Patent ID: 7234883

Claim:
A tape printer comprising: a cassette holding part for removably holding a tape cassette housing a print tape therein; a print head for printing on the print tape; a platen roller placed to face the print head; a holder member for holding either one of the platen roller and the print head, and being movable between a first position in which the platen roller and the print head come into contact with each other, and a second position in which the platen roller and the print head are separated from each other; a cover element which is opened and closed over the holder member; an operation member constructed to be movable along with an opening and closing operation of the cover element, and to move the holder member to the first position during a closing operation of the cover element; an elastic member for forcing the holder member toward the second position during an opening operation of the cover element; and a forced turning device for releasing a contact between the platen roller and the print head by forcibly turning the platen roller along with a movement of the operation member during the opening operation of the cover element.