Patent Publication Number: US-9840096-B2

Title: Tape cartridge

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is the U.S. National Phase under 35 U.S.C. §371 of International Application No. PCT/JP2015/058313 filed on Mar. 19, 2015, which in turn claims the benefit of Japanese Application No. 2014-060912 filed on Mar. 24, 2014, the disclosures of which are expressly incorporated by reference herein. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a tape cartridge that is used by being installed on a cartridge installation portion in a tape printing apparatus to be used, and is subjected to printing by the tape printing apparatus. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     In the related arts, a tape accommodating cassette provided with three projections corresponding to tape-width sensors of a printer (tape printing apparatus) has been known as such a tape cartridge (see JP-7-214828). 
     In the printer, an installation portion of the tape accommodating cassette is provided with tape-width sensors configured with photo interrupters to respectively detect three projections. The tape-width sensors detect the presence or absence of three projections, respectively, and thus detects a tape width of a printing tape mounted in the tape accommodating cassette. In addition, the printer includes a cassette cover that opens/closes the installation portion of the tape accommodating cassette and a small mechanical switch that is provided at a position away from the installation portion and detects opening/closing of the cassette cover. 
     SUMMARY 
     In such a printer (tape printing apparatus) of the related art, the mechanical switch for detecting the opening/closing of the cassette cover (opening/closing cover) is provided at the position away from the installation portion. That is, since it is hindered by the tape accommodating cassette (tape cartridge) mounted on the installation portion, the mechanical switch is inevitably provided at the position away from the installation portion. For this reason, there are problems that the size of the cassette cover becomes large and an installation position of the mechanical switch is restricted. In addition, during the detection by the tape-width sensors, the tape width of the printing tape and the installation of the tape accommodating cassette (tape cartridge) can be simultaneously detected by three projections. In the tape accommodating cassette not having three projections, however, a state where the tape accommodating cassette is not installed is also detected, and thus there is a problem that the tape width cannot be detected when three projections are not present. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a tape cartridge capable of detecting not only closing of an opening/closing cover but also the presence or absence of the tape cartridge in a tape printing apparatus. 
     A tape cartridge of the present invention is a tape cartridge installed detachably on a cartridge installation portion of a tape printing apparatus in a predetermined detachable direction, the tape printing apparatus including a detection portion which detects closing of an opening/closing cover provided on the cartridge installation portion, the tape cartridge including a displacement input portion, and a displacement output portion. Wherein, when the opening/closing cover is displaced from an open state to a closed state in a state of being installed on the cartridge installation portion, the displacement input portion receives displacement of a detection-target element, which is provided on the opening/closing cover, to be displaced according to the displacement of the opening/closing cover from the open state to the closed state, and the displacement output portion actuates a detection element of the detection portion according to displacement of the opening/closing cover to be further displaced in the same direction from the open state to the closed state. 
     With such a configuration, the displacement input portion receives the displacement of the detection-target element, which is provided on the opening/closing cover, according to the closing of the opening/closing cover, and the displacement output portion actuates the detection element of the detection portion according to such displacement. That is, the detection-target element of the opening/closing cover actuates the detection element of the detection portion through the displacement input portion and the displacement output portion. Accordingly, the presence of the tape cartridge is also detected by the detection of the closing of the opening/closing cover using the detection portion, and thus the closing of the opening/closing cover and the presence or absence of the tape cartridge can be simultaneously detected. 
     In this case, preferably, the tape cartridge further includes: a cartridge casing that has a shell structure, an accommodation opening that is provided in the cartridge casing and accommodates the detection-target element; and an insertion opening that is provided in the cartridge casing and into which the detection element is inserted, and the displacement input portion and the displacement output portion are disposed inside the cartridge casing. 
     With such a configuration, it is possible to provide the displacement input portion and the displacement output portion without changing the contour of the cartridge casing. 
     In this case, preferably, a position of the displacement input portion coming in contact with the detection-target element is positionally deviated from a position of the displacement output portion coming in contact with the detection element when viewed in the detachable direction. 
     With such a configuration, it is possible to appropriately actuate the detection element according to the closing of the opening/closing cover even when the detection-target element is hardly disposed coaxially with the detection element due to the restriction on installation places. 
     In this case, preferably, the tape cartridge further includes a displacement portion that includes the displacement input portion and the displacement output portion, the displacement portion is displaced substantially around a support point, and a distance from the support point to the position of the displacement output portion coming in contact with the detection element is longer than a distance from the support point to the position of the displacement input portion coming in contact with the detection-target element. 
     With such a configuration, since the displacement of the detection-target element is transmitted with expansion, the detection element can be reliably actuated even when an actuation stroke of the detection element becomes long. 
     In the same manner, preferably, the tape cartridge further includes a displacement portion that includes the displacement input portion and the displacement output portion, the displacement portion is displaced substantially around a support point, and a distance from the support point to the position of the displacement output portion coming in contact with the detection element is shorter than a distance from the support point to the position of the displacement input portion coming in contact with the detection-target element. 
     With such a configuration, the pressing force of the detection-target element for causing the displacement of the displacement portion can be reduced, and the force to be applied at the time of the closing of the opening/closing cover can be reduced. 
     Preferably, the displacement portion has an elastic portion that is subjected to elastic deformation by a pressing force of the detection-target element and actuates the detection element by the elastic deformation. 
     With such a configuration, due to the elastic deformation of the elastic portion, the cartridge casing may be resiliently pressed by the detection-target element. Thus, the cartridge casing is fixedly positioned in the cartridge installation portion. Accordingly, it is possible to simultaneously detect the closing of the opening/closing cover and the presence or absence of the tape cartridge, and to achieve the positioning of the tape cartridge. 
     In this case, preferably, the elastic portion includes an elastic piece that comes in contact with the detection-target element and extends toward the detection element in an “L” shape. 
     In this case, preferably, the tape cartridge further includes a cartridge casing that has a shell structure, and the elastic piece is formed integrally with the cartridge casing. 
     In the same manner, preferably, the tape cartridge further includes a cartridge casing that has a shell structure, and the elastic piece is configured with a plate spring supported on the cartridge casing. 
     With such a configuration, it is possible to form the elastic piece with a simple structure. In addition, as the elastic portion is formed in the “L” shape toward the detection element, the protrusion size of the detection element from the cartridge installation portion can be shortened. 
     Preferably, the displacement portion includes: an input elastic portion that is subjected to elastic deformation by a pressing force of the detection-target element; and an output actuation portion that is continuous to the input elastic portion and actuates the detection element according to the elastic deformation of the input elastic portion. 
     With such a configuration, the output actuation portion becomes longer, and thus it is possible to shorten the detection-target element protruding from the opening/closing cover and to shorten the detection element protruding toward the cartridge installation portion. 
     In this case, preferably, the tape cartridge further includes a cartridge casing that has a shell structure, and the input elastic portion is formed by removing a part of a casing wall of the cartridge casing. 
     In this case, preferably, the input elastic portion is formed by removing a part of a casing wall in a “U” shape. 
     With such a configuration, it is possible to form the input elastic portion by molding, machining, or the like in a very simple manner. That is, the input elastic portion can be formed with a very simple structure. 
     Meanwhile, preferably, the tape cartridge further includes a cartridge casing that has a shell structure, the cartridge casing has two casing, and the displacement portion is provided on either one of the two casing. 
     With such a configuration, when there is an existing tape cartridge having the same shape, it is possible to simply manufacture the tape cartridge having the displacement portion only by design change of one casing. 
     In addition, preferably, the tape cartridge further includes a displacement portion that includes the displacement input portion and the displacement output portion, and the displacement portion includes an input portion that moves by a pressing force of the detection-target element and an output portion that is continuous to the input portion and actuates the detection element according to movement of the input portion. 
     With such a configuration, the output actuation portion becomes longer, and thus it is possible to shorten the detection-target element protruding from the opening/closing cover and to shorten the detection element protruding toward the cartridge installation portion. In addition, it is possible to stably actuate the detection element by the movement of the input portion. 
     In this case, preferably, the input portion and the output portion are integrally formed. 
     With such a configuration, the displacement portion can be formed with a simple structure. 
     In addition, preferably, the displacement portion further includes an elastic member that receives the input portion at an initial position at which the detection-target element is received. 
     With such a configuration, due to the elastic deformation of the elastic portion, the cartridge casing may be resiliently pressed by the detection-target element. Thus, the cartridge casing is fixedly positioned in the cartridge installation portion. 
     In this case, preferably, the elastic member is configured with a coil spring. 
     In the same manner, preferably, the elastic member is configured with either one of rubber and sponge. 
     In the same manner, preferably, the elastic member is a casing piece formed in such a manner that a part of a casing wall of the cartridge casing is cut and raised toward the input portion. 
     With such a configuration, the elastic member can be formed with a very simple structure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an external perspective view of a cover open condition of a tape printing apparatus according to an embodiment. 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  are a plan view and a side view of a tape cartridge according to the embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view of a cartridge installation portion. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an opening/closing cover when viewed from a back side. 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  are, respectively, a plan view of the tape cartridge with its upper casing removed and a back view of the upper casing. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the tape cartridge when viewed from the back side. 
         FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C  are, respectively, an enlarged plan view of a surrounding displacement portion, an enlarged perspective view of a surrounding detection-target projection, and a cross-sectional view of a surrounding displacement portion of a tape cartridge according to a first embodiment. 
         FIGS. 8A, 8B, 8C, and 8D  are, respectively, a structural view of a surrounding displacement portion of a tape cartridge according to a first modification example of the first embodiment, a structural view of a surrounding displacement portion of a tape cartridge according to a second modification example, a structural view of a surrounding displacement portion of a tape cartridge according to a third modification example, and a structural view of a surrounding displacement portion of a tape cartridge according to a fourth modification example. 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of a surrounding displacement portion of a tape cartridge according to a second embodiment. 
         FIGS. 10A and 10B  are, respectively, a cross-sectional view of a surrounding displacement portion of a tape cartridge according to a first modification example of the second embodiment and a cross-sectional view of a surrounding displacement portion of a tape cartridge according to a second modification example. 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of a surrounding displacement portion of a tape cartridge according to a third embodiment. 
         FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of a surrounding displacement portion of a tape cartridge according to a fourth embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, a description will be given, with reference to the accompanying drawings, 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 illustrated in the same figure, 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  used to open/close the cartridge installation portion  5 . At 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 front 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 so as to be flipped up through the recessed portion  15 . 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 uprightly 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 inputs printing information using 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, and printing is performed by heat transfer from the printing mechanism portion  23 . 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, whereby a printed part of the printing tape  102  is separated. 
     [Outline of Tape Cartridge] 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1, 2A, and 2B , the tape cartridge  100  includes a tape roll  106  in which the printing tape  102  is wound on a tape core  104  and a ribbon roll  114  in which the ink ribbon  110  is wound on a feeding-out core  112 . In addition, the tape cartridge  100  includes a winding-up core  116  that winds up the ink ribbon  110  that has been consumed and 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 . Moreover, 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 . 
     Further, the tape cartridge  100  includes an insertion opening  134 , into which the printing head  21  is inserted when the tape cartridge is installed in the tape printing apparatus  1 , on the cartridge casing  130 . The tape cartridge  100  includes a delivered  138  from which the printing tape  102  is delivered. Note that as will be described in detail below, the tape roll  106  is rotatably supported on 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 delivered  138  to the tape ejection port  17 . On the other hand, the ink ribbon  110  goes around the peripheral wall part of the insertion opening  134  and is wound up on the winding-up core  116 . Note that a plurality of types of tape cartridges 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 illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the cartridge installation portion  5  is formed in a flat 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 tape cartridges  100 . In this case, an installation base  31  constituting the bottom plate portion of the cartridge installation portion  5  and a side plate portion  33  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. 
     In the installation base  31  of the cartridge installation portion  5 , when the tape cartridge  100  is installed, a positioning projection  41  into which the core shaft  192  of the tape cartridge  100  is fitted and positioned, the printing head  21  covered with the head cover  43 , a platen driving shaft  45  that rotates and drives the platen roller  120 , a winding-up driving shaft  47  that rotates and drives the winding-up core  116  are provided uprightly. In addition, the installation base  31  is provided with a tape detection portion  51  that detects type (attribute information) of the printing tape  102 , cover detection portion  52  that detects closing of the opening/closing cover  7 , and a core releasing portion  53  that releases the rotation-stop of the feeding-out core  112  and the winding-up core  116  which are positioned in the vicinity of the winding-up driving shaft  47 , respectively (see  FIG. 3 ). 
     Furthermore, the installation base  31  is provided with a pair of small projections  55  at positions diagonal to each other, and is additionally provided with a pair of retaining pieces  57  that retain an intermediate portion of the installed tape cartridge  100 . In the back side space of the installation base  31 , the tape feeding mechanism portion  25  having a motor and a gear train (both of them is not illustrated in the drawings) to rotate the platen driving shaft  45  and the winding-up driving shaft  47  is embedded. The tape feeding mechanism portion  25  branches power using the gear train, and synchronously rotates the platen driving shaft  45  and the winding-up driving shaft  47 . 
     The printing mechanism portion  23  includes the printing head  21  constituted of a thermal head and a head support frame  61  that supports and rotates the printing head  21 . In addition, the printing mechanism portion  23  includes a head releasing mechanism (not illustrated) that rotates the printing head  21  between a printing position and a retracting position through the head support frame  61  and the head cover  43  that covers the printing head  21  (and the head support frame  61 ). 
     The head releasing mechanism operates as the opening/closing cover  7  is opened/closed. The head releasing mechanism moves (rotates) the printing head  21  to the printing position according to the closing operation of the opening/closing cover  7  and 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  through 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 to or detached from the tape printing apparatus  1 . 
     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  31  (the cartridge installation portion  5 ). In addition, the head cover  43  vertically largely projects from the installation base  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 target  180 , which will be described later, of the tape cartridge  100 , and detects a type such as a tape width, 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. 
     The cover detection portion  52  is configured with a push switch including a detection portion body  52   a  and a rod-like detection element  52   b , and is disposed such that the detection element  52   b  protrudes into the cartridge installation portion  5  from the installation base  31  (see  FIG. 7C ). When the cover detection portion  52  actuates (turns ON) and the closing of the opening/closing cover  7  is detected, a process such as printing can be achieved. In the cover detection portion  52 , the detection portion body  52   a  may be configured with an optical sensor or the like. 
     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  provided so as to insert the platen roller  120 , and a spline-like movable shaft  47   a  rotatably journaled in the base 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 further transmitted to the platen roller  120  from the movable shaft  45   b . Similarly, the winding-up driving shaft  47  includes a fixation shaft  47   a  and a spline-like 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. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , the opening/closing cover  7  is rotatably, i.e., openably/closably attached to the apparatus casing  3  through 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, 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 actuation 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 a pressing projection  81  that projects from the rear surface of the opening/closing cover main body  73  and press the tape cartridge  100  and a detection-target projection  83  (detection-target element) that projects from the rear surface of the opening/closing cover main body  73  and operates (turns ON) the cover detection portion  52 . 
     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 actuation lever  79 , the pressing projection  81 , and the detection-target projection  83  are formed (molded) integrally with the opening/closing cover main body  73  by a resin. 
     The actuation lever  79  largely 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 actuation lever  79  inserted in the slit opening  87  causes the head releasing mechanism described above to operate and the printing head  21  to rotate forward the platen roller  120 . The pressing projections  81  is positioned so as to be in the vicinity of the platen roller  120  of the tape cartridge  100 , and presses the tape cartridge  100  so as to be seated on the installation base  31  of the cartridge installation portion  5  with the closing of the opening/closing cover  7 . 
     The detection-target projection  83  is disposed in the vicinity of the actuation lever  79 , and vertically protrudes from the rear surface of the opening/closing cover body  73 . In addition, the detection-target projection  83  is formed in a cross-sectional “T” shape, and is disposed with a flange piece  95  directed to the side of the tip end of the opening/closing cover body  73  and a rib piece  97  directed to the side of the base end of the opening/closing cover body  73  (details will be described below). Although details will be described below, the detection-target projection  83  is inserted into the tape cartridge  100  with the closing of the opening/closing cover  7 , and actuates (turns ON) the cover detection portion  52  through the displacement portion  186  of the tape cartridge  100 . 
     [Details of Tape Cartridge] 
     Next, a description will be given in detail of the tape cartridge  100  with reference to  FIGS. 2A, 2B, 5A, 5B , and  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-like side surface on the upper side (front side) thereof will be called a “tip end surface”, and a side surface on the lower side (rear 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 delivered  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 through 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 (some of attribute information) 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 transparent resin molded item, 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  31 . 
     Moreover, on the rear surface (bottom wall portion  160 ) of the lower casing  150 , the detection target  180  corresponding to the detection portion  51  is provided at a left corner (right corner as viewed from the front surface side) on the side of the base end surface (see  FIG. 6 ). The detection target  180  is constituted at a place 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 of the printing tape  102 . 
     In addition, on the rear surface (bottom wall portion  160 ) of the lower casing  150  is formed with a circular insertion opening  182 , into which the detection element  52   b  of the cover detection portion  52  is loosely inserted, in the vicinity of the detection target  180  (see  FIG. 6 ). As described above, the detection element  52   b  is provided on the cartridge installation portion  5  so as to protrude from installation base  31 , and the detection element  52   b  is inserted into the tape cartridge  100  from the insertion opening  182  when the tape cartridge  100  is installed on the cartridge installation portion  5 . 
     On the other hand, at the right corner on the side of the base end surface in the front surface (top wall portion  156 ) of the tape cartridge  100 , that is, at the right corner on the side of the base end surface in the front surface of the upper casing  152 , an accommodation opening  184  into which the detection-target projection  83  is inserted and a displacement portion  186  coming in contact with the detection-target projection  83  inserted from the accommodation opening  184  are provided (see  FIGS. 2A, 2B, 5A, and 5B ). Although details will be described below, when the opening/closing cover  7  is closed, the detection-target projection  83  provided on the opening/closing cover  7  is inserted into the tape cartridge  100  from the accommodation opening  184 , and thus presses the displacement portion  186 . The pressed displacement portion  186  is elastically deformed, thereby generating an elastic force. The tape cartridge  100  receives the opening/closing cover  7  by the elastic force, and is pressed against the cartridge installation portion  5  (installation base  31 ). At the same time, due to the elastically deformed displacement portion  186 , the detection element  52   b  inserted into the insertion opening  182  is pressed down, and thus the cover detection portion  52  actuates (turns ON) (details will be described below). 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , 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  192   b  of the core shaft. 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  through 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  through the tape guide  194  and subjected to printing by the platen roller  120 . Then, the printing tape 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-like 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 illustrated in the drawings, reverse-rotation stop mechanism is embedded in the to 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  through 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  through 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 ) through 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 them). 
     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 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 delivered  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  through the delivered  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 rotation driving shaft  49  of 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 ). 
     Surrounding Displacement Portion According to First Embodiment 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7A to 7C , a structure of a displacement portion  186  of a tape cartridge  100  according to a first embodiment will be described in detail below in conjunction with a structure of the detection-target projection  83  (detection-target element) of the opening/closing cover  7  and the detection element  52   b  of the cover detection portion  52  (detection portion). As described above, the displacement portion  186  (elastic portion) is provided at a right corner on the base end surface of the top wall portion  156  of the upper casing  152 . In addition, the detection-target projection  83  corresponding to the displacement portion is provided so as to protrude from the rear surface of the opening/closing cover  7  (opening/closing cover body  73 ), and the detection element  52   b  of the cover detection portion  52  is disposed so as to protrude from the installation base  31  of the cartridge installation portion  5 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 7A to 7C , the displacement portion  186  includes an elastic piece  310  having an “L”-shaped cross section extending from the top wall portion  156  of the upper casing  152  to the inner side. As described above, the top wall portion  156  is formed with the accommodation opening  184  that accommodates the detection-target projection  83 , and the bottom wall portion  160  is formed with the insertion opening  182  into which the detection element  52   b  is inserted. 
     The elastic piece  310  includes a suspended piece  316  extending from the top wall portion  156  and a contact piece  318  on which the detection-target projection  83  is abutted (contacted), and is formed (molded) integrally with the upper casing  152 . The elastic piece  310  is elastically deformed by pressing of the detection-target projection  83  so that the detection element  52   b  is operated (the cover detection portion  52  is turned ON) and the tape cartridge  100  is relatively pressed against the installation base  31  and is positioned in the installation direction. 
     The elastic piece  310  (contact piece  318 ) is formed in a rectangular shape when viewed in a plan, and the accommodation opening  184  is formed in a rectangular shape having a size larger than that of the elastic piece  310 . In addition, the elastic piece  310  (contact piece  318 ) is parallel to the right side of the upper casing  152 , and extends to the base end from the tip end of the upper casing  152 . When a pressing force of the detection-target projection  83  acts on the elastic piece  310 , the contact piece  318  is bent downward, the suspended piece  316  is bent backward, and thus an elastic force (spring force) is exerted. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 7C , the elastic piece  310  is displaced by the pressing force of the detection-target projection  83  when the opening/closing cover  7  is closed, and gives a reaction force, which increases (preferably, proportionally increases) in accordance with the displacement amount to the detection-target projection  83 . In other words, when the detection-target projection  83  is received, the tape cartridge  100  is pressed against the installation base  31  by its own elastic piece  310 . For this reason, the elastic force of the elastic piece  310  is designed such that the tape cartridge  100  is positioned in the installation base  31  in the installation direction. 
     More specifically, the tape cartridge  100  receives the pressing force of the printing head  21  through the platen roller  120 , and receives a rotation force around the platen roller  120  or the winding-up core  116  with a rotation of the platen roller  120  (platen driving shaft  45 ) or the winding-up core  116  (winding-up driving shaft  47 ). Therefore, the tape cartridge  100  receives the resultant of the pressing force and the rotation force and component forces thereof, and thus positional deviation or floating occurs on the installation base  31 . The elastic force of the elastic piece  310  according to the embodiment allows the tape cartridge  100  to be installed at a predetermined position against the resultant and the component forces. 
     As described above, a plurality of types of tape cartridges having a different thickness are available as the tape cartridge  100 . Therefore, among the tape cartridges  100  having a different thickness, the contact piece  318  of the elastic piece  310  is preferably disposed such that the position thereof becomes the same in a vertical direction illustrated in  FIG. 7C . Thus, the detection element  52   b  can be reliably operated in the tape cartridges  100  having a different thickness. 
     On the other hand, as illustrated in  FIG. 7B , the detection-target projection  83  is formed in a “T”-shape in cross section and vertically projects from the rear surface of the opening/closing cover body  73 . The opening/closing cover body  73  and the detection-target projection  83  are integrally molded by a resin or the like, and the “T”-shape in cross section of the detection-target projection  83  prevents a molding failure (sink mark). The detection-target projection  83  having the “T”-shape in cross section is disposed with the flange piece  95  directed to the side of the tip end of the opening/closing cover body  73  and the rib piece  97  directed to the side of the base end of the opening/closing cover body  73 . Further, the tip end of the detection-target projection  83  is formed in a slant surface following the shape of the deformed elastic piece  310 , and the entirety of the tip end presses the elastic piece  310 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 7C , the detection element  52   b  of the cover detection portion  52  is disposed immediately below the detection-target projection  83  with the contact piece  318  sandwiched therebetween. More specifically, the detection element  52   b  is disposed coaxially with the detection-target projection  83  in a state where the opening/closing cover  7  is closed. In addition, the tip end of the detection element  52   b  comes in contact with the lower surface (rear surface) of the contact piece  318 , or is positioned to face the detection element with a small clearance. When the pressing force of the detection-target projection  83  acts on the elastic piece  310 , the contact piece  318  is bent downward and the detection element  52   b  is pressed down at the same time, so that the detection portion body  52   a  of the cover detection portion  52  is operated (turned ON). Thus, it is detected that the opening/closing cover  7  closes the cartridge installation portion  5 . 
     As described above, according to the tape cartridge  100  of the first embodiment, the detection-target projection  83  elastically deforms the elastic piece  310  when the opening/closing cover  7  is closed, and further presses down the detection element  52   b  through the elastic piece  310 . Thus, the tape cartridge  100  is pressed against the installation base  31  (cartridge installation portion  5 ) through the elastic piece  310  by the detection-target projection  83 , thereby being positioned. At the same time, the cover detection portion  52  is operated by the pressing of the detection element  52   b , and the closing of the opening/closing cover  7  is detected. 
     In the tape cartridge  100  according to the first embodiment, the cover detection portion  52  is operated through the displacement portion  186  (elastic piece  310 ). For this reason, it is possible to detect not only the opening/closing of the opening/closing cover  7  but also the presence or absence of the tape cartridge  100 . Accordingly, due to the tape detection portion  51 , it is not necessary to separately detect the presence or absence of the tape cartridge  100 . In addition, since the detection element  52   b  is pressed down by the displacement portion  186  (elastic piece  310 ) to be elastically deformed, it is possible to prevent the positional deviation of the tape cartridge  100  with a simple structure. 
     Furthermore, the cover detection portion  52  can be disposed inside the cartridge installation portion  5 , and accordingly, it is not necessary to make the size of the opening/closing cover  7  large. In the cartridge installation portion  5 , it is possible to improve the degree of freedom of installation of the cover detection portion  52 . Both side surfaces of the detection-target projection  83  can come in contact with both sides of the accommodation opening  184 , and the tape cartridge  100  can be positioned through the accommodation opening  184  in the lateral direction. In addition, the contact piece  318  according to the above-described embodiment is formed in a simple rectangular shape, but the shape thereof may be arbitrary, for example, a key hole shape. 
     Modification Example of First Embodiment 
     Tape cartridges  100  according to modification examples of the first embodiment will be described below with reference to  FIGS. 8A and 8D .  FIG. 8A  illustrates a first modification example,  FIG. 8B  illustrates a second modification example,  FIG. 8C  illustrates a third modification example, and  FIG. 8D  illustrates a fourth modification example. 
     In the tape cartridge  100  according to the first modification example, as illustrated in  FIG. 8A , a contact piece  318  of an elastic piece  310  extends long toward a tip so as to press down a detection element  52   b  at a tip end of the contact piece  318 . That is, an axial line of a detection-target projection  83  and an axial line of the detection element  52   b  are positionally deviated from each other in a forward and backward direction (tip end—base end direction). This means that a position where the detection-target projection  83  contacts with a displacement input portion to be displaced by the detection-target projection  83  provided on an opening/closing cover  7  is positionally deviated from a position where a detection element contacts with a displacement output portion for actuating the detection element of a detection target  180  when viewed from a detachable direction. 
     Specifically, in a plane parallel to an installation base  31  (as viewed from the installation direction of the tape cartridge  100 ), an input part  310   a  where the detection-target projection  83  contacts with the elastic piece  310  (contact piece  318 ) is positionally deviated from an output part  310   b  where the elastic piece  310  (contact piece  318 ) contacts with the detection element  52   b  in the forward and backward direction. In addition, compared to a distance from a support part  310   c  of an upper casing  152  serving as a base of the elastic piece  310  (suspended piece  316 ) to the input part  310   a , a distance from the support part  310   c  to the output part  310   b  becomes longer in the forward and backward direction. 
     In such a configuration, since the vicinity of the support part  310   c  approximately serves as a center of rotational displacement, the detection element  52   b  can be actuated with a relatively small displacement amount of the elastic piece  310  using the principle of leverage. In other words, even when an actuation stroke of the detection element  52   b  is large, the detection element can be reliably actuated. 
     In the tape cartridge  100  according to the second modification example, as illustrated in  FIG. 8B , a tip end of a contact piece  318  is formed in an “L” shape, and a detection element  52   b  is positionally deviated from a detection-target projection  83  not only in the forward and backward direction but also in the lateral direction. For example, an installation space of a cover detection portion  52  is limited, and thus the plane shape (for example, the tip end) of the contact piece  318  is configured to be freely deformed so as to match the position of the detection element  52   b . In this way, even when the position of the detection-target projection  83  is positionally deviated from the position of the detection element  52   b  in the forward and backward direction and the lateral direction, the detection element  52   b  can be properly actuated. 
     In the tape cartridge  100  according to the third modification example different from the first modification example, as illustrated in  FIG. 8C , compared to a distance from a support part  310   c  serving as a base of an elastic piece  310  (suspended piece  316 ) to an input part  310   a , a distance from the support part  310   c  to an output part  310   b  becomes shorter in the forward and backward direction. In this case, a detection element  52   b  can be actuated with a relatively small displacement amount of the elastic piece  310  using the principle of leverage. 
     In the tape cartridge  100  according to the fourth modification example, as illustrated in  FIG. 8D , an elastic piece  310  (displacement portion  186 ) is configured with a plate spring, and is held in a holding portion  330  provided in an upper casing  152 . The elastic piece  310  includes a base spring piece portion  334  bent in a “V” shape and a contact spring piece portion  336  extending parallel to a top wall portion  156  from the base spring piece portion  334 , and is held in a holding groove  330   a , which is formed in the holding portion  330 , by the base spring piece portion  334 . 
     Even in such a configuration, it is also possible to detect the opening/closing of the opening/closing cover  7  and the presence or absence of the tape cartridge  100 . In addition, the positioning of the tape cartridge  100  can be achieved. Particularly, since the elastic piece  310  is prepared depending on the thickness of the tape cartridge  100 , it is possible to correspond to the tape cartridges  100  having different thicknesses. 
     Surrounding Displacement Portion According to Second Embodiment 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , a structure of a displacement portion  186 A of a tape cartridge  100 A according to a second embodiment will be described in detail below in conjunction with a structure of the detection-target projection  83  of the opening/closing cover  7  and the detection element  52   b  of the cover detection portion  52 . In the second embodiment, differences from the first embodiment will mainly be described. 
     In the tape cartridge  100 A according to the second embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the displacement portion  186 A is disposed immediately below the detection-target projection  83 , and the detection element  52   b  is disposed at a position separated from immediately below the detection-target projection  83  to the front (tip end). The displacement portion  186 A includes an input portion  340  coming in contact with the detection-target projection  83 , an output portion  342  that is provided at the base of the input portion  340  and presses down the detection element  52   b , and an elastic member  344  that receives the input portion  340  and the output portion  342  at an initial position at which the detection-target projection  83  is received. 
     In addition, a cartridge casing  130  is provided with a slide guide  350  that guides movement of the input portion  340  in a vertical direction (thickness direction of the tape cartridge  100 A). The slide guide  350  includes an upper guide  352  suspended integrally with an upper casing  152  and a lower guide  354  erected integrally with a lower casing  150 . The lower guide  354  is provided with a guide notch portion  354   a  facing the output portion  342 . 
     The input portion  340  includes a cylindrical input portion body  360  and a skirt portion  362  connected to a lower end of the input portion body  360 . Then elastic member  344  configured with a coil spring is disposed inside the skirt portion  362 , and the output portion  342  is provided at an outer surface of the lower end of the skirt portion  362  so as to protrude in a radial direction. The input portion body  360 , the skirt portion  362 , and the output portion  342  are integrally formed (molded) with resin or the like. The detection element  52   b  comes in contact with a lower surface of the output portion  342 . 
     The elastic member  344  configured with the coil spring is seated on a bottom wall portion  160  of the lower casing  150 , and receives the input portion  340 . The elastic member  344  is configured with a compression coil spring, and, as illustrated in the drawing, receives the input portion  340  at an initial position where the upper end of the input portion is kept in the minute clearance with the upper casing  152  (top wall portion  156 ) or faces to abut on the upper casing. 
     When the detection-target projection  83  presses the input portion  340 , the input portion  340  and the output portion  342  moves down against the elastic member  344 , and the output portion  342  presses down the detection element  52   b . In addition, the detection-target projection  83  deviates upward, the input portion  340  and the output portion  342  returns to the original initial position by the elastic member  344 . 
     Thus, even in the tape cartridge  100 A according to the second embodiment, the cover detection portion  52  is operated (turned ON) through the displacement portion  186 A. Therefore, it is possible to detect not only the opening/closing of the opening/closing cover  7  but also the presence or absence of the tape cartridge  100 A. In addition, the elastic member  344  of the displacement portion  186  relatively presses the tape cartridge  100 A to make the positioning of the tape cartridge possible. 
     Modification Example of Second Embodiment 
     Referring to  FIGS. 10A and 10B , tape cartridges  100 A according to modification examples of the second embodiment will be described below.  FIG. 10A  illustrates a first modification example, and  FIG. 10B  illustrates a second modification example. 
     In the tape cartridge  100 A illustrated in  FIG. 10A  according to the first modification example, an elastic member  344  is configured with rubber or sponge instead of the coil spring. 
     In the tape cartridge  100 A illustrated in  FIG. 10B  according to the second modification example, an elastic member  344  is made up of a spring piece  366  configured in such a manner that a bottom wall portion  160  of a lower casing  150  is cut and raised inward. In this case, a skirt portion  362  of an input portion  340  is formed shorter, and the spring piece  366  receives the input portion  340  at a lower end of an input portion body  360 . 
     Thus, in the tape cartridges  100 A according to the modification examples of the second embodiment, the elastic member  344  can simply be configured. In particular, according to the second modification example, it is possible to reduce the number of parts of the tape cartridge  100 A. 
     Surrounding Displacement Portion According to Third Embodiment 
     Referring to  FIG. 11 , a structure of a displacement portion  186 B of a tape cartridge  100 B according to a third embodiment will be described in detail below in conjunction with a structure of a detection-target projection  83  of an opening/closing cover  7  and a detection element  52   b  of a cover detection portion  52 . In the third embodiment, differences from the first embodiment will mainly be described. 
     In the tape cartridge  100 B according to the third embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 11 , the displacement portion  186 B includes an input elastic portion  370  that is elastically deformed by a pressing force of the detection-target projection  83  and an output actuation portion  372  that is continuous to the input elastic portion  370  and actuates the detection element  52   b  in accordance with the elastic deformation of the input elastic portion  370 . 
     The input elastic portion  370  is formed in such a manner that a part of a top wall portion  156  is removed in a “U” shape. The output actuation portion  372  is formed in a rod shape, and is fixed to the lower surface of the input elastic portion  370 . When the detection-target projection  83  presses the input elastic portion  370 , the input elastic portion  370  is elastically deformed and the output actuation portion  372  moves downward at the same time. The output actuation portion  372  moving downward presses down the detection element  52   b.    
     Thus, even in the tape cartridge  100 B according to the third embodiment, the cover detection portion  52  is operated (turned ON) through the displacement portion  186 B. Therefore, it is possible to detect not only the opening/closing of the opening/closing cover  7  but also the presence or absence of the tape cartridge  100 B. In addition, the input elastic portion  370  of the displacement portion  186 B relatively presses the tape cartridge  100 B to make the positioning of the tape cartridge possible. 
     Surrounding Displacement Portion According to Fourth Embodiment 
     Referring to  FIG. 12 , a structure of a displacement portion  186 C of a tape cartridge  100 C according to a fourth embodiment will be described in detail below in conjunction with a structure of a detection-target projection  83  of an opening/closing cover  7  and a detection element  52   b  of a cover detection portion  52 . In the fourth embodiment, differences from the first embodiment will mainly be described. 
     In the tape cartridge  100 C according to the fourth embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 12 , the displacement portion  186 C is formed in a rectangular plate shape, and is rotatably supported to a rotating support portion  380  provided in a cartridge casing  130 . The upper surface of the displacement portion  186 C comes in contact with the detection-target projection  83 , and the lower surface thereof comes in contact with the detection element  52   b . When the detection-target projection  83  presses the plate-like displacement portion  186 C, the displacement portion  186 C rotates to press down the detection element  52   b.    
     Thus, even in the tape cartridge  100 C according to the fourth embodiment, the cover detection portion  52  is operated (turned ON) through the displacement portion  186 C. Therefore, it is possible to detect not only the opening/closing of the opening/closing cover  7  but also the presence or absence of the tape cartridge  100 C. In order to relatively press the tape cartridge  100 C and make the positioning of the tape cartridge possible, a torsion coil spring may be provided on a rotation shaft of the displacement portion  186 C.