Patent Description:
In a printer that performs printing on a printing tape, replacement and resupply of a printing tape is performed by attachment and detachment of a cassette accommodating a printing tape to and from the printer (see Patent Literature <NUM>.

Document <CIT> discloses an ink ribbon cassette configured to be attached and used in a dot printer.

It is assumed that the above-described cassette is provided with a gear for transmitting a driving force to the inside of the cassette or a gear for transmitting a driving force from the cassette to the outside thereof. In a case where a portion of such a gear is exposed to the outside of a case of the cassette, the gear is easily damaged when the cassette is dropped and collides with a surface of a floor or somewhere.

One aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a printing cassette that can reduce damage to a gear that transmits a driving force.

One aspect of the present disclosure is a printing cassette including: a case including a first case portion, a second case portion, and a third case portion; a first tape, at least a portion of which is accommodated in the third case portion; and a gear, a portion of which is accommodated in the second case portion and the other portion of which is located outside of the case, the gear being rotatable about a rotation axis parallel to a first direction.

The first case portion has an outlet through which the first tape is discharged. The first case portion, the second case portion, and the third case portion are disposed in an order of the first case portion, the second case portion, and the third case portion in the first direction.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is a printer including: a printing cassette; and a printer body on which the printing cassette is to be mounted. The printer body includes a driving force transmission portion that is to be engaged with the gear.

According to these configurations, the gear is disposed at the second case portion sandwiched between the first case portion and the third case portion. Therefore, even if the printing cassette is dropped and a surface of the printing cassette extending perpendicular to the axial direction of the rotation axis of the gear collides with a surface of a floor or somewhere, the gear is protected by the first case portion and the third case portion and damage to the gear is reduced.

A printer <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> includes a printing cassette <NUM> and a printer body <NUM>. The printer <NUM> is a device that performs printing on a tape-shaped printing medium.

In the present embodiment, an axial direction of an output gear <NUM> is defined as an up-down direction. A direction that is perpendicular to the up-down direction and in which the output gear <NUM> and an input spool <NUM> are arranged next to each other is defined as a front-rear direction. A direction perpendicular to both the up-down direction and the front-rear direction is defined as a left-right direction.

The printing cassette <NUM> accommodates a printing medium. The printing cassette <NUM> is mountable on and removable from the printer body <NUM>. Replacing the printing cassette <NUM> can achieve resupply of a printing medium and change of a type (e.g., color, material, or others) of the printing medium.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the printing cassette <NUM> includes a case <NUM> that accommodates a to-be-printed tape (described later) (an example of a first tape), an ink ribbon, and others. An outer shape of the printing cassette <NUM> (i.e., a shape of the case <NUM>) is a rectangular parallelepiped having sides parallel to the up-down direction, sides parallel to the front-rear direction, and sides parallel to the left-right direction. The case <NUM> includes a first cover portion <NUM>, a first frame portion <NUM>, a second frame portion <NUM>, and a second cover portion <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the printing cassette <NUM> includes a first roll <NUM>, a first feed spool <NUM>, a spacer film 13A, a spacer film 13B, a second roll <NUM>, a second feed spool <NUM>, an input spool <NUM>, a clutch spring holder <NUM>, the output gear <NUM>, the input gear <NUM>, and an idle gear <NUM>.

In the first roll <NUM>, a to-be-printed tape on which printing is to be performed is wound around the first feed spool <NUM>. Printing is performed on a surface of the to-be-printed tape by a print head <NUM> (described later) of the printer body <NUM> and an ink ribbon.

Two spacer films 13A, 13B are disposed outside the first roll <NUM> in the up-down direction such that the spacer films 13A, 13B sandwich the first roll <NUM> therebetween. The spacer film 13A is disposed between the first roll <NUM> and the second cover portion <NUM> The spacer film 13B is disposed between the first roll <NUM> and the second frame portion <NUM>.

The first feed spool <NUM> is rotatable about its rotation axis. The first feed spool <NUM> rotates along with conveyance of the to-be-printed tape by a platen roller <NUM> (described later) of the printer body <NUM>, thereby feeding the to-be-printed tape to the print head <NUM>.

In the second roll <NUM>, the ink ribbon used for printing on the to-be-printed tape is wound around the second feed spool <NUM>.

In a head opening 32B (described later), the ink ribbon is laid on the to-be-printed tape and used for printing performed by the print head <NUM> therein. The ink ribbon that has been used for printing is taken up by the input spool <NUM> (described later). A rotation resistance is applied to the second roll <NUM> by a clutch spring held by the clutch spring holder <NUM>.

The second feed spool <NUM> is rotatable about its rotation axis. The rotation axis of the second feed spool <NUM> is parallel to the rotational axis of the first feed spool <NUM>, that is, parallel to the up-down direction.

The second feed spool <NUM> rotates along with take-up of the ink ribbon by the input spool <NUM>, thereby feeding the ink ribbon to the print head <NUM>. Further, the second feed spool <NUM> is disposed such that a portion thereof overlaps the first roll <NUM> in the up-down direction.

The input spool <NUM> is rotatable about its rotation axis. The rotation axis of the input spool <NUM> is parallel to the rotation axis of the second feed spool <NUM>.

The input spool <NUM> has a cylindrical shape and has a hollow portion defined by an inner peripheral surface 16A. Spline teeth 16B are provided on the inner peripheral surface 16A of the input spool <NUM>. A drive shaft <NUM> (described later) of the printer body <NUM> is to be coupled to the spline teeth 16B. The input spool <NUM> is rotated by the drive shaft <NUM> to take up the ink ribbon.

The output gear <NUM> is a single gear for outputting, to the outside, a driving force for conveying the to-be-printed tape. The output gear <NUM> transmits a driving force to the platen roller <NUM> via a platen gear <NUM> of the printer body <NUM> (described later).

The output gear <NUM> includes a disk that rotates about its rotation axis parallel to the up-down direction and teeth on a surface of the disk extending parallel to the up-down direction. One (i.e., an upper surface) of surfaces of the disk extending perpendicular to the up-down direction faces a cover portion 33B (described later) of the case <NUM> in the up-down direction. A portion of the other (i.e., a lower surface) of the surfaces of the disk extending perpendicular to the up-down direction does not face the case <NUM> in the up-down direction.

The output gear <NUM> is partially exposed to the head opening 32B, and thus, the exposed portion thereof is located outside the case <NUM>. The output gear <NUM> is in engagement with the platen gear <NUM> at the head opening 32B in a state where the printing cassette <NUM> is mounted on the printer body <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the first roll <NUM>, the output gear <NUM>, and the second roll <NUM> (i.e., the second feed spool <NUM>) are disposed in the order of the first roll <NUM>, the output gear <NUM>, and the second roll <NUM> in the up-down direction. That is, the output gear <NUM> is positioned between the first roll <NUM> and the second roll <NUM> in the up-down direction.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the input gear <NUM> is indirectly connected to the output gear <NUM> via an idle gear <NUM> (described later) and transmits a driving force to the output gear <NUM>. A driving force from a driving source of the printer body <NUM> is input to the input gear <NUM>.

The input gear <NUM> includes an external gear 19A and a cylindrical spool 19B fixed to a lower surface of the external gear 19A and having spline teeth on an inner peripheral surface thereof. The external gear 19A rotates integrally with the spool 19B by the driving force input to the spool 19B.

A rotation axis of the input gear <NUM> (i.e., a rotation axis of the external gear 19A and a rotation axis of the spool 19B) is coaxial with the rotation axis of the input spool <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the input spool <NUM>, the input gear <NUM>, and the first roll <NUM> are disposed in the order of the input spool <NUM>, the input gear <NUM>, and the first roll <NUM> in the up-down direction.

That is, the input gear <NUM> is positioned between the input spool <NUM> and the first roll <NUM> in the up-down direction. Further, the input gear <NUM> is disposed such that a portion thereof overlaps the first roll <NUM> in the up-down direction.

The rotation axis of the input gear <NUM> extends in the hollow portion of the input spool <NUM>. That is, the drive shaft <NUM> is inserted into the input spool <NUM> and the input gear <NUM> simultaneously. As a result, although the input gear <NUM> is not directly coupled to the input spool <NUM>, the input gear <NUM> is rotated by a driving source (i.e., the drive shaft <NUM>) common to the input spool <NUM>.

The idle gear <NUM> is connected to be driven to (i.e., is in engagement with) the input gear <NUM> and the output gear <NUM>, and transmits the driving force input to the input gear <NUM> to the output gear <NUM>.

The idle gear <NUM> is a stepped gear in which a first gear 20A engaged with the input gear <NUM> and a second gear 20B engaged with the output gear <NUM> are arranged coaxially. The second gear 20B has a diameter smaller than the first gear 20A. Further, the second gear 20B is disposed at a position closer to the first roll <NUM> than the second gear 20B to the first gear 20A in the up-down direction (i.e., on an upper side). The idle gear <NUM> constitutes a deceleration mechanism that decelerates the driving force input to the input gear <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the first cover portion <NUM> serves as a lower end portion of the printing cassette <NUM>. The first frame portion <NUM> is disposed above the first cover portion <NUM> and is connected to the first cover portion <NUM> in the up-down direction. The second frame portion <NUM> is disposed above the first frame portion <NUM> and is connected to the first frame portion <NUM> in the up-down direction. The second cover portion <NUM> serves as an upper end portion of the printing cassette <NUM>. The second cover portion <NUM> is connected to the second frame portion <NUM> in the up-down direction.

The first cover portion <NUM> and a first portion that is a lower side of the first frame portion <NUM> constitute a first case portion <NUM> in which the second roll <NUM> (i.e., at least a portion of the ink ribbon), the second feed spool <NUM>, and the input spool <NUM> are accommodated. That is, the second roll <NUM>, the second feed spool <NUM>, and the input spool <NUM> are disposed in a space surrounded by the first cover portion <NUM> and the first frame portion <NUM>. The first case portion <NUM> is further provided with an outlet 32C through which the to-be-printed tape is discharged.

A second portion of the first frame portion <NUM> that is a side (i.e., an upper side) opposite to the first portion in the up-down direction and a third portion that is a lower side of the second frame portion <NUM> constitute a second case portion <NUM> in which a particular portion of the output gear <NUM>, the input gear <NUM>, and the idle gear <NUM> are accommodated. That is, the particular portion of the output gear <NUM>, the input gear <NUM>, and the idle gear <NUM> are disposed in a space surrounded by the first frame portion <NUM> and the second frame portion <NUM>.

A fourth portion of the second frame portion <NUM> that is a side (i.e., an upper side) opposite to the third portion in the up-down direction and the second cover portion <NUM> constitute a third case portion <NUM> in which the first roll <NUM> (i.e., at least a portion of the to-be-printed tape) is accommodated. That is, the first roll <NUM> is disposed in a space surrounded by the second frame portion <NUM> and the second cover portion <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the first case portion <NUM>, the second case portion <NUM>, and the third case portion <NUM> are disposed in the order of the first case portion <NUM>, the second case portion <NUM>, and the third case portion <NUM> in the up-down direction. That is, the second case portion <NUM> is disposed between the first case portion <NUM> and the third case portion <NUM> in the up-down direction.

A dimension of the first case portion <NUM> in the up-down direction and a dimension of the third case portion <NUM> in the up-down direction are both greater than a dimension of the second case portion <NUM> in the up-down direction. Further, the dimension of the first case portion <NUM> in the up-down direction is greater than or equal to the dimension of the third case portion <NUM> in the up-down direction. A dimension of the second frame portion <NUM> in the up-down direction is greater than a dimension of the first frame portion <NUM> in the up-down direction.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the first frame portion <NUM> includes a first sidewall 32A, the head opening 32B, the outlet 32C, a first guide 32D, a protruding portion 32E, a facing portion 32F, a first separation wall <NUM>, an outlet for opening <NUM>, a first restricting portion <NUM>, and a first partition wall <NUM>. The first sidewall 32A defines side surfaces of the printing cassette <NUM>. The side surfaces of the printing cassette <NUM> extend parallel to the up-down direction.

The head opening 32B is a cutaway portion of the first sidewall 32A. The head opening 32B is a space in which the print head <NUM> is located by insertion into the head opening 32B from below in a state where the printing cassette <NUM> is mounted to the printer body <NUM>. The head opening 32B opens downward in the printing cassette <NUM>.

The first guide 32D is a portion around which a to-be-printed tape 11A fed from the third case portion <NUM> is wound. The first guide 32D has a plurality of ribs being plates that are apart from each other in a circumferential direction of the second roll <NUM>. The plurality of ribs protrude in a radial direction of the second roll <NUM>, and a protruding amount of each of the plurality of ribs (i.e., a plate width) decreases as each of the plurality of ribs extends downward.

The protruding portion 32E is located upstream from the head opening 32B in a conveyance direction of the to-be-printed tape, and is a portion in which the to-be-printed tape and the ink ribbon are conveyed parallel to each other. The protruding portion 32E extends in the left-right direction. The to-be-printed tape and the ink ribbon are conveyed inside the protruding portion 32E from left to right during printing.

The protruding portion 32E has a first surface <NUM> that defines the head opening 32B. The first surface <NUM> serves as a rear surface of the protruding portion 32E and is orthogonal to the front-rear direction. In a state where the printing cassette <NUM> is mounted on the printer body <NUM>, the first surface <NUM> faces the print head <NUM> in the front-rear direction.

The facing portion 32F is a plate portion facing the protruding portion 32E in the front-rear direction. The facing portion 32F separates the head opening 32B and a space in which the second roll <NUM>, the second feed spool <NUM>, and the input spool <NUM> are disposed in the front-rear direction. The facing portion 32F defines the head opening 32B and has a second surface 32I (refer to <FIG>) facing the first surface <NUM> in the front-rear direction.

The second surface 32I serves as a front surface of the facing portion 32F and is orthogonal to the front-rear direction. In a state where the printing cassette <NUM> is mounted on the printer body <NUM>, the second surface 32I is opposite to the first surface <NUM> with respect to the print head <NUM> in the front-rear direction.

The first separation wall <NUM> separates the first case portion <NUM> and the second case portion <NUM> in the up-down direction. The first separation wall <NUM> is a portion of the second case portion <NUM>. That is, in the first frame portion <NUM>, the first portion constituting the first case portion <NUM> is a portion lower than the first separation wall <NUM>. On the other hand, the protruding portion 32E and the facing portion 32F protrude downward from the first separation wall <NUM>. Thus, the protruding portion 32E and the facing portion 32F are portions of the first case portion <NUM>.

The first separation wall <NUM> has a third surface 32J that is disposed at an upper end of the head opening 32B in the up-down direction and connects between the protruding portion 32E and the facing portion 32F. The third surface 32J serves as a lower surface of the first separation wall <NUM> and is orthogonal to the up-down direction.

The outlet for opening <NUM> is a portion through which the to-be-printed tape that travels in the protruding portion 32E is to be discharged to the head opening 32B. The outlet for opening <NUM> is provided at a right end of the protruding portion 32E. The ink ribbon drawn from the second roll <NUM> is laid on the to-be-printed tape discharged from the outlet for opening <NUM> to the head opening 32B.

The first restricting portion <NUM> restricts movement of the to-be-printed tape in a width direction of the to-be-printed tape. The first restricting portion <NUM> is disposed between both ends (i.e., an upper end and a lower end) of the outlet 32C in the width direction of the to-be-printed tape (i.e., the up-down direction) in the first case portion <NUM> (refer to <FIG>). Specifically, the first restricting portion <NUM> protrudes further upward from a support portion 32N protruding leftward from the first sidewall 32A at a right rear portion of the first frame portion <NUM>.

The first partition wall <NUM> separates a space in which the output gear <NUM>, the input gear <NUM>, and the idle gear <NUM> are disposed and a space through which the to-be-printed tape travels. Specifically, in the second frame portion <NUM>, the first partition wall <NUM> separates an inner area where the output gear <NUM>, the input gear <NUM>, and the idle gear <NUM> are disposed and an outer area that is more outside than the inner area.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the second frame portion <NUM> includes a second sidewall 33A, a cover portion 33B, a second guide 33C, a first gear support portion 33D, a second gear support portion 33E, a third gear support portion 33F, a second partition wall <NUM>, a second separation wall <NUM>, a first claw 33I, a second claw 33J, a third claw <NUM>, a fourth claw <NUM>, and a second restricting portion <NUM> (refer to <FIG>). The second sidewall 33A defines side surfaces of the printing cassette <NUM>. The side surfaces of the printing cassette <NUM> extend parallel to the up-down direction.

The cover portion 33B has surfaces perpendicular to the up-down direction. The cover portion 33B is disposed at a position where the cover portion 33B overlaps the output gear <NUM> in the up-down direction. In the present embodiment, the cover portion 33B is contiguous with a lower end portion of the second sidewall 33A, and is disposed at a right front corner of the second frame portion <NUM>.

The output gear <NUM>, the cover portion 33B, and the first roll <NUM> are arranged next to each other in the order of the output gear <NUM>, the cover portion 33B, and the first roll <NUM> in the up-down direction. As described above, an upper surface of the output gear <NUM> is entirely covered by the cover portion 33B.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the second guide 33C is a portion around which the to-be-printed tape 11A drawn from the first roll <NUM> is wound. The second guide 33C has a plurality of ribs being plates that are apart from each other in a circumferential direction of the first roll <NUM>. The plurality of ribs protrude in a radial direction of the first roll <NUM>, and a protruding amount of each of the plurality of ribs (i.e., a plate width) increases as each of the plurality of ribs extends downward.

The first gear support portion 33D illustrated in <FIG> supports the output gear <NUM> rotatably. The second gear support portion 33E supports the input gear <NUM> rotatably. The third gear support portion 33F supports the idle gear <NUM> rotatably.

The second partition wall <NUM> separates a space in which the output gear <NUM>, the input gear <NUM>, and the idle gear <NUM> are disposed and a space through which the to-be-printed tape travels. Specifically, in the second frame portion <NUM>, the second partition wall <NUM> separates an inner area where the first gear support portion 33D, the second gear support portion 33E, and the third gear support portion 33F are disposed and an outer area in which the second guide 33C is disposed. The second guide 33C protrudes from the second partition wall <NUM>.

The second separation wall <NUM> separates the second case portion <NUM> and the third case portion <NUM> in the up-down direction. The second separation wall <NUM> is a portion of the third case portion <NUM>. That is, in the second frame portion <NUM>, the third portion constituting the second case portion <NUM> is a portion lower than the second separation wall <NUM>.

On the other hand, the first gear support portion 33D, the second gear support portion 33E, the third gear support portion 33F, and the second partition wall <NUM> protrude downward from the second separation wall <NUM>. Therefore, the first gear support portion 33D, the second gear support portion 33E, the third gear support portion 33F, and the second partition wall <NUM> are portions of the second case portion <NUM>.

The first claw 33I is disposed at a front end portion of the second frame portion <NUM>. The second claw 33J is disposed at a left end portion of the second frame portion <NUM>. The third claw <NUM> is disposed at a rear end portion of the second frame portion <NUM>. The fourth claw <NUM> is disposed at a right end portion of the second frame portion <NUM>.

Each of the claws 33I, 33J, <NUM>, and <NUM> protrudes downward and engages a corresponding opening or groove defined in the first sidewall 32A of the first frame portion <NUM>. That is, the claws 33I, 33J, <NUM>, <NUM> connect between the first frame portion <NUM> and the second frame portion <NUM> in the up-down direction.

The output gear <NUM>, the input gear <NUM>, and the idle gear <NUM> are disposed between the first claw 33I and the third claw <NUM> in the front-rear direction and between the second claw 33J and the fourth claw <NUM> in the right-left direction.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the second restricting portion <NUM> restricts movement of the to-be-printed tape in the width direction of the to-be-printed tape. The second restricting portion <NUM> protrudes rightward from the second sidewall 33A at a left rear portion of the second frame portion <NUM>.

The second cover portion <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> has a third restricting portion 34A that restricts movement of the to-be-printed tape in the width direction. The third restricting portion 34A is disposed between both ends (i.e., an upper end and a lower end) of the first roll <NUM> in the width direction of the to-be-printed tape (i.e., the up-down direction) in the third case portion <NUM> (refer to <FIG>). Specifically, the third restricting portion 34A is a plate member disposed at a right rear portion of the second cover portion <NUM> such that a thickness direction of the third restricting portion 34A is parallel to the right-left direction.

A volume of an internal space of the third case portion <NUM> is greater than a volume of an internal space of the first case portion <NUM>. A total weight of the third case portion <NUM> and the components (i.e., the first roll <NUM>, the first feed spool <NUM>, and others) accommodated in the third case portion <NUM> is greater than a total weight of the first case portion <NUM> and the components (i.e., the second roll <NUM>, the second feed spool <NUM>, the input spool <NUM>, and others) accommodated in the first case portion <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the to-be-printed tape 11A and the ink ribbon 14A extend across the head opening 32B in the right-left direction. The to-be-printed tape 11A on which printing has been performed is discharged to the outside of the printer <NUM> from the outlet 32C.

In a projection drawing in which the output gear <NUM> and the case <NUM> are projected onto a virtual plane perpendicular to the up-down direction, the output gear <NUM> is located inside an outer edge of the case <NUM>. The entire output gear <NUM> overlaps the case <NUM> in the up-down direction.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the first guide 32D and the second guide 33C define a path through which the to-be-printed tape 11A constituting the first roll <NUM> is fed from the third case portion <NUM> to the first case portion <NUM>.

Specifically, as illustrated in <FIG>, the to-be-printed tape 11A drawn from the first roll <NUM> is conveyed in a spiral manner toward the lower rear in the third case portion <NUM> while contacting the second guide 33C from an outer side in the radial direction of the first roll <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the to-be-printed tape 11A is further conveyed toward the lower left while extending across the second case portion <NUM> in the up-down direction.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the to-be-printed tape 11A that has passed the second case portion <NUM> and reached the first case portion <NUM> is conveyed toward the lower front with contacting the first guide 32D from the outer side in the radial direction. As illustrated in <FIG>, the to-be-printed tape 11A that has passed the first case portion <NUM> and reached the lower end portion of the printing cassette <NUM> passes the head opening 32B and is then discharged from the outlet 32C.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the printer body <NUM> includes a cassette insertion portion <NUM>, the print head <NUM>, the platen roller <NUM>, the platen gear <NUM>, and the drive shaft <NUM>.

The cassette insertion portion <NUM> is a recessed portion on which the printing cassette <NUM> is to be mounted. The cassette insertion portion <NUM> has a function of positioning the printing cassette <NUM>.

The print head <NUM> is a device for performing printing on the to-be-printed tape held by the printing cassette <NUM>.

The print head <NUM> is disposed in the cassette insertion portion <NUM>. The print head <NUM> is disposed such that, in a state where the printing cassette <NUM> is mounted on the printer body <NUM>, the print head <NUM> overlaps the to-be-printed tape and the ink ribbon in the front-rear direction at the head opening 32B.

The print head <NUM> has a plurality of heating elements, heat generation of which are individually controlled. The to-be-printed tape that has been conveyed to the head opening 32B by the platen roller <NUM> (described later) is pressed toward the print head <NUM> in which the heating elements have generated heat, via the ink ribbon. Thus, some ink on a particular surface of the ink ribbon is transferred onto the to-be-printed tape, and characters, symbols, and other representations are printed on the to-be-printed tape.

The platen roller <NUM> is a roller for conveying the to-be-printed tape from the inside to the outside of the printing cassette <NUM>. A rotation axis of the platen roller <NUM> is parallel to the up-down direction.

The platen roller <NUM> is disposed adjacent to the print head <NUM> in the cassette insertion portion <NUM>. The platen roller <NUM> contacts and presses the to-be-printed tape toward the print head <NUM> at the head opening 32B.

The platen gear <NUM> is a driving force transmission portion that is connected to be driven to the platen roller <NUM> and is to be engaged with the output gear <NUM>. In the present embodiment, a rotation axis of the platen gear <NUM> is coaxial with the rotation axis of the platen roller <NUM>.

The platen roller <NUM> and the platen gear <NUM> are swingable between a position illustrated in <FIG> where the platen roller <NUM> and the platen gear <NUM> are spaced from the printing cassette <NUM> and a position illustrated in <FIG> where the platen gear <NUM> is in engagement with the output gear <NUM>.

The drive shaft <NUM> is a shaft that is engaged with the input gear <NUM> when the drive shaft <NUM> is inserted into the input spool <NUM>, and that rotates the input spool <NUM> and the input gear <NUM>.

The drive shaft <NUM> is disposed in the cassette insertion portion <NUM>. A rotation axis of the drive shaft <NUM> is parallel to the up-down direction. The drive shaft <NUM> rotates about its rotation axis by a driving source (e.g., a motor) (not illustrated).

As illustrated in <FIG>, in a state where the printing cassette <NUM> is mounted on the printer body <NUM>, the drive shaft <NUM> is in engagement with the input gear <NUM> and the platen gear <NUM> is in engagement 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>, and the platen roller <NUM> and the platen gear <NUM> are swung toward the head opening 32B of the printing cassette <NUM>, whereby the printing cassette <NUM> is mounted on the printer body <NUM>.

As the input gear <NUM> is rotated by the drive shaft <NUM> in a state where the printing cassette <NUM> is mounted, the output gear <NUM> is rotated, 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 can be obtained.

(1a) The output gear <NUM> is disposed at the second case portion <NUM> sandwiched between the first case portion <NUM> and the third case portion <NUM>. Therefore, even if the printing cassette <NUM> is dropped and the surface of the printing cassette <NUM> extending perpendicular to the axial direction of the rotation axis of the output gear <NUM> collides with a surface of a floor or somewhere, the output gear <NUM> is protected by the first case portion <NUM> and the third case portion <NUM> and damage to the output gear <NUM> is reduced.

(1b) The protruding portion 32E and the facing portion 32F are connected to each other by the third surface 32J. Thus, strength of the protruding portion 32E can be increased. As a result, damage to the protruding portion 32E when the printing cassette <NUM> is dropped is reduced.

(1c) The volume and total weight of the third case portion <NUM> is greater than the volume and total weight of the first case portion <NUM>. Thus, even if the printing cassette <NUM> is dropped, the third case portion <NUM> faces down and is likely to collides with a surface of a floor surface or somewhere. Therefore, damage to the output gear <NUM> disposed at the first case portion <NUM> and exposed to the head opening 32B is reduced.

(1d) The case portions are partitioned by the respective separation walls. Thus, even if the printing cassette <NUM> is dropped, a collision between parts disposed at the different case portions is reduced. Therefore, damage to the parts is reduced.

(1e) The to-be-printed tape wound around the first feed spool <NUM> can be smoothly fed from the third case portion <NUM> to the first case portion <NUM> by the first restricting portion <NUM>, the second restricting portion <NUM>, and the third restricting portion 34A.

(1f) In the second case portion <NUM>, the first partition wall <NUM> and the second partition wall <NUM> prevent the to-be-printed tape conveyed toward the outlet 32C from interfering with the output gear <NUM>, the input gear <NUM>, and the idle gear <NUM>.

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

The printing cassette 10A includes a third roll <NUM>, an additional spool <NUM>, an additional gear <NUM>, and a pinch roller <NUM>, each of which are illustrated in <FIG>, in addition to the components of the printing cassette <NUM> of the first embodiment, and further includes a third feed spool <NUM>, a first cover portion <NUM>, a first frame portion <NUM>, a second frame portion <NUM>, and a second cover portion <NUM> as alternatives to the input spool <NUM>, the first cover portion <NUM>, the first frame portion <NUM>, the second frame portion <NUM>, and the second cover portion <NUM> of the printing cassette <NUM> of the first embodiment.

The first cover portion <NUM> and the first frame portion <NUM> constitute a first case portion 41A. The first frame portion <NUM> and the second frame portion <NUM> constitute a second case portion 42A. The second frame portion <NUM> and the second cover portion <NUM> constitute a third case portion 43A.

The third feed spool <NUM> is identical to the input spool <NUM> except that the third feed spool <NUM> does not have the spline teeth 16B. The first cover portion <NUM>, the first frame portion <NUM>, the second frame portion <NUM>, and the second cover portion <NUM> are identical to the first cover portion <NUM>, the first frame portion <NUM>, the second frame portion <NUM>, and the second cover portion <NUM> that are further extended in the right-left direction, 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 thus a description thereof will be omitted.

In the third roll <NUM>, a laminating tape used for protecting the to-be-printed tape is wound around the third feed spool <NUM>. The laminating tape has an adhesive surface to be adhered to the to-be-printed tape on which printing has been performed by the print head <NUM>.

The additional spool <NUM> is rotatable about its rotation axis. The rotation axis of the additional spool <NUM> is parallel to the rotation axis of the second feed spool <NUM> (i.e., the up-down direction). The additional spool <NUM> is a take-up spool that takes up the ink ribbon by rotation of the additional gear <NUM> (described later).

The additional gear <NUM> is connected to the additional spool <NUM> and is in engagement with the idle gear <NUM>. The additional gear <NUM> is rotated by a driving force input to the input gear <NUM> and rotates the additional spool <NUM>.

The pinch roller <NUM> lays the laminating tape over the to-be-printed tape and presses the laminating tape toward the to-be-printed tape on which printing has been performed, in cooperation with a pressing roller <NUM> (described later). The pinch roller <NUM> is disposed downstream from the head opening 32B in the conveyance direction of the to-be-printed tape.

At least a portion (i.e., a portion drawn from the first roll <NUM>) of the to-be-printed tape, at least a portion of the laminating tape, and at least a portion of the pinch roller <NUM> are arranged next to each other in directions (i.e., the front-rear direction and the left-right direction) perpendicular to the up-down direction and accommodated in the first case portion 41A.

The pinch roller <NUM> is supported by the second case portion 42A such that at least a portion of the pinch roller <NUM> overlaps the second case portion 42A in directions (i.e., the front-rear direction and the left-right direction) perpendicular to the up-down direction.

Specifically, an upper end portion of a shaft portion 24A of the pinch roller <NUM> is inserted in a recessed portion <NUM> defined in the first separation wall <NUM> of the first frame portion <NUM>. The recessed portion <NUM> is a portion of the second case portion 42A.

The printer body 100A is identical to the printer body <NUM> of the first embodiment to which the pressing roller <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> is added. The other configurations of the printer body 100A are the same as those of the printer body <NUM> of the first embodiment except for the points described below, and thus a description thereof will be omitted.

The pressing roller <NUM> is configured to be swingable together with the platen roller <NUM> and the platen gear <NUM>. That is, the pressing roller <NUM> are swingable between a position illustrated in <FIG> where the pressing roller <NUM> is spaced from the printing cassette 10A and a position illustrated in <FIG> where the pressing roller <NUM> presses the to-be-printed tape and the laminating tape in cooperation with the pinch roller <NUM>.

(2a) While having the same advantages as those of the first embodiment, contents printed on the to-be-printed tape can be protected by the laminating tape.

(2b) The particular portion of the pinch roller <NUM> overlaps the second case portion 42A in the directions perpendicular to the up-down direction. Therefore, the pinch roller <NUM> can be readily assembled to the case <NUM>. As a result, productivity of the printing cassette <NUM> is improved.

Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, it is needless to say that the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can adopt various embodiments.

(3a) The printers of the above-described embodiments are not limited to printers that perform printing using an ink ribbon. The printers may perform printing using a heat-sensitive sheet that is a continuous strip as a to-be-printed tape. In addition, a printing cassette might not necessarily include a roll of an ink ribbon and a second feed spool.

For example, a printing cassette 10B illustrated in <FIG> is identical to the printing cassette <NUM> of the first embodiment including a roll <NUM> of a heat-sensitive sheet and a third roll <NUM> of a laminating tape as alternatives to the first roll <NUM> and the second roll <NUM>, respectively.

In the printing cassette 10B, the third roll <NUM> is wound around the third feed spool <NUM> of the second embodiment. The printing cassette 10B includes the pinch roller <NUM> of the second embodiment, but does not include the second feed spool <NUM>.

(3b) In the printing cassettes of the above-described embodiments, relationships of the volumes, the total weights, and the dimensions in the up-down direction between the first case portion, the second case portion, and the third case portion are not limited to those described above. The first case portion, the second case portion, and the third case portion may include parts other than the first cover portion, the first frame portion, the second frame portion, and the second cover portion described above.

(3c) In the printing cassette of the second embodiment, a laminating tape may be wound around the additional spool.

For example, a printing cassette 10C illustrated in <FIG> is identical to the printing cassette 10A of the second embodiment in which a third roll <NUM> of a laminating tape is wound around the additional spool <NUM>. The printing cassette 10C includes the input spool <NUM> of the first embodiment as an alternative to the third feed spool <NUM> of the second embodiment. The input spool <NUM> is used as a take-up spool for an ink ribbon.

(3d) The functions of a single component in the above-described embodiments may be achieved by multiple components, or the functions of respective multiple components may be achieved by a single component.

Claim 1:
A printing cassette comprising:
a case including a first case portion, a second case portion, and a third case portion;
a first tape, at least a portion of which is accommodated in the third case portion; and
a gear, a portion of which is accommodated in the second case portion and the other portion of which is located outside of the case, the gear being rotatable about a rotation axis parallel to a first direction, wherein:
the first case portion has an outlet through which the first tape is discharged; and
the first case portion, the second case portion, and the third case portion are disposed in an order of the first case portion, the second case portion, and the third case portion in the first direction.