Abstract:
A printer that includes a cassette housing portion into which a tape cassette is detachably installed in a vertical direction, a feeding device that feeds the tape mounted in the tape cassette, a printing head that performs printing on the tape, a platen roller that is located facing the printing head, a roller holder that rotatably supports the platen roller, a mechanical sensor having a switch terminal that is capable of protruding and retracting, a sensor holder that holds the mechanical sensor between the shaft of the roller holder and the platen roller and that is capable of moving independently of the roller holder between a third position and a fourth position, and a determination device that determines the type of the tape based on protrusion and retraction of the switch terminal.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-139528 and 2009-139565, respectively filed Jun. 10, 2009. The disclosure of the foregoing applications is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to a tape printer that is configured to detachably house a tape cassette therein and that performs printing on a tape included in the tape cassette. 
         [0003]    A printer is known in which a type (a tape width, a print mode and so on) of a tape mounted in a tape cassette installed in a cassette housing portion is detected by a plurality of detecting switches. More specifically, a cassette detection portion is provided on a section of the bottom surface of the tape cassette, the detection portion being formed of through-holes in a pattern corresponding to the type of the tape. When the tape cassette is inserted in the cassette housing portion, the plurality of detecting switches, which are constantly urged in an upward direction, are selectively depressed in accordance with the pattern of the through-holes formed in the cassette detection portion. In the tape printer, the type of tape of the tape cassette inserted in the cassette housing portion is detected according to the combination of the depressed and non-depressed switches among the plurality of detecting switches. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    In tape printers provided with mechanical detecting switches that detect pin pressure, a tape cassette inside a cassette housing portion can easily be lifted due to the repulsive force of the detecting switches that protrude in the upward direction. This results in concerns that a proper positional relationship between a printing head and the tape may be lost, a print position on the tape may be displaced, resulting in a deterioration in print quality, or tape feed defects may occur. 
         [0005]    In the cassette housing portion, a drive shaft to feed the tape and the ink ribbon etc. housed in the tape cassette, and a head holder to hold the thermal head etc. are installed upright, thus restricting the area in which the detecting switches can be installed. For that reason, when the detecting switches are arranged in the cassette housing portion, restrictions on the design of the printer occur, leading to concerns that the printer may become larger. 
         [0006]    Various exemplary embodiments of the general principles herein provide a printer that is capable of appropriate detection of a tape type of a tape cassette that is installed in a cassette housing portion without an increase in device size. 
         [0007]    The exemplary embodiments provide a printer that includes a cassette housing portion into which a tape cassette is detachably installed in a vertical direction, the tape cassette having a box-shaped cassette case in which is mounted a tape, and a side surface of the cassette case having an indicator portion that indicates a type of the tape. The printer also includes a feeding device that feeds the tape mounted in the tape cassette that is installed in the cassette housing portion along a feed path; a printing head that performs printing on the tape that is fed by the feeding device; a platen roller that is located facing the printing head and is pressed against the printing head via the tape; a roller holder that rotatably supports the platen roller and that is capable of moving rotationally between a first position and a second position around a shaft, the first position being a position in which the roller holder extends along the side surface of the tape cassette installed in the cassette housing portion and in which the platen roller presses the printing head via the tape, and the second position being a position in which the platen roller is separated from the printing head, the shaft being parallel to a direction of insertion and removal of the tape cassette; a mechanical sensor having a switch terminal that is capable of protruding and retracting; a sensor holder that holds the mechanical sensor between the shaft of the roller holder and the platen roller and that is capable of moving independently of the roller holder between a third position and a fourth position, the third position being a position in which the sensor holder presses the mechanical sensor against the indicator portion of the tape cassette installed in the tape cassette housing portion, and the fourth position being a position in which the sensor holder separates the mechanical sensor from the indicator portion; and a determination device that determines the type of the tape based on protrusion and retraction of the switch terminal of the mechanical sensor. 
         [0008]    The exemplary embodiments also provide a printer that includes a tape cassette having a box-shaped cassette case with a top surface, a bottom surface, a front surface and a pair of side surfaces; a tape that is mounted in the cassette case; and an indicator portion that is provided on the front surface and that indicates a type of the tape. The printer also includes: a cassette housing portion into which the tape cassette is detachably installed in a vertical direction; a feeding device that feeds the tape mounted in the tape cassette that is installed in the cassette housing portion along a feed path; a printing head that performs printing on the tape that is fed by the feeding device; a platen roller that is located facing the printing head and is pressed against the printing head via the tape; a roller holder that rotatably supports the platen roller and that is capable of moving rotationally around a shaft, the shaft being parallel to a direction of insertion and removal of the tape cassette; a mechanical sensor having a switch terminal that is capable of protruding and retracting; a sensor holder that holds the mechanical sensor between the shaft of the roller holder and the platen roller and that is capable of moving independently of the roller holder; and a determination device that determines the type of the tape based on protrusion and retraction of the switch terminal of the mechanical sensor. The cassette case has a discharge portion that is provided along the feed path and that discharges the tape that is fed by the feeding device from the cassette case, and an exposure portion that exposes one surface of the tape in a direction opposite to the front surface while the other surface of the tape faces the printing head. The indicator portion is provided in a position adjacent to the exposure portion on the front surface of the tape cassette and includes at least one aperture formed in a pattern corresponding to the type of the tape. The roller holder is capable of moving rotationally between a first position and a second position, the first position being a position in which the roller holder extends along the front surface of the tape cassette installed in the cassette housing portion and in which the platen roller presses the printing head via the tape, and the second position being a position in which the platen roller is separated from the printing head. The sensor holder is capable of moving between a third position and a fourth position, the third position being a position in which the sensor holder presses the mechanical sensor against the indicator portion of the tape cassette installed in the tape cassette housing portion, and the fourth position being a position in which the sensor holder separates the mechanical sensor from the indicator portion. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a printer  1  when a cassette cover  6  is closed; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the printer  1  and a tape cassette  30  when the cassette cover  6  is closed; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the tape cassette  30 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a plan view of the tape cassette  30  when a top case  31 A is removed; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged front view of an arm front surface  35  of the wide-width tape cassette  30 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged perspective view of an arm portion  34  of the narrow-width tape cassette  30 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged front view of the arm front surface  35  of the narrow-width tape cassette  30 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view as seen diagonally from the front of a movable mechanism  100 , in which a wall  20  is removed in order to illustrate operation of the movable mechanism  100 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view as seen diagonally from the front of the movable mechanism  100  with a lever  16  and a release rod  17  removed; 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  is a longitudinal section view of the movable mechanism  100 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a roller holder  18  and a sensor holder  19  as seen diagonally from the rear; 
           [0021]      FIG. 12  is a rear view of the roller holder  18  and the sensor holder  19 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 13  is a right side view of the sensor holder  19 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 14  is a longitudinal section view of the sensor holder  19  shown in  FIG. 13 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 15  is a block diagram illustrating the electrical structure of the printer  1 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 16  is a perspective view as seen diagonally from the front of the movable mechanism  100  with the wall  20  removed and when the cassette cover  6  is opened; 
           [0026]      FIG. 17  is a front view of the movable mechanism  100  shown in  FIG. 16 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 18  is a diagram showing a cross-sectional view along a II-II line shown in  FIG. 17  as seen in the direction of the arrows, and also showing the tape cassette  30 , a tape drive shaft  11  and a thermal head  10 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 19  is a perspective view of the movable mechanism  100  as seen diagonally from the front, when the cassette cover  6  is in a state of being opened and closed with the wall  20  removed; 
           [0029]      FIG. 20  is a front view of the movable mechanism  100  shown in  FIG. 19 ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 21  is a diagram showing a cross-sectional view along a line shown in  FIG. 20  as seen in the direction of the arrows, and also showing the tape cassette  30 , the tape drive shaft  11  and the thermal head  10 ; 
           [0031]      FIG. 22  is a perspective view of the movable mechanism  100  as seen diagonally from the front, when the cassette cover  6  is closed and with the wall  20  removed; 
           [0032]      FIG. 23  is a front view of the movable mechanism  100  shown in  FIG. 22 ; 
           [0033]      FIG. 24  is a diagram showing a cross-sectional view along a IV-IV line shown in  FIG. 23  as seen in the direction of the arrows, and also showing the tape cassette  30 , the tape drive shaft  11  and the thermal head  10 ; 
           [0034]      FIG. 25  is a cross-sectional view along a I-I line shown in  FIG. 5  as seen in the direction of the arrows, showing a state in which the sensor holder  19  is pressed by the tape cassette  30  that is installed in a cassette housing portion  8  at a proper position; 
           [0035]      FIG. 26  is a cross-sectional view along the I-I line shown in  FIG. 5  as seen in the direction of the arrows, showing a state in which the sensor holder  19  is pressed by the tape cassette  30  that is installed in the cassette housing portion  8  at an improper position; 
           [0036]      FIG. 27  is an enlarged front view of the arm front surface  35  of the wide-width tape cassette  30  of a modified example; 
           [0037]      FIG. 28  is a perspective view seen diagonally from the rear of the roller holder  18  and the sensor holder  19  of the modified example; and 
           [0038]      FIG. 29  is a cross-sectional view along a V-V line shown in  FIG. 27  as seen in the direction of the arrows, showing a state in which the sensor holder  19  is pressed by the tape cassette  30  that is installed in the cassette housing portion  8  at an improper position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0039]    Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be explained below with reference to the drawings. The configurations of the apparatus shown in the drawings are merely exemplary and do not intend to limit the present invention. 
         [0040]    The outline structure of the printer  1  according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . In the explanation of the present embodiment, the upper right side, the lower left side, the lower right side and the upper left side in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  are respectively defined as the rear side, the front side, the right side, and the left side of the printer  1 . In addition, the upper side and the lower side in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  are respectively defined as the upper side and the lower side of the printer  1 . 
         [0041]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , a character (letters, symbols, numerals etc.) keyboard  3  is provided on an upper surface of the printer  1 . A power source switch, a print key, and a function key group  4  are provided on the rear side of the keyboard  3  (the upper right side on paper). A liquid crystal display  5  is provided on the rear side of the function key group  4 . The liquid crystal display  5  displays input characters and symbols etc. A cover  6  is provided in a rear portion of the upper surface of the printer  1 . A tape tray  7  that receives a cut printed tape  50  (refer to  FIG. 3 ) is provided on the left rear corner of the printer  1 . 
         [0042]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , cassette housing portion  8  is formed on the rear side of the liquid crystal display  5 . The tape cassette  30  can be installed into and removed from the cassette housing portion  8  in a vertical direction. A ribbon take-up shaft  9  is provided standing in the cassette housing portion  8 . The ribbon take-up shaft  9  takes up an ink ribbon  60  (refer to  FIG. 4 ) that has been pulled from a ribbon spool  42  (refer to  FIG. 4 ) and used for printing of characters etc. A head holder  74  (refer to  FIG. 18 ) is provided standing to the front left of the ribbon take-up shaft  9 . When seen in a front view, the head holder  74  is generally rectangular. A thermal head  10  (refer to  FIG. 18 ) that performs printing of characters etc. on a film tape  59  (refer to  FIG. 4 ) is provided on the front surface of the head holder  74 . A tape drive shaft  11  (refer to  FIG. 18 ) that drives the feed of the printed tape  50  is provided standing to the left of the head holder  74 . 
         [0043]    A roller holder  18 , a sensor holder  19  and a release rod  17  etc. are arranged on the front side of the cassette housing portion  8  (refer to  FIG. 8 ). The roller holder  18 , the sensor holder  19  and the release rod  17  will be described later. The roller holder  18 , the sensor holder  19  and the release rod  17  are covered by a board  13 . A lever  16  that is coupled to the release rod  17  is provided on the right side of the board  13 . 
         [0044]    The cover  6  can be freely opened and closed around a fulcrum that runs in the left-and-rightward direction at the rear edge of the cover  6 . When the cover  6  is in a closed position, the cassette housing portion  8  is closed such that the tape cassette  30  cannot be installed or removed (refer to  FIG. 1 ), and when the cover  6  is in an open position, the cassette housing portion  8  is opened such that the tape cassette  30  can be freely installed and removed (refer to  FIG. 2 ). A lever depression portion  61 , which depresses the lever  16  when the cover  6  is closed, is provided on the underneath front side of the cover  6 . A support member  62  is provided on the right side edge of the lever depression portion  61 , extending vertically with respect to the underneath surface of the cover  6 . A tabular protruding piece  63  protrudes from the lower edge of the support member  62  toward the right side. The protruding piece  63  protrudes in parallel to the lever depression portion  61 , and pulls up the lever  16  when the cover  6  is opened. 
         [0045]    A pair of latching pieces  64  &amp;  64  are provided on both side edges on the underneath surface of the cover  6 . A pair of latching portions  27  &amp;  27  are provided on the outer side of the cassette housing portion  8  in a plan view. When the cover  6  is closed, the latching pieces  64  &amp;  64  fit with the latching portions  27  &amp;  27  and maintain the cover  6  in the closed position. 
         [0046]    Next, the structure of the tape cassette  30  according to the present embodiment will be explained with reference to  FIG. 3  to  FIG. 7 . Hereinafter, the tape cassette  30  configured as a general purpose cassette will be explained as an example. the tape cassette  30  may be assembled as the thermal type, the receptor type and the laminated type, by changing, as appropriate, the type of the tape to be mounted in the tape cassette  30  and by changing the presence or absence of the ink ribbon, and so on. In the explanation of the present embodiment, the tape cassette  30  is the laminated type. The upper left side, the lower right side, the upper right side, the lower left side, the upper side and the lower side in  FIG. 3  are, respectively, the rear side, the front side, the right side, the left side, the upper side and the lower side of the tape cassette  30 . 
         [0047]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the tape cassette  30  includes a cassette case  31  that is overall a generally square shaped (box shaped) housing with rounded corner portions in a plan view. The cassette case  31  is formed of a bottom case  31 B that includes a bottom surface  30 B of the cassette case  31  and a top case  31 A that includes a top surface  30 A of the cassette case  31 . The top case  31 A is fixed to an upper portion of the bottom case  31 B. In the explanation of the present embodiment, a distance from the bottom surface  30 B to the top surface  30 A is referred to as the height of the tape cassette  30  or the cassette case  31 . 
         [0048]    The cassette case  31  has the corner portions  32 A that have the same width (the same length in the vertical direction), regardless of the tape type of the tape cassette  30 . The corner portions  32 A each protrude in an outward direction to form a right angle when seen in a plan view. However, the lower left corner portion  32 A does not form a right angle in the plan view, as the tape discharge portion  49  is provided in the corner. The cassette case  31  includes a portion that is called the common portion  32 . The common portion  32  includes the corner portions  32 A and encircles all the side surfaces of the cassette case  31  at the same position as the corner portions  32 A in the vertical (height) direction of the cassette case  31  and also has the same width as the corner portions  32 A. 
         [0049]    As shown in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 7 , the common portion  32  is a portion that is formed symmetrically in the vertical direction with regard to a central line that runs in the vertical (height) direction of the cassette case  31 . Note that the height of the tape cassette  30  differs depending on the width of the film tape  59  or the double-sided adhesive tape  58  housed in the cassette case  31  (namely, the printed tape  50 ). However, a width T of the common portion  32  (the length in the vertical direction) is set to be the same dimension, regardless of the width of the printed tape  50 . 
         [0050]    For example, when the width T of the common portion  32  is 12 mm, if the width of the printed tape  50  is larger (18 mm, 24 mm, 36 mm, for example), the height of the cassette case  31  also becomes accordingly larger, but the width T of the common portion  32  remains constant. Note that, when the width of the printed tape  50  is equal to or less than the width T of the common portion  32  (6 mm, 12 mm, for example), the height of the cassette case  31  is the width T of the common portion  32  (12 mm) plus a predetermined width. The height of the cassette case  31  is at its smallest in this case. 
         [0051]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the top case  31 A and the bottom case  31 B respectively have support holes  65 ,  66  and  67  that rotatably support spools, which will be explained later. Only the support holes  65 ,  66  and  67  formed in the top case  31 A are shown in  FIG. 3 , but the support holes  65 ,  66  and  67  are also formed in a similar manner in the bottom case  31 B. 
         [0052]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , three types of tape roll are housed in the cassette case  31 , namely the double-sided adhesive tape  58  wound on a first tape spool  40 , the transparent film tape  59  wound on a second tape spool  41  and the ink ribbon  60  wound on the ribbon spool  42 . The double-sided adhesive tape  58  is a double-sided adhesive tape with a release paper adhered to one surface, and stuck to the print surface of the film tape  59 . 
         [0053]    The first tape spool  40 , on which the double-sided adhesive tape  58  is wound with its release paper facing outward, is rotatably mounted around the support holes  65  on the left side and to the rear inside the cassette case  31 . The second tape spool  41 , on which the film tape  59  is wound, is rotatably mounted around the support holes  66  on the right side and to the rear inside the cassette case  31 . The ink ribbon  60 , which is wound on the ribbon spool  42 , is rotatably arranged on the right side and to the front inside the cassette case  31 . 
         [0054]    Between the first tape spool  40  and the ribbon spool  42  in the cassette case  31 , a ribbon take-up spool  44  is mounted around the support holes  67 . The ribbon take-up spool  44  pulls out the ink ribbon  60  from the ribbon spool  42  and takes up the ink ribbon  60  that has been used to print characters. A clutch spring (not shown in the figures) is attached to a lower portion of the ribbon take-up spool  44  to prevent loosening of the taken up ink ribbon  60  due to reverse rotation of the ribbon take-up spool  44 . 
         [0055]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , a semi-circular groove  34 K that has a cross-sectional semi-circular shape in a plan view is provided in the front surface of the cassette case  31 , and extends over the height of the cassette case  31  (in other words, extends from the top surface  30 A to the bottom surface  30 B). The semi-circular groove  34 K is a recess provided such that, when the tape cassette  30  is installed in the cassette housing portion  8 , there is no interference between a shaft support  181  of the roller holder  18  (refer to  FIG. 8 ) and the cassette case  31 . Of the front surface of the cassette case  31 , a section that stretches leftwards from the semi-circular groove  34 K is referred to as an arm front surface  35 . A part that is defined by the arm front surface  35  and an arm rear surface  37  and that extends leftwards from the right portion of the tape cassette  30  is referred to as an arm portion  34 . The arm rear surface  37  is separately provided at the rear of the arm front surface  35  and extends over the height of the cassette case  31 . 
         [0056]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , the film tape  59  that is pulled from the first tape spool  41  and the ink ribbon  60  that is pulled from the ribbon spool  42  are guided together inside the arm portion  34 . An end of the arm front surface  35  bends in a rearward direction. An exit  34 A is formed by ends of the arm front surface  35  and the arm rear surface  37 . The film tape  59  and the ink ribbon  60  are joined together at the exit  34 A and are discharged toward an opening  77  that will be described later. 
         [0057]    A space that is surrounded by the arm rear surface  37  and a peripheral wall surface that extends continuously from the arm rear surface  37  is the head insertion portion  39 . The head insertion portion  39  has a generally rectangular shape in a plan view and penetrates through the cassette case  31  in the vertical direction. The head insertion portion  39  is connected to the outside at the front surface side of the tape cassette  30 , through the opening  77  formed in the front surface of the tape cassette  30 . The head holder  74  that supports the thermal head  10  of the printer  1  (refer to  FIG. 18 ) is inserted into the head insertion portion  39 . One surface of the film tape  59  that is discharged from the exit  34 A is exposed to the front at the opening  77 , and the other surface opposes the thermal head  10  positioned to the rear. In the present embodiment, the other surface of the film tape  59  opposes the thermal head  10  across the ink ribbon  60 . At the opening  77 , printing is performed by the thermal head  10  on the film tape  59  using the ink ribbon  60 . 
         [0058]    As shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , the tape drive roller  46  is rotatably and axially supported on the feed path for the film tape  59  and the ink ribbon  60  from the exit  34 A to the tape discharge portion  49 , on the downstream side of the head insertion portion  39 . The tape drive roller  46  is driven to rotate by the tape drive shaft  11  (refer to  FIG. 18 ) that is inserted into the tape drive roller  46 . The tape drive roller  46  moves in concert with a movable feed roller  14  (refer to  FIG. 23 ) that opposes the tape drive roller  46  and thus pulls the film tape  59  from the second tape spool  41  and pulls the double-sided adhesive tape  58  from the first tape spool  40 . The double-sided adhesive tape  58  is then guided to and adhered to the print surface of the film tape  59 . 
         [0059]    A pair of regulating members  36  that match in the vertical direction are provided on the upstream side of the tape drive roller  46 . The regulating members  36  regulate the printed film tape  59  in the vertical direction (in the tape width direction), and guide the printed film tape  59  toward the tape discharge portion  49  on the downstream side of the thermal head  10 . Thus, the film tape  59  and the double-sided adhesive tape  58  are bonded together appropriately without making any positional displacement. A guide wall  47  is provided standing in the vicinity of the regulating members  36 . The guide wall  47  separates the used ink ribbon  60  that has been fed via the head insertion portion  39  from the film tape  59 , and guides the used ink ribbon  60  toward the ribbon take-up spool  44 . A separating wall  48  is provided standing between the guide wall  47  and the ribbon take-up spool  44 . The separating wall  48  prevents mutual contact between the used ink ribbon  60  that is guided along the guide wall  47  and the double-sided adhesive tape  58  that is wound on and supported by the first tape spool  40 . 
         [0060]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , an arm indicator portion  800  that indicates the tape type of the tape cassette  30  is provided on the arm front surface  35  adjacent to the right side of the opening  77 . The arm indicator portion  800  includes a non-pressing portion  801  and a pressing portion  802 . The non-pressing portion  801  is a rectangular hole in a front view and allows a switch terminal  231  to be inserted or removed. The pressing portion  802  is a surface portion that comes into contact with the switch terminal  231 . The non-pressing portions  801  and the pressing portions  802  are provided in a specific pattern corresponding to the tape type. The non-pressing portion  801  and the pressing portion  802  are positioned such that they respectively correspond to the switch terminals  231  that will be described later (refer to  FIG. 11  and  FIG. 12 ). The arm indicator portion  800  according to the present embodiment has the non-pressing portions  801  and the pressing portions  802  in five positions that correspond to the five switch terminals  231 . Hereinafter, when the non-pressing portions  801  and the pressing portions  802  are referred to generically, or when neither is particularly specified, they are simply referred to as indicators. 
         [0061]    The structure of the arm indicator portion  800  will be explained in detail with reference to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 5  to  FIG. 7 .  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 5  are figures relating to the wide-width tape cassette  30  in which the tape width of the printed tape  50  is equal to or greater than a prescribed width (18 mm, for example).  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7  are figures relating to the narrow-width tape cassette  30  in which the tape width of the printed tape  50  is less than the prescribed width. 
         [0062]    As shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 5  to  FIG. 7 , for both the wide-width tape cassette  30  and the narrow-width tape cassette  30 , at least some of the indicators (the non-pressure portions  801  and the pressure portions  802 ) of the arm indicator portion  800  are provided within a predetermined height range T 1  (hereinafter referred to as the predetermined height T 1 ) of the arm front surface  35 . Among the plurality of tape cassettes  30  with different heights, the predetermined height T 1  is the height of the tape cassette  30  for which the height of the cassette case  31  is smallest. As described above, the smallest height of the tape cassette  30  is the width T of the common portion  32  plus the predetermined width. An area within the range of the predetermined height T 1  of the arm front surface  35  is referred to as a common indicator portion  831 . 
         [0063]    In the case of the wide-width tape cassette  30 , additional indicators may be provided either above or below the common indicator portion  831  within the range of a predetermined height T 2  of the arm front surface  35 . Areas that are outside the common indicator portion  831  within the predetermined height T 2  of the arm front surface  35  are referred to as extension portions  832 . In the examples in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 5 , for example, of the five indicators, four of the indicators are provided in two rows within the common identification portion  831 . The remaining indicator is provided extending from the common indicator portion  831  into the extension portion  832  below the common indicator portion  831 . In this way, in the wide-width tape cassette  30 , by having the arm indicator portion  800  with a larger area that corresponds to the wider arm front surface  35 , the number of tape types that can be detected by the printer  1  can be increased. 
         [0064]    In the case of the narrow-width tape cassette  30 , such that the switch terminal  231  that detects the indicator provided in the extension portion  832  is not pressed, an escape hole  803  is formed in a position corresponding to the switch terminal  231 . For example, in the examples shown in  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 , the four indicators are provided in two rows within the range of the common indicator portion  831 , and the escape hole  803  is formed on the lower edge of the common indicator portion  831 . 
         [0065]    In this way, when either of the wide-width tape cassette  30  and the narrow-width tape cassette  30  are installed in the cassette housing portion  8 , the tape type can be detected by the common mechanical sensor  23 . Detection modes for detecting the tape type using the arm indicator portion  800  will be explained separately later. 
         [0066]    Whether for the wide-width tape cassette  30  or the narrow-width tape cassette  30 , each of the indicators of the arm indicator portion  800  according to the present embodiment are arranged in different positions in the left-and-rightward direction. The five indicators are arranged in a zigzag pattern such that they do not overlap in the vertical direction. Therefore, a line linking each of the identification portions intersects with the vertical direction of the tape cassette  30 , which is the direction of installation and removal of the tape cassette  30 . 
         [0067]    A latching hole  820  is provided on the arm front surface  35  on the upper right side of the arm indicator portion  800 . The latching hole  820  is a through hole (refer to  FIG. 25 ) into which a latching piece  192  (refer to  FIG. 11  and  FIG. 12 ) is inserted when the sensor holder  19  (to be described later) is moved to an identification position (a position shown in  FIG. 24 ). More specifically, the latching hole  820  extends over a joining portion of the top case  31 A and the bottom case  31 B and extends in the rightward direction from above the indicator positioned on the rightmost side of the arm indicator portion  800  (the pressing portion  802  in the lowest row in the example in  FIG. 5 ). The latching hole  820  has a generally rectangular shape in a front view, with the long sides running in the left-and-rightward direction. 
         [0068]    As shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 6 , a through-hole  850  that is an upright rectangular shape in a front view is provided in the arm front surface  35 , to the left side of the arm identification portion  800  of the bottom case  31 B. The through-hole  850  is provided as a relief hole for a die used in a molding process of the cassette case  31 , and does not have any particular function. 
         [0069]    The outline structure of a movable mechanism  100  provided on the printer  1  will be explained with reference to  FIG. 8 . The movable mechanism  100  according to the present embodiment refers to a series of mechanisms that move in response to external pressure, including the lever  16 , the release rod  17 , the roller holder  18 , the sensor holder  19  and a wall  20  that will be described later (refer to  FIG. 9 ). 
         [0070]    In the explanation of the present embodiment, the lower right side, the upper left side, the upper right side, the lower left side, the upper side and the lower side in  FIG. 8  correspond, respectively, to the front side, the rear side, the right side, the left side, the upper side and the lower side of the movable mechanism  100 . For ease of explanation of operating modes of the movable mechanism  100 ,  FIG. 8  shows the movable mechanism  100  with the wall  20  (refer to  FIG. 9 ) removed. This is also the case for  FIG. 16  to  FIG. 24 , which will be described later. 
         [0071]    When a user installs the tape cassette  30  into the cassette housing portion  8  or removes the tape cassette  30  from the cassette housing portion  8 , the user opens the cover  6  in the upward direction. When performing printing by the printer  1 , the user closes the cover  6  in the downward direction. In accordance with the opening and closing of the cover  6 , the lever  16  moves rotationally around a lever shaft  161  in the up-down direction (a rotational movement direction D 1  shown in  FIG. 8 ). When the cover  6  is opened in the upward direction, the lever  16  moves rotationally in the upward direction. When the cover  6  is closed in the downward direction, the lever  16  moves rotationally in the downward direction. This will be explained in more detail later. 
         [0072]    A lower edge of the lever  16  engages with the release rod  17 , the release rod  17  having a tabular shape whose longitudinal direction is the left-and-rightward direction. The release rod  17  moves in the leftward-and-rightward direction in accordance with the circular movement of the lever  16  (a movement direction D 2  shown in  FIG. 8 ). The release lever  17  moves in the leftward direction (the downward leftward direction in  FIG. 8 ) when the lever  16  is moved circularly in the downward direction (the downward direction in  FIG. 8 ). The release rod  17  moves in the rightward direction (in the upward rightward direction in  FIG. 8 ) when the lever  16  is moved circularly in the upward direction (the upward direction in  FIG. 8 ). This will be explained in more detail later. 
         [0073]    The roller holder  18  is provided on the rear side (the upper left side in  FIG. 8 ) of the release rod  17 . The roller holder  18  is provided with a platen roller  15  (refer to  FIG. 11 ) and the movable feed roller  14 . The roller holder  18  is pivotably supported around the shaft support  181 . The movable feed roller  14  is rotatably supported on the left edge portion of the roller holder  18  such that the roller surface is exposed in the rearward direction. To the right side of the movable feed roller  14 , the platen roller  15  is rotatably supported such that the roller surface is exposed in the rearward direction. The movable feed roller  14  and the platen roller  15  are arranged such that they oppose the tape drive roller  46  and the thermal head  10 , respectively (refer to  FIG. 18 ). 
         [0074]    The roller holder  18  is constantly elastically urged in the forward direction (in the downward rightward direction in  FIG. 8 ) by an urging spring that is not shown in the figures. In accordance with the release rod  17  moving in the left-and-rightward direction (the movement direction D 2 ), the roller holder  18  pivots (a pivot direction D 3  shown in  FIG. 8 ) in the back-and-forth direction around the shaft support  181 . More specifically, when the release rod  17  moves in the leftward direction, the roller holder  18  resists the urging force of the urging spring and pivots in the rearward direction (the upper leftward direction in  FIG. 8 ). When the release rod  17  moves in the rightward direction, the roller holder  18  pivots in the forward direction (the lower rightward direction in  FIG. 8 ) due to the urging force of the urging spring. This will be explained in more detail later. 
         [0075]    A first holder opening  182  is provided between the shaft support  181  and the platen roller  15 . The first holder opening  182  has a generally rectangular shape in a front view. The sensor holder  19  is provided on the rear side of the release rod  17  and on the inside of the first holder opening  182 . A plurality of mechanical sensors  23  are provided on the sensor holder  19  (refer to  FIG. 11 ). The plurality of mechanical sensors  23  have switch terminals  231  that protrude in the rearward direction (in the upper leftward direction in  FIG. 8 ). The plurality of mechanical sensors  23  are provided in positions that correspond, respectively, to the plurality of indicators provided on the arm indicator portion  800 . This will be explained in more detail later. 
         [0076]    The sensor holder  19  moves in the back-and-forth direction (a movement direction D 4  shown in  FIG. 8 ), in accordance with the movement of the release rod  17  in the left-and-rightward direction (the movement direction D 2 ). More specifically, when the release rod  17  moves in the leftward direction, the sensor holder  19  moves in the rearward direction (the upper leftward direction in  FIG. 8 ). When the release rod  17  moves in the rightward direction, the sensor holder  19  moves in the forward direction (the lower rightward direction in  FIG. 8 ). The sensor holder  19  is not fixed to the roller holder  18  and can therefore move independently from the roller holder  18 . This will be explained in more detail later. 
         [0077]    According to the above-described structure, with the movable mechanism  100  according to the present embodiment, when the cover  6  is closed in the downward direction, the roller holder  18  pivots in the rearward direction and the sensor holder  19  moves in the rearward direction. When the roller holder  18  pivots in the rearward direction, the platen roller  15  is pressed by the thermal head  10  and the movable feed roller  14  is pressed by the tape drive roller  46 . When the sensor holder  19  moves in the rearward direction, the switch terminals  231  of the mechanical sensors  23  are pressed by the arm indicator portion  800 . In this way, in the printer  1 , it is possible to perform a printing operation using the tape cassette  30  installed in the cassette housing portion  8 , and it is also possible to identify the tape type of the tape cassette  30 . In the present embodiment, before the switch terminals  231  are pressed by the arm indicator portion  800 , the platen roller  15  and the movable feed roller  14  are each first pressed by the thermal head  10  and the tape drive roller  46 , respectively. This will be explained in more detail later. 
         [0078]    When the cover  6  is opened in the upward direction, the roller holder  18  pivots in the forward direction and the sensor holder  19  moves in the forward direction. When the roller holder  18  pivots in the forward direction, the platen roller  15  is separated from the thermal head  10  and the movable feed roller  14  is separated from the tape drive roller  46 . When the sensor holder  19  moves in the forward direction, the switch terminals  231  of the mechanical sensors  23  are separated from the arm indicator portion  800 . In this way, in the printer  1 , it is possibly to freely install and remove the tape cassette  30  from the cassette housing portion  8 . In the present embodiment, after the switch terminals  231  are separated from the arm indicator portion  800 , the platen roller  15  and the movable feed roller  14  are each then separated from the thermal head  10  and the tape drive roller  46 , respectively. This will be explained in more detail later. 
         [0079]    The physical structure of each of the members included in the movable mechanism  100  will be explained in more detail with reference to  FIG. 8  to  FIG. 12 .  FIG. 9  shows the movable mechanism  100  as seen from the same direction as in  FIG. 8 . However, in  FIG. 9 , for ease of explanation of the linked structure of the movable mechanism  100 , the movable mechanism  100  is shown in a state in which the roller holder  18  is in a print position (a position shown in  FIG. 24 ), and the sensor holder  19  is in the identification position (the position shown in  FIG. 24 ). Further, the lever  16  and the release rod  17  are removed in  FIG. 9 . 
         [0080]    The physical structure of the lever  16  will be explained with reference to  FIG. 8 . The lever  16  has a predetermined thickness and width, and is curved such that, in a front view, it extends in the upper rightward direction and describes a generally circular arc. The lever shaft  161  that rotatably supports the lever  16  is provided on a lower edge of the lever  16 . A lever protrusion  162  that protrudes in the upward direction is provided on a leading end of the lever  16 . A top surface curved portion  163  and a contact surface  164  are provided on the lower left side of the lever protrusion  162 . The top surface curved portion  163  is a corner portion that is formed on the outer side of the lever  16  in the direction of the curvature. The contact surface  164  is a surface portion that is provided connected to the lower side of the top surface curved portion  163 . The lever protrusion  162 , the top surface curved portion  163  and the contact surface  164  are all portions that come into contact with the lever depression portion  61  when the cover  6  is closed (refer to  FIG. 2 ), and they will be explained in more detail later. 
         [0081]    The physical structure of the release rod  17  will be explained with reference to  FIG. 8 ,  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 18 .  FIG. 18  shows a cross section of the movable mechanism  100  when the printer  1  is seen from the bottom surface.  FIG. 18  also shows the tape cassette  30  depicted with virtual lines (lines of alternate long and two short dashes). In  FIG. 18 , for ease of explanation, the wall  20  and a spring member  22  are omitted (this is also the case for  FIG. 21  and  FIG. 24  which will be described later). 
         [0082]    The release rod  17  is engaged with the lower edge of the lever shaft  161  of the lever  16 . The release rod  17  is provided with a depression portion  171  and a hollow portion  172 . The hollow portion  172  has a predetermined thickness and height, and forms a rectangular cylinder shape whose longitudinal direction extends in the left-and-rightward direction. The depression portion  171  is a head portion that is formed on the left end of the hollow portion  172 . 
         [0083]    The depression portion  171  causes the roller holder  18  to pivot in the back-and-forth direction (the up-and-down direction in  FIG. 18 ). As the depression portion  171  has a shape that protrudes in the back-and-forth direction from the hollow portion  172  in a plan view, the length of the depression portion  171  in the back-and-forth direction (namely, the thickness) is larger than that of the hollow portion  172 . An inclined surface is formed extending across a rear surface of the depression portion  171  from the left surface, such that the depression portion  171  tapers in the left-and-rightward direction in a plan view, rearward from a position of the hollow portion  172  in the back-and-forth direction (the downward direction in  FIG. 18 ). A rear surface portion that is formed parallel to the left-and-rightward direction of the depression portion  171  is a rear surface  1711 . With respect to the depression portion  171 , an inclined surface that extends in the forward leftward direction from the rear surface  1711  is an inclined surface  1712 . 
         [0084]    A concavity  176  is provided in the top surface of the hollow portion  172 . The concavity  176  is provided within a predetermined range that extends in the rightward direction from a generally central position in the left-and-rightward direction of the hollow portion  172 . The concavity  176  is formed as an indentation whose height position is slightly lower than the top surface. A rod guide portion  175  that guides the sensor holder  19  in the back-and-forth direction is formed on the top surface of the concavity  176 . The rod guide portion  175  has a first rod guide portion  1751 , a rod guide inclined portion  1752  and a second rod guide portion  1753 . 
         [0085]    The first rod guide portion  1751  is a wall that is provided standing along the front edge of the concavity  176 . The first rod guide portion  1751  extends from the left end of the concavity  176  to a position slightly to the left side of the center of the concavity  176 . The second rod guide portion  1753  is a wall that is provided standing along the rear edge of the concavity  176 . The second rod guide portion  1753  extends in the rightward direction from a position slightly to the right side of the center of the concavity  176 . The rod guide inclined portion  1752  is a wall that is provided standing from the concavity  176  such that it obliquely links the right end of the first rod guide portion  1751  and the left end of the second rod guide portion  1753  in a plan view. The first rod guide portion  1751 , the rod guide inclined portion  1752  and the second rod guide portion  1753  each have substantially the same thickness and height respectively. The appearance of the rod guide portion  175  as a whole has a rail shape. 
         [0086]    A first guide portion  174  is provided on the front surface of the hollow portion  172 , on the lower right side when seen from the right end of the concavity  176 . The first guide portion  174  is a tab that protrudes in the forward direction from the front surface of the hollow portion  172 . Further, the leading end of the first guide portion  174  is bent in the downward direction. A second guide portion  173  is provided on the depression portion  171 . The second guide portion  173  extends over the left surface and the right surface of the depression portion  171 . The second guide portion  173  is a groove-shaped concavity from the bottom surface in the upward direction. The second guide portion  173  is provided to the front side of position of the hollow portion  172 . The first guide portion  174  and the second guide portion  173  guide the movement of the release rod  17  in the left-and-rightward direction. 
         [0087]    The physical structure of the wall  20  will be explained with reference to  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10 . The wall  20  is a tabular member that is long in the left-and-rightward direction, and is provided standing to the front (the lower right side in  FIG. 9 ) of the release rod  17  in the printer  1 . Around the top end of the wall  20 , the wall  20  has a first upper surface portion  201 , a second upper surface portion  202 , a third upper surface portion  203 , a fourth upper surface portion  204  and a fifth upper surface portion  205 . The first upper surface portion  201  to the fifth upper surface portion  205  are provided from the left side to the right side of the wall  20  in the order described above (from the lower left side to the upper right side in  FIG. 9 ), and form a step-shaped line. 
         [0088]    The first upper surface portion  201  is formed in the left-and-rightward direction of the wall  20  extending from the left end of the wall  20  to a position slightly to the left of the center of the wall  20 , and is a peripheral portion that is formed parallel to the left-and-rightward direction of the printer  1 . The third upper surface portion  203  is formed extending from a position slightly to the right of the center of the wall  20  to a position slightly to the left of the right end of the wall  20  and is a peripheral portion that is formed parallel to the left-and-rightward direction of the printer  1  and above the first upper surface portion  201 . The fifth upper surface portion  205  is formed in the left-and-rightward direction of the wall  20  on the right end edge of the wall  20 , and is a peripheral portion that is formed parallel to the left-and-rightward direction of the printer  1  and above the third upper surface portion  203 . The second upper surface portion  202  is a peripheral portion that obliquely links the first upper surface portion  201  and the third upper surface portion  203  that are at differing height positions. The fourth upper surface portion  204  is a peripheral portion that obliquely links the third upper surface portion  203  and the fifth upper surface portion  205  that are at differing height positions. 
         [0089]    A long hole  206  is formed to the lower side of the third upper surface portion  203 , the fourth upper surface portion  204  and the fifth upper surface portion  205 . The Long hole  206  is a groove-shaped penetrating hole which extends in the left-and-rightward direction. A round hole  207 , which is a hole that has a circular shape in a front view, is provided to the lower left side of the third upper surface portion  203 . A first square hole  208 , which has a horizontally long rectangular shape in a front view, is provided to the lower side of the round hole  207 . A second square hole  209 , which has a horizontally long rectangular shape in a front view, is provided at a position lower than the first square hole  208 . 
         [0090]    The first guide portion  174  engages slidingly with the long hole  206 . The second guide portion  173  engages slidingly with the first upper surface portion  201 . The first guide portion  174  is guided along the long hole  206 , and the second guide portion  173  is guided along the first upper surface portion  201 , thus moving the release rod  17  in the left-and-rightward direction. 
         [0091]    The physical structure of the roller holder  18  will be explained with reference to  FIG. 8 ,  FIG. 9 ,  FIG. 11 ,  FIG. 12  and  FIG. 18 . As described above, the roller holder  18  rotatably supports the movable feed roller  14  and the platen roller  15  and is provided to the rear side of the release rod  17 . The first holder opening  182  is an opening that extends from the right side edge of the roller holder  18  to a position at which the platen roller  15  is supported in the left-and-right direction. A second holder opening  183  is formed continuously with a left side of opening edges of the first holder opening  182 . The second holder opening  183  is an opening that is smaller than the first holder opening  182  and has a generally rectangular shape in a front view. The first holder opening  182  and the second holder opening  183  are joined to form a single opening. A holder side reception portion  184  is provided to the rear of the second holder opening  183 . The holder side reception portion  184  extends from the front surface of the platen roller  15  toward the rear right side (the lower rightward direction in  FIG. 18 ) and has a curved surface that follows the roller surface of the platen roller  15 . 
         [0092]    The release rod  17  is provided such that the hollow portion  172  extends along the left-and-rightward direction of the first holder opening  182  and the depression portion  171  is inserted into the second holder opening  183  from the right side. When the depression portion  171  is separated from the holder side reception portion  184 , the holder side reception portion  184  is not pressed by the depression portion  171 . 
         [0093]    As described above, the roller holder  18  that pivots around the shaft support  181  is constantly elastically urged in the forward direction. When the holder side reception portion  184  is not pressed, the roller holder  18  is maintained in a stand-by position (a position shown in  FIG. 18 ). When the release rod  17  moves to the left side, the depression portion  171  comes into contact with and presses the holder side reception portion  184  inside the second holder opening  183 . In this case, the roller holder  18  moves from the stand-by position in the rearward direction (the downward direction in  FIG. 18 ), and this will be explained in more detail later. 
         [0094]    The physical structure of the sensor holder  19  will be explained with reference to  FIG. 8  to  FIG. 12 . The sensor holder  19  is provided inside the first holder opening  182  on the rear side of the release rod  17  (the upper left side in  FIG. 8 ). The sensor holder  19  includes a box-shaped unit main body  191 , the mechanical sensors  23 , the latching piece  192 , an electrical board  193 , a cylindrical portion  194 , the spring member  22  and a rotation prevention member  195 . 
         [0095]    A first protective portion opening  197  and a second protective portion opening  198 , which are openings in two locations, are provided on the unit main body  191 , on the side of a surface that opposes the tape cassette  30  installed in the cassette housing portion  8  (hereinafter referred to as a cassette-facing surface  191 A). The first protective portion opening  197  is formed as a vertically long generally rectangular shape in a rear view. The second protective portion opening  198  is formed as a rectangular shape on the upper left side of the first protective portion opening  197  (the upper right side in  FIG. 12 ). An opening area of the second protective portion opening  198  is larger than that of the first protective portion opening  197 . One of the mechanical sensors  23  is slotted into the first protective portion opening  197 . A sensor storage body  88 , which holds four of the mechanical sensors  23  together, is inserted into the second protective portion opening  198 . The mechanical sensors  23  that are slotted into each of the first protective portion opening  197  and the second protective portion opening  198  are electrically connected to the electrical board  193  that is provided on the unit main body  191 . 
         [0096]    The electrical board  193  is provided on the front side of the unit main body  191 . The front surface of the electrical board  193  is exposed in the forward direction from the first holder opening  182 . Although not shown in the figures, an electrical wiring assembly is connected to the front surface of the electrical board  193 . The electrical board  193  is electrically connected to a control circuit  400  provided inside the printer  1  (refer to  FIG. 15 ) via the electrical wiring assembly. On and off signals of the mechanical sensors  23  are transferred to a CPU  401  (refer to  FIG. 15 ) via the electrical wiring assembly connected to the electrical board  193 . 
         [0097]    Each of the mechanical sensors  23  includes the switch terminal  231 . The switch terminals  231  protrude in the rearward direction from the cassette-facing surface  191 A. In other words, each of the switch terminals  231  protrude such that they oppose the arm front surface  35  (refer to  FIG. 3 ) of the tape cassette  30  installed in the cassette housing portion  8 . The switch terminals  231  are provided in positions corresponding to the indicators of the arm indicator portion  800  (the non-pressing portions  801  and the pressing portions  802 ), respectively (refer to  FIG. 5 ). In the present embodiment, the five switch terminals  231  are arranged in a zigzag pattern. The position of each of the switch terminals  231  is respectively different in the left-and-rightward direction. As a consequence, none of the switch terminals  231  overlap in the vertical direction. A line linking each of the switch terminals  231  intersects with the vertical direction of the printer  1 , which is the direction of insertion and removal of the tape cassette  30 . The latching piece  192  is provided on an upper right portion of the cassette-facing surface  191 A (an upper left portion in  FIG. 12 ). The latching piece  192  is a tabular protrusion whose longitudinal direction is the left-and-rightward direction. A protrusion length of the latching piece  192  is greater than that of the switch terminals  231  in the rearward direction, which will be explained in more detail later. 
         [0098]    An electrical board hole  196  is provided in the electrical board  193 . The electrical board hole  196  is a circular hole in a front view. The unit main body  191  includes the cylindrical portion  194 , which is a cylindrical shape that extends in the forward direction (in the rightward direction in  FIG. 10 ). The cylindrical portion  194  protrudes in the forward direction through the electrical board hole  196  provided in the electrical board  193 . The cylindrical portion  194  has a shaft hole that extends in the back-and-forth direction and a small diameter columnar member  21  is inserted into the shaft hole. The shaft hole of the cylindrical portion  194  includes a first shaft hole  1941  and a second shaft hole  1942  that communicate to form a same shaft. The first shaft hole  1941  extends in the forward direction from the cassette-facing surface  191 A to a position close to the center of the cylindrical portion  194 . The second shaft hole  1942  extends from the first shaft hole  1941  to the front end of the cylindrical portion  194 . The second shaft hole  1942  has a larger aperture diameter than the first shaft hole  1941 . The columnar member  21  that is inserted into the shaft hole of the cylindrical portion  194  can be slid in the back-and-forth direction along the first shaft hole  1941 , which has generally the same diameter as the columnar member  21 . A small diameter insertion pin  21 A is provided on the leading end of the columnar member  21  on the front side. 
         [0099]    The aperture diameter of the second shaft hole  1942  is larger than the diameter of the columnar member  21 . For that reason, a spring housing portion  1943  is formed between the columnar member  21  and the cylindrical portion  194 . The spring housing portion  1943  is a groove that has a ring shape in a front view. The spring member  22 , which has a greater total length than a shaft length of the second shaft hole  1942 , is housed in the spring housing portion  1943 , and the columnar member  21  is inserted into a winding center of the spring member  22 . Inside the spring housing portion  1943 , a rear end of the spring member  22  is in contact with a step section that is formed by the differences in diameter of the first shaft hole  1941  and the second shaft hole  1942 . In a state in which the spring member  22  is wound on the columnar member  21 , the insertion pin  21 A is inserted into the round hole  207  and the front end of the spring member  22  is in contact with the wall  20 . In this way, the spring member  22  urges the sensor holder  19  in the rearward direction (in the leftward direction in  FIG. 10 ) due to elastic force. 
         [0100]    A holder guide portion  199  is provided on a lower portion of the aperture edge at the front of the cylindrical portion  194 . The holder guide portion  199  extends in the forward direction. A leading end of the holder guide portion  199  is bent in the downward direction, and this end is engaged with the rod guide portion  175  of the release rod  17 . Movement of the sensor holder  19  that is urged in the rearward direction by the spring member  22  is regulated in the rearward direction by the engagement of the holder guide portion  199  and the rod guide portion  175 . In accordance with the left-and-rightward direction movement of the release rod  17 , the sensor holder  19  moves in the back-and-forth direction while being guided by the rod guide portion  175 , and this will be explained in more detail later. 
         [0101]    The rotation prevention member  195  is provided on the lower edge of the unit main body  191  and below the sensor holder  19 . The rotation prevention member  195  extends in the forward direction. The rotation prevention member  195  penetrates the second square hole  209  of the wall  20 , while the leading end of the rotation prevention member  195  that is bent in the downward direction is engaged with the front surface of the wall  20 . The sensor holder  19  is fixed to the wall  20  at two points aligned in the vertical direction, namely by the insertion pin  21 A and the rotation prevention member  195 , and rotational movement of the sensor holder  19  around the columnar member  21  is thus regulated. 
         [0102]    The mechanical sensor  23  will be explained in detail with reference to  FIG. 13  and  FIG. 14 . In  FIG. 14 , of the five mechanical sensors  23 , a movement mode of the mechanical sensor  23  in the uppermost left position (the upper right in  FIG. 12 ) is schematically depicted. 
         [0103]    As shown in  FIG. 13  and  FIG. 14 , in the mechanical sensor  23 , the switch terminals  231  are provided inside a low-profile box shaped sensor main body (not shown in the figures) that has a small length in the back-and-forth direction (in the left-and-rightward direction in  FIG. 13  and  FIG. 14 ). The switch terminal  231  is provided such that it can move rotationally in the back-and-forth direction where the center of rotational movement is a shaft portion  232  that extends inside the sensor main body in the left-and-rightward direction (in the back-and-forth direction in  FIG. 13  and  FIG. 14 ). The switch terminal  231  is constantly urged to move rotationally in the rearward direction (in the leftward direction in  FIG. 13  and  FIG. 14 ) by an urging spring (not shown in the figures) such that it moves to a protruding position. When external pressure is applied to the leading end of the switch terminal  231 , the switch terminal  231  moves rotationally in the forward direction (in the rightward direction in  FIG. 13  and  FIG. 14 ), and thus moves to a retracted position. A detecting element  234  that detects a displacement state of the switch terminal  231  is provided to the front of the switch terminal  231 . 
         [0104]    The switch terminal  231  as a whole is a tabular member that has a flat surface portion which is curved as a general U shape in a side view. The switch terminal  231  includes an arm  231 A and a protruding portion  231 B. The arm  231 A extends in a radial direction from the shaft portion  232 . The protruding portion  231 B protrudes in the rearward direction from the leading end of the arm  231 A. The length of the protruding portion  231 B in the vertical direction tapers from the arm  231 A toward the rear, and the protruding portion  231 B has a form that protrudes in a general V shape in a side view. When the switch terminal  231  is moved to the protruding position, the protruding portion  231 B protrudes further to the rear than the cassette-facing surface  191 A. At that time, the arm  231 A is not in contact with the detecting element  234  and the mechanical sensor  23  is thus in an off state. 
         [0105]    When external pressure is applied that presses a peripheral edge portion of the general V shape of the protruding portion  231 B, the protruding portion  231 B retracts in the forward direction. At that time, the arm  231 A is in contact with the detecting element  234  and the mechanical sensor  23  is thus in an on state. In other words, the protruding portion  231 B retracts in the forward direction not only when the protruding portion  231 B is horizontally pressed from the rear side, but also when the protruding portion  231 B is vertically pressed from the upward or the downward direction, and the mechanical sensor  23  is thus in the on state. 
         [0106]    The electrical configuration of the printer  1  will be explained with reference to  FIG. 15 . As shown in  FIG. 15 , the printer  1  includes a control circuit  400  formed on a control board. The control circuit  400  includes a CPU  401  that controls each instrument, a ROM  402 , a CGROM  403 , a RAM  404 , and an input/output interface  411 , all of which are connected to the CPU  401  via a data bus  410 . 
         [0107]    The ROM  402  stores various programs for the CPU  401  to control the printer  1 . The ROM  402  also stores tables that are used to identify the tape type of the tape cassette  30  installed in the cassette housing portion  8 . The CGROM  403  stores print dot pattern data to be used to print characters. The RAM  404  includes a plurality of storage areas, including a text memory, a print buffer and so on. 
         [0108]    The input/output interface  411  is connected, respectively, to the mechanical sensors  23 , the keyboard  3 , a liquid crystal drive circuit (LCDC)  405  and drive circuits  406 ,  407  and  408  etc. The drive circuit  406  is en electronic circuit that drives the thermal head  10 . The drive circuit  407  is an electronic circuit that drives a tape feed motor  24 , which causes the ribbon take-up shaft  9  and the tape drive shaft  11  to rotate. The drive circuit  408  is an electronic circuit that drives a cutter motor  25 , which operates a moving blade (not shown in the figures) that cuts the printed tape  50 . The liquid crystal drive circuit (LCDC)  405  has a video RAM (not shown in the figures) to output display data to a display (LCD)  5 . 
         [0109]    Operating modes of the movable mechanism  100  will be explained in more detail with reference to  FIG. 16  to  FIG. 24 . For ease of explanation of the operating modes of the movable mechanism  100 , the wall  20  (refer to  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10 ), the spring member  22  (refer to  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10 ), the lever depression portion  61  provided on the cover  6 , the support member  62  and the protruding piece  63  (refer to  FIG. 2 ) are omitted in  FIG. 16  to  FIG. 24 . 
         [0110]    An operating mode of the movable mechanism  100  will be explained in a case in which the cover  6  is closed in the downward direction, and is thus moved from the open position (refer to  FIG. 2 ) to the closed position (refer to  FIG. 1 ). 
         [0111]    As shown in  FIG. 16  to  FIG. 18 , the lever  16  is urged in the upward direction (a rotational movement direction D 5  in  FIG. 17 ) by a lever spring (not shown in the figures). When the cover  6  is in the open position due to the urging force of the lever  16 , the lever protrusion  162  is at its highest position. At that time, the release rod  17  that is coupled to the lower end of the lever  16  is at a right end position of the range of movement of the release rod  17 . 
         [0112]    As shown in  FIG. 18 , when the cover  6  is in the open position, the holder guide portion  199  is engaged with the first rod guide portion  1751 . The sensor holder  19 , which is urged in the rearward direction (in the downward direction in  FIG. 18 ) by the spring member  22 , is regulated to move by the first rod guide portion  1751  and it is maintained in a separated position (a position shown in  FIG. 18 ). The holder side reception portion  184  of the roller holder  18  is separated from the depression portion  171  of the release rod  17 . The roller holder  18  is not pressed by the depression portion  171 , and is urged in the forward direction by the urging spring (not shown in the figures), thus being maintained in the stand-by position shown in  FIG. 18 . 
         [0113]    When the cover  6  is closed by the user, pressure in the downward direction is applied to the cover  6  in the open position. In the process of the cover  6  moving toward the closed position in accordance with the downward pressure, the lever depression portion  61  (refer to  FIG. 2 ) comes into contact with the lever protrusion  162  (refer to  FIG. 16 ). The lever depression portion  61  depresses the lever protrusion  162  and thus the lever  16  resists the pressure of the lever spring (not shown in the figures) and moves rotationally in the downward direction. In accordance with the rotational movement of the lever  16 , the release rod  17  moves from the right end position in the leftward direction. As the cover  6  moves further toward the closed position, the lever depression portion  61  (refer to  FIG. 2 ) comes into contact with the top surface curved portion  163  of the lever  16 . 
         [0114]    By the lever depression portion  61  depressing the top surface curved portion  163 , the lever  16  moves rotationally further in the downward direction, and the release rod  17  moves further in the leftward direction. In accordance with the movement of the release rod  17  in the leftward direction, the inclined surface  1712  of the depression portion  171  comes into contact with the holder side reception portion  184  of the roller holder  18 . As the inclined surface  1712  depresses the holder side reception portion  184 , the holder side reception portion  184  slides along the inclined surface  1712  and the roller holder  18  resists the urging force of the urging spring (not shown in the figures) and pivots in the rearward direction. 
         [0115]    As shown in  FIG. 19  to  FIG. 21 , when the release rod  17  reaches a first position (a position shown in  FIG. 21 ), the tape cassette  30  is fixed inside the cassette housing portion  8  by the roller holder  18 . More specifically, the platen roller  15  presses the thermal head  10  via the film tape  59  and the ink ribbon  60  positioned at the opening  77 . The movable feed roller  14  presses the tape drive roller  46 , which is inserted in the tape drive shaft  11 , via the film tape  59  and the double-sided adhesive tape  58 . A position in which the tape cassette  30  is fixed inside the cassette housing portion  8  (a position shown in  FIG. 21 ) is a contact position of the roller holder  18 . 
         [0116]    The sensor holder  19 , which is structured such that it can only move in the back-and-forth direction, does not move in the left-and-rightward direction. For that reason, in accordance with the movement of the release rod  17  in the left-and-rightward direction, the rod guide portion  175  slides in the left-and-rightward direction while maintaining its state of engagement with the holder guide portion  199 . More specifically, when the release rod  17  moves in the leftward direction from the right end position to the first position, the first rod guide portion  1751  slides in the leftward direction while maintaining its state of engagement with the holder guide portion  199 . The first rod guide portion  1751  is a wall portion that runs parallel to the left-and-rightward direction, and thus, in a state in which the first rod guide portion  1751  is engaged with the holder guide portion  199 , even when the release rod  17  moves in the left-and-rightward direction, the sensor holder  19  does not move in the back-and-forth direction. 
         [0117]    In this way, in accordance with the movement in the leftward direction of the release rod  17  from the right end position to the first position, the roller holder  18  pivots from the stand-by position (refer to  FIG. 18 ) in the rearward direction. When the roller holder  18  reaches the contact position (refer to  FIG. 21 ), the platen roller  15  is pressed by the thermal head  10  and the movable feed roller  14  is also pressed by the tape drive roller  46 . As the sensor holder  19  is maintained in the separated position, the switch terminals  231  do not come into contact with the arm indicator portion  800  of the tape cassette  30 . 
         [0118]    From a state in which the cover  6  is partially closed (refer to  FIG. 19  to  FIG. 21 ), when the cover  6  is further moved toward the closed position, the lever depression portion  61  depresses the top surface curved portion  163 . In accordance with the further rotational movement of the lever  16  in the downward direction, the release rod  17  moves from the first position even further in the leftward direction. When the cover  6  reaches the closed position, the lever depression portion  61  is in contact with the contact surface  164  of the lever  16 . In this case, the release rod  17  moves to a second position (a position shown in  FIG. 24 ), which is a left end of the range of movement of the release rod  17 . 
         [0119]    In accordance with the movement of the release rod  17  further to the left side of the first position (refer to  FIG. 21 ), the holder side reception portion  184  is further depressed in the rearward direction by the inclined surface  1712 . As shown in  FIG. 22  to  FIG. 24 , when the release rod  17  reaches the second position (refer to  FIG. 24 ), the rear surface  1711  of the depression portion  171  comes into contact with the holder side reception portion  184 . A position in which the holder side reception portion  184  is in contact with the rear surface  1711  (a position shown in  FIG. 24 ) is a print position of the roller holder  18 . 
         [0120]    In this way, in concert with the movement of the cover  6  from the open position to the closed position, the roller holder  18  gradually moves in the rearward direction. As the cover  6  approaches the closed position, the pressure with which the platen roller  15  presses the thermal head  10  and the pressure with which the movable feed roller  14  presses the tape drive roller  46  gradually increase. In a state in which the roller holder  18  is in the print position (refer to  FIG. 22  to  FIG. 24 ), the tape cassette  30  is even more firmly fixed in the cassette housing portion  8  than when the roller holder  18  is in the contact position (refer to  FIG. 21 ). 
         [0121]    When the release rod  17  moves further in the leftward direction than the first position (refer to  FIG. 21 ), the portion that is engaged with the holder guide portion  199  changes from the first rod guide portion  1751  to the rod guide inclined portion  1752 . The rod guide inclined portion  1752 , which is a wall that extends in the rearward direction to the right side of the first rod guide portion  1751 , can slide while engaged with the holder guide portion  199 . In this state, when the release rod  17  moves in the leftward direction, the holder guide portion  199  moves in the rearward direction along the rod guide inclined portion  1752  while being depressed by the spring member  22 . 
         [0122]    When the release rod  17  moves further in the leftward direction and reaches the second position (refer to  FIG. 24 ), the portion that is engaged with the holder guide portion  199  changes from the rod guide inclined portion  1752  to the second rod guide portion  1753  (refer to  FIG. 22  to  FIG. 24 ). The second rod guide portion  1753  is a wall that extends parallel to the left-and-rightward direction and therefore, in a state in which the second rod guide portion  1753  is engaged with the holder guide portion  199 , even if the release rod  17  moves in the left-and-rightward direction, the sensor holder  19  does not move in the back-and-forth direction. A position in which the sensor holder  19  is engaged with the second rod guide portion  1753  (a position shown in  FIG. 24 ) is an identification position of the sensor holder  19 . 
         [0123]    As shown in  FIG. 22  to  FIG. 24 , in a state in which the holder guide portion  199  has moved to the identification position, the latching piece  192  is inserted into the latching hole  820  of the tape cassette  30 . The switch terminals  231  that are provided on the sensor holder  19  vertically oppose the arm indicator portion  800  of the tape cassette  30 . The switch terminals  231  detect each of the indicators to which they are respectively opposed (the non-pressing portions  801  or the pressing portions  802 ). In this way, the CPU  401  that is provided in the printer  1  (refer to  FIG. 15 ) can determine the tape type of the tape cassette  30 . 
         [0124]    As described above, when the cover  6  is in a closed state (refer to  FIG. 22  to  FIG. 24 ), the roller holder  18  moves to the print position and the sensor holder  19  also moves to the identification position. The printer  1  can perform stable and accurate printing, and can determine the tape type of the tape cassette  30 . 
         [0125]    Next, the operating mode of the movable mechanism  100  will be explained in a case in which the cover  6  is opened in the upward direction and is thus displaced from the closed position (refer to  FIG. 1 ) to the open position (refer to  FIG. 2 ). This operating mode is similar to when the cover  6  is closed in the downward direction, but the order of movement of the roller holder  18  and the sensor holder  19  is reversed. 
         [0126]    Although not shown in  FIG. 16  to  FIG. 24 , when the cover  6  is in the closed position (refer to  FIG. 22  to  FIG. 24 ), the protruding piece  63  of the cover  6  (refer to  FIG. 2 ) is positioned below the lever protrusion  162  of the lever  16 . When the cover  6  is opened in the upward direction from the closed position, the top surface of the protruding piece  63  pushes up the lever  16  in the upward direction. The pushed up lever  16  is urged to move rotationally in the upward direction by the lever spring (not shown in the figures). In accordance with the rotational movement of the lever  16 , the release rod  17  moves from the second position (refer to  FIG. 24 ) in the rightward direction. 
         [0127]    When the release rod  17  moves from the second position (refer to  FIG. 24 ) in the rightward direction, the holder guide portion  199  slides along the rod guide portion  175  (more specifically, the rod guide inclined portion  1752 ) in the forward direction. As the holder guide portion  199  slides in the forward direction, the sensor holder  19  moves from the identification position (refer to  FIG. 24 ) in the forward direction and the switch terminals  231  are separated from the arm indicator portion  800 . When the release rod  17  then moves in the rightward direction to a position further to the right of the first position (refer to  FIG. 21 ), the sensor holder  19  is maintained in the separated position (refer to  FIG. 18 ). 
         [0128]    In accordance with the release rod  17  moving in the rightward direction from the second position (refer to  FIG. 24 ) toward the first position (refer to  FIG. 21 ), the holder side reception portion  184  slides in the forward direction along the depression portion  171  (more specifically, the inclined surface  1712 ) due to the urging spring (not shown in the figures). As the holder side reception portion  184  slides in the forward direction and as the roller holder  18  moves toward the contact position (refer to  FIG. 21 ), the pressure that fixes the tape cassette  30  in place gradually weakens in comparison to when the roller holder  18  is in the print position (refer to  FIG. 24 ). When the release rod  17  moves further in the rightward direction than the first position (refer to  FIG. 21 ), the roller holder  18  slides further in the forward direction than the contact position (refer to  FIG. 21 ). In this way, the platen roller  15  and the movable feed roller  14  are each separated from the thermal head  10  and the tape drive roller  46 , respectively, and the roller holder  18  is maintained in the stand-by position (refer to  FIG. 18 ). 
         [0129]    As described above, when the cover  6  is in the open position (refer to  FIG. 16  to  FIG. 18 ), the roller holder  18  moves to the stand-by position, and the sensor holder  19  moves to the separated position. The movable feed roller  14  and the platen roller  15  do not interfere with the tape cassette  30  that is inserted into and removed from the cassette housing portion  8 . The switch terminals  231  do not interfere with the tape cassette  30  that is inserted into and removed from the cassette housing portion  8 . Thus, in the printer  1 , the tape cassette  30  can be freely inserted into and removed from the cassette housing portion  8 . 
         [0130]    Modes of detecting the tape type of the tape cassette  30  installed in the cassette housing portion  8  will be explained with reference to  FIG. 25  and  FIG. 26 . 
         [0131]    As shown in  FIG. 25 , when the tape cassette  30  is installed at a proper position in the cassette housing portion  8 , the cover  6  is closed (refer to  FIG. 2 ) and the sensor holder  19  moves to the identification position, the latching piece  192  provided on the cassette-facing surface  191 A is inserted into the latching hole  820  of the tape cassette  30 . The mechanical sensors  23  provided on the cassette-facing surface  191 A oppose the arm indicator portion  800  of the tape cassette  30 . Each of the five switch terminals  231  are selectively pressed by the indicators (the non-pressing portions  801  and the pressing portions  802 ) of the arm indicator portion  800 . 
         [0132]    More specifically, with the wide-width tape cassette  30  shown in  FIG. 5 , the switch terminal  231  that opposes the pressing portion  802  is pressed by the surface portion of the arm front surface  35  and the mechanical sensor  23  is in the on state. The switch terminal  231  that opposes the non-pressing portion  801  is inserted into the non-pressing portion  801 , and the mechanical sensor  23  is in the off state. With the narrow-width tape cassette  30  shown in  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 , the mechanical sensor  23  is in the on state or the off state in a similar way to that described above, but the switch terminal  231  that opposes the escape hole  803  is not pressed and the mechanical sensor  23  is constantly in the off state. 
         [0133]    As shown in  FIG. 26 , if the cassette case  30  is in a slightly displaced or raised position with respect to the proper position in the cassette housing portion  8 , the tape cassette  30  is not installed in the cassette housing portion  8  at the proper position. In this case, when the cover  6  (refer to  FIG. 2 ) is closed and the sensor holder  19  moves to the identification position, the latching piece  192  is not inserted into the latching hole  820  and comes into contact with the arm front surface  35 . The latching piece  192  has a larger protrusion width (the length in the back-and-forth direction from the cassette-facing surface  191 A) than the switch terminals  231 . Accordingly, when the latching piece  192  comes into contact with the arm front surface  35 , the switch terminals  231  do not come into contact with the arm front surface  35 , and all the mechanical sensors  23  are in the off state. 
         [0134]    In the printer  1 , the tape type of the tape cassette  30  installed in the cassette housing portion  8  is identified based on a combination of the on and off states of the five mechanical sensors  23 . More specifically, the tape type is identified by referring to tables stored in advance in the ROM  402  (refer to  FIG. 15 ) in which the on and off state combinations of the mechanical sensors  23  correspond to the tape type. When all the mechanical sensors  23  are in the off state, it is identified that the tape cassette  30  is not installed in the cassette housing portion  8  at the proper position. 
         [0135]    In the present embodiment, the arm indicator portion  800  is provided adjacent to the opening  77 . It is possible for a person to simultaneously visually check, from the front, the arm indicator portion  800  and the tape type that is discharged from the opening  77 . By providing the indicators of the arm indicator portion  800  such that they correspond to the tape type in accordance with predetermined rules, the person can visually check the arm indicator portion  800  and identify the tape type. The person can verify whether the identified tape type matches the tape type that is housed in the tape cassette  30  by referring to the tape type that is discharged from the opening  77 . 
         [0136]    As described above, in the printer  1  according to the present embodiment, the arm indicator portion  800  is provided on the arm front surface  35  of the tape cassette  30 . The switch terminals  231  of the mechanical sensors  23  detect the tape type by being pressed by the arm indicator portion  800 . In this way, in comparison with a case in which mechanical sensors are provided protruding toward a bottom surface of the tape cassette, it is possible to inhibit the occurrence of displacement in a tape print position that may be caused by the repulsive force of the switch terminals. Restrictions on space and positions in which the mechanical sensors are provided can be reduced. 
         [0137]    When the cover  6  is closed, the roller holder  18  reaches the contact position before the sensor holder  19  reaches the identification position. In other words, the tape cassette  30  is fixed by the roller holder  18  before the switch terminals  231  are pressed by the arm indicator portion  800 . When the cover  6  is opened, the sensor holder  19  moves from the identification position toward the separated position before the roller holder  18  moves from the contact position toward the stand-by position. Namely, the tape cassette  30  is released by the roller holder  18  after the switch terminals  231  are separated from the arm indicator portion  800 . In this way, the tape cassette  30  is always fixed by the roller holder  18  when the sensor holder  19  comes into contact with and is separated from the tape cassette  30 . 
         [0138]    According to the printer  1  of the present embodiment, in a state in which the tape cassette  30  is fixed in the cassette housing portion  8 , the switch terminals  231  are either pressed by or separated from the arm indicator portion  800 . As a result, when the switch terminals  231  are pressed by or separated from the arm indicator portion  800 , even if, for example, the user touches the tape cassette  30  with his or her hand, or abnormal vibrations are applied to the printer  1  etc., fluctuations in the position of the tape cassette  30  can be inhibited. It is thus possible to reduce damage etc. to the switch terminals  231 , and to appropriately protect the mechanical sensors  23 . 
         [0139]    In addition, in the mechanical sensor  23  according to the present embodiment, when external pressure is applied such that the periphery of the protruding portion  231 B is pressed, the switch terminal  231  retracts. As a result, even if the tape cassette  30  is, for example, installed or removed in an abnormal manner, a risk of damage to the switch terminal  231  is reduced. Even if the user intentionally touches the switch terminal  231  with a finger, a risk of damage to the switch terminal  231  is reduced. 
         [0140]    If the mechanical sensor  23  according to the present embodiment is pressed from a direction other than the direction of protrusion and retraction of the switch terminal  231 , the position of the leading end of the switch terminal  231  changes in accordance with the pressing direction. For example, if external pressure is applied to the periphery of the protruding portion  231 B, the switch terminal  231  retracts. Damage or bending caused by the switch terminal  231  being unable to withstand pressure is therefore curbed. Even if other members come into contact with or the user touches the switch terminal  231  as described above, the switch terminal  231  retracts and damage etc. is therefore appropriately prevented. Furthermore, by adopting rotating bodies as the switch terminals, it is possible to appropriately protect the mechanical sensor without making the structure of the mechanical sensor more complex. 
         [0141]    In accordance with the movement of the release rod  17 , the roller holder  18  moves rotationally and the sensor holder  19  also moves. The roller holder  18  and the sensor holder  19  are independently operated by moving the release rod  17 . It is not necessary for the printer  1  to be provided with separate members to operate the roller holder  18  and the sensor holder  19 , respectively. As a result, the number of components of the printer  1  can be reduced and an increase in the size of devices can be avoided. 
         [0142]    The release rod  17  moves in accordance with the opening and closing of the cover  6 . When the cover  6  is opened, the tape cassette  30  can be inserted into and removed from the cassette housing portion  8 . When the cover  6  is closed, printing can be performed by the thermal head  10  and the tape type can further be detected by the plurality of mechanical sensors  23 . As a consequence, simply by opening and closing the cover  6 , the user can cause the printer  1  to be in an optimum state for use corresponding to the state of the cover  6 . Thus, operability of the printer  1  can be improved. 
         [0143]    In the printer  1  according to the present embodiment, the sensor holder  19  that is provided with the mechanical sensors  23  can move independently of the roller holder  18 . As a result, movability of the mechanical sensors  23  can be improved, and detection of the tape type can be appropriately performed. There is no restriction on the positions and number of the mechanical sensors  23 , and thus the degree of freedom of design of the printer  1  can be improved, 
         [0144]    The switch terminals  231  are moved perpendicularly with respect to the arm indicator portion  800 . Simply by causing the switch terminals  231  to move in the forward direction by the minimum necessary distance, they can be efficiently and sufficiently moved away such that they do not touch the tape cassette  30 . As a consequence, the moving space required when causing the mechanical sensors  23  to retract can be minimized, thus avoiding an increase in the size of the printer  1  and increasing the degree of freedom of design of the printer  1 . 
         [0145]    The sensor holder  19  that is provided with the mechanical sensors  23  is provided between the shaft support  181  that is the pivot center of the roller holder  18  and the platen roller  15 . As the sensor holder  19  is provided within the installation space of the roller holder  18 , it is not necessary to secure a separate installation space for the sensor holder  19 . As a result, the sensor holder  19  that operates independently from the roller holder  18  can be provided without any increase in the size of the printer  1 , thus increasing the space-saving capabilities and the degree of freedom of design of the housing. 
         [0146]    Note that the printer  1  of the present disclosure is not limited to that in the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and alterations may of course be made insofar as they are within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0147]    As shown in  FIG. 27  to  FIG. 29 , a structure may be adopted in which the latching hole  820  of the arm front surface  35  (refer to  FIG. 5 ) and the latching piece  192  of the sensor holder  19  (refer to  FIG. 11 ) are not provided. In this case, as long as the tape cassette  30  is installed in the cassette housing portion  8  at the proper position, in a similar manner to the above-described embodiments, the five switch terminals  231  are selectively pressed by the indicators of the arm indicator portion  800  that oppose each of the switch terminals  231  respectively (refer to  FIG. 25 ). 
         [0148]    As the direction of insertion and removal of the tape cassette  30  is in the vertical direction, when the tape cassette  30  is in a displaced or raised position with respect to the proper position in the cassette housing portion  8 , in many cases, the tape cassette  30  is displaced in the upward direction with respect to the proper position. As described above, the plurality of switch terminals  231  are arranged in positions that correspond, respectively to the indicators of the arm indicator portion  800  and are arranged in a zigzag pattern such that none of the switch terminals  231  are aligned with each other in the vertical direction. As none of the indicators overlap in the vertical direction, when displacement of the tape cassette  30  occurs in the upward direction and the tape cassette  30  is raised with respect to the proper position, each of the switch terminals  231  does not detect another of the indicators, is pressed by a surface portion of the arm front surface  35  and is thus in the on state. In other words, even if there are fluctuations in the position of the tape cassette  30  installed in the cassette housing portion  8 , the above structure prevents another of the switch terminals  231  from being inserted into the non-pressing portion  801  corresponding to a given one of the switch terminals  231 , thus preventing mistaken identification of the tape type. 
         [0149]    More specifically, as shown in  FIG. 29 , when the wide-width tape cassette  30  is raised or has positional displacement, if the cover  6  (refer to  FIG. 2 ) is closed and the sensor holder  19  moves to the identification position, all the switch terminals  231  are pressed by a surface of the arm front surface  35  and are thus in the on state. When the narrow-width tape cassette  30  is installed in the cassette housing portion  8  and when the narrow-width tape cassette  30  is raised or has positional displacement, apart from the switch terminal  231  that is in a position that opposes the escape hole  803 , the other four switch terminals  231  are pressed by the surface of the arm front surface  35  and are thus in the on state. In these cases with the printer  1 , namely when all the mechanical sensors  23  are in the on state and also when four of the switch terminals  231  excepting the switch terminal  231  that opposes the escape hole  803  are in the on state, it may be identified that the tape cassette  30  is not installed at the proper position. 
         [0150]    With the structure shown in  FIG. 27  to  FIG. 29 , there is no engaging effect between the latching hole  820  and the latching piece  192 , as described above. In this case, when the tape cassette  30  is inserted or removed, there is a risk that the periphery of the cassette case  31  may come into contact with the switch terminals  231  from above or below, or that there may be positional fluctuations of the tape cassette  30  installed in the cassette housing portion  8 . With the mechanical sensor  23  according to the present embodiment, when external pressure is applied such that it presses the periphery of the protruding portion  231 B, the switch terminal  231  retracts. Even when the latching hole  820  and the latching piece  192  are not provided, damage etc. to the switch terminal  231  can be appropriately prevented. 
         [0151]    The structure of the mechanical sensor  23  is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, the switch terminal  231  may be an elastic body, such as a rubber body or a spiral spring etc., or may be a shaft that can protrude and retract in the back-and-forth direction. In this case, even if external pressure is applied to the switch terminal  231 , for example, from above or below, damage etc. to the switch terminal  231  is prevented by the switch terminal  231  deforming elastically in response to the external pressure. 
         [0152]    The apparatus and methods described above with reference to the various embodiments are merely examples. It goes without saying that they are not confined to the depicted embodiments. While various features have been described in conjunction with the examples outlined above, various alternatives, modifications, variations, and/or improvements of those features and/or examples may be possible. Accordingly, the examples, as set forth above, are intended to be illustrative. Various changes may be made without departing from the broad spirit and scope of the underlying principles.