JPH11273295A - Tape cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily load/unload a reel spring for an upper half by providing a pressurizing part projecting the reel spring toward a central part of a reel main body and pressurizing the reel main body on a center, and making the structure providing support parts inserted into a pair of insertion parts formed on the upper half side and supported to the upper half on both ends. SOLUTION: The reel spring 36A is provided with the pressurizing part 36a bending slender stainless steel material to a left/right symmetric pan bottom shape and pressurizing the nearly central part of the reel main body on the center, and the support parts 36c attachably/detachably supported to the upper half 32 side on both ends. The insertion parts 48a, 48b inserted into the support parts 36c of the reel spring 36A are formed on the peripheral part of the window member 47 of the inside on the upper half 32. The support parts 36c of both ends of the reel spring 36A are inserted into the insertion parts 48a, 48b. Thus, the reel spring 36A is easily taken off when it is collected from a used tape cassette as metal material.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tape cassette used by winding a magnetic tape around a pair of reels.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Various types of conventional video tape cassettes for recording and reproduction have been proposed, and a typical example is a "Beta" (trade name) cassette as shown in FIG.
This will be briefly described with reference to FIG. The tape cassette is indicated as a whole by 1 and comprises an upper half 2 and a lower half 3 made of synthetic resin.
Various parts as shown in the figure are accommodated between the parts. For example, a pair of reel bodies 8A and 8B composed of a reel hub (or lower reel) 4, a center pin 5, and a reel flange (or upper reel) 6 and wound with a magnetic tape 7, and a reel for preventing slack of the magnetic tape 7 Reel locks 9A and 9B for preventing rotation, tape guides (fixed guides) 10A and 10B for determining a magnetic tape pull-out position, a cassette cover 11 for protecting the magnetic tape 7, a cassette cover lock 1 for locking the cassette cover 11 from being opened and closed.
2. Tape guide roller 13A for stabilizing tape running
And 13B, the tape guide pins 14A and 14B for supporting the tape guide roller 13, the slack stoppers 15A and 15B for the magnetic tape 7, and the reel bodies 8A and 8B are securely fitted to the reel base of the video tape recorder to stably run the tape. A reel spring (reel holding spring) 1 for applying a constant urging force to the reel bodies 8A and 8B
6A and 16B are attached. A rectangular window 17 for checking the remaining amount of the tape is attached to the upper half 2.

FIG. 16 shows the arrangement of the reel spring 16 in the cassette 1 taken out of the video tape recorder, the supply (S) side reel body 8B and the take-up (T) side reel body 8A. FIGS. 17A and 17B show the arrangement. Tape guide 10A, reel spring 16 and reel body 8
A shows the arrangement with A. Hereinafter, the details will be described. The reel spring 16 shown in FIGS. 16, 17A and 17B is the reel spring 1 shown in FIG.
Although the configuration example is different from 6A and 16B, both perform the same operation. Parts corresponding to other components are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG.

When the cassette 1 is loaded into the video tape recorder, the cassette cover lock 12 is released and the cassette cover 11 is opened, and at the same time, the reel locks 9A and 9
After B is released, the reel units 8A and 8B
0 (see FIG. 17A), the reel body 8A,
8B is rotated so as not to contact the upper half 2 and the lower half 3. The magnetic tape 7 is pulled out from the S-side reel body 8B, travels, and is wound around the T-side reel body 8A.
At this time, the reel spring 16 is
The central portion of B is constantly urged toward the reel base 20 with a constant force, and the reel bodies 8A and 8B are securely fitted to the reel base 20. Thereby, the magnetic tape 7 can run stably. On the other hand, when the cassette 1 is ejected, the pulled-out magnetic tape 7 is rewound and
After being wound around 0A and 10B, the reel base 20 is lowered (see FIG. 17B), whereby the reel bodies 8A and 8B are lowered and placed on the lower half 3, and then the cassette cover lock 12 is returned and the cassette cover 11 is Upon closing, the reel locks 9A and 9B are returned to the reel body 8
A and 8B are locked and the cassette 1 is ejected. Even after being ejected, the reel body 8A, 8B is prevented from rattling inside the cassette and damaging the magnetic tape 7 so that the reel body 8
The center portions of A and 8B are urged by a reel spring 16 with a constant force weaker than that during tape running.

As described above, since the reel spring 16 is a very important part for the stable running of the magnetic tape 7, it is usually fixed by caulking to the upper half 2 so as not to move easily. This caulking is performed by heat welding or ultrasonic welding. Hereinafter, description will be made with reference to FIGS. The configuration described below is different from the configuration example of the reel spring 16 described above, but can be understood as being technically the same.

In FIGS. 18 to 21, a reel spring 16 is formed of an elongated stainless steel metal provided with bent portions 16a and 16b, and has a symmetric shape so as to simultaneously bias a pair of reel bodies. First, two holes 16c and 16d formed at the center of the reel spring 16 are fitted into two shafts 2a and 2b formed integrally with the upper half 2 molded with engineer plastic such as ABS or HIPS. Is done. Then, these shaft portions 2a
And 2b are expanded and crushed in a circular arc shape by heat or ultrasonic waves, and the peripheral portions of the holes 16c and 16d are sandwiched and fixed by the circular arc portions (see FIGS. 20 and 21). In particular, the ultrasonic caulking welding method requires welding equipment, but is generally adopted when fixing different kinds of materials because the production efficiency is the best. Note that the shaft portions 2a, 2
The clearance C between b and the holes 16c and 16d is set to a minimum value so that the reel pressing position does not shift.

FIG. 22 to FIG. 25 show another example in which the reel spring is divided into two parts. The same reel spring is fixed in two directions by changing the direction, and the reel body is separately biased. It was done. The swaging shafts 2a 'and 2b' formed integrally with the upper half 2, and the holes 16c 'and 16 of the reel springs 16A and 16B.
d ′ is formed not in a circle but in a polygonal shape for positioning. The method of fixing the caulking shafts 2a ', 2b' and the holes 16c ', 16d' is the same as described above, and therefore the description is omitted. The configuration example of the tape cassette described with reference to FIG. 15 has a different mounting direction, but is similarly configured by dividing the reel spring as in this example.

[0008]

Recently, environmental problems relating to waste disposal have been highlighted, and it has become an issue how to efficiently process used cassettes.
For example, it is desired to disassemble a cassette and separate and collect materials into metal and plastic. However, the reel spring 16 which is the heaviest as a metal material and is worth collecting can easily be formed by the above-described conventional configuration.
A problem that the cassette is not easily disassembled because it does not come off. Conventionally, reel spring 16
To remove the caulked part with a knife,
A method of making a through hole in the upper half 2 near the shaft portions 2a, 2b (2a ', 2b') with a drilling machine or the like to delete the hole, a method of dissolving the entire cassette and taking out metal parts, and the like are considered. Jigs and tools are required, and a method of removing them more easily is desired.

[0009] Further, from the viewpoint of LCA (life cycle assessment), reduction of weight (raw material) is desired. That is, weight reduction by reducing the thickness of the cassette half or the like is desired and implemented. However, the thin upper half 2
When the reel spring 16 is crimped and fixed by welding, the height of the caulking shafts 2a and 2b (2a 'and 2b') is reduced, and unless the outer diameter is reduced, a dent (sink) is formed on the back side (face) of the shaft. This easily causes the appearance and deteriorates the appearance. On the other hand, caulking shafts 2a, 2b
When (2a ′, 2b ′) is formed as described above, there is a problem in that the welding strength is reduced, and when the shaft height is low, the reel spring 16 is likely to come off during welding. In addition, FIG.
6, the upper half 2 is deformed by the reaction force applied to the reel spring 16 due to the reduction in the thickness of the cassette half, so that an appropriate urging force of the reel spring 16 cannot be obtained, and the appearance tends to deteriorate. Occurs.

Further, in ultrasonic caulking welding, since the appearance surface is supported by a jig, "shininess (gloss)" is liable to occur due to friction caused by vibration, which also has a problem that the appearance is deteriorated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and improves the appearance and reliability of the cassette half by improving the shrinkage due to sinking and welding by the caulking shaft and the deformation of the cassette half due to the spring force, without using any special jig. It is another object of the present invention to provide a tape cassette which can easily remove a reel spring and facilitate material separation and collection.

[0012]

According to the present invention, a pressing portion for projecting a reel spring toward the center of the reel body and pressing the reel body is provided at the center, and a pair of insertion portions formed on the upper half side is provided. By adopting a configuration in which the support portions respectively inserted and supported by the upper half are provided at both ends, the reel spring can be easily attached to and detached from the upper half. Further, the reaction force of the urging force applied to the reel body by the reel spring is received by the support portions at both ends, so that the reaction force is dispersed and deformation of the upper half is reduced. Thereby, it is possible to sufficiently cope with a reduction in the thickness of the cassette half.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a tape cassette according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is generally indicated by reference numeral 31. In a cassette in which a pair of cassette halves made of a synthetic resin upper half 32 and a lower half 33 are joined and integrated, a pair of reel bodies 38A and 38B around which a magnetic tape is wound include S (supply, supply) side and Each is rotatably housed as a T (take-up, take-up) side. A window member 47 made of a transparent material for checking the remaining amount of tape is attached to the upper half 32 from the inside.
7 supports reel springs 36A and 36B that press the reel bodies 38A and 38B toward the lower half 33 side. The cassette cover 41 is normally closed to protect the magnetic tape as usual, but is opened when the cassette cover 41 is loaded in a video tape recorder (not shown).

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the reel springs 36A and 36B are formed by bending an elongate stainless steel material into a pan shape which is symmetrical to the left and right.
A pressing portion 36a for pressing a substantially central portion of B, and supporting portions 36c and 36 detachably supported at both ends on the upper half 32 side.
c, and inclined portions 36b, 36b bridging the pressing portion 36a and the supporting portions 36c, 36c. Here, in the present embodiment, the pressing portion 36a is formed flat.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show the reel spring 36.
FIGS. 4A and 4B are a plan view and a side view of the state in which A and 36B are attached, as viewed from the inside of the upper half 2. Window member 47 made of transparent material
Are provided at the peripheral edge of the upper portion 32 with the insertion portions 48a, 48b, 4c through which the support portion 36c of the reel spring is inserted between the projection portions 47a, 47b, 47c, and 47d.
8c and 48d are formed (see FIG. 8). In the present embodiment, the insertion portions 48a to 48d are formed as through holes. The window member 47 is attached to the upper half 32 by applying, for example, an ultrasonic wave to the welding rib 47e formed on the peripheral edge of the upper half 32 side to dissolve it. At this time, since the projections 47a to 47d are outside the welding rib 47e, the welding strength is not impaired by the projections 47a to 47d.

The assembling process of the tape cassette 31 will be described. First, a pair of reel bodies 38A and 38B are mounted on the lower half 33 together with other components. On the other hand, the window member 47 is attached to the upper half 32 from the inside by, for example, ultrasonic welding. Then, the reel springs 36A, 36
Inserting portions 48a to 48d with the support portions 36c, 36c at both ends of B
Plug in. As shown in FIG. 9, this is achieved by using the elasticity of the reel spring 36A (similarly for 36B) to reduce the distance between the two support portions 36c, 36c to a predetermined position, and to use the restoring force to support each support portion. Parts 36c, 36c
a, 48b. The reel spring 36A can slide relative to the upper half 32,
In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, the maximum sliding amount is changed by inserting the inclined portion 36b of the reel spring 36A into the insertion portion 4.
It is regulated by making contact with the upper part of 8a.
At this time, the inclined portion 36b and the upper portion of the insertion portion 48a are not disengaged by being hooked to each other, and the pressing portion 36a is also arranged so as not to deviate from the center of the reel body. Therefore, even if the upper half 32 is combined with the lower half 33, the reel spring does not easily fall off even if the upper half 32 is inverted with the lower half 33 during the assembly process. Then, the cassette cover 41 is attached to the upper half 32, and finally, the upper half 32 is fitted to the lower half 33 and fixed by screws, thus completing the assembly.

Inside the tape cassette 31 assembled as described above, usually, as shown in FIG. 4B, a reel body 38A is driven by a reel spring 36A (36B).
(38B) is urged downward to make contact with the lower half 33, but when loaded into a video tape recorder (not shown), the reel body 38A is pushed up by the reel base 20 as shown in FIG. Is moved upward against the urging force, and the magnetic tape 37 is pulled out and travels as in the conventional case.

At this time, the reel spring 36A (36)
FIG. 11 shows a state of the deformation B). That is, the initial state immediately after the reel spring 36A is attached to the upper half 32 is shown by a solid line in the figure, but when the assembly of the tape cassette 31 is completed, it is deformed to the position shown by the one-dot chain line in the figure and the center of the reel body 38A is moved. Energize. Furthermore, when the tape is loaded on the video tape recorder, the reel base 20
, The reel spring 36A is further deformed, and is further deformed to the position shown by the two-dot chain line in the figure. Thus, depending on each deformation state of the reel spring 36A,
The support portions 36c, 36c at both ends are slid in the insertion portions 48a, 48b.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the reel springs 36A and 36B can be easily attached to the upper half 32, and the conventional ultrasonic welding method can be eliminated. The upper half can be prevented from being damaged.
Also, according to the present embodiment, the reel spring 36
A, 36B, the force applied to the pressing portion 36a is
c and 36c, the force is dispersed, the force is not applied to the same portion for a long time due to the sliding operation of the two support portions 36c, 36c, and the deformation of the upper half 32 is reduced to reduce the cassette half. It can sufficiently cope with thinning. Further, when disassembling the cassette 31, the reel springs 36A, 36B can be easily detached from the upper half 32 by hooking the central portions thereof with a finger or a tool and pulling them.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is, of course, not limited thereto, and various modifications can be made based on the technical concept of the present invention.

For example, in the above embodiment, the pressing portions 36a of the reel springs 36A and 36B are formed in a flat shape. However, as shown in FIG. When the 'is formed, the center of the reel bodies 38A and 38B can be always held at the center of the pressing portion 36a' to stabilize the spring force.

In the above embodiment, the insertion portions 48a formed in the projections 47a to 47d of the window member 47 are formed as through holes. However, as shown in FIGS. 12 to 14, the insertion portions 48a to 48d Reel spring 36A, 36B
If the end of the support portion 36c is provided with a closed end 47f that can be contacted, the reel springs 36A and 36B can be inserted into the insertion portion 48a.
The shavings generated when sliding with the upper half 32 within ~ 48d can be reduced to the reel body side, and the magnetic tape can be protected. In this case, at the time of the maximum deformation of the reel springs 36A and 36B, the support portions 36
c is configured to contact the closed end 47f.

The mounting positions, shapes, and materials of the reel springs 36A, 36B are not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the reel springs 36A and 36B may be connected together to form a single member, or may be formed of another material such as plastic, and the same effects as described above can be obtained.

[0025]

As described above, according to the tape cassette of the present invention, when recovering a reel spring from a used tape cassette as a metal material, a special jig or a cutting tool is not required. It can be removed, and the efficiency of the collection operation can be increased. In addition, the deformation of the half can be reduced even in a thin-type cassette, and the weight of the cassette can be reduced without impairing the reliability of the biasing force of the reel spring. Furthermore, the appearance of the appearance is not impaired.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an entire tape cassette according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a reel spring according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the same.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the same operation, in which A shows a state when the video tape recorder is loaded, and B shows a state where the video tape recorder is not loaded.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a reel spring showing a modification of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a plan view when a reel spring is mounted on a window member mounted on the upper half.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the same.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a main part of the window member in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a side sectional view showing a process of mounting the reel spring according to the present invention on the upper half.

FIG. 10 is a side sectional view showing a state in which the reel spring is slid with respect to an upper half of the reel spring.

FIG. 11 is a side sectional view showing a relative positional relationship with the upper half when the reel spring is deformed.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a main part showing a modification of the configuration of the window member according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view as seen from another angle.

FIG. 14 is a rear view of the same.

FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration example of a conventional tape cassette.

FIG. 16 is a sectional view showing the inside of another conventional tape cassette.

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view showing the operation of the reel spring in the tape cassette, where A shows a state when the tape cassette is loaded into the video tape recorder, and B shows a state where the reel is not loaded.

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a method of attaching a reel spring to an upper half of another conventional tape cassette.

FIG. 19 is a rear view of the same.

20 is a cross-sectional view showing the reel spring in FIG. 18 after being fixed by caulking;

FIG. 21 is a back view of the same.

FIG. 22 is a sectional view illustrating a method of attaching a reel spring to an upper half of still another conventional tape cassette.

FIG. 23 is a rear view of the same.

FIG. 24 is a sectional view showing the reel spring in FIG. 22 after being fixed by caulking;

FIG. 25 is a rear view of the same.

FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view showing the influence on the upper half due to the deformation of the reel spring in FIG. 20;

[Explanation of symbols]

31 ... tape cassette, 32 ... upper half, 33
...... Lower half, 36A, 36B ... Reel spring, 36a, 36a '... Pressing part, 36c ... Support part, 37 ... Magnetic tape, 38A, 38B ... Reel body, 47 ... ... window member, 47f ... closed end, 48
a, 48b, 48c, 48d ... insertion parts.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A pair of reel bodies on which a magnetic tape is wound are housed inside a pair of cassette halves each including an upper half and a lower half, and center portions of the pair of reel bodies supported by the upper half are respectively set. In the tape cassette provided with a reel spring biasing to the lower half side, the reel spring has a pressing portion at the center that protrudes toward the center of the reel body and presses the reel body, and the upper half side A tape cassette having, at both ends, support portions that are respectively inserted through a pair of insertion portions formed in the upper half and are supported by the upper half. 2. The insertion portion is formed between the upper half and a window member made of a transparent material attached to the upper half, and when the reel spring is deformed, the support portion is disposed within the insertion portion. 2. The tape cassette according to claim 1, wherein the tape cassette is slidable. 3. The tape cassette according to claim 2, wherein the insertion portion has a closed end with which an end portion of the support portion can abut, and regulates a maximum slide amount of the support portion. . 4. The tape cassette according to claim 1, wherein the pressing portion is formed in a curved shape protruding toward the upper half. 5. The tape cassette according to claim 1, wherein the reel spring is made of a metal material.