JPS6323822Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a tape cassette suitable for use in recording digital signals, such as PCM signals.

BACKGROUND TECHNOLOGY AND PROBLEMS Currently, a PCM recording and reproducing apparatus has been proposed that converts an analog signal such as an acoustic signal into a digital signal, such as a PCM signal, and records (or reproduces) the converted signal on a magnetic tape. Some PCM recording and reproducing apparatuses use a rotating head to achieve a relatively high recording density. Using this rotating head
In a PCM recording/reproducing apparatus, during recording or reproduction, a magnetic tape is pulled out from a tape cassette and wound around a rotating drum provided with a rotating head.

By the way, in the tape cassette into which this magnetic tape is loaded, if the magnetic tape gets oily substances such as fingerprints or dust, a dropout will occur in the playback signal, so be careful not to get oily substances such as fingerprints or dust on the magnetic tape. It is necessary to seal the magnetic tape as tightly as possible. Also, a space is required for inserting a guide system so that the magnetic tape can be pulled out from the tape cassette during recording or reproduction.

For this reason, a tape cassette as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 has been proposed in which a front cover is provided which closes the front side of the cassette where the magnetic tape is exposed in response to rotation. That is, in FIGS. 1 and 2, 1 indicates a cassette case, and this cassette case 1 has a pair of upper halves 2 joined together by screws.
and lower half 3. 2a is a transparent window plate provided on the upper surface of the upper half 2.

Reference numerals 4a and 4b denote a pair of reel hubs that are housed in the cassette case 1 and rotatably fitted loosely into a pair of reel shaft insertion holes 5a and 5b provided at predetermined positions in the lower half 3; A magnetic tape 6 is wound around 4a and 4b.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a front cover that is pivotally supported on the left and right side walls of the cassette case 1 so that it can be rotated toward the front side of the cassette. magnetic tape 6
is exposed. 3a indicates a rectangular notch provided at the bottom end of the cassette front side of the lower half 3, and the magnetic tape 6 is inserted into this notch 3a during use.
A guide system is inserted to pull it forward.

In this type of tape cassette, when in use, the front cover 7 is rotated from the front side of the cassette as shown in Fig. 2, the magnetic tape 6 is exposed at the front of the cassette, a guide system is inserted into the notch 3a, and the magnetic tape 6 is pulled out of the cassette case 1 by this guide system and loaded onto the rotating drum for the desired recording or playback. After that, when recording or playback is completed and the tape is to be stored, the reverse operation to that described above is carried out.

Incidentally, in such a tape cassette, the magnetic tape 6 tends to become loose, and when the magnetic tape 6 becomes slack, the front cover 7 changes from the state where the front of the cassette is closed as shown in FIG. 1 to the front as shown in FIG. When the lid 7 is rotated upward, the magnetic tape 6 and the edge of the front lid 7 come into contact with each other.
If the magnetic tape 6 is damaged or pulled out from the inside of the cassette case 1, the magnetic tape 6 may become loose, making it impossible to obtain the desired positional relationship of the magnetic tape 6 with respect to the guide system. There was a risk that the magnetic tape 6 would not be able to be pulled out. Also, contrary to the above, when the front cover 7 is turned upward to close the front of the cassette, the magnetic tape 6 becomes loose.
The magnetic tape 6 is pinched between the front cover 7 and the cassette case 1, causing creases and scratches on the magnetic tape 6, which is an inconvenience.

Therefore, the reel hub 4a is placed inside the cassette case 1.
A tape cassette is proposed in which a brake mechanism is provided to prevent the magnetic tape 4b from rotating, and this brake mechanism can be operated from outside the cassette case 1 through a knob or lever during use to prevent the magnetic tape 6 from becoming loose. It will be done. However, such a tape cassette requires a separate brake mechanism in addition to the rotation of the front cover 7, so a complicated brake mechanism must be incorporated into the cassette case 1. The drawback was that it was difficult to manufacture.

Purpose of the invention In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new product that prevents the magnetic tape from loosening, does not adversely affect the magnetic tape when the front cover is rotated, and is easy to manufacture. With the goal.

Summary of the invention The tape cassette of the invention has a brake body for regulating the rotation of the reel hub attached to a cassette cassette body in which magnetic tape is wound or a reel hub is housed, and a top support plate with a notch provided in the brake body. A lower support plate part is formed with a support post protruding in correspondence with this notch, and the coil part of the drive spring is inserted into the support post, and the drive spring is connected to the upper support plate part and the bottom support plate part. This device is designed to be installed between the magnetic tape and the support plate, making it easier to attach the brake body to the cassette case when assembling the tape cassette.It also prevents the magnetic tape from loosening and prevents the front cover from loosening. There is an advantage in having one that does not adversely affect the magnetic tape when rotated.

Embodiment Hereinafter, an embodiment of the tape cassette of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 13. In FIGS. 3 to 13, parts corresponding to those in FIGS. 1 and 2 are given the same reference numerals, and detailed explanation thereof will be omitted.

In this example, as shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 4, FIG. 5, and FIG. A slider 8 is provided for this purpose.

An annular rib 9 surrounding reel shaft insertion holes 5a, 5b into which reel hubs 4a, 4b are loosely fitted, and reinforcing ribs 10 are provided on the inner surface of the lower half 3 of the cassette casing 1. Further, a spring guide groove 11 is bored in the center of the lower half 3, and a tension coil spring locking post 11a is provided upright, so that the side plate portion of the front cover 7 on both side walls 12 of the front opening of the lower half 3 is rotated. An operator insertion hole 13 and a bearing portion 32 are provided at predetermined positions within the movement range, respectively. In addition, the lower half 3 includes a slider guide groove 14, a tape guide column 15, a screw portion 16, a retrieval body installation portion 17, and a locking claw 1 for engaging and combining the upper and lower halves 2 and 3.
8 is provided.

The upper half 2 of the cassette case 1 includes an arcuate rib 9a for loosely fitting the reel hubs 4a and 4b;
A reinforcing rib 10 is provided. Further upper half 2
A horizontally long transparent window plate 2a is installed in the center of the window.

Further, hook-shaped guide protrusions 20 of the brake body 19 are provided upright on both sides of the upper half 2 near the front opening.
At the center of the front opening side is a drive spring 40, which will be described later.
A thin wall portion 22 is provided for installing.

In addition, the upper half 2 is provided with a threaded portion 16, a retrieval body installation portion 17, a triangular groove-shaped support recess 47, a non-slip uneven portion 49, and an insertion hole 23 for the locking claw 18.

The upper half 2 and the lower half 3 are assembled by fitting the locking claws 18 and the insertion holes 23, and are fastened by inserting a screw into the threaded portion 16 from the bottom of the lower half 3.

The front lid 7 that opens and closes the front opening of the cassette case 1 combined in this way has side plate portions 24, 24 formed at both ends thereof at the same height as the upper half 2.
form.

Note that the operation side side portion 26 of the side plate portion 24 is formed to substantially match the abutting surface of the side portion of the upper half 2 and the side portion of the lower half 3. and,
A shaft pin 25 is provided protruding inside each side plate portion 24, and this shaft pin 25 is pivotally attached to a bearing portion 32 of the lower half 3. Furthermore, two U-shaped cut-outs 48, 48 are bored in the lower front of the front cover 7.

Further, the slider 8 that closes the notch 3a of the cassette case 1 is a flat plate formed in a substantially U-shape from the front, and a pair of slider reel shaft insertion holes 27 are provided at predetermined positions in the flat plate. 27, and a tension coil spring engaging portion 31 is provided protruding from the center thereof. Furthermore, two cut pieces 28, 28 are provided protruding from the front end of the slider 8, corresponding to the cut-outs 48, 48 of the front cover 7 described above. Further, the free end portions of both side support portions 29, 29 of the slider 8 are bent into a hook shape to form a bent side 33, and each of these side support portions 29, 29 is formed into a pair of small rectangular protrusions. guide protrusions 30, 30 are provided.

The slider 8 has a guiding protrusion 30
enters the slider guide groove 14 of the lower half 3, and the bent side 33 enters the narrow groove 34 formed at the abutting portion of the upper half 2 and lower half 3, so that the slider is mounted so as to be slidable. Further, the tension coil spring locking column 11a of the lower half 3 and the locking portion 3 of the slider 8
1, a tension coil spring 21 that fits in the spring guide groove 11 is stretched between the slider 8 and the notch 3a.
The cassette case body 1 is biased toward the front opening in order to close it.

The brake body 19 mounted in the cassette case 1 has a substantially U-shape from the front, and a spring mounting portion is provided in the center thereof. As shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 10, FIG. 12, and FIG. 13, this spring mounting part has an upper support plate part 35 formed of a thin flat plate in a substantially trapezoidal shape and is formed one step higher than the upper surface of the brake body 19. A substantially rectangular notch 36 is provided in the center of the upper support plate 35.

Further, a thin rectangular flat lower support plate portion 37 is provided at a position corresponding to the notch portion 36 so as to protrude at the same level as the lower surface of the brake body 19. Further, a cylindrical support column 38 is provided at the center of the lower support plate portion 37 and protrudes toward the upper surface of the brake body 19 . The height of the support column base 38 is such that its upper surface is on the same level as the upper surface of the upper surface support plate section 35.

The spring mounting part configured in this manner has a coil part 39 at the center, and a drive spring 40 with a wire part extending left and right in a V-shape from the coil part 39.
At the same time, the coil portion 39 of the drive spring 40 is inserted into the support column base 38, and the wire portion of the drive spring 40 is supported on one side by the upper surface support plate portion 35 and on the other side by the lower surface support plate portion 37. Drive spring 40 in the space between
It is attached so that the wire rod part is movably clamped. Therefore, the drive spring 40 can be easily and integrally attached to the spring attachment portion of the brake body 19 without requiring any other fixing member.

Furthermore, since the brake body 19 and the drive spring 40 can be handled as an integral part with the drive spring 40 attached to the brake body 19, it becomes easier to attach the brake body 19 and the drive spring 40 inside the cassette case 1 when manufacturing the tape cassette. The brake body 19 and the drive spring 40 can also be easily handled as parts. Therefore, the manufacturing of the tape cassette as a whole is facilitated.

That is, since the brake body 19 and the drive spring 40 as manufacturing parts can be handled as one unit, it is possible to easily manufacture the tape cassette as a whole.

The two free ends 40a, 40a of the drive spring 40 attached to the brake body 19 press against the inner wall of the notch 3a of the cassette case 1, thereby urging the brake body 19 in the direction of arrow A.

Furthermore, a pair of rectangular long rod-shaped brake pieces 41, 41 are protruded from the brake body 19, corresponding to the pair of reel hubs 4a, 4b around which the magnetic tape 6 is wound. The braking piece 41 is installed at an end portion of the brake body 19 facing the reel hubs 4a, 4b, and a direction line 42 shown by a dashed line passing through the center of the braking piece 41 is located outside of the center O of each reel hub 4a, 4b. and are located a predetermined distance h apart from each other. A ratchet wheel 43 having a square tooth profile is formed on the outer periphery of each reel hub 4a, 4b, and the tip of the braking piece 41 faces the tooth groove of each ratchet wheel 43. 4a,
4b is restricted to rotate only in the direction shown by arrow B or C.

In addition, rectangular sliding guide holes 44, 44 are formed near both sides of the brake body 19 in the longitudinal direction, respectively. This sliding guide hole 44 has an upper half 2
The hook-shaped guide protrusion 20 is inserted, and the horizontally protruding head of the hook-shaped guide protrusion 20 supports the periphery of the rectangular sliding guide hole 44 of the brake body 19, and this and the inside of the upper half 2 The brake body 19 is supported so as to be slidable in the direction of arrow A or D by being held between the brake body 19.

In addition, lower rods 45, 45 extending toward the rear of the brake body 19 are provided at the lower ends of each side portion bent downward from both sides of the brake body 19. The tips of the rods 45 are bent outward at right angles to form operating elements 46, 46, respectively. Note that the operation side portion 2 of this operator 46
The corner portion that comes into contact with 6 is formed in an arc shape, so that the operating element 46 can be easily pushed forward by the rotational swinging motion of the operating side portion 26. Then, the brake body 19 is installed in the cassette case 1, and the slider guide groove 14 is provided at a predetermined position within the rotation range of the operating side portion 26 of the side plate portion 24 of the front cover 7 where the operator 46 is located. It is configured to protrude to the same height as the outer surface of the side part so as not to interfere with the sliding movement of the slider 8, and to allow the operator 46 to move in accordance with the rotational movement of the front cover 7. .

Next, the operation of the tape cassette constructed as described above will be explained.

First, when the tape cassette of this example is not in use, as shown in FIG. 6, the notch 3a and the front opening of the cassette case 1 are closed with the front cover 7 and the slider 8 to protect the magnetic tape 6. ing.

In addition, in this state when not in use, the brake body 19 inside the cassette case 1, as shown in FIG.
The brake pieces 41 of the brake body 19 are biased in the direction of arrow A by the drive spring 40 and are engaged with the ratchet wheels 43 of the reel hubs 4a, 4b. Therefore, each reel hub 4a, 4b is braked so as to rotate only in the direction of arrow B or C. Therefore, each reel hub 4a, 4b
This allows the magnetic tape 6 stretched over the front opening of the cassette case 1 to rotate only in the direction in which it is pulled, thereby preventing the magnetic tape 6 from loosening.

Furthermore, in this state, since the bending side 33 of the slider 8 is below the operation side piece 26 of the side plate 24 of the front cover 7, when the front cover 7 tries to rotate, the operation side side 26 bends. This can prevent the front cover 7 from rotating and opening due to malfunction by hitting the side 33.

Next, when this tape cassette is used, when the tape cassette is attached to a magnetic recording/reproducing device (not shown), the supporting recess 47 of the cassette case 1 is supported by the support body of the recording/reproducing device (not shown), and the slider opening/closing device is opened. The slider 8 is pushed down to a predetermined position by passing through the cut-out portion 48 of the front cover 7 and hitting the contact pieces 28, 28.

Thereafter, the front cover 7 is opened by rotating it in the direction of arrow E as shown in FIGS. 7 to 9. At this time, the 8th
As shown in the figure, when the front cover 7 is tilted approximately 55 degrees, the front cover 7
The operating side portion 26 of the side plate portion 24 contacts the operating element 46 of the brake body 19 protruding from the operating element insertion hole 13 of the lower half 3, and the front cover 7 is completely raised upward as shown in FIG. Follow the rotating motion, 2
The two operators 46, 46 are pulled back evenly in the direction of arrow D. Then, the brake body 19 is also driven by the drive spring 40.
The braking piece 41 of the brake body 19 is pulled back smoothly in the direction of arrow D against the urging force of
Open a and 4b freely to rotate, and as shown in Fig. 3 and Fig.
The state of use is as shown in the figure.

In this state, a guide system of a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus (not shown) is inserted into the notch 3a of the cassette case 1 to load the magnetic tape 6 and perform recording and reproduction.

After the tape cassette is used, it is returned to the unused state shown in FIG. 6 by performing the reverse operation as described above.

Since the tape cassette of this example operates as described above, when the front cover 7 of the tape cassette closes the front of the cassette, the magnetic tape 6 can be kept in a tensioned state without any slack, and the front cover 7 can close the front of the cassette. When opening the front, the reel hubs 4a and 4b are locked until the front cover 7 rotates to a certain extent to prevent the magnetic tape 6 from becoming loose, and when the front cover 7 is rotated, the magnetic tape 6 is prevented from being adversely affected. There are benefits you can get for what you don't have. In addition to this, the reel hub 4a,
The brake body 19 that regulates the rotation of 4b is attached to the front cover 7.
Therefore, there is no need for a separate operation to operate the brake mechanism, and there is no need to expose a knob or lever on the outside of the cassette case 1 for operating the brake mechanism. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a product that is easy to operate and does not spoil its appearance.

Furthermore, like the conventional tape cassette with a lid, it is possible to prevent dust and the like from entering the cassette case 1.

It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and may take various other configurations without departing from the gist of the present invention.

Effects of the invention According to the tape cassette of the invention, the brake body installed in the cassette case is provided with a spring mounting part,
A drive spring having a coil section is assembled between the upper surface support plate section of the spring mounting part and the lower surface support plate section provided with the support column base, and the brake body and drive spring are mounted inside the cassette case. Moreover, since the brake body and drive spring as manufacturing parts can be handled as one unit, it is possible to easily manufacture the tape cassette as a whole.
Furthermore, a brake body having an integral structure is installed inside the cassette case to prevent the magnetic tape from loosening, and to obtain one that does not adversely affect the magnetic tape when the front cover is rotated. I can do it.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a conventional tape cassette with a rotatable front cover, Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the state in which the front cover of Fig. 1 is rotated, and Fig. 3 is a tape of the present invention. A perspective view showing an embodiment of the cassette;
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view thereof, FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the inside of the upper half, FIG. 6 is an enlarged schematic perspective view showing the main part of the structure of the tape cassette in FIG.
8 and 9 are enlarged schematic side views for explaining the operation of the tape cassette shown in FIG. 3, and FIGS. 10 and 11 are enlarged plan views showing an example of the main parts of the inner part of the upper half. , Fig. 12 is an enlarged rear view showing an example of the brake body, Fig. 13 is Fig. 10-
It is a line enlarged sectional view. 1 is a cassette case, 4a and 4b are reel hubs,
6 is a magnetic tape, 7 is a front cover, 19 is a brake body, 24 is a side plate part, 35 is an upper support plate part, 36 is a notch part, 37 is a lower support plate part, 38 is a support column base,
39 is a coil portion, and 40 is a drive spring.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A brake body for regulating the rotation of the reel hub is attached to a cassette cassette body for winding magnetic tape or storing a reel hub, and the brake body is formed with an upper support plate portion having a notch, and a top support plate portion is formed in the notch. Correspondingly, a lower support plate portion with a protruding support post is formed, and the coil portion of the drive spring is inserted into the support post, and the drive spring is connected between the upper support plate and the lower support plate. A tape cassette characterized by being attached between the tape cassettes.