Patent Publication Number: US-2022212488-A1

Title: Printer

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This is a continuation application of International Application No. PCT/JP2020/034879 filed on Sep. 15, 2020 which claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-178918 filed on Sep. 30, 2019. The entire contents of the earlier applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Aspects of the disclosure relate to a printer. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In a device that performs printing on a tape, replacement and resupply of a tape is performed by attachment and detachment of a cassette accommodating a tape to and from a housing of the device. In such a device, for example, the cassette is placed in a recessed portion provided in the housing. 
     SUMMARY 
     In the above-described device, the cassette is mounted on the housing without protruding from the recessed portion. The cassette is provided with a tab for enabling the cassette to be removed from the recessed portion, which may increase a parts count of the cassette and lead to an increase in cost. 
     Accordingly, aspects of the disclosure provide a printer that may avoid an increase in cost of a cassette attachable to and detachable from a housing of the printer. 
     In one or more aspects of the disclosure, a printer may include a housing having a first surface having a cassette mounting opening, a print head disposed in the housing and extending toward the cassette mounting opening from an inside of the housing, a platen roller disposed in the housing and facing the print head, and a printing cassette mountable on the housing by insertion to the cassette mounting opening in a first direction. 
     The first surface may have a first area adjacent to the cassette mounting opening, and a second area adjacent to the cassette mounting opening. The second area may be opposite to the first area with respect to the cassette mounting opening in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The first area and the second area may be located upstream from the print head in a direction in which the printing cassette is mounted to the housing. 
     In a state where the printing cassette is mounted on the housing, a portion of the printing cassette adjacent to the first area may be located outside the housing beyond the first area in the first direction and a portion of the printing cassette adjacent to the second area may be located outside the housing beyond the second area in the first direction. 
     In one or more aspects of the disclosure, a printer may include a housing having a first surface having a cassette mounting opening, a print head disposed in the housing and extending toward the cassette mounting opening from an inside of the housing, a platen roller disposed in the housing and facing the print head, and a printing cassette mountable on the housing by insertion to the cassette mounting opening in a first direction. 
     The first surface may have a first area adjacent to the cassette mounting opening, and a second area adjacent to the cassette mounting opening. The second area may be opposite to the first area with respect to the cassette mounting opening in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The first area and the second area may be located upstream from the print head in a direction in which the printing cassette is mounted to the housing. In a state where the printing cassette is mounted on the housing, the printing cassette may protrude outside the housing beyond the first area and the second area in the up-down direction. 
     According to such a configuration, in a state where the printing cassette is mounted on the housing, a particular portion of the printing cassette may be located outside the housing beyond the first surface. Thus, the printing cassette may be held and removed from the housing without a tab. As a result, an increase in cost of the printing cassette may be avoided. 
     Further, the first area and the second area may be located upstream from the print head in the direction in which the printing cassette is mounted to the housing. Thus, the printing cassette may be held upstream from the print head. As a result, when the printing cassette is removed, interference between the printing cassette and the print head may be reduced. 
     In one or more aspects of the disclosure, a printer may include a housing having a first surface having a cassette mounting opening, a print head disposed in the housing and extending toward the cassette mounting opening from an inside of the housing, a platen roller disposed in the housing and facing the print head, and a printing cassette mountable on the housing by insertion to the cassette mounting opening in a first direction. 
     The printing cassette may have a first side-surface and a second side-surface overlapping each other in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. In a state where the printing cassette is mounted on the housing, at least a portion of the first side-surface and at least a portion of the second side-surface do not overlap the housing in the second direction. 
     According to such a configuration, in a state where the printing cassette is mounted on the housing, the particular portion of the printing cassette is located outside the housing beyond the first surface. Thus, the printing cassette may be held and removed from the housing without a tab. As a result, an increase in cost of the printing cassette may be avoided. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  is a schematic perspective view illustrating a state where a cover of a printer body is opened in a printer according to an illustrative embodiment. 
         FIG. 1B  is a schematic perspective view illustrating a state where the cover of the printer body is closed in the printer according to the illustrative embodiment. 
         FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C  are schematic perspective views each illustrating a state where a printing cassette is detached from the printer body in the printer according to the illustrative embodiment. 
         FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C  are schematic perspective views each illustrating the printing cassette in the printer of  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 4A  is a schematic rear view of the printing cassette of  FIG. 3A . 
         FIG. 4B  is a schematic side view of the printing cassette of  FIG. 3A . 
         FIG. 5  is a disassembled schematic perspective view of the printing cassette of  FIG. 3A . 
         FIG. 6A  is a schematic perspective view of a first frame portion of the printing cassette of  FIG. 3A . 
         FIG. 6B  is a schematic perspective view of a second frame portion of the printing cassette of  FIG. 3A . 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic perspective view illustrating a state where a first case portion of the printing cassette of  FIG. 3C  is removed. 
         FIG. 8A  is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line VIIIA-VIIIA of  FIG. 4A . 
         FIG. 8B  is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line VIIIB-VIIIB of  FIG. 4B . 
         FIG. 9  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. 3A . 
         FIG. 10A  is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line XA-XA of  FIG. 3C . 
         FIG. 10B  is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line XB-XB of  FIG. 3C . 
         FIG. 10C  is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line XC-XC of  FIG. 3C . 
         FIG. 10D  is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line XD-XD of  FIG. 3C . 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic plan view illustrating the printer body of the printer of  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 12  is a schematic view illustrating a state where an output gear and a platen gear are in engagement with each other in the printer of  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 13A  is a schematic front view illustrating a state where the printing cassette is mounted on the housing of the printer of  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 13B  is a schematic left side view illustrating a state where the printing cassette is mounted on the housing of the printer of  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 13C  is a schematic plan view illustrating a state where the printing cassette is mounted on the housing of the printer of  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 13D  is a schematic left side view illustrating a state where the printing cassette is mounted on the housing of the printer of  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 13E  is a schematic rear view illustrating a state where the printing cassette is mounted on the housing of the printer of  FIG. 1A . 
         FIGS. 14A and 14B  are schematic perspective views each illustrating a state where a printing cassette is detached from a printer body in a printer according to another illustrative embodiment different from the illustrative embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 15  is a disassembled schematic perspective view of the printing cassette in the printer of  FIG. 14A . 
         FIG. 16  is a schematic plan view illustrating the printer body of the printer of  FIG. 14A . 
         FIG. 17  is a schematic view illustrating a state where an output gear and a platen gear are in engagement with each other in the printer of  FIG. 14A . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     1. First Illustrative Embodiment 
     [1-1. Configuration] 
     A printer  1  illustrated in  FIGS. 1A and 1B  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  of the printing cassette  10  and an axial direction of a platen gear  104  of the printer body  100  are defined as an up-down direction. A direction in which the output gear  18  and an input spool  16  are disposed side by side (i.e., a direction in which the platen gear  104  and a drive shaft  105  are disposed side by side) is referred to as a front-rear direction. A direction orthogonal to both the up-down direction and the front-rear direction is referred to as a left-right direction. 
     &lt;Printer Body&gt; 
     The printer body  100  includes a housing  110 , a cover  120 , and a pressing member  121  provided at the cover  120 . 
     The housing  110  has a first surface  111  having a cassette mounting opening  110 A. The first surface  111  constitutes an upper surface of the housing  110 . The printing cassette  10  is configured to be placed in the housing  110  in a state where the cover  120  (refer to  FIG. 1A ) is opened. 
     The cover  120  is swingably attached to the housing  110 . The cover  120  is configured to be openable and closable with respect to the housing  110  and cover the printing cassette  10  from the side opposite to the side where the housing  110  is disposed (i.e., from above). The cover  120  is in contact with the first surface  111  in the closed state. 
     In a state where the printing cassette  10  is placed in the housing  110 , an upper end of the printing cassette  10 , that is, an upper end of a pressed portion  50  in the illustrative embodiment, is located above the first surface  111 . 
     In a state where the cover  120  is closed (refer to  FIG. 1B ), the pressing member  121  presses the printing cassette  10  downward in the housing  110 . In the illustrative embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 1B , a state where the printing cassette  10  is placed in the housing  110  and the cover  120  is closed may be defined as a state where the printing cassette  10  is mounted on the printer body  100 . 
     Further, as illustrated in  FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C , the printer body  100  includes a cassette insertion portion  101 , a print head  102 , a platen roller  103 , the platen gear  104 , and the drive shaft  105 . 
     (Cassette Insertion Portion) 
     The cassette insertion portion  101  may be a recessed portion where the printing cassette  10  is to be placed. The cassette insertion portion  101  has a function of positioning the printing cassette  10 . 
     The cassette insertion portion  101  is provided at the housing  110 . Specifically, the cassette insertion portion  101  defines a space into which a portion of the printing cassette  10  is to be inserted, together with the cassette mounting opening  110 A. The cassette insertion portion  101  may be a portion of the first surface  111  recessed downward and overlapping the cassette mounting opening  110 A. 
     (Print Head) 
     The print head  102  is disposed in the cassette insertion portion  101 . The print head  102  has a plurality of heating elements, heat generation of which are individually controlled. 
     The print head  102  is a plate-shaped member disposed such that a thickness direction thereof is parallel to the front-rear direction. The print head  102  extends in the up-down direction from the inside of the housing  110  (i.e., the cassette insertion portion  101 ) toward the cassette mounting opening  110 A. 
     (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 facing the print head  102  in 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 illustrative embodiment, a rotation axis L 2  of the platen gear  104  is coaxial 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 to be inserted into the input spool  16 . The drive shaft  105  rotates the input spool  16 . 
     The drive shaft  105  is disposed in 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  rotates about its rotation axis L 3  by a driving source (e.g., a motor) (not illustrated). 
     &lt;Printing Cassette&gt; 
     The printing cassette  10  accommodates a printing medium. The printing cassette  10  is mountable to and removable from the printer body  100 . 
     The printing cassette  10  is mountable to the housing  110  by insertion to the cassette mounting opening  110 A in the up-down direction. 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. 3A, 3B, 3C, 4A, and 4B , the printing cassette  10  includes a case  35  that accommodates a to-be-printed tape  11 A, an ink ribbon  14 A, and others, and the pressed portion  50 . An outer shape of the printing cassette  10  (i.e., a shape of the case  35 ) may be 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 side-surface  35 A, a second side-surface  35 B, a third side-surface  35 C, and a fourth side-surface  35 D. The first side-surface  35 A constitutes a front surface of the printing cassette  10 . The second side-surface  35 B constitutes a rear surface of the printing cassette  10 . The third side-surface  35 C constitutes a right surface of the printing cassette  10 . The fourth side-surface  35 D constitutes a left surface of the printing cassette  10 . 
     The first side-surface  35 A and the second side-surface  35 B are orthogonal to the front-rear direction and are located overlapping each other in the front-rear direction. The third side-surface  35 C and the fourth side-surface  35 D are orthogonal to the left-right direction and are located overlapping each other in the left-right direction. 
     The case  35  includes a first case portion  31 , a first frame portion  32 , a second frame portion  33 , and a second case portion  34 . 
     The pressed portion  50  may be a portion that receives a pressing force from the pressing member  121  of the printer body  100  in a state where the printing cassette  10  is mounted on the printer body  100 . The pressed portion  50  is exposed through an opening  31 B provided at the upper surface of the case  35 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , 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 , the to-be-printed tape  11 A on which printing is to be performed is wound around the first feed spool  12 . The first roll  11  has a cylindrical shape having a hollow portion that is defined by an inner peripheral surface of the to-be-printed tape  11 A wound about its axis parallel to the up-down direction. Printing is performed on a surface of the to-be-printed tape  11 A by the print head  102  of the printer body  100  and the ink ribbon  14 A. 
     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 film  13 A is disposed between the first roll  11  and the first case portion  31 . The spacer film  13 B is disposed between the first roll  1 I and the first frame portion  32 . 
     (First Feed Spool) 
     The first feed spool  12  is rotatable about its rotation axis L 4 . The first feed spool  12  rotates along with conveyance of the to-be-printed tape  11 A by the platen roller  103  of the printer body  100 , thereby feeding the to-be-printed 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 to-be-printed tape  11 A is wound around the second feed spool  15 . 
     In a head opening  33 B, the ink ribbon  14 A is laid on the to-be-printed tape  11 A and used for printing performed by the print head  102  therein. The ink ribbon  14 A 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 . The second roll  14  is disposed such that a portion thereof overlaps the first roll  11  in the up-down direction. 
     (Second Feed Spool) 
     The second feed spool  15  is rotatable about its rotation axis L 5 . The rotation axis L 5  of the second feed spool  15  is parallel to the rotation axis L 4  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  14 A by the input spool  16 , thereby feeding the ink ribbon  14 A to the print head  102 . 
     (Input Spool) 
     The input spool  16  is rotatable about its 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 feed spool  15 . 
     The input spool  16  has a cylindrical shape having a hollow portion defined by its inner peripheral surface  16 A. Spline teeth  16 B are provided on the inner peripheral surface  16 A of the input spool  16 . The spline teeth  16 B is to be coupled to the drive shaft  105  of the printer body  100 . The input spool  16  is rotated by the drive shaft  105 . 
     (Output Gear) 
     The output gear  18  may be a single gear for outputting, to the outside, a driving force for conveying the to-be-printed tape  11 A. 
     Specifically, the output gear  18  outputs a driving force to the platen gear  104  of the printer body  100 . A rotation axis L 7  of the output gear  18  is parallel to the rotation axis L 5  of the second feed spool  15 . The output gear  18  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  is in engagement with the platen gear  104  at the head opening  33 B in a state where the printing cassette  10  is mounted on the printer body  100 . 
     The second feed spool  15 , the output gear  18 , and the first roll  11  are disposed in the order of the second feed spool  15 , the input gear  18 , and the first roll  11  in the up-down direction. That is, the output gear  18  is located between the second feed spool  15  and the first roll  11  in the up-down direction. 
     (Input Gear) 
     The input gear  19  is indirectly connected to the output gear  18  via the idle gear  20  and transmits, to the output gear  18 , a driving force input thereto from the printer body  100 . 
     The input gear  19  includes a gear  19 A and a cylindrical spool  19 B. The spool  19 B is fixed to a surface of the gear  19 A orthogonal to a rotation axis of the gear  19 A and has spline teeth on an inner peripheral surface thereof. The gear  19 A rotates integrally with the spool  19 B by a driving force input to the spool  19 B. 
     A rotation axis L 8  of the input gear  19  (i.e., the rotation axis of the gear  19 A and a rotation axis of the spool  19 B) is coaxial with the rotation axis L 6  of the input spool  16 . A portion of the spool  19 B is inserted in the input spool  16 . The input spool  16 , a portion of the input gear  19  (i.e., the gear  19 A) and the first roll  11  are disposed in the order of the input spool  16 , the portion of the input gear  19  (i.e., the gear  19 A), and the first roll  11  in the up-down direction. 
     The rotation axis L 8  of the input gear  19  is coaxial with the hollow portion of the input spool  16  in the up-down direction. Thus, the drive shaft  105  is inserted into the input spool  16  and the spool  19 B of 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 engaged with the input gear  19  and the output gear  18 . The idle gear  20  transmits, to the output gear  18 , a driving force input to the input gear  19 . 
     The idle gear  20  may be a stepped gear in which a larger gear  20 A engaged with the input gear  19  and a smaller gear  20 B engaged with the output gear  18  are arranged coaxially. The smaller gear  20 B has a diameter smaller than the larger gear  20 A. 
     Further, the smaller gear  20 B is disposed at a position closer to the first roll  11  than the larger gear  20 A to the first roll  11  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) 
     The first case portion  31  serves as an upper end portion of the printing cassette  10 . The first frame portion  32  is disposed below the first case portion  31  and is connected to the first case portion  31  in the up-down direction. The second frame portion  33  is disposed below the first frame portion  32  and is connected to the first frame portion  32  in the up-down direction. The second case portion  34  serves as a lower end portion of the printing cassette  10 . The second case portion  34  is connected to the second frame portion  33  in the up-down direction. 
     The first case portion  31  and the first frame portion  32  accommodate the first roll  11 . That is, the first roll  11  is disposed in a space surrounded by the first case portion  31  and the first frame portion  32 . 
     The second case portion  34  and the second frame portion  33  accommodate the second roll  14 , the second feed spool  15 , and the input spool  16 . That is, the second roll  14 , the second feed spool  15 , and the input spool  16  are disposed in a space surrounded by the second case portion  34  and the second frame portion  33 . 
     A 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 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3C , the first case portion  31  has an obverse surface  31 A and the opening  31 B. The obverse surface  31 A is orthogonal to the up-down direction. The opening  31 B is provided at the obverse surface  31 A. The pressed portion  50  penetrates the first case portion  31  in the up-down direction. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6A , the first frame portion  32  includes a first sidewall  32 A, the cover portion  32 B, a first guide  32 C, a first gear shaft  32 D, a second gear shaft  32 E, a third gear shaft  32 F, a connecting portion  32 G, and a second support wall  32 H. 
     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 cover portion  32 B has a surface orthogonal to the up-down direction. The cover portion  32 B is disposed at a position where the cover portion  32 B overlaps the output gear  18  in the up-down direction. In the illustrative embodiment, the cover portion  32 B is disposed at a right front corner of the first frame portion  32 . 
     The first gear shaft  32 D supports the output gear  18  rotatably. The second gear shaft  32 E supports the input gear  19  rotatably. The third gear shaft  32 F supports the idle gear  20  rotatably. The first gear shaft  32 D, the second gear shaft  32 E, and the third gear shaft  32 F each protrude downward from a lower surface of the second support wall  32 H. 
     The connecting portion  32 G connects between the third gear shaft  32 F and the pressed portion  50  in the up-down direction. In the illustrative embodiment, the connecting portion  32 G, the third gear shaft  32 F, and the pressed portion  50  are integral with each other. 
     The second support wall  32 H is disposed between the first case portion  31  and the first support wall  33 E of the second frame portion  33  in the up-down direction. The second support wall  32 H has a support surface  321  that supports the first roll  11  from the idle gear  20  side (i.e., from below) in the up-down direction. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the first guide  32 C may be a portion around which the to-be-printed tape  11 A drawn from the first roll  11  is wound. The first guide  32 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. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6B , the second frame portion  33  includes a second sidewall  33 A, the head opening  33 B, an outlet  33 C, a second guide  33 D, a first support wall  33 E, and a restricting portion  33 F. 
     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 head opening  33 B is a cutaway portion of the second sidewall  33 A. The head opening  33 B is a space in which the print head  102  is located by insertion into the head opening  33 B from below in a state where the printing cassette  10  is mounted on the printer body  100 . The head opening  33 B opens downward in the printing cassette  10 . 
     The second guide  33 D is a portion around which the to-be-printed tape  11 A that has passed the first guide  32 C. As with the first guide  32 C, the second guide  33 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 first support wall  33 E is disposed opposite to (i.e., below) the pressed portion  50  with respect to the idle gear  20  in the up-down direction. Further, the second case portion  34  is disposed opposite to the idle gear  20  with respect to the first support wall  33 E in the up-down direction. 
     The first support wall  33 E restricts downward movement of the third gear shaft  32 F. As illustrated in  FIG. 6B , the first support wall  33 E has a protruding portion  33 G. The protruding portion  33 G may be a cross-shaped protrusion protruding upward. 
     A lower end of the third gear shaft  32 F is slightly spaced from the protruding portion  33 G. When a downward force is applied to the third gear shaft  32 F, the third gear shaft  32 F contacts the protruding portion  33 G. In other words, when a downward force is applied to the third gear shaft  32 F, the first support wall  33 E supports the third gear shaft  32 F from below and restricts a downward movement of the third gear shaft  32 F. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the restricting portion  33 F is disposed between the first support wall  33 E and the second case portion  34  in the up-down direction. The restricting portion  33 F is disposed at a position where the restricting portion  33 F overlaps the third gear shaft  32 F in the up-down direction. 
     When a downward force is applied to the first support wall  33 E, a lower end of the restricting portion  33 F contacts the second case portion  34 , whereby the restricting portion  33 F restricts warping of the first support wall  33 E in a direction toward the second case portion  34  (i.e., downward). The restricting portion  33 F of the illustrative embodiment may be a cylinder that protrudes downward from the first support wall  33 E and whose central axis is parallel to the up-down direction. 
     &lt;Positional Relationship of Third Gear Shaft&gt; 
     The third gear shaft  32 F is inserted through the idle gear  20  and extends in the up-down direction parallel to a rotation axis L 9  of the idle gear  20 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 8A and 8B , the idle gear  20  has a sliding portion  20 C, a first surface  20 D, and a second surface  20 E. The third gear shaft  32 F is inserted in the sliding portion  20 C and slides therein. The first surface  20 D and the second surface  20 E are orthogonal to the up-down direction. The first surface  20 D may be a lower surface of the larger gear  20 A. The second surface  20 E may be an upper surface of the smaller gear  20 B and is farther from the first support wall  33 E than the first surface  20 D from the first support wall  33 E. 
     A dimension D 1  of the third gear shaft  32 F in the up-down direction is greater than a dimension D 2  of the sliding portion  20 C of the idle gear  20  in the up-down direction. The dimension D 1  of the third gear shaft  32 F in the up-down direction refers to a distance from a proximal end of the third gear shaft  32 F (i.e., a portion connected to the second support wall  32 H) to a distal end of the third gear shaft  32 F. 
     The third gear shaft  32 F penetrates both the first surface  20 D and the second surface  20 E of the idle gear  20 . That is, the third gear shaft  32 F protrudes downward relative to the second surface  20 E of the idle gear  20 . 
     The first roll  11  is disposed offset to the pressed portion  50  and at a position farther from the first support wall  33 E than the idle gear  20  from the first support wall  33 E in the up-down direction (i.e., a position closer to the pressed portion  50  than the idle gear  20  to the pressed portion  50 ). Further, at least a portion of the third gear shaft  32 F overlaps the hollow portion of the first roll  11  in the up-down direction. 
     At least a portion of the connecting portion  32 G overlaps the hollow portion of the first roll  11  in the left-right direction and the front-rear direction. Further, the first roll  11  and the first feed spool  12  are disposed around the connecting portion  32 G. That is, the connecting portion  32 G constitutes a shaft of the first feed spool  12 . 
     The pressed portion  50  is disposed at a position closer to the obverse surface  31 A of the first case portion  31  than the support surface  321  to the obverse surface  31 A in the up-down direction. Further, the pressed portion  50  overlaps the opening  31 B in the up-down direction. In the illustrative embodiment, the pressed portion  50  protrudes slightly above the obverse surface  31 A. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the third gear shaft  32 F overlaps at least a portion of the pressed portion  50  in the up-down direction. Further, the rotation axis L 9  of the idle gear  20  passes through the pressed portion  50 . 
     At least a portion of a contact area A where the pressed portion  50  and the pressing member  121  are contacted with each other (i.e., an area where an external member that transmits a pressing force to the pressed portion  50  contacts the pressed portion  50 ) overlaps the third gear shaft  32 F in the up-down direction. In the illustrative embodiment, the pressing member  121  has a cylindrical shape. Thus, the contact area A is circular. 
     Further, at least a portion of the pressed portion  50  overlaps the restricting portion  33 F in the up-down direction. At least a portion of the restricting portion  33 F overlaps the third gear shaft  32 F in the up-down direction. 
     &lt;Conveyance of Tape&gt; 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the to-be-printed tape  11 A and the ink ribbon  14 A extend across the head opening  33 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  33 C. A portion of the output gear  18  is located in the head opening  33 B. Further, the cover portion  32 B is exposed to the head opening  33 B. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 10A, 10B, 10C, and 10D , the first guide  32 C and the second guide  33 D define a path through which the to-be-printed tape  11 A constituting the first roll  11  is fed from the first frame portion  32  to the second frame portion  33 . 
     Specifically, as illustrated in  FIG. 10A , 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 first frame portion  32  while contacting the first guide  32 C from an outer side in the radial direction of the first roll  11 . As illustrated in  FIG. 10B , the to-be-printed tape  11 A is further conveyed toward the lower left while extending across a connected portion of the first frame portion  32  and the second frame portion  33  in the up-down direction. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 10C , the to-be-printed tape  11 A that has reached the second frame portion  33  is conveyed toward the lower front with contacting the second guide  33 D from the outer side in the radial direction. As illustrated in  FIG. 10D , the to-be-printed tape  11 A that has reached the lower end portion of the printing cassette  10  passes the head opening  33 B and is then discharged from the outlet  33 C. 
     &lt;Tape Conveyance and Printing by Printer Body&gt; 
     The print head  102  performs printing on the to-be-printed tape  11 A held by the printing cassette  10 . 
     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  11 A and the ink ribbon  14 A in the front-rear direction at the head opening  33 B. 
     The to-be-printed tape  11 A that has been conveyed to the head opening  33 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  14 A. Thus, some ink on a particular surface of the ink ribbon  14 A is transferred onto the to-be-printed tape  11 A, and characters, symbols, and other representations are printed on the to-be-printed tape  11 A. 
     The platen roller  103  conveys the to-be-printed tape  11 A from the inside to the outside of the printing cassette  10 . The platen roller  103  contacts and presses the to-be-printed tape  11 A toward the print head  102  at the head opening  33 B. 
     The platen gear  104  is connected to the platen roller  103  and is to be engaged with the output gear  18 . The platen roller  103  and the platen gear  104  are swingable between a position illustrated in  FIG. 11  where the platen roller  103  and the platen gear  104  are spaced from the printing cassette  10  and a position illustrated in  FIG. 12  where the platen gear  104  is in engagement with the output gear  18 . 
     The drive shaft  105  is engaged with the input gear  19  when the drive shaft  105  is inserted into the input spool  16 , and rotates the input spool  16  and the input gear  19 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 12 , 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 . Thereafter, the platen roller  103  and the platen gear  104  are swung toward the head opening  33 B of the printing cassette  10 . 
     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 . 
     &lt;Positional Relationship Between Printing Cassette and Housing&gt; 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 13A, 13B, 13C, 13D, and 13E , the first surface  111  of the housing  110  has a first area  112 , a second area  113 , a third area  114 , and a fourth area  115 , each of which is adjacent to the cassette mounting opening  110 A. 
     The first area  112  is located further to the front than the cassette mounting opening  110 A. The second area  113  is located further to the rear than the cassette mounting opening  110 A. That is, the second area  113  is located across the cassette mounting opening  110 A from the first area  112  in the front-rear direction. 
     The third area  114  is located further to the right than the cassette mounting opening  110 A. The fourth area  115  is located further to the left than the cassette mounting opening  110 A. That is, the fourth area  115  is located across the cassette mounting opening  110 A from the third area  114  in the right-left direction. The third area  114  and the fourth area  115  are located between the first area  112  and the second area  113  in the front-rear direction. 
     The first area  112 , the second area  113 , the third area  114 , and the fourth area  115  of the first surface  111  constitute a peripheral area surrounding the cassette mounting opening  110 A around a central axis parallel to the up-down direction. The first area  112 , the second area  113 , the third area  114 , and the fourth area  115  are located upstream from (i.e., above) the print head  102  in a direction in which the printing cassette  10  is mounted to the housing  110 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 13C , the first area  112 , the second area  113 , and the print head  102  are located at respective positions such that a virtual plane S extending parallel to the first direction passes through the first area  112 , the second area  113 , and the print head  102 , the virtual plane. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 13A , in a state where the printing cassette  10  is mounted on the housing  110 , a particular portion of the printing cassette  10  adjacent to the first area  112  (i.e., the first side-surface  35 A of the case  35 ) is located outside (i.e., above) the housing  110  beyond the first area  112  in the up-down direction. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 13E , in a state where the printing cassette  10  is mounted on the housing  110 , another particular portion of the printing cassette  10  adjacent to the second area  113  (i.e., the second side-surface  35 B of the case  35 ) is located outside (i.e., above) the housing  110  beyond the second area  113  in the up-down direction. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 13D , in a state where the printing cassette  10  is mounted on the housing  110 , another particular portion of the printing cassette  10  adjacent to the third area  114  (i.e., the third side-surface  35 C of the case  35 ) is located outside (i.e., above) the housing  110  beyond the third area  114  in the up-down direction. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 13B , in a state where the printing cassette  10  is mounted on the housing  110 , another particular portion of the printing cassette  10  adjacent to the fourth area  115  (i.e., the fourth side-surface  35 D of the case  35 ) is located outside (i.e., above) the housing  110  beyond the fourth area  115  in the up-down direction. 
     In a state where the printing cassette  10  is mounted on the housing  110 , the printing cassette  10  protrudes outside (i.e., above) the housing  110  beyond the first area  112 , the second area  113 , the third area  114 , and the fourth area  115  in the up-down direction. 
     In addition, in a state where the printing cassette  10  is mounted on the housing  110 , at least a portion (i.e., an upper portion) of the first side-surface  35 A and at least a portion (i.e., an upper portion) of the second side-surface  35 B of the case  35  do not overlap the housing  110  in the front-rear direction. 
     In a state where the printing cassette  10  is mounted on the housing  110 , the entirety of the first case portion  31  and an upper portion of the first frame portion  32  are located above the first area  112  and the second area  113 . That is, at least a portion of the first roll  11  is located above the first area  112  and the second area  113 . 
     The outlet  33 C for the to-be-printed tape  11 A is located inside the housing  110 . Thus, in a state where the printing cassette  10  is mounted on the housing  110 , the to-be-printed tape  11 A is conveyed in the case  35  in a direction toward the inside of the housing  110  (i.e., downward) with respect to the first area  112  and the second area  113  in the up-down direction. 
     In a state where the printing cassette  10  is mounted on the housing  110 , the entirety of the second frame portion  33  and the entirety of the second case portion  34  are located below the first area  112  and the second area  113 . That is, the second roll  14  is located below the first area  112  and the second area  113 . The output gear  18  is also located below the first area  112  and the second area  113 . 
     [1-2. Effects] 
     According to the illustrative embodiment described in detail above, the following effects may be obtained. 
     (1a) In a state where the printing cassette  10  is mounted on the housing  110 , the particular portion of the printing cassette  10  is located outside the housing  110  beyond the first surface  111 . Thus, the printing cassette  10  may be held and removed from the housing  110  without a tab. As a result, an increase in cost of the printing cassette  10  may be avoided. 
     (1b) The output gear  18  is located below the first area  112  and the second area  113  in a state where the printing cassette  10  is mounted on the housing  110 . Thus, the particular portion of the printing cassette  10  may be located outside the housing  110  beyond the first surface III while a driving force from the output gear  18  is transmitted to the platen gear  104 . 
     2. Second Illustrative Embodiment 
     [2-1. Configuration] 
     A printer  1 A illustrated in  FIGS. 14A and 14B  includes a printing cassette  10 A and a printer body  10 A. 
     In  FIGS. 14A and 14B , a cover and a pressing member of the printer body  100 A are not illustrated. The pressing member of the printer body  100 A may be identical to the pressing member  121  of the printer body  100  of  FIG. 1A . 
     &lt;Printing Cassette&gt; 
     The printing cassette  10 A includes a third roll  21 , a take-up spool  22 , a take-up gear  23 , and a pinch roller  24 , each of which are illustrated in  FIG. 15 , in addition to the components of the printing cassette  10  of the first illustrative embodiment, and further includes an input spool  25 , a first case portion  36 , a first frame portion  37 , a second frame portion  38 , and a second case portion  39  as alternatives to the input spool  16 , the first case portion  31 , the first frame portion  32 , the second frame portion  33 , and the second case portion  34  of the printing cassette  10  of the first illustrative embodiment. 
     The input spool  25  may be identical to the input spool  16  except that the input spool  25  does not have the spline teeth  16 B. The first case portion  36 , the first frame portion  37 , the second frame portion  38 , and the second case portion  39  may be identical to the first case portion  31 , the first frame portion  32 , the second frame portion  33 , and the second case portion  34  that are further extended in the right-left direction, respectively. The other configurations of the printing cassette  10 A may be 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  11 A is wound around the input spool  25 . The laminating tape has an adhesive surface to be adhered to the to-be-printed tape  11 A on which printing has been performed by the print head  102 . 
     The take-up spool  22  is rotatable about its rotation axis L 10 . The rotation axis L 10  of the take-up spool  22  is parallel to the rotation axis L 5  of the second feed spool  15  (i.e., 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 connected to the take-up spool  22  and is in engagement with the idle gear  20 . The take-up gear  23  is rotated by a driving force input to the input gear  19  and rotates the take-up spool  22 . 
     The pinch roller  24  presses the laminating tape toward the to-be-printed tape  11 A on which printing has been performed, in cooperation with a pressing roller  106 . The pinch roller  24  is disposed downstream from the head opening  33 B in a conveyance direction of the to-be-printed tape  11 A. 
     &lt;Printer Body&gt; 
     The printer body  100 A may be identical to the printer body  100  of the first illustrative embodiment to which the pressing roller  106  illustrated in  FIG. 16  is added. The other configurations of the printer body  100 A may be 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  is swingable between a position illustrated in  FIG. 16  where the pressing roller  106  is spaced from the printing cassette  10 A and a position illustrated in  FIG. 17  where the pressing roller  106  presses the to-be-printed tape  11 A 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  11 A may be protected by the laminating tape. 
     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 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 use a heat-sensitive sheet that is a continuous strip as an alternative to the to-be-printed tape of the first illustrative embodiment, and a laminating tape (i.e., a protective tape) as an alternative to the ink ribbon of the first illustrative embodiment. 
     Further, the printers may use, as a to-be-printed tape, a stencil tape on which a printing pattern is to be perforated by a thermal head, and as a second tape, a slip sheet that is a continuous strip for protecting and supporting the stencil tape. In this case, at a head opening, the to-be-printed tape may be laid on the slip sheet at a position closer to a print head than the slip sheet to the print head (i.e., as an upper layer) or at a position farther from the print head than the slip sheet from the print head (i.e., as a lower layer). 
     (3b) The printing cassettes of the above-described illustrative embodiments are not limited to a printing cassette in which a first roll, an output gear, and a roll (i.e., a second roll or a third roll) of an auxiliary tape to be used for printing or protecting a to-be-printed tape are arranged in the up-down direction. In the printing cassette, the first roll may be disposed overlapping the second roll or the third roll in a direction orthogonal to the up-down direction. 
     (3c) The printing cassettes of the above-described illustrative embodiments may include two or more idle gears. Further, the idle gear might not necessarily be a stepped gear, and may be a single gear. Further, the printing cassette may not necessarily have an idle gear, and the output gear may be directly engaged with the input gear. 
     (3d) The printing cassette of the second illustrative embodiment may include a third feed spool around which a laminating tape is wound as an alternative to the take-up spool. In the printing cassette according to the second illustrative embodiment, the input spool may be used as a take-up spool for an ink ribbon. 
     (3e) 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 embodiment. It should be noted that all aspects included in the technical idea specified by the wording described in the claims are embodiments of the disclosure.