CH646265A5 - MAGNETIC TAPE CASSETTE. - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates generally to magnetic tape cassettes, and more particularly to a magnetic tape cassette whose constitution is such that one of the coils located on the supply side or located on the receiving side, for example the reel located on the supply side , is mounted on a reel drive shaft of a recording and / or reproducing apparatus and driven in rotation by means of a central part of this reel, while the other reel such as the reel located on the reception side is rotated by means of a part thereof which is not its central part.

At present, the number of types of video signal recording and / or reproducing apparatus operating with magnetic tape cassettes that are in fact used worldwide is reduced. Of these types of recording and / or reproducing apparatus operating with magnetic tape cassettes, only two or three standardized types of apparatus are currently used worldwide. There is no interchangeability between devices of different types, but there is interchangeability between devices of the same standard. It is therefore possible to reproduce a magnetic tape cassette carrying a recording made by means of a recording and / or reproduction apparatus of a certain standard with a recording and / or reproduction apparatus of the same standard. So, so that there can be interchangeability between different recording and / or reproduction apparatuses and manufactured by different manufacturers making it possible to carry out a recording and / or reproduction operation, a standardization has been established as regards the formats of the magnetic tape cassette and the recording and / or reproducing apparatus. In other words, the above formats are standardized for each standard and a standard type magnetic tape cassette and a standard type recording and / or reproducing apparatus have been developed. used respectively for each standard.

Recently, a very important problem has arisen concerning the reduction of the dimensions of the main body of the recording and / or reproduction apparatus. The aim sought is to produce a more compact and portable recording and / or reproduction apparatus, and for example to produce an assembly consisting of a recording apparatus incorporated in a television camera.

In this regard, certain attempts have been made to make a recording and / or reproduction apparatus of compact type operating with a magnetic tape cassette of compact or miniature type, using a type and format of tape completely different from those of the standard type recording and / or reproducing apparatus operating with the standard type magnetic tape cassette which is already widely used and accepted on the market. However, this compact type of recording and / or reproducing apparatus which it is sought to produce uses a format completely different from that of the recording and / or reproducing apparatus of standard type, and there is no therefore has no interchangeability between them. This compact type recording and / or reproducing apparatus therefore has the disadvantage that the magnetic tape cassette on which recording was made with a compact type recording and / or reproducing apparatus cannot be reproduced by a standard type recording and / or reproducing apparatus. This constitutes a significant drawback and disadvantage for people using the compact type recording and / or reproducing apparatus.

An attempt has also been made to produce a portable recording and / or reproduction apparatus of compact type carrying out the recording and / or reproduction operation by means of a tape of the same model and the same format as that used with the standard type recording and / or reproducing apparatus by employing a tape cassette whose dimensions are slightly reduced and by reducing the amount of tape and the diameter of the reels compared to the standard type tape cassette. In this system, a magnetic tape cassette carrying a recording made by the portable recording and / or reproducing apparatus can be reproduced in the state it is in by the recording and / or reproducing apparatus. standard type.

But when it comes to the magnetic tape cassette used in the above portable recording and / or reproducing apparatus, the distance between the reel located on the supply side and the reel located on the receiving side is equal to the distance between the coils on the supply side and the receiving side of a standard type magnetic tape cassette, so that the magnetic tape cassette used with the portable recording and / or reproducing apparatus can be loaded in a standard type recording and / or reproducing apparatus. So even when you reduce the amount of magnetic tape to reduce the diameter of the coils, there is a limit to reducing the diameter of these coils. This system therefore has the disadvantage of not making it possible to significantly reduce the overall dimensions of the magnetic tape cassette, and the same applies to the recording and / or reproducing apparatus.

In addition, another system can be envisaged by which the quantity of magnetic tape is reduced to reduce the diameter of the coils and the miniature type magnetic tape cassette is further constructed by reducing the distance between the coils located on the supply side and the reception side. Thanks to this system, it is possible to modify the recording and / or reproduction apparatus with respect to the recording and / or reproduction apparatus of standard type and to constitute it in such a manner as a reel disc intended to drive the receiving side coil is movable. In this modification of the standard type recording and / or reproducing apparatus, the reel disc on the receiving side is in its normal position when the apparatus is loaded with a standard type magnetic tape cassette, and the reel disc on the receiving side is brought closer to the reel disc on the supply side when loaded with a miniature type magnetic tape cassette. But even this system has drawbacks, such as the fact that, when it is a magnetic tape cassette of

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miniature type carrying a recording made by means of a compact type recording and / or reproducing apparatus, it cannot be reproduced by the standard type recording and / or reproducing apparatus which is currently used on the market. Another disadvantage is that it is extremely difficult to provide a mechanism for moving the coil disc as described above. In addition, the recording and / or reproducing apparatus operating with a magnetic tape cassette generally comprises a mechanism which pulls the tape from the inside of the cassette to make it follow a predetermined path inside the tape. recording and / or reproducing apparatus. It is therefore also extremely difficult to construct this mechanism which pulls the tape so that there is interchangeability between the magnetic tape cassette of miniature or compact type above and the magnetic tape cassette of standard type, and in fact the realization of this mechanism is virtually impossible.

A general object of the present invention is therefore to create a magnetic tape cassette of the miniature type which is new and useful, and overcomes the drawbacks described above.

Another more specific object of the present invention is to create a magnetic tape cassette constituted in such a way that a reel which is either the reel located on the supply side, or the reel located on the receiving side, is inserted on, and cooperates with, a reel drive shaft of a recording and / or reproducing apparatus from its lower side and is rotated by its central part, while the other reel is rotated by means of a part which is not its central part. In the magnetic tape cassette according to the present invention, the fact that the other reel is driven in rotation by means of a part which is not its central part and has a constitution such as the reel drive shaft of the recording and / or reproducing apparatus is not inserted in its central part and engaged with it, the distance between the centers of rotation of the spool located on the supply side and the spool located on the side can be reduced reception at a relatively low value, thereby reducing the overall dimensions of the magnetic tape cassette. Furthermore, while the magnetic tape cassette according to the present invention can be subjected to recording and / or reproduced by means of a recording and / or reproducing apparatus designed exclusively for this type of magnetic tape cassette, the magnetic tape cassette according to the present invention can also be subjected to recording and / or reproduced by means of a recording and / or reproducing apparatus of standard type when the magnetic tape cassette according to the present invention is arranged to the inside a magnetic tape cassette adapter housing the shape and external dimensions of which are substantially the same as that of a standard type magnetic tape cassette used with recording and / or recording apparatus reproduction of standard standard classics and very widely used.

Yet another object of the present invention is to create a magnetic tape cassette of the above type which is constructed so that the other reel rotates around a fixed shaft provided inside the casing of the cassette. In the magnetic tape cassette according to the present invention, the other reel can rotate without any play since its position is determined by the fixed shaft, and as a result, the construction of the cassette can be simplified.

Another object of the present invention is to create a magnetic tape cassette, the first reel mentioned above is the reel located on the supply side, while the other reel mentioned above is the reel located on the receiving side. According to the magnetic tape cassette of the present invention, the rotation accuracy and the feeding precision of the magnetic tape are respectively high due to the fact that the reel located on the feeding side is driven by the reel drive shaft. of the recording and / or reproducing apparatus. In addition, the fact of providing an indirect drive of the reel situated on the receiving side by the side of the casing of the cassette does not constitute a drawback since there is no strict requirement as regards the precision of the rotation of the coil located on the receiving side.

The objects and characteristics of the present invention will appear clearly on reading the detailed and nonlimiting description which follows, with reference to the appended drawings:

fig. 1A to 1D are respectively a plan view, a side view, a bottom view and a rear view of an embodiment of a miniature type magnetic tape cassette according to the present invention;

fig. 2 is a plan view showing the miniature type magnetic tape cassette illustrated in FIG. 1 A, the upper half of which has been removed;

fig. 3 is a perspective view in section of the miniature type magnetic tape cassette according to line III-III of FIG. 1A;

fig. 4A and 4B are respectively sectional views showing in exploded form and along the lines IVA-IVA and IVB-IVB of FIG. 2 the connection device between the reel support shaft located on the receiving side and the lower half of the miniature type magnetic tape cassette;

fig. 5 is a view on a larger scale showing a braking mechanism of the coil located on the receiving side and shown in FIG. 2;

fig. 6 is a section showing the braking mechanism of FIG. 5, along line VI-VI;

fig. 7 and 8 are respectively a plan view and a bottom view of the lower half of an embodiment of a magnetic tape cassette adapter housing containing the miniature type magnetic tape cassette shown in FIG. 1A;

fig. 9 is a plan view showing how the miniature type magnetic tape cassette shown in FIGS. 1A to 1D is placed in the lower half of the cassette adapter box with magnetic tape shown in fig. 7, the strip being pulled from the miniature type magnetic tape cassette to follow a predetermined path;

fig. 10 is a plan view showing the cassette adapter box with magnetic tape when the upper half is assembled with the lower half of the adapter box when it is in the position shown in FIG. 9, to receive the miniature type magnetic tape cassette;

fig. 11 is a sectional view without the miniature type magnetic tape cassette and showing the magnetic tape cassette adapter box along the line XI-XI of FIG. 10;

fig. 12 is a plan view showing an example of a recording and / or reproducing apparatus designed exclusively for a miniature type magnetic tape cassette and operating with the miniature type magnetic tape cassette shown in FIG. 1A, the miniature type recording and / or reproducing apparatus being in the recording or reproducing position;

fig. 13 is a plan view showing an example of a standard type recording and / or reproducing apparatus operating with a magnetic tape cassette adapter housing in which is disposed a miniature type magnetic tape cassette shown in FIG. . 10, the standard type recording and / or reproducing apparatus being in the recording or reproducing position;

fig. 14 is a plan view showing another embodiment of a magnetic tape cassette according to the present invention, the upper half of which has been removed;

fig. 15 is a schematic cross section seen along line XV-XV of FIG. 14;

fig. 16 and 17 are respectively a side view and a bottom view showing the magnetic tape cassette of FIG. 14;

fig. 18 is a plan view showing the lower half of an embodiment of a magnetic tape cassette adapter housing in which the magnetic tape cassette shown in FIG. 14;

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fig. 19 is a plan view showing the magnetic tape cassette illustrated in FIG. 14 arranged inside the lower half shown in FIG. 18.

A miniature type magnetic tape cassette 10 according to the present invention has the form shown in FIGS. 1A to 1D, 2 and 3. The magnetic tape cassette 10 comprises a casing 11 whose dimensions are smaller than those of a standard type magnetic tape cassette which is loaded into a recording device and / or for reproducing standard type video signals. A cover 13 is provided on the front surface of the housing 11 so that this cover 13 can open and close freely, in order to protect a magnetic strip 12 placed inside the cassette 10.

The housing 11 consists of an upper half 14 and a lower half 15. The cover 13 is molded from a resin such as polypropylene and it is mounted on the upper housing 14. A front part 16 of the cover 13 can rotate on a hinge 17 provided in the thin and molded corner part of the cover 13. This front part 16 of the cover is biased by a leaf spring 18 in a position for closing the cover, so as to cover the front surface of the case 11. When the cassette has magnetic tape 10 is not placed in a magnetic tape cassette adapter and in a video signal recording and / or reproducing apparatus intended exclusively for the magnetic tape cassette 10 (a description of this adapter and the device will be given later), the front part 16 of the cover covers the front surface of the casing 11 of the cassette so as to protect the magnetic strip 12 which is exposed on the side of this area. In addition, a finger 19 forming an integral part of the front part 16 of the cover engages in an opening 20 of the lower half 15, thus locking the front part 16 of the cover in the closed position.

In addition, and as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, a coil 21 situated on the supply side (supply coil) and a coil 22 situated on the reception side (reception coil) are provided in parallel inside the casing 11 of the cassette. The distance D between the respective centers of the supply and reception coils 21 and 22 is shorter than the distance between the centers of the supply and reception coils of the standard type magnetic tape cassette used in the apparatus d standard recording and / or reproduction. As regards the supply reel 21, the magnetic strip 12 is wound around a hub 25 of the reel between upper 23 and lower 24 cheeks. Similarly and as regards the receiving reel 22, the strip magnetic strip 12 is wound around the hub 28 of the coil between upper 26 and lower cheeks 27. The magnetic strip 12 is drawn from the supply coil 21 and guided by respective guide fingers 29 and 30 provided on the terminal sides of left and right along the side of the front surface of the casing 11 of the cassette so as to follow a path 12A which reaches the take-up reel 2.

The supply coil 21 is arranged so that a stepped and projecting portion 24a of the lower cheek 24 is loosely housed in a hole 31 of larger diameter and provided in the lower half 15. In addition, teeth 24b are formed in a crown on the lower surface of the lower cheek 24 around its entire periphery. Teeth 32 are formed in a crown on the upper surface of the lower half 15, in positions opposite to the teeth 24b above. The supply coil 21 is biased towards the side of the lower half 15 by an arm section 33a of a leaf spring 33 mounted on the lower surface of an upper plate of the upper half 14. In the state normal, the teeth 24b therefore mesh with the teeth 32. The supply coil 21 is therefore controlled and it cannot rotate due to the above engagement of the teeth 24b and 32. Consequently, the supply coil 21 does not spin unnecessarily when the magnetic tape cassette 10 is handled or transported. The magnetic strip 12 cannot therefore become tangled or damaged because no slack is introduced into this strip 12 which is wound around the supply coil 21, the magnetic strip 12 being moreover retained and does not can be drawn unnecessarily from the supply coil 21.

An insertion section 25a of a reel drive shaft is provided on the inner side of the hub 25 of the supply reel 21, a section in which a reel drive shaft of the recording apparatus and / or reproduction is inserted. The inner diameter of the above hub of the reel is equal to the inner diameter of the hub of the supply reel of the standard type magnetic tape cassette. The insertion section 25a of the spool shaft is open on the side of the hole 31 above.

In addition, a depression 23a is formed in the central part of the side of the upper surface of the upper cheek 23 of the supply coil 21. A projection 23b is formed in the center of this depression 23a. One of the sections 33a of the leaf spring arm 33 pushes the projection 23b above in the direction of the bottom so as to urge the supply coil 21 towards the side of the lower half 15. As will be described more far away, the supply reel 21 can move up and down when loading the magnetic tape cassette 10 into the recording and / or reproducing apparatus, and the slack in the supply reel 21 is relatively important. Because the depression 23a is provided on the periphery of the projection 23b, the tip of the arm section 33a of the leaf spring 33 therefore does not establish contact with the upper cheek 23 of the supply coil 21 when this coil 21 moves up and down.

The receiving coil 22 is rotatably mounted, a fixed shaft 34 which is integral with the lower half 15 being inserted into a central hole in the hub 28 of the coil. A central projection 26a provided on the flat cheek 26 is pushed downwards by another arm section 33b of the leaf spring 33, and the take-up reel 22 is biased towards the side of the lower half 15. Because the hub 28 of the coil is not inserted on a drive shaft, the external diameter d2 of the hub 28 of the coil is smaller than the external diameter dl of the hub 25 of the supply coil 21. Thanks to this characteristic according to which the external diameter d2 of the hub 28 is smaller than the external diameter dl of the hub 25, the quantity of magnetic tape 12 which can then be placed inside the cassette 10 becomes significant in comparison with the case where the outer diameters dl and d2 of the hubs 25 and 28 are the same. Although the dimensions of the magnetic tape cassette 10 are small, a recording and reproducing operation can be performed for a relatively long period of time using the magnetic tape cassette 10 above.

The fixed shaft 34 is screwed into the lower half 15 by means of a screw 36 which is passed through its threaded part 34b, a projection 35 provided in the lower half 15 being simultaneously inserted in a groove 34a extending in diametrical direction in the lower end part of the fixed shaft 34, as shown in figs. 4A and 4B. This groove 34a and the projection 35 constitute a stop device by insertion of the projection 35 in the groove 34a when the fixed shaft 34 is mounted on the lower half 15 by means of the screw 36. The screw 36 can therefore be screwed with security in the threaded part 34b and the fixed shaft 34 can be mounted on the lower half 15 with great ease. As will be described later, the rotational force of the take-up reel 22 applies stress to the fixed shaft 34 during the recording and reproduction operations. But the fixed shaft 34 does not rotate unnecessarily due to the insertion of the projection 35 in the groove 34a which has been described above. Therefore, the screw 36 does not unscrew since the shaft 34 does not rotate, and this fixed shaft 34 is held in its initial fixed position without it becoming unstable. The take-up reel 22 is therefore always kept in a predetermined position and it rotates stably. The magnetic strip 12 can therefore be wound regularly on the receiving coil 22 without causing damage to this strip 12, and the receiving coil 22 is stably engaged with a drive force transmission mechanism which will be described below.

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In addition, a toothing 27a is formed on the outer periphery of the lower cheek 27 of the take-up reel 22. As shown in FIGS. 1B, 1C, 2 and 3, part of the toothing 27a is exposed at the level of a window 37 cut out in a location situated between the lateral surface and the lower surface of the lower half 15. This window 37 has a semi-shaped circular on the side of the lower surface of the lower half 15.

In addition, as regards the receiving coil 22, a braking mechanism is shown, shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. A braking member 38 is supported by pins 39a and 39b integral with the lower half 15 and inserted in a pair of holes provided in the braking member 38, so as to be able to slide freely in the directions towards the up and down. This braking member 38 is biased downward against the lower half by helical springs 40a and 40b arranged around the periphery of the corresponding axes 39a and 39b to prevent the braking member 38 from sliding upwards. When the braking member 38 is biased by the coil springs 40a and 40b and is in the lowered position, a main part 38a of the body of the braking member 38 closes a longitudinal hole 45 provided in the lower half 15 for the purpose of positioning which will be described later. In addition, a finger section 38b is at the same height position as the lower cheek 27 and is inserted between adjacent teeth of the toothing 27a above. The receiving coil 22 is thus locked and cannot rotate, and no slack is introduced into the magnetic strip 12 which is wound on the receiving coil 22. Furthermore, the peripheral part of the lower cheek 27 where is formed the teeth 27a is located at a level below that of the cheek surface on its internal peripheral side.

The braking member 38 above moves upwards, as will be described later, and when it is in this raised state, the finger section 8b emerges from the toothing 27a and there is therefore no longer for locking the receiving coil 22. Because the braking member 38 operates by moving parallel to the axis of the receiving coil 22, the braking member 38 does not strike the magnetic strip 12 which is wrapped around the take-up reel 22, and cause damage to it. The construction of the braking mechanism is therefore simple. In addition, this braking mechanism does not take up much space and it makes it possible to reduce the dimensions of the magnetic tape cassette 10. In addition, because the braking mechanism which comprises the braking member 38 is placed in the corner of the casing 11 of the cassette, it does not occupy much additional space. This is also an advantage from the point of view of reducing the dimensions of the magnetic tape cassette.

Openings 41 and 42 intended to allow loading fingers to pass and an opening intended to allow a capstan to pass are provided respectively in the bottom of the magnetic tape cassette 10 on the side of the cover 13. In addition, a positioning hole 44 and the longitudinal positioning hole 45 are provided respectively on the bottom surface of the magnetic tape cassette 10, on the left and right sides which are close to the rear side. The hole 44 and the longitudinal hole 45 are formed respectively in depressions 46 and 47. In addition, depressions 48 and 49 are respectively formed in the lower surface of the magnetic tape cassette 10 on the left and right sides of the side. cover 13.

Depressions 50 and 51 are formed on the left and right end sides of the magnetic tape cassette 10 shown in FIG. 1 A, from a substantially central position and up to the rear surface part, along the depth direction of the magnetic tape cassette 10.

Projections 52 and 53 integral with the lower half 15 are housed in depressions (not shown) provided on the lower side of the upper half 14 to position the upper and lower halves 14 and 15 of the magnetic tape cassette 10, and these upper and lower halves 14 and 15 are connected to each other by means of screws 54 and 55.

Figs. 7 to 11 show respectively a magnetic tape cassette adapter box 60 used in the case where the magnetic tape cassette 10 whose constitution is that described above is loaded into a recording and / or reproducing apparatus of standard type .

The magnetic tape cassette adapter housing 60 includes a portion 61 in which the magnetic tape cassette 10 above is disposed, its shape and external dimensions being substantially the same as that of a standard type magnetic tape cassette.

The above magnetic tape cassette adapter housing 60 consists of a lower half 62 and an upper half 63. The upper half 63 is fixed to the lower half 62 by screws once the magnetic tape cassette 10 has been disposed inside the part 61 of the lower half 62.

The part 61 above which is intended to receive the magnetic tape cassette 10 above comprises an opening in a predetermined location of the lower part 62. A rotation transmission mechanism 84 is provided in a location adjacent to the part 61 above in which the cassette is placed. When the lower half 62 is placed on top of a standard type magnetic tape cassette for comparison, the supply reel 21 of the magnetic tape cassette 10 which is disposed inside the part 61 is then in a position corresponding to the position of the supply reel of a standard type magnetic tape cassette. In addition, a pinion 64 of the rotation transmission mechanism 84 is mounted in a position corresponding to the position of the take-up reel of a standard type magnetic tape cassette.

The part 61 in which the cassette is placed consists of an opening 65 having a shape substantially identical to that of the magnetic tape cassette 10 shown in plan in FIG. 1A, a wall section 66 surrounding three sides of the opening 65, while projections 67, 68, 69 and 70 pass through the opening 65 in locations at the bottom of the lower half 62. These projections are provided to center the magnetic tape cassette 10 when it is put in place. Axes 71 and 72 respectively form an integral part of the projections 67 and 68 in order to center the magnetic tape cassette 10.

The gear element 64 is rotatably mounted in a position facing a hole 73 made in the lower half 62, as shown in Figs. 8 and 11. An insertion section 64a of the spool drive shaft is provided in the inner part of the gear element 64. In addition, a toothing 64b is provided on the outer periphery of the element of gear 64. A pinion 74 of small diameter meshes with the toothing 64b. This pinion 74 is supported axially by a shaft 75 on the lower half 62, and a part of the pinion 74 projects into the part 61 where the cassette is housed.

As with the standard type magnetic tape cassette, openings 76 and 77 where loading fingers are inserted, and an opening 78 for inserting the capstan, are respectively provided on the side of the front surface of the lower half. 62.

In addition, guide fingers 80 and 81 are fixed respectively to the end of the opening 76 above and to the end of the opening 78, in the lower half 62. In addition, a guide finger 82 is provided in the lower half 62 in a position which is opposite to the guide finger 30. As will be described later, the guide fingers 80 and 81 guide the magnetic strip 12 so that it follows a path 12B along the front surface of the magnetic tape cassette adapter housing 60.

As shown in fig. 10, the upper half 63 comprises a U-shaped cutout 85. Inwardly projecting parts 87 and 86 are formed respectively on the right and left sides of the innermost part of the cutout 85.

We will now describe the case where the magnetic tape cassette 10 is loaded independently in a recording device.

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recording and / or reproduction designed exclusively for this magnetic tape cassette 10, the type of which is different from that of a standard type recording and / or reproducing apparatus, such as a recording and / or compact type reproduction device and smaller than the standard type recording and / or reproducing apparatus for example, with reference to FIG. 12.

Fig. 12 shows a recording and / or reproducing apparatus 100 of compact type. The width and depth of this compact type recording and / or reproducing apparatus 100 are smaller than that of the standard type recording and / or reproducing apparatus 120 shown in FIG. 13, the dimensions of the compact type recording and / or reproducing apparatus 100 being reduced as a whole.

A supply reel drive shaft 101 is provided in a portion of the compact type recording and / or reproducing apparatus 100 above where the cassette is loaded, but no provision is made for take-up reel drive shaft. When a magnetic tape cassette 10 is loaded into a compact type recording and / or reproducing apparatus 100, the supply reel 21 is placed on the drive shaft 101 which is intended for it in a position where the hole 44 and the longitudinal hole 45 are arranged above studs 102 and 103. Furthermore, a loading finger 104 and a tensioning finger 105 penetrate a certain distance into the opening 41, while a loading finger 106 and a capstan 107 respectively penetrate a certain distance into the opening 42.

In the above loaded state, the supply reel 21 is pushed up as shown in FIG. 3. As a result, the teeth 24b disengage from the teeth 32 and the supply spool 21 can rotate freely. In addition, the braking member 38 is pushed up against the forces exerted by the springs 40a and 40b by the stud 103 which is inserted in the longitudinal hole 45. The finger section 38b lifts and its level is then different from that of the toothing 27a, so as to disengage from this toothing 27a. As a result, the take-up spool 22 is also released from its locked state and can rotate freely.

When the operating mode of the recording and / or reproducing apparatus is set to that of the reproduction, the fingers 104, 105 and 106 above come to intercept and engage the magnetic tape 12 to pull it from the casstte and they move respectively to the positions indicated in solid lines in FIG. 12. As a result, the magnetic strip 12 is pulled out of the cassette 10 and comes into contact with a full-width erasing head 108. Furthermore, the magnetic strip 12 comes into contact with a guide drum 109 provided with video heads rotating on a predetermined angular section, and it also comes into contact with an audio control head 110. The magnetic strip 12 is thus thus arranged along a predetermined path. During recording and reproduction, the magnetic tape 12 is driven by being pinched between the capstan 107 and a pinch roller 111. In addition, a drive pinion 112 which is rotated by a reel drive motor (not shown) meshes with the toothing 27a of the take-up reel 22, and this take-up reel 22 is therefore rotated in the winding direction of the magnetic strip.

The full-width erasing head 108, the audio control head 110 and the guide drum 109 are made to the same standards as the corresponding heads and guide drum of a recording and / or reproducing apparatus. standard type which will be described below. A signal is therefore recorded on the magnetic tape 12 and reproduced therefrom, according to a pattern and a tape format which are identical to those obtained by means of a standard type recording and / or reproducing apparatus. .

A description will now be made of the case where the above magnetic tape cassette 10 is used by loading it into a standard type recording and / or reproducing apparatus, with reference to FIG. 13.

In this case, the magnetic tape cassette 10 is disposed in a magnetic tape cassette adapter housing 60 so as to form the predetermined tape path described above inside the magnetic tape cassette adapter housing 60. This magnetic tape cassette adapter housing 60 in which the magnetic tape cassette 10 is placed is loaded into the recording and / or reproducing apparatus as in the case of a standard type magnetic tape cassette.

To place the magnetic tape cassette 10 in the magnetic tape cassette adapter housing 60, first open the front part 16 of the cover of the magnetic tape cassette 10, as indicated by the dashed lines in FIG. 1B. Then the magnetic strip 12 is pulled from the cassette 10 over a predetermined length. In this state, the receiving coil 22 is blocked and does not rotate. However, the supply coil 21 can be rotated by passing the teeth 24b above the teeth 32 against the force exerted by the leaf spring 33. It is therefore possible to pull the magnetic strip 12 from the coil supply 21. If the supply coil 21 does not rotate smoothly, the magnetic strip 12 can be pulled by pushing the supply coil 21 upwards with your finger so as to release the teeth from the supply coil 21 with the teeth 32.

In the above state which is shown in fig. 9, the magnetic tape cassette 10 is placed in the part 61 of the upper half 62 of the housing, and the magnetic tape 12 which has been pulled outside is passed around the guide fingers 80, 81 and 82 so let it be guided by these fingers. The magnetic strip 12 is therefore specially guided by the guide fingers 80 and 81 which are shown in particular in FIG. 9, and it follows the path 12B which passes in front of the front surface of the openings 76, 77 and 78, as in the case of a standard type magnetic tape cassette. The upper half 63 is then placed on the lower half 62, as shown in FIG. 10, and these upper and lower halves 62 and 63 are connected to each other by means of screws 88 to 91. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the magnetic tape cassette adapter box 60 therefore contains the magnetic tape cassette 10,

while the magnetic tape 12 is pulled outside the magnetic tape cassette 10 and is guided along the predetermined path 12B.

A description will now be given of the operation of each of the parts when the magnetic tape cassette 10 is placed inside the magnetic tape cassette adapter housing 60.

The magnetic tape cassette 10 is placed from above and disposed inside the part 61 of the adapter box. In this state, the depressions 46 to 49 provided in the bottom of the magnetic tape cassette 10 respectively establish contact with the projections 67 to 70 of the lower half 62. The peripheral side walls of the magnetic tape cassette 10 face the wall section 66 of the lower half 62. In addition, the hole 44 and the longitudinal hole 45 provided in the lower half 15 of the magnetic tape cassette 10 are arranged above studs 71 and 72 respectively so as to center the magnetic tape cassette 10 inside the part 61 of the adapter box. The stud 72 in particular crosses the longitudinal hole 45 over a certain distance, as shown in FIG. 6, so as to push the braking member 38 upwards against the forces exerted by the helical springs 40a and 40b. In other words, the braking member 38 is pushed upwards in the axial direction of the take-up reel 22. Therefore, and as in the case described above, the finger section 38b of the braking member 38 emerges from the toothing 27a in the upward direction, and releases the receiving coil 22 which was blocked. At the same time, the pinion 74 penetrates a certain distance inside the cut window 37 from below to mesh with the teeth 27a. The pinion 74 can be formed so as to undergo a slight movement so as to come without difficulty meshing with the teeth 27a. The cover 13 is in contact with a rib section 83 formed along the openings 76 and 77

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of the lower half 62, and it is held in a position which closes said openings.

The upper half 63 of the magnetic tape cassette adapter housing 60 is mounted on the lower half 62 so that the projecting sections 86 and 87 directed inwards cooperate respectively with the depressions 50 and 51 provided on the upper surface of the magnetic tape cassette 10. The magnetic tape cassette 10 is therefore pushed by the projections 67 to 70 of the lower half 62 and by the projections 86 and 87 oriented towards the inside of the upper half 63. The magnetic tape cassette 10 is thus thus centered in the direction of its thickness, which means that it cannot slide out of the part 61 in which it is housed. In addition, the magnetic tape cassette 10 is arranged in the part 61 intended to receive it in a position in which the upper surface and the bottom surface of the cassette 10 are situated substantially in the same planes as the upper surface and the surface. bottom of the magnetic tape cassette adapter box 60.

Fig. 13 shows a standard type recording and / or reproducing apparatus 120. The above magnetic tape cassette adapter box 60 in which the magnetic tape cassette 10 is placed is loaded into the recording apparatus and / or standard type reproduction 120 in the same manner as in the case of loading a standard type magnetic tape cassette. In other words, when the above magnetic tape cassette adapter case 60 is loaded into the standard type recording and / or reproducing apparatus 120, a supply reel drive shaft 121 s inserts into the insertion section 25a of the drive shaft of the supply reel 21, and a take-up reel drive shaft 122 inserts into the insertion section 64a of the feed shaft reel drive of a gear element 64 disposed in the magnetic tape cassette adapter housing 60. In addition, loading fingers 123 and 124 and a capstan 125 penetrate a certain distance into the openings 76, 77 and 78 at the rear of the strip 12B path (see the explanations relating to Figs. 7 and 9). In addition, and in the above state of charge, as in the case of a compact type recording and / or reproducing apparatus 100, the supply reel 21 is pushed upwards, as shown in fig. 3. The blocking of the supply coil 21 is therefore released and this supply coil 21 can rotate freely. As described above, the take-up reel 22 is unlocked and is already in the state where it can rotate freely, the magnetic tape cassette 10 being disposed in the magnetic tape cassette adapter housing 60.

During a magnetic tape loading operation, the loading fingers 123 and 124 above intercept and engage the magnetic tape 12 respectively, then pull the magnetic tape 12 out of the cassette as the loading fingers 123 and 124 move away from the openings 76 and 77 and reach the positions indicated in solid lines in FIG. 13. The magnetic tape 12 which is pulled out of the magnetic tape cassette adapter housing 60 therefore comes into contact with the full-width erasing head 126, and in contact with a guide drum 127 provided with rotating video heads on a predetermined angular section. The magnetic strip 12 then establishes contact with an audio control head 128. The magnetic strip 12 above is therefore loaded along a predetermined path.

During a recording and reproducing operation, the magnetic tape 12 is entrained by being pinched between a capstan 129 and a pinch roller 125. In addition, the gear element 64 mounted in the cassette adapter box to magnetic strip 60 is driven in rotation clockwise by the take-up reel drive shaft 122. This rotation of the gear element 64 is transmitted to the take-up reel 22 by the pinion 74, and the magnetic strip 12 is driven in the direction of its winding on the take-up reel. The magnetic strip 12 that the capstan 129 advances is therefore wound on the receiving reel 22. The magnetic strip 12 is guided by the guide fingers 81 and 82 inside the cassette to magnetic strip adapter box 60.

That the above magnetic tape cassette 10 is loaded independently into the compact type recording and / or reproducing apparatus 100, or that this magnetic tape cassette 10 is loaded into a recording and / or reproducing apparatus 100 standard type reproduction 120 while it is placed in the magnetic tape cassette adapter box 60, the supply reel 21 is arranged above the supply reel drive shaft 101 (121) provided in the recording and / or reproducing apparatus, and this supply coil 21 is driven directly. The precision of the rotation of the feed reel 21 is therefore high and a very precise tape feed can be obtained. In addition, since the diameter d1 of the hub 25 of the feed reel 21 is large, the difference between the maximum and minimum diameters of the tape roll wound on the feed reel 21 above is relatively small. The range of variations in the speed of rotation of the supply reel 21 from the start to the end of the recording and reproducing operation is therefore small, and the precision of the movement of the tape is therefore improved.

Furthermore, with regard to the take-up reel 22, this is not arranged above the take-up reel drive shaft as well in the case where the magnetic tape cassette 10 above is loaded independently in a compact type recording and / or reproducing apparatus 100 than in that in which it is loaded in a standard type recording and / or reproducing apparatus 120, while it is placed in a case cassette adapter to magnetic tape 60. For a given size of the cassette, it is therefore possible to increase the quantity of tape that can be placed inside, or else it is possible to reduce the dimensions of the casing 11 of the cassette for a specified amount of tape. The take-up reel 22 above is driven indirectly on the side of the casing 11 of the cassette via the gear element 64 and the pinion 74. However, since there are no strict requirements in as regards the precision of the rotation of the receiving coil 22, this arrangement does not present any drawback. Furthermore, since the take-up reel 22 turns without any play around the fixed shaft 34, there is no need for additional space around the reel, and this facilitates the reduction of the dimensions of the magnetic tape cassette.

When the magnetic tape cassette 10 is removed from the part of the compact type recording and / or reproducing apparatus 100 in which it is disposed, the supply reel 21 and the braking member 38 move respectively down. The supply coil 21 and the reception coil 22 are therefore both automatically blocked and cannot rotate. Furthermore, when the magnetic tape cassette 10 is removed from the magnetic tape cassette adapter housing 60, when this housing 60 has been removed from the part of the standard type recording and / or reproducing apparatus 120 in which it is housed, the braking member 38 moves in the same way downwards and blocks the receiving coil 22.

Another embodiment of a magnetic tape cassette will now be described, with reference to FIGS. 14 to 17. In fig. 14 to 17, the parts which are the same as the corresponding parts of FIGS. 1B, 1C, 2 and 3 are designated by the same references, and no description will be made of them.

The magnetic tape cassette 140 is the same as the magnetic tape cassette 10 described above, except for the construction of the periphery of the lower cheek of the take-up reel 141.

The lower cheek 142 of the receiving coil 141 has a flat surface going from its internal periphery to its outermost periphery, and it includes a toothing 142a on its external peripheral surface. This toothing 142a is in engagement with the braking member 38 so as to lock the take-up reel.

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tion 141 and to prevent it from rotating, as in the case of the magnetic tape cassette 10 above.

A toothing 142b is provided on the lower surface of the lower cheek 142. The diameter d3 of this toothing 142b is less than the diameter of the lower cheek 142 and substantially equal to the diameter of the hub 28 of the coil. This diameter d3 is smaller than the diameter of the corresponding toothing 27a of the magnetic tape cassette shown in FIG. 3, and its value is for example approximately half the diameter of said toothing 27a.

A pinion 143 axially supported on an axis 144 is mounted on the lower half 15. This pinion 143 is arranged and mounted in a certain position on the lower side of the lower cheek 142. One side of the pinion 143 meshes with the toothing 142b below. above, while the other side is exposed by the window 37 cut in the lower half 15, in a diametrical direction of the pinion 143. The diameter of this pinion 143 is substantially equal to the diameter of the toothing 142b above.

The magnetic tape cassette 140, the constitution of which has just been described, is disposed inside the magnetic tape cassette adapter housing, the internal constitution of which is different from that of the magnetic tape cassette adapter housing shown in FIG. fig. 10. Fig. 18 shows the lower half 150 of this cassette adapter to magnetic tape. The lower half 150 is identical to the lower half 62 shown in FIG. 7, with the exception of the rotation transmission mechanism 151. A gear element 152 forming part of the rotation transmission mechanism 151 above comprises a reel insertion hole 152a into which the shaft d drive of the receiving coil, in its internal part, and a toothing I52b formed on its peripheral surface. A pinion 153 is supported axially on a pin 154 mounted on the lower half, the pinion 153 meshing with the toothing 152b above and with the pinion 74.

The magnetic tape cassette 140 is disposed within a magnetic tape cassette adapter housing in a similar manner to that of the magnetic tape cassette 10 above. Fig. 19 shows the arrangement of the elements when the magnetic tape cassette 140 is housed in the lower half 150 of the magnetic tape cassette adapter housing. The magnetic tape cassette 140 is centered and housed in the magnetic tape cassette adapter housing so that the pinion 143 meshes with the pinion 74. As shown in FIG. 13, the magnetic tape cassette adapter housing in which the magnetic tape cassette 140 is loaded is loaded into the standard type recording and / or reproducing apparatus 120. When recording or reproducing is carried out, the gear element 152 engages the take-up reel shaft 122 (see fig. 11) and rotates clockwise.

This rotation of the gear element 152 is transmitted to the toothing 142b by means of the pinions 153, 74 and 143. The take-up reel 141 therefore rotates clockwise so as to wind the strip. magnetic 12 around the hub 28 of the coil. The hub 28 of the coil must then be rotated at a predetermined speed so that there is no slack in the magnetic strip 12 which is wound on it from the supply coil. On the other hand, since the diameter d2 of the hub 28 of the receiving coil 141 above is small, the predetermined speed of rotation mentioned above must be high. However, in the present embodiment of the invention, the diameter d3 of the toothing 142b of the receiving coil 141 is small. As a result, the pinions 153,

74 and 143 of small diameter which are necessary to rotate the take-up reel 141 at the predetermined rotational speed mentioned above should only be rotated at considerably lower rotational speeds than when it is the case of the first embodiment of the invention. The rotation transmission mechanism can therefore operate stably and we are assured of a long service life of the system.

In addition, because the diameter d3 of the toothing 142b of the take-up reel 141 is small, the take-up reel 141 can rotate at a high speed without subjecting the rotation transmission mechanism to excessive stress. It is therefore possible to further reduce the diameter of the hub 28 of the receiving coil 141, and therefore the magnetic tape cassette 140 can contain larger quantities of magnetic tape wound on the coils.

In addition, the pinion 153 which cooperates with the pinion 143 mounted inside the magnetic tape cassette 140 is provided in the magnetic tape cassette adapter housing. The take-up reel 141 therefore rotates in the same direction as the shaft 122 of the take-up reel and the take-up reel 141 winds the magnetic tape in a similar way to that of the take-up reel of the magnetic tape cassette. standard type. This is also true for the magnetic tape cassette 10 described above.

In the case where the magnetic tape cassette 140 is loaded into a compact type recording and / or reproducing apparatus 100, the pinion 143 meshes with the driving pinion 112 of the recording and / or compact type reproduction 100. In this case, the drive pinion 112 rotates in the opposite direction to that in which it rotates when the compact type recording and / or reproducing apparatus 100 is loaded with a tape cassette 10. However, the take-up reel 141 is rotated in a clockwise direction by the pinion 143, as in the case where the cassette tape adapter box is used.

In each of the embodiments of the invention indicated above, instead of providing a toothing on the peripheral lateral surface of the lower cheek 27 of the take-up reel 22 which is mounted in the magnetic tape cassette 10, and in using a rotation transmission pulley instead of the pinion 143 in the magnetic tape cassette 140, a rubber roller can be used in the rotation transmission mechanism mounted in the magnetic tape cassette adapter boxes according to the first and second The above embodiments of the invention. In this case, the rotation is transmitted to the take-up reel 22 which is contained in the magnetic tape cassette 10, and to the rotation transmission pulley which is mounted in the magnetic tape cassette 140, using the friction between these elements.

In addition, the teeth provided on the periphery of the lower cheek of the take-up reel 22 mounted in the magnetic tape cassette 10 can be of the conical type. In this case, a bevel gear mounted on a horizontal shaft belonging to the adapter box 60 or on the side of the device passes through an opening provided on the side of the lower surface of the magnetic tape cassette of the window 37 cut in the magnetic tape cassette 10. The bevel gear then meshes with the bevel gear above of the lower cheek, the bevel gear being arranged perpendicular to the lower cheek 27.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described and various variants and modifications can be made to it without departing from its scope.

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8 sheets of drawings

Claims (22)

646,265 2 1. Magnetic tape cassette for loading into a recording and / or reproducing apparatus (100,120) comprising a reel drive mechanism comprising at least one reel drive shaft (101,121), said tape cassette magnetic comprising a cassette case (11), smaller than the standard type cassette, a reel located on the supply side (21) and a reel (22,141) located on the receiving side mounted in said cassette case for winding a magnetic tape, a first reel (21) which is part of said reels located respectively on the supply side and on the receiving side being formed so that the reel drive shaft (101,121) of said recording and / or reproducing apparatus is inserted in said reel from below it to engage with it when said magnetic tape cassette is loaded into said recording and / or reproducing apparatus, and is driven by a he central part of said coil, characterized in that the other coil (22, 141) forming part of said coils situated respectively on the supply side and on the reception side is constituted so as to be driven in rotation by a rotation transmission mechanism ( 84,112,143,151) cooperating with a part which is different from its central part. 2. Magnetic tape cassette according to claim 1, characterized in that said other reel (22, 141) is rotated by the side and from the outside of said cassette housing. 3. Magnetic tape cassette according to claim 1, characterized in that said other reel (22,141) is rotated by the side and from the outside of said other reel. 4. Magnetic tape cassette according to claim 1, characterized in that said other reel (22,141) is constituted so as to rotate around a fixed shaft (34) provided inside said cassette case. 5. A magnetic tape cassette according to claim 1, characterized in that said first reel is the reel (21) located on the supply side, and in that said other reel is the reel (22, 141) located on the receiving side. 6. A magnetic tape cassette according to claim 1, characterized in that said other reel (22, 141) consists of a hub (28) and a cheek (27,142) having respectively smaller diameters than those of the hub (25) and of a cheek (24) of said first coil (21). 7. A magnetic tape cassette according to claim 1, characterized in that said other reel (22) comprises a cheek (27) which is rotated by its external peripheral part (27a) and in that the cassette housing comprises a opening (37) at a location corresponding to said coil cheek. 8. A magnetic tape cassette according to claim 7, characterized in that said reel cheek (27) comprises a toothing (27a) driven in rotation and provided on its external peripheral part. 9. A magnetic tape cassette according to claim 1, characterized in that said other reel (22) comprises an upper cheek (26) and a lower cheek (27), and in that said lower cheek (27) is constructed so that the rotation is transmitted to its external peripheral part (27a). 10. A magnetic tape cassette according to claim 1, characterized in that there is further provided a braking member (38) establishing contact with a cheek (27,142) of said other coil (22,141) to brake the rotation of said other coil, and biasing means (40a, 40b) which bias the braking member downward, and in that the braking member and the biasing means are provided inside the cassette casing, and in that the braking member is moved upward to separate from the part of the peripheral rim of said coil cheek so as to release the braking. 11. A magnetic tape cassette according to claim 10, characterized in that the cheek (27, 142) of said other reel comprises a toothing (27a, 142a) for driving it in rotation and provided on its external peripheral part, and in that said braking member (38) brakes with respect to this other coil by meshing with said toothing. 12. Magnetic tape cassette according to claim 10, characterized in that the cassette casing (11) comprises a hole (45) at a location on its lower surface which corresponds to the braking member (38), and in that that said braking member (38) is moved upward by a stud-shaped member (72,103) which passes through said hole, against the biasing force exerted by the biasing means (40a, 40b) of so as to release the braking. 13. A magnetic tape cassette according to claim 12, intended to be loaded in a recording and / or reproduction apparatus designed exclusively for this cassette, this apparatus comprising a loading part in which said magnetic tape cassette is loaded, this loading part being provided with said stud-shaped member (103), characterized in that the braking member (38) is raised by the stud-shaped member which passes through said hole (45) in the cassette case said magnetic tape cassette is loaded into the recording apparatus. 14. A magnetic tape cassette according to claim 12, intended to be loaded into a recording and / or reproducing apparatus of standard type (120), characterized in that the magnetic tape cassette (10,140) is arranged so as to be capable of being loaded into the recording and / or reproducing apparatus while it is housed in a loading part (61) of an adapter box (60) having the same external shape and the same dimensions as the cassettes of standard type. 15. A magnetic tape cassette according to claim 14, characterized in that the loading part (61) of the adapter box (60) is provided with another stud-shaped member (71) so as to form a pair with said member in the form of a stud, in that the cassette housing (11) is further provided with another hole (44) on its lower surface to form a pair with said hole, and in that said pair of members in form of studs (72, 71) is inserted into said pair of holes (45, 44) to position the cassette case inside the part (61) which is reserved for it when the cassette case is inserted in this part reserved for him. 16. Magnetic tape cassette according to claim 15, characterized in that the part (61) in which is housed said magnetic tape cassette adapter housing is further provided with projections (67-70) or depressions intended for positioning the cassette case, and in that the cassette case is further provided with depressions (46-49) or projections which conjugate with the projections or depressions of the cassette adapter housing with magnetic tape. 17. Magnetic tape cassette according to claim 1, characterized in that said first reel (21) can be moved up and down and in that it is constituted so that it is lifted when it is inserted on the reel drive shaft (101,121), the magnetic tape cassette further comprising biasing means (33) for biasing the first coil towards the bottom, when said first coil is lowered by the biasing means and prevented from rotating when a bottom surface of a cheek (24) of the spool is in contact with the cassette case. 18. Magnetic tape cassette according to claim 17, characterized in that the two said coils (21,22,141) respectively comprise a projecting part (23b, 26a) on a central part of their upper surface, the biasing means consisting of a leaf spring (33) which makes contact with the central projecting parts of the two coils at locations (33a, 33b) in the vicinity of their two ends so as to urge the two coils downwards, and in that the first coil (21) is provided with a depression (23a) on an external periphery of its central projecting part (23b). 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 3 646,265 19. A magnetic tape cassette according to claim 17, characterized in that the teeth (24b) are provided on the bottom surface of the cheek (24) of said first reel (21), the cassette casing (11) being provided teeth (32) which mesh with the teeth of said coil cheek on a surface corresponding to said coil cheek, and in that the rotation of said coil cheek is hampered by engagement by engagement of the cheek teeth of said first coil, which is biased downward by biasing means, with the teeth of the cassette case. 20. A magnetic tape cassette according to claim 4, characterized in that the fixed shaft (34) comprises a non-circular depression (34a) at its lower end, the cassette casing comprises a non-circular projection (35) provided on a part of the fixed shaft for fixing in, and engaging with, said non-circular depression, and in that the fixed shaft is fixed to the cassette housing by a screw (36) while the non-circular depression fits on the non-circular projection. 21. A magnetic tape cassette according to claim 1, characterized in that there is further provided a toothed part (142b) whose diameter is less than that of the cheek (142) of said other coil (141) and rotates by integral with the latter, and a pinion (143) mounted in the cassette case and meshing with said toothed part, this pinion being rotated from the outside of the cassette case. 22. Magnetic tape cassette according to claim 21, characterized in that the diameters of the toothed part (142b) and of the pinion (143) are chosen respectively so as to be of substantially equal values.