US 12,304,229 B2
Tape cassette
Koshiro Yamaguchi, Kakamigahara (JP); Masato Kato, Kasugai (JP); Tsuyoshi Nagae, Kasugai (JP); Teruo Imamaki, Nissin (JP); Takashi Horiuchi, Kariya (JP); Akira Sago, Seto (JP); and Yasuhiro Shibata, Okazaki (JP)
Assigned to BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Nagoya (JP)
Filed by BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Nagoya (JP)
Filed on Feb. 22, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/677,455.
Application 13/848,750 is a division of application No. 13/755,174, filed on Jan. 31, 2013, granted, now 8,651,756, issued on Feb. 18, 2014.
Application 13/755,174 is a division of application No. 12/644,555, filed on Dec. 22, 2009, granted, now 8,382,389, issued on Feb. 26, 2013.
Application 17/677,455 is a continuation of application No. 16/782,368, filed on Feb. 5, 2020, granted, now 11,285,749.
Application 16/782,368 is a continuation of application No. 15/832,531, filed on Dec. 5, 2017, granted, now 10,661,589, issued on May 26, 2020.
Application 15/832,531 is a continuation of application No. 14/226,373, filed on Mar. 26, 2014, granted, now 9,855,779, issued on Jan. 2, 2018.
Application 14/226,373 is a continuation of application No. 13/848,750, filed on Mar. 22, 2013, granted, now 9,498,997, issued on Nov. 22, 2016.
Claims priority of application No. 2008-331634 (JP), filed on Dec. 25, 2008; application No. 2008-331635 (JP), filed on Dec. 25, 2008; application No. 2008-331638 (JP), filed on Dec. 25, 2008; application No. 2008-331639 (JP), filed on Dec. 25, 2008; application No. 2008-331641 (JP), filed on Dec. 25, 2008; application No. 2008-331642 (JP), filed on Dec. 25, 2008; application No. 2008-331643 (JP), filed on Dec. 25, 2008; application No. 2009-088440 (JP), filed on Mar. 31, 2009; application No. 2009-088441 (JP), filed on Mar. 31, 2009; application No. 2009-088456 (JP), filed on Mar. 31, 2009; application No. 2009-088460 (JP), filed on Mar. 31, 2009; application No. 2009-088468 (JP), filed on Mar. 31, 2009; application No. 2009-156398 (JP), filed on Jun. 30, 2009; application No. 2009-156399 (JP), filed on Jun. 30, 2009; application No. 2009-156403 (JP), filed on Jun. 30, 2009; and application No. 2009-156404 (JP), filed on Jun. 30, 2009.
Prior Publication US 2022/0250400 A1, Aug. 11, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B41J 33/14 (2006.01); B41J 2/32 (2006.01); B41J 3/407 (2006.01); B41J 11/00 (2006.01); B41J 15/04 (2006.01); B41J 32/00 (2006.01); B41J 35/36 (2006.01)
CPC B41J 33/14 (2013.01) [B41J 2/32 (2013.01); B41J 3/4075 (2013.01); B41J 11/009 (2013.01); B41J 15/044 (2013.01); B41J 32/00 (2013.01); B41J 35/36 (2013.01)] 40 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A tape cassette comprising:
a cassette case having a first end portion and a second end portion separated from the first end portion in a first direction, and having a third end portion and a fourth end portion separated from the third end portion in a second direction;
a first spool positioned in the cassette case, the first spool positioned closer to the third end portion of the cassette case than to the fourth end portion in the second direction, the first spool positioned closer to the second end portion than to the first end portion in the first direction;
a ribbon spool positioned in the cassette case, the ribbon spool positioned closer to the fourth end portion than to the third end portion in the second direction; and
a tape drive roller rotatable about an axis extending in a third direction, the tape drive roller configured to allow tape to be discharged from inside of the cassette case, the tape drive roller positioned closer to the first end portion of the cassette case in the first direction than to the second end portion, the tape drive roller positioned closer to the third end portion of the cassette case than the fourth end portion of the cassette in the second direction, wherein
the cassette case includes an arm positioned at the first end portion, the arm extending in the second direction, the arm having a first outer surface facing a portion of the cassette case in the first direction and a second outer surface facing away from the cassette case in the first direction, and the arm has an exit configured to allow ink ribbon to be discharged toward the tape drive roller from inside of the cassette case, wherein
the arm includes a first indicator and a second indicator arranged at the second outer surface in a predetermined pattern, a position of the first indicator is different from a position of the second indicator in the second direction and the third direction,
wherein the arm has a fifth end portion and the sixth end portion separated from the fifth end portion in the third direction, the arm further includes:
a latching hole positioned at the second outer surface, a portion of the latching hole being farther from the third end portion than the first indicator and the second indicator in the second direction, and
wherein the latching hole is positioned closer to the fifth end portion than the first indicator and the second indicator to the fifth end portion in the third direction.