DESCRIPTION
Technical Field
5 [0001]
10
The present invention relates to a tape cartridge
that is used by being installed on a cartridge installation
portion in a tape printing apparatus to be used, and is
subjected to printing by the tape printing apparatus.
Background Art
[0002]
In the related arts, a tape accommodating cassette
provided with three projections corresponding to tape-width
15 sensors of a printer (tape printing apparatus) has been
known as such a tape cartridge (see PTL 1).
20
In the printer, an installation portion of the tape
accommodating cassette is provided with tape-width sensors
configured with photo interrupters to respectively detect
three projections. The tape-width sensors detect the
presence or absence of three projections, respectively, and
thus detects a tape width of a printing tape mounted in the
tape accommodating cassette. In addition, the printer
includes a cassette cover that opens/closes the
25 installation portion of the tape accommodating cassette and
3
a small mechanical switch that is provided at a position
away from the installation portion and detects
opening/closing of the cassette cover.
5 Citation List
Patent Literature
[0003]
[PTL 1] JP-A-7-214828
10 Summary of the Invention
Technical Problem
15
[0004]
In such a printer (tape printing apparatus) of the
related art, the mechanical switch for detecting the
opening/closing of the cassette cover (opening/closing
cover) is provided at the position away from the
installation portion. That is, since it is hindered by the
tape accommodating cassette (tape cartridge) mounted on the
installation portion, the mechanical switch is inevitably
20 provided at the position away from the installation
portion. For this reason, there are problems that the size
of the cassette cover becomes large and an installation
position of the mechanical switch is restricted. In
addition, during the detection by the tape-width sensors,
25 the tape width of the printing tape and the installation of
4
the tape accommodating cassette (tape cartridge) can be
simultaneously detected by three projections.
accommodating cassette not having three
In the tape
projections,
however, a state where the tape accommodating cassette is
5 not installed is also detected, and thus there is a problem
that the tape width cannot be detected when three
projections are not present.
[0005]
An object of the present invention is to provide a
10 tape cartridge capable of detecting not only closing of an
opening/closing cover but also the presence or absence of
the tape cartridge in a tape printing apparatus.
Solution to Problem
15 [0006]
20
A tape cartridge of the present invention is a tape
cartridge installed detachably on a cartridge installation
portion of a tape printing apparatus in a predetermined
detachable direction, the tape printing apparatus including
a detection portion which detects closing of an
opening/closing cover provided on the cartridge
installation portion, the tape cartridge including a
displacement input portion, and a displacement output
portion. Wherein, when the opening/closing cover is
25 displaced from an open state to a closed state in a state
5
of being installed on the cartridge installation portion,
the displacement input portion receives displacement of a
detection-target element, which is provided on the
opening I closing cover, to be displaced according to the
5 displacement of the opening I closing cover from the open
state to the closed state, and the displacement output
portion actuates a detection element of the detection
portion according to displacement of the opening/closing
cover to be further displaced in the same direction from
10 the open state to the closed state.
[0007]
With such a configuration, the displacement input
portion receives the displacement of the • detection-target
element, which is provided on the opening/ closing cover,
15 according to the closing of the opening/closing cover, and
the displacement output portion actuates the detection
element of the detection portion according to such
displacement. That is, the detection-target element of the
opening/closing cover actuates the detection element of the
20 detection portion through the displacement input portion
and the displacement output portion. Accordingly, the
presence of the tape cartridge is also detected by the
detection of the closing of the opening/closing cover using
the detection portion, and thus the closing of the
6
opening I closing cover and the presence or absence of the
tape cartridge can be simultaneously detected.
[0008]
In this case, preferably, the tape cartridge further
5 includes: a cartridge casing that has a shell structure, an
accommodation opening that is provided in the cartridge
casing and accommodates the detection-target element; and
an insertion opening that is provided in the cartridge
casing and into which the detection element is inserted,
10 and the displacement input portion and the displacement
output portion are disposed inside the cartridge casing.
[0009]
With such a configuration, it is possible to provide
the displacement input portion and the displacement output
15 portion without changing the contour of the cartridge
casing.
[0010]
In this case, preferably, a position of the
displacement input portion coming in contact with the
20 detection-target element is positionally deviated from a
position of the displacement output portion coming in
contact with the detection element when viewed in the
detachable direction.
[DOll]
5
7
With such a configuration, it is possible to
appropriately actuate the detection element according to
the closing of the opening I closing cover even when the
detection-target element is hardly disposed coaxially with
the detection element due to the restriction on
installation places.
[0012]
In this case, preferably, the tape cartridge further
includes a displacement portion that includes the
10 displacement input portion and the displacement output
portion, the displacement portion is displaced
substantially around a support point, and a distance from
the support point to the position of the displacement
output portion coming in contact with the detection element
15 is longer than a distance from the support point to the
position of the displacement input portion coming in
contact with the detection-target element.
[0013]
With such a configuration, since the displacement of
20 the detection-target element is transmitted with expansion,
the detection element can be reliably actuated even when an
actuation stroke of the detection element becomes long.
[0014]
In the same manner, preferably, the tape cartridge
25 further includes a displacement portion that includes the
8
displacement input portion and the displacement output
portion, the displacement portion is displaced
substantially around a support point, and a distance from
the support point to the position of the displacement
5 output portion coming in contact with the detection element
is shorter than a distance from the support point to the
position of the displacement input portion coming in
contact with the detection-target element.
10
[0015]
With such a configuration, the pressing force of the
detection-target element for causing the displacement of
the displacement portion can be reduced, and the force to
be applied at the time of the closing of the
opening/closing cover can be reduced.
15 [0016]
Preferably, the displacement portion has an elastic
portion that is subjected to elastic deformation by a
pressing force of the detection-target element and actuates
the detection element by the elastic deformation.
20 [0017]
25
With such a configuration, due to the elastic
deformation of the elastic portion, the cartridge casin'g
may be resiliently pressed by the detection-target element.
Thus, the cartridge casing is fixedly positioned in the
cartridge installation portion. Accordingly, it is
9
possible to simultaneously detect the closing of the
opening/closing cover and the presence or absence of the
tape cartridge, and to achieve the positioning of the tape
cartridge.
5 [0018]
In this case, preferably, the elastic portion
includes an elastic piece that comes in contact with the
detection-target element and extends toward the detection
element in an ''L'' shape.
10 [0019]
In this case, preferably, the tape cartridge further
includes a cartridge casing that has a shell structure, and
the elastic piece is formed integrally with the cartridge
casing.
15 [0020]
In the same manner, preferably, the tape cartridge
further includes a cartridge casing that has a shell
structure, and the elastic piece is configured with a plate
spring supported on the cartridge casing.
20 [0021]
With such a configuration, it is possible to form the
elastic piece with a simple structure. In addition, as the
elastic portion is formed in the "L" shape toward the
detection element, the protrusion size of the detection
5
10
element from the cartridge installation portion can be
shortened.
[0022]
Preferably, the displacement portion includes: an
input elastic portion that is subjected to elastic
deformation by a pressing force of the detection-target
element; and an output actuation portion that is continuous
to the input elastic portion and actuates the detection
element according to the elastic deformation of the input
10 elastic portion.
[0023]
With such a configuration, the output actuation
portion becomes longer, and thus it is possible to shorten
the detection-target element protruding from the
15 opening I closing cover and to shorten the detection element
protruding toward the cartridge installation portion.
[0024]
In this case, preferably, the tape cartridge further
includes a cartridge casing that has a shell structure, and
20 the input elastic portion is formed by removing a part of a
casing wall of the cartridge casing.
[0025]
In this case, preferably, the input elastic portion
is formed by removing a part of a casing wall in a "U"
25 shape.
11
[0026]
With such a configuration, it is possible to form the
input elastic portion by molding, machining, or the like in
a very simple manner. That is, the input elastic portion
5 can be formed with a very simple structure.
[0027]
Meanwhile, preferably, the tape cartridge further
includes a cartridge casing that has a shell structure, the
cartridge casing has two casing, and the displacement
10 portion is provided on either one of the two casing.
[0028]
With such a configuration, when there is an existing
tape cartridge having the same shape, it is possible to
simply manufacture the tape cartridge having the
15 displacement portion only by design change of one casing.
[0029]
In addition, preferably, the tape cartridge further
includes a displacement portion that includes the
displacement input portion and the displacement output
20 portion, and the displacement portion includes an input
portion that moves by a pressing force of the detectiontarget
element and an output portion that is continuous to
the input portion and actuates the detection element
according to movement of the input portion.
25 [0030]
5
12
With such a configuration, the output actuation
portion becomes longer, and thus it is possible to shorten
the detection-target element protruding from the
opening/closing cover and to shorten the detection element
protruding toward the cartridge installation portion. In
addition, it is possible to stably actuate the detection
element by the movement of the input portion.
[0031]
In this case, preferably, the input portion and the
10 output portion are integrally formed.
15
20
[0032]
With such a configuration, the displacement portion
can be formed with a simple structure.
[0033]
In addition, preferably, the displacement portion
further includes an elastic member that receives the input
portion at an initial position at which the detectiontarget
element is received.
[0034]
With such a configuration, due to the elastic
deformation of the elastic portion, the cartridge casing
may be resiliently pressed by the detection-target element.
Thus, the cartridge casing is fixedly positioned in the
cartridge installation portion.
25 [0035]
13
In this case, preferably, the elastic member is
configured with a coil spring.
[0036]
In the same manner, preferably, the elastic member is
5 configured with either one of rubber and sponge.
[0037]
In the same manner, preferably, the elastic member is
a casing piece formed in such a manner that a part of a
casing wall of the cartridge casing is cut and raised
10 toward the input portion.
[0038]
With such a configuration, the elastic member can be
formed with a very simple structure.
15 Brief Description of Drawings
20
[0039]
Fig. 1 is an external perspective view of a cover
open condition of a tape printing apparatus according to an
embodiment.
Figs. 2A and 28 are a plan view and a side view of a
tape cartridge according to the embodiment.
Fig. 3 is a plan view of a cartridge installation
portion.
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an opening I closing
25 cover when viewed from a back side.
14
Figs. SA and SB are, respectively, a plan view of the
tape cartridge with its upper casing removed and a back
view of the upper casing.
Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the tape cartridge
5 when viewed from the back side.
Figs. 7A, 7B, and 7C are, respectively, an enlarged
plan view of a surrounding displacement portion, an
enlarged perspective view of a surrounding detection-target
projection, and a cross-sectional view of a surrounding
10 displacement portion of a tape cartridge according to a
first embodiment.
Figs. SA, 8B, 8C, and 80 are, respectively, a
structural view of a surrounding displacement portion of a
tape cartridge according to a first modification example of
15 the first embodiment, a structural view of a surrounding
displacement portion of a tape cartridge according to a
second modification example, a structural view of a
surrounding displacement portion of a tape cartridge
according to a third modification example, and a structural
20 view of a surrounding displacement portion of a tape
cartridge according to a fourth modification example.
Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a surrounding
displacement portion of a tape cartridge according to a
second embodiment.
15
Figs. lOA and lOB are, respectively, a crosssectiona
·l view of a surrounding displacement portion of a
tape cartridge according to a first modification example of
the second embodiment and a cross-sectional view of a
5 surrounding displacement portion of a tape cartridge
according to a second modification example.
10
Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a surrounding
displacement portion of a tape cartridge according to a
third embodiment.
Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a surrounding
displacement portion of a tape cartridge according to a
fourth embodiment.
Description of Embodiments
15 [0040]
20
Hereinafter, a description will be given, with
reference to the accompanying drawings, of a tape cartridge
according to an embodiment of the present invention in
conjunction with a tape printing apparatus in which the
tape cartridge is installed. The tape printing apparatus
is used to perform printing while feeding out a printing
tape and an ink ribbon from the installed tape cartridge
and cut off a printed part of the printing tape to create a
label (tape piece).
25 [0041]
16
[Outline of Tape Printing Apparatus]
Fig. 1 is an external perspective view of the tape
printing apparatus and the tape cartridge installed in the
tape printing apparatus. As illustrated in the same
5 figure, a tape printing apparatus 1 includes an apparatus
casing 3 constituting an outer shell, a cartridge
installation portion 5 on which a tape cartridge 100 is
detachably installed, and an opening I closing cover 7 used
to open/close the cartridge installation portion 5. At the
10 upper surface of the apparatus casing 3, the cartridge
installation portion 5 is provided on the back side, a
display 11 is provided on the central side, and a keyboard
15
13 is provided on the front side. In the vicinity of the
opening/closing cover 7, a finger-hooking recessed portion
15 is provided. The opening/closing cover 7 is opened so
as to be flipped up through the recessed portion 15. On
the side surface (left side surface) of the apparatus
casing 3, an elongated tape ejection port 17 is provided to
eject a printing tape 102.
20 [0042]
In addition, the tape printing apparatus 1 includes a
printing mechanism portion 23 having a printing head 21
provided uprightly on the cartridge installation portion 5,
a tape feeding mechanism portion 25 embedded in the back
25 side space of the cartridge installation portion 5, and a
5
17
tape cutting mechanism portion 27 embedded in the vicinity
of the tape ejection port 17. A user inputs printing
information using the keyboard 13 and performs printing
with a key operation after confirming the printing
information on the display 11. Upon the printing
instruction, the tape feeding mechanism portion 25 is
driven to make the printing tape 102 and the ink ribbon 110
run parallel to each other, and printing is performed by
heat transfer from the printing mechanism portion 23. By
10 the print feeding, the printing tape 102 is ejected from
the tape ejection port 17. When the printing is completed,
the tape cutting mechanism portion 27 is driven, whereby a
printed part of the printing tape 102 is separated.
[0043]
15 [Outline of Tape Cartridge]
20
As illustrated in Figs. 1, 2A, and 28, the tape
cartridge 100 includes a tape roll 106 in which the
printing tape 102 is wound on a tape core 104 and a ribbon
roll 114 in which the ink ribbon 110 is wound on a feedingout
core 112. In addition, the tape cartridge 100 includes
a winding-up core 116 that winds up the ink ribbon 110 that
has been consumed and a platen roller 120 (platen) that
comes in contact with the printing head 21 and feeds the
printing tape 102 and the ink ribbon 110. Moreover, the
25 tape cartridge 100 includes a cartridge casing 130 that
18
accommodates the tape roll 106, the ribbon roll 114, the
winding-up core 116, and the platen roller 120. As
described above, the tape cartridge 100 of this embodiment
has so-called a shell structure in which the outer shell is
5 covered with the cartridge casing 130.
10
[0044]
Further, the tape cartridge 100 includes an insertion
opening 134, into which the printing head 21 is inserted
when the tape cartridge is installed in the tape printing
apparatus 1, on the cartridge casing 130. The tape
cartridge 100 includes a delivered 138 from which the
printing tape 102 is delivered. Note that as will be
described in detail below, the tape roll 106 is rotatably
supported on a cylindrical core shaft 192 projecting inside
15 the cartridge casing 130.
[0045]
When the platen roller 120 and the winding-up core
116 are driven by the tape feeding mechanism portion 25,
the printing tape 102 is fed out from the tape core 104 and
20 the ink ribbon 110 is fed out from the feeding-out core
112. The fed-out printing tape 102 and the ink ribbon 110
run parallel to each other at the platen roller 120 and are
subjected to printing by the printing head 21. A fed-out
end (printed part) of the printing tape 102, on which the
25 printing has been performed, is delivered from the
19
delivered 138 to the tape ejection port 17. On the other
hand, the ink ribbon 110 goes around the peripheral wall
part of the insertion opening 134 and is wound up on the
winding-up core 116. Note that a plurality of types of
5 tape cartridges having a different thickness is available
as the tape cartridge 100 according to a tape width of the
printing tape 102.
10
15
[0046]
[Details of Tape Printing Apparatus]
As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, the cartridge
installation portion 5 is formed in a flat shape
complementary to the flat shape of the tape cartridge 100
and formed to be recessed with a depth corresponding to the
tape cartridge 100 having a maximum thickness among the
plurality of types of tape cartridges 100. In this case,
an installation base 31 constituting the bottom plate
portion of the cartridge installation portion 5 and a side
plate portion 33 are integrally formed (molded) by a resin
or the like. A slit-shaped tape ejection path 35 is formed
20 between the cartridge installation portion 5 and the tape
ejection port 17, and the tape cutting mechanism portion 27
is embedded at this part.
[0047]
In the installation base 31 of the cartridge
25 installation portion 5, when the tape cartridge 100 is
20
installed, a positioning projection 41 into which the core
shaft 192 of the tape cartridge 100 is fitted and
positioned, the printing head 21 covered with the head
cover 43, a platen driving shaft 45 that rotates and drives
5 the platen roller 120, a winding-up driving shaft 47 that
rotates and drives the winding-up core 116 are provided
uprightly. In addition, the installation base 31 is
provided with a tape detection portion 51 that detects a
type (attribute information) of the printing tape 102, a
10 cover detection portion 52 that detects closing of the
opening/closing cover 7, and a core releasing portion 53
that releases the rotation-stop of the feeding-out core 112
and the winding-up core 116 which are positioned in the
vicinity of the winding-up driving shaft 4 7, respectively
15 (see Fig. 3)
[0048]
Furthermore, the installation base 31 is provided
with a pair of small projections 55 at positions diagonal
to each other, and is additionally provided with a pair of
20 retaining pieces 57 that retain an intermediate portion of
the installed tape cartridge 100. In the back side space
of the installation base 31, the tape feeding mechanism
portion 25 having a motor and a gear train (both of them is
not illustrated in the drawings) to rotate the platen
25 driving shaft 45 and the winding-up driving shaft 47 is
21
embedded. The tape feeding mechanism portion 25 branches
power using the gear train, and synchronously rotates the
platen driving shaft 45 and the winding-up driving shaft
47.
5 [0049]
The printing mechanism portion 23 includes the
printing head 21 constituted of a thermal head and a head
support frame 61 that supports and rotates the printing
head 21. In addition, the printing mechanism portion 23
10 includes a head releasing mechanism (not illustrated) that
rotates the printing head 21 between a printing position
and a retracting position through the head support frame 61
and the head cover 43 that covers the printing head 21 (and
the head support frame 61).
15 [0050]
20
The head releasing mechanism operates as the
opening/closing cover 7 is opened/closed. The head
releasing mechanism moves (rotates) the printing head 21 to
the printing position according to the closing operation of
the opening/closing cover 7 and moves (rotates) the
printing head 21 to the retracting position according to
the opening operation thereof. The printing head 21 comes
in contact with the platen roller 120 of the tape cartridge
100 through the ink ribbon 110 and the printing tape 102
25 when moving to the printing position and separates from the
22
platen roller 120 when moving to the retracting position.
Thus, the printing tape 102 and the ink ribbon 110 are
prevented from interfering with the printing head 21 when
the tape cartridge 100 is attached to or detached from the
5 tape printing apparatus 1.
10
[0051]
The printing head 21 is provided with a plurality of
heat generation elements, and the plurality of heat
generation elements lines up in the same direction as the
shaft direction of the platen roller 120. Further,
printing is performed when the printing tape 102 and the
ink ribbon 110 are fed and the plurality of heat generation
elements is selectively driven. The head cover 43 is
formed in a substantially rectangle shape in plan view and
15 integrally formed (molded) with the installation base 31
(the cartridge installation portion 5) In addition, the
head cover 43 vertically largely projects from the
installation base 31. The head cover 43 internally allows
the rotation of the printing head 21 and externally
20 functions as an installation guide for the tape cartridge
100.
[0052]
The tape detection portion 51 is constituted of a
plurality of micro switches 51a, selectively engages with a
25 detection target 180, which will be described later, of the
23
tape cartridge 100, and detects a type such as a tape
width, a tape color, and a material of the printing tape
102. Further, based on the detection result, the driving
of the printing head 21 and the tape feeding mechanism
5 portion 2 5 is controlled.
[0053]
The cover detection portion 52 is configured with a
push switch including a detection portion body 52a and a
rod-like detection element 52b, and is disposed such that
10 the detection element 52b protrudes into the cartridge
installation portion 5 from the installation base 31 (see
Fig. 7C). When the cover detection portion 52 actuates
(turns ON) and the closing of the opening/closing cover 7
is detected, a process such as printing can be achieved.
15 In the cover detection portion 52, the detection portion
body 52a may be configured with an optical sensor or the
like.
[0054]
The core releasing portion 53 is constituted of two
20 releasing pins 53a for the feeding-out core 112 and the
winding-up core 116. As will be described in detail later,
the cartridge casing 130 is provided with rotation-stop
hooks 2 0 6 retained by the feeding-out core 112 and the
winding-up core 116, respectively (see Fig. 6). When the
25 tape cartridge 100 is installed, the releasing pins 53a
5
24
engage with the rotation-stop hooks 206 to release the
rotation-stop of the feeding-out core 112 and the windingup
core 116.
[0055]
The platen driving shaft 45 includes a fixation shaft
45a provided so as to insert the platen roller 120, and a
spline-like movable shaft 4 7 a rotatably j ournaled in the
base of the fixation shaft 45a. The rotation power of the
tape feeding mechanism portion 25 is transmitted to the
10 movable shaft 45b and then further transmitted to the
platen roller 120 from the movable shaft 45b. Similarly,
the winding-up driving shaft 47 includes a fixation shaft
47a and a spline-like movable shaft 47b rotatably journaled
in the fixation shaft 47a. In this case as well, the
15 rotation power of the tape feeding mechanism portion 25 is
transmitted to the movable shaft 47b and then further
transmitted from the movable shaft 4 7b to the winding-up
core 116.
20
25
[0056]
When the tape cartridge 100 is installed on the
cartridge installation portion 5, the core shaft 192 (the
tape core 104) engages with the positioning projection 41,
the platen roller 120 engages with the platen driving shaft
45, and the winding-up core 116 engages with the winding-up
driving shaft 47. Then, when the opening/closing cover 7
25
is closed, the printing head 21 rotates and comes in
contact with the platen roller 120 with the printing tape
102 and the ink ribbon 110 held therebetween, which brings
the tape printing apparatus 1 in a printing standby state.
5 [0057]
As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4, the opening I closing
cover 7 is rotatably, i.e., openably/closably attached to
the apparatus casing 3 through a hinge portion 71 provided
on the back side. The opening/closing cover 7 includes an
10 opening I closing cover main body 7 3 and a check window 7 5
provided at the center of the opening/closing cover main
body 73. In addition, opening/closing cover 7 includes a
pair of journaled pieces 77 that projects from the rear
surface of the opening I closing cover main body 7 3 and is
15 rotatably j ournaled in the hinge portion 71 and an
actuation lever 79 that projects from the rear surface of
the opening I closing cover main body 7 3 and rotates the
printing head 21. Moreover, the opening I closing cover 7
includes a pressing projection 81 that projects from the
20 rear surface of the opening/closing cover main body 73 and
press the tape cartridge 100 and a detection-target
projection 83 (detection-target element) that projects from
the rear surface of the opening/closing cover main body 73
and operates (turns ON) the cover detection portion 52.
25 [0058]
26
The check window 75 is formed to be long from side to
side and made of a transparent (visible-light transparent)
resin formed separately from the opening/closing cover main
body 7 3. Through the check window 7 5, (a type and a tape
5 remaining amount of the printing tape 102 of) the tape
cartridge 100 installed on the cartridge installation
portion 5 can be visually checked. In addition, the pair
of journaled pieces 77, the actuation lever 79, the
pressing projection 81, and the detection-target projection
10 83 are formed (molded) integrally with the opening/closing
cover main body 73 by a resin.
[0059]
The actuation lever 79 largely projects from the rear
surface of the opening I closing cover main body 7 3 and is
15 inserted in a slit opening 87 provided on the lateral side
20
of the cartridge installation portion 5 as the
opening/closing cover 7 is closed. The actuation lever 79
inserted in the slit opening 87 causes the head releasing
mechanism described above to operate and the printing head
21 to rotate forward the platen roller 120. The pressing
projections 81 is positioned so as to be in the vicinity of
the platen roller 120 of the tape cartridge 100, and
presses the tape cartridge 100 so as to be seated on the
installation base 31 of the cartridge installation portion
25 5 with the closing of the opening/closing cover 7.
5
27
[0060]
The detection-target projection 83 is disposed in the
vicinity of the actuation lever 7 9, and vertically
protrudes from the rear surface of the opening/closing
cover body 73. In addition, the detection-target
projection 83 is formed in a cross-sectional "T'' shape, and
is disposed with a flange piece 95 directed to the side of
the tip end of the opening/closing cover body 73 and a rib
piece 97 directed to the side of the base end of the
10 opening/closing cover body 73 (details will be described
below). Although details will be described below, the
detection-target projection 83 is inserted into the tape
cartridge 100 with the closing of the opening/closing cover
7, and actuates (turns ON) the cover detection portion 52
15 through the displacement portion 186 of the tape cartridge
100.
[0061]
[Details of Tape Cartridge]
Next, a description will be given in detail of the
20 tape cartridge 100 with reference to Figs. 2A, 28, SA, 58,
and 6. Note that in the description of the tape cartridge
100, taking Figs. 2A and 28 as an example, a surface on the
near side in the installation direction, i.e., on the upper
front side of the tape cartridge 100 will be called a
25 "front surface", a surface on the ·back side in the
28
installation direction, i.e., on the opposite side of the
tape cartridge 100 will be called a ''rear surface'', a side
surface on the left side of the tape cartridge 100 will be
called a "left side surface", a side surface on the right
5 side thereof will be called a ''right side surface", an arclike
side surface on the upper side (front side) thereof
will be called a "tip end surface", and a side surface on
the lower side (rear side) thereof will be called a "base
end surface".
10 [0062]
As described above, the tape cartridge 100 includes
the cartridge casing 130 and the tape roll 106, the ribbon
roll 114, the winding-up core 116, and the platen roller
120 accommodated in the cartridge casing 130. In addition,
15 the tape cartridge 100 includes the insertion opening 134
provided. on the cartridge casing 130, the delivered 138
formed on the left side surface in the vicinity of the
platen roller 120, and an identification label 141 (see
Fig. 1) affixed from the left side surface to the right
2 0 side surface through the front surface at a position at
which the tape roll 106 is accommodated. On the
identification label 141, a tape width, a tape color, a
material, and the like (some of attribute information) of
the printing tape 102 accommodated in the cartridge casing
29
130 are displayed at the two places of the front surface
and the left side surface.
[0063]
The cartridge casing 130 constitutes the outer shell
5 of the tape cartridge 100 (the shell structure) and has an
appearance that is formed in an "LH-shape in plan view and
of which the base end at the right side surface slightly
projects. In the front and rear direction, the cartridge
casing 130 is constituted of a lower casing 150 and an
10 upper casing 152, the lower casing 150 and the upper casing
152 being positioned on the back side and the near side,
respectively, when the cartridge casing 130 is installed on
the cartridge installation portion 5. In the cartridge
casing 130 of the embodiment, the upper casing 152 is
15 constituted of a transparent resin molded item, and the
lower casing 150 is constituted of a non-transparent resin
molded item.
[0064]
The upper casing 152 is such that a top wall portion
20 156 constituting the front surface of the cartridge casing
130 and an upper peripheral wall portion 158 suspending on
the periphery of the top wall portion 156 are integrally
formed (molded) . In addition, the lower casing 150 is such
that a bottom wall portion 160 constituting the rear
25 surface of the cartridge casing 130, a lower peripheral
30
wall portion 162 provided to stand on the periphery of the
bottom wall portion 160, and an opening peripheral wall
portion 164 provided to stand on the bottom wall portion
160 so as to define the insertion opening 134 are
5 integrally formed (molded) .
[0065]
On the lower end surface of the upper peripheral wall
portion 158 of the upper casing 152, a plurality of joining
pins 170 is provided at appropriate intervals. While, on
10 the lower peripheral wall portion 162 of the lower casing
150, a plurality of joining holes 172 is provided
corresponding to the plurality of joining pins 170 (see
Figs. 5A and 5B). After constituents such as the tape roll
106 and the ribbon roll 114 are disposed on the lower
15 casing 150, the upper casing 152 is joined to the lower
casing 150 so as to press-fit the plurality of joining pins
170 in the plurality of joining holes 172, whereby the tape
cartridge 100 is assembled. Note that the respective
joining holes 172 are formed as through holes from the
20 viewpoint of molding easiness.
[0066]
On the other hand, on the left side surface and the
right side surface of the lower casing 150, a pair of
retaining-reception portions 174 retained by the pair of
2 5 retaining pieces 57 is provided (see Figs. 2A and 2B and
5
31
Fig. 6) . When the pair of retaining-reception portions 17 4
of the installed tape cartridge 100 is retained by the pair
of retaining pieces 57 on the side of the cartridge
installation portion 5, the tape cartridge 100 is prevented
from floating. In addition, on the rear surface of the
lower casing 150, small fitting holes 176 in which the pair
of small projections 55 fits with slight room are provided
(see Fig. 6). When the pair of small projections 55 on the
side of the cartridge installation portion 5 fits in the
10 pair of small fitting holes 176 of the installed tape
cartridge 100, the tape cartridge 100 is easily positioned
on the installation base 31.
[0067]
Moreover, on the rear surface (bottom wall portion
15 160) of the lower casing 150, the detection target 180
corresponding to the detection portion 51 is provided at a
left corner (right corner as viewed from the front surface
side) on the .side of the base end surface (see Fig. 6) .
The detection target 180 is constituted at a place
20 corresponding to the plurality of micro switches 51a of the
tape detection portion 51, and a plurality of bit patterns
is obtained based on the presence or absence of reception
holes 180a provided at the portion. That is, the bit
patterns correspond to a type of the printing tape 102.
25 [0068]
32
In addition, on the rear surface (bottom wall portion
160) of the lower casing 150 is formed with a circular
insertion opening 182, into which the detection element 52b
of the cover detection portion 52 is loosely inserted, in
5 the vicinity of the detection target 180 (see Fig. 6) . As
described above, the detection element 52b is provided on
the cartridge installation portion 5 so as to protrude from
installation base 31, and the detection element 52b is
inserted into the tape cartridge 100 from the insertion
10 opening 182 when the tape cartridge 100 is installed on the
cartridge installation portion 5.
[0069]
On the other hand, at the right corner on the side of
the base end surface in the front surface (top wall portion
15 156) of the tape cartridge 100, that is, at the right
corner on the side of the base end surface in the front
surface of the upper casing 152, an accommodation opening
184 into which the detection-target projection 83 is
inserted and a displacement portion 186 coming in contact
20 with the detection-target projection 83 inserted from the
accommodation opening 18 4 are provided (see Figs. 2A, 28,
5A, and 58) . Although details will be described below,
when the opening/closing cover 7 is closed, the detectiontarget
projection 83 provided on the opening/closing cover
25 7 is inserted into the tape cartridge 100 from the
33
accommodation opening 184, and thus presses the
displacement portion 186. The pressed displacement portion
186 is elastically deformed, thereby generating an elastic
force. The tape cartridge 100 receives the opening/closing
5 cover 7 by the elastic force, and is pressed against the
cartridge installation portion 5 (installation base 31).
At the same time,
displacement portion
due to the elastically deformed
18 6, the detection element 52b
inserted into the insertion opening 182 is pressed down,
10 and thus the cover detection portion 52 actuates (turns ON)
(details will be described below) .
[0070]
As illustrated in Figs. SA and 5B, in upper side
space (on the side of the tip end surface) inside the
15 cartridge casing 130, a tape accommodation area 190 in
which the tape roll 106 is widely accommodated is
constituted. At the center of the tape accommodation area
190, the core shaft 192 integrally formed (molded) with the
lower casing 150 is provided to stand. The core shaft 192
20 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and the tape roll 106
(the tape core 104) is rotatably j ournaled in the outer
peripheral surface 192b of the core shaft. In the tape
accommodation area 190, a tape guide 194 that guides the
fed-out printing tape 102 to the platen roller 120 is
34
integrally formed with the lower casing 150 so as to stand
in the vicinity of the platen roller 120.
[0071]
That is, inside the cartridge casing 130, a tape
5 feeding path 196 ranging from the tape roll 106 as a
starting point to the tape delivering port 138 through the
tape guide 194 and the platen roller 120 is constituted.
The printing tape 102 fed out from the tape roll 106 is
guided to the platen roller 120 through the tape guide 194
10 and subjected to printing by the platen roller 120. Then,
the printing tape is further guided from the platen roller
120 to the tape delivering port 138.
[0072]
The tape roll 106 includes two circular films 198
15 affixed to both end surfaces of the roll-like printing tape
102, besides the printing tape 102 and the tape core 104.
The two circular films 198 prevent the printing tape 102
wound on the tape core 104 from spreading out. In
addition, although not illustrated in the drawings, a
20 reverse-rotation stop mechanism is embedded in the tape
core 104. When the tape cartridge 100 is carried, the
reverse rotation of the printing tape 102 is prevented by
the reverse-rotation stop mechanism. On the other hand,
when the tape cartridge 100 is installed on the cartridge
25 installation portion 5 of the tape printing apparatus 1,
35
the reverse-rotation stop of the reverse-rotation stop
mechanism is released by the positioning projection 41'
whereby the feeding of the printing tape 102 is made
possible.
5 [0073]
On the right side of a base portion inside the
cartridge casing 130, a ribbon accommodation area 200 is
constituted adjacent to the insertion opening 134. In the
ribbon accommodation area 200, a feeding-out-side bearing
10 portion 202 that rotatably supports the ribbon roll 114
(the feeding-out core 112) and a winding-up-side bearing
portion 204 that rotatably supports the winding-up core 116
are integrally formed with the cartridge casing 130 on the
right and left parts, respectively. That is, the feeding-
15 out-side bearing portion 202 and the winding-up-side
bearing portion 204 are formed on each of the upper casing
152 and the lower casing 150.
[0074]
The notched parts of the feeding-out-side bearing
20 portion 202 and the winding-up-side bearing portion 204
formed on the lower casing 150 are each integrally formed
with the rotation-stop hooks 206 having the tip end thereof
facing the feeding-out-side bearing portion 202 and the
winding-up-side bearing portion 204. Further, one and the
25 other of rotation-stop hooks 206 engage with the feeding36
out core 112 and the winding-up core 116, respectively, in
their rotation stopping state.
[0075]
In the ribbon accommodation area 200, a first ribbon
5 guide 210 that guides the fed-out ink ribbon 110 to the
platen roller 120 is integrally formed with the lower
casing 150 so as to stand in the vicinity of the feedingout-
side bearing portion 202. In addition, on the outer
peripheral side of the opening peripheral wall portion 164,
10 a plurality of second ribbon guides 212 that guides the
going-around of the ink ribbon 110 is integrally formed.
[0076]
That is, inside the cartridge casing 130, a ribbon
feeding path 214 ranging from the ribbon roll 114 as a
15 starting point to the winding-up core 116 through the first
ribbon guide 210, the platen roller 120, and the plurality
of second ribbon guides 212 is constituted. The ink ribbon
110 fed out from the ribbon roll 114 is guided to the
platen roller 120 through the first ribbon guide 210 and
20 subjected to printing by the platen roller 120. Moreover,
the ink ribbon 110 goes around the opening peripheral wall
portion 164 (the plurality of second ribbon guides 212)
through the platen roller 120 and is wound up by the
winding-up core 116.
25 [0077]
37
The ribbon roll 114 includes a circular leaf spring
220 that applies a braking load to the feeding-out core
112, besides the ink ribbon 110 and the feeding-out core
112 (see Fig. 5B). The leaf spring 220 is formed to be
5 wavy in the peripheral direction and interposed between the
top wall portion 156 of the upper casing 152 and the
feeding-out core 112 in the shaft direction. That is, a
rotation braking load is applied to the feeding-out core
112 by the elastic force of the leaf spring 220. Thus,
10 back tension is applied to the ink ribbon 110 fed out from
the winding-up core 116 to prevent slack in the ink ribbon
110.
[0078]
The feeding-out core 112 is formed in a cylindrical
15 shape, and a plurality of notches 222 is formed in the
peripheral direction at the end thereof on the side of the
lower casing 150 (see Fig. 6) . Further, the rotation-stop
hooks 206 engage with or disengage from the plurality of
notches 222. Note that the feeding-out-side bearing
20 portion 202 on the side of the lower casing 150 supporting
the feeding-out core 112 is constituted of a circular
opening while the feeding-out-side bearing portion 202 on
the side of the upper casing 152 is constituted of a
cylindrical projection portion. Further, the leaf spring
38
220 is attached to the projection portion (see Fig. 5B
about both of them) .
[0079]
Similarly, the winding-up core 116 is formed in a
5 cylindrical shape, and a plurality of notches 224 is formed
in the peripheral direction at the end thereof on the side
of the lower casing 150. Further, the rotation-stop hooks
206 engage with or disengage from the plurality of notches
224. In addition, a spline groove 22 6 is formed on the
10 inner peripheral surface of the winding-up core 116 and
spline-engages with the winding-up driving shaft 47. Thus,
the rotation force of the winding-up driving shaft 47 is
transmitted to the winding-up core 116 to wind up the ink
ribbon 110.
15 [0080]
On the left side of the base portion inside the
cartridge casing 130, a platen accommodation area 230 is
constituted adjacent to the insertion opening 134. At the
center of the platen accommodation area 230, a lower
20 bearing portion 234 (see Fig. 6) having an elliptical
opening formed on the lower casing 150 and an upper bearing
portion 232 (see Fig. 5B) having an elliptical opening
formed on the upper casing 152 are provided. Further, by
the upper bearing portion 232 and the lower bearing portion
25 234, the platen roller 120 is supported so as to be
39
rotatable and slightly horizontally movable. That is, the
platen roller 120 supported by the elliptical upper bearing
portion 232 and the lower bearing portion 234 is configured
to be horizontally movable (slightly movable) between a
5 home position at which the platen roller 120 engages with
the platen driving shaft 45 and a holding position at which
the platen roller 120 comes in contact with the tape guide
194 with the printing tape 102 held therebetween.
10
[0081]
Meanwhile, when the tape cartridge 100 is carried,
the fed-out end of the printing tape 102 is in a state of
slightly projecting from the delivered 138 to an outside
(see Fig. 1). If a pressing force or a withdrawing force
is falsely applied to the fed-out end of the printing tape
15 102 at this time, the platen roller 120 pulled by the force
is moved to the holding position described above. Thus,
the fed-out end of the printing tape 102 is prevented from
being withdrawn into the cartridge casing 130 through the
delivered 138.
20 [0082]
The platen roller 120 includes a cylindrical roller
base body 240 and a rubber roller 242 attached to the outer
peripheral surface of the roller base body 240. The rubber
roller 242 has a length corresponding to the printing head
25 21 in the shaft direction, and the printing head 21 comes
40
in contact with the rubber roller 242 with the printing
tape 102 and the ink ribbon 110 held therebetween when
moving to a printing position. In addition, a spline
groove 244 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the
5 roller base body 240 and spline-engages with the rotation
driving shaft 49 of the platen driving shaft 45. Thus, the
rotation force of the platen driving shaft 45 is
transmitted to the platen roller 120 to print-feed the
printing tape 102 (and the ink ribbon 110).
10 [0083]
[Surrounding
Embodiment]
Displacement Portion According to First
Referring to Figs. 7A to 7C, a structure of a
displacement portion 186 of a tape cartridge 100 according
15 to a first embodiment will be described in detail below in
conjunction with a structure of the detection-target
projection 83 (detection-target element) of the
opening I closing cover 7 and the detection element 52b of
the cover detection portion 52 (detection portion). As
20 described above, th~ displacement portion 186 (elastic
portion) is provided at a right corner on the base end
surface of the top wall portion 15 6 of the upper casing
152. In addition, the detection-target projection 83
corresponding to the displacement portion is provided so as
25 to protrude from the rear surface of the opening/closing
41
cover 7 (opening/closing cover body 73), and the detection
element 52b of the cover detection portion 52 is disposed
so as to protrude from the installation base 31 of the
cartridge installation portion 5.
5 [0084]
As illustrated in Figs. 7A to 7C, the displacement
portion 186 includes an elastic piece 310 having an "L"shaped
cross section extending from the top wall portion
156 of the upper casing 152 to the inner side. As
10 described above, the top wall portion 156 is formed with
the accommodation opening 184 that accommodates the
detection-target projection 83, and the bottom wall portion
160 is formed with the insertion opening 182 into which the
detection element 52b is inserted.
15 [0085]
20
The elastic piece 310 includes a suspended piece 316
extending from the top wall portion 156 and a contact piece
318 on which the detection-target projection 83 is abutted
(contacted), and is formed (molded) integrally with the
upper casing 152. The elastic piece 310 is elastically
deformed by pressing of the detection-target projection 83
so that the detection element 52b is operated (the cover
detection portion 52 is turned ON) and the tape cartridge
100 is relatively pressed against the installation base 31
25 and is positioned in the installation direction.
42
[0086]
The elastic piece 310 (contact piece 318) is formed
in a rectangular shape when viewed in a plan, and the
accommodation opening 184 is formed in a rectangular shape
5 having a size larger than that of the elastic piece 310.
In addition, the elastic piece 310 (contact piece 318) is
parallel to the right side of the upper casing 152, and
extends to the base end from the tip end of the upper
casing 152. When a pressing force of the detection-target
10 projection 83 acts on the elastic piece 310, the contact
piece 318 is bent downward, the suspended piece 316 is bent
backward, and thus an elastic force (spring force) is
exerted.
15
[0087]
As illustrated in Fig. 7C, the elastic piece 310 is
displaced by the pressing force of the detection-target
projection 83 when the opening/closing cover 7 is closed,
and gives a reaction force, which increases (preferably,
proportionally increases) in accordance with the
20 displacement amount to the detection-target projection 83.
In other words, when the detection-target projection 83 is
received, the tape cartridge 100 is pressed against the
installation base 31 by its own elastic piece 310. For
this reason, the elastic force of the elastic piece 310 is
43
designed such that the tape cartridge 100 is positioned in
the installation base 31 in the installation direction.
[0088]
More specifically, the tape cartridge 10 0 receives
5 the pressing force of the printing head 21 through the
platen roller 120, and receives a rotation force around the
platen roller 120 or the winding-up core 116 with a
rotation of the platen roller 120 (platen driving shaft 45)
or the winding-up core 116 (winding-up driving shaft 4 7) .
10 Therefore, the tape cartridge 100 receives the resultant of
the pressing force and the rotation force and component
forces thereof, and thus positional deviation or floating
occurs on the installation base 31. The elastic force of
the elastic piece 310 according to the embodiment allows
15 the tape cartridge 100 to be installed at a predetermined
position against the resultant and the component forces.
20
[0089]
As described above, a plurality of types of tape
cartridges having a different thickness are available as
the tape cartridge 100. Therefore, among the tape
cartridges 100 having a different thickness, the contact
piece 318 of the elastic piece 310 is preferably disposed
such that the position thereof becomes the same in a
vertical direction illustrated in Fig. 7C. Thus, the
44
detection element 52b can be reliably operated in the tape
cartridges 100 having a different thickness.
[0090]
On the other hand, as illustrated in Fig. 7B, the
5 detection-target projection 83 is formed in a "T''-shape in
cross section and vertically projects from the rear surface
of the opening/closing cover body 73. The opening/closing
cover body 73 and the detection-target projection 83 are
integrally molded by a resin or the like, and the "T''-shape
10 in cross section of the detection-target projection 83
prevents a molding failure (sink mark). The detectiontarget
projection 83 having the ''T"-shape in cross section
is disposed with the flange piece 95 directed to the side
of the tip end of the opening/closing cover body 73 and the
15 rib piece 97 directed to the side of the base end of the
opening/closing cover body 73. Further, the tip end of the
detection-target projection 83 is formed in a slant surface
following the ~hape of the deformed elastic piece 310, and
the entirety of the tip end presses the elastic piece 310.
20 [0091]
As illustrated in Fig. 7C, the detection element 52b
of the cover detection portion 52 is disposed immediately
below the detection-target projection 83 with the contact
piece 318 sandwiched therebetween. More specifically, the
25 detection element 52b is disposed coaxially with the
l
I
I
I
45
detection-target projection 83 in a state where the
opening/closing cover 7 is closed. In addition, the tip
end of the detection element 52b comes in contact with the
lower surface (rear surface) of the contact piece 318, or
5 is positioned to face the detection element with a small
clearance. When the pressing force of the detection-target
projection 83 acts on the elastic piece 310, the contact
piece 318 is bent downward and the detection element 52b is
pressed down at the same time, so that the detection
10 portion body 52a of the cover detection portion 52 is
15
operated (turned ON) . Thus, it is detected that the
opening/closing cover 7 closes the cartridge installation
portion 5.
[0092]
As described above, according to the tape cartridge
100 of the first embodiment, the detection-target
projection 83 elastically deforms the elastic piece 310
when the opening I closing cover 7 is closed, and further
presses down the detection element 52b through the elastic
20 piece 310. Thus, the tape cartridge 100 is pressed against
the installation base31 (cartridge installation portion 5)
through the elastic piece 310 by the detection-target
projection 83, thereby being positioned. At the same time,
the cover detection portion 52 is operated by the pressing
46
of the detection element 52b, and the closing of the
opening/closing cover 7 is detected.
[0093]
In the tape cartridge 100 according to the first
5 embodiment, the cover detection portion 52 is operated
through the displacement portion 186 (elastic piece 310).
For this reason, it is possible to detect not only the
opening/closing of the opening/closing cover 7 but also the
presence or absence of the tape cartridge 100.
10 Accordingly, due to the tape detection portion 51, it is
not necessary to separately detect the presence or absence
of the tape cartridge 100. In addition, since the
detection element 52b is pressed down by the displacement
portion 186 (elastic piece 310) to be elastically deformed,
15 it is possible to prevent the positional deviation of the
tape cartridge 100 with a simple structure.
[0094]
Furthermore, the cover detection portion 52 can be
disposed inside the cartridge installation portion 5, and
20 accordingly, it is not necessary to make the size of the
opening/closing cover 7 large. In the cartridge
installation portion 5, it is possible to improve the
degree of freedom of installation of the cover detection
portion 52. Both side surfaces of the detection-target
25 projection 83 can come in contact with both sides of the
47
accommodation opening 1S4, and the tape cartridge 100 can
be positioned through the accommodation opening 1S4 in the
lateral direction. In addition, the contact piece 31S
according to the above-described embodiment is formed in a
5 simple rectangular shape, but the shape thereof may be
arbitrary, for example, a key hole shape.
[0095]
[Modification Example of First Embodiment]
Tape cartridges 100 according to modification
10 examples of the first embodiment will be described below
with reference to Figs. SA and SO. Fig. SA illustrates a
first modification example, Fig. 88 illustrates a second
modification example, Fig. sc illustrates a third
modification example, and Fig. SO illustrates a fourth
15 modification example.
[0096]
In the tape cartridge 100 according to the first
modification example, as illustrated in Fig. SA, a contact
piece 318 of an elastic piece 310 extends long toward a tip
20 so as to press down a detection element 52b at a tip end of
25
the contact piece 318. That is, an axial line of a
detection-target projection 83 and an axial line of the
detection element 52b are positionally deviated from each
other in a forward and backward direction (tip end - base
end direction) . This means that a position where the
48
detection-target projection 83 contacts with a displacement
input portion to be displaced by the detection-target
projection 83 provided on an opening I closing cover 7 is
positionally deviated from a position where a detection
5 element contacts with a displacement output portion for
actuating the detection element of a detection target 180
when viewed from a detachable direction.
[0097]
Specifically, in a plane parallel to an installation
10 base 31 (as viewed from the installation direction of the
tape cartridge 100), an input part 310a where the
detection-target projection 83 contacts with the elastic
piece 310 (contact piece 318) is positionally deviated from
an output part 310b where the elastic piece 310 (contact
15 piece 318) contacts with the detection element 52b in the
forward and backward direction. In addition, compared to a
distance from a support part 310c of an upper casing 152
serving as a base of the elastic piece 310 (suspended piece
316) to the input part 310a, a distance from the support
20 part 310c to the output part 310b becomes longer in the
forward and backward direction.
[0098]
In such a configuration, since the vicinity of the
support part 310c approximately serves as a center of
25 rotational displacement, the detection element 52b can be
49
actuated with a relatively small displacement amount of the
elastic piece 310 using the principle of leverage. In
other words, even when an actuation stroke of the detection
element 52b is large, the detection element can be reliably
5 actuated.
[0099]
In the tape cartridge 100 according to the second
modification example, as illustrated in Fig. 8B, a tip end
of a contact piece 318 is formed in an "L" shape, and a
10 detection element 52b is positionally deviated from a
detection-target projection 83 not only in the forward and
backward direction but also in the lateral direction. For
example, an installation space of a cover detection portion
52 is limited, and thus the plane shape (for example, the
15 tip end) of the contact piece 318 is configured to be
freely deformed so as to match the position of the
20
detection element 52b. In this way, even when the position
of the detection-target projection 83 is positionally
deviated from the position of the detection element 52b in
the forward and backward direction and the lateral
direction, the detection element 52b can be properly
actuated.
[0100]
In the tape cartridge 100 according to the third
25 modification example different from the first modification
5
10
50
example, as illustrated in Fig. BC, compared to a distance
from a support part 310c serving as a base of an elastic
piece 310 (suspended piece 316) to an input part 310a, a
distance from the support part 310c to an output part 310b
becomes shorter in the forward and backward direction. In
this case, a detection element 52b can be actuated with a
relatively small displacement amount of the elastic piece
310 using the principle of leverage.
[0101]
In the tape cartridge 100 according to the fourth
modification example, as illustrated in Fig. BD, an elastic
piece 310 (displacement portion 186) is configured with a
plate spring, and is held in a holding portion 330 provided
in an upper casing 152. The elastic piece 310 includes a
15 base spring piece portion 334 bent in a "V" shape and a
contact spring piece portion 336 extending parallel to a
top wall portion 156 from the base spring piece portion
334, and is held in a holding groove 330a, which is formed
in the holding portion 330, by the base spring piece
20 portion 334.
[0102]
Even in such a configuration, it is also possible to
detect the opening I closing of the opening I closing cover 7
and the presence or absence of the tape cartridge 100. In
25 addition, the positioning of the tape cartridge 100 can be
51
achieved. Particularly, since the elastic piece 310 is
prepared depending on the thickness of the tape cartridge
100, it is possible to correspond to the tape cartridges
100 having different thicknesses.
5 [0103]
[Surrounding Displacement portion According to Second
Embodiment]
Referring to Fig. 9, a structure of a displacement
portion 186A of a tape cartridge lOOA according to a second
10 embodiment will be described in detail below in conjunction
with a structure of the detection-target projection 83 of
the opening/closing cover 7 and the detection element 52b
of the cover detection portion 52. In the second
embodiment, differences from the first embodiment will
15 mainly be described.
[0104]
In the tape cartridge lOOA according to the second
embodiment, as illustrated in Fig. 9, the displacement
portion 186A is disposed immediately below the detection-
20 target projection 83, and the detection element 52b is
disposed at a position separated from immediately below the
detection-target projection 83 to the front (tip end). The
displacement portion 186A includes an input portion 340
coming in contact with the detection-target projection 83,
25 an output portion 342 that is provided at the base of the
52
input portion 340 and presses down the detection element
52b, and an elastic member 344 that receives the input
portion 340 and the output portion 342 at an initial
position at which the detection-target projection 83 is
5 received.
10
[0105]
In addition, a cartridge casing 130 is provided with
a slide guide 350 that guides movement of the input portion
340 in a vertical direction (thickness direction of the
tape cartridge 100A) . The slide guide 350 includes an
upper guide 352 suspended integrally with an upper casing
152 and a lower guide 354 erected integrally with a lower
casing 150. The lower guide 354 is provided with a guide
notch portion 354a facing the output portion 342.
15 [0106]
The input portion 340 includes a cylindrical input
portion body 360 and a skirt portion 362 connected to a
lower end of the input portion body 360. -'r-h€0n-€0-la-£-t-~G---member
344 configured with a coil spring is disposed inside
20 the skirt portion 362, and the output portion 342 is
provided at an outer surface of the lower end of the skirt
portion 3 62 so as to protrude in a radial direction. The
input portion body 360, the skirt portion 362, and the
output portion 342 are integrally formed (molded) with
53
resin or the like. The detection element 52b comes in
contact with a lower surface of the output portion 342.
[0107]
The elastic member 344 configured with the coil
5 spring is seated on a bottom wall portion 160 of the lower
casing 150, and receives the input portion 340. The
elastic member 344 is configured with a compression coil
spring, and, as illustrated in the drawing, receives the
input portion 340 at an initial position where the upper
10 end of the input portion is kept in the minute clearance
with the upper casing 152 (top wall portion 156) or faces
to abut on the upper casing.
[0108]
When the detection-target projection 8 3 presses the
15 input portion 340, the input portion 340 and the output
portion 342 moves down against the elastic member 344, and
the output portion 342 presses down the detection element
52b. In addition, the detection-target projection 83
deviates upward, the input portion 340 and the output
20 portion 342 returns to the original initial position by the
elastic member 344.
[0109]
Thus, even in the tape cartridge 100A according to
the second embodiment, the cover detection portion 52 is
25 operated (turned ON) through the displacement portion 186A.
54
Therefore, it is possible to detect not only the
opening/closing of the opening/closing cover 7 but also the
presence or absence of the tape cartridge lOOA. In
addition, the elastic member 344 of the displacement
5 portion 186 relatively presses the tape cartridge lOOA to
make the positioning of the tape cartridge possible.
[0110]
[Modification Example of Second Embodiment]
Referring to Figs. lOA and lOB, tape cartridges lOOA
10 according to modification examples of the second embodiment
15
20
will be described below. Fig. lOA illustrates a first
modification example, and Fig. lOB illustrates a second
modification example.
[0111]
In the tape cartridge lOOA illustrated in Fig. lOA
according to the first modification example, an elastic
member 344 is configured with rubber or sponge instead of
the coil spring.
[0112]
In the tape cartridge lOOA illustrated in Fig. lOB
according to the second modification example, an elastic
member 344 is made up of a spring piece 366 configured in
such a manner that a bottom wall portion 160 of a lower
casing 150 is cut and raised inward. In this case, a skirt
25 portion 362 of an input portion 340 is formed shorter, and
55
the spring piece 366 receives the input portion 340 at a
lower end of an input portion body 360.
[0113]
Thus, in the tape cartridges lOOA according to the
5 modification examples of the second embodiment, the elastic
member 344 can simply be configured. In particular,
according to the second modification example, it is
possible to reduce the number of parts of the tape
cartridge lOOA.
10 [0114]
[Surrounding
Embodiment]
Displacement portion According to Third
Referring to Fig. 11, a structure of a displacement
portion 1868 of a tape cartridge 1008 according to a third
15 embodiment will be described in detail below in conjunction
with a structure of.a detection-target projection 83 of an
opening I closing cover 7 and a detection element 52b of a
cover detection portion 52. In the third embodiment,
differences from the first embodiment will mainly be
20 described.
[0115]
In the tape cartridge 1008 according to the third
embodiment, as illustrated in Fig. 11, the displacement
portion 1868 includes an input elastic portion 370 that is
25 elastically deformed by a pressing force of the detection56
target projection 83 and an output actuation portion 372
that is continuous to the input elastic portion 370 and
actuates the detection element 52b in accordance with the
elastic deformation of the input elastic portion 370.
5 [0116]
10
The input elastic portion 370 is formed in such a
manner that a part of a top wall portion 156 is removed in
a ''U'' shape. The output actuation portion 372 is formed in
a rod shape, and is fixed to the lower surface of the input
elastic portion 370. When the detection-target projection
83 presses the input elastic portion 370, the input elastic
portion 370 is elastically deformed and the output
actuation portion 372 moves downward at the same time. The
output actuation portion 372 moving downward presses down
15 the detection element 52b.
20
[0117]
Thus, even in the tape cartridge lOOB according to
the third embodiment, the cover detection portion 52 is
operated (turned ON) through the displacement portion 186B.
Therefore, it is possible to detect not only the
opening/closing of the opening/closing cover 7 but also the
presence or absence of the tape cartridge 100B. In
addition, the input elastic portion 370 of the displacement
portion 1868 relatively presses the tape cartridge 100B to
25 make the positioning of the tape cartridge possible.
57
[0118]
[Surrounding Displacement portion According to Fourth
Embodiment]
Referring to Fig. 12, a structure of a displacement
5 portion 186C of a tape cartridge 100C according to a fourth
embodiment will be described in detail below in conjunction
with a structure of a detection-target projection 83 of an
opening/closing cover 7 and a detection element 52b of a
cover detection portion 52. In the fourth embodiment,
10 differences from the first embodiment will mainly be
described.
[0119]
In the tape cartridge 100C according to the fourth
embodiment, as illustrated in Fig. 12, the displacement
15 portion 186C is formed in a rectangular plate shape, and is
rotatably supported to a rotatiQg support portion 380
provided in a cartridge casing 130. The upper surface of
the displacement portion 18 6C comes in contact with the
detection-target projection 83, and the lower surface
20 thereof comes in contact with the detection element 52b.
When the detection-target projection 83 presses the platelike
displacement portion 18 6C, the displacement portion
186C rotates to press down the detection element 52b.
[0120]
58
Thus, even in the tape cartridge 100C according to
the fourth embodiment, the cover detection portion 52 is
operated (turned ON) through the displacement portion 186C.
Therefore, it is possible to detect not only the
5 opening/closing of the opening/closing cover 7 but also the
presence or absence of the tape cartridge lOOC. In order
to relatively press the tape cartridge 100C and make the
positioning of the tape cartridge possible, a torsion coil
spring may be provided on a rotation shaft of the
10 displacement portion 186C.
15
20
25
Reference Signs List
[0121]
1: tape printing apparatus,
3: apparatus casing,
5: cartridge installation portion,
7: opening/closing cover,
21: printing head,
23: printing mechanism portion,
25: tape feeding mechanism portion,
31: installation base,
45: platen driving shaft,
47: winding-up driving shaft,
51: tape detection portion,
52: cover detection portion,
5
10
15
20
25
59
52b: detection element,
73: opening/closing cover body,
83: detection-target projection,
100, 100A ,1008, 100C: tape cartridge,
102: printing tape,
110: ink ribbon,
120: platen roller,
130: cartridge casing,
150: lower casing,
152: upper casing,
156: top wall portion,
160: bottom wall portion,
182: insertion opening,
184: accommodation opening,
186, 186A ,1868, 186C: displacement portion,
310: elastic piece,
310a: input part,
310b: output part,
310c: support part,
340: input portion,
342: output portion,
344: elastic member,
366: spring piece,
370: input elastic portion,
372: output actuation portion

We claim:
1. A tape cartridge installed detachably on a cartridge
installation portion of a tape printing apparatus in a
predetermined detachable direction, the tape printing
apparatus including a detection portion which detects
closing of an opening/closing cover provided on the
cartridge installation portion, the
comprising:
a displacement input portion; and
a displacement output portion,
tape cartridge
wherein, when the opening/closing cover is displaced
from an open state to a closed state in a state where the
tape cartridge is installed on the cartridge installation
portion, the displacement input portion receives
displacement of a detection-target element, which is
provided on the opening/closing cover, to be displaced
according to the displacement of the opening/closing cover
from the open state to the closed state, and the
20 displacement output portion actuates a detection element of
the detection portion according to displacement of the
opening/closing cover to be further displaced in the same
direction from the open state to the closed state.
61
2. The tape cartridge according to claim 1, further
comprising:
a cartridge casing that has a shell structure;
an accommodation opening that is provided in the
5 cartridge casing and accommodates the detection-target
element; and
10
an insertion opening that is provided in the
cartridge casing and into which the detection element is
inserted,
wherein the displacement input portion and the
displacement output portion are disposed inside the
cartridge casing.
3. The tape cartridge according to claim 1 or 2, wherein
15 a position of the displacement input portion coming in
contact with the detection-target element is positionally
deviated from a position of the displacement output portion
coming in contact with the detection element when viewed in
the detachable direction.
20
4. The tape cartridge according to claim 3, further
comprising:
a displacement portion that includes the displacement
input portion and the displacement output portion,
62
wherein the displacement portion is displaced
substantially around a support point, and
a distance from the support point to the position of
the displacement output portion coming in contact with the
5 detection element is longer than a distance from the
support point to the position of the displacement input
10
portion coming
element.
in contact with the detection-target
5. The tape cartridge according to claim 3, further
comprising:
a displacement portion that includes the displacement
input portion and the displacement output portion,
wherein the displacement portion is displaced
15 substantially around a support point, and
20
a distance from the support point to the position of
the displacement output portion coming in contact with the
detection element is shorter than a distance from the
support point to the position of the displacement input
portion coming in
element.
contact with the detection-target
6. The tape cartridge according to claim 4 or 5, wherein
the displacement portion has an elastic portion that is
25 subjected to elastic deformation by a pressing force of the
63
detection-target element and actuates the detection element
by the elastic deformation.
7. The tape cartridge according to claim 6, wherein the
5 elastic portion includes an elastic piece that comes in
contact with the detection-target element and extends
toward the detection element in an ''L'' shape.
8. The tape cartridge according to claim 7, further
10 comprising:
15
20
a cartridge casing that has a shell structure,
wherein the elastic piece is formed integrally with
the cartridge casing.
9. The tape cartridge according to claim 7, further
comprising:
a cartridge casing that has a shell structure,
wherein the elastic piece is configured with a plate
spring supported on the cartridge casing.
10. The tape cartridge according to claim 4 or 5, wherein
the displacement portion includes:
an input elastic portion that is subjected to elastic
deformation by a pressing force of the detection-target
25 element; and
5
64
an output actuation portion that is continuous to the
input elastic portion and actuates the detection element
according to the elastic deformation of the input elastic
portion.
11. The tape cartridge according to claim 10, further
comprising:
a cartridge casing that has a shell structure,
wherein the input elastic portion is formed by
10 removing a part of a casing wall of the cartridge casing.
15
20
12. The tape cartridge according to claim 11, wherein the
input elastic portion is formed by removing a part of a
casing wall in a ''U'' shape.
13. The tape cartridge according to any one of claims 6
to 12, further comprising:
a cartridge casing that has a shell structure,
wherein the cartridge casing has two casing, and
the displacement portion is provided on either one of
the two casing.
14. The tape cartridge according to claim 2 or 3, further
comprising:
65
a displacement portion that includes the displacement
input portion and the displacement output portion,
wherein the displacement portion includes:
an input portion that moves by a pressing force
5 of the detection-target element; and
10
an output portion that is continuous to the
input portion and actuates the detection element according
to movement of the input portion.
15. The tape cartridge according to claim 14, wherein the
input portion and the output portion are integrally formed.
16. The tape cartridge according to claim 14 or 15,
wherein the displacement portion further includes an
15 elastic member that receives the input portion at an
initial position at which the detection-target element is
received.
17. The tape cartridge according to claim 16, wherein the
20 elastic member is configured with a coil spring.
25
18. The tape cartridge according to claim 16, wherein the
elastic member is configured with either one of rubber and
sponge.
5
66
19. The tape cartridge according to claim 16, wherein the
elastic member is a casing piece formed in such a manner
that a part of a casing wall of the cartridge casing is cut
and raised toward the input portion.