JPH0822687A - Tape cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate the generation of line distortion, breakingout from the corner, or printing unevenness around the solid printing surface or at the corners, as to the printing procedure on the outer surface of a tape cartridge by a pad printing method. CONSTITUTION:The solid printing area 5 is provided on the outer surface of a main body case 1. On the outer circumference of this solid printing area 5, the recessed surface 7 is provided over the entire circumference. When the solid printing area 5 is solid-printed by the pad printing method, a solid printing ink is applied on the pad in the slightly larger area than the solid printing surface 8 to transfer it to the solid printing area 5.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to tape specifications, trade names,
Alternatively, the present invention relates to a tape cartridge in which a decorative pattern or the like for enhancing the design effect has a certain spread in a predetermined area on the outer surface of the main body case and is so-called solid printing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In various tape cartridges for audio and video, a pad printing method is used for printing characters such as tape specifications and product names, or decorative patterns at predetermined locations on the outer surface of a main body case. This is well known (for example, JP-A-4-216385 and 4-29075).

[0003]

In order to perform solid printing by the pad printing method, transfer printing is performed on a printing object using a pad (tampon) made of silicon rubber or the like. In this case, it is necessary to press the pad against the object to be printed with a strong pressure, and the deformation of the pad naturally increases. If the pressing pressure is strong, the ink attached to the pad tends to be pushed outward. For this reason, for example, as shown in FIG. 7A, the straight line portion 8a around the solid printing surface 8 cannot be transferred straight, and distortion or sagging is likely to occur. As shown in FIG. At the corner of the printing surface 8, a protrusion (edge height) 8b appears. Further, the shading (unevenness of printing) occurs on the inside and the outside of the solid printing surface, and it is difficult to obtain a good finished appearance. In particular, when the surface of the printing object is formed on a textured surface or a satin surface, such a straight line distortion or a corner protrusion easily becomes conspicuous.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to eliminate straight line distortion, corner protrusion, or print unevenness around the solid print surface and at the corners even when solid printing is performed on the outer surface of the main body case by a pad printing method or the like. The present invention is to provide a tape cartridge capable of improving a printing finish state.

[0005]

According to the present invention, as shown in the illustrated example, in a tape cartridge in which a solid printing area portion 5 is provided at a predetermined position on the outer surface of the main body case 1, the outer surface of the main body case 1 is provided. A concave surface 7 lower than the surface of the solid print area 5 is provided on the outer periphery of the solid print area 5. The recessed surface 7 is provided as a recessed groove on the outer circumference of the solid print area 5 over the entire circumference.

[0006]

When solid printing is performed on the solid printing area 5 by the pad printing method, ink is applied to the pad in a slightly wider area than the solid printing surface, and the ink is pressed onto the surface of the solid printing area 5 to transfer the ink. Print. At this time, the solid print area 5
Since the surface of the pad is higher than the peripheral recessed surface 7, the ink applied to the pad can escape above the recessed surface 7 of the outer periphery of the solid printing area portion 5.

[0007]

1 and 2 show an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a Phillips type tape cartridge. In FIG. 1, the tape cartridge of interest is provided with drive shaft insertion holes 2, 2 that extend vertically through the center of a plastic main body case 1, and a hub 4 around which tape 3 is wound on the left and right sides of the main body case 1. It is a standard specification which is rotatably housed and arranged so as to be positioned on the drive shaft insertion hole 2.

A solid printing area 5 is provided on all or part of the periphery of the drive shaft insertion hole 2 on the outer surface of the main body case 1. In the specific example of FIG. 1, the solid print area 5 is the drive shaft insertion hole 2 ...
2 and the front trapezoidal convex portion 6, and the drive shaft insertion hole 2
It is provided on the rear side of each of the two. The area between the front and rear solid print areas 5, 5 of the body case 1 is formed transparent or semi-transparent so that the remaining amount of tape wound on the hub 4 can be seen through. It is also possible to form the front and rear solid print areas 5 in a continuous manner, instead of the form shown in FIG. 1 in which the solid print areas 5 are independently arranged front and back with the drive shaft insertion holes 2, 2. . In this case, the central portion between the drive shaft insertion holes 2 and 2 is formed in a hollow shape so as not to be printed, and the remaining tape amount can be seen through this hollow portion.

On the outer circumference of the solid print area 5, a concave surface 7 lower than the surface of the solid print area 5 is formed over the entire circumference. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the recessed surface 7 is formed in a groove shape. As for the cross-sectional shape of the groove, instead of the rectangular shape as shown in FIG. 2, it should be formed in a L-shape, a U-shape, a V-shape, or a W-shape as shown in FIGS. 3A to 3D. You can The recessed surface 7 may be formed in a flat surface having a certain spread, instead of being formed in such a groove shape, and only be stepped with the surface of the solid print area portion 5.

The level difference between the surface of the solid print area 5 and the bottom of the recessed surface 7 is set to about 50 to 500 μm. 50μ
If it is less than m, the ink of the pad is likely to adhere to the recessed surface 7, and if it exceeds 500 μm, the total thickness of the tape cartridge exceeds the reference thickness. However,
It is necessary to avoid that the height of the surface of the solid printing area portion 5 is higher than the reference surface 9 formed at the outer peripheral position of the main body case 1, and it is set equal to or lower than the height of the reference surface 9. The surface of the solid print area 5 can be finished as a mirror surface or as a fine uneven surface such as a textured surface.

Solid printing is performed on the surface of the solid printing area portion 5 thus formed by a pad printing method or a rotary printing method. In FIG. 1, the solid printing surface 8 is colored with an ink of a color different from the ground color of the body case 1,
In the figure, it is expressed by stippling. The character display 10 appears in the background color of the body case 1 with the solid printing surface 8 partially removed. As another means for providing the character display 10, it is also possible to transfer and print with an ink of a color different from the color of the solid printing surface after the solid printing surface 8 is printed and dried.

At the time of solid printing, the surface of the solid printing area 5 is higher than the recessed surface 7. Therefore, even if the pad is strongly pressed onto the surface of the solid printing area 5, the ink on the pad will not be removed. , Is not transferred to the surface of the solid printing area portion 5 and escapes above the recessed surface 7. Therefore, the solid printing surface 8
Is printed evenly over the entire surface without uneven printing. Then, as shown in FIG. 7 (A), a straight line having no straight line distortion or straight line sag is formed, and further, as shown in FIG. 7 (B), a right-angled corner without corner protrusion is finished.

The plane shape of the solid printing area portion 5 can be arbitrarily changed. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the solid printing area 5 on the front side can be formed into a flat trapezoid in conformity with the shape of the trapezoidal convex portion 6. 5 and 6 show still another embodiment, in which groove-like recessed surfaces 7 are provided only on both ends of the solid printing area 5 including the corners. According to this, at least a corner protrusion can be eliminated. The present invention can be similarly applied to a tape cartridge for video or DAT.

[0014]

According to the present invention, the concave surface 7 is provided around the solid printing area 5 provided at a predetermined position on the outer surface of the main body case 1.
Since the ink is provided around the solid printing surface and the corners attached to the pad, the ink does not transfer to the surface of the solid printing area portion 5 and escapes above the surrounding concave surface 7. Therefore,
Straight line distortion, straight line sag around the solid print surface or at the corners,
It is possible to eliminate the protrusion of corners or uneven printing, and it is possible to obtain solid printing with a good finished state that is orderly in appearance.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall plan view.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG.

3 (A) to 3 (D) are cross-sectional views showing different embodiments of a concave surface.

FIG. 4 is an overall plan view showing another embodiment regarding the arrangement position of the solid print area portion.

FIG. 5 is an overall plan view showing still another embodiment relating to the arrangement position of the solid print area portion.

FIG. 6 is an overall plan view showing still another embodiment relating to the arrangement position of the solid print area portion.

FIG. 7 is a plan view illustrating a defective state of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Body case 5 Solid printing area 7 Recessed surface 8 Solid printing surface 10 Character display

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A tape cartridge in which a solid print area portion 5 is provided at a predetermined position on the outer surface of the main body case 1, wherein the outer surface of the main body case 1 has the solid print area portion on the outer periphery of the solid print area portion 5. 5. A tape cartridge having a recessed surface 7 lower than the surface of 5. 2. The outer surface of the main body case (1) is formed with a recessed surface (7) in a groove shape on the outer periphery of the solid printing area (5), and the surface of the solid printing area (5) and the bottom of the recessed surface (7). The difference in level between
The tape cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the tape cartridge has a thickness of 50 to 500 μm.