Printing cassette

Abstract

To provide a printing cassette which can be downsized in a direction perpendicular to a rotational axis of a gear, while disposing the gear for transmitting driving force.SOLUTION: The present disclosure is a printing cassette including: a printing tape roll to which a printing tape is wound about a winding axis parallel to a first direction; an input gear to which driving force is input from the outside; an output gear for outputting driving force to the outside; and an idle gear for transmitting driving force input to the input gear to the output gear by directly or indirectly engaging with the input gear and the output gear. At least a part of the input gear, at least a part of the output gear, and at least a part of the idle gear respectively are overlapped with the printing tape roll in the first direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] In a printer that prints on tape, a cassette containing the tape is attached to and detached from the printer body to replace and supply the tape. Among such cassettes, for example, one that has multiple gears inside the cassette that transmit the driving force for feeding the tape is known (see Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent No. 5,435,657 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the cassette of the above publication, a plurality of gears are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the rotational axes of the gears together with the spool for supplying the tape, which increases the size of the cassette in this direction.

[0005] An object of one aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a printing cassette that can be made compact in size in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of a gear that transmits a driving force. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One aspect of the present disclosure is a printing cassette comprising a printing tape roll on which printing tape is wound around a winding center axis parallel to a first direction, an input gear to which a driving force is input from the outside, an output gear for outputting the driving force to the outside, and an idle gear that directly or indirectly engages with the input gear and the output gear and transmits the driving force input to the input gear to the output gear.

[0007] At least a portion of the input gear, at least a portion of the output gear, and at least a portion of the idle gear each overlap the printing tape roll in the first direction.

[0008] With this configuration, the input gear, output gear, and idle gear that transmit the driving force are arranged so as to overlap with the printing tape roll in the first direction, thereby making it possible to reduce the size of the printing cassette in a direction perpendicular to the first direction. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1A, 1B, and 1C are schematic perspective views showing a state in which a printing cassette is removed from a printing apparatus main body in a printing apparatus according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] 2A, 2B, and 2C are schematic perspective views of a printing cassette in the printing apparatus of FIG. 1A. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the printing cassette of FIG. 2A. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 2C. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing the printing cassette of FIG. 2C with the first case part removed. [Figure 6] 6A and 6B are schematic bottom views showing the printing cassette of FIG. 2A with the second frame and second case removed. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating the paths of the printing tape and ink ribbon in the printing cassette of FIG. 2A. [Figure 8] 8A is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line VIIIA-VIIIA in FIG. 2C, FIG. 8B is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line VIIIB-VIIIB in FIG. 2C, FIG. 8C is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line VIIIC-VIIIC in FIG. 2C, and FIG. 8D is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line VIIID-VIIID in FIG. 2C. [Figure 9]FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view of the printer body of the printer of FIG. 1A. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an engagement state between the output gear and the platen gear in the printing device of FIG. 1A. [Figure 11] 11A and 11B are schematic perspective views showing a printing apparatus in an embodiment different from that shown in FIG. 1A, in which a printing cassette is removed from the printing apparatus main body. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a printing cassette in the printing apparatus of FIG. 11A. [Figure 13] 13A and 13B are schematic bottom views showing the printing cassette of FIG. 11A with the second frame and second case removed. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a schematic plan view of the printer body of the printer of FIG. 11A. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram showing an engagement state between the output gear and the platen gear in the printing device of FIG. 11A. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] [1. First embodiment] [1-1.Configuration] 1A, 1B, and 1C includes a printing cassette 10 and a printing device main body 100. The printing device 1 is a device that prints on a tape-like printing medium.

[0011] In this embodiment, the axial direction of the output gear 18 of the printing cassette 10 and the axial direction of the platen gear 104 of the printing device main body 100 are defined as the up-down direction, the direction perpendicular to the up-down direction in which the output gear 18 and the input spool 16 are aligned (i.e., the direction in which the platen gear 104 and the drive shaft 105 are aligned) is defined as the front-to-back direction, and the direction perpendicular to both the up-down direction and the front-to-back direction is defined as the left-to-right direction.

[0012] In this specification, "parallel" is not limited to strict parallelism, but also includes the concept of "approximately parallelism." In other words, as long as the functions of the printing device 1 are maintained (for example, within a range in which the printing tape 11A, the ink ribbon 14A, etc. can be fed), the rotation axes may be arranged at a slight incline relative to the vertical direction.

[0013] <Printing device body> The printing apparatus main body 100 includes a cassette insertion section 101 , a print head 102 , a platen roller 103 , a platen gear 104 , a drive shaft 105 , and a housing 110 .

[0014] (Cassette insertion section) The cassette insertion section 101 is a recess into which the printing cassette 10 is inserted. The cassette insertion section 101 has a function of positioning the printing cassette 10. The cassette insertion section 101 is provided in the housing 110.

[0015] (print head) The print head 102 is disposed inside the cassette insertion section 101. The print head 102 has a plurality of heat generating elements whose heat generation is individually controlled.

[0016] (Platen roller) The rotation axis L1 of the platen roller 103 is parallel to the vertical direction. The platen roller 103 is disposed inside the cassette insertion section 101, near the print head 102. The platen roller 103 can swing toward or away from the print head 102.

[0017] (Platen gear) The platen gear 104 is connected to the platen roller 103. In this embodiment, the rotation axis L2 of the platen gear 104 is arranged on the same line as the rotation axis L1 of the platen roller 103. The platen gear 104 is capable of swinging together with the platen roller 103.

[0018] (drive shaft) The drive shaft 105 is inserted into the input spool 16. The drive shaft 105 rotates the input spool 16.

[0019] The drive shaft 105 is disposed inside the cassette insertion portion 101. The rotation axis L3 of the drive shaft 105 is parallel to the vertical direction. The drive shaft 105 is rotated about the rotation axis L3 by a drive source (e.g., a motor) not shown.

[0020] <Printing cassette> The printing cassette 10 stores printing media. The printing cassette 10 is detachable from the printing device main body 100. By replacing the printing cassette 10, printing media can be replenished and the type of printing media (e.g., color, material, etc.) can be changed.

[0021] 2A, 2B, and 2C, the printing cassette 10 includes a case 35 that houses the printing tape 11A, ink ribbon 14A, etc. The printing cassette 10 has an outer shape (i.e., the shape of the case 35) that is a rectangular parallelepiped with sides parallel to the up-down direction, sides parallel to the front-rear direction, and sides parallel to the left-right direction. The case 35 includes a first case portion 31, a first frame portion 32, a second frame portion 33, and a second case portion 34.

[0022] As shown in Figure 3, the printing cassette 10 comprises a printing tape roll 11, a first tape spool 12, spacer films 13A and 13B, an ink ribbon roll 14, a second tape spool 15, an input spool 16, a clutch spring holder 17, an output gear 18, an input gear 19, and an idle gear 20.

[0023] (Printing tape roll) The printing tape roll 11 is configured by winding a printing tape 11A, on which printing is to be performed, around a first tape spool 12.

[0024] The printing tape 11A is wound around a winding central axis parallel to the up-down direction on the printing tape roll 11. Printing is performed on the surface of the printing tape 11A by the print head 102 and ink ribbon 14A of the printing device main body 100.

[0025] Two spacer films 13A and 13B are arranged on the outer side of the printing tape roll 11 in the vertical direction, sandwiching the printing tape roll 11. The spacer films 13A and 13B are arranged between the printing tape roll 11 and the first case portion 31, and between the printing tape roll 11 and the first frame portion 32.

[0026] (1st tape spool) The first tape spool 12 is rotatable around a rotation axis L4. The first tape spool 12 is rotated by the platen roller 103 of the printing apparatus main body 100 to feed the printing tape 11A. The rotation of the printing tape 11A causes the printing tape 11A to be supplied to the print head 102.

[0027] (ink ribbon roll) The ink ribbon roll 14 is configured by winding an ink ribbon 14A used for printing on the printing tape 11A around a second tape spool 15. In the ink ribbon roll 14, the ink ribbon 14A is wound around a winding central axis that is parallel to the up-down direction.

[0028] The ink ribbon 14A is superimposed on the printing tape 11A at the head opening 33B and is used for printing by the print head 102. After being used for printing, the ink ribbon 14A is taken up onto the input spool 16.

[0029] A rotational resistance is applied to the ink ribbon roll 14 by a clutch spring held by a clutch spring holder 17. At least a portion of the ink ribbon roll 14 is disposed in a position overlapping with the printing tape roll 11 in the vertical direction.

[0030] (Second tape spool) The second tape spool 15 is rotatable around a rotation axis L5. The rotation axis L5 of the second tape spool 15 is parallel to the rotation axis L4 of the first tape spool 12, that is, parallel to the up-down direction.

[0031] The second tape spool 15 rotates as the input spool 16 takes up the ink ribbon 14A, thereby supplying the ink ribbon 14A to the print head 102.

[0032] (input spool) The input spool 16 is rotatable around a rotation axis L6. The rotation axis L6 of the input spool 16 is parallel to the rotation axis L5 of the second tape spool 15.

[0033] The input spool 16 is cylindrical with a hollow space defined by an inner circumferential surface 16A. Spline teeth 16B are provided on the inner circumferential surface 16A of the input spool 16. The spline teeth 16B engage with the drive shaft 105 of the printing apparatus main body 100.

[0034] The input spool 16 is rotated by the drive shaft 105. In this embodiment, the input spool 16 is a take-up spool that is rotatable to take up the ink ribbon 14A supplied from the ink ribbon roll 14.

[0035] (output gear) The output gear 18 is a single gear for outputting the driving force for feeding the printing tape 11A to the outside.

[0036] Specifically, the output gear 18 outputs driving force to the platen gear 104 of the printing apparatus main body 100. The rotation axis L7 of the output gear 18 is parallel to the rotation axis L5 of the second tape spool 15. The output gear 18 overlaps with the cover part 32B in the up-down direction.

[0037] A portion of the output gear 18 is exposed in the head opening 33 B. When the printing cassette 10 is attached to the printing apparatus main body 100, the output gear 18 engages with the platen gear 104 in the head opening 33 B.

[0038] 4, the second tape spool 15, the output gear 18, and the printing tape roll 11 are arranged in the order of the second tape spool 15, the output gear 18, and the printing tape roll 11 in the vertical direction. In other words, the output gear 18 is arranged in the order of the second tape spool 15, the output gear 18, and the printing tape roll 11 in the vertical direction. It is located between the second tape spool 15 and the printing tape roll 11.

[0039] (input gear) The input gear 19 shown in FIG. 3 is indirectly engaged with the output gear 18 via an idle gear 20, and transmits the driving force input from the printing apparatus main body 100 to the output gear 18.

[0040] The input gear 19 has a gear 19A and a cylindrical spool 19B that is fixed to a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis of the gear 19A and has spline teeth on its inner peripheral surface. The gear 19A rotates integrally with the spool 19B due to the driving force input to the spool 19B.

[0041] The input gear 19 is disposed so that the rotation axis L8 of the input gear 19 (i.e., the rotation axis of the gear 19A and the rotation axis of the spool 19B) is on the same line as the rotation axis L6 of the input spool 16. A portion of the spool 19B is inserted into the input spool 16.

[0042] As shown in Figure 4, the input spool 16, a part of the input gear 19 (i.e., gear 19A), and the printing tape roll 11 are arranged in the vertical direction in the order of input spool 16, a part of the input gear 19 (i.e., gear 19A), and the printing tape roll 11.

[0043] The rotation axis L8 of the input gear 19 overlaps with the hollow portion of the input spool 16 in the vertical direction. Therefore, the drive shaft 105 is inserted through the input spool 16 and the spool 19B of the input gear 19 at the same time. As a result, the input gear 19 is not directly connected to the input spool 16, but is rotated by the same drive source (i.e., the drive shaft 105) as the input spool 16.

[0044] (Idol Gear) The idle gear 20 is directly engaged with the input gear 19 and the output gear 18. The idle gear 20 transmits the driving force input to the input gear 19 to the output gear 18. The rotation axis L9 of the idle gear 20 is parallel to the vertical direction.

[0045] The idle gear 20 is a stepped gear in which a first gear 20A engaged with the output gear 18 and a second gear 20B engaged with the input gear 19 are arranged side by side on the same axis. The second gear 20B has a larger diameter than the first gear 20A.

[0046] Furthermore, the first gear 20A is disposed in a position closer to (i.e., above) the printing tape roll 11 in the vertical direction than the second gear 20B. The idle gear 20 constitutes a speed reduction mechanism that reduces the rotational speed of the driving force input to the input gear 19.

[0047] (case) 3, the first case portion 31 constitutes the upper end portion of the printing cassette 10. The first frame portion 32 is disposed below the first case portion 31 and is connected to the first case portion 31 in the up-down direction.

[0048] The second frame 33 is disposed below the first frame 32 and is connected to the first frame 32 in the vertical direction. The second case 34 constitutes the lower end of the printing cassette 10. The second case 34 is connected to the second frame 33 in the vertical direction.

[0049] The first case portion 31 and the first frame portion 32 house the printing tape roll 11. In other words, the printing tape roll 11 is disposed in a space surrounded by the first case portion 31 and the first frame portion 32.

[0050] The second case portion 34 and the second frame portion 33 house the ink ribbon roll 14, the second tape spool 15, and the input spool 16. In other words, the ink ribbon roll 14, the second tape spool 15, and the input spool 16 are disposed in a space surrounded by the second case portion 34 and the second frame portion 33.

[0051] A part of the output gear 18, the input gear 19, and the idle gear 20 are arranged in a space surrounded by the first frame portion 32 and the second frame portion 33. In other words, the part of the output gear 18, the input gear 19, and the idle gear 20 are housed in the first frame portion 32 and the second frame portion 33.

[0052] The first frame portion 32 has a first side wall 32A, a cover portion 32B, a first guide 32C, a first gear shaft 32D, a second gear shaft 32E, and a third gear shaft 32F. The first side wall 32A constitutes a side surface of the printing cassette 10 that is parallel to the up-down direction.

[0053] The cover portion 32B is a portion having a surface perpendicular to the up-down direction. The cover portion 32B is disposed at a position overlapping with the output gear 18 in the up-down direction. In this embodiment, the cover portion 32B is disposed at the right front corner of the first frame portion 32.

[0054] The first gear shaft 32D is inserted through the output gear 18 and rotatably supports the output gear 18. The second gear shaft 32E is inserted through the input gear 19 and rotatably supports the input gear 19. The third gear shaft 32F is inserted through the idle gear 20 and rotatably supports the idle gear 20.

[0055] 5, the first guide 32C is a portion around which the printing tape 11A pulled out from the printing tape roll 11 is wound. The first guide 32C has a plurality of plate-shaped ribs arranged at intervals along the circumferential direction of the printing tape roll 11. The multiple ribs protrude in the radial direction of the printing tape roll 11, with the amount of protrusion (i.e., plate width) increasing the further downward they go.

[0056] As shown in FIG. 3, the second frame portion 33 has a second side wall 33A, a head opening 33B, a discharge port 33C, and a second guide 33D. The second side wall 33A constitutes a side surface of the printing cassette 10 that is parallel to the up-down direction.

[0057] The head opening 33B is a recess that is recessed in the vertical direction and extends in the horizontal direction toward the first frame portion 32. The head opening 33B is a portion formed by cutting out a part of the second side wall 33A, and opens below the printing cassette 10.

[0058] When the printing cassette 10 is attached to the printer body 100, the print head 102 is inserted into the head opening 33B from below. When the printing cassette 10 is attached to the printer body 100, the print head 102 is positioned inside the head opening 33B.

[0059] The second guide 33D is a section around which the printing tape 11A that has passed through the first guide 32C is wound. Similar to the first guide 32C, the second guide 33D has a plurality of plate-like ribs that are spaced apart along the circumferential direction of the ink ribbon roll 14. The plurality of ribs protrude in the radial direction of the ink ribbon roll 14, and the amount of protrusion (i.e., plate width) decreases as they extend downward.

[0060] <Positional relationship of roll, spool and gear> As shown in FIG. 6A, a portion of the input gear 19, a portion of the output gear 18, and a portion of the idle gear 20 each overlap with the printing tape roll 11 in the vertical direction.

[0061] Furthermore, the rotation axis L8 of the input gear 19, the rotation axis L7 of the output gear 18, and the rotation axis L9 of the idle gear 20 are each located inside the outer peripheral surface 11B of the printing tape roll 11 in the front-to-back and left-to-right directions.

[0062] Furthermore, in a projection view in which the first tape spool 12, input gear 19, output gear 18, and idle gear 20 are projected onto an imaginary plane perpendicular to the up-down direction, the rotation axis L4 of the first tape spool 12 overlaps with a convex envelope P defined by the input gear 19, output gear 18, and idle gear 20. The convex envelope P also overlaps with a portion of the first tape spool 12 and a portion of the printing tape roll 11.

[0063] The second gear 20B of the idle gear 20 has an overlapping portion 20C that overlaps in the vertical direction with the output gear 18. A portion of the overlapping portion 20C of the second gear 20B overlaps in the vertical direction with the printing tape roll 11. In addition, a portion of the overlapping portion 20C of the second gear 20B also overlaps in the vertical direction with the first tape spool 12.

[0064] As shown in Fig. 6B, a portion of the ink ribbon roll 14 and a portion of the second tape spool 15 each overlap the idle gear 20 in the vertical direction. In addition, a portion of the input spool 16 also overlaps the idle gear 20 in the vertical direction. Note that the outer edge of the input spool 16 shown in Fig. 6B includes flanges provided at both ends of the input spool 16 in the axial direction of the rotation axis L6.

[0065] As shown in Figure 7, the rotational axis L8 of the input gear 19, the rotational axis L7 of the output gear 18, and the rotational axis L9 of the idle gear 20 are each located between both ends of the head opening 33B in the left-right direction (i.e., area A that overlaps with the head opening 33B in the front-to-back direction).

[0066] The rotation axis L8 of the input gear 19 and the rotation axis L9 of the idle gear 20 are each located rearward of the head opening 33B. The rotation axis L7 of the output gear 18 passes through the head opening 33B.

[0067] <Tape transport within the cassette> As shown in Fig. 7, the printing tape 11A and the ink ribbon 14A are stretched across the head opening 33B in the left-right direction. After printing, the printing tape 11A is discharged to the outside of the printing device 1 through the discharge opening 33C. A portion of the output gear 18 is located inside the head opening 33B. In addition, the cover part 32B is exposed inside the head opening 33B.

[0068] As shown in Figures 8A, 8B, 8C, and 8D, the first guide 32C and the second guide 33D form a passage that feeds the printing tape 11A that makes up the printing tape roll 11 from the first frame portion 32 to the second frame portion 33.

[0069] Specifically, as shown in Fig. 8A, the printing tape 11A pulled out from the printing tape roll 11 is transported downward and rearward within the first frame portion 32 while contacting the first guide 32C from the radially outer side of the printing tape roll 11 in a spiral manner. Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 8B, the printing tape 11A is transported downward and leftward while vertically straddling the connecting portion between the first frame portion 32 and the second frame portion 33.

[0070] The printing tape 11A that has reached the second frame portion 33 is transported downward and forward while contacting the second guide 33D from the radially outer side, as shown in Fig. 8C. The printing tape 11A that has reached the lower end of the printing cassette 10 passes through the head opening 33B and is discharged from the discharge opening 33C, as shown in Fig. 8D.

[0071] <Tape transport and printing by the printer body> The print head 102 prints on the print tape 11A held by the print cassette 10.

[0072] When the printing cassette 10 is attached to the printing apparatus main body 100, the print head 102 is disposed in the head opening 33B at a position overlapping the printing tape 11A and the ink ribbon 14A in the front-rear direction.

[0073] The printing tape 11A transported to the head opening 33B by the platen roller 103 is pressed against the print head 102, whose heating elements have generated heat, via the ink ribbon 14A. As a result, part of the ink arranged on the surface of the ink ribbon 14A is transferred to the printing tape 11A, and characters, symbols, etc. are printed on the printing tape 11A.

[0074] The platen roller 103 transports the printing tape 11A from inside the printing cassette 10 to the outside. The platen roller 103 comes into contact with the printing tape 11A at the head opening 33B, and presses the printing tape 11A against the print head .

[0075] The platen gear 104 is connected to the platen roller 103 and engages with the output gear 18. The platen roller 103 and the platen gear 104 are swingable between a position shown in FIG. 9 where they are separated from the printing cassette 10 and a position shown in FIG. 10 where the platen gear 104 is engaged with the output gear 18.

[0076] The drive shaft 105 is inserted into the input spool 16 and the input gear 19, and causes the input spool 16 and the input gear 19 to rotate by engaging the spline teeth 16B with the spool 19B of the input gear 19.

[0077] With the printing cassette 10 attached to the printing apparatus main body 100, the drive shaft 105 engages with the input gear 19, and the platen gear 104 engages with the output gear 18. Specifically, the drive shaft 105 is inserted into the input spool 16 and input gear 19 of the printing cassette 10. Thereafter, the platen roller 103 and platen gear 104 are swung toward the head opening 33B of the printing cassette 10.

[0078] With the printing cassette 10 attached, the input gear 19 is rotated by the drive shaft 105, which rotates the output gear 18, which rotates the platen gear 104, which rotates the platen roller 103.

[0079] [1-2.Effects] According to the embodiment described above in detail, the following effects can be obtained. (1a) The input gear 19, output gear 18, and idle gear 20 that transmit the driving force are arranged so as to overlap the printing tape roll 11 in the vertical direction, so that the printing cassette 10 can be made smaller in the left-right and front-back directions.

[0080] (1b) By having the rotation axis L4 of the first tape spool 12 overlap with the convex envelope P defined by the input gear 19, the output gear 18, and the idle gear 20, the printing cassette 10 can be made smaller in the left-right and front-rear directions compared to a case in which the rotation axis L4 of the first tape spool 12 does not overlap with the convex envelope P. Furthermore, the thrust load of the first tape spool 12 is prevented from being unevenly transmitted to one gear shaft.

[0081] (1c) A part of the ink ribbon roll 14 and a part of the input spool 16 overlap with the idle gear 20 in the vertical direction, and the overlapping portion 20C of the second gear 20B overlaps with the idle gear 20 in the vertical direction. By overlapping the printing tape roll 11 in this position, the printing cassette 10 can be made even more compact in the left-right and front-rear directions.

[0082] (1d) Since the rotational axis L8 of the input gear 19, the rotational axis L7 of the output gear 18, and the rotational axis L9 of the idle gear 20 are located between both ends of the head opening 33B in the left-right direction, the printing cassette 10 can be further made smaller in the left-right direction.

[0083] [2. Second Embodiment] [2-1.Configuration] The printing apparatus 1A shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B includes a printing cassette 10A and a printing apparatus main body 100A.

[0084] <Printing cassette> The printing cassette 10A is the printing cassette 10 of the first embodiment, to which the laminated tape roll 21, take-up spool 22, take-up gear 23, and pinch roller 24 shown in Figure 12 have been added, and the input spool 16, first case portion 31, first frame portion 32, second frame portion 33, and second case portion 34 of the first embodiment have been replaced with a third tape spool 25, first case portion 36, first frame portion 37, second frame portion 38, and second case portion 39.

[0085] The third tape spool 25 is the same as the input spool 16 except that it does not have spline teeth 16B. The first case portion 36, the first frame portion 37, the second frame portion 38, and the second case portion 39 are formed by extending the first case portion 31, the first frame portion 32, the second frame portion 33, and the second case portion 34 in the left-right direction, respectively. The rest of the configuration of the printing cassette 10A is the same as that of the printing cassette 10 of the first embodiment, except for the points described below, and therefore description thereof will be omitted.

[0086] The bonding tape roll 21 is configured by winding a bonding tape around a third tape spool 25. In the bonding tape roll 21, the bonding tape is wound around a winding central axis that is parallel to the up-down direction. The bonding tape has an adhesive surface that is bonded to the printing tape 11A that has been printed on by the print head 102.

[0087] The take-up spool 22 is rotatable around a rotation axis L10. The rotation axis L10 of the take-up spool 22 is parallel to the rotation axis L5 (i.e., the up-down direction) of the second tape spool 15. The take-up spool 22 takes up the ink ribbon 14A that is unwound from the ink ribbon roll 14 by the rotation of the take-up gear 23.

[0088] The take-up gear 23 is connected to the take-up spool 22 and is directly engaged with the idle gear 20. The rotation axis L11 of the take-up gear 23 and the rotation axis L10 of the take-up spool 22 are arranged on the same straight line.

[0089] The take-up gear 23 is rotated by the driving force input to the input gear 19, and rotates the take-up spool 22. The idle gear 20 transmits the driving force input to the input gear 19 to the take-up gear 23.

[0090] The pinch roller 24 presses the laminated tape against the printing tape 11A after printing, together with the pressure roller 106. The pinch roller 24 is disposed downstream of the head opening 33B in the feeding direction of the printing tape 11A.

[0091] As shown in Fig. 13A, a part of the take-up gear 23 overlaps with the printing tape roll 11 in the vertical direction. It overlaps with tape roll 11.

[0092] 13B, a portion of take-up spool 22 overlaps with idle gear 20 in the vertical direction. Also, take-up gear 23 overlaps with take-up spool 22 in the vertical direction. Note that the outer edge of take-up spool 22 shown in FIG. 13B includes flanges provided on both ends of take-up spool 22 in the axial direction of rotation axis L10.

[0093] A portion of the output gear 18 and a portion of the idle gear 20 each overlap in the vertical direction with the bonding tape roll 21. In particular, a portion of the overlapping portion 20C of the second gear 20B of the idle gear 20 overlaps in the vertical direction with the bonding tape roll 21.

[0094] <Printing device body> The printing device main body 100A is the printing device main body 100 of the first embodiment with the addition of a pressure roller 106 shown in Fig. 14. The other configuration of the printing device main body 100A is the same as that of the printing device main body 100 of the first embodiment except for the points described below, and therefore description thereof will be omitted.

[0095] The pressure roller 106 is configured to be able to swing together with the platen roller 103 and the platen gear 104. In other words, the pressure roller 106 is able to swing between a position separated from the printing cassette 10A shown in Fig. 14 and a position where it presses the printing tape 11A and the third tape together with the pinch roller 24 shown in Fig. 15.

[0096] In this embodiment, when the printing cassette 10A is attached to the printing device main body 100A, the drive shaft 105 is inserted into the hollow portion of the third tape spool 25 (i.e., the bonded tape roll 21), and the input gear 19 engages with the drive shaft 105.

[0097] [2-2. Effects] According to the embodiment described above in detail, the following effects can be obtained. (2a) Since a portion of the winding gear 23 and the rotation axis L11 of the winding gear 23 overlap with the printing tape roll 11 in the vertical direction, the printed content of the printing tape 11A can be protected by the laminating tape while retaining the same advantages as in the first embodiment.

[0098] (2b) Since a portion of the take-up spool 22 overlaps with the idle gear 20 in the vertical direction, and the overlapping portion 20C of the second gear 20B of the idle gear 20 overlaps with the laminated tape roll 21 in the vertical direction, the printing cassette 10A can be further made smaller in the left-right and front-to-back directions.

[0099] 3. Other Embodiments Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, it goes without saying that the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can take on various forms.

[0100] (3a) In the printing device of the above embodiment, the printing tape roll, ink ribbon roll, and laminating tape roll do not necessarily have to be formed by winding each tape around a rotatable spool. These rolls may be wound around a non-rotating member fixed to the case, for example. Furthermore, these rolls do not necessarily have to have each tape wound around another member.

[0101] (3b) The printing device of the above embodiment is not limited to one that uses an ink ribbon. The printing device may use a strip of thermal paper instead of the printing tape in the first embodiment, and a bonding tape (i.e., a protective tape) instead of the ink ribbon. Good too.

[0102] The printing device may also use stencil tape as the printing tape, in which holes for the printing pattern are punched by the thermal head, and may use a strip of interleaf paper to protect and support the stencil tape instead of the laminating tape. In this case, the printing tape may be superimposed on the interleaf paper at a position closer to the print head than the interleaf paper (i.e., as an upper layer) in the head opening, or the printing tape may be superimposed on the interleaf paper at a position farther from the print head than the interleaf paper (i.e., as a lower layer).

[0103] (3c) In the printing cassette of the second embodiment, the positions of the take-up spool and the third tape spool may be interchanged. That is, the drive shaft may be inserted into the take-up spool, and the third tape spool may be rotated by the take-up gear.

[0104] (3d) In the printing cassette of the above embodiment, the output gear, input gear, and take-up gear may be indirectly engaged with the idle gear (i.e., via another gear). Also, the idle gear does not necessarily have to be a stepped gear, but may be a single gear.

[0105] (3e) The function of one component in the above embodiments may be distributed among multiple components, or the functions of multiple components may be integrated into one component. Also, part of the configuration of the above embodiments may be omitted. Furthermore, at least part of the configuration of the above embodiments may be added to or substituted for the configuration of another of the above embodiments. All aspects included in the technical idea identified by the wording of the claims are embodiments of the present disclosure. [Explanation of symbols]

[0106] 1, 1A...printing device, 10, 10A...printing cassette, 11...printing tape roll, 11A...printing tape, 11B...outer circumferential surface, 12...first tape spool, 14...ink ribbon roll, 14A...ink ribbon, 15...second tape spool, 16...input spool, 18...output gear, 19...input gear, 20...idle gear, 20A...first gear, 20B...second gear, 20C...overlapping portion, 21... laminated tape roll, 22... take-up spool, 23... take-up gear, 25...Third tape spool, 31...First case portion, 32...First frame portion, 33...Second frame portion, 33B...head opening, 34...second case part, 35...case, 100, 100A...printing device main body, 101...cassette insertion section, 102...print head, 103...platen roller, 105...drive shaft, 106...pressure roller.

Claims

1. a printing tape roll in which a printing tape is wound around a winding central axis extending in a first direction; an input gear that can rotate based on a driving force; an output gear that is rotatable based on the driving force of the input gear; Equipped with a printing cassette, wherein at least a portion of the input gear and at least a portion of the output gear overlap with the printing tape roll in the first direction, a rotation axis of the input gear and a rotation axis of the output gear are each located inside an outer peripheral surface of the printing tape roll in a direction perpendicular to the first direction;

2. A printing cassette as described in claim 1, wherein the output gear indirectly engages with the input gear.

3. A printing tape roll in which printing tape is wound around a winding central axis extending in a first direction; an input gear that can rotate based on a driving force; an output gear that is rotatable based on the driving force of the input gear; Equipped with a printing cassette, wherein at least a portion of the input gear and at least a portion of the output gear overlap with the printing tape roll in the first direction, The output gear indirectly engages the input gear.

4. an idler gear directly or indirectly engaged with the input gear and rotatable together with the input gear; 4. The printing cassette according to claim 3, wherein said output gear is directly or indirectly engaged with said idle gear and is rotatable together with said idle gear.

5. a tape spool rotatable about an axis of rotation; The printing tape roll is formed by winding the printing tape around the tape spool, 5. The printing cassette according to claim 4, wherein in a projection view of the tape spool, the input gear, the output gear, and the idle gear onto an imaginary plane perpendicular to the first direction, the rotation axis of the tape spool overlaps with a convex envelope defined by the input gear, the output gear, and the idle gear.

6. The printing tape further includes an ink ribbon roll having an ink ribbon used for printing wound around a winding center axis parallel to the first direction, 6. The printing cassette according to claim 4, wherein at least a portion of the ink ribbon roll overlaps with the idle gear in the first direction.

7. a take-up spool rotatable to take up the ink ribbon supplied from the ink ribbon roll, The printing cassette according to claim 6 , wherein at least a portion of the take-up spool overlaps with the idle gear in the first direction.

8. a take-up gear that directly or indirectly engages with the idle gear and rotates the take-up spool; The printing cassette according to claim 7 , wherein at least a portion of the take-up gear overlaps with the printing tape roll in the first direction.

9. The printing cassette according to claim 8 , wherein the rotation axis of the take-up gear overlaps with the printing tape roll in the first direction.

10. The printing cassette according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the take-up gear overlaps with the take-up spool in the first direction.

11. the idle gear is a stepped gear in which a first gear engaged with the output gear and a second gear having a diameter larger than that of the first gear are arranged side by side, the second gear has an overlapping portion that overlaps with the output gear in the first direction, The printing cassette according to claim 4 , wherein at least a portion of the overlapping portion of the second gear overlaps with the printing tape in the first direction.

12. The printing tape further includes a laminating tape roll in which the laminating tape to be laminated to the printing tape is wound around a winding central axis parallel to the first direction, The printing cassette according to claim 11 , wherein at least a portion of the overlapping portion of the second gear overlaps with the laminating tape roll in the first direction.

13. The gearbox further includes a case that houses at least a portion of the input gear and at least a portion of the output gear, the case has a recess that is recessed in the first direction and extends in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, The printing cassette according to claim 1 , wherein the rotation axis of the input gear and the rotation axis of the output gear are each located between both ends of the recess in the second direction.

14. The printing tape further includes a laminating tape roll in which the laminating tape to be laminated to the printing tape is wound around a winding central axis parallel to the first direction, The printing cassette according to claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the output gear overlaps with the laminating tape roll in the first direction.

15. A printing tape roll having a printing tape wound around a winding central axis extending in a first direction; an input gear that can rotate based on a driving force; an output gear that is rotatable based on the driving force of the input gear; Equipped with a printing cassette, wherein at least a portion of the input gear and at least a portion of the output gear overlap with the printing tape roll in the first direction, The printing tape further includes a laminating tape roll in which the laminating tape to be laminated to the printing tape is wound around a winding central axis parallel to the first direction, At least a portion of the output gear overlaps with the laminating tape roll in the first direction.

16. The printing cassette according to claim 1 , wherein the output gear outputs a driving force to an outside of the printing cassette.

17. A printing tape roll having a printing tape wound around a winding central axis extending in a first direction; an input gear that can rotate based on a driving force; an output gear that is rotatable based on the driving force of the input gear; Equipped with a printing cassette, wherein at least a portion of the input gear and at least a portion of the output gear overlap with the printing tape roll in the first direction, The output gear outputs a driving force to the outside of the printing cassette.

18. 18. The printing cassette according to claim 16, wherein the output gear outputs a driving force for feeding the printing tape to the outside of the printing cassette.

19. a tape spool rotatable about an axis of rotation; The printing tape roll is formed by winding the printing tape around the tape spool, The printing cassette according to claim 1 , wherein the input gear and the output gear are located on one side of the tape spool in the first direction.

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