JPH05307861A - Tape cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To hang a rear cap via a connecting lever on a front cap of the tape cassette having the front cap and the rear cap for protecting a magnetic tape housed therein against dust, etc. CONSTITUTION:The front cap 7 protects the magnetic surface of the magnetic tape T mounted along its rear surface 7e. The connecting lever 13 is energized clockwise (arrow B direction) by a torsion spring 12 and is fitted turnably to a shaft 11 fixed to a lever supporting part 7d, on the rear surface 7e side of the front cap 7. Further, the rear cap 8 is hung turnably via a shaft 8 formed integrally therewith at one end of the connecting lever 13. The rear cap 8 protects the rear side of the magnetic tape T. Bosses 8e1, 8f1 formed on the rear cap 8 engage with a pair of guide grooves 3i, 3j1 closing the top end. As a result, the tape cassette 1 is applicable even to a device having the small opening angle of the front cap 7 and a device having a large opening angle of the front cap 7.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tape cassette used in a magnetic recording and / or reproducing apparatus, which comprises a front lid and a rear lid for protecting the contained magnetic tape from dust and the like, and connecting the rear lid. The present invention relates to a tape cassette suspended from a front lid via a lever.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a tape cassette used in a magnetic recording and / or reproducing apparatus such as a video tape recorder, for example, a VHS type tape cassette having a tape width of 1/2 inch or an 8 mm type tape cassette having a tape width of 8 mm is used. That is well known.

The VHS tape cassette 100 shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B is composed of an upper half member 101 and a lower half member 10.
The VHS type tape cassette 100 is used for recording and / or reproducing by a magnetic recording and / or reproducing device (not shown) by using the VHS type tape cassette 100, which is compatible with the device. To maintain sex,
The external dimensions and shape of the VHS type tape cassette 100 are almost standardized. The magnetic tape T is wound between the supply reel 103 and the take-up reel 104 provided inside the VHS tape cassette 100, and the magnetic tape T wound on the supply reel 103 is guided on the supply side. Front lid 106 provided on the side of the opening 102a of the lower half member 102 via the pole 105
And is wound around the take-up reel 104 via the guide pole 107 on the take-up side. Further, the opening 102a of the lower half member 102 is opened on the back surface side,
The tape loading member (not shown) of the device can be inserted. Further, the front lid 106 is provided so as to protect the magnetic surface of the magnetic tape T from dust and the like and prevent the magnetic surface from being touched by humans.
The front lid 106 is a pair of shafts integrally formed on the inside of the left and right side surfaces.
The upper and lower half members 101, 102 are openably and closably supported around 106a, 106a (only one side is shown), but they are locked and closed by a front lid lock member 108 provided on the left side surface.

Then, as shown in FIG.
Only when the mold tape cassette 100 is inserted into the magnetic recording and / or reproducing apparatus (not shown), the front lid lock member 108 is released by the opening means on the apparatus side and the shaft 106a formed on the front lid 106 is rotated. The position shown by the two-dot chain line as the center (front lid
The front cover 106 is opened up to the cover opening angle θ _{1 of} 106.
After that, when the front lid 106 is opened, the magnetic tape T is loaded along a predetermined tape path in the apparatus by a tape loading member (not shown) inserted in the opening 102a.

Further, 8 mm shown in FIGS. 6 (A) and 6 (B)
The model tape cassette 200 has a structure substantially similar to the above, and is assembled into a rectangular parallelepiped box body by upper and lower half members 201 and 202, and a supply reel 203 and a take-up reel 204 having a magnetic tape T wound therein are provided. Although provided, a rear lid 206 that protects the back surface of the magnetic tape T on the side opposite to the magnetic surface is provided inside the opening 202a opened in the lower half member 202 and behind the front lid 205. There is. This 8 mm type tape cassette 200 is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 59-168979. Here, if only the vicinity of the front lid 205 and the rear lid 206 is briefly described, it is provided on the opening 202a side of the lower half member 202. A magnetic tape T is attached along the front lid 205, and the magnetic tape T is protected so as to be wrapped between the front lid 205 and the rear lid 206.

That is, the front lid 205 is supported by the left and right side surfaces of the upper and lower half members 201 and 202 so as to be openable and closable around a pair of shafts 205a and 205a integrally formed on the inside of the left and right side surfaces. Also, a pair of projecting pieces 205b, 20 is integrally formed from the middle portion of the front lid 205.
5b hangs downward, and a rear lid 206 formed in a "substantially T-shape" on the pair of projecting pieces 205b, 205b is rotatably supported via a pair of shafts 206a, 206a integrally formed therewith. ing. Further, the pair of guide pins 206b, 206b integrally formed at the lower ends of the left and right side surfaces of the rear lid 206 are formed by the lower half member 202.
Pair of guide grooves 202 formed on the left and right near the opening 202a of the
It is engaged (fitted) with b and 202b.

Then, as shown in FIG. 6 (B), 8 m
Only when the m-type tape cassette 200 is inserted into a magnetic recording and / or reproducing device (not shown), the shaft 205a formed on the front cover 205 by the opening means on the device side is used as the center of rotation for the front cover as shown by the two-dot chain line. 205 and the rear lid 206 are opened together. Here, the rear lid 206 is integrally opened in cooperation with the opening operation of the front lid 205 to a position (upward opening angle θ ₂ of the front lid 106) reaching above the upper surface 201a of the upper half member 201. . At this time, the guide pin 206b projectingly formed on the rear lid 206 opens upward while following the guide groove 202b formed on the lower half member 202 and while rotating around the shaft 206a which is the center of rotation of the rear lid 206. Covered. At this time, the rear lid 206 cooperating with the front lid 205.
However, the magnetic tape T must be opened to a position where it does not come into contact with the tape loading member that pulls out the magnetic tape T into the device,
Moreover, since the center of rotation of the rear lid 206 is only the shaft 206a integrally formed on one side, there is no degree of freedom in the opening operation of the rear lid 206, and the front lid 205 is inevitably opened greatly.

[0008]

By the way, in recent years, high-density and high-quality recording and / or reproducing on the magnetic tape T has been required, and at the present stage where, for example, digital recording and / or reproducing becomes possible, It is considered that if dust or the like is attached to the magnetic tape T, or if a fingerprint of a hand is attached to the magnetic tape T, the recording and / or reproducing performance is significantly deteriorated. In the above VHS type tape cassette 100, the back surface of the magnetic tape T opposite to the magnetic surface is not protected, and dust or the like adheres to the back surface of the magnetic tape T from the opening 102a, or accidentally or from the opening 102a. If a fingerprint or the like is intentionally attached to the hand, when the magnetic tape T is wound around the supply reel 103 and the take-up reel 104, the back surface of the magnetic tape T comes into close contact with the magnetic surface of the magnetic tape T, which causes an adverse effect. There is a risk.

Therefore, it is considered that the VHS tape cassette 100 is also provided with a member equivalent to the rear lid 206 as disclosed in the 8 mm tape cassette 200 in the same configuration. However, a magnetic recording and / or reproducing apparatus (not shown) adopting the VHS type tape cassette 100 has already been widely spread in the world, and considering the compatibility of the VHS type tape cassette 100 and the apparatus, the 8 mm type tape cassette 20 is used.
If the configuration of 0 is input as it is, the following problems will occur and it will be very annoying to the user. Therefore, adopt the member equivalent to the rear lid (206) with the same configuration. It is difficult. ． For models such as portable VCRs and video movies, the opening angle of the front lid is designed to be as small as possible in order to reduce the size.
When the member corresponding to the rear lid (206) having the structure of 200 is applied as it is, the member corresponding to the rear lid (206) contacts the tape loading member for drawing the magnetic tape T into the apparatus. ． On the other hand, in models such as large VCRs and professional VCRs, the opening angle of the front lid is designed to have a large margin, so the same material as the rear lid (206) with the 8 mm tape cassette 200 configuration is applied as is. In this case, the guide pin (206b, 206b) of the member corresponding to the rear lid (206) slips out of the guide groove (202b, 202b) and comes off, and when the member corresponding to the rear lid (206) is closed, the guide pin ( 206b, 206b) does not enter the guide groove (202b, 202b) and is damaged.

That is, the opening / closing structure of the rear lid that cooperates with the front lid is
Although the external shape is different, it is necessary for the basic configuration to be surely applicable to a device with a large opening angle of the front lid and a device with a small opening angle, and a tape cassette satisfying this condition is desired. ing.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has a box body having an opening formed on the front side for receiving a tape loading member of a magnetic recording and / or reproducing apparatus. A magnetic tape wound around a supply reel is wound around a take-up reel while being mounted along the front surface of the box body, and one surface of the magnetic tape mounted along the front surface is openably and closably provided on the front surface. And a back surface opposite to one surface of the magnetic tape is provided on the back surface side of the front lid and in the opening, and is protected by a rear lid that is integrally opened and closed with the front lid. A tape cassette,
A connecting lever rotatably supported by a supporting portion provided on the back surface of the front lid, a rear lid rotatably suspended at one end of the connecting lever and forming a guided portion, and a rear lid. It is engaged with a guided portion of the lid and guides the rear lid in the opening / closing direction, and is suspended by the guide portion formed in the box body by closing the end portion of the rear lid in the opening direction and the connecting lever. An urging means for urging the rear lid in the opening direction, and an opening of the rear lid formed in the box body and urged by the urging means when the front lid and the rear lid are closed. When the opening angle of the front lid is set to be small, the front lid is provided until the guided portion of the rear lid almost reaches the end of the guide portion in the opening direction. When the opening angle of the front lid is set to a large value, the guided portion of the rear lid causes the guide portion to open in the opening direction. Abut A tape cassette, characterized in that the rear lid is opened in cooperation with the opening operation of the front lid, and then only the front lid is further opened by the action of the connecting lever. Is.

[0012]

In the tape cassette according to the present invention, the rear lid, which opens and closes integrally in cooperation with the front lid, is suspended on the front lid via the connecting lever, and the magnetic tape between the front lid and the rear lid is closed. In addition to protecting one surface (magnetic surface) and the back surface opposite to the one surface (magnetic surface), in a basic configuration, a device with a large opening angle of the front lid and a device with a small opening angle of the front lid It is certainly applicable to.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS <Embodiment of tape cassette according to the present invention><Structure of tape cassette> and <opening operation of tape cassette> will be described in detail in order of items with reference to FIGS.

<Structure of Tape Cassette> FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the entire structure of a tape cassette according to the present invention, and FIG.
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a front cover and a rear cover, which are main parts of a tape cassette according to the present invention, partially broken away, and FIG. 3 is a front cover and a rear cover, which are main parts of the tape cassette according to the present invention. It is a partially broken perspective view which assembled and showed.

In the tape cassette 1 according to the present invention shown in FIG. 1, an upper half member 2 and a lower half member 3 are formed in two parts using a resin material, and the upper half member 2 and the lower half member 3 are formed. Are assembled and formed into a rectangular parallelepiped box body 1A. Supply reel 4 provided inside the box 1A
The magnetic tape T is wound between the take-up reel 5 and the take-up reel 5, and the magnetic tape T wound around the supply reel 4 passes through the guide pole 6 on the supply side and then is opened in the lower half member 3. The winding reel 5 passes between a front lid 7 and a rear lid 8 provided on the front side of the portion 3a, and further, is wound around a winding reel 5 via a guide pole 9 on the winding side.

In addition to the opening 3a into which the tape loading member of the magnetic recording and / or reproducing device (not shown) can be inserted, the rear half side of the lower half member 3 is provided.
Holes 3b and 3c facing the supply reel 4 and the take-up reel 5 are provided, and the tape cassette 1 is provided in the vicinity of the opening 3a.
Is provided with positioning holes 3d and 3e for positioning in the device and a hole 3f into which a light emitting element (not shown) for detecting the mounting state of the magnetic tape T is inserted.

The front lid 7 has left and right side surfaces 7a and 7b.
A pair of shafts 7a ₁ , 7b ₁ (7a ₁
Although it is openably and closably supported on the left and right side surfaces 3g and 3h of the box body 1A (lower half member 3) via the (only shown), the front lid 7 is left side surface 3 of the lower half member 3 before being inserted into the apparatus.
It is locked by the front lid lock member 10 provided at g to be in the closed state. When the front lid 7 is closed, the front lid 7 protects one surface of the magnetic tape T (hereinafter also referred to as a magnetic surface) from dust and the like.
The magnetic surface cannot be touched by human hands. The opening operation of the front lid 7 is performed only when the tape cassette 1 is inserted into the magnetic recording and / or reproducing apparatus (not shown) and the front lid lock member 10 is released by the opening means on the apparatus side. Although the lid 7 can be opened, its detailed description is omitted.

On the other hand, the rear lid 8 located on the rear side of the magnetic tape T mounted along the front lid 7 is one of the members constituting the essential part of the present invention, and is opened in the lower half member 3. Dust and the like entering through the opening 3a is protected so as not to adhere to the back surface opposite to one surface (magnetic surface) of the magnetic tape T, and fingerprints of a hand accidentally or intentionally inserted through the opening 3a are attached. It is provided to protect the magnetic tape T from being damaged and to prevent the magnetic tape T from being damaged even if a foreign matter or the like is inserted from the opening 3a. Since the rear lid 8 is provided, dust and fingerprints of hands are not attached to the back surface of the magnetic tape T, and the magnetic tape T is not damaged.
When the magnetic tape T is wound around the supply reel 4 and the take-up reel 5, magnetic recording and / or reproduction can be performed without any trouble even if the back surface of the magnetic tape T comes into close contact with the magnetic surface of the magnetic tape T. Becomes

Now, main constituent members for supporting the front lid 7 and the rear lid 8 which are essential parts of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 2, the upper half member 2 and the lower half member 3 are partially formed with respect to the height H ₁ of the front lid 7 formed at substantially the same height as the tape cassette 1 (FIG. 1). Except for this, each of them has a height H ₂ of about half and is separately formed.

The left and right side surfaces 3g, 3 of the lower half member 3
The height h is formed at a height H ₃ which is slightly lower than the height H ₁ of the front lid 7, and a pair of holes 3g ₁ and 3h ₁ are formed on the left and right side surfaces 3g and 3h so as to face each other. Also, a pair of holes 3g
₁ , 3h ₁ is fitted with a pair of shafts 7a ₁ and 7b ₁ integrally formed inside the left and right side surfaces 7a and 7b of the front lid 7 so as to face each other, and the front lid 7 is centered around the shafts 7a ₁ and 7b ₁ . It is supported to open and close freely.

On the front side of the lower half member 3, there is formed an opening 3a having a space into which a tape loading member (not shown) is inserted. A pair of protrusions 3i facing each other with a space left and right inside the opening 3a,
3j is protruded before upward at a height H ₁ slightly lower height H ₃ from the lid 7, the projecting portion 3i is located slightly to the left of the center portion of the lower half member 3, the projecting portion 3j near right side surface 3h Is located in. Further, the pair of left and right protrusions 3i and 3j include
A pair of guide portions 3i ₁ and 3j ₁ (hereinafter, referred to as guide grooves 3i ₁ and 3j ₁ ) facing each other close an end portion (upper end portion) of the rear lid 8 in the opening direction and are directed downward in a “boots-like shape”. And the lower ends of the guide grooves 3i ₁ and 3j ₁ are bosses (guided parts) 8e ₁ and 8f formed on a rear lid 8 described later.
₁ is opened so that it can be inserted when engaged. The opening 3
The pair of protrusions 3i and 3j in a are provided so that the rear lid 8 can be opened without abutting on it during the lid opening operation described later.

Further, a regulating portion 3k (hereinafter, referred to as a lever guide portion) is formed at a substantially central portion of the lower half member 3 and at the inner side of the opening 3a, and between the left protruding portion 3i and the right protruding portion 3j. 3k) is formed so as to project upward at a height H ₃ slightly lower than the height H ₁ of the front lid 7, and the lever guide portion 3k
A tapered portion 3k ₁ is formed at the upper end portion of the contact lever 13a, and an abutting portion 13b of a connecting lever 13 supported by a front lid 7, which will be described later, can come into contact with the tapered portion 3k _1. ,
The rotation of the connecting lever 13 is restricted.

On the bottom surface of the lower half member 3 on the front surface side,
Holes 3m and 3n in which guide poles 6 and 9 (Fig. 1) are erected
And the magnetic tape T forms a path shown by a two-dot chain line by the guide poles 6 and 9. Further, the light emitting element (not shown) described above is provided at the back of the lever guide portion 3k.
A hole 3f into which is inserted is formed. The hole 3f is located at the substantially central portion of the lower half member 3.

The left and right side surfaces 3g and 3h, the protruding portions 3i and 3j, and the lever guide portion 3 formed on the lower half member 3 described above.
As will be described later, k is a section related to the opening operation of the front lid 7 and the rear lid 8. Therefore, these sections maintain the front lid 7 and the rear lid 8 in good mounting position accuracy. 7
Is formed integrally with the lower half member ₃ at a height H ₃ which is slightly lower than the height H _1, but is not limited to this, and the above-mentioned section may be integrally formed on the upper half member 2 side in the same positional relationship. Further, the upper and lower half members 2 and 3 may be divided and formed in the same positional relationship. Further, it left and right side surfaces 3 g, 3h, the projecting portion 3i, 3j, when forming the lever guide portion 3k height _{H 3} is the upper half member 2 are combined with a thin thickness t.

Next, between the left and right side surfaces 7a and 7b of the front lid 7,
The front surface 7c and the upper surface 7d are connected to each other at a substantially right angle to form an "inverted L-shape".
A triangular portion 7e ₁ is formed so as to project extremely slightly on the e side. The triangular portion 7e ₁ is a lower end portion 8 of a rear lid 8 which will be described later when the lower end side of the magnetic tape T mounted along the front lid 7 is closed.
With the function of wrapping in a sealed state with a ₁ , the magnetic tape T
Are protected from the opening 3a. Also,
A support portion 7d ₁ (hereinafter, referred to as a lever support portion 7d ₁ ) is hung downward on the rear surface of the front lid 7 on the rear side of the central portion and on the back surface of the upper surface 7d, and the shaft 11 is attached to the lever support portion 7d _1. Is stuck. Further, a "reverse dogleg" connecting lever 13 is rotatably attached to the shaft 11 by a torsion spring 12 and is urged in the clockwise direction (arrow B direction) in the figure about the shaft 11. Also, the shaft 11
A stop ring 14 is fitted at the tip of the connection lever 13, and the position of the connection lever 13 is regulated so as not to fall off the shaft 11.
Further, a hole 13a for rotatably suspending the rear lid 8 is formed at one lower end of the connecting lever 13, and the lower half member 3 is formed at the other upper end via the shaft 11. A contact portion 13b that contacts the tapered portion 3k ₁ of the lever guide portion 3k is formed. The connecting lever 13 is one of the members forming the essential part of the present invention, and has a function of rotatably suspending the rear lid 8 with respect to the front lid 7. By providing the connecting lever 13, As will be described later, the rear lid 8 has a function of increasing the degree of freedom in opening (closing) lid operation.

Next, the rear lid 8 is a front surface 8a facing the front lid 7.
The side is formed in an "inverted V-shape" and is suspended in parallel to the front lid 7 via the connecting lever 13 on the rear side of the front lid 7 and the magnetic tape T. When the lid is closed, the lower end portion 8a of the front surface 8a is closed. ₁ contacts the triangular portion 7e ₁ formed on the front lid 7 to protect the lower end of the magnetic tape T. That is, a key-shaped recess 8b is opened in the substantially central upper portion of the rear lid 8, and a shaft 8c is integrally formed so as to project from the right side to the left side of the recess 8b. When one end of the connecting lever 13 is inserted into the recess 8b and the shaft 8c is fitted into the hole 13a formed in the connecting lever 13, the rear lid 8 is suspended from the front lid 7 via the connecting lever 13. And the rear lid 8 is rotatable about a shaft 8c. Further, on the rear surface 8d side of the rear lid 8, a protruding portion 8e is integrally and rearwardly formed below the intermediate portion, and on the rear surface 8d side, a protruding portion 8f having the same shape as the protruding portion 8e is formed near the right side surface. It is formed facing each other. Guide portions 8e ₁ and 8f ₁ (hereinafter referred to as bosses 8e ₁ and 8f ₁ ) are protruded outward from each other on the protrusions 8e and 8f.

The bosses 8e ₁ and 8 formed on the rear lid 8
f ₁ is inserted from the lower ends of the pair of guide grooves 3i ₁ and 3j ₁ formed in the projecting portions 3i and 3j of the lower half member 3 and engaged therewith, and the rear lid 8 is suspended on the front lid 7 via the connecting lever 13. Then, the rear lid 8 is supported on the back surface side of the magnetic tape T mounted along the front lid 7 and in the opening 3 a of the lower half member 3. In this state, as shown in FIG.
Is assembled and supported, the front lid 7 and the rear lid 8 are closed, and the contact portion 13b of the connecting lever 13 that connects the rear lid 8 to the front lid 7 is the lever guide of the lower half member 3. The rear lid 8 contacts the tapered portion 3k ₁ formed on the portion 3k, and the connection lever 13 remains rotationally restricted.
It is suspended in an "inverted V-shape" toward the lower opening 3a via. Also, the bosses 8e ₁ , 8 formed on the rear lid 8
f ₁ is located below while engaging with the pair of guide grooves 3i ₁ and 3j ₁ .

<Opening Operation of Tape Cassette> The opening operation of the tape cassette according to the present invention having the above structure will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 (A) to 4 (D).

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view for explaining the opening operation of the tape cassette according to the present invention, which is a cross-sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows XY shown in FIG. 3, and (A) is a front cover and a rear cover. Shows the closed state, (B) shows the front lid and the rear lid in the middle of opening, (C) shows the opened state in a device with a small opening angle of the front lid and the rear lid, (D) Shows the opened state of the device in which the front cover and the rear cover have large opening angles. Incidentally, FIG. 4 (A)
The code in parentheses shown in () indicates the department on the opposite side, but the description of the code in parentheses is omitted.

In the state shown in FIG. 4A, the front lid 7 and the rear lid 8 of the tape cassette 1 are closed, and the magnetic tape T is mounted along the back surface 7e of the front lid 7. Further, in the opening 3 a of the lower half member 3, the connecting lever 1 is attached to the shaft 11 fixed to the lever supporting portion 7 d ₁ of the front lid 7.
3 is rotatably attached to the shaft, and further, the connecting lever 13
A rear cover 8 is rotatably connected to one end of the shaft via a shaft 8c formed integrally therewith. At this time, the connecting lever 13 is urged clockwise (in the direction of arrow B) in the drawing about the shaft 11 by the torsion spring 12, but the contact portion 13b of the connecting lever 13 is tapered by the taper portion 3k _{1 of the} lever guide portion 3k. Since the connection lever 13 is in contact with the connection lever 13, rotation of the connection lever 13 is restricted, so that the rear lid 8 is suspended near the back surface of the magnetic tape T via the connection lever 13. Further, the bosses 8e ₁ (8f ₁ ) formed on the rear lid 8 are formed with the guide grooves 3i ₁ formed on the projecting portions 3i (3j) of the lower half member 3 described above.
It is located below while engaging (3j ₁ ). Also,
The lower end portion 8a ₁ of the rear lid 8 has a triangular portion 7e ₁ formed on the front lid 7.
The magnetic tape T is kept in close contact with the magnetic tape T so that dust, fingerprints of the hand and the like are not attached to the magnetic tape T through the opening 3a.
That is, the magnetic surface side of the magnetic tape T is covered with the front lid 7, the back surface side of the magnetic tape T is covered with the rear lid 8, and the lower end side of the magnetic tape T is the lower end portion 8a ₁ of the rear lid 8 and the front lid 7. It is protected so as to be wrapped with the triangular portion 7e ₁ formed in. Therefore, when the front lid 7 and the rear lid 8 are in the closed state, that is, before being inserted into the magnetic recording and / or reproducing apparatus (not shown), the front lid 7
The magnetic tape T is completely protected between the rear cover 8 and the rear cover 8.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4 (B), when the tape cassette 1 is inserted into a magnetic recording and / or reproducing apparatus (not shown), the front lid 7 is drawn around the shaft 7a ₁ as shown in FIG. The lid is opened in the clockwise direction (direction of arrow C). Here, as the front lid 7 is opened, the contact portion 13b of the connecting lever 13 axially attached to the front lid 7 via the shaft 11 is released from the contact with the tapered portion 3k ₁ formed in the lever guide portion 3k. Then, the connecting lever 13 reaches the upper surface 2a of the upper half member 2 while rotating clockwise about the shaft 11 by the urging force of the torsion spring 12 (direction of arrow B), whereby one end of the connecting lever 13 is reached. the lid 8 after being coupled through a shaft 8c is lifted upward while rotating around the shaft 8c, and a boss 8e ₁ formed on the rear lid 8 is the guide groove 3i
Slide up in ₁ . Therefore, in cooperation with the opening operation of the front lid 7, the rear lid 8 suspended from the front lid 7 via the connecting lever 13 is also opened, but the connecting lever 13 is attached to the shaft 11 with respect to the front lid 7. Since the rear lid 8 is rotatable around the shaft 8c with respect to the connecting lever 13, the rear lid 8 is opened. At the time of lid operation, the rear lid 8 can be freely and freely opened by the two pivots (11, 8c), and the rear lid 8 has two degrees of freedom in the link mechanism. When the front lid 7 and the rear lid 8 are opened, the triangular portion 7e ₁ of the front lid 7 is opened away from the magnetic surface side of the magnetic tape T, while the lower end portion 8a ₁ of the rear lid 8 is a boss. Since 8e ₁ is guided by the guide groove 3i ₁ , it is opened without coming into contact with the back surface of the magnetic tape T.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4C, in the case of applying to a model such as a portable video deck or a video movie, the opening angle α ₁ of the front cover 7 cannot be set so large, The lid 7 is further opened in the clockwise direction (direction of arrow C) from FIG. 4 (B) around the shaft 7a ₁ , and the boss 8e ₁ formed on the rear lid 8 reaches the upper end of the guide groove 3i ₁ forward. The rear lid 8 is opened in cooperation with the opening operation of the lid 7. If the opening of the front lid 7 is stopped until this state, the opening angle α ₁ of the front lid 7 can be set small.
That is, in the state shown in the drawing, the connecting lever 13 has the torsion spring 1
By the urging force of 2, the shaft 11 is rotated further clockwise (arrow direction) from FIG. 4B around the shaft 11 to reach above the upper surface 2a of the upper half member 2, and the shaft 8c is attached to one end of the connecting lever 13. The rear lid 8 connected via the shaft 8c is raised about the shaft 8c as shown in FIG. 4B, and the boss 8e ₁ formed on the rear lid 8 has a substantially upper end portion of the guide groove 3i _1. Has reached. At this time, similarly to the above, the front lid 7 and the rear lid 8 are opened without contacting the magnetic tape T, and the rear lid 8 suspended from the front lid 7 via the connecting lever 13 as described above is removed. Two pivots (11,8c)
Since the degree of freedom is obtained by the above, the shaft 8c connected to one end of the connecting lever 13 is lifted up to near the back surface of the upper surface 7d of the front lid 7 without difficulty, and the opening angle α of the front lid 7 is increased.
₁ can be kept small.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4D, in the case of being applied to a model such as a large video deck or a commercial video deck in which the opening angle α ₂ of the front lid 7 can be set large, The lid 7 is centered on the shaft 7a ₁ as shown in FIG.
The lid is further opened in the clockwise direction (the direction of arrow C) from (C), and the boss 8e ₁ formed on the rear lid 8 cooperates with the opening operation of the front lid 7 until it reaches the upper end of the guide groove 3i ₁ and comes into contact therewith. Then the back lid 8
The front lid 7 by the action of the connecting lever 13.
Only the lid is opened further upward. When the front lid 7 is opened up to this state, the opening angle α ₂ of the front lid 7 can be set large. That is, in the illustrated state, since the upper end portion of the guide groove 3i ₁ is previously closed, the boss 8e formed on the rear lid 8 is formed.
₁ is kept in contact with the upper end of the guide groove 3i ₁ , and the rear lid 8 that has cooperated with the front lid 7 is kept at a position where it cannot be opened any more. On the other hand, even when the rear lid 8 is kept in the open position shown in the figure, only the front lid 7 can be further opened, that is, when the front lid 7 is opened, the connecting lever 1
The shaft 11, which serves as the fulcrum of rotation of 3, moves to the right, and
The shaft 8c side of one end of the connecting lever 13 receives a leftward force by the rear lid 8 and resists the urging force of the torsion spring 12 to move the connecting lever 13 around the shaft 11 in a counterclockwise direction (arrow D).
The front lid 7 is further opened in the clockwise direction (direction of arrow C), and the opening angle α ₂ of the front lid 7 becomes larger than the opening angle α ₁ described above.

The closing operation of the front cover 7 and the rear cover 8 is performed by the reverse operation to that described above, as shown in FIG.
Return to FIG. 4 (A) by going through the order of (C) and (B).

As a result, in the tape cassette 1 according to the present invention, before the tape cassette 1 is inserted into the magnetic recording and / or reproducing apparatus (not shown), the magnetic tape is inserted between the front lid 7 and the rear lid 8. The T can be protected from dust, fingerprints on hands, and the like, and the magnetic tape T can be protected from foreign matters. Further, when the tape cassette 1 is inserted into the magnetic recording and / or reproducing apparatus, the rear lid 8 is suspended on the front lid 7 via the connecting lever 13, so that the rear lid 8 is attached to the front lid like a conventional 8 mm tape cassette. Compared with the case where the lid is directly suspended, the rear lid 8 that is integrally opened (closed) in cooperation with the front lid 7 has a degree of freedom in the opening (closing) lid operation, thereby opening the rear lid 8 ( Closed) The lid can be operated without difficulty. In addition, in the configuration of the tape cassette 1, the bosses (guided portions) 8e ₁ and 8 formed on the rear lid 8 are provided.
The guide grooves (guide portions) 3i ₁ and 3j _{1 with which} f ₁ engages are
Since the end portion (upper end portion) of the rear lid 8 in the opening direction is closed, the rear lid 8 does not come off in the opening direction, and the opening angle of the front lid cannot be set so large, for example, a portable video deck. In addition to being applicable to a model such as a video movie, there is an advantage that it can be applied to a model such as a large video deck or a commercial video deck in which the opening angle of the front lid can be set large by the action of the connecting lever 13. .. Furthermore, since it can be applied to a magnetic recording and / or reproducing apparatus while maintaining compatibility with a conventional tape cassette, it is possible to provide the user with a tape cassette of improved quality without imposing any burden on the user. You can

In the tape cassette 1, the connecting lever 13 for connecting the rear lid 8 to the front lid 7 and the connecting lever 1
Although the lever guide portion 3k for restricting 3 is provided at only one place, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, it may be provided at two places near the left and right ends of the rear lid 8.
A pair of guide grooves 3i ₁ and 3j _{1 with which} e ₁ and 8f ₁ engage
May be provided near the left and right ends of the rear lid 8.

Furthermore, in the tape cassette 1, the connecting lever 13 is clockwise (in the direction of arrow B) by the torsion spring 12 as a biasing means for biasing the rear lid 8 suspended by the connecting lever 13 in the opening direction. Regulation for urging the rear lid 8 in the opening direction and regulating the opening of the rear lid 8 urged in the opening direction when the front lid 7 and the rear lid 8 are closed. As the means, the taper portion 3k ₁ is formed on the lever guide portion 3k so as to restrict the rotation of the connecting lever 13, but the invention is not limited to this, and the rear lid 8 is directly provided with a biasing means of a member corresponding to the torsion spring 12, Further, it is possible to use a regulation means for directly regulating the rear lid 8 when the front lid 7 and the rear lid 8 are closed.

[0039]

According to the tape cassette according to the present invention described in detail above, before the tape cassette is inserted into the magnetic recording and / or reproducing apparatus, the magnetic tape is dusted or dusted between the front lid and the rear lid. It is possible to protect from adhesion of fingerprints and the like, and also to protect the magnetic tape from foreign matters. Further, when the tape cassette is inserted into the magnetic recording and / or reproducing apparatus, the rear lid is suspended on the front lid via the connecting lever, so that the rear lid is directly suspended on the front lid like the conventional 8 mm type tape cassette. Than in the case of the above, there is a degree of freedom in the opening (closing) lid operation of the rear lid that is integrally opened (closed) in cooperation with the front lid, which allows the opening (closed) lid operation of the rear lid without difficulty. it can. Further, in the structure of the tape cassette, the guide portion (guide groove) formed in the rear lid and engaged with the guided portion (boss) is formed by closing the upper end portion of the rear lid in the opening direction, so that the rear lid is opened. It can be applied to models such as portable VCRs and video movies where the opening angle of the front lid can not be set so large without coming off in the lid direction, and the opening angle of the front lid can be increased by the action of the connecting lever. There is an advantage that it can be applied to models that can be set, such as large-scale VCRs and commercial VCRs.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of a tape cassette according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view in which the vicinity of a front lid and a rear lid, which are essential parts of the tape cassette according to the present invention, are partially cut away.

FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing the vicinity of a front lid and a rear lid, which are essential parts of the tape cassette according to the present invention, being assembled and shown.

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a cross-section of the tape cassette according to the present invention in the direction of arrows XY shown in FIG. 3, for explaining the opening operation of the tape cassette; The lid state is shown, (B) the front lid and the back lid show the state in the middle of opening,
(C) shows the opened state of the device with a small opening angle of the front lid and the rear lid, and (D) shows the opened state of the device with a large opening angle of the front lid and the rear lid.

5 (A) and 5 (B) are views for explaining a configuration and a lid opening operation of a conventional VHS type tape cassette.

6 (A) and 6 (B) are views for explaining a configuration and a lid opening operation of a conventional 8 mm type tape cassette.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Tape cassette, 1A ... Box body, 2 ... Upper half member,
3 ... lower half member, 3a ... opening, _3i 1, 3j 1 _... guide portion (guide groove), 3k ... restricting portion (lever guide unit),
4 ... Supply reel, 5 ... Take-up reel, 7 ... Front lid, 7d ₁ ...
Support part (lever support part), 8 ... Rear lid, 8e ₁ , 8f ₁ ...
Guided part (boss), 12 ... Spring member (torsion spring), 1
3 ... Connection lever, T ... Magnetic tape.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A magnetic tape wound around a supply reel is mounted along the front surface of a box inside a box having an opening formed on the front side into which a tape loading member of a magnetic recording and / or reproducing apparatus is inserted. While being wound around a take-up reel, one surface of the magnetic tape mounted along the front surface is protected by a front lid which is openably and closably provided on the front surface, and the side opposite to the one surface of the magnetic tape. A tape cassette that protects the back surface of the front lid by a rear lid that is provided on the back side of the front lid and inside the opening and that opens and closes integrally with the front lid. A connecting lever that is movably supported, a rear lid that is rotatably suspended at one end of the connecting lever, and that forms a guided portion, and a rear portion that engages with the guided portion of the rear lid. Guide the lid in the opening / closing direction and close the end of the rear lid in the opening direction. A guide portion formed in the box body, an urging means for urging the rear lid suspended by the connecting lever in the opening direction, and formed in the box body when closing the front lid and the rear lid. A regulating means for regulating the opening of the rear lid biased by the biasing means, and when the opening angle of the front lid is set small, the guided portion of the rear lid is When the rear lid is opened in cooperation with the opening operation of the front lid until the end of the guide portion is almost reached, on the other hand, when the opening angle of the front lid is set large, The rear lid is opened in cooperation with the opening operation of the front lid until the guided portion of the rear lid comes into contact with the end portion of the guide portion in the opening direction, and then the front lid is opened by the action of the connecting lever. A tape cassette characterized in that only the lid is further opened.