JPS639318B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a tape cassette in which a magnetic tape is wound and stored between a pair of tape reels rotatably stored in a cassette half, and in particular, the present invention relates to a tape cassette in which a magnetic tape is wound and stored between a pair of tape reels rotatably stored in a cassette half, and in particular, The present invention relates to a tape cassette including a reel locking member that engages with the serrations of the reel flange to prevent rotation of the reel flange.

Conventionally, for example, in the case of a tape cassette for a video tape recorder, etc., as schematically shown in FIGS. A space 4 called a loading pocket (hereinafter referred to as a loading pocket member) is formed. This means that when loading the magnetic tape 6 wound between a pair of tape reels 5, 5 on a tape guide drum (not shown), the loading guide pin etc. immediately move to the cassette half 1.
A pair of fixed guides 9, 9 are provided at a position forward of the notch 8 so that the magnetic tape 6 can be inserted into the inside of the magnetic tape 6 through the notch 8 formed in the central member on the side of the lid 7.
This is a space required to keep the magnetic tape 6 stretched.

However, such loading pocket part 4
is a space required during a short time such as tape loading or tape unloading. Nevertheless, forming the loading pocket portion 4 in advance on one side 2 of the cassette half 1 as a part of the cassette half 1 necessarily increases the depth width of the cassette half 1, that is, the vertical width l ₁ However, in addition to the outer diameter _l2 of each reel 5, it is necessary to form a space corresponding to the width _l3 of the loading pocket portion 4. Therefore, the tape cassette becomes larger overall,
This has the drawback of increasing the size of the device itself, such as a video tape recorder. Therefore, in order to downsize the tape cassette as a whole, it is necessary to remove the loading pocket section, which is needed only during tape loading, from one side of the cassette half, and form the loading pocket section only when necessary. It is desired to do so.

In order to meet the above-mentioned requirements, a device has been proposed in which the loading pocket is not provided in advance on the opening side of the cassette half, but the loading pocket can be formed on the opening side only when necessary. .

As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, this tape cassette has a cassette half 10 constituting its main body.
While forming the depth width (vertical width) l ₄ as small as possible until it becomes approximately equal to the outer diameter l ₂ of each tape reel 5, 5, tape guides 9, 9 provided at the left and right front parts of each tape reel 5, 5. is provided so that it can be freely moved between a first position A shown by a solid line housed inside the cassette half 10 and a second position B shown by a dashed line protruding from the front position outside the cassette half 10. By further protruding forward from the opening 11 of the cassette half 10, the tape guides 9, 9 create a loading pocket 12 into which a loading guide pin or the like can be inserted into the front part of the opening 11 of the cassette half 10. It is configured to form a

With this configuration, the longitudinal width _l4 of the cassette half 10 can be made sufficiently smaller than the tape cassette described above, and the entire tape cassette can therefore be made sufficiently small.

By the way, in the case of such a tape cassette, the tape guides 9, 9 for forming the loading pocket part 12 extend straight forward from the opening part 11, as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 2B. It must not be constructed so as to stand out from the crowd. This is because the tape guides 9, 9 are connected to the opening 11.
When the magnetic tape 6 is projected straight forward from the tape reels 5, 5, the magnetic tape 6 wound between the tape reels 5, 5 is forcibly pulled out forward by the tape guides 9, 9, and therefore the tape guides 9,9
If the magnetic tape 6 moves to the first position A within the cassette half 10, the magnetic tape 6 will become slack within the cassette half 10. Therefore, the tape guides 9, 9 are designed to prevent the magnetic tape 6 from being forcibly drawn out when forming the loading pocket 12. At times, they must protrude forward while approaching each other.

However, if the tape guides 9, 9 protrude forward in a state that is too close to each other, for example to the position shown by the three-dot chain line in FIG. This results in slack between the guides 9, 9. Therefore, it is a problem if the tape guides 9, 9 are too close to each other. Therefore, in order to solve these problems, the tape guides 9, 9 are moved along a certain trajectory to prevent the magnetic tape 6 from being forcibly pulled by the tape guides 9, 9, or conversely from sagging. It becomes necessary to move along the

FIG. 3 shows an ideal movement locus L of the tape guides 9, 9.

This ideal movement trajectory L can be obtained by the following method. That is, U ₁ in the cassette half 10,
The tape guides 9, 9 placed at position U ₂ allow the first load to be secured, which is surrounded by three loading pockets, namely A ₁ , V ₁ , V ₂ and A ₂ as in the example shown. Ding pocket part R ₁ , B ₁ , W ₁ ,
A second loading pocket portion R ₂ surrounded by W ₂ and B ₂ or a third loading pocket portion surrounded by C ₁ , Z and C ₂
In forming the loading pocket _R3 , the first to fourth positions ( _U1 , _U2 ), ( _V1 , _V2 ), ( _W1 , _W2 ), Z
At each position, the length of the magnetic tape 6 stretched between the reels 5, 5 (hereinafter referred to as tape length), that is, the tape length connecting P ₁ , U ₁ , U ₂ and P ₂ respectively, P ₁ , V ₁ , V ₂ and P ₂ , the tape length that connects P ₁ , W ₁ , W ₂ and P ₂ , and the tape length that connects P ₁ , Z and P ₂ are approximately equal to each other. An ideal trajectory L can be obtained by moving the tape guides 9, 9, .

By moving the tape guides 9, 9 along the trajectory L thus set, the magnetic tape 6 can be moved to the predetermined loading pocket portions R _{1 ,} R 2 , R ₂ , and 6 without unnecessary slack or tension. _R3 can be formed.

Note that when the tape guides 9, 9 are moved along the trajectory L set by the method described above, the winding diameter l of the magnetic tape 6 wound on each reel 5, 5, as shown in FIG. ₅ and _l6 are different from each other, the locus L is changed according to the difference in the winding diameters _l5 and _l6 .
However, in reality, the trajectory L ₁ is the same as the trajectory L obtained by the above method.
_{Even if the tape} guides _{9 , 9} are moved _along Therefore, there is no problem even if the tape guides 9, 9 are moved along the same trajectory _L1 as the above-mentioned trajectory L.

Even with the miniaturized tape cassettes mentioned above, in order to protect the magnetic tape, the tape reel must be set securely when not in use to prevent the tape reel from being rotated carelessly and causing the magnetic tape to bend. It is necessary to do so.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, the present invention proposes a tape cassette that can be fully incorporated into a small tape cassette, that can securely lock a tape reel, and that can reliably unlock a tape reel with a simple mechanism. It is.

Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

5 to 8 show the whole tape cassette to which the present invention is applied, and FIGS. 9 to 11 show the tape cassette cut from a predetermined position.

As shown in these figures, the cassette half 20 constituting this tape cassette T is composed of a pair of upper half 21 and lower half 22, and each of these halves 21 and 22 is integrally connected with a plurality of screws. combined. Each of these halves 2
A pair of tape reels 24 and 25 on which a magnetic tape 23 is wound is housed inside the cassette housing 20 formed by combining the tapes 1 and 22.

These tape reels 24 and 25 include a cylindrical or bottomed cylindrical reel hub 26 around which the magnetic tape 23 is wound, a pair of annular or disc-shaped reel flanges 27 protruding from both ends of the reel hub 26; 28, . . . (see FIGS. 10 and 11).

An opening 29 is provided in one side (the front in this embodiment) 20a of the cassette half 20, and a magnetic tape 23 is wound between a pair of tape reels 24 and 25 along this opening 29. equipped. Further, a pair of arm members 31, 31 are arranged inside the left and right side wall plates 30, 30 in the cassette half 20, respectively (12th
(see figure). Each of these arm members 31, 31 is formed of the same member having the same shape.

That is, each of these arm members 31, 31 is
As shown in FIG. 12, sliding plates 33, 33 having pivot holes 32, 32 at one end;
33, and a second drawer arm 3 rotatably supported at the tips of the drawer arms 34, 34.
5,35. The sliding plates 33, 33 and the first drawer arms 34, 34
are connected via the first pins 34a, 34a of the first drawer arms 34, 34 inserted into the pin insertion holes 36, 36 in the approximate center of each sliding plate 33, 33, and The first drawer arms 34, 34 and the second drawer arms 35, 35 have second pins 34b, 3 inserted into pin insertion holes 37, 37 formed at one end of the second drawer arms 35, 35.
4b.

Elongated notches 38, 38 are formed in the central longitudinal direction of the sliding plates 33, 33, and are cut out to reach the pin insertion holes 36, 36, and inside these are formed a spring 39. , 39 are stored respectively. One ends 39a, 39a of the springs 39, 39 are locked to locking pins 40, 40 fitted into the pin insertion holes 36, 36, and the other ends 39b, 39b are connected to each other at both ends inside the cassette housing 20. It is locked by locking pins 42, 42 implanted in one ends of the slide grooves 41, 41. Also, the pivot hole 3 bored at one end of the sliding plates 33, 33
Inside 2 and 32 is a rotating lid 43 that is generally U-shaped as a whole.
Pivot protrusions 44, 44 formed at both ends are inserted, respectively. The rotating lid 43 includes a shielding portion 45 for closing the entire opening 29 of the cassette half 20, and approximately triangular bent portions 46, 46 formed by bending both ends of the shielding portion 45. and the pivot projections 44, 44 formed on the inner surfaces of the tips of the bent portions 46, 46.

On the other hand, guide pins 47, 47, . These guide pins 47, 47,...
The tips of the guide grooves 48, 48, which are formed along the openings 29 at both ends of the openings 29 on the inner surfaces of the upper and lower halves 21, 22 (i.e., the upper surface of the top plate 21a and the lower surface of the bottom plate 22a), ...It is inserted inside. Thus each second drawer arm 35,
The 35 guide pins 47, 47, . . . are moved along the guide grooves 48, 48, . . . while being regulated by the guide grooves 48, 48, . These guide grooves 48, 48,...
... and guide pins 47, 47, ...... are each arm member 3 corresponding to the tape guides 9, 9 described above.
1 and 31 are provided so that they can move along a predetermined trajectory.

The magnetic tape 23 is guided in a predetermined direction by cylindrical tape guide portions 49, 49 that serve as rotational fulcrums of the second pull-out arms 35, 35.

Each of the arm members 31, 31 is positioned at a first position A where the magnetic tape 23 stretched between the pair of reels 24, 24 is stored inside the cassette half 20.
(see FIG. 13) and a second position B (see FIG. 14) where the magnetic tape 23 protrudes outside the cassette half 20. . Furthermore, even when the arm members 31, 31 are in the first position A and the second position B, the guide pins 47, 4 of the second drawer arms 35, 35 are
A pair of reels 24, 25 are connected by a guide mechanism consisting of 7, . . . and guide grooves 48, 48, .
The length of the magnetic tape 23 stretched therebetween (hereinafter referred to as magnetic tape length) is configured to be movable so as to be equal at each of the first and second positions A and B.

And each reel 24, 25 of the lower half 22
As shown in FIG. 13, a reel lock member storage recess 50 is formed in between and near the back surface 20b of the cassette half 20, into which a reel lock member 51 made of an elastic material such as plastic is fitted. has been done. The reel lock member 51 disposed in the reel lock member storage recess 50 is used to lock each reel 24, 25 when not in use.
This is provided to prevent the magnetic tape 23 from rotating and to prevent the magnetic tape 23 from being bent from the reels 24 and 25. This reel lock member 5
1 is constructed by combining a pair of elastic members 52, 52, and each elastic member 52, 52 has an engagement member that engages with a serrated portion 53, 53 formed along the outer peripheral end surface of each reel flange 27, 28. Stopper claws 54, 54
A substantially L-shaped first elastic portion 55, 5 having at one end
5, and the locking claws 54, 54 are connected to the serrated portions 5.
It is integrally molded with substantially L-shaped second elastic portions 56 and 56 that resiliently bias toward the 3 and 53 sides, respectively.

The reel lock member storage recess 50 has the pair of resilient members 52, 52 connected to the locking claws 54, 54.
The above-mentioned elastic members 52, 52 are formed to have a shape sufficient to allow the above-mentioned elastic members 52, 52 to be arranged so as to face each other, and the above-mentioned elastic members 52, 52 provided with the above-mentioned locking claws 54, 54 extend along the outer periphery of the portion. A pair of guide portions 50a, 50b are formed as wall surfaces that guide the locking claws 54, 54 when they are elastically displaced.

Further, a through hole 57 is provided at the bottom of the reel lock member storage recess 50 in which the reel lock member 51 is placed. When a reel lock release pin 58 provided on the apparatus main body side is inserted into the through hole 57, the reel lock member 51 resists its elastic force and releases the cassette half 2.
The locking claws 54, 54 are moved away from the sawtooth portions 53, 53 by elastic displacement toward the rear surface 20b of the holder 0.

On the other hand, in the cassette half 20 on the opposite side to the reel lock member 51, that is, on the opening 29 side,
A plurality of determination holes 59 for determining the type of magnetic tape 23 as shown in FIG. 9, for example, whether it is a normal magnetic tape or a chrome magnetic tape.
a, 59b, . . . are formed parallel to each other. A card insertion groove 61 into which a discrimination card 60 is inserted is formed so as to cross each discrimination hole 59a, 59b, . . . . The discrimination card 60 has a predetermined discrimination hole 5 as shown in FIG. 15, for example.
Through holes 62a, 62c, . . . are formed only at locations corresponding to 9a, 59c, . It hasn't been done yet. Therefore, there is a through hole 6 for identification corresponding to a certain type of magnetic tape 23.
Discrimination card 60 having 2a, 62c,...
is inserted into the card insertion groove 61,
As shown in FIG. 9, the light from the light emitting parts 63, 63, .
4. The light is now received by... Therefore, it is possible to determine what type of magnetic tape 23 is used, depending on which of the light receiving sections 64, 64, . . . receives the light.

Note that hollow parts 65, 65 are formed at both ends of the back surface 20b side of the cassette half 20, and shutters 66, 66 for preventing erroneous recording or erasing are attached to the openings of the hollow parts 65, 65. 20b
It is attached so that it can slide along.
In addition, as shown in FIG. 18, the shutter 66,
If the shutters 66 are attached to the hollow portions 65, 65 with the back side thereof, the shutters 66, 66 can be made non-slidable by the step portions 66a, 66a provided on the outer peripheries of the shutters 66, 66. Moreover, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, inside the reel hub 26,
A spring 26a and a reel positioning press plate 26b pressed by the spring 26a are arranged.

Next, the case where the tape cassette according to the present invention is installed in a video tape recorder will be explained.

First, when the tape cassette T is housed in a cassette box (not shown) provided in the apparatus main body and the box is pushed into the apparatus main body, the reel lock release pin 58 provided on the apparatus main body side will release the cassette half 20. Through hole 57 provided on the bottom side
inserted within. At the same time, the tip 67a of the pressing member 67 provided at a predetermined position on the apparatus main body comes into contact with the lower end surface 43a of the rotating lid 43 (see FIG. 7).
When the cassette box is subsequently pushed down, the tip 58a of the release pin 58 is formed into a conical shape, so the tip 58a locks the reel lock member 5.
1 moves toward the back surface 20b of the cassette half 20 against the elastic force (see FIG. 14). Therefore, the engaging claws 54, 54 are separated from the serrated portions 53, 53 provided on the outer peripheral edges of the reel flange portions 27, 28 of each tape reel 24, 25. Therefore, each tape reel 24, 25
is in a state where it can rotate freely.

When the cassette box is pushed down, the drive shafts (not shown) of each reel stand are inserted into the recesses 68, 68 formed in the reel hubs 26, 26 of the tape reels 24, 25, and the recesses 6
Center hole 69 and drive hole 7 formed in 8, 68
A center pin, a drive pin, etc. provided on the drive shaft are inserted into the drive shaft. Therefore, each of the recesses 6
8 and 68 and the two drive shafts, so that the driving force from the drive shafts can be transmitted to each tape reel 24 and 25.

Furthermore, when the cassette box storing the tape cassette T is lowered, the tip 67a of the pressing member 67 pushes the rotating lid 43 into the opening 29 of the side plates 30, 30 of the cassette half 20. The triangular notches 71, 71 are rotated clockwise in FIG. 7 using the upper end surfaces 71a, 71a as pivot points, that is, pushed up.

When the rotating lid 43 is pushed up, this rotating lid 4
Pivot protrusions 44, 44 provided at both ends of 3
is the sliding plate 3 that constitutes each arm member 31, 31.
Pivot holes 32, 32 provided at one end of 3, 33
The sliding plates 33, 33 are inserted into the springs 39, 39 in conjunction with the rotating lid 43.
This causes the cassette half 20 to be pulled out from inside the cassette half 20 to its front surface 20a side against the elastic force of the cassette half 20. Therefore, the first
arms 34, 34 and this first arm 34,
a second arm 35, 35 pivoted on 34;
The cassette half 20 is also pushed forward in conjunction with the sliding plates 33, 33. Therefore, the guide parts 49, 49 of the second arms 35, 35
The magnetic tape 23 stretched between the tape reels 24 and 25 through its respective guide portions 49 and 4
9, it is moved from inside the cassette half 20 to the front thereof.

The rotating lid 43 is placed in the first position at the tip 67a of the pressing member 67.
When the arm members 31, 31 are pushed up to the position shown in FIG.
A loading pocket portion R having a predetermined width _l7 is formed on the front surface 20a of 0.

In this case, the guide pins 47, 47, . Since the magnetic tape 32 is moved along and regulated by the magnetic tape 32, there is no need to pull the magnetic tape 32 excessively while the arm members 31, 31 move from the first position A to the second position B. There isn't.

Next, as shown in FIG.
After the loading pocket R is formed in the front part of the cassette half, a loading guide pin for winding the magnetic tape around a tape guide drum (not shown) is attached to the magnetic tape 23 in the loading pocket R and the cassette half. 20, and the magnetic tape 23 is pulled out from the loading pocket R by its guide pins and the like. In this case, since the rotating lid 43 is pushed up by the pressing member 67, the rotating lid 43 does not get in the way when the magnetic tape 23 is pulled out from the loading pocket R.

Next, contrary to the loading operation described above, after the so-called unloading operation in which the loading guide pin etc. return to the loading pocket R, the rotating lid 43 is moved by the spring 39,
The pressing member 6 was pushed up against the elastic force of 39.
Raise the cassette box for 7. Then, the sliding plates 33, 33 move toward the back surface 20b of the cassette half 20 due to the elastic force of the springs 39, 39, and in conjunction with this, the rotating lid 43 also rotates as shown in FIG. Starting points 71a, 71
It rotates counterclockwise in the figure using a as a fulcrum. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, both the rotating lid 43 and the arm members 31, 31 are housed within the cassette half 20. That is, each arm member 31, 31 will occupy the first position A. Also in this case, the second arms 35, 35
The guide pins 47, 47, ...... are in the guide groove 4.
Since the magnetic tape 23 is moved along the cassette half 20 while the arm members 31 and 31 move from the second position B to the first position A, the magnetic tape 23 is moved along the cassette half 20. There will be no sagging.

As is clear from the above description, the present invention provides a tape cassette having a pair of engaging pawls and a reel locking member provided to engage with the serrated portions of the pair of reel flanges. Since the mating claws are made of an elastic material and a pair of guide portions for guiding the pair of engaging claws are provided on the outer side of each of the pair of engaging claws, a small tape cassette can be formed. The tape reel can be sufficiently incorporated into the tape reel to securely lock the tape reel, and the tape reel can also be reliably unlocked with a simple mechanism.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1A and 1B are a side sectional view and a top sectional view schematically showing a conventional tape cassette.
2A and 2B are a side sectional view and a plan sectional view schematically showing the tape cassette that is the premise of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is an ideal arm member used in the tape cassette that constitutes the present invention. FIG. 4 is a plan view schematically showing the trajectory of an arm member used for a magnetic tape wound between reels of different diameters. FIG. 5 is a front view showing a specific embodiment of the tape cassette according to the present invention, FIG. 6 is a plan view of the tape cassette, and FIG.
The figures are a left side view of the tape cassette, FIG. 8 is a rear view showing the opening side of the tape cassette, and FIG. 9 is a rear view of the tape cassette.
The figure is a side sectional view taken along line A-A in Figure 5.
0 is a side sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 5, FIG. 11 is a front sectional view taken along line C-C in FIG. 6,
Fig. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the main parts such as the arm member and rotating lid, Fig. 13 is a plan view of the inside of the cassette half seen from the upper half, and Fig. 14 shows the loading pocket section on the front of the cassette half. FIG. 15 is a plan view of the main part showing the state before the identification card is inserted into the card insertion groove, and FIG. 16 is a plan view of the main part showing the state where the identification card is inserted into the card insertion groove. FIG. 17 is a left side view showing the state in which the loading pocket is formed on the front surface of the cassette half, and FIG. 18 is a partial sectional view showing the state in which the shutter for preventing erroneous erasure or erroneous recording is attached. 20...Cassette half, 24, 25...Tape reel, 50...Reel lock member storage recess,
50a, 50b...Guide portion, 51...Reel lock member, 52...Elastic member, 53...Sawtooth portion of tape reel, 54...Locking pawl.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A tape cassette having a reel locking member having a pair of engaging claws and provided to engage with sawtooth portions of a pair of reel flanges, wherein the pair of engaging claws are made of an elastic material. 1. A tape cassette, wherein a pair of guide portions for guiding the pair of engagement claws are provided on the lower half so as to be positioned on the outer side of each of the pair of engagement claws.