JP5012156B2 - Tape cassette and printing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a tape Pukasetto and the printing apparatus, in particular, colored by heating, to a printing apparatus in which the tape cassette and the tape cassette with a printing medium having a thermosensitive coloring layer for fixing the exposure is mounted.

  Conventionally, label writers capable of producing various labels are known. This label writer can be used by attaching a tape cassette around which a printing medium is wound to the apparatus main body. The tape cassette used in this label writer incorporates a transparent base tape, ink ribbon, and double-sided adhesive tape, and is used to create so-called laminate type labels, and heat-sensitive coloring on the surface It is known that a heat-sensitive tape having a layer and a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer on the back surface is incorporated. The type using this heat-sensitive tape is a thermal head, and heat is applied to the heat-sensitive color developing layer to cause color development to form characters, figures, and the like.

In addition, a printing medium is also proposed in which a coloring layer that is colored by heating and fixed by light is provided on a printing medium such as a CD, and a light-shielding sheet that can be peeled is provided on the surface of the coloring layer (for example, Patent Documents). 1).
JP 2000-71613 A

  However, in the print medium described in Patent Document 1, if heat is applied to the print medium again after the heat printing is performed, the user removes the light-shielding sheet and exposes and fixes the color developing layer. There was a problem that the layer was colored again. In addition, there is an annoyance that the user must bother to remove the light shielding sheet.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and eliminates the user's trouble of peeling off the light-shielding sheet provided on the print medium having a color-developing layer that is colored by heating and fixed by light. It is another object of the present invention to provide a tape cassette and a printing apparatus provided with a printing medium that does not forget to remove the light shielding sheet.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the tape cassette of the invention according to claim 1 is provided on a base material, develops color when heated, and is fixed by exposure, and is peelable on the thermosensitive color layer. provided, and a light shielding sheet that blocks light to the thermosensitive coloring layer, before Symbol light shielding sheet is provided with a tape comprising a printing medium that is configured to allow heat transfer to said thermosensitive coloring layer, the thermal head is mounted A tape cassette that can be attached to and detached from the printing apparatus, wherein the thermal head is inserted into the opening, and a heating element provided in the thermal head; A separation unit from which the light shielding sheet is separated; and a light shielding sheet take-up unit that winds up the light shielding sheet separated by the separation unit, wherein the light shielding sheet faces the heating element of the thermal head. As characterized in that the tape spool wound the tape is located.

The tape cassette of the invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that, in addition to the configuration of the invention of claim 1, the light shielding sheet is made of a metal material capable of transferring heat.

Further, in the tape cassette of the invention according to claim 3, in addition to the configuration of the invention of claim 1 or 2, the light shielding sheet is made of a sheet that is thinner than the substrate and capable of transferring heat. It is characterized by.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention , there is provided a tape cassette according to any one of the first to third aspects, in addition to the adhesive layer on the side opposite to the side on which the thermosensitive coloring layer is formed. Is provided, and a release paper is adhered to the adhesive layer.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention , there is provided a printing apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects , wherein the tape cassette according to any one of the first to fourth aspects is detachably mounted, wherein the thermal head and the tape are attached to the thermal head. And a light-shielding sheet take-up unit driving device for driving the light-shielding sheet take-up unit, and heat sensitive color development of the tape on the downstream side in the tape conveying direction with respect to the thermal head The light-shielding sheet is separated, and the separated light-shielding sheet is wound around the light-shielding sheet take-up unit driven by the light-shielding sheet take-up unit driving device. The exposed tape is discharged from the tape discharge port, and the color is fixed by exposure.

In the tape cassette according to the first aspect of the invention, since the heat-sensitive color developing layer of the print medium is protected by the light shielding sheet, it is possible to prevent the tape before printing from being exposed and fixed. Further, since the heat-sensitive color developing layer is colored by the heat transmitted through the light shielding sheet, there is no need to remove the light shielding sheet before printing. Furthermore, since the thermosensitive coloring layer can be colored by heating from above the light-shielding sheet, the thermosensitive coloring layer is not exposed even during printing, and high-quality printing can be performed without fixing the thermosensitive coloring layer. . Further, since the light-shielding sheet can be peeled off, it can be peeled off after printing to expose and fix the heat-sensitive color developing layer, and there is no discoloration due to ultraviolet rays or the like, and the printing quality can be maintained. In addition, the heat-sensitive color forming layer and the light shielding sheet are separated at the separation portion after printing, and the light shielding sheet is wound up. Therefore, since the heat-sensitive color developing layer is reliably exposed and fixed after printing, the print quality can be maintained. Further, since the light shielding sheet is wound up in the tape cassette, it is not discharged out of the tape cassette and becomes dust, and the handling property is good.

Further, in the tape cassette of the invention according to claim 2, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 1, since the light shielding sheet is made of a heat-transferable metal material, heat from the thermal head is formed as a heat sensitive coloring layer. The energy of the thermal head can be used efficiently.

Further, in the tape cassette of the invention according to claim 3, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 1 or 2, the light shielding sheet is made of a sheet that is thinner than the substrate and capable of transferring heat, so that the thermal head Is easily transferred to the thermosensitive coloring layer. Further, the light shielding sheet can be configured at low cost.

Further, in the tape cassette of the invention according to claim 4, in addition to the effect of the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3, an adhesive layer is provided on the side opposite to the thermosensitive coloring layer of the substrate, and the release paper is further provided. Therefore, the tape can be attached to the object after printing, and the adhesive does not stick to the printing device or the tape cassette during printing.

Further, in the printing apparatus of the invention according to claim 5 , since the tape cassette according to any one of claims 1 to 4 is used, heat is transmitted to the thermosensitive coloring layer with the light-shielding sheet interposed therebetween, and the light is shielded before printing. There is no need to peel off the sheet, and it is possible to prevent the thermosensitive coloring layer from being exposed and fixed before printing. Further, since the light-shielding sheet is surely separated from the heat-sensitive color developing layer and the heat-sensitive color developing layer is exposed, a printing tape with stable quality after printing can be produced. Further, since the light shielding sheet is wound up in the tape cassette, it is not discharged out of the tape cassette and becomes dust, and the handling property is good.

  Hereinafter, a tape printer 1 and a tape cassette 30 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a plan view of the tape printer 1 with the storage cover 12 of the tape cassette storage unit 8 opened, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the tape cassette 30, and FIG. 3 is a state with the upper case 31 removed. 3 is a plan view showing an internal configuration of the tape cassette 30. FIG. The tape printer 1 corresponds to a “printer”.

  First, the structure of the tape printer 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The tape printer 1 is formed in a square shape in plan view, and a keyboard 6 is provided on the front portion of the upper surface of the tape printer 1. The keyboard 6 has a document input key 2, a return key 5, and a print key 3. Various function keys such as the TAB key 4 are provided. In addition, a liquid crystal display 7 for displaying characters and the like input from the keyboard 6 is provided on the left side of the central portion of the upper surface of the tape printer 1.

  Further, a tape cassette storage portion 8 for storing a tape cassette 30 to be described later is provided on the right side of the rear portion of the upper surface of the tape printer 1, and the tape cassette storage portion 8 can be opened and closed. A storage cover 12 for covering is provided. Further, the tape cassette housing portion 8 is a horizontally elongated substantially rectangular concave portion in plan view, and has a shape in which the tape cassette 30 can be inserted without a gap. Further, the tape cassette housing 8 is fitted with a light shielding tape take-up spool 38 (see FIG. 3) of the tape cassette 30 at an obliquely forward right end from the center thereof, and the light shielding tape take-up spool 38 is rotated. A moving light-shielding tape take-up shaft 9 is provided. The light shielding tape take-up spool 38 corresponds to a “light shielding sheet take-up portion”. The light shielding tape take-up shaft 9 is driven by a motor (not shown) and corresponds to a “light shielding sheet take-up unit driving device”.

  A thermal head 11 is provided on the left side of the front portion of the tape cassette storage unit 8 to print a printing tape 70 described later by heating. Further, a swinging platen roller 13 is provided at a position facing the thermal head 11, and a tape feed roller 43 is provided in the vicinity of the platen roller 13. A lock 18 for locking the storage cover 12 is provided between the tape cassette storage unit 8 and the keyboard 6. In addition, a tape discharge port 45 for discharging the printed print tape 70 is formed at the left front corner (in FIG. 1) of the tape cassette housing portion 8. Note that a control circuit board and a battery storage unit (not shown) are provided inside the tape printer 1.

  Next, the external structure of the tape cassette 30 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the tape cassette 30 is formed in a substantially rectangular box shape and includes an upper case 31 and a lower case 32. As shown in FIG. 2, the upper case 31 has a support hole 21 that rotatably supports a print tape spool 37 (see FIG. 3) in which the print tape 70 is wound with the release paper 75 facing outward. And a support hole 22 for supporting a light-shielding tape take-up spool 38 for winding a light-shielding tape 71 described later. As shown in FIG. 3, similarly to the upper case 31, the lower case 32 is also formed with support holes (not shown) that face the support holes 21 and 22.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, on the front side surface of the tape cassette 30, an arm shape for sending the print tape 70 drawn out from the print tape spool 37 from the opening 10A to a thermal head opening 39 to be described later. The printing tape guide 10 is extended. Further, in the vicinity of the opening portion 10A of the printing tape guide portion 10, it is formed surrounded by the printing tape guide portion 10 and the wall portion 23 facing the printing tape guide portion 10, and the thermal head 11 is inserted. A thermal head opening 39 is provided.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, in the running direction of the printing tape 70, a support hole 24 penetrating in the vertical direction is provided on the downstream side of the thermal head opening 39, and inside the support hole 24, the tape A feed roller 25 is rotatably supported. The tape feed roller 25 serves to draw out the print tape 70 from the print tape spool 37 in cooperation with the tape feed roller 43 provided in the tape printer 1 disposed opposite to the tape feed roller 25. Is. In addition, a pair of upper and lower regulating members 26 and 27 are provided in the vicinity of the tape feed roller 25 and upstream of the printing tape 70 in the running direction. Each of the regulating members 26 and 27 regulates the print tape 70 on which characters and the like are printed on the downstream side of the thermal head 11 in the width direction, and guides the print tape 70 toward the tape discharge port 41. . Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the light shielding tape 71 is peeled off and separated from the print tape 70 conveyed through the thermal head opening 39 inside each of the regulating members 26 and 27. A light shielding tape separation unit 15 is provided for guiding the light shielding tape 71 toward the light shielding tape take-up spool 38.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a cassette detection unit 20 is formed at the right rear edge position of the tape cassette 30 (upper right side in FIGS. 1 and 2). The cassette detector 20 includes a plurality of switches having a predetermined pattern for detecting the type of the tape cassette 30 (for example, the type of the tape cassette 30 is specified by the width, color, etc. of the printing tape 70). A hole 20A is formed. The formation pattern of the switch holes 20 </ b> A is different according to the type of each tape cassette 30. Each of these switch holes 20A is detected based on a combination of ON / OFF states of a plurality of detection switches 44 provided on the tape printer 1 side.

  Next, the internal structure of the tape cassette 30 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the lower case 32 of the tape cassette 30 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape in plan view, and a side wall 32A is erected on the outer periphery thereof. A printing tape spool 37 around which the printing tape 70 is wound is rotatably provided on the left half portion of the lower case 32. The printing tape spool 37 is wound around the printing tape spool 37 so that the printing tape 70 can be pulled out clockwise. Yes. Details of the structure of the printing tape 70 will be described later. Further, a columnar rear guide pin 14 that guides the transported print tape 70 is erected on the right end front portion of the lower case 32, and in the vicinity of the rear guide pin 14 and on the front side, the print tape 70. A front guide pin 16 is installed to guide the printer in the direction of the print tape guide 10.

  Further, a light shielding tape take-up spool 38 for winding the light shielding tape 71 separated from the print tape 70 is provided in the vicinity of the print tape spool 37 on the line connecting the front guide pin 16 and the center of the print tape spool 37. The light shielding tape take-up spool 38 is driven counterclockwise in the state shown in FIG. 3 by the light shielding tape take-up shaft 9 shown in FIG.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the print tape 70 is connected to the thermal head opening 39 at the left end of the print tape guide portion 10 formed in an arm shape (end on the transport direction side of the print tape 70). An opening 10A, which is an opening for discharging toward the inserted thermal head 11, is formed. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a light shielding tape is provided on the inside of the regulating member 27 in the vicinity of the tape feeding roller 25 and on the portion facing the opening 10A of the print tape guide portion 10 with the heat generating portion 11A of the thermal head 11 therebetween. A separation portion 15 is formed. The light-shielding tape separating portion 15 is a plate-like member having a width equal to or larger than the printing tape 70 in the thickness direction of the tape cassette 30 (paper surface direction in FIG. 3), and is vertically erected from the lower case 32. Is formed in an arc shape. Further, the plate surface of the light shielding tape separating portion 15 is slightly inclined in the direction of the light shielding tape take-up spool, is discharged from the opening 10A of the printing tape guide portion 10, and is peeled off from the printing tape 70 printed by heating by the thermal head 11. The light shielding tape 71 is guided in the direction of the light shielding tape take-up spool 38. In the tape cassette 30, the tip of the light shielding tape 71 peeled off from the printing tape 70 is wound around the light shielding tape take-up spool 38 in advance even in an unused state.

  As shown in FIG. 3, during printing, the printing tape 70 is pressed against the heat generating portion 11 </ b> A of the thermal head 11 by the swinging platen roller 13, and the light shielding tape 71 is separated by the light shielding tape separation portion 15. The print tape 70 is pressed by a tape feed roller 25 provided in the tape cassette 30 by a swinging tape feed roller 43. The print tape 70 is discharged from the tape discharge port 41 to the outside of the tape cassette 30.

  Next, the structure of the print tape 70 as a “print medium” will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section in the thickness direction of the printing tape 70. As shown in FIG. 4, the printing tape 70 is formed in a five-layer structure, and a base film 73 as a “base material” made of a synthetic resin such as polyimide or PET is provided as a core material in a central layer. The base film 73 has a thickness of about 100 μm as an example, and gives the printing tape 70 sufficient tensile strength.

Further, on the upper side (in FIG. 4) of the base film 73, there is formed a heat-sensitive color developing layer 72 that develops color by heating the heat generating portion 11A of the thermal head 11 and fixes by exposure. As an example, the heat-sensitive color developing layer 72 is formed by laminating three color developing layers that color yellow, magenta, and cyan on a base film 73. For example, the yellow coloring layer includes a yellow dye material encapsulated in a microcapsule and a coupler, and the yellow dye material and the coupler pass through the microcapsule when a thermal energy of 20 mJ / mm ² or more is applied. As a result, both colors react and develop color. Further, the yellow coloring layer is fixed by being irradiated with light having a wavelength of 420 nm, whereby the unreacted yellow coloring material is decomposed and no further coloring occurs. The magenta coloring layer includes a magenta dye material encapsulated in a microcapsule and a coupler, and the magenta dye material and the coupler pass through the microcapsule when a thermal energy of 40 mJ / mm ² or more is applied. And both react to develop color. Further, the magenta coloring layer is fixed by being irradiated with light having a wavelength of 365 nm, the unreacted magenta coloring material is decomposed and no further coloring occurs.

Further, the cyan coloring layer includes a cyan dye material encapsulated in the microcapsule and a coupler, and the cyan dye material and the coupler are transmitted through the microcapsule by applying heat energy of 80 mJ / mm ² or more. And both react to develop color. In the cyan coloring layer, the unreacted cyan dye material is decomposed by light irradiation with a wavelength of 300 nm, and no further color is developed, and the cyan coloring layer is fixed. The above microcapsules contain a diazo compound, and it is known that the absorption maximum wavelength of the diazo compound varies from about 200 nm to about 700 nm depending on its chemical structure (“photodecomposition of photosensitive diazonium salt”). And “Chemical Structure” by Takahiro Tsunoda and Ikuo Yamaoka, Journal of the Japanese Society of Photography, 29 (4) pp. 197-205 (1965)). That is, when a diazo compound is used as a photodegradable compound, it is decomposed by light having a specific wavelength corresponding to its chemical structure. Therefore, the above coloring layer is fixed when irradiated with ultraviolet rays.

  A light shielding tape 71 as a “light shielding sheet” is provided on the upper side (in FIG. 4) of the heat-sensitive color developing layer 72 of the printing tape 70. The light shielding tape 71 is a tape made of a heat-transferable metal material formed in a thin film thinner than the thickness of the base film 73. As an example of the light shielding tape 71, an aluminum foil or a tin foil, which is a metal material having high thermal conductivity, can be used. As an example of the thickness of the light shielding tape 71, it is sufficient if the thickness is about 10 μm to 50 μm. It can serve the function of shading. A synthetic resin thin film (not shown) for reinforcing the strength of the light shielding tape 71 is formed on the front side of the light shielding tape 71 (upper side in FIG. 3). An agent layer is formed, and a light shielding tape 71 is detachably attached to the heat-sensitive color developing layer 72.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, an adhesive layer 74 is formed below the base film 73 (in FIG. 4), and below the adhesive layer 74 (in FIG. 4). A release paper 75 that can be peeled off from the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 74 is attached.

  Next, a printing operation in the tape printing apparatus 1 using the tape cassette 30 in which the printing tape 70 having the above configuration is accommodated will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 3, and 5 to 7. FIG. FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the printing tape 70 showing a state in which the thermal head 11 of the tape printer 1 is in contact with the printing tape 70 and printing is performed. FIG. 6 shows only the light shielding tape 71 from the printing tape 70 after printing. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a state in which the thermosensitive coloring layer 72 is exposed and fixed after the shading tape 71 is peeled off from the printing tape 70.

  First, as shown in FIG. 1, the storage cover 12 of the tape printer 1 is opened, the tape cassette 30 is attached to the tape cassette storage unit 8, the storage cover 12 is closed, and the storage cover 12 is locked by a lock 18. To do. Then, the type of the printing tape 70 accommodated in the tape cassette 30 is discriminated by the tape printing apparatus 1 by the cassette detection unit 20 of the tape cassette 30. Next, when a desired character is input by the document input key 2 of the keyboard 6 and the print key 3 is pressed, the tape printer 1 causes the heating tape 11 to be applied to the print tape 70 by the heat generating portion 11A of the thermal head 11 as shown in FIG. Heat from above the light-shielding tape 71. As a result, a color development portion 76 is formed in the thermosensitive color development layer 72 in accordance with the amount of heat applied.

  Next, the print tape 70 is conveyed toward the tape discharge port 41 by the cooperation of the tape feed roller 25 and the tape feed roller 43 shown in FIG. At this time, the shading tape take-up spool 38 rotates counterclockwise by driving the shading tape take-up shaft 9. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, the light shielding tape 71 is separated from the printing tape 70 by the light shielding tape separation unit 15, and is conveyed toward the light shielding tape take-up spool 38 as shown in FIG. 3. The light-shielding tape is taken up on a take-up spool 38.

  Thereafter, the print tape 70 from which the light shielding tape 71 has been separated is discharged from the tape discharge port 41 of the tape cassette 30, discharged to the outside from the tape discharge port 45 of the tape printer 1, and cut by a cutter mechanism (not shown). It becomes a label. At this time, as shown in FIG. 7, the thermosensitive coloring layer 72 is exposed by sunlight or the like, and the coloring portion 76 is fixed.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made. For example, the present invention can be applied not only to the integrated tape printer 1 provided with the keyboard 6 but also to a tape printer provided only with a printing unit used by being connected to a personal computer. Further, the printing medium is not limited to the printing tape 70 described above, and any printing medium may be used as long as it has a thermosensitive coloring layer on the surface and can automatically peel off the light shielding sheet provided on the thermosensitive coloring layer.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the tape printer 1 with the storage cover 12 of the tape cassette storage unit 8 opened. It is a tape cassette 30 perspective view. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the internal configuration of the tape cassette 30 with the upper case 31 removed. 2 is a longitudinal section of the printing tape 70 in the thickness direction. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the printing tape 70 showing a state in which the thermal head 11 of the tape printer 1 is in contact with the printing tape 70 for printing. FIG. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the printing tape 70 showing a state where only the light shielding tape 71 is separated from the printing tape 70 after printing. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a heat-sensitive color developing layer 72 is exposed and fixed after the light shielding tape 71 is peeled off from the printing tape 70.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Tape printer 8 Tape cassette accommodating part 9 Shading tape winding shaft 10 Printing tape guide part 11 Thermal head 11A Heating part 12 Storage cover 13 Platen roller 14 Rear guide pin 15 Light shielding tape separation part 16 Front guide pin 21 Support hole 22 Support hole 24 Support hole 25 Tape feed roller 30 Tape cassette 31 Upper case 32 Lower case 37 Printing tape spool 38 Shading tape take-up spool 39 Thermal head opening 41 Tape discharge port 43 Tape feed roller 45 Tape discharge port 70 Printing tape 71 Light blocking Tape 72 Thermosensitive coloring layer 73 Base film 74 Adhesive layer 75 Release paper 76 Coloring part

Claims (5)

A thermosensitive coloring layer provided on a substrate, which develops color when heated and fixes by exposure;
Releasably provided on the thermosensitive coloring layer, and a light shielding sheet that blocks light to the thermosensitive coloring layer, before Symbol light shielding sheet from the print media that is thermally conductive configured to the thermosensitive coloring layer A tape cassette that is detachable from a printing device equipped with a thermal head,
An opening into which the thermal head is inserted;
With respect to the heating element provided in the thermal head, on the downstream side in the tape conveyance direction, a separation unit that separates the base material and the light shielding sheet;
A light shielding sheet take-up part that winds up the light shielding sheet separated by the separation part,
A tape cassette in which a tape spool around which the tape is wound is disposed so that the light shielding sheet faces the heating element of the thermal head . The tape cassette according to claim 1, wherein the light shielding sheet is made of a metal material capable of transferring heat. . 3. The tape cassette according to claim 1, wherein the light shielding sheet is formed of a sheet that is thinner than the base material and capable of transferring heat. 4. The adhesive layer is provided on the side opposite to the side on which the thermosensitive coloring layer is formed of the base material, and release paper is adhered to the adhesive layer. The tape cassette described. A printing apparatus to which the tape cassette according to any one of claims 1 to 4 is detachably mounted,
The thermal head;
A platen disposed opposite to the thermal head across the tape;
A light shielding sheet take-up unit driving device for driving the light shielding sheet take-up unit,
The thermal coloring layer and the light shielding sheet of the tape are separated on the downstream side in the tape conveying direction with respect to the thermal head,
The separated light shielding sheet is wound around the light shielding sheet winding unit driven by the light shielding sheet winding unit driving device,
The printing apparatus is characterized in that the tape on which the light-shielding sheet is separated and the heat-sensitive coloring layer is exposed is discharged from a tape discharge port, and the color is fixed by exposure.

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