Tape cassette

Abstract

The present invention provides a tape cassette in which the ribbon roll and the take-up spool can be positioned apart in the direction in which the ribbon roll's axis extends. [Solution] The tape cassette 100A comprises a housing 20, a ribbon roll 45A, and a take-up spool 241. The tape roll 41A is located inside the housing 20 and has tape wound around it. The ribbon roll 45A is located inside the housing 20 and is rotatable around an axis extending in the first direction. The ribbon roll 45A has an ink ribbon wound around it. The take-up spool 241 is located inside the housing 20 and takes up the ink ribbon. In the first direction, the ribbon roll 45A and the take-up spool 241 are separated.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a tape cassette.

Background Art

[0002] The tape cassette of Patent Document 1 includes a case, a tape, a gear, a ribbon roll, a take-up spool, and the like. The case has a first case, a second case, and a third case. In the vertical direction, the first case, the second case, and the third case are arranged in this order. The tape is accommodated in the third case. The gear is accommodated in the second case. The ribbon roll and the take-up spool are accommodated in the first case. An ink ribbon is wound around the ribbon roll. The take-up spool takes up the ink ribbon.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the above tape cassette, the ribbon roll and the take-up spool were disposed at positions overlapping each other in the direction in which the axis of the ribbon roll extends.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a tape cassette in which the ribbon roll and the take-up spool can be disposed spaced apart from each other in the direction in which the axis of the ribbon roll extends.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The tape cassette according to this disclosure comprises a housing, a tape roll located inside the housing on which tape is wound, a ribbon roll located inside the housing and rotatable about an axis extending in a first direction on which an ink ribbon is wound, and a take-up spool located inside the housing for winding the ink ribbon, wherein the ribbon roll and the take-up spool are separated in the first direction.

[0007] The tape cassette can be positioned with the ribbon roll and the take-up spool separated in the direction in which the ribbon roll's axis extends. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of printer 1. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view of printer 1 with the rear cover 3 removed. [Figure 3] This is a perspective view of the printing section 50. [Figure 4] This is a front view of the drive shaft 63. [Figure 5] This is a disassembled perspective view of a 100A tape cassette. [Figure 6] This is a plan view of tape cassette 100A, showing the third space S3. [Figure 7] This is a plan view of tape cassette 100A, showing the second space S2. [Figure 8] This is a plan view of tape cassette 100A, showing the arrangement of each component. [Figure 9] This is a plan view of the 100A tape cassette. [Figure 10] Figure 9 shows a cross-sectional view in the direction of the arrow Y1-Y1. [Figure 11] This is a cross-sectional view taken in the direction of the arrow X1-X1 in Figure 9. [Figure 12] This is a cross-sectional view taken along the line X2-X2 in Figure 9. [Figure 13] This is a perspective view showing the fourth space S4, and it illustrates the operation of gear 30. [Figure 14] This is a perspective view showing the first space S1, and a diagram showing the conveyance path of the ink ribbon 45. [Figure 15] This is a cross-sectional view taken along the line Y2-Y2 in Fig. 9 in the arrow direction, showing the first space S1 to the fourth space S4, and a diagram showing the conveyance path of the ink ribbon 45. [Figure 16] This is a diagram showing the second space S2, and a diagram showing the conveyance path of the ink ribbon 45. [Figure 17] This is an exploded perspective view of the tape cassette 100B. [Figure 18] This is a plan view of the tape cassette 100B, and a diagram showing the third space S3. [Figure 19] This is a plan view of the tape cassette 100B, and a diagram showing the second space S2. [Figure 20] This is a plan view of the tape cassette 100B, and a diagram showing the arrangement position of each member. [Figure 21] This is a plan view of the tape cassette 100B. [Figure 22] This is a cross-sectional view taken along the line Y1-Y1 in Fig. 21 in the arrow direction. [Figure 23] This is a cross-sectional view taken along the line X1-X1 in Fig. 21 in the arrow direction. [Figure 24] This is a cross-sectional view taken along the line X2-X2 in Fig. 21 in the arrow direction. [Figure 25] This is a perspective view showing the fourth space S4, and a diagram showing the operation of the gear 30. [Figure 26] This is a perspective view showing the third space S3, and a diagram showing the conveyance path of the ink ribbon 45. [Figure 27] This is a cross-sectional view taken along the line Y2-Y2 in Fig. 21 in the arrow direction, which is a cross-sectional view showing the first space S1 to the fourth space S4, and a diagram showing the conveyance path of the ink ribbon 45. [Figure 28] This is a diagram showing the second space S2, and a diagram showing the conveyance path of the ink ribbon 45. [Figure 29] This is an exploded perspective view of the tape cassette 100C. [Figure 30]This is a plan view of tape cassette 100C, showing the second space S2. [Figure 31] This is a plan view of tape cassette 100C, showing the third space S3. [Figure 32] This is a plan view of tape cassette 100C, showing the arrangement of each component. [Figure 33] This is a plan view of the 100C tape cassette. [Figure 34] Figure 33 is a cross-sectional view taken in the direction of the arrow Y1-Y1. [Figure 35] This is a cross-sectional view taken in the direction of the arrow X1-X1 in Figure 33. [Figure 36] This is a cross-sectional view taken in the direction of the arrow X2-X2 in Figure 33. [Figure 37] This is a perspective view showing the fourth space S4, and it illustrates the operation of gear 30. [Figure 38] This is a perspective view showing the third space S3, and is a diagram showing the transport path of the ink ribbon 45. [Figure 39] Figure 33 is a cross-sectional view in the direction of the arrow Y2-Y2, and shows the first space S1 to the fourth space S4, illustrating the transport path of the ink ribbon 45. [Figure 40] This is a diagram showing the second space S2, which is a diagram showing the transport path of the ink ribbon 45. [Figure 41] This diagram shows the transport path of the modified ink ribbon 45. [Figure 42] This is a disassembled perspective view of the 100D tape cassette. [Figure 43] This is a plan view of tape cassette 100D, showing the second space S2. [Figure 44] This is a plan view of tape cassette 100D, showing the third space S3. [Figure 45] This is a plan view of tape cassette 100D, showing the arrangement of each component. [Figure 46] This is a plan view of the 100D tape cassette. [Figure 47]Figure 46 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line Y1-Y1. [Figure 48] This is a plan view of the 100D tape cassette. [Figure 49] This is a cross-sectional view taken along the line Z4-Z4 in Figure 48. [Figure 50] This is a perspective view showing the fourth space S4, and it illustrates the operation of gear 30. [Figure 51] This is a perspective view showing the third space S3, and is a diagram showing the transport path of the ink ribbon 45. [Figure 52] Figure 48 is a cross-sectional view in the direction of the arrow Z2-Z2, and shows the first space S1 to the fourth space S4, illustrating the transport path of the ink ribbon 45. [Figure 53] This is a diagram showing the second space S2, which is a diagram showing the transport path of the ink ribbon 45. [Figure 54] This is a disassembled perspective view of the 100E tape cassette. [Figure 55] This is a plan view of tape cassette 100E, showing the second space S2. [Figure 56] This is a plan view of tape cassette 100E, showing the third space S3. [Figure 57] This is a plan view of tape cassette 100E, showing the arrangement of each component. [Figure 58] This is a plan view of the 100E tape cassette. [Figure 59] Figure 58 is a cross-sectional view taken in the direction of the arrow Y1-Y1. [Figure 60] This is a cross-sectional view taken in the direction of the arrow X1-X1 in Figure 58. [Figure 61] This is a cross-sectional view taken in the direction of the arrow X2-X2 in Figure 58. [Figure 62] This is a perspective view showing the fourth space S4, and it illustrates the operation of gear 30. [Figure 63] This is a perspective view showing the third space S3, and is a diagram showing the transport path of the ink ribbon 45. [Figure 64]Figure 58 is a cross-sectional view in the direction of the arrow Y2-Y2, showing the first space S1 to the fourth space S4, and illustrating the transport path of the ink ribbon 45. [Figure 65] This is a diagram showing the second space S2, which is a diagram showing the transport path of the ink ribbon 45. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] A printer 1 and tape cassette 100A, which are embodiments of this disclosure, will be described with reference to the drawings. The drawings are used to illustrate the technical features that may be adopted in this disclosure. That is, the configurations etc. shown in the drawings are not intended to be the sole limiting factors, but are merely illustrative examples. In the drawings of this embodiment, the first direction is the up-down direction. One side of the first direction is upward. The other side of the first direction is downward. The second direction is the front-back direction. One side of the second direction is forward. The other side of the second direction is backward. The third direction is the left-right direction. One side of the third direction is to the right. The other side of the third direction is to the left.

[0010] The configuration of printer 1 will now be described. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, printer 1 is a portable label printer. Printer 1 can print images onto tape 41, as shown in Figure 10, to create labels. Printer 1 can print images such as text and graphics onto tape 41.

[0011] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the printer 1 comprises a housing 2, a rear cover 3, a display unit 4, and an input unit 5.

[0012] The housing 2 is a box shape that is long in the left-right direction. The housing 2 has an opening at the rear. An inner cover 6 is fitted into the opening. The inside of the housing 2 is protected. The top wall 2A of the housing 2 has an outlet passage 9 and a retaining hole 2C. The outlet passage 9 penetrates in the left-right direction. The retaining hole 2C engages with the opening / closing part 8 of the rear cover 3.

[0013] The rear cover 3 is detachably attached to the housing 2. The rear cover 3 extends in the left-right direction. When attached to the housing 2, the side of the rear cover 3 facing the housing 2 is recessed. When attached to the housing 2, the rear cover 3 covers the entire back of the housing 2, including the inner lid 6 and the rear opening.

[0014] The rightmost end of the rear cover 3 has a window 7. The position of the window 7 corresponds to the rear end of the cassette mounting section 10. For example, the user can visually inspect the label affixed to the top surface of the tape cassette 100A through the window 7. The label displays the type of tape 41, etc.

[0015] The display unit 4 is, for example, a liquid crystal display and is capable of displaying various types of information. The display unit 4 is located at the right end of the lower surface 2B of the housing 2.

[0016] The input unit 5 accepts various types of information input from the user. The input unit 5 is located on the lower surface 2B of the housing 2. In other words, the input unit 5 is located to the left of the display unit 4. The input unit 5 includes multiple keys, such as character keys, a print button, and an Esc key.

[0017] As shown in Figure 2, the printer 1 has a cassette mounting section 10, a battery storage section 19, and a printing section 50 inside the housing 2.

[0018] The cassette mounting section 10 is used to detachably mount the tape cassette 100A. The cassette mounting section 10 is located to the right of the center in the left-right direction on the inner cover 6 on the back of the housing 2. The cassette mounting section 10 is recessed downwards. The cassette mounting section 10 has a recessed bottom surface 11 and recessed circumferential surfaces 12 to 15. The recessed circumferential surfaces 12 to 15 are connected to the edge of the recessed bottom surface 11 and surround the periphery in the front-back and left-right directions.

[0019] The battery compartment 19 houses a battery (not shown). The battery compartment 19 is recessed downwards at a position to the left of the center of the housing 2 in the left-right direction, on the inner cover 6 on the back of the housing 2.

[0020] When the rear cover 3 is removed from the housing 2, the cassette mounting section 10 and the battery compartment 19 are exposed to the outside of the printer 1. Therefore, the user can replace the tape cassette 100A and the battery with the rear cover 3 removed from the housing 2.

[0021] The printing unit 50 is a printing unit that prints on the tape 41. The printing unit 50 is located in the front part of the housing 2, below the left end of the cassette mounting section 10.

[0022] As shown in Figure 3, the printing unit 50 includes a base 51, a head unit 70, a platen unit 80, a drive mechanism 60, and the like.

[0023] As shown in Figure 3, the base 51 supports the configuration of the printing section 50. The base 51 is a metal plate. The base 51 has plate surfaces perpendicular to the vertical direction. The base 51 extends longer in the left-right direction than in the front-back direction. The base 51 is provided with a mounting section 141, a pin 51B, a shaft 52, etc.

[0024] The mounting portion 141 is located at the right end of the base 51 and in the center in the front-to-back direction. The mounting portion 141 extends upward. The mounting portion 141 faces left-to-right. The mounting portion 141 is a metal plate.

[0025] Pin 51B is located at the right end of the base 51 and in the center in the front-to-back direction. Pin 51B extends upward from the base 51. Pin 51B is cylindrical. To the right of pin 51B is another pin, not shown, which is identical to pin 51B. Shaft 52 is located at the right rear of the base 51. Shaft 52 extends upward.

[0026] As shown in Figure 3, the head unit 70 is mounted on the base 51. The head unit 70 includes a heat sink 72 and a print head 71.

[0027] The heatsink 72 holds the print head 71. The heatsink 72 is a metal plate for dissipating heat from the print head 71. The heatsink 72 is located in the center in the left-right direction at the front end of the base 51. The heatsink 72 comprises a first plate 72F and a second plate 72U.

[0028] The first plate 72F has its surface oriented vertically and extends longer horizontally than horizontally. A hole 72A is formed in the first plate 72F. The hole 72A penetrates the first plate 72F vertically.

[0029] A pin 51B is inserted through hole 72A. In this state, the first plate 72F is fixed to the base 51 with a screw 51C.

[0030] The second plate 72U extends upward from the rear end of the first plate 72F. The second plate 72U has its surface facing in the front-to-back direction. The second plate 72U extends longer in the left-to-right direction than in the up-to-down direction. The upper right surface of the second plate 72U functions as a support part 18 when the tape cassette 100A is mounted.

[0031] The print head 71 is fixed to the front surface of the second plate 72U of the heat sink 72 with adhesive. The print head 71 is a rectangular circuit board on which multiple heating elements 71A and a driver circuit section 71B are mounted. The multiple heating elements 71A are arranged vertically at the right edge of the board. The driver circuit section 71B is located at the rear edge of the board. The driver circuit section 71B is electrically connected to a control unit (not shown) of the printer 1 via a harness 73.

[0032] As shown in Figure 3, the platen unit 80 is positioned in front of the base 51. The left end of the platen unit 80 is pivotally supported by the rotation axis 53. The rotation axis 53 of the platen unit 80 is located to the left of the rear end of the base 51. The rotation axis 53 extends upward. The right end of the platen unit 80 is rotatable in the front-rear direction around the rotation axis 53.

[0033] The rotation of the platen unit 80 allows the platen roller 82 to move between a close position (not shown) and a distanced position (shown in Figure 3). The close position is a position close to the print head 71. The distanced position is a position far from the print head 71.

[0034] For convenience, the orientation of each part of the platen unit 80 in the following description will be based on the orientation of each part of the printer 1 when the platen roller 82 is in close proximity.

[0035] The platen unit 80 includes a platen holder 81, a platen shaft 84, a platen roller 82, a platen gear 83, and a detection unit 91.

[0036] The left end of the platen holder 81 opens to the rear. The rear end of the platen holder 81 has a lower wall and an upper wall. Support holes that penetrate vertically are opened in the lower and upper walls of the platen holder 81. The rotating shaft 53 of the base 51 is inserted through the support holes. A platen roller 82 is rotatably supported between the lower and upper walls at the right end of the platen holder 81.

[0037] The platen shaft 84 is an axle. The platen shaft 84 extends in the vertical direction. The platen roller 82 is a cylindrical shape that extends in the vertical direction. The platen shaft 84 is inserted through the platen roller 82. The platen shaft 84 rotates together with the platen roller 82.

[0038] The platen gear 83 is fixed to the upper end of the platen shaft 84. The platen shaft 84 protrudes upward from the upper wall of the platen holder 81. The platen gear 83 is a helical gear. The gear teeth of the platen gear 83 are twisted at a predetermined angle with respect to the vertical direction. The platen shaft 84 rotates together with the platen gear 83.

[0039] As will be described later, in the proximity of the platen roller 82, the platen roller 82 sandwiches the tape 41 and the ink ribbon 45 between the print head 71. The platen gear 83 meshes with the gear 31 shown in Figure 5 of the tape cassette 100A.

[0040] The driving force of the drive shaft 63, described later, is input to the platen roller 82 via the tape cassette 100A and the platen gear 83. The platen roller 82 rotates to transport the tape 41, which is held between it and the print head 71, toward the ejection path 9.

[0041] As shown in Figure 3, the platen holder 81 has a holding portion 81C. The holding portion 81C is located on the right side of the platen holder 81. The holding portion 81C is concave, recessed forward. The holding portion 81C holds the detection unit 91.

[0042] The detection unit 91 is composed of a mechanical switch. The detection unit 91 is switched on and off by a detectable part (not shown) of the tape cassette 100A. Based on the combination of on and off states of the switch, the detection unit 92 detects the cassette identification information assigned to the tape cassette 100A.

[0043] As shown in Figure 3, the drive mechanism 60 is assembled to the base 51. The drive mechanism 60 comprises a motor 61, a gear group 62, and a drive shaft 63. The motor 61, gear group 62, and base 51 are located inside the housing 2, below the inner cover 6.

[0044] The motor 61 is the drive source for the gear 30, which will be described later. The motor 61 is located at the left end of the base 51. The driving force of the motor 61 is transmitted to the drive shaft 63 by a gear group 62, which is a series of linked gears.

[0045] The drive shaft 63 will be described with reference to Figures 3 and 4. The drive shaft 63 is located at the right rear corner of the base 51. The shaft 52 provided on the base 51 is inserted through the drive shaft 63. The drive shaft 63 is exposed inside the cassette mounting section 10.

[0046] The drive shaft 63 is inserted into the gear 34, which will be described later. The drive force transmitted from the motor 61 is input to the drive shaft 63 via the gear group 62. The drive shaft 63 rotates the gear 34 due to the drive force from the motor 61.

[0047] The drive shaft 63 includes a drive gear 66, a clutch spring 68, and a drive cam 67.

[0048] The drive gear 66 receives the driving force from the motor 61 via the gear group 62. The material of the drive gear 66 is, for example, resin.

[0049] The drive gear 66 comprises a gear 66A and a shaft 65.

[0050] Gear 66A is meshed with the downstream gear in the gear group 62 shown in Figure 3. Gear 66A rotates via the gear group 62 due to the driving force of the motor 61 shown in Figure 3. The shaft 65 extends upward from gear 66A.

[0051] The shaft 65 is cylindrical. The shaft 65 has a smaller diameter than the gear 66A. The shaft 65 is inserted through the shaft 52 shown in Figure 3. The shaft 65 rotates around the shaft 52 together with the gear 66A.

[0052] The upper end of shaft 65 is called shaft 66E. Shaft 66E is cylindrical. A transmission gear 679 extending in the vertical direction is positioned on shaft 66E. Shaft 66E is inserted into gear 34, which will be described later. Shaft 66E transmits the driving force from motor 61 to gear 34 via transmission gear 679.

[0053] The clutch spring 68 is a coil spring. The clutch spring 68 has a body 68A, a first arm 68B, and a second arm 68C.

[0054] The main body 68A is mounted on the outer surface of the first shaft 66B of the drive gear 66. The main body 68A extends spirally in the vertical direction. The first arm 68B extends radially outward from the upper end of the main body 68A. The second arm 68C extends radially outward from the lower end of the main body 68A.

[0055] The drive cam 67 is mounted on the shaft 65. The drive cam 67 is cylindrical. The material of the drive cam 67 is a different resin material from, for example, the drive gear 66. In this case, the drive cam 67 is made of a different type or grade of resin material than the drive gear 66.

[0056] The drive cam 67 has a cam portion 67A and a spring housing portion 67B.

[0057] The cam portion 67A is cylindrical and extends in the vertical direction. The spring housing portion 67B is provided at the lower end of the cam portion 67A. The spring housing portion 67B is cylindrical and extends in the vertical direction. The diameter of the spring housing portion 67B is larger than the diameter of the cam portion 67A. The spring housing portion 67B houses the clutch spring 68.

[0058] Shaft 65 passes through drive cam 67. Shaft 66E is the portion of shaft 65 that protrudes above drive cam 67.

[0059] The tape cassette 100A of this disclosure will be described with reference to Figures 5 to 16. The tape cassette 100A can be mounted in the cassette mounting section 10 shown in Figure 2. By replacing the tape cassette 100A mounted in the cassette mounting section 10 of the printer 1, tape can be replenished and the type of tape (e.g., size, color, material, etc.) can be changed.

[0060] The tape cassette 100A comprises a housing 20, a tape roll 41A, a ribbon roll 45A, a take-up spool 241, and a gear 30. As shown in Figure 5, the external shape of the tape cassette 100A is that of a rectangular parallelepiped. In other words, the housing 20 is also rectangular in shape. The housing 20 houses the tape roll 41A, the ribbon roll 45A, the take-up spool 241, and the gear 30, etc.

[0061] The tape roll 41A is located inside the housing 20 in the other of the second and third directions. The tape spool 47 is located inside the housing 20 in the other of the second and third directions.

[0062] The tape roll 41A is a roll of tape 41 wound around a tape spool 47. The tape spool 47 is rotatable about a rotation axis L21 extending in the first direction. The rotation axis L21 will be described later.

[0063] The tape spool 47 is cylindrical in shape, extending in the first direction. The tape 41 is strip-shaped. For example, the tape 41 has a structure in which release paper is attached to the adhesive surface of the printing tape to cover it. The tape 41 is placed on top of the ink ribbon 45, which will be described later, and printing is performed by the print head 71.

[0064] Furthermore, the tape 41 is wound around the tape spool 47. With the tape 41 wound around the tape spool 47, the tape spool 47 is rotatable about a rotation axis L21 extending in the first direction. The tape roll 41A is rotatable about the rotation axis L21 extending in the first direction. The rotation axis L21 is a virtual axis. The rotation axis L21 passes through the center of the tape roll 41A.

[0065] Furthermore, the ribbon roll 45A is located inside the housing 20, near the center of the housing 20 in the second and third directions. The ribbon spool 46 is located inside the housing 20, near the center of the housing 20 in the second and third directions.

[0066] The ribbon roll 45A is a roll-shaped ink ribbon 45 wound on a ribbon spool 46. The ribbon spool 46 is rotatable about a rotation axis L23 that extends in the first direction. The rotation axis L23 will be described later.

[0067] The ribbon spool 46 is cylindrical in shape, extending in the first direction. The ink ribbon 45 is strip-shaped. For example, the ink ribbon 45 is a strip-shaped film containing ink. The ink ribbon 45 is used for printing on the tape 41. The ink ribbon 45 is superimposed on the tape 41 at the head opening 29, which will be described later, and used for printing by the print head 71.

[0068] Furthermore, the ink ribbon 45 is wound around the ribbon spool 46. More specifically, with the ink ribbon 45 wound around the ribbon spool 46, the ribbon spool 46 is rotatable about a rotation axis L23 extending in the first direction. The ribbon roll 45A is rotatable about the rotation axis L23 extending in the first direction. The ink ribbon 45 is wound onto a take-up spool 241, which will be described later. The rotation axis L23 is a virtual axis. The rotation axis L23 passes through the center of the ribbon roll 45A.

[0069] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the housing 20 of the tape cassette 100A is equipped with an arm 25. The arm 25 is located at one end of the housing 20 in the second direction. In the second direction, the arm 25 is closer to one end of the housing 20 than to the other end of the housing 20.

[0070] As shown in Figures 6 and 8, the arm 25 has an outlet 17. The outlet 17 can discharge the tape 41 and ink ribbon 45 to the outside of the housing 20. Details of the arm 25 and the outlet 17 will be described later.

[0071] As shown in Figure 5, the enclosure 20 comprises cases 21 to 24.

[0072] Case 23 constitutes the other end of the housing 20 in the first direction. Case 21 is positioned on one side of case 23 in the first direction. Case 21 is coupled to one side of case 23 in the first direction.

[0073] Case 22 is positioned on one side of Case 21 in the first direction. Case 22 is coupled to one side of Case 21 in the first direction.

[0074] Case 24 constitutes one end of the housing 20 in the first direction. Case 24 is positioned on one side of case 22 in the first direction. Case 24 is coupled to one side of case 22 in the first direction.

[0075] As shown in Figure 5, case 23 comprises plates 23D, 23R, 23B, 23L, and 23F. Plates 23D, 23B, 23R, 23L, and 23F are rectangular plates.

[0076] The plate 23D has a surface perpendicular to the first direction. The plate 23D includes an opening 23H and shafts 237 and 238. The opening 23H is located in the plate 23D on the other side of the second direction and on one side of the third direction. The opening 23H penetrates the plate 23D in the first direction. The shafts 237 and 238 protrude from the plate 23D in one direction of the first direction.

[0077] Plate 23R is positioned at one end of plate 23D in the third direction. Plate 23B is positioned at the other end of plate 23D in the second direction. Plate 23L is positioned at the other end of plate 23D in the third direction. Plates 23R, 23B, and 23L extend from plate 23D in one direction in the first direction.

[0078] Plate 23F is positioned at one end of plate 23D in the second direction. Plate 23F comprises plates 231 to 236. Plates 231 to 236 are rectangular in shape. Plates 231, 233, and 235 have surfaces perpendicular to the second direction. Plates 232, 234, and 236 have surfaces perpendicular to the third direction.

[0079] Plate 231 is positioned at one end of plate 23D in the first direction. One end of plate 232 is connected to one end of plate 231. The other end of plate 232 is connected to one end of plate 233. The other end of plate 233 is connected to one end of plate 234. The other end of plate 234 is connected to the other end of plate 235. One end of plate 235 is connected to the other end of plate 236.

[0080] As shown in Figure 5, case 21 comprises a separation plate 21M, plate 21R, plate 21B, plate 21L, and plate 21F. The separation plate 21M, plate 21R, plate 21B, plate 21L, and plate 21F are rectangular plates.

[0081] As shown in Figures 5, 6, and 8, the separation plate 21M has a plate surface perpendicular to the first direction. The separation plate 21M is equipped with openings 21H, 211H, a ribbon guide 219, plates 93, 94, and shafts 49, 217, and 962.

[0082] The positions of the opening 21H in the second and third directions are located on the other side of the second direction and on one side of the third direction in the separation plate 21M. The position of the opening 21H is the same as the position of the opening 23H. The opening 21H penetrates the separation plate 21M in the vertical direction.

[0083] The openings 211H are located in the separation plate 21M at the other end in the second direction and at one end in the third direction. The openings 211H penetrate the separation plate 21M in the first direction. The other end in the second direction and one end in the third direction of the separation plate 21M are cut out by the openings 211H.

[0084] The ribbon guide 219, plates 93, 94, and shafts 49, 217, and 962 extend from the separation plate 21M to the other in the first direction.

[0085] The ribbon guide 219 is located in the housing 20 at the other corner in the second direction and at the one corner in the third direction. The ribbon guide 219 is located at the other corner in the second direction and at the one corner in the third direction of the housing 20, relative to the opening 21H. One end of the ribbon guide 219 in the first direction is connected to the opening 211H.

[0086] The ribbon guide 219 has a curved inclined surface 219A. The inclined surface 219A is inclined toward one side of the second direction as it moves toward the other side of the first direction. The ribbon guide 219 guides the transport of the ink ribbon 45. More specifically, the ink ribbon 45 is transported while in contact with the inclined surface 219A of the ribbon guide 219.

[0087] Plate 93 extends in the second direction. In the third direction, plate 93 is located closer to plate 21L than to plate 21R. One end of plate 93 in the second direction is connected to the other end of plate 94 in the third direction.

[0088] Plate 94 extends in a third direction. Plate 94 extends from one end of plate 93 in the second direction to one end in the third direction. Plate 94 is located inside the arm 25, which will be described later.

[0089] The shaft 49 is positioned near the center of the separation plate 21M in the second and third directions. The center of the shaft 49 has a rotation axis L23. The shaft 49 is inserted through the holder 423. The holder 423 is cylindrical. The holder 423 is rotatable around the shaft 49.

[0090] The shaft 217 is positioned at the other corners of the separation plate 21M in the second and third directions. The center of the shaft 217 has a pivot axis L21. The holder 421 is inserted through the shaft 217. The holder 421 is cylindrical. The holder 421 is rotatable around the shaft 217.

[0091] The shaft 962 is positioned at one corner of the separation plate 21M in the second direction and the other corner in the third direction. A tape guide 442 is inserted through the shaft 962. The tape guide 442 is cylindrical. The tape guide 442 is rotatable around the shaft 962.

[0092] Plate 21R is positioned at one end of the housing 20 in a third direction. Plate 21R has a surface perpendicular to the third direction. Separation plate 21M is positioned between one end of plate 21R and the other end of plate 21R in a first direction.

[0093] Plate 21B is positioned at the other end of the housing 20 in the second direction. Plate 21B has a surface perpendicular to the second direction. Separation plate 21M is positioned between one end of plate 21B and the other end of plate 21B in the first direction.

[0094] Plate 21L is positioned at the other end of the housing 20 in the third direction. Plate 21L has a surface perpendicular to the third direction. Separation plate 21M is positioned between one end of plate 21L and the other end of plate 21L in the first direction.

[0095] Plate 21F is positioned at one end of the housing 20 in the second direction. Plate 21F comprises plates 211, 212, 213, 214, 215, and 216. Plates 211, 213, 214, 215, and 216 are rectangular in shape. Plates 211, 213, and 215 have surfaces perpendicular to the second direction. Plates 214 and 216 have surfaces perpendicular to the third direction.

[0096] Plate 211 is positioned at one end of the separation plate 21M in the second direction. Plate 213 is located on the other side of plate 94 in the second direction. Plate 94 is located between plate 211 and plate 213 in the second direction. That is, a gap is formed between plate 94 and plate 211. A gap is formed between plate 94 and plate 213.

[0097] One end of plate 212 in the second direction is connected to one end of plate 211 in the third direction. The other end of plate 212 in the second direction is connected to one end of plate 213 in the third direction. Plate 212 constitutes the discharge port 17, which will be described later.

[0098] The other end of plate 213 in the third direction is connected to guide 97. Guide 97 is connected to one end of plate 214 in the second direction. The other end of plate 214 in the second direction is connected to the other end of plate 215 in the third direction. Plate 214 is positioned away from plate 93 in one direction in the third direction. That is, a gap is formed between plate 93 and plate 214.

[0099] One end of plate 215 in the third direction is connected to the other end of plate 216 in the second direction.

[0100] Plates 211 to 216 are positioned in the same locations as plates 231 to 236 in the second and third directions.

[0101] Cases 21 and 23 constitute the arm 25 of the tape cassette 100A. The arm 25 consists of plates 21F and 23F. More specifically, the arm 25 consists of plates 23D, 231, 232, 233, and 234 of case 23, and the separation plates 21M, 211, 213, and 214 of case 21.

[0102] The arm 25 has an outlet 17 at one end. The outlet 17 consists of an outlet 17A and an outlet 17B.

[0103] As shown in Figure 14, the outlets 17A and 17B are slit-shaped and extend in the first direction. The outlet 17A is formed by plate 213 and one end of plate 94.

[0104] The discharge port 17B is located closer to one end of the housing 20 in a second direction than the discharge port 17A. The discharge port 17B is formed by one end of plate 94 and plate 211.

[0105] The housing 20 has a guide 78. More specifically, the guide 78 is located at one end of the plate 21R. The guide 78 has a slit. The slit extends in the first direction. The tape 41 discharged from the discharge port 17 of the arm 25 is transported to the slit of the guide 78. The guide 78 guides the tape 41 that has passed through the slit of the guide 78 to the discharge path 9 of the printer 1.

[0106] The housing 20 has an insertion opening 55. More specifically, the insertion opening 55 is located between one end of plate 216, plate 21R and guide 78. The insertion opening 55 has a slit. The printed ink ribbon 45 is inserted into the housing 20 through the slit.

[0107] The space located in one of the third directions relative to the arm 25, that is, the space between the arm 25, the guide 78 and the insertion opening 55, is also called the head opening 29.

[0108] As shown in Figure 5, case 22 comprises a separation plate 22U, plate 22B, plate 22R, plate 22L, and plate 22F. The separation plates 22U, plate 22B, plate 22R, and plate 22L are rectangular in shape.

[0109] The separation plate 22U has a plate surface perpendicular to the first direction. The separation plate 22U is equipped with openings 22H, 221H, a ribbon guide 229, and shafts 26, 27, and 28.

[0110] The opening 22H is located at one corner of the separation plate 22U in the second direction and the other corner in the third direction. The opening 22H penetrates the separation plate 22U in the first direction.

[0111] The opening 221H is located at one corner of the separation plate 22U in the second direction and the other corner in the third direction. The opening 221H penetrates the separation plate 22U in the first direction. With case 23 coupled to case 22, the opening 221H communicates with the opening 211H shown in Figure 6.

[0112] The ribbon guide 229 and shafts 26, 27, and 28 extend from the separator plate 22U in the first direction.

[0113] The ribbon guide 229 is positioned at the other corners of the separation plate 22U in the second and third directions. The other end of the ribbon guide 229 in the first direction is connected to the opening 221H. The ribbon guide 229 has a curved inclined surface 229A. The inclined surface 229A is inclined toward one side in the second direction as it is toward one side in the first direction. The ribbon guide 229 guides the transport of the ink ribbon 45. More specifically, the ink ribbon 45 is transported while in contact with the inclined surface 229A of the ribbon guide 229.

[0114] Shaft 26 is located at one corner of the separation plate 22U in the second and third directions. Shaft 27 is located near the center of the separation plate 22U in the second and third directions. Shaft 28 is located on the other side of shaft 27 in the second direction and on one side of the third direction. The position of shaft 28 corresponds to the position of the opening 23H.

[0115] Plate 22R is positioned at one end of the separation plate 22U in the third direction. Plate 22R has a plate surface perpendicular to the third direction. In the first direction, the separation plate 22U is positioned between one end of plate 22R and the other end of plate 22R.

[0116] Plate 22B is positioned at the other end of the separation plate 22U in the second direction. Plate 22B has a plate surface perpendicular to the second direction. In the first direction, the separation plate 22U is positioned between one end of plate 22B and the other end of plate 22B.

[0117] Plate 22L is positioned at the other end of the separation plate 22U in the third direction. Plate 22L has a plate surface perpendicular to the third direction. In the first direction, the separation plate 22U is positioned between one end of plate 22L and the other end of plate 22L.

[0118] Plate 22F is positioned at one end of the separation plate 22U in the second direction. Plate 22F has a plate surface perpendicular to the second direction. In the first direction, the separation plate 22U is located between one end of plate 22F and the other end of plate 22F.

[0119] The housing 20 has an opening 16. More specifically, the opening 16 is located at one corner of the second and third directions of the case 21 and the case 22.

[0120] As shown in Figure 5, case 24 comprises plates 24U, 24R, 24B, 24L, and 24F. Plates 24U, 24B, 24R, 24L, and 24F are rectangular plates.

[0121] The plate 24U has a plate surface perpendicular to the first direction. The plate 24U has a shaft 243. The shaft 243 is located at one corner of the plate 24U in the second direction and the other corner in the third direction. The shaft 243 extends from the plate 24U to the other corner in the first direction.

[0122] Plate 24R is positioned at one end of plate 24U in the third direction. Plate 24B is positioned at the other end of plate 24U in the second direction. Plate 24L is positioned at the other end of plate 24U in the third direction. Plate 24F is positioned at one end of plate 24U in the second direction.

[0123] Plates 24R, 24B, 24L, and 24F extend from plate 24U in the other direction in the first direction.

[0124] The internal space of the enclosure 20 is divided in the first direction into a first space S1 and a second space S2 by a separation plate 22U.

[0125] The first space S1 is the space enclosed by the plates 23D, 23F, 23B, 23L, and 23R of case 23, the plates 21F, 21B, 21L, and 21R of case 21, and the separation plates 22U, 22F, 22B, 22L, and 22R of case 22.

[0126] The second space S2 is the space enclosed by the separation plates 22U, 22F, 22B, 22L, and 22R of case 22, and the plates 24U, 24F, 24B, 24L, and 24R of case 24.

[0127] The first space S1 is aligned with the second space S2 in the first direction. The first space S1 is located on the other side of the second space S2 in the first direction. The arm 25 defines one end of the first space S1 in the second direction. The opening 23H is in communication with the first space S1.

[0128] The first space S1 is further divided in the first direction into a third space S3 and a fourth space S4 by a separation plate 21M. The third space S3 is aligned with the fourth space S4 in the first direction. The third space S3 is located on the other side of the fourth space S4 in the first direction.

[0129] The third space S3 is the space enclosed by the plates 23D, 23F, 23B, 23L, and 23R of case 23, and the separation plates 21M, 21F, 21B, 21L, and 21R of case 21.

[0130] The fourth space S4 is the space enclosed by the separation plates 21M, 21F, 21B, 21L, and 21R of case 21, and the separation plates 22U, 22F, 22B, 22L, and 22R of case 22.

[0131] As shown in Figures 5, 9 through 13, the first space S1 of the tape cassette 100A contains the tape roll 41A, ribbon roll 45A, gear 30, outlet 17A, outlet 17B, and insertion port 55, among others.

[0132] In detail, the tape roll 41A, ribbon roll 45A, discharge port 17A, discharge port 17B, and insertion port 55 are located in the third space S3.

[0133] As shown in Figures 6, 8, and 11, the tape roll 41A is located in the third space S3 at the corner of the other end in the second direction and the other end in the third direction of the separation plate 21M. A holder 421 is fitted inside the tape spool 47. The inside of the holder 421 is fitted onto the shaft 237.

[0134] The holder 421 is inserted onto the shaft 217. The shaft 217 has a rotation axis L21 extending in a first direction. Therefore, the tape spool 47 is rotatable about the rotation axis L21.

[0135] As shown in Figures 6 and 10, the ribbon roll 45A is located near the center of the separation plate 21M in the third direction in the third space S3. More specifically, the ribbon roll 45A is located between the plate 215 and the center of the separation plate 21M in the second direction in the third space S3.

[0136] A holder 423 is fitted inside the ribbon spool 46. The inside of the holder 423 is fitted onto the shaft 238. The holder 423 is inserted onto the shaft 49. The shaft 49 has a rotation axis L23 extending in the first direction. Therefore, the ribbon spool 46 is rotatable about the rotation axis L23.

[0137] The discharge port 17A is located at one end of the arm 25 in the third space S3. The discharge port 17A allows the ink ribbon 45 to be discharged from the third space S3.

[0138] The discharge port 17B is located at one end of the arm 25 in the third space S3. The discharge port 17B allows the tape 41 to be discharged from the third space S3.

[0139] The discharge port 17A is located between the discharge port 17B and the ribbon roll 45A in the second direction.

[0140] The insertion opening 55 is located in the third space S3 at one corner in the second and third directions. The insertion opening 55 allows the ink ribbon 45 to be inserted into the third space S3.

[0141] As shown in Figures 10 to 13, gear 30 is located in the fourth space S4. Gear 30 transmits the driving force transmitted via the transmission gear 679 on the shaft 66E of the drive shaft 63 to the platen roller 82.

[0142] Gear 30 comprises gears 34, 31, 37, and 32. Gear 34 is fitted onto shaft 28. Gear 31 is fitted onto shaft 26. Gear 37 is fitted onto shaft 27. Gear 32 is inserted through opening 22H.

[0143] Gear 34 is rotatable around shaft 28. The second and third positions of gear 34 are the same as the second and third positions of openings 23H and 21H.

[0144] Gear 34 is connected to gear 31 via gear 37. Gear 34 transmits driving force to gear 31. Gear 34 has gear 35 and cam 36. Gear 35 is an external gear that meshes with gear 38 of gear 37. Gear 35 is connected to cam 36.

[0145] The cam 36 is fixed to the gear 35 in the first direction. The cam 36 extends from the gear 35 to the other in the first direction. The cam 36 is a cylindrical internal gear. The cam 36 has spline teeth 361 on its inner circumferential surface. The shaft 66E of the drive shaft 63 is inserted into the cam 36 from the other in the first direction.

[0146] A portion of the cam 36 enters the third space S3 from the fourth space S4. The cam 36 is also exposed to the outside of the housing 20 through the opening 23H. Exposure means that the cam 36 is visible to the user.

[0147] Gear 31 is an external gear. Gear 31 is rotatable on a shaft 26 that extends in the first direction. Gear 31 is spaced further away from gear 34 in one of the second directions.

[0148] Gear 31 transmits the driving force to the platen gear 83 for transporting the tape 41. Gear 31 is a so-called helical gear. The gear teeth of gear 31 are twisted at a predetermined angle with respect to the first direction. The twist direction of the gear teeth of gear 31 is opposite to the twist direction of the gear teeth of the platen gear 83.

[0149] The gear 31 is engaged with the platen gear 83 in the space communicating with the head opening 29 when the tape cassette 100A is mounted in the cassette mounting section 10.

[0150] A portion of the teeth of gear 31 is exposed to the outside of the housing 20 through the opening 16. In other words, a portion of gear 31 is exposed to the space communicating with the head opening 29. Exposure means that the user can see the cam 36.

[0151] Gear 37 meshes with gears 34 and 31. Gear 37 transmits the driving force input to gear 34 to gear 31.

[0152] Gear 37 reduces the rotational speed of the driving force input to gear 34 and transmits it to gear 31. In other words, gear 30 includes a reduction mechanism.

[0153] Gear 37 is a double gear in which gears 38 and 39 are arranged coaxially. The diameter of gear 39 is smaller than the diameter of gear 38. Also, in the first direction, gear 38 is positioned closer to the tape roll 41A than gear 39.

[0154] Gear 38 meshes with gear 34. Gear 38 is an external spur gear.

[0155] Gear 39 meshes with gear 31. Gear 39 is an external helical gear. The twist direction of the gear teeth of gear 39 is opposite to that of gear 31.

[0156] Gear 32 comprises gear 321, cam 323, and shaft 325. Gear 321 meshes with gear 38. Cam 323 extends in one direction from gear 321 in the first direction. The first-direction end of cam 323 has multiple recesses. Shaft 325 extends in the first direction from the center of gear 321.

[0157] As shown in Figure 11, a portion of the gear 32, namely the cam 323 and the shaft 325, enters the second space S2 from the fourth space S4.

[0158] As shown in Figure 11, the take-up spool 241 is located in the second space S2 of the tape cassette 100A. The take-up spool 241 is located in the second space S2 at the corner between one of the second directions and the other of the third direction.

[0159] As shown in Figure 11, a holder 425 is fitted inside the winding spool 241. A shaft 243 is fitted inside the holder 425. The holder 425 is inserted through the shaft 243.

[0160] Furthermore, the holder 425 is inserted through the shaft 325. The shafts 243 and 325 have a rotating axis L4 extending in the first direction. In other words, the winding spool 241 is rotatable about the rotating axis L4.

[0161] A clutch spring 425A is attached to the other end of the holder 425 in the first direction. The two arms of the clutch spring 425A are fitted into recesses in the cam 323. The clutch spring 425A can transmit the driving force from the rotation of the gear 321 to the winding spool 241.

[0162] Referring to Figure 8, the arrangement relationships between the components will be explained. In the following explanation, "combining components" means that, when viewed from one or the other direction, at least a portion of the components overlap. Conversely, "not overlapping components" means that, when viewed from one or the other direction, the components do not overlap. Neither state implies physical contact.

[0163] In the first direction, the ribbon roll 45A does not overlap with the tape roll 41A or the winding spool 241. In the second and third directions, the ribbon roll 45A does not overlap with the winding spool 241. In the second and third directions, the ribbon roll 45A overlaps with the tape roll 41A.

[0164] In the first direction, the winding spool 241 does not overlap with the tape roll 41A and the ribbon roll 45A. In the first direction, the other end of the winding spool 241 is separated from one end of the tape roll 41A and one end of the ribbon roll 45A. In the second and third directions, the winding spool 241 does not overlap with the ribbon roll 45A and the tape roll 41A.

[0165] Gear 34 does not overlap with the tape roll 41A, ribbon roll 45A, or take-up spool 241 in the first direction. Part of gear 34, namely gear 35, does not overlap with the tape roll 41A, ribbon roll 45A, or take-up spool 241 in the second and third directions. Part of gear 34, namely cam 36, overlaps with the tape roll 41A and ribbon roll 45A in the second and third directions.

[0166] Gear 37 overlaps with the ribbon roll 45A in the first direction. Part of gear 37 overlaps with part of the tape roll 41A in the first direction. Part of gear 37 overlaps with part of the winding spool 241 in the first direction. Gear 37 does not overlap with the ribbon roll 45A, tape roll 41A, or winding spool 241 in the second and third directions.

[0167] In the first direction, a portion of gear 31 overlaps with a portion of ribbon roll 45A. In the first direction, gear 31 does not overlap with tape roll 41A or take-up spool 241. In the second and third directions, gear 31 does not overlap with tape roll 41A, ribbon roll 45A or take-up spool 241.

[0168] Gear 32 overlaps with the winding spool 241 in the first direction. A portion of gear 32, namely gear 321, does not overlap with the tape roll 41A, ribbon roll 45A, or winding spool 241 in the second and third directions. A portion of gear 32, namely cam 323, overlaps with the winding spool 241 in the second and third directions.

[0169] Referring to Figures 13 to 16, the printing operation of printer 1 and tape cassette 100A will be described. The user installs tape cassette 100A into cassette mounting section 10. The print head 71 is positioned in the head opening 29 so as to overlap with the tape 41 and ink ribbon 45 in the second direction.

[0170] The shaft 66E of the drive shaft 63 is inserted into the cam 36 of the gear 34 housed in the fourth space S4. The platen roller 82 moves to a close position. As a result, the platen gear 83 meshes with the gear 31.

[0171] As shown in Figure 13, with the tape cassette 100A installed, the gear 34 is rotated together with the cam 36 by the shaft 66E of the drive shaft 63. The rotation of gear 34 causes gear 37 to rotate. The rotation of gear 37 causes gear 31 to rotate. The rotation of gear 31 causes platen gear 83 to rotate. Therefore, the platen roller 82 rotates.

[0172] As shown in Figure 14, the rotation of the platen roller 82 causes the tape 41 to be unwound from the tape roll 41A in the third space S3. Simultaneously, in the third space S3, the rotation of the take-up spool 241 (described later) causes the ink ribbon 45 to be unwound from the ribbon roll 45A.

[0173] In the third space S3, the tape 41 is guided from the tape roll 41A to the tape guide 442. At this time, the tape 41 is transported in the second direction between the plate 21L and the plate 93.

[0174] The tape 41 is guided to the discharge port 17B by the tape guide 442. At this time, the tape 41 is transported in one of the third directions through the gap between the plate 211 and the plate 94. The tape 41 is discharged from the discharge port 17B to the outside of the housing 20, that is, to the outside of the third space S3.

[0175] Meanwhile, the ink ribbon 45 is transported in the third space S3 toward the guide 97 inside the arm 25 in one of the second directions. At this time, the ink ribbon 45 is transported through the gap between the plate 93 and the plate 214 in one of the second directions.

[0176] After reaching guide 97, the ink ribbon 45 is guided to the discharge port 17A. The ink ribbon 45 is transported in one of the third directions through the gap between plate 94 and plate 214. The ink ribbon 45 is discharged from the discharge port 17A to the outside of the housing 20.

[0177] The tape 41 and ink ribbon 45 discharged from the discharge port 17 are transported to the head opening 29. At the head opening 29, the tape 41 is pressed against the print head 71 via the ink ribbon 45 by the platen roller 82. The print head 71 is selectively heated by the heating element 71A. As a result, some of the ink on the surface of the ink ribbon 45 is transferred to the tape 41, and characters, symbols, etc. are printed on the tape 41.

[0178] The printed tape 41 is guided by the guide 78 to the output path 9 of the printer 1. In other words, the tape 41 ejected from the output port 17B does not return to the inside of the housing 20.

[0179] Meanwhile, in the second space S2, the rotation of the gear 32 causes the cam 323 to rotate. Since a clutch spring 425A is positioned between the cam 323 and the holder 425, the holder 425 rotates. The winding spool 241 rotates together with the holder 425.

[0180] As the winding spool 241 rotates, the ink ribbon 45 after printing is transported toward the insertion port 55. Guided toward the insertion port 55, the ink ribbon 45 is transported again to the third space S3.

[0181] In the third space S3, the ink ribbon 45 is transported toward the ribbon guide 219. The ink ribbon 45 is transported between the plate 21R and the plate 216 toward the other side of the second direction.

[0182] As shown in Figure 15, the ink ribbon 45 changes its transport direction along the inclined surface 219A of the ribbon guide 219. The ink ribbon 45 is transported toward the ribbon guide 229 in the second space S2 in one of the first directions and the other of the third directions.

[0183] As shown in Figure 16, the ink ribbon 45 has its transport direction changed at the inclined surface 229A of the ribbon guide 229. The ink ribbon 45 is transported in one direction towards the winding spool 241, in the second direction. The ink ribbon 45 is then wound up on the winding spool 241.

[0184] Once printing is complete, the user detaches the printed tape 41 from the printer 1.

[0185] As described above, the tape spool 47 is located inside the housing 20. A tape roll 41A is mounted on the tape spool 47. The ribbon spool 46 is located inside the housing 20. A ribbon roll 45A is mounted on the ribbon spool 46. The discharge port 17A is located in the first space S1. The discharge port 17A allows the ink ribbon 45 to be discharged to the outside of the housing 20. The insertion port 55 is located in the first space S1. The insertion port 55 allows the ink ribbon 45 to be inserted. Ribbon guides 219 and 229 guide the movement of the ink ribbon 45 from the first space S1 to the second space S2. Ribbon guide 219 is located in the first space S1. Ribbon guide 229 is located in the second space S2. In the first direction, the ribbon spool 46 and the take-up spool 241 are spaced apart. The ribbon spool 46, tape roll 41A, and tape spool 47 are located in the first space S1. The ink ribbon 45 is transported in the following order: ribbon roll 45A, discharge port 17A, insertion port 55, ribbon guide 219, ribbon guide 229, and take-up spool 241. The tape cassette 100A allows each component to be properly positioned.

[0186] The discharge port 17B is located in the first space S1. The discharge port 17B allows the tape 41 to be discharged to the outside of the housing 20. The tape guide 442 is located in the first space S1. The tape guide 442 guides the transport of the tape 41. The tape 41 is transported in the order of tape roll 41A, tape guide 442, and discharge port 17B. The tape cassette 100A can transport the tape 41 in the order of tape roll 41A and discharge port 17B.

[0187] The take-up spool 241 does not overlap with the ribbon roll 45A in the first direction, and does not overlap with the ribbon roll 45A in the second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The tape cassette 100A can be offset in position from the take-up spool 241 and the ribbon roll 45A.

[0188] The winding spool 241 does not overlap with the tape roll 41A in the first direction, and does not overlap with the ribbon roll 45A in the second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The tape cassette 100A can be positioned with a staggered position relative to the winding spool 241, the tape roll 41A, and the ribbon roll 45A.

[0189] The second separation plate divides the first space S1 into a third space S3 and a fourth space S4 in the first direction. The ribbon roll 45A is located in the third space S3. The gear 30 is located in the fourth space S4. The tape cassette 100A can have the ribbon roll 45A placed in the third space S3 and the gear 30 placed in the fourth space S4.

[0190] The gear 30 includes a gear 31 that is partially exposed to the outside of the housing 20. The tape cassette 100A can expose the gear 31.

[0191] Gear 31 overlaps with ribbon roll 45A in the first direction. Tape cassette 100A can be positioned with gear 31 and ribbon roll 45A overlapping.

[0192] Gear 30 includes a gear 32 that is connected to the take-up spool 241. The tape cassette 100A can drive the take-up spool 241 with the gear 32.

[0193] Gear 32 overlaps with the take-up spool 241 in the first direction. The tape cassette 100A can be arranged with gear 32 and the take-up spool 241 overlapping in the first direction.

[0194] Gear 30 includes gear 37 which is connected to gear 31. Tape cassette 100A can also accommodate gears 31, 32, and 37.

[0195] Gear 37 overlaps with ribbon roll 45A in the first direction. Tape cassette 100A can be arranged with gear 37 and ribbon roll 45A overlapping in the first direction.

[0196] Gear 37 overlaps with tape roll 41A in the first direction. Tape cassette 100A can be arranged with gear 37 and tape roll 41A overlapping in the first direction.

[0197] Gear 30 includes gear 34 to which the driving force is input. Tape cassette 100A can accommodate gear 34.

[0198] In the above description, the rotating axis L23 is an example of an "axis" in this disclosure. The separating plate 22U is an example of a "first separating plate" in this disclosure. The separating plate 21M is an example of a "second separating plate" in this disclosure. The surface of plate 23D is an example of a "first surface" in this disclosure. The surface of plate 24U is an example of a "second surface" in this disclosure.

[0199] Cases 23, 21, and 22 are examples of the “first case” of this disclosure. Cases 22 and 24 are examples of the “second case” of the present invention. Ribbon guide 219 is an example of the “first ribbon guide” of this disclosure. Ribbon guide 229 is an example of the “second ribbon guide” of this disclosure.

[0200] Outlet 17A is an example of a "first outlet". Outlet 17B is an example of a "second outlet". Insertion port 55 is an example of an "insertion port" of the present invention.

[0201] Gear 30 is an example of the "gear" of the present invention. Gear 31 is an example of the "first gear" of the present invention. Gear 32 is an example of the "second gear" of the present invention. Gear 37 is an example of the "third gear" of the present invention. Gear 34 is an example of the "fourth gear" of the present invention.

[0202] This disclosure can be further modified from the embodiments described above. The following modifications can be combined in a manner that is not inconsistent.

[0203] In the above embodiment, the housing 20 had the configuration shown in Figure 5, but is not limited to this. For example, the shapes of cases 21, 22, 23, and 24 may be changed as appropriate. The interior of the housing 20 is the area surrounded by the exterior of the housing 20, that is, cases 21, 22, 23, and 24. Parts of cases 21, 22, 23, and 24 may have holes.

[0204] In the above embodiment, the second space S2 and the third space S3 were separated in the first direction, but this is not limited to this. For example, the second space S2 and the third space S3 may be adjacent in the first direction. For example, they may be arranged in the first direction in the order of second space S2, third space S3, and fourth space S4. In other words, the order of the first space S1 to the fourth space S4 may be changed as appropriate.

[0205] In the above embodiment, the housing 20 is defined by the separation plates 21M and 22U to define the first space S1 to the fourth space S4, but it is not limited to this. The space may be defined by other members instead of the separation plates 21M and 22U. For example, the other members may be shafts and ribs. In this case, the separation plates 21M and 22U may not be necessary. It is sufficient that the ribbon roll 45A and the winding spool 241 are positioned offset in the first direction.

[0206] In the above embodiment, the inside of the housing 20 is separated into a first space S1 and a second space S2 by the separation plate 22U, but it is not limited to this. The position of the separation plate 22U may be changed as appropriate. The sizes of the first space S1 and the second space S2 can be adjusted according to the dimensions of the tape 41, ink ribbon 45, winding spool 241, etc.

[0207] The separation plate 22U does not have to be a flat plate extending in the second and third directions. For example, part or all of the separation plate 22U may be curved. The separation plate 22U may also be made up of a grid of plates. The shape of the separation plate 22U can be any shape as long as it can divide the housing 20 into a first space S1 and a second space S2. Dividing into a first space S1 and a second space S2 means that there is a boundary member between the first space S1 and the second space S2. For example, more than half of the separation plate 22U may be a hole.

[0208] In the above embodiment, the separation plate 21M divides the first space S1 into a third space S3 and a fourth space S4, but it is not limited to this. The position of the separation plate 21M may be changed as appropriate. The sizes of the third space S3 and the fourth space S4 can be adjusted to match the dimensions of the tape 41, gear 30, etc.

[0209] The separation plate 21M does not have to be a flat plate perpendicular to the first direction. For example, part or all of the separation plate 21M may be curved. The shape of the separation plate 21M can be any shape as long as it can divide the first space S1 into a third space S3 and a fourth space S4. Dividing into a third space S3 and a fourth space S4 means that there is a boundary member between the third space S3 and the fourth space S4. For example, more than half of the separation plate 21M may be a hole.

[0210] In the above embodiment, gear 30 is composed of gear 31, gear 32, gear 37, and gear 34, but is not limited to this. The configuration and number of gears in gear 30 may be changed as appropriate. For example, gear 37 may be omitted. In this case, gear 35 of gear 34 can directly mesh with gear 32. The dimensions of gear 34, gear 31, and gear 37 may be changed as appropriate.

[0211] In the above embodiment, gear 37 was a double gear, but it is not limited to this. Gear 37 may also be a single gear.

[0212] Gear 30 includes, but is not limited to, gears 34, 37, and 38. Gear 30 may also be configured to transmit driving force using, for example, spur gears, helical gears, external gears, internal gears, worm gears and worm wheels, etc.

[0213] The gear 30 may also be configured to transmit driving force using components other than gears that rotate around an axis, such as a toothed belt and toothed wheel, a bevel gear and drive shaft, or a rack and pinion mechanism.

[0214] In the above embodiment, the shaft 962 and tape guide 442 are arranged on the separation plate 21M of the case 21, but are not limited to this. For example, the shaft 962 may be arranged on the plate 23D of the case 23. The shaft 962 can be arranged anywhere as long as the tape guide 442 can be positioned to guide the tape 41 in the third space S3.

[0215] In the above embodiment, the tape roll 41A was formed by winding the tape 41 onto a tape spool 47, but it is not limited to this. For example, the tape roll 41A may be formed by winding only the tape 41 into a roll. In other words, the tape roll 41A does not need to have a tape spool 47.

[0216] In the above embodiment, the ribbon roll 45A was an ink ribbon 45 wound on a ribbon spool 46, but it is not limited to this; the ribbon roll 45A may be an ink ribbon 45 wound in a roll shape. In other words, the ribbon roll 45A does not need to have a ribbon spool 46.

[0217] The gear 34 does not need to have a cam 36. The housing 20 does not need to have an opening 21H. The housing 20 does not need to have an opening 23H. The cam 36 does not need to be exposed to the outside of the housing 20 through openings 21H and 23H.

[0218] The positions of the ribbon guides 219 and 229 inside the housing 20 of the above embodiment may be changed as appropriate. Accordingly, the positions of the openings 211H and 221H may also be changed as appropriate. The shapes of the ribbon guides 219 and 229 may also be changed as appropriate. Any shape is acceptable as long as it can guide the transport of the ink ribbon 45.

[0219] The positions of the ribbon roll 45A, tape roll 41A, winding spool 241, and gear 30 in the above embodiment in the first, second, and third directions may be changed as appropriate. In other words, the ribbon roll 45A, tape roll 41A, winding spool 241, and gear 30 may overlap or not overlap in each direction.

[0220] Furthermore, the above modifications are not limited to tape cassette 100A, but can be applied to tape cassettes 100B through 100E to the extent that they do not contradict each other.

[0221] The tape cassette 100B of this disclosure will be described with reference to Figures 17 to 28. The tape cassette 100B can be installed in the cassette mounting section 10 shown in Figure 2. By replacing the tape cassette 100B installed in the cassette mounting section 10 of the printer 1, tape can be replenished and the type of tape (e.g., size, color, material, etc.) can be changed.

[0222] The tape cassette 100B comprises a housing 20, a roll 411, a take-up spool 241, and a gear 30. As shown in Figure 17, the external shape of the tape cassette 100A is that of a rectangular parallelepiped. In other words, the housing 20 is also rectangular in shape. The housing 20 houses the roll 411, the take-up spool 241, and the gear 30, etc.

[0223] The roll 411 is located inside the housing 20, on the other side of the housing 20 in the second and third directions. The spool 471 is located inside the housing 20, on the other side of the second and third directions.

[0224] Roll 411 consists of tape 41 and ink ribbon 45 layered together and wound into a roll. In other words, roll 411 is both a tape roll and a ribbon roll.

[0225] The spool 471 is cylindrical in shape, extending in the first direction. The tape 41 and ink ribbon 45 are strip-shaped. For example, the tape 41 has a structure in which release paper is attached to the adhesive surface of the printing tape to cover it. The tape 41 is placed on top of the ink ribbon 45, and printing is performed by the print head 71.

[0226] Furthermore, the tape 41 and the ink ribbon 45 are wound around the spool 471. With the tape 41 wound around the spool 471, the spool 471 is rotatable about a rotation axis L231 extending in the first direction. The roll 411 is rotatable about a rotation axis L231 extending in the first direction. The rotation axis L231 is a virtual axis. The rotation axis L231 passes through the center of the roll 411.

[0227] As shown in Figure 17, the housing 20 of the tape cassette 100B is equipped with an arm 25. The arm 25 is located at one end of the housing 20 in the second direction. In the second direction, the arm 25 is closer to one end of the housing 20 than to the other end of the housing 20.

[0228] As shown in Figures 18 and 20, the arm 25 has an outlet 17. The outlet 17 can discharge the tape 41 and ink ribbon 45 to the outside of the housing 20. Details of the arm 25 and the outlet 17 will be described later.

[0229] As shown in Figure 17, the enclosure 20 comprises cases 21 to 24.

[0230] Case 23 constitutes the other end of the housing 20 in the first direction. Case 21 is positioned on one side of case 23 in the first direction. Case 21 is coupled to one side of case 23 in the first direction.

[0231] Case 22 is positioned on one side of Case 21 in the first direction. Case 22 is coupled to one side of Case 21 in the first direction.

[0232] Case 24 constitutes one end of the housing 20 in the first direction. Case 24 is positioned on one side of case 22 in the first direction. Case 24 is coupled to one side of case 22 in the first direction.

[0233] As shown in Figure 17, case 23 comprises plates 23D, 23R, 23B, 23L, and 23F. Plates 23D, 23B, 23R, 23L, and 23F are rectangular plates.

[0234] The plate 23D has a surface perpendicular to the first direction. The plate 23D includes an opening 23H and a shaft 237. The opening 23H is located on the other side of the second direction and on one side of the third direction in the plate 23D. The opening 23H penetrates the plate 23D in the first direction. The shaft 237 is located at the other end of the plate 23D in the third direction. The shaft 237 protrudes on one side of the first direction.

[0235] Plate 23R is positioned at one end of plate 23D in the third direction. Plate 23B is positioned at the other end of plate 23D in the second direction. Plate 23L is positioned at the other end of plate 23D in the third direction. Plates 23R, 23B, and 23L extend from plate 23D in one direction in the first direction.

[0236] Plate 23F is positioned at one end of plate 23D in the second direction. Plate 23F comprises plates 231 to 236. Plates 231 to 236 are rectangular in shape. Plates 231, 233, and 235 have surfaces perpendicular to the second direction. Plates 232, 234, and 236 have surfaces perpendicular to the third direction.

[0237] Plate 231 is positioned at one end of plate 23D in the first direction. One end of plate 232 is connected to one end of plate 231. The other end of plate 232 is connected to one end of plate 233. The other end of plate 233 is connected to one end of plate 234. The other end of plate 234 is connected to the other end of plate 235. One end of plate 235 is connected to the other end of plate 236.

[0238] As shown in Figure 17, case 21 comprises a separation plate 21M, plate 21R, plate 21B, plate 21L, and plate 21F. The separation plate 21M, plate 21R, plate 21B, plate 21L, and plate 21F are rectangular plates.

[0239] As shown in Figures 17 to 20, the separation plate 21M has a plate surface perpendicular to the first direction. The separation plate 21M is equipped with openings 21H, 211H, a ribbon guide 219, a plate 94, and shafts 217 and 962.

[0240] The positions of the opening 21H in the second and third directions are located on the other side of the second direction and on one side of the third direction in the separation plate 21M. The position of the opening 21H is the same as the position of the opening 23H. The opening 21H penetrates the separation plate 21M in the vertical direction.

[0241] The openings 211H are located in the separation plate 21M at the other end in the second direction and at one end in the third direction. The openings 211H penetrate the separation plate 21M in the first direction. The other end in the second direction and one end in the third direction of the separation plate 21M are cut out by the openings 211H.

[0242] The ribbon guide 219, plates 93 and 94, and shafts 217 and 962 extend from the separation plate 21M to the other in the first direction.

[0243] The ribbon guide 219 is located in the housing 20 at the other corner in the second direction and at the one corner in the third direction. The ribbon guide 219 is located at the other corner in the second direction and at the one corner in the third direction of the housing 20, relative to the opening 21H. One end of the ribbon guide 219 in the first direction is connected to the opening 211H.

[0244] The ribbon guide 219 has a curved inclined surface 219A. The inclined surface 219A is inclined toward one side of the second direction as it moves toward the other side of the first direction. The ribbon guide 219 guides the transport of the ink ribbon 45. More specifically, the ink ribbon 45 is transported while in contact with the inclined surface 219A of the ribbon guide 219.

[0245] Plate 93 extends in the second direction. In the third direction, plate 93 is located closer to plate 21L than to plate 21R. One end of plate 93 in the second direction is connected to the other end of plate 94 in the third direction.

[0246] The plate 94 is positioned between the plate 211 and the plate 213 in the second direction. The plate 94 extends in the third direction. The plate 94 is located inside an arm 25 which will be described later.

[0247] The shaft 217 is disposed at the other corner in the second direction and the third direction on the separation plate 21M. The center of the shaft 217 defines a rotation axis L231. The shaft 217 is inserted through a holder 427. The holder 427 is rotatable about the rotation axis L231.

[0248] The shaft 962 is disposed at one corner in the second direction and the other corner in the third direction of the separation plate 21M. A tape guide 442 is inserted through the shaft 962. The tape guide 442 is cylindrical. The tape guide 442 is rotatable about the shaft 962.

[0249] The plate 21R is disposed at one end of the housing 20 in the third direction. The plate 21R has a plate surface orthogonal to the third direction. The separation plate 21M is positioned between one end of the plate 21R and the other end of the plate 21R in the first direction.

[0250] The plate 21B is disposed at the other end of the housing 20 in the second direction. The plate 21B has a plate surface orthogonal to the second direction. The separation plate 21M is positioned between one end of the plate 21B and the other end of the plate 21B in the first direction.

[0251] The plate 21L is disposed at the other end of the housing 20 in the third direction. The plate 21L has a plate surface orthogonal to the third direction. The separation plate 21M is positioned between one end of the plate 21L and the other end of the plate 21L in the first direction.

[0252] The plate 21F is disposed at one end of the housing 20 in the second direction. The plate 21F includes a plate 211, a plate 212, a plate 213, a plate 214, a plate 215, and a plate 216. The plate 211, the plate 213, the plate 214, the plate 215, and the plate 216 are rectangular. The plate 211, the plate 213, and the plate 215 have plate surfaces orthogonal to the second direction. The plate 212, the plate 214, and the plate 216 have plate surfaces orthogonal to the third direction.

[0253] The plate 211 is disposed at one end of the separation plate 21M in the second direction. The plate 213 is located on the other side in the second direction relative to the plate 94. The plate 94 is located between the plate 211 and the plate 213 in the second direction. That is, a gap is formed between the plate 94 and the plate 211. A gap is formed between the plate 94 and the plate 213.

[0254] One end of the plate 212 in the second direction is connected to one end of the plate 211 in the third direction. The other end of the plate 212 in the second direction is connected to one end of the plate 213 in the third direction. The plate 212 constitutes a discharge port 17 which will be described later.

[0255] The other end of the plate 213 in the third direction is connected to the guide 97. The guide 97 is connected to one end of the plate 214 in the second direction. The other end of the plate 214 in the second direction is connected to the other end of the plate 215.

[0256] One end of the plate 215 in the third direction is connected to the other end of the plate 216 in the second direction.

[0257] The plates 211 to 216 are disposed at the same positions as the plates 231 to 236 in the second direction and the third direction.

[0258] The cases 21 and 23 constitute the arm 25 of the tape cassette 100B. The arm 25 is composed of the plate 21F and the plate 23F. Specifically, the arm 25 is composed of the plate 23D, the plate 231, the plate 232, the plate 233, the plate 234 of the case 23, and the separation plate 21M, the plate 211, the plate 213, and the plate 214 of the case 21.

[0259] The arm 25 has an outlet 17 at one end. The outlet 17 consists of an outlet 17A and an outlet 17B.

[0260] As shown in Figure 26, the outlets 17A and 17B are slit-shaped and extend in the first direction. The outlet 17A is formed by plate 213 and one end of plate 94.

[0261] The discharge port 17B is located closer to one end of the housing 20 in a second direction than the discharge port 17A. The discharge port 17B is defined by one end of plate 94 and plate 211.

[0262] The housing 20 has a guide 78. More specifically, the guide 78 is located at one end of the plate 21R. The guide 78 has a slit. The slit extends in the first direction. The tape 41 discharged from the discharge port 17 of the arm 25 is transported to the slit of the guide 78. The guide 78 guides the tape 41 that has passed through the slit of the guide 78 to the discharge path 9 of the printer 1.

[0263] The housing 20 has an insertion opening 55. More specifically, the insertion opening 55 is located between one end of plate 216, plate 21R and guide 78. The insertion opening 55 has a slit. The printed ink ribbon 45 is inserted into the housing 20 through the slit.

[0264] The space located in one of the third directions relative to the arm 25, that is, the space between the arm 25, the guide 78 and the insertion opening 55, is also called the head opening 29.

[0265] As shown in Figure 17, case 22 comprises a separation plate 22U, plate 22B, plate 22R, plate 22L, and plate 22F. Separation plates 22U, plate 22B, plate 22R, and plate 22L are rectangular in shape.

[0266] The separation plate 22U has a plate surface perpendicular to the first direction. The separation plate 22U is equipped with openings 22H, 221H, a ribbon guide 229, and shafts 26, 27, and 28.

[0267] The opening 22H is located on one side of the separation plate 22U in the second direction and the other side in the third direction. The opening 22H penetrates the separation plate 22U in the first direction.

[0268] The opening 221H is located at one corner of the separation plate 22U in the second direction and the other corner in the third direction. The opening 221H penetrates the separation plate 22U in the first direction. With case 23 coupled to case 22, the opening 221H communicates with the opening 211H shown in Figure 6.

[0269] The ribbon guide 229 and shafts 26, 27, and 28 extend from the separator plate 22U in the first direction.

[0270] The ribbon guide 229 is positioned at the other corners of the separation plate 22U in the second and third directions. The other end of the ribbon guide 229 in the first direction is connected to the opening 221H. The ribbon guide 229 has a curved inclined surface 229A. The inclined surface 229A is inclined toward one side in the second direction as it is toward one side in the first direction. The ribbon guide 229 guides the transport of the ink ribbon 45. More specifically, the ink ribbon 45 is transported while in contact with the inclined surface 229A of the ribbon guide 229.

[0271] Shaft 26 is located at one corner of the separation plate 22U in the second and third directions. Shaft 27 is located near the center of the separation plate 22U in the second and third directions. Shaft 28 is located on the other side of shaft 27 in the second direction and on one side of the third direction. The position of shaft 28 corresponds to the position of the opening 23H.

[0272] Plate 22R is positioned at one end of the separation plate 22U in the third direction. Plate 22R has a plate surface perpendicular to the third direction. In the first direction, the separation plate 22U is positioned between one end of plate 22R and the other end of plate 22R.

[0273] Plate 22B is disposed at the other end of the separation plate 22U in the second direction. The plate 22B has a plate surface orthogonal to the second direction. The separation plate 22U is located between one end of the plate 22B and the other end of the plate 22B in the first direction.

[0274] Plate 22L is disposed at the other end of the separation plate 22U in the third direction. The plate 22L has a plate surface orthogonal to the third direction. The separation plate 22U is located between one end of the plate 22L and the other end of the plate 22L in the first direction.

[0275] Plate 22F is disposed at one end of the separation plate 22U in the second direction. The plate 22F has a plate surface orthogonal to the second direction. The separation plate 22U is located between one end of the plate 22F and the other end of the plate 22F in the first direction.

[0276] The housing 20 has an opening 16. Specifically, the opening 16 is located at one corner of the case 21 and the case 22 in the second direction and the third direction.

[0277] As shown in Figure 17, the case 24 includes a plate 24U, a plate 24R, a plate 24B, a plate 24L, and a plate 24F. The plate 24U, the plate 24B, the plate 24R, the plate 24L, and the plate 24F are rectangular plates.

[0278] The plate 24U has a plate surface orthogonal to the first direction. The plate 24U has a shaft 243. The shaft 243 is disposed at one corner of the plate 24U in the second direction and the other corner thereof in the third direction. The shaft 243 extends from the plate 24U to the other side in the first direction.

[0279] The plate 24R is disposed at one end of the plate 24U in the third direction. The plate 24B is disposed at the other end of the plate 24U in the second direction. The plate 24L is disposed at the other end of the plate 24U in the third direction. The plate 24F is disposed at one end of the plate 24U in the second direction.

[0280] The plate 24R, the plate 24B, the plate 24L, and the plate 24F extend from the plate 24U to the other side in the first direction.

[0281] The internal space of the enclosure 20 is divided in the first direction into a first space S1 and a second space S2 by a separation plate 22U.

[0282] The first space S1 is the space enclosed by the plates 23D, 23F, 23B, 23L, and 23R of case 23, the plates 21F, 21B, 21L, and 21R of case 21, and the separation plates 22U, 22F, 22B, 22L, and 22R of case 22.

[0283] The second space S2 is the space enclosed by the separation plates 22U, 22F, 22B, 22L, and 22R of case 22, and the plates 24U, 24F, 24B, 24L, and 24R of case 24.

[0284] The first space S1 is aligned with the second space S2 in the first direction. The first space S1 is located on the other side of the second space S2 in the first direction. The arm 25 defines one end of the first space S1 in the second direction. The opening 23H is in communication with the first space S1.

[0285] The first space S1 is further divided in the first direction into a third space S3 and a fourth space S4 by a separation plate 21M. The third space S3 is aligned with the fourth space S4 in the first direction. The third space S3 is located on the other side of the fourth space S4 in the first direction.

[0286] The third space S3 is the space enclosed by the plates 23D, 23F, 23B, 23L, and 23R of case 23, and the separation plates 21M, 21F, 21B, 21L, and 21R of case 21.

[0287] The fourth space S4 is the space enclosed by the separation plates 21M, 21F, 21B, 21L, and 21R of case 21, and the separation plates 22U, 22F, 22B, 22L, and 22R of case 22.

[0288] As shown in Figures 22 to 25, the first space S1 of the tape cassette 100B contains the roll 411, gear 30, outlet 17A, outlet 17B, and insertion port 55, among other things.

[0289] In detail, the roll 411, discharge port 17A, discharge port 17B, and inlet port 55 are located in the third space S3. The gear 30 is located in the fourth space S4.

[0290] The roll 411 is located in the third space S3 at the second and other corners of the separation plate 21M in the third direction. A holder 427 is fitted inside the spool 471. The holder 427 is inserted through shafts 217 and 237. Shafts 217 and 237 have a rotation axis L231 extending in the first direction. Therefore, the spool 471 is rotatable about the rotation axis L231.

[0291] The discharge port 17A is located at one end of the arm 25 in the third space S3. The discharge port 17A allows the ink ribbon 45 to be discharged from the third space S3.

[0292] The discharge port 17B is located at one end of the arm 25 in the third space S3. The discharge port 17B allows the tape 41 to be discharged from the third space S3.

[0293] Here, the discharge port 17A is located between the discharge port 17B and the roll 411 in the second direction.

[0294] The insertion opening 55 is located in the third space S3 at one corner in the second and third directions. The insertion opening 55 allows the ink ribbon 45 to be inserted into the third space S3.

[0295] As shown in Figures 22 to 25, gear 30 is located in the fourth space S4. Gear 30 transmits the driving force transmitted via the transmission gear 679 on the shaft 66E of the drive shaft 63 to the platen roller 82.

[0296] Gear 30 comprises gears 34, 31, 37, and 32. Gear 34 is fitted onto shaft 28. Gear 31 is fitted onto shaft 26. Gear 37 is fitted onto shaft 27. Gear 32 is inserted through opening 22H.

[0297] Gear 34 is rotatable around shaft 28. The second and third positions of gear 34 are the same as the second and third positions of openings 23H and 21H.

[0298] Gear 34 is connected to gear 31 via gear 37. Gear 34 transmits driving force to gear 31. Gear 34 has gear 35 and cam 36. Gear 35 is an external gear that meshes with gear 38 of gear 37. Gear 35 is connected to cam 36.

[0299] The cam 36 is fixed to the gear 35 in the first direction. The cam 36 extends from the gear 35 to the other in the first direction. The cam 36 is a cylindrical internal gear. The cam 36 has spline teeth 361 on its inner circumferential surface. The shaft 66E of the drive shaft 63 is inserted into the cam 36 from the other in the first direction.

[0300] A portion of the cam 36 enters the third space S3 from the fourth space S4. The cam 36 is also exposed to the outside of the housing 20 through the opening 23H. Exposure means that the cam 36 is visible to the user.

[0301] Gear 31 is an external gear. Gear 31 is rotatable on a shaft 26 that extends in the first direction. Gear 31 is spaced further away from gear 34 in one of the second directions.

[0302] Gear 31 transmits the driving force to the platen gear 83 for transporting the tape 41. Gear 31 is a so-called helical gear. The gear teeth of gear 31 are twisted at a predetermined angle with respect to the first direction. The twist direction of the gear teeth of gear 31 is opposite to the twist direction of the gear teeth of the platen gear 83.

[0303] Gear 31 engages with platen gear 83 in the space communicating with head opening 29 when tape cassette 100B is mounted in cassette mounting section 10.

[0304] A portion of the teeth of gear 31 is exposed to the outside of the housing 20 through the opening 16. In other words, a portion of gear 31 is exposed to the space communicating with the head opening 29. Exposure means that the user can see the cam 36.

[0305] Gear 37 meshes with gears 34 and 31. Gear 37 transmits the driving force input to gear 34 to gear 31.

[0306] Gear 37 reduces the rotational speed of the driving force input to gear 34 and transmits it to gear 31. In other words, gear 30 includes a reduction mechanism.

[0307] Gear 37 is a double gear in which gears 38 and 39 are arranged coaxially. The diameter of gear 39 is smaller than the diameter of gear 38. Also, in the first direction, gear 38 is positioned closer to the tape roll 41A than gear 39.

[0308] Gear 38 meshes with gear 34. Gear 38 is an external spur gear.

[0309] Gear 39 meshes with gear 31. Gear 39 is an external helical gear. The twist direction of the gear teeth of gear 39 is opposite to that of gear 31.

[0310] Gear 32 comprises gear 321, cam 323, and shaft 325. Gear 321 meshes with gear 38. Cam 323 extends in one direction from gear 321 in the first direction. The first-direction end of cam 323 has multiple recesses. Shaft 325 extends in the first direction from the center of gear 321.

[0311] As shown in Figure 23, a portion of the gear 32, namely the cam 323 and the shaft 325, enters the second space S2 from the fourth space S4.

[0312] The take-up spool 241 is located in the second space S2 of the tape cassette 100B. The take-up spool 241 is located in the second space S2 at the corner between one of the second directions and the other of the third direction.

[0313] As shown in Figures 23 and 28, a holder 425 is fitted inside the winding spool 241. A shaft 243 is fitted inside the holder 425. The holder 425 is inserted through the shaft 243.

[0314] Furthermore, the holder 425 is inserted through the shaft 325. The shafts 243 and 325 have a rotating axis L4 extending in the first direction. In other words, the winding spool 241 is rotatable about the rotating axis L4.

[0315] A clutch spring 425A is attached to the other end of the holder 425 in the first direction. The two arms of the clutch spring 425A are fitted into recesses in the cam 323. The clutch spring 425A can transmit the driving force from the rotation of the gear 321 to the winding spool 241.

[0316] Referring to Figure 20, the arrangement relationships between the members will be explained. In the following explanation, "overlapping members" means that, when viewed from one or the other direction, at least a portion of the members overlap. Conversely, "not overlapping members" means that, when viewed from one or the other direction, the members do not overlap. Neither state implies physical contact.

[0317] In the first direction, the roll 411 overlaps with the winding spool 241. In the first direction, the other end of the winding spool 241 is separated from one end of the roll 411. In the second and third directions, the roll 411 does not overlap with the winding spool 241.

[0318] In the first direction, a portion of the winding spool 241 overlaps with a portion of the roll 411. In the second and third directions, the winding spool 241 does not overlap with the ribbon roll 45A or the roll 411.

[0319] Gear 34 does not overlap with the roll 411 and the winding spool 241 in the first direction. Part of gear 34, namely gear 35, does not overlap with the roll 411 and the winding spool 241 in the second and third directions. Part of gear 34, namely cam 36, overlaps with the roll 411 in the second and third directions.

[0320] A portion of gear 37 overlaps with a portion of roll 411 in the first direction. A portion of gear 37 overlaps with a portion of winding spool 241 in the first direction.

[0321] Gear 31 does not overlap with the roll 411 in the first direction. Gear 31 does not overlap with the winding spool 241 in the first direction. Gear 31 does not overlap with the roll 411 or the winding spool 241 in the second and third directions.

[0322] Gear 32 overlaps with the winding spool 241 in the first direction. A portion of gear 32, namely gear 321, does not overlap with the roll 411 and winding spool 241 in the second and third directions. A portion of gear 32, namely cam 323, overlaps with the winding spool 241 in the second and third directions.

[0323] Referring to Figures 25 to 28, the printing operation of printer 1 and tape cassette 100B will be described. The user installs tape cassette 100B into cassette mounting section 10. The print head 71 is positioned in the head opening 29 so as to overlap with the tape 41 and ink ribbon 45 in the second direction.

[0324] The shaft 66E of the drive shaft 63 is inserted into the cam 36 of the gear 34 housed in the fourth space S4. The platen roller 82 moves to a close position. As a result, the platen gear 83 meshes with the gear 31.

[0325] As shown in Figure 25, with the tape cassette 100B installed, the drive shaft 63's shaft 66E rotates the gear 34 together with the cam 36. The rotation of gear 34 causes gear 37 to rotate. The rotation of gear 37 causes gear 31 to rotate. The rotation of gear 31 causes the platen gear 83 to rotate. Therefore, the platen roller 82 rotates.

[0326] As shown in Figure 26, the rotation of the platen roller 82 causes the tape 41 and ink ribbon 45 to be unwound from the roll 411 in the third space S3. The tape 41 is transported in one of the second directions toward the tape guide 422.

[0327] In the third space S3, the tape 41 is guided to the discharge port 17B by the tape guide 442. At this time, the tape 41 is transported in one of the third directions through the gap between the plate 211 and the plate 94. The tape 41 is discharged from the discharge port 17A to the outside of the housing 20, that is, to the outside of the third space S3.

[0328] In the third space S3, as the platen roller 82 rotates, the ink ribbon 45 is transported toward the guide 97. At this time, the ink ribbon 45 separates from the tape 41. After reaching the guide 97, the ink ribbon 45 is guided toward the discharge port 17A. At this time, the ink ribbon 45 is transported in one of the third directions through the gap between the plate 94 and the plate 213. The ink ribbon 45 is discharged from the discharge port 17A to the outside of the housing 20, i.e., to the outside of the third space S3.

[0329] The tape 41 and ink ribbon 45 discharged from the discharge port 17 are transported to the head opening 29. At the head opening 29, the tape 41 is pressed against the print head 71 via the ink ribbon 45 by the platen roller 82. The print head 71 is selectively heated by the heating element 71A. As a result, some of the ink on the surface of the ink ribbon 45 is transferred to the tape 41, and characters, symbols, etc. are printed on the tape 41.

[0330] The printed tape 41 is guided by the guide 78 to the output path 9 of the printer 1. In other words, the tape 41 ejected from the output port 17B does not return to the inside of the housing 20.

[0331] Meanwhile, in the second space S2, the rotation of the gear 32 causes the cam 323 to rotate. Since a clutch spring 425A is positioned between the cam 323 and the holder 425, the holder 425 rotates. The winding spool 241 rotates together with the holder 425.

[0332] As the winding spool 241 rotates, the ink ribbon 45 after printing is transported toward the insertion port 55. Guided toward the insertion port 55, the ink ribbon 45 is transported again to the third space S3.

[0333] In the third space S3, the ink ribbon 45 is transported toward the ribbon guide 219. The ink ribbon 45 is transported between the plate 21R and the plate 216 toward the other side of the second direction.

[0334] As shown in Figure 27, the ink ribbon 45 changes its transport direction along the inclined surface 219A of the ribbon guide 219. The ink ribbon 45 is transported toward the ribbon guide 229 in the second space S2 in one of the first directions and the other of the third directions.

[0335] As shown in Figure 28, the ink ribbon 45 has its transport direction changed at the inclined surface 219A of the ribbon guide 229. The ink ribbon 45 is transported in one direction towards the winding spool 241, in the second direction. The ink ribbon 45 is then wound up on the winding spool 241.

[0336] Once printing is complete, the user detaches the printed tape 41 from the printer 1.

[0337] As explained above, the discharge port 17A is located in the first space S1. The discharge port 17A allows the ink ribbon 45 to be discharged to the outside of the housing 20. The insertion port 55 is located in the first space S1. The ink ribbon 45 is inserted into the insertion port 55. The ribbon guides 219 and 229 guide the movement of the ink ribbon 45 from the first space S1 to the second space S2. The ribbon guide 219 is located in the first space S1. The ribbon guide 229 is located in the second space S2. The tape 41 and the ink ribbon 45 are wound together in a roll shape, overlapping each other, and rotate around the rotation axis L231, forming a single roll 411 located in the first space S1. The ink ribbon 45 is transported in the order of roll 411, discharge port 17A, insertion port 55, ribbon guide 219, ribbon guide 229, and take-up spool 241. The tape cassette 100B can properly arrange each component.

[0338] The discharge port 17B is located in the first space S1. The discharge port 17B allows the tape 41 to be discharged to the outside of the housing 20. The tape guide 442 is located in the first space S1. The tape guide 442 guides the transport of the tape 41. The tape 41 is transported in the order of roll 411, tape guide 442, and discharge port 17B. The tape cassette 100B can transport the tape 41 in the order of roll 411, tape guide 442, and discharge port 17B.

[0339] The take-up spool 241 does not overlap with the roll 411 in the first direction, and does not overlap with the roll 411 in the second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The tape cassette 100B can be positioned with the take-up spool 241 and the roll 411 offset from each other.

[0340] The separation plate 21M divides the first space S1 into a third space S3 and a fourth space S4 in the first direction. The roll 411 is located in the third space S3. The gear 30 is located in the fourth space S4. The tape cassette 100B can have the roll 411 placed in the third space S3 and the gear 30 placed in the fourth space S4.

[0341] The gear 30 includes a gear 31 that is partially exposed to the outside of the housing 20. The tape cassette 100B allows the gear 31 to be exposed.

[0342] Gear 31 does not overlap with roll 411 in the first direction. Tape cassette 100B can be positioned with gear 31 and roll 411 offset in the first direction.

[0343] Gear 30 includes a gear 32 that connects to the take-up spool 241. The tape cassette 100B can drive the take-up spool 241 with the gear 32.

[0344] Gear 32 overlaps with the take-up spool 241 in the first direction. The tape cassette 100B can be arranged with gear 32 and the take-up spool 241 overlapping in the first direction.

[0345] Gear 30 includes gear 37 which is connected to gear 31. Tape cassette 100B can also accommodate gears 31, 32, and 37.

[0346] Gear 37 overlaps with roll 411 in the first direction. Tape cassette 100B can be arranged with gear 37 and roll 411 overlapping in the first direction.

[0347] Gear 30 includes gear 34 to which the driving force is input. Tape cassette 100B can accommodate gear 34.

[0348] In the above description, the rotating shaft L231 is an example of an "axis" in this disclosure. The separating plate 22U is an example of a "first separating plate" in this disclosure. The separating plate 21M is an example of a "second separating plate" in this disclosure. The surface of plate 23D is an example of a "first surface" in this disclosure. The surface of plate 24U is an example of a "second surface" in this disclosure.

[0349] Cases 23, 21, and 22 are examples of the “first case” of this disclosure. Case 24 is an example of the “second case” of the present invention. Ribbon guide 219 is an example of the “first ribbon guide” of this disclosure. Ribbon guide 229 is an example of the “second ribbon guide” of this disclosure.

[0350] Outlet 17A is an example of a "first outlet". Outlet 17B is an example of a "second outlet". Insertion port 55 is an example of an "insertion port" of the present invention.

[0351] Gear 30 is an example of the "gear" of the present invention. Gear 31 is an example of the "first gear" of the present invention. Gear 32 is an example of the "second gear" of the present invention. Gear 37 is an example of the "third gear" of the present invention. Gear 34 is an example of the "fourth gear" of the present invention.

[0352] In addition, the transport path of the ink ribbon 45 can be changed in tape cassette 100B. In the second space S2, for example, the ink ribbon 45 may pass through the tape guide 442 and the output port 17B together with the tape 41.

[0353] The tape cassette 100C of this disclosure will be described with reference to Figures 29 to 41. The tape cassette 100C can be mounted in the cassette mounting section 10 shown in Figure 2. By replacing the tape cassette 100C mounted in the cassette mounting section 10 of the printer 1, tape can be replenished and the type of tape (e.g., size, color, material, etc.) can be changed.

[0354] The tape cassette 100C comprises a housing 20, a tape roll 41A, a ribbon roll 45A, a take-up spool 218, and a gear 30. As shown in Figure 29, the external shape of the tape cassette 100C is that of a rectangular parallelepiped. In other words, the housing 20 is also rectangular in shape. The housing 20 houses the tape roll 41A, the ribbon roll 45A, the take-up spool 218, and the gear 30, etc.

[0355] The tape roll 41A is located inside the housing 20, on one side of the housing 20 in the second direction and on the other side of the housing 20 in the third direction. The tape spool 47 is located inside the housing 20, on one side of the housing 20 in the second direction and on the other side of the housing 20 in the third direction.

[0356] The tape roll 41A is a roll of tape 41 wound around a tape spool 47. The tape spool 47 is rotatable about a rotation axis L21 extending in the first direction. The rotation axis L21 will be described later.

[0357] The tape spool 47 is cylindrical in shape, extending in the first direction. The tape 41 is strip-shaped. For example, the tape 41 has a structure in which release paper is attached to the adhesive surface of the printing tape to cover it. The tape 41 is placed on top of the ink ribbon 45, which will be described later, and printing is performed by the print head 71.

[0358] Furthermore, the tape 41 is wound around the tape spool 47. With the tape 41 wound around the tape spool 47, the tape spool 47 is rotatable about a rotation axis L21 extending in the first direction. The tape roll 41A is rotatable about the rotation axis L21 extending in the first direction. The rotation axis L21 is a virtual axis. The rotation axis L21 passes through the center of the tape roll 41A.

[0359] Furthermore, the ribbon roll 45A is located inside the housing 20 near the center in the second and third directions. The ribbon spool 46 is located inside the housing 20 on the other side of the housing 20 in the second and third directions.

[0360] The ribbon roll 45A is a roll-shaped ink ribbon 45 wound on a ribbon spool 46. The ribbon spool 46 is rotatable about a rotation axis L23 that extends in the first direction. The rotation axis L23 will be described later.

[0361] The ribbon spool 46 is cylindrical in shape, extending in the first direction. The ink ribbon 45 is strip-shaped. For example, the ink ribbon 45 is a strip-shaped film containing ink. The ink ribbon 45 is used for printing on the tape 41. The ink ribbon 45 is superimposed on the tape 41 at the head opening 29, which will be described later, and used for printing by the print head 71.

[0362] Furthermore, the ink ribbon 45 is wound around the ribbon spool 46. More specifically, with the ink ribbon 45 wound around the ribbon spool 46, the ribbon spool 46 is rotatable about a rotation axis L23 extending in the first direction. The ribbon roll 45A is also rotatable about the rotation axis L23 extending in the first direction. The ink ribbon 45 is wound onto a take-up spool 218, which will be described later. The rotation axis L23 is a virtual axis. The rotation axis L23 passes through the center of the ribbon roll 45A.

[0363] As shown in Figures 29 and 30, the housing 20 of the tape cassette 100C is equipped with an arm 25. The arm 25 is located at one end of the housing 20 in the second direction. In the second direction, the arm 25 is closer to one end of the housing 20 than to the other end of the housing 20.

[0364] As shown in Figure 30, the arm 25 has an outlet 17. The outlet 17 can discharge the tape 41 and ink ribbon 45 to the outside of the housing 20. Details of the arm 25 and the outlet 17 will be described later.

[0365] As shown in Figure 29, the enclosure 20 comprises cases 21 to 24.

[0366] Case 23 constitutes the other end of the housing 20 in the first direction. Case 21 is positioned on one side of case 23 in the first direction. Case 21 is coupled to one side of case 23 in the first direction.

[0367] Case 22 is positioned on one side of Case 21 in the first direction. Case 22 is coupled to one side of Case 21 in the first direction.

[0368] Case 24 constitutes one end of the housing 20 in the first direction. Case 24 is positioned on one side of case 22 in the first direction. Case 24 is coupled to one side of case 22 in the first direction.

[0369] As shown in Figures 29 and 34, case 23 comprises plates 23D, 23R, 23B, 23L, and 23F. Plates 23D, 23B, 23R, 23L, and 23F are rectangular plates.

[0370] The plate 23D has a surface perpendicular to the first direction. The plate 23D is provided with an opening 23H. The opening 23H is located in the plate 23D on the other side of the second direction and on one side of the third direction. The opening 23H penetrates the plate 23D in the first direction.

[0371] Plate 23R is positioned at one end of plate 23D in the third direction. Plate 23B is positioned at the other end of plate 23D in the second direction. Plate 23L is positioned at the other end of plate 23D in the third direction. Plates 23R, 23B, and 23L extend from plate 23D in one direction in the first direction.

[0372] Plate 23F is positioned at one end of plate 23D in the second direction. Plate 23F comprises plates 231 to 236. Plates 231 to 236 are rectangular in shape. Plates 231, 233, and 235 have surfaces perpendicular to the second direction. Plates 232, 234, and 236 have surfaces perpendicular to the third direction.

[0373] Plate 231 is positioned at one end of plate 23D in the first direction. One end of plate 232 is connected to one end of plate 231. The other end of plate 232 is connected to one end of plate 233. The other end of plate 233 is connected to one end of plate 234. The other end of plate 234 is connected to the other end of plate 235. One end of plate 235 is connected to the other end of plate 236.

[0374] As shown in Figures 29, 30, 32, and 33, case 21 comprises a separation plate 21M, plate 21R, plate 21B, plate 21L, and plate 21F. The separation plate 21M, plate 21R, plate 21B, plate 21L, and plate 21F are rectangular plates.

[0375] As shown in Figures 29, 30, and 32, the separation plate 21M has a plate surface perpendicular to the first direction. The separation plate 21M is equipped with openings 21H, 211H, a ribbon guide 219, a plate 94, and a shaft 962.

[0376] The positions of the opening 21H in the second and third directions are located on the other side of the second direction and on one side of the third direction in the separation plate 21M. The position of the opening 21H is the same as the position of the opening 23H. The opening 21H penetrates the separation plate 21M in the vertical direction.

[0377] The positions of the opening 211H in the second and third directions are located on the other side of the second and third directions in the separation plate 21M. The opening 211H penetrates the separation plate 21M in the first direction. The other ends of the separation plate 21M in the second and third directions are cut out by the opening 211H.

[0378] The ribbon guide 219, plate 93, plate 94, and shaft 962 extend from the separation plate 21M to the other in the first direction.

[0379] The ribbon guide 219 is located in the housing 20 at the other corner in the second and third directions. The ribbon guide 219 is located in the housing 20 in the other direction of the third direction than the opening 21H. One end of the ribbon guide 219 in the first direction is connected to the opening 211H.

[0380] The ribbon guide 219 has a curved inclined surface 219A. The inclined surface 219A is inclined toward one side of the second direction as it moves toward the other side of the first direction. The ribbon guide 219 guides the transport of the ink ribbon 45. More specifically, the ink ribbon 45 is transported while in contact with the inclined surface 219A of the ribbon guide 219.

[0381] Plate 93 extends in the second direction. In the third direction, plate 93 is located closer to plate 21L than to plate 21R. One end of plate 93 in the second direction is connected to the other end of plate 94 in the third direction.

[0382] Plate 94 extends in a third direction. In the second direction, plate 94 is located between plate 211 and plate 213. Plate 94 is located inside the arm 25, which will be described later.

[0383] The shaft 962 is positioned at one corner of the separation plate 21M in the second direction and the other corner in the third direction. The shaft 962 is inserted through the tape guide 442. The tape guide 442 is cylindrical. The tape guide 442 is rotatable around the shaft 962.

[0384] Plate 21R is positioned at one end of the housing 20 in a third direction. Plate 21R has a surface perpendicular to the third direction. Separation plate 21M is positioned between one end of plate 21R and the other end of plate 21R in a first direction.

[0385] Plate 21B is positioned at the other end of the housing 20 in the second direction. Plate 21B has a surface perpendicular to the second direction. Separation plate 21M is positioned between one end of plate 21F and the other end of plate 21B in the first direction.

[0386] Plate 21L is positioned at the other end of the housing 20 in the third direction. Plate 21L has a surface perpendicular to the third direction. Separation plate 21M is positioned between one end of plate 21L and the other end of plate 21L in the first direction.

[0387] Plate 21F is positioned at one end of the housing 20 in the second direction. Plate 21F comprises plates 211, 212, 213, 214, 215, and 216. Plates 211, 213, 214, 215, and 216 are rectangular in shape. Plates 211, 213, and 215 have surfaces perpendicular to the second direction. Plates 212, 214, and 216 have surfaces perpendicular to the third direction.

[0388] Plate 211 is positioned at one end of the separation plate 21M in the second direction. Plate 213 is located on the other side of plate 94 in the second direction. Plate 94 is located between plate 211 and plate 213 in the second direction. That is, a gap is formed between plate 94 and plate 211. A gap is formed between plate 94 and plate 213.

[0389] One end of plate 212 in the second direction is connected to one end of plate 211 in the third direction. The other end of plate 212 in the second direction is connected to one end of plate 213 in the third direction. Plate 212 constitutes the discharge port 17, which will be described later.

[0390] The other end of plate 213 in the third direction is connected to guide 97. Guide 97 is connected to one end of plate 214 in the second direction. The other end of plate 214 in the second direction is connected to the other end of plate 215 in the third direction. Plate 214 is positioned away from plate 93 in one direction in the third direction.

[0391] One end of plate 215 in the third direction is connected to the other end of plate 216 in the second direction.

[0392] Plates 211 to 216 are positioned in the same locations as plates 231 to 236 in the second and third directions.

[0393] Cases 21 and 23 constitute the arm 25 of the tape cassette 100C. The arm 25 consists of plates 21F and 23F. More specifically, the arm 25 consists of plates 23D, 231, 232, 233, and 234 of case 23, and the separation plates 21M, 211, 213, and 214 of case 21.

[0394] The arm 25 has an outlet 17 at one end. The outlet 17 consists of an outlet 17A and an outlet 17B.

[0395] As shown in Figure 40, the outlets 17A and 17B are slit-shaped and extend in the first direction. The outlet 17A is formed by plate 213 and one end of plate 94.

[0396] The discharge port 17B is located closer to one end of the housing 20 in a second direction than the discharge port 17A. The discharge port 17B is formed by one end of plate 94 and plate 211.

[0397] The housing 20 has a guide 78. More specifically, the guide 78 is located at one end of the plate 21R. The guide 78 has a slit. The slit extends in the first direction. The tape 41 discharged from the discharge port 17 of the arm 25 is transported to the slit of the guide 78. The guide 78 guides the tape 41 that has passed through the slit of the guide 78 to the discharge path 9 of the printer 1.

[0398] The housing 20 has an insertion opening 55. More specifically, the insertion opening 55 is located between one end of plate 216, plate 21R and guide 78. The insertion opening 55 has a slit. The printed ink ribbon 45 is inserted into the housing 20 through the slit.

[0399] The space located in one of the third directions relative to the arm 25, that is, the space between the arm 25, the guide 78 and the insertion opening 55, is also called the head opening 29.

[0400] As shown in Figures 29, 31, and 32, the case 22 comprises a separation plate 22U, a plate 22B, a plate 22R, a plate 22L, and a plate 22F. The separation plates 22U, 22B, 22R, and 22L are rectangular in shape.

[0401] The separation plate 22U has a plate surface perpendicular to the first direction. An opening 221H, a ribbon guide 229, and shafts 26, 27, 28, 223, and 224 are arranged on the separation plate 22U.

[0402] The opening 221H is located at the other corner in the second direction and one corner in the third direction of the separation plate 22U. The opening 221H penetrates the separation plate 22U in the first direction. With case 23 coupled to case 22, the opening 221H communicates with the opening 211H shown in Figure 30.

[0403] The ribbon guide 229 and shafts 26, 27, and 28 extend from the separator plate 22U in the other direction of the first direction. The shafts 223 and 224 extend from the separator plate 22U in one direction of the second direction.

[0404] The ribbon guide 229 is positioned at the other corner in the second direction and one corner in the third direction of the separation plate 22U. The other end of the ribbon guide 229 in the first direction is connected to the opening 221H. The ribbon guide 229 has a curved inclined surface 229A. The inclined surface 229A is inclined toward one side in the second direction as it is toward one side in the first direction. The ribbon guide 229 guides the transport of the ink ribbon 45. More specifically, the ink ribbon 45 is transported while in contact with the inclined surface 229A of the ribbon guide 229.

[0405] Shaft 26 is located at one corner of the separation plate 22U in the second and third directions. Shaft 27 is located near the center of the separation plate 22U in the second and third directions. Shaft 28 is located on the other side of shaft 27 in the second direction and on one side of the third direction. The position of shaft 28 corresponds to the position of the opening 23H.

[0406] Shaft 223 is positioned on one side of the second direction and one side of the third direction of the separation plate 22U. Shaft 224 is positioned on the other side of the second direction and one side of the third direction of the separation plate 22U.

[0407] Plate 22R is positioned at one end of the separation plate 22U in the third direction. Plate 22R has a plate surface perpendicular to the third direction. In the first direction, the separation plate 22U is positioned between one end of plate 22R and the other end of plate 22R.

[0408] Plate 22B is positioned at the other end of the separation plate 22U in the second direction. Plate 22B has a plate surface perpendicular to the second direction. In the first direction, the separation plate 22U is positioned between one end of plate 22B and the other end of plate 22B.

[0409] Plate 22L is positioned at the other end of the separation plate 22U in the third direction. Plate 22L has a plate surface perpendicular to the third direction. In the first direction, the separation plate 22U is positioned between one end of plate 22L and the other end of plate 22L.

[0410] Plate 22F is positioned at one end of the separation plate 22U in the second direction. Plate 22F has a plate surface perpendicular to the second direction. In the first direction, the separation plate 22U is located between one end of plate 22F and the other end of plate 22F.

[0411] The housing 20 has an opening 16. More specifically, the opening 16 is located at one corner of the second and third directions of the case 21 and the case 22.

[0412] As shown in Figure 29, case 24 comprises plates 24U, 24R, 24B, 24L, and 24F. Plates 24U, 24B, 24R, 24L, and 24F are rectangular plates.

[0413] The plate 24U has a plate surface perpendicular to the first direction. The plate 24U has shafts 247 and 249. The shafts 247 and 249 extend from the plate 24U in the other direction of the first direction. Shaft 247 is located at one corner of the plate 24U in the second direction and the other corner in the third direction. Shaft 249 is located at a distance from the center of the plate 24U in the other direction of the second direction and one direction of the third direction.

[0414] Plate 24R is positioned at one end of plate 24U in the third direction. Plate 24B is positioned at the other end of plate 24U in the second direction. Plate 24L is positioned at the other end of plate 24U in the third direction. Plate 24F is positioned at one end of plate 24U in the second direction.

[0415] Plates 24R, 24B, 24L, and 24F extend from plate 24U in the other direction in the first direction.

[0416] The internal space of the enclosure 20 is divided in the first direction into a first space S1 and a second space S2 by a separation plate 21M.

[0417] The first space S1 is the space enclosed by the separation plate 21M, plate 21F, plate 21B, plate 21L, plate 21R of case 21, plate 22F, plate 22B, plate 22L, plate 22R of case 22, and plate 24U, plate 24F, plate 24B, plate 24L, plate 24R of case 24.

[0418] The second space S2 is the space enclosed by the plates 23D, 23F, 23B, 23L, and 23R of case 23, and the separation plates 21M, 21F, 21B, 21L, and 21R of case 21.

[0419] The first space S1 is aligned with the second space S2 in the first direction. In the first direction, the first space S1 is located on one side of the second space S2. The arm 25 defines one end of the second space S2 in the second direction. The opening 23H is in communication with the second space S2.

[0420] The first space S1 is further divided in the first direction into a third space S3 and a fourth space S4 by a separation plate 22U. The third space S3 is aligned with the fourth space S4 in the first direction. The third space S3 is located on one side of the fourth space S4 in the first direction.

[0421] The third space S3 is the space enclosed by the plates 24U, 24F, 24B, 24L, and 24R of case 24, and the separation plates 22U, 22F, 22B, 22L, and 22R of case 22.

[0422] The fourth space S4 is the space enclosed by the separation plates 21M, 21F, 21B, 21L, and 21R of case 21, and the separation plates 22U, 22F, 22B, 22L, and 22R of case 22.

[0423] As shown in Figures 29, 31, 34 to 37, the tape roll 41A, ribbon roll 45A, gear 30, etc. are located in the first space S1 of the tape cassette 100C.

[0424] In detail, the tape roll 41A and the ribbon roll 45A are located in the third space S3.

[0425] As shown in Figures 29, 31, 34 to 36, the tape roll 41A is located in the third space S3 at one corner of the separation plate 22U in the second direction and the other corner in the third direction. A holder 421 is fitted inside the tape spool 47.

[0426] The inside of the holder 421 is fitted onto shafts 247 and 223. Shafts 247 and 223 have a rotation axis L21 extending in the first direction. Therefore, the tape spool 47 is rotatable about the rotation axis L21.

[0427] As shown in Figures 29, 31, 34 to 36, the ribbon roll 45A is located in the third space S3 at a position away from the center of the separation plate 22U in the other direction of the second direction and in the one direction of the third direction.

[0428] A holder 423 is fitted inside the ribbon spool 46. Inside the holder 423 are shafts 249 and 224. Shafts 247 and 223 have a rotation axis L23 extending in the first direction. Therefore, the ribbon spool 46 is rotatable about the rotation axis L23.

[0429] As shown in Figures 32, 34 to 37, the gear 30 is located in the fourth space S4. The gear 30 transmits the driving force transmitted via the transmission gear 679 on the shaft 66E of the drive shaft 63 to the platen roller 82.

[0430] As shown in Figures 29 and 37, gear 30 comprises gear 34, gear 31, and gear 37. Gear 34 is fitted onto shaft 28. Gear 31 is fitted onto shaft 26. Gear 37 is fitted onto shaft 27.

[0431] Gear 34 is rotatable around shaft 28. The second and third positions of gear 34 are the same as the second and third positions of openings 23H and 21H.

[0432] Gear 34 is connected to gear 31 via gear 37. Gear 34 transmits driving force to gear 31. Gear 34 has gear 35 and cam 36. Gear 35 is an external gear that meshes with gear 38 of gear 37. Gear 35 is connected to cam 36.

[0433] The cam 36 is fixed to the gear 35 in the first direction. The cam 36 extends from the gear 35 to the other in the first direction. The cam 36 is a cylindrical internal gear. The cam 36 has spline teeth 361 on its inner circumferential surface. The shaft 66E of the drive shaft 63 is inserted into the cam 36 from the other in the first direction.

[0434] A portion of the cam 36 enters the second space S2 from the fourth space S4. The cam 36 is also exposed to the outside of the housing 20 through the opening 23H. Exposure means that the cam 36 is visible to the user.

[0435] Gear 31 is an external gear. Gear 31 is rotatable on a shaft 26 that extends in the first direction. Gear 31 is spaced further away from gear 34 in one of the second directions.

[0436] Gear 31 transmits the driving force to the platen gear 83 for transporting the tape 41. Gear 31 is a so-called helical gear. The gear teeth of gear 31 are twisted at a predetermined angle with respect to the first direction. The twist direction of the gear teeth of gear 31 is opposite to the twist direction of the gear teeth of the platen gear 83.

[0437] Gear 31 engages with platen gear 83 in the space communicating with head opening 29 when tape cassette 100C is mounted in cassette mounting section 10.

[0438] A portion of the teeth of gear 31 is exposed to the outside of the housing 20 through the opening 16. In other words, a portion of gear 31 is exposed to the space communicating with the head opening 29. Exposure means that the user can see the cam 36.

[0439] Gear 37 meshes with gears 34 and 31. Gear 37 transmits the driving force input to gear 34 to gear 31.

[0440] Gear 37 reduces the rotational speed of the driving force input to gear 34 and transmits it to gear 31. In other words, gear 30 includes a reduction mechanism.

[0441] Gear 37 is a double gear in which gears 38 and 39 are arranged coaxially. The diameter of gear 39 is smaller than the diameter of gear 38. Also, in the first direction, gear 38 is positioned further away from the roll 411 than gear 39.

[0442] Gear 38 meshes with gear 34. Gear 38 is an external spur gear.

[0443] Gear 39 meshes with gear 31. Gear 39 is an external helical gear. The twist direction of the gear teeth of gear 39 is opposite to that of gear 31.

[0444] As shown in Figures 30, 34 to 36, the second space S2 of the tape cassette 100B contains the take-up spool 218, the discharge port 17A, the discharge port 17B, and the insertion port 55.

[0445] The winding spool 218 is located in the second space S2 at the other corner in the second direction and at one corner in the third direction. The winding spool 218 is cylindrical and extends in the first direction.

[0446] A cam 218A is positioned inside the winding spool 218. The cam portion 67A of the drive cam 67 of the printer 1 is fitted into the cam 218A. The cam portion 67A is rotatable around the rotation axis L1. In other words, the winding spool 218 is rotatable around the rotation axis L1.

[0447] The discharge port 17A is located at one end of the arm 25 in the second space S2. The discharge port 17A allows the ink ribbon 45 to be discharged from the second space S2.

[0448] The discharge port 17B is located at one end of the arm 25 in the second space S2. The discharge port 17B allows the tape 41 to be discharged from the second space S2.

[0449] Here, the discharge port 17A is located between the discharge port 17B and the ribbon roll 45A in the second direction.

[0450] The insertion opening 55 is located in the second space S2 at one corner in the second and third directions. The insertion opening 55 allows the ink ribbon 45 to be inserted into the second space S2.

[0451] Referring to Figure 32, the arrangement relationships between the members will be explained. In the following explanation, "overlapping members" means that, when viewed from one or the other direction, at least a portion of the members overlap. Conversely, "not overlapping members" means that, when viewed from one or the other direction, the members do not overlap. Neither state implies physical contact.

[0452] In the first direction, the ribbon roll 45A does not overlap with the tape roll 41A. In the first direction, the ribbon roll 45A overlaps with the winding spool 218. In the second and third directions, the ribbon roll 45A and the tape roll 41A do not overlap with the winding spool 218.

[0453] In the first direction, the winding spool 218 does not overlap with the tape roll 41A. In the first direction, the winding spool 218 overlaps with the ribbon roll 45A. In the first direction, one end of the winding spool 218 is separated from the other end of the tape roll 41A and the other end of the ribbon roll 45A. In the second and third directions, the winding spool 218 does not overlap with the ribbon roll 45A.

[0454] A portion of gear 34 overlaps with a portion of ribbon roll 45A in the first direction. Gear 34 overlaps with a portion of winding spool 218 in the first direction. A portion of gear 34, namely gear 35, does not overlap with tape roll 41A, ribbon roll 45A, or winding spool 218 in the second and third directions. A portion of gear 34, namely cam 36, overlaps with winding spool 218 in the second and third directions.

[0455] A portion of gear 37 overlaps with a portion of tape roll 41A in the first direction. A portion of gear 37 overlaps with a portion of ribbon roll 45A in the first direction. A portion of gear 37 overlaps with a portion of winding spool 218 in the first direction. Gear 37 does not overlap with ribbon roll 45A, tape roll 41A, or winding spool 218 in the second and third directions.

[0456] In the first direction, a portion of the gear 31 overlaps with a portion of the winding spool 218. In the first direction, the gear 31 does not overlap with the ribbon roll 45A or the tape roll 41A. In the second and third directions, the gear 31 does not overlap with the tape roll 41A, the ribbon roll 45A or the winding spool 218.

[0457] Referring to Figures 37 to 40, the printing operation of printer 1 and tape cassette 100C will be described. The user installs tape cassette 100C into cassette mounting section 10. The print head 71 is positioned in the head opening 29 so as to overlap with the tape 41 and ink ribbon 45 in the second direction.

[0458] The shaft 66E of the drive shaft 63 is inserted into the cam 36 of the gear 34 housed in the fourth space S4. The cam portion 67A of the drive cam 67 of the drive shaft 63 is inserted into the cam 218A of the winding spool 218. The platen roller 82 moves to a close position. Thus, the platen gear 83 meshes with the gear 31.

[0459] As shown in Figure 37, with the tape cassette 100C installed, the gear 34 is rotated together with the cam 36 by the shaft 66E of the drive shaft 63. The rotation of gear 34 causes gear 37 to rotate. The rotation of gear 37 causes gear 31 to rotate. The rotation of gear 31 causes platen gear 83 to rotate. Therefore, the platen roller 82 rotates.

[0460] As shown in Figure 38, the rotation of the platen roller 82 causes the tape 41 to be unwound from the tape roll 41A in the third space S3. Simultaneously, in the third space S3, the rotation of the take-up spool 218 (described later) causes the ink ribbon 45 to be unwound from the ribbon roll 45A.

[0461] The tape 41 and the ink ribbon 45 are superimposed on the roller 244. After passing through the roller 244, the tape 41 and the ink ribbon 45 reach the ribbon guide 229.

[0462] As shown in Figure 39, the transport direction of the tape 41 and ink ribbon 45 is changed at the inclined surface 229A of the ribbon guide 229. The tape 41 and ink ribbon 45 are transported in the first direction and the other of the third direction. The tape 41 and ink ribbon 45 move from the first space S1 to the second space S2.

[0463] The tapes 41 and 41 and the ink ribbon 45 are transported toward the ribbon guide 219. The transport direction of the ink ribbon 45 is changed along the inclined surface 219A of the ribbon guide 219.

[0464] As shown in Figure 40, in the second space S2, the tape 41 is transported in one of the second directions toward the tape guide 442. The tape 41 is guided by the tape guide 442 to the discharge port 17B. At this time, the tape 41 is transported in one of the third directions through the gap between the plate 211 and the plate 94. The tape 41 is discharged from the discharge port 17B to the outside of the housing 20, i.e., to the outside of the second space S2.

[0465] Meanwhile, in the second space S2, the ink ribbon 45 is transported in one of the second directions toward the guide 97 in the arm 25. Between the ribbon guide 219 and the guide 97, the ink ribbon 45 separates from the tape 41. At this time, the ink ribbon 45 is transported in one of the second directions through the gap between the plate 93 and the plate 214.

[0466] Subsequently, the ink ribbon 45 is guided to the discharge port 17A by the guide 97. At this time, the ink ribbon 45 is transported in one of the third directions through the gap between the plate 94 and the plate 213. The ink ribbon 45 is discharged from the discharge port 17A to the outside of the housing 20, that is, to the outside of the second space S2.

[0467] The tape 41 and ink ribbon 45 discharged from the discharge port 17 are transported to the head opening 29. At the head opening 29, the tape 41 is pressed against the print head 71 via the ink ribbon 45 by the platen roller 82. The print head 71 is selectively heated by the heating element 71A. As a result, some of the ink on the surface of the ink ribbon 45 is transferred to the tape 41, and characters, symbols, etc. are printed on the tape 41.

[0468] The printed tape 41 is guided by the guide 78 to the output path 9 of the printer 1. In other words, the tape 41 ejected from the output port 17B does not return to the inside of the housing 20.

[0469] Meanwhile, in the second space S2, the rotation of the drive cam 67 causes the cam 218A of the winding spool 218 to rotate. Consequently, the winding spool 218 rotates.

[0470] As the winding spool 218 rotates, the ink ribbon 45 after printing is transported toward the insertion port 55. The ink ribbon 45 is then transported again from the insertion port 55 to the second space S2.

[0471] In the second space S2, the ink ribbon 45 is transported along the plate 21R toward the other side of the second direction. The ink ribbon 45 is wound up on the winding spool 218.

[0472] Once printing is complete, the user detaches the printed tape 41 from the printer 1.

[0473] As described above, the tape spool 47 is located inside the housing 20. A tape roll 41A is mounted on the tape spool 47. The ribbon spool 46 is located inside the housing 20. A ribbon roll 45A is mounted on the ribbon spool 46. The discharge port 17A is located in the second space S2. The discharge port 17A allows the ink ribbon 45 to be discharged to the outside of the housing 20. The insertion port 55 is located in the second space S2. The insertion port 55 allows the ink ribbon 45 to be inserted. Ribbon guides 219 and 229 guide the movement of the ink ribbon 45 from the first space S1 to the second space S2. Ribbon guide 219 is located in the second space S2. Ribbon guide 229 is located in the first space S1. In the first direction, the ribbon spool 46 and the take-up spool 218 are spaced apart. The ribbon spool 46, tape roll 41A, and tape spool 47 are located in the first space S1. The ink ribbon 45 is transported in the following order: ribbon roll 45A, ribbon guide 229, ribbon guide 219, discharge port 17A, insertion port 55, and winding spool 218. The tape cassette 100C allows each component to be properly positioned.

[0474] Roller 244 is located in the first space S1. At roller 244, the ink ribbon 45 unwound from ribbon roll 45A and the tape 41 unwound from tape roll 41A are superimposed. The tape cassette 100C can superimpose the ink ribbon 45 and tape 41 at roller 244.

[0475] The discharge port 17B is located in the second space S2. The discharge port 17B allows the tape 41 to be discharged to the outside of the housing 20. The tape guide 442 is located in the second space S2. The tape guide 442 guides the transport of the tape 41. The tape 41 is transported in the order of tape roll 41A, ribbon guide 229, ribbon guide 219, tape guide 442, and discharge port 17B. The tape cassette 100C can transport the tape 41 in the order of tape roll 41A, ribbon guide 229, ribbon guide 219, and discharge port 17B.

[0476] The take-up spool 218 overlaps with the ribbon roll 45A in the first direction, but does not overlap with the ribbon roll 45A in the second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The tape cassette 100C can be positioned to offset the take-up spool 218 and the ribbon roll 45A.

[0477] The winding spool 218 does not overlap with the tape roll 41A in the first direction, and does not overlap with the tape roll 41A in the second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The tape cassette 100C can be arranged with the winding spool 218 and the tape roll 41A offset in the first direction, and with the winding spool 218 and the tape roll 41A offset in the second direction.

[0478] The winding spool 218 overlaps the ribbon roll 45A in the first direction, but does not overlap the tape roll 41A in the first direction. The tape cassette 100C can be arranged so that the winding spool 218 and the ribbon roll 45A overlap in the first direction, and so that the winding spool 218 and the tape roll 41A are offset in the first direction.

[0479] The separation plate 22U divides the first space S1 into a third space S3 and a fourth space S4 in the first direction. The ribbon roll 45A and tape roll 41A are located in the third space S3. The gear 30 is located in the fourth space S4. The tape cassette 100C can have the ribbon roll 45A placed in the third space S3 and the gear 30 placed in the fourth space S4.

[0480] The gear 30 includes a gear 31 that is partially exposed to the outside of the housing 20. The tape cassette 100C allows the gear 31 to be exposed.

[0481] Gear 31 does not overlap with ribbon roll 45A in the first direction. Tape cassette 100C can be positioned with gear 31 and ribbon roll 45A offset in the first direction.

[0482] Gear 30 includes gear 37 which is connected to gear 31. Tape cassette 100C can also accommodate gear 31 and gear 37.

[0483] Gear 37 overlaps with ribbon roll 45A in the first direction. Tape cassette 100C can be arranged with gear 37 and ribbon roll 45A overlapping in the first direction.

[0484] Gear 37 overlaps with tape roll 41A in the first direction. Tape cassette 100C can be arranged with gear 37 and tape roll 41A overlapping in the first direction.

[0485] Gear 30 includes gear 34 to which the driving force is input. Tape cassette 100C can accommodate gear 34.

[0486] In the above description, the rotating axis L23 is an example of an "axis" in this disclosure. The separating plate 21M is an example of a "first separating plate" in this disclosure. The separating plate 22U is an example of a "second separating plate" in this disclosure. The surface of plate 24U is an example of a "first surface" in this disclosure. The surface of plate 23D is an example of a "second surface" in this disclosure.

[0487] Cases 21, 22, and 24 are examples of the “first case” of the present invention. Cases 21 and 23 are examples of the “second case” of this disclosure. Ribbon guide 219 is an example of the “first ribbon guide” of this disclosure. Ribbon guide 229 is an example of the “second ribbon guide” of this disclosure.

[0488] Outlet 17A is an example of a "first outlet". Outlet 17B is an example of a "second outlet". Insertion port 55 is an example of an "insertion port" of the present invention.

[0489] Gear 30 is an example of the "gear" of the present invention. Gear 31 is an example of the "first gear" of the present invention. Gear 37 is an example of the "second gear" of the present invention. Gear 34 is an example of the "third gear" of the present invention.

[0490] In the tape cassette 100C, the transport path of the ink ribbon 45 can be changed, as shown in Figure 41. In the second space S2, the ink ribbon 45 may pass through the tape guide 442 and the output port 17B together with the tape 41. After that, the ink ribbon 45 is used for printing at the head opening 29. After printing, the ink ribbon 45 is inserted into the second space S2 from the insertion port 55. The ink ribbon 45 is wound up on the take-up spool 218.

[0491] Furthermore, in the case of tape cassette 100C, roller 244 is not required.

[0492] The tape cassette 100D of this disclosure will be described with reference to Figures 42 to 53. The tape cassette 100D can be mounted in the cassette mounting section 10 shown in Figure 2. By replacing the tape cassette 100D mounted in the cassette mounting section 10 of the printer 1, tape can be replenished and the type of tape (e.g., size, color, material, etc.) can be changed.

[0493] The tape cassette 100D comprises a housing 20, a roll 411, a take-up spool 218, and a gear 30. As shown in Figure 42, the external shape of the tape cassette 100D is that of a rectangular parallelepiped. In other words, the housing 20 is rectangular in shape. The housing 20 houses the roll 411, the take-up spool 218, and the gear 30, etc.

[0494] The roll 411 is located in the center of the second and third directions inside the housing 20. The spool 471 is located in the center of the second and third directions inside the housing 20.

[0495] Roll 411 consists of tape 41 and ink ribbon 45 layered together and wound into a roll. In other words, roll 411 is both a tape roll and a ribbon roll.

[0496] The tape 41 and ink ribbon 45 are in the shape of strips. For example, the tape 41 has a structure in which release paper is attached to the adhesive side of a printing tape to cover it. The tape 41 is placed on top of the ink ribbon 45, and printing is performed by the print head 71.

[0497] Furthermore, the tape 41 and ink ribbon 45 are wound around the spool 471. The shape of the spool 471 is a cylinder extending in the first direction. With the tape 41 wound around the spool 471, the spool 471 is rotatable about a rotation axis L231 extending in the first direction. The roll 411 is rotatable about a rotation axis L231 extending in the first direction. The rotation axis L231 is a virtual axis. The rotation axis L231 passes through the center of the roll 411.

[0498] As shown in Figure 42, the housing 20 of the tape cassette 100D is equipped with an arm 25. The arm 25 is located at one end of the housing 20 in the second direction. In the second direction, the arm 25 is closer to one end of the housing 20 than to the other end of the housing 20.

[0499] As shown in Figure 43, the arm 25 has an outlet 17. The outlet 17 can discharge the tape 41 and ink ribbon 45 to the outside of the housing 20. Details of the arm 25 and the outlet 17 will be described later.

[0500] As shown in Figure 42, the enclosure 20 comprises cases 21 to 24.

[0501] Case 23 constitutes the other end of the housing 20 in the first direction. Case 21 is positioned on one side of case 23 in the first direction. Case 21 is coupled to one side of case 23 in the first direction.

[0502] Case 22 is positioned on one side of Case 21 in the first direction. Case 22 is coupled to one side of Case 21 in the first direction.

[0503] Case 24 constitutes one end of the housing 20 in the first direction. Case 24 is positioned on one side of case 22 in the first direction. Case 24 is coupled to one side of case 22 in the first direction.

[0504] As shown in Figure 42, case 23 comprises plates 23D, 23R, 23B, 23L, and 23F. Plates 23D, 23B, 23R, 23L, and 23F are rectangular plates.

[0505] The plate 23D has a surface perpendicular to the first direction. The plate 23D is provided with an opening 23H. The opening 23H is located in the plate 23D on the other side of the second direction and on one side of the third direction. The opening 23H penetrates the plate 23D in the first direction.

[0506] Plate 23R is positioned at one end of plate 23D in the third direction. Plate 23B is positioned at the other end of plate 23D in the second direction. Plate 23L is positioned at the other end of plate 23D in the third direction. Plates 23R, 23B, and 23L extend from plate 23D in one direction in the first direction.

[0507] Plate 23F is positioned at one end of plate 23D in the second direction. Plate 23F comprises plates 231 to 236. Plates 231 to 236 are rectangular in shape. Plates 231, 233, and 235 have surfaces perpendicular to the second direction. Plates 232, 234, and 236 have surfaces perpendicular to the third direction.

[0508] Plate 231 is positioned at one end of plate 23D in the first direction. One end of plate 232 is connected to one end of plate 231. The other end of plate 232 is connected to one end of plate 233. The other end of plate 233 is connected to one end of plate 234. The other end of plate 234 is connected to the other end of plate 235. One end of plate 235 is connected to the other end of plate 236.

[0509] As shown in Figures 42 and 43, case 21 comprises a separation plate 21M, plate 21R, plate 21B, plate 21L, and plate 21F. The separation plate 21M, plate 21R, plate 21B, plate 21L, and plate 21F are rectangular plates.

[0510] As shown in Figures 42, 43, and 45, the separation plate 21M has a plate surface perpendicular to the first direction. The separation plate 21M is equipped with openings 21H, 211H, a ribbon guide 219, plates 95, 94, and a shaft 962.

[0511] The positions of the opening 21H in the second and third directions are located on the other side of the second direction and on one side of the third direction in the separation plate 21M. The position of the opening 21H is the same as the position of the opening 23H. The opening 21H penetrates the separation plate 21M in the vertical direction.

[0512] The openings 211H are located at the other ends of the separation plate 21M in the second and third directions, respectively. The openings 211H penetrate the separation plate 21M in the first direction. The other ends of the separation plate 21M in the second and third directions are cut out by the openings 211H.

[0513] The ribbon guide 219, plates 95 and 94, and shaft 962 extend from the separation plate 21M to the other in the first direction.

[0514] The ribbon guide 219 is located in the housing 20 at the other corner in the second and third directions. The ribbon guide 219 is located in the housing 20 in the other direction of the third direction than the opening 21H. One end of the ribbon guide 219 in the first direction is connected to the opening 211H.

[0515] The ribbon guide 219 has a curved inclined surface 219A. The inclined surface 219A is inclined toward one side of the second direction as it moves toward the other side of the first direction. The ribbon guide 219 guides the transport of the ink ribbon 45. More specifically, the ink ribbon 45 is transported while in contact with the inclined surface 219A of the ribbon guide 219.

[0516] Plate 95 extends in a second direction along plate 21L. Plate 95 forms an arc with the center of the separation plate 21M. The other end of plate 95 in the second direction is connected to the ribbon guide 219.

[0517] Plate 94 extends in a third direction. In the second direction, plate 94 is located between plate 211 and plate 213. The other end of plate 94 in the second direction is connected to one end of plate 95 in the second direction. Plate 94 is located inside the arm 25, which will be described later.

[0518] The shaft 962 is positioned at one corner of the separation plate 21M in the second direction and the other corner in the third direction. The shaft 962 is inserted through the tape guide 442. The tape guide 442 is cylindrical. The tape guide 442 is rotatable around the shaft 962.

[0519] Plate 21R is positioned at one end of the housing 20 in a third direction. Plate 21R has a surface perpendicular to the third direction. Separation plate 21M is positioned between one end of plate 21R and the other end of plate 21R in a first direction.

[0520] Plate 21B is positioned at the other end of the housing 20 in the second direction. Plate 21B has a surface perpendicular to the second direction. Separation plate 21M is positioned between one end of plate 21B and the other end of plate 21B in the first direction.

[0521] Plate 21L is positioned at the other end of the housing 20 in the third direction. Plate 21L has a surface perpendicular to the third direction. Separation plate 21M is positioned between one end of plate 21L and the other end of plate 21L in the first direction.

[0522] Plate 21F is positioned at one end of the housing 20 in the second direction. Plate 21F comprises plates 211, 212, 213, 214, 215, and 216. Plates 211, 213, 214, 215, and 216 are rectangular in shape. Plates 211, 213, and 215 have surfaces perpendicular to the second direction. Plates 214 and 216 have surfaces perpendicular to the third direction.

[0523] Plate 211 is positioned at one end of the separation plate 21M in the second direction. Plate 213 is located on the other side of plate 94 in the second direction. Plate 94 is located between plate 211 and plate 213 in the second direction. That is, a gap is formed between plate 94 and plate 211. A gap is formed between plate 94 and plate 213.

[0524] One end of plate 212 in the second direction is connected to one end of plate 211 in the third direction. The other end of plate 212 in the second direction is connected to one end of plate 213 in the third direction. Plate 212 constitutes the discharge port 17B, which will be described later.

[0525] The other end of plate 213 in the third direction is connected to guide 97. Guide 97 is connected to one end of plate 214 in the second direction. The other end of plate 214 in the second direction is connected to the other end of plate 215 in the third direction.

[0526] One end of plate 215 in the third direction is connected to the other end of plate 216 in the second direction.

[0527] Plates 211 to 216 are positioned in the same locations as plates 231 to 236 in the second and third directions.

[0528] Cases 21 and 23 constitute the arm 25 of the tape cassette 100D. The arm 25 consists of plates 21F and 23F. More specifically, the arm 25 consists of plates 23D, 231, 232, 233, and 234 of case 23, and the separation plates 21M, 211, 213, and 214 of case 21.

[0529] As shown in Figure 53, the arm 25 has an outlet 17 at one end. The outlet 17 consists of an outlet 17A and an outlet 17B.

[0530] As shown in Figure 43, the outlets 17A and 17B are slit-shaped and extend in the first direction. Outlet 17A is not used in this embodiment.

[0531] The discharge port 17B is formed at one end of plate 94 and plate 212. The discharge port 17B is located closer to one end of the housing 20 in a second direction than the discharge port 17A. The discharge port 17B is formed at one end of plate 94 and plate 211.

[0532] The housing 20 has a guide 78. More specifically, the guide 78 is located at one end of the plate 21R. The guide 78 has a slit. The slit extends in the first direction. The tape 41 discharged from the discharge port 17B of the arm 25 is transported to the slit of the guide 78. The guide 78 guides the tape 41 that has passed through the slit of the guide 78 to the discharge path 9 of the printer 1.

[0533] The housing 20 has an insertion opening 55. More specifically, the insertion opening 55 is located between one end of plate 216, plate 21R and guide 78. The insertion opening 55 has a slit. The printed ink ribbon 45 is inserted into the housing 20 through the slit.

[0534] The space located in one of the third directions relative to the arm 25, that is, the space between the arm 25, the guide 78 and the insertion opening 55, is also called the head opening 29.

[0535] As shown in Figures 42 and 44, the case 22 comprises a separation plate 22U, a plate 22B, a plate 22R, a plate 22L, and a plate 22F. The separation plates 22U, 22B, 22R, and 22L are rectangular in shape.

[0536] The separation plate 22U has a plate surface perpendicular to the first direction. An opening 221H, a ribbon guide 229, and shafts 26, 27, 28, and 228 are arranged on the separation plate 22U.

[0537] The opening 221H is located at the other corner in the second direction and one corner in the third direction of the separation plate 22U. The opening 221H penetrates the separation plate 22U in the first direction. With case 23 coupled to case 22, the opening 221H communicates with the opening 211H shown in Figure 43.

[0538] The ribbon guide 229 and shaft 228 extend from the separator plate 22U in one direction of the first direction. The shafts 26, 27, and 28 extend from the separator plate 22U in the other direction of the first direction.

[0539] The ribbon guide 229 is positioned at the other corner in the second direction and one corner in the third direction of the separation plate 22U. The other end of the ribbon guide 229 in the first direction is connected to the opening 221H. The ribbon guide 229 has a curved inclined surface 229A. The inclined surface 229A is inclined toward one side in the second direction as it is toward one side in the first direction. The ribbon guide 229 guides the transport of the ink ribbon 45. More specifically, the ink ribbon 45 is transported while in contact with the inclined surface 229A of the ribbon guide 229.

[0540] Shaft 26 is located at one corner of the separation plate 22U in the second direction and one corner in the third direction. Shaft 27 is located near the center of the separation plate 22U. Shaft 28 is located at the other end of the second direction and one end of the third direction of shaft 27. The position of shaft 28 corresponds to the position of the opening 23H.

[0541] The shaft 228 is located near the center of the separator plate 22U.

[0542] Plate 22R is positioned at one end of the separation plate 22U in the third direction. Plate 22R has a plate surface perpendicular to the third direction. In the first direction, the separation plate 22U is positioned between one end of plate 22R and the other end of plate 22R.

[0543] Plate 22B is positioned at the other end of the separation plate 22U in the second direction. Plate 22B has a plate surface perpendicular to the second direction. In the first direction, the separation plate 22U is positioned between one end of plate 22B and the other end of plate 22B.

[0544] Plate 22L is positioned at the other end of the separation plate 22U in the third direction. Plate 22L has a plate surface perpendicular to the third direction. In the first direction, the separation plate 22U is positioned between one end of plate 22L and the other end of plate 22L.

[0545] Plate 22F is positioned at one end of the separation plate 22U in the second direction. Plate 22F has a plate surface perpendicular to the second direction. In the first direction, the separation plate 22U is located between one end of plate 22F and the other end of plate 22F.

[0546] The housing 20 has an opening 16. More specifically, the opening 16 is located at one corner of the second and third directions of the case 21 and the case 22.

[0547] As shown in Figure 42, case 24 comprises plates 24U, 24R, 24B, 24L, and 24F. Plates 24U, 24B, 24R, 24L, and 24F are rectangular plates.

[0548] The plate 24U has a plate surface perpendicular to the first direction. The plate 24U has a shaft 248. The shaft 248 is located near the center of the plate 24U in the second and third directions. The shaft 248 extends from the plate 24U in the other direction of the first direction.

[0549] Plate 24R is positioned at one end of plate 24U in the third direction. Plate 24B is positioned at the other end of plate 24U in the second direction. Plate 24L is positioned at the other end of plate 24U in the third direction. Plate 24F is positioned at one end of plate 24U in the second direction.

[0550] Plates 24R, 24B, 24L, and 24F extend from plate 24U in the other direction in the first direction.

[0551] The internal space of the enclosure 20 is divided in the first direction into a first space S1 and a second space S2 by a separation plate 21M.

[0552] The first space S1 is the space enclosed by the separation plate 21M, plate 21F, plate 21B, plate 21L, plate 21R of case 21, plate 22F, plate 22B, plate 22L, plate 22R of case 22, and plate 24U, plate 24F, plate 24B, plate 24L, plate 24R of case 24.

[0553] The second space S2 is the space enclosed by the separation plates 21M, 21F, 21B, 21L, and 21R of case 21, and the plates 23D, 23F, 23B, 23L, and 23R of case 23.

[0554] The first space S1 is aligned with the second space S2 in the first direction. In the first direction, the first space S1 is located on one side of the second space S2. The arm 25 defines one end of the second space S2 in the second direction. The opening 23H is in communication with the second space S2.

[0555] The first space S1 is further divided in the first direction into a third space S3 and a fourth space S4 by a separation plate 22U. The third space S3 is aligned with the fourth space S4 in the first direction. The third space S3 is located on one side of the fourth space S4 in the first direction.

[0556] The third space S3 is the space enclosed by the plates 24U, 24F, 24B, 24L, and 24R of case 24, and the separation plates 22U, 22F, 22B, 22L, and 22R of case 22.

[0557] The fourth space S4 is the space enclosed by the separation plates 22U, 22F, 22B, 22L, and 22R of case 22, and the separation plates 21M, 21F, 21B, 21L, and 21R of case 21.

[0558] As shown in Figures 44, 47 to 49, the first space S1 of the tape cassette 100D contains the roll 411, the gear 30, and other components.

[0559] In detail, the roll 411 is located in the third space S3. In the third space S3, the roll 411 is located in the center of the separation plate 21M in the second and third directions.

[0560] A holder 427 is fitted inside the spool 471 of the roll 411. The holder 427 is inserted through shafts 228 and 248. Shafts 228 and 248 have a rotation axis L231 extending in the first direction. Therefore, the spool 471 is rotatable about the rotation axis L231.

[0561] As shown in Figures 42, 47, and 49, the gear 30 is located in the fourth space S4. The gear 30 transmits the driving force transmitted via the transmission gear 679 on the shaft 66E of the drive shaft 63 to the platen roller 82.

[0562] As shown in Figures 42 and 50, gear 30 comprises gear 34, gear 31, and gear 37. Gear 34 is fitted onto shaft 28. Gear 31 is fitted onto shaft 26. Gear 37 is fitted onto shaft 27.

[0563] The gear 34 is rotatable around the shaft 28. The second and third positions of the gear 34 are the same as the second and third positions of the opening 23H.

[0564] Gear 34 is connected to gear 31 via gear 37. Gear 34 transmits driving force to gear 31. Gear 34 has gear 35 and cam 36. Gear 35 is an external gear that meshes with gear 38 of gear 37. Gear 35 is connected to cam 36.

[0565] The cam 36 is fixed to the gear 35 in the first direction. The cam 36 extends from the gear 35 to the other in the first direction. The cam 36 is a cylindrical internal gear. The cam 36 has spline teeth 361 on its inner circumferential surface. The shaft 66E of the drive shaft 63 is inserted into the cam 36 from the other in the first direction.

[0566] A portion of the cam 36 enters the second space S2 from the fourth space S4. The cam 36 is also exposed to the outside of the housing 20 through the opening 23H. Exposure means that the cam 36 is visible to the user.

[0567] Gear 31 is an external gear. Gear 31 is rotatable on a shaft 26 that extends in the first direction. Gear 31 is spaced further away from gear 34 in one of the second directions.

[0568] Gear 31 transmits the driving force to the platen gear 83 for transporting the tape 41. Gear 31 is a so-called helical gear. The gear teeth of gear 31 are twisted at a predetermined angle with respect to the first direction. The twist direction of the gear teeth of gear 31 is opposite to the twist direction of the gear teeth of the platen gear 83.

[0569] Gear 31 engages with platen gear 83 in the space communicating with head opening 29 when tape cassette 100D is mounted in cassette mounting section 10.

[0570] A portion of the teeth of gear 31 is exposed to the outside of the housing 20 through the opening 16. In other words, a portion of gear 31 is exposed to the space communicating with the head opening 29. Exposure means that the user can see the cam 36.

[0571] Gear 37 meshes with gears 34 and 31. Gear 37 transmits the driving force input to gear 34 to gear 31.

[0572] Gear 37 reduces the rotational speed of the driving force input to gear 34 and transmits it to gear 31. In other words, gear 30 includes a reduction mechanism.

[0573] Gear 37 is a double gear in which gears 38 and 39 are arranged coaxially. The diameter of gear 39 is smaller than the diameter of gear 38. Also, in the first direction, gear 38 is positioned further away from the roll 411 than gear 39.

[0574] Gear 38 meshes with gear 34. Gear 38 is an external spur gear.

[0575] Gear 39 meshes with gear 31. Gear 39 is an external helical gear. The twist direction of the gear teeth of gear 39 is opposite to that of gear 31.

[0576] As shown in Figures 43, 45, 47, and 49, the second space S2 of the tape cassette 100D contains the take-up spool 218, the discharge port 17B, and the insertion port 55. The take-up spool 218 is located in the second space S2 at the other corner in the second direction and at one corner in the third direction.

[0577] A cam 218A is positioned inside the winding spool 218. The cam portion 67A of the drive cam 67 of the drive shaft 63 is fitted into the cam 218A. The cam portion 67A rotates around the rotation axis L1. In other words, the winding spool 218 is rotatable around the rotation axis L1.

[0578] The discharge port 17B is located at one end of the arm 25 in the second space S2. The discharge port 17B allows the tape 41 and the ink ribbon 45 to be discharged from the second space S2.

[0579] The insertion opening 55 is located in the second space S2 at one corner in the second and third directions. The insertion opening 55 allows the ink ribbon 45 to be inserted into the second space S2.

[0580] Referring to Figure 45, the arrangement relationships between the members will be explained. In the following explanation, "overlapping members" means that, when viewed from one or the other direction, at least a portion of the members overlap. Conversely, "not overlapping members" means that, when viewed from one or the other direction, the members do not overlap. Neither state implies physical contact.

[0581] In the first direction, a portion of the roll 411 overlaps with a portion of the winding spool 218. In the first direction, one end of the winding spool 218 is separated from the other end of the roll 411. In the second and third directions, the roll 411 does not overlap with the winding spool 218.

[0582] A portion of gear 34 overlaps with a portion of roll 411 in the first direction. A portion of gear 34 overlaps with a portion of winding spool 218 in the first direction. A portion of gear 34, namely gear 35, does not overlap with roll 411 or winding spool 218 in the second and third directions. A portion of gear 34, namely cam 36, overlaps with winding spool 218 in the second and third directions.

[0583] A portion of gear 37 overlaps with a portion of roll 411 in the first direction. A portion of gear 37 overlaps with a portion of winding spool 218 in the first direction. Gear 37 does not overlap with roll 411 or winding spool 218 in the second and third directions.

[0584] A portion of gear 31 overlaps with a portion of roll 411 in the first direction. A portion of gear 31 overlaps with a portion of winding spool 218 in the first direction. Gear 31 does not overlap with roll 411 or winding spool 218 in the second and third directions.

[0585] Referring to Figures 50 to 53, the printing operation of printer 1 and tape cassette 100D will be described. The user installs tape cassette 100D into cassette mounting section 10. The print head 71 is positioned in the head opening 29 so as to overlap with the tape 41 and ink ribbon 45 in the second direction.

[0586] The shaft 66E of the drive shaft 63 is inserted into the cam 36 of the gear 34 housed in the fourth space S4. The cam portion 67A of the drive cam 67 of the drive shaft 63 is inserted into the cam 218A of the winding spool 218. The platen roller 82 moves to a close position. As a result, the platen gear 83 meshes with the gear 31.

[0587] As shown in Figure 50, with the tape cassette 100D installed, the gear 34 is rotated together with the cam 36 by the shaft 66E of the drive shaft 63. The rotation of gear 34 causes gear 37 to rotate. The rotation of gear 37 causes gear 31 to rotate. The rotation of gear 31 causes platen gear 83 to rotate. Therefore, the platen roller 82 rotates.

[0588] As shown in Figure 51, the rotation of the platen roller 82 causes the tape 41 and ink ribbon 45 to be unwound from the roll 411 in the third space S3. The tape 41 and ink ribbon 45 are then transported toward the roller 244. At the roller 244, the tape 41 and ink ribbon 45 are superimposed on each other.

[0589] As shown in Figure 52, the tape 41 and ink ribbon 45 that have passed through the roller 244 reach the ribbon guide 229. The transport direction of the tape 41 and ink ribbon 45 is changed at the inclined surface 229A of the ribbon guide 229. The tape 41 and ink ribbon 45 are transported in the first direction and the other of the third direction. The tape 41 and ink ribbon 45 move from the third space S3 to the second space S2.

[0590] In the second space S2, the tape 41 and ink ribbon 45 are transported toward the ribbon guide 219. The tape 41 and ink ribbon 45 are transported along the inclined surface 219A of the ribbon guide 219. At the ribbon guide 219, the transport direction of the tape 41 and ink ribbon 45 is changed. The tape 41 and ink ribbon 45 are transported in one of the second directions.

[0591] As shown in Figure 53, in the second space S2, the tape 41 is guided toward the tape guide 442.

[0592] The tape 41 and ink ribbon 45 are transported in one of the third directions through the gap between the plate 211 and the plate 94. The tape 41 and ink ribbon 45 are discharged from the discharge port 17B to the outside of the housing 20, i.e., to the outside of the second space S2.

[0593] The tape 41 and ink ribbon 45 discharged from the discharge port 17B are transported to the head opening 29. At the head opening 29, the tape 41 is pressed against the print head 71 via the ink ribbon 45 by the platen roller 82. The print head 71 is selectively heated by the heating element 71A. As a result, some of the ink on the surface of the ink ribbon 45 is transferred to the tape 41, and characters, symbols, etc. are printed on the tape 41.

[0594] The printed tape 41 is guided by the guide 78 to the output path 9 of the printer 1. In other words, the tape 41 ejected from the output port 17B does not return to the inside of the housing 20.

[0595] Meanwhile, in the second space S2, the rotation of the drive cam 67 causes the cam 218A of the winding spool 218 to rotate. Consequently, the winding spool 218 rotates.

[0596] As the winding spool 218 rotates, the ink ribbon 45 after printing is transported toward the insertion slot 55 of the printer 1. Guided toward the insertion slot 55, the ink ribbon 45 is transported again to the second space S2.

[0597] In the second space S2, the ink ribbon 45 is transported along the plate 21R toward the other side of the second direction. The ink ribbon 45 is wound up on the winding spool 218.

[0598] Once printing is complete, the user detaches the printed tape 41 from the printer 1.

[0599] As explained above, the discharge port 17B is located in the second space S2. The discharge port 17B allows the ink ribbon 45 to be discharged to the outside of the housing 20. The insertion port 55 is located in the second space S2. The ink ribbon 45 is inserted into the insertion port 55. Ribbon guides 219 and 229 guide the movement of the ink ribbon 45 from the first space S1 to the second space S2. Ribbon guide 229 is located in the third space S3. Ribbon guide 219 is located in the second space S2. The tape 41 and the ink ribbon 45 are wound in a roll shape overlapping each other and rotate around the rotation axis L231, forming a single roll 411 located in the first space S1. The ink ribbon 45 is transported in the order of roll 411, ribbon guide 229, ribbon guide 219, discharge port 17B, insertion port 55, and take-up spool 218. The tape cassette 100D can properly arrange each component.

[0600] The tape guide 442 is located in the second space S2. The tape guide 442 guides the transport of the tape 41 and the ink ribbon 45. The discharge port 17B allows the tape 41 to be discharged to the outside of the housing 20 together with the ink ribbon 45. The tape 41 is transported in the order of roll 411, ribbon guide 229, ribbon guide 219, tape guide 442, and discharge port 17B. The tape cassette 100D can transport the tape 41 in the order of roll 411, ribbon guide 229, ribbon guide 219, tape guide 442, and discharge port 17B.

[0601] The take-up spool 218 overlaps with the roll 411 in the first direction, but does not overlap with the roll 411 in the second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The tape cassette 100D can be arranged so that the positions of the take-up spool 218 and the roll 411 overlap in the first direction and are offset in the second direction.

[0602] The separation plate 22U divides the first space S1 into a third space S3 and a fourth space S4 in the first direction. The roll 411 is located in the third space S3. The gear 30 is located in the fourth space S4. The tape cassette 100D can have the roll 411 placed in the third space S3 and the gear 30 placed in the fourth space S4.

[0603] The gear 30 includes a gear 31 that is partially exposed to the outside of the housing 20. The tape cassette 100D can expose a portion of the gear 31.

[0604] Gear 31 overlaps with roll 411 in the first direction. Tape cassette 100D can be positioned so that the positions of gear 31 and roll 411 overlap in the first direction.

[0605] Gear 30 includes gear 37 which is connected to gear 31. Tape cassette 100D can also accommodate gear 31 and gear 37.

[0606] Gear 37 overlaps with roll 411 in the first direction. Tape cassette 100D can be arranged with gear 37 and roll 411 overlapping in the first direction.

[0607] Gear 30 includes gear 34 to which the driving force is input. Tape cassette 100D can accommodate the fourth gear.

[0608] In the above description, the rotating shaft L231 is an example of an "axis" in this disclosure. The separating plate 21M is an example of a "first separating plate" in this disclosure. The separating plate 22U is an example of a "second separating plate" in this disclosure. The surface of plate 24U is an example of a "first surface" in this disclosure. The surface of plate 23D is an example of a "second surface" in this disclosure.

[0609] Cases 21, 22, and 24 are examples of the “first case” of this disclosure. Cases 23 and 21 are examples of the “second case” of the present invention. Ribbon guide 219 is an example of the “first ribbon guide” of this disclosure. Ribbon guide 229 is an example of the “second ribbon guide” of this disclosure.

[0610] Outlet 17B is an example of an "outlet". Insertion port 55 is an example of an "insertion port" in the present invention.

[0611] Gear 30 is an example of the "gear" of the present invention. Gear 31 is an example of the "first gear" of the present invention. Gear 37 is an example of the "second gear" of the present invention. Gear 34 is an example of the "third gear" of the present invention.

[0612] Note that while the output port 17A was not used in tape cassette 100D, this is not an exception. The ink ribbon 45 may be ejected from output port 17A. Also, output port 17 may consist only of output port 17B, and output port 17A may be omitted. In other words, the slit of output port 17A may be omitted.

[0613] The tape cassette 100E of this disclosure will be described with reference to Figures 54 to 65. The tape cassette 100E can be mounted in the cassette mounting section 10 shown in Figure 2. By replacing the tape cassette 100E mounted in the cassette mounting section 10 of the printer 1, tape can be replenished and the type of tape (e.g., size, color, material, etc.) can be changed.

[0614] The tape cassette 100E comprises a housing 20, a tape roll 41A, a ribbon roll 45A, a take-up spool 241, and a gear 30. As shown in Figure 54, the external shape of the tape cassette 100E is that of a rectangular parallelepiped. In other words, the housing 20 is also rectangular in shape. The housing 20 houses the tape roll 41A, the ribbon roll 45A, the take-up spool 241, and the gear 30, etc.

[0615] The tape roll 41A is located inside the housing 20, at the other end in the second direction and at one corner in the third direction. The tape spool 47 is located inside the housing 20, at the other end in the second direction and at one corner in the third direction.

[0616] The tape roll 41A is a roll of tape 41 wound on a tape spool 47.

[0617] The tape spool 47 is cylindrical in shape, extending in the first direction. The tape 41 is strip-shaped. For example, the tape 41 has a structure in which release paper is attached to the adhesive surface of the printing tape to cover it. The tape 41 is placed on top of the ink ribbon 45, which will be described later, and printing is performed by the print head 71.

[0618] Furthermore, the tape 41 is wound around the tape spool 47. With the tape 41 wound around the tape spool 47, the tape spool 47 is rotatable about a rotation axis L1 extending in the first direction. The tape roll 41A is rotatable about the rotation axis L1 extending in the first direction. The rotation axis L1 is a virtual axis. The rotation axis L1 passes through the center of the tape roll 41A.

[0619] Furthermore, the ribbon roll 45A is located inside the housing 20, away from the center of the housing 20 in a second direction. The ribbon spool 46 is located inside the housing 20, away from the center of the housing 20 in a second direction.

[0620] The ribbon roll 45A is a roll of ink ribbon 45 wound on a ribbon spool 46.

[0621] The ribbon spool 46 is cylindrical in shape, extending in the first direction. The ink ribbon 45 is strip-shaped. For example, the ink ribbon 45 is a strip-shaped film containing ink. The ink ribbon 45 is used for printing on the tape 41. The ink ribbon 45 is superimposed on the tape 41 at the head opening 29, which will be described later, and used for printing by the print head 71.

[0622] Furthermore, the ink ribbon 45 is wound around the ribbon spool 46. More specifically, with the ink ribbon 45 wound around the ribbon spool 46, the ribbon spool 46 is rotatable about a rotation axis L23 extending in the first direction. The ribbon roll 45A is rotatable about the rotation axis L23 extending in the first direction. The ink ribbon 45 is wound onto a take-up spool 241, which will be described later. The rotation axis L23 is a virtual axis. The rotation axis L23 passes through the center of the ribbon roll 45A.

[0623] As shown in Figures 54 and 55, the housing 20 of the tape cassette 100E is equipped with an arm 25. The arm 25 is located at one end of the housing 20 in the second direction. In the second direction, the arm 25 is closer to one end of the housing 20 than to the other end of the housing 20.

[0624] As shown in Figure 55, the arm 25 has an outlet 17. The outlet 17 can discharge the tape 41 and ink ribbon 45 to the outside of the housing 20. Details of the arm 25 and the outlet 17 will be described later.

[0625] As shown in Figure 54, the enclosure 20 comprises cases 21 to 24.

[0626] Case 23 constitutes the other end of the housing 20 in the first direction. Case 21 is positioned on one side of case 23 in the first direction. Case 21 is coupled to one side of case 23 in the first direction.

[0627] Case 22 is positioned on one side of Case 21 in the first direction. Case 22 is coupled to one side of Case 21 in the first direction.

[0628] Case 24 constitutes one end of the housing 20 in the first direction. Case 24 is positioned on one side of case 22 in the first direction. Case 24 is coupled to one side of case 22 in the first direction.

[0629] As shown in Figures 54 and 58, case 23 comprises plates 23D, 23R, 23B, 23L, and 23F. Plates 23D, 23B, 23R, 23L, and 23F are rectangular plates.

[0630] The plate 23D has a surface perpendicular to the first direction. The plate 23D includes an opening 23H and a shaft 237. The opening 23H is located in the plate 23D on the other side of the second direction and on one side of the third direction. The opening 23H penetrates the plate 23D in the first direction.

[0631] The shaft 237 is positioned on one side of the plate 23D in the second direction and the other side in the third direction. The shaft 237 protrudes from the plate 23D in one side in the first direction.

[0632] Plate 23R is positioned at one end of plate 23D in the third direction. Plate 23B is positioned at the other end of plate 23D in the second direction. Plate 23L is positioned at the other end of plate 23D in the third direction. Plates 23R, 23B, and 23L extend from plate 23D in one direction in the first direction.

[0633] Plate 23F is positioned at one end of plate 23D in the second direction. Plate 23F comprises plates 231 to 236. Plates 231 to 236 are rectangular in shape. Plates 231, 233, and 235 have surfaces perpendicular to the second direction. Plates 232, 234, and 236 have surfaces perpendicular to the third direction.

[0634] Plate 231 is positioned at one end of plate 23D in the first direction. One end of plate 232 is connected to one end of plate 231. The other end of plate 232 is connected to one end of plate 233. The other end of plate 233 is connected to one end of plate 234. The other end of plate 234 is connected to the other end of plate 235. One end of plate 235 is connected to the other end of plate 236.

[0635] As shown in Figures 54, 55, and 57, the case 21 comprises a separation plate 21M, a plate 21R, a plate 21B, a plate 21L, and a plate 21F. The separation plate 21M, a plate 21R, a plate 21B, a plate 21L, and a plate 21F are rectangular plates.

[0636] As shown in Figures 54, 55, and 57, the separation plate 21M has a plate surface perpendicular to the first direction. The separation plate 21M is equipped with openings 21H, 212H, 211H, a ribbon guide 219, plates 93, 94, shafts 960 to 962, and guides 85, 86.

[0637] The positions of the opening 21H in the second and third directions are located on the other side of the second direction and on one side of the third direction in the separation plate 21M. The position of the opening 21H is the same as the position of the opening 23H. The opening 21H penetrates the separation plate 21M in the vertical direction.

[0638] The openings 212H are located in the separation plate 21M at the positions of the other in the second and third directions, respectively. The openings 212H penetrate the separation plate 21M in the first direction.

[0639] The openings 211H are located in the second and third directions of the separation plate 21M, on the other side of the second and third directions. The openings 211H penetrate the separation plate 21M in the first direction. The other ends of the separation plate 21M in the second and third directions are cut out by the openings 211H.

[0640] The ribbon guide 219, plates 93 and 94, shafts 960 to 962, and guides 85 and 86 extend from the separation plate 21M to the other in the first direction.

[0641] The ribbon guide 219 is located in the housing 20 at the other corner in the second and third directions. The ribbon guide 219 is located in the housing 20 in the other direction of the third direction than the opening 21H. One end of the ribbon guide 219 in the first direction is connected to the opening 211H.

[0642] The ribbon guide 219 has a curved inclined surface 219A. The inclined surface 219A is inclined toward one side of the second direction as it moves toward the other side of the first direction. The ribbon guide 219 guides the transport of the ink ribbon 45. More specifically, the ink ribbon 45 is transported while in contact with the inclined surface 219A of the ribbon guide 219.

[0643] Plate 93 extends in the second direction. In the third direction, plate 93 is located closer to plate 21L than to plate 21R. One end of plate 93 in the second direction is connected to the other end of plate 94 in the third direction.

[0644] Plate 94 extends in a third direction. Plate 94 extends from one end of plate 93 in the second direction to one end in the third direction. Plate 94 is located inside the arm 25, which will be described later.

[0645] The shaft 960 is positioned at the other corner of the second direction and one corner of the third direction in the separation plate 21M. A tape guide 440 is inserted through the shaft 960. The tape guide 440 is cylindrical. The tape guide 440 is rotatable around the shaft 960.

[0646] The shaft 961 is positioned at the other corners of the separation plate 21M in the second and third directions. A tape guide 441 is inserted through the shaft 961. The tape guide 441 is cylindrical. The tape guide 441 is rotatable around the shaft 961.

[0647] The shaft 962 is positioned at one corner of the separation plate 21M in the second direction and the other corner in the third direction. A tape guide 442 is inserted through the shaft 962. The tape guide 442 is cylindrical. The tape guide 442 is rotatable around the shaft 962.

[0648] Guide 85 is positioned at the center of the separation plate 21M in the second direction and at the other end of the third direction. Guide 86 is positioned at the center of the separation plate 21M in the second direction and at the center of the third direction.

[0649] Plate 21R is positioned at one end of the housing 20 in a third direction. Plate 21R has a surface perpendicular to the third direction. Separation plate 21M is positioned between one end of plate 21R and the other end of plate 21R in a first direction.

[0650] Plate 21B is positioned at the other end of the housing 20 in the second direction. Plate 21B has a surface perpendicular to the second direction. Separation plate 21M is positioned between one end of plate 21B and the other end of plate 21B in the first direction.

[0651] Plate 21L is positioned at the other end of the housing 20 in the third direction. Plate 21L has a surface perpendicular to the third direction. Separation plate 21M is positioned between one end of plate 21L and the other end of plate 21L in the first direction.

[0652] Plate 21F is positioned at one end of the housing 20 in the second direction. Plate 21F comprises plates 211, 212, 213, 214, 215, and 216. Plates 211, 213, 214, 215, and 216 are rectangular in shape. Plates 211, 213, and 215 have surfaces perpendicular to the second direction. Plates 214 and 216 have surfaces perpendicular to the third direction.

[0653] Plate 211 is positioned at one end of the separation plate 21M in the second direction. Plate 213 is located on the other side of plate 94 in the second direction. Plate 94 is located between plate 211 and plate 213 in the second direction. That is, a gap is formed between plate 94 and plate 211. A gap is formed between plate 94 and plate 213.

[0654] One end of plate 212 in the second direction is connected to one end of plate 211 in the third direction. The other end of plate 212 in the second direction is connected to one end of plate 213 in the third direction. Plate 212 constitutes the discharge port 17, which will be described later.

[0655] The other end of plate 213 in the third direction is connected to guide 97. Guide 97 is connected to one end of plate 214 in the second direction. The other end of plate 214 in the second direction is connected to the other end of plate 215 in the third direction. Plate 214 is positioned away from plate 93 in one direction in the third direction. That is, a gap is formed between plate 93 and plate 214.

[0656] One end of plate 215 in the third direction is connected to guide 98. Guide 98 is connected to the other end of plate 216 in the second direction.

[0657] Plates 211 to 216 are positioned in the same locations as plates 231 to 236 in the second and third directions.

[0658] Cases 21 and 23 constitute the arm 25 of the tape cassette 100E. The arm 25 consists of plates 21F and 23F. More specifically, the arm 25 consists of plates 23D, 231, 232, 233, and 234 of case 23, and the separation plates 21M, 211, 213, and 214 of case 21.

[0659] The arm 25 has an outlet 17 at one end. The outlet 17 consists of an outlet 17A and an outlet 17B.

[0660] As shown in Figure 65, the outlets 17A and 17B are slit-shaped and extend in the first direction. The outlet 17A is formed by plate 213 and one end of plate 94.

[0661] The discharge port 17B is located closer to one end of the housing 20 in a second direction than the discharge port 17A. The discharge port 17B is formed by one end of plate 94 and plate 211.

[0662] The housing 20 has a guide 78. More specifically, the guide 78 is located at one end of the plate 21R. The guide 78 has a slit. The slit extends in the first direction. The tape 41 discharged from the discharge port 17 of the arm 25 is transported to the slit of the guide 78. The guide 78 guides the tape 41 that has passed through the slit of the guide 78 to the discharge path 9 of the printer 1.

[0663] The housing 20 has an insertion opening 55. More specifically, the insertion opening 55 is located between one end of plate 216, plate 21R and guide 78. The insertion opening 55 has a slit. The printed ink ribbon 45 is inserted into the housing 20 through the slit.

[0664] The space located in one of the third directions relative to the arm 25, that is, the space between the arm 25, the guide 78 and the insertion opening 55, is also called the head opening 29.

[0665] As shown in Figures 54 and 56, the case 22 comprises a separation plate 22U, a plate 22B, a plate 22R, a plate 22L, and a plate 22F. The separation plates 22U, 22B, 22R, and 22L are rectangular in shape.

[0666] The separation plate 22U has a plate surface perpendicular to the first direction. An opening 221H, a ribbon guide 229, and shafts 26, 27, 28, 227, 225, and 222 are arranged on the separation plate 22U.

[0667] The opening 221H is located at one corner of the separation plate 22U in the second direction and one corner in the third direction. The opening 221H penetrates the separation plate 22U in the first direction. With case 21 coupled to case 22, the opening 221H communicates with the opening 211H shown in Figure 55.

[0668] The ribbon guide 229 and shafts 26, 27, 28, and 227 extend from the separator plate 22U in the other direction of the first direction. Shafts 225 and 222 extend from the separator plate 22U in one direction of the first direction. In other words, shafts 222 and 225 extend from shafts 26 in the opposite direction to shafts 28.

[0669] The ribbon guide 229 is positioned at the other corner in the second direction and one corner in the third direction of the separation plate 22U. The other end of the ribbon guide 229 in the first direction is connected to the opening 221H. The ribbon guide 229 has a curved inclined surface 229A. The inclined surface 229A is inclined toward one side in the second direction as it is toward one side in the first direction. The ribbon guide 229 guides the transport of the ink ribbon 45. More specifically, the ink ribbon 45 is transported while in contact with the inclined surface 229A of the ribbon guide 229.

[0670] Shaft 26 is located at one corner in the second direction and one corner in the third direction. Shaft 27 is located near the center of the separation plate 22U. Shaft 28 is located at the other end of the second direction and one end of the third direction of shaft 27. The position of shaft 28 corresponds to the position of the opening 23H.

[0671] The shaft 227 is positioned off-center from the center of the separation plate 22U, in a third direction.

[0672] The shaft 225 is positioned near the center of the separation plate 22U in the second and third directions. More specifically, the shaft 225 is positioned away from the center of the separation plate 22U in one of the third directions.

[0673] The shaft 222 is positioned in the center of the separation plate 22U in the second direction and on one of the third directions. More specifically, the shaft 222 is positioned between the shaft 225 and the plate 22R in the third direction. A roller 244 is inserted through the shaft 222.

[0674] Plate 22R is positioned at one end of the separation plate 22U in the third direction. Plate 22R has a plate surface perpendicular to the third direction. In the first direction, the separation plate 22U is positioned between one end of plate 22R and the other end of plate 22R.

[0675] Plate 22B is positioned at the other end of the separation plate 22U in the second direction. Plate 22B has a plate surface perpendicular to the second direction. In the first direction, the separation plate 22U is positioned between one end of plate 22B and the other end of plate 22B.

[0676] Plate 22L is positioned at the other end of the separation plate 22U in the third direction. Plate 22L has a plate surface perpendicular to the third direction. In the first direction, the separation plate 22U is positioned between one end of plate 22L and the other end of plate 22L.

[0677] Plate 22F is positioned at one end of the separation plate 22U in the second direction. Plate 22F has a plate surface perpendicular to the second direction. In the first direction, the separation plate 22U is located between one end of plate 22F and the other end of plate 22F.

[0678] The housing 20 has an opening 16. More specifically, the opening 16 is located at one corner of the second and third directions of the case 21 and the case 22.

[0679] As shown in Figure 54, case 24 comprises plates 24U, 24R, 24B, 24L, and 24F. Plates 24U, 24B, 24R, 24L, and 24F are rectangular plates.

[0680] The plate 24U has a surface perpendicular to a first direction. The plate 24U has shafts 243 and 249. The shafts 243 and 249 extend from the plate 24U in the first direction. Shaft 243 is positioned away from the center of the plate 24U in one of the third directions.

[0681] The shaft 249 is positioned further away from the shaft 243 in one of the third directions. The roller 244 is inserted through the shaft 249.

[0682] Plate 24R is positioned at one end of plate 24U in the third direction. Plate 24B is positioned at the other end of plate 24U in the second direction. Plate 24L is positioned at the other end of plate 24U in the third direction. Plate 24F is positioned at one end of plate 24U in the second direction.

[0683] Plates 24R, 24B, 24L, and 24F extend from plate 24U in the other direction in the first direction.

[0684] The internal space of the enclosure 20 is divided in the first direction into a first space S1 and a second space S2 by a separation plate 21M.

[0685] The first space S1 is the space enclosed by the separation plate 21M, plate 21F, plate 21B, plate 21L, plate 21R of case 21, plate 22F, plate 22B, plate 22L, plate 22R of case 22, and plate 24U, plate 24F, plate 24B, plate 24L, plate 24R of case 24.

[0686] The second space S2 is the space enclosed by the separation plates 21M, 21F, 21B, 21L, and 21R of case 21, and the plates 23D, 23F, 23B, 23L, and 23R of case 23.

[0687] The first space S1 is aligned with the second space S2 in the first direction. In the first direction, the first space S1 is located on one side of the second space S2. The arm 25 defines one end of the second space S2 in the second direction. The opening 23H is in communication with the second space S2.

[0688] The first space S1 is further divided in the first direction into a third space S3 and a fourth space S4 by a separation plate 22U. The third space S3 is aligned with the fourth space S4 in the first direction. The third space S3 is located on one side of the fourth space S4 in the first direction.

[0689] The third space S3 is the space enclosed by the plates 24U, 24F, 24B, 24L, and 24R of case 24, and the separation plates 22U, 22F, 22B, 22L, and 22R of case 22.

[0690] The fourth space S4 is the space enclosed by the separation plates 22U, 22F, 22B, 22L, and 22R of case 22, and the separation plates 21M, 21F, 21B, 21L, and 21R of case 21.

[0691] As shown in Figures 56, 59 to 62, the ribbon roll 45A, gear 30, etc. are located in the first space S1 of the tape cassette 100E.

[0692] In detail, the ribbon roll 45A is located in the third space S3.

[0693] As shown in Figures 56 and 59, the ribbon roll 45A is located in the third space S3, offset from the center of the separation plate 21M to one side in the third direction. More specifically, the ribbon roll 45A is located in the third space S3 between the plate 22R and the center of the separation plate 22U in the third direction.

[0694] A holder 423 is fitted inside the ribbon spool 46. The inside of the holder 423 is fitted onto the shaft 243. The holder 423 is also inserted onto the shaft 225. The shaft 225 has a rotation axis L23 that extends in the first direction. Therefore, the ribbon spool 46 is rotatable about the rotation axis L23.

[0695] Gear 30 is located in the fourth space S4. Gear 30 transmits the driving force transmitted via the transmission gear 679 on the shaft 66E of the drive shaft 63 to the platen roller 82.

[0696] As shown in Figures 54 and 57, gear 30 comprises gear 34, gear 31, gear 37, and gear 32. Gear 34 is fitted onto shaft 28. Gear 31 is fitted onto shaft 26. Gear 37 is fitted onto shaft 27. Gear 32 is inserted through shaft 227.

[0697] Gear 34 is rotatable around shaft 28. The second and third positions of gear 34 are the same as the second and third positions of openings 23H and 21H.

[0698] Gear 34 is connected to gear 31 via gear 37. Gear 34 transmits driving force to gear 31. Gear 34 has gear 35 and cam 36. Gear 35 is an external gear that meshes with gear 38 of gear 37. Gear 35 is connected to cam 36.

[0699] The cam 36 is fixed to the gear 35 in the first direction. The cam 36 extends from the gear 35 to the other in the first direction. The cam 36 is a cylindrical internal gear. The cam 36 has spline teeth 361 on its inner circumferential surface. The shaft 66E of the drive shaft 63 is inserted into the cam 36 from the other in the first direction.

[0700] A portion of the cam 36 enters the second space S2 from the fourth space S4. The cam 36 is also exposed to the outside of the housing 20 through the opening 23H. Exposure means that the cam 36 is visible to the user.

[0701] Gear 31 is an external gear. Gear 31 is rotatable on a shaft 26 that extends in the first direction. Gear 31 is spaced further away from gear 34 in one of the second directions.

[0702] Gear 31 transmits the driving force to the platen gear 83 for transporting the tape 41. Gear 31 is a so-called helical gear. The gear teeth of gear 31 are twisted at a predetermined angle with respect to the first direction. The twist direction of the gear teeth of gear 31 is opposite to the twist direction of the gear teeth of the platen gear 83.

[0703] The gear 31 is engaged with the platen gear 83 in the space communicating with the head opening 29 when the tape cassette 100E is mounted in the cassette mounting section 10.

[0704] A portion of the teeth of gear 31 is exposed to the outside of the housing 20 through the opening 16. In other words, a portion of gear 31 is exposed to the space communicating with the head opening 29. Exposure means that the user can see the cam 36.

[0705] Gear 37 meshes with gears 34 and 31. Gear 37 transmits the driving force input to gear 34 to gear 31.

[0706] Gear 37 reduces the rotational speed of the driving force input to gear 34 and transmits it to gear 31. In other words, gear 30 includes a reduction mechanism.

[0707] Gear 37 is a double gear in which gears 38 and 39 are arranged coaxially. The diameter of gear 39 is smaller than the diameter of gear 38. Also, in the first direction, gear 38 is positioned closer to the tape roll 41A than gear 39.

[0708] Gear 38 meshes with gear 34. Gear 38 is an external spur gear.

[0709] Gear 39 meshes with gear 31. Gear 39 is an external helical gear. The twist direction of the gear teeth of gear 39 is opposite to that of gear 31.

[0710] Gear 32 comprises gear 321, cam 323, and shaft 325. Gear 321 meshes with gear 38. Cam 323 extends from gear 321 to the other in a first direction. The first-direction end of cam 323 has multiple recesses. Shaft 325 extends from the center of gear 321 to the other in a first direction.

[0711] As shown in Figure 60, a portion of the gear 32, namely the cam 323 and the shaft 325, enters the second space S2 from the fourth space S4 through the opening 212H shown in Figure 54.

[0712] The second space S2 of the tape cassette 100E contains the tape roll 41A, the take-up spool 241, the outlet 17A, the outlet 17B, and the insertion port 55.

[0713] As shown in Figures 59 and 61, the tape roll 41A is located in the second space S2 at the other corner of the separation plate 21M in the second direction and at one corner in the third direction. A cam 36 is inserted inside the tape spool 47. A drive cam 67 is also inserted inside the tape spool 47. The drive cam 67 has a rotation axis L1 extending in the first direction. Therefore, the tape spool 47 is rotatable about the rotation axis L1.

[0714] As shown in Figures 59 and 60, the winding spool 241 is located in the second space S2, at the center in the second direction and at the other end of the third direction. Inside the winding spool 241 is the cam 323 of the gear 32. Inside the cam 323 is the holder 425. The shaft 237 is fitted into the holder 425.

[0715] Furthermore, the shaft 325 of the gear 32 is fitted inside the holder 425. The shaft 325 and the shaft 237 have a rotation axis L4 extending in the first direction. In other words, the winding spool 241 is rotatable about the rotation axis L4.

[0716] A clutch spring 425A is attached to the other end of the holder 425 in the first direction. The two arms of the clutch spring 425A are fitted into recesses in the cam 323. The clutch spring 425A can transmit the driving force from the rotation of the gear 321 to the winding spool 241.

[0717] The discharge port 17A is located at one end of the arm 25 in the second space S2. The discharge port 17A allows the ink ribbon 45 to be discharged from the second space S2.

[0718] The discharge port 17B is located at one end of the arm 25 in the second space S2. The discharge port 17B allows the tape 41 to be discharged from the second space S2.

[0719] Here, the discharge port 17A is located between the discharge port 17B and the ribbon roll 45A in the second direction. The discharge port 17A is located between the discharge port 17B and the winding spool 241 in the second direction.

[0720] The insertion opening 55 is located in the second space S2 at one corner in the second and third directions. The insertion opening 55 allows the ink ribbon 45 to be inserted into the second space S2.

[0721] Referring to Figure 57, the arrangement relationships between the members will be explained. In the following explanation, "overlapping members" means that, when viewed from one or the other direction, at least a portion of the members overlap. Conversely, "not overlapping members" means that, when viewed from one or the other direction, the members do not overlap. Neither state implies physical contact.

[0722] A portion of the ribbon roll 45A overlaps with a portion of the tape roll 41A in the first direction. The ribbon roll 45A does not overlap with the winding spool 241 in the first direction. The ribbon roll 45A does not overlap with the winding spool 241 or the tape roll 41A in the second and third directions.

[0723] In the first direction, the winding spool 241 does not overlap with the tape roll 41A or the ribbon roll 45A. In the first direction, one end of the winding spool 241 is separated from the other end of the ribbon roll 45A. In the second and third directions, the winding spool 241 does not overlap with the ribbon roll 45A. In the third direction, a portion of the winding spool 241 overlaps with a portion of the tape roll 41A.

[0724] A portion of gear 34 overlaps with a portion of ribbon roll 45A in the first direction. A portion of gear 34, namely gear 35, does not overlap with tape roll 41A, ribbon roll 45A, or winding spool 241 in the second and third directions. A portion of gear 34, namely cam 36, overlaps with winding spool 241 in the second and third directions.

[0725] In the first direction, a portion of gear 37 overlaps with a portion of tape roll 41A. In the first direction, a portion of gear 37 overlaps with a portion of ribbon roll 45A. In the second and third directions, gear 37 does not overlap with tape roll 41A, ribbon roll 45A, or winding spool 241.

[0726] A portion of gear 31 overlaps with the tape roll 41A in the first direction. A portion of gear 31 overlaps with a portion of the ribbon roll 45A. Gear 31 does not overlap with the winding spool 241 in the first direction. Gear 31 does not overlap with the tape roll 41A, the ribbon roll 45A, or the winding spool 241 in the second and third directions.

[0727] Gear 32 overlaps with the take-up spool 241 in the first direction. Gear 32 does not overlap with the tape roll 41A or the ribbon roll 45A in the first direction. A portion of gear 32, namely gear 321, does not overlap with the tape roll 41A, the ribbon roll 45A, or the take-up spool 241 in the second and third directions. A portion of gear 32, namely cam 323, overlaps with the take-up spool 241 or the tape roll 41A in the second and third directions.

[0728] Referring to Figures 62 to 65, the printing operation of printer 1 and tape cassette 100E will be described. The user installs tape cassette 100E into cassette mounting section 10. The print head 71 is positioned in the head opening 29 so as to overlap with the tape 41 and ink ribbon 45 in the second direction.

[0729] The shaft 66E of the drive shaft 63 is inserted into the cam 36 of the gear 34 housed in the fourth space S4. The platen roller 82 moves to a close position. As a result, the platen gear 83 meshes with the gear 31.

[0730] As shown in Figure 62, with the tape cassette 100E installed, the drive shaft 63's shaft 66E rotates the gear 34 together with the cam 36. The rotation of gear 34 causes gear 37 to rotate. The rotation of gear 37 causes gear 31 to rotate. The rotation of gear 31 causes the platen gear 83 to rotate. Therefore, the platen roller 82 rotates.

[0731] As shown in Figures 62 and 65, the rotation of the platen roller 82 causes the tape 41 to be unwound from the tape roll 41A in the second space S2. Simultaneously, in the first space S1, the rotation of the take-up spool 241 (described later) causes the ink ribbon 45 to be unwound from the ribbon roll 45A.

[0732] As shown in Figure 63, in the third space S3, the ink ribbon 45 is transported toward the shaft 222. After passing through the shaft 222, the ink ribbon 45 reaches the ribbon guide 229.

[0733] As shown in Figure 64, in the third space S3, the ink ribbon 45 is guided by the ribbon guide 229. The inclined surface 229A of the ribbon guide 229 changes the transport direction of the ink ribbon 45. The ink ribbon 45 is transported in the first direction and the other of the third direction. In other words, the ink ribbon 45 moves from the first space S1 to the second space S2.

[0734] The ink ribbon 45 reaches the ribbon guide 219 in the second space S2. The ink ribbon 45 is transported along the inclined surface 229A of the ribbon guide 219. The transport direction of the ink ribbon 45 is changed at the ribbon guide 219. The ribbon guide 219 transports the ink ribbon 45 toward one direction in the second space.

[0735] As shown in Figure 65, the ink ribbon 45 is transported in one of the second directions through the gap between plate 214 and plate 93. The ink ribbon 45 reaches the guide 97. The ink ribbon 45 is transported in one of the third directions through the gap between plate 94 and plate 213. The ink ribbon 45 is guided to the discharge port 17A by the end of plate 94. The ink ribbon 45 is discharged from the discharge port 17A to the outside of the housing 20, i.e., to the outside of the second space S2.

[0736] As shown in Figure 65, in the second space S2, the tape 41 is transported toward the tape guide 440 in the other direction of the second direction. After passing the tape guide 440, the tape 41 is transported toward the tape guide 441 in the other direction of the third direction. At this time, the tape 41 is transported along the plate 21B.

[0737] The tape guide 441 transports the tape 41 toward the tape guide 442 in one of the second directions. At this time, the tape 41 is transported through the gap between plate 21L and plate 93.

[0738] The tape 41 is guided to the discharge port 17B by the tape guide 442. At this time, the tape 41 is transported in one of the third directions through the gap between the plate 211 and the plate 94. The tape 41 is discharged from the discharge port 17B to the outside of the housing 20, that is, to the outside of the second space S2.

[0739] The tape 41 and ink ribbon 45 discharged from the discharge port 17 are transported to the head opening 29. At the head opening 29, the tape 41 is pressed against the print head 71 via the ink ribbon 45 by the platen roller 82. The print head 71 is selectively heated by the heating element 71A. As a result, some of the ink on the surface of the ink ribbon 45 is transferred to the tape 41, and characters, symbols, etc. are printed on the tape 41.

[0740] The printed tape 41 is guided by the guide 78 to the output path 9 of the printer 1. In other words, the tape 41 ejected from the output port 17B does not return to the inside of the housing 20.

[0741] Meanwhile, in the second space S2, the rotation of the gear 32 causes the cam 323 to rotate. Since a clutch spring 425A is positioned between the cam 323 and the holder 425, the holder 425 rotates. The winding spool 241 rotates together with the holder 425.

[0742] As the winding spool 241 rotates, the ink ribbon 45 after printing is transported toward the insertion port 55. Guided toward the insertion port 55, the ink ribbon 45 is transported again to the second space S2.

[0743] In the second space S2, the ink ribbon 45 is transported towards the winding spool 241 via guides 98 and 86. The ink ribbon 45 is then wound up on the winding spool 241.

[0744] Once printing is complete, the user detaches the printed tape 41 from the printer 1.

[0745] As explained above, the tape spool 47 is located inside the housing 20. The tape roll 41A is mounted on the tape spool 47. The ribbon spool 46 is located inside the housing 20. The ribbon roll 45A is mounted on the ribbon spool 46. The discharge port 17A is located in the second space S2. The discharge port 17A allows the ink ribbon 45 to be discharged. The insertion port 55 is located in the second space S2. The ink ribbon 45 is inserted into the insertion port 55. The ribbon guides 219 and 229 guide the movement of the ink ribbon 45 from the first space S1 to the second space S2. The ribbon guide 219 is located in the second space S2. The ribbon guide 229 is located in the first space S1. The ribbon spool 46 is located in the first space S1. The tape roll 41A and the tape spool 47 are located in the second space S2. The ink ribbon 45 is transported in the following order: ribbon roll 45A, ribbon guide 229, ribbon guide 219, discharge port 17A, insertion port 55, and winding spool 241. The tape cassette 100E can properly arrange each component.

[0746] The discharge port 17B is located in the second space S2. The discharge port 17B allows the tape 41 to be discharged to the outside of the housing 20. Tape guides 440 to 442 are located in the second space S2. Tape guides 440 to 442 guide the transport of the tape 41. The tape 41 is transported in the order of tape roll 41A, tape guides 440 to 442, and discharge port 17B. The tape cassette 100E can transport the tape 41 in the order of tape roll 41A, tape guides 440 to 442, and discharge port 17B.

[0747] The take-up spool 241 does not overlap with the ribbon roll 45A in the first direction, and does not overlap with the ribbon roll 45A in the second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The tape cassette 100E can be positioned with the take-up spool 241 and the ribbon roll 45A offset from each other.

[0748] The take-up spool 241 does not overlap with the tape roll 41A in the first direction, and does not overlap with the ribbon roll 45A in the second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The tape cassette 100E can be positioned with a staggered position relative to the take-up spool 241, the tape roll 41A, and the ribbon roll 45A.

[0749] The separation plate 22U divides the first space S1 into a third space S3 and a fourth space S4 in the first direction. The gear 30 is located in the fourth space S4. The tape cassette 100E can have the ribbon roll 45A placed in the third space S3 and the gear 30 placed in the fourth space S4.

[0750] The gear 30 includes a gear 31 that is partially exposed to the outside of the housing 20. The tape cassette 100E can expose the gear 31.

[0751] Gear 31 overlaps with ribbon roll 45A in the first direction. Tape cassette 100E can be positioned so that the positions of gear 31 and ribbon roll 45A overlap in the first direction.

[0752] Gear 30 includes a gear 32 that connects to the take-up spool 241. The tape cassette 100E can drive the take-up spool 241 with gear 32.

[0753] Gear 32 overlaps with the take-up spool 241 in the first direction. The tape cassette 100E can be arranged with gear 32 and the take-up spool 241 overlapping in the first direction.

[0754] Gear 30 includes gear 37 which is connected to gear 31. Tape cassette 100E can also accommodate gears 31, 32, and 37.

[0755] Gear 37 overlaps with ribbon roll 45A in the first direction. Tape cassette 100E can be arranged with gear 37 and ribbon roll 45A overlapping in the first direction.

[0756] Gear 37 overlaps with tape roll 41A in the first direction. Tape cassette 100E can be arranged with gear 37 and tape roll 41A overlapping in the first direction.

[0757] Gear 30 includes gear 34 to which the driving force is input. Tape cassette 100E can accommodate gear 34.

[0758] In the above description, the rotating axis L23 is an example of an "axis" in this disclosure. The separating plate 21M is an example of a "first separating plate" in this disclosure. The separating plate 22U is an example of a "second separating plate" in this disclosure. The surface of plate 24U is an example of a "first surface" in this disclosure. The surface of plate 23D is an example of a "second surface" in this disclosure.

[0759] Cases 21, 22, and 24 are examples of the “first case” of the present invention. Cases 21 and 23 are examples of the “second case” of this disclosure. Ribbon guide 219 is an example of the “first ribbon guide” of this disclosure. Ribbon guide 229 is an example of the “second ribbon guide” of this disclosure.

[0760] Outlet 17A is an example of a "first outlet". Outlet 17B is an example of a "second outlet". Insertion port 55 is an example of an "insertion port" of the present invention.

[0761] Gear 30 is an example of the "gear" of the present invention. Gear 31 is an example of the "first gear" of the present invention. Gear 32 is an example of the "second gear" of the present invention. Gear 37 is an example of the "third gear" of the present invention. Gear 34 is an example of the "fourth gear" of the present invention.

[0762] As explained above, in tape cassettes 100A and 100E, the ribbon roll 45A and the take-up spool 241 are spaced apart in the first direction. In tape cassettes 100A and 100E, the ribbon roll 45A and the take-up spool 241 can be positioned apart in the direction in which the rotation axis L23 of the ribbon roll 45A extends.

[0763] In the tape cassette 100B, the roll 411 and the take-up spool 241 are spaced apart in the first direction. The tape cassette 100B can be arranged with the roll 411 and the take-up spool 241 spaced apart in the direction in which the rotation axis L4 of the roll 411 extends.

[0764] In the tape cassette 100C, the ribbon roll 45A and the take-up spool 218 are spaced apart in the first direction. The tape cassette 100C can be configured such that the ribbon roll 45A and the take-up spool 218 are spaced apart in the direction in which the rotation axis L23 of the ribbon roll 45A extends.

[0765] In the tape cassette 100D, the roll 411 and the take-up spool 218 are spaced apart in the first direction. The tape cassette 100D can be configured such that the roll 411 and the take-up spool 218 are spaced apart in the direction in which the rotation axis L231 of the roll 411 extends.

[0766] In tape cassettes 100A and 100E, the ribbon roll 45A is located in the first space S1. The take-up spool 241 is located in the second space S2. Tape cassettes 100A, 100C, and 100E can have the ribbon roll 45A and the take-up spool 241 placed in different spaces. Therefore, in tape cassettes 100A and 100E, the ribbon roll 45A and the take-up spool 241 can be placed apart in the direction in which the rotation axis L23 of the ribbon roll 45A extends.

[0767] In the tape cassette 100C, the ribbon roll 45A is located in the first space S1. The take-up spool 218 is located in the second space S2. The tape cassette 100C can arrange the ribbon roll 45A and the take-up spool 218 in different spaces. Therefore, the tape cassette 100C can arrange the ribbon roll 45A and the take-up spool 218 apart in the direction in which the rotation axis L23 of the ribbon roll 45A extends.

[0768] In tape cassette 100B, the roll 411 is located in the first space S1. The take-up spool 241 is located in the second space S2. In tape cassette 100B, the roll 411 and the take-up spool 241 can be placed in different spaces. Therefore, in tape cassette 100B, the roll 411 and the take-up spool 241 can be placed apart in the direction in which the rotation axis L231 of the roll 411 extends.

[0769] In the tape cassette 100D, the roll 411 is located in the first space S1. The take-up spool 218 is located in the second space S2. The tape cassette 100D can have the roll 411 and the take-up spool 218 placed in different spaces. Therefore, the tape cassette 100D can have the roll 411 and the take-up spool 218 separated in the direction in which the rotation axis L231 of the roll 411 extends.

[0770] In tape cassettes 100A and 100B, plate 23D and plate 24U are spaced apart from each other in the first direction. The separation plate 22U is located between the surface of plate 23D and the surface of plate 24U in the first direction. The first space S1 is located between the surface of plate 23D and the separation plate 22U in the first direction. The second space S2 is located between the surface of plate 24U and the separation plate 22U in the first direction. Tape cassettes 100A and 100B can separate the first space S1 and the second space S2 in the first direction.

[0771] In tape cassettes 100A to 100E, the housing 20 further comprises a case 23 and a case 24. Cases 23 and 24 are separated from each other in the first direction. Case 23 has a plate surface 23D. Case 24 has a plate surface 24U. In tape cassettes 100A to 100E, space can be defined by the plate surface 23D of case 23 and the plate surface 24D of case 24.

[0772] In tape cassettes 100A to 100D, the tape roll 41A is located in the first space S1. Tape cassettes 100A to 100D can accommodate the tape roll 41A in the first space S1.

[0773] In tape cassette 100E, the tape roll 41A is located in the second space S2. Tape cassette 100E can also accommodate the tape 41 in the second space S2.

[0774] In tape cassettes 100A to 100E, the output port 17A allows the ink ribbon 45 to be discharged to the outside of the housing 20. Tape cassettes 100A to 100E can discharge the ink ribbon 45 from the output port 17A.

[0775] In tape cassettes 100A to 100E, the discharge port 17A is part of the housing 20 that defines the opening. Tape cassettes 100A to 100E can discharge the ink ribbon 45 using part of the housing 20.

[0776] In tape cassettes 100A and 100B, the output port 17A is located in the first space S1. The output port 17A allows the ink ribbon 45 to be discharged to the outside of the housing 20. Tape cassettes 100A and 100B can discharge the ink ribbon 45 from the first space S1.

[0777] In tape cassettes 100C to 100E, the output port 17A is located in the second space S2. The output port 17A allows the ink ribbon 45 to be discharged to the outside of the housing 20. Tape cassettes 100C to 100E can discharge the ink ribbon 45 from the second space S2.

[0778] In tape cassettes 100A to 100E, the output port 17B is different from the output port 17A. The output port 17B allows the tape 41 to be discharged to the outside of the housing 20. Tape cassettes 100A to 100E can discharge the tape 41 from the output port 17B separately from the ink ribbon 45.

[0779] In tape cassettes 100A, 100C, and 100E, the discharge port 17A is located between the discharge port 17B and the ribbon roll 45A in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. Tape cassettes 100A, 100C, and 100E allow for the appropriate positioning of each component.

[0780] In tape cassettes 100D and 100E, the discharge port 17A is located between the discharge port 17B and the take-up spool 241 in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. In tape cassettes 100D and 100E, the discharge port 17A can be located between the discharge port 17B and the ribbon roll 45A.

[0781] In the tape cassette 100D shown in Figure 41, the output port 17B discharges the tape 41 to the outside of the housing 20 in addition to the ink ribbon 45. Tape cassettes 100A to 100E do not need to have a separate output port 17A for the tape 41.

[0782] In tape cassettes 100B and 100D, the tape 41 and ink ribbon 45 are wound in a roll with the tape overlapping each other and rotate around an axis. The ribbon roll 45A and tape roll 41A are a single roll 411. Tape cassettes 100B and 100D can accommodate the tape 41 and ink ribbon 45 wound in an overlapping state.

[0783] In tape cassettes 100A, 100B, and 100E, the tape spool 47 is located inside the housing 20 and the tape roll 41A is mounted on it. The ribbon spool 46 is located inside the housing 20 and the ribbon roll 45A is mounted on it. Tape cassettes 100A, 100B, and 100E can accommodate separate tape rolls 41A and ribbon rolls 45A.

[0784] In tape cassettes 100A and 100E, the ribbon spool 46 and the take-up spool 241 are spaced apart in the first direction.

[0785] In the tape cassette 100B, the spool 471 and the take-up spool 241 are spaced apart in the first direction. The tape cassette 100B can be arranged with the spool 471 and the take-up spool 241 separated in the first direction.

[0786] In the tape cassette 100C, the ribbon spool 46 and the take-up spool 218 are spaced apart in the first direction. The tape cassette 100C can be configured so that the ribbon spool 46 and the take-up spool 218 are spaced apart in the first direction.

[0787] In the tape cassette 100D, the spool 471 and the take-up spool 218 are spaced apart in the first direction. The tape cassette 100D can be arranged with the spool 471 and the take-up spool 218 separated in the first direction.

[0788] In tape cassettes 100A to 100E, ribbon guides 219 and 229 guide the ink ribbon 45 from the first space S1 to the second space S2. The ink ribbon 45 is transported from the first space S1 to the second space S2 in the order of ribbon roll 45A or roll 411, ribbon guides 219 and 229, and take-up spool 241. Tape cassettes 100A to 100E can be transported stably from the first space S1 to the second space S2 by ribbon guides 219 and 229.

[0789] In tape cassettes 100A and 100B, the ribbon guide 219 is located in the first space S1. The ribbon guide 229 is located in the second space S2. Tape cassettes 100A and 100B can stably transport the ink ribbon 45 through each space using the ribbon guides 219 and 229.

[0790] In tape cassettes 100A and 100B, the discharge port 17A is located in the first space S1 and allows the ink ribbon 45 to be discharged to the outside of the housing 20. The insertion port 55 is located in the first space S1 and allows the ink ribbon 45 to be inserted into the inside of the housing 20. The ink ribbon 45 is transported in the following order: ribbon roll 45A or roll 411, discharge port 17A, insertion port 55, ribbon guides 219, 229, and take-up spool 241. Tape cassettes 100A and 100B can ensure a transport path for the ink ribbon 45.

[0791] In tape cassettes 100C to 100E, the discharge port 17A is located in the second space S2 and allows the ink ribbon 45 to be discharged to the outside of the housing 20. The insertion port 55 is located in the second space S2 and allows the ink ribbon 45 to be inserted into the inside of the housing 20. The ink ribbon 45 is transported in the following order: ribbon roll 45A, ribbon guides 229, 219, discharge port 17A, insertion port 55, and take-up spool 241. Tape cassettes 100C to 100E can stably transport the ink ribbon 45 before printing.

[0792] In tape cassettes 100A and 100B, the separator plate 21M divides the first space S1 into a third space S3 and a fourth space S4 in the first direction. The separator plate 21M is located between the third space S3 and the fourth space S4 in the first direction. The ribbon roll 45A is located in the third space S3. In tape cassettes 100A and 100B, the ribbon roll 45A can be placed in the third space S3.

[0793] In tape cassettes 100A and 100B, the separator plate 21M divides the first space S1 into a third space S3 and a fourth space S4 in the first direction. The third space S3 is located between the case 23 and the separator plate 21M in the first direction. The fourth space S4 is located between the separator plate 22U and the separator plate 21M in the first direction. In tape cassettes 100A and 100B, the third space S3 can be defined by the case 23 and the separator plate 21M. In addition, in tape cassettes 100A to 100E, the fourth space S4 can be defined by the separator plate 22U and the separator plate 21M.

[0794] In tape cassettes 100A to 100E, gear 30 is located in the fourth space S4. In tape cassettes 100A to 100E, gear 30 can be positioned in the fourth space S4.

[0795] Tape cassettes 100C and 100D have three gears 31, 34, and 37. Tape cassettes 100C and 100D can accommodate the three gears 31, 34, and 37.

[0796] Tape cassettes 100A, 100B, and 100E have four gears 31, 32, 34, and 37. Tape cassettes 100A, 100B, and 100E can accommodate the four gears 31, 32, 34, and 37.

[0797] In tape cassettes 100A to 100E, gear 30 includes gear 31, which is partially exposed to the outside of the housing 20. In tape cassettes 100A to 100E, gear 31 can be exposed.

[0798] In tape cassettes 100A, 100B, and 100E, gear 30 includes gear 32 connected to the take-up spool 241. In tape cassettes 100A, 100B, and 100E, the take-up spool 241 can be driven by gear 32.

[0799] Furthermore, the disclosures of tape cassettes 100A to 100E described above may be applied to each tape cassette 100A to 100E to the extent that they do not contradict each other. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0800] 100A to 100E: Tape cassette, 16: Opening, 20: Housing, 22U, 21M: Separator plate, 25: Arm, 30, 31, 32, 34, 37: Gear, 36: Cam, 41: Tape, 41A: Tape roll, 45: Ink ribbon, 45A: Ribbon roll, 46: Ribbon spool, 47: Tape spool, S1, S2, S3, S4: Space

Claims

1. The casing and Located inside the aforementioned housing is a tape roll on which tape is wound, Located inside the aforementioned housing, rotatable about an axis extending in a first direction, and comprising a ribbon roll around which an ink ribbon is wound, Located inside the housing, the winding spool for winding the ink ribbon, Equipped with, A tape cassette characterized in that, in the first direction, the ribbon roll and the take-up spool are spaced apart.

2. The housing further includes a first separation plate that divides the internal space of the housing into a first space and a second space in the first direction. The first separation plate is located between the first space and the second space in the first direction. The ribbon roll is located in the first space, The tape cassette according to claim 1, characterized in that the winding spool is located in the second space.

3. The housing further has a first surface and a second surface that are spaced apart from each other in the first direction, The first separation plate is located between the first surface and the second surface in the first direction. The first space is located between the first surface and the first separation plate in the first direction. The tape cassette according to claim 2, characterized in that the second space is located between the second surface and the first separation plate in the first direction.

4. The housing further comprises a first case and a second case that are separated from each other in the first direction, The first case has the first surface, The tape cassette according to claim 3, characterized in that the second case has the second surface.

5. The tape cassette according to claim 2, characterized in that the tape roll is located in the first space.

6. The tape cassette according to claim 2, characterized in that the tape roll is located in the second space.

7. The tape cassette according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the housing further has a first discharge port that allows the ink ribbon to be discharged to the outside of the housing.

8. The tape cassette according to claim 7, characterized in that the first discharge port is a part of the housing that defines the opening.

9. The tape cassette according to claim 2, wherein the housing further has a first discharge port located in the first space, which allows the ink ribbon to be discharged to the outside of the housing.

10. The tape cassette according to claim 2, wherein the housing further has a first discharge port located in the second space, which allows the ink ribbon to be discharged to the outside of the housing.

11. The tape cassette according to claim 7, wherein the housing further has a second discharge port, which is different from the first discharge port, and which allows the tape to be discharged to the outside of the housing.

12. The tape cassette according to claim 11, characterized in that the first discharge port is located between the second discharge port and the ribbon roll in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

13. The tape cassette according to claim 11, characterized in that the first discharge port is located between the second discharge port and the take-up spool in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

14. The tape cassette according to claim 7, characterized in that the first discharge port further discharges the tape to the outside of the housing.

15. The tape and the ink ribbon are wound in a roll shape with the tape and ink ribbon overlapping each other, and rotate around the axis. The tape cassette according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the ribbon roll and the tape roll are a single roll.

16. A tape spool located inside the housing on which the tape roll is mounted, Located inside the housing, the ribbon spool on which the ribbon roll is mounted and A tape cassette according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by comprising the following features.

17. The tape cassette according to claim 16, characterized in that, in the first direction, the ribbon spool and the take-up spool are spaced apart.

18. The housing has a ribbon guide that guides the ink ribbon from the first space to the second space, The tape cassette according to claim 2, characterized in that the ink ribbon is transported from the first space to the second space in the order of the ribbon roll, the ribbon guide, and the winding spool.

19. The aforementioned ribbon guide is The first ribbon guide located in the first space, The second ribbon guide located in the second space and The tape cassette according to claim 18, characterized by having the following features.

20. The aforementioned enclosure is A first discharge port located in the first space, which allows the ink ribbon to be discharged to the outside of the housing, An insertion opening located in the first space, which allows the ink ribbon to be inserted into the interior of the housing, It further possesses, The tape cassette according to claim 18, characterized in that the ink ribbon is conveyed in the order of the ribbon roll, the first discharge port, the insertion port, the ribbon guide, and the winding spool.

21. The aforementioned enclosure is A first discharge port located in the second space, which allows the ink ribbon to be discharged to the outside of the housing, An insertion opening located in the second space, which allows the ink ribbon to be inserted into the interior of the housing, It further possesses, The ink ribbon is transported in the following order: the ribbon roll, the ribbon guide, the first discharge port, the insertion port, and the winding spool. The tape cassette according to feature 18.

22. The housing further includes a second separation plate that divides the first space into a third space and a fourth space in the first direction. The second separation plate is located between the third space and the fourth space in the first direction. The tape cassette according to claim 2, characterized in that the ribbon roll is located in the third space.

23. The housing further includes a second separation plate that divides the first space into a third space and a fourth space in the first direction. The third space is located between the first case and the second separation plate in the first direction. The tape cassette according to claim 4, characterized in that the fourth space is located between the first separation plate and the second separation plate in the first direction.

24. The tape cassette according to claim 22, characterized by comprising a gear located in the fourth space.

25. The tape cassette according to claim 24, characterized in that the gear has three parts.

26. The tape cassette according to claim 24, characterized in that the gear has four parts.

27. The tape cassette according to claim 24, characterized in that the gear includes a first gear, a portion of which is exposed to the outside of the housing.

28. The tape cassette according to claim 24, characterized in that the gear includes a second gear connected to the winding spool.

29. A tape spool located inside the housing on which the tape roll is mounted, The housing further comprises a ribbon spool located inside the housing and on which the ribbon roll is mounted, The aforementioned enclosure is A first discharge port located in the first space, which allows the ink ribbon to be discharged to the outside of the housing, An insertion opening located in the first space, wherein the ink ribbon is inserted into the insertion opening, A first ribbon guide located in the first space and guiding the movement of the ink ribbon from the first space to the second space, A second ribbon guide is located in the second space and guides the movement of the ink ribbon from the first space to the second space, It further possesses, In the first direction, the ribbon spool and the winding spool are separated by a gap. The ribbon spool, the tape roll, and the tape spool are located in the first space, The ink ribbon is transported in the following order: the ribbon roll, the first discharge port, the insertion port, the first ribbon guide, the second ribbon guide, and the winding spool. The tape cassette according to claim 2, characterized in that it does so.

30. The aforementioned enclosure is A second discharge port located in the first space, which allows the tape to be discharged to the outside of the housing, A tape guide located in the first space, further comprising a tape guide that guides the transport of the tape, The tape cassette according to claim 29, characterized in that the tape is conveyed in the order of the tape roll, the tape guide, and the second discharge port.

31. The tape cassette according to claim 29, characterized in that the winding spool does not overlap the ribbon roll in the first direction and does not overlap the ribbon roll in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

32. The tape cassette according to claim 29, characterized in that the winding spool does not overlap with the tape roll in the first direction and does not overlap with the ribbon roll in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

33. The housing further includes a second separation plate that divides the first space into a third space and a fourth space in the first direction. The ribbon roll is located in the third space, The tape cassette according to claim 29, characterized by comprising a gear located in the fourth space.

34. The tape cassette according to claim 33, characterized in that the gear includes a first gear, a portion of which is exposed to the outside of the housing.

35. The tape cassette according to claim 34, characterized in that the first gear overlaps with the ribbon roll in the first direction.

36. The tape cassette according to claim 34, characterized in that the gear includes a second gear connected to the winding spool.

37. The tape cassette according to claim 36, characterized in that the second gear overlaps with the winding spool in the first direction.

38. The tape cassette according to claim 36, characterized in that the gear includes a third gear connected to the first gear.

39. The tape cassette according to claim 38, characterized in that the third gear overlaps with the ribbon roll in the first direction.

40. The tape cassette according to claim 39, characterized in that the third gear overlaps with the tape roll in the first direction.

41. The tape cassette according to claim 38, characterized in that the gear includes a fourth gear to which driving force is input.

42. The aforementioned enclosure is A first discharge port located in the first space, which allows the ink ribbon to be discharged to the outside of the housing, An insertion opening located in the first space, wherein the ink ribbon is inserted into the insertion opening, A first ribbon guide located in the first space and guiding the movement of the ink ribbon from the first space to the second space, A second ribbon guide is located in the second space and guides the movement of the ink ribbon from the first space to the second space, It further possesses, The tape and the ink ribbon are wound in a roll shape with the tape and ink ribbon overlapping each other, and rotate around the axis. The ribbon roll and the tape roll are both rolls located in the first space. The tape cassette according to claim 2, characterized in that the ink ribbon is conveyed in the order of the roll, the first discharge port, the insertion port, the first ribbon guide, the second ribbon guide, and the winding spool.

43. The aforementioned enclosure is A second discharge port located in the first space, which allows the tape to be discharged to the outside of the housing, A tape guide located in the first space, further comprising a tape guide that guides the transport of the tape, The tape cassette according to claim 42, characterized in that the tape is conveyed in the order of the roll, the tape guide, and the second discharge port.

44. The tape cassette according to claim 42, characterized in that the winding spool does not overlap with the roll in the first direction and does not overlap with the roll in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

45. The housing further includes a second separation plate that divides the first space into a third space and a fourth space in the first direction. The aforementioned roll is located in the third area, The tape cassette according to claim 42, characterized by comprising a gear located in the fourth space.

46. The tape cassette according to claim 45, characterized in that the gear includes a first gear, a portion of which is exposed to the outside of the housing.

47. The tape cassette according to claim 46, characterized in that the first gear does not overlap with the roll in the first direction.

48. The tape cassette according to claim 47, characterized in that the gear includes a second gear connected to the winding spool.

49. The tape cassette according to claim 48, characterized in that the second gear overlaps with the winding spool in the first direction.

50. The tape cassette according to claim 49, characterized in that the gear includes a third gear connected to the first gear.

51. The tape cassette according to claim 50, characterized in that the third gear overlaps with the roll in the first direction.

52. The tape cassette according to claim 50, characterized in that the gear includes a fourth gear to which driving force is input.

53. A tape spool located inside the housing on which the tape roll is mounted, The housing further comprises a ribbon spool located inside the housing and on which the ribbon roll is mounted, The aforementioned enclosure is A first discharge port located in the second space, which allows the ink ribbon to be discharged to the outside of the housing, An insertion opening located in the second space, wherein the ink ribbon is inserted into the insertion opening, A first ribbon guide located in the first space and guiding the movement of the ink ribbon from the first space to the second space, The system further comprises a second ribbon guide located in the second space, In the first direction, the ribbon spool and the winding spool are separated by a gap. The ribbon spool, the tape roll, and the tape spool are located in the first space, The tape cassette according to claim 2, characterized in that the ink ribbon is conveyed in the following order: the ribbon roll, the second ribbon guide, the first ribbon guide, the first discharge port, the insertion port, and the winding spool.

54. The tape cassette according to claim 53, further comprising a roller located in the first space, wherein the ink ribbon unwound from the ribbon roll and the tape unwound from the tape roll are superimposed on the roller.

55. The aforementioned enclosure is A second discharge port located in the second space, which allows the tape to be discharged to the outside of the housing, A tape guide located in the second space, further comprising a tape guide that guides the transport of the tape, The tape cassette according to claim 53, characterized in that the tape is conveyed in the order of the tape roll, the second ribbon guide, the first ribbon guide, the tape guide, and the second discharge port.

56. The tape cassette according to claim 53, characterized in that the winding spool overlaps the ribbon roll in the first direction and does not overlap the ribbon roll in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

57. The tape cassette according to claim 53, characterized in that the winding spool does not overlap with the tape roll in the first direction and does not overlap with the tape roll in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

58. The tape cassette according to claim 53, characterized in that the winding spool overlaps the ribbon roll in the first direction and does not overlap the tape roll in the first direction.

59. The housing further includes a second separation plate that divides the first space into a third space and a fourth space in the first direction. The ribbon roll and the tape roll are located in the third space, The tape cassette according to claim 53, characterized by comprising a gear located in the fourth space.

60. The tape cassette according to claim 59, characterized in that the gear includes a first gear, a portion of which is exposed to the outside of the housing.

61. The tape cassette according to claim 60, characterized in that the first gear does not overlap with the ribbon roll in the first direction.

62. The tape cassette according to claim 60, characterized in that the gear includes a second gear connected to the first gear.

63. The tape cassette according to claim 62, characterized in that the second gear overlaps with the ribbon roll in the first direction.

64. The tape cassette according to 62, characterized in that the second gear overlaps with the tape roll in the first direction.

65. The tape cassette according to claim 62, characterized in that the gear includes a third gear to which driving force is input.

66. The aforementioned enclosure is A first discharge port located in the second space, which allows the ink ribbon to be discharged to the outside of the housing, An insertion opening located in the second space, wherein the ink ribbon is inserted into the insertion opening, A first ribbon guide is located in the second space and guides the movement of the ink ribbon from the first space to the second space, The present invention further includes a second ribbon guide located in the first space and guiding the movement of the ink ribbon from the first space to the second space, The tape and the ink ribbon are wound in a roll shape with the tape and ink ribbon overlapping each other, and rotate around the axis. The tape roll and the ribbon roll are a single roll located in the first space, The ink ribbon is transported in the following order: the roll, the second ribbon guide, the first ribbon guide, the first discharge port, the insertion port, and the winding spool. The tape cassette according to feature 3.

67. The housing further includes a tape guide located in the second space, which guides the transport of the tape and the ink ribbon. The first discharge port allows the tape to be discharged to the outside of the housing together with the ink ribbon. The tape cassette according to 66, characterized in that the tape is conveyed in the order of the roll, the first ribbon guide, the second ribbon guide, the tape guide, and the first discharge port.

68. The tape cassette according to 66, characterized in that the winding spool overlaps with the roll in the first direction and does not overlap with the roll in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

69. The housing further includes a second separation plate that divides the first space into a third space and a fourth space in the first direction. The aforementioned roll is located in the third area, The tape cassette according to claim 66, characterized by comprising a gear located in the fourth space.

70. The tape cassette according to claim 69, characterized in that the gear includes a first gear, a portion of which is exposed to the outside of the housing.

71. The tape cassette according to claim 70, characterized in that the first gear overlaps with the roll in the first direction.

72. The tape cassette according to claim 70, characterized in that the gear includes a second gear connected to the first gear.

73. The tape cassette according to claim 72, characterized in that the second gear overlaps with the roll in the first direction.

74. The tape cassette according to claim 70, characterized in that the gear includes a third gear to which driving force is input.

75. A tape spool located inside the housing on which the tape roll is mounted, The housing further comprises a ribbon spool located inside the housing and on which the ribbon roll is mounted, The aforementioned enclosure is A first discharge port located in the second space, which allows the discharge of the ink ribbon, An insertion opening located in the second space, wherein the ink ribbon is inserted into the insertion opening, A first ribbon guide is located in the second space and guides the movement of the ink ribbon from the first space to the second space, The present invention further includes a second ribbon guide located in the first space and guiding the movement of the ink ribbon from the first space to the second space, The ribbon spool is located in the first space, The tape roll and the tape spool are located in the second space, The ink ribbon is transported in the following order: the ribbon roll, the second ribbon guide, the first ribbon guide, the first discharge port, the insertion port, and the winding spool. The tape cassette according to feature 2.

76. The aforementioned enclosure is A second discharge port located in the second space, which allows the tape to be discharged to the outside of the housing, A tape guide located in the second space, further comprising a tape guide that guides the transport of the tape, The tape cassette according to claim 75, characterized in that the tape is conveyed in the order of the tape roll, the tape guide, and the second discharge port.

77. The tape cassette according to claim 75, characterized in that the winding spool does not overlap the ribbon roll in the first direction and does not overlap the ribbon roll in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

78. The tape cassette according to claim 75, characterized in that the winding spool does not overlap with the tape roll in the first direction and does not overlap with the ribbon roll in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

79. The housing further includes a second separation plate that divides the first space into a third space and a fourth space in the first direction. The tape cassette according to claim 75, characterized by comprising a gear located in the fourth space.

80. The tape cassette according to claim 79, characterized in that the gear includes a first gear, a portion of which is exposed to the outside of the housing.

81. The tape cassette according to claim 80, characterized in that the first gear overlaps with the ribbon roll in the first direction.

82. The tape cassette according to claim 80, characterized in that the gear includes a second gear connected to the winding spool.

83. The tape cassette according to claim 82, characterized in that the second gear overlaps with the winding spool in the first direction.

84. The tape cassette according to claim 82, characterized in that the gear includes a third gear connected to the first gear.

85. The tape cassette according to claim 84, characterized in that the third gear overlaps with the ribbon roll in the first direction.

86. The tape cassette according to 84, characterized in that the third gear overlaps with the tape roll in the first direction.

87. The tape cassette according to claim 79, characterized in that the gear includes a fourth gear to which driving force is input.

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