Patent ID: 12257827

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be explained below with reference to the figures. The configurations of the apparatuses, the flowcharts of various processing and the like shown in the drawings are merely exemplary and do not intend to limit the present invention.

A tape printer1and a tape cassette30according to the present embodiment will be explained hereinafter with reference toFIG.1toFIG.23. In the explanation of the present embodiment, the lower left side, the upper right side, the lower right side, and the upper left side inFIG.1are respectively defined as the front side, the rear side, the right side, and the left side of the tape printer1. In addition, the lower right side, the upper left side, the upper right side, and the lower left side inFIG.2are respectively defined as the front side, the rear side, the right side, and the left side of the tape cassette30.

Note that, in actuality, a group of gears, including gears91,93,94,97,98and101shown inFIG.2, is covered and hidden by the bottom surface of a cavity8A. However, for explanation purposes, the bottom surface of the cavity8A is not shown inFIG.2. Furthermore, inFIG.2toFIG.6, side walls that form a periphery around a cassette housing portion8are shown schematically, but this is simply a schematic diagram, and the side walls shown inFIG.2, for example, are depicted as thicker than they are in actuality. Moreover, inFIG.3toFIG.6, for ease of understanding, the states in which various types of the tape cassette30are installed in the cassette housing portion8are shown with a top case31A removed.

First, an outline configuration of the tape printer1according to the present embodiment will be explained. Hereinafter, the tape printer1configured as a general purpose device will be explained as an example. As the general purpose device, the tape printer1may commonly use a plurality of types of tape cassettes30with various types of tapes. The types of the tape cassettes30may include a thermal type tape cassette30that houses only a heat-sensitive paper tape, a receptor type tape cassette30that houses a print tape and an ink ribbon, and a laminated type tape cassette30that houses a double-sided adhesive tape, a film tape and an ink ribbon.

As shown inFIG.1, the tape printer1is provided with a main unit cover2that has a rectangular shape in a plan view. A keyboard3is provided on the front side of the main unit cover2. The keyboard3includes character keys for characters (letters, symbols, numerals, and so on), a variety of function keys, and so on. A display5is provided on the rear side of the keyboard3. The display5displays input characters. A cassette cover6is provided on the rear side of the display5. The cassette cover6may be opened and closed when the tape cassette30is replaced. Further, although not shown in the figures, a discharge slit is provided to the rear of the left side of the main unit cover2, from which the printed tape is discharged to the outside. Also, a discharge window is formed on the left side of the cassette cover6, such that, when the cassette cover6is in a closed state, the discharge slit is exposed to the outside.

Next, an internal configuration within the main unit cover2below the cassette cover6will be explained with reference toFIG.2toFIG.8. As shown inFIG.2, the cassette housing portion8is provided in the interior of the main unit cover2below the cassette cover6. The cassette housing portion8is an area in which the tape cassette30can be installed or removed. The cassette housing portion8includes a cavity8A and a cassette support portion8B. The cavity8A is formed as a depression that has a flat bottom surface, and the shape of the cavity8A generally corresponds to the shape of a bottom surface of a cassette case31(to be described later) when the tape cassette30is installed. The cassette support portion8B is a flat portion extending horizontally from the outer edge of the cavity8A.

The plan view shape of the cassette support portion8B generally corresponds to the plan view shape of the tape cassette30, and is a rectangular shape that is longer in the left-and-right direction. The rear edge of the cavity8A has a shape in which two arcs are lined up with each other in the left-and-right direction when seen in a plan view. A section of the cassette support portion8B that is located between the two arcs is referred to as a rear support portion8C. The rear support portion8C is a portion that opposes a rear indentation68C (refer toFIG.11) of the tape cassette30installed in the cassette housing portion8. The remaining part of the cassette support portion8B except the rear support portion8C is a portion that opposes a lower surface of a common portion32(more specifically, corner portions32A to be described later) of the tape cassette30when the tape cassette30is installed in the cassette housing portion8.

A rear support pin301and a rear detection portion300are provided on the rear support portion8C. The rear support pin301is a column-shaped member that protrudes upward from the rear support portion8C, in the vicinity of a position where the two arcs are joined at the rear edge of the cavity8A. The rear support pin301supports the rear indentation68C of the tape cassette30(to be described later) from underneath when the tape cassette30is installed in the cassette housing portion8.

The rear detection portion300includes a plurality of detecting switches310. Switch terminals322of the detecting switches310respectively protrude upward from through-holes8D provided in the rear support portion8C. In the present embodiment, the rear detection portion300includes five detecting switches310A to310E. Four of the detecting switches (the detecting switches310A to310D) are aligned in a single line along the rear end of the rear support portion8C, in that order from the left side (the right side inFIG.7). The remaining one detecting switch310E is arranged to the front of the second detecting switch310C from the right. Hereinafter, the detecting switches310provided in the rear detection portion300are referred to as the rear detecting switches310.

Here, the structure of the rear detecting switches310will be explained in detail with reference toFIG.7. As shown inFIG.7, each of the rear detecting switches310(the rear detecting switches310A to310E) includes a generally cylindrically shaped main unit321and a bar-shaped switch terminal322. The main unit321is positioned below the rear support portion8C, namely, inside the main unit cover2. The switch terminal322can extend and retract in the direction of an axis line from one end of the main unit321. The other end of the main unit321of each of the rear detecting switches310is attached to a switch support plate320and positioned inside the main unit cover2.

In addition, on the one end of the main units321, the switch terminals322can extend and retract through the through-holes8D formed in the rear support portion8C. Each of the switch terminals322is constantly maintained in a state in which the switch terminal322extends from the main unit321due to a spring member (not shown in the figures) provided inside the main unit321. When the switch terminal322is not pressed, the switch terminal322remains extended from the main unit321to be in an off state. On the other hand, when the switch terminal322is pressed, the switch terminal322is pushed back into the main unit321to be in an on state.

As shown inFIG.2, when the tape cassette30is not installed in the cassette housing portion8, the rear detecting switches310are separated from the tape cassette30. Consequently, all the rear detecting switches310are in the off state. On the other hand, when the tape cassette30is installed in the cassette housing portion8, the rear detecting switches310oppose a rear indicator portion900(to be described later) of the tape cassette30, and the rear detecting switches310are selectively pressed by the rear indicator portion900. The type of the tape (hereinafter referred to as the tape type) mounted in the tape cassette30is detected based on a combination of the on and off states of the rear detecting switches310. The detection of the tape type by the rear detection portion300will be described in more detail later.

Further, as shown inFIG.2, two positioning pins102and103are provided at two positions on the cassette support portion8B. More specifically, the positioning pin102is provided on the left side of the cavity8A and the positioning pin103is provided on the right side of the cavity8A. The positioning pins102and103are provided at the positions that respectively oppose pin holes62and63(refer toFIG.11), when the tape cassette30is installed in the cassette housing portion8. The pin holes62and63are two indentations formed in the lower surface of the common portion32of the tape cassette30. When the tape cassette30is installed in the cassette housing portion8, the positioning pins102and103are respectively inserted into the pin holes62and63to support the tape cassette30from underneath at the left and right positions of the peripheral portion of the tape cassette30.

The cassette housing portion8is equipped with a feed mechanism, a print mechanism, and the like. The feed mechanism pulls out the tape from the tape cassette30and feeds the tape. The print mechanism prints characters on a surface of the tape. As shown inFIG.2, a head holder74is fixed in the front part of the cassette housing portion8, and a thermal head10that includes a heating element (not shown in the figures) is mounted on the head holder74.

A tape feed motor23that is a stepping motor is provided outside of the cassette housing portion8(the upper right side inFIG.2). A drive gear91is anchored to the lower end of a drive shaft of the tape feed motor23. The drive gear91is meshed with a gear93through an opening, and the gear93is meshed with a gear94. A ribbon take-up shaft95is standing upward on the upper surface of the gear94. The ribbon take-up shaft95drives the rotation of a ribbon take-up spool44, which will be described later. In addition, the gear94is meshed with a gear97, the gear97is meshed with a gear98, and the gear98is meshed with a gear101. A tape drive shaft100is standing upward on the upper surface of the gear101. The tape drive shaft100drives the rotation of a tape drive roller46, which will be described later.

If the tape feed motor23is driven to rotate in the counterclockwise direction in a state where the tape cassette30is installed in the cassette housing portion8, the ribbon take-up shaft95is driven to rotate in the counterclockwise direction via the drive gear91, the gear93and the gear94. The ribbon take-up shaft95causes the ribbon take-up spool44, which is fitted with the ribbon take-up shaft95by insertion, to rotate. Furthermore, the rotation of the gear94is transmitted to the tape drive shaft100via the gear97, the gear98and the gear101, to thereby drive the tape drive shaft100to rotate in the clockwise direction. The tape drive shaft100causes the tape drive roller46, which is fitted with the tape drive shaft100by insertion, to rotate.

As shown inFIG.3toFIG.6, on the front side of the head holder74, an arm shaped platen holder12is pivotably supported around a support shaft12A. A platen roller15and a movable feed roller14are both rotatably supported on the leading end of the platen holder12. The platen roller15faces the thermal head10, and may be moved close to and apart from the thermal head10. The movable feed roller14faces the tape drive roller46that is fitted with the tape drive shaft100by insertion, and may be moved close to and apart from the tape drive roller46.

A release lever (not shown in the figures), which moves in the left-and-right direction in response to the opening and closing of the cassette cover6, is coupled to the platen holder12. When the cassette cover6is opened, the release lever moves in the right direction, and the platen holder12moves toward the stand-by position shown inFIG.3. At the stand-by position shown inFIG.3, the platen holder12has moved away from the cassette housing portion8. Therefore, the tape cassette30can be installed into or detached from the cassette housing portion8when the platen holder12is at the stand-by position. The platen holder12is constantly elastically urged to remain in the stand-by position by a spiral spring that is not shown in the figures.

On the other hand, when the cassette cover6is closed, the release lever moves in the left direction and the platen holder12moves toward the print position shown inFIG.4toFIG.6. At the print position shown inFIG.4toFIG.6, the platen holder12has moved close to the cassette housing portion8. As shown inFIG.3andFIG.4, when the laminated type tape cassette30is installed in the cassette housing portion8, the platen roller15presses the thermal head10via a film tape59and an ink ribbon60. At the same time, the movable feed roller14presses the tape drive roller46via a double-sided adhesive tape58and the film tape59.

In a similar way, as shown inFIG.5, when the receptor type tape cassette30is installed in the cassette housing portion8, the platen roller15presses the thermal head10via a print tape57and the ink ribbon60, while the movable feed roller14presses the tape drive roller46via the print tape57. Further, as shown inFIG.6, when the thermal type tape cassette30is installed in the cassette housing portion8, the platen roller15presses the thermal head10via a heat-sensitive paper tape55, while the movable feed roller14presses the tape drive roller46via the heat-sensitive paper tape55.

As described above, at the print position shown inFIG.4toFIG.6, printing can be performed using the tape cassette30installed in the cassette housing portion8. The heat-sensitive paper tape55, the print tape57, the double-sided adhesive tape58, the film tape59and the ink ribbon60will be explained in more detail later.

As shown inFIG.3, a feed path along which a printed tape50is fed extends from a tape discharge portion49of the tape cassette30to a discharge slit (not shown in the figures) of the tape printer1. A cutting mechanism17that cuts the printed tape50at a predetermined position is provided on the feed path. The cutting mechanism17includes a fixed blade18and a movable blade19that opposes the fixed blade18and that is supported such that it can move in the back-and-forth direction (in the up-and-down direction inFIG.3toFIG.6). The movable blade19is moved in the back-and-forth direction by a cutter motor24(refer toFIG.9).

As shown inFIG.3toFIG.6, an arm detection portion200is provided on the rear side surface of the platen holder12, namely, a surface on the side that opposes the thermal head10(hereinafter referred to as a cassette-facing surface12B). The arm detection portion200is provided slightly to the right of a center position in the longitudinal direction of the cassette-facing surface12B. The arm detection portion200includes a plurality of detecting switches210. Switch terminals222(refer toFIG.17) of the detecting switches210respectively protrude to the rear such that the detecting switches210oppose the front wall (more specifically, an arm front wall35which will be described later) of the tape cassette30installed in the cassette housing portion8.

In a similar way to the above-described switch terminal322, when the switch terminal222of each of the detecting switches210is not pressed, it is extended to be in an off state, and when the switch terminal222is pressed, it is pushed back to be in an on state. Note that, hereinafter, the detecting switches210provided in the arm detection portion200are referred to as the arm detecting switches210.

As shown inFIG.8, in the present embodiment, five through-holes12C are formed in three rows in the vertical direction in the cassette-facing surface12B of the platen holder12. More specifically, the through-holes12C are arranged such that two holes are arranged in an upper row, two holes are arranged in a middle row and one hole is arranged in a lower row. Positions of the through-holes12C are different from each other in the left-and-right direction. Specifically, the five through-holes12C are arranged in a zigzag pattern from the left side of the cassette-facing surface12B (the right side inFIG.8), in the following order: the left side of the middle row, the left side of the upper row, the right side of the middle row, the right side of the upper row, and then the lower row. The five arm detecting switches210are provided from the left side of the cassette-facing surface12B in the order210A,210B,210C,210D, and210E, at positions corresponding to the five through-holes12C. The arm detecting switches210A to210E are each positioned at a height facing an arm indicator portion800(to be described later), in a state where the tape cassette30is installed in the cassette housing portion8at the proper position.

If the platen holder12moves toward the stand-by position (refer toFIG.3) in a state where the tape cassette30is installed in the cassette housing portion8, the arm detecting switches210are separated from the tape cassette30. Consequently, all the arm detecting switches210are in the off state. On the other hand, if the platen holder12moves toward the print position (refer toFIG.4toFIG.6), the arm detecting switches210oppose the front wall (more specifically, the arm front wall35that will be described later) of the tape cassette30, and the arm detecting switches210are selectively pressed by the arm indicator portion800, which will be described later. The tape type is detected based on a combination of the on and off states of the arm detecting switches210, as will be described in more detail later.

Further, as shown inFIG.3toFIG.6, a latching piece225is provided on the cassette-facing surface12B of the platen holder12. The latching piece225is a plate-like protrusion that extends in the left-and-right direction. In a similar way to the switch terminals222of the arm detecting switches210, the latching piece225protrudes from the cassette-facing surface12B in a generally horizontal manner toward the cassette housing portion8. In other words, the latching piece225protrudes such that the latching piece225opposes the front wall (more specifically, the arm front wall35) of the tape cassette30installed in the cassette housing portion8. When the tape cassette30is installed in the cassette housing portion8at the proper position, the latching piece225is positioned at a height facing a latching hole820(refer toFIG.2) formed in the arm front wall35of the tape cassette30.

Next, the electrical configuration of the tape printer1will be explained with reference toFIG.9. As shown inFIG.9, the tape printer1includes a control circuit400formed on a control board. The control circuit400includes a CPU401that controls each instrument, a ROM402, a CGROM403, a RAM404, and an input/output interface411, all of which are connected to the CPU401via a data bus410.

The ROM402stores various programs to control the tape printer1, including a display drive control program, a print drive control program, a pulse number determination program, a cutting drive control program, and so on. The display drive control program controls a liquid crystal drive circuit (LCDC)405in association with code data of characters, such as letters, numerals and so on input from the keyboard3. The print drive control program drives the thermal head10and the tape feed motor23. The pulse number determination program determines the number of pulses to be applied corresponding to the amount of formation energy for each print dot. The cutting drive control program drives the cutting motor24to cut the printed tape50at a predetermined cutting position. The CPU401performs a variety of computations in accordance with each type of program. Note that the ROM402also stores various tables that are used to identify the tape type of the tape cassette30installed in the tape printer1. The tables will be explained in more detail later.

The CGROM403stores print dot pattern data to be used to print various characters. The print dot pattern data is associated with corresponding code data for the characters. The print dot pattern data is categorized by font (Gothic, Mincho, and so on), and the stored data for each font includes six print character sizes (dot sizes of 16, 24, 32, 48, 64 and 96, for example).

The RAM404includes a plurality of storage areas, including a text memory, a print buffer and so on. The text memory stores text data input from the keyboard3. The print buffer stores dot pattern data, including the printing dot patterns for characters and the number of pulses to be applied that is the amount of formation energy for each dot, and so on. The thermal head10performs dot printing in accordance with the dot pattern data stored in the print buffer. Other storage areas store data obtained in various computations and so on.

The input/output interface411is connected, respectively, to the arm detecting switches210A to210E, the rear detecting switches310A to310E, the keyboard3, the liquid crystal drive circuit (LCDC)405that has a video RAM (not shown in the figures) to output display data to the display (LCD)5, a drive circuit406that drives the thermal head10, a drive circuit407that drives the tape feed motor23, a drive circuit408that drives the cutter motor24, and so on.

The configuration of the tape cassette30according to the present embodiment will be explained below with reference toFIG.2toFIG.6andFIG.10toFIG.18. Hereinafter, the tape cassette30configured as a general purpose cassette will be explained as an example. As the general purpose cassette, the tape cassette30may be assembled as the thermal type, the receptor type and the laminated type that have been explained above, by changing, as appropriate, the type of the tape to be mounted in the tape cassette30and by changing the presence or absence of the ink ribbon, and so on.

FIG.2toFIG.4andFIG.10toFIG.14are figures relating to the tape cassette30in which a width of the tape is 36 mm, which is equal to or greater than a predetermined width (18 mm, for example). The tape cassette30represented inFIG.2toFIG.4andFIG.10toFIG.14is assembled as the laminated type cassette in which the double-sided adhesive tape58with a white base material, and the ink ribbon60with a black ink color are mounted.

As shown inFIG.2andFIG.10, the tape cassette30includes a cassette case31that is a housing having a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape (box-like shape), with rounded corner portions in a plan view. The cassette case31includes a bottom case31B and a top case31A. The bottom case31B includes a bottom wall30B that forms the bottom surface of the cassette case31. The top case31A includes a top wall30A that forms the top surface of the cassette case31. The top case31A is fixed to an upper portion of the bottom case31B.

When the top case31A and the bottom case31B are joined, a side wall30C of a predetermined height is formed. The side wall30C extends between the top wall30A and the bottom wall30B along the peripheries of the top wall30A and the bottom wall30B. In other words, the cassette case31is a box-shaped case that has the top wall30A and the bottom wall30B, which are a pair of rectangular flat portions opposing each other in a vertical direction, and the side wall30C (in the present embodiment, including four side walls of a front wall, a rear wall, a left side wall and a right side wall) that has a predetermined height and extends along the peripheries of the top wall30A and the bottom wall30B.

In the cassette case31, the peripheries of the top wall30A and the bottom wall30B may not be entirely surrounded by the side wall30C. A part of the side wall30C (the rear wall, for example) may have an aperture that exposes the interior of the cassette case31to the outside. Further, a boss that connects the top wall30A and the bottom wall30B may be provided in a position facing the aperture. In the explanation below, the distance from the bottom surface to the top surface (the length in the vertical direction) is referred to as the height of the tape cassette30or the height of the cassette case31. In the present embodiment, the vertical direction of the cassette case31(namely, the direction in which the top wall30A and the bottom wall30B oppose each other) generally corresponds to the direction of installation and removal of the tape cassette30.

The cassette case31has the corner portions32A that have the same width (the same length in the vertical direction), regardless of the type of the tape cassette30. The corner portions32A each protrude in an outward direction to form a right angle when seen in a plan view. However, the front left corner portion32A does not form a right angle in the plan view, as the tape discharge portion49is provided in the corner. When the tape cassette30is installed in the cassette housing portion8, the lower surface of the corner portions32A opposes the above-described cassette support portion8B inside the cassette housing portion8.

The cassette case31includes a portion that is called the common portion32. The common portion32includes the corner portions32A and encircles the cassette case31along the side wall30C at the same position as the corner portions32A in the vertical (height) direction of the cassette case31and also has the same width as the corner portions32A. More specifically, the common portion32is a portion that has a symmetrical shape in the vertical direction with respect to a center line in the vertical (height) direction of the cassette case31.

The height of the tape cassette30differs depending on the width of the tape (the heat-sensitive paper tape55, the print tape57, the double-sided adhesive tape58, the film tape59and so on) mounted in the cassette case31. The height of the common portion32, however, is set to be the same, regardless of the width of the tape of the tape cassette30. For example, when the width of the common portion32is 12 mm, as the width of the tape of the tape cassette30is larger (18 mm, 24 mm, 36 mm, for example), the height of the cassette case31becomes accordingly larger, but the width of the common portion32remains constant.

As shown inFIG.2,FIG.10andFIG.11, the top case31A and the bottom case31B respectively have support holes65A,66A and67A and support holes65B,66B and67B that rotatably support a first tape spool40, a second tape spool41and the ribbon take-up spool44, respectively, which will be explained later. The support holes65A and65B are communicated with a first tape housing area33A (refer toFIG.3toFIG.6) at a substantially center position of the first tape housing area33A when seen in a plan view. The first tape housing area33A is provided in a left side area inside the cassette case31. The support holes66A and66B are communicated with a second tape housing area33B (refer toFIG.3toFIG.6) at a substantially center position of the second tape housing area33B when seen in a plan view. The second tape housing area33B is provided in a right side area inside the cassette case31.

The first tape housing area33A has a generally circular shape in a plan view that corresponds to the tape wound on the first tape spool40(the double-sided adhesive tape58inFIG.3andFIG.4). The second tape housing area33B has a generally circular shape in a plan view that corresponds to the tape wound on the second tape spool41(the film tape59inFIG.3andFIG.4). The first and second tape housing areas33A and33B are provided in the cassette case31whose longitudinal direction is the left-and-right direction, and lined up with each other in the left-and-right direction such that their outer edges are adjoined to each other in a plan view. Further, the front right portion in the cassette case31is provided with an ink ribbon housing area33C that is positioned to the front of the first and second tape housing areas33A and33B.

In the laminated type tape cassette30shown inFIG.3andFIG.4, the double-sided adhesive tape58wound on the first tape spool40, the film tape59wound on the second tape spool41and the ink ribbon60wound on a ribbon spool42are mounted in the cassette case31. The first tape spool40, on which the double-sided adhesive tape58is wound with its release paper facing outward, is rotatably mounted in the first tape housing area33A via the support holes65A and65B. The second tape spool41, on which the film tape59is wound, is rotatably mounted in the second tape housing area33B via the support holes66A and66B. The ink ribbon60that is wound on the ribbon spool42is rotatably arranged in the ink ribbon housing area33C.

Between the first tape spool40and the ribbon spool42in the cassette case31, the ribbon take-up spool44is rotatably supported by the support holes67A and67B. The ribbon take-up spool44pulls out the ink ribbon60from the ribbon spool42and takes up the ink ribbon60that has been used to print characters. A clutch spring (not shown in the figures) is attached to a lower portion of the ribbon take-up spool44to prevent loosening of the taken up ink ribbon60due to reverse rotation of the ribbon take-up spool44.

In the receptor type tape cassette30shown inFIG.5, the print tape57wound on the first tape spool40and the ink ribbon60wound on the ribbon spool42are mounted in the cassette case31. The receptor type tape cassette30does not include the second tape spool41.

In the thermal type tape cassette30shown inFIG.6, the heat-sensitive paper tape55wound on the first tape spool40is mounted in the cassette case31. The thermal type tape cassette30does not include the second tape spool41and the ribbon spool42.

As shown inFIG.2, a semi-circular groove34K that has a semi-circular shape in a plan view is provided in the front wall of the cassette case31, and extends over the height of the cassette case31(in other words, extends from the top surface to the bottom surface). Of the front wall of the cassette case31, a section that stretches leftwards from the semi-circular groove34K is referred to as the arm front wall35. A portion that is defined by the arm front wall35and an arm rear wall37and that extends leftwards from the front right portion of the tape cassette30is referred to as an arm portion34. The arm rear wall37is a wall separately provided at the rear of the arm front wall35and extends over the height of the cassette case31.

As shown inFIG.12, a tape feed path, along which the film tape59is fed, and a ribbon feed path, along which the ink ribbon60is fed, are formed as different feed paths separated by a separating wall34D inside the arm portion34. After the film tape59and the ink ribbon60are respectively guided and fed along the feed paths, the film tape59and the ink ribbon60are joined together at an exit34A of the arm portion34, and are discharged from the exit34A toward a head insertion portion39.

AlthoughFIG.12shows an example of the laminated type tape cassette30(refer toFIG.3andFIG.4), the arm portion34of the other types of tape cassettes30is similar. In the receptor type tape cassette30(refer toFIG.5), the print tape57is guided and fed along the tape feed path, while the ink ribbon60is guided and fed along the ribbon feed path. In the thermal type tape cassette30(refer toFIG.6), the heat-sensitive paper tape55is guided and fed along the tape feed path, while the ribbon feed path is not used.

When the platen holder12moves to the print position (refer toFIG.4toFIG.6) in a state where the tape cassette30is installed in the cassette housing portion8, the arm detection portion200and the latching piece225provided on the cassette-facing surface12B oppose the arm front wall35. As shown inFIG.2andFIG.12, the arm front wall35is provided with the arm indicator portion800and the latching hole820. The arm indicator portion800allows the tape printer1to detect the tape type, by selectively pressing the arm detecting switches210. The latching hole820is a hole into which the latching piece225is inserted.

The arm indicator portion800includes a plurality of indicators. Each of the indicators is formed as one of the non-pressing portion801and the pressing portion802and provided at a position corresponding to each of the arm detecting switches210. Specifically, the arm indicator portion800includes a combination of the non-pressing portion(s)801and the pressing portion(s)802arranged in a pattern that corresponds to print information. The print information, among the tape types of the tape cassette30, is essential to perform correct printing in the tape printer1. In the present embodiment, the arm indicator portion800includes five indicators800A to800E, each of which is formed as either the non-pressing portion801or the pressing portion802, arranged at positions that respectively oppose the five arm detecting switches210A to210E when the tape cassette30is installed in the cassette housing portion8.

The non-pressing portion801is a switch hole that has an upright rectangular shape in a front view. The switch terminal222(refer toFIG.17) of each of the arm detecting switches210can be inserted into and removed from the switch hole. The arm detecting switch210that opposes the non-pressing portion801remains in the off state, because the switch terminal222is inserted into the non-pressing portion801. The pressing portion802is a surface portion that does not allow the insertion of the switch terminal222. The arm detecting switch210that opposes the pressing portion802is changed to the on state, because the switch terminal222contacts with the pressing portion802.

The latching hole820is a slit-like through-hole that extends in the left-and-right direction on the upper right side of the arm indicator portion800. The latching hole820is arranged to oppose the latching piece225(refer toFIG.8) such that the latching piece225can be inserted into and removed from the latching hole820when the tape cassette30is installed in the cassette housing portion8.

As shown inFIG.2toFIG.6, the head insertion portion39is a space that has a generally rectangular shape in a plan view and that extends through the tape cassette30in the vertical direction. The head insertion portion39is surrounded by the arm rear wall37and a peripheral wall that is provided continuously from the arm rear wall37. The head holder74that supports the thermal head10of the tape printer1is inserted into the head insertion portion39, and the thermal head10performs printing on the tape (one of the heat-sensitive paper tape55, the print tape57and the film tape59) discharged from the exit34A of the arm portion34.

Further, a support hole64(refer toFIG.11) is provided on the downstream side of the head insertion portion39, in the tape feed direction from the exit34A of the arm portion34to the tape discharge portion49. The tape drive roller46is rotatably supported inside the support hole64. In a case where the laminated type tape cassette30shown inFIG.3andFIG.4is installed in the cassette housing portion8, the tape drive roller46, by moving in concert with the opposing movable feed roller14, pulls out the film tape59from the second tape spool41. At the same time, the tape drive roller46pulls out the double-sided adhesive tape58from the first tape spool40, then guides the double-sided adhesive tape58to the print surface of the film tape59to bond them together.

A pair of regulating members36that match in the vertical direction are provided on the upstream side of the tape drive roller46. The base portions of the regulating members36regulate the printed film tape59in the vertical direction (in the tape width direction) on the downstream side of the thermal head10, and direct the printed film tape59toward the tape discharge portion49. The regulating members36regulate the film tape59such that it can be boned to the double-sided adhesive tape58appropriately without making any positional displacement.

A guide wall47is standing in the vicinity of the regulating members36. The guide wall47serves to separate the used ink ribbon60that has been fed via the head insertion portion39from the film tape59, and guides the used ink ribbon60toward the ribbon take-up spool44. A separating wall48is standing between the guide wall47and the ribbon take-up spool44. The separating wall48prevents mutual contact between the used ink ribbon60that is guided along the guide wall47and the double-sided adhesive tape58that is wound on and supported by the first tape spool40.

In a case where the receptor type tape cassette30shown inFIG.5is installed in the cassette housing portion8, the print tape57is pulled out from the first tape spool40by the tape drive roller46moving in concert with the movable feed roller14. On the downstream side of the thermal head10, the printed print tape57is regulated in the vertical direction (in the tape width direction) by the base portions of the regulating members36, and is guided toward the tape discharge portion49. In addition, the used ink ribbon60that has been fed via the head insertion portion39is separated from the print tape57by the guide wall47, and guided toward the ribbon take-up spool44.

In a case where the thermal type tape cassette30shown inFIG.6is installed, the heat-sensitive paper tape55is pulled out from the first tape spool40by the tape drive roller46moving in concert with the movable feed roller14. On the downstream side of the thermal head10, the printed heat-sensitive paper tape55is regulated in the vertical direction (in the tape width direction) by the base portions of the regulating members36, and guided toward the tape discharge portion49.

As shown inFIG.11, the pin holes62and63are provided at two positions on the lower surface of the corner portions32A, corresponding to the above-described positioning pins102and103of the tape printer1. More specifically, the pin hole62, into which the positioning pin102is inserted, is an indentation provided in the lower surface of the corner portion32A to the rear (the upper side inFIG.11) of the support hole64that is provided in the left front portion of the cassette case31(the lower right side inFIG.11). The pin hole63, into which the positioning pin103is inserted, is an indentation provided in the lower surface of the corner portion32A in the vicinity of a central portion of the right end of the cassette case31(the left side inFIG.11). Note that the tape drive roller46and some other components are not shown inFIG.11.

A distance in the vertical (height) direction of the tape cassette30between the position of the pin holes62and63and a center position in the vertical direction of the film tape59that is the print medium housed in the cassette case31is constant, regardless of the tape type (the tape width, for example) of the tape cassette30. In other words, the distance remains constant even when the height of the tape cassette30is different.

As shown inFIG.2andFIG.10, a top surface affixing portion68A, a rear surface affixing portion68B and the rear indentation68C are provided on a rear surface68of the cassette case31. The top surface affixing portion68A is provided in a rear portion of the top wall30A, and has a rectangular shape in a plan view. The back surface affixing portion68B is provided along the vertical direction of the side wall30C, and has a rectangular shape in a rear view. The rear indentation68C is provided in a rear portion of the bottom wall30B, and has a generally triangular shape in a bottom view. The top surface affixing portion68A, the back surface affixing portion68B and the rear indentation68C have the same width, and are provided at a substantially center position in the left-and-right direction in a rear portion of the cassette case31. The top surface affixing portion68A, the back surface affixing portion68B and the rear indentation68C form an area that extend continuously over three surfaces of the top wall30A, the side wall30C and the bottom wall30B.

The top surface affixing portion68A and the back surface affixing portion68B are parts onto which a label sheet (not shown in the figures) to indicate the tape type etc. of the tape cassette30is affixed over two surfaces of the top wall30A and the side wall30C (specifically, a rear wall). The rear indentation68C is a stepped portion that is formed between the first tape housing area33A and the second tape housing area33B (refer toFIG.3toFIG.6andFIG.14) in the rear portion of the cassette case31. In other words, the rear indentation68C is provided between a rear wall31C (refer toFIG.13andFIG.14) and the first and second tape housing areas33A and33B. The rear wall31C is a wall portion forming the rear surface, of the side wall30C of the tape cassette30.

More specifically, as shown inFIG.11, the rear indentation68C is a flat portion that is upwardly indented in the bottom wall30B from the bottom surface, and has a shape that substantially matches the shape of the rear support portion8C shown inFIG.2. The rear indentation68C is positioned at the same height position as the lower surface of the corner portion32A. As described earlier, the common portion32is formed symmetrically in the vertical direction with respect to the center line in the vertical (height) direction of the cassette case31, and the height T of the common portion32is set to be the same, regardless of the width of the tape of the tape cassette30. Therefore, similarly to the common portion32, the distance from the center line in the vertical (height) direction of the cassette case31to the rear indentation68C is the same, regardless of the width of the tape of the tape cassette30.

When the tape cassette30is installed in the cassette housing portion8at a proper position, the rear support pin301provided in the rear support portion8C contacts with the rear indentation68C, and the rear detection portion300opposes the rear indentation68C. Therefore, the rear indentation68C is provided with the rear indicator portion900that is a portion that makes it possible for a person to identify the tape type, and that also allows the tape printer1to detect the tape type by selectively pressing the rear detecting switches310(refer toFIG.2andFIG.7).

The structure and the function of the rear indentation68C that includes the rear indicator portion900will be explained below in detail with reference toFIG.13toFIG.16.

As described above, the tape cassette30according to the present embodiment is structured such that when a person looks at the tape cassette30alone in a state in which the tape cassette30is not installed in the tape printer1, the person can identify the type of the tape by visually checking the rear indicator portion900. In addition, the tape cassette30is structured such that when the tape cassette30is installed in the cassette housing portion8of the tape printer1, the tape printer1can identify the type of the tape by the rear detection portion300detecting information indicated by the rear indicator portion900. In the present embodiment, the tape type indicated by the rear indicator portion900is color information relating to the tape mounted in the tape cassette30. First, an area included in the rear indentation68C and the structure within the area will be explained.

As shown inFIG.13, the rear indentation68C includes a specified area R0. The specified area R0is an area extending to the front from the rear wall31C, which is the wall portion forming the rear surface, of the side surface30C of the tape cassette30. More specifically, the specified area R0is an area adjoining the rear wall31C in the rear indentation68C. In the present embodiment, the entire rear indentation68C is the specified area R0. The specified area R0includes a plurality of vertical information sections X and a plurality of lateral information sections Y. The plurality of vertical information sections X is formed as a plurality of strip-shaped sections extending along a front-rear direction (the up-and-down direction inFIG.13), which is a short side direction of the cassette case31. The plurality of lateral information sections Y is formed as a plurality of strip-shaped sections extending along a left-and-right direction (the left-and-right direction inFIG.13), which is a long side direction of the cassette case31.

The vertical information sections X according to the present embodiment that are exemplified inFIG.13include four vertical information sections X1to X4. The vertical information sections X1to X4are arranged at equal intervals in the left-and-right direction of the cassette case31. Among the vertical information sections X1to X4, the vertical information section X1is positioned on the leftmost side (the right side inFIG.13). The vertical information sections X2, X3and X4are arranged in that order from the vertical information section X1toward the right side (the left side inFIG.13). The widths (namely, the lengths in the left-and-right direction) of the vertical information sections X1to X4are approximately the same, and adjacent vertical information sections among the vertical information sections X1to X4are adjacent to each other at equal intervals.

The vertical information section X3includes a part (i.e., a contact point P shown inFIG.3toFIG.6) at which outer peripheral edges of the first and second tape housing areas33A and33B contact each other when seen in a plan view. In other words, the vertical information section X3includes an imaginary line (hereinafter referred to as a reference line Z) that passes through the contact point P and that extends in the front-rear direction. In the vertical information section X3according to the present embodiment, the reference line Z is positioned slightly to the left (to the right inFIG.13) of a substantially center position in the left-and-right direction of the vertical information section X3.

The lateral information sections Y according to the present embodiment that are exemplified inFIG.13include two lateral information sections Y1and Y2. The lateral information sections Y1and Y2are arranged in rows in the front-rear direction (the up-and-down direction inFIG.13) of the cassette case31. The lateral information section Y1adjoins the rear wall31C, in the specified area R0. The lateral information section Y2is provided to the front (the lower side inFIG.13) of the lateral information section Y1, in the specified area R0. The widths (namely, the lengths in the front-rear direction) of the lateral information sections Y1and Y2are approximately the same.

The specified area R0is an area that opposes the rear detecting switches310of the tape printer1when the tape cassette30is installed in the cassette housing portion8, and includes the rear indicator portion900that indicates the tape type (color information, in the present embodiment) of the tape cassette30. At least one aperture is formed in at least one of the lateral information sections Y1and Y2. A pattern in which the at least one aperture is formed in the lateral information sections Y1and Y2are determined in advance, according to the color information. The rear indicator portion900is a portion that indicates the color information by a combination of whether or not an aperture is formed in each of the lateral information sections Y1and Y2. A person can recognize the color information by visually checking the combination of the aperture(s) formed in the lateral information sections Y1and Y2of the rear indicator portion900.

The left-and-right direction positions of the apertures formed in the lateral information sections Y1and Y2may be fixed for each of the lateral information sections Y1and Y2. For example, among a plurality of areas where the lateral information sections Y1, Y2and the vertical information sections X1to X4intersect and overlap with each other (hereinafter referred to as overlapping areas), at least one overlapping area in each of the lateral information sections Y1and Y2may be fixed as an indicator. In such a case, the color information may be identified based on a combination of whether or not the aperture is formed in each of the indicators. If positions corresponding to the rear detecting switches310(refer toFIG.2andFIG.7) of the tape printer1are determined as the indicators, the color information can be identified not only by human visual check but also by the tape printer1.

Given this, in the present embodiment, five overlapping areas that respectively oppose the five rear detecting switches310A to310E shown inFIG.2andFIG.7when the tape cassette30is installed in the cassette housing portion8are fixed as indicators900A to900E. More specifically, as shown inFIG.13, the area in which the lateral information section Y1and the vertical information section X1intersect and overlap with each other functions as the indicator900A that opposes the rear detecting switch310A. The area in which the lateral information section Y1and the vertical information section X2intersect and overlap with each other functions as the indicator900B that opposes the rear detecting switch310B. The area in which the lateral information section Y1and the vertical information section X3intersect and overlap with each other functions as the indicator900C that opposes the rear detecting switch310C. The area in which the lateral information section Y1and the vertical information section X4intersect and overlap with each other functions as the indicator900D that opposes the rear detecting switch310D. The area in which the lateral information section Y2and the vertical information section X3intersect and overlap with each other functions as the indicator900E that opposes the rear detecting switch310E.

In the example shown inFIG.13, the apertures are formed in the indicators900A and900E. On the other hand, the indicators900B,900C and900D are surface portions that are in the same plane as the rear indentation68C, and no aperture is formed therein. In such a manner, each of the indicators900A to900E is formed as either an aperture or a surface portion. The aperture and the surface portion can be identified by human visual check. In addition, when the aperture and the surface portion oppose the rear detecting switches310, the aperture and the surface portion respectively function as a non-pressing portion901that does not press the rear detecting switch310, and as a pressing portion902that presses the rear detecting switch310. Thus, the aperture and the surface portion allow the tape printer1to identify the color information. The relationship between the indicators900A to900E and the rear detecting switches310will be described later in detail.

In the present embodiment, one indicator is provided in each of the vertical information sections X1, X2and X4, while a plurality of indicators are provided in the vertical information section X3. This is because the specified area R0is the rear indentation68C that has a generally triangular shape in a plan view and that is defined by the first and second tape housing areas33A and33B and the rear wall31C, and the rear indentation68C has the maximum length in the front-rear direction, on the above-described reference line Z. In other words, among the vertical information sections X1to X4, the vertical information section X3including the reference line Z has the maximum length in the front-rear direction. Accordingly, in a case where a plurality of indicators are arranged in rows in the front-rear direction in the rear indentation68C, it may be most favorable to provide the plurality of indicators in the vertical information section X3, as described above.

With the above-described structure, in the tape cassette30according to the present embodiment, a person can easily recognize which of the lateral information sections Y1and Y2, or which of the indicators900A to900E includes an indicator element (an aperture or a surface portion). Hereinafter, this reason will be explained with reference toFIG.13toFIG.16. Note thatFIG.13andFIG.14show another tape cassette30that includes the rear indentation68C (the specified area R0) with a different pattern of apertures formed in the rear indentation68C (the specified area R0).

If a person can ascertain which of the respective lateral information sections Y1and Y2includes an aperture by visually checking the rear indentation68C, the person can identify the color information of the tape cassette30simply by visually checking the combination of the apertures in the respective lateral information sections Y1and Y2. The person may visually check the rear indentation68C in either of the following two patterns. The first pattern is that the person looks at the tape cassette30in a plan view with the top case31A removed, and visually checks the rear indentation68C from above. The second pattern is that the person looks at the tape cassette30in a bottom view (from underneath), and visually checks the rear indentation68C. Accordingly, when the person does not know the positions of the lateral information sections Y1and Y2, the person can identify the elements in the lateral information sections Y1and Y2using the following methods, in accordance with the pattern in which the person visually checks the rear indentation68C.

First, element identification of the lateral information section Y1will be explained. As shown inFIG.14, when a person visually checks the rear indentation68C from above (namely, from the inner side of the bottom case31B) with the top case31A removed, the person can identify, as the lateral information section Y1, an area adjoining the rear wall31C and extending in the left-and-right direction in a plan view. Thus, the person can identify an aperture formed adjacent to the rear wall31C as an aperture formed in the lateral information section Y1. Further, the person can identify a part where the aperture is not formed within the area adjacent to the rear wall31C, as a surface portion provided in the lateral information section Y1.

On the other hand, as shown inFIG.13, when the person visually checks the rear indentation68C from underneath (namely, from the outer side of the bottom case31B), the person cannot directly see the rear wall31C. However, because the rear wall31C is a thin plate and its thickness (the length in the front-rear direction) is small, the position in the front-rear direction of the rear wall31C generally corresponds to the position in the front-rear direction of the contour formed by the rear surface when the tape cassette30is seen in a bottom view. Therefore, the person can identify, as the lateral information section Y1, the area adjacent to the contour formed by the rear surface and extending in the left-and-right direction in a bottom view. Thus, in the same manner as that described above, the person can identify the aperture and the surface portion provided in the lateral information section Y1.

Next, element identification of the lateral information section Y2will be explained. As shown inFIG.14, when a person visually checks the rear indentation68C from above, the person can recognize the contact point P (refer toFIG.3toFIG.6) at which the outer peripheral edges of the first and second tape housing areas33A and33B contact each other when seen in a plan view. Further, the person can recognize the reference line Z that passes through the contact point P. Then, using the reference line Z as a reference, the element identification of the lateral information section Y2can be performed in the following manner.

First, among apertures formed adjacent to the rear wall31C (namely, among apertures provided in the lateral information section Y1), an aperture that is positioned closest to the reference line Z is defined as a reference aperture. If there is an aperture that overlaps with the reference line Z when seen in a plan view (namely, an aperture provided in the vertical information section X3), excluding the aperture on the reference line Z, another aperture that is positioned closest to the reference line Z is defined as the reference aperture. Further, an end that is farthest from the reference line Z in the reference aperture is defined as a reference end, and a length in the left-and-right direction between the reference line Z and the reference end is defined as a reference distance D1. In the example shown inFIG.14, the aperture that is formed in the indicator900A and that is positioned at the leftmost end among the indicators of the lateral information section Y1corresponds to the reference aperture. By using the left end of the aperture (the indicator900A) as the reference end, the length in the left-and-right direction from the reference end to the reference line Z is obtained as the reference distance D1.

If a length in the front-rear direction between the rear wall31C and the lateral information section Y2is defined as a distance DO (refer toFIG.13), the position of the lateral information section Y2is defined such that the distance DO is less than twice the reference distance D1(refer toFIG.14). More specifically, in the rear indentation68C, at least a part of the lateral information section Y2is included within a range from the rear wall31C to the front by a distance that is twice the reference distance D1(within the range of a distance D2inFIG.14; D2=D1*2).

Thus, it can be identified that at least a part of the lateral information section Y2is present in front of the lateral information section Y1, within the range from the rear wall31C to the front by the distance that is twice the reference distance D1(within the range of the distance D2) in the rear indentation68C. Consequently, when an aperture that is disposed separately from the rear wall31C (namely, an aperture that is not an aperture in the lateral information section Y1) is formed within the range of the distance D2in the rear indentation68C, that aperture can be identified as the aperture provided in the lateral information section Y2. In particular, when only one indicator is provided in the lateral information section Y2, whether or not an aperture is provided in the lateral information section Y2can be identified without accurately knowing the position of the indicator.

With the above-described method, the reference distance D1and consequently the distance D2vary depending on the position in which the reference aperture is formed. For example, in the example shown inFIG.14, the aperture provided in the indicator (the indicator900A inFIG.14) that is farthest from the reference line Z corresponds to the reference aperture. In this case, the reference distance D1and the distance D2are largest. On the other hand, in the example shown inFIG.15, the aperture formed in the indicator900B, which is closest to the reference line Z among the indicators of the lateral information section Y1, corresponds to the reference aperture. In this case, the reference distance D1and the distance D2are smallest.

As in the example shown inFIG.16, when a plurality of apertures are formed in the lateral information section Y1, the aperture that is closest to the reference line Z (the aperture in the indicator900D inFIG.16) corresponds to the reference aperture. Because the aperture that is closest to the reference line Z (the aperture in the indicator900D inFIG.16) corresponds to the reference aperture, the reference distance D1and the distance D2are smaller than in a case where the aperture that is further away from the reference line Z (the aperture in the indicator900A inFIG.16) is used as the reference aperture.

In the present embodiment, regardless of the pattern in which the aperture(s) is formed in the lateral information section Y1, the position of the lateral information section Y2in the front-rear direction is defined in advance such that at least a part of the lateral information section Y2is included within a range of the smallest distance D2(which corresponds to the example shown inFIG.15). Therefore, if at least one aperture is present in the lateral information section Y1, regardless of the position in which each of the apertures are formed, it is possible to identify whether or not the lateral information section Y2includes the aperture, by using as a reference the reference aperture that is closest to the reference line Z.

When a person visually checks the rear indentation68C from underneath (refer toFIG.13), the person cannot directly see the first and second tape housing areas33A and33B in a plan view. Therefore, in some cases, it may be difficult to recognize the contact point P (refer toFIG.3toFIG.6) and the reference line Z. Accordingly, when the person visually checks the rear indentation68C from underneath, in some cases, it may difficult to perform element identification of the lateral information section Y2using the above-described method. In such cases, the following method can be used for the element identification of the lateral information section Y2.

In the rear indicator portion900according to the present embodiment, an aperture(s) and a surface portion(s) are provided in a pattern that is determined in advance in accordance with the color information. In the present embodiment, in certain patterns that correspond to certain color information (for example, the tape color: clear, the character color: black) relating to major tapes, a pattern of the two indicators that are respectively provided in the lateral information sections Y1and Y2and that are arranged in rows in the front-rear direction is fixed. Specifically, for the major color information, the front indicator is provided with an aperture, and the rear indicator is provided with a surface portion. Note that the major tape refers to a tape that has high likelihood of being mounted in the tape cassette30. For example, in the examples shown inFIG.13toFIG.16, the two indicators900C and900E, through which the reference line Z passes, are formed as a combination of a surface portion and an aperture, respectively.

With this arrangement, when the rear indentation68C is visually checked from underneath, with most of the tape cassettes30including the major tape, it is ensured that, in the two indicators aligned in the front-rear direction, the indicator formed as an aperture is provided away from the rear wall31C and to the front of the indicator formed as a surface portion. Therefore, the aperture in the lateral information section Y2does not adjoin the rear wall31C. In other words, the aperture that is away from the rear wall31C can be identified as the aperture provided in the lateral information section Y2. Therefore, a person can identify the position of the lateral information section Y1by visually checking the surface portion of the indicator900C, and the person can also identify the position of the lateral information section Y2by visually checking the aperture of the indicator900E.

On the contrary, of the two indicators that are respectively provided in the lateral information sections Y1and Y2and that are aligned in the front-rear direction, the rear indicator may be formed as an aperture and the front indicator may be formed as a surface portion. For example, although not shown in the figures, the two indicators900C and900E, through which the reference line Z passes, may be formed as a combination of an aperture and a surface portion, respectively. With this arrangement, when the rear indentation68C is visually checked from underneath, it is ensured that, in the two indicators aligned in the front-rear direction, the indicator formed as an aperture is provided adjoining the rear wall31C and to the rear of the indicator formed by a surface portion. Therefore, the aperture adjoining the rear wall31C does not extend over the lateral information section Y2. In other words, the surface portion that is positioned to the front of the aperture adjoining the rear wall31C can be identified as the surface portion provided in the lateral information section Y2. Therefore, a person can identify the position of the lateral information section Y1by visually checking the aperture of the indicator900C, and the person can also identify the position of the lateral information section Y2by visually checking the surface portion of the indicator900E.

The person can also visually check the pattern of the aperture(s) and the surface portion(s) formed in the rear indentation68C of the present embodiment from above. Therefore, even when the rear indentation68C is visually checked from above (refer toFIG.13toFIG.16), the aperture or the surface portion in the lateral information section Y2can be identified in the same manner as that described above.

In the example ofFIG.13, among the plurality of overlapping areas formed by the lateral information sections Y1, Y2and the vertical information sections X1to X4, the overlapping areas of the lateral information section Y1and the vertical information sections X1to X4respectively function as the indicators900A to900D, and the overlapping area of the lateral information section Y2and the vertical information section X3functions as the indicator900E. In this case, if the color information is identified by whether an aperture is formed in each of the indicators900A to900E, it is also necessary to identify which of the indicators900A to900E includes an aperture. If a person knows all the positions in the left-and-right direction of the vertical information sections X1to X4arranged in the rear indentation68C, the person can identify to which of the indicators900A to900E the aperture provided in the lateral information section Y1or Y2corresponds, using the vertical information sections X1to X4as references. In other words, the person can visually identify which of the indicators900A to900E, provided in the overlapping areas of the lateral information sections Y1, Y2and the vertical information sections X1to X4, includes the at least one aperture provided in the specified area R0.

The positions in the left-and-right direction of the vertical information sections X1to X4can be identified in the following manner, by a person visually checking the rear indentation68C. As described above, because the reference line Z is included in the vertical information section X3, if the rear indentation68C is visually checked from above (refer toFIG.14), the position in the left-and-right direction of the vertical information section X3can be identified by using the reference line Z as a reference. In addition, the vertical information sections X1to X4are lined up with each other in the left-and-right direction at substantially equal intervals in the specified area R0. Therefore, by using the vertical information section X3as a reference, it may be possible to identify the vertical information sections X2and X1that are lined up in this order in the left direction at equal intervals, and the vertical information section X4that is arranged in the right direction at an equal interval. In this manner, even when the positions in the left-and-right direction of the vertical information sections are not ascertained, it may be possible to identify the positions of the vertical information sections X1to X4, by using as a reference the reference line Z that can easily be confirmed by visual check.

Further, when the rear indentation68C is visually checked from underneath (refer toFIG.13), it may be possible to identify the position in the left-and-right direction of the vertical information section X3that includes the indicators900C and900E, based on the indicators900C and900E that are formed by a combination of an aperture and a surface portion aligned in the front-rear direction. Thus, similarly to that described above, it may be possible to identify the vertical information sections X1to X4that are lined up at substantially equal intervals in the left-and-right direction in the specified area R0. In this manner, even when the positions in the left-and-right direction of the vertical information sections X1to X4are not ascertained, it may be possible to identify the positions of the vertical information sections X1to X4, by using as a reference the indicators (the combination of the aperture and the surface portion) aligned in the front-rear direction.

For this reason, based on which of the vertical information sections X1to X4includes an aperture provided in the lateral information section Y1, it may be possible to identify which of the indicators900A to900D is formed as an aperture. Further, based on whether or not an aperture provided in the lateral information section Y2is located in the vertical information section X3, it may be possible to identify whether the indicator900E is formed as an aperture. In this manner, with the tape cassette30according to the present embodiment, it may be possible to identify the combination of the aperture and the surface portion in the indicators900A to900E, by a person visually checking the rear indentation68C.

Next, identification of the color information based on a combination of whether an aperture is formed in each of the lateral information sections Y1and Y2or in each of the indicators900A to900E will be explained. In the present embodiment, an example will be explained in which the tape color and the character color of the tape cassette30are identified as the color information of the tape cassette30. Note that the tape color included in the color information indicates a base material color of the tape (the heat-sensitive paper tape55, the print tape57, or the double-sided adhesive tape58). The character color included in the color information indicates an ink color of the ink ribbon60when thermal-transfer printing is performed using the ink ribbon60. The character color also indicates a color developed by the heat-sensitive paper tape55when thermal printing that causes the heat-sensitive paper tape55to develop color is performed.

Color information element that each of the lateral information sections Y1and Y2indicates is determined in advance. In the present embodiment, the lateral information section Y1is determined as a section that indicates information for identifying the tape color of the color information. The lateral information section Y2is determined as a section that indicates information for identifying the character color of the color information. In this manner, the tape cassette30is structured such that a corresponding color information element can be identified with each of the lateral information sections alone, regardless of the structure of the other lateral information section.

Further, in a case where specific overlapping areas in the lateral information sections Y1and Y2function as the indicators900A to900E, the color information element that each of the indicators900A to900E indicates is determined in accordance with which of the lateral information sections Y1and Y2includes each of the indicators900A to900E. Accordingly, the indicators900A to900D are indicators for identifying the tape color of the color information, and the indicator900E is an indicator for identifying the character color of the color information. In other words, the lateral information section Y1and the indicators900A to900D each function as a tape color indicator portion, and the lateral information section Y2and the indicator900E each function as a character color indicator portion. A method for identifying the color information based on the indicators900A to900E will be described below as an example.

The tape color and the character color indicated by each of the indicator portions will be described with reference to Table 1 to Table 3. For explanatory purpose, in the Tables, a case where an aperture is formed in each of the indicators900A to900E is denoted by a value zero (0), and a case where each of the indicators900A to900E is a surface portion and no aperture is formed therein is denoted by a value one (1). Note that, in a case where the color information is identified based on a combination of the aperture(s) and the surface portion(s) formed in the lateral information sections Y1and Y2, the method for identifying the major tape color described below may be used, with reference to a similar table in which the indicators900B to900D in Table 1 are respectively replaced with a combination of the aperture(s) and the surface portion(s) provided at three locations in the lateral information section Y1. The method for identifying the special tape color described below may be used, with reference to a similar table in which the indicators900A to900D in Table 2 are replaced with a combination of the aperture(s) and the surface portion(s) provided at four locations in the lateral information section Y1. The method for identifying the character color described below may be used, with reference to a similar table in which the indicator900E in Table 3 is replaced with the aperture or the surface portion provided at one location in the lateral information section Y2.

TABLE 1Major Tape Color900B900C900D(Y1)(X2)(X3)(X4)Clear110Blue011Black001

TABLE 2Special Tape Color900A900B900C900D(Y1)(X1)(X2)(X3)(X4)White0111Yellow1010Red0101

TABLE 3Character Color900E(Y2)(X3)Black0Other than Black1

First, a method, performed by human visual check, for identifying the color of the tape mounted in the tape cassette30will be described. In the present embodiment, the indicators900A to900D (the indicators in the lateral information section Y1) indicate the tape color based on a combination of the aperture(s) and the surface portion(s). In particular, the tape color of the major tape that has a high likelihood of being mounted in the tape cassette30can be identified simply by visually checking the three indicators900B to900D. Further, the tape color for a special tape that has a low likelihood of being mounted in the tape cassette30can be identified by visually checking the four indicators900A to900D.

As shown in Table 1, corresponding to combinations of whether the indicators900B to900D, which form the tape color indicator portion, are each formed as an aperture or as a surface portion, three colors “clear” “blue” and “black” are respectively defined as major tape colors indicated by the combinations. Therefore, a person can recognize the tape color of the major tape mounted in the tape cassette30simply by visually checking, of the rear indicator portion900, the indicators900B to900D within the lateral information section Y1.

More specifically, if the indicators900B to900D are respectively a surface portion, a surface portion, and an aperture (the combination of “1, 1, 0” in Table 1), it indicates that the tape color is “clear”. If the indicators900B to900D are respectively an aperture, a surface portion, and a surface portion (the combination of “0, 1, 1” in Table 1), it indicates that the tape color is “blue”. If the indicators900B to900D are respectively an aperture, an aperture, and a surface portion (the combination of “0, 0, 1” in Table 1), it indicates that the tape color is “black”. For example, in the tape cassette30shown inFIG.15, the indicators900B to900D are respectively an aperture, a surface portion, and a surface portion. Therefore, the tape color can be identified as “blue”. In the tape cassette30shown inFIG.16, the indicators900B to900D are respectively a surface portion, a surface portion, and an aperture. Therefore, the tape color can be identified as “clear”.

The indicator900C is provided in the vertical information section X3that can be identified by using the reference line Z as a reference. Therefore, among the indicators900A to900D in the lateral information section Y1, the indicator900C can most easily be identified by human visual check. Further, the indicators900B and900D that are respectively provided in the vertical information sections X2and X4, which are located to the right and left of the vertical information section X3, can also easily be identified by human visual check. Therefore, the major tape color can be identified simply by checking the indicators900B to900D that can be identified by human visual check, among the indicators900A to900D in the lateral information section Y1.

As shown in Table 2, corresponding to combinations of whether the indicators900A to900D, which form the tape color indicator portion, are each formed as an aperture or a surface portion, three colors “white” “yellow” and “red” are respectively defined as special tape colors indicated by the combinations. Therefore, a person can recognize the tape color of the special tape mounted in the tape cassette30simply by visually checking the indicators900A to900D within the lateral information section Y1of the rear indicator portion900.

More specifically, if the indicators900A to900D are respectively an aperture, a surface portion, a surface portion, and a surface portion (the combination of “0, 1, 1, 1” in Table 2), it indicates that the tape color is “white”. If the indicators900A to900D are respectively a surface portion, an aperture, a surface portion, and an aperture (the combination of “1, 0, 1, 0” in Table 2), it indicates that the tape color is “yellow”. If the indicators900A to900D are respectively an aperture, a surface portion, an aperture, and a surface portion (the combination of “0, 1, 0, 1” in Table 2), it indicates that the tape color is “red”. For example, in the tape cassettes30shown inFIG.13andFIG.14, the indicators900A to900D are respectively an aperture, a surface portion, a surface portion, and a surface portion. Therefore, the tape color can be identified as “white”.

As shown in Table 3, corresponding to whether the indicator900E, which is the character color indicator portion, is formed as an aperture or a surface portion, “black” or “other than black” is defined as the character color. Therefore, a person can recognize the character color for the tape mounted in the tape cassette30by just visually checking the indicator900E within the lateral information section Y2of the rear indicator portion900. More specifically, if the indicator900E is an aperture (“0” in Table 3), it indicates that the character color is “black”. If the indicator900E is a surface portion (“1” in Table 3), it indicates that the character color is “other than black”. For example, in the tape cassettes30shown inFIG.13toFIG.16, the indicator900E is an aperture. Therefore, the character color can be identified as “black”.

In this manner, with the tape cassette30according to the present embodiment, regardless of whether the indicator900E provided in the specified area R0is formed as an aperture or a surface portion, with respect to the major tape colors shown in Table 1, a person can identify the tape color simply by visually checking the indicators900B to900D. With respect to the special tape colors shown in Table 2, the person can identify the tape color simply by visually checking the indicators900A to900D. With respect to the character colors shown in Table 3, regardless of whether each of the indicators900A to900D provided in the specified area R0is an aperture or a surface portion, the person can identify the character color simply by visually checking the indicator900E.

In the cassette case31, the first and second tape housing areas33A and33B are provided to the rear, while the ink ribbon housing area33C is provided to the front. Consequently, in the tape cassette30that uses the ink ribbon60, the tape (the double-sided adhesive tape58inFIG.3andFIG.4, and the print tape57inFIG.5) and the ink ribbon60are aligned in the front-rear direction inside the cassette case31, corresponding to the arrangement order in the front-rear direction of the lateral information sections Y1and Y2. Therefore, the person can identify the base material color of the tape located to the rear of the ink ribbon, by visually checking the lateral information section Y1that indicates the tape color, which is to the rear side of the lateral information section Y2. Further, the person can identify the ink color of the ink ribbon located to the front of the tape, by visually checking the lateral information section Y2that indicates the character color, which is to the front side of the lateral information section Y1. Thus, based on the arrangement of the tape and the ink ribbon inside the cassette case31, a person can accurately identify the color information indicated by the lateral information sections Y1and Y2.

The contents of the color information (the tape color and the character color) indicated by each of the indicator portions are not limited to those shown in Table 1 to Table 3, and can be modified as necessary. Additionally, although the total number of combinations of the color information defined in Table 1 to Table 3 is twenty eight, all of the combinations need not necessarily be used. However, it may be preferable that the combination of the aperture(s) and the surface portion(s) corresponding to the color information is defined at least in accordance with the following rules.

First, it may be desirable that at least one of the indicators900A,900B and900D, except the indicator900C that can easily be identified using the reference line Z as a reference, is formed as an aperture, and at least one of the indicators900A,900B and900D is formed as a surface portion. In this case, when a person visually checks the indicators900A to900D, it may be possible to improve visibility of the combination of the aperture(s) and the surface portion(s) of the indicators900A to900D, and it may be possible for the person to easily identify the combination.

Second, it may be desirable that the following two combinations are not employed. One is a combination in which all the indicators900A to900D within the lateral information section Y1are surface portions. The other is a combination in which all the indicators900A to900E within the specified area R0are surface portions. In such combinations, the entire rear indentation68C may be formed as a surface portion in which only one aperture is formed at a position away from the rear wall31C, or as a surface portion including no aperture. Then, it may be difficult for a person to ascertain that the rear indicator portion900is provided in the rear indentation68C in the first place. Therefore, by providing at least one aperture in a position adjoining the rear wall31C, it may be possible to make clear that the rear indicator portion900is provided in the rear indentation68C.

Third, for the color information of the tape that has a high likelihood of being mounted in the tape cassette30, it may be desirable that one of the indicators900C and900E that are aligned in the front-rear direction in the rear indentation68C is an aperture, and the other indicator is a surface portion. In this case, the person can identify the element of the lateral information section Y2by visually checking the rear indentation68C as described above.

Fourth, when the tape color of the tape cassette30is identified by human visual check, regardless of whether the tape color is a major tape color or a special tape color, whether each of the indicators900B to900D is an aperture or a surface portion is necessary information to identify the tape color. Therefore, it may be preferable that the color information corresponding to the special tape colors shown in Table 2 does not include the color information corresponding to the major tape colors shown in Table 1. More specifically, it may be desirable that the color information of the special tape colors (refer to Table 2) does not include combinations in which the indicators900B to900D are “surface portion, surface portion, aperture”, “aperture, surface portion, surface portion”, and “aperture, aperture, surface portion”. Thus, when a person visually checks the rear indentation68C, it may be possible to clearly distinguish whether it is the major tape color or the special color, and it may be possible to easily identify the tape color.

The structure for the rear indicator portion900to indicate the color information, and the method for identifying the color information by a person visually checking the rear indicator portion900are described above. Hereinafter, the structure of the rear indicator portion900in relation to the rear detecting switches310of the tape printer1, and color information identification by the rear detecting switches310will be described.

First, the structure of the rear indicator portion900in relation to the rear detecting switches310of the tape printer1will be described. As described above, in the tape printer1of the present embodiment, the rear detection portion300provided in the rear support portion8C has the five rear detecting switches310A to310E (refer toFIG.2andFIG.7). In the tape cassette30, the overlapping areas that respectively face the rear detecting switches310A to310E when the tape cassette30is installed in the cassette housing portion8are formed as the indicators900A to900E (refer toFIG.13andFIG.14).

When the aperture opposes the rear detecting switch310, the switch terminal322of the rear detecting switch310can be inserted into and removed from the aperture, and the aperture functions as the non-pressing portion901that does not press the switch terminal322. The non-pressing portion901is formed as a through-hole that has a circular shape in a plan view and matches the size of the indicator (overlapping area). The rear detecting switch310that opposes the non-pressing portion901remains in an off state, as the switch terminal322is inserted in the non-pressing portion901.

When the surface portion opposes the rear detecting switch310, the surface portion functions as the pressing portion902that presses the switch terminal322. The rear detecting switch310that opposes the pressing portion902is changed to an on state, as the switch terminal322contacts with the pressing portion902. In the examples shown inFIG.13andFIG.14, the indicators900A and900E are the apertures (namely, the non-pressing portions901), and the indicators900B to900D are the surface portions (namely, the pressing portions902).

As described above with reference to Table 1 to Table 3, either an aperture (the non-pressing portion901) or a surface portion (the pressing portion902) is formed in each of the indicators900A to900E of the rear indicator portion900, in accordance with a prescribed pattern that corresponds to the color information. Accordingly, the tape printer1can identify the color information based on the combination of the on and off states of the rear detecting switches310that are selectively pressed by the rear indicator portion900. More specifically, the prescribed pattern (the combination of the aperture(s) and the surface portion(s)) that is defined in advance for the indicators900A to900E as described above can be converted to a detection pattern (the combination of the on and off states) of the corresponding rear detecting switches310A to310E. Then, the tape printer1can identify the color information with reference to a table in which each detection pattern is associated with the color information.

A color information table520shown inFIG.20is an example of a table used in the tape printer1to identify the color information, and is stored in the ROM402of the tape printer1. The color information of the tape cassette30is defined in the color information table520in accordance with the combination of the on and off states of the five rear detecting switches310A to310E. In the color information table520shown inFIG.20, the rear detecting switches310A to310E respectively correspond to switches “ST1” to “ST5”, and the off state (OFF) and the on state (ON) of each of the rear detecting switches310correspond to the values zero “0” and one “1”, respectively.

The color information table520of the present embodiment includes a plurality of color tables to respectively identify different color information corresponding to different detection patterns of the rear detecting switches310A to310E. In the example shown inFIG.20, the color information table520includes a first color table521and a second color table522. In the first color table521, first color information is defined in association with detection patterns of the rear detecting switches310A to310E. In the second color table522, second color information is defined in association with the detection patterns of the rear detecting switches310A to310E. In the present embodiment, the first color table521is a standard color table that includes the color information that is frequently used, and the second color table522is a special color table that includes the color information that is less frequently used. In the tape printer1, the first color table521and the second color table522are selectively used, and the color information (the first color information or the second color information) is identified in accordance with the detection pattern of the rear detecting switches310A to310E, as will be described later.

The table that can be used in the tape printer1is not limited to the color information table520shown inFIG.20. For example, any selected color information may be newly added corresponding to “spare” field in the color information table520. In addition, the color information that is recorded in the color information table520may be deleted, the correspondence between each detection pattern and the color information may be changed, or the content of the color information corresponding to each detection pattern may be changed. In such a case, the above-described pattern of the aperture(s) that is determined for identification of the color information by a visual check may also be changed as necessary.

Next, detection modes of the tape type of the tape cassette30by the tape printer1will be explained with reference toFIG.3toFIG.6,FIG.17andFIG.18.

First, detection modes of the arm indicator portion800by the arm detection portion200will be explained with reference toFIG.3toFIG.6andFIG.17. When the tape cassette30is installed at the proper position in the cassette housing portion8by the user and the cassette cover6is closed, the platen holder12moves from the stand-by position (refer toFIG.3) to the print position (refer toFIG.4toFIG.6). Then, the arm detection portion200and the latching piece225provided on the cassette-facing surface12B of the platen holder12move to the positions that respectively oppose the arm indicator portion800and the latching hole820provided on the arm front wall35of the tape cassette30.

In a case where the tape cassette30is installed in the cassette housing portion8at the proper position, the latching piece225is inserted into the latching hole820. As a result, the latching piece225does not interfere with the tape cassette30, and the switch terminals222of the arm detecting switches210that protrude from the cassette-facing surface12B oppose the indicators800A to800E (the non-pressing portions801and the pressing portion802) that are provided at the corresponding positions in the arm indicator portion800, and are selectively pressed. More specifically, the arm detecting switch210opposing the non-pressing portion801remains in the off state by being inserted into the aperture that is the non-pressing portion801. The arm detecting switch210opposing the pressing portion802is changed to the on state by being pressed by the surface portion of the arm front wall35that is the pressing portion802.

For example, in a case where the tape cassette30shown inFIG.2andFIG.10toFIG.14is installed at the proper position in the cassette housing portion8, the arm detecting switches210A,210C and210D are in the off state (0), because they respectively oppose the indicators800A,800C and800D that are the non-pressing portions801, as shown inFIG.17. On the other hand, the arm detecting switches210B and210E are in the on state (1), because they respectively oppose the indicators800B and800E that are the pressing portions802. More specifically, the values that indicate the on and off states of the arm detecting switches210A to210E are identified as “0”, “1”, “0”, “0”, “1”, respectively.

In the tape printer1, based on the detection pattern of the arm detection portion200(here, the combination of the on and off states of the five arm detecting switches210A to210E), the print information is identified as the tape type of the tape cassette30. In the present embodiment, the print information of the tape cassette30includes the tape width and the print mode. The “tape width” included in the print information indicates one of seven types of tape width from 3.5 mm to 36 mm. The “print mode” included in the print information indicates whether the print mode is a mirror image printing mode (laminated) or a normal image printing mode (receptor).

The ROM402of the tape printer1stores a print information table (not shown in the figures) in which the print information of the tape cassette30is defined in association with the combinations of the on and off states of the five arm detecting switches210A to210E. In the above-described example, with reference to the print information table (not shown in the figures), for example, “tape width: 36 mm, print mode: laminated” is identified as the print information in accordance with the on and off states “0”, “1”, “0”, “0”, “1” of the arm detecting switches210A to210E.

Next, detection modes of the rear indicator portion900by the rear detection portion300will be explained with reference toFIG.18. When the tape cassette30is installed at the proper position in the cassette housing portion8by the user, the rear detection portion300provided in the rear support portion8C of the tape printer1opposes the rear indicator portion900provided in the rear indentation68C of the tape cassette30. More specifically, the switch terminals322(refer toFIG.2andFIG.7) of the rear detecting switches310that protrude from the rear support portion8C oppose the indicators (the non-pressing portion901and the pressing portion902) provided at the corresponding positions in the rear indicator portion900, and are selectively pressed. Consequently, the rear detecting switch310that opposes the non-pressing portion901is inserted in the non-pressing portion901, and remains in an off state. Meanwhile, the rear detecting switch310that opposes the pressing portion902is pressed by the pressing portion902, and is changed to an on state.

For example, in a case where the tape cassette30shown inFIG.2andFIG.10toFIG.14is installed at the proper position in the cassette housing portion8, as shown inFIG.18, the rear detecting switches310A and310E respectively oppose the indicators900A and900E, which are the non-pressing portions901, and therefore remain in the off state. Meanwhile, the rear detecting switches310B to310D respectively oppose the indicators900B to900D, which are the pressing portions902, and are therefore changed to the on state. Consequently, the on and off states of the switches “ST1” to “ST5” that respectively correspond to the rear detecting switches310A to310E are identified as “0”, “1”, “1”, “1” “0”, respectively.

In the tape printer1, the color information is identified as the tape type of the tape cassette30, based on the detection pattern (here, the combination of the on and off states of the five rear detecting switches310A to310E) of the rear detection portion300. In the above-described example, with reference to the above-described color information table520(refer toFIG.20), the color information corresponding to the on and off states “0”, “1”, “1”, “1” “0” of the rear detecting switches310A to310E is identified. However, the identified color information varies depending on which of the color tables521and522included in the color information table520is used. Here, the standard first color table521is used in accordance with the off state of the arm detecting switch210D to be described later, and the color information “tape color: white, character color: black” is identified similarly to the above-described identification result by a visual check.

Next, processing relating to printing performed in the tape printer1according to the present embodiment will be explained with reference toFIG.19. The processing relating to printing shown inFIG.19is performed by the CPU401based on programs stored in the ROM402when the power source of the tape printer1is switched on.

As shown inFIG.19, in the processing relating to printing, first, system initialization of the tape printer1is performed (step S1). For example, in the system initialization performed at step S1, the text memory in the RAM404is cleared, and a counter is initialized to a default value.

Next, the print information of the tape cassette30is identified based on the detection pattern of the arm detection portion200(namely, based on the combination of the on and off states of the arm detecting switches210) (step S3). At step S3, as described above, with reference to the print information table (not shown in the figures) stored in the ROM402, the print information corresponding to the combination of the on and off states of the arm detecting switches210A to210E is identified.

Then, it is determined whether or not the arm detecting switch210D (hereinafter referred to as the switch SW4), among the plurality of arm detecting switches210, is in the on state (step S5). When the switch SW4 is in the off state (no at step S5), the first color table521is selected from among the color tables included in the color information table520stored in the ROM402(step S7). When the switch SW4 is in the on state (yes at step S5), the second color table522is selected from among the color tables included in the color information table520stored in the ROM402(step S9).

Next, the color information of the tape cassette30is identified based on the detection pattern of the rear detection portion300(namely, based on the combination of the on and off states of the plurality of rear detecting switches310) (step S11). At step S11, with reference to the color table selected at step S7or at step S9, the color information corresponding to the combination of the on and off states of the plurality of rear detecting switches310is identified. In the present embodiment, in the tape cassette30of the tape type that is manufactured in large quantities, the indicator800D corresponding to the arm detecting switch210D is formed as the non-pressing portion801. For that reason, at step S11, in many cases, the color information is identified with reference to the standard first color table521.

Thus, in the present embodiment, the color table to be used to identify the color information of the tape cassette30is selected in accordance with the detection state of a particular arm detecting switch210(here, the on or off state of the arm detecting switch210D). Therefore, without increasing the number of the rear detecting switches310(namely, without increasing the area occupied by the rear detection portion300), it may be possible to increase the number of color information patterns that can be identified by the tape printer1.

In the processing relating to printing (refer toFIG.19), the print information identified at step S3and the color information identified at step S11are displayed on the display5as text information (step S13). In a case where the above-described tape cassette30(refer toFIG.2andFIG.10toFIG.14) is properly installed, the display5displays a message that reads, for example, “A 36 mm laminated-type tape cassette has been installed. The tape color is white and the character color is black.”

Next, it is determined whether there is any input from the keyboard3(step S15). If there is an input from the keyboard3(yes at step S15), the CPU401receives the characters input from the keyboard3as print data, and stores the print data (text data) in the text memory of the RAM404(step S17). If there is no input from the keyboard3(no at step S15), the processing returns to step S15and the CPU401waits for an input from the keyboard3.

Then, if there is an instruction to start printing from the keyboard3, for example, the print data stored in the text memory is processed in accordance with the print information identified at step S3(step S19). For example, at step S19, the print data is processed such that a print range and a print size corresponding to the tape width identified at step S3, and a print position corresponding to the print mode (the mirror image printing mode or the normal image printing mode) identified at step S3are incorporated. Based on the print data processed at step S19, print processing is performed on the tape that is the print medium (step S21). After the print processing is performed, the processing relating to printing (refer toFIG.19) ends.

The above-described print processing (step S21) will be explained below more specifically. In a case where the laminated type tape cassette30shown inFIG.3andFIG.4is installed, the tape drive roller46, which is driven to rotate via the tape drive shaft100, pulls out the film tape59from the second tape spool41by moving in concert with the movable feed roller14. Further, the ribbon take-up spool44, which is driven to rotate via the ribbon take-up shaft95, pulls out the unused ink ribbon60from the ribbon spool42in synchronization with the print speed. The film tape59that has been pulled out from the second tape spool41passes the outer edge of the ribbon spool42and is fed along the feed path within the arm portion34.

Then, the film tape59is discharged from the exit34A toward the head insertion portion39in a state in which the ink ribbon60is joined to the surface of the film tape59. The film tape59is then fed between the thermal head10and the platen roller15of the tape printer1. Then characters are printed onto the print surface of the film tape59by the thermal head10. Following that, the used ink ribbon60is separated from the printed film tape59at the guide wall47and wound onto the ribbon take-up spool44.

Meanwhile, the double-sided adhesive tape58is pulled out from the first tape spool40by the tape drive roller46moving in concert with the movable feed roller14. While being guided and caught between the tape drive roller46and the movable feed roller14, the double-sided adhesive tape58is layered onto and affixed to the print surface of the printed film tape59. The printed film tape59to which the double-sided adhesive tape58has been affixed (namely, the printed tape50) is then fed toward the tape discharge portion49, discharged from the discharge portion49, and is cut by the cutting mechanism17.

In a case where the receptor type tape cassette30shown inFIG.5is installed, the tape drive roller46, which is driven to rotate via the tape drive shaft100, pulls out the print tape57from the first tape spool40by moving in concert with the movable feed roller14. Further, the ribbon take-up spool44, which is driven to rotate via the ribbon take-up shaft95, pulls out the unused ink ribbon60from the ribbon spool42in synchronization with the print speed. The print tape57that has been pulled out from the first tape spool40is bent in the leftward direction in the front right portion of the cassette case31, and fed along the feed path within the arm portion34.

Then, the print tape57is discharged from the exit34A toward the head insertion portion39in a state in which the ink ribbon60is joined to the surface of the print tape57. The print tape57is then fed between the thermal head10and the platen roller15of the tape printer1. Then, characters are printed onto the print surface of the print tape57by the thermal head10. Following that, the used ink ribbon60is separated from the printed print tape57at the guide wall47and wound onto the ribbon take-up spool44. Meanwhile, the printed print tape57(in other words, the printed tape50) is then fed toward the tape discharge portion49, discharged from the discharge portion49, and is cut by the cutting mechanism17.

In a case where the thermal type tape cassette30shown inFIG.6is installed, when printing is performed, the tape drive roller46, which is driven to rotate via the tape drive shaft100, pulls out the heat-sensitive paper tape55from the first tape spool40by moving in concert with the movable feed roller14. The heat-sensitive paper tape55that has been pulled out from the first tape spool40is bent in the leftward direction in the front right portion of the cassette case31, and is fed along the feed path within the arm portion34.

Then, the heat-sensitive paper tape55is discharged from the exit34A of the arm portion34, and is then fed between the thermal head10and the platen roller15. Then, characters are printed onto the print surface of the heat-sensitive paper tape55by the thermal head10. Following that, the printed heat-sensitive paper tape55(namely, the printed tape50) is further fed toward the tape discharge portion49by the tape drive roller46moving in concert with the movable feed roller14, discharged from the discharge portion49, and is cut by the cutting mechanism17.

In the above-described print processing (step S21), in a case where the laminated type tape cassette30is installed, mirror image printing is performed. In mirror image printing, the ink of the ink ribbon60is transferred onto the film tape59such that the characters are shown as a mirror image. On the other hand, in a case where the receptor type tape cassette30is installed, normal image printing is performed. In normal image printing, the ink of the ink ribbon60is transferred onto the print tape57such that the characters are shown as a normal image. Further, in a case where the thermal type tape cassette30is installed, thermal type normal image printing is performed on the heat-sensitive paper tape55such that the characters are color developed as a normal image.

In the present embodiment, the print mode “laminated” is applied to the tape cassette30with which mirror image printing is performed, while the print mode “receptor” is applied to the tape cassette30with which normal image printing is performed. For that reason, the print mode “receptor” is applied not only to the receptor type tape cassette30shown inFIG.5, but also to the thermal type tape cassette30shown inFIG.6.

Through the above-described processing relating to printing (refer toFIG.19), the tape type of the tape cassette30installed in the cassette housing portion8is identified by the tape printer1, based on the detection pattern of the arm detection portion200and the detection pattern of the rear detection portion300. More specifically, the arm detecting switches210A to210E on the arm detection portion200are selectively pressed by the arm indicator portion800provided on the arm front wall35of the tape cassette30, and the print information of the tape cassette30is thus identified. Further, the rear detecting switches310A to310E on the rear detection portion300are selectively pressed by the rear indicator portion900provided on the bottom wall30B (more specifically, the rear indentation68C) of the tape cassette30, and the color information of the tape cassette30is thus identified.

As described above, the tape cassette30according to the present embodiment is structured such that when a person looks at the tape cassette30alone, the person can identify the tape type (here, the color information) by visually checking the rear indentation68C. In addition, the tape cassette30is structured such that when the tape cassette30is installed in the cassette housing portion8of the tape printer1, the tape printer1can identify the tape type with the rear detection portion300detecting information indicated by the rear indicator portion900. Of the foregoing structures, as a result of structuring the tape cassette30such that a person can recognize the color information by visually checking the rear indicator portion900, the following effects may be particularly exhibited.

In a conventional manufacturing method for tape cassettes, it is a general practice to house a tape or the like in a cassette case in accordance with a type of a tape cassette. For example, in accordance with the color information (a combination of the tape color and the character color) of the tape to be mounted in the tape cassette, a worker mounts, in the cassette case, a tape whose base material color matches the tape color, and an ink ribbon with an ink color that matches the character color. However, there are a variety of combinations of tape colors and character colors. Therefore, when tape cassettes are manufactured, the worker may mistakenly mount a tape or an ink ribbon that does not correspond to the color information of the tape or the ink ribbon to be mounted in the tape cassette.

With the tape cassette30according to the present embodiment, in the manufacturing process of the tape cassette30, a worker can check the rear indicator portion900, by visually checking the rear indentation68C from above before assembling the top case31A. Alternatively, the worker may check the rear indicator portion900by turning over the bottom case31B before mounting a tape or the like, and visually checking the rear indentation68C from the bottom side of the cassette case31. Therefore, the worker can identify the color information intended for the cassette case31, and can ascertain the tape color and the character color of the tape or the like that should be housed in the cassette case31. As a consequence, in the manufacturing process of the tape cassette30, the worker can work while confirming the contents to be housed in the cassette case31, and thus errors in the manufacture of the tape cassette30may be reduced.

Furthermore, after the tape cassettes30has been shipped from the plant, even if the tape type or the like written on a label cannot be read for some reason, the worker can recognize the color information by visually checking the tape cassette30from the bottom surface side. Therefore, the worker can easily select the tape cassette30having desired color information from among a plurality of the tape cassettes30.

In addition, the rear indicator portion900indicates the color information using a simple structure formed of a combination of a presence and an absence of an aperture (namely, a combination of the non-pressing portion(s)901and the pressing portion(s)902) in each of the lateral information sections Y1and Y2. Therefore, the rear indicator portion900may be formed easily on the cassette case31in advance. For that reason, at the time of manufacture of the cassette case31, there may be no need to print the contents to be housed in the cassette case31, nor to affix labels to indicate the contents, and therefore errors in the manufacture of the tape cassette30can be reduced at a low cost.

Moreover, in the present embodiment, the laminated type tape cassette30formed from the general purpose cassette is used in the general purpose tape printer1. Therefore, a single tape printer1can be used with each type of the tape cassette30, such as the thermal type, the receptor type, and the laminated type etc., and it may not be necessary to use the different tape printer1for each type. Furthermore, the tape cassette30is normally formed by injecting plastic into a plurality of combined dies. In the case of the tape cassette30that corresponds to the same tape width, common dies can be used, except for the die including the portion that forms the rear indicator portion900. Thus, costs may be significantly reduced.

In the example described above, the specified area R0of the rear indentation68C includes overlapping areas that function as the indicators900A to900E, each of which includes either an aperture (namely, the non-pressing portion901) or a surface portion (namely, the pressing portion902) corresponding to the color information. In such a case, in the specified area R0, an aperture and a surface portion may be formed freely as long as the functions of the indicators900A to900E are maintained.

More specifically, with the above-described tape cassette30shown inFIG.2andFIG.10toFIG.14, all the areas in the specified area R0that do not function as the indicators900A to900E are surface portions that are in the same plane as the pressing portions902. Therefore, the apertures (the non-pressing portions901) provided in the specified area R0are formed separately from each other. However, it may not be necessary that the apertures are all separated from each other. For example, one aperture (groove) having a size and shape that include at least two of the non-pressing portions901may be formed in the specified area R0. Note, however, that in a case where one groove is formed, the groove needs to be formed such that the groove does not include a part that functions as the pressing portion902.

FIG.21toFIG.23show an example of the tape cassette30in which each of the non-pressing portions901provided in the indicators900A and900B are made continuous to form a groove903. In the tape cassette30shown inFIG.21toFIG.23, the indicators900A to900E are respectively, an aperture, an aperture, a surface portion, a surface portion, and an aperture. Therefore, the tape color is identified as “blue” and the character color is identified as “black”, by either detection of the rear detecting switches310or by human visual check.

As in the example shown inFIG.21toFIG.23, with the tape cassette30in which the plurality of non-pressing portions901provided in the lateral information section Y1are made continuous to form the groove903, when element identification of the lateral information section Y2is performed by visually checking the rear indentation68C from above or underneath, the groove903is treated as one aperture. Therefore, if the aperture that is closest to the reference line Z is the groove903, this groove903serves as the reference aperture, and the end (the left end inFIG.23) that is farthest from the reference line Z in the groove903serves as the reference end. Therefore, even when the groove903is provided in the lateral information section Y1, element identification of the lateral information section Y2can be performed by visually checking the rear indentation68C in a similar manner to that described above.

The tape cassette30and the tape printer1of the present invention are not limited to those in the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and alterations may of course be made insofar as they are within the scope of the present invention.

The shape, size, number and arrangement pattern of the non-pressing portion(s)901and the pressing portion(s)902of the rear indicator portion900are not limited to the examples represented in the above-described embodiment, but can be modified as appropriate. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the non-pressing portion901(aperture) of the rear indicator portion900is a through-hole that has a circular shape in a plan view and that is provided to occupy almost the entire overlapping area functioning as each of the indicators900A to900E. However, the non-pressing portion901can be modified in a range of size and shape that substantially fully includes the overlapping area functioning as each of the indicators900A to900E. For example, the non-pressing portion901may be a through-hole that has a square shape in a plan view that substantially matches the overlapping area, or the non-pressing portion901may have any other different shape.

Further, the non-pressing portion provided on the rear indicator portion900need not necessarily be a through-hole, but may be an indentation910formed in the rear indentation68C, as shown inFIG.24. In the example shown inFIG.24, when a person visually checks the rear indentation68C from underneath, the non-pressing portion901(the indentation910) that is indented upward from the rear indentation68C is recognized as an aperture, similarly to the case where the non-pressing portion901is formed as a through-hole. On the other hand, when the person visually checks the rear indentation68C from above, the non-pressing portion901(the recess910) that protrudes upward in a generally cylindrical shape from the rear indentation68C is recognized as a protrusion, not as an aperture. Therefore, when the person visually checks the rear indentation68C from above, by recognizing, instead of the aperture, the protrusion formed by the non-pressing portion901(the recess910), the person can identify the color information indicated by the rear indicator portion900, in a similar manner to that described above.

Further, the color information table520includes the first color table521and the second color table522, and either the first color table521or the second color table522is selected based on the detection result of the arm detecting switch210D. However, the color information table520may include a single color table.

The apparatus and methods described above with reference to the various embodiments are merely examples. It goes without saying that they are not confined to the depicted embodiments. While various features have been described in conjunction with the examples outlined above, various alternatives, modifications, variations, and/or improvements of those features and/or examples may be possible. Accordingly, the examples, as set forth above, are intended to be illustrative. Various changes may be made without departing from the broad spirit and scope of the underlying principles.