Patent Publication Number: US-8109684-B2

Title: Tape printing system with auxiliary cassette containing auxiliary medium for contacting printed tape

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based upon and claims priorities from the prior Japanese Patent Applications No. 2007-154413 filed on Jun. 11, 2007 and No. 2007-337422 filed on Dec. 27, 2007, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     One or more aspects of disclosure relate to a tape cassette for use in a printing mechanism employing an ink ribbon having an ink layer formed on one surface thereof, and a printing tape formed of a transparent film having an adhesive layer formed on one surface thereof, and a tape printing apparatus using the above-described tape. Also, one or more aspects of the disclosure relate to a printing system including the tape cassette and the tape printing apparatus. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Various types of tape printing apparatuses have been conventionally proposed for producing a tape with characters printed thereon. Generally, a tape cassette to be used in a tape printing apparatus has a cassette case comprising a ribbon spool onto which an ink ribbon is wound, a film tape spool onto which a film tape serving as a printing medium is wound, and an adhesive tape spool onto which an adhesive tape is wound. In the above-described tape cassette, characters and the like are printed on the film tape by a thermal head provided in the tape printing apparatus, through the ink ribbon, while the ink ribbon and the film tape are being conveyed, to thereby produce a tape with characters printed thereon. 
     In general, to improve the scratch resistance of the characters and the like formed on the film after the printing operation in the tape printing apparatus, an adhesive tape is pasted on the character printed surface of the post-printing film tape by a pasting roller or the like, after which the tape is cut. 
     However, since the adhesive tape needs to be pasted on the character printed surface of the film tape after the characters and the like have been printed thereon, the adhesive tape spool onto which the adhesive tape is wound and the pasting roller must be accommodated in the tape cassette used in the conventional tape printing apparatus. 
     As a result, the size of the tape cassette becomes larger, thereby creating a problem that the overall size of the printing apparatus must inevitably be made larger to allow for installation of a cassette mounting unit. Further, since the pasting roller provided inside the tape cassette is configured so as to be arranged between the thermal head and the cutting mechanism provided in the tape printing apparatus, the thermal head is inevitably arranged far away from the cutting mechanism. As a result, a front blank space (blank space portion corresponding to the distance between a cutting position of the printing tape and the thermal head of the tape printing apparatus) of the produced printing tape becomes large, thereby creating a problem that the amount of consumed printing tape increases which leads to a sudden increase in the running cost. 
     One or more disclosure is applied in the process of pasting the adhesive tape to a character-printed surface of the film tape for producing a so-called laminated-type printing tape with an improved scratch resistance of the characters and the like. 
     To solve the above-described problems, there have been required a compact tape cassette from which the adhesive tape spool onto which the adhesive tape is wound and the pasting roller for pasting the adhesive tape onto the character-printed surface of the film tape are removed. Also, there have been required a tape printing apparatus which employs the above compact tape cassette and is capable of reducing the running cost of the printing tape with structure that the tape cassette, the thermal head, and the cutting mechanism are arranged close to one another for shortening the front blank space of the printing tape. 
     In a configuration in which a conveying roller of the printing tape is arranged to directly face opposite the adhesive surface of the printing tape, if the adhesive force of the adhesive surface of the printing tape is strong, the adhesive is likely to be transferred (adhere) to the conveying roller, even if the conveying roller has been subjected to a release agent treatment. 
     Also, a printed tape which is discharged from a tape printing apparatus with its adhesive agent being unprotected cannot easily be stored for a long time without being adhered to a target body. 
     SUMMARY 
     One or more aspects of the disclosure has been made in view of the above-described circumstances and has an object to overcome the above-described problems in the background art by providing a tape cassette in which a laminated-type printing tape can be produced without using an adhesive tape spool onto which an adhesive tape to be pasted on a character printed surface of the film tape is wound and a pasting roller for pasting an adhesive tape onto a character printed surface of the film tape. 
     Also, one or more aspects of the disclosure also has as object to provide a printing apparatus in which the use of a tape cassette from which the adhesive tape spool and the pasting roller have been removed makes it possible to arrange the cutting mechanism immediately downstream the thermal head, and makes it possible to cut the film tape immediately after printing the characters and the like onto the film tape, thereby reducing the running cost of the film tape. 
     Further, an object of one or more aspects of the disclosure is to provide a tape cassette and a printing apparatus capable of preventing transfer of the adhesive agent to the conveying roller of the printing tape. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus and the like capable of forming a printing tape which can be stored for a long time. 
     To achieve the above object, according to a first aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a tape cassette comprising: a conveying roller; a tape-shaped auxiliary medium; a cassette case that accommodates the conveying roller and the tape-shaped auxiliary medium; and an opening arranged on the cassette case; wherein the tape cassette is detachably mounted on a printing tape conveying apparatus, the conveying roller comes into contact with a heat roller arranged in the printing tape conveying apparatus through the opening, the conveying roller and the heat roller face each other when the tape cassette is mounted on the printing tape conveying apparatus, the conveying roller and the heat roller mounted on the printing tape conveying apparatus cooperate with each other to convey a printing tape having an adhesive layer formed thereon, the adhesive layer exhibiting adhesive properties when one face thereof is heated, the tape-shaped auxiliary medium comes into contact with the printing tape, and the tape-shaped auxiliary medium is sequentially conveyed as the printing tape is conveyed. 
     In the above tape cassette, the adhesive layer never comes in directly contact with a thermal head or the like. Therefore, failures such as that the adhesive layer adheres the thermal head can be prevented. 
     According to a second aspect of the disclosure, there is also provided a tape printing system comprising: a tape cassette, the tape cassette comprising; a conveying roller, a tape-shaped auxiliary medium, a cassette case that accommodates the conveying roller and the tape-shaped auxiliary medium, and an opening arranged on the cassette case, a printing tape conveying apparatus, the printing tape conveying apparatus comprising; a heat roller, wherein the tape cassette is detachably mounted on a printing tape conveying apparatus, the conveying roller comes into contact with the heat roller through the opening, the conveying roller and the heat roller face each other when the tape cassette is mounted on the printing tape conveying apparatus, the conveying roller and the heat roller mounted on the printing tape conveying apparatus cooperate with each other to convey a printing tape having an adhesive layer formed thereon, the adhesive layer exhibiting adhesive properties when one face thereof is heated, the tape-shaped auxiliary medium comes into contact with the printing tape, the tape-shaped auxiliary medium is sequentially conveyed as the printing tape is conveyed, and the heat roller conveys the printing tape when the tape cassette is mounted on the printing tape conveying apparatus. 
     In the above tape printing system, the tape cassette from which the adhesive tape spool and the pasting roller have been removed is used. Also, cutting device is arranged and can cutting device can be arranged immediately downstream the thermal head. 
     Therefore, since the printing tape can be immediately cut after printing the characters and the like onto the printing tape, the running cost of the printing tape can be reduced. 
     According to a third aspect of the disclosure, there is also provided a tape cassette comprising: a pair of conveying rollers; a tape-shaped auxiliary medium; a cassette case that accommodates the pair of conveying rollers and the tape-shaped auxiliary medium; and a tape discharge port arranged on the cassette case, wherein one conveying roller of the pair of conveying rollers is a heat roller, the tape cassette is detachably mounted on a printing tape conveying apparatus, the conveying roller and the heat roller mounted on the printing tape conveying apparatus cooperate with each other to convey a printing tape having an adhesive layer formed thereon, the adhesive layer exhibiting adhesive properties when one face thereof is heated, the tape-shaped auxiliary medium comes into contact with the printing tape, and the tape-shaped auxiliary medium is sequentially conveyed as the printing tape is conveyed, and the printing tape thus conveyed is discharged from the tape discharge port. 
     In the above tape cassette, the conveying roller does not come into contact with the adhesive layer. Also, the heat roller is arranged on the tape cassette. 
     Therefore, faulty conveyance can be prevented. Also, even in the event the heat roller fails, it is sufficient to replace the auxiliary cassette alone. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification illustrate embodiments of the disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the objects, advantages and principles of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 1  is an enlarged perspective view of a relevant part showing mounting of a tape cassette in a cassette housing part of a tape printing apparatus according to a first embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is plan view showing a pattern of an internal configuration of the tape cassette according to the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is an explanatory diagram showing a pattern of the relationship between the ink ribbon and the film tape in a character printing process according to the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  an explanatory diagram showing a pattern of a transferring mechanism in which an ink layer is transferred to an adhesive layer upon being heated by a thermal head according to the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged perspective view of a relevant part showing mounting of a tape cassette and an auxiliary cassette in a cassette housing part of the tape printing apparatus according to a second embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  is a plan view showing a pattern of an internal configuration of a tape cassette and an auxiliary cassette according to the second embodiment; 
         FIG. 7  is an enlarged perspective view of a relevant part showing mounting of a tape cassette in a cassette housing part of a tape printing apparatus according to the second embodiment; 
         FIG. 8  is plan view showing a pattern of an internal configuration of the tape cassette according to the second embodiment; 
         FIG. 9  is an enlarged perspective view of a relevant part showing mounting of a tape cassette in a cassette housing part of a tape printing apparatus according to a third embodiment; 
         FIG. 10  is plan view showing a pattern of an internal configuration of the tape cassette according to the third embodiment; 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic view showing a condition where the auxiliary sheet medium is adhered to the printed film tape; 
         FIG. 12  is an enlarged perspective view of a relevant part showing mounting of a tape cassette in a cassette housing part of a tape printing apparatus according to the third embodiment; 
         FIG. 13  is plan view showing a pattern of an internal configuration of the tape cassette according to the third embodiment; 
         FIG. 14  is an enlarged perspective view of a relevant part showing mounting of a tape cassette in a cassette housing part of a tape printing apparatus according to a fourth embodiment; 
         FIG. 15  is plan view showing a pattern of an internal configuration of the tape cassette according to the fourth embodiment; 
         FIG. 16  is an enlarged perspective view of a relevant part showing mounting of a tape cassette in a cassette housing part of a tape printing apparatus according to the fourth embodiment; 
         FIG. 17  is plan view showing a pattern of an internal configuration of the tape cassette according to the fourth embodiment; 
         FIG. 18  is an enlarged perspective view of a relevant part showing mounting of a tape cassette in a cassette housing part of a tape printing apparatus according to a fifth embodiment; 
         FIG. 19  is plan view showing a pattern of an internal configuration of the tape cassette according to the fifth embodiment; 
         FIG. 20  is an explanatory diagram showing a pattern of the relationship between the ink ribbon and the film tape in a character printing process according to the fifth embodiment; 
         FIG. 21  an explanatory diagram showing a pattern of a transferring mechanism in which the ink layer is transferred to the adhesive layer upon being heated by the thermal head according to the fifth embodiment; 
         FIG. 22  is an enlarged perspective view of a relevant part showing mounting of a tape cassette in a cassette housing part of a tape printing apparatus according to a sixth embodiment; 
         FIG. 23  is plan view showing a pattern of an internal configuration of the tape cassette according to the sixth embodiment; 
         FIG. 24  is an enlarged perspective view of a relevant part showing mounting of a tape cassette in a cassette housing part of a tape printing apparatus according to the sixth embodiment; 
         FIG. 25  is plan view showing a pattern of an internal configuration of the tape cassette according to the sixth embodiment; 
         FIG. 26  is plan view showing a pattern of an internal configuration of the tape cassette according to another embodiment; 
         FIG. 27  is plan view showing a pattern of an internal configuration of the tape cassette according to another embodiment; 
         FIG. 28  is plan view showing a pattern of an internal configuration of the tape cassette according to another embodiment; 
         FIG. 29  is plan view showing a pattern of an internal configuration of the tape cassette according to another embodiment; 
         FIG. 30  is a flowchart showing a conveyance control process; 
         FIG. 31  is schematic diagram showing a condition where the auxiliary sheet medium and the film tape are conveyed; 
         FIG. 32  is a schematic diagram showing a condition where the front end of the printed film tape has reached the pair of conveying rollers; 
         FIG. 33  is schematic diagram showing a condition where the auxiliary sheet medium and the film tape are conveyed; 
         FIG. 34  is schematic diagram showing a condition where the printed film tape is present at the first cutting position; 
         FIG. 35  is a view showing a condition where the printed film tape that was cut is conveyed towards the second cutter unit while the auxiliary sheet medium is adhered thereto; 
         FIG. 36  is a view showing a condition where the printed film tape is present at the second cutting position; 
         FIG. 37  is a view showing a condition where the auxiliary sheet medium after being cut by the second cutter unit; 
         FIG. 38  is a view showing a condition where inverse rotation of the auxiliary sheet medium spool has been stopped; 
         FIG. 39  is a view showing a location of the medium on the printing tape; and 
         FIG. 40  an explanatory diagram showing a pattern of a transferring mechanism in which the ink layer is transferred to the adhesive layer upon being heated by the thermal head according to a fourth embodiment and the like. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The various aspects summarized previously may be embodied in various forms. The following description shows by way of illustration of various combinations and configurations in which the aspects may be practiced. It is understood that the described aspects and/or embodiments are merely examples, and that other aspects and/or embodiments may be utilized and structural and functional modifications may be made, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
     It is noted that various connections are set forth between items in the following description. It is noted that these connections in general and, unless specified otherwise, may be direct or indirect and that this specification is not intended to be limiting in this respect. 
     A detailed description of an exemplary embodiment of a tape cassette and a printing apparatus according to the disclosure will now be given referring to the accompanying drawings. 
     First Embodiment 
     A description will now be given of a tape cassette and a tape printing apparatus according to a first embodiment, based on  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . Here, tape printing apparatus includes a tape conveying apparatus. 
     In  FIG. 1 , a tape cassette  101  is detachably mounted on a cassette housing part  6  provided in a tape printing apparatus  110 . The tape cassette  101  has an upper case  2  and a lower case  3 . The upper case  2  serves as a lid member for covering an upper surface of the lower case  3 . The lower case  3  has a tape spool  18  onto which a film tape  17  is wound arranged at a slightly upper position than a center part thereof, as shown in  FIG. 2 . The lower case  3  also has a ribbon spool  20  onto which an ink ribbon  19  is wound, and a ribbon reel-in spool  21  that draws out ink ribbon  19  from the ribbon spool  20  and reels in the ink ribbon  10  consumed in character printing, arranged at a lower right position of the tape spool  18 . 
     The tape cassette  101  has a head insertion opening  40  formed so as to pass through the upper case  2  and the lower case  3 . Upon loading the tape cassette  101  in the cassette housing part  6 , a thermal head  7  to be described later is inserted in the head insertion opening  40 . The head insertion opening  40  has a separating member  4  formed downstream (center left side in  FIG. 2 ) the thermal head  7 . The separating member  4  has the role of reversing the feed direction of the ink ribbon  19  which is pressed onto the film tape  17  by being clamped between a platen roller  8  and a thermal head  7  and separating the ink ribbon  19  from the film tape  17 , at the time of character printing using the thermal head  7 , as will be described later. 
     The tape cassette  101  is formed with a discharge port  13  for discharging the film tape  17  onto which characters and the like have been printed to the exterior of the cassette case  1 , after the ink ribbon  19  has been separated from the film tape  17  by the separating member  4 . 
     Next, a description will be given on the configuration of the tape housing part  6  in the tape printing apparatus  110 . As shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the thermal head  7  is fixed in the cassette housing part  6  of the tape printing apparatus  110 . The thermal head  7  is tabular with a substantially rectangular shape in a longitudinal direction thereof when viewed from the front, and has a predetermined number of heat generating elements formed at a left-hand margin at a front surface thereof, the heat generating elements being aligned along the above-described left-hand margin. The cassette housing part  6  has a platen holder  46  which is rotatably supported therein around a holder shaft  47 . The platen holder  46  has a platen roller  8  rotatably supported therein. The platen holder  46  is biased in a counterclockwise direction around the holder shaft  47  by an elastic member which is not shown to be driven in a clockwise direction by a motor or the like at the time of printing onto the film tape  17 . This enables the platen roller  8  to come into contact with or move away with respect to the thermal head  7 . 
     The cassette housing part  6  has a ribbon reel-in shaft  9  that is coupled to the ribbon reel-in spool  21  of the tape cassette  101 . The ribbon reel-in shaft  9  is coupled to a driving mechanism such as a motor and the like which is not shown and is adapted to drive and rotate the ribbon reel-in spool for taking up ink ribbon  19  which has been separated from the film tape  17  by the separating member  4 , as described above. 
     The cassette housing part  6  has a clipper-type cutter unit  14  arranged adjacent the tape discharge port  13  of the tape cassette  101 . The cutter unit  14  is composed of a fixed blade  14 A and a movable blade  14 B which is actuated with respect to the fixed blade  14 A to cut the post-printing film tape  17 . 
     A pair of conveying rollers  48  are arranged downstream the cutter unit  14 . The conveying rollers  48  are composed of a heat roller  15  that heats the adhesive layer (to be described later) formed in the film tape  17  and a tape conveying roller  16  arranged opposite the heat roller  15  and adapted to feed the post-printing film tape  17  to the exterior of the tape printing apparatus  110  through the cooperation with the heat roller. 
     Upon loading the tape cassette  101  having the above-described configuration in the cassette housing part  6  of the tape printing apparatus  110  to thereby print characters and the like onto the film tape  17 , the film tape  17  wound onto the tape spool  18  is guided from a tape guiding skid  30  provided at a corner of the lower case  3  over a guiding pin  42  formed in an arm part  41  at an inner wall of the lower case  3 , and through an opening  43  of the arm part  41 , towards the thermal head  7  and the platen roller  8 . The ink ribbon  19  is guided through the opening  43  towards the thermal head  7  and the platen roller  8  while being regulated by regulating protruding parts  44  and  45  of the arm part  41 . 
     The film tape  17  and the ink ribbon  19  guided as described above are superimposed between the thermal head  7  and the platen roller  8 . Each of the heat generating elements of the thermal head  7  is driven to generate heat, with the film tape  17  being superimposed on the ink ribbon  19 . As a result, characters and the like are printed onto the film tape  17  through the ink ribbon  19 . Thereafter, the ink ribbon  19  is fed downstream the thermal head  7 , and after being separated from the film tape  17  through the separating member  4 , it is reeled in by the ribbon reel-in spool  21 . 
     After characters and the like are printed onto the film tape through the ink ribbon  19  and the thermal head  7 , and the ink ribbon  19  is separated therefrom through the separating member  4 , the film tape  17  is discharged to the exterior of the tape cassette  101  from the tape discharging port  13  and is further discharged to the exterior of the tape printing apparatus  110  through the pair of conveying rollers  48 . At this time, the adhesive layer of the film tape  17  is heated by the heat roller  15  of the pair of conveying rollers  48 , thereby making the adhesive layer exhibit adhesive properties as will be described later. 
     Then, when the film tape  17  has reached a predetermined length, the cutter unit  14  is driven to cut the film tape  17  at a predetermined length through the cooperation of the fixed blade  14 A and the movable blade  14 B. 
     Next, the configuration of the ink ribbon and the printing tape according to the first embodiment will be described based on  FIG. 3 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the ink ribbon  19  is composed of a base film  22  and an ink layer  23 . The film tape  17  having the role of a printing tape has an adhesive layer  24  formed on one surface (upper side of the transparent film in  FIG. 3 ) of a transparent film tape  25  and a release agent layer  26  formed on the other surface (lower side of the transparent film in  FIG. 3 ) of the transparent film tape  25 . 
     The above-described adhesive layer  24  is composed of a material having special properties in that it does not exhibit adhesive properties at ambient temperature, but starts exhibiting adhesive properties upon being heated, and maintains these adhesive properties after it has been heated once, even if its temperature decreases. This adhesive agent  24  may include an adhesive agent employed for heat seal labels, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,614,928, for instance. This type of adhesive agent melts upon being heated to 80° C. to 100° C. by the heat roller and the like, thereby exhibiting adhesive properties. In the first embodiment, the heat roller  15  heats the adhesive agent up to 80° C. or more but below 90° C. 
     The above-described film tape  17 , having the adhesive layer  24  superimposed on a single side of the transparent film tape  25 , is wound for loading in the tape spool  18  with the adhesive layer  24  at an inner side and the release agent layer  26  of the transparent film  25  at an outer side. Since the adhesive layer  24  is wound through the release agent layer  26 , direct adherence of the adhesive layer  24  to the transparent film  25  can be avoided. 
     The film tape  17  drawn from the tape spool  18  is conveyed from the tape guiding skid  30  and the like up to a printing position found between the thermal head  7  and the platen roller  8  of the tape printing apparatus  110 , as was described earlier. The film tape  17  is superimposed onto the ink ribbon  19  at the printing position, whereby the adhesive layer  24  of the film tape  17  comes into contact with the ink layer  23  of the ink ribbon  19 . 
     When the adhesive layer  24  of the film tape  17  comes into contact with the ink layer  23  of the ink ribbon  19 , the location at which the adhesive layer  24  contacts the ink layer  23  is clamped between the thermal head  7  and the platen roller  8 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , when the thermal head  7  is brought in contact with the other surface (back surface side of the ink layer  23 ) of the base film  22 , the ink layer  23  of the ink ribbon  19  melts under the heat from the thermal head  7 , thereby making the adhesive layer  24  exhibit adhesive properties. The melted ink layer  23  is adhered to the adhesive layer  24 , whereby characters and the like are transferred to the film tape  17 . 
     The tape printing apparatus  110  is provided with a drive control apparatus (not shown) for driving and controlling the heat generating parts of the thermal head. Thus, since control is carried out so that the transferred ink layer  23  is printed as mirror image with respect to the film tape  17 , characters and the like printed as a normal image can be visually checked when looking from the side of the transparent film tape  25  of the film tape  17 . 
     Next, a transfer mechanism in which an ink layer is transferred to an adhesive layer upon being heated by a thermal head  7  will be described based on  FIG. 4 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , when the film tape  17  and the ink ribbon  19  are superimposed at a printing position between the thermal head  7  and the platen roller  8 , the adhesive layer  24  of the film tape  17  is brought in contact with the ink layer  23  of the ink ribbon  19 . Although the ink layer  23  and the adhesive layer  24  are simultaneously heated at the above described contact portion by the thermal head  7 , heat transfer loss occurs at the boundary portion when heat is transferred from the ink layer  23  to the adhesive layer  24 , which leads to differences in temperature at the boundary part of the adhesive layer  24  and the ink layer  23 . Since the ink layer  23  of the ink ribbon  19  to be used in the tape cassette  101  according to the first embodiment employs a high melting point-type ink which melts at a temperature of 90° C. or above, and the adhesive layer  24  of the film tape  17  employs an adhesive agent that exhibits adhesive properties when heated to 80° C. or above, when the temperature at a heated portion of the ink layer  23 A becomes 90° C. or above, the temperature at a heated portion of the layer  24 A as well, becomes 80° C. or above, and as a result, the ink layer  23 A and the adhesive layer  24 A are adhered at their heated portions, respectively. 
     Since the temperature of the adhesive layer  24 B when it is not heated by the thermal head  7  is below 80° C. and thus exhibits no adhesive properties, and the temperature of the ink layer  23 B at a portion corresponding to the adhesive layer  24 B, as well, is below 90° C., after these layers pass the thermal head  7  and the separating part  4  arranged downstream the thermal head  7 , they are heated and only the ink layer  23 A which has been adhered to the adhesive layer  24 A is transferred to the film tape  17 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . The remaining portions of the ink ribbon are reeled in by the ribbon reel-in spool  21 , as consumed ink ribbon  19 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the thermal head  7  has a heat concentrated-type glaze structure. The ink layer  23  and the adhesive layer  24  are heated by focusing the heat into a pin-point. Accordingly, since the temperature difference between the heated portions of the ink layer  23 A and the adhesive layer  24 A and the unheated portions of the ink layer  23 B and the adhesive layer  24 B becomes large, the ink layer and the adhesive layer can be adhered, with the boundary between the heated portions  23 A and the unheated portions  23 B of the ink layer and the heated portion  24 A and the unheated portion  24 B of the adhesive layer  24 A clearly defined. 
     The ink layer  23  includes a wax-type ink so that only the heated portions of the ink later  23  are transferred, even if they cool down after being heated. Accordingly, the heated ink layer  23  can be reliably adhered to the adhesive agent  24 A at the heated portion even if the ink  23  cools down, thereby being reliably transferred to a film tape  17  onto which characters and the like are printed. 
     The film tape  17  onto which characters and the like have been printed is drawn up to the clipper-type cutter unit  14  serving as a cutting device, through the cooperation of the tape conveying roller  77  and the heat roller  15 , as described above. The post-printing film tape  17  can thus be cut to a predetermined length through the cooperation of the fixed blade  14 A and the movable blade  14 B of the cutter unit  14 . The cut film tape  17  is passed between the tape conveying roller  77  and the heat roller  15 , and upon being heated by the heat roller  15 , starts exhibiting adhesive properties in the adhesive layer  24 B at portions other than portions where the ink layer  23  has been adhered. Then, the post-printing film tape  17  exhibiting adhesive properties is discharged to the exterior of the tape printing apparatus  210 , as a linerless tape as was cut. 
     Each of drive controls of the above-described units is carried out by a processor (for instance, CPU) (not shown) which is provided in the printing apparatus. For instance, the thermal head  7  operates based on a head driving circuit. The tape feed motor operates based on a motor driving circuit. The cutter unit operates based on a cutter driving circuit. The press contact release motor operates based on a press contact release motor driving circuit. Also, these driving circuits operate based on the processor. This operating pattern is the same for the other embodiments to be described later. 
     As described in the above, since the tape cassette  101  does not house the adhesive tape spool and the pasting roller and the tape conveying roller  16  and the heat roller  15  are arranged downstream of the cutter unit  14 , the post-printing film tape  17  can be cut by the cutter unit  14  arranged immediately downstream of the thermal head  7  immediately after characters and the like have been printed thereon. This makes it possible to shorten the front blank spaces of the post-printing film tape  17 , thereby reducing the running cost of the film tape  17 . 
     Further, since the heat roller  15  heats the target layers to 80° C. or above but below 90° C., but the ink to be used is a high melting point-type ink (the melting point of the ink is 90° C. or above), the heat roller  15  does not melt the ink that is adhered to the adhesive layer  24 , thereby eliminating the risk of faulty printing caused by ink melting and the like. 
     Since the heat roller  15  is brought in contact with the tape film  17  from the side of the release agent layer  26  (the back surface side of the adhesive layer  24 ) of the post-printing film tape  17 , direct contact between the heat roller  15  and the adhesive layer can be avoided, thereby preventing adherence of the heated layer  24  to the heat roller  15 . 
     Since the heated adhesive layer  24  maintains its adhesive properties even after its temperature decreases, the linerless tape produced as described above is pasted onto the target body as is, through the adhesive layer  24 . As a result, the user does not have to remove the release sheet, as was done in the case of using the conventional laminated tape. Further, since the characters and the like in the transferred ink layer  23  are printed as mirror image with respect to the film tape  17 , the user can recognize the characters printed as normal image, through the transparent film. Here, the release adhesive layer is also transparent. Needless to say, the adhesive layer present between the film layer and the ink layer is necessarily transparent or semi-transparent, to thus make the ink layer visible through the transparent film. 
     The outer shape of the tape printing apparatus  110  and the tape cassette  101  as shown in the description of the first embodiment is given as merely one example, and the present disclosure is not limited to this outer shape. 
     Second Embodiment 
     Next, a tape cassette and a tape printing apparatus according to a second embodiment will be described based on  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 . 
     The configuration of the tape cassette  101  according to the second embodiment is the same as the configuration of the tape cassette  101  according to the first embodiment. Also, the configuration of the tape printing apparatus  210  according to the second embodiment is substantially the same as the configuration of the tape printing apparatus  110  according to the first embodiment. In the following description, elements which are the same as those of the tape cassette  101  and the tape printing apparatus  110  according to the first embodiment are denoted by the same numerical symbols. 
     In the tape printing apparatus  110  according to the first embodiment, the tape conveying roller  16  is arranged in the tape printing apparatus  110 . However, in the second embodiment, a conveying roller  77  having the same function as the tape conveying roller  16  in the first embodiment is provided in an auxiliary cassette  70 . The tape printing apparatus  210  is not provided with a roller for tape conveying. In the second embodiment, the tape printing apparatus  210  is provided with a conveying roller shaft  72  coupled with the conveying roller  77  and an auxiliary sheet medium reel-in shaft  73  coupled with an auxiliary sheet medium reel-in spool  76 . 
     In  FIG. 5 , the tape cassette  101  is detachably loaded in the cassette housing part  6  provided in the tape printing apparatus  210 . The tape cassette  101  of the second embodiment has the same configuration as the tape cassette  101  of the first embodiment, and further description thereof is hereby omitted. 
     Also, in  FIG. 5 , the auxiliary cassette  70  is detachably loaded into the cassette housing part  6  provided in the tape printing apparatus  210 . The auxiliary cassette  70  is provided with an auxiliary sheet medium spool  75  onto which an auxiliary sheet medium  74  is wound, as shown in  FIG. 6 . The auxiliary cassette  70  is also provided with an auxiliary sheet medium reel-in spool  76  that draws and reels in the auxiliary sheet medium  74  from the auxiliary sheet medium spool  75 . 
     The outer shape of the auxiliary cassette  70  is defined by the cassette case  80 . In other words, the auxiliary cassette  70  is configured so that the auxiliary sheet medium  74  and the feed roller are accommodated inside the cassette case  80 . 
     Further, the feed roller  77  is rotatably mounted on the auxiliary cassette  70 , with one portion thereof being exposed from the auxiliary cassette  70 . In other words, the cassette case  80  has an opening defined therein. At the time of printing, the feed roller  77  faces the heat roller  15  provided in the tape printing apparatus  210 . Specifically, the feed roller  77  and the heat roller  15  can be press contacted against each other. 
     At the time of printing, the auxiliary sheet medium  74  is fed to the conveying roller  77 , and is further fed in a downstream direction together with the post-printing film tape  17 . Thereafter, the auxiliary sheet medium  74  is fed to the auxiliary sheet medium reel-in spool  76 . In other words, since the film tape  17  and the auxiliary sheet medium  74  come into contact with each other at the time of printing, the conveying roller  77  and the film tape  17  do not touch. This contact position is the position where the heat roller  15  and the conveying roller  77  face each other, as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     Next, a description will be given on the configuration of the tape housing part  6  in the tape printing apparatus  210 . As shown in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , a thermal head  7  is fixed in the cassette housing part  6  of the tape printing apparatus  210 . The thermal head  7  is tabular with a substantially rectangular shape in a longitudinal direction thereof when viewed from the front and, as shown in  FIG. 6 , has a predetermined number of heat generating elements formed on a left margin at a front surface thereof, and aligned along the left margin. The cassette housing part  6  has a holder  84  that is rotatably supported around the holder shaft  47 . In turn, the holder  84  has a platen roller  8  rotatably supported therein. The holder  84  is biased in a counterclockwise direction around the holder shaft  47  by an elastic member not shown, and at the time of printing onto the film tape  17 , it is driven in a clockwise direction by a motor or the like. This allows the platen roller to come into contact and move away with respect to the thermal head  7 . The holder  84  also has a heat roller  15  which is rotatably supported therein. As was described in the above, the holder  84  is biased in a counterclockwise direction around the holder shaft  47  by an elastic member which is not shown, and at the time of printing onto the film tape  17 , it is driven in a clockwise direction by a motor or the like, thereby allowing the heat roller  15  to come into contact or move away with respect to the conveying roller  77 . 
     As described above, the cassette housing part  6  is provided with an auxiliary sheet medium reel-in shaft  73  that is couple to the auxiliary sheet medium reel-in spool  76  of the auxiliary cassette  70 . The auxiliary sheet medium reel-in shaft  73  is coupled to a driving mechanism such as a motor or the like, not shown, and serves to drive and rotate the auxiliary sheet medium reel-in spool  76 . The cassette housing part  6  is also provided with a conveying roller shaft  72 . The conveying roller shaft  72  is coupled to a driving mechanism such as a motor and the like, not shown, and serves to drive and rotate the conveying roller  77 . 
     A heat roller  15  for heating the adhesive layer (to be described later) formed in the film tape  17  is provided downstream of the cutter unit  14 . The post-printing film tape  17  is discharged to the exterior of the tape printing apparatus  210  through the cooperation of the heat roller  15  and the conveying roller  77 . For convenience of the description to follow, the pair including the heat roller  15  and the conveying roller  77  may be denoted as the pair of conveying rollers  78 . The auxiliary sheet medium reel-in spool  76  as well is driven and rotated to thus convey the auxiliary sheet medium, together with the post-printing film tape  17 , through the cooperation of the heat roller  15  and the conveying roller  77 . 
     After characters and the like are printed thereon through the ink ribbon  19  and the thermal head  7  and simultaneously, the ink ribbon  19  is separated therefrom by the separating member  4 , the film tape  17  is discharged from the tape discharge port  13  to the exterior of the tape cassette  1 , and further discharged to the exterior of the tape printing apparatus  210  through the pair of conveying rollers  78 . At this time, the adhesive layer of the film tape  17  is heated by the heat roller  15  of the pair of conveying rollers  78 , and as a result, the adhesive layer exhibits adhesive properties. 
     Since the ink ribbon and the printing tape according to the second embodiment have the same configuration as that described in the first embodiment (refer to  FIG. 2 ), further description thereof is hereby omitted. Also, since the transfer mechanism in which the ink layer is transferred to the adhesive layer upon being heated by the thermal head  7 , according to the second embodiment is the same as the mechanism in the above-described first embodiment (refer to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 ), further description thereof is hereby omitted. 
     The film tape  17  onto which characters and the like have been printed is drawn up to the clipper-type cutter unit  14  serving as a cutting device, through the cooperation of the tape conveying roller  16  and the heat roller  15 , as described above. The post-printing film tape  17  can thus be cut to a predetermined length through the cooperation of the fixed blade  14 A and the movable blade  14 B of the cutter unit  14 . The cut film tape  17  is passed between the tape conveying roller  16  and the heat roller  15 , and upon being heated by the heat roller  15 , starts exhibiting adhesive properties in the adhesive layer  24 B at portions other than portions where the ink layer  23  has been adhered. Then, the post-printing film tape  17  exhibiting adhesive properties is discharged to the exterior of the tape printing apparatus  210 , as a linerless tape as was cut. 
     As described above, the adhesive agent of the post-printing film tape  17  exhibits adhesive properties upon being heated by the heat roller  15 . Here, if the adhesive force of the post-printing film tape  17  is strong, there is a risk that the adhesive agent will be transferred to the surface coming in contact with the adhesive layer. In the second embodiment, the auxiliary sheet medium  74  and the adhesive surface of the printing tape are configured so as to come into contact. New (namely, clean) portions of auxiliary sheet medium  74  that come into contact with the adhesive surface are continuously fed to the pair of conveying rollers  78  by the auxiliary sheet medium reel-in spool  76 . In this way, the adhesive agent of the post-printing film tape  17  does not adhere to the conveying roller  77 . Even if the adhesive agent of the post-printing film tape  17  adheres to the auxiliary sheet medium  74 , since the auxiliary sheet medium  74  is fed to the auxiliary sheet medium reel-in spool  76 , the auxiliary sheet medium  74  onto which the adhesive agent is pasted cannot adhere to the post-printing film tape  17  that is to be subsequently fed. 
     Thus, since the tape cassette  101  does not accommodate an adhesive tape spool and a pasting roller and the pair of conveying rollers  78  are arranged downstream the cutter unit  14 , the post-printing film tape  17  can be cut immediately after characters and the like have been printed thereon by the cutter unit  14  which is arranged immediately downstream the thermal head  14 . This makes it possible to shorten the front blank spaces of the post-printing film tape  17 , thereby reducing the running cost of the film tape  17 . 
     The heat roller  15  heats the target layers to 80° C. or above but below 90° C., but since the ink to be used is a high melting point-type ink, (melting point of the ink is 90° C. or above), the ink which is adhered to the adhesive layer  24  is not melted by the heat roller, thereby eliminating the risk of faulty printing caused by ink melting or the like. 
     Since the heat roller  15  is brought in contact with the tape film  17  from the side of the release agent layer  26  (the back surface side of the adhesive layer  24 ) of the post-printing film tape  17 , direct contact between the heat roller  15  and the adhesive layer can be avoided, thereby preventing adherence of the heated layer  24  to the heat roller  15 . 
     Since the heated adhesive layer  24  maintains its adhesive properties even after its temperature decreases, the linerless tape produced as described above is pasted onto the target body as is, through the adhesive layer  24 . As a result, the user does not have to remove the release sheet, as was done in the case of using the conventional laminated tape. Further, since the characters and the like in the transferred ink layer  23  are printed as mirror image with respect to the film tape  17 , the user can recognize the characters printed as normal image, through the transparent film. Here, the release adhesive layer is also transparent. Needless to say, the adhesive layer present between the film layer and the ink layer is necessarily transparent or semi-transparent, to thus make the ink layer visible through the transparent film. 
     In the second embodiment, since the adhesive layer of the post-printing film tape  17  does not come into contact with the conveying roller  77  when the post-printing film tape  17  is heated, the adhesive agent does not adhere to the conveying roller  77 , thereby making it possible to prevent faulty conveyance from occurring. Also, even if the adhesive agent adheres to the auxiliary sheet medium  74 , it is possible to prevent the adhesive agent that adhered from smearing the post-printing film tape  17  which is subsequently fed. 
     Further, the auxiliary sheet medium  74  can include a medium having a release agent layer coated onto a surface thereof that comes into contact with the post-printing film tape  17 . As a result, the auxiliary sheet medium  74  and the heated post-printing film  17  can be smoothly peeled, thereby allowing excellent tape conveyance. 
     In the second embodiment, the tape cassette  101  and the auxiliary cassette  70  are configured as individual units (namely, configured separately), but the tape cassette and the auxiliary cassette can also be integrally configured, as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     In this case, the tape cassette  201  is provided with the auxiliary sheet medium  74 , the auxiliary sheet medium reel-in spool  76 , the conveying roller  77 , the film  17 , the ribbon  19  and the like, as shown in  FIG. 8 . The tape cassette  201  has a notch part, as shown in  FIG. 8 . If this notch part is present between the conveying roller  77  and the tape discharge port  13 . When the tape cassette  201  is mounted on the tape printing apparatus  210 , the cutter  14 A of the tape printing apparatus  210  is positioned in this notch part. In the tape printing apparatus  201  using the tape cassette  201 , as well, since the adhesive layer of the post-printing film tape  17  does not come into contact with the conveying roller  77  when the post-printing film tape  17  is heated, the adhesive agent does not adhere to the conveying roller  77 , thereby making it possible to prevent faulty conveyance from occurring. Thus, even if the adhesive agent adheres to the auxiliary sheet medium  74 , it is possible to prevent the adhesive agent that adhered to the auxiliary sheet medium from smearing the post-printing film tape  17  that is subsequently fed. 
     The outer shape of the tape printing apparatus  210 , the tape cassette  101 , the tape cassette  201 , and the auxiliary cassette  70  as shown in the description of the second embodiment are given as merely one example, and the one or more aspects of the disclosure is not limited to this outer shape. 
     Third Embodiment 
     In the second embodiment described above, the auxiliary sheet medium is rewound onto the auxiliary sheet medium take-up spool as the printed film tape is conveyed. As a result, it is no longer necessary to peel off the auxiliary sheet medium at the time of adhering the printed film tape to the target body. At the same time, however, the adhesive layer of the film tape is not protected. This makes it difficult to store the film tape formed in the manner described above, for a long period of time without being adhered to the target body. 
     The third embodiment that will be described next has been worked out to solve these problems. A tape cassette, auxiliary cassette, and tape printing apparatus according to the third embodiment will next be described based on  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10 . 
     The configuration of the tape cassette  101  according to the third embodiment is the same as the configuration of the tape cassette  101  according to the second embodiment. 
     Also, the configuration of the tape printing apparatus  510  according to the third embodiment is substantially the same as the configuration of the tape printing apparatus  210  according to the second embodiment. 
     Also, the configuration of the auxiliary cassette  71  according to the third embodiment is substantially the same as the configuration of the auxiliary cassette  70  according to the second embodiment. 
     In the following description, elements which are the same as those of the tape cassette  101 , the tape printing apparatus  210 , and the auxiliary cassette  70  according to the second embodiment are denoted by the same numerical symbols. 
     (Auxiliary Cassette) 
     First, an auxiliary cassette  71  according to the present embodiment will now be described. The auxiliary cassette  71  is detachably mounted on a cassette housing unit  6  provided in a tape printing apparatus  510 . 
     An auxiliary sheet medium spool  81  and a feed roller  82  are mounted on the auxiliary cassette  71 . An auxiliary sheet medium  74  is wound onto the auxiliary sheet medium spool  81 . 
     The outer shape of the auxiliary cassette  71  is defined by a cassette case  95 . Specifically, the auxiliary cassette  71  is configured so that the auxiliary sheet medium  74  and the feed roller  82  are accommodated inside the cassette case  95 . 
     The feed roller  82  is rotatably mounted on the auxiliary cassette  71 . A portion of the feed roller  82  is exposed from the auxiliary cassette  71 . Specifically, the cassette case  95  has an opening defined therein. Also, the auxiliary cassette  71  is mounted on the cassette housing unit  6  at a location so as to face a heat roller  15 . Specifically, the feed roller  82  and the heat roller  15  can be press contacted against each other. 
     (Tape Printing Apparatus) 
     Next, the tape printing apparatus  510  according to the present embodiment will be described. An auxiliary sheet medium rewind shaft  85  and a feed roller shaft  86  are mounted on the cassette housing unit  6 . If the auxiliary cassette  71  is mounted on the cassette housing unit  6 , the auxiliary sheet medium rewind shaft  85  is linked with the auxiliary sheet medium spool  81 . The auxiliary sheet medium rewind shaft  85  is rotated by a driving mechanism not shown here. When the auxiliary sheet medium rewind shaft  85  is rotated, the auxiliary sheet medium  74  is rewound in an opposite direction with the conveying direction at the time of printing. 
     If the auxiliary cassette  71  is mounted on the cassette housing unit  6 , the feed roller shaft  86  is linked with the feed roller  82 . The feed roller shaft  86  is rotated by a driving mechanism not shown here. When the feed roller shaft  86  is rotated, the auxiliary sheet medium  74  is adhered to the printed film tape  17 , and at the same time, the printed film tape  17  is conveyed towards a second cutter unit  87  (to be described later). 
     The second cutter unit  87  is mounted on a downstream side from the feed roller shaft  86  in the conveying direction. The second cutter unit  87  is configured by a fixed blade  87 A and a movable blade  87 B. The printed film tape  17  is cut by movement of the movable blade  87 B towards the fixed blade  87 A. The movable blade  87 B is drive controlled by a driving mechanism not shown here. 
     The film tape  17  which was printed at the location of the thermal head  7  and the platen roller  8  is conveyed by rotation of the platen roller  8  to the location of the second cutter unit  87 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , the auxiliary sheet medium  74  is constituted of a substrate  27  and a release agent layer  28 . The printed film tape  17  having an ink layer  23  adhered thereto and the auxiliary sheet medium  74  come into contact with each other between the heat roller  15  and the feed roller  82 , whereby the auxiliary sheet medium  74  is adhered to the printed film tape  17 . The printed film tape  17  to which the auxiliary sheet medium  74  has been adhered is discharge to the exterior of the tape cassette  101  from a discharge port  5 . 
     The adhesive layer  24  is thus protected by the auxiliary sheet medium  74 , which enables easy storage of the film tape  17  which is formed in the manner described above, for a long period of time without being adhered to the target body. The auxiliary sheet medium  74  is peeled off upon being adhered to the target body. Since the adhesive layer  24  and the feed roller  82  do not come into contact with each other, it is unlikely that the adhesive agent of the adhesive layer  24  will adhere to the feed roller  82 . Since the cutter unit  14  is mounted on the vicinity of a downstream side from the thermal head  7  in the conveying direction, a blank portion at the front end portion of the thus formed film tape  17  can be shortened. As a result, the amount of consumed film tape  17  can be reduced. 
     In the third embodiment, the tape cassette  101  and the auxiliary cassette  71  are configured as individual units (namely, configured separately), but the tape cassette and the auxiliary cassette can also be integrally configured, as shown in  FIG. 12  and  FIG. 13 . 
     In this case, the tape cassette  501  is provided with the auxiliary sheet medium  74 , the conveying roller  82 , the film  17 , the ribbon  19  and the like, as shown in  FIG. 13 . 
     The tape cassette  501  has a notch part  91 . If this notch part  91  is present between the tape conveying roller  82  and the tape discharge port  13 . When the tape cassette  501  is mounted on the tape printing apparatus  510 , the cutter  14 A of the tape printing apparatus  510  is positioned in the notch part  91 . 
     When the printed film tape  17  is heated in the tape printing apparatus  510  which employs the tape cassette  501 , the adhesive layer of the printed film tape  17  does not come into contact with the feed roller  82 . This prevents the adhesive agent from adhering to the feed roller  82 . As a result, conveyance failures can be prevented from occurring. Since the adhesive layer is protected by the base, the film tape  17  which is discharged from the discharge port  5  can be easily stored for a long time without being adhered to the target body. The auxiliary sheet medium  74  is peeled off upon being adhered to the target body. 
     The outer shape of the tape printing apparatus, the tape cassette, and the auxiliary cassette as shown in the description of the third embodiment are given as merely one example, and the one or more aspects of the disclosure is not limited to this outer shape. 
     Fourth Embodiment 
     Next, the fourth embodiment will be described. Similarly with the third embodiment described earlier, in the fourth embodiment, the printed film tape is discharged with the auxiliary sheet medium adhered thereto. The fourth embodiment differs from the third embodiment described above in that the heat roller is mounted on the auxiliary cassette. 
     The configuration of the tape cassette  101  according to the third embodiment is the same as the configuration of the tape cassette  101  according to the third embodiment. 
     Also, the configuration of the tape printing apparatus  610  according to the fourth embodiment is substantially the same as the configuration of the tape printing apparatus  510  according to the third embodiment. 
     Also, the configuration of the auxiliary cassette  88  according to the fourth embodiment is substantially the same as the configuration of the auxiliary cassette  71  according to the third embodiment. 
     In the following description, elements which are the same as those of elements according to the above embodiments are denoted by the same numerical symbols. 
     A tape printing apparatus  610  is not provided with a heat roller but is provided with a heat roller shaft  90 . If an auxiliary cassette  88  (to be described later) is mounted on the cassette housing unit  6 , the heat roller shaft  90  is linked with a heat roller  89  (to be described later). 
     The specific configuration of the heat roller shaft  90  will now be described. A portion of or the entire front face of the heat roller shaft  90  (contact face with the heat roller  89 ) is formed of a conductor. A current (voltage) supplied from a predetermined supply source provided in the tape printing apparatus  610  is supplied to the conductor of the heat roller shaft  90 . The heat roller shaft  90  is rotated by a driving mechanism not shown here. 
     (Auxiliary Cassette) 
     The specific configuration of the auxiliary cassette  88  and the heat roller  89  mounted on the auxiliary cassette  88  will now be described. The auxiliary cassette  88  is provided with a heat roller  89 , in addition to the auxiliary sheet medium spool  81  and the feed roller  82  described above. The printed film tape  17  is conveyed between the feed roller  82  and the heat roller  89 . 
     The outer shape of the auxiliary cassette  88  is defined by the cassette case  96 . In other words, the auxiliary cassette  88  is configured so that the auxiliary sheet medium  74 , the feed roller  82 , and the heat roller  89  are accommodated inside the cassette case  89 . 
     The cassette case  96  is provided with a tape discharge port  93  and a tape charge port  94 . The printed film tape  17  to which the auxiliary sheet medium  74  has been adhered is discharged from the tape discharge port  93 . The printed film tape  17  is inserted into the auxiliary cassette  88  through the tape charge port  94 . 
     The cutter unit  14  is thus located at the tape charge port  94  side of the auxiliary cassette  88 . The second cutter unit  87  is located at the tape discharge port  93  side of the auxiliary cassette  88 . 
     A conductor is formed in the shaft hole of the heat roller  89 . This conductor comes into contact with the conductor of the heat roller shaft  90 . As a result, current (voltage) supplied from a predetermined supply source provided in the tape printing apparatus  610  is transmitted to the heat roller  89 . The front surface of the heat roller  89  is thus heated by the supplied current. As a result of heating the front face of the heat roller  89 , the adhesive layer  24  of the film tape  17  that contacts the heat roller  89  starts exhibiting adhesive properties. 
     The configuration of the heat roller as described above is merely one example thereof. Specifically, any configuration may be employed as long as it is possible to generate an amount of heat sufficient to cause the adhesive layer  24  to exhibit adhesive properties at a front face of the heat roller. 
     The heat roller  89  is rotated by the rotational driving of the heat roller shaft  90 . As a result, the printed film tape  17  can be conveyed. 
     According to the fourth embodiment, since the heat roller is not mounted on the tape printing apparatus, even in the event the heat roller fails, it is sufficient to replace the auxiliary cassette alone. Thus, the tape printing apparatus itself need not be replaced. 
     In the fourth embodiment, the tape cassette  101  and the auxiliary cassette  88  are configured as individual units (namely, configured separately), but the tape cassette and the auxiliary cassette can also be integrally configured, as shown in  FIG. 16  and  FIG. 17 . In this case, the tape cassette  601  is provided with the auxiliary sheet medium  74 , the conveying roller  77 , the heat roller  89 , the film  17 , the ribbon  19  and the like. 
     As shown in  FIG. 16 , the tape cassette  601  has a notch part  91 . The tape cassette  601  has a notch part  91 . If this notch part  91  is present between the tape conveying roller  82  and the tape discharge port  13 . When the tape cassette  601  is mounted on the tape printing apparatus  610 , the cutter  14 A of the tape printing apparatus  610  is positioned in the notch part  91 . When the printed film tape  17  is heated in the tape printing apparatus  610  which employs the tape cassette  601 , the adhesive layer of the printed film tape  17  does not come into contact with the feed roller  82 . As a result, the adhesive agent never adheres to the feed roller  82 , which thus helps prevent any conveyance failures. Since the adhesive layer is protected by the auxiliary sheet medium  74 , the film tape discharged from the discharge port  5  is easily stored. The auxiliary sheet medium  74  is peeled off when the film tape is adhered to the adhered. Since the adhesive layer  24  and the feed roller  82  do not come into contact with each other, the adhesive agent of the adhesive layer  24  is unlikely to adhere to the feed roller  82 . 
     The outer shape of the tape printing apparatus, the tape cassette, and the auxiliary cassette as shown in the description of the fourth embodiment are given as merely one example, and the one or more aspects of the disclosure is not limited to this outer shape. 
     Fifth Embodiment 
     Next, a tape cassette and a tape printing apparatus according to a fifth embodiment will now be described based on  FIG. 18  and  FIG. 19 . 
     A tape cassette and a tape printing apparatus according to the fifth embodiment have the same basic configuration as the tape cassette  1  and the tape printing apparatus  110  according to the first embodiment. Consequently, in the description to follow, elements which are the same as those in the tape cassette  101  and the tape printing apparatus  110  according to the first embodiment will be denoted by the same numerical symbol, the description will be focused on elements that differ from those in the tape cassette  101  and the tape printing apparatus  110  according to the first embodiment. 
     In  FIG. 18 , a tape cassette  301  having an upper case  2  and a lower case  3  is detachably mounted on the cassette housing part  6  provided in a tape printing apparatus  301 . The upper case  2  serves as a lid member that covers an upper surface of the lower case  3 . The lower case  3  has a tape spool  18  onto which the film tape  17  is wound, arranged at a slightly upper position from its center, as shown in  FIG. 18 . The lower case  3  has a ribbon spool  20  onto which the ink ribbon  19  is wound, arranged at a slightly lower right position of the tape spool  18 . The lower case  3  also has a ribbon reel-in spool  21  which draws the ink ribbon  19  from the ribbon spool  20  and reels in the ink ribbon  10  which was used in character printing. 
     The tape cassette  301  has a roller arranging part  50  formed so as to penetrate the upper case  2  and the lower case  3 . Upon loading the tape cassette  301  in the cassette housing part  6 , the platen roller  58  to be described later is arranged in the roller arranging part  50 . The roller arranging part  50  has a separating member  4  formed downstream the thermal head  57  (center left side in  FIG. 19 ). As will be described later, at the time of character printing by the thermal head  57 , the separating member  4  has the role of reversing the feed direction of the ink ribbon  19  which is pressed onto the film tape  17  when clamped between the platen roller  58  and the thermal head  57  and separating the ink ribbon  19  from the film tape  17 . 
     The tape cassette  301  has a discharge port  13  formed therein for discharging the film tape  17  onto which characters and the like have been printed to the exterior of the tape cassette  301  after the ink ribbon  19  has been separated therefrom by the separating member  4 . 
     The configuration of the tape housing part  6  in the tape printing apparatus  310  will now be described. As shown in  FIG. 18  and  FIG. 19 , the cassette housing part  6  of the tape printing apparatus  310  has a thermal head  57  mounted on the head supporting member  52  which is arranged so as to be able to rotate around the head supporting shaft  51 . The thermal head  57  is tabular with a substantially rectangular shape in a longitudinal direction thereof when viewed from the front, and has a predetermined number of heat generating elements formed at a left margin of a front surface thereof and aligned along the left margin. The cassette housing part  6  has a platen roller  58  rotatably supported therein. 
     The head supporting member  52  is biased in a counterclockwise direction around the head supporting shaft  51  by an elastic member which is not shown. At the time of printing onto the film tape  17 , the head supporting member  52  is driven in a clockwise direction by a motor or the like, thereby enabling the thermal head  57  to come into contact and move away with respect to the platen roller  58 . 
     The cassette housing part  6  has a ribbon reel-in shaft  9  that is coupled to the ribbon reel-in spool  21  of the tape cassette  301 . The ribbon reel-in shaft  9  is coupled to a driving mechanism such as a motor and the like which is not shown and is adapted to drive and rotate the ribbon reel-in spool for taking up ink ribbon  19  which has been separated from the film tape  17  by the separating member  4 , as described above. 
     The cassette housing part  6  has a clipper-type cutter unit  14  arranged adjacent the tape discharge port  13  of the tape cassette  301 . The cutter unit  14  is composed of a fixed blade  14 A and a movable blade  14 B which is actuated with respect to the fixed blade  14 A to cut the post-printing film tape  17 . 
     A pair of conveying rollers  49  are arranged downstream the cutter unit  14 . The conveying rollers  49  are composed of a heat roller  15  that heats the adhesive layer (to be described later) formed in the film tape  17  and a tape conveying roller  16  arranged opposite the heat roller  15  and adapted to feed the post-printing film tape  17  to the exterior of the tape printing apparatus  310  through the cooperation with the heat roller  15 . 
     When the tape cassette  301  having the above-described configuration is loaded in the cassette housing part  6  of the printing apparatus  310  for character printing onto the film tape  17 , the film tape  17  wound onto the tape spool  18  is guided over the tape guiding skid  30  provided at a corner of the lower case  3  and a guiding supporting part  53  formed in an inner wall of the lower case  3  towards the thermal head  57  and the platen roller  58 . Also, the ink ribbon is guided toward the thermal head  57  and the platen roller  58  while being guided and supported by the guiding supporting part  54  formed at an end part of the roller arranging part  50 . 
     The film tape  17  and the ink ribbon  19  guided as described above are superimposed between the thermal head  57  and the platen roller  58 . Each of the heat generating elements of the thermal head  57  is driven to generate heat, with the film tape  17  being superimposed on the ink ribbon  19 . As a result, characters and the like are printed onto the film tape  17  through the ink ribbon  19 . Thereafter, the ink ribbon  19  is fed downstream the thermal head  57 , and after being separated from the film tape  17  through the separating member  4 , it is reeled in by the ribbon reel-in spool  21 . 
     After characters and the like are printed onto the film tape through the ink ribbon  19  and the thermal head  57 , and the ink ribbon  19  is separated therefrom through the separating member  4 , the film tape  17  is discharged to the exterior of the tape cassette  301  from the tape discharging port  13  and is further discharged to the exterior of the tape printing apparatus  310  through the pair of conveying rollers  49 . At this time, the adhesive layer of the film tape  17  is heated by the heat roller  15  of the pair of conveying rollers  49 , thereby making the adhesive layer exhibit adhesive properties as will be described later. 
     Then, when the film tape  17  has reached a predetermined length, the cutter unit  14  is driven to cut the film tape  17  at a predetermined length through the cooperation of the fixed blade  14 A and the movable blade  14 B. 
     The configuration of the ink ribbon and the printing tape according to the fifth embodiment will now be described based on  FIG. 20 . As shown in  FIG. 20 , the ink ribbon  19  is composed of a base film  35  and an ink layer  34 . The film tape  17  serving as a printing tape has an adhesive layer  33  formed on one surface (in  FIG. 20 , lower side of the transparent film) of the transparent film tape  32 , and a release adhesive layer  31  formed on the other surface (upper side of the transparent film in  FIG. 20 ) of the transparent film. 
     The above-described adhesive layer  33  is composed of a material having special properties in that it does not exhibit adhesive properties at ambient temperature, but starts exhibiting adhesive properties upon being heated, and maintains these adhesive properties after it has been heated once, even if its temperature decreases. Similarly with the first embodiment, the adhesive agent  24  may include an adhesive agent employed for heat seal labels, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,614,928, for instance. This type of adhesive agent melts upon being heated to 80° C. to 100° C. by the heat roller and the like, thereby exhibiting adhesive properties. In the fifth embodiment, the heat roller heats the adhesive agent up to 80° C. or above but below 90° C., similarly with the first embodiment. 
     The above-described film tape  17 , having the adhesive layer  33  superimposed on a single surface thereof, is wound in the tape spool  18  with the adhesive layer  33  at the inner side, for loading. Since the film tape  17  has a release agent layer  31  formed on a back surface side of the adhesive layer  33  of the transparent film tape  32 , the adhesive layer  33  never adheres to the transparent film  17 , to an inner side of the tape cassette and to other parts in the printing apparatus, even in the case a part of the adhesive layer should exhibit adhesive properties when it is already wound onto the tape spool  18 . 
     As described above, when the adhesive layer  33  of the film tape  17  and the ink layer  34  of the ink ribbon  19  come into contact, the contact location where the adhesive layer  33  and the ink layer  34  come into contact with each other is clamped between the thermal head  57  and the platen roller  58  and, as shown in  FIG. 11 , the thermal head  57  comes into contact with the release adhesive layer  31  side of the base film  32 . As a result, the adhesive layer  33  exhibits adhesive properties upon being heated by the thermal head  57  and the ink layer  34  of the ink ribbon  19  melts upon being heated by the thermal head  57 . The melted ink layer  34  is adhered to the adhesive layer, whereby characters and the like are transferred to the film tape  17 . 
     As described above, when the adhesive layer  33  of the film tape  17  and the ink layer  34  of the ink ribbon  19  come into contact, the contact location where the adhesive layer  33  and the ink layer  34  come into contact with each other is clamped between the thermal head  57  and the platen roller  58  and, as shown in  FIG. 11 , the thermal head  57  comes into contact with the release adhesive layer  31  side of the base film  32 . As a result, the adhesive layer  33  exhibits adhesive properties upon being heated by the thermal head  57  and the ink layer  34  of the ink ribbon  19  melts upon being heated by the thermal head  57 . The melted ink layer  34  is adhered to the adhesive layer, whereby characters and the like are transferred to the film tape  17 . 
     The tape printing apparatus  310  is provided with a drive control apparatus (not shown) for driving and controlling the heat generating parts of the thermal head  57 . Thus, since control is carried out so that the transferred ink layer  34  is printed as mirror image with respect to the film tape  17 , characters and the like printed as a normal image can be visually checked when looking from the side of the transparent film tape  32  of the film tape  17 . 
     A transfer mechanism in which an ink layer is transferred to an adhesive layer upon being heated by the thermal head  57  will now be described based on  FIG. 21 . As shown in  FIG. 21 , when the film tape  17  and the ink ribbon  19  are superimposed at a printing position, between the thermal head  57  and the platen roller  58 , the adhesive layer  33  of the film tape  17  is brought in contact with the ink layer  34  of the ink ribbon  19 . Although the adhesive layer  33  and the ink layer  34  are simultaneously heated at the above described contact part by the thermal head  57 , heat transfer losses occur at the boundary portion when heat is transferred from the adhesive layer  33  to the ink layer  34 , which leads to differences in temperature at the boundary part of the ink layer  34  and the adhesive layer  33 . Since the adhesive layer  33  of the film tape  17  to be used in the tape cassette  301  according to the third embodiment employs an adhesive agent that exhibits adhesive properties when heated to 80° C. or above, and the ink layer  34  of the ink ribbon  19  employs a high melting point-type ink which melts at a temperature of 60° C. or above, when the temperature at a heated portion of the adhesive layer  33 A becomes 80° C. or above, the temperature at a heated portion of the ink layer  34 A as well, becomes 60° C. or above. As a result, the adhesive layer  33 A and the ink layer  34 A are adhered at their heated portions, respectively. 
     Since the temperature of the adhesive layer  24 B when it is not heated by the thermal head  57  is below 80° C. and thus exhibits no adhesive properties, and the temperature of the ink layer  34 B at a portion corresponding to the adhesive layer  33 B, as well, is below 90° C., after these layers pass the thermal head  57  and the separating part  4  arranged downstream the thermal head  57 , they are heated and only the ink layer  34 A which has been adhered to the adhesive layer  33 A is transferred to the film tape  17 , as shown in  FIG. 21 . The remaining portions of the ink ribbon are reeled in by the ribbon reel-in spool  21 , as consumed ink ribbon  19 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 21 , the thermal head  57  has a heat concentrated-type glaze structure. The ink layer  34  and the adhesive layer  33  are heated by focusing the heat into a pin-point. Accordingly, since the temperature difference between the heated portions of the ink layer  34 A and the adhesive layer  33 A and the unheated portions of the ink layer  34 B and the adhesive layer  33 B becomes large, the ink layer and the adhesive layer can be adhered, with the boundary between the heated portions  34 A and the unheated portions  34 B of the ink layer and the heated portion  33 A and the unheated portion  33 B of the adhesive layer clearly defined. 
     The ink layer  34  includes a wax-type ink so that only the heated portions of the ink later  34  are transferred, even if they cool down after being heated. Accordingly, the heated ink layer  34  can be reliably adhered to the adhesive agent  33 A at the heated portion even if the ink layer  34  cools down, thereby being reliably transferred to a film tape  17  onto which characters and the like are printed. 
     The film tape  17  onto which characters and the like are printed is drawn up to a clipper-type cutter unit  14  serving as a cutting device, through the cooperation of the tape conveying roller  16  and the heat roller  15  as described above. The post-printing film tape  17  can be cut to a predetermined length through the cooperation of the fixed blade  14 A and the movable  14 B of the cutter unit  14 . The cut film tape  17  is passed between the tape conveying roller  16  and the heat roller  15  where it is heated by the heat roller to exhibit adhesive properties in the adhesive layer  33 B at portions other than portions where the ink layer  34  is adhered. Thereafter, the post-printing film tape  17  which exhibits adhesive properties is discharged to the exterior of the tape printing apparatus, as a linerless tape as was cut. 
     As described above, since the tape cassette  301  does not house the adhesive tape spool and the pasting roller and the tape conveying roller  16  and the heat roller  15  are arranged downstream of the cutter unit  14 , the post-printing film tape  17  can be cut by the cutter unit  14  arranged immediately downstream of the thermal head  57  immediately after characters and the like have been printed thereon. This makes it possible to shorten the front blank spaces of the post-printing film tape  17 , thereby reducing the running cost of the film tape  17 . 
     Further, when the heat roller  15  heats the target layers to 80° C. or above but below 90° C., the temperature inside the ink layer becomes 60° C. or above, but because the ink used in the ink layer  34  is a low melting point-type ink (the melting point of the ink becomes 60° C. or above), the ink is once fused in the adhesive agent having high viscosity at the time of character printing. As a result, melting of the ink under the heat from the heat roller  15  becomes difficult, thereby eliminating the risk of faulty printing caused by ink re-melting when being heated by the heat roller  15 . Here, the release adhesive layer is also transparent. Needless to say, the adhesive layer present between the film layer and the ink layer is necessarily transparent or semi-transparent, to thus make the ink layer visible through the transparent film. 
     Since the heat roller contacts the film tape  17  onto which characters and the like have been printed from the release agent layer  31  side thereof (back surface side of the adhesive layer  33 ), it is possible to avoid direct contact with the adhesive layer  33 , thereby preventing the heated adhesive layer  33  from adhering to the heat roller  15 . 
     Since the heated adhesive layer  33  maintains its adhesive properties even after its temperature decreases, the user can paste the linerless tape produced as described above onto the target body. As a result, the user no longer needs to remove the release sheet, as was done in the case of using the conventional laminated tape. Further, since the transferred ink layer  34  is printed as mirror image with respect to the film tape  17 , as described above, the user can recognize the characters and the like printed as normal image, through the transparent film. 
     The outer shape of the tape printing apparatus  310  and the tape cassette  301  as shown in the description of the fifth embodiment is given as merely one example, and one or more aspects of the disclosure is not limited to this outer shape. 
     Sixth Embodiment 
     The tape cassette and the tape printing apparatus according to the sixth embodiment will now be described based on  FIG. 22  and  FIG. 23 . 
     The configuration of the tape cassette according to the sixth embodiment is the same as the configuration of the tape cassette  301  according to the fifth embodiment. Also, the configuration of the tape printing apparatus according to the sixth embodiment is substantially the same as the configuration of the tape printing apparatus  310  according to the fifth embodiment. In the following description, elements which are the same as those of the tape cassette  301  and the tape printing apparatus  310  according to the fifth embodiment are denoted by the same numerical symbols. 
     The tape printing apparatus  310  according to the fifth embodiment has a tape conveying roller  16  arranged in the tape printing apparatus  310 , but in the sixth embodiment, the conveying roller  77  having the same function as the tape conveying roller  16  according to the third embodiment is arranged in the auxiliary cassette  70 . The tape printing apparatus  410  does not have a tape conveying roller arranged therein. In the sixth embodiment, the tape printing apparatus  410  has a conveying roller shaft  72  for coupling with the conveying roller  77  and an auxiliary sheet medium reel-in shaft  73  for coupling to the auxiliary sheet medium reel-in spool  76  arranged therein. 
     In  FIG. 22 , the auxiliary cassette  70  is detachably loaded in the cassette housing part  6  provided in the tape printing apparatus  410 . Since the tape cassette  301  of the sixth embodiment has the same configuration as the tape cassette  301  of the fifth embodiment, further description thereof is hereby omitted. 
     As shown in  FIG. 23 , the auxiliary cassette  70  is detachably loaded in the cassette housing part  6  provided in the tape printing apparatus  410 . The auxiliary cassette  70  is provided with an auxiliary sheet medium spool  75  onto which an auxiliary sheet medium  74  is wound, as shown in  FIG. 25 . The auxiliary cassette  70  is also provided with an auxiliary sheet medium reel-in spool  76  that draws and reels in the auxiliary sheet medium  74  from the auxiliary sheet medium spool  75 . Further, the conveying roller  77  is rotatably provided in the auxiliary cassette  70 , with a portion thereof being exposed from the auxiliary cassette  70 . At the time of printing, the conveying roller  77  faces the heat roller  15  of the tape printing apparatus  410 . A portion of the feed roller  77  is exposed from the auxiliary cassette  71 . At the time of printing, the feed roller  77  faces the heat roller  15  provided in the tape printing apparatus  410 . 
     At the time of printing, the auxiliary sheet medium  74  is fed to the conveying roller  77 , which further feeds it in a downstream direction together with the film tape  17 . The auxiliary sheet medium  74  and the film tape  17  are then fed to an auxiliary sheet medium reel-in spool  76 . In other words, since the film tape  17  and the auxiliary sheet medium  74  come into contact at the time of printing, the conveying roller  77  does not touch the film tape  17 . The position at which the film tape  17  and the auxiliary sheet medium  74  come into contact is the position at which the heat roller  15  and the conveying roller  77  face each other, as shown in  FIG. 23 . 
     The configuration of the tape housing part  6  in the tape printing apparatus  410  will now be described. As shown in  FIG. 22  and  FIG. 23 , the cassette housing part  6  of the tape printing apparatus  410  has a thermal head  57  mounted on the head supporting member  92  which is arranged so as to be able to rotate around the head supporting shaft  51 . The thermal head  57  is tabular with a substantially rectangular shape in a longitudinal direction thereof when viewed from the front as shown in  FIG. 23 , and has a predetermined number of heat generating elements formed at a left margin of a front surface thereof and aligned along the left margin. The cassette housing part  6  has a platen roller  58  rotatably supported therein. The head supporting member  92  is biased in a counterclockwise direction around the head supporting shaft  51  by an elastic member which is not shown. At the time of printing onto the film tape  17 , the head supporting member  92  is driven in a clockwise direction by a motor or the like, thereby enabling the heat roller to come into contact and move away with respect to the conveying roller  77 . 
     The cassette housing part  6  has the auxiliary sheet medium reel-in shaft  73  that is coupled to the auxiliary sheet medium reel-in spool  76  of the auxiliary cassette  70 . The auxiliary sheet medium reel-in shaft  73  is coupled to a driving mechanism such as a motor or the like, not shown, and serves to drive and rotate the auxiliary sheet medium reel-in spool  76 . The cassette housing part  6  is also provided with a conveying roller shaft  72 . The conveying roller shaft  72  is coupled to a driving mechanism such as a motor and the like, not shown, and serves to drive and rotate the conveying roller  77 . 
     The heat roller  15  is arranged downstream the cutter unit  14  for heating the adhesive layer formed in the film tape  17 . The post-printing film tape  17  is discharged to the exterior of the tape printing apparatus  410  through the cooperation of the heat roller  15  and the tape conveying roller  77 . For convenience of the description to follow, the pair including the heat roller  15  and the tape conveying roller  77  may be denoted as the pair of conveying rollers  79 . The auxiliary sheet medium reel-in spool  76  as well is driven to rotate and thus convey the auxiliary sheet medium, together with the post-printing film tape  17  through the cooperation of the heat roller  15  and the tape conveying roller  77 . 
     After characters and the like are printed onto the film tape through the ink ribbon  19  and the thermal head  57 , and the ink ribbon  19  is separated therefrom through the separating member  4 , the film tape  17  is discharged to the exterior of the tape cassette  301  from the tape discharging port  13  and is further discharged to the exterior of the tape printing apparatus  410  through the pair of conveying rollers  79 . At this time, the adhesive layer of the film tape  17  is heated by the heat roller  15  of the pair of conveying rollers  79 , thereby making the adhesive layer exhibit adhesive properties. 
     Since the ink ribbon and the printing tape according to the sixth embodiment have the same configuration as that described in the fifth embodiment (refer to  FIG. 19 ), further description thereof is hereby omitted. Also, since the transfer mechanism in which the ink layer is transferred to the adhesive layer upon being heated by the thermal head  57 , according to the sixth embodiment is the same as the mechanism in the fifth embodiment (refer to  FIG. 20  and  FIG. 21 ), further description thereof is hereby omitted. 
     The film tape  17  onto which characters and the like are printed is drawn up to the clipper-type cutter unit  14  serving as a cutting device, through the cooperation of the tape conveying roller  77  and the heat roller  15 , as described above. The post-printing film tape  17  can thus be cut to a predetermined length through the cooperation of the fixed blade  14 A and the movable blade  14 B of the cutter unit  14 . The cut film tape  17  passes between the tape conveying roller  77  and the heat roller  15  and upon being heated, starts exhibiting adhesive properties in the adhesive layer  33  at portions other than portions where the ink layer  34  has been adhered. The post-printing film tape  17  exhibiting adhesive properties is then discharged to the exterior of the printing apparatus as a linerless tape as was cut. 
     As described above, the adhesive agent of the post-printing film tape  17  exhibits adhesive properties upon being heated by the heat roller  15 . Here, if the adhesive force of the post-printing film tape  17  is strong, there is a risk that the adhesive agent will be transferred to the surface coming in contact with the adhesive layer. In the sixth embodiment, the auxiliary sheet medium  74  and the adhesive surface of the post-printing film tape  17  are configured so as to come into contact. New portions of auxiliary sheet medium  74  that come into contact with the adhesive surface are continuously fed to the pair of conveying rollers  79  by the auxiliary sheet medium reel-in spool  76 . In this way, the adhesive agent of the post-printing film tape  17  never adheres to the tape conveying roller  77 . Even if the adhesive agent of the post-printing film tape  17  adheres to the auxiliary sheet medium  74 , since the auxiliary sheet medium  74  is fed to the auxiliary sheet medium reel-in spool  76 , the auxiliary sheet medium  74  to which the adhesive agent has adhered never adheres to the post-printing film tape  17  that is to be subsequently fed. 
     As described in the above, since the tape cassette  301  does not accommodate the adhesive tape spool and the pasting roller and the tape conveying roller  77  and the heat roller  15  are arranged downstream of the cutter unit  14 , the post-printing film tape  17  can be cut by the cutter unit  14  arranged immediately downstream of the thermal head  57  immediately after characters and the like have been printed onto the film tape  17 . This makes it possible to shorten front blank spaces of the post-printing film tape  17 , thereby reducing the running cost of the film tape  17 . 
     Further, when the heat roller  15  heats the target layer to 80° C. or above but below 90° C., the temperature inside the ink layer becomes 60° C. or above, but because the ink used in the ink layer  34  is a low melting point-type ink (the melting point of the ink becomes 60° C. or above), the ink is once fused in the adhesive agent having high viscosity at the time of character printing. As a result, melting of the ink under the heat from the heat roller  15  becomes difficult, thereby eliminating the risk of faulty printing caused by ink re-melting when being heated by the heat roller  15 . Here, the release adhesive layer is also transparent. Needless to say, the adhesive layer present between the film layer and the ink layer is necessarily transparent or semi-transparent, to thus make the ink layer visible through the transparent film. 
     Since the heat roller comes into contact with the film tape  17  onto which characters and the like are printed from the release agent layer  31  side (back surface side of the adhesive layer  33 ), direct contact with the adhesive layer  33  can be avoided. As a result, the heated adhesive layer  33  does not adhere to the heat roller  15 . 
     Since the heated adhesive layer  33  maintains its adhesive properties even after its temperature decreases, the user can paste the linerless tape produced as described above onto the target body. As a result, the user no longer needs to remove the release sheet, as was done in the case of using the conventional laminated tape. Further, since the transferred ink layer  34  is printed as mirror image with respect to the film tape  17 , as described above, the user can recognize the characters and the like printed as normal image, through the transparent film. 
     In the sixth embodiment, since the adhesive layer of the post-printing film  17  does not touch the conveying roller  77  when the post-printing film  17  is heated, there is no risk of the adhesive agent adhering to the conveying roller  77 . This can prevent faulty conveyance from occurring and can also prevent the adhered adhesive agent from smearing the printing tape  17 . 
     The auxiliary sheet medium can employ a medium having a release adhesive layer coated on a surface thereof contacting the post-printing film  17 . As a result, the auxiliary sheet medium  74  and the heated post-printing film  17  can be smoothly released, thereby enabling excellent tape conveyance. 
     In the sixth embodiment, the tape cassette  301  and the auxiliary cassette  70  are configured as individual units (namely, configured separately), but the tape cassette and the auxiliary cassette can also be integrally configured, as shown in  FIG. 24 . In this case, the tape cassette  401  is provided with the auxiliary sheet medium  74 , the auxiliary sheet medium reel-in spool  76 , the conveying roller  77 , the film tape  17 , the ribbon  19  and the like, as shown in  FIG. 25 . The tape cassette  401  has a notch part, as shown in  FIG. 25 . If this notch part is present between the conveying roller  77  and the tape discharge port  13 . When the tape cassette  401  is mounted on the tape printing apparatus  410 , the cutter  14 A of the tape printing apparatus  410  is positioned in this notch part. In the tape printing apparatus  410  using the tape cassette  401 , as well, since the adhesive layer of the post-printing film tape  17  does not come into contact with the conveying roller  77  when the post-printing film tape  17  is heated, the adhesive agent does not adhere to the conveying roller  77 , thereby making it possible to prevent faulty conveyance from occurring. Thus, even if the adhesive agent adheres to the auxiliary sheet medium  74 , it is possible to prevent the adhesive agent that adhered to the auxiliary sheet medium from smearing the post-printing film tape  17  that is subsequently fed. 
     The outer shape of the tape printing apparatus  410 , the tape cassette  301 , the tape cassette  401 , and the auxiliary cassette  70  as shown in the description of the sixth embodiment is given as merely one example, and the present disclosure is not limited to this outer shape. 
     Other Embodiments 
     The tape printing apparatus and the like shown in the fifth embodiment and sixth embodiment as described above can employ the respective elements of the tape printing apparatus and the like shown in the third embodiment and fourth embodiment as described above. 
     For instance, as shown in  FIG. 26 , the tape printing apparatus may be configured so as to accommodate the auxiliary cassette  71 . 
     Also, as shown in  FIG. 27 , the tape printing apparatus may be configured so as to accommodate the auxiliary sheet medium  74  in the tape cassette. 
     Also, as shown in  FIG. 28 , the tape printing apparatus may be configured so as to accommodate the auxiliary cassette  88 . 
     Also, as shown in  FIG. 29 , the tape printing apparatus may be configured so as to accommodate the auxiliary sheet medium  74  and the heat roller  89  in the tape cassette. 
     Use of the above-described configurations will naturally require changes to a part of the configuration of the tape cassette. 
     The operation of the respective driving device in the tape printing apparatus having the second cutter unit  87  as described above will next be described. The following description is based on the third embodiment as described above ( FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10 ), with the basic operation being the same in the other embodiments. 
     The conveyance control process is executed by a processor (not shown) which is provided in the tape printing apparatus  510 . Execution of the conveyance control process is started by output of an instruction signal for print control. 
     First, at S 1 , the platen roller  8  is moved to its original position (refer to  FIG. 31 ). At this time, the front end of the film rape  17  is located at the periphery of the cutter unit  14  (refer to  FIG. 31 ). 
     At S 2 , the print operation to the film tape  17  and the conveyance operation of the film tape  17  are carried out. As these operations have already been described above, further description thereof is hereby omitted. 
     At S 3 , a judgment is made as to whether the front end of the film tape  17  has reached the pair of conveying rollers (heat roller  15  and feed roller  82 ). This judgment is carried out by calculating the amount of the conveyed film tape  17  based on the number of rotations of the platen roller. The front end position of the film tape  17  may also be detected by use of a sensor which is not shown here. 
     If it is judged that the front end of the printed film tape  17  does not reach the pair of conveying rollers (S 3 : NO), the flow returns to S 2 . As a result, during the period of time required by the front end of the printed film tape  17  to reach the pair of conveying rollers, the print operation and the conveying operation with respect to the film tape  17  are successively carried out. 
     If it is judged that the front end of the printed film tape  17  has reached the pair of conveying rollers (S 3 : YES), the flow proceeds to S 4 . 
     At S 4 , the drive operation of the pair of conveying rollers is started. The auxiliary sheet medium  74  is adhered to the printed film tape  17  (ink layer side) based on the rotation of the pair of conveying rollers. The printed film tape  17  to which the auxiliary sheet medium  74  has been adhered is conveyed towards the second cutter unit  87 . 
     At S 5 , a judgment is made as to whether printing is completed. The operation at S 4  (specifically, the print operation and the conveyance operation with respect to the film rape  17 ) is repeated until printing is completed (refer to  FIG. 33 ). 
     If it is judged that printing has been completed (S 5 : YES), the flow shifts to S 6 . At S 6 , the printed film tape  17  is conveyed towards the pair of conveying rollers (refer to  FIG. 34 ). 
     At S 7 , a judgment is made as to whether the back end of the printed film tape  17  is present at the cutting position (first cutting position) using the cutter unit  14  (first cutter). This judgment is carried out using the amount of the conveyed film tape  17  which is calculated based on the amount of rotation of the platen roller  8 . A judgment may be made as to whether cutting will be made at the first cutting position by carrying out a predetermined printing at a first cutting scheduled position and then reading the print contents by a sensor which is not shown here. 
     If it is judged that the back end of the printed film tape  17  is not present at the first cutting position (S 7 : NO), the flow returns to S 6 . As a result, during the time required by the printed film tape  17  to be conveyed to the first cutting position, the conveying operation of the printed film tape  17  is carried out successively. 
     On the other hand, if it is judged that the back end of the printed film tape  17  is present at the first cutting position (S 7 : YES), the flow shifts to S 8 . 
     At S 8 , the printed film tape  17  is cut. At this time, the movable blade  14 B is drive-controlled. At the time of cutting the printed film tape  17 , the rotating platen roller  8  is stop driven. 
     After the printed film tape  17  has been cut, the flow shifts to S 9 . At S 9 , rotation driving of the heat roller  15  is started again. Since the printed film tape  17  is cut, the platen roller  8  is not driven to rotate. As a result, the printed film tape  17  that was cut is conveyed by rotational driving of the heat roller  15 . 
     At S 10 , a judgment is made as to whether the back end of the printed film tape  17  is present at the cutting position (second cutting position) using the second cutter unit  87  (second cutter). This judgment is carried out based on the amount of the conveyed printed film tape  17  that is calculated based on the rotation amount of the heat roller  15 . 
     If it is judged that the back end of the printed film tape  17  is not present at the second cutting position (S 10 : NO), the flow returns to S 9 . As a result, during the time required by the printed film tape  17  to be conveyed to the second cutting position, the conveyance operation of the printed film tape  17  is successively carried out. 
     On the other hand, if it is judged that the back end of the printed film tape  17  is present at the second cutting position (S 10 : YES), the flow shifts to S 11 . 
     At S 11 , the auxiliary sheet medium  74  is cut. At this time, the movable blade  87 B is drive controlled. At the time the auxiliary sheet medium  74  is cut, the heat roller  15  is stop driven. 
     After the auxiliary sheet medium  74  has been cut, the flow shifts to S 12 . At S 12 , the platen roller  8  is moved away from the thermal head  7 . Then, the flow shifts to S 13 . 
     At S 13 , the auxiliary sheet medium  74  is conveyed in a reverse direction. More specifically, the auxiliary sheet medium  74  is rewound in a reverse direction with the conveying direction at the time of printing. At this time, the auxiliary sheet medium spool  81  is rotated in a reverse direction with the rotation direction at the time of printing. As a result, the auxiliary sheet medium  74  is rewound onto the auxiliary sheet medium spool  81 . 
     At S 14 , a judgment is made as to whether to terminate the reverse conveyance of the auxiliary sheet medium  74 . This judgment is carried out based on the amount of the auxiliary sheet medium  74  that was conveyed in a reverse direction, which is calculated based on the amount of rotation of the feed roller  82 . When the front end portion of the auxiliary sheet medium  74  has been rewound up to near the heat roller  15 , the reverse conveyance is terminated. 
     If it is judged not to terminate the reverse conveyance of the auxiliary sheet medium (S 14 : NO), the flow returns to S 13 . As a result, during the time required until reverse conveyance of the auxiliary sheet medium  74  is completed, the rewind operation of the auxiliary sheet medium  74  is successively carried out. 
     On the other hand, if it is judged to terminate the reverse conveyance of the auxiliary sheet medium (S 14 : YES), the flow returns to S 15 . 
     At S 15 , reverse rotational driving of the auxiliary sheet medium spool  81  is stopped. 
     In the above processes, after the printed film tape  17  has been cut by the second cutter unit  87 , the auxiliary sheet medium  74  is rewound onto the auxiliary sheet medium spool  81 . The auxiliary sheet medium  74  can thus be efficiently used. The front end portion of the rewound auxiliary sheet medium  74  awaits at the position shown in  FIG. 38  until the next adhering operation. Thus, the film tape  17  thus formed includes only a portion of auxiliary sheet medium  74  having length “t”, as shown in  FIG. 39 . As a result, the film tape  17  thus formed can be stored in a state in which the auxiliary sheet medium  74  can be easily peeled off therefrom. 
     One or more aspects of the disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and needless to say, various alterations and modifications can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the disclosure. For instance, in the fifth embodiment and the like, the ink ribbon  19  employs a thermofusion-type thermal ink ribbon, but can also employ a toner ink ribbon  39  comprising a toner ink layer  38  which has toner ink applied on one surface thereof through an adhesive layer having weak adhesive properties with respect to the base film  36  as shown in  FIG. 40 . 
     According to a transfer mechanism in which an ink layer is transferred to the adhesive layer upon being heated by the thermal head  57 , the adhesive layer  33 A of the film tape  17  heated by the thermal head  57 , similarly with  FIG. 21 , is heated to a to a temperature of 80° C. or above but below 90° C. which is equal to or higher than its melting temperature, thereby exhibiting adhesive properties. Then, the toner ink layer  38  of the toner ink ribbon  39  which came in contact with the adhesive layer  33 A of the film tape  17  is adhered to the adhesive layer  33 A, thereby being transferred to the film tape  17 . In this case, the toner ink does not melt at a temperature below 90° C. and is transferred to the film tape  17  in a powdery state. 
     The post-printing film tape  17  passes between the tape conveying roller  16  and the heat roller  15 , and upon being heated by the heat roller  15  to 80° C. or above but below 90° C., its adhesive layer  33 B exhibits adhesive properties, and the toner ink is kept in a transferred state to the film tape  17  without melting. 
     Accordingly, heating of the post-printing film tape  17  does not cause the ink to melt, thereby eliminating the risk of faulty printing. 
     Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.