Patent Publication Number: US-2022212480-A1

Title: Printing cassette and printer

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This is a continuation application of International Application No. PCT/JP2020/0341876 filed on Sep. 15, 2020 which claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2019478164 filed on Sep. 30, 2019. The entire contents of the earlier applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL HELD 
     Aspects of the disclosure relate to a printing cassette and a printer. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In a printer that performs printing on a printing tape, replacement and resupply of a printing tape is performed by attachment and detachment of a cassette accommodating a printing tape to and from the printer. 
     SUMMARY 
     It is assumed that the above-described cassette is provided with a gear for transmitting a driving force to the inside of the cassette or a gear for transmitting a driving force from the cassette to the outside thereof. In a case where a portion of such a gear is exposed to the outside of a case of the cassette, the gear is easily damaged when the cassette is dropped and collides with a surface of a floor or somewhere. 
     Accordingly, aspects of the disclosure provide a printing cassette that may reduce damage to a gear that transmits a driving force. 
     In one or more aspects of the disclosure, a printing cassette may include: a case including a first case portion, a second case portion, and a third case portion; a first tape, at least a portion of which is accommodated in the third case portion; and a gear, a portion of which is accommodated in the second case portion and the other portion of which is located outside of the case, the gear being rotatable about a rotation axis parallel to a first direction. 
     The first case portion may have an outlet through which the first tape is discharged. The first case portion, the second case portion, and the third case portion may be disposed in an order of the first case portion, the second case portion, and the third case portion in the first direction. 
     In one or more aspects of the disclosure, a printer may include: a printing cassette; and a printer body on which the printing cassette is to be mounted. The printer body may include a driving force transmission portion that is to be engaged with the gear. 
     According to these configurations, the gear may be disposed at the second case portion sandwiched between the first case portion and the third case portion. Therefore, even if the printing cassette is dropped and a surface of the printing cassette extending perpendicular to the axial direction of the rotation axis of the gear collides with a surface of a floor or somewhere, the gear may be protected by the first case portion and the third case portion and damage to the gear is reduced. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C  are schematic perspective views each illustrating a state in which a printing cassette is detached from a printer body in a printer according to an illustrative embodiment. 
         FIG. 2A, 2B, and 2C  are schematic perspective views each illustrating the printing cassette in the printer of  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 3  is a disassembled schematic perspective view of the printing cassette of  FIG. 2A . 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV of  FIG. 2C . 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  are schematic perspective views each illustrating a first frame portion of the printing cassette of  FIG. 2A . 
         FIG. 5C  is a schematic perspective view of a second frame portion of the printing cassette of  FIG. 2A . 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic perspective view illustrating a state in which a first cover portion of the printing cassette of  FIG. 2A  is removed. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view for explaining a path of a to-be-printed tape and a path of an ink ribbon in the printing cassette of  FIG. 2A . 
         FIG. 8A  is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line VIIIA-VIIIA of  FIG. 2C . 
         FIG. 8B  is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line VIIIB-VIIIB of  FIG. 2C . 
         FIG. 8C  is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line VIIIC-VIIIC of  FIG. 2C . 
         FIG. 8D  is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line VIIID-VIIID of  FIG. 2C . 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic plan view illustrating the printer body of the printer of  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic view illustrating a state in which an output gear and a platen gear are in engagement with each other in the printer of  FIG. 1A . 
         FIGS. 11A and 11B  are schematic perspective views each illustrating a state in which a printing cassette is detached from a printer body in a printer according to an illustrative embodiment different from the illustrative embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 12  is a disassembled schematic perspective view of the printing cassette in the printer of  FIG. 11A . 
         FIG. 13  is a schematic plan view illustrating the printer body of the printer of  FIG. 11A . 
         FIG. 14  is a schematic view illustrating a state in which an output gear and a platen gear are in engagement with each other in the printer of  FIG. 11A . 
         FIG. 15  is a disassembled schematic perspective view of a printing cassette for a printer according to an illustrative embodiment different from the illustrative embodiments illustrated in  FIGS. 1A and 11A . 
         FIG. 16  is a disassembled schematic perspective view of a printing cassette for a printer according to an illustrative embodiment different from the illustrative embodiments illustrated in  FIGS. 1A, 11A, and 15 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     1. First Illustrative Embodiment 
     1-1. Configuration 
     A printer  1  illustrated in  FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C  includes a printing cassette  10  and a printer body  100 . The printer  1  is a device that performs printing on a tape-shaped printing medium. 
     In the illustrative embodiment, an axial direction of an output gear  18  is defined as an up-down direction. A direction that is perpendicular to the up-down direction and in which the output gear  18  and an input spool  16  are arranged next to each other is defined as a front-rear direction. A direction perpendicular to both the up-down direction and the front-rear direction is defined as a left-right direction. 
     Printing Cassette 
     The printing cassette  10  accommodates a printing medium. The printing cassette  10  is mountable to and removable from the printer body  100 . Replacing the printing cassette  10  may achieve resupply of a printing medium and change of a type (e.g., color, material, or others) of the printing medium. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C , the printing cassette  10  includes a case  35  that accommodates a to-be-printed tape (an example of a first tape), an ink ribbon, and others. An outer shape of the printing cassette  10  (i.e., a shape of the case  35 ) is a rectangular parallelepiped having sides parallel to the up-down direction, sides parallel to the front-rear direction, and sides parallel to the left-right direction. The case  35  includes a first cover portion  31 , a first frame portion  32 , a second frame portion  33 , and a second cover portion  34 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the printing cassette  10  includes a first roll  11 , a first feed spool  12 , a spacer film  13 A, a spacer film  13 B, a second roll  14 , a second feed spool  15 , an input spool  16 , a clutch spring holder  17 , the output gear  18 , the input gear  19 , and an idle gear  20 . 
     First Roll 
     In the first roll  11 , a to-be-printed tape on which printing is to be performed is wound around the first feed spool  12 . Printing is performed on a surface of the to-be-printed tape by a print head  102  of the printer body  100  and an ink ribbon. 
     Two spacer films  13 A,  13 B are disposed outside the first roll  11  in the up-down direction such that the spacer films  13 A,  13 B sandwich the first roll  11  therebetween. The spacer fila  13 A is disposed between the first roll  11  and the second cover portion  34  The spacer film  13 B is disposed between the first roll  11  and the second frame portion  33 . 
     First Feed Spool 
     The first feed spool  12  is rotatable about its rotation axis. The first feed spool  12  rotates along with conveyance of the to-be-printed tape by a platen roller  103  of the printer body  100 , thereby feeding the to-be-printed tape to the print head  102 . 
     Second Roll 
     In the second roll  14 , the ink ribbon used for printing on the to-be-printed tape is wound around the second feed spool  15 . 
     In a head opening  32 B, the ink ribbon is laid on the to-be-printed tape and used for printing performed by the print head  102  therein. The ink ribbon that has been used for printing is taken up by the input spool  16 . A rotation resistance is applied to the second roll  14  by a clutch spring held by the clutch spring holder  17 . 
     Second Feed Spool 
     The second feed spool  15  is rotatable about its rotation axis. The rotation axis of the second feed spool  15  is parallel to the rotational axis of the first feed spool  12 , that is, parallel to the up-down direction. 
     The second feed spool  15  rotates along with take-up of the ink ribbon by the input spool  16 , thereby feeding the ink ribbon to the print head  102 . Further, the second feed spool  15  is disposed such that a portion thereof overlaps the first roll  11  in the up-down direction. 
     Input Spool 
     The input spool  16  is rotatable about its rotation axis. The rotation axis of the input spool  16  is parallel to the rotation axis of the second feed spool  15 . 
     The input spool  16  has a cylindrical shape and has a hollow portion defined by an inner peripheral surface  16 A. Spline teeth  16 B are provided on the inner peripheral surface  16 A of the input spool  16 . A drive shaft  105  of the printer body  100  is to be coupled to the spline teeth  16 B. The input spool  16  is rotated by the drive shaft  105  to take up the ink ribbon. 
     Output Gear 
     The output gear  18  is a single gear for outputting, to the outside, a driving force for conveying the to-be-printed tape. The output gear  18  transmits a driving force to the platen roller  103  via a platen gear  104  of the printer body  100 . 
     The output gear  18  includes a disk that rotates about its rotation axis parallel to the up-down direction and teeth on a surface of the disk extending parallel to the up-down direction. One (i.e., an upper surface) of surfaces of the disk extending perpendicular to the up-down direction faces a cover portion  33 B of the case  35  in the up-down direction. A portion of the other (i.e., a lower surface) of the surfaces of the disk extending perpendicular to the up-down direction does not face the case  35  in the up-down direction. 
     The output gear  18  is partially exposed to the head opening  32 B, and thus, the exposed portion thereof is located outside the case  35 . The output gear  18  is in engagement with the platen gear  104  at the head opening  32 B in a state where the printing cassette  10  is mounted on the printer body  100 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the first roll  11 , the output gear  18 , and the second roll  14  (i.e., the second feed spool  15 ) are disposed in the order of the first roll  11 , the output gear  18 , and the second roll  14  in the up-down direction. That is, the output gear  18  is positioned between the first roll  11  and the second roll  14  in the up-down direction. 
     Input Gear 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the input gear  19  is indirectly connected to the output gear  18  via an idle gear  20  and transmits a driving force to the output gear  18 . A driving force from a driving source of the printer body  100  is input to the input gear  19 . 
     The input gear  19  includes an external gear  19 A and a cylindrical spool  19 B fixed to a lower surface of the external gear  19 A and having spline teeth on an inner peripheral surface thereof. The external gear  19 A rotates integrally with the spool  19 B by the driving force input to the spool  19 B. 
     A rotation axis of the input gear  19  (i.e., a rotation axis of the external gear  19 A and a rotation axis of the spool  19 B) is coaxial with the rotation axis of the input spool  16 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the input spool  16 , the input gear  19 , and the first roll  11  are disposed in the order of the input spool  16 , the input gear  19 , and the first roll  11  in the up-down direction. 
     That is, the input gear  19  is positioned between the input spool  16  and the first roll  11  in the up-down direction. Further, the input gear  19  is disposed such that a portion thereof overlaps the first roll  11  in the up-down direction. 
     The rotation axis of the input gear  19  extends in the hollow portion of the input spool  16 . That is, the drive shaft  105  is inserted into the input spool  16  and the input gear  19  simultaneously. As a result, although the input gear  19  is not directly coupled to the input spool  16 , the input gear  19  is rotated by a driving source (i.e., the drive shaft  105 ) common to the input spool  16 . 
     Idle Gear 
     The idle gear  20  is connected to be driven to (i.e., is in engagement with) the input gear  19  and the output gear  18 , and transmits the driving force input to the input gear  19  to the output gear  18 . 
     The idle gear  20  is a stepped gear in which a first gear  20 A engaged with the input gear  19  and a second gear  20 B engaged with the output gear  18  are arranged coaxially. The second gear  20 B has a diameter smaller than the first gear  20 A. Further, the second gear  20 B is disposed at a position closer to the first roll  11  than the second gear  20 B to the first gear  20 A in the up-down direction (i.e., on an upper side). The idle gear  20  constitutes a deceleration mechanism that decelerates the driving force input to the input gear  19 . 
     Case 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the first cover portion  31  serves as a lower end portion of the printing cassette  10 . The first frame portion  32  is disposed above the first cover portion  31  and is connected to the first cover portion  31  in the up-down direction. The second frame portion  33  is disposed above the first frame portion  32  and is connected to the first frame portion  32  in the up-down direction. The second cover portion  34  serves as an upper end portion of the printing cassette  10 . The second cover portion  34  is connected to the second frame portion  33  in the up-down direction. 
     The first cover portion  31  and a first portion that is a lower side of the first frame portion  32  constitute a first case portion  41  in which the second roll  14  (i.e., at least a portion of the ink ribbon), the second feed spool  15 , and the input spool  16  are accommodated. That is, the second roll  14 , the second feed spool  15 , and the input spool  16  are disposed in a space surrounded by the first cover portion  31  and the first frame portion  32 . The first case portion  41  is further provided with an outlet  32 C through which the to-be-printed tape is discharged. 
     A second portion of the first frame portion  32  that is a side (i.e., an upper side) opposite to the first portion in the up-down direction and a third portion that is a lower side of the second frame portion  33  constitute a second case portion  42  in which a particular portion of the output gear  18 , the input gear  19 , and the idle gear  20  are accommodated. That is, the particular portion of the output gear  18 , the input gear  19 , and the idle gear  20  are disposed in a space surrounded by the first frame portion  32  and the second frame portion  33 . 
     A fourth portion of the second frame portion  33  that is a side (i.e., an upper side) opposite to the third portion in the up-down direction and the second cover portion  34  constitute a third case portion  43  in which the first roll  11  (i.e., at least a portion of the to-be-printed tape) is accommodated. That is, the first roll  11  is disposed in a space surrounded by the second frame portion  33  and the second cover portion  34 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the first case portion  41 , the second case portion  42 , and the third case portion  43  are disposed in the order of the first case portion  41 , the second case portion  42 , and the third case portion  43  in the up-down direction. That is, the second case portion  42  is disposed between the first case portion  41  and the third case portion  43  in the up-down direction. 
     A dimension of the first case portion  41  in the up-down direction and a dimension of the third case portion  43  in the up-down direction are both greater than a dimension of the second case portion  42  in the up-down direction. Further, the dimension of the first case portion  41  in the up-down direction is greater than or equal to the dimension of the third case portion  43  in the up-down direction. A dimension of the second frame portion  33  in the up-down direction is greater than a dimension of the first frame portion  32  in the up-down direction. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , the first frame portion  32  includes a first sidewall  32 A, the head opening  32 B, the outlet  32 C, a first guide  32 D, a protruding portion  32 E, a facing portion  32 F, a first separation wall  32 G, an outlet for opening  32 K, a first restricting portion  32 L, and a first partition wall  32 M. The first sidewall  32 A defines side surfaces of the printing cassette  10 . The side surfaces of the printing cassette  10  extend parallel to the up-down direction. 
     The head opening  32 B is a cutaway portion of the first sidewall  32 A. The head opening  32 B is a space in which the print head  102  is located by insertion into the head opening  32 B from below in a state where the printing cassette  10  is mounted to the printer body  100 . The tread opening  32 B opens downward in the printing cassette  10 . 
     The first guide  32 D is a portion around which a to-be-printed tape  11 A fed from the third case portion  43  is wound. The first guide  32 D has a plurality of ribs being plates that are apart from each other in a circumferential direction of the second roll  14 . The plurality of ribs protrude in a radial direction of the second roll  14 , and a protruding amount of each of the plurality of ribs (i.e., a plate width) decreases as each of the plurality of ribs extends downward. 
     The protruding portion  32 E is located upstream from the head opening  32 B in a conveyance direction of the to-be-printed tape, and is a portion in which the to-be-printed tape and the ink ribbon are conveyed parallel to each other. The protruding portion  32 E extends in the left-right direction. The to-be-printed tape and the ink ribbon are conveyed inside the protruding portion  32 E from left to right during printing. 
     The protruding portion  32 E has a first surface  32 H that defines the head opening  32 B. The first surface  32 H serves as a rear surface of the protruding portion  32 E and is orthogonal to the front-rear direction. In a state where the printing cassette  10  is mounted on the printer body  100 , the first surface  32 H faces the print head  102  in the front-rear direction. 
     The facing portion  32 F is a plate portion facing the protruding portion  32 E in the front-rear direction. The facing portion  32 F separates the head opening  32 B and a space in which the second roll  14 , the second feed spool  15 , and the input spool  16  are disposed in the front-rear direction. The facing portion  32 F defines the head opening  32 B and has a second surface  32 I (refer to  FIG. 3 ) facing the first surface  32 H in the front-rear direction. 
     The second surface  32 I serves as a front surface of the facing portion  32 F and is orthogonal to the front-rear direction. In a state where the printing cassette  10  is mounted on the printer body  100 , the second surface  32 I is opposite to the first surface  32 H with respect to the print head  102  in the front-rear direction. 
     The first separation wall  32 G separates the first case portion  41  and the second case portion  42  in the up-down direction. The first separation wall  32 G is a portion of the second case portion  42 . That is, in the first frame portion  32 , the first portion constituting the first case portion  41  is a portion lower than the first separation wall  32 G. On the other hand, the protruding portion  32 E and the facing portion  32 F protrude downward from the first separation wall  32 G. Thus, the protruding portion  32 E and the facing portion  32 F are portions of the first case portion  41 . 
     The first separation wall  32 G has a third surface  32 J that is disposed at an upper end of the head opening  32 B in the up-down direction and connects between the protruding portion  32 E and the facing portion  32 F. The third surface  32 J serves as a lower surface of the first separation wall  32 G and is orthogonal to the up-down direction. 
     The outlet for opening  32 K is a portion through which the to-be-printed tape that travels in the protruding portion  32 E is to be discharged to the head opening  32 B. The outlet for opening  32 K is provided at a right end of the protruding portion  32 E. The ink ribbon drawn from the second roll  14  is laid on the to-be-printed tape discharged from the outlet for opening  32 K to the head opening  32 B. 
     The first restricting portion  32 L restricts movement of the to-be-printed tape in a width direction of the to-be-printed tape. The first restricting portion  32 L is disposed between both ends (i.e., an upper end and a lower end) of the outlet  32 C in the width direction of the to-be-printed tape (i.e., the up-down direction) in the first case portion  41  (refer to  FIG. 8B ). Specifically, the first restricting portion  32 L protrudes further upward from a support portion  32 N protruding leftward from the first sidewall  32 A at a right rear portion of the first frame portion  32 . 
     The first partition wall  32 M separates a space in which the output gear  18 , the input gear  19 , and the idle gear  20  are disposed and a space through which the to-be-printed tape travels. Specifically, in the second frame portion  33 , the first partition wall  32 M separates an inner area where the output gear  18 , the input gear  19 , and the idle gear  20  are disposed and an outer area that is more outside than the inner area. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 5C , the second frame portion  33  includes a second sidewall  33 A, a cover portion  33 B, a second guide  33 C, a first gear support portion  33 D, a second gear support portion  33 E, a third gear support portion  33 F, a second partition wall  33 G, a second separation wall  33 H, a first claw  33 I, a second claw  33 J, a third claw  33 K, a fourth claw  33 L, and a second restricting portion  33 M (refer to  FIG. 8B ). The second sidewall  33 A defines side surfaces of the printing cassette  10 . The side surfaces of the printing cassette  10  extend parallel to the up-down direction. 
     The cover portion  33 B has surfaces perpendicular to the up-down direction. The cover portion  33 B is disposed at a position where the cover portion  33 B overlaps the output gear  18  in the up-down direction. In the illustrative embodiment, the cover portion  33 B is contiguous with a lower end portion of the second sidewall  33 A, and is disposed at a right front corner of the second frame portion  33 . 
     The output gear  18 , the cover portion  33 B, and the first roll  11  are arranged next to each other in the order of the output gear  18 , the cover portion  33 B, and the first roll  11  in the up-down direction. As described above, an upper surface of the output gear  18  is entirely covered by the cover portion  33 B. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the second guide  33 C is a portion around which the to-be-printed tape  11 A drawn from the first roll  11  is wound. The second guide  33 C has a plurality of ribs being plates that are apart from each other in a circumferential direction of the first roll  11 . The plurality of ribs protrude in a radial direction of the first roll  11 , and a protruding amount of each of the plurality of ribs (i.e., a plate width) increases as each of the plurality of ribs extends downward. 
     The first gear support portion  33 D illustrated in  FIG. 5C  supports the output gear  18  rotatably. The second gear support portion  33 E supports the input gear  19  rotatably. The third gear support portion  33 F supports the idle gear  20  rotatably. 
     The second partition wall  33 G separates a space in which the output gear  18 , the input gear  19 , and the idle gear  20  are disposed and a space through which the to-be-printed tape travels. Specifically, in the second frame portion  33 , the second partition wall  33 G separates an inner area where the first gear support portion  33 D, the second gear support portion  33 E, and the third gear support portion  33 F are disposed and an outer area in which the second guide  33 C is disposed. The second guide  33 C protrudes from the second partition wall  33 G. 
     The second separation wall  33 H separates the second case portion  42  and the third case portion  43  in the up-down direction. The second separation wall  33 H is a portion of the third case portion  43 . That is, in the second frame portion  33 , the third portion constituting the second case portion  42  is a portion lower than the second separation wall  33 H. 
     On the other hand, the first gear support portion  33 D, the second gear support portion  33 E, the third gear support portion  33 F, and the second partition wall  33 G protrude downward from the second separation wall  33 H. Therefore, the first gear support portion  33 D, the second gear support portion  33 E, the third gear support portion  33 F, and the second partition wall  33 G are portions of the second case portion  42 . 
     The first claw  33 I is disposed at a front end portion of the second frame portion  33 . The second claw  33 J is disposed at a left end portion of the second frame portion  33 . The third claw  33 K is disposed at a rear end portion of the second frame portion  33 . The fourth claw  33 L is disposed at a right end portion of the second frame portion  33 . 
     Each of the claws  33 I,  33 J,  33 K, and  33 L protrudes downward and engages a corresponding opening or groove defined in the first sidewall  32 A of the first frame portion  32 . That is, the claws  33 I,  33 J,  33 K,  33 L connect between the first frame portion  32  and the second frame portion  33  in the up-down direction. 
     The output gear  18 , the input gear  19 , and the idle gear  20  are disposed between the first claw  33 I and the third claw  33 K in the front-rear direction and between the second claw  33 J and the fourth claw  33 L in the right-left direction. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 8B , the second restricting portion  33 M restricts movement of the to-be-printed tape in the width direction of the to-be-printed tape. The second restricting portion  33 M protrudes rightward from the second sidewall  33 A at a left rear portion of the second frame portion  33 . 
     The second cover portion  34  illustrated in  FIG. 3  has a third restricting portion  34 A that restricts movement of the to-be-printed tape in the width direction. The third restricting portion  34 A is disposed between both ends (i.e., an upper end and a lower end) of the first roll  11  in the width direction of the to-be-printed tape (i.e., the up-down direction) in the third case portion  43  (refer to  FIG. 8B ). Specifically, the third restricting portion  34 A is a plate member disposed at a right rear portion of the second cover portion  34  such that a thickness direction of the third restricting portion  34 A is parallel to the right-left direction. 
     A volume of an internal space of the third case portion  43  is greater than a volume of an internal space of the first case portion  41 . A total weight of the third case portion  43  and the components (i.e., the first roll  11 , the first feed spool  12 , and others) accommodated in the third case portion  43  is greater than a total weight of the first case portion  41  and the components (i.e., the second roll  14 , the second feed spool  15 , the input spool  16 , and others) accommodated in the first case portion  41 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the to-be-printed tape  11 A and the ink ribbon  14 A extend across the head opening  32 B in the right-left direction. The to-be-printed tape  11 A on which printing has been performed is discharged to the outside of the printer  1  from the outlet  32 C. 
     In a projection drawing in Which the output gear  18  and the case  35  are projected onto a virtual plane perpendicular to the up-down direction, the output gear  18  is located inside an outer edge of the case  35 . The entire output gear  18  overlaps the case  35  in the up-down direction. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 8A .  8 B,  8 C, and  8 D, the first guide  32 D and the second guide  33 C define a path through which the to-be-printed tape  11 A constituting the first roll  11  is fed from the third case portion  43  to the first case portion  41 . 
     Specifically, as illustrated in  FIG. 8A , the to-be-printed tape  11 A drawn from the first roll  11  is conveyed in a spiral manner toward the lower rear in the third case portion  43  while contacting the second guide  33 C from an outer side in the radial direction of the first roll  11 . As illustrated in  FIG. 8B , the to-be-printed tape  11 A is further conveyed toward the lower left while extending across the second case portion  42  in the up-down direction. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 8C , the to-be-printed tape  11 A that has passed the second case portion  42  and reached the first case portion  41  is conveyed toward the lower front with contacting the first guide  32 D from the outer side in the radial direction. As illustrated in  FIG. 8D , the to-be-printed tape  11 A that has passed the first case portion  41  and reached the lower end portion of the printing cassette  10  passes the head opening  32 B and is then discharged from the outlet  32 C. 
     Printer Body 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1B , the printer body  100  includes a cassette insertion portion  101 , the print head  102 , the platen roller  103 , the platen gear  104 , and the drive shaft  105 . 
     Cassette Insertion Portion 
     The cassette insertion portion  101  is a recessed portion on which the printing cassette  10  is to be mounted. The cassette insertion portion  101  has a function of positioning the printing cassette  10 . 
     Print Head 
     The print head  102  is a device for performing printing on the to-be-printed tape held by the printing cassette  10 . 
     The print head  102  is disposed in the cassette insertion portion  101 . The print head  102  is disposed such that, in a state where the printing cassette  10  is mounted on the printer body  100 , the print head  102  overlaps the to-be-printed tape and the ink ribbon in the front-rear direction at the head opening  32 B. 
     The print head  102  has a plurality of heating elements, heat generation of which are individually controlled. The to-be-printed tape that has been conveyed to the head opening  32 B by the platen roller  103  is pressed toward the print head  102  in which the heating elements have generated heat, via the ink ribbon. Thus, some ink on a particular surface of the ink ribbon is transferred onto the to-be-printed tape, and characters, symbols, and other representations are printed on the to-be-printed tape. 
     Platen Roller 
     The platen roller  103  is a roller for conveying the to-be-printed tape from the inside to the outside of the printing cassette  10 . A rotation axis of the platen roller  103  is parallel to the up-down direction. 
     The platen roller  103  is disposed adjacent to the print head  102  in the cassette insertion portion  101 . The platen roller  103  contacts and presses the to-be-printed tape toward the print head  102  at the head opening  32 B. 
     Platen Gear 
     The platen gear  104  is a driving force transmission portion that is connected to be driven to the platen roller  103  and is to be engaged with the output gear  18 . In the illustrative embodiment, a rotation axis of the platen gear  104  is coaxial with the rotation axis of the platen roller  103 . 
     The platen roller  103  and the platen gear  104  are swingable between a position illustrated in  FIG. 9  where the platen roller  103  and the platen gear  104  are spaced from the printing cassette  10  and a position illustrated in  FIG. 10  where the platen gear  104  is in engagement with the output gear  18 . 
     Drive Shaft 
     The drive shaft  105  is a shaft that is engaged with the input gear  19  when the drive shaft  105  is inserted into the input spool  16 , and that rotates the input spool  16  and the input gear  19 . 
     The drive shaft  105  is disposed in the cassette insertion portion  101 . A rotation axis of the drive shaft  105  is parallel to the up-down direction. The drive shaft  105  rotates about its rotation axis by a driving source (e.g., a motor). 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 10 , in a state where the printing cassette  10  is mounted on the printer body  100 , the drive shaft  105  is in engagement with the input gear  19  and the platen gear  104  is in engagement with the output gear  18 . Specifically, the drive shaft  105  is inserted into the input spool  16  and the input gear  19  of the printing cassette  10 , and the platen roller  103  and the platen gear  104  are swung toward the head opening  32 B of the printing cassette  10 , whereby the printing cassette  10  is mounted on the printer body  100 . 
     As the input gear  19  is rotated by the drive shaft  105  in a state where the printing cassette  10  is mounted, the output gear  18  is rotated, the platen gear  104  is rotated by the rotation of the output gear  18 , and the platen roller  103  is rotated by the rotation of the platen gear  104 . 
     1-2. Effects 
     According to the illustrative embodiment described in detail above, the following effects may be obtained. 
     (1a) The output gear  18  is disposed at the second case portion  42  sandwiched between the first case portion  41  and the third case portion  43 . Therefore, even if the printing cassette  10  is dropped and the surface of the printing cassette  10  extending perpendicular to the axial direction of the rotation axis of the output gear  18  collides with a surface of a floor or somewhere, the output gear  18  is protected by the first case portion  41  and the third case portion  43  and damage to the output gear  18  is reduced. 
     (1b) The protruding portion  32 E and the facing portion  32 F are connected to each other by the third surface  32 J. Thus, strength of the protruding portion  32 E may be increased. As a result, damage to the protruding portion  32 E when the printing cassette  10  is dropped is reduced. 
     (1c) The volume and total weight of the third case portion  43  is greater than the volume and total weight of the first case portion  41 . Thus, even if the printing cassette  10  is dropped, the third case portion  43  faces down and is likely to collides with a surface of a floor surface or somewhere. Therefore, damage to the output gear  18  disposed at the first case portion  41  and exposed to the head opening  32 B is reduced. 
     (1d) The case portions are partitioned by the respective separation walls. Thus, even if the printing cassette  10  is dropped, a collision between parts disposed at the different case portions is reduced. Therefore, damage to the parts is reduced. 
     (1e) The to-be-printed tape wound around the first feed spool  12  may be smoothly fed from the third case portion  43  to the first case portion  41  by the first restricting portion  32 L, the second restricting portion  33 M, and the third restricting portion  34 A. 
     (1f) In the second case portion  42 , the first partition wall  32 M and the second partition wall  33 G prevent the to-be-printed tape conveyed toward the outlet  32 C from interfering with the output gear  18 , the input gear  19 , and the idle gear  20 . 
     2. Second Illustrative Embodiment 
     2-1. Configuration 
     A printer  1 A illustrated in  FIGS. 11A and 11B  includes a printing cassette  10 A and a printer body  100 A. 
     Printing Cassette 
     The printing cassette  10 A includes a third roll  21 , an additional spool  22 , an additional gear  23 , and a pinch roller  24 , each of which are illustrated in  FIG. 12 , in addition to the components of the printing cassette  10  of the first illustrative embodiment, and further includes a third feed spool  25 , a first cover portion  36 , a first frame portion  37 , a second frame portion  38 , and a second cover portion  39  as alternatives to the input spool  16 , the first cover portion  31 , the first frame portion  32 , the second frame portion  33 , and the second cover portion  34  of the printing cassette  10  of the first illustrative embodiment. 
     The first cover portion  36  and the first frame portion  37  constitute a first case portion  41 A. The first frame portion  37  and the second frame portion  38  constitute a second case portion  42 A. The second frame portion  38  and the second cover portion  39  constitute a third case portion  43 A. 
     The third feed spool  25  is identical to the input spool  16  except that the third feed spool  25  does not have the spline teeth  16 B. The first cover portion  36 , the first frame portion  37 , the second frame portion  38 , and the second cover portion  39  are identical to the first cover portion  31 , the first frame portion  32 , the second frame portion  33 , and the second cover portion  34  that are further extended in the right-left direction, respectively. The other configurations of the printing cassette  10 A are the same as those of the printing cassette  10  of the first illustrative embodiment except for the points described below and thus a description thereof will be omitted. 
     In the third roll  21 , a laminating tape used for protecting the to-be-printed tape is wound around the third feed spool  25 . The laminating tape has an adhesive surface to be adhered to the to-be-printed tape on which printing has been performed by the print head  102 . 
     The additional spool  22  is rotatable about its rotation axis. The rotation axis of the additional spool  22  is parallel to the rotation axis of the second feed spool  15  (i.e., the up-down direction). The additional spool  22  is a take-up spool that takes up the ink ribbon by rotation of the additional gear  23 . 
     The additional gear  23  is connected to the additional spool  22  and is in engagement with the idle gear  20 . The additional gear  23  is rotated by a driving force input to the input gear  19  and rotates the additional spool  22 . 
     The pinch roller  24  lays the laminating tape over the to-be-printed tape and presses the laminating tape toward the to-be-printed tape on which printing has been performed, in cooperation with a pressing roller  106 . The pinch roller  24  is disposed downstream from the head opening  32 B in the conveyance direction of the to-be-printed tape. 
     At least a portion (i.e., a portion drawn from the first roll  11 ) of the to-be-printed tape, at least a portion of the laminating tape, and at least a portion of the pinch roller  24  are arranged next to each other in directions (i.e., the front-rear direction and the left-right direction) perpendicular to the up-down direction and accommodated in the first case portion  41 A. 
     The pinch roller  24  is supported by the second case portion  42 A such that at least a portion of the pinch roller  24  overlaps the second case portion  42 A in directions (i.e., the front-rear direction and the left-right direction) perpendicular to the up-down direction. 
     Specifically, an upper end portion of a shaft portion  24 A of the pinch roller  24  is inserted in a recessed portion  37 I defined in the first separation wall  32 G of the first frame portion  37 . The recessed portion  37 I is a portion of the second case portion  42 A. 
     Printer Body 
     The printer body  100 A is identical to the printer body  100  of the first illustrative embodiment to which the pressing roller  106  illustrated in  FIG. 12  is added. The other configurations of the printer body  100 A are the same as those of the printer body  100  of the first illustrative embodiment except for the points described below, and thus a description thereof will be omitted. 
     The pressing roller  106  is configured to be swingable together with the platen roller  103  and the platen gear  104 . That is, the pressing roller  106  are swingable between a position illustrated in  FIG. 13  where the pressing roller  106  is spaced from the printing cassette  10 A and a position illustrated in  FIG. 14  where the pressing roller  106  presses the to-be-printed tape and the laminating tape in cooperation with the pinch roller  24 . 
     2-2. Effects 
     According to the illustrative embodiment described in detail above, the following effects may be obtained. 
     (2a) While having the same advantages as those of the first illustrative embodiment, contents printed on the to-be-printed tape may be protected by the laminating tape. 
     (2b) The particular portion of the pinch roller  24  overlaps the second case portion  42 A in the directions perpendicular to the up-down direction. Therefore, the pinch roller  24  may be readily assembled to the case  35 . As a result, productivity of the printing cassette  10  is improved. 
     3. Other Illustrative Embodiments 
     Although the illustrative embodiments of the disclosure have been described above, it is needless to say that the disclosure is not limited to the above-described illustrative embodiments and may adopt various illustrative embodiments. 
     (3a) The printers of the above-described illustrative embodiments are not limited to printers that perform printing using an ink ribbon. The printers may perform printing using a heat-sensitive sheet that is a continuous strip as a to-be-printed tape. In addition, a printing cassette might not necessarily include a roll of an ink ribbon and a second feed spool. 
     For example, a printing cassette  10 B illustrated in  FIG. 15  is identical to the printing cassette  10  of the first illustrative embodiment including a roll  51  of a heat-sensitive sheet and a third roll  52  of a laminating tape as alternatives to the first roll  11  and the second roll  14 , respectively. 
     In the printing cassette  10 B, the third roll  52  is wound around the third feed spool  25  of the second illustrative embodiment. The printing cassette  10 B includes the pinch roller  24  of the second illustrative embodiment, but does not include the second feed spool  15 . 
     (3b) In the printing cassettes of the above-described illustrative embodiments, relationships of the volumes, the total weights, and the dimensions in the up-down direction between the first case portion, the second case portion, and the third case portion are not limited to those described above. The first case portion, the second case portion, and the third case portion may include parts other than the first cover portion, the first frame portion, the second frame portion, and the second cover portion described above. 
     (3c) In the printing cassette of the second illustrative embodiment, a laminating tape may be wound around the additional spool. 
     For example, a printing cassette  10 C illustrated in  FIG. 16  is identical to the printing cassette  10 A of the second illustrative embodiment in which a third roll  21  of a laminating tape is wound around the additional spool  22 . The printing cassette  10 C includes the input spool  16  of the first illustrative embodiment as an alternative to the third feed spool  25  of the second illustrative embodiment. The input spool  16  is used as a take-up spool for an ink ribbon. 
     (3d) The functions of a single component in the above-described illustrative embodiments may be achieved by multiple components, or the functions of respective multiple components may be achieved by a single component. Further, some of the configurations of the above-described illustrative embodiments may be omitted. In addition, at least some of the configurations of one or more of the above-described illustrative embodiments may be added to or replaced with the configurations of another illustrative embodiment. It should be noted that all aspects included in the technical idea specified by the wording described in the claims are illustrative embodiments of the disclosure.