JP2001105680A - Tape printer and cassette for tape printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a tape printing apparatus and a cassette for a tape printing apparatus capable of performing an overprinting operation or the like and not consuming a printing tape wastefully. A cassette (2) containing a printing tape (8) wound around a tape spool (10), a tape transporting unit for transporting the printing tape (8) in a forward direction, and printing characters and figures on the printing tape (8). And a printing unit 13, wherein the cassette 2 is provided in the main body 1 of the tape printing apparatus.
In this state, a reverse rotation driving means 21 is provided, which is rotated to drive the printing tape 8 in the reverse direction by engaging with the engagement portion provided on the tape spool 10 in the state accommodated in the tape spool 10.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cassette containing a printing tape wound on a tape spool, a tape transport means for transporting the printing tape, and printing for printing characters and figures on the printing tape. And a cassette used in the tape printing apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The applicant of the present invention has previously described Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 2-56666.
In the publication, a cassette containing a printing tape and an ink ribbon, which are print-receiving media, for label display and the like is configured to be removably attachable to a tape printing apparatus. A printing unit such as a head, a platen that comes into contact with and separates from the printing unit, a winding unit for the ink ribbon, and the like. A device for printing an image such as a character string on the printing tape during the pulling-out is proposed.

[0003]

According to the above-mentioned tape printer, the printing tape can only be conveyed in the direction in which the printing tape is pulled out from the cassette, so that an image such as a character is temporarily printed on the printing tape along the longitudinal direction thereof. After that, the printing tape is rewound a predetermined distance again, and a decorative symbol is printed around the already printed image in a color different from that of the printed image, or the image is emphasized by overlapping printing or the like. Or printing in two steps in the width direction of the printing tape was not possible.

[0004] Further, since the printing section and the end cutting device of the printing tape are usually arranged at positions separated in the conveying direction of the printing tape, after the printed printing tape is cut, Printing cannot be started from the vicinity of the cut end of the unprinted printing tape, and the front end of the printing tape is left for a length corresponding to the distance between the end cutting device and the printing section. . In other words, an unnecessary margin is formed at the front end of the printing tape on which images such as characters are printed in a line.
There is a problem that the printing tape is wasted.

The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and a tape printing apparatus and a tape printing apparatus capable of performing the above-described overprinting operation and the like without wasting printing tape. It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus cassette.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to the first aspect is directed to a cassette containing a printing tape wound on a tape spool and transporting the printing tape in a forward direction. A tape transporting means, and a printing means for printing characters, figures, and the like on the printing tape, wherein the cassette is provided on the tape spool in a state housed in the tape printing apparatus main body. There is provided reverse rotation driving means which is engaged with the engagement portion and is rotationally driven to convey the printing tape in the reverse direction.

With this configuration, after an image such as a character is once printed on the printing tape along its longitudinal direction, the reverse rotation driving means is rotated to reversely transport the printing tape, and the reverse rotation is performed. Since the printing tape is rewound by a predetermined distance by the reverse rotation of the tape spool having the engaging portion engaged with the driving means, the decoration symbol is printed around the already printed image, or It can be overprinted.

[0008] The invention described in claim 2 is the first invention.
Wherein the cassette further contains an ink ribbon, and a ribbon that winds the ink ribbon that has passed between a printing unit and a platen disposed outside the cassette. When the printing tape is transported in the forward direction, a driving force is transmitted to the ribbon winding means to wind up the ink ribbon, and when the printing tape is transported in the reverse direction, A driving force transmitting means for preventing the driving force from being transmitted to the ribbon winding means is provided. Therefore, the ribbon take-up means is not driven when the printing tape is conveyed in reverse, so that even when the printing tape is rewound by a predetermined distance and overlap printing is performed, the ink ribbon is rewound together with the printing tape and used. It is possible to prevent the used ink ribbon from being used again.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cassette for a tape printing apparatus for storing a printing tape on which characters, figures, and the like are printed, in a state wound around a tape spool. Is transported in a forward direction, and a reverse rotation driving unit is driven to rotate in order to transport the printing tape in a reverse direction. An engaging portion capable of engaging with the reverse rotation driving means of the device is provided.

With this configuration, after an image such as a character is once printed on the printing tape along the longitudinal direction by the tape printing device, the reverse rotation of the tape printing device is performed to convey the printing tape in reverse. When the driving means is driven to rotate, the printing tape is rewound by a predetermined distance by the reverse rotation of the tape spool having the engaging portion engaged with the reverse rotation driving means. A modifier symbol can be printed around or overlaid.

[0011] The invention described in claim 4 is the same as the claim 3.
In addition, the tape spool has an inner peripheral surface provided with an engagement protrusion that engages with a rib formed on an outer peripheral surface of the reverse rotation driving means of the tape printing apparatus. Things. Therefore, the printing tape is reliably conveyed in the reverse state in a state where the engagement protrusion of the tape spool and the rib of the reverse rotation driving means are engaged.

[0012]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a main body 1 made of a synthetic resin in a tape printing apparatus. A cover body 4 that covers a storage section 3 for storing a cassette 2 described below is openably and closably provided on one upper surface of the main body 1. Is provided. A keyboard 5 for inputting characters and the like, a switch panel 6 for various operations, and a liquid crystal display unit 7 for displaying input characters and operation instructions are arranged on the upper surface of the main body 1. Has a built-in mechanical mechanism and a microcomputer (not shown) for control.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the cassette 2 according to the present invention without a cover. The cassette 2 has a printing tape 8 and an ink ribbon 9 mounted thereon, and a receptor wound around a tape spool 10. The type of printing tape 8 is configured to be guided by four rollers 11 by a tape conveying means described later, and conveyed from a discharge unit 12 through a printing unit 13 such as a thermal head. The ink ribbon 9 wound around the ribbon spool 15 passes through a detection path for a detecting means 16 such as a photo interrupter facing from an opening 18 formed in the case body side of the cassette 2, at the location of the discharge unit 12 and the printing unit 13. It is attached substantially parallel to the printing tape 8, and is configured to be wound by a ribbon winding spool 17.

The cassette 2 has a color of ink on the ink ribbon 9 mounted thereon, a type of a printing tape 8 (a receptor type for printing a normal image and a laminate type for mirror image printing), and a printing tape. The six detected parts 301a to 301f set in advance in accordance with the width dimension of 8
Are attached (see FIG. 3), and the detection switches 300a to 300 provided on the main body 1 side are attached.
f (300a and 300b are not shown in FIG. 3). In this case, the hole on the sensor part 301 side is closed at the portion corresponding to the ON state of the detection switch, and the hole is open at the portion corresponding to the OFF state. In FIG.
f is ON and 300d and 300e are OFF.
Table 1 shows the ink color, tape type and tape width, and ON / OF of the detection switches 300a to 300f.
The relationship with F is shown. Further, the cassette 2 is provided with a tape feed roller 19 as one component of the tape transport means.

[0015]

[Table 1]

Next, referring to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, the structure of an interlocking mechanism such as a tape conveying means and an ink ribbon winding means provided on the main body 1 of the tape printing apparatus will be described. In the receptor type printing tape 8, printing is performed on the surface facing the ink ribbon 9, and the printing tape 8 is printed.
An adhesive layer is applied in advance to the back side of the substrate, and a release tape is temporarily adhered to the adhesive layer.

First, the configuration of the printing tape conveying means and the ink ribbon winding means will be described. A frame 20 in the main body 1 includes a tape reverse drive cam 21 that can be fitted to the inner diameter of the tape spool 10 and a ribbon drive cam 22 that fits to the inner diameter of the ribbon take-up spool 17.
The tape drive cam 23 fitted to the inner diameter of the tape feed roller 19 and the printing unit 13 such as a thermal head are provided upright. 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 8
6, 87, 88 to the tape drive cam 23. In addition, on the inner peripheral surface of the tape spool 10, there is provided an engagement protrusion for engaging with a rib formed on the outer peripheral surface of the tape reverse rotation driving cam 21.

When the cassette 2 is mounted on the main body 1 and the printing operation is performed while the printing tape 8 is being conveyed in the direction of being discharged from the cassette 2 (conveyed in the forward direction), the platen 25 described later 9, the tape drive motor 24 is rotated forward (see FIG. 4) by pressing the printing unit 13 against the printing unit 13 so as to sandwich the printing tape 8 on which the printing has been performed. Clockwise direction, arrow A direction). At this time, a platen gear 90 to be described later is connected via gear trains 80 to 88 and 89.
Is transmitted to At the same time, since the gear 85 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 4, the swing arm 91 concentrically fixed thereto rotates in the counterclockwise direction, and is attached to the swing arm 91 and meshes with the gear 85. The gear 92 rotates the ribbon drive gear 93 connected to the ribbon drive cam 22 via a clutch spring (not shown) counterclockwise in FIG. 4 to wind the ink ribbon 9 onto the ribbon take-up spool 17. In this case, as the diameter wound on the ribbon take-up spool 17 increases, the winding amount of the ink ribbon 9 per unit time increases. However, the ink ribbon 9 slips from the ribbon drive gear 93 rotating at a high speed via a clutch spring. By rotating the ribbon drive cam 22, the winding of the ink ribbon 9 is prevented from becoming loose. A meshing gear 96 provided on one side of the pressing roller 26 meshes with a gear 88, and the tape feed roller 19 and the pressing roller 26 rotate in synchronization.

On the other hand, when the printing operation is temporarily interrupted and the printing tape 8 is rewound (in the case of reverse conveyance), the ink ribbon 9 is not rotated, and the pressing roller 26 and the tape feeding roller 19 perform printing. The tape drive cam 23 and the tape reverse drive cam 21
5 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 5, the tape drive motor 24 is rotated in the reverse direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 5, arrow B direction). 5, the gear 85 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 5, so that the swing arm 91 concentrically fixed thereto rotates in the counterclockwise direction, and is attached to the swing arm 91 to mesh with the gear 85. The planetary gear 92 rotates the reverse rotation gear 95 counterclockwise via the idler gear 94, and reversely rotates the tape reverse rotation drive cam 21 connected thereto via a clutch spring (not shown). The rib formed on the outer peripheral surface of the tape spool engages with the engagement projection provided on the inner peripheral surface of the tape spool 10 to rotate the tape spool 10 in the reverse direction, and wind the printing tape 8 around the tape spool 10 ( Rewind). In this case, the platen 25 is separated from the printing unit 13.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 6 to 9, a platen 25 for attaching and detaching the cassette 2 to and from the main body 1 will be described.
And the interlocking mechanism of the pressing roller 26 will be described.
A platen holder 30 on which a platen 25 is mounted and a pressing holder 31 on which a pressing roller 26 is mounted are rotatably connected to pivots 32 and 33 on the frame 20, respectively.
The platen holder 30 and the pressing holder 31 have openings facing the rising front end portions 34a and 35a of the platen operating lever 34 and the roller operating lever 35 having an L-shaped cross section disposed on the back surface (lower surface) of the frame 20 respectively. Hole 30
a, 31a are drilled. In addition, each of the opening holes 30
Projections 30b, 31b abutting on one surface (pressing surface side) of each of the tip portions 34a, 35a are integrally formed in the a, 31a.

The platen holder 30 and the pressing holder 3
The tension springs 38, 39 are disposed on the lower end mounting portion 37a of an interlocking lever 37 which is disposed on the rear surface of the frame 20 so as to be movable in parallel and rotatably supported on the frame 20 via a shaft 36. Are connected via In a closed state of the cover body 4 covering the storage part 3 of the cassette 2 (see FIG. 8), the contact part 4 protruding from the inner surface of the cover body 4
a, the back surface of the interlocking lever 37 is pushed and regulated upright, and the platen holder 3 is moved by the two operating levers 34 and 35.
0, the platen 25 is pressed against the surface of the printing unit 13, and the pressing roller 26 is pressed against the surface of the tape feed roller 19 via the pressing holder 31. On the other hand, when the cover body 4 is opened around the hinge pin 41, the interlocking lever 37 released from the restriction with the contact portion 4a rotates as shown in FIG. 6, and the urging force by the tension springs 38, 39 is applied. On the other hand, when the interlocking lever 37 is rotated to the state shown in FIG. 6 by the biasing force of the torsion coil spring 40 which is loosely fitted and locked on the shaft 36, the front surface of the lower end mounting portion 37a is turned to the two operating levers 34, 35. Of the platen holder 30 and the pressing holder 31, the leading ends 34 a and 35 a of the platen holder 30 and the pressing holder 31 press the opening holes 30 a and 31 a, respectively. It is configured to forcibly rotate in a direction away from the roller 26.

At one side of the platen 25, power is transmitted from the gear 89 to the platen gear 90, and the meshing gear 96 provided at one side of the pressing roller 26 is meshed with the gear 88 to transmit power. , Due to their gear meshing reaction force,
In addition, there arises a problem that the printing tape 8 and the ink ribbon 9 are difficult to be uniform in the width direction thereof because the printing tape 8 and the ink ribbon 9 are easily lifted up to the surface of the tape feeding roller 19. Therefore, a configuration is employed in which the clamping pressure is made uniform by using an automatic alignment mechanism as shown in FIGS.

That is, the mounting hole 30 of the platen holder 30
c, the spline shaft 4 to which the platen gear 90 is fixed
2 are fitted with each other, while both ends of the inner cylindrical body 25 a of the platen 25 are
d and 30d, and can be moved in the direction of pressing against the printing unit 13, and the movement is restricted in a direction perpendicular to the direction (moving direction of the printing tape 8). The inner cylinder 25a is loosely fitted to the spline portion 42a on the outer periphery of the spline shaft 42, while the inner cylinder 25
a plurality of engaging projections 25b which are protruded in the inner diameter direction at substantially the center of the length of the platen 25 and can be engaged with the respective grooves of the spline portion 42a. The platen 25 is configured to be swingable with respect to the axis of the spline shaft 42 about the projection 25b (see FIGS. 10 to 13). Accordingly, when the platen 25 is pressed toward the printing unit 13 (to the left in FIG. 10) via the platen holder 30, even if the axis of the spline shaft 42 is inclined in a direction in which the platen gear 90 side is separated from the gear 89. The platen 25 is pressed so as to be parallel to the surface of the printing unit 13 about the position of the engagement protrusion 25b, and the width direction between the printing unit 13 and the platen 25 with respect to the printing tape 8 and the ink ribbon 9. Pressing force can be made uniform.

The same configuration as described above is applied to 26 portions of the pressing roller 31 in the pressing holder 31. That is, both ends of the spline shaft 43 to which the meshing gear 96 is fixed are fitted into the mounting holes 31c of the pressing holder 31, while both ends of the inner cylindrical body 26a of the pressing roller 26 are
1, it is guided by the ribs 31 d, 31 d and is movable in the pressing direction against the tape feed roller 19, and the movement is restricted in a direction perpendicular to the direction (moving direction of the printing tape 8). The inner cylindrical body 26a is loosely fitted to the spline portion 43a on the outer periphery of the spline shaft 43, while the inner diameter of the inner cylindrical body 26a is substantially the center of the length of the pressing roller 26. A plurality of engaging projections 26b are provided to project in the inner diameter direction of the spline portion 43a so as to be able to be engaged in the respective concave grooves of the spline portion 43a. (See FIGS. 14 to 14).
See FIG. 17). Thereby, the pressing roller 26 is moved toward the tape feed roller 19 via the pressing holder 31 (FIG. 1).
4 (to the left of FIG. 4), even if the axis of the spline shaft 43 is inclined in the direction away from the gear 88 on the side of the meshing gear 96, the pressing roller 26 Is pressed so as to be parallel to the surface of the printing tape 8, and the pressing force in the width direction on the printing tape 8 can be made uniform.

Next, referring to FIGS. 18 to 21, the platen 25 contacts the printing unit 13 during the printing transport (forward transport) operation and the rewinding (reverse transport) operation of the printing tape 8. Describing the release mechanism,
When the printing tape 8 is conveyed while printing, the cover 4 is closed with the cassette 2 placed in the storage section 3. Therefore, as described above, the interlocking lever 37 is vertical, and the platen holder 30 is rotated via the platen operating lever 34 by the urging force of the tension spring 38 so that the platen 25 presses the printing unit 13. (Fig. 18
reference).

The shaft 45 is mounted on the platen holder 30.
One end of a platen interlocking lever 46 is rotatably supported via the. The range of movement of the platen interlocking lever 46 is restricted so that the platen interlocking lever 46 can be moved only in parallel between the bent and raised portion 20 a of the frame 20 and the cam 47. The cam 47 rotates in one direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 20) from a platen operating motor 48 attached to the frame 20 via a gear train 49. The platen operating lever 46 is pulled rightward in FIG. 19 at a predetermined rotation phase position of the cam 47 so that the platen holder 30 separates from the printing unit 13 with the other end of the contacting portion 46a bent. It is configured.

As shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, the operating state of the platen holder 30 is detected by turning on / off the relief switch 50 by detecting the rotation phase of the cam 47. That is, FIG.
8 and the platen holder 30 shown in FIG. 20, the end surface of the sensor plate 51 which rotates integrally with the cam 47 does not come into contact with the relief switch 50 and is in the OFF state.
The platen operating motor 48 that rotates only in one direction is shown in FIG.
As the cam 47 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 21 and the cam 47 rotates clockwise, the other end of the platen operating lever 46 is pressed rightward in FIG. Is separated from the printing unit 13.
At this time, the relief switch 50 is turned on, and the platen operation motor 48 is stopped.

Thus, when the tape printing apparatus is not used, the platen 25 is kept separated from the printing section 13 and the soft platen 25 made of rubber or the like is pressed against the surface of the printing section 13 and is permanently deformed. Has been prevented.
Conversely, during the transition of the platen holder 30 from the separated state to the pressure-contact state, the relief switch 50 keeps the ON state, and turns off only when the relief switch 50 is completely pressed.

In this embodiment, the rotation of the cam 47 causes the platen holder 30 to operate only in the separating direction, while the tension springs 38 and 39, the platen operating lever 34, and the pressing operating lever 34 correspond to opening and closing operations of the cover body 4. 35, the platen holder 30 and the pressing holder 31 are rotated in the contact / separation direction, so that the platen holder 30 is pressed or separated by the operation of the platen operation motor 48 regardless of whether the platen holder 30 is pressed or separated. Is opened, the platen holder 30 and the pressing holder 31 are forcibly moved preferentially to the separated state, so that the user can exchange the cassette 2 at any time.

Next, the cutting mechanism 52 of the printing tape 8 will be described with reference to FIGS. The cutting mechanism 52 includes a fixed blade 53, a movable blade 54, and a cutter motor 55 as a driving unit of the movable blade 54. The fixed mechanism 53 is fixed to the rising portion 20 b of the frame 20, and is movable adjacent to the fixed blade 53. The blade 54 is pivotally mounted on a support shaft 56 so as to be rotatable, and is urged toward the side of the fixed blade 53 by a spring washer 57. The disk-shaped operating plate 60 is rotated in one direction by the cutter motor 55 via the gear train 58. This operating plate 6
0, the engagement pin 61 protruding from one side is slidably engaged with the forked portion of the connecting piece 62 extending from the base of the movable blade 54, and the movable blade 54 is opened by one rotation of the operation plate 60. It is configured to close once (see the two-dot chain line in FIG. 22) and then return to the open state again (see the solid line state in FIG. 22). When the movable blade 54 is opened, the cutter motor 55 stops to stop in a state where the movable blade 54 is opened.

Next, the operation of the tape printing apparatus having the above configuration will be described. FIGS. 18 and 19 show a case where the receptor type printing tape 8 is stored in the cassette 2 for printing. The distance L from the printing unit 13 to the tape cutting position by the cutting mechanism 52 is 25 mm in the embodiment. FIG.
As shown in the figure, the ink ribbon 9 accommodated in the cassette 2 has a black ink portion 70 and a red ink portion 71 alternately arranged via mark portions 73 and 74 along the longitudinal direction thereof. And The pitch P is 20cm,
In order to determine the color by the light transmission type detection means 16,
One black barcode mark portion 73 is formed before the black ink portion 70, and two black barcode mark portions 74 are formed before the red ink portion 71. A case in which two-stage character strings are printed in the width direction on the printing tape 8 using the two-color ink ribbons 9 will be described.

First, when the cassette 2 is set in the storage section 3 of the main body 1, the detection switches 300a to 300a provided on the main body 1 side are set.
Based on the combination of ON / OFF of 300f, the ink color, the width and the type of the printing tape 8 are determined as shown in Table 1. Next, a color or the like is commanded (input) with the operation switch 6 of the main body 1 and characters are input with the keyboard 5.

When the print switch is pressed, the tape drive motor 24 rotates forward. First, since the color of the ink portion of the ink ribbon 9 corresponding to the position of the printing unit 13 cannot be determined, the ink ribbon 9 and the printing tape 8 are fed to a predetermined position. In this case, as shown in FIG. 18, the platen 25 of the platen holder 30 and the pressing roller 26 of the pressing holder 31 are pressed against the printing unit 13 and the tape feed roller 19, respectively. The feed amount of the ink ribbon 9 and the printing tape 8 is controlled by the rotation amount of the tape feed roller 19 and the pressing roller 26. The feed amount of the first ink ribbon 9 is the mark portion 7 of the black ink portion 70 or the red ink portion 71.
It is the sum of the feed amount until the detecting means 16 detects 3, 74 and the distance L (25 mm in the embodiment).

For example, when the black ink section 70 is first detected, printing is performed in black. The length of an image such as a character string
If it is 15 cm, the printing tape 8 and the ink ribbon 9 will be fed together by 5 cm even after printing is completed. In the embodiment, the pitch based on the sum of the ink portion and the mark portion is 20 cm, and the feed amount of the ink ribbon 9 is the feed amount of the printing tape 8 (20 cm).
Therefore, if the color is first determined by the mark portion 73 or 74, there is no need to detect the color and the position of the ink portion later, and the feed control is simplified.

Next, the platen operating motor 48 is driven to rotate the platen holder 30 to separate the platen 25 from the printing unit 13 (see FIG. 19). In this state,
As shown in FIG. 5, when the tape drive motor 24 is rotated in the reverse direction, the gear 84 in the gear train rotates counterclockwise as described above, and the planetary gear 92 pivotally supported by the swing arm 91 winds the ribbon winding. While the engagement of the gear 93 with the take-up ribbon drive cam 22 is released and the winding of the ink ribbon 9 is stopped, the planetary gear 92 meshes with the gear 95 and rotates counterclockwise. With the rotation of 88, the tape feed roller 19 is rotated counterclockwise. The pressing roller 26 is also forcibly rotated by the meshing of the gear 88 and the meshing gear 96, and the printing tape 8 held between the rollers 19 and 26 is rewound by 20 cm.

In this case, the rotation of the tape drive cam 23 with respect to the tape feed roller 19, the pressing roller 26 and the platen 25 is delayed by the swing angle of the swing arm 91, and the printing tape 8 is loosened in the cassette 2. There is a possibility that it will be. In order to solve this problem, in this embodiment, the gear 87
As shown in FIG. 8, the gear 87a and the gear 87b are intermittently connected to each other so that the rotation of the gear 87b is appropriately delayed with respect to the rotation of the gear 87a. Is configured. Here, while rotation from the tape drive motor 24 is transmitted to the gear 87a,
Since the rotation is transmitted to the gears 89 and 88 and the meshing gear 96 via the gear 87b, the rotation of the platen 25, the tape feed roller 19, and the pressing roller 26 is delayed with respect to the start of rotation of the tape drive motor 24. Since this delay amount is set to be equal to or longer than the delay time due to the swing of the swing arm 91, the printing tape 8 rewound into the cassette 2 does not loosen.

Next, the platen operating motor 48 is driven, the platen holder 30 is rotated, and the platen 25 is set to be in a state of being pressed against the surface of the printing unit 13. Then, the tape drive motor 24 is rotated forward, and The character string may be printed in red.

By using the ink ribbon 9 of one color,
Once the character string is printed on the printing tape 8, the printing tape 8 is once rewound to print a two-stage character string in the width direction on the printing tape 8, or to place a decorative frame around the character string. In the case of printing or emphasizing printing, similarly to the above, after printing the first character string, while the ink ribbon 9 is stopped, only the printing tape 8 is rewound by an appropriate distance, and the subsequent printing is performed again. You just have to do it.

Next, with reference to FIG. 24, the operation of shortening the distance from the longitudinal end (cut end) 76a of the printing tape 8 to the start position of the printing row to reduce the margin will be described. In the present embodiment, assuming that the distance L1 from the printing unit 13 to the cutting mechanism 52 is conventional, the printing tape 8 has conventionally only been conveyed to the discharge side. The margin part became longer because it came after the margin part.

In this embodiment, prior to the start of printing, L2
Only the printing tape 8 is rewound and stopped (<L1), and then the printing operation is performed while the printing tape 8 is transported in the forward direction. After the image 75 such as a character string is printed as described above, the printing tape 8 and the ink ribbon 9 are transported in the forward direction by a margin distance L3 in addition to the distance L1 from the rear end of the image 75 area. Cutting is performed at the cut portion 76b. Then, at the time of the next printing, if printing is started after the printing tape 8 is rewound by an appropriate distance L2, an extra long margin distance is not created, and thus the printing tape 8 is not wasted. Can be printed.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 25 is a case where printing is executed by mounting a laminate type printing tape in the cassette 2. The cassette 2 contains a transparent tape 77, an ink ribbon 9, a double-sided adhesive tape 78. Is built-in. Then, the cassette 2 is mounted in the main body 1, and a mirror image of an image of a character or the like is formed on the transparent tape 77 while sequentially transporting the transparent tape 77 and the ink ribbon 9 toward the printing unit 13 in the same manner as in each of the above embodiments. After printing, the transparent tape 77 and the double-sided adhesive tape 78 are overlapped with each other at the position of the tape feed roller 19 and the pressing roller 26 such that the printing surface of the transparent tape 77 is bonded to one adhesive surface of the double-sided adhesive tape 78. Send it out. A release tape (not shown) to which a release agent such as silicone is applied is temporarily attached to the other adhesive surface of the double-sided adhesive tape 78. In this laminate type,
Reverse transport of the printing tape for two-color printing operation or the like is prohibited.

In each of the above embodiments, in order to detect the end of the ink ribbon 9, the end of the ink ribbon 9 and the spool 15 are connected by a light-impermeable tape 79 such as an aluminum tape (see FIG. 23). If the light-impermeable tape 79 is detected at the position of the detection means 16, the subsequent printing operation may be stopped. In the case of the transparent tape 77 used for the laminate type,
Since the transparent tape 77 passes through the location of the detection means 16, a light-impermeable tape 79 is connected to the end of the transparent tape 77.

Further, in the case where an ink ribbon 9 is not incorporated in the cassette 2 and a non-transparent printing tape which emits heat is used, a transparent tape is connected to the end of the printing tape. The end can be detected by the detecting means 16.

[0044]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a cassette accommodating a printing tape wound on a tape spool, and a tape conveying means for conveying the printing tape in a forward direction. And a printing means for printing characters, figures, and the like on the printing tape, wherein the cassette is housed in a tape printing apparatus main body, and an engagement portion provided on the tape spool. Since it is provided with a reverse rotation driving means that is engaged and rotated to convey the printing tape in the reverse direction, an image such as a character is once printed on the printing tape along the longitudinal direction thereof. After that, the printing tape is rewound a predetermined distance again, and the decoration symbol is printed around the already printed image, or the image is emphasized by overlapping printing or the like, or the printing tape is doubled in the width direction of the printing tape. An effect that it is possible to extremely easily perform complex printing operation that letter.

Even if the printing section and the end cutting mechanism of the printing tape are arranged at positions separated in the conveying direction of the printing tape, after the printed printing tape is cut,
Printing can be started from the vicinity of the cut end of the unprinted printing tape, and unnecessary margins can be prevented from being generated at both ends of the printing tape on which images such as characters are printed in a row. This is advantageous in that it is economical because the use tape is not wasted.

Further, the invention described in claim 2 is the first invention.
Wherein the cassette further contains an ink ribbon, and a ribbon that winds the ink ribbon that has passed between a printing unit and a platen disposed outside the cassette. When the printing tape is transported in the forward direction, a driving force is transmitted to the ribbon winding means to wind up the ink ribbon, and when the printing tape is transported in the reverse direction, Since the driving force transmitting means for preventing the driving force from being transmitted to the ribbon winding means is provided, even when the printing tape is rewound by a predetermined distance and overlap printing is performed, the ink ribbon is printed on the printing tape. And the used ink ribbon can be prevented from being used again.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cassette for a tape printing apparatus for storing a printing tape on which characters, figures, and the like are printed while being wound around a tape spool. Is transported in a forward direction, and a reverse rotation driving unit is driven to rotate in order to transport the printing tape in a reverse direction. Since an engaging portion capable of engaging with the reverse rotation driving means of the apparatus is provided, an image such as a character is once printed on a printing tape along its longitudinal direction by a tape printing device, and then the printing tape is removed. When the reverse rotation driving means of the tape printing apparatus is rotationally driven for reverse transport, the tape spool having the engaging portion engaged with the reverse rotation driving means is rotated in the reverse direction, so that the printing tape is rotated. Since rewound by a predetermined distance, an effect that already or printed decorative symbols around the printed image, or may be or overprinting.

The invention described in claim 4 is the same as the invention in claim 3.
In addition, the tape spool has an inner peripheral surface provided with an engagement protrusion that engages with a rib formed on an outer peripheral surface of the reverse rotation driving means of the tape printing apparatus. Since the printing tape is reversely conveyed in a state where the engagement protrusion of the tape spool is engaged with the rib of the reverse rotation driving means, the reverse operation of the printing tape can be reliably performed. To play.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a tape printing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the cassette from which a lid is omitted.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a mechanism for detecting a type of a printing tape incorporated in a cassette.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a mechanical mechanism in the main body 1.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a state where a platen holder is released.

FIG. 6 is a side sectional view showing a state where a cover body is opened.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of an operation of a cover body and an interlocking mechanism of a platen holder and a pressing holder.

FIG. 8 is a side sectional view showing a state where a cover body is closed.

FIG. 9 is a view taken in the direction of arrows IX-IX in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part of a platen holder.

11 is a sectional view taken along line XI-XI in FIG.

12 is a sectional view taken along line XII-XII in FIG.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along line XIII-XIII in FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part of the pressing holder.

15 is a sectional view taken along line XV-XV in FIG.

16 is a sectional view taken along line XVI-XVI in FIG.

17 is a sectional view taken along line XVII-XVII in FIG.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory view of a printing tape forward conveyance state.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram of a printing tape reverse conveyance state.

FIG. 20 is a view taken along line XX-XX in FIG. 18;

FIG. 21 is a front view showing a phase state of the cam in a state where the platen holder is operated.

FIG. 22 is a front view of a printing tape cutting mechanism.

FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram of an ink ribbon.

FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram of a printing tape.

FIG. 25 is an explanatory diagram in the case of a laminate type.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main body 2 Cassette 4 Cover body 8 Printing tape 9 Ink ribbon 13 Printing part 16 Detecting means 19 Tape feed roller 20 Frame 24 Tape drive motor 25 Platen 26 Pressing roller 30 Platen holder 31 Press holder 34 Platen operating lever 35 Pressing operation Lever 37 Interlocking lever 38, 39 Tension spring 46 Platen interlocking lever 47 Cam 48 Platen operating motor

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A cassette accommodating a printing tape wound on a tape spool, a tape transporting means for transporting the printing tape in a forward direction, and a printing means for printing characters, figures, and the like on the printing tape. In the tape printing apparatus having the above, in a state where the cassette is housed in the main body of the tape printing apparatus, the cassette is engaged with an engagement portion provided on the tape spool, and the printing tape is transported in the reverse direction. A tape printing apparatus characterized in that a reverse rotation driving means that is rotationally driven is provided. 2. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein the cassette further includes a ribbon winding unit that stores the ink ribbon and winds the ink ribbon that has passed between a printing unit and a platen disposed outside the cassette. When the tape is transported in the forward direction, a driving force is transmitted to the ribbon winding means to wind up the ink ribbon, and when the printing tape is transported in the reverse direction, the driving force is applied to the ribbon winding means. 2. The tape printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a driving force transmitting means for preventing transmission. 3. A cassette for a tape printing apparatus for storing a printing tape on which characters, figures, and the like are printed, in a state wound around a tape spool, wherein the tape conveying means conveys the printing tape in a forward direction. And a reverse rotation driving means rotatably driven to convey the printing tape in the reverse direction.The tape spool is housed in a tape printing apparatus, and the tape spool is engaged with the reverse rotation driving means of the tape printing apparatus. A cassette for a tape printing apparatus, characterized in that an engaging portion is provided. 4. The tape printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein an engagement protrusion is provided on an inner peripheral surface of the tape spool to engage with a rib formed on an outer peripheral surface of the reverse rotation driving means of the tape printing apparatus. The cassette for a tape printer according to the above.