Cassette for a thermal printer
DCFirst Claim
1. A printing device adapted for cooperation with a tape holding case holding at least a supply of image receiving tape having an image receiving layer and a backing layer, said tape holding case having an outlet through which the image receiving tape can be fed out in a direction lengthwise of the image receiving tape and, adjacent the outlet, a wall portion having a tape support surface arranged to support the image receiving tape during cutting and at least one stepped portion and defining, at a cutting location, a slot situated beneath the tape and extending across the width of the tape, the printing device comprising:
- a print head;
a cutting mechanism including a cutter support member comprising a blade;
a tape holding surface positioned and located to hold the tape during cutting and means for moving the blade into the slot through the whole thickness of the tape while the tape is held by the tape holding surface on both sides of the cutting location to cut-off a portion of the tape, said tape holding surface also bending the tape over said stepped portion of said tape support surface while the tape is being cut, such that when the tape is released from the tape holding and tape support surfaces, the image receiving layer and backing layer tend to separate from one another at the cut edge; and
a platen rotatable to feed tape out of the tape holding case, said platen also cooperating with the print head when printing on the image receiving tape.
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Litigations
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Accused Products
Abstract
A tape holding case is described for use with a thermal printing device which allows for more efficient cutting and feeding of tape. The cassette has a slot into which a cutting blade can pass which avoids the use of an anvil for cutting. Moreover, the cassette can have a stepped portion for providing a so-called "peel cut" at the end of the tape.
83 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A printing device adapted for cooperation with a tape holding case holding at least a supply of image receiving tape having an image receiving layer and a backing layer, said tape holding case having an outlet through which the image receiving tape can be fed out in a direction lengthwise of the image receiving tape and, adjacent the outlet, a wall portion having a tape support surface arranged to support the image receiving tape during cutting and at least one stepped portion and defining, at a cutting location, a slot situated beneath the tape and extending across the width of the tape, the printing device comprising:
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a print head; a cutting mechanism including a cutter support member comprising a blade;
a tape holding surface positioned and located to hold the tape during cutting and means for moving the blade into the slot through the whole thickness of the tape while the tape is held by the tape holding surface on both sides of the cutting location to cut-off a portion of the tape, said tape holding surface also bending the tape over said stepped portion of said tape support surface while the tape is being cut, such that when the tape is released from the tape holding and tape support surfaces, the image receiving layer and backing layer tend to separate from one another at the cut edge; anda platen rotatable to feed tape out of the tape holding case, said platen also cooperating with the print head when printing on the image receiving tape. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A tape holding case for use in combination with a thermal printer, said tape holding case comprising:
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a supply of image receiving tape having an image receiving layer and a backing layer; an outlet through which the image receiving tape can be fed out; a wall portion positioned adjacent to the outlet and arranged to support the image receiving tape during cutting; and a slot defined in the wall portion said slot situated beneath the tape and extending across the width of the tape, said slot being arranged to receive a blade that has cut through the whole thickness of the image receiving layer and the backing layer to cut off a portion of the image receiving tape wherein said wall portion includes at least one stepped portion located on the side of the slot away from the outlet over which the tape can be bent during cutting; said thermal printer comprising a printhead and a cutting mechanism including a cutter support member carrying a blade;
a tape holding surface positioned and located to hold the tape during cutting and means for moving the blade into the slot through the whole thickness of the tape while the tape is held by the tape holding surface on both sides of the cutting location to cut-off a portion of the tape, said tape holding surface also bending the tape over said stepped portion of said tape support surface while the tape is being cut, such that when the tape is released from the tape holding and tape support surfaces, the image receiving layer and backing layer tend to separate from one another at the cut edge. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A tape cutting apparatus for cutting off a portion of image receiving tape having an image receiving layer and backing layer, comprising:
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a cutter support member carrying a blade; a tape holding surface positioned and located to hold said tape during cutting; a tape support surface which supports the tape during cutting at both sides of a cutting location, said support surface defining a slot at said cutting location; means for moving the blade into the slot and through the whole thickness of the tape while the tape is held by the tape holding surface on both sides of said cutting location to cut-off a portion of the tape; and
a tape bending surface over which the tape is bent while the tape is being cut, such that when the tape is released from the tape holding and tape support surfaces, the image receiving layer and the backing layer tend to separate from one another at the cut edge. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification