JPH05166333A - Tape cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a tape cassette capable of preventing an unnecessary reel hub rotation with a simple constitution and equipped with a hub braking mechanism not blocking interchangeability for a recording/reproducing device. CONSTITUTION:The tape cassette is formed by housing reel hubs 4 and 5 wound with a tape in a casing formed by upper and lower halves 1 and 2. The tape cassette is constituted so that it is provided with a pressurized braking member 21 attached to the reel hubs in attaching and detaching directions siftably and capable of putting on a rotary brake in the pressurized state to the reel hub and an operation means 20 exposed on the casing for shifting the pressurized braking member 21 in the attaching and detaching direction of the reel hubs.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tape cassette containing a pair of reel hubs around which a tape-shaped recording medium is wound, as represented by a compact cassette tape.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Compact cassette tapes and microcassette tapes, which are widely used at present, are wound with a magnetic tape due to vibrations and shocks when they are not used, that is, when they are not loaded in a recording / reproducing apparatus. When the reel hub rotates, the magnetic tape is unwound from the reel hub. Since the slack of the magnetic tape damages the magnetic tape or causes winding disorder, it is necessary to prevent such unnecessary rotation of the reel hub.

Therefore, since such a tape cassette is usually stored in a plastic case and stored or carried around, when the tape cassette is housed in the plastic case on the inner surface of the plastic case conventionally. A locking claw that engages with the reel hub of the tape cassette is formed on the disk, thereby preventing unnecessary rotation of the reel hub.

[0004]

However, since the tape cassette itself is not provided with means for restricting the rotation of the reel hub, the slack of the magnetic tape occurs in the state where the tape cassette is not housed in the plastic case. Resulting in. Therefore, the magnetic tape is damaged,
It often becomes a problem that the stability of the tape running is hindered by the winding disorder.

In addition, there is a strong demand for means for regulating the rotation of the reel hub in the tape cassette itself, because the tape cassette is bulky when it is stored in a plastic case, which is inconvenient to carry and store.

Some tape cassettes, such as DAT cassettes and 8 mm VTR cassettes, have means for restricting the rotation of the reel hub, but these have a complicated hub lock mechanism and reel hub shape. In addition, the hub lock and the hub lock release operation means are configured to operate corresponding to the recording / reproducing apparatus side.
Therefore, these hub lock means cannot be used as they are for a compact cassette tape or a micro cassette tape.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and the conventional tape cassette itself is not provided with a brake means for a reel hub, such as a compact cassette tape or a microcassette tape. It is an object of the present invention to maintain compatibility between a tape cassette and a recording / reproducing apparatus and to mount the braking means with a simple structure.

For this reason, in a tape cassette in which a pair of reel hubs around which a tape-shaped recording medium is wound is housed in a housing formed by upper and lower halves, the tape cassettes are mounted so as to be able to move toward and away from the reel hubs. The reel hub is provided with a pressure contact braking member capable of braking the rotation of the reel hub in a pressure contact state with the reel hub, and an operation means exposed on a housing for displacing the pressure contact braking member with respect to the reel hub. To do so.

More specifically, the reel hubs are attached so as to come into contact with and separate from the reel hubs so that the reel hubs can be displaced in the front-rear direction.
In addition, a wire-shaped pressure contact braking member that can brake the rotation of the reel hub while being pressed against each reel hub, and to shift the pressure contact braking member toward and away from each reel hub in the front-back direction of the housing. And a slide operation means for supporting an end portion of the press contact brake member slidably and having an operation portion exposed on the housing.

Alternatively, a pressure contact brake member is mounted in the gap between the reel hub and one half, and the end portion of the pressure contact brake member is supported, and the end portion of the supported pressure contact brake member is slid to the other end side. The press contact brake member itself can be curved in the thickness direction of the housing, and the slide operation means is provided in which the operation portion is exposed on the housing, and the pressure contact brake member is curved directly or indirectly in the thickness direction of the housing. It is configured to be pressed against and to brake the rotation of the reel hub.

Still further, a plate-like pressure contact brake member, which is slidably mounted in a gap between the reel hub and one half and has an operating portion exposed on the housing, is provided on the inner surface side of the one half. A cam protrusion is formed on each of the surfaces of the pressure contact braking member that faces one half, and when the pressure contact brake member is in a specific sliding state, the cam protrusion of the pressure contact brake member and the cam protrusion of one half are By making contact, the pressure contact brake member is displaced in the thickness direction of the housing so as to directly or indirectly contact the reel hub, and the rotation of the reel hub can be braked.

[0012]

By providing the reel hub braking means on the tape cassette itself, unnecessary rotation of the reel hub can be restricted even when the tape hub is not loaded in the plastic case. Further, the operation means of the brake means is exposed on the housing so that the user can operate it, so that it is not necessary to provide any special mechanism on the recording / reproducing apparatus side corresponding to the tape cassette. , Compatibility is maintained.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the tape cassette of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a so-called three-piece type compact cassette tape in which a guide block for guiding the running of the magnetic tape is formed separately from the upper and lower halves.
[Fig. 3] is a plan view showing a state in which an upper half is removed.

In these figures, 1 and 2 are upper and lower halves forming a tape cassette housing, 3 is a guide block, 4 and 5 are reel hubs rotatably supported in the tape cassette housing, and 6 is a reel hub 4. , 5 are magnetic tapes, and 7, 8 are sheets having a sliding effect.

The housing of the tape cassette is composed of upper and lower halves 1, 2.
Are integrally formed with the screw B. Further, the guide block 3 is mounted on the front side inside the housing as shown in FIG. 2, and the guide portions 3a, 3b, 3c projecting toward the front side where the magnetic tape 6 contacts the magnetic head.
Is designed to guide the running position of the magnetic tape 6.

Reel shafts 1a and 2a projecting in a ring shape are provided on the inner surfaces of the upper and lower halves 1 and 2, and reel hubs 4 and 5 on which a magnetic tape 6 is wound are attached to the reel shafts 1a and 2a. Each of them is rotatably supported. The reel hubs 4 and 5 supported by the reel shafts 1a and 2a are engaged with the reel drive shafts of the recording / reproducing apparatus when the reel drive shafts of the recording / reproducing device are inserted into the reel shaft insertion holes 1b and 2b, and are rotated. ing.

Further, reel hubs 4, 5 and upper and lower halves 1,
The sheets 7 and 8 are interposed in the respective gaps between the sheet 2 and the sheet 2. The seats 7 and 8 are formed with parallel ridges 7a, 7b, 8a and 8b which are convex toward the reel hubs 4 and 5, respectively, and these ridges 7a, 7b, 8a and 8b are formed on the reel hubs 4 and 5, respectively. 5 and the magnetic tape 6 wound around the reel hubs 4 and 5
By sandwiching the tape, the tape winding disorder is prevented and the tape running is stabilized.

As a guide member for the magnetic tape 6, a pair of left and right tape guide rollers 9 and 10 and tape guide pins 11 and 12 are provided. In this embodiment, the inner circumference ribs 4a, 5a of the reel hubs 4, 5 are the outer circumference ribs 4 of the reel hubs 4, 5.
It has a shape projecting in the thickness direction of the housing from b and 5b.

Further, in order to obtain a magnetic shield effect, a magnetic shield plate 13 is fitted to the guide block 3 at the center of the front part of the tape cassette housing, and a leaf spring 15 having a pad 14 attached thereto is attached to the front part of the magnetic shield plate 13. To support. Further, rectangular window portions 1c and 2c for confirming the tape amount are formed between the reel insertion holes 2b and 3b formed in the central portions of the upper and lower halves 1 and 2 with a transparent resin by, for example, two-color molding. ..

The magnetic head of the recording / reproducing apparatus is inserted from the magnetic head insertion window 16 formed on the front side of the tape cassette housing with the upper and lower halves 1 and 2 attached.
The magnetic tape 6 guided and guided by the guide block 3 is pressed against the pad 14 by pressing it to record / record a voice signal.
A playback operation will be performed.

Reference numeral 20 denotes a brake operating switch attached to the upper half 1, and the brake operating switch 20 is slidable in the front-rear direction of the housing in a groove 1d formed in the upper half 1. In addition, the brake operation switch 20 has an end portion 21a of the wire-shaped brake member 21 at the protruding portion of the upper half 1 toward the inner surface side.
I support you.

That is, the brake operation switch 20 is, as shown in FIG. 3, an operation portion 20a for the user to operate.
When the neck portion 20b, is composed of a brake holding portion 20c located on the inner surface side of the upper half 1, the brake holding portion 20c is provided裂状portion 20c _1, the brake member to the裂状portion 20c ₁ The end 21a of 21 is inserted.

As shown in FIG. 4, the brake operating switch 20 is attached with the neck portion 20b inserted into the slide hole 1e on the bottom surface of the groove portion 1d, and therefore, as shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line AA.
From the state shown in FIG. 4B, it is slidable between the state shown in FIG. 4C and the state shown in FIG.

Here, the brake operating switch 20 is provided with a click protrusion 20d on the side surface of the operating portion 20a, and the click locking portions 1d ₁ and 1d ₂ are provided on one wall surface of the groove portion 1d.
Are formed. The brake operation switch 20 is fitted in FIGS. 4 (a) clicking projection 20d is clicked engagement portion 1d ₁ when in the slide position of (b), the position state is maintained. Also, click projection 20d when the brake operation switch 20 is in the sliding position of FIG. 4 (c) (d) is fitted to the click engagement portion 1d _2, its position state is maintained. Furthermore, when sliding, the click protrusion 20d and the click locking portion 1d ₁ or 1d
_A click feeling can be obtained by inserting / removing with ₂ .

Further, the brake member 21 whose end portion 21a is held by the brake operation switch 20 has the other end portion 21b as an upper portion as shown in FIG. 5 which is a plan view of the upper half 1 as seen from the inner surface side. It is fixed by being sandwiched by ribs 1f protruding from the inner surface of the half 1.

The brake member 21 whose end 21a is held by the brake operating switch 20 and whose end 21b is fixed by the rib 1f in this way is shown in FIG. 5 (a) according to the sliding movement of the brake operating switch 20 described above. As shown in (b), the entire body is displaced in the front-back direction.

In this embodiment, as described above, the inner circumferential ribs 4a, 5a of the reel hubs 4, 5 are replaced by the outer circumferential ribs 4b, 5 of the reel hubs 4, 5.
Since it has a shape projecting in the thickness direction of the housing from b, the brake member 21 moves in the front-back direction of the housing in accordance with the sliding operation of the brake operation switch 20, as schematically shown in FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b). Due to the deviation, the brake member 21 comes into pressure contact with and separates from the inner circumferential ribs 4a, 5a of the reel hubs 4, 5. Inner circumferential rib 4a
Fig. 7 (a) shows the pressure contact state between (5a) and the brake member 21.
It is shown as a front view and a side view in (b).

That is, the brake operation switch 20 is shown in FIG.
In the state of (a) and (b), the brake member 21 is provided with the inner circumferential ribs 4 of the reel hubs 4 and 5 as shown in FIG. 6 (a).
It is separated from a and 5a, and is located in the gap between the outer circumferential ribs 4b and 5b and the upper half 1. (Note that in this embodiment, since the seat 7 is interposed, the brake member 21
Will be located in the gap between the sheet 7 and the upper half 1. )

In this case, the brake member 21 is not in pressure contact with the reel hubs 4 and 5, and the reel hubs 4 and 5 are in a rotation release brake release state. Of course, since the reel hubs 4 and 5 have a certain clearance with respect to the reel shafts 1a and 2a, the reel hubs 4 and 5 can move freely in the left and right and front and rear directions.

However, the brake operation switch 20 is shown in FIG.
When operated in the states of (c) and (d), the brake member 21 is pressed against the inner circumferential ribs 4a and 5a to press the reel hubs 4 and 5 to the front side of the housing as shown in FIG. 6B. Eggplant As a result, the reel hubs 4 and 5 are brought into a non-rotatable braking state.

Even when the brake is released, the brake member 20 is held in a curved state to some extent so as to be convex toward the reel hubs 4 and 5 as shown in FIG. 5A. The brake operation switch 2
The brake member 21 can be brought into contact with the reel hubs 4 and 5 with a good pressure contact force only by the sliding operation of 0.

As described above, in this embodiment, the reel hubs 4, 5 are
On the other hand, since the rotation braking means is provided, unnecessary rotation of the reel hubs 4 and 5 can be prevented. Also, this rotary brake means can be constructed very simply by only the brake operation switch 20 and the brake member 21, and can be easily mounted on a compact cassette tape as in this example. Further, since the brake operation is performed by the user using the brake operation switch 20, the recording / reproducing apparatus does not require any configuration change.

As the brake member 21 of this embodiment, for example, a piano wire having a diameter of about 0.3 mm is suitable. The material of the brake operation switch 20 is preferably POM or PBT resin having good slidability.

In the embodiment, the brake member 21 is displaced from the rear side of the housing to the front side to press the reel hubs 4 and 5 into pressure contact, but when the brake member 21 is displaced from the front side of the housing to the rear side, the reel hub 4, 5 is pressed. 5 may be configured to be in pressure contact.
It is also conceivable that a brake member is provided for each reel hub 4 and 5, and the reel hubs 4 and 5 are pressed against each other in the left-right direction.

Further, as schematically shown in FIG. 8, the brake member 21 is curved in a substantially S shape, and both ends thereof are ribs 1f.
And so that it is supported by the brake operation switch 20,
As shown in FIG. 8B, when the brake operation switch 20 is slid to the rear surface side of the housing, the brake member 20 is pressed against the inner circumferential rib 4a of the reel hub 4 from the front surface side of the housing and the inner circumferential rib of the reel hub 5 is pressed. Alternatively, the reel hubs 4 and 5 may be non-rotatably braked by being pressed against the housing 5a from the back side of the housing.

In the above embodiment, one end 21b of the brake member 21 is fixedly held by the rib 1f, but the brake operation switch 20 is provided in two units on the left and right, and the end 21a and the end 21b are respectively provided. It may be held by the brake operation switch 20.

Next, the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
An example will be described. In each figure, the same parts as those in FIGS. 1 to 8 are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. The mounting state of each component shown in FIG. 9 is the same as that in FIG. In this embodiment, in the reel hubs 4 and 5, especially the inner circumferential ribs 4a and 5a are the outer circumferential ribs 4.
It does not need to project in the thickness direction of the housing more than b and 5b.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, a brake operating switch 30 is mounted in the groove 1g so as to slide in the left-right direction on the plane of the upper half 2, and the brake operating switch 30 has one End 31a of
Is supported and the brake member 31 is attached to the inner surface side of the housing.

The brake operation switch 30 is, as shown in FIG. 10, an operation portion 30a for the user to operate.
, A neck portion 30b, and a brake holding portion 30c located on the inner surface side of the upper half 1, and the brake holding portion 30c is provided with a hole portion 30c ₁ , and the hole portion 30c ₁ is provided with a brake member 31. End portion 21a is inserted and held.

As shown in FIG. 11, the brake operation switch 30 is attached with the neck portion 20b inserted into the slide hole 1h on the bottom surface of the groove portion 1g.
Therefore, FIG. 11A and its CC sectional view are shown in FIG.
The state shown in FIG. 11B is slidable between the state shown in FIG. 11C and the state shown in FIG. Further, the brake operation switch 30 is provided with a click protrusion 30d on the side surface of the operation portion 30a, and the click locking portions 1g ₁ and 1g ₂ are provided on one wall surface of the groove portion 1g.
By the formation of the ridge, it is satisfactorily held in each slide position state, and a click feeling is generated during the slide.

As shown in FIG. 12 (a), which is a plan view of the upper half 1 seen from the inner surface side, the other end 31b of the brake member 31 whose end 31a is held by the brake operation switch 30 is It is fitted and fixed to a locking portion 1i provided on the inner surface of the upper half 1. The brake member 31 is attached to a position corresponding to one of the ridges 7a of the seat 7, which is indicated by an alternate long and short dash line in the figure.

Thus, the brake member 31 having the end 31a held by the brake operating switch 30 and the end 31b fixed by the locking portion 1i is shown in FIG. 11 (c).
When the brake operation switch 30 is slid in the state of (d), it is pressed in the direction of the locking portion 1i as shown in FIG. 12 (b). That is, reel hub 4,
It is curved in the thickness direction of the housing so as to be convex toward 5.

The state corresponding to FIG. 12 (a), that is, the brake release state, is schematically shown in FIGS. 13 (a) and 13 (b) from the front and side directions of the housing, and the state corresponding to FIG. 12 (b), that is, the brake. The state is schematically shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B from the front and side directions of the housing.

When the brake operation switch 30 is in the brake release position, as shown in FIG.
1 is not in a curved state, and therefore the brake member 31 located in the gap between the seat 7 and the upper half 1 is not in pressure contact with the reel hubs 4 and 5.

However, when the brake operating switch 30 is operated to the brake position, the end 31a of the brake member 31 is moved in the direction of the end 31b,
That is, as shown in FIG. 14, the brake member 31 is curved toward the reel hubs 4 and 5. At this time, the brake member 31 is indirectly brought into pressure contact with the reel hubs 4, 5 via the ridges 7a of the seat 7, and this pressure contact force regulates the free rotation of the reel hubs 4, 5. In addition, when the seat 7 is interposed, the brake member 31 is arranged along the convex strip 7a, so that the reel hub 4 can be indirectly connected.
It is possible to obtain a good pressure contact force with respect to No. 5. Of course, when the tape cassette is ejected without the sheet 7, the brake member 31 directly contacts the reel hubs 4 and 5.

In this embodiment, as described above, the brake member 31 is curved in the thickness direction of the housing and comes into pressure contact with the reel hubs 4 and 5 from the side direction to perform the rotary braking action. The same effect as can be obtained.

It is conceivable that the brake member 31 may be bent in the front-back direction of the housing when the brake operation switch 30 is operated. For example, the brake member 31 is not a wire having a circular cross section, and for example, as shown in FIG. By having a rectangular cross section, the bending direction can be defined only in the direction of the arrow, and when this is attached to the inner surface of the upper half 2 in a substantially close contact state, it can be bent toward the reel hubs 4 and 5 without fail. .. Further, as shown in FIG. 15 (b), by further forming one surface into a semicylindrical shape, the bending direction can be limited to only one direction.

As such a brake member 31, for example, a piano wire having a diameter of about 0.3 mm, a resin molded product having the shape shown in FIG. 15, or a metal plate spring having a low rigidity can be used. However, it is desirable that the resin has a certain degree of elasticity and good creep characteristics so that it does not deform even if it is repeatedly used.

In this embodiment as well, various modified examples are conceivable, and the mounting positions of the brake operation switch 30 and the brake member 31 are not limited. Further, both ends 31a and 31b of the brake member 31 may be supported by the brake operation switch 30 of two units.
When the brake member 31 is resin-molded, the brake operation switch 30 and the brake member 31 may be integrally molded.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment also, the same parts as those in FIGS. 1 to 8 are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. The mounting state of each component shown in FIG. 16 is the same as that in FIG. Also in this embodiment, the reel hubs 4 and 5 do not need to have the inner circumferential ribs 4a and 5a projecting in the housing thickness direction more than the outer circumferential ribs 4b and 5b. Further, one of the ridges 7a of the seat 7 interposed between the upper half 1 and the reel hubs 4, 5 is formed wide so that the brake member 40 described below can be fitted therein.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 16, the brake member 40 integrally formed with the operating portion 41 is joined to the groove portion 1g so as to be slid leftward and rightward on the plane of the upper half 1. It is installed.

That is, the main body of the brake member 40 is formed in a substantially plate shape, and the operation portion 41 for the user to operate is formed at one end portion through the neck portion 42. Then, the neck portion 42 is attached while being inserted into the slide hole 1h on the bottom surface of the groove portion 1g, and thus,
By operating the operation portion 41, the entire brake member 40 is slidable in the left-right direction of the housing on the inner surface of the upper half 1.

The click protrusion 4 is provided on the side surface of the operating portion 41.
3 is provided, and the click engaging portions 1g ₁ and 1g ₂ are formed on one wall surface of the groove portion 1g, so that the slide portion is held well in each slide position state, and a click feeling is generated at the time of sliding. ..

The main body of the brake member 40 is provided with cam convex portions 44 and 45 which are convex toward the upper half 1 when attached to the inner surface side of the upper half 1. Further, a mounting tape 46 is adhered to an end portion of the brake member 40 opposite to the operation portion 41, and is attached in a suspended manner from the upper half 1 via the mounting tape 46 as shown in FIG. .. The mounting position of the brake member 40 corresponds to the position of the ridge 7a of the seat 7 indicated by the alternate long and short dash line in the figure. Further, in this embodiment, cam projections 1j and 1k that are convex toward the brake member 40 are formed at predetermined positions on the inner surface side of the upper half as shown in FIG.

The brake member 40 is slid in the lateral direction of the housing as shown in FIGS. 17A and 17B by the operation of the operation portion 41, but in the state of FIG. 17B, the brake member 40 is moved. The cam protrusions 44 and 45 come into contact with the cam protrusions 1j and 1k of the upper half 1. Therefore, the entire brake member 40 is displaced in the housing thickness direction so as to be pressed toward the reel hubs 4 and 5.

A state corresponding to FIG. 17 (a), that is, a brake released state is schematically shown in FIG. 18 (a) from the front side of the housing, and a state corresponding to FIG. 17 (b), that is, a brake state is shown in FIG. 18 (b). ) Is also shown schematically.

When the brake member 40 is at the brake release position, as shown in FIG.
Cam protrusions 44 and 45 of the upper half 1 and the cam protrusions 1j and 1 of the upper half 1
In this state, the brake member 40 located in the gap between the seat 7 and the upper half 1 is not in pressure contact with the reel hubs 4 and 5.

However, when the operating portion 41 is operated to the brake position, the main body portion of the brake member 40 is also slid, but at this time, the cam convex portion 4 of the brake member 40 is moved.
4 and 45 are moved so as to ride on the cam protrusions 1j and 1k of the upper half 1, respectively, and as shown in FIG. 18 (b), the cam protrusions 44 and 45 and the cam protrusions 1j and 1k are almost the same. Contact each other at the top.

Therefore, the brake member 40 is displaced toward the reel hubs 4 and 5 in the thickness direction of the housing, and indirectly contacts the reel hubs 4 and 5 through the ridges 7a of the seat 7. Therefore, free rotation of the reel hubs 4 and 5 is restricted. Of course, in the case of a tape cassette without the sheet 7, the brake member 40 directly contacts the reel hubs 4 and 5.

In this embodiment, the plate-shaped brake member 40 is displaced in the thickness direction of the housing as described above, and the reel hubs 4 and 5 are moved.
Since the rotary braking action is performed by being pressed against the side surface, the same effects as those of the first and second embodiments can be obtained. The brake member 40 is preferably made of a resin having good slidability.

In this embodiment as well, various modifications are conceivable, and the mounting location and shape of the brake member 40 are not limited. Further, one end of the brake member 40 is hung from the upper half 1 by the mounting tape 46, but this is not always necessary, and depending on the case, the end opposite to the operation part 41 is not supported at all. May be. Of course, other supporting methods are also conceivable even when supporting. In addition, the ridge 7a of the seat 7 is attached to the brake member 4
Although the width is set to be wide in accordance with 0, the braking action is not impaired in practical use even for the seat 7 having the protrusion 7a having a normal width as shown in FIG. 1, for example.

Although the tape cassettes of the first to third embodiments have been exemplified by the three-piece type compact cassette tape in which the guide block is not integrally formed with the half, the present invention is not limited to this. Not applicable to various tape cassettes. Although the brake mechanism is provided on the upper half side, it may be provided on the lower half side.

[0063]

As described above, the tape cassette of the present invention is attached to the reel hub in such a manner that it can be displaced toward and away from the reel hub, and can press the reel hub while it is in pressure contact with the reel hub. Since the brake member and the operating means exposed on the housing for displacing the press contact brake member with respect to the reel hub are displaced, the unnecessary rotation of the reel hub can be performed with a very simple structure. The effect is that it can be prevented, and it can be easily mounted on, for example, a compact cassette tape or a micro cassette tape. Further, since the operation unit is configured to be operated by the user, there is an advantage that the recording / reproducing apparatus does not require any configuration change and the compatibility with the recording / reproducing apparatus is maintained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a structure of a tape cassette according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a state where the upper half of the tape cassette of the first embodiment is removed.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a brake operation switch of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a mounting state and an operation of the brake operation switch according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a plan view seen from the inner surface side of the upper half of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a braking operation of the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a reel hub shape and a brake operation according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a modified example of the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of the tape cassette according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a brake operating switch according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a mounting state and an operation of the brake operation switch according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a plan view seen from the inner surface side of the upper half of the second embodiment.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a brake released state of the second embodiment.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of a braking state according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory view of the shape of the brake member of the second embodiment.

FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of the tape cassette according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a plan view seen from the inner surface side of the upper half of the third embodiment.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram of a brake operation of the third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Upper half 4,5 Reel hub 20,30 Brake operation switch 21,31,40 Brake member

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A tape cassette containing a pair of reel hubs around which a tape-shaped recording medium is wound in a housing formed by upper and lower halves, the tape cassette being mounted so as to be capable of being displaced toward and away from the reel hub. A pressure contact brake member capable of braking the rotation of the reel hub in a state of being pressed against the reel hub, and an operation means exposed on a housing for biasing the pressure contact brake member toward and away from the reel hub. A tape cassette characterized by having and. 2. A tape cassette containing a pair of reel hubs each having a tape-shaped recording medium wound in a housing formed by upper and lower halves, wherein the reel cassettes are displaced in the front-rear direction of the housing so as to come into contact with and separate from the reel hubs. A wire-shaped pressure contact brake member that is mounted so that it can brake the rotation of the reel hub in a state of being pressed against the reel hub, and the front and rear of the housing so that the pressure contact brake member contacts and separates from the reel hub. A tape cassette, comprising: an end portion of the press-contact brake member slidably supported so as to be displaced in a direction, and a slide operation means in which an operation portion is exposed on a housing. 3. A tape cassette containing a pair of reel hubs around which a tape-shaped recording medium is wound in a housing formed by upper and lower halves, wherein a pressure contact brake member is mounted in a gap between the reel hub and the one half. At the same time, it is possible to support the end portion of the pressure contact brake member, slide the supported end portion to the other end side, and bend the pressure contact brake member in the thickness direction of the housing, and the operating portion is exposed on the housing. A sliding operation means is provided, and the pressure contact brake member is directly or indirectly pressure contacted with the reel hub in a state where the pressure contact brake member is curved in the thickness direction of the housing, so that the rotation of the reel hub can be braked. Characteristic tape cassette. 4. A tape cassette containing a pair of reel hubs around which a tape-shaped recording medium is wound, which is slidably mounted in a gap between the reel hub and the one half. Further, a plate-like pressure contact braking member having an operating portion exposed on the housing is provided, and a cam convex portion is provided on each of the inner surface side of the one half and the surface of the pressure contact braking member facing the one half. When the pressure contact braking member is in the one sliding state, the cam protrusion of the pressure contact braking member and the cam protrusion of the one half contact each other so that the pressure contact braking member directly or indirectly contacts the reel hub. Is displaced in the thickness direction of the housing so that the reel hub can be rotated and braked. A tape cassette characterized in that