Printing cassette and printing device

Abstract

To provide a printing cassette capable of suppressing looseness of its case.SOLUTION: Provided is a printing cassette comprising: a case having a first case part and a second case part that are connected to each other; a tape which is at least in part stored in the case and used for printing; and a label on which an RFID tag with an antenna is disposed. The label is stuck across the first case part and the second case part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a printing cassette and a printing device. [Background technology]

[0002] In a printing device that prints on a printing tape, a cassette that contains the printing tape is attached to and detached from the main body of the printing device to replace and supply the printing tape. The case of the cassette that contains the printing tape is generally composed of a combination of multiple parts.

[0003] Moreover, an RFID tag for identifying the cassette is placed on the case (see Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-25889 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the case of the cassette described above, any looseness between the connected parts may affect the drawing out of the printing tape, which may result in a deterioration in the print quality of the printing device.

[0006] An object of one aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a printing cassette capable of suppressing rattling of the case. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] One aspect of the present disclosure is a printing cassette including a case having a first case part and a second case part connected to each other, a tape at least a part of which is housed in the case and used for printing, and a label on which an RFID tag having an antenna is disposed. The label is affixed across the first case part and the second case part.

[0008] Another aspect of the present disclosure is a printing device including a printing cassette and a printing device main body into which the printing cassette is attached.

[0009] With this configuration, the label on which the RFID tag is placed can suppress rattling between the first case part and the second case part. Also, the label for attaching the RFID tag to the case also serves as a part for suppressing rattling, so that an increase in the number of parts in the printing cassette can be suppressed.

[0010] Another aspect of the present disclosure is a printing cassette including a case, a tape at least a portion of which is housed in the case and used for printing, an output gear at least a portion of which is housed in the case and used for outputting a driving force for feeding the tape, and a label on which an RFID tag having an antenna is disposed and which is attached to the case. The label overlaps with the output gear in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the output gear.

[0011] With this configuration, the surface of the case on which the label with the RFID tag is attached can be made smaller, which allows the printing cassette to be made more compact. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 1A is a schematic perspective view showing a printing apparatus in an embodiment, and FIG. 1B is a schematic perspective view showing a main body of the printing apparatus in FIG. 1A. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. 1A. [Diagram 3] 3A, 3B and 3C are schematic perspective views of the printing cassette of FIG. 1A. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the printing cassette of FIG. 3A. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. 3C. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view showing the printing cassette of FIG. 3C with the first lid portion removed. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram for explaining the paths of the printing tape and the ink ribbon in the printing cassette of FIG. 3A. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view of the second frame portion in FIG. [Figure 9] 9A is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line IXA-IXA in FIG. 3C, FIG. 9B is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line IXB-IXB in FIG. 3C, FIG. 9C is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line IXC-IXC in FIG. 3C, and FIG. 9D is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line IXD-IXD in FIG. 3C. [Figure 10] 10A, 10B and 10C are schematic diagrams showing the position of the label in the printing cassette of FIG. 3A. [Figure 11] 11A, 11B and 11C are schematic diagrams showing the label of FIG. 10A. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing an engagement state between the output gear and the platen gear in the printing device of FIG. 1A. [Figure 13] 13A and 13B are schematic perspective views showing a state in which a printing cassette is removed from a printing device main body in a printing device in an embodiment different from that in FIG. 1A. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the printing cassette of FIG. 13A. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a schematic plan view of the printing apparatus body of FIG. 13A. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing an engagement state between the output gear and the platen gear in the printing device of FIG. 13A. [Figure 17] 17A and 17B are schematic diagrams showing the position of the label in an embodiment different from that of FIG. 10A. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] [1. First embodiment] [1-1. Configuration] 1A includes a printing cassette 10 and a printing device main body 100. The printing device 1 is a device that prints on a tape-like printing medium.

[0014] In this embodiment, the axial direction of the output gear 21 is defined as the up-down direction, the direction perpendicular to the up-down direction in which the output gear 21 and the input spool 16 are aligned is defined as the front-to-rear direction, and the direction perpendicular to both the up-down direction and the front-to-rear direction is defined as the left-to-right direction.

[0015] <Printing device body> As shown in FIG. 1B, the printing apparatus main body 100 includes a cassette storage section 101, a print head 102, a platen roller 103, a platen gear 104, a drive shaft 105, a drive source 107, a detection section 108, a control unit 109, and a housing 110.

[0016] (Cassette storage section) The cassette storage section 101 is a recess in which the printing cassette 10 is attached. The cassette storage section 101 has a function of positioning the printing cassette 10. The cassette storage section 101 is provided in a housing 110.

[0017] (Print head) The print head 102 is disposed inside the cassette storage unit 101. The print head 102 has a plurality of heat generating elements whose heat generation is individually controlled.

[0018] (Platen roller) The platen roller 103 is disposed inside the cassette storage unit 101 near the print head 102 so as to face the print head 102. The platen roller 103 can swing toward or away from the print head 102. The rotation axis L1 of the platen roller 103 is parallel to the up-down direction.

[0019] (Platen gear) The platen gear 104 is connected to the platen roller 103. In this embodiment, a rotation axis L2 of the platen gear 104 is disposed on the same line as a rotation axis L1 of the platen roller 103. The platen gear 104 is capable of swinging together with the platen roller 103.

[0020] (Drive shaft) The drive shaft 105 is inserted into the input spool 16 and the input gear 22 of the printing cassette 10. The drive shaft 105 rotates the input spool 16 and the input gear 22.

[0021] The drive shaft 105 is disposed inside the cassette storage unit 101. The rotation axis L3 of the drive shaft 105 is parallel to the vertical direction. The drive shaft 105 is rotated by a drive source 107 about the rotation axis L3.

[0022] (Drive source) The driving source 107 rotates the drive shaft 105. As the driving source 107, for example, a mechanism combining a motor and a gear can be used.

[0023] (Detection unit) The detection unit 108 detects the identification information given to the printing cassette 10 from the printing cassette 10 .

[0024] Specifically, the detection unit 108 is a reader that reads identification information from an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tag of the printing cassette 10 by wireless communication. As shown in Fig. 2, the detection unit 108 is disposed in close proximity to the printing cassette 10 attached to the printing device main body 100.

[0025] (Control Unit) The control unit 109 controls printing on the print tape 11A based on the identification information detected by the detection unit .

[0026] The control unit 109 is configured by, for example, a computer including a processor, storage media such as RAM and ROM, and an input / output unit. The control unit 109 controls the print head 102 and the drive source 107 by executing a program stored in advance.

[0027] <Printing cassette> The printing cassette 10 stores a printing medium (i.e., printing tape 11A). The printing cassette 10 is detachable from the printing device main body 100. By replacing the printing cassette 10, it is possible to replenish printing media and change the type of printing medium (e.g., size, color, material, etc.).

[0028] As shown in Figures 3A, 3B, and 3C, the printing cassette 10 includes a case 35 that houses at least a portion of the printing tape 11A to be printed and at least a portion of the ink ribbon 14A, and a label 51 affixed to the case 35.

[0029] The outer shape of the printing cassette 10 (i.e., the shape of the case 35) is a rectangular parallelepiped with sides parallel to the up-down direction, sides parallel to the front-rear direction, and sides parallel to the left-right direction. The case 35 is inserted downward into the cassette storage section 101. The case 35 has a first lid section 31 (an example of a third case section), a first frame section 32 (an example of a first case section), a second frame section 33 (an example of a second case section), and a second lid section 34.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 4, the printing cassette 10 comprises a first roll 11, a first supply spool 12, spacer films 13A, 13B, a second roll 14, a second supply spool 15, an input spool 16, a clutch spring holder 17, and a transmission mechanism 20.

[0031] (1st roll) The first roll 11 is formed by winding a printing tape 11A on which printing is to be performed around a first supply spool 12. Printing is performed on the surface of the printing tape 11A by a print head 102 of the printer main body 100 and an ink ribbon 14A.

[0032] Two spacer films 13A and 13B are disposed on the outer sides of the first roll 11 in the vertical direction so as to sandwich the first roll 11. The spacer films 13A and 13B are disposed between the first roll 11 and the first lid portion 31 and between the first roll 11 and the first frame portion 32.

[0033] (1st supply spool) The first supply spool 12 is rotatable about a rotation axis L4. The first supply spool 12 rotates in association with the transport of the printing tape 11A by the platen roller 103 of the printing apparatus main body 100, thereby supplying the printing tape 11A to the print head 102. The rotation axis L4 of the first supply spool 12 is parallel to the up-down direction.

[0034] (2nd roll) The second roll 14 is formed by winding an ink ribbon 14A used for printing on the printing tape 11A around a second supply spool 15.

[0035] The ink ribbon 14A is superimposed on the printing tape 11A at the head opening 33B, and is used for printing by the print head 102. The ink ribbon 14A used for printing is taken up onto the input spool 16.

[0036] A rotational resistance is applied to the second roll 14 by a clutch spring held by a clutch spring holder 17. At least a portion of the second roll 14 is disposed at a position overlapping with the first roll 11 in the vertical direction.

[0037] (2nd supply spool) The second supply spool 15 is rotatable about a rotation axis L5. The rotation axis L5 of the second supply spool 15 is parallel to the rotation axis L4 of the first supply spool 12, that is, parallel to the up-down direction. The second supply spool 15 rotates in association with the winding of the ink ribbon 14A by the input spool 16, thereby supplying the ink ribbon 14A to the print head 102.

[0038] (Input spool) The input spool 16 is rotatable about a rotation axis L6. The rotation axis L6 of the input spool 16 is parallel to the rotation axis L5 of the second supply spool 15.

[0039] The input spool 16 is cylindrical and has a hollow portion defined by an inner circumferential surface 16A. The inner circumferential surface 16A of the input spool 16 is provided with spline teeth 16B. A drive shaft 105 of the printing device main body 100 is connected to the spline teeth 16B. The input spool 16 is rotated by the drive shaft 105 and takes up the ink ribbon 14A.

[0040] (Transmission mechanism) When the printing cassette 10 is attached to the printing device main body 100, the transmission mechanism 20 transmits the driving force of the drive source 107, transmitted from the drive shaft 105, to the platen roller 103, and rotates the platen roller 103 at a rotational speed set for each printing cassette 10. The transmission mechanism 20 has an output gear 21, an input gear 22, and an idle gear 23.

[0041] 5, the first roll 11, the transmission mechanism 20, and the second roll 14 are arranged in the vertical direction in the order of the first roll 11, the transmission mechanism 20, and the second roll 14. In other words, the transmission mechanism 20 is located between the first roll 11 and the second roll 14 in the vertical direction.

[0042] (Output gear) 4 is an externally toothed gear for outputting the driving force used to transport the print tape 11A to the outside. Specifically, the output gear 21 outputs the driving force to the platen gear 104 of the printing apparatus main body 100.

[0043] Output gear 21 is a single gear having a first side and a second side perpendicular to rotation axis L7. Rotation axis L7 of output gear 21 is parallel to rotation axis L5 of second supply spool 15. In addition, in a direction parallel to rotation axis L5 of second supply spool 15 (i.e., the vertical direction), the first side is disposed closer to first roll 11 than the second side. The entire area of ​​the first side overlaps with cover portion 32B in the vertical direction.

[0044] A portion of the output gear 21 is housed in the case 35 and a portion of the output gear 21 is exposed to the head opening 33B. When the printing cassette 10 is attached to the printing device main body 100 (i.e., when the case 35 is housed in the cassette storage section 101), the output gear 21 engages with the platen gear 104 at the head opening 33B.

[0045] (Input gear) The input gear 22 is a gear that indirectly engages with the output gear 21 via an idle gear 23 and transmits driving force to the output gear 21 .

[0046] The input gear 22 has an external gear 22A and a spool 22B which is a cylindrical internal gear having spline teeth on its inner peripheral surface and is fixed to one side of the external gear 22A. The external gear 22A rotates integrally with the spool 22B by the driving force of the driving source 107 input to the spool 22B.

[0047] A rotation axis L8 of the input gear 22 (i.e., a rotation axis of the external gear 22A and a rotation axis of the spool 22B) is disposed on the same line as a rotation axis L6 of the input spool 16. As shown in Fig. 5, the input spool 16, the input gear 22, and the first roll 11 are disposed in the vertical direction in the order of the input spool 16, the input gear 22, and the first roll 11.

[0048] That is, the input gear 22 is located between the input spool 16 and the first roll 11 in the up-down direction. In addition, at least a portion of the input gear 22 is disposed at a position overlapping with the first roll 11 in the up-down direction.

[0049] The rotation axis L8 of the input gear 22 overlaps with the hollow portion of the input spool 16 in the vertical direction. Therefore, the drive shaft 105 is inserted through the input spool 16 and the input gear 22 at the same time. As a result, the input gear 22 is rotated by the drive shaft 105 together with the input spool 16, although it is not directly connected to the input spool 16.

[0050] (Idol Gear) The idle gear 23 is drivingly connected (i.e. engaged) with the input gear 22 and the output gear 21, and transmits the driving force input to the input gear 22 to the output gear 21. The idle gear 23 rotates around the rotation axis, and is a rotation transmission part to which the driving force is transmitted from the input gear 22.

[0051] The idle gear 23 is a stepped gear in which an upstream gear 23A engaged with the input gear 22 and a downstream gear 23B engaged with the output gear 21 are arranged side by side on the same axis. The downstream gear 23B has a smaller diameter than the upstream gear 23A. The downstream gear 23B is arranged closer to the first roll 11 (i.e., higher) than the upstream gear 23A in the up-down direction.

[0052] The idle gear 23 reduces the rotational speed of the driving force input to the input gear 22 and transmits it to the output gear 21. In other words, the transmission mechanism 20 includes a reduction mechanism having a transmission ratio obtained by dividing the rotational speed of the input gear 22 by the rotational speed of the output gear 21 as a reduction gear ratio.

[0053] (case) As shown in Fig. 4, the first lid portion 31 constitutes the upper end portion of the printing cassette 10. The first frame portion 32 is disposed below the first lid portion 31 and is connected to the first lid portion 31 in the vertical direction. The second frame portion 33 is disposed below the first frame portion 32 and is connected to the first frame portion 32 in the vertical direction. The second lid portion 34 constitutes the lower end portion of the printing cassette 10. The second lid portion 34 is connected to the second frame portion 33 in the vertical direction.

[0054] The first lid portion 31 and the first frame portion 32 constitute a first storage portion 41 that stores the first roll 11. In other words, the first roll 11 is disposed in the space between the first lid portion 31 and the first frame portion 32.

[0055] The second lid portion 34 and the second frame portion 33 constitute a second housing portion 42 that houses the second roll 14, the second supply spool 15, and the input spool 16. In other words, the second roll 14, the second supply spool 15, and the input spool 16 are disposed in the space between the second lid portion 34 and the second frame portion 33.

[0056] The first frame portion 32 and the second frame portion 33 configure a third housing portion 43 in which a part of the output gear 21, the input gear 22, and the idle gear 23 are disposed. That is, the part of the output gear 21, the input gear 22, and the idle gear 23 are disposed in the space between the first frame portion 32 and the second frame portion 33. The third housing portion 43 is disposed between the first housing portion 41 and the second housing portion 42 in the up-down direction.

[0057] The first frame portion 32 has a first side wall 32A, a cover portion 32B, a first guide 32C, a first gear support portion 32D, a second gear support portion 32E, and a third gear support portion 32F. The first side wall 32A constitutes a side surface of the printing cassette 10 that is parallel to the up-down direction.

[0058] The cover portion 32B is a portion having a surface perpendicular to the up-down direction. The cover portion 32B is disposed at a position overlapping the output gear 21 in the up-down direction. In this embodiment, the cover portion 32B is provided continuous with the lower end portion of the first side wall 32A, and disposed at the right front corner portion of the first frame portion 32. The surface of the cover portion 32B (an example of a first restricting surface) faces the output gear 21, and restricts movement of the output gear 21 in a direction parallel to the rotation axis L7 of the output gear 21 (i.e., the up-down direction).

[0059] The output gear 21, the cover portion 32B, and the first roll 11 are arranged in the up-down direction in the order of the output gear 21, the cover portion 32B, and the first roll 11. As described above, the entire area of ​​the first side surface (i.e., the upper side surface) of the output gear 21 overlaps with the cover portion 32B in the up-down direction.

[0060] 6, the first guide 32C is a portion around which the printing tape 11A pulled out from the first roll 11 is wound. The first guide 32C has multiple plate-shaped ribs spaced apart along the circumferential direction of the first roll 11. The multiple ribs protrude in the radial direction of the first roll 11, and the amount of protrusion (i.e., plate width) increases downward.

[0061] 4 is a gear shaft through which the output gear 21 is inserted and rotatably supports the output gear 21. The second gear support portion 32E is a gear shaft through which the input gear 22 is inserted and rotatably supports the input gear 22. The third gear support portion 32F is a gear shaft through which the idle gear 23 is inserted and rotatably supports the idle gear 23.

[0062] The second frame portion 33 has a second side wall 33A, a head opening 33B, a discharge port 33C, a second guide 33D, and an engagement portion 33E (see FIG. 8). The second side wall 33A constitutes a side surface of the printing cassette 10 that is parallel to the up-down direction.

[0063] The head opening 33B is a portion formed by cutting out a part of the second side wall 33A. The head opening 33B is a space in which the print head 102 is disposed when the printing cassette 10 is attached to the printing device main body 100.

[0064] In the head opening 33B, printing on the printing tape 11A is performed by the print head 102. The head opening 33B opens below the printing cassette 10 so that the print head 102 can be inserted from below.

[0065] As shown in Fig. 7, the printing tape 11A and the ink ribbon 14A are hung in the left-right direction in the head opening 33B. After printing, the printing tape 11A is discharged from the discharge port 33C to the outside of the printer 1. A part of the output gear 21 is located inside the head opening 33B. In addition, the cover part 32B is exposed inside the head opening 33B.

[0066] The second guide 33D is a section around which the printing tape 11A that has passed through the first guide 32C is wound. Similar to the first guide 32C, the second guide 33D has multiple plate-shaped ribs spaced apart along the circumferential direction of the second roll 14. The multiple ribs protrude in the radial direction of the second roll 14, and the amount of protrusion (i.e., plate width) decreases the further downward.

[0067] 8 is a concave portion configured to fit with the first gear support portion 32D of the first frame portion 32. Specifically, the engagement portion 33E is a cylinder having a circumferential surface parallel to the up-down direction and an inner diameter approximately equal to the outer diameter of the first gear support portion 32D.

[0068] An upper surface 33F (an example of a second restriction surface) of the engagement portion 33E sandwiches the output gear 21 together with the surface of the cover portion 32B in a direction parallel to the rotation axis L7 of the output gear 21 (i.e., the vertical direction) to restrict vertical movement of the output gear 21.

[0069] The first gear support portion 32D into which the output gear 21 is inserted projects from the surface of the cover portion 32B toward the upper surface 33F of the engagement portion 33E. The tip of the first gear support portion 32D is inserted into the hollow portion of the engagement portion 33E from above.

[0070] As shown in FIGS. 9A, 9B, 9C, and 9D, the first guide 32C and the second guide 33D form a passage for feeding the printing tape 11A constituting the first roll 11 from the first container 41 to the second container .

[0071] Specifically, as shown in Fig. 9A, the printing tape 11A pulled out from the first roll 11 is transported downward and rearward within the first housing section 41 while contacting the first guide 32C from the radially outer side of the first roll 11 in a spiral manner. The printing tape 11A is further transported downward and leftward while vertically straddling the third housing section 43 as shown in Fig. 9B.

[0072] The printing tape 11A that has reached the second storage section 42 is transported downward and forward while contacting the second guide 33D from the radially outer side, as shown in Fig. 9C. The printing tape 11A that has reached the lower end of the printing cassette 10 passes through the head opening 33B and is discharged from the discharge opening 33C, as shown in Fig. 9D.

[0073] (label) The label 51 shown in FIG. 10A allows an external device (that is, the printing device main body 100) to detect identification information for identifying the printing cassette 10.

[0074] 11A, label 51 is a circular sheet in which an RFID tag having an antenna 51A and an IC chip 51B is disposed on an adhesive layer. Label 51 allows detection unit 108 of printer main body 100 to detect identification information stored in IC chip 51B by reading the non-contact RFID tag with detection unit 108.

[0075] The identification information includes, for example, information about the transmission mechanism 20, information about the printing tape 11A, etc. The information about the transmission mechanism 20 includes, for example, information related to a transmission ratio obtained by dividing the rotation speed of the input gear 22 by the rotation speed of the output gear 21, information related to the number of rotating bodies (i.e., gears) included in the transmission mechanism 20, etc. The information about the printing tape 11A includes, for example, information indicating the width, thickness, material, color, layer structure, etc. of the printing tape 11A.

[0076] In this embodiment, the label 51 is attached across the outer surface of the first frame portion 32, the outer surface of the second frame portion 33, and the outer surface of the first cover portion 31. The antenna 51A and the IC chip 51B of the label 51 are disposed across the first frame portion 32 and the second frame portion 33. This can help prevent rattling between the first frame portion 32 and the second frame portion 33.

[0077] 3A, label 51 is attached to left side surface 35A of case 35, which is parallel to the direction in which case 35 is inserted into cassette storage section 101 (i.e., the vertical direction) and the winding axis of first roll 11.

[0078] Also, as shown in FIG. 5, the label 51 is arranged at a position overlapping the output gear 21 (specifically, on the left side of the output gear 21) in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis L7 of the output gear 21 (i.e., the left-right direction).

[0079] As shown in Fig. 10B, the label 51 may be affixed across only the first frame portion 32 and the second frame portion 33. As shown in Fig. 10C, the label 51 may be affixed across the first frame portion 32, the second frame portion 33, the first lid portion 31, and the second lid portion 34.

[0080] 11B, the antenna 51A and the IC chip 51B do not necessarily have to be disposed across the first frame portion 32 and the second frame portion 33. Also, as shown in FIG 11C, the shape of the label 51 is not limited to a circle and may be a rectangle.

[0081] <Tape transport and printing by the printer body> As shown in FIG. 7, when the printing cassette 10 is attached to the printing device main body 100, the print head 102 is disposed in a position in the head opening 33B where it overlaps with the printing tape 11A and the ink ribbon 14A in the front-rear direction.

[0082] The printing tape 11A is transported to the head opening 33B by the platen roller 103, and is pressed against the print head 102, whose heating elements have generated heat, via the ink ribbon 14A by the platen roller 103. As a result, part of the ink arranged on the surface of the ink ribbon 14A is transferred to the printing tape 11A, and characters, symbols, etc. are printed on the printing tape 11A.

[0083] The platen roller 103 transports the printed printing tape 11A from inside the printing cassette 10 to the outside. The platen roller 103 is rotated by a platen gear 104 engaged with the output gear 21. The platen roller 103 and the platen gear 104 can swing between a position separated from the printing cassette 10 and a position shown in Figure 12 where the platen gear 104 is engaged with the output gear 21.

[0084] When the case 35 of the printing cassette 10 is inserted into the cassette storage section 101 , the drive shaft 105 engages with the input gear 22 and the platen gear 104 engages with the output gear 21 .

[0085] Specifically, with the drive shaft 105 inserted into the input spool 16 and input gear 22 of the printing cassette 10, the platen roller 103 and platen gear 104 swing toward the head opening 33B of the printing cassette 10, causing the platen gear 104 to engage with the output gear 21.

[0086] With the printing cassette 10 attached, the input gear 22 is rotated by the drive shaft 105, thereby rotating the output gear 21. Furthermore, the rotation of the output gear 21 rotates the platen gear 104, and the rotation of the platen gear 104 rotates the platen roller 103.

[0087] That is, the drive source 107 inputs a drive force to the input gear 22 via the drive shaft 105. Furthermore, the platen roller 103 transports the printing tape 11A by the drive force output from the output gear .

[0088] The detection unit 108 detects the identification information from the label 51 of the printing cassette 10 attached to the cassette storage unit 101. The identification information detected by the detection unit 108 is sent to the control unit 109.

[0089] Based on the identification information, the control unit 109 controls the printing cycle (i.e., the heating on / off switching cycle) of the print head 102. Specifically, the control unit 109 lengthens the printing cycle as the transmission ratio increases (i.e., the control unit 109 shortens the printing cycle as the transmission ratio decreases).

[0090] Furthermore, the control unit 109 controls the rotation direction of the drive source 107 based on the identification information. Specifically, the control unit 109 determines the rotation direction of the drive source 107 based on the rotor number information so that the rotation direction of the platen roller 103 coincides with the feed direction of the printing tape 11A.

[0091] [1-2. Effects] According to the embodiment described above in detail, the following effects can be obtained. (1a) The label 51 on which the RFID tag is placed can suppress rattling between the first frame portion 32 and the second frame portion 33. In addition, the label 51 for attaching the RFID tag to the case 35 also serves as a part for suppressing rattling, thereby suppressing an increase in the number of parts of the printing cassette 10.

[0092] (1b) By attaching label 51 to the outer surface of case 35, the accuracy with which detection unit 108 detects identification information can be improved.

[0093] (1c) The vibration of the output gear 21 can be reduced by suppressing rattling between the first frame portion 32 and the second frame portion 33 that house and support the output gear 21. As a result, the engagement between the output gear 21 and the platen gear 104 can be stabilized.

[0094] (1d) By arranging the label 51 in a position that overlaps with the output gear 21 in the left-right direction, it is possible to reduce the area of ​​the left side surface 35A of the case 35 to which the label 51 is affixed. As a result, the printing cassette 10 can be made more compact.

[0095] (1e) By attaching the label 51 to the left side surface 35A of the case 35, it is possible to suppress interference between the detector 108 and other members in the printer body 100. As a result, it is possible to reduce the size of the printer body 100.

[0096] [2. Second embodiment] [2-1. Configuration] A printing apparatus 1A shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B includes a printing cassette 10A and a printing apparatus main body 100A.

[0097] <Printing cassette> The printing cassette 10A is obtained by adding a third roll 24, a take-up spool 25, a take-up gear 26, and a pinch roller 27 shown in Figure 14 to the printing cassette 10 of the first embodiment, and by replacing the input spool 16, first lid portion 31, first frame portion 32, second frame portion 33, and second lid portion 34 of the first embodiment with an input spool 28, first lid portion 36, first frame portion 37, second frame portion 38, and second lid portion 39.

[0098] The input spool 28 is the same as the input spool 16 except that it does not have spline teeth 16B. The first lid portion 36, the first frame portion 37, the second frame portion 38 and the second lid portion 39 are respectively formed by extending the first lid portion 31, the first frame portion 32, the second frame portion 33 and the second lid portion 34 in the left-right direction. The other configurations of the printing cassette 10A are the same as those of the printing cassette 10 of the first embodiment except for the points described below, and therefore description thereof will be omitted.

[0099] 13A and 13B, in this embodiment, the label 51 is attached to the front side surface 35B of the case 35. The label 51 is attached across at least the outer surface of the first frame portion 37 and the outer surface of the second frame portion 38.

[0100] 14 is a laminate tape used to protect the printing tape 11A wound around an input spool 28. The laminate tape has an adhesive surface that is bonded to the printing tape 11A that has been printed on by the print head 102.

[0101] The take-up spool 25 is rotatable about a rotation axis L9. The rotation axis L9 of the take-up spool 25 is parallel to the rotation axis L5 (i.e., the vertical direction) of the second supply spool 15. The take-up spool 25 takes up the ink ribbon 14A as the take-up gear 26 rotates.

[0102] The winding gear 26 is connected to the winding spool 25 and is engaged with the idle gear 23. The winding gear 26 is rotated by the driving force input to the input gear 22, causing the winding spool 25 to rotate.

[0103] The pinch roller 27 presses the laminate tape against the printing tape 11A after printing, together with the pressure roller 106. The pinch roller 27 is disposed downstream of the head opening 33B in the transport direction of the printing tape 11A.

[0104] <Printing device body> As shown in FIG. 13A, the printing device main body 100A includes a cassette storage section 101, a print head 102, a platen roller 103, a platen gear 104, a drive shaft 105, a pressure roller 106 (see FIG. 15), a drive source 107, a detection section 108, a control unit 109, and a housing 110.

[0105] The printing device main body 100A has the same configuration as the printing device main body 100 of the first embodiment, except that the shape of the housing 110 is different from that of the printing device main body 100 of the first embodiment, and that a pressure roller 106 is provided.

[0106] The pressure roller 106 is configured to be able to swing together with the platen roller 103 and the platen gear 104. That is, the pressure roller 106 is able to swing between a position away from the printing cassette 10A shown in Fig. 15 and a position where the pressure roller 106 presses the printing tape 11A and the laminate tape together with the pinch roller 27 shown in Fig. 16.

[0107] [2-2. Effects] According to the embodiment described above in detail, the following effects can be obtained. (2a) While retaining the same advantages as the first embodiment, the printed contents of the print tape 11A can be protected by the laminate tape.

[0108] 3. Other embodiments Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, it goes without saying that the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can take various forms.

[0109] (3a) In the printing cassette of the above embodiment, the label having an RFID tag does not necessarily have to be affixed across the first frame and the second frame. For example, as shown in Figures 17A and 17B, the label 51 may be affixed across the first frame 32 and the first lid 31 of the case 35.

[0110] In these embodiments, the first frame 32 corresponds to the first case, and the first lid 31 corresponds to the second case. In Fig. 17B, the first frame 32 has a protrusion 32G that protrudes toward the second frame 33 (i.e., downward), and the label 51 is attached across the protrusion 32G and the first lid 31.

[0111] (3b) In the printing cassette of the above embodiment, the label does not necessarily have to be attached to the outer surface of the case. For example, the label may be attached across the inner surface of the first case part and the inner surface of the second case part.

[0112] (3c) The printing device of the above embodiment is not limited to one that uses an ink ribbon for printing. The printing device may use a strip of thermal paper instead of the printing tape in the first embodiment, and may use a laminate tape (i.e., a protective tape) instead of the ink ribbon.

[0113] The printing device may use a stencil tape in which a printing pattern is punched by a thermal head instead of an ink ribbon. In this case, the printing tape may be superimposed on the stencil tape at a position closer to the print head than the stencil tape (i.e., as an upper layer) in the head opening, or the printing tape may be superimposed on the stencil tape at a position farther from the print head than the stencil tape (i.e., as a lower layer).

[0114] (3d) In the printing cassette of the above embodiment, the transmission mechanism may have two or more idle gears. Also, the transmission mechanism does not necessarily have to have an idle gear. Furthermore, the transmission mechanism may have a rotating body other than a gear (for example, a roller or a belt).

[0115] (3e) The printing cassette of the second embodiment may include a third supply spool around which laminate tape is wound, instead of the take-up spool. Also, in the printing cassette of the second embodiment, the input spool may be used as a take-up spool for the ink ribbon.

[0116] (3f) The function of one component in the above embodiments may be distributed among multiple components, or the functions of multiple components may be integrated into one component. In addition, a part of the configuration of the above embodiments may be omitted. In addition, at least a part of the configuration of the above embodiments may be added to or substituted for the configuration of another of the above embodiments. Note that all aspects included in the technical idea identified from the wording of the claims are embodiments of the present disclosure. [Explanation of symbols]

[0117] 1...printing device, 10...printing cassette, 11...first roll, 11A...printing tape, 12: first supply spool; 14: second roll; 14A: ink ribbon; 15: second supply spool; 16: input spool; 20: transmission mechanism; 21: output gear; 22...input gear, 23...idle gear, 31...first cover portion, 32...first frame portion, 32B: cover portion, 32D: first gear support portion, 32G: protrusion portion, 33: second frame portion, 33B: head opening, 33E: engagement portion, 33F: upper surface, 34: second cover portion, 35...case, 35A...left side, 35B...front side, 51...label, 51A...antenna, 51B: IC chip; 100: printer body; 101: cassette storage section; 102: print head; 103: platen roller; 104: platen gear; 105: drive shaft, 107: drive source, 108: detection unit, 109: control unit.

Claims

1. a case having a first case portion, a second case portion, and a third case portion that are connected to each other; a tape at least a portion of which is accommodated in the case and which is subjected to printing; A roll of the tape; and A gear at least a portion of which is housed in the case; a label on which an RFID tag having an antenna is disposed; Equipped with the third case portion is connected to the first case portion, the first case portion is located between the second and third cases, the gear is disposed between the first case portion and the second case portion, The roll is disposed between the first case part and the third case part, The label is attached across the first case portion and the second case portion of the printing cassette.

2. The printing cassette according to claim 1 , wherein the antenna is disposed across the first case portion and the second case portion.

3. 3. The printing cassette according to claim 1, wherein the label is attached across an outer surface of the first case portion and an outer surface of the second case portion.

4. A printing cassette as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the label is affixed across the first case part, the second case part, and the third case part.

5. a gear at least a portion of which is housed in the case; the first case portion has a first restriction surface that restricts movement of the gear in a direction parallel to a rotation axis of the gear, A printing cassette as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the second case portion has a second control surface that sandwiches the gear together with the first control surface in a direction parallel to the rotational axis of the gear and controls movement in a direction parallel to the rotational axis of the gear.

6. The printing cassette according to claim 5 , wherein the first case portion protrudes from the first regulating surface toward the second regulating surface and has a gear shaft through which the gear is inserted.

7. 7. The printing cassette according to claim 1, wherein the gear is an output gear that outputs a driving force used to transport the tape.

8. The printing cassette according to claim 1 , wherein the label overlaps with the gear in a direction perpendicular to a rotation axis of the gear.

9. The cassette can be attached to a printer body having a cassette storage unit. the case has a side surface parallel to a direction in which the case is inserted into the cassette storage section, 9. The printing cassette according to claim 1, wherein the label is attached to the side surface.

10. Further comprising a roll of said tape; the case has a side surface parallel to a winding axis of the roll, 10. The printing cassette according to claim 1, wherein the label is attached to the side surface.

11. A printing cassette according to any one of claims 1 to 10; a printing device main body in which the printing cassette is mounted; A printing device comprising:

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