Description
Title of Invention: TAPE CARTRIDGE AND TAPE PRINTER
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-161840, filed on July
16, 2010, is expressly incorporated by reference herein.
Technical Field
[0002] The present invention relates to a platen-mounted tape cartridge that is removably
mounted on a tape printer, and also relates to the tape printer.
Background Art
[0003] As this type of tape cartridge, there is known a tape cartridge (see PTL 1) that is
mounted on a tape printer such that a thermal head (print head) is inserted into a
through opening (insertion opening) formed in a cartridge case. Then, the thermal head
is pressed to a platen roller (platen) of the tape cartridge, so that the tape printer is
brought into a print state.
[0004] This tape cartridge has an external shape that is defined by the cartridge case
including an upper case and a seat-side lower case. The upper case has an upper
through opening into which the thermal head is inserted. The lower case has a lower
through opening into which the thermal head is inserted. The upper through opening is
formed such that a contact portion of a platen roller that is brought into contact with
the thermal head protrudes. The lower through opening is formed to extend by a
certain length relative to the upper through opening such that the contact portion of the
platen roller does not protrude. Accordingly, when the tape cartridge is mounted on the
tape printer, an ink ribbon that is located near the platen roller is prevented from being
hooked to another member.
[0005] In this tape printer with the tape cartridge mounted, seating of the tape cartridge is
adjusted such that the thermal head (head body) and the platen roller (rubber roller)
have equivalent heights and that a lower end portion of the thermal head does not
interfere with an edge of the lower case defining the lower through opening.
Citation List
Patent Literature
[0006] PTL 1: JP-A-2005-329569
Summary of Invention
Technical Problem
[0007] In a tape printer to which a thick tape cartridge (print tape with a large width) and a
thin tape cartridge (print tape with a small width) can be mounted, a thermal head is
provided to meet the thick tape cartridge. Owing to this, seating of the thin tape
cartridge has to be adjusted on a lower-end basis to prevent an edge of a lower case
from interfering with a lower end portion of the thermal head. Thus, the thermal head
cannot contact (or cannot be pressed to) a platen roller (print tape) on a middle-position
basis, and printing may not be properly performed.
[0008] Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a tape cartridge, seating of
which does not have to be adjusted on a lower-end basis with respect to a print head,
and to provide a tape printer.
Solution to Problem
[0009] According to an aspect of the invention, a tape cartridge includes a platen, when the
tape cartridge is mounted on a tape printer, a print head of the tape printer contacting
the platen with a print tape and an ink ribbon arranged therebetween such that the print
head can be separated from the platen; a cartridge case that houses the print tape, the
ink ribbon, and the platen; and an insertion opening formed in the cartridge case, the
print head being inserted into the insertion opening. A contact portion of the platen that
is brought into contact with the print head protrudes relative to a head receiver of the
insertion opening to which the print head is exposed when the print head contacts the
platen.
[0010] With this configuration, since the contact portion of the platen that is brought into
contact with the print head protrudes relative to the head receiver of the insertion
opening to which the print head is exposed, the print head that contacts the platen does
not interfere with the head receiver. Accordingly, seating does not have to be adjusted
on a lower-end basis with respect to the print head, and the platen and the print head
can be mutually positioned on a middle-position basis. Thus, printing can be properly
performed regardless of a head width or a tape width.
[001 1] In this case, the cartridge case may preferably include a seat-surface-side first case
wall, and a second case wall parallel to the first case wall. The platen may be rotatably
supported from both sides by a first bearing hole that is formed in the first case wall
and a second bearing hole that is formed in the second case wall. The head receiver
may be defined by an edge of the first case wall near the insertion opening and an edge
of the second case wall near the insertion opening, and have a first communication
portion that communicates with the first bearing hole and a second communication
portion that communicates with the second bearing hole.
[0012] With this configuration, even if the external shape of the platen is not increased in
size, i.e., even if the platen that is rotatably supported by the first bearing hole formed
in the first case wall and the second bearing hole formed in the second case wall has a
small diameter, the print head that contacts the platen can be reliably prevented from
interfering with the head receiver. Namely, the contact portion of the platen can sufficiently
protrude relative to the head receiver of the insertion opening.
[0013] In this case, the head receiver may preferably have a shape that faces in a non-contact
manner the print head being in contact with the platen.
[0014] With this configuration, not only a head body (heating elements) of the print head,
but also a holder (hold member) that holds the head body can be prevented from in
terfering with the head receiver.
[0015] In this case, the cartridge case may further preferably include a feed guide that guides
feed of the ink ribbon such that a feed path is exposed to an area near the contact
portion.
[0016] With this configuration, even if the ink ribbon is loosened, since the ink ribbon is
loosened toward the platen by pressure (contact) of the print head, the ink ribbon does
not disturb mounting and removal of the tape cartridge to and from the tape printer.
[0017] According to another aspect of the invention, a tape printer can use several types of
the above-described tape cartridges with different thicknesses. The tape printer
includes a tape mount on which any of the tape cartridges can be removably mounted;
the print head that protrudes from the tape mount and has a length corresponding to a
distance between inner surfaces of the first and second case walls of the mounted tape
cartridge with a maximum thickness; and a guide protrusion that protrudes from the
tape mount, has a height corresponding to a thickness of the first case wall, is exposed
to the first communication portion of the mounted tape cartridge, and guides rotation of
the platen.
[0018] With this configuration, the platen and the print head can be mutually positioned on a
middle-position basis regardless of the width of the print tape. Thus, print quality is not
degraded. Also, even if a portion of the first bearing hole is partly cut by the first com
munication portion, rotation of the platen is not fluctuated due to the guide protrusion
exposed to the first communication portion.
Brief Description of Drawings
[0019] [fig. 1]Fig. 1 is an external perspective view of a tape printer according to a first em
bodiment when a lid is open.
[fig.2A]Fig. 2A is a front-side perspective view of a standard cartridge.
[fig.2B]Fig. 2B is a back-side perspective view of the standard cartridge.
[fig.2C]Fig. 2C is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the positional rela
tionship between a platen roller and a print head.
[fig.3A]Fig. 3A is a front-side perspective view of a special cartridge.
[fig.3B]Fig. 3B is a back-side perspective view of the special cartridge.
[fig.3C]Fig. 3C is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the positional rela
tionship between the platen roller and the print head.
[fig.4]Fig. 4 is a plan view of a tape cartridge.
[fig.5A]Fig. 5A is a partly enlarged view of the periphery of an insertion opening.
[fig.5B]Fig. 5B is a partly enlarged view of the periphery of an insertion opening
[fig.6]Fig. 6 is a partly enlarged view of a tape printer according to a modification.
[fig.7]Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the positional relationship
between a platen roller and a print head according to the modification.
Description of Embodiment
[0020] A tape cartridge according to an embodiment of the invention and a tape printer on
which the tape cartridge is mounted will be described below with reference to the ac
companying drawings. This tape printer performs printing while a print tape and an ink
ribbon are unwound from the mounted tape cartridge and cuts a printed portion of the
print tape to create a label (tape piece).
[0021] As shown in Fig. 1, a tape printer 1 includes a housing 2 that defines an outer shell; a
cartridge mount 3 (tape mount) that is depressed in an upper surface of the housing 2, a
tape cartridge 11 that houses a print tape T etc. being removably mounted on the
cartridge mount 3; an open/close lid 4 that opens and closes the cartridge mount 3; a
print mechanism 5 that includes a print head 22 standing on the cartridge mount 3 and
performs printing on the print tape T; a tape feed mechanism 6 that feeds the print tape
T by unwinding the print tape T from the tape cartridge 11; a cut mechanism 7 that
cuts the print tape T after printing; a keyboard 8 with which print information is input;
and a display 9 that displays an input result. A user inputs print information with the
keyboard 8 and then executes a print operation while the user checks the print in
formation with the display 9.
[0022] The tape cartridge 11 includes a tape unit 12 in which the print tape T is wound
around a tape core 18; a ribbon unit 13 in which an ink ribbon R is wound around a
ribbon unwind core 19; a ribbon wind core 14 around which the used ink ribbon R is
wound; a platen roller 15 (platen) that unwinds and feeds the print tape T from the tape
unit 12; a cartridge case 16 that houses the tape unit 12, the ribbon unit 13, the ribbon
wind core 14, and the platen roller 15; and an insertion opening 17 that is formed in the
cartridge case 16, the print head 22 being inserted into the insertion opening 17 (the
detail will be described later). For the tape cartridge 11, a thin standard cartridge 11A
that houses a print tape T with a small tape width, and a thick special cartridge 1IB
that houses a print tape T with a large tape width are prepared (see Fig. 1).
[0023] The cartridge mount 3 has a shape substantially complementary to a shape of the tape
cartridge 11, and includes on a bottom plate 26 a positioning protrusion 2 1 that
positions the tape core 18, the print head 22 that is covered with a head cover 20, a
platen driving shaft 23 that faces the print head 22 and drives to rotate the platen roller
15, and a ribbon wind driving shaft 24 that drives to wind the ink ribbon R through the
ribbon wind core 14. Also, the cartridge mount 3 includes on the bottom plate 26 a
plurality of bottom-raising protrusions 25 that raise the bottom of the tape cartridge 11
(standard cartridge 11A) in accordance with the thickness of the cartridge case 16, and
a detector (not shown) that detects the type of the tape cartridge 11. Also, a tape feed
mechanism 6 that is driven by a motor and rotates the platen driving shaft 23 and the
ribbon wind driving shaft 24 is arranged below the bottom plate 26.
[0024] The print head 22 is a thermal head. The print head 22 includes a head body 31 with
arrayed heating elements, a hold member 32 that holds the head body 3 1 at a distal end
portion of the hold member 32, and a head support shaft 33 that rotatably supports the
hold member 32 at a proximal end portion of the hold member 32 (see Fig. 4). Though
not particularly illustrated, the hold member 32 engages with a head release
mechanism. The head body 31 (print head 22) is brought into contact with or separated
from the platen roller 15 in association with open/close operation of the open/close lid
4. Also, the hold member 32 swingably holds the head body 31 at a middle position in
an up-down direction. When the head body 31 contacts (is pressed to) the platen roller
15, the head body 3 1 can be evenly pressed to the platen roller 15 in the array direction
of the heating elements.
[0025] The plurality of bottom-raising protrusions 25 are arranged at both upper corners in
plan view and a lower left corner in plan view of the cartridge mount 3. When the tape
cartridge 11 of either type is mounted, the center in a height direction of the head body
31 (center of the heating element array) can be aligned with the center in a width
direction of the print tape T (center in the up-down direction of the platen roller 15).
As described above, the thin standard cartridge 11A and the thick special cartridge 1IB
are prepared for the tape cartridge 11. A seat surface of the standard cartridge 11A is
defined by the plurality of bottom-raising protrusions 25. A seat surface of the special
cartridge 1IB is defined by the bottom plate 26. Hence, the special cartridge 1IB has a
plurality of recesses 27 (see Fig. 3B) to cancel the plurality of bottom-raising pro
trusions 25.
[0026] When the tape cartridge 11 is mounted on the cartridge mount 3, the tape core 18
engages with the positioning protrusion 21, the platen roller 15 engages with the platen
driving shaft 23, and the ribbon wind core 14 engages with the ribbon wind driving
shaft 24. When the open/close lid 4 is closed, the print head 22 contacts the platen
roller 15 with the print tape T and the ink ribbon R arranged therebetween, and the tape
printer 1 is brought into a print standby state. When printing is started, the ink ribbon R
and the print tape T simultaneously run in a superposed manner. The print tape T after
desired printing by the print head 22 is sent to the outside of the tape cartridge 11 and
the housing 2. The cut mechanism 7 cuts the printed portion. In contrast, the ink ribbon
R used for printing is sent along a path in the tape cartridge 11, and is wound around
the ribbon wind core 14 (the detail will be described later). After printing is completed,
when the open/close lid 4 is opened, the print head 22 is turned and separated from the
platen roller 15, and hence the tape cartridge 11 becomes removable.
[0027] Next, the tape cartridge 11 will be described below in more detail with reference to
Figs. 2A to 5B. As described above, the tape cartridge 11 has the tape unit 12, the
ribbon unit 13, the ribbon wind core 14, and the platen roller 15 that are arranged in the
cartridge case 16. Also, the tape cartridge 11 has the insertion opening 17 in the
cartridge case 16 at a position near the platen roller 15.
[0028] The cartridge case 16 defines an outer shell of the tape cartridge 11. The cartridge
case 16 includes a seat-side lower case 41, and an upper case 42 corresponding to the
lower case 41. Also, the cartridge case 16 has therein a partition wall and a ribbon feed
guide (feed guide) 43 that guides feed of the ink ribbon R. The lower case 4 1 has a
seat-side lower case wall 44 (first case wall) and a lower peripheral wall 45 that stands
on the lower case wall 44. The upper case 42 has an upper case wall 46 (second case
wall) that is parallel to the lower case wall 44 and an upper peripheral wall 47 that
stands on the upper case wall 46.
[0029] Referring to Fig. 2C, the cartridge case 16 of the standard cartridge 11A has a
thickness such that the center in the width direction of the print tape T is aligned with
the center in the height direction of the head body 3 1 when the standard cartridge 11A
is seated on the plurality of bottom-raising protrusions 25, which serve as the seat
surface. In contrast, as shown in Figs. 3B and 3C, the cartridge case 16 of the thick
special cartridge 1IB has the plurality of recesses 27 in the lower case 4 1 to cancel the
bottom-raising protrusions 25. When the special cartridge 1IB is seated on the bottom
plate 26, the center in the width direction of the print tape T is aligned with the center
in the height direction of the head body 31. If three or more types of tape cartridges 11
with different thicknesses are prepared, the bottom-raising protrusions 25 are
preferably formed stepwise. The recesses 27 preferably have shapes substantially com
plementary to shapes of the stepwise bottom-raising protrusions 25 (not shown).
[0030] Referring to Fig. 4, a lower tape bearing 51 and an upper tape bearing 52 that
rotatably support the tape core 18 from both sides are respectively formed at sub
stantially the centers in plan view of the lower case wall 44 and the upper case wall 46.
A lower core bearing 53 and an upper core bearing 54 that support the ribbon unwind
core 19 from both sides are respectively formed at right end portions in plan view of
the lower case wall 44 and the upper case wall 46. Also, a lower insertion opening 17a
and an upper insertion opening 17b that define the insertion opening 17 and into which
the print head 22 is inserted are respectively formed in left end portions in plan view of
the lower case wall 44 and the upper case wall 46. A lower wind bearing hole 55 and
an upper wind bearing hole 56 that support the ribbon wind core 14 from both sides are
formed at the right side in plan view of the insertion opening 17. Also, a lower platen
bearing hole 57 (first bearing hole) and an upper platen bearing hole 58 (second
bearing hole) that rotatably support the platen roller 15 from both sides are formed at
the upper side in plan view of the insertion opening 17. Further, the ribbon feed guide
43 that guides feed of the ink ribbon R, and a tape guide pin 66 that guides feed of the
print tape T are formed in the periphery of the insertion opening 17.
[0031] The ribbon feed guide 43 defines a feed path of the ink ribbon R. The ribbon feed
guide 43 includes a first ribbon pin 61, a second ribbon pin 62, a third ribbon pin 63,
and a peripheral wall guide 64 of the insertion opening 17 that are arranged from an
unwind side to a wind side of the ink ribbon R. The second ribbon pin 62 and the third
ribbon pin 63 are arranged such that the feed path of the ink ribbon R is exposed to an
area near the platen roller 15, and more particularly to an area near a contact portion 10
of the platen roller 15 that is brought into contact with the print head 22. Accordingly,
the exposed portion of the ink ribbon R that is brought into contact with the print head
22 faces the contact portion 10 of the platen roller 15 with a very small gap arranged
therebetween.
[0032] The print tape T unwound from the tape core 18 is guided by the tape guide pin 66 to
the contact portion 10 of the platen roller 15, and is used for printing at this portion.
After printing, the print tape T is sent out from a tape output port 67 that is formed in
the cartridge case 16. In contrast, the ink ribbon R unwound from the ribbon unwind
core 19 is guided by the first ribbon pin 6 1 and the second ribbon pin 62 to the contact
portion 10 of the platen roller 15, and is used for printing at this portion while the ink
ribbon R is superposed on the print tape T. Then, the ink ribbon R passes the third
ribbon pin 63 and the peripheral wall guide 64 (so as to extend around the insertion
opening 17), and is wound around the ribbon wind core 14. That is, the ink ribbon R is
pressed to the platen roller 15 by the pressure (contact) of the print head 22 at the
exposed portion between the second ribbon pin 62 and the third ribbon pin 63 even if
the ink ribbon R is loosened. Hence, the ink ribbon R does not disturb mounting and
removal of the tape cartridge 11 to and from the tape printer 1.
[0033] Next, the periphery of the insertion opening 17 will be described in detail with
reference to Figs. 5A and 5B. As described above, the insertion opening 17 into which
the print head 22 is inserted is formed at the left end portion in plan view of the
cartridge case 16, and the platen roller 15 is rotatably supported at the upper side in
plan view of the insertion opening 17.
[0034] The insertion opening 17 is defined by the lower insertion opening 17a of the lower
case wall 44, the upper insertion opening 17b of the upper case wall 46, and an inner
peripheral wall portion 7 1 (portion of the lower case 41). The inner peripheral wall
portion 71 is not formed at a head receiver 72 from which the print head 22 is exposed.
The head receiver 72 of the insertion opening 17 is formed by the lower insertion
opening 17a and the upper insertion opening 17b.
[0035] In particular, the head receiver 72 is defined by an edge of the lower insertion
opening 17a near the platen roller 15 and an edge of the upper insertion opening 17b
near the platen roller 15. The edge of the lower insertion opening 17a and the edge of
the upper insertion opening 17b are formed by cutting such that the contact portion 10
of the platen roller 15 protrudes. To be more specific, the edge of the lower insertion
opening 17a that defines the head receiver 72 has a lower communication portion 73
that communicates with the lower platen bearing hole 57, and the edge of the upper
insertion opening 17b has an upper communication portion 74 that communicates with
the upper platen bearing hole 58. These edges face in a non-contact manner the print
head 22 being in contact with the platen roller 15.
[0036] The lower communication portion 73 has a depressed shape such that the edge of the
lower insertion opening 17a and the lower platen bearing hole 57 communicate with
each other. To be more specific, the lower communication portion 73 is formed at a
position corresponding to a region defined by connecting the rotation shaft of the
platen roller 15 and the contact portion 10 such that the platen roller 15 is not detached
from the lower platen bearing hole 57. Similarly, the upper communication portion 74
causes the edge of the upper insertion opening 17b and the upper platen bearing hole
58 to communicate with each other, and is formed at a position corresponding to the
region defined by connecting the rotation shaft of the platen roller 15 and the contact
portion 10 such that the platen roller 15 is not detached from the upper platen bearing
hole 58. Accordingly, even if the platen roller 15 has a small diameter, the print head
22 (in this case, the head body 31 and a portion of the hold member 32) that contacts
the platen roller 15 can be reliably prevented from interfering with the head receiver
72.
[0037] With the above configuration, since the contact portion 10 of the platen roller 15
protrudes relative to the head receiver 72, the print head 22 does not interfere with the
head receiver 72. Accordingly, the platen roller 15 and the print head 22 can be
mutually positioned on a middle-position basis. Also, since the print head 22 with a
sufficient length (in the height direction) can be formed, a pattern, a background, or the
like, can be printed on the entire surface.
[0038] Next, a tape printer 1 according to a modification of the invention will be described
with reference to Figs. 6 and 7. To omit redundant description, a configuration
different from that of the first embodiment is mainly described. The cartridge mount 3
of the tape printer 1 has a guide protrusion 75 that guides rotation of the platen roller
15. The guide protrusion 75 is arranged near the platen driving shaft 23 so as to face
the lower communication portion 73 of the mounted tape cartridge 11. The guide
protrusion 75 has a height corresponding to the thickness of the lower case wall 44.
[0039] The print head 22 has a length corresponding to the distance between the inner
surfaces of the lower case wall 44 and the upper case wall 46 in the tape cartridge 11
with the maximum thickness that can be mounted (in this specification, the special
cartridge 1IB). Accordingly, even if a portion of the lower platen bearing hole 57 is
partly cut due to the lower communication portion 73, the rotation of the platen roller
15 is not fluctuated.
[0040] In this embodiment, the head receiver 72 is defined by the lower communication
portion 73 that causes the edge of the lower insertion opening 17a and the lower platen
bearing hole 57 to communicate with each other and the upper communication portion
74 that causes the edge of the upper insertion opening 17b and the upper platen bearing
hole 58 to communicate with each other. However, as long as the contact portion 10 of
the platen roller 15 protrudes relative to the edge of the lower insertion opening 17a
and the edge of the upper insertion opening 17b, the head receiver 72 may reach to
positions near the lower platen bearing hole 57 and the upper platen bearing hole 58.
That is, the head receiver 72 may not communicate with the lower platen bearing hole
57 or the upper platen bearing hole 58 and a thin wall may be formed.
Reference Signs List
[0041] 1 tape printer
3 cartridge mount
10 contact portion
15 platen roller
16 cartridge case
17 insertion opening
22 print head
43 feed guide
44 lower case wall
46 upper case wall
57 lower platen bearing hole
58 upper platen bearing hole
72 head receiver
73 lower communication portion
74 upper communication portion
75 guide protrusion
R ink ribbon
T print tape

Claims
[Claim 1] A tape cartridge, comprising:
a platen, when the tape cartridge is mounted on a tape printer, a print
head of the tape printer contacting the platen with a print tape and an
ink ribbon arranged therebetween such that the print head can be
separated from the platen;
a cartridge case that houses the print tape, the ink ribbon, and the
platen; and
an insertion opening formed in the cartridge case, the print head being
inserted into the insertion opening,
wherein a contact portion of the platen that is brought into contact with
the print head protrudes relative to a head receiver of the insertion
opening to which the print head is exposed when the print head
contacts the platen.
[Claim 2] The tape cartridge according to claim 1,
wherein the cartridge case includes a seat-surface-side first case wall,
and a second case wall parallel to the first case wall,
wherein the platen is rotatably supported from both sides by a first
bearing hole that is formed in the first case wall and a second bearing
hole that is formed in the second case wall, and
wherein the head receiver is defined by an edge of the first case wall
near the insertion opening and an edge of the second case wall near the
insertion opening, and has a first communication portion that com
municates with the first bearing hole and a second communication
portion that communicates with the second bearing hole.
[Claim 3] The tape cartridge according to claim 2, wherein the head receiver has a
shape that faces in a non-contact manner the print head being in contact
with the platen.
[Claim 4] The tape cartridge according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the cartridge case
further includes a feed guide that guides feed of the ink ribbon such that
a feed path is exposed to an area near the contact portion.
[Claim 5] A tape printer that can use several types of the tape cartridges
according to any one of claims 2 to 4 with different thicknesses, the
tape printer comprising:
a tape mount on which any of the tape cartridges can be removably
mounted;
the print head that protrudes from the tape mount and has a length corPCT/
JP2011/003908
responding to a distance between inner surfaces of the first and second
case walls of the mounted tape cartridge with a maximum thickness;
and
a guide protrusion that protrudes from the tape mount, has a height cor
responding to a thickness of the first case wall, is exposed to the first
communication portion of the mounted tape cartridge, and guides
rotation of the platen.