JP2001266538A - Magnetic tape cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a magnetic tape cassette that malfunction can be reduced in the manufacturing process, since erroneous information is printed on cassette cases to result in that the productivity is lowered because their appearances are nearly the same even when they have tape reels different in recordable times. SOLUTION: The magnetic tape cassette displays prescribed information on the flange 11 of the tape reel 10, and the display can be visually recognized through the tape cassette.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a magnetic tape cassette, and more particularly, to a magnetic tape cassette characterized by a cassette case and a tape reel flange.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, magnetic tape cassettes are frequently used as recording media. There are various types of magnetic tape cassettes, such as audio, video, and computer. Among these forms, there are various types such as an analog type and a digital type. For example, the digital type includes a DAT (digital audio tape) cassette and a DVC (digital video cassette). The video magnetic tape cassette includes a VHS type and a β type. The basic configuration is almost the same, and a tape reel wound with a magnetic tape is housed in a cassette case.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a VHS type magnetic tape cassette which is an example of a video magnetic tape cassette. The magnetic tape cassette 40 includes an upper cassette half 41 and a lower cassette half 42 having a configuration in which a peripheral wall is erected on a flat plate. The upper cassette half 41 is provided with a window 46 so that the winding amount of the magnetic tape T wound on the tape reel 50 can be checked. The window 46 is configured by attaching a transparent window member so as to close a window opening provided in the upper cassette half 41. In the lower cassette half 42, a pair of tape reels 50 on which the magnetic tape T is wound are rotatably supported. The tape reel 50
The magnetic tape T has a hub 53 wound around its outer peripheral surface, and an upper flange 51 and a lower flange 52 attached to the hub 53 so as to sandwich the hub 53. The tape reel 50 is rotatably mounted on the lower cassette half 42 such that the magnetic tape T is bridged between a pair of tape guides 44 provided at the front end of the lower cassette half 42.

[0004] A cassette case is formed by combining the lower cassette half 42 and the upper cassette half 41. A magnetic tape T is exposed at the front end of the cassette case, and a guard panel 45 serving as a lid member is rotatably attached to the cassette case so as to cover the front surface of the magnetic tape T.

[0005] As described above, there are various types of magnetic tape cassettes having different forms and types, but there are also various types of magnetic tape cassettes having different types of magnetic tapes, recordable times, and the like. . For example, VHS type magnetic tape cassettes include those having a recordable time of 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 120 minutes, and 160 minutes. The recordable time is determined by the winding amount of the magnetic tape wound around the outer peripheral surface of the hub of the tape reel. The larger the winding amount of the magnetic tape, the longer the recordable time, but the appearance of the tape reel itself is almost the same. Magnetic tape cassettes with different recordable times are manufactured, for example, by incorporating tape reels with different winding amounts of magnetic tape in the same cassette case.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the VHS type magnetic tape cassette when assembly is completed. As shown in the figure, the magnetic tape cassette 40 includes an upper cassette half 41.
A label 60 indicating the recordable time, the type of cassette, and the like was affixed to the center of the flat plate. In addition, as shown in FIG. 4B, the recordable time and the like are printed on the side wall of the cassette case 40a.

[0007]

For example, in a process of manufacturing magnetic tape cassettes having different recordable times, erroneous information may be printed after a tape reel is stored in a cassette case 40a. That is, after a tape reel having a predetermined recordable time (for example, T-120) is stored in the cassette case 40a, an incorrect recordable time (for example, T-16) is stored in the cassette case 40a.
0) was printed. As described above, such errors have occurred because even tape reels having different recordable times have almost the same appearance. Magnetic tape cassettes with incorrect information printed on the cassette case are discarded, which has reduced productivity.

The present invention has been made in view of the above background, and an object of the present invention is to provide a magnetic tape cassette that can reduce erroneous operations in a manufacturing process.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a magnetic tape having a hub on which a magnetic tape is wound, a flange connected to the hub, and a tape reel housed in a cassette case. In the cassette, predetermined information is displayed on the flange, and the cassette case is transparent so that the information on the flange can be seen.

When the tape reel has the above-described structure, information displayed on a flange of the tape reel can be confirmed through a window or the like. Therefore, when printing magnetic tape information on the cassette case, erroneous information is not printed, and when a label displaying the magnetic tape information is stuck on the cassette case, an erroneous label is stuck. There is no. In recent years, housings of electronic devices and the like have been made transparent, that is, so-called skeletons, mainly for the purpose of improving design. When the cassette case or the like of the magnetic tape cassette is made transparent, the flange of the tape reel housed in the cassette case can be seen from outside the cassette case. By combining the tape reel with a transparent cassette case, information on the magnetic tape displayed on the flange of the tape reel can be confirmed from the outside. Therefore, the magnetic tape information and the like can be confirmed after the assembly of the magnetic tape cassette is completed, so that erroneous operations in the manufacturing process can be further reduced, and productivity can be improved.

Examples of the predetermined information include a recordable and reproducible time of the magnetic tape, a type of the magnetic tape, an inventory management code, a barcode, and a mark such as a logo. The predetermined information can be provided on the flange by stamping, molding with a mold, printing, pasting, transfer, or the like. The predetermined information can be provided on the front surface of the flange facing the cassette case, but may be provided on the back surface of the flange if the flange is transparent. Note that “transparent” in the present specification means that the inside of the magnetic tape cassette is visible, and may be achromatic or chromatic.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the embodiments described below, the members and the like having the same configurations and operations as the members and the like already described are denoted by the same reference numerals or corresponding reference numerals in the drawings to simplify or omit the description.

FIG. 1 shows a tape reel 10 housed in a magnetic tape cassette according to an embodiment of the present invention. The tape reel 10 includes a disk-shaped upper flange 11 and a lower flange 21. A hub 22 protrudes from the lower flange 21. The hub 22 includes a cylindrical peripheral wall portion 22a around which the magnetic tape is wound, and a substantially cylindrical core portion 22b disposed inside the peripheral wall portion 22a. A column-shaped pivot 26 protrudes from the center of the upper end surface of the core portion 22b. A plurality of welding bosses 25 are provided around the pivot 26. The pivot hole 1 is formed in the disc-shaped upper flange 11 at a position corresponding to the pivot 26 and the welding boss 25 of the hub 22.
6 and a boss hole 15 are provided.

When the upper flange 11 is placed on the upper surface of the hub 22, the pivot 26 and the welding boss 25 corresponding to the pivot hole 16 and the boss hole 15 are fitted. When the welding boss 25 is welded by a welding horn (not shown), the upper flange 11 is fixed to the hub 25, and the tape reel 10 is formed. The upper flange 11 is made of a transparent resin.

Here, as an example of the predetermined information, "T-120", "VH"
The letter "S" is printed. The letter “T-120” is printed on the outer surface 23 of the lower flange 21.
The display "T-120" indicates that the recordable time of the magnetic tape cassette in which the tape reel 10 is stored is 120 minutes. The indication "VHS" indicates that the magnetic tape cassette containing the tape reel is a magnetic tape cassette for the VHS system.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a magnetic tape cassette 30 according to an embodiment of the present invention in which the tape reel 10 shown in FIG. 1 is housed in a cassette case 30a. The magnetic tape cassette 30 includes an upper cassette half 31, a lower cassette half 32, and a guard panel 33 made of a transparent resin.

In the transparent lower cassette half 32, rollers 34 for guiding the magnetic tape T are arranged at predetermined positions. A pair of tape reels 10 wound with a magnetic tape T
Are rotatably mounted in the lower cassette half 32 so as to bridge the magnetic tape T over the rollers 34. The transparent upper cassette half 31 has an urging spring 35 on the inner surface. The biasing spring 35 contacts the pivot 26 (see FIG. 1) of the hub 22 of the tape reel 10 and
To the lower cassette half 32 side. The cassette case 30a is formed by combining the upper cassette half 31 and the lower cassette half 32. A magnetic tape T is exposed at the front end (upper side in the figure) of the cassette case 30a, and a guard panel 33 is rotatably attached to the cassette case 30a so as to cover the front surface of the magnetic tape T.

The magnetic tape cassette 3 configured as described above
According to 0, information such as a magnetic tape displayed on the flange of the tape reel 10 can be confirmed from the outside of the transparent cassette case 30a.

Therefore, after the assembly of the magnetic tape cassette 30 is completed, the stored magnetic tape information and the like can be checked, so that erroneous operations in the manufacturing process can be reduced and the productivity can be improved. When printing magnetic tape information or the like on the cassette case 30a, the tape reel 10
Since the printing can be performed after confirming the information displayed on the flange, no erroneous information is printed. Also,
Since there is no need to attach a label, it is possible to maintain a good appearance of the magnetic tape cassette 30. Further, since no information is displayed on the surface of the cassette case 30a, the label is not peeled off or the print is not rubbed off. Further, the appearance of the magnetic tape cassette 30 is good.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and appropriate modifications and improvements can be made. Also, regarding the manufacturing method of the magnetic tape cassette,
The method is not limited to the above, and a method of winding the magnetic tape around a tape reel housed in the cassette case after assembling the cassette case may be used.

[0021]

As described above, according to the magnetic tape cassette of the present invention, after the assembly of the magnetic tape cassette is completed, it is possible to check the information of the magnetic tape stored therein, so that an erroneous operation in the manufacturing process is performed. Can be reduced, and productivity can be improved. When printing the magnetic tape information on the cassette case, the printing can be performed after confirming the information displayed on the flange of the tape reel, so that erroneous information is not printed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a tape reel stored in a magnetic tape cassette according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a magnetic tape cassette according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a conventional magnetic tape cassette.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a conventional magnetic tape cassette.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 tape reel 11 upper flange (flange) 12, 23 outer surface 21 lower flange (flange) 22 hub 22a peripheral wall portion 30 magnetic tape cassette 30a cassette case 31 upper cassette half 32 lower cassette half 33 guard panel T magnetic tape

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A magnetic tape cassette having a hub on which a magnetic tape is wound and a flange connected to the hub, and a tape reel housed in a cassette case, wherein predetermined information is displayed on the flange. The cassette case is transparent so that information on the flange can be seen.