JP2001278510A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) Abstract: A printing apparatus for printing on a tape-shaped print medium, for example, sharing a small cassette and a large cassette having different shapes depending on the capacity of the print medium. A small cassette is mounted on a cassette mounting portion. A plurality of positioning portions formed on the small cassette are engaged with receiving trays 16, 17, and 15 shared by the mounting portion 6, and a ribbon is wound. The take-up shaft 9 is inserted into the take-up reel, and the engagement protrusion 13 dedicated to the small cassette urged upright on the mounting portion 6 is engaged with the through-hole of the small cassette to be positioned. When mounting the large cassette, the projection 13 dedicated to the small cassette urged upright on the mounting portion 6 is pushed down on the back surface of the large cassette, moved down to the projection storage recess 14, and retreated. The formed plurality of alignment portions are engaged with the common receiving trays 16 and 17 provided in the mounting portion 6, the large cassette-specific receiving trays 18 and 20, and the common receiving tray 15, and the ribbon take-up shaft 9 is wound. It is inserted into the take-up reel and positioned.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus in which cassettes of different shapes accommodating print media are exchangeably mounted, and print is performed on the print media accommodated in the cassette.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a tape printing apparatus for printing on a tape-shaped printing medium, various printing tapes having different width sizes are used depending on the application. Each of these tapes is wound into a roll and housed in a case, and is exchangeably mounted as a tape cassette in a cassette mounting portion of a tape printer.

[0003] In the conventional tape cassette, the thickness of the side surface of the case is different depending on the width of the tape to be accommodated, but the tape length in the unused state is the same. Its size is the same.
On the other hand, the cassette mounting portion of the tape printing apparatus is formed in a container shape having an internal volume capable of receiving various tape cassettes having different side thicknesses.

Further, a printing mechanism such as a thermal head for printing on a tape based on print information and a platen roller for feeding the tape is provided in the cassette mounting section, and a tape cassette mounted on the cassette mounting section is provided. In order to fix and hold the tape in the mounting portion and position the tape with respect to the printing mechanism, a plurality of engagement portions are provided which engage with a peripheral portion of the tape cassette and a spool hole for winding the tape in the tape cassette. ing. As a result, tapes of large and small widths are supplied to the printing mechanism with a predetermined positional relationship.

[0005]

The tape printing apparatus is used for various purposes in a wide range of fields from personal use in general households to business use in corporations. However, if a large number of labels are to be created for business or other purposes, the tape capacity is insufficient and the cassette needs to be replaced frequently. Further, even for personal use, when a large amount of tape of a specific width size is consumed from a plurality of widths, the user may feel that the capacity is insufficient.

In view of the above, in addition to the conventional tape cassette, it is desired to supply a tape cassette containing a longer tape than before.

If a tape cassette accommodating such a long tape is supplied, the roll diameter increases as the length of the tape increases, and the outer shape of the cassette case, that is, the planar shape also increases. On the other hand, with the addition of a large tape cassette, the cassette mounting portion of the tape printer must also be adapted to the large tape cassette, and their planar shapes (planar areas) differ in size. Preferably, both tape cassettes can be used.

However, since it is necessary to provide an engaging portion for engaging the conventional tape cassette from the bottom surface of the cassette mounting portion, the cassette mounting portion is simply formed with an internal volume capable of accommodating the large-sized tape cassette. Even if you do
The position of the engaging portion corresponds to the lower surface of the large-sized tape cassette, and becomes an obstacle when mounting the large-sized tape cassette. Of course, the shape of the cassette mounting portion can be set so as to allow the mounting of the large-sized tape cassette by avoiding the position of the engaging portion, but in such a case, the internal volume of the cassette mounting portion becomes large. As a result, the tape printer becomes unnecessarily large.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and a cassette mounting section in which two cassettes having different shapes accommodating a print medium can be exchangeably mounted, and further, these cassettes are mounted. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus which can reduce the size of the apparatus as much as possible to reduce the size of the apparatus.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus comprising: a printing unit for printing on a printing medium; and a first cassette having a different shape in which a printing medium to be supplied to the printing unit is stored. Or a cassette mounting portion to which a second cassette is exchangeably mounted, wherein the cassette mounting portion engages with the first cassette or the second cassette to perform the printing. Engaging means for positioning with respect to the means is provided, and the engaging means is disposed so as to protrude at a position where the engaging means interferes with the mounting of the second cassette, and the second cassette is mounted when the first cassette is mounted. The second cassette is located at an operating position to be engaged with the first cassette, and when the second cassette is mounted, the second cassette is pushed by the second cassette and moves to a retracted position which does not interfere with the mounting of the second cassette. 1 case Characterized in that it comprises a dedicated engagement means bets.

According to the printing apparatus of the present invention, of the engaging means provided in the cassette mounting section, the first engaging means engages with the first cassette, but interferes with the second cassette and hinders the mounting. The first cassette and the second cassette having different shapes in the cassette mounting portion are configured such that when the second cassette is mounted, the engaging means is pushed by the second cassette and retracted to a position where the second cassette does not interfere with the mounting. Can be exchangeably mounted.

Further, the first engaging means is configured to be movable between an operating position for engaging the first cassette and a retracted position which is not related to the engagement of the cassette, so that the first engaging means can be moved to the first cassette.
It is not necessary to form a cassette mounting portion so that the second cassette can be mounted by avoiding the position of the exclusive engagement means of the cassette. In other words, the first cassette and the second cassette in the cassette mounting portion need not be formed. There is no need to separate the mounting position because of the presence of the dedicated engaging means, and the first cassette and the second cassette mounting position in the cassette mounting portion overlap as much as possible including the position of the dedicated engaging means. As a result, the space can be effectively used, and the cassette mounting portion can be reduced in size and the device can be reduced in size.

[0013] In the printing apparatus of the present invention, the exclusive engaging means of the first cassette includes an engaging projection rotatably supported by the cassette mounting portion, and the engaging projection formed of the first cassette. And an urging member for urging the member to be located at the corresponding engagement position. Further, the cassette mounting portion may be provided with a concave portion which is stored when the dedicated engaging means of the first cassette is moved to its retracted position.

Thus, when the second cassette is removed from the cassette mounting portion, the engaging projection returns from the retracted position to the operating position where it engages with the first cassette under the urging of the urging member.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 to 3 are a perspective view, a plan view, and a perspective view of a cassette mounting portion, respectively, of a printing apparatus according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, a keyboard 3 and a liquid crystal display unit 4 are provided on an upper surface of an apparatus main body 2 of the tape printer 1, and a cassette mounting unit 6 which is covered with a lid 5 which can be opened and closed is provided. .

The keyboard 3 has a power key for operating the power of the apparatus, a character / symbol input key for inputting characters and symbols, a delete key for deleting input characters and symbols, and a display screen. Cursor movement keys for moving the cursor up / down / left / right and selecting data with
For tape print control processing, such as a print key to instruct printing of the created document, an execution key to instruct selection of menu screens and execution of various processing, or a cancel key to cancel execution of processing Necessary keys are provided.

A tape cassette containing a print tape and an ink ribbon is mounted on the cassette mounting section 6,
A printing mechanism for performing thermal transfer printing with a printing medium stored in the tape cassette is provided.

The cassette mounting section 6 can selectively mount two types of tape cassettes 30 and 40, large and small.
The large tape cassette 40 contains a printing tape that is longer than that of the small tape cassette 30 in an unused state, and the length of the ink ribbon also differs according to the printing tape. In addition, since the lengths of the printing tapes are different, the sizes of the cassette cases are relatively different in size. These are described further below.

The printing mechanism of the cassette mounting section 6 includes:
Thermal head 1 driven to generate heat based on print data
0, a platen roller 8 that is rotated when the thermal head 10 is driven to convey a tape (hereinafter, also referred to as a printing tape) and an ink ribbon, and a ribbon winding shaft 9 that winds the ink ribbon used by thermal transfer. .

The thermal head 10 includes a platen roller 8
Is disposed in a head protection case 7 having an opening on the side of
The platen roller 8 is provided so as to be able to contact and separate therefrom.

The platen roller 8 is rotated by a drive unit (not shown) to move the thermal head 10 in the tape width direction.
Each time a line is printed, the tape and the ink ribbon are conveyed by a predetermined distance in the longitudinal direction by being rotated and driven by a certain angle, and the ribbon winding shaft 9 is also rotationally driven by a driving unit (not shown) together with the rotation of the platen roller 8. To take up the used ink ribbon.

The apparatus main body 2 is provided with a tape discharge port 11 for discharging the tape on which printing has been completed to the outside, and a fixed blade 12a and a movable blade 12a are provided in a tape discharge path between the tape discharge port 11 and the printing mechanism. A tape cutter with 12b is provided.

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, two kinds of first tape cassettes 30 (hereinafter, referred to as different types) having different planar shapes are provided in the cassette mounting portion 6 at a plurality of appropriate positions on the peripheral edge and the bottom surface. Small cassette) and a second tape cassette 40 (hereinafter, referred to as a large cassette).
The thermal head 10 and the platen roller 8
And a receiving stand (engaging means) 13, 15 to 20 for positioning and supporting the printing mechanism.

In the figure, reference numeral 13 denotes an engagement projection which functions exclusively for engagement of the small cassette 30, and reference numerals 15, 16, and 17 denote the first cassette 30 and the first cassette 30 which are exchangeably mounted on the cassette mounting portion 6. Reference numerals 18 and 20 denote dedicated receiving trays for the second cassette 40, and reference numeral 19 denotes a dedicated receiving tray for the spare first cassette 30x to be described later. It is a stand.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the cassette mounting portion, which is partially cut away. As shown in FIG. 6, the engaging projection 13 is provided with a pivot pin 13b fixed to a base portion 13a, and both ends of the pivot pin 13b are formed in the bottom surface 6a of the cassette mounting portion 6 by opening. By being axially attached to a shaft hole 14 a provided in a side wall in the projection storage recess 14, the position standing on the bottom surface 6 a of the cassette mounting portion 6 and the projection storage recess 14
It is mounted so as to be rotatable within the range of the position stored inside. Further, the engagement protrusion 13 is constantly urged to rise on the bottom surface 6a of the cassette mounting portion 6 by a spring 13c having one end locked by the pivot pin 13b and the other end locked to the lower surface of the bottom surface 6a. .

Also, in FIGS. 1 to 3, the pedestal 15
Above the tape cassette identification switches 15a and 15
b, 15c are provided. The identification switch outputs identification information of the tapes accommodated in the cassettes together with identification information of the large and small cassettes.

Next, the large and small cassettes 30, 40 will be described.

FIGS. 7A and 7B show a small cassette 30 mounted on the cassette mounting section 6 of the tape printing apparatus. FIG. 7A is a perspective view, FIG. 7B is a plan view, and FIG. A-A
It is a line sectional view.

The cassette case of the small cassette 30
A lower case 30a and an upper case 30b are formed. A head insertion portion 31 is formed in one side of the cassette case. The head insertion portion 31 is formed by cutting out in a U-shape. A ribbon supply reel 35 around which the supply reel 34 and the ink ribbon 33 are wound and a ribbon take-up reel 36 around which the ink ribbon 33 is wound are housed. The tape supply reel 34 is rotatably mounted on a hollow shaft 30c provided upright in the lower case 30a, and the ribbon supply reel 35 and the ribbon take-up reel 36 are rotatable at both ends of the reel into the lower case 30a and the upper case 30b. Attached to.

When the small cassette 30 is mounted on the cassette mounting portion 6, the thermal head 1 is inserted into the head insertion portion 31.
0 is inserted, the print tape 32 and the ink ribbon 33 pulled out from the cassette case are superimposed and supplied between the thermal head 10 and the platen roller 8 by the head insertion unit 31. The ribbon winding shaft 9 is inserted into the reel hole 36a of the ribbon winding reel 36.

At the outer corners of the small cassette 30, there are formed positioning portions 37 to 39 for engaging with engaging means (receiver) provided on the cassette mounting portion 6 of the tape printer. Have been. These positioning portions 37 to 39 project from the center of the outer side of the cassette case so as to cut out the upper and lower corners of the cassette case (lower case 30a). The small cassette 30 is fixed at a predetermined position by engaging with a means (a receiving table), whereby the center of the printing tape 32 in the width direction and the center of the heating element array of the thermal head 10 are aligned. ing.

The positioning section 37 is provided in the cassette mounting section 6.
The positioning unit 38 engages with the receiving table 17, and the positioning unit 39 engages with the receiving table 15. Further, the engaging protrusion 13 provided on the cassette mounting portion 6 is inserted into and engaged with the through hole 34a of the hollow shaft 30c that supports the tape supply reel 34 rotating in the small cassette 30.

The receiving tables 16 and 17 of the cassette mounting section 6 are engaging means used also for engaging with the large cassette 40, and the engaging projections 13 are engaging means dedicated to the small cassette 30.

8A and 8B show the large cassette 40, FIG. 8A is a perspective view, FIG. 8B is a plan view, and FIG. 8C is a sectional view taken along line BB.

The large cassette 40 is also the small cassette 3 described above.
0, has a lower case 40a and an upper case 40b, and has a U-shaped notch-shaped head insertion portion 41 formed on one side of the cassette case.
The cassette case accommodates a tape supply reel 44 around which the print tape 42 is wound, a ribbon supply reel 45 around which the ink ribbon 43 is wound, and a ribbon take-up reel 46 around which the ink ribbon 43 is wound. The tape supply reel 44 is rotatably mounted on a protruding shaft portion 40a1 erected in the lower case 40a and a protruding shaft portion 40b1 protruded on the upper case 40b opposed thereto. Both ends of the take-up reel 46 are rotatably attached to the lower case 40a and the upper case 40b.

When the large cassette 40 is mounted on the cassette mounting section 6, the thermal head 1 is inserted into the head insertion section 41.
0 is inserted, the print tape 42 and the ink ribbon 43 pulled out from the inside of the cassette case are superimposed and supplied between the thermal head 10 and the platen roller 8 by the head insertion part 41. The ribbon winding shaft 9 is inserted into the reel hole 46a of the ribbon winding reel 46.

On the outer corners and peripheral edges of the large cassette 40, a positioning unit 4 which engages with an engaging means (a receiving table) provided in the cassette mounting unit 6 of the tape printer 1 is provided.
7 to 50 are formed. These alignment units 47
Numerals 50 are provided at the corners and peripheral edges of the cassette case so as to be cut out at the top and bottom, and protrude from the center of the outer portion of the cassette case. In addition, the large cassette 40 is fixed at a predetermined position, whereby the center of the printing tape 42 in the width direction and the center of the heating element array of the thermal head 10 are aligned.

The positioning section 47 is provided in the cassette mounting section 6.
, The positioning unit 48 engages with the receiving table 17, the positioning unit 49 engages with the receiving table 18, and the positioning unit 50 engages with the receiving table 20. The receiving trays 16 and 17 of the cassette mounting section 6 are shared receiving trays that are also used for engagement with the small cassette 30, and the receiving trays 16 and 17 are dedicated receiving trays for the large cassette 40.

The printing tape 42 stored in the large cassette 40 and the printing tape 3 stored in the small cassette 30
2 is an equivalent material, and a material corresponding to the tape width is prepared. The difference is that the printing tape 42 accommodated in the large cassette 40 is about three times as long as the printing tape 32 accommodated in the small cassette 30, and the length of the ink ribbon corresponds to the printing tape. Is different. By winding the long tape, the tape supply reel 44 of the large cassette 40 has a larger diameter than that of the small cassette 30 as shown in the figure, and the planar shape and dimensions of the cassette case of the large cassette 40 (lower case) The planar shape and dimensions of the upper case 40a and the upper case 40b, and also the shape and dimensions of the mounting surface with respect to the cassette mounting portion 6.) are several steps larger than the small cassette 30.

7 and 8, the printing tape 32,
Reference numeral 42 denotes one type having the same width, but one having a different width is also prepared. In that case, the thickness of the side surface of the cassette case is different, but the planar shape is the same.

FIG. 4 shows a state in which the small cassette 30 is mounted on the cassette mounting section 6 of the tape printer 1, and FIG. 5 shows a state in which the large cassette 40 is mounted in place of the small cassette 30. Positioning unit 37 of small cassette 30
The small cassette 30 is positioned and fixed in the cassette mounting portion 6 by the engagement of the engagement projections 13 with the receiving bases 15 to 17 and the through holes 34a. In addition, large cassette 40
The large cassette 40 is positioned and fixed in the cassette mounting section 6 by engaging the positioning sections 47 to 50 with the receiving tables 16 to 18 and 20.

The identification of the small cassette 30 and the large cassette 40 and the identification of the type of the tape width accommodated in the cassette are performed by the tape cassette identification switches 15a, 15b, This is performed according to the on / off combination of the small cassette 30b.
In the case of (3), the positioning portion 39 engaging with the receiving table 15
By forming notches for tape identification having different shapes according to the tape type, a tape cassette identification switch 15 can be formed.
On / off combinations of a, 15b and 15b are made different to identify the tape type. Also, in the case of the large cassette 40, a tape cassette identification switch 15a, a tape cassette identification switch 15a is formed by forming a tape identification hole having a different shape according to the tape type in a cassette case corresponding to the receiving table 15.
On / off combinations of 15b and 15b are made different to identify the tape type.

Next, the operation of the engagement projection 13 having the exclusive engagement function of the small cassette 30 will be further described. As described above, the engagement protrusion 13 is provided on the bottom surface 6a of the cassette mounting portion 6 so as to be able to undulate, and stands up on the bottom surface 6a of the cassette mounting portion 6 when the cassette mounting portion 6 is empty.

FIG. 9 shows an engagement projection 1 associated with the mounting of the small cassette 30 to the cassette mounting section 6 of the tape printer 1.
FIG. 4 is a side sectional view showing an operation state of No. 3;

As shown in FIGS. 9 (A) to 9 (C), when the small cassette 30 is mounted on the cassette mounting portion 6, the engagement projection 13 which is standing on the bottom surface 6a of the cassette mounting portion 6 is engaged with the small projection 30. Since the positions of the reel holes 34a of the cassette 30 correspond to each other, the engagement protrusions 13 move the small cassette 30 in accordance with the loading of the small cassette 30 into the cassette mounting portion 6.
The small cassette 30 is positioned in the cassette mounting section 6 in cooperation with other engaging means.

FIG. 10 is a side sectional view showing a retracted state of the engaging projection 13 accompanying the mounting of the large cassette 40 to the cassette mounting section 6 of the tape printer 1.

As shown in FIGS. 10A to 10C,
When the large cassette 40 is mounted on the cassette mounting section 6, the engaging projection 13 which is in the upright posture on the bottom surface 6 a of the cassette mounting section 6 is pushed down by the lower surface of the cassette case of the large cassette 40, and is depressed. , And the mounting of the large cassette 40 is not interfered by the engagement projections 13.

The tip of the engaging projection 13 has an inclined portion 1.
By forming 3d, when the large cassette 40 falls down while abutting on the lower surface of the cassette case, the contact with the cassette case is good, and the rotation is smooth.

In the cassette mounting section 6 of the tape printer 1, another small cassette 30 is positioned and mounted at a predetermined position for printing.
Can be mounted as a spare.

FIG. 11 is a plan view showing a state where the small cassette 30 is loaded in the cassette mounting section 3 of the tape printer 1 and a spare small cassette is mounted.

That is, the spare small cassette 30x is provided with each of the positioning portions 37, 38,
Reference numeral 39 denotes the above-mentioned receiving trays 20, 1 of the cassette mounting section 6, respectively.
8 and the stand 19 for exclusive use of the stand-by position.

In the above-described example, as shown in FIG. 11, the cassette mounting section 6 has a relatively large internal volume for accommodating a spare small cassette. This can save extra space.
Rather, it is preferable to reduce the size of the device. For example, as shown in FIG.
When the large cassette 40 is mounted, an empty space can be seen on the left side of the large cassette 40. The empty space is eliminated and the cassette mounting portion 6 is made smaller by that amount. By doing so, a spare small cassette cannot be stored, but the cassette mounting section 6 can be made smaller and the apparatus can be made smaller.

Therefore, according to the tape printing apparatus having the above configuration, when the small cassette 30 is mounted on the cassette mounting section 6, the positioning sections 37, 38, and 39 formed at a plurality of positions of the small cassette 30 are mounted on the cassette. The ribbon take-up shaft 9 is inserted and fitted into the reel hole 36 a of the ribbon take-up reel 36 while being engaged with the common receiving tables 16, 17, 15 provided in the portion 6. The engaging projection 13 dedicated to the small cassette urged upright to 6a is engaged and inserted into the through hole 34a of the small cassette 30 to perform positioning, and when the large cassette 40 is mounted, the cassette mounting portion 6 The engagement projection 13 dedicated to the small cassette urged upright on the bottom surface 6a of the second cassette is pushed down by the back surface of the large cassette 40, moved to the projection storage recess 14, and retracted. In both cases, the positioning units 47, 48, 49, 50 and the protruding shaft portions 40a1 formed at a plurality of positions of the large cassette 40 are provided in the cassette mounting unit 6, respectively. 18, 20,
And the common receiving table 15, and further, the ribbon winding shaft 9
Is inserted and fitted into the reel hole 46a of the ribbon take-up reel 46, and positioning is performed. Therefore, the engagement protrusion 13 dedicated to the small cassette provided for positioning the small cassette 30 is not hindered. The small cassette 30 having a small tape capacity and the large cassette 40 having a large tape capacity can be easily exchanged and shared.

Further, since the engaging projections do not interfere with the mounting of the large cassette, the mounting positions of the large cassette and the small cassette can be shared, and the size of the cassette mounting portion and the size of the apparatus are reduced accordingly. Becomes possible.

[0057]

As described above, according to the printing apparatus of the present invention, of the engaging means provided on the cassette mounting portion, the first cassette is engaged but the second cassette is interfered. Then, when the second cassette is mounted, the specific engaging means which obstructs the mounting is pushed by the second cassette so as to be retracted to a position where the second cassette does not interfere with the mounting. The first cassette and the second cassette can be interchangeably mounted.

Further, by configuring the exclusive engaging means of the first cassette to be movable between the operating position and the retracted position,
The first cassette and the second cassette mounting position in the cassette mounting portion are overlapped as much as possible, so that the space can be used effectively, and the cassette mounting portion can be made smaller and the apparatus can be made smaller.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of a printing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an external configuration of the tape printer.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of a cassette mounting portion of the tape printer.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a state where a small cassette is loaded in a cassette mounting portion of the tape printing apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a state where a large cassette is loaded in a cassette mounting portion of the tape printing apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a mounting structure of an engagement projection dedicated to a small cassette provided in a cassette mounting portion of the tape printing apparatus.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams showing the structure of a small cassette to be mounted on a cassette mounting portion of the tape printing apparatus, wherein FIG. 7A is a perspective view, FIG. 7B is a plan view, and FIG. The sectional view on the AA line.

8A and 8B are diagrams showing a structure of a large cassette to be mounted on a cassette mounting portion of the tape printing apparatus, wherein FIG. 8A is a perspective view, FIG. 8B is a plan view, and FIG. The BB line sectional view.

FIG. 9 is a side sectional view showing an operation state of an engagement projection dedicated to the small cassette when the small cassette is mounted on the cassette mounting portion of the tape printing apparatus.

FIG. 10 is a side sectional view showing a retracted state of an engagement projection dedicated to a small cassette when a large cassette is mounted on a cassette mounting portion of the tape printing apparatus.

FIG. 11 is a plan view showing a state where a small cassette is loaded into a cassette mounting portion of the tape printing apparatus and a spare small cassette is mounted.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Tape printing device 2 ... Device main body 3 ... Keyboard 4 ... Liquid crystal display part 5 ... Lid 6 ... Cassette mounting part 6a ... Mounting part bottom surface 7 ... Head protection case 8 ... Platen roller 9 ... Ribbon winding shaft 10 ... Thermal head 11 ... Tape discharge port 12a ... Fixed blade 12b ... Movable blade 13 ... Engagement projection for small cassette 13a ... Base of engagement projection 13b ... Rotating pin 13c ... Spring 14 ... Projection storage recess 14a ... Sidewall hole of projection storage recess 15, 16, 17: common receiving tray 15a to 15c: tape cassette identification switch 18, 20 ,: receiving tray dedicated to large cassette 19: receiving tray dedicated to spare cassette 30: small cassette 30x ... spare small cassette 40: large cassette 30a, 40a: Lower case 40a1: Projected shaft portion 30b, 40b: Upper case 40b1: Projected shaft portion 30c: Hollow shaft 31, 41 Head insertion sections 32, 42 Printing tapes 33, 43 Ink ribbons 34, 44 Tape supply reel 34a Through holes 35, 45 Ribbon supply reels 36, 46 Ribbon take-up reels 36a, 46a Reel holes 37 to 39 ... Positioning unit 47-50 ... Positioning unit

Claims (3)

[Claims] A printing unit that prints on a printing medium; and a cassette mounting unit in which a first cassette or a second cassette having a different shape in which a printing medium to be supplied to the printing unit is accommodated is exchangeably mounted. A printing device comprising: a cassette mounting portion, wherein the first cassette or the second cassette is engaged with the first cassette or the second cassette with respect to the printing unit. An engaging means for positioning is provided, and the engaging means is provided so as to protrude at a position where it interferes with the mounting of the second cassette, and is provided on the first cassette when the first cassette is mounted. The first cassette is located at an operating position where the first cassette is engaged, and is pushed by the second cassette when the second cassette is mounted, and moves to a retracted position that does not interfere with the mounting of the second cassette. A printing device comprising a special engagement means. 2. The dedicated engagement means includes: an engagement protrusion rotatably supported by the cassette mounting portion; and an urging member for urging the engagement protrusion to be positioned at the operating position. The printing device according to claim 1, further comprising: 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cassette mounting portion is provided with a concave portion that is stored when the dedicated engaging means moves to the retracted position. .