Tape Cassette Protrusion Guide for Reliable Ink Ribbon Peeling
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Solution Overview
Problem
In tape cassettes used for heat transfer printing, the ink ribbon may not be reliably peeled from the film tape due to excessive frictional force, leading to potential jamming issues and inadequate peeling distance for fixed characters, especially when the ribbon winding spool's pulling force is insufficient.
Innovation Solution
The tape cassette incorporates a configuration with protrusions that guide the print tape and ink ribbon, positioning the first protrusion's leading end further than the virtual line connecting the roller and the ribbon winding spool, and the second protrusion's leading end further than the virtual line connecting the roller and the first protrusion, to reduce frictional force and ensure proper peeling by pressing the print tape and ink ribbon apart.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the ribbon winding spool pulls the ink ribbon with greater force, then the ink ribbon is removed from the film tape more effectively, but the ink ribbon is removed before the transferred characters are fixed, resulting in insufficient peeling distance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a guide wall as an intermediary structure between the ribbon winding spool and the film tape. The guide wall includes a separation surface that actively guides and separates the ink ribbon from the film tape during the winding process, ensuring reliable peeling without requiring excessive pulling force that would reduce peeling distance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the peeling function from the ribbon winding spool by introducing a dedicated guide wall structure. The guide wall's separation surface specifically handles the separation task, allowing the spool to wind the ribbon at optimal speed without bearing the burden of forceful separation, thus maintaining both peeling reliability and sufficient peeling distance
2Reliability
If the frictional force between the film tape and ink ribbon against the guide wall end is increased, then the ink ribbon is pulled away more effectively, but the film tape is conveyed without sufficient separation, causing jams
Solution Approach 1:
The guide wall is designed with different surface characteristics at different locations. The separation surface has specific friction properties that facilitate ribbon separation, while other surfaces maintain appropriate friction for stable conveyance. This local differentiation of surface properties enables reliable separation without causing conveyance jams
Solution Approach 2:
The patent addresses the friction problem by adding a spatial dimension to the separation mechanism. The guide wall creates a three-dimensional separation path that physically diverts the ink ribbon from the film tape conveyance path, reducing frictional interference and preventing jams while maintaining separation reliability
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration reliably peels the ink ribbon from the print tape while maintaining a sufficient peeling distance, preventing jamming and ensuring that characters are transferred and fixed correctly on the print tape.
Implementation Method 1
A part of an outer peripheral surface of the roller is exposed to the first side in the first direction of the cassette case. The roller is configured to guide the print tape.
Implementation Method 2
If a frictional force generated by the film tape pressing the ink ribbon against the end of the guide wall is greater than a force with which the ribbon winding spool pulls the ink ribbon, there is a possibility that the film tape may be conveyed without the ink ribbon being sufficiently separated from the film tape
Implementation Method 3
a tape cassette is known that clamps a film tape and an ink ribbon between a platen roller and a thermal head, and prints characters and the like on the film tape, by heat transfer printing
Data Source
AI summary
A tape cassette includes a recess formed on a part of a side wall of a cassette case, an arm portion, a roller partly exposed from the tape cassette, a first protrusion including a first leading end, and a second protrusion including a second leading end. The first leading end and the second leading end protrudes toward first side. The first leading end is positioned on a first virtual line or further to the first side than the first virtual line. The first virtual line connects an exposed part of an outer peripheral surface of the roller with a connection portion between the recess and a wall comprising the arm portion. The second leading end is positioned further to the first side than a second virtual line. The second virtual line connects the exposed part of the outer peripheral surface of the roller with the first leading end.