U.S. patent application number 09/088687 was filed with the patent office on 2001-05-24 for laminating tape and to-be-laminated tape, as well as method and device for laminating the laminating tape to the to-be-laminated tape.
Invention is credited to OIKAWA, HIDEKI.
Application Number | 20010001682 09/088687 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 15717401 |
Filed Date | 2001-05-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010001682 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
OIKAWA, HIDEKI |
May 24, 2001 |
LAMINATING TAPE AND TO-BE-LAMINATED TAPE, AS WELL AS METHOD AND
DEVICE FOR LAMINATING THE LAMINATING TAPE TO THE TO-BE-LAMINATED
TAPE
Abstract
A laminating tape has an adhesive layer for adhering to a
recording surface of a to-be-laminated tape, and is formed to have
a substantially identical width to a width of the to-be-laminated
tape. The laminating tape has a preliminary laminating portion
formed at a leading end thereof, for being preliminarily laminated
to the to-be-laminated tape, and a non-adhesive portion having a
predetermined length and extending continuously from an trailing
end of the preliminary laminating portion, for permitting lateral
motion of the laminating tape with respect to the to-be-laminated
tape. In another aspect of the invention, a to-be-laminated tape is
provided which has a preliminary to-be-laminated portion formed at
a leading end thereof for being preliminarily laminated to a
leading end of the laminating tape, and an adhesion-refusing
portion having a predetermined length and extending continuously
from a trailing end of the preliminary to-be-laminated portion, for
permitting lateral motion of the to-be-laminated tape with respect
to the laminating tape. A method and device for initially
laminating the laminating tape to the to-be-laminated tape are also
provided.
Inventors: |
OIKAWA, HIDEKI; (NAGANO,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
JOHN P. SCHERLACHER, ESQ.
HOGAN & HARTSON, L.L.P., BILTMORE TOWER
500 SOUTH GRAND AVENUE
SUITE 1900
LOS ANGELES
CA
90071
US
|
Family ID: |
15717401 |
Appl. No.: |
09/088687 |
Filed: |
June 1, 1998 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
428/40.1 ;
428/343; 428/352; 428/354; 428/41.6 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 428/1486 20150115;
Y10T 428/2848 20150115; B32B 38/1841 20130101; B65H 37/04 20130101;
B32B 37/20 20130101; B41M 7/0027 20130101; Y10T 428/24793 20150115;
B32B 2041/06 20130101; Y10T 428/2839 20150115; Y10T 156/1795
20150115; C09J 7/20 20180101; Y10T 428/1467 20150115; Y10T
428/24777 20150115; B32B 38/145 20130101; C09J 7/02 20130101; Y10T
428/14 20150115; Y10T 428/1476 20150115; B32B 37/12 20130101; Y10T
428/28 20150115; Y10T 428/1429 20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
428/40.1 ;
428/41.6; 428/343; 428/352; 428/354 |
International
Class: |
B32B 007/06; B32B
009/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 3, 1997 |
JP |
160549/1997 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A laminating tape that has an adhesive layer for affixing said
laminating tape to a recording surface of a to-be-laminated tape,
and is formed to have a substantially identical width to a width of
said to-be-laminated tape, the laminating tape comprising: a
preliminary laminating portion formed at a leading end of said
laminating tape, for being preliminarily laminated to a leading end
of said to-be-laminated tape; and a non-adhesive portion having a
predetermined length and extending continuously from a trailing end
of said preliminary laminating portion, for permitting lateral
motion of said laminating tape with respect to said to-be-laminated
tape.
2. A laminating tape according to claim 1, wherein said
non-adhesive portion is formed by omitting a portion of said
adhesive layer.
3. A laminating tape according to claim 1, wherein said
non-adhesive portion comprises a tape strip affixed to said
adhesive layer, for permitting lateral motion of said laminating
tape with respect to said to-be-laminated tape.
4. A laminating tape according to claim 3, wherein said tape strip
is different in color from a ground color of said to-be-laminated
tape.
5. A to-be-laminated tape that has a recording surface to which is
affixed a laminating tape having an adhesive layer, and is formed
to have a substantially identical width to a width of said
laminating tape, the to-be-laminated tape comprising: a preliminary
to-be-laminated portion formed at a leading end of said
to-be-laminated tape, for being preliminarily laminated to a
leading end of said laminating tape; and an adhesion-refusing
portion having a predetermined length and extending continuously
from a trailing end of said preliminary to-be-laminated portion,
for permitting lateral motion of said to-be-laminated tape with
respect to said laminating tape.
6. A to-be-laminated tape according to claim 5, wherein said
adhesion-refusing portion comprises a fluorine coating formed on
said recording surface.
7. A to-be-laminated tape according to claim 6, including a base
tape having said recording surface formed thereon, and wherein said
fluorine coating is different in color from a ground color of said
base tape.
8. A to-be-laminated tape according to claim 7, further including
an adhesive layer formed on an opposite side of said base tape to
said recording surface, and a release paper tape laminated to said
adhesive layer.
9. A method of laminating a laminating tape to a to-be-laminated
tape having a substantially identical width to a width of said
laminating tape, said laminating tape having a preliminary
laminating portion formed at a leading end thereof, and a
non-adhesive portion extending continuously from a trailing end of
said preliminary laminating portion, for permitting lateral motion
of said laminating tape with respect to said to-be-laminated tape,
the method comprising the steps of: placing said leading end of
said laminating tape and a leading end of said to-be-laminated tape
on upon another; affixing said preliminary laminating portion of
said laminating tape to said leading end of said to-be-laminated
tape; and thereafter simultaneously feeding said laminating tape
and said to-be-laminated tape to pressure contact means that brings
said laminating tape and said to-be-laminated tape into contact
under pressure while controlling a lateral position of said
laminating tape and a lateral position of said to-be-laminated
tape, at least until said non-adhesive portion of said laminating
tape has passed through said pressure contact means, to thereby
cause a portion of said laminating tape immediately following said
non-adhesive portion thereof to be accurately laminated to said
to-be-laminated tape.
10. A method of laminating a laminating tape having an adhesive
layer to a to-be-laminated tape having a substantially identical
width to a width of said laminating tape, said to-be-laminated tape
having a preliminary to-be-laminated portion formed at a leading
end thereof, for being preliminarily laminated to a leading end of
said laminating tape, and an adhesion-refusing portion having a
predetermined length and extending continuously from a trailing end
of said preliminary to-be-laminated portion, for permitting lateral
motion of said to-be-laminated tape with respect to said laminating
tape, the method comprising the steps of: placing said leading end
of said laminating tape and said leading end of said
to-be-laminated tape on upon another; affixing said leading end of
said laminating tape to said preliminary to-be-laminated portion of
said to-be-laminated tape; and thereafter simultaneously feeding
said laminating tape and said to-be-laminated tape to pressure
contact means that brings said laminating tape and said
to-be-laminated tape into contact under pressure while controlling
a lateral position of said laminating tape and a lateral position
of said to-be-laminated tape, at least until said adhesion-refusing
portion of said to-be-laminated tape has passed through said
pressure contact means, to thereby cause said laminating tape to be
accurately laminated to a portion of said to-be-laminated tape
immediately following said adhesion-refusing portion thereof.
11. A laminating device that at least carries out initial
lamination of a laminating tape and a to-be-laminated tape having a
substantially identical width to a width of said laminating tape by
affixing a leading portion of said laminating tape to a leading
portion of said to-be-laminated tape, said leading portion of said
laminating tape including a preliminary laminating portion formed
at a leading end thereof, and a non-adhesive portion extending
continuously from a trailing end of said preliminary laminating
portion, for permitting lateral motion of said laminating tape with
respect to said to-be-laminated tape, the laminating device
comprising: tape-feeding means for simultaneously feeding said
laminating tape and said to-be-laminated tape in a state in which
said preliminary laminating portion of said laminating tape has
been affixed to said leading portion of said to-be-laminated tape;
pressure contact means for bringing said leading portion of said
laminating tape and said leading portion of said to-be-laminated
tape into contact under pressure in a manner interlocked with
tape-feeding operation of said tape-feeding means; and tape guide
means for controlling a lateral position of said laminating tape
and a lateral position of said to-be-laminated tape, as said
laminating tape and said to-be-laminated tape are simultaneously
fed to said pressure contact means by said tape-feeding means.
12. A laminating device according to claim 11, wherein said
laminating device is used with a single cartridge containing said
laminating tape and said to-be-laminated tape each in the form of a
roll.
13. A laminating device according to claim 11, further including
printing means for printing on said recording surface of said
to-be-laminated tape.
14. A laminating device according to claim 11, further including
cutter means for cutting off a laminated portion of said laminating
tape and said to-be-laminated tape into a strip having a desired
length.
15. A laminating device that at least carries out initial
lamination of a laminating tape and a to-be-laminated tape having a
substantially identical width to a width of said laminating tape by
affixing a leading portion of said laminating tape to a leading
portion of said to-be-laminated tape, said leading portion of said
to-be-laminated tape including a preliminary to-be-laminated
portion formed at a leading end of said to-be-laminated tape for
being preliminarily laminated to a leading end of said leading
portion of said laminating tape, and an adhesion-refusing portion
having a predetermined length and extending continuously from a
trailing end of said preliminary to-be-laminated portion, for
permitting lateral motion of said to-be-laminated tape with respect
to said laminating tape, the laminating device comprising:
tape-feeding means for simultaneously feeding said laminating tape
and said to-be-laminated tape in a state in which said leading end
of said laminating tape has been affixed to said leading end of
said to-be-laminated tape; pressure contact means for bringing said
leading portion of said laminating tape and said leading portion of
said to-be-laminated tape to contact under pressure in a manner
interlocked with tape-feeding operation of said tape-feeding means;
and tape guide means for controlling a lateral position of said
laminating tape and a lateral position of said to-be-laminated
tape, as said laminating tape and said to-be-laminated tape are
simultaneously fed to said pressure contact means by said
tape-feeding means.
16. A laminating device according to claim 15, wherein said
laminating device is used with a single cartridge containing said
laminating tape and said to-be-laminated tape each in the form of a
roll.
17. A laminating device according to claim 15, further including
printing means for printing on a recording surface of said
to-be-laminated tape.
18. A laminating device according to claim 15, further including
cutter means for cutting off a laminated portion of said laminating
tape and said to-be-laminated tape into a strip having a desired
length.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates to a laminating tape that is affixed
e.g. to a printing tape after printing, for lamination thereto to
thereby protect the printed surface of the printing tape, and a
to-be-laminated tape, such as the printing tape. The invention
further relates to a method and a device for affixing the
laminating tape to the to-be-laminated tape.
[0003] 2. Prior Art
[0004] Conventionally, in a sequence of operations or steps for
lamination of a laminating tape to a printing tape (to-be-laminated
tape), the printing tape is printed as it is fed from a roll
thereof, and at the same time the laminating tape is guided such
that the laminating tape meets the printed tape at a confluence as
the tapes are fed. At the confluence, the laminating tape and the
printed printing tape are brought into contact with each other
under pressure. In this case, the printing tape and the laminating
tape, which are fabricated so that they have identical widths, are
guided by a tape guide provided at the confluence. The guide is
designed to prevent the two tapes from being laterally displaced
from each other. However, to obtain a properly laminated tape, it
is not only required to set up the tape guide accurately, but also
to affix leading ends of the two tapes such that lateral sides
thereof are accurately aligned with each other during the initial
stage of the lamination. As shown in FIG. 1, if the leading ends of
two tapes Tp, Tr are not initially affixed to each other without
the slightest angular displacement at the start of lamination, the
displacement increases as the lamination proceeds causing wrinkling
and jamming of the tapes. The laminating tape is highly adhesive
and flaccid. Therefore, the alignment operation for the initial
lamination process cannot be easily automated, rather, it has
conventionally been carried out manually.
[0005] However, using the conventional method for beginning the
lamination process in which the printing tape and the laminating
tape are aligned and affixed to each other manually makes the
operation troublesome and it demands skill. This is true even when
a jig for positioning the two tapes is used to assist in the
alignment. Hence, the conventional method results in a degraded
yield of the product (the printing tape having the laminating tape
initially laminated thereto).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is a first object of the invention to provide a
laminating tape which can be initially laminated to a
to-be-laminated tape with ease and accuracy without skill.
[0007] It is a second object of the invention to provide a
to-be-laminated tape which can be initially laminated to a
laminating tape with ease and accuracy without skill.
[0008] It is a third object of the invention to provide a method of
initially laminating a laminating tape to a to-be-laminated tape
with ease and accuracy.
[0009] It is a fourth object of the invention to provide a device
which is capable of initially laminating a laminating tape to a
to-be-laminated tape with ease and accuracy.
[0010] To attain the first object, according to a first aspect of
the invention, there is provided a laminating tape that has an
adhesive layer for affixing the laminating tape to a recording
surface of a to-be-laminated tape, and is formed to have a
substantially identical width to a width of the to-be-laminated
tape.
[0011] The laminating tape according to the first aspect of the
invention is characterized by comprising:
[0012] a preliminary laminating portion formed at a leading end of
the laminating tape, for being preliminarily laminated to a leading
end of the to-be-laminated tape; and
[0013] a non-adhesive portion having a predetermined length and
extending continuously from a trailing end of the preliminary
laminating portion, for permitting lateral motion of the laminating
tape with respect to the to-be-laminated tape.
[0014] According to this laminating tape, the preliminary
laminating portion is formed at a leading end thereof, for being
preliminarily laminated to the leading end of the to-be-laminated
tape, and the non-adhesive portion extends continuously from the
trailing end of the preliminary laminating portion. Therefore, the
initial lamination of the laminating tape to the to-be-laminate
tape is carried out by first placing the preliminary laminating
portion of the laminating tape and the leading end of the
to-be-laminated tape one upon the other while aligning them to
thereby affix them to each other. Then, the lamination is continued
from the laminated portion of the tapes through the non-adhesive
portion of the laminating tape and a corresponding portion of the
to-be-laminated tape while correcting the alignment of the tapes,
up to a main laminating portion of the laminating tape extending
continuously from the trailing end of the non-adhesive portion and
a corresponding portion of the to-be-laminated tape. Since the
non-adhesive portion can be moved laterally on the to-be-laminated
tape, it is possible to eliminate lateral displacement of the
laminating tape with respect to the to-be-laminated tape which can
occur at an initial stage of the initial lamination, i.e. at the
preliminary laminating portion of the laminating tape, to thereby
correct the alignment of the two tapes. This makes it possible to
accurately laminate the main laminating portion of the laminating
tape to the corresponding portion of the to-be-laminated tape
without any displacement. To obtain a desirable laminating
condition, it is preferred that the laminating tape is slightly
smaller in width than the to-be-laminated tape.
[0015] Preferably, the non-adhesive portion is formed by omitting a
portion of the adhesive layer.
[0016] According to this preferred embodiment, it is possible to
form the non-adhesive portion easily by providing the adhesive
layer on an entire surface of the laminating tape except the
portion for the non-adhesive portion, or by partially eliminating a
portion of the adhesive layer provided on the entire surface of the
laminating tape.
[0017] Alternatively, the non-adhesive portion comprises a tape
strip affixed to the adhesive layer, for permitting lateral motion
of the laminating tape with respect to the to-be-laminated
tape.
[0018] According to this preferred embodiment, it is possible to
form the non-adhesive portion by simply affixing the tape strip to
the adhesive layer of the laminating tape. Since this tape strip
increases rigidity of the non-adhesive portion, not only the
non-adhesive portion but also the preliminary laminating portion
and the main laminating portion continuously extending from the
non-adhesive portion are stretched, which makes it possible to
easily and smoothly carry out the sequence of laminating operations
including the correction of alignment of the tapes.
[0019] Preferably, the tape strip is different in color from a
ground color of the to-be-laminated tape.
[0020] According to this preferred embodiment, the operator can
visually clearly recognize the non-adhesive portion by the color of
the strip, so that it is possible to smoothly carry out the
sequence of laminating operations including the correction of
alignment of the tapes. Further, when the preliminary laminating
portion and the non-adhesive portion are finally cut off as
unnecessary portions for the laminated tape, the operator can make
use of the difference in color between the non-adhesive portion and
the to-be-laminated tape as a mark indicative of a cutting position
of the laminated tape.
[0021] To attain the second object, according to a second aspect of
the invention, there is provided a to-be-laminated tape that has a
recording surface to which is affixed a laminating tape having an
adhesive layer, and is formed to have a substantially identical
width to a width of the laminating tape.
[0022] The to-be-laminated tape according to the second aspect of
the invention is characterized by comprising:
[0023] a preliminary to-be-laminated portion formed at a leading
end of the to-be-laminated tape, for being preliminarily laminated
to a leading end of the laminating tape; and
[0024] an adhesion-refusing portion having a predetermined length
and extending continuously from a trailing end of the preliminary
to-be-laminated portion, for permitting lateral motion of the
to-be-laminated tape with respect to the laminating tape.
[0025] According to this to-be-laminated tape, the preliminary
to-be-laminated portion is provided at the leading end thereof for
being preliminarily laminated to the leading end of the laminating
tape, and the adhesion-refusing portion extends continuously from
the preliminary to-be-laminated portion. Therefore, the initial
lamination of the laminating tape to the to-be-laminated tape is
carried out by first placing the leading end of the preliminary
laminating portion and the leading end of the to-be-laminated tape
one upon the other while aligning them to thereby affix them to
each other. Then, the lamination is continued from the laminated
portion of the tapes, through the adhesion-refusing portion of the
to-be-laminated tape and a corresponding portion of the laminating
tape while correcting the alignment of the tapes, up to a main
to-be-laminated portion of the to-be-laminated tape extending
continuously from the trailing end of the adhesion-refusing portion
and a corresponding portion of the laminating tape. Since the
adhesion-refusing portion of the to-be-laminated tape can be moved
laterally on the laminating tape, it is possible to eliminate
lateral displacement of the to-be-laminated tape with respect to
the laminating tape which can occur at an initial stage of the
initial lamination, i.e. at the preliminary to-be-laminated portion
of the to-be-laminated tape, to thereby correct the alignment of
the two tapes. This makes it possible to accurately laminate the
main to-be-laminated portion of the to-be-laminated tape to the
corresponding part of the laminating tape without any
displacement.
[0026] Preferably, the adhesion-refusing portion comprises a
fluorine coating formed on the recording surface.
[0027] According to this preferred embodiment, it is possible to
form the adhesion-refusing portion easily by fluorine coating
process.
[0028] More preferably, the to-be-laminated tape includes a base
tape having the recording surface formed thereon, and the fluorine
coating layer is different in color from a ground color of the base
tape.
[0029] According to this preferred embodiment, the operator can
visually clearly recognize the adhesion-refusing portion, so that
it is possible to smoothly carry out the sequence of laminating
operations including the correction of alignment of the tapes.
Further, when the preliminary to-be-laminated portion and the
adhesion-refusing portion are finally cut off as unnecessary
portions for the laminated tape, the operator can make use of the
difference in color between the adhesion-refusing portion and the
main laminating portion of the to-be-laminated tape as a mark
indicative of a cutting position of the laminated tape.
[0030] Further preferably, the to-be-laminated tape further
includes an adhesive layer formed on an opposite side of the base
tape to the recording surface, and a release paper tape laminated
to the adhesive layer.
[0031] To attain the third object, according to a third aspect of
the invention, there is provided a method of laminating a
laminating tape to a to-be-laminated tape having a substantially
identical width to a width of the laminating tape, the laminating
tape having a preliminary laminating portion formed at a leading
end thereof, and a non-adhesive portion extending continuously from
a trailing end of the preliminary laminating portion, for
permitting lateral motion of the laminating tape with respect to
the to-be-laminated tape.
[0032] The method according to the third aspect of the invention is
characterized by comprising the steps of:
[0033] placing the leading end of the laminating tape and a leading
end of the to-be-laminated tape on upon another;
[0034] affixing the preliminary laminating portion of the
laminating tape to the leading end of the to-be-laminated tape;
and
[0035] thereafter simultaneously feeding the laminating tape and
the to-be-laminated tape to pressure contact means that brings the
laminating tape and the to-be-laminated tape into contact under
pressure while controlling a lateral position of the laminating
tape and a lateral position of the to-be-laminated tape, at least
until the non-adhesive portion of the laminating tape has passed
through the pressure contact means, to thereby cause a portion of
the laminating tape immediately following the non-adhesive portion
thereof to be accurately laminated to the to-be-laminated tape.
[0036] To attain the fourth object, according to a fourth aspect of
the invention, there is provided a laminating device that at least
carries out initial lamination of a laminating tape and a
to-be-laminated tape having a substantially identical width to a
width of the laminating tape by affixing a leading portion of the
laminating tape to a leading portion of the to-be-laminated tape,
the leading portion of the laminating tape including a preliminary
laminating portion formed at a leading end thereof, and a
non-adhesive portion extending continuously from a trailing end of
the preliminary laminating portion, for permitting lateral motion
of the laminating tape with respect to the to-be-laminated
tape.
[0037] The laminating device according to the fourth aspect of the
invention is characterized by comprising:
[0038] tape-feeding means for simultaneously feeding the laminating
tape and the to-be-laminated tape in a state in which the
preliminary laminating portion of the laminating tape has been
affixed to the leading portion of the to-be-laminated tape;
[0039] pressure contact means for bringing the leading portion of
the laminating tape and the leading portion of the to-be-laminated
tape into contact under pressure in a manner interlocked with
tape-feeding operation of the tape-feeding means; and
[0040] tape guide means for controlling a lateral position of the
laminating tape and a lateral position of the to-be-laminated tape,
as the laminating tape and the to-be-laminated tape are
simultaneously fed to the pressure contact means by the
tape-feeding means.
[0041] According to these method and device, the preliminary
laminating portion of the laminating tape is affixed to the
corresponding portion of the to-be-laminated tape, and then, the
two tapes are fed while properly controlling lateral positions
thereof to bring them into contact under pressure. This control of
the lateral positions of the tapes enables the to-be-laminated tape
and the non-adhesive portion of the laminating tape to be guided to
a position in which they are properly placed or positioned one upon
the other. Thus, the lateral displacement of the two tapes with
respect to each other is eliminated before the main laminating
portion of the laminating tape extending from the non-adhesive
portion thereof starts to be affixed by pressure to the
to-be-laminated tape. This makes it possible to affix the two tapes
to each other in a state in which they are properly or accurately
placed one upon the other.
[0042] To attain the third object, according to a fifth aspect of
the invention, there is provided a method of laminating a
laminating tape having an adhesive layer to a to-be-laminated tape
having a substantially identical width to a width of the laminating
tape, the to-be-laminated tape having a preliminary to-be-laminated
portion formed at a leading end thereof, for being preliminarily
laminated to a leading end of the laminating tape, and an
adhesion-refusing portion having a predetermined length and
extending continuously from a trailing end of the preliminary
to-be-laminated portion, for permitting lateral motion of the
to-be-laminated tape with respect to the laminating tape.
[0043] The method according to the fifth aspect of the invention is
characterized by comprising the steps of:
[0044] placing a leading end of the laminating tape and the leading
end of the to-be-laminated tape on upon another;
[0045] affixing the leading end of the laminating tape to the
preliminary to-be-laminated portion of the to-be-laminated tape;
and
[0046] thereafter simultaneously feeding the laminating tape and
the to-be-laminated tape to pressure contact means that brings the
laminating tape and the to-be-laminated tape into contact under
pressure while controlling a lateral position of the laminating
tape and a lateral position of the to-be-laminated tape, at least
until the adhesion-refusing portion of the to-be-laminated tape has
passed through the pressure contact means, to thereby cause the
laminating tape to be accurately laminated to a portion of the
to-be-laminated tape immediately following the adhesion-refusing
portion thereof.
[0047] To attain the fourth object, according to a sixth aspect of
the invention, there is provided a laminating device that at least
carries out initial lamination of a laminating tape and a
to-be-laminated tape having a substantially identical width to a
width of the laminating tape by affixing a leading portion of the
laminating tape to a leading portion of the to-be-laminated tape,
the leading portion of the to-be-laminated tape including a
preliminary to-be-laminated portion formed at a leading end of the
to-be-laminated tape for being preliminarily laminated to a leading
end of the leading portion of the laminating tape, and an
adhesion-refusing portion having a predetermined length and
extending continuously from a trailing end of the preliminary
to-be-laminated portion, for permitting lateral motion of the
to-be-laminated tape with respect to the laminating tape.
[0048] The laminating device according to the sixth aspect of the
invention is characterized by comprising:
[0049] tape-feeding means for simultaneously feeding the laminating
tape and the to-be-laminated tape in a state in which the leading
end of the laminating tape has been affixed to the leading end of
the to-be-laminated tape;
[0050] pressure contact means for bringing the leading portion of
the laminating tape and the leading portion of the to-be-laminated
tape to contact under pressure in a manner interlocked with
tape-feeding operation of the tape-feeding means; and
[0051] tape guide means for controlling a lateral position of the
laminating tape and a lateral position of the to-be-laminated tape,
as the laminating tape and the to-be-laminated tape are
simultaneously fed to the pressure contact means by the
tape-feeding means.
[0052] According to these method and device, the preliminary
to-be-laminated portion of the to-be-laminated tape is affixed to
the leading portion of the laminating tape, and then, the two tapes
are fed while properly controlling lateral positions thereof to
bring them into contact under pressure. This control of the lateral
positions of the tapes enables the adhesion-refusing portion of the
to-be-laminated tape and the laminating tape to be guided to a
position in which they are properly placed or positioned one upon
the other. Thus, the lateral displacement of the two tapes with
respect to each other is eliminated before the laminating tape
starts to be affixed by pressure to the main to-be-laminated
portion of the to-be-laminated tape extending from the
adhesion-refusing portion thereof. This makes it possible to affix
the two tapes to each other in a state in which they are properly
or accurately placed one upon the other.
[0053] Preferably, each of the laminating devices is used with a
single cartridge containing the laminating tape and the
to-be-laminated tape each in the form of a roll.
[0054] According to the preferred embodiments, it is easy to
incorporate the guide means into the cartridge, and at the same
time, it is possible to facilitate handling of the laminating tape
and the to-be-laminated tape.
[0055] Preferably, each of the laminating devices further includes
printing means for printing on a recording surface of the
to-be-laminated tape.
[0056] Preferably, each of the laminating devices further includes
cutter means for cutting off a laminated portion of the laminating
tape and the to-be-laminated tape into a strip having a desired
length.
[0057] According to the preferred embodiments, it is easy to
produce a laminated label out of the to-be-laminated tape laminated
with the laminating tape.
[0058] The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the
invention will become more apparent from the following detailed
description taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0059] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a conventional printing tape
and a conventional laminating tape, in a laminated state;
[0060] FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view showing a leading
portion of a printing tape and a leading portion of a laminating
tape, according to a first embodiment of the invention;
[0061] FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view showing a leading
portion of a printing tape and a leading portion of a laminating
tape, according to a second embodiment of the invention;
[0062] FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view showing a leading
portion of a printing tape and a leading portion of a laminating
tape, according to a third embodiment of the invention;
[0063] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing essential elements of a
laminating device for use in the initial lamination of the printing
tape and the laminating tape, according to an embodiment of the
invention, which is also useful in explaining a method of carrying
out the initial lamination by using the device;
[0064] FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the printing tape and the
laminating tape according to any of the embodiments of the
invention, in a laminated state;
[0065] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a tape
printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention;
[0066] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the FIG. 7 apparatus;
and
[0067] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a tape cartridge
according to an embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0068] The invention will now be described in detail with reference
to drawings showing embodiments thereof. In these embodiments, a
to-be-laminated tape is a printing tape a front surface of which is
used as a recording surface to be printed, while the laminating
tape is a tape to be affixed to the front surface of the printing
tape so as to protect the printed recording surface of the printing
tape. The printing tape and the laminating tape are supplied to a
user in a state both contained in an identical i.e. single tape
cartridge, and the user mounts this cartridge in a tape printing
apparatus before use.
[0069] The tape printing apparatus is capable of printing entered
desired characters and the like on the printing tape by an ink jet
printing method as well as affixing the laminating tape to the
printed portion of the printing tape, and thereafter cutting the
printing tape and the laminating tape in the laminated state, to
thereby produce a laminated label. In a sequence of operations or
steps for affixing the laminating tape to the printing tape, the
tape printing apparatus carries out printing while feeding the
printing tape from the tape cartridge containing a roll of the
printing tape, and at the same time unwinds and guides the
laminating tape such that the laminating tape meets the printing
tape after printing at a confluence as the two tapes are fed. At
the confluence, the laminating tape and the printing tape are
brought into contact with each other under pressure. Users are
supplied with the printing tape and the laminating tape in a state
contained in the tape cartridge with leading portions thereof
affixed to each other in advance, so as to enable smooth lamination
of the tapes. Although the printing tape and the laminating tape
are generally fabricated such that they have identical widths, it
is preferable to form the laminating tape such that the laminating
tape has a slightly smaller width (by approximately 0.3 mm) than
the printing tape, in view of laminating accuracy of the apparatus.
The laminating tape may be smaller in width than the printing tape
to such an extent that the difference can be visually recognized.
However, it goes without saying that the laminating tape is
required to have a sufficient width to cover all the printed
characters and the like.
[0070] The leading portions of the printing tape and the laminating
tape are required to be affixed to each other with accuracy.
Therefore, the initial laminating operation is carried out by the
manufacturer as a general rule. However, the tape printing
apparatus permits the user to replace the printing tape or the
laminating tape contained in the tape cartridge with a new one to
save resources. If such replacement is carried out, the user has to
affix the leading portions of the two tapes to each other for the
initial lamination. For this reason, the two tapes of the
embodiments are designed to have inventive features for enabling
the user to carry out initial lamination of the tapes with ease and
accuracy.
[0071] In the following description, to begin with, various
embodiments concerning the printing tape and the laminating tape
will be described, respectively. Then, brief description will be
made of a laminating device for use in the initial lamination,
which is used by the manufacturer for affixing the leading portions
of the two tapes, and finally, the tape printing apparatus used by
the user will be described.
[0072] Referring first to FIG. 2, there are shown leading portions
of a printing tape and a laminating tape according to a first
embodiment of the invention, on an enlarged scale. As shown in the
figure, the laminating tape Tr, which is the upper tape shown in
the figure, is comprised of a base laminating tape 101, an adhesive
layer 102 coated on a underside surface of the base laminating tape
101, and a mask (tape strip) 103 affixed to the underside surface
of the base laminating tape 101. The base laminating tape 101 is
formed of an optically transparent film having a thickness of
approximately 16 to 38 .mu.m. It is preferable to use a colorless
transparent base laminating tape 101 when color printing is
effected on the printing tape Tp. However, a slightly colored base
laminating tape may be used when monochrome printing is carried
out.
[0073] The mask 103 is formed e.g. of a film having a thickness of
approximately 16 to 100 .mu.m. The mask 103 is affixed to the
underside surface of the laminating tape Tr between a preliminary
laminating portion "a" extending a few centimeters from the leading
edge of the tape Tr, and a continuous laminating portion "b" which
serves as a main laminating portion of the laminating tape Tr. The
preliminary laminating portion "a" and the continuous laminating
portion "b" are adhesive portions to be affixed to the printing
tape Tp, while the mask 103 forms a non-adhesive portion "c" which
cannot adhere to the printing tape Tp. The mask 103 may be either
transparent or opaque. However, when an opaque one is used, it is
preferred that the mask is different in color from the printing
tape Tp such that the non-adhesive portion "c" can be visually and
clearly distinguished from the printing tape Tp.
[0074] On the other hand, the printing tape Tp, which is the lower
tape in FIG. 2, is comprised of a base printing tape 201, an
adhesive layer 202 coated on a underside surface of the base
printing tape 201, and a release paper tape 203 affixed to the
underside surface of the base printing tape 201 via the adhesive
layer 202. The base printing tape 201 having the front surface
(recording surface) to be printed by an ink jet printing method is
formed of a material which is capable of readily absorbing ink. The
adhesive layer 202 is used for affixing a laminated label formed by
the printing tape Tp and the laminating tape Tr to an object
article, while the release paper tape 203 is used for preventing
the laminated label from being affixed to any article other than
the object article and dust or dirt from depositing on the adhesive
layer 202.
[0075] To affix the leading portions of the two tapes Tp, Tr formed
as described above to each other for initial lamination of the
tapes, the preliminary laminating portion "a" of the laminating
tape Tr is first affixed to a leading end of the printing tape Tp.
Then, alignment of the two tapes Tp, Tr is corrected by the use of
the mask 103, i.e. the non-adhesive portion "c" of the laminating
tape Tr, and thereafter, a leading end portion of the continuous
laminating portion "b" is affixed to the printing tape Tp. Thus,
the leading end portion of the continuous laminating portion "b" of
the laminating tape Tr can be laminated to the printing tape Tp in
a state in which the two tapes Tp, Tr placed one upon the other are
accurately aligned, which makes it possible to prevent displacement
or jamming of the two tapes Tp, Tr from occurring when the tapes
Tp, Tr set in the tape printing apparatus are being used for
printing and continuous lamination.
[0076] FIG. 3 shows leading portions of a printing tape and a
laminating tape according to a second embodiment of the invention,
on an enlarged scale. As shown in the figure, the present
embodiment is distinguished from the first embodiment simply in
that the laminating tape Tr is different in construction from the
one of the first embodiment. More specifically, the laminating tape
Tr of the first embodiment has the non-adhesive portion "c" thereof
formed by the mask 103, while the laminating tape Tr of the second
embodiment has a non-adhesive portion "c" thereof formed by
eliminating or omitting one portion of an adhesive layer coated on
a underside surface of a base laminating tape Tr. The non-adhesive
portion "c" of the laminating tape Tr of the second embodiment is
formed by coating an adhesive on the whole underside surface of the
base laminating tape 101 except a portion to be used as the
non-adhesive portion "c", or by coating the adhesive on the whole
underside surface of the base laminating tape 101 and then
eliminating the adhesive from the portion to be used as the
non-adhesive portion "c" by the use of a solvent or the like.
According to this embodiment, it is possible to correct the
alignment of the two tapes Tp, Tr by the use of the non-adhesive
portion "c" formed as above.
[0077] FIG. 4 shows leading portions of a printing tape and a
laminating tape according to a third embodiment of the invention,
on an enlarged scale. As shown in the figure, the laminating tape
Tr is comprised of a base laminating tape 101 and an adhesive layer
102 alone, while the printing tape Tp is comprised of a base
laminating tape 201, an adhesive layer 202, a release paper tape
203, and a non-adhesive coating layer 204. The non-adhesive coating
layer 204 is formed on a front surface of the base printing tape
201 between a preliminary to-be-laminated portion "x" extending a
few centimeters from the leading edge of the printing tape Tp and a
continuous to-be-laminated portion "y" which serves as a main
to-be-laminated portion of the printing tape Tp. The non-adhesive
coating layer 204 is formed e.g. by a fluorine coating which has
the property of being non-adhesive to the adhesive layer 202 of the
laminating tape Tr. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the
non-adhesive coating layer 204 forms a non-adhesive portion "z"
that does not adhere to the laminating Tr, and hence, similarly to
the above embodiments, it is possible to correct alignment of the
two tapes Tp, Tr by the use of the non-adhesive coating layer 204.
Further, similarly to the case of the mask 103 described
hereinbefore, it is preferred that the non-adhesive coating layer
204 is different in color from a ground color of the base printing
tape 201.
[0078] The leading portions of the printing tape Tp and the
laminating tape Tr constructed as above are affixed to each other
by the use of a laminating device for the initial lamination,
unless the operation is carried out manually. Therefore, the device
and the method for initial lamination will be briefly described
with reference to FIG. 5, based on an example in which the printing
tape Tp and the laminating tape Tr according to the first
embodiment of the invention are used.
[0079] As shown in the figure, the laminating device 51 includes a
drive roller 52 which is driven for rotation via a reduction gear,
not shown, by a motor, not shown, a driven roller 53 which rotates
in rolling contact with the drive roller 52 as the printing tape Tp
and the laminating tape Tr are advanced, and a printing tape guide
54 and a laminating tape guide 55 arranged in the vicinity of the
two rollers 52, 53, respectively. The printing tape Tp and the
laminating Tr, each of which is initially in a state wound into a
roll, not shown, are unwound and guided by the rollers 52, 53,
respectively, as illustrated in the figure. The driven roller 53 is
urged toward the drive roller 52 by a spring or the like, not
shown. It is preferred that at least one of the two rollers 52, 53
is an elastic roller having rubber or the like provided around its
body. The drive roller 52 and the driven roller 53 serves not only
as pressure contact means for bringing the printing tape Tp and the
laminating Tr to contact under pressure, but also as tape-feeding
means for feeding the two tapes Tp, Tr simultaneously.
[0080] The preliminary laminating portion "a" of the laminating
tape Tr and the leading end of the printing tape Tp are manually
placed one upon the other and then affixed to each other in
advance. The two tapes Tp, Tr in this state are inserted between
the two rollers 52, 53. When the drive roller 52 starts rotating,
the two tapes Tp, Tr are sent forward while being brought into
contact under pressure by the two rollers for lamination, causing
rotation of the driven roller 53. The two tapes Tp, Tr are fed
according to the rotation of the two rollers 52, 53 for lamination,
in a state always guided, respectively, by the two tape guides 54,
55 for preventing the two tapes Tp, Tr from being laterally
displaced. That is, the two tape guides 54, 55 guide the printing
tape Tp and the laminating tape Tp, respectively, to the two
rollers 52, 53 while controlling lateral positions of the two tapes
Tp, Tr. When the feeding of the two tapes Tp, Tr proceeds and the
non-adhesive portion "c" of the laminating tape Tr reaches the
rollers 52, 53, the two tapes Tp, Tr are brought into a feeding
state in which lateral motion of each of the two tapes Tp, Tr is
permitted by the tape guides 54, 55 since the non-adhesive portion
"c" of the laminating tape Tr does not adhere to the printing tape
Tp. Therefore, the tapes Tp, Tr have their lateral positions
corrected, respectively, by restriction of the tape guides 54, 55
whereby they are advanced in a state accurately aligned one upon
the other. When the feeding of the tapes Tp, Tr further proceeds,
the continuous adhesive portion "b" of the laminating tape Tr
reaches the rollers 52, 53, and a leading end portion of the
continuous adhesive portion "b" is affixed to the printing tape
Tp.
[0081] For instance, as shown in FIG. 6, even if the preliminary
laminating portion "a" of the laminating tape Tr is angularly
displaced with respect to the printing tape Tp, the alignment of
the tapes is corrected to eliminate this angular displacement by
using the non-adhesive portion "c" extending continuously from the
preliminary laminating portion "a", whereby the leading portion of
the continuous laminating portion "b" is affixed to the printing
tape Tp without displacement. That is, it is possible to carry out
accurate initial lamination with ease without any skill,
irrespective of laminating accuracy at the preliminary laminating
portion "a". of course, the initial lamination of the two tapes Tp,
Tr can also be easily and accurately carried out through manual
work, without using the device 51 for the initial lamination, and
without any skill.
[0082] Next, description will be made of the tape printing
apparatus with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. FIG. 7 shows the
appearance of the tape printing apparatus in perspective, while
FIG. 8 shows a body of the apparatus in cross section. As shown in
the figures, the tape printing apparatus 1 includes the body 2, a
keyboard 3 attached to a front portion thereof, a tape cartridge 4
in which the printing tape Tp and the laminating tape Tr are
accommodated, and an ink cartridge 5 which contains inks of four
colors. The tape cartridge 4 and the ink cartridge 5 are removably
mounted in the body 2.
[0083] Arranged on a top surface of the keyboard 3 are various keys
3a which form input means of the printing apparatus 1. The keyboard
3 is hinged on a lower portion of a front surface of the body 2 of
the tape printing apparatus 1 such that it can be brought into
either an upright position or a flat position for use with the body
2. The keyboard 3 is brought to the flat position when the
apparatus 1 is in use, while it is held in the upright position,
i.e. in a state covering the front surface of the apparatus 1 when
the apparatus 1 is carried by the user.
[0084] The body 2 of the printing apparatus 1 has a casing 6 having
a liquid crystal display 7 arranged at an upper right corner of the
front portion thereof as viewed in FIG. 6. The liquid crystal
display 7 displays results of inputting and editing of data.
Further, the casing 6 has a side face (left side wall as viewed in
FIG. 6) formed therethrough with a tape exit 8 in the form of a
slit via which laminated printing tape Tp is discharged. The casing
6 has another side wall, not shown, formed with a lidded opening
via which the tape cartridge 4 and the ink cartridge 5 are mounted
or removed.
[0085] Within the casing 6, there are installed a printing
tape-feeding mechanism 9 for feeding the printing tape Tp, a
printing mechanism 10 for effecting color printing on the printing
tape Tp by an ink jet printing method, a tape-laminating mechanism
11 for laminating the laminating tape Tr to the printing tape Tp, a
cutting mechanism 12 for cutting laminated printing tape Tp, and a
circuit board 13 for controlling operations of these mechanisms as
well as processing information (see FIG. 8).
[0086] As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the tape cartridge 4 is
constructed in such a manner that a main tape-receiving block 21 in
which the printing tape Tp is received and a sub tape-receiving
block 22 in which the laminating tape Tr is received are connected
by a linkage 23 at an intermediate portion of the cartridge 4, and
a print head 14 of the printing mechanism 10 faces the linkage 23.
A cartridge case 24 housing the main tape-receiving block 21, the
sub tape-receiving block 22, and the linkage 23 is comprised of a
base case 25, a main case lid 26 for the main tape-receiving block
21, and a sub case lid 27 for the sub tape-receiving block 22. When
the printing tape Tp and/or the laminating tape Tr set within the
apparatus body 2 is replaced with a new one, the cartridge 4
containing the tapes Tp, Tr is removed from the apparatus body 2.
Then, the main case lid 26 and the sub case lid 27 of the cartridge
4 are opened, so as to remove the printing tape Tp and/or the
laminating tape Tr from the cartridge 4 separately, for replacement
with the new one.
[0087] The printing tape Tp is received in the main tape-receiving
block 21 as a roll, while the laminating tape is received in the
sub tape-receiving block 22 as a roll. The tapes Tp, Tr are fed
from the tape-receiving blocks 21, 22, respectively, and then
placed one upon the other to be affixed to each other, followed by
being sent out of the tape cartridge 4 via a sub tape-receiving
block-side opening of the tape guided cartridge 4. The printing
tape Tp fed from the main tape-receiving block 21 has its lateral
sides guided by a pair of printing tape guides 28 arranged in the
vicinity of a free roller 42, referred to hereinafter, while the
laminating tape Tr fed from the sub tape-receiving block 22 has its
lateral sides guided by a pair of laminating tape guides 29
arranged in the vicinity of a free roller 45, referred to
hereinafter. The two tapes Tp, Tr are guided to laminating roller
means 44 by the respective pairs of guides 28, 29. The pair of
printing tape guides 28 and the pair of laminating tape guides 29
are arranged such that they are identical in lateral position i.e.
position in the direction of the widths of the two tapes Tp, Tr, so
that the tapes Tp, Tr are guided such that they are accurately
aligned with respect to the lateral sides thereof.
[0088] When the printing tape Tp is advanced by the printing
tape-feeding mechanism 9 in the direction of feed, desired printing
is effected on the printing tape Tp by the printing mechanism 10
arranged in a manner opposed to the linkage 23. Then, the
laminating tape Tr fed from the sub tape-receiving block 22 is
affixed to the printed portion of the printing tape Tp by the
tape-laminating mechanism 11 in such a manner that the former is
laminated to the latter. The printing tape Tp having the laminating
tape Tr laminated to the printed portion thereof is discharged via
the tape exit 8 by cooperation of the printing tape-feeding
mechanism 9 and the tape-laminating mechanism 11. When a trailing
end of the printed portion of the printing tape including a margin
reaches a cutting position, the printing tape-feeding mechanism 9
and the tape-laminating mechanism 11 stops the feeding of the
printing tape Tp, and the cutting mechanism 12 operates to cut off
the printed portion of the printing tape Tp having the laminating
tape Tr laminated thereto.
[0089] The printing mechanism 10 includes a carriage guide shaft 31
having longitudinal opposite ends (opposite ends of the shaft 31
extending in a direction perpendicular to the sheet surface of FIG.
8) supported by a frame, not shown, a carriage 32 slidably mounted
on the carriage shaft 31, a timing belt, not shown, traveling in
normal and reverse directions for reciprocating the carriage 32
rightward and leftward, and a carriage motor, not shown, causing
the timing belt to travel in the normal and reverse directions. The
print head 14 and a cartridge holder 33 for holding the ink
cartridge 5 are mounted at lower and upper portions of the carriage
32, respectively, in a manner forming a unit. The print head 14
faces downward, and the ink cartridge 5 is mounted within the
cartridge holder 33 such that it has its delivery port directed
downward. When the ink cartridge 5 is mounted, ink reservoirs 5a
thereof, each of which contains ink of a different color,
communicates with the print head 14 for supply of ink. The ink
reservoirs 5a contain yellow ink, cyan ink, magenta ink, and black
ink, respectively.
[0090] The printing tape-feeding mechanism 9 includes feed roller
means 41 comprised of the free roller 42 positioned above and a
drive roller 43 positioned below, and a feed motor, not shown, for
driving the drive roller 43 for rotation. The drive roller 43 is
arranged in the body 2 of the printing apparatus 1, while the free
roller 42 is arranged in the tape cartridge 4. When the tape
cartridge 4 is mounted in the body 2, the free roller 42 presses
the printing tape Tp in a manner sandwiching the tape Tp between
the drive roller 43 and the free roller 42 itself. The printing
tape Tp is advanced in this state as the feed motor rotates. The
relationship between the feeding of the printing tape Tp and
reciprocation of the printing head 14 corresponds to the
relationship between a main scanning direction and a sub scanning
direction in the printing technique. Therefore, the feed motor
operates in a manner interlocked with operation of the carriage
motor.
[0091] The tape-laminating mechanism 11 includes the laminating
roller means 44 comprised of the free roller 45 positioned above
and a drive roller 46 positioned below, and a laminating motor, not
shown, for driving the drive roller 46 for rotation. The laminating
motor and the feed motor are implemented by an identical or single
motor, torque of which is split via a reduction gear train to be
transmitted to the feed roller means 41 and the laminating roller
means 44, respectively. The drive roller 46 is arranged in the body
2 of the tape printing apparatus 1, while the free roller 45 is
arranged in the tape cartridge 4. The drive roller 46 is an elastic
roller having a peripheral surface thereof covered with an elastic
material such as rubber, which enables proper lamination of the
printing tape Tp and the laminating tape Tr.
[0092] When the tape cartridge 4 is mounted in the apparatus body
2, the free roller 45 presses the printing tape Tp and the
laminating tape Tr in a manner sandwiching the tapes Tp, Tr between
the drive roller 46 and the free roller 45 itself. The printing
tape Tp and the laminating tape Tr are affixed to each other in
this state and advanced as the laminating motor rotates. In the
course of the feeding by the laminating motor, the printing tape Tp
is guided by the pair of printing tape guides 28 to the laminating
roller means 44, while the laminating tape Tr is guided by the pair
of laminating tape guides 29 to the same roller means 44.
[0093] The feed roller means 41 and the laminating roller means 44
are arranged on an identical horizontal plane such that the
printing tape Tp can be fed horizontally between the two roller
means 41 and 44. Further, the two roller means 41, 44 are designed
such that the circumferential speed of the laminating roller means
44 is slightly faster than that of the feed roller means 41, so as
to provide tension of the printing tape therebetween. The linkage
23 of the tape cartridge 4 located between the feed roller means 41
and the laminating roller means 44 is formed with an opening 23a
via which the print head 14 faces the printing tape Tp.
[0094] The cutting mechanism 12 includes a cutter 48 and a cutter
motor, not shown, for driving the cutter 48 for cutting operation.
After the printing is completed, when the feed motor (laminating
motor) feeds the printing tape Tp by a predetermined number of
steps, the motor is stopped, and at the same time, the cutter motor
starts driving the cutter 48 for cutting the printing tape Tp. The
cutter 48 may be manually operated by key stroke, for the cutting
of the tape Tp. There are provided a various kinds (approximately
ten kinds) of the printing tape Tp and the laminating tape Tr,
which are different in width (approximately 4.5 to 96 mm). The
tapes Tp, Tr of these kinds are each supplied in a state contained
in the tape cartridge 4.
[0095] As described above, the printing tape Tp and the laminating
tape Tr are supplied to the user in the state contained in the tape
cartridge 4 with the leading portions thereof affixed to each
other. The two tapes supplied to the user can be removed from the
cartridge 4 after opening the case lids 26, 27, respectively, for
replacement with new ones. However, when the printing tape Tp
and/or the laminating tape Tr is replaced, it is required that the
user himself affix the leading portions of the two tapes Tp, Tr to
each other for the initial lamination of the tape. Therefore, next,
the method of carrying out initial lamination of the two tapes Tp,
Tr by the use of the above tape printing apparatus 1 will be
described based on an example in which the printing tape Tp and the
laminating tape Tr according to the first embodiment of the
invention are used.
[0096] First, the tape cartridge 4 is removed from the body 2 of
the printing apparatus 1. Then, a new printing tape Tp and/or a new
laminating tape Tr is mounted in the cartridge case 24, with the
leading portions of the tapes Tp, Tr pulled out. Next, the
preliminary laminating portion "a" of the laminating tape Tr is
positioned or placed on the leading portion of the printing tape
Tp, and affixed thereto. Then, the tape cartridge 4 is mounted in
the apparatus body 2 in this state, and the feed roller means 41
and the laminating roller means 44 are rotated by key stroke to
feed the two tapes Tp, Tr. The tapes Tp, Tr are advanced,
respectively, to the laminating roller means 44 for lamination in a
state always guided by the two pairs of tape guides 28, 29 with
respect to the lateral sides thereof, respectively. In the course
of the lamination, immediately before the non-adhesive portion "c"
of the laminating tape Tr reaches the laminating roller means 44,
the two tapes Tp, Tr have their lateral positions corrected by the
two pairs of tape guides 28, 29 guiding the lateral sides thereof,
whereby they are advanced while being laminated in an accurately
aligned state. When the leading end of the continuous laminating
portion "b" of the laminating tape Tr reaches the cutter 48, the
feeding of the two tapes is stopped, and then the cutting mechanism
is driven by key stroke to cut off the tapes Tp, Tr.
[0097] Also, in this case, even if the preliminary laminating
portion "a" of the laminating tape Tr manually affixed to the
printing tape Tp is angularly displaced with respect to the
printing tape Tp, the alignment of the tapes is corrected by the
use of the non-adhesive portion "c" extending continuously from the
preliminary laminating portion "a", which makes it possible to
affix the continuous laminating portion "b" of the laminating tape
Tr to the printing tape Tp without any displacement from the start.
Thus, the initial lamination of the printing tape Tp and the
laminating tape Tr can be easily and accurately carried out without
any skill, irrespective of laminating accuracy at the preliminary
laminating portion "a".
[0098] It is further understood by those skilled in the art that
the foregoing are preferred embodiments of the invention, and that
various changes and modification may be made without departing from
the spirit and scope thereof.
* * * * *