CN101264701A

CN101264701A - Lettering tape, tape cassette, tape printer

Info

Publication number: CN101264701A
Application number: CNA2008100837928A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 山口晃志郎; 加藤努
Original assignee: Brother Industries Ltd
Current assignee: Brother Industries Ltd
Priority date: 2007-03-12
Filing date: 2008-03-11
Publication date: 2008-09-17
Also published as: JP2008221553A

Abstract

A lettering tape is formed having an integrated layered configuration in which a base layer, an ink layer, and an adhesive layer exhibiting adhesive properties when heated are sequentially stacked. When the lettering tape is selectively heated by a thermal head to form an image thereon, the heated portion of the ink layer onto which an image has been formed is adhered to the heated portion of the adhesive layer and simultaneously, the heated portion of the adhesive layer exhibits self-adhesive properties, thereby enabling transfer to the target transfer body.

Description

Printing tape, tape cassette, and tape printer

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on and claims priority from prior Japanese patent applications No. 2007-061375, 2007-154946, 2007-6-12, and 2007-155199, 2007-6-12, which are filed on 3-12, 2007, and which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

Technical Field

One or more aspects of the present invention relate to an instant print ribbon.

Background

In general, printing is performed by impressing a transfer image such as characters and graphic symbols formed on a transfer paper (including a transfer material) prepared in advance on a receiving surface of an arbitrary transfer body, and then peeling off the transfer paper to transfer the image. Transfer paper on which such a simple printing operation can be performed is also called instant printing paper. Various techniques using such transfer paper have been conventionally proposed.

In addition to this, there is also known a technique in which an ink ribbon for producing a dry transfer material is used in a thermal type printer, a typewriter, a word processor, and the like, and is capable of transferring and printing even on a surface having low wettability and strong releasability. With such an ink ribbon, a transfer image obtained by thermal transfer to a transfer body (transfer paper) can be efficiently retransferred to a second transfer body as a transfer target by applying pressure thereto.

Techniques for using heat-seal labels that exhibit self-adhesion when heated include: a band-shaped heat-seal label is used which has a print face and an adhesive face on the opposite side of the print face and to which an adhesive is fixed. According to these techniques, after printing is performed on a printing surface using an ink jet type printing method, an adhesive of a heat-seal label is melted into a viscous state, and ink printed on the heat-seal label is dried off at the same time.

According to the background art described above, any user can use existing devices such as a thermal transfer printer, and the above-described ink ribbon for producing a dry transfer material to produce a desired tape or paper of their choice for instant printing, and therefore can have a high degree of freedom. However, with such a tape/paper for instant printing, an image formed on an ink layer of an ink ribbon is transferred to a first transfer body (transfer paper), and then, by applying pressure to the image using a transfer tool, the image of the ink layer including a colorant, a binder, and an adhesive is simply transferred to a target second transfer body. Here, although the ink layer contains a binder, it has substantially no binder layer, which means that its adhesion is weak. When a user transfers an ink layer image in a first transfer body (transfer paper) by applying pressure to the image using a transfer tool or the like, the application of pressure differs depending on each user. Therefore, depending on the user, the ink layer image in the first transfer body (transfer sheet) is not always completely transferred, which results in the transfer having a so-called transfer patch where a minute omission locally occurs. Also, since the same user cannot always apply the same pressure to the image of the ink layer in the first transfer body (transfer sheet) even if the same user does not always, a problem arises in that: transfer without transfer spots cannot always be achieved.

The above-described technique of heat-sealing labels does not include the idea of producing a tape or paper for instant printing.

Here, if the user cannot recognize the contents to be printed on the print tape before transferring the print tape, the print tape may be unexpectedly and erroneously transferred. Also, if the content to be printed is printed on release paper or the like, a new process of printing the content to be printed on the release paper is required.

Also, although the user can recognize the contents to be printed on the print tape, if the user cannot recognize the colors to be printed on the print tape before transferring the print tape, the print tape may be erroneously transferred.

Also, when a printing operation is performed on a printing paper having an adhesive layer, the adhesive may go beyond the paper end and the adhesive may be transferred (adhered) to the thermal head or the platen roller. Further, when a printing operation is performed using an ink ribbon, ink of the ink ribbon may adhere to the thermal head or the platen roller.

Disclosure of Invention

One or more aspects of the present invention have been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object to overcome the above problems by providing an instant printing tape having a tape formed by sequentially stacking a base layer, an ink layer, and an adhesive layer exhibiting self-adhesiveness upon being heated, wherein the adhesive layer dedicated at the time of transfer is exposed on the surface thereof. The tape is heated to form an image on the ink layer, and after the adhesive layer becomes tacky, the tape is stuck to the objective transfer body. This self-adhesion exhibited by the adhesive layer when heated enables any user to effect transfer without transfer spots at any time.

Also, one or more aspects of the present invention have an object to provide an instant printing tape in which a user can recognize contents and/or colors to be printed on the printing tape before transferring the printing tape.

Also, one or more aspects of the present invention have an object to provide an instant printing tape capable of preventing an adhesive of the printing tape or ink of an ink ribbon from adhering to a thermal head or a platen roller.

To achieve the above object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing tape comprising: a base layer; an ink layer; an adhesive layer that exhibits self-adhesiveness when heated; wherein the base layer, the ink layer, and the adhesive layer are sequentially stacked, the heated portion of the ink layer is adhered to the heated portion of the adhesive layer when the printing tape is selectively heated by the heat-generating body, and the heated portion of the ink layer and the heated portion of the adhesive layer are transferred to the target transfer body when the heated printing tape is adhered to the target transfer body and then the printing tape is removed.

In the above printing tape, a printing tape having an integral layered structure in which a base layer, an ink layer, and an adhesive layer exhibiting self-adhesiveness when heated are sequentially stacked is provided, so that when the printing tape is selectively heated by a heat-generating body to form an image thereon, the heated portion of the ink layer on which the image is formed adheres to the heated portion of the adhesive layer, and at the same time, the heated portion of the adhesive layer exhibits self-adhesiveness, thereby converting the printing tape itself into a printing tape capable of being transferred to a target transfer body.

Thus, a desired printing tape can be obtained by simply directly heating the printing tape by means of the heat-generating body. Therefore, since it is no longer necessary to transfer images formed by ink layers of different ink ribbons to a transfer sheet and then perform second-stage transfer of the images to a target transfer body (as conventionally done), handling of the print ribbon becomes simple. Also, since the second stage transfer is not required, the transfer quality can be improved.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a tape cassette in which the tape roll according to claim 3 is mounted.

In the above tape cassette, the tape cassette accommodates the print tape roll in the cassette case.

Therefore, the tape cassette can be set in a state capable of printing by a simple operation of mounting the tape cassette in the cassette mounting portion of the printer. Further, winding the print tape in the tape cassette before being provided to the user can prevent the user from erroneously recognizing the front and back surfaces of the tape and erroneously setting the print tape in the printer.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a tape printer comprising: a cartridge mounting portion; a thermal head; and a platen roller; a tape cassette including a printing tape which includes a base layer, an ink layer, and an adhesive layer exhibiting self-adhesiveness when heated, the base layer, the ink layer, and the adhesive layer being stacked in this order, the side of the base layer in the printing tape abutting on a thermal head when the tape cassette is mounted in a tape printer, and a heated portion of the ink layer adhering to a heated portion of the adhesive layer when the printing tape is selectively heated by the thermal head.

In the above tape printer, the tape cassette including the printing tape is detachable. Here, the printing tape includes a base layer, an ink layer, and an adhesive layer that exhibits self-adhesiveness when heated, and the base layer, the ink layer, and the adhesive layer are sequentially stacked. Also, when the tape cassette is mounted in the tape printer, the side of the base layer in the print tape abuts against the thermal head. When the print tape is selectively heated by the thermal head, the heated portion of the ink layer adheres to the heated portion of the adhesive layer.

Drawings

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the objects, advantages and principles of the invention.

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing an external appearance of a printer according to the present embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the printer with the main body lower cover removed therefrom for illustrating the cartridge mounting section in which the tape cartridge is mounted.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the printer for illustrating the mounting of the tape cassette in the cassette mounting part of the printer.

Fig. 4 is an explanatory diagram for illustrating a state of the printer in which the tape cassette is mounted in the printing unit constituted by the thermal head and the platen roller, and the upper cover of the tape cassette is removed.

Fig. 5 is a block diagram showing a control structure of the printer.

Fig. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a process of producing a transferable printing tape in a printer and then transferring it to a transfer body.

Fig. 7 is a view for describing a process of forming a transferable printing tape having a heat-sensitive color fixing agent coated on a surface of a base layer thereof in a printer and then transferring the tape to a transfer body.

Fig. 8 is a side sectional view showing the positional relationship of the print tape, the thermal head, and the platen roller.

Fig. 9 is a side sectional view showing the positional relationship of the print tape, the thermal head, and the platen roller.

Fig. 10 shows the range of applying the adhesive.

Fig. 11 is a side sectional view showing the positional relationship of the print tape, the thermal head, and the platen roller.

Fig. 12 is a side sectional view showing the positional relationship of the print tape, the thermal head, and the platen roller.

Detailed Description

The various aspects summarized previously may be embodied in various forms. The following description illustrates by way of example various combinations and configurations in which aspects may be practiced. It is to be understood that the described aspects and/or embodiments are merely examples, that other aspects and/or embodiments may be utilized, and that structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

It should be noted that various connections between objects are set forth in the following description. It should be noted that these connections may in general be direct or indirect, unless specified otherwise, and the specification is not intended to be limiting in this regard.

Exemplary embodiments of a printing tape and a printer according to the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, the schematic structures of the print tape and the printer according to the present invention will be described below based on fig. 1 to 5.

As shown in fig. 1, the printer 1 of the present embodiment includes a keyboard 4 provided in a body upper case 3 of the body 2. Then, a liquid crystal display 5 (hereinafter, referred to as an LCD) is disposed on the upper side of the keyboard. The LCD5 is adapted to display characters, symbols, and the like input from the keyboard 4.

The top row of the above-described keyboard 4 includes, from left to right, a power on/off key 6 that turns on and off the power, a left arrow key 7, an execution key 8, a right arrow key 9, and a print key 11, the left arrow key 7 moving a cursor 5A displayed on the LCD5 and selecting candidates at the time of kanji conversion and at the time of function selection, the execution key 8 determining a character from characters in a negative display and a flash display on the LCD5 and determining options at the time of kanji conversion and at the time of function setting, the right arrow key 9 moving the cursor 5A displayed on the LCD5 and selecting candidates at the time of kanji conversion and at the time of function setting, the print key 11 printing an input text to a ribbon 10 to be described later.

In the lower row, the keyboard 4 includes, from left to right, a lower case letter key 12, a katakana conversion/line end key, a kanji conversion/space key 14, and a cancel/delete key 15, the lower case letter key 12 converting letters to lower case input, the katakana conversion/line end key converting any kana characters (if any) in the negative display and the flash display on the LCD5 into katakana and inserting a new line if there is no negative display and flash display, the kanji conversion/space key 14 converting kana characters in the negative display and the flash display on the LCD5 into kanji, and the cancel/delete key 15 deleting characters on the left side of the cursor 5A displayed on the LCD5 if there are no characters in the negative display and the flash display or if letters and numeric characters are input and a space is input, and cancels the setting operation to return to the input screen at the time of function setting.

In the following rows, the keyboard comprises a set of keys 16 for entering kana, kanji, alphabetic characters and symbols. Each of the keys in the character key set 16 is assigned a plurality of characters. Character candidates are switched in a circular input manner by successively pressing the same key. An input switching key 17 is provided at the lower right corner of the character key group 16, and the input switching key 17 switches the character input mode to kana, numeric characters, and alphabetic characters in a circular input manner.

On the lower side of the character key group 16, the keyboard 4 includes, from left to right, a style key 18, which style key 18 sets a font, a character size, a character decoration, a decoration frame, a blank area of the ribbon 10, a storage key 19, which illustration key 19 calls an illustration menu when inputting a symbol or pictogram, a tape feed key 21, which tape feed key 21 preliminarily feeds the ribbon 10 of a predetermined length, and a storage key 20, which records and calls a text in and from a memory.

A tape cutting flat bar 22 is provided in an upper side wall (upper side in fig. 2) of the body 2 to cut the printed printing tape 10.

Next, as shown in fig. 2, two recessed portions are formed in the body lower case 24 from which the body lower cover 23 has been detached (see fig. 3). One of these recessed portions (lower side in fig. 2) has a battery mounting part 25, and a plurality of batteries are mounted in this battery mounting part 25 to supply power to the printer 1. The other recessed portion (upper side in fig. 2) has a cartridge mounting portion 27, and a tape cartridge 26 (see fig. 3 and 4) to be described later is detachably mounted in the cartridge mounting portion 27.

A thermal head 30 is mounted on the upper side of the cartridge mounting portion 27, the thermal head 30 having a plurality of heating elements 29 (see fig. 5) provided in a heat radiation plate 28, the heat radiation plate 28 being provided in an upright posture on a frame, not shown. The platen roller 33 is rotatably mounted in a platen roller holder 32 at a position facing the thermal head 30, the platen roller holder 32 being rotatably mounted with respect to a rotating shaft 31 (see fig. 4), the rotating shaft 31 being provided in an upright posture in a frame, not shown. The platen roller 33 is generally formed of a material including synthetic rubber such as silicone, EPDM, or the like in view of heat resistance, weather resistance, prevention of adhesion of an adhesive, and the like. In any case, by separating the platen roller 11 from the adhesive with the release paper 61 to be described later, the selection range of the material for the platen roller can be expanded.

At the upper left side of the cartridge mounting portion 27, a cartridge positioning rib 34 is provided in an upright posture on a frame, not shown. The cartridge positioning rib 34 is capable of positioning the tape cartridge 26 (see fig. 3) when the tape cartridge 26 is mounted in the cartridge mounting section 27.

Also, on the left side of the cartridge positioning rib 34, a cartridge locking claw 37 is provided in an upright posture on the body lower case 24, and therefore the tape cartridge 26 is fixed in the cartridge mounting section 27 when the tape cartridge 26 is mounted in the cartridge mounting section 27. The cartridge locking claw 37 is locked and fixed in a locking groove 36 (see fig. 3), the locking groove 36 being formed in a side wall of the cartridge lower case 35 (see fig. 3) of the tape cartridge 26. Meanwhile, the cartridge locking claw 38 is provided on the body lower case 24 in an upright posture at a predetermined distance from the lower side of the cartridge locking claw 37. At a right-side end portion of the cartridge mounting portion 27 facing the cartridge locking claw 37, a cartridge locking claw 39 is provided on the body lower case 24 in an upright posture to fix the tape cartridge 26 in the cartridge mounting portion 27 when the tape cartridge 26 is mounted in the cartridge mounting portion 27. The cartridge locking claw 39 is locked and fixed in a locking groove, not shown, formed in a side wall of the cartridge lower case 35 (see fig. 3) of the tape cartridge 26.

A tape discriminating sensor 40 for discriminating the type of the tape cassette 26 is provided on the lower side of the cassette mounting portion 27. The belt discrimination sensor 40 is constituted by a plurality of mechanical switches such as micro switches, and is set to open the switches when the switches are pressed. When the tape cassette 26 is not mounted in the cassette mounting section 27, all the mechanical switches are off.

The tape feeding pulse motor 41 is disposed at the lower side in the vertical direction with respect to the plane of the platen roller 33. When the platen roller 33 and the thermal head 30 are in contact, the tape feeding pulse motor 41 is coupled to the platen roller through an unillustrated idler gear, and the platen roller 33 is rotated by rotating the tape feeding pulse motor 41.

A cover locking hole 42 is provided on the upper side of the right side end portion of the body lower case 24, a cover locking hole 43 is provided on the lower side of the right side end portion of the body lower case 24, and a cover locking hole 44 is provided in the center of the left side end portion to mount the body lower cover 23 in the body lower case 24. A discharge port 45 for discharging the printing tape 10 is provided in the side wall of the body 2 on the left extension line of the heat radiation plate 28 on which the thermal head 20 is mounted.

Fig. 3 shows a state in which the body lower cover 23 is detached from the body lower case 24 and the tape cassette 26 is to be mounted in the cassette mounting section 27.

Lid locking claws

46, 47, and 48 are provided in the body lower lid 23 at positions facing the lid locking holes 42, 43, and 44 provided in the body lower shell 24. When the body lower cover 23 is mounted in the body lower case 24, the cover locking claws 46 are locked into the cover locking holes 42, and the cover locking claws 47 are locked into the cover locking holes 43, whereby the cover locking claws 48 are locked into the cover locking holes 44. If the body lower cover 23 is detached from the body lower case 24, the lock release button 49 integrated with the cover locking claw 48 is rotated while applying pressure on the lock release button 49 in the arrow a direction, with the cover locking claw 46 and the cover locking claw 47 as supports, and thus the lock between the cover locking hole 44 and the cover locking claw 48 is released. When the body lower cover 23 is lifted while the lock release button 49 is turned, the locks between the

cover locking claws

46 and 47 and the

cover locking holes

42 and 43 are released, whereby the body lower cover 23 can be detached from the body lower cover 24.

Since the platen roller 33 mounted in the platen roller holder 32 is pressed against the thermal head 30 when the body lower cover has been detached, the platen roller holder 32 is released from the pressure of the platen roller holder pressure rib 50, which platen roller holder pressure rib 50 is provided on the body lower cover 23 in an upright posture and pressed against the platen roller holder 32, whereby the platen roller holder 32 is moved away from the thermal head 30 by an elastic member, not shown. Then the platen roller 33, which is also installed in the platen roller holder 32, is moved away from the thermal head 30, thereby forming a space between the platen roller 33 and the thermal head 30. Therefore, when the tape cassette 26 is mounted in the cassette mounting section 27, the print tape 10 can be securely disposed between the platen roller 33 and the thermal head 30.

As shown in fig. 3, the tape cassette 26 has a structure in which the printing tape 10 is housed in a cassette case 52 formed by a cassette lower case 35 and a cassette upper cover 51. When the tape cassette 26 is mounted in the cassette mounting section 27, the opening portion 53 and the cassette positioning hole 54 are provided in the cassette case 52. The opening portion 53 accommodates the thermal head 30 provided in the cartridge mounting portion 27, and the cartridge positioning hole 54 accommodates the cartridge positioning rib 34 provided in the cartridge mounting portion 27. Further, a remaining tape confirmation hole 55 is provided in the cartridge upper cover 51, and the remaining amount of the printing tape 10 can be confirmed through the remaining tape confirmation hole 55. Also, a label 56 is applied to the cartridge cover 51, the label 56 indicating the type of the tape cartridge 26. The body lower cover 23 is provided with a confirmation window 57, and even when the body lower cover 23 is mounted on the body lower case 24, the confirmation window 57 allows confirmation of the presence or absence of the tape cassette 26, the type of the tape cassette 26, and the remaining amount of the printing tape 10.

When the tape cassette 26 is mounted in the cassette mounting portion 27, the tape cassette 26 is mounted in the cassette mounting portion 27 in the arrow B direction. First, the cartridge positioning hole 54 of the tape cartridge 26 is aligned with the cartridge positioning rib 34 of the cartridge mounting portion 27, and the opening portion 53 of the tape cartridge 26 is aligned with the heat radiation plate 28 of the cartridge mounting portion 27 including the thermal head 30, and thereafter, the tape cartridge 26 is pressed in the direction of the arrow B. The tape cassette 26 is pressed until a click is heard, at which time the cassette locking pawl 37 and the cassette locking pawl 38 lock into a locking groove 36 provided in a side wall of the cassette lower case 35 of the tape cassette 26, and the cassette locking pawl 39 locks into a locking groove, not shown, provided in a side wall of the cassette lower case 35 of the tape cassette 26. The click sound means that the tape cassette 26 has been mounted and fixed in the cassette mounting portion 27 by the cassette locking pawl 37, the cassette locking pawl 38, and the cassette locking pawl 39. Then, when the body lower cover 23 is detached from the body lower case 24 as described above, a space is formed between the platen roller 33 and the thermal head 30, so that the print tape 10 is firmly disposed between the platen roller 33 and the thermal head 30 when the tape cassette 26 is mounted in the cassette mounting section 27.

The

cover locking claws

46 and 47 of the body lower cover 23 are inserted into the

cover locking holes

42 and 43 of the body lower case 24, and at the same time, the body lower cover 23 is rotated with respect to the body lower case 24 in which the existing tape cassette 26 is mounted in the cassette mounting portion 27 with the

cover locking claws

46 and 47 as supports. The body lower cover 23 is mounted in the body lower case 24 by inserting and locking the cover locking claws 48 of the body lower cover 23 into the cover locking holes 44 of the body lower case 24.

At this time, the platen roller holder 32 is pressed onto the thermal head 30 side by the platen roller holder pressing rib 50 provided in the body lower cover 23, so that the platen roller 33 provided in the platen roller holder 32 presses the thermal head 30 through the print tape 10. A flexible member, not shown, is also provided in the platen roller 33 to press the platen roller 33 to the thermal head 30 side. As a result, it is possible to adjust the excess or deficiency of the pressure when the platen roller holder pressing rib 50 presses the platen roller holder 32, thereby always enabling appropriate printing.

In this way, the printer 1 is completely ready for printing on the print ribbon 10.

The internal structure of the tape cassette 26 and the structure of the printing tape 10 will be described with reference to fig. 4.

The state of the tape cassette 26 shown in fig. 4 will be described. As described above, when the body lower cover 23 is detached from the body lower cover 24, the platen roller holder 32 is released from the pressing force of the platen roller holder pressing rib 50 provided on the body lower cover 23 in the upright posture, thereby rotating the platen roller holder 32 about the rotating shaft provided on the frame, not shown, in the upright posture, so that the platen roller holder 32 is moved away from the thermal head 30 by the flexible member, not shown. At the same time, the platen roller 33 mounted in the platen roller holder 32 is moved away from the thermal head 30, thereby forming a space between the platen roller 33 and the thermal head 30. Here, the tape cassette 26 is pressed in the space by the print tape 10 while aligning the cassette positioning hole 54 of the tape cassette 26 with the cassette positioning rib 34 of the cassette mounting portion 27 and while aligning the opening portion 53 of the tape cassette 26 with the heat radiation plate 28 including the thermal head 30 in the cassette mounting portion 27, thereby mounting the tape cassette 26 in the cassette locking claw 37, the cassette locking claw 38, and the cassette locking claw 39 of the cassette mounting portion 27. Thereafter, when the body lower cover 23 is mounted in the body lower case 24, the platen roller holder 32 is pressed again by the platen roller holder pressing rib 50 provided on the body lower cover 23 in an upright posture, so that the platen roller 33 presses the thermal head 30 through the print tape 10. Fig. 4 shows a state in which the cartridge upper cover 51 is detached from the tape cartridge 26.

Next, an enlarged view of the print tape 10 shown in fig. 4 will be described. The printing tape 10 is configured to include: a base layer 58, the base layer 58 being formed of a polyester, polycarbonate or polyphenylene sulfide film or the like having an allowable temperature limit of 150 ℃ or more; an ink layer 59, the ink layer 59 being disposed on the base layer 58 and including a colorant, a binder, and the like; an adhesive layer 60, the adhesive layer 60 being provided on the ink layer 59, exhibiting self-adhesiveness upon being heated, and maintaining such self-adhesiveness when the temperature is lowered; and a release paper 61, the release paper 61 being provided on the adhesive layer 60, adapted to prevent the lettering tape 10 from being adhered to a position other than a target position when the adhesive layer 60 exhibits self-adhesiveness.

Then, the print tape 10 having the above-described structure is wound into a roll 63 as a tape, with the release paper 61 on the outside of the tape spool 62, the tape spool 62 is rotatably inserted into the cartridge projection 64, and the cartridge projection 64 is disposed on the bottom surface of the cartridge lower case 35 in an upright posture, whereby the roll 63 is housed in the cartridge lower case 35. Further, the end of the print tape 10 protrudes outside from the tape discharging portion 67 of the tape cassette 26 after passing through the thermal head 30 and the platen roller 33 via the guide convex portion 65 and the guide convex portion 66 provided on the bottom surface of the cassette lower case 35 in an upright posture. The print ribbon 10 is guided so that the base layer 58 constituting the print ribbon 10 is in contact with the thermal head 30. Winding the printing tape 10 into a roll helps prevent the printing tape 10 from bending, folding, and scratching during transport. Further, winding the printing tape to be set up into the roll-like roll 63 even in the case where the printing tape 10 is loaded in the cassette 52 makes it possible to minimize the surface of the printing tape 10 to be set up and to facilitate the mounting of the printing tape 10 in the cassette case 52. Then, since the roll 63 of the printing tape 10 is loaded in the cartridge case 52 and then in the tape cartridge 26, the printing tape 10 can be set in a state capable of printing, and it is possible to prevent a situation where the user may mistakenly recognize the front and back surfaces of the tape and erroneously set the printing tape 10 in the printer 1 by a simple operation of mounting the tape cartridge 26 in the cartridge mounting section 27 of the printer 1.

As described above, when the platen roller holder pressing rib 50 presses the platen roller holder 32 and the platen roller 33 presses the thermal head 30 through the print tape 10, the platen roller 33 and the tape feed pulse motor 41 are coupled by the gear not shown. In the operating state of the printer 1 obtained by pressing the power on/off key 6 of the keyboard 4, if the tape feed key 21 is pressed, the platen roller is rotated in the arrow C direction by rotating the tape feed pulse motor 41, whereby the print tape 10 is conveyed in the arrow D direction, and the print tape 10 is caused to protrude to the outside from the discharge port 45 of the main body 2 after passing through the tape discharge section 67. Since the platen roller 33 is rotated in the arrow C direction by rotating the tape feed pulse motor 41, the print tape 10 can be fed in the arrow D direction even in the case where there is data input from the keyboard 4 and the print key 11 has been pressed. Then, the thermal head 10 selectively heats the print tape 10 based on the data input through the keyboard 4, thereby adhering the heated portion 68 (see fig. 6) of the ink layer 59 to the heated portion 69 (see fig. 6) that exhibits self-adhesiveness when the adhesive layer 60 is heated. In this state, when selectively heated by the thermal head 30, the printing belt 10 itself, which cannot be transferred to the transfer body 70 (see fig. 6) as it is, is converted into the printing belt 10 transferable to the transfer body 70.

After the tape is fed or printed as described above, the printing tape 10, which is conveyed in the direction of arrow D and protrudes to the outside from the discharge port 45 of the body after passing through the tape discharging portion 67, is cut by the

cutters

71 and 71, which are disposed downstream of the tape discharging portion 67 of the tape cassette 26. These

cutters

71 and 71 are operated by a belt cutter bar 22 (see fig. 1 and 3) and a mechanism not shown, the belt cutter bar 22 being provided in the upper side of the body 2. The printed printing tape 10 to be cut by the

cutters

71 and 71 provided downstream of the tape discharging portion 67 of the tape cassette 26 does not have to be cut by scissors or the like, and the length of the printing tape at least one end thereof from the printing position can be reduced, thereby allowing easy positioning when transferring the printing tape produced by the printer 1 to the target transfer body 70.

As shown in fig. 4, a tape type discriminating hole 72, which shows the type of the tape cassette 26, is provided in the lower end side of the cassette lower case 35 at a position facing the tape discriminating sensor 40 (see fig. 2) provided in the cassette mounting section 27. The mechanical switch at the position where the tape type discrimination hole 72 is not provided is turned on when pressed from the bottom surface of the cartridge lower case 35. The mechanical switch of the tape discrimination sensor 40 at the position where the hole is provided is turned off when not pressed. Depending on the combination, the tape discrimination sensor 40 can identify the type of the tape cassette 26. The type of the tape cassette 26 is determined based on the color of the ink layer 59, the width of the printing tape 10, the length of the printing tape 10, and the like. Since the thickness of the cartridge case 52 includes the thickness of the cartridge lower case 35, and the thickness of the cartridge lower case 35 is determined by the

cartridge locking pawls

37, 38, and 39, the thickness of the cartridge case 52 can be adjusted by changing the thickness of the cartridge lower cover 51 according to the width of the print tape 10. The width of the platen roller 33 is set to be equal to or slightly larger than the maximum width of the print tape 10 that is supposed to be used. Also, the number of heat-generating bodies and the resolution with which the thermal head 30 can print on the maximum width print tape 10 that is supposed to be used can also be set.

The control system of the printer 1 having the above-described structure will be described with reference to fig. 5. As shown in fig. 5, the printer 1 is configured around a control section 81. The control unit 81 is constituted by a CPU82, a ROM83, a CGROM84, a RAM85, and an input/output interface 86. All of which are connected to each other by a bus 87.

The ROM83 is adapted to store different types of programs, and stores different types of programs such as a print control program and the like required to control the printer 1. The CPU82 implements different types of operations based on different programs stored in the ROM 83. The ROM83 stores summary data describing a summary of each character with respect to a large number of characters such as letters, the summary data being classified into different fonts (bold type, light type, or the like) and associated with code data.

The CGROM84 stores dot matrix data corresponding to respective characters input from the character key group 16. Dot matrix data is read out from the CGROM84, and a dot matrix is displayed on the LCD5 based on the dot matrix data. The RAM85 is adapted to temporarily store the results of various operations performed by the CPU 82. When the type of the corresponding tape cartridge 26 mounted in the main body 2 is discriminated from the data read out by the data discrimination sensor 40, a tape discrimination data storage area 85A is provided in the RAM85, and a tape discrimination data table, which is not shown here and on which the discrimination is based, is stored in the tape discrimination data storage area 85A. Further, the RAM85 is provided with different types of memories including a text memory for storing input text, an image buffer for storing images to be displayed on the LCD5, a print buffer for storing images to be printed, and a backup memory for storing created text for subsequent reuse when the printing apparatus 1 is turned off.

The tape discrimination sensor 40 provided in the body 2 and the keyboard 4 are connected to the input/output interface 86, and the keyboard 4 includes the character key group 16, the power on/off key 6, the print key 11, the tape feed key 21, and the like. If a display controller (LCDC)88 that drives and controls the LCD5 is connected to the input/output interface 86 so that when characters and the like are input through the character key set 16, text data is sequentially stored in the text memory while a dot matrix corresponding to the characters and the like input through the character key set 16 is displayed on the LCD5 based on a dot matrix generation control program and a display control program. When a print instruction is given through the print key 11, dot matrix data is formed into a print image in the print buffer based on text data (text) stored in the text memory. Then, dot data of the print buffer is printed on the print tape 10 by the cooperation of the drive circuit 89 which drives and controls the thermal head 30 and the platen roller 33. A drive circuit 90 that drives and controls the tape feed pulse motor 41 is also connected to the input/output interface 83, so that the print tape 10 printed under cooperation with the platen roller 33 is discharged to the outside from the discharge port 45 of the main body 2 after passing through the discharging section 67.

A process of producing the transferable printing tape 10 and transferring the tape to the target transfer body 70 using the printing tape 10 and the printer 1 having the above-described structure will be described based on fig. 6.

Fig. 6 shows, at the upper left, a state in which the print tape 10 is on the upstream side above the position where the print tape 10 is sandwiched between the thermal head 30 and the platen roller 33 inside the tape cassette 26. As described above, the printing tape 10 has a layered structure in which the base layer 58, the ink layer 59, the adhesive layer 60, and the release paper 61 are sequentially stacked. Because the adhesive layer 60 comprises an adhesive that exhibits self-adhesion once heated and retains its self-adhesion after a temperature drop, the adhesive layer does not exhibit self-adhesion if not heated. This helps prevent adverse effects caused by the print tape 10 accidentally adhering to various portions, and helps make handling thereof easier. Also, this prevents the adhesive from overflowing, preventing the roll 63 from adhering to the cassette case 52 and preventing foreign matter from adhering thereto even after the print tape 10 is wound into the roll 63 to be mounted in the cassette case 52.

The left middle part of fig. 6 shows a state where the print tape 10 is sandwiched between the thermal head 30 and the platen roller 33 inside the tape cassette 26 and text data (text) is input from the keyboard 4, and thereafter the print key 11 is pressed, and the tape pulse motor 41 is rotated to rotate the platen roller 33 in the arrow C direction. At the same time, the print tape 10 is conveyed in the direction of arrow D to start printing from where the thermal head 30 presses the print tape 10. The base layer 58 of the print tape 10 abuts against the thermal head 30, and the release paper 61 abuts against the platen roller 33. By bringing the base layer 58 of the printing tape 10 into contact with the thermal head 30, the ink layer 59 and the adhesive layer 60 can be selectively heated without the risk of the adhesive exhibiting self-adhesiveness adhering to the thermal head 30. Also, by using a polyester film or the like having high heat resistance, slippage of the tape with respect to the thermal head 30 can be improved, thereby reducing the load on the tape pulse motor 41. The release paper 61 provided on the surface of the print tape 10 is brought into contact with the platen roller 33, so that when the thermal head 30 selectively heats the adhesive layer 60 to thereby make it exhibit self-adhesiveness, the print tape 10 is prevented from adhering to the platen roller 33 provided in the printer 1 and having a tape feeding function and being caught by the platen roller 33.

Next, the lower left of fig. 6 shows a state in which the tape feed pulse motor 41 is rotated from the state shown in the middle left of fig. 6 to further rotate the platen roller 33 in the arrow C direction, and at the same time, the print tape 10 is conveyed in the arrow D direction. Here, printing is started from where the thermal head 30 presses the print tape 10, and printing is performed by selectively heating the print tape 10 to where b the thermal head 30 presses the print tape 10 at that time. At this time, when the ink layer 59 and the adhesive layer 60 of the printing tape 10 are selectively heated through the base layer 58 by the thermal head 30, the heated portion 68 of the ink layer 59 in the printing tape 10 adheres to the heated portion 69 of the adhesive layer 60, while the heated portion 69 of the adhesive layer 60 starts to exhibit self-adhesiveness. Described above is the process of forming the printing tape 10, the printing tape 10 having an integral layered structure including the base layer 58, the ink layer 59, the adhesive layer 60, and the release paper 61 stacked in this order, however, simply by selectively heating the printing tape 10 that cannot be transferred (unless some action is performed to print or form an image in this way) in the printer 1, the printing tape 10 itself can be converted into the printing tape 10 that can be transferred to the target transfer body 70. Up to this point, the release paper 61 can prevent the print tape 10 exhibiting self-adhesiveness at the heated portion 69 of the adhesive layer 60 from adhering to the platen roller 33 and being caught by the platen roller 33, as described above.

Next, the upper right-hand section of fig. 6 shows a finished print ribbon 10, which is obtained by: the printing tape 10 in a state shown in the middle left in fig. 6 is subjected to an operation of inserting a margin area after completion of printing, and then the tape cutting lever 22 is operated to cut the printing tape 10 by the

cutters

71 and 71 coupled to the tape cutting lever 22 disposed downstream of the tape cassette 26. In the completed print tape 10, the adhesive is prevented from being exposed by covering the adhesive layer 60 with the release paper 61, and thus it is not necessary to immediately transfer to the transfer body to protect the tape from adhesion of foreign matter or the like. Also, the release paper may be peeled off before transfer, thereby enabling long-term storage of the tape.

Next, the right middle section of fig. 6 shows a state in which the release paper 61 has been peeled off from the completed printing tape 10 and the printing tape 10 is adhered to the target transfer body 70. Since the heated portion 68 of the ink layer 59 adheres to the heated portion 69 of the adhesive layer 60 only in the ink layer 59 and the heated printing portion desired in the adhesive layer 60, and at the same time, the heated portion 69 of the adhesive layer 60 exhibits self-adhesiveness, it is not necessary to rub the printing tape when pressure is applied from the back side as is done with the conventional printing tape. The surface of the release paper 61 on the side contacting the adhesive layer 60 is subjected to a treatment with a release agent, so that the release paper 61 can be smoothly peeled off from the heated portion 69 of the adhesive layer 60 exhibiting self-adhesiveness. Although the release paper 61 is adhered so as to prevent it from being displaced when the tape is moved, even in a state where electrostatic treatment is performed with respect to the release paper 61 and the adhesive layer 60 does not exhibit self-adhesiveness, the release paper can be smoothly peeled off by hand after printing.

Next, the lower right of fig. 6 shows a state where the printing tape 10 in the state shown in the middle right of fig. 6 is peeled off. In this state, since the heated portion 68 of the ink layer 59 is adhered to the heated portion 69 of the adhesive layer 60 only at the portion of the printing tape 10 selectively heated by the thermal head 30, and the heated portion 69 of the adhesive layer 60 exhibiting self-adhesiveness is adhered to the target transfer tape 70 only at the selectively heated portion, when the printing tape 10 is peeled off, only the heated portion 68 of the ink layer 59 and the heated portion 69 of the adhesive layer 60 exhibiting self-adhesiveness are transferred to the target transfer body. Therefore, the second-stage transfer (as conventionally done) of transferring the image formed on the ink layer of the ink ribbon to the first transfer body (transfer sheet) and then transferring the image to the target second transfer body can be omitted, and the print tape 10 which cannot be transferred as it is can be converted into the print tape 10 which can be transferred by selectively heating by the thermal head 30 without adding any additional member, thereby making the transfer easier and improving the transfer quality.

Here, in the structure of fig. 6 described above, the adhesive layer 60 is protected by the release paper 61. In the case where the release paper 61 is still stuck, as shown in the upper right section of fig. 6, the print content cannot be recognized even after the printing operation has been performed.

Here, as shown in fig. 7, a structure may be adopted in which a thermosensitive color-fixing layer 73 is coated on the surface of the base layer 58. When the heat sensitive color fixing layer 73 is applied as described above, the heat sensitive color fixing layer 73 is adapted to develop a color at a portion thereof heated by the thermal head 30, as shown in the lower left part of fig. 7. Since the portion where the color appears is the same as the transfer portion, the user can recognize the content to be printed by observing the thermosensitive color-fixing layer 73. The thermosensitive color-fixing layer can be made to develop color by simply applying a thermosensitive color-fixing agent on the printing tape to be printed without adding any new process with respect to the transfer process shown in fig. 6.

When the color developed in the thermosensitive fixing layer 73 is set to be the same as the color of the ink layer 59, the user can recognize not only the contents to be printed but also the color to be printed.

Here, if the adhesive overflows the print tape 10, the overflowed adhesive may adhere to the thermal head 30 or the platen roller 33. As shown in fig. 8, if the substrate layer 58 and the adhesive layer 60 have the same lateral dimensions, the adhesive layer 60 may overflow. Therefore, the adhesive that overflows may adhere to the thermal head 30 or the platen roller 33.

Then, as shown in fig. 9, the overflow of the adhesive can be prevented by making the lateral dimension of the adhesive layer 60 smaller than the lateral dimension of the base layer 58 (i.e., the printing tape 10). Fig. 10 illustrates the lateral relationship between the print ribbon 10 and the adhesive layer 60, indicating that the adhesive is applied over a narrower area than the print ribbon 10.

Also, as shown in fig. 9, it is also possible to prevent the overflow of ink by making the lateral dimension of the ink layer 59 smaller than that of the printing belt 10. Fig. 8 shows a case where both the adhesive layer 60 and the ink layer 59 have a small lateral dimension. Here, only the lateral dimension of the adhesive layer 60 or only the lateral dimension of the ink layer 59 may be made smaller.

In the structure shown in fig. 9, adhesion of an adhesive or ink is prevented by changing the structure of the medium to be printed, without changing the structures of the thermal head 30 and the platen roller 33. Here, as shown in fig. 11, the adhesion of the adhesive or ink can be prevented by changing the structures of the thermal head 30 and the platen roller 33.

That is, if the lateral dimension of the thermal head and/or the lateral dimension of the platen roller 33 is smaller than the lateral dimension of the print tape 10, the overflowed adhesive can be prevented from adhering to the thermal head 30 or the platen roller 33 even if ink or adhesive overflows. Also, fig. 11 shows a structure in which both the lateral dimension of the thermal head 30 and the lateral dimension of the platen roller 33 are smaller than the lateral dimension of the print tape 10, and a structure may also be employed in which only the lateral dimension of the thermal head or only the lateral dimension of the platen roller 33 becomes smaller.

As shown in fig. 12, a combination of fig. 9 and 11 may be employed. In this case, it is possible to prevent the overflow of the adhesive or the ink, and to prevent the overflow of the adhesive or the ink from adhering to the platen roller 33 even if the adhesive or the ink overflows.

As described in detail hereinabove, according to the printing tape 10 and the printer 1 of the present embodiment, the printing tape 10 is formed to include the base layer 58, the ink layer 59, and the adhesive layer 60 which exhibits self-adhesiveness upon being heated, which are sequentially stacked into an integral layered structure. When the printing tape 10 is selectively heated by the thermal head 30 to form an image, the heated portion 68 of the ink layer 59 on which the image is formed adheres to the heated portion 69 of the adhesive layer 60, and at the same time, the heated portion 69 of the adhesive layer 60 exhibits self-adhesiveness, thereby converting the printing tape 10 itself into the printing tape 10 that can be transferred to the target transfer body 70. As a result, since a desired print tape can be obtained simply by directly heating the print tape 10 by the heat-generating body, it is no longer necessary to transfer images formed on ink layers of different ink ribbons to a transfer sheet and then perform a second-stage transfer of transferring the images to a target transfer body, thereby making handling of the print tape 10 easier. Also, since the second stage transfer is not required, the transfer quality can be improved.

Since the adhesive layer 60 exhibits self-adhesiveness when heated, but does not exhibit self-adhesiveness in a normal state when not heated, handling of the ink sheet 10 is made easier in terms of "preventing foreign substances from adhering to the ink sheet 10", "preventing the ink sheet 10 from accidentally adhering to various portions", and the like. Further, since the adhesive layer 60 shows self-adhesiveness only in the heated portion and does not show self-adhesiveness in the non-heated portion, the boundary of the portion showing self-adhesiveness can be clearly determined, so that only the portion showing self-adhesiveness is transferred to the target transfer body 70.

Since the heated portion 68 of the ink layer 59 and the heated portion 69 of the adhesive layer 60 are bonded only at the desired printing portion that is heated, and at the same time, the adhesive layer 60 exhibits self-adhesiveness, the heated portion 68 of the ink layer 59 can be easily transferred to the target transfer body 70 without applying pressure and rubbing from the side of the base layer 58 by a simple operation of peeling off the printing tape 10 after the printing tape 10 is adhered to the target transfer body 70. As a result, any user can easily perform printing without any individual difference.

Also, since the lateral dimension of the adhesive layer and/or the ink layer is smaller than that of the printing tape, the adhesive and/or the ink can be prevented from overflowing from the printing tape. Also, since the lateral dimension of the thermal head and/or the platen roller is smaller than that of the print tape, even if the adhesive and/or the ink overflows from the print tape, the adhesive and/or the ink is prevented from adhering to the thermal head and/or the platen roller.

Since the ink sheet 10 is provided with the release paper 61 on the side of the adhesive layer 60, the ink sheet 10 can be easily applied without exposing any adhesive to the surface of the ink sheet 10 even if the adhesive layer 60 slightly exhibits self-adhesiveness. Therefore, when the adhesive layer 60 exhibits self-adhesiveness while being selectively heated by the thermal head 30, it is possible to prevent a malfunction in the printer 1 caused by the print tape 10 adhering to the platen roller 3 provided in the printer 1 and having a tape feeding function and being caught by the platen roller 3. Since it is not necessary to consider the compatibility of the adhesive with respect to the material of the platen roller 33, the selection range of the material for the platen roller 33 can be expanded. Further, since the adhesive is not exposed, it is not necessary to transfer the tape to the target transfer body 70 immediately to protect the tape from foreign substances, and the release paper 60 may be peeled off before the transfer, thereby enabling the tape to be stored as needed.

Since the printing tape 10 is wound in a roll shape, the printing tape 10 can be prevented from being folded, bent, and scratched when the printing tape 10 is mounted in the printer 1. Therefore, since the print tape 10 to be mounted is wound into the roll 63, the mounting area can be minimized even in the case of mounting in the cartridge case 52, and at the same time, mounting in the cartridge case 52 can be made easier.

Since the tape cassette 26 accommodates the roll 63 of the printing tape 10 in the cassette case 52, the tape cassette 26 (printing tape 10) can be set in a printable state by a simple operation of mounting the tape cassette 26 in the cassette mounting portion 27 of the printer 1. It is therefore possible to do so without requiring complicated operations such as arranging the printing tape 10 in a printable state with respect to the printer 1, only in the case of the printing tape 10. Loading the roll 63 of the print tape 10 in the tape cassette 26 before being provided to the user can prevent the user from mistakenly recognizing the front and back of the tape and setting the print tape 10 in the printer 1 by mistake.

Since in the cartridge mounting section 27 of the printer 1, the tape cartridge 26 is detachably mounted in the cartridge mounting section 27 and the cartridge mounting section 27 further includes the thermal head 30 and the platen roller 33, the printing position of the print tape 10 is sandwiched between the thermal head 30 and the platen roller 33 while the base layer 58 side in the print tape 10 abuts on the thermal head 30, the ink layer 59 and the adhesive layer 60 can be selectively heated without the adhesive adhering to the thermal head 30. Meanwhile, the use of a polyester film and the like having high heat resistance can improve the slippage of the tape with respect to the thermal head 30, and can contribute to a reduction in load on the tape feed pulse motor 41 that drives the platen roller 33.

The printer 1 clamps the printing tape 10 having a layered structure in which the base layer 58, the ink layer 59, and the adhesive layer 60 exhibiting self-adhesiveness upon being heated are sequentially stacked at a printing position of the printing tape 10 by means of the thermal head 30 and the platen roller 33 provided in the cassette mounting portion 27, and the printer 1 brings the thermal head 30 into contact with the side of the base layer 58 of the printing tape 10 to selectively heat the ink layer 59 and the adhesive layer 60 of the printing tape 10 through the base layer 58 by means of the thermal head, thereby adhering the heated portion 68 of the ink layer 59 in the printing tape 10 to the heated portion 69 of the adhesive layer 60. By causing the heated portion 69 of the adhesive layer 60 to exhibit self-adhesiveness, the ink sheet 10 can be converted into an ink sheet 10 that can be transferred to the target transfer body 70. As a result, in the printer 1, a second stage transfer (as conventionally done) of transferring images formed on ink layers of different ink ribbons to a transfer sheet and then transferring the images to a target transfer body is no longer necessary. This makes handling of the printer 1 simpler and makes it possible to produce the printing tape 10 with improved transfer quality.

Since the adhesive layer 60 of the ink ribbon 10 in the printer 1 exhibits self-adhesiveness when selectively heated by the thermal head 30, but does not have self-adhesiveness in a normal state when not heated, it is possible to prevent foreign substances from adhering to the adhesive layer and prevent the adhesive layer from accidentally adhering to various portions, thereby making the handling of the ink ribbon easier. Further, since the adhesive layer 60 exhibits self-adhesiveness only at a portion thereof selectively heated by the thermal head 30 and does not exhibit self-adhesiveness at a portion thereof not heated, it is possible to produce a printing tape 10 in which the boundary of the portion exhibiting self-adhesiveness is clearly recognized and only the portion thereof exhibiting self-adhesiveness can be transferred to the target transfer body 70.

Since, in the printer 1, the heated portion 68 of the ink layer 59 is adhered to the heated portion 69 of the adhesive layer 60 only at the printing portion thereof selectively heated by the thermal head 30, while the adhesive layer 60 exhibits adhesiveness between the ink layer 59 and the adhesive layer 60 of the print tape 10, it is possible to produce a print tape 10 in which the heated portion of the ink layer can be easily transferred to a target transfer body without applying pressure and rubbing from the side of the base layer 58, simply by removing the print tape after transferring the print tape to the target transfer body 70.

Then, since the printer 1 is provided with the

cutters

71 and 71 downstream of the tape discharging portion 67 of the tape cassette 26 in the tape feeding direction so as to cut the printing tape 10, the printed printing tape 10 does not have to be cut by scissors or the like, whereby the length of the printing tape from the printing position at least at one end in the tape longitudinal direction can be reduced. This makes it possible to easily position the print tape 10 produced by the printer 1 at the time of transfer to the target transfer body 70.

The heat-sensitive fixing agent is coated on a surface contacting the thermal head so that when the print tape is heated, the heat-sensitive fixing agent develops a color at the heated portion, whereby the print contents of the print tape can be recognized before the print tape is transferred. As a result, it is possible to prevent the erroneous print tape from being transferred. Further, when the color developed in the thermosensitive fixing agent is set to be the same as the color of the ink layer, not only the content to be printed but also the color of the ink to be printed can be identified without removing the release paper. As a result, it is possible to prevent the erroneous print tape from being transferred.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the scope of the invention.

For example, although in some embodiments, the printing tape has a structure including the release paper 61, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, needless to say, the present invention is also applicable to printing tapes that do not include a release paper layer. Preferably, in this case, the release agent layer is coated on the surface of the platen roller 33.

Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific structure or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.

Claims

1. A print ribbon, comprising:

a base layer;

an ink layer;

an adhesive layer that exhibits self-adhesiveness when heated;

wherein,

the base layer, the ink layer, and the adhesive layer are sequentially stacked,

the heated portion of the ink layer adheres to the heated portion of the adhesive layer when the print ribbon is selectively heated by the heat-generating body,

when the heated print tape is stuck to an object transfer body and then the print tape is removed, the heated portion of the ink layer and the heated portion of the adhesive layer are transferred to the object transfer body.

2. The printing tape according to claim 1, wherein the release paper is provided on the side of the adhesive layer of the printing tape.

3. The print ribbon of claim 1, wherein said print ribbon is a wound web.

4. The print ribbon of claim 1, wherein the lateral ends of the adhesive layer are laterally inboard of the ends of the print ribbon.

5. The print ribbon of claim 4, wherein the adhesive layer has a lateral dimension that is less than a lateral dimension of the print ribbon.

6. The printing tape according to claim 4, wherein the release paper is provided on the side of the adhesive layer of the printing tape.

7. The print ribbon of claim 6, wherein the lateral ends of said adhesive layer are laterally inboard of the ends of said print ribbon.

8. The print ribbon of claim 6, wherein the adhesive layer has a lateral dimension that is less than a lateral dimension of the print ribbon.

9. The print ribbon of claim 1, further comprising:

a heat-sensitive color-fixing layer;

wherein,

when the printing tape is selectively heated by the heating body, the heated part of the thermosensitive color-fixing layer shows color,

the heat sensitive color-fixing layer is on the opposite side of the substrate layer from the ink layer.

10. The print ribbon of claim 9, wherein said appearing color is the same as the color of said ink layer.

11. A tape cartridge in which a tape according to claim 3 is mounted.

12. The cartridge as in claim 11,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the tape cassette is detachably located in a tape printer including a thermal head and a platen roller,

when the tape cassette is mounted in the tape printer, a printing position of the print tape is sandwiched between the thermal head and the platen roller,

the side of the base layer in the print tape abuts against the thermal head when the tape cassette is mounted in the tape printer.

13. The cartridge of claim 11, wherein a lateral end of the adhesive layer is laterally inboard of an end of the print ribbon.

14. The cartridge of claim 11, further comprising:

a heat-sensitive color-fixing layer;

wherein,

15. A tape printer, comprising:

a cartridge mounting portion;

a thermal head; and

a platen roller;

wherein,

a tape cassette including a print tape including a base layer, an ink layer, and an adhesive layer exhibiting self-adhesiveness when heated, the base layer, the ink layer, and the adhesive layer being stacked in this order,

the side of the base layer in the print tape abuts against the thermal head when the tape cassette is mounted in the tape printer,

when the print ribbon is selectively heated by the thermal head, the heated portion of the ink layer adheres to the heated portion of the adhesive layer.

16. The tape printer according to claim 15, further comprising:

a cutting device; and

a belt laying part;

wherein,

the cutting device cuts the printing tape,

the cutting device is positioned on the downstream of the tape laying part along the tape feeding direction of the printing tape.

17. A tape printer according to claim 15, wherein a lateral end of said thermal head abuts against an inner side of a lateral end of said print tape.

18. A tape printer according to claim 17, wherein the thermal head has a lateral dimension less than that of the print tape.

19. A tape printer according to claim 17,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

a release paper is provided on the side of the adhesive layer of the print tape,

the lateral end of the platen roller abuts on the inner side of the lateral end of the release paper.

20. A tape printer according to claim 19, wherein said platen roller has a lateral dimension less than a lateral dimension of said release paper.