JPH0221475A - Adapter for video cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent a tape and a device from being damaged by providing a mis-insertion preventing means to block the loading of an adapter on the device cooperating with a member on a device side at the time of forming a tape path incompletely by a tape draw-out mechanism. CONSTITUTION:The insertion of the adapter to the housing of a video device is prevented when an arm 52A is moved inward by diconnecting a connection device 210 receiving the function of a return spring 212 and being fit pivotally in a block 200B. Thereby, it is possible to expedite an operator to pay attention when a small video cassette 16 is inserted incompletely in the adapter or when the tape path is formed incompletely, and also, since the adapter can be blocked from being loaded on the device at this time, it is possible to prevent the tape from being damaged, and to evade a problem such as the incompletion of normal recording or reproduction.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to video devices, and more particularly to magnetic tape video cassettes for recording and playing back video programs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Most video recorders/blurers on the market today use large standard video cassettes with a recording capacity of several hours (4-8 hours).

Some portable television cameras perform video recording using a recorder that is integral to the camera and uses a small video cassette. However, small video cassettes cannot be used in most video recorder/breyer equipment, and recordings made on these cassettes cannot be used with standard video recorder/breyer equipment. - The data must be recorded again on the tape of the cassette (standard tape cassette).

The magnetic tape in a standard video cassette follows a well-defined path because it must cooperate with the driving, playing and/or recording parts. in general,
This portion of the path is straight and good, allowing the 8-loader to remove the tape from the cassette, and also ensuring that the tape is in close contact with the recording and playback member when the cassette is in the operative position. The tape path extends adjacent one long edge of the video cassette to ensure that substantially the entire length of the video cassette is exposed.

Because miniature video cassettes (small tape cassettes) are by their very nature much smaller than standard video cassettes, the magnetic tape they carry has the same path configuration as in standard video cassettes. As a result, these small cassettes cannot be used in most video recorder/blyer equipment.

Therefore, portable recorders using miniature video cassettes are not widely used because of the incompatibility of said miniature video cassettes with video equipment intended for use with standard video cassettes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The main object of the present invention is to provide a small video cassette that has the same dimensions and shape as a large standard video cassette, and that, after being inserted inside it, a conventional video cassette - To overcome the aforementioned disadvantages experienced in the use of small video cassettes by providing an adapter that can be played using a recorder/player device.

Another object of the present invention is to alert the operator when a small video cassette is not housed in the adapter or when the cassette is not housed in the adapter when the adapter is used in a video device; To provide an adapter which makes it impossible to attach the adapter to a device when a regular tape path is not formed even if the tape is installed, and which includes a safety measure to prevent flm to the tape of a small video cassette.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an adapter for a video φ cassette used to attach a tape cassette smaller than a standard tape cassette to a standard recording/reproducing device, a tape drawer mechanism for drawing out a magnetic tape from the small tape cassette stored in the storage part using a drive mechanism to form a tape path identical to the tape path of the standard tape cassette; a tape storage Ill structure for storing the stored tape in the small tape cassette, and the drive mechanism is inoperative when the small tape cassette is not installed in the storage section;
When the small tape cassette is installed, the w
A! A cassette detection means that enables the I1 mechanism to operate, and an insertion prevention means that cooperates with a member on the apparatus side to prevent the adapter from being installed in the apparatus when the tape pass by the tape pull-out mechanism is incomplete. The present invention provides a video cassette adapter comprising the following configurations.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of one preferred storage embodiment, taken in conjunction with the drawings.

(Example) In Figure 1, a large standard video cassette 1
0, indicating the path 14 of the magnetic tape 12 within the cassette.

A miniature video cassette 16 is shown in FIGS. 2 and 2A, which contains a smaller amount of tape than a larger standard video cassette, such as a half-hour video cassette. The miniature video cassette 16 is described in further detail in commonly assigned US patent applications. The miniature video cassette 16 has a housing 18 and a pair of spools 20A holding tape 24 extending between the spools in a small loop 25.
, 20B, and the spool 20A.

20B has a conventionally known hub for being driven by a drive shaft.

In FIG. 3, an adapter 26 according to the present invention is shown including a housing 28 having external dimensions approximately the same as those of a standard large video cassette such as that shown in FIGS. 1 and 1A. .

A housing 28 is provided with a small video cassette 16 for storing a small video cassette 16 of the type shown in FIG.
A cavity (recess > 30) is provided on one side of the housing that matches the external shape of the housing 6, so that a small video cassette can be slid into this recess 30 and thereby retained. Easy insertion and removal. The surface of the housing 28 has a pair of opposed, shallow finger sized holes into which the user can insert his or her thumb and forefinger to hold the miniature video cassette 16 and remove it from the adapter 26. Recesses 32A and 32B are provided between the two sides.

Locating studs 34A for accurately positioning the miniature video cassette 16 within the housing 30.

348.34G is attached to the bottom wall 36 (FIG. 6) of the housing 28 that defines the bottom of the storage section 30.

The miniature video cassette 16 is provided with openings 36A, 36B, 36C for receiving positioning studs to secure the position of the miniature video cassette when it is inserted into the recess 30 of the adapter housing 28. It is being locating stud 34A to ensure that the small video cassette can be inserted in only one direction;
34B, 34G are asymmetrically arranged and dimensioned, and openings 36A, 36B, 36C are similarly arranged and dimensioned to receive the studs in only one position of the miniature video cassette.

Stationary small video cassette in working position
The cassette 16 is first placed in the storage section 30 by the user. In the practice of the invention, the adapter 26 includes a drive spindle 38Δ that enters an opening in the spools 2OA, 20B.

38B is provided, the drive spindle 38A.

38B has a small video cassette 16 in the housing 28.
A claw 40A having flexibility for locking.

40B is provided. Adapter drive spindle (
These flexible claws 4 provided on shafts 38A and 38B
0 (40A, 40B>), magnetic tape 2
A notch 44 is provided in the central opening of the spools 2OA and 20B having the rim 42 (FIGS. 6 and 6A) and along the inner diameter thereof.

As shown in FIGS. 3, 6, and 6A to 6C, each spool of the small video cassette 16 is provided with four axial notches 44 in its central opening. Adapter drive shaft 38A.

Three claws 40 are provided on 38B. When a small video cassette is placed in the storage part 30, the three claws 40 of each of the drive shafts are thus connected to the spools 2OA, 20.
B locks onto the inner edge 42 of the spool to hold it in a fixed position. The small video cassette 16 is mounted on three studs 34A, 34B, 3 which act as reference positioning devices.
Pressed against 4G.

As soon as the spools 20A, 20B are rotated by the video device in which the adapter holding the small cassette is placed, one of the three claws 40 on each of the drive shafts 38A, 38B is attached to the spool 20A.

20B is moved to one position of the four notches 44.

A device responsive to the placement of the small video cassette 16 in the recess 30 of the adapter housing 28 moves the guide devices 46A, 46B to pull the magnetic tape 24 from the small video cassette 16 and remove the recorded tape. The small loop 25 shown in FIG. 2 is operable to expand into a large loop 47, as shown in FIG. 5, which is equivalent to the tape path of a standard tape cassette. Such devices may be operated manually (e.g., by pressing pushbutton 48 in FIG.
3 and 7 automatically (located at the bottom of the compartment 30 and actuated by the casing of the small video cassette 16 when placed in the compartment 30).
(by switch 50 in the figure).

According to FIG. 4, in the present invention, guide devices 46A, 46B, shown in this example as cylindrical rollers, are supported by a pair of pivotally mounted arms 52A, 52B, which arms and guide devices are connected to a motor 54. (5th
(see figure).

The motor 54 is connected to a manual switch 48 or an automatic switch 5.
0 and a power supply (control circuit) 58 (FIG. 7). The user operates the switch to connect the It, IJt11 circuit 58 to the motor 54. For example, when manual switch 48 is actuated, it pivots plate 61 about axis 62 clockwise so that its end 64 releases stud 65 on cam 66. The plate portion 61 is guided by the spring 6 by cooperating with the poem 62 and the notch portion 63.
It is under the influence of 7. At the end of its movement, plate 61 closes switch 68 of power supply circuit 58 of motor 54. The motor rotates and moves the cam 66 counterclockwise (fourth
and FIG.
B are rotated around their axes 74A and 74B, respectively. During this movement, the cylindrical rows 546A, 46B
The magnetic tape 24 in the miniature video cassette 16 is unwound from the path occupied by the large loop 47 that the tape must occupy in a normal cassette. cam 6
The half-turn movement of 6 causes a change in the path of the tape, causing stud 65A to engage end 64 of plate 61, moving the plate longitudinally and turning switch 68 to switch the power supply to motor 54 to M. Rotating switch 68 to 'tlt' terminates the cycle of operation of motor 54.

When the tape is in the large loop 47, the drive shaft of the video device in which the adapter is placed is now operable to drive the spools 2OA, 20B of the miniature video cassette 16. The driving relationship between the shaft of the video device and the spools 2OA, 20B of the small video cassette includes hubs 80A, 80B (FIG. 3) of the adapter into which the shaft of the video device is inserted; 80B holds a ring gear 76 that meshes with the intermediate gear 78;
Cj1 is also a small video cassette spool 20A,
It meshes with a gear 82 fixed to the drive shafts 38A and 38B of the drive shaft 20B. In this way, hubs 80A, 80B
The rotational movement of rotates gears 76, 78 and 82,
Rotating the drive shaft for the small cassette spool.

A similar gear train is provided for both spools of the small cassette.

Removing the miniature video cassette from the adapter The miniature video cassette 16 is removed from the adapter 26 after the adapter 26 is removed from the video device. To remove the miniature video cassette from the adapter, manual switch 48 is actuated which causes plate 61 to pivot out of stud 65 and is urged by spring 67 into engagement with contacts 68. . This action closes the Ib11111 circuit 58 and connects power to the motor 54.

Actuation of motor 54 causes cam 66 to rotate half a revolution, and at the end of this movement its working cycle is stopped by the engagement of another stud 65 by root 61, opening the contacts of switch 68.

Since the retraction of the magnetic tape 24 into the interior of the miniature cassette 16 occurs during retraction inside the arms 52A, 52B, a device is provided that utilizes the inward movement of the arms 52A, 52B to retract the tape. For this purpose, one arm 52B is provided with a sector gear 88, and the other arm 58A is provided with a similar sector gear (not shown). These sector gears 88 are connected to the arm 52.
A, wheel-shaped video cassette 1 during inward movement of 52B
6 is connected to rotate the spools 2OA, 20B during the outward movement of the arms 52A, 52B.
11vt is set so that OA and 20B do not rotate. The spools 2OA, 20B are rotated in opposite directions to allow the tape to be retracted into the miniature video cassette 16.

To this end, as shown in FIG. 4, an intermediate gear 90 is movable into the +ma position in mesh with a sector gear 88 mounted on a lever 92 pivotable about the axis 94 of a small pinion 96 in mesh. An intermediate gear 90 is provided. This pinion 96 is further I'JI! to the gear 78!
2 operatively coupled, this gear meshing with a gear 82 coupled to the spool 2OA of the small cassette 16. Sector gear and spool 2 associated with arm 52B
A similar gear train is provided between 0B and 0B.

This gear 90 and similar gears associated with other sectors are both urged into meshing or disengaging relationship with respect to sector gear 88 by springs (not shown). To release gear 90 from sector span 88, large diameter portion 66A of cam 66 acts through cam follower 98 and link 100 to pivot lever 92 away from sector gear 88.

Lever 92 has a pin 102 that is engaged by a curved end 104 of link 106.

While the arms 52A, 52B are moved outward and the cam 66 makes another half turn, the large diameter portion 6 of the cam 66
6B is contacted by a roller 98 as shown in FIG.
Pivot counterclockwise around 10. This link 10
6, through its curved end 104, engages the pin 102 on the link 92, displacing the lever 92 to the left in FIG. The gear 90 is released from 88.

Link 106 also exhibits a similar curvature at opposite end 104A, with arm 52A relative to spool 2OA.
It cooperates with a link similar to link 92 associated with the gear train connecting the .

The gear ratio through a gear train including gears 90, 96, 78 between sector gear 88 and gear 82 on spool 20A (and similarly on other arm 52
20B) in the opposite direction via a gear train driven from It is as if the tape is rotated enough to absorb all the tape in a large loop. Therefore, the tape can be reliably wound into the small video cassette 16 without leaving any slack in the tape, and when the small cassette is taken out from the adapter 26 after winding, the slack in the tape will cause the tape to move to the guide device 46A.

It is possible to prevent inconveniences such as damage to the tape caused by the tape being caught on the roller 46B.

It is imperative that the arms 52A, 52B of the safety device adapter 26 and the magnetic tape of the small video cassette 16 be placed in the large loop 47 of a conventional cassette (FIG. 1) when the adapter is inserted into a video device. is necessary. Otherwise, if the adapter 26 were to be placed in the working position of the device, the arms 52A, 52B (e.g.
(devices for loading or automatic stopping of the tape) would be located opposite the elements of the video equipment that would be damaged.

Therefore, the tape of the miniature video cassette 16 occupies a large loop path before the adapter can be inserted into the video device, and when in operation - once the adapter 26 has been inserted into the video device, the arm is It is particularly necessary to ensure that the manual switch 48 that starts the motor 54 for displacement from one position to another is deactivated.

To accomplish these two requirements, two safety devices are provided, as shown in FIG.

As with conventional cassettes, adapter 26 includes a device that facilitates insertion into and removal from a video device. In the illustrated embodiment, the device includes springs 20 disposed on opposite sides of the adapter and supported by the housing 28.
Slidable block 20 subjected to the action of 1A and 201B
It consists of 0A and 200B. 20 of these blocks
O.A.

200B has springs 201A, 20 so that the block can be inserted into a video device to allow insertion of the adapter.
It cooperates with a fixing element attached to the video device so that it can be moved backwards against the action of 1B.

These blocks 20OA and 200B also have springs 201
A, together with 201B, act to push the adapter 26 out of the housing of the video device during removal.

To ensure that the adapter 26 cannot be inserted into the video device if the arms 52A, 52B are not placed in their extended position, a locking device 210 is pivoted about the shaft 211 and spring-loaded. Under the action of 212,
This spring is connected to block 200B to prevent its displacement.
Try to place this in the path of The arm 52A has a protrusion 213 that engages a member 214 projecting from the locking device 210 when the arm 52A reaches its extended position, as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 3 and in solid lines in FIG.
has. In such an engaged state, the locking device 2
10 from the path of block 200B to its return spring 212
It is pivoted against the

As the arm 52A moves inwardly, the locking device 210, which is under the action of a return spring 212 and pivoted within the block 200B, is disengaged to prevent rearward movement of the block 200B, thereby removing the locking device 210 within the housing of the video device. to prevent the adapter from being inserted into the This can alert the operator when the small video cassette 16 is not stored in the adapter or when the tape path is incomplete, and at this time the adapter is prevented from being attached to the device. 82 of the tape can be prevented from occurring, and problems such as inability to perform normal recording and reproduction can be avoided.

Block 2 resulting from cooperation with the elements of the video device
The backward movement of 00B is also used to disable the circuitry including switch 48 when the adapter is inserted, thereby ensuring that motor 54 is inoperable when adapter 26 is attached to a video device. do. To this end, block 200B opens a switch 250 located in control circuit 58 (FIG. 7) when adapter 26 is inserted into the video device.

Unless the small video cassette 16 is properly placed in the housing 30 provided in the adapter, the arms 52A, 5
A safety device is also provided to prevent any movement of 2B. This safety device is located at the bottom of the compartment 30 and operates a switch 50 which is preferably actuated by the casing of the miniature video cassette 16 when the miniature video cassette 16 is fully loaded into the compartment and placed in its proper position. Contains. Switch 5 arranged in the power supply circuit of motor 54
0 (FIG. 7) causes motor 54 to be switched ON only when a miniature video cassette is properly placed within the adapter. This switch also causes the arms 52A, 52B to actuate to form the large loop 47 in response to insertion actuation of the small cassette 16 in the adapter by starting the motor 54 and cam 66 for their active cycle. ! It has the advantage that it can also act as a ll device.

A further safety device is included to ensure that the tape is not subject to excessive tension when the 7-arms 52A, 52B are retracted to take up tape slack. For this purpose, a pinion 96 is frictionally connected to the tooth span 78 of a gear train which rotates the spool of the cassette to take up slack in the tape.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, the video cassette adapter of the present invention can alert the operator when a small video cassette is not stored in the adapter or when a tape path is incompletely formed. Also, at this time, since the adapter is prevented from being attached to the device, damage to the tape and the device can be prevented, and problems such as the inability to perform normal recording and playback can be avoided.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 and 1A show a large standard video cassette configured for a conventional video recorder/player device, and FIGS. 2 and 2A show a small video cassette for the adapter of the present invention. Figure 3 is a simplified top view of the adapter of the present invention with a small video cassette housed within the adapter housing; Figure 4 is a view of the arm and guide from the opposite side of the adapter; a partial detail view of a part of the adapter mechanism with the device in the retracted position;
5 is a partial detail view similar to FIG. 4 showing the arm and guide device in the extended position; FIGS. 6, 6A, 6B;
Figures 6C and 6C are diagrams showing the driving coupling relationship between the spool of the miniature video cassette and the hub of the adapter, and Figure 7 is a simplified circuit diagram showing the ItIIItX1 circuit of the adapter. 10... video cassette, 12... magnetic tape,
16... Small video cassette, 18... Housing, 24... Magnetic tape, 25... Small loop, 26
...Adapter, 28...Housing, 30...Storage part, 36...Bottom wall surface, 40...Claw, 42...
Rim, 44... Notch, 47... Large loop, 48
...Manual switch, 50...Automatic switch, 54.
...Motor, 58...Circuit, 61...Plate part, 62.
...Shaft, 63...Notch, 65...Stud, 6
6...Cam, 67...Spring, 68...Switch,
70... Connecting rod, 76... Ring gear, 78.
90... Intermediate gear, 82... Gear, 88... Sector gear, 92... Lever 96... Binion, 98
...Cam Follower, 100.106...Link,
102... Bin, 104... Curved end, 108...
- Instruction section, 110... Instruction section, 200... Block, 201... Spring.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A video cassette adapter used for attaching a tape cassette smaller than a standard tape cassette to a standard recording/playback device, the adapter having a storage section for storing the small tape cassette, and storing the small tape cassette in the storage section. a tape pull-out mechanism that pulls out a magnetic tape from the small-sized tape cassette using a drive mechanism to form a tape path that is the same as that of the standard tape cassette; and a tape that stores the drawn-out tape in the small-sized tape cassette. a storage mechanism; a cassette detection means that disables the drive mechanism when the small tape cassette is not installed in the storage section and enables the drive mechanism when the small tape cassette is installed; A video cassette adapter comprising an insertion prevention means that cooperates with a member on the apparatus side to prevent the adapter from being installed in the apparatus when the tape path by the tape pull-out mechanism is incomplete.