JPH0127190Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] The present invention relates to a tape cassette, which is formed by combining an upper half and a lower half, into which a light source of a tape end detection mechanism enters when the tape cassette is installed in a recording/reproducing device, for example. By configuring the wall that makes up the hole so that the ends of the wall fit together when the upper and lower halves are combined, positioning can be performed efficiently when the upper and lower halves are combined. The upper half and the lower half can be combined, and even if the upper half and lower half are not properly screwed together using screws, the hole through which the light source of the tape end detection mechanism enters has a good configuration. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a tape cassette that prevents the tape end detection mechanism from malfunctioning.

For example, a video tape cassette used by being attached to a video tape recorder is constructed as shown in FIG. 1, which is a schematic diagram of its disassembled state, and FIGS. There is.

That is, the frame of the tape cassette consists of an upper half 1, a lower half 2, and a guard panel (not shown) for protecting the tape, which are molded into a predetermined shape. 2
are joined together by a screw 3.

In such a tape cassette, when the tape cassette is attached to a video tape recorder for recording and playback, when it reaches the end of the tape, the transparent tape section attached to the supply reel or take-up reel is exposed. A hole 4 is formed through which light passes and into which a light source part of a tape end detection mechanism that detects a tape end by detecting the transmitted light enters.

Conventionally, the configuration of this hole 4 is simply that of the upper half 1.
A substantially cylindrical wall 6 in which a notch 5 is formed at a position corresponding to the path through which light from the light source section travels outside the hole section 4 and reaches the light receiving section is provided on the side, and this substantially cylindrical wall A substantially cylindrical wall 8 in which a notch 7 similar to the notch 5 is formed in correspondence with the notch 5 is provided on the lower half 2 side, and when the upper half 1 and the lower half 2 are combined, the wall 8 is formed. 6 and wall 8 form a concave hole into which the light source enters.

However, the hole 4 need not simply be one into which the light source of the tape end detection mechanism enters. In other words, if the walls 6 and 8 that make up the hole 4 are not perfectly joined and a gap is created, light will leak through this gap, causing a malfunction in the tape end detection mechanism, and causing the tape to be inserted in unnecessary places. Running stops. If such a gap exists when the upper half 1 and the lower half 2 are joined at the screw attachment part 9 near the hole 4, as shown in FIG. 2, for example, as shown in FIG. When the upper half 1 and the lower half 2 are fastened together using the screws 3, the wall 6 becomes diagonal with respect to the wall 8, which creates a gap where light from the light source leaks out of the hole 4. . Furthermore, such a gap is created when the upper half 1 and the lower half 2 are fastened together with the screws 3 while the center positions of the walls 6 and 8 are slightly shifted, as shown in FIG. 4, for example. This makes the tape end detection mechanism even more likely to malfunction.
In addition, when the upper half 1 and the lower half 2 are tightly connected as shown in FIG. There is also a possibility that the tape cassette cannot be inserted into the hole 4, and the tape cassette cannot be loaded into the video tape recorder to perform recording and playback.

As described above, the hole in the tape cassette into which the light source of the tape end detection mechanism of the video tape recorder enters must be precisely constructed, and for this reason, the approximately cylindrical wall 6 constituting this hole must be constructed precisely. , 8 itself, the accuracy of the screw attachment part 9 itself near the walls 6 and 8, the accuracy of the joint position between the upper half 1 and the lower half 2, and the degree of tightening force of the screw 3. Therefore, the molding efficiency of the upper half 1 and the lower half 2 and the efficiency of combining the upper half 1 and the lower half 2 are poor, resulting in high costs.

5 and 6 are plan views from the inside of the upper half 1 and the lower half 2 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, and the imaginary lines indicated by dashed dotted lines in the figures are from the inside of the upper half 1 and the lower half 2 shown in FIGS.
This shows the cross-sectional position in FIG. 4.

The present invention eliminates the above drawbacks, and examples thereof will be described below.

7 and 8 are plan views of essential parts from the inside of the upper and lower halves of one embodiment of the tape cassette according to the present invention, and FIG. 9 is an explanatory view immediately before joining the upper and lower halves; FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram in the case where the upper half and the lower half are not well combined.

In the figure, reference numeral 11 denotes an upper half, and this upper half 11 is constructed in substantially the same manner as the upper half 1 of a conventional video tape cassette.

However, as shown in Figures 7, 9, and 10,
A substantially cylindrical wall portion 13 forming a hole portion 12 into which a light source portion of a tape end detection mechanism of a video tape recorder, which is configured on the inner surface side of the upper half 11, enters.
A stepped portion 13' is formed at the tip of the wall portion 13 such that the inner diameter of the tip is larger than the diameter of the root.

Note that 14 is a notch formed in the wall 13, which plays the same role as the notch 5 of the conventional wall 6, and 15 is a notch for connecting the upper half 11 and the lower half 16, which will be described later. 17 is a screw hole for joining.

Reference numeral 16 denotes a lower half that is paired with the upper half 11. Like the upper half 11, this lower half 16 is constructed in substantially the same manner as the lower half 2 of the conventional video tape cassette.

However, as shown in Figures 8, 9, and 10,
The tip of a substantially cylindrical wall portion 18 that cooperates with the wall portion 13 to form a hole portion 12 through which a light source portion of a tape end detection mechanism of a videotape recorder, which is configured on the inner surface side of the lower half 16, enters. portion is the wall portion 1
3, the outer diameter is smaller than the base side, for example, forming a stepped portion 18'.

That is, when the upper half 11 and the lower half 16 are joined, the substantially cylindrical wall portion 13 of the upper half 11
The wall constituting the hole 12 into which the light source of the tape end detection mechanism of the video tape recorder enters is configured so that the substantially cylindrical wall 18 of the lower half 16 fits therein.

Note that 19 is a hole for inserting the screw 17, and is configured to correspond to the screw hole 15.

If the upper half and lower half of the tape cassette are configured as described above, when assembling the tape cassette, when joining the upper half 11 and the lower half on which the guard panel is arranged, it is necessary to If the substantially cylindrical wall portion 18 of the lower half 16 is arranged within the cylindrical wall portion 13 so that the step portions thereof fit into each other, the upper half 11 and the lower half 16 can be smoothly aligned. The center line of the substantially cylindrical wall portion 13 and the substantially cylindrical wall portion 18
The hole for entering the light source part of the tape end detection mechanism can be configured well without the center line of Even when the half 11 and the lower half 16 are fastened together, even if the wall 13 is tilted with respect to the wall 18 as shown in FIG. 10, a gap from which light can leak will not be created due to this tilt. Therefore, the tape end detection mechanism does not malfunction. Furthermore, since the wall portions 13 and 18 are engaged, this inclination is not so great, and even if there is an inclination, it is small, so that the notch 14 of the wall portion 13 on the upper half side and the wall on the lower half side Notch 20 of section 18
The area of the light transmission window from the light source of the tape end detection mechanism configured by is approximately constant, and the amount of transmitted light from this light transmission window is approximately constant, so that the tape end detection mechanism is further prevented from malfunctioning. It disappears.

In the above embodiment, the cylindrical wall on the lower half side fits into the cylindrical wall on the upper half side, but this may be reversed, and a stepped portion may also be provided for fitting. However, there is no need to provide a special step. For example, the inner diameter of the cylindrical wall on the upper half side may be approximately the same as the outer diameter of the cylindrical wall on the lower half side, or It is also conceivable to make the tip portions tapered so that the shaped walls can fit together smoothly.

As mentioned above, the tape cassette according to the present invention is
The wall portion constituting the approximately cylindrical hole of the tape cassette into which the light source of the tape end detection mechanism of the recording and/or reproducing device enters when it is installed in the recording and/or reproducing device is in the upper half, and The tape cassette is a combined type tape cassette consisting of an upper half and a lower half, in which a part is integrally provided with the lower half, and the hole part is surrounded by the wall part, the upper half, and the lower half, and a tape end detection mechanism is provided in the part surrounded by the wall part, the upper half, and the lower half. The wall portion is configured with an opening for entering the light source, and a notch is formed in the wall portion, and when the upper half and the lower half are combined, the wall portion is Since the wall end is configured to fit into the wall on the lower half or upper half side, the upper half and the lower half can be combined with high work efficiency so that misalignment between the upper half and the lower half does not become a problem. In addition, the assembled tape cassette has no problem in the structure of the hole through which the light source of the tape end detection mechanism enters, and the tape end detection mechanism is less likely to malfunction. It does not cause problems such as the light source of the tape end detection mechanism not being able to enter,
Moreover, it has features such as low cost.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 6 are explanatory diagrams of a conventional tape cassette, and FIGS. 7 to 10 are explanatory diagrams of one embodiment of the tape cassette according to the present invention. 11... Upper half, 12... Hole, 13, 18
...Wall part, 14,20...Notch part, 16...Lower half.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A wall portion 13 constituting a substantially cylindrical hole 12 of the tape cassette into which the light source of the tape end detection mechanism of the nuclear recording and/or reproducing device enters when installed in the recording and/or reproducing device is attached to the upper half 11; Moreover, the tape cassette is a combined type of upper half 11 and lower half 16 in which the wall portion 18 is integrally provided with the lower half 16, and the hole portion 12 is connected to the wall portions 13, 18, the upper half 11, and the lower half. An opening for entering the light source of the tape end detection mechanism is formed in a portion surrounded by 16, and notches 14 and 20 are formed in the walls 13 and 18, and furthermore, cutouts 14 and 20 are formed in the walls 13 and 18. Part 1
When the upper half 11 and the lower half 16 are combined, the ends of the wall portions 13, 18 on the upper half 11 or lower half 16 side fit into the wall portions 18, 13 on the lower half 16 or upper half 11 side. A tape cassette characterized in that it is configured to fit together.