passage port 13 and the tape outlet 22. If the support portion 52 projects (bulges) too much, the support portion 52 will hit the wall portion of the printing apparatus 2 or the like.

[0039] However, even in this case, since the support portion 52 of the present embodiment is only bent and bulged, it can be elastically deformed. Therefore, even if the support portion 52 protrudes slightly more than the space between the tape passing port 13 and the tape delivery port 22, it can be accommodated within the space. Since it is not necessary to strictly define the amount of protrusion (amount of bulge) in this way, strictness is not required for the work of forming the tape receiving member 5 or the attachment position when attaching the formed tape receiving member 5 to the main body case 10 of the tape cartridge 1, and the occurrence of defective products in the manufacturing stage of the tape cartridge 1 can be reduced.

[0040] In addition, by making it possible to retrofit the tape receiving member 5 with such a simple configuration to the existing main body case 10, if a plate-like member 50 that has been die-cut into the same shape is prepared, the tape cartridge 1 having the tape receiving member 5 can be easily manufactured. As a result, it is possible to realize a tape cartridge 1 that can guide the delivery-side end portion of the tape T to an appropriate conveyance path D without taking the trouble of design changes or the like.

[0041] When locking the locking portion 51 to the main body case 10, it is attached so that the height of the upper end of the support portion 52 (for example, the upper end portion in FIG. 7, the end portion on the side that contacts the back surface of the tape T) is approximately the same as the height position of the tape T when passing through the tape passing port 13. If the upper end of the support portion 52 drops below the height of the tape T when passing through the tape passing port 13, the effect of maintaining the height of the tape T will decrease. On the other hand, if the upper end of the support portion 52 becomes higher than the height of the tape T when passing through the tape passing port 13, it will become a resistance during tape passing, making smooth conveyance difficult. Therefore, it is preferable that the upper end of the support portion 52 that contacts the back surface of the tape T is substantially the same as the height of the tape T when passing through the tape passing port 13.

[0042] When the tape cartridge 1 is housed in the housing portion 21, the upper end of the support portion 52 that abuts against the back surface of the tape T is disposed at a position higher than at least the receiving portion 22a of the tape outlet 22. For this reason, even when, for example, the leading end portion of the tape T has dropped downward due to its weight or has curled downward (downward in FIG. 8) with a curl on the leading end portion, it is easily received by the receiving portion 22a of the tape outlet 22, and the tape T is unlikely to deviate from the conveyance path D.

[0043] FIGS. 9 and 10 are main part side views showing the positional relationship of members around the tape outlet when a conventional tape cartridge not provided with a tape receiving member is housed in the housing portion of a printing apparatus. When the tape receiving member 5 is not provided, there is nothing to support the tape T sent out from the tape passage port 13. For this reason, when the leading end portion of the tape T has dropped downward due to its weight or has curled with a curl on the leading end portion, as shown in FIG. 9, it drops downward before being received by the receiving portion 22a of the tape outlet 22, and there is a risk that the leading end portion of the tape T enters a place that is not the original conveyance path D. In this case, conveyance failure occurs, and the tape T is not sent out to the outside of the apparatus and becomes jammed in the printing apparatus 2.

[0044] In this regard, for example, as shown in FIG. 10, if printing is performed by feeding out the leading end portion of the tape T until it is surely received by the receiving portion 22a of the tape outlet 22, a situation where conveyance failure occurs can be avoided. However, in this case, since it is necessary to feed out the leading end portion of the tape T for a long time (for example, about several centimeters), the tape T is wasted.

[0045] In contrast, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, after passing through the tape passage port 13, the tape T is conveyed to the tape delivery port 22 while the height position of the leading end portion of the tape T is maintained at approximately the same level as when passing through the tape passage port 13. Then, at the receiving portion 22a of the tape delivery port 22, the tape T can be reliably received at a position lower than the height position of the leading end portion of the tape T that abuts against the tape passage port 13 and the support portion 52 of the tape receiving member 5, and guided to the correct conveyance path D. Therefore, conveyance failures are less likely to occur.

[0046] Also, as described above, the tape T of the embodiment is a two-layer tape in which a tape body t1 that is the "first tape" and an ink ribbon t2 that is the "second tape" provided on the back surface side of the tape body t1 are integrated. After being sent out from the tape passage port 13, only the tape body t1 passes over the support portion 52 of the tape receiving member 5 and is sent out from the tape delivery port 22. However, in the case of a two-layer tape, the ink ribbon t2 that is the "second tape" may be strongly adhered to the tape body t1 and difficult to peel off.

[0047] In such a case, after passing through the tape passage port 13 after printing, there is a possibility that the ink ribbon t2 does not separate from the tape body t1 and the ink ribbon t2 is conveyed together with the tape body t1 from the tape delivery port. In this regard, in this embodiment, when the ink ribbon t2 that is the "second tape" abuts against the support portion 52 of the tape receiving member 5, the support portion 52 functions as an inhibiting member that inhibits the ink ribbon t2 from being sent toward the tape delivery port 22 side, and peels off the ink ribbon t2 from the tape body t1. As a result, as shown in FIG. 11, the ink ribbon t2 is appropriately separated from the tape body t1 and wound around the winding shaft portion 14, and no conveyance failure occurs in the printing apparatus 2.

[0048] [Effect] As described above, the tape cartridge 1 in the present embodiment is accommodated in the accommodating portion 21 of the printing device 2 that performs printing on the tape T, and has a tape passage port 13 through which the tape T passes. The tape passage port 13 is provided in the middle of the conveyance path of the tape T from the printing position where printing is performed on the tape T to the tape outlet 22 of the printing device 2 that sends out the printed tape T outside the device. A tape receiving member 5 is provided between the tape passage port 13 and the tape outlet 22. The tape receiving member 5 has a support portion 52 that abuts against the tape T from the back side of the tape T. The leading end portion of the tape T may droop downward due to its weight. Also, in the case of the tape T wound in a roll shape, there may be a curl where the leading end side end portion of the tape T is curled. In particular, it is assumed that the curl becomes tighter as the tape T approaches the end of winding. In this regard, in the tape cartridge 1 of the present embodiment, the support portion 52 of the tape receiving member 5 supports the leading end side end portion of the tape T from the back side. Therefore, even when the tape T has a curl, the leading end side end portion of the tape T can be guided to the tape outlet 22 while maintaining its height. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the leading end side end portion of the tape T sent out from the tape passage port 13 from deviating from the original conveyance path D and entering gaps in the printing device or the like before being conveyed to the tape outlet 22, which causes conveyance failure.

[0049] Also, in the present embodiment, the tape receiving member 5 is formed by bending a plate-like member 50, and has a pair of locking portions 51 that are locked to both side portions of the main body case 10 of the tape cartridge 1. The support portion 52 is stretched between the pair of locking portions 51, protrudes from the tape passage port 13 toward the tape outlet 22 side, and at least the protruding end portion is disposed in the vicinity of the tape outlet 22. Thereby, the tape receiving member 5 can be formed by a relatively simple method of bending the plate-like member 50. If the formed tape receiving member 5 is attached to the existing main body case 10, the support portion 52 protrudes toward the tape outlet 22 side, and guides the leading end side end portion of the tape T to the original conveyance path D leading to the tape outlet 22. Therefore, the tape cartridge 1 capable of preventing the occurrence of poor conveyance of the tape T can be easily realized.

[0050] Also, in the present embodiment, the support portion 52 bulges in an arc shape from the tape passage port 13 toward the tape outlet 22 side by giving the crosslinked portion 520, which is a plate-like member, a deflection. Thereby, by adjusting the amount of deflection, fine adjustment of the support portion 52 can be easily performed. Further, since the bulging support portion 52 can be flexibly bent and deformed, the tape cartridge 1 can be easily accommodated in the accommodation portion 21 of the printing apparatus 2 without strictly defining the protruding amount (bulging amount). For this reason, strictness is not required for the work when forming the tape receiving member 5 or the attachment position when attaching the formed tape receiving member 5 to the main body case 10 of the tape cartridge 1, and the occurrence of defective products in the manufacturing stage of the tape cartridge 1 can be suppressed to a minimum.

[0051] Also, in the present embodiment, the height position where the support portion 52 abuts on the back surface side of the tape T is substantially the same as the height position where the tape T passes through the tape passage port 13. If the upper end of the support portion 52 is lower than the height of the tape T when passing through the tape passage port 13, the effect of maintaining the height of the tape T will be reduced. On the other hand, if the upper end of the support portion 52 is higher than the height of the tape T when passing through the tape passage port 13, it will become a resistance during tape passage, making smooth conveyance difficult. In this regard, by making the height position of the upper end of the support portion 52 that abuts on the back surface of the tape T substantially the same as the height of the tape T when passing through the tape passage port 13, while maintaining the height of the leading end side end portion of the tape T, the conveyance resistance is also suppressed, enabling smooth conveyance of the tape T along the conveyance path D.

[0052] In addition, in the present embodiment, the tape outlet 22 has a receiving portion 22a for receiving the tape T sent from the side of the tape passage port 13, and the height position where the support portion 52 abuts on the back side of the tape T is at least higher than the position of the receiving portion 22a at the tape outlet 22. Thus, even when the leading end side end portion of the tape T is lowered by its weight or the tape T has a curl and the leading end side end portion is curled, the leading end side end portion of the tape T can be easily received by the receiving portion 22a and correctly guided from the tape outlet 22 to the outside of the apparatus.

[0053] In addition, in the present embodiment, the tape T is a two-layer tape in which a tape body t1 which is a "first tape" and an ink ribbon t2 which is a "second tape" provided on the back side of the tape body t1 are integrated. After being sent out from the tape passage port 13, only the tape body t1 which is the "first tape" passes over the support portion 52 of the tape receiving member 5 and is sent out from the tape outlet 22, and the ink ribbon t2 which is the "second tape" is separated from the tape body t1 and wound up. In the case of a two-layer tape, the ink ribbon t2 which is the "second tape" may be strongly attached to the tape body t1 and difficult to peel off. Even in such a case, by providing the tape receiving member 5, the ink ribbon t2 can be separated from the tape body t1, and only the tape body t1 can be conveyed from the tape outlet 22. Thereby, it is possible to avoid a conveyance failure in which the tape body t1 and the ink ribbon t2 are conveyed integrally.

[0054] In addition, in the present embodiment, when the ink ribbon t2 which is the "second tape" abuts, the support portion 52 functions as an inhibiting member that inhibits the ink ribbon t2 which is the "second tape" from being sent to the tape outlet 22 side. When the ink ribbon t2 which is the "second tape" is strongly attached to the tape body t1 and difficult to peel off, there is a risk that the ink ribbon t2 will be sent out from the tape outlet 22 while being integrated with the tape body t1, resulting in a conveyance failure. In such a case, in the present embodiment, the support portion 52 can forcibly peel the ink ribbon t2 from the tape main body t1. Therefore, by the tape receiving member 5 that relaxes the curl and kink at the leading end side end portion of the tape T, the ink ribbon t2 attached to the tape main body t1 can be separated, and the effect of avoiding conveyance failure can be expected.

[0055] Also, in the present embodiment, when manufacturing the tape cartridge 1 that is housed in the housing portion 21 of the printing apparatus 2 that prints on the tape T and has the tape passage port 13 through which the tape T passes, by bending the plate-like member 50, a pair of locking portions 51 and a support portion 52 that is stretched between the pair of locking portions 51 and projects from the tape passage port 13 side toward the tape outlet 22 side of the printing apparatus 2 are formed. The pair of locking portions 51 of the tape receiving member 5 are locked to both side portions of the main body case 10 of the tape cartridge 1 in the vicinity of the tape passage port 13, and the tape receiving member 5 is attached so that the support portion 52 supports the tape T from the back side of the tape T between the tape passage port 13 and the tape outlet 22. In this way, the tape receiving member 5 can be easily formed by bending the plate-like member 50. Therefore, for example, a plurality of plate-like members 50 can be prepared in advance by die-cutting and retrofitted to the main body case 10 of the existing tape cartridge 1. Therefore, it is possible to easily make various existing tape cartridges 1 into tape cartridges 1 that have the tape receiving member 5 and can guide the leading end side end portion of the tape T to the correct conveyance path D.

[0056] Also, in the present embodiment, the support portion 52 is formed to bulge in an arc shape from the tape passage port 13 toward the tape outlet 22 side by giving the crosslinked portion 520, which is a plate-like member, a deflection. When the support portion 52 is bulged in an arc shape and can be flexibly bent and deformed, it is possible to mount the tape cartridge 1 having the tape receiving member 5 on the printing apparatus 2 without strictly adjusting the amount of projection (amount of bulge) according to the size of the housing portion 21 and the like. Therefore, strictness is not required for the operation of forming the tape receiving member 5 or the attachment position when attaching the formed tape receiving member 5 to the main body case 10 of the tape cartridge 1, and the occurrence of defective products in the manufacturing stage of the tape cartridge 1 can be reduced.

[0057] [Modification Example] In addition, although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to such embodiments, and various modifications are possible without departing from the gist thereof.

[0058] For example, as the tape cartridge 1 of the present embodiment, a plurality of tape cartridges having different widths (widths in the W direction) of the tape T to be accommodated therein may be prepared. And in this case, even if the width in the W direction of the main body case 10 of the tape cartridge 1 is slightly different due to the difference in the width of the tape T, the tape receiving member 5 formed of the same plate-like member 50 may be attachable. That is, when the bridging portion 520 constituting the support portion 52 is formed longer than the width in the W direction and bent to bulge in an arc shape, the protruding amount (bulging amount) of the support portion 52 is adjusted by the bending amount of the bridging portion 520, or the locking position of the locking portion 51 to the main body case 10 is shifted back and forth along the conveyance path D, so that it is possible to cope to some extent with the main body cases 10 having different widths in the W direction. For this reason, it is possible to cope with a plurality of types of tape cartridges 1 with the same plate-like member 50 without taking the trouble of changing the die of the plate-like member 50 or the like.

[0059] Also, in the present embodiment, the support portion 52 bulges in an arc shape so that the support portion 52 protrudes from the tape passing port 13 toward the tape sending port 22 side, but the configuration in which the support portion 52 protrudes toward the tape sending port 22 side is not limited to this. For example, the support portion 52 may be formed in a substantially triangular shape in a top view in which the tip side protrudes acutely instead of in an arc shape. For example, the cross-linked portion 520 constituting the support portion 52 may be made to have approximately the same width as the width of the main body case 10 in the W direction, and the support portion 52 may be disposed at a position protruding toward the tape outlet 22 by extending the locking portion 51 from the tape passage port 13 toward the tape outlet 22 side. The support portion 52 may have a substantially rectangular shape in top view.

[0060] In the present embodiment, a case where the tape T is a two-layer tape in which the tape body t1 which is the "first tape" and the ink ribbon t2 which is the "second tape" provided on the back surface side of the tape body t1 are integrated is exemplified. However, the configuration of the tape T is not limited to this. For example, when the tape T is a thermal paper type, the tape T may be composed of one layer. Even when the tape T is composed of two layers, for example, when it is composed of two layers of a tape having an adhesive layer on the back surface of the medium to be printed and a protective layer (such as release paper) for protecting the adhesive layer, both layers may pass over the support portion 52 of the tape receiving member 5 and be sent out from the tape outlet 22.

[0061] In the present embodiment, a case where the tape outlet 22 has a receiving portion 22a for receiving the tape T sent from the tape passage port 13 side and the receiving portion 22a is inclined so as to be lower toward the tape passage port 13 side is exemplified. However, the configuration of the tape outlet 22 is not limited to this. For example, it is not essential for the tape outlet 22 to have the receiving portion 22a. Also, it is not essential for the receiving portion 22a to be an inclined surface that becomes lower toward the tape passage port 13 side. Regardless of the configuration of the tape outlet 22, the height position at which the support portion 52 of the tape receiving member 5 contacts the tape T from the back surface side is set to be higher than the height position on the receiving side of the tape T at the tape outlet 22.

[0062] Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and includes the scope of the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0063] 1 tape cartridge, 10 main body case, 13 tape passage opening, 2 printing device, 20 housing, 21 storage part, 22 tape outlet, 22a receiving part, 5 tape receiving member, 51 locking part, 52 supporting part, 53 adhering member, D conveying path, T tape, t1 tape body (first tape), t2 ink ribbon (second tape)

Claims

1. A tape cartridge that is housed in a housing portion of a printing apparatus for printing on a tape and has a tape passage opening through which the tape passes, wherein the tape passage opening is provided in the middle of the conveyance path of the tape from the printing position for printing on the tape to the tape outlet of the printing apparatus that sends the printed tape out of the printing apparatus, a tape receiving member is provided between the tape passage opening and the tape outlet, and the tape receiving member has a support portion that contacts the tape from the back side of the tape. A tape cartridge characterized by the above.

2. The tape receiving member has a pair of locking portions that are locked to both side portions of the main body case of the tape cartridge, the support portion is spanned between the pair of locking portions, protrudes from the tape passage opening toward the tape outlet side, and at least the protruding end portion is disposed near the tape outlet. The tape cartridge according to claim 1, characterized by the above.

3. The support portion bulges in an arc shape from the tape passage opening toward the tape outlet side by causing the plate-like member to have a bend. The tape cartridge according to claim 2, characterized by the above.

4. The height position where the support portion contacts the back side of the tape is substantially the same as the height position where the tape passes through the tape passage opening. The tape cartridge according to claim 1, characterized by the above.

5. The tape outlet has a receiving portion for receiving the tape sent from the tape passage opening side, and the height position where the support portion contacts the back side of the tape is at least higher than the position of the receiving portion at the tape outlet. The tape cartridge according to claim 1, characterized by the above.

6. The tape is a two-layer tape in which a first tape and a second tape provided on the back side of the first tape are integrated. After being sent out from the tape passage opening, only the first tape passes over the support portion of the tape receiving member and is sent out from the tape outlet, and the second tape is separated from the first tape and wound up. The tape cartridge according to claim 1, characterized by the above.

7. When the second tape abuts against the support portion, the support portion functions as an inhibiting member that inhibits the second tape from being sent toward the tape outlet side. The tape cartridge according to claim 6, characterized in that.

8. A method for manufacturing a tape cartridge that is housed in a housing portion of a printing device that performs printing on a tape and has a tape passage opening through which the tape passes, By bending a plate-like member, a tape receiving member having a pair of locking portions and a support portion that is spanned between the pair of locking portions and projects from the tape passage opening side toward the tape outlet side of the printing device is formed, Lock the pair of locking portions of the tape receiving member to both side portions of the main body case of the tape cartridge near the tape passage opening, and attach the tape receiving member so that the support portion supports the tape from the back side of the tape between the tape passage opening and the tape outlet, A method for manufacturing a tape cartridge, characterized in that.

9. The support portion is formed to bulge in an arc shape from the tape passage opening toward the tape outlet side by giving a bend to a plate-like member, The method for manufacturing a tape cartridge according to claim 8, characterized in that.

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