PRINT TAPE, TAPE PRINTER USING PRINT TAPE, METHOD FOR DETERMINING TYPE AND REMAINING AMOUNT OF PRINT TAPE FROM MARK PRINTED IN PRINT TAPE

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a print tape, a tape printer and a method for determining the type and remaining amount of the print tape which can accurately determine the remaining amount of the print tape while diversifying the type of print tape easily. SOLUTION: A plurality of line-like discrimination marks 5A are intermittently printed in a line in the longitudinal direction of the print tape 3A of the shape of a long sheet which is wound in the shape of a roll and carried in the fixed direction. One of the length Xn of the discrimination mark 5A, the length Yn between the discrimination mark 5A and the discrimination mark 5A next to the upstream side of the carrying direction and the ratio Xn/Yn is fixed for each type of the print tape 3A, and other two values change as the remaining amount of the print tape 3A decreases. At the time of printing, the type and remaining amount of the print tape 3A is determined based on a sensor signal by carrying the print tape 3A in a predetermined carrying route while making a sensor of a light reflecting type installed near the carrying route read the discrimination mark 5A. COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT