Patent Publication Number: US-2022219472-A1

Title: Print cassette

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPL 1 CATION 
     This is a continuation application of International Application No. PCT/JP2020/034874 filed on Sep. 15, 2020 which claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-178431. filed on Sep. 30, 2019. The entire contents of the earlier applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a print cassette. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In a printing apparatus that performs printing on a tape, the tape is replaced and supplied by attaching and detaching a cassette homing the tape to and from a printing apparatus main body. In such a cassette, it is known that a plurality of gears for transmitting a driving force, for example, for conveying a tape, are provided inside the cassette (refer to Patent Literature. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to an aspect of the disclosure, a print cassette includes a print tape roll in which a print tape is wound around a winding central axis parallel to a first direction, an input gear to which a driving force is to be input from outside, an output gear to output the driving force outside, and an idle gear directly or indirectly engaging the input gear and the output gear to transmit the driving force input to the input gear to the output gear. At least a portion of the input gear, at least a portion of the output gear, and at least a portion of the idle gear each overlap the print tape roll in the first direction. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C  are schematic perspective views illustrating a state in which a print cassette is detached from a printing apparatus main body in a printing apparatus according to an embodiment. 
         FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C  are schematic perspective views of the print cassette in the printing apparatus of  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic exploded perspective view of the prim cassette of  FIG. 2A . 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV of  FIG. 2C . 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic perspective view illustrating a state of the print cassette of  FIG. 2C  from which a first case portion is detached. 
         FIGS. 6A and 6B  are schematic perspective views illustrating a state of the print cassette of  FIG. 2A  from which a second frame portion and a second case portion are detached. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic view for explaining passages of a print tape and an ink ribbon in the print cassette of  FIG. 2A . 
         FIG. 8A  is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line of  FIG. 2C . 
         FIG. 8B  is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line of  FIG. 2C . 
         FIG. 8C  is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line of  FIG. 2C . 
         FIG. 8D  is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line of  FIG. 2C . 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic plan view of the printing apparatus main body in the printing apparatus of  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic view illustrating an engagement state of an output gear and a platen gear in the printing apparatus of  FIG. 1A . 
         FIGS. 11A and 11B  are schematic perspective views illustrating a state in which a print cassette is detached from a printing apparatus main body in a printing apparatus according to an embodiment different from  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 12  is a schematic exploded perspective view of the print cassette in the printing apparatus of  FIG. 11A . 
         FIGS. 13A and 13B  are schematic perspective views illustrating a state of the print cassette of  FIG. 11A  from which a second frame portion and a second case portion are detached. 
         FIG. 14  is a schematic plan view of the printing apparatus main body in the printing apparatus of  FIG. 11A . 
         FIG. 15  is a schematic view illustrating an engagement state of an output gear and a platen gear in the printing apparatus of  FIG. 11A . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the cassette described in the above-mentioned publication, a plurality of gears are aligned in a direction perpendicular to rotation axes of the gears together with a spool for supplying. tape. The cassette thus increases in size in this direction. 
     Aspects of the present disclosure provide a print cassette which can be downsized in a direction perpendicular to rotation axes of gears while disposing the gears for transmitting a driving force. 
     1. First Embodiment 
     [1-1. Configuration] 
     A printing apparatus  1  illustrated in  FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C  includes a print cassette  10  and a printing apparatus main body  100 . The printing apparatus  1  is an apparatus that performs printing on a tape print medium. 
     In the present embodiment, an axial direction of an output gear  18  of a print cassette  10  and an axial direction of a platen gear  104  of the printing apparatus main body  100  are an up-down direction, a direction perpendicular to the up-down direction in which the output gear  18  and an input spool  16  are aligned (that is, a direction in which the platen gear  104  and a drive shaft  105  are aligned) is a front-rear direction, and a direction perpendicular to both the up-down direction and the front-rear direction is a left-right direction. 
     In the present specification, the term “parallel” is not limited to strictly parallel, also includes the concept of “substantially parallel”. That is, each rotation axis may be located to be slightly inclined with respect to the up-down direction as long as the rotation axis is within a range in which the function of the printing apparatus  1  is exhibited (or a range in which, for example, a print tape  11 A and an ink ribbon  14 A are conveyable). 
     Printing Apparatus Main Body 
     The printing apparatus main body  100  includes a cassette insertion portion  101 , a print head  102 , a platen roller  103 , a platen gear  104 , the drive shaft  105 , and a housing  110 . 
     Cassette Insertion Portion 
     The cassette insertion portion  101  is a recessed portion to which the print cassette  10  is attached. The cassette insertion portion  101  has a function of positioning the print cassette  10 . The cassette insertion portion  101  is provided in the housing  110 . 
     Print Head 
     The print head  102  is disposed in an interior of the cassette insertion portion  101 . The print head  102  has a plurality of heating elements whose heat generation is to be individually controlled. 
     Platen Roller 
     A rotation axis L 1  of the platen roller  103  is parallel to the up-down direction. The platen roller  103  is disposed near the print head  102  in the interior of the cassette insertion portion  101 . The platen roller  103  is swingable in a direction toward or away from the print head  102 . 
     Platen Gear 
     The platen gear  104  is coupled to the platen roller  103 . In the present embodiment, a rotation axis L 2  of the platen gear  104  is located collinearly with the rotation axis L 1  of the platen roller  103 . The platen gear  104  is swingable together with the platen roller  103 . 
     Drive Shaft 
     The drive shaft  105  is inserted into the input spool  16 . The drive shaft  105  rotates the input spool  16 . 
     The drive shaft  105  is disposed in the interior of the cassette insertion portion  101 . A rotation axis L 3  of the drive shaft  105  is parallel to the up-down direction. The drive shaft  105  is rotated about the rotation axis L 3  by a drive source (for example, a motor), which is not illustrated. 
     Print Cassette 
     The print cassette  10  houses a print medium. The print cassette  10  is attachable to and detachable from the printing apparatus main body  100 . By replacing the print cassette  10 , a print medium can be supplied and the type (for example, color, material, etc.) of print medium can be changed. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C , the print cassette  10  includes a case  35  that houses the print tape  11 A, the ink ribbon  14 A, and the like. The outer shape of the print cassette  10  (i.e., the shape of the case  35 ) is a rectangular parallelepiped having sides parallel to the up-down direction, sides parallel to the front-rear direction, and sides parallel to the left-right direction. The case  35  has a first case portion  31 , a first frame portion  32 , a second frame portion  33 , and a second case portion  34 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the print cassette  10  includes a print tape roll  11 , a first tape spool  12 , spacer films  13 A and  13 B, an ink ribbon roll  14 , a second tape spool  15 , the input spool  16 , a clutch spring holder  17 , the output gear  18 , an input gear  19 , and an idle gear  20 . 
     Print Tape Roll 
     In the print tape roll  11 , the print tape  11 A on which printing is to be performed is wound around the first tape spool  12 . 
     In the print tape roll  11 , the print tape  11 A is wound around a winding central axis parallel to the up-down direction. Printing is performed on the print tape  11 A by the print head  102  of the printing apparatus main body  100  and the ink ribbon  14 A. 
     Two spacer films  13 A and  13 B are disposed on outer sides of the print tape roll  11  in the up-down direction in such a manner as to sandwich the print tape roll  11 . The spacer film  13 A is disposed between the print tape roll  11  and the first case portion  31  and the spacer film  13 B is disposed between the print tape roll  11  and the first frame portion  32 . 
     First Tape Spool 
     The first tape spool  12  is rotatable about a rotation axis L 4 . The first tape spool  12  rotates along with the platen roller  103  of the printing apparatus main body  100  conveying the print tape  11 A, thereby supplying the print tape  11 A to the print head  102 . 
     Ink Ribbon Roll 
     In the ink ribbon roll  14 , the ink ribbon  14 A used for printing on the print tape  11 A is wound around the second tape spool  15 . In the ink ribbon roll  14 , the ink ribbon  14 A is wound around a winding central axis parallel to the up-down direction. 
     The ink ribbon  14 A is overlapped with the print tape  11 A in the head opening  33 B and is used for printing by the print head  102 . The ink ribbon  14 A used for printing is taken up by the input spool  16 . 
     The ink ribbon roll  14  is subjected to rotation pressure applied by a clutch spring held by a clutch spring holder  17 . At least a portion of the ink ribbon roll  14  is disposed at a position overlapping the print tape roll  11  in the up-down direction. 
     Second Tape Spool 
     The second tape spool  15  is rotatable about a rotation axis L 5 . The rotation axis L 5  of the second tape spool  15  is parallel to the rotation axis L 4  of the first tape spool  12 , that is, parallel to the up-down direction. 
     The second tape spool  15  rotates along with the input spool  16  taking up the ink ribbon  14 A, thereby supplying the ink ribbon  14 A to the print head  102 . 
     Input Spool 
     The input spool  16  is rotatable about a rotation axis L 6 . The rotation axis L 6  of the input spool  16  is parallel to the rotation axis L 5  of the second tape spool  15 . 
     The input spool  16  is cylindrical and has an inner peripheral surface  16 A definint a hollow portion. The inner peripheral surface  16 A of the input spool  16  is provided with spline teeth  16 B. The spline teeth  16 B engages the drive shaft  105  of the printing apparatus main body  100 . 
     The input spool  16  is rotated by the drive shaft  105 . The take-up spool  16  of the present embodiment is a take-up spool that is rotatable to take up the ink ribbon  14 A to be supplied from the ink ribbon roll  14 . 
     Output Gear 
     The output gear  18  is a single gear for outputting a driving force for conveying the print tape  11 A to the outside. 
     Specifically, the output gear  18  outputs a driving force to the platen gear  104  of the printing apparatus main body  100 . The rotation axis L 7  of the output gear  18  is parallel to the rotation axis L 5  of the second tape spool  15 . The output gear  18  overlaps a cover portion  32 B in the up-down direction. 
     The output gear  18  is partially exposed to the head opening  33 B. The output gear  18  engages the platen gear  104  at the head opening  33 B in a state in which the print cassette  10  is attached to the printing apparatus main body  100 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the second tape spool  15 , the output gear  18 , and the print tape roll  11  are disposed in order of the second tape spool  15 , the output gear  18 , and the print tape roll  11  in the up-down direction. That is, the output gear  18  is positioned between the second tape spool  15  and the print tape roll  11  in the up-down direction. 
     Input Gear 
     The input gear  19  illustrated in  FIG. 3  indirectly engages the output gear  18  via the idle gear  20  to transmit a driving force input from the printing apparatus main body  100  to the output gear  18 . 
     The input gear  19  includes a gear  19 A and a cylindrical spool  19 B that is fixed to a surface of the gear  19 A perpendicular to a rotation axis thereof and that has spline teeth on an inner peripheral surface of the spool  19 B. The gear  19 A is rotated integrally with the spool  19 B by the driving force input to the spool  19 B. 
     The input gear  19  is disposed such that the rotation axis L 8  of the input gear  19  (i.e., the rotation axis of the gear  19 A and the rotation axis of the spool  19 B) is aligned with the rotation axis L 6  of the input spool  16 . A portion of the spool  19 B is inserted into the input spool  16 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the input spool  16 , a portion of the input gear  19  (i.e., the gear  9 A), and the print tape roll  11  are disposed in order of the input spool  16 , the portion of the input gear  19  (i.e., the gear  19 A), and the print tape roll  11  in the up-down direction. 
     The rotation axis L 8  of the input gear  19  overlaps the hollow portion of the input spool  16  in the up-down direction. The drive shaft  105  is thus simultaneously inserted through the input spool  16  and the spool  19 B of the input gear  19 . As a result, although not directly coupled to the input spool  16 , the input gear  19  is rotated by a common drive source (i.e., the drive shaft  105 ) with the input spool  16 . 
     Idle Gear 
     The idle gear  20  directly engages the input gear  19  and the output gear  18 . The idle gear  20  transmits the driving force input to the input gear  19  to the output gear  18 . A rotation axis L 9  of the idle gear  20  is parallel to the up-down direction. 
     The idle gear  20  is a stepped gear in which a first gear  20 A engaging the output gear  18  and a second gear  20 B engaging the input gear  19  are aligned coaxially. The second gear  20 B has a larger diameter than the first gear  20 A. 
     Further, the first gear  20 A is disposed at a position closer to the print tape roll  11  than the second gear  20 B is in the up-down direction (hat is, higher than the second gear  20 B). The idle gear  20  constitutes a speed reduction mechanism that reduces the rotational speed of the driving force input to the input gear  19 . 
     Case 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the first case portion  31  constitutes an upper end portion of the print cassette  10 . The first frame portion  32  is disposed below the first case portion  31  and connected to the first case portion  31  in the up-down direction. 
     The second frame portion  33  is disposed below the first frame portion  32  and connected to the first frame portion  32  in the up-down direction. The second case portion  34  constitutes a lower end portion of the print cassette  10 . The second case portion  34  is connected to the second frame portion  33  in the up-down direction. 
     The first case portion  31  and the first frame portion  32  accommodate the print tape roll  11 . That is, the print tape roll  11  is disposed in a space surrounded by the first case portion  31  and the first frame portion  32 . 
     The second case portion  34  and the second frame portion  33  accommodate the ink ribbon roll  14 , the second tape spool  15 , and the input spool  16 . That is, the ink ribbon roll  14 , the second tape spool  15 , and the input spool  16  are disposed in a space surrounded by the second case portion  34  and the second frame portion  33 . 
     A portion of the output gear  18 , the input gear  19 , and the idle gear  20  are disposed in a space surrounded by the first frame portion  32  and the second frame portion  33 . That is, the portion of the output gear  18 , the input gear  19 , and the idle gear  20  are accommodated in the first frame portion  32  and the second frame portion  33 . 
     The first frame portion  32  includes a first side wall  32 A, the cover portion  32 B, a first guide  32 C, a first gear shaft  32 D, a second gear shaft  32 E, and a third gear shaft  32 F. 
     The first side wall  32 A constitutes a side surface parallel to the up-down direction of the print cassette  10 . 
     The cover portion  32 B has a surface perpendicular to the up-down direction. The cover portion  32 B is disposed at a position overlapping the output gear  18  in the up-down direction. In the present embodiment, the cover portion  32 B is disposed at a right front corner portion of the first frame portion  32 . 
     The first gear shaft  32 D is inserted through the output gear  18  and rotatably supports the output gear  18 . The second gear shaft  32 E is inserted through the input gear  19  and rotatably supports the input gear  19 . The third gear shaft  32 F is inserted through the idle gear  20  and rotatably supports the idle gear  20 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the first guide  32 C is a portion around which the print tape  11 A pulled out from the print tape roll  11  is wound. The first guide  32 C has a plurality of plate-shaped ribs spaced apart from each other in a circumferential direction of the print tape roll  11 . Each of the ribs protrudes in a radial direction of the print tape roll  11 , and a protrusion amount (that is, a plate width) increases downward. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 . the second frame portion  33  includes a second side wall  33 A, a head opening  33 B, a discharge port  33 C, and a second guide  33 D. 
     The second side wall  33 A constitutes a side surface parallel to the up-down direction of the print cassette  10 . 
     The head opening  33 B is a recessed portion that is recessed in the up-down direction toward the first frame portion  32  and extends in the left-right direction. The head opening  33 B is a portion missing from the second side wall  33 A, and opens downward in the print cassette  10 . 
     When the print cassette  10  is attached to the printing apparatus main body  100 , the print head  102  is inserted into the head opening  33 B from below. In a state where the print cassette  10  is attached to the printing apparatus main body  100 , the print head  102  is disposed in the head opening  33 B. 
     The second guide  33 D is a portion around which the print tape  11 A having passed through the first guide  32 C is wound. Similarly to the first guide  32 C, the second guide  33 D has a plurality of plate-shaped ribs spaced apart from each other in a circumferential direction of the ink ribbon roll  14 . Each of the ribs protrudes in a radial direction of the ink ribbon roll  14 , and a protrusion amount (that is, a plate width) decreases downward. 
     Positional Relationship of Roll, Spool, and Gear 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 6A , a portion of the input gear  19 , a portion of the output gear  18 , and a portion of the idle gear  20  each overlap the print tape roll  11  in the up-down direction. 
     The rotation axis L 8  of the input gear  19 , the rotation axis L 7  of the output gear  18 , and the rotation axis L 9  of the idle gear  20  are each located more inward than an outer peripheral surface  11 B of the print tape roll  11  in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction. 
     Further, in a projection view in which the first tape spool  12 , the input gear  19 , the output gear  18 , and the idle gear  20  are projected onto a virtual plane perpendicular to the up-down direction, the rotation axis L 4  of the first tape spool  12  overlaps a convex envelope P defined by the input gear  19 , the output gear  18 , and the idle gear  20 . The convex envelope P also overlaps a portion of the first tape spool  12  and a portion of the print tape roll  11 . 
     The second gear  20 B of the idle gear  20  has an overlapping portion  20 C that overlaps the output gear  18  in the up-down direction. A portion of the overlapping portion  20 C of the second gear  20 B overlaps the print tape roll  11  in the up-down direction. The portion of the overlapping portion  20 C of the second gear  20 B overlaps the first tape spool  12  in the up-down direction. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 6B , a portion of the ink ribbon roll  14  and a portion of the second tape spool  15  each overlap the idle gear  20  in the up-down direction. A portion of the input spool  16  also overlaps the idle gear  20  in the up-down direction. The outer edge of the input spool  16  illustrated in  FIG. 6B  includes flanges provided at both ends in the axial direction of the rotation axis L 6  of the input spool  16 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the rotation axis L 8  of the input gear  19 , the rotation axis L 7  of the output gear  18 , and the rotation axis L 9  of the idle gear  20  are each located between both ends of the head opening  33 B in the left-right direction (i.e., in a region A overlapping the head opening  33 B in the front-rear direction). 
     The rotation axis L 8  of the input gear  19  and the rotation axis L 9  of the idle gear  20  are each located behind the head opening  33 B The rotation axis L 7  of the output gear  18  passes through the head opening  33 B. 
     Tape Conveyance in Cassette 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 7 . the print tape  11 A and the ink ribbon  14 A are laid across the head opening  33 B in the left-right direction. The printed print tape  11 A is discharged from the discharge port  33 C outside the printing apparatus  1 . A portion of the output gear  18  is located in the head opening  33 B. The cover portion  32 B is exposed in the head opening  33 B. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 8A, 8B, 8C, and 8D . the first guide  32 C and the second guide  33 D constitute a passage through which the print tape  11 A constituting the print tape roll  11  is fed from the first frame portion  32  to the second frame portion  33 . 
     Specifically, as illustrated in  FIG. 8A , the print tape  11 A pulled out from the print tape roll  11  is conveyed in a spiral downward to the rear in the first frame portion  32  while coming into contact with the first guide  32 C from an outer side of the print tape roll  11  in the radial direction. As illustrated in  FIG. 8B , the print tape  11 A is further conveyed downward to the left across the first frame portion  32  and the second frame portion  33  in the up-down direction. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 8C , the print tape  11 A that has reached the second frame portion  33  is conveyed downward to the front while coming into contact with the second guide  33 D from the outer side in the radial direction. As illustrated in  FIG. 8D , the print tape  11 A that has reached the lower end portion of the print cassette  10  passes through the head opening  33 B and is discharged from the discharge port  33 C. 
     Tape Conveyance and Printing by Printing Apparatus Main Body 
     The print head  102  performs printing on the print tape  11 A held by the print cassette  10 . 
     In a state in which the print cassette  10  is attached to the printing apparatus main body  100 , the print head  102  is disposed at a position overlapping the print tape  11 A and the ink ribbon  14 A in the front-rear direction in the head opening  33 B. 
     The print tape  11 A conveyed to the head opening  33 B by the platen roller  103  is pressed via the ink ribbon  14 A against the print head  102  in which the heating elements generate heat. As a result, a portion of ink disposed on the front face of the ink ribbon  14 A is transferred to the print tape  11 A, and characters, symbols, and the like are printed on the print tape  11 A. 
     The platen roller  103  conveys the print tape  11 A from inside the print cassette  10  to the outside. The platen roller  103  abuts against the print tape  11 A in the head opening  33 B and presses the print tape  11 A against the print head  102 . 
     The platen gear  104  is coupled to the platen roller  103  and engages the output gear  18 . The platen roller  103  and the platen gear  104  are swingable between a position illustrated in  FIG. 9  where they are separated from the print cassette  10  and a position illustrated in  FIG. 10  where the platen gear  104  engages the output gear  18 . 
     The drive shaft  105  is inserted into the input spool  16  and the input gear  19 , and rotates the input spool  16  and the input gear  19  by engaging the spline tooth  16 B with the spool  19 B of the input gear  19 . 
     In a state where the print cassette  10  is attached to the printing apparatus main body  100 , the drive shaft  105  engages the input gear  19 , and the platen gear  104  engages the output gear  18 . Specifically, the drive shaft  105  is inserted into the input spool  16  and the input gear  19  of the print cassette  10 . Thereafter, the platen roller  103  and the platen gear  104  are swung toward the head opening  33 B of the print cassette  10 . 
     When the input gear  19  is rotated by the drive shaft  105  in a state where the print cassette  10  is attached, the output gear  18  is rotated, the platen gear  104  rotates with the rotation of the output gear  18 , and the platen roller  103  rotates with the rotation of the platen gear  104 . 
     [1-2. Effects] 
     According to the embodiment described above in detail, the following effects are obtained. 
     (1a) Since the input gear  19 , the output gear  18  and the idle gear  20 , which are for transmitting the driving force, are disposed so as to overlap the print tape roll  11  in the up-down direction, the print cassette  10  can be downsized in the left-right direction and the front-rear direction. 
     (1b) Since the rotation axis L 4  of the first tape spool  12  overlaps the convex envelope P defined by the input gear  19 , the output gear  18 , and the idle gear  20 , the print cassette  10  can be downsized in the left-right direction and the front-rear direction compared to a case where the rotation axis L 4  of the first tape spool  12  does not overlap the convex envelope P. Further, the thrust load of the first tape spool  12  is prevented from being transmitted unevenly to one gear shaft. 
     (1c) Since a portion of the ink ribbon roll  14  and a portion of the input spool  16  overlap the idle gear  20  in the up-down direction and tine overlapping portion  20 C of the second gear  20 B overlaps the print tape roll  11  in the up-down direction, the print cassette  10  can be further downsized in the left-right direction and the front-rear direction. 
     (1d) Since the rotation axis L 8  of the input gear  19 , the rotation axis L 7  of the output gear  18 , and the rotation axis L 9  of the idle gear  20  are located between both ends of the head opening  33 B in the left-right direction, the print cassette  10  can be further downsized in the left-right direction. 
     2. Second Embodiment 
     [2-1. Configuration] 
     A printing apparatus  1  A illustrated in  FIGS. 11A and 11B  includes a print cassette  10 A and a printing apparatus main body  100 A. 
     Print Cassette 
     The print cassette  10 A is obtained by adding a laminating tape roll  21 , a take-up spool  22 , a take-up gear  23 , and a pinch roller  24 , which are illustrated in  FIG. 12 , to the print cassette  10  of the first embodiment, and replacing the input spool  16 , the first case portion  31 , the first frame portion  32 , the second frame portion  33 , and the second case portion  34  of the first embodiment with a third tape spool  25 , a first case portion  36 , a first frame portion  37 , a second frame portion  38 . and a second case portion  39 . 
     The third tape spool  25  is similar to the input spool  16  except that it does not have spline teeth  16 B. The first case portion  36 , the first frame portion  37 , the second frame portion  38 , and the second case portion  39  are obtained by extending the first case portion  31 , the first frame portion  32 , the second frame portion  33 , and the second case portion  34  in the left-right direction, respectively. Other configurations of the print cassette  10 A are similar to those of the print cassette  10  of the first embodiment except for the points described below, and thus description thereof will be omitted. 
     In the laminating tape roll  21 , the laminating tape is wound around the third tape spool  25 . In the laminating tape roll  21 , the laminating tape is wound around a winding central axis parallel to the up-down direction. The laminating tape has an adhesive surface to be laminated on the print tape  11 A on which printing has been performed by the print head  102 . 
     The take-up spool  22  is rotatable about a rotation axis L 10 . The rotation axis L 10  of the take-up spool  22  is parallel to the rotation axis L 5  of the second tape spool  15 , that is, parallel to the up-down direction. The take-up spool  22  takes up the ink ribbon  14 A taken out from the ink ribbon roll  14  by the rotation of the take-up gear  23 . 
     The take-up gear  23  is coupled to the take-up spool  22  and directly engaged with the idle gear  20 . A rotation axis L 11  of the take-up gear  23  is located collinearly with the rotation axis L 10  of the take-up spool  22 . 
     The take-up gear  23  is rotated by the driving force input to the input gear  19  to rotate the take-up spool  22 . The idle gear  20  transmits the driving force input to the input gear  19  to the take-up gear  23 . 
     The pinch roller  24  presses the laminating tape against the print tape  11 A after printing together with a pressing roller  106 . The pinch roller  24  is disposed downstream of the head opening  33 B in the conveyance direction of the print tape  11 A. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 13A , a portion of the take-up gear  23  overlaps the print tape roll  11  in the up-down direction. A rotation axis L 11  of the take-up gear  23  overlaps the print tape roll  11  in the up-down direction. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 13B , a portion of the take-up spool  22  overlaps the idle gear  20  in the up-down direction. The take-up gear  23  overlaps the take-up spool  22  in the up-down direction. The outer edge of the take-up spool  22  illustrated in  FIG. 13B  includes flanges provided at both ends in the axial direction of the rotation axis L 10  of the take-up spool  22 . 
     A portion of the output gear  8  and a portion of the idle gear  20  each overlap the laminating tape roll  21  in the up-down direction. In particular, a portion of the overlapping portion  20 C of the second gear  20 B of the idle gear  20  overlaps the laminating tape roll  21  in the up-down direction. 
     Printing Apparatus Main Body 
     In the printing apparatus main body  100 A, a pressing roller  106  illustrated in  FIG. 14  is added to the printing apparatus main body  100  of the first embodiment. Other configurations of the printing apparatus main body  100 A are similar to those of the printing apparatus main body  100  of the first embodiment except for the points described below, and thus description thereof will be omitted. 
     The pressing roller  106  is configured to be swingable together with the platen roller  103  and the platen gear  104 . The pressing roller  106  is swingable between a position illustrated in  FIG. 14  where it is separated from the print cassette  10 A and a position illustrated in  FIG. 15  where it presses the print tape  11 A and the third tape together with the pinch roller  24 . 
     In this embodiment, the drive shaft  105  is inserted into the hollow portion of the third tape spool  25  (i.e., the laminated tape roll  21 ) while the print cassette  10 A is attached to the printing apparatus main body  100 A, and the input gear  19  engages the drive shaft  105 . 
     [2-2. Effects] 
     According to the embodiment described above in detail, the following effects are obtained. 
     (2a) Since a portion of the take-up gear  23  and the rotation axis L 11  of the take-up gear  23  overlap the print tape roll  11  in the up-down direction, the printed content of the print tape  11 A can be protected by the laminating tape while having the same advantages as those of the first embodiment. 
     (2b) Since a portion of the take-up spool  22  overlaps the idle gear  20  in the up-down direction and the overlapping portion  20 C of the second gear  20 B of the idle gear  20  overlaps the laminating tape roll  21  in the up-down direction, the print cassette  10 A can be further downsized in the left-right direction and the front-rear direction. 
     3. Other Embodiments 
     Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, it is needless to say that the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can take various forms. 
     (3a) In the printing apparatus of each embodiment described above, the print tape roll, the ink ribbon roll, and the laminating tape roll each do not necessarily have to be wound around a rotatable spool. These rolls each may be wound around a non-rotating member fixed to the case, for example. In addition, these rolls each do not necessarily have to be wound around another member. 
     (3b) The printing apparatus of each embodiment described above is not limited to an apparatus that performs printing using an ink ribbon. The printing apparatus may use a band-shaped thermal paper instead of the print tape in the first embodiment, and may use a laminating tape (that is, a protective tape) instead of the ink ribbon. 
     In addition, the printing apparatus may use, as the print tape, a stencil tape on which a printing pattern is perforated by a thermal head, and may use a band-shaped slip sheet that protects and supports the stencil tape instead of the laminating tape. In this case, in the head opening, the print tape may be superimposed on the slip sheet at a position closer to the print head than the slip sheet (that is, as an upper layer), or the print tape may be superimposed on the slip sheet at a position farther from the print head than the slip sheet (that is, as a lower layer). 
     (3c) In the print cassette of the second embodiment, the positions of the take-up spool and the third tape spool may be changed. That is, the drive shall may be inserted into the take-up spool, and the third tape spool may be rotated by the take-up gear. 
     (3d) In the print cassette of each embodiment described above, the output gear, the input gear and the take-up gear may engage the idle gear indirectly (i.e., via another gear). Further, the idle gear does not necessarily have to be a stepped gear and may be a single spur gear. 
     (3e) The functions of one component in each embodiment described above may be distributed as a plurality of components, or the functions of a plurality of components may be integrated into one component. Further, a portion of the configuration of each embodiment described above may be omitted. In addition, at least a portion of the configuration of each embodiment described above may be added to or replaced with another configuration thereof. It should be noted that all aspects included in the technical idea specified by the wording described in the claims are embodiments of the present disclosure.