JPH0831141A - Tape cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To constitute the tape cassette formed to nearly the same shape as that of a standard tape cassette so as not applicable to a standard magnetic recording/reproducing device for the standard tape cassette. CONSTITUTION:A locking/unlocking member 53 for locking or unlocking a cover 54 for the protection of a magnetic tape is provided on the high density tape cassette 51A. In this locking/unlocking member 53, the projected position of an unlocking piece 53b is set lower than the projected position of an unlocking piece 10b of a locking/unlocking member 10 provided on the standard tape cassette 1. Also, the lower part of a shaft 4 in the left side wall 54a of the cover 54 is extended downward further than the cover 5 used for the standard tape cassette 1 to form a cover extending part 548a2 which is extended to the position corresponding to the projected position of the unlocking piece 10b of the locking/unlocking member 10 provided on the standard tape cassette 1.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tape cassette (high-density tape cassette) formed in substantially the same shape as, for example, a standard tape cassette compliant with the VHS standard. Type magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, a magnetic tape housed in a tape cassette is required to record and reproduce HDTV images such as high-definition images and landscape screen TV images with high density and high image quality. Further, at the present stage where digital recording / reproduction is possible on a magnetic tape, a high-density type tape cassette and a high-density type magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus corresponding thereto are demanded.

On the other hand, a standard type magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus to which a standard type tape cassette compliant with the VHS standard can be mounted, for example, has already been widely used in the world, and along with this, a large amount of standard type tape cassettes have been produced. Standard tape cassettes are available at low cost.

Therefore, in developing the above-mentioned high-density tape cassette, if the outer shape of the cassette housing is formed to be substantially the same as that of the standard tape cassette, not only the mold of the cassette housing can be shared, but also the tape cassette. Since the automatic assembling equipment can be shared, it is possible to provide a high-density tape cassette at low cost.

However, if the outer shape of the high-density tape cassette is formed to be substantially the same as that of the standard-type tape cassette, the high-density tape cassette can be installed in the standard-type magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus. The magnetic tape of this type not only has different recording / playback performance from the magnetic tape in the standard type tape cassette, but also has a different recording / playback format. appear. In order to solve this problem, a special-type tape cassette having almost the same technical idea should be used.
No. 52 publication.

First, a standard tape cassette and a standard magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view for explaining a conventional standard type tape cassette compliant with the VHS standard, and FIG. 11 is a partially broken perspective view showing a locking and unlocking mechanism of a lid in the conventional standard type tape cassette. FIGS. 12 (A) and 12 (B) are a side view and a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD of the conventional standard tape cassette showing a lock and unlock mechanism of the lid.

The conventional standard tape cassette 1 shown in FIG. 10 is constructed by adopting, for example, the well-known VHS standard, and is a cassette housing 2 assembled by covering the upper half 2U and the lower half 2L with each other. A pair of tape reels 3a,
3b rotatably accommodates the pair of tape reels 3
A magnetic tape T is wound around a and 3b. The tape reel 3a on the right side in the drawing is the supply side, and the tape reel 3b on the left side is the winding side.

On the bottom surface 2a of the lower half 2L, a pair of round holes 2 are formed so as to face the pair of tape reels 3a and 3b.
a ₁ and 2 a ₂ are provided, and a pair of these circular holes 2 a
_1, 2a standard magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus of the reel drive shaft through ₂ (not shown) is adapted to the tape reels 3a, 3b engage each.

The magnetic tape T is constructed so that it can be pulled out from the front surface 2b of the cassette housing 2, and the front surface 2b of the cassette housing 2 is provided with an openable lid 5 for protecting the magnetic tape. ing.

The lid 5 is provided with left and right side walls 5 of the lid 5.
It is opened and closed by rotating around the shafts 4, (4) set up on the inner surfaces of a and 5b, and as shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 11, the cassette housing 2 is located below the inner surface of the left side wall 5a. Lock piece 10 of lock and unlock member 10 provided inside
A recess 5a ₁ for engaging a is formed, and the lock piece 10a holds the lid 5 in a closed state as shown in the drawing, while the left wall 5a side is below the shaft 4. The notch 5a ₂ is formed so that the lock release piece 10b of the lock and lock release member 10 can project.
The side of the left side wall 5a of the lid 5 is the tape reel 3 on the winding side.
Corresponding to b, the lock and unlock member 1 is provided on the winding side.
Setting 0 is determined by, for example, the VHS standard.

When mounting the tape cassette 1 on a standard type magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus (not shown), first, the lid 5 of the tape cassette 1 is placed at the top, and a cassette holder (not shown) in the apparatus is provided. ). At this time, when the tape cassette 1 reaches a predetermined position in the cassette holder,
As shown in FIG. 1 in an enlarged manner, a protrusion 20 described later provided in the cassette holder causes the front portion of the left side wall of the cassette housing 2 to project to the outside of a left side wall step 2c formed by one step. The lock release piece 10b of the lock and lock release member 10 is pressed to release the lock of the lid body 5.

Here, FIGS. 11 and 12A and 12B
The lock and unlock mechanism of the lid 5 in the standard type tape cassette 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIGS. 12A and 12B, the lid 5
Is rotatably held by the shaft 4 between the upper half 2U and the lower half 2L of the cassette housing 2, and is biased by the return spring 6 in the closing direction. Further, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12A and 12B, the lock and unlock member 10 for locking or unlocking the lid 5 is a left wall step portion of the cassette housing 2. The lower half 2L is rotatably held by the support shaft 7 and the support shaft 8 on the inner side of the 2c side, and is returned by the return spring 9 in FIG.
In (B), it is urged in the direction of arrow C.

The lock and unlock member 10 is
A front lower lock piece 10a and an upper lock release piece 10b behind the lock piece 10a are integrally formed to project,
The lower lock piece 10a engages with the recess 5a ₁ formed on the lower surface of the left side wall 5a of the lid body 5 to lock the lid body 5 in the closed position, while the upper end of the unlocking piece 10b is locked. It slightly projects to the outer middle part of the left side wall step 2c of the cassette housing 2. At this time, the lock and unlock member 10
The amount of protrusion of the lock release piece 10b protrudes until it substantially coincides with the outer surface of the left side wall of the cassette housing 2 and the outer surface of the left side wall 5a of the lid 5. Also, the lock and unlock member 1
The protruding position of the unlocking piece 10b of 0 is below the shaft 4,
The height H ₁ is set with reference to the bottom surface 2 a of the cassette housing 2.

Then, when the standard type tape cassette 1 is inserted to the innermost predetermined position of the cassette holder (not shown) in the standard type magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus, as shown in FIG. Since the protrusion 20 (shown by a chain double-dashed line) provided in the cassette holder outside the mold tape cassette 1 abuts and presses the lock release piece 10b of the lock and lock release member 10, the lock and lock release member 10 is It rotates in the direction opposite to the arrow C direction, and the recess 5 of the lock piece 10a
The lock with the a ₁ is released, and the lock with respect to the lid body 5 is released. The height of the protrusion 20 in the standard type magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus corresponds to the height of the protruding position of the lock release piece 10b of the lock / lock release member 10.

After that, the standard type tape cassette 1 is shown in FIG.
When pushed down in the direction of arrow X in (A), the lid-opening member (shown by the alternate long and two short dashes line) 21 provided in the standard magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus causes the lower edge of the lid 5 (bottom surface 2a of the cassette housing 2 in FIG. 10).
Of the cutout 2a ₃ ), and the lid 5 is opened as shown by the chain double-dashed line as the standard tape cassette 1 descends. In other words, the standard tape cassette 1 is allowed to descend in the direction of arrow X (operation of pushing down the tape cassette 1) only when the lid body 5 can smoothly perform the lid opening operation.

Next, a conventional special type tape cassette disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 3-25352 will be described with reference to FIGS. 13 to 15. For convenience of explanation, the same components as those of the standard tape cassette 1 described above are designated by the same reference numerals, and here, the points different from the standard tape cassette 1 will be described.

FIG. 13 is a partially broken perspective view showing a lock and unlock mechanism of a lid in a conventional special type tape cassette, and FIGS. 14A and 14B are lids in the conventional special type tape cassette. FIG. 15 is a side view showing a lock and unlock mechanism of the body and a sectional view taken along the line DD, FIG. 15 shows that the lid is unlocked when the conventional special type tape cassette is erroneously inserted into the standard type magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a case in which a protrusion provided in the device with respect to the lock releasing piece is wide in the vertical direction.

The special type tape cassette 31 shown in FIG.
Then, the cassette housing 32 assembled by covering the upper half 32U and the lower half 32L with each other is formed to have substantially the same outer dimensions as the cassette housing 2 of the standard tape cassette 1 described above. Left wall step 32c formed by retracting the front part of the left side wall of the cassette housing 32 by one step
The protruding position of the lock and the unlocking piece 33b of the unlocking member 33 is set to a height H ₂ lower than that of the standard tape cassette 1, and the magnetic tape T stored in the cassette housing 32 is used for commercial use. A recording / playback format that allows high-quality recording and playback is adopted.

The lid 5 for protecting the magnetic tape T stretched on the front surface 32b of the cassette housing 32 is the same as the standard tape cassette 1 described above. Therefore, the special type tape cassette 31 cannot be recorded / reproduced by the standard type magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus described above, but must be able to be recorded / reproduced by the special type magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus.

Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B, in order to lock or unlock the lid 5 for protecting the magnetic tape, the same technical concept as the standard type tape cassette 1 is used. Although the lock / unlock member 33 is provided in the cassette housing 32, the lock / unlock member 33 of the lock / unlock member 33 is such that the protruding position of the lock release piece 33 b is provided in the standard tape cassette 1. 10 is lower than the protruding position of the unlocking piece 10b of 10 and has a height H based on the bottom surface 32a of the cassette housing 32.
_It is set to ₂ . That is, the lock and unlock member 33 is rotatably held in the lower half 2L by the support shaft 7 and the support shaft 8 inside the left side wall step portion 32c side of the cassette housing 32, and by the return spring 9, 14 (B), it is urged in the direction of arrow C.

The lock and unlock member 33 is
The front lower lock piece 33a and the lock release piece 33b rearward of the lock piece 33a are integrally formed to project, and the front lower lock piece 33a is the inner surface of the left side wall 5a of the lid 5 as in the standard tape cassette 1. The lid 5 is locked in the closed position by engaging with the recess 5a ₁ formed below, while the tip of the rear unlocking piece 33b is slightly below the outside of the left side wall step 32c of the cassette housing 32. Overhangs.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 14B, even in the special type tape cassette 32, the cassette holder (not shown) in the special type magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus in which the special type tape cassette 32 can be mounted is the first. When it is inserted to a predetermined position in the back, a protrusion (shown by a chain double-dashed line) 40 provided in the cassette holder outside the special-type tape cassette 32 comes into contact with and presses the lock releasing piece 33b of the lock and unlock member 33. , The lock and unlock member 33 is indicated by arrow C
It rotates in the opposite direction to the recess 5a of the lock piece 33a.
The lock with ₁ is released, and the lock with respect to the lid 5 is released. The height of the protrusion 40 in the special-type magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus is determined by the unlocking piece 3 of the lock / unlock member 33.
It corresponds to the height of the protruding position of 3b. After that, as the special-type tape cassette 32 descends in the direction of the arrow X, the lid 5 is brought into contact with the lid member 41 provided in the special-type magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus to sequentially perform the lid-opening operation. It will be possible to squeeze.

[0025]

By the way, when the conventional special type tape cassette 31 is erroneously inserted into the standard type magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus as described above, the lock and unlock members provided in the special type tape cassette 31. The protruding position of the lock release piece 33b of the lock 33 is the lock release piece 10 of the lock and lock release member 10 provided in the standard tape cassette 1.
Although it is considered that the protrusion 20 in the standard magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus does not come into contact with the unlocking piece 33b because it is set at a height position lower than the protruding position of b, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, among a number of standard type magnetic recording / reproducing apparatuses, there is a type in which the protrusion 20 is formed wide in the vertical direction. In this case, the wide protrusion 20 is the standard type tape cassette 1. As a matter of course, it abuts on the lock release piece 10b of the lock and lock release member 10 provided on the lock tape and the lock release member 33 provided on the special type tape cassette 31.

In particular, the special type tape cassette 31 uses the same lid 5 for protecting the magnetic tape T as the standard type tape cassette 1, so that the left side wall 5a of the lid 5 is provided with the shaft 4. Since there is a space in which the wide protrusion 20 can enter the notch 5a ₂ which is notched downward, the wide protrusion 20 is provided with the special tape cassette 31 and the unlocking piece of the lock release member 33. It becomes possible to abut and press 33b, which unlocks the lid 5 and allows the special tape cassette 31 to be inserted erroneously into the standard magnetic recording / reproducing device. It's a problem.

Therefore, in developing a high-density tape cassette capable of high-density and high-quality digital recording / reproduction, the technical idea of the special-type tape cassette 31 described above is used to make a magnetic tape of the high-density tape cassette. If the protruding position of the lock and the unlocking piece of the lock releasing member for locking or unlocking the protective lid is different from the protruding position of the lock releasing piece of the lock and unlocking member provided on the standard type tape cassette. In addition, when the high-density tape cassette is inserted in the standard magnetic recording / reproducing device by mistake, the lid is not unlocked by the wide protrusions provided in the standard magnetic recording / reproducing device. High density that can prevent erroneous insertion of the density type tape cassette into the standard type magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus and can be applied to the high density type magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus. Type tape cassette is desired.

[0028]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and the first invention is to wind a magnetic tape in a cassette housing formed in substantially the same shape as a standard tape cassette. A tape reel is rotatably accommodated, the magnetic tape is configured to be pulled out from the front surface of the cassette housing, and a lid body for protecting the magnetic tape is openably supported on the front surface of the cassette housing. And a lock piece that engages with the inner surface of the side wall of the lid body to lock the lid body in the closed position, and a lock release piece that releases the locked lid body at a position different from the standard tape cassette. A lock / unlock member provided therein is provided inside the cassette housing, and a part of the unlocking piece is projected to a side wall of the cassette housing so that the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus is installed outside the cassette housing. In a tape cassette configured to be capable of contacting a child, a side wall of the lid is extended to a position substantially corresponding to a position where a lock release piece provided in the standard type tape cassette protrudes. is there.

A second aspect of the invention is the tape cassette of the first aspect of the invention, in which the side wall of the lid is extended,
A thin groove is formed so as to allow the lock release piece provided in the standard type tape cassette to project, and when the portion extending along the groove is cut off, the lid is replaced with the standard type. A tape cassette characterized by being applicable to a mold tape cassette.

Further, according to a third aspect of the present invention, a tape reel wound with a magnetic tape is rotatably housed in a cassette housing formed in substantially the same shape as a standard type tape cassette, and the magnetic tape is stored in the cassette housing. It is constructed so that it can be pulled out from the front surface, and a lid for protecting the magnetic tape is openably and closably supported on the front surface of the cassette housing, and
A lock including a lock piece that engages with the inner surface of the side wall of the lid body to lock the lid body in the closed position, and a lock release piece that releases the locked lid body at a position different from the standard tape cassette. And a lock releasing member provided inside the cassette housing so that a part of the lock releasing piece is projected to a side wall of the cassette housing so that the lock releasing member can come into contact with a protrusion of a magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus installed outside the cassette housing. In the tape cassette described above, the side wall of the cassette housing is extended to a position substantially corresponding to a position where the lock release piece provided on the standard type tape cassette protrudes.

[0031]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a tape cassette according to the present invention will be described below in detail in the order of <first embodiment> and <second embodiment> with reference to FIGS.

<First Embodiment> FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention.
In the tape cassette of the embodiment, a partially cutaway perspective view showing a locking and unlocking mechanism of the lid, and FIGS. 2A and 2B show locking and locking of the lid in the tape cassette of the first embodiment. Side view showing the release mechanism and DD
FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line of the arrow in FIG. 3. When the tape cassette of the first embodiment is erroneously inserted into the standard type magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus, a wide protrusion provided in the apparatus unlocks the lid. It is sectional drawing which showed the state which cannot press the lock release piece. still,
For convenience of explanation, the same components as those of the standard tape cassette 1 described above are designated by the same reference numerals.

In the tape cassette (hereinafter referred to as a high density type tape cassette) 51A of the first embodiment according to the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2A and 2B, the upper half 52U is used.
The cassette housing 52, which is assembled with the lower half 52L and the lid fitted together, is formed to have substantially the same outer dimensions as the cassette housing 2 of the standard tape cassette 1 described above.

The magnetic tape T wound around the pair of reels 3a and 3b (same as in FIG. 10) in the cassette housing 52 is constructed so that it can be pulled out from the front surface 52b of the cassette housing 52. Then, as the magnetic tape T, for example, a tape width of ½ inch is formed, and a thin base film coated or vapor-deposited with a magnetic material such as chromium is used. A digital recording / reproducing format that enables high-quality recording / reproducing is adopted. Therefore, the high density type tape cassette 51A cannot be recorded / reproduced by the standard type magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus described above, but must be recorded / reproduced by the high density type magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus. .

Therefore, in the first embodiment, the lock / unlock member 53 provided in the high density tape cassette 51A.
The protruding position of the lock release piece 53b of the standard tape cassette 1 is different from the protruding position of the lock release piece 10b of the lock and lock release member 10 provided on the standard type tape cassette 1, and the openable lid 54 for protecting the magnetic tape is standard. Type tape cassette 1
It is characterized in that it has a different shape from the lid body 5 used for.

That is, the lid 54 for protecting the magnetic tape is rotatably held by the shaft 4 between the upper half 52U and the lower half 52L of the cassette housing 52, and is attached in the closing direction by the return spring 6. It is energized.

A lock / unlock member 53 for locking or unlocking the lid 54 is also provided.
Is rotatably held by the lower half 52L by the support shaft 7 and the support shaft 8 inside the left wall step 52c formed by retracting the front part of the left side wall of the cassette housing 52 by one step.
The return spring 9 causes the arrow C in FIG.
Biased in the direction.

The lock / unlock member 53 is
A front lower lock piece 53a and a lock release piece 53b rearward of the lock piece 53a are integrally formed to project. The front lower lock piece 53a is formed with a recess 54a ₁ formed below the inner surface of the left side wall 54a of the lid 54. The lid 54 is engaged to lock the lid 54 at the closed position, while the tip end of the rear unlocking piece 53b slightly protrudes outside the left side wall step 52c of the cassette housing 52.

At this time, the amount of protrusion of the lock release piece 53b of the lock and lock release member 53 protrudes substantially to coincide with the outer surface of the left side wall of the cassette housing 52 and the outer surface of the left side wall 54a of the lid 54. The protruding position of the unlocking piece 53b of the locking and unlocking member 53 is the locking and unlocking member 10 provided in the standard tape cassette 1.
The height is lower than the protruding position of the lock releasing piece 10b and is set to the height H ₂ with respect to the bottom surface 52a of the cassette housing 52 as in the special type tape cassette 31 described above.

Further, in the first embodiment, of the left side wall 54a of the lid 54, the lower portion of the shaft 4 extends further below the lid 5 used for the standard type tape cassette 1 to extend the lid extending portion. 5
4a ₂ is formed, and the lid extending portion 54a ₂ is provided on the standard tape cassette 1 for locking and unlocking member 10
Of the lock releasing piece 10b is extended to a portion corresponding to the protruding position. Further, a cutout portion 54a ₃ is formed below the lid extending portion 54a ₂ formed on the left side wall 54a of the lid 54 so that the unlocking piece 53b of the lock / unlock member 53 can project. .

Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 2 (A) and 2 (B), the high density type tape cassette 51A of the first embodiment constructed as described above is used as a cassette holder in the high density type magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus. When it is inserted to the innermost predetermined position (not shown), the protrusion (two-dot chain line) 60 provided in the cassette holder outside the high-density tape cassette 51A locks the unlocking piece 53b of the locking and unlocking member 53. Since it abuts against and presses against the
It rotates in the opposite direction to the recess 54 of the lock piece 53a.
The lock with the a ₁ is released, and the lock with respect to the lid 54 is released. Incidentally, the protrusion 6 in the high-density magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus
The height of 0 corresponds to the height of the protruding position of the lock release piece 53b of the lock and lock release member 53. And
Thereafter, as the high-density tape cassette 51A descends in the direction of the arrow X, the lid 54 is brought into contact with the lid member 61 provided in the high-density magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus, and the lid opening operation is sequentially performed. It will be possible to squeeze.

As described above, the high-density tape cassette 51A of the first embodiment formed in substantially the same shape as the standard tape cassette 1 is a lock and a lock for unlocking the lid 54 for protecting the magnetic tape. The protruding position of the lock release piece 53b of the release member 53 is set to the lock provided on the standard tape cassette 1 and the lock release piece 10 of the lock release member 10.
It is set to a height position lower than that of the unlocking piece 10b by making it different from the protruding position of b, and the left side wall 54a of the lid body 54a.
Unlocking piece 10b provided on the standard type tape cassette 1
Since it is configured to extend to a position approximately corresponding to the protruding position, when the high-density tape cassette 51A of the first embodiment is erroneously inserted into the standard magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus, the locking and unlocking member 53 Although it is considered that the protrusion 20 provided in the standard type magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus does not come into contact with the unlocking piece 53b, as described above with reference to the special type tape cassette 31, there are many standard types as shown in FIG. In some type magnetic recording / reproducing devices, the protrusions 20 are formed to be wide in the vertical direction.
Is provided for abutting the lock provided in the standard type tape cassette 1 and the unlocking piece 10b of the unlocking member 10, and therefore the wide protrusion 20 is used here as the left side wall 54a of the lid 54. It comes into contact with the lid extending portion 54a ₂ formed in the above. Thus, projecting unlocking piece 53b of Tosshutsuko 20 locking and unlocking member 53 of the wide width be in contact, also abut the same time the cover extension portion 54a ₂ formed in the left side wall 54a of the cover 54 Since the child 20 is blocked from entering, the lock releasing piece 53b cannot be pressed, and the lid 54 maintains the locked state.

As a result, the standard type magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus detects that the lid 54 of the high density type tape cassette 51A is not opened, and informs the user that it is incompletely attached. , Or high-density tape cassette 5
Since it is possible to perform operations such as forcibly ejecting 1A, the user can use the high-density tape cassette 51A.
It can be immediately understood that the card was erroneously inserted into the standard type magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus, and the reliability and quality of both can be improved without damaging the high-density tape cassette 51A and the standard type magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus.

Next, a modified example in which the tape cassette 51A according to the first embodiment of the present invention is partially modified will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing the lock and unlock mechanism of the lid in the tape cassette obtained by modifying the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 5 (A) and 5 (B).
FIG. 3D is a side view showing a lock and unlock mechanism of the lid body in the tape cassette obtained by modifying the first embodiment;
6 is a sectional view taken along the line D, FIG. 6 shows that when a tape cassette obtained by modifying the first embodiment is erroneously inserted into a standard magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus, a wide protrusion provided inside the apparatus unlocks the lid. It is sectional drawing which showed the state which cannot press the lock release piece for doing. For convenience of explanation, the same components as those of the tape cassette (high-density tape cassette) 51A of the first embodiment shown above are designated by the same reference numerals, and
The drawing is shown corresponding to the first embodiment, and only the points different from the first embodiment will be described here.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5A and 5B, a modified tape cassette (hereinafter referred to as a modified high-density tape cassette) 51B is a modification of the tape cassette of the first embodiment. in the inner surface of the lid extending portion 54a ₂ formed in the left side wall 54a of the magnetic tape protective lid 54, the projection of the unlocking piece 10 of the locking and unlocking member 10 provided in the standard tape cassette 1 The thin groove 54a ₂₁ is formed so that it can be separated, and the groove 5a
Detaching the lid extending portion 54a ₂ along the 4a _21, and is configured to be on the cover 5 and the same shape for the standard tape cassette 1 described above.

On the other hand, if the lid extending portion 54a ₂ of the lid 54 is left as it is without being separated, the lid 54 can be applied to the modified high density tape cassette 51B. If the cassette 51B is mounted in the high-density magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus as shown in FIG. 5B, no trouble will occur, and further, the high-density tape cassette 5 of the modified example.
Even if 1B is erroneously inserted into the standard type magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus as shown in FIG. 6, the wide protrusion 20 provided in the apparatus is locked and unlocked in the same manner as described in the first embodiment. even in contact with the unlocking piece 53b of the member 53, ingress of Tosshutsuko 20 also abuts at the same time the cover extension portion 54a ₂ formed in the left side wall 54a of the cover 54 is blocked, the lock releasing piece 53b
Since the lid 54 cannot be pressed and the lid 54 remains in the locked state, it can be immediately recognized that the lid 54 has been erroneously inserted.

[0048] Thus, the lid 54, when the disconnected the lid extending portion 54a ₂ along the groove _{54a 21} can be applied to standard tape cassette 1, as it is without disconnecting the lid extending portion 54a ₂ Then, it can be applied to the high-density tape cassette 51B of the modified example, the lid 54 can be shared, and the cost can be reduced. The groove _{54a 21} thin as described above may be provided on the outer surface of the lid extending portion 54a _2.

<Second Embodiment> FIG. 7 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B are partially cutaway perspective views showing a lock and unlock mechanism of the lid in the tape cassette of the embodiment, and FIGS. 8A and 8B show lock and lock of the lid in the tape cassette of the second embodiment. Side view showing the release mechanism and DD
FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line of the arrow. FIG. 9 shows a wide projection provided inside the tape cassette for unlocking the lid when the tape cassette of the second embodiment is erroneously inserted into the standard magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus. It is sectional drawing which showed the state which cannot press the lock release piece. still,
For convenience of explanation, the same components as those of the standard type tape cassette 1 and the high density type tape cassette 51A of the first embodiment shown above are designated by the same reference numerals, and Correspondingly shown, only the points different from the first embodiment will be described here.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8A and 8B, in the tape cassette 71 of the second embodiment (hereinafter, referred to as high density type tape cassette) 71, the tape cassette of the first embodiment (high Like the density type tape cassette 51A, the protruding position of the lock releasing piece 53b of the lock and lock releasing member 53 provided on the high density type tape cassette 71 is locked on the lock and unlocking member 10 provided on the standard type tape cassette 1. While making it different from the protruding position of the release piece 10b,
Here, the lid 5 used for the standard tape cassette 1 is used to protect the magnetic tape T, and the lid 5 used here is used.
Corresponding to, the left side wall of the cassette housing 72 is extended to a position substantially corresponding to the position where the lock releasing piece 10b provided in the standard tape cassette 1 projects.

That is, in the high-density tape cassette 71 of the second embodiment, the cassette housing 72 assembled by covering the upper half 72U and the lower half 72L together is the cassette of the standard tape cassette 1 described above. The housing 2 is formed to have substantially the same outer dimensions. In addition, a left side wall step portion 72c formed by retracting one step from the left side wall is formed at a front portion on the left side wall side of the cassette housing 72, and along the outer surface of the left side wall of the cassette housing 2 above the left side wall step portion 72c. The left side wall extending portion 72d is formed to extend forward as it is, and the former left side wall step portion 72c among them is configured to allow the locking and unlocking member 53 to project the unlocking piece 53b. cage, while the latter of the left side wall extension portion 72d is enters the notch portion 5a ₂ to cut away below the shaft 4 of the cover 5, locking and unlocking member 10 provided in the standard tape cassette 1 Of the lock releasing piece 10b is extended to a portion corresponding to the protruding position.

The lock and unlock member 53 provided on the left side wall of the cassette housing 72 for locking or unlocking the lid 5 is provided with a lock piece 53a at the lower front. The lid 5 is locked in the closed position by engaging with the recess 5a ₁ formed on the inner surface of the left side wall 5a of the body 5, and the tip of the unlocking piece 53b behind the locking piece 53a is the cassette housing. 72 left wall step 72c
It slightly protrudes outward and downward.

At this time, the protruding amount of the unlocking piece 53b of the locking and unlocking member 53 is projected until it substantially coincides with the outer surface of the left side wall of the cassette housing 72 and the outer surface of the left side wall 5a of the lid 5. Also, the lock and unlock member 5
The protruding position of the lock releasing piece 53b of No. 3 is lower than the protruding position of the lock releasing piece 10b of the lock and lock releasing member 10 provided in the standard type tape cassette 1, and like the special type tape cassette 31 described above. Cassette housing 72
The height H ₂ is set with reference to the bottom surface 72a of the.

Therefore, if the high-density tape cassette 71 of the second embodiment constructed as described above is mounted in the high-density magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus as shown in FIG. 8B, no trouble will occur. On the other hand, when the high-density tape cassette 71 of the second embodiment is erroneously inserted into the standard magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus as shown in FIG. 9, the wide protrusion 20 provided inside the apparatus locks and unlocks the member 53. Even if it abuts on the lock releasing piece 53b of the cassette housing 72, it also abuts on the left side wall extending portion 72c of the cassette housing 72 at the same time to block the entry of the projecting element 20.
Since 3b cannot be pressed and the lid 5 remains in the locked state, it can be immediately known that the lid 3 is erroneously inserted. As a result, even in the high-density tape cassette 71 of the second embodiment,
The same effect as the high-density tape cassette 51 of the first embodiment can be obtained.

[0055]

In the tape cassette according to the present invention described in detail above, according to claim 1, the tape cassette (high density type tape cassette) formed in substantially the same shape as the standard type tape cassette is for protecting the magnetic tape. The protrusion position of the lock release piece for unlocking the lid of the is different from the protrusion position of the lock release piece provided on the standard tape cassette, and the side wall of the lid is unlocked provided on the standard tape cassette. Since the tape is extended to a position substantially corresponding to the protruding position of the piece, when the tape cassette according to the present invention is erroneously inserted into the standard magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus, among the standard magnetic recording / reproducing apparatuses, there are many. Even if the protrusion provided in the device is formed to be wide in the vertical direction, even if the wide protrusion contacts the unlocking piece, the lid extension formed on the lid is simultaneously Since the protrusions are prevented from coming into contact with each other and the lock releasing piece cannot be pressed, and the lid body remains in the locked state, this allows, for example, the standard magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus side to use the tape of the present invention. It is possible to detect that the lid of the cassette is not opened and inform the user that the cassette is incompletely mounted, or to perform an operation such as forcibly ejecting the tape cassette of the present invention. Therefore, the user can immediately recognize that the tape cassette of the present invention has been erroneously inserted into the standard magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus, and the reliability of both can be maintained without damaging the tape cassette of the present invention and the standard magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus. And can contribute to the improvement of quality. Of course, the tape cassette of the present invention can be applied to a high-density magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus in which the tape cassette is mounted without any trouble.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the tape cassette according to the first aspect, a portion of the lid body that extends from the side wall has a thin wall to allow the lock release piece provided in the standard type tape cassette to project. Since the groove is formed so that it can be separated, it can be applied to a standard tape cassette when the part where the side wall of the lid is extended is cut along the groove, while the part where the side wall of the lid is extended can be left uncut. If so, it can be applied to the tape cassette (high-density tape cassette) according to the present invention, the lid can be shared, and the cost can be reduced.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a tape cassette (high-density tape cassette) formed in substantially the same shape as the standard type tape cassette is a lock release piece for unlocking the lid for protecting the magnetic tape. Of the lock release piece provided on the standard type tape cassette to a position substantially corresponding to the position where the lock release piece provided on the standard type tape cassette protrudes from the side wall of the cassette housing. Since it has been extended, the same effect as in claim 1 can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a lock and unlock mechanism of a lid in a tape cassette according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

2A and 2B are a side view and a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD of the tape cassette of the first embodiment according to the present invention, showing the lock and unlock mechanism of the lid.

FIG. 3 is a lock release for unlocking the lid by a wide projection provided in the standard type magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus when the tape cassette of the first embodiment according to the present invention is erroneously inserted. It is sectional drawing which showed the state which cannot press a piece.

FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a lock and unlock mechanism of a lid body in a tape cassette obtained by modifying a first embodiment according to the present invention.

5A and 5B are a side view and a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD of the tape cassette obtained by modifying the first embodiment of the present invention, showing the lock and unlock mechanism of the lid. is there.

FIG. 6 is a view for unlocking the lid by a wide projection provided in the standard magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus when the tape cassette obtained by modifying the first embodiment of the present invention is erroneously inserted. It is sectional drawing which showed the state which cannot press the lock release piece.

FIG. 7 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a lock and unlock mechanism of a lid in a tape cassette according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

8 (A) and 8 (B) are a side view and a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD of the tape cassette of the second embodiment according to the present invention, showing the lock and unlock mechanism of the lid.

FIG. 9: When the tape cassette of the second embodiment according to the present invention is erroneously inserted into the standard type magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus, a wide protrusion provided in the apparatus unlocks the lid to unlock it. It is sectional drawing which showed the state which cannot press a piece.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view for explaining a conventional VHS standard-compliant standard-type tape cassette.

FIG. 11 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a lock and unlock mechanism of a lid in a conventional standard tape cassette.

12A and 12B are a side view and a sectional view taken along the line D-D showing a lock and unlock mechanism of a lid in the conventional standard tape cassette.

FIG. 13 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a lock and unlock mechanism of a lid in a conventional special-type tape cassette.

14 (A) and 14 (B) are a side view and a cross-sectional view taken along the line D-D showing a lock and unlock mechanism of a lid in a conventional special-type tape cassette.

FIG. 15: When the conventional special-type tape cassette is erroneously inserted into the standard-type magnetic recording / reproducing device, the protrusion provided in the device is wide in the vertical direction with respect to the unlocking piece for unlocking the lid. It is sectional drawing which showed the case.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Standard type tape cassette, 2 ... Standard type tape cassette cassette housing, 3a, 3b ... Tape reel, 5 ... Standard type tape cassette lid, 20 ... Wide type provided in the standard type magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus Projector, 51A ... Tape cassette (high-density tape cassette) of the first embodiment, 51B ... Tape cassette (high-density tape cassette) modified from the first embodiment, 52 ... Cassette housing of the first embodiment, 52 b ... front, 53 ... locking and unlocking members, 53a ... locking piece 53b ... unlocking piece 54 ... lid of the first embodiment, 54a ... (left) side wall, 54a 2 _... lid extending portion, 54a
₂₁ ... Thin groove, 71 ... Tape cassette (high-density tape cassette) of the second embodiment, 72 ... Cassette housing of the second embodiment, 72d ... Left side wall extending portion, T ... Magnetic tape.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A structure in which a tape reel wound with a magnetic tape is rotatably accommodated in a cassette housing formed in a substantially same shape as a standard tape cassette, and the magnetic tape can be pulled out from the front surface of the cassette housing. In addition, a lid body for protecting the magnetic tape is openably and closably supported on the front surface of the cassette housing, and is engaged with an inner surface of a side wall of the lid body to lock the lid body in a closed position. A lock and a lock release member including a lock piece and a lock release piece for releasing the locked lid body at a position different from the standard tape cassette are provided in the cassette housing, and a part of the lock release piece is In a tape cassette configured to protrude from a side wall of a cassette housing so as to come into contact with a protrusion of a magnetic recording / reproducing device installed outside the cassette housing, the side wall of the lid body is the standard type. A tape cassette characterized in that the lock release piece provided on the tape cassette extends to a position substantially corresponding to the protruding position. 2. The tape cassette according to claim 1, wherein a thin groove is detachably formed in a portion of the side wall of the lid body extending so as to allow the lock release piece provided in the standard type tape cassette to project. A tape cassette, wherein the lid is applicable to the standard type tape cassette when formed and the portion extending along the groove is cut off. 3. A tape reel having a magnetic tape wound therein is rotatably housed in a cassette housing formed in substantially the same shape as a standard tape cassette, and the magnetic tape can be pulled out from the front surface of the cassette housing. In addition, a lid body for protecting the magnetic tape is openably and closably supported on the front surface of the cassette housing, and is engaged with an inner surface of a side wall of the lid body to lock the lid body in a closed position. A lock and a lock release member including a lock piece and a lock release piece for releasing the locked lid body at a position different from the standard tape cassette are provided in the cassette housing, and a part of the lock release piece is In a tape cassette configured so as to protrude from a side wall of a cassette housing so as to come into contact with a protrusion of a magnetic recording / reproducing device installed outside the cassette housing, the side wall of the cassette housing is A tape cassette characterized in that the lock release piece provided on the standard type tape cassette extends to a position substantially corresponding to the protruding position.