Patent Description:
<CIT> discloses that a first printing is performed after text is inputted and after a number of print colors, a print color order, and their print ranges are set. A message urging the user to remove the ribbon cassette in order to perform a second printing is displayed. When the user opens the cassette cover, removes the ribbon cassette, and inputs using an optional or predetermined key, then a message warning the user not to mount a ribbon cassette is displayed and rewind of the tape is started. When the front edge of the tape is detected by a tape detection sensor, then rewind of the tape is stopped. <CIT> discloses a label printer comprising a cassette-receiving bay, said cassette-receiving bay having a base, a top opening opposite the base, a locking mechanism, and an ejector mechanism extending from said base, said ejector mechanism having an ejector part having an upper surface for cooperation with a cassette, said ejector part being movable in a first direction towards said base and biased in a second direction towards said top opening such that a force on the ejector part directed towards said base causes the ejector part to move in the first direction and wherein said ejector part is biased to move in said second direction when the force is removed, said ejector mechanism being arranged whereby when a cassette is inserted into the cassette receiving bay, said ejector part extends through an opening in a base of the cassette. <CIT> discloses a tape cassette mounted in a tape printing apparatus equipped with a printing head and a head driving mechanism for driving this printing head and includes a tape-type recording medium accommodated in a cassette body, wherein a cam surface is provided on the surface of the cassette body, the cam surface being adapted to drive the head driving mechanism of the tape printing apparatus when the tape cassette is attached to the tape printing apparatus. <CIT> discloses a tape label printing device in which an ink ribbon is serially coated by inks in the three primary colors. A distinction portion is provided at each boundary portion between different colored inks. Each distinction portion is formed from two lines, one having a width common for all the distinction portions and regardless of corresponding ink color and one set with a width peculiar to particular ink color.

In a printing apparatus that performs printing on a tape, the tape is replaced and supplied by attaching and detaching a cassette housing 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 <NUM>).

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.

An object of the present disclosure is to 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.

The object is achieved by the print cassette according to claim <NUM>.

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.

According to such a configuration, since the input gear, the output gear, and the idle gear, which are for transmitting the driving force, are disposed overlapping the print tape roll in the first direction, the print cassette can be downsized in a direction perpendicular to the first direction.

A printing apparatus <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> includes a print cassette <NUM> and a printing apparatus main body <NUM>. The printing apparatus <NUM> is an apparatus that performs printing on a tape print medium.

In the present embodiment, an axial direction of an output gear <NUM> of a print cassette <NUM> and an axial direction of a platen gear <NUM> of the printing apparatus main body <NUM> are an up-down direction, a direction perpendicular to the up-down direction in which the output gear <NUM> and an input spool <NUM> are aligned (that is, a direction in which the platen gear <NUM> and a drive shaft <NUM> 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 <NUM> is exhibited (or a range in which, for example, a print tape 11A and an ink ribbon 14A are conveyable).

The printing apparatus main body <NUM> includes a cassette insertion portion <NUM>, a print head <NUM>, a platen roller <NUM>, a platen gear <NUM>, the drive shaft <NUM>, and a housing <NUM>.

The cassette insertion portion <NUM> is a recessed portion to which the print cassette <NUM> is attached. The cassette insertion portion <NUM> has a function of positioning the print cassette <NUM>. The cassette insertion portion <NUM> is provided in the housing <NUM>.

The print head <NUM> is disposed in an interior of the cassette insertion portion <NUM>. The print head <NUM> has a plurality of heating elements whose heat generation is to be individually controlled.

A rotation axis L1 of the platen roller <NUM> is parallel to the up-down direction. The platen roller <NUM> is disposed near the print head <NUM> in the interior of the cassette insertion portion <NUM>. The platen roller <NUM> is swingable in a direction toward or away from the print head <NUM>.

The platen gear <NUM> is coupled to the platen roller <NUM>. In the present embodiment, a rotation axis L2 of the platen gear <NUM> is located collinearly with the rotation axis L1 of the platen roller <NUM>. The platen gear <NUM> is swingable together with the platen roller <NUM>.

The drive shaft <NUM> is inserted into the input spool <NUM>. The drive shaft <NUM> rotates the input spool <NUM>.

The drive shaft <NUM> is disposed in the interior of the cassette insertion portion <NUM>. A rotation axis L3 of the drive shaft <NUM> is parallel to the up-down direction. The drive shaft <NUM> is rotated about the rotation axis L3 by a drive source (for example, a motor), which is not illustrated.

The print cassette <NUM> houses a print medium. The print cassette <NUM> is attachable to and detachable from the printing apparatus main body <NUM>. By replacing the print cassette <NUM>, a print medium can be supplied and the type (for example, color, material, etc.) of print medium can be changed.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the print cassette <NUM> includes a case <NUM> that houses the print tape 11A, the ink ribbon 14A, and the like. The outer shape of the print cassette <NUM> (i.e., the shape of the case <NUM>) 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 <NUM> has a first case portion <NUM>, a first frame portion <NUM>, a second frame portion <NUM>, and a second case portion <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the print cassette <NUM> includes a print tape roll <NUM>, a first tape spool <NUM>, spacer films 13A and 13B, an ink ribbon roll <NUM>, a second tape spool <NUM>, the input spool <NUM>, a clutch spring holder <NUM>, the output gear <NUM>, an input gear <NUM>, and an idle gear <NUM>.

In the print tape roll <NUM>, the print tape 11A on which printing is to be performed is wound around the first tape spool <NUM>.

In the print tape roll <NUM>, the print tape 11A is wound around a winding central axis parallel to the up-down direction. Printing is performed on the print tape 11A by the print head <NUM> of the printing apparatus main body <NUM> and the ink ribbon 14A.

Two spacer films 13A and 13B are disposed on outer sides of the print tape roll <NUM> in the up-down direction in such a manner as to sandwich the print tape roll <NUM>. The spacer film 13A is disposed between the print tape roll <NUM> and the first case portion <NUM> and the spacer film 13B is disposed between the print tape roll <NUM> and the first frame portion <NUM>.

The first tape spool <NUM> is rotatable about a rotation axis L4. The first tape spool <NUM> rotates along with the platen roller <NUM> of the printing apparatus main body <NUM> conveying the print tape 11A, thereby supplying the print tape 11A to the print head <NUM>.

In the ink ribbon roll <NUM>, the ink ribbon 14A used for printing on the print tape 11A is wound around the second tape spool <NUM>. In the ink ribbon roll <NUM>, the ink ribbon 14A is wound around a winding central axis parallel to the up-down direction.

The ink ribbon 14A is overlapped with the print tape 11A in the head opening 33B and is used for printing by the print head <NUM>. The ink ribbon 14A used for printing is taken up by the input spool <NUM>.

The ink ribbon roll <NUM> is subjected to rotation pressure applied by a clutch spring held by a clutch spring holder <NUM>. At least a portion of the ink ribbon roll <NUM> is disposed at a position overlapping the print tape roll <NUM> in the up-down direction.

The second tape spool <NUM> is rotatable about a rotation axis L5. The rotation axis L5 of the second tape spool <NUM> is parallel to the rotation axis L4 of the first tape spool <NUM>, that is, parallel to the up-down direction.

The second tape spool <NUM> rotates along with the input spool <NUM> taking up the ink ribbon 14A, thereby supplying the ink ribbon 14A to the print head <NUM>.

The input spool <NUM> is rotatable about a rotation axis L6. The rotation axis L6 of the input spool <NUM> is parallel to the rotation axis L5 of the second tape spool <NUM>.

The input spool <NUM> is cylindrical and has an inner peripheral surface 16Adefinint a hollow portion. The inner peripheral surface 16A of the input spool <NUM> is provided with spline teeth 16B. The spline teeth 16B engages the drive shaft <NUM> of the printing apparatus main body <NUM>.

The input spool <NUM> is rotated by the drive shaft <NUM>. The take-up spool <NUM> of the present embodiment is a take-up spool that is rotatable to take up the ink ribbon 14A to be supplied from the ink ribbon roll <NUM>.

The output gear <NUM> is a single gear for outputting a driving force for conveying the print tape 11A to the outside.

Specifically, the output gear <NUM> outputs a driving force to the platen gear <NUM> of the printing apparatus main body <NUM>. The rotation axis L7 of the output gear <NUM> is parallel to the rotation axis L5 of the second tape spool <NUM>. The output gear <NUM> overlaps a cover portion 32B in the up-down direction.

The output gear <NUM> is partially exposed to the head opening 33B. The output gear <NUM> engages the platen gear <NUM> at the head opening 33B in a state in which the print cassette <NUM> is attached to the printing apparatus main body <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the second tape spool <NUM>, the output gear <NUM>, and the print tape roll <NUM> are disposed in order of the second tape spool <NUM>, the output gear <NUM>, and the print tape roll <NUM> in the up-down direction. That is, the output gear <NUM> is positioned between the second tape spool <NUM> and the print tape roll <NUM> in the up-down direction.

The input gear <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> indirectly engages the output gear <NUM> via the idle gear <NUM> to transmit a driving force input from the printing apparatus main body <NUM> to the output gear <NUM>.

The input gear <NUM> includes a gear 19A and a cylindrical spool 19B that is fixed to a surface of the gear 19A perpendicular to a rotation axis thereof and that has spline teeth on an inner peripheral surface of the spool 19B. The gear 19A is rotated integrally with the spool 19B by the driving force input to the spool 19B.

The input gear <NUM> is disposed such that the rotation axis L8 of the input gear <NUM> (i.e., the rotation axis of the gear 19A and the rotation axis of the spool 19B) is aligned with the rotation axis L6 of the input spool <NUM>. A portion of the spool 19B is inserted into the input spool <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the input spool <NUM>, a portion of the input gear <NUM> (i.e., the gear 19A), and the print tape roll <NUM> are disposed in order of the input spool <NUM>, the portion of the input gear <NUM> (i.e., the gear 19A), and the print tape roll <NUM> in the up-down direction.

The rotation axis L8 of the input gear <NUM> overlaps the hollow portion of the input spool <NUM> in the up-down direction. The drive shaft <NUM> is thus simultaneously inserted through the input spool <NUM> and the spool 19B of the input gear <NUM>. As a result, although not directly coupled to the input spool <NUM>, the input gear <NUM> is rotated by a common drive source (i.e., the drive shaft <NUM>) with the input spool <NUM>.

The idle gear <NUM> directly engages the input gear <NUM> and the output gear <NUM>. The idle gear <NUM> transmits the driving force input to the input gear <NUM> to the output gear <NUM>. A rotation axis L9 of the idle gear <NUM> is parallel to the up-down direction.

The idle gear <NUM> is a stepped gear in which a first gear 20A engaging the output gear <NUM> and a second gear 20B engaging the input gear <NUM> are aligned coaxially. The second gear 20B has a larger diameter than the first gear 20A.

Further, the first gear 20A is disposed at a position closer to the print tape roll <NUM> than the second gear 20B is in the up-down direction (that is, higher than the second gear 20B). The idle gear <NUM> constitutes a speed reduction mechanism that reduces the rotational speed of the driving force input to the input gear <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the first case portion <NUM> constitutes an upper end portion of the print cassette <NUM>. The first frame portion <NUM> is disposed below the first case portion <NUM> and connected to the first case portion <NUM> in the up-down direction.

The second frame portion <NUM> is disposed below the first frame portion <NUM> and connected to the first frame portion <NUM> in the up-down direction. The second case portion <NUM> constitutes a lower end portion of the print cassette <NUM>. The second case portion <NUM> is connected to the second frame portion <NUM> in the up-down direction.

The first case portion <NUM> and the first frame portion <NUM> accommodate the print tape roll <NUM>. That is, the print tape roll <NUM> is disposed in a space surrounded by the first case portion <NUM> and the first frame portion <NUM>.

The second case portion <NUM> and the second frame portion <NUM> accommodate the ink ribbon roll <NUM>, the second tape spool <NUM>, and the input spool <NUM>. That is, the ink ribbon roll <NUM>, the second tape spool <NUM>, and the input spool <NUM> are disposed in a space surrounded by the second case portion <NUM> and the second frame portion <NUM>.

A portion of the output gear <NUM>, the input gear <NUM>, and the idle gear <NUM> are disposed in a space surrounded by the first frame portion <NUM> and the second frame portion <NUM>. That is, the portion of the output gear <NUM>, the input gear <NUM>, and the idle gear <NUM> are accommodated in the first frame portion <NUM> and the second frame portion <NUM>.

The first frame portion <NUM> includes a first side wall 32A, the cover portion 32B, a first guide 32C, a first gear shaft 32D, a second gear shaft 32E, and a third gear shaft 32F.

The first side wall 32A constitutes a side surface parallel to the up-down direction of the print cassette <NUM>.

The cover portion 32B has a surface perpendicular to the up-down direction. The cover portion 32B is disposed at a position overlapping the output gear <NUM> in the up-down direction. In the present embodiment, the cover portion 32B is disposed at a right front corner portion of the first frame portion <NUM>.

The first gear shaft 32D is inserted through the output gear <NUM> and rotatably supports the output gear <NUM>. The second gear shaft 32E is inserted through the input gear <NUM> and rotatably supports the input gear <NUM>. The third gear shaft 32F is inserted through the idle gear <NUM> and rotatably supports the idle gear <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the first guide 32C is a portion around which the print tape 11A pulled out from the print tape roll <NUM> is wound. The first guide 32C has a plurality of plate-shaped ribs spaced apart from each other in a circumferential direction of the print tape roll <NUM>. Each of the ribs protrudes in a radial direction of the print tape roll <NUM>, and a protrusion amount (that is, a plate width) increases downward.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the second frame portion <NUM> includes a second side wall 33A, a head opening 33B, a discharge port 33C, and a second guide 33D.

The second side wall 33A constitutes a side surface parallel to the up-down direction of the print cassette <NUM>.

The head opening 33B is a recessed portion that is recessed in the up-down direction toward the first frame portion <NUM> and extends in the left-right direction. The head opening 33B is a portion missing from the second side wall 33A, and opens downward in the print cassette <NUM>.

When the print cassette <NUM> is attached to the printing apparatus main body <NUM>, the print head <NUM> is inserted into the head opening 33B from below. In a state where the print cassette <NUM> is attached to the printing apparatus main body <NUM>, the print head <NUM> is disposed in the head opening 33B.

The second guide 33D is a portion around which the print tape 11A having passed through the first guide 32C is wound. Similarly to the first guide 32C, the second guide 33D has a plurality of plate-shaped ribs spaced apart from each other in a circumferential direction of the ink ribbon roll <NUM>. Each of the ribs protrudes in a radial direction of the ink ribbon roll <NUM>, and a protrusion amount (that is, a plate width) decreases downward.

As illustrated in <FIG>, a portion of the input gear <NUM>, a portion of the output gear <NUM>, and a portion of the idle gear <NUM> each overlap the print tape roll <NUM> in the up-down direction.

The rotation axis L8 of the input gear <NUM>, the rotation axis L7 of the output gear <NUM>, and the rotation axis L9 of the idle gear <NUM> are each located more inward than an outer peripheral surface 11B of the print tape roll <NUM> in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction.

Further, in a projection view in which the first tape spool <NUM>, the input gear <NUM>, the output gear <NUM>, and the idle gear <NUM> are projected onto a virtual plane perpendicular to the up-down direction, the rotation axis L4 of the first tape spool <NUM> overlaps a convex envelope P defined by the input gear <NUM>, the output gear <NUM>, and the idle gear <NUM>. The convex envelope P also overlaps a portion of the first tape spool <NUM> and a portion of the print tape roll <NUM>.

The second gear 20B of the idle gear <NUM> has an overlapping portion 20C that overlaps the output gear <NUM> in the up-down direction. A portion of the overlapping portion 20C of the second gear 20B overlaps the print tape roll <NUM> in the up-down direction. The portion of the overlapping portion 20C of the second gear 20B overlaps the first tape spool <NUM> in the up-down direction.

As illustrated in <FIG>, a portion of the ink ribbon roll <NUM> and a portion of the second tape spool <NUM> each overlap the idle gear <NUM> in the up-down direction. A portion of the input spool <NUM> also overlaps the idle gear <NUM> in the up-down direction. The outer edge of the input spool <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> includes flanges provided at both ends in the axial direction of the rotation axis L6 of the input spool <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the rotation axis L8 of the input gear <NUM>, the rotation axis L7 of the output gear <NUM>, and the rotation axis L9 of the idle gear <NUM> are each located between both ends of the head opening 33B in the left-right direction (i.e., in a region A overlapping the head opening 33B in the front-rear direction).

The rotation axis L8 of the input gear <NUM> and the rotation axis L9 of the idle gear <NUM> are each located behind the head opening 33B. The rotation axis L7 of the output gear <NUM> passes through the head opening 33B.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the print tape 11A and the ink ribbon 14A are laid across the head opening 33B in the left-right direction. The printed print tape 11A is discharged from the discharge port 33C outside the printing apparatus <NUM>. A portion of the output gear <NUM> is located in the head opening 33B. The cover portion 32B is exposed in the head opening 33B.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the first guide 32C and the second guide 33D constitute a passage through which the print tape 11A constituting the print tape roll <NUM> is fed from the first frame portion <NUM> to the second frame portion <NUM>.

Specifically, as illustrated in <FIG>, the print tape 11A pulled out from the print tape roll <NUM> is conveyed in a spiral downward to the rear in the first frame portion <NUM> while coming into contact with the first guide 32C from an outer side of the print tape roll <NUM> in the radial direction. As illustrated in <FIG>, the print tape 11A is further conveyed downward to the left across the first frame portion <NUM> and the second frame portion <NUM> in the up-down direction.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the print tape 11A that has reached the second frame portion <NUM> is conveyed downward to the front while coming into contact with the second guide 33D from the outer side in the radial direction. As illustrated in <FIG>, the print tape 11A that has reached the lower end portion of the print cassette <NUM> passes through the head opening 33B and is discharged from the discharge port 33C.

The print head <NUM> performs printing on the print tape 11A held by the print cassette <NUM>.

In a state in which the print cassette <NUM> is attached to the printing apparatus main body <NUM>, the print head <NUM> is disposed at a position overlapping the print tape 11A and the ink ribbon 14A in the front-rear direction in the head opening 33B.

The print tape 11A conveyed to the head opening 33B by the platen roller <NUM> is pressed via the ink ribbon 14A against the print head <NUM> in which the heating elements generate heat. As a result, a portion of ink disposed on the front face of the ink ribbon 14A is transferred to the print tape 11A, and characters, symbols, and the like are printed on the print tape 11A.

The platen roller <NUM> conveys the print tape 11A from inside the print cassette <NUM> to the outside. The platen roller <NUM> abuts against the print tape 11A in the head opening 33B and presses the print tape 11A against the print head <NUM>.

The platen gear <NUM> is coupled to the platen roller <NUM> and engages the output gear <NUM>. The platen roller <NUM> and the platen gear <NUM> are swingable between a position illustrated in <FIG> where they are separated from the print cassette <NUM> and a position illustrated in <FIG> where the platen gear <NUM> engages the output gear <NUM>.

The drive shaft <NUM> is inserted into the input spool <NUM> and the input gear <NUM>, and rotates the input spool <NUM> and the input gear <NUM> by engaging the spline tooth 16B with the spool 19B of the input gear <NUM>.

In a state where the print cassette <NUM> is attached to the printing apparatus main body <NUM>, the drive shaft <NUM> engages the input gear <NUM>, and the platen gear <NUM> engages the output gear <NUM>. Specifically, the drive shaft <NUM> is inserted into the input spool <NUM> and the input gear <NUM> of the print cassette <NUM>. Thereafter, the platen roller <NUM> and the platen gear <NUM> are swung toward the head opening 33B of the print cassette <NUM>.

When the input gear <NUM> is rotated by the drive shaft <NUM> in a state where the print cassette <NUM> is attached, the output gear <NUM> is rotated, the platen gear <NUM> rotates with the rotation of the output gear <NUM>, and the platen roller <NUM> rotates with the rotation of the platen gear <NUM>.

According to the embodiment described above in detail, the following effects are obtained.

(1a) Since the input gear <NUM>, the output gear <NUM> and the idle gear <NUM>, which are for transmitting the driving force, are disposed so as to overlap the print tape roll <NUM> in the up-down direction, the print cassette <NUM> can be downsized in the left-right direction and the front-rear direction.

(1b) Since the rotation axis L4 of the first tape spool <NUM> overlaps the convex envelope P defined by the input gear <NUM>, the output gear <NUM>, and the idle gear <NUM>, the print cassette <NUM> can be downsized in the left-right direction and the front-rear direction compared to a case where the rotation axis L4 of the first tape spool <NUM> does not overlap the convex envelope P. Further, the thrust load of the first tape spool <NUM> is prevented from being transmitted unevenly to one gear shaft.

(1c) Since a portion of the ink ribbon roll <NUM> and a portion of the input spool <NUM> overlap the idle gear <NUM> in the up-down direction and the overlapping portion 20C of the second gear 20B overlaps the print tape roll <NUM> in the up-down direction, the print cassette <NUM> can be further downsized in the left-right direction and the front-rear direction.

(1d) Since the rotation axis L8 of the input gear <NUM>, the rotation axis L7 of the output gear <NUM>, and the rotation axis L9 of the idle gear <NUM> are located between both ends of the head opening 33B in the left-right direction, the print cassette <NUM> can be further downsized in the left-right direction.

A printing apparatus 1A illustrated in <FIG> includes a print cassette 10A and a printing apparatus main body 100A.

The print cassette 10A is obtained by adding a laminating tape roll <NUM>, a take-up spool <NUM>, a take-up gear <NUM>, and a pinch roller <NUM>, which are illustrated in <FIG>, to the print cassette <NUM> of the first embodiment, and replacing the input spool <NUM>, the first case portion <NUM>, the first frame portion <NUM>, the second frame portion <NUM>, and the second case portion <NUM> of the first embodiment with a third tape spool <NUM>, a first case portion <NUM>, a first frame portion <NUM>, a second frame portion <NUM>, and a second case portion <NUM>.

The third tape spool <NUM> is similar to the input spool <NUM> except that it does not have spline teeth 16B. The first case portion <NUM>, the first frame portion <NUM>, the second frame portion <NUM>, and the second case portion <NUM> are obtained by extending the first case portion <NUM>, the first frame portion <NUM>, the second frame portion <NUM>, and the second case portion <NUM> in the left-right direction, respectively. Other configurations of the print cassette 10A are similar to those of the print cassette <NUM> of the first embodiment except for the points described below, and thus description thereof will be omitted.

In the laminating tape roll <NUM>, the laminating tape is wound around the third tape spool <NUM>. In the laminating tape roll <NUM>, 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 11A on which printing has been performed by the print head <NUM>.

The take-up spool <NUM> is rotatable about a rotation axis L10. The rotation axis L10 of the take-up spool <NUM> is parallel to the rotation axis L5 of the second tape spool <NUM>, that is, parallel to the up-down direction. The take-up spool <NUM> takes up the ink ribbon 14A taken out from the ink ribbon roll <NUM> by the rotation of the take-up gear <NUM>.

The take-up gear <NUM> is coupled to the take-up spool <NUM> and directly engaged with the idle gear <NUM>. A rotation axis L11 of the take-up gear <NUM> is located collinearly with the rotation axis L10 of the take-up spool <NUM>.

The take-up gear <NUM> is rotated by the driving force input to the input gear <NUM> to rotate the take-up spool <NUM>. The idle gear <NUM> transmits the driving force input to the input gear <NUM> to the take-up gear <NUM>.

The pinch roller <NUM> presses the laminating tape against the print tape 11A after printing together with a pressing roller <NUM>. The pinch roller <NUM> is disposed downstream of the head opening 33B in the conveyance direction of the print tape 11A.

As illustrated in <FIG>, a portion of the take-up gear <NUM> overlaps the print tape roll <NUM> in the up-down direction. A rotation axis L11 of the take-up gear <NUM> overlaps the print tape roll <NUM> in the up-down direction.

As illustrated in <FIG>, a portion of the take-up spool <NUM> overlaps the idle gear <NUM> in the up-down direction. The take-up gear <NUM> overlaps the take-up spool <NUM> in the up-down direction. The outer edge of the take-up spool <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> includes flanges provided at both ends in the axial direction of the rotation axis L10 of the take-up spool <NUM>.

A portion of the output gear <NUM> and a portion of the idle gear <NUM> each overlap the laminating tape roll <NUM> in the up-down direction. In particular, a portion of the overlapping portion 20C of the second gear 20B of the idle gear <NUM> overlaps the laminating tape roll <NUM> in the up-down direction.

In the printing apparatus main body 100A, a pressing roller <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> is added to the printing apparatus main body <NUM> of the first embodiment. Other configurations of the printing apparatus main body100A are similar to those of the printing apparatus main body <NUM> of the first embodiment except for the points described below, and thus description thereof will be omitted.

The pressing roller <NUM> is configured to be swingable together with the platen roller <NUM> and the platen gear <NUM>. The pressing roller <NUM> is swingable between a position illustrated in <FIG> where it is separated from the print cassette 10A and a position illustrated in <FIG> where it presses the print tape 11A and the third tape together with the pinch roller <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the drive shaft <NUM> is inserted into the hollow portion of the third tape spool <NUM> (i.e., the laminated tape roll <NUM>) while the print cassette 10A is attached to the printing apparatus main body 100A, and the input gear <NUM> engages the drive shaft <NUM>.

(2a) Since a portion of the take-up gear <NUM> and the rotation axis L11 of the take-up gear <NUM> overlap the print tape roll <NUM> in the up-down direction, the printed content of the print tape 11A 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 <NUM> overlaps the idle gear <NUM> in the up-down direction and the overlapping portion 20C of the second gear 20B of the idle gear <NUM> overlaps the laminating tape roll <NUM> in the up-down direction, the print cassette 10A can be further downsized in the left-right direction and the front-rear direction.

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 shaft 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.

Claim 1:
A print cassette (<NUM>; 10A) comprising:
a print tape roll (<NUM>) in which a print tape (11A) is wound around a winding central axis parallel to a first direction; characterized in that the print cassette further comprises:
an input gear (<NUM>) to which a driving force is to be input from outside;
an output gear (<NUM>) to output the driving force outside; and
an idle gear (<NUM>) directly or indirectly engaging the input gear (<NUM>) and the output gear (<NUM>) to transmit the driving force input to the input gear (<NUM>) to the output gear (<NUM>),
wherein at least a portion of the input gear (<NUM>), at least a portion of the output gear (<NUM>), and at least a portion of the idle gear (<NUM>) each overlap the print tape roll (<NUM>) in the first direction.