Patent Publication Number: US-10766284-B2

Title: Tape cassette

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-181708, which was filed on Sep. 21, 2017, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The following disclosure relates to a tape cassette containing a tape on which a character or characters are printed. 
     There is conventionally known a technique in which a tape cassette contains a tape on which a character or characters are printed, and an indicator indicating predetermined information is printed on the tape. For example, there is known an elongated medium having (i) a plurality of scale holes arranged at regular intervals, (ii) a plurality of first indicator holes each indicating a reference position and arranged at regular intervals, and (iii) a plurality of second indicator holes. A distance between each of the plurality of second indicator holes and a corresponding one of the first indicator holes indicates a current remaining amount of the elongated medium. For example, a user can visually recognize a remaining amount of the elongated medium based on the number of the scale holes located between one of the first indicator holes and a corresponding one of the second indicator holes. 
     SUMMARY 
     To check a remaining amount of the tape, in general, the user visually checks an indicator provided on a printed tape discharged from a printer. In the case of the above-described elongated medium, for example, the user visually checks the elongated medium discharged from the printer and counts the number of the scale holes located between the first indicator hole and the second indicator hole to recognize the remaining amount of the elongated medium. The remaining amount of the elongated medium which is recognized by the user includes not only the length of the elongated medium remaining in the printer but also the length of the elongated medium having been discharged from the printer. This disallows the user to accurately recognize an amount of the elongated medium remaining in the printer, even if the user visually checks the indicator provided on the elongated medium discharged from the printer. 
     Accordingly, an aspect of the disclosure relates to a tape cassette enabling more accurate identification of an amount of a tape remaining in a printer. 
     In one aspect of the disclosure, a tape cassette includes: a cassette casing; and a tape roll that is contained in the cassette casing and that is a roll of a tape having a strip shape and extending in a lengthwise direction and a widthwise direction orthogonal to the lengthwise direction. The tape includes: a subject surface provided on the tape and exposed in a thickness direction orthogonal to each of the lengthwise direction and the widthwise direction; and a first image provided on the subject surface and indicating first information. The tape roll includes: a first end portion located at an inner portion of the tape roll in a radial direction of the tape roll; and a second end portion located at an outer portion of the tape roll in the radial direction, and the first end portion and the second end portion are opposite end portions of the roll of the tape in the lengthwise direction. The first information relates to a remaining amount of the tape that is an amount of a portion of the tape which is located on a first-end-portion-side of a reference position in the lengthwise direction in the tape roll. The reference position is located on the first-end-portion-side of the first image in the lengthwise direction on the tape at a particular distance from the first image. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The objects, features, advantages, and technical and industrial significance of the present disclosure will be better understood by reading the following detailed description of the embodiment, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating an external appearance of a printer  1 , with a cover omitted; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an internal unit  8 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view of the internal unit  8 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the internal unit  8 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a plan view of the internal unit  8 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a right side view of a tape cassette  100 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a plan view of a sensor unit  50  and components around the sensor unit  50 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a view for explaining a tape  10 A; 
         FIG. 9  is a view for explaining a tape  10 B; 
         FIG. 10  is a view for explaining a tape  10 C; 
         FIG. 11  is a view for explaining a tape  10 D; and 
         FIG. 12  is a view for explaining a tape  10 E. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT 
     Hereinafter, there will be described one embodiment by reference to the drawings. The drawings are for explanation of technical features employable in the present disclosure. It is to be understood that the configuration illustrated in the drawings does not limit the present disclosure and is only one example. 
     There will be described a printer  1  and a tape cassette  100  according to the present embodiment with reference to  FIGS. 1-7 . The upper left side, the lower right side, the upper right side, the lower left side, the upper side, and the lower side in  FIG. 1  are defined respectively as the front side, the rear side, the left side, the right side, the upper side, and the lower side of the printer  1  and the tape cassette  100 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 1-5 , the printer  1  according to the present embodiment is capable of selectively performing printing on a tape  10  and printing on a tube, not illustrated. The printer  1  at least needs to be capable of performing printing on the tape  10 . The following description is given only for a mechanism of the printer  1  which relates to printing on the tape  10 . The printer  1  may use various types of the tape cartridge  100  such as a thermal type, a receptor type, and a laminate type. The tape cassette  100  is of the receptor type in the present embodiment. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the printer  1  includes: a main body  2  shaped like a substantially rectangular parallelepiped box; and a cover, not illustrated, capable of closing an opening formed in an upper portion of the main body  2 . A cartridge holder  4  is provided at a right portion of an upper surface of the main body  2 . The cartridge holder  4  is a recess in which the tape cartridge  100  is removably mountable. An output opening  6  is formed in a right portion of a front surface of the main body  2 . The tape  10  having been printed is discharged from the cartridge holder  4  to the outside of the printer  1  through the output opening  6 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2-4 , an internal unit  8  is provided at a right portion of the main body  2 . The internal unit  8  includes a bottom plate  4 A that constitutes a bottom surface of the cartridge holder  4 . A head holder  20  is provided upright at a right portion of a substantially central portion of the cartridge holder  4  in the front and rear direction. A thermal head  22  including heating elements, not illustrated, is provided on a right surface of the head holder  20 . The thermal head  22  performs printing on the tape  10  conveyed along a predetermined conveyance path by, e.g., a platen roller  32  which will be described below. A ribbon take-up shaft  25  is provided upright on the cartridge holder  4  at a position located to the left of the head holder  20 . A conveying-roller drive shaft  24  is provided upright on the cartridge holder  4  at a position located in front of the head holder  20 . When the tape cassette  100  is mounted on the cartridge holder  4 , the ribbon take-up shaft  25  is inserted and fitted in a ribbon take-up roller  104  which will be described below, and the conveying-roller drive shaft  24  is inserted and fitted in a conveying roller  102  which will be described below. 
     A drive motor, not illustrated, as a stepping motor is provided in the main body  2  at a position located outside the cartridge holder  4 . The ribbon take-up shaft  25 , the conveying-roller drive shaft  24 , and the platen roller  32  which will be described below are connected to a drive motor via a plurality of gears, not illustrated, and rotated by power generated by the drive motor. As a result, the ribbon take-up shaft  25  fitted in the ribbon take-up roller  104  rotates the ribbon take-up roller  104 . The conveying-roller drive shaft  24  fitted in the conveying roller  102  rotates the conveying roller  102 . The platen roller  32  conveys the tape  10  and an ink ribbon  118  as will be described below. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the tape cassette  100  according to the present embodiment includes a cassette casing  101  having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The cassette casing  101  includes an upper first casing portion  101 A and a lower second casing portion  101 B. The casing portions  101 A,  101 B are fixed to each other as one unit. A roll storage  120  provided in the cassette casing  101  stores: a tape roll  122  that is a roll of the tape  10 ; and a ribbon roll  124  that is a roll of the ink ribbon  118 . The tape roll  122  is rotatably supported in a support hole  130  at a front left portion of the roll storage  120 . The ribbon roll  124  is rotatably supported in a support hole  132  at a rear right portion of the roll storage  120 . The ribbon take-up roller  104  is rotatably supported by a shaft between the tape roll  122  and the ribbon roll  124  in the cassette casing  101 . The ribbon take-up roller  104  is rotated by the ribbon take-up shaft  25  to draw the ink ribbon  118  from the ribbon roll  124  and take up the used ink ribbon  118 . The ink ribbon  118  has black ink, for example. Specifically, the ink ribbon  118  has an ink layer and a substrate. The substrate is formed of resin such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The ink layer contains a color component and a binder component such as wax and/or resin. In the case where the ink ribbon  118  has black ink, the color component contained in the ink layer is carbon, for example. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 3-6 , the cassette casing  101  includes an arm  160  extending frontward from a rear right portion of the roll storage  120 . The arm  160  includes: a first arm  160 A located near the first casing portion  101 A; and a second arm  160 B located near the second casing portion  101 B. An unused tape  10  drawn from the tape roll  122  and an unused ink ribbon  118  drawn from the ribbon roll  124  are guided in the arm  160 . The tape  10  is guided in the arm  160  in a state in which the widthwise direction of the tape  10  is parallel with the up and down direction, a fourth surface  12 B of a printing sheet  12  (see  FIGS. 8-10 ) which will be described below faces leftward, and a first surface  11 A of a separation sheet  11  (see  FIGS. 8-10 ) which will be described below faces rightward. The ink ribbon  118  is guided in the arm  160  at a position located to the left of the tape  10  in a state in which the widthwise direction of the tape  10  is parallel with the up and down direction. After guided frontward in the arm  160 , the tape  10  and the ink ribbon  118  are arranged on one another in an opening  161  formed in the front end of the arm  160  and are discharged frontward from the arm  160 . 
     The conveying roller  102  is rotatably supported by a shaft in the cassette casing  101  at a position located in front of the arm  160 . An output guide  140  is provided at a front right corner of the cassette casing  101 . A pressing roller  34 , which will be described below, is opposed to the conveying roller  102 . When rotated by the conveying-roller drive shaft  24 , the conveying roller  102  is cooperated with the pressing roller  34  to draw the tape  10  from the tape roll  122  and convey the printed tape  10  toward the output opening  6  via the output guide  140 . It is noted that the ink ribbon  118  is guided toward the ribbon take-up roller  104  at a position located upstream of the conveying roller  102  in the conveying direction. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the first casing portion  101 A includes a right wall  103  of the first arm  160 A. The right wall  103  has a detection hole  150  extending through the right wall  103  and having a substantially rectangular shape. The detection hole  150  is formed at a position opposed to a path of movement of label markers  42  and remaining-amount markers  43  (see  FIG. 10 ) which will be described below, provided on the tape  10  conveyed in the arm  160 . The detection hole  150  is used for an optical sensor  56  (see  FIG. 7 ), which will be described below, to optically detect the label markers  42  and the remaining-amount markers  43 . 
     The second casing portion  101 B includes a right wall  105  of the second arm  160 B which is located under the right wall  103  of the first arm  160 A. The right wall  105  has: an indicator portion  158  indicating information relating to the tape  10 ; and an insertion hole  154  having a substantially rectangular shape. The indicator portion  158  defines the information relating to the tape  10 , such as the width of the tape  10 , in accordance with combinations of insertion holes  156  or surface portions  157  respectively corresponding to sensor protrusions  66  which will be described below. The insertion hole  154  is a hole into which a guide protrusion  58  (see  FIG. 7 ) which will be described below is inserted. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2-5 , a pivotably supporting portion  38  having a three-sided rectangular shape extending in the front and rear direction is provided to the right of the head holder  20  in the cartridge holder  4 . The pivotably supporting portion  38  supports holder arms  36 A,  36 B each extending in the front and rear direction, such that the holder arms  36 A,  36 B are interposed between opposed portions of the pivotably supporting portion  38 . Each of the holder arms  36 A,  36 B is pivotable about an axis AX 1  by a support shaft  40  extending in the up and down direction. The first holder arm  36 A is disposed in a lower portion of an inner space of the pivotably supporting portion  38 . The second holder arm  36 B is disposed in an upper portion of the inner space of the pivotably supporting portion  38 , that is, the second holder arm  36 B is disposed above the first holder arm  36 A. 
     A roller holder  28  is supported by the holder arms  36 A,  36 B so as to be pivotable about the axis AX 1  with the holder arms  36 A,  36 B. The platen roller  32  and the pressing roller  34  are rotatably provided on the roller holder  28 . The platen roller  32  is opposed to the thermal head  22  such that a roller surface of the platen roller  32  is exposed leftward. The pressing roller  34  is opposed to the conveying-roller drive shaft  24  such that a roller surface of the pressing roller  34  is exposed leftward. 
     A torsion spring, not illustrated, is mounted on a lower end portion of the support shaft  40 . The torsion spring resiliently urges the holder arms  36 A,  36 B and the roller holder  28  rightward (away from the thermal head  22 ) about the axis AX 1 . In a state in which each of the holder arms  36 A,  36 B and the roller holder  28  is not pressed leftward (toward the thermal head  22 ), each of the holder arms  36 A,  36 B and the roller holder  28  is kept at a release position (illustrated in  FIG. 5 ) by an urging force of the torsion spring. In the case where each of the holder arms  36 A,  36 B and the roller holder  28  is located at the release position, the platen roller  32  and the pressing roller  34  are separated respectively from the thermal head  22  and the conveying roller  102 . 
     When pressed rightward against the urging force of the torsion spring, each of the holder arms  36 A,  36 B and the roller holder  28  pivots rightward from the release position to a printing position (illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 ). In the case where each of the holder arms  36 A,  36 B and the roller holder  28  is located at the printing position, the platen roller  32  and the pressing roller  34  presses the tape  10  located on the conveyance path, respectively against the thermal head  22  and the conveying roller  102 . When the platen roller  32 , the pressing roller  34 , and the conveying-roller drive shaft  24  (the conveying roller  102 ) are rotated in the state in which the tape cassette  100  is mounted on the cartridge holder  4 , and each of the holder arms  36 A,  36 B and the roller holder  28  is located at the printing position, the tape  10  contained in the tape cassette  100  is conveyed along the predetermined conveyance path. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 3-5 , a release rod  70  and a release motor  71  are provided on the main body  2 . The release rod  70  is disposed to the right of the holder arms  36 A,  36 B so as to extend in the front and rear direction. A left portion of the release rod  70  includes a first engaging portion  70 A and a second engaging portion  70 B. The first engaging portion  70 A extends on a front right side of the second engaging portion  70 B. The release motor  71  is mechanically coupled to the release rod  70  and driven to move the release rod  70  in the front and rear direction. 
     A pressing portion  74  shaped like a roller is provided at a front end portion of the release rod  70 . When the release rod  70  is moved frontward by the release motor  71 , the pressing portion  74  is also moved frontward and brought into contact with the roller holder  28 . With this operation, each of the holder arms  36 A,  36 B and the roller holder  28  is rotated rightward about the axis AX 1  and thereby moved from the release position to the printing position. When the release rod  70  is moved rearward by the release motor  71 , the pressing portion  74  is moved rearward and thereby separated from the roller holder  28 . This separation causes each of the holder arms  36 A,  36 B and the roller holder  28  to be rotated leftward about the axis AX 1  and thereby moved from the printing position to the release position. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , a sensor  29  is provided on a rear portion of the cartridge holder  4  at a substantially center of the cartridge holder  4  in the right and left direction. The sensor  29  optically detects a terminal-end mark, not illustrated, provided on the tape  10  of the tape cassette  100  mounted on the cartridge holder  4 . The terminal-end mark will be described later. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , a sensor unit  50  movable with respect to the tape cassette  100  mounted on the cartridge holder  4  is provided to the left of the release rod  70  in the main body  2 . The sensor unit  50  includes a mechanical sensor  54  and the optical sensor  56  as one unit. The sensor unit  50  is inserted in a space  37  (see  FIG. 2 ) formed between the holder arms  36 A,  36 B. The space  37  is located upstream of the thermal head  22  in the conveying direction. The sensor unit  50  includes a circuit board  60  shaped like a plate and a unit body  51  shaped like a box. The circuit board  60  is located to the right of the unit body  51 . The circuit board  60  is connected to a control circuit, not illustrated, of the printer  1  via a cable, not illustrated, connected to a connector, not illustrated, provided on the circuit board  60 . 
     The mechanical sensor  54  includes a plurality of the sensor protrusions  66  (five sensor protrusions  66  in this example) provided at a substantially quadrangle portion  53  of a left surface of the circuit board  60 . Each of the sensor protrusions  66  protrudes through an opening formed in the unit body  51 , to a position located to the left of a left surface of the unit body  51 . When the tape cassette  100  is mounted on the cartridge holder  4 , and the sensor unit  50  is moved to a detecting position which will be described later, the indicator portion  158  (see  FIG. 6 ) of the arm  160  is opposed to one or ones of the sensor protrusions  66 . The sensor protrusions  66  opposed to the insertion holes  156  (see  FIG. 6 ) are inserted in the insertion holes  156  and set at OFF. The sensor protrusions  66  opposed to the surface portions  157  (see  FIG. 6 ) are pressed by the surface portions  157  and set at ON. The control circuit, not illustrated, of the printer  1  detects information about the width of the tape  10  based on combination of ON and OFF of the sensor protrusions  66 . 
     The optical sensor  56  is provided on a substantially triangle portion  52  of the left surface of the circuit board  60 . The optical sensor  56  is a reflective optical sensor capable of optically detecting an object through the opening formed in the unit body  51 . The optical sensor  56  includes a light emitting element  56 A and a light receiving element  56 B arranged in the up and down direction. The light emitting element  56 A is a light-emitting diode (LED) configured to emit near-infrared light (0.8 μm to 1.0 μm), for example. The light receiving element  56 B is a photodiode having sensitivity to the near-infrared light, for example. When the tape cassette  100  is mounted on the cartridge holder  4 , and the sensor unit  50  is moved to the detecting position which will be described later, the detection hole  150  formed in the arm  160  (see  FIG. 6 ) is opposed to the optical sensor  56 . When light emitted from the light emitting element  56 A into the detection hole  150 , the light illuminates a portion of the tape  10  which is opposed to the detection hole  150 . The light receiving element  56 B receives light reflected from the tape  10  via the detection hole  150 . The control circuit, not illustrated, of the printer  1  is capable of detecting various kinds of information relating to the tape  10  based on a result of detection of the optical sensor  56 , but the detail of which will be described later. It is noted that the optical sensor  56  may be of a transmission type. 
     The guide protrusion  58  is provided at an upper rear portion of the substantially quadrangle portion  53  of the unit body  51 . When the tape cassette  100  is mounted on the cartridge holder  4 , and the sensor unit  50  is moved to the detecting position which will be described later, the insertion hole  154  (see  FIG. 6 ) formed in the arm  160  is opposed to the guide protrusion  58 , and the guide protrusion  58  is inserted in the insertion hole  154 . 
     A cylindrical portion  62  (see  FIG. 3 ) is provided at the substantially quadrangle portion  53  of the unit body  51  so as to extend to a position located to the right of a right surface of the circuit board  60 , via the through hole formed in the circuit board  60 . A coil spring  64  (see  FIG. 3 ) is provided in the cylindrical portion  62 . The coil spring  64  resiliently urges the sensor unit  50  leftward. A guide portion, not illustrated, extending downward is provided near a right end portion of the cylindrical portion  62 . The guide portion of the cylindrical portion  62  is engaged with the first engaging portion  70 A or the second engaging portion  70 B (see  FIG. 3 ) of the release rod  70 . Leftward movement of the sensor unit  50  by the urging force of the coil spring  64  is inhibited by the engagement between the guide portion and the first engaging portion  70 A or the second engaging portion  70 B. 
     When the release rod  70  is moved frontward by the release motor  71 , the guide portion of the cylindrical portion  62  is moved from the first engaging portion  70 A to the second engaging portion  70 B with leftward movement of the sensor unit  50 . When the guide portion of the cylindrical portion  62  is engaged with the second engaging portion  70 B, the sensor unit  50  is kept at the detecting position (illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 ). When the sensor unit  50  is located at the detecting position, the sensor protrusions  66  of the mechanical sensor  54  are opposed to the indicator portion  158 , the guide protrusion  58  is inserted in the insertion hole  154 , and the optical sensor  56  is opposed to the detection hole  150 . 
     When the release rod  70  is moved rearward by the release motor  71 , the guide portion is moved from the second engaging portion  70 B to the first engaging portion  70 A with rightward movement of the sensor unit  50 . When the guide portion of the cylindrical portion  62  is engaged with the first engaging portion  70 A, the sensor unit  50  is kept at the release position (illustrated in  FIG. 5 ). When the sensor unit  50  is located at the release position, the sensor protrusions  66  of the mechanical sensor  54  are separated from the indicator portion  158 , the guide protrusion  58  is separated from the insertion hole  154 , and the optical sensor  56  is separated from the detection hole  150 . 
     There will be next described a configuration of the tape  10  with reference to  FIGS. 8-10 . A tape  10 A illustrated in  FIG. 8  is a first example of the tape  10 . A tape  10 B illustrated in  FIG. 9  is a second example of the tape  10 . A tape  10 C illustrated in  FIG. 10  is a third example of the tape  10 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 8-10 , the tape  10  is shaped like a strip extending in its lengthwise direction and its widthwise direction. The lengthwise direction coincides with a direction in which the tape  10  of the tape roll  122  (see  FIG. 4 ) is drawn and conveyed by the printer  1  (see  FIG. 1 ). The widthwise direction coincides with a direction orthogonal to the lengthwise direction and corresponds to the widthwise direction of the tape  10 . The direction of the tape  10  which is orthogonal to each of the lengthwise direction and the widthwise direction is a thickness direction. 
     The tape  10  includes the separation sheet  11  and the printing sheet  12 . The separation sheet  11  has opposite surfaces in the thickness direction, namely, the first surface  11 A and a second surface  11 B. In the present example, the separation sheet  11  is release paper (such as glassine, high-quality paper, or kraft paper) covered with a release agent formed of a silicon-based material, for example. The separation sheet  11  may be formed of a material other than the release paper. For example, the separation sheet  11  may be a release film formed of a resin film. The color of each of the first surface  11 A and the second surface  11 B is white corresponding to the ground color of the separation sheet  11 . The printing sheet  12  has a printing layer  18  and an adhesive layer  19  stacked on each other in the thickness direction. The printing layer  18  has opposite surfaces in the thickness direction, namely, a third surface  12 A and the fourth surface  12 B. The printing layer  18  is a film formed of resin such as PET, PVC, PP, PE, PS, and ABS. The adhesive layer  19  is a transparent layer formed of adhesive and disposed on the third surface  12 A. The adhesive layer  19  contains acrylic adhesive, for example. In the present example, the ground color of the printing layer  18  is white. The color of each of the third surface  12 A and the fourth surface  12 B is white corresponding to the ground color of the printing layer  18 . The printing sheet  12  is peelably stuck to the second surface  11 B, with the adhesive layer  19  interposed therebetween. The thermal head  22  (see  FIG. 4 ) forms an image on the fourth surface  12 B by thermal transfer of the ink ribbon  118 . 
     To form the tape roll  122  (see  FIG. 4 ), the tape  10  according to the present embodiment is rolled in a state in which the printing sheet  12  is located on an inner circumferential side, and the separation sheet  11  is located on an outer circumferential side. The tape roll  122  has: a first end portion located on an inner portion of the tape roll  122  in its radial direction; and a second end portion located on an outer portion of the tape roll  122  in its radial direction. The first end portion and the second end portion are opposite end portions of the rolled tape  10  in the lengthwise direction. The first end portion corresponds to an upstream end portion of the tape  10  in the conveying direction. The second end portion corresponds to a downstream end portion of the tape  10  in the conveying direction. Though not illustrated, the terminal-end mark having a grid pattern is printed near an upstream end portion of the first surface  11 A in the conveying direction. The printer  1  uses the sensor  29  (see  FIG. 4 ) to detect the terminal-end mark to determine that a remaining amount of the tape  10  of the tape roll  122  is small. 
     The printer  1  cuts the printed tape  10  into the predetermined length to create a label piece. The user can peel the printing sheet  12  of the created label piece from the separation sheet  11  and stick the printing sheet  12  to an object such as a cable. The printer  1  according to the present embodiment may use a tape of a die-cut label type and a tape of a normal label type. Half cut is formed in the tape of the die-cut label type to divide the printing sheet  12  into a label portion and a non-label portion. No half cut is formed in the printing sheet  12  of the tape  10  of the normal label type. 
     There will be next described the tape  10 A illustrated in  FIG. 8  in detail. The tape  10 A is of the die-cut label type for creating a label piece  201  having the fixed length. The printing sheet  12  has a plurality of half cuts  14  formed by half cut. In other words, each of the half cuts  14  extends through the printing sheet  12  but not through the separation sheet  11 . Each of the half cuts  14  has a closed outline. Portions of the printing sheet  12  which are enclosed by the respective half cuts  14  serve as label portions  15 . That is, the printing sheet  12  has the label portions  15  corresponding to the respective half cuts  14 . Labels  15 A are arranged at particular intervals in the lengthwise direction at a substantially central portion of the tape  10 A in the widthwise direction. A portion of the printing sheet  12  which is different from the label portions  15  is a non-label portion  16 . In the present example, the tape  10 A has the non-label portion  16  as a portion of the printing sheet  12  but may not have the non-label portion  16  such that a portion of the separation sheet  11  which corresponds to the non-label portion  16  is exposed. 
     A plurality of remaining-amount indicating images  41  corresponding respectively to the labels  15 A are printed on the first surface  11 A of the separation sheet  11 . The remaining-amount indicating images  41  are arranged at particular intervals in the lengthwise direction in a substantially central portion of the tape  10 A in the widthwise direction. Each of the remaining-amount indicating images  41  indicates information relating to a remaining amount of the tape  10  that is an amount of a portion of the tape  10  of the tape roll  122 , which portion is located upstream of a reference position in the conveying direction. The reference position is located upstream of the remaining-amount indicating image  41  in the conveying direction at a distance (as one example of a particular distance) corresponding to the particular interval from the remaining-amount indicating image  41  in the tape  10 . For example, each of the particular intervals is a distance in the conveying direction from the remaining-amount indicating image  41  on the tape  10  discharged from the output guide  140  (see  FIG. 3 ), to a position on the tape  10  at which printing is started next with consideration of, e.g., through-up (i.e., a position on the tape  10  which is located at the printing position at the start of the next printing). The printing position is a position at which printing is performed on the tape  10  by the thermal head  22 . 
     Each of the label pieces  201  is separated from the tape roll  122  and has a fixed length. The label piece  201  includes one printed label  15 A. On the first surface  11 A of each of the label pieces  201 , a corresponding one of the remaining-amount indicating images  41  is provided on the label  15 A of the label piece  201 . At least a portion of each of the remaining-amount indicating images  41  is located between opposite end portions of a corresponding one of the labels  15 A in the lengthwise direction. In the present example, opposite end portions of each of the remaining-amount indicating image  41  in the lengthwise direction are located in the lengthwise direction between the opposite end portions of the corresponding label  15 A in the lengthwise direction. The remaining-amount indicating image  41  is provided at a position on the first surface  11 A which corresponds in the lengthwise direction and the widthwise direction to a region in which the corresponding label  15 A is formed. 
     In the tape  10 A, an upstream end portion of the label piece  201  (i.e., an upstream cut position C on the label piece  201 ) is the reference position corresponding to the remaining-amount indicating image  41  provided on the label piece  201 . That is, the reference position is located between the label piece  201  containing the corresponding remaining-amount indicating image  41  and the label piece  201  located next to and upstream, in the conveying direction, of the label piece  201  containing the corresponding remaining-amount indicating image  41 . Each of the remaining-amount indicating images  41  provided on the tape  10 A indicates a label remaining amount as a remaining amount of the labels  15 A. In the present example, the label remaining amount is the number of the labels  15 A located upstream of the label piece  201  containing the remaining-amount indicating image  41  in the conveying direction in the tape roll  122 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 8 , the printer  1  draws the tape  10 A from the tape roll  122  contained in the tape cassette  100  mounted on the cartridge holder  4 , conveys the tape  10 A, and controls the thermal head  22  to print an image on the label  15 A. The printer  1  cuts the conveyed tape  10 A at the cut position C, located upstream of the printed label  15 A, based on the fixed label length W 1 . As a result, the label piece  201  of the label length W 1  and with an image printed on the label  15 A is formed. This enables the user to recognize the label remaining amount by visually checking the remaining-amount indicating image  41  formed on the created label piece  201 . 
     There will be next described the tape  10 B illustrated in  FIG. 9  in detail. Since the tape  10 B is of the normal label type for creating a label piece  202  having a variable length, the half cuts  14  and the label portions  15  (see  FIG. 8 ) are not provided on the tape  10 B. It is noted that the tape  10 B may be of the normal label type for creating the label piece having the fixed length. It is noted that the same reference numerals as used for the tape  10 A (see  FIG. 8 ) are used to designate the corresponding elements of the tape  10 B, and an explanation of which is dispensed with. 
     Similar to the tape  10 A (see  FIG. 8 ), the remaining-amount indicating images  41  are provided on the first surface  11 A of the separation sheet  11 . The remaining-amount indicating images  41  are arranged at particular intervals in the lengthwise direction at a substantially central portion of the tape  10 B in the widthwise direction. In the tape  10 B, the reference position corresponding to the remaining-amount indicating image  41  is located upstream of the remaining-amount indicating image  41  in the conveying direction at the distance L 1  from the remaining-amount indicating image  41 . The distance L 1  is a distance between the printing position and a discharge position in the conveying direction in the printer  1  and corresponds to the particular interval. The discharge position is a position of the output guide  140  (see  FIG. 3 ) at which the printed tape  10  is discharged to the outside of the tape cassette  100 . One example of the distance L 1  is 100 mm. 
     Each of the remaining-amount indicating images  41  of the tape  10 B indicates a tape remaining amount that is a remaining amount of the tape  10 B. The tape remaining amount in the present example is a length of a portion of the tape  10 B of the tape roll  122  in the lengthwise direction of the tape  10 B, which portion is located upstream of the reference position corresponding to the remaining-amount indicating image  41  in the conveying direction. In the present example, for two of the remaining-amount indicating images  41  which are adjacent to each other in the conveying direction, the length L 0 , in the conveying direction, from an upstream end portion of one of the two remaining-amount indicating images  41  to an upstream end portion of the other of the two remaining-amount indicating images  41  is equal to the distance L 1 . Accordingly, the other remaining-amount indicating image  41  located upstream of the one remaining-amount indicating image  41  indicates a tape remaining amount that is less than a tape remaining amount indicated by the one remaining-amount indicating image  41 , by an amount corresponding to the distance L 1  (100 mm in the present example). 
     The printer  1  draws the tape  10 B from the tape roll  122  contained in the tape cassette  100  mounted on the cartridge holder  4 , conveys the tape  10 B, and controls the thermal head  22  to print an image on the fourth surface  12 B of the printing sheet  12 . The printer  1  cuts the printed tape  10 B at a cut position based on a designated variable label length W 2 . As a result, the label piece  202  of the label length W 2  and with an image printed on the fourth surface  12 B is formed. This enables the user to recognize the label remaining amount by visually checking the remaining-amount indicating image  41  formed on the created label piece  202 . 
     There will be next described the tape  10 C illustrated in  FIG. 10  in detail. Similar to the tape  10 A (see  FIG. 8 ), the tape  10 C is of the die-cut label type for creating a label piece  203  having the fixed length. The label portions  15  corresponding to the respective half cuts  14  are formed in the printing sheet  12  of the tape  10 C. In the present example, the label portions  15  are labels  15 B each having a rectangular shape elongated in the lengthwise direction. The labels  15 B are arranged at predetermined intervals in the lengthwise direction at a central region of the tape  10 C in the widthwise direction. It is noted that the same reference numerals as used for the tape  10 A are used to designate the corresponding elements of the tape  10 C, and an explanation of which is dispensed with. 
     A plurality of label markers  42  are provided on the first surface  11 A of the separation sheet  11 . Each of the label markers  42  is a black region printed with ink containing black pigment. The label markers  42  are provided corresponding to the respective labels  15 B and arranged at the particular intervals in the lengthwise direction. Each of the label markers  42  has a rectangular shape extending in the widthwise direction of the first surface  11 A. Each of the label markers  42  is located downstream of a corresponding one of the labels  15 B and upstream of a downstream label in the conveying direction in which the tape  10 C is conveyed. The downstream label is one of the labels  15 B which is located downstream of and adjacent to the corresponding one of the labels  15 B in the conveying direction. Specifically, an upstream end portion of each of the label markers  42  is located downstream of a downstream end portion of the corresponding one of the labels  15 B in the conveying direction. A downstream end portion of each of the label markers  42  is located upstream of an upstream end portion of the corresponding downstream label in the conveying direction. In the present example, each of the label markers  42  is located at the same position as a cut position C of an upstream end portion of a corresponding one of label pieces  203  which will be described below. 
     The remaining-amount markers  43  are provided on the first surface  11 A of the separation sheet  11 . The remaining-amount markers  43  are provided corresponding to the respective labels  15 B so as to be arranged at particular intervals in the lengthwise direction. In each of the labels  15 B, the remaining-amount marker  43  is located upstream of the label marker  42  in the conveying direction with a small space therebetween. In the present example, however, the label marker  42  is provided on but the remaining-amount marker  43  is not provided on the most upstream label  15 B in the conveying direction (i.e., the trailing-end label  15 B). 
     Each of the label pieces  203  is separated from the tape roll  122  and has a fixed length. The label piece  203  includes one printed label  15 B. On the first surface  11 A of each of the label pieces  203 , a corresponding one of the remaining-amount markers  43  is provided on the label  15 B of the label piece  203 . At least a portion of each of the remaining-amount markers  43  is located between opposite end portions of a corresponding one of the labels  15 B in the lengthwise direction. In the present example, opposite end portions of each of the remaining-amount indicating images  41  in the lengthwise direction are located in the lengthwise direction between the opposite end portions of the corresponding label  15 B in the lengthwise direction. The remaining-amount indicating image  41  is provided on the first surface  11 A at a position which corresponds in the lengthwise direction and the widthwise direction to a region in which the corresponding label  15 B is formed. 
     Like the remaining-amount indicating images  41  provided on the tape  10 A (see  FIG. 8 ), each of the remaining-amount markers  43  indicates information relating to a remaining amount of the tape  10  that is an amount of a portion of the tape  10  of the tape roll  122 , which portion is located upstream of the reference position in the conveying direction. In the present example, each of the remaining-amount markers  43  indicates a label remaining amount as a remaining amount of the labels  15 B. In the present example, the label remaining amount is the number of the labels  15 B located upstream of the label piece  203  including the remaining-amount marker  43  in the conveying direction in the tape roll  122 . 
     Each of the remaining-amount markers  43  includes at least one black marker  43 A. In the case where the remaining-amount marker  43  includes a plurality of the black markers  43 A, the black markers  43 A are arranged at particular intervals in the lengthwise direction. Each of the black markers  43 A has a rectangular shape extending in the widthwise direction over the center of the first surface  11 A in the widthwise direction. The length of each of the black markers  43 A in the widthwise direction is less than the length of the label marker  42  in the widthwise direction. Each of the label markers  42  extends toward opposite sides of the black markers  43 A in the widthwise direction beyond the black markers  43 A in the widthwise direction. The marker length X 2  that is a length of each of the black markers  43 A in the lengthwise direction is less than the marker length X 1  that is a length of each of the label markers  42  in the lengthwise direction. Each of the remaining-amount markers  43  indicates the label remaining amount by means of the number of the black markers  43 A contained in the remaining-amount marker  43 . 
     Each of the label markers  42  and each of the remaining-amount markers  43  are opposed to the detection hole  150  (see  FIG. 6 ) in the thickness direction when the tape  10 C is conveyed. Light L emitted from the optical sensor  56  (see  FIG. 7 ) impinges on the label marker  42 , the remaining-amount marker  43 , the label marker  42 , the remaining-amount marker  43 , and so on in this order during conveyance of the tape  10 C. In the case where the light L emitted from the optical sensor  56  does not impinge on the label markers  42  and the remaining-amount markers  43 , the light L impinges on a portion of the first surface  11 A which has the ground color, i.e., the white region. The printer  1  detects reflectivity T 2  when the emitted light L impinges on any of the label markers  42  and the black markers  43 A. The printer  1  detects reflectivity T 1  when the emitted light L impinges on the portion of the first surface  11 A which has the ground color (see  FIG. 10 ). Since each of the label markers  42  and the black markers  43 A is the black region darker than the ground color of the first surface  11 A, the reflectivity T 2  is less than the reflectivity T 1 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 10 , the printer  1  draws the tape  10 C from the tape roll  122  contained in the tape cassette  100  mounted on the cartridge holder  4  and conveys the tape  10 C. The control circuit, not illustrated, of the printer  1  prestores a particular intensity of the light L to be emitted. The optical sensor  56  emits the light L of the particular intensity through the detection hole  150  to the first surface  11 A of the tape  10 C conveyed in the arm  160  and receives the light reflected from the first surface  11 A. The printer  1  detects, as reflectivity, the intensity of the received reflected light. The printer  1  detects the reflectivity T 2  when the light L is emitted to any of the label markers  42  and the remaining-amount markers  43 , and detects the reflectivity T 1  when the light L is emitted to the portion of the first surface  11 A which has the ground color. In the case where the length corresponding to the detected time of the reflectivity T 2  in the conveying direction is the marker length X 1 , the printer  1  determines that the label marker  42  is detected. In the case where the length corresponding to the detected time of the reflectivity T 2  in the conveying direction is the marker length X 2 , the printer  1  determines that the black marker  43 A is detected. 
     In the present example, the control circuit, not illustrated, of the printer  1  stores label information relating to each of the labels  15 B, in association with the reflectivity T 2  with the marker length X 1 . The label information relating to each of the labels  15 B indicates the label length W 3  of the label piece  203  including the label  15 B, and the position, the shape, and the size of the label  15 B in the label piece  203 , for example. In the case where the reflectivity T 2  with the marker length X 1  is detected, the printer  1  prints an image on the label  15 B of the conveyed tape  10 C based on the label information relating to the label  15 B. The printer  1  cuts the conveyed tape  10 C at the cut position located upstream of the printed label  15 B, to create the label piece  203  having an appropriate length with an image printed at an appropriate position in the label  15 B. 
     In the case where the reflectivity T 2  with the marker length X 2  (i.e., the black marker  43 A of the remaining-amount marker  43 ) is detected, the printer  1  can identify the label remaining amount based on the number of successive detections of the black markers  43 A. In the present example, the label length W 3  of the label piece  203  is less than the distance L 2 . The distance L 2  is a distance between the printing position and a marker detecting position in the conveying direction in the printer  1 . The marker detecting position is a position at which the light L emitted from the optical sensor  56  impinges on the tape  10 . In this case, the printer  1  identifies, as the label remaining amount, the number obtained by adding one to the number of the detected black markers  43 A. For example, in the case where the number of the detected black markers  43 A is three, the printer  1  identifies four as the label remaining amount. The printer  1  may make notification about the identified remaining amount at the start or the end of printing on the tape  10 C, for example. The printer  1  may make an alert in the case where the identified label remaining amount is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold value. 
     There will be next described a reason why the printer  1  identifies the label remaining amount as described above. In the printer  1 , the marker detecting position is located upstream of the printing position in the conveying direction. As illustrated in  FIG. 10 , when the tape  10 C is cut at the cut position, one of the labels  15 B (an upstream label) which is located upstream of and next to the created label piece  203  is disposed between the cut position and the marker detecting position. The remaining-amount marker  43  last detected by the optical sensor  56  at this time is the remaining-amount marker  43  corresponding to the upstream label. Since the upstream label has not been printed yet by the thermal head  22 , the upstream label is included in the tape roll  122 . Accordingly, the printer  1  adds one, corresponding to the one upstream label, to the number of the black markers  43 A which is identified from the remaining-amount marker  43 , and the printer  1  identifies the obtained value as the label remaining amount, i.e., the number of the printable labels  15 B. 
     This configuration enables the user to identify the label remaining amount by visually checking the remaining-amount marker  43  provided on the created label piece  203 . For example, in the case where the number of the black markers  43 A contained in the remaining-amount marker  43  is three, the user can recognize that the label remaining amount is three. 
     In the present embodiment as described above, the tape cassette  100  includes the cassette casing  101  and the tape roll  122 . The tape roll  122  is a roll of the tape  10  (the tapes  10 A- 10 C) contained in the cassette casing  101  and having a strip shape extending in the lengthwise direction and the widthwise direction orthogonal to the lengthwise direction. The tape  10  has a subject surface (i.e., the first surface  11 A and the fourth surface  12 B) located on the tape  10  and exposed in the thickness direction orthogonal to each of the lengthwise direction and the widthwise direction. A first image (e.g., each of the remaining-amount indicating images  41  and the remaining-amount markers  43 ) is provided on the subject surface and indicates first information. 
     The tape roll  122  has the first end portion and the second end portion as opposite end portions of the rolled tape  10  in its lengthwise direction. The first end portion is the upstream end portion of the tape  10  in the conveying direction, which is an inner portion of the tape roll  122  in its radial direction. The second end portion is the downstream end portion of the tape  10  in the conveying direction, which is an outer portion of the tape roll  122  in its radial direction. The first information is information relating to a remaining amount of the tape  10  that is an amount of a portion of the tape  10  of the tape roll  122 , which portion is located on a first-end-portion-side of the reference position in the lengthwise direction. In other words, the portion of the tape  10  of the tape roll  122  is located on a side of the reference position, which side is nearer to the first end portion than to the second portion. The reference position is nearer to the first end portion than the first image in the lengthwise direction in the tape  10  by a distance corresponding to the particular interval. 
     With this configuration, in the case where the label piece is created by cutting the tape  10  at a position nearer to the second end portion than to the first end portion, for example, the user can recognize information relating to a remaining amount of the tape  10  in the tape roll  122  (i.e., the label remaining amount or the tape remaining amount) by visually checking the first image (the remaining-amount indicating image  41  or the remaining-amount marker  43 ) provided on the created label piece. That is, the user can accurately identify not the remaining amount of the tape  10  containing the created label piece but the remaining amount of the tape  10  excluding the created label piece (i.e., the remaining amount of the tape  10  remaining in the printer  1 ). 
     The tape  10  (the tapes  10 A,  10 C) includes the separation sheet  11  and the printing sheet  12 . The printing sheet  12  has the printing layer  18  and the adhesive layer  19  provided on the printing layer  18 , and the printing sheet  12  is peelably stuck to the separation sheet  11  with the adhesive layer  19  interposed therebetween. The printing sheet  12  includes a plurality of die-cut labels (i.e., the labels  15 A,  15 B) arranged in the lengthwise direction. The first image (the remaining-amount indicating image  41  or the remaining-amount marker  43 ) is provided corresponding to the subject label that is one of the die-cut labels. The first information indicates a label remaining amount that is the number of the die-cut labels located on a first-end-portion-side of the reference position in the lengthwise direction in the tape roll  122 . The reference position is located between the subject label and the die-cut label adjacent to and located on the first-end-portion-side of the subject label. 
     With this configuration, the first image indicates the number of the die-cut labels located on the first-end-portion-side, in the lengthwise direction, of the die-cut label on which the first image is provided. In the case where the label piece is created by cutting the tape  10  at a position nearer to the second end portion than to the first end portion, for example, the user can recognize the label remaining amount in the tape roll  122  by visually checking the first image provided on the created label piece. 
     The subject surface is provided with the markers (e.g., the label markers  42 ) different from the first images and corresponding to the respective die-cut labels (e.g., the labels  15 B). At least a portion of each of the markers is provided, in the widthwise direction, outside a region on which a corresponding one of the first images (e.g., the remaining-amount markers  43 ) is formed. With this configuration, at least a portion of each of the markers is located at a position different from that of the corresponding first image in the widthwise direction, making it easy for the user to visually distinguish between the marker and the first image. For example, the printer  1  emits the light L to a position on the marker which is located outside the first image in the widthwise direction, thereby optically detecting only the marker. 
     The subject surface is provided with the markers (e.g., the label markers  42 ) different from the first images and corresponding to the respective die-cut labels (e.g., the labels  15 B). At least a portion of each of the markers is provided, in the widthwise direction, within a region on which a corresponding one of the first images (e.g., the remaining-amount markers  43 ) is formed. With this configuration, at least a portion of each of the markers is located at the same position as that of the corresponding first image in the widthwise direction, enabling the printer  1  to optically detect both of the marker and the first image by emitting the light L to a particular position in the widthwise direction. 
     Each of the first images (e.g., the remaining-amount markers  43 ) is formed on the first-end-portion-side, in the lengthwise direction, of a subject marker corresponding to the first image among a plurality of markers (e.g., the label markers  42 ) in the tape roll  122 . The first image includes at least one marker (e.g., the black markers  43 A), the number of which relates to the label remaining amount indicated by the first information. With this configuration, in the case where the label piece is created by cutting the tape  10  at a position nearer to the second end portion than to the first end portion, for example, the number of the marks contained in the first image provided on the created label piece enables the user to recognize the label remaining amount corresponding to the number of the marks. 
     At least a portion of the first image (e.g., the remaining-amount indicating image  41  or the remaining-amount marker  43 ) is located between opposite end portions of the subject label in the lengthwise direction. With this configuration, at least a portion of the first image is disposed on the created label piece. Preferably, opposite end portions of the first image in the lengthwise direction are located between the opposite end portions of the subject label in the lengthwise direction. With this configuration, the entire first image is disposed on the created label piece. 
     Each of the markers are provided between corresponding adjacent two of the die-cut labels arranged at particular intervals in the lengthwise direction. A portion of the tape  10  which is located between the two die-cut labels in the lengthwise direction is a margin which is cut in creation of the label piece. Since the markers are provided on the margin, the margin of the tape  10  is effectively used. 
     The tape  10  has a plurality of the first images provided on the subject surface. With this configuration, in the case where a plurality of the label pieces are created from the tape  10 , for example, the user can accurately identify the remaining amount of the tape  10  remaining in the printer  1 , based on the first image of the most recently created label piece. Also, the first images correspond to the respective die-cut labels, that is, one to one correspondence is established. This configuration enables the first image to be disposed on the corresponding created label piece each time when the label piece is created from the tape  10 , for example. 
     The subject surface is the first surface  11 A that is one of opposite surfaces of the separation sheet  11 , the other of which is the second surface  11 B peelably stuck to the printing sheet  12 . The first image is provided on the subject surface at a position corresponding in the lengthwise direction and the widthwise direction to a region at which the subject label is formed. This configuration enables the first image to be disposed on the tape  10  at a region overlapping the subject label in the thickness direction. 
     While the embodiment has been described above, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited to the details of the illustrated embodiment, but may be embodied with various changes and modifications, which may occur to those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. The tape  10  is not limited to the tape for label creation and may be a tape constituted by a single-layer substrate without an adhesive layer (e.g., a single-layer tape for thermal printing). The printer  1  may use the sensor  29  (see  FIG. 4 ) to detect the label markers  42  and the remaining-amount markers  43  formed on the first surface  11 A of the separation sheet  11 . At least one of each remaining-amount indicating image  41 , each label marker  42 , and each remaining-amount marker  43  may be provided on the fourth surface  12 B of the printing sheet  12 , preferably on the non-label portion  16 . In this case, the printer  1  may include an optical sensor capable of optically the label markers  42  and the remaining-amount markers  43  formed on the fourth surface  12 B. 
     The remaining-amount indicating images  41 , the label markers  42 , and the remaining-amount markers  43  may be changed in position, size, shape, the number, and so on without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. For example, in the case where the tape  10  is of the die-cut label type, at least one of each remaining-amount indicating image  41 , each label marker  42 , and each remaining-amount marker  43  may be provided on a portion of the second surface  11 B of the separation sheet  11  which is opposed to the non-label portion  16  (i.e., a portion of the second surface  11 B which is not opposed to the label portion  15 ). 
     There will be next described a configuration of a tape  10 D according to a modification of the tape  10  with reference to  FIG. 11 . The tape  10 D is similar in configuration to the tape  10 C (see  FIG. 10 ) but different from the tape  10 C in a configuration described below. It is noted that the same reference numerals as used for the tape  10 C are used to designate the corresponding elements of the tape  10 D, and an explanation of which is dispensed with. 
     A plurality of detection remaining-amount markers  44  corresponding to the respective labels  15 B are provided on the first surface  11 A of the separation sheet  11  instead of the remaining-amount markers  43  (see  FIG. 10 ). Each of the detection remaining-amount markers  44  is similar in configuration to each of the remaining-amount markers  43  and includes at least one black marker  44 A. Each of the detection remaining-amount markers  44  is used for the optical sensor  56  (see  FIG. 7 ) to detect the label remaining amount relating to a corresponding one of the labels  15 B. Each of the detection remaining-amount markers  44  indicates a label remaining amount different from a label remaining amount indicated by a corresponding one of the remaining-amount indicating images  41  which will be described below. 
     Similar to the tape  10 A (see  FIG. 8 ), the remaining-amount indicating images  41  are further provided on the first surface  11 A. The remaining-amount indicating images  41  are provided corresponding to the respective labels  15 B and arranged at particular intervals in the lengthwise direction. In each of the labels  15 B, the remaining-amount indicating images  41  is located upstream of the detection remaining-amount markers  44  in the conveying direction with a small space therebetween. In the present example, however, the detection remaining-amount marker  44  and the remaining-amount indicating image  41  are not provided on the most upstream label  15 B in the conveying direction (i.e., the trailing-end label  15 B). 
     Each of label pieces  204  is separated from the tape roll  122  and has a fixed length. The label piece  204  includes one printed label  15 B. On the first surface  11 A of each of the label piece  204 , a corresponding one of the detection remaining-amount markers  44  and a corresponding one of the remaining-amount indicating images  41  are provided on the label  15 B of the label piece  204 . In the present example, the detection remaining-amount marker  44  and the remaining-amount indicating image  41  are provided on the first surface  11 A respectively at positions which correspond in the lengthwise direction and the widthwise direction to a region in which the corresponding label  15 B is formed. 
     Similar to the tape  10 A (see  FIG. 8 ), each of the remaining-amount indicating images  41  indicates, as the label remaining amount, the number of the labels  15 B located upstream of the label piece  204  including the remaining-amount indicating image  41  in the conveying direction in the tape roll  122 . Each of the detection remaining-amount markers  44  indicates, as the label remaining amount, the total number of the label  15 B of the label piece  204  including the detection remaining-amount marker  44 , and the label or labels  15 B located upstream of the label piece  204  in the conveying direction. Accordingly, for each of the labels  15 B, the label remaining amount indicated by a corresponding one of the detection remaining-amount markers  44  is greater than the label remaining amount indicated by a corresponding one of the remaining-amount indicating images  41 . In the present example, the label length W 3  of the label piece  204  is less than the distance L 2 . In this case, the label remaining amount indicated by each of the detection remaining-amount markers  44  is greater by one than the label remaining amount indicated by the corresponding remaining-amount indicating image  41 . 
     There will be next described a reason why the label remaining amount indicated by each of the detection remaining-amount markers  44  is greater by one than the label remaining amount indicated by the corresponding remaining-amount indicating image  41  in the present example. As described above, the marker detecting position is located upstream of the printing position in the conveying direction in the printer  1 . In the case where the detection remaining-amount marker  44  is detected by the optical sensor  56 , the label  15 B corresponding to the detected detection remaining-amount marker  44  has not been printed yet by the thermal head  22 , and thus the tape roll  122  includes the label  15 B. Accordingly, each of the detection remaining-amount markers  44  is formed in the tape  10 D so as to indicate a number that is greater by one than the corresponding remaining-amount indicating image  41 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 11 , the light L emitted from the optical sensor  56  (see  FIG. 7 ) impinges on the label marker  42 , the detection remaining-amount marker  44 , the label marker  42 , the detection remaining-amount marker  44 , and so on in this order during conveyance of the tape  10 D. The printer  1  performs printing and label creation for the tape  10 D as for the tape  10 C (see  FIG. 10 ). That is, in the case where the reflectivity T 2  with the marker length X 1  (i.e., the label marker  42 ) is detected, the printer  1  prints an image on the label  15 B based on label information relating thereto and cuts the tape  10 D at a cut position located upstream of the printed label  15 B to create the label piece  204 . 
     In the case where the reflectivity T 2  with the marker length X 2  (i.e., the black marker  44 A of the detection remaining-amount marker  44 ) is detected, the printer  1  can identify the label remaining amount based on the number of successive detections of the black markers  44 A. In the present example, the number of the labels for the printer  1  to identify the label remaining amount is indicated by the detection remaining-amount marker  44  in advance, independently of the remaining-amount indicating image  41  for the user to identify the label remaining amount by visual check. Thus, the printer  1  identifies the number of the detected black markers  44 A as the label remaining amount. For example, in the case where the number of the detected black markers  44 A is three, the printer  1  identifies three as the label remaining amount. This configuration enables the user to identify the label remaining amount by visually checking the remaining-amount indicating image  41  of the created label piece  204 . For example, in the case where the remaining-amount indicating image  41  indicates two, the user can recognize that the label remaining amount is two. 
     There will be next described a configuration of a tape  10 E according to a modification of the tape  10  with reference to  FIG. 12 . The tape  10 E is similar in configuration to the tape  10 D (see  FIG. 11 ) but different from the tape  10 D in a configuration described below. It is noted that the same reference numerals as used for the tape  10 D are used to designate the corresponding elements of the tape  10 E, and an explanation of which is dispensed with. 
     Similar to the tape  10 D, the detection remaining-amount markers  44  and the remaining-amount indicating images  41  are provided on the first surface  11 A of the separation sheet  11  such that each of the detection remaining-amount markers  44  and each of the remaining-amount indicating images  41  correspond to a corresponding one of the labels  15 C. In the present example, however, the label markers  42  (see  FIG. 11 ) are not provided on the first surface  11 A. As in the above-described modification, the detection remaining-amount marker  44  and the remaining-amount indicating image  41  corresponding to each of the labels  15 C respectively indicate numbers different from each other as a label remaining amount for the label  15 C. 
     Each of label pieces  205  is separated from the tape roll  122  and has a fixed length. The label piece  205  includes one printed label  15 C. In the present example, the label length W 4  of the label piece  205  is less than half the distance L 2 . In this case, for each of the labels  15 C, the number of the labels which is indicated by the detection remaining-amount marker  44  is greater by two than the number of the labels which is indicated by the remaining-amount indicating image  41 . 
     There will be next described a reason why the label remaining amount indicated by each of the detection remaining-amount markers  44  is greater by two than the label remaining amount indicated by the corresponding remaining-amount indicating image  41  in the present example. When the tape  10 E is cut at a cut position, as illustrated in  FIG. 12 , a plurality of the labels  15 C (the upstream labels) located upstream of the created label piece  205  are disposed between the cut position and the marker detecting position. Since the label length W 4  is less than half the distance L 2  in the present example, two upstream labels are provided between the cut position and the marker detecting position. At this time, the detection remaining-amount marker  44  most recently detected by the optical sensor  56  is the upstream detection remaining-amount marker  44  detected most recently among the detection remaining-amount markers  44  corresponding respectively to the two upstream labels. The two upstream labels have not been printed yet by the thermal head  22 , and thus the tape roll  122  includes the two upstream labels. Accordingly, each of the detection remaining-amount markers  44  is formed in the tape  10 E so as to indicate a number that is greater by two than the corresponding remaining-amount indicating image  41 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 12 , the printer  1  creates the label piece  205  of the label length W 4  and with an image printed on the label  15 C as in the above-described modification. In the case where the reflectivity T 2  with the marker length X 2  (i.e., the black marker  44 A of the detection remaining-amount marker  44 ) is detected, the printer  1  can identify the label remaining amount based on the number of the black markers  44 A. For example, in the case where the number of the detected black markers  44 A is two, the printer  1  identifies two as the label remaining amount. This configuration enables the user to identify the label remaining amount by visually checking the remaining-amount indicating image  41  of the created label piece  205 . For example, in the case where the remaining-amount indicating image  41  indicates two, the user can recognize that the label remaining amount is two. 
     It is noted that, as indicated by the tapes  10 D,  10 E, each of the tape remaining amount indicated by the detection remaining-amount marker  44  and the tape remaining amount indicated by the remaining-amount indicating image  41  at least needs to be set to an appropriate value, depending upon a relationship between the label length of the label piece to be created and the distance L 2  between the printing position and the marker detecting position. That is, each of the tape remaining amount indicated by the detection remaining-amount marker  44  and the tape remaining amount indicated by the remaining-amount indicating image  41  depends upon the relationship between the label length and the distance L 2 . Accordingly, in the case where the label length is greater than the distance L 2 , for example, the detection remaining-amount marker  44  and the remaining-amount indicating image  41  provided for each label piece may indicate the same tape remaining amount. 
     The tape  10  according to the present modification (e.g., the tapes  10 D,  10 E) includes a second image (e.g., the detection remaining-amount markers  44 ) provided on the subject surface so as to correspond to the subject label and indicate second information. The second information indicates the number of the die-cut labels (e.g., the labels  15 B,  15 C) which is different from the label remaining amount indicated by the first information. This configuration enables the user to recognize the label remaining amount based on the first image (e.g., the remaining-amount indicating image  41 ) provided on the created label piece (e.g., the label pieces  204 ,  205 ). The printer  1  can identify the label remaining amount based on the second image provided on the label piece that has not been created yet. Thus, the user and the printer  1  can accurately recognize the label remaining amount even in the case where the timings when the label remaining amount is checked by the user and the printer  1  are different from each other. 
     The second information indicates the number of the die-cut labels (e.g., the labels  15 B) which is obtained by adding one to the label remaining amount indicated by the first information. This configuration enables the printer  1  to accurately identify the label remaining amount based on the second image provided on the label piece (e.g., the label piece  204 ) that has not been created yet. The second image is provided on the first-end-portion-side of the first image in the lengthwise direction. This configuration enables the printer  1  to accurately identify the label remaining amount based on the second image corresponding to the die-cut label that has not been created yet.