JP2000048532A - Tape cassette and recording and reproducing apparatus for its tape - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a tape cassette which prevents the external contact of a loaded memory from being degraded. SOLUTION: In a tape cassette, a pair of tape reels on which a tape is wound are housed inside a cassette case so as to be rotatable, a rotatable front lid 12 which opens and shuts the front of the cassette case is provided, pulling-out parts 8, 8 which comprise tape exists 9, 10 used to pull out the tape to the outside are provided, and a memory 20a which stores prescribed information is provided. In the tape cassette, external contacts 20b, 20b,... which are connected to the outside of the memory 20a are arranged on the inner side of the front lid 12 in the cassette case, and the external contacts 20b, 20b,... are made and broken by the turning operation of the front lid 12.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a tape cassette and a tape recording / reproducing apparatus therefor. For details, prevent the deterioration of the external contacts of the memory mounted on the tape cassette,
Further, the present invention relates to a technique for avoiding an increase in the size of a tape recording / reproducing apparatus using a tape cassette having a memory.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Some tape cassettes are equipped with a memory for storing information relating to data recorded on the tape cassette, for example, various information such as the date of recording the data and an outline of the data.

In a conventional tape cassette equipped with such a memory, an external contact for connecting to the outside of the memory is provided on a rear wall or a side wall of the cassette case so as to be exposed to the outside. ing. A tape recording / reproducing apparatus for recording or reproducing data on or from a tape is provided with a connection unit having a connection terminal connected to an external contact of the tape cassette. The connection terminal of the connection unit is connected to the contact, so that the information stored in the memory of the tape cassette is reproduced or the information is recorded in the memory.

[0004]

However, in the above-described conventional tape cassette, the external contacts are provided on the rear wall or the side wall of the cassette case so as to be exposed to the outside. When grasped, the hand or finger may touch the external contact, and in this case, a problem occurs in that the external contact is greased or dirty, and the external contact is deteriorated. Sometimes. Further, when the tape cassette is dropped by mistake, the external contacts may be deformed, and in this case, the external contacts also deteriorate.

[0005] When the external contacts deteriorate in this way,
Normal connection with the connection terminal of the connection unit may not be performed, which may cause a problem that information stored in the memory is not properly reproduced or information is not properly recorded in the memory.

On the other hand, as described above, the external contact is connected to the connection terminal of the connection unit. However, the tape recording / reproducing apparatus may become large depending on the arrangement position of the connection unit.

It is an object of the tape cassette of the present invention to prevent deterioration of external contacts of a mounted memory.

Another object of the present invention is to prevent the tape recording / reproducing apparatus using a tape cassette in which a memory is mounted from increasing in size.

[0009]

According to the present invention, there is provided a tape cassette comprising a rotatable front lid for opening and closing the front of a cassette case, and a memory for storing predetermined information. In the tape cassette, external contacts for connection to the outside of the memory are arranged inside the front lid of the cassette case.

Therefore, in the tape cassette of the present invention, the external contacts are opened and closed by the rotation of the front lid.

Further, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the tape recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention mounts a tape cassette equipped with a memory for storing predetermined information, is pulled out from the tape cassette, and a predetermined tape path is formed. In a tape recording / reproducing apparatus that performs recording or reproduction on a formed tape, a connection unit that is connected to an external contact for performing connection with the outside of the memory is provided, and the connection unit is provided on the front side of the tape cassette, and , Outside the tape path and on the tape side where the tape path is formed from the side of the tape cassette.

Therefore, in the tape recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention, the provision of the connection unit does not increase the size of the apparatus.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The preferred embodiments of the tape cassette and the tape recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, the tape cassette will be described.

The tape cassette 1 has a tape 5 in a cassette case 4 in which an upper half 2 and a lower half 3 are combined.
Is wound around a pair of tape reels 6 and 6 (see FIGS. 1 and 2).

On the front surface of the cassette case 4, a concave portion 7 for pulling out a tape is formed at a portion except for both right and left ends.

At the portions near the left and right ends of the front end of the cassette case 4, that is, at both sides of the tape drawing recess 7, drawers 8, 8 for drawing the tape 5 slightly projecting forward from the inside of the cassette case 4 are provided. Are formed. Then, the tape outlets 9, 10 opened to the front are respectively connected to the drawers 8, 8.
A cylindrical tape guide 11, 11 is rotatably supported at an end of the tape outlet 9, 10 on the side of the tape pull-out recess 7 (see FIGS. 2 and 13).

The tape 5 wound around the tape reels 6 and 6
Are partly led out of the cassette case 4 from the tape outlets 9 and 10. When the tape 5 is not in use, the portion led out of the cassette case 4 while being wound around the tape guides 11, 11 is the tape drawing recess 7.
(See FIG. 2).

A front lid 12 is rotatably supported by the cassette case 4 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). The front lid 12 is for opening and closing the front of the cassette case 4.

The front lid 12 is formed of a resin material, has a substantially inverted L-shape when viewed in cross-sectional shape, and has a cover portion 12a which is long in the left and right directions and a supported portion which projects substantially rearward from both ends of the cover portion 12a. The supported portions 12b are rotatably supported by a portion of the side surface of the cassette case 4 near the front end. still,
As described above, the cover portion 12a has a substantially inverted L-shape when viewed in cross-sectional shape, and therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, the front portion 12c that faces the front when the front surface of the cassette case 4 is closed. And an upper surface portion 12d facing substantially upward.

The front lid 12 is located at an open position where the front surface of the cassette case 4 is opened by an opening mechanism provided in the tape recording / reproducing apparatus when the tape cassette 1 is mounted on a mounting section of the tape recording / reproducing apparatus described later. (Figure 2
13), and when the tape cassette 1 is removed from the mounting portion, to a closing position (see FIG. 1) where the front surface of the cassette case 4 is closed by a return spring (not shown) provided on the tape cassette 1. It is designed to be turned.

When the tape cassette 1 is mounted on the mounting portion of the tape recording / reproducing apparatus, the front lid 12 is rotated as described above to open the front surface of the cassette case 4 and the tape pull-out recess 7. Inside the cassette case 4
Each member or capstan of a tape pull-out mechanism provided in the tape recording / reproducing apparatus is inserted to pull out the tape 5 from the inside, and the tape 5 is pulled out by the tape pull-out mechanism to form a predetermined tape path. (See FIG. 13).

The tape outlet 10 on the right side of the cassette case 4
A substrate mounting portion 13 is provided upright at the front end portion of the front end portion (see FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and 13). The portion of the tape outlet 10 other than the space in which the tape 5 moves when the tape 5 is pulled out from the inside of the cassette case 4 (the portion indicated by S in FIG. 13) is not particularly necessary for pulling out the tape 5. This is an empty space and the board mounting part 1
Reference numeral 3 is provided in the empty space S.

The board mounting portion 13 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape which is long in the vertical direction and thin in the front and rear direction, and has a concave portion 14 extending vertically in the rear surface. Mounting grooves 15, 15 extending vertically are formed on the left and right inner side surfaces of the recess 14.

The board mounting portion 13 is formed with a facing hole 16 penetrating in the front-rear direction at approximately two-thirds of the upper portion thereof. The facing hole 16 is composed of a front half 17 which is a half of the front side thereof and a rear half 18 which is a rear side thereof. The rear half 18 is arranged vertically and has three partition plates 19 extending left and right. , 19, 19 are partitioned into four spaces 18a, 18a,.

The memory mounting board 20 has a rectangular plate shape that is long vertically and has a memory 20a and four external contacts 20b, 2b for connecting the memory 20a to a connection unit described later.
0b,... Are formed. And the memory 20
a is formed so as to slightly protrude rearward from the lower part of the rear surface of the memory mounting board 20 in a substantially lower third, and the external contacts 20b, 20b,. Are formed at approximately two-thirds of the upper portion at equal intervals vertically.

The memory mounting substrate 20 is mounted on the substrate mounting portion 13 by inserting the left and right side edges into the mounting grooves 15 of the substrate mounting portion 13 from above (FIG. 4).
reference). Then, the memory mounting board 20 is
When the external contacts 20b and 2
, 0b,...
.. (see FIG. 4). Note that memory 2
0a, the width in the left-right direction is slightly smaller than the width in the left-right direction of the concave portion 14 of the board mounting portion 13;
When it is mounted on the substrate mounting portion 13, it does not interfere with the rear end.

However, as described above, the front lid 1
2 is rotated to an open position (see FIG. 2) where the front surface of the cassette case 4 is opened by an opening mechanism provided in the tape recording / reproducing apparatus when the tape cassette 1 is mounted on the mounting section of the tape recording / reproducing apparatus. In addition, tape cassette 1
When the is removed from the mounting part, the return spring closes the front surface of the cassette case 4 (see FIG. 1).
Is rotated until.

Therefore, the external contacts 20b, 20 formed on the memory mounting board 20 attached to the board attaching portion 13
are protected by being covered by the front lid 12 as long as the front lid 12 is located at the closed position, and the external contacts 20b, 20b,. Are not touched, and even if the tape cassette 1 is dropped by mistake, the external contacts 20b, 20b are not deformed, and the external contacts 20b, 20b,. can do.

The external contacts 20b, 20b,...
Is arranged near the opening edge of the tape outlet 10 opened forward, so that it can be easily connected to a connection terminal of a connection unit provided in a tape recording / reproducing apparatus described later.

Further, the memory 20a and the external contact 20
are arranged in the empty space S shown in FIG. 13, and the memory 20a and the external contacts 20b, 2b,.
By disposing 0b in the outlet 10, the tape cassette 1 does not become large.

In addition, the memory 20a and the external contacts 20b, 20b may be arranged at any positions within the empty space S, thereby improving the degree of freedom in designing the tape cassette 1.

The substrate mounting portion 13 is provided not in the right outlet 10 but in the left outlet 9 in a portion other than the space where the tape 5 moves when the tape 5 is pulled out from the cassette case 4. Is also possible.

The front lid 12 is formed with a projection 21 for closing the facing hole 16 of the board mounting portion 13 when the front lid 12 is located at the closing position. reference).

When the front lid 12 is in the closed position, the projection 21 projects rearward from a position facing the substrate mounting portion 13 of the front surface 12c, and a flat surface 21a positioned rearward and the flat surface 21a Have four inclined surfaces 21b, 21b,...
reference).

The flat surface 21a has a vertically long rectangular shape, and is formed so as to be positioned parallel to the front surface of the substrate mounting portion 13 when the front lid 12 is located at the closed position. It is slightly smaller than the hole 16. The inclined surfaces 21b, 21b,.
The front edge is connected to the front surface portion 12c of the front lid 12 so as to be displaced outward as it approaches 2c. In addition, when the protrusion 21 is cut in parallel with the plane 21 a, the cross-sectional shape of a part slightly forward of the plane 21 a is substantially the same as the size of the front opening of the opening 16 facing the substrate mounting portion 13. Have been.

The protruding portion 21 is formed of a resin material, but is formed of a member different from the front portion 12c of the front lid 12. The front portion 12c and the protrusion 21 are connected to each other by a plurality of protrusions 1 protruding rearward on the rear surface of the front portion 12c.
Are formed on the front surface of the projection 21 so as to correspond to the projections 12e, 12e.
are formed, and the projections 12e, 12e,... are fitted into the holes 21c, 21c,.

When the front portion 12c and the projection 21 are connected in this manner, the projections 12e, 12e,... Function as positioning protrusions, so that the connection is easy and the rear surface of the front portion 12c is connected. As compared with the case where the front surface of the projection 21 and the front surface of the protrusion 21 are made flat, the contact area is increased and the coupling force is increased.

Further, by forming the protrusion 21 from a member different from the front lid 12, the range of choice of the material of the protrusion 21 is expanded, and the degree of freedom in design is improved.

The projection formed on the front lid 12 may be formed as a projection 21A integral with the front lid 12, as shown in FIG. If the projection 21A is formed integrally with the front lid 12, the number of components can be reduced, which contributes to a reduction in the manufacturing cost of the tape cassette 1.

The projection 21A may be formed together with the front lid 12 by so-called two-color molding. If the protrusion 21A is formed by two-color molding in this way, the protrusion 21A
The range of choice of the material of A is widened, and the formation of the protrusion 21A is easy.

When the front lid 12 is in the closed position, the protrusion 21 (21A) has its rear end positioned in the front half 17 of the facing hole 16 of the board mounting portion 13 (FIGS. 4 and 4). 6). At this time, the protrusion 21 (21A)
, Respectively, face the inclined surfaces 21b, 21b,.
6 is brought into contact with the front opening edge, whereby the facing hole 16 is completely closed.

Therefore, since the facing hole 16 is closed and the external contacts 20b, 20b,... Come into contact with only the air in the facing hole 16, the external contacts 20b, 20b,.
Are hardly oxidized and the external contacts 20b, 20b,.
.. Can be prevented from deteriorating.

The facing hole 1 of the substrate mounting portion 13 described above
If the front opening edge of 6 is formed in a tapered shape, a part of the protrusion 21 (21A) faces when the front lid 12 is rotated from the open position to the closed position. Since the projection 21 (21A) functions as a guide when inserted into the hole 16, the projection 21 (21A) can be smoothly inserted into the facing hole 16.

FIGS. 4 to 6 show the projection 21 (21A) formed of a resin material, but the projection 21B is formed of a metal material such as SUS (stainless steel) or Al (aluminum). (See FIG. 7).
To FIG. 11).

The protruding portion 21B is formed by bending a plate-like metal material. When the front lid 12 is closed, the protruding portion 21B is parallel to the front surface of the substrate mounting portion 13 and extends in the vertical direction. Inclined surfaces 23, 23 which are continuous with the upper and lower side edges of 22 and are displaced forward therefrom;
Attachment portions 24, 2 which are continuous with 3, 23 and are parallel to the flat portion 22.
4 are integrally formed. The width of the flat portion 22 in the left-right direction is equal to or slightly smaller than the width of the facing hole 16 of the substrate mounting portion 13, and the length in the up-down direction is slightly shorter than that of the facing hole 16. . Also, the attached part 2
Notches 24a, 24a opened upward or downward are formed at the ends of the sides 4, 24 opposite to the inclined surfaces 23, 23.

On the front surface 12c of the front lid 12, mounting protrusions 25, 25 for mounting the protrusions 21B are formed, and the mounting protrusions 25, 25 are protruded rearward from the front surface 12c, 25a and pressing portions 25 protruding from the rear half of the base portions 25a, 25a in directions approaching each other.
b and 25b are integrally formed (see FIGS. 8 and 9).

The protruding portion 21B slightly deforms the flat portion 22 so that the mounted portions 24, 24 are pressed down by the pressing portions 25b, 25b of the mounting protruding portions 25, 25 and the front portion 12c of the front lid 12.
, And then the bent flat portion 22 is returned to the original state, and the notches 24a, 24a are inserted into the base portions 25a, 2a.
5a, it is attached to the front lid 12 (see FIG. 9).

As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the projection 21B is attached to the front lid 12 by the attachment projection 25,
The crimping projections 26, 26 are formed on the front surface portion 12c instead of 25, the crimping projections 26, 26 are positioned in the notches 24a, 24a, and the crimping projections 26, 26 are crimped. Is also good. Incidentally, the caulking projections 26, 2
When the protrusion 21B is attached to the front lid 12 by caulking 6, the attachment portion 24, instead of the cutouts 24a, 24a,
24, a mounting hole is formed in each of the mounting holes.
The protrusions 21B may be attached by inserting and crimping the 6, 26.

Further, the projection 21B may be attached to the front lid 12 by so-called insert molding.

When the front lid 12 is in the closed position, the projection 21B has its flat portion 22 positioned in the front half 17 of the facing hole 16 of the board mounting portion 13 (see FIG. 7). At this time, the inclined surfaces 23, 23 of the protrusion 21B
Are respectively brought into contact with the upper front opening edge and the lower front opening edge of the facing hole 16 to close the facing hole 16.

Therefore, the external contacts 20b, 20b,.
The external air contacting with the external contacts 20b, 2b
, Are hardly oxidized, so that the external contact 2
0b, 20b,... Can be prevented, and the protrusion 21B is formed of a metal material such as SUS or Al. Destruction can be prevented.

The projection 21B does not need to be entirely made of metal. For example, it is possible to use a resin material having a surface coated with a metal film.

As shown in FIG. 12, the protrusion 21C may be formed of a material having high elasticity such as a rubber material.

The protruding portion 21C is formed by processing a rubber material. When the front lid 12 is closed, the protruding portion 21C has a flat base 27 which is long in the up-down direction and a vertically protruding portion protruding rearward from the base 27. Four seals 28, 2
8,... And the attached portion 2 protruding forward from the base portion 27
9, 29, 29 are integrally formed. The seal portions 28, 28,... Are formed so as to fit into the spaces 18a, 18a,. Part 13
The width of the opening 16 in the front-rear direction is substantially the same.
Further, since the attached portions 29, 29, 29 are formed, the T-shaped mounting groove 29 is turned rightward when viewed from the right between them.
a, 29a are formed.

At the front part 12c of the front lid 12, mounting projections 30, 30 for mounting the projection 21C are formed, and the mounting projections 30, 30 are attached to the mounting grooves 29 of the projection 21C.
a, 29a, are formed in a T-shape turned rightward when viewed from the right.

The projection 21C is formed by fitting the mounting projections 30, 30 into the mounting grooves 29a, 29a.
2 attached.

When the front lid 12 is in the closed position, the protrusion 21C is provided with the seals 28, 28,
.. Are inserted into the facing holes 16 of the substrate mounting portion 13,
At this time, the distal end surfaces of the seal portions 28, 28,... Are external contacts 20b, 20b,
...

Are in close contact with the external contacts 20b, 20b,...
Since b, 20b, ... are completely shut off from the outside air,
The external contacts 20b, 20b,... Are extremely unlikely to be oxidized, and the external contacts 20b, 20b,.

Since the projection 21C is formed of a rubber material, even if the tip surfaces of the seal portions 28 contact the external contacts 20b, 20b,.
0b, 20b,... Are not damaged.

Next, a description will be given of a tape recording / reproducing apparatus using the above-described tape cassette 1 (see FIGS. 13 to 19). The tape recording / reproducing apparatus can record and reproduce data on and from the tape 5, and the connection terminals of a connection unit provided in the apparatus are connected to external contacts 20b of the tape cassette 1. Thereby, various kinds of information such as predetermined information, for example, the recording date of the data recorded on the tape cassette 1, the outline of the data recorded on the tape cassette 1, and the like are recorded in the memory 20a. Can be played.

As described above, when the tape cassette 1 is mounted on the mounting portion of the tape recording / reproducing apparatus, the tape 5 is pulled out by the tape pulling mechanism to form a predetermined tape path (see FIG. 13). In a state where the tape path is formed, the tape cassette 1 is pulled out from the front side of the tape outlet 10 of the mounted tape cassette 1, outside the tape 5 pulled out, and from the right side of the tape cassette 1. A space P, on which the connection unit is arranged, is formed on the tape 5 side.

The connection unit 31 is connected to the tape recording / reproducing apparatus.
(See FIGS. 14 to 16). The connection unit 31 includes a connection terminal arrangement portion 32 and a connection portion 33 located in front of the connection terminal arrangement portion 32, which are connected by a compression coil spring 34 functioning as a limiter.

The connecting terminal mounting portion 32 is formed by integrally forming a base portion 32a extending vertically and a projecting portion 32b projecting rearward from an upper half of the base portion 32a.
b, four connection terminals 35, 35,.
Are projected at equal intervals. The connection unit 31 is supported by a support (not shown) provided inside the tape recording / reproducing apparatus movably in the front-rear direction.

When the tape cassette 1 is mounted on the mounting portion of the tape recording / reproducing apparatus, the connection unit 31
It is arranged in front of the board mounting part 13 at a position facing the same. That is, as described above, when the tape cassette 1 is mounted on the mounting portion of the tape recording / reproducing apparatus, the front lid 12 is rotated from the closed position to the open position, so that the front surface of the cassette case 4 is opened and the tape is pulled out. The mechanism pulls out the tape cassette 5 from the cassette case 4 to form a predetermined tape path (see FIG. 13), but the connection unit 31 is located in front of the tape cassette 1 and outside the tape path. The position P (space P) shown in FIG. 13 is on the side of the tape 5 where the tape path is formed from the side surface of the tape cassette 1.

This position P is a portion which does not normally become an arrangement space for a mechanism for running the tape 5 when the tape recording / reproducing apparatus is manufactured, a drawing mechanism for drawing the tape 5 from the cassette case 4, and the like. Therefore, the provision of the connection unit 31 does not increase the size of the tape recording / reproducing apparatus.

When the tape cassette 1 is mounted on the mounting portion, as described above, the front lid 12 is rotated from the closed position to the open position, and the front surface of the cassette case 4 is opened (see FIG. 14).

Then, the external contacts 20b, 20b,... Of the memory mounting board 20 attached to the board attaching portion 13.
Are moved rearward, that is, in a direction approaching the tape cassette 1, and the connection terminals 35 of the connection unit 31 are moved to the spaces 18a, 18a of the board mounting portion 13, respectively. , And are brought into contact with the external contacts 20b, 20b,.
5). Are connected to the external contact 20.
When the compression coil spring 34 is slightly compressed, the rearward movement of the connection unit 31 is stopped when the compression coil spring 34 is slightly compressed. Therefore, the connection terminals 35, 35,.
Are in elastic contact with the external contacts 20b, 20b,..., And the connection terminals 35, 35,.
, 20b,... are maintained in a state in which predetermined information can be recorded in the memory 20a or the information can be reproduced.

When the tape cassette 1 is taken out of the mounting portion, the connection unit 31 moves forward and returns to the original position shown in FIG. 14, and the tape 5 that has been pulled out is stored in the cassette case 4. The front lid 12 is rotated to the closed position.

When the tape cassette without the memory 20a is mounted on the mounting portion of the tape recording / reproducing apparatus, the connection unit 31 is moved backward. However, as shown in FIG. Is stopped when the lower end of the connection terminal attachment portion 32 contacts the lower end edge of the tape outlet 10 of the drawer 8 of the cassette case 4.

Therefore, the tape recording / reproducing device is
Even when a tape cassette in which a is not mounted is mounted in the mounting portion, the recording and reproduction with respect to the tape can be performed without the connection unit 31 interfering with the recording or reproduction operation with respect to the tape 5. is there.

In the above tape recording / reproducing apparatus,
Instead of the connection unit 31, a connection unit 31A as shown in FIGS. 17 to 19 may be used.

The connection unit 31A is connected to the connection terminal
A and a connecting portion 33A located behind the connecting portion A are connected by a tension coil spring 36 functioning as a limiter.

The connection terminal mounting portion 32A is rotatably supported by a support member (not shown) provided in the tape recording / reproducing apparatus. In the state before the rotation, that is, in the state shown in FIG. Base 32c extending in the direction
Are integrally formed with a protruding portion 32d protruding upward from a front portion of 2c, and four connection terminals 37, 37,... ing. Then, the base 3 of the connection terminal attachment portion 32A
A turning fulcrum 32e is formed at the rear end of 2c.

Before the connection terminal mounting portion 32A is rotated, the connection terminal mounting portion 32A is located slightly below the front side of the tape cassette 1 mounted on the mounting portion. And the connecting part 3
3A is fixed directly below the tape cassette 1 mounted on the mounting portion, and its front end and a position near the rear end of the base 32c of the connection terminal mounting portion 32A, that is, a position slightly forward of the rotation fulcrum 32e. A tension coil spring 36 is stretched between them.

When the tape cassette 1 is mounted on the mounting portion, the front lid 12 is rotated from the closed position to the open position, and the front surface of the cassette case 4 is opened (see FIG. 17). Then, when the front surface of the cassette case 4 is opened, the connection unit 31A is rotated clockwise as viewed in FIG. 17, and the connection terminals 37, 37,
... are the spaces 18a, 18 of the board mounting portion 13, respectively.
are inserted through the external contacts 20b, 20b,.
(See FIG. 18).

At this time, the connecting terminal mounting portion 32A is
8, the clockwise turning force is urged by the extension coil spring 34, and thereby the connection terminals 37, 3
,... Are in elastic contact with the external contacts 20b, 20b,. Therefore, the connection terminals 37, 37,.
Are maintained in a good connection state with the external contacts 20b, 20b,..., So that recording of predetermined information in the memory 20a or reproduction of the information can be performed.

When the tape cassette 1 is removed from the mounting portion, the connecting unit 31A is rotated counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 18 to return to the original position shown in FIG. Is stored in the cassette case 4, and the front lid 12 is rotated to the closed position.

Even when a tape cassette in which the memory 20a is not mounted is mounted on the mounting portion of the tape recording / reproducing apparatus, the connection unit 31A is rotated clockwise as viewed in FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, the connection unit 31A is stopped when the base 32c of the connection terminal mounting portion 32A contacts the lower edge of the tape outlet 10 of the drawer 8 of the cassette case 4.

Therefore, the tape recording / reproducing device is
Even when a tape cassette in which a is not mounted is mounted in the mounting portion, the recording and reproduction with respect to the tape can be performed without the connection unit 31A interfering with the recording or reproduction operation with respect to the tape 5. is there.

Incidentally, the shapes and structures of the respective parts shown in the above-described embodiments are merely examples of the specific embodiments to be carried out when carrying out the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention is not limited thereto. Should not be interpreted restrictively.

[0082]

As is apparent from the above description, the tape cassette of the present invention has a pair of rotatable tape reels each having a tape wound in a cassette case, and has a front face of the cassette case. A tape cassette including a rotatable front lid for opening and closing, a drawer having a tape outlet for pulling out a tape to the outside, and a memory for storing predetermined information, for connecting the memory to the outside. External contacts are disposed inside the front lid of the cassette case, and the external contacts are opened and closed by the rotation operation of the front lid.

Therefore, as long as the front lid is closed, the external contacts are protected by being covered by the front lid, so that hands and fingers do not touch the external contacts when the tape cassette is gripped. Further, even when the tape cassette is dropped by mistake, the external contacts are not deformed, so that the deterioration of the external contacts can be prevented.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, an arrangement portion for arranging external contacts in the cassette case is formed, and when the front lid is closed on the inner surface of the front lid, the arrangement portion comes into contact with the arrangement portion and the memory is provided. A projection is formed to cover the external contact.

Accordingly, since the outside air with which the external contacts come into contact is restricted, the external contacts are hardly oxidized, and the deterioration of the external contacts can be prevented.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the projection is formed integrally with the front lid, the number of components can be reduced, which contributes to a reduction in the manufacturing cost of the tape cassette.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the protrusion is formed of a member separate from the front lid, the range of choice of the material of the protrusion is increased, and the degree of freedom in design is improved.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the projecting portion is formed of a metal material, an effect of preventing static electricity is exerted, and electrical breakdown of the memory can be prevented.

According to the invention described in claim 6, the projection is formed of a rubber material and the tip of the projection is brought into contact with the external contact, so that the external contact is completely shut off from the outside air. In addition, the external contact is extremely unlikely to be oxidized, so that further deterioration of the external contact can be prevented.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the front lid and the projection are made of a resin material, and the front lid and the projection are formed by two-color molding. And the protrusion can be easily formed.

Further, the tape recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention performs recording or reproduction on a tape on which a tape cassette provided with a memory for storing predetermined information is mounted and which is pulled out from the tape cassette and on which a predetermined tape path is formed. A tape recording / reproducing apparatus, wherein a connection unit connected to an external contact for making a connection with the outside of the memory is provided, and the connection unit is provided on the front side of the tape cassette.
The tape path is arranged outside the tape path and on the side of the tape cassette where the tape path is formed.

Accordingly, the position of the connection unit is usually limited to the space for arranging each mechanism such as each mechanism for running the tape when the tape recording / reproducing apparatus is manufactured and a drawer mechanism for pulling out the tape cassette from the cassette case. Since the connecting portion is not provided, the provision of the connection unit does not increase the size of the tape recording / reproducing apparatus.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a tape cassette and a tape recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention together with FIG. 2 to FIG. 19, and is a perspective view showing the tape cassette with a front lid closed.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the tape cassette in a state where a front lid is opened.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing a substrate mounting portion and a memory mounting substrate mounted on the substrate mounting portion.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a main part of the tape cassette.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged rear view of a protrusion.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of a main part of the tape cassette in which a protrusion is formed integrally with a front lid.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a main part of a tape cassette in which a protrusion is formed of a metal material.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view showing a state before a projection formed of a metal material is attached to an attachment projection.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view showing a state in which a protrusion formed of a metal material is attached to an attachment protrusion.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view showing a state before a projection formed of a metal material is attached to an attachment projection by another method.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged perspective view showing a state in which a projection formed of a metal material is attached to the attachment projection by another method.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a main part when a protrusion is formed of a rubber material.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged plan view partially showing a cross section of a positional relationship between the tape cassette mounted on the mounting portion and the connection unit.

FIG. 14 shows the operation of the connection unit together with FIGS. 15 and 16, and FIG. 14 is an enlarged side view partially showing a state before the connection unit is connected to an external contact.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged side view partially showing a cross section of a state in which the connection unit is connected to an external contact.

FIG. 16 is an enlarged side view partially showing the operation of the connection unit when a tape cassette having no memory is mounted on the mounting portion.

FIG. 17 shows the operation of another connection unit together with FIGS. 18 and 19, and this figure is an enlarged side view partially showing a state before the connection unit is connected to an external contact. .

FIG. 18 is an enlarged side view partially showing a cross section of a state in which the connection unit is connected to an external contact.

FIG. 19 is an enlarged side view partially showing the operation of the connection unit when a tape cassette having no memory is mounted on the mounting portion.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: Tape cassette, 2: Upper half, 3: Lower half, 4
... cassette case, 5 ... tape, 6 ... tape reel, 8
... Drawer, 9 ... Tape outlet, 10 ... Tape outlet, 12 ...
Front lid, 13: board mounting portion (arrangement portion), 20a: memory, 20b: external contact, 21: protrusion, 21A: protrusion,
21B: Projection, 21C: Projection, 31: Connection unit, 3
1A ... connection unit

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A pair of tape reels each having a tape wound thereon are rotatably housed in a cassette case, and a rotatable front lid for opening and closing the front surface of the cassette case and a tape for drawing the tape to the outside. A tape cassette comprising a drawer having a tape outlet and a memory for storing predetermined information, wherein an external contact for making a connection with the outside of the memory is arranged inside the front lid of the cassette case, A tape cassette wherein an external contact is opened and closed by a rotation operation of a front lid. 2. An arrangement portion for arranging external contacts in a cassette case, wherein a projection on the inner surface of the front lid, which contacts the arrangement portion when the front lid is closed and covers the external contacts of the memory. The tape cassette according to claim 1, wherein the tape cassette is formed. 3. The tape cassette according to claim 2, wherein the protrusion is formed integrally with the front lid. 4. The tape cassette according to claim 2, wherein the projection is formed as a member separate from the front lid. 5. The tape cassette according to claim 4, wherein the protrusion is formed of a metal material. 6. The projection is formed of a rubber material,
5. The tape cassette according to claim 4, wherein a tip of the protrusion contacts an external contact. 7. The tape cassette according to claim 2, wherein the front lid and the projection are made of a resin material, and the front lid and the projection are formed by two-color molding. 8. A tape recording / reproducing apparatus for mounting / removing a tape cassette on which a memory for storing predetermined information is mounted and performing recording or reproduction on a tape which is pulled out from the tape cassette and has a predetermined tape path formed thereon. A connection unit connected to an external contact for making a connection with the outside of the memory, wherein the connection unit is provided on the front side of the tape cassette, outside the tape path, and from the side of the tape cassette. A tape recording / reproducing apparatus which is arranged on a tape side on which a tape path is formed.