Tape cutting mechanism for tape printing apparatus

A tape cutting mechanism for a tape printing apparatus including a casing having a rear side surface, a rear corner portion, and a tape exit formed through the rear side surface, the tape cutting mechanism cutting off a printed portion of a tape-shaped member sent out via the tape exit, in response to a lever operation carried out in a state of the casing being held by hand,

• the tape cutting mechanism comprising:
• a cutter disposed to face the tape exit, for cutting the tape-shaped member from a direction orthogonal thereto, said cutter having an input portion for receiving a force applied thereto;
• a manual operation lever pivotally supported in the rear corner portion of the casing, for causing said cutter to perform cutting operation, said manual operation lever having a rear end serving as a center of pivotal motion thereof, a front end serving as a force point to which a force is manually applied by the lever operation, and an intermediate portion located between said rear end and said front end, and extending along the casing from said rear end to said front end in a manner bent frontward;
• and
• a pivot arm having one end for being engaged with said input portion of said cutter, another end serving as a center of pivotal motion thereof, and an intermediate portion located between said one end and said another end, and extending from said one end to said the another end in a direction substantially orthogonal to a direction of cutting operation of said cutter, and
• wherein said manual operation lever has an urging portion formed at said intermediate portion thereof, for abutting on said intermediate portion of said pivot arm and serving as a point of action for pivotally moving said pivot arm.