JPH09223381A - Tape cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate the influence of vibration or the like transmitted from a tape driving mechanism, etc., to improve the mechanical strength and to eliminate visible gap. SOLUTION: A lower half 4 combined with an upper half 3 so as to constitute a cassette main body 2 for freely rotatably housing tape reels 10A and 10B with a tape medium 9 placed thereon is composed of a resin frame part 5 and a metal plate 6 insert-molded in this resin frame part 5. The resin frame part 5 and the metal plate 6 are made integral by butting slope joined end parts 48 and 53 having slopes (50, 52) and (55, 57) placed in parallel and oppositely to one another to each other.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention has a tape-shaped recording medium such as a magnetic tape housed therein, and a tape cassette or a cleaning tape used for a data backup device such as a computer or a video tape recorder. Cleaning tape cassette

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Tape cassettes are used not only for tape recorders and video tape recorders, but also for data backup of computers and the like. In the tape cassette, generally, the upper half and the lower half are made of a synthetic resin material, respectively, to reduce the size and weight. However, especially 8 mm
In a small tape cassette such as a tape cassette having a magnetic tape of a wide width, when it is loaded into the main body device and a tape drive operation is performed, the entire tape is vibrated by the operation of the tape drive mechanism and the running operation of the magnetic tape is impaired. The phenomenon of becoming stable may occur. Such a phenomenon becomes a fatal problem that the recording and reproducing characteristics of the information signal recorded at a high density are deteriorated and the predetermined function cannot be achieved particularly in a tape cassette for data backup.

For example, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 63-38460 "Tape Cassette" discloses a tape cassette in which a metal member and a synthetic resin member are fixed by an adhesive to form a cassette body. The tape cassette of this prior application is characterized in that the overall mechanical strength against twisting and bending is improved and the weight is increased, and the magnetic tape runs in a stable state without being affected by the operation of the tape drive mechanism. have.

However, in this prior-art tape cassette, not only the assembly process of the metal member and the synthetic resin member is troublesome and the number of steps is large, so that the cost is increased as a whole, and the processing of the adhesive is troublesome. There is a problem above. On the other hand, in order for the tape cassette to be accurately loaded into the backup device, the cassette body must be configured such that the shape of the reel holes, the interval dimension, or the above-mentioned respective parts are positioned with high precision. In the above-mentioned prior application tape cassette, since these positioning parts are formed on the metal frame side to form the lower half,
It was difficult to obtain the positional accuracy of each part as compared with a frame entirely made of a synthetic resin material.

In order to solve the problem of the tape cassette of the prior application, the applicant completely follows the characteristics of the cassette body in which a metal member and a synthetic resin member are combined, and specifically, FIGS. As shown in FIG. 14, the lower half 103
The outer frame portion 120 of No. 1 was made of synthetic resin, and a tape cassette 100 in which a metal plate 121 of aluminum or the like was insert-molded on the bottom surface was developed. This tape cassette 100
Since it has a predetermined weight, the magnetic tape 107 travels in a stable state without being affected by vibration of the tape drive mechanism or the like, and accurate recording or reproduction of an information signal recorded at high density is performed. Also, the tape cassette 100 is
Since the positioning portion, the sliding portion, and the like are formed on the synthetic resin member, there is a feature that the engaging members on the backup device side are not worn and have a great influence.

That is, the tape cassette 100 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, a cassette body 101 is formed by combining a thin box-shaped upper half 102 and a lower half 103, each of which has an open front surface.
The lid structure 104 is rotatably combined with the open front surface 105 of 01. The open front surface portion 105 constitutes a loading space portion 105 from which the magnetic tape 107 housed inside the cassette body 101 is pulled out, and is normally closed by the lid structure 104.

The tape cassette 100 comprises a cassette body 1
A pair of tape reels 106 (106A, 106B) wound with a magnetic tape 107 having a width of 8 mm is rotatably housed inside 01. In the present specification, a plurality of members having the same configuration will be represented as described above, and the tape reel 10 will be used when describing the whole.
6 and will be described separately as the tape reel 106A or the tape reel 106B only when the individual description is made.

The magnetic tape 107 is pulled out from one tape reel 106A, guided along the loading space 105 by a tape guide mechanism (not shown), and wound around the other tape reel 106B. The tape cassette 100 has a display window 10 in which the winding state of the magnetic tape 107 around the tape reel 106 is provided in the upper half 102.
8 makes it visible from the outside.

As shown in FIG. 13, the lower half 103 has reel bearing holes 108 (108A, 108A) through which the hubs of the accommodated tape reels 106 are exposed.
B) is provided. Further, the lower half 103 is provided with a reel lock releasing portion 109 located on the back side of the central portion of the reel bearing holes 108 and a tape end detecting portion 110 located on the front side. Further, the lower half 103 is provided with tape specification detection units 111 (111A, 111B) located at both corners on the back side.

Although not described in detail, the reel lock releasing portion 109 is movable in the front-rear direction inside the lower half 103 corresponding to the reel lock guide groove provided in the lower half 103. A stored reel lock member, and a pair of reel lock levers integrally or rotatably assembled with the reel lock member,
It is composed of a member such as a reel lock spring. The reel lock releasing portion 109 locks the tape reels 106 in the rotation direction when the tip of the reel lock lever is relatively meshed with the outer peripheral teeth formed on the outer peripheral edge of the flange portion of the tape reels 106 when not in use. Prevent the idling.

The tape end detecting section 110 includes a lower half 10
When the tape cassette 100 is loaded in the backup device, the tape end detecting means on the backup device side is made to enter the inside. The tape specification detection unit 111 is composed of a plurality of detection holes opened at predetermined positions corresponding to the tape specifications such as the type, length or recording density of the magnetic tape 107.

The tape cassette 1 configured as described above
00 is loaded into the backup device with the bottom surface and both side surfaces of the cassette body 101 as reference surfaces, the reel lock releasing member entering from the reel lock guide groove causes the reel lock member to resist the elastic force of the reel lock spring. Is moved. As a result, the tape cassette 100 is provided with the tape reel 10 by the reel lock lever.
6 is released from the locked state and is in a rotatable state.

Further, in the tape cassette 100, the lid 104 is rotated by the lid opening mechanism of the backup device to open the loading space 105. In the tape cassette 100, with the tape reel 106 in the unlocked state, the magnetic tape 107 is pulled out by the loading mechanism on the backup device side that enters from the loading space 105, and a loading operation that constitutes a predetermined tape running path is performed. .

Further, the reel drive shafts on the backup device side enter into the tape cassette 100 through the reel bearing holes 108 and respectively engage with the hub holes of the tape reel 106. In the tape cassette 100, when a recording / reproducing operation of the backup device is performed in this state, the reel drive shaft is rotated, the tape reel 106 is rotated, and the feeding or winding operation of the magnetic tape 107 is performed. . When the tape cassette 100 is loaded into the backup device, the tape specification detection unit 111 provided at the corner of the lower half 103 is detected by the detection mechanism.

The lower half 103 is, as shown in FIG.
It is composed of a resin frame portion 120 made of synthetic resin and a metal plate 121 integrated with the resin frame portion 120 by insert molding. The resin frame portion 120 is made of, for example, ABS resin, and is formed in a substantially thin box shape including a horizontally long rectangular bottom wall and an outer peripheral wall integrally formed upright on the outer peripheral portion excluding the front portion. The resin frame portion 120 is provided with a bottom opening that is largely opened on the bottom wall thereof, leaving a front portion, a rear portion, and a corner portion on the rear side of the central portion that is a portion that constitutes a loading reference portion for the backup device. The metal plate 121 is integrated so as to fill the bottom opening.

The metal plate 121 is a resin frame portion 1.
In addition to 20, the tape cassette 100 has a function of imparting a predetermined weight to the tape cassette 100 and maintaining mechanical strength against twisting and bending, and is formed by punching using, for example, an aluminum plate or an aluminum alloy plate as a material. This metal plate 1
The reel bearing holes 108 are formed in the base 21 at intervals in the longitudinal direction.

The metal plate 121 is the resin frame portion 1.
In the molding step of 20, the resin is placed in the cavity of the molding die corresponding to the bottom opening. Metal plate 12
By fitting the reel bearing hole 108 to the holding convex portion formed to project in the cavity, the No. 1 is mounted in a state of being positioned in the molding die. In the molding die, the material resin is injected and filled into the cavity in this state, and the metal plate 121 is insert-molded in the resin frame portion 120 to mold the lower half 103 as a whole.

In the tape cassette 100, the lower half 103 constituting the cassette body 101 is composed of a resin frame portion 120 made of synthetic resin and a metal plate 121 made of metal insert-molded on the bottom wall thereof. Therefore, it is possible to maintain the external specifications conforming to the standard, improve the mechanical strength against bending and twisting, and increase the total weight. Therefore, the tape cassette 1
00 does not affect the running operation of the magnetic tape 8 by vibrating even if the vibration of the tape drive mechanism that drives the tape reel 106 is transmitted, and highly accurate recording or reproducing of the information signal is performed.

The tape cassette 100 is provided with a moving member such as a reel lock member, an engaging portion such as a reel lock releasing member on the backup device side, a tape specification detecting member, or a loading reference surface for the backup device. Are formed on the resin frame 120 side made of synthetic resin.
Therefore, the tape cassette 100 does not wear each member of the backup device, and the tape cassette 100 is loaded in a correctly positioned state to perform a predetermined operation, so that no malfunction occurs.

[0020]

However, in such a tape cassette 100, the difference in the thermal contraction rate between the resin frame portion 120 and the metal plate 121 forming the lower half 103 is extremely large, which causes 1
As shown in FIG. 4, the joint part 1 of these resin frame parts 120
A gap 122 is generated between 20A and the joint portion 121A of the metal plate 121. On the other hand, the tape cassette 10
0, the resin frame portion 120 and the metal plate 1
21 and 21 respectively constituted the facing joint portions by the vertical end faces.

Therefore, the gap 122 formed between the resin frame portion 120 and the metal plate 121 causes a problem in that the inside of the tape cassette 100 is left in a bare state to cause a defective appearance and dust and the like to easily enter. . Dust or the like that has entered the inside of the tape cassette 100 adheres to the recording surface of the magnetic tape 107 and deteriorates the recording and reproducing characteristics of the information signal.

Further, in the tape cassette 100, the mechanical strength of the lower half 103 is deteriorated due to the gap 122 formed between the joint portion 120A of the resin frame portion 120 and the joint portion 121A of the metal plate 121 described above. Also occurs.

Therefore, the present invention has been proposed for the purpose of providing a tape cassette in which an apparent gap is not formed in a joint portion between a resin frame portion and a metal plate which are integrated by insert molding. Is.

[0024]

In the tape cassette according to the present invention which has achieved this object, a pair of tape reels is rotatably accommodated in a cassette body formed by combining a pair of halves, and between the tape reels. The tape-shaped medium is crossed over. One half is configured by insert-molding a metal plate on the resin frame portion.
The resin frame portion and the metal plate are formed with inclined surfaces facing each other in parallel at opposing joint ends, and these inclined joint ends are abutted against each other to be integrated.

According to the tape cassette of the present invention constructed as described above, the mechanical strength against bending and twisting is maintained by the construction of one half in which the metal plate is insert-molded on the resin frame portion. The weight of the entire body is secured, and the tape-shaped medium travels in a stable state without being vibrated by the vibration transmitted from the tape drive mechanism of the main body device, so that the information signal is accurately recorded or reproduced. Further, in the tape cassette according to the present invention, even when a gap is formed in the joint portion between the resin frame portion and the metal plate, the inclined joint ends of the resin frame portion and the metal plate overlap each other in the thickness direction. Since the state is maintained, it is possible to prevent the inside from passing through. Therefore, in the tape cassette, the appearance of the gap is prevented and the intrusion of dust and the like is prevented.

[0026]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the 8 mm tape cassette 1 (tape cassette 1) used for the backup device shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 according to the embodiment of the present invention has a front portion 13 opened by a synthetic resin material. And an upper half 3 formed in a thin box shape, and a front portion 1 made of a synthetic resin material, which will be described in detail later.
The cassette main body 2 is formed by abutting the lower half 4 formed into a thin box shape by opening 8 on each other.

In the tape cassette 1, a loading space 7 is formed on the front surface of the cassette body 2 by the open front surface portion 13 of the upper half 3 and the open front surface portion 18 of the lower half 4. In the tape cassette 1, a lid structure 8 that opens and closes the loading space 7 is rotatably assembled to the front surface of the cassette body 2.

The cassette body 2 has a pair of tape reels 10 on which a magnetic tape 9 having a width of 8 mm is wound.
(10A, 10B) are stored rotatably. The magnetic tape 9 is pulled out from one tape reel 10A, guided along the loading space 7 by a tape guide mechanism described later, and the other tape reel 10A.
It is wound up by B.

The upper half 3 is made of a synthetic resin material such as polycarbonate resin and ABS resin as described above, and has a horizontally elongated rectangular main surface wall 11 and an outer periphery formed integrally with the outer peripheral portion excluding the front portion 13. The wall 14 is formed into a substantially thin box shape. On the main surface wall 11,
The display window 12 described above is provided. This display window 12
Is made of, for example, a polycarbonate resin as a transparent portion, which makes it possible to visually recognize the winding state of the magnetic tape 9 around the tape reel 10 and prevents dust and the like from entering the inside of the cassette body 2.

A guide wall 15 is integrally provided on the inner surface of the main surface wall 11 of the upper half 3 so as to be located inside the open front surface portion 13. The guide wall 15 is an arc-shaped wall that gradually curves from the central portion toward both sides, and constitutes a guide wall that holds the outer peripheral portion of the tape reel 10. In addition,
Although not shown, the upper half 3 is provided with a plurality of studs on the inner surface of the main surface wall 11 for integrally connecting the lower half 4 with the setscrews 16.

The lower half 4 is composed of a resin frame portion 5 made of synthetic resin and a metal plate 6 integrated with the resin frame portion 5 by insert molding. The resin frame portion 5 is also made of, for example, ABS resin, and is formed in a substantially thin box shape including a horizontally long rectangular bottom wall 17 and an outer peripheral wall 19 formed integrally with the outer peripheral portion excluding the open front surface 18 so as to rise integrally. Has been done. The resin frame portion 5 has a large opening in the bottom wall 17 thereof, leaving a front portion of the central portion and a rear portion and a corner portion of the rear side, which are portions constituting a loading reference portion for the backup device, as described later. A bottom opening 20 is provided, and the metal plate 6 is integrated so as to fill the bottom opening 20.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the resin frame portion 5 is integrally provided with a guide wall 21 on the inner surface of the bottom wall 17 and inside the open front portion 18. The guide wall 21 is an arcuate wall that curves so as to gradually bulge outward from the center toward both sides corresponding to the guide wall 15 of the upper half 3 described above. The guide wall 21 of the resin frame portion 5 and the guide wall 15 of the upper half 3
Means a part of a reel guide wall that holds the outer peripheral portion of the tape reel 10 in a state in which the upper half 3 and the lower half 4 are butted against each other and cooperate with each other.

As shown in FIG. 1, the resin frame portion 5 has both corner portions on the back side and a reel lock portion 2 which will be described later.
2 and a rising wall that surrounds the tape end detecting portion 23 are each formed in an arc shape, and the regions on the bottom wall 17 that are surrounded by these rising walls and the guide wall 21 described above allow the tape reel 10 to rotate freely. It is configured as a tape reel rotation area portion 24 to be stored. The bottom surface opening 20 described above is formed in the tape reel rotation area 24.

In the resin frame portion 5, a plurality of studs are formed on the bottom wall 17 at positions corresponding to the studs on the upper half 3 side. Therefore, after the upper half 3 and the lower half 4 are assembled with the respective members described later, the outer peripheral walls 14, 19 are
Are butted against each other and integrally coupled by a set screw 16 screwed from the bottom side of the lower half 4 to form the cassette body 2 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

On the resin frame portion 5, both side portions sandwiching the open front surface portion 18 are formed to project forward, and the tape guide portion 25 having an arc-shaped cross section is formed on the outer side surface of these portions.
(25A, 25B) are projected. The tape guide portion 25 has an outer surface formed in an arc cross section,
As will be described later, the magnetic tape 9 pulled out from the tape reel 10 is multiplied. Also, the tape guide portion 25
The inner surface of the lid guide groove 26 (26A,
26B) are formed respectively. Lid guide groove 2
As will be described later, 6 supports a front lid 32 that constitutes the lid structure 8 so as to be rotatable and vertically movable.

As shown in FIG. 1, the resin frame portion 5 is provided with a reel lock portion 22 located in the central region on the back side of the bottom wall 17. This reel lock part 2
Reference numeral 2 denotes a pair of front and rear guide walls facing each other in parallel, and a reel lock member 28, which will be described later, is movably accommodated in a space facing the guide walls. The reel lock portion 22 is provided with a reel lock guide groove 27 which extends through the bottom wall 17 and extends in the front-rear direction. When the tape cassette 1 is loaded into the reel lock guide groove 27 in the backup device, the reel lock release member on the backup device side enters the inside of the cassette body 2. The reel lock release member moves the reel lock member 28. In this way, the reel lock portion 22 is
The tape cassette 1 constitutes a part of a loading reference part when the tape cassette 1 is loaded in the backup device.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the resin frame portion 5, a tape end detecting portion 23 is integrally formed in a central region located on the front surface side of the bottom wall 17 facing the reel lock portion 22. The tape end detecting portion 23 is composed of a light source entrance hole penetrating the bottom wall 17 and a cylindrical projection formed around the light source entrance hole. When the tape cassette 1 is loaded in the backup device in the tape end detection unit 23, the light emitting element forming the tape end detection mechanism on the backup device side is positioned inside the cassette body 2 through the light source entrance hole. In this way, the tape end detection unit 23 also constitutes a part of the loading reference unit when the tape cassette 1 is loaded in the backup device.

The light emitted from the light source light emitting element is
From both sides of the cylindrical protrusion of the tape end detecting portion 23, the guide wall 2
1 is guided to the side along the inner surface of the magnetic recording medium 1 and is exposed to the outside by traversing the traveling path of the magnetic tape 9 traveling between the outer peripheral wall 19 and the tape guide portion 25 as will be described later. It is detected by the light receiving element of the tape end detection mechanism on the side.

As shown in FIG. 1, the resin frame portion 5 is provided with tape specification detecting portions 29 (28A, 28B) located at both corners on the back side. The tape specification detection unit 29 is composed of a plurality of detection holes opened corresponding to specifications such as the type, length, or recording density of the magnetic tape 9, for example. Although not described in detail, these detection holes are formed in a patterned position via an annular thin portion, and the thin portion is broken in accordance with the specifications of the magnetic tape 9 to break each corner of the resin frame portion 5. Opened in the department.

When the tape cassette 1 is loaded into the backup device, the tape specification detecting section 29 is provided with a magnetic member provided by a detection member constituting a tape specification detecting mechanism on the backup device side, which detects the presence or absence of a detection hole. The specification of the tape 9 is detected. Therefore, the tape specification detecting unit 29 also constitutes a part of the loading reference unit when the tape cassette 1 is loaded in the backup device.

As shown in FIG. 1, the resin frame portion 5 is provided with an erroneous recording prevention portion 30 at one corner thereof. The erroneous recording prevention section 30 is composed of an erroneous recording detection hole formed in the outer peripheral wall 19, and an erroneous recording prevention member 31 for opening and closing the erroneous recording detection hole is movably combined. In the tape cassette 1, when the erroneous recording prevention member 31 is set to the first position where the erroneous recording detection hole is closed, the erroneous recording prevention member 31 causes the erroneous recording detection mechanism on the backup device side to perform the erroneous recording. Entry into the detection hole is prevented, and the recording operation of the information signal on the magnetic tape 9 is enabled.

Further, in the tape cassette 1, when the erroneous recording prevention member 31 is set to the second position where the erroneous recording detection hole is opened, the detection member of the erroneous recording detection mechanism on the backup device side causes the erroneous recording detection hole. The operation of recording the information signal on the magnetic tape 9 is disabled by entering the area. Thus, the erroneous recording prevention unit 30 also constitutes a part of the loading reference unit when the tape cassette 1 is loaded in the backup device 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, the lid structure 8 is composed of a front lid 32, a back lid 33, a lid spring 34 and a lid cam 35. The front lid 32 has a main surface portion having an outer dimension sufficient to close the loading space 7 formed in the front surface portion of the cassette body 2, and a support engaged with a shaft hole provided in the side surface portion of the cassette body 2. It is formed so as to have a substantially lateral U-shape including a side surface portion having an axis.

The main surface of the front lid 32 is located in front of the tape guide portion 19, and the side surface is rotatably supported by the cassette body 2. Further, the front lid 32 is urged in the direction of closing the loading space 7 of the cassette body 2 by the elastic force of the lid spring 34 formed of a torsion spring mounted on the support shaft.

The back lid 33 is formed in a substantially U-shaped cross section having an outer shape enough to close the open front surface portion 13 of the upper half 3, and is located inside the main surface portion of the front lid 32 and is located in the upper half 3. It is rotatably supported by. Further, on the back lid 33, cam convex portions that are engaged with the lid guide groove 26 of the resin frame portion 5 are integrally projected on both side edge portions, and although not shown, one side surface of the front lid 32 is provided. On the other hand, a cam is provided which is relatively engaged with the side surface portion. The main surface of the back lid 33 constitutes a facing space for extending the magnetic tape 9 with respect to the main surface portion of the front lid 32, as described later,
It is assembled to the cassette body 2 at opposite positions with a slight space.

The lid cam 35 is rotatably assembled to a cam mounting portion integrally formed on the outer peripheral wall of the lower half 4, and one end of the lid cam 35 is not shown in detail, although not described in detail.
It is relatively engaged with a cam portion formed on the inner surface of the tip of the one side surface portion, and the other end is exposed to a lid opening groove formed in the resin frame portion 5.

The lid structure 8 constructed as above is
Normally, the elastic force of the lid spring 34 closes the loading space 7 of the cassette body 2. In the lid structure 8, when the tape cassette 1 is loaded in the backup device, the lid cam 35 is rotated by the lid opening member on the backup device side that enters the lid opening groove. The lid structure 8 opens the loading space 7 by rotating the front lid 32 against the elastic force of the lid spring 34 by the operation of the lid cam 35. Further, in the lid structure 8, the operation of the front lid 32 causes the back lid 33 to move.
Is integrally rotated along the direction.

As shown in FIG. 1, the pair of left and right tape reels 10 are pressed toward the lower half 4 side by the pair of reel springs 36 (36A, 36B) attached to the inner surface of the upper half 3. The tape reel 10
These reel springs 36 prevent vertical movement within the cassette body 2.

The tape reel 10 has a cylindrical hub 37 (37A, 37A) around which the magnetic tape 9 is wound around the outer periphery thereof.
B), a clamper 38 (38A, 38B) for fixing one end of the magnetic tape 9 to the hub 37, and the hub 37.
Lower flange 38 (38A, 38B) integrally formed with
And an upper flange 39 (39A, 39B) facing the lower flange 38 and combined with the hub 37.

The hub 37 is provided with a hub hole (not shown) into which the reel drive shaft of the backup device is fitted, and a reel bearing hole 43 provided in the metal plate 6 described later.
To face each. Further, the hub 37 is provided with an engaging groove in which a clamper 38 is engaged in a part of the outer peripheral portion, and the clamping tape 39 joined to the tip end portion of the magnetic tape 9 is sandwiched by the clamper 38. Fixed.

Outer peripheral teeth are formed on the outer peripheral portion of the lower flange 38 over the entire circumference. In the tape reel 10, the lock lever of the reel lock member 28 housed in the reel lock portion 22 described above is normally engaged with the outer peripheral teeth of the lower flange 38 to prevent the tape reel 10 from moving in the rotational direction.
When the tape cassette 1 is loaded into the backup device, the tape reel 10 is brought into the locked state by the reel lock releasing member moving from the reel lock guide groove 27 to move the reel lock member 28 as described above. It is released and becomes rotatable.

The clamping tape 41 is composed of a transparent tape, and the tape end detecting section 23 described above is used.
The light emitted from the light emitting element on the side of the backup device that has entered into is transmitted. Of course, since the magnetic tape 9 is made opaque by forming the recording layer, it blocks the light emitted from the light emitting element. Therefore, in the tape cassette 1, the end of the magnetic tape 9 is detected by detecting the presence or absence of light leaking from the side surface of the cassette body 2 through the clamping tape 41.

The magnetic tape 9 is one tape reel 10
The tape is pulled out from the outer peripheral portion of A toward the front, is hooked on one tape guide portion 25A, and is folded back toward the tape loading space portion 7 side. The magnetic tape 9 crosses the tape loading space 7 and is hung on the other tape guide 25B, folded back inward, and wound around the outer circumference of the other tape reel 10B. When the magnetic tape 9 traverses the tape loading space 7, the magnetic tape 9 is extended into a space formed between the front lid 32 and the back lid 33 of the lid structure 8 to prevent contamination or damage. ing.

When the tape cassette 1 is loaded in the backup device, the magnetic tape 9 is moved forward from the cassette body 2 because the lid structure 8 is rotated to open the tape loading space 7 as described above. The part is exposed to the outside. In this state, the magnetic tape 9 is pulled out from the tape reel 10 whose lock state has been released by the tape loading mechanism that enters the tape loading space 7, and a predetermined loading operation is performed.

The metal plate 6 has a function of imparting a predetermined weight to the tape cassette 1 constructed as described above and improving mechanical strength against twisting and bending. For example, an aluminum plate or an aluminum alloy plate. Is formed by punching. As shown in FIG. 1, the metal plate 6 has a base portion 42 whose longitudinal dimension is substantially equal to the longitudinal dimension of the resin frame portion 5 and whose width dimension is slightly smaller than the diameter of the tape reel rotating region 24. It is formed by using a horizontally long rectangle as a basic shape.

The metal plate 6 has reel base holes 43 (43A, 43A) spaced apart from the base 42 in the longitudinal direction.
B) has been opened respectively. These reel bearing holes 4
3 makes the hub hole of the tape reel 10 housed inside the cassette body 2 face outward as described above. Therefore, when the tape cassette 1 is loaded into the backup device, a tape drive shaft that fits into the hub hole and drives the tape reel 10 to rotate is inserted into these reel bearing holes 43.

In the metal plate 6, a reel lock relief portion 44 and a tape end detection relief portion 45 are formed by notches located between the reel bearing holes 43 from both widthwise ends of the base portion 42. Further, the metal plate 6 is formed with notches at the tape specification detection relief portions 46 located at both corner portions on one side of the base portion 42. further,
In the metal plate 6, the convex edges 47 are integrally formed at both ends of the base 42 in the longitudinal direction. In the convex edge portion 47, the outer edge forms the same surface as the outer peripheral wall 19 of the resin frame portion 5, as shown in FIG. 3, in a state where the metal plate 6 is insert-molded in the bottom surface opening portion 20 of the resin frame portion 5. To do. Therefore, the metal plate 6 has a substantially horizontal H-shape as a whole by cutting the center part of the front part and the rear part from the basic shape of the above-mentioned horizontally long rectangle.

Metal plate 6 constructed as described above
Is placed in the cavity of the molding die corresponding to the bottom opening 20 of the resin frame portion 5 during the molding process. The metal plate 6 is mounted in a state in which it is positioned in the molding die by fitting the reel bearing hole 43 into the holding projection formed in the cavity. In the molding die, the material resin is injected and filled into the cavity in this state, so that the metal plate 6 is insert-molded in the resin frame portion 5 to mold the lower half 4 as a whole.

As shown in FIG. 3, the metal plate 6 is integrated with the respective relief portions at corresponding positions with respect to the respective portions of the resin frame portion 5. That is, the metal plate 6
The reel lock escape portion 44 has the reel lock portion 22.
The tape end detection escape portion 45 is located corresponding to the tape end detection portion 23, and the tape specification detection escape portion 46 is located corresponding to the tape specification detection portion 29 and integrated with the resin frame portion 5. Further, the convex edge portion 47 is integrated with the outer peripheral wall 19 of the resin frame portion 5 in a state of being bitten into the outer peripheral wall 19.

The tape cassette 1 constructed as described above
When the backup device is loaded with the outer peripheral portion and the bottom face portion of the cassette body 2 as reference surfaces, the lid opening member on the backup device side causes the lid structure 8 to rotate and the loading space portion 7 on the front surface portion to be removed. It will be released. The tape cassette 1 is unlocked by the reel lock member 28 to lock the tape reel 10 by the reel lock release member that enters from the reel lock guide groove. In the tape cassette 1, the magnetic tape 9 is pulled out by the loading mechanism on the side of the backup device that enters from the loading space 7, and a loading operation that constitutes a predetermined tape running path is performed.

In the tape cassette 1, the reel drive shaft on the backup device side enters from the reel bearing hole 43 and relatively engages with the reel shaft hole of the tape reel 10. In the tape cassette 1, the reel drive shaft is rotated by a tape drive operation such as recording or reproduction, so that the tape reel 10 is rotationally driven to perform a feeding operation and a winding operation of the magnetic tape 9. Also, the tape cassette 1
The detection hole of the tape specification detection unit 29 is detected by the detection mechanism, and the specification of the magnetic tape 9 is detected.

In the tape cassette 1, as described above, the lower half 4 constituting the cassette body 2, the resin frame portion 5 made of synthetic resin, and the metal plate 6 made of metal integrally insert-molded on the bottom wall 17 thereof. It is composed of and. Therefore, the tape cassette 1 has improved mechanical strength against bending and twisting and has a large weight, and the tape cassette 1 vibrates as a whole even if vibration of a tape drive mechanism for driving the tape reel 10 is transmitted. The inconvenience that affects the running operation of the magnetic tape 9 is prevented, and the information signal is recorded or reproduced with high accuracy.

Further, the tape cassette 1 is provided with a reel lock member 28, an erroneous recording prevention member 31 and other operating members, and a reel lock releasing member on the backup device side and a tape specification detecting member. Alternatively, parts such as a loading reference surface for the backup device are integrally formed with high accuracy on the resin frame portion 5 side. Therefore,
The tape cassette 1 is loaded into the backup device without causing the inconvenience that the constituent members of the backup device rub against the metal plate 6 to be worn, and is loaded in a correctly positioned state to perform a predetermined operation. It does not cause any malfunctions.

By the way, in the tape cassette 1, as described above, the lower half 4 is formed by insert molding of the metal plate 6 into the resin frame 5 formed of a synthetic resin material so that the lower half 4 is made of two members made of different materials. It is configured. Due to the material characteristics of the resin frame 5 having a large thermal contraction rate, when the resin material is cured, each part contracts and a shape change occurs. On the other hand, the metal plate 6 hardly changes in shape due to the material characteristics of which the heat shrinkage rate is extremely small. Therefore, in the lower half 4, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, when the resin frame portion 5 is cured, the opening edge of the bottom opening portion 20 and the outer peripheral edge of the metal plate 6, in other words, the resin frame portion. 5 joining end 48 and metal plate 6
A gap 58 may be formed between the joint end portion 53 and the joint end portion 53.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the tape cassette 1 adopts an inclined structure between the joint end 48 of the resin frame portion 5 and the joint end 53 of the metal plate 6 to integrate these members. By joining to
Even in the case of occurrence of, the inside of the cassette body 2 is configured so as not to be directly seen through from the outside. That is, in the resin frame portion 5, the engaging convex portion 49 and the engaging concave portion 51 are integrally formed adjacent to each other along the opening edge of the bottom surface opening portion 20 provided in the main surface wall 17. Also,
The metal plate 6 is provided with an engaging concave portion 54 corresponding to the engaging convex portion 49 of the resin frame portion 5 and an engaging convex portion 56 corresponding to the engaging concave portion 51 along the outer peripheral edge of the base portion 42, respectively. Are integrally formed.

Then, the engaging convex portion 49 of the resin frame portion 5
Is provided with an inclined surface 50 that gradually inclines with a negative gradient from the inner surface to the outer surface of the main surface wall 17. On the other hand, the engaging concave portion 51 is provided with an inclined surface 52 that gradually inclines with a positive gradient from the inner surface of the main surface wall 17 toward the outer surface thereof. It should be noted that the inner surface side end portion of these engaging convex portions 49 and the outer surface side end portion of the engaging concave portion 51 are located on substantially the same plane.

Further, the engaging recess 54 of the metal plate 6 is provided with an inclined surface 55 which is gradually inclined from the inner surface of the base 42 toward the outer surface thereof with a positive slope. The inclination angle of the inclined surface 55 is substantially equal to the inclination angle of the inclined surface 50 provided on the engaging convex portion 49 of the resin frame portion 5. In addition, the engaging convex portion 56 has an inclined surface 57 that gradually inclines with a negative gradient from the inner surface to the outer surface of the base portion 42.
Is provided. The inclined surface 57 has an inclination angle that is provided in the engaging recess 51 of the resin frame portion 5.
It is almost equal to the inclination angle of 1. In other words, the joint end portion 48 of the resin frame portion 5 and the joint end portion 53 of the metal plate 6 have inclined surfaces (50, 5) facing each other in parallel.
2) and (55, 57) are formed. The resin frame portion 5 and the metal plate 6 are connected to each other by these inclined surfaces (5
0, 52), (55, 57) and the joint end portion 53 and the joint end portion 53 are butted against each other and integrally joined.
It should be noted that the inner surface side end portions of the engagement recesses 54 and the engagement recesses 56.
The outer surface side end portion of is located substantially on the same plane.

The tape cassette 1 is, as shown in FIG.
The resin frame portion 5 and the metal plate 6 have their respective joint ends 48 and 53 abutted against each other and integrated to form the lower half 4. In the tape cassette 1, since the resin frame portion 5 is thermally contracted when it is cured, as shown in FIG. 6, it is between the joint end portion 48 of the resin frame portion 5 and the joint end portion 53 of the metal plate 6. Gap 5
8 will occur. The gap 58 is formed in the engaging projection 49, the engaging recess 54, the engaging recess 51, and the engaging projection 56 that form the joint end 48 of the resin frame portion 5 and the joint end 53 of the metal plate 6, respectively. Slopes 50 and 55 facing each other
Since the inclined surfaces 52 and 57 are provided,
As shown in the figure, the groove becomes an inclined groove which inclines from the outside to the inside with a positive gradient or a negative gradient.

Therefore, in the tape cassette 1, since the engaging protrusions 49 of the resin frame portion 5 or the engaging protrusions 56 of the metal plate 6 are partly overlapped in the thickness direction to be closed, the gap 58 is formed. The inside of the cassette main body 2 is not directly seen through through, so that an apparent gap is prevented from being generated and the appearance is maintained. Further, in the tape cassette 1, even if the above-mentioned gap 58 is generated between the joining end portion 48 of the resin frame portion 5 and the joining end portion 53 of the metal plate 6, the gap 58 serves as an inclined groove. As a result, it becomes difficult for dust and the like to enter the inside of the cassette body 2, and the practical dustproof specifications are sufficiently satisfied. Further, in the tape cassette 1, even when the above-mentioned gap 58 is generated by joining the joining end portion 48 of the resin frame portion 5 and the joining end portion 53 of the metal plate 6 with the inclined structure, The practical mechanical strength of the lower half 4 is sufficiently maintained.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned tape cassette 1, but can be variously developed as the following tape cassette. Further, the present invention is applied not only to a tape cassette for data back provided with the magnetic tape 9 having a width of 8 mm, but also to a video tape recorder and other tape cassettes. In addition, the tape cassette
It is also applied to a so-called cleaning tape cassette in which a cleaning tape is incorporated instead of a magnetic tape in the same cassette body.

The tape cassette 1 shown in FIGS. 7 to 10.
The same applies to the basic structure in which the joint end portion 48 of the resin frame 5 and the joint end portion 53 of the metal plate 6 are configured as inclined joint end portions, but the inclination direction of these joint end portions 48 and 53 at a specific location. It is characterized by a different configuration. In the figure, the members designated by the same reference numerals as those of the above-described tape cassette 1 are the same or equivalent members, and the description thereof will be omitted below.

That is, in the tape cassette 1, as shown in FIG. 8, the resin frame 5 and the metal plate 6 have a slant surface 61 in which the resin frame 5 and the metal plate 6 are gradually slanted with a negative slope from the inner surface to the outer surface. Joint end 48 on the frame 5 side
And a joining end portion 53 on the metal plate 6 side having an inclined surface 63 that is gradually inclined with a positive gradient from the inner surface to the outer surface are abutted against each other and joined to each other. doing. In the first joint structure A, the inclined surface 63 of the metal plate 6 is supported by the inclined surface 61 of the resin frame 5 against the force applied from the outside of the cassette body 2, and thus the first joint structure A is prevented from falling off. On the other hand, the first joining structure A has a mechanical characteristic that the metal plate 6 easily falls off from the resin frame 5 against a force applied from the inside of the cassette body 2.

Further, in the tape cassette 1, as shown in FIG. 9, the resin frame 5 and the metal plate 6 have a slant surface 62 in which the resin frame 5 and the metal plate 6 are gradually slanted with a positive slope from the inner surface to the outer surface. The joining end portion 53 on the side of the metal plate 6 having the joining end portion 48 on the frame 5 side and the inclined surface 64 gradually inclined with a positive gradient from the inner surface to the outer surface.
Second joining structure B in which and are butted against each other and joined
have. In the second joint structure B, the inclined surface 63 of the metal plate 6 is supported by the inclined surface 61 of the resin frame 5 against the force applied from the inside of the cassette body 2, and thus the second joint structure B is prevented from falling off. On the other hand, the second joining structure B has a mechanical characteristic that the metal plate 6 easily falls off from the resin frame 5 against a force applied from the outside of the cassette body 2.

As shown in FIG. 7, the resin frame 5 and the metal plate 6 have the first joint structure A at each portion.
And the joining structures of the second joining structure B are alternately arranged. That is, the resin frame 5 and the metal plate 6
On the other hand, the taper end parallel to the guide wall 19 means that the joint portions B1 and A1 at the front corner of the convex edge portion 47A are joined in the order of the second joint structure B and the first joint structure A, respectively. The joint B2 extending to the detection unit 23 is joined by the second joint structure B.

The resin frame 5 and the metal plate 6 are joined at the joining portions A2, B3, A3 surrounding the tape end detecting portion 23 by the first joining structure A and the second joining structure B, respectively. In addition, the resin frame 5 and the metal plate 6 are provided from the tape end detecting portion 23 to the other convex edge portion 47.
A joint B4 parallel to the guide wall 19 reaching B is joined by the second joint structure B. Further, the resin frame 5 and the metal plate 6 are joined by the first joining structure A and the second joining structure B, respectively, at the joining portions A4 and B5 at the corners of the convex edge portion 47B.

The resin frame 5 and the metal plate 6 are joined parts A5 and B6 surrounding one tape specification identification part 29B.
Are joined by the first joining structure A and the second joining structure B, respectively. Further, the resin frame 5 and the metal plate 6 are joined by the first joining structure A at a joining portion A6 reaching the reel lock portion 22 parallel to the outer peripheral wall 19 on the back side. Further, the resin frame 5 and the metal plate 6 are joined to the joint portions B7 and A surrounding the reel lock portion 22.
7 and B8 are joined by the first joining structure A and the second joining structure B, respectively.

The resin frame 5 and the metal plate 6 are joined by the first joining structure A at a joining portion A8 parallel to the outer peripheral wall 19 on the rear side from the reel lock portion 22 to the other tape specification identifying portion 29A. There is. Further, the resin frame 5 and the metal plate 6 are provided on the other side of the tape specification identifying portion 2
Bonding portions B9 and A9 surrounding 9A are bonded by the second bonding structure B and the first bonding structure A, respectively.

In order to realize the above-mentioned joining structure, the metal plate 6 has one convex edge portion 47A as shown in FIG.
From the front outer peripheral edge from the other convex edge portion 47B to the inclined surface 63
And inclined surfaces 64 are formed adjacent to each other and alternately. For example, the metal plate 6 has a tape end detection escape portion 45.
Along the outer periphery along the inclined surface 63-inclined surface 64-inclined surface 6
The inclined surfaces are added in the order of 3. Similarly, in the metal plate 6, the inclined surface 63 and the inclined surface 64 are alternately formed adjacent to each other on the rear outer peripheral edge from the one convex edge portion 47A to the other convex edge portion 47B. For example, the metal plate 6 is configured such that the joining portion from the convex edge portion 47A to the one tape specification detecting relief portion 46A is provided with inclined surfaces in the order of the inclined surface 63, the inclined surface 64, and the inclined surface 63. ing. In addition, the metal plate 6 has an inclined surface 64-an inclined surface 6 at the outer peripheral edge along the reel lock escape portion 44.
3-Inclined surfaces 64 are formed in this order in the order of inclined surfaces.

The first joint structure A and the second joint structure B are the joint portion between the resin frame 5 and the metal plate 6 against the force applied from the outside and the force applied from the inside to the cassette body 2. Have different mechanical strength. The tape cassette 1 is provided with studs, butting members and the like for connecting the upper half 3 and the lower half 4 to the inner surface of the resin frame 5 in which the second joining structure B is used. Therefore,
The tape cassette 1 is balanced against the force applied to the cassette body 2 from the inside and the outside, and the inconvenience of the metal plate 6 falling off the resin frame 5 is reliably prevented.

In the tape cassette 1 described above, as shown in FIG. 4, an engaging projection 49 is formed on the joining end 48 of the resin frame 5.
And the engaging concave portion 51 are formed adjacently and integrally with each other, and the engaging concave portion 54 and the engaging convex portion 56 are formed adjacently and integrally with the joint end portion 53 of the metal plate 6. Therefore, in the tape cassette 1, as shown in FIG. 3, the resin frame 5 and the metal plate 6 are joined together at their joint ends 48, 5.
In step 3, uneven steps are generated.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 11, the resin frame 5 and the metal plate 6 are connected to each other at their joint end portions 4.
8, 53 and the ridge line on the outer surface side are linear joining edges 65, 7
It is composed of 0s. In the resin frame 5, an engaging convex portion 66 and an engaging concave portion 68 are integrally formed adjacent to each other on the inner surface side from the joint edge 65. The engaging convex portion 66 is provided with an inclined surface 67 that gradually inclines with a positive gradient from the outer surface to the inner surface. Also, the inclined concave portion 68
Is provided with an inclined surface 69 that gradually inclines with a negative gradient from the outer surface to the inner surface.

On the other hand, on the metal plate 6, the engaging concave portion 71 and the engaging convex portion 73 are integrally formed adjacent to each other on the inner surface side from the joining edge 70. The engagement concave portion 71 is provided corresponding to the engagement convex portion 66 of the resin frame 5, and is provided with an inclined surface 71 that gradually inclines with a negative gradient from the outer surface to the inner surface. Further, the engaging convex portion 73 is provided corresponding to the engaging concave portion 68 of the resin frame 5, and is provided with an inclined surface 74 that gradually inclines with a positive gradient from the outer surface to the inner surface.

In the tape cassette 1, the resin frame 5 and the metal plate 6 configured as described above are integrated by abutting the joint ends 48 and 53 thereof to form the lower half 4. On the inner surface side of the lower half 4, the engagement concave portion 71 of the metal plate 6 is relatively engaged with the engagement convex portion 66 of the resin frame 5, and the metal plate 6 is engaged with the engagement concave portion 67 of the resin frame 5. A step is generated by the relative engagement of the engaging projections 73 of. However, on the outer surface side of the lower half 4, the resin frame 5 and the metal plate 6 are abutted against each other by the joining edges 65 and 70 and joined to each other, so that no step is formed.

[0084]

As described in detail above, in the tape cassette according to the present invention, the lower halves constituting the cassette body are formed by abutting the inclined joint ends having the inclined surfaces facing each other in parallel with each other. Since the metal plate is insert-molded and integrated with the resin frame portion to improve the mechanical strength against bending and twisting and to increase the overall weight, recording and / or recording The tape-shaped recording medium is run in a stable state without being affected by the vibration transmitted from the tape driving mechanism or the like on the reproducing apparatus side, and highly accurate recording or reproducing of the information signal is performed. Further, in the tape cassette, even when a gap is created in the joint portion with the metal plate due to thermal contraction of the resin frame portion, the inclined joint end portions abutted against each other have a state of overlapping in the thickness direction. , It is possible to prevent the inside of the cassette body from passing through this gap and to prevent the ingress of dust and the like.
Further, the mechanical strength is maintained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an 8 mm video tape cassette to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the same 8 mm video tape cassette.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the same 8 mm video tape cassette.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of an essential part for explaining a structure of a joint portion between a resin frame portion and a metal plate which constitutes a lower half of the 8 mm video tape cassette.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of an essential part for explaining a structure of a joint portion between the resin frame portion and the metal plate.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of an essential part showing a state of a gap generated at a joint portion between the resin frame portion and a metal plate.

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of another lower half of the cassette body of the same 8 mm video tape cassette.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a main portion showing a joint portion between a resin frame portion and a metal plate forming the lower half, showing a first joint structure.

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main portion showing a joint portion between a resin frame portion and a metal plate forming the lower half, showing a second joint structure.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a metal plate forming the lower half.

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of an essential part for explaining the structure of another joining portion between the resin frame portion and the metal plate which constitutes the lower half of the same 8 mm video tape cassette.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of a conventional 8 mm video tape cassette.

FIG. 13 is a bottom view of the same 8 mm video tape cassette.

FIG. 14 is a longitudinal sectional view of an essential part showing a joint portion between a resin frame portion and a metal plate forming the lower half.

[Explanation of symbols]

18mm video tape cassette (tape cassette),
2 cassette body, 3 upper half, 4 lower half, 5 resin frame portion, 6 metal plate, 9 magnetic tape (tape-shaped recording medium), 10 tape reel, 48 joining end portion of resin frame portion (tilted joining end portion), 49 same engaging convex part, 50 inclined surface of engaging convex part, 51 same engaging concave part, 52
Sloping surface of engaging recess, 53 Joint end of metal plate (sloping joining end), 54 Same engaging recess, 55 Sloping surface of engaging recess, 56 Same engaging convex portion, 57 Sloping surface of engaging convex portion 5,
8 gap

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A tape cassette in which a pair of tape reels are rotatably housed inside a cassette body formed by combining a pair of halves, and a tape-shaped medium is hung between the tape reels to support the tape reels. One of the halves consists of a resin frame part and a metal plate insert-molded in the resin frame, and the resin frame part and the metal plate are formed with inclined surfaces facing each other in parallel at their opposing joint ends. The tape cassette is characterized in that the inclined joint ends are butted against each other and integrated. 2. The resin frame portion and the metal plate are
2. A plurality of inclined surfaces facing each other in parallel and having different inclination directions are formed at opposing joint ends, and these inclined joint ends are abutted against each other to be integrated with each other. Tape cassette. 3. The resin frame portion and the metal plate are
Engaging concave portions and engaging convex portions, which are adjacent to each other and are combined with each other, are integrally formed at opposing joint ends, and the engaging concave portions and the engaging convex portions face each other in parallel and have different inclination directions. The tape cassette according to claim 1, wherein each of the inclined surfaces is formed and the inclined joint ends are abutted and integrated. 4. The metal plate is characterized in that inclined joint ends formed at opposite side edges and abutted with the resin frame portion are formed in different inclination directions. Item 2. The tape cassette according to Item 1.