JPH0468707B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a parallel two-reel type tape cassette for storing tape such as magnetic tape, and in particular to a tape cassette that allows the magnetic tape to be pulled outside the tape cassette when used for recording, playback, etc. The present invention relates to a tape cassette that is optimal for use as a tape cassette.

Conventional configurations and their problems Rotating head type video tape recorders have long been used as household video tape recorders. This device records and plays back video signals, etc. by pulling out a tape from a tape cassette containing a video head, wrapping the tape around a guide drum that rotates at high speed and guiding the tape.

For example, tape cassettes for VHS and β systems consist of a flat housing that stores two reels of tape wound in parallel on the same plane, with an opening on one side. , the tape can be pulled out to the outside. When the tape is stored in the cassette, a rotating plate with a rotating fulcrum is opened at a predetermined position in the tape cassette case to prevent dust from adhering to the surface of the tape or from touching it. The tape is used as a lid to protect the area.

By the way, the type of tape used for VHS and β systems is a tape using iron oxide mainly composed of γ-Fe ₂ O ₃ , and is resistant to moisture and rust. However, with the spread of VTRs, the need for smaller devices and higher performance has prompted the development of tapes.Recently, so-called metal tapes coated with pure iron powder, as well as Ni-Co
So-called vapor-deposited tapes are about to become the mainstream of next-generation tapes.

Although VTRs using metal tape or vapor-deposited tape are compact and offer high image quality, they also require more care in handling and protecting the tape than with conventional iron oxide tape. In particular, care should be taken to protect the tape when it is not in use, such as from getting dust on the tape or from touching it with human hands.

As is well known, in VHS and β-type cassettes, a rotary plate was provided as a cover over the tape drawer opening of the tape cassette to protect the tape cassette from the outside. However, when a VHS or β-type cassette is placed in a VTR at the bottom of the cassette,
There was an opening (notch) into which the tape drawing member was inserted, and it was possible to intentionally touch the tape through this opening. For 8mm video, which has recently been announced as a standard and uses metal tape and vapor-deposited tape, we have taken into consideration the problems with conventional tape cassettes. In particular, as a cover for the tape cassette opening, as shown in principle in FIGS. In addition to the rotating plate 2, a second rotating plate 3 is provided. Then, the tape 4 in areas that are easily touched by hands is moved between the first rotating plate 2 and the second rotating plate 3 from when the tape cassette shown in FIG. 1a is used to as shown in FIG. 1b.
When the tape cassette shown in FIG. 1 is not in use, it is rotated in the direction of arrow A and sandwiched between the cassettes, thereby protecting the tape 4 from being touched by human hands. Therefore, the opening 5 at the bottom of the tape cassette
The tape 4 cannot be directly touched by a human hand because it is blocked by the second rotating plate 3.

However, this method has the following drawbacks. That is, the first rotating plate 2 and the second
When the rotating plate 3 rotates with the tape 4 sandwiched between them to protect the tape, there will be no problem if the tape 4 is stretched in a straight line with a predetermined tension, but if some kind of accident occurs. If the tape 4 is loose and curled in the longitudinal direction, the above 2.
This has the disadvantage that the tips of the two rotary plates 2 and 3 crush the tape 4, so that it may not be possible to pinch the tape.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to compensate for the above-mentioned drawbacks and to provide a tape cassette which is advantageous and has excellent assemblability using metal tape, vapor-deposited tape, etc.

Structure of the Invention In the tape cassette of the present invention, an opening is formed in one side of the cassette containing a tape reel, and a cutout continuous with the opening is formed in at least one of the top and bottom surfaces of the cassette. a first rotatable lid that is rotatable to cover the front side of the tape stretched along the opening; and a rotatable lid that is pivotally supported on the side surface of the cassette near the opening and that covers the rear side of the tape. It is provided with a second rotatable lid that is freely rotatable, and
The first rotary lid is provided with a protruding engagement portion so that the second rotary lid is opened and closed in conjunction with the opening and closing operation of the second rotary lid. A guide groove that engages with the protruding engaging part provided on the first rotary lid and has an opening for inserting the protruding engaging part is provided in the guide groove. When storing the tape in the cassette from the tape drawer state, the rotating lid that sandwiches the tape prevents the tape from being damaged, and when the rotating lid is closed, the tape does not attract dust or come in contact with human hands. To realize a tape cassette which can securely protect the tape without any damage and has excellent assemblability.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a tape cassette according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a side view thereof.
As is clear from FIGS. 2 and 3, the tape cassette 6 has a flat casing (cassette) in appearance.
Inside the tape cassette 6, a pair of tape reels 8 and 9, each with the tape 7 wound around it, are lined up on the same plane, with the starting end or ending end of the magnetic tape 7 fixed respectively. It is stored. Three side surfaces 10, 11, and 12 in the thickness direction of the flat tape cassette 6 are formed with walls to protect the tape 7 from the outside world, but one side surface 13 is an opening without a wall surface. The tape 7 can be pulled out from the side surface 13. By the way, normally, when the tape cassette 6 is not in use, that is, when the tape 7 is not pulled out, the opening of the side surface 13 is covered by the first rotating lid 14 to protect the tape 7. It's on.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line X-Y in FIG. 2, showing the inside of the tape cassette 6 when it is not in use.

Also, Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the X-Y line in Figure 2.
This figure shows the inside of the tape cassette 6 when it is in use. Moreover, FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the main parts of this embodiment. Tape cassette 6 according to this embodiment
is a pair of tape reels 8 and 9 (see Fig. 4,
The reel (tape reel 8 is not shown in FIG. 5) does not have a flange, which is a so-called flangeless reel. That is, the tape reel 9 merely has the tape 7 wound around the outer periphery of the winding drum 15 of the tape reel 9. The tape reel 9 also has boss portions 16 and 17 at both ends in the axial direction that have a smaller diameter than the winding drum 15.
have. The boss portions 16 and 17 are recessed portions 1 provided in the upper and lower inner flat surfaces of the cassette housing.
8 and 19, the tape reel 9 inside the tape cassette 6
The position in the plane direction is loosely regulated. The end surfaces of the boss portions 16 and 17 and the recess 1 of the cassette
Lubricating thrust receiving sheets 20 and 21, such as sheets made of fluorinated resin, are interposed between 8 and 19 to ensure smooth rotation of the tape reel 9. Further, on both end surfaces of the winding drum 15, the winding drum 1
Two rectangular sheets 22 with lubricating properties, such as sheets made of fluoride resin, are placed in a position where they lightly touch each other so as to sandwich the sheet 5.
23 is disposed, and serves as a means for regulating irregular winding when the tape 7 is wound on the tape reel, or when the winding is irregular due to dropped rows, etc.

By the way, when the cassette is not in use, the tape 7 is placed at a position 24 rearward of the side surface 13 where the opening is located.
It is sandwiched between the first rotary lid 14, which is pivotally supported at a position 25 near the cassette opening, and the second rotary lid 26, which is pivotally supported at a position 25 near the cassette opening. . Further, two protruding engagement parts 29 and 30 having protruding shafts 27 and 28 are formed on the inner surface of the first rotating lid 14, and the protruding shafts 27 and 28 are Two elongated guide grooves 3 formed at the rear of the second rotating lid 26
1 and 32. Further, one ends of the elongated guide grooves 31 and 32 are open as shown at 34 and 35. Therefore, in order to bring the first rotary lid 14 and the second rotary lid 26 into engagement when assembling the cassette, two protrusions formed on the inner surface of the first rotary lid 14 are provided. Engagement part 2
By inserting the shafts 27, 28 protruding from the shafts 9, 30 into the open portions 34, 35 of the guide grooves 31, 32 provided in the second rotating lid 26, the shafts 27, 28 can be easily engaged. It has a structure that is easy to assemble. Note that the opening portion 3 of the guide grooves 31 and 32
4, 35 are shafts 27, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.
The entrance is designed to be large so that it is easy to insert 28.

By the way, when the cassette is used, as shown in FIG. 6, the first rotating lid 14 is rotated by an appropriate lid pushing means (not shown), and in conjunction with this, the second rotating lid 14 is rotated. The tape 7 can be pulled out by rotating the movable lid 26 rearward and upward around the position 25 and inserting a known suitable tape pulling member (not shown) into the space 33 behind the tape 7. becomes. Conversely, when the cassette is no longer used, the tape pull-out member (not shown) is taken out of the cassette from the space area 33, and the lid lifting means (not shown) is lowered to complete the first cycle. The movable lid 14 rotates to cover the front surface of the tape 7, and in conjunction with this, the second rotary lid 26 rotates to cover the rear surface of the tape 7.
The state will be as shown in FIG. Therefore, when the cassette is not in use, the tape 7 is surrounded by the first rotary lid 14 and the second rotary lid 26, so that human hands do not touch the tape or dust etc. adhere to it. There's nothing to do. Moreover, even if the tape 7 in the notch is slightly slack when changing from the cassette-used state to the cassette-unused state, the first rotating lid 14 and the second rotating lid 26 will catch the tape 7. It will not damage the tape.

Effects of the Invention As is clear from the above description, the tape cassette of the present invention has a simple lid structure and can protect the tape in the notch from human hands and dust. In particular, when the rotating lid is open, the opening of the space formed by the first rotating lid and the second rotating lid is configured to be large, so the closing of the rotating lid is difficult. Even if the tape in the notch sometimes becomes a little slack, the rotary lid does not catch the tape and damage it. Further, in the tape cassette of the present invention, the first rotary lid is provided with a protrusion or a guide groove, and the second rotary lid is engaged with the protrusion or guide groove provided on the first rotary lid. Since the structure includes guide grooves or protrusions that meet each other, it also has the advantage of being easy to assemble and manufacture.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figures 1a and 1b are schematic end views of the main parts of a conventional tape cassette in an open state and a closed state;
The figure is a plan view of a tape cassette according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a side view thereof, and FIGS.
FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the main parts of the embodiment of the present invention. 6...Tape cassette, 7...Tape, 8,9
...Tape reel, 14...First rotating lid, 26
...Second rotating lid, 29, 30... Protruding engagement portion, 31, 32... Guide groove.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 An opening is formed in one side of the cassette containing the tape reel, a notch continuous with the opening is formed in at least one of the top and bottom surfaces of the cassette, and the tape is stretched along the opening. a first rotatable lid that is rotatable to cover the front surface of the tape; and a second rotatable lid that is pivotally supported on the side surface of the cassette near the opening and that is rotatable to cover the rear surface of the tape. and a protruding engagement portion is provided on the first rotating lid so that the second rotating lid is opened and closed in conjunction with the opening and closing operation of the first rotating lid. , a guide groove is provided in the second rotating lid that engages with the protruding engaging portion provided on the first rotating lid and has an opening for inserting the protruding engaging portion; A tape cassette characterized by: