Tape cartridge and printing device having print medium cartridge

A tape cartridge comprising:

• a cartridge case;
• a printing tape used for printing in a printing device, said printing tape being accommodated in said cartridge case and held between a printing head and a platen when said tape cartridge is set in said printing device, said printing tape having a free end that is fed out of said cartridge case direction in response to the operation of said printing device;
• and
• means for preventing said free end of said tape from being moved back into said cartridge case.

A printing device comprising a cartridge holder unit for detachably receiving a cartridge,

• said cartridge including a printing tape and an ink ribbon core with an ink ribbon wound thereon,
• said printing tape being fed out of said cartridge in response to the operation of said printing device,
• said ink ribbon core having an engaging element,
• said cartridge further including an engagement piece to engage with said engaging element of said ink ribbon core to prevent the rotation of said ink ribbon core when said cartridge is not set in said cartridge holder unit of said printing device;
• and
• said cartridge holder unit of said printing device having an upright contact projection positioned such that said projection makes contact with said engagement piece formed in said cartridge and disengages said engagement piece from said engaging element of said ink ribbon core when said cartridge is set in said cartridge holder unit thereby allowing the rotation of said ink ribbon core by said printing device.

A printing device comprising a cartridge holder unit for detachably receiving a cartridge,

• said cartridge including a printing tape and a ribbon winding core with a used ink ribbon wound thereon in response to the operation of said printing device;
• said ribbon winding core having an engaging element,
• said cartridge further including an engagement piece to engage with said engaging element of said ribbon winding core to prevent the rotation of said ribbon winding core when said cartridge is not set in said cartridge holder unit of said printing device;
• and
• said cartridge holder unit of said printing device having an upright contact projection positioned such that said projection makes contact with said engagement piece formed in said cartridge and disengages said engagement piece from said engaging element of said ribbon winding core when said cartridge is set in said cartridge holder unit thereby allowing the rotation of said ribbon winding core by said printing device.