AU489698B2 - Cassette tape loading apparatus - Google Patents

Description

74.151 7n This invention relates to apparatus and, in particular,

to a tape loading device for receiving a cassette tape

and delivering a tape out from a cassette for travelling on the tape travelling device. a A video tape recorder (VTR) is generally used as such device for recording and reproducing video signals

as TV signals. A conventional video tape recorder adapted

to record and reproduce video signals through a rotary tracking type magnetic head requires a servo mechanism for tape travel- and, furthermore, a rotary head mechanism and a This ling mechanism are complicated in construction.

provides a bar to the simplification and miniaturization high of the video tape recorder, resulting in an extremely cost. has To obviate the above-mentioned drawbacks, there

been considered a device for recording and reproducing

video signals using an endless tape and a stationary

magnetic head. I t device, the tape needs to be

stabl 't speed of more than 3m per second. case is different A tape travelling mechanism used in this for an acoustic from a low-speed tape travelling mechanism is constructed, signal recording and reproducing device and tape wound for example, as set out below. An endless periphery around a reel is delivered from the innermost the capstan of the tape roll. The tape passed between a stationary and the inlet pinch roller is scanned by disposed opposite magnetic head while guided along a guide to the magnetic head. form, it is Where the tape is embodied in a cassette travelling apparatus impos.ible in the above-mentioned tape R 489698

74.151 n4 to provide thepinch roller on the cassette in view of 4

its stable tapel, and simple construction, unlike a

tape travelling apparatus for acoustic signals. For this

reason it is required that, upon loading the cassette tape

onto a tape travelling device, part of the tape be delivered

out so that it can be inserted into a tape travelling path

between a magnetic head and a head facing guide.

It is accordingly the object of this invention to de- provide a cassette tape loading apparatus capable of

livering part of a tape out from a cassette and loading

the tape onto a tape travelling path of a tape travelling

device with accuracy by a simple operation.

The cassette loading apparatus according to this tape invention proves advantageous if it is applied to a as travelling device in which a tape is delivered out, travel- in a VTR, from the cassette and loaded onto a tape

ling path so that it is scanned by a magnetic head.

This invention can be more fully understood from conjunc- the following detailed description when taken in

tion with the accompanying drawings, in which: of Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing one example apparatus a cassette tape to be loaded on a cassette loading

according to this invention;

Figs. 2 and 3 show a cassette loading apparatus wherein according to one embodiment of this invention view; Fig. 2 is a side view and Fig. 3 is a front an Fig. 4 is a side view showing, on a large scale, apparatus; engaging member used in the cassette loading rig. 5 is a plan view showing a tape travelling device

into "hich the cassette loading device is incorporated; A 489698

74.15 1 n4 Fig. 6 is an enlarged, perspective view showing a

guide member used in the tape travelling device of Fig. and

Figs. 7A and 7B are plan views schematically showing

unoperative and operative positions, respectively, of the

tape travelling device.

Fig. 1 shows one example of a cassette tape. An

endless tape 1 may be, for example, a magnetic tape and

is wound around a reel 4 rotatably mounted on a bottom

substrate 3 of a case body or cassette 2. The tape 1 is

so driven by the following mechanism that it is delivered

from the innermost periphery of a tape roll 5 and wound

around the outermost periphery of the tape roll. The

tape delivered from the innermost periphery of the tape

roll 5 is guided through a conical guide roll 6, a guide

pole 7 obliquely mounted on the substrate 3 and a guide pole 8 mounted vertical to the substrate 3. The tape from

the guide pole 8 is passed, through a pair of guide poles

11 vertically mounted in a spaced-apart relation on

the undersurface of the forward end portion of an upper

covering 9, to a guide pole 12 which oppositely faces the guide pole 8.

The upper covering 9 is slidably moved relative to

the case body 2 so as to cause the cassette to be opened and

closed. When the upper covering 9 is drawn out, the tape 1

is delivered out through the pair of guide poles 10, 11

to provide a rectangular tape portion 13 defined by guide

poles 8, 10, 11 and 12. At the middle of the forward

end portion of the upper covering 9 is provided an engaging

section or small recess 14 for drawing out the upper

74.151 n4 covering 9.

The tape 1 passed through the guide pole 12 is guided swingably between a rotating body 16 and a leaf spring 15 body mounted on one side wall of the case 2. The rotating or 16 is made of a pliable material, such as moltprene re- sponge rubber, having a relatively great frictional

sistance. When the cassette tape is loaded, the rotating described. The body 16 is rotated by a means to be later manually or leaf spring 15 is so mounted that it may be unloading of automatically swung, during the loading and by solid the cassette tape, into a position as indicated contact with lines to cause the tape to be urged into is manually the rotating body 16, and the leaf spring and repro- and automatically swung, during the recording indicated by dotted ducing of signals, into a position as from the rotating lines to cause the tape to be moved away the rotating body body. The tape emerging from between portion 17 16 and the leaf spring 15 has a slackened of the tape before it is wound on the outermost periphery

roll. substrate serve to Frame members 18, 19 mounted on the the tape from being prevent the slackened portion 17 of in a horizontal direction. unnecessarily expanded or spread apparatus according Let us now explain a tape loading Figs. 2 to 4 of the to the embodiment by reference to

present invention. the forward end por- A projection .21a is mounted on device 20. A rectan- tion of a base 21 of a tape travelling member is so mounted on gular support plate 22 of a support an operativeltimi it can be the .rojection 21a that during

74.15 1 n4

AA parallel to the base 21 as indicated by solid lines in Fig. 2. A pair of L-shaped arms 22a have one end pivotally

connected to the projection 21a and the other end pivotally

connected to the cassette support plate. As a result, the

cassette support plate is swingable with said one end of the

L-shaped arm 22a as a center. Between the arm 22a and the

base 21 a compression spring 22b is disposed so that the

cassette support plate can be smoothly swung in a clockwise

direction. A rectangular-shaped bucket 23 is mounted on the

undersurface of the cassette support plate 22 near the free end thereof in a manner to be parallel to the upper surface

of the cassette support. A cassette is inserted into the

bucket 23 through the opening formed in the rear side thereof.

On the cassette support plate 22 is mounted a driving mecha-

nism 25 having a motor 24 so that when the cassette is loaded

into the bucket 23, the rotating body 16 is caused to be

rotated by the driving mechanism 25. The support member has

a pair of longitudinally extending side plates 22c integrally

secured to the undersurface of the cassette support plate

22. The side plates each have an elongated hole 26 extending

in the longitudinal direction of the side plate. A crossbar

28 is extended across the width of the cassette support and

opposite ends thereof are projected through the elongated

holes 26 of the side plates. A pair of sliders 27 are

connected one at each end of the crossbar 28. The sliders

27 and thus the crossbar 28 are movable as a unit along the

elongated holes 26 of the side plates 22c. At the middle of

the crossbar 28 is mounted an engaging member or claw member

29 as illustrated in detail in Fig. 4. When the cassette

tape is loaded into the bucket 23, the engaging member 29

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74.15 1 74

is brought into engagement with the engaging recess 14

of the upper covering 9.

To the sliders 27 are connected a pair of operating

members 30 for moving the slider 27 along the elongated

hole 26 of the side plate of the cassette support 22 when

the support 22 is swung. The operating member 30 comprises

a first arm 30a having a bored end portion through which

the end of the crossbar 28 is loosely fitted and extending

along the longitudinal direction of the cassette support

22 and a second arm 30b having one end pivotally connected

to the other end of the arm 30a and the other end pivotal-

ly connected to a projection 21b mounted upright on the

rear end portion of the base 21. On the arm 30a is

mounted a leaf spring 30c for urging the slider 27 in a

clockwise direction. Consequently, the engaging member

29 secured to the crossbar 28 is urged in a clockwise

direction.

This permits the engaging member 29 to be positively The engaged with the recess 14 of the upper covering 9.

engaging member 29 has an inclined surface 29a at its

forward end. When the cassette is inserted into the

the forward end of the upper covering 9 is con- bucket,

tacted with the inclined surface 29a of the engaging

member 29 to cause the member 29 to be temporarily swung

against the urging force of the leaf spring 30c to permit 14 the engaging member 29 to be engaged with the recess

of the upper covering 9.

The tape travelling mechanism will be explained

by reference to Figs. 5 and 6. at a e, a base 21 are provided a capstan 31 driven

S8 489698

74.15 1 n4 by an arrow a in constant speed in a direction indicated case fixed to the Fig. 5 by virtue of a motor housed in a 32 and 33 are base 20, and inlet and outlet pinch rolls of the capstan. rotated in a direction b opposite to that pinch rolls 32 and 33 During the tape travelling time, the through the tape are moved into contact with the pinch the pinch rolls 32 while, during the cassette loading time, away from the and 33 are moved by a predetermined distance inserted into the capstan so that the tape can be easily and the pinch tape travelling path between the capstan leaf spring 15 relative rolls. It is convenient to swing the with the movement of tothe rotating body 16 in synchronism the pinch roll. 21 in a manner A head block 35 is mounted on the base magnetic head 34 to confront the capstan 31 and has a to mount the head mounted thereon. It is very convenient to be movable in a block 35 on the base 21 in a manner across the width direction vertical to the base 21 i.e. and the magnetic head of the tape. Between the capstan 31 36 for supporting 34 is mounted a tape supporting base of rotatable guides the lower edge of the tape. A pair on the tape 39 are mounted at a predetermined interval with a rotation supporting base and are each rotatable detail in Fig. 6, the axis 40 as a center. As shown in 38 whose rotation rotatable guide 39 has a sector plate or upright curved axis is rivetted, and a guide surface of the sector plate plate 37 mounted on the outer periphery swung into a first posi- 38. When the guide plate 39 is guide surface 37 is tion shown in Fig. 7B in which the 35, one end of the guide located close to the head block

7 4.15 1 n4 surface 37 is positioned in the same plane as the forward

end of the magnetic head or extends slightly on the

magnetic head 34 side. When the guide surface 37 is

swung through 1800 into a second position as shown in

Fig. 7A, a predetermined space is left between the rotatable

guide 39 and the magnetic head 34. It is convenient to

provide a suitable synchronizing means by which the rotatable

guide is so operatively associated with the pinch rolls

32 and 33 that, when the rotatable guide 39 is swung from

the second position to the first position, the pinch rolls

32 and 33 are moved toward the capstan 31.

Let us now explain the case where the cassette tape

is inserted into the tape loading apparatus of Figs. 2 and

3, and the tape in the cassette is delivered from it to

be inserted into the tape travelling path of the device

shown in Fig.

The rotatable guide 39 is swung into the second posi-

tion as shown in Fig. 7A in which the guide surface 37

of the rotatable guide is located close to the capstan 31,

and, at the same time, the pinch rolls 32 and 33 are

moved away from the capstan 31 so that a wide tape travel-

ling path can be provided. The cassette support 22 of the

cassette loading apparatus is swung upward into a first

position as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2. At this

time, the slider 27 and the engaging member 29 are located

at the left side of the slot 26 by moving in a direction

4SP M. When the cassette is inserted into the bucket 23 with the upper covering 9 closed, the recess 14 of the upper

covering 9 is engaged with the engaging member 29. At the same

time, the rotating body 16 is operatively connected to

1n 489698

74.151 n4 been driven, the driving mechanism 25 which has already in a direction causing the rotating body 16 to be rotated leaf spring indicated by an arrow A in Fig. 1, while the by solid is brought into the position as indicated the rotating lines in Fig. 1 to urge the tape 1 toward travelled in a direc- body 16. As a result, the tape is 1. When the cassette tion indicated by an arrow B in Fig. into an original support 22 is swung counter-clockwise member 29 are position, the slider 27 and the engaging a direction indicated moved as a unit along the slot 26 in member 30, causing by an arrow N by virtue of the operating from the case 2 with the upper covering 9 to be drawn out out, as shown in the result that the .tape is delivered 10, 11. When the Fig. 1, by the pair of guide poles 22 is complete, swinging movement of the cassette support is inserted into the the delivered portion of the tape iaagnetic head 34 and travelling path defined between the the capstan 31 and the the guide surface 37 and between made wide as already pinch rolls 32, 33, which has been tape portion 13 is set out above. Since the delivered moved in a direction of made tense due to the tape 1 being the rotating body 16 and the arrow B by the coaction of portion is provided to the the leaf spring 15, no slacked tape into the tape travelling tape and the insertion of the

path is easily effected. on the tape travelling After the tape 1 is so loaded is swung through 1800 into path, the rotatable guide 39 the guide surface 37 is located the first position in which 34. At the same time, the pinch close to the magnetic head the toward the capstan 31. By rolls 32 and 33 are moved I 1 489698

74.151 n4 swinging movement of the rotatable guide 39 the delivered

tape portion 13 is released away from the guide poles

and 11 and into a position as indicated by dotted lines

in Fig. 7B where it is contacted with the magnetic head 34.

Up to the time when preparation for tape travelling is

so complete, the leaf spring 15 is moved away from the

tape 1 as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 1 and

the tape can be smoothly travelled without any obstacle.

By perating the driving switch, not shown, the tape 1 is

travelled under the coaction between the capstan and the

pinch roll and scanned at the magnetic head.

Where it is desired to unload the cassette from the

bucket, a driving switch is opened, the tape travelling

path is broadened and the cassette support is swung clockwise 2. into the position indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. direction As a result, the engaging member 29 is moved in the operating indicated by the arrow M in Fig. 2 by virtue of the in the arm 30 to cause the upper covering 9 to be moved

direction indicated by the arrow B in Fig. 1 and the case 2 delivered tape portion 13 is housed within the roll. while being wound on the outer periphery of the tape the When in this state the cassette is drawn out from

bucket 23, the engaging member 29 is easily disengaged the from the recess 14 of the upper covering to permit

cassette to be removed from the bucket. spring The rotating body 16 is rotated and the leaf to prevent urges the tape toward the rotating body so as during the the fall of the delivered tape portion 13, the covering 9- swing of the cassette support 22 to move it is With the above-mentioned tape loading device 12 12 489698

74.151 n4

possible to automatically deliver the tape outward from

the cassette and insert into the tape travelling path.

Any tape can be employed in the cassette loading by device, if the tape can be delivered out from the case 9, which a drawing member, for example, the upper covering

is designed to draw out the tape from the case by suitable means. The cassette tape is not restricted to an endless type.

SThere may be used two reels which are coaxially mounted.

In this case, the tape is fed from one reel and wound to the around the other reel. The tape is not restricted be used. magnetic tape. For example, a perforated tape may moved There may be used head facing guides which is tape travel- with the pinch rolls to change the width of the ling path.

Claims (4)

74.151 74 THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. Apparatus comprising:

a cassette tape including a case body,

a tape housed within the case body,

a member slidably movable relative to the case body, a pair of poles fixed to the member to guide the tape and an engaging portion provided upon the member, a tape travelling device having a tape driving mechanism and a tape travelling path, a bucket for receiving the cassette, supporting means mounted on the tape travelling device to be swung between a first position in which the cassette is loaded and a second position in which the tape is to be delivered out from the cassette is

inserted in the tape travelling path,

an engaging member movably connected to the supporting means so as to be engaged with the engaging portion of the member, and means for moving the engaging member to

cause the tape to be delivered out from the cassette through the member when the supporting means is swung

from the first position to the second position.

2. A cassette tape travelling apparatus according

to claim 1 in which:

said engaging portion of said member has a

recess, and

said engaging member has an engaging claw and

a spring for urging the engaging claw into engagement with

the recess. i1 489698

7 4.151 n4

3. A cassette tape travelling apparatus according

to claim 1, wherein said member is a cover.

4. Apparatus for receiving a cassette tape and

for delivering part of said tape from the cassette so as

to insert the same within a tape travelling path of a tape

travelling device, comprising:

cassette receiving means supported on the tape

travelling device to be swingable between a first position

in which the cassette is loaded thereon in an inclined state

to the tape travelling path and a second position in which

the cassette is parallel with the tape travelling path and

the part of the tape delivered out from the cassette is

inserted in the tape travelling path,

delivering means mounted on the cassette

receiving means to be associated with the tape of the

cassette loaded on the cassette receiving means,

operating means connected to the delivering

means and moving said delivering means to cause the part

of the tape to be drawn from the cassette when said

cassette receiving means is swung from the first position

to the second position,

said cassette receiving means including a

support swingable between said first and second positions,

a bucket mounted at one end of said support to receive the

cassette, a member pivotally connecting the other end portion

of said support to said tape travelling device body, and slots extending longitudinally of said support, said delivering means includes an engaging

claw for delivering the tape from the cassette, a bar connected to said support with its ends passed through

a 489698

74.151 n4

the slots and the support, and a pair of sliders fixed to

the ends of the bar, and

said operating means includes a first arm

having one end pivotally connected to the slider and a

second arm having one end pivotally connected to the

other end of said first arm and the other end pivotally

connected to said tape travelling device,

whereby, when said cassette receiving means

is swung, ,r the second arm is swung with the other end as

a center to cause the slider to be moved along the slot

to permit the engaging claw to be moved.

Apparatus according to claim 4 in which said

tape travelling device includes a rotatable capstan, a

pair of pinch rolls oppositely facing the capstan, and

a tape scanning member and said tape travelling path is

confined between the capstan and the pinch rolls and

between the capstan and the tape scanning member.

DATED THIS 22nd Day of November, 1977.

TOKYO SHIBAURA ELECTRIC CO. LTD. By Its Patent Attorneys CLEMENT HACK CO., Fellows Institute of Patent Attorneys of Australia.

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74.151 M7

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