JPH05325478A - Tape cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To miniaturize the device for a normalized tape cassette used for the device such as a VTR, etc., by expanding the mouse part and putting the mechanism such as a rotary head drum of a loading device into the space. CONSTITUTION:The depth of the mouse part of tape cassette is expanded by forming tape reels 1, 2 small in diameter. Thereby, the mechanism of the loading devices such as the rotary head drum, tape guide, etc., can be out deeply into the mouse part 6 inside to make the occupied space small, and also the mechanism is simplified by reducing the movement of the mechanism.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tape cassette capable of miniaturizing a magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus such as a video tape recorder (VTR).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus having a rotary head drum such as a VTR, the rotary head drum is relatively large, and there is a mechanism for loading a tape on the rotary head drum. Technology is required.

As one of the countermeasures, a compact and high-performance 8 m
Tape cassettes for 8 mm video using m-width tape are becoming popular. The shape and dimensions of this tape cassette have been standardized, making it a globally standardized product.

This 8 mm tape cassette is suitable for a VTR with a built-in camera, and in the VTR with a built-in camera, further miniaturization is required from the viewpoint of portability and operability. Conventionally, it is shown in FIG. Tape cassette 10
Rotating head drum 10 on mouse part (opening) 101 of 0
A part of 2 was put in to save space and reduce the size. Reference numeral 103 denotes a partition wall of the housing of the tape cassette 100, which forms an opening called the mouth portion 101.

[0005]

However, in the standardized tape cassette, the size of the mouse portion is fixed, and the rotary head drum cannot be inserted further than that, which leads to the miniaturization of the VTR mechanism. There was a limit.

As a countermeasure against this, when the tape cassette itself is further downsized than the standardized tape cassette such as the VHS-C type tape cassette to downsize the apparatus, the tape cassette is standardized. There is a problem that compatibility becomes a problem, and a recording / reproducing apparatus for a tape cassette standardized by using an adapter or the like must be used, which is troublesome in operation.

The present invention was devised to solve the above problems, and maintains one-way compatibility with standardized tape cassettes, while at the same time making it possible to reduce the size of the mechanism. The purpose is to provide.

[0008]

The structure of the tape cassette of the present invention for achieving the above object is a standardized tape cassette, in which the tape reel is formed to have a small diameter and the mouth portion is formed. It is characterized in that the partition wall is retracted to the vicinity of the tape reel and the mouth portion thereof is enlarged.

Further, it is preferable to add an identification shape to the cassette housing to identify it as a standardized tape cassette.

[0010]

According to the present invention, the space of the opening portion of the tape cassette, that is, the mouth portion is expanded in the depth direction by reducing the diameter of the tape reel. By expanding this depth, the mechanism such as the rotary head drum and the tape guide can be inserted deeper into the mouse portion. Therefore, space can be saved and the size of the device can be reduced, and the tape can be pulled out less, so that a part of the tape guide can be omitted or fixed, and the size of the mechanism can be simplified. Can be achieved.

Since the tape cassette of the present invention is the same as the standardized tape cassette except that the tape reel has a small diameter and the mouse portion is large, the tape cassette of the present invention is for a standardized tape cassette. It can be used for equipment.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural view of an embodiment of the tape cassette of the present invention, showing the internal structure of the tape cassette for 8 mm video.

Reference numerals 1 and 2 are a pair of tape reels around which a magnetic tape (hereinafter abbreviated as tape) 3 is wound to supply and wind the tape. In the standardized tape cassette 100 (hereinafter referred to as a standard tape cassette) 100 shown in FIG. 6, a tape having a length capable of recording up to 120 minutes in the standard reproduction mode can be wound, but in the present embodiment, recording for about 20 minutes is possible. The diameter of the tape reel is made small so that a tape having a length that can be wound can be wound. The tape reels 1 and 2 are arranged on the lower half 4 of the cassette housing so that the center of rotation of each tape reel is the same as that of the standard tape cassette. The upper flanges of the tape reels 1 and 2 are formed of a transparent body so that the remaining tape amount can be seen. A partition wall 4a is provided along a part of the tape reels 1 and 2, and an opening space 6 called a mouse portion is formed. The tape 3 wound around the tape reels 1 and 2 is guided by the tape guides 7 and 8 provided at the left and right ends of the partition wall 4a, and is hung along the front surface of the mouse portion 6. For reference, a portion 103 shown by a dotted line is a partition wall of the standard tape cassette.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the overall structure of the tape cassette of the above embodiment. The cassette housing of the tape cassette includes the lower half 4 described above, the upper half 5 that fits into the lower half 4, and the lid portion 9.

The upper half 5 is fitted to the lower half 4 and the screw 1
The tape reels 1 and 2 are screwed by 0a to 10e, and the central shaft projections 1a and 2a of the tape reels 1 and 2 are urged and pressed by the leaf springs 5b and 5c.
And protect the tape etc. wrapped around it. A partition wall 5a for forming the mouth portion 6 is also formed on the upper half 5 following the shape of the partition wall 4a of the lower half 4. Also,
The upper half 5 is provided with an appropriately transparent window portion 5d so that the remaining amount of the tape can be seen, and the remaining amount measuring line and the like are displayed.

In addition to the above, the lower half 4 is provided with reel lock claws 10 for the tape reels 1 and 2. The reel lock claw 10 has tooth portions 1b and 2b whose tips are formed on the outer circumferences of the lower flanges of the tape reels 1 and 2, respectively.
By locking the tape reel against the rotation of the tape reel, the slack of the tape is prevented when the tape cassette is not used. Spring The spring 11 connects the reel lock claw 10 to the tooth portion 1.
It is biased in a direction to engage with b and 2b. The lower half of the reel lock claw 10 is provided with a hole for unlocking the tape reel when the tape cassette is used, and a lock release pin is inserted to resist the biasing force of the spring spring 11 to prevent the reel from moving. The lock claw 10 is moved to release the engagement with the tooth portions 1b and 2b of the tape reel. Reference numeral 12 is a slide claw for preventing accidental erasure of a recorded tape.

Through holes 4b and 4c for detecting the top / end of the tape are provided on both the left and right side surfaces of the lower half 4 and the left and right side surfaces of the partition wall 4a in the mouse portion. Top of tape /
The end is detected by a phototransistor or the like that the light emitted from the LED arranged in the mouse portion 6 passes through the transparent leader tapes attached to the top and end of the tape and passes through the through holes 4b and 4c. Is done. Through hole 4
b and 4c are provided so as to be the same as the optical path of the standard tape cassette.

The lid 9 comprises a front lid 9a, a rear lid 9b and an upper lid 9c. The front lid 9a is provided with side surface portions 9d on the left and right sides and is provided with a fulcrum pin 9e on the inner side thereof, and is fitted into the fitting hole 5e of the upper half 5 to be pivotable in the upward direction. The through holes 9f provided in the left and right side surface portions 9d are holes that are opened so that light can be transmitted corresponding to the through holes 4b and 4c of the lower half 4 when the lid 9 is opened when the tape cassette is used. .. Back lid 9
b and the upper lid 9c are integrally formed, and a fulcrum projection 9g at a side end of the rear lid 9b is pivotally supported by the back surface of the front lid 9a. A guide protrusion 9h is provided on a side end of the rear lid 9b, and is guided by guide grooves 4d provided on the front left and right side surfaces of the partition wall 4a of the lower half 4 to open and close the rear lid 9b and the upper lid 9c. To do. By this opening and closing, when the tape cassette is not used, the tape 3 which is hung between the tape guides 7 and 8 is housed and protected in the tape chamber formed by the front lid 9a and the rear lid 9b, and when the tape cassette is used,
Simultaneously with the upward rotation of the lid portion 9, the tape chamber is opened to expose the tape 3. The lid 9 is biased in such a direction that the spring 13 is locked inside the side surface 9d and the inside of the side surface of the lower half 4 and is closed when not in use.

The tape cassette of the embodiment constructed as described above has the same basic specifications as the standard tape cassette, such as the center position and outer dimensions of the tape reel and the optical path for detecting the top / end of the tape. , Can be used in equipment that uses standard tape cassettes, and compatibility in at least one direction can be maintained without an adapter.

However, the mouse portion formed by the partition wall 103 of the standard tape cassette shown by the dotted line in FIG. 1 is smaller than the mouse portion 6 of the present embodiment, and the space of the mouse portion 6 is fully utilized as will be described later. In such a case, the standard tape cassette cannot be attached to the mechanical section using the tape cassette of this embodiment. FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of an identification shape for preventing the standard tape cassette from being erroneously inserted into the device using the tape cassette of this embodiment. In this embodiment, the lower half 4 of the tape cassette 15 is provided on the lower surface with one or more grooves 4e which can be seen from the front surface to the rear surface. Protrusions 14 and the like that fit into the grooves 4e when the tape cassette 15 is inserted are provided on the device side. The standard tape cassette cannot be inserted due to the protrusion 14, and only the tape cassette 15 of this embodiment can be inserted. The groove 4e is an example of an identification shape added to identify the standard tape cassette, and is appropriately determined according to the insertion form.

FIGS. 4A and 4B show an embodiment of a loading device using the tape cassette of this embodiment. FIG. 4A shows a state before loading, and FIG.
(B) shows the state after loading. In this embodiment, the rotary head drum 21 is moved into the mouse portion 6 of the tape cassette and is rotated. First, the tape cassette 15 is provided with a guide 22a for the tengu and an entrance guide 22 inside the mouse portion 6 inside the tape 3.
b, the moving guide block 23, the guide 22c, and the capstan 24 are mounted so as to be arranged. Then, the rotary head drum 21 rotates to enter the mouse portion 6 of FIG. 4 (B). Then, the moving guide block 23 is rotated to load the tape by the winding angle α. Pinch roller 2
5 also moves from the outside of the tape 3 into the mouse portion 6 and presses the tape 3 against the capstan 24 at the time of reproduction to make it run at a constant speed.

FIGS. 5A and 5B show the tape cassette 15
This is an embodiment of a loading device in which the side is linearly slid to insert the rotary head drum 21 into the mouse portion 6.
Contrary to the embodiment of FIG. 4, the guide 22a for the tengu, the inlet guide 22b, the moving guide block 23, the guide 22.
c, the entire mechanical portion including the capstan 24 is slidable, and when the rotary drum head 21 is separated as shown in FIG.
5 is attached. Then, the mechanical part is slid,
The rotary head drum 21 is inserted into the mouse portion 6, and the moving guide block 23, the guide 22a for the ten-legged and the like are moved as shown by a dotted arrow to perform loading.

As described above, in the loading devices shown in the two embodiments, the tape cassette 15 in which the mouse portion 6 is enlarged.
By using, it becomes possible to completely insert the rotary head drum 21 into the mouse portion 6 of the tape cassette. As a result, less tape is pulled out, thus reducing the number of guides and the number of guide travel blocks.

This will be shown in comparison with a conventional example.
First, in the conventional loading device of a standard tape cassette used as shown in FIG. 6, the mouth section 101 is narrow guide number due to the need to pull out the tape is composed of seven G ₁ ~G _7, of which a tape pull-out and loading Therefore, the guide block that moves is composed of four B ₁ , B ₂ , B ₃ , and B ₄ .

On the other hand, in the loading apparatus of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the number of guides is 5 including 22a, 22b, 22c and two guides in the moving guide block, and the moving guide block is the guide block 23. It is one of. Similarly, in the loading apparatus of the embodiment of FIG. 5, the number of guides is 5, and the number of moving guide blocks is two, that is, the guide block 23 and the guide for ten regula 22a.

As described above, when the tape cassette of this embodiment is used, the loading device can be simplified and the drum can be deeply inserted into the mouse to save space.

In the present embodiment, the recording time is shortened as the tape length is shortened, but in the case of the camera-integrated 8 mm VTR, the time is often sufficient, and more compactness is required due to portability and operability. However, the tape cassette of this embodiment can sufficiently meet the demand.

In this embodiment, the example applied to the tape cassette for 8 mm video is described, but V of other standards is used.
It goes without saying that it can be applied to tape cassettes such as TR.

[0030]

As is apparent from the above description, the tape cassette of the present invention has a one-way compatibility with the standardized tape cassette, that is, it can be used for standardized tape cassette equipment. At the same time, since the mouse part is enlarged, more mechanisms such as a rotary head drum can be put in the space, and the mechanism can be simplified, and the size can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the above embodiment

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an identification shape of a tape cassette.

4A and 4B are schematic configuration diagrams showing an embodiment of a loading device for a tape cassette according to the present embodiment.

5A and 5B are schematic configuration diagrams showing another embodiment of the loading device.

FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional loading device for a standardized tape cassette.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 2 ... Tape reel, 4 ... Lower half, 4a, 5a ... Partition wall, 4e ... Groove (identification shape), 5 ... Upper half, 6 ... Mouse part, 15 ... Tape cassette.

Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification number Reference number within the agency FI Technical indication location G11B 23/28 E 7201-5D (72) Inventor Kenichi Fukahori 6-735 Kitashinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Soni -Inside the corporation

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. In a standardized tape cassette,
A tape cassette characterized in that a tape reel is formed to have a small diameter, and a partition wall of a cassette housing forming a mouse portion is retracted to the vicinity of the tape reel to enlarge the mouse portion. 2. The tape cassette according to claim 1, wherein an identification shape for identifying a standardized tape cassette is added to the cassette housing.