CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 120 to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/434,833 filed Feb. 7, 2024, which claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/700,359 filed Mar. 21, 2022 which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 11,932,011 on Mar. 19, 2024, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference, which in turn is a continuation application of International Application No. PCT/JP2020/034866 filed on Sep. 15, 2020 which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-178429 filed on Sep. 30, 2019. The entire contents of the earlier applications are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a printing cassette.

BACKGROUND

In a known device that prints on tape, the tape is exchanged and supplied by attaching and detaching a cassette containing the tape to and from the main body.

SUMMARY

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C are schematic perspective views showing a state in which the printing cassette is removed from the printing apparatus main body in the printing apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C are schematic perspective views of a printing cassette in the printing apparatus of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 3 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the printing cassette of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 4 is a schematic bottom view of the printing cassette of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line V-V of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6A is a schematic perspective view of a first frame portion in the printing cassette of FIG. 2A. FIG. 6B is a schematic perspective view of a second frame portion of the printing cassette of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view showing a state in which the first case portion of the printing cassette of FIG. 2C is removed.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating a path of a printing tape and an ink ribbon in the printing cassette of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 9A is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line IXA-IXA of FIG. 2C. FIG. 9B is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line IXB-IXB of FIG. 2C. FIG. 9C is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line IXC-IXC of FIG. 2C. FIG. 9D is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line IXD-IXD of FIG. 2C.

FIG. 10 is a schematic plan view of the printing apparatus main body in the printing apparatus of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing an engagement state between an output gear and a platen gear in the printing apparatus of FIG. 1A.

FIGS. 12A and 12B are schematic perspective views showing a state in which the printing cassette is removed from the printing apparatus main body in the printing apparatus according to an embodiment different from the embodiment of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 13 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the printing cassette in the printing apparatus of FIG. 12A.

FIG. 14 is a schematic plan view of the printing apparatus main body in the printing apparatus of FIG. 12A.

FIG. 15 is a schematic view showing an engagement state between the output gear and the platen gear in the printing apparatus of FIG. 12A.

FIGS. 16A and 16B are schematic views showing a positional relationship between the drive shaft and the engaging portion of the printing apparatus in an embodiment different from the embodiment of FIG. 1A, respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
1. First Embodiment
[1-1. Configuration]

The printing apparatus 1 shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C includes a printing cassette 10 and a printing apparatus main body 100. The printing apparatus 1 is an apparatus that prints on a tape-shaped printing medium.

In the present embodiment, an axial direction of an output gear 18 of the printing cassette 10 and an axial direction of a platen gear 104 of the printing apparatus main body 100 are defined as an up-down direction. A direction orthogonal to the up-down direction in which the output gear 18 and the input spool 16 are aligned is defined as a front-rear direction. A direction orthogonal to both of the up-down direction and the front-rear direction is defined as a left-right direction.

(Printing Apparatus Main Body)

The printing apparatus main body 100 includes a cassette insertion unit 101, a print head 102, a platen roller 103, a platen gear 104, a drive shaft 105, and a housing 110.

(Cassette Insertion Unit)

The cassette insertion unit 101 is a concave portion in which the printing cassette 10 is to be attached. The cassette insertion unit 101 has a positioning function for the printing cassette 10. The cassette insertion portion 101 is provided in the housing 110.

(Print Head)

The print head 102 is disposed inside the cassette insertion unit 101. The print head 102 has a plurality of heat generating elements at which heat generation is individually controlled.

(Platen Roller)

A rotation axis L1 of a platen roller 103 is parallel to the up-down direction. The platen roller 103 is disposed adjacent to the print head 102 inside the cassette insertion unit 101. The platen roller 103 may swing in a direction toward or away from the print head 102.

(Platen Gear)

The platen gear 104 is connected to the platen roller 103. In the present embodiment, a rotation axis L2 of the platen gear 104 is disposed on the same line as the rotation axis L1 of the platen roller 103. The platen gear 104 may swing together with the platen roller 103.

(Drive Shaft)

The drive shaft 105 is inserted into the input spool 16. The drive shaft 105 rotates the input spool 16.

The drive shaft 105 is disposed inside the cassette insertion unit 101. A rotation axis L3 of the drive shaft 105 is parallel to the up-down direction. The drive shaft 105 rotates about the rotation axis L3 by a drive source (for example, a motor) (not shown in figures).

(Printing Cassette)

The printing cassette 10 stores a printing medium. The printing cassette 10 is removable from the printing apparatus main body 100. By exchanging the printing cassette 10, the printing medium may be replenished and the type (for example, color, material, etc.) of the printing medium may be changed.

As shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C, the printing cassette 10 includes a case 35 for storing such as a printing tape 11A (an example of a second tape), an ink ribbon 14A (an example of a first tape).

An outer shape of the printing cassette 10 (that is, the shape of the case 35) is a rectangular body having sides parallel to the up-down direction, sides parallel to the front-rear direction, and sides parallel to the left-right direction. The case 35 has a first case portion 31, a first frame portion 32, a second frame portion 33, and a second case portion 34.

As shown in FIG. 3, the printing cassette 10 includes a printing tape roll 11 (an example of a second roll), a first supply spool 12, spacer films 13A and 13B, an ink ribbon roll 14, a second supply spool 15, an input spool 16, a spool-side spline tooth 16B, a clutch spring holder 17, an output gear 18, an input gear 19, and an idle gear 20.

(Printing Tape Roll)

The printing tape roll 11 includes a printing tape 11A on which printing is performed. The printing tape 11A is wound around a first supply spool 12.

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

The printing tape roll 11 is provided with a first supply spool 12 in a hollow portion defined by the printing tape 11A. Printing is performed on the surface of the printing tape 11A by the print head 102 of the printing apparatus main body 100 and the ink ribbon 14A.

Two spacer films 13A and 13B are arranged on the outside of the printing tape roll 11 in the up-down direction so as to sandwich the printing tape roll 11. The spacer films 13A and 13B are arranged between the printing tape roll 11 and the first case portion 31 and between the printing tape roll 11 and the first frame portion 32.

(First Supply Spool)

The first supply spool 12 is rotatable around a rotational axis LA. The first supply spool 12 rotates with the transfer of the printing tape 11A by the platen roller 103 of the printing apparatus main body 100 to supply the printing tape 11A to the print head 102.

(Ink Ribbon Roll)

The ink ribbon roll 14 includes the ink ribbon 14A that is used for printing the printing tape 11A and is wound around the second supply spool 15 around a winding center axis parallel to the up-down direction.

The ink ribbon 14A is overlapped with the printing tape 11A at the head opening 33B and is used for printing by the print head 102. The ink ribbon 14A used for printing is wound around the input spool 16.

Rotational resistance is applied to the ink ribbon roll 14 by the clutch spring held by the clutch spring holder 17. At least a part of the ink ribbon roll 14 is disposed at a position overlapping with the printing tape roll 11 in the up-down direction.

(Second Supply Spool)

The second supply spool 15 is rotatable around a rotational axis L5. The rotational axis L5 of the second supply spool 15 is parallel to the rotational axis L4 of the first supply spool 12, that is, parallel to the up-down direction.

The second supply spool 15 supplies the ink ribbon 14A to the print head 102 by rotating along with the winding of the ink ribbon 14A by the input spool 16.

(Input Spool)

The input spool 16 can rotate around a rotational axis L6. The rotational axis L6 of the input spool 16 is parallel to the rotational axis L5 of the second supply spool 15.

The input spool 16 has a cylindrical shape in which a hollow portion is defined by the inner peripheral surface 16A. The input spool 16 is a take-up spool that winds up the ink ribbon 14A. That is, the input spool 16 forms a take-up roll 14B (an example of a first roll) by winding the ink ribbon 14A supplied from the ink ribbon roll 14. The input spool 16 is rotated by the drive shaft 105 via a spool-side spline teeth 16B.

In the take-up roll 14B, the ink ribbon 14A is wound around the input spool 16 about a winding center axis parallel to the up-down direction. The take-up roll 14B has a cylindrical shape in which a hollow portion is defined by an inner peripheral surface.

(Spool-side Spline Tooth)

The spool-side spline tooth 16B is provided on the inner peripheral surface 16A of the input spool 16. The spool-side spline tooth 16B transmits the driving force of the drive shaft 105 of the printing apparatus main body 100 to the input spool 16.

The spool-side spline tooth 16B protrudes from the inner peripheral surface 16A of the input spool 16 toward the hollow portion of the input spool 16. In a state where the printing cassette 10 is attached to the printing apparatus main body 100, the drive shaft 105 is inserted into the hollow portion of the input spool 16 (that is, the take-up roll 14B), and the spool-side spline tooth 16B is engaged with the drive shaft 105. Accordingly, the driving force is input from the drive shaft 105 to the spool-side spline tooth 16B.

(Output Gear)

The output gear 18 is a single gear that outputs a driving force for conveying the printing tape 11A to the outside.

Specifically, the output gear 18 outputs a driving force to the platen gear 104 of the printing apparatus main body 100. A rotational axis L7 of the output gear 18 is parallel to the rotational axis L5 of the second supply spool 15. The output gear 18 overlaps with the cover portion 32B in the up-down direction.

The output gear 18 is partially exposed to the head opening 33B. The output gear 18 engages with the platen gear 104 at the head opening 33B in a state where the printing cassette 10 is attached to the printing apparatus main body 100.

The second supply spool 15, the output gear 18, and the printing tape roll 11 are arranged in the up-down direction in the order of the second supply spool 15, the output gear 18, and the printing tape roll 11. That is, the output gear 18 is located between the second supply spool 15 and the printing tape roll 11 in the up-down direction.

(Input Gear)

The input gear 19 indirectly engages with the output gear 18 via the idle gear 20 and transmits the driving force of the drive shaft 105 to the output gear 18.

The input gear 19 has a gear body 19A, a wall portion 19B, and a gear-side spline tooth 19C (an example of a second engaging portion). The gear body 19A is a single gear that engages with the idle gear 20.

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

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

The gear-side spline tooth 19C engages with the drive shaft 105 in a state where the printing cassette 10 is attached to the printing apparatus main body 100. Accordingly, the driving force is input from the drive shaft 105 to the gear-side spline tooth 19C. The gear body 19A rotates integrally with the wall portion 19B by the driving force input to the gear-side spline tooth 19C.

The rotational axis L8 of the input gear 19 (that is, the rotational axis of the gear body 19A and the rotational axis of the wall portion 19B) overlaps the hollow portion of the input spool 16 (that is, the take-up roll 14B) in the up-down direction. Further, the input gear 19 is arranged so that the rotational axis L8 of the input gear 19 is on the same line as the rotational axis L6 of the input spool 16. Further, the gear body 19A of the input gear 19 is arranged at a position different from each position of the input spool 16 and the take-up roll 14B in the up-down direction.

Specifically, the input spool 16, a part of the input gear 19 (that is, the gear body 19A), and the printing tape roll 11 are arranged in the up-down direction in the order of the part of the input spool 16 (that is, the gear body 19A), the input gear 19, and the printing tape roll 11.

As shown in FIG. 4, in a projection drawing in which the input spool 16 and the input gear 19 are projected onto a surface virtually orthogonal to the up-down direction (that is, the printing cassette 10 is viewed from below), a diameter of an inscribed circle C1 of the spool-side spline tooth 16B is more than a diameter of an inscribed circle C2 of the gear-side spline tooth 19C. Further, at least a part of the gear-side spline tooth 19C overlaps with the hollow portion of the input spool 16 in the up-down direction.

As shown in FIG. 5, the wall portion 19B is inserted into the hollow portion of the input spool 16 (that is, the take-up roll 14B). Specifically, a lower end portion of the wall portion 19B is inserted into the input spool 16 up to a position where it does not overlap with the spool-side spline tooth 16B in a radial direction of the input spool 16.

Since a rotational axis L8 of the input gear 19 overlaps with the hollow portion of the input spool 16 in the up-down direction, the drive shaft 105 is simultaneously inserted into the input spool 16 (that is, the take-up roll 14B) and the input gear 19.

In a state where the printing cassette 10 is attached to the printing apparatus main body 100, the spool-side spline tooth 16B and the input gear 19 (that is, the gear-side spline tooth 19C) are engaged with the drive shaft 105 at different positions in the up-down direction. Accordingly, the input gear 19 is not directly connected to the input spool 16, but is rotated by a drive source (that is, a drive shaft 105) common to the input spool 16.

(Idle Gear)

The idle gear 20 engages with the input gear 19 and the output gear 18. The idle gear 20 transmits, to the output gear 18, the driving force input to the input gear 19. A rotational axis L9 of the idle gear 20 is parallel to the up-down direction.

The idle gear 20 is a stage gear in which a large gear 20A engaged with the input gear 19 and a small gear 20B engaged with the output gear 18 are arranged coaxially. The small gear 20B has a smaller diameter than the large gear 20A.

Further, the small gear 20B is disposed at a position closer to (that is, above) the printing tape roll 11 than the large gear 20A in the up-down direction. The idle gear 20 constitutes a deceleration mechanism that reduces a rotational speed of the driving force input to the input gear 19.

(Case)

As shown in FIG. 3, the first case portion 31 constitutes the upper end portion of the printing cassette 10. The first frame portion 32 is disposed below the first case portion 31 and is vertically connected to the first case portion 31. The second frame portion 33 is disposed below the first frame portion 32 and is vertically connected to the first frame portion 32. The second case portion 34 constitutes a lower end portion of the printing cassette 10. The second case portion 34 is vertically connected to the second frame portion 33.

The first case portion 31 and the first frame portion 32 accommodate the printing tape roll 11. That is, the printing tape roll 11 is disposed in a space surrounded by the first case portion 31 and the first frame portion 32.

The second case portion 34 and the second frame portion 33 accommodate the ink ribbon roll 14, the second supply spool 15, and the input spool 16. That is, the ink ribbon roll 14, the second supply spool 15, and the input spool 16 are disposed in a space surrounded by the second case portion 34 and the second frame portion 33.

A part of the output gear 18, the input gear 19, and the idle gear 20 are disposed in a space surrounded by the first frame portion 32 and the second frame portion 33.

As shown in FIG. 6A, the first frame portion 32 has a first side wall 32A, a cover portion 32B, a first guide 32C, and a second isolation wall 32G. The first side wall 32A constitutes a side surface parallel to the up-down direction of the printing cassette 10.

The cover portion 32B is a portion having a surface orthogonal to the up-down direction. The cover portion 32B is disposed at a position where the cover portion 32B overlaps with the output gear 18 in the up-down direction. In the present embodiment, the cover portion 32B is disposed at the right front corner portion of the first frame portion 32.

The second isolation wall 32G is disposed on the side opposite to the input spool 16 (that is, above the input gear 19) with respect to the input gear 19 in the up-down direction. The second isolation wall 32G isolates the input gear 19 and the printing tape roll 11 in the up-down direction.

The second isolation wall 32G has a first gear shaft 32D, a second gear shaft 32E, a third gear shaft 32F, a gear facing surface 32H, and a support surface 32J (see FIG. 5).

The first gear shaft 32D is inserted into the output gear 18 and rotatably supports the output gear 18. The second gear shaft 32E is inserted into the input gear 19 and rotatably supports the input gear 19. The third gear shaft 32F is inserted into the idle gear 20 and rotatably supports the idle gear 20.

A gear facing surface 32H is a surface extending orthogonal to the up-down direction and is disposed above the output gear 18, the input gear 19, and the idle gear 20. Each of the first gear shaft 32D, the second gear shaft 32E, and the third gear shaft 32F protrudes downward from the gear facing surface 32H.

A support surface 32J is disposed on the side opposite to the gear facing surface 32H in the up-down direction, and supports the printing tape roll 11 from the side of the input gear 19 (that is, from below).

As shown in FIG. 7, a first guide 32C is a portion around which the printing tape 11A drawn from the printing tape roll 11 is wound. The first guide 32C has a plurality of plate-shaped ribs arranged separately along the circumferential direction of the printing tape roll 11. The plurality of ribs protrude in the radial direction of the printing tape roll 11, and the amount of protrusion (that is, a plate width) increases toward the lower side.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6B, the second frame portion 33 has a second side wall 33A, a head opening 33B, a discharge port 33C, a second guide 33D, a first isolation wall 33E, and a hole 33F. The second side wall 33A constitutes a side surface parallel to the up-down direction of the printing cassette 10.

The head opening 33B is a portion in which a part of the second side wall 33A is cut off. The head opening 33B is a space in which the print head 102 is disposed inside by inserting the print head 102 from below in a state where the print cassette 10 is attached to the printing apparatus main body 100. The head opening 33B opens below the printing cassette 10.

The second guide 33D is a portion around which the printing tape 11A that has passed through the first guide 32C is wound. Similar to the first guide 32C, the second guide 33D has a plurality of plate-shaped ribs arranged so as to be isolated along the circumferential direction of the ink ribbon roll 14. The plurality of ribs protrude in the radial direction of the ink ribbon roll 14, and the amount of protrusion (that is, a plate width) decreases toward the lower side.

The first isolation wall 33E isolates the gear body 19A of the input gear 19 and the input spool 16 in the up-down direction, and supports the input gear 19 from the side of the input spool 16 (that is, from below). The first isolation wall 33E is located between the gear body 19A of the input gear 19 and the input spool 16 (that is, the take-up roll 14B) in the up-down direction, and extends in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction.

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

As shown in FIG. 5, the wall portion 19B of the input gear 19 passes through the hole 33F and is inserted into the hollow portion of the input spool 16 (that is, the take-up roll 14B). Further, the gear body 19A of the input gear 19 is disposed between the first isolation wall 33E and the gear facing surface 32H of the second isolation wall 32G.

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

The second gear shaft 32E has a concave portion 32I in which a distal end thereof is concave toward the gear facing surface 32H. In a state where the printing cassette 10 is attached to the printing apparatus main body 100, an end portion 105A of the drive shaft 105 is inserted into the concave portion 32I.

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

As shown in FIG. 5, the case 35 has a first surface 35A that defines an upper outline of the case 35 and a second surface 35B that defines a lower outline of the case 35 at a position isolated from the first surface 35A in the up-down direction.

Each of the first surface 35A and the second surface 35B intersects in the up-down direction. Further, the input spool 16 and the input gear 19 are disposed between the first surface 35A and the second surface 35B in the up-down direction.

In the up-down direction, a first distance D1 between an end portion (that is, the upper end) of the input gear 19 on the side of the first surface 35A and the first surface 35A is more than a second distance D2 between an end portion (that is, the lower end) of the input gear 19 on the side of the second surface 35B and the second surface 35B. Further, in the up-down direction, the first distance D1 is more than a third distance D3 between the end portion (that is, the lower end) of the ink ribbon 14A (that is, the take-up roll 14B) that is wound around the input spool 16 on the side of the second surface 35B and the second surface 35B.

(Conveyance of Tape)

As shown in FIG. 8, the printing tape 11A and the ink ribbon 14A are straddled in the left-right direction at the head opening 33B. The printing tape 11A that has been printed is discharged to the outside of the printing apparatus 1 from the discharge port 33C. A part of the output gear 18 is located in the head opening 33B. Further, the cover portion 32B is exposed in the head opening 33B.

As shown in FIGS. 9A, 9B, 9C, and 9D, the first guide 32C and the second guide 33D have a passage through which the printing tape 11A constituting the printing tape roll 11 is conveyed from the first frame portion 32 to the second frame portion 33.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9A, the printing tape 11A drawn out from the printing tape roll 11 is conveyed downward and rearward within the first frame portion 32 while the printing tape 11A abuts on the first guide 32C in a spiral manner from the radial outside of the printing tape roll 11. As shown in FIG. 9B, the printing tape 11A is conveyed toward the lower left while the printing tape 11A straddles the connecting portion between the first frame portion 32 and the second frame portion 33 in the up-down direction.

As shown in FIG. 9C, the printing tape 11A that has reached the second frame portion 33 is conveyed downward and forward while the printing tape 11A abuts on the second guide 33D from the outside in the radial direction. As shown in FIG. 9D, the printing tape 11A that has reached the lower end of the printing cassette 10 passes through the head opening 33B and is discharged from the discharge port 33C.

Tape Conveyance and Printing by the Printing Apparatus Main Body

The print head 102 prints on the printing tape 11A held by the printing cassette 10. The print head 102 is disposed at a position where the print head 102 overlaps with the printing tape 11A and the ink ribbon 14A in the head opening 33B in the front-rear direction in a state where the printing cassette 10 is attached to the printing apparatus main body 100.

The printing tape 11A conveyed to the head opening 33B by the platen roller 103 is pressed against the print head 102 via the ink ribbon 14A in which the heat generating element generates heat. Accordingly, a part of the ink disposed on the surface of the ink ribbon 14A is transferred to the printing tape 11A, whereby characters, symbols and the like are printed on the printing tape 11A.

The platen roller 103 conveys the printing tape 11A from the inside of the printing cassette 10 to the outside. The platen roller 103 abuts on the printing tape 11A at the head opening 33B, and presses the printing tape 11A against the print head 102.

The platen gear 104 is connected to the platen roller 103 and engages with the output gear 18. The platen roller 103 and the platen gear 104 can swing between a position shown in FIG. 10 isolated from the printing cassette 10 and a position shown in FIG. 11 where the platen gear 104 engages with the output gear 18.

The drive shaft 105 is inserted into the input spool 16 and the input gear 19, and engages with the spool-side spline tooth 16B and the gear-side spline tooth 19C to rotate the input spool 16 and the input gear 19.

As shown in FIG. 11, in a state where the printing cassette 10 is attached to the printing apparatus main body 100, the drive shaft 105 engages with the input gear 19 and the platen gear 104 engages with the output gear 18. Specifically, the drive shaft 105 is inserted into the input spool 16 and the input gear 19 of the printing cassette 10. After that, the platen roller 103 and the platen gear 104 are swung toward the head opening 33B of the printing cassette 10.

The output gear 18 is rotated by rotating the input gear 19 by the drive shaft 105 in a state where the printing cassette 10 is attached, the platen gear 104 is rotated by the rotation of the output gear 18, and the platen roller 103 is rotated by the rotation of the platen gear 104.

[1-2. Effect]

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

- (1a) Since the drive shaft 105 penetrates the take-up roll 14B and engages with the input gear 19, the take-up roll 14B and the input gear 19 are arranged so as to be overlapped with each other in a direction parallel to the winding center axis of the take-up roll 14B (that is, the axial direction of the drive shaft 105). Thus, the driving force may be input to the input gear 19 while suppressing the increase in size of the printing cassette 10 in the direction orthogonal to the insertion direction of the drive shaft 105.
- (1b) The spool-side spline tooth 16B provided on the input spool 16 may transmit a driving force from one drive shaft 105 to the input spool 16 and the input gear 19.
- (1c) By using the gear-side spline tooth 19C as an engaging portion for transmitting a driving force from the drive shaft 105 to the input gear 19, the input spool 16 and the input gear 19 may be arranged so as to be overlapped with each other in the radial direction of the drive shaft 105. Thus, the space for arranging the drive system may be reduced.
- (1d) The first isolation wall 33E may appropriately maintain the positional relationship between the input gear 19 and the input spool 16 in the up-down direction. Thus, the efficiency of transmitting the driving force to the spool-side spline tooth 16B and the gear-side spline tooth 19C may be improved.
- (1e) The second isolation wall 32G allows the input gear 19 and the printing tape roll 11 to be vertically overlapped with each other while suppressing interference between the input gear 19 and the printing tape roll 11.

2. Second Embodiment
[2-1. Configuration]

The printing apparatus 1A shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B includes a printing cassette 10A and a printing apparatus main body 100A.

(Printing Cassette)

The printing cassette 10A further includes a laminate tape roll 21 (an example of a first roll) shown in FIG. 13, the take-up spool 22, the take-up gear 23, and the pinch roller 24 compared to the printing cassette 10 of the first embodiment. In addition, the printing cassette 10A includes a third supply spool 25, a first case portion 36, a first frame portion 37, a second frame portion 38 and a second case portion 39, instead of a first case portion 31, a first frame portion 32, a second frame portion 33 and a second case portion of the first embodiment.

The third supply spool 25 is the same as the input spool 16 except that the third supply spool 25 does not have the spool-side spline tooth 16B. The first case portion 36, the first frame portion 37, the second frame portion 38, and the second case portion 39 are stretched in the left-right direction compared to the first case portion 31, the first frame portion 32, the second frame portion 33, and the second case portion 34, respectively. The other configurations of the printing cassette 10A are the same as those of the printing cassette 10 of the first embodiment except for the points described below, and the description thereof will be omitted.

The laminate tape roll 21 includes a laminate tape (an example of a first tape) that is wound around a third supply spool 25 around a winding center axis parallel to the up-down direction. The laminate tape has an adhesive surface that is laminated to the printing tape 11A printed by the print head 102. The laminate tape roll 21 has a cylindrical shape in which a hollow portion is defined by an inner peripheral surface of the laminate tape. A third supply spool 25 is disposed in a hollow portion defined by the laminate tape of the laminate tape roll 21.

The take-up spool 22 is rotatable around a rotation axis L10. The rotation axis L10 of the take-up spool 22 is parallel to the rotation axis L5 (that is, in the up-down direction) of the second supply spool 15. The take-up spool 22 takes up the ink ribbon 14A unwound from the third supply spool 25 by the rotation of the take-up gear 23.

The take-up gear 23 is connected to the take-up spool 22 and is engaged with the idle gear 20. The take-up gear 23 is rotated by the driving force input to the input gear 19, thereby rotating the take-up spool 22. That is, the idle gear 20 transmits the driving force input to the input gear 19 to the take-up gear 23.

The pinch roller 24, together with the pressing roller 106, presses the laminate tape against the printing tape 11A that has been used in printing. The pinch roller 24 is disposed downstream of a head opening 33B in a transport direction of the printing tape 11A.

(Printing Apparatus Main Body)

The printing apparatus main body 100A further includes a pressing roller 106 shown in FIG. 14 compared to the printing apparatus main body 100 of the first embodiment. The other configurations of the printing apparatus main body 100A are the same as those of the printing apparatus main body 100 of the first embodiment except for the points described below, and the description thereof will be omitted.

The pressing roller 106 is swingable together with the platen roller 103 and the platen gear 104. That is, the pressing roller 106 may swing between a position isolated from the printing cassette 10A shown in FIG. 14 and a position where the pressing roller 106 presses the printing tape 11A and the third tape together with the pinch roller 24 shown in FIG. 15.

In the present embodiment, in a state where the printing cassette 10A is attached to the printing apparatus main body 100A, the drive shaft 105 is inserted into the hollow portion of the third supply spool 25 (that is, the laminate tape roll 21), and the input gear 19 engages the drive shaft 105.

[2-2. Effect]

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

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

3. Other Embodiment

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

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

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

For example, as shown in FIG. 16A, a single gear having a through hole through which the drive shaft 221 is inserted in the central portion may be used as the input gear 201. The first tooth 222 provided on the outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft 221 engages with the spline tooth provided on the inner peripheral surface of the input spool 211. The second tooth 223 provided on the outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft 221 engages with the spline tooth provided on the inner peripheral surface defining the through hole of the input gear 201.

Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 16B, a single gear that directly engages with the second tooth 223 of the drive shaft 221 may be used as the input gear 201A. In FIG. 16B, the drive shaft 221 is not inserted into the input gear 201A.

- (3b) In the printing apparatus of the above embodiment, the first roll (that is, the take-up roll or the laminate tape roll) through which the drive shaft is inserted may not necessarily be the first tape (that is, the ink ribbon or the laminate tape) that is wound around the rotatable spool. For example, the first roll may be a member in which the first tape is wound around a non-rotating member fixed to a case. Further, the first roll may not necessarily be wound around another member.
- (3c) The printing apparatus of the above embodiment is not limited to a printing apparatus that prints using an ink ribbon. The printing apparatus may use a strip-shaped thermal paper instead of the printing tape in the first embodiment, and may use a laminate tape (that is, a protective tape) instead of the ink ribbon.

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

- (3d) In the printing cassette of the second embodiment, the arrangement of the take-up spool and the third supply spool may be switched. That is, the drive shaft may be inserted through the take-up spool, and the third supply spool may be rotated by the take-up gear.
- (3e) The printing cassette of the above embodiment may have two or more idle gears. Further, the idle gear may not necessarily be a step gear, and may be a single gear. Further, the printing cassette may not necessarily have an idle gear, and the output gear may be directly engaged with the input gear.
- (3f) The functions of one component in the above embodiment may be dispersed as a plurality of components, or the functions of the plurality of components may be integrated into one component. Further, a part of the configuration of the above embodiment may be omitted. Further, at least a part of the configuration of the above embodiment may be added or substituted with respect to the other configurations of the above embodiment. It should be noted that all aspects included in the technical idea specified from the wording described in the claims are embodiments of the present disclosure.