Tube

Abstract

To provide a long tube having a small lateral shift when crushed.SOLUTION: A long tube according to the present disclosure is a closed type long tube formed of an elastic material, the long tube including an upper portion including a printable upper surface, a lower portion facing the upper portion, a first side wall connecting the upper portion and the lower portion, A second side wall facing the first side wall, a first upper joint portion located at a connection portion between the upper portion and the first side wall and configured to bend the first side wall with respect to the upper portion, a first lower joint portion located at a connection portion between the lower portion and the first side wall and configured to bend the first side wall with respect to the lower portion, and a first side wall joint portion configured to bend the first side wall.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Sleeves (one example of a "tube"; hereinafter, "sleeve" may be referred to as "tube") are known for distinguishing linear objects such as cables and electric wires (hereinafter, cables and other long, thin objects are referred to as "linear objects") from other linear objects. Identification information such as letters, symbols, or figures is printed on the surface of the tube, and by inserting the linear object through the tube, it becomes possible to distinguish the linear object from other linear objects.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes a tube having an upper and lower portion, and a corrugated surface in cross section below the printed surface. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] International Patent Application Publication No. WO87 / 05740 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, the inventors of the present application have noticed that the tube described in Patent Document 1 does not require the upper portion to be crushed toward the lower portion in order to print on it. Even if the tube is crushed, the position of the upper portion may not be uniquely determined relative to the position of the lower portion. The tube described in Patent Document 1 has a uniform wall thickness and a corrugated cross section. When the upper portion is crushed toward the lower portion, the position of the upper portion may not be uniquely determined relative to the position of the lower portion. Furthermore, this problem may be caused by unevenness in the winding method when the long tube is wound around a drum, dimensional variations during molding of the long tube, or temperature unevenness during cooling after molding. When printing by crushing the upper portion of the tube toward the lower portion, if the position of the upper portion is not uniquely determined relative to the position of the lower portion, the print position may be shifted or the characters may be faded, resulting in poor printing. For example, misalignment of the print position may occur when using tubes from different production lots, or misalignment of the print position may occur when tubes are wound in different positions on the same drum.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a long tube in which the position of the upper part is uniquely determined relative to the position of the lower part when it is crushed (with little deviation to the left or right). [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present application discloses, for example, a closed-type elongated tube formed of an elastic material.

[0008] The tube includes an upper portion including a printable upper surface, a lower portion opposite the upper portion, a first side wall connecting the upper portion and the lower portion, a second side wall connecting the upper portion and the lower portion and opposite the first side wall, a first upper joint portion located at the connection between the upper portion and the first side wall and bending the first side wall relative to the upper portion, a first lower joint portion located at the connection between the lower portion and the first side wall and bending the first side wall relative to the lower portion, and a first side wall joint portion bending the first side wall. The tube may be configured such that the first upper joint portion bends the first side wall inward relative to the upper portion, the first lower joint portion bends the first side wall inward relative to the lower portion, and the first side wall joint portion is located more inward than the first upper joint portion and the first lower joint portion and bends the first side wall inward. Here, "inward" refers to the direction toward the inside of the area surrounded by the inner wall surface of the tube, and inward for the first side wall includes the direction approaching the second side wall, and inward for the second side wall includes the direction approaching the first side wall. In the tube, the first upper joint portion may be formed thinner than the thickness of the upper portion, the first lower joint portion may be formed thinner than the thickness of the lower portion, and the first side wall joint portion may be formed thinner than the thickness of the first side wall. The tube may include a second upper joint portion located at a connection between the upper portion and the second side wall, and configured to bend the second side wall inward relative to the upper portion. The tube may include a second lower joint portion located at a connection between the lower portion and the second side wall, the second lower joint portion bending the second side wall inward relative to the lower portion. The tube may include a second side wall joint portion located inside the second upper joint portion and the second lower joint portion, and bending the second side wall inward. Here, the upper portion may be configured to be able to contact the upper portion of the first side wall and the upper portion of the second side wall, and the lower portion may be configured to be able to contact the lower portion of the first side wall and the lower portion of the second side wall. In the tube, the first sidewall has a first upper sidewall located between the first upper joint portion and the first sidewall joint portion, and a first lower sidewall located between the first lower joint portion and the first sidewall joint portion, and the second sidewall has a second upper sidewall located between the second upper joint portion and the second sidewall joint portion, and a second lower sidewall located between the second lower joint portion and the second sidewall joint portion, and in a cross-sectional view, a portion consisting of the first upper sidewall, the first upper joint portion, the upper portion, the second upper joint portion, and the second upper sidewall may be configured to be vertically symmetrical with a portion consisting of the first lower sidewall, the first lower joint portion, the lower portion, the second lower joint portion, and the second lower sidewall. In the tube, the first side wall has a first upper side wall located between the first upper joint portion and the first side wall joint portion, and a first lower side wall provided between the first lower joint portion and the first side wall joint portion, and the second side wall has a second upper side wall located between the second upper joint portion and the second side wall joint portion, and a second lower side wall located between the second lower joint portion and the second side wall joint portion, and in a cross-sectional view, a value obtained by subtracting the sum of the distance between the first side wall joint portion and the first upper joint portion and the distance between the second side wall joint portion and the second upper joint portion from the distance between the first upper joint portion and the second upper joint portion may be equal to a value obtained by subtracting the sum of the distance between the first side wall joint portion and the first lower joint portion and the distance between the second side wall joint portion and the second lower joint portion from the distance between the first lower joint portion and the second lower joint portion.

[0009] In a cross-sectional view of the tube, the upper portion may have a thickness equal to or greater than the thicknesses of the first side wall and the second side wall. The upper surface may have a flat surface, and the lower portion may have a lower surface that includes a flat surface parallel to the flat surface. In a cross-sectional view of the tube, the distance between the first upper joint portion and the second upper joint portion and the distance between the first lower joint portion and the second lower joint portion may be the same, the distance between the first joint portion and the first upper joint portion, the distance between the second joint portion and the second upper joint portion, the distance between the first joint portion and the first lower joint portion, and the distance between the second joint portion and the second lower joint portion may be the same, and the distance between the first joint portion and the first upper joint portion may be 50% or less of the distance between the first upper joint portion and the second upper joint portion. This application discloses a different tube. The tube is, for example, a closed, long tube made of an elastic material. The tube further includes an upper portion including a printable upper surface, a lower portion, a first upper connection portion connected to the upper portion, a first lower connection portion connected to the lower portion, a first side wall connected to the upper portion via the first upper connection portion and to the lower portion via the first lower connection portion, the first side wall having a first joint portion that bends at a first predetermined position between the upper portion and the lower portion when the upper portion and the lower portion are brought closer together, a second upper connection portion connected to the upper portion, a second lower connection portion connected to the lower portion, the second side wall connected to the upper portion via the second upper connection portion and to the lower portion via the second lower connection portion, the second joint portion that displaces in a direction away from the first side wall and bends at a second predetermined position between the upper portion and the lower portion when the upper portion and the lower portion are brought closer together. The tube may further include a contact piece that protrudes from the inner wall surface of the tube and is configured to elastically deform and come into contact with the linear object when the linear object is inserted into the area surrounded by the inner wall surface.

[0010] The present application discloses a different long tube comprising: an upper portion including a printable upper surface; a lower portion including a lower surface facing in the opposite direction to the upper surface; a first sidewall connecting the upper portion and the lower portion and having a first articulation portion that deforms at a first predetermined position between the upper portion and the lower portion when the upper portion and the lower portion are brought closer together; and a second sidewall connecting the upper portion and the lower portion and having a second articulation portion that deforms at a second predetermined position between the upper portion and the lower portion when the upper portion and the lower portion are brought closer together. In the tube, the first side wall may include a first side wall upper portion provided between the first joint portion and the upper portion and having a thickness in cross section that is greater than a first thickness, a first side wall lower portion provided between the first joint portion and the lower portion and having a thickness in cross section that is greater than the first thickness, and the first joint portion provided between the first side wall upper portion and the first side wall lower portion and having the first thickness in cross section; and the second side wall may include a second side wall upper portion provided between the second joint portion and the upper portion and having a thickness in cross section that is greater than the first thickness, a second side wall lower portion provided between the second joint portion and the lower portion and having a thickness in cross section that is greater than the first thickness, and the second joint portion provided between the second side wall upper portion and the second side wall lower portion and having the first thickness in cross section. In any of the tubes described above, the first side wall includes a first side wall upper portion provided between the first joint portion and the upper portion and extending in a cross section from the first upper connecting portion in a direction approaching the lower portion and the second side wall, a first side wall lower portion provided between the first joint portion and the lower portion and extending in a cross section from the first lower connecting portion in a direction approaching the upper portion and the second side wall, and a first side wall upper portion provided between the first side wall upper portion and the first side wall lower portion and having a curvature radius equal to or greater than a first curvature radius along an inner wall surface and a curvature radius less than the first curvature radius along an outer wall surface in a cross section. the second side wall may comprise a second side wall upper portion provided between the second joint portion and the upper portion and extending in a cross section from the second upper connection portion in a direction approaching the lower portion and the first side wall; a second side wall lower portion provided between the second joint portion and the lower portion and extending in a cross section from the second lower connection portion in a direction approaching the upper portion and the first side wall; and the second joint portion provided between the second side wall upper portion and the second side wall lower portion and having a radius of curvature equal to or greater than the first radius of curvature along an inner wall surface and a radius of curvature less than the first radius of curvature along an outer wall surface in a cross section. Alternatively, the first side wall may include a first side wall upper portion provided between the first joint portion and the upper portion and extending in a cross section from the first upper connection portion in a direction approaching the lower portion, a first side wall lower portion provided between the first joint portion and the lower portion and extending in a cross section from the first lower connection portion in a direction approaching the upper portion, and the first side wall upper portion and the first side wall lower portion, having a curvature radius equal to or greater than a first curvature radius along an outer wall surface and a curvature radius less than the first curvature radius along an inner wall surface, The second side wall may include a second side wall upper portion provided between the second joint portion and the upper portion, extending in cross section from the second upper connection portion in a direction approaching the lower portion; a second side wall lower portion provided between the second joint portion and the lower portion, extending in cross section from the second lower connection portion in a direction approaching the upper portion; and the second joint portion provided between the second side wall upper portion and the second side wall lower portion, having a radius of curvature equal to or greater than the first radius of curvature along an outer wall surface and a radius of curvature less than the first radius of curvature along an inner wall surface in cross section. In any of the tubes described above, the first side wall may include a first side wall upper portion formed from an elastic material having a modulus of elasticity equal to or greater than a first modulus of elasticity and provided between the first joint portion and the upper portion, a first side wall lower portion formed from an elastic material having a modulus of elasticity equal to or greater than the first modulus of elasticity and provided between the first joint portion and the lower portion, and the first joint portion formed from an elastic material having a modulus of elasticity less than the first modulus of elasticity and provided between the first side wall upper portion and the first side wall lower portion; and the second side wall may include a second side wall upper portion formed from an elastic material having a modulus of elasticity equal to or greater than the first modulus of elasticity and provided between the second joint portion and the upper portion, a second side wall lower portion formed from an elastic material having a modulus of elasticity equal to or greater than the first modulus of elasticity and provided between the second joint portion and the lower portion, and the second joint portion formed from an elastic material having a modulus of elasticity less than the first modulus of elasticity and provided between the second side wall upper portion and the second side wall lower portion. In any of the tubes described above, when the first joint portion is provided closer to the second side wall than a straight line connecting the first upper connection portion and the first lower connection portion, and the second joint portion is provided closer to the first side wall than a straight line connecting the second upper connection portion and the second lower connection portion, the value obtained by subtracting the sum of the distance between the first joint portion and the first upper connection portion and the distance between the second joint portion and the second upper connection portion from the distance between the first upper connection portion and the second upper connection portion in the cross section may be the same as the value obtained by subtracting the sum of the distance between the first joint portion and the first lower connection portion and the distance between the second joint portion and the second lower connection portion from the distance between the first lower connection portion and the second lower connection portion.

[0011] In any of the tubes described above, when the first joint portion is located farther from the second side wall than the first upper connection portion and the first lower connection portion, and the second joint portion is located farther from the first side wall than the second upper connection portion and the second lower connection portion, the sum of the distance between the first upper connection portion and the second upper connection portion, the distance between the first joint portion and the first upper connection portion, and the distance between the second joint portion and the second upper connection portion in a cross section may be the same as the sum of the distance between the first lower connection portion and the second lower connection portion, the distance between the first joint portion and the first lower connection portion, and the distance between the second joint portion and the second lower connection portion. In any of the long tubes described above, in a long tube of an inwardly bent type, the first side wall includes a first upper connection portion connected to the upper portion, a first lower connection portion connected to the lower portion, the first joint portion, a first side wall upper portion provided between the first upper connection portion and the first joint portion, and a first side wall lower portion provided between the first lower connection portion and the first joint portion; and the second side wall includes a second upper connection portion connected to the upper portion, a second lower connection portion connected to the lower portion, the second joint portion, a second side wall upper portion provided between the second upper connection portion and the second joint portion, and the The inner wall may be provided with a second lower side wall lower portion provided between a second lower connection portion and the second joint portion, and when, in a cross section, an imaginary tangent line tangent to the lower surface at at least two points, a first point on the lower surface on the side of the first side wall and a second point on the lower surface on the side of the second side wall, is taken as an axis, the position of the first lower connection portion closest to the second point in the axial direction is located between the first point and the second point in the axial direction, and the inner wall of the second lower connection portion at a position farthest from the second point in the axial direction is located between the first point and the second point in the axial direction. In any of the tubes described above, the first side wall includes a first side wall upper portion provided between the first joint portion and the first upper connecting portion and having a thickness equal to or greater than a first thickness in cross section, a first side wall lower portion provided between the first joint portion and the first lower connecting portion and having a thickness equal to or greater than the first thickness in cross section, the first joint portion provided between the first side wall upper portion and the first side wall lower portion and having a thickness less than the first thickness in cross section, a third joint portion provided between the first side wall upper portion and the first side wall lower portion and having a thickness less than the first thickness in cross section, and a first side wall lower portion provided between the first joint portion and the third joint portion and having a thickness equal to or greater than the first thickness in cross section. the second side wall may comprise a second side wall upper portion provided between the second joint portion and the second upper connection portion and having a thickness in cross section that is equal to or greater than the first thickness, a second side wall lower portion provided between the second joint portion and the second lower connection portion and having a thickness in cross section that is equal to or greater than the first thickness, the second side wall upper portion and the second side wall lower portion and having a thickness in cross section that is less than the first thickness, a fourth joint portion provided between the second side wall upper portion and the second side wall lower portion and having a thickness in cross section that is less than the first thickness, and a second side wall middle portion provided between the second joint portion and the fourth joint portion and having a thickness in cross section that is equal to or greater than the first thickness. In the tube, the first side wall and the second side wall may have a thickness that is less than half the thickness of the upper portion.

[0012] In the tube, the first side wall and the second side wall may have a thickness that is less than half the thickness of the lower portion.

[0013] The present application further discloses a closed-type elongated tube made of an elastic material, the tube comprising: an upper portion including a printable upper surface; a lower portion; a first upper joint portion connected to the upper portion and deforming when the upper portion and the lower portion are brought closer together; a first lower joint portion connected to the lower portion and deforming when the upper portion and the lower portion are brought closer together; a first side wall connected to the upper portion via the first upper connection portion and to the lower portion via the first lower connection portion, the first joint portion bending at a first predetermined position between the upper portion and the lower portion when the upper portion and the lower portion are brought closer together; a second upper joint portion connected to the upper portion and deforming when the upper portion and the lower portion are brought closer together; and a second lower joint portion connected to the lower portion and deforming when the upper portion and the lower portion are brought closer together. and a second side wall having a second joint portion that is connected to the upper part via the second upper joint portion and connected to the lower part via the second lower joint portion, and that displaces in a direction approaching the first side wall when the upper part and the lower part are brought closer together and bends at a second predetermined position between the upper part and the lower part, wherein the upper part has a thickness in the vertical direction that is greater than or equal to the thicknesses of the first side wall and the second side wall in cross section, and in a first state in which no external force acts on the tube, the upper surface of the upper part is flat in cross section, and in a second state in which a downward external force acts on the upper surface of the tube and the upper part and the lower part are brought closer together, the upper surface of the upper part is flat in cross section.

[0014] In the tube, in the second state, the first side wall and the second side wall may be configured to bend and contact the upper portion and the lower portion, respectively.

[0015] The lower portion may have a thickness in the vertical direction that is equal to or greater than the thicknesses of the first side wall and the second side wall in cross section.

[0016] The lower surface of the lower portion may be parallel to the upper surface in cross section.

[0017] In the tube in the first state, the upper surface may be flat, and the distance between the upper surface and the lower surface in a cross section may be 80% or more of the width of the upper surface in a cross section.

[0018] In a third state in which a linear object is inserted into a tube formed by separating the long tube, the upper surface may have a flat surface, and the distance between the upper surface and the lower surface in the cross section may be greater than the distance between the upper surface and the lower surface in the cross section in the second state. Here, a "closed-type" tube refers to a tube whose inner wall surface forms a closed line when the tube is cut in a cross section perpendicular to the stretching direction. A long tube is preferably printed on while being compressed with a pressing member such as a thermal head, and then the printed portion is cut. A linear object such as a cable is inserted into the area surrounded by the inner wall surface of the cut tube, allowing the linear object to be distinguished from other linear objects.

[0019] Furthermore, a "joint" refers to a portion that is more susceptible to deformation in response to an external force than the surrounding portions, and therefore serves as the starting point of deformation. A "joint" may be realized, for example, by making the second moment of area smaller than that of the surrounding portions. A "joint" may be realized, for example, by making the thickness (wall thickness) of a specific portion in cross section smaller than that of the surrounding portions, by providing a notch (edge) in the specific portion, by providing a groove or hole in the specific portion, by providing a portion that deforms with a smaller curvature than the surrounding portions, or by providing a portion made of a material with a lower elastic modulus than the surrounding portions.

[0020] The "thickness" or "wall thickness" is defined based on the length of a line segment extending from the inner wall surface to the outer wall surface of the main portion in a cross section perpendicular to the stretching direction of the tube.

[0021] Furthermore, "bending" refers to bending, and "curving" refers to bending in an arch shape. "Bending" includes bending with a relatively small radius of curvature compared to "curving" and bending with a discontinuous curvature. For example, when a side wall is bent at a joint so that the two adjacent parts on either side of the joint are bent so that they come into contact with each other, the joint of the side wall can be said to be bent. In other words, "bending" refers to bending at an acute angle.

[0022] "Identical" includes not only cases where two values ​​are designed to be completely identical, but also cases where two values ​​have a magnitude relationship, but where the difference between the larger value X and the smaller value Y is small enough to satisfy the relationship (XY) / X≦20%. For example, when X=10 and Y=9, (10-9) / 10=10%≦20%, so X and Y are "identical." [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] 1(A) to 1(D) are cross-sectional views of a long tube or tube according to one embodiment, cut along a cross section perpendicular to the stretching direction. [Figure 2] 2(A) and 2(B) are cross-sectional views of a long tube according to another embodiment, cut along a cross section perpendicular to the stretching direction. [Figure 3] 3A to 3D are cross-sectional views of a long tube or tube according to another embodiment, cut along a cross section perpendicular to the stretching direction. [Figure 4] 4(A) and (B) are cross-sectional views of a long tube according to another embodiment, cut along a cross section perpendicular to the stretching direction. [Figure 5] 5(A) and (B) are cross-sectional views of a long tube according to another embodiment, cut along a cross section perpendicular to the stretching direction. [Figure 6] 6(A) and 6(B) are cross-sectional views of a long tube according to another embodiment, cut along a cross section perpendicular to the stretching direction. [Figure 7] 7(A) and (B) are cross-sectional views of a long tube according to another embodiment, cut along a cross section perpendicular to the stretching direction. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a long tube according to another embodiment, cut along a cross section perpendicular to the stretching direction. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The following embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following embodiments are merely examples for explaining the present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention to these embodiments.

[0025] [First embodiment]

[0026] The long tube 10 (FIG. 1(A)) according to this embodiment has characters, figures, colors, symbols, etc. (hereinafter referred to as "characters, etc.") printed on the upper surface 10US by a printing device (not shown), and then is cut to a desired length. By inserting a cable such as an optical fiber cable, an electric wire, or other elongated linear object into such a tube (hereinafter, a cut portion of the long tube may be referred to indistinguishably as a "long tube" or simply a "tube"), it becomes possible to distinguish the long tube 10 from other linear objects.

[0027] The printing device (not shown) includes, for example, a cassette holder for mounting the long tube 10 wound around a drum or the like, a ribbon holder for mounting an ink ribbon cassette, a platen roller for transporting the long tube 10 mounted in the cassette holder, a thermal head for pressing the long tube 10 transported by the platen roller over the ink ribbon of the ink ribbon cassette to print characters and the like on the top surface 10US of the long tube 10, and a half-cut mechanism for cutting the printed long tube 10. As the thermal head moves toward the platen roller, the ink ribbon and the long tube 10 are sandwiched between the thermal head and the platen roller, and the ink on the ink ribbon is transferred to the top surface of the long tube 10 by the heat of the thermal head, allowing characters and the like to be printed on the top surface of the long tube. At this time, the cylindrically shaped long tube is crushed by the thermal head. The long tube, which was temporarily crushed during printing, returns to its cylindrical shape due to its elasticity. Thereafter, the long tube 10 is half-cut by a half-cutting mechanism and discharged to the outside as the tube 10.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 1, this type of long tube 10 is a closed type in which the inner wall surface forms a closed line when cut in a cross section perpendicular to the direction of extension of the long tube 10. Therefore, a linear object can be inserted into the area surrounded by the inner wall surface of the tube 10, and the linear object will not come off after insertion. Furthermore, this type of long tube 10 is made of an elastic material. Therefore, it returns to its original shape after being crushed by the thermal head, allowing the linear object to be inserted into (pass through) the area surrounded by the inner wall surface. This type of long tube 10 is manufactured, for example, by extrusion molding an elastic resin material.

[0029] The configuration of such a long tube 10 will be described below. Fig. 1(A) shows a cross-sectional view of the long tube 10 according to this embodiment, taken along a cross section perpendicular to the direction of extension of the long tube 10. Fig. 1(B) shows a cross-section of the long tube 10 in a state where it has been crushed by a pressing member such as a thermal head. Figs. 1(C) and 1(D) show cross-sections of the long tube 10 when cables C1 and C2, which are linear objects with different diameters, are inserted into the tube 10. Hereinafter, the state shown in Fig. 1(A) where no external force (excluding forces small enough not to deform the shape of the linear object, such as gravity) is acting and the upper and lower portions are separated, allowing a linear object to be inserted into the region surrounded by the inner wall surface, may be referred to as a normal state or a first state. The state shown in Fig. 1(B) where an external force is acting and the long tube 10 is crushed, bringing the upper portion 10U and the lower portion 10L closer together, may be referred to as a printing state or a second state. For the purpose of explaining the relative positional relationships, the portion having the surface to be printed (upper surface 10US) will be conveniently referred to as the upper portion (e.g., upper portion 10U), the portion supported by a support such as a platen roller will be conveniently referred to as the lower portion (e.g., lower portion 10L), the direction from the lower portion to the upper portion will be referred to as the upper side, and the direction from the upper portion to the lower portion will be referred to as the lower side, but this does not define an absolute positional relationship. For example, the lower portion does not necessarily indicate the vertical direction.

[0030] As shown in Figure 1(A), the long tube 10 has an upper portion 10U including a printable upper surface 10US, a lower portion 10L opposite the upper portion 10L, a first upper connection portion 11UC connecting to the upper portion 10U, a first lower connection portion 11LC connecting to the lower portion 10L, a first side wall 11W connected to the upper portion 10U via the first upper connection portion 11UC and connected to the lower portion 10L via the first lower connection portion 11LC, a second upper connection portion 12UC connecting to the upper portion 10U, a second lower connection portion 12LC connecting to the lower portion 10L, and a second side wall 12W connected to the upper portion 10U via the second upper connection portion 12UC and connected to the lower portion 10L via the second lower connection portion 12LC and opposite the first side wall 11W.

[0031] In this embodiment, the first side wall 11W has two joints, a first joint 11C and a third joint 13C, provided at the midpoint between the upper portion 10U and the lower portion 10L. However, as described below, the first side wall 11W may have a single joint or three or more joints. Similarly, the second side wall 12W has two joints, a second joint 12C and a fourth joint 14C, provided at the midpoint between the upper portion and the lower portion, but may have a single joint or three or more joints.

[0032] The first side wall 11W further includes a first side wall upper portion 11WU provided between the first joint portion 11C and the first upper connection portion 11UC, and a first side wall lower portion 11WL provided between the first joint portion 11C and the first lower connection portion 11LC. In this embodiment, the first side wall 11W includes the third joint portion 13C, and therefore the first side wall lower portion 11WL can also be said to be provided between the third joint portion 13C and the first lower connection portion 11LC. In addition, the first side wall 11W includes a first side wall middle portion 11WM provided between the first joint portion 11C and the third joint portion 13C.

[0033] Similarly, the second side wall 12W includes a second side wall upper portion 12WU provided between the second joint portion 12C and the second upper connection portion 12UC, and a second side wall lower portion 12WL provided between the second joint portion 12C and the second lower connection portion 12LC. In this embodiment, the second side wall 12W includes the fourth joint portion 14C, and therefore the second side wall lower portion 12WL can also be said to be provided between the fourth joint portion 14C and the second lower connection portion 12LC. In addition, the second side wall 12W includes a second side wall middle portion 12WM provided between the second joint portion 12C and the fourth joint portion 14C.

[0034] The upper portion 10U is a portion including the printable upper surface 10US. In this embodiment, the upper surface 10US is formed flat as shown in FIG. 1(A). Even when the upper portion 10U and the lower portion 10L are compressed and brought closer together as shown in FIG. 1(B), the upper surface 10US remains flat. This allows the printing device to print more effectively on the upper surface 10US than on a surface with irregularities. However, the upper surface 10US may be partially or entirely concave or convex, or may have both concave and convex portions. For example, the upper surface 10US may be formed with a gentle curve that is convex upward. Alternatively, the upper surface 10US may be formed with a gentle curve that is convex downward. The upper surface 10US may have irregularities in areas that do not affect printing.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 1A, the upper portion 10U is thicker than the first sidewall 11W and the second sidewall 12W. For example, the upper portion 10U may have a thickness that is at least twice the maximum thickness of the first sidewall 11W and the second sidewall 12W (in other words, the first sidewall 11W and the second sidewall 12W may have a thickness that is less than half the thickness of the upper portion 10U). By forming the upper portion 10U to be thick (especially in the vertical direction), the upper portion 10U does not deform significantly compared to other portions even when the upper portion 10U and the lower portion 10L are brought closer together. Therefore, the upper surface 10US can be maintained flat even when crushed. In this embodiment, the upper portion 10U has a thickness (thickness) 10UT or more in the vertical direction in cross section. On the other hand, the first side wall 11W has a maximum thickness (wall thickness) 11WUT (and thickness 11WLT) at the first side wall upper portion 11WU (and the symmetrically formed first side wall lower portion 11WL). Here, thickness 11UT is at least twice thickness 11WUT (and thickness 11WLT). Therefore, even when the upper portion 10U and the lower portion 10L are compressed and brought closer to each other as shown in FIG. 1B, it is possible to prevent the upper surface 10US from undulating significantly due to the first side wall 11W and second side wall 12W sandwiched between the upper portion 10U and the lower portion 10L.

[0036] The lower portion 10L is a portion that is supported by a support such as a platen roller. As shown in Fig. 1(A), in this embodiment, the lower surface 10LS of the lower portion 10L is formed flat and parallel to the upper surface 10US, and the lower surface 10LS remains flat even when the upper portion 10U and the lower portion 10L are crushed to bring them closer together as shown in Fig. 1(B).

[0037] In this embodiment, the upper portion 10U and the lower portion 10L are formed symmetrically from top to bottom. Therefore, the lower portion 10L is formed to have a thickness similar to that of the upper portion, and may have a thickness that is, for example, more than twice the maximum thickness of the first side wall 11W and the second side wall 12W (in other words, the first side wall 11W and the second side wall 12W may have a thickness less than half the thickness of the lower portion 10L). By forming the lower portion 10L to be thick in this manner, the lower portion does not deform significantly compared to other portions. Therefore, even when crushed, the upper surface 10US can be maintained flat. In this embodiment, the lower portion 10L has a thickness (thickness) 10LT or more in the vertical direction in cross section. The thickness 10LT is the same as the thickness 10UT.

[0038] The first side wall 11W connects the upper part 10U and the lower part 10L and has a first joint part 11C that bends when the first side wall 11W is compressed to bring the upper part 10U and the lower part 10L closer to each other. The first upper connecting part 11UC corresponds to the part that connects the first side wall 11W and the upper part 10U.

[0039] As can be seen by comparing Figures 1(A) and 1(B), first side wall upper portion 11WU, which is spaced apart from upper portion 10U during normal operation (first state) in Figure 1(A), comes into at least partial contact with the inner wall surface of upper portion 10U during printing (second state) in Figure 1(B). This is because first upper connection portion 11UC is deformed. More specifically, when a downward external force is applied to upper surface 10US by a pressing member such as a thermal head, upper portion 10U and lower portion 10L approach each other, so first side wall 11W (and second side wall 12W) connecting upper portion 10U and lower portion 10L must bend. As shown in Figure 1(B), during printing (second state), first side wall upper portion 11WU changes direction and extends horizontally. To change the orientation of the first side-wall upper portion 11WU in this way, the first upper connection portion 11UC deforms and bends, compressing the portion on the inner wall surface and expanding the portion on the outer wall surface. As a result, the first side-wall upper portion 11WU connected to the first upper connection portion 11UC is displaced to change its orientation and comes into contact with at least a portion of the inner wall surface of the upper portion 10U. Because the first upper connection portion 11UC functions as a deforming joint portion in this way, it is sometimes referred to as the first upper joint portion 11UC.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 1(A), in this embodiment, the thickness of the cross section of the first upper connection portion 11UC (determined based on the length of the line segment extending from the inner wall surface to the outer wall surface in the figure, for example, thickness 11UCT, which is the minimum thickness of the cross section of the first upper connection portion 11UC) is smaller than the thickness of the upper portion 10U and smaller than the thickness of the first side wall upper portion 11WU. In other words, thickness (thickness) 11UCT is smaller than thickness (thickness) 10UT of the upper portion 10U. Furthermore, the thickness (thickness) of the first side wall upper portion 11WU is larger than thickness (thickness) 11UCT and smaller than thickness (thickness) 10UT.

[0041] This configuration allows the first upper connection portion 11UC to function as a joint that deforms significantly in response to an external force. In other words, the upper portion 10U and the first side wall upper portion 11WU, which correspond to the area around the first upper connection portion 11UC, can function as areas that deform only relatively slightly or hardly at all in response to an external force.

[0042] In this embodiment, the first side wall 11W connecting the upper portion 10U and the lower portion 10L is formed symmetrically in the vertical direction. The first side wall upper portion 11WU is a wall portion provided between the first joint portion 11C and the first upper connection portion 11UC. When the long tube 10 in this embodiment is crushed to bring the upper portion 10U and the lower portion 10L closer to each other, the first side wall 11W bends inward (toward the second side wall 12W). To achieve this bending, the first side wall upper portion 11WU is provided so as to extend in an inclined direction from the first upper connection portion 11UC toward the lower portion 10L and the second side wall 12W in cross section. As a result, the first joint portion 11C is provided at a position closer to the second side wall 12W than the first upper connection portion 11UC and the first lower connection portion 11LC. Therefore, the first joint portion 11C is provided in the region between the upper portion 10U and the lower portion 10L in cross section.

[0043] The thickness of the first side wall upper portion 11WU is greater than the thickness 11UCT of the first upper connection portion 11UC and greater than the thickness 11CT of the first joint portion 11C. This allows the first upper connection portion 11UC and the first joint portion 11C to deform relatively greatly in response to an external force, while allowing the first side wall upper portion 11WU to deform relatively less.

[0044] The first joint portion 11C (an example of a "first side wall joint portion") is a portion that bends and deforms when the upper portion 10U and the lower portion 10L are brought closer together. That is, as shown in FIG. 1(B), during printing (second state), the first side wall 11W can be said to be bent starting from the first joint portion 11C, and therefore the first joint portion 11C is bent. As a result, during printing (second state), the outer wall surfaces of the first side wall upper portion 11WU and the first side wall lower portion 11WL, which are adjacent to each other across the first joint portion 11C, come into contact with each other.

[0045] 1(A) is greater than the distance (spacing) in the left-right direction on the paper between the first joint portion 11C and the second joint portion 12C during printing (second state) in FIG. 1(B). As shown by this, when the upper portion 10U and the lower portion 10L are brought closer to each other, the first joint portion 11C is displaced and bent in a direction approaching the second side wall 12W. More specifically, when a downward external force is applied to the upper surface 10US by a pressing member such as a thermal head, the first joint portion 11C is displaced in a direction approaching the second side wall 12W (to the right on the paper in FIG. 1(A)). At the same time, the portion of the first joint portion 11C on the inner wall surface side (including the portion facing the second side wall 12W) is expanded, and the portion on the outer wall surface side (including the portion exposed to the outside) is compressed. In this way, the first joint portion 11C functions as a portion that bends and deforms. By providing the first joint portion 11C at a predetermined position between the upper and lower portions of the first side wall 11W, it becomes possible to bend the first side wall 11W at a fixed position. This prevents the upper surface 10US from shifting to the right or left relative to the lower surface 10LS during printing, and makes it possible to uniquely determine the cross-sectional shape of the long tube 10 during printing, as shown in FIG. 1(B).

[0046] The thickness of the cross section of the first joint portion 11C (determined based on the length of a line segment extending from the inner wall surface of the first joint portion 11C to the outer wall surface in FIG. 1(A), for example, a thickness 11CT (an example of the "first thickness") which is the minimum value of the thickness of the cross section of the first joint portion 11C, is smaller than the thickness of the first side wall upper portion 11WU and is smaller than the thickness 11WMT of the first side wall middle portion 11WM. This makes it possible to make the first joint portion 11C function as a joint portion which deforms relatively greatly in response to an external force, and make the first side wall upper portion 11WU and the first side wall middle portion 11WM function as non-joint portions which deform relatively little or hardly at all.

[0047] The first sidewall middle portion 11WM connects the first joint portion 11C and the third joint portion 13C. The first sidewall middle portion 11WM corresponds to the middle portion of the first sidewall 11W, which is vertically symmetrical in cross section. As shown in FIG. 1(A), the inner wall surface of the first sidewall middle portion 11WM has a portion extending vertically perpendicular to the upper surface 10US and the lower surface 10LS in cross section. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1(B), even during printing, the inner wall surface of the first sidewall middle portion 11WM has a portion extending vertically perpendicular to the upper surface 10US and the lower surface 10LS in cross section, compressing it vertically and supporting the upper surface 10U from below. Therefore, deformation of the upper surface 10US when pressed during printing can be suppressed. Because the first sidewall middle portion 11WM is sandwiched vertically between the upper surface 10U and the lower surface 10L, the cross-sectional shape of the long tube 10 when crushed during printing can be uniquely determined. At this time, the first side wall middle portion 11WM contacts the lower surface of the upper portion 10U and also contacts the upper surface of the lower portion 10L.

[0048] The thickness of the cross section of the first side wall middle portion 11WM (determined based on the length of the line segment extending from the inner wall surface to the outer wall surface in FIG. 1(A), for example, the thickness 11WMT) is greater than the thickness 11CT of the first joint portion 11C and greater than the thickness 13CT of the third joint portion 13C. This allows the first joint portion 11C and the third joint portion 13C to deform relatively largely in response to an external force, while allowing the first side wall middle portion 11WM to deform relatively less.

[0049] The third joint portion 13C is arranged symmetrically above and below the first joint portion 11C, the first side wall lower portion 11WL is arranged symmetrically above and below the first side wall upper portion 11WU, and the first lower connection portion 11LC is arranged symmetrically above and below the first upper connection portion 11UC in cross section, so the explanation will be simplified as follows.

[0050] Like the first joint portion 11C, the third joint portion 13C bends and displaces toward the second side wall 12W when the upper portion 10U and the lower portion 10L are brought closer to each other. At this time, the inner wall surface of the third joint portion 13C expands, while the outer wall surface thereof compresses. Therefore, the first side wall lower portion 11WL, which normally extends in an inclined direction, displaces during printing and extends substantially horizontally, contacting at least a portion of the inner wall surface of the lower portion 10L. Furthermore, the cross-sectional thickness of the third joint portion 13C (e.g., thickness 13CT) is smaller than the thickness of the first side wall lower portion 11WL (e.g., thickness 11WLT) and smaller than the thickness of the first side wall middle portion 11WM (e.g., thickness 11WMT).

[0051] The first side wall lower portion 11WL is a wall portion provided between the third joint portion 13C and the first lower connection portion 11LC. In order to bend the first side wall 11W inward, the first side wall lower portion 11WL is provided extending in an inclined direction from the first lower connection portion 11LC toward the upper portion 10U and the second side wall 12W in cross section. As a result, the third joint portion 13C is provided at a position closer to the second side wall 12W than the first upper connection portion 11UC and the first lower connection portion 11LC. Therefore, the third joint portion 13C is provided in the region between the upper portion 10U and the lower portion 10L in cross section. The thickness of the first side wall lower portion 11WL (e.g., 11WLT) is greater than the thickness of the first lower connection portion 11LC (e.g., 11LCT) and greater than the thickness of the first joint portion 11C (e.g., 11CT). Therefore, it is possible to cause the first lower connection portion 11LC and the third joint portion 13C to deform relatively largely in response to an external force, and the first side wall upper portion 11WU to deform relatively little.

[0052] The first lower connection portion 11LC corresponds to the portion connecting the first side wall 11W and the lower portion 10L. When a downward external force is applied to the upper surface by a pressing member such as a thermal head, the inner wall surface of the first lower connection portion 11LC is compressed, and the outer wall surface is expanded, causing the first lower connection portion 11LC to deform and bend. Because the first lower connection portion 11LC functions as a deformable joint portion in this way, it is sometimes referred to as a first lower joint portion.

[0053] As shown in Figures 1(A) and 1(B), the second upper connection portion 12UC, the second side wall 12W, and the second lower connection portion 12LC are arranged symmetrically with the first upper connection portion 11UC, the first side wall 11W, and the first lower connection portion 11LC, respectively, so the explanation will be simplified as follows.

[0054] The second upper connection portion 12UC (second upper joint portion) corresponds to the portion connecting the second side wall 12W and the upper portion 10U. When a downward external force acts on the upper surface 10US, the inner wall surface side of the second upper connection portion 12UC is compressed, and the outer wall surface side is stretched and deformed, bending, and therefore it is sometimes called the second upper connection portion 12UC or the second upper joint portion 12UC. The cross-sectional thickness of the second upper connection portion 12UC is smaller than the thickness of the upper portion 10U and is smaller than the thickness of the second side wall upper portion 12WU.

[0055] In this embodiment, the second side wall 12W is formed symmetrically in the vertical direction. The second side wall upper portion 12WU is a wall portion provided between the second joint portion 12C and the second upper connection portion 12UC, and is provided extending in an inclined direction approaching the lower portion 10L and the first side wall 11W from the second upper connection portion 12UC in a cross section. As a result, the second joint portion 12C is provided at a position closer to the first side wall 11W than the second upper connection portion 12UC and the second lower connection portion 12LC. Therefore, the second joint portion 12C is provided in the region between the upper portion 10U and the lower portion 10L in a cross section. The thickness of the second side wall upper portion 12WU is greater than the thickness of the second upper connection portion 12UC and greater than the thickness of the second joint portion 12C.

[0056] The second joint portion 12C (an example of a "second side wall joint portion") is a portion that bends and deforms when the upper portion 10U and the lower portion 10L are brought closer to each other. When the upper portion 10U and the lower portion 10L are brought closer to each other, the second joint portion 12C is displaced in a direction approaching the first side wall 11W (toward the left in FIG. 1(A)), and is bent and deformed such that the inner wall surface side of the second joint portion 12C expands and the outer wall surface side compresses. The thickness of the second joint portion 12C in cross section is smaller than the thickness of the second side wall upper portion 12WU and smaller than the thickness of the second side wall middle portion 12WM.

[0057] The second side wall middle portion 12WM connects the second joint portion 12C and the fourth joint portion 14C. The second side wall middle portion 12WM corresponds to the middle portion of the second side wall 12W, which is arranged symmetrically in the vertical direction in cross section, and its inner wall surface has a portion that extends vertically perpendicular to the upper surface 10US and the lower surface 10LS in cross section. This makes it possible to suppress deformation of the upper surface 10US when pressed during printing. The thickness of the second side wall middle portion 12WM in cross section is greater than the thickness of the second joint portion 12C and greater than the thickness of the fourth joint portion 14C.

[0058] The fourth joint portion 14C is arranged symmetrically with the third joint portion 13C, and the second side wall lower portion 12WL is arranged symmetrically with the second side wall upper portion 12WU in cross section, so their explanation will be simplified. When the upper portion 10U and the lower portion 10L are brought closer together, the fourth joint portion 14C displaces and bends toward the first side wall 11W. At this time, the inner wall surface side of the fourth joint portion 14C expands, while the outer wall surface side compresses. Therefore, the second side wall lower portion 12WL, which normally extends in an inclined direction, displaces during printing and extends substantially horizontally, contacting at least a portion of the inner wall surface of the lower portion 10L. Furthermore, the cross-sectional thickness of the fourth joint portion 14C is smaller than the thickness of the second side wall lower portion 12WL and smaller than the thickness of the second side wall middle portion 12WM.

[0059] The second side wall lower portion 12WL is a wall portion provided between the fourth joint portion 14C and the second lower connection portion 12LC. In order to bend the second side wall 12W inward, the second side wall lower portion 12WL is provided extending in an inclined direction from the second lower connection portion 12LC toward the upper portion 10U and the first side wall 11W in cross section. As a result, the fourth joint portion 14C is provided at a position closer to the first side wall 11W than the second upper connection portion 12UC and the second lower connection portion 12LC. Therefore, the fourth joint portion 14C is provided in the region between the upper portion 10U and the lower portion 10L in cross section. The thickness of the second side wall lower portion 12WL is greater than the thickness of the second lower connection portion 12LC and greater than the thickness of the fourth joint portion 14C.

[0060] The second lower connection portion 12LC (second lower joint portion) corresponds to the portion connecting the second side wall 12W and the lower portion 10L. When a downward external force is applied to the upper surface 10US by a pressing member such as a thermal head, the inner wall surface side of the second lower connection portion 12LC is compressed and the outer wall surface side is stretched.

[0061] With the above-described configuration, during normal printing, there are gaps between the first side wall upper portion 11WU (second side wall upper portion 12WU) and the upper portion 10U, between the first side wall lower portion 11WL (second side wall lower portion 12WL) and the lower portion 10L, and between the first side wall upper portion 11WU (second side wall upper portion 12WU) and the first side wall lower portion 11WL (second side wall lower portion 12WL). The first side wall 11W (second side wall 12W) is bent inward in a V-shape and stands upright from the lower portion 10L. During printing, the first side wall 11W (second side wall 12W) has a first upper connecting portion 11UC (second upper connecting portion 12UC), a first lower connecting portion 11LC (second lower connecting portion 12LC), a second upper connecting portion 11LC, a third lower connecting portion 11LC, a fourth lower connecting portion 11LC, a fifth lower connecting portion 11LC, a sixth ... As a result of the bending and deformation of the first joint portion 11WU (second joint portion 12LC), the first joint portion 11C (second joint portion 12C), and the third joint portion 13C (fourth joint portion 14C), the inner wall surface of the first side wall upper portion 11WU (second side wall upper portion 12WU) comes into contact with the inner wall surface of the upper portion 10U, the outer wall surface of the first side wall upper portion 11WU (second side wall upper portion 12WU) comes into contact with the outer wall surface of the first side wall lower portion 11WL (second side wall lower portion 12WL), the inner wall surface of the first side wall lower portion 11WL (second side wall lower portion 12WL) comes into contact with the inner wall surface of the lower portion 10L, and the upper portion 10U and the lower portion 10L approach each other while maintaining substantially the same shape in cross section.

[0062] By making the thickness of the predetermined portions (first upper connection portion 11UC, second upper connection portion 12UC, first lower connection portion 11LC, second lower connection portion 12LC, and first joint portion 11C to fourth joint portion 14C) smaller than the thickness of the surrounding portions so that the first side wall 11W (second side wall 12W) deforms at a predetermined position in response to an external force, it becomes possible to bend the first side wall 11W (second side wall 12W) at a predetermined position in response to an external force. Therefore, even if there is unevenness in the winding method or manufacturing errors when winding the long tube around a drum or the like, by bending the long tube at a predetermined portion, it is possible to prevent the upper surface 10US from shifting to the right or left relative to the lower surface 10LS during printing, and it becomes possible to uniquely determine the cross-sectional shape of the long tube 10 during printing.

[0063] 1(A), in normal operation (first state), the first side wall 11W and the second side wall 12W stand upright from the lower portion 10L to support the upper portion 10U. As a result, the upper portion 10U and the lower portion 10L are separated by a large distance, and the area surrounded by the inner wall surfaces of the upper portion 10U, the lower portion 10L, the first side wall 11W, and the second side wall 12W (i.e., the area surrounded by the inner wall surface of the long tube 10) is sufficiently large. Therefore, a linear object of sufficient size can be inserted into the long tube 10.

[0064] 1(B), during printing (second state), the inner wall surface of first side wall upper portion 11WU contacts the inner wall surface of upper portion 10U, the outer wall surface of first side wall upper portion 11WU contacts the outer wall surface of first side wall lower portion 11WL, and the inner wall surface of first side wall lower portion 11WL contacts the inner wall surface of lower portion 10L. Therefore, even if a downward external force is applied to upper surface 10US by a pressing member such as a thermal head, first side wall 11W and second side wall 12W support upper portion 10U. As a result, deformation of upper surface 10US during printing is suppressed, enabling printing to be performed optimally in the print area of ​​upper surface 10US.

[0065] Additionally, in the cross section of the long tube 10 of this embodiment, the area surrounded by the inner wall surface is symmetrical. Furthermore, the first side wall 11W and the second side wall 12W themselves are symmetrical. This prevents the upper surface 10US from shifting to the right or left relative to the lower surface 10LS during printing. Furthermore, because the first side wall 11W and the second side wall 12W are symmetrical, when a linear object is inserted, it can be supported at the center of the tube 10 in the lateral direction, making it possible to easily visually recognize the identification information printed on the linear object. Furthermore, even when linear objects are inserted into multiple tubes 10 and arranged adjacent to each other, the multiple tubes 10 can be aligned, making it possible to easily visually recognize the identification information printed on the linear object and improving the appearance.

[0066] Furthermore, in the cross section of the long tube 10 in this embodiment, the area surrounded by the inner wall surface is provided symmetrically from top to bottom. This configuration makes it possible to prevent the long tube 10 from being loaded into the printing device upside down.

[0067] FIG. 1(C) shows a state in which a linear body C1 with a relatively small diameter is inserted, and FIG. 1(D) is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a linear body C2 with a relatively large diameter is inserted.

[0068] As shown in these drawings, the first side wall 11W is bent inward at an intermediate portion between the upper portion 10U and the lower portion 10L (near the first joint portion 11C, the first side wall middle portion 11WM, and the third joint portion 13C), and corresponds to the portion closest to the central axis of the long tube 10 (the center of the area surrounded by the upper portion 10U, the lower portion 10L, the first side wall 11W, and the second side wall 12W). Similarly, the second side wall 12W is bent inward at an intermediate portion between the upper portion 10U and the lower portion 10L (near the second joint portion 12C, the second side wall middle portion 12WM, and the fourth joint portion 14C), and also corresponds to the portion closest to the central axis. Therefore, when a linear object is inserted through the long tube 10, the intermediate portions of the first side wall 11W and the second side wall 12W come into contact with the linear object, and the long tube 10 is configured to elastically support the linear object.

[0069] When a relatively small diameter linear body C1 is inserted as shown in Figure 1(C), the linear body C1 is supported by abutting against the lower surface of the upper part 10U (or the upper surface of the lower part 10L), the middle part of the first side wall 11W, and the middle part of the second side wall 12W.

[0070] 1(D), when a linear body C2 with a relatively large diameter is inserted, linear body C2 abuts against and is supported by the lower surface of upper portion 10U (or the upper surface of lower portion 10L), the middle portion of first side wall 11W, and the middle portion of second side wall 12W. At this time, first upper connecting portion 11UC, first joint portion 11C, and first lower connecting portion 11LC of first side wall 11W are each configured to be deformable in the direction opposite to that during printing. As a result, upper portion 10U and lower portion 10L are spaced further apart compared to the first state, and the distance between upper surface 10US and lower surface 10LS is greater than the distance between upper surface 10US and lower surface 10LS in the second state (hereinafter, this state in which a linear body C2 with a large diameter is inserted and the distance between upper surface 10US and lower surface 10LS is greater than the distance between upper surface 10US and lower surface 10LS in the second state may be referred to as the "third state"). Because first side wall 11W and second side wall 12W are formed symmetrically, they are similarly extended when pressed by the side surface of linear body C2. At the same time, the central portion of the lower surface of upper surface 10US is pushed up against the upper surface of linear body C2. Therefore, even in the third state, upper surface 10US can remain flat.

[0071] With this configuration, the long tube 10 is configured to be able to support a large-diameter linear body C2. In particular, because the first side wall 11W and the second side wall 12W extend vertically, elastic force is generated in the compression direction, thereby enhancing gripping force. Furthermore, because the first side wall 11W and the second side wall 12W extend vertically, it is possible to maintain the upper surface 10US flat.

[0072] [About the cross-sectional shape]

[0073] Furthermore, the long tube 10 according to this embodiment additionally has the following configuration.

[0074] That is, the long tube 10 has a rectangular (square or vertically elongated rectangular) cross-sectional configuration. For example, as shown in Fig. 1(A), the upper surface 10US and the lower surface 10LS of the long tube 10 in the normal state have flat surfaces that are parallel to each other in the cross section, and the distance H1 between the upper surface 10US and the lower surface 10LS in the cross section (the height of the long tube 10) may be 80% or more of the width W1 of the upper surface 10US in the cross section.

[0075] 1(D), when a linear body C2 is inserted into each of multiple tubes 10 and the multiple tubes 10 are arranged adjacent to each other, even if a tube 10 tries to rotate around the inserted linear body C2, the tube 10 collides with the first side wall 11W or the second side wall 12W of the adjacent tube 10, preventing the tube 10 from rotating. This makes it possible to arrange multiple tubes 10 so that the top surfaces 10US of the multiple tubes 10 face the same direction. In addition, when each top surface 10US has a flat surface, the identification information of the multiple tubes 10 is displayed on approximately the same plane, making it easier to identify each linear body compared to conventional methods.

[0076] 1A, in the first state in which no large external force is acting on the long tube 10, the top surface 10US is flat in cross section. Furthermore, in the second state in which a large downward external force is acting on the top surface 10US of the long tube 10, bringing the upper portion 10U and the lower portion 10L closer together, the top surface 10US is also generally flat in cross section. As a specific example for achieving such a configuration, the long tube 10 of this embodiment has a convex portion that protrudes slightly downward from the center of the bottom surface of the upper portion 10U and a convex portion that protrudes slightly upward from the center of the top surface of the lower portion 10L. In the second state, the convex portions on the upper portion 10U contact the first joint portion 11C and the second joint portion 12C, and the convex portions on the lower portion 10L contact the third joint portion 13C and the fourth joint portion 14C. This configuration allows the cross-sectional shape of the long tube 10 to be uniquely determined when it is crushed during printing.

[0077] As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to provide a long tube in which the position of the upper part is uniquely determined relative to the position of the lower part when crushed (with little deviation to the left or right).

[0078] However, the long tube can be modified in various ways. For example, the first side wall may not have the third joint portion and the first side wall central portion, and the second side wall may not have the fourth joint portion and the second side wall central portion. In this case, the first side wall may have the first joint portion, for example, in a portion intermediate between the upper and lower portions, and the second side wall may have the second joint portion in a portion intermediate between the upper and lower portions. Alternatively, the first side wall or the second side wall may each have three or more joint portions. Alternatively, the first side wall joint portion may be located outside the first upper joint portion and the first lower joint portion and configured to bend the first side wall outward. Here, "outward" refers to a direction from the outer wall of the tube toward the outside, and "outward" for the first side wall includes a direction away from the second side wall, and "outward" for the second side wall includes a direction away from the first side wall.

[0079] In addition, the joint portion may be realized by means other than reducing the thickness. For example, the joint portion may be provided by making a cut. For example, the joint portion may be provided by forming a through hole or a through groove. For example, the joint portion may be provided by being made of a material having a lower elastic modulus than the material of the surrounding portion. By making the joint portion out of a material having a lower elastic modulus than the material of the surrounding portion, it is possible to promote deformation by the joint portion even with the same thickness. The joint portion may also be provided by means described in other embodiments below.

[0080] [Second embodiment]

[0081] Fig. 2(A) shows a cross section of the long tube 20 according to this embodiment in a first state, and Fig. 2(B) shows a cross section of the long tube 20 in a second state. Elements having the same or similar functions or configurations as those described in other embodiments are given the same names and detailed descriptions are omitted. Furthermore, descriptions of actions and effects that are understood to be exhibited in the same way as those described in other embodiments will be omitted or simplified, and the description will focus on the differences (descriptions will be omitted or simplified in the other embodiments as well).

[0082] The long tube 20 of this embodiment, like the long tube 10, is made of an elastic material, and is used to distinguish a linear object from other linear objects by printing characters or the like on its surface while it is crushed by a pressing member such as a thermal head, and then inserting the linear object into an area surrounded by the inner wall surface (the long tubes of other embodiments have similar uses, so their explanation will be omitted).

[0083] Similar to the long tube 10, the long tube 20 includes an upper portion 20U including a printable upper surface 20US, a lower portion 20L including a lower surface 20LS, a first upper connection portion (first upper joint portion) 21UC connected to the upper portion 20U, and a first lower connection portion (first lower joint portion) 21LC connected to the lower portion 20L. The upper portion 20U is connected to the first upper connection portion 21UC, and the lower portion 20L is connected to the first lower connection portion 21LC, bringing the upper portion 20U and the lower portion 20L close to each other. a second upper connection portion (second upper joint portion) 22UC connected to the upper part 20U, a second lower connection portion (second lower joint portion) 22LC connected to the lower part 20L, and a second side wall 22W having the second joint portion 22C that is connected to the upper part 20U via the second upper connection portion 22UC and connected to the lower part 20L via the second lower connection portion 22LC, and that bends and deforms when the upper part 20U and the lower part 20L are brought closer to each other.

[0084] Furthermore, the first joint portion 21C is displaced in a direction approaching the second side wall 22W and bent at a predetermined position between the upper portion 20U and the lower portion 20L, and the second joint portion 22C is displaced in a direction approaching the first side wall 21W and bent at a predetermined position between the upper portion 20U and the lower portion 20L when the upper portion 20U and the lower portion 20L are brought closer to each other. It is also similar to the long tube 10 in that it extends from 21UC (second upper connection portion 22UC) in an inclined direction approaching the lower portion 20L and the second side wall 22W (first side wall 21W), and the first side wall lower portion 21WL (second side wall lower portion 22WL) extends in an inclined direction approaching the upper portion 20U and the second side wall 22W (first side wall 21W) in cross section from the first lower connection portion 21LC (second lower connection portion 22LC).

[0085] However, unlike the long tube 10, the first side wall 21W has a single joint, the first joint 21C, at the midpoint between the upper portion 20U and the lower portion 20L, and the second side wall 22W has a single joint, the second joint 22C, at the midpoint between the upper portion 20U and the lower portion 20L, in that it differs from the long tube 10 in that each side wall has multiple joints.

[0086] Furthermore, the long tube 20 differs from the long tube 10, which has side walls with articulated sections formed by varying the thickness, in that the first side wall 21W and the second side wall 22W have generally uniform thicknesses 21WT and 22WT (thickness in cross section). However, the long tube 20 is similar to the long tube 10 in that the thicknesses 21WT and 22WT are smaller than the vertical thickness 20UT of the upper portion 20U and the vertical thickness 20LT of the lower portion 20L in cross section.

[0087] The long tube 20 according to this embodiment has a joint portion with an extremely small R formed by reducing the radius of curvature of the portion to be bent (including making a notch such as an edge in the portion to be bent).

[0088] 2(B) is an enlarged view of an area ARA1 including the first joint portion 21C in FIG. 2(A). The first joint portion 21C is formed with different radii of curvature on the inner wall surface side and the outer wall surface side. The radius of curvature R1 along the inner wall surface is relatively large, as indicated by an arrow AR1 in FIG. 1(B), and is therefore curved. On the other hand, the radius of curvature along the outer wall surface is bent, as indicated by an arrow AR2 in FIG. 1(B), and is therefore discontinuous, or has a value sufficiently smaller than the radius of curvature R1, due to the provision of an edge (notch).

[0089] Similarly, the second joint portion 22C is formed to be curved in the portion along the inner wall surface because the radius of curvature R1 along the inner wall surface has a relatively large value, while the radius of curvature along the outer wall surface has a discontinuous curvature or a value sufficiently smaller than the radius of curvature R1 by providing an edge (notch), so the portion along the outer wall surface is formed to be bent.

[0090] Furthermore, the first upper connecting portion 21UC, the first lower connecting portion 21LC, the second upper connecting portion 22UC, and the second lower connecting portion 22LC are also formed so that the radius of curvature of the portion on the inner wall side that is to be bent is small. That is, the first upper connecting portion 21UC, the first lower connecting portion 21LC, the second upper connecting portion 22UC, and the second lower connecting portion 22LC are each formed to be curved along the outer wall surface in cross section with a radius of curvature that is equal to or greater than the first radius of curvature R1, and are formed along the outer wall surface with a relatively small radius of curvature that is less than the first radius of curvature R1.

[0091] With the above configuration, it is possible to bend the first side wall 21W and the second side wall 22W at a predetermined position in response to an external force, just as if cutting a slit in wood so that it falls in a predetermined direction. This prevents the upper surface 20US from shifting to the right or left relative to the lower surface 20LS during printing, and makes it possible to uniquely determine the cross-sectional shape of the long tube 20 during printing.

[0092] 2B shows a cross section of the long tube 20 in a state (second state) crushed by a pressing member such as a thermal head. As shown in the figure, during printing, the inner wall surface of the first side wall upper portion 21WU (second side wall upper portion 22WU) contacts the inner wall surface of the upper portion 20U, the outer wall surface of the first side wall upper portion 21WU (second side wall upper portion 22WU) contacts the outer wall surface of the first side wall lower portion 21WL (second side wall lower portion 22WL), and the inner wall surface of the first side wall lower portion 21WL (second side wall lower portion 22WL) contacts the inner wall surface of the lower portion 20L, and the upper portion 20U and the lower portion 20L approach each other while maintaining substantially the same cross-sectional shape. Because the thicknesses of the first side wall 21W and the second side wall 22W of the long tube 20 are substantially the same, the upper surface 20US remains flat even when the long tube 20 is crushed and the upper portion 20U and the lower portion 20L approach each other. This allows the printing device to print more effectively on the upper surface 20US than on a surface having irregularities.

[0093] [Regarding distance relationships between joints]

[0094] Furthermore, the long tube 20 according to this embodiment additionally includes the following configuration.

[0095] That is, in the cross section of the long tube 20, the value (D1-(D2+D3)) obtained by subtracting the value (D2+D3) which is the sum of the distance D2 between the first joint portion 21C and the first upper joint portion 21UC and the distance D3 between the second joint portion 22C and the second upper joint portion 22UC from the distance D1 between the first upper joint portion 21UC and the second upper joint portion 22UC is the same as the value (D4-(D5+D6)) obtained by subtracting the value (D5+D6) which is the sum of the distance D5 between the first joint portion 21C and the first lower joint portion 21LC and the distance D6 between the second joint portion 22C and the second lower joint portion 22LC from the distance D4 between the first lower joint portion 21LC and the second lower joint portion 22LC. That is, the relational expression is (D1-(D2+D3))=(D4-(D5+D6)) (hereinafter referred to as "first relational expression").

[0096] Here, distances D1 to D6 are measured based on the horizontal distance between the joints in the second state in which an external force acts to crush the long tube 10, bringing the upper part 10U and the lower part 10L closer together, as shown in Figure 2(C).

[0097] The inventors of the present application have focused on the fact that satisfying the first relational expression described above makes it possible to suppress curvature of the upper surface 20US during printing. Specifically, the value (D1-(D2+D3)) obtained by subtracting the sum of distances D2 and D3 (D2+D3) from distance D1 corresponds to the distance between the first side wall upper portion 21WU and the second side wall upper portion 22WU in the second state. Furthermore, the value (D4-(D5+D6)) obtained by subtracting the sum of distances D5 and D6 (D5+D6) from distance D4 corresponds to the distance between the first side wall lower portion 21WL and the second side wall lower portion 22WL in the second state. Therefore, if the two values ​​differ significantly, the upper surface 20US will curve in the second state. For example, if the value (D4-(D5+D6)) is greater than the value (D1-(D2+D3)), this will be a factor in causing the upper surface 20US to recess downward.

[0098] Therefore, by providing the joint portion at a position that satisfies the first relational expression described above, it is possible to prevent the upper surface 20US from curving during printing. For example, even if the length of the first side wall upper portion 21WU (second side wall upper portion 22WU) and the length of the first side wall lower portion 21WL (second side wall lower portion 22WL) are different and therefore the distances D2 and D5 are different, or even if the width of the upper portion 20U and the width of the lower portion 20L are different and therefore the distances D1 and D4 are different, or even if the lengths of the first side wall lower portion 21WL and the second side wall lower portion 22WL are different and therefore the distances D5 and D6 are different and therefore the heights of the first joint portion 21C and the second joint portion 22C are different, it is possible to prevent the upper surface 20US from curving during printing as long as the first relational expression described above is satisfied.

[0099] For example, in the long tube 20 shown in this embodiment, the first upper joint portion 21UC is provided directly above the first lower joint portion 21LC, and similarly, the second upper joint portion 22UC is provided directly above the second lower joint portion 22LC. However, even if the first upper joint portion 21UC and the second upper joint portion 22UC are not provided directly above the first lower joint portion 21LC and the second lower joint portion 22LC, respectively, but are provided at different positions in the horizontal direction, as long as the inwardly bending long tube satisfies the first relational expression described above, it is possible to uniquely determine the cross-sectional shape of the long tube 20 during printing.

[0100] Furthermore, the long tube 20 according to this embodiment additionally has the following configuration independent of the distance relationship described above.

[0101] That is, in the cross section of the long tube 20, the distance D1 between the first upper joint portion 21UC and the second upper joint portion 22UC is the same as the distance D4 between the second joint portion 22C and the second upper joint portion 22UC, and the distance D2 between the first joint portion 21C and the first upper joint portion 21UC, the distance D3 between the second joint portion 22C and the second upper joint portion 22UC, the distance D5 between the first joint portion 21C and the first lower joint portion 21LC, and the distance D6 between the second joint portion 22C and the second lower joint portion 22LC are all the same, and the long tube 20 is configured so that the distance D2 is 50% or less of the distance D1. That is, the second relational expression is D2=D3=D5=D6≦(D1 / 2)=(D4 / 2) (hereinafter referred to as the "second relational expression").

[0102] Here, distances D1 to D6 are measured based on the horizontal distance between the joints in the second state in which an external force acts to crush the long tube 10, bringing the upper part 10U and the lower part 10L closer together, as shown in Figure 2(C).

[0103] The inventors of the present application have focused on the fact that providing a joint portion at a position that satisfies the second relational expression can prevent the upper surface 20US from curving during printing. Specifically, by making the distances D1 and D4 equal to each other and by making the distances D2, D3, D5, and D6 equal to each other, it is possible to enhance the symmetry of the area surrounded by the upper portion 20U, the lower portion 20L, the first side wall 21W, and the second side wall 22W. Furthermore, because the distances D2 and D3 are each 50% or less of the distance D1, in the second state, the first side wall upper portion 21WU and the second side wall upper portion 22WU do not come into contact with each other, or even if they do, their edges only come into slight contact. Therefore, in the second state, it is possible to prevent the upper surface 20US from being significantly deformed due to a collision between the first side wall upper portion 21WU and the second side wall upper portion 22WU. Similarly, since the distances D5 and D6 are each 50% or less of the distance D4, it is possible to prevent the upper surface 20US from being significantly deformed due to the collision between the first side wall lower portion 21WL and the second side wall lower portion 22WL in the second state.

[0104] It is preferable that the distances D2, D3, D5, and D6 are 30% or more (50% or less) of the distances D1 and D4. With this configuration, the first side wall 21W and the second side wall 22W can suitably support the upper portion 20U.

[0105] According to the long tube 20 described above, by providing portions with small curvatures at predetermined positions (the first upper connection portion 21UC, the second upper connection portion 22UC, the first lower connection portion 21LC, the second lower connection portion 22LC, the first joint portion 21C, and the second joint portion 22C), it becomes possible to bend the first side wall 21W and the second side wall 22W at those positions in response to an external force. This prevents the upper surface 20US from shifting to the right or left relative to the lower surface 20LS during printing, and makes it possible to uniquely determine the cross-sectional shape of the long tube 20 during printing.

[0106] Furthermore, since the first side wall 21W and the second side wall 22W of the long tube 20 have substantially the same thickness, it is possible to prevent the upper surface 20US from undulating significantly in the second state due to changes in the thickness of the first side wall 21W, etc. However, as with the long tube 10, the thickness of the joint portion may be made smaller than the thickness of the surrounding area to form a joint portion that is more easily deformed. Note that, as with the long tube 10, multiple types of linear objects having different diameters can be inserted into the long tube 20 as well. When a large-diameter linear object C2 is inserted into a tube formed by separating the long tube 20, the first side wall 21W and the second side wall 22W extend in the vertical direction, and the distance between the upper surface 20US and the lower surface 20LS becomes greater than the distance in the first state.

[0107] [Third embodiment]

[0108] FIG. 3(A) shows a cross section of the long tube 30 according to this embodiment in a first state, and FIG. 3(B) shows a cross section of the long tube 30 in a second state.

[0109] Similar to the long tube 10, the long tube 30 includes an upper portion 30U including a printable upper surface 30US, a lower portion 30L including a lower surface 30LS, a first upper connection portion (first upper joint portion) 31UC connected to the upper portion 30U, and a first lower connection portion (first lower joint portion) 31LC connected to the lower portion 30L. The upper portion 30U is connected to the first upper connection portion 31UC, and the lower portion 30L is connected to the first lower connection portion 31LC, bringing the upper portion 30U and the lower portion 30L close to each other. a second upper connection portion (second upper joint portion) 32UC connected to the upper part 30U; a second lower connection portion (second lower joint portion) 32LC connected to the lower part 30L; and a second side wall 32W connected to the upper part 30U via the second upper connection portion 32UC and to the lower part 30L via the second lower connection portion 32LC, which bends and deforms when the upper part 30U and the lower part 30L are brought closer to each other.

[0110] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3(A), by forming the thickness of the first upper connection portion 31UC, the first lower connection portion 31LC, the second upper connection portion 32UC, the second lower connection portion 32LC, the first joint portion 31C and the second joint portion 32C (first upper connection portion 31UC, etc.) in cross section to be smaller than the thickness of the surrounding parts, that is, the upper portion 30U, the lower portion 30L, the first side wall upper portion 31WU, the first side wall lower portion 31WL, the second side wall upper portion 32WU and the second side wall lower portion 32WL (upper portion 30U, etc.), it becomes possible to make the first upper connection portion 31UC, etc. function as a joint portion that deforms relatively greatly in response to an external force, and the upper portion 30U, etc. function as a non-joint portion that deforms relatively little or hardly at all.

[0111] However, unlike the long tube 10, the first side wall 31W has a single joint portion, the first joint portion 31C, at the midpoint between the upper portion 30U and the lower portion 30L, and the second side wall 32W has a single joint portion, the second joint portion 32C, at the midpoint between the upper portion 20U and the lower portion 20L.

[0112] Furthermore, unlike the long tube 10, the first side wall 31W and the second side wall 32W are erected substantially perpendicularly from the lower part 30L to support the upper part 30U. Additionally, by providing inwardly recessed portions on the outer wall surfaces of the first joint part 31C and the second joint part 32C, the wall thicknesses of the first joint part 31C and the second joint part 32C are reduced.

[0113] 3(B), with this configuration, the first side wall 31W and the second side wall 32W of the long tube 30 are bent so as to widen outward, which is also different from the long tube 10 in which the first side wall 11W and the second side wall 12W are bent inward. Specifically, the first joint portion 31C is bent by being displaced in a direction away from the second side wall 32W when the upper portion 30U and the lower portion 30L are brought closer to each other, and the second joint portion 32C is bent by being displaced in a direction away from the first side wall 31W when the upper portion 30U and the lower portion 30L are brought closer to each other.

[0114] Furthermore, the long tube 30 differs from the long tube 10 in that it is provided with two contact pieces, a first contact piece 31 and a second contact piece 32, which protrude from the area surrounded by the upper part 30U, the lower part 30L, the first side wall 31W and the second side wall 32W and grip the linear body by elastically deforming and coming into contact with the linear body when the linear body is inserted therethrough.

[0115] In a long tube 30 in which the first side wall 31W and the second side wall 32W are bent so as to widen outward, it is difficult for the first side wall 31W and the second side wall 32W to support a linear object, so it is preferable to provide a contact piece. The number of contact pieces may be one, or three or more. The contact piece may be provided so as to protrude from the inner wall surface of the upper portion 10U or the lower portion 10L.

[0116] 3(B), the first side wall 31W and the second side wall 32W are bent to widen outward, so that in the second state, the inner wall surface of the first side wall upper portion 31WU contacts the inner wall surface of the first side wall lower portion 31WL, the inner wall surface of the second side wall upper portion 32WU contacts the inner wall surface of the second side wall lower portion 32WL, and the upper portion 30U and the lower portion 30L of the long tube 30 contact each other. Because the first side wall 31W and the second side wall 32W are not present between the upper portion 30U and the lower portion 30L, the long tube 30 can be made thinner in the second state. This makes it possible to suppress deformation of the upper surface 30US when pressed by a thermal head.

[0117] In this embodiment, the upper portion 30U and the lower portion 30L are in contact with each other in the second state, sandwiching the first contact piece 31 and the second contact piece 32 from above and below. Furthermore, the upper portion 30U has a protrusion 30UP that protrudes downward from its lower surface, and the lower portion 30L has a protrusion 30LP that protrudes upward from its upper surface, so that the protrusions 30UP and 30LP come into contact with each other in the second state. This configuration makes it possible to stably support the upper surface 30US.

[0118] As shown in Figures 3(C) and 3(D), by arranging the first contact piece 31 and the second contact piece 32 rotationally symmetrically with respect to the central axis of the long tube 30, it becomes possible for the first contact piece 31 and the second contact piece 32 to hold linear bodies C1 and C2 of different diameters.

[0119] [Regarding distance relationships between joints]

[0120] Furthermore, the long tube 30 according to this embodiment additionally has the following configuration.

[0121] That is, in the cross section of the long tube 30, the value (D1+D2+D3) which is the sum of the distance D1 between the first upper joint portion 31UC and the second upper joint portion 32UC, the distance D2 between the first joint portion 31C and the first upper joint portion 31UC, and the distance D3 between the second joint portion 32C and the second upper joint portion 32UC is the same as the value (D4+D5+D6) which is the sum of the distance D4 between the first lower joint portion 31LC and the second lower joint portion 32LC, the distance D5 between the first joint portion 31C and the first lower joint portion 31LC, and the distance D6 between the second joint portion 32C and the second lower joint portion 32LC.

[0122] Here, distances D1 to D6 are measured based on the horizontal distance between the joints in the second state shown in Figure 3(B), in which an external force is applied to compress the long tube 30, bringing the upper part 30U and the lower part 30L closer together (note that since the distances between the first upper joint part 31UC and the first lower joint part 31LC cancel each other out, and the distances between the second upper joint part 32UC and the first lower joint part 32LC cancel each other out, the influence of these parts is considered to be minor and the distances of these parts are therefore omitted in the figure).

[0123] The inventors of the present application have noticed that this configuration can prevent the top surface 30US from curving during printing. Specifically, in a long tube 30 that bends outward like the first side wall 31W and the second side wall 32W, the sum of distances D1, D2, and D3 (D1+D2+D3) corresponds to the width of the upper half of the long tube 30 in the second state. Meanwhile, the sum of distances D4, D5, and D6 (D4+D5+D6) corresponds to the width of the lower half of the long tube 30 in the second state. Therefore, if the two values ​​are significantly different, the top surface 30US will bend in the second state. For example, if the value (D4+D5+D6) is greater than the value (D1+D2+D3), this may contribute to the top surface 30US being recessed downward.

[0124] Therefore, even if the distance D2 and the distance D5 are different, even if the distance D1 and the distance D4 are different, or even if the distance D5 and the distance D6 are different, by satisfying the above-mentioned relationship, it is possible to prevent the upper surface 30US from curving during printing.

[0125] In the long tube 30 etc. shown in this embodiment, the first upper joint portion 31UC is provided directly above the first lower joint portion 31LC, and similarly, the second upper joint portion 32UC is provided directly above the second lower joint portion 32LC. However, even if the first upper joint portion 31UC and the second upper joint portion 32UC are not provided directly above the first lower joint portion 31LC and the second lower joint portion 32LC, respectively, but are provided at different positions horizontally, as long as the above-mentioned relationship, i.e., (D1+D2+D3)=(D4+D5+D6), is satisfied in a long tube that bends outward, it is possible to prevent the upper surface from shifting to the right or left from a fixed position relative to the lower surface during printing, and to uniquely determine the cross-sectional shape of the long tube 20 during printing.

[0126] As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to provide a long tube that undergoes little left-right displacement when crushed.

[0127] Note that components illustrated in one embodiment may be added to or substituted for other embodiments within the scope of ordinary creativity of a person skilled in the art. For example, in a long tube that bends to expand outward, such as the first side wall 31W and the second side wall 32W, the curvatures of the joints may be different as in the second embodiment, allowing the joints to function as starting points for bending to expand outward. For example, the first joint portion 31C (second joint portion 32C) may have a curvature radius equal to or greater than the first radius of curvature along its outer wall surface in cross section and a curvature radius less than the first radius of curvature along its inner wall surface, thereby promoting bending in a direction in which the inner wall surfaces of the first side wall upper portion 31WU (second side wall upper portion 32WU) and the first side wall lower portion 31WL (second side wall lower portion 32WL) approach each other.

[0128] [Fourth embodiment]

[0129] FIG. 4(A) shows a cross section of the long tube 40 according to this embodiment in a first state, and FIG. 4(B) shows a cross section of the long tube 40 in a second state.

[0130] Similar to the long tube 10, the long tube 40 includes an upper portion 40U including a printable upper surface 40US, a lower portion 40L including a lower surface 40LS, a first upper connection portion (first upper joint portion) 41UC connected to the upper portion 40U, and a first lower connection portion (first lower joint portion) 41LC connected to the lower portion 40L. The upper portion 40U is connected to the first upper connection portion 41UC, and the lower portion 40L is connected to the first lower connection portion 41LC, bringing the upper portion 40U and the lower portion 40L close to each other. a second upper connection portion (second upper joint portion) 42UC connected to the upper portion 40U; a second lower connection portion (second lower joint portion) 42LC connected to the lower portion 40L; and a second side wall 42W connected to the upper portion 40U via the second upper connection portion 42UC and to the lower portion 40L via the second lower connection portion 42LC, the second side wall 42W having the second joint portion 42C that bends and deforms when the upper portion 40U and the lower portion 40L are brought closer to each other.

[0131] The first upper connection portion (first upper joint portion) 41UC, the first side wall 41W and the first lower connection portion (first lower joint portion) 41LC have the same configuration as the first upper connection portion 21UC, the first side wall 21W and the first lower connection portion 21LC of the long tube 20, so detailed explanation will be omitted.

[0132] The second joint portion 42C has a similar configuration to the second joint portion 32C, and therefore a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0133] In the long tube 40 configured as described above, when a downward external force is applied to the upper surface 40US by a pressing member such as a thermal head, the upper portion 40U and the lower portion 40L move closer to each other, and the first side wall 41W bends inward like the first side wall 21W, so that the first joint portion 41C bends while being displaced in a direction approaching the second side wall 42W (inward). On the other hand, the second side wall 42W bends while being displaced in a direction away from the first side wall 41W (outward), like the second side wall 32W.

[0134] Here, upper portion 40U has a protrusion 40UP that protrudes downward from its lower surface, and lower portion 40L has a protrusion 40LP that protrudes upward from its upper surface, and is configured so that protrusions 40UP and 40LP come into contact with each other in the second state, thereby enabling upper surface 30US to be stably maintained flat even in the second state.

[0135] Note that, because the first side wall 41W bends inward and the second side wall 42W bends outward, the long tube 40 is preferably configured so that the value (D1-D2+D3) is equal to the value (D4-D5+D6). Here, the distance D1 corresponds to the distance between the first upper joint portion 41UC and the second upper joint portion 42UC, the distance D2 corresponds to the distance between the first joint portion 41C and the first upper joint portion 41UC, the distance D3 corresponds to the distance between the second joint portion 42C and the second upper joint portion 42UC, the distance D4 corresponds to the distance between the first lower joint portion 41LC and the second lower joint portion 42LC, the distance D5 corresponds to the distance between the first joint portion 41C and the first lower joint portion 41LC, and the distance D6 corresponds to the distance between the second joint portion 42C and the second lower joint portion 42LC.

[0136] As described above, the two side walls of the long tube may both bend inward, both bend outward, or one bend inward and the other bend outward. In any configuration, by providing joints at predetermined positions, it is possible to bend the side walls at fixed positions, and therefore it is possible to uniquely determine the cross-sectional shape in the second state.

[0137] [Fifth embodiment]

[0138] FIG. 5(A) shows a cross section of the long tube 50 according to this embodiment in a first state, and FIG. 5(B) shows a cross section of the long tube 50 in a second state.

[0139] Similar to the long tube 10, the long tube 50 includes an upper portion 50U including a printable upper surface 50US, a lower portion 50L including a lower surface 50LS, a first upper connection portion (first upper joint portion) 51UC connected to the upper portion 50U, and a first lower connection portion (first lower joint portion) 51LC connected to the lower portion 50L. The upper portion 50U is connected to the first upper connection portion 51UC, and the lower portion 50L is connected to the first lower connection portion 51LC, bringing the upper portion 50U and the lower portion 50L close to each other. a second upper connection portion (second upper joint portion) 52UC connected to the upper part 50U; a second lower connection portion (second lower joint portion) 52LC connected to the lower part 50L; and a second side wall 52W having the second joint portion 52C that is connected to the upper part 50U via the second upper connection portion 52UC and to the lower part 50L via the second lower connection portion 52LC, and that bends and deforms when the upper part 50U and the lower part 50L are brought closer to each other.

[0140] The upper portion 50U in this embodiment has a portion extending outward (to the left on the paper) from the first upper connection portion 51UC and a portion extending outward in the opposite direction (to the right on the paper) from the second upper connection portion 52UC, while the lower portion 50L has a portion extending outward (to the left on the paper) from the first lower connection portion 51LC and a portion extending outward in the opposite direction (to the right on the paper) from the second upper connection portion 52UC, which is different from the other embodiments. This configuration makes it possible to ensure a wide width for the printable upper surface 50US.

[0141] In addition, the first side wall upper portion 51WU (second side wall upper portion 52WU) extends downward from the first upper connection portion 51UC (second upper connection portion 52UC) and away from the second side wall 52W (first side wall 51W) to connect to the first joint portion 51C (second joint portion 52C), and the first side wall lower portion 51WL (second side wall lower portion 52WL) extends upward from the first lower connection portion 51LC (second upper connection portion 52LC) and away from the second side wall 52W (first side wall 51W) to connect to the first joint portion 51C (second joint portion 52C).

[0142] As shown in Figure 5(A), the first upper connection portion 51UC and the second upper connection portion 52UC are close to each other, and similarly the first lower connection portion 51LC and the second lower connection portion 52LC are close to each other, but the upper surface 50US has an extending portion, making it possible to ensure a flat surface on which printing can be performed.

[0143] 5(B), in the second state, the first joint portion 51C and the second joint portion 52C bend outward, so that the inner wall surfaces of the first side-wall upper portion 51WU and the second side-wall upper portion 52WU come into contact with the inner wall surfaces of the first side-wall lower portion 51WL and the second side-wall lower portion 52WL, respectively. As a result, the first side-wall lower portion 51WL and the second side-wall lower portion 52WL are stacked on the lower portion 50L, the first side-wall upper portion 51WU and the second side-wall upper portion 52WU are stacked on the first side-wall lower portion 51WL and the second side-wall lower portion 52WL, and the upper portion 50U is stacked on the first side-wall upper portion 51WU and the second side-wall upper portion 52WU. Therefore, even in the second state, the upper surface 50US can be stably maintained flat. Additionally, the upper portion 50U has two protrusions 50UP protruding downward from its lower surface, and the protrusions 50UP are configured to abut against the outer peripheral surface of the first side wall upper portion 51WU or the second side wall upper portion 52WU in the second state. The lower portion 50L has two protrusions 50LP protruding upward from its upper surface, and the protrusions 50LP are configured to abut against the outer peripheral surface of the first side wall lower portion 51WL or the second side wall lower portion 52WL in the second state, so that the upper surface 50US can be maintained more stably flat.

[0144] [Sixth embodiment]

[0145] FIG. 6(A) shows a cross section of the long tube 60 according to this embodiment in a first state, and FIG. 6(B) shows a cross section of the long tube 60 in a second state.

[0146] Unlike the long tube 10, the lower portion 60L of the long tube 60 is bent and provided with a deformable lower joint portion 60LC. Therefore, unlike the lower portion 10L, the lower portion 60L is configured to be deformable. That is, the lower portion 60L has a lower surface 60LS (opposing surface) facing in the opposite direction to the upper surface 60US, and has a lower joint portion 60LC that deforms when the upper portion 60U and the lower portion 60L are brought closer to each other. Unlike a case where the lower part is curved and therefore difficult to flatten, in the second state, the lower part 60L is deformed from a state in which the lower joint part 60LC is bent to a flat state, as shown in the figure. Therefore, the lower part 60L can support the upper part 60U so that the upper surface 60US is flat.

[0147] The upper portion 60U, the first side wall 61W, and the second side wall 62W other than the lower portion 60L have the same configurations as the upper portion 20U, the first side wall 21W, and the second side wall 22W, respectively, and therefore description thereof will be omitted.

[0148] As described above, the lower portion may have a portion that is bent in the first state and deforms to be flat in the second state. This embodiment also makes it possible to provide a long tube that exhibits little lateral displacement when crushed. Note that the configuration of the lower portion shown in this embodiment may be adopted as the lower portion of other embodiments.

[0149] [Seventh embodiment]

[0150] FIG. 7(A) shows a cross section of the long tube 70 according to this embodiment in a first state, and FIG. 7(B) shows a cross section of the long tube 70 in a second state.

[0151] The long tube 70 bends so that both the first side wall 71W and the second side wall 72W expand outward. The long tube 70 differs from the long tube 10 and the like in the number of joints that the two side walls have. Specifically, the first side wall 71W of the long tube 70 has two joints, a first joint 71C and a third joint 73C, while the second side wall 72W has one joint, a second joint 72C. Thus, the first side wall 71W includes a first side wall upper portion 71WU provided between the first joint 71C and the first upper connecting portion 71UC, a first side wall middle portion 71WM provided between the first joint 71C and the third joint 73C, and a first side wall lower portion 71WL provided between the third joint 73C and the first lower connecting portion 71LC. On the other hand, the second side wall 72W has a second side wall upper portion 72WU provided between the second joint portion 72C and the second upper connection portion 72UC, and a second side wall lower portion 72WL provided between the second joint portion 72C and the second lower connection portion 72LC.

[0152] The long tube 70 also differs from the long tube 10 in that, in the second state, the side walls are bent so that portions of the outer wall surfaces of the side walls are continuous with the top surface. Specifically, as shown in the figure, the first side wall upper portion 71WU of the long tube 70 is continuous with the top surface 70US due to the bending of the first joint portion 71C, and the first side wall lower portion 71WL is continuous with the bottom surface 70LS due to the bending of the third joint portion 73C. In this state, the inner wall surfaces of the first side wall upper portion 71WU and the first side wall lower portion 71WL contact each other, enabling the top surface 70US to be supported flat. Additionally, in the second state, the first side wall middle portion 71WM is configured to contact the protruding slope of the first side wall upper portion 71WU and the protruding slope of the second side wall lower portion 71WL, thereby determining the positions of the first joint portion 71C and the third joint portion 73C. This makes it possible to uniquely determine the cross-sectional shape of the long tube 70 during printing.

[0153] On the other hand, the second side wall 72W bends while the second joint portion 72C is displaced outward. At this time, the upper portion 70U has a convex portion 70UP that protrudes downward on its lower surface, and the lower portion 70L has a convex portion 70LP that protrudes upward on its upper surface. Since the convex portions 70UP and 70LP are configured to come into contact with each other in the second state, it is possible to support the upper surface 70US so that it is flat.

[0154] As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to provide a long tube that undergoes little left-right displacement when crushed.

[0155] In the second state, the side wall bends at the joint so that a portion of the outer wall surface of the side wall is continuous with the top surface. This expands the printable area, making it possible to print on the top surface and side surfaces. For example, a configuration may be adopted in which text is printed on the top surface 70US and a color is printed on the outer peripheral surface of the first side wall upper portion 71WU.

[0156] Furthermore, the side walls are bent at the joints so that a portion of the outer wall surface of the side walls is continuous with the upper surface, thereby enabling the long tube to be thinned in the second state. This allows for stable support of the upper surface. Note that it is not necessary to provide a protrusion on either the upper or lower side. For example, the protrusion 70LP may be omitted and the protrusion 70UP may be configured to contact the upper surface of the lower part 70L, or the protrusion 70LP may be configured to contact the lower surface of the upper part 70U. In the former case, it is preferable to increase the protrusion amount of the protrusion 70UP so that the upper surface 70US remains flat.

[0157] As described in the above embodiments, the present application discloses a closed-type long tube made of an elastic material. This long tube has a joint provided at a predetermined position, so that when the upper and lower portions approach each other and the long tube is crushed, the long tube bends at a predetermined position. As a result of the stable bending position, the shape of the long tube when crushed is stable, making it possible to provide a long tube that exhibits minimal lateral displacement when crushed.

[0158] Furthermore, since the long tube is a closed type in which the inner wall surface forms a closed line in cross section, the tube will not come off after the linear object is inserted into the tube separated from the long tube.

[0159] In addition, since the long tube is made of an elastic material, it can be engaged with linear objects having a variety of diameters.

[0160] Since the side walls bend when crushed, deformation of the upper surface is suppressed, and therefore, by using the upper surface as the printing surface, printing can be performed favorably.

[0161] Furthermore, the elongated tube may be modified in consideration of the following points.

[0162] [About the top surface]

[0163] The inventors of the present application investigated how the appearance of characters printed on the top surface changes when the shape of the top surface is deformed. For example, if the outer wall surface of a long tube in cross section is circular, it becomes difficult to distinguish the printed characters from a 45-degree tilted direction. For example, the letters "E" and "F" are difficult to distinguish unless the presence or absence of a horizontal line at the bottom end is visible. However, if the width of the long tube in cross section (e.g., width W1 in Figure 1(A)) is 5 mm and the top surface in cross section is an arc with a radius of 2.5 mm (an arc with a central angle of 180 degrees), and "E" and "F" are printed with a height of 3 mm, it was confirmed that the bottom end becomes difficult to see, making it difficult to distinguish "E" and "F" from a 45-degree tilted direction.

[0164] On the other hand, the width of the long tube (for example, width W1 in Figure 1(A)) is set to 5 mm, and the upper surface of the cross section has a radius of 3.53 (2.5 × 2 0.5 When the letters "E" and "F" were printed as 3 mm high arcs (arcs with a central angle of 90 degrees) of 1 mm, it was confirmed that the letters "E" and "F" could be distinguished from a direction tilted at 45 degrees.

[0165] Therefore, the upper surface may be flat or curved, but the straight line or curve representing the upper surface in the cross section in the first state is preferably an arc with a central angle of 90 degrees inscribed at the left and right ends of the upper surface in the cross section, or a straight line or curve that exists below this arc.

[0166] [About the curvature radius of the joint]

[0167] As described above, the joint portion can be realized in various configurations, and one such configuration is disclosed in which the radius of curvature of the portion to be bent is reduced. For example, if it is desired to bend the joint portion inward, the curvature of the outer wall surface of the joint portion can be made smaller than the curvature of the surrounding portions, thereby making the joint portion the starting point of deformation (note that the curvature of the inner wall surface of the joint portion may be curved). In the configuration shown in FIG. 2(A), the curvature of the outer wall surface of the first joint portion 21C is small, while the curvature of the outer wall surfaces of the first side wall upper portion 21WU and the first side wall lower portion 21WL adjacent to the first joint portion 21C is large (infinite in the case of a straight line). Therefore, in a graph with the position along the outer wall surface as the horizontal axis and the curvature as the vertical axis, the curvature will be minimal at the first joint portion 21C. Similarly, in a graph with the position along the inner wall surface as the horizontal axis and the curvature as the vertical axis, the curvature will be minimal at the first upper connecting portion 21UC.

[0168] The inventors of the present application studied the optimization of the curvature of the joint and found that excessively large curvature of the joint results in significant misalignment of the upper surface relative to the lower surface during printing. For example, if the width of the long tube in cross section (e.g., width W1 in FIG. 1(A)) is 5 mm and 2.5 mm-high characters or the like are printed within a 4 mm range of the 5 mm width, the misalignment amount in the second state must be 0.75 mm (= (4 - 2.5) / 2) or less. If the misalignment amount in the second state were greater than 0.75 mm, the characters or the like would extend beyond the 4 mm printing range, potentially resulting in the lower or upper ends of the characters or the like not being printed on the upper surface. Therefore, in the above specific example, it is preferable to set the misalignment amount of the upper surface relative to the lower surface to 0.75 mm or less when transitioning from the first state to the second state.

[0169] However, reducing the radius of curvature of the portion to be bent does not necessarily eliminate the amount of misalignment. For example, in FIG. 2A, if the angle between the lower surface of the upper portion 20U and the inner wall surface of the first sidewall upper portion 21WU is approximately 40 degrees, and the radius of curvature of the inner wall surface of the first upper connection portion 21UC is 0.25 mm, the arc of radius 0.25 mm inscribed between the lower surface of the upper portion 20U and the inner wall surface of the first sidewall upper portion 21WU has a length of approximately 0.6 mm. Therefore, even if bending occurs at the first upper connection portion 21UC, a misalignment of approximately 0.3 mm, or half the arc length, may occur. Similarly, if the angle between the upper surface of the lower portion 20L and the inner wall surface of the first sidewall lower portion 21WL is approximately 40 degrees, and the radius of curvature of the inner wall surface of the first lower connection portion 21LC is 0.25 mm, a misalignment of approximately 0.3 mm or less may occur. Furthermore, when the angle formed by the outer wall surface of the first side wall upper part 21WU and the outer wall surface of the first side wall lower part 21WL sandwiching the first joint part 21C is approximately 80 degrees, if the radius of curvature of the outer wall surface of the first joint part 21C is 0.25 mm, an arc of radius 0.25 mm inscribed in the outer wall surfaces of the first side wall upper part 21WU and the first side wall lower part 21WL has a length of approximately 0.425 mm. However, because the first side wall upper part 21WU adjacent to the first joint part 21C in the figure extends at an incline to the right, and the first side wall lower part 21WL extends at an incline to the opposite left, a deviation of approximately 0.21 mm, or less, may occur.

[0170] As a result, the maximum total amount of misalignment of the first upper connection portion 21UC, the first lower connection portion 21LC, and the first joint portion 21C is approximately 0.81 mm. This value exceeds 0.75 mm, which may result in the bottom or top of characters or the like not being printed on the upper surface.

[0171] Considering the above, it is preferable that the radius of curvature of the portion to be bent is small. For example, it is preferable that the radius of curvature of the portion to be bent in cross section is smaller than the film thickness of that portion. For example, if the film thickness is 0.3 mm, the curvature along the outer wall surface of the first joint portion 21C that bends inward is preferably less than 0.3 mm, and the curvature along the inner wall surface may be 0.3 mm or more.

[0172] Furthermore, considering the standard case where the printing area is 80% of the width of the long tube and characters or the like having a height of 50% of the width are printed, it is preferable that the amount of deviation be 15% or less of the width W of the long tube at the cross section. Therefore, in a first side wall (e.g., first side wall 21W) that bends inward, when the radius of curvature along the inner wall surface of the first upper connection portion (e.g., first upper connection portion 21UC) in the cross section is defined as radius of curvature R1, the radius of curvature along the inner wall surface of the first lower connection portion (e.g., first lower connection portion 21LC) is defined as radius of curvature R2, the length of the arc of radius R1 inscribed in the inner wall surface of the upper portion (e.g., upper portion 20U) and the inner wall surface of the upper part of the first side wall is defined as first shift amount DS1, and the length of the arc of radius R2 inscribed in the inner wall surface of the lower portion (e.g., lower portion 20L) and the inner wall surface of the lower part of the first side wall is defined as second shift amount L2, it is preferable to determine radii R1 and R2 so that the value (DS1+DS2), which is at least the sum of the first shift amount and the second shift amount, is 0.15×W or less, i.e., so as to satisfy the relationship (DS1+DS2)≦0.15W.

[0173] [Regarding the positional relationship between the connection part and the underside]

[0174] In the cross section of the inwardly bending long tube, it is preferable that the inner wall surfaces of the first lower connection portion and the second lower connection portion are located inside the support point on the lower surface of the lower portion that is supported by a support such as a platen roller. This configuration makes it possible to promote the inward bending of the first lower connection portion.

[0175] 8 shows an example of a cross-sectional view of the long tube 10 taken along a plane perpendicular to the stretching direction. In this figure, line L1 is an imaginary tangent line that contacts the lower surface 10LS of the lower portion 10L. Line L1 intersects with the lower surface 10LS at least at a first point P1 on the first side wall 11W side and a second point P2 on the second side wall 12W side. This imaginary tangent line corresponds to the surface of the support.

[0176] On the other hand, position PS1 of first lower connection portion 11LC, which is closest to second point P2 when line L1 is taken as its axis, is located between first point P1 and second point P2 when line L1 is taken as its axis, and therefore promotes inward displacement of first side wall lower portion 11WL due to an external force acting from the support at first point P1. Similarly, position PS2 of second lower connection portion 12LC, which is closest to first point P1 when line L1 is taken as its axis, is located between first point P1 and second point P2 when line L1 is taken as its axis, and therefore promotes inward displacement of second side wall lower portion 12WL due to an external force acting from the support at second point P2.

[0177] Such a configuration is applicable to a long tube that is bent inward.

[0178] In a long tube that bends outward, it is preferable to apply the opposite positional relationship: that is, it is preferable that the position PS1 of the first lower connecting portion 11LC, which is closest to the second point P2 when the axis is the line L1, is located outside the first point P1 when the axis is the line L1, and that the position PS2 of the second lower connecting portion 12LC, which is closest to the first point P1 when the axis is the line L1, is located outside the second point P2 when the axis is the line L1.

[0179] The present invention can be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, some components of one embodiment can be added to other embodiments within the scope of ordinary creativity of a person skilled in the art. Also, some components of one embodiment can be replaced with corresponding components of other embodiments. [Explanation of symbols]

[0180] 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 tube, long tube 10L~70L lower 10LS~70LS Bottom side 10U~70U upper part 10US~70US Top surface 11C~71C First joint 11LC~71LC 1st lower connection 11UC~71UC 1st upper connection part 11W~71W 1st side wall 11WL~71WL Lower part of 1st side wall 11WU~71WU Upper part of 1st side wall 12C~72C second joint 12LC~72LC Second Lower Connection 12UC~72UC 2nd upper connection part 12W~72W 2nd side wall 12WL~72WL Lower part of second side wall 12WU~72WU 2nd side wall upper part 13C Third joint 14C Fourth joint 30LP convex part 30UP convex part 31 1st contact piece 32 Second contact piece 40LP convex part 40UP convex part 50LP convex part 50UP convex part 70LP convex part 70UP convex part

Claims

1. A long tube made of an elastic material, an upper portion including a printable upper surface; a lower portion opposite the upper portion; a first upper connection portion connected to the upper portion; a first lower connection portion connected to the lower portion; a first side wall having a side wall joint portion that is connected to the upper portion via the first upper connection portion and to the lower portion via the first lower connection portion and that bends at a first predetermined position between the upper portion and the lower portion when the upper portion and the lower portion are brought closer to each other; a second upper connection portion connected to the upper portion; a second lower connection portion connected to the lower portion; a second side wall having a second joint portion that is connected to the upper portion via the second upper connection portion and to the lower portion via the second lower connection portion, and that displaces in a direction away from the first side wall when the upper portion and the lower portion are brought closer to each other and bends at a second predetermined position between the upper portion and the lower portion; A tube comprising:

2. The tube according to claim 1, further comprising a contact piece that protrudes from the inner wall surface of the tube and is configured to elastically deform and come into contact with the linear object when the linear object is inserted into the area surrounded by the inner wall surface.

Images