Integrated Tape Ribbon Container with Removable Exit

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing lettering tape cartridges do not house an ink ribbon cassette, requiring users to separately mount an ink ribbon cassette and a tape with release paper into a lettering tape printing device, which is inconvenient.

Innovation Solution

A container with a tape roll housing section and a removable exit portion, combined with a cartridge housing section for an ink ribbon cartridge, allowing the ribbon cartridge to be mounted into the tape printing device while holding the tape from the roll, facilitating seamless integration and operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If users separately mount an ink ribbon cassette and a tape with release paper into a lettering tape printing device, then the device can function properly, but the operation becomes inconvenient and complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of setupVSAvoidnumber of separate components
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the ink ribbon cassette and the tape with release paper into a single integrated container. The container houses both the ribbon cartridge and the tape roll, allowing users to set up the device by simply removing the entire container and mounting it once, rather than separately mounting two different components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of operation

If the container houses both the tape roll and the ribbon cartridge together, then the ease of operation improves, but the internal space arrangement becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of setupVSAvoidcontainer structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The container is divided into distinct sections: a tape roll housing section for the tape roll and a cartridge housing section for the ribbon cartridge. This segmentation allows each component to be housed in its own dedicated space while still being part of the integrated container, simplifying the internal arrangement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The ribbon cartridge is placed within the container structure, with the tape roll housing section and cartridge housing section nested together to form the complete container. This nested arrangement allows both components to coexist in a compact, organized manner.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Ease of operation

If a removable exit portion is provided in the container wall, then the tape can be easily fed to the printing device, but the container structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetape feedingVSAvoidcontainer structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A removable exit portion is extracted from the container wall, allowing the tape to be fed through this opening to the printing device. This extracted portion can be removed or adjusted as needed, providing easy access for tape feeding while maintaining the overall container structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3756899B1Container and tape ribbon set
Publication Date: 2023.05.03 SEIKO EPSON CORP
  • EP3756899B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3756899B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3756899B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A container (301) includes a tape roll housing section configured to house a tape roll (403) of a wound tape to be fed to a tape printing device, a removable exit portion (319) removably provided in a first wall section, the removable exit portion to be removed to form a tape exit in the second wall section (309) through which the tape fed from the tape roll is fed, and a cartridge housing section (345) configured to house a ribbon cartridge (201) having an ink ribbon, the ribbon cartridge to be mounted into the tape printing device and being configured to hold the tape fed from the tape roll.