JPH09139049A - Tape cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To keep the recording/reproducing performance of the information signal highly accurate which running a tape-like recording medium in the stable state also against the effects of vibration, etc., transmitted from a tape driving mechanism, etc., and to prevent the generation of breaking or gap due to the pressure applied from the outside, or the like, by keeping the mechanical strength of a main body of the cassette. SOLUTION: The cassette main body with a specified weight is constituted by combining a lower half 4 which consists of a main body 4A of lower half of a synthetic resin and a metallic insert plate 6, and an upper half. The insert plate 6 and the main body 4A of lower half are integrated in such a manner that the synthetic resin material is filled to an inserting part 46 projectingly provided integrally on the outer peripheral edge of a base part 40 of the insert plate 6 at the time of insert molding.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tape cassette used for a video tape recorder or the like in which a tape-shaped recording medium such as a magnetic tape is housed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, an 8 mm video tape cassette 100 (hereinafter, simply referred to as a tape cassette) used in a video tape recorder is a combination of an upper half 102 and a lower half 103 as shown in FIGS. And a cassette body 101 whose front portion is opened is configured. Further, a lid 104 that opens and closes a loading space portion 105 formed by an open front surface portion is rotatably attached to the cassette body 101.

The tape cassette 100 comprises a cassette body 1
A pair of tape reels 106 (106A, 106B) wound with a magnetic tape 107 having a width of 8 mm is rotatably housed inside 01. In the present specification, a member constituted by a plurality of identical members will be described in this way, and will be referred to as a tape reel 106 when the whole is described, and the tape reel 106A will be described only when individually described. Alternatively, it is described separately from the tape reel 106B.

The magnetic tape 107 is pulled out from one tape reel 106A, guided along the loading space 105 by a tape guide mechanism (not shown), and wound around the other tape reel 106B. In the tape cassette 100, the winding state of the magnetic tape 107 around the tape reel 106 can be visually recognized from the outside through a reel window 108 provided in the upper half 102.

In the lower half 103, as shown in FIG. 17, reel bearing holes 109 (109A, 109A) for exposing the hubs of the accommodated tape reels 106 to the outside, respectively.
B) is provided. Further, the lower half 103 is provided with a reel lock guide section 110 on the back side and located at the center of the reel bearing holes 109, and an end detection section 111 on the front side. Further, the lower half 103 is provided with specification detection units 112 (112A, 112B) located at both corners on the back side. These specification detection units 112 are, for example, the magnetic tape 1
07, a plurality of detection holes opened at predetermined positions corresponding to the tape specifications such as type, length or recording density.

Although not described in detail, the reel lock guide portion 110 is movable in the front-rear direction inside the lower half 103 in correspondence with the reel lock guide groove provided in the lower half 103 and the reel lock guide groove. The reel lock member accommodated therein, a pair of reel lock levers integrally or rotatably assembled with the reel lock member, and a member such as a reel lock spring. The reel lock guide section 110 is
The tip of the reel lock lever relatively engages with the outer peripheral teeth formed on the outer peripheral edge of the flange portion of the tape reel 106, thereby locking the tape reel 106 and preventing its free rotation.

The tape cassette 1 configured as described above
When the tape 00 is loaded in the video tape recorder with the bottom surface and both side surfaces of the cassette body 101 as reference surfaces, the reel lock releasing member entering from the reel lock guide groove causes the reel lock member to resist the elastic force of the reel lock spring. Then it is moved. Tape reel 106
As a result, the locked state by the reel lock lever is released and the state becomes freely rotatable.

Further, the tape cassette 100 is provided with a lid 104 by a lid opening mechanism on the video tape recorder side.
Is rotated to open the loading space 105. In the tape cassette 100, in the reel unlocked state, the magnetic tape 107 is pulled out by the loading mechanism on the video tape recorder side that enters from the loading space 105, and a loading operation that constitutes a predetermined tape running path is performed.

Further, in the tape cassette 100, the reel drive shafts 120 on the video tape recorder side enter through the reel bearing holes 109 and relatively engage with the hub holes of the tape reel 106, respectively. The tape cassette 100 is
When the reel drive shaft 120 is rotated by an operation such as recording or reproduction, the tape reel 106 is rotated and the magnetic tape 107 is fed out or wound up. When the tape cassette 100 is loaded in the video tape recorder, the specification detection unit 112 provided at the corner portion of the lower half 103 is detected by the detection mechanism.

Generally, in the tape cassette 100, the upper half 102 and the lower half 103 are each formed of a synthetic resin material. Therefore, particularly in a small tape cassette such as an 8 mm video tape cassette, when it is loaded in a video tape recorder and a tape drive operation is performed, the tape drive mechanism operates to vibrate the whole operation of the magnetic tape 107. It becomes unstable. Such a phenomenon deteriorates the recording and reproducing characteristics of the information signal recorded at high density. As described above, the tape cassette 100 needs to have a predetermined weight so as not to be influenced by the tape drive mechanism side of the video tape recorder.

In order to solve such a problem, the actual public sho 63
As disclosed in JP-A-38460 "Tape cassette", a preformed synthetic resin member is fixed with an adhesive to a frame-shaped metal member having a reel bearing hole formed and exposed in the lower half. A tape cassette has been proposed which constitutes a cassette body. Further, there is proposed a tape cassette in which a metal plate is insert-molded on the bottom surface of the lower half to form a cassette body in which a metal member and a synthetic resin material are combined. These tape cassettes maintain the overall mechanical rigidity against twisting and bending, and since the cassette body is partly made of a metal material, the overall weight of the tape cassette is increased. It is characterized in that the magnetic tape runs in a stable state without being affected by the above.

[0012]

However, in the above-mentioned prior application tape cassette, since the metal member and the synthetic resin member are adhered and fixed by an adhesive, the assembly process is troublesome and the number of steps is large, resulting in a cost reduction. Not only is it up, but there is a manufacturing problem that the processing of the adhesive is troublesome. Further, since the tape cassette has the reference surface on the metal member side, when it is loaded on the video tape recorder, the cassette loading unit on the video tape recorder side, the reel lock release member, the lid opening mechanism, or the detection unit is detected. This causes a problem that the constituent members such as the mechanism are worn.

In order to solve such a problem, a basic structure of a cassette body in which a metal member and a synthetic resin member are combined is adopted. Specifically, the outer part of the lower half is made of synthetic resin, and We developed a tape cassette with insert molding of a metal plate such as aluminum on the bottom.
Since this tape cassette has a predetermined weight, the magnetic tape runs in a stable state without being affected by vibration of the tape drive mechanism, and the positioning part and sliding part are made of synthetic resin members. Therefore, it has a feature that it does not have a great influence by causing the engaging members on the video tape recorder side to be worn.

By the way, in general, the difference in heat shrinkage between the synthetic resin and the metal plate is extremely large. In addition, in a molded product obtained by insert-molding a metal plate, a metal plate and a synthetic resin generally form a joint portion in which their vertical end faces are abutted with each other.

Therefore, in the above-described improved tape cassette, due to the large heat shrinkage of the synthetic resin portion after molding, the joint strength between the synthetic resin portion and the metal plate is deteriorated or a gap is generated. Such problems may occur. This phenomenon is caused by the cassette body pulling,
The opportunity strength against bending or shearing is greatly deteriorated, and even if a small pressure is applied, the joint may be broken.

Therefore, according to the present invention, since the tape-shaped recording medium has a predetermined weight, the tape-shaped recording medium is run in a stable state against the influence of the vibration transmitted from the tape driving mechanism and the like to record the information signal. The present invention has been proposed for the purpose of providing a tape cassette in which the reproduction characteristics are retained with high precision and the mechanical strength of the cassette body is retained.

[0017]

A tape cassette according to the present invention, which has achieved this object, accommodates a pair of tape reels rotatably in a cassette main body formed by combining a pair of upper and lower halves, and these tapes A tape-shaped recording medium is laid between the reels. The lower half that supports the tape reel is composed of a synthetic resin frame portion and a metal plate that is integrated and combined by insert molding so as to form a part of the bottom surface portion of the frame portion. . In the metal plate, an insert white is integrally projected on an outer peripheral edge which is a joint portion with the frame portion, and the insert white is filled with a synthetic resin material at the time of insert molding to be integrated with the frame portion. It

According to the tape cassette of the present invention constructed as described above, since the cassette body is composed of the lower half composed of the synthetic resin frame and the metal plate, the mechanical strength against bending and twisting is increased. The tape-shaped recording medium travels in a stable state, and the information signal is recorded or reproduced, without being vibrated by the vibration of the tape driving mechanism of the recording and / or reproducing apparatus as well as the total weight of the tape is held. Is performed with high precision.

The metal plate and the frame portion are filled with a synthetic resin material in an insert silo which is integrally provided on the outer peripheral edge of the metal plate so that the respective heat shrinkage rates after the insert molding are increased. Regardless of the difference, the opportunistic strength of the joint is maintained, and breakage or gap formation due to pressure applied from the outside is prevented.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, an 8 mm video tape cassette 1 for a video tape recorder (tape cassette 1) shown in FIGS. 1 to 10 as an embodiment according to the present invention includes a synthetic resin upper half 3 and an insert described later. The cassette body 2 is constructed by combining the plate 6 with the lower half 4 made of synthetic resin which is insert-molded and integrated, and the lid structure 5 is rotatably assembled with the front surface of the cassette body 2.

The cassette body 2 has a pair of tape reels 7 (7) around which a magnetic tape 8 having a width of 8 mm is wound.
A, 7B) are rotatably housed. The magnetic tape 8 is pulled out from one tape reel 7A,
It is guided along the loading space H by the tape guide mechanism described later and is wound around the other tape reel 7B. The state of the magnetic tape 8 is visually recognized from the outside by the reel window 12 provided in the upper half 3.

The upper half 3 is made of a synthetic resin material, for example, a polycarbonate resin and an ABS resin, and is composed of a horizontally long rectangular main surface wall 10 and an outer peripheral wall 11 formed integrally with the outer peripheral portion except the front portion 13 so as to stand upright. It has a substantially shallow dish shape. The reel window 12 described above is provided on the main surface wall 10. The reel window 12 is made of polycarbonate resin as a transparent portion,
The winding state of the magnetic tape 8 around the tape reel 7 is visually recognized, and dust and the like are prevented from entering the inside of the cassette body 2.

A guide wall 14 is integrally provided on the inner surface of the main surface wall 10 of the upper half 3 so as to be located inside the open front surface portion 13. The guide wall 14 is an arc-shaped wall that curves from the central portion toward both sides, and constitutes a reel guide wall that holds the outer peripheral portion of the tape reel 7. Although not shown, the upper half 3 is provided with a plurality of studs on the inner surface of the principal surface wall 10 for integrally connecting the lower half 4 with the set screw 9.

The lower half 4 is composed of a lower half body 4A made of synthetic resin, and a metal insert plate 6 integrated with the lower half body 4A. The lower half body 4A is also made of, for example, ABS resin, and is formed in a substantially shallow dish shape including a horizontally long rectangular bottom wall 15 and an outer peripheral wall 16 formed integrally with the outer peripheral portion except the front portion 17 so as to stand up. ing. The lower half main body 4A has a large opening in the bottom wall 15 thereof, leaving a front portion of a central portion and a rear portion and a corner portion of the rear surface, which are portions constituting a loading reference portion for a video tape recorder, as described later. A bottom opening 49 is provided, and an insert plate 6 described later is integrated by insert molding so as to fill the bottom opening 49.

In the lower half body 4A, as shown in FIG. 5, a guide wall 18 is integrally provided on the inner surface of the bottom wall 15 so as to be located inside the open front surface portion 17 thereof. The guide wall 18 is formed of an arcuate wall that curves from the central portion toward both sides, and cooperates with the guide wall 14 of the upper half 3 described above to hold a part of the reel guide wall that holds the outer peripheral portion of the tape reel 7. Configure.

The lower half body 4A, as shown in FIG.
Both corners on the back side, and a rising wall that surrounds a reel lock part 21 and an end detecting part 23, which will be described later, are each formed in an arc shape, and these rising walls and the guide wall 18 described above are formed.
An area surrounded by and constitutes a tape reel rotation area R in which the tape reel 7 is rotatably housed. The bottom surface opening 49 described above is formed in the tape reel rotation region R.

In the lower half body 4A, a plurality of studs are formed on the bottom wall 15 at positions corresponding to the studs on the upper half 3 side. Therefore, upper half 3 and lower half 4
After assembling the members described below, the outer peripheral wall 1
1, 16 are butted against each other and integrally coupled by a set screw 9 screwed from the bottom side of the lower half 4 to form a cassette body 2 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. As shown in FIG. 4, the cassette body 2 has a loading space H formed on the front surface side by the open front surface 13 of the upper half 3 and the open front surface 17 of the lower half 4 cooperating.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, both sides of the lower half body 4A sandwiching the front open portion 17 are formed to project forward and the tape guide portion 19 ( 19A, 19B) are projected. The tape guide portion 19 has an outer surface formed in an arc shape, and the magnetic tape 8 pulled out from the tape reel 7 is hung on it, as will be described later. In addition, the tape guide portion 19 has a lid guide groove 20 (2
0A, 20B) are respectively formed. The lid guide groove 20 supports a front lid 25 that constitutes the lid structure 5 so as to be rotatable and movable in the vertical direction, as will be described later.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the lower half body 4A is located in the central region on the back side of the bottom wall 15,
The reel lock portion 21 is integrally formed. The reel lock portion 21 is composed of a pair of front and rear guide walls facing each other in parallel, and accommodates a reel lock member 37 and a reel spring 38 that biases the reel lock member 37 forward. The reel lock portion 21 is provided with a reel lock guide groove 22 penetrating the bottom wall 15. When the tape cassette 1 is loaded in the reel lock guide groove 22, the reel lock release member on the video tape recorder side enters into the reel lock guide groove 22. In other words, the reel lock part 21 constitutes a part of the loading reference part when the tape cassette 1 is loaded in the video tape recorder.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the lower half body 4A is integrally formed with an end detecting portion 23 in a central region located on the front side of the bottom wall 15 corresponding to the reel lock guide portion 21. ing. The end detection unit 23 is composed of a light source entrance hole penetrating the bottom wall 15 and a cylindrical projection formed around the light source entrance hole. When the tape cassette 1 is loaded in the video tape recorder, the light source forming the end detection mechanism on the video tape recorder side enters the end detection unit 23 into the cassette body 2 through the light source entrance hole. Thus, the end detection unit 23 also constitutes a part of the loading reference unit when the tape cassette 1 is loaded in the video tape recorder.

The light emitted from the light source is guided laterally from both sides of the cylindrical projection along the inner surface of the guide wall 18, and as described later, between the outer peripheral wall 16 and the tape guide 19. The exposed magnetic tape 8 is exposed to the outside while traversing the traveling path of the magnetic tape 8 and is detected by a light receiving element which constitutes a termination detecting mechanism.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the lower half body 4A is provided with specification detecting portions 24 (24A, 24B) located at both corners on the back side. The specification detection unit 24 is composed of a plurality of detection holes that are opened based on specifications such as the type, length or recording density of the magnetic tape 8. Although not described in detail, these detection holes are formed in a patterned position through an annular thin portion, and the lower half main body 4A is opened by breaking the thin portion.

When the tape cassette 1 is loaded in the video tape recorder, the specification detecting section 24 detects a predetermined specification by detecting the presence or absence of a detection hole by a detection member constituting a specification detecting mechanism on the video tape recorder side. Is done. Therefore, the specification detecting section 24 is also the tape cassette 1
Constitutes a part of the loading reference part when the is loaded in the video tape recorder.

A storage unit 48 is provided at one corner of the lower half body 4A, as shown in FIG. Although not described in detail, the storage unit 48 includes a storage element, an input / output terminal, the input / output terminal, and the like. For example, the usage status of the tape cassette 1 and control information are recorded in the storage element. The input / output terminals are arranged so as to face the outer peripheral wall of the back surface of the lower half body 4A. In the storage unit 48, when the tape cassette 1 is loaded in the video tape recorder, the connector of the information recording / reproducing mechanism is connected to the input / output terminal. In the tape cassette 1, the information recorded in the storage element is reproduced by the information recording / reproducing mechanism or predetermined information is recorded.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, an erroneous recording prevention member 39 is arranged at the other corner portion of the lower half body 4A. The erroneous recording prevention member 39 is switched between two positions for opening and closing the erroneous recording detection hole formed in the corner. In the tape cassette 1, when the erroneous recording prevention member 39 is set to the first position where the erroneous recording detection hole is closed, the erroneous recording prevention member 39 causes the detection member of the erroneous recording detection mechanism on the video tape recorder side to be erroneous. It prevents the recording signal from entering the recording detection hole and enables the recording operation of the information signal on the magnetic tape 8.

Further, in the tape cassette 1, when the erroneous recording prevention member 39 is set to the second position where the erroneous recording detection hole is opened, the detection member of the erroneous recording detection mechanism on the video tape recorder side detects the erroneous recording. By entering the hole, the recording operation of the information signal on the magnetic tape 8 is disabled.
Thus, the erroneous recording prevention hole also constitutes a part of the loading reference portion when the tape cassette 1 is loaded in the video tape recorder 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, the lid structure 5 is composed of a front lid 25, a back lid 28, a lid spring 29, and a lid cam 30. The front lid 25 is engaged with a main surface portion 26 having an outer dimension sufficient to close the loading space H formed in the front surface portion of the cassette body 2 and a shaft hole provided in the side surface portion of the cassette body 2. Side part 2 having a support shaft
7A and 27B are formed in a substantially lateral U-shape.

The front lid 25 has a main surface portion 26.
Is located on the front side of the tape guide 19 and the side surface portion 27 is rotatably supported by the cassette body 2. Further, the front lid 25 is moved by the elastic force of the lid spring 29, which is a torsion spring mounted on the support shaft,
The cassette body 2 is biased in a direction to close the loading space.

The back lid 28 is formed in a substantially U-shaped cross section having an outer shape sufficient to close the open front surface portion of the cassette body 2 and the open front surface portion 13 of the upper half 3. It is located inside the main surface portion 26 and is rotatably supported by the front lid 25.
Further, the back lid 28 is integrally provided with cam projections that are engaged with the lid guide 20 on both side edges thereof. The back lid 28 forms a facing space in which the magnetic tape 8 extends with respect to the main surface portion 26 of the front lid 25, and is assembled to the cassette body 2 at a facing position with a slight gap, as will be described later. Has been.

The lid cam 30 is rotatably assembled to a cam mounting portion integrally formed on the outer peripheral wall of the lower half 4, and although one of the details is omitted, one end portion thereof is the front lid 25.
The one side surface portion 27A is relatively engaged with a cam portion formed on the inner surface of the front end, and the other end portion is exposed to a lid opening groove formed in the lower half body 4A.

The lid structure 5 constructed as described above is
As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the normal lid spring 29
The front surface of the cassette body 2 is closed by the elastic force of. When the lid structure 5 is loaded into the video tape recorder, the lid cam 30 is rotated by the lid opening member on the video tape recorder side that enters the lid opening groove.

The front lid 25 of the lid structure 5 is moved by the operation of the lid cam 30.
It is rotated against the elastic force of 9 to open the front surface of the cassette body 2. Further, in the lid structure 5, the back lid 28 is integrally rotated along the lid guide 20 by the operation of the front lid 25. In the tape cassette 1, the loading space H formed on the front surface of the cassette body 2 is opened by the lid structure 5 pivoting in this manner.

As shown in FIG. 1, the pair of left and right tape reels 7 are pressed toward the lower half 4 side by the pair of reel springs 31 (31A, 31B) attached to the inner surface of the upper half 3. The tape reel 7 is prevented from moving vertically in the cassette body 2 by these reel springs 31.

The tape reel 7 has a cylindrical hub 32 (32A, 32A) around which the magnetic tape 8 is wound around the outer periphery thereof.
B), a clamper 33 (33A, 33B) for fixing one end of the magnetic tape 8 to the hub 32, and the hub 32.
Lower flange 34 (34A, 34B) integrally formed with
And an upper flange 35 (35A, 35B) facing the lower flange 34 and combined with the hub 32.

The hub 32 is provided with a hub hole (not shown) into which the reel drive shaft on the video tape recorder side is fitted, and faces a reel bearing hole 41 provided in the insert plate 6 described later. Further, the hub 32 is provided with an engaging groove in which a clamper 33 is engaged in a part of the outer peripheral portion, and the clamping tape 36 joined to the tip end portion of the magnetic tape 8 is sandwiched by the clamper 33. Fixed.

Outer peripheral teeth are formed on the outer peripheral portion of the lower flange 34 over the entire circumference. The tape reel 7 is normally housed in the reel lock portion 21 described above, and the lock lever is engaged with the outer peripheral teeth of the lower flange 34 by the elastic force of the reel lock spring 38.
The rotation in the rotational direction is prevented by. The tape reel 7 has the reel lock guide groove 2 as described above when the tape cassette 1 is loaded in the video tape recorder.
By the reel lock releasing member that enters from 2 against the elastic force of the reel lock spring 38, the reel lock member 37 is moved to release the locked state and become a rotatable state.

The clamping tape 36 is composed of a transparent tape, and transmits the light emitted from the light source on the video tape recorder side that has entered the above-mentioned end detecting section 23. Of course, the magnetic tape 8 is opaque due to the formation of the recording layer,
The light emitted from the light source of the end detection mechanism is blocked. Therefore, the tape cassette 1 includes the clamping tape 36.
The end is detected depending on the presence or absence of light that passes through and leaks from the side surface of the cassette body 2.

The magnetic tape 8 is one tape reel 7A.
Is pulled out from the outer peripheral portion of the tape toward the front, is hung on one of the tape guides 19A, and is folded back toward the tape loading space H side. The magnetic tape 8 traverses the tape loading space H, is hung on the other tape guide 19B, folded back inward, and wound around the outer periphery of the other tape reel 7B. Magnetic tape 8
When the tape crosses the tape loading space H, it extends into the space formed between the front lid 25 and the back lid 28 of the lid structure 5 to prevent stain or damage.

When the tape cassette 1 is loaded into the video tape recorder, the magnetic tape 8 rotates the lid structure 5 to open the tape loading space H as described above, and thus the magnetic tape 8 of the cassette body 2 is opened. The front part is exposed to the outside. In this state, the magnetic tape 8 is pulled out from the tape reel 7 whose lock state has been released by the tape loading member entering the tape loading space H, and a predetermined loading is performed.

The insert plate 6 has a function of imparting a predetermined weight to the tape cassette 1 and maintaining mechanical rigidity against twisting and bending, and is formed by punching using, for example, an aluminum plate or an aluminum alloy plate as a material. . As shown in FIG. 9, the insert plate 6 has a base portion 40 whose longitudinal dimension is substantially equal to the longitudinal dimension of the lower half body 4A and whose width dimension is the tape reel rotation region R.
It is formed based on a horizontally long rectangle, which is slightly smaller than the diameter of.

The insert plate 6 has a base portion 40.
The reel bearing holes 41 (41A, 41A)
B) has been opened respectively. These reel bearing holes 4
1, the hub hole of the tape reel 7 housed inside the cassette body 2 is exposed to the outside as described above. Therefore, the tape cassette 1 is placed in these reel bearing holes 41.
Is loaded in the video tape recorder, a tape drive shaft that fits into the hub hole and drives the tape reel 7 to rotate is entered.

In the insert plate 6, a reel lock relief portion 42 and a termination detection relief portion 43 are cut out from both ends in the width direction of the base portion 40, which are located between the reel bearing holes 41. In addition, the insert detection plate 6 is formed with notch specifications detection escape portions 44 (44A, 44B) located at both corner portions on one side of the base portion 40. Further, the insert plate 6 has a base 4
0 on both ends in the longitudinal direction of the convex edge portions 45 (45A, 45A,
45B) is integrally formed so as to project, and the insert silo 46 is integrally formed so as to project substantially over the entire outer peripheral edge except for the convex edge portions 45.

In the state where the insert plate 6 is insert-molded in the bottom surface opening 49, the convex edge portion 45 has an outer edge with the outer peripheral wall 1 of the lower half body 4A, as shown in FIG.
It forms the same plane as 1. In addition, the insert white 46,
As shown in FIG. 8 to FIG. 10, the thickness dimension A is the base 4
By making it slightly smaller than the thickness dimension L of 0, a step is formed on the outer peripheral edge of the base portion 40 so as to integrally project. Further, the insert white 46 is formed so as to project from the center line in the thickness direction of the base 40 in a vertically symmetrical shape. Therefore, insert silo 46
In the state where the insert plate 6 is insert-molded in the lower half 4A, the upper and lower parts are uniformly filled with the material resin.

The insert plate 6 configured as described above is installed in the cavity of the molding die corresponding to the bottom opening 49 of the lower half body 4A during the molding process of the lower half body 4A, and injection and filling of the material resin is performed. Thus, the lower half body 4A is insert-molded to form the lower half 4 as a whole. As shown in FIG. 8, the insert plate 6 is integrally formed by filling the upper and lower surfaces of the insert white 46 with a resin material so that the insert white 46 functions as a tenon joint at the opening edge of the bottom opening 49. As a result, the lower half body 4A is firmly integrated. Further, the insert white 46 is the lower half body 4
Although A has a heat contraction rate largely different from that of the insert plate 6, no gap is formed between the bottom plate opening 49 and the opening edge portion. Furthermore, in the insert plate 6, an insert white 46 integrally provided on the outer peripheral edge is vertically symmetrical with respect to the center line in the thickness direction, and the upper and lower surfaces of the insert white are uniformly filled with the material resin. Therefore, the molding strain of the lower half body 4A and the pressure from the outside act uniformly on the insert plate 6, and the mechanical strength at the opening edge of the bottom surface opening 49 is made uniform as a whole.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the insert plate 6 is integrated with the respective relief portions corresponding to the respective portions of the lower half body 4A. That is, the reel lock escape portion 42 is located corresponding to the reel lock portion 21, the end detection escape portion 43 is located corresponding to the end detection portion 23, and the specification detection escape portion 44 is located corresponding to the specification detection portion 24. Further, the convex edge portion 45 is in a state of being embedded in the outer peripheral wall 16 of the lower half body 4A.

In the lower half body 4A, the thickness dimension of the bottom wall 15 is made substantially equal to the thickness dimension L of the insert plate 6 at the opening edge of the bottom opening 49, but in the tape reel rotation region R in FIG. The other portions shown by the cross lines are configured as thin-walled regions whose thickness dimension M is slightly small as shown in FIG. The lower half main body 4A retains its mechanical strength in the portion of the front tape guide 19 whose thickness dimension N is substantially equal to the thickness dimension L of the insert plate 6.

In the lower half 4, the heat shrinkage force of the lower half body 4A largely acts on the insert plate 6 due to a large difference in heat shrinkage between the metal insert plate 6 and the synthetic resin lower half body 4A. However, the lower half 4 has the structure in which the opening edge of the bottom opening 49 of the lower half body 4A is thin as described above, so that the influence of the heat shrinkage force of the lower half body 4A is minimized, and this insert plate The deformation of 6 is prevented, and the dimensional accuracy is maintained. Further, the lower half 4 has the mechanical strength maintained by the protruding edge portion 45 of the insert plate 6 extending to the outer peripheral wall 11 of the lower half body 4A.

The tape cassette 1 configured as described above
Is loaded in the video tape recorder with the outer peripheral portion and the bottom surface portion of the cassette body 2 as reference surfaces, the lid structure 5 is rotated by the lid opening member on the video tape recorder side, and the loading space H at the front surface portion. Is released. In the tape cassette 1, the reel lock releasing member that enters from the reel lock guide groove 14 moves the reel lock member 37 against the elastic force of the reel lock spring 38, and the tape reel 7 is unlocked. In the tape cassette 1, the magnetic tape 8 is pulled out by the loading mechanism on the video tape recorder side that enters from the loading space H, and a loading operation is performed to form a predetermined tape running path.

In the tape cassette 1, the reel bearing hole 41 and the reel drive shaft enter and relatively engage with the reel shaft holes of the tape reel 7. In the tape cassette 1, the reel drive shaft is rotated by a tape driving operation such as recording and reproducing, so that the tape reel 7 is rotated and the magnetic tape 8 is taken out and wound. Further, in the tape cassette 1, the detection hole of the specification detection unit 21 is detected by the detection mechanism, and the information recorded in the storage unit 48 is read.

In the tape cassette 1, the lower half 4 constituting the cassette body 2 is a synthetic resin lower half body 4A.
And a metal insert plate 6 integrally insert-molded on the bottom wall 15.
Therefore, the tape cassette 1 has improved mechanical strength against bending and twisting, and has a large overall weight. The tape cassette 1 vibrates even when vibration of the tape drive mechanism for driving the tape reel is applied to the magnetic tape 8. The information signal is recorded and reproduced with high accuracy without affecting the running operation of the.

Further, the tape cassette 1 is provided with a moving member such as a reel lock member 37, an engaging portion such as a reel lock releasing member on the video tape recorder side, a specification detecting member, and the like.
Alternatively, each part such as a loading reference surface for the video tape recorder is formed on the lower half body 4A side made of synthetic resin. Therefore, the tape cassette 1 does not wear each member on the video tape recorder side, is loaded in a correctly positioned state, performs a predetermined operation, and does not cause a malfunction.

Further, in the tape cassette 1, since the bottom wall 15 of the lower half main body 4A is made thin, the heat shrinkage force of the resin portion is greatly reduced to prevent the insert plate 6 from being deformed such as a warp. To be done. Further, in the tape cassette 1, the insert plate 6 has the lower half body 4
A is firmly integrated with the opening edge portion of the bottom surface opening portion 49 of the bottom surface wall 15 via the insert white 46, and the convex edge portion 45 extending to the outer peripheral wall 16 causes the lower half body 4A. Since the mechanical strength is improved, the mechanical strength of the lower half 4 is maintained.

Further, since the lower half body 4A and the insert plate 6 are joined via the insert sill 46, a gap is generated in the joint portion due to the difference in the heat shrinkage ratio, and a pressure applied from the outside. This prevents breakage at this joint and improves mechanical strength against pulling, bending, shearing and the like. Furthermore, since the insert white 46 does not create a gap between the opening edge of the bottom opening 49 of the lower half body 4A and the outer peripheral edge of the insert plate 6 after insert molding, the appearance of the tape cassette 1 is maintained. In addition, it is possible to reliably prevent the occurrence of inconveniences such as dust entering the inside and adhering to the magnetic tape.

The present invention is not limited to the 8 mm video tape cassette 1 described above, but can be applied to standard video tape cassettes and other tape cassettes. Further, the tape cassette 1 is also applied to a cleaning tape cassette having the cassette main body 2 in common and having a cleaning tape built-in instead of the magnetic tape 8.
Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to tape cassettes for video tape recorders, but is also applicable to tape cassettes used in various devices such as tape cassettes for audio devices.

In the tape cassette 1 described above, the insert white 46 integrally formed on the outer peripheral edge of the insert plate 6 is formed in a rectangular shape in cross section, but the shape is not limited to such a shape, and FIGS. It is developed like insert silos 51, 53, 55, 59 having the shape shown in FIG. In the following description, the tape cassette 1
Members designated by the same reference numerals are the same or equivalent members, and the description thereof will be omitted in the following description.

Insert plate 50 shown in FIG.
In the outer peripheral edge, an insert white 51 having a trapezoidal cross-sectional shape is integrally formed by projecting the thickness dimension B2 of the tip end portion gradually smaller than the thickness dimension B1 of the base end portion. It is configured. Of course, in the insert white 51, the thickness dimension B1 of the base end portion is the insert plate 5
It is configured to be small with respect to the thickness dimension L of the base portion 40 of 0, and the upper and lower shapes are symmetrical with respect to the center line of the base portion 40 in the thickness direction. The insert plate 50 has a relatively simple shape.
Since it has, it can be easily formed by pressing or the like.

Insert silo 5 constructed as described above
Like the insert plate 6 shown as the above-described first embodiment, the insert plate 50 having No. 1 has an insert white 51 at the opening edge portion of the bottom opening 49 of the cassette body 4A made of synthetic resin. Exhibits a wedge effect and is firmly integrated.

Insert plate 52 shown in FIG.
In the outer peripheral edge, the thickness C2 of the tip end portion is gradually increased with respect to the thickness C1 of the base end portion, so that the insert white 53 having the inverted trapezoidal cross section is integrally formed. Is configured. Of course, in the insert white 53, the thickness dimension C2 of the tip portion is made smaller than the thickness dimension L of the base portion 40 of the insert plate 50, and the upper and lower shapes are symmetrical with respect to the center line of the base portion 40 in the thickness direction. And is configured.

Insert silo 5 constructed as described above
Similarly to the insert plate 6 shown as the above-described first embodiment, the insert plate 52 having the insert plate 53 with respect to the synthetic resin cassette main body 4A has an insert white 53 at the opening edge of the bottom opening 49 thereof. Exhibits a wedge effect and is firmly integrated. Further, since the insert white 53 has an inverted trapezoidal shape, the cassette main body 4 is more likely than the insert white 46 of the insert plate 6 described above.
It exhibits a more effective wedge action in the contracting direction of A, and more firmly integrates the insert plate 52 with the cassette body 4A.

Insert plate 54 shown in FIG.
Is an insert white 55 integrally formed on the outer peripheral edge.
Is a connecting portion 56 integrally projected from the outer peripheral edge of the base portion 40.
And a locking portion 57 integrally formed at the tip of the connecting portion 56. The thickness dimension D2 of the locking portion 57 is set to be slightly larger than the thickness dimension D1 of the connecting portion 56, and the cross-sectional shape is substantially T-shaped as a whole. Of course, the insert silo 55 is configured such that the thickness dimension D2 of the locking portion 57 is smaller than the thickness dimension L of the base portion 40 of the insert plate 54 and is vertically symmetrical with respect to the thickness direction of the base portion 40. Has been done.

Insert silo 5 constructed as described above
Similarly to the insert plate 6 shown as the above-described first embodiment, the insert plate 54 having the number 5 is different from the synthetic resin cassette main body 4A at the opening edge of the bottom opening 49 of the insert white 55. Exhibits a wedge effect and is firmly integrated. Further, the insert white 55 has the locking portion 57 projecting in the thickness direction at the front end, so that the locking portion 57 shrinks the cassette body 4A more than the insert white 52 of the insert plate 53 described above. A more effective wedge action is exhibited in the direction, and the insert plate 54 is more firmly integrated with the cassette body 4A.

Insert plate 58 shown in FIG.
Is an insert white 59 integrally formed on the outer peripheral edge.
Is formed integrally with the outer peripheral edge of the base portion 40 so as to project.
0 and a locking portion 61 formed integrally with the tip of the connecting portion 60. The locking portion 61 has a circular cross-sectional shape, and the diameter dimension E2 thereof is slightly larger than the thickness dimension E1 of the coupling portion 60, so that the locking portion 61 is formed to project in the vertical direction at the tip of the coupling portion 60. Has been done. Of course,
In the insert white 59, the diameter dimension E2 of the locking portion 61 is
The insert plate 58 is made smaller than the thickness dimension L of the base portion 40 and is vertically symmetrical with respect to the thickness direction of the base portion 40.

Insert silo 5 constructed as described above
Like the above-described insert plate 54, the insert plate 58 having 9 has the engaging portions 61 that project vertically in the thickness direction. Bottom opening 49
The insert silo 59 exhibits a wedge action and is firmly integrated with the opening edge portion of the. Further, since the insert silo 59 has a circular cross-section with no corners, the outer peripheral edge is uniformly filled with the resin material, and cracks and the like due to strain are prevented from occurring.

[0074]

As described in detail above, according to the tape cassette of the present invention, the lower half of the cassette body is composed of the lower half body and the metal plate integrated by insert molding. As a result, the mechanical strength against bending and twisting is improved, and the overall weight is large, so that the tape-shaped recording medium is kept stable without being affected by the vibration of the tape drive mechanism. The information signal is recorded and reproduced with high accuracy.

In the tape cassette, the lower half main body and the metal plate forming the lower half are insert-molded through the insert shiro provided on the outer peripheral edge of the metal plate with respect to the bottom opening of the lower half main body. Being integrated,
It has sufficient mechanical strength against pulling, bending, shearing, etc., and is more firmly joined and fixed. In addition, there is no inconvenience that a gap is generated in the joint portion due to the difference in the heat shrinkage ratio or the joint is broken by the pressure applied from the outside. In addition, even if there is a gap in the joint portion of the cassette tape, it is closed by the insert silo, and it is possible to prevent the occurrence of inconveniences such as intrusion of dust into the inside and deterioration of the appearance. It

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an 8 mm video tape cassette to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the same 8 mm video tape cassette.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the same 8 mm video tape cassette.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the same 8 mm video tape cassette.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a lower half which constitutes a cassette body of the same 8 mm video tape cassette.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the lower half.

FIG. 7 is a plan view illustrating a thin region formed on a bottom wall of the lower half.

FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a main part of the lower half.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of an insert plate that is insert-molded into the lower half body to form a lower half.

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of an essential part of the lower half.

FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view of an essential part of another lower half.

FIG. 12 is a vertical sectional view of an essential part of another lower half.

FIG. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view of an essential part of another lower half.

FIG. 14 is a longitudinal sectional view of an essential part of another lower half.

FIG. 15 is a plan view of a conventional 8 mm video tape cassette.

FIG. 16 is a side view of the same 8 mm video tape cassette.

FIG. 17 is a bottom view of the same 8 mm video tape cassette.

[Explanation of symbols]

 18 mm video tape cassette (tape cassette) 2 cassette body 3 upper half 4 lower half 4A lower half body (synthetic resin frame) 6 insert plate (metal plate) 7 tape reel 8 magnetic tape (tape recording medium) 15 lower Bottom wall of half body 16 Same outer peripheral wall 17 Same front open part 21 Same reel lock part 23 Same end detection part 24 Same specification detection part 37 Reel lock member 39 Wrong recording prevention member 40 Insert plate base 41 Formed on insert plate Reel bearing hole 45 Same convex edge 46 Same insert white 47 Lower half body thin wall area 49 Same bottom opening H Loading space R Tape reel rotation area

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A tape cassette in which a pair of tape reels are rotatably housed inside a cassette body formed by combining a pair of upper and lower halves, and a tape-shaped recording medium is hung between the tape reels. The lower half for supporting is composed of a frame part made of synthetic resin and a metal plate which is integrated and combined by insert molding so as to constitute a part of the bottom face part of the frame part. The insert white is integrally projected on the outer peripheral edge that is a joint with the frame part, and the insert white is filled with a synthetic resin material at the time of insert molding so that the insert white is integrated with the frame part. Tape cassette characterized by. 2. The tape according to claim 1, wherein the insert silo integrally provided on the outer peripheral edge of the metal plate is vertically symmetrical with respect to the center line in the thickness direction. cassette.