CN102189854B - with box - Google Patents

Abstract

A tape cartridge (20) attached to an attachment unit (5) of a tape printer (1) includes: a cartridge case (23) which has an upper case (21) and a lower case (21), wherein the cartridge case includes a tape storing unit (30) storing a printing tape (T) on which printing is performed by using a thermal head (10) provided on the tape printer (1), a ribbon storing unit (40) storing an ink ribbon (R) used for printing on the printing tape by using the thermal head, and an opening (24) into which the thermal head (9) is inserted, and an openable and closable shutter plate (50) is provided at an opening (24a) of the tape cartridge, which is opposite with the thermal head (10).

Description

with box

technical field

This invention relates to tape cassettes.

Background technique

Conventionally, as such a tape cassette, for example, a tape cassette described in Japanese Registered Utility Model No. 3041381 (Patent Document 1) is known. This tape cassette is assembled in the assembly part of the tape printing device, and is provided with: a printing tape core, the printing tape is wound on the tape core, and the printing head on the printing device side prints on the printing tape; an ink ribbon core around which the ink ribbon is wound; and an opening into which the printing head enters.

Patent Document 1: Japanese Registered Utility Model No. 3041381.

In such a conventional tape cassette, since dust may enter the inside of the tape cassette through the opening through which the print head enters, the tape cassettes are packaged individually when transporting the tape cassettes to prevent the entry of dust. However, since the opening is always exposed after the user opens the package, there is a problem of printing failure caused by dust adhering to the printing tape or ink ribbon due to the intrusion of dust into the inside of the tape cassette.

Contents of the invention

An object of the present invention is to provide a tape cassette and a tape printing device that prevent dust from entering through the opening of the tape cassette and prevent printing defects, and the present invention can be realized in the following forms or application examples.

The tape cassette related to this application example is assembled in the assembly part of the tape printing device, and the tape cassette has a tape cassette case composed of an upper case and a lower case. The accommodating part stores the printing tape, and prints on the printing tape through the thermal head arranged on the side of the tape printing device; a printing tape for printing; and an opening into which the printing head enters, the tape cassette is characterized in that an openable and closable shielding structure is provided at the opening.

According to this configuration, the shielding structure capable of opening and closing the opening through which the print head enters is provided. With such a structure, it is possible to prevent dust from entering the inside of the tape cassette. This also prevents printing failures caused by dust.

On the basis of the tape cassette described in the above application example, it is characterized in that the shielding structure of the tape cassette performs the opening and closing action by sliding on the casing rail, wherein the casing rail is arranged on the upper casing and the casing rail of the tape cassette casing. Lower shell.

According to this configuration, since it slides on the case rails provided on the upper case and the lower case, the opening and closing operation can be performed smoothly, and the intrusion of dust through the opening can be prevented. This also prevents printing failures caused by dust.

In the tape cassette described in the above application example, the shielding structure of the tape cassette is further provided with an opening and closing protrusion, and the shielding structure performs an opening and closing operation by moving the opening and closing protrusion.

According to this configuration, by moving the opening and closing protrusion, the opening and closing operation can be performed more smoothly, and the intrusion of dust through the opening can be prevented. This also prevents printing failures caused by dust.

On the basis of the tape cassette described in the above-mentioned application example, it is characterized in that the shielding structure of the tape cassette performs the following opening and closing operations: the opening is opened at least during printing, and the invention of the present application The shielding structure of the cassette makes the opening into a closed state.

According to this configuration, since the opening is opened at least only during printing, it is possible to further prevent dust from entering through the opening. This also prevents printing failures caused by dust.

In the tape cassette described in the above application example, it is characterized in that the shielding structure of the tape cassette is opened and closed in conjunction with the thermal head release mechanism of the tape printing device.

According to this structure, by interlocking with the thermal head release mechanism of the tape printing device, the opening is reliably opened during printing without user operation, and the opening is closed when detached from the tape printing device. This prevents the intrusion of dust even during the conveyance of the tape cassette itself. Thereby, printing defects caused by dust can be prevented.

Description of drawings

FIG. 1 is an external view of the tape printing device in an opened state.

Fig. 2 is a conceptual diagram of a state in which the shielding plate of the tape cassette is closed according to the first embodiment.

Fig. 3 is a conceptual diagram of a state in which the shield plate of the tape cassette according to the first embodiment is opened.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram of case rails of the upper case and the lower case.

Fig. 5 is a conceptual diagram of opening and closing the cover and the operation of the thermal head.

Fig. 6 is a conceptual diagram of a state in which the shielding plate of the second embodiment is opened.

Fig. 7 is a conceptual diagram of a state in which the shielding panels of the second embodiment are closed.

Label description

1: with printing device; 3: device shell; 4: opening and closing cover; 4a: protrusion of opening and closing cover; 5: belt box assembly part; 9: thermal head cover; 10: thermal head; 20: belt Box; 23: case with case; 24: through opening; 24a: opening; 50: shielding plate; 52: upper case rail; 53: lower case rail; 54: protrusion for opening and closing; 66: shielding plate Opening and closing gear; 67: shielding plate opening and closing rack; T: printing belt; R: ribbon.

Detailed ways

Next, a tape cassette and a tape printing device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. This tape printing device pulls out a printing tape and an ink ribbon from an assembled tape cassette, and prints with a printing member while moving them simultaneously under tension, and then cuts the printed portion of the printing tape to produce a Record sheet (with sheet).

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a tape printing device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The tape printing device 1 includes: a device main body 2 that performs printing processing on a printing tape T;

The device main body 2 of the tape printing device 1 is formed by a device case 3 , and a keyboard 14 provided with various keys is arranged on the upper surface of the front half of the device case 3 . A wide opening and closing cover 4 is provided on the upper left surface of the rear half of the device case 3 , and a cassette mounting portion 5 for mounting a tape cassette 20 is provided on the inside of the opening and closing cover 4 . On the upper surface of the access cover 4 is formed an observation window 6 for visually confirming whether the tape cassette 20 is attached or not, and on the front side of the access cover 4 is provided a cover opening button 7 for opening the access cover 4 . A display 8 for displaying input results from a keyboard 14 , printed images, and the like is arranged on the rear upper right surface of the device case 3 .

Standing at the tape cassette assembly part 5 is provided with: a thermal head 10, which is covered by a thermal head cover 9; a platen drive shaft 11, which is opposed to the thermal head 10 to transport the printing tape T; Around the driving shaft 12, the ink ribbon R is wound; and the positioning protrusion 13 is positioned for the tape core 31 (see FIG. 2, FIG. 3). In addition, although illustration is omitted, a tape feeding mechanism is built in the lower space of the bottom plate of the tape cassette mounting part 5. Consists of motors and gear sets, etc.

After the tape cassette 20 is assembled and the access cover 4 is closed, the thermal head 10 abuts against the pressure roller 33 (see FIG. 2 ) provided on the tape cassette 20 with the printing tape T and the ink ribbon R sandwiched between them, and a printing standby state is established. Next, when a character is input from the keyboard 14 etc., and a printing command is issued by operating a predetermined key, the printing tape T and the ink ribbon T are fed in a manner of moving simultaneously by the above-mentioned tape feeding mechanism, and the printing tape T A printing process (thermal transfer of ink (ink) from the ink ribbon R to the printing tape T) is performed.

On the left side of the device case 3 is formed a tape discharge port 15 that communicates the cassette mounting portion 5 with the outside of the device, and the printed tape T is discharged from the tape discharge port 15 . In addition, a cutting unit (both not shown) driven by a cutting motor is incorporated in the device case 3 to face the printing tape discharge port 15 . As a result, the printed portion of the printing tape T delivered from the printing tape discharge port 15 is cut in the tape width direction to form a tape piece.

A power supply port for power supply and a connector (both not shown) for connecting to an external device such as a personal computer not shown are provided on the right side of the device case 3 . Thus, the tape printing apparatus 1 can print, on the printing tape T, a print image created by a personal computer or the like in addition to a print image created based on input data from its own keyboard 14 . In addition, a circuit board (not shown) is mounted inside the device case 3 , and this circuit board constitutes a control unit that collectively controls the device main body 2 .

Next, the configuration of the tape cassette 20 and the opening and closing configuration of the shielding plate 50 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 . 2 is a conceptual diagram showing a state in which the shielding plate 50 of the tape cassette 20 of this embodiment is closed, and FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a state in which the shielding plate 50 of the tape cassette 20 of this embodiment is open. The tape cassette 20 has a tape cassette case 23 (see FIG. 1 ) composed of an upper case 21 and a lower case 22 . Inside the tape cassette case 23 are formed: a printing tape storage unit 30 for storing the printing tape T; A winding core 42 for the ribbon R.

A printing tape unit 32 including a printing tape T and a tape core 31 around which the printing tape T is wound is accommodated in the printing tape storage unit 30 .

In the ribbon storage section 40 is stored an ink ribbon unit 43 composed of an ink ribbon R, a pull-out core 41 for pulling out the ink ribbon R, and a winding core 42 for winding the ink ribbon R, and The tape storage portion 40 also houses a hollow cylindrical pressure roller 33 facing the thermal head 10 . In addition, the tape core 31 , the pull-out core 41 , the winding core 42 , and the pressure roller 33 are all rotatably pivotally supported by shaft protrusions or fitting holes formed in the upper case 21 and the lower case 22 .

In the tape cassette case 23, a through opening 24 that penetrates the tape cassette case 23 up and down is formed at a position close to the pressure roller 33. The through opening 24 is inserted, and an opening 24 a is provided at a position where the thermal head 10 and the pressure roller 33 face each other in the thermal head cover 9 . At this time, the positioning protrusion 13 is engaged with the tape core 31 , the pressure roller drive shaft 11 is engaged with the pressure roller 33 , and the winding drive shaft 12 is engaged with the winding core 42 . That is, the pressing roller 33 and the winding core 42 function as a driving core, and the tape core 31 and the drawing core 41 function as a driven core.

The printing tape T drawn from the tape core 31 is guided to the platen roller 33 by the tape guide pin 25 , and is output from the printing tape output port 26 formed on the side surface of the cassette case 23 after the portion is printed. On the other hand, the ink ribbon R pulled out from the pull-out core 41 is tensioned and reaches the press roller 33 . At this time, the ink ribbon R is guided by the ribbon guide pin 27 and the opening wall 28 forming the through opening 24 , makes a U-turn, and is wound up on the winding core 42 . In this case, since the pressure roller 33 on the driving side and the winding core 42 rotate synchronously, the printing tape T and the ink ribbon R advance simultaneously, and printing is performed on the printing tape T.

In addition, a slidable shielding plate 50 is provided inside the ribbon path between the ribbon guide pin 27 and the opening wall 28 . Sliding projections 51 are provided on both ends of the shielding plate 50, and the sliding projections 51 are respectively fitted with the upper casing rail 52 provided on the upper casing 21 and the lower casing rail 53 provided on the lower casing 22. (Refer to Figure 4). In addition, an opening and closing protrusion 54 is provided on the shielding plate 50 . When the user operates the opening and closing protrusion 54 , the shielding plate 50 slides while being guided by the upper case rail 52 and the lower case rail 53 , whereby the shielding plate 50 is opened and closed.

In the tape cassette 20 of the present embodiment, the opening 24a that vertically penetrates the through opening 24 of the cassette case 23 is closed by the shielding plate 50, so that the opening 24a is not exposed. As a result, foreign matter can be prevented from entering the inside of the tape cassette through the opening 24 a at least during the printing operation.

In addition, by closing the shield plate 50 when the tape cassette 20 is transported, it is possible to suppress the intrusion of foreign matter from the opening 24a into which the thermal head 10 enters through the through opening 24 of the tape cassette case 23 up and down. Carrying out the separate packaging necessary for transporting the tape cassette 20 without the shielding structure is more beneficial to the environment.

In addition, the thermal head 10 can be brought into contact with the ink ribbon R by operating the opening and closing protrusion 54 to open the shielding plate 50 during the printing operation. As a result, even in the state of being installed in the tape printing device 1 , in the printing standby state, since the thermal head 10 and the pressure roller 33 are not in the state where the printing tape T and the ink ribbon R are sandwiched, it is possible to prevent the ink ribbon from R contaminates the thermal head 10 and since the thermal head 10 does not always press the pressure roller 33, deformation of the pressure roller 33 can be prevented.

FIG. 4 illustrates a housing rail for guiding the opening and closing of the shielding plate 50 according to the present embodiment. 4( a ) is a diagram showing the upper case rail 52 provided on the upper case 21 , and FIG. 4( b ) is a diagram showing the lower case rail 53 provided on the lower case 22 . The upper case rail 52 and the lower case rail 53 are disposed so as to pass through the lower side of the ribbon guide pin 27 from a position approximately in the middle of the drawer core 41 and the winding core 42, and to face the opening 24a along the path of the ink ribbon R. . Then, the opening and closing operation of the opening 24 a is performed by sliding the shield plate 50 along the upper case rail 52 and the lower case rail 53 .

In addition, in this embodiment, the shielding plate 50 can be freely opened and closed by operating the opening and closing protrusion 54 by the user. Opening and closing.

Next, a second embodiment of the present application, a mask structure that can be opened and closed in conjunction with a series of printing operations will be described. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a thermal head release mechanism linked to the opening and closing of the opening and closing cover 4 . The shield structure according to the second embodiment of the present application is a structure in which the shield plate is opened and closed in conjunction with the thermal head release mechanism, and the operation of the thermal head release mechanism will be described based on FIG. 5 . 5( a ) is a conceptual diagram showing the position of the thermal head 10 when the access cover 4 is opened, and FIG. 5( b ) is a conceptual diagram showing the position of the thermal head 10 when the access cover 4 is closed. In addition, (b) of FIG. 5 omits illustration of the opening-closing cover 4 in order to make description easy to understand. The thermal head 10 is mounted on one end of the thermal head rotating frame 61 , and the thermal head rotating frame 61 is rotatably connected with the thermal head rotating frame pin 62 as the rotation center. In addition, the other end of the thermal head rotating frame 61 is connected with the thermal head pressure spring 63 and the thermal head release spring 65, the other end of the thermal head pressure spring 63 is connected with the release lever 60, and the thermal head release spring 65 The other end is connected to the device housing 3 or the cassette mounting part 5 . The release lever 60 is rotatably connected with the device case 3 or the cassette mounting part 5 at the thermal head release lever rotation center 64 .

Usually, when performing printing, the access cover 4 of the printing apparatus is opened, the tape cassette 20 is inserted, and the access cover 4 is closed to input the printing content and perform printing. By closing the opening and closing cover 4 , the opening and closing cover protrusion 4 a of the opening and closing cover 4 comes into contact with the release lever 60 , and the release lever 60 rotates around the rotation center 64 of the thermal head release lever. When the release lever 60 rotates, the thermal head pressure spring 63 is stretched, and the thermal head rotating frame 61 rotates around the thermal head rotating frame pin 62, thereby, the thermal head mounted on one end of the thermal head rotating frame 61 The sensor head 10 is pressed against the pressure roller 33 to be in a printing standby state. Further, conversely, when the access cover 4 is opened, the thermal head 10 is separated from the pressure roller 33 by the force of the thermal head release spring 65 mounted on the thermal head rotation frame 61 .

A shielding structure according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7 . Fig. 6 is a diagram showing a state in which a shielding plate according to a second embodiment of the present invention is opened. Fig. 7 is a diagram showing a closed state of a shielding plate according to a second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 6, a shield plate opening and closing gear 66 is provided at the rotation center of the thermal head rotating frame pin 62, and a shielding plate opening and closing gear rack is provided on the shielding plate 50 to engage with the shielding plate opening and closing gear 66. 67.

Thus, when the tape cassette 20 is mounted on the tape cassette mounting portion 5 of the tape printing apparatus 1 and the opening and closing cover 4 is closed, the opening and closing cover protrusion 4 a of the opening and closing cover 4 comes into contact with the release lever 60 , and the release lever 60 is connected with the release lever 60 . The thermal head release lever rotates around the center of rotation 64 . By rotation of the release lever 60 , the thermal head pressing spring 63 is stretched, and the thermal head rotation frame 61 rotates around the thermal head rotation frame pin 62 . The shield plate opening and closing gear 66 is rotated by the rotation of the thermal head rotation frame pin 62 . Next, the shield opening and closing gear rack 67 engaged with the shield opening and closing gear 66 moves following the rotation of the shield opening and closing gear 66 , and the shield 50 is opened.

In addition, when the opening and closing cover 4 is opened, by the force of the thermal head release spring 65 installed on the thermal head rotating frame 61, the thermal head rotating frame pin 62 is reversed, so the shield plate opening and closing gear 66 is reversed. Next, the shielding plate opening and closing rack 67 engaged with the shielding plate opening and closing gear 66 moves following the rotation of the shielding plate opening and closing gear 66 , and the shielding plate 50 is closed. With such a configuration, the shielding plate 50 can be opened and closed without the user being aware of it. In addition, the timing at which the shielding plate 50 starts to open is the timing at which the shielding plate opening and closing gear 66 starts to operate. Thus, since the operation of the shielding plate opening and closing gear 66 starts in the middle of closing the opening and closing cover 4, compared with the structure in which the user arbitrarily opens and closes the shielding plate 50 shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. Since the opening 24a is exposed for less time, it is possible to more reliably prevent foreign matter from entering the tape cassette 20 .

As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, the arrangement|positioning structure of each part of the said tape cassette 20 is an example only, and this invention is not limited to this. For example, in the above-mentioned embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to the tape printing apparatus 1 was described as an example of the tape cassette 20 , but as the tape cassette 20 , any tape used for recording can be accommodated in the tape cassette. The structure within can also be applied to cassette tapes, video tapes, DAT (Digital Audio Tape, digital audio tape) and the like.

Claims (4)

1. A belt box, The tape cassette is assembled in the assembly section of the tape printing unit, The tape cassette has a cassette case composed of an upper case and a lower case, The cassette case has: a printing tape storage part, the printing tape storage part houses the printing tape, and prints on the printing tape through a thermal head, the thermal head is provided on the tape printing device side and is provided on the thermal head rotating frame, the The thermal head rotating frame is rotationally connected with the thermal head rotating frame pin as the rotation center; a ribbon storage part, the ribbon storage part accommodates a ribbon, and the ribbon is used to print on the printing belt by the thermal head; and an opening into which the thermal head enters, The cassette is characterized in that, A shielding structure capable of opening and closing is provided at the opening, and a shielding plate opening and closing rack is provided on the shielding structure, The opening and closing gear rack of the shielding plate is engaged with the opening and closing gear of the shielding plate provided on the rotating frame pin of the thermal head, so that the shielding structure and the thermal head are linked to open and close. 2. The cassette of claim 1, wherein: The shielding structure performs an opening and closing action by sliding on a casing track, wherein the casing track is provided on the upper casing and the lower casing of the cassette casing. 3. A cassette as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The shielding structure keeps the opening in an open state at least during printing. 4. The cassette of claim 1, wherein: The shielding structure is opened and closed in linkage with the thermal head release mechanism of the tape printing device.

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