JPH05128799A - Tape cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To execute good recording and/or reproducing. CONSTITUTION:A pair of self-aligning guides 127, 128 for guiding a magnetic tape T are freely movably provided within an aperture 75 of the cassette. Slopes 137a for guiding wing guides 62, 63 of a head drum 60 are formed on the respective self-aligning guides 127, 128. The peak parts 137A of the slopes 137A are projected in the pulling direction of the head drum 60 and are positioned in the position approximate to the head drum 60 in the inserted state of the drum. The slopes 137a of the self-aligning guides 127, 128 can, therefore, be formed as steep slops and the inclination range of the slopes 137a is widened. The loss of the friction force between the magnetic tape T and the head drum 60 is decreased at the time of inserting the drum. In addition, the error permissible range in the transverse position of the wing guides 62, 63 facing the head drum 60 is widened.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tape cassette suitable for use in a recording and / or reproducing apparatus adopting a non-tracking system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, for high density recording such as digital recording and video recording, a recording and / or reproducing apparatus (hereinafter referred to as "recording / reproducing apparatus") equipped with a rotary head of a helical scan system is used. used.

Conventionally, as a tape cassette to be loaded in a recording / reproducing apparatus of this type, a housing having an opening for inserting and removing a head drum, and a helical winding around the outer peripheral surface of the head drum wound in the housing. Ultra-compact with a strip-shaped recording medium (planar size is 20 mm long, 30 m wide)
m) tape cassette is used.

This will be described with reference to FIGS. 18 to 20. In FIG. 18, reference numeral 1 is a housing for a tape cassette, and two upper and lower halves 3 are fixed to each other by screws 2a to 2d. , 4 and a cassette opening 5 for inserting and removing a head drum described later is provided on the front end face side.

The respective halves 3 and 4 of the housing 1 are provided with through holes 3a, 3b, 4a and 4b which are opened in the vertical direction, and between these through holes 3a and 3b and both through holes 4.
Half openings 3c and 4c having a rectangular shape in plan view are provided between a and 4b.
The transparent plates 6 and 7 for checking the remaining amount of the tape are attached to block the tape.

The halves 3 and 4 of the housing 1 are provided with erroneous erasure prevention mechanisms 8 and 9 which are located on both sides near the back of the halves and communicate with the halves, and a rear half central portion and a rear half portion. Cassette positioning reference holes 10 to 12 located on both sides in the left-right direction, a plurality of detection holes 13 and 14 arranged side by side in the left-right direction of the rear half, and grips 15 and 16 located on the rear parts of both side surfaces of the half. Is provided.

Stepped shaft supporting surfaces 19 and 20 (only the shaft supporting surface 20 is shown) having pins 17 and 18 (only the pin 18 is shown) projecting laterally at the front end portions of both side surfaces of both halves 3 and 4.
Further, stopper surfaces 21 and 22 (only the stopper surface 22 is shown) continuous with the both shaft supporting surfaces 19 and 20 are formed. Of these, step portions 19a and 20a of both the shaft supporting surfaces 19 and 20 are formed.
Click protrusions 23 and 24 (only the click protrusion 24 is shown) that extend in the vertical direction are integrally provided on (only the step portion 20a is shown).

Further, a recess 25 for accommodating a brake, which opens to the upper half, is provided on the bottom surface of the lower half 4 among these halves 3 and 4, and the recesses 25 are arranged in parallel in the front-rear direction at intervals. Protrusion 2 for contacting the brake spring
6 and pins 27 and 28 for brake guide are provided.

Reference numerals 29 and 30 respectively denote tape winding hubs arranged in parallel with each other at a predetermined interval, and inner hubs having insertion holes 31a, 32a for engaging the hub drive shaft and a protrusion (not shown) for restricting rotation. 31 and 32, and the convex portions (not shown) provided around the inner hubs 31 and 32.
Outer hubs 33, 34 having recesses (not shown) that engage with the
And the through holes 3a, 4a of the halves 3 and 4,
It is located at a portion corresponding to 3b and 4b and is rotatably provided in the housing 1. The inner hubs 31, 32 of each of the hubs 29, 30 are provided with a large number of hub engaging portions 31b, 32b protruding to the outer peripheral surface and exposed in the housing 1, and the outer hubs 33, 34 have outer peripheries. A magnetic tape T as a band-shaped recording medium for recording and / or reproducing a PCM signal is wound around the surface.

Reference numeral 35 denotes the hub 29, when the cassette is not used.
A brake piece that brakes 30 and has a substantially T-shape in a plan view, which includes arm portions 36a and 36b protruding to both sides of the front end portion and spring locking portions 36c and 36d protruding to the front of these both arm portions 36a and 36b. 36 and a brake spring 37 made of, for example, a stainless wire, which is locked by the locking portions 36c and 36d of the brake piece 36 so as to come into contact with the protrusion 26 and extends in the left-right direction. It is set up. The brake 35 includes both arms 36a,
Locking claws 38 and 39 that project rearward of 36b and engage with the hub locking portions 31b and 32b during hub braking, guide portions 40 and 41 that guide the pins 27 and 28, and positioning pins during cassette loading ( Cam surface 4 with which the not-shown) abuts
2a, 42b (only the cam surface 42a is shown) and a pressing operation portion 42 are provided.

Pinch rollers 43 and 44 guide the magnetic tape T, and roller shafts 45, 45 are provided on both sides of the opening 5.
It is rotatably provided via 46.

Numerals 47 and 48 are support pieces extending in the vertical direction, and are integrally formed with the upper half 3 so that the respective tip portions are in contact with the lower half 4.

Numerals 49 and 50 are guide projections for preventing the tape from protruding, which are composed of two upper and lower projection pieces whose front end surfaces are opposed to each other, and are located outside the supporting pieces 47 and 48, respectively. Of these, the corresponding halves 3 and 4 are integrally provided.

Reference numerals 51 and 52 are self-aligning guides having concave grooves 51a and 52a for guiding the magnetic tape T, and are movably provided on the lower half 4 via pivot shafts 53 and 54.

Reference numeral 55 denotes a U-shaped lid as a lid, which is a cover 57 for opening and closing the cassette opening 5 and projectingly provided at both ends of the shield 57 so as to be in contact with the shaft supporting surfaces 19, 20. It is composed of two arms 58 and 59 and is rotatably provided on the upper half 3 of the housing 1. This lid 5
A guide groove 57a extending in the left-right direction is provided in the shielding portion 57 of No. 5.
Further, a rack gear 57b with which a cassette changer (not shown) is engaged is provided, and the arm portions 58 and 59 have click holes corresponding to the shaft holes 58a and 59a facing the pins 17 and 18 and the click protrusions 23 and 24, respectively. Groove 58
b and 59b (only the click groove 59b is shown) are provided.

Reference numeral 60 is a head drum having an outer peripheral surface around which the magnetic tape T is helically wound, and 61 is a head which rotates at a predetermined angle with respect to the head drum 60. Further, 62 and 63 are wing guides which are provided on both sides of the head drum 60 and which are inserted into and removed from the cassette opening 5, and 64 and 65 are provided at the tips of the wing guides 62 and 63 for tape transfer. It is a flange that rotatably holds the rollers 66 and 67.

In the tape cassette thus constructed, when the magnetic tape T is helically wound around the outer peripheral surface of the head drum 60 by inserting the head drum 60 into the cassette opening 5 of the housing 1, this magnetic tape Recording and / or reproduction by a helical scan method is performed by the head 61 traveling obliquely with respect to T.

By the way, in this type of tape cassette, if a positional deviation occurs when the cassette is loaded into the recording / reproducing apparatus or an error occurs in the inclination of the head drum 60, the head drum 60 is opened by the opening 5 of the housing 1.
, The self-aligning guides 51 and 52 are not abutted in a normal state, and the sliding contact of the magnetic tape T with the outer peripheral surface of the head drum 60 becomes unstable, which hinders recording and / or reproduction. There is a defect that comes.

Therefore, in the conventional tape cassette, the self-aligning guides 51 and 52 are attached to the pivot 5
While pivoting around 3, 54, pivots 53, 54
The self-aligning guide 5 is formed by a tape guide that tilts with respect to the head drum 60 and that moves forward and backward in the lateral direction perpendicular to the insertion / removal direction of the head drum 60, that is, by a tape guide that is movable with respect to the housing 1.
Measures are taken such that recording and / or reproduction is performed by sliding the magnetic tape T in a stable state on the outer peripheral surfaces of 1, 52.

[0020]

However, in the conventional tape cassette, when the wing guides 62 and 63 with respect to the head drum 60 are attached in the drum insertion direction or the respective wing guide approaching directions, when the drum is inserted (cassette loading). At the time), the self-aligning guides 51 and 52 move laterally toward each other and move toward the wing guides 62 and 63 and the self-aligning guides 51 and 52.
A frictional resistance may occur between the contact surface (the inclined surface) and the contact surface. If the insertion positions of the wing guides 62 and 63 are displaced toward the head drum side, this frictional resistance is caused by the self-aligning guides 51, 51 when the drum is inserted (when the cassette is loaded).
52 from the vicinity of the apex of the inclined surface to the wing guides 62, 6
3 come into contact with each other and become larger. As a result, frictional force loss occurs between the magnetic tape T and the head drum 60 when the cassette is loaded, and an error in the lateral position of the wing guides 62 and 63 (direction perpendicular to the drum insertion direction) with respect to the head drum 60 is allowed. However, there is a problem in that good recording and / or reproduction cannot be performed.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is possible to reduce the frictional force loss between the recording medium and the head drum at the time of inserting the drum, and also the error in the lateral position of the wing guide with respect to the head drum. An object of the present invention is to provide a tape cassette capable of widening an allowable range and capable of excellent recording and / or reproduction.

[0022]

In a tape cassette according to the present invention, a casing having an opening portion into which a head drum with a wing guide is inserted and removed, and a tape cassette wound around the casing and wound around the outer peripheral surface of the head drum. A strip-shaped recording medium is provided, and a pair of tape guides for guiding the recording medium are movably provided in the opening of the housing, and an inclined surface for guiding the wing guide of the head drum is formed on each of the tape guides. The top of the inclined surface is projected in the pulling-out direction of the head drum, and is positioned at a position approaching the head drum in the drum inserted state.

[0023]

In the present invention, the inclined surface of the self-aligning guide on the wing guide contact side can be formed as a steep surface and the inclined range of this inclined surface can be widened.

[0024]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a state in which a wing guide of a head drum is in contact with a self-aligning guide of a tape cassette according to the present invention, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are front views showing an entire tape cassette according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a side perspective view and a rear perspective view, and FIGS. 4 and 5 are plan views showing the upper half and the lower half of the tape cassette according to the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the relationship between the tape cassette and the head drum before the drum is inserted in the present invention, FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a self-aligning guide of the tape cassette in the present invention, and FIGS. 7 and 1 are A- in FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line A, FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 are plan views and a front view showing a state in which the tape cassette according to the present invention is loaded on the head drum, and FIGS. 11 and 12 are sectional views taken along the line EE and FF in FIG. Line cross section, Figure 1
3 is a sectional view showing a mounted state of a pinch roller of a tape cassette according to the present invention, FIG. 14 is a sectional view showing a mounted state of another pinch roller of a tape cassette according to the present invention, and FIG. 15 is a self-assembly of the tape cassette according to the present invention. 16A to 16C are sectional views showing the upper half edge portion of the tape cassette, and FIGS. 17A and 17B show the present invention. 18 is a plan view showing a pattern for identifying the recording / reproducing time of the recording medium of the tape cassette, in which the head drum 60, the head 61, the wing guides 62 and 63, the flanges 64 and 65, and the rollers shown in FIGS. 66
-The same symbols are attached to 67.

In the figure, the reference numeral 71 designates a housing for a tape cassette, which is composed of two upper and lower halves 73 and 74 which are fixed to each other by screws 72a to 72d. A cassette opening 75 for inserting and removing the drum is provided.

Inserting holes 73a, 73b, 74a, 74 opened in the vertical direction are formed in the halves 73, 74 of the housing 71.
b is provided, and transparent plates 76 and 77 for confirming the remaining amount of the tape that close the half openings 73c and 74c having a rectangular shape in plan view between the insertion holes 73a and 73b and between the insertion holes 74a and 74b. Is attached.

Further, in each of the halves 73, 74 of the housing 1, erroneous erasure prevention mechanisms 78, 79 are provided on both sides near the back of the half, and on both sides in the center of the rear of the half and on the left and right of the rear of the half. There are provided reference holes 80 to 82 for positioning the cassette, a plurality of detection holes 83 and 84 arranged in parallel in the left and right direction of the half rear portion, and grip portions 85 and 86 located at the rear portions of both half side surfaces.

At the trailing edge of the upper half 73 of these halves 73, 74, a plurality of recesses 73d, 73e for discriminating the recording and / or reproducing time from the recording and / or reproducing front and back surfaces of the magnetic tape described later. Are provided at intervals in the left-right direction.

These recesses 73d and 73e are formed by a recess having triangular and trapezoidal or rectangular side wall surfaces which are set to have two large and small opening widths, as shown in FIGS. The opening width of each of the recesses 73d and 73e is such that the recording and / or reproducing time is long or short, for example, 3 each.
The size is set to correspond to 0 minutes and 10 minutes. It is possible to recognize that the recording and / or reproducing time is 140 minutes (30 minutes × 4 pieces and 10 minutes × 2 pieces) by these concave portions 73d and 73e. In this case, the recesses 73d, 73
In order to confirm the presence or absence of e, the number of e, and the difference in the opening width, a finger is contacted and moved along the boundary line between the upper surface and the back surface of the upper half 73.

Various other identification patterns for the recording and / or reproducing time are conceivable. However, as shown in FIG. 30 minutes and 10
It is possible to add 40 minutes by adding minutes and display the time. By combining concave portions having three opening widths of large, medium and small as shown in FIG.
The time can be displayed by adding 0 minutes to 100 minutes.

On the other hand, on the bottom surface of the lower half 4 of the two halves 73, 74, there is provided a brake receiving recess 95 which is open to the upper half side. Protrusion 96 for contacting the brake spring
And brake guide pins 97 and 98 are provided.

Further, stepped shaft support surfaces 99, 100 having pivot pins 99a, 100a projecting laterally at the front end portions of both side surfaces of both halves 73, 74 and these shaft support surfaces 9 are provided.
9 and 100 are formed with stopper surfaces 101 and 102, of which stepped portions 99 of the shaft support surfaces 99 and 100 are formed.
b and 100b have a click protrusion 10 extending vertically.
3, 104 are integrally provided.

Reference numerals 105 and 106 respectively denote hubs for tape winding which are juxtaposed with each other at a predetermined interval, and have inner holes 107a, 108a for engaging the hub drive shaft and projections 107b, 108b for restricting rotation. 10
8 and a recess 109 provided around each of the inner hubs 107 and 108 and engaged with the respective projections 107b and 108b.
a, 110a having outer hubs 109, 110, and insertion holes 73a, 74a for the halves 73, 74,
73b and 74b, which are located at the portions corresponding to 73b and 74b.
It is rotatably installed inside. Of these, the inner hub 10
7 and 108 are provided with a large number of hub engaging portions 107c and 108c which project to the outer peripheral surface and are exposed in the housing 71, and the outer hubs 109 and 110 have, for example, PCs on the outer peripheral surfaces.
A magnetic tape T is wound as a band-shaped recording medium for recording and / or reproducing the M signal.

Reference numeral 111 denotes the hub 10 when the cassette is not used.
The arm portions 112a and 112b and the both arm portions 112 projecting to the both sides of the front end portion by a brake that brakes 5, 106.
spring locking portions 112c, 1 projecting forward of a, 112b
A brake piece 112 having a substantially T shape in plan view having 12d;
The spring locking portions 112c and 112d of the brake piece 112
And a brake spring 113 made of, for example, a stainless wire, which is locked so as to come into contact with the protrusion 96 and extends in the left-right direction, and is disposed in the recess 95. The brake 111 has locking claws 114a and 114b which project rearward of the both arm portions 112a and 112b and are engaged with the hub locking portions 107c and 108c during hub braking. The insertion holes 115 and 116 for restricting the pins 97 and 98 and the cam surfaces 117a and 117 with which the positioning pins (not shown) come into contact when the cassette is loaded.
Pressing operation portion 11 having b (only cam surface 117a is shown)
7 and are provided.

Reference numerals 118 and 119 denote vertically symmetrical pinch rollers for guiding the magnetic tape T. The flanges 120a and 121a project from the outer peripheral surfaces of both opening ends and have end surfaces facing the bottom surfaces of the upper and lower halves 73 and 74 with a predetermined gap g. And an annular receiving portion 12 protruding to the inner peripheral surface of the central portion in the axial direction
Cylindrical holders 120 and 121 having 0b and 121b
And roller guides 122 and 123 made of, for example, rubber or the like, which are loaded on the outer peripheral surfaces of the holders 120 and 121 and are in sliding contact with the magnetic tape T. Roller shafts 124 and 125 are provided on both sides in the cassette opening 75, respectively. It is rotatably installed.

The roller shafts 124, 125 of the pinch rollers 118, 119 are integrally provided on the bottom surface of the lower half 74, and have large diameter portions 124a, 125a having thrust receiving surfaces of the holders 120, 121, respectively, and Small diameter portions 124b and 125b having an outer diameter smaller than the outer diameters of the large diameter portions 124a and 125a, which are press-fitted and fixed in the bearing body 126 on the upper half 73, and the small diameter portions 124b and 125.
b and a medium diameter portion 124c, 125c which is provided continuously with the large diameter portions 124a, 125a and has an outer peripheral surface facing the inner peripheral surface of the receiving portion 120b, 121b. ..

As the roller shafts 124 and 125, other roller shafts 124A as shown in FIG. 14 may be used.
Can be considered. That is, both ends of the roller shaft 124A are fixed to the upper half 73A and the lower half 74A, respectively, and a protrusion 124B having a substantially hemispherical curved surface 124B ₁ is provided at the center in the axial direction. In this case, the pinch roller 118A is the receiving portion 1 that fits the protrusion 124B.
Holder 120A having 20A ₁ and this holder 1
It is formed by a roller guide 122A that is loaded in 20A and contacts the magnetic tape T.

Here, the bearing body 126 will be described. The bearing body 126 has a function of preventing creep collapse and a receiving function in the thrust direction, and is formed integrally with the upper half 73. Then, the dimension L ₁ between the axial center portions of the receiving portions 120b and 121b and the thrust receiving surface of the bearing body 126, and the axial central portions of the receiving portions 120b and 121b and the thrust portions of the large diameter portions 124a and 125a. The dimension L ₂ between the direction receiving surfaces is set equal (L ₁ = L ₂ = L). The outer diameter a of the large diameter portions 124a and 125a of the roller shafts 124 and 125 is set to be larger than the outer diameter b of the bearing body 126 (b <a), and the pinch is set by the inner diameter r of the holders 120 and 121. Laura 1
The maximum centering angle of 18,119 is determined.

The self-alignment of the pinch rollers 118 and 119 is such that the smaller the dimension L, the larger the diameter portions 124a and 124a.
The smaller the thrust receiving diameter R of 5a is, the more effective it is.

Denoted at 127 and 128 are self-aligning guides having guide surfaces 127a and 128a for guiding the magnetic tape T. The self-aligning guides are housed on both sides in the cassette opening 75 and are pivoted to the lower half 74 via pivots 129 and 130. It is movably installed.

These self-aligning guides 127,
128 has inclined surfaces 127a and 128a each having an inner surface having a curvature slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the head drum 60 and a vertical gradient in the opposite directions.

Since the self-aligning guides 127 and 128 have substantially the same structure, only one of the self-aligning guides 127 will be described (in the drawings, the reference numerals of the parts of the self-aligning guide 128 are as follows). The same reference numerals are given to each part of the self-aligning guide 127.), and a supporting edge portion extending at a slightly wider interval than the width of the magnetic tape T on the upper and lower portions of the inclined surface 127a of the self-aligning guide 127. Thirteen
1a and 131b are provided. Between these upper and lower support edge portions 131a and 131b, an inclined guide surface 132 that is inclined toward the pinch roller side and a vertical guide surface 133 that is continuous with the front end portion of the inclined guide surface 132 are provided.

Further, receiving edge portions 134a and 134b extending slightly forward of the vertical guide surface 133 are provided at front end portions of both supporting edge portions 131a and 131b, and these receiving edge portions 134a and 134b are provided. On the back-side end surface, each is a semi-cylindrical guide protrusion 1 facing each other with a predetermined interval.
35a and 135b are provided. With these guide protrusions 135a and 135b, the tape guide groove width at the drum insertion start end of the concave groove 127a is set to be smaller than the tape guide groove width at the drum insertion end.

Further, the pressing edge portions 136a, 13 are formed on the upper and lower portions on the outer end side of the vertical guide surface 133 between the supporting edge portions 131a, 131b corresponding to the receiving edge portions 134a, 134b.
6b are provided and these pressing edges 136a, 13
On the front side of 6b, there is provided a recess 137 having an inclined surface 137a for abutting and guiding the flange 64 (or 65) when the drum is inserted.

The inner opening end (slope surface top 137A) of both opening ends of the recess 137 is formed so as to project in the pulling-out direction of the head drum 60, and approaches the head drum 60 in the drum inserted state. It is positioned to

Then, the self-aligning guide 127
A bearing bracket 138, which has a half contact portion 138 a placed on the bottom surface of the lower half 74 and is located on the outer surface side of the inclined guide surface 132, is projectingly provided on the above.

The bearing bracket 138 is provided with a shaft hole 139 that is inclined with respect to the inserting / removing direction of the head drum 60 and extends in a direction in which the drum inserting side end portions are closer to each other than the drum pulling side end portions. And this shaft hole 1
39 includes a shaft support edge portion 139a located substantially at the center in the axial direction.
Is projected. The shaft hole 139 does not need to be formed by a hole that is closed in the circumferential direction, and may be formed by a partially cutout hole.

The self-aligning guide 127,
128 is provided with two upper and lower pivots 140a and 140b that are swingably self-held. The swing fulcrums of these pivots 140a and 140b are the outer circumferences of the self-aligning guide 127 and the head drum 60 in a drum inserted state. It is located between the faces.

141 and 142 are the head drums 6
A drum guide that guides 0 to the drum insertion position, which is located on the bottom surface of the lower half 74 and which faces the inside of the cassette opening 75 and is located on the drum pull-out side of the self-aligning guides 127 and 128. The head drum 6 is provided on the inner surface of the drum guides 141, 142.
Slopes 141a and 142a with which the outer peripheral surface of 0 abuts are formed, and positioning portions 141b and 142b with which a support piece described later is fitted are provided on the outer surface. The drum guides 141 and 142 set the frictional inclination angle H (FIG. 9) of the head drum 60 to a large angle so that the frictional force loss during insertion of the head drum 6 and the head drum 6 can be reduced.
0, it is desirable to provide it in the vicinity of the drum insertion opening of the opening 75 in the lower half 74 because the position error of the pivots 129 and 130 can be reduced.
It does not matter even if it is provided in 3,74.

Numerals 143 and 144 are support pieces extending in the vertical direction, and are integrally provided on the upper half 73 so that their respective tip portions abut on the positioning portions 141b and 142b of the drum guides 141 and 142.

Numerals 145 and 146 are projections for preventing the tape from protruding, which are located outside the respective support pieces 143, 144 and are integrally provided on the upper half 73.

Reference numeral 147 is a substantially U-shaped lid as a lid, which is a shield portion 148 for opening and closing the cassette opening 75, and the shaft supporting surface 9 which is provided so as to project from both ends of the shield portion 148.
The upper half 73 is rotatably provided with two arm portions 149 and 150 that are in contact with each other. The cover 148 of the lid 147 is provided with a guide groove 148a extending in the left-right direction and a rack gear 148b with which a cassette changer (not shown) is engaged.
The pivot pins 99a, 100 are provided on both arm portions 149, 150.
shaft holes 149a, 150a exposed by a and click grooves 149b, 15 corresponding to the click protrusions 103, 104.
0b is provided.

When the tape cassette thus constructed is loaded into the recording / reproducing apparatus for recording and / or reproducing, the lid 147 is rotated to open the cassette opening 75, and the head drum 60 is moved to the win guide 62. 63 and the rollers 66, 6 of the wing guides 62, 63 as well as being inserted in a state of slidingly contacting the magnetic tape T.
7 is the pinch rollers 118, 119 and the support pieces 143, 14
4 (drum guides 141, 142).

At this time, the movement of the head drum 60 is restricted by the drum guides 141 and 142 when the cassette is loaded, and both the self-aligning guides 127 and 128 mainly move. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of variations in the insertion direction of the head drum 60 with respect to the housing 71 and the lateral position perpendicular to this direction, and also between the head drum 60 and the self-aligning guides 127 and 128. Friction force loss can be reduced.

In the head drum 60, the front end faces of the supporting edge portions 131a and 131b (concave grooves 127a and 12b) depend on the position and orientation of the self-aligning guides 127 and 128.
8a drum insertion start end side) or rear end face side (concave groove 12)
7a, 128a), the pressing force acts by contacting either one of the drum insertion end portions of 7a and 128a first, so that the pivot shaft 12
The support edge portions 131a, 13 are rotated by rotating around 9, 130 as a center.
It also contacts the other side of 1b.

Further, in the head drum 60, when one of the upper and lower support edge portions 131a and 131b first comes into contact with the head drum 60, the self-aligning guides 127 and 128 cause the pivot shafts 129 and 128 to move due to the pressing force at the time of contact. It tilts with the contact portion of the shaft supporting edge portion 139a with respect to 130 and the pivots 140a, 140b with respect to the halves 73, 74 as a fulcrum, and also contacts with the other side of the supporting edge portions 131a, 131b. Therefore, each self-aligning guide 127,
128 rotates in the directions indicated by arrows R ₁ and R ₂ (FIGS. 11 and 12). Although the rotation amount and the vertical movement amount are small, the self-aligning guides 127 and 128 and the head drum 60 are It is possible to reduce the relative amount of misalignment and suppress occurrence of variations in height positions of the self-aligning guides 127 and 128 with respect to the head drum 60.

Furthermore, each wing guide 62, 63
, The self-aligning guides 127,
128 are close to each other and have a shaft hole 139 in the drum insertion direction.
When the wing guides 62, 63 move inside, and are displaced from each other in the direction in which they are separated from each other or in the drum pull-out direction, the self-aligning guides 127, 128 are moved.
Are separated from each other and move in the shaft hole 139 in the drum withdrawing direction to contact the outer peripheral surface of the head drum 60.

In this way, the self-aligning guide 1
27 and 128 are head drums 60 for the openings 75.
Of the supporting edges 131a, 13
The front and rear end portions and the upper and lower end portions of 1b are reliably brought into contact with each other in a normal state.

On the other hand, the rollers 66 and 67 of the wing guides 62 and 63 are connected to the drum guides 141 and 142 (supporting piece 1).
43, 144) and the pinch rollers 118, 119, the magnetic tape T is rolled and the flanges 64, 65 are inserted into the self-aligning guides 127, 1
The pressing edge portions 136a, 136b of the 28 to contact the concave portion 13
7 is engaged with the inclined surface 137a.

That is, when the head drum 60 is loaded into the cassette opening 75, the wing guides 62 and 63 come into contact with the pressing edges 136a and 136b of the self-aligning guides 127 and 128 to determine the azimuth direction. Further, the head drum 60 has support edges 131a, 131
The tilting direction is determined by contact with b, and in this state, the magnetic tape T slides along the inclined guide surface 132 from the vertical guide surface 133 between the support edge portions 131a and 131b.

At this time, the self-aligning guide 12
Since the inclined surface 137a of the recess 137 of FIG. 7 is a steep surface and has a wide inclination range, the frictional force loss generated between the inclined surface 137a and the wing guides 62, 63 and the wing guides 62, 63 relative to the head drum 60 are lost. Positional errors and lateral position errors that occur when the wing guides 62 and 63 are inserted into the drum can be reduced.

Further, the bearings 120a and 120b can swing the pinch rollers 118 and 119 to obtain a self-aligning effect, and the dimensional accuracy and the mounting accuracy of the components (the dimensional accuracy of the wing guide height and the reel height). It is possible to reduce the mounting accuracy of the roller shaft) and the occurrence of bending of the roller shafts 124 and 125 due to the pressure contact of a capstan (not shown). In this case, since the pinch rollers 118 and 119 are vertically symmetrical rollers, when the cassette is loaded, these rollers are reversed to each other (so that the polishing directions of the tape contact surfaces are different from each other) and loaded on the roller shafts 124 and 125. do it.

The magnetic tape T stretched between the pinch rollers 118 and 119 is inserted into the cassette opening 75 of the head drum 60, and the upper and lower guide protrusions 135a of the self-aligning guides 127 and 128 are inserted.
Both self-aligning guides 1 to face 135b
The inclined guide surface 132 is surely provided between the supporting edge portions 131a and 131b of the 27 and 128, so that the self-aligning guides 127 to the head drum 60,
It smoothly runs along the tape path without being pinched at the contact portion of 128.

In the present embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to an ultra-small tape cassette is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this, and is applied to a large tape cassette as in the embodiment. Of course you can.

Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, but can be modified appropriately based on the technical idea of the present invention.

[0067]

As described above, according to the present invention, a housing having an opening into which a head drum with a wing guide is inserted and withdrawn, and a strip-shaped member wound in the housing and wound around the outer peripheral surface of the head drum. A recording medium is provided, and a pair of tape guides for guiding the recording medium are movably provided in the opening of the housing, and each of the tape guides is formed with an inclined surface for guiding the wing guide of the head drum. Project the top of the head drum in the direction of pulling out the head drum,
Moreover, since it is positioned at a position approaching the head drum in the drum inserted state, the wing guide inclined surface of the self-aligning guide can be formed as a steep surface and the inclination range of this inclined surface can be widened.

Therefore, it is possible to reduce the frictional force loss between the recording medium and the head drum when the drum is inserted, and it is possible to widen the tolerance range of the lateral position error of the wing guide with respect to the head drum. And / or playback can be performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a state in which a wing guide of a head drum is in contact with a self-aligning guide of a tape cassette according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front side perspective view showing the entire tape cassette according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view showing the entire tape cassette according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the upper half of the tape cassette according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the lower half of the tape cassette according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the relationship between the tape cassette and the head drum before drum insertion according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a self-aligning guide of a tape cassette according to the present invention.

8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a state in which the tape cassette according to the present invention is loaded on the head drum.

FIG. 10 is a front view showing a state in which the tape cassette according to the present invention is loaded on the head drum.

11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line EE of FIG.

12 is a sectional view taken along line FF of FIG.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing an attached state of a pinch roller of the tape cassette according to the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing a mounting state of another pinch roller of the tape cassette according to the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a front view showing a state in which the recording medium is in contact with the self-aligning guide of the tape cassette according to the present invention.

16A to 16C are sectional views showing the upper half edge portion of the tape cassette.

17A and 17B are plan views showing patterns for identifying the recording / reproducing time of the recording medium of the tape cassette according to the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing an entire conventional tape cassette.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing a relationship between a conventional tape cassette and a head drum before drum insertion.

FIG. 20 is a plan view showing a lower half of a conventional tape cassette.

[Explanation of symbols]

60 ... Head drum, 62 ... Wing guide, 75 ... Cassette opening, 127 ... Self-aligning guide, 1
37 ... concave part, 137a ... inclined surface, 137A ... top part, T ...
Magnetic tape.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A recording medium, comprising: a housing having an opening into which a head drum with a wing guide is inserted and removed; and a belt-shaped recording medium wound in the housing and wound around an outer peripheral surface of the head drum. A pair of tape guides for guiding is movably provided in the opening of the housing, and each of the tape guides is formed with an inclined surface for guiding the wing guide of the head drum. A tape cassette characterized in that it is projected in the pull-out direction and is positioned at a position approaching the head drum in a drum-inserted state.