JPH08306164A - Tape cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a tape cassette not easily imitated, having a sure identification function and easily assembled. CONSTITUTION: A prism 41 for guiding a light from a light emitting part 52 to a light receiving part 53 is provided in the position of a case main body opposed to the light emitting part 52 and the light receiving part 53 provided in a recording and/or reproducing device, and the prism 41 is held between inclined surfaces 26a and 27a respectively formed on the side face parts of upper and lower halves 3 and 4, positioned and fixed. Corresponding to the light emitting part 52 and the light receiving part 56, an incident hole 23 and an exit hole 24 are provided in the case main body, and the prism 41 is arranged facing these incident and exit holes 23 and 24.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tape cassette in which a magnetic tape is housed in a housing case body, and more particularly to a tape cassette in which a prism is arranged in the case body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a recording medium housing device for housing a recording medium for recording information signals such as data signals and video signals, it has been used by being loaded in recording and / or reproducing devices such as tape recorders and video tape recorders. Tape cassettes are widely known.

This tape cassette contains, for example, a magnetic tape having a tape width of 8 mm, and has a case body in which a pair of upper and lower halves made of a synthetic resin material are butted against each other via fixing screws. A pair of tape reels is rotatably mounted in the case body, and a magnetic tape on which an information signal is recorded is wound between the pair of tape reels.

On the front side of the tape cassette,
A lid member that is a lid of the tape cassette is provided. The lid member is configured to be openable and closable on both left and right side surfaces of the tape cassette via a supporting member, and exposes a part of the magnetic tape to the outside when loaded in a recording and / or reproducing apparatus. Is.

Further, in the corner portion on the side opposite to the lid member, a screw hole, a tape length detecting hole for detecting the length of the magnetic tape, and various kinds for identifying the type and the tape specification of the magnetic tape are provided. Identification holes are provided.

The identification hole is formed, for example, on the bottom surface of the lower half, and the presence / absence of opening / closing of the identification hole is identified by a mechanical detection mechanism provided in the recording and / or reproducing apparatus.

An erroneous recording prevention mechanism is provided on one side of the case body to prevent the recorded information previously recorded on the magnetic tape from being erased. This erroneous recording prevention mechanism is composed of an erroneous recording prevention hole provided on one side of the case body and an erroneous recording prevention member for opening and closing the erroneous recording prevention hole. Then, the presence / absence of opening / closing of the erroneous recording prevention hole is identified by a detection mechanism provided in the recording and / or reproducing apparatus.

[0008]

As described above, in the conventional tape cassette, the identification mechanism on the tape cassette side for identifying specifications such as the type, length, and storage capacity of the magnetic tape is provided with the identification hole. It was done by.
Therefore, even if a case is developed in which the specifications of the magnetic tape are different while the outer shape and the shape of the case body are substantially the same, it is possible to easily identify the tape cassettes having the different specifications.

However, in the case of identification using only the identification holes as described above, it is possible for a third party or the user to intentionally provide the holes in the case body 5, and in the case where such a situation occurs, However, it has a problem that it is easily imitated and malfunction occurs.

That is, the tape cassette needs a mechanism for identifying various specifications such as the type, length, and storage capacity of the magnetic tape. However, in consideration of mass productivity, the tape cassette is provided with such a mechanism. The case body should be easy to assemble. Therefore, although the identification structure of the conventional tape cassette is adopted,
With such a structure, it can be easily formed on the case body, but it is easily imitated, and therefore, there has been a big problem that important data and the like are erased by a malfunction.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a tape cassette which is not imitated easily and has an identification mechanism which surely exhibits an identification function, and which is easy to assemble a case body. .

[0012]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a tape cassette according to the present invention stores a magnetic tape wound on a reel in a case body constituted by combining a pair of upper and lower halves. In addition, a prism for guiding the light from the light emitting portion to the light receiving portion is provided at a position facing the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion provided in the recording and / or reproducing apparatus, and the prism is provided on the side surfaces of the upper and lower halves. It is characterized in that it is sandwiched by the inclined surfaces respectively formed and is positioned and fixed.

Further, the case main body is provided with an entrance hole and an exit hole corresponding to the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion, and a prism is arranged facing the entrance hole and the exit hole.

Further, the surface of the case body in the vicinity of the entrance hole and the exit hole is roughened.

[0015]

According to the present invention, since the prism for guiding the light from the light emitting portion to the light receiving portion is provided at a position facing the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion provided in the recording and / or reproducing apparatus, the recording and The specifications regarding the magnetic tape are accurately identified by detecting the light from the light detecting means provided in the reproducing device.

Further, since the prism is sandwiched by the inclined surfaces formed on the side surfaces of the upper and lower halves, and is positioned and fixed, the case main body having the identification function through the prism can be easily assembled. .

Recording and / or reproducing is performed by a structure in which an entrance hole and an exit hole are provided in the case main body corresponding to the light emitting part and the light receiving part, and a prism is arranged facing the entrance hole and the exit hole. By detecting the light from the light detecting means when the tape cassette is loaded into the device,
The specifications for magnetic tape are accurately identified.

Further, in the present invention, since the surface of the case main body in the vicinity of the entrance hole and the exit hole is made rough, the light from the light detecting means of the recording and / or reproducing apparatus is reflected to cause malfunction. It never happens.

[0019]

EXAMPLES Examples to which the present invention is applied will be specifically described below.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the tape cassette 1 of the present embodiment is a tape cassette 1 containing a magnetic tape 2 having a tape width of 8 mm, and a pair of upper and lower halves 3 and 3 made of a synthetic resin material. The case body 5 is formed by associating 4 with each other through a fixing screw 9. A pair of tape reels 6 and 7 is rotatably mounted in the case body 5, and a magnetic tape 2 on which an information signal is recorded is wound between the pair of tape reels 6 and 7.

A lid member 8 which is a lid of the tape cassette 1 is provided on the front side of the tape cassette 1. The lid member 8 is configured to be openable and closable on the left and right side surface portions 5a and 5b of the tape cassette 1 via the support members 8A and 8B, and when the magnetic tape 2 is loaded into a recording and / or reproducing apparatus. A part is exposed to the outside.

Further, in the corner portion on the side opposite to the lid member 8, a screw hole 19 is provided, a tape length detecting hole for detecting the length of the magnetic tape 2, and a tape for identifying the type of the magnetic tape. Various identification holes 10 for identifying specifications
Is provided.

The identification hole 10 is formed upright on the bottom surface of the lower half 4 and constitutes a tape reel guide wall 16 for holding the outer peripheral portion of the flange portion of the tape reels 6, 7 and an outer peripheral wall of the case body 5. It is formed at a position corresponding to a substantially triangular corner space 12 formed by the rising peripheral wall. Whether or not the identification holes 10 are opened / closed is identified by a mechanical detection mechanism provided in the recording and / or reproducing device.

Further, an erroneous recording prevention mechanism is provided on one side of the case body 5 to prevent the recorded information previously recorded on the magnetic tape 2 from being erased. The erroneous recording prevention mechanism includes an erroneous recording prevention hole 13 provided on one side of the case body 5, and an erroneous recording prevention member 14 that opens and closes the erroneous recording prevention hole 13. Then, the presence / absence of opening / closing of the erroneous recording prevention hole 13 is identified by a detection mechanism provided in the recording and / or reproducing apparatus.

The tape cassette 1 of this embodiment is
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, the changer grip 2 is provided on each of the left and right side surface portions 5a and 5b of the case body 5, respectively.
1, 21 are formed. The changer grip 21 is used, for example, when a large number of tape cassettes 1 are housed in a rack device or the like, and the required tape cassette 1 is pulled out from them.

The changer grip 21 has a substantially V-shaped cross section on the rear side of the side surface portions 5a, 5b of the case body 5 except for the corner edges 15a, 15b of the upper and lower halves 3, 4. It is formed by cutting out.

Further, rough surface portions 22 are formed on both left and right side surface portions 5a and 5b of the case body 5 so as to be continuous with the changer grip 21. The rough surface portion 22 is
This is called “knurl” and has a role of making it easy for a finger to be caught when the tape cassette 1 is pulled out from the recording and / or reproducing apparatus.

On the side of the lower half 4 on which the rough surface portion 22 is formed, as shown in FIG. 9, a rectangular entrance hole 23 and an exit hole 24 are formed. That is, in this embodiment, the entrance hole 23 and the exit hole 24 are formed on the rising peripheral wall 4 a of the lower half 4. These entrance holes 23
And the exit hole 24 are the left and right side surface portions 5 of the case body 5.
Each of a and 5b is formed so as to be positioned linearly in the vertical direction.

The entrance hole 23 and the exit hole 24 are
The lower half 4 is formed at a constant interval h from the outer peripheral surface of the rising peripheral wall 4a so as not to be flush with the outer peripheral surface of the rising peripheral wall 4a.
Therefore, the two holes 23 and 24 are designed so as not to be damaged even if an unexpected external force is generated due to the space h.

A prism accommodating portion 20 for accommodating the prism 41 is formed in the rising peripheral wall 4a of the lower half 4 so as to be continuous with the entrance hole 23 and the exit hole 24. That is, the prism accommodating portion 20 is formed so that the prism 41 faces the entrance hole 23 and the exit hole 24 formed in the left and right side surface portions 5a and 5b of the case body 5.

And, in particular, this prism housing portion 20 is
Since the entrance hole 23 and the exit hole 24 formed in the rising peripheral wall 4a of the lower half 4 are continuous, the prism 41 housed in the prism housing portion 20 is located on the rising peripheral wall 4a side of the lower half 4. It is stored so that it can be pushed.

That is, first, the prism housing portion 20
The prism 41 accommodated in the magnetic tape 2 will be described below.
As shown in FIG. 5, it has slanted surface portions 41a and 41b that are inclined by 45 ° with respect to the incident surface, and has a substantially trapezoidal cross section.

This prism 41 is operated via the photo-detecting means 51 of the recording and / or reproducing apparatus. For example, the specifications of the magnetic tape 2 can be identified by detecting whether the tape cassette is a conventional format tape cassette having different specifications or the new format tape cassette 1 according to a new development.

That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the prism 41 reflects the light P from the light emitting portion 52 of the light detecting means 51 of the recording and / or reproducing apparatus at right angles on the both slope portions 41a and 41b. It can be obtained and can be turned to 180 ° and guided to the light receiving portion 53. The specifications relating to the magnetic tape 2 can be detected by detecting the light from the light detecting means 21 provided in the recording and / or reproducing apparatus. Since such identification is not performed by the identification hole as in the conventional case, it is not easily imitated by a user or the like or a malfunction does not occur.

The prism 41 is provided in the case body 5
By providing them on both left and right side surface portions 5a and 5b respectively, information about the magnetic tape 2 is identified when loaded in the recording and / or reproducing apparatus, and driving such as tape loading of the recording and / or reproducing apparatus is performed. Identification of information about the magnetic tape is performed prior to the.

As described above, the tape cassette 1 according to this embodiment must be easily assembled to the case body 5 even if the specifications of the magnetic tape 2 are accurately identified. Therefore, the prism housing portion 20 is configured as follows.

This prism housing portion 20 is shown in FIG. 9 and FIG.
As shown in FIG. 0, the prism 41 is for surely housed and fixed, and is formed near one end of the tape reel guide wall 16.

That is, the mounting portion 26 is formed inside the entrance hole 23 and the exit hole 24 of the rising peripheral wall 4a of the lower half 4. The mounting portion 26 has an inclined surface 26a corresponding to one inclined surface portion 41a of the prism 41.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 12, a restricting protrusion 18 is formed near one end of the tape reel guide wall 16 formed at the corner. The restricting protrusion 18 is for restricting the lateral movement of the prism 41, and is a rising peripheral wall 4 a of the lower half 4.
Is formed so as to project from the inside.

Further, a screw hole 19 into which the fixing screw 9 is screwed is formed near the magnetic tape identification hole 10. Here, it is necessary that the positions correspond to the placing portion 26 and the locking portion 27. Further, as shown in FIG. 13, in order to obtain a firm attachment state, it is preferable to form it in the vicinity of the screw hole 19.

On the other hand, a locking portion 27 is formed on the rising peripheral wall 3a of the upper half 3 as shown in FIGS. The locking portion 27 has an inclined surface 27a corresponding to the other inclined surface portion 41b of the prism 41.

In this embodiment, the prism 41 has the entrance hole 23 and the exit hole 2 in the prism housing portion 20.
It is stored facing the 4.

Here, as shown in FIG. 5, the inclined surface 26a and the inclined surface 27a of the prism accommodating portion 20 substantially correspond to the inclined surface portions 41a and 41b which are inclined by 45 ° with respect to the incident surface. Each is formed with an inclination angle θ of 45 °,
It is preferable to set the angle slightly smaller than 45 ° so that the prism 41 can be stored smoothly and the prism 41 can be surely pushed up against the peripheral walls 3a and 4a to be in a stable fixed state. However, the inclination angle θ
Is smaller than the above 45 °, the difference is 1
It is about 2 °, and at most about 2 ° to 3 °.

When the inclined surfaces 26a and 27a are smaller than 45 °, a slight gap is formed between the inclined surfaces 26a and 27a and the prism 41, so that the reflection of light is prevented. In order to ensure that the
Paint or the like may be applied to b.

At this time, the prism 41 is sandwiched between the inclined surfaces 26a and 27a of the prism housing portion 20,
Since they are positioned and fixed, by combining a pair of upper and lower halves 3 and 4, reliable storage in the prism storage portion 20 can be easily performed.

This assembly will be described below. In order to construct the case body 5 accommodating the prism 41, first, as shown in FIGS. 14 to 17, the mounting portion 26 of the lower half 4 is mounted. The prism 41 is placed.

At this time, one sloped surface 41a of the prism 41 is placed on the mounting portion 26 so as to correspond to the sloped surface 26a, and the side surface is pressed against the restricting projection 18 so that the prism 41 can move laterally. Regulate movement in the direction.

Then, the upper half 3 is combined with the lower half 4. Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the locking portion 27 of the upper half 3 locks the other slope portion 41b of the prism 41, and the tape cassette 1 in which the prism 41 is housed is assembled in this state. Here, the inclined surface 26a of the mounting portion 26 of the prism housing portion 20 and the locking portion 2
The inclined surface 27a of No. 7 abuts on the two 45 ° inclined surface portions 41a and 41b of the prism 41 and positions them.
At the same time, the prism 41 is pushed outward to press the incident surface against the rising peripheral wall 4a.

Therefore, the prism 41 is securely fixed in the prism housing portion 20. Further, in this way, the prism 41 is provided with a pair of upper and lower halves 3, 4.
Since it is not necessary to use an adhesive or the like by holding it at, it can be provided at a low cost with a simple structure. Of course, depending on the implementation, it may be further fixed by an adhesive or welding during the above-mentioned assembly.

On the other hand, the recording and / or reproducing apparatus is shown in FIG.
As shown in, the photo-detecting means 51 is arranged. The light detecting means 51 is a light emitting diode (Ligh
A t-Emitting Diode) 52 and a phototransistor 53, which is a light receiving unit, are paired.

Needless to say, the light emitting diode 52
Is for causing the light P emitted from the light emitting diode 52 to enter the prism 41 of the case body 5.
On the other hand, the phototransistor 53 receives the light P reflected from the prism 41.

Therefore, the photo-detecting means 51 having the above structure
When the tape cassette 1 is loaded in the recording and / or reproducing device, the prism housing portion 20 of the case body 5 is
Information relating to the magnetic tape 2 can be identified by the incidence and emission of light with respect to the prism 41 housed in.

Since the tape cassette 1 of this embodiment is constructed as described above, the information regarding the magnetic tape 2 can be identified. For example, when identifying the tape cassette 1 of the conventional format or the tape cassette 1 of the new format, it is performed as follows.

First, when the tape cassette 1 having the above structure is loaded in the recording and / or reproducing apparatus, as shown in FIG. 5, the light P emitted from the light emitting diode 52 arranged in the recording and / or reproducing apparatus is emitted. The light enters the prism 41 of the case body 5 through the entrance hole 23.

Then, this incident light P is transmitted to the prism 4
While being reflected at 90 ° by one of the slope portions 41a of 1,
Further, the light is reflected by the other inclined surface portion 41b at 90 °, and is received by the phototransistor 53 of the light detecting means 51 through the light emitting hole 14.

As a result, when such light detection cannot be performed, it can be identified as the conventional format, and when such light detection can be performed, it can be identified as the new format. Specifically, the phototransistor 53
After the light is received by, the constant voltage is checked by current / voltage conversion, and information about the magnetic tape is set as a discriminable voltage value.

As described above, the case body 5 is provided with the entrance hole 23 and the exit hole 24 corresponding to the light emitting portion 52 and the light receiving portion 53, and the prism 41 is arranged facing the entrance hole 23 and the exit hole 24. With this configuration, when the tape cassette 1 is loaded in the recording and / or reproducing apparatus, the light from the light detecting means 51 is detected to accurately detect the specifications regarding the magnetic tape 2.

Here, in this embodiment, since the entrance hole 23 and the exit hole 24 are formed at the position of the rough surface portion 22,
It is possible to prevent the light P incident on the prism 41 and the light P emitted therefrom from being reflected. Therefore, accurate identification is performed without causing malfunction. However,
Even in the tape cassette 1 in which the rough surface portion 22 is not formed, the same antireflection effect as described above can be obtained by forming the rough surface portion 22 in the vicinity of the entrance hole 23 and the exit hole 24 by performing surface treatment such as graining or blasting. Will be obtained.

When the above operation is completed and the tape cassette 1 is pulled out from the recording and / or reproducing apparatus, the locking member (not shown) of the apparatus is locked to the changer grip 21 of the tape cassette 1. As a result, it is pulled out from the recording and / or reproducing apparatus. After the tape cassette 1 is pulled out, the fingers are placed on the rough surface portion 22.
Touch and take it out.

As described above, in this embodiment, the light emitting section 52 and the light receiving section 5 provided in the recording and / or reproducing apparatus are provided.
Since the prism 41 that guides the light from the light emitting portion 51 to the light receiving portion 53 is provided at a position facing the light emitting portion 3, the light from the light detecting means 51 provided in the recording and / or reproducing device is detected. Since the prism 41 is provided on the case main body 5 to detect the light from the light detecting means 21, it can be easily imitated by a user or the like as in the case where the conventional identification hole is provided for detection. There is nothing.

[0061]

As is apparent from the above description, the tape cassette according to the present invention receives the light from the light emitting portion at a position facing the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion provided in the recording and / or reproducing apparatus. Since the prism for guiding to the recording and / or reproducing apparatus is provided, the specifications relating to the magnetic tape can be accurately identified by detecting the light from the light detecting means provided in the recording and / or reproducing apparatus.

Further, since the prism is sandwiched between the inclined surfaces formed on the side surfaces of the upper and lower halves and is positioned and fixed, the case body having the identification function via the prism can be easily assembled. .

Recording and / or reproducing is performed by the structure in which the case body is provided with an entrance hole and an exit hole corresponding to the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion, and a prism is arranged facing the entrance hole and the exit hole. By detecting the light from the light detecting means when the tape cassette is loaded into the device,
The specifications for magnetic tape are accurately identified.

Further, in the present invention, since the surface of the case main body in the vicinity of the entrance hole and the exit hole is made rough, the light from the light detecting means of the recording and / or reproducing apparatus is reflected to cause malfunction. It never happens.

Therefore, it is possible to provide a tape cassette which can be accurately identified without being imitated easily and causing a malfunction, and in which the case main body having the identification function can be easily assembled.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tape cassette to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which a lid member rotatably attached to a front portion of the tape cassette is rotatably operated.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view from the bottom side of the tape cassette.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the tape cassette.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a state in which light from a light emitting unit is guided to a light receiving unit.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged side view showing a corner portion of a lower half of the tape cassette.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged plan view showing a corner portion of a lower half of the tape cassette.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged side view showing a corner portion of a lower half of the tape cassette.

9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG.

10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD of FIG.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged side view showing a corner portion of the upper half of the tape cassette.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged plan view showing a corner portion of the upper half of the tape cassette.

13 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged plan view showing a state where a prism is arranged in the lower half of the tape cassette.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged side view showing a state where a prism is arranged in the lower half of the tape cassette.

16 is a sectional view taken along line EE of FIG.

17 is a sectional view taken along line FF of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Tape cassette 2 Magnetic tape 3 Upper half 3a Upper half rising peripheral wall 4 Lower half 4a Upper half rising peripheral wall 5 Case body 5a, 5b Both left and right side surfaces of the tape cassette 12 Corner corner space 18 Corner protrusion Part 20 Prism storage part 21 Changer grip 22 Rough surface (rough surface part) 23 Incident hole 24 Emission hole 26 Placement part 27 Locking part 41 Prism 41a, 41b Slope part of prism 51 Light detecting means 52 Light emitting part (light emitting diode) 53 Light receiving part (phototransistor)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A magnetic tape wound around a reel is housed in a case body formed by combining a pair of upper and lower halves, and faces a light emitting section and a light receiving section provided in a recording and / or reproducing apparatus. A prism for guiding light from the light emitting portion to the light receiving portion is provided at a position to be held, and the prism is positioned and fixed by being sandwiched by inclined surfaces formed on the side surfaces of the upper and lower halves, respectively. Tape cassette to do. 2. The case body is provided with an entrance hole and an exit hole corresponding to the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion, and a prism is arranged facing the entrance hole and the exit hole. The described tape cassette. 3. The tape cassette according to claim 1, wherein the surface of the case body in the vicinity of the entrance hole and the exit hole is roughened.