JPH11120736A - Recording medium cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recording medium cassette having an identification inspection part for surely detecting the depth of an identification recessed part by a non-contact type detecting mechanism using an optical sensor even if the depth is shallow. SOLUTION: A recording medium cassette includes an identification recessed part 22 having a bottom cylindrical part and not inserted by a hole, which is formed in an identification inspection part 21 set in the end part bottom surface 20b of a groove part 20a in the outer surface of a lower cassette half 20. The end part bottom surface 20b as the surface of the identification inspection part 21 is formed to be a flat bright surface, and the inner bottom surface 22a of an identification recessed part 22 formed in the identification inspection part 21 is formed to be a rough surface.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cassette for a recording medium, and more particularly, to an improvement of an identification detecting portion set on an outer surface of a cassette case accommodating a recording medium such as a magnetic recording medium or a magneto-optical recording medium. It is about.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In various cassettes for recording media in which a magnetic recording medium such as a magnetic tape or a magnetic disk or a magneto-optical recording medium such as an MO or MD is housed in a predetermined cassette case, the cassette case outer surface is used. The predetermined position is set in the identification inspection section, and predetermined information relating to the recording medium cassette can be obtained depending on the presence or absence of the identification recess in the identification inspection section. For example,
In various magnetic tape cassettes in which a magnetic tape as a recording medium is accommodated in a predetermined cassette case, whether or not recording as predetermined information is possible is indicated by the presence or absence of an identification recess formed at a predetermined position of the cassette case. In a recording / reproducing apparatus that handles a tape cassette, the presence or absence of the identification recess is detected by a contact (mechanical) means to determine whether or not recording on the cassette is possible, thereby erroneously erasing information stored on a magnetic tape. Etc. to prevent accidents.

As shown in FIG. 3, for example, VHS and SVHS video tape cassettes each have a pair of flanged tapes comprising a lower flange 1a integrally formed with a reel hub and a transparent upper flange 1b. A magnetic tape 2 wound around a reel 1 is loaded into a cassette case 6 comprising an upper cassette half 4 having a transparent window 4a and a lower cassette half 5 having an opening 5a for inserting a drive shaft of a recording / reproducing apparatus. And the tape drawer opening at the front of the cassette case 6 is
, And the components other than the magnetic tape 2 are substantially the same.

Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, an identification inspection section 9 is set on an end bottom surface 5c of a groove 5b formed on the outer surface of the lower cassette half 5 of the video tape cassette, and the SVHS system is used. In the case of the video tape cassette described above, an identification hole 10 as an identification recess is formed in the identification inspection section 9 so that the VHS and SVHS video tape cassettes having the same external appearance but different recording formats. The recording / reproducing apparatus identifies the presence / absence of the discrimination hole 10 so that the recording / reproduction appropriate for the type of tape can be performed.

That is, in a recording / reproducing apparatus which handles VHS and SVHS video tape cassettes, a detection projection provided on the apparatus is advanced to an end bottom surface 5c of a groove 5b serving as an identification inspection section 9, and the detection is performed. If the advancement of the projection is blocked by the bottom surface 5c of the end of the groove 5b, it is determined whether the cassette is a VHS system or an SVHS system by using a contact type means for determining that the cassette is a VHS system having no identification hole 10. Information is identified.

On the other hand, the presence or absence of the identification hole 10 is also detected in the production line for the purpose of guaranteeing the product specifications. However, in view of shortening of processing time and reduction of equipment cost, for example, as shown in FIG. The transport line 1 for transporting the lower cassette half 5
A vertical reflection sensor 13 which is an optical sensor is disposed below the light source 2, and a light beam is radiated toward an end bottom surface 5 c of the groove 5 b which is the identification inspection unit 9, and the presence or absence of the identification hole 10 is detected by the amount of reflected light. A non-contact detection mechanism is generally used.

By the way, as shown in FIG. 3, the tape reels 1 with flanges are brought into contact with the inner periphery of the upper and lower cassette halves 4 and 5 as shown in FIG. Is formed in the shape of an arc-shaped partition wall 14 for restricting the radial movement of. And
In the conventional cassette case 6, the upper and lower cassette halves 4,
Partition walls 14 provided at both corners on the rear side of the cassette 5 form closed spaces 15, 5 with the outer walls 4c, 5c of the respective cassette halves.
16, and the identification hole 1 is formed in one closed space 15 thereof.
0 was open. Therefore, there is no fear that dust or the like enters the tape side in the case from the identification hole 10.

However, in recent cassette cases, the above-described closed space 15 is formed by reducing the height of the partition wall 14 or reducing the formation range of the partition wall 14 in order to reduce the weight and save resources. As a result, dust or the like may enter the tape side in the case from the identification hole 10. Therefore, in recent cassette cases, the identification hole 10 is abolished, and instead,
As shown in FIG. 8, there is a device equipped with a bottomed cylindrical identification recess 17 through which a hole does not penetrate. The depth of the identification recess 17 that can be provided in the VHS and SVHS video tape cassettes is set to 3.8 mm or more in the standard, which is practically limited due to dimensional restrictions and the like. It is formed to a depth of about 0.0 to 4.5 mm.

[0009]

However, at such a depth, as shown in FIG.
When the detection by the identification inspection section 9 is performed, the difference in the amount of reflected light is smaller than that when the light is reflected by the end bottom surface 5c of the groove 5b without the identification recess 17; However, there is a problem that erroneous detection is apt to occur in the detection mechanism using. In addition, a sensor with high sensitivity is expensive, and the installation conditions on a production line are severe, which causes an increase in production cost. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems, and an identification inspection unit that can reliably detect a non-contact type detection mechanism using an optical sensor even when the depth of an identification recess is small. The object of the present invention is to provide a good recording medium cassette provided with the above.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to set a predetermined position on the outer surface of a cassette case accommodating a recording medium in an identification inspection section, and to determine the presence or absence of an identification recess in the identification inspection section. A recording medium cassette capable of obtaining predetermined information, wherein a surface of the inspection unit for identification is formed into a smooth glossy surface, and an inner bottom surface of the recess for identification formed in the inspection unit for identification is formed. This is achieved by a recording medium cassette characterized by being formed on a rough surface.

The glossy surface in the present invention means a surface having a maximum surface roughness (Rmax) of 3 μm or less. Further, the rough surface in the present invention means a surface having an average surface roughness (Rz) of 5 μm or more. And according to the said structure, when a light beam is irradiated to an identification test | inspection part, if the identification test | inspection part does not have the identification recessed part, a light ray will be reflected by the surface of the identification test | inspection part made into glossy surface, If the identification recess is present, the light beam is reflected at the inner bottom surface of the identification recess. The inner bottom surface of the identification recess is a rough surface, and the light reflected on the inner bottom is irregularly reflected, so that the amount of reflected light is smaller than the light reflected on the surface of the identification inspection unit, which is a glossy surface. Significantly reduced.

It is another object of the present invention to set a predetermined position on an outer surface of a cassette case accommodating a recording medium in an identification inspection section, and to determine predetermined information by the presence or absence of an identification recess in the identification inspection section. A recording medium cassette to be provided, wherein the surface of the identification inspection section is formed to have a smooth glossy surface, and the inner bottom surface of the identification recess formed in the identification inspection section is provided by the identification inspection section. This is achieved by a recording medium cassette characterized by being formed on an inclined surface appropriately inclined with respect to the surface. In addition, the slope referred to here is
Not only the cross-sectional linear shape but also a cross-sectional curved shape may be used.

According to the above configuration, when a light beam is irradiated on the identification test section, the reflected light reflected on the surface of the identification test section and the reflected light reflected on the inner bottom surface of the identification recess are formed. Then the course is obviously different. Therefore, if the detection position of the reflected light is set on the path of the reflected light on the surface of the identification inspection unit, the reflected light on the inner bottom surface of the identification recess cannot be directly received. There is a clear difference in the amount of reflected light depending on the presence or absence of the recess.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a cassette for a recording medium according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a main part of a recording medium cassette according to an embodiment of the present invention. The recording medium cassette according to the present embodiment is an SVHS video tape cassette. Like the lower cassette half 5 shown in FIG. 5, the end of the groove 20a on the outer surface of the lower cassette half 20 constituting the cassette case. An identification inspection unit 21 for determining whether or not the SVHS method is used is set on the bottom surface 20b, and a bottomed cylindrical identification recess 22 through which a hole does not penetrate is formed in the identification inspection unit 21.

Further, the end bottom surface 20b serving as the surface of the identification inspection section 21 has a maximum surface roughness (Rmax) of 3 mm.
It is formed on a smooth glossy surface with a surface roughness of μm or less. The inner bottom surface 22a of the identification recess 22 formed in the identification inspection section 21 has an average surface roughness (Rz).
Is 5 μm or more. In addition, the depth of the identification concave portion 22 is the same as the conventional one, so that it conforms to the standard of 3.8 mm or more.
It is formed in a range of 4.0 to 4.5 mm.

According to the video tape cassette having the above-described structure, when a light beam is applied to the identification inspection section 21 by the vertical reflection sensor 13 as an optical sensor, the identification inspection section 21 is not provided with the identification recess 22. In this case, the light rays are reflected on the surface of the identification inspection unit 21 which is a glossy surface (that is, the end bottom surface 20b). However, if the identification recesses 22 are present, the light rays are transmitted to the inner bottom surface 22a of the roughened identification recesses 22.
The light reflected by the inner bottom surface 22a is irregularly reflected, so that the amount of reflected light is significantly reduced as compared with the light reflected by the surface of the identification inspection unit 21 which is a glossy surface.

That is, even if the depth of the recess 22 is small,
When a light beam is applied to the inspection unit for identification 21, a clear difference in the amount of reflected light occurs depending on the presence or absence of the identification recess 22. Therefore, even if a non-contact detection mechanism using an optical sensor does not have the identification recess 22. Can be reliably detected.
Therefore, an optical sensor such as the vertical reflection sensor 13 can be used to detect the identification recess 22 on the production line, and the production line tact can be shortened. In addition, there is no need to use a sensor having high sensitivity, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a main part of a recording medium cassette according to another embodiment of the present invention. In the case of the present embodiment, an identification inspection unit 26 for determining whether or not the SVHS system is used is set on an end bottom surface 25b of the groove 25a on the outer surface of the lower cassette half 25 constituting the cassette case. A bottomed cylindrical identification recess 27 through which no hole penetrates is formed.

Further, the end bottom surface 25b serving as the surface of the identification inspection section 26 has a maximum surface roughness (Rmax) of 3 mm.
It is formed on a smooth glossy surface with a surface roughness of μm or less. Also, the inner bottom surface 27a of the identification concave portion 27 formed in the identification inspection portion 26 has an inclined surface inclined at a predetermined angle θ with respect to the end bottom surface 25b which is the surface of the identification inspection portion 26. Have been.

According to the video tape cassette having the above-described structure, when the optical sensor irradiates the identification inspection section 26 with a light beam, the light is reflected by the end bottom surface 25b which is the surface of the identification inspection section 26. The courses of the reflected light and the reflected light reflected by the inner bottom surface 27a of the identification concave portion 27 are clearly different. Therefore, if the light reception detection position of the reflected light is set on the path of the reflected light at the end bottom surface 25b, the reflected light at the inner bottom surface 27a of the identification concave portion 27 cannot be directly received, A clear difference occurs in the amount of reflected light depending on the presence or absence of the identification recess 27.

That is, even if the depth of the identification recess 27 is small,
Similarly to the identification concave portion 22 in the above-described embodiment, the presence or absence of the identification concave portion 27 can be reliably detected even by a non-contact detection mechanism using an optical sensor, and the production line tact can be shortened. Manufacturing costs can be reduced.

Further, the inner bottom surface 27a of the identification recess 27 formed in the identification inspection section 26 is formed as shown in FIG.
As shown in (b), a conical or hemispherical inclined surface can be used. Also, for example, the lower cassette half 20
A light projecting element is arranged so that an incident light beam has an angle with respect to the identification inspection section 21 (26) of (25), and a light receiving element is arranged in a direction in which the incident light beam is reflected by the end bottom surface 20b (25b). Is arranged, the difference in the amount of reflected light depending on the presence or absence of the identification concave portion 22 (27) can be further remarkable.

The cassette for recording medium of the present invention is not limited to the video tape cassette for SVHS in the above embodiment, but may be a magnetic recording medium such as a magnetic tape such as DVC or a magnetic disk, or a magneto-optical medium such as MD or MO. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to various kinds of recording medium cassettes in which recording media and the like are housed in a predetermined cassette case. Further, the identification recess in the present invention is not limited to the identification of the tape type in the above-described embodiment, but may of course obtain other information such as a determination as to whether or not the cassette can be recorded.

[0024]

According to the recording medium cassette of the present invention described above, when a light beam is applied to the discrimination inspection unit, the light beam has a glossy surface unless the discrimination concave portion is present in the discrimination inspection unit. The light ray is reflected on the surface of the identification inspection unit and, if the identification recess exists, the light beam is reflected on the inner bottom surface of the identification recess. The inner bottom surface of the identification recess is a rough surface, and the light reflected on the inner bottom is irregularly reflected, so that the amount of reflected light is smaller than the light reflected on the surface of the identification inspection unit, which is a glossy surface. Significantly reduced.

Further, according to another recording medium cassette of the present invention, when a light beam is applied to the identification inspection section, the reflected light reflected on the surface of the identification inspection section and the inner bottom surface of the identification concave section. The path is different from that of the reflected light reflected by. Therefore, if the detection position of the reflected light is set on the path of the reflected light on the surface of the identification inspection unit, the reflected light on the inner bottom surface of the identification recess cannot be directly received. There is a clear difference in the amount of reflected light depending on the presence or absence of the recess.

Accordingly, the recording medium cassette of the present invention
Even if the depth of the identification recess is small, the presence or absence of the identification recess can be reliably determined from the amount of reflected light, and the optical sensor can be used to detect the identification recess on the production line. Tact can be shortened. Further, it is not necessary to use a sensor having high sensitivity, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a recording medium cassette according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a main part of a recording medium cassette according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are cross-sectional views of a main part of a recording medium cassette according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration of a video tape cassette to which the present invention is applied.

5 is a perspective view of a lower cassette half showing an identification inspection section and an identification hole in the video tape cassette shown in FIG. 4;

6 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a method for detecting an identification hole on a cassette half in a production line.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a method for detecting an identification recess on a cassette half in a production line.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 Conveying line 13 Vertical reflection sensor 20 Lower cassette half 20a Groove part 20b End bottom 21 Identification inspection part 22 Identification recess 22a Inner bottom

Claims (2)

[Claims] A predetermined position on an outer surface of a cassette case accommodating a recording medium is set in an identification inspection section, and predetermined information can be obtained by the presence or absence of an identification recess in the identification inspection section. A cassette, wherein the surface of the inspection unit for identification is formed with a smooth glossy surface, and the inner bottom surface of the recess for identification formed in the inspection unit for identification is formed with a rough surface. Media cassette. 2. A recording medium cassette in which a predetermined position on the outer surface of a cassette case accommodating a recording medium is set in an identification inspection section and provides predetermined information depending on the presence or absence of an identification recess in the identification inspection section. The surface of the inspection unit for identification is formed to have a smooth glossy surface, and the inner bottom surface of the recess for identification formed in the inspection unit for identification is appropriately inclined with respect to the surface of the inspection unit for identification. A recording medium cassette formed on an inclined surface.