Cassette

Abstract

To provide a cassette that can suppress poor conveyance of a medium as soon as possible by changing an angle of a medium relative to a spool shaft when bringing down the medium from an upper layer to a lower layer.SOLUTION: A cassette 10 comprises: a tape case 20 and a ribbon case 21 overlapped with each other in a vertical direction; a print tape roll 26 around which a print tape 22 is wound; a first guide 130 having an inclined surface 54i having a first inclination angle θi1; a second guide 132 having an inclined surface 154i having a second inclination angle θi2; and a third guide 134 provided in a third case member 16 constituting the ribbon case 21. The inclined surface 54i is formed so as to separate from the print tape roll 26 in a direction from the tape case 20 toward the ribbon case 21 side, and the inclined surface 154i is formed so as to approach the print tape roll 26. The print tape 22 is guided by the first guide 130, the second guide 132 and the third guide 134 in this order.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a cassette in which a medium is stored in a roll shape, and more particularly to a cassette capable of suitably transporting a medium in a housing when the housing has a two-layer structure.

Background Art

[0002] Cassettes have been proposed in which a medium wound in a roll shape is stored in one layer of a housing having a two-layer structure and moved to the other layer for use. For example, the cassettes described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 are such cassettes. In Patent Document 1, the supply reel 3 of the ribbon 4 is disposed between the lid 2 and the partition plate 6. The take-up reel 7 of the ribbon 4 is disposed in the cassette body 1 below the partition plate 6. When the drive roller 8 is rotated by the drive means of the printer, the elastic belt 9 stretched between the drive roller 8 and the driven roller 10 travels, and the take-up reel 7 rotates. As a result, the ribbon 4 is sandwiched between the elastic belt 9 and the take-up reel 7 and wound up. At this time, the ribbon 4 is given a constant supply tension by the tension roller 5 and then moves downward through the gap between the partition plate 6 and the cassette body 1 in the cassette.

[0003] On the other hand, in Patent Document 2, a configuration is disclosed in which a ribbon 21 is conveyed from a supply reel 18 provided in an upper layer to a take-up reel 36 provided in a lower layer via rollers 50, 56, a guide post 59, a bail bar 60 / shoulder 74, a roller 78, and the like.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Disclosure of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, in Patent Document 1, printing is performed at the head opening before lowering the ink ribbon, which is the medium to be conveyed, to the lower layer. Therefore, printing is performed with the medium in an inclined state, and the printing accuracy cannot be improved. Further, in Patent Document 2, in order to keep the ink ribbon, which is the medium, horizontal at the head opening, the medium is lowered from the upper layer to the lower layer at a certain angle at a position upstream of the head opening. The deflection angle of the medium at this position becomes large, and conveyance failure of the medium is likely to occur.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to suppress conveyance failure of a medium as much as possible by changing the angle of the medium with respect to the spool axis while the medium is being lowered from the upper layer to the lower layer.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] A first invention for achieving such an object includes: (a) a housing having a first layer portion and a second layer portion overlapping in a first direction; (b) a roll provided in the second layer portion of the housing, around which a printing medium is wound around a rotation center extending in the first direction; and (c) in the second layer portion of the housing, a guide that is inclined with respect to the first direction, contacts the printing medium drawn out from the roll, and guides the printing medium toward the first layer portion Second layer guide part is is provided provided, and (d) in the first layer portion of the housing, a guide that is inclined with respect to the first direction and contacts the printing medium guided by the Second layer guide part and guides the printing medium toward an outlet provided in the first layer portion. First layer guide part is is provided provided, and the cassette is characterized by this.

Effects of the Invention

[0008] According to the first invention, the guide inclined with respect to the first direction is provided in the second layer portion, and the Second layer guide part is provided, and the Second layer guide partis configured to guide the medium to be printed toward the first layer portion is provided Therefore, the medium to be printed is conveyed from the second layer portion to the first layer portion. Further, the first inclination provided in the first layer portion is inclined with respect to the first direction First layer guide part is provided, and the First layer guide part is configured to guide the medium to be printed toward the discharge portion provided in the first layer portion is provided Therefore, the medium to be printed is conveyed to the discharge port provided in the first layer portion.

[0009] A second invention is, in the first invention, the first inclination angle of the first inclined portion is larger than the second inclination angle of the second inclined portion. In this way, the conveyance path of the medium inclined toward the first layer side by the first inclined portion is returned only by a part of the inclination by the second inclined portion. That is, after passing through the second inclined portion, the conveyance path of the medium has an inclination between before and after passing through the first inclined portion. Therefore, during the conveyance of the medium from the second layer to the first layer through the layers, the conveyance failure of the medium can be suppressed by changing the conveyance angle of the medium.

[0010] A third invention is, in the first or second invention, the third guide has a third inclined portion inclined at a third inclination angle with respect to the direction from the second layer to the first layer, and the third inclined portion is formed so as to approach the roll in the direction from the second layer to the first layer. In this way, the inclination of the conveyance path of the medium returned by the second inclined portion is further returned by the third inclined portion. Therefore, during the conveyance of the medium from the second layer to the first layer through the layers, the conveyance failure of the medium can be suppressed by changing the conveyance angle of the medium.

[0011] Further, a fourth invention is characterized in that, in the third invention, the third inclination angle of the third inclined portion is smaller than the second inclination angle of the second inclined portion. By doing so, the magnitude of the inclination of the conveyance path of the medium returned by the third inclined portion can be made smaller than the magnitude of the inclination returned by the second inclined portion before being conveyed to the head space. Therefore, when changing the conveyance angle of the medium while the medium is being conveyed between layers from the second layer to the first layer, conveyance failure of the medium can be further suppressed.

[0012] Further, a fifth invention is characterized in that, in any one of the first to fourth inventions, the first guide is provided radially outside the outer edge of the roll with respect to the rotation center of the roll, and includes a plurality of first protrusions protruding in a direction away from the rotation center. The tip of each of the plurality of first protrusions is inclined so that the protruding amount increases in the direction from the second layer to the first layer, thereby forming the first inclined portion. By doing so, the first inclined portion can be constituted by the tips of the plurality of first protrusions forming the first guide, and when the conveyance angle of the medium is changed while the medium is being conveyed between layers from the second layer to the first layer, conveyance failure of the medium can be suppressed.

[0013] Further, a sixth invention is characterized in that, in any one of the first to fifth inventions, the second guide includes a plurality of second protrusions protruding in a direction away from the rotation center. The tip of each of the plurality of second protrusions is inclined so that the protruding amount decreases in the direction from the second layer to the first layer, thereby forming the second inclined portion. By doing so, the second inclined portion can be constituted by the tips of the plurality of second protrusions forming the second guide, and when the conveyance angle of the medium is changed while the medium is being conveyed between layers from the second layer to the first layer, conveyance failure of the medium can be suppressed.

[0014] Further, the seventh invention is the third or fourth invention, wherein the third guide includes a plurality of third ridges protruding in a direction away from the rotation center, and the tip of each of the plurality of third ridges is inclined so that the protruding amount decreases in the direction from the second layer to the first layer, thereby forming the third inclined portion. In this way, the third inclined portion can be constituted by the tips of the plurality of third ridges forming the third guide, and during the conveyance of the medium from the second layer to the first layer, the conveyance failure of the medium can be suppressed by changing the conveyance angle of the medium.

[0015] Further, the eighth invention is any one of the first to seventh inventions, wherein the housing includes a plurality of cases, the third guide is provided in one of the plurality of cases, and the one case includes a width restricting portion for restricting the width direction position of the medium. In this way, when the medium passes through the one case, the inclination of the conveyance direction of the medium is restored by the third guide, and the position in the width direction of the medium is restricted by the width restricting portion. Therefore, even when the conveyance angle of the medium is changed during the conveyance of the medium from the second layer to the first layer, the conveyance failure of the medium can be further suppressed.

[0016] Further, the ninth invention is the eighth invention, wherein the second guide is provided in the one case. In this way, the inclination of the conveyance direction of the medium is restored by the second guide and the third guide both provided in the one case, and the position in the width direction is restricted by the width restricting portion. Therefore, during the conveyance of the medium from the second layer to the first layer, the conveyance failure of the medium can be further suppressed by changing the conveyance angle of the medium.

[0017] Moreover, in a tenth invention, in the ninth invention, the first guide is provided in another case different from the one case among the plurality of cases. In this way, while the inclination of the conveyance direction of the medium is inclined by the first guide provided in another case different from the one case, the inclination of the conveyance direction of the medium is returned by the second guide and the third guide provided in the one case, and the position in the width direction is regulated by the width regulating portion. Therefore, during the conveyance of the medium between layers from the second layer to the first layer, by changing the conveyance angle of the medium, conveyance failure of the medium can be further suppressed.

[0018] Moreover, in an eleventh invention, in any one of the first to tenth inventions, the housing has a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and the first guide, the second guide, and the third guide are respectively provided at different corners of the housing corresponding to any of the sides in the direction from the second layer to the first layer of the housing. The length of the side of the housing from the corner where the first guide is provided to the corner where the second guide is provided is larger than the length of the side of the housing from the corner where the second guide is provided to the corner where the third guide is provided. In this way, by utilizing the space at the corners of the housing, the first to third guides can be arranged, and the distance that the medium is conveyed in the conveyance direction inclined by the first guide is longer than the distance that the medium is conveyed in the conveyance direction returned by the second guide. Therefore, during the conveyance of the medium between layers from the second layer to the first layer, conveyance failure of the medium can be suppressed by changing the conveyance angle of the medium.

[0019] Further, in the 12th invention, in any one of the 1st to 11th inventions, an ink ribbon, a supply spool for the ink ribbon, and a take-up spool for the ink ribbon are provided in the first layer, and the medium is a medium to be printed. In this way, while the medium wound around the roll provided in the second layer is conveyed to the head space provided in the first layer through the conveyance path, even in a cassette in which the ink ribbon is supplied from the supply spool provided in the first layer and wound around the take-up spool, during the conveyance of the medium from the second layer to the first layer, conveyance failure of the medium can be suppressed by changing the conveyance angle of the medium.

[0020] Further, in the 13th invention, in any one of the 1st to 11th inventions, a roll of cover film is provided in the first layer. In this way, while the medium wound around the roll provided in the second layer is conveyed to the head space provided in the first layer through the conveyance path, even in a cassette in which the cover film is wound around and supplied from the roll provided in the first layer, during the conveyance of the medium from the second layer to the first layer, conveyance failure of the medium can be suppressed by changing the conveyance angle of the medium.

[0021] More preferably, the 14th invention includes: (a) a housing having a first layer and a second layer, the housing having a head space and a bottom surface in the first layer; (b) a roll provided in the second layer, the roll being configured by winding a medium; (c) a first guide provided in the second layer; (d) a third guide provided in the first layer; (e) a second guide provided between the first guide and the third guide in the conveyance path of the medium; (f) the medium is spanned between the first guide and the second guide, and between the second guide and the third guide, such that the widthwise ends of the medium are inclined with respect to the bottom surface; (g) the medium is spanned between the third guide and the head space such that the widthwise ends of the medium are parallel to the bottom surface; (h) the medium is provided in the housing so as to move from the second layer to the first layer and reach the head space by being guided in the order of the first guide, the second guide, and the third guide; (i) a cassette characterized in that a first conveyance angle of the widthwise end of the medium spanned between the first guide and the second guide with respect to the bottom surface is larger than a second conveyance angle of the widthwise end of the medium spanned between the second guide and the third guide with respect to the bottom surface. In this way, the medium is inclined by the first guide so that its conveyance direction becomes the first conveyance angle and is conveyed to the second guide, while the inclination of the conveyance direction is returned by the second guide so that it becomes the second conveyance angle and is conveyed to the third guide. Then, the inclination of the conveyance direction is further returned by the third guide so as to be parallel to the bottom side, and it can be conveyed to the head space. Therefore, during the conveyance of the medium from the second layer to the first layer between layers, conveyance failure of the medium can be suppressed by changing the conveyance angle of the medium.

[0022] Moreover, in the 15th invention, in the 14th invention, (j) the angle of the bottom surface of the widthwise end of the medium is 0 degrees in the state where the medium is wound, (k) the angle continuously increases from upstream to downstream in the conveyance direction of the medium around the first guide, (l) the angle is constant between the first guide and the second guide, (m) the angle continuously decreases from upstream to downstream in the conveyance direction of the medium around the second guide, (n) the angle is constant between the second guide and the third guide, (o) the angle continuously decreases from upstream to downstream in the conveyance direction of the medium around the third guide until it reaches 0 degrees, and (p) the angle is 0 degrees between the third guide and the head space. By doing so, when the medium is guided by each of the first to third guides, the angle of the bottom surface of the widthwise end of the medium is continuously changed, so that the distortion of the medium can be reduced. Also, between the first and second guides and between the second and third guides, since the angle of the bottom surface of the widthwise end of the medium is made constant, during the conveyance of the medium between layers from the second layer to the first layer, conveyance failure of the medium can be suppressed by changing the conveyance angle of the medium.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0023]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Figure 13

Figure 14

Figure 15

Figure 16

Figure 17

Figure 18

Figure 19

Figure 20

Figure 21

Figure 22

Figure 23

Figure 24

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0024] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

Example

[0025] [Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a cassette 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention from the front side, that is, from above. In the description of this embodiment, the upper side of FIG. 1 is defined as the front side of the cassette 10, the lower side as the rear side of the cassette 10, the right side as the left side of the cassette 10, the left side as the right side of the cassette 10, the upper left side as the upper side of the cassette 10, and the lower right side as the lower side of the cassette 10. As shown in FIG. 1, the cassette 10 includes a first case, that is, a tape case 20, and a second case, that is, a ribbon case 21. The tape case 20 is composed of a first case member 12 and a second case member 14. The ribbon case 21 is composed of a third case member 16 and a fourth case member 18.

[0026] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the cassette 10 from the back side, i.e., the lower surface. As shown in FIG. 2, the ribbon case 21 is located on one side in the vertical direction with respect to the tape case 20. In the present embodiment, the ribbon case 21 is located on the lower side, which is one side in the vertical direction with respect to the tape case 20. The cassette 10 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole. As shown in FIG. 2, the cassette 10 includes a take-up spool support hole 94, a concave groove 11, and a roller exposure hole 98. The take-up spool support hole 94 is provided on the lower surface 19 of the fourth case member 18 of the cassette 10. The take-up spool support hole 94 penetrates the lower surface 19 of the fourth case member 18 in the vertical direction. The take-up spool support hole 94 exposes the lower end portion of the take-up spool 76. Specifically, the connection hole 96 formed on the end surface of the take-up spool 76 is exposed to the lower surface of the fourth case member 18 through the take-up spool support hole 94 as shown in FIG. 2. When the cassette 10 is mounted on the printing device 102 shown in FIG. 24, the take-up spool drive shaft 108 of the printing device 102 is inserted into the connection hole 96 and connected to the take-up spool 76, and the take-up spool 76 is rotationally driven by the take-up spool drive shaft 108. As shown in FIG. 2, the concave groove 11 is formed on the front surfaces of the third case member 16 and the fourth case member 18, i.e., the front surface of the ribbon case 21. When the cassette 10 is mounted on the cassette mounting portion 104 of the printing device 102, a printing head 106 (described later) provided on the cassette mounting portion 104 is inserted into the concave groove 11. The concave groove 11 corresponds to the head space of the present application. The roller exposure hole 98 is provided in the fourth case member 18 at a position corresponding to the roller support hole 82 formed in the third case member 16. The roller exposure hole 98 exposes the shaft end of the roller 80. Specifically, the connection portion 80a formed at the end of the roller 80 on the side of the fourth case member 18 is exposed to the lower surface of the fourth case member 18 through the roller exposure hole 98 as shown in FIG. 2. The structure of the cassette 10 including the tape case 20 and the ribbon case 21 corresponds to the housing of the present invention. Also, the first case member 12, the second case member 14, the third case member 16, and the fourth case member 18 correspond to the plurality of cases of the present invention. The ink ribbon 72, the supply spool 70, and the take-up spool 76 respectively correspond to the ink ribbon, the supply spool, and the take-up spool of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 3 is a perspective view for explaining the internal structure of the cassette 10 by separating the first case member 12, the second case member 14, the third case member 16, and the fourth case member 18 of the cassette 10. The tape case 20 includes a printed tape roll 26 in a first space S1 formed inside. The ribbon case 21 includes an ink ribbon roll 72, an adhesive tape roll 64, a take-up spool 76, a roller 80, and an anti-sticking roller 91 in a second space S2 formed inside. The first space S1 is formed across the first case member 12 and the second case member 14. In the first space S1, the printed tape roll 26 is rotatably accommodated around a first rotation center line C1 parallel to the vertical direction. Note that the first rotation center line C1 is the rotation center of the printed tape roll 26 and also the rotation center of the printed tape spool 24. The printed tape roll 26 is configured by winding a printed tape 22 around a printed tape spool 24 that is a cylindrical axial core material. Spacer films 38 are provided above and below the printed tape roll 26, respectively. The spacer film 38 is circular and has an outer diameter substantially the same as the outer diameter of the printed tape roll 26. The first case member 12 and the second case member 14 are rectangular. The first rotation center line C1 is located slightly to the right of the center in the left-right direction and near the center in the front-back direction in the first case member 12 and the second case member 14. The printed tape 22 is configured, for example, as shown in FIG. 21, by laminating a release tape 22c on the surface opposite to the printing surface of the printed medium 22a via an adhesive 22b. The printed tape 22 shown in FIG. 3 is a printed medium printed by a print head 106. This printed tape 22 corresponds to the medium of the present invention, and the printed tape roll 26 corresponds to the roll. The first space S1 corresponds to the second layer of the present invention, and the second space S2 corresponds to the first layer of the present invention. Also, the vertical direction shown in FIG. 1, in other words, the vertical direction of the cassette 10, corresponds to the direction from the second layer to the first layer of the present invention.

[0028] The ink ribbon roll 72 is configured by winding a strip-shaped ink ribbon 68 around a supply spool 70. The supply spool 70 and the ink ribbon roll 72 are rotatable around a third rotation center line C3 parallel to the first rotation center line C1. The ink ribbon 68 is used for printing on the printing tape 22. The ink ribbon 68 used for printing is wound around a take-up spool 76. The take-up spool 76 is rotatable around a fourth rotation center line C4 parallel to the first rotation center line C1. As shown in FIG. 3, a clutch spring holder 90 that houses a clutch spring is fitted to the other end of the supply spool 70. The ink ribbon roll 72 is provided with an appropriate rotational resistance by the clutch spring in the clutch spring holder 90. The roller 80 sandwiches the printing tape 22 and the bonding tape 60 between the roller of the printing device 102 shown in FIG. 24 in order to crimp the printing surface of the printing tape 22 and the adhesive surface of the bonding tape 60. The roller 80 is rotatable around a fifth rotation center line C5 parallel to the first rotation center line C1. The bonding tape roll 64 is wound around a bonding spool 62 such that the width direction of the bonding tape 60 is in the vertical direction. That is, the radial direction of the bonding tape roll 64 is a direction perpendicular to the vertical direction, including the front-rear direction and the left-right direction. In other words, the orthogonal direction orthogonal to the radial direction is the vertical direction. The bonding spool 62 and the bonding tape roll 64 are rotatable around a second rotation center line C2 parallel to the first rotation center line C1. The bonding tape 60 is composed of, for example, a transparent film 60a having an adhesive 60b applied to one surface that contacts the printing surface of the printing tape 22 in order to protect the printing surface of the printing tape 22 as shown in FIG. 21. The bonding tape 60 is a strip-shaped tape that is adhered to the printed printing tape 22. As shown in FIG. 3, the anti-sticking roller 91 prevents the bonding tape 60 from sticking. The first case member 12, the second case member 14, the third case member 16, and the fourth case member 18 are mutually fixed by the engagement of a plurality of locking claws 27 and fixing claws 28 provided between their outer peripheral walls and the positioning by the positioning projections 29 in a state of being mutually overlapped in the vertical direction. In the present embodiment, the upper surface of each of the case members 12 to 18 is referred to as the upper surface or the front surface, and the lower surface is referred to as the lower surface or the back surface.Note that the bonding tape 60 corresponds to the cover film of the present invention, and the bonding tape roll 64 corresponds to the roll of the cover film, respectively.

[0029] FIG. 4 is a front view showing the upper surface side of the first case member 12. As shown in FIG. 4, the first case member 12 has a substantially rectangular shape in the front view and has a length in the vertical direction of the cassette 10 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. That is, the first case member 12 has a bottomed cylindrical shape. The first case member 12, together with the second case member 14 described later, forms the first space S1, in other words, the tape case 20.

[0030] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the lower surface side of the first case member 12. As shown in FIG. 5, a cylindrical first support protrusion 30 and a first circumferential wall 34 are provided on the lower surface side of the first case member 12. The first support protrusion 30 is inserted into the printing tape spool 24 shown in FIG. 6 and rotatably supports the printing tape roll 26. The first circumferential wall 34 has an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the printing tape roll 26 shown in FIG. 7. The first support protrusion 30 and the first circumferential wall 34 shown in FIG. 5 project downward from the lower surface side of the first case member 12 with the same center line as the first rotation center line C1. As shown in FIG. 5, the first case member 12 includes an outer peripheral wall 44 having a long side portion 44a and a short side portion 44b. A printing tape gate 40 formed by cutting out a part of the first circumferential wall 34 is formed on the lower surface side of the first case member 12. The printing tape gate 40 is an outlet of the printing tape 22 for pulling out the printing tape 22 from the printing tape roll 26 at a fixed position.

[0031] FIG. 6 is a front view showing the upper surface side of the second case member 14. In FIG. 6, the description of the printing tape 22 pulled out from the printing tape roll 26 is omitted. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the upper surface side of the second case member 14. FIG. 7 shows the cassette 10 with the first case member 12 removed. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a cylindrical second support projection 32 and a second circumferential wall 36 are provided on the upper surface side of the second case member 14. The second support projection 32 is inserted into the cylindrical printing tape spool 24 and rotatably supports the printing tape roll 26. The second circumferential wall 36 has an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the printing tape roll 26. The second support projection 32 and the second circumferential wall 36 project upward from the upper surface side of the second case member 14 in a state of having the same center line as the first rotation center line C1. The printing tape roll 26 is disposed between the first case member 12 and the second case member 14.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 6, a printing tape gate 42 formed by cutting out a part of the second circumferential wall 36 is formed on the upper surface side of the second case member 14. The printing tape gate 42 is an outlet of the printing tape 22 for pulling out the printing tape 22 from the printing tape roll 26 at a fixed position, similar to the printing tape gate 40 shown in FIG. 5. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a guide wall 50 extending leftward from the left end of the printing tape gate 42 is formed on the upper surface side of the second case member 14. The guide wall 50 guides the printing tape 22 pulled out from the printing tape roll 26 in a fixed direction. As shown in FIG. 6, the guide wall 50 bends rearward, i.e., toward the long side portion 46b, before reaching the short side portion 46a of the outer peripheral wall 46, extends along the second circumferential wall 36, and is connected to the long side portion 46b.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 6, a through hole 52 having a substantially L-shaped front view extending in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction is formed in the bottom plate 14a of the second case member 14 along the guide wall 50 and the long side portion 46b of the outer peripheral wall 46. The guide wall 50 is formed in the bottom plate 14a. A first guide 130 is formed in a portion of the second circumferential wall 36 facing the guide wall 50 and a portion facing the long side portion 46b. The first guide 130 includes a plurality of guide ribs 54. The plurality of guide ribs 54 guide the printing tape 22 unwound from the printing tape roll 26 and fed through the printing tape gates 40 and 42 into the through hole 52. The first guide 130 is provided near a corner K1 corresponding to one of the four sides parallel to the vertical direction of the cassette 10.

[0034] The printing tape 22 unwound from the printing tape roll 26 shown in FIG. 7 is guided into the second space S2 between the third case member 16 and the fourth case member 18 shown in FIG. 3 through the through hole 52 shown in FIG. 6. The printing tape 22 is bridged over the tape case 20 and the ribbon case 21 as shown in FIG. 8 through the through hole 52 formed in the bottom plate 14a shown in FIG. 6, which functions as a plate material partitioning the first space S1 and the second space S2.

[0035] FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII of FIG. 6, showing a state in which the printing tape 22 is bridged from inside the tape case 20 to inside the ribbon case 21. As shown in FIG. 8, the printing tape 22 is obliquely bridged from inside the tape case 20 to inside the ribbon case 21 through the through hole 52 shown in FIG. 6. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 20 described later, the printing tape 22 is bridged up to the concave groove 11 of the ribbon case 21.

[0036] FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the lower surface side of the second case member 14. As shown in FIG. 9, corresponding to the guide ribs 54 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, ribs 55 continuous from the guide ribs 54 are provided on the opposite side, that is, the lower side, through the bottom plate 14a of the guide ribs 54. On the back surface of the bottom plate 14a of the second case member 14, a pair of guide walls 56 are erected in the vertical direction. Also, a through hole 52 is open between the pair of guide walls 56.

[0037] Figure 10 is a perspective view showing the upper (front) side of the third case member 16. In the ceiling plate 16a of the third case member 16, a through hole 58, a bonding tape roll support hole 66, an ink ribbon support hole 74, a take-up spool support hole 78, and a roller support hole 82 are formed. The through hole 58 is formed at a position corresponding to the through hole 52 of the second case member 14. That is, a part of the through hole 52 and a part of the through hole 58 overlap each other in the vertical direction. The through hole 58 allows the printing tape 22 pulled out from the printing tape roll 26 to pass through to the second space S2 shown in FIG. 3. One end of the supply spool 70 is fitted into the ink ribbon support hole 74. The ink ribbon support hole 74 rotatably supports the ink ribbon roll 72 around the third rotation center line C3. Note that the third rotation center line C3 is the rotation center of the ink ribbon roll 72 and also the rotation center of the supply spool 70. The bottom plate 14a of the second case member 14 shown in FIG. 9 and the ceiling plate 16a of the third case member 16 shown in FIG. 10 correspond to the plate body that partitions the first space S1 in the tape case 20 and the second space S2 in the ribbon case 21 shown in FIG. 3.

[0038] Figure 11 is a perspective view showing the lower (back) side of the third case member 16. One end of the bonding spool 62 is fitted into the bonding tape roll support hole 66. The bonding tape roll support hole 66 rotatably supports the bonding tape roll 64 around the second rotation center line C2. Note that the second rotation center line C2 is the rotation center of the bonding tape roll 64 and also the rotation center of the bonding tape spool 62. One end of the take-up spool 76 is fitted into the take-up spool support hole 78. The take-up spool support hole 78 rotatably supports the take-up spool 76 around the fourth rotation center line C4. Note that the fourth rotation center line C4 is the rotation center of the take-up spool 76. One end of the roller 80 is fitted into the roller support hole 82. The roller support hole 82 rotatably supports the roller 80 around the fifth rotation center line C5.

[0039] As shown in Fig. 11, on the lower surface of the third case member 16, a bonding tape roll holding wall 84, an ink ribbon roll holding wall 86, a cylindrical protrusion 88, and an arcuate wall 92 are formed. The bonding tape roll holding wall 84 and the arcuate wall 92 are each formed in an arcuate shape centered on the bonding tape roll support hole 66 around the bonding tape roll support hole 66. The bonding tape roll holding wall 84 and the arcuate wall 92 each define the arrangement position of the bonding tape roll 64. The ink ribbon roll holding wall 86 is formed in an arcuate shape centered on the take-up spool support hole 78 around the take-up spool support hole 78. The ink ribbon roll holding wall 86 defines the arrangement position of the take-up spool 76. The cylindrical protrusion 88 projects downward from around the ink ribbon support hole 74, and unevenness arranged in the circumferential direction is formed on the tip surface. Further, on the lower surface of the third case member 16, a support protrusion 93 for rotatably supporting the upper end portion of the tension prevention roller 91 is provided.

[0040] As shown in Fig. 11, a guide plate 57 extending downward from the ceiling plate 16a is provided. The guide plate 57 is provided at a position on the upper surface side of the third case member 16 so as to be continuous with the guide plate 56 of the second case member 14 shown in Fig. 9 in a state where the third case member 16 and the second case member 14 are combined. Further, the guide plate 57 shown in Fig. 11 is provided at a position on the lower surface side of the third case member 16 in a state where the third case member 16 and the fourth case member 18 are combined, such that the lower end portion of the guide plate 57 contacts the upper side (inner side surface of the housing) of the fourth case member 18 shown in Fig. 12.

[0041] In the lower right corner K2 of Fig. 11 showing the third case member 16, which is located in the right rear part of the housing 11, a second guide 132 is provided. The second guide 132 is composed of a plurality of guide ribs 154, similar to the aforementioned first guide 130. Here, the corner K2 is a corner adjacent to the corner K1 where the first guide 130 is provided via the long sides 46b and 59b, which are the left-right sides of the housing 11. When not distinguishing the individual guide ribs 154 hereinafter, they are simply referred to as guide ribs 154. Note that the guide rib 154 corresponds to the second protrusion of the present invention.

[0042] Further, at a corner K3 located in the upper right part of FIG. 11 and in the right front part of the housing 11, a third guide 134 is provided. This third guide 134 is composed of a plurality of guide ribs 164, similar to the aforementioned first guide 130 and second guide 132. That is, both the second guide 132 and the third guide 134 are provided on a third case member which is the same case member. Here, the corner K3 is a corner adjacent to the corner K2 where the second guide 132 is provided via a short side 59a which is a side in the front-rear direction of the housing 11. Note that the guide rib 164 corresponds to the third ridge of the present invention.

[0043] Also, as shown in FIG. 11, in the conveyance path of the printing tape 22, a printing tape guide 170 is provided immediately before the printing tape 22 is supplied to the concave groove 11. The printing tape guide 170 is composed of, for example, a slit-shaped hole, and the length of the slit is substantially equal to the width of the printing tape 22. The printing tape guide 170 suppresses the deviation of the width direction position of the printing tape 22. Here, both the third guide 134 and the printing tape guide 170 are provided on a third case member 16 which is the same case member. This printing tape guide 170 corresponds to the width restricting portion of the present invention.

[0044] FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the upper (front) side of the fourth case member 18. FIG. 13 is a bottom (back) view showing the lower (back) side of the fourth case member 18. As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the fourth case member 18 includes a winding spool support hole 94, a support projection 97, a support projection 95, and a roller exposure hole 98. The winding spool support hole 94 is formed to penetrate the fourth case member 18 in the vertical direction. The other end of the winding spool 76 is fitted into the winding spool support hole 94. The winding spool support hole 94 rotatably supports the winding spool 76. Further, the other end of the supply spool 70 is fitted into the support projection 97. The support projection 97 rotatably supports the supply spool 70. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 12, the support projection 95 is provided on the upper surface of the fourth case member 18. The support projection 95 supports the lower end portion of the sticking roller 91 in a connectable manner. The roller exposure hole 98 supports the shaft end of the roller 80 and rotatably supports the roller 80.

[0045] FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the first guide 130 including a plurality of guide ribs 54. In FIG. 14, the second support projection 32 that supports the printing tape spool 24 is shown by a dotted line in order to show the positional relationship therewith. The first guide 130 is provided in the vicinity of the corner K1 of the cassette 10. In FIG. 14, only two guide ribs 54a and 54b are shown for simplification of the drawing. In the following, when the individual guide ribs 54a and 54b are not distinguished, they are simply referred to as the guide rib 54. Note that the guide rib 54 corresponds to the first ridge of the present invention.

[0046] The guide rib 54 is configured in a flat plate shape. The guide rib 54 is provided so as to project from the second circumferential wall 36 of the second case member 14 in a direction away from the printing tape roll 26, in other words, from the second support projection 32 to which the printing tape roll 26 is attached. That is, each of the guide ribs 54 is provided radially outside the outer edge of the printing tape roll 26 with respect to the rotation center C1 of the printing tape roll 26. Also, in the direction from the tape case 20 toward the ribbon case 22, the protruding amount P1 from the second circumferential wall 36 shown in FIG. 15 increases as it goes downward in FIGS. 14 and 15. This protruding amount P1 is sized such that it does not block the through hole 52 provided between the bottom plate 14a and the guide wall 50 at the end on the bottom plate 14a side of the guide rib 54.

[0047] Also, as shown in FIG. 14, each of the guide ribs 54 is continuously formed on the second circumferential wall 36 of the second case member 14 and the bottom plate 14a of the second case member 14, respectively.

[0048] The guide rib 54 has a side 54R and an inclined surface 54i. The side 54R in the flat plate shape of the guide rib 54 is inclined with respect to the direction from the tape case 20 toward the ribbon case 22, that is, the vertical direction of the cassette 10. Among the surfaces in the plate thickness direction of the guide rib 54, the surface defined by a pair of inclined sides 54R is the inclined surface 54i. Note that the thickness direction of the guide rib 54 corresponds to the conveyance direction of the printing tape 22. The inclined surface 54i corresponds to the first inclined portion of the present invention. The angle formed by the inclined side 54R and the vertical direction of the cassette 10 is the inclination angle θi1. In the present embodiment, since the second circumferential wall 36 extends in the vertical direction of the cassette 10, the inclination angle θi1 corresponds to the angle formed by the inclined surface 54i and the second circumferential wall 36. As shown in FIG. 6, the protruding amounts of the individual guide ribs 54 may be different from each other, but the inclination angle θi1 of each guide rib 54 is the same angle.

[0049] FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining an example of the shape of the guide rib 54, and three modes (a) to (c) are described. FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XV-XV of FIG. 6. FIG. 15(a) corresponds to the example of FIG. 14 and has a protruding amount at the upper end of the guide rib 54, that is, at a position aligned with the upper end of the second circumferential wall 36. Then, as going downward along the inclined surface 54i, the protruding amount P1 of the guide rib 54 gradually increases and increases up to the position where the through-hole 52 is provided. On the other hand, when the inclined surface 54i reaches the through-hole 52, the protruding amount P1 does not increase any more. Therefore, the guide rib 54 does not extend above the through-hole 52. In other words, the upper region of the guide rib 54 in FIG. 15(a) where the inclined surface 54i is provided in the vertical direction has a trapezoidal shape, and the lower region than that has a rectangular shape continuous from the trapezoidal shape.

[0050] As shown in FIGS. 15(b) and (c), the guide rib 54 has a substantially triangular shape. In FIG. 15(b), the guide rib 54 has the apex of the triangular shape at the upper end of the second circumferential wall, and the protruding amount P1 gradually increases downward from there to form the inclined surface 54i. Further, when the inclined surface 54i reaches the bottom plate 14a, it is positioned at the boundary between the bottom plate 14a and the through-hole 52. In FIG. 15(c), the guide rib 54 is different from that in FIG. 15(b) in that it has the apex of the substantially triangular shape at a position below the upper end instead of at the upper end of the second circumferential wall 36. Also, at the lower end of the guide rib 54, that is, at the position where the guide rib 54 is in contact with the bottom plate 14a, the protruding amount P1 of the guide rib 54 is larger than that in FIG. 15(b), and the lower end of the guide rib 54 protrudes to a part of the through-hole 52, which is different. Note that the guide rib 54 can take other modes. For example, for each of the upper end and the lower end of the guide rib 54, it can be a combination of the shapes shown in different ones of FIGS. 15(a) to (c).

[0051] In any of the examples of FIGS. 15(a) to (c) described above, the length of the inclined surface 54i may be the same as or longer than the width of the printing tape 22. Alternatively, in the guide rib 54 or the like at a position where a part of the printing tape 22 in the width direction enters the through hole 52, the length of the inclined surface 54i may be shorter than the width of the printing tape 22. In short, the printing tape 22 does not necessarily need to contact the inclined portion 54i in its width direction. For example, different portions of the printing tape 22 in the width direction may contact the second circumferential wall 36 and the inclined portion 54i. Alternatively, different portions of the printing tape 22 in the width direction may contact the guide wall 50 of the case member 14 at a portion facing the second circumferential wall 36 and the inclined portion 54i, respectively.

[0052] FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view taken along the XVI-XVI line in FIG. 6, showing the printing tape 22. FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining how one of the guide ribs 54 constituting the first guide 130 contacts the printing tape 22 wound around the first guide 130. Among them, FIGS. 16(a) to (j) show the case where the shape of the guide rib 54 is as shown in FIG. 15(c), and FIG. 16(k) shows the case where the shape of the guide rib 54 is as shown in FIG. 15(a).

[0053] In FIG. 16(a), a mode is shown in which the printing tape 22 contacts only the lowermost part of the inclined surface 54i of the guide rib 54. In FIG. 16(b), a mode is shown in which the printing tape 22 contacts only the uppermost part of the inclined surface 54i. In FIG. 16(c), a mode is shown in which the printing tape 22 is in surface contact with the inclined surface 54i. Note that, as in FIGS. 16(a) and (b), the printing tape 22 contacts the inclined surface 54i only in a very short section, while the surface contact in FIG. 16(c) means a mode in which the printing tape 22 contacts the inclined surface 54i in a relatively large section compared to the cases of FIGS. 16(a) and (b). That is, the surface contact in the present embodiment includes not only the case where the printing tape 22 contacts the inclined surface 54i over the entire width direction but also the case where a part of the printing tape 22 in the width direction continuously contacts the inclined surface 54i.

[0054] In Fig. 16(d), the printing tape 22 is in contact with the lowermost part of the inclined surface 54i and is also in contact with the guide wall 50 facing through the guide rib 54 and the through hole 52. In Fig. 16(e), the printing tape 22 is in contact with the uppermost part of the inclined surface 54i and is also in contact with the guide wall 50 facing through the inclined surface 54i and the through hole 52. In Fig. 16(f), the printing tape 22 is in surface contact with the inclined surface 54i and is also in contact with the guide wall 50 facing through the guide rib 54 and the through hole 52.

[0055] In Fig. 16(g), the printing tape 22 is in contact with the second circumferential surface 36 located above the inclined surface 54i in the vertical direction of the case 10 without contacting the inclined surface 54i. Also, in Fig. 16(h), the printing tape 22 does not contact the inclined surface 54i but is in contact with the second circumferential surface 36 and the guide wall 50.

[0056] Fig. 16(i) shows a mode in which the printing tape 22 is in contact with a part of the inclined surface 54i and is also in contact with the second circumferential surface 36 located above the inclined surface 54i in the vertical direction of the case 10. In Fig. 16(i), although the printing tape 22 is in contact with the lowermost part of the inclined surface 54i, as long as the printing tape 22 is in contact with any one place of the inclined surface 54i other than the lowermost part, it is included in the mode of Fig. 16(i). In Fig. 16(j), the printing tape 22 is in contact with the lowermost part of the inclined surface 54i and is also in contact with the second circumferential surface 36 and the guide wall 50.

[0057] FIG. 16(k) shows an example of the contact mode of the printing tape 22 when the guide rib 54 has the shape shown in FIG. 15(a). In FIG. 16(k), the printing tape 22 does not contact the inclined surface 54i of the guide rib 54. However, the printing tape 22 is in contact with the lower portion 54j of the guide rib 54 that is located below the inclined surface 54i in the vertical direction of the cassette 10. In the lower portion 54j, as described above, since the protruding amount P1 does not increase in the vertical direction of the guide rib 54, the printing tape 22 in contact with the lower portion 54j appears as a vertical line segment in a cross section perpendicular to the conveying direction shown in FIG. 16(k). This means that the widthwise cross section of the printing tape 22 is conveyed so as to be parallel to the vertical direction of the cassette 10.

[0058] When the printing tape 22 is wound around the first guide 130, by taking the mode shown in FIGS. 16(a) to (f) or (i), at least a part of the printing tape 22 contacts the inclined surface 54i, so that the lower side in the width direction of the printing tape 22 bulges outward in the conveying direction of the cassette 10. Therefore, the conveying direction of the printing tape 22 is relatively changed to the lower side of the cassette 10.

[0059] Also, as shown in FIGS. 16(g) and (h), the printing tape 22 and the inclined surface 54i may not be in contact. A plurality of guide ribs 54 are provided on the first guide 130. Even if at least one of the guide ribs 54 takes the mode shown in FIGS. 16(g) and (h), by taking the mode shown in FIGS. 16(a) to (f) or (i) in the other guide ribs 54, it is possible to change the conveying direction of the printing tape 22 to the lower side of the cassette 10 relatively.

[0060] Also, in the modes shown in FIGS. 16(d), (e), (h) or (j), the printing tape 22 contacts the guide surface 50 facing the guide rib 54. By doing so, when the lower side in the width direction of the printing tape 22 bulges more than necessary and contacts the guide surface 50, the printing tape 22 is suppressed from bulging excessively.

[0061] Also, in the aspect shown in FIG. 16(k), since the printing tape 22 contacts the lower portion 54j of the guide rib 54 having a surface parallel to the vertical direction of the cassette 10, the printing tape 22 is conveyed so that the cross section in the width direction is parallel to the vertical direction of the cassette 10, and the conveyance direction of the printing tape 22 is not changed in the vertical direction.

[0062] Note that the aspects shown in FIGS. 16(a) to (k) are an example of the contact manner between the printing tape 22 and the guide rib 54, and other aspects may be taken.

[0063] FIG. 17 is a diagram for explaining an example of the shape of the guide rib 154. As shown in FIG. 17, the guide rib 154 is configured in a flat plate shape. The guide rib 154 is provided so as to project from the guide plate 57 of the third case member 16 in a direction away from the rotation center C1 of the printing tape roll 26, that is, toward the outside of the housing. Further, the guide rib 154 has a smaller protruding amount P2 from the guide plate 57 as it goes downward in the vertical direction of the cassette 10, that is, downward in the direction from the tape case 20 toward the ribbon case 22. The protruding amount P2 is set to a size that does not block the through hole 58 provided between the ceiling plate 16a and the outer walls 59a and 59b of the third case member 16 at the end of the guide rib 154 on the ceiling plate 16a side.

[0064] One of the sides of the guide rib 154 in its flat plate shape is inclined with respect to the vertical direction of the cassette 10. Among the surfaces in the thickness direction of the guide rib 154, the surface defined by the pair of inclined sides 154R is the inclined surface 154i. Note that the thickness direction of the guide rib 154 corresponds to the conveyance direction of the printing tape 22, and the inclined surface 154i corresponds to the second inclined portion of the present invention. The angle formed by the inclined side 154R and the vertical direction of the cassette 10 is the inclination angle θi2. In the present embodiment, since the guide plate 57 extends in the vertical direction of the cassette 10, the inclination angle θi2 corresponds to the angle formed by the inclined surface 154i and the guide plate 57. Note that the protruding amounts of the individual guide ribs 154 may be different from each other, but the inclination angles θi2 of the respective guide ribs 154 are the same angle.

[0065] The guide rib 154 has a substantially triangular shape. The guide rib 154 has a base of a substantially triangular shape at the upper end of the guide plate 57 and is connected to the ceiling plate 16a of the third case member 16. Also, at the base of the substantially triangular shape, the protruding amount P2 of the guide rib 154 from the guide plate 57 is the largest. And, as it goes downward from the base of the substantially triangular shape, the protruding amount P2 gradually decreases to form an inclined surface 154i. Also, at the intermediate position in the vertical direction of the cassette 10 of the guide plate 57, the protruding amount P2 becomes 0. That is, the lower end of the guide rib 154 corresponding to the lower apex of the substantially triangular shape is provided.

[0066] FIG. 18 is a diagram for explaining an example of the shape of the guide rib 164. As shown in FIG. 18, the guide rib 164 is configured in a flat plate shape. The guide rib 164 is provided so as to protrude from the guide plate 57 of the third case member 16 in a direction away from the rotation center C1 of the printing tape roll 26, that is, toward the outside of the housing. Also, the protruding amount P3 of the guide rib 164 from the guide plate 57 becomes smaller as it goes downward in the vertical direction of the cassette 10, that is, in the direction from the tape case 20 toward the ribbon case 22. This protruding amount P3 is set to a size that does not block the through hole 58 provided between the ceiling plate 16a and the outer walls 59a, 59b of the third case member 16 at the end on the ceiling plate 16a side of the guide rib 164.

[0067] One of the sides of the guide rib 164 in its flat plate shape is inclined with respect to the vertical direction of the cassette 10. Of the surfaces in the plate thickness direction of the guide rib 164, the surface defined by the pair of inclined sides 164R is the inclined surface 164i. Note that the thickness direction of the guide rib 164 corresponds to the conveyance direction of the printing tape 22, and the inclined surface 164i corresponds to the third inclined portion of the present invention. The angle formed by the inclined side 164R and the vertical direction of the cassette 10 is the inclination angle θi3. In the present embodiment, since the guide plate 57 extends in the vertical direction of the cassette 10, the inclination angle θi3 corresponds to the angle formed by the inclined surface 164i and the guide plate 57. Note that the protruding amounts of the individual guide ribs 164 may be different from each other, but the inclination angle θi3 of each guide rib 164 is set to the same angle.

[0068] The guide rib 164 has a substantially triangular shape. The guide rib 164 has a substantially triangular bottom at the upper end of the guide plate 57 and is connected to the ceiling plate 16a of the third case member 16. Also, at the substantially triangular bottom, the protruding amount P3 of the guide rib 164 from the guide plate 57 is the largest. The protruding amount P3 gradually decreases downward from the substantially triangular bottom to form the inclined surface 154i. Also, at the lower end of the guide plate 57 in the vertical direction of the cassette 10, the protruding amount P3 becomes 0. That is, the lower end of the guide rib 154 corresponding to the lower apex of the substantially triangular shape is provided.

[0069] Note that in any of the guide ribs 154 and 164 shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the lengths of the inclined surfaces 154i and 164i may be the same as or longer than the width of the printing tape 22. Alternatively, in the guide rib 154 and the like at the position where a part of the printing tape 22 in the width direction enters the through hole 58, the length of the inclined surface 154i may be shorter than the width of the printing tape 22. The point is that the printing tape 22 does not necessarily need to contact the inclined portions 154i and 164i in its width direction. For example, different portions of the printing tape 22 in the width direction may contact the guide wall 57 and the inclined portions 154i and 164i. Alternatively, different portions of the printing tape 22 in the width direction may contact the inner surfaces of the outer walls 59a and 59b of the case member 16 that face the second and third guides 132 and 134 and the inclined portions 154i and 164i, respectively.

[0070] Here, the first inclination angle θi1 of the guide rib 54 of the first guide 130 is set to a value larger than the second inclination angle θi2 of the guide rib 154 of the second guide 132. That is, θi1 > θi2. Also, the second inclination angle θi2 of the guide rib 154 of the second guide 132 is made larger than the third inclination angle θi3 of the guide rib 164 of the third guide 134. That is, θi2 > θi3.

[0071] FIG. 19 is a diagram showing, in the upper and lower parts respectively in a comparable manner, the vertical position in the cassette 10 of the conveyance path of the printing tape 22 and the conveyance angle θT of the printing tape 22 when the printing tape 22 is conveyed from the printing tape roll 26 to the concave groove 11. The horizontal axis shows the position where the conveyance path of the printing tape is developed in the circumferential direction of the cassette 10. The conveyance angle θT is the angle with respect to the bottom surface 19 of the cassette 10 at the widthwise end of the printing tape 22. The bottom surface 19 is the flat portion of the fourth case member 18 as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. The bottom surface 19 corresponds to the bottom surface of the present invention.

[0072] In the section up to (A) of FIG. 19, that is, before being wound around the first guide 130, the printing tape 22 pulled out from the printing tape roll 26 travels parallel to the printing tape 22 wound around the printing tape roll 26. In other words, it travels on the plane of the bottom plate 14a of the second case member 14. That is, the conveyance direction (in other words, the traveling direction) of the printing tape 22 is a direction parallel to the bottom plate 14a. In the present embodiment, since it is parallel to the bottom surface 19 of the housing, the conveyance angle at this time, that is, the conveyance angle θT (rad), which is the angle with respect to the bottom surface of the housing (in other words, the fourth case member 18) at the widthwise end of the printing tape 22, is 0. In other words, the widthwise end of the printing tape 22 and the bottom surface of the housing are parallel.

[0073] Next, in FIG. 19(A), for example, the printing tape 22 is wound around the first guide 130 provided at the corner K1. Then, in the section up to (B), for example, it is sequentially brought into sliding contact with a plurality of guide ribs 54. As a result, the printing tape 22 bulges outward from the inside to the outside of the cassette 10 more toward the lower side in its width direction, and the conveyance direction of the printing tape 22 has a downward component, and the conveyance direction is changed obliquely downward. Particularly in the first guide 130, since the inclination angle θi1 of the guide rib 54 is set to a larger value compared to the inclination angle θi2 of the guide rib 154 of the second guide 132 and the inclination angle θi3 of the guide rib 164 of the third guide 134, the conveyance angle θT changes greatly downward. Note that the conveyance angle θT shown in the lower part of FIG. 19 corresponds to the fact that the conveyance angle θT includes a downward component more as it goes downward along the vertical axis.

[0074] Here, as shown in FIG. 19, the conveyance angle θT of the printing tape 22 is gradually changed from 0 before passing through the first guide 130 to θT1 after passing through the first guide 130 in the section (A) to (B) where the printing tape 22 passes through the first guide 130. The change amount θT1 of the conveyance angle θT of the printing tape 22 accompanying the passage through the first guide 130 is determined based on the inclination angle θi1 of the guide rib 54 in the first guide 130. Note that the change amount θT1 of the conveyance angle θT of the printing tape 22 after passing through the section (A) to (B) corresponds to the first conveyance angle of the present invention.

[0075] The section (B) to (C) in FIG. 19 is a section where the printing tape 22 is conveyed along the long sides 46b and 59b of the cassette 10. The printing tape 22, whose conveyance angle θT has been changed downward by a relatively large amount θT1 by the first guide 130, is moved along the long sides 46b and 59b having a relatively long distance, so that the printing tape 22 is greatly moved downward of the case 10 from the tape case 20 to the ribbon case 21. Note that the length LB of the long sides 46b and 59b corresponding to the section (B) to (C), that is, corresponding to from the corner K1 to the corner K2, is longer than the length LA of the short side 59a corresponding to the section (D) to (E) described later, that is, corresponding to from the corner K2 to K3.

[0076] Subsequently, in FIG. 19(C), for example, the printing tape 22 is wound around the second guide 132 provided at the corner K2. Then, in the section up to (D), for example, it is sequentially brought into sliding contact with a plurality of guide ribs 154. As a result, the printing tape 22 bulges outward from the inside to the outside of the cassette 10 more on the upper side in its width direction, and the conveyance direction of the printing tape 22 is relatively changed upward. However, particularly since the inclination angle θi1 of the guide rib 54 in the first guide 130 is larger than the inclination angle θi2 of the guide rib 154 in the second guide 132, the conveyance direction of the printing tape 22 after passing through the second guide 132 is still obliquely downward, but the magnitude of the conveyance angle θT changes from θT1 before passing through the second guide 132 to θT2 which is a smaller value than that. In other words, the angle formed by the conveyance direction of the printing tape 22 with respect to the fourth case member 18 which is the bottom surface of the cassette 10 becomes smaller. Note that the change amount θT2 of the conveyance angle θT of the printing tape 22 after passing through the section (C) to (D) corresponds to the second conveyance angle of the present invention.

[0077] In the section (C) to (D) as well, similar to the section (A) to (B), the conveyance angle θT of the printing tape 22 is gradually, that is, continuously changed. The change amount θT2 - θT1 of the conveyance angle θT of the printing tape 22 accompanying the passage through the second guide 132 is determined based on the inclination angle θi2 of the guide rib 154 in the second guide 132.

[0078] The section (D) to (E) in FIG. 19 is a section where the printing tape 22 is conveyed along the short side 59a of the cassette 10. The printing tape 22 whose conveyance angle θT has been changed to θT2 by the second guide 130 is moved along the short side 59a, so that the printing tape 22 is moved downward in the case 10 and the conveyance angle θT is set to a relatively small value.

[0079] Subsequently, in (E) of FIG. 19, for example, the printing tape 22 is wound around a third guide 134 provided at the corner K3. Then, in the section up to (F), it is sequentially brought into sliding contact with, for example, a plurality of guide ribs 164. In this section (E) to (F), similar to the aforementioned section (C) to (D), the printing tape 22 bulges out from the inside to the outside of the cassette 10 more at the upper side in its width direction, and the conveyance direction of the printing tape 22 is continuously changed relatively upward. Here, since the inclination angle θi3 of the guide rib 164 of the third guide 134 is designed such that the conveyance angle θT of the printing tape 22 passing through the third guide becomes 0, the conveyance direction of the printing tape 22 after passing through the third guide 134 is the same as the direction before passing through the first guide 130, that is, the magnitude of the conveyance angle θT becomes 0.

[0080] Since the inclination angle θi3 of the guide rib 164 of the third guide is set to a value smaller than the inclination angle θi2 of the guide rib 154 of the second guide, the change amount θT2 of the conveyance angle θT in the section (E) to (F) is made smaller than the change amount θT1 - θT2 of the conveyance angle θT in the section (C) to (D). Therefore, the change amount of the conveyance angle θT in the section (E) to (F) where the conveyance angle θT is changed to 0 toward the concave groove 11 can be made relatively smaller than the change amount in the section (C) to (D), so that the twisting of the printing tape 22 when the printing tape 22 passes through the third guide 134 can be reduced.

[0081] (G) of FIG. 19 is the position corresponding to the printing tape guide 170, and the printing tape 22 whose conveyance angle θT is set to 0 in the section (E) to (F), that is, the printing tape 22 conveyed parallel to the bottom surface of the cassette 10, is passed through the printing tape guide 170, whereby its width direction position is finely adjusted.

[0082] FIG. 20 is a view showing the lower surface of the third case member 16 when the cassette 10 is mounted on the cassette mounting portion 104 of the printing apparatus 102. The printing tape 22 is drawn out from the printing tape roll 26 shown in FIG. 6. The printing tape 22 is obliquely bridged from the first space S1 in the tape case 20 shown in FIG. 3 to the second space S2 in the ribbon case 21 through the through hole 52 and the through hole 58 shown in FIG. 20 as shown in FIG. 8. Therefore, in FIG. 20, the printing tape 22 is drawn from the through hole 58 behind the third case member 16. As shown in FIG. 20, the printing tape 22 and the bonding tape 60 are sandwiched between the roller 80 and the pressing roller 118 of the printing apparatus 102, and are respectively drawn out from the printing tape roll 26 shown in FIG. 6 and the bonding tape roll 64 shown in FIG. 20 by the driving of the roller 80. The ink ribbon 68 is drawn out from the ink ribbon roll 72 by the driving of the take-up spool 76 and is wound around the take-up spool 76. The printing tape 22 is shown by a two-dot chain line, the bonding tape 60 is shown by a broken line, and the ink ribbon 68 is shown by a one-dot chain line.

[0083] As shown in FIG. 20, at the printing location P between the print head 106 and the platen roller 116, the printing tape 22 is pressed against the print head 106 via the ink ribbon 68. In this state, a plurality of heating elements disposed on the surface of the print head 106 are selectively driven to generate local heat. As a result, a part of the ink 68a provided on one surface of the ink ribbon 68 is transferred to the printing tape 22, and characters, symbols, etc. are printed on the printing tape 22. The used ink ribbon 68 that has passed through the printing location P is wound around the take-up spool 76. The printed surface of the printing tape 22 that has passed through the printing location P is adhered by pressing the transparent bonding tape 60 with the roller 80 and the pressing roller 118 of the printing apparatus 102. Thereby, the printed surface of the printing tape 22 is protected by the bonding tape 60.

[0084] FIG. 21 schematically shows a laminate of the printed tape 22 and the bonding tape 60 sent out from the cassette 10. As described above, as shown in FIG. 21, the printed tape 22 is configured by laminating a release tape 22c on a surface opposite to the printed surface of the tape to be printed 22a via an adhesive 22b. By the nip between the roller 80 shown in FIG. 20 and the pressing roller 118 of the printing device 102, as shown in FIG. 21, the bonding tape 60 composed of a transparent film 60a with an adhesive 60b applied on one surface is attached to the side of the tape to be printed 22a of the printed tape 22, that is, the printed surface side. Thereby, the ink 68a transferred to the printed surface of the printed tape 22 is protected.

[0085] FIG. 22 is a view showing the lower surface of the third case member 16. As shown in FIG. 2, the ribbon case 21 is disposed so as to overlap downward with respect to the tape case 20. In FIG. 22, when the printed tape roll 26 and the spacer film 38 accommodated in the tape case 20 are projected in the vertical direction onto a projection plane extending in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction within the second space S2, the projection positions of the printed tape roll 26 and the spacer film 38 are indicated by the one-dot chain line in FIG. 22. Since the spacer film 38 has substantially the same diameter as the printed tape roll 26 when not in use, only the one-dot chain line representing the printed tape roll 26 is shown in FIG. 22. As shown in FIG. 22, the bonding tape roll 64, the ink ribbon roll 72, and the take-up spool 76 are disposed at positions overlapping the printed tape roll 26 in the vertical direction. At least a part of the bonding tape roll 64 and at least a part of the bonding spool 62 overlap the printed tape roll 26 in the vertical direction. More specifically, a part of the bonding tape roll 64 and a part of the bonding spool 62 overlap the printed tape spool 24 and the printed tape 22 wound around the printed tape spool 24, respectively, in the vertical direction.

[0086] As shown in FIG. 22, the diameter of the printing tape roll 26 is larger than the diameter of the bonding tape roll 64, the diameter of the bonding tape roll 64 is larger than the diameter of the ink ribbon roll 72, and the diameter of the ink ribbon roll 72 is larger than the diameter of the take-up spool 76. The size (diameter dimension d) of the printing tape roll 26 in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction, that is, the diameter of the printing tape roll 26, is larger than half the size of the cassette 10 in each of the front-rear direction and the left-right direction. In other words, the left-right dimension of the printing tape roll 26 is larger than half the dimension L of the cassette 10 in the left-right direction, and the front-rear dimension of the printing tape roll 26 is larger than half the dimension of the cassette 10 in the front-rear direction.

[0087] Further, the printing tape roll 26 overlaps with the second rotation center line C2 of the bonding tape roll 64, the third rotation center line C3 of the ink ribbon roll 72, and the fourth rotation center line C4 of the take-up spool 76 in the vertical direction, that is, in the vertical direction of the cassette 10. In other words, the second rotation center line C2 of the bonding tape roll 64, the third rotation center line C3 of the ink ribbon roll 72, and the fourth rotation center line C4 of the take-up spool 76 are located within the projection plane of the printing tape roll 26 in the vertical direction. Also, a part of the bonding tape roll 64 and the bonding spool 62 overlap with the printing tape roll 26 and the spacer film 38 in the vertical direction. At least a part of the supply spool 70, at least a part of the ink ribbon roll 72, and at least a part of the take-up spool 76 overlap with the printing tape roll 26 and the spacer film 38 in the vertical direction. That is, at least a part of each of the bonding tape roll 64, the bonding spool 62, the supply spool 70, and the ink ribbon roll 72 is located within the projection plane of the printing tape roll 26 and the spacer film 38 in the vertical direction.

[0088] Also, the distance between the second rotation center line C2 of the bonding tape roll 64 and the third rotation center line C3 of the ink ribbon roll 72 is greater than the distance between the second rotation center line C2 of the bonding tape roll 64 and the fourth rotation center line C4 of the take-up spool 76 and the distance between the third rotation center line C3 of the ink ribbon roll 72 and the fourth rotation center line C4 of the take-up spool 76. The distance between the second rotation center line C2 of the bonding tape roll 64 and the fourth rotation center line C4 of the take-up spool 76 is greater than the distance between the third rotation center line C3 of the ink ribbon roll 72 and the fourth rotation center line C4 of the take-up spool 76.

[0089] In FIG. 22, the first rotation center line C1 of the printing tape roll 26 is located near the midpoint of the straight line connecting between the second rotation center line C2 of the bonding tape roll 64 and the third rotation center line C3 of the ink ribbon roll 72. The first rotation center line C1 overlaps the bonding tape roll 64 in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction. That is, the rotation center of the printing tape roll 26 overlaps the bonding tape roll 64 in the vertical direction. The fourth rotation center line C4 of the take-up spool 76 is located on the side opposite to the concave groove 11 of the straight line. The distance between the fourth rotation center line C4 and the first center line C1 is shorter than the distance between the third rotation center line C3 and the first center line C1, and shorter than the distance between the second rotation center line C2 and the first center line C1.

[0090] Also, as shown in FIG. 22, in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction, the distance between the center position M, which is the center in the front-rear direction of the cassette 10 and also the center in the left-right direction, and the first rotation center line C1, which is the rotation center of the printing tape roll 26, is smaller than the distance between the center position M and the second rotation center line C2, which is the rotation center of the bonding tape roll 64. Also, in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction, the distance between the center position M and the first rotation center line C1 of the printing tape roll 26 is shorter than the distance between the center position M and the third rotation center line C3 of the ink ribbon roll 72, and shorter than the distance between the center position M and the fourth rotation center line C4 of the take-up spool 76. That is, in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction, the first rotation center line C1 is arranged closer to the center of the cassette 10 than any of the second rotation center line C2 to the fourth rotation center line C4.

[0091] FIG. 23 is a sectional view taken along line XVII-XVII of FIG. 6. In the vertical direction, the distance D between one end (lower end) of the printing tape roll 26 in the vertical direction and the other end (upper end) of the bonding tape roll 64 in the vertical direction is smaller than the length in one direction of the bonding tape roll 64 (the width dimension W1 of the bonding tape 60). Since the printing tape 22 and the bonding tape 60 have substantially the same width dimension, the distance D is smaller than the width dimension of the printing tape roll 26.

[0092] Then, in the front-rear direction orthogonal to the vertical direction and the left-right direction orthogonal to the vertical direction and the front-rear direction, the distance from the center position M, which is the center in the front-rear direction and the center in the left-right direction of the cassette, to the first rotation center line C1, which is the rotation center of the printing tape roll 26, is smaller than the distance from the center position M to the second rotation center line C2, which is the rotation center of the bonding tape roll 64. The diameter of the printing tape roll 26 is larger than that of the bonding tape roll 64. The size (area) of the convex envelope (line) H formed by connecting the outer peripheral circles of the supply spool 70 around which the printing tape roll 26, the take-up spool 76, and the ink ribbon 68 are wound with a tangent line is set to be larger than half of the areas of the tape case 20 and the ribbon case 21 in a plane including the front-rear direction and the left-right direction orthogonal to the vertical direction.

[0093] FIG. 24 is a diagram for explaining a cassette mounting portion 104 provided in a part of a printing apparatus 102 to which a cassette 10 is mounted. FIG. 24 is a view seen from the upper surface side. The cassette mounting portion 104 is provided with a rectangular mounting hole 112 for positioning the inserted cassette 10, and a take-up spool drive shaft 108 and a roller drive shaft 110 erected on the bottom surface of the mounting hole 112. The mounting hole 112 functions as a housing portion for housing a part of a ribbon case 21 which is a lower case of the cassette 10. These take-up spool drive shaft 108 and roller drive shaft 110 are rotationally driven in the same direction via a gear mechanism by a stepping motor (not shown). Further, on the bottom surface of the mounting hole 112 of the cassette mounting portion 104, a head holding plate 114 to which a thermal printing head (thermal print head) 106 is fixed is erected, and a platen holding member 120 provided rotatably at the tip portion with a platen roller 116 and a pressing roller 118 is provided rotatably around its base end portion. The head holding plate 114 is, for example, a metal plate made of aluminum and also serves as a heat sink for the printing head.

[0094] When the cassette 10 is mounted on the cassette mounting portion 104 of the printing apparatus 102, the take-up spool drive shaft 108 and the roller drive shaft 110 erected on the cassette mounting portion 104 are respectively connected to the connecting portions 80a of the take-up spool 76 and the roller 80. Next, when a cover (not shown) of the printing apparatus 102 is closed with the cassette 10 mounted on the cassette mounting portion 104, the platen holding member 120 is rotated around its base end portion so that the platen roller 116 and the pressing roller 118 are pressed against the printing head 106 and the roller 80 of the cassette 10. The printing apparatus 102 and the cassette 10 constitute a printing system 122.

[0095] According to the cassette 10 of the foregoing embodiment, a tape case 20 and a ribbon case 21 that overlap in the vertical direction, a printing tape roll 26 provided in the tape case 20 and configured by winding a printing tape 22, a direction from the tape case 20 to the ribbon case 21, that is, a first guide 130 having an inclined surface 54i inclined at a first inclination angle θi1 with respect to the vertical direction of the cassette 10, a second guide 132 having an inclined surface 154i inclined at a second inclination angle θi2 with respect to the vertical direction of the cassette 10, and a third guide 134 provided on a third case member 16 constituting the ribbon case 21 are provided. The inclined surface 54i is formed so as to be separated from the printing tape roll 26 as the vertical direction of the cassette 10 goes toward the ribbon case 21 side, and the inclined surface 154i is formed so as to approach the printing tape roll 26 as the vertical direction of the cassette 10 goes toward the ribbon case 21 side. Since the printing tape 22 is guided in the order of the first guide 130, the second guide 132, and the third guide 134, it is possible to suppress a conveyance failure of the printing tape 22 by changing the conveyance angle θT of the printing tape 22 while the printing tape 22 is being conveyed between layers from the tape case 20 to the ribbon case 21.

[0096] Further, according to the foregoing embodiment, since the inclination angle θi1 of the inclined surface 54i of the first guide 130 is larger than the inclination angle θi2 of the inclined surface 154i of the second guide 132, the conveyance path of the printing tape 22 inclined toward the ink ribbon case 21 side by the inclined surface 54i of the first guide 130 is returned only by a part of the inclination by the inclined surface 154i of the second guide 132. That is, after passing through the inclined surface 154i of the second guide 132, the conveyance path of the printing tape 22 has an inclination between before and after passing through the first guide 130. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a conveyance failure of the printing tape 22 by changing the conveyance angle θT of the printing tape 22 while the printing tape 22 is being conveyed between layers from the tape case 20 to the ribbon case 21.

[0097] Also, according to the above-described embodiment, the third guide 134 has an inclined surface 164i inclined at an inclination angle θi3 with respect to the vertical direction of the cassette 10. The inclined surface 164i is formed so as to approach the printing tape roll 26 along the vertical direction of the cassette 10 from the tape case 20 toward the ribbon case 21. Therefore, since the inclination of the conveyance path of the printing tape 22 returned by the second guide 132 is further returned by the third guide 134, the conveyance failure of the printing tape 22 can be suppressed by changing the conveyance angle θT of the printing tape 22 while the printing tape 22 is being conveyed between layers from the tape case 20 to the ribbon case 21.

[0098] Also, according to the above-described embodiment, since the inclination angle θi3 of the inclined surface 164i of the third guide 134 is smaller than the inclination angle θi2 of the inclined surface 154i of the second guide 132, the magnitude θT2 of the inclination θT of the conveyance path of the printing tape 22 returned by the third guide 134 before the printing tape 22 is conveyed to the concave groove 11 which is the head space can be made smaller than the magnitude (θT1 - θT2) of the inclination returned by the second guide 132. Therefore, the conveyance failure of the printing tape 22 can be suppressed by changing the conveyance angle θT of the printing tape 22 while the printing tape 22 is being conveyed between layers from the tape case 20 to the ribbon case 21.

[0099] Also, according to the above-described embodiment, the first guide 130 is provided radially outside the outer edge of the printing tape roll 26 with respect to the rotation center C1 of the printing tape roll 26, and includes a plurality of guide ribs 54 protruding in a direction away from the rotation center C1. The tip of each of the plurality of guide ribs 54 is inclined so that the protrusion amount P1 increases in the direction toward the vertical direction of the cassette 10, thereby forming an inclined surface 54i. Therefore, the inclined surface 54i can be configured by the tips of the guide ribs 54. Thus, the conveyance failure of the printing tape 22 can be suppressed by changing the conveyance angle θT of the printing tape 22 while the printing tape 22 is being conveyed between layers from the tape case 20 to the ribbon case 21.

[0100] Also, according to the above-described embodiment, the second guide 132 includes a plurality of guide ribs 154 that protrude in a direction away from the rotation center C1, and the tip of each of the plurality of guide ribs 154 is inclined so that the protrusion amount P2 decreases in the vertical direction of the cassette 10, thereby forming an inclined surface 154i. Therefore, the inclined surface 154i can be formed by the tips of the guide ribs 154. During the conveyance of the printing tape 22 between layers from the tape case 20 to the ribbon case 21, the conveyance failure of the printing tape 22 can be suppressed by changing the conveyance angle θT of the printing tape 22.

[0101] Also, according to the above-described embodiment, the third guide includes a plurality of guide ribs 164 that protrude in a direction away from the rotation center C1, and the tip of each of the plurality of guide ribs 164 is inclined so that the protrusion amount P3 decreases in the vertical direction of the cassette 10, thereby forming an inclined surface 164i. Therefore, the inclined surface 164i can be formed by the tips of the guide ribs 164. During the conveyance of the printing tape 22 between layers from the tape case 20 to the ribbon case 21, the conveyance failure of the printing tape 22 can be suppressed by changing the conveyance angle θT of the printing tape 22.

[0102] Also, according to the above-described embodiment, the cassette 10 includes a plurality of cases 12, 14, 16, 18, and the third guide 134 is provided in one of the plurality of cases, i.e., the case 16. The case 16 includes a printing tape guide 170 that regulates the position of the printing tape 22 in the width direction. Therefore, when the printing tape 22 passes through the case 16, the inclination of the conveyance direction of the printing tape 22 is restored by the third guide 134, that is, the conveyance angle θT becomes 0, and the position of the printing tape 22 in the width direction is regulated by the printing tape guide 170. During the conveyance of the printing tape 22 between layers from the tape case 20 to the ribbon case 21, the conveyance failure of the printing tape 22 can be suppressed by changing the conveyance angle θT of the printing tape 22.

[0103] Also, according to the above-described embodiment, since the second guide 132 is provided in the one case 16, the inclination of the conveyance direction of the printing tape 22 is corrected by the second guide 132 and the third guide 134 both provided in the one case 16, and one in the width direction of the printing tape 22 is restricted by the printing tape guide 170. Therefore, during the conveyance of the printing tape 22 from the tape case 20 to the ribbon case 21 through layers, the conveyance failure of the printing tape 22 can be suppressed by changing the conveyance angle θT of the printing tape 22.

[0104] Also, according to the above-described embodiment, since the first guide is provided in another case 14 different from the one case 16, the inclination of the conveyance direction of the printing tape 22 is inclined by the first guide 130 provided in another case 14 different from the one case 16, while the inclination of the conveyance direction of the printing tape 22 is corrected by the second guide 132 and the third guide 134 provided in the one case 16, and the position in the width direction of the printing tape 22 is restricted by the printing tape guide 170. Therefore, during the conveyance of the printing tape 22 from the tape case 20 to the ribbon case 21 through layers, the conveyance failure of the printing tape 22 can be suppressed by changing the conveyance angle θT of the printing tape 22.

[0105] Also, according to the above-described embodiment, the cassette 10 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and the first guide 130, the second guide 132, and the third guide 134 are respectively provided at different corners K1, K2, K3 of the housing corresponding to any of the vertical sides of the cassette 10. The length LB of the side of the cassette 10 from the corner K1 where the first guide 130 is provided to the corner K2 where the second guide 132 is provided is greater than the length LA of the side of the cassette 10 from the corner K2 where the second guide 132 is provided to the corner K3 where the third guide 134 is provided. Therefore, the first to third guides 130, 132, 134 can be arranged by utilizing the corner space of the cassette 10. Also, since the distance LB in the conveyance direction in which the printing tape 22 is conveyed by the first guide 130 is longer than the distance LA in the conveyance direction in which the printing tape 22 is returned by the second guide 132, during the conveyance of the printing tape 22 from the tape case 20 to the ribbon case 21 through different layers, the conveyance failure of the printing tape 22 can be suppressed by changing the conveyance angle θT of the printing tape 22.

[0106] Also, according to the above-described embodiment, the ink ribbon case 21 is provided with an ink ribbon 68, a supply spool 70 for the ink ribbon 68, and a take-up spool 76 for the ink ribbon 68. Since the printing tape 22 is a medium to be printed, the printing tape 22 wound around the printing tape roll 26 provided in the tape case 20 is conveyed to the groove 11 provided in the ink ribbon case 21 through a conveyance path. On the other hand, in the cassette 10 in which the ink ribbon 68 is supplied from the supply spool 70 provided in the ink ribbon case 21 and wound around the take-up spool 76, during the conveyance of the printing tape 22 from the tape case 20 to the ribbon case 21 through different layers, the conveyance failure of the printing tape 22 can be suppressed by changing the conveyance angle θT of the printing tape 22.

[0107] According to the above-described embodiment, since the bonding tape roll 64 around which the bonding tape 60 is wound is provided in the ink ribbon case 21, the printing tape 22 wound around the printing tape roll 26 provided in the tape case 20 is conveyed to the groove 11 provided in the ink ribbon case 21 through the conveyance path. On the other hand, in the cassette 10 in a mode in which the bonding tape 60 is wound around the bonding tape roll 64 provided in the ribbon case 21 and supplied, even when the printing tape 22 is conveyed between the tape case 20 and the ribbon case 21 through the layers, it is possible to suppress conveyance failure of the printing tape 22 by changing the conveyance angle θT of the printing tape 22.

[0108] Furthermore, according to the foregoing embodiment, the cassette 10 includes a tape case 20 and a ribbon case 21 in a multi-layered manner, a housing having a concave groove 11 and a fourth case member 18 serving as a bottom surface in the ribbon case 21, a printed tape roll 26 provided in the tape case 20 and configured by winding a printed tape 22, a first guide 130 provided on the tape case 20 side, a third guide 134 provided in the ribbon case 21, and a second guide 132 provided between the first guide 130 and the third guide 134 in the conveyance path of the printed tape 22. The printed tape 22 is bridged between the first guide 130 and the second guide 132 and between the second guide 132 and the third guide 134 such that the widthwise ends of the printed tape 22 are inclined with respect to the fourth case member 18 serving as the bottom surface. The printed tape 22 is bridged between the third guide 134 and the concave groove 11 such that the widthwise ends of the printed tape 22 are parallel to the fourth case member 18. The printed tape 22 is provided to move from the tape case 20 to the ribbon case 21 and reach the concave groove 11 by being guided in order between the first guide 130, the second guide 132, and the third guide 134. The conveyance angle θT1 of the widthwise end of the printed tape 22 bridged between the first guide 130 and the second guide 132 with respect to the fourth case member 18 is larger than the conveyance angle θT2 of the widthwise end of the printed tape 22 bridged between the second guide 132 and the third guide 134 with respect to the fourth case member 18. Therefore, the printed tape 22 is tilted by the first guide 130 so that its conveyance direction becomes the conveyance angle θT1 and is conveyed to the second guide 132, while the inclination is returned by the second guide 132 so that the conveyance angle becomes θT2 and is conveyed to the third guide 134. Then, the conveyance angle θT is further set to 0 so as to be parallel to the fourth case member 18 by the third guide 134 and is conveyed to the concave groove 11. Therefore, during the conveyance of the printed tape 22 between the layers from the tape case 20 to the ribbon case 21, conveyance failure of the printed tape 22 can be suppressed by changing the conveyance angle θT of the printed tape 22.

[0109] Also, according to the above-described embodiment, the conveyance angle θT, which is the angle of the fourth case member 18 with respect to the widthwise end of the printing tape 22, is 0 degrees in the state where the printing tape 22 is wound. The conveyance angle θT continuously increases from upstream to downstream in the conveyance direction of the printing tape 22 around the first guide 130. The conveyance angle θT is constant between the first guide 130 and the second guide 132. The conveyance angle θT continuously decreases from upstream to downstream in the conveyance direction of the printing tape 22 around the second guide 132. The conveyance angle θT is constant between the second guide 132 and the third guide 134. The conveyance angle θT continuously decreases from upstream to downstream in the conveyance direction of the printing tape 22 around the third guide 134 until it reaches 0 degrees. The conveyance angle θT is 0 degrees between the third guide 134 and the concave groove 11. Therefore, when the printing tape 22 is guided by each of the first to third guides 130, 132, and 134, the conveyance angle θT is continuously changed, so that the distortion of the medium can be reduced. Also, between the first and second guides 130 and 132 and between the second and third guides 132 and 134, since the conveyance angle θT is made constant, the printing tape 22 can be stably conveyed. Therefore, during the conveyance of the printing tape 22 from the tape case 20 to the ribbon case 21 through the layers, conveyance failure of the printing tape 22 can be suppressed by changing the conveyance angle θT of the printing tape 22.

[0110] As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is also applicable to other aspects.

[0111] For example, in the above-described embodiment, the thermal transfer method in which the ink 68a of the ink ribbon 68 is transferred to the printing tape 22 by the heat of the head is adopted, but it is not limited to such a mode. That is, a cassette 10 adopting a thermal printing method that does not require an ink ribbon 68 can be configured by applying a so-called thermal ink that develops color when the surface of the printing tape 22 reaches a predetermined temperature or higher. In this case, it is not necessary to provide a supply spool 70 for supplying the ink ribbon 68 and a take-up spool 76 for taking up the used ink ribbon 68, and the bottom area of the cassette 10 can be further reduced, or the storage capacity of the printing tape 22 and the bonding tape 60 can be increased while maintaining the bottom area of the cassette. In addition, the configuration inside the cassette 10 can be made simpler.

[0112] Also, in the above-described embodiment, the bonding tape 60 is bonded to the surface of the printed printing tape 22 after printing, but it is not limited to such a mode. That is, the bonding tape 60 is not an essential requirement, and the printed printing tape 22 may be discharged as it is. In this case, it is not necessary to provide a bonding tape roll 64 around which the bonding tape 60 is wound inside the cassette 10, and the bottom area of the cassette 10 can be further reduced, or the storage capacity of the printing tape 22 can be increased while maintaining the bottom area of the cassette. In addition, the configuration inside the cassette 10 can be made simpler. Also, even when the above-described thermal printing method is adopted, a configuration not using the bonding tape 60 can be applied similarly.

[0113] Also, the cassette 10 of the above embodiment includes the roller 80, but it may not include the roller 80. Further, the printing tape roll 26, the bonding tape roll 64, the ink ribbon roll 72, and the take-up spool 76 do not have to be provided horizontally with respect to the front-rear direction and the left-right direction. For example, when the bonding tape roll 64 is not provided horizontally with respect to the front-rear direction and the left-right direction, the width direction of the bonding tape 60 is different from the up-down direction of the above embodiment, and the direction orthogonal to the radial direction of the bonding tape roll 64 is also different from the up-down direction of the above embodiment.

[0114] Also, the conveyance paths of the bonding tape 60 and the ink ribbon 68 are not limited to the paths shown in FIG. 20, and various paths can be adopted as appropriate. For example, the bonding tape roll 64 may be arranged on the right side of the take-up spool 76. Also, the arrangements of the bonding tape roll 64, the ink ribbon roll 72, and the take-up spool 76 are not limited to the positions shown in the above embodiment. As long as at least the ink ribbon roll 72 as the third medium roll is accommodated in the ribbon case 21, and one of the printing tape roll 26 and the bonding tape roll 64 is accommodated in the tape case 20 as the first medium roll and the other is accommodated in the ribbon case 21 as the second medium roll. Even in this case, the one roll accommodated in the tape case 20 is arranged so as to overlap at least one of the other roll accommodated in the ribbon case 21 and the ink ribbon roll 72 in the vertical direction. Thereby, it is possible to reduce the size of the cassette 10 in the radial direction of the bonding tape roll 64 or the printing tape roll 26. In the above embodiment, all of the bonding tape roll 64, the ink ribbon roll 72, and the take-up spool 76 were arranged at positions overlapping the printing tape roll 26 in the vertical direction, but at least one of the bonding tape roll 64, the ink ribbon roll 72, and the take-up spool 76 may be arranged at a position overlapping the printing tape roll 26 in the vertical direction.

[0115] In the above embodiment, the cassette 10 was configured by stacking four case members, namely, the first case member 12, the second case member 14, the third case member 16, and the fourth case member 18, in the vertical direction, but the cassette 10 is not limited to this configuration. For example, the second case member 14 and the third case member 16 can be integrally formed. In such a case, the cassette 10 is configured by three case members. In short, as long as the tape case 20 and the ribbon case 21 are laminated and overlapped, the structure of the case constituting the cassette 10 is not limited.

[0116] In the above embodiment, the printing tape roll 26 was configured by winding the printing tape 22 around the printing tape spool 24 which is a cylindrical core material. However, the printing tape 22 may not be wound around the printing tape spool 24, and the printing tape roll 26 may be configured by winding it around the first support protrusion 30 and the second support protrusion 32. Similarly, the bonding tape 60 may be wound without being wound around the bonding spool 62, and the outer periphery of the bonding tape 60 may be defined and arranged by the bonding tape roll support wall 84 and the arc-shaped wall 92.

[0117] In the above embodiment, the bonding tape roll 64 overlapped both the printing tape spool 24 and the printing tape 22 wound around the printing tape spool 24 in the vertical direction. However, the bonding tape roll 64 may overlap only the printing tape 22 wound around the printing tape spool 24 in the vertical direction. Also, the printing tape roll 26 overlapped both the bonding spool 62 and the bonding tape 60 wound around the bonding spool 62 in the vertical direction. However, the printing tape roll 26 may overlap only the bonding tape 60 wound around the bonding spool 62 in the vertical direction.

[0118] Also, the number of the guide ribs 54, 154, 164 in the above-described embodiment is an example, and different numbers may be used. That is, in the above-described embodiment, the first guide is constituted by seven guide ribs 54, the second guide 132 is constituted by four guide ribs 154, and the third guide 134 is constituted by four guide ribs, but it is not limited thereto.

[0119] Also, as shown in FIG. 14, each of the guide ribs 54 is continuously configured with the second circumferential wall 36 of the second case member 14 and the bottom plate 14a of the second case member 14, respectively. This means that the guide rib 54 and the second circumferential wall 36 and / or the bottom plate 14a may be integrally formed, or may be adhered by an adhesive, a solvent, or the like. Also, the guide rib 54 may be continuous with at least one of the second circumferential wall 36 and the bottom plate 14a of the second case member 14.

[0120] Also, the sides 54R of the guide rib 54, the sides 154R of the guide rib 154, and the sides 164R of the guide rib 164 may each have their tip portions chamfered or otherwise processed to reduce the sliding resistance that occurs when they come into contact with the conveyed printing tape 22. In particular, when the tip portions of the sides 54R, 154R, and 164 on both sides of the guide ribs 54, 154, and 164 having a planar shape are chamfered, the inclined surface 54i may have a curved surface shape instead of a planar shape.

[0121] Also, in the above-described embodiment, the plurality of guide ribs 54 are each configured to bulge up to the vicinity of the through hole 52 at the end on the bottom plate 14a side of the guide rib 54, but it is not limited to such a mode. That is, a part of the plurality of guide ribs 54 may be provided in a region where the through hole 52 is not provided in the bottom plate 14a. In other words, the guide rib 54 can be provided even at a position where the conveyance path is not lowered to the extent that the printing tape 22 reaches the through hole 52.

[0122] Also, in the above-described embodiment, a part of the plurality of guide ribs 154 may be provided in a region where the through hole 58 is not provided in the ceiling plate 16a, and at least a part of the plurality of guide ribs 164 may be provided in a region where the through hole 58 is not provided in the ceiling plate 16a. In other words, the guide rib 164 may be provided even at a position where the conveyance path of the printing tape 22 completely reaches below the through hole 58 in the vertical direction of the cassette 10 and the through hole 58 is closed.

[0123] Also, the shapes of the guide ribs 154 and 164 are not limited to the examples shown in FIGS. 17 and 18. For example, it may be a shape in which the shape of the guide rib 54 shown in FIGS. 15(a) to (c) is inverted vertically, or a combination in which the upper end shape of the guide rib 54 shown in any of FIGS. 15(a) to (c) is used as the lower end shape and the lower end shape of the guide rib 54 shown in any of FIGS. 15(a) to (c) is used as the upper end shape.

[0124] Also, in the above-described embodiment, the shape of the printing tape guide 170 was slit-shaped, but the shape is not limited as long as it can regulate the widthwise position of the printing tape 22. For example, it may be a hook-shaped guide.

[0125] Also, in the above-described embodiment, both the second guide 132 and the third guide 134 are provided on the third case member 16 which is the same case member, but the configuration is not limited thereto. For example, the second guide 132 may be provided on the second case member 14 and the third guide 134 may be provided on the third case member 16. The second guide 132 and the third guide 134 will be provided on different case members.

[0126] Also, in the above-described embodiment, the contact mode between the guide rib 54 of the first guide 130 and the printing tape 22 was described with reference to FIG. 16. This description is also almost equally applicable to the contact mode between the guide rib 154 of the second guide 132 or the guide rib 156 of the third guide 134 and the printing tape 22. That is, by replacing the guide rib 54 in FIG. 16 with the guide rib 154 of the second guide 132 or the guide rib 156 of the third guide 134 which is the upside-down of the guide rib 54, replacing the second circumferential plate 36 in FIG. 16 with the guide plate 57, and replacing the bottom plate 14a with the ceiling plate 16a, the contact mode between the guide rib 154 or the guide rib 156 and the printing tape 22 is explained.

[0127] Also, in the above-described embodiment, each of the guide ribs 54 was assumed to have a common inclination angle θ1, but it is not limited thereto, and the inclination angles θ1 may be different from each other in each guide rib 54. The same applies to the guide ribs 154 and 164.

[0128] Also, in the above-described embodiment, the shape of the guide rib 54 was assumed to be common for each guide rib 54, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the shapes of the individual guide ribs 54 may be different. For example, some of the guide ribs 54 may have the shape shown in FIG. 15(a), some of the other guide ribs 54 may have the shape shown in FIG. 15(b), and still other guide ribs 54 may have the shape shown in FIG. 15(c). The same applies to the guide ribs 154 and 164.

[0129] In addition, the present invention is implemented with various modifications made within the scope not departing from its gist.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0130] 10: Cassette 12: First case member 14: Second case member 16: Third case member 18: Fourth case member 19: Bottom surface (of cassette 10) 20: Tape case (first case, upper case) 21: Ribbon case (second case, lower case) 22: Printed tape (printing medium, first medium) 22a: Printed tape 22b: Adhesive 22c: Release tape 24: Printed tape spool (first rotating body) 26: Printed tape roll (first medium roll) 27: Locking claw 28: Fixed claw 29: Positioning protrusion 30: First support protrusion 32: Second support protrusion 34: First circumferential wall 36: Second circumferential wall 38: Spacer film 40: Printed tape gate 42: Printed tape gate 44: Outer peripheral wall of the first case member 46: Outer peripheral wall of the second case member 46a: Short side part 46b: Long side part 50: Guide inner wall 52: Through hole 54: Guide rib 54i: Inclined surface 54R: Inclined side 54a: Rib tip edge 55: Rib 56: Guide inner wall 57: Guide inner wall 58: Through hole 60: Bonding tape (second medium) 60a: Transparent film (transparent medium) 60b: Adhesive 62: Bonding spool (second rotating body) 64: Bonding tape roll (second medium roll) 66: Bonding tape roll support hole 68: Ink ribbon 68a: Ink 70: Supply spool (third rotating body) 72: Ink ribbon roll 74: Ink ribbon support hole 76: Take-up spool (fourth rotating body) 78: Take-up spool support hole 80: Roller 82: Roller support hole 84: Bonding tape roll holding wall 86: Ink ribbon roll holding wall 88: Cylindrical protrusion 90: Clutch spring holder 92: Rotating member 94: Take-up spool support hole 96: Connecting hole 98: Roller exposure hole 100: Connecting part 102: Printing device 104: Cassette mounting part 106: Printing head 108: Take-up spool drive shaft 110: Roller drive shaft 112: Positioning hole 114: Head holding plate 116: Platen roller 118: Pressing roller 120: Platen holding member 122: Printing system 130: First guide 132: Second guide 134: Third guide 154: Guide rib 154i: Inclined surface 154R: Inclined side 164: Guide rib 164i: Inclined surface 164R: Inclined side 170: Printing tape guide S1: First space S2: Second space C1: First rotation center line C2: Second rotation center line C3: Third rotation center line C4: Fourth rotation center line C5: Fifth rotation center line θi1~θi3: Inclination angles of the inclined surface θT: Conveying angle θT1: First conveying angle θT2: Second conveying angle LA: Length of the short side LB: Length of the long side K1~K3: Corners

Claims

1. a housing having a first layer portion and a second layer portion overlapping in a first direction; a roll provided in the second layer portion of the housing, the roll having a print medium wound around a rotation center extending in the first direction; a second layer guide portion inclined with respect to the first direction and in contact with the print medium pulled out from the roll to guide the print medium toward the first layer portion; A cassette characterized in that the first layer portion of the housing is provided with a first layer guide portion that is inclined with respect to the first direction, contacts the printed medium guided by the second layer guide portion, and guides the printed medium toward an outlet provided in the first layer portion.

2. The cassette according to claim 1 , wherein the second layer guide portion and the first layer guide portion are provided outside an outer edge of the roll in a direction perpendicular to the first direction.

3. The housing has a rectangular parallelepiped shape when viewed in the first direction, 3. The cassette according to claim 1, wherein the second layer guide portion and the first layer guide portion are provided at corners when the housing is viewed in the first direction.

4. A cassette as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the printing medium is pulled out from the roll in a direction approximately perpendicular to the first direction, toward the second layer guide section, transported through the first layer guide section in a direction approximately perpendicular to the first direction, and discharged from the discharge outlet.

5. The first layer portion of the housing further includes an ink ribbon roll having an ink ribbon wound around a rotation center for use in printing on the print medium, A cassette as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the second layer guide portion and the first layer guide portion are located outside the outer edge of the ink ribbon roll in a direction perpendicular to the first direction.

6. a take-up spool for taking up the ink ribbon pulled out from the ink ribbon roll is further provided in the first layer portion of the housing, The cassette according to claim 5 , wherein the second layer guide portion and the first layer guide portion are provided outside an outer edge of the take-up spool in a direction perpendicular to the first direction.

7. A cover film roll is further provided in the first layer portion of the housing, the cover film being wound around a rotation center to be attached to the print medium, A cassette described in any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the second layer guide portion and the first layer guide portion are located outside the outer edge of the cover film roll in a direction perpendicular to the first direction.

8. A cassette as described in any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the housing has an opening to allow the printing medium guided from the second layer guide portion to be transported from the second layer portion to the first layer guide portion of the first layer portion within the housing.

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