US3752416A

US3752416A - Automatic winding reel

Info

Publication number: US3752416A
Application number: US00131033A
Authority: US
Inventors: S Fukatsu; T Okano
Original assignee: Victor Company of Japan Ltd
Current assignee: Victor Company of Japan Ltd
Priority date: 1970-04-03
Filing date: 1971-04-05
Publication date: 1973-08-14
Anticipated expiration: 1990-08-14

Abstract

An automatic winding reel comprises a pivoting pawl mounted on a reel hub to be projected from and retracted into the reel hub. The pivoting pawl comprises a first pawl part for engaging a tape-like material and a second pawl part for guiding the tapelike material, engaged by said first pawl part, to the outer peripheral surface of the reel hub along the outer surface of the second pawl part in a smooth gradual curve. The tape-like material engaged by the pivoting pawl is wound in a gradual curve so that a permanent bend does not remain on the tape-like material.

Description

United States Patent 1191 Fukatsu et a1.

AUTOMATIC WINDING REEL Inventors: Shichiro Fukatsu, Chigasaki; Takeshi Okano, Yokohama, both of Japan Victor Company of Japan, Ltd., Yokhama-City, Kanagawa-ken, Japan Filed: Apr. 5, 1971 Appl. No.: 131,033

Assignee:

Foreign Application Priority Data Apr. 3, 1970 Japan 45/31555 Apr. 3, 1970 Japan 45/3l556 u.s. c1. 242/195, 242/74, 242/192, 242/210 I111. 01. c111, 15/66, 1365b 75/28 Field of Search 242/195, 192, 210, 242/205, 197, 74, 74.1, 74.2

1111 3,752,416 1451 Aug. 14, 1973 1,522,248 l/l925 Johnson 242/74 3,208,682 9/1965 Pastor et 242/195 3,522,915 8/1970 Krtous et a1. 242/74 Primary Examiner-George F. Mautz Attorney-Louis Bernat [5 7] ABSTRACT An automatic winding reel comprises-a pivoting pawl mounted on a reel hub to be projected from and retracted into the reel hub. The pivoting pawl comprises a first pawl part for engaging a tape-like material and a second pawl part for guiding the tape-like material, engaged by said first pawl part, to the outer peripheral surface of the reel hub along the outer surface of the second pawl part in a smooth gradual curve. The tapelike material engaged by the pivoting pawl is wound in a gradual curve so that a permanent bend does not remain on the tape-like material.

8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures AUTOMATIC WINDING REEL This invention relates to an automatic winding reel. and more particularly to a reel which automatically engageswith and winds up a tape-like material, such as a tape leader or a film etc.

There have been proposed various kinds of winding reels for automatically engaging and winding up a tapelike material fed out of a supply reel. There is, for example, an automatic winding reel (which winds up a tape-like material) having a pin projecting from the reel hub which engages with an engaging slot formed in the tape-like material. However, in this conventionalautomaticwinding reel, the pin often causes damage to the engaging slot of the tape-like material by the impact of the pin when it. engages the tape-like material. Accordingly, the conventional reel has disadvantages in that it is incapable of smoothly and accurately engaging and winding of the tape-like material. Also, the tapelike material is damaged by frequent use.

In. order to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages of the conventional automatic winding reel, I have proposed an automatic winding reel of a type using a pivoting pawl. This proposed automatic winding reel-comprises upper and lower flanges, a reel hub hav ing a large recess and pivoting pawls which are rotatable in the recess. At its free end portion, this pivoting pawl projects out of the recess of the reel hub before engaging with the tape-like material. As the reel rotates under this condition, the free end portion of the pivoting pawl engages the engaging slot of the tape-like material, and the tape-like material is wound on the reel hub with the rotation of the reel.

In this proposed automatic winding reel, however, the end portion of the tape-line material, which en.- gages the pivoting pawl is wound on the reel hub, is bent at a fairly sharp angle. As a result, if the tape-like material is frequently wound on this automatic winding reel, the end portion of the tape-like material comes to have a permanently bend, and is not straight even when the tape-like material is not engaged with the reel.

Among the apparatuses which record and reproduce video signals on and from a magnetic tape by means of rotary magnetic heads (hereinafter referred to as VTR apparatuses), there is a similar VTR apparatus for effecting an auto-loading of a tape. In this auto-loading type of VTR apparatus, a tape leader is fed out of a'supply reel and travels along the outer surface of a guide drum containing the aforementioned rotary magnetic headslt is automatically engaged with and wound on an automatic winding reel. In this apparatus, the tape leader, which is fed out of the-supply reel, must pass through a complicatedly curved tape guide or running path leading to the automatic winding reel. Similarly, the tape leader which is rewound on the supply reel from the automatic winding reel must also pass through the complicated running path. Accordingly, it is essential, particularly in this tape auto-loading type of VTR apparatus, that the end portion of the tape-like material be always maintained in a straight condition, without having a permanent curl or bend resulting from too much automatic winding, as described above.

"This requirement is more imperative in the case wherein a tape cartridge containing the aforementioned supply reel is used in the tape auto-loading type of VTR apparatus. If there is a permanent bend on the end portion of the tape leader, a smooth and accurate which-can eliminate the aforementioned disadvantages.-

Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic winding reel which is capable of a smooth and? automatic engaging with and winding of a tape-like material, without causing a permanent bend. thereon.

A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic winding reel which is particularly effective if employed in a tape auto-loading-type of magnetic video recording and reproducing apparatus, having a complicated tape running path, without causing the tape-like material to have a permanent bend thereon.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an automatic winding reel which is capable of smoothly and accurately effecting an automatic engagement with and winding of a tape-like material, without causing damage to the tape-like material.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the description made hereinbelow with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of one embodiment of a tape auto-loading-type of magnetic video recording and reproducing apparatus to which an automatic winding reel according to this invention is applicable;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of one embodiment of an automatic winding reel according to the invention with its upper flange removed;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the automatic winding reel shown in FIG. 2 with the upper flange mounted and viewed from line III-III side; and

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of one example of a tape leader.

First to be described is one embodiment (FIG. 1) of a tape auto-loading-type of magnetic video recording and reproducing apparatus using an automatic winding reel according to the invention. A tape cartridge 10 is mounted at a predetermined position asshown in the figure. The tape cartridge 10 generally comprises a cartridge case 11 with a supply reel 12 contained therein. In the fore end of the case 1 1, there are formed an outlet for the tape and an opening for receiving a tape feeding roller 13 to be described later. A magnetic tape 14, having a tape leaderlS leading at the end, is wound on the supply reel 12.

-As shown in FIG. 4, the tape leader 15 consists of a first leader portion 15a which has the same width as the magnetic tape 14 and a second narrow leader portion 15b, which is located between the magnetic tape 14 and the first leader portion 15a. The first leader portion 15a is made of a relatively hard flexible material which is normally in a straight state. The second leader portion 15b is made of a soft flexible material which will not damage a tip of a magnetic head when it comes into contact with the magnetic head. Its width is narrower than that of the first leader portion 15a. The first leader portion 15a is formed in its foremost end portion with an engaging slot 16 having a width 1,.

In the tape auto-loading-type' of operation, a play button 39 is pushed. The apparatus is then changed over to an auto-loading mode, and the tape feeding roller 13 enters the cartridge 10. The roller 13 rotates as it is pressed against the outer periphery of the windings of the magnetic tape 14 and the tape leader 15 wound on the supply reel 12. The rotation of the roller 13 causes the windings to rotate with the supply reel 12, whereby the tape leader 15 led by the first leader portion 15a is fed out of the tape outlet of the tape cartridge 10.

The tape leader l5, fed out of the tape cartridge 10, passes between a tension pole 17 and a guide pole 18 and is guided to a guide plate 19. Then, the tape leader 15 moves along a guide pole 20, and passes between a transparent guide plate 21 and an erasing head assembly 22 and between the guide plate 21 and a first photocell 23. The tape leader 15 which has been guided by the guide plate 21 further passes between a guide pole 24 and a guide drum 25 containing rotary magnetic heads (not shown) whichrecord and reproduce video signals, and there it enters a leader guide 26.

The leader guide26 is mounted slantwise relative to the scanning surface of the guide drum 25, and it is spaced slightly away therefrom. The leader guide extends along substantially the semicircle of the guide drum 25. The leader guide 26 has a leader passage with an opening formed on the opposite side of the guide drum 25, the guide having a substantially C-shaped cross section. The first leader portion 15a of the tape leader 15 moves into the leader passage, from the entrance of the leader guide 26. As the first leader portion 15a advances within the leader guide 26, the second leader portion 15b, which has a narrower width, is disengaged from the leader guide 26 through the opening of the C-shaped cross section. Thus, leader 15b is brought into contact with the guide drum 25. Consequently, the magnetic tape 14, which follows the second leader portion 15b, directly contacts the guide drum 25 without entering the leader guide 26.

The tape leader 150, which has emerged from the leader guide 26, is guided by a tape guide plate 27, and it passes between the guide plate 27 and a guide pole 28 and between a transparent guide plate 32 and an audio erasing head assembly 29, a second photocell 30 and a control signal and audio signal recording and reproducing head assembly 31. The tape leader 15 further passes by a sensing pole 33 and between a capstan 34, a pinch roller 35, and then it reaches an automatic winding reel 36. Lamps 37 and 38 respectively emit light to the first and

second photocells

23 and 30.

Next to be described is one embodiment (FIG. 2 and FIG. 3) of the automatic winding reel 36 constructed according to the invention. The automatic winding reel 36 generally comprises a reel hub 50 and upper and lower reel flanges 51a and 51b, fixed respectively to the upper and lower surfaces of the reel hub 50. FIG. 2 shows the automatic winding reel with its upper flange 51a removed. The reel hub 50 is formed with two large recesses 52.

Pawls 53 are pivotally mounted on shafts 54 so as to enter and emerge from the recesses 52 of the reel hub 50. The free end portion of each pivoting pawl 53 includes a first pawl part 55 which is relatively thin or a small thickness I, (FIG. 3) and a second pawl part 56 which is relatively thick or a large thickness I An outer surface of the first pawl part 55 has an arcuate form which conforms to the circumference of the reel hub 50, when the pivoting pawl 53 is in its retracted position inside the reel'hub 50, as shown by solid lines in FIG. 2. The second pawl part 56 is formed integrally with the first pawl part 55 and on the inner side thereof,

namely on the side near the center of the reel. An outer surface 67' of the second pawl part 56 is curved so as to gradually extend and approach the circumference of the reel hub 50. Starting from the tip of the pawl, part 56 spirals outwardly until its contour finally conforms to the circumference of the hub. The first pawl part 55 projects and extends from the middle .part of the outer surface 67 of the second pawl part 56 as viewed in the direction of its thickness.

,An elastic material 57, such as rubber, is stuck to the surface of the first pawl part 55, extending from its tip to the line where the tip meets the second pawl part 56. When the tip of the first pawl part 55 engages the end part of the recess in the reel hub 50, contact is through the elastic material 57 when the pivoting pawl 53 is in its retracted position shown by solid lines in FIG. 2. The elastic material 57 serves to reduce shock responsive to an impact which the pivoting pawl 53 has upon the leader, when the pivoting pawl 53 engages the leader as described later.

At the other end of the pivoting pawl 53, first and second base end parts 58 and 59, have

pins

60 and 61 erected respectively thereon. A microswitch 62, provided inside of the reel hub 50, is opened and closed by a leaf spring 63 which is fixed at one end to the switch case. Its free end engages the pin 61 of one pivoting pawl 53. The leaf spring 63 is moved in a pivotal motion by the pin 61. The microswitch 62 may also be provided in a position where the leaf spring 63 is engaged by the pin of the other pivoting pawl.

A spring 65 is held between the pin 61 and a fixed pin 64. The pivoting pawl 53 is pulled by the spring 65 acting in a counterclockwise direction, as'viewed in FIG. 2. Normally, pawl 53 is held in an extended position, as shown by a broken line. FIG. 3 shows a side elevation of the automatic winding reel 36 when the pivoting pawl 36 is in the aforementioned extended position. In this condition, the extended position of the pivoting pawl 53 is restricted by an abutting engagement of the pin 60 with a leaf spring 66. The resilient force of the leaf spring 66 is stronger than the resilient force of the spring 65.

Nextly, an operation of the automatic winding reel having the above mentioned construction will be described. The first leader portion 15a is fed out of the tape cartridge 10 and automatically threaded along the predetermined tape running path provided on the magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus. The tape moves in the direction of arrow A, into a spacebetween the upper and lower flanges 51a and 51b of the automatic winding reel 36, which is rotating in the direction of arrow B, namely a clockwise direction. At this time, the pivoting pawl 53 is held in the extended position, shown in FIG. 2 by a broken line, by the force of the spring 65. Pawl 53 rotates integrally with the automatic winding reel 36 as it turns in the direction of arrow B. The tip of the pawl projects out of the reel hub 50.

The width I of the engaging slot 16 (FIG. 4) of the first leader portion 15a, the thickness 1, of the first pawl part 55 and the thickness 1 of the second pawl part 56 are selected to satisfy a relationship wherein l, l, l;,. Accordingly, when the pivoting pawl 53 engages the leader portion 15a, only the tip of the first pawl part 55 enters into the engaging slot 16 of the leader portion 15a, to engage it. As the reel 36 rotates, the fore end portion of the engaging slot 16 of the leader portion is caught in the V or valley formed between the first pawl part 55 and the second pawl part 56. Consequently, the leader 15 is positively pulled by the pivoting pawl 53, as the reel 36 rotates.

When the first pawl part 55 hooks the leader portion 15a, the tape pulls or jerks the pivoting pawl 53 in a counterclockwise direction. However, when the pivoting pawl 53 is about to turn in a counterclockwise direction, the pin 60 (provided on the base end part 58) is elastically engaged by the leaf spring 66. The counterclockwise torque, caused by the tape pull acting upon the pivoting pawl 53, is elastically blocked by spring 66. Further, a window 16 in the leader portion 15a is elastically engaged by the elastic lining material 57 provided on the tip of the pivoting pawl 53. This mitigates the impact which the pivoting pawl 53 receives from the leader portion 15a when the pivoting pawl 53 hooks the leader portion 15a. Thus, damage to both the engaging slot 16 of the leader portion 15a and the tip of the first pawl part 55 is avoided.

The thickness 1 of the second pawl part 56 is larger than the width 1, of the engaging slot 16 of the leader portion 15a. Thus, the leader portion 15a engages only by the first pawl part 55, and is brought into contact with and guided along the outer surface 67 of the second pawl part 56. Since the outer surface 67 of the second pawl part 56 is formed in a curved surface which gradually approaches the circumference of the reel hub 50, the leader portion 15a is not bent abruptly as it is guided along the outer surface 67.

After the pivoting pawl 53 has hooked the leader portion 15a and rotated about 360 in the direction of arrow B, the tip of the pivoting pawl 53 comes into contact with the inner surface of the leader 15 again. This time, however, there is no slot 16 in the portion of the leader 15 with which the tip of the pivoting pawl 53 comes into contact. Accordingly, as the pivoting pawl 53 further rotates in the direction of arrow B, it is moved clockwise in a revolving motion about the pin 54 and against the force of the spring 65, by a winding pressure applied by the leader portion 15a. The pivoting pawl 53, as it is so moved by the leader portion 15a, is gradually retracted into the reel hub 50, and it reaches the position shown by a solid line in FIG. 2, when the revolving movement has finished. At this state, the tip of the leader portion 15a is held between the end portion of the resess of the reel hub 50 and the elastic material 57 on the first pawl part 55. The leader portion 15a further runs along the outer surface 67 of the second pawl part 56. When it reaches the peripheral surface of the reel hub 50 it is at an angle which is substantially close to the circumference of the reel hub 50. Thus, the leader 15 is wound on the reel hub 50 by rotation of the winding reel 36.

In order that the leader portion 15a may run along the outer surface 67 of the second pawl part 56, the length of the engaging slot 16 must be greater than that of the portion of the first pawl part 55 extending over the outer surface 67.

As the winding reel 36 rotates, the one of the two pivoting pawls 53 which did not engage the leader 15 is also retracted into the reel hub 50 by a winding pressure applied by the leader 15. The first of the pivoting pawls which engages the leader 15 catches it. Thus,

.pawl selection is dependent upon the time when the leader 15 moves into the winding reel. No one pivoting pawl always engages the leader 15.

With the revolving of the pivoting pawl 53, the pin 61 also revolves in a clockwise direction. The pin 61 pushes the leaf spring 63 thereby opening the microswitch 62. The opening of the microswitch 62 is'detected by a slip ring and a brush (not shown) in the winding reel 36. This actuates the mechanism of. the magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus tov rctract the tape feeding roller 13 from the tape cartridge and to press the pinch roller 35 against the capstan 34, thereby causing the leader and the magnetic tape 14 to run positively. By this operation, the magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus is changed from an auto-loading mode to a play mode.

After the foremost end portion of the leader portion 15a is completely engaged by the pivoting pawl 53, the end portion is held between the tip of the first pawl part 55 and the side wall end portion of the recess 52 in the reel hub 50 as shown in FIG. 2 by a chain line. Accordingly, the foremost end portion of the leader portion 15a is bent in a direction which is opposite to the curve along the outer surface 67 of the second pawl part 56. This gives a slight bend to the foremost end portion which is offset by the bend formed in the foremost end portion and the portion which follows it. Consequently, as a whole, the end portion of the leader portion 15a hardly becomes bent or curled even by a frequent use.

in the foregoing embodiment, the tape leader 15, provided at the end of the magnetic tape 14 and formed with the engaging slot in the foremost end portion thereof, is used as a tape-like material which the automatic winding reel 36 automatically engages and winds up. However, the tape-like material is not limited to this. If a relatively hard flexible film is used, a film formed in its foremost end portion with an engaging slot may be used without using the tape leader.

While the invention has been described with respect to the specific preferable embodiment, various modifications and variations thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of which is set forth in the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. An automatic winding reel for a tape-like material comprising a reel hub having a recess, at least one pivoting pawl pivotally mounted on said reel hub so as to be extended from and retracted into said recess, means for applying a force to normally hold said pivoting pawl in a position wherein the end portion of said pivoting pawl extends from the peripheral surface of said reel hub prior to engagement of the pivoting pawl with said tape-like material, said pivoting pawl comprising a first pawl part having a relatively small thickness which is smaller than the width of an engaging slot formed in the foremost end portion of said tape-like material and a second pawl part formed integrally with said first pawl part, said second pawl part having a relatively large thickness which is wider than the width of said engaging slot, said first pawl part having an outer surface which constitutes a part of a peripheral surface with a contour which conforms to the outer peripheral surface of said reel hub, said pivoting pawl being retracted responsive to pressure caused by the winding of the tapelike material as it comes into engagement with said pivoting pawl and overcomes the force of said means for normally holding said pawl in said extended position, said second pawl part having an outer surface with its tip end being located in said recess and a contour which gradually approaches the outer peripheral surface of said reel hub when said pivoting pawl has been retracted in said recess, an end wall portion of said recess and the tip of said first pawl part being formed to abut and engage each other for stopping the pivoting pawl when retracted into the recess such that the abutting surfaces of the end wall portion and the tip of the first pawl part extend in a direction which is opposite to the curve along the outer surface of the second pawl part, the foremost end portion of said tape-like material engaged by said first pawl part being guided along the outer surface of said second pawl part, then reaching the outer peripheral surface of said reel hub and being held between the tip of the first pawl part and the end wall portion of the recess thereby causing said tape-like material to be wound by said reel hub.

2; The automatic winding reel as defined in claim 1 wherein said first pawl part projects and extends integrally from the middle part of the outer surface of said second pawl part as viewed in the direction of its thickness.

3. The automatic winding reel as defined in claim 1 further comprising an elastic material provided on at least the surface of said first pawl part which catches said leader, said elastic material serving to absorb the force of impact which said first pawl part receives responsive to the impact of the end portion of said leader when said engaging slot is caught by said first pawl part.

4. The automatic winding reel as defined in claim 1 and means for rotating said automatic winding reel, the pawl end portion of said pivoting pawl extending outside of said reel hub far enough for the pawl end portion to hook and engage the engaging slot of the advancing tape-like material.

5. The automatic winding reel as defined in claim 1 wherein said tape-like material is a tape leader made of a relatively hard flexible material attached to the end of a magnetic tape, said automatic winding reel being applied to an auto-loading tape magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus comprising a supply reel on which said magnetic tape and tape leader are wound, means for feeding said tape leader out of said supply reel and means for guiding said tape leader along a predetermined path to said automatic winding reel.

6. The automatic reel of claim 1 wherein said pawl has a resilient means associated with the end opposite the tape engaging end, said resilient means normally fixing the extended pawl position, and means responsive to said tape engaging said pawl for pulling said pawl against the force of said resilient means and thereby absorbing the impact of said tape when the tape is caught by said pawl.

7. An automatic tape loading machine comprising a reel having a retractable pawl in the hub thereof, first resilient means for normally extending said pawl far enough to catch a window in an end of a tape and for absorbing a pull when the tape is so caught, and second resilient means lining the catching end of said pawl for absorbing the shock of impact upon said window resulting from the impact when said pawl catches said tape.

8. The machine of claim 7 wherein said first resilient means comprises a first spring having a predetermined resilient pull and a second spring having a greater resilient fo'rce than said predetermined resilient pull, said second spring fixing the normal extended position.

* III

Claims

1. An automatic winding reel for a tape-like material comprising a reel hub having a recess, at least one pivoting pawl pivotally mounted on said reel hub so as to be extended from and retracted into said recess, means for applying a force to normally hold said pivoting pawl in a position wherein the end portion of said pivoting pawl extends from the peripheral surface of said reel hub prior to engagement of the pivoting pawl with said tape-like material, said pivoting pawl comprising a first pawl part having a relatively small thickness which is smaller than the width of an engaging slot formed in the foremost end portion of said tapelike material and a second pawl part formed integrally with said first pawl part, said second pawl part having a relatively large thickness which is wider than the width of said engaging slot, said first pawl part having an outer surface which constitutes a part of a peripheral surface with a contour which conforms to the outer peripheral surface of said reel hub, said pivoting pawl being retracted responsive to pressure caused by the winding of the tape-like material as it comes into engagement with said pivoting pawl and overcomes the force of said means for normally holding said pawl in said extended position, said second pawl part having an outer surface with its tip end being located in said recess and a contour which gradually approaches the outer peripheral surface of said reel hub when said pivoting pawl has been retracted in said recess, an end wall portion of said recess and the tip of said first pawl part being formed to abut and engage each other for stopping the pivoting pawl when retracted into the recess such that the abutting surfaces of the end wall portion and the tip of the first pawl part extend in a direction which is opposite to the curve along the outer surface of the second pawl part, the foremost end portion of said tape-like material engaged by said first pawl part being guided along the outer surface of said second pawl part, then reaching the outer peripheral surface of said reel hub and being held between the tip of the first pawl part and the end wall portion of the recess thereby causing said tape-like material to be wound by said reel hub.

2. The automatic winding reel as defined in claim 1 wherein said first pawl part projects and extends integrally from the middle part of the outer surface of said second pawl part as viewed in the direction of its thickness.

8. The machine of claim 7 wherein said first resilient means comprises a first spring having a predetermined resilient pull and a second spring having a greater resilient force than said predetermined resilient pull, said second spring fixing the normal extended position.