Patent Publication Number: US-2018043715-A1

Title: Tape cartridge

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/145,378 filed on May 3, 2016, which is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/741,331 filed on Jun. 16, 2015 (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,358,821), which is a continuation of PCT application No. PCT/JP2015/058322 filed on Mar. 19, 2015, which claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-060922 filed on Mar. 24, 2014, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention relates to a tape cartridge detachably installed in a tape printing apparatus in which a press switch is provided on a cartridge installation portion. 
     2. Background Art 
     Up until now, a tape cassette having recessed space corresponding to a sensor supporting portion provided on the cassette installation portion of a printing label creation apparatus has been known as such a tape cartridge (see JP-A-2013-141749). 
     On the cassette installation portion of the printing label creation apparatus, a printing mechanism and a delivering mechanism for performing printing on a tape drawn from the tape cassette are disposed. In addition, on the cassette installation portion, the column-shaped sensor supporting portion incorporating a plurality of sensors for detecting the attribute information of the tape (film tape) is provided to stand. The sensor supporting portion includes four reflection sensors vertically provided on the front side surface thereof and four reflection sensors vertically provided on the right side surface thereof. 
     On the other hand, the tape cassette includes an adhesive tape spool on which a double-sided adhesive tape is wound, a film tape spool on which the film tape (printing tape) is wound, a ribbon spool on which an ink ribbon is wound, a ribbon winding-up spool that winds up the ink ribbon, a tape driving roller, and a cassette casing that accommodates the above constituents. In addition, in the space between the double-sided adhesive tape and the film tape, the recessed space corresponding to the sensor supporting portion is formed. Further, on a peripheral wall portion constituting the recessed portion, totally eight black detected portions corresponding to the above reflection sensors are provided. 
     In such a known tape cassette, the detected portions are required to be small in size since the recessed space is provided in the narrow space between the double-sided adhesive tape and the film tape. Therefore, there is a likelihood that an information amount of the attribute information of the film tape to be detected is limited or the detection of the film tape becomes unstable. 
     On the other hand, if the detected portions are provided on, for example, the lower surface of the tape cassette (tape cartridge) to secure wide space, a force that floats the tape cassette is applied to the tape cassette in a case in which the detection portions on the side of the cassette installation portion are micro switches or the like. Therefore, a structure for suppressing the force is required. 
     The present invention has an object of providing a tape cartridge that can be prevented from floating from a cartridge installation portion when being installed on the cartridge installation portion. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the present invention, there is provided a tape cartridge is detachably installed on a cartridge installation portion of a tape printing apparatus having the cartridge installation portion and a press switch. The cartridge installation portion has an installation base portion and an installation peripheral wall portion surrounding the installation base portion and allows the tape cartridge to be installed on the cartridge installation portion. The press switch has a stem projecting in a direction crossing an installation direction of the tape cartridge and provided on the installation peripheral wall portion. The tape cartridge includes a detected portion that is provided on an outer peripheral surface of the tape cartridge and corresponds to the stem when the tape cartridge is installed on the cartridge installation portion. The detected portion has an installation guide slant surface that presses the stem when the tape cartridge is installed on the cartridge installation portion. 
     According to this configuration, the installation guide slant surface presses the stem of the press switch provided on the installation peripheral wall portion when the tape cartridge is installed on the cartridge installation portion. Therefore, the tape cartridge can be prevented from floating from the cartridge installation portion when being installed on the cartridge installation portion. 
     In this case, the detected portion is preferably recessed on the outer peripheral surface. 
     According to this configuration, the stem of the press switch can reliably come in contact with the detected portion. 
     In this case, the installation guide slant surface is preferably slanted in the projecting direction of the stem on a back side in the installation direction. 
     In this case, the cartridge installation portion preferably allows n types, where n is an integer of two or more, of the tape cartridges having a different thickness in the installation direction to be installed on the cartridge installation portion, the press switch preferably includes n press switches, each of which is different in distance from the installation base portion to a direction opposite to the installation direction, on the installation peripheral wall portion, the detected portion preferably includes n detected portions on the outer peripheral surface of the tape cartridge, and one or more and (n−1) or less of the n detected portions and the detected portions different in number according to the thickness of the tape cartridge preferably further have a removing guide slant surface that releases pressing of the stem when the tape cartridge is installed on the cartridge installation portion and presses the stem when the tape cartridge is removed from the cartridge installation portion. 
     According to this configuration, the pressing of the stems different in number according to the thickness of the installed tape cartridge is released when the tape cartridge is installed on the cartridge installation portion, the detection of the thickness of the installed tape cartridge is allowed. In addition, the maximum number of the detected portions having the removing guide slant surface is (n−1). Therefore, since the stem is pressed by at least one of the detected portions when the tape cartridge is installed on the cartridge installation portion, the detection of the installation of the tape cartridge on the cartridge installation portion  5  is allowed. Moreover, the detected portion, which releases the pressing of the stem when the tape cartridge is installed on the cartridge installation portion, has the removing guide slant surface that presses the stem at the removal of the tape cartridge from the cartridge installation portion. Therefore, the detected portion is prevented from getting snagged on the stem of the press switch. As a result, the tape cartridge can be smoothly removed from the cartridge installation portion. 
     In this case, the removing guide slant surface is preferably slanted in the projecting direction of the stem on a near side in the installation direction. 
     In this case, the n detected portions are preferably dispersedly arranged in a peripheral direction of the outer peripheral surface so as to correspond to the n press switches dispersedly arranged in a peripheral direction of the installation peripheral wall portion. 
     According to this configuration, the n press switches can be arranged with sufficient space. 
     In this case, the stem is preferably biased in the projecting direction, and the detected portion, which corresponds to the press switch at a position closest to the printing head provided on the cartridge installation portion, among the n press switches preferably presses the stem of the press switch regardless of the thickness of the installed tape cartridge when the tape cartridge is installed on the cartridge installation portion, and a platen opposing the printing head is preferably further provided. 
     According to this configuration, the biasing force that biases the stem in the projecting direction can be applied as a force that positions the tape cartridge with respect to the cartridge installation portion near the printing head. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an external perspective view of a tape printing apparatus according to an embodiment with its cover opened. 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  are, respectively, a plan view and a side surface view of a tape cartridge according to the embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of a cartridge installation portion. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the opening/closing cover when seen from the side of its rear surface. 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  are, respectively, a plan view of the tape cartridge with its upper casing removed and a rear surface view of the upper casing. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the tape cartridge when seen from the side of its rear surface. 
         FIGS. 7A to 7C  are, respectively, a plan view of the cartridge installation portion, a perspective view of the cartridge installation portion, and a plan view of the cartridge installation portion on which the tape cartridge is installed. 
         FIGS. 8A and 8B  are, respectively, a plan view and a cross-sectional view of the tape cartridge. 
         FIGS. 9A to 9C  are, respectively, a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A in  FIG. 7C , a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B in  FIG. 7C , and a cross-sectional view taken along the line C-C in  FIG. 7C . 
         FIGS. 10A and 10B  are explanatory views showing a method for detecting the thickness of the tape cartridge with a plurality of thickness detection switches. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, a description will be given of a tape cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention in conjunction with a tape printing apparatus in which the tape cartridge is installed. The tape printing apparatus is used to perform printing while feeding out a printing tape and an ink ribbon from the installed tape cartridge and cut off a printed part of the printing tape to create a label (tape piece). 
     [Outline of Tape Printing Apparatus] 
       FIG. 1  is an external perspective view of the tape printing apparatus and the tape cartridge installed in the tape printing apparatus. As shown in  FIG. 1 , a tape printing apparatus  1  includes an apparatus casing  3  constituting an outer shell, a cartridge installation portion  5  on which a tape cartridge  100  is detachably installed, and an opening/closing cover  7  that opens/closes the cartridge installation portion  5 . On the upper surface of the apparatus casing  3 , the cartridge installation portion  5  is provided on the back side, a display  11  is provided on the central side, and a keyboard  13  is provided on the near side. In the vicinity of the opening/closing cover  7 , a finger-hooking recessed portion  15  is provided. The opening/closing cover  7  is opened when the recessed portion  15  is hooked and raised by a finger. Further, on the side surface (left side surface) of the apparatus casing  3 , an elongated tape ejection port  17  is provided to eject a printing tape  102 . 
     In addition, the tape printing apparatus  1  includes a printing mechanism portion  23  having a printing head  21  provided to stand on the cartridge installation portion  5 , a tape feeding mechanism portion  25  embedded in the back side space of the cartridge installation portion  5 , and a tape cutting mechanism portion  27  embedded in the vicinity of the tape ejection port  17 . A user enters printing information via the keyboard  13  and performs printing with a key operation after confirming the printing information on the display  11 . Upon the printing instruction, the tape feeding mechanism portion  25  is driven to make the printing tape  102  and the ink ribbon  110  run parallel to each other. Moreover, by heat applied from the printing mechanism portion  23  to the ink ribbon  110 , the ink of the ink ribbon  110  is heat-transferred to the printing tape  102  to perform the printing. By the print feeding, the printing tape  102  is ejected from the tape ejection port  17 . When the printing is completed, the tape cutting mechanism portion  27  is driven to cut off a printed part of the printing tape  102 . 
     [Outline of Tape Cartridge] 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B  and  FIGS. 5A and 5B , the tape cartridge  100  includes a tape roll  106  in which the printing tape  102  is wound on a tape core  104 . In addition, the tape cartridge  100  includes a ribbon roll  114  in which the ink ribbon  110  is wound on a feeding-out core  112  and a winding-up core  116  that winds up the ink ribbon  110  that has been consumed. Moreover, the tape cartridge  100  includes a platen roller  120  (platen) that comes in contact with the printing head  21  and feeds the printing tape  102  and the ink ribbon  110 . Further, the tape cartridge  100  includes a cartridge casing  130  that accommodates the tape roll  106 , the ribbon roll  114 , the winding-up core  116 , and the platen roller  120 . As described above, the tape cartridge  100  of this embodiment has so-called a shell structure in which the outer shell is covered with the cartridge casing  130 . 
     Furthermore, the tape cartridge  100  includes an insertion opening  134 , in which the printing head  21  is inserted when the tape cartridge  100  is installed in the tape printing apparatus  1 , on the cartridge casing  130 . The tape cartridge  100  includes a tape delivering port  138  that is provided on the cartridge casing  130  and from which the printing tape  102  is delivered. Note that as will be described in detail later, the tape roll  106  is rotatably supported by a cylindrical core shaft  192  projecting inside the cartridge casing  130 . 
     When the platen roller  120  and the winding-up core  116  are driven by the tape feeding mechanism portion  25 , the printing tape  102  is fed out from the tape core  104  and the ink ribbon  110  is fed out from the feeding-out core  112 . The fed-out printing tape  102  and the ink ribbon  110  run parallel to each other at the platen roller  120  and are subjected to printing by the printing head  21 . A fed-out end (printed part) of the printing tape  102 , on which the printing has been performed, is delivered from the tape delivering port  138  to the tape ejection port  17 . On the other hand, the ink ribbon  110  goes around the peripheral wall portion of the insertion opening  134  and is wound up by the winding-up core  116 . Note that a plurality of types of tape cartridges (three types of tape cartridges in the embodiment) having a different thickness is available as the tape cartridge  100  according to a tape width of the printing tape  102 . 
     [Details of Tape Printing Apparatus] 
     As shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 3 , the cartridge installation portion  5  is formed in a shape complementary to the flat shape of the tape cartridge  100  and formed to be recessed with a depth corresponding to the tape cartridge  100  having a maximum thickness among the plurality of types of installable tape cartridges  100 . In this case, an installation base portion  31  constituting the bottom plate portion of the cartridge installation portion  5  and an installation peripheral wall portion  33  constituting a side plate portion are integrally formed (molded) by a resin or the like. A slit-shaped tape ejection path  35  is formed between the cartridge installation portion  5  and the tape ejection port  17 , and the tape cutting mechanism portion  27  is embedded at this part. 
     On the installation base portion  31  of the cartridge installation portion  5 , a positioning projection  41 , in which the core shaft  192  of the tape cartridge  100  fits to be positioned when the tape cartridge  100  is installed, is provided to stand. In addition, on the installation base  31 , the printing head  21  covered with a head cover  43 , a platen driving shaft  45  that rotates and drives the platen roller  120 , and a winding-up driving shaft  47  that rotates and drives the winding-up core  116  are provided to stand. In addition, on the installation base portion  31 , a tape detection portion  51  that detects a type (attribute information) of the printing tape  102  and a core releasing portion  53  that releases the rotation-stop of the feeding-out core  112  and the winding-up core  116  are provided in the vicinity of the winding-up driving shaft  47 . 
     Moreover, on the installation base portion  31 , a pair of small projections  55  is provided at the diagonal positions, and a pair of retaining pieces  57  that retain the intermediate portion of the installed tape cartridge  100  is provided. Further, in the back side space of the installation base portion  31 , the tape feeding mechanism portion  25  constituted of a motor, a gear train (each not shown), or the like that rotates the platen driving shaft  45  and the winding-up driving shaft  47  is embedded. The tape feeding mechanism portion  25  branches power with the gear train and causes the platen driving shaft  45  and the winding-up driving shaft  47  to rotate in synchronization with each other. 
     The printing mechanism portion  23  includes the printing head  21  constituted of a thermal head and a head supporting frame  61  that supports and rotates the printing head  21 . In addition, the printing mechanism portion  23  includes a head releasing mechanism (not shown) that rotates the printing head  21  between a printing position and a retracting position via the head supporting frame  61  and the head cover  43  that covers the printing head  21  (and the head supporting frame  61 ). 
     The head releasing mechanism operates as the opening/closing cover  7  is opened/closed and moves (rotates) the printing head  21  to the printing position according to the closing operation of the opening/closing cover  7 . In addition, the head releasing mechanism moves (rotates) the printing head  21  to the retracting position according to the opening operation thereof. The printing head  21  comes in contact with the platen roller  120  of the tape cartridge  100  via the ink ribbon  110  and the printing tape  102  when moving to the printing position and separates from the platen roller  120  when moving to the retracting position. Thus, the printing tape  102  and the ink ribbon  110  are prevented from interfering with the printing head  21  when the tape cartridge  100  is attached/detached. 
     The printing head  21  is provided with a plurality of heat generation elements, and the plurality of heat generation elements lines up in the same direction as the shaft direction of the platen roller  120 . Further, printing is performed when the printing tape  102  and the ink ribbon  110  are fed and the plurality of heat generation elements is selectively driven. 
     The head cover  43  is formed in a substantially rectangle shape in plan view and integrally formed (molded) with the installation base portion  31  (the cartridge installation portion  5 ). In addition, the head cover  43  vertically largely projects from the installation base portion  31 . The head cover  43  internally allows the rotation of the printing head  21  and externally functions as an installation guide for the tape cartridge  100 . 
     The tape detection portion  51  is constituted of a plurality of micro switches  51   a , selectively engages with a detection receiving portion  178  of the tape cartridge  100  that will be described later, and detects a type such as a tape color and a material of the printing tape  102 . Further, based on the detection result, the driving of the printing head  21  and the tape feeding mechanism portion  25  is controlled. Note that the tape width of the printing tape  102  is detected as the thickness of the tape cartridge  100  by a thickness detection switch  65  that will be described later. 
     The core releasing portion  53  is constituted of two releasing pins  53   a  for the feeding-out core  112  and the winding-up core  116 . As will be described in detail later, the cartridge casing  130  is provided with rotation-stop hooks  206  retained by the feeding-out core  112  and the winding-up core  116 , respectively (see  FIG. 6 ). When the tape cartridge  100  is installed, the releasing pins  53   a  engage with the rotation-stop hooks  206  to release the rotation-stop of the feeding-out core  112  and the winding-up core  116 . 
     The platen driving shaft  45  includes a fixation shaft  45   a  inserted in the platen roller  120  and a spline-shaped movable shaft  45   b  rotatably journaled in the base portion of the fixation shaft  45   a . The rotation power of the tape feeding mechanism portion  25  is transmitted to the movable shaft  45   b  and then transmitted from the movable shaft  45   b  to the platen roller  120 . Similarly, the winding-up driving shaft  47  includes a fixation shaft  47   a  and a spline-shaped movable shaft  47   b  rotatably journaled in the fixation shaft  47   a . In this case as well, the rotation power of the tape feeding mechanism portion  25  is transmitted to the movable shaft  47   b  and then further transmitted from the movable shaft  47   b  to the winding-up core  116 . 
     When the tape cartridge  100  is installed on the cartridge installation portion  5 , the core shaft  192  (the tape core  104 ) engages with the positioning projection  41 , the platen roller  120  engages with the platen driving shaft  45 , and the winding-up core  116  engages with the winding-up driving shaft  47 . Then, when the opening/closing cover  7  is closed, the printing head  21  rotates and comes in contact with the platen roller  120  with the printing tape  102  and the ink ribbon  110  held therebetween, which brings the tape printing apparatus  1  in a printing standby state. 
     On the other hand, as shown in  FIG. 3 , a plurality of thickness detection switches  65  for detecting the thickness of the installed tape cartridge  100  is provided on the installation peripheral wall portion  33  of the cartridge installation portion  5 . As the tape cartridge  100  of the embodiment, a thin tape cartridge  100 A on which the printing tape  102  having a width of 12 mm is mounted, an intermediate-thickness tape cartridge  100 B on which the printing tape  102  having a width of 18 mm is mounted, and a thick tape cartridge  100 C on which the printing tape  102  having a width of 24 mm is mounted are, for example, available (see  FIGS. 10A and 10B ). Note that the width of the printing tape  102  represents the length of the printing tape  102  in a direction crossing a direction in which the printing tape  102  is delivered. 
     In order to correspond to the three types of tape cartridges  100 A,  100 B, and  100 C having a different thickness, the three thickness detection switches  65  are dispersedly disposed on the installation peripheral wall portion  33  in the peripheral direction. Each of the thickness detection switches  65  is constituted of, for example, a press switch (micro switch). Among the three thickness detection switches  65 , a first detection switch  65 A is disposed in the vicinity of the printing head  21  (the head cover  43 ), a second detection switch  65 B is disposed in the vicinity of the tape detection portion  51 , and a third detection switch  65 C is disposed in the vicinity of one of the small projections  55 . 
     As will be described in detail later, the three thickness detection switches  65 A,  65 B, and  65 C are disposed with different distances from the installation base portion  31  so as to correspond to the thicknesses of the three types of tape cartridges  100 A,  100 B, and  100 C. Further, each of the three thickness detection switches  65 A,  65 B, and  65 C is connected to a detection circuit (not shown), and the detection circuit detects the thickness of the installed tape cartridge  100  based on the binary data of detection and non-detection, i.e., the ON/OFF of each of the thickness detection switches  65 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 4 , the opening/closing cover  7  is rotatably, i.e., openably/closably attached to the apparatus casing  3  via a hinge portion  71  provided on the back side. The opening/closing cover  7  includes an opening/closing cover main body  73  and a check window  75  provided at the center of the opening/closing cover main body  73 . In addition, the opening/closing cover  7  includes a pair of journaled pieces  77  that projects from the rear surface of the opening/closing cover main body  73  and is rotatably journaled in the hinge portion  71  and an operation lever  79  that projects from the rear surface of the opening/closing cover main body  73  and rotates the printing head  21 . Moreover, the opening/closing cover  7  includes two pressing projections  81  that project from the rear surface of the opening/closing cover main body  73  and press the tape cartridge  100  and a pressing projection  83  that projects from the rear surface of the opening/closing cover main body  73  and operates (turns ON) an embedded cover closing detection switch (not shown). 
     The check window  75  is formed to be long from side to side and made of a transparent (visible-light transparent) resin formed separately from the opening/closing cover main body  73 . Through the check window  75 , (a type and a tape remaining amount of the printing tape  102  of) the tape cartridge  100  installed on the cartridge installation portion  5  can be visually checked. In addition, the pair of journaled pieces  77 , the operation lever  79 , the two pressing projections  81 , and the pressing projection  83  are integrally formed (molded) with the opening/closing cover main body  73  by a resin. 
     The operation lever  79  projects from the rear surface of the opening/closing cover main body  73  and is inserted in a slit opening  87  provided on the lateral side of the cartridge installation portion  5  as the opening/closing cover  7  is closed. The operation lever  79  inserted in the slit opening  87  causes the head releasing mechanism described above to operate and the printing head  21  to rotate toward the platen roller  120 . Similarly, as the opening/closing cover  7  is closed, the pressing projection  83  is inserted in a rectangle opening  91  adjacent to the slit opening  87  and causes the cover closing detection switch to operate. 
     One of the pressing projections  81  is positioned so as to be in the vicinity of the platen roller  120  of the tape cartridge  100 . The other of the pressing projections  81  is positioned so as to be right above the tape detection portion  51 . When the opening/closing cover  7  is closed, the two pressing projections  81  press the tape cartridge  100  so as to be set on the installation base portion  31  of the cartridge installation portion  5  and prevent the tape cartridge  100  from floating. 
     [Details of Tape Cartridge] 
     Next, a description will be given in detail of the tape cartridge  100  with reference to  FIGS. 2A and 2B ,  FIGS. 5A and 5B , and  FIG. 6 . Note that in the description of the tape cartridge  100 , taking  FIGS. 2A and 2B  as an example, a surface on the near side in the installation direction, i.e., on the upper front side of the tape cartridge  100  will be called a “front surface,” a surface on the back side in the installation direction, i.e., on the opposite side of the tape cartridge  100  will be called a “rear surface,” a side surface on the left side of the tape cartridge  100  will be called a “left side surface,” a side surface on the right side thereof will be called a “right side surface,” an arc-shaped side surface on the upper side thereof will be called a “tip end surface,” and a side surface on the lower side thereof will be called a “base end surface.” 
     As described above, the tape cartridge  100  includes the cartridge casing  130  and the tape roll  106 , the ribbon roll  114 , the winding-up core  116 , and the platen roller  120  accommodated in the cartridge casing  130 . In addition, the tape cartridge  100  includes the insertion opening  134  provided on the cartridge casing  130 , the tape delivering port  138  formed on the left side surface in the vicinity of the platen roller  120 , and an identification label  141  (see  FIG. 1 ) affixed from the left side surface to the right side surface via the front surface at a position at which the tape roll  106  is accommodated. On the identification label  141 , a tape width, a tape color, a material, and the like of the printing tape  102  accommodated in the cartridge casing  130  are displayed at the two places of the front surface and the left side surface. 
     The cartridge casing  130  constitutes the outer shell of the tape cartridge  100  (the shell structure) and has an appearance that is formed in an “L”-shape in plan view and of which the base end at the right side surface slightly projects. In the front and rear direction, the cartridge casing  130  is constituted of a lower casing  150  and an upper casing  152 , the lower casing  150  and the upper casing  152  being positioned on the back side and the near side, respectively, when the cartridge casing  130  is installed on the cartridge installation portion  5 . In the cartridge casing  130  of the embodiment, the upper casing  152  is constituted of a resin molded item transparent to an extent that the visual checking of the accommodated printing tape  102  is allowed, and the lower casing  150  is constituted of a non-transparent resin molded item. 
     The upper casing  152  is such that a top wall portion  156  constituting the front surface of the cartridge casing  130  and an upper peripheral wall portion  158  suspending on the periphery of the top wall portion  156  are integrally formed (molded). In addition, the lower casing  150  is such that a bottom wall portion  160  constituting the rear surface of the cartridge casing  130 , a lower peripheral wall portion  162  provided to stand on the periphery of the bottom wall portion  160 , and an opening peripheral wall portion  164  provided to stand on the bottom wall portion  160  so as to define the insertion opening  134  are integrally formed (molded). 
     On the lower end surface of the upper peripheral wall portion  158  of the upper casing  152 , a plurality of joining pins  170  is provided at appropriate intervals. While, on the lower peripheral wall portion  162  of the lower casing  150 , a plurality of joining holes  172  is provided corresponding to the plurality of joining pins  170  (see  FIGS. 5A and 5B ). After constituents such as the tape roll  106  and the ribbon roll  114  are disposed on the lower casing  150 , the upper casing  152  is joined to the lower casing  150  so as to press-fit the plurality of joining pins  170  in the plurality of joining holes  172 , whereby the tape cartridge  100  is assembled. Note that the respective joining holes  172  are formed as through holes from the viewpoint of molding easiness. 
     On the other hand, on the left side surface and the right side surface of the lower casing  150 , a pair of retaining-reception portions  174  retained by the pair of retaining pieces  57  is provided (see  FIGS. 2A and 2B  and  FIG. 6 ). When the pair of retaining-reception portions  174  of the installed tape cartridge  100  is retained by the pair of retaining pieces  57  on the side of the cartridge installation portion  5 , the tape cartridge  100  is prevented from floating. In addition, on the rear surface of the lower casing  150 , small fitting holes  176  in which the pair of small projections  55  fits with slight room are provided (see  FIG. 6 ). When the pair of small projections  55  on the side of the cartridge installation portion  5  fits in the pair of small fitting holes  176  of the installed tape cartridge  100 , the tape cartridge  100  is easily positioned on the installation base portion  31 . 
     Moreover, on the rear surface of the lower casing  150 , the detection receiving portion  178  corresponding to the tape detection portion  51  is provided at a left corner part on the side of the base end surface (i.e., at a right corner part as seen from the side of the front surface) (see  FIG. 6 ). The detection receiving portion  178  is constituted at a portion corresponding to the plurality of micro switches  51   a  of the tape detection portion  51 , and a plurality of bit patterns is obtained based on the presence or absence of reception holes  180   a  provided at the portion. That is, the bit patterns correspond to a type except for a tape width of the printing tape  102 . 
     On the other hand, as shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B ,  FIG. 5 , and  FIGS. 8A and 8B , recessed portions  182  are formed at four places in the peripheral direction of the upper peripheral wall portion  158  of the upper casing  152 . In addition, in order to correspond to the recessed portions  182  at the four places, thick wall portions  184  are formed at four places in the peripheral direction of the lower peripheral wall portion  162  of the lower casing  150 . Further, the end surface on the side of the upper peripheral wall portion  158  of each of the thick wall portions  184  constitutes a butted surface  186  against which a part of a disassembling jig (not shown) that will be described later is butted. 
     Although not particularly shown in the figures, the disassembling jig includes, in order to disassemble the used tape cartridge  100 , four columns that receive the inverted tape cartridge  100  with the butted surfaces  186  at the four places described above and four extraction pins inserted in the four joining holes  172  of the lower casing  150 , the four joining holes  172  being constituted of through holes. In a state in which the tape cartridge  100  is set on the four columns, the four extraction pins are moved downward and inserted in the four joining holes  172  from the rear side of the lower casing  150 . Thus, the four extraction pins disassemble the lower casing  150  from the upper casing  152  so as to simultaneously push out (extract) the four joining pins  170  of the upper casing  152 . 
     As described above, the recessed portions  182  at the four places of the upper casing  152  and the thick wall portions  184  at the four places and the butted surfaces  186  at the four places of the lower casing  150  are formed on the cartridge casing  130  as the essential disassembling portions of the tape cartridge  100 . In addition, together with sliding portions  188  formed on the outside of the thick wall portions  184 , the recessed portions  182 , the thick wall portions  184 , and the butted surfaces  186  constitute detected portions  180  of the tape cartridge  100  corresponding to the thickness detection switches  65 . Note that in the embodiment, three of the four detected portions  180  correspond to the three thickness detection switches  65  (that will be described in detail later). 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , in upper side space (on the side of the tip end surface) inside the cartridge casing  130 , a tape accommodation area  190  in which the tape roll  106  is widely accommodated is constituted. At the center of the tape accommodation area  190 , the core shaft  192  integrally formed (molded) with the lower casing  150  is provided to stand. The core shaft  192  is formed in a cylindrical shape, and the tape roll  106  (the tape core  104 ) is rotatably journaled in the outer peripheral surface of the core shaft  192 . In addition, in the tape accommodation area  190 , a tape guide  194  that guides the fed-out printing tape  102  to the platen roller  120  is integrally formed with the lower casing  150  so as to stand in the vicinity of the platen roller  120 . 
     That is, inside the cartridge casing  130 , a tape feeding path  196  ranging from the tape roll  106  as a starting point to the tape delivering port  138  via the tape guide  194  and the platen roller  120  is constituted. The printing tape  102  fed out from the tape roll  106  is guided to the platen roller  120  via the tape guide  194  and subjected to printing by the platen roller  120 . Then, the printing tape  102  is further guided from the platen roller  120  to the tape delivering port  138 . 
     The tape roll  106  includes two circular films  198  affixed to both end surfaces of the roll-shaped printing tape  102 , besides the printing tape  102  and the tape core  104 . The two circular films  198  prevent the printing tape  102  wound on the tape core  104  from spreading out. In addition, although not shown in the figures, a reverse-rotation stop mechanism is embedded in the tape core  104 . When the tape cartridge  100  is carried, the reverse rotation of the printing tape  102  is prevented by the reverse-rotation stop mechanism. On the other hand, when the tape cartridge  100  is installed on the cartridge installation portion  5  of the tape printing apparatus  1 , the reverse-rotation stop of the reverse-rotation stop mechanism is released by the positioning projection  41 , whereby the feeding of the printing tape  102  is made possible. 
     On the right side of a base portion inside the cartridge casing  130 , a ribbon accommodation area  200  is constituted adjacent to the insertion opening  134 . In the ribbon accommodation area  200 , a feeding-out-side bearing portion  202  that rotatably supports the ribbon roll  114  (the feeding-out core  112 ) and a winding-up-side bearing portion  204  that rotatably supports the winding-up core  116  are integrally formed with the cartridge casing  130  on the right and left parts, respectively. That is, the feeding-out-side bearing portion  202  and the winding-up-side bearing portion  204  are formed on each of the upper casing  152  and the lower casing  150 . 
     The notched parts of the feeding-out-side bearing portion  202  and the winding-up-side bearing portion  204  formed on the lower casing  150  are each integrally formed with the rotation-stop hooks  206  having the tip end thereof facing the feeding-out-side bearing portion  202  and the winding-up-side bearing portion  204 . Further, one and the other of rotation-stop hooks  206  engage with the feeding-out core  112  and the winding-up core  116 , respectively, in their rotation stopping state. 
     In the ribbon accommodation area  200 , a first ribbon guide  210  that guides the fed-out ink ribbon  110  to the platen roller  120  is integrally formed with the lower casing  150  so as to stand in the vicinity of the feeding-out-side bearing portion  202 . In addition, on the outer peripheral side of the opening peripheral wall portion  164 , a plurality of second ribbon guides  212  that guides the going-around of the ink ribbon  110  is integrally formed. 
     That is, inside the cartridge casing  130 , a ribbon feeding path  214  ranging from the ribbon roll  114  as a starting point to the winding-up core  116  via the first ribbon guide  210 , the platen roller  120 , and the plurality of second ribbon guides  212  is constituted. The ink ribbon  110  fed out from the ribbon roll  114  is guided to the platen roller  120  via the first ribbon guide  210  and subjected to printing by the platen roller  120 . Moreover, the ink ribbon  110  goes around the opening peripheral wall portion  164  (the plurality of second ribbon guides  212 ) via the platen roller  120  and is wound up by the winding-up core  116 . 
     The ribbon roll  114  includes a circular leaf spring  220  that applies a braking load to the feeding-out core  112 , besides the ink ribbon  110  and the feeding-out core  112  (see  FIG. 5B ). The leaf spring  220  is formed to be wavy in the peripheral direction and interposed between the top wall portion  156  of the upper casing  152  and the feeding-out core  112  in the shaft direction. That is, a rotation braking load is applied to the feeding-out core  112  by the elastic force of the leaf spring  220 . Thus, back tension is applied to the ink ribbon  110  fed out from the winding-up core  116  to prevent slack in the ink ribbon  110 . 
     The feeding-out core  112  is formed in a cylindrical shape, and a plurality of notches  222  is formed in the peripheral direction at the end thereof on the side of the lower casing  150  (see  FIG. 6 ). Further, the rotation-stop hooks  206  engage with or disengage from the plurality of notches  222 . Note that the feeding-out-side bearing portion  202  on the side of the lower casing  150  supporting the feeding-out core  112  is constituted of a circular opening while the feeding-out-side bearing portion  202  on the side of the upper casing  152  is constituted of a cylindrical projection portion. Further, the leaf spring  220  is attached to the projection portion (see  FIG. 5B  about both of the constituents). 
     Similarly, the winding-up core  116  is formed in a cylindrical shape, and a plurality of notches  224  is formed in the peripheral direction at the end thereof on the side of the lower casing  150 . Further, the rotation-stop hooks  206  engage with or disengage from the plurality of notches  224 . In addition, a spline groove  226  is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the winding-up core  116  and spline-engages with the winding-up driving shaft  47 . Thus, the rotation force of the winding-up driving shaft  47  is transmitted to the winding-up core  116  to wind up the ink ribbon  110 . 
     On the left side of the base portion inside the cartridge casing  130 , a platen accommodation area  230  is constituted adjacent to the insertion opening  134 . At the center of the platen accommodation area  230 , a lower bearing portion  234  (see  FIG. 6 ) having an elliptical opening formed on the lower casing  150  and an upper bearing portion  232  (see  FIG. 5B ) having an elliptical (oval) opening formed on the upper casing  152  are provided. Further, by the upper bearing portion  232  and the lower bearing portion  234 , the platen roller  120  is supported so as to be rotatable and slightly horizontally movable. That is, the platen roller  120  supported by the elliptical upper bearing portion  232  and the lower bearing portion  234  is configured to be horizontally movable (slightly movable) between a home position at which the platen roller  120  engages with the platen driving shaft  45  and a holding position at which the platen roller  120  comes in contact with the tape guide  194  with the printing tape  102  held therebetween. 
     Meanwhile, when the tape cartridge  100  is carried, the fed-out end of the printing tape  102  is in a state of slightly projecting from the tape delivering port  138  to an outside (see  FIG. 1 ). If a pressing force or a withdrawing force is falsely applied to the fed-out end of the printing tape  102  at this time, the platen roller  120  pulled by the force is moved to the holding position described above. Thus, the fed-out end of the printing tape  102  is prevented from being withdrawn into the cartridge casing  130  via the tape delivering port  138 . 
     The platen roller  120  includes a cylindrical roller base body  240  and a rubber roller  242  attached to the outer peripheral surface of the roller base body  240 . The rubber roller  242  has a length corresponding to the printing head  21  in the shaft direction, and the printing head  21  comes in contact with the rubber roller  242  with the printing tape  102  and the ink ribbon  110  held therebetween when moving to a printing position. In addition, a spline groove  244  is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the roller base body  240  and spline-engages with the platen driving shaft  45 . Thus, the rotation force of the platen driving shaft  45  is transmitted to the platen roller  120  to print-feed the printing tape  102  (and the ink ribbon  110 ). 
     [Details of Detected Portions and Thickness Detection Switches] 
     Next, with reference to  FIG. 3  and  FIGS. 7A to 7C  to  FIGS. 9A to 9C , a description will be given in detail of the structure of the detected portions  180  of the tape cartridge  100  according to the embodiment in conjunction with the structure of the thickness detection switches  65  provided on the cartridge installation portion  5 . As described above, the three thickness detection switches  65  are disposed on the installation peripheral wall portion  33  of the cartridge installation portion  5 . In order to correspond to the three thickness detection switches  65 , the detected portions  180  are formed at the three places of the outer peripheral surface of the tape cartridge  100  and an extra detected portion  180 S is formed at one place thereof. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 ,  FIGS. 7A to 7C , and  FIGS. 9A to 9C , the three thickness detection switches  65  are dispersedly disposed in the peripheral direction on the installation peripheral wall portion  33  of the cartridge installation portion  5 . As described above, the first detection switch  65 A is disposed in the vicinity of the printing head  21 , the second detection switch  65 B is disposed in the vicinity of the tape detection portion  51 , and the third detection switch  65 C is disposed in the vicinity of one of the small projections  55 . 
     Each of the thickness detection switches  65  is constituted of, for example, a press switch. Each of the thickness detection switches  65  includes a switch main body  280  attached to the installation peripheral wall portion  33  and a stem  282  that is supported by the switch main body  280  so as to be freely movable back and forth and comes in contact with the tape cartridge  100  (the cartridge casing  130 ) to operate (turn ON/OFF) the switch main body  280  (see  FIGS. 9A to 9C ). The stem  282  moves back and forth between a projecting position at which the stem  282  projects from the switch main body  280  in a direction crossing the installation direction, i.e., in a substantially horizontal direction and a pressing position at which the stem  282  is pressed by the tape cartridge  100  installed on the cartridge installation portion  5 . In addition, the stem  282  is biased by an internal spring (not shown) in a direction away from the switch main body  280 , i.e., in its projecting direction. Further, in the use of the thickness detection switch  65 , the thickness detection switch  65  (the switch main body  280 ) is turned “OFF” when the stem  282  projects from the projecting position due to the spring force of the internal spring and is turned “ON” when the stem  282  is pressed to the pressing position while resisting the internal spring. 
     That is, when being positioned at the recessed portion  182  or a removing guide slant surface  304  of the sliding portion  188  of the cartridge casing  130 , the stem  282  projects from the projecting position, whereby the thickness detection switch  65  is turned OFF. On the other hand, when coming in contact with a contact surface  300  of the sliding portion  188  of the cartridge casing  130 , the stem  282  is pressed to the pressing position, whereby the thickness detection switch  65  is turned ON. 
     In addition, when the stem  282  relatively moves from the contact surface  300  to the removing guide slant surface  304  of the sliding portion  188  at the installation of the tape cartridge  100  on the cartridge installation portion  5 , the switch main body (the thickness detection switch  65 ) changes from its ON state to its OFF state. Similarly, when the stem  282  relatively moves from the removing guide slant surface  304  to the contact surface  300  at the removal of the tape cartridge  100  from the cartridge installation portion  5 , the switch main body  280  (the thickness detection switch  65 ) changes from its OFF state to its ON state. 
     The first detection switch  65 A is disposed such that the stem  282  is pressed while facing the contact surface  300  of the tape cartridge  100  even when the tape cartridge  100  having a different thickness is installed. In other words, the first detection switch  65 A is disposed such that the stem  282  is pressed to the pressing position while facing the contact surface  300  to operate (turn ON) the switch main body  280 . Specifically, the first detection switch  65 A is disposed at a position away from the installation base portion  31  by a distance Da in an upward direction opposite to the installation direction, i.e., at a low position of the cartridge installation portion  5  (see  FIGS. 10A and 10B ). 
     Similarly, the second detection switch  65 B is disposed such that the stem  282  turns OFF the switch main body  280  while facing the removing guide slant surface  304  of the tape cartridge  100 A when the thin tape cartridge  100 A is installed. In addition, the second detection switch  65 B is disposed such that the stem  282  turns ON the switch main body  280  while facing the contact surface  300  of the tape cartridge  100 B when the intermediate-thickness tape cartridge  100 B is installed. Moreover, the second detection switch  65 B is disposed such that the stem  282  turns ON the switch main body  280  while facing the contact surface  300  of the tape cartridge  100 C when the thick tape cartridge  100 C is installed. Specifically, the second detection switch  65 B is disposed at a position away from the installation base portion  31  by a distance Db (&gt;Da) in the upward direction, i.e., at an intermediate position of the cartridge installation portion  5  (see  FIGS. 10A and 10B ). 
     Similarly, the third detection switch  65 C is disposed such that the stem  282  turns OFF the switch main body  280  while facing the recessed portion of the tape cartridge  100 A when the thin tape cartridge  100 A is installed. In addition, the third detection switch  65 C is disposed such that the stem  282  turns OFF the switch main body  280  while facing the removing guide slant surface  304  of the tape cartridge  100 B when the intermediate-thickness tape cartridge  100 B is installed. Moreover, the third detection switch  65 C is disposed such that the stem  282  turns ON the switch main body  280  while facing the contact surface  300  of the tape cartridge  100 C when the thick tape cartridge  100 C is installed. Specifically, the third detection switch  65 C is disposed at a position away from the installation base portion  31  by a distance Dc (&gt;Db) in the upward direction, i.e., at a high position of the cartridge installation portion  5  (see  FIGS. 10A and 10B ). 
     As will be described in detail later, the first detection switch  65 A is turned ON, the second detection switch  65 B is turned ON, and the third detection switch  65 C is turned OFF when the intermediate-thickness tape cartridge  100 B is, for example, installed on the cartridge installation portion  5 . The above detection circuit connected to the three thickness detection switches  65  detects a thickness type of the installed tape cartridge  100  based on whether the first detection switch  65 A, the second detection switch  65 B, and the third detection switch  65 C are turned ON/OFF (see  FIGS. 10A and 10B ). 
     On the other hand, as shown in  FIGS. 8A and 8B  and  FIGS. 9A to 9C , the tape cartridge  100  is provided with the detected portions  180  at the three places of the outer peripheral surface thereof so as to correspond to the three thickness detection switches  65 . As described above, each of the detected portions  180  includes the recessed portion  182  recessed on the upper peripheral wall portion  158  of the upper casing  152 , the thick wall portion  184  formed at the lower peripheral wall portion  162  of the lower casing  150  so as to correspond to the recessed portion  182 , the butted surface  186 , i.e., the end surface on the side of the upper peripheral wall portion  158  of the thick wall portion  184 , and the sliding portion  188  recessed on the outer surface of the thick wall portion  184 . 
     The recessed portion  182  is a groove-shaped portion at which the opposing thickness detection switch  65  is turned OFF, and is recessed to be formed in an arc shape in cross section toward the inside thereof. In addition, the recessed portion  182  is formed to extend from the upper end to the lower end of the upper peripheral wall portion  158  including the top wall portion  156  over the thickness of the upper casing  152 . The stem  282  of the thickness detection switch  65  facing the recessed portion  182  projects from the switch main body  280  to the projecting position, whereby the thickness detection switch  65  is turned OFF. 
     The thick wall portion  184  is formed in an arc shape in cross section so as to follow the recessed portion  182 . In this case, however, the thick wall portion  184  is formed in the arc shape in cross section slightly larger than the recessed portion  182  by the thickness of the upper peripheral wall portion  158 . In addition, the butted surface  186  corresponding to the end surface on the side of the recessed portion  182  (on the side of the upper peripheral wall portion  158 ) of the thick wall portion  184  is formed in the same shape as the cross section of the thick wall portion  184 . 
     The sliding portion  188  is formed to extend from the upper end to the lower end of the lower peripheral wall portion  162  over the thickness of the lower casing  150 . The sliding portion  188  includes an installation guide slant surface  302  provided at the lower end thereof and the contact surface  300  communicating with the upper side of the installation guide slant surface  302 . Moreover, a part of the sliding portion  188  includes the removing guide slant surface  304  communicating with the upper side of the contact surface  300 . 
     The contact surface  300  is formed to be substantially parallel to the installation direction. The installation guide slant surface  302  is slanted in the projecting direction of the stem  282  on the back side thereof, i.e., on the lower side thereof in the installation direction. The installation guide slant surface  302  presses the stem  282  to the pressing position when the tape cartridge  100  is installed on the cartridge installation portion  5 . On the other hand, the removing guide slant surface  304  is slanted in the projecting direction of the stem  282  on the near side thereof, i.e., on the upper side thereof in the installation direction. The installation guide slant surface  302  releases the pressing of the stem  282  when the tape cartridge  100  is installed on the cartridge installation portion  5 , and presses the stem  282  to the pressing position when the tape cartridge  100  is removed from the cartridge installation portion  5 . 
     More specifically, as for the thin tape cartridge  100 A, two of the three detected portions  180  corresponding to the second detection switch  65 B and the third detection switch  65 C have the installation guide slant surface  302 . In addition, as for the intermediate-thickness tape cartridge  100 B, one of the three detected portions  180  corresponding to the third detection switch  65 C has the installation guide slant surface  302  (see  FIGS. 9A to 9C ). On the other hand, as for the thick tape cartridge  100 C, any of the three detected portions  180  does not have the installation guide slant surface  302 . 
     Note that although the detected portion  180  of the thin tape cartridge  100 A corresponding to the first detection switch  65 A is formed to have the same slant surface as the installation guide slant surface  302 , it may not have the slant surface. That is, the upper end corner of the detected portion  180  may be formed in a substantially square shape in cross section. Same applies to the detected portions  180  corresponding to the first detection switch  65 A and the second detection switch  65 B of the intermediate-thickness tape cartridge  100 B and the three detected portions  180  of the thick tape cartridge  100 C. 
     Meanwhile, a difference in the thickness between the plurality of types of tape cartridges  100  is adjusted by a difference in the thickness of the lower casing  150 . That is, in the installed tape cartridge  100 , the height position of the removing guide slant surface  304 , which is formed at the upper end of the lower casing  150 , from the installation base portion  31  becomes a fixed position at which the thickness of the tape cartridge  100  is indicated. 
     Accordingly, when the thin tape cartridge  100 A (“the cartridge having a width of 12 mm”) is installed on the cartridge installation portion  5 , the first detection switch  65 A is turned ON and the second detection switch  65 B and the third detection switch  65 C are turned OFF. 
     In addition, when the intermediate-thickness tape cartridge  100 B (“the cartridge having a width of 18 mm”) is installed, the first detection switch  65 A and the second detection switch  65 B are turned ON and the third detection switch  65 C is turned OFF. 
     Moreover, when the thick tape cartridge  100 C (“the cartridge having a width of 24 mm”) is installed, any of the first detection switch  65 A, the second detection switch  65 B, and the third detection switch  65 C is turned ON. 
     [Detection of Thickness of Tape Cartridge] 
       FIGS. 10A and 10B  show a method for detecting the thickness (type) of the tape cartridge  100 . As shown in the figures, the three thickness detection switches  65 A,  65 B, and  65 C are provided such that the distances from the installation base portion  31  in the direction opposite to the installation direction, i.e., in the upward direction are different. 
     Further, the detection circuit determines that the thin tape cartridge  100 A is installed when the first detection switch  65 A is turned ON and the second detection switch  65 B and the third detection switch  65 C are turned OFF. 
     Similarly, the detection circuit determines that the intermediate-thickness tape cartridge  100 B is installed when the first detection switch  65 A and the second detection switch  65 B are turned ON and the third detection switch  65 C is turned OFF. 
     Similarly, the detection circuit determines that the thick tape cartridge  100 C is installed when all of the first detection switch  65 A, the second detection switch  65 B, and the third detection switch  65  are turned ON. 
     As described above, when the tape cartridge  100  of the embodiment is installed on the cartridge installation portion  5 , the installation guide slant surface  302  presses the stem  282  of the thickness detection switch  65  provided on the installation peripheral wall portion  33 . Therefore, when being installed on the cartridge installation portion  5 , the tape cartridge  100  can be prevented from floating from the cartridge installation portion  5 . In addition, since the detected portion  180  has the installation guide slant surface  302 , it is prevented from getting snagged on the stem  282  of the thickness detection switch  65 . As a result, the tape cartridge  100  can be smoothly installed on the cartridge installation portion  5 . 
     In addition, since the pressing of the stems  282  different in number according to the thickness of the installed tape cartridge  100  is released when the tape cartridge  100  is installed on the cartridge installation portion  5 , the detection of the thickness of the installed tape cartridge  100  is allowed. In addition, the maximum number of the detected portions  180  having the removing guide slant surface  304  is two. Therefore, since the stem  282  is pressed to the pressing position by at least one of the detected portions  180 , i.e., the detected portion  180  corresponding to the first detection switch  65 A when the tape cartridge  100  is installed on the cartridge installation portion  5 , the detection of the installation of the tape cartridge  100  on the cartridge installation portion  5  is allowed. Moreover, the detected portion  180 , which releases the pressing of the stem  282  when the tape cartridge  100  is installed on the cartridge installation portion  5 , has the removing guide slant surface  304  that presses the stem  282  to the pressing position at the removal of the tape cartridge  100  from the cartridge installation portion  5 . Thus, the detected portion  180  is prevented from getting snagged on the stem  282  of the thickness detection switch  65 . As a result, the tape cartridge  100  can be smoothly removed from the cartridge installation portion  5 . 
     In addition, the three detected portions  180  corresponding to the three thickness detection switches  65  are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the cartridge casing  130 . Therefore, the upsizing of the tape cartridge  100  due to the detected portions  180  can be prevented. Moreover, the thickness of the tape cartridge  100  is detected using the thickness of the lower casing  150 . Therefore, the complication of the structure of the tape cartridge  100  due to the detected portions  180  can be prevented, and thus the thickness of the tape cartridge  100  can be reliably detected. Besides, the detected portions  180  can also serve as essential disassembling portions for disassembling the tape cartridge  100 . 
     Further, the spring forces of the thickness detection switches  65  are laterally applied to the tape cartridge  100 . Therefore, the positional deviation of the tape cartridge  100  can be prevented by the three dispersedly-arranged thickness detection switches  65 . In particular, the first detection switch  65 A, the second detection switch  65 B, and the third detection switch  65 C are disposed so as to be distant in this order from the platen roller  120  that receives a pressing force from the printing head  21 , and the three thickness detection switches  65  are arranged so as to resist the pressing force of the printing head  21  to a greater extent. 
     Note that in the embodiment, the three types of tape cartridges  100  having a different thickness are detected. However, it may be possible to increase the number of the thickness detection switches  65  and the detected portions  180  to detect three or more types of the tape cartridges  100 . Conversely, the tape cartridge  100  may include only one of the detected portions  180 , and the press switch functioning as the thickness detection switch  65  in the embodiment may function as an installation detection switch for detecting the installation/non-installation of the tape cartridge  100 .