JPH0138789Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a tape cassette in which a pair of reel hubs are rotatably supported within the cassette half, and a magnetic tape is wound between the reel hubs.

[Background technology and its problems]

Conventionally, the cassette half of a tape cassette has been widely used as a molded body of synthetic resin. The synthetic resin that forms this cassette half may be a transparent styrene-based synthetic resin, an impact-resistant styrene-based resin made by graft copolymerizing styrene and polybutadiene, or a resin that can be colored as desired. A material obtained by adding a dye to the above-mentioned impact-resistant styrene resin is used. However, tape cassettes whose cassette halves are made of synthetic resins as described above only exhibit the characteristic appearance of these synthetic resins and lack a sense of luxury. Therefore, a tape cassette has been provided in which aluminum is vapor-deposited on the surface of a cassette half made of synthetic resin to give it the appearance unique to metal that aluminum has. However, in the case where a vapor deposited layer is provided on the surface of the cassette half, this vapor deposited layer is in direct contact with fingers and the like, so it has poor abrasion resistance and easily peels off. In order to solve these problems, tape cassettes have been provided in which a protective film is provided by further coating a synthetic resin on the vapor deposited layer. However, in the case where a protective film is provided on the vapor deposited layer, manufacturing becomes difficult and costs increase.

The above-mentioned selection of the synthetic resin forming the cassette half and the provision of a vapor-deposited layer of aluminum on the surface of the cassette half were done with consideration only to the uniqueness of the appearance, and were not based on the inherent characteristics of the tape cassette. However, it is not possible to achieve the desired improvement in recording and reproducing characteristics.

[Purpose of invention]

Therefore, the present invention was proposed with the aim of achieving a unique appearance, that is, a metallic feel, and an improvement in the recording and reproducing characteristics.

[Summary of the idea]

The present invention provides a tape cassette in which a pair of reel hubs are rotatably supported in a cassette half formed by relatively coupling a pair of upper and lower halves, and a magnetic tape is wound between the reel hubs. Providing a vapor deposited layer of metal such as aluminum on the inner surface gives it a metallic feel, and since the metal vapor deposited layer is soft and has a low resonance acute angle (Q value), it is less sensitive to mechanical vibrations transmitted to the magnetic tape. Modulation noise that occurs can be reduced, and recording and reproducing characteristics can be improved.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the tape cassette according to the present invention has a cassette case 5 which is constructed by mutually connecting a pair of lower halves 2 and upper halves 3 formed by molding transparent synthetic resin with a plurality of screws 4. A pair of reel hubs 7, 7 rotatably supported by
, a magnetic tape 8 wound between these reel hubs 7, 7, and a leaf spring 11 that ensures the contact of the magnetic tape 8 supported by a support plate 10 with an elastic material 9 attached to the magnetic head. The main structural members are:

The lower and upper halves 2 and 3, which are integrally connected by a plurality of screws 4 and constitute the cassette half 5, have a protrusion 1 forming a side plate of the cassette half 5 on the outer periphery thereof.
2, 13 are formed, and bosses 14, 15 into which the screws 4 are screwed are protrudingly provided at four corner portions of the projecting edges 12, 13 and at the center portion on the front side. Accidental erasure prevention claws 1 are on both sides of the rear side of each half 2 and 3.
Notches 18 and 19 are provided in which the holes 6 and 17 are provided.

In addition, at the same front side portions of the lower and upper halves 2 and 3, there are first, second and third large opening windows 20, 21, 22, 23 of the same shape and size.
24, 25, and first and second small opening windows 2
6, 27, 28, and 29 are provided, respectively. First and third large opening windows 20, 21, 2
Lower plate 3 of each half 2, 3 facing 4, 25
0 and 31 are provided with through holes 32, 33, 34, and 35 for insertion of a drive shaft such as a capstan, and also have first and second small opening windows 26, 2.
At positions facing 7, 28 and 29, there are through holes 36, 37, and 37 for inserting positioning pins of the tape cassette.
38 and 39 are drilled.

Further, through holes 36, 37, 38, 3 through which the positioning pins of the lower plates 30, 31 of each half 2, 3 are inserted.
Reinforcing edges 40 and 41 are provided in a protruding manner at a portion of the leaf spring 11 on the rear side of the leaf spring 9 where the support plate 10 is attached. Similarly, on the front side, there are guide pieces 42, 4 of the magnetic tape 8 whose tips are formed in an arc shape.
3, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49 and guide pins 50, 51 are provided. Further, pins 52 and 53 are implanted in the front corners of the lower half 2, and guide rollers 54 and 55 are rotatably fitted into the pins 52 and 53.
Through holes 56, 57, 58, 59 are provided at the portions where the pair of hubs 7, 7 of the lower and upper halves 2, 3 are supported.
are bored, and annular flanges 60, 61, 6 protrude inside the periphery of the through holes 56, 57, 58, 59.
A pair of hubs 7, 7 are rotatably supported at 2, 63.

As shown in FIG. 3, a vapor-deposited layer 64 of metal such as aluminum is deposited on the entire inner surfaces of the lower and upper halves 2 and 3 of the tape cassette constructed in this way and on the entire outer peripheral surfaces of the guide pins 50 and 51. It is provided. By providing the vapor deposited layer 64 in this way, the lower and upper halves 2 and 3 formed of transparent synthetic resin come to exhibit the metal appearance unique to aluminum.

Furthermore, if the vapor deposition layer 64 is provided, the permeability of the cassette case 5 will be lost, so the magnetic tape 8
In order to confirm the remaining amount of winding on each reel hub 7, 7, it is desirable to provide the tape remaining amount confirmation windows 65, 66 provided at the center of the lower and upper halves 2, 3 except for the remaining tape portions 65, 66.

Further, since the vapor deposited layer 64 made of metal such as aluminum is soft and has a low resonance sharpness (Q value), it has the effect of absorbing and dispersing external vibrations. Therefore, it is desirable to provide a metal vapor deposition layer 64 on all of the parts where the magnetic tape 8 housed in the cassette case 5 comes into sliding contact, and also on the outer peripheral surfaces of the guide rollers 54 and 55.

Furthermore, when the reel hubs 7, 7 are supported on the cassette case 5, a slippery sheet having an excellent slipping effect may be interposed.

[Effect of idea]

As described above, the present invention provides a vapor-deposited layer of metal such as aluminum on the inside of the upper and lower halves, thereby making it possible to construct a tape cassette that has a unique external appearance with a metallic feel.

Further, in the present invention, since the vapor deposited layer is provided on the inner surfaces of the upper and lower halves, the layers do not come into direct contact with fingers during handling, improving abrasion resistance and preventing peeling off.

Further, according to the present invention, since the metal vapor deposition layer is soft and has a low resonance sharpness (Q value), mechanical vibrations transmitted to the magnetic tape are absorbed and dispersed in the vapor deposition layer portion. Modulation noise caused by mechanical vibrations can be reduced, and recording and reproducing characteristics can be improved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a tape cassette according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the lower half, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line A--A in FIG. 2...lower half, 3...upper half, 7...
Reel hub, 8... magnetic tape, 64... vapor deposition layer.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] In a tape cassette in which a pair of reel hubs are rotatably supported in a cassette half formed by relatively coupling a pair of upper and lower halves, and a magnetic tape is wound between the reel hubs, at least the inner surface of the cassette half is made of aluminum. A tape cassette with a vapor-deposited layer of metal such as.