JPH0513355B2 - - 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 moisture and rust. However, with the spread of VTRs, the need for smaller, higher-performance devices has prompted the development of tapes, and 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 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 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 set in a VTR,
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 squeezed between the tape cassettes, thereby protecting the tape 4 from being touched by human hands.

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 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. 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 narrow the tape.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a tape cassette that realizes a locking of the lid covering the tape with a simple structure when using metal tape, vaporized tape, etc. that are not suitable for contact with dust or human fingers. It is.

Structure of the Invention The tape cassette of the present invention includes an opening formed in one side of the cassette containing a tape reel;
a notch formed in at least one of the upper surface and the lower surface of the cassette so as to be continuous with the opening;
a first rotating lid that is rotatable to cover the front side of the tape stretched along the opening; a first rotating lid that is pivotally supported near the opening and is rotatable to cover the rear side of the tape;
and a second rotating lid that is slidable between a first position and a second position in a direction substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis direction, and biasing the second rotating lid in the sliding direction. a biasing means;
In conjunction with the opening/closing operation of the first rotating lid, the second rotating lid is opened and closed.
interlocking means for opening and closing the rotary lid, and the urging means when the first and second rotary lids are closed, so that the second rotary lid is in the first position. a regulating portion integrally provided on the first and second rotating lids so as to restrict the rotation of the first rotating lid by the second rotating lid; The rotary lid is slid to the second position against the biasing means to release the restriction on the rotation of the first and second rotary lids, and thereby, By storing the tape in the cassette from the tape drawer state and squeezing the tape with the rotating lid, the tape will not be damaged, and when the rotating lid is closed, dust will not adhere to the tape. To realize an extremely safe tape cassette which can securely protect the tape without touching it by human hands and whose rotating lid cannot be opened carelessly.

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. Three side surfaces 10, 11, and 12 in the thickness direction of the flat tape cassette 6 are formed with wall surfaces to protect the tape 7 from the outside world, but one side surface is an opening 13 without a wall surface. The tape 7 can be pulled out from this opening 13. By the way, normally, when the tape cassette 6 is not in use, that is, when the tape 7 is not drawn out, the opening 13 is covered by the first rotating lid 14 to protect the tape 7.

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.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the main body of this embodiment,
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the second rotating lid, and FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the first rotating lid. The tape cassette 6 according to this embodiment includes a pair of tape reels 8 and 9.
(However, the tape reel 8 is not shown in FIGS. 4 and 5) is a type without a flange, 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. Further, the tape reel 9 has boss portions 16 and 17 having a smaller diameter than the winding drum 15 at both ends in the axial direction. The boss portion 16,1
7 is loosely inserted into and engaged with an upper recess 18 and a lower recess 19 provided on the upper and lower inner flat surfaces of the cassette, so that the flat surface of the tape reel 9 inside the tape cassette 6 is The position of the direction is loosely regulated. Lubricating thrust receiving sheets 20 and 21 such as sheets made of fluoride resin are interposed between the end surfaces of the boss portions 16 and 17 and the upper recess 18 and lower recess 19 of the cassette to prevent rotation of the tape reel 9. Guarantees smooth time. Also,
On both end surfaces of the winding drum 15, two rectangular sheets 22 and 23 having lubricating properties, such as sheets made of fluorinated resin, are disposed at positions that lightly touch the winding drum 15 so as to sandwich the winding drum 15 therebetween. It plays a role as a means of regulating irregular winding when wound on a tape reel, or when the winding is irregular due to drop-offs.

Next, first, the states of the first and second rotating lids when the cassette is not in use and when the cassette is in use will be explained. When the cassette is not in use, the tape 7 is pivoted at a position 24 rearward of the opening 13, and the first rotating lid 14 covering the opening 13 and the tape 7 are placed in the vicinity of the opening 13 and It is sandwiched by a second rotatable lid 26 which is pivotally supported at a position 25 located substantially above.

By the way, the position 25 near the opening 13 and approximately above the tape 7 is located at the position 25 shown in FIGS. 4 to 6.
As shown in the figure, the tape cassette 6, which is the main body part, has long holes 33, 34 (the long hole 34 is not shown in FIGS. 4 and 5) and the long holes 33, 3.
Grooves 35 and 36 (shown in FIG. 6) having the same shape as 4 are formed. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, shaft portions 37 and 38 are formed in the second rotating lid 26, and the shaft portions 37 and 38 are formed in the elongated holes 33 and 3.
4 and is supported by the grooves 35 and 36. Further, the shaft portions 37 and 38 are urged downward by urging means 39 and 40 such as torsion springs and leaf springs provided inside the tape cassette 6.

Further, on the inner surface of the first rotating lid 14, there are two interlocking members 2 having protruding shafts 27 and 28.
9 and 30 are formed, and the protruding shaft 2
7 and 28 are engaged with two elongated guide grooves 31 and 32 formed at the rear of the second rotating lid 26.

Further, a portion of the first rotating lid 14 and the second rotating lid 26 has a convex portion so as to restrict the rotation of the first rotating lid 14 and the second rotating lid 26 to each other. shaped first and second regulating means 41;
42 is formed. Therefore, when the cassette is closed, the first rotating lid 14 cannot be opened by hand or the like.

Next, when using the cassette, first, the shaft pushing means 43 and 44 for sliding the shaft parts 37 and 38 formed in the first rotary lid upward are pushed into the holes provided in the tape cassette 6. 45, 46, further covers the holes 45, 46, and the end portion 4
Dust-proof flexible sheet 4 fixed with 7, 48
9 and 50 are pushed open, and the shaft portions 37 and 38 are pushed upward along the elongated holes 33 and 34 and the groove portions 35 and 36. As a result, the second regulating means 42 formed on the second rotating lid 26 becomes the first regulating means 41 formed on the first rotating lid.
The first rotating lid 14 is rotated by an appropriate lid pushing means (not shown) as shown in FIG. 6, and in conjunction with this, The second rotary lid 26 is rotated rearward and upward about the position 25, and a suitable well-known tape pull-out member (not shown) is inserted into the space area 51 behind the tape 7. 7 withdrawals are possible. 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. By lowering 44, a state as shown in FIG. 4 is obtained. Therefore, when the cassette is not in use, the tape 7 is
Since it is surrounded by the rotary lid 14 and the second rotary lid 26, 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-using state to the cassette-non-using state, the first rotating lid 14 and the second rotating lid 26 will catch the tape 7. It will not damage the tape. Furthermore, since the first rotating lid 14 cannot be opened carelessly, it is extremely safe for the tape.

Note that as the regulating means, a concave portion or a convex portion may be formed in a portion of one of the first and second rotating lids 14 and 26, and a convex portion or a concave portion may be formed in a portion of the other. Needless to say, it's a good thing.

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. Furthermore, when the rotating lid is open, the opening of the space formed by the first rotating lid and the second rotating lid is configured so that the opening of the space formed by the first rotating lid and the second rotating lid is large. Even if the tape in the notch is slightly slack during the process, the rotating lid will not catch the tape and damage it, and the rotating lid cannot be opened carelessly, making it extremely safe for the tape. You can also get excellent results.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

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.
6 is a perspective view of the main body,
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the second rotating lid, and FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the first rotating lid. 6...Tape cassette, 7...Tape, 8,9
...Tape reel, 14...First rotating lid, 26
...Second rotating lid, 29, 30...Interlocking member, 3
1, 32... Guide groove, 33, 34... Long hole, 3
5, 36...Groove portion, 41, 42...Regulating means.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An opening 13 formed in one side of the cassette 6 containing the tape reels 8 and 9, and a rotatable opening 13 that covers the front side of the tape stretched along the opening 13. 1, a rotating lid 14 which is pivoted near the opening 13, is rotatable to cover the rear surface of the tape 7, and is located at a first position and a second position in a direction substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis direction. a second rotating lid 26 that is slidable between positions; urging means 39 and 40 that urges the second rotating lid 26 in the sliding direction; and opening and closing of the first rotating lid. Interlocking means 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 for opening and closing the second rotating lid 26 in conjunction with the operation; and closing of the first and second rotating lids 14, 26. When the second rotating lid 26 is in the first position due to the biasing means 39 and 40, the first
The first and second rotating lids 1 are arranged such that the rotation of the rotating lid 14 is regulated by the second rotating lid 26.
4 and 26, and the second rotating lid 26 is biased by the biasing means 39 and 4.
1. A tape cassette characterized in that the tape cassette is configured to be slid to a second position against zero rotation to release rotation restriction of the first and second rotary lids 14, 26.