Patent Publication Number: US-2022219468-A1

Title: Printing apparatus and print cassette

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This is a continuation application of International Application No. PCT/JP2020/034864 filed on Sep. 15, 2020 which claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-178912 filed on Sep. 30, 2019. The entire contents of the earlier applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a printing apparatus and a print cassette. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In an apparatus that performs processing such as printing on a tape, the tape is replaced and supplied by attaching and detaching a cassette storing the tape to and from a main body. As a cassette used in such an apparatus, a cassette in which a gear is provided on a reel around which a tape is wound is known (refer to Patent Literature 1). 
     SUMMARY 
     According to an aspect of the disclosure, a printing apparatus includes a printing apparatus main body, and a print cassette attachable to and detachable from the printing apparatus main body. The print cassette includes a roll of a first tape, a supply spool rotatable about a rotation axis, a second tape wound around the supply spool and used for printing or protecting of the first tape, an output gear to output a driving force outside, an input spool rotatable about a rotation axis, and an input gear directly or indirectly engaging the output gear to transmit the driving force to the output gear. A rotation axis of the input gear is located collinearly with the rotation axis of the input spool. The input spool, the input gear, and the roll are disposed in order of the input spool, the input gear, and the roll in an axial direction of the rotation axis of the supply spool. The supply spool, the output gear, and the roll are disposed in order of the supply spool, the output gear, and the roll in the axial direction of the rotation axis of the supply spool. The printing apparatus main body includes a print head to print on the first tape, a platen roller to convey the first tape, a platen gear coupled to the platen roller to engage the output gear, and a drive shaft to engage the input gear when inserted in the input spool to rotate the input spool and the input gear. In a state where the print cassette is attached to the printing apparatus main body, the drive shaft engages the input gear and the platen gear engages the output gear, when the drive shaft rotates the input gear, the output gear is rotated, the platen gear rotates with rotation of the output gear, and the platen roller rotates with rotation of the platen gear. 
     According to an aspect of the disclosure, a print cassette includes a roll of a first tape, a supply spool rotatable about a rotation axis, a second tape wound around the supply spool and used for printing or protecting of the first tape, and an output gear to output a driving force outside. The supply spool, the output gear, and the roll are disposed in order of the supply spool, the output gear, and the roll in an axial direction of the rotation axis of the supply spool. 
     According to an aspect of the disclosure, a print cassette is attachable to and detachable from a printing apparatus main body. The print cassette includes a roll of a first tape, a supply spool rotatable about a rotation axis, a second tape wound around the supply spool and used for printing or protecting of the first tape, an output gear to output a driving force outside, an input spool rotatable about a rotation axis, and an input gear directly or indirectly engaging the output gear to transmit the driving force to the output gear. A rotation axis of the input gear is located collinearly with the rotation axis of the input spool. The input spool, the input gear, and the roll are disposed in order of the input spool, the input gear, and the roll in an axial direction of the rotation axis of the supply spool. The supply spool, the output gear, and the roll are disposed in order of the supply spool, the output gear, and the roll in the axial direction of the rotation axis of the supply spool. The printing apparatus main body includes a print head to print on the first tape, a platen roller to convey the first tape, a platen gear coupled to the platen roller to engage the output gear, and a drive shaft to engage the input gear when inserted in the input spool to rotate the input spool and the input gear. In a state where the print cassette is attached to the printing apparatus main body, the drive shaft engages the input gear and the platen gear engages the output gear, when the drive shaft rotates the input gear, the output gear is rotated, the platen gear rotates with rotation of the output gear, and the platen roller rotates with rotation of the platen gear. 
     According to an aspect of the disclosure, a print cassette includes a roll of a first tape, an output gear rotatable about a rotation axis to output a driving force outside, and a case in which at least a portion of the roll and at least a portion of the output gear are located, the case having an exit from which the first tape pulled out from the roll is discharged. The exit, the output gear, and the roll are disposed in order of the exit, the output gear, and the roll in an axial direction of the rotation axis of the output gear. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C  are schematic perspective views illustrating a state in which a print cassette is detached from a printing apparatus main body in a printing apparatus according to an embodiment. 
         FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C  are schematic perspective views of the print cassette in the printing apparatus of  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic exploded perspective view of the print cassette of  FIG. 2A . 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV of  FIG. 2C . 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic perspective view illustrating a state of the print cassette of  FIG. 2C  from which a first lid portion is detached. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic view for explaining a passage of a first tape and an ink ribbon in the print cassette of  FIG. 2A . 
         FIG. 7A  is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line VIIA-VIIA of  FIG. 2C .  FIG. 7B  is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line VIIB-VIIB of  FIG. 2C .  FIG. 7C  is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line VIIC-VIIC of  FIG. 2C , and  FIG. 7D  is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line VIID-VIID of  FIG. 2C . 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic plan view of the printing apparatus main body in the printing apparatus of  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic view illustrating an engagement state of an output gear and a platen gear in the printing apparatus of  FIG. 1A . 
         FIGS. 10A and 10B  are schematic perspective views illustrating a state in which a print cassette is detached from a printing apparatus main body in a printing apparatus according to an embodiment different from  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic exploded perspective view of the print cassette in the printing apparatus of  FIG. 10A . 
         FIG. 12  is a schematic plan view of the printing apparatus main body in the printing apparatus of  FIG. 10A . 
         FIG. 13  is a schematic view illustrating an engagement state of an output gear and a platen gear in the printing apparatus of  FIG. 10A . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the above-described cassette, the gear is disposed in the vicinity of a surface of the case perpendicular to an axial direction of the reel. Therefore, when the cassette is dropped and the surface collides with something like a floor surface, the gear is susceptible to damage. 
     An object of the present disclosure is to provide a printing apparatus and a print cassette capable of preventing damage to a gear that outputs a driving force to outside the cassette. 
     1. First Embodiment 
     [1-1. Configuration] 
     A printing apparatus  1  illustrated in  FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C  includes a print cassette  10  and a printing apparatus main body  100 . The printing apparatus  1  is an apparatus that performs printing on a tape print medium. 
     In the present embodiment, an axial direction of an output gear  18  is an up-down direction, a direction perpendicular to the up-down direction in which the output gear  18  and an input spool  16  are aligned is a front-rear direction, and a direction perpendicular to both the up-down direction and the front-rear direction is a left-right direction. 
     &lt;Printing Apparatus Main Body&gt; 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1B , the printing apparatus main body  100  includes a cassette insertion portion  101 , a print head  102 , a platen roller  103 , a platen gear  104 , and a drive shaft  105 . 
     (Cassette Insertion Portion) 
     The cassette insertion portion  101  is a recessed portion to which the print cassette  10  is attached. The cassette insertion portion  101  has a function of positioning the print cassette  10 . 
     (Print Head) 
     The print head  102  is disposed in an interior of the cassette insertion portion  101 . The print head  102  has a plurality of heating elements whose heat generation is to be individually controlled. 
     (Platen Roller) 
     A rotation axis L 1  of the platen roller  103  is parallel to the up-down direction. The platen roller  103  is disposed near the print head  102  in the interior of the cassette insertion portion  101 . The platen roller  103  is swingable in a direction toward or away from the print head  102 . 
     (Platen Gear) 
     The platen gear  104  is coupled to the platen roller  103 . In the present embodiment, a rotation axis L 2  of the platen gear  104  is located collinearly with the rotation axis L 1  of the platen roller  103 . The platen gear  104  is swingable together with the platen roller  103 . 
     (Drive Shaft) 
     The drive shaft  105  is inserted into the input spool  16 . The drive shaft  105  rotates the input spool  16 . 
     The drive shaft  105  is disposed in the interior of the cassette insertion portion  101 . A rotation axis L 3  of the drive shaft  105  is parallel to the up-down direction. The drive shaft  105  is rotated about the rotation axis L 3  by a drive source (for example, a motor), which is not illustrated. 
     &lt;Print Cassette&gt; 
     The print cassette  10  houses a print medium. The print cassette  10  is attachable to and detachable from the printing apparatus main body  100 . By replacing the print cassette  10 , a print medium can be supplied and the type (for example, color, material, etc.) of print medium can be changed. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C , the print cassette  10  includes a case  35  that houses a first tape  11 A, an ink ribbon (an example of a second tape)  14 A, and the like. The outer shape of the print cassette  10  (i.e., the 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  has a first lid portion  31 , a first frame portion  32 , a second frame portion  33 , and a second lid portion  34 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the print cassette  10  includes a first roll  11 , a first supply spool  12 , spacer films  13 A and  13 B, a second roll  14 , a second supply spool  15 , the input spool  16 , a clutch spring holder  17 , an output gear  18 , an input gear  19 , and an idle gear  20 . 
     (First Roll) 
     In the first roll  11 , a first tape  11 A on which printing is to be performed is wound around the first supply spool  12 . Printing is performed on the first tape  11 A by the print head  102  of the printing apparatus main body  100  and the ink ribbon  14 A. 
     Two spacer films  13 A and  13 B are disposed on outer sides of the first roll  11  in the up-down direction in such a manner as to sandwich the first roll  11 . The spacer film  13 A is disposed between the first roll  11  and the first lid portion  31  and the spacer film  13 B is disposed between the first roll  11  and the first frame portion  32 . 
     (First Supply Spool) 
     The first supply spool  12  is rotatable about a rotation axis L 4 . The first supply spool  12  rotates along with the platen roller  103  of the printing apparatus main body  100  conveying the first tape  11 A, thereby supplying the first tape  11 A to the print head  102 . 
     (Second Roll) 
     In the second roll  14 , the ink ribbon  14 A used for printing on the first tape  11 A is wound around the second supply spool  15 . 
     The ink ribbon  14 A is superimposed on the first tape  11 A in the head opening  33 B and is supplied for printing by the print head  102 . The ink ribbon  14 A used for printing is taken up by the input spool  16 . The second roll  14  is subjected to rotation pressure applied by a clutch spring held by a clutch spring holder  17 . At least a portion of the second roll  14  is disposed at a position overlapping the first roll  11  in the up-down direction. 
     (Second Supply Spool) 
     The second supply spool  15  is rotatable about a rotation axis L 5 . The rotation axis L 5  of the second supply spool  15  is parallel to the rotation axis L 4  of the first supply spool  12 , that is, parallel to the up-down direction. 
     The second supply spool  15  rotates along with the input spool  16  taking up the ink ribbon  14 A, thereby supplying the ink ribbon  14 A to the print head  102 . 
     (Input Spool) 
     The input spool  16  is rotatable about a rotation axis L 6 . The rotation axis L 6  of the input spool  16  is parallel to the rotation axis L 5  of the second supply spool  15 . 
     The input spool  16  is cylindrical and has an inner peripheral surface  16 A defining a hollow portion. The inner peripheral surface  16 A of the input spool  16  is provided with spline teeth  16 B. A drive shaft  105  of the printing apparatus main body  100  is coupled to the spline teeth  16 B. The input spool  16  is rotated by the drive shaft  105 . 
     (Output Gear) 
     The output gear  18  is a gear for outputting a driving force for conveying the first tape  11 A to the outside. Specifically, the output gear  18  outputs a driving force to the platen gear  104  of the printing apparatus main body  100 . 
     The output gear  18  is a single gear having a first side surface and a second side surface perpendicular to a rotation axis L 7 . The rotation axis L 7  of the output gear  18  is parallel to the rotation axis L 5  of the second supply spool  15 . Further, in an axial direction of the rotation axis L 5  of the second supply spool  15  (i.e., the up-down direction), the first side surface is located at a position closer to the first roll  11  than the second side surface is. The entire region of the first side surface overlaps a cover portion  32 B in the up-down direction. 
     The output gear  18  is partially exposed to the head opening  33 B. The output gear  18  engages the platen gear  104  at the head opening  33 B in a state in which the print cassette  10  is attached to the printing apparatus main body  100 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the second supply spool  15 , the output gear  18 , and the first roll  11  are disposed in order of the second supply spool  15 , the output gear  18 , and the first roll  11  in the up-down direction. That is, the output gear  18  is positioned between the second supply spool  15  and the first roll  11  in the up-down direction. 
     (Input Gear) 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the input gear  19  is a gear that indirectly engages the output gear  18  via an idle gear  20  to transmit a driving force to the output gear  18 . 
     The input gear  19  includes a gear  19 A and a cylindrical spool  19 B fixed to one side surface of the gear  19 A and having spline teeth on an inner peripheral surface thereof. The gear  19 A is rotated integrally with the spool  19 B by the driving force input to the spool  19 B. 
     A rotation axis L 8  of the input gear  19  (i.e., a rotational axis of the gear  19 A and a rotation axis of the spool  19 B) is located collinearly with the rotation axis L 6  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 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. At least a portion of the input gear  19  is located at a position overlapping the first roll  11  in the up-down direction. 
     The rotation axis L 8  of the input gear  19  overlaps the hollow portion of the input spool  16  in the up-down direction. The drive shaft  105  is thus simultaneously inserted through the input spool  16  and the input gear  19 . As a result, although not directly coupled to the input spool  16 , the input gear  19  is rotated by a common drive source (i.e., the drive shaft  105 ) with the input spool  16 . 
     (Idle Gear) 
     The idle gear  20  engages the input gear  19  and the output gear  18 . The idle gear  20  constitutes a transmission mechanism to transmit 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 disposed coaxially. The second gear  20 B has a smaller diameter than the first gear  20 A has. Further, the second gear  20 B is disposed at a position closer to the first roll  11  than the first gear  20 A is in the up-down direction (i.e., at a position upper than the first gear  20 A). The idle gear  20  constitutes a speed reduction mechanism that reduces the rotational speed of the driving force input to the input gear  19 . 
     (Case) 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the first lid portion  31  constitutes an upper end portion of the print cassette  10 . The first frame portion  32  is disposed below the first lid portion  31  and connected to the first lid portion  31  in the up-down direction. The second frame portion  33  is disposed below the first frame portion  32  and connected to the first frame portion  32  in the up-down direction. The second lid portion  34  constitutes a lower end portion of the print cassette  10 . The second lid portion  34  is connected to the second frame portion  33  in the up-down direction. 
     The first lid portion  31  and the first frame portion  32  constitute a first case portion  41  that houses the first roll  11 . That is, the first roll  11  is disposed in a space surrounded by the first lid portion  31  and the first frame portion  32 . 
     The second lid portion  34  and the second frame portion  33  constitute a second case portion  42  that houses the second roll  14 , the second supply spool  15 , and the input spool  16 . That is, the second roll  14 , the second supply spool  15 , and the input spool  16  are disposed in a space surrounded by the second lid portion  34  and the second frame portion  33 . 
     The first frame portion  32  and the second frame portion  33  constitute a third case portion  43  in which a portion of the output gear  18 , the input gear  19 , and the idle gear  20  are disposed. That is, a 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 . The third case portion  43  is disposed between the first case portion  41  and the second case portion  42  in the up-down direction. 
     The first frame portion  32  includes a first sidewall  32 A, a cover portion  32 B, a first guide  32 C, a first gear support portion  32 D, a second gear support portion  32 E, and a third gear support portion  32 F. The first sidewall  32 A constitutes a side surface parallel to the up-down direction of the print cassette  10 . The cover portion  32 B has a surface perpendicular to the up-down direction. 
     The cover portion  32 B is disposed at a position overlapping the output gear  18  in the up-down direction. In the present embodiment, the cover portion  32 B is provided continuously with a lower end portion of the first sidewall  32 A and is disposed at a right front corner portion of the first frame portion  32 . 
     The output gear  18 , the cover portion  32 B, and the first roll  11  are disposed in order of the output gear  18 , the cover portion  32 B, and the first roll  11  in the up-down direction. As described above, the entire region of the first side surface (i.e., the upper side surface) of the output gear  18  overlaps the cover portion  32 B in the up-down direction. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the first guide  32 C is a portion around which the first tape  11 A pulled out from the first roll  11  is wound. The first guide  32 C has a plurality of plate-shaped ribs spaced apart from each other in a circumferential direction of the first roll  11 . Each of the ribs protrudes in a radial direction of the first roll  11 , and a protrusion amount (i.e., a plate width) increases downward. 
     The first gear support portion  32 D illustrated in  FIG. 3  rotatably supports the output gear  18 . The second gear support portion  32 E rotatably supports the input gear  19 . The third gear support portion  32 F rotatably supports the idle gear  20 . 
     The second frame portion  33  has a second sidewall  33 A, the head opening  33 B, a discharge port  33 C, a second guide  33 D, and an exit  33 E. The second sidewall  33 A constitutes a side surface parallel to the up-down direction of the print cassette  10 . 
     The head opening  33 B is a portion missing from the second sidewall  33 A. In a state in which the print cassette  10  is attached to the printing apparatus main body  100 , the head opening  33 B is a space in which the print head  102  inserted from below is disposed. The head opening  33 B is open downward in the print cassette  10 . 
     The second guide  33 D is a portion around which the first tape  11 A having passed through the first guide  32 C is wound. Similarly to the first guide  32 C, the second guide  33 D has a plurality of plate-shaped ribs spaced apart from each other in a circumferential direction of the second roll  14 . Each of the ribs protrudes in a radial direction of the first roll  14 , and a protrusion amount (i.e., a plate width) increases downward. 
     The exit  33 E is a portion where the first tape  11 A pulled out from the first roll  11  is discharged to the head opening  33 B. That is, the exit  33 E communicates with the head opening  33 B. In addition, the exit  33 E, the output gear  18 , and the first roll  11  are disposed in order of the exit  33 E, the output gear  18 , and the first roll  11  in the up-down direction. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the first tape  11 A and the ink ribbon  14 A are laid across the head opening  33 B in the left-right direction. The printed first tape  11 A is discharged from the discharge port  33 C outside the printing apparatus  1 . 
     The head opening  33 B and the discharge port  33 C are part of the second case portion  42 . A portion of the output gear  18  is located in the head opening  33 B. The cover portion  32 B is exposed in the head opening  33 B. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C, and 7D , the first guide  32 C and the second guide  33 D constitute a passage through which the first tape  11 A constituting the first roll  11  is fed from the first case portion  41  to the second case portion  42 . 
     Specifically, as illustrated in  FIG. 7A , the first tape  11 A pulled out from the first roll  11  is conveyed in a spiral downward to the rear in the first case portion  41  while coming into contact with the first guide  32 C from the outside of the first roll  11  in the radial direction. As illustrated in  FIG. 7B , the first tape  11 A is further conveyed downward to the left across the third case portion  43  in the up-down direction. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 7C , the first tape  11 A that has reached the second case portion  42  is conveyed downward to the front while coming into contact with the second guide  33 D from the radially outer side. As illustrated in  FIG. 7D , the first tape  11 A that has reached the lower end portion of the print cassette  10  passes through the head opening  33 B and is discharged from the discharge port  33 C. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 7A , the output gear  18  is located in a first region A 1  of the case  35  in a first direction (i.e., the front-rear direction) orthogonal to the up-down direction. In contrast, the first tape  11 A is diagonally laid in a second region A 2  of the case  35  different from the first region A 1  in a direction intersecting with a second direction (i.e., the left-right direction) orthogonal to the up-down direction and the first direction. The first region A 1  of the present embodiment is a region in front of the second region A 2 . 
     Further, the first tape  11 A is conveyed in the second direction toward the discharge port  33 C in a region of the first region A 1  across the output gear  18  from the first roll  11  in the up-down direction. 
     &lt;Tape Conveyance and Printing by Printing Apparatus Main Body&gt; 
     The print head  102  performs printing on the first tape  11 A held by the print cassette  10 . 
     In a state in which the print cassette  10  is attached to the printing apparatus main body  100 , the print head  102  is disposed at a position overlapping the first tape  11 A and the ink ribbon  14 A in the front-rear direction in the head opening  33 B (refer to  FIG. 6 ). 
     The first tape  11 A conveyed to the head opening  33 B by the platen roller  103  is pressed via the ink ribbon  14 A against the print head  102  in which the heating elements generate heat. As a result, a portion of ink disposed on the front face of the ink ribbon  14 A is transferred to the first tape  11 A, and characters, symbols, and the like are printed on the first tape  11 A. 
     The platen roller  103  conveys the first tape  11 A from inside the print cassette  10  to outside. The platen roller  103  abuts against the first tape  11 A in the head opening  33 B and presses the first tape  11 A against the print head  102 . 
     The platen gear  104  is coupled to the platen roller  103  and engages the output gear  18 . The platen roller  103  and the platen gear  104  are swingable between a position illustrated in  FIG. 8  where they are separated from the print cassette  10  and a position illustrated in  FIG. 9  where the platen gear  104  engages the output gear  18 . 
     The drive shaft  105  is inserted into the input spool  16  and engages the input gear  19  to rotate the input spool  16  and the input gear  19 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , in a state where the print cassette  10  is attached to the printing apparatus main body  100 , the drive shaft  105  engages the input gear  19 , and the platen gear  104  engages the output gear  18 . Specifically, the drive shaft  105  is inserted into the input spool  16  and the input gear  19  of the print cassette  10 . Thereafter, the platen roller  103  and the platen gear  104  are swung toward the head opening  33 B of the print cassette  10 . 
     When the drive shaft  105  rotates the input gear  19  in a state where the print cassette  10  is attached, the output gear  18  is rotated, the platen gear  104  rotates with the rotation of the output gear  18 , and the platen roller  103  rotates with the rotation of the platen gear  104 . 
     [1-2. Effects] 
     According to the embodiment described above in detail, the following effects are obtained. 
     (1a) The second supply spool  15 , the output gear  18 , and the first roll  11  are disposed in order of the second supply spool  15 , the output gear  18 , and the first roll  11  in the axial direction of the rotation axis L 5  of the second supply spool  15 . 
     The print cassette  10  of the present embodiment is assumed to be relatively frequently replaced, in the printing apparatus  1 , with one of various types of print cassettes  10  each storing a different type of tape having a different color, shape, or the like. For this reason, a print cassette  10  may be dropped when replaced. 
     In contrast, even when the print cassette  10  is dropped and collides with something like a floor surface, due to the arrangement of the second supply spool  15 , the output gear  18 , and the first roll  11  described above, a portion of the print cassette  10  in the up-down direction closer to the second supply spool  15  or the first roll  11  may be highly likely to collide with the floor surface earlier than the output gear  18 . Therefore, the probability of the output gear  18  colliding with the floor surface can be reduced. As a result, damage to the output gear  18  is reduced when a surface perpendicular to the axial direction of the rotation axis L 5  of the second supply spool  15  collides with something like a floor surface. 
     (1b) The above-described arrangement facilitates alignment of the output gear  18  in the axial direction of the rotational axis L 5  of the second supply spool  15  when the print cassette  10  is attached to the printing apparatus main body  100 . This reduces a failure in engaging the output gear  18  and the platen gear  104 . 
     (1c) With the above-described arrangement, the first tape  11 A and the ink ribbon  14 A can be spaced from each other inside the print cassette  10 . This reduces interference between components of the first tape  11 A and components of the ink ribbon  14 A. 
     (1d) In the above-described arrangement, since the rotation axis L 7  of the output gear  18  and the rotation axis L 8  of the input gear  19  are misaligned with each other, the design flexibility of the print cassette  10  increases. 
     (1e) With the above-described arrangement, interference between the output gear  18  and the conveyance passage of the first tape  11 A in the head opening  33 B can be avoided. This increases the design flexibility of the print cassette  10 . 
     (1f) With the above-described arrangement, the output gear  18  is disposed more inward than the second supply spool  15  in the axial direction of the rotation axis L 5 , and thus the strength of the support portion (i.e., the first frame portion  32 ) of the output gear  18  can be increased. 
     (1g) Since the input spool  16 , the input gear  19 , and the first roll  11  are disposed in order of the input spool  16 , the input gear  19 , and the first roll  11  in the axial direction of the rotation axis L 5  of the second supply spool  15 , when the print cassette  10  is dropped and a surface perpendicular to the axial direction of the rotation axis L 5  of the second supply spool  15  collides with something like a floor surface, damage to the input gear  19  is reduced. 
     (1h) The output gear  18 , the cover portion  32 B, and the first roll  11  are disposed in order of the output gear  18 , the cover portion  32 B, and the first roll  11  in the axial direction of the rotation axis L 5  of the second supply spool  15 . As described above, in the present embodiment, the print cassette  10  may be dropped, for example, when the print cassette  10  is replaced. 
     In contrast, even when the print cassette  10  falls, as the cover portion  32 B is provided, the probability that the cover portion  32 B, not the output gear  18 , collides with something like a floor surface is increased. The output gear  18  is thus protected by the cover portion  32 B, and damage to the output gear  18  is further reduced. 
     (1i) The idle gear  20  can reduce the rotation speed of the driving force of the drive shaft  105  to a rotation speed suitable for conveying the first tape  11 A. Therefore, conveyance of the first tape  11 A and supply of the ink ribbon  14 A can be performed using a common drive source. 
     (1j) The first tape  11 A is diagonally laid in the second region A 2  in a direction intersecting the second direction, and is conveyed toward the discharge port  33 C in a region of the first region A 1  across the output gear  18  from the first roll  11  in the axial direction of the rotation axis L 5  of the second supply spool  15 . Thus, the print cassette  10  can be downsized. 
     2. Second Embodiment 
     [2-1. Configuration] 
     A printing apparatus IA illustrated in  FIGS. 10A and 10B  includes a print cassette  10 A and a printing apparatus main body  100 A. 
     &lt;Print Cassette&gt; 
     In the print cassette  10 A, a third roll  21 , a take-up spool  22 , a take-up gear  23 , and a pinch roller  24  illustrated in  FIG. 11  are added to the print cassette  10  of the first embodiment, and the input spool  16 , the first lid portion  31 , the first frame portion  32 , the second frame portion  33 , and the second lid portion  34  of the first embodiment are replaced with an input spool  25 , a first lid portion  36 , a first frame portion  37 , a second frame portion  38 , and a second lid portion  39 . 
     The input spool  25  is similar to the input spool  16  except that it does not have spline teeth  16 B. The first lid portion  36 , the first frame portion  37 , the second frame portion  38 , and the second lid portion  39  are extended in the left-right direction more than the first lid portion  31 , the first frame portion  32 , the second frame portion  33 , and the second lid portion  34 , respectively. Other configurations of the print cassette  10 A are similar to those of the print cassette  10  of the first embodiment except for the points described below, and thus description thereof will be omitted. 
     In the third roll  21 , a laminate tape used for protecting the first tape  11 A is wound around the input spool  25 . The laminate tape has an adhesive surface to be bonded to the first tape  11 A on which printing has been performed by the print head  102 . 
     The take-up spool  22  is rotatable about a rotation axis L 9 . The rotation axis L 9  of the take-up spool  22  is parallel to the rotation axis L 5  of the second supply spool  15 , that is, parallel to the up-down direction. The take-up spool  22  takes up the ink ribbon  14 A by rotation of the take-up gear  23 . 
     The take-up gear  23  is coupled to the take-up spool  22  and engaged with the idle gear  20 . The take-up gear  23  is rotated by the driving force input to the input gear  19  to rotate the take-up spool  22 . 
     The pinch roller  24  presses the laminate tape against the printed first tape  11 A together with the pressing roller  106 . The pinch roller  24  is disposed downstream of the head opening  33 B in the conveyance direction of the first tape  11 A. 
     &lt;Printing Apparatus Main Body&gt; 
     In the printing apparatus main body  100 A, a pressing roller  106  illustrated in  FIG. 12  is added to the printing apparatus main body  100  of the first embodiment. Other configurations of the printing apparatus main body  100 A are similar to those of the printing apparatus main body  100  of the first embodiment except for the points described below, and thus 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 . The pressing roller  106  is swingable between a position illustrated in  FIG. 12  where it is separated from the print cassette  10 A and a position illustrated in  FIG. 13  where it presses the first tape  11 A and the laminate tape together with the pinch roller  24 . 
     [2-2. Effects] 
     According to the embodiment described above in detail, the following effects are obtained. 
     (2a) The printed content on the first tape  11 A can be protected by the laminate tape while having the same advantages as those of the first embodiment. 
     3. Other Embodiments 
     Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, it is needless to say that the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can take various forms. 
     (3a) The printing apparatus of each embodiment described above is not limited to an apparatus that performs printing using an ink ribbon as a second tape. The printing apparatus may use a band-shaped thermal paper instead of the first tape in the first embodiment, and may use a laminate tape (i.e., a protective tape) instead of the ink ribbon. 
     In addition, the printing apparatus may use, as the first tape, a stencil tape on which a printing pattern is perforated by a thermal head, and may use, as the second tape, a band-shaped slip sheet that protects and supports the stencil tape. In this case, in the head opening, the first tape may be superimposed on the second tape at a position closer to the print head than the second tape (i.e., as an upper layer), or the first tape may be superimposed on the second tape at a position farther from the print head than the second tape (i.e., as a lower layer). 
     (3b) The print cassette according to each embodiment described above may have two or more idle gears. Further, the transmission mechanism that engages the input gear and the output gear does not necessarily include a speed reduction mechanism. That is, the idle gear does not necessarily have to be a stepped gear and may be a single spur gear. Further, the print cassette may have a transmission mechanism other than a gear. Further, the print cassette may not have the transmission mechanism itself, and the output gear may directly engage the input gear. 
     (3c) In the print cassette of each embodiment described above, the conveyance passage of the first tape is an example. Therefore, the first tape does not necessarily need to be diagonally laid in the second region in a direction intersecting the second direction. The direction in which the first tape is discharged may be other than the second direction. 
     (3d) The print cassette according to the second embodiment may include a third supply spool around which a laminate tape is wound, instead of the take-up spool. In the print cassette according to the second embodiment, the input spool may be used as a take-up spool for an ink ribbon. 
     (3e) The functions of one component in each embodiment described above may be distributed as a plurality of components, or the functions of a plurality of components may be integrated into one component. Further, a portion of the configuration of each embodiment described above may be omitted. In addition, at least a portion of the configuration of each embodiment described above may be added to or replaced with another configuration thereof. It should be noted that all aspects included in the technical idea specified by the wording described in the claims are embodiments of the present disclosure.