JPH0468710B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] Industrial Application Field The present invention relates to a parallel two-reel type tape cassette that stores tape such as magnetic tape, and in particular, when used for recording, playback, etc., the magnetic tape is pulled out to the outside of the tape cassette. The present invention relates to a tape cassette that is most suitable for use as a tape cassette.

Conventional configurations and their problems Rotary head type video tape recorders have been used as home video tape recorders for a long time.
(hereinafter referred to as "tape") is a tape cassette containing magnetic tape (hereinafter referred to as "tape"). The tape is pulled out from a tape cassette, and the tape is wound around a guide drum that rotates at high speed and has a built-in video head to guide its travel. This is a device that performs recording and playback.

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 humidity and rust. However, with the spread of VTRs, there was a demand for smaller, more sophisticated devices. Tape is wrapped around a guide drum that rotates at high speed to guide travel.
This is a device that records and plays back video signals, etc.

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 humidity and rust. However, with the spread of VTRs, the need for smaller, higher-performance devices has prompted the development of tapes.Recently, so-called metal tapes coated with pure iron powder, and so-called evaporation tapes coated with Ni-Co, have been developed. Tape is about to become the mainstream next generation tape.

Although VTRs using metal tape or vapor-deposited tape are smaller and offer higher 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 handling the tape cassette alone when it is not in use, such as from getting dust on the tape or 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, with VHS and β-type cassettes, when the cassette is placed in a VTR, there is a
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. Standards have recently been announced for 8mm video tapes that use metal tape or vapor-deposited tape, and the company has devised new tape cassettes to address the problems of the 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 the areas that are easily touched by hands is attached to the first rotating plate 2 and the second rotating plate 3 as shown in FIG. 1a.
When the tape cassette shown in Figure 1B is in use and when the tape cassette is not in use as shown in Figure 1B, the tape 4 is protected from being touched by human hands by rotating it in the direction of arrow A and inserting it in between. It is something.

Therefore, the opening 5 at the bottom of the tape cassette is blocked by the second rotary plate 3, and the tape 4 cannot be directly touched by human hands.

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 in between to protect the tape, there will be no problem if the tape 4 is stretched in a straight line with a predetermined tension. If the tape 4 becomes loose and curls in the longitudinal direction due to an accident, please follow step 2 above.
The tip of the two rotary plates 2 and 3 crushes the tape 4, resulting in a disadvantage that it may not be possible to insert the tape between the tapes.

Purpose of the Invention The purpose of the present invention is to prevent the tape from being caught when opening and closing the lid that covers the opening, lock the lid in the closed state, and prevent the tape from being easily touched with fingers.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an advantageous tape cassette using metal tape, vapor-deposited tape, etc.

Structure of the Invention The present invention is a tape cassette comprising a pair of upper flat plates, a lower flat plate, and at least two or more side plates, and having a built-in tape reel. The flat plate includes a notch formed in the flat plate, a rotating lid that covers the opening, and a sliding lid that slides in a plane parallel to the upper and lower flat plates and covers the notch, and the lower flat plate is The first parallel to the upper plate
and a second surface parallel to the first surface, and the sliding lid slides within a plane sandwiched between the first surface and the second surface. In addition, the sliding lid and the lower flat plate constitute a locking means for locking the sliding of the sliding lid by utilizing the movement of the sliding lid in this plane. When storing the tape in the cassette after the tape has been pulled out, do not pinch the tape so that the rotating lid does not damage the tape, and when the rotating lid is closed, dust will not adhere to the tape. Reliable tape protection is possible without touching the cassette, and since the sliding lid does not go inside the cassette but slides on the outside surface, there is no or very little cutout hole for inserting the sliding lid inside the cassette. It only needs to be small, and it can prevent dust from entering through the cutout hole, and since the sliding lid can be a flat plate with a size almost equal to the width of the notch in the cassette, it is easy to mold with resin, and the price can be reduced. Moreover, since the lower plane part of the cassette can be constructed as a smooth surface without any protrusions, the shape of the holder for mounting the cassette on, for example, a recording/reproducing device can be simplified, allowing smooth mounting. Since the movable lid cannot be opened carelessly, an extremely safe tape cassette can be realized.

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 having a magnetic tape 7 fixed at its starting or ending end and around which the tape is wound are stored side by side on the same plane. has been done. A pair of tape reels 8 and 9 wound with the above tape are covered from above and below by an upper flat plate 10 and a lower flat plate 11. In addition, three side surfaces 12, 13 in the thickness direction of the flat tape cassette 6,
14 has a wall portion formed to protect the tape 7 from the outside world, but one side has an opening 15 with no wall surface.
The tape 7 can be pulled out from this opening 15. 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 1 is closed to protect the tape 7.
5 covers the opening 15 with a rotating lid 16.

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. FIG. 5 is also a sectional view taken along the line X--Y in FIG. 2, showing the inside of the tape cassette 6 when it is in use. 6 is a bottom view of the tape cassette of this embodiment, and FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view taken along line m--n in FIG. 6. The tape cassette 6 according to this embodiment is a so-called flangeless reel, in which the pair of tape reels 8 and 9 (however, the tape reel 9 is not shown in FIGS. 4 and 5) does not have flanges. be. That is, the tape reel 8 merely winds the tape 7 around the outer periphery of the winding drum 17 of the tape reel 8. The tape reel 8 also has boss portions 18 and 1 having a smaller diameter than the winding drum 17 at both ends in the axial direction.
It has 9. The boss portions 18 and 19 are loosely inserted into and engaged with an upper recess 20 and a lower recess 21 provided in the upper and lower inner flat surfaces of the cassette casing. The position of the tape reel 8 in the plane direction is loosely regulated. Lubricating thrust receiving sheets 22 and 23 such as fluoride resin sheets are interposed between the end surfaces of the boss portions 18 and 19 and the upper and lower recesses 20 and 21 of the cassette to prevent rotation of the tape reel 8. Guarantees smooth time. Further, the winding drum 1
Two rectangular sheets 24 and 25 with lubricating properties, such as sheets made of fluorinated resin, are arranged on both end surfaces of the tape 7 at positions that lightly touch the winding drum 17 so as to sandwich the tape 7 onto the tape reel. It plays a role as a means of regulating irregular winding when winding, or when the winding is irregular due to falling rows.

Incidentally, when the cassette is not in use, the front surface of the tape 7 is covered by a rotatable lid 16 which is pivotally supported at a position 26 rearward from the opening 15. In order to insert into the tape cassette 6 a tape pull-out member (not shown) for pulling out the tape 7 to the outside of the cassette, the lower flat plate 11 is formed with a notch 27 that is continuous with the opening 15. has been done. Further, the lower flat plate 11 includes a first surface 28 parallel to the upper flat plate 10 and the notch 27, and a first surface parallel to the first surface 28 and close to the upper flat plate 10 in the vicinity of the opening 15. 2 surfaces 29, and the first surface 28
A sliding lid 30 is disposed to cover the notch 27 so as to slide within a plane sandwiched between the second surface 29 and the second surface 29 .

The sliding lid 30 also includes a first lid portion 31 having a size substantially equal to the size of the notch portion 27, a second lid portion 32 having a smaller width than the first lid portion 31, and a second lid portion 32 having a width smaller than that of the first lid portion 31. The lid part 32 is made up of a third lid part 33 which is slightly larger than the width. A second lid portion 32 of the sliding wall 30 is provided on the wall surface 34 between the first surface 28 and the second surface 29 of the lower flat plate 11 near the opening 15.
A hole 35 whose width is slightly larger than the width of the hole 35 is provided. Furthermore, the third lid portion 33 of the sliding lid 30 and the lower flat plate 11 have a width larger than the width of the hole portion 35.
A biasing member 36 is stretched between the third lid 33 and the third lid 33 to bias the sliding lid 30 in the direction of the opening 15. The movement of the sliding lid 30 in the direction of the opening 15 is restricted.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the biasing member 36 pushes the sliding lid 30 toward the third lid portion 3 in the direction of arrow B.
When the sliding lid 30 is closed, a triangular projection provided near the opening 15 of the sliding lid 30 The portion 38 is the lower flat plate 11
A triangular groove 39 provided therein is fitted to lock the movement of the sliding lid 30. Also, the third
There is a certain gap between the end surface 40 of the lid portion 33 opposite to the end surface 37 and the wall surface 41 on which the lower flat plate 11 is formed for rotation of the sliding lid 30. By the way, when the cassette is used, as shown in FIG. Means 42,4
3 moves in the direction of arrow C and passes through the notch holes 44 and 45 formed in the end surface of the rotating lid 16, and first the first sliding lid moving means 42 moves one end surface of the sliding lid 30. pressing to rotate the sliding lid 30 in the direction of arrow D against the biasing force of the biasing member 36;
The protrusion 38 provided on the sliding lid 30 is removed from the groove 39 provided on the lower flat plate 11, and the sliding lid 30 is moved rearward from the opening 15, and at the same time, the second A tape pull-out member (a tape pull-out member for moving the slide cover 30 rearward from the opening 15 by pressing one end surface of the slide cover 30 by the cover-moving cover moving means 43 to draw out the tape 7 to the outside of the cassette. The tape 7 can be pulled out by inserting a lid (not shown) into the space 46 behind the tape 7 and further rotating the rotary lid 16 using a suitable lid pushing means (not shown). becomes.

Conversely, when you stop using the cassette, move the tape drawer member (not shown) to the space area 46.
By taking the tape out of the cassette and lowering the lid pushing means (not shown), the rotating lid 16 is rotated to cover the front surface of the tape 7, resulting in the state shown in FIG. 4.

Therefore, when the cassette is not in use, the tape 7 is surrounded by the rotating lid 16 and the sliding lid 30, and the sliding lid 30 does not allow the tape inside the cassette containing the wound tape to be enclosed. Since it is only a small portion, human hands will not touch the tape and dust will not adhere to it. 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 rotating lid 16 and the sliding lid 30 will not catch the tape and damage the tape. Furthermore, since the sliding lid 30 can be made of a flat plate with a size approximately equal to the width of the notch 27 of the cassette, resin molding is easy and costs can be reduced, and the bottom surface of the cassette is a smooth surface with no protrusions. Since the tape cassette can be configured easily, the shape of the holder for installing the cassette in a recording/reproducing device, etc., for example, can be simplified, allowing smooth installation.Furthermore, since the sliding lid 30 cannot be easily opened by hand, the tape cassette is extremely safe. becomes.

Effects of the Invention The tape cassette of the present invention allows the tape to be stored in the cassette from the state where the tape has been pulled out, without the tape being pinched, and without damaging the tape due to the rotating lid. When the tape is closed, it is possible to securely protect the tape without dust adhering to the tape or touching it with human hands.Moreover, since the sliding lid does not enter the inside of the cassette but slides on the external surface, the sliding lid can be placed inside the cassette. There is no need to provide a cutout hole for the cassette to be inserted, and dust can be prevented from entering through the cutout hole.Furthermore, the sliding lid can be easily molded with resin, making it easy to slide. Most of the parts, including the moving lid, can be made of resin molded products, making it possible to reduce the cost.Furthermore, the bottom surface of the cassette can be constructed as a smooth surface with no protrusions, making it easy to use the cassette in, for example, a recording/playback device. The shape of the holder for the tape cassette can be simplified, allowing smooth mounting, and since the sliding lid 30 cannot be easily opened by hand, an extremely safe tape cassette can be realized.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figures 1a and 1b are schematic sectional views of main parts of a conventional tape cassette in the open and closed states;
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.
A sectional view taken along the line X-Y in the figure, and FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the tape cassette of this embodiment. Figure 7 is m- of Figure 6.
It is a partial sectional view taken along the n-line. 6...Tape cassette, 7...Tape, 8,9
... Tape reel, 10 ... Upper flat plate, 11 ... Lower flat plate, 15 ... Opening, 16 ... Rotating lid, 28 ...
... first surface, 29 ... second surface, 30 ... sliding lid, 38 ... protrusion, 39 ... groove.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A tape cassette comprising a pair of upper flat plate 10, lower flat plate 11, and at least two or more side plates, and containing tape reels 8, 9, which has an opening 15 formed on one side; A notch 27 continuous with the opening 15 and formed in the lower flat plate 11, a rotating lid 16 that covers the opening 15, and a rotating lid 16 that slides in a plane parallel to the lower flat plate 11 and covers the notch 27. Sliding lid 30
The lower flat plate 11 is a first plate parallel to the upper flat plate 10.
The sliding lid 30 is sandwiched between the first surface 28 and the second surface 29. locking means 38, 39 configured to slide within a plane in which the sliding lid 30 is moved, and locking the sliding movement of the sliding lid 30 by utilizing movement of the sliding lid 30 within this plane;
A tape cassette comprising the sliding lid 30 and the lower flat plate 11.