JPH03250479A - tape cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tape cassette that stores a tape on which information such as music and video can be recorded/played.

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional tape cassette is, for example, a compact cassette shown in FIG. This compact Φ cassette has a structure in which the tape is exposed from the cassette shell through a magnetic head insertion window for inserting a magnetic head into the cassette shell, a pinch roller insertion window for inserting a pinch roller, and the like.

In addition, there are tape cassettes that have a shutter that shields the pinch roller and magnetic head insertion window when not in use, such as video tape cassettes and Digital Life Audio Tape (hereinafter referred to as rDATJ) cassettes. Both have a structure in which the tape is pulled out by rotating a shutter that is attached to a magnetic recording/reproducing device and shields an opening window.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention In the compact cassette described above, the tape is exposed through the magnetic head insertion window for inserting the magnetic head into the cassette shell, the pinch roller insertion window for inserting the pinch roller, etc. Dust and the like may enter and adhere to the recording/reproducing surface of the tape, or a hand or the like may accidentally touch the recording/reproducing surface of the tape and damage it.

In addition, with video tape cassettes and DAT cassettes, when the shutter is in the closed position, the tape is shielded by the shutter and there is no risk of dust entering, but when the tape cassette is attached to a magnetic recording/playback device and recording/playback is performed, It is necessary to rotate the shutter and pull out the tape.
Dust etc. adhere to the recording/playback surface of the tape that is pulled out and exposed.

In addition, the tape cassette occupies a large volume during the process of rotating the shutter and when the shutter is in the open position, which poses problems such as hindering miniaturization of the device.

The present invention solves these conventional problems, and is compatible with conventional compact cassettes in terms of size and shape, prevents the intrusion of dust, etc., and is suitable for digital applications that require high reliability. Our technical challenge is to provide a tape cassette that is suitable for recording/playback and can contribute to the miniaturization of equipment.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the tape cassette of the present invention has the following features:
A tape storage section for storing the tape, a pair of reel insertion holes for inserting a reel for winding the tape, a window section with approximately the same thickness as the tape storage section, and an insertion window for the magnetic head and pinch roller in this window section. a cassette shell having a trowel-like cross-section, the insertion window of which is slidably opened and closed, guided along a guide groove provided in the cassette shell, and normally biased in the closing direction; and one side of the shutter. and an engaging part provided on the front side of the cassette shell, and the center position of the engaging part in the tape running direction is 34 mm or more from the center between the pair of reel insertion holes in the tape running direction. It is configured to exceed.

According to the tape cassette constructed as described above, the thickness of the tape storage part and the window part are approximately the same, and the insertion window provided in the window part is opened and closed by a slidable shutter, and the insertion window provided in the window part is opened and closed by a slidable shutter. 34m from the center of the pair of reel insertion holes.
Since the tape cassette is located at a distance of more than 100 m, when this tape cassette is installed in a recording/playback device, the shutter opening/closing means provided on the device engages with the engaging portion and slides the shutter in the tape running direction. open.

EXAMPLE Hereinafter, an example of the tape cassette of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tape cassette according to an embodiment of the present invention viewed from above, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the tape cassette of FIG. 1 when the shutter is opened, and FIG. 3 is a tape cassette of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the shutter shown in FIG. 1 seen from above the back surface of the cassette, FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the conventional compact cassette seen from above, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the present invention. 7 is a detailed perspective view illustrating the holder of FIG. 6, and FIG. 8 is a detailed explanation of FIG. 6. 9 is a front view of a tape cassette according to an embodiment of the present invention after it has been installed in a holder of a magnetic recording/reproducing device, and FIG. 10 is a detailed sectional view of the conventional compact cassette shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 11 is a front view of the magnetic recording/reproducing device when it starts to be mounted on the holder, and FIG. 11 is a detailed cross-sectional view for explaining the detailed explanation of FIG. 10.

First, before explaining the tape cassette of the present invention, the shape and dimensions of compact cassettes currently on the market will be briefly explained.

In FIG. 5, the conventional compact tatami cassette 31 is
It has a pair of reel insertion holes 33 into which a reel shaft for storing the tape 32 and winding the tape 32 is inserted, and the dimension A of the window portion 36 consisting of the magnetic head insertion window 34 and the pinch roller insertion window 35 corresponds to the size of the tape 32. It is composed of a cassette shell 38 that is thicker than the dimension B of the storage section 37.

In addition, the dimension C between the pair of reel insertion holes 33 is 42.5 mm according to the compact cassette standard, and the size C between the pair of reel insertion holes 33 is 42.5 mm.
The dimension from the center between both reel insertion holes 33 in the tape running direction of No. 6 is N 34 mm.

1 to 4, a tape cassette 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a tape storage section 7 for storing a tape 2,
A cassette shell 8 having a pair of reel insertion holes 3 into which a reel shaft for winding the tape 2 is inserted, and a window portion 6 including a magnetic head insertion window 4 and a pinch roller insertion window 5; The cassette shell 8 is provided with a shutter 9 having a U-shaped cross section, which is slidably opened and closed in the direction connecting the centers of the pair of reel insertion holes 3, and is normally biased in the closing direction, and a guide 10 provided on the shutter 9. It is slidable along a guide groove 11, and is normally biased in the closing direction by biasing means 12. It also includes an engaging portion 13 located on the end surface of the shutter 9 and provided on the front side surface of the cassette shell 8 .

Here, the thickness dimension E of the cassette shell 8 consisting of the tape storage section 7 and the window section 6 is different from that of the conventional compact cassette 3.
This is the same as the dimension B of the tape storage section 37 in No. 1.

Also, the dimension F between the pair of reel insertion holes 3 is compact.
It is set to be the same as the dimension C between the pair of reel insertion holes 33 of the cassette 31, and the dimension G of the center position of the engaging portion 13 in the tape running direction is set to be the same as the dimension C between the pair of reel insertion holes 33 of the cassette 31. It is installed at a distance of 34 mm in the running direction, which is the same size as the compact cassette 31.

In FIGS. 6 and 7, the holder 14 is attached to a holder base 15, and constitutes a holder for a magnetic recording and reproducing device that removably holds a conventional compact cassette 31 and the tape cassette 1 of the present invention. ing.

The detection lever 16 for detecting the window 36 of the compact cassette 31 is rotatably attached to the protrusion 14a at the lower end of the holder 14, and its tip 16
A is bent in an oval shape, and the biasing means 17 biases the detection lever 16 so as to substantially contact the compact cassette 31 and the tape storage portions 37, 7 of the tape cassette 1. Note that the stopper 16b comes into contact with the holder 14 to maintain the position of the detection lever 1b.

Further, the rotation lever 18 is connected to the rotation support shaft 1 of the detection lever 16.
6c as a pivot shaft, and has a bottle 18a at the tip, and is arranged to open the shutter 9 in conjunction with the insertion operation of the tape cassette 1. Biasing means 1 in the direction of ejecting the cassette 1
One end of the biasing means 19 engages with the protrusion 16d of the detection lever 16, and the other end engages with the protrusion 18b of the rotating lever 18. It is locked in a predetermined position by a stopper lee provided at.

Here, shafts 15a are provided at both ends of the holder base 15, and are rotatable by bearings 20a provided at both ends of the substrate 20, and a magnetic head 21 and a pinch roller 22 are movable on the holder base 15. Possibly installed.

The operation when the tape cassette of this embodiment is attached to the holder configured as described above will be described.

In FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, the rotary lever 1
The bottle 18a at the tip of the tape cassette 1 is the shutter 9 of the tape cassette 1.
The tape cassette 1 is guided by the engaging portion 13 near the tape cassette 1.
As the rotation lever 18 rotates due to the insertion operation,
Since the bin 18a is urged in the ejection direction by the urging means 19, it is guided by the shape of the pinch roller insertion window 5 of the tape cassette 1 and slides in the direction in which the shutter 9 is opened.

As shown in FIG. 9, when the tape cassette 1 has been loaded, the shutter 9 is in the open position and the magnetic head 21 and pinch roller 22 can be inserted.

FIG. 10 shows a state in which the conventional compact cassette 31 has started to be installed, and the rotary lever 1 that opens the shutter 9 is shown in FIG.
Dimension G of the center position in the tape running direction of the engaging portion 13 of the cassette shell 3 for guiding the bottle 18a at the tip of the cassette shell 3
3 in the tape running direction from the center between both reel insertion holes 3
4 mm or more, the bin 18a at the tip of the rotary lever 18 is located near the window 36 of the compact cassette 31 (at the right end in this example) without overlapping it, as shown in FIG. Then, the tip 18a of the detection lever 16 in the vicinity rides on the window 6 of the compact cassette 31, the detection lever 16 rotates in the direction of arrow F, rotates the rotation lever 18, and releases the bin 18a. Move to non-operating position. Naturally, the length of the bin 18a to which the tape cassette is attached is set shorter than the height of the window 6 of the compact cassette 31.

As described above, the tape cassette according to this embodiment has the same dimensions as a conventional compact cassette.

Since the tape cassette is compatible in shape, even if a conventional compact Φ cassette is installed in a magnetic recording/reproducing device into which this tape cassette is installed, it can be installed without interfering with the shutter opening/closing mechanism that opens and closes the shutter. .

Effects of the Invention As described above, the tape cassette of the present invention is compatible with the conventional compact 9 cassette in terms of size and shape, and the opening window into which the magnetic head and pinch roller are inserted opens and closes and is normally closed. Since it has an energized shutter, it prevents the intrusion of dust and the like, making it suitable for digital recording/reproduction that requires high reliability.

Further, since the shutter is configured to slide in the tape running direction, the volume of the tape cassette does not increase due to the opening and closing operations of the shutter, which contributes to miniaturization of the device.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tape cassette according to an embodiment of the present invention viewed from above, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the tape cassette of FIG. 1 when the shutter is opened, and FIG. 3 is a tape cassette of FIG. 2. Figure 4 is a perspective view of the shutter in Figure 1 seen from above the back side of the cassette, Figure 5 is a perspective view of the conventional compact cassette seen from above, Figure 6 is the invention of the present invention. 7 is a detailed perspective view illustrating the holder of FIG. 6, and FIG. 8 is a detailed explanation of FIG. 6. FIG. 9 is a front view of the tape cassette according to an embodiment of the present invention after it has been installed in the holder of a magnetic recording/reproducing device, and FIG. 10 is a detailed cross-sectional view of the conventional compact Φ cassette shown in FIG. FIG. 11 is a front view of the magnetic recording/reproducing device when it starts to be mounted on the holder, and FIG. 11 is a detailed cross-sectional view for explaining the detailed explanation of FIG. 10. 1...Tape cassette, 3.33...Cassette shell, 4.34...Head insertion window, 5.3
5...Pinch roller insertion window, 6.36...Window part, 7゜37...Tape storage part, 9...Shutter, 13...Engagement part, 14...Holder, 1
6...Detection lever 16a...Tip part, 18...
- Rotating lever 18a...bin, 19...biasing means, 21...magnetic head, 22...pinch roller, 31...compact cassette.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A tape storage section for storing a tape, a pair of reel insertion holes into which a reel for winding the tape is inserted, a window section having approximately the same thickness as the tape storage section, and the window section. a cassette shell having an insertion window for a magnetic head and a pinch roller at a portion; the insertion window is slidably opened and closed, guided along a guide groove provided in the cassette shell, and normally biased in a closing direction; It consists of a shutter having a U-shaped cross section, and an engaging part adjacent to one side of the shutter and provided on the front side of the cassette shell, and the center position of the engaging part in the tape running direction is located between the pair of reels. A tape cassette characterized by being 34 mm or more in the tape running direction from the center between insertion holes.