KR100197172B1 - Tape cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

Tape cassette for a roll type magnetic tape wound between a pair of real hubs.

The case is a tape transfer path extending from both rail hubs to the front opening through which the magnetic heads are inserted through both ends of the case near the front. The case has a base portion and top and bottom plates covering the top and bottom surfaces of the base portion.

The base part is solid in the thickness direction except the rail hub and the tape feed path. The base part has a front part and a rear part which are continuous with each other through a connection part formed between the winding parts.

The base part and the top and bottom plates are cut out in portions corresponding to the openings.

The base portion is provided as a guide on the front side to guide the magnetic tape between the one-colored front surface and the guide.

Description

Tape cassette

1A is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of a tape cassette according to the present invention.

FIG. 1B is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 1A.

2 and 3 are cross-sectional views of FIG. 1B.

4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a tape cassette and cassette adapter according to the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a sectional side view showing the mounting method of the tape cassette in the cassette adapter.

6 and 7 are cross-sectional plan views illustrating the mounting operation of FIG.

8, 9 and 11 are perspective views of another embodiment of a cassette adapter.

10 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the adapter shown in FIG.

12 and 15 are perspective views of another embodiment of a tape cassette.

13 is a sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 12, and

14 is a perspective view of a portion of the tape cassette of FIG. 12;

* Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

10,30 case 11 base portion

11a: front 11b: rear

12: top plate 13: bottom plate

17: tape feed path 18,180: closed plate

20: spring 18a, 36, 36 ', 180c: protrusion

The present invention provides a tape cassette having a smaller size, in particular a thinner case than a conventional tape cassette, capable of accommodating magnetic tapes of the same width as the conventional one, and an adapter for mounting such a cassette on a conventional tape recorder. It is about.

Among the cassette tapes, the most widely used at present is called the compact cassette, which accepts a magnetic tape with a width of 3.8 mm and has a standard shape and size, i.e. 100 mm long, 64 mm wide and 8.5 mm thick (first 8 degrees).

Convenient recording light reproduction tape recorders for this type of compact cassette have been reduced in size and weight.

As a result, recent models are only slightly larger than the cassettes themselves.

In other words, further reduction in the size of the hardware portion of the tape recorder is almost impossible.

On the other hand, as one of reducing the size of the cassette, micro-cassettes (50 mm long, 33 mm wide and 8 mm thick) are well known.

However, the acoustic information recording capacity is smaller than that of a compact cassette, and because of its fragile structure, the tape cannot be transported stably, and its sound quality is not very good.

Thus, tape recorders for micro-cassettes are not popular despite their compact size.

For this reason, in an attempt to reduce the size of the tape cassette, it is essential to maintain the sufficient strength of the cassette itself without lowering the sound information recording capacity and not degrading the sound quality.

It is also desirable that such small and thin tape cassettes can be recorded and played back on conventional compact cassette tape recorders.

Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 56-98757 discloses a compact cassette which can be mounted in a tape recorder with a tape cassette inserted in a case and stored in the case to protect the magnetic tape during transportation.

Further, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 57-58752 discloses a solid type tape cassette having the inside of a solid case except for a part thereof.

A first object of the present invention is to eliminate the above disadvantages, and to provide a tape cassette having a sufficiently strong strength and not losing sound information recording capacity and sound quality even when its thickness is reduced.

It is a second object of the present invention to provide a tape cassette which is much thinner but can be reproduced on a conventional tape recorder.

Since the tape cassette according to the present invention has a solid base portion, most of the inside thereof is solid. Therefore, since the front part and the rear part of the solid part are continuous with each other via the connection part between the winding parts, they have an increased strength compared with the prior art disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 57-58752.

The tape is mounted on a tape recorder, in particular for this set, for recording and playback.

By means of a cassette having a closing plate, the recess or opening is usually closed by the closing plate, thus protecting the magnetic tape exposed to this opening.

On the other hand, when inserting and mounting the tape cassette with the closing plate into the cassette adapter or the tape recorder described below, the closing plate will abut on the protrusion on the cassette adapter or the tape recorder.

The closure plate will therefore move backwards, opening the top and bottom surfaces of the recess or opening as the cassette is inserted.

Thus, with the cassette adapter having the above structure, the closing plate of the tape cassette will abut on the protrusion on the cassette adapter when the tape cassette is inserted from the rear portion of the front or rear of the case or after the case is inserted. If inserted further, the closure member will move backwards, thus opening the top and bottom surfaces of the front recess.

When the top and bottom surfaces are open, conventional magnetic heads and pinch rollers can be inserted smoothly through the front recesses.

According to the present invention, since most of the inside of the cassette is solid, it has sufficient strength even if it is thin.

In addition, there is no need to use a narrow magnetic tape.

Thus, according to the present invention, what is called a thin tape cassette or a card cassette can be achieved without degrading the amount of information and the sound quality.

Since the thickness of the cassette can be reduced, the size of the tape recorder can be reduced.

Further, since the front part and the rear part of the base part are continuous with each other, they have an increased strength compared to the prior art disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 57-58752. Thus, the overall stiffness of the cassette increases.

In addition, since the relative positioning between the front and rear parts is unnecessary, the workability is also improved.

Also, by providing a shredding plate, the tape will be much less damaged.

Other features and objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, the tape cassette will be described.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the case 10 is composed of a base body portion 11 and top and bottom plates 12 and 13 covering the top and bottom surfaces of the base portion 11, respectively. It is.

It should be as long as possible to accommodate the case of the compact cassette. The magnetic tape 1 accommodated here should have the same length and width as the magnetic cassette of the compact cassette.

The base portion 11 is formed of a synthetic resin, and is formed as a transfer path 17 extending through the winding portions 14 and 15 and the front concave portion 16 on which the magnetic head is mounted through both ends of the front portion of the case 10. have. On the other hand, the base portion 11 is firm in the thickness direction. The front portion 11a and the rear portion 11b are connected to each other through a connecting portion defined between the winding portions 14 and 15.

Since the parts 11a and 11b are connected to each other, the case will be increased in strength and the front part and the rear part can be held in a fixed position with respect to each other.

The top and bottom plates 12, 13 are made of permeable, conductive material, such as aluminum or stainless steel, and formed of a fleece to have the same shape. These materials are self-shielding and can discharge static electricity.

They are formed with cutouts extending along the front edge.

A closing plate 18 made of an investment material and made of a conductive material or a synthetic resin is mounted on the top and bottom surfaces of the base portion 11 at the front portion 11a to be moved back and forth. They are pressed forward by the spring 20 to the part which closes the cutouts formed in the top and bottom plates 12 and 13 through the stopper 19 and forms the recesses 16 therebetween.

Since the front opening of the recess 16 is lower than the magnetic head or the pinch roller, they are not inserted in this state.

By pressing the closing plate 18 backward against the spring 20, the magnetic head is inserted into contact with the tape through cutouts formed in the top and bottom plates 12, 13.

The tape guide 21 made of stainless steel is attached to the front surface of the front portion 11a of the base portion 11 to guide the magnetic tape smoothly without slipping. Each tape guide 21 is divided into two parts along the centerline shown in FIG. 1A as one of the divided parts formed integrally with the top and bottom plates 12 and 13 as shown by the dashed lines in FIG. Can be.

As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the base member 11 includes a member 40 for preventing the recording sound from being erased and a display member 50 for indicating the type of magnetic tape (normal, chrome, etc.). Is provided on the rear surface of the rear portion 11b.

The erasing preventing member 40 is composed of a hole 41 and a plug 42 fitted into the hole 41.

By pulling the plug 42, the claw of the tape recorder (same type as in the prior art) protrudes into the hole 41, making recording impossible.

The display member 50 (position selection member) is composed of a hole 51 and a mark such as a magnetic mark. The mark in the hole is detected by the detecting member of the tape recorder.

In the figures, reference numeral 22 designates a head pad and 23 is a stainless patch. As shown in FIG. 1A, to assemble the tape cassette A, at both ends of the magnetic tape 1, the rail hubs are inserted into the rail holes through slip sheets (not shown) and the tape 1 is conveyed. Inflow into the recess 17 and the recessed part 16 is carried out.

And the base part 11 provided with the closing plate 18 is mounted, and after attaching the tape guide 21, the upper plate 12 is pinched through the slip sheet.

And the assembled cassette is screwed (Fig. 4)

The slip sheet is well known and has the shape of FIG. The cassette tape A is provided between the top and bottom plates 12 and 13 and the base portion 11. However, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 12 to 14 and the embodiment shown in FIG. 15, flat box members are fitted outside the top and bottom plates 12, 13. That is, the flat box member 18 forming the top and bottom plates 18 is mounted on the case 10 so as to be movable.

It may be transparent or opaque (as in the illustrated embodiment) and consists of a resin plate or steel sheet. It has a length as shown by the solid or dashed lines.

The flat box member 180 is pushed forward by the spring 20 through the stopper 19 in the same manner as in the above embodiment.

In this state, the recessed portion 16 is closed to protect the magnetic tape 1. As shown in FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, the stopper 19 has one end inserted into the protrusion 180a formed on the inner circumference of the box-shaped member 180 and the check plate 20a of the spring 20. As shown in FIG. Has the other end fixed to).

The spring 20 is mounted around a cylindrical member 20b formed with a longitudinal slit in the intermediate portion and is movable with respect to the cylindrical member 20b and the check plate 20a and the cylindrical member 20b. Is supported between the base 20c.

Hereinafter, a cassette adapter B suitable for mounting on a conventional tape recorder to which the tape cassette A is mounted will be described.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 4 includes a known compact cassette case 30 (also known as a half and does not include magnetic tape and hubs on both sides).

The transparent cover 31 is provided at the top of the case 30 so as to open from the rear side. The lid 31 is opened to mount the tape cassette A into the case 30. In the figure, numeral 32 designates a leaf spring for pushing up the cassette.

The engagement piece 33 is pivotally mounted in both side walls of the case 30. Each engagement piece 33 has a front end projecting into the engagement hole 35 in the tape cassette A, which is pressed by the spring, thus preventing the tape cassette A from popping out. By pressing the rear end 33b of the engagement piece 33, the front end 33a will pivot back and thus emerge from the engagement hole 35. Thus, the tape cassette A will be pushed out of the case 30 by the leaf spring 32.

In addition, the case 30 is provided with protrusions 36 on the upper and bottom inner surfaces so that when the cassette tape A is inserted into the case as shown in FIG. 5, the protrusions 36 are closed plates. It will abut against the front edge of 18 and then push the closure plate backwards as the cassette tape is inserted further as shown in FIG. 7 (in the embodiments of FIGS. 12 and 15 the box shaped member 180 ) Will be pushed backwards.)

Thus the top and bottom surfaces of the opening 16 will be open.

In this state, the tape cassette can be inserted into the case and inserted for recording and playback in the same manner as in the conventional compact cassette tape.

When forming the closing plate 18 by punching, a cut-up raised protrusion 18a may be formed so that when the cassette is inserted, the protrusion 18a will abut the protrusion formed on the inner surface of the cassette ( The protrusions formed on the cassette inner surface do not protrude as the protrusions 36 and are long enough to reliably contact the protrusions 18a), and press the closing plate 18 backward.

As shown in FIG. 15, the box-shaped member 180 may be formed as a cutout 180b at both front ends thereof. In this case, as shown in this figure, the base portion 11 must be formed in both sides with the grooves 11a to receive the projections 36. By further providing a protrusion 180c on the inner surface of the box-shaped member 180 to be inserted into the groove 11a, the protrusion 180c and the groove 11a serve as a guide when the box-shaped member 180 moves. .

In addition to the types mentioned above, the cassette adapter B has a type in which the tape cassette A can be inserted from the rear surface of the case 30, having the rear portion of the detachable cassette 30 as shown in FIG. Or a type having a case 30 detachable in the thickness direction as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 so that the tape cassette a can be inserted by slightly opening the case. If the case is opened too wide, the protrusion (same type as the protrusion 36) will not abut the closing plate 18, making it difficult to open the top and bottom surfaces of the opening 16 smoothly. The engagement piece 33, the spring 34, etc., should also be provided on one of the dividing members of the case. These parts serve to keep the partition members of the case 30 connected to each other, and the spring 34 functions to push the side of the tape cassette A. The members shown in FIG. 11 can be pivotally mounted as shown by the dashed lines.

The magnetic tape 1 of the cassette tape A can be used not only for recording and reproducing analog sound but also as a digital audio tape DAT or a video tape.

Regarding the cassette holder B, only the tape recorder for the tape cassette A can move the closing plate 18 or 180 to open the opening 16 when the tape cassette A is inserted. Corresponding to a projection 36 or 36 ').

Claims (5)

A tape cassette for a roll type magnetic tape wound between a pair of rail hubs, wherein the cassette extends from both rail hubs to the front openings through which magnetic heads are inserted through both ends of the case near the front portion. A case formed between the base part and the rail, the base part being solid in the thickness direction excluding the case having the upper and bottom plates covering the upper and bottom surfaces of the base part, the rail hub and the tape transfer path. The base part having the front part and the rear part which are continuous with each other through the connection part formed, the base part and the upper part and the bottom plate cut out from the part corresponding to the opening part, and the magnetic tape guide means at the front side. Tape case, characterized in that composed of the base portion . The top opening of claim 1, wherein the top opening with top and bottom portions is open toward the top and bottom surfaces of the case, and the tape cassette is rearwardly movably mounted on the top and bottom plates of the case to cover the opening. And a spring mounted between the closing plate and the case to press the closing plate in the direction for closing the opening. The tape cassette according to claim 2, wherein the closure plate and the spring are mounted between the base portion and the upper and bottom plates. A cassette adapter for accommodating a tape cassette as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adapter has an opening in which the tape cassette can be inserted from the rear, formed in one of an upper surface, a front surface and a rear surface. A protrusion suitable for abutting the closure plate of the tape cassette is provided therein when the case, the tape cassette is inserted and the closure plate is moved backwards to resist the spring force to prevent the closure plate from returning to its original position. Cassette adapter, characterized in that consisting of the case. 5. The casing according to claim 4, wherein the case is detachable in the thickness direction, so that the separated member of the case is closed against the spring force so that the closing plate resists spring force to prevent the tape cassette from being inserted from the rear and the closing plate from being returned from its original position. And a projection adapted to abut the closing plate of the tape cassette when moved to the cassette.