Cartridge and method for manufacturing a cartridge

Abstract

It suppresses the skew of the medium being transported from the cartridge. [Solution] A cartridge (10) housing a core (21) in which a roll-shaped tape-like medium (T) is wound inside, comprising, in order from the inside of the cartridge, a core, a spacer (24), an elastic member receiving portion (25), an elastic member (26), and one of the outer surfaces (12a) constituting the cartridge, wherein the elastic member presses the core in the width direction of the medium via the elastic member receiving portion.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a cartridge for storing a roll-shaped medium and a method for manufacturing the cartridge.

Background Art

[0002] As in the printing apparatus described in Patent Document 1, a roll-shaped medium (for example, a tape as a printing medium) is stored in a cartridge, and a predetermined process (for example, printing) is performed on the medium while feeding the medium out of the cartridge. This is known.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In order to appropriately process the medium, it is necessary to convey the medium sent out from the cartridge without skewing it. As a countermeasure, in the cartridge, a core around which the medium is wound is pressed in the width direction of the medium by a biasing member such as a ring spring to apply a load, thereby stabilizing the force for pulling out the medium from the core. However, since the force when the biasing member presses the core is likely to vary, there is a problem that the medium may skew when the medium is conveyed.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to suppress skewing of the medium when the medium is conveyed from the cartridge.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A cartridge according to one aspect of the present invention is a cartridge that houses a core in which a tape-like medium is wound in a roll shape, and comprises, in order from the inside of the cartridge, the core, a spacer, an elastic member receiving portion, an elastic member, and one of the outer surfaces constituting the cartridge, wherein the elastic member presses the core in the width direction of the medium via the elastic member receiving portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the above embodiment, the skewness of the medium being transported from the cartridge can be suppressed. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of a disassembled cartridge. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view of the completed cartridge. [Figure 3] This is a plan view showing the internal structure of the cartridge. [Figure 4] This is a cross-sectional view of the tape roll holding structure before the lid is attached to the cartridge base. [Figure 5] This is a cross-sectional view of the tape roll holding structure with the lid attached to the cartridge base component. [Figure 6] This figure shows the experimental results of transporting tape using the cartridge of the example and the cartridge of the comparative example. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The embodiment described below is an example of a cartridge that houses a core in which a tape-shaped medium is wound in a roll shape, and is applied to a cartridge 10 (tape cartridge) that houses tape T, which is the medium to be printed on by a printing device (printing medium). The X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis directions shown in each figure are perpendicular to each other. The Z-axis direction is the thickness direction of the cartridge 10 and also the width direction of the strip-shaped tape T.

[0010] The cartridge 10 comprises a base member 11 and a lid 12 attached to the base member 11. The base member 11 and the lid 12 can be brought closer together in the Z-axis direction from a separate state (see Figures 1 and 4) and combined (see Figures 2 and 5), and the combined base member 11 and lid 12 form the outer surface of the box-shaped cartridge 10. The base member 11 has a bottom surface portion 11a located on the -Z direction side and a side surface portion 11b protruding from the outer edge of the bottom surface portion 11a on the +Z direction side, and the +Z direction side opposite the bottom surface portion 11a is open. The lid 12 has a top surface portion 12a attached to the tip side of the side surface portion 11b and closing the opening on the +Z direction side of the base member 11. In other words, the top surface portion 12a of the lid 12 is one of the outer surfaces (the +Z direction side) that make up the cartridge 10. The base member 11 has a plurality of fitting holes 11c that open in the +Z direction, and the mounting position of the lid 12 on the base member 11 is determined by fitting the plurality of fitting protrusions 12b that protrude from the upper surface 12a of the lid 12 in the -Z direction into the fitting holes 11c. The base member 11 and the lid 12 are fixed to each other by a predetermined fixing means. The fixing means may be a method of fixing by press-fitting the fitting protrusions 12b into the fitting holes 11c, or by the engagement of engaging parts other than the fitting holes 11c and fitting protrusions 12b. Alternatively, screws or the like may be used as the fixing means. A storage space 13 is formed inside the combined base member 11 and lid 12. The surface of the base member 11 and lid 12 facing the storage space 13 is the inner surface.

[0011] The bottom surface 11a of the base member 11 has a pair of sides extending generally in the X-axis direction and a pair of sides extending generally in the Y-axis direction, and four side portions 11b are formed rising from these sides in the +Z direction. In other words, the side portions 11b have parts located on both sides in the X-axis direction and parts located on both sides in the Y-axis direction. The base member 11 has a recess 14 in which a part of the +Y direction side is recessed toward the storage space 13 side (-Y direction side) than the side portion 11b. A first passage opening 15 is formed adjacent to the -X direction side of the recess 14, a second passage opening 16 is formed adjacent to the +X direction side of the recess 14, and a tape guide 17 is formed adjacent to the +X direction side of the second passage opening 16. The first passage opening 15 and the second passage opening 16 communicate the inside and outside of the storage space 13, respectively.

[0012] Inside the storage space 13 are a core support shaft 18, a first reel 19, and a second reel 20, each extending in the Z-axis direction. The core support shaft 18 is a cylindrical fixed shaft provided on the base member 11, while the first reel 19 and the second reel 20 are cylindrical rotating shafts supported on the base member 11 so as to be rotatable about an axis in the Z-axis direction. The lid 12 has insertion holes 12c, 12d, and 12e into which the ends of the core support shaft 18, the first reel 19, and the second reel 20 can be inserted.

[0013] The medium, tape T, is wound in a roll around the outside of a cylindrical core 21. The core 21 with tape T wound around it is called a tape roll 22. The width of the tape T in the Z-axis direction and the width (axial length) of the core 21 are approximately the same. The core 21 comprises a cylindrical outer cylinder 21a and an inner cylinder 21b that are coaxial with each other, and the outer cylinder 21a and the inner cylinder 21b are connected by a plurality of connecting parts 21c that extend radially in the radial direction. Gaps 21d are formed between the outer cylinder 21a and the inner cylinder 21b at locations other than the connecting parts 21c. This configuration achieves both weight reduction and strength assurance for the core 21. The tape T is wound on the outer circumferential surface of the outer cylinder 21a. A core support shaft 18 can be inserted into the central hole 21e inside the inner cylinder 21b, and the core 21 is supported so as to be rotatable about the core support shaft 18 within the storage space 13. The central axis C shown in Figures 4 and 5 is an axis that passes through the centers of the core support shaft 18 and the core 21 and extends in the Z-axis direction.

[0014] As shown in Figure 3, the tape T, fed out from the tape roll 22 stored in the storage space 13, passes through the first passage opening 15 to the outside of the storage space 13, passes through the +Y direction area of ​​the recess 14, and is transported along the tape guide 17. In other words, the tape T is transported from the tape roll 22 generally toward the +X direction. The ink ribbon K is wound in a roll on the first reel 19 inside the storage space 13. The ink ribbon K, fed out from the first reel 19, passes through the first passage opening 15 to the outside of the storage space 13, passes through the +Y direction area of ​​the recess 14, passes through the second passage opening 16 to enter the storage space 13, and is wound onto the second reel 20. In the area between the first passage opening 15 and the second passage opening 16, the ink ribbon K is transported overlapping with the tape T.

[0015] The recess 14 is the part into which the print head 1 of the printing device (not shown) is inserted when the cartridge 10 is attached to the printing device. The printing device is equipped with a platen roller 2 that can rotate about an axis in the Z-axis direction, positioned opposite the print head 1, and the tape T and ink ribbon K are sandwiched between the print head 1 and the platen roller 2. When the heating element of the print head 1 is heated in this sandwiched state, the ink from the heated area of ​​the ink ribbon K is transferred to the tape T, and printing is performed on the tape T. When the platen roller 2 is rotated in this sandwiched state, the tape T and ink ribbon K are transported approximately in the X-axis direction. The tape T, transported in the +X direction while being guided by the tape guide 17, is discharged to the outside of the printing device. The printing device is equipped with a cutter (not shown) for cutting the tape T, and the entire thickness or part of the thickness of the tape T that is discharged to the outside of the printing device can be cut by the cutter. When the cartridge 10 is attached to the printing device, the drive shaft 3 provided on the printing device fits into the central hole 20a of the second reel 20. The drive shaft 3 rotates the second reel 20 in synchronization with the transport of the tape T and ink ribbon K by the rotation of the platen roller 2, thereby allowing the ink ribbon K to be smoothly wound onto the second reel 20.

[0016] Furthermore, when applying the cartridge of this disclosure as a tape cartridge for a printing device, it is not limited to transfer printing from an ink ribbon as shown in the figure, but a thermal tape that develops color upon heating may also be used as the medium. In this case, it can be applied by omitting the first reel 19, the second reel 20, the ink ribbon K, etc., from the configuration of the illustrated cartridge 10.

[0017] Next, the tape T holding structure in the cartridge 10 will be described in detail. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, a holding sheet 23 and a holding sheet 24 are provided on both sides of the tape roll 22 in the Z-axis direction. The holding sheet 24 corresponds to a spacer in the cartridge of this disclosure. The holding sheet 23 and the holding sheet 24 are adhesive sheets with adhesive properties on the surface facing the tape roll 22, and their outer circumference is circular with respect to the central axis C of the core 21, with a central opening 23a and a central opening 24a in the center with respect to the central axis C. By covering both sides of the roll-shaped tape T wound around the core 21 with the holding sheets 23 and 24, the winding misalignment of the tape T in the axial direction (Z-axis direction) and radial direction (direction perpendicular to the Z-axis direction) of the core 21 is prevented. In other words, the holding sheets 23 and 24 prevent the tape T from unraveling relative to the core 21. The diameters of the central openings 23a and 24a are larger than the diameter of the inner cylinder 21b in the core 21, but smaller than the diameter of the outer cylinder 21a. Therefore, when the retaining sheets 23 and 24 are attached to the tape roll 22, the inner circumferences of the retaining sheets 23 and 24, as defined by the central openings 23a and 24a, are located between the outer cylinder 21a and the inner cylinder 21b in the radial direction of the core 21.

[0018] The tape roll 22 is attached inside the storage space 13 in such a direction that the holding sheet 23 is positioned on the -Z direction side and the holding sheet 24 is positioned on the +Z direction side. That is, the holding sheet 23 is provided between the bottom surface portion 11a of the base member 11 and the core 21, and the holding sheet 24 is provided between the upper surface portion 12a of the lid 12 and the core 21. A film sheet 25 and a ring spring 26 are provided between the holding sheet 24 and the upper surface portion 12a of the lid 12 (the inner side of the cartridge 10 with respect to the upper surface portion 12a). The film sheet 25 is positioned on the holding sheet 24 side (-Z direction side), and the ring spring 26 is positioned on the upper surface portion 12a side (+Z direction side). Thus, from the inside of the cartridge 10 in order, it has a configuration including the core 21, the holding sheet 24, the film sheet 25, the ring spring 26, and the upper surface portion 12a. The film sheet 25 corresponds to the elastic member receiving portion in the cartridge of the present disclosure, and the ring spring 26 corresponds to the elastic member in the cartridge of the present disclosure.

[0019] The film sheet 25 has a circular outer circumference centered on the central axis C of the core 21, and a circular central opening 25a centered on the central axis C in the center. The outer diameter of the film sheet 25 is approximately the same as the outer diameter of the holding sheet 24. The diameter of the central opening 25a is smaller than the diameter of the central opening 24a of the holding sheet 24, and is equal to or greater than the diameter of the core support shaft 18. In other words, the tip of the core support shaft 18 can be inserted through the central opening 25a. The film sheet 25 is placed on top of the holding sheet 24 on the +Z side and is held with the core support shaft 18 inserted through the central opening 25a. In this state, the inner circumference of the film sheet 25, defined by the central opening 25a, is located radially inward of the tape roll 22 than the central opening 24a of the holding sheet 24. Therefore, as shown in Figure 4, the deformation-allowable region 25b, which is a part of the inner circumference of the film sheet 25 near the central opening 25a, faces the axial side of the core 21 in the Z-axis direction without the holding sheet 24 in between, and an initial gap S1 equal to the thickness of the holding sheet 24 in the Z-axis direction is formed between the core 21 and the film sheet 25 (deformation-allowable region 25b). The initial gap S1 is an annular space centered on the central axis C, formed in the radial direction of the core 21 between the outer circumference of the core support shaft 18 and the inner circumference of the central opening 24a of the holding sheet 24. The film sheet 25 has flexibility that allows the deformation-allowable region 25b to bend toward the initial gap S1 when subjected to pressing force from the ring spring 26. However, the film sheet 25 does not excessively deform the entire deformation-allowable region 25b, but has sufficient strength to maintain the gap S2 (Figure 5), which will be described later, between it and the core 21. Suitable materials for the film sheet 25 that can be obtained relatively inexpensively while satisfying these conditions include, for example, resin materials such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polycarbonate.

[0020] The ring spring 26 is a leaf spring (annular elastic member) formed in a ring shape on a plane parallel to the upper surface 12a of the lid 12, and has a central opening 26a through which the core support shaft 18 is inserted. The ring spring 26 has a curved shape in which a portion of the circumferential region protrudes toward the -Z direction more than other regions. More specifically, the ring spring 26 has a pair of protruding regions 26b located furthest toward the -Z direction on both radial sides of the central opening 26a, and has a shape that progresses toward the +Z direction as it moves away from the protruding regions 26b in the circumferential direction. The region of the ring spring 26 located furthest toward the +Z direction is defined as the support region 26c. When the lid 12 is attached to the base member 11, if the distance in the Z-axis direction between the inner surface of the upper surface 12a and the retaining sheet 24 is defined as distance P (see Figure 5), then in the initial state (free state) without any external force applied, the ring spring 26 (see Figure 4) has a greater amount of curvature in the Z-axis direction (distance from the protruding region 26b to the support region 26c in the Z-axis direction) than the distance P. Therefore, as shown in Figure 5, when the lid 12 is attached to the base member 11 with the film sheet 25 and the ring spring 26 positioned between the upper surface 12a and the retaining sheet 24, the ring spring 26, pressed by the upper surface 12a, is compressed and deformed in the Z-axis direction, and the force with which the ring spring 26 tries to recover from the compression deformation presses the deformation-allowable region 25b of the film sheet 25 toward the -Z direction. The ring spring 26 is compressed and deformed such that its support region 26c contacts the inner surface of the upper surface portion 12a of the lid 12, and its protruding region 26b contacts the deformation-tolerant region 25b of the film sheet 25. The deformation-tolerant region 25b of the film sheet 25, receiving the pressing force from the ring spring 26, deforms in the -Z direction and enters the initial gap S1, contacting the core 21 and pressing it in the -Z direction. In this way, the ring spring 26 presses the core 21 in the width direction of the tape T via the film sheet 25.

[0021] As a result of the allowable deformation region 25b of the film sheet 25 being pressed by the ring spring 26, the state changes from the initial gap S1 before attaching the lid 12, and a gap S2 is formed by being surrounded by the film sheet 25 (allowable deformation region 25b) in the state pressed by the ring spring 26, the core 21, and the holding sheet 24. As shown in FIG. 5, the gap S2 gradually widens in the Z-axis direction as it advances in the radial direction of the core 21 from the position where the protruding region 26b of the ring spring 26 presses the allowable deformation region 25b toward the position where the support region 26c of the ring spring 26 contacts the upper surface portion 12a of the lid 12. The ring spring 26 has a size that fits inside the outer periphery of the gap S2 in a plane parallel to the upper surface portion 12a.

[0022] When manufacturing the cartridge 10, as shown in FIG. 4, with the lid 12 not attached to the base member 11, a tape roll 22 in which the holding sheet 23 and the holding sheet 24 are arranged on both sides in the width direction of the tape T is attached inside the storage space 13, and the core 21 is rotatably supported via the core support shaft 18. Further, the film sheet 25 is overlaid on the holding sheet 24 so that an initial gap S1 is formed around the core support shaft 18, and the ring spring 26 is placed at a position on the film sheet 25 opposite to the initial gap S1. That is, the film sheet 25 and the ring spring 26 are attached in order from the holding sheet 24 side between the holding sheet 24 provided on the side surface of the core 21 and the upper surface portion 12a of the lid 12 (the inner surface of the cartridge 10). The ring spring 26 is set such that the protruding region 26b protrudes toward the -Z direction side. From this state, when the lid 12 is attached to the base member 11 as shown in FIG. 5, the upper surface portion 12a approaches the film sheet 25 and presses the ring spring 26, and the ring spring 26 presses the film sheet 25 while elastically deforming so as to approach a flat shape in the Z-axis direction. The film sheet 25 pressed by the ring spring 26 has the allowable deformation region 25b enter the initial gap S1 and is pressed against the axial side surface of the core 21 while forming the gap S2. As a result, the cartridge 10 is completed with the ring spring 26 pressing the core 21 in the width direction of the tape T via the film sheet 25.

[0023] As described above, the cartridge 10 is manufactured such that the core 21 is pressed in the Z-axis direction by the force from the ring spring 26, which is compressed and deformed in the Z-axis direction. This stabilizes the position of the core 21 in the Z-axis direction and applies a predetermined load to the rotation of the core 21. The stability of the core 21 in the Z-axis direction, i.e., in the width direction of the tape T, has the effect of suppressing wobble in the width direction of the tape T being fed from the tape roll 22. The load applied to the rotation of the core 21 has the effect of stabilizing the force required to pull the tape T from the tape roll 22 (hereinafter referred to as the pull-out force). When the pull-out force of the tape T is stable, even tapes T made of soft materials or thin tapes T can be transported stably. If the tape T wobbles in the width direction or the pull-out force of the tape T is unstable, the transport of the tape T will not be stable, causing skew and potentially reducing the print quality on the tape T. If the degree of skew of the tape T is large, a part of the printing area may fall outside the width direction range of the tape T, resulting in a printing defect. In contrast, by applying the force of the ring spring 26 to the core 21, it is possible to prevent the tape T being displaced from the tape roll 22 and improve the print quality on the tape T. However, research has shown that simply applying a force to the core 21 in the width direction of the tape T may not be sufficient due to load fluctuations and other factors. As described below, the cartridge 10 of this embodiment has an improved configuration to prevent the tape T from being displaced.

[0024] The amount of compression deformation of the ring spring 26 when pressed by the lid 12, as shown in Figure 5, differs depending on the amount of curvature in the initial state shown in Figure 4. The larger the original curvature, the greater the force pressing against the core 21 during compression deformation. Therefore, the load pressing against the core 21 can be adjusted by the amount of curvature of the ring spring 26. However, if the amount of curvature of the ring spring 26 is excessive, the stability of the shape and posture when the ring spring 26 is compressed and deformed will decrease, and the load on the core 21 may vary. In this regard, the cartridge 10 of this embodiment comprises, in order from the inside of the cartridge 10, the core 21, the retaining sheet 24, the film sheet 25, the ring spring 26, and the upper surface portion 12a (one of the outer surfaces constituting the cartridge 10). By interposing the film sheet 25 between the ring spring 26 and the core 21, the load on the core 21 can be applied by the deformation of the ring spring 26 and the film sheet 25, rather than relying solely on the amount of curvature of the ring spring 26. In other words, by interposing the film sheet 25, it is possible to apply a sufficient pressing force to the core 21 while ensuring the stability of the shape and orientation of the ring spring 26 during compression deformation. The deformation-tolerant region 25b of the film sheet 25 can efficiently press the core 21 while deforming in accordance with the compression deformation of the ring spring 26.

[0025] The ring spring 26 does not uniformly apply a pressing force to the axial side of the core 21 across its entire circumferential direction. Instead, it has a protruding region 26b that protrudes toward the core 21 and a supporting region 26c that receives support from the upper surface 12a of the lid 12. The portion including the protruding region 26b is primarily responsible for transmitting the pressing force toward the core 21. The core 21 also has a gap 21d between the outer cylinder 21a and the inner cylinder 21b, separated by a connecting portion 21c. Therefore, if the ring spring 26 is pressed directly against the core 21 without the film sheet 25 interposed, the ring spring 26 may shift radially toward the core 21, or the protruding region 26b may fall into the gap 21d toward the core 21, causing the ring spring 26 to tilt. This could result in an uneven application of the pressing force from the ring spring 26 to the core 21, or the pressing force from the ring spring 26 fluctuating. In order to rotate the core 21 stably, it is necessary to prevent such conditions and to ensure that the ring spring 26 applies a constant and even pressing force to the core 21 without radial bias. Ideally, it is desirable to maintain a state in which the center of the ring spring 26 always coincides with the central axis C of the core 21. In the cartridge 10 of this embodiment, by interposing a film sheet 25 between the ring spring 26 and the core 21, it is possible to prevent the ring spring 26 from shifting position radially with respect to the core 21 and to prevent the protruding region 26b of the ring spring 26 from falling into the gap 21d on the core 21 side, thereby stabilizing the position and orientation of the ring spring 26. As a result, the pressing force acting from the ring spring 26 on the core 21 can be made less variable in force and less biased in position, thereby stabilizing the rotation of the core 21.

[0026] In particular, by providing a gap S2 surrounded by the deformation-tolerant region 25b of the film sheet 25 pressed by the ring spring 26, the core 21, and the holding sheet 24, the deformation-tolerant region 25b deforms in accordance with the compressive deformation of the ring spring 26, and the effect of holding the center of the ring spring 26 and the central axis C of the core 21 coaxially in a plane parallel to the upper surface 12a can be obtained. As a result, the ring spring 26 can apply a stable and even load to the core 21 near the core support axis 18. Since the ring spring 26 is sized to fit inside the outer circumference of the gap S2 in a plane parallel to the upper surface 12a, no part of the ring spring 26 comes into contact with the film sheet 25 at a position outside the deformation-tolerant region 25b, and the effect of further stabilizing the ring spring 26 can be obtained.

[0027] As described above, with the cartridge 10 of this embodiment, the ring spring 26 undergoes a constant amount of compression deformation near the core support shaft 18, which stabilizes the position of the core 21 in the width direction of the tape T (axial direction of the core 21) and the tape T pulling force acting on the core 21. This allows the tape T pulled from the cartridge 10 to be transported stably without skew. In particular, when the tape T is made of a soft material or when the tape T is thin, stable transport is difficult and there is a problem that the tape T is likely to skew. However, even in such cases, by applying the cartridge 10 of this embodiment, stable transport of the tape T can be achieved, and problems caused by tape T skew or sagging can be prevented. With the cartridge 10, the load can be adjusted by the amount of curvature of the ring spring 26, and the tape T pulling force can be designed by the contact pressure of the film sheet 25 directly below the ring spring 26 against the core 21. This makes it easy to set the optimal pulling force according to the type of tape T (softness, thickness, etc.).

[0028] The table in Figure 6 shows experimental results of holding a tape roll in a cartridge under several different conditions. The example in Figure 6 shows a case where the same structure as the cartridge 10 of the above embodiment is applied, and it has a structure that includes a holding sheet (corresponding to the holding sheet 24), a film sheet (corresponding to the film sheet 25), and a gap (corresponding to the gap S2). Two types of ring springs are prepared: one with a large amount of curvature and a strong load, and one with a small amount of curvature and a weak load. In the example, the ring spring with the stronger load is used. The unit of deformation of the ring spring is mm (millimeters), and the deformation of the ring spring in the example is set as the reference value "α", and the difference in deformation relative to the reference value α is shown for each comparative example. The tape pulling force is measured by continuously measuring the pulling force with a push-pull gauge while pulling out tape from one roll of tape, and the lowest value of the pulling force is extracted. The unit of pulling force is gf (grams-force), and the pulling force in the example is set as the reference value "β", and the difference in pulling force relative to the reference value β is shown for each comparative example. In the experiment, a long, narrow frame-shaped test pattern was printed along the longitudinal direction of the tape, and the quality of the results was determined based on the printed test pattern. The print data for the test pattern was set so that frame lines were printed parallel to both edges of the tape, with a predetermined margin left from both edges in the width direction of the tape. A good result was considered to be when the positional relationship between both edges of the tape and the printed frame lines of the test pattern conformed to the print data. In the example, the tape was transported stably from the cartridge without skewing or sagging, and the test pattern was printed in the correct position and shape as set in the print data.

[0029] Comparative Example 1 involved printing on tape under the following conditions: only a retaining sheet was attached to the axial side of the tape roll, no film sheet was provided, and a ring spring with a weaker load was used. Because no film sheet was provided, there was no gap, and the ring spring directly pressed against the core. In Comparative Example 1, the deformation of the ring spring was -0.2 mm compared to the example, and the tape pulling force was -6.5 gf compared to the example. Compared to the example, both the load on the ring spring and the tape pulling force were smaller, and the posture and load of the ring spring were unstable, causing significant skew in the tape. As a result, the outline of the test pattern was partially cut off and not contained within the width of the tape (printing defect).

[0030] Comparative Example 2 had the same conditions as Comparative Example 1, where only a retaining sheet was attached to the side of the tape roll and no film sheet was provided, but the load on the ring spring was made stronger, similar to the example, and printing was performed on the tape. Similar to Comparative Example 1, since there was no film sheet, there was no gap, and the ring spring directly pressed against the core. In Comparative Example 2, the deformation of the ring spring was -0.1 mm compared to the example, and the pulling force was -4.0 gf compared to the example. Although the force pressing against the core was stronger than in Comparative Example 1 due to the increased load on the ring spring itself, the deformation of the ring spring was smaller compared to the example because there was no intervening film sheet. In addition, there were load fluctuation factors such as the ring spring partially falling into the gap in the core, resulting in lower stability of the pulling force compared to the example. As a result, tape skew was not sufficiently suppressed, and the border lines of the test pattern were printed partially right at the edges of the tape, resulting in no margin.

[0031] Comparative Example 3 involved printing on tape under the same conditions as the Example, with a film sheet instead of a retaining sheet attached to the side of the tape roll, and the load and deformation amount of the ring spring set to be the same as in the Example. Similar to the Example, the structure involves the ring spring pressing against the core via the film sheet, but it differs in that there is no gap because the retaining sheet is not provided. In Comparative Example 3, the pull-out force was -4.5gf compared to the Example. The conditions for the ring spring itself in Comparative Example 3 were the same as in the Example, and the deformation amount of the ring spring was stable, but due to the absence of a gap, the ring spring was more likely to move radially relative to the center of the core (i.e., there was a variable element in the load), resulting in lower stability of the pull-out force compared to the Example. As a result, tape skew was not sufficiently suppressed, and the border lines of the test pattern were printed partially right at the edges of the tape, resulting in no margin.

[0032] As can be seen from the experimental results above, the configuration of the embodiment, which includes a ring spring that functions as an elastic member, a retaining sheet that functions as a spacer, and a film sheet that functions as an elastic member receiving part, all between the inner surface of the cartridge and the core, was able to prevent tape skew during transport and obtain good results. It was found that the effect of preventing tape skew was reduced when either the retaining sheet or the film sheet was omitted, as in each comparative example. Furthermore, it was found that by providing a retaining sheet (spacer) and a film sheet (elastic member receiving part), as in the embodiment, and by providing a gap surrounded by the film sheet, which is pressed by the ring spring (elastic member), the core, and the elastic member, the position of the ring spring is stabilized, and the load from the ring spring is appropriately transmitted to the core, improving the stability of the pulling force.

[0033] The above embodiments are provided as specific examples to facilitate understanding of the invention, and the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. Various modifications and changes are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0034] In the cartridge 10 of the above embodiment, the retaining sheet 23, which is attached to the tape roll 22 on the opposite side from the retaining sheet 24, also has a central opening 23a of the same size as the central opening 24a of the retaining sheet 24. However, there is no ring spring on the retaining sheet 23 side, and therefore it is not necessary to form the same air gap S2 as on the retaining sheet 24 side in relation to the ring spring. For this reason, the retaining sheet 23 may be modified to have a central opening of the minimum size (smaller opening diameter than the central opening 23a) necessary for inserting the core support shaft 18.

[0035] In the cartridge 10 of the above embodiment, a ring spring 26 is used as the elastic member that applies a force to press the tape roll 22. The ring spring 26 is excellent because it is small, lightweight, inexpensive to obtain, and allows for easy optimization of the load, but the elastic member is not limited to this. For example, an annular rubber member or a coil-shaped compression spring may be used as an elastic member instead of the ring spring 26.

[0036] In the above embodiment of the cartridge 10, the example was given where the roll-shaped medium wound around the core 21 is tape T. However, it is also possible to use an ink ribbon K as the medium and apply the same configuration to the holding structure for the ink ribbon K within the cartridge 10 as the holding structure for tape T.

[0037] Although the cartridge 10 in the above embodiment houses a tape T, which is a printing medium, the cartridge of this disclosure can also be applied to cartridges other than those that house printing-related media. For example, it can be applied to cartridges in which magnetic tape for recording magnetic information is wound in a roll around a core and stored. When transporting magnetic tape, if skew occurs, an error may occur in the positional relationship between the magnetic head and the magnetic tape, which may cause errors in reading and writing information. Therefore, it is useful to use the cartridge of this disclosure to transport the magnetic tape without skew. Alternatively, it can be applied to a configuration in which adhesive tape having an adhesive layer on at least one side in the thickness direction is wound in a roll around a core and stored in a cartridge. When pulling out the adhesive tape from the core and cutting it to a predetermined length with a cutter, the cartridge of this disclosure can be used to transport the adhesive tape without skew. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0038] 10: Cartridge, 11: Base member, 12: Lid, 12a: Top surface (one side of the outer surface of the cartridge), 21: Core, 22: Tape roll, 23: Retaining sheet, 24: Retaining sheet (spacer), 25: Film sheet (elastic member receiving part), 26: Ring spring (elastic member), S2: Gap, T: Tape (medium)

Claims

1. A cartridge that houses a core in which a roll-shaped tape-like medium is wound around it, The cartridge comprises, in order from the inside, the core, the spacer, the elastic member receiving portion, the elastic member, and one of the outer surfaces constituting the cartridge. The cartridge wherein the elastic member presses the core in the width direction of the medium via the elastic member receiving portion.

2. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a gap is formed by being surrounded by the elastic member receiving portion, which is deformed by being pressed by the elastic member, the core, and the spacer.

3. The cartridge according to claim 2, wherein the elastic member is positioned inward of the outer circumference of the gap in a plane parallel to the surface.

4. The cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the elastic member is a leaf spring formed in the shape of a ring in a plane parallel to the surface.

5. The cartridge according to claim 4, wherein in a plane parallel to the aforementioned surface, the center of the elastic member and the center of the core are both coaxial.

6. A method for manufacturing a cartridge that houses a core in which a roll-shaped tape-like medium is wound inside, The core is rotatably supported on the inner side of one of the outer surfaces constituting the cartridge. A method for manufacturing a cartridge, comprising: attaching an elastic member receiving portion and an elastic member between a spacer provided on the side surface of the core in the width direction of the medium and the inner surface of the cartridge, in order from the spacer side, so that the elastic member presses the core in the width direction of the medium via the elastic member receiving portion.

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