Tape cartridge and tape printing device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016368294-A1
Application number	US-201515122203-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 19, 2015
Priority date	Mar 24, 2014
Publication date	Dec 22, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A tape cartridge or the like which can be pulled out of a cartridge loading section while maintaining a loading posture is to be provided. A tape cartridge is configured to be able to be loaded in and unloaded from a tape printing device. The tape cartridge includes a tab portion which is gripped at least at the time of unloading. The tab portion is arranged at or near a position where pull-out resistance due to unloading is balanced within a plane intersecting with an unloading direction.

First claim

1 . A tape cartridge configured to be able to be loaded in and unloaded from a tape printing device, the tape cartridge comprising
a tab portion which is gripped at least at the time of unloading, wherein the tab portion is arranged at or near a position where pull-out resistance due to unloading is balanced within a plane intersecting with an unloading direction.

2 . The tape cartridge according to claim 1 , further comprising a recessed portion which is provided in a case wall situated on a front side in the direction of the unloading and in which the tab portion sinks.

3 . The tape cartridge according to claim 2 , wherein the tab portion is provided in the recessed portion in such a way as to be able to rise and fall between a rise-up position where the tab portion protrudes from the recessed portion and a fall-down position where the tab portion sinks in the recessed portion.

4 . The tape cartridge according to claim 3 , wherein the recessed portion is provided with a rise-up energizing portion which energizes the tab portion toward the rise-up position.

5 . The tape cartridge according to claim 2 , wherein the tab portion is provided in the recessed portion in such a way as to be able to advance and retreat between a gripping position where the tab portion protrudes from the recessed portion and a non-gripping position where the tab portion sinks in the recessed portion.

6 . The tape cartridge according to claim 5 , wherein the recessed portion is provided with a protrusion energizing portion which energizes the tab portion toward the gripping position.

7 . The tape cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the tab portion has a rough portion for slip-proofing.

8 . The tape cartridge according to claim 6 , further comprising a lock mechanism which holds the tab portion at the non-gripping position.

9 . A tape printing device comprising a cartridge loading section in which the tape cartridge according to claim 1 is loaded in an unloadable manner.

Assignees

• Seiko Epson Corp

Inventors

• Sakano Hideki
• Kosuge Shinsaku

Classifications

• B41J15/044 Primary

  Cassettes or cartridges containing continuous copy material, tape, for setting into printing devices · CPC title

• B41J17/36

  Alarms, indicators, or feed-disabling devices responsible to material breakage or exhaustion · CPC title

• B41J32/00

  Ink-ribbon cartridges · CPC title

• B41J35/16

  Multicolour arrangements · CPC title

• B41J33/10

  Arrangements of endless ribbons · CPC title