Patent Publication Number: US-2011058884-A1

Title: Tape cassette

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-208343 filed on Sep. 9, 2009, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The present invention relates to a tape cassette that can be detachably installed in a tape printer. 
     A tape cassette is known that can be detachably installed in a cassette housing portion of a tape printer. The tape cassette has an exit for discharging a print tape toward an opening at which printing is performed on the print tape. A latching piece is provided in a top case near the exit and in the front surface of the tape cassette. A latching hole is provided in a bottom case near the exit and in the front surface of the tape cassette. The latching piece and the latching hole are elastically engaged so that the top case and the bottom case are engaged. 
     SUMMARY 
     In order to maintain good print quality, the print tape needs to be appropriately discharged from the exit. However, when the tape cassette described above drops down, for example, the engagement between the latching hole and the latching piece near the exit may be released due to a drop impact and thus a gap may be created between the top case and the bottom case near the exit. In such a case, there is a possibility that the print tape is not appropriately discharged from the exit and the print quality is deteriorated. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a tape cassette capable of restricting a gap from being created between the top case and the bottom case in the vicinity of the exit, thereby maintaining good print quality. 
     Various exemplary embodiments of the general principles described herein provide a tape cassette that includes a cassette case, a tape, an arm portion, a latching portion, and a contact portion. The cassette case has a top surface, a bottom surface, a front surface and a pair of side surfaces, and includes a top case having the top surface and a bottom case having the bottom surface. The tape is a print medium, and mounted within the cassette case. The arm portion includes a part of the front surface and directs the tape toward an exit along a portion of a predetermined feed path. The portion of the feed path extends in parallel with the front surface. The latching portion is provided in the vicinity of an upstream end of the arm portion in a feeding direction of the tape. The top case and the bottom case are engaged with each other by the latching portion. The contact portion is provided in the vicinity of the exit and configured to allow the top case and the bottom case to contact or separate from each other. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a tape printer  1  as viewed from above when a cassette cover  6  is closed; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the tape printer  1  as viewed from above when the cassette cover  6  is opened; 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view of a cassette housing portion  8  with a laminated type tape cassette  30  installed, when a platen holder  12  is at a standby position; 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view of the cassette housing portion  8  with the laminated type tape cassette  30  installed, when the platen holder  12  is at a print position; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the tape cassette  30  as viewed from above; 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of a cassette case  31 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a plan view of a bottom case  312 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a bottom view of a top case  311 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a front view of the tape cassette  30  for explaining how the top case  311  and the bottom case  312  are being engaged with each other; 
         FIG. 10  is a front view of the tape cassette  30  for explaining how the top case  311  and the bottom case  312  are completely engaged with each other; 
         FIG. 11  is a vertical cross-sectional view of the tape cassette  30  for explaining a latching arm  80  and a latching hole  79  while the top case  311  and the bottom case  312  are being engaged with each other; 
         FIG. 12  is a vertical cross-sectional view of the tape cassette  30  for explaining the latching arm  80  and the latching hole  79  when the top case  311  and the bottom case  312  are completely engaged with each other; and 
         FIG. 13  is a front view of the tape cassette  30  for explaining a state in which a top contact portion  86 A and a bottom contact portion  86 B are separated from each other in a contact portion  86 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The drawings are used for explaining the technical features that can be employed in the present invention, and are merely exemplary. 
     A tape printer  1  and a tape cassette  30  according to the present embodiment will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. In the explanation of the present embodiment, the lower left side, the upper right side, the lower right side, and the upper left side in  FIG. 1  are respectively defined as the front side, the rear side, the right side, and the left side of the tape printer  1 . The lower front side, the upper back side, the right side, and the left side in  FIG. 5  are respectively defined as the front side, the rear side, the right side, and the left side of the tape cassette  30 . 
     In  FIGS. 3 and 4  used in the following explanation, the tape cassette  30  installed in a cassette housing portion  8  is shown with a top case  311  removed. 
     First, an outline configuration of the tape printer  1  according to the present embodiment will be explained. The tape printer  1  is a general purpose tape printer that can be used with various types of tape cassettes. The various types may include a heat-sensitive type, a receptor type, a laminated type, and a heat-sensitive laminated type, for example. In the present embodiment, a laminated type tape cassette for forming a laminated tape whose print surface is laminated is explained as an example of the various tape cassettes. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the tape printer  1  includes a main unit cover  2  that has a rectangular shape in a plan view. A keyboard  3  including character keys for characters such as letters, symbols and numerals, and a variety of function keys is arranged on the front side of the top surface of the main unit cover  2 . A display  5  capable of displaying input characters is provided on the rear side of the keyboard  3 . A cassette cover  6  which can be opened and closed when the tape cassette  30  (see  FIG. 5 ) is replaced is provided on the rear side of the display  5 . 
     A discharge slit  111  for discharging a printed tape to the outside is provided at the rear left side of the main unit cover  2 . A discharge window  112  for exposing the discharge slit  111  to the outside with the cassette cover  6  closed is formed on the left side of the cassette cover  6 . A hook-shaped latching lock  411  is provided substantially at the center of the front of the cassette cover  6  and protrudes downward from the bottom surface of the cassette cover  6 . A lock hole  412  is provided in the main unit cover  2  at a position corresponding to the latching lock  411 . When the cassette cover  6  is closed, the latching lock  411  is fitted into and engaged with the lock hole  412  so that the cassette cover  6  is prevented from unintentionally opening. 
     Next, an internal configuration of the main unit cover  2  below the cassette cover  6  will be explained with reference to  FIGS. 2 to 4 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the cassette housing portion  8  is provided inside the main unit cover  2  below the cassette cover  6 . The cassette housing portion  8  is an area in which or from which the tape cassette  30  (see  FIG. 5 ) can be installed or removed. The cassette housing portion  8  is formed as a depression that substantially corresponds to the shape of a bottom surface  302  (see  FIG. 5 ) of the cassette case  31  when the tape cassette  30  is installed. 
     The cassette housing portion  8  is provided with a feed mechanism for pulling out a tape from the tape cassette  30  and feeding the tape, a print mechanism for printing characters on the surface of the tape, and the like. As shown in  FIGS. 2 to 4 , a ribbon take-up shaft  95  for taking up a used ink ribbon  60  which has been pulled out from a ribbon spool  42  and used for printing characters is standing upward in the cassette housing portion  8 . A head holder  74  that has a substantially rectangular shape in a front view is standing upward on the front left side of the ribbon take-up shaft  95 . A tape drive shaft  100  for feeding the printed tape  50  is standing upward to the left of the head holder  74 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a thermal head  10  for printing characters on a film tape  59  is mounted on the front surface of the head holder  74 . An arm-shaped platen holder  12  is pivotably supported about a support shaft  121  in front of the head holder  74 . A platen roller  15  and a movable feed roller  14  are both rotatably supported on the leading end side of the platen holder  12 . The platen roller  15  opposes the thermal head  10  and can be moved close to and apart from the thermal head  10 . The movable feed roller  14  opposes a tape drive roller  46 , into which the tape drive shaft  100  may be fitted, and the movable feed roller  14  can be moved close to and apart from the tape drive roller  46 . 
     A release lever (not shown) is coupled to the platen holder  12 . The release lever moves in the horizontal direction along with the opening/closing of the cassette cover  6 . When the cassette cover  6  is opened, the release lever moves in the right direction and the platen holder  12  moves toward a standby position shown in  FIG. 3 . At the standby position shown in  FIG. 3 , the platen holder  12  has moved away from the cassette housing portion  8  and thus the tape cassette  30  can be installed in or removed from the cassette housing portion  8 . The platen holder  12  is constantly elastically urged to remain in the standby position by a spiral spring (not shown). 
     On the other hand, when the cassette cover  6  is closed, the release lever is moved in the left direction and the platen holder  12  moves toward a print position shown in  FIG. 4 . At the print position shown in  FIG. 4 , the platen holder  12  has moved in the direction to be close to the cassette housing portion  8 . When the tape cassette  30  is installed in the cassette housing portion  8 , the platen roller  15  presses the thermal head  10  via the film tape  59  and the ink ribbon  60 . At the same time, the movable feed roller  14  presses the tape drive roller  46  via a double-sided adhesive tape  58  and the film tape  59 . Thus, at the print position shown in  FIG. 4 , printing can be performed using the tape cassette  30  installed in the cassette housing portion  8 . The double-sided adhesive tape  58 , the film tape  59  and the ink ribbon  60  will be explained in more detail later. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a feed path along which the printed tape  50  is fed extends from a tape discharge portion  49  of the tape cassette  30  to the discharge slit  111  (see  FIG. 2 ) of the tape printer  1 . A cutting mechanism  17  that cuts the printed tape  50  at a predetermined position is provided on the feed path. The cutting mechanism  17  includes a fixed blade  18  and a movable blade  19 . The movable blade  19  opposes the fixed blade  18  and is movably supported. The movable blade  19  is moved in the back-and-forth direction (in the vertical direction shown in  FIG. 3 ) by a cutter motor (not shown). 
     The configuration of the tape cassette  30  according to the present embodiment will be explained below with reference to  FIGS. 3 to 6 . In the present embodiment, the tape cassette  30  is a laminated type tape cassette configured from a general purpose tape cassette, which can be assembled as each type of the above various tape cassettes. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the tape cassette  30  includes the cassette case  31 . The cassette case  31  is a housing having a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape (box-like shape), with rounded corner portions in a plan view. The cassette case  31  includes the top case  311  and a bottom case  312 . The bottom case  312  includes the bottom surface  302  of the cassette case  31 . The top case  311  includes a top surface  301  of the cassette case  31  and is joined to an upper portion of the bottom case  312 . A distance from the bottom surface  302  to the top surface  301  is referred to as a height of the tape cassette  30  or a height of the cassette case  31 . 
     The cassette case  31  has four corner portions  32 A that have the same width (the same length in the vertical direction) regardless of a tape type (such as a tape width or a print mode) of the tape cassette  30 . The corner portions  32 A each protrude in an outward direction to form a right angle when seen in a plan view. However, the front left corner portion  32 A does not form a right angle in the plan view as the tape discharge portion  49  is provided in the corner. 
     The cassette case  31  has support holes  65 ,  66 ,  67  and  68  for rotatably supporting a first tape spool  40 , a second tape spool  41 , a ribbon spool  42  and a ribbon take-up spool  44  described below (see  FIGS. 3 and 4 ), respectively. Although only the support holes  65 ,  66 ,  67  and  68  of the top case  311  are shown in  FIG. 5 , the corresponding support holes  65 ,  66 ,  67  and  68  are provided in the bottom case  312 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the double-sided adhesive tape  58  wound on the first tape spool  40 , the transparent film tape  59  wound on the second tape spool  41  and the ink ribbon  60  wound on the ribbon spool  42  are mounted in the cassette case  31 . The double-sided adhesive tape  58  is a double-sided tape with a release paper affixed to one of its surfaces, and is wound on the first tape spool  40  with the release paper facing outwards. The other surface of the double-sided adhesive tape  58  can be affixed to the print surface of the film tape  59  that has been used for printing. 
     The first tape spool  40  is rotatably supported by the support holes  65  in the rear left portion within the cassette case  31 . The second tape spool  41  is rotatably supported by the support holes  66  in the rear right portion within the cassette case  31 . The ribbon spool  42  is rotatably supported by the support holes  67  in the front right portion within the cassette case  31 . 
     The ribbon take-up spool  44  is rotatably supported by the support holes  68  between the first tape spool  40  and the ribbon spool  42  within the cassette case  31 . The ribbon take-up spool  44  pulls out the ink ribbon  60  from the ribbon spool  42  and takes up the used ink ribbon  60  that has been used for printing characters. A clutch spring (not shown) is attached to a lower portion of the ribbon take-up spool  44  to prevent loosening of the taken-up ink ribbon  60  due to a reverse rotation of the ribbon take-up spool  44 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , a semi-circular groove  38  is provided in a front surface of the cassette case  31  and extends in the height direction of the cassette case  31  (that is, from the top surface  301  to the bottom surface  302 ). The semi-circular groove  38  has a substantially semi-circular shape in a plan view. Of the semi-circular groove  38 , a portion formed in the top case  311  is referred to as a top semi-circular groove  38 A and a portion formed in the bottom case  312  is referred to as a bottom semi-circular groove  38 B. Thus the semi-circular groove  38  is formed by the top semi-circular groove  38 A and the bottom semi-circular groove  38 B. The semi-circular groove  38  is a portion that serves to prevent interference between the support shaft  121  (see  FIG. 3 ) of the platen holder  12  and the cassette case  31  when the tape cassette  30  is installed in the cassette housing portion  8 . 
     The semi-circular groove  38  is provided with a latching portion  78 . The latching portion  78  is a portion where the top case  311  and the bottom case  312  are engaged with each other. The latching portion  78  includes a latching hole  79  and a latching arm  80 . The latching hole  79  is provided in the bottom case  312 . The latching arm  80  is provided in the top case  311  and includes a latching claw  80 A (see  FIG. 6 ). The latching portion  78  will be explained in more detail later. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , of the front surface of the cassette case  31 , a section extending leftward from the semi-circular groove  38  is referred to as an arm front surface  35 . A portion that extends leftward from the right side of the tape cassette  30  and that is defined by the arm front surface  35  and an arm rear surface  37 , which is separately provided at the rear of the arm front surface  35  and extends in the height direction of the cassette case  31 , is referred to as an arm portion  34 . 
     Of the arm front surface  35 , a portion formed in the top case  311  is referred to as a top arm front surface  351  and a portion formed in the bottom case  312  is referred to as a bottom arm front surface  352 . Of the arm rear surface  37 , a portion formed in the top case  311  is referred to as a top arm rear surface  371  (see  FIG. 6 ) and a portion formed in the bottom case  312  is referred to as a bottom arm rear surface  372  (sec  FIG. 6 ). 
     The left end portion of the arm front surface  35  is referred to as an arm leading end portion  85 . The arm leading end portion  85  is adjacent to an exit  341 . Of the arm leading end portion  85 , a portion formed in the top case  311  is referred to as a top leading end portion  85 A and a portion formed in the bottom case  312  is referred to as a bottom leading end portion  85 B. More specifically, the bottom leading end portion  85 B is on the left side of a die exit hole  850 , which will be described later, in the bottom arm front surface  352 . The top leading end portion  85 A is a portion of the top arm front surface  351  that can be connected to the upper side of the bottom leading end portion  85 B. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the film tape  59  pulled out from the second tape spool  41  and the ink ribbon  60  pulled out from the ribbon spool  42  are both guided in the arm portion  34 . The arm leading end portion  85  is bent rearwards, and the exit  341  is formed by the arm leading end portion  85  and the leading end of the arm rear surface  37 . The film tape  59  and the ink ribbon  60  that are layered at the exit  341  are discharged toward an opening  77 . 
     A head insertion portion  39  is a space that is defined by the arm rear surface  37  and a peripheral wall that extends continuously from the arm rear surface  37 . The head insertion portion  39  has a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view, and extends through the tape cassette  30  in the vertical direction. The head insertion portion  39  is also connected to the outside on the front surface side of the tape cassette  30  through the opening  77  provided on the front surface side of the tape cassette  30 . The head holder  74  supporting the thermal head  10  may be inserted into the head insertion portion  39 . One of the surfaces of the film tape  59  discharged from the exit  341  of the arm portion  34  is exposed toward the front at the opening  77 . The other surface of the film tape  59  opposes the thermal head  10  disposed behind, across the ink ribbon  60 . Printing on the film tape  59  is performed by the thermal head  10  at the opening  77  by using the ink ribbon  60 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the tape drive roller  46  is rotatably supported on a downstream side of the head insertion portion  39  in a feeding direction of the film tape  59  and the ink ribbon  60  from the exit  341  of the arm portion  34  to the tape discharge portion  49 . The tape drive roller  46  is driven to rotate by the tape drive shaft  100  inserted therein. The tape drive roller  46  pulls out the film tape  59  from the second tape spool  41  in concert with the movable feed roller  14  of the platen holder  12  opposing the tape drive roller  46 . At the same time, the tape drive roller  46  also pulls out the double-sided adhesive tape  58  from the first tape spool  40 , and guides it to the print surface of the film tape  59  to bond them together. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 to 5 , a pair of top and bottom regulating members  361  and  362  is provided on the upstream side of the tape drive roller  46 . Base portions of the regulating members  361  and  362  regulate the film tape  59 , on which printing has been performed, in the vertical direction (in the tape width direction) on the downstream side of the thermal head  10 , and direct the film tape  59  toward the tape discharge portion  49 . The regulating members  361  and  362  appropriately bond the film tape  59  and the double-sided adhesive tape  58  together without making any positional displacement therebetween. 
     A guide wall  47  is standing in the vicinity of the regulating members  361  and  362 . The guide wall  47  separates the used ink ribbon  60  which has been fed via the head insertion portion  39  from the film tape  59 , and directs the ink ribbon  60  toward the ribbon take-up spool  44 . A second separating wall  48  is standing between the guide wall  47  and the ribbon take-up spool  44 . The second separating wall  48  prevents a contact between the used ink ribbon  60  directed along the guide wall  47  and the double-sided adhesive tape  58  supported by and wound on the first tape spool  40 . 
     When printing is being performed in the tape printer  1 , the tape drive roller  46  that is driven to rotate by the tape drive shaft  100  pulls out the film tape  59  from the second tape spool  41  in concert with the movable feed roller  14 . The ribbon take-up spool  44  that is driven to rotate by the ribbon take-up shaft  95  pulls out the unused ink ribbon  60  from the ribbon spool  42  in synchronization with the print speed. The film tape  59  pulled out from the second tape spool  41  passes along the outer edge of the ribbon spool  42  and then is fed along the feed path within the arm portion  34 . Then, the film tape  59  is supplied from the exit  341  toward the head insertion portion  39  in a state where the ink ribbon  60  is layered on the surface of the film tape  59 , to be fed between the thermal head  10  and the platen roller  15 . 
     Characters are printed on the print surface of the film tape  59  by the thermal head  10 . Thereafter, the used ink ribbon  60  is separated from the printed film tape  59  at the guide wall  47 , and then is wound onto the ribbon take-up spool  44 . In the meantime, the double-sided adhesive tape  58  is pulled out from the first tape spool  40  by the tape drive roller  46  and the movable feed roller  14  working in concert. While being guided and caught between the tape drive roller  46  and the movable feed roller  14 , the double-sided adhesive tape  58  is layered onto and affixed to the print surface of the printed film tape  59 . The printed film tape  59  to which the double-sided adhesive tape  58  is affixed (that is, the printed tape  50 ) is further fed toward the tape discharge portion  49 , is discharged from the tape discharge portion  49 , and then is cut by the cutting mechanism  17 . 
     In the present embodiment, the laminated type tape cassette  30  assembled from the general purpose cassette is used in the general purpose tape printer  1 . Thus, a single tape printer  1  can be used to correspond with each type of the tape cassette such as the heat-sensitive type, receptor type, laminated type and heat-sensitive laminated type. Therefore, it is not necessary to use a different tape printer for each type. 
     Next, a section of the bottom case  312  that forms a part of the arm portion  34  will be explained in detail with reference to  FIGS. 6 and 7 . As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the section of the bottom case  312  included in the arm portion  34  include the bottom arm front surface  352 , the bottom arm rear surface  372  and a first separating wall  33  provided therebetween. The die exit hole  850  is provided on the right side of the bending portion in the left end portion of the bottom arm front surface  352 . The die exit hole  850  is a cutout in the upright rectangular shape in a front view, and is formed in the bottom arm front surface  352  from its top edge. When the top case  311  is joined with the bottom case  312 , the die exit hole  850  forms a through-hole in the arm front surface  35  (see  FIG. 5 ). 
     The first separating wall  33  is formed to be the highest among the three walls of the arm portion  34 , with its height slightly larger than the width of the tape to be housed within the cassette case  31 . The bottom leading end portion  85 B, which is a section of the bottom arm front surface  352  on the left side of the die exit hole  850 , is substantially half as high as the first separating wall  33 . A section of the bottom arm front surface  352  on the right side of the die exit hole  850  is about two thirds as high as the first separating wall  33 . The bottom arm rear surface  372  is slightly lower than the first separating wall  33  and has substantially the same height as the width of the ink ribbon  60 . The right end portion, which is cylindrically-shaped in a plan view, of the first separating wall  33  is positioned substantially at the center of the arm portion  34 . The left end of the first separating wall  33  is opposite to the die exit hole  850  provided in the bottom arm front surface  352  in the back-and-forth direction of the bottom case  312 . The die exit hole  850  is an exit hole for a die that is used in manufacturing the bottom case  312 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the feed path of the film tape  59  is formed between the bottom arm front surface  352  and the first separating wall  33 . On the other hand, the feed path of the ink ribbon  60  is formed between the first separating wall  33  and the bottom arm rear surface  372 . Therefore, regulating pieces for regulating a movement of the tape or the ink ribbon  60  in the width direction (in the vertical direction of the cassette case  31 ) are provided on the feed paths. 
     For the feed path of the film tape  59 , first tape bottom regulating portions  381 B and  382 B for regulating the movement of the film tape  59  in the downward direction are provided at the bottom ends of the right and left ends of the first separating wall  33 , respectively. The first tape bottom regulating portions  381 B and  382 B slightly protrude upward from the bottom surface  302 . The first tape bottom regulating portions  381 B and  382 B extend forward from the first separating wall  33  to the bottom arm front surface  352 , respectively. A separating wall regulating portion  383  for regulating the movement of the film tape  59  in the upward direction is provided at the upper end of the left end of the first separating wall  33 . The separating wall regulating portion  383  is a protruding piece which protrudes forward from the upper end of the first separating wall  33 . The distance in the vertical direction between the first tape bottom regulating portions  381 B,  382 B and the separating wall regulating portion  383  is the same as the width of the film tape  59 . 
     For the feed path of the ink ribbon  60 , first ribbon bottom regulating portions  386 B and  387 B for regulating a movement of the ink ribbon  60  in the downward direction are provided at the bottom ends of the right and left ends of the first separating wall  33 , respectively. The first ribbon bottom regulating portions  386 B and  3878  slightly protrude upward from the bottom surface  302 . The first ribbon bottom regulating portion  386 B extends diagonally backward left from the left end of the first separating wall  33  to the left end of the bottom arm rear surface  372 . The first ribbon bottom regulating portion  387 B extends backward from the right end of the first separating wall  33  to the bottom arm rear surface  372 . 
     The positions in the vertical direction of the protruding ends of the first tape bottom regulating portions  381 E and  382 B are set depending on the width of the film tape  59 . The positions in the vertical direction of the protruding ends of the first ribbon bottom regulating portions  386 B and  3878  are set depending on the width of the ink ribbon  60 . 
     The first tape bottom regulating portions  381 B and  382 B regulate the movement of the film tape  59  in the downward direction, and the first ribbon bottom regulating portions  386 B and  387 B regulate the movement of the ink ribbon  60  in the downward direction. Therefore, the feeding accuracy of the film tape  59  and the ink ribbon  60  may be enhanced. Since the arm portion  34  is in the vicinity of the upstream side of a printing position (the opening  77 ) where printing is performed by the thermal head  10  (see  FIG. 3 ), the feeding accuracy of the tape and the ink ribbon  60  inside the arm portion  34  may be enhanced and thus the printing accuracy may also be improved. 
     Next, a section of the top case  311  that forms a part of the arm portion  34  will be explained in detail with reference to  FIGS. 6 and 8 . As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 8 , the section of the top case  311  included in the arm portion  34  include the top arm front surface  351  and the top arm rear surface  371  corresponding to the bottom arm front surface  352  and the bottom arm rear surface  372  of the bottom case  312 , respectively. Thus, the top arm front surface  351  is higher than the top arm rear surface  371 . The top surface  301  is provided with a fit hole  331  at a position that corresponds to the first separating wall  33  provided inside the arm portion  34  of the bottom case  312 . The fit hole  331  has substantially the same shape as the shape of the first separating wall  33  in a plan view. When the top case  311  and the bottom case  312  are joined with each other, the first separating wall  33  is fitted into the fit hole  331 . 
     In the section of the top case  311  that forms a part of the arm portion  34 , the feed path of the tape is provided between the top arm front surface  351  and the fit hole  331 . The feed path of the ink ribbon  60  is provided between the fit hole  331  and the top arm rear surface  371 . Thus, regulating pieces for regulating the movement of the tape or the ink ribbon  60  in the upward direction are provided on these feed paths similarly to the bottom case  312 . 
     For the feed path of the tape, a first tape top regulating portion  381 A is provided on the right side of the left end of the fit hole  331 . A first tape top regulating portion  382 A is provided adjacent to the right end of the fit hole  331 . The first tape top regulating portions  381 A and  382 A slightly protrude downward from the top surface  301 , respectively. The first tape top regulating portion  381 A extends backward from the top arm front surface  351  to just before the fit hole  331 , and the first tape top regulating portion  382 A extends backward from the top arm front surface  351  to the fit hole  331 . The first tape top regulating portions  381 A and  382 A regulate the movement of the film tape  59  in the upward direction, respectively. 
     For the feed path of the ink ribbon  60 , first ribbon top regulating portions  386 A and  387 A for regulating the movement of the ink ribbon  60  in the upward direction are provided adjacent to the left end and the right end of the fit hole  331 , respectively. The first ribbon top regulating portions  386 A and  387 A slightly protrude downward from the top surface  301 , respectively. The first ribbon top regulating portion  386 A extends diagonally backward left from the left end of the fit hole  331  to the left end of the top arm rear surface  371 . The first ribbon top regulating portion  387 A extends diagonally backward left from the right end of the fit hole  331  to the top arm rear surface  371 . 
     The positions in the vertical direction of the protruding ends of the first tape top regulating portions  381 A and  382 A are set depending on the width of the tape. The positions in the vertical direction of the protruding ends of the first ribbon top regulating portions  386 A and  387 A are set depending on the width of the ink ribbon  60 . 
     The first tape top regulating portions  381 A and  382 A regulate the movement of the film tape  59  in the upward direction, and the first ribbon top regulating portions  386 A and  387 A regulate the movement of the ink ribbon  60  in the upward direction. Therefore, the feeding accuracy of the film tape  59  and the ink ribbon  60  may be enhanced. Thus, the printing accuracy may also be improved. 
     In this way, in the present embodiment, the regulating portions are provided not only in the bottom case  312  but also in the top case  311 , and thus the movements of the tape and the ink ribbon  60  both in the downward and upward directions may be regulated. Consequently, the feeding accuracy and the printing accuracy may be improved. 
     Next, the arm leading end portion  85  and the contact portion  86  will be explained with reference to  FIGS. 5 and 6 . As described above, the arm leading end portion  85  includes the top leading end portion  85 A provided in the top arm front surface  351  and the bottom leading end portion  85 B provided in the bottom arm front surface  352 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , while the top case  311  and the bottom case  312  are joined with each other, the bottom end of the top leading end portion  85 A and the top end of the bottom leading end portion  85 B contact each other substantially at the center of the tape cassette  30  in its height direction. The bottom end of the top leading end portion  85 A is referred to as a top contact portion  86 A. The top end of the bottom leading end portion  85 B is referred to as a bottom contact portion  86 B. As will be explained later in detail, the tape cassette  30  is configured such that the top contact portion  86 A and the bottom contact portion  86 B can contact or separate from each other. Thus, the contact portion  86  is a section that includes the top contact portion  86 A and the bottom contact portion  86 B and in which the top case  311  and the bottom case  312  can contact or separate from each other. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the bottom leading end portion  85 B has a leading end aperture  87  extending in the vertical direction. The leading end aperture  87  is a through-hole penetrating through the bottom surface  302  of the tape cassette  30 , and is formed to be circular in a plan view. The leading end aperture  87  may be formed as a hole that does not penetrate through the bottom surface  302  of the tape cassette  30 . The diameter of the upper portion of the leading end aperture  87  is gradually larger toward its top end, such that the opening diameter of the top end is maximum. Thus, a protruding portion  89  can be easily inserted into the leading end aperture  87 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the top case  311  is provided with the protruding portion  89  protruding downward from the top contact portion  86 A. The protruding portion  89  is substantially cylindrical and the diameter of the protruding portion  89  is smaller than the diameter of the leading end aperture  87 . The protruding portion  89  is formed such that its diameter is gradually smaller toward the leading end (bottom end) from the slightly upper side of the center in the vertical direction. In other words, the lower portion of the protruding portion  89  is formed such that its leading end is tapered. Thus, the protruding portion  89  can be easily inserted into the leading end aperture  87 . 
     Next, a process in which the protruding portion  89  is inserted into the leading end aperture  87  to form the contact portion  86  when the top case  311  and the bottom case  312  are joined with each other will be explained with reference to  FIGS. 9 and 10 . When the top case  311  and the bottom case  312  are joined with each other, the bottom end of the protruding portion  89  is first inserted into the leading end aperture  87  as shown in  FIG. 9 . As described above, the diameter of the protruding portion  89  is smaller than the diameter of the leading end aperture  87 . The lower portion of the protruding portion  89  is formed such that its leading end is tapered, and the top end of the leading end aperture  87  is formed such that its opening is wider. Thus, the bottom of the protruding portion  89  may be guided into the leading end aperture  87  smoothly. 
     When the protruding portion  89  is further inserted into the leading end aperture  87 , the top contact portion  86 A and the bottom contact portion  86 B contact each other as shown in  FIG. 10 . Thus, the insertion of the protruding portion  89  into the leading end aperture  87  is completed. Since the diameter of the protruding portion  89  is smaller than the diameter of the leading end aperture  87 , the top case  311  and the bottom case  312  are not fixed to each other in the arm leading end portion  85 . In other words, the protruding portion  89  can still be inserted into or removed from the leading end aperture  87 . Thus, the top contact portion  86 A and the bottom contact portion  86 B can contact or separate from each other in the contact portion  86 . 
     Next, the configuration of the latching arm  80  will be explained with reference to  FIGS. 6 and 9 . As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 9 , an indented portion  84  is provided in the left portion of the top semi-circular groove  38 A of the top case  311 . The indented portion  84  extends from the top end to the bottom end of the top semi-circular groove  38 A. The depth of the indented portion  84  is substantially the same as the thickness of a wall forming the bottom semi-circular groove  38 B of the bottom case  312 . The latching arm  80  protrudes downward from the bottom end of the indented portion  84 . The latching arm  80  is substantially prismatic. The latching arm  80  has the latching claw  80 A at its leading end (bottom end). The latching claw  80 A protrudes diagonally forward right of the tape cassette  30 . In this way, the latching arm  80  is formed like a hook, integral with the latching claw  80 A. The latching arm  80  is flexible diagonally in the back-and-forth direction of the tape cassette  30 . Thus, the latching arm  80  may be bent toward the rear surface side of the latching arm  80 . 
     The latching hole  79  is provided in the left portion of the bottom semi-circular groove  38 B of the bottom case  312  and slightly below the top end of the bottom semi-circular groove  38 B. The latching hole  79  is a rectangular through-hole that is long in the right-and-left direction in a front view. The latching claw  80 A provided in the latching arm  80  of the top case  311  can be engaged with the latching hole  79 . Thus, the bottom case  312  and the top case  311  can be engaged with each other. The latching hole  79  is larger than the latching claw  80 A in a front view. 
     Explanation will be given on the engagement between the latching hole  79  and the latching claw  80 A when the top case  311  and the bottom case  312  are joined with each other, with reference to  FIGS. 11 and 12 . As described above, the latching arm  80  is formed such that the latching arm  80  can be bent toward the rear surface side of the latching arm  80  (in the right direction in  FIG. 11 ). As shown in  FIG. 11 , when the bottom case  312  and the top case  311  are engaged with each other, the front end of the latching claw  80 A moves in the downward direction while contacting the rear surface of the bottom semi-circular groove  38 B. At this time, since the front end of the latching claw  80 A is pressed toward the rear surface side of the latching arm  80  by the rear surface of the bottom semi-circular groove  38 B, the latching arm  80  is bent toward the rear surface side of the latching arm  80 . At the same time, the bottom semi-circular groove  38 B is pressed in the front right direction (in the left direction in  FIG. 11 ) of the tape cassette  30  by the front end of the latching claw  80 A, and thus the bottom semi-circular groove  38 B is bent in the front right direction. 
     Then, when the latching claw  80 A reaches the latching hole  79 , as shown in  FIG. 12 , the latching claw  80 A is inserted into the latching hole  79  so that the bottom case  312  and the top case  311  are engaged with each other. Thus, the latching portion  78  is formed. The latching portion  78  is formed in the left portion of the semi-circular groove  38 , that is, in the vicinity of the upstream end of the arm portion  34  in the tape feeding direction. While the latching claw  80 A is being inserted into the latching hole  79 , neither the latching arm  80  nor the bottom semi-circular groove  38 B is bent. At this time, the latching claw  80 A contacts the top surface of the latching hole  79 . Therefore, even when an impact is given to the tape cassette  30 , for example, the top case  311  and the bottom case  312  can be prevented from separating from each other in the vertical direction. 
     Next, with reference to  FIGS. 10 and 13 , explanation will be given on a case in which an impact is given to the tape cassette  30 , for example, and a force is applied to the arm portion  34  in the vertical direction of the tape cassette  30 .  FIG. 10  shows a state in which the top contact portion  86 A and the bottom contact portion  86 B are in contact with each other. In the following explanation, a state of the tape cassette  30  shown in  FIG. 10  is referred to as a “normal state”. When the force is applied to the arm portion  34  in the vertical direction of the tape cassette  30 , the state of the tape cassette  30  may be changed from the normal state shown in  FIG. 10  to a state in which the top contact portion  86 A and the bottom contact portion  86 B are separated from each other as shown in  FIG. 13 . In the following explanation, the state of the tape cassette  30  shown in  FIG. 13  is referred to as “separated state”. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 10 and 13 , the top case  311  and the bottom case  312  are not fixed to each other in the arm leading end portion  85 . Specifically, the top contact portion  86 A and the bottom contact portion  86 B can contact or separate from each other in the contact portion  86 . On the other hand, the top case  311  and the bottom case  312  are prevented from separating from each other in the vertical direction in the latching portion  78 . 
     Consequently, when the vertical force is applied to the arm portion  34  in the vertical direction, as shown in  FIG. 13 , the top case  311  and the bottom case  312  can remain engaged with each other in the latching portion  78 , while the top case  311  and the bottom case  312  may be bent in the vertical direction in the arm portion  34  that is on the left side of the latching portion  78 . Thus, the top contact portion  86 A and the bottom contact portion  86 B may separate from each other. 
     However, since the top case  311  and the bottom case  312  remain engaged in the latching portion  78 , the top contact portion  86 A and the bottom contact portion  86 B, even when they have been separated from each other, again contact each other by a restoring force of the top case  311  and the bottom case  312 . Thus, the tape cassette  30  returns to the normal state as shown in  FIG. 10 . In other words, even when an impact is applied to the tape cassette  30  and the vertical force is applied to the arm portion  34 , the state of the arm leading end portion  85  can be restored to the normal state. 
     In addition, even when the top contact portion  86 A and the bottom contact portion  86 B separate from each other (see  FIG. 13 ), the first tape bottom regulating portions  381 B,  382 B, the separating wall regulating portion  383 , the first ribbon bottom regulating portions  386 B,  387 B, the first tape top regulating portions  381 A,  382 A, and the first ribbon top regulating portions  386 A,  387 A can regulate the vertical positions of the film tape  59  and the ink ribbon  60  to a certain extent. Thus, the positions of the film tape  59  and the ink ribbon  60  may not be largely moved. Consequently, when the tape cassette  30  returns from the separated state shown in  FIG. 13  to the normal state shown in  FIG. 10 , the positions of the film tape  59  and the ink ribbon  60  can remain unchanged. In other words, when the tape cassette  30  returns to the normal state, the first tape bottom regulating portions  381 B,  382 B, the separating wall regulating portion  383 , the first ribbon bottom regulating portions  386 B,  387 B, the first tape top regulating portions  381 A,  382 A, and the first ribbon top regulating portions  386 A,  387 A again keep the vertical positions of the film tape  59  and the ink ribbon  60  appropriately. Thus, the film tape  59  and the ink ribbon  60  can be fed appropriately and good printing quality can be maintained. 
     As described above, in the present embodiment, even when a force is applied to the arm portion  34  in the vertical direction of the tape cassette  30 , due to an impact on the tape cassette  30 , for example, the arm leading end portion  85  can return to the normal state. 
     When characters are printed on the film tape  59 , the film tape  59  and the ink ribbon  60  that are discharged from the exit  341  are pressed against the thermal head  10  by the platen roller  15  (see  FIG. 4 ). Then, the characters are printed on the film tape  59  by the thermal head  10  using the ink ribbon  60 . Therefore, the film tape  59  needs to be appropriately discharged from the exit  341  in order to maintain the printing quality. For example, when an impact is applied to the tape cassette  30 , generally, a gap may be created between the bottom case  312  and the top case  311  in the arm leading end portion  85 , or the bottom case  312  and the top case  311  may be separated from each other. In such a case, the film tape  59  may not be appropriately discharged from the exit  341 , and thus the printing quality may be deteriorated. 
     In the present embodiment, the top contact portion  86 A and the bottom contact portion  86 B are in contact with each other in the contact portion  86  in a state in which the top contact portion  86 A and the bottom contact portion  86 B can contact and separate from each other. Thus, when a strong impact or the like is applied to the tape cassette  30 , as shown in  FIG. 13 , the top contact portion  86 A and the bottom contact portion  86 B are temporarily separated from each other. However, thereafter, the tape cassette  30  returns to the normal state in which the top contact portion  86 A and the bottom contact portion  86 B contact each other as shown in  FIG. 10 . Therefore, the film tape  59  and the ink ribbon  60  can be discharged from the exit  341  appropriately and the good printing quality can be maintained. 
     In the present embodiment, the latching portion  78  is provided in the semi-circular groove  38 . The semi-circular groove  38  has a greater strength against bending than the arm front surface  35 , which is a flat surface. Therefore, the top case  311  and the bottom case  312  can be engaged with each other with a greater strength than in the case in which the latching portion is provided in the arm front surface  35 , in the vicinity of the exit  341 . Consequently, when an impact is applied to the tape cassette  30 , the latching hole  79  and the latching claw  80 A are less likely to be disengaged from each other. Thus, the engagement between the top case  311  and the bottom case  312  can be maintained by the latching portion  78 . Therefore, as shown in  FIG. 13 , even when the top contact portion  86 A and the bottom contact portion  86 B are separated from each other in the contact portion  86 , the engagement between the top case  311  and the bottom case  312  can be maintained by the latching portion  78  so that the tape cassette  30  can return to the normal state shown in  FIG. 10 . In other words, a gap that has been created between the top case  311  and the bottom case  312  will not remain there. Therefore, the film tape  59  and the ink ribbon  60  can appropriately be discharged from the exit  341  so that the good printing quality can be maintained. 
     In the present embodiment, the top case  311  includes the protruding portion  89  and the bottom case  312  includes the leading end aperture  87 . When the top case  311  and the bottom case  312  are joined with each other, the protruding portion  89  is inserted into the leading end aperture  87 . Then, the top case  311  and the bottom case  312  can appropriately be guided in the arm leading end portion  85  by the protruding portion  89  and the leading end aperture  87 . For that reason, when the top case  311  and the bottom case  312  are joined with each other, the top leading end portion  85 A and the bottom leading end portion  85 B can be prevented from inappropriately contacting the film tape  59  and the ink ribbon  60 . Thus, the film tape  59  and the ink ribbon  60  may not get damaged and thus deterioration in the printing quality due to the damage can be prevented. 
     In the present embodiment, the height of the section of the top arm front surface  351  on the right side of the top leading end portion  85 A is less than the height of the section of the bottom arm front surface  352  on the right side of the bottom leading end portion  85 B (see  FIG. 5 ). Thus, the top arm front surface  351  is more flexible than the bottom arm front surface  352 . However, in the present embodiment, the contact portion  86  is provided in the vicinity of the center position of the cassette case  31  in the vertical direction. Thus, the top leading end portion  85 A is higher than the section on the right side of the top leading end portion  85 A. In other words, since the contact portion  86  is provided in the vicinity of the center position of the cassette case  31  in the vertical direction, the vertical length of the top leading end portion  85 A can be prevented from being too short. Thus, if a force is applied to the arm leading end portion  85  in the vertical direction of the tape cassette  30 , the top case  311  can be prevented from bending too much in the upward direction in the arm portion  34 . 
     The tape cassette  30  and the tape printer  1  according to the present invention are not limited to the above embodiment and various modifications can be made. 
     For example, the entire peripheries of the top surface  301  and the bottom surface  302  in the cassette case  31  may not need to be entirely surrounded by side surfaces. An opening for exposing the inside of the cassette case  31  may be provided in part of the side surfaces (in the rear surface, for example) or a boss connecting the top surface  301  and the bottom surface  302  may be provided in the opening. 
     For example, the arm leading end portion  85  may not be provided with the protruding portion  89  and the leading end aperture  87 . Even in this case, when an impact is applied to the tape cassette  30 , the tape cassette  30  can return to the normal state after the top contact portion  86 A and the bottom contact portion  86 B are separated from each other in the contact portion  86 . 
     The top case  311  includes the protruding portion  89  and the bottom case  312  includes the leading end aperture  87  in the embodiment. Alternatively, the top case  311  may include an aperture and the bottom case  312  may include a protruding portion that can be inserted into or removed from the aperture of the top case  311 , for example. 
     The top case  311  includes the latching arm  80  and the bottom case  312  includes the latching hole  79  in the embodiment. Alternatively, the top case  311  may include a latching hole and the bottom case  312  may include a latching arm, for example. 
     The latching portion  78  is provided in the left portion of the semi-circular groove  38  in the embodiment. Alternatively, the latching portion  78  may be provided at the center of the semi-circular groove  38  in the right-and-left direction, for example. 
     The apparatus and methods described above with reference to the various embodiments are merely examples. It goes without saying that they are not confined to the depicted embodiments. While various features have been described in conjunction with the examples outlined above, various alternatives, modifications, variations, and/or improvements of those features and/or examples may be possible. Accordingly, the examples, as set forth above, are intended to be illustrative. Various changes may be made without departing from the broad spirit and scope of the underlying principles.