JPH087915B2 - Magnetic tape unit - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a magnetic tape device incorporating a small tape cassette adapter.

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional technology, for example, there is a magnetic tape device as disclosed in JP-A-59-193502. The above-described conventional magnetic tape device will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a conventional magnetic tape device, and FIGS. 9 and 10 are side views of an adapter and a standard tape cassette automatic loading / unloading mechanism in the device of FIG. FIG. 8 to FIG.
In FIG. 10, a magnetic tape device 60 has an insertion port 62 for an adapter (standard type tape cassette) on a front panel 61 and an insertion port 64 for a small tape cassette on a top plate 63. A door 65 is provided in the small tape cassette insertion opening 64 with its rear surface pivotally supported.

Further, the magnetic tape device 60 is provided with an adapter (standard type tape cassette) automatic loading / unloading mechanism shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. The adapter housing 66 is driven by the rack gear 68 on the L-shaped end surface of the side plate 67 by the pinion 69, and is guided to the guide grooves 71a, 71b, 71c of the upright support plate 70.

The operation of the conventional magnetic tape device configured as described above will be described below.

The small tape cassette adapter 72 is inserted into the adapter housing 66 at the position A in FIG. 9 through the adapter (standard type tape cassette) insertion opening 62. The adapter housing 66 with the small tape cassette adapter 72 inserted is
Between the position A shown in FIG. 9 and the mounting position B of the adapter (standard type tape cassette), the guide groove 71a is driven by the pinion 69 meshing with the rack gear 68 formed on the side plate 67.
Guided by 71b and 71c, it moves via the small tape cassette storage / removal position C shown in FIG.

At the position C, since the small tape cassette insertion position of the small tape cassette adapter 72 inserted in the adapter housing 66 faces the small tape cassette insertion opening 64 of the top plate 63, the small tape cassette is at this position C. Can be exchanged.

However, in the above-mentioned configuration, when the standard tape cassette is mounted in the device, the adapter inserted in the device must be detached from the device and stored outside the device. However, when using a small tape cassette, it is troublesome to handle the adapter because the adapter stored outside the device must be inserted into the device.

In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention incorporates a small tape cassette adapter for mounting a small tape cassette into a device, and mounts the magnetic tape pulling operation of the small tape cassette in the device into the device. To provide a magnetic tape device which is improved in operability in cooperation with the operation.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, a magnetic tape device according to the present invention accommodates a small tape cassette that is smaller than a standard tape cassette, and is approximately equal to the tape running path of the standard tape cassette. A small tape cassette adapter having a tape withdrawing means for drawing out the magnetic tape in the small tape cassette, an insertion opening for inserting the standard tape cassette, and a holder for holding the standard tape cassette inserted in the insertion opening. Means, moving means for moving the standard type tape cassette held by the holding means and mounting it on the tape drive device, and the standard type tape cassette from a position not interfering with the moving path of the standard type tape cassette. A moving path of the tape cassette, wherein the small tape cassette is held by the holding means. A holding / moving means for holding and moving the adapter to a predetermined position capable of holding the adapter, and a connecting means for connecting the holding means and the small tape cassette adapter are provided.

Effect of the Invention With the above-described configuration, according to the present invention, when the standard type tape cassette is mounted in the device as in the conventional case, the adapter inserted in the device is detached from the device and stored outside the device as in the conventional case. , When using a small tape cassette, whether using a standard tape cassette or a small tape cassette, without the need to insert the adapter stored outside the device into the device,
It can be easily attached to the device simply by inserting it from the same cassette insertion port. Since the small tape cassette adapter is securely coupled and moved, the reliability of the operation can be greatly improved, and the tape withdrawing means for pulling out the magnetic tape of the small tape cassette is driven in the small tape cassette adapter. In addition, the tape pull-out means is driven by utilizing the moving operation of the small tape cassette adapter to the tape driving device by the moving means without incorporating a drive source such as a motor dedicated to the tape pull-out means in the small tape cassette adapter. Even in this case, it is possible to prevent inconveniences such as the small tape cassette adapter moving in the holding means due to the reaction force of the driving force.

Example A magnetic tape device according to an example of the present invention will be described below.
This will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of a magnetic tape device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The magnetic tape device 1 has a tape cassette insertion opening 3 on a front panel 2. Fig. 2 ~
FIG. 4 is a side view of essential parts showing the standard type tape cassette mounting mechanism and the small tape cassette mounting mechanism incorporated in the apparatus 1. 2 to 4, a movable cassette holder 7 is provided between vertical support plates 5 and 6 which are arranged substantially vertically on the left and right of the tape drive mechanism 4 of the apparatus.

The protrusions 8 and 9 of the cassette holder 7 are vertical support plates.
The shafts 12 are slidably engaged with the guide grooves 10 and 11 provided on the shafts 5, 6 and the protrusions 8 are provided on the vertical support plates 5, 6.
It is slidably engaged with a groove portion 14 of a drive arm 13 which is rotatably supported.

A drive arm 13 is rotated about a shaft 12 by a cassette holder drive motor (not shown). When the drive arm 13 rotates counterclockwise in FIG.
It is guided by 0 and 11 to move horizontally first, and finally vertically to load the standard tape cassette 45 or the small tape cassette 33 into the tape drive as shown by the broken line in FIG. A pinion 16 is attached to a shaft 15 provided on the vertical support plates 5 and 6, and when the pinion 16 rotates, an elevator 18 having a rack 17 meshing with the pinion 16 moves up and down.
Here, as shown in FIG. 7, the protrusion 19 on the upper part of the elevator 18
Engages with the same mechanism 22 provided on the side surface of the upper half 21 of the adapter 20, the upper half 21 moves up and down by the rotation of the pinion 16.

Similarly, a pinion 24 is attached to a shaft 23 provided on the vertical support plates 5 and 6, and a lower half 27 of the adapter 20 is placed on an elevator 26 having a rack 25 that meshes with the pinion 24. When the elevator rotates, the elevator 26 and the lower half 27 move up and down.

FIG. 5 shows the structure of the coupling means provided on the upper surfaces of the adapter 20, the cassette holder 7, and the elevator 18, which are the main parts of the present invention. The upper surface of the adapter 20 has a first engaging pin 50a.
And the second engaging pin 50b is planted. Then, the first lock plate 5 engageable with the engagement pins 50a, 50b, respectively.
2a and the second lock plate 52b are rotatably supported by shafts 51a and 51b erected on the upper surfaces of the cassette holder 7 and the elevator 18, respectively, and at the same time, are rotated counterclockwise by torsion springs 53a and 53b. Being energized. And this lock plate 52
The a and 52b are provided with inclined portions 54a and 54b that can abut the engaging pins 50a and 50b.
And cut-and-raised parts 55a, 55b cut and raised in the upper surface direction
Are formed. That is, it constitutes a push-push type coupling means.

Further, a rack 56 is formed on the side surface of the vertical support plate 6 and meshes with a gear 28 provided on a lower half 27 of an adapter 20 described later.

FIG. 6 shows a plan view of the main part of the lower half 27 of the adapter 20 incorporated in the apparatus. The gear 28, which is rotatably supported by the lower half 27, has the rack 56 of the vertical support plate 6 as described above.
Is meshing with. The internal structure of the adapter 20 is well known in the art for VHS (registered trademark) -C cassette adapters and so will not be described in detail. However, in FIG. 6, the pull-out pin on the rotating arm 29 when the gear 28 rotates clockwise. The magnetic tape 34 is pulled out from the small tape cassette 33 by the pull-out pin 32 on the rotating arm 31 and 30 to form a tape running path 35 which is substantially the same as the tape running path of the standard type tape cassette as shown by the alternate long and short dash line. It is configured as follows.
Also, when the gear 28 rotates counterclockwise, the rotating arm
29 and the rotating arm 31 move from the state shown by the one-dot chain line to the state shown by the solid line, and at the same time, the take-up reel 37 in the small tape cassette 33 is driven by the gear 36, and the magnetic tape is stored in the small tape cassette 33. It is configured to store 35.

As shown in FIG. 7, the adapter 20 is configured so that it can be divided into an upper half 21 and a lower half 27, and by the bosses 38 and 39 that are set up in the upper half 21 and the shafts 40 and 41 that are set up in the lower half 27. The horizontal relative position is maintained. A small tape cassette holder 42 that holds a small tape cassette 33 on the upper half 21
Are arranged so as to be slidable in the left and right directions in FIGS. 2 to 4.

The outer dimensions of the adapter 20 when the upper half 21 and the lower half 27 are united are made substantially equal to the outer dimensions of the standard tape cassette 45. Further, in FIG. 4, a stopper (not shown) is provided on the cassette holder 7 so as to prevent the adapter 20 from moving too far to the left with respect to the cassette holder 7, and to the right with respect to the elevators 18 and 26 as well. The elevator 26 is provided with a stopper (not shown) so as not to move excessively.

 Next, each operation will be described with reference to the drawings.

First, the case where the standard type tape cassette 45 is attached to the apparatus 1 will be described. When the standard type tape cassette 45 is inserted into the cassette insertion slot 3 in FIG. 2 as shown by the one-dot chain line as in the conventional case, the switch (not shown) is actuated and is driven by the cassette holder driving motor (not shown). The arm 13 rotates counterclockwise to the position indicated by the broken line. At this time, the cassette holder 7 is also guided by the grooves 10 and 11 and slidably moves to the position shown by the broken line, whereby the standard type tape cassette 45 held by the cassette holder 7 is taped as in the conventional case as shown by the one-dot chain line. It is attached to the drive mechanism 4.

Next, a case where the small tape cassette 33 is attached to the device 1 will be described. When a small tape cassette switch (not shown) is pressed, the cassette holder drive motor (not shown) rotates so that the cassette holder 7 moves to the intermediate position shown by the solid line in FIG. 3 to rotate the drive arm 13. Let
Then, the motor (not shown) rotates the pinion 16 counterclockwise, which causes the elevator 18 and the adapter 20 to rotate.
The upper half 21 rises to the position shown in FIG. At the same time, the pinion 24 is also rotated counterclockwise by a motor (not shown), and the elevator 26 and the lower half 27 of the adapter 20 are raised to the position shown in FIG. Upper half 21 shown in FIG.
The positional relationship between the lower half 27 and the height of the lower half 27 is as shown in FIG.
Even if the small tape cassette 33 is inserted into the small tape cassette holder 42, the magnetic tape 34 does not touch the pins 30 and 32.

In the state shown in FIG. 3, the small tape cassette holder 42 is moved to the right in FIG. 3 in the upper half 21 to receive the small tape cassette 33 inserted from the cassette insertion port 3.

When the small tape cassette 33 is inserted into the small tape cassette holder 42 from the cassette insertion opening 3 in the state shown in FIG. 3, a switch (not shown) operates and a small tape cassette holder drive mechanism (not shown) operates, The small tape cassette holder 42 moves leftward in FIG. 3 while holding the small tape cassette 33, and the planar positional relationship between the small tape cassette 33 and the lower half 27 is as shown in FIG.

Then, when the pinion 24 further rotates counterclockwise from the state shown in FIG. 3, the upper half 21 and the lower half 27 are united as shown in FIG. Since the external dimensions of the combined adapter 20 are almost the same as the external dimensions of the standard type tape cassette 45, in this state, the cassette holder drive motor (not shown) is reversed to rotate the drive arm 13 clockwise. The cassette holder 7 moves to the right from the intermediate position shown in FIG. 3 and moves to the cassette holder 7 as shown in FIG.
The adapter 20 comes to be located inside. FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the state at this time. At this time, the second engagement pin 50b and the second lock plate 52b are in the engaged state, and the adapter is
20 and the elevator 18 are integrated. When the drive arm 13 further rotates from the state shown in FIG. 5 and the cassette holder 7 moves downward in FIG. 5, the first engagement pin 50a starts contact with the inclined portion 54a of the first lock plate 52a. Then, the lock plate 52a is rotated clockwise. When the cassette holder 7 further moves, the engaging pin 50a is positioned from the inclined portion 54a to the opening 57a by the turning force of the torsion spring 53a and engages with the lock plate 52a.

When the cassette holder 7 is further moved, the adapter 20 is moved by a stopper (not shown) provided on the cassette holder 7.
5 is pushed downward, the locking plate 52b is slightly rotated counterclockwise by the turning force of the torsion spring 53b, and the engaging pin 50b is rotated.
Is located below the cut-and-raised portion 55b, and the engaged state is released.

After that, when the drive arm 13 is again rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 4 by the cassette holder drive motor (not shown), the cassette holder 7 and the adapter 20 start moving. At this time, since the gear 28 meshes with the rack 56, it rotates in the clockwise direction, and the draw-out pins 30, 32 move to the sixth position as described above.
Move to the position shown by the dashed line in the figure
The magnetic tape 34 in the small tape cassette 33 is pulled out so that the tape running path in the tape tape 20 is substantially the same as the tape running path in the standard tape cassette 45. Even if the adapter 20 tries to come out of the cassette holder 7 when the load is large, the cassette holder 7 and the adapter 20 are securely coupled by the lock plate 52a and the engagement pin 50b, and therefore, they can move integrally. As a result, the adapter 20 is securely attached to the tape drive mechanism 4 by moving in the same manner as when the standard type tape cassette 45 is attached. Therefore, the small tape cassette 33 housed in the adapter 20 is attached to the tape drive mechanism 4
Will be attached to.

Next, the operation of taking out the small tape cassette 33 mounted on the tape drive mechanism 4 will be described. When an eject button (not shown) is pressed, the cassette holder drive motor (not shown) rotates the drive arm 13 in the clockwise direction so that the guide arm 10 is guided by the guide grooves 10 and 11 and the adapter 20 is moved to the position shown in FIG. It will move toward you. At this time, the adapter
Since the gear 28 of the gear 20 meshes with the rack 56 and rotates counterclockwise, the pull-out pins 30 and 32 move to the positions shown by the solid lines in FIG. Is wound around the winding-side reel 37 without slack and stored in the small tape cassette 33. Also at this time, the adapter 20 tries to come out of the cassette holder 7 due to the meshing load of the gear 28 and the rack 56, but this movement is blocked by the stopper (not shown) described above. However, since the cassette holder 7 slightly moves downward in FIG. 5 until the stopper (not shown) and the adapter 20 come into contact with the adapter 20, the first engaging pin 50a
Comes into the lower part of the cut-and-raised part 55a of the first lock plate 52a in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface, and the first engaging pin 50a and the first engaging pin 50a
The substantial engagement relationship of the lock plate 52a is released. When the adapter 20 further moves in this state and enters between the elevator 18 and the elevator 26, the first time when the adapter 20 is mounted on the tape drive mechanism 4
The second engaging pin 50b and the second lock plate 52b shown in FIG. 5 are engaged in the same manner as the engaging operation of the engaging pin 50a and the first lock plate 52a.

Then, the cassette holder drive motor (not shown) is reversed and the drive arm 13 is rotated counterclockwise. This time,
As described above, the adapter 20 and the cassette holder 7 are substantially disengaged, and the second engaging pin 50b and the second lock plate 52b are in the engaged state, so that the adapter 20 is shown in FIG. Alternatively, the position remains the position shown in FIG. 5, and only the cassette holder 7 moves to the intermediate position described above. Then, the motor (not shown) causes the pinion 24 to rotate clockwise in FIG. 4 and the elevator 26 and the lower half 27 of the adapter 20 to descend to the position shown in FIG. Then, the small tape cassette holder drive mechanism (not shown) operates, and the small tape cassette holder 42 is moved to the small tape cassette.
While holding 33, it moves to the right in FIG. 3, and the position of the small tape cassette 33 projects from the front panel 2 as shown in FIG.

As described above, the magnetic tape device according to the present invention can use both the standard tape cassette and the small tape cassette.

As described above, in the magnetic tape device according to the present invention, when a small tape cassette is used, the magnetic tape is automatically inserted into the standard tape cassette cassette by simply inserting it into the cassette insertion slot for inserting the standard tape cassette. Since it is attached to the device after being pulled out so as to be approximately equal to the tape running path, there is no complicated handling of the adapter and the operation is extremely simple and the operability is remarkably improved. Since the standard tape cassette and the adapter are held and moved by the same cassette holder, the number of parts is small and the manufacturing can be performed at low cost. Further, since the adapter and the cassette holder or the adapter and the elevator are coupled and securely held as necessary, the reliability of the mounting operation of each cassette is significantly improved. Further, since the cassette holder and the adapter are coupled when the adapter is mounted, it is possible to stably pull out the magnetic tape of the small tape cassette by utilizing the movement operation of the cassette holder. Further, since the coupling and disengagement of the coupling means is realized by the relative movement in one direction, the configuration can be made extremely simple.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of a magnetic tape device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 2 to 4 show a standard tape cassette mounting mechanism and a small tape cassette mounting mechanism in the device of FIG. FIG. 5 is a side view of an essential part, FIG. 5 is a plan view of an essential part for explaining a connecting means between the cassette holder and the adapter and the elevator and the adapter, FIG. 6 is a plan view of the essential part of the lower half of the adapter, and FIG. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a conventional magnetic tape device, and FIGS. 9 and 10 are side views of the main part showing the automatic adapter attaching / detaching mechanism in FIG. 3 ... Cassette insertion slot, 7 ... Cassette holder, 13 ...
Drive arm, 20 …… Adapter, 21 …… Upper half, 27 ……
Lower half, 33 …… Small tape cassette, 42 …… Small tape cassette holder, 50a, 50b …… Engaging pin, 52a, 2b ……
Lock plate, 57 …… Lock plate.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A compact tape cassette which is smaller than a standard tape cassette and has a tape pull-out means for pulling out a magnetic tape in the small tape cassette so as to be substantially equal to a tape running path of the standard tape cassette. Tape cassette adapter, insertion port for inserting the standard type tape cassette, holding means for holding the standard type tape cassette inserted in the insertion port, and movement of the standard type tape cassette held by the holding means The moving means to be mounted on the tape drive device and the moving path of the standard tape cassette from a position where the small tape cassette adapter does not interfere with the moving path of the standard tape cassette, and the small tape cassette by the holding means. Holding movement to hold and move to a predetermined position that allows the adapter to be held Comprising the stage, and a coupling means for coupling the said holding means and said small tape cassette adapter,
After the small tape cassette adapter moved to the predetermined position is connected to the holding means by the connecting means, the tape pull-out means in the small tape cassette adapter is operated in conjunction with the moving operation by the moving means, and A magnetic tape device characterized in that a tape cassette adapter is mounted on the tape drive device by the moving means. 2. A compact tape cassette that is smaller than a standard type tape cassette, and has a tape pull-out means for pulling out a magnetic tape in the compact tape cassette so as to be substantially equal to the tape running path of the standard tape cassette. Tape cassette adapter, insertion port for inserting the standard type tape cassette, holding means for holding the standard type tape cassette inserted in the insertion port, and movement of the standard type tape cassette held by the holding means The moving means to be mounted on the tape drive device and the moving path of the standard tape cassette from a position where the small tape cassette adapter does not interfere with the moving path of the standard tape cassette, and the small tape cassette by the holding means. Holding and moving means for moving to a predetermined position that enables holding of the adapter A small tape cassette adapter comprising: first holding means for connecting the holding means and the small tape cassette adapter; and second connecting means for connecting the holding movement means and the small tape cassette adapter. When the tape is mounted on the tape drive device, the tape is connected to the holding means by the first connecting means, and then the tape pull-out means in the small tape cassette adapter is operated in conjunction with the moving operation by the moving means. When the standard tape cassette is mounted on a drive device and the standard tape cassette is mounted on the tape drive device, the small tape cassette adapter is connected to the holding and moving means by the second connecting means, and the small tape cassette adapter is connected to the standard tape cassette adapter. The tape cassette is configured to move to a position that does not interfere with the movement path of the tape cassette. Magnetic tape apparatus according to claim. 3. The coupling means is configured such that the small tape cassette adapter and the holding means or the small tape cassette adapter and the holding and moving means can be engaged and disengaged by a relative movement in one direction. The magnetic tape device according to (1) or (2).