Patent Publication Number: US-2022212484-A1

Title: Printing cassette

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a continuation application of International Application No. PCT/JP 2020 / 034866  filed on September  15 ,  2020  which claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No.  2019 - 178429  filed on September  30 ,  2019 . The entire contents of the earlier applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a printing cassette. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In a known device that prints on tape, the tape is exchanged and supplied by attaching and detaching a cassette containing the tape to and from the main body. 
     SUMMARY 
     In the above-mentioned cassette, for example, a gear for transmitting a driving force for transporting a tape may be required inside the cassette. Driving force may be transmitted to this gear from a drive shaft provided in the main body of a printing apparatus. 
     The drive shaft is inserted into the cassette and engages with the gear inside the cassette. Therefore, a space for inserting the drive shaft is required inside the cassette. As a result, the size of the cassette increases in the direction orthogonal to an axial direction (that is, the insertion direction) of the drive shaft. 
     One aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a printing cassette capable of inputting a driving force from a drive shaft while suppressing an increase in size. 
     One aspect of the present disclosure is a printing cassette that may be attached to and detached from a printing apparatus main body. The printing apparatus main body includes a drive shaft that rotates around an axis. The printing cassette including: a first roll in which a first tape is wound around a winding center axis parallel to a first direction; and an input gear that is disposed at a different position from the first roll in the first direction, engaging another gear, and configured to transmit a driving force of the drive shaft to the another gear. 
     The first roll has a cylindrical shape in which a hollow portion is defined by an inner peripheral surface. The drive shaft is inserted into the hollow portion of the first roll in a state where the printing cassette is attached to the printing apparatus main body. The input gear is engaged with the drive shaft in a state where the printing cassette is attached to the printing apparatus main body. 
     Another aspect of the present disclosure is a printing cassette including: a first roll in which a first tape is wound around a winding center axis parallel to a first direction; and an input gear that is disposed at a different position from the first roll in the first direction, engaging another gear, and configured to transmit a driving force input from an external to the another gear. The first roll has a cylindrical shape in which a hollow portion is defined by an inner peripheral surface. A rotational axis of the input gear overlaps the hollow portion of the first roll in the first direction. 
     Another aspect of the present disclosure is a printing cassette including: a first roll in which a first tape is wound around a winding center axis parallel to a first direction; and an input portion that is disposed at a different position from the first roll in the first direction, engaging another driving force transmission member, and configured to transmit a driving force input from an external to the another driving force transmission member. The first roll has a cylindrical shape in which a hollow portion is defined by an inner peripheral surface. A rotational axis of the input portion overlaps the hollow portion of the first roll in the first direction. 
     According to these configurations, the drive shaft penetrates the first roll and engages with the input gear, and the first roll and the input gear are arranged so as to be overlapped with each other in an axial direction of the first roll (that is, an axial direction of the drive shaft). Thus, the driving force may be input to the input gear while suppressing the increase in size of the printing cassette in a direction orthogonal to an insertion direction of the drive shaft. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C  are schematic perspective views showing a state in which the printing cassette is removed from the printing apparatus main body in the printing apparatus according to the embodiment. 
         FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C  are schematic perspective views of a printing cassette in the printing apparatus of  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic exploded perspective view of the printing cassette of  FIG. 2A . 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic bottom view of the printing cassette of  FIG. 2A . 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line V-V of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6A  is a schematic perspective view of a first frame portion in the printing cassette of  FIG. 2A .  FIG. 6B  is a schematic perspective view of a second frame portion of the printing cassette of  FIG. 2A . 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic perspective view showing a state in which the first case portion of the printing cassette of  FIG. 2C  is removed. 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram illustrating a path of a printing tape and an ink ribbon in the printing cassette of  FIG. 2A . 
         FIG. 9A  is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line IXA-IXA of  FIG. 2C .  FIG. 9B  is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line IXB-IXB of  FIG. 2C .  FIG. 9C  is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line IXC-IXC of  FIG. 2C .  FIG. 9D  is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line IXD-DCD of  FIG. 2C . 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic plan view of the printing apparatus main body in the printing apparatus of  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic view showing an engagement state between an output gear and a platen gear in the printing apparatus of  FIG. 1A . 
         FIGS. 12A and 12B  are schematic perspective views showing a state in which the printing cassette is removed from the printing apparatus main body in the printing apparatus according to an embodiment different from the embodiment of  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 13  is a schematic exploded perspective view of the printing cassette in the printing apparatus of  FIG. 12A . 
         FIG. 14  is a schematic plan view of the printing apparatus main body in the printing apparatus of  FIG. 12A . 
         FIG. 15  is a schematic view showing an engagement state between the output gear and the platen gear in the printing apparatus of  FIG. 12A . 
         FIGS. 16A and 16B  are schematic views showing a positional relationship between the drive shaft and the engaging portion of the printing apparatus in an embodiment different from the embodiment of  FIG. 1A , respectively. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     1. First Embodiment 
     1-1. Configuration 
     The printing apparatus  1  shown in  FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C  includes a printing cassette  10  and a printing apparatus main body  100 . The printing apparatus  1  is an apparatus that prints on a tape-shaped printing medium. 
     In the present embodiment, an axial direction of an output gear  18  of the printing cassette  10  and an axial direction of a platen gear  104  of the printing apparatus main body  100  are defined as an up-down direction. A direction orthogonal to the up-down direction in which the output gear  18  and the input spool  16  are aligned is defined as a front-rear direction. A direction orthogonal to both of the up-down direction and the front-rear direction is defined as a left-right direction. 
     (Printing Apparatus Main Body) 
     The printing apparatus main body  100  includes a cassette insertion unit  101 , a print head  102 , a platen roller  103 , a platen gear  104 , a drive shaft  105 , and a housing  110 . 
     (Cassette Insertion Unit) 
     The cassette insertion unit  101  is a concave portion in which the printing cassette  10  is to be attached. The cassette insertion unit  101  has a positioning function for the printing cassette  10 . The cassette insertion portion  101  is provided in the housing  110 . 
     (Print Head) 
     The print head  102  is disposed inside the cassette insertion unit  101 . The print head  102  has a plurality of heat generating elements at which heat generation is individually controlled. 
     (Platen Roller) 
     A rotation axis L 1  of a platen roller  103  is parallel to the up-down direction. The platen roller  103  is disposed adjacent to the print head  102  inside the cassette insertion unit  101 . The platen roller  103  may swing in a direction toward or away from the print head  102 . 
     (Platen Gear) 
     The platen gear  104  is connected to the platen roller  103 . In the present embodiment, a rotation axis L 2  of the platen gear  104  is disposed on the same line as the rotation axis Ll of the platen roller  103 . The platen gear  104  may swing together with the platen roller  103 . 
     (Drive Shaft) 
     The drive shaft  105  is inserted into the input spool  16 . The drive shaft  105  rotates the input spool  16 . 
     The drive shaft  105  is disposed inside the cassette insertion unit  101 . A rotation axis L 3  of the drive shaft  105  is parallel to the up-down direction. The drive shaft  105  rotates about the rotation axis L 3  by a drive source (for example, a motor) (not shown in figures). 
     (Printing Cassette) 
     The printing cassette  10  stores a printing medium. The printing cassette  10  is removable from the printing apparatus main body  100 . By exchanging the printing cassette  10 , the printing medium may be replenished and the type (for example, color, material, etc.) of the printing medium may be changed. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C , the printing cassette  10  includes a case  35  for storing such as a printing tape  11 A (an example of a second tape), an ink ribbon  14 A (an example of a first tape). 
     An outer shape of the printing cassette  10  (that is, the shape of the case  35 ) is a rectangular body having sides parallel to the up-down direction, sides parallel to the front-rear direction, and sides parallel to the left-right direction. The case  35  has a first case portion  31 , a first frame portion  32 , a second frame portion  33 , and a second case portion  34 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the printing cassette  10  includes a printing tape roll  11  (an example of a second roll), a first supply spool  12 , spacer films  13 A and  13 B, an ink ribbon roll  14 , a second supply spool  15 , an input spool  16 , a spool-side spline tooth  16 B, a clutch spring holder  17 , an output gear  18 , an input gear  19 , and an idle gear  20 . 
     (Printing Tape Roll) 
     The printing tape roll  11  includes a printing tape  11 A on which printing is performed. The printing tape  11 A is wound around a first supply spool  12 . 
     The printing tape roll  11  has a cylindrical shape in which the printing tape  11 A is wound around a winding center axis parallel to the up-down direction, and a hollow portion is defined by an inner peripheral surface of the wound printing tape  11 A. 
     The printing tape roll  11  is provided with a first supply spool  12  in a hollow portion defined by the printing tape  11 A. Printing is performed on the surface of the printing tape  11 A by the print head  102  of the printing apparatus main body  100  and the ink ribbon  14 A. 
     Two spacer films  13 A and  13 B are arranged on the outside of the printing tape roll  11  in the up-down direction so as to sandwich the printing tape roll  11 . The spacer films  13 A and  13 B are arranged between the printing tape roll  11  and the first case portion  31  and between the printing tape roll  11  and the first frame portion  32 . 
     (First Supply Spool) 
     The first supply spool  12  is rotatable around a rotational axis L 4 . The first supply spool  12  rotates with the transfer of the printing tape  11 A by the platen roller  103  of the printing apparatus main body  100  to supply the printing tape  11 A to the print head  102 . 
     (Ink Ribbon Roll) 
     The ink ribbon roll  14  includes the ink ribbon  14 A that is used for printing the printing tape  11 A and is wound around the second supply spool  15  around a winding center axis parallel to the up-down direction. 
     The ink ribbon  14 A is overlapped with the printing tape  11 A at the head opening  33 B and is used for printing by the print head  102 . The ink ribbon  14 A used for printing is wound around the input spool  16 . 
     Rotational resistance is applied to the ink ribbon roll  14  by the clutch spring held by the clutch spring holder  17 . At least a part of the ink ribbon roll  14  is disposed at a position overlapping with the printing tape roll  11  in the up-down direction. 
     (Second Supply Spool) 
     The second supply spool  15  is rotatable around a rotational axis L 5 . The rotational axis L 5  of the second supply spool  15  is parallel to the rotational axis L 4  of the first supply spool  12 , that is, parallel to the up-down direction. 
     The second supply spool  15  supplies the ink ribbon  14 A to the print head  102  by rotating along with the winding of the ink ribbon  14 A by the input spool  16 . 
     (Input Spool) 
     The input spool  16  can rotate around a rotational axis L 6 . The rotational axis L 6  of the input spool  16  is parallel to the rotational axis L 5  of the second supply spool  15 . 
     The input spool  16  has a cylindrical shape in which a hollow portion is defined by the inner peripheral surface  16 A. The input spool  16  is a take-up spool that winds up the ink ribbon  14 A. That is, the input spool  16  forms a take-up roll  14 B (an example of a first roll) by winding the ink ribbon  14 A supplied from the ink ribbon roll  14 . The input spool  16  is rotated by the drive shaft  105  via a spool-side spline teeth  16 B. 
     In the take-up roll  14 B, the ink ribbon  14 A is wound around the input spool  16  about a winding center axis parallel to the up-down direction. The take-up roll  14 B has a cylindrical shape in which a hollow portion is defined by an inner peripheral surface. 
     (Spool-Side Spline Tooth) 
     The spool-side spline tooth  16 B is provided on the inner peripheral surface  16 A of the input spool  16 . The spool-side spline tooth  16 B transmits the driving force of the drive shaft  105  of the printing apparatus main body  100  to the input spool  16 . 
     The spool-side spline tooth  16 B protrudes from the inner peripheral surface  16 A of the input spool  16  toward the hollow portion of the input spool  16 . In a state where the printing cassette  10  is attached to the printing apparatus main body  100 , the drive shaft  105  is inserted into the hollow portion of the input spool  16  (that is, the take-up roll  14 B), and the spool-side spline tooth  16 B is engaged with the drive shaft  105 . Accordingly, the driving force is input from the drive shaft  105  to the spool-side spline tooth  16 B. 
     (Output Gear) 
     The output gear  18  is a single gear that outputs a driving force for conveying the printing tape  11 A to the outside. 
     Specifically, the output gear  18  outputs a driving force to the platen gear  104  of the printing apparatus main body  100 . A rotational axis L 7  of the output gear  18  is parallel to the rotational axis L 5  of the second supply spool  15 . The output gear  18  overlaps with the cover portion  32 B in the up-down direction. 
     The output gear  18  is partially exposed to the head opening  33 B. The output gear  18  engages with the platen gear  104  at the head opening  33 B in a state where the printing cassette  10  is attached to the printing apparatus main body  100 . 
     The second supply spool  15 , the output gear  18 , and the printing tape roll  11  are arranged in the up-down direction in the order of the second supply spool  15 , the output gear  18 , and the printing tape roll  11 . That is, the output gear  18  is located between the second supply spool  15  and the printing tape roll  11  in the up-down direction. 
     (Input Gear) 
     The input gear  19  indirectly engages with the output gear  18  via the idle gear  20  and transmits the driving force of the drive shaft  105  to the output gear  18 . 
     The input gear  19  has a gear body  19 A, a wall portion  19 B, and a gear-side spline tooth  19 C (an example of a second engaging portion). The gear body  19 A is a single gear that engages with the idle gear  20 . 
     The wall portion  19 B is a cylindrical spool that extends downward from a surface orthogonal to the rotational axis of the gear body  19 A and has a hollow portion defined by an inner peripheral surface. The wall portion  19 B is arranged radially inside the input gear  19  with respect to the pitch circle of the input gear  19 . 
     The gear-side spline tooth  19 C is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the wall portion  19 B. That is, the gear-side spline tooth  19 C is arranged radially inside the pitch circle of the input gear  19 . The gear-side spline tooth  19 C protrudes toward the rotational axis L 8  of the input gear  19 . 
     The gear-side spline tooth  19 C engages with the drive shaft  105  in a state where the printing cassette  10  is attached to the printing apparatus main body  100 . Accordingly, the driving force is input from the drive shaft  105  to the gear-side spline tooth  19 C. The gear body  19 A rotates integrally with the wall portion  19 B by the driving force input to the gear-side spline tooth  19 C. 
     The rotational axis L 8  of the input gear  19  (that is, the rotational axis of the gear body  19 A and the rotational axis of the wall portion  19 B) overlaps the hollow portion of the input spool  16  (that is, the take-up roll  14 B) in the up-down direction. Further, the input gear  19  is arranged so that the rotational axis L 8  of the input gear  19  is on the same line as the rotational axis L 6  of the input spool  16 . Further, the gear body  19 A of the input gear  19  is arranged at a position different from each position of the input spool  16  and the take-up roll  14 B in the up-down direction. 
     Specifically, the input spool  16 , a part of the input gear  19  (that is, the gear body  19 A), and the printing tape roll  11  are arranged in the up-down direction in the order of the part of the input spool  16  (that is, the gear body  19 A), the input gear  19 , and the printing tape roll  11 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , in a projection drawing in which the input spool  16  and the input gear  19  are projected onto a surface virtually orthogonal to the up-down direction (that is, the printing cassette  10  is viewed from below), a diameter of an inscribed circle C 1  of the spool-side spline tooth  16 B is more than a diameter of an inscribed circle C 2  of the gear-side spline tooth  19 C. Further, at least a part of the gear-side spline tooth  19 C overlaps with the hollow portion of the input spool  16  in the up-down direction. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the wall portion  19 B is inserted into the hollow portion of the input spool  16  (that is, the take-up roll  14 B). Specifically, a lower end portion of the wall portion  19 B is inserted into the input spool  16  up to a position where it does not overlap with the spool-side spline tooth  16 B in a radial direction of the input spool  16 . 
     Since a rotational axis L 8  of the input gear  19  overlaps with the hollow portion of the input spool  16  in the up-down direction, the drive shaft  105  is simultaneously inserted into the input spool  16  (that is, the take-up roll  14 B) and the input gear  19 . 
     In a state where the printing cassette  10  is attached to the printing apparatus main body  100 , the spool-side spline tooth  16 B and the input gear  19  (that is, the gear-side spline tooth  19 C) are engaged with the drive shaft  105  at different positions in the up-down direction. Accordingly, the input gear  19  is not directly connected to the input spool  16 , but is rotated by a drive source (that is, a drive shaft  105 ) common to the input spool  16 . 
     (Idle Gear) 
     The idle gear  20  engages with the input gear  19  and the output gear  18 . The idle gear  20  transmits, to the output gear  18 , the driving force input to the input gear  19 . A rotational axis L 9  of the idle gear  20  is parallel to the up-down direction. 
     The idle gear  20  is a stage gear in which a large gear  20 A engaged with the input gear  19  and a small gear  20 B engaged with the output gear  18  are arranged coaxially. The small gear  20 B has a smaller diameter than the large gear  20 A. 
     Further, the small gear  20 B is disposed at a position closer to (that is, above) the printing tape roll  11  than the large gear  20 A in the up-down direction. The idle gear  20  constitutes a deceleration mechanism that reduces a rotational speed of the driving force input to the input gear  19 . 
     (Case) 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the first case portion  31  constitutes the upper end portion of the printing cassette  10 . The first frame portion  32  is disposed below the first case portion  31  and is vertically connected to the first case portion  31 . The second frame portion  33  is disposed below the first frame portion  32  and is vertically connected to the first frame portion  32 . The second case portion  34  constitutes a lower end portion of the printing cassette  10 . The second case portion  34  is vertically connected to the second frame portion  33 . 
     The first case portion  31  and the first frame portion  32  accommodate the printing tape roll  11 . That is, the printing tape roll  11  is disposed in a space surrounded by the first case portion  31  and the first frame portion  32 . 
     The second case portion  34  and the second frame portion  33  accommodate the ink ribbon roll  14 , the second supply spool  15 , and the input spool  16 . That is, the ink ribbon roll  14 , the second supply spool  15 , and the input spool  16  are disposed in a space surrounded by the second case portion  34  and the second frame portion  33 . 
     A part of the output gear  18 , the input gear  19 , and the idle gear  20  are disposed in a space surrounded by the first frame portion  32  and the second frame portion  33 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6A , the first frame portion  32  has a first side wall  32 A, a cover portion  32 B, a first guide  32 C, and a second isolation wall  32 G. The first side wall  32 A constitutes a side surface parallel to the up-down direction of the printing cassette  10 . 
     The cover portion  32 B is a portion having a surface orthogonal to the up-down direction. The cover portion  32 B is disposed at a position where the cover portion  32 B overlaps with the output gear  18  in the up-down direction. In the present embodiment, the cover portion  32 B is disposed at the right front corner portion of the first frame portion  32 . 
     The second isolation wall  32 G is disposed on the side opposite to the input spool  16  (that is, above the input gear  19 ) with respect to the input gear  19  in the up-down direction. The second isolation wall  32 G isolates the input gear  19  and the printing tape roll  11  in the up-down direction. 
     The second isolation wall  32 G has a first gear shaft  32 D, a second gear shaft  32 E, a third gear shaft  32 F, a gear facing surface  32 H, and a support surface  32 J (see  FIG. 5 ). 
     The first gear shaft  32 D is inserted into the output gear  18  and rotatably supports the output gear  18 . The second gear shaft  32 E is inserted into the input gear  19  and rotatably supports the input gear  19 . The third gear shaft  32 F is inserted into the idle gear  20  and rotatably supports the idle gear  20 . 
     A gear facing surface  32 H is a surface extending orthogonal to the up-down direction and is disposed above the output gear  18 , the input gear  19 , and the idle gear  20 . Each of the first gear shaft  32 D, the second gear shaft  32 E, and the third gear shaft  32 F protrudes downward from the gear facing surface  32 H. 
     A support surface  32 J is disposed on the side opposite to the gear facing surface  32 H in the up-down direction, and supports the printing tape roll  11  from the side of the input gear  19  (that is, from below). 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , a first guide  32 C is a portion around which the printing tape  11 A drawn from the printing tape roll  11  is wound. The first guide  32 C has a plurality of plate-shaped ribs arranged separately along the circumferential direction of the printing tape roll  11 . The plurality of ribs protrude in the radial direction of the printing tape roll  11 , and the amount of protrusion (that is, a plate width) increases toward the lower side. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 6B , the second frame portion  33  has a second side wall  33 A, a head opening  33 B, a discharge port  33 C, a second guide  33 D, a first isolation wall  33 E, and a hole  33 F. The second side wall  33 A constitutes a side surface parallel to the up-down direction of the printing cassette  10 . 
     The head opening  33 B is a portion in which a part of the second side wall  33 A is cut off. The head opening  33 B is a space in which the print head  102  is disposed inside by inserting the print head  102  from below in a state where the print cassette  10  is attached to the printing apparatus main body  100 . The head opening  33 B opens below the printing cassette  10 . 
     The second guide  33 D is a portion around which the printing tape  11 A that has passed through the first guide  32 C is wound. Similar to the first guide  32 C, the second guide  33 D has a plurality of plate-shaped ribs arranged so as to be isolated along the circumferential direction of the ink ribbon roll  14 . The plurality of ribs protrude in the radial direction of the ink ribbon roll  14 , and the amount of protrusion (that is, a plate width) decreases toward the lower side. 
     The first isolation wall  33 E isolates the gear body  19 A of the input gear  19  and the input spool  16  in the up-down direction, and supports the input gear  19  from the side of the input spool  16  (that is, from below). The first isolation wall  33 E is located between the gear body  19 A of the input gear  19  and the input spool  16  (that is, the take-up roll  14 B) in the up-down direction, and extends in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction. 
     The hole  33 F is provided at the first isolation wall  33 E and penetrates the first isolation wall  33 E in the up-down direction. The hole  33 F is disposed at a position overlapping the gear body  19 A and the second gear shaft  32 E of the input gear  19  in the up-down direction. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the wall portion  19 B of the input gear  19  passes through the hole  33 F and is inserted into the hollow portion of the input spool  16  (that is, the take-up roll  14 B). Further, the gear body  19 A of the input gear  19  is disposed between the first isolation wall  33 E and the gear facing surface  32 H of the second isolation wall  32 G. 
     A distal end (that is, the lower end) of the second gear shaft  32 E is arranged at a position closer to the gear facing surface  32 H than the distal end (that is, the lower end)  19 D of the wall portion  19 B that is farthest from the gear facing surface  32 H in the up-down direction. That is, the distal end of the second gear shaft  32 E is located above the wall portion  19 B, and the second gear shaft  32 E does not penetrate the wall portion  19 B. 
     The second gear shaft  32 E has a concave portion  32 I in which a distal end thereof is concave toward the gear facing surface  32 H. In a state where the printing cassette  10  is attached to the printing apparatus main body  100 , an end portion  105 A of the drive shaft  105  is inserted into the concave portion  32 I. 
     A diameter of the second gear shaft  32 E is less than an inner diameter of the wall portion  19 B (that is, the diameter of the hollow portion). Further, a diameter of the end portion  105 A of the drive shaft  105  is less than a diameter of the other portion of the drive shaft  105 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the case  35  has a first surface  35 A that defines an upper outline of the case  35  and a second surface  35 B that defines a lower outline of the case  35  at a position isolated from the first surface  35 A in the up-down direction. 
     Each of the first surface  35 A and the second surface  35 B intersects in the up-down direction. Further, the input spool  16  and the input gear  19  are disposed between the first surface  35 A and the second surface  35 B in the up-down direction. 
     In the up-down direction, a first distance DI between an end portion (that is, the upper end) of the input gear  19  on the side of the first surface  35 A and the first surface  35 A is more than a second distance D 2  between an end portion (that is, the lower end) of the input gear  19  on the side of the second surface  35 B and the second surface  35 B. Further, in the up-down direction, the first distance D 1  is more than a third distance D 3  between the end portion (that is, the lower end) of the ink ribbon  14 A (that is, the take-up roll  14 B) that is wound around the input spool  16  on the side of the second surface  35 B and the second surface  35 B. 
     (Conveyance of Tape) 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , the printing tape  11 A and the ink ribbon  14 A are straddled in the left-right direction at the head opening  33 B. The printing tape  11 A that has been printed is discharged to the outside of the printing apparatus  1  from the discharge port  33 C. A part of the output gear  18  is located in the head opening  33 B. Further, the cover portion  32 B is exposed in the head opening  33 B. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 9A, 9B, 9C, and 9D , the first guide  32 C and the second guide  33 D have a passage through which the printing tape  11 A constituting the printing tape roll  11  is conveyed from the first frame portion  32  to the second frame portion  33 . 
     Specifically, as shown in  FIG. 9A , the printing tape  11 A drawn out from the printing tape roll  11  is conveyed downward and rearward within the first frame portion  32  while the printing tape  11 A abuts on the first guide  32 C in a spiral manner from the radial outside of the printing tape roll  11 . As shown in  FIG. 9B , the printing tape  11 A is conveyed toward the lower left while the printing tape  11 A straddles the connecting portion between the first frame portion  32  and the second frame portion  33  in the up-down direction. 
     As shown in  FIG. 9C , the printing tape  11 A that has reached the second frame portion  33  is conveyed downward and forward while the printing tape  11 A abuts on the second guide  33 D from the outside in the radial direction. As shown in  FIG. 9D , the printing tape  11 A that has reached the lower end of the printing cassette  10  passes through the head opening  33 B and is discharged from the discharge port  33 C. 
     (Tape Conveyance and Printing by the Printing Apparatus Main Body) 
     The print head  102  prints on the printing tape  11 A held by the printing cassette  10 . The print head  102  is disposed at a position where the print head  102  overlaps with the printing tape  11 A and the ink ribbon  14 A in the head opening  33 B in the front-rear direction in a state where the printing cassette  10  is attached to the printing apparatus main body  100 . 
     The printing tape  11 A conveyed to the head opening  33 B by the platen roller  103  is pressed against the print head  102  via the ink ribbon  14 A in which the heat generating element generates heat. Accordingly, a part of the ink disposed on the surface of the ink ribbon  14 A is transferred to the printing tape  11 A, whereby characters, symbols and the like are printed on the printing tape  11 A. 
     The platen roller  103  conveys the printing tape  11 A from the inside of the printing cassette  10  to the outside. The platen roller  103  abuts on the printing tape  11 A at the head opening  33 B, and presses the printing tape  11 A against the print head  102 . 
     The platen gear  104  is connected to the platen roller  103  and engages with the output gear  18 . The platen roller  103  and the platen gear  104  can swing between a position shown in  FIG. 10  isolated from the printing cassette  10  and a position shown in  FIG. 11  where the platen gear  104  engages with the output gear  18 . 
     The drive shaft  105  is inserted into the input spool  16  and the input gear  19 , and engages with the spool-side spline tooth  16 B and the gear-side spline tooth  19 C to rotate the input spool  16  and the input gear  19 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , in a state where the printing cassette  10  is attached to the printing apparatus main body  100 , the drive shaft  105  engages with the input gear  19  and the platen gear  104  engages with the output gear  18 . Specifically, the drive shaft  105  is inserted into the input spool  16  and the input gear  19  of the printing cassette  10 . After that, the platen roller  103  and the platen gear  104  are swung toward the head opening  33 B of the printing cassette  10 . 
     The output gear  18  is rotated by rotating the input gear  19  by the drive shaft  105  in a state where the printing cassette  10  is attached, the platen gear  104  is rotated by the rotation of the output gear  18 , and the platen roller  103  is rotated by the rotation of the platen gear  104 . 
     1-2. Effect 
     According to the embodiment described in detail above, the following effects may be obtained. 
     (1a) Since the drive shaft  105  penetrates the take-up roll  14 B and engages with the input gear  19 , the take-up roll  14 B and the input gear  19  are arranged so as to be overlapped with each other in a direction parallel to the winding center axis of the take-up roll  14 B (that is, the axial direction of the drive shaft  105 ). Thus, the driving force may be input to the input gear  19  while suppressing the increase in size of the printing cassette  10  in the direction orthogonal to the insertion direction of the drive shaft  105 . 
     (1b) The spool-side spline tooth  16 B provided on the input spool  16  may transmit a driving force from one drive shaft  105  to the input spool  16  and the input gear  19 . 
     (1c) By using the gear-side spline tooth  19 C as an engaging portion for transmitting a driving force from the drive shaft  105  to the input gear  19 , the input spool  16  and the input gear  19  may be arranged so as to be overlapped with each other in the radial direction of the drive shaft  105 . Thus, the space for arranging the drive system may be reduced. 
     (1d) The first isolation wall  33 E may appropriately maintain the positional relationship between the input gear  19  and the input spool  16  in the up-down direction. Thus, the efficiency of transmitting the driving force to the spool-side spline tooth  16 B and the gear-side spline tooth  19 C may be improved. 
     (1e) The second isolation wall  32 G allows the input gear  19  and the printing tape roll  11  to be vertically overlapped with each other while suppressing interference between the input gear  19  and the printing tape roll  11 . 
     2. Second Embodiment 
     2-1. Configuration 
     The printing apparatus  1  A shown in  FIGS. 12A and 12B  includes a printing cassette  10 A and a printing apparatus main body  100 A. 
     (Printing Cassette) 
     The printing cassette  10 A further includes a laminate tape roll  21  (an example of a first roll) shown in  FIG. 13 , the take-up spool  22 , the take-up gear  23 , and the pinch roller  24  compared to the printing cassette  10  of the first embodiment. In addition, the printing cassette  10 A includes a third supply spool  25 , a first case portion  36 , a first frame portion  37 , a second frame portion  38  and a second case portion  39 , instead of a first case portion  31 , a first frame portion  32 , a second frame portion  33  and a second case portion of the first embodiment. 
     The third supply spool  25  is the same as the input spool  16  except that the third supply spool  25  does not have the spool-side spline tooth  16 B. The first case portion  36 , the first frame portion  37 , the second frame portion  38 , and the second case portion  39  are stretched in the left-right direction compared to the first case portion  31 , the first frame portion  32 , the second frame portion  33 , and the second case portion  34 , respectively. The other configurations of the printing cassette  10 A are the same as those of the printing cassette  10  of the first embodiment except for the points described below, and the description thereof will be omitted. 
     The laminate tape roll  21  includes a laminate tape (an example of a first tape) that is wound around a third supply spool  25  around a winding center axis parallel to the up-down direction. The laminate tape has an adhesive surface that is laminated to the printing tape  11 A printed by the print head  102 . The laminate tape roll  21  has a cylindrical shape in which a hollow portion is defined by an inner peripheral surface of the laminate tape. A third supply spool  25  is disposed in a hollow portion defined by the laminate tape of the laminate tape roll  21 . 
     The take-up spool  22  is rotatable around a rotation axis L 10 . The rotation axis L 10  of the take-up spool  22  is parallel to the rotation axis L 5  (that is, in the up-down direction) of the second supply spool  15 . The take-up spool  22  takes up the ink ribbon  14 A unwound from the third supply spool  25  by the rotation of the take-up gear  23 . 
     The take-up gear  23  is connected to the take-up spool  22  and is engaged with the idle gear  20 . The take-up gear  23  is rotated by the driving force input to the input gear  19 , thereby rotating the take-up spool  22 . That is, the idle gear  20  transmits the driving force input to the input gear  19  to the take-up gear  23 . 
     The pinch roller  24 , together with the pressing roller  106 , presses the laminate tape against the printing tape  11 A that has been used in printing. The pinch roller  24  is disposed downstream of a head opening  33 B in a transport direction of the printing tape  11 A. 
     (Printing Apparatus Main Body) 
     The printing apparatus main body  100 A further includes a pressing roller  106  shown in  FIG. 14  compared to the printing apparatus main body  100  of the first embodiment. The other configurations of the printing apparatus main body  100 A are the same as those of the printing apparatus main body  100  of the first embodiment except for the points described below, and the description thereof will be omitted. 
     The pressing roller  106  is swingable together with the platen roller  103  and the platen gear  104 . That is, the pressing roller  106  may swing between a position isolated from the printing cassette  10 A shown in  FIG. 14  and a position where the pressing roller  106  presses the printing tape  11 A and the third tape together with the pinch roller  24  shown in  FIG. 15 . 
     In the present embodiment, in a state where the printing cassette  10 A is attached to the printing apparatus main body  100 A, the drive shaft  105  is inserted into the hollow portion of the third supply spool  25  (that is, the laminate tape roll  21 ), and the input gear  19  engages the drive shaft  105 . 
     2-2. Effect 
     According to the embodiment described in detail above, the following effects may be obtained. 
     (2a) The printed content on the printing tape  11 A may be protected by the laminate tape while having the same advantages as those of the first embodiment. 
     3. Other embodiment 
     Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, it is needless to say that the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments and various forms can be adopted. 
     (3a) In the printing apparatus of the above embodiment, the engaging portion of the input gear may be other than the spline tooth (for example, a tooth of the main body gear). Further, the engaging portion of the input gear may be disposed at a position that does not overlap with the hollow portion of the input spool (that is, the take-up roll) or the third supply spool (that is, the laminate tape roll) in the up-down direction. 
     Further, the wall portion is not limited to a cylindrical shape. For example, the wall portion may be a plurality of plate members arranged apart from each other in the circumferential direction of the input gear. Further, the input gear may not necessarily have a wall portion, and may be a single gear that directly engages with the drive shaft. 
     For example, as shown in  FIG. 16A , a single gear having a through hole through which the drive shaft  221  is inserted in the central portion may be used as the input gear  201 . The first tooth  222  provided on the outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft  221  engages with the spline tooth provided on the inner peripheral surface of the input spool  211 . The second tooth  223  provided on the outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft  221  engages with the spline tooth provided on the inner peripheral surface defining the through hole of the input gear  201 . 
     Further, for example, as shown in  FIG. 16B , a single gear that directly engages with the second tooth  223  of the drive shaft  221  may be used as the input gear  201 A. In  FIG. 16B , the drive shaft  221  is not inserted into the input gear  201 A. 
     (3b) In the printing apparatus of the above embodiment, the first roll (that is, the take-up roll or the laminate tape roll) through which the drive shaft is inserted may not necessarily be the first tape (that is, the ink ribbon or the laminate tape) that is wound around the rotatable spool. For example, the first roll may be a member in which the first tape is wound around a non-rotating member fixed to a case. Further, the first roll may not necessarily be wound around another member. 
     (3c) The printing apparatus of the above embodiment is not limited to a printing apparatus that prints using an ink ribbon. The printing apparatus may use a strip-shaped thermal paper instead of the printing tape in the first embodiment, and may use a laminate tape (that is, a protective tape) instead of the ink ribbon. 
     Further, the printing apparatus may use a stencil tape in which a print pattern is perforated by a thermal head as a printing tape, and may use a strip-shaped interleaving paper that protects and supports the stencil tape instead of the laminate tape. In this case, at the head opening, the printing tape may be superimposed on the interleaving paper at a position closer to the print head than the interleaving paper (that is, as an upper layer), and the printing tape may be superimposed on the interleaving paper at a position separated from the interleaving paper by the print head (that is, as a lower layer). 
     (3d) In the printing cassette of the second embodiment, the arrangement of the take-up spool and the third supply spool may be switched. That is, the drive shaft may be inserted through the take-up spool, and the third supply spool may be rotated by the take-up gear. 
     (3e) The printing cassette of the above embodiment may have two or more idle gears. Further, the idle gear may not necessarily be a step gear, and may be a single gear. Further, the printing cassette may not necessarily have an idle gear, and the output gear may be directly engaged with the input gear. 
     (3f) The functions of one component in the above embodiment may be dispersed as a plurality of components, or the functions of the plurality of components may be integrated into one component. Further, a part of the configuration of the above embodiment may be omitted. Further, at least a part of the configuration of the above embodiment may be added or substituted with respect to the other configurations of the above embodiment. It should be noted that all aspects included in the technical idea specified from the wording described in the claims are embodiments of the present disclosure.