JPH06325540A - Tape cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a tape cassette in which the rear cover is suspended from the front cover through a coupling board so that the front of a magnetic tape is protected by the front cover and the rear surface of the magnetic tape is protected by the coupling board and the rear cover. CONSTITUTION:A magnetic tape T is contained in a cassette case 1A while being stretched along the rear of a closable front cover 7 disposed in front of the cassette case 1A. A rear cover 8 is suspended from the rear side of the front cover 7 through the magnetic tape T and a coupling board 9. When the front cover 7 is closed, the front cover 7 covers the front of (magnetic face) of the magnetic tape T, the coupling board 9 covers the upper rear surface of the magnetic tape T and the rear cover 8 covers the lower rear surface of the magnetic tape T.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention suspends a rear lid on a front lid of a tape cassette via a connecting plate, protects the front surface of the magnetic tape with the front lid, and attaches the back surface of the magnetic tape to the connecting plate and the connecting plate. The present invention relates to a tape cassette configured to be protected by a rear lid.

[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 type tape cassette 100 shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B has an upper half member 101 and a lower half member 10.
A pair of reels around which a magnetic tape is wound is housed in a cassette housing assembled in a rectangular parallelepiped shape by 2 and recording and / or reproducing by a magnetic recording and / or reproducing device (not shown) using this VHS type tape cassette 100. The VHS type tape cassette 100 is almost standardized in order to maintain compatibility with the apparatus. Also, VHS tape cassette 100
The magnetic tape T is wound between the supply reel 103 and the take-up reel 104 housed inside the supply reel 103.
While the magnetic tape T wound around is passed through the guide pole 105 on the supply side and is stretched along the back surface of the front lid 106 provided on the side of the openings 102a _{1 to} 102a _{3 of the} lower half member 102, the winding is further performed. It is wound on the take-up reel 104 via the guide pole 107 on the take-up side. In addition, the opening 102a ₁ of the lower half member 102
～102A ₃ is adapted to the back surface forward are hollowed opening can tape loading member of the apparatus (not shown) enters. The front lid 106 is a magnetic tape T.
The front surface (magnetic surface) of the is protected from dust and fingers. The front lid 106 is supported on the left and right side surfaces of the cassette housing so as to be openable and closable about a pair of shafts 106a, 106a (only one side is shown) integrally formed on the inside of the left and right side surfaces, but the front lid provided on the left side surface. It is locked to the lock member 108 and closed.

Then, as shown in FIG. 7B, VHS
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.

8 mm shown in FIGS. 8 (A) and 8 (B)
Type tape cassette 200 is the above VHS type tape cassette
The upper and lower half members 201, which have almost the same structure as 100,
Although a supply reel 203 and a take-up reel 204 around which the magnetic tape T is wound are provided in a cassette housing assembled in a rectangular parallelepiped shape by 202, the lower half member 20 is further provided.
A rear lid 206 that protects the rear surface of the magnetic tape T on the side opposite to the front surface inside the opening 202a that is open to the second side and behind the front lid 205.
Is provided. This 8 mm type tape cassette 200 is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 59-168979, and here, only the vicinity of the front lid 205 and the rear lid 206 will be briefly described, the space between the front lid 205 and the rear lid 206 will be described. Magnetic tape T stretched
Are protected by the both lids 205 and 206 in a state of enclosing the front surface and the back surface of the magnetic tape T.

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. In addition, the pair of guide bosses 206b, 206b integrally formed at the lower ends of the left and right side surfaces of the rear lid 206 are the lower half members.
A pair of guide grooves formed on the left and right near the opening 202a of the 202
It is fitted to 202b and 202b.

Then, as shown in FIG.
Only when the m-type tape cassette 200 is inserted into a magnetic recording and / or reproducing device (not shown), the front cover 205 is formed with the shaft 205a formed on the front cover 205 by the opening means on the side of the device as the center of rotation, as shown by the two-dot chain line 205 and the rear lid 206 cooperate to open the lid integrally. 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. . That is, the guide boss portion 206b formed on the rear lid 206 to project.
Is opened upward while being rotated along a guide groove 202b formed in the lower half member 202 and while being rotated around a shaft 206a which is a rotation center of the rear lid 206. At this time, the rear lid 206 that cooperates with the front lid 205 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 apparatus. Since the shaft 206a is 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 dust and the like adhere to the magnetic tape T, or fingerprints of hands and the like significantly deteriorate the recording and / or reproducing performance. In the VHS type tape cassette 100, the back surface of the magnetic tape T opposite to the front surface is not protected, and dust or the like is attached to the back surface of the magnetic tape T from the openings 102a _{1 to} 102a ₃ or the opening 10a.
When a fingerprint or the like is attached to the hand from 2a _{1 to} 102a ₃ , 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 adheres to the front surface (magnetic surface) of the magnetic tape T. Therefore, there is a possibility that adverse effects may occur. Of course, the magnetic tape is damaged even when a foreign matter is inserted through the openings 102a _{1 to} 102a ₃ .

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. ． When the member corresponding to the rear lid (206) having the structure of the 8 mm type tape cassette 200 is applied to the VHS type tape cassette 100 as it is, the opening and closing operation of the rear lid (206) equivalent member that opens and closes in cooperation with the front lid 106 It is difficult to smoothly perform this, and in order to improve this, a method of suspending a member corresponding to the rear lid (206) on the front lid 106 through a connecting means is conceivable. Must be completely covered. ． 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. If it is, the guide boss (206b, 206b) of the member equivalent to the rear lid (206)
Comes out above the guide groove (202b, 202b) and comes off,
When the member equivalent to the rear lid (206) is closed, the guide boss (206
b, 206b) does not enter the guide groove (202b, 202b) and is damaged.

Therefore, the rear lid is connected to the front lid via a connecting plate, and the rear side of the magnetic tape T is completely protected by the rear lid and the connecting plate, and the rear lid cooperating with the front lid is sufficiently opened. When the lid is closed, the guide boss portion of the rear lid does not come off from the upper end of the guide groove when the lid is opened, and after the front lid to which the rear lid is connected is temporarily supported by the upper half member, the upper half member and the lower half member. When assembling a cassette housing by combining it with a member, there is provided a tape cassette having a structure in which the magnetic tape stored in the lower half member can be securely fitted into the guide groove of the guide boss portion of the rear lid without trouble. Is desired.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and a first aspect of the present invention is to store a pair of reels around which a magnetic tape is wound in a cassette housing. The front surface of the magnetic tape is protected by the front lid while the magnetic tape is stretched along the back surface of the front lid that is openable and closable in front of the front lid, and the magnetic tape is sandwiched on the back surface side of the front lid. A tape cassette that protects the back surface of the magnetic tape by a connecting plate and a rear lid provided in 1., which is provided above the back surface of the front lid, and for a connecting plate supporting portion formed on the back surface of the top plate of the front lid. A connecting plate that is rotatably supported via a shaft and protects an upper portion of the back surface of the magnetic tape when the front lid is closed; and a back surface of the front lid that is provided below the connecting plate, and Having a guide boss that cooperates with the opening / closing operation of the front lid A rear lid that is rotatably suspended via an axis on an arm portion formed on the connecting plate and that protects the lower portion of the back side of the magnetic tape from below when the front lid is closed, and is formed in the cassette housing. A guide groove that fits with a guide boss portion of the rear lid to guide the rear lid in the opening / closing direction, a first urging unit that urges the front lid in the closing direction, and the connecting plate to the front. Second biasing means for moving the rear lid suspended in the connecting plate in the opening direction by biasing the lid toward the back surface of the top plate, and by the second biasing means when closing the front lid. A tape cassette, comprising: a rear lid regulating means for regulating the opening of the rear lid biased in the opening direction.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the tape cassette of the first aspect of the present invention, at least two connecting plate supporting portions formed on the front lid are spaced apart from each other by a left-right interval.
While supporting the connecting plate along the front lid rotatably in parallel to the connecting plate support portion at more than one place via a shaft,
The arm portions formed on the connecting plate are provided at least at two or more positions with a left-right space therebetween, and the rear lid is rotated substantially parallel to the front lid via shafts at the two or more arm portions. The tape cassette is characterized in that it is freely suspended, and that the guide boss portion of the rear lid is also fitted in the guide groove formed at a lateral distance in the cassette housing.

[0013]

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.
Is a partially cutaway exploded perspective view showing the front lid and the rear lid, which are the main parts of the tape cassette, and the vicinity of the connecting plate, and FIG. 3 shows the state in which the rear lid and the connecting plate are attached to the front lid of the tape cassette. FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway exploded perspective view, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the assembly order of the tape cassette, (A) shows a state in which a rear lid and a connecting plate are attached to the front lid, and (B) shows the front. The state which attached the lid to the upper half member is shown, (C) is the figure which shows the state which assembled the upper half member which attached the front lid to the lower half member, and FIG. 5 shows the rear lid and connecting plate of a tape cassette. It is a partially broken perspective view showing a state in which the attached front lid is assembled to a cassette housing.

The exterior of the tape cassette 1 according to the present invention shown in FIG. 1 is formed by dividing the upper half member 2 and the lower half member 3 into two parts using a resin material and the outer peripheral portion of the upper half member 2. Butt against the outer peripheral part of the lower half member,
A rectangular parallelepiped cassette housing 1A is assembled. A magnetic tape T is wound between a supply reel 4 and a take-up reel 5 which form a pair of reels housed inside the cassette housing 1A, and the magnetic tape T wound on the supply reel 4 is after passing through the supply side of the guide poles 6a, the tape loading members for approaching stretched while being wound side in front of the opening 3a ₁ to 3 a ₃ of the guide pole 6b that lightening openings backside front of the lower half member 3 It is wound on the take-up reel 5 via.

Further, on a rear surface of the lower half member 3, in addition to the opening _3a 1 to 3 A _3, hole 3b facing the supply reel 4 and the take-up reel 5, 3c are bored, further, the tape cassette Positioning hole 3d for positioning 1 in the device,
A hole 3f for inserting a light emitting element (not shown) for detecting the mounting state of 3e and the magnetic tape T is provided.

Further, the front lid 7 which is openably and closably provided in front of the cassette housing 1A has a pair of shafts 7a ₁ and 7b _{1 which} are integrally formed inside the left and right side surfaces 7a and 7b of the front lid 7. Is supported on the left and right side surfaces of the lower half member 3 so as to be openable and closable, and the front lid 7 is locked by a front lid lock member 12 provided on the left side surface 3g of the lower half member 3 to be in a closed state before being inserted into the device. . The opening operation of the front lid 7 is performed by the tape cassette 1
The front lid lock member 1 by the front lid opening means on the side of the apparatus only when the disk is inserted into the magnetic recording and / or reproducing apparatus (not shown).
Although 2 is released and the front lid 7 can be opened, its detailed description is omitted.

On the rear surface side of the front lid 7, a rear lid 8 is suspended via a connecting plate 9 with a magnetic tape T stretched along the rear surface of the front lid 7 interposed therebetween. The plate 9 cooperates with the front lid 7 and can be integrally opened and closed. When the front lid 7 is closed, the front surface (magnetic surface) of the magnetic tape T is the front lid 7
It is covered and protected by. At the same time, the magnetic tape T
The upper portion of the back surface of the above is covered and protected by the connecting plate 9, and the portion below the upper portion of the back surface is covered and protected by the rear lid 8. Thus, the rear lid 8 and the coupling plate 9, together with the dust entering from the opening 3a ₁ to 3 A ₃ was hollowed opening the lower half member 3 are protected from adhering to the rear surface of the magnetic tape T, accidentally or intentionally finger through the opening 3a ₁ ~3a _3, be inserted and foreign materials are protected against stick scratches on the magnetic tape T.

The tape cassette 1 according to the present invention, which has been outlined above, is constructed to maintain compatibility with the well-known VHS type tape cassette in the embodiment.
The present invention is not limited to the HS type tape cassette, but can be applied to a tape cassette having an appropriate shape.

The main constituent members of the tape cassette 1 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. In FIG. 2, the upper half member 2 and the lower half member 3 are approximately half the outer peripheral portion with respect to the height H ₁ of the front lid 7 formed at substantially the same height as the tape cassette 1 except for a part thereof. Are formed separately from each other at a half height H ₂ .

Further, in front of the middle portion of the upper half member 2,
The front edge portions 2a ₁ and 2a ₂ are formed with a small plate thickness so as to project forward with a space therebetween. These leading edges 2a ₁ ,
Locking recess _2a 11 on the back surface of the _{2a 2,} 2a ₂₁ {FIG. 4
Enlarged illustration in (B)} is formed in a concave shape, and the locking recesses 2a ₁₁ and 2a ₂₁ are guide grooves formed by opening the upper ends of the protrusions 3p and 3q of the lower half member 3 described later. Matched with 3p ₁ and 3q ₁ . Thereby, when assembling the tape cassette 1 described later, especially after temporarily assembling the front lid 7 to which the rear lid 8 is connected to the upper half member 2,
When the temporarily assembled upper half member 2 is assembled into the lower half member 3, the recesses 2a ₁₁ and 2a for locking the upper half member 2 are provided.
_The guide boss portions 8d ₁ and 8d ₂ formed near the lower end of the rear lid 8 to be described later are temporarily locked to ₂₁ and the front edge portions 2a ₁ and 2a ₂ of the upper half member ₂ are connected to the lower half member 3. the formed protrusions 3p in, abuts against the upper end of 3q, guides and opens the upper end grooves _3p 1, 3q ₁ locking recess _{2a 11} a,
The guide boss portions 8d ₁ and 8d ₂ that are temporarily locked while being blocked by the 2a ₂₁ are guided to the guide grooves 3p ₁ and 3q ₁ .

Further, the front edge portion 2a on the left side of the upper half member 2 is
₁ and the right front edge portion 2a ₂ between the connecting plate guide portion 2
A ₃ is formed so as to protrude forward in a tapered shape.
The connecting plate guide portion 2a _3, the cam portion 9a provided on the rear surface of the connecting plate 9 which will be described later is supported by the front lid 7 is freely separable. Then, when the front lid 7 is closed by the first urging means 10 (hereinafter, referred to as a torsion spring 10) which is fitted into the shaft 7a ₁ and urges the front lid 7 in the closing direction, the connecting plate 9 is closed. 7
Of which the connecting plate 9 is urged in the opening direction by the second urging means 11 (hereinafter, referred to as a torsion spring 11) which urges the top plate 7d in the rear surface direction, the connecting plate guide of the upper half member 2 since the parts 2a ₃ cam portion 9a of the connecting plate 9 is restricting the rotation of the connecting plate 9 abuts the coupling plate 9 closing direction against the urging force of the torsion spring 11 is restricted to lid opening It is turning to. At the same time, the rear lid 8 suspended on the connecting plate 9
Also, although it is biased in the opening direction by the biasing force of the torsion spring 11, it follows the closed state of the connecting plate 9 and closes the lid while resisting the biasing force of the torsion spring 11. Therefore,
After the connecting plate guide portion 2a ₃ formed on the upper half member 2 and the cam portion 9a provided on the rear lid 8 regulate the opening of the rear lid 8 via the connecting plate 9 when the front lid 7 is closed. It constitutes a lid regulation means.

Next, the left and right side surfaces 3g, 3 of the lower half member 3
The front of h is formed at a height H ₃ which is slightly lower than the height H ₁ of the front lid 7, and the rear of these left and right side surfaces 3g, 3h is formed at a half height H ₂ . When the upper half member 2 and the lower half member 3 are combined to support the front lid 7, after the torsion spring 10 is fitted on the shaft 7a ₁ of the front lid 7, the front lid 7 is inserted.
The shafts 7a ₁ and 7b ₁ of the upper half member 2 on the side surfaces 2g, 2
The front lid 7 is temporarily supported by the upper half member 2 by being fitted into the insertion holes (2g ₁ ), 2h ₁ formed in h from the front, while the outer peripheral portion of the upper half member 2 and the outer peripheral portion of the lower half member 3 are thereafter. By associating with the front lid 7,
It can be opened and closed freely in front of.

Furthermore, on both sides near the front substantially central opening 3a ₂ of the lower half member 3, the tape guide portion 3i for guiding the back surface side of the magnetic tape T, 3j are separated apart, and a half It is a little higher than the height H ₂ and is integrally formed as a flat plate to project upward. The back surface of the magnetic tape T of the tape guide portions 3i and 3j is a rear lid 8 due to static electricity.
It also prevents the connection plate 9 from coming into close contact. These tape guide portion 3i, notches 8c 1 formed in the lid 8 of the later by concatenating the deeper the _3j, 8c ₂ a recess 3m crotch causes, 3n are formed.

Furthermore, recess 3m on both sides deeper forward substantially central opening 3a ₂ of the lower half member 3, and connected to 3n, a pair of projecting portions 3p, 3q are separated left and right spacing, and the front lid 7
The height H ₃ is slightly lower than the height H ₁ and is integrally formed so as to project upward. The pair of protrusions 3p and 3q include
Guide boss portions 8d ₁ and 8 formed near the lower end of the rear lid 8
Guide grooves 3p ₁ and 3q ₁ for guiding the opening and closing of d ₂ are formed in a “general boots shape” so as to face each other with a left-right interval. At this time, the guide grooves 3p ₁ and 3q ₁ are attached to the rear lid 8
The lower end of the rear lid 8 is closed in the closing direction, while the upper end of the rear lid 8 is opened in the opening direction.

As described above, since the upper end portions of the guide grooves 3p ₁ and 3q ₁ are opened when the rear lid 8 is assembled, the guide boss portions 8d ₁ and 8d ₂ of the rear lid 8 are connected to the guide grooves 3p ₁ ,
3q ₁ can be easily inserted, and after insertion, the guide groove 3p
₁ and 3q ₁ have upper end portions which are front edge portions 2a ₁ of the upper half member 2,
With confidence rear lid 8 so blocked by 2a ₂ it is made to be able to sufficiently open lid. Further, since the guide grooves 3p ₁ and 3q ₁ for guiding the guide boss portions 8d ₁ and 8d ₂ formed on the rear lid 8 are formed on both sides of the opening 3a ₂ at the front center of the lower half member 3, the apparatus side. The rear lid 8 and the connecting plate 9 can be opened and closed without being affected by the tape loading member of FIG.

On the bottom surface of the lower half member 3 on the front side,
Holes 3r and 3s for attaching the guide poles 6a and 6b (Fig. 1) are formed, and when the guide poles 6a and 6b (Fig. 1) are attached to these holes 3r and 3s, the magnetic tape T is guided to the guide pole 6a, A tape path shown by a chain double-dashed line is stretched between 6b.

Next, between the left and right side surfaces 7a and 7b of the front lid 7,
Is formed on the front plate 7c and the top plate 7d is connected substantially at a right angle "inverted L-shape", further, triangular section 7c ₁ on the back side at the lower end of the front plate 7c is toward the only slightly deeper Are formed so as to project. The triangular portion 7c ₁ has a function of wrapping the lower end of the magnetic tape T stretched along the back surface of the front lid 7 in a sealed state with the lower end portion 8b ₁ of the front surface of the rear lid 8 which will be described later when the lid is closed.
It protects while isolating the magnetic tape T through the opening _3a 1 _{~3a 3.}

On the back surface side of the front lid 7 and on the back surface of the top plate 7d of the front lid 7, connecting plate supporting portions 7d ₁ and 7d ₂ are hung down at least at two or more positions with a left-right interval. There is.
These two or more connecting plate supporting portions supporting portions 7d ₁ and 7d ₂
Holes 7d ₁₁ and 7d ₂₁ for rotatably supporting a connecting plate 9 for connecting the rear lid 8 to the front lid 7 are horizontally formed in this.

Next, the connecting plate 9 which is the main part of the present invention is provided above the back surface of the front lid 7, and the back surface of the magnetic tape T is sandwiched by the magnetic tape T stretched along the back surface of the front lid 7. It has a function to cover and protect the upper part. The connecting plate 9 is made of a resin material and has a lengthwise direction substantially equal to that of a rear lid 8 described later, and a front surface 9b facing the back surface of the front lid 7 in the height direction.
The side is formed in a "substantially inverted V shape".

Further, the cam portion 9a described above is formed on the upper rear surface of the connecting plate 9, and the connecting plate 9 is formed.
Shafts 9c ₁ and 9c ₂ are formed integrally and horizontally projecting rightward at the lightening portion near the center portion and the right end spaced apart from the lightening portion. And the left axis 9
A torsion spring 11 is fitted to c ₁ and fitted and supported in a hole 7d ₁₁ of the connecting plate supporting portion 7d ₁ of the front lid 7, and the right shaft 9c ₂ is a hole of the connecting plate supporting portion 7d ₂ of the front lid 7. Since it is fitted and supported by the 7d ₂₁ , the connecting plate 9 can be rotatably supported substantially parallel to the back surface of the front lid 7. At this time, the torsion spring 1
One end of 1 is hooked on the connecting plate supporting portion 7d ₁ of the front lid 7, and the other end is hooked on the back surface of the connecting plate 9, and the biasing force of this torsion spring 11 causes the connecting plate 9 to move forward. The top plate 7d of the lid 7 is urged to rotate toward the rear surface, and the connecting plate 9
The rear lid 8 that is suspended on the back is urged in the opening direction. In addition, the lightening portion in the vicinity of the central portion of the connecting plate 9 is provided with a "U-shaped" reinforcing frame toward the upper rear.

On the lower side of the connecting plate 9, the left cutout portion and the lower right end spaced apart from the cutout portion, the arm portions 9d ₁ and 9d ₂ are slanted downwardly of the front lid 7. At least two locations on the back side project left and right. These two or more arm portions 9d ₁ and 9d ₂ have rear lids 8 to be described later.
Shaft 8 horizontally protruding from the upper part of the "inverted L shape"
Holes 9d ₁₁ and 9d for rotatably supporting a ₁ and 8a _2
21 is drilled horizontally. Next, the rear lid 8 which is an essential part of the present invention is provided below the connecting plate 9 on the back surface of the front lid 7.
It has a function of covering the magnetic tape T stretched along the back surface of the front cover 7 and covering the magnetic tape T from below the upper portion of the back surface to protect the magnetic tape T. The rear lid 8 is formed to a length width direction using a resin material covering the openings 3a ₁ to 3 A ₃ enters into between the openings 3a ₁ to 3 A ₃ of the lower half member 3, the height As for the direction, the front surface 8b side facing the back surface of the front lid 7 is formed in a "substantially inverted V shape".

A shaft 8a is provided near both upper sides of the rear lid 8.
₁ and 8a ₂ are horizontally formed in an “inverted L shape”, and these shafts 8a ₁ and 8a ₂ are connected to the arm portion 9 of the connecting plate 9.
When fitted into the holes 9d ₁₁ and 9d ₂₁ formed in d ₁ and 9d ₂ , the rear lid 8 is parallel along the back surface of the front lid 7, and
It is rotatably supported while being suspended by the connecting plate 9.

Notches 8c ₁ and 8c ₂ are formed in the middle portion on the left and right of the lower portion of the rear lid 8 at intervals.
Guide boss portions 8d ₁ and 8d ₂ are horizontally and symmetrically and integrally formed in the cutout portions 8c ₁ and 8c _{2 so as} to extend horizontally. These guide boss portions 8d ₁ and 8d ₂ are fitted into the guide grooves 3p ₁ and 3q ₁ formed in the protruding portions 3p and 3q of the lower half member 3 described above. At this time, notches 8c ₁ and 8c of the rear lid 8
_{2 is} a part of the concave portion 3 of the lower half member 3 described above.
m, with have become retractably within 3n, before during closing of the lid 7 notches _8c 1, 8c ₂ excluding the front lower portion 8b ₁ is the opening _3a 1 to 3 A ₃ of the lower half member 3 7c ₁ formed at the lower end of the front lid 7 by entering the front of the
To protect the lower end of the magnetic tape T in a wrapped state.

Then, the rear lid 8 is connected to the front lid 7 via the connecting plate 9.
When connected to the front cover 7 and the connecting plate 9, the rotating shaft (9
c ₁ , 9c ₂ ), a rotation axis (8a) between the connecting plate 9 and the rear lid 8.
₁ and 8a ₂ ), the rear cover 8 has two degrees of freedom in the link mechanism, and the rear cover 8 and the connecting plate 9 that cooperate with the front cover 7 are provided. The opening / closing operation of the device can be smoothly performed in parallel with the front lid 7 without difficulty.

Next, the order of assembling the tape cassette 1 with the above-mentioned main components will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 (A) to 4 (C), the reference numerals of the respective constituent members of the tape cassette 1 indicate the reference numerals of the left side portion from the center of the cassette housing 1A, and the right side portion substantially symmetrical to the left side portion. Will be omitted.

[0037] First, as shown in FIGS. 3 and FIG. 4 (A), the front after fitting the torsion spring 10 in the axial 7a ₁ of the lid 7, is fitted a torsion spring 11 in the axial 9c ₁ of the connecting plate 9, the shaft 9c ₁
Is rotatably supported by the connecting plate supporting portion 7d ₁ of the front lid 7, and the shaft 8a ₁ of the rear lid 8 is pivotally attached to the arm portion 9d ₁ of the connecting plate 9.
By suspending the rear lid 8 on the connecting plate 9, the rear lid 8 is attached to the front lid 7.
Connect to.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4B, the front lid 7 to which the rear lid 8 is connected is temporarily assembled to the upper half member 2. Here, the shaft 7 of the front lid 7 is inserted into the insertion hole 2g ₁ of the upper half member 2.
The a ₁ is inserted from the front side, and the front cover 7 is opened to the upper side while resisting the torsion spring 10 around the shaft 7a ₁ and held by a hand or the like. With this operation, the rear lid 8 also moves upward, so that the guide boss portion 8d ₁ of the rear lid 8 is formed on the back surface of the front edge portion 2a ₁ of the upper half member 2 for locking.
₁₁ and let the guide boss 8d by hand
₁ is temporarily locked in the locking recess 2 a ₁₁ to temporarily assemble the front lid 7 to the upper half member 2.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4C, the rear lid 8
The upper half member 2 is assembled to the lower half member 3 from above while the guide boss portion 8d ₁ is locked in the locking recess 2a ₁₁ of the upper half member 2. At this time, the lower half member 3
Since the magnetic tape T is stored in advance, the magnetic tape T is attached to the front lid 7 and the rear lid 8 located above in the opened state.
Since there is no contact, the tape cassette 1 can be assembled in a reliable and reliable manner.

Here, the front edge portion 2a ₁ of the half member 2 abuts on the upper end portion of the protrusion 3p formed on the lower half member 3,
In addition, the locking recess 2a _{11 of} the front edge 2a ₁ has the protrusion 3p.
It matches the upper end of the guide groove 3p ₁ formed in the above. Therefore, the guide boss portion temporarily locked while closing the guide groove 3p ₁ of the lower half member 3 whose upper end is opened by the locking recess 2a ₁₁ formed in the front edge portion 2a ₁ of the upper half member 2. Since 8d ₁ is guided to the guide groove 3p ₁ ,
The tape cassette 1 can be assembled reliably and quickly, and the guide boss portion 8d ₁ of the rear lid 8 does not come out upward from the guide groove 3p ₁ when the front lid 7 is opened. The rear lid 8 can be fully opened with a sense of security, and the reliability and quality of the tape cassette 1 can be improved.

Then, as shown in FIG. 5, as shown in FIG.
When the guide boss 8d ₁ is released from the engagement with the engaging recess 2a ₁₁ by releasing the state, the front lid 7 is lowered and closed by the biasing force of the torsion spring 10, and the front lid 7
Since the guide boss portions 8d ₁ and 8d _{2 of} the rear lid 8 descend along the guide grooves 3p ₁ and 3q ₁ in cooperation with the tape cassette 1, the tape cassette 1 reaches the assembled state. In this assembled state, the magnetic tape T is wound on the back side of the closed front lid 7 along the front side of the tape guide portions 3i, 3j formed on the lower half member 3 via the guide pole 6a on the supply side. It is stretched around the guide pole 6b on the taking side. And
When the front lid 7 is closed, the front surface of the magnetic tape T is covered and protected by the front lid 7, the upper back surface of the magnetic tape T is covered and protected by the connecting plate 9, and is lower than the upper back surface of the magnetic tape T. Is covered and protected by a rear lid 8.

[0042] At this time, the cam portion 9a provided before the rear surface of the connecting plate 9 which is supported by the lid 7, the connecting plate guide portion 2a ₃ projecting tapered forwardly of the upper half member 2 is in contact with Therefore, since the rotation of the connecting plate 9 is restricted, the connecting plate 9
Is held in a closed state while resisting the biasing force of the torsion spring 11. Further, the guide boss portions 8d ₁ and 8d ₂ of the rear lid 8 suspended on the connecting plate 9 reach the lower end portions of the guide grooves 3p ₁ and 3q ₁ formed in the protruding portions 3p and 3q of the lower half member 3. The rear lid 8 keeps the closed state by following the closed state of the connecting plate 9. The rear lid 8 and the connecting plate 9 are restricted from moving in the left-right direction in the width direction with respect to the front lid 7 depending on their respective connected states.

<Opening Operation of Tape Cassette> The opening operation of the tape cassette according to the present invention having the above-mentioned structure will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6A to 6C.

6A and 6B are vertical sectional views for explaining the opening operation of the tape cassette according to the present invention. FIG. 6A shows a front lid, a rear lid, and a connecting plate in a closed state, and FIG. The front lid, the rear lid, and the connecting plate are in the middle of opening, and (C) shows the front lid opened and the guide boss portion of the rear lid near the upper end of the guide groove. There is. Incidentally, FIG. 6 (A)
The reference numerals of the respective constituent members of the tape cassette 1 shown in (C) to (C) are those of the left side portion from the center of the cassette housing 1A, and the description of the right side portion which is substantially symmetrical to the left side portion is omitted.

The state shown in FIG. 6A is the same as the state in which the front lid 7 of the tape cassette 1 described above with reference to FIG. Tape T is stretched. Further, the connecting plate 9 is rotatably supported by the connecting plate supporting portion 7d ₁ on the back surface side of the front lid 7 via the shaft 9c ₁ .
A rear lid 8 is suspended on an arm 9d ₁ below the connecting plate 9 via a shaft 8a ₁ , and a front lid 7 is biased by a torsion spring 10 in the closing direction. Further, the guide boss portion 8d ₁ formed near the lower end of the rear lid 8 is provided with the protruding portion 3 of the lower half member 3.
It reaches the closed lower end while fitting into the guide groove 3p ₁ formed in p. Also, previous front lower portion 8b ₁ of the rear lid 8 to the triangular portion 7c ₁ formed in the lower end of the lid 7 is in contact, wraps the lower end of the magnetic tape T in a sealed state, opening 3a ₁
From 3a ₃ (FIG. 5), dust and fingerprints of hands are prevented from adhering to the magnetic tape T. The front surface of the magnetic tape T is covered and protected by the front lid 7,
The upper part of the back surface of the above is covered and protected by the connecting plate 9, and the lower part of the upper surface of the back surface is covered and protected by the rear lid 8. Therefore, when the front lid 7 is closed, that is, before it is inserted into the magnetic recording and / or reproducing device (not shown), the magnetic tape T is completely protected by the front lid 7, the rear lid 8 and the connecting plate 9. Has been done. The cam portion 9a provided on the rear surface of the connecting plate 9 which is supported on the front lid 7 is coupled Since connecting plate guide portion 2a ₃ projecting tapered forwardly of the upper half member 2 is in contact with plate 9 The rotation of the rear lid 8 and the connecting plate 9 is kept closed while resisting the biasing force of the torsion spring 11.

Next, as shown in FIG. 6B, when the tape cassette 1 is inserted into a magnetic recording and / or reproducing apparatus (not shown), the front lid 7 is centered around the shaft 7a ₁ and the illustrated timepiece is shown. The lid is opened in the direction (arrow direction). Here, as the front lid 7 is opened while resisting the urging force of the torsion spring 10, the cam portion 9 of the connecting plate 9 that is rotatably supported on the back surface side of the front lid 7 is supported.
a is that the connecting plate 9 moves upward while contacting the connecting plate guide portion 2a ₃ of the upper half member 2 by the urging force of the torsion spring 11,
In addition, the rear lid 8 suspended by the connecting plate 9 is thereby attached to the shaft 8a.
₁ , the guide boss portion 8d ₁ formed on the rear lid 8 is rotated upward about the guide groove 3p _1.
Move upwards along. 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 plate 9 is provided.
Although the lid is also opened, when the lid 8 is opened, the two lids (8a ₁ and 9c ₁ ) cause the rear lid 8 and the connecting plate 9 to move.
The lid can be smoothly and smoothly opened in parallel with, and the rear lid 8 has two degrees of freedom in the link mechanism. Also, the front lid 7
When the rear lid 8 is opened, the triangular portion 7 at the lower end of the front lid 7 is opened.
c ₁ is opened so as to move away from the front surface of the magnetic tape T,
On the other hand, the front lower end portion 8b ₁ of the rear lid 8 is guiding boss portion 8d
_{Since 1} is guided by the guide groove 3p ₁ , the lid is opened without contacting the back surface of the magnetic tape T.

Next, as shown in FIG. 6 (C), when the front lid 7 is further opened in the clockwise direction (arrow direction) from FIG. 6 (B) with the shaft 7a ₁ as the center, the front lid 7 is removed. The guide boss portion 8d _{1 of} the rear lid 8 that cooperates reaches the upper end portion of the guide groove 3p ₁ ,
In addition, the locking recess 2a formed on the back surface of the front edge 2a ₁ of the upper half member 2 that closes the upper end of the guide groove 3p _1.
Since the guide boss portion 8d ₁ of the rear lid 8 comes into contact with 11,
The rear lid 8 that has cooperated with the front lid 7 is kept in a position where it cannot be opened any more. At this time, since the guide boss portion 8d ₁ formed on the rear lid 8 does not come out upward from the guide groove 3p ₁ by the front edge portion 2a ₁ of the upper half member 2, the front lid 7
Further, the rear lid 8 can be opened sufficiently without anxiety, which contributes to the improvement of the reliability and quality of the tape cassette 1.

Incidentally, the closing operation of the front cover 7, the rear cover 8 and the connecting plate 9 is carried out by the reverse operation to the above, and the order of FIGS. Return to 6 (A).

[0049]

According to the tape cassette according to the present invention described in detail above, according to claim 1, before the tape cassette is inserted into the magnetic recording and / or reproducing apparatus,
The front surface of the magnetic tape can be protected by the front lid while the magnetic tape is stretched along the back surface of the front lid that can be opened and closed in front of the cassette housing, and the upper back surface of the magnetic tape can be protected by the connecting plate. Since the lower part of the back surface of the magnetic tape can be protected by the rear lid, the magnetic tape T is protected from dust,
It can be completely protected from fingerprints on hands, and even if foreign matter is inserted from the opening, the magnetic tape can be completely protected. 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 plate, so that the rear lid is directly suspended on the front lid like the conventional 8 mm type tape cassette. In this case, there is more freedom in the opening and closing operations of the rear lid and the connecting plate that cooperate with the front lid, that is, the rotating shaft between the front cover and the connecting plate, the rotating shaft between the connecting plate and the rear cover, Since the rear lid has two rotary shafts consisting of, the rear lid has two degrees of freedom in the link mechanism, and the opening and closing operations of the rear lid and the connecting plate that cooperate with the front lid are reasonably parallel to the front lid. It can be done smoothly.

According to the second aspect, in addition to the effect of the first aspect, particularly, the connecting plate is rotatably supported on the front lid at at least two places or more, and the rear lid is at least two. Since it is rotatably suspended on the connecting plate in more than one place, and the guide boss portion of the rear lid is also fitted in the guide groove formed at a left-right interval in the cassette housing, it cooperates with the front lid. The operating rear lid and connecting plate can be opened and closed without being kept substantially parallel to the front lid.

[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 a partially cutaway exploded perspective view showing a front lid, a rear lid, and the vicinity of a connecting plate, which are essential parts of the tape cassette according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway exploded perspective view showing a state in which a rear lid and a connecting plate are attached to the front lid of the tape cassette according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the assembling order of the tape cassette according to the present invention, in which (A) shows a state in which a rear lid and a connecting plate are attached to the front lid, and (B) shows the front lid in an upper position. It is a figure which shows the state attached to the half member and (C) has shown the state which assembled the upper half member which attached the front cover to the lower half member.

FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a state in which a rear lid of the tape cassette according to the present invention and a front lid to which a connecting plate is attached are assembled in a cassette housing.

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view for explaining the opening operation of the tape cassette according to the present invention.

7 (A) and 7 (B) are views for explaining a configuration and a lid opening operation of a conventional VHS type tape cassette.

8 (A) and 8 (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 ... cassette housing, 2 ... upper half member, 2a 3 _... connecting plate guide portion, 3 ... lower half member,
3p, 3q ... Protruding portion, 3p ₁ , 3q ₁ ... Guide groove, 4 ...
Supply reel, 5 ... Take-up reel, 7 ... Front lid, 7d ... Top plate,
7d ₁ , 7d ₂ ... Connecting plate supporting portion, 8 ... Rear lid, 8a ₁ , 8
a ₂ ... Shaft, 8d ₁ , 8d ₂ ... Guide boss portion, 9 ... Connecting plate, 9a ... Cam portion, 9c ₁ , 9c ₂ ... Shaft, 9d ₁ , 9d
₂ ... Arms, 10 ... First biasing means (torsion spring), 11 ...
Second biasing means (torsion spring), 2a ₃ , 9a ... Rear lid regulating means, T ... Magnetic tape.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A pair of reels around which a magnetic tape is wound are housed in a cassette housing, and the magnetic tape is stretched while being stretched along the back surface of a front lid which is openably and closably provided in front of the cassette housing. A tape cassette that protects the front surface of a magnetic tape with the front lid, and protects the back surface of the magnetic tape with a connecting plate and a back lid that sandwich the magnetic tape on the back surface side of the front lid. The back surface of the magnetic tape is provided above the back surface of the front lid, and is rotatably supported by a connecting plate support portion formed on the back surface of the top plate of the front lid via a shaft. A connecting plate that protects the upper part, and a lower surface of the connecting plate on the back surface of the front lid, and
The front side of the magnetic tape is rotatably suspended by an arm formed on the connecting plate via a shaft, the rear side of the magnetic tape having a guide boss that cooperates with the opening / closing operation of the front lid. A rear lid that protects the lower portion from the upper portion, a guide groove that is formed in the cassette housing and that fits with a guide boss portion of the rear lid to guide the rear lid in the opening / closing direction, and closes the front lid. A first urging means for urging the connecting plate toward the rear surface of the front lid and a second urging means for moving the rear lid suspended on the connecting plate in the opening direction. Means and a rear lid regulating means for regulating the opening of the rear lid biased in the opening direction by the second biasing means when the front lid is closed. . 2. The tape cassette according to claim 1, wherein the connecting plate supporting portions formed on the front lid are provided at least at two or more positions spaced apart from each other, and the connecting plate supporting portions at these two or more positions are provided with shafts. The connecting plate is rotatably supported substantially in parallel along the front lid via, and the arm portions formed on the connecting plate are provided at least at two or more positions with a left-right interval.
The rear lid is rotatably suspended substantially parallel to the front lid via shafts on the two or more arm portions, and the guide boss portion of the rear lid is also provided in the cassette housing. A tape cassette, which is configured to be fitted in the guide groove formed with a left-right interval.