JPH0519893Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Field of industrial application] The present invention relates to an automatic video tape cassette converter that allows a small video tape cassette used for recording with a camera to be used as a normal-sized cassette. It is something.

[Prior Art] Video tape cassettes include a normal-sized video tape cassette that is attached to a video device used in a general home, and a length of
There are two types of small video tape cassettes that are small in both width and height and are used in camera cameras. If you want to use a video device to record images recorded on a small video tape cassette, you cannot use them as they are; you must first re-record the images on a regular-sized video tape. be.

Recently, therefore, a cassette converter has been proposed which allows a small video tape cassette to be inserted into a video device as it is and converted into an apparently normal-sized video tape cassette for use. Such conventional cassette converters typically have a power source,
A drive motor, a tape pull-out mechanism, etc. are built in, and the video tape in the small video tape cassette is pulled out a predetermined length and hung on the head of the video device.

[Problems to be solved by the invention] However, since conventional cassette converters use dry batteries as a power source, the user has to replace the dry batteries each time the battery runs out, and Since it has a built-in drive source, it has the disadvantage of a complicated structure.

Therefore, the present invention was devised in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and its purpose is to automatically record video tapes using a relatively simple mechanism without using dry batteries as a drive source. To provide an automatic video tape cassette converter which can be pulled out and stored.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a case that has an opening on the top surface, through which a small video tape cassette is inserted, and a rack formed on one side edge. a slideable opening/closing lid for opening and closing the opening of the case, and a roller on the free end on which the video tape pulled out from the small video tape cassette is stretched, and the case has a roller on both sides of the small video tape cassette. a pair of left and right tension arms that are rotatably arranged opposite each other in the case so as to be positioned in the case, and that are rotated in the opening and closing directions in conjunction with the opening and closing operations of the opening/closing lid; They are arranged so as to be movable in the front and rear directions corresponding to a pair of tension arms, and are given a tendency to return backwards by a spring, and are moved forward by being pressed just before the end of the closing operation of the opening/closing lid. a pair of left and right locking members that lock each of the tension arms in the open leg position and are released from the opening/closing lid to release the lock of the tension arms when the lid is opened; a winding mechanism that is disconnected from the opening/closing lid when the lid is closed, and transmits the motion of the opening/closing lid to the winding gear of the small video tape cassette and rotates it in the tape winding direction when the lid is closing; , one of the pair of tension arms is rotated directly by the opening/closing lid, and the other is rotated by an arm rotation mechanism including a gear that rotates by meshing with a rack of the opening/closing lid. It is something that will be done.

Further, the present invention provides a winding mechanism including a pinion that integrally has a pulley around which one end of the belt is stretched and can engage and separate from the rack of the opening/closing lid, and a pinion that is rotatably attached to the opening/closing lid. The opening/closing lid includes a lever that is rotated in a direction in which the belt is relaxed during a lid closing operation, and a lever that is rotated in a direction in which the belt is tightened during a lid opening operation, and a pulley on which the other end of the belt is stretched. and a gear train that transmits the rotation of the pinion to the take-up gear of the small video tape cassette via the belt only when the lid is opened.

[Operation] In the present invention, a small video tape cassette is inserted into the case through its opening. When the opening/closing lid is closed, one tension arm is rotated in the opening direction by the opening/closing lid, and the other tension arm is rotated in the opening direction by the arm rotation mechanism. At the same time, the pair of locking members are also pressed and moved by the opening/closing lid to lock each of the tension arms in the open leg position. When the pair of tension arms are opened, the video tape stretched between the rollers of the pair of tension arms is pulled out from inside the small video tape cassette and set to a predetermined length. The winding mechanism is disconnected from the opening/closing lid when the lid is closed, and when the lid is closing, the winding mechanism transmits the movement of the opening/closing lid to the winding gear of the small video tape cassette, and transmits the movement in the tape winding direction. Rotate.

[Example] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on an example shown in the drawings.

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the automatic video tape cassette converter according to the present invention, turned upside down, Fig. 2 is an external perspective view of the converter, and Fig. 3 shows the bottom plate of the converter. Figure 4 is a bottom view of the state immediately before the lid is closed, showing the inside after the lid is removed;
FIG. 5 is a bottom view showing the state immediately after the start of the lid opening operation. In these figures, 1 is a cassette converter that houses a small video tape cassette 10, and this cassette converter 1 is equipped with a thin box-shaped case A having the same size as a normal-sized video tape cassette. ing.

The case A has an open front and bottom surface, and the small video tape cassette 10 is placed near the left end of the top surface.
A main body 2 having an opening 21 into which the main body 2 is inserted, a front lid 3 which can be opened and closed in the vertical direction and which normally closes the front opening of the main body 2, a bottom plate 4 which closes the bottom opening of the main body 2, and a bottom plate 4 which closes the bottom opening of the main body 2; It is composed of an opening/closing lid 5 that closes the section 21 and is slidable in the front and rear directions.
The front cover 3 is configured to open when the cassette converter 1 is attached to the video apparatus. Guide grooves 22a and 22b are formed on both left and right edges of the opening 21, respectively, for guiding and holding both edges of the opening/closing lid 5. Of these guide grooves, the left side (first
The guide groove 22a (located on the right side in FIGS. 3 to 5) opens only to the opening 21 side, and the right guide groove 22b opens to the opening 21 side and the opposite side. It is formed horizontally and hollow. A rack 51 is formed along the entire length of the right edge of the opening/closing lid 5, and this rack 51 enters into the case A through the right guide groove 22b.

Reference numerals 6 and 7 denote locking members, and these locking members 6 and 7 lock tension arms 8 and 9, which will be described later, in the open leg position. They are disposed in the case A so as to be slidable in the front and rear directions through elongated holes 61 and 71 and the guide pin 23, respectively, and are given a tendency to return to the rear by springs S1 and S2, respectively. The guide pin 23 is integrally bored into the inner surface of the main body 2. Each of the locking members 6, 7 includes the elongated holes 61, 71 which are long in the front and rear direction through which the guide pin 23 is inserted, the oblique guide surfaces 62, 72 provided at the front end of the inner surface facing each other, and The spring S has locking grooves 63 and 73 provided vertically on the back surface of the guide surfaces 62 and 72, that is, on the outer surface of the front end, respectively.
1 and S2, the opening/closing lid 5 is held at the initial position when the lid is opened, and immediately before the closing operation of the opening/closing lid 5 is completed, as shown in FIG. The springs S1 and S2 are then pressed forward, respectively, and locked in the forward position shown in FIG.
When the lid 5 is opened, the lock members 6 and 7 are returned to their initial positions by the springs S1 and S2 because they are released from the lid 5.

Of the pair of left and right tension arms 8 and 9, the tension arm 8 located on the right side in the figure is disposed so that its center overlaps with the lock member 6, and its front end is located forward of the lock member 6. It has a roller 82 which is positioned and rotatable, and the rear end portion of the locking member 6 located at the rear is supported by a shaft 83 projecting from the inner surface of the main body 2 so as to be rotatable in the left and right direction. Further, the inner surface of the rear end portion is a pressed surface 81 that is pressed by the front end of the opening/closing lid 5 during the closing operation of the opening/closing lid 5. The tension arm 8 is rotated in the clockwise direction (opening direction) in FIG. 3 by pressing the pressed portion 81 by the front end of the opening/closing lid 5 just before the closing of the opening/closing lid 5 is completed. When completely closed, the locking groove 63 of the locking member 6 abuts and engages the roller 82 from the inside, as shown in FIG. 4, so that the tape is locked in the tensioned position.

The other tension arm 9 is disposed opposite to the tension arm 8 on both sides of the small video tape cassette 10 with the small video tape cassette 10 in between. A rotatable roller 9 that can engage with the stop groove 73
2 is attached, and the rear end portion is pivotally supported by a shaft 93 protruding from the inner surface of the main body 2 so as to be rotatable in the left-right direction. The rear end bearing portion of the tension arm 9 is formed in an arc shape centered on the shaft 93,
A segment gear 91 is formed on the inner circumferential surface thereof. The video tape 102 stored in the small video tape cassette 10 is pulled out and stretched between the roller 92 of the tension arm 9 and the roller 82 of the tension arm 8.

B is an arm rotation mechanism, and this arm rotation mechanism B
When the opening/closing lid 5 is closed, the movement of the opening/closing lid 5 is transmitted to the tension arm 9 to rotate it in the opening direction, that is, in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. A pinion 12 that meshes with the rack 51 of the opening/closing lid 5, an intermediate gear 11 that meshes with the pinion 12, and a segment gear of the tension arm 9 that is integrally provided with the intermediate gear 11. 91 and a segment gear 111 that meshes with the segment gear 91.
When the opening/closing lid 5 is inserted into the guide grooves 22a, 22b of the main body 2 and gradually closed, the pinion 12 meshes with the rack 51 and rotates in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 111
- Tension arm 9 via segment gear 91
, the arm 9 rotates in the leg opening direction. At this time, since the aforementioned tension arm 8 is also rotated in the leg opening direction, the distance between the rollers 82 and 92 is expanded to be equal to the distance between the rollers in a normal video tape cassette. Videotape 1 stretched between
Makes 02 nervous. The locking groove 73 of the locking member 7, which is moved forward in conjunction with the closing operation of the opening/closing lid 5, comes into contact with the inner circumferential surface of the roller 92 as shown in FIG. They are configured to be locked in the open leg position by engaging them. The tension arm 9 is unlocked when the locking member 7 moves backward as the lid is opened, and the pinion 12 is rotated by the rack 51 in the opposite direction to that when the lid is closed, so that the tension arm 9 is rotated to the initial position. Return. At this time, since the tension arm 8 also returns to rotation, the rollers 82 and 9
The distance between the two becomes the original value, and the videotape 102
relax.

Reference numeral C denotes a winding mechanism that winds up the videotape 102 which is loosened as the tension arms 8 and 9 operate in conjunction with the opening/closing operation of the opening/closing lid 5; A pinion 134 that meshes with the rack 51 of the lid 5, and a gear train consisting of a belt 133 and a plurality of gears that transmit the rotation of the pinion 134 to the winding gear 101 disposed inside the small video tape cassette 10. It is configured. The pinion 134 is a pulley 134 on which one end of the belt 133 is stretched.
1, and is rotatably attached to the tip of a lever 135 whose base end is rotatably supported by a shaft 160 protruding from the inner surface of the main body 2. The gear train includes a first gear 131 that meshes with the winding gear 101, a small second gear 131a that is integrally provided with the first gear 131, and a second gear 131a that is integrally provided with the first gear 131.
A large third gear 132 meshes with the gear 131a, and the belt 133 is connected to the third gear 132.
A pulley 1321 whose other end is stretched is integrally provided. The belt 133 is connected to the pulley 13
It is strung up between 21 and 1341. The lever 135 is normally connected to the pinion 134.
is held in position to properly engage the rack 51, tensioning the belt 133. When the opening/closing lid 5 is inserted into the guide grooves 22a and 22b and gradually closed, the rack 51 engages with the pinion 134 and presses it forward, so the lever 135 moves counterclockwise in FIG. 3 around the shaft 160. is rotated to separate the pinion 134 from the rack 51,
Relax the belt 133. Therefore, at this time, the movement of the opening/closing lid 5 is not transmitted to the winding gear 101. Further, the winding gear 101
When the pinion 134 separates from the rack 51, the winding mechanism C is held in a state where it can rotate with a relatively small force without being subjected to a large load, thereby allowing the pair of tension arms 8 and 9 to open their legs. This allows the video tape 102 to be pulled out accordingly. On the other hand, the opening/closing lid 5 is closed to take out the small video tape cassette 10 from the case A.
When opened, the rack 51 engages with the pinion 134 to rotate it and simultaneously move it rearward, so that the lever 135 rotates clockwise in FIG. 5 to tension the belt 133. Therefore, the clockwise rotation of the pinion 134 is caused by the rotation of the belt 133 - pulley 1321 - third gear 132 - second gear 131a -
The video tape is transmitted through the first gear 131 to the winding gear 101, and by rotating it in the tape winding direction (counterclockwise), the video tape is relaxed as the pair of tension arms 8 and 9 close their legs. Roll up 102.

Thus, in such a configuration, when the opening/closing lid 5 is closed, the pair of tension arms 8 and 9 open and extend the length of the video tape 102 between the rollers 82 and 92 to the length of an ordinary video tape cassette. Therefore, cassette conversion can be performed automatically without using dry batteries, drive motors, etc. In addition, since dry batteries are not required, there is no need to worry about their consumption, making it economical. Furthermore, when the opening/closing lid 5 is opened, the pair of tension arms 8 and 9 are closed to loosen the video tape 102 between the rollers 82 and 92. At the same time, the winding mechanism C operates to loosen the video tape 102 between the rollers 82 and 92. Videotape 102
is converted into the original small video tape cassette 10 for winding, allowing removal of said cassette 10 from case A.

[Effects of the invention] As explained above, according to the automatic videotape cassette converter according to the invention, cassette conversion can be performed simply by opening and closing the opening/closing lid.
No batteries, drive motors, etc. are required, reducing the economic burden on the user, and the structure is relatively simple and can be provided at low cost.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the automatic video tape cassette converter according to the present invention, turned upside down, Fig. 2 is an external perspective view of the converter, and Fig. 3 shows the bottom plate of the converter. Figure 4 is a bottom view of the state immediately before the lid is closed, showing the inside after the lid is removed;
FIG. 5 is a bottom view showing the state immediately after the start of the lid opening operation. 2...Main body, 5...Opening/closing lid, 6, 7...Lock member, 8, 9...Tension arm, 10...Small video tape cassette, 12...Pinion, 2
1... opening, 51... rack, 82, 92...
Roller, 101... Winding gear, 102... Video tape, 133... Belt, 134... Pinion, 135... Lever, 1321, 1341...
Pulley, A...case, B...arm rotation mechanism,
C... Winding mechanism, S1, S2... Spring.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] (1) A case having an opening on the top surface into which a small video tape cassette is inserted, and a rack formed on one side edge to open and close the opening of the case. a slideable lid that can be opened and closed; and rollers on the free ends around which the video tape pulled out from the small video tape cassette is wrapped, and the rollers are respectively rotated in the case so as to be located on both sides of the small video tape cassette. a pair of left and right tension arms that are movably arranged opposite each other and are rotated in the opening and closing directions in conjunction with the opening and closing operations of the opening/closing lid; Each of the tension arms is disposed so as to be movable in the front and back direction, and is given a tendency to return to the rear by a spring, and moves forward when the opening/closing lid is pressed just before the closing operation of the opening/closing lid ends, thereby opening each of the tension arms. a pair of left and right locking members that are locked in position and released from the opening/closing lid to unlock the tension arm when the lid is opened; a winding mechanism that transmits the motion of the opening/closing lid to the winding gear of the small video tape cassette and rotates the winding gear in the tape winding direction when the coupling relationship is severed and the lid is closed; One of the arms is directly rotated by the opening/closing lid, and the other arm is rotated by an arm rotation mechanism including a gear that rotates by meshing with the rack of the opening/closing lid. Automatic tape cassette converter. (2) In the automatic video tape cassette converter according to claim 1, the winding mechanism includes a pinion that integrally includes a pulley around which one end of the belt is stretched, and that can engage and separate from the rack of the opening/closing lid;
A lever to which the pinion is rotatably attached, is rotated in a direction in which the belt is relaxed when the lid is closed, and is rotated in a direction in which the belt is tightened when the lid is opened; and the other end of the belt. and a gear train that transmits the rotation of the pinion to the take-up gear of the small video tape cassette through the belt only when the opening/closing lid is opened. Automatic videotape cassette converter.