Tape printing apparatus, tape printing apparatus charger and tape printing apparatus charging system

• US 7,435,026 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2006
• Issued: 10/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Takahashi, Toshihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Anthony H.
• Application Number:
  US11/600,726
• Publication Number:
  US 20070065221A1
• Time in Patent Office: 697 Days
• Field of Search: 400/691, 400/88
• US Class Current: 400/691
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/4075 Tape printers; Label printers
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence

Abstract

A tape printing apparatus that can be set smoothly into a tape printing apparatus charger from a free angle by gripping the top face section and the bottom face section of the tape printing apparatus such that the front side face section faces downward and the right side face section faces the forward direction, the lower edge on the right side face section of the tape printing apparatus is placed on the forward section of the fitting section from an angle obliquely upward of the tape printing apparatus charger. With the front side face section of the tape printing apparatus kept in contact with the top edge on the front side wall section of the fitting section of the tape printing apparatus charger, the tape printing apparatus is inserted into the tape printing apparatus charger in the forward direction for recharging.

Claims

1. A tape printing apparatus, comprising:

a top face having at least one of an input device and a display disposed thereon;

a bottom face opposite the top face; and

at least one side face having a charging power receiving terminal disposed at a substantially central position in a width direction and a length direction on the at least one side face.

2. tape printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least one boss projecting outwardly from the at least one side face, wherein the at least one boss activates a switch to allow the tape printing apparatus to be charged.

3. The tape printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a substantially ellipsoid rib that extends outwardly from the at least one side face and a plurality of leg sections disposed on the at least one side face at a plurality of positions, the plurality of leg sections having substantially the height of the substantially ellipsoid rib.

4. A tape printing apparatus charging system, comprising

the tape printing apparatus according to claim 1.

5. The tape printing apparatus charging system according to claim 4, the tape printing apparatus further comprising at least one boss projecting outwardly from the at least one side face, wherein the at least one boss activates a switch to allow the tape printing apparatus to be charged.

6. tape printing apparatus charging system according to claim 4, the tape printing apparatus further comprising a substantially ellipsoid rib that extends outwardly from the at least one side face and a plurality of leg sections disposed on the at least one side face at a plurality of positions, the plurality of leg sections having substantially the height of the substantially ellipsoid rib.

7. The tape printing apparatus charging system according to claim 4, further comprising:

a tape printing apparatus charger, comprising;

a case having side walls and a bottom face section that form a fitting section to receive the tape printing apparatus;

a charging power supply terminal disposed at a substantially central position on the fitting section to supply charging power to the tape printing apparatus; and

a tilted guide section that guides the tape printing apparatus into the charger and extends outwardly from a side wall of the charger such that the guide section is tilted downward from a top edge of the side wall.

8. The tape printing apparatus charging system according to claim 7, the tape printing apparatus charger further comprising a detecting switch for detecting that the tape printing apparatus is mounted on the fitting section, wherein the detecting switch is disposed distally from the charging power supply terminals on the bottom face section.

9. The tape printing apparatus charging system according to claim 8, wherein the bottom face section of the tape printing apparatus charger has a protective rib having a height larger than a height of the charging power supply terminal disposed around the charging power supply terminal.

10. The tape printing apparatus charging system according to claim 8, wherein the detecting switch of the tape printing apparatus charger is in a retracted position when the tape printing apparatus is inserted into the tape printing apparatus charger.