JP2002230936A - Tape cassette and tape recovery method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To collect tapes and tape leaders separately without decomposing upper and lower shells. SOLUTION: The tape cassette consists of an outer shell easing made by uniting an upper shell 2 and a lower shell 3, a pair of tape reels 9 housed in the outer shell casing, and a front lid 10 which is opened and closed on the front surface of the outer shell casing. A pair of driving openings 14 to which the drive parts of an AV device, such as a VTR, for driving respective tape reels 9 are provided in the lower shell 3. The tape reel 9 has a hub 9a, an upper flange 9b and a lower flange 9c. The hub is provided with a fixing groove 9d into which a leader clamping piece 7 for fixing the end of the tape leader 6 to the hub 9a is inserted. At the one end of the hub of the tape reel, a tool opening 9e into which a tool for disengaging the leader clamping piece by making it slide along the fixing groove is provided.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tape cassette used for AV equipment such as a VTR, and more particularly to a technique for facilitating recycling.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The above-mentioned tape cassette has an outer shell housing formed by combining an upper shell and a lower shell up and down, and accommodates a pair of tape reels wound with a magnetic tape and a tape reader. Further, a functional component such as a guide necessary for running the tape is provided, and an opening / closing cover for protecting the tape is provided on a front side surface of the upper shell.

In recent years, in order to recycle the material of the tape cassette, it is easy to disassemble the upper and lower shells without using screws,
As a structure which can be performed quickly, a structure in which the upper and lower shells are welded at several places by ultrasonic welding, or a structure in which several places are joined by using a resin-made joining pin (JP-A-7-37359, JP-A-7-45036) Gazette).

Further, in order to recycle the material of the cassette, a structure in which the same material can be disassembled for each material is known, and a metal spring member attached to the inside of the upper shell by caulking (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-302435). Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-228075) includes an intermittent slit provided around a position where a spring member is crimped in order to disassemble and separate the same.

As a further extension of the viewpoint of recycling, an outer casing, an opening / closing cover provided on the front side of the outer casing and a tape reel are made of the same recyclable material, and the upper end of the hub of the tape reel is provided. The leader clip and the reel spring are attached integrally, and the leader clip, which is another material, is removed with a jig from the outside of the outer casing with a jig, and the opening / closing cover is removed with the spring. (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-68643), which is expected to be sent by mail for promotional or newsletters, which can record and show for about 10 minutes. Tape cassettes that are of low cost and of acceptable performance with a minimum number of parts It materiality have been described.

[0006]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional tape cassette, although efforts for recycling have been started, it is difficult to reduce the number of types of materials, the weight can be reduced, and the disassembly is easy. It is not yet satisfactory from a comprehensive point of view. The tape is pulled out and removed (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-686).
No. 43) is excellent in that the tape reel may be left in an outer casing made of the same kind of material.

[0007] The present invention is intended to reduce the number of types of the above materials, to reduce the weight, to facilitate disassembly,
There is a need to be able to enjoy the benefits from the price system at the time of mailing, with the goal of being satisfied from the viewpoint of mailing, especially the weight reduction as mailing suitability. And
From the viewpoint of separating and collecting the tape and tape reader without disassembling the upper and lower shells during the collection work for recycling, a tape cassette and tape collection that allows the tape reader to be more easily removed from the outer casing. The aim is to provide a method.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tape cassette comprising: an outer shell housing made by combining an upper shell and a lower shell; AV equipment such as a VTR for driving each tape reel in the lower shell, comprising a pair of tape reels housed in a shell housing, and a front lid that opens and closes on the front surface of the outer shell housing. A tape opening provided with a drive opening into which the drive unit is inserted, wherein the tape reel includes a hub, an upper flange, and a lower flange, and the hub is configured to fix an end of a tape reader to the hub. A mounting groove into which the leader clamp piece is fitted is provided, and a jig opening is provided at one end of the hub of the tape reel for inserting a jig to slide and remove the leader clamp piece along the mounting groove. The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that an outer shell housing made by combining an upper shell and a lower shell, a pair of tape reels housed in the outer shell housing, and A tape cassette comprising a front cover that opens and closes on the front surface of an outer shell housing, and a drive opening for a drive unit of an AV device such as a VTR for driving each tape reel is provided in the lower shell. The tape reel has a hub, an upper flange and a lower flange, and the hub is provided with a mounting groove into which a leader clamp piece for fixing an end of a tape leader to the hub is fitted. At the lower end of the hub of the reel, a jig opening is provided for inserting a jig for sliding the leader clamp piece along the mounting groove to push up and remove the leader clamp piece, and the removed leader is provided in the upper shell. A discharge opening for discharging a clamp piece from the outer shell housing is provided, and the invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that an outer shell housing made by combining an upper shell and a lower shell, The lower shell includes a pair of tape reels housed in the outer shell housing, and a front lid that opens and closes on the front surface of the outer shell housing. The lower shell includes a VTR or the like that drives each tape reel. A tape cassette provided with a drive opening into which a drive unit of an AV device enters, wherein the tape reel has a hub, an upper flange, and a lower flange, and the hub has an end of a tape reader fixed to the hub. A mounting groove into which a leader clamp piece is inserted is provided, and a jig for sliding the leader clamp piece down along the mounting groove and pushing down to remove is inserted into the upper end of the hub of the tape reel. The upper shell is provided with a jig through hole through which a jig is inserted to be inserted into the jig opening, and the removed leader clamp piece is inserted into the drive opening with the outer shell. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the discharge opening or the jig through hole provided in the upper shell is connected to the discharge opening or the jig through hole. And a plate spring serving as a tape reel spring is provided integrally with the upper shell. The invention according to claim 6, wherein the tool through hole is provided near a position matching the position of the leader clamp piece when the tape reel is stopped at the end where the tape leader is pulled out. Contract In the item (5), when the tape reel is stopped, the lower shell is provided with a flange brake claw at a position where the flange brake claw can easily enter between rotation stopping teeth provided on the outer periphery of the flange of the tape reel. The invention according to claim 7 is characterized in that, in claim 1, the remaining portion of the leader clamp piece discharged is made of a material that can be recovered as the same material including a biasing member, A method for recovering a tape cassette according to claim 8, wherein the step of releasing the lock of the tape cassette with the lock plate to release the front cover of the tape cassette, and the step of pulling out the tape reader until the tape reel stops, Turn the tape reel to align the position of the leader clamp piece with the position of the ejection hole or the jig through hole. Applying the jig from the jig opening of the tape reel by applying through the jig opening of the tape reel through the driving opening or the jig through hole, and inserting the jig through the mounting groove. To remove the tape reader end by fixing the end of the tape reader by removing the tape reader upward or downward and discharging the tape reader out of the outer casing through the discharge opening or the drive opening. The invention according to claim 9 is characterized in that the tape reader is pulled out from the lid releasing portion by the step of pulling out the tape reader. Specially, pull out the tape reader with both ends of the pair of tape readers from which the tape has been separated in the fixed state joined together. Sign.

[0009]

Since the tape cassette of the present invention is constructed as described above, the jig is inserted through the jig opening provided at one end of the hub and the tape reader clamp piece is extruded along the mounting groove to thereby remove the tape. The leader can be unclamped. When the jig opening is provided at the lower end of the hub, the jig is inserted into the jig opening via the drive opening. A discharge opening is provided on the upper surface of the upper shell, and the leader clamp piece is discharged from the discharge opening. When the jig opening is provided at the upper end of the hub, a jig through opening is provided on the upper surface of the upper shell, and the jig is inserted through the opening. The drive opening is also used as a discharge opening, from which the leader clamp piece is discharged.

In a tape cassette having an upper shell provided with a discharge opening for discharging the detached leader clamp piece to the outside of the outer casing, a jig for inserting a jig for sliding the leader clamp piece into the mounting groove and removing the leader clamp piece is provided. Since the fixture opening is provided on the lower flange side of the reel, a mechanism for lifting the reel upward and rotating the reel and a mechanism for inserting the jig into the jig opening are inserted from the drive opening and applied. With this structure, there is an advantage that an automatic mechanism in which the jig insertion mechanism operates after adjusting the position of the leader clamp piece so as to match the discharge opening by rotating the reel can be easily realized.

In this manner, the jig is inserted from the jig opening provided at one end of the hub of the tape reel, pushed out along the leader clamp piece mounting groove, and the tape leader clamp piece is discharged out of the outer casing. It is possible to separate and collect the remaining cassette as the same material only by pulling out and collecting the tape reader.
In addition, it is possible to provide a tape cassette that can be recycled more easily and saves cost, for example, the tape reader can be recovered by an automatic recovery device.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of the tape cassette of the present invention, FIG. 2 (A) is an exploded perspective view of a main part of a lock plate and a lower shell of FIG. 1, and FIG. It is a principal part exploded perspective view of a shell and a lower shell. In the following description, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings, and the description may be omitted.

In FIG. 1, the outer casing of the tape cassette 1 is formed by welding an upper shell 2 and a lower shell 3 at a plurality of locations. This union is performed by fitting columns 4 of lower shell 3.
This is performed by fitting the fitting pin 5 of the upper shell 2 into the hole provided at the end of the upper shell 2. At the time of this merging, the tape reels 9, 9 in a state where the tape leader 6 is fixed to the mounting groove (described later) by the leader clamp piece 7 are accommodated in the outer shell housing, and the upper shell 2 is accommodated. A front cover 10 that can be opened and closed is mounted on the front side of the lower shell 3, and a lock plate 11 is mounted on one side surface of the lower shell 3.

A discharge opening 12 for discharging the leader clamp piece 7 is provided on the upper surface of the upper shell 2, and a tape reel 9 is attached to the lower shell 3 inside the upper surface of the upper shell 2.
A leaf spring 13 that is constantly biased in the direction is welded. On the other hand, the lower shell 3 is provided with a drive opening 14 for driving a tape reel 9 by driving a drive unit of an AV device such as a VTR into the hub and engaging with a hub (tubular portion) of the tape reel 9. The drive openings 14 are provided at positions where the hubs of the pair of tape reels 9 to be accommodated are aligned, and the lower ends of the hubs are loosely fitted into these drive openings 14.

As shown in detail in FIG. 2, the lock plate 11 comprises a plate body 11a and a plate body 11a.
a, a pair of support shafts 11b, 11b formed on both sides of the plate body 11a, an engagement protrusion 11c and a release protrusion 11d formed at a lower portion of the plate body 11a, and a leaf spring portion 11e formed at an upper portion of the plate body 11a. These members are all manufactured by integral molding. On the other hand, at the corner of the lower shell 3, a concave portion 3a into which the support shaft 11b fits, and a fitting hole 3 into which the engaging protrusion 11c and the release protrusion 11d fit.
b, 3c and a recess 3d on which one shaft 10a of the front lid 10 is placed.

As shown in FIG. 1, shafts 10a and 10b are formed on both front side surfaces of the front cover 10, and one shaft
0a is placed in the recess 3d of the lower shell 3 as described above,
The other shaft 10b is fitted in the fitting hole 2a of the upper shell 2. Also, as shown in FIG.
A protruding cam surface 10c provided eccentrically to the shaft 10a is integrally formed at the tip of the shaft a. Further, an engagement recess 10d with which the engagement protrusion 11c is engaged is formed on the inside of the side surface of the front lid 10 on one shaft 10a side.
A cutout portion 2b is formed in the upper shell 2 at a position facing the cam surface 10c, and a leaf spring portion 2c is formed in front of the notch portion 2b. The front cover 10 is biased by the leaf spring portion 2c in the direction in which it is always closed.

Next, the opening / closing operation of the front lid 10 having the above-described structure will be described with reference to FIG. 3A shows a state in which the front lid is closed, and FIG. 3B shows a state in which the front lid is open. The left view is a side view, and the right view is a cross-sectional view of a lock plate. .

FIG. 3A shows a state in which the front cover 10 is closed, and the engagement projection 11c is fitted and projected into the fitting hole 3b by the urging of the leaf spring portion 11e of the lock plate 11. The engagement protrusion 10d is engaged with the engagement recess 10d, and at the same time, the release projection 11d is fitted and protrudes into the fitting hole 3b, and is exposed to the outside of the lower shell 3. When the tape cassette is inserted into the AV device, a drive mechanism (not shown) on the device side releases the release projection 11.
Press d. Then, as shown in FIG. 3B, since the release protrusion 11d moves inward against the bias of the leaf spring portion 11e, the engagement between the engagement protrusion 11c and the engagement recess 10d is released, and The lid 10 opens. When the front cover 10 is completely opened, the cam surface 10c is in contact with the lower surface of the distal end of the leaf spring portion 2c, whereby the front cover 10 is constantly urged by the leaf spring portion 2c in the closing direction.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the tape reel 9 of FIG. The tape reel 9 includes a cylindrical hub 9a, an upper flange 9b, and a lower flange 9c.
b and the lower flange 9c are connected to the hub 9a, respectively. At a part of the side surface of the hub 9a, a mounting groove 9d for fixing the end of the tape leader 6 with the leader clamp piece 7 is provided in a cylindrical portion that is stepped from the bottom of the hub 9a.

The upper flange 9b is provided on the upper surface of the hub 9a, and the upper flange 9b is provided with a plurality of apertures 9e at intervals, so that the leader clamp piece 7 for removing the leader clamp piece 7 from the hub 9a can be removed. One of the plurality of openings 9e is also used as an extraction opening to be passed.

The lower flange 9c is formed integrally with the hub 9a around the lower portion of the hub 9a. At the bottom of the hub 9a, which is aligned with the lower end of the leader clamp piece 7 mounted in the mounting groove 9d on the side surface of the hub 9a, a jig opening 9g for passing a pin pressing the leader clamp piece 7 from below is provided. .

The mounting groove 9d for mounting the leader clamp piece 7 is not stepped on the side surface of the hub 9a, but a lower flange 9c is provided on the lower surface of the hub 9a, and a jig opening 9f is formed in the lower flange 9c. May be provided.

In another embodiment in which a jig through hole 12a having the same form as the discharge opening 12 is provided in the upper shell 2, a removal opening through which the leader clamp piece 7 passes when the leader clamp piece 7 is removed from the hub 9a (see FIG. (Not shown) is provided at the lower end of the hub 9a or the lower flange 9c.

In this embodiment in which the jig through hole 12a is provided in the upper shell 2, the jig through hole only needs to have a hole diameter large enough to allow a pin-shaped jig to pass therethrough.
In some cases, it is possible to utilize the advantage that the diameter of the hole provided in the upper shell 2 can be made smaller than that in the form in which the discharge opening 12 is provided to discharge the leader clamp piece 7.

The leader clamp piece 7 mounted so as to embed the end of the tape leader 6 in the mounting groove 9d is provided with a jig opening provided through the bottom surface of the hub 9a located below the lower shell 3. By inserting a jig such as a push pin from 9g, the leader clamp piece 7 is pushed out along the groove 9d to release the fixing of the end of the tape leader 6, and a discharge opening provided on the upper surface of the upper shell 2. The leader clamp piece 7 can be discharged from 12.

Returning to FIG. 1, on the inner surface of the upper shell 2, a reel spring 13 composed of a leaf spring that constantly urges the upper end of the core shaft of the tape reel 9 downward is made of a material that is collected as the same material as the upper shell 2. Made and welded. The reel spring 13 may be provided integrally with the upper shell 2 by forming a punching hole in the upper shell 2. This die-cut hole is located in the upper shell 2
It is convenient from the viewpoint of the mold design if it is provided so as to be connected to the jig through hole 12a or the discharge opening 12 provided in the mold.

A tape reel 9 is provided inside the bottom of the lower shell 3.
A plurality of arc-shaped guide walls 15 serving as guides to the outer periphery of the robot are erected. Further, the drive opening 14 is formed from the guide wall 15 side.
Is provided with a flange brake claw 16 which is inclined toward the center direction. The flange brake pawl 16 may also serve as a rib for erecting the guide wall 15.

Around the outer peripheral edge of the lower flange 9c of the tape reel 9, there are provided rotation stopping teeth 9h which are engaged with the flange brake claws 16 to stop the rotation of the reel. Since the flange brake claws 16 are inclined, the operation for rotating the tape reel 9 while floating it can be performed smoothly.

The rotation stop teeth 9h are separated from the flange brake claws 16 when the tape cassette is engaged with the AV equipment and the reel 9 is lifted.
When the engagement with the AV device is released and the reel 9 is lowered, the rotation of the reel 9 is prevented while the flange brake pawl 16 is located between the rotation stopping teeth 9h.

The rotation stop teeth 9h provided on the outer periphery of the lower flange 9c are located at positions where the flange brake pawl 16 can easily enter between the rotation stop teeth 9h when the tape leader 6 is pulled out to the end and stopped. Is preferably provided so as to conform to the above. In this stopped position, the leader clamp piece 7 is located near a position matching the discharge opening 12 provided in the upper shell 2, and a part of the leader clamp piece 7 can be seen from the discharge opening 12. By lifting and slightly rotating the tape reel 9 against the bias, the position of the leader clamp piece 7 can be aligned with the discharge opening 12.

Normally, the tape reel 9 is mounted on the tape cassette 1
In the assembly to be mounted on the tape reel 6, each end of one tape leader 6 is inserted into the mounting groove 9d on the side surface of the hub 9a of each tape reel 9.
Is fixed by pushing in from the side.

In a certain method, the tape reels 9 and 9 are connected to both ends of one tape reader 6 and the tape reels are assembled into the lower shell 3, and the lower shell 3 and the upper shell 2 are connected to each other. The outer shell housing is formed by fitting. Then, the boundary between the upper shell 2 and the lower shell 3 is welded at a plurality of spots. At this time, the front lid 10 and the lock plate 11 are also assembled.

Thereafter, with the front lid 10 opened, the tape leader 6 is cut in the middle, a magnetic tape is joined to the cut end of the tape leader 6, and one of the tape reels is rotated to rotate the magnetic tape. A predetermined amount of tape is wound, and the other end of the magnetic tape taper 6 having the rear end portion of the magnetic tape cut off
The magnetic tape is loaded by joining with the end of the magnetic tape.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the tape cassette 1 having the above configuration. FIG. 5 shows a discharge opening 12 formed in the upper shell 2 and a jig through-hole 12a having the same shape as this, but the jig through-hole 12a may be a pin-shaped hole as described above. . Hereinafter, a method of collecting a tape cassette will be described with reference to FIGS. When the separation of the magnetic tape and the separation of the tape reader 6 by removing the leader clamp piece 7 from the tape cassette 1 are performed using a tape collecting device, the following procedure is performed.

The used and collected tape cassette 1 is collected by opening the front cover 10 and pulling out the magnetic tape, separating the magnetic tape from the tape leader 6, and joining the respective ends of the tape reader. Set it on the device.

With the front lid 10 of the tape cassette 1 opened, the tape reel 9 is lifted upward against the bias of the reel spring 13 and the tape leader 6 is pulled out until the tape reel 9 stops. That is, the tape leader 6 is pulled out in a state where both of the cut ends are joined to each other.

In the step of pulling out the tape leader 6, although the end is still locked to the hub 9a by the leader clamp piece 7, the leader clamp piece 7
Is located at a position close to the discharge opening 12, and at this position, the leader clamp piece 7 is located at a position substantially aligned with the discharge opening 12 or the jig through hole 12 a formed in the upper shell 2. Correct the position when it is far away. This position correction may be performed by automatically detecting the leader clamp piece 7 and automatically rotating the tape reel 9.

In this state, a leader clamp piece removing means provided with a jig is applied through the drive opening 14 of the lower shell 3 and the jig is inserted from the jig opening of the tape reel 9 to remove the leader clamp. By pressing the piece 7, the leader clamp piece is pulled out upward and the discharge opening 1
By discharging the tape reader 6 from the outer shell housing 2 to the outside, the end of the tape reader 6 is released.

In the case where the jig through hole 12a is formed in the upper shell 2, the jig is opened through the jig through hole 12a through the leader clamp piece removing means provided with the jig. By inserting the jig through the hole 9e and pressing the leader clamp piece 7 downward,
The fixing of the end of the tape leader 6 is released by pulling out the leader clamp piece 7 downward and discharging it out of the outer casing through the drive opening 14. In this state in which the end is released, the tape leader 6 is pulled out from the front lid release portion.

If the tape reel 9 is pulled out to the end of the tape reader that stops rotating before being set in the tape collecting device, the leader clamp piece 7 is set at this position.
The flange brake pawl 16 is located near a position where the opening hole 12 or the jig through hole 12a formed in the upper shell 2 is aligned and between the rotation stopping teeth 9h provided on the outer periphery of the lower flange 9c. It is aligned with the position to enter,
Since the tape cassette can maintain this state, it has already been prepared from the jig opening to the state where the jig can be inserted. In this state, it is desirable that the leader clamp piece 7 is located at a position where the leader clamp piece 7 is completely aligned with the discharge opening 12 or the jig through-hole 12a. Alignment can be achieved by floating the flange and slightly turning it while viewing the leader clamp piece 7 from the jig through hole 12a or the jig through hole 12a. This tape collecting step can be performed manually without using an automatic device.

As described above, according to the present invention, only by releasing the front cover 10 of the tape cassette and discharging the leader clamp piece 7 from the discharge port 12, it is possible to separate the spring members such as the leaf spring and the coil spring. By pulling out the tape reader 6, it is possible to separate only the material for recycling and collection (for example, polystyrene) without any additional steps. Also, the leader clamp piece 7
Can be made of a material for recycling and recovery, and in this case, there is no problem that the discharged leader clamp piece 7 is mixed with the material separated for recovery.

[0042]

As described above, according to the present invention, the jig provided at one end of the hub of the tape reel can be opened without opening the front lid and pulling out the tape leader to disassemble the outer casing. Just insert the jig from the hole and push the leader clamp piece out of the outer shell housing along the mounting groove, and the outer shell housing, front lid, lock plate, and the accommodated tape reel remain the same. It has a structure that can be recovered as a material, and can be separated and recovered very easily. In addition, automatic collection can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing one embodiment of a tape cassette of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is an exploded perspective view of a lock plate and a lower shell in FIG. 1 and a main part of the front cover, an upper shell, and a lower shell.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an opening / closing operation of a front cover.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the tape reel of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the tape cassette of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Upper shell 3 Lower shell 6 Tape reader 7 Leader clamp piece 9 Tape reel 9a Hub 9b Upper flange 9c Lower flange 9d Mounting groove 9e Jig opening 12 Discharge opening 12a Tool through hole 13 ... Reel spring 14 ... Drive opening

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. An outer shell housing made by combining an upper shell and a lower shell, a pair of tape reels housed in the outer shell housing, and before opening and closing the front surface of the outer shell housing. A tape cassette comprising a lid, and a drive opening in which a drive unit of an AV device such as a VTR for driving each tape reel is provided in the lower shell. A mounting groove for fitting a leader clamp piece for fixing an end of a tape leader to the hub, wherein the leader clamp is provided at one end of the hub of the tape reel. A tape cassette having a jig opening for inserting a jig for removing a piece by sliding the piece along the mounting groove. 2. An outer shell housing formed by combining an upper shell and a lower shell, a pair of tape reels housed in the outer shell housing, and a front and rear opening and closing of the outer shell housing. A tape cassette comprising a lid, and a drive opening in which a drive unit of an AV device such as a VTR for driving each tape reel is provided in the lower shell. A mounting groove for receiving a leader clamp piece for fixing an end of the tape leader to the hub; and a lower end of the hub of the tape reel. A jig opening is provided for inserting a jig which slides the piece along the mounting groove and pushes up to remove the jig, and the upper shell is provided with the removed leader clamp piece from the outer shell housing. Tape cassette, characterized in that the discharge apertures and out is provided. 3. An outer shell housing formed by combining an upper shell and a lower shell, a pair of tape reels housed in the outer shell housing, and before opening and closing the front surface of the outer shell housing. A tape cassette comprising a lid, and a drive opening in which a drive unit of an AV device such as a VTR for driving each tape reel is provided in the lower shell. A mounting groove for receiving a leader clamp piece for fixing an end of a tape leader to the hub, wherein the leader clamp is provided at an upper end of the hub of the tape reel. A jig opening is provided for inserting a jig for sliding a piece down along the mounting groove and pressing down to remove the jig, and the upper shell is provided with a jig through which a jig is inserted for insertion into the jig opening. Make a hole Tape cassette, characterized in that serve also as a discharge opening for discharging the removed the leader clamped pieces into the drive opening from the shell casing. 4. A die release hole is provided in connection with the discharge opening or the jig through hole provided in the upper shell, and a plate spring as a tape reel spring is provided integrally with the upper shell. The tape cassette according to claim 2, wherein 5. The discharge opening or the jig passing hole,
4. The tape cassette according to claim 2, wherein the tape cassette is provided near a position matching the position of the leader clamp piece when the tape reel is stopped at the end where the tape leader is pulled out. 6. The lower shell is provided with a flange brake claw at a position where the flange brake claw can easily enter between rotation stopping teeth provided on an outer periphery of a flange of the tape reel when the tape reel is stopped. The tape cassette according to claim 5, wherein 7. The tape cassette according to claim 1, wherein the remaining portion of the tape clamp piece ejected from the leader clamp piece is made of a material that can be recovered as the same material including the urging member. 8. A step of releasing a lock of the tape cassette with a lock plate to release a front cover of the tape cassette, a step of pulling out a tape leader until a tape reel stops, and a step of ejecting the tape hole or the jig. Rotating the tape reel to align the position of the leader clamp piece with the position of the through hole, and applying the tape clamp piece through the leader clamp piece removal jig through the drive opening or the jig through hole. The jig is inserted from the jig opening, the leader clamp piece is pulled out from the mounting groove upward or downward, and is discharged from the discharge opening or the drive opening to the outside of the outer casing. It is characterized in that it comprises a step of releasing and fixing the end portion, and a step of extracting the detached tape leader from the front lid release section. Tape recovery method to be. 9. A step of pulling out the tape leader, wherein the taper is separated from the pair of tape leaders by separating the tape while the end of the tape leader is fixed to the hub by the leader clamp piece. 9. The tape collecting method according to claim 8, wherein the tape leader is pulled out in a joined state.