Patent Publication Number: US-8534939-B2

Title: Tape printing apparatus with tape cassette identifying unit

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a continuation-in-part application based upon and claims the benefit of the prior PCT International Patent Application No. PCT/2009/061588 filed on Jun. 25, 2009, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The disclosure relates to a tape printing apparatus that replaceably houses a tape cassette accommodating a long-length tape inside. 
     BACKGROUND 
     There has conventionally been proposed a tape printing apparatus that replaceably houses a tape cassette accommodating a set of a receptor type printing tape and an ink ribbon inside wherein its printing unit such as thermal head or the like carries out printing on an ink-ribbon-side surface of the printing tape, then the after-printed printing tape is cut off by its cutter unit and ejected. 
     SUMMARY 
     In the disclosure, the object is to provide a tape printing apparatus capable of avoiding a situation that printing tapes with uncovered adhesive surfaces get adhered overlapping with one another near a label ejecting port, given that printing tapes are conveyed in a state that their respective separators are peeled from the printing tapes inside the tape cassette. 
     A tape printing apparatus, directed to the disclosure for achieving the above object, comprises: a cassette housing portion that replaceably houses a tape cassette; a tape conveying unit for conveying a tape that is long and accommodated inside in the tape cassette; a printing unit for carrying out printing on the tape; and a cutter unit that cuts off a tape, wherein the tape printing apparatus further comprises: a printing-information obtaining unit that obtains printing information consisting of printing data to be printed out on the tape and a to-be-created number of labels by printing out the printing data on the tape; a type detecting unit that detects a type of a tape cassette housed in the cassette housing portion; a type identifying unit that identifies whether or not the type of the tape cassette detected by the type detecting unit is a stripped-tape accommodating cassette that ejects a tape in a state that a separator is peeled off from an adhesive layer of the tape, the adhesive layer being formed on one surface of the tape; and a printing control unit that controls the printing unit to print out the printing data only once, thereafter convey the tape to a cutting point for the cutter unit and stop conveyance of the tape so as to terminate printing, in case the type of the tape cassette housed in the cassette housing portion is identified as the stripped-tape accommodating cassette. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a plain view of a tape printing apparatus directed to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a right side view of the tape printing apparatus; 
         FIG. 3  is a main-part-enlarged perspective view for illustrating a state that a stripped-tape accommodating cassette is to be placed in a cassette housing portion of the tape printing apparatus; 
         FIG. 4  is a main-part-enlarged plain view that can be seen in case an upper case of the stripped-tape accommodating cassette is removed while the stripped-tape accommodating cassette is placed in the cassette housing portion of the tape printing apparatus; 
         FIG. 5  is a main-part-enlarged view of surroundings of a tape ejecting port shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a view of the tape ejecting port seen from a view point indicated with an arrow X 1  shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a view for exemplarily illustrating a state that a separator is peeled off after a two-sided adhesive tape is adhered to a film tape with pressure; 
         FIG. 8  is a main-part-enlarged plain view that can be seen in case an upper case of a normal-tape accommodating cassette is removed while the normal-tape accommodating cassette is placed in the cassette housing portion of the tape printing apparatus; 
         FIG. 9  is a main-part-enlarged view of surroundings of a tape ejecting port shown in  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a view of the tape ejecting port seen from a view point indicated with an arrow X 2  shown in  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a circuit block diagram showing a main-part circuit configuration of the tape printing apparatus; and 
         FIG. 12  is a flowchart of a print control process for controlling the number of to-be printed printing tapes depending on type of a tape cassette placed in the cassette housing portion, wherein the control process is executed by a CPU of the tape printing apparatus. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     There will be described on a tape printing apparatus embodying the disclosure in detail based on an embodiment by referring to drawings. 
     First, there will be described on the schematic configuration of a tape printing apparatus  1  directed to the present embodiment by referring to  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 3 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 3 , the tape printing apparatus  1  directed to the present embodiment includes a keyboard  6 , a cassette housing portion  8  for housing a stripped-tape accommodating cassette  21  or a normal-tape accommodating cassette  81  to be described later (refer to  FIG. 8 ) and a housing cover  13  for covering the cassette housing portion  8 . The keyboard  6  includes: letter input keys  2  for commanding to create texts in a form of document data; a print key  3  for commanding to print out texts etc.; a return key  4  for executing a line feeding instruction and various processing and for determining a choice from candidates; cursor keys  5  for moving a cursor up, down, left or right, the cursor being indicated in a liquid crystal display (LCD)  7  that indicates letters and characters across plural lines; and the like. 
     Beneath the keyboard  6 , there is arranged a control board  12  that constitutes a control circuit unit  90  (refer to  FIG. 11 ). At the left side of the cassette housing portion  8 , there is formed a label ejecting port  17  for ejecting an after-printed printing tape from which a separator is peeled off as will be described later or an after-printed printing tape with a separator adhered thereon. Further, at the right side of the cassette housing portion  8 , there are arranged an adaptor inlet  18  to be connected to a power supply adaptor and a USB connector  19  to be connected to a USB cable for connecting to a not-shown personal computer. 
     In the cassette housing portion  8 , there are arranged a thermal head  9 , a platen roller  10  that faces the thermal head  9 , a tape sub roller  11  arranged at a downstream side for the platen roller  10 , a metallic tape-driving-roller shaft  14  that faces the tape sub roller  11 , a ribbon-take-up shaft  15  that conveys an ink ribbon  52  (refer to  FIG. 4 ) to be housed inside the stripped-tape accommodating cassette  21 , a separator-take-up shaft  16  that takes up a separator  53 D (refer to  FIG. 4 ) that has been peeled off from a two-sided adhesive tape  53  (refer to  FIG. 4 ) to be described later, etc. 
     The thermal head  9  is a flat plate that is substantially rectangular shaped when seen from front. Along the front left end of the thermal head  9 , a predetermined number of heater elements R 1 -Rn (e.g., n is 128 or 256) are aligned. Further, there is arranged a radiator plate  9 A that is made of plated sheet steel, stainless steel plate or the like and substantially quadrangular shaped when seen from front. The thermal head  9  is fixed to the front left end of the radiator plate  9 A with adhesive or the like so that the alignment of the heater elements R 1 -Rn runs parallel to the left side of the radiator plate  9 A. The said radiator plate  9 A is fixed to the lower side of the cassette housing portion  8  with a screw or the like so that the alignment of the heater elements R 1 -Rn crosses at substantially right angle with respect to the conveying direction of the film tape  51  (refer to  FIG. 4 ) at an opening  22  of the stripped-tape accommodating cassette  21 . 
     Further, the ribbon-take-up shaft  15  is driven for rotation by proper driving mechanism originated from the tape conveying motor  103  (refer to  FIG. 11 ) that consists of a stepping motor or the like. As will be described later, the ribbon-take-up shaft  15  is fitted into the ribbon-take-up spool  61  that is rotatably arranged inside the stripped-tape accommodating cassette  21  (refer to  FIG. 4 ) and driven for rotation. Further, the tape-driving-roller shaft  14  is driven for rotation by proper transmission mechanism originated from the tape conveying motor  103 . Specifically, the tape-driving-roller shaft  14  is fitted into an electrically-conductive resin tape conveying roller  63  (refer to  FIG. 4 ) that is rotatably arranged inside the stripped-tape accommodating cassette  21  and driven for rotation. Still further, the separator-take-up shaft  16  is driven for rotation by proper transmission mechanism originated from the tape conveying motor  103 . Specifically, the separator-take-up shaft  16  is fitted into a separator-take-up spool  62  (refer to  FIG. 4 ) that is rotatably arranged inside the stripped-tape accommodating cassette  21  and driven for rotation. 
     Meanwhile, the separator-take-up shaft  16  may be driven for rotation by proper driving mechanism originated from a not-shown separator-take-up motor that consists of a stepping motor or the like that is furnished separately from the tape conveying motor  103 . Thereby, even if stretch rate of an ink ribbon  52  and that of a separator  53 D differ significantly, a separator  53 D can be taken up reliably by synchronously driving the tape conveying motor  103  and the separator-take-up motor. 
     Further, as shown in  FIG. 3 , nearby a tape ejecting port  27  (refer to  FIG. 4 ) of the stripped-tape accommodating cassette  21  as well as a tape ejecting port  83  (refer to  FIG. 8 ) of a normal-tape accommodating cassette  81 , a scissor-type cutter unit  30  is arranged so as to cut off an after-printed tape by predetermined length. The cutter unit  30  consists of a fixed blade  30 A and a movable blade  30 B wherein a cutting motor  105  serves to move the movable blade  30 B toward the fixed blade  30 A so as to cut off an after-printed tape. 
     On the bottom of the cassette housing portion  8 , two positioning pins  45  and  46  are arranged upright with the same height. When the stripped-tape accommodating cassette  21  or the normal-tape accommodating cassette  81  is placed in the cassette housing portion  8 , position of the stripped-tape accommodating cassette  21  or that of the normal-tape accommodating cassette  81  is properly fixed by the positioning pins  45  and  46  inside the cassette housing portion  8 . 
     Next, there will be described on the schematic configuration of the stripped-tape accommodating cassette  21  by referring to  FIG. 3  through  FIG. 7 . In the stripped-tape accommodating cassette  21 , an after-printed printing tape  28  is created in a state that a separator  53 D is peeled off therefrom. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , the stripped-tape accommodating cassette  21  includes an upper case  23  and a lower case  24 . In the stripped-tape accommodating cassette  21 , a supporting hole  41  is formed so as to rotatably support a tape spool  54  on which a transparent film tape  51  as printing tape is wound. Further, in the stripped-tape accommodating cassette  21 , a supporting hole  42  is formed so as to rotatably support a two-sided-adhesive-tape spool  56 . A two-sided adhesive tape  53  is wound around the two-sided-adhesive tape spool  56  while its separator  53 D (refer to  FIG. 7 ) made of release paper, film or the like is put outward. 
     Further, in the stripped-tape accommodating cassette  21 , a supporting hole  43  is formed so as to rotatably support a ribbon-take-up spool  61  that is arranged between the tape spool  54  and the two-sided-adhesive-tape spool  56  near the opening  22 . For printing characters etc. on a film tape  51  with the thermal head  9 , the ribbon-take-up spool  61  serves to pull out the ink ribbon  52  from the ribbon spool  55  and to take up the ink ribbon  52  therein. 
     Further, in the stripped-tape accommodating cassette  21 , a supporting hole  44  is formed so as to rotatably support a separator-take-up spool  62  that is arranged near a side wall  24 A furnished on the lower case  24  that faces the opening  22  located between the tape spool  54  and the two-sided-adhesive-tape spool  56 . The separator-take-up spool  62  takes up therein a separator  53 D that has been peeled off from a two-sided adhesive tape  53  along the peripheral surface of the tape conveying roller  63 . Further, the side wall  24 A on the lower case  24  is formed so as to project like a semicircular arc when seen from top at a portion facing the separator-take-up spool  62 . 
     Further, in the stripped-tape accommodating cassette  21 , a supporting hole  48  is formed so as to rotatably support the contract roller  65  that is arranged at the downstream of the tape conveying direction with reference to the tape conveying roller  63 , i.e., the contact roller  65  is arranged so as to be away from the tape ejecting port  27 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , the peripheral surface of the contact roller  65  is formed of grooves  65 A that are continuous in the axial direction thereof. Each of the grooves  65 A is a V-shaped groove in cross section along the axial direction and both ends of the contact roller  65  are chamfered slantwise toward the axis thereof. That is, the peripheral surface of the contact roller  65  consists of plural convexes formed in parallel with the axial direction wherein each of the convexes is substantially triangular shaped in cross section along the axial direction. 
     Further, supporting shafts  65 B are arranged upright on centers of both side ends of the contact roller  65  and rotatably fitted in their respective supporting holes  48 . Further, the contact roller  65  is formed so as to have a silicon resin film on its peripheral surface. The contact roller  65  guides an after-printed tape  28  from the tape ejecting port  27  to the downstream of the tape conveying direction while getting in contact with an adhesive layer  53 C (refer to  FIG. 7 ) of the after-printed tape  28  from which the separator  53 D has been peeled off. 
     Further, the contact roller  65  comes out in the tape conveying direction in comparison with the side wall  24 B that faces the tape conveying roller  63 . At the same time, the contact roller  65  is arranged so as to closely face the fixed blade  30 A. 
     Further, the guide wall  33  faces the contact roller  65  over an after-printed tape  28  inserted therebetween. At the same time, the guide wall  33  is arranged so as to extend to the downstream of the tape conveying direction in comparison with the contact roller  65 . Thereby, travel of an after-printed tape  28  from which a separator  53 D has been peeled off can be guided to a position near the fixed blade  30 A. 
     Further, the stripped-tape accommodating cassette  21  includes a guide rib  35  within a space between an outer circumference of a two-sided adhesive tape  53  wound around the two-sided-adhesive-tape spool  56  with its greatest dimension and the side walls  24 A and  24 C of the lower case  24 . The guide rib  35  is substantially semicircular shaped when seen from top and is arranged upright on the bottom of the lower case  24  so as to partially cover the two-sided adhesive tape  53 . That is, the guide rib  35  extends from where the two-sided adhesive tape  53  is to be pulled out to where the two-sided adhesive tape  53  faces the side wall  24 A. Further, a convex part  35 A and a convex part  35 B are formed on the guide rib  35  so as to project from the side facing the side wall  24 C and the side wall  24 A of the lower case  24 , by predetermined height (e.g., about 1 mm) across tape width direction. 
     Further, a substantially column-shaped guide pin  36  is arranged upright in a space between a corner of the lower case  24  facing two-sided adhesive tape  53  wound around the two-sided-adhesive-tape spool  56  and the guide rib  35 . Further, at a position to facet the guide pin  36  of the upper case  23 , a supporting hole  49  is formed so that an end portion of the guide pin  36  is fitted therein and the guide pin  36  is supported. Further, at another side of the tape conveying roller  63  which is the opposite side where the tape conveying roller  63  faces the tape sub roller  11 , a separator guide wall  37  is arranged. The separator guide wall  37  is formed so as to get in contact with a separator  53 D and its contact surface is substantially circular shaped when seen from top. The separator guide wall  37  projects inwardly while a predetermined space that extends from the side wall  24 C to the tape conveying roller  63  is taken around the separator guide wall  37 . 
     Although  FIG. 3  shows only supporting holes  41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44  and  48  formed on the upper case  23 , supporting holes  41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44  and  48  are also formed on the lower case  24  so as to meet with the corresponding supporting holes  41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44  and  48  on the upper case  23 . 
     Further, as shown in  FIG. 4 , inside the stripped-tape accommodating cassette  21 , there are accommodated a film tape  51  that is a printing tape made of a transparent tape or the like, an ink ribbon  52  for printing on the film tape  51  and a two-sided adhesive tape  53  that is to be adhered onto a printing-applied film tape  51 . The film tape  51 , the ink ribbon  52  and the two-sided adhesive tape  53  are wound around a tape spool  54 , a ribbon spool  55  and a two-sided-adhesive-tape spool  56 , respectively. At the bottom of the lower case  24 , a cassette boss  58 , a reel boss  59  and a cassette boss  60  are arranged upright and rotatably fitted with the tape spool  54 , the ribbon spool  55  and the two-sided-adhesive-tape spool  56 , respectively. Still further, inside the stripped-tape accommodating cassette  21 , there are also arranged a ribbon-take-up spool  61  for taking up a used ink ribbon  52  and a separator-take-up spool  62  for taking up a separator  53 D peeled off from a two-sided adhesive tape  53 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , a clutch spring  64  is arranged at a lower part of the ribbon-take-up spool  61 . The clutch spring  64  is arranged there so as to prevent slack of an ink ribbon  52  that has been taken up into the ribbon-take-up spool  61  by rotating it inversely. Further, a clutch spring  66  is arranged at a lower part of the separator-take-up spool  62 . The clutch spring  66  is arranged there so as to prevent slack of a separator  53 D that has been taken up into the separator-take-up spool  62  by rotating it inversely. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , after pulled out from the ribbon spool  55 , an unused ink ribbon  52  is overlaid with a film tape  51 . Thereafter, the unused ink ribbon  52  overlaid with the film tape  51  goes into the opening  22  and passes through a path between the thermal head  9  and the platen roller  10 . After that, the ink ribbon  52  is separated from the film tape  51  and guided to reach the ribbon-take-up spool  61  driven by the ribbon-take-up shaft  15  for rotation. The ink ribbon  52  guided there is taken up into the ribbon-take-up spool  61 . 
     Further, as shown in  FIG. 7 , a two-sided adhesive tape  53  is wound around the two-sided-adhesive-tape spool  56  in a state that a separator  53 D is put outermost. The two-sided adhesive tape  53  consists of four layers, namely in order from the lower to top in  FIG. 7 : an adhesive layer  53 A for bonding a film tape  51  together; a base film  53 B made of colored PET (polyethylene terephthalate) or the like; an adhesive layer  53 C subject to be pasted on a commercial product etc.; and a separator  53 D for covering the to-be-pasted side of the adhesive layer  53 C. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4  through  FIG. 7 , a two-sided adhesive tape  53  that has been pulled out from the two-sided-adhesive spool  56  travels and passes through a path between the tape conveying roller  63  driven by the tape-driving-roller shaft  14  for rotation and the tape sub roller  11 . Thereafter, the adhesive layer  53 A on which the separator  53 D is not overlaid is pressed against the printing surface of the film tape  51 . 
     After that, the separator  53 D is peeled off from the two-sided adhesive tape  53  so as to be pressed and adhered to the film tape  51 . With that state, the separator  53 D is further guided toward the two-sided adhesive spool  56  along the peripheral surface of the tape conveying roller  63 , i.e., toward the pull-out direction of the two-sided adhesive tape  53  (upward direction in  FIG. 4 ). After that, the separator  53 D is further guided to reach the external of the guide rib  35  along a wall surface of the separator guide wall  37 . From there, the separator  53 D further travels the outside of the periphery of the wound two-sided adhesive tape  53  passing through peripheral surfaces of the convex part  35 A, the guide pin  36  and the convex part  35 B. The separator  53 D finally reaches the separator-take-up spool  62  inwardly at a substantially right angle. 
     Thereafter, the front end of the separator  53 D is fixedly adhered to the peripheral surface of the separator-take-up spool  62  by an adhesive tape or the like and taken up into the separator-take-up spool  62  that is driven by the separator-take-up shaft  16  for rotation. It is to be noted that the separator-take-up shaft  16  is driven for rotation in synchronous with rotation of the tape-driving-roller shaft  14  and the ribbon-take-up shaft  15 . 
     After passing through the path between the tape conveying roller  63  driven by the tape-driving-roller shaft  14  for rotation and the tape sub roller  11 , a film tape  51  reaches the contact roller  65  in a state that an adhesive layer  53 A, a base film  53 B and an adhesive layer  53 C are overlaid on a printing surface of the film tape  51 . Thereafter, the film tape  51  is consequently placed in a state that the adhesive layer  53 A, the base film  53 B and the adhesive layer  53 C are overlaid on the printing surface thereof, i.e., in a state of a sticky after-printed tape  28  is guided along the guide wall  33  that faces the contact roller  65  over an after-printed tape  28  inserted therebetween and conveyed to the outside of the stripped-tape accommodating cassette  21  through the tape ejecting port  27 . After that, through the cutter unit  30 , the sticky after-printed tape  28  from which the separator  53 D has been peeled off is conveyed outside from the label ejecting port  17  of the tape printing apparatus  1 . 
     The after-printed tape  28  is conveyed by predetermined length and the cutting motor  105  is driven for operating the movable blade  30 B. Consequently, from the label ejecting port  17 , there is ejected the predetermined length of the sticky after-printed tape  28  from which the separator  53 D has been peeled off. 
     By the way, as shown in  FIG. 4 , of the lower case  24 , at a corner to face the tape spool  54  where the film tape  51  is wound, there are seven cassette identifying holes  25 A through  25 G in an L-like arrangement manner. Those cassette identifying holes are adopted so as to identify a type of a tape cassette (e.g. a stripped-tape accommodating cassette  21  for creating a sticky after-printed tape  28  from which a separator  53 D is peeled off, a normal-tape accommodating cassette  81  for creating an after-printed tape with separator  53 D adhered on its adhesive layer, etc.), a tape width (e.g., five different tape width of 6 mm, 9 mm, 12 mm, 18 mm and 24 mm), tape material, etc. 
     It is to be noted that a specific portion of each of the seven cassette identifying holes  25 A through  25 G is configured so as to penetrate depending on tape cassette type, tape width, etc. For instance, with respect to the stripped-tape accommodating cassette  21  shown in  FIG. 4 , out of the seven cassette identifying holes  25 A through  25 G, six of the cassette identifying holes  25 A,  25 B,  25 C,  25 E,  25 F and  25 G are formed so as to penetrate, while a cassette identifying hole  25  D is formed so as not to penetrate. 
     Further, of the cassette housing portion  8 , on the bottom portion facing each of the seven cassette identifying holes  25 A through  25 G, there are arranged seven cassette sensors P 1  through P 7  (refer to  FIG. 11 ) in an L-like arrangement manner. Each of those cassette sensors P 1  through P 7  is formed of a push-type micro switch or the like and serves to detect presence and absence of each of the cassette identifying holes  25 A through  25 G. 
     Each of those cassette sensors P 1  through P 7  is formed of a heretofore-known mechanical switch consisting of a plunger, a micro switch, etc., wherein an upper end of each plunger is arranged so as to penetrate each of those cassette identifying holes  25 A through  25 G and poke out. Presence or absence is detected between each of the cassette sensors P 1  through P 7  and each of the cassette identifying holes  25 A through  25 G, whereby a tape cassette type, tape width and tape material etc of a tape housed in the cassette housing portion  8  can be identified with an ON signal and an OFF signal both of which reflect detection result. 
     In the case of the present embodiment, with respect to each of the cassette sensors P 1  through P 7 , a plunger is arranged so as to always poke out from their respective cassette identifying holes  25 A through  25 G and a micro switch is set in an off state. In case the cassette identifying holes  25 A through  25 G each are arranged at their respective positions to face the cassette sensors P 1  through P 7 , their respective plungers are not depressed and their respective micro switches are set in an off state. Consequently, an off signal is outputted. 
     On the other hand, in case the cassette identifying holes  25 A through  25 G each are not arranged at their respective positions to face the cassette sensors P 1  through P 7 , their respective plungers are depressed and their respective micro switches are set in an on state. Consequently, an on signal is outputted. Accordingly, each of the cassette sensors P 1  through P 7  makes up each bit of a seven-bit signal consisting of a combination of “0” and “1”. In case all the cassette sensors P 1  through P 7  are in an off state, i.e., in case a tape cassette is not housed, a seven-bit signal of “0000000” is outputted. 
     Out of seven of the cassette identifying holes  25 A through  25 G, six of those holes are formed at maximum. Therefore, by associating presence and absence with “1” and “0”, respectively, with respect to each of the cassette identifying holes  25 A through  25 G, tape cassette type, tape width, tape material, etc. can be detected with a seven-bit correspondence that ranges from “0000001” to “1111111”. For instance, in case the stripped-tape accommodating cassette  21  is housed in the cassette housing portion  8 , this fact can be detected with a seven-bit correspondence of “0001000”. 
     Next, by referring to  FIG. 8  through  FIG. 10 , there will be described on schematic configuration of a normal-tape accommodating cassette  81  that creates an after-printed tape  85  with a separator  53 D being adhered on its adhesive layer. 
     In the following description of the normal-tape accommodating cassette  81  illustrated with  FIG. 8  through  FIG. 10 , there are numerals and signs identical with those assigned to constituent elements of the stripped-tape accommodating cassette  21  illustrated with  FIG. 3  through  FIG. 7 . Those identical numerals and signs are assigned to constituent elements of the normal-tape accommodating cassette  81  are completely or substantially identical with those constituting the stripped-tape accommodating cassette  21 . 
     As shown. in  FIG. 8  through  FIG. 10 , the schematic configuration of the normal-tape accommodating cassette  81  is almost the same as that of the stripped-tape accommodating cassette  21 . 
     However, as shown in  FIG. 8  through  FIG. 10 , the normal-tape accommodating cassette  81  does not include a separator-take-up spool  62 . Therefore, a separator-take-up shaft  16  is arranged so as to penetrate a supporting hole  44 . Further, a side wall  24 A facing the supporting hole  44  does not protrude outwardly. Still further, a contact roller  65  is not arranged, and instead of a tape ejecting port  27 , a tape ejecting port  83  is formed. 
     Further, the tape ejecting port  83  for ejecting an after-printed tape  85  with a separator  53 D being adhered on its adhesive layer is formed so as to have a slit-like shape when seen from front, with predetermined width (e.g., about 3 mm of width) in the tape conveying direction. The tape ejecting port  83  is constituted by a guide wall  83 A and a guide wall  83 B that faces the guide wall  83 A over the after-printed tape  85 . The guide wall  83 A is configured to face the separator  53 D of the after-printed tape  85 . The guide wall  83 B is configured to guide the after-printed tape  85  to the downstream of the tape conveying direction while getting in contact with an outer surface of the film tape  51  of the after-printed tape  85 . The guide wall  83 A and the guide wall  83 B are arranged so as to be away from each other by predetermined distance (e.g., about 1 mm). Further, the guide wall  83 A and the guide wall  83 B are arranged so as to face each other on a common tangent of a tape conveying roller  63  and a tape sub roller  11 . 
     Further, the downstream-side edge portion of the guide wall  83 A and that of the guide wall  83 B are configured to come out in the downstream of the tape conveying direction in comparison with the side wall  24 B that faces the tape conveying roller  63 , whereby the guide walls  83 A and  83 B closely face the fixed blade  30 A. Thus, the guide walls  83 A and  83 B are arranged so as to be able to guide the after-printed tape  85  near the fixed blade  30 A 
     As shown in  FIG. 8  through  FIG. 10 , the two-sided adhesive tape  53  that has been pulled out from the two-sided-adhesive spool  56  travels and passes through a path between the tape conveying roller  63  driven by the tape-driving-roller shaft  14  for rotation and the tape sub roller  11 . Thereafter, the adhesive layer  53 A on which the separator  53 D is not overlaid is pressed against the printing surface of the film tape  51 . 
     After the two-sided adhesive tape  53  is adhered to the film tape  51  on its printing surface, the after-printed tape  85  with the separator  53 D adhered on its adhesive layer is conveyed to the outside of the normal-tape accommodating cassette  81  through the tape ejecting port  83 . Thereafter, through the cutter unit  30 , the after-printed tape  85  with the separator  53 D adhered on its adhesive layer is ejected outside from the label ejecting port  17  of the tape printing apparatus  1 . 
     The after-printed tape  85  is conveyed by predetermined length and the cutting motor  105  is driven for operating the movable blade  30 B. Consequently, from the label ejecting port  17 , there is ejected the predetermined length of the after-printed tape  85  with the separator  53 D being adhered on its adhesive layer. 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , of the lower case  24  for the normal-tape accommodating cassette  81 , at a corner to face the tape spool  54  where the film tape  51  is wound, there are seven cassette identifying holes  25 A through  25 G. The cassette identifying holes  25 A,  25 B,  25 F and  25 G are formed so as to penetrate while the cassette identifying holes  25 C and  25 E are formed so as not to penetrate. In case the normal-tape accommodating cassette  81  is housed in the cassette housing portion  8 , this fact can be detected with a seven-bit correspondence of “0011100”. 
     Next, the circuit configuration of the tape printing apparatus  1  will be described by referring to  FIG. 11 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , a control circuit unit  90  is installed on a control board  12  of the tape printing apparatus  1 . The control circuit unit  90  includes a CPU  91 , a CG (character generator) ROM  92 , a ROM  93 , a flash memory  94 , a RAM  95 , an input/output interface (I/F)  96 , a communication interface (I/F)  97  and the like. Further, the CPU  91 , the CGROM  92 , the ROM  93 , the flash memory  94 , the RAM  95 , the input/output interface (I/F)  96  and the communication interface (I/F)  97  are mutually connected by bus lines  98  for mutual data exchange. 
     Dot data patterns associated with respective characters are stored in the CGROM  92 . When dot pattern data are read out from the CGROM  92 , dot patterns are displayed in the liquid crystal display (LCD)  7  based on the read-out dot pattern data. 
     Further, the ROM  93  stores various programs. Specifically, as will be described later, there are stored various programs necessary for controlling the tape printing apparatus  1 , such as print control process program (refer to  FIG. 12 ) for controlling the number of to-be printed printing tapes depending on type of a tape cassette. 
     The CPU  91  executes various operations based on the various programs stored in the ROM  93 . The ROM  93  also stores outline data for defining outlines of various characters and letters wherein the outline data are classified by fonts (Gothic, Mincho, etc.) and associated with each of the code data. Based on the outline data, dot pattern data are expanded on a printing buffer  95 B. 
     The flash memory  94  assigns registration numbers to dot pattern data of plural sizes of external characters coming from an external computer and those of various figure data and stores them with registration numbers. Even though the power of the tape printing apparatus  1  is turned off, the flash memory  94  holds memory contents. 
     Further, the RAM  95  temporarily stores various operation results obtained by the operation of the CPU  91 . When printing is to be carried out on a film tape  51  with the thermal head  9 , the RAM  95  also temporarily stores printing data. Further, the RAM  95  includes various memories, namely, a text memory  95 A, a printing buffer  95 B, etc. 
     The text memory  95 A stores editorial texts of document data inputted with the keyboard  6  and those of printing data of external character data. The printing buffer  95 B stores dot patters of plural characters, signs, etc. and the number of pulses to be applied as energy amount when forming each dot, as dot pattern data. The thermal head  9  carries out dot printing in accordance with printing dot pattern data stored in the printing buffer  95 B. 
     Further, the input/output I/F  96  is connected with the keyboard  6 , each of the cassette sensors P 1  through P 7 , the display controller (LCDC)  101  that includes a video RAM for outputting display data to the liquid crystal display (LCD)  7 , the driving circuit  102  for driving the thermal head  9 , the driving circuit  104  for driving the tape conveying motor  103 , and the driving circuit  106  for driving the cutting motor  105 . 
     Further, the communication I/F  97  is constituted by a USB (Universal Serial Bus) connector  19  or the like, for instance, and connected to an external computer with a USB cable so as to communicate mutually. 
     Therefore, in case letters etc. are inputted with the letter input keys  2  of the keyboard  6 , the corresponding texts (document data) are sequentially stored in the text memory  95 A. At the same time, dot patterns corresponding to letters etc. inputted with the keyboard  6  based on a dot pattern creation control program, a display drive control program, etc. are indicated in the liquid crystal display (LCD)  7 . 
     Further, the thermal head  9  is driven by the driving circuit  102  so as to carry out printing of the to-be printed dot pattern data stored in the printing buffer  95 B. In synchronous with this, driving of the tape conveying motor  103  is controlled by the driving circuit  104  so as to convey the ink ribbon  52 , the film tape  51  and the two-sided adhesive tape  53 . Further, the text memory  95 A sequentially stores printing data inputted from the external computer through the communication I/F  97 . Thereafter, based on the dot pattern creation control program, the printing data is processed and stored in the printing buffer  95 B as printing dot pattern data. Subsequently, the thus inputted printing data is printed out on the film tape  51  with the thermal head  9 . 
     Next, by referring to  FIG. 12 , there will be described on a print control process for controlling the to-be-printed number of printing tapes depending on type of a tape cassette placed in the cassette housing portion  8 , wherein the control process is executed by the CPU  91  of the tape printing apparatus  1 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 12 , at step (abbreviated as S, hereinafter)  11 , the CPU  91  detects a tape cassette type housed in the cassette housing portion  8  through each of the cassette sensors P 1  through P 7 . Thereafter, in case it is detected that the stripped-tape accommodating cassette  21  or the like for creating an after-printed tape  28  with a separator  53 D being peeled off from its adhesive layer has been housed, the CPU  91  reads a cassette flag from the RAM  95 , sets the cassette flag in an ON state and again stores the ON-state cassette flag in the RAM  95 . 
     On the other hand, it is detected that the normal-tape accommodating cassette  81  or the like for creating an after printed tape with a separator  53 D being adhered on its adhesive layer has been housed, the CPU  91  reads a cassette flag from the RAM  95 , sets the cassette flag in an OFF state and again stores the OFF-state cassette flag in the RAM  95 . It is to be noted that the cassette flag is set in an OFF state and stored as so in the RAM  95  when the tape printing apparatus  1  is initialized. 
     For instance, as already described, in case a seven-bit signal of “0001000” made up of correspondences from the respective cassette sensors P 1  through P 7  is inputted, the CPU  91  detects that the stripped-tape accommodating cassette  21  or the like for creating an after-printed tape  28  with a separator  53 D being peeled off from its adhesive layer has been housed. Thereafter, the CPU  91  reads out the cassette flag from the RAM  95 , sets the cassette flag in an ON state and again stores the ON-state cassette flag in the RAM  95  again. 
     As already described, in case a seven-bit signal of “0011100” made up of correspondences from the respective cassette sensors P 1  through P 7  is inputted, the CPU  91  detects that the normal-tape accommodating cassette  81  or the like for creating an after printed tape  85  with a separator  53 D being adhered on its adhesive layer has been housed. Thereafter, the CPU  91  reads a cassette flag from the RAM  95 , sets the cassette flag in an OFF state and again stores the OFF-state cassette flag in the RAM  95  again. 
     At S 12 , the CPU  91  sequentially stores printing data inputted with the letter input keys  2  or the like in the text memory  95 A and stores “N”, the number of copies, inputted with the letter input keys  2  or the like in the RAM  95 . 
     Next, at S 13 , the CPU  91  detects whether or not a tape cassette housed in the cassette housing portion  8  is the normal-tape accommodating cassette  81  or the like for creating an after printed tape  85  with a separator  53 D being adhered on its adhesive layer. That is, the CPU  91  executes a process to detect whether or not the cassette flag is set in an OFF state by reading out the cassette flag from the RAM  95 . 
     In case it is detected that the tape cassette housed in the cassette housing portion  8  is the normal-tape accommodating cassette  81  or the like for creating an after printed tape  85  with a separator  53 D being adhered on its adhesive layer, i.e., it is detected that the cassette flag readout from the RAM  95  is set in an OFF state (S 13 : YES), the CPU  91  shifts the process to S 14 . 
     At S 14 , the CPU  91  reads out printing data from the text memory  95 A, creates printing dot pattern data from the printing data with the aid of the dot pattern data creation control program and stores the thus created printing dot pattern data in the printing buffer  95 B. Thereafter, the CPU  91  drives the thermal head  9  with the aid of the driving circuit  102  so as to carry out printing of the printing dot pattern data stored in the printing buffer  95 B and in synchronous with this operation, drives the tape conveying motor  103  with the aid of the driving circuit  104  so as to carry out conveyance control of the ink ribbon  52 , the film tape  51  and the two-sided adhesive tape  53 . 
     Next, at S 15 , the CPU  91  detects whether or not the entirety of the printing dot pattern data stored in the printing buffer  95 B is printed out with the thermal head  9 . That is, the CPU  91  executes a process to detect whether or not printing is finished. In case printing is not finished (S 15 : NO), the CPU  91  repeats processes to follow S 14 . 
     On the other hand, in case printing is finished (S 15 : YES), the CPU  91  shifts the process to S 16 . At S 16 , the CPU  91  stops operation of the thermal head  9  with the aid of the driving circuit  102  and in synchronous with this, drives the tape conveying motor  103  with the aid of the driving circuit  104  so as to convey the after-printed tape  85  with the separator  53 D being adhered on its adhesive layer to a cutting position of the cutter unit  30 . 
     Next, at S 17 , the CPU  91  detects whether or not the after-printed tape  85  with the separator  53 D being adhered on its adhesive layer is conveyed to the cutting position of the cutter unit  30 . In case it is detected that the after-printed tape  85  with the separator  53 D being adhered on its adhesive layer is not conveyed to reach the cutting position of the cutter unit  30  (S 17 : NO), the CPU  91  repeats processes to follow S 16 . 
     On the other hand, in case it is detected that the after-printed tape  85  with the separator  53 D being adhered on its adhesive layer is conveyed to reach the cutting position of the cutter unit  30  (S 17 : YES), the CPU  91  shifts the process to S 18 . At S 18 , the CPU  91  stops the operation of the tape conveying motor  103  with the aid of the driving circuit  104  and in synchronous with this, drives the movable blade  30 B with the aid of the cutting motor  105  so as to cut off by predetermined length the after-printed tape  85  with the separator  53 D being adhered on its adhesive layer. After that the thus cut-off after-printed tape  85  is ejected from the label ejecting port  17 . 
     Next, at S 19 , the CPU  91  reads out “N”, the to-be-created number, from the RAM  95  and subtracts “1” from “N” and again stores new “N” as the new to-be-created number in the RAM  95 . 
     Next, at S 20 , the CPU  91  reads out “N”, the number of copies, from the RAM  95  and carries out a process to detect whether or not “N” is “0”. In case “N”, the to-be created number, is not “0” (S 20 : NO), the CPU  91  repeats processes to follow S 14 . 
     On the other hand, in case “N”, the to-be-created number, is “0” (S 20 : YES), the CPU  91  terminates the series of processes. 
     Alternatively, at S 13 , in case it is detected that the tape cassette housed in the cassette housing portion  8  is the stripped-tape accommodating cassette  21  or the like for creating an after-printed tape  28  with a separator  53 D being peeled off from its adhesive layer, i.e., it is detected that the cassette flag read out from the RAM  95  is set in an ON state (S 13 : NO), the CPU  91  shifts the process to S 21 . 
     At S 21 , the CPU  91  reads out “N”, the to-be-created number of copies, from the RAM  95  so as to detect whether or not “N” is larger than “1”, i.e., whether or not the number of copies is two or larger. 
     In case “N”, the to-be-created number, is larger than “1”, i.e., in case the to-be-created number is two or larger (S 21 : YES), the CPU  91  shifts the process to S 22 . At S 22 , the CPU  91  again reads out “N”, the to-be-created number of copies, from the RAM  95 , substitutes “1” for “N” as the new to-be-created number and stores the new “N” in the RAM  95 . 
     Next, at S 23 , the CPU  91  indicates in the liquid crystal display  7  a message that only one will be printed and subsequently repeats processes to follow S 14 . For instance, the CPU  91  indicates in the liquid crystal display  7  a message that “only one will be printed” and subsequently shifts the process to S 14 . 
     In case “N”, the to-be-created number, is “1”, i.e., in case the to-be-created number is one (S 21 : NO), the CPU  91  shifts the process to S 14 . 
     Next, the CPU  91  carries out the processes of S 14  through S 20 , whereby the after-printed tape  28  with the separator  53 D being peeled off from its adhesive layer is cut off by predetermined length, subsequently ejected from the label ejecting port  17  and tape printing operation is terminated. 
     Accordingly, in the tape printing apparatus  1  of the present embodiment, in case the CPU  91  detects that a type of a tape cassette housed in the cassette housing portion  8  is the stripped-tape accommodating cassette  21  for creating an after-printed tape  28  with a separator  53 D being peeled off from its adhesive layer, only one after-printed tape  28  in predetermined length with a separator  53 D being peeled off from its adhesive layer is ejected from the label ejecting port  17  and tape printing operation is terminated. 
     Thereby, in case the stripped-tape accommodating cassette  21  is housed in the tape housing portion  8 , even if it is set to print plural copies with the keyboard  6 , the only one is created, conveyed to the cutting point, cut off by predetermined length, and printing on the film tape  51  is terminated. Therefore, even though an after-printed tape  28  with a separator  53 D being peeled off from its adhesive tape is ejected from the stripped-tape accommodating cassette  21 , it can be prevented that plural after-printed tapes  28  with a separator  53 D being peeled off from their respective adhesive tapes and being cut off by predetermined length get adhered overlapping with one another near the label ejecting port  17  of the tape printing apparatus  1 . 
     Further, in case the stripped-tape accommodating cassette  21  is housed in the tape housing portion  8 , the two-sided adhesive tape  53  gets pressed and adhered on the printing surface of the film tape  51  by the tape conveying roller  63  and the tape sub roller  11  and further conveyed in a state that the separator  53 D is peeled off from its adhesive layer. Thereby, time and effort to peel off the separator  53 D is made eliminable when the after-printed tape  28  cut in predetermined length is to be pasted on a commercial product etc. 
     In case the stripped-tape accommodating cassette  21  is housed in the tape housing portion  8 , only one after-printed tape  28  with a separator  53 D being peeled off from its adhesive layer is created and automatically cut off by the cutter unit  30 . Therefore, a predetermined length of after-printed tape  28  with a separator  53 D being peeled off from its adhesive layer can be created at ease. 
     In case the stripped-tape accommodating cassette  21  is housed in the tape housing portion  8  and the number of copies is set to two or larger, a massage that only one will be printed is indicated in the liquid crystal display  7 . Thereby, a user can easily recognize that the same printing data must be set again for printing. 
     Further, in case the normal-tape accommodating cassette  81  for creating an after-printed tape  85  with a separator  53 D being adhered on its adhesive layer is housed in the tape housing portion  8 , successive printing is carried out as may as the to-be-created number set by a user. Thereby, plural number of predetermined length of after-printed tape  85  with separators  53 D being adhered on their respective adhesive layers can be created successively. 
     It is to be noted that the disclosure is not restricted to aspects directed to the present embodiment and that various changes and modification may be made without departing from the gist of the disclosure. There may be modified as below, for instance. 
     (A) On the label ejecting port  17 , there may be arranged a detection unit consisting of a reflective light sensor or the like so as to detect an after-printed tape  28 . In case the stripped-tape accommodating cassette  21  is housed in the cassette housing portion  8  and two or more copies are to be printed, the CPU  91  may be configured to create a next after-printed tape  28  until reaching the to-be-created number every time the detection unit detects that an after-printed tape  28  ejected from the label ejecting port  17  is completely taken out. 
     (B) On the label ejecting port  17 , there may be arranged a detection unit consisting of a pryoelectric infrared sensor or the like so as to detect a user&#39;s finger. Specifically, in case the stripped-tape accommodating cassette  21  is housed in the cassette housing portion  8  and two or more copies are to be printed, the CPU  91  may be configured to create a next after-printed tape  28  until reaching the to-be-created number. Thereby, in case a user&#39;s finger is detected at the label ejecting port  17  after an after-printed tape  28  is ejected to the label ejecting port  17 , it may be regarded as a detection of complete removal of the thus ejected after-printed tape  28 . 
     (C) In case the stripped-tape accommodating cassette  21  is housed in the cassette housing portion  8 , the CPU  91  may be configured to store last inputted printing data in the printing buffer  95 B. Thereby, in case the printing key  3  is depressed after an after-printed tape  28  is ejected to the label ejecting port  17 , the last inputted printing data is printed on a film tape  51  so as create only one after-printed tape  28  again.