Abstract:
The disclosure discloses a printer including a cartridge holder, a feeder, a printing head, a first sensor, and a second sensor. The cartridge holder is configured to attach and detach a medium cartridge having a print-receiving medium. The first sensor is configured to bring a detector into contact with the medium cartridge and thereby detect first information related to the print-receiving medium, based on a result of the contact. The second sensor is configured to project light to the medium cartridge and thereby detect second information related to the print-receiving medium, based on a result of light reception corresponding to the projected light. The first sensor and the second sensor are integrated as a sensor unit configured to perform an advancing/retreating motion toward/from the medium cartridge.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-146725, which was filed on Jul. 24, 2015, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Field 
     The present disclosure relates to a printer printing a print-receiving medium supplied from a cartridge, and a tape cartridge able to be attached to the printer. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     A printer performing print on a print-receiving medium supplied from a cartridge is hitherto known. This printer (tape printer) has a cartridge holder (cartridge mounting frame) into which the cartridge (tape cartridge) is able to be attached and detached so that the printer can form print on various types of print-receiving media by replacing the cartridge. 
     In the case that various types of cartridges each having a variety of print-receiving media are selectively attached to the cartridge holder for use, as in the prior art, information related to the print-receiving medium attached to the cartridge needs to be correctly detected in order for the printer to perform a proper print. In the above prior art, an optical sensor (photosensor) is disposed that optically detects information related to the print-receiving medium on the cartridge. 
     In the case of performing the optical detection by the optical sensor, the distance to the cartridge as an object to be detected influences the detection accuracy to a great extent. If the optical detection is performed at the optimum distance, a high detection accuracy can be obtained, but the detection accuracy lowers according as the distance to the cartridge deviates further from the optimum distance. Thus, there is a need to perform a high-accuracy positioning of the optical sensor with respect to the cartridge. 
     SUMMARY 
     An object of the present disclosure is to provide a printer and a tape cartridge, capable of a high-accuracy optical detection on the cartridge by the optical sensor. 
     In order to achieve the above-described object, according to an aspect of the present application, there is provided a printer comprising a cartridge holder, a feeder, a printing head, a first sensor, and a second sensor. The cartridge holder is configured to attach and detach a medium cartridge having a print-receiving medium. The feeder is configured to feed the print-receiving medium supplied from the medium cartridge along a feeding path. The printing head is configured to form print on the print-receiving medium fed by the feeder. The first sensor is configured to bring a detector into contact with the medium cartridge and thereby detect first information related to the print-receiving medium, based on a result of the contact. The second sensor is configured to project light to the medium cartridge and thereby detect second information related to the print-receiving medium, based on a result of light reception corresponding to the projected light. The first sensor and the second sensor are integrated as a sensor unit configured to perform an advancing/retreating motion toward/from the medium cartridge. 
     The present disclosure uses not only the first sensor mechanically detecting the first information related to the print-receiving medium (e.g. the tape width of the print-receiving tape), but also the second sensor optically detecting the second information related to the print-receiving medium (e.g. the relative position of a label portion with respect to a printing head when using a print-receiving tape with a sheet separated into the label portion and a non-label portion by a cut). 
     The present disclosure is configured such that the second sensor is integrated with the first sensor performing a mechanical detection in accordance with the result of contact of a detector with an object to be detected, to form a sensor unit which can advance/retreat toward/from the medium cartridge. This enables the second sensor to perform an optical detection under the state where a high-accuracy positioning is achieved so that the distance from the second sensor to the medium cartridge is the optimum distance, as a result of the mechanical detection effected by the first sensor (detection by a contact with the medium cartridge that is an object to be detected). In consequence, the second sensor can reliably perform the optical detection of the second information of the medium cartridge at a high accuracy. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing an external appearance of a printer in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, with a cover removed. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing a configuration of an internal unit. 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view showing a configuration of the internal unit. 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional view showing a configuration of the internal unit. 
         FIG. 5  is a plan view showing a configuration of the internal unit. 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged view of a portion A in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7A  is a perspective view showing a configuration of a tape cartridge. 
         FIG. 7B  is a perspective view showing a configuration of the tape cartridge. 
         FIG. 8  is a plan view showing a configuration of the tape cartridge. 
         FIG. 9A  is a side view showing a configuration of the tape cartridge. 
         FIG. 9B  is a side view showing a configuration of the tape cartridge. 
         FIG. 10A  is a schematic view for explaining a structure of a print-receiving tape. 
         FIG. 10B  is a schematic view for explaining a structure of the print-receiving tape. 
         FIG. 11A  is an explanatory view for explaining an example of combination of insertion holes and face portions in a contact detected part. 
         FIG. 11B  is an explanatory view for explaining an example of combination of the insertion holes and the face portions in the contact detected part. 
         FIG. 12A  is an explanatory view for explaining an example of combination of the insertion holes and the face portions in the contact detected part. 
         FIG. 12B  is an explanatory view for explaining an example of combination of the insertion holes and the face portions in the contact detected part. 
         FIG. 13A  is a perspective view showing a configuration of a sensor unit. 
         FIG. 13B  is a perspective view showing a configuration of the sensor unit. 
         FIG. 14  is a plan view showing the sensor unit and its peripheral configuration. 
         FIG. 15  is a sectional view taken along line B-B in  FIG. 14 . 
         FIG. 16  is an explanatory view showing the case where the sensor unit tries to tilt relative to a guide portion by a reaction force acting in a direction away from the tape cartridge. 
         FIG. 17  is an explanatory view showing the case where the sensor unit tries to tilt relative to a mechanical sensor by a reaction force acting in the direction away from the tape cartridge. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     An embodiment of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to the drawings. In the case that there are notes such as “front”, “rear”, “left”, “right”, “top”, and “bottom” in the drawings, “front”, “rear”, “left”, “right”, “top”, and “bottom” in the description of the specification refer to the noted directions. 
     &lt;Schematic Configuration of Printer&gt; 
     Referring first to  FIG. 1 , a schematic configuration of a printer of this embodiment will be described. 
     In  FIG. 1 , a printer  1  can selectively execute a print process on a print-receiving tape  10  and a print process on a print-receiving tube (not shown). The printer  1  may be configured to be able to execute only the print process on the print-receiving tape  10 , without being limited to the configuration in which the print process on the print-receiving tape  10  and the print process on the print-receiving tube are both executable. 
     The printer  1  can use a tape cartridge  100  of various types such as thermal type, receptor type, and laminate type. In the following, the case of using the tape cartridge of the receptor type will be described. The printer  1  can use both types of tape cartridge  100 , of a so-called die-cut label type in which a print-receiving sheet of the print-receiving tape  10  has a cut for division into a label portion and a non-label portion and of a type (hereinafter, referred to appropriately as “normal label type” in which the print-receiving sheet of the print-receiving tape  10  does not have the cut. In  FIG. 1 , the die-cut label type tape cartridge  100  is used. 
     The printer  1  has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped box-shaped body part  2  and a cover (not shown) to open and close an upper opening of the body part  2 . Although the cover is shown removed from the body part  2  in  FIG. 1 , the cover is supported rotatably at an upper rear end of the body part  2  when the cover is attached to the body part  2 . 
     A connector for power source or communication is disposed on a rear surface or a right surface of the body part  2 . The printer  1  is connected via a cable, etc. (or by radio) to an operation terminal (not shown) of a personal computer, etc. to execute the print processes, based on user&#39;s operations of the operation terminal. The printer  1  may be configured (as a so-called stand-alone type) such that the print processes are executed based on operations of an appropriate operation part disposed on the printer  1 , without being limited to the configuration executing the print processes based on operations of the operation terminal. 
     A cartridge holder  4  is disposed to a rightward position on a top surface of the body part  2 , the cartridge holder  4  being a recessed region into which the tape cartridge  100  having the print-receiving tape  10  is removably fitted.  FIG. 1  shows the tape cartridge  100  disposed to a position above the position to fit the tape cartridge  100  in the cartridge holder  4 . 
     A discharging exit  6  is disposed to a rightward position on a front surface of the body part  2 . The discharging exit  6  is an opening through which the print-receiving tape  10  after print formation by a thermal head  22  described later is discharged from the cartridge holder  4  to the exterior of the printer  1  while being transported by a platen roller  32 , etc. described later. 
     &lt;Internal Structure of Printer&gt; 
     An internal structure of the printer  1  will then be described with reference to  FIGS. 2 to 6 .  FIGS. 2 to 5  show the tape cartridge  100  disposed to a position (below the position of  FIG. 1 ) above the position to fit the tape cartridge  100  in the cartridge holder  4 , similar to  FIG. 1 . In  FIGS. 2 to 5 , the die-cut label type tape cartridge  100  is used. 
     In  FIGS. 2 to 6 , an internal unit  8  is disposed to a rightward position inside the body part  2 . The internal unit  8  has a bottom plate  4 A constituting a bottom of the cartridge holder  4 . 
     &lt;Cartridge Holder and its Periphery&gt; 
     A head holder  20  vertically extends in the cartridge holder  4  at a rightward position on a substantially central portion in the front-to-rear direction thereof. The head holder  20  is made of a single plate-like member extending in the front-to-rear direction. The thermal head  20  having a heat-generating element (not shown) is disposed on a right surface of the head holder  20 . The thermal head  22  prints (forms print on) the print-receiving tape  10  supplied from the tape cartridge  100  and transported along a predetermined feeding path by the platen roller  32 , etc. described later. 
     A ribbon take-up shaft  25  vertically extends on the left side of the head holder  20  in the cartridge holder  4 . The ribbon take-up shaft  25  is inserted into the interior of a ribbon take-up roller  104  described later disposed in the tape cartridge  100 , to rotationally drive the ribbon take-up roller  104 . A feed roller drive shaft  24  vertically extends in the cartridge holder  4  at a position in front of the head holder  20 , downstream of the thermal head  22  (toward the discharging exit  6 ) in the feeding direction along the feeding path. The feed roller drive shaft  24  is inserted into the interior of a feed roller  102  described later disposed in the tape cartridge  100 , to rotationally drive the feed roller  102 . 
     A pin  26  vertically extends in the cartridge holder  4  in the vicinity of a left rearward corner thereof The pin  26  extends through (is inserted through) a through-hole described later disposed in the tape cartridge  100 , to act as a pin for stopping rotation of the tape cartridge  100 . A pin  27  vertically extends on the left side of the feed roller drive shaft  24  in the cartridge holder. The pin  27  is inserted into an insertion hole  117  described later disposed in the tape cartridge  100 , to function as a reference pin for positioning the tape cartridge  100 . 
     A drive motor (not shown) in the form of a stepping motor is disposed outside the cartridge holder  4  in the body part  2 . The ribbon take-up shaft  25  (the ribbon take-up roller  104 ), the feed roller drive shaft  24  (the feed roller  102 ), and the platen roller  32  described later are connected via a plurality of gears not shown to the drive motor to rotate with the drive of the drive motor. 
     &lt;Structure of Die-Cut Label Type Tape Cartridge&gt; 
     A structure of the die-cut label type tape cartridge  100  will be described hereinbelow with reference to  FIGS. 2 to 5, 7A and 7B, 8, and 9A and 9B . 
     In  FIGS. 2 to 5, 7A and 7B, 8, and 9A and 9B , the die-cut label type tape cartridge  100  has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped housing  101 . The housing  101  includes an upper first case part  101 A and a lower second case part  101 B. The case parts  101 A and  101 B are integrally fixed together. 
     The housing  101  has a roll storing part  120  shaped so as to at least partly conform to the contours of a print-receiving tape roll  122  described later. The roll storing part  120  stores the print-receiving tape roll  122  and a ribbon supplying roll  124 . 
     At a left front of the roll storing part  120 , the print-receiving tape roll  122  is rotatably supported by a support hole  130 . The print-receiving tape  10  is wound in the print-receiving tape roll  122 . 
     &lt;Structure of Print-Receiving Tape&gt; 
     A structure of the print-receiving tape  10  will be described below with reference to  FIGS. 10A and 10B . 
     In  FIGS. 10A and 10B , the print-receiving tape  10  has an elongated strip-shaped separation sheet  11  having a separation property and an elongated strip-shaped print-receiving sheet  12  separably affixed to a surface (surface on the back side of paper in  FIG. 10B ) of the separation sheet  11 . The print-receiving tape  10  is wound in the print-receiving tape roll  122  in such a manner that a surface  12   a  (surface on the front side of paper in  FIG. 10A ) of the print-receiving sheet  12  opposite to the separation sheet  11  lies on the inner peripheral side while a back surface  11   b  (surface on the front side of paper in  FIG. 10B ) of the separation sheet  11  opposite to the surface lies on the outer peripheral side. 
     The print-receiving sheet  12  has a width substantially equal to the separation sheet  11  and is separably affixed to the surface of the separation sheet  11  by a proper adhesive disposed on a back surface (surface on the back side of paper in  FIG. 10A ) opposite to the surface  12   a.  The print-receiving sheet  12  is a sheet on which an ink ribbon  118  described later is overlaid so that print is formed thereon by thermal transfer of ink. The print-receiving sheet  12  has a cut  14  formed by a so-called half-cut process, by which cut  14  it is divided into a label portion  16  acting as a print label after print formation that is affixed by the adhesive on the back surface to an object to be affixed (not shown) such as a cable, and a remaining non-label portion  18 . 
     In this example, the label portions  16  are formed on the print-receiving sheet  12  at predetermined intervals along the feeding direction (longitudinal direction of the print-receiving tape  10 ), each label portion  16  including two wound portions  16 A to be wound around the periphery of the object to be affixed and a label body portion  16 B on which print is formed. The two wound portions  16 A each have a substantially rectangular shape elongated in the feeding direction and are arranged side by side along the width direction of the print-receiving tape  10 . The label body portion  16 B has a widened substantially rectangular shape and is disposed upstream of the two wound portions  16 A in the feeding direction. The form of the label portion  16  in the print-receiving sheet  12  is not limited to the above and may be another one. 
     Corresponding to the position of the label portion  16 , a substantially rectangular black mark  13  is formed by printing on the back surface  11   b  of the separation sheet  11  at predetermined intervals along the feeding direction. At a position corresponding to each label portion  16  along the feeding direction (in this example, position slightly downstream of a center in the feeding direction of each label body portion  16 B), the black mark  13  is formed on the back surface  11   b  of the separation sheet  11  in the vicinity of an edge  15  on one side (upper side in  FIGS. 10A and 10B ) in width direction of the print-receiving tape  10 , the black mark  13  facing a through-hole  150  described later disposed in a right wall  103  of the first case part  101 A (see also  FIG. 9A , etc.). The black mark  13  may be formed on the back surface  11   b  of the separation sheet  11  at a position not corresponding to each label portion  16  along the feeding direction. The size of the black mark  13  is formed larger than that of the through-hole  150  (see also  FIG. 9A , etc.). 
     A checkered end mark  19  is formed by printing on the back surface  11   b  of the separation sheet  11  in the vicinity of a terminal end in the feeding direction. 
     Referring back to  FIGS. 2 to 5, 7A and 7B, 8, and 9A and 9B , the ribbon supplying roll  124  is rotatably supported by a support hole  132  in the right rear of the roll storing part  120 . The ink ribbon  118  is wound in the ribbon supplying roll  124 . 
     The ribbon take-up roller  104  is pivotally supported between the print-receiving tape roll  122  and the ribbon supplying roll  124  in the housing  101 . The ribbon take-up roller  104  is rotationally driven by the ribbon take-up shaft  25  fitted thereinto as a result of attaching of the tape cartridge  100  into the cartridge holder  4 . The ribbon take-up roller  104  draws out the ink ribbon  118  from the ribbon supplying roll  124  and takes up the used ribbon  118 . 
     The housing  101  has an arm portion  160  extending frontward from the right rear of the roll storing part  120 . The arm portion  160  includes a first arm portion  160 A of the first case part  101 A and a second arm portion  160 B of the second case part  101 B. 
     The print-receiving tape  10  drawn out from the print-receiving tape roll  122  is guided in the arm portion  160 , with its width direction providing the top-to-bottom direction, the surface  12   a  of the print-receiving sheet  12  lying on the right side, and the back surface  11   b  of the separation sheet  11  lying on the left side. The ink ribbon  118  drawn out from the ribbon supplying roll  124  is guided on the left side of the print-receiving tape  10  in the arm portion  160 , with its width direction providing the top-to-bottom direction. The print-receiving tape  10  and the ink ribbon  118  introduced into the arm portion  160  are guided frontward and overlaid together at a front-end opening  161  of the arm portion  160  to be discharged frontward of the arm portion  160 . 
     The feed roller  102  is pivotally supported at a position in front of the arm portion  160  in the housing  101 . The feed roller  102  is rotationally driven by the feed roller drive shaft  24  fitted thereinto as a result of attaching of the tape cartridge  100  into the cartridge holder  4 . The feed roller  102  draws out the print-receiving tape  10  from the print-receiving tape roll  122  in cooperation with a pressure roller  34  described later disposed facing the feed roller  102 , and transports the print-formed print-receiving tape  10  toward the discharging exit  6  via a discharge guide part  140  disposed to a right front corner of the housing  101 . The ink ribbon  118  is guided toward the ribbon take-up roller  104  on the upstream side in the feeding direction of the feed roller  102 . 
     The first case part  101 A has the right wall  103  of the first arm portion  160 A. The second case part  101 B has a first right wall  105  of the second arm portion  160 B below the right wall  103  of the first arm portion  160 A and has a second right wall  107  of the second arm portion  160 B below the first right wall  105 . 
     The right wall  103  of the first arm portion  160 A includes an optically detected part  152  having the through-hole  150  of a substantially rectangular shape, at a portion facing a movement path of the black mark  13  on the back surface  11   b  of the separation sheet  11  disposed on the print-receiving tape  10  passing through the interior of the arm portion  160  frontward from the rear side. The through-hole  150  is used for optically detecting the black mark  13  by an optical sensor  56  described later included in the body part  2  of the printer  1  (the details will be described later). In this example, the through-hole  150  is disposed in the right wall  103  substantially at a center in the top-to-bottom direction closer to the front. 
     The second right wall  107  of the second arm portion  160 B includes a contact detected part  158  indicating information related to the print-receiving tape  10  of the tape cartridge  100 . The contact detected part  158  has at least one substantially rectangular insertion hole  156  formed in the second right wall  107  and defines information related to the print-receiving tape  10  of the tape cartridge  100  by the combination of the insertion holes  156  and face portions  157 . The insertion hole  156  is a hole allowing insertion of a sensor protrusion  66  described later disposed on the body part  2  of the printer  1 , the insertion hole  156  functioning as a non-contact portion (non-pressing portion) with which the sensor protrusion  66  does not come into contact (or which does not press the sensor protrusion  66 ) when the tape cartridge  100  is attached to the cartridge holder  4 . The face portion  157  functions as a contact portion (pressing portion) with which the sensor protrusion  66  comes into contact (or which presses the sensor protrusion  66 ) when the tape cartridge  100  is attached to the cartridge holder  4 . In this embodiment, the contact detected part  158  defines information of a tape width of the print-receiving tape  10  of the tape cartridge  100  by the combination of the insertion holes  156  and the face portions  157 . A plurality of the insertion holes  156 , whose number and arrangement depend on the tape width, are formed in the second right wall  107  (the details will be described later). 
     The first right wall  105  of the second arm portion  160 B has a substantially rectangular insertion hole  154 . The position of the insertion hole  154  in the front-to-rear direction is rearward, i.e. upstream, in the feeding direction of the print-receiving tape  10  in the arm portion  160  (in other words, in the movement direction of the black mark  13 ), of the position of the through-hole  150  in the front-to-rear direction and of the position of the insertion hole  156  in the front-to-rear direction. The insertion hole  154  is a hole guiding an advance/retreat of a sensor unit  50  described later included in the body part  2  of the printer  1 , into which a guide protrusion  58  described later disposed on the sensor unit  50  is inserted when the sensor unit  50  moves to a detection position described later with the tape cartridge  100  being attached to the cartridge holder  4  (the details will be described later). 
     The housing  101  includes a flange  139  and a recessed portion  111  on the outer peripheral side of the roll storing part  120  along the front-to-rear direction and the left-to-right direction, the flange  139  having a substantially flat-plate-shaped contour smaller than the dimension in the top-to-bottom direction of the roll storing part  120 . The flange  139  has four corner portions  141  to  144  shaped to be of substantially the same top-to-bottom dimension, and an intermediate portion  145  disposed substantially at a center in the front-to-rear direction on the left side of the roll storing part  120 . 
     The corner portion  141  is a left rear corner portion of the flange  139 , the corner portion  142  is a right rear corner portion of the flange  139 , the corner portion  143  is a left front corner portion of the flange  139 , and the corner portion  144  is the right front corner portion of the flange  139 . The corner portions  141  to  143  protrude outward from side surfaces of the roll storing part  120  so as to be substantially perpendicular in a planar view. The corner portion  144  is not perpendicular in a planar view because the discharge guide part  140  is disposed to the corner. 
     A through-hole  106  and an insertion hole  117  are disposed in the vicinity of each of the corner portions  141  and  144  located on a diagonal, among the corner portions  141  to  144 . The through-hole  106  is a hole into which the pin  26  is inserted when the tape cartridge  100  is attached to the cartridge holder  4 . The insertion hole  117  is a hole into which the pin  27  is inserted when the tape cartridge  100  is attached to the cartridge holder  4 . 
     The corner portion  141  has a protruding portion  110 . 
     The protruding portion  110  is a portion protruded downward partly from the corner portion  141 . The position in the top-to-bottom direction of a lower end  110   a  of the protruding portion  110  is below an undersurface  145   a  of the intermediate portion  145 . The position in the front-to-rear direction of the protruding portion  110  is substantially the same as the position in the front-to-rear direction of the through-hole  106 . The protruding portion  110  expresses, by its presence, that the print-receiving tape  10  of the tape cartridge  100  is the print-receiving tape  10  having the separation sheet  11  and the print-receiving sheet  12  (in other words, the tape cartridge  100  is the die-cut label type). The protruding portion  110  acts as a depressing portion that depresses a sensor protrusion  23  described later disposed on the bottom of the cartridge holder  4  when the tape cartridge  100  is attached to the cartridge holder  4 . 
     The recessed portion  111  is disposed to a position adjacent to the protruding portion  110  in the front-to-rear direction. The position in the top-to-bottom direction of the recessed portion  111  is substantially the same as the position in the top-to-bottom direction of a lower end of an undersurface of the flange  139 . 
     The intermediate portion  145  has, on its undersurface  145   a,  a contact detected part  112  expressing information related to the tape cartridge  100 . The contact detected part  112  has at least one substantially circular insertion hole  171  formed in the undersurface  145   a  second right wall  107  and defines information related to the tape cartridge  100  by the combination of the insertion holes  171  and face portions  172 . The insertion hole  171  is a hole allowing insertion of a sensor protrusion  63  described later disposed on the body part  2  of the printer  1 , the insertion hole  171  functioning as a non-contact portion (non-depressing portion) with which the sensor protrusion  63  does not come into contact (or which does not depress the sensor protrusion  63 ) when the tape cartridge  100  is attached to the cartridge holder  4 . The face portion  172  functions as a contact portion (depressing portion) with which the sensor protrusion  63  comes into contact (or which depresses the sensor protrusion  63 ) when the tape cartridge  100  is attached to the cartridge holder  4 . In this embodiment, the contact detected part  112  defines information of a shape of the label portion  16  of the print-receiving tape  10  of the tape cartridge  100  by the combination of the insertion holes  171  and the face portions  172 , with the insertion holes  171  being formed on the undersurface  145   a  in number and arrangement corresponding to the shape of the label portion  16 . The insertion hole  171  includes at least one hole whose position in the left-to-right direction is substantially the same as the position in the left-to-right direction of the protruding portion  110 . 
     &lt;Exemplary Combination of Insertion Holes and Face Portions in Contact Detected Part&gt; 
     An exemplary combination of the insertion holes  156  and the face portions  157  in the contact detected part  158  will be described hereinbelow with reference to  FIGS. 11A, 11B, 12A , and  12 B. The print-receiving tape  10  is not shown in  FIGS. 11A, 11B, 12A, and 12B . In  FIGS. 11A, 11B, 12A, and 12B , reference letters a, b, c, d, and e are imparted to positions facing five sensor protrusions  66  described later disposed in the body part  2  of the printer  1  when the tape cartridge  100  is attached to the cartridge holder  4 . 
       FIG. 11A  shows the die-cut label type tape cartridge  100  having the print-receiving tape  10  whose tape width is a predetermined first tape width (24 [mm] in this example). The tape cartridge  100  shown in  FIG. 11A  is the same as the tape cartridge  100  shown in  FIGS. 1 to 9 . Such a die-cut label type tape cartridge  100  having the print-receiving tape  10  whose tape width is the first tape width (24 [mm] in this example) has a position in the top-to-bottom direction of the lower end  11  a of the protruding portion  110  substantially equal to the position in the top-to-bottom direction of a lower end  120   a  of the roll storing part  120 . 
     The tape cartridge  100  shown in  FIG. 11A  has the insertion holes  156  formed in the second right wall  107  at positions designated by reference letters c and d and has the face portions  157  formed thereon at positions designated by reference letters a, b, and e. The insertion hole  156  formed at the position designated by reference letter c and the insertion hole  156  formed at the position designated by reference letter d are arranged (side by side) at positions different in the front-to-rear direction and at positions substantially the same in the top-to-bottom direction. The insertion hole  156  formed at the position designated by reference letter c lies at a position in the front-to-rear direction substantially the same as that of (is vertically aligned with) the through-hole  150 . 
       FIG. 11B  shows the die-cut label type tape cartridge  100  having the print-receiving tape  10  whose tape width is the first tape width (24 [mm] in this example) but having a pattern of combination of the insertion holes  156  and the face portions  157  in the contact detected part  158 , different from that of the tape cartridge  100  shown in  FIG. 11A . 
     The tape cartridge  100  shown in  FIG. 11B  has the insertion holes  156  formed in the second right wall  107  at positions designated by reference letters b, c, and d and has the face portions  157  formed thereon at positions designated by reference letters a and e. That is, the tape cartridge  100  shown in  FIG. 11B  has the insertion hole  156  at the position designated by reference letter b which designates the position of the face portion  157  in the tape cartridge  100  shown in  FIG. 11A . The insertion hole  156  formed at the position designated by reference letter b, the insertion hole  156  formed at the position designated by reference letter c, and the insertion hole  156  formed at the position designated by reference letter d are arranged in an array state (a so-called staggered array) in which those positions in the front-to-rear direction differ from one another and those positions in the top-to-bottom direction differ from one another. 
       FIG. 12A  shows the die-cut label type tape cartridge  100  having the print-receiving tape  10  whose tape width is a predetermined second tape width (36 [mm] in this example) that is greater than the first tape width. 
     The tape cartridge  100  shown in  FIG. 12A  has the insertion holes  156  formed in the second right wall  107  at positions designated by reference letters a and d and has the face portions  157  formed thereon at positions designated by reference letters b, c, and e. That is, the tape cartridge  100  shown in  FIG. 12A  has the face portion  157  at the position designated by reference letter a which designates the position of the insertion hole  156  in the tape cartridge  100  shown in  FIG. 11A , and has the insertion hole  156  at the position designated by reference letter c which designates the position of the face portion  157  therein. The respective positions in the front-to-rear direction of the two insertion holes  156  formed at the positions designated by reference letters a and d differ from the position in the front-to-rear direction of the through-hole  150  (are positioned rearward of the through-hole  150 ). The insertion hole  156  formed at the position designated by reference letter a and the insertion hole  156  formed at the position designated by reference letter d are arranged in an array state (the so-called staggered array) in which those positions in the front-to-rear direction differ from each other and those positions in the top-to-bottom direction differ from each other. 
       FIG. 12B  shows the die-cut label type tape cartridge  100  having the print-receiving tape  10  whose tape width is the second tape width (36 [mm] in this example) but having a pattern of combination of the insertion holes  156  and the face portions  157  in the contact detected part  158 , different from that of the tape cartridge  100  shown in  FIG. 12A . 
     The tape cartridge  100  shown in  FIG. 12B  has the insertion holes  156  formed in the second right wall  107  at positions designated by reference letters a, b, and d and has the face portions  157  formed thereon at positions designated by reference letters c and e. That is, the tape cartridge  100  shown in  FIG. 12B  has the insertion hole  156  at the position designated by reference letter b which designates the position of the face portion  157  in the tape cartridge  100  shown in  FIG. 12A . Similar to the two insertion holes  156  formed at the positions designated by the reference letters a and d, the position in the front-to-rear direction of the insertion hole  156  formed at the position designated by reference letter b differs from the position in the front-to-rear direction of the through-hole  150  (lies rearward of the through-hole  150 ). The insertion hole  156  formed at the position designated by reference letter a and the insertion hole  156  formed at the position designated by reference letter b are arranged in an array state (side by side) in which those positions in the front-to-rear direction differ from each other and those positions in the top-to-bottom direction are substantially the same as each other. The insertion hole  156  formed at the position designated by reference letter b and the insertion hole  156  formed at the position designated by reference letter d are arranged in an array state (the so-called staggered array) in which those positions in the front-to-rear direction differ from each other and those positions in the top-to-bottom direction differ from each other. 
     &lt;Structure of Normal Label Type Tape Cartridge&gt; 
     Although not shown, the normal label type tape cartridge has basically the same structure as that of the above-described die-cut label type tape cartridge  100 . In the normal label type tape cartridge  100 , however, the print-receiving tape  10  is a normal label type (not having the cut  14  and black mark  13 ), the right wall  103  of the first arm portion  160 A of the housing  101  not including the optically detected part  152 , the corner portion  141  of the housing  101  not including the protruding portion  110 . In the normal label type tape cartridge  100 , the contact detected part  112  defines information of a tape color of the print-receiving tape  10  of the tape cartridge  100  and information of an ink color of the ink ribbon  118  by the combination of the insertion holes  171  and the face portions  172 , with the insertion holes  171  being formed on the undersurface  145   a  in number and arrangement corresponding to the shape of the label portion  16 . 
     &lt;Cartridge Holder and its Periphery&gt; 
     Referring back to  FIGS. 2 to 6 , the cartridge holder  4  has, at its left rear corner portion, i.e. at a position on the left side of the pin  26 , a sensor  21  (corresponding to a third sensor) having a vertically extending sensor protrusion  23  to be depressed. In the case that the die-cut label type tape cartridge  100  is attached to the cartridge holder  4 , the protruding portion  110  of the die-cut label type tape cartridge  100  faces the sensor protrusion  23  so that the sensor protrusion  23  is depressed by the protruding portion  110  to be turned on. On the other hand, in the case that the normal label type tape cartridge  100  is attached to the cartridge holder  4 , the sensor protrusion  23  is not depressed remaining off because the normal label type tape cartridge  100  does not have a portion like the protruding portion  110  depressing the sensor protrusion  23 . On the basis of on-off information of whether the sensor protrusion  23  is depressed (in other words, whether the protruding portion  110  is present), the sensor  21  detects whether the tape cartridge  100  attached to the cartridge holder  4  is of the die-cut label type or the normal label type, to output a corresponding detection signal to a control circuit not shown. Based on this detection signal, the control circuit can identify whether the tape cartridge  100  attached to the cartridge holder  4  is of the die-cut label type or the normal label type. 
     The cartridge holder  4  has, on its left part at a substantially central position in the front-to-rear direction, a sensor  55  having a plurality of (five in this example) sensor protrusions  63  to be depressed. In the case that the tape cartridge  100  is attached to the cartridge holder  4 , the contact detected part  112  of the tape cartridge  100  confronts the sensor protrusions  63  so that the sensor protrusion  63  corresponding to information related to the tape cartridge  100  is selectively depressed by the contact detected part  112  to be turned on. On the basis of an on-off combination of whether the plurality of sensor protrusions  63  are each depressed at this time (results of contact of the sensor protrusions with the contact detected part  12 ), the sensor  55  detects information related to the tape cartridge  100 , to output a corresponding detection signal to the control circuit. The control circuit can acquire information related to the tape cartridge  100 , based on this detection signal. At this time, if the tape cartridge  100  attached to the cartridge holder  4 , identified based on the detection signal of the sensor  21  is of the die-cut label type, the control circuit can treat the information related to the tape cartridge  100  acquired based on the detection signal of the sensor  55 , as information of the shape of the label portion  16 . On the other hand, if the tape cartridge  100  attached to the cartridge holder  4 , identified based on the detection signal of the sensor  21  is of the normal label type, the control circuit can treat the information related to the tape cartridge  100  acquired based on the detection signal of the sensor  55 , as information of the tape color and the ink color. 
     The cartridge holder  4  has, on its rear portion at a substantially central position in the left-to-right direction, a sensor  29  for optically detecting the end mark  19  on the print-receiving tape  10  of the tape cartridge  100  attached to the cartridge holder  4 . 
     &lt;Holder Arm, Roller Holder, Release Motor, and Release Rod&gt; 
     The cartridge holder  4  has, at a position on the right side of the head holder  20 , a pivotal support portion  38  made of a U-shaped member extending in the front-to-rear direction. The pivotal support portion  38  pivotally clamps holder arms  36 A,  36 B extending in the front-to-rear direction around an axis  1  of a support shaft  40  extending in the top-to-bottom direction. The first holder arm  36 A is disposed on the lower side in an inner space of the pivotal support portion  38 . The second holder arm  36 B is disposed on the upper side, i.e. above the first holder arm  36 A, in the inner space of the pivotal support portion  38 . The second holder arm  36 B has an inclined portion  361  whose distance in the top-to-bottom direction from the first holder arm  36 A increases from the rear side (the axis AX 1  side) toward the front side (toward the platen roller  32  described later). A roller holder  28  is disposed to the front of the holder arms  36 A,  36 B. 
     The roller holder  28  is supported by the holder arms  36 A,  36 B so as to be pivotable around the axis AX 1  together with the holder arms  36 A,  36 B. The roller holder  28  includes the platen roller  32  and the pressure roller  34  that are rotatably disposed. The platen roller  32  exposes its roller surface to the left and is positioned in the roller holder  28  so as to face the thermal head  22 . The pressure roller  34  exposes its roller surface to the left and is positioned in the roller holder  28  so as to face the feed roller drive shaft  24  (feed roller  102 ). 
     A torsion spring (not shown) is fitted to the support shaft  40  at its lower end positioned in the vicinity of the first holder arm  36 A. This torsion spring resiliently urges the holder arms  36 A,  36 B and the roller holder  28  to the right (opposite to the thermal head  22 ) around the axis AX 1 . 
     Thus, when not pressed leftward (toward the thermal head  22 ), the holder arms  36 A,  36 B and the roller holder  28  are retained at a release position (position indicated in  FIG. 5 ) where the platen roller  32  and the pressure roller  34  are apart from the thermal head  22  and the feed roller  102 , respectively, by the urging force of the torsion spring. When pressed rightward, the holder arms  36 A,  36 B and the roller holder  28  pivot rightward from the release position against the urging force of the torsion spring, moving to a print position (position indicated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 ) where the platen roller  32  and the pressure roller  34  can press the print-receiving tape  10  on the feeding path against the thermal head  22  and the feed roller  102 , respectively. When the holder arms  36 A,  36 B and the roller holder  28  move to the print position with the tape cartridge  100  being attached in the cartridge holder  4 , rotations of the platen roller  32 , the pressure roller  34 , and the feed roller drive shaft  24  (feed roller  102 ) allow the print-receiving tape  10  supplied from the tape cartridge  100  to be transported along a predetermined feeding path. 
     The body part  2  includes a release motor  71 , and a release rod  70  extending in the front-to-rear direction disposed on the right side of the holder arms  36 A,  36 B. A drive output gear  71   a  of the release motor  71  is operatively coupled via a crank gear mechanism  72  to a cam gear  73   a  disposed on a camshaft  73 . The camshaft  73  is inserted and disposed in a crankshaft hole  75  extending in the front-to-rear direction of the release rod  70 . As a result, the release motor  71  rotates in one direction at a proper timing, whose driving force is transmitted to the cam gar  73   a  so that the camshaft  73  rotates in a corresponding direction, allowing the release rod  70  to move frontward. On the other hand, the release motor  71  rotates in the other direction opposite to the one direction at a proper timing, whose driving force is transmitted to the cam gear  73   a  so that the camshaft  73  rotates in a corresponding direction, allowing the release rod  70  to move rearward away from the front. 
     The release rod  70  has at its front end a roller-shaped pressing portion  74 . The frontward movement of the release rod  70  as a result of rotational drive to the one direction of the release motor  71  causes the pressing portion  74  to move frontward to abut against the roller holder  28 . This allows the holder arms  36 A,  36 B and the roller holder  28  to rotate rightward around the axis AX 1  to move to the print position. When the release rod  70  moves rearward by the rotational drive to the other direction of the release motor  71  from the state where the holder arms  36 A,  36 B and the roller holder  28  lie at the print position, the pressing portion  74  also moves rearward so that the abutment with the roller holder  28  is released. This allows the holder arms  36 A,  36 B and the roller holder  28  to rotate leftward around the axis AX 1  to move to the release position. 
     The release rod  70  has at its left part a first engaging portion  70  and a second engaging portion  70   b.  The first engaging portion  70   a  extends on the right front side of the second engaging portion  70   b.    
     &lt;Sensor Unit&gt; 
     A mechanical sensor  54  and an optical sensor  56  (see  FIG. 13A , etc. described later) are integrally disposed as a sensor unit  50  on the left side of the release rod  70  in the body part  2 , the sensor unit  50  being capable of an advance/retreat relative to the tape cartridge  100  attached to the cartridge holder  4 . 
     The sensor unit  50  will hereinafter be described with reference to  FIGS. 3 to 5, 13A, 13B, 14, and 15 . 
     In  FIGS. 3 to 5, 13A, 13B, 14, and 15 , the sensor unit  50  has a substantially quadrangular portion  53  of a substantially quadrangular shape located on the lower side, and a substantially triangular portion  52  of a substantially triangular shape located on the upper side of the substantially quadrangular portion  53  and having an oblique edge  521 . The sensor unit  50  is inserted and disposed in a space  37  (see  FIG. 2 ) between the holder arms  36 A,  36 B, upstream of the thermal head  22  in the feeding direction, such that the oblique edge  521  of the substantially triangular portion  52  extends along the inclined portion  361  of the second holder arm  36 B. 
     The sensor unit  50  has a plate-shaped substrate  60  located on the right side and a box-shaped unit body  51  located on the left side. 
     A connector  61  for cable connection is disposed on the right surface of the substrate  60  at the lower end of the substantially quadrangular portion  53 . The substrate  60  is connected to the control circuit via a cable (not shown) connected by the connector  61 . 
     The mechanical sensor  54  is disposed on the substantially quadrangular portion  53  of the left surface of the substrate  60 , the mechanical sensor  54  having a plurality of (five in this example) sensor protrusions  66  to be pressed vertically projecting leftward from the left surface of the unit body  51  via openings  51   a,    51   b  formed in the unit body  51 . When the sensor unit  50  moves to the detection position described later with the tape cartridge  100  being attached to the cartridge holder  4 , the contact detected part  158  of the arm portion  160  of the tape cartridge  100  faces the sensor protrusion  66  so that the contact detected part  158  selectively depresses a sensor protrusion  66  corresponding to information of the tape width of the print-receiving tape  10  of the tape cartridge  100  to turn on. On the basis of an on-off combination of whether the five sensor protrusions  66  are each depressed at this time (results of contact of the sensor protrusions  66  with the contact detected part  158 ), the mechanical sensor  54  detects information of the tape width of the print-receiving tape  10  of the tape cartridge  100 , to output a corresponding detection signal to the control circuit. The control circuit can acquire the tape width based on this detection signal. The mechanical sensor  54  may be configured so as to optically indirectly detect motions of the plurality of sensor protrusions  66 , to detect information of the tape width of the print-receiving tape  10  of the tape cartridge  100  based on the detection results. 
     The optical sensor  56  of reflection type capable of optical detection via an opening  51   c  formed in the unit body  51  is disposed on the substantially triangular portion  52  of the left surface of the substrate  60 . The optical sensor  56  includes a light-emitting element  56   a  and a light-receiving element  56   b  that are arrayed in the top-to-bottom direction (in this example, the light-emitting element  56   a  is disposed on the upper side while the light-receiving element  56   b  is disposed on the lower side). When the sensor unit  50  moves to the detection position described later with the tape cartridge  100  being attached to the cartridge holder  4 , the optically detected part  152  having a through-hole  150  on the arm portion  160  of the tape cartridge  100  faces the optical sensor  56 . In this state, the optical sensor  56  throws light by the light-emitting element  56   a  to the optically detected part  152  (the right surface of the print-receiving tape  10  passing through the through-hole  150 ) and receives the reflected light by the light-receiving element  56   b,  to detect information related to the print-receiving tape  10  of the tape cartridge  100  based on the result of light reception, consequently outputting a corresponding detection signal to the control circuit. In this embodiment, the optical sensor  56  detects a relative position of the label portion  16  on the print-receiving tape  10  of the tape cartridge  100  with respect to the thermal head  22 , based on the light reception result. The control circuit can acquire the relative position of the label portion  16  with respect to the thermal head  22 , based on this detection signal. The optical sensor  56  to be mounted may be a transmission type optical sensor. 
     The unit body  51  has the guide protrusion  58  disposed on the substantially quadrangular portion  53  at a position closer to its rear and top. When the sensor unit  50  moves to the detection position described later with the tape cartridge  100  attached to the cartridge holder  4 , the insertion hole  154  of the arm portion  160  of the tape cartridge  100  faces the guide protrusion  58 , allowing the guide protrusion  58  to be inserted into the insertion hole  154 . 
     The unit body  51  has a cylindrical portion  62  disposed on the substantially quadrangular portion  53  at a position closer to its rear, the cylindrical portion  62  extending rightward from the right surface of the substrate  60  via a through-hole  601  formed in the substrate  60 . A reference shaft  68  for the advancing/retreating motion fitted with a coil spring  64  is inserted into an axial hole  621  of the cylindrical portion  62 . The reference shaft  68  is fixed at its right end to a wall  69 , with its portion leftward of the right end being inserted and disposed in the crankshaft hole  75  of the release rod  70 . The coil spring  64  resiliently urges the sensor unit  50  leftward along an axis AX 2  of the reference shaft  68 . 
     At this time, the position of the mechanical sensor  54  in the top-to-bottom direction lies below the position of the reference shaft  68  in the top-to-bottom direction. The position of the optical sensor  56  in the top-to-bottom direction lies above the position of the reference shaft  68  in the top-to-bottom direction. 
     The cylindrical portion  62  has at its right opening edge a downward extending guide portion  62   a.  The guide portion  62   a  is engaged with the first engaging portion  70   a  or the second engaging portion  70   b  of the release rod  70 . The engagement of the guide portion  62   a  with the first engaging portion  70   a  or the second engaging portion  70   b  restrains the sensor unit  50  from moving leftward (advancing) by the urging of the coil sprint  64 . The position in the left-to-right direction of the sensor unit  50  relative to the wall  69  is determined in accordance with the engaging portion of the release rod  70  engaged by the guide portion  62   a.  The sensor unit  50  moves in the left-to-right direction while being guided by the first engaging portion  70   a  and the second engaging portion  70   b  of the release rod  70 , together with the movement of the release rod  70  in the front-to-rear direction. 
     That is, when the release rod  70  moves frontward by the rotational drive of the release motor  71  in the one direction, the sensor unit  50  moves leftward while the guide portion  62   a  is guided from the first engaging portion  70   a  to the second engaging portion  70   b,  resulting in the engagement with the second engaging portion  70   b.  Thus, the sensor unit  50  is retained at the detection position (position indicated in  FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and 15 ) where the sensor protrusion  66  of the mechanical sensor  54  confronts the contact detected part  158  and is inserted into the insertion hole  156  or is pressed by the face portion  157  while the guide protrusion  58  is inserted into the insertion hole  154  with the optical sensor  56  facing the optically detected part  152  (through-hole  150 ). When the release rod  70  moves rearward by the rotational drive of the release motor  71  in the other direction from the state where the sensor unit  50  lies at the detection position, the sensor unit  50  moves rightward and the guide portion  62   a  is guided from the second engaging portion  70   b  to the first engaging portion  70   a  to engage with the first engaging portion  70   a.  As a result, the sensor unit  50  is retained at the release position (position indicated in  FIG. 5 ) where the sensor protrusion  66  of the mechanical sensor  54  is apart from the contact detected part  158  while the guide protrusion  58  is apart from the insertion hole  154 , with the optical sensor  56  being apart from the optically detected part  152  (through-hole  150 ). 
     &lt;Effect of This Embodiment&gt; 
     As described above, this embodiment uses not only the mechanical sensor  54  mechanically detecting information related to the print-receiving tape  10  (in the above example, information of the tape width of the print-receiving tape  10 ), but also the optical sensor  56  optically detecting (optically detecting in accordance with the light reception result when light is thrown to an object to be detected) information related to the print-receiving tape  10  (in the above example, information of a relative position of the label portion  16  with respect to the thermal head  22  when the die-cut label type tape cartridge  100  is used). 
     In this embodiment, the optical sensor  56  is integrated with the mechanical sensor  54  performing a mechanical detection in accordance with the result of contact of the detector with the object to be detected, to make up the sensor unit  50  which can advance toward and retreat from the tape cartridge  100 . This enables the optical sensor  56  to perform an optical detection in the state where a high-accuracy positioning is achieved so that the distance from the optical sensor  56  to the tape cartridge  100  becomes an optimal distance, as a result of execution of the mechanical detection (detection of contact with the tape cartridge  100  that is an object to be detected) by the mechanical sensor  54 . Thus, the optical detection of information of the tape cartridge  100  by the optical sensor  56  can reliably be performed at a high accuracy. 
     In this embodiment, particularly, the mechanical sensor  54  of the sensor unit  50  advancing by the urging force of the coil spring  64  comes into contact with the tape cartridge  100  to perform the detection. At this time, the guide portion  62   a  limiting the advance of the sensor unit  50  is disposed to a position below the reference shaft  68  in the sensor unit  50 , while the optical sensor  56  is disposed to a position above the reference shaft  68  in the sensor unit  50 . As a result, as shown in  FIG. 16  for example, even in the case that the sensor unit  50  tries to tilt (see white arrows) by a reaction force (see a black arrow) acting on the guide portion  62   a  in the direction away from the tape cartridge  10  at the time of the contact, the optical sensor  56  disposed opposite to the guide portion  62   a  with respect to the reference shaft  68  comes closer to the tape cartridge  100  by the tilt as indicated by in an imaginary line in the diagram. This can reliably prevent the distance from the optical sensor  56  to the tape cartridge  100  from increasing, so that a high detection accuracy can reliably be secured. 
     In this embodiment, particularly, the mechanical sensor  54  is disposed to a position below the reference shaft  68  in the sensor unit  50 , while the optical sensor  56  is disposed to a position above the reference shaft  68  in the sensor unit  50 . As a result, as shown in  FIG. 17  for example, even in the case that the sensor unit  50  tries to tilt (see white arrows) by a reaction force (see a black arrow) acting on the mechanical sensor  54  in the direction away from the tape cartridge  10  at the time of the contact, the optical sensor  56  disposed opposite to the guide portion  62   a  with respect to the reference shaft  68  comes closer to the tape cartridge  100  by the tilt as indicated by in an imaginary line in the diagram. This can reliably prevent the distance from the optical sensor  56  to the tape cartridge  100  from increasing, so that a high detection accuracy can reliably be secured. 
     In this embodiment, particularly, the light-emitting element  56   a  and the light-receiving element  56   b  of the optical sensor  56  are arrayed in the top-to-bottom direction. This can enhance the advantage over curling of the print-receiving tape  10 . 
     In this embodiment, particularly, the sensor unit  50  has the connector  61  for cable connection at the lower end of the substantially quadrangular portion  53 . This enables the connector  61  to be disposed to a position farther from the light-emitting element  56   a  and light-receiving element  56   b  arranged on the substantially triangular portion  52  of the sensor unit  50 , so that the durability of the connector  61  can be prevented from decreasing. 
     In this embodiment, particularly, the sensor unit  50  is disposed upstream of the thermal head  22  in the feeding direction along the feeding path, while the optical sensor  56  is disposed to the downstream end in the feeding direction along the feeding path in the sensor unit  50 . This enables the optical sensor  56  to be disposed to a position closer to the thermal head  22 , so that the print start position can be controlled at a high accuracy. 
     In this embodiment, particularly, the sensor  21  detecting a depression effected by the protruding portion  110  of the die-cut label type tape cartridge  100  is disposed outside the sensor unit  50 . As a result, if there is a need to detect a further variety of information on the type of the tape cartridge  100  or on the print-receiving tape  10 , information on the relative position of the label portion  16  with respect to the thermal head  22  or information other than the tape width information can further be acquired based on whether the protruding portion  110  is depressed by the sensor  21  when the die-cut label type tape cartridge  100  is used. 
     In this embodiment, the through-hole  150  is disposed in the right wall  103  of the first arm portion  160 A at a portion facing the movement path of the black mark  13 , the insertion hole  154  is disposed in the first right wall  105  of the second arm portion  160 B, and the insertion hole  156  is disposed in the second right wall  107  of the second arm portion  160 B. The position of the insertion hole  154  in the front-to-rear direction lies upstream, in the movement direction of the black mark  13 , of the position of the through-hole  150  in the front-to-rear direction and of the position of the insertion hole  156  in the front-to-rear direction. As a result, the mechanical sensor  54  is applied to the insertion hole  156 , while the detection by the optical sensor  56  is effected for the through-hole  150 . At this time, since the through-hole  150  and the insertion hole  156  are disposed in the side walls of the arm portion  160  in the vicinity thereof, the mechanical sensor  54  and the optical sensor  56  can be configured as the integrated sensor unit  50 . In consequence, similar to the above, the optical detection accuracy can be improved. Since the user can check the status (wrinkles, etc.) of the print-receiving tape  10  within the interior of the tape cartridge  100  from the through-hole  150 , defective assemblies arising from e.g. pinching of the print-receiving tape  10  at the arm portion  160  during assembling of the tape cartridge  100  can be prevented from flowing out by performing the checking after assembling the tape cartridge  100 . 
     In this embodiment, particularly, the size of the black mark  13  is larger than the size of the through-hole  150 . This enables the black mark  13  to block the entire through-hole  150  when the black mark  13  passes over the through-hole  150 . As a result, the amount of light deviation can be increased so that the optical detection accuracy can be improved. 
     In this embodiment, especially, the protruding portion  110  extending along in the top-to-bottom direction is disposed on the corner portion  141  of the housing  101 . Consequently, the amount of information can further be increased by detecting whether the protruding portion  110  is present by the sensor  21 . By the presence of the protruding portion  110 , the user can recognize the tape cartridge  100  as the die-cut label type. Due to the presence of the protruding portion  110 , erroneous mounting onto a model not supporting the die-cut label type tape cartridge  100  can be prevented. 
     In this embodiment, especially, the tape cartridge  100  is disposed in which the vertical position of the lower end  110   a  of the protruding portion  110  is substantially the same as the vertical position of the lower end  120   a  of the roll storing part  120 . Disposition of such a tape cartridge  100  enables the displacement of the sensor  21  for detecting the protruding portion  110  to be reduced, while avoiding the imbalance at the time of mounting as in the case where the protruding portion  110  protrudes from the roll storing part  120 . 
     &lt;Modification Examples, Etc.&gt; 
     The present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiment and can variously be modified without departing from the spirit and technical idea thereof. 
     Although in the above embodiment, description has been given of an example where the print-receiving tape  10  is wound into the print-receiving tape roll  122 , which is attached within the tape cartridge  100  to draw out the print-receiving tape  10 , this is not limitative. For example, elongated flat-paper-like or strip tapes or sheets (including ones formed by cutting the tape wound into a roll and drawn out from the roll to an appropriate length) may be stacked in a predetermined storing part (e.g. flatly laminated in a tray-like one) into a cartridge, which in turn is attached to a cartridge holder of the printer so that the tapes or sheets are transferred or transported from the storing part for printing. 
     If in the above description, there are terms such as “perpendicular”, “parallel”, and “planar”, those terms do not represent their respective strict senses. That is, those “perpendicular”, “parallel”, “planar”, etc. allow designing and manufacturing tolerances and errors and mean “substantially perpendicular”, “substantially parallel”, “substantially planar”, etc. 
     If in the above description, there are terms such as “the same”, “equal”, and “different” in external dimensions or size, those terms do not represent their respective strict senses. That is, those “the same”, “equal”, “planar”, etc. allow designing and manufacturing tolerances and errors and mean “substantially the same”, “substantially equal”, “substantially different”, etc. However, if there are values serving as predetermined criteria or separators such as threshold values and reference values, “the same”, “equal”, “different”, etc. used for those values represent their respective strict senses, dissimilar to the above. 
     Besides the already-described ones, the techniques of the above embodiment and of the modification examples may properly be combined for use.