JPS6338474Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] This invention relates to improvement of tape cartridges such as video cassettes, and aims to prevent the tape from loosening when not in use, and to stabilize tape running when in use.

Conventionally, for example, in a video cassette, a pocket into which a loading pin of a video deck is inserted is formed on the front surface of the main body case, and the pocket is recessed toward the inside of the case, and the tape is led out in front of this pocket. When loading the tape, load this cassette into the video deck, insert the loading pin from the pocket and put it inside the tape, and move the loading pin forward to pull the tape out of the cassette and place it on the deck side. It is designed to be wrapped around a rotating head.

However, when not in use, the tape reel inside the main body case may wobble even though the brake is applied, and this wobble may cause the tape to move outside or inside the loading pin insertion pocket. If there is slack, especially on the inside, the loading pin will end up on the outside of the tape when it should be inside the tape during use, causing a problem that the tape cannot be pulled out forward.

As one means of solving this problem,
It is conceivable to constantly apply tension to the tape using a tension member within the main body case to eliminate slack. However, if the tape is constantly under tension, the running resistance of the tape increases during use, and this adversely affects the running of the tape, such as making it impossible to ensure stable running of the tape.

Therefore, in order to eliminate such defects or problems, this invention has been devised to press the tension member against the tape when not in use to prevent the tape from loosening, and to separate the tension member from the tape when in use to prevent the tape from running. This is an attempt to eliminate the impact.

The details will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Figures 1 to 3 show a video cassette, which is an example of a tape cartridge according to this invention, in which a main body case 1 is made up of upper and lower plastic cases 2 and 3 that are integrally connected with screws or the like in a manner such that the lids fit together. It will be done. A loading pin insertion pocket 4 is formed on the front surface of the main body case 1 so as to extend toward the inside of the case 1, and the upper surface of the pocket 4 is closed by the front end 2a of the upper wall of the upper case 2, and the front surface and The bottom surface is open.

In addition, tape reels 6, 6 on which the tape 5 is wound are attached to the bottom wall 3 of the lower case 3 on the left and right sides inside the main body case 1.
The drive shaft insertion holes 7, 7 opened in the case 1 are positioned over the drive shaft insertion holes 7, 7 and are rotatably mounted, and fixed or movable tape guide members 8, 8 are arranged at the front left and right corners of the inside of the case 1, The tape 5 is unwound from the supply side tape reel 6 on the right side in the figure through these tape guide members 8, 8, led out to the front of the main body case 1, and wound on the take-up side tape reel 6 on the left side.

In addition, reel brakes 9, 9 are installed at the rear left and right corners of the interior of the main body case 1 to prevent the tape reels 6, 6 from rotating unexpectedly when not in use, and reel brakes 9, 9 are installed at the front of the case 1 to prevent the tape reels 6, 6 from rotating unexpectedly when not in use. A front cover 10 for covering and protecting the outside of the front surface of 5 is attached around a support shaft 11 so as to be openable and closable. When these reel brakes 9, 9 and the front lid 10 are loaded into a video deck, they are unlocked by a release pin on the deck side and placed on standby.

In a tape cartridge having such a structure, this invention includes at least one tape reel 6 on the left and right sides and a tape guide member 8 located in front of the tape reel 6.
The tape 5 is characterized in that a mechanism 12 for applying and releasing tension to the tape 5 is provided between the tape 5 and the tape 5.

In FIGS. 2 and 3, the tension applying/releasing mechanism 12 is connected to the bottom wall 3a of the lower case 3.
A swing arm 14 is attached to a support shaft 13 that protrudes upward from the
A vertical shaft 15 is provided on the upper surface of the tip of the swinging arm 14 to project upward, and a tape tension member 16 formed by a roll is inserted into the vertical shaft 15 so as to be freely rotatable. do. In addition, a protruding pressed portion 17 is formed on the lower surface of the tip of the swinging arm 14.
An operating port 18 is formed in the bottom wall 3a of the lower case 3, and the operating port 18 is loosely fitted into the bottom wall 3a of the lower case 3. The operating port 18 connects the swing arm 14 to the support shaft 1.
It is formed in an arc shape that intersects the tape 5 between the tape reel 6 and the tape guide member 8 in plan view so as to follow the locus of movement of the pressed portion 17 when it is swung three times. The swing arm 14 is equipped with a biasing means 19, and this biasing means 19 allows
The tape tension member 16 presses against the tape 5 between the tape reel 6 and the tape guide member 8, and urges the swinging arm 14 so as to constantly push the tape 5 in the direction of arrow A in FIG. . The biasing means 1
In the illustrated example, the coil spring 2 is attached to the support shaft 13 as 9.
One end 20a thereof is engaged with a protrusion 21 on the lower case 3 side, and the other end 20b is engaged with a protrusion 22 on the swing arm 14 side.

In such a case, when the tape cartridge is not in use and tape running is stopped, if tape slack occurs due to rattling of the tape reel 6 or play of the reel brake 9, the tape tension member 16 will be adjusted by this slack. It is swung in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 2 to eliminate the slack. Therefore,
The tape 5 between the left and right tape guide members 8, 8 on the front surface of the main body case 1 is always maintained in a tensioned state, and the tape 5 is prevented from loosening and entering the loading pin insertion pocket 4. The side loading pins are surely inserted inside the tape 5. However, when the tape cartridge is loaded into the video deck, the pin-shaped release operation member 23 on the deck side enters one end of the operation port 18 from the lower side of the bottom wall 3a of the lower case 3, as shown in FIG. It moves toward the end, contacts the pressed portion 17 of the swinging arm 14, and pushes the pressed portion 17, thereby causing the swinging arm 14 to move around the support shaft 13 against the biasing means 19. The tape tension member 1 swings in the direction of separation opposite to the A direction.
6 completely away from tape 5. Therefore, the tape 5 reduces running resistance and runs stably. Note that when removing the tape cartridge from the video deck, the release operation member 23 is inserted into the operation port 1.
8, the tape tension member 16 is moved back in the direction of pressing against the tape 5 by the biasing force of the biasing means 19, and the tension is applied to the tape 5 again.

FIG. 4 shows another modified embodiment of the tension release mechanism, in which an arm-shaped cover is formed from the base of the swinging arm 14 of the tape tension member 16, which is always urged in the direction of pressing the tape 5 into contact. Pressing part 17
While protruding laterally, an operation port 18 is opened in the bottom wall 3a of the lower case 3 in a straight line in the front-rear direction of the main case 1, and when this is loaded into a video deck, a pin-shaped release operation member on the deck side is opened. 23 enters one end of the operating port 18 and moves toward the other end while pushing the pressed part 17, thereby causing the swinging arm 14 to move toward the support shaft 13.
The tape tension member 16 is separated from the tape 5 by swinging in the direction of separation.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show still another modified embodiment of the tension release mechanism described above, which is a fourth embodiment of the tension release mechanism.
Similar to the embodiment shown in the figure, the pressed portion 17 is provided to protrude laterally from the base of the swinging arm 14, while the bottom wall 3a
The distal end of the release operation member 23 on the video deck side, which is inserted into and taken out from the operation port 18 on the side, is formed into a plate cam shape with a beveled edge 24. When loaded into the video deck, the operation member 23 enters the operation port 18 and is tilted. Edge 2
4 is brought into contact with the pressed part 17 and the operating member 23 is further advanced into the main body case 1. As the pressed part 17 slides onto the beveled edge 24, the swing arm 14 moves to the support shaft 1.
The tape tension member 16 is made to move away from the tape 5 by swinging three times in the separating direction.

The tension applying/releasing mechanism consists of the tape reel 6 on the take-up side and the tape guide member 8 in front of it.
It goes without saying that the tension applying/releasing mechanism may be provided between the two or both sides.

As explained above, according to the present invention, the tape tension member 16 is placed in the tape running path in the main body case 1 in the direction in which it pushes the tape 5 to apply tension and in the direction in which it moves away from the tape 5. The main body case 1 is provided with means 19 for moving and biasing the tape tension member 16 in a direction in which it applies tension to the tape 5. Therefore, the tape tension member 16
Unlike the case where the tape 5 is simply pressed against the tape guide member 8 to prevent the tape from loosening, it is possible to proactively remove the tape slack that inevitably occurs on the front of the main case 1 when the case is not in use. The tape 5 can always be maintained in a tensioned state at the front, which is extremely advantageous in eliminating tape loading defects. In addition, the tape tension member 16 is provided with a pressed portion 17, and the main body case 1 is provided with an operating port 18 through which the pressed portion 17 faces, and the release operation member on the deck side is accessed from outside the main case 1 through the operating port 18. Since the tape tension member 16 is separated from the tape 5 by pushing the pressed portion 17 at 23, there is no adverse effect on the tape running during this use, and the tape can be run stably. There are advantages.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway plan view of a tape cartridge according to the invention, FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the tape tension applying/releasing mechanism, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view thereof. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing another modified embodiment of the tape tension applying/releasing mechanism. FIG. 5 is a plan view showing still another modified embodiment of the tape tension applying/releasing mechanism, and FIG.
It is a - line sectional view in a figure. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Main body case, 5... Tape, 6... Tape reel, 8... Tape guide member, 12... Tension applying/releasing mechanism, 16... Tape tension member, 17... Pressed part, 18... ...operation port,
19...Biasing means, 23...Release operation member.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] Inside the main body case 1, the tape 5 is brought into contact with the tape 5 in the tape running path between at least one of the left and right tape reels 6 and the tape guide member 8 located in front of the tape reel 6. A tape tension member 16 is provided so as to be movable in a direction in which it pushes the tape 5 to apply tension and in a direction in which it moves away from the tape 5. The main body case 1 is provided with an operating port 18 through which the pressed portion 17 of the tape tension member 16 faces, and the tape tension member 16 is connected to the outside of the main body case 1 through the operating port 18. A tape cartridge characterized in that the tape tension member 16 can be moved in a direction away from the tape 5 by pushing the pressed portion 17 with a release operation member 23 on the deck side.