TAPE PRINTING APPARATUS AND TAPE HOLDING CASES

摘要

The invention refers to a tape printing apparatus (2) used with tape cassettes (20, 220, 243, 260, 443). In order to make insertion and removal easier, the tape cassette is provided with a surface controlling the position of a printhead (22, 222, 322, 422) and/or a platen. When the cassette is inserted, printhead and platen are automatically separated such that the tape (24) can be introduced between them, and afterwards moved in the operative position. Further, an over centre mechanism is proposed for moving printhead and platen. The tape cassette (443) can provide a 90 DEG bend in the tape (24) upstream the printing position, and the motor (42) can be located besides the zone for accommodating the image receiving tape (24). The cassette can be made attachable to other cassettes, and the means for attaching can guide and hold the cassette in the tape printer.