Printer

Abstract

To provide a printer that contributes to prevention of conveyance failure of an ink ribbon when a specific type of cassette is attached to an attaching portion.SOLUTION: A printer includes: a drive mechanism that performs a forward rotation drive for rotating a spool in a forward rotation direction and a reverse rotation drive for rotating the spool in a reverse rotation direction via a clutch mechanism; a sensor that detects an attached cassette; and a first control unit that, when an attached state is detected based on a detection signal from a sensor, causes the drive mechanism to perform the reverse rotation drive before printing by a thermal head starts. A second cassette is less likely to return from a state of the spool detached from a support portion to a state of the spool supported by the support portion, than the first cassette. When the attached cassette is the first cassette, the first control unit causes the drive mechanism to execute the reverse rotation drive by a first predetermined amount (S24); and when the attached cassette is the second cassette, this control unit causes the drive mechanism to execute the reverse rotation drive by a second predetermined amount larger than the first predetermined amount (S27).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 11

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a printer.

Background Art

[0002] In the printer described in Patent Document 1, a cassette is used for printing. The cassette includes a case. The case houses a medium, an ink ribbon, and a ribbon take-up spool, and a take-up support hole is formed. The ribbon take-up spool is supported by the take-up support hole and winds up the ink ribbon by rotating. The printer includes a cassette mounting portion and a thermal head. With the cassette mounted on the cassette mounting portion, the printer performs printing on the medium by the thermal head using the ink ribbon, and causes the used ink ribbon to be wound up by the ribbon take-up spool.

[0003] Patent Document 2 discloses a clutch mechanism. When a load of a certain level or more occurs on the ribbon drive shaft when the ribbon drive shaft rotates in the direction in which the spool winds up the ink ribbon, the clutch mechanism releases the transmission of force from the drive mechanism to the spool via the ribbon drive shaft.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] For example, in the case of a cassette, due to the structure of the ribbon take-up spool or the take-up support hole, etc., when a user mounts the cassette on the cassette mounting portion, there is a possibility that the ribbon take-up spool is of a type that is relatively likely to fall off from the take-up support hole compared to other types. Further, for example, it is conceivable that the clutch mechanism described in Patent Document 2 is provided in the printer or cassette described in Patent Document 1.

[0006] When the clutch mechanism is provided in the printer or cassette, if the ribbon take-up spool falls off from the take-up support hole when the user mounts the cassette on the cassette mounting portion, even if the ribbon take-up spool rotates in the direction of taking up the ink ribbon, the rotation of the ribbon take-up spool may be restricted by the clutch mechanism. When the rotation of the ribbon take-up spool is restricted by the clutch mechanism, it becomes difficult for the ribbon take-up spool to return to the state of being supported by the take-up support hole, so it becomes difficult to take up the ink ribbon. When printing is performed with the ribbon take-up spool in a state of having fallen off from the take-up support hole, conveyance failures of the ink ribbon, such as the ink ribbon popping out of the case, may occur.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a printer that contributes to suppressing conveyance failures of an ink ribbon when a specific type of cassette is mounted on a mounting portion.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] The printer according to the first aspect of the present invention has a case that houses a medium, an ink ribbon, and a spool that winds up the ink ribbon, and uses a cassette in which a support portion that rotatably supports the spool is provided in the case to perform printing. The printer includes a mounting portion to which the cassette is mounted, a thermal head that performs printing on the medium using the ink ribbon, and a driving mechanism that rotates the spool via a clutch mechanism that reduces the force transmitted to the spool when the spool rotates in the normal rotation direction in which the spool winds up the ink ribbon compared to when the spool rotates in the reverse rotation direction opposite to the normal rotation direction. The driving mechanism performs forward rotation driving in the rotation direction for rotating the spool in the normal rotation direction and reverse rotation driving in the rotation direction for rotating the spool in the reverse rotation direction, a sensor that detects a mounted cassette that is the cassette mounted on the mounting portion, and a first control unit that, based on a detection signal from the sensor, when it is detected that the cassette is in a mounted state mounted on the mounting portion, causes the driving mechanism to execute the reverse rotation driving before the start of printing by the thermal head. The first control unit causes the driving mechanism to execute the reverse rotation driving by a first predetermined amount when the mounted cassette is the first cassette, and when the mounted cassette is a second cassette that is more difficult to return to the state of being supported by the support portion than the first cassette from the state where the spool has fallen off from the support portion, causes the driving mechanism to execute the reverse rotation driving by a second predetermined amount that is more than the first predetermined amount.

[0009] According to the first aspect, the second cassette is more difficult to return to the state of being supported by the support portion from the state where the spool has fallen off from the support portion than the first cassette. Since the second predetermined amount is larger than the first predetermined amount, when the second cassette is mounted on the mounting portion, the printer can easily return the spool to the state where the spool is supported by the support portion by the reverse rotation driving by the driving mechanism before the start of printing by the thermal head. Thereby, conveyance failures of the ink ribbon are suppressed. Therefore, the printer contributes to suppressing conveyance failures of the ink ribbon when the second cassette is mounted on the mounting portion.

[0010] The printer according to the second aspect of the present invention has a case that houses a medium, an ink ribbon, and a spool that winds up the ink ribbon, and uses a cassette in which a support portion that rotatably supports the spool is provided in the case. The printer performs printing, and includes a mounting portion to which the cassette is mounted, a thermal head that performs printing on the medium using the ink ribbon, and a driving mechanism that rotates the spool via a clutch mechanism that reduces the force transmitted to the spool when the spool rotates in the normal rotation direction in which the spool winds up the ink ribbon, compared to when the spool rotates in the reverse rotation direction opposite to the normal rotation direction. The driving mechanism performs normal rotation driving in the rotation direction for rotating the spool in the normal rotation direction and reverse rotation driving in the rotation direction for rotating the spool in the reverse rotation direction, a sensor that detects a mounted cassette that is the cassette mounted on the mounting portion, and a first control unit that causes the driving mechanism to execute the reverse rotation driving before the start of printing by the thermal head when it is detected based on a detection signal from the sensor that the cassette is in a mounted state mounted on the mounting portion. The case includes a support wall that extends in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction in which the axis of the spool extends and in which the support portion is provided. The support wall has a predetermined width outward in the orthogonal direction from the peripheral edge of the support portion, and a recess that is recessed outward from the surface of the support wall facing the center of the case in the axial direction is provided in the axial direction. The types of the cassette include a first cassette in which the height of the recess in the axial direction is a first height and a second cassette in which the height of the recess in the axial direction is a second height higher than the first height. The first control unit causes the driving mechanism to execute the reverse rotation driving by a first predetermined amount when the mounted cassette is the first cassette, and causes the driving mechanism to execute the reverse rotation driving by a second predetermined amount greater than the first predetermined amount when the mounted cassette is the second cassette.

[0011] The second aspect contributes to achieving the same effects as the first aspect.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0012]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0013] An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The drawings to be referred to are used to explain the technical features that the present invention can adopt. The configuration, control, etc. of the devices described in the drawings to be referred to are not intended to be limited thereto, but are merely illustrative examples. Hereinafter, the lower left, upper right, lower right, upper left, upper, and lower parts of FIG. 1 are defined as the front, rear, right, left, upper, and lower parts of the printer 1 and the cassette 3, respectively. In the present embodiment, "opening", "hole", "recess", etc. include not only the space but also the walls, peripheries, etc. that define the space.

[0014] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the printer 1 will be described. The printer 1 is a thermal printer that performs printing on the medium 71 using the ink ribbon 72 (see FIG. 4). The cassette 3 is used in the printer 1. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the printer 1 includes a housing 2, a thermal head 4, a ribbon take-up shaft 52, and a cutter 7. The housing 2 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape and includes a lower wall 2A, an upper wall 2B, a front wall 2C, a rear wall 2D, a left wall 2E, and a right wall 2F. A discharge port 21 is provided in the front wall 2C. The discharge port 21 is an opening for discharging the printed medium 71 from the housing 2.

[0015] A mounting portion 22 is provided on the upper wall 2B. The mounting portion 22 is disposed at the front part of the upper wall 2B and is recessed downward from the upper wall 2B. The mounting portion 22 includes a bottom wall 221. The bottom wall 221 extends in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction and has a shape corresponding to the outer shape of the cassette 3 in plan view. The cassette 3 is mounted on the mounting portion 22. Hereinafter, for example, the state where the cassette 3 shown in FIGS. 1 and 8 is not mounted on the mounting portion 22 is referred to as the "non-mounted state". For example, the state where the cassette 3 shown in FIGS. 2 and 9 is mounted on the mounting portion 22 is referred to as the "mounted state", and for example, the cassette 3 mounted on the mounting portion 22 shown in FIGS. 2 and 9, that is, the cassette 3 in the mounted state is referred to as the "mounted cassette".

[0016] The mounting portion 22 is provided with a first switch sensor 29 (see FIG. 1), a ribbon take-up shaft 52, a medium drive shaft 53, and a thermal head 4. The first switch sensor 29 is disposed at the left portion of the bottom wall 221 and includes a plurality of switches 291. The plurality of switches 291 are each selectively retractable and extendable in the vertical direction. The first switch sensor 29 detects the mounted cassette and further detects the type of the mounted cassette according to the pressing pattern of the plurality of switches 291. The types of the cassette 3 will be described later.

[0017] The ribbon take-up shaft 52 is disposed at the right portion of the mounting portion 22 and extends upward from the bottom wall 221. The ribbon take-up shaft 52 has a cylindrical shape and fits into a ribbon take-up spool 73 described later. The medium drive shaft 53 is disposed in front of the ribbon take-up shaft 52 and extends upward from the bottom wall 221. The medium drive shaft 53 has a cylindrical shape and fits into a medium drive roller 74 described later.

[0018] The thermal head 4 is disposed to the right of the ribbon take-up shaft 52 and behind the medium drive shaft 53. The thermal head 4 extends upward from the bottom wall 221. The thermal head 4 has a plate shape and extends in the front-rear direction and the vertical direction. The thermal head 4 includes a plurality of heating elements 40. The plurality of heating elements 40 are disposed on the right surface of the thermal head 4 and are arranged in the vertical direction. The thermal head 4 fits into a head insertion hole 37 described later and performs printing on the medium 71 using the ink ribbon 72. Specifically, the thermal head 4 heats the ink ribbon 72 by selective heating of the plurality of heating elements 40 and transfers the ink from the ink ribbon 72 to the medium 71.

[0019] The mounting portion 22 is connected to the discharge port 21 via a discharge passage 23. The discharge passage 23 extends in the front-rear direction from the right front corner portion of the mounting portion 22 to the discharge port 21. A cutter 7 is disposed in the discharge passage 23 and includes a cutting blade 7A and a receiving plate 7B (see FIG. 2). The cutting blade 7A is disposed on the right side of the discharge passage 23. The cutting blade 7A has a plate shape and extends in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction. The cutting blade 7A is retractable and extendable in the horizontal direction with respect to the discharge passage 23.

[0020] The receiving plate 7B is disposed to the left of the discharge passage 23 and extends in the front-rear direction and the up-down direction. The receiving plate 7B faces the cutting blade 7A with the discharge passage 23 therebetween in the left-right direction. The cutter 7 drives the cutting blade 7A to enter the discharge passage 23 by driving a cutting motor 70 (see FIG. 10). Thereby, the cutter 7 sandwiches the printed medium 71 disposed in the discharge passage 23 between the cutting blade 7A and the receiving plate 7B and cuts the medium 71. In the present embodiment, "cutting" includes dividing the medium into two in the longitudinal direction of the medium, forming perforations extending in the width direction of the medium in the medium, forming incisions extending in the width direction of the medium in the medium, and the like.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 3, in the housing 2, a display 11 and an operation unit 13 are provided on the lower wall 2A. The display 11 displays various information. The operation unit 13 is a touch panel, operation buttons, etc., and receives operations by the user.

[0022] The printer 1 further includes a roller holder 6 and a drive mechanism 8. The roller holder 6 is provided to the right of the mounting portion 22. The roller holder 6 has a plate shape and extends in the front-rear direction. The roller holder 6 rotatably supports a platen roller 61 and a movable roller 62, respectively. The platen roller 61 is disposed at the front portion of the roller holder 6 and extends in the up-down direction. The platen roller 61 faces the thermal head 4 from the right. The movable roller 62 is arranged in front of the platen roller 61 and extends in the up-down direction. The platen roller 61 and the movable roller 62 convey the medium 71.

[0023] The roller holder 6 supports a second switch sensor 63. The second switch sensor 63 is disposed behind the platen roller 61 and includes a plurality of switches 631 (see FIG. 4). The plurality of switches 631 are each selectively retractable and extendable in the left-right direction. The second switch sensor 63 detects the mounting cassette and further detects the type of the mounting cassette according to the pressing pattern of the plurality of switches 631.

[0024] The rear end of the roller holder 6 is rotatably supported by a support shaft 69. The support shaft 69 is fixed to the housing 2 and extends in the vertical direction. The roller holder 6 rotates around the support shaft 69 via a link mechanism 60 as an opening / closing cover (not shown) for covering the mounting portion 22 from above is opened and closed.

[0025] The drive mechanism 8 is a mechanism for rotating the ribbon take-up spool 73 via a clutch spring 83 described later and is disposed within the housing 2. The drive mechanism 8 includes a conveyance motor 81, a gear train 82, and a clutch spring 83. The conveyance motor 81 is a stepping motor and is disposed behind the mounting portion 22. The conveyance motor 81 performs forward drive and reverse drive. The forward drive is a drive in a rotational direction for rotating the ribbon take-up spool 73 (see FIG. 4) in the forward rotation direction. The forward rotation direction is the rotational direction in which the ribbon take-up spool 73 winds the ink ribbon 72, and in the present embodiment, it is the counterclockwise direction in plan view.

[0026] The reverse drive is a drive in a rotational direction for rotating the ribbon take-up spool 73 in the reverse rotation direction. The reverse rotation direction is the direction opposite to the forward rotation direction, that is, the rotational direction in which the ink ribbon 72 wound by the ribbon take-up spool 73 is returned. The reverse rotation direction is the clockwise direction in plan view in the present embodiment. The conveyance motor 81 switches between forward drive and reverse drive by switching the rotational direction in which the conveyance motor 81 drives.

[0027] The gear train 82 connects the conveyance motor 81 to each of the ribbon take-up shaft 52, the platen roller 61, and the medium drive shaft 53. In the present embodiment, the gear train 82 is disposed below the bottom wall 221 and is composed of a plurality of gears. The plurality of gears include a gear 821, 822, 823, 824, 825, 826, a gear (not shown) fixed to the lower end of the medium drive shaft 53, a gear (not shown) fixed to the lower end of the platen roller 61, and other gears (not shown).

[0028] Gear 821 is fixed to the output shaft of the conveyance motor 81. Gear 822 is disposed in front of gear 821 and meshes with gear 821. Gear 823 is disposed in front of gear 822 and meshes with gear 822. Gear 824 is disposed in front of gear 823 and meshes with gear 823. Gear 825 is disposed in front of gear 824 and meshes with gear 824. Gear 826 is disposed in front of gear 825 and meshes with gear 825. Gear 826 meshes with a gear fixed to the lower end of the medium drive shaft 53. When the front end of the roller holder 6 swings leftward around the support shaft 69 at the lower end of the platen roller 61, the gear fixed to the lower end of the platen roller 61 is connected to gear 825 via other gears.

[0029] A support frame 24 is provided between the bottom wall 221 and the lower wall 2A in the vertical direction. The plurality of gears 822 - 826 and other gears are rotatably supported by the support frame 24. The axis of each of the plurality of gears constituting the gear train 82 extends in the vertical direction.

[0030] The ribbon take-up shaft 52 includes a fixed shaft 521 and a rotating body 522. The fixed shaft 621 extends upward from the support frame 24 and penetrates the center of gear 824 and the bottom wall 221. The lower end of the fixed shaft 521 is fixed to the support frame 24. Thereby, gear 824 is rotatably supported by the fixed shaft 521. The rotating body 522 has a cylindrical shape and is mounted on the fixed shaft 521. The rotating body 522 is rotatably supported by the fixed shaft 521. The rotating body 522 constitutes the outer peripheral surface of the ribbon take-up shaft 52 and includes a protrusion 52A. The protrusion 52A protrudes radially from the rotating body 522 in plan view.

[0031] The clutch spring 83 has a coil shape and is mounted on the outer periphery of the rotating body 522. The clutch spring 83 is disposed on gear 824 and is located at the lower end of the rotating body 522. A locking wall 824A is provided on gear 824. The locking wall 824A has an annular shape and protrudes upward from around the center of gear 824. A groove 824B is formed in the locking wall 824A. One end of the clutch spring 83 is disposed in the groove 824B and is locked by the locking wall 824A.

[0032] The clutch spring 83 is wound around the rotating body 522 in such a direction that it expands in diameter when the gear 824 rotates counterclockwise (forward rotation direction) in a plan view and contracts in diameter when the gear 824 rotates clockwise (reverse rotation direction) in a plan view. For this reason, when the ribbon take-up spool 73 rotates in the forward rotation direction, the clutch spring 83 reduces the force transmitted from the conveyance motor 81 to the ribbon take-up spool 73 compared to when the ribbon take-up spool 73 rotates in the reverse rotation direction.

[0033] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, the outline of the cassette 3 will be described. In the present embodiment, the types of the cassette 3 include a first cassette, a second cassette, and a third cassette. When collectively referring to the first cassette, the second cassette, and the third cassette, or when not distinguishing any of them, it is referred to as the "cassette 3". In the present embodiment, the first cassette is a cassette 3 in which the ribbon take-up spool 73 described later relatively easily returns from a state of falling off the support hole 42 to a state of being supported by the support hole 42, or a cassette 3 in which the ribbon take-up spool 73 is relatively difficult to fall off from the support hole 42, or substantially does not fall off.

[0034] The second cassette is a cassette 3 in which it is more difficult for the ribbon take-up spool 73 to return from a state of falling off the support hole 42 to a state of being supported by the support hole 42 than the first cassette. The third cassette is a cassette 3 in which it is more difficult for the ribbon take-up spool 73 to return from a state of falling off the support hole 42 to a state of being supported by the support hole 42 than the second cassette. In the present embodiment, in the second cassette, the ribbon take-up spool 73 is more likely to fall off from the support hole 42 than the first cassette, and in the third cassette, the ribbon take-up spool 73 is more likely to fall off from the support hole 42 than the second cassette.

[0035] Particularly, the first cassette, the second cassette, and the third cassette have different vertical heights of the concave portion 32 described later (see FIG. 6). The higher the vertical height of the concave portion 32, the more difficult it is for the ribbon take-up spool 73 to return from a state of falling off the support hole 42 to a state of being supported by the support hole 42. Hereinafter, for simplicity of explanation, the cassette 3 will be described assuming that the configurations other than the height of the concave portion 32 are the same for the first cassette, the second cassette, and the third cassette.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 1, the cassette 3 includes a case 31. The case 31 has a rectangular parallelepiped box shape and includes a lower wall 3A, an upper wall 3B, and a peripheral wall 3C. The lower wall 3A is located at the lower end of the case 31 and extends in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction. The upper wall 3B is located at the upper end of the case 31 and extends in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction. The upper wall 3B is arranged vertically with the lower wall 3A. The peripheral wall 3C extends vertically between the peripheral edge of the lower wall 3A and the peripheral edge of the upper wall 3B.

[0037] An arm portion 35 is formed on the right portion of the case 31. The arm portion 35 includes a right wall 351, a front end 352, and a rear wall 353. The right wall 351, the front end 352, and the rear wall 353 are part of the peripheral wall 3C. The right wall 351 extends from the right rear portion of the case 31 to the front end 352 diagonally forward to the right. A second indicator portion 351A is formed on the right wall 351. The second indicator portion 351A is constituted by a combination of surfaces or recesses. The combination of surfaces or recesses in the second indicator portion 351A varies depending on the type of the cassette 3. In the present embodiment, it varies depending on whether or not it includes a laminate tape. Due to the combination of surfaces or recesses, the pressing patterns of a plurality of switches 631 in the second switch sensor 63 are different.

[0038] The front end 352 is located behind the front end of the case 31. An arm opening 354 is formed in the front end 352 to expose the medium 71 and the ink ribbon 72 from inside the case 31 to the outside of the case 31 and guide them to a first guide portion 38 described later. The arm opening 354 has a slit shape and extends in the vertical direction. The rear wall 353 extends from the front end 352 diagonally backward to the left to a head peripheral wall 36. The head peripheral wall 36 is part of the peripheral wall 3C and extends from the rear end of the rear wall 353 forward to the front end of the case 31.

[0039] The rear wall 353 and the head peripheral wall 36 define a head insertion hole 37. The head insertion hole 37 is a space surrounded by the rear wall 353 and the head peripheral wall 36 and penetrates the right front portion of the case 31 in the vertical direction. The right front portion of the head insertion hole 37 opens to the right.

[0040] On the head peripheral wall 36, a first guiding portion 38 and a second guiding portion 39 are provided. The first guiding portion 38 is disposed forward of the front end 352. The first guiding portion 38 has a columnar shape and extends in the vertical direction. The first guiding portion 38 defines a first guiding port 381 for guiding the medium 71 to the second guiding portion 39 and guiding the ink ribbon 72 into the case 31. The first guiding port 381 has a slit shape and extends in the vertical direction.

[0041] The second guiding portion 39 is disposed forward of the first guiding portion 38 and, in this embodiment, is disposed at the front end of the head peripheral wall 36. The second guiding portion 39 has a columnar shape and extends in the vertical direction. The second guiding portion 39 defines a second guiding port 391 for guiding the medium 71 out of the case 31. The second guiding port 391 has a slit shape and extends in the vertical direction.

[0042] Support holes 41, 42, and 43 are formed in the case 31. The support hole 41 is disposed at the left front portion of the case 31 and vertically penetrates the case 31 from the lower wall 3A to the upper wall 3B. The support hole 42 is disposed diagonally rearward to the right of the support hole 41 and vertically penetrates the case 31 from the lower wall 3A to the upper wall 3B. The support hole 43 is disposed diagonally forward to the right of the support hole 41 and vertically penetrates the case 31 from the lower wall 3A to the upper wall 3B.

[0043] Although not shown, a first indicator portion is formed at the left portion of the lower surface of the lower wall 3A. The first indicator portion is configured in the same manner as the second indicator portion 351A, that is, it is configured by a combination of surfaces or recesses. The combination of surfaces or recesses in the first indicator portion varies depending on the type of the cassette 3 and, in this embodiment, varies depending on the color of the medium 71, the type of the medium 71 (tape or tube), etc. Due to the combination of surfaces or recesses, in the first switch sensor 29, the pressing patterns of the plurality of switches 291 are different.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 4, the case 31 houses a media roll 711, a ribbon roll 721, a ribbon take-up spool 73, and a media drive roller 74. The media roll 711 is rotatably supported by a support hole 41 and is configured by winding a media 71 around a media supply spool 712. In the present embodiment, the media 71 is wound in a clockwise direction from the center of the media roll 711 outward in a plan view.

[0045] The ribbon roll 721 is rotatably supported by a support shaft 44 and is configured by winding an ink ribbon 72 around a ribbon supply spool 722. The support shaft 44 is disposed obliquely rearward to the right of the support hole 42 and extends in the vertical direction from the lower wall 3A to the upper wall 3B. In the present embodiment, the ink ribbon 72 is wound in a counterclockwise direction from the center of the ribbon roll 721 outward in a plan view.

[0046] The ribbon take-up spool 73 is rotatably supported by a support hole 42. The ribbon take-up spool 73 has a cylindrical shape and extends in the vertical direction. One end of the ink ribbon 72 is fixed to the outer periphery of the ribbon take-up spool 73. Therefore, when the ribbon take-up spool 73 rotates, the ink ribbon 72 is wound by the ribbon take-up spool 73, and the ink ribbon 72 is fed out from the ribbon roll 721. In the present embodiment, the ribbon take-up spool 73 rotates in a counterclockwise direction in a plan view to wind the ink ribbon 72.

[0047] The media drive roller 74 is rotatably supported by a support hole 43. The media drive roller 74 has a cylindrical shape and extends in the vertical direction. The outer periphery of the media drive roller 74 is exposed to the right from the head peripheral wall 36 between the first guide portion 38 and the second guide portion 39.

[0048] Referring to FIG. 5, the details of the ribbon take-up spool 73 and the supporting mode of the ribbon take-up spool 73 by the support hole 42 will be described. The ribbon take-up spool 73 has a cylindrical body 73B, a plurality of protrusions 73A, and support plates 731 and 732. The cylindrical body 73B extends in the vertical direction. The axis AX of the ribbon take-up spool 73 passes through the center of the cylindrical body 73B in plan view and extends in the vertical direction. The axis AX is orthogonal to the front-rear direction and the left-right direction. The plurality of protrusions 73A are arranged along the circumferential direction of the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical body 73B and protrude from the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical body 73B toward the center of the cylindrical body 73B in plan view.

[0049] The support plate 731 extends outward (in a direction away from the center of the cylindrical body 73B) from the lower end of the cylindrical body 73B in plan view and has an annular shape in plan view. The support plate 732 extends outward (in a direction away from the center of the cylindrical body 73B) from the upper end of the cylindrical body 73B in plan view and has an annular shape in plan view. The support plates 731 and 732 restrict the vertical movement of the ink ribbon 72 wound by the ribbon take-up spool 73 between them.

[0050] A protrusion 734 is provided on the support plate 731. The protrusion 734 has an annular shape in plan view and protrudes downward from the inner peripheral edge of the support plate 731. A protrusion 733 is provided on the support plate 732. The protrusion 733 has an annular shape in plan view and protrudes upward from the inner peripheral edge of the support plate 732. The protrusion 734 fits into the lower end of the support hole 42, and the protrusion 733 fits into the upper end of the support hole 42. Thereby, the ribbon take-up spool 73 is supported by the support hole 42.

[0051] A recess 32 is provided in the upper wall 3B. The recess 32 has a predetermined width outward from the periphery of the support hole 42 in a plan view, that is, has an annular shape in a plan view. The recess 32 is recessed upward from the lower surface of the upper wall 3B in the vertical direction. The outer diameter of the recess 32 is smaller than the outer diameter of the support plate 732. For this reason, when the center of the support hole 42 and the center of the support plate 732 coincide with each other in a plan view, the support plate 732 does not fit into the recess 32. In this case, the support plate 732 is disposed below the recess 32 and contacts the lower surface of the upper wall 3B around the recess 32. When the center of the support hole 42 and the center of the support plate 732 substantially coincide with each other in a plan view, the ribbon take-up spool 73 is rotatably supported by the support hole 42. Hereinafter, the state in which the ribbon take-up spool 73 is rotatably supported by the support hole 42 is referred to as a "rotatable state".

[0052] Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the difference in the vertical height of the recess 32 in each of the first cassette, the second cassette, and the third cassette will be described. FIG. 6 shows, in order from left to right, an enlarged view of the region W1 in the first cassette, an enlarged view of the region W1 in the second cassette, and an enlarged view of the region W1 in the third cassette. Hereinafter, the vertical height of the recess 32 is simply referred to as the "height of the recess 32".

[0053] As shown in FIG. 6, the height of the recess 32 in the first cassette is the first height H1. The height of the recess 32 in the second cassette is the second height H2. The height of the recess 32 in the third cassette is the third height H3. The second height H2 is higher than the first height H1, and the third height H3 is higher than the second height H2.

[0054] Note that the configurations of the first cassette, the second cassette, and the third cassette may be different from each other except for the height of the concave portion 32. For example, the types of the media 71 in the first cassette, the second cassette, and the third cassette may be different. More specifically, the media 71 in the first cassette may be a tape, and the media 71 in the second cassette and the third cassette may be tubes. The relationships between the outer diameters of the support plates 732 and the outer diameter of the concave portion 32 may be different among the first cassette, the second cassette, and the third cassette. That is, due to the relationships of various members, the second cassette may be configured to be less likely to return from the rotation-restricted state to the rotatable state than the first cassette, and the third cassette may be configured to be less likely to return from the rotation-restricted state to the rotatable state than the second cassette.

[0055] As shown in FIG. 7, when the center of the ribbon take-up spool 73 is displaced from the center of the support hole 42 in a plan view, the ribbon take-up spool 73 may fall off from the support hole 42. In this case, the support plate 731 fits into the concave portion 32, and the rotation of the ribbon take-up spool 73 is restricted. Hereinafter, the state where the ribbon take-up spool 73 has fallen off from the support hole 42, that is, the state where the rotation of the ribbon take-up spool 73 is restricted, is referred to as the "rotation-restricted state". In the rotation-restricted state, the ribbon take-up spool 73 cannot rotate or it is difficult to rotate to wind up the ink ribbon 72.

[0056] When the ribbon take-up spool 73 returns from the rotation-restricted state to the rotatable state, the support plate 732 needs to ride over the step of the concave portion 32 downward. Therefore, the higher the height of the concave portion 32 is, the more difficult it is for the ribbon take-up spool 73 to return from the rotation-restricted state to the rotatable state. Thus, in the present embodiment, since the second height H2 is higher than the first height H1 and the third height H3 is higher than the second height H2, the second cassette is less likely to return from the rotation-restricted state to the rotatable state than the first cassette, and the third cassette is less likely to return from the rotation-restricted state to the rotatable state than the second cassette.

[0057] Hereinafter, the difficulty of the ribbon take-up spool 73 to return from the rotation-restricted state to the rotatable state is simply referred to as "return difficulty". The return difficulty is specified as follows, for example. In the rotation-restricted state, it can be said that the greater the number of rotations required for the ribbon take-up spool 73 to return to the rotatable state when rotated with the same torque, the more difficult it is for the ribbon take-up spool 73 to return from the rotation-restricted state to the rotatable state. In the rotation-restricted state, it can be said that the greater the torque required for the ribbon take-up spool 73 to return to the rotatable state when rotated by the same amount, the more difficult it is for the ribbon take-up spool 73 to return from the rotation-restricted state to the rotatable state.

[0058] Referring to FIG. 4, the operation of the roller holder 6 accompanying the opening and closing of the opening / closing cover, and the conveyance path of the medium 71 and the conveyance path of the ink ribbon 72 in the mounted state will be described. In the mounted state, the medium drive shaft 53 fits into the medium drive roller 74, the ribbon take-up shaft 52 fits into the ribbon take-up spool 73, and the thermal head 4 fits into the head insertion hole 37. In this case, for example, between the ribbon take-up shaft 52 and the ribbon take-up spool 73, the protrusion 52A and the protrusion 73A engage with each other.

[0059] FIG. 4 shows the platen roller 61 and the movable roller 62 in the state where the opening / closing cover is opened with respect to the mounting portion 22 by solid lines, and the platen roller 61 and the movable roller 62 in the state where the opening / closing cover is closed with respect to the mounting portion 22 by phantom lines.

[0060] When the opening / closing cover is opened with respect to the mounting portion 22, the front end of the roller holder 6 swings to the right. In this case, in the mounted state, the platen roller 61 moves away from the thermal head 4 to the right, and the movable roller 62 moves away from the medium drive roller 74 to the right. When the cover is closed with respect to the mounting portion 22, the front end of the roller holder 6 swings to the left. In this case, in the mounted state, the platen roller 61 contacts the thermal head 4 with the medium 71 and the ink ribbon 72 sandwiched therebetween from the right, and the movable roller 62 contacts the medium drive roller 74 with the medium 71 sandwiched therebetween from the right.

[0061] In the mounted state with the opening / closing cover closed, when the platen roller 61 rotates counterclockwise in a plan view by driving the conveyance motor 81 and the medium drive shaft 53 rotates the medium drive roller 74 clockwise in a plan view by driving the conveyance motor 81, the medium 71 is conveyed along the conveyance path of the medium 71.

[0062] The medium 71 is conveyed from the left rear part of the medium roll 711 diagonally backward to the right to the right rear corner of the case 31. The medium 71 bends at the right rear corner of the case 31 and is conveyed forward. The medium 71 is conveyed out of the arm part 35 from the arm opening 354 through the arm part 35. The medium 71 is conveyed forward from the arm opening 354 toward the first guide part 38 and passes through the first guide port 381. In this case, the medium 71 passes between the thermal head 4 and the platen roller 61 with the printing surface of the medium 71 facing leftward.

[0063] The medium 71 is conveyed forward from the first guide port 381 toward the second guide part 39 and passes through the second guide port 391. Thereby, the medium 71 is guided out of the case 31. That is, the second guide part 39 is located at the most downstream of the conveyance path of the medium 71 in the cassette 3. The medium 71 is conveyed forward from the second guide port 391 and passes through the discharge passage 23. In this case, the medium 71 passes between the cutting blade 7A and the receiving plate 7B in the cutter 7. That is, the cutter 7 is located downstream of the thermal head 4 in the conveyance path of the medium 71 in the printer 1, and further downstream of the second guide part 39 in the conveyance path of the medium 71 in the printer 1 in the mounted state. The medium 71 is discharged forward from the discharge passage 23 through the discharge port 21.

[0064] In the mounted state with the opening / closing cover closed, when the ribbon take-up shaft 52 rotates the ribbon take-up spool 73 counterclockwise in a plan view by driving the conveyance motor 81, the ink ribbon 72 is conveyed along the conveyance path of the ink ribbon 72.

[0065] The ink ribbon 72 is conveyed obliquely forward to the right from the front end of the ribbon roll 721. The ink ribbon 72 is conveyed out of the arm portion 35 from the arm opening 354 through the arm portion 35. The ink ribbon 72 is conveyed forward from the arm opening 354 toward the first guide portion 38 and passes through the first guide opening 381. In this case, the ink ribbon 72 passes between the thermal head 4 and the platen roller 61 with the ink surface of the ink ribbon 72 facing rightward.

[0066] Between the thermal head 4 and the platen roller 61, the thermal head 4, the platen roller 61, the medium 71, and the ink ribbon 72 are arranged in the order of the thermal head 4, the ink ribbon 72, the medium 71, and the platen roller 61 from left to right. The ink ribbon 72 enters the case 31 from the first guide opening 381 and is conveyed rearward along the left surface of the head peripheral wall 36. The ink ribbon 72 is wound up by the ribbon take-up spool 73.

[0067] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the forward rotation drive and the reverse rotation drive by the drive mechanism 8 will be described. In the forward rotation drive, the output shaft of the conveyance motor 81 rotates in the clockwise direction in plan view. In this case, the gear 824 rotates in the counterclockwise direction in plan view, and rotates the ribbon take-up shaft 52 in the counterclockwise direction in plan view. As a result, the ribbon take-up spool 73 rotates in the counterclockwise direction (forward rotation direction) in plan view, and winds up the ink ribbon 72. Further, a gear (not shown) fixed to the lower end of the medium drive shaft 53 rotates in the clockwise direction in plan view, and rotates the medium drive shaft 53 in the clockwise direction in plan view. As a result, the medium drive roller 74 rotates in the clockwise direction in plan view. Further, a gear (not shown) fixed to the lower end of the platen roller 61 rotates in the counterclockwise direction in plan view, and rotates the platen roller 61 in the counterclockwise direction in plan view. The medium drive roller 74 and the platen roller 61 convey the medium 71 along the conveyance path of the medium 71 by rotating.

[0068] In forward driving, when the gear 824 rotates counterclockwise in a plan view, the clutch spring 83 expands in diameter. In this case, until a load equal to or greater than a certain value is applied to the clutch spring 83, the ribbon take-up shaft 52 and the gear 824 are connected via the clutch spring 83. Therefore, until a load equal to or greater than a certain value is applied to the clutch spring 83, the power of the conveyance motor 81 is transmitted to the ribbon take-up shaft 52, and the ribbon take-up shaft 52 also rotates counterclockwise in a plan view. When a load equal to or greater than a certain value is applied to the clutch spring 83, the amount of diameter expansion of the clutch spring 83 increases, and the connection between the ribbon take-up shaft 52 and the gear 824 is released. The power of the conveyance motor 81 is no longer transmitted to the ribbon take-up shaft 52. The clutch spring 83 contributes to suppressing the tearing of the ink ribbon 72 when a large load is applied to the ink ribbon 72.

[0069] In reverse driving, the gear 824 rotates clockwise in a plan view, and rotates the ribbon take-up shaft 52 clockwise in a plan view. As a result, the ribbon take-up spool 73 rotates clockwise (reverse direction) in a plan view, and returns the ink ribbon 72. Further, a gear (not shown) fixed to the lower end of the medium drive shaft 53 rotates counterclockwise in a plan view, and rotates the medium drive shaft 53 counterclockwise in a plan view. As a result, the medium drive roller 74 rotates counterclockwise in a plan view. Further, a gear (not shown) fixed to the lower end of the platen roller 61 rotates clockwise in a plan view, and rotates the platen roller 61 clockwise in a plan view. The medium drive roller 74 and the platen roller 61 rotate to return the medium 71 along the conveyance path of the medium 71.

[0070] In reverse driving, when the gear 824 rotates clockwise in a plan view, the clutch spring 83 contracts in diameter. In this case, regardless of the magnitude of the load applied to the clutch spring 83, the ribbon take-up shaft 52 and the gear 824 are connected via the clutch spring 83. Therefore, regardless of the magnitude of the load applied to the clutch spring 83, the power of the conveyance motor 81 is transmitted to the ribbon take-up shaft 52, and the ribbon take-up shaft 52 also rotates clockwise in a plan view. Thus, the power transmitted to the ribbon take-up spool 73 via the ribbon take-up shaft 52 is greater in reverse driving than in forward driving.

[0071] Referring to FIGS. 1, 4, 8, and 9, a method of mounting the cassette 3 to the mounting portion 22 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 8, the user mounts the cassette 3 to the mounting portion 22 from above with the opening / closing cover open. Specifically, the user mounts the cassette 3 to the mounting portion 22 in such a posture that the lower wall 3A faces the bottom wall 221, and inserts the ribbon take-up shaft 52, the medium drive shaft 53, and the thermal head 4 into the support holes 42, 43, and the head insertion hole 37, respectively.

[0072] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 9, in the mounted state, the medium drive shaft 53 fits into the medium drive roller 74, the ribbon take-up shaft 52 fits into the ribbon take-up spool 73, and the thermal head 4 fits into the head insertion hole 37. The user closes the opening / closing cover with the cassette 3 mounted to the mounting portion 22. Thereby, the platen roller 61 overlaps the medium 71 and the ink ribbon 72 and presses them against the thermal head 4 from the right.

[0073] When the user mounts the cassette 3 to the mounting portion 22, due to the angle of the cassette 3 with respect to the bottom wall 221, for example, the ribbon take-up shaft 52 may contact the inner peripheral surface of the ribbon take-up spool 73, and the ribbon take-up spool 73 may drop out of the recess 32 and enter a rotation-restricted state (see FIG. 7). In order to prevent printing from being performed while in the rotation-restricted state, the printer 1 performs the main process described later.

[0074] Referring to FIG. 10, the electrical configuration of the printer 1 will be described. The printer 1 includes a CPU 91, a ROM 92, and a RAM 93. The CPU 91, the ROM 92, and the RAM 93 are electrically connected to each other. The CPU 91 controls the printer 1 and is electrically connected to the ROM 92 and the RAM 93. The ROM 92 stores a control program for the CPU 91 to control the operation of the printer 1, information necessary for the CPU 91 when executing various programs, etc. The control program includes a program for executing the main process described later. The RAM 93 temporarily stores various data used in the control program.

[0075] In this embodiment, the ROM 92 stores by associating the pressing patterns of the plurality of switches 291 with the type of the cassette 3 (whether it is a cassette equipped with a laminate tape or not). The ROM 92 stores by associating the pressing patterns of the plurality of switches 631 with the type of the cassette 3 (the color of the medium 71, the type of the medium 71). The ROM 92 stores by associating the combination of the pressing patterns of each of the plurality of switches 291 and 631 with the type of the cassette (the first cassette, the second cassette, and the third cassette).

[0076] The conveyance motor 81, the cutting motor 70, the thermal head 4, the display 11, the operation unit 13, the first switch sensor 29, and the second switch sensor 63 are electrically connected to the CPU 91 respectively. The conveyance motor 81, the cutting motor 70, the thermal head 4, and the display 11 are driven under the control of the CPU 91 respectively.

[0077] The operation unit 13 outputs information according to the operation by the user to the CPU 91. In this embodiment, the operation unit 13 includes a power button 14 and a print button 15. The user can switch the ON and OFF of the power of the printer 1 by operating the power button 14. The user can input a print instruction for starting printing by the printer 1 to the printer 1 by operating the print button 15.

[0078] The first switch sensor 29 outputs a detection signal according to the pressing pattern of the plurality of switches 291 to the CPU 91. The second switch sensor 63 outputs a detection signal according to the pressing pattern of the plurality of switches 631 to the CPU 91. Based on the detection signal from the first switch sensor 29 and the detection signal from the second switch sensor 63, the CPU 91 detects whether it is in the mounted state, the switching from one of the mounted state and the non-mounted state to the other, and the type of the mounted cassette (the first cassette, the second cassette, and the third cassette). The switching from one of the mounted state and the non-mounted state to the other indicates the replacement of the mounted cassette.

[0079] Referring to FIG. 11, the main process will be described. When the user operates the power button 14, the power of the printer 1 is turned on from off. In this case, the CPU 91 reads the control program from the ROM 92 and operates to execute the main process.

[0080] When the main process starts, the CPU 91 determines whether the cassette 3 is in the installed state based on the detection signals from the first switch sensor 29 and the second switch sensor 63 (S11). That is, in the process of S11, it is determined whether the cassette 3 is in the installed state and the power of the printer 1 has been switched from off to on.

[0081] In this embodiment, when the power of the printer 1 is off, the first switch sensor 29 and the second switch sensor 63 do not output detection signals to the CPU 91. Therefore, the CPU 91 cannot determine whether the installed cassette has been replaced while the power of the printer 1 is off. For this reason, when the cassette 3 is in the installed state and the power of the printer 1 is switched from off to on, it is assumed that the installed cassette has been replaced.

[0082] Therefore, when the cassette 3 is in the installed state (S11: YES), the CPU 91 turns on the initial flag (S12). On the other hand, when the cassette 3 is not in the installed state (S11: NO), the CPU 91 shifts the process to the process of S13.

[0083] Based on the detection signals from the first switch sensor 29 and the second switch sensor 63, the CPU 91 determines whether the loaded cassette has been replaced (S13). That is, in the process of S13, it is determined whether the loaded cassette has been replaced while the power of the printer 1 is ON. Note that the replacement of the loaded cassette includes the case where the cassette 3 in the loaded state is removed from the mounting portion 22 and then a cassette 3 different from the removed cassette 3 is mounted on the mounting portion 22, the case where the cassette 3 in the loaded state is removed from the mounting portion 22 and then the same cassette 3 as the removed cassette 3 is mounted on the mounting portion 22, and the case where the power of the printer 1 is turned ON with the cassette 3 not in the loaded state and then the cassette 3 is mounted on the mounting portion 22. That is, the replacement of the loaded cassette means that at least the detection signals from the first switch sensor 29 and the second switch sensor 63 switch from a state indicating that the cassette 3 is not in the loaded state to a state indicating that the cassette 3 is in the loaded state.

[0084] If the loaded cassette has not been replaced (S13: NO), the CPU 91 shifts the process to the process of S21. If the loaded cassette has been replaced (S13: YES), the CPU 91 turns on the first-time flag (S14). The first-time flag indicates whether the first printing has been performed since the loaded cassette was replaced (including the case where it is assumed that the loaded cassette has been replaced). The first-time flag is ON when the first printing has not been performed since the loaded cassette was replaced, and is OFF when the first printing has been performed since the loaded cassette was replaced. The CPU 91 shifts the process to the process of S21.

[0085] The CPU 91 determines whether a printing instruction has been obtained via the print button 15 (S21). If the printing instruction has not been obtained (S21: NO), the CPU 91 returns the process to the process of S13. The CPU 91 repeats the determination of whether the loaded cassette has been replaced (S13) until a printing instruction is obtained.

[0086] Before the user operates the print button 15 to input a print instruction to the printer 1, the cassette 3 is loaded into the loading section 22. For example, if the CPU 91 does not detect the loaded cassette when it acquires the print instruction, the printer 1 is set to an error state and subsequent processing is stopped. If the CPU 91 detects the loaded cassette when it acquires the print instruction, the processing proceeds. When the print instruction is acquired (S21: YES), the CPU 91 determines whether the first-time flag is ON (S22).

[0087] The first-time flag is turned OFF in the process of S32 described later when printing is performed. Thereafter, the first-time flag is maintained in the OFF state unless the loaded cassette is replaced or the power of the printer 1 is turned OFF. When the first-time flag is OFF (S22: NO), the CPU 91 transfers the processing to the processing of S24.

[0088] When the first-time flag is ON (S22: YES), the CPU 91 determines whether the loaded cassette is the first cassette (S23). When the loaded cassette is the first cassette (S23: YES), the CPU 91 transfers the processing to the processing of S24. When the loaded cassette is the second cassette or the third cassette (S23: NO), the CPU 91 transfers the processing to the processing of S26.

[0089] In the process of S24, the CPU 91 causes the drive mechanism 8 to execute normal reverse driving (S24). The normal reverse driving is reverse driving of the first driving amount. The first driving amount can cancel the maximum amount of backlash that can occur in the gear train 82 and is as small as possible. In the present embodiment, the first driving amount is 44 pulses. Therefore, in the process of S24, the CPU 91 causes the drive mechanism 8 to execute reverse driving for 44 pulses. The CPU 91 causes the drive mechanism 8 to execute normal forward driving (S25). The normal forward driving is forward driving of the first driving amount. Therefore, in the process of S25, the CPU 91 causes the drive mechanism 8 to execute forward driving for 44 pulses. The CPU 91 transfers the processing to the processing of S31.

[0090] In the process of S26, the CPU 91 performs a driving amount determination process (S26). In the driving amount determination process, the CPU 91 determines the driving amount of the conveyance motor 81 according to the difficulty of return or the height of the recess 32. For example, in the ROM 92, a driving amount determination table 921 shown in FIG. 12 is stored in advance.

[0091] As shown in FIG. 12, the driving amount determination table 921 defines a plurality of driving amounts in association with the height of the recess 32. In the present embodiment, the driving amount determination table 921 associates a second driving amount with the second height H2 and associates a third driving amount with the third height H3. In the present embodiment, the second driving amount is 60 pulses and the third driving amount is 70 pulses. The second driving amount is larger than the first driving amount, and the third driving amount is larger than the first driving amount. That is, in the driving amount determination table 921, a plurality of driving amounts are defined such that the driving amount increases as the height of the recess 32 increases. When the height of the recess 32 increases, the difficulty of return becomes difficult. Therefore, in the driving amount determination table 921, a plurality of driving amounts are defined such that the determined driving amount increases as the difficulty of return becomes difficult.

[0092] Both the second driving amount and the third driving amount are the amounts by which the ribbon take-up shaft 52 rotates even when the maximum amount of backlash that can occur in the gear train 82 occurs in the gear train 82. Further, both the second driving amount and the third driving amount are not more than the conveyance amount of the medium 71 from the second guide portion 39 (specifically, the upstream end of the second guide portion 39) by the platen roller 61 to the cutter 7 (specifically, the position where the cutting blade 7A intersects the medium 71). For this reason, even if the medium 71 is returned upstream with the reverse driving of the second driving amount or the third driving amount, the downstream end of the medium 71 is disposed downstream of the second guide portion 39.

[0093] As shown in FIG. 11, the CPU 91 causes the drive mechanism 8 to execute a specific reverse drive (S27). The specific reverse drive is a reverse drive of the driving amount determined by the driving amount determination process (S26). For example, when the second driving amount (60 pulses) is determined by the driving amount determination process (S26), the CPU 91 causes the drive mechanism 8 to execute a reverse drive for 60 pulses.

[0094] The CPU 91 causes the drive mechanism 8 to execute a specific forward drive (S28). The specific forward drive is a forward drive with a drive amount determined by the drive amount determination process (S26). Therefore, for example, when the second drive amount (60 pulses) is determined by the drive amount determination process (S26), in the process of S28, the CPU 91 causes the drive mechanism 8 to execute a forward drive for 60 pulses. The CPU 91 transfers the process to the process of S31.

[0095] As described above, when the CPU 91 detects that it is in the mounted state, before starting the printing process (S31), it causes the drive mechanism 8 to execute a reverse drive. The CPU 91 performs the printing process (S31). In the printing process (S31), the CPU 91 controls the conveyance motor 81 and the thermal head 4 respectively, and while conveying the medium 71 and the ink ribbon 72 by the platen roller 61, the ribbon take-up shaft 52, etc., the thermal head 4 prints on the medium 71. When the printing on the medium is completed, the CPU 91 controls the conveyance motor 81 and conveys the medium 71 until the printed image is disposed at a position downstream of the cutter 7. The CPU 91 controls the cutting motor 70 and cuts the medium 71 by the cutter 7. Thereby, the printing process (S31) ends.

[0096] The CPU 91 turns off the first-time flag (S32). The CPU 91 returns the process to the process of S13. Thereafter, if the power of the printer 1 is not turned off and the mounted cassette is not replaced, the first-time flag is maintained in the OFF state. Therefore, when a printing instruction is acquired next time in this state, even if the mounted cassette is the second cassette or the third cassette, since the first-time flag is OFF (S22: NO), the CPU 91 causes the drive mechanism 8 to execute the normal reverse operation (S24).

[0097] As described above, in the above embodiment, when the mounting cassette is the first cassette (S23: YES), the CPU 91 causes the drive mechanism 8 to perform normal reverse driving (S24). When the mounting cassette is the second cassette or the third cassette (S23: NO), the CPU 91 causes the drive mechanism 8 to perform specific reverse driving (S27). For example, in the second cassette and the third cassette, since the height of the recess 32 is higher than that of the first cassette, the second cassette and the third cassette are less likely to return from the rotation-restricted state to the rotatable state than the first cassette. Since the second driving amount and the third driving amount are larger than the first driving amount, when the second cassette or the third cassette is mounted on the mounting portion 22, the printer 1 can easily return the ribbon take-up spool 73 to the rotatable state by reverse driving by the drive mechanism 8 before the start of printing by the thermal head 4. Thereby, conveyance failures of the ink ribbon 72 are suppressed. Therefore, the printer 1 contributes to suppressing conveyance failures of the ink ribbon 72 when the second cassette or the third cassette is mounted on the mounting portion 22. When the first cassette is mounted on the mounting portion 22, the printer 1 contributes to suppressing an increase in printing time due to performing reverse driving with an unnecessarily large driving amount.

[0098] In the above embodiment, both the second driving amount and the third driving amount are not more than the conveyance amount of the medium 71 from the second guide portion 39 to the cutter 7 by the platen roller 61. According to this, even when the specific reverse operation is performed, the downstream end of the medium 71 does not return to a position upstream of the second guide portion 39. Therefore, the printer 1 contributes to suppressing the medium 71 from coming out of the second guide portion 39 by the reverse operation.

[0099] In the above embodiment, when the CPU 91 detects based on the detection signal that the power supply of the printer 1 has changed from OFF to ON in the mounted state (S11: YES), and when the mounted cassette is the second cassette or the third cassette (S23: NO), before the start of the first printing process (S31) after it is detected that the power supply of the printer 1 has changed from OFF to ON in the mounted state, the CPU 91 causes the drive mechanism 8 to execute a specific reverse drive (S27). According to this, even when the cassette 3 is mounted on the mounting portion 22 while the power supply of the printer 1 is OFF and then the power supply of the printer 1 is turned ON, a specific reverse operation is performed. Therefore, the printer 1 contributes to suppressing conveyance failures of the ink ribbon 72.

[0100] When the mounted cassette is replaced, the ribbon take-up spool 73 is likely to fall off from the support hole 42. When the mounted cassette is replaced, the state switches from the non-mounted state to the mounted state. In the above embodiment, when the CPU 91 detects based on the detection signal that the state has switched from the non-mounted state to the mounted state (S13: YES), and when the mounted cassette is the second cassette or the third cassette (S23: NO), before the start of the first printing process (S31) after it is detected that the state has switched from the non-mounted state to the mounted state, the CPU 91 causes the drive mechanism 8 to execute a specific reverse drive (S27). According to this, in a situation where the ribbon take-up spool 73 is likely to fall off from the support hole 42, the printer 1 performs a specific reverse operation. Therefore, the printer 1 contributes to suppressing conveyance failures of the ink ribbon 72.

[0101] In the above embodiment, the gear train 82 connects the conveyance motor 81 and the ribbon take-up shaft 52. According to this, the printer 1 can easily change the arrangement position of the conveyance motor 81. The CPU 91 causes the drive mechanism 8 to execute a normal reverse operation and a specific reverse operation regardless of which of the first cassette, the second cassette, and the third cassette is mounted on the mounting portion 22. Therefore, the printer 1 contributes to eliminating backlash generated in the gear train 82 by the reverse operation while maintaining the ease of changing the arrangement position of the conveyance motor 81.

[0102] In the above embodiment, the drive mechanism 8 includes a clutch spring 83. According to this, the cassette 3 does not need to include a transmission mechanism for mounting the clutch spring 83 between the ribbon take-up spool 73 and the ribbon take-up shaft 52. Therefore, when the ribbon take-up spool 73 rotates in the forward rotation direction, the printer 1 contributes to suppressing an increase in the number of parts for reducing the force transmitted from the ribbon take-up shaft 52 to the ribbon take-up spool 73 compared to the case where the ribbon take-up spool 73 rotates in the reverse rotation direction.

[0103] In the above embodiment, when the mounted cassette is the first cassette, the CPU 91 causes the drive mechanism 8 to perform normal reverse driving (S25). When the mounted cassette is the second cassette, the CPU 91 causes the drive mechanism 8 to perform specific reverse driving (S27). According to this, before printing starts, the same amount as the amount of reverse driving is driven in the forward rotation direction. Therefore, the cassette 3 contributes to improving the conveyance accuracy of the medium 71.

[0104] In the above embodiment, the medium 71 corresponds to the "medium" of the present invention. The ink ribbon 72 corresponds to the "ink ribbon" of the present invention. The ribbon take-up spool 73 corresponds to the "spool" of the present invention. The case 31 corresponds to the "case" of the present invention. The support hole 42 corresponds to the "support portion" of the present invention. The cassette 3 corresponds to the "cassette" of the present invention. The printer 1 corresponds to the "printer" of the present invention. The mounting portion 22 corresponds to the "mounting portion" of the present invention. The thermal head 4 corresponds to the "thermal head" of the present invention. The clutch spring 83 corresponds to the "clutch mechanism" of the present invention. The drive mechanism 8 corresponds to the "drive mechanism" of the present invention. The first switch sensor 29 and the second switch sensor 63 correspond to the "sensor" of the present invention. The CPU 91 corresponds to the "first control unit" and the "second control unit" of the present invention. The upper wall 3B corresponds to the "support wall" of the present invention.

[0105] The recess 32 corresponds to the "recess" of the present invention. The platen roller 61 corresponds to the "conveying unit" of the present invention. The cutter 7 corresponds to the "cutter" of the present invention. The second guide portion 39 corresponds to the "guide portion" of the present invention. The ribbon take-up shaft 52 corresponds to the "shaft" of the present invention. The conveyance motor 81 corresponds to the "motor" of the present invention. The gear train 82 corresponds to the "gear train" of the present invention.

[0106] The present invention may be variously modified from the above-described embodiment. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the types of the cassette 3 may be classified into two types, i.e., the first cassette and the second cassette. In this case, the CPU 91 may omit the drive amount determination process (S26). The types of the cassette 3 may be classified into four or more types, in addition to the three types of the first cassette, the second cassette, and the third cassette, such as a fourth cassette. For example, the fourth cassette may be a cassette 3 that is less likely to return from the rotation-restricted state to the rotatable state than the third cassette. For example, the height of the recess 32 in the fourth cassette may be higher than the third height H3. When there is a fourth cassette among the types of the cassette 3, a fourth drive amount may be determined in the drive amount determination table 921 according to the height of the recess 32 in the fourth cassette. The fourth drive amount is more than the third drive amount. When the cassette equipped with a laminate tape or the like, which is likely to cause problems such as the laminate tape peeling off from the medium 71 by specific reverse driving, is the mounted cassette, the CPU 91 may perform normal reverse driving. Note that the laminate tape is a transparent or translucent tape that is bonded to the printed surface after printing in order to protect the printed surface of the medium 71.

[0107] In the above-described embodiment, the conveyance motor 81 drives the platen roller 61, the ribbon take-up shaft 52, and the medium drive shaft 53. In contrast, the drive mechanism 8 may include one or more other motors in addition to the conveyance motor 81, and the ribbon take-up shaft 52 may be driven by the conveyance motor 81, and the platen roller 61 and the medium drive shaft 53 may be driven by the other motors.

[0108] In the above embodiment, the conveyance motor 81 performs forward rotation drive and reverse rotation drive. In contrast, the drive mechanism 8 may include other motors in addition to the conveyance motor 81, and the conveyance motor 81 may perform forward rotation drive while the other motors perform reverse rotation drive.

[0109] The upper wall 3B may not be provided with the recess 32. That is, the periphery of the support hole 42 on the lower surface of the upper wall 3B may be flat. The periphery of the support hole 42 on the lower surface of the upper wall 3B may protrude downward. For example, even if the first cassette, the second cassette, and the third cassette have the same height of the recess 32 or the recess 32 does not exist, it is sufficient if the difficulty of returning is different.

[0110] In the above embodiment, the ribbon take-up spool 73 is supported by the support hole 42. In contrast, for example, the upper wall 3B may be provided with a support protrusion or a support recess instead of the support hole 42, and the ribbon take-up spool 73 may be supported by the support protrusion or the support recess. The support protrusion protrudes downward from the lower surface of the upper wall 3B. The support recess is recessed upward from the lower surface of the upper wall 3B.

[0111] In the above embodiment, the CPU 91 detects the type of the mounted cassette based on the detection signals from the first switch sensor 29 and the second switch sensor 63. In contrast, the user may operate the operation unit 13 to input the type of the mounted cassette to the printer 1, and the CPU 91 may detect the type of the mounted cassette based on the input information. The first switch sensor 29 and the second switch sensor 63 may detect the mounted cassette and may not detect the type of the mounted cassette. The printer 1 may include only one of the first switch sensor 29 and the second switch sensor 63. The printer 1 may include other sensors such as an optical sensor and a magnetic sensor instead of the first switch sensor 29 and the second switch sensor 63. It is sufficient that the other sensors can detect the mounted cassette, and it is preferable that the other sensors can further detect the type of the mounted cassette.

[0112] In the above-described embodiment, the cutter 7 is driven by the cutting motor 70. In contrast, the printer 1 may be provided with a cutter operation unit instead of or in addition to the cutting motor 70. The cutter operation unit is provided, for example, on the housing 2 and drives the cutter 7 non-electrically by being operated by the user. The printer 1 may not be provided with the cutter 7. The second driving amount and the third driving amount may be larger than the conveyance amount of the medium 71 from the second guide portion 39 to the cutter 7.

[0113] In the above-described embodiment, when the power of the printer 1 is turned on in the mounted state (S11: YES), the initial flag is turned on (S12). In this case, if the mounted cassette is not the first cassette, a specific reverse operation is performed (S27). In contrast, when the power of the printer 1 is turned on in the mounted state, even if the mounted cassette is not the first cassette, the CPU 91 may perform a normal reverse operation. That is, the CPU 91 may omit the processes of S11 and S12.

[0114] In the above-described embodiment, when the printing process (S31) ends, the initial flag is turned off (S32). Thereafter, when the mounted cassette is replaced (S13: YES), the initial flag is turned on. In contrast, the CPU 91 may omit the processes of S13, S14, and S32. That is, the CPU 91 may detect the mounted state and perform a specific reverse drive every time a print instruction is received if the mounted cassette is not the first cassette.

[0115] In the above-described embodiment, the drive mechanism 8 includes a gear train 82. In contrast, the drive mechanism 8 may be provided with a single gear instead of the gear train 82. The conveyance motor 81 may be directly connected to the ribbon winding shaft 52. The drive mechanism 8 may be provided with a power transmission member such as a pulley. The ribbon winding shaft 52 may not fit onto the ribbon winding spool 73. In this case, the ribbon winding shaft 52 may be connected to a transmission mechanism provided in the cassette 3 and transmit power to the ribbon winding spool 73 via the transmission mechanism.

[0116] The printer 1 may be provided with another clutch mechanism instead of or in addition to the clutch spring 83. The clutch mechanism may be any mechanism that reduces the force transmitted from the conveyance motor 81 to the ribbon take-up spool 73 when the ribbon take-up spool 73 rotates in the forward rotation direction compared to when the ribbon take-up spool 73 rotates in the reverse rotation direction. The printer 1 may omit the clutch spring 83, and the cassette 3 may be provided with a clutch mechanism such as the clutch spring 83.

[0117] In the above embodiment, after the normal reverse drive (S24), the normal forward drive (S25) is performed before the printing process (S31), and after the specific reverse drive (S27), the specific forward drive (S28) is performed before the printing process (S31). In contrast, the CPU 91 may omit the normal forward drive (S25) and the specific forward drive (S28). The normal forward drive may be a forward drive with a drive amount different from the first drive amount. The specific forward drive may be a forward drive with a drive amount different from the drive amount determined by the drive amount determination process (S26). For example, the drive amount in the specific forward drive may be the same as the drive amount in the normal forward drive, may be more than the drive amount in the normal forward drive, or may be less than the drive amount in the normal forward drive.

[0118] In the main process, the processing order of each process is not limited to the above embodiment. The processing order of each process in the main process may be changed to the extent that no contradiction occurs. For example, the CPU 91 may determine whether the mounted cassette is the first cassette in the process of S23 before determining whether the first-time flag is ON in the process of S22. For example, when receiving a printing instruction (S21), the CPU 91 may perform the drive amount determination process (S26).

[0119] In the above embodiment, when a printing instruction is acquired, normal reverse driving (S24) or specific reverse driving (S27) is performed. On the other hand, when the printer 1 is in the mounted state at the time when the power is turned on (S11: YES), the CPU 91 may perform normal reverse driving or specific reverse driving according to whether the mounted cassette is the first cassette in the process of S12. When the effect of the mounted cassette is detected (S13: YES), the CPU 91 may perform normal reverse driving or specific reverse driving according to whether the mounted cassette is the first cassette in the process of S14. In this case, normal forward driving (S25) may be performed following the normal reverse driving, or may be performed after the acquisition of the printing instruction. Specific forward driving (S28) may be performed following the specific reverse driving, or may be performed after the acquisition of the printing instruction.

[0120] Instead of the CPU 91, a microcomputer, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuits), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), etc. may be used as the processor. The main process may be distributedly processed by a plurality of processors. The non-temporary storage medium such as the ROM 92 may be any storage medium that can retain information regardless of the period for which the information is stored. The non-temporary storage medium may not include a temporary storage medium (for example, a transmitted signal). The control program may be downloaded from a server connected to a network (not shown), for example, (that is, transmitted as a transmission signal) and stored in the ROM 92. In this case, the control program may be stored in a non-temporary storage medium such as an HDD provided in the server.

Explanation of Signs

[0121] 1: Printer 2: Housing 2B: Upper Wall 3: Cassette 3B: Upper Wall 4: Thermal Head 7: Cutter 8: Driving Mechanism 22: Mounting Port 29: First switch sensor 31: Case 32: Recess 39: Second case interior 42: Support hole 52: Ribbon take-up shaft 61: Platen roller 63: Second switch sensor 71: Medium 72: Ink ribbon 73: Ribbon take-up spool 81: Conveyor motor 82: Gear train 83: Clutch spring 91: CPU 92: ROM 93: RAM 824: Gear

Claims

1. A printer that performs printing using a cassette having a case that houses a medium, an ink ribbon, and a spool that winds up the ink ribbon, and a support portion that rotatably supports the spool is provided in the case, a mounting portion to which the cassette is mounted, a thermal head that performs printing on the medium using the ink ribbon, a drive mechanism that rotates the spool via a clutch mechanism that reduces the force transmitted to the spool when the spool rotates in the normal rotation direction in which the spool winds up the ink ribbon compared to when the spool rotates in the reverse rotation direction opposite to the normal rotation direction, the drive mechanism performing normal rotation drive in the rotation direction for rotating the spool in the normal rotation direction and reverse rotation drive in the rotation direction for rotating the spool in the reverse rotation direction, a sensor that detects a mounted cassette that is the cassette mounted on the mounting portion, a first control unit that causes the drive mechanism to execute the reverse rotation drive before starting printing by the thermal head when it is detected based on a detection signal from the sensor that the cassette is in a mounted state mounted on the mounting portion, comprising, the first control unit, when the mounted cassette is the first cassette, causes the drive mechanism to execute the reverse rotation drive by a first predetermined amount, when the mounted cassette is a second cassette that is more difficult to return to the state of being supported by the support portion than the first cassette from the state where the spool has fallen off the support portion, causes the drive mechanism to execute the reverse rotation drive by a second predetermined amount that is greater than the first predetermined amount A printer characterized by the above.

2. A printer that performs printing using a cassette having a case that houses a medium, an ink ribbon, and a spool that winds up the ink ribbon, and a support portion that rotatably supports the spool is provided in the case, a mounting portion to which the cassette is mounted, a thermal head that performs printing on the medium using the ink ribbon, a drive mechanism that rotates the spool via a clutch mechanism that reduces the force transmitted to the spool when the spool rotates in the normal rotation direction in which the spool winds up the ink ribbon compared to when the spool rotates in the reverse rotation direction opposite to the normal rotation direction, the drive mechanism performing normal rotation drive in the rotation direction for rotating the spool in the normal rotation direction and reverse rotation drive in the rotation direction for rotating the spool in the reverse rotation direction, A sensor for detecting a mounting cassette which is the cassette mounted on the mounting portion A first control unit that, when it is detected based on the detection signal from the sensor that the cassette is in a mounted state where it is mounted on the mounting portion, causes the drive mechanism to execute the reverse drive before the start of printing by the thermal head Comprising The case includes a support wall that is provided with the support portion and extends in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction in which the axis of the spool extends On the support wall, there is provided a recess that has a predetermined width outward in the orthogonal direction from the periphery of the support portion and is recessed outward from the surface of the support wall facing the center of the case in the axial direction Among the types of cassettes A first cassette in which the height of the recess in the axial direction is a first height And a second cassette in which the height of the recess in the axial direction is a second height higher than the first height The first control unit When the mounting cassette is the first cassette, causes the drive mechanism to execute the reverse drive by a first predetermined amount When the mounting cassette is the second cassette, causes the drive mechanism to execute the reverse drive by a second predetermined amount that is more than the first predetermined amount A printer characterized by this

3. A conveyance unit for conveying the medium And a cutter that is located downstream of the thermal head in the conveyance path of the medium in the printer and cuts the medium Comprising In the case, a guide portion is provided that is located at the most downstream of the conveyance path of the medium in the cassette and guides the medium outside the case The cutter is located downstream of the guide portion in the conveyance path of the medium in the printer in the mounted state The second predetermined amount is not more than the conveyance amount of the medium by the conveyance unit from the guide portion to the cutter The printer according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by this

4. The first control unit When it is detected based on the detection signal that the power of the printer has changed from OFF to ON in the mounted state, and when the mounting cassette is the second cassette, before the first start of printing by the thermal head after it is detected that the power of the printer has changed from OFF to ON in the mounted state, causes the drive mechanism to execute the reverse drive by the second predetermined amount The printer according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by this

5. The first control unit When it is detected based on the detection signal that the cassette has switched from the non-mounted state where it is not mounted on the mounting portion to the mounted state, and when the mounted cassette is the second cassette, before the first printing start by the thermal head after it is detected that the state has switched from the non-mounted state to the mounted state, the reverse drive is executed on the drive mechanism by the second predetermined amount. The printer according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that.

6. Provided on the mounting portion and having a shaft that fits into the spool, The drive mechanism is, A motor that performs the forward drive and the reverse drive, Composed of a plurality of gears, and a gear train that connects the motor and the shaft Including The printer according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that.

7. Provided on the mounting portion and having a shaft that fits into the spool, The drive mechanism is, A motor that performs the forward drive and the reverse drive, A gear that connects the motor and the shaft, And a clutch mechanism that is a clutch spring mounted on the shaft and connects the shaft and the gear, The clutch spring is, Diameter expands when the drive mechanism performs the forward drive, Diameter contracts when the drive mechanism performs the reverse drive The printer according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that.

8. When the first control unit causes the drive mechanism to perform the reverse drive, before the start of printing by the thermal head, a second control unit is provided that causes the drive mechanism to perform the forward drive and rotates the spool in the forward direction. The second control unit is, When the mounted cassette is the first cassette, the reverse drive is executed on the drive mechanism by the first predetermined amount, When the mounted cassette is the second cassette, the reverse drive is executed on the drive mechanism by the second predetermined amount The printer according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that.

9. The first control unit is, When the mounted cassette is a third cassette that is more difficult to return to the state of being supported by the support portion than the second cassette from the state where the spool has fallen off from the support portion, the reverse drive is executed on the drive mechanism by a third predetermined amount that is more than the second predetermined amount. The printer according to claim 1, characterized in that.

10. Among the types of the cassette, there is a third cassette in which the axial height of the concave portion is a third height higher than the second height, The first control unit is, When the mounting cassette is the third cassette, the reverse driving is caused to be executed by the drive mechanism by a third predetermined amount that is greater than the second predetermined amount. The printer according to claim 2, characterized in that.

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