JPH0589634A - Tape cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To remove the slack of a tape by exerting a movement force toward a direction away from a tape extraction face on a tape reel even without using a special member. CONSTITUTION:Two tape reels in which both ends of a tape have been fixed and bonded are housed inside a cassette case in such a way that the lower end part of their hub is situated in a state having a slight margin inside a reel-stand insertion hole formed in the bottom wall of a cassette case. A part between the two tape reels of the tape is guided to the outside of the cassette case and positioned along a tape extraction face. The tip part of a reel pressure spring 20 whose mounting end part 20a is fixed to the cassette case 2, whose tip part 20b comes into elastic contact with a spring stop part 15c installed in the central part of the top part of the tape reel 13 and which presses the tape reel nearly toward the lower part is tilted in such a way that the direction P of the horizontal component force of a force by means of which said tip part presses the tape reel becomes a direction opposite to that of the tape extraction face 5.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a novel tape cassette. More specifically, the present invention relates to a tape cassette provided with a reel pressing spring for pressing a tape reel housed in a cassette case substantially downward to press the tape reel onto a reel base when the tape reel is mounted in a cassette mounting portion. , It is possible to provide a new tape cassette that can use a reel presser spring to give an appropriate tension to the tape when not in use, thereby preventing the occurrence of tape jamming due to slack in the tape. It is what

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Usually, a tape cassette is constructed by rotatably housing two tape reels each having both ends of the tape fastened and wound by a predetermined amount in a cassette case. The portion between them is located along the tape pull-out surface of the cassette case.

Among the tape cassettes, for example,
A tape cassette or the like for a video tape recorder (VTR) is provided with a reel pressing spring for pressing the tape reel in its axial direction.

FIG. 11 shows an example a of a conventional VTR tape cassette provided with such a reel pressing spring.

In the figure, b is a thin box-shaped cassette case, and one side surface c in the width direction of the cassette case b has tape outlets d and d at both ends thereof (only one side is shown in the drawing. Similarly to this, even if only one of the two or more members or parts is shown in the drawing, the reference numeral is assigned for the sake of description). Then, in the cassette case b, two tape reels e, e, which are located apart from each other in the longitudinal direction, are rotatably accommodated.

The tape reel e has a lower flange plate f and an upper flange plate f ', and a tape winding portion, that is, a hub g positioned so as to connect the respective central portions of the flange plates f and f'.
It consists of and.

Reference numeral h designates a magnetic tape, both ends of which are separately secured to hubs g, g of two tape reels e, e and wound by a predetermined amount, and between the tape reels e and e. The portion of is exposed from the tape outlets d and d and is located along the tape pull-out surface c.

I, i are reel pressing springs, one end of which is not shown in the figure is fixed to the top plate j of the cassette case b,
The other ends k, k are respectively elastically contacted with the central portions of the upper surfaces of the tape reels e, e, whereby the tape reels e, e
Is pressed downward.

The lower ends l, 1 of the hubs g, g are projected downward from the lower flange plates f, f. The lower ends l, l of the tape reels e, e are upward with respect to the cassette case b. When not pressed, the reel stand insertion holes n formed in the bottom wall m of the cassette case b are positioned with some margin.

However, when the tape reels e, e are not used during storage or transportation, the hubs g, the lower end portions 1 of the g, and the lower end portions 1 of the g are located in the reel base insertion holes n, n, so that the shaft position is substantially the same. The lower flange plates f, f are regulated and pressed against the bottom wall m by the pressing force of the reel pressing springs i, i, so that the cassette case b is prevented from rattling.

Further, when the tape cassette a is mounted in the cassette mounting portion of the VTR, the engagement shaft of the reel base provided in the cassette mounting portion relatively opens to the hubs g, g at the lower end surface thereof. Reel base engaging holes o, o
And the lower end surfaces of the hubs g, g are seated on the reel mounting portion of the reel stand, and are lifted up from the bottom wall m. In this state, the tape reels e, e push the reel pressing springs i, i. It is pressed onto the reel stand by pressure.

As described above, since the hubs g, and the lower end portions 1, 1 of the g are positioned in the reel base insertion holes n, n with a margin, they can be moved horizontally to some extent. It is possible, and thereby, the reel stand and the tape reel e,
Alignment between these when e and e combine is done automatically.

Reference numeral p denotes a front lid for opening and closing the tape pull-out surface c. The front lid p is rotatably supported by the cassette case b. When not in use, the tape pull-out surface c is closed as shown in the drawing. It is held in the closed position and is moved to the upper open position when mounted on the VTR. The front lid p protects the portion of the magnetic tape h located outside the cassette case b when not in use.

An example of a tape cassette having a reel pressing spring similar to the reel pressing spring i is described in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 55-40612.

[0015]

However, as described above, when not in use, the tape reels e, e can move horizontally in the cassette case b to some extent, that is, the lower ends l, l of the hubs g, g. Can be moved within the reel base insertion holes n, as much as there is room, so that the tape reels e, e
When the magnetic tape comes close to the tape pull-out surface c side due to external vibration or the like, there is a problem that the magnetic tape h is loosened in a portion between the tape reels e and e, and the looseness causes tape jamming.

That is, when the tape cassette a is mounted in the cassette mounting portion of the VTR while the magnetic tape h has such slack, the portion of the magnetic tape h located outside the cassette case b is the cassette mounting portion. To be caught on various members arranged on the front side, or when the front lid p moves from the open position to the closed position, the loose magnetic tape h may be broken or the magnetic tape h may be wrinkled. There is.

Further, since the cassette case b and the front cover p are usually made of synthetic resin, they are easily charged with static electricity. Therefore, the portion of the magnetic tape h located outside the cassette case is free. If the front lid p is easily dragged by the front lid p and the above-mentioned slack is present, it is highly likely that the magnetic tape h is dragged when the front lid p moves to the open position. There is a problem of becoming.

[0018]

In order to solve the above problems, the tape cassette of the present invention has one end fixed to the cassette case and the other end elastically contacting the center of the top of the tape reel. The other end of the reel retainer spring that presses the tape substantially downwardly, and the direction of the horizontal component force of the force with which the other end presses the tape reel is the tape pull-out surface, that is, both ends are fixed to the two tape reels. The tape is inclined so that the part of the tape that is pulled out of the cassette case is in the opposite direction to the tape pull-out surface on which it is located.

[0019]

Therefore, in the tape cassette of the present invention, in addition to the downward moving force, the moving force in the direction away from the tape pulling surface is also applied to the tape reel, so that the tape reel is not used. When there is slack in the portion of the tape between the two tape reels, it is moved to the position where the slack is removed and held there.

Thus, it is possible to effectively prevent the occurrence of tape jamming due to the slack of the tape, and to apply a moving force to the tape reel in the direction opposite to the tape drawing surface. Since no special member is required, the structure does not become complicated and the original function of the reel pressing spring is not impaired.

[0021]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The details of the tape cassette of the present invention will be described below with reference to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

1 to 6 show the tape cassette of the present invention as a V
1 shows a first embodiment applied to a tape cassette 1 for TR.

Reference numeral 2 is a cassette case of the tape cassette 1, and the cassette case 2 is composed of two case halves 3 and 4 which are formed in approximately two parts in the thickness direction, that is, a lower case half 3 having an open upper surface and a lower surface. The upper case half 4 having an opening is joined so that its opening surfaces are butted against each other, so that the left and right directions (the direction toward the lower left in FIG. 1 is the left side, and the direction toward the upper right is the direction viewed from the thickness direction). In addition, the direction to the lower right in the figure is the front side, and the direction to the upper left is the rear side. In the following description, the direction is based on this direction. It is formed in the shape of a relatively thin box.

The front side surface 5 of the cassette case 2 is used as a tape pull-out surface, and tape outlets 6, 6 are provided at both left and right ends of the tape pull-out surface 5. Tape guides 7, 7 whose axial direction extends in the thickness direction of the cassette case 2 are provided at the position.

Numerals 8 and 8 are reel stand insertion holes formed in the bottom wall 9 of the cassette case 2, which are circular and which are substantially central portions of the left half part and the right half part of the bottom wall 9, respectively. The center of each is located.

.. are partition walls located at the rear of the interior of the cassette case 2. These partition walls 10, 1 ...
0, ..., and portions 11a, 11a between the middle portion of the front side portion of the peripheral wall 11 of the cassette case 2 and the tape outlets 6, 6.
Are respectively located on two circumferences concentric with the reel base insertion holes 8, 8.

As a result, inside the cassette case 2, the partition walls 10, 10, ... And the above-mentioned portion 11a of the peripheral wall 11,
Two left and right spaces 12 and 12 (hereinafter, referred to as "reel arrangement space") having a circular horizontal section defined by 11a and 11a.
Is formed, and these reel arranging spaces 12, 12 communicate with the tape outlets 6, 6 respectively at their ends farther from each other.

Tape reels 13 and 13 have the same structure.

The tape reel 13 has a disk-shaped lower flange plate 14 and a cylindrical hub 15 that integrally projects with the lower flange plate 14 and projects upward from the center of the upper surface of the lower flange plate 14.
And an upper flange plate 16 having a disk shape having substantially the same size as that of the lower flange plate 14 and having a center portion fixed to the upper end surface of the hub 15, and a lower end portion 15a of the hub 15 has a lower flange plate 14 It projects further downward, and its projection amount is slightly smaller than the thickness of the bottom wall 9, and the outer diameter of the lower end portion 15a is slightly smaller than the inner diameters of the reel stand insertion holes 8 and 8.

The hub 15 is formed with a reel base engaging hole 15b which is open at the lower end surface thereof, and a small hemispherical spring contact projection 15c is provided at the center of the upper end surface thereof. , The top of the spring contact projection 15c is the upper flange plate 1
6 is projected upward through a hole 16a formed in the central portion.

The outer diameters of the upper and lower flange plates 16 and 14 are slightly smaller than the inner diameters of the reel arrangement spaces 12 and 12.

Reference numeral 17 denotes a magnetic tape, both ends of which are separately fixed to the hubs 15 and 15 of the two tape reels 13 and 13 and wound by a predetermined amount.

The tape reels 13 and 13 are separately and rotatably housed in the reel arranging spaces 12 and 12, respectively. The lower ends 15a and 15a of the hubs 15 and 15 are in the reel base insertion holes 8 and 8, respectively. The tape reels 13 and 13 are positioned with a margin, so that the positions of the shafts of the tape reels 13 and 13 are substantially defined, and the reel base engaging holes 15b and 15b
Is exposed to the outside of the cassette case 2.

A portion 17a of the magnetic tape 17 between the two tape reels 13 and 13 (hereinafter referred to as "reel portion") is led out of the cassette case 2 through the tape outlets 6, 6. Together with the tape guides 7 and 7
It is positioned along the tape pull-out surface 5 by being wound around.

A window 18a closed by a transparent plate 19 is provided at the center of the top plate 18 of the cassette case 2 in the width direction.
The inside of the cassette case 2, for example, the remaining amount of the magnetic tape 17 can be seen through the window 18a.

Numerals 20 and 20 are reel pressing springs, which are made of a leaf spring material. The reel pressing springs 20 and 20 have the substantially rectangular mounting end 20a,
The portion other than 20a has a thin, substantially triangular shape in which the width becomes smaller toward the tip portions 20b, 20b, and the attachment end portions 20a, 20a are located behind the window 18a of the top plate 18 in a direction extending in the front-rear direction. Is fixed to the position corresponding to the position directly behind the reel base insertion holes 8, 8. This fixing is performed by supporting protrusions 18b, 18b provided on the top plate 18,
... and mounting holes 2 formed in the mounting ends 20a, 20a
0c, 20c, ... And the mounting hole 20
It is performed by crimping so as to expand the diameter of the portion protruding downward from c, 20c, ....

Further, the reel pressing springs 20 and 20 are bent in a substantially V shape at two positions where the mounting end portions 20a and 20a and the tip portions 20b and 20b and the portion between them are continuous. The portions 20b and 20b are elastically contacted with the substantially top surfaces of the spring contact protrusions 15c and 15c of the tape reels 13 and 13, respectively.

Then, such a reel pressing spring 20,
When the tip portions 20b, 20b are inclined due to the above-mentioned bending of 20, the tip portions 20b, 20b are tape reels 13, 13
The direction of the force pressing the hub 1 is as shown by the arrow R in FIG.
It passes through a position closer to the inner side of the outer peripheral surface of the lower end portions 15a, 15a of the reference numerals 5, 15 and the direction of the horizontal component of the force is directed rearward as shown by an arrow P in the figure. ..

However, such a reel pressing spring 2
The pressing forces of 0 and 20 urge the tape reels 13 and 13 to move substantially downward and toward the side opposite to the tape drawing surface 5 side. Therefore, when the tape reels 13 and 13 are not pressed from below, the lower flange plate 14, 14 is pressed against the upper surface of the bottom wall 9 to define the position in the axial direction, and in the horizontal direction,
The horizontal component strength and the reel-to-reel portion 1 of the magnetic tape 17
It is moved to a position balanced with the tension of 7a and held there.

That is, the lower ends 15a, 1 of the hubs 15, 15
Since 5a is positioned in the reel stand insertion holes 8, 8 with a margin, the tape reels 13, 13 can be moved in the horizontal direction by this margin. If there is slack in the tape 17a, the tape is moved to the position where the tape is slack by the moving force to the side opposite to the tape drawing surface 5.

Thus, the reel-to-reel portion 17a of the magnetic tape 17 is always held in a loose state.

Since the reel pressing springs 20 and 20 press the tape reels 13 and 13 in the directions described above, the tape reels 13 and 13 are moved rearward and the lower ends of the hubs 15 and 15 are moved. Even if the parts 15a and 15a come into contact with the inner peripheral surfaces of the reel stand insertion holes 8 and 8,
The direction (R) of the force is the inner peripheral surface and the lower end portions 15a, 15a.
Since it passes in front of the position where and come into contact, the reel presser spring 2
The pressing by 0 and 20 does not cause the tape reels 13 and 13 to rotate forward and upward around the position as a fulcrum.

Reference numeral 21 is a tape pull-out surface 5 of the cassette case 2.
Is a lid body for opening and closing, and has a main portion 21a having substantially the same size as the front surface of the cassette case 2 and side portions 21b, 21b protruding rearward from both left and right ends thereof.
1b and 21b are rotatably supported on the side portions of the cassette case 2 in a substantially vertical direction, and when not in use, they are held in a closed position for covering the magnetic tape 17 located on the tape pull-out surface 5 from the front as shown in FIG. , When the tape cassette 1 is mounted in the cassette mounting portion or at the same time as the mounting is completed.
As shown in FIG. 5, the tape pulling surface 5 is moved to the open position.

Therefore, when the tape cassette 1 is mounted in the cassette mounting portion, as shown in FIG. 6, reel reels 22 and 22 (only one is shown in the drawing) provided in the cassette mounting portion. The coupling shafts 22a, 22a are the hub 1
The tape reels 13 and 13 are inserted into the reel base engaging holes 15b and 15b of the reel bases 5 and 15, and the lower ends 15a and 15a of the hubs 15 and 15 are placed on the reel mounting portions 22b and 22b of the reel bases 22 and 22. It is seated, and at this time, it is relatively pushed up from below and separated from the bottom wall 9.

Therefore, in this state, the reel pressing spring 2
The pressing force of 0, 20 acts as a force for pressing the tape reels 13, 13 to the reel mounting portions 22b, 22b of the reel stands 22, 22.

When the tape reels 13, 13 are seated on the reel stands 22, 22, the reel pressing spring 2
Since the tip end portions 20b, 20b of 0, 20 are pushed up upward, the spring contact projections 15 of the tip end portions 20b, 20b.
The contact angles with respect to c and 15c are tape reels 13 and 13
It changes so as to approach perpendicular to the axis of. Therefore, the reel pressing springs 20 and 20 in the state where the tape reels 13 and 13 are seated on the reel bases 22 and 22 are
As shown by an arrow R'in the figure, the direction of the force for pressing the tapes 3 and 13 is a direction that passes through at least the outer peripheral edges of the reel mounting portions 22b and 22b of the reel bases 22 and 22. The state in which 13 and 13 are placed on the reel stands 22 and 22 is stably maintained.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show a second embodiment 1A of the tape cassette of the present invention.

The tape cassette 1A shown in this embodiment differs from the tape cassette 1 shown in the first embodiment only in the form of the reel pressing spring. Therefore, the description will be made only on the above differences, and the other parts will be omitted by giving the same reference numerals to the same parts in the tape cassette 1 in the drawings. The relationship between the use of the symbols and the omission of the description is the same in the third embodiment described later.

Reference numeral 23 is a reel pressing spring. The front end portion 23a of the reel pressing spring 23 serves as a mounting end portion and is fixed to a portion of the top plate 18 of the cassette case 2 in front of the window 18a, and a portion rearward of the mounting end portion 23a is inclined backward. The rear end 23b is inclined rearward and is elastically contacted with the spring contact projection 15c of the tape reel 13.

Therefore, the rear end portion 23 of the reel pressing spring 23
b is elastically contacted with the spring abutting portion 15c from substantially the front upper side, whereby the direction of the horizontal component force of the force with which the reel pressing spring 23 presses the tape reel 13 is opposite to the tape pull-out surface 5.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show a third embodiment 1B of the tape cassette of the present invention.

The tape cassette 1B shown in this embodiment differs from the tape cassette 1 shown in the first embodiment only in the form of the reel pressing spring.

Reference numeral 24 is a reel pressing spring. The reel pressing spring 24 is long in the left-right direction, and one end portion 25 thereof is used as a mounting end portion and is fixed to an end portion in the longitudinal direction of the top plate 18 of the cassette case 2, and the portion beyond the mounting end portion 25 is downward. The other end portion 26 is gently horizontal and the other end portion 26 is made substantially horizontal, and the abutting portion 26 is inclined rearward and upward from the rear edge of the other end portion 26.
a is protruded, and the corresponding contact portion 26a is elastically contacted with the spring contact protrusion 15c of the tape reel 13.

Therefore, the contact portion 26 of the reel pressing spring 24 is
The a is elastically contacted with the spring abutting projection 15c from substantially the front upper side, whereby the direction of the horizontal component force of the force with which the reel pressing spring 24 presses the tape reel 13 is opposite to the tape pull-out surface 5.

[0055]

As is apparent from the above description, in the tape cassette of the present invention, the tape reel in which both ends of the tape are fastened and a predetermined amount is wound is such that the lower end of the hub is the bottom surface of the cassette case. It is housed in the cassette case so that it is positioned with a margin in the reel stand insertion hole formed in the wall, and the part of the tape between the two tape reels is led out of the cassette case and the tape is pulled out. A tape cassette provided with a reel pressing spring that is positioned along a surface and has one end fixed to a cassette case and the other end elastically contacting the center of the top of the tape reel to press the tape reel substantially downward. The other end of the reel pressing spring is inclined such that the direction of the horizontal component force of the force with which the other end presses the tape reel is opposite to the tape pull-out surface.

Therefore, in the tape cassette of the present invention, in addition to the downward moving force, the moving force in the direction away from the tape drawing surface is also applied to the tape reel, so that the tape reel is not used. When there is slack in the portion of the tape between the two tape reels, it is moved to the position where the slack is removed and held there.

As a result, it is possible to effectively prevent the occurrence of tape jamming due to the slack of the tape, and to apply a moving force to the tape reel in the direction opposite to the tape drawing surface. Since no special member is required, the structure does not become complicated and the original function of the reel pressing spring is not impaired.

In the above embodiment, the direction of the force of the reel retainer spring pressing the tape reel while the tape reel is mounted on the reel stand passes inside the outer peripheral edge of the reel mounting portion of the reel stand. However, by doing so, since the moment that the position on the tape pull-out surface side is lifted up is not generated in the tape reel, the state in which the tape reel is mounted on the reel stand can be stably maintained.

However, in the present invention, the direction in which the reel pressing spring presses the tape reel is not limited to such a direction.

Further, in each of the above-mentioned embodiments, the two reel pressing springs are formed independently of each other, but the reel pressing springs may be connected to each other.

In addition, the structure of the tape reel and the shape of the other end of the reel pressing spring shown in the above embodiments are merely examples of the embodiment of the present invention. The technical scope of the present invention should not be limitedly interpreted. In particular, the types of tape cassettes to which the present invention can be applied are not limited to those shown in the embodiments.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view showing a first embodiment of a tape cassette of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a tape cassette with a front cover opened, as viewed from below.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an upper case half.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG.

5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line VV of FIG.

FIG. 6 shows the state of being mounted on the cassette mounting portion as indicated by VI in FIG.
It is an expanded sectional view cut and shown along a -VI line.

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view showing a second embodiment of the tape cassette of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view showing a reel pressing spring.

FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view showing a third embodiment of the tape cassette of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view showing a reel pressing spring.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing an example of a conventional tape cassette.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Tape cassette 2 Cassette case 5 Tape pull-out surface 8 Reel stand insertion hole 9 Bottom wall 13 Tape reel 15 Hub 15a Lower end 15c Top center 17 Tape 17a (Tape) Part between two tape reels 20 Reel presser spring 20a One end 20b Other end P Horizontal component force direction 1A Tape cassette 23 Reel presser spring 23a One end 23b Other end 1B Tape cassette 24 Reel presser spring 25 One end 26a Other end

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A tape reel in which both ends of a tape are fastened and wound by a predetermined amount, with a lower end of a hub having a margin in a reel stand insertion hole formed on a bottom wall of a cassette case. The tape is housed in the cassette case so that the portion between the two tape reels of the tape is led out of the cassette case and positioned along the tape pulling surface.
A tape cassette having a reel pressing spring, one end of which is fixed to a cassette case and the other end of which elastically contacts the center of the top of the tape reel to press the tape reel substantially downward, and the other end of the reel pressing spring. A tape cassette, wherein the part is inclined such that the direction of the horizontal component force of the force with which the other end presses the tape reel is opposite to the tape pull-out surface.