Patent Description:
Conventionally known is a cassette, for example, detachably attachable to a small-sized printing device and to be used therein. Such a cassette is disclosed in, for example, Patent Literature <NUM>. In the cassette of Patent Literature <NUM>, a feed reel <NUM> of an ink ribbon <NUM> is disposed in a first space defined between a cassette lid <NUM> and a partition plate <NUM>, and a take-up reel <NUM> of the ink ribbon <NUM> is disposed in a second space defined below the partition plate <NUM>. As a drive roller <NUM> is rotated by a drive means of the printing device, an elastic belt <NUM> extending between the drive roller <NUM> and a following roller <NUM> runs to cause rotation of the take-up reel <NUM>. Thus, the ink ribbon <NUM> is conveyed downward from the first space to the second space after a constant feeding tension is applied to the ink ribbon <NUM> by a tension roller <NUM>.

In the cassette disclosed in Patent Literature <NUM>, before the ink ribbon <NUM> is conveyed downward from the first space to the second space, the ink ribbon <NUM> is once turned by the tension roller <NUM> by approximately <NUM>° around an axis of the tension roller <NUM>, that is, an inner side and an outer side of the ink ribbon <NUM> are once changed by the tension roller <NUM>. Thus, there has been a problem that in a case where such a cassette using the ink ribbon <NUM> as disclosed in Patent Literature <NUM> is applied to, for example, a cassette using a medium to be printed including a to-be-printed layer and a release layer, the medium to be printed cannot be conveyed smoothly due to peeling of the release layer from the to-be-printed layer when an inner side and an outer side of the medium to be printed are changed. Patent Literature <NUM> discloses a tape cartridge detachably mounted to a cartridge mounting section of a tape printer includes a cartridge casing that has a first casing on a front side in a mounting direction in which the tape cartridge is mounted to the cartridge mounting section, and a second casing on a rear side with respect to the front side in the mounting direction, a tape roll that is accommodated in the cartridge casing and in which a print tape is wound around a spool, and a rotating guide section that is provided in the second casing and guides the rotation of the tape roll in sliding contact with an inner circumferential surface of the spool. Patent Literature <NUM> discloses a ribbon cartridge and label machine, ribbon cartridge includes hollow box, driving wheel and driven wheel are equipped with the box body, and division has the first band housing region for accommodating label and the second band housing region for accommodating transfer film in the box body, position corresponding with the center of the first band housing region opens up on the box body runs through opening for printer asessory shaft through the box body, and the elastic engaging portion being provided with the outer edge of opening in the box body, the holding section is used to be fastened on the outer wall of the asessory shaft so that the box body is fixed on the asessory shaft when the asessory shaft runs through opening described in, ribbon cartridge provided by the utility model, solve the horizontal play of existing ribbon cartridge easily appearance and cause the impacted technical problem of print quality. Patent Literature <NUM> discloses a cassette adapted to be received by a tape printer, the cassette comprising a housing for accommodating a tape medium; an opening in the housing, said opening configured to receive a printhead arrangement of the tape printer when the cassette is received by the tape printer; and a cover movable from a closed position in which the opening is at least partially closed to an open position.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the invention is to provide a cassette in which a medium to be printed including a to-be-printed layer and a release layer can be conveyed smoothly.

The gist of a first invention is that a cassette includes: (a) a case including a first layer and a second layer and having a head space at the first layer; and (b) a roll disposed at the second layer and into which a medium to be printed is wound about a rotation axis in a winding direction, wherein: (c) the medium to be printed includes a to-be-printed layer and a release layer, the medium to be printed is disposed at the case such that the to-be-printed layer is on an inner side of the medium to be printed in the winding direction and the release layer is on an outer side of the medium to be printed in the winding direction; (d) the case has a conveyance path for conveying the medium to be printed; and (e) the conveyance path is defined such that the medium to be printed is conveyed in the winding direction from the roll to the head space through an opening defined at a boundary between the first layer and the second layer in the case.

The gist of a second invention is that the opening is located opposite to the head space in a third direction orthogonal to a first direction and a second direction, the first direction being a direction from the first layer toward the second layer, the second direction being a direction in which the medium to be printed is conveyed in the head space.

The gist of a third invention is that: (a) the case has a rectangular parallelepiped shape having four corner portions; and (b) the conveyance path extends to the head space via at least three corner portions of the four corner portions of the case.

The gist of a fourth invention is that: (a) the three corner portions include a first corner portion, a second corner portion, and a third corner portion; (b) the first corner portion is located at the second layer; (c) a portion of the second corner portion is located at either of the first layer and the second layer; (d) the third corner portion is located at the first layer; (e) the conveyance path is defined such that the medium to be printed extends between the first corner portion and the second corner portion in an inclined manner relative to the medium to be printed wound into the roll; (f) the conveyance path is defined such that the medium to be printed extends between the second corner portion and the third corner portion in an inclined manner relative to the medium to be printed wound into the roll; (g) the conveyance path is defined such that medium to be printed extends between the third corner portion and the head space horizontally to the medium to be printed wound into the roll; and (h) the conveyance path is defined such that the medium to be printed is conveyed via the first corner portion, the second corner portion, and the third corner portion in this order, whereby the medium to be printed moves from the second layer to the first layer to reach the head space.

The gist of a fifth invention is that: (a) the case further includes a fourth corner portion at the second layer; (b) an upstream end of the opening in a conveyance direction of the medium to be printed is located at the fourth corner portion; (c) the case has a to-be-printed-medium outlet at the first layer, the to-be-printed-medium outlet overlapping the fourth corner portion in a direction from the second layer toward the first layer; and (d) the conveyance path is defined such that the medium to be printed is conveyed via the fourth corner portion, the first corner portion, the second corner portion, and the third corner portion in this order, whereby the medium to be printed moves from the second layer to the first layer to reach the to-be-printed-medium outlet via the head space.

The gist of a sixth invention is that: (a) the case includes a lower case and an upper case connected to the lower case; (b) the lower case has a first opening portion in an upper portion thereof; (c) the upper case has a second opening portion in a lower portion thereof; and (d) the opening includes the first opening portion and the second opening portion connected to each other at a boundary at which the upper portion and the lower portion are connected to each other.

The gist of a seventh invention is that the cassette further includes an ink ribbon at the first layer.

The gist of an eighth invention is that the cassette further includes (a) a feed spool for the ink ribbon, wherein (b) a feed axis of the feed spool is located within a projected area of the roll.

The gist of a ninth invention is that the cassette further includes (a) a feed spool for the ink ribbon and a take-up spool for the ink ribbon, wherein (b) the opening does not overlap any of the roll, the feed spool, and the take-up spool in a direction from the second layer toward the first layer.

The gist of a tenth invention is that the cassette further includes (a) a feed spool for the ink ribbon and a take-up spool for the ink ribbon, wherein (b) the opening is located around the rotation axis of the roll and further to an outer side than the feed spool and the take-up spool.

The gist of an eleventh invention is that: (a) the case includes a guide for the medium to be printed at the first layer; (b) the second layer is located above the first layer; and (c) a spacing of a gap in an up-down direction between the case and an upper edge of the medium to be printed in the opening is greater than a spacing of a gap in the up-down direction between the guide and the upper edge of the medium to be printed in the first layer.

According to a cassette of the first invention, a cassette includes: (a) a case including a first layer and a second layer and having a head space at the first layer; and (b) a roll disposed at the second layer and into which a medium to be printed is wound about a rotation axis in a winding direction, wherein: (c) the medium to be printed includes a to-be-printed layer and a release layer, the medium to be printed is disposed at the case such that the to-be-printed layer is on an inner side of the medium to be printed in the winding direction and the release layer is on an outer side of the medium to be printed in the winding direction; (d) the case has a conveyance path for conveying the medium to be printed; and (e) the conveyance path is defined such that the medium to be printed is conveyed in the winding direction from the roll to the head space through an opening defined at a boundary between the first layer and the second layer in the case. The medium to be printed is thus conveyed in the winding direction from the roll to the head space along the conveyance path defined in the case. This can reduce a possibility that the release layer peels off from the to-be-printed layer due to reversing of the inner side and the outer side of the medium to be printed during conveyance of the medium to be printed as conventionally occurred. Consequently, the medium to be printed including the to-be-printed layer and the release layer can be smoothly conveyed.

According to the cassette of the second invention, the opening is located opposite to the head space in a third direction orthogonal to a first direction and a second direction, the first direction being a direction from the first layer toward the second layer, the second direction being a direction in which the medium to be printed is conveyed in the head space. Thus, a length of the conveyance path from the roll to the head space can be extended.

According to the cassette of the third invention, (a) the case has a rectangular parallelepiped shape having four corner portions, and (b) the conveyance path extends to the head space via at least three corner portions of the four corner portions of the case. Thus, the length of the conveyance path from the roll to the head space can be extended.

According to the cassette of the fourth invention, (a) the three corner portions include a first corner portion, a second corner portion, and a third corner portion; (b) the first corner portion is located at the second layer; (c) a portion of the second corner portion is located at either of the first layer and the second layer; (d) the third corner portion is located at the first layer; (e) the conveyance path is defined such that the medium to be printed extends between the first corner portion and the second corner portion in an inclined manner relative to the medium to be printed wound into the roll; (f) the conveyance path is defined such that the medium to be printed extends between the second corner portion and the third corner portion in an inclined manner relative to the medium to be printed wound into the roll; (g) the conveyance path is defined such that medium to be printed extends between the third corner portion and the head space horizontally to the medium to be printed wound into the roll; and (h) the conveyance path is defined such that the medium to be printed is conveyed via the first corner portion, the second corner portion, and the third corner portion in this order, whereby the medium to be printed moves from the second layer to the first layer to reach the head space. Thus, when the medium to be printed is moved from the second layer to the first layer, the medium to be printed is moved from the second layer to the first layer relatively gently, whereby twisting of the medium to be printed can be suitably suppressed.

According to the cassette of the fifth invention, (a) the case further includes a fourth corner portion at the second layer; (b) an upstream end of the opening in a conveyance direction of the medium to be printed is located at the fourth corner portion; (c) the case has a to-be-printed-medium outlet at the first layer, the to-be-printed-medium outlet overlapping the fourth corner portion in a direction from the second layer toward the first layer; and (d) the conveyance path is defined such that the medium to be printed is conveyed via the fourth corner portion, the first corner portion, the second corner portion, and the third corner portion in this order, whereby the medium to be printed moves from the second layer to the first layer to reach the to-be-printed-medium outlet via the head space. Thus, the length of the conveyance path from the roll to the head space can be suitably extended.

According to the cassette of the sixth invention, (a) the case includes a lower case and an upper case connected to the lower case; (b) the lower case has a first opening portion in an upper portion thereof; (c) the upper case has a second opening portion in a lower portion thereof; and (d) the opening includes the first opening portion and the second opening portion connected to each other at a boundary at which the upper portion and the lower portion are connected to each other. The medium to be printed can be thus suitably conveyed from the second layer to the first layer via the first opening portion of the lower case and the second opening portion of the upper case.

According to the cassette of the seventh invention, the cassette further includes an ink ribbon at the first layer. Ink of the ink ribbon can be thus printed on the to-be-printed layer of the medium to be printed.

According to the cassette of the eighth invention, the cassette further includes (a) a feed spool for the ink ribbon, wherein (b) a feed axis of the feed spool is located within a projected area of the roll. The case can be thus suitably downsized.

According to the cassette of the ninth invention, the cassette further includes (a) a feed spool for the ink ribbon and a take-up spool for the ink ribbon, wherein (b) the opening does not overlap any of the roll, the feed spool, and the take-up spool in a direction from the second layer toward the first layer. The medium to be printed can be thus suitably conveyed from the second layer to the first layer via the opening without contacting the supply spool and the take-up spool.

According to the cassette of the tenth invention, the cassette further includes (a) a feed spool for the ink ribbon and a take-up spool for the ink ribbon, wherein (b) the opening is located around the rotation axis of the roll and further to an outer side than the feed spool and the take-up spool. The medium to be printed can be thus suitably conveyed from the second layer to the first layer via the opening without contacting the supply spool and the take-up spool.

According to the cassette of the eleventh invention, (a) the case includes a guide for the medium to be printed at the first layer; (b) the second layer is located above the first layer; and (c) a spacing of a gap in an up-down direction between the case and an upper edge of the medium to be printed in the opening is greater than a spacing of a gap in the up-down direction between the guide and the upper edge of the medium to be printed in the first layer. The medium to be printed can be thus suitably conveyed from the second layer to the guide of the first layer without contacting the case.

<FIG> is a perspective view of a cassette <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention, when viewed from an obverse surface side, that is, an upper surface side, of the cassette <NUM>. <FIG> is a perspective view of the cassette <NUM>, when viewed from a back surface side, that is, a lower surface side, of the cassette <NUM>. <FIG> is a perspective view illustrating an internal configuration of a case (a case) <NUM> of the cassette <NUM> and an internal configuration of the cassette <NUM>, wherein a first case member <NUM>, a second case member (an upper case) <NUM>, a third case member (a lower case) <NUM>, and a fourth case member <NUM> constituting the cassette <NUM> are disassembled. The cassette <NUM> is a laminated type cassette. The cassette <NUM> has a rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole. The cassette <NUM> is to be detachably attached to a cassette mounting portion <NUM> of a printer, that is, a printing device <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> (described later). The case <NUM> of the cassette <NUM> includes a tape case (a second layer) <NUM> having a first space S1 therein and a ribbon case (a first layer) <NUM> having a second space S2 therein. A printing tape roll (a roll) <NUM> is disposed in the first space S1. An ink ribbon roll <NUM> is disposed in the second space S2. The tape case <NUM> includes the first case member <NUM> and the second case member <NUM>. The ribbon case <NUM> includes the third case member <NUM> and the fourth case member <NUM>. In the case <NUM>, the first case member <NUM>, the second case member <NUM>, the third case member <NUM>, and the fourth case member <NUM> include locking claws <NUM>, fixing claws <NUM>, and positioning projections <NUM> at appropriate positions of their outer peripheral walls. The first case member <NUM>, the second case member <NUM>, the third case member <NUM>, and the fourth case member <NUM> are fixed to each other in a stacked manner by engagement between the locking claws <NUM> and the fixing claws <NUM> while the first case member <NUM>, the second case member <NUM>, the third case member <NUM>, and the fourth case member <NUM> are positioned relative to each other by the positioning projections <NUM>. The tape case <NUM> defining the first space S1 corresponds to the second layer of the case <NUM> of the cassette <NUM>. The ribbon case <NUM> defining the second space S2 corresponds to the first layer of the case <NUM> of the cassette <NUM>.

In <FIG>, a coupling hole <NUM> of a take-up spool <NUM> (described later) is exposed from a bottom surface of the fourth case member <NUM> of the cassette <NUM> through a take-up spool support hole <NUM>. When the cassette <NUM> is mounted on the cassette mounting portion <NUM> of the printing device <NUM>, a take-up spool drive shaft <NUM> disposed at the cassette mounting portion <NUM> is inserted in the coupling hole <NUM>. The third case member <NUM> and the fourth case member <NUM> has a recessed groove (a head space) <NUM> at their side surfaces. When the cassette <NUM> is mounted on the cassette mounting portion <NUM> of the printing device <NUM>, a print head <NUM> (described later) disposed at the cassette mounting portion <NUM> is inserted to the recessed groove <NUM>. In other words, the ribbon case <NUM> has, at its side surface, the head space <NUM> to which the print head <NUM> is inserted when the cassette <NUM> is mounted on the cassette mounting portion <NUM>.

<FIG> is a front view illustrating an upper (obverse) surface side of the first case member <NUM>. <FIG> is a perspective view illustrating a lower (back) surface side of the first case member <NUM>. <FIG> is a front view illustrating an upper surface side of the second case member <NUM> of <FIG> and a printing tape roll <NUM>. <FIG> is a perspective view illustrating the cassette <NUM> of <FIG> with the first case member <NUM> removed. <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG> are cross sectional views of <FIG>, illustrating a state where a printing tape (a medium to be printed) <NUM> is transported from the inside of the tape case <NUM> to the inside of the ribbon case <NUM>. <FIG> is a perspective view illustrating a lower surface side of the second case member <NUM>. <FIG> is a perspective view illustrating an upper surface side of the third case member <NUM>. <FIG> is a perspective view illustrating a lower surface side of the third case member <NUM>. <FIG> is a perspective view illustrating an upper surface side of the fourth case member <NUM>. <FIG> is a bottom view illustrating a lower surface side of the fourth case member <NUM>.

The first space S1 is defined between the first case member <NUM> and the second case member <NUM>. The printing tape roll <NUM> is accommodated in the first space S1 so as to be rotatable about a first rotation axis (a rotation axis) C1 extending parallel to an up-down direction (a first direction) F1. In the printing tape roll <NUM>, a printing tape <NUM> is wound around a printing tape spool <NUM> that is a cylindrical shaft core member. The first rotation axis C1 is a rotation axis of the printing tape spool <NUM> as well as a rotation axis of the printing tape roll <NUM>. The up-down direction F1 corresponds to the first direction that is a direction in which the first case member <NUM> to the fourth case member <NUM> are stacked. An upward direction refers to a direction toward the first case member <NUM>. A downward direction refers to a direction toward the fourth case member <NUM>. The first case member <NUM> and the second case member <NUM> each have a rectangular shape. The first rotation axis C1 is located at a position eccentric downward from the centers of the first case member <NUM> and the second case member <NUM> with respect to a longitudinal direction. The printing tape <NUM> is a medium to be printed on which printing is to be performed by the print head <NUM>. For example, as illustrated in <FIG>, the printing tape <NUM> is a laminate in which a release tape (a release layer) 22c is laid over a surface opposite to a to-be-printed surface of a to-be-printed tape (a to-be-printed layer) 22a as a base via an adhesive 22b. That is, the printing tape <NUM> includes the to-be-printed tape 22a, the adhesive 22b, and the release tape 22c. For example, as illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, in the printing tape roll <NUM>, the printing tape <NUM> is wound around the printing tape spool <NUM> about the first rotation axis C1 in a winding direction D and is disposed such that the to-be-printed tape 22a is on an inner side of the printing tape <NUM> in the winding direction D and the release tape 22c is on an outer side of the printing tape <NUM> in the winding direction D. The inner side of the printing tape <NUM> in the winding direction D is a side surface (the inner side) closer to the printing tape spool <NUM>, that is, the first rotation axis C1, of a pair of side surfaces of the printing tape <NUM> wound around the printing tape spool <NUM>. The outer side of the printing tape <NUM> in the winding direction D is a side surface (the outer side) farther from the printing tape spool <NUM>, that is, the first rotation axis C1, of the pair of side surfaces of the printing tape <NUM> wound around the printing tape spool <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, the first case member <NUM> includes a cylindrical first support projection <NUM> and a first circumferential wall <NUM> protruding from a lower surface thereof, and the second case member <NUM> includes a cylindrical second support projection <NUM> and a second circumferential wall <NUM> protruding from an upper surface thereof. The first support projection <NUM> and the second support projection <NUM> are coupled to an upper end and the other end, respectively, of the printing tape spool <NUM> to support the printing tape roll <NUM> rotatably. The first circumferential wall <NUM> and the second circumferential wall <NUM> have an axis that is coaxial with the first rotation axis C1. The first circumferential wall <NUM> and the second circumferential wall <NUM> have an inside diameter greater than an outside diameter of the printing tape roll <NUM> that is yet to be used. In a state where the printing tape spool <NUM> is held inside the first circumferential wall <NUM> and the second circumferential wall <NUM>, the printing tape spool <NUM> is disposed between the first case member <NUM> and the second case member <NUM> while a spacer film <NUM> is disposed between the printing tape spool <NUM> and each of the first case member <NUM> and the second case member <NUM>. Each spacer film <NUM> has a disc-shape having an outside diameter equal to the outside diameter of the printing tape roll <NUM>. The spacer films <NUM> enable the printing tape roll <NUM> to rotate smoothly. Each spacer film <NUM> is made from, for example, a tetrafluoroethylene resin sheet.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the first case member <NUM> includes a printing tape gate <NUM> at its lower surface. The first circumferential wall <NUM> is partially cut away to define the printing tape gate <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the second case member <NUM> includes a printing tape gate <NUM> at its upper surface. The second circumferential wall <NUM> is partially cut away to define the printing tape gate <NUM>. The printing tape gates <NUM> and <NUM> allow the printing tape <NUM> to be drawn from the printing tape roll <NUM> at a certain position. The second case member <NUM> includes guide walls <NUM> and <NUM> at its upper surface. The guide wall <NUM> has an arc shape such that its outer surface continuously extends along an inner circumference of a through hole (a second opening portion) <NUM> so as to guide the printing tape <NUM> drawn from the printing tape roll <NUM> to move in a certain direction. The guide wall <NUM> extends leftward from a left end of the printing tape gate <NUM>. The guide wall <NUM> serves as a guide portion that guides the printing tape <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the guide wall <NUM> of the second case member <NUM> bends toward a long side portion 46b before reaching a short side portion 46a of the outer peripheral wall <NUM>, and further extends to the long side portion 46b along the second circumferential wall <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, a bottom plate (a lower portion) 14a of the second case member <NUM> has an opening elongated along between the guide wall <NUM> and the long side portion 46b of the outer peripheral wall <NUM>, that is, the through hole <NUM>. The guide wall <NUM> of the second case member <NUM> includes a plurality of guide ribs <NUM> between a particular portion of the second circumferential wall <NUM> and the through hole <NUM>. The particular portion of the second circumferential wall <NUM> faces the guide wall <NUM>. Each guide rib <NUM> has a tapered outer contact surface at its rib end 54a. The tapered surfaces that are the outer contact surfaces at the rib ends 54a of the respective guide ribs <NUM> are for guiding, into the through hole <NUM>, the printing tape <NUM> drawn from the printing tape roll <NUM> and fed through the printing tape gates <NUM> and <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates the cassette <NUM> with the first case member <NUM> removed, wherein the printing tape <NUM> drawn from the printing tape roll <NUM> is guided to a second space S2 via the through hole <NUM>. The second space S2 is defined between the third case member <NUM> and the fourth case member <NUM>. The printing tape <NUM> thus extends between the tape case <NUM> and the ribbon case <NUM> via the through hole <NUM> defined in the bottom plate 14a serving as a partition between the first space S1 and the second space S2. An opening, that is, a through hole (a first opening portion) <NUM> is formed in a ceiling plate (an upper portion) 16e of the third case member <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the ceiling plate 16e of the third case member <NUM> includes a guide wall <NUM> having an outer surface continuously extending along an inner circumference of the through hole <NUM>. The laminating tape roll <NUM> and the ink ribbon roll <NUM> are disposed inside the guide wall <NUM>.

<FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG> each illustrate a conveyance path HK extending from the printing tape roll <NUM> in the tape case <NUM> to the head space <NUM> where the printing tape <NUM> is exposed, via the through holes <NUM> and <NUM>. That is, the case <NUM> of the cassette <NUM> has the conveyance path HK for conveying the printing tape <NUM> from the printing tape roll <NUM> to the head space <NUM>. <FIG> is a cross sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in <FIG>, illustrating a state where the printing tape <NUM> is drawn from the printing tape roll <NUM> and transport of the printing tape <NUM> to the ribbon case <NUM> is started. <FIG> is a cross sectional view taken along line IX-IX in <FIG>, illustrating a state where the printing tape <NUM> extends from the inside of the tape case <NUM> to the inside of the ribbon case <NUM> in an inclined manner. <FIG> is a cross sectional view taken along line X-X in <FIG>, illustrating a state where the transport of the printing tape <NUM> to the ribbon case <NUM> has finished. <FIG> is a cross sectional view taken along line XI-XI in <FIG>, illustrating a state where a state of the printing tape <NUM> extending to the head space <NUM> where the printing tape <NUM> is exposed after the transport of the printing tape <NUM> is finished.

For example, as illustrated in <FIG>, the case <NUM>, that is, the second case member <NUM> of the cassette <NUM> has a rectangular parallelepiped shape in a plan view, that is, when viewed in the up-down direction F1. The case <NUM> has four corner portions K1, K2, K3, and K4 in this order in the winding direction D of the printing tape roll <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the case <NUM>, that is, the ribbon case <NUM> has the head space <NUM>, into which the print head <NUM> is inserted, between the corner portions K1 and K4. As illustrated in <FIG>, a transport start position PS where the printing tape <NUM> separates from the printing tape roll <NUM> is a point of contact of the printing tape <NUM> to a tangent L extending toward the through hole <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, a transport end position PF is where the printing tape <NUM> is located at the lowest position in the up-down direction F1 and extends parallel to the ink ribbon <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates a state where the printing tape <NUM> is being transported between the corner portion K1 and the corner portion K2. <FIG> illustrates a state where the printing tape <NUM> is being transported between the corner portion K2 and the corner portion K3. <FIG> illustrates a state where the printing tape <NUM> is being transported between the corner portion K3 and the corner portion K4. <FIG>, and <FIG> each illustrate a transport path IK. In the plan view of <FIG>, the transport path IK corresponds to the transport path IK extending via at least three corner portions, preferably four corner portions, of the corner portions K1 to K4, and is indicated by a transport angle θi about first rotation axis C1 of the printing tape roll <NUM>. The transport angle θi is <NUM>° or larger and smaller than a conveyance angle θh for the conveyance path HK. The conveyance path HK is a path from a position where the printing tape <NUM> is drawn from the printing tape roll <NUM>, that is, from the transport start position PS, to a position where the printing tape <NUM> reaches the head space <NUM>. The transport path IK is a path from the transport start position PS to the transport end position PF. In other words, the transport path IK is a path from a position where the printing tape <NUM> is drawn from the printing tape roll <NUM> in the tape case <NUM> to a position where the printing tape <NUM> reaches the ink ribbon <NUM> by transport of the printing tape <NUM> to the ribbon case <NUM> in the up-down direction F1, that is, to a position where the posture of the printing tape <NUM> is changed to be parallel to the ink ribbon <NUM> by transport of the printing tape <NUM> to the ribbon case <NUM> in the up-down direction F1, and is a part of the conveyance path HK.

As illustrated in <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, the corner portion K1 includes an upper side corner portion K1a formed at the tape case <NUM> and a lower side corner portion K1b formed at the ribbon case <NUM>. The corner portion K2 includes an upper side corner portion K2a formed at the tape case <NUM> and a lower side corner portion K2b formed at the ribbon case <NUM>. The corner portion K3 includes an upper side corner portion K3a formed at the tape case <NUM> and a lower side corner portion K3b formed at the ribbon case <NUM>. The corner portion K4 includes an upper side corner portion K4a formed at the tape case <NUM> and a lower side corner portion K4b formed at the ribbon case <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the through hole <NUM> defined in the bottom plate 14a of the second case member <NUM> includes a first hole section 52a, a second hole section 52b, and a third hole section 52c. The first hole section 52a extends from the upper side corner portion K1a of the corner portion K1 toward the upper side corner portion K2a of the corner portion K2. The second hole section 52b extends from the upper side corner portion K2a of the corner portion K2 toward the upper side corner portion K3a of the third corner portion K3. The third hole section 52c extends from the upper side corner portion K3a of the third corner portion K3 toward the upper side corner portion K4a of the corner portion K4. As illustrated in <FIG>, the through hole <NUM> is defined such that the printing tape <NUM> drawn from the printing tape roll <NUM> is conveyed in the up-down direction F1 from the first hole section 52a toward the third hole section 52c via the second hole section 52b in the through hole <NUM> along the conveyance path HK. That is, the through hole <NUM> is defined such that the printing tape <NUM> drawn from the printing tape roll <NUM> is conveyed in the through hole <NUM> in the up-down direction F1 via the corner portion K1, the corner portion K2, and the corner portion K3 in this order along the conveyance path HK. As illustrated in <FIG>, the second hole section 52b of the through hole <NUM> is located opposite to the head space <NUM> with respect to a center position M of the cassette <NUM> in a front-rear direction (a third direction) F3 (refer to <FIG>) orthogonal to the up-down direction F1 (refer to <FIG>) and the right-left direction (a second direction) F2 (refer to <FIG>) in which the printing tape <NUM> is conveyed in the head space <NUM>. In <FIG>, an upper side and lower side of <FIG> refer to a front side and rear side of the cassette <NUM>, respectively. In <FIG>, a right side and left side of <FIG> refer to a left side and right side of the cassette <NUM>, respectively. In <FIG>, an upper left side and lower right side of <FIG> refer to an upper side and lower side of the cassette <NUM>, respectively.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the through hole <NUM> defined in the ceiling plate 16e of the third case member <NUM> includes a first hole section 58a, a second hole section 58b, and a third hole section 58c. The first hole section 58a extends from the lower side corner portion K1b of the corner portion K1 toward the lower side corner portion K2b of the corner portion K2. The second hole section 58b extends from the lower side corner portion K2b of the corner portion K2 toward the lower side corner portion K3b of the third corner portion K3. The third hole section 58c extends from the lower side corner portion K3b of the third corner portion K3 toward the lower side corner portion K4b of the corner portion K4. The through hole <NUM> is defined such that the printing tape <NUM> drawn from the printing tape roll <NUM> is conveyed in the up-down direction F1 from the first hole section 58a toward the third hole section 58c via the second hole section 58b in the through hole <NUM> along the conveyance path HK. That is, the through hole <NUM> is defined such that the printing tape <NUM> drawn from the printing tape roll <NUM> is conveyed in the through hole <NUM> in the up-down direction F1 via the corner portion K2, the corner portion K3, and the corner portion K4 in this order along the conveyance path HK. As illustrated in <FIG>, the second hole section 58b of the through hole <NUM> is located opposite to the head space <NUM> with respect to the center position M of the cassette <NUM> in the front-rear direction F3.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the transport start position PS of the conveyance path HK or the transport path IK is located on the same side as the side on which the head space <NUM> is provided with respect to the center position M of the cassette <NUM> in the right-left direction F2 and in the front-rear direction F3. The right-left direction F2 is a direction in which the printing tape <NUM> is conveyed in the head space <NUM>. The front-rear direction F3 is a thickness direction of the printing tape <NUM> in the head space <NUM>. The transport end position PF of the transport path IK is located on the side opposite to the side on which the head space <NUM> is provided in the ribbon case <NUM> with respect to the center position M of the cassette <NUM> in the right-left direction F2 and on the same side as the side on which the head space <NUM> is provided in the ribbon case <NUM> with respect to the center position M of the cassette <NUM> in the front-rear direction F3. The right-left direction F2 is the direction in which the printing tape <NUM> is conveyed in the head space <NUM>. The front-rear direction F3 is the thickness width direction of the printing tape <NUM> in the head space <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the conveyance path HK is defined such that the printing tape <NUM> drawn from the printing tape roll <NUM> extends between the upper side corner portion K1a of the corner portion K1 and the upper side corner portion (a first corner portion) K2a of the corner portion K2 in an inclined manner relative to the printing tape <NUM> wound into the printing tape roll <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the conveyance path HK is defined such that the printing tape <NUM> extends between the upper side corner portion K2a of the corner portion K2 and both of a portion of the upper side corner portion (a second corner portion) K3a of the corner portion K3 and a portion of the lower side corner portion (the second corner portion) K3b of the corner portion K3 in an inclined manner relative to the printing tape <NUM> wound into the printing tape roll <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the conveyance path HK is defined such that the printing tape <NUM> extends between the lower side corner portion K3b of the corner portion K3 and the lower side corner portion (a third corner portion) K4b of the corner portion K4 in an inclined manner relative to the printing tape <NUM> wound into the printing tape roll <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the conveyance path HK is defined such that the printing tape <NUM> extends between the lower side corner portion K4b of the corner portion K4 and the head space <NUM> horizontally (parallel) to the printing tape <NUM> wound into the printing tape roll <NUM>. That is, as illustrated in <FIG>, the conveyance path HK is defined such that the printing tape <NUM> is conveyed via the upper side corner portion K2a of the corner portion K2, the both of the portion of the upper side corner portion K3a of the corner portion K3 and the portion of the lower side corner portion K3b of the corner portion K3, and the lower side corner portion K4b of the corner portion K4 in this order, whereby the printing tape <NUM> moves from the first space S1 of the tape case <NUM> to the second space S2 of the ribbon case <NUM> to reach the head space <NUM>. A double-dotted-and-dashed line indicated in <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG> is a virtual line indicating the printing tape <NUM> wound into the printing tape roll <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the ribbon case <NUM> includes a guide <NUM>. The guide <NUM> guides the printing tape <NUM> so that the printing tape <NUM> extending in an inclined manner relative to the printing tape <NUM> wound into the printing tape roll <NUM> is brought to extend horizontally (parallel) to the printing tape <NUM> wound into the printing tape roll <NUM>, that is, parallel to the ink ribbon <NUM>. The conveyance path HK is defined such that the printing tape <NUM> drawn from the printing tape roll <NUM> is conveyed from the first space S1 of the tape case <NUM> where the printing tape roll <NUM> is disposed to the second space S2 of the ribbon case <NUM> having the head space <NUM>, through an opening 52x, that is, through the through hole <NUM> defined in the bottom plate 14a of the second case member <NUM> and the through hole <NUM> defined in the ceiling plate 16e of the third case member <NUM>. The opening 52x is defined at a boundary between the tape case <NUM> and the ribbon case <NUM> in the case <NUM>. The opening 52x defined at the boundary between the tape case <NUM> and the ribbon case <NUM> in the case <NUM> is a combined space of a space of the through hole <NUM> and a space of the through hole <NUM> that are connected to each other at the boundary where the bottom plate 14a of the second case member <NUM> and the ceiling plate 16e of the third case member <NUM> are connected to each other. A spacing Wx illustrated in <FIG> is greater than a spacing Wy illustrated in <FIG>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the spacing Wx is a spacing of a gap SKx in the up-down direction F1 between an upper edge 22x of the printing tape <NUM> and a bottom surface 12b of the ceiling plate 12a of the first case member <NUM> above the opening 52x defined across the second case member <NUM> and the third case member <NUM>, that is, above the through holes <NUM> and <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the spacing Wy is a spacing of a gap SKy in the up-down direction F1 between the upper edge 22x of the printing tape <NUM> guided by a printing tape guide (a guide) TG and a ceiling wall portion TGu of the printing tape guide TG. <FIG> is an enlarged view of surroundings of the ceiling wall portion TGu of the printing tape guide TG of <FIG>. An appropriate gap can be thus left between the printing tape <NUM> and the case <NUM> for a phenomenon that the width of the printing tape <NUM> virtually increases in the up-down direction F1 while the printing tape <NUM> is conveyed in an inclined manner. The same relationship exists in the right-left direction F2 and the front-rear direction F3. The printing tape guide TG is formed in the ribbon case <NUM>. The printing tape guide TG includes the ceiling wall portion TGu facing the upper edge 22x of the printing tape <NUM>, and a bottom wall portion TGd facing a lower edge 22y of the printing tape <NUM>. The printing tape <NUM> guided by the printing tape guide TG is restricted in its movement in the up-down direction F1 by a projection TGua of the ceiling wall portion TGu and a projection TGda of the bottom wall portion TGd.

<FIG> illustrates a lower (back) surface of the bottom plate 14a of the second case member <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the through hole <NUM> penetrates the bottom plate 14a of the second case member <NUM>. A guide wall <NUM> stands on ta back surface of the bottom plate 14a of the second case member <NUM> and continuously extends along the through hole <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates the upper surface side of the third case member <NUM>. The third case member <NUM> has the through hole <NUM>, a laminating tape roll support hole <NUM>, an ink ribbon support hole <NUM>, a take-up spool support hole <NUM>, and a roller support hole <NUM> defined in the ceiling plate 16e thereof. The through hole <NUM> is defined at a position corresponding to the through hole <NUM> of the second case member <NUM> to route the printing tape <NUM> to the second space S2.

The bottom plate 14a of the second case member <NUM> and the ceiling plate 16e of the third case member <NUM> corresponds to a plate member that separates the first space S1 of the tape case <NUM> and the second space S2 of the ribbon case <NUM> from each other.

The laminating tape roll <NUM> is supported by the laminating tape roll support hole <NUM> so as to be rotatable about a second rotation axis C2 while one end of a laminating tape spool <NUM> around which the laminating tape <NUM> is wound is engaged in the laminating tape roll support hole <NUM>. The second rotation axis C2 is parallel to the first rotation axis C1. The second rotation axis C2 is a rotation axis of the laminating tape spool <NUM> as well as a rotation axis of the laminating tape roll <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the laminating tape <NUM> includes a transparent film 60a with an adhesive 60b applied to, for example, an outer surface of the transparent film 60a entirely. The laminating tape <NUM> is used for protecting a printed surface of the printing tape <NUM>. The ink ribbon roll <NUM> is supported by the ink ribbon support hole <NUM> so as to be rotatable about a third rotation axis (a feed axis) C3 while one end of a feed spool <NUM> around which the ink ribbon <NUM> is wound is engaged in the ink ribbon support hole <NUM>. The third rotation axis C3 is parallel to the first rotation axis C1. The third rotation axis C3 is a rotation axis of the feed spool <NUM> as well as a rotation axis of the ink ribbon roll <NUM>. The take-up spool <NUM> is supported by the take-up spool support hole <NUM> so as to be rotatable about a fourth rotation axis C4 while one end of the take-up spool <NUM> is engaged in the take-up spool support hole <NUM>. The take-up spool <NUM> takes up the ink ribbon <NUM> drawn from the ink ribbon roll <NUM>. The fourth rotation axis C4 is parallel to the first rotation axis C1. The fourth rotation axis C4 is a rotation axis of the take-up spool <NUM>. A roller <NUM> is supported by the roller support hole <NUM> so as to be rotatable about a fifth rotation axis C5 while one end of the roller <NUM> is engaged in the roller support hole <NUM>. The roller <NUM> and a roller of the printing device <NUM> nip the printing tape <NUM> and the laminating tape <NUM> therebetween to press and adhere a printed surface of the printing tape <NUM> and an adhesive surface of the laminating tape <NUM> to each other. The fifth rotation axis C5 is parallel to the first rotation axis C1.

<FIG> illustrates the lower surface side of the third case member <NUM>. The third case member <NUM> includes a laminating tape roll holding wall <NUM>, an ink ribbon roll holding wall <NUM>, and a cylindrical projection <NUM> at its lower surface. The laminating tape roll holding wall <NUM> has an arc shape. The laminating tape roll holding wall <NUM> is disposed around the laminating tape roll support hole <NUM> concentrically about the center of the laminating tape roll support hole <NUM> to hold the laminating tape roll <NUM>. The ink ribbon roll holding wall <NUM> is disposed around the take-up spool support hole <NUM> concentrically about the center of the take-up spool support hole <NUM> and is contiguous with the laminating tape roll holding wall <NUM> to hold the ink ribbon roll <NUM> of the ink ribbon <NUM> taken up by the take-up spool <NUM>. The cylindrical projection <NUM> protrudes from the ink ribbon roll holding wall <NUM> and the periphery of the ink ribbon support hole <NUM>. The cylindrical projection <NUM> has, at its distal end, ridges and grooves arranged in a circumferential direction of the cylindrical projection <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, a clutch spring holder <NUM> accommodating a clutch spring is engaged with the other end of the feed spool <NUM> around which the ink ribbon <NUM> is wound. The clutch spring accommodated in the clutch spring holder <NUM> is configured to, in an assembled state, urge the feed spool <NUM> toward the cylindrical projection <NUM> to apply an appropriate rotational resistance to the ink ribbon roll <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the third case member <NUM> includes, at its lower surface, the guide wall <NUM> whose outer surface continuously extending along the inner circumference of the through hole <NUM>. The laminating tape roll <NUM> and the ink ribbon roll <NUM> are disposed inside the guide wall <NUM>. The third case member <NUM> includes an arc-shaped member <NUM> at its lower surface. The arc-shaped member <NUM> is disposed around the laminating tape roll support hole <NUM> concentrically about the center of the laminating tape roll support hole <NUM> to define an install position of the laminating tape roll <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates an upper surface of the fourth case member <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates a lower surface of the fourth case member <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the fourth case member <NUM> has a take-up spool support hole <NUM> penetrating therethrough. The take-up spool <NUM> is rotatably supported by the take-up spool support hole <NUM> while the other end portion of the take-up spool <NUM> is engaged in the take-up spool support hole <NUM>. The fourth case member <NUM> includes a cylindrical support projection <NUM>. The support projection <NUM> is coupled to the other end of the feed spool <NUM> to support the feed spool <NUM> rotatably. As illustrated in <FIG>, the coupling hole <NUM> formed at the other end of the take-up spool <NUM> is exposed from the lower surface of the fourth case member <NUM> through the take-up spool support hole <NUM>. Thus, when the cassette <NUM> is mounted on the printing device <NUM>, the take-up spool drive shaft <NUM> of the printing device <NUM> is inserted into and coupled to the coupling hole <NUM> so as not to be relatively rotatable. In such a state, the take-up spool <NUM> is rotationally driven by the take-up spool drive shaft <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the fourth case member <NUM> has a roller exposure hole <NUM> at a position corresponding to the roller support hole <NUM> of the third case member <NUM>. The roller exposure hole <NUM> allows a shaft end of the roller <NUM> to be exposed. As illustrated in <FIG>, a coupling portion 80a formed at an end of the roller <NUM> on the fourth case member <NUM> side is exposed from the lower surface of the fourth case member <NUM> through the roller exposure hole <NUM>. Thus, when the cassette <NUM> is mounted on the printing device <NUM>, a roller drive shaft <NUM> of the printing device <NUM> is coupled to the coupling portion 80a so as not to be relatively rotatable. In such a state, the roller <NUM> is rotationally driven by the roller drive shaft <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, <FIG>, the ribbon case <NUM> composed of the third case member <NUM> and the fourth case member <NUM> has a recess <NUM> for accommodating a head holding plate <NUM> when the cassette <NUM> is mounted on the cassette mounting portion <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>. The head holding plate <NUM> stands at the cassette mounting portion <NUM> and holds the print head <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the recessed groove <NUM>, that is, the head space <NUM> defined in the ribbon case <NUM> and the recess <NUM> defined in the ribbon case <NUM> are in communication with each other. As shown in <FIG>, the outer peripheral wall of the third case member <NUM> includes a first sidewall 16a, a second sidewall (an arm wall) 16b, and a U-shaped recess wall 16c as a portion thereof. The first sidewall 16a extends in the front-rear direction F3. The second sidewall 16b extends in the right-left direction F2 orthogonal to the up-down direction F1 and the front-rear direction F3. The recess <NUM> extends toward one side (rearward) in the front-rear direction F3 from the second sidewall 16b on the recess <NUM> side. On the one side in the front-rear direction F3, the recess <NUM> extends toward one side (the right side in <FIG>) in the right-left direction F2, that is, toward the first sidewall 16a farther than the second sidewall 16b on the recess <NUM> side. The recess wall 16c surrounds the recess <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the fourth case member <NUM> has a U-shaped cutout 18a corresponding to the recess wall 16c. The recess wall 16c and the cutout 18a define the recess <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a lower surface of the third case member <NUM> when the cassette <NUM> is mounted on the cassette mounting portion <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates a path of both of the printing tape <NUM> drawn from the printing tape roll <NUM> and the laminating tape <NUM> drawn from the laminating tape roll <NUM> by driving of the roller <NUM> and nipped by the roller <NUM> and a rotor <NUM> of the printing device <NUM>, and a path of the ink ribbon <NUM> drawn from the ink ribbon roll <NUM> by driving of the take-up spool <NUM>. The printing tape <NUM> is indicated by a double-dotted-and-dashed line. The laminating tape <NUM> is indicated by a dashed line. The ink ribbon <NUM> is indicated by a dotted-and-dashed line. In <FIG> and <FIG>, an arrow B1 is an arrow indicating a conveyance direction of the printing tape <NUM> drawn from the printing tape roll <NUM>, that is, the conveyance direction in the conveyance path HK. As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the conveyance path HK is defined such that the printing tape <NUM> drawn from the printing tape roll <NUM> is conveyed in the winding direction D of the printing tape roll <NUM> from the first space S1 of the tape case <NUM> to the head space <NUM> defined in the second space S2 of the ribbon case <NUM>. An upstream end of the through hole <NUM> defined in the bottom plate 14a of the second case member <NUM> in the conveyance direction B1 of the printing tape <NUM>, that is, an end of the first hole section 52a of through hole <NUM> on the upper side corner portion K1a side of the corner portion K1 is located at the upper side corner portion (a fourth corner) K1a of the corner portion K1.

As illustrated in <FIG>, as the take-up spool <NUM> and the roller <NUM> are rotationally driven, the printing tape <NUM> and the ink ribbon <NUM> are discharged from an outlet <NUM> toward a printing position P in an overlapping manner. At the printing position P between the print head <NUM> and a platen (not illustrated), the printing tape <NUM> is pressed to the print head <NUM> via the ink ribbon <NUM>. In this state, heating elements disposed at a surface of the print head <NUM> are selectively driven to generate heat locally, whereby some of ink 68a layered on an entire surface of the ink ribbon <NUM> is transferred to the printing tape <NUM>, and characters, symbols, and other representations are printed on the printing tape <NUM>. The used ink ribbon <NUM> that has passed the printing position P is taken up by the take-up spool <NUM>. The transparent laminating tape <NUM> is pressed, by the roller <NUM>, to a printed surface of the printing tape <NUM> that has passed the printing position P, and is thus adhered thereto. Consequently, the printed surface of the printing tape <NUM> is protected by the laminating tape <NUM>. The printing tape <NUM> whose printed surface is protected by the laminating tape <NUM> is discharged from a printing tape outlet (a to-be-printed-medium outlet) <NUM> defined at the lower side corner portion K1b of the corner portion K1 of the ribbon case <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the printing tape outlet <NUM> is located overlapping the upper side corner portion K1a of the corner portion K1 in a direction from the tape case <NUM> toward the ribbon case <NUM>, that is, in the up-down direction F1. As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the conveyance path HK is defined such that the printing tape <NUM> is conveyed via the upper side corner portion K1a of the corner portion K1, the upper side corner portion K2a of the corner portion K2, the both of the upper side corner portion K3a of the corner portion K3 and the lower side corner portion K3b of the corner portion K3, and the lower side corner portion K4b of the corner portion K4 in this order, whereby the printing tape <NUM> moves from the first space S1 of the tape case <NUM> to the second space S2 of the ribbon case <NUM> to reach the printing tape outlet <NUM> via the head space <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a laminate of the printing tape <NUM> and the laminating tape <NUM> both discharged from the cassette <NUM>. The laminating tape <NUM> is adhered to the to-be-printed tape 22a, that is, a printed surface, of the printing tape <NUM>. The laminating tape <NUM> includes the transparent film 60a with the adhesive 60b applied to one side, that is, an outer peripheral side, of the transparent film 60a entirely. Thus, the ink 68a transferred to the printed surface of the printing tape <NUM> is protected.

In <FIG>, the laminating tape roll <NUM>, the ink ribbon roll <NUM>, the take-up spool <NUM>, and the roller <NUM> accommodated in the second space S2 between the third case member <NUM> and the fourth case member <NUM>, that is, in the ribbon case <NUM>, are indicated by a solid line. The printing tape roll <NUM> and the spacer films <NUM> accommodated in the first space S1 between the first case member <NUM> and the second case member <NUM>, that is, in the tape case <NUM>, are indicated by a double-dotted-and-dashed line (an imaginary line) on a projection plane extending orthogonal to the up-down direction F1 in the second space S2 while the printing tape roll <NUM> and the spacer films <NUM> overlap the laminating tape roll <NUM>, the ink ribbon roll <NUM>, the take-up spool <NUM>, and the roller <NUM> in the up-down direction F1. <FIG> illustrates the printing tape roll <NUM> that is yet to be used, that is, in an initial state, the laminating tape roll <NUM>, and the ink ribbon roll <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the diameter of the yet-to-be used printing tape roll <NUM>, that is, the diameter of the printing tape roll <NUM> in the initial state is greater than a diameter of the laminating tape roll <NUM>. The diameter of the laminating tape roll <NUM> is greater than a diameter of the ink ribbon roll <NUM>. The diameter of the ink ribbon roll <NUM> is greater than a diameter of the take-up spool <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the printing tape roll <NUM> and the spacer films <NUM> having the same diameter as the diameter of the printing tape roll <NUM> overlap at least a portion of the laminating tape roll <NUM>, the second rotation axis C2 of the laminating tape roll <NUM>, at least a portion of the ink ribbon roll <NUM>, the third rotation axis C3 of the ink ribbon roll <NUM>, at least a portion of the take-up spool <NUM>, the fourth rotation axis C4 of the take-up spool <NUM>, the recess <NUM>, and at least a portion of the recess wall 16c in the up-down direction F1. The printing tape roll <NUM> overlaps the third rotation axis C3 of the ink ribbon roll <NUM> in the up-down direction F1. The third rotation axis C3 of the ink ribbon roll <NUM> is located within a projected area of the printing tape roll <NUM> in the up-down direction F1. The laminating tape roll <NUM>, the second rotation axis C2 of the laminating tape roll <NUM>, the ink ribbon roll <NUM>, the third rotation axis C3 of the ink ribbon roll <NUM>, the take-up spool <NUM>, the fourth rotation axis C4 of the take-up spool <NUM>, the recess <NUM>, and the recess wall 16c are located within projected areas of the printing tape roll <NUM> and the spacer films <NUM>. The recess <NUM> and at least a portion of the recess wall 16c overlap the printing tape spool <NUM> in the up-down direction F1. In the right-left direction F2, the first rotation axis C1 that is the rotation axis of the printing tape roll <NUM> and the rotation axis of the printing tape spool <NUM> is located between one-side end 99a and the other-side end 99b of the recess <NUM> in the third direction. The first rotation axis C1 that is the rotation axis of the printing tape spool <NUM> is located between the outlet <NUM> and one-side end (a right end in <FIG>) of the recess <NUM> in the right-left direction F2. In <FIG>, in each of the front-rear direction F3 orthogonal to the up-down direction F1 and the right-left direction F2 orthogonal to the up-down direction F1 and the front-rear direction F3, a distance between the center position M and the first rotation axis C1 of the printing tape roll <NUM> is less than a distance between the center position M and the recess <NUM>. The center position M is a center of the cassette <NUM> in the front-rear direction F3 and the right-left direction F2. As illustrated in <FIG>, the through hole <NUM> and the through hole <NUM> do not overlap any of the printing tape roll <NUM>, the feed spool <NUM>, and the take-up spool <NUM> in the direction from the tape case <NUM> toward the ribbon case <NUM>, that is, in the up-down direction F1. As illustrated in <FIG>, the through hole <NUM> and the through hole <NUM> are located around the first rotation axis C1 of the printing tape roll <NUM> and further to an outer peripheral side than the feed spool <NUM> and the take-up spool <NUM>. That is, the third hole section 52c of the through hole <NUM> and the third hole section 58c of the through hole <NUM> are located around the first rotation axis C1 of the printing tape roll <NUM> and further to the outer peripheral side than the feed spool <NUM> and the take-up spool <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates the cassette mounting portion <NUM> that is a part of the printing device <NUM> included in a printing system <NUM>. The cassette mounting portion <NUM> includes a positioning hole <NUM>, the take-up spool drive shaft <NUM>, and the roller drive shaft <NUM>. The positioning hole <NUM> has a rectangular shape and positions the cassette <NUM> inserted therein. The take-up spool drive shaft <NUM> and the roller drive shaft <NUM> stand on a bottom of the positioning hole <NUM>. The positioning hole <NUM> functions as an accommodating portion for accommodating a portion of the ribbon case <NUM> that is a lower case of the cassette <NUM>. The take-up spool drive shaft <NUM> and the roller drive shaft <NUM> are rotationally driven in the opposite directions by a stepping motor (not illustrated) via a gearing system. The cassette mounting portion <NUM> includes a head holding plate <NUM> and a platen holding member <NUM>. The head holding plate <NUM> stands on the bottom of the positioning hole <NUM> and holds the thermal-type print head (a thermal print head) <NUM> fixedly attached thereto. The platen roller <NUM> and the pressing roller <NUM> are rotatably disposed at a distal end portion of the platen holding member <NUM>. The platen holding member <NUM> is pivotable about its proximal end. The head holding plate <NUM> is, for example, an aluminum metal plate and also serves as a heat sink of the print head.

As the cassette <NUM> is mounted on the cassette mounting portion <NUM> of the printing device <NUM>, the take-up spool drive shaft <NUM> and the roller drive shaft <NUM> standing at the cassette mounting portion <NUM> are to be coupled to the take-up spool <NUM> and the roller <NUM>, respectively. As a cover (not illustrated) of the printing device <NUM> is closed with the cassette <NUM> mounted on the cassette mounting portion <NUM>, the platen holding member <NUM> pivots about the proximal end thereof so that the platen roller <NUM> and the pressing roller <NUM> are pressed against the print head <NUM> and the roller <NUM> of the cassette <NUM>, respectively. The printing device <NUM> and the cassette <NUM> constitute the printing system <NUM>.

According to the cassette <NUM> of the present embodiment, the cassette <NUM> includes: the case <NUM> including the ribbon case <NUM> and the tape case <NUM> and having the head space <NUM> at the ribbon case <NUM>; and the printing tape roll <NUM> disposed at the tape case <NUM> and into which the printing tape <NUM> is wound about the first rotation axis C1 in the winding direction D. The printing tape <NUM> includes the to-be-printed tape 22a and the release tape 22c. The printing tape <NUM> is disposed at the case <NUM> such that the to-be-printed tape 22a is on the inner side of the printing tape <NUM> in the winding direction D and the release tape 22c is on the outer side of the printing tape in the winding direction D. The case <NUM> has the conveyance path HK for conveying the printing tape <NUM>. The conveyance path HK is defined such that the printing tape <NUM> is conveyed in the winding direction D from the printing tape roll <NUM> to the head space <NUM> through the opening 52x defined at the boundary between the ribbon case <NUM> and the tape case <NUM> in the case <NUM>. The printing tape <NUM> is thus conveyed in the winding direction D from the printing tape roll <NUM> to the head space <NUM> along the conveyance path HK defined in the case <NUM>. This can reduce a possibility that the release tape 22c peels off from the to-be-printed tape 22a due to reversing of the inner side and the outer side of the printing tape <NUM> during conveyance of the printing tape <NUM> as conventionally occurred. Consequently, the printing tape <NUM> including the to-be-printed tape 22a and the release tape 22c can be smoothly conveyed.

According to the cassette <NUM> of the present embodiment, the second hole section 52b of the through hole <NUM> and the second hole section 58b of the through hole <NUM> are located opposite to the head space <NUM> in the front-rear direction F3 orthogonal to the up-down direction F1 and the right-left direction F2. The up-down direction F1 is the direction from the ribbon case <NUM> toward the tape case <NUM>. The right-left direction F2 is the direction in which the printing tape <NUM> is conveyed in the head space <NUM>. Thus, the length of the conveyance path HK from the printing tape roll <NUM> to the head space <NUM> can be extended.

According to the cassette <NUM> of the present embodiment, the case <NUM> has a rectangular parallelepiped shape having four corner portions K1, K2, K3, and K4. The conveyance path HK extends to the head space <NUM> via three corner portions K2, K3, and K4 of the four corner portions K1, K2, K3, and K4 of the case <NUM>. Thus, the length of the conveyance path HK from the printing tape roll <NUM> to the head space <NUM> can be extended.

According to the cassette <NUM> of the present embodiment, the three corner portions K2, K3, and K4 include the upper side corner portion K2a of the corner portion K2, both of the upper side corner portion K3a and the lower side corner portions K3b of the corner portion K3, and the lower side corner portion K4b of the corner portion K4. The upper side corner portion K2a of the corner portion K2 is located at the tape case <NUM>. In the upper side corner portion K3a and the lower side corner portion K3b, the upper side corner portion K3a and a portion of the lower side corner portion K3b are located at the ribbon case <NUM> and the tape case <NUM>. The lower side corner portion K4b of the corner portion K4 is located at the ribbon case <NUM>. The conveyance path HK is defined such that the printing tape <NUM> extends between the upper side corner portion K2a of the corner portion K2 and the both of the upper side corner portion K3a and the lower side corner portion K3b of the corner portion K3 in an inclined manner relative to the printing tape <NUM> wound into the printing tape roll <NUM>. The conveyance path HK is defined such that the printing tape <NUM> extends between the both of the upper side corner portion K3a and the lower side corner portion K3b of the corner portion K3 and the lower side corner portion K4b of the corner portion K4 in an inclined manner relative to the printing tape <NUM> wound into the printing tape roll <NUM>. The conveyance path HK is defined such that the printing tape <NUM> extends between the lower side corner portion K4b of the corner portion K4 and the head space <NUM> horizontally to the printing tape <NUM> wound into the printing tape roll <NUM>. The conveyance path HK is defined such that the printing tape <NUM> is conveyed via the upper side corner portion K2a of the corner portion K2, the both of the upper side corner portion K3a, and the lower side corner portion K4b of the corner portion K4 in this order, whereby the printing tape <NUM> moves from the tape case <NUM> to the ribbon case <NUM> to reach the head space <NUM>. Thus, when the printing tape <NUM> is moved from the tape case <NUM> to the ribbon case <NUM>, the printing tape <NUM> is moved from the tape case <NUM> to the ribbon case <NUM> relatively gently, whereby twisting of the printing tape <NUM> can be suitably suppressed.

According to the cassette <NUM> of the present embodiment, the case <NUM> further includes the upper side corner portion K1a of the corner portion K1 at the tape case <NUM>. The upstream end of the through hole <NUM> in the conveyance direction B1 of the printing tape <NUM> is located at the upper side corner portion K1a of the corner portion K1. The case <NUM> has the printing tape outlet <NUM> at the ribbon case <NUM>. The printing tape outlet <NUM> overlaps the upper side corner portion K1a of the corner portion K1 in the up-down direction F1 from the tape case <NUM> toward the ribbon case <NUM>. The conveyance path HK is defined such that the printing tape <NUM> is conveyed via the upper side corner portion K1a of the corner portion K1, the upper side corner portion K2a of the corner portion K2, the both of the upper side corner portion K3a and the lower side corner portion K3b of the corner portion K3, and the lower side corner portion K4b of the corner portion K4 in this order, whereby the printing tape <NUM> moves from the tape case <NUM> to the ribbon case <NUM> to reach the printing tape outlet <NUM> via the head space <NUM>. Thus, the length of the conveyance path HK from the printing tape roll <NUM> to the head space <NUM> can be suitably extended.

According to the cassette <NUM> of the present embodiment, the case <NUM> includes the third case member <NUM> and the second case member <NUM> connected to the third case member <NUM>. The third case member <NUM> has the through hole <NUM> in the ceiling plate 16e thereof. The second case member <NUM> includes the through hole <NUM> in the bottom plate 14a thereof. The opening 52x includes the through hole <NUM> and the through hole <NUM> connected to each other at the boundary at which the ceiling plate 16e and the bottom plate 14a are connected to each other. The printing tape <NUM> can be thus suitably conveyed from the tape case <NUM> to the ribbon case <NUM> via the through hole <NUM> of the third case member <NUM> and the through hole <NUM> of the second case member <NUM>.

According to the cassette <NUM> of the present embodiment, the cassette <NUM> further includes the ink ribbon <NUM> at the ribbon case <NUM>. Ink of the ink ribbon <NUM> can be thus printed on the to-be-printed tape 22a of the printing tape <NUM>.

According to the cassette <NUM> of the present embodiment, the cassette <NUM> further includes the feed spool <NUM> for the ink ribbon <NUM>. The third rotation axis C3 of the feed spool <NUM> is located within the projected area of the printing tape roll <NUM>. The case <NUM> can be thus suitably downsized.

According to the cassette <NUM> of the present embodiment, the cassette <NUM> further includes the feed spool <NUM> for the ink ribbon <NUM> and the take-up spool <NUM> for the ink ribbon <NUM>. The through hole <NUM> and the through hole <NUM> do not overlap any of the printing tape roll <NUM>, the feed spool <NUM>, and the take-up spool <NUM> in the up-down direction F1 from the tape case <NUM> toward the ribbon case <NUM>. The printing tape <NUM> can be thus suitably conveyed from the tape case <NUM> to the ribbon case <NUM> via the through hole <NUM> and the through hole <NUM> without contacting the supply spool <NUM> and the take-up spool <NUM>.

According to the cassette <NUM> of the present embodiment, the cassette <NUM> further includes the feed spool <NUM> for the ink ribbon <NUM> and the take-up spool <NUM> for the ink ribbon <NUM>. The through hole <NUM> and the through hole <NUM> are located around the first rotation axis C1 of the printing tape roll <NUM> and further to the outer peripheral side than the feed spool <NUM> and the take-up spool <NUM>. The printing tape <NUM> can be thus suitably conveyed from the tape case <NUM> to the ribbon case <NUM> via the through hole <NUM> and the through hole <NUM> without contacting the supply spool <NUM> and the take-up spool <NUM>.

According to the cassette <NUM> of the present embodiment, the case <NUM> includes the printing tape guide TG that guides the printing tape at the ribbon case <NUM>. The tape case <NUM> is located above the ribbon case <NUM>. The spacing Wx of the gap SKx in the up-down direction F1 between the case <NUM> and the upper edge 22x of the printing tape <NUM> in the through holes <NUM> and <NUM> is greater than the spacing Wy of the gap SKy in the up-down direction F1 between the printing tape guide TG and the upper edge 22x of the printing tape <NUM> guided by the printing tape guide TG in the ribbon case <NUM>. The printing tape <NUM> can be thus suitably conveyed from the tape case <NUM> to the printing tape guide TG of the ribbon case <NUM> without contacting the case <NUM>.

The above-described embodiment is merely an example embodiment of the present invention.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the laminating tape roll <NUM> is provided in the second space S2 of the ribbon case <NUM>. Nevertheless, the laminating tape roll <NUM> is not necessarily provided in the second space S2 of the ribbon case <NUM>. In other words, a printed surface of the printing tape <NUM> might not necessarily be protected by the laminating tape <NUM>.

In the above-described embodiment, the supply spool <NUM>, the ink ribbon roll <NUM>, and the take-up spool <NUM> are provided in the second space S2 of the ribbon case <NUM>. Nevertheless, the supply spool <NUM>, the ink ribbon roll <NUM>, and the take-up spool <NUM> are not necessarily provided in the second space S2 of the ribbon case <NUM>. That is, a heat-sensitive sheet is used as the to-be-printed tape 22a of the printing tape <NUM>. This can omit the supply spool <NUM>, the ink ribbon roll <NUM>, and the take-up spool <NUM> from the cassette <NUM>.

In the above-described embodiment, the laminating tape roll <NUM>, the supply spool <NUM>, the ink ribbon roll <NUM>, and the take-up spool <NUM> are provided in the second space S2 of the ribbon case <NUM>. Nevertheless, the laminating tape roll <NUM>, the supply spool <NUM>, the ink ribbon roll <NUM>, and the take-up spool <NUM> are not necessarily provided in the second space S2 of the ribbon case <NUM>. That is, a heat-sensitive sheet is used as the to-be-printed tape 22a of the printing tape <NUM> and a printed surface of the printing tape <NUM> is not protected by the laminating tape <NUM>. This can omit the laminating tape <NUM>, the laminating tape roll <NUM>, the feed spool <NUM>, the ink ribbon roll <NUM>, and the take-up spool <NUM> from the cassette <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A cassette (<NUM>) comprising:
a case (<NUM>) including a first layer (<NUM>) and a second layer (<NUM>) and having a head space (<NUM>) at the first layer (<NUM>), wherein the first layer (<NUM>) is a ribbon case, and the second layer (<NUM>) is a tape case; and
a roll (<NUM>) disposed at the second layer (<NUM>) and into which a medium to be printed (<NUM>) is wound about a rotation axis (C1) in a winding direction (D), wherein:
the medium to be printed (<NUM>) includes a to-be-printed layer (22a) and a release layer (22c), the medium to be printed (<NUM>) is disposed at the case (<NUM>) such that the to-be-printed layer (22a) is on an inner side of the medium to be printed (<NUM>) in the winding direction (D) and the release layer (22c) is on an outer side of the medium to be printed (<NUM>) in the winding direction (D);
the case (<NUM>) has a conveyance path (HK) for conveying the medium to be printed (<NUM>); and
the conveyance path (HK) is defined such that the medium to be printed (<NUM>) is conveyed in the winding direction (D) from the roll (<NUM>) to the head space (<NUM>) through an opening (52x) defined at a boundary between the first layer (<NUM>) and the second layer (<NUM>) in the case (<NUM>).