Patent Description:
In a device that prints on tape, the tape is exchanged and supplied by attaching and detaching a cassette containing the tape to and from the main body (see Patent Document <NUM>).

Patent Literature <NUM>: Published Unexamined Patent Application No.<CIT>. Documents <CIT> and <CIT> disclose relevant prior art for the invention.

In the above-mentioned cassette, for example, a gear for transmitting a driving force for transporting a tape may be required inside the cassette. Driving force may be transmitted to this gear from a drive shaft provided in the main body of a printing apparatus.

The drive shaft is inserted into the cassette and engages with the gear inside the cassette. Therefore, a space for inserting the drive shaft is required inside the cassette. As a result, the size of the cassette increases in the direction orthogonal to an axial direction (that is, the insertion direction) of the drive shaft.

One aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a printing cassette capable of inputting a driving force from a drive shaft while suppressing an increase in size.

One aspect of the present disclosure is a printing cassette that may be attached to and detached from a printing apparatus main body. The printing apparatus main body includes a drive shaft that rotates around an axis. The printing cassette including: a first roll in which a first tape is wound around a winding center axis parallel to a first direction; and an input gear that is disposed at a different position from the first roll in the first direction, engaging another gear, and configured to transmit a driving force of the drive shaft to the another gear.

The first roll has a cylindrical shape in which a hollow portion is defined by an inner peripheral surface. The drive shaft is inserted into the hollow portion of the first roll in a state where the printing cassette is attached to the printing apparatus main body. The input gear is engaged with the drive shaft in a state where the printing cassette is attached to the printing apparatus main body.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is a printing cassette including: a first roll in which a first tape is wound around a winding center axis parallel to a first direction; and an input gear that is disposed at a different position from the first roll in the first direction, engaging another gear, and configured to transmit a driving force input from an external to the another gear. The first roll has a cylindrical shape in which a hollow portion is defined by an inner peripheral surface. A rotational axis of the input gear overlaps the hollow portion of the first roll in the first direction.

According to these configurations, the drive shaft penetrates the first roll and engages with the input gear, and the first roll and the input gear are arranged so as to be overlapped with each other in an axial direction of the first roll (that is, an axial direction of the drive shaft). Thus, the driving force may be input to the input gear while suppressing the increase in size of the printing cassette in a direction orthogonal to an insertion direction of the drive shaft.

The printing apparatus <NUM> shown in <FIG> includes a printing cassette <NUM> and a printing apparatus main body <NUM>. The printing apparatus <NUM> is an apparatus that prints on a tape-shaped printing medium.

In the present embodiment, an axial direction of an output gear <NUM> of the printing cassette <NUM> and an axial direction of a platen gear <NUM> of the printing apparatus main body <NUM> are defined as an up-down direction. A direction orthogonal to the up-down direction in which the output gear <NUM> and the input spool <NUM> are aligned is defined as a front-rear direction. A direction orthogonal to both of the up-down direction and the front-rear direction is defined as a left-right direction.

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

The cassette insertion unit <NUM> is a concave portion in which the printing cassette <NUM> is to be attached. The cassette insertion unit <NUM> has a positioning function for the printing cassette <NUM>. The cassette insertion portion <NUM> is provided in the housing <NUM>.

The print head <NUM> is disposed inside the cassette insertion unit <NUM>. The print head <NUM> has a plurality of heat generating elements at which heat generation is individually controlled.

A rotation axis L1 of a platen roller <NUM> is parallel to the up-down direction. The platen roller <NUM> is disposed adjacent to the print head <NUM> inside the cassette insertion unit <NUM>. The platen roller <NUM> may swing in a direction toward or away from the print head <NUM>.

The platen gear <NUM> is connected to the platen roller <NUM>. In the present embodiment, a rotation axis L2 of the platen gear <NUM> is disposed on the same line as the rotation axis L1 of the platen roller <NUM>. The platen gear <NUM> may swing 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 inside the cassette insertion unit <NUM>. A rotation axis L3 of the drive shaft <NUM> is parallel to the up-down direction. The drive shaft <NUM> rotates about the rotation axis L3 by a drive source (for example, a motor) (not shown in figures).

The printing cassette <NUM> stores a printing medium. The printing cassette <NUM> is removable from the printing apparatus main body <NUM>. By exchanging the printing cassette <NUM>, the printing medium may be replenished and the type (for example, color, material, etc.) of the printing medium may be changed.

As shown in <FIG>, the printing cassette <NUM> includes a case <NUM> for storing such as a printing tape 11A (an example of a second tape), an ink ribbon 14A (an example of a first tape).

An outer shape of the printing cassette <NUM> (that is, the shape of the case <NUM>) is a rectangular body 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 shown in <FIG>, the printing cassette <NUM> includes a printing tape roll <NUM> (an example of a second roll), a first supply spool <NUM>, spacer films 13A and 13B, an ink ribbon roll <NUM>, a second supply spool <NUM>, an input spool <NUM>, a spool-side spline tooth 16B, a clutch spring holder <NUM>, an output gear <NUM>, an input gear <NUM>, and an idle gear <NUM>.

The printing tape roll <NUM> includes a printing tape 11A on which printing is performed. The printing tape 11A is wound around a first supply spool <NUM>.

The printing tape roll <NUM> has a cylindrical shape in which the printing tape 11A is wound around a winding center axis parallel to the up-down direction, and a hollow portion is defined by an inner peripheral surface of the wound printing tape 11A.

The printing tape roll <NUM> is provided with a first supply spool <NUM> in a hollow portion defined by the printing tape 11A. Printing is performed on the surface of the printing 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 arranged on the outside of the printing tape roll <NUM> in the up-down direction so as to sandwich the printing tape roll <NUM>. The spacer films 13A and 13B are arranged between the printing tape roll <NUM> and the first case portion <NUM> and between the printing tape roll <NUM> and the first frame portion <NUM>.

The first supply spool <NUM> is rotatable around a rotational axis L4. The first supply spool <NUM> rotates with the transfer of the printing tape 11A by the platen roller <NUM> of the printing apparatus main body <NUM> to supply the printing tape 11A to the print head <NUM>.

The ink ribbon roll <NUM> includes the ink ribbon 14A that is used for printing the printing tape 11A and is wound around the second supply spool <NUM> around a winding center axis parallel to the up-down direction.

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

Rotational resistance is applied to the ink ribbon roll <NUM> by the clutch spring held by the clutch spring holder <NUM>. At least a part of the ink ribbon roll <NUM> is disposed at a position overlapping with the printing tape roll <NUM> in the up-down direction.

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

The second supply spool <NUM> supplies the ink ribbon 14A to the print head <NUM> by rotating along with the winding of the ink ribbon 14A by the input spool <NUM>.

The input spool <NUM> can rotate around a rotational axis L6. The rotational axis L6 of the input spool <NUM> is parallel to the rotational axis L5 of the second supply spool <NUM>.

The input spool <NUM> has a cylindrical shape in which a hollow portion is defined by the inner peripheral surface 16A. The input spool <NUM> is a take-up spool that winds up the ink ribbon 14A. That is, the input spool <NUM> forms a take-up roll 14B (an example of a first roll) by winding the ink ribbon 14A supplied from the ink ribbon roll <NUM>. The input spool <NUM> is rotated by the drive shaft <NUM> via a spool-side spline teeth 16B.

In the take-up roll 14B, the ink ribbon 14A is wound around the input spool <NUM> about a winding center axis parallel to the up-down direction. The take-up roll 14B has a cylindrical shape in which a hollow portion is defined by an inner peripheral surface.

The spool-side spline tooth 16B is provided on the inner peripheral surface 16A of the input spool <NUM>. The spool-side spline tooth 16B transmits the driving force of the drive shaft <NUM> of the printing apparatus main body <NUM> to the input spool <NUM>.

The spool-side spline tooth 16B protrudes from the inner peripheral surface 16A of the input spool <NUM> toward the hollow portion of the input spool <NUM>. In a state where the printing cassette <NUM> is attached to the printing apparatus main body <NUM>, the drive shaft <NUM> is inserted into the hollow portion of the input spool <NUM> (that is, the take-up roll 14B), and the spool-side spline tooth 16B is engaged with the drive shaft <NUM>. Accordingly, the driving force is input from the drive shaft <NUM> to the spool-side spline tooth 16B.

The output gear <NUM> is a single gear that outputs a driving force for conveying the printing 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>. A rotational axis L7 of the output gear <NUM> is parallel to the rotational axis L5 of the second supply spool <NUM>. The output gear <NUM> overlaps with the 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 with the platen gear <NUM> at the head opening 33B in a state where the printing cassette <NUM> is attached to the printing apparatus main body <NUM>.

The second supply spool <NUM>, the output gear <NUM>, and the printing tape roll <NUM> are arranged in the up-down direction in the order of the second supply spool <NUM>, the output gear <NUM>, and the printing tape roll <NUM>. That is, the output gear <NUM> is located between the second supply spool <NUM> and the printing tape roll <NUM> in the up-down direction.

The input gear <NUM> indirectly engages with the output gear <NUM> via the idle gear <NUM> and transmits the driving force of the drive shaft <NUM> to the output gear <NUM>.

The input gear <NUM> has a gear body 19A, a wall portion 19B, and a gear-side spline tooth 19C (an example of a second engaging portion). The gear body 19A is a single gear that engages with the idle gear <NUM>.

The wall portion 19B is a cylindrical spool that extends downward from a surface orthogonal to the rotational axis of the gear body 19A and has a hollow portion defined by an inner peripheral surface. The wall portion 19B is arranged radially inside the input gear <NUM> with respect to the pitch circle of the input gear <NUM>.

The gear-side spline tooth 19C is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the wall portion 19B. That is, the gear-side spline tooth 19C is arranged radially inside the pitch circle of the input gear <NUM>. The gear-side spline tooth 19C protrudes toward the rotational axis L8 of the input gear <NUM>.

The gear-side spline tooth 19C engages with the drive shaft <NUM> in a state where the printing cassette <NUM> is attached to the printing apparatus main body <NUM>. Accordingly, the driving force is input from the drive shaft <NUM> to the gear-side spline tooth 19C. The gear body 19A rotates integrally with the wall portion 19B by the driving force input to the gear-side spline tooth 19C.

The rotational axis L8 of the input gear <NUM> (that is, the rotational axis of the gear body 19A and the rotational axis of the wall portion 19B) overlaps the hollow portion of the input spool <NUM> (that is, the take-up roll 14B) in the up-down direction. Further, the input gear <NUM> is arranged so that the rotational axis L8 of the input gear <NUM> is on the same line as the rotational axis L6 of the input spool <NUM>. Further, the gear body 19A of the input gear <NUM> is arranged at a position different from each position of the input spool <NUM> and the take-up roll 14B in the up-down direction.

Specifically, the input spool <NUM>, a part of the input gear <NUM> (that is, the gear body 19A), and the printing tape roll <NUM> are arranged in the up-down direction in the order of the part of the input spool <NUM> (that is, the gear body 19A), the input gear <NUM>, and the printing tape roll <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, in a projection drawing in which the input spool <NUM> and the input gear <NUM> are projected onto a surface virtually orthogonal to the up-down direction (that is, the printing cassette <NUM> is viewed from below), a diameter of an inscribed circle C1 of the spool-side spline tooth 16B is more than a diameter of an inscribed circle C2 of the gear-side spline tooth 19C. Further, at least a part of the gear-side spline tooth 19C overlaps with the hollow portion of the input spool <NUM> in the up-down direction.

As shown in <FIG>, the wall portion 19B is inserted into the hollow portion of the input spool <NUM> (that is, the take-up roll 14B). Specifically, a lower end portion of the wall portion 19B is inserted into the input spool <NUM> up to a position where it does not overlap with the spool-side spline tooth 16B in a radial direction of the input spool <NUM>.

Since a rotational axis L8 of the input gear <NUM> overlaps with the hollow portion of the input spool <NUM> in the up-down direction, the drive shaft <NUM> is simultaneously inserted into the input spool <NUM> (that is, the take-up roll 14B) and the input gear <NUM>.

In a state where the printing cassette <NUM> is attached to the printing apparatus main body <NUM>, the spool-side spline tooth 16B and the input gear <NUM> (that is, the gear-side spline tooth 19C) are engaged with the drive shaft <NUM> at different positions in the up-down direction. Accordingly, the input gear <NUM> is not directly connected to the input spool <NUM>, but is rotated by a drive source (that is, a drive shaft <NUM>) common to the input spool <NUM>.

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

The idle gear <NUM> is a stage gear in which a large gear 20A engaged with the input gear <NUM> and a small gear 20B engaged with the output gear <NUM> are arranged coaxially. The small gear 20B has a smaller diameter than the large gear 20A.

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

As shown in <FIG>, the first case portion <NUM> constitutes the upper end portion of the printing cassette <NUM>. The first frame portion <NUM> is disposed below the first case portion <NUM> and is vertically connected to the first case portion <NUM>. The second frame portion <NUM> is disposed below the first frame portion <NUM> and is vertically connected to the first frame portion <NUM>. The second case portion <NUM> constitutes a lower end portion of the printing cassette <NUM>. The second case portion <NUM> is vertically connected to the second frame portion <NUM>.

The first case portion <NUM> and the first frame portion <NUM> accommodate the printing tape roll <NUM>. That is, the printing 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 supply spool <NUM>, and the input spool <NUM>. That is, the ink ribbon roll <NUM>, the second supply 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 part 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>.

As shown in <FIG>, the first frame portion <NUM> has a first side wall 32A, a cover portion 32B, a first guide 32C, and a second isolation wall <NUM>. The first side wall 32A constitutes a side surface parallel to the up-down direction of the printing cassette <NUM>.

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

The second isolation wall <NUM> is disposed on the side opposite to the input spool <NUM> (that is, above the input gear <NUM>) with respect to the input gear <NUM> in the up-down direction. The second isolation wall <NUM> isolates the input gear <NUM> and the printing tape roll <NUM> in the up-down direction.

The second isolation wall <NUM> has a first gear shaft 32D, a second gear shaft 32E, a third gear shaft 32F, a gear facing surface <NUM>, and a support surface 32J (see <FIG>).

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

A gear facing surface <NUM> is a surface extending orthogonal to the up-down direction and is disposed above the output gear <NUM>, the input gear <NUM>, and the idle gear <NUM>. Each of the first gear shaft 32D, the second gear shaft 32E, and the third gear shaft 32F protrudes downward from the gear facing surface <NUM>.

A support surface 32J is disposed on the side opposite to the gear facing surface <NUM> in the up-down direction, and supports the printing tape roll <NUM> from the side of the input gear <NUM> (that is, from below).

As shown in <FIG>, a first guide 32C is a portion around which the printing tape 11A drawn from the printing tape roll <NUM> is wound. The first guide 32C has a plurality of plate-shaped ribs arranged separately along the circumferential direction of the printing tape roll <NUM>. The plurality of ribs protrude in the radial direction of the printing tape roll <NUM>, and the amount of protrusion (that is, a plate width) increases toward the lower side.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the second frame portion <NUM> has a second side wall 33A, a head opening 33B, a discharge port 33C, a second guide 33D, a first isolation wall 33E, and a hole 33F. The second side wall 33A constitutes a side surface parallel to the up-down direction of the printing cassette <NUM>.

The head opening 33B is a portion in which a part of the second side wall 33A is cut off. The head opening 33B is a space in which the print head <NUM> is disposed inside by inserting the print head <NUM> from below in a state where the print cassette <NUM> is attached to the printing apparatus main body <NUM>. The head opening 33B opens below the printing cassette <NUM>.

The second guide 33D is a portion around which the printing tape 11A that has passed through the first guide 32C is wound. Similar to the first guide 32C, the second guide 33D has a plurality of plate-shaped ribs arranged so as to be isolated along the circumferential direction of the ink ribbon roll <NUM>. The plurality of ribs protrude in the radial direction of the ink ribbon roll <NUM>, and the amount of protrusion (that is, a plate width) decreases toward the lower side.

The first isolation wall 33E isolates the gear body 19A of the input gear <NUM> and the input spool <NUM> in the up-down direction, and supports the input gear <NUM> from the side of the input spool <NUM> (that is, from below). The first isolation wall 33E is located between the gear body 19A of the input gear <NUM> and the input spool <NUM> (that is, the take-up roll 14B) in the up-down direction, and extends in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction.

The hole 33F is provided at the first isolation wall 33E and penetrates the first isolation wall 33E in the up-down direction. The hole 33F is disposed at a position overlapping the gear body 19A and the second gear shaft 32E of the input gear <NUM> in the up-down direction.

As shown in <FIG>, the wall portion 19B of the input gear <NUM> passes through the hole 33F and is inserted into the hollow portion of the input spool <NUM> (that is, the take-up roll 14B). Further, the gear body 19A of the input gear <NUM> is disposed between the first isolation wall 33E and the gear facing surface <NUM> of the second isolation wall <NUM>.

A distal end (that is, the lower end) of the second gear shaft 32E is arranged at a position closer to the gear facing surface <NUM> than the distal end (that is, the lower end) 19D of the wall portion 19B that is farthest from the gear facing surface <NUM> in the up-down direction. That is, the distal end of the second gear shaft 32E is located above the wall portion 19B, and the second gear shaft 32E does not penetrate the wall portion 19B.

The second gear shaft 32E has a concave portion 32I in which a distal end thereof is concave toward the gear facing surface <NUM>. In a state where the printing cassette <NUM> is attached to the printing apparatus main body <NUM>, an end portion 105A of the drive shaft <NUM> is inserted into the concave portion 32I.

A diameter of the second gear shaft 32E is less than an inner diameter of the wall portion 19B (that is, the diameter of the hollow portion). Further, a diameter of the end portion 105A of the drive shaft <NUM> is less than a diameter of the other portion of the drive shaft <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the case <NUM> has a first surface 35A that defines an upper outline of the case <NUM> and a second surface 35B that defines a lower outline of the case <NUM> at a position isolated from the first surface 35A in the up-down direction.

Each of the first surface 35A and the second surface 35B intersects in the up-down direction. Further, the input spool <NUM> and the input gear <NUM> are disposed between the first surface 35A and the second surface 35B in the up-down direction.

In the up-down direction, a first distance D1 between an end portion (that is, the upper end) of the input gear <NUM> on the side of the first surface 35A and the first surface 35A is more than a second distance D2 between an end portion (that is, the lower end) of the input gear <NUM> on the side of the second surface 35B and the second surface 35B. Further, in the up-down direction, the first distance D1 is more than a third distance D3 between the end portion (that is, the lower end) of the ink ribbon 14A (that is, the take-up roll 14B) that is wound around the input spool <NUM> on the side of the second surface 35B and the second surface 35B.

As shown in <FIG>, the printing tape 11A and the ink ribbon 14A are straddled in the left-right direction at the head opening 33B. The printing tape 11A that has been printed is discharged to the outside of the printing apparatus <NUM> from the discharge port 33C. A part of the output gear <NUM> is located in the head opening 33B. Further, the cover portion 32B is exposed in the head opening 33B.

As shown in <FIG>, the first guide 32C and the second guide 33D have a passage through which the printing tape 11A constituting the printing tape roll <NUM> is conveyed from the first frame portion <NUM> to the second frame portion <NUM>.

Specifically, as shown in <FIG>, the printing tape 11A drawn out from the printing tape roll <NUM> is conveyed downward and rearward within the first frame portion <NUM> while the printing tape 11A abuts on the first guide 32C in a spiral manner from the radial outside of the printing tape roll <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the printing tape 11A is conveyed toward the lower left while the printing tape 11A straddles the connecting portion between the first frame portion <NUM> and the second frame portion <NUM> in the up-down direction.

As shown in <FIG>, the printing tape 11A that has reached the second frame portion <NUM> is conveyed downward and forward while the printing tape 11A abuts on the second guide 33D from the outside in the radial direction. As shown in <FIG>, the printing tape 11A that has reached the lower end of the printing cassette <NUM> passes through the head opening 33B and is discharged from the discharge port 33C.

The print head <NUM> prints on the printing tape 11A held by the printing cassette <NUM>. The print head <NUM> is disposed at a position where the print head <NUM> overlaps with the printing tape 11A and the ink ribbon 14A in the head opening 33B in the front-rear direction in a state where the printing cassette <NUM> is attached to the printing apparatus main body <NUM>.

The printing tape 11A conveyed to the head opening 33B by the platen roller <NUM> is pressed against the print head <NUM> via the ink ribbon 14A in which the heat generating element generates heat. Accordingly, a part of the ink disposed on the surface of the ink ribbon 14A is transferred to the printing tape 11A, whereby characters, symbols and the like are printed on the printing tape 11A.

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

The platen gear <NUM> is connected to the platen roller <NUM> and engages with the output gear <NUM>. The platen roller <NUM> and the platen gear <NUM> can swing between a position shown in <FIG> isolated from the printing cassette <NUM> and a position shown in <FIG> where the platen gear <NUM> engages with the output gear <NUM>.

The drive shaft <NUM> is inserted into the input spool <NUM> and the input gear <NUM>, and engages with the spool-side spline tooth 16B and the gear-side spline tooth 19C to rotate the input spool <NUM> and the input gear <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, in a state where the printing cassette <NUM> is attached to the printing apparatus main body <NUM>, the drive shaft <NUM> engages with the input gear <NUM> and the platen gear <NUM> engages with the output gear <NUM>. Specifically, the drive shaft <NUM> is inserted into the input spool <NUM> and the input gear <NUM> of the printing cassette <NUM>. After that, the platen roller <NUM> and the platen gear <NUM> are swung toward the head opening 33B of the printing cassette <NUM>.

The output gear <NUM> is rotated by rotating the input gear <NUM> by the drive shaft <NUM> in a state where the printing cassette <NUM> is attached, the platen gear <NUM> is rotated by the rotation of the output gear <NUM>, and the platen roller <NUM> is rotated by the rotation of the platen gear <NUM>.

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

(1a) Since the drive shaft <NUM> penetrates the take-up roll 14B and engages with the input gear <NUM>, the take-up roll 14B and the input gear <NUM> are arranged so as to be overlapped with each other in a direction parallel to the winding center axis of the take-up roll 14B (that is, the axial direction of the drive shaft <NUM>). Thus, the driving force may be input to the input gear <NUM> while suppressing the increase in size of the printing cassette <NUM> in the direction orthogonal to the insertion direction of the drive shaft <NUM>.

(1b) The spool-side spline tooth 16B provided on the input spool <NUM> may transmit a driving force from one drive shaft <NUM> to the input spool <NUM> and the input gear <NUM>.

(1c) By using the gear-side spline tooth 19C as an engaging portion for transmitting a driving force from the drive shaft <NUM> to the input gear <NUM>, the input spool <NUM> and the input gear <NUM> may be arranged so as to be overlapped with each other in the radial direction of the drive shaft <NUM>. Thus, the space for arranging the drive system may be reduced.

(1d) The first isolation wall 33E may appropriately maintain the positional relationship between the input gear <NUM> and the input spool <NUM> in the up-down direction. Thus, the efficiency of transmitting the driving force to the spool-side spline tooth 16B and the gear-side spline tooth 19C may be improved.

(1e) The second isolation wall <NUM> allows the input gear <NUM> and the printing tape roll <NUM> to be vertically overlapped with each other while suppressing interference between the input gear <NUM> and the printing tape roll <NUM>.

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

The printing cassette 10A further includes a laminate tape roll <NUM> (an example of a first roll) shown in <FIG>, the take-up spool <NUM>, the take-up gear <NUM>, and the pinch roller <NUM> compared to the printing cassette <NUM> of the first embodiment. In addition, the printing cassette 10A includes a third supply spool <NUM>, a first case portion <NUM>, a first frame portion <NUM>, a second frame portion <NUM> and a second case portion <NUM>, instead of a first case portion <NUM>, a first frame portion <NUM>, a second frame portion <NUM> and a second case portion of the first embodiment.

The third supply spool <NUM> is the same as the input spool <NUM> except that the third supply spool <NUM> does not have the spool-side spline tooth 16B. The first case portion <NUM>, the first frame portion <NUM>, the second frame portion <NUM>, and the second case portion <NUM> are stretched in the left-right direction compared to the first case portion <NUM>, the first frame portion <NUM>, the second frame portion <NUM>, and the second case portion <NUM>, respectively. The other configurations of the printing cassette 10A are the same as those of the printing cassette <NUM> of the first embodiment except for the points described below, and the description thereof will be omitted.

The laminate tape roll <NUM> includes a laminate tape (an example of a first tape) that is wound around a third supply spool <NUM> around a winding center axis parallel to the up-down direction. The laminate tape has an adhesive surface that is laminated to the printing tape 11A printed by the print head <NUM>. The laminate tape roll <NUM> has a cylindrical shape in which a hollow portion is defined by an inner peripheral surface of the laminate tape. A third supply spool <NUM> is disposed in a hollow portion defined by the laminate tape of the laminate tape roll <NUM>.

The take-up spool <NUM> is rotatable around a rotation axis L10. The rotation axis L10 of the take-up spool <NUM> is parallel to the rotation axis L5 (that is, in the up-down direction) of the second supply spool <NUM>. The take-up spool <NUM> takes up the ink ribbon 14A unwound from the third supply spool <NUM> by the rotation of the take-up gear <NUM>.

The take-up gear <NUM> is connected to the take-up spool <NUM> and is engaged with the idle gear <NUM>. The take-up gear <NUM> is rotated by the driving force input to the input gear <NUM>, thereby rotating the take-up spool <NUM>. That is, the idle gear <NUM> transmits the driving force input to the input gear <NUM> to the take-up gear <NUM>.

The pinch roller <NUM>, together with the pressing roller <NUM>, presses the laminate tape against the printing tape 11A that has been used in printing. The pinch roller <NUM> is disposed downstream of a head opening 33B in a transport direction of the printing tape 11A.

The printing apparatus main body 100A further includes a pressing roller <NUM> shown in <FIG> compared to the printing apparatus main body <NUM> of the first embodiment. The other configurations of the printing apparatus main body 100A are the same as those of the printing apparatus main body <NUM> of the first embodiment except for the points described below, and the description thereof will be omitted.

The pressing roller <NUM> is swingable together with the platen roller <NUM> and the platen gear <NUM>. That is, the pressing roller <NUM> may swing between a position isolated from the printing cassette 10A shown in <FIG> and a position where the pressing roller <NUM> presses the printing tape 11A and the third tape together with the pinch roller <NUM> shown in <FIG>.

In the present embodiment, in a state where the printing cassette 10A is attached to the printing apparatus main body 100A, the drive shaft <NUM> is inserted into the hollow portion of the third supply spool <NUM> (that is, the laminate tape roll <NUM>), and the input gear <NUM> engages the drive shaft <NUM>.

(2a) The printed content on the printing tape 11A may be protected by the laminate tape while having the same advantages as those of the first embodiment.

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 various forms can be adopted.

(3a) In the printing apparatus of the above embodiment, the engaging portion of the input gear may be other than the spline tooth (for example, a tooth of the main body gear). Further, the engaging portion of the input gear may be disposed at a position that does not overlap with the hollow portion of the input spool (that is, the take-up roll) or the third supply spool (that is, the laminate tape roll) in the up-down direction.

Further, the wall portion is not limited to a cylindrical shape. For example, the wall portion may be a plurality of plate members arranged apart from each other in the circumferential direction of the input gear. Further, the input gear may not necessarily have a wall portion, and may be a single gear that directly engages with the drive shaft.

For example, as shown in <FIG>, a single gear having a through hole through which the drive shaft <NUM> is inserted in the central portion may be used as the input gear <NUM>. The first tooth <NUM> provided on the outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft <NUM> engages with the spline tooth provided on the inner peripheral surface of the input spool <NUM>. The second tooth <NUM> provided on the outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft <NUM> engages with the spline tooth provided on the inner peripheral surface defining the through hole of the input gear <NUM>.

Further, for example, as shown in <FIG>, a single gear that directly engages with the second tooth <NUM> of the drive shaft <NUM> may be used as the input gear 201A. In <FIG>, the drive shaft <NUM> is not inserted into the input gear 201A.

(3b) In the printing apparatus of the above embodiment, the first roll (that is, the take-up roll or the laminate tape roll) through which the drive shaft is inserted may not necessarily be the first tape (that is, the ink ribbon or the laminate tape) that is wound around the rotatable spool. For example, the first roll may be a member in which the first tape is wound around a non-rotating member fixed to a case. Further, the first roll may not necessarily be wound around another member.

(3c) The printing apparatus of the above embodiment is not limited to a printing apparatus that prints using an ink ribbon. The printing apparatus may use a strip-shaped thermal paper instead of the printing tape in the first embodiment, and may use a laminate tape (that is, a protective tape) instead of the ink ribbon.

Further, the printing apparatus may use a stencil tape in which a print pattern is perforated by a thermal head as a printing tape, and may use a strip-shaped interleaving paper that protects and supports the stencil tape instead of the laminate tape. In this case, at the head opening, the printing tape may be superimposed on the interleaving paper at a position closer to the print head than the interleaving paper (that is, as an upper layer), and the printing tape may be superimposed on the interleaving paper at a position separated from the interleaving paper by the print head (that is, as a lower layer).

(3d) In the printing cassette of the second embodiment, the arrangement of the take-up spool and the third supply spool may be switched. That is, the drive shaft may be inserted through the take-up spool, and the third supply spool may be rotated by the take-up gear.

(3e) The printing cassette of the above embodiment may have two or more idle gears. Further, the idle gear may not necessarily be a step gear, and may be a single gear. Further, the printing cassette may not necessarily have an idle gear, and the output gear may be directly engaged with the input gear.

(3f) The functions of one component in the above embodiment may be dispersed as a plurality of components, or the functions of the plurality of components may be integrated into one component.

Claim 1:
A printing cassette that is to be attached to and detached from a printing apparatus main body, the printing apparatus main body including a drive shaft that rotates around an axis, the printing cassette comprising:
a first roll in which a first tape is wound around a winding center axis parallel to a first direction; and
an input gear that is disposed at a different position from the first roll in the first direction, engaging another gear, and configured to transmit a driving force of the drive shaft to the another gear,
wherein the first roll has a cylindrical shape in which a hollow portion is defined by an inner peripheral surface,
wherein the drive shaft is inserted into the hollow portion of the first roll in a state where the printing cassette is attached to the printing apparatus main body, and
wherein the input gear is engaged with the drive shaft in a state where the printing cassette is attached to the printing apparatus main body.