JPH0554196B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tape cassette into which magnetic tape is loaded.

BACKGROUND TECHNOLOGY AND PROBLEMS Currently, a PCM recording and reproducing apparatus has been proposed that converts an analog signal such as an acoustic signal into a digital signal, such as a PCM signal, and records (or reproduces) the converted signal on a magnetic tape. Some PCM recording and reproducing apparatuses use a rotating head to achieve a relatively high recording density. Using this rotating head
In a PCM recording/reproducing apparatus, during recording or reproduction, a magnetic tape is pulled out from a tape cassette and loaded onto a rotating drum provided with a rotating head, and then recording or reproduction is performed.

By the way, in the tape cassette into which this magnetic tape is loaded, if a finger touches the magnetic tape and oil or fat or dust gets on it, a dropout occurs in the playback signal, so it is important to avoid touching the magnetic tape with fingers or getting dust. It is necessary to seal the magnetic tape as tightly as possible to prevent this. Also, a space is required for inserting a guide system so that the magnetic tape can be pulled out from the tape cassette during recording or reproduction.

For this reason, a tape cassette as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 has been proposed. That is, in FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a cassette case, and this cassette case 1 is composed of a pair of upper half 2 and lower half 3 that are joined together by screws. 2
A is a transparent window plate provided on the upper surface of the upper half 2. Reference numerals 4a and 4b denote a pair of reel hubs that are housed in the cassette case 1 and rotatably fitted loosely into a pair of reel shaft insertion holes 5a and 5b provided at predetermined positions in the lower half 3; A magnetic tape 6 is wound around 4a and 4b. Reference numerals 7a and 7b are tape guide columns provided near the left and right side walls facing the front surface, respectively, and the magnetic tape 6 is wound around these tape guide columns 7a and 7b to maintain a predetermined position on the front surface. It is made runnable. 3a is the tape guide column 7a
The lower half 3 of the rear image of the magnetic tape 6 wound on the magnetic tape 6 and 7b is a notch cut out in a substantially rectangular shape over a predetermined width. A guide system for tape withdrawal is inserted.

8 indicates arm portions 8a and 8b provided on both left and right sides.
The front cover 8 is pivotally supported so as to be rotatable toward the front side of the cassette case 1, and the front side of the cassette case 1 is opened and closed by the front cover 8.

Reference numeral 9 denotes a substantially U-shaped slider that faces the lower surface and left and right side walls of the lower half 3 and slides in the front-rear direction. Reference numerals 9a and 9b are reel shaft insertion holes formed in the slider 9 corresponding to the reel shaft insertion holes 5a and 5b, respectively, when the slider 9 is slid backward to open the notch 3a. Furthermore, 10a and 10b each have a notch 3.
These positioning holes 10a and 10b are provided near the rear on both the left and right sides of a, and the positioning holes 10a and 10b are closed by the slider 9 during storage and opened during use.

When storing such a tape cassette, the first
As shown in the figure, the front part of the cassette case 1 is closed by the front cover 8, and the slider 9 is slid forward, so that the notch 3a, the reel shaft insertion holes 5a, 5b, and the positioning holes 10a, 10b are closed by the slider 9. A magnetic tape 6 is sealed within the cassette case 1.

In addition, during use, the slider 9 slides rearward to open the notch 3a, reel shaft insertion holes 5a, 5b, and positioning holes 10a, 10b as shown in FIG. 2, and the front cover 8 rotates upward. The magnetic tape 6 is exposed on the front side of the cassette case 1.
A guide system, a reel shaft, and a positioning pin are inserted into the notch 3a, reel shaft insertion holes 5a, 5b, and positioning holes 10a, 10b, respectively, and the magnetic tape 6 is pulled forward from the front surface of the cassette case 1 by the guide system. The recording medium is loaded onto a rotating drum and predetermined recording or reproduction is performed.

By the way, when the tape cassette is loaded into the recording/reproducing apparatus, the positioning hole 1 is opened as shown in FIG.
The positioning pins P inserted into 0a and 10b enter the inside of the cassette case 1. For this reason, the vicinity of the positioning holes 10a and 10b must be left open so that they do not come into contact with the positioning pin P, and the cassette case 1 is restricted accordingly.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a device with relatively few restrictions due to positioning holes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a tape guide portion for guiding the tape in a cassette case for storing the tape, and also provides a positioning recess at a position corresponding to the tape guide portion, so that the restrictions caused by the positioning recess are relatively reduced. There are benefits that can be made.

Embodiment Hereinafter, an embodiment of the tape cassette of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 10. In FIGS. 4 to 10, parts corresponding to those in FIGS. 1 and 2 are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed explanation thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 3, 2 and 3 indicate an upper hoof and a lower half, respectively, and these upper half 2 and lower half 3 are made of synthetic resin, for example, ABS resin, and a front cover 8, a slider 9, and a slider 9, which will be described later, are provided at predetermined positions. A tape cassette is obtained by disposing the brake body 11.

Here, the lower half 3 will be explained with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. This lower half 3 is composed of a substantially rectangular flat plate part in which reel shaft insertion holes 5a and 5b are provided, and a frame part consisting of left and right side walls and a back wall part, excluding the front part where the front cover 8 is arranged. . In this case, the left and right side walls and the bottom surface of the lower half 3 other than the sliding range of the slider 9 are thickened by the thickness of the slider 9, and the left and right side walls of the lower half 3 corresponding to the sliding range of the slider 9 are thickened by the thickness of the slider 9. A step is provided on the lower surface portion so that when the slider 9 is placed on the lower half 3, no step is formed between the lower half 3 and the slider 9. Arm portions 8a and 8b of the front lid 8 are located near the front side of the left and right side walls, respectively.
A support wall 12 is provided with a step on the inside by the thickness of
A rectangular operator is inserted at a position where the lower ends of the arms 8a and 8b of the front cover 8 on the rear side cover the support wall 12 when the front lid 8 is rotated upward, that is, near the lower end of the front side of the support wall 12. A hole 13 is provided. Also, the notch 3
Shielding walls 14a are provided on both left and right sides of a and on the rear side, respectively.
14b and 14c are provided to shield the notch 3a and the inside of the cassette case 1.

In this example, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, tape guide columns 7a and 7b are provided near the front surface of both left and right sides of the notch 3a, respectively, and the tape guide columns 7a and 7b correspond to substantially central positions of the tape guide columns 7a and 7b, respectively. Positioning hole 10a so that the inlet faces the lower surface side.
and 10b are provided, respectively. In this case, tape height guides 7c and 7d consisting of steps are continued at the lower part of the outer periphery of the tape guide columns 7a and 7b. These tape height guides 7c and 7d cooperate with tape height guides on the upper half 2 side, which will be described later, to form tape guide columns 7a and 7d.
The vertical height position of the magnetic tape 6 wound on the rack is regulated.

Furthermore, lateral grooves 15 parallel to the front-rear direction are provided at the upper ends of the left and right side walls, respectively, and rectangular sliding guide grooves 16 are provided below the lateral grooves 15 corresponding to the sliding range of the slider 9. In this case, the depths of the lateral grooves 15 and the sliding guide grooves 16 are adjusted to
Make it shallower than the thickness of 8b.

Further, reference numerals 17a and 17b are collar portions provided annularly around the pair of reel shaft insertion holes 5a and 5b.
18 is a rectangular spring storage section provided parallel to the front and back direction at an intermediate position between the reel shaft insertion holes 5a and 5b;
Reference numeral 19 denotes a spring locking post installed near the front side of this spring storage portion 18. A tension coil spring for biasing the slider 9, which will be described later, is stored in this spring storage portion 18, and one end of this tension coil spring is is locked to the spring locking post 19.

Next, the upper half 2 will be explained with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6. Like the lower half 3, this upper half 2 has a substantially rectangular flat plate part on which the window plate 2a is arranged, and a frame part consisting of left and right side walls and a rear wall part excluding the front part where the front cover 8 is arranged. It consists of more. In this case, the outer diameter of the upper half 2 is made approximately equal to the outer diameter when the slider 9 is arranged on the lower half 3, and when assembled, there is a gap between the upper half 2, the lower half 3, and the slider 9. Avoid creating gaps. 20 is the support type 1 of the lower half 3
Corresponding to No. 2, this is a support wall provided with a step inward by the thickness of the arm portions 8a and 8b of the front cover 8, respectively, near the front side of the left and right side walls, and this support wall 2
0 and the support wall 12 on the lower half 3 side have complementary shapes. 14b indicates a shielding wall provided corresponding to the shielding wall 14c behind the notch 3a of the lower half 3, and when the upper half 2 and the lower half 3 are combined, the shielding wall 14d on the upper half 2 side
and the shielding wall 14c on the lower half 3 side butt against each other, so that the notch 3a and the inside of the cassette case 1 are shielded.

In this example, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, tape height guides 7c and 7d are provided at positions corresponding to the tape guide columns 7a and 7b of the lower half 3, respectively. In this case, when the upper half 2 and lower half 3 are combined, the guides 7c and 7d have this tape height.
The tape height guides 7c and 7d are arranged to abut against the tape guide columns 7a and 7b, and the tape height guides 7c and 7d form a predetermined step with respect to the tape guide columns 7a and 7b.

Reference numerals 21a, 21b, 21c and 21d indicate arcuate flanges provided corresponding to the annular flanges 17a and 17b of the lower half 3, respectively, and the flanges 21a, 21b, 21c and 21d on the upper half 2 side. The reel hubs 4a and 4b around which the magnetic tape 6 is wound are loosely fitted into the flanges 17a and 17b on the lower half 3 side so as to be rotatable. In this case, the flanges 21a, 2
The heights of 1b, 21c, and 21d are made approximately equal to the thickness of the portion of the brake body 11 along this upper half 2, which will be described later,
The magnetic tape 6 wound around the reel hubs 4a and 4b is prevented from being adversely affected by not protruding further than the reel hubs 4a and 4b. 22 is a U-shaped fixing boss provided corresponding to the spring locking post 19 of the lower half 3, and when the upper half 2 and the lower half 3 are combined, the spring is locked in the opening of the fixing boss 22. A pillar 19 is located, and one end of a tension coil spring, which will be described later and which is locked to the spring locking pillar 19, is fixed at the end of the fixing boss 22. In addition, 23 is a non-slip uneven part provided on the back side of the left and right side walls, and 24 is a substantially V-shaped support recess provided in the approximate center of the left and right side walls. This support recess 24 when loaded into the recording/reproducing device.
is held by supporting claws from both left and right directions.

Furthermore, the Bourek body 11 will be explained with reference to FIGS. 4 and 7. This brake body 11 is connected to a sliding guide plate 11 along the inner surface of the upper half 2.
a, and L-shaped arms 11b and 11c hanging below both left and right ends of the sliding guide plate 11a. In this case, brake pawls 11d and 11e are provided on the rear side of the sliding guide plate 11a, corresponding to the reel hubs 4a and 4b, respectively. Incidentally, a ratchet wheel is provided on the outer periphery of the upper half 2 side of the reel hubs 4a, 4b corresponding to the brake pawls 11d, 11e.

In addition, a spring locking portion 1 is provided at the center of the sliding guide plate 11a.
1f, and operators 11g and 11h are provided at the ends of arms 11b and 11c, respectively. In this case, a spring 25 for biasing the brake body 11 is locked to the spring locking portion 11f, and the free end of the spring 25 presses the shielding wall 14d of the upper half 2, so that the deflection of the spring 25 is Brake claw 11d, 1 due to force
1e is caught on the ratchet wheel of the reel hubs 4a, 4b, and the reel hubs 4a, 4b are locked so that they cannot rotate. Further, when the brake body 11 is placed in the cassette case 1, the ends of the operating elements 11g and 11h are made to protrude to the outside of the support wall 12 by a predetermined amount through the operating element insertion hole 13 of the lower half 3. When the front cover 8 is rotated upward, these protruding operators 11g and 11h are moved upwardly by the front cover 8, as shown in FIG.
The brake body 11 is slid forward against the biasing force of the spring 25, and the brake pawls 11d and 11e are separated from the ratchet wheels of the reel hubs 4a and 4b, and the reel hub 4a,
4b is rotatable.

Further, the front cover 8 will be explained here. The front cover 8 is constructed in a substantially U-shape from a plate portion 8c for closing the front surface of the cassette case 1, and arm portions 8a and 8b provided at both left and right ends of the plate portion 8c so as to face each other. do. In this case, when the front cover 8 is rotated to the position where the front part is closed, the arms 8a and 8b of the front cover 8 cover the left and right support walls 12 of the upper half 2, and the front cover 8 is When the slider 9 is in the rotation position, the arm portions 8a, 8b
so that it can be positioned below. Further, a rotation shaft 8b is provided at a substantially central position inside the arm portions 8a, 8b. Reference numerals 8e and 8f are U-shaped cutout portions in the plate portion 8c corresponding to the left and right sides of the cutout portion 3a of the lower half 3, respectively.

Furthermore, the slider 9 will be explained here. The slider 9 is connected to a flat plate part 9c along the lower surface of the lower half 3, and side plate parts 9d and 9e located on both left and right sides of the flat plate part 9c and along the left and right side walls of the lower half 3.
It is constructed in a substantially U-shape when viewed from the front and rear directions. 9
f and 9g indicate bent portions in which the upper ends of the side plate portions 9d and 9e are bent into hook shapes, and these bent portions 9f,
9g is positioned within the horizontal groove 15 when the slider 9 is placed in the set case 1. Further, in correspondence with the sliding guide groove 16 of the lower half 3, there are constricted portions 2 projecting toward the cassette case body 1 at predetermined positions on the left and right side plate portions 9d and 9e.
6 will be provided. The constricted portion 26 on the cassette case 1 side is formed into a smooth curved surface so that the contact angle of the sliding guide groove 16 is obtuse.

9h is a spring locking piece provided corresponding to the spring storage portion 18 of the lower half 3; 27 is a tension coil spring for biasing the slider 9; one end of this tension coil spring 27 is connected to the spring locking post 19 of the lower half 3; By locking the other end with the spring locking piece 9h, the slider 9 is urged forward to close the notch 3a. Reference numerals 9i and 9j are abutment pieces that are vertically disposed at the front end of the flat plate portion 9c in correspondence with the cut-out portions 8e and 8f of the front cover 8, respectively.

The rest of the structure is the same as the tape cassette shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The operation of the tape cassette constructed in this way will be explained.

First, during storage, the front surface of the cassette case 1 is closed by the front cover 8 as shown in FIG. 8, and the slider 9 biased by the tension coil spring 27 is slid forward. At this time, the brake body 11 is urged rearward by the spring 25, and the brake pawls 11d and 11e engage with the ratchet wheels of the reel hubs 4a and 4b, thereby locking the reel hubs 4a and 4b so that they cannot rotate. Further, the reel shaft insertion holes 5a, 5b of the cassette case 1 and the reel shaft insertion corresponding holes 9a, 9b of the slider 9 are made to be in a non-corresponding state, and the notch 3a of the cassette case 1 is inserted into the slider 9.
The reel shaft insertion holes 5a, 5 are blocked and dust is
The magnetic tape 6 can be well sealed without being attached to the magnetic tape 6 through the cutout portion 3a or the fingers or the like touching the magnetic tape 6. Furthermore, the side plate parts 9d and 9e of the slider 9 are connected to the arm part 8 of the front cover 8.
a, 8b, side plate portion 9 of slider 9
The upper end surfaces of d and 9e and the arm portions 8a and 8 of the front cover 8
b abut against the lower end surface of the front cover 8, and the front cover 8 is locked so that it cannot be rotated even if the front cover 8 tries to rotate, so that the front cover 8 will not be inadvertently rotated during storage. Therefore, during storage, the front cover 8 may rotate inadvertently and the magnetic tape 6 may be exposed on the front surface of the cassette case 1.
It is possible to prevent fingers or the like from touching the magnetic tape 6.

Next, when in use, the tape cassette is loaded into the recording/reproducing apparatus. That is, when inserting a tape cassette into the recording/reproducing apparatus, the fixing claws on the recording/reproducing apparatus side abut against the contact pieces 9i, 9j of the slider 9 via the cutouts 8e, 8f of the front cover 8, and in this state, the tape is further inserted. When the cassette is inserted into the recording/reproducing device to a predetermined position, the tension coil spring 2 is fixed with the slider 9 fixed by the fixing claw.
The cassette case 1 side is moved against the biasing force 7, and the slider 9 is slid rearward relative to the cassette case 1. In this case, since the constricted portion 26 having a smooth curved surface is in sliding contact with the sliding guide groove 16 of the cassette casing 1, even when the slider 9 is slid against the cassette casing 1, the sliding of the cassette casing 1 is The moving guide groove 16 will not be damaged or scraped. Further, since the slider 9 is supported so as to be slidable with respect to the cassette case 1 by the constriction part 26,
The contact area between the cassette case 1 and the slider 9 is relatively small, and the sliding resistance of the slider 9 with respect to the cassette case 1 can be reduced accordingly.

By sliding the slider 9 backward in this manner, the notch 3a and the positioning holes 10a, 10
b is opened, and the reel shaft insertion holes 9a, 9b of the slider 9 are brought into correspondence with the reel shaft insertion holes 5a, 5b of the cassette case 1, and the reel shaft insertion holes 5a, 5b are opened. Then, from this state, the front cover 8 is rotated upward by the cover rotating member of the recording/reproducing apparatus to the state shown in FIG. 9. In this case, when the front cover 8 is rotated upward, the lower ends of the arms 8a and 8b cause the brake body 1 to
The first operating elements 11g and 11h are pressed forward, and the brake body 11 is moved forward by the biasing force of the spring 25. At this time, the engagement between the brake pawls 11d and 11e of the brake body 11 and the ratchet wheels of the reel hubs 4a and 4b is released, and the reel hubs 4a and 4b are disengaged from each other.
is made to be able to rotate.

In such a state, the positioning holes 10a, 10
A positioning pin P and a reel shaft are inserted into the reel shaft insertion holes 5a and 5b, respectively, and a guide system is inserted into the notch 3a, and the magnetic tape 6 is drawn forward and loaded by this guide system, and is loaded into a predetermined position. is recorded or played back. In this case, when the positioning pin P is inserted into the positioning holes 10a and 10b as shown in FIG. There is no need to provide a separate device within the device 1, and it is possible to obtain something with fewer restrictions.

In addition, as mentioned above, when it changes from the time of storage to the time of use, when it changes from the time of use to the time of storage,
The operation is opposite to that described above.

As described above, according to the tape cassette of this example, the tape guide columns 7a, 7b are provided as tape guide sections for guiding the magnetic tape 6 in the cassette case 1 for storing the magnetic tape 6, and the tape guide columns 7a, 7b are provided as tape guide sections for guiding the magnetic tape 6. Since the positioning holes 10a and 10b as positioning recesses are provided at the positions corresponding to the positioning holes 7b, the positioning holes 10a and 10b are provided in the cassette case body 1.
There is no need to provide separate space for the cassette case 1 and 10b, and there is an advantage that the space of the cassette case 1 can be used widely without being restricted.
Furthermore, since the inside and outside of the cassette case 1 do not communicate through the positioning holes 10a, 10b, even in the case without the slider 9, the positioning holes 10a, 10b do not communicate with each other.
It is possible to obtain a device in which dust does not enter into the cassette case 1 through the cassette case 10b. Furthermore, even if the magnetic tape 6 becomes loose during use, the positioning pins P are not exposed inside the cassette case 1, so the loosened magnetic tape 6 will not come into contact with the positioning pins P and be damaged, and the magnetic tape 6 will not be damaged. can be well stored in the cassette case 1.

Further, the thicker the tape guide pillars 7a and 7b, the less damage they cause to the magnetic tape 6, and the more sufficient strength can be obtained against the force received from the magnetic tape 6.
However, if the tape guide columns 7a and 7b provided integrally with the cassette case 1 are made thicker, the cassette case 1
This causes so-called sink marks, which impairs the appearance of the tape cassette. On the other hand, in this example, the tape guide column 7
Positioning hole 10 at the position corresponding to the inside of a, 7b
Since tape guide columns 7a and 10b are provided, even if the tape guide columns 7a and 7b are made relatively thick, the cassette case 1
There is an advantage in that it is possible to obtain a product that does not cause sink marks and whose appearance is not impaired by sink marks. Furthermore, the height of the magnetic tape 6 running on the front side of the cassette case 1 must be regulated in the vertical direction. In this example, since tape height guides 7c, 7d, 7e, and 7f that regulate the height position of the magnetic tape 6 are provided at the upper and lower portions of the tape guide columns 7a and 7b, separate guides that regulate the height position are provided. Since it is not necessary to provide this guide, the space for providing this guide can be reduced. In this case, although the tape guide columns 7a and 7b are thicker by the tape height guides 7c, 7d, 7e, and 7f, since the positioning holes 10a and 10b are provided inside the tape guide columns 7a and 7b, the cassette case 1 There will be no sink marks and the appearance will not be impaired.

Although the above-mentioned embodiment describes the case in which the positioning holes 10a and 10b are provided as the positioning recesses, it is easily possible to obtain the same effects as in the above-mentioned embodiments even if the positioning holes are provided as the positioning recesses. can be understood. In the above embodiment, an example of a tape cassette having a front cover 8 and a slider 9 has been described, but it is easy to understand that the same effects as in the above embodiment can be obtained in a tape cassette for a VTR or the like. Further, in the above embodiment, an example of a tape cassette that is used on one side has been described, but it will be easily understood that the same effects as in the above embodiment can be obtained with a tape set that uses both sides. Furthermore, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can take various other configurations without departing from the gist of the present invention.

Effects of the Invention According to the tape cassette of the present invention, a tape guide portion for guiding the tape is provided in the cassette case for storing the tape, and a positioning recess is provided at a position corresponding to the tape guide portion. This has the advantage of having relatively fewer restrictions.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a tape cassette having a rotatable front cover and a slidable slider;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the front cover of FIG. 1 is rotated upward and the slider is slid backward;
3 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining FIG. 1, FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of the tape cassette of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the main parts of FIG. 3. Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the inside of the upper half of Fig. 4, Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram for explaining the brake body in Fig. 4, and Fig. 8 shows the state when stored in Fig. 4. 9 is a perspective view showing the state in use of FIG. 4, and FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the operation of FIG. 4. 1 is a cassette case, 2 and 3 are an upper half and a lower half, respectively, 3a is a notch, 4a and 4b are each a reel hub, 5a and 5b are each a reel shaft insertion hole, 6 is a magnetic tape, and 7a and 7b are each a tape. Guide pillars, 7c, 7d, 7e and 7f are tape height guides, 8 is a front cover, 9 is a slider, 9a
and 9b are reel shaft insertion holes, 16 is a sliding guide groove, 26 and 26a are constricted portions, and P is a positioning pin.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A tape is stored in a cassette main body consisting of a pair of upper and lower halves, and a tape guide section formed in a columnar shape for guiding the tape is integrally provided on the inner wall surface side of the cassette main body, and the tape guide section is arranged in the axial direction. 1. A tape cassette, characterized in that it is hollow over at least a predetermined section, and a cassette positioning recess is provided at a position corresponding to the tape guide section on the outer wall surface of the cassette main body.