Laminating tape and to-be-laminated tape, as well as method and device for laminating the laminating tape to the to-be-laminated tape

A laminating tape has an adhesive layer for adhering to a recording surface of a to-be-laminated tape, and is formed to have a substantially identical width to a width of the to-be-laminated tape. The laminating tape has a preliminary laminating portion formed at a leading end thereof, for being preliminarily laminated to the to-be-laminated tape, and a non-adhesive portion having a predetermined length and extending continuously from an trailing end of the preliminary laminating portion, for permitting lateral motion of the laminating tape with respect to the to-be-laminated tape. In another aspect of the invention, a to-be-laminated tape is provided which has a preliminary to-be-laminated portion formed at a leading end thereof for being preliminarily laminated to a leading end of the laminating tape, and an adhesion-refusing portion having a predetermined length and extending continuously from a trailing end of the preliminary to-be-laminated portion, for permitting lateral motion of the to-be-laminated tape with respect to the laminating tape. A method and device for initially laminating the laminating tape to the to-be-laminated tape are also provided.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 1. Field of the Invention
 This invention relates to a laminating tape that is affixed e.g. to a
 printing tape after printing, for lamination thereto to thereby protect
 the printed surface of the printing tape, and a to-be-laminated tape, such
 as the printing tape. The invention further relates to a method and a
 device for affixing the laminating tape to the to-be-laminated tape.
 2. Prior Art
 Conventionally, in a sequence of operations or steps for lamination of a
 laminating tape to a printing tape (to-be-laminated tape), the printing
 tape is printed as it is fed from a roll thereof, and at the same time the
 laminating tape is guided such that the laminating tape meets the printed
 tape at a confluence as the tapes are fed. At the confluence, the
 laminating tape and the printed printing tape are brought into contact
 with each other under pressure. In this case, the printing tape and the
 laminating tape, which are fabricated so that they have identical widths,
 are guided by a tape guide provided at the confluence. The guide is
 designed to prevent the two tapes from being laterally displaced from each
 other. However, to obtain a properly laminated tape, it is not only
 required to set up the tape guide accurately, but also to affix leading
 ends of the two tapes such that lateral sides thereof are accurately
 aligned with each other during the initial stage of the lamination. As
 shown in FIG. 1, if the leading ends of two tapes Tp, Tr are not initially
 affixed to each other without the slightest angular displacement at the
 start of lamination, the displacement increases as the lamination proceeds
 causing wrinkling and jamming of the tapes. The laminating tape is highly
 adhesive and flaccid. Therefore, the alignment operation for the initial
 lamination process cannot be easily automated, rather, it has
 conventionally been carried out manually.
 However, using the conventional method for beginning the lamination process
 in which the printing tape and the laminating tape are aligned and affixed
 to each other manually makes the operation troublesome and it demands
 skill. This is true even when a jig for positioning the two tapes is used
 to assist in the alignment. Hence, the conventional method results in a
 degraded yield of the product (the printing tape having the laminating
 tape initially laminated thereto).
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 It is a first object of the invention to provide a laminating tape which
 can be initially laminated to a to-be-laminated tape with ease and
 accuracy without skill.
 It is a second object of the invention to provide a to-be-laminated tape
 which can be initially laminated to a laminating tape with ease and
 accuracy without skill.
 It is a third object of the invention to provide a method of initially
 laminating a laminating tape to a to-be-laminated tape with ease and
 accuracy.
 It is a fourth object of the invention to provide a device which is capable
 of initially laminating a laminating tape to a to-be-laminated tape with
 ease and accuracy.
 To attain the first object, according to a first aspect of the invention,
 there is provided a laminating tape that has an adhesive layer for
 affixing the laminating tape to a recording surface of a to-be-laminated
 tape, and is formed to have a substantially identical width to a width of
 the to-be-laminated tape.
 The laminating tape according to the first aspect of the invention is
 characterized by comprising:
 a preliminary laminating portion formed at a leading end of the laminating
 tape, for being preliminarily laminated to a leading end of the
 to-be-laminated tape; and
 a non-adhesive portion having a predetermined length and extending
 continuously from a trailing end of the preliminary laminating portion,
 for permitting lateral motion of the laminating tape with respect to the
 to-be-laminated tape.
 According to this laminating tape, the preliminary laminating portion is
 formed at a leading end thereof, for being preliminarily laminated to the
 leading end of the to-be-laminated tape, and the non-adhesive portion
 extends continuously from the trailing end of the preliminary laminating
 portion. Therefore, the initial lamination of the laminating tape to the
 to-be-laminate tape is carried out by first placing the preliminary
 laminating portion of the laminating tape and the leading end of the
 to-be-laminated tape one upon the other while aligning them to thereby
 affix them to each other. Then, the lamination is continued from the
 laminated portion of the tapes through the non-adhesive portion of the
 laminating tape and a corresponding portion of the to-be-laminated tape
 while correcting the alignment of the tapes, up to a main laminating
 portion of the laminating tape extending continuously from the trailing
 end of the non-adhesive portion and a corresponding portion of the
 to-be-laminated tape. Since the non-adhesive portion can be moved
 laterally on the to-be-laminated tape, it is possible to eliminate lateral
 displacement of the laminating tape with respect to the to-be-laminated
 tape which can occur at an initial stage of the initial lamination, i.e.
 at the preliminary laminating portion of the laminating tape, to thereby
 correct the alignment of the two tapes. This makes it possible to
 accurately laminate the main laminating portion of the laminating tape to
 the corresponding portion of the to-be-laminated tape without any
 displacement. To obtain a desirable laminating condition, it is preferred
 that the laminating tape is slightly smaller in width than the
 to-be-laminated tape.
 Preferably, the non-adhesive portion is formed by omitting a portion of the
 adhesive layer.
 According to this preferred embodiment, it is possible to form the
 non-adhesive portion easily by providing the adhesive layer on an entire
 surface of the laminating tape except the portion for the non-adhesive
 portion, or by partially eliminating a portion of the adhesive layer
 provided on the entire surface of the laminating tape.
 Alternatively, the non-adhesive portion comprises a tape strip affixed to
 the adhesive layer, for permitting lateral motion of the laminating tape
 with respect to the to-be-laminated tape.
 According to this preferred embodiment, it is possible to form the
 non-adhesive portion by simply affixing the tape strip to the adhesive
 layer of the laminating tape. Since this tape strip increases rigidity of
 the non-adhesive portion, not only the non-adhesive portion but also the
 preliminary laminating portion and the main laminating portion
 continuously extending from the non-adhesive portion are stretched, which
 makes it possible to easily and smoothly carry out the sequence of
 laminating operations including the correction of alignment of the tapes.
 Preferably, the tape strip is different in color from a ground color of the
 to-be-laminated tape.
 According to this preferred embodiment, the operator can visually clearly
 recognize the non-adhesive portion by the color of the strip, so that it
 is possible to smoothly carry out the sequence of laminating operations
 including the correction of alignment of the tapes. Further, when the
 preliminary laminating portion and the non-adhesive portion are finally
 cut off as unnecessary portions for the laminated tape, the operator can
 make use of the difference in color between the non-adhesive portion and
 the to-be-laminated tape as a mark indicative of a cutting position of the
 laminated tape.
 To attain the second object, according to a second aspect of the invention,
 there is provided a to-be-laminated tape that has a recording surface to
 which is affixed a laminating tape having an adhesive layer, and is formed
 to have a substantially identical width to a width of the laminating tape.
 The to-be-laminated tape according to the second aspect of the invention is
 characterized by comprising:
 a preliminary to-be-laminated portion formed at a leading end of the
 to-be-laminated tape, for being preliminarily laminated to a leading end
 of the laminating tape; and
 an adhesion-refusing portion having a predetermined length and extending
 continuously from a trailing end of the preliminary to-be-laminated
 portion, for permitting lateral motion of the to-be-laminated tape with
 respect to the laminating tape.
 According to this to-be-laminated tape, the preliminary to-be-laminated
 portion is provided at the leading end thereof for being preliminarily
 laminated to the leading end of the laminating tape, and the
 adhesion-refusing portion extends continuously from the preliminary
 to-be-laminated portion. Therefore, the initial lamination of the
 laminating tape to the to-be-laminated tape is carried out by first
 placing the leading end of the preliminary laminating portion and the
 leading end of the to-be-laminated tape one upon the other while aligning
 them to thereby affix them to each other. Then, the lamination is
 continued from the laminated portion of the tapes, through the
 adhesion-refusing portion of the to-be-laminated tape and a corresponding
 portion of the laminating tape while correcting the alignment of the
 tapes, up to a main to-be-laminated portion of the to-be-laminated tape
 extending continuously from the trailing end of the adhesion-refusing
 portion and a corresponding portion of the laminating tape. Since the
 adhesion-refusing portion of the to-be-laminated tape can be moved
 laterally on the laminating tape, it is possible to eliminate lateral
 displacement of the to-be-laminated tape with respect to the laminating
 tape which can occur at an initial stage of the initial lamination, i.e.
 at the preliminary to-be-laminated portion of the to-be-laminated tape, to
 thereby correct the alignment of the two tapes. This makes it possible to
 accurately laminate the main to-be-laminated portion of the
 to-be-laminated tape to the corresponding part of the laminating tape
 without any displacement.
 Preferably, the adhesion-refusing portion comprises a fluorine coating
 formed on the recording surface.
 According to this preferred embodiment, it is possible to form the
 adhesion-refusing portion easily by fluorine coating process.
 More preferably, the to-be-laminated tape includes a base tape having the
 recording surface formed thereon, and the fluorine coating layer is
 different in color from a ground color of the base tape.
 According to this preferred embodiment, the operator can visually clearly
 recognize the adhesion-refusing portion, so that it is possible to
 smoothly carry out the sequence of laminating operations including the
 correction of alignment of the tapes. Further, when the preliminary
 to-be-laminated portion and the adhesion-refusing portion are finally cut
 off as unnecessary portions for the laminated tape, the operator can make
 use of the difference in color between the adhesion-refusing portion and
 the main laminating portion of the to-be-laminated tape as a mark
 indicative of a cutting position of the laminated tape.
 Further preferably, the to-be-laminated tape further includes an adhesive
 layer formed on an opposite side of the base tape to the recording
 surface, and a release paper tape laminated to the adhesive layer.
 To attain the third object, according to a third aspect of the invention,
 there is provided a method of laminating a laminating tape to a
 to-be-laminated tape having a substantially identical width to a width of
 the laminating tape, the laminating tape having a preliminary laminating
 portion formed at a leading end thereof, and a non-adhesive portion
 extending continuously from a trailing end of the preliminary laminating
 portion, for permitting lateral motion of the laminating tape with respect
 to the to-be-laminated tape.
 The method according to the third aspect of the invention is characterized
 by comprising the steps of:
 placing the leading end of the laminating tape and a leading end of the
 to-be-laminated tape on upon another;
 affixing the preliminary laminating portion of the laminating tape to the
 leading end of the to-be-laminated tape; and
 thereafter simultaneously feeding the laminating tape and the
 to-be-laminated tape to pressure contact means that brings the laminating
 tape and the to-be-laminated tape into contact under pressure while
 controlling a lateral position of the laminating tape and a lateral
 position of the to-be-laminated tape, at least until the non-adhesive
 portion of the laminating tape has passed through the pressure contact
 means, to thereby cause a portion of the laminating tape immediately
 following the non-adhesive portion thereof to be accurately laminated to
 the to-be-laminated tape.
 To attain the fourth object, according to a fourth aspect of the invention,
 there is provided a laminating device that at least carries out initial
 lamination of a laminating tape and a to-be-laminated tape having a
 substantially identical width to a width of the laminating tape by
 affixing a leading portion of the laminating tape to a leading portion of
 the to-be-laminated tape, the leading portion of the laminating tape
 including a preliminary laminating portion formed at a leading end
 thereof, and a non-adhesive portion extending continuously from a trailing
 end of the preliminary laminating portion, for permitting lateral motion
 of the laminating tape with respect to the to-be-laminated tape.
 The laminating device according to the fourth aspect of the invention is
 characterized by comprising:
 tape-feeding means for simultaneously feeding the laminating tape and the
 to-be-laminated tape in a state in which the preliminary laminating
 portion of the laminating tape has been affixed to the leading portion of
 the to-be-laminated tape;
 pressure contact means for bringing the leading portion of the laminating
 tape and the leading portion of the to-be-laminated tape into contact
 under pressure in a manner interlocked with tape-feeding operation of the
 tape-feeding means; and
 tape guide means for controlling a lateral position of the laminating tape
 and a lateral position of the to-be-laminated tape, as the laminating tape
 and the to-be-laminated tape are simultaneously fed to the pressure
 contact means by the tape-feeding means.
 According to these method and device, the preliminary laminating portion of
 the laminating tape is affixed to the corresponding portion of the
 to-be-laminated tape, and then, the two tapes are fed while properly
 controlling lateral positions thereof to bring them into contact under
 pressure. This control of the lateral positions of the tapes enables the
 to-be-laminated tape and the non-adhesive portion of the laminating tape
 to be guided to a position in which they are properly placed or positioned
 one upon the other. Thus, the lateral displacement of the two tapes with
 respect to each other is eliminated before the main laminating portion of
 the laminating tape extending from the non-adhesive portion thereof starts
 to be affixed by pressure to the to-be-laminated tape. This makes it
 possible to affix the two tapes to each other in a state in which they are
 properly or accurately placed one upon the other.
 To attain the third object, according to a fifth aspect of the invention,
 there is provided a method of laminating a laminating tape having an
 adhesive layer to a to-be-laminated tape having a substantially identical
 width to a width of the laminating tape, the to-be-laminated tape having a
 preliminary to-be-laminated portion formed at a leading end thereof, for
 being preliminarily laminated to a leading end of the laminating tape, and
 an adhesion-refusing portion having a predetermined length and extending
 continuously from a trailing end of the preliminary to-be-laminated
 portion, for permitting lateral motion of the to-be-laminated tape with
 respect to the laminating tape.
 The method according to the fifth aspect of the invention is characterized
 by comprising the steps of:
 placing a leading end of the laminating tape and the leading end of the
 to-be-laminated tape on upon another;
 affixing the leading end of the laminating tape to the preliminary
 to-be-laminated portion of the to-be-laminated tape; and
 thereafter simultaneously feeding the laminating tape and the
 to-be-laminated tape to pressure contact means that brings the laminating
 tape and the to-be-laminated tape into contact under pressure while
 controlling a lateral position of the laminating tape and a lateral
 position of the to-be-laminated tape, at least until the adhesion-refusing
 portion of the to-be-laminated tape has passed through the pressure
 contact means, to thereby cause the laminating tape to be accurately
 laminated to a portion of the to-be-laminated tape immediately following
 the adhesion-refusing portion thereof.
 To attain the fourth object, according to a sixth aspect of the invention,
 there is provided a laminating device that at least carries out initial
 lamination of a laminating tape and a to-be-laminated tape having a
 substantially identical width to a width of the laminating tape by
 affixing a leading portion of the laminating tape to a leading portion of
 the to-be-laminated tape, the leading portion of the to-be-laminated tape
 including a preliminary to-be-laminated portion formed at a leading end of
 the to-be-laminated tape for being preliminarily laminated to a leading
 end of the leading portion of the laminating tape, and an
 adhesion-refusing portion having a predetermined length and extending
 continuously from a trailing end of the preliminary to-be-laminated
 portion, for permitting lateral motion of the to-be-laminated tape with
 respect to the laminating tape.
 The laminating device according to the sixth aspect of the invention is
 characterized by comprising:
 tape-feeding means for simultaneously feeding the laminating tape and the
 to-be-laminated tape in a state in which the leading end of the laminating
 tape has been affixed to the leading end of the to-be-laminated tape;
 pressure contact means for bringing the leading portion of the laminating
 tape and the leading portion of the to-be-laminated tape to contact under
 pressure in a manner interlocked with tape-feeding operation of the
 tape-feeding means; and
 tape guide means for controlling a lateral position of the laminating tape
 and a lateral position of the to-be-laminated tape, as the laminating tape
 and the to-be-laminated tape are simultaneously fed to the pressure
 contact means by the tape-feeding means.
 According to these method and device, the preliminary to-be-laminated
 portion of the to-be-laminated tape is affixed to the leading portion of
 the laminating tape, and then, the two tapes are fed while properly
 controlling lateral positions thereof to bring them into contact under
 pressure. This control of the lateral positions of the tapes enables the
 adhesion-refusing portion of the to-be-laminated tape and the laminating
 tape to be guided to a position in which they are properly placed or
 positioned one upon the other. Thus, the lateral displacement of the two
 tapes with respect to each other is eliminated before the laminating tape
 starts to be affixed by pressure to the main to-be-laminated portion of
 the to-be-laminated tape extending from the adhesion-refusing portion
 thereof. This makes it possible to affix the two tapes to each other in a
 state in which they are properly or accurately placed one upon the other.
 Preferably, each of the laminating devices is used with a single cartridge
 containing the laminating tape and the to-be-laminated tape each in the
 form of a roll.
 According to the preferred embodiments, it is easy to incorporate the guide
 means into the cartridge, and at the same time, it is possible to
 facilitate handling of the laminating tape and the to-be-laminated tape.
 Preferably, each of the laminating devices further includes printing means
 for printing on a recording surface of the to-be-laminated tape.
 Preferably, each of the laminating devices further includes cutter means
 for cutting off a laminated portion of the laminating tape and the
 to-be-laminated tape into a strip having a desired length.
 According to the preferred embodiments, it is easy to produce a laminated
 label out of the to-be-laminated tape laminated with the laminating tape.
 The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will
 become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in
 conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
 The invention will now be described in detail with reference to drawings
 showing embodiments thereof. In these embodiments, a to-be-laminated tape
 is a printing tape a front surface of which is used as a recording surface
 to be printed, while the laminating tape is a tape to be affixed to the
 front surface of the printing tape so as to protect the printed recording
 surface of the printing tape. The printing tape and the laminating tape
 are supplied to a user in a state both contained in an identical i.e.
 single tape cartridge, and the user mounts this cartridge in a tape
 printing apparatus before use.
 The tape printing apparatus is capable of printing entered desired
 characters and the like on the printing tape by an ink jet printing method
 as well as affixing the laminating tape to the printed portion of the
 printing tape, and thereafter cutting the printing tape and the laminating
 tape in the laminated state, to thereby produce a laminated label. In a
 sequence of operations or steps for affixing the laminating tape to the
 printing tape, the tape printing apparatus carries out printing while
 feeding the printing tape from the tape cartridge containing a roll of the
 printing tape, and at the same time unwinds and guides the laminating tape
 such that the laminating tape meets the printing tape after printing at a
 confluence as the two tapes are fed. At the confluence, the laminating
 tape and the printing tape are brought into contact with each other under
 pressure. Users are supplied with the printing tape and the laminating
 tape in a state contained in the tape cartridge with leading portions
 thereof affixed to each other in advance, so as to enable smooth
 lamination of the tapes. Although the printing tape and the laminating
 tape are generally fabricated such that they have identical widths, it is
 preferable to form the laminating tape such that the laminating tape has a
 slightly smaller width (by approximately 0.3 mm) than the printing tape,
 in view of laminating accuracy of the apparatus. The laminating tape may
 be smaller in width than the printing tape to such an extent that the
 difference can be visually recognized. However, it goes without saying
 that the laminating tape is required to have a sufficient width to cover
 all the printed characters and the like.
 The leading portions of the printing tape and the laminating tape are
 required to be affixed to each other with accuracy. Therefore, the initial
 laminating operation is carried out by the manufacturer as a general rule.
 However, the tape printing apparatus permits the user to replace the
 printing tape or the laminating tape contained in the tape cartridge with
 a new one to save resources. If such replacement is carried out, the user
 has to affix the leading portions of the two tapes to each other for the
 initial lamination. For this reason, the two tapes of the embodiments are
 designed to have inventive features for enabling the user to carry out
 initial lamination of the tapes with ease and accuracy.
 In the following description, to begin with, various embodiments concerning
 the printing tape and the laminating tape will be described, respectively.
 Then, brief description will be made of a laminating device for use in the
 initial lamination, which is used by the manufacturer for affixing the
 leading portions of the two tapes, and finally, the tape printing
 apparatus used by the user will be described.
 Referring first to FIG. 2, there are shown leading portions of a printing
 tape and a laminating tape according to a first embodiment of the
 invention, on an enlarged scale. As shown in the figure, the laminating
 tape Tr, which is the upper tape shown in the figure, is comprised of a
 base laminating tape 101, an adhesive layer 102 coated on a underside
 surface of the base laminating tape 101, and a mask (tape strip) 103
 affixed to the underside surface of the base laminating tape 101. The base
 laminating tape 101 is formed of an optically transparent film having a
 thickness of approximately 16 to 38 .mu.m. It is preferable to use a
 colorless transparent base laminating tape 101 when color printing is
 effected on the printing tape Tp. However, a slightly colored base
 laminating tape may be used when monochrome printing is carried out.
 The mask 103 is formed e.g. of a film having a thickness of approximately
 16 to 100 .mu.m. The mask 103 is affixed to the underside surface of the
 laminating tape Tr between a preliminary laminating portion "a" extending
 a few centimeters from the leading edge of the tape Tr, and a continuous
 laminating portion "b" which serves as a main laminating portion of the
 laminating tape Tr. The preliminary laminating portion "a" and the
 continuous laminating portion "b" are adhesive portions to be affixed to
 the printing tape Tp, while the mask 103 forms a non-adhesive portion "c"
 which cannot adhere to the printing tape Tp. The mask 103 may be either
 transparent or opaque. However, when an opaque one is used, it is
 preferred that the mask is different in color from the printing tape Tp
 such that the non-adhesive portion "c" can be visually and clearly
 distinguished from the printing tape Tp.
 On the other hand, the printing tape Tp, which is the lower tape in FIG. 2,
 is comprised of a base printing tape 201, an adhesive layer 202 coated on
 a underside surface of the base printing tape 201, and a release paper
 tape 203 affixed to the underside surface of the base printing tape 201
 via the adhesive layer 202. The base printing tape 201 having the front
 surface (recording surface) to be printed by an ink jet printing method is
 formed of a material which is capable of readily absorbing ink. The
 adhesive layer 202 is used for affixing a laminated label formed by the
 printing tape Tp and the laminating tape Tr to an object article, while
 the release paper tape 203 is used for preventing the laminated label from
 being affixed to any article other than the object article and dust or
 dirt from depositing on the adhesive layer 202.
 To affix the leading portions of the two tapes Tp, Tr formed as described
 above to each other for initial lamination of the tapes, the preliminary
 laminating portion "a" of the laminating tape Tr is first affixed to a
 leading end of the printing tape Tp. Then, alignment of the two tapes Tp,
 Tr is corrected by the use of the mask 103, i.e. the non-adhesive portion
 "c" of the laminating tape Tr, and thereafter, a leading end portion of
 the continuous laminating portion "b" is affixed to the printing tape Tp.
 Thus, the leading end portion of the continuous laminating portion "b" of
 the laminating tape Tr can be laminated to the printing tape Tp in a state
 in which the two tapes Tp, Tr placed one upon the other are accurately
 aligned, which makes it possible to prevent displacement or jamming of the
 two tapes Tp, Tr from occurring when the tapes Tp, Tr set in the tape
 printing apparatus are being used for printing and continuous lamination.
 FIG. 3 shows leading portions of a printing tape and a laminating tape
 according to a second embodiment of the invention, on an enlarged scale.
 As shown in the figure, the present embodiment is distinguished from the
 first embodiment simply in that the laminating tape Tr is different in
 construction from the one of the first embodiment. More specifically, the
 laminating tape Tr of the first embodiment has the non-adhesive portion
 "c" thereof formed by the mask 103, while the laminating tape Tr of the
 second embodiment has a non-adhesive portion "c" thereof formed by
 eliminating or omitting one portion of an adhesive layer coated on a
 underside surface of a base laminating tape Tr. The non-adhesive portion
 "c" of the laminating tape Tr of the second embodiment is formed by
 coating an adhesive on the whole underside surface of the base laminating
 tape 101 except a portion to be used as the non-adhesive portion "c", or
 by coating the adhesive on the whole underside surface of the base
 laminating tape 101 and then eliminating the adhesive from the portion to
 be used as the non-adhesive portion "c" by the use of a solvent or the
 like. According to this embodiment, it is possible to correct the
 alignment of the two tapes Tp, Tr by the use of the non-adhesive portion
 "c" formed as above.
 FIG. 4 shows leading portions of a printing tape and a laminating tape
 according to a third embodiment of the invention, on an enlarged scale. As
 shown in the figure, the laminating tape Tr is comprised of a base
 laminating tape 101 and an adhesive layer 102 alone, while the printing
 tape Tp is comprised of a base laminating tape 201, an adhesive layer 202,
 a release paper tape 203, and a non-adhesive coating layer 204. The
 non-adhesive coating layer 204 is formed on a front surface of the base
 printing tape 201 between a preliminary to-be-laminated portion "x"
 extending a few centimeters from the leading edge of the printing tape Tp
 and a continuous to-be-laminated portion "y" which serves as a main
 to-be-laminated portion of the printing tape Tp. The non-adhesive coating
 layer 204 is formed e.g. by a fluorine coating which has the property of
 being non-adhesive to the adhesive layer 202 of the laminating tape Tr.
 Therefore, in the present embodiment, the non-adhesive coating layer 204
 forms a non-adhesive portion "z" that does not adhere to the laminating
 Tr, and hence, similarly to the above embodiments, it is possible to
 correct alignment of the two tapes Tp, Tr by the use of the non-adhesive
 coating layer 204. Further, similarly to the case of the mask 103
 described hereinbefore, it is preferred that the non-adhesive coating
 layer 204 is different in color from a ground color of the base printing
 tape 201.
 The leading portions of the printing tape Tp and the laminating tape Tr
 constructed as above are affixed to each other by the use of a laminating
 device for the initial lamination, unless the operation is carried out
 manually. Therefore, the device and the method for initial lamination will
 be briefly described with reference to FIG. 5, based on an example in
 which the printing tape Tp and the laminating tape Tr according to the
 first embodiment of the invention are used.
 As shown in the figure, the laminating device 51 includes a drive roller 52
 which is driven for rotation via a reduction gear, not shown, by a motor,
 not shown, a driven roller 53 which rotates in rolling contact with the
 drive roller 52 as the printing tape Tp and the laminating tape Tr are
 advanced, and a printing tape guide 54 and a laminating tape guide 55
 arranged in the vicinity of the two rollers 52, 53, respectively. The
 printing tape Tp and the laminating Tr, each of which is initially in a
 state wound into a roll, not shown, are unwound and guided by the rollers
 52, 53, respectively, as illustrated in the figure. The driven roller 53
 is urged toward the drive roller 52 by a spring or the like, not shown. It
 is preferred that at least one of the two rollers 52, 53 is an elastic
 roller having rubber or the like provided around its body. The drive
 roller 52 and the driven roller 53 serves not only as pressure contact
 means for bringing the printing tape Tp and the laminating Tr to contact
 under pressure, but also as tape-feeding means for feeding the two tapes
 Tp, Tr simultaneously.
 The preliminary laminating portion "a" of the laminating tape Tr and the
 leading end of the printing tape Tp are manually placed one upon the other
 and then affixed to each other in advance. The two tapes Tp, Tr in this
 state are inserted between the two rollers 52, 53. When the drive roller
 52 starts rotating, the two tapes Tp, Tr are sent forward while being
 brought into contact under pressure by the two rollers for lamination,
 causing rotation of the driven roller 53. The two tapes Tp, Tr are fed
 according to the rotation of the two rollers 52, 53 for lamination, in a
 state always guided, respectively, by the two tape guides 54, 55 for
 preventing the two tapes Tp, Tr from being laterally displaced. That is,
 the two tape guides 54, 55 guide the printing tape Tp and the laminating
 tape Tp, respectively, to the two rollers 52, 53 while controlling lateral
 positions of the two tapes Tp, Tr. When the feeding of the two tapes Tp,
 Tr proceeds and the non-adhesive portion "c" of the laminating tape Tr
 reaches the rollers 52, 53, the two tapes Tp, Tr are brought into a
 feeding state in which lateral motion of each of the two tapes Tp, Tr is
 permitted by the tape guides 54, 55 since the non-adhesive portion "c" of
 the laminating tape Tr does not adhere to the printing tape Tp. Therefore,
 the tapes Tp, Tr have their lateral positions corrected, respectively, by
 restriction of the tape guides 54, 55 whereby they are advanced in a state
 accurately aligned one upon the other. When the feeding of the tapes Tp,
 Tr further proceeds, the continuous adhesive portion "b" of the laminating
 tape Tr reaches the rollers 52, 53, and a leading end portion of the
 continuous adhesive portion "b" is affixed to the printing tape Tp.
 For instance, as shown in FIG. 6, even if the preliminary laminating
 portion "a" of the laminating tape Tr is angularly displaced with respect
 to the printing tape Tp, the alignment of the tapes is corrected to
 eliminate this angular displacement by using the non-adhesive portion "c"
 extending continuously from the preliminary laminating portion "a",
 whereby the leading portion of the continuous laminating portion "b" is
 affixed to the printing tape Tp without displacement. That is, it is
 possible to carry out accurate initial lamination with ease without any
 skill, irrespective of laminating accuracy at the preliminary laminating
 portion "a". Of course, the initial lamination of the two tapes Tp, Tr can
 also be easily and accurately carried out through manual work, without
 using the device 51 for the initial lamination, and without any skill.
 Next, description will be made of the tape printing apparatus with
 reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. FIG. 7 shows the appearance of the tape
 printing apparatus in perspective, while FIG. 8 shows a body of the
 apparatus in cross section. As shown in the figures, the tape printing
 apparatus 1 includes the body 2, a keyboard 3 attached to a front portion
 thereof, a tape cartridge 4 in which the printing tape Tp and the
 laminating tape Tr are accommodated, and an ink cartridge 5 which contains
 inks of four colors. The tape cartridge 4 and the ink cartridge 5 are
 removably mounted in the body 2.
 Arranged on a top surface of the keyboard 3 are various keys 3a which form
 input means of the printing apparatus 1. The keyboard 3 is hinged on a
 lower portion of a front surface of the body 2 of the tape printing
 apparatus 1 such that it can be brought into either an upright position or
 a flat position for use with the body 2. The keyboard 3 is brought to the
 flat position when the apparatus 1 is in use, while it is held in the
 upright position, i.e. in a state covering the front surface of the
 apparatus 1 when the apparatus 1 is carried by the user.
 The body 2 of the printing apparatus 1 has a casing 6 having a liquid
 crystal display 7 arranged at an upper right corner of the front portion
 thereof as viewed in FIG. 6. The liquid crystal display 7 displays results
 of inputting and editing of data. Further, the casing 6 has a side face
 (left side wall as viewed in FIG. 6) formed therethrough with a tape exit
 8 in the form of a slit via which laminated printing tape Tp is
 discharged. The casing 6 has another side wall, not shown, formed with a
 lidded opening via which the tape cartridge 4 and the ink cartridge 5 are
 mounted or removed.
 Within the casing 6, there are installed a printing tape-feeding mechanism
 9 for feeding the printing tape Tp, a printing mechanism 10 for effecting
 color printing on the printing tape Tp by an ink jet printing method, a
 tape-laminating mechanism 11 for laminating the laminating tape Tr to the
 printing tape Tp, a cutting mechanism 12 for cutting laminated printing
 tape Tp, and a circuit board 13 for controlling operations of these
 mechanisms as well as processing information (see FIG. 8).
 As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the tape cartridge 4 is constructed in such a
 manner that a main tape-receiving block 21 in which the printing tape Tp
 is received and a sub tape-receiving block 22 in which the laminating tape
 Tr is received are connected by a linkage 23 at an intermediate portion of
 the cartridge 4, and a print head 14 of the printing mechanism 10 faces
 the linkage 23. A cartridge case 24 housing the main tape-receiving block
 21, the sub tape-receiving block 22, and the linkage 23 is comprised of a
 base case 25, a main case lid 26 for the main tape-receiving block 21, and
 a sub case lid 27 for the sub tape-receiving block 22. When the printing
 tape Tp and/or the laminating tape Tr set within the apparatus body 2 is
 replaced with a new one, the cartridge 4 containing the tapes Tp, Tr is
 removed from the apparatus body 2. Then, the main case lid 26 and the sub
 case lid 27 of the cartridge 4 are opened, so as to remove the printing
 tape Tp and/or the laminating tape Tr from the cartridge 4 separately, for
 replacement with the new one.
 The printing tape Tp is received in the main tape-receiving block 21 as a
 roll, while the laminating tape is received in the sub tape-receiving
 block 22 as a roll. The tapes Tp, Tr are fed from the tape-receiving
 blocks 21, 22, respectively, and then placed one upon the other to be
 affixed to each other, followed by being sent out of the tape cartridge 4
 via a sub tape-receiving block-side opening of the tape guided cartridge
 4. The printing tape Tp fed from the main tape-receiving block 21 has its
 lateral sides guided by a pair of printing tape guides 28 arranged in the
 vicinity of a free roller 42, referred to hereinafter, while the
 laminating tape Tr fed from the sub tape-receiving block 22 has its
 lateral sides guided by a pair of laminating tape guides 29 arranged in
 the vicinity of a free roller 45, referred to hereinafter. The two tapes
 Tp, Tr are guided to laminating roller means 44 by the respective pairs of
 guides 28, 29. The pair of printing tape guides 28 and the pair of
 laminating tape guides 29 are arranged such that they are identical in
 lateral position i.e. position in the direction of the widths of the two
 tapes Tp, Tr, so that the tapes Tp, Tr are guided such that they are
 accurately aligned with respect to the lateral sides thereof.
 When the printing tape Tp is advanced by the printing tape-feeding
 mechanism 9 in the direction of feed, desired printing is effected on the
 printing tape Tp by the printing mechanism 10 arranged in a manner opposed
 to the linkage 23. Then, the laminating tape Tr fed from the sub
 tape-receiving block 22 is affixed to the printed portion of the printing
 tape Tp by the tape-laminating mechanism 11 in such a manner that the
 former is laminated to the latter. The printing tape Tp having the
 laminating tape Tr laminated to the printed portion thereof is discharged
 via the tape exit 8 by cooperation of the printing tape-feeding mechanism
 9 and the tape-laminating mechanism 11. When a trailing end of the printed
 portion of the printing tape including a margin reaches a cutting
 position, the printing tape-feeding mechanism 9 and the tape-laminating
 mechanism 11 stops the feeding of the printing tape Tp, and the cutting
 mechanism 12 operates to cut off the printed portion of the printing tape
 Tp having the laminating tape Tr laminated thereto.
 The printing mechanism 10 includes a carriage guide shaft 31 having
 longitudinal opposite ends (opposite ends of the shaft 31 extending in a
 direction perpendicular to the sheet surface of FIG. 8) supported by a
 frame, not shown, a carriage 32 slidably mounted on the carriage shaft 31,
 a timing belt, not shown, traveling in normal and reverse directions for
 reciprocating the carriage 32 rightward and leftward, and a carriage
 motor, not shown, causing the timing belt to travel in the normal and
 reverse directions. The print head 14 and a cartridge holder 33 for
 holding the ink cartridge 5 are mounted at lower and upper portions of the
 carriage 32, respectively, in a manner forming a unit. The print head 14
 faces downward, and the ink cartridge 5 is mounted within the cartridge
 holder 33 such that it has its delivery port directed downward. When the
 ink cartridge 5 is mounted, ink reservoirs 5a thereof, each of which
 contains ink of a different color, communicates with the print head 14 for
 supply of ink. The ink reservoirs 5a contain yellow ink, cyan ink, magenta
 ink, and black ink, respectively.
 The printing tape-feeding mechanism 9 includes feed roller means 41
 comprised of the free roller 42 positioned above and a drive roller 43
 positioned below, and a feed motor, not shown, for driving the drive
 roller 43 for rotation. The drive roller 43 is arranged in the body 2 of
 the printing apparatus 1, while the free roller 42 is arranged in the tape
 cartridge 4. When the tape cartridge 4 is mounted in the body 2, the free
 roller 42 presses the printing tape Tp in a manner sandwiching the tape Tp
 between the drive roller 43 and the free roller 42 itself. The printing
 tape Tp is advanced in this state as the feed motor rotates. The
 relationship between the feeding of the printing tape Tp and reciprocation
 of the printing head 14 corresponds to the relationship between a main
 scanning direction and a sub scanning direction in the printing technique.
 Therefore, the feed motor operates in a manner interlocked with operation
 of the carriage motor.
 The tape-laminating mechanism 11 includes the laminating roller means 44
 comprised of the free roller 45 positioned above and a drive roller 46
 positioned below, and a laminating motor, not shown, for driving the drive
 roller 46 for rotation. The laminating motor and the feed motor are
 implemented by an identical or single motor, torque of which is split via
 a reduction gear train to be transmitted to the feed roller means 41 and
 the laminating roller means 44, respectively. The drive roller 46 is
 arranged in the body 2 of the tape printing apparatus 1, while the free
 roller 45 is arranged in the tape cartridge 4. The drive roller 46 is an
 elastic roller having a peripheral surface thereof covered with an elastic
 material such as rubber, which enables proper lamination of the printing
 tape Tp and the laminating tape Tr.
 When the tape cartridge 4 is mounted in the apparatus body 2, the free
 roller 45 presses the printing tape Tp and the laminating tape Tr in a
 manner sandwiching the tapes Tp, Tr between the drive roller 46 and the
 free roller 45 itself. The printing tape Tp and the laminating tape Tr are
 affixed to each other in this state and advanced as the laminating motor
 rotates. In the course of the feeding by the laminating motor, the
 printing tape Tp is guided by the pair of printing tape guides 28 to the
 laminating roller means 44, while the laminating tape Tr is guided by the
 pair of laminating tape guides 29 to the same roller means 44.
 The feed roller means 41 and the laminating roller means 44 are arranged on
 an identical horizontal plane such that the printing tape Tp can be fed
 horizontally between the two roller means 41 and 44. Further, the two
 roller means 41, 44 are designed such that the circumferential speed of
 the laminating roller means 44 is slightly faster than that of the feed
 roller means 41, so as to provide tension of the printing tape
 therebetween. The linkage 23 of the tape cartridge 4 located between the
 feed roller means 41 and the laminating roller means 44 is formed with an
 opening 23a via which the print head 14 faces the printing tape Tp.
 The cutting mechanism 12 includes a cutter 48 and a cutter motor, not
 shown, for driving the cutter 48 for cutting operation. After the printing
 is completed, when the feed motor (laminating motor) feeds the printing
 tape Tp by a predetermined number of steps, the motor is stopped, and at
 the same time, the cutter motor starts driving the cutter 48 for cutting
 the printing tape Tp. The cutter 48 may be manually operated by key
 stroke, for the cutting of the tape Tp. There are provided a various kinds
 (approximately ten kinds) of the printing tape Tp and the laminating tape
 Tr, which are different in width (approximately 4.5 to 96 mm). The tapes
 Tp, Tr of these kinds are each supplied in a state contained in the tape
 cartridge 4.
 As described above, the printing tape Tp and the laminating tape Tr are
 supplied to the user in the state contained in the tape cartridge 4 with
 the leading portions thereof affixed to each other. The two tapes supplied
 to the user can be removed from the cartridge 4 after opening the case
 lids 26, 27, respectively, for replacement with new ones. However, when
 the printing tape Tp and/or the laminating tape Tr is replaced, it is
 required that the user himself affix the leading portions of the two tapes
 Tp, Tr to each other for the initial lamination of the tape. Therefore,
 next, the method of carrying out initial lamination of the two tapes Tp,
 Tr by the use of the above tape printing apparatus 1 will be described
 based on an example in which the printing tape Tp and the laminating tape
 Tr according to the first embodiment of the invention are used.
 First, the tape cartridge 4 is removed from the body 2 of the printing
 apparatus 1. Then, a new printing tape Tp and/or a new laminating tape Tr
 is mounted in the cartridge case 24, with the leading portions of the
 tapes Tp, Tr pulled out. Next, the preliminary laminating portion "a" of
 the laminating tape Tr is positioned or placed on the leading portion of
 the printing tape Tp, and affixed thereto. Then, the tape cartridge 4 is
 mounted in the apparatus body 2 in this state, and the feed roller means
 41 and the laminating roller means 44 are rotated by key stroke to feed
 the two tapes Tp, Tr. The tapes Tp, Tr are advanced, respectively, to the
 laminating roller means 44 for lamination in a state always guided by the
 two pairs of tape guides 28, 29 with respect to the lateral sides thereof,
 respectively. In the course of the lamination, immediately before the
 non-adhesive portion "c" of the laminating tape Tr reaches the laminating
 roller means 44, the two tapes Tp, Tr have their lateral positions
 corrected by the two pairs of tape guides 28, 29 guiding the lateral sides
 thereof, whereby they are advanced while being laminated in an accurately
 aligned state. When the leading end of the continuous laminating portion
 "b" of the laminating tape Tr reaches the cutter 48, the feeding of the
 two tapes is stopped, and then the cutting mechanism is driven by key
 stroke to cut off the tapes Tp, Tr.
 Also, in this case, even if the preliminary laminating portion "a" of the
 laminating tape Tr manually affixed to the printing tape Tp is angularly
 displaced with respect to the printing tape Tp, the alignment of the tapes
 is corrected by the use of the non-adhesive portion "c" extending
 continuously from the preliminary laminating portion "a", which makes it
 possible to affix the continuous laminating portion "b" of the laminating
 tape Tr to the printing tape Tp without any displacement from the start.
 Thus, the initial lamination of the printing tape Tp and the laminating
 tape Tr can be easily and accurately carried out without any skill,
 irrespective of laminating accuracy at the preliminary laminating portion
 "a".
 It is further understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing are
 preferred embodiments of the invention, and that various changes and
 modification may be made without departing from the spirit and scope
 thereof.