Tape alignment mechanism

#The present invention relates to a tape alignment mechanism for pressure-bonding two tapes fed through two independent paths with an alignment operation in a width direction, more particularly, to a tape alignment mechanism employed in a tape cassette including at least a film tape and an adhesive tape for feeding out the two tapes in an overlapped state.

#In general, the mechanism of this character comprises, in the feed path of the tapes, a support member carrying both tapes and a pair of restricting elements restricting widthwise movement of the tapes to bring the tapes into alignment. The aligned tapes are pressed together by applying an external pressure to the pressure member such as a pressure roller.

#When pressure-bonding the film tape and adhesive tape after alignment, it is desirable to make the width of the two tapes equal and also make the distance between the restricting elements equal to the tape width so as to improve the aligning accuracy. However, it is quite difficult to completely align the tapes because they are sent to the alignment unit along two independent paths. If there is any misalignment in the tapes in such circumstances, the actual value of width of the bonded tapes may be greater than the distance between the restricting elements. The tapes may then ride over the restricting elements to fall beyond them.

#FIG. 1 is a disassembled perspective view of the tape storage casette embodying the present invention,

#FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing the tape storage casette of FIG. 1 attached to the printer unit, and

#FIG. 3 is an illustrative diagram indicating dimensions of the film tape, double-adhesive tape, alignment roller and feed roller.

#The tape storage cassette incorporating the present invention is now described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

#As shown in the disassembled perspective view of FIG. 1, the tape storage cassette 1 according to this embodiment includes a film tape spool 5 around which a transparent film tape 3 is fitted, a ribbon feed spool 9 having a thermal transfer ribbon 7 wound thereon with its inked surface facing inside, a ribbon takeup spool 11 taking up the thermal transfer ribbon 7 drawn out of the ribbon feed spool 9, a double-sided adhesive tape spool 15 on which a double-sided adhesive tape 13 narrower than the film tape 3 and having one surface covered with an exfoliative sheet is wound with this sheet covered surface facing outside, and an alignment roller 17 for alignment of the double-sided adhesive tape 13 and the film tape 3, all of which are stored in a cassette case 19. They are rotatably carried by support members S1 through S5 mounted on a cover 21 and on the bottom of the cassette case 19 opposed to the cover 21 within the cassette case 19 whose opening is covered with the cover 21.

#The tape storage cassette 1 is attachably and detachably mounted on a printer unit capable of reverse-printing desired characters. Thus, the unit accomplishes reverse-printing on the film tape 3 using the thermal transfer ribbon 7. The double-sided adhesive tape 13 is then stuck to the printed surface to provide a print tape with desired characters already printed.