JPH069111B2 - Tape cassette - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tape cassette that stores a tape such as a magnetic tape, and is particularly suitable for pulling out the magnetic tape to the outside of the tape cassette when using it for recording and reproducing. Tape cassette.

Configuration of Conventional Example and its Problems Although a rotary head system has been adopted as a home video tape recorder for a long time, as is well known, a rotary head system video tape recorder (hereinafter abbreviated as VTR) is a magnetic tape (hereinafter a tape). (Referred to as ") is pulled out from the tape cassette, the tape is wound around a guide drum which has a built-in video head and rotates at high speed to guide the traveling, and the recording and reproducing of video signals and the like are performed.

For example, a tape cassette in the VHS, beta system, etc. is composed of a flat casing in which two reels around which tapes are wound are arranged in parallel in the same plane.
An opening is provided on one side surface of the tape so that the tape can be pulled out to the outside. When the tape is stored in the cassette, a rotation plate with a rotation fulcrum is opened at a predetermined position of the tape cassette case to prevent dust and the like from adhering to the surface of the tape and touching it with the hand. The tape is protected as a lid that covers the part.

By the way, the type of tape used in the VHS or beta method is a tape using iron oxide mainly composed of γ-Fe ₂ O ₃ , which is a tape resistant to rust and the like against moisture. However, with the spread of VTRs, the development of tapes has been promoted as miniaturization and higher performance of devices have been demanded. Recently, so-called metal tapes for coating pure iron powder, and so-called vapor deposition for depositing Ni—Co Tapes are about to become the mainstream of the next generation tapes.

While VTRs using metal tapes and vapor-deposited tapes bring about miniaturization and high image quality, attention and handling of the tapes are required compared with conventional iron oxide tapes. In particular, attention should be paid to the protection of the tape when it is handled as a single tape cassette when it is not used, such as dust on the tape and contact with human hands.

As is well known, in the VHS and beta type cassettes, one rotating plate is provided as a lid at the tape pull-out opening of the tape cassette to consider protection from the outside of the tape cassette. However, the VHS and beta type cassettes have an opening into which the tape pull-out member is inserted when the cassette is set on the VTR on the bottom surface of the cassette, and it is possible to intentionally touch the tape with a human hand through the opening. The 8mm video, which recently announced the standard and uses metal tape and vapor-deposited tape, has been devising its tape cassette in consideration of the conventional problems. In particular, as a cover of the tape cassette opening, as shown in principle in FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b), the tape cassette 1 is rotated about a fulcrum provided at a predetermined position as in the VHS and beta systems. In addition to the first rotary plate 2, the second rotary plate 3 is provided. Then, the tape 4 which is easily touched by humans is provided with the first rotary plate 2 and the second rotary plate 3 when the tape cassette shown in FIG. 1 (a) is used and when the tape cassette shown in FIG. 1b is not used. At the time of arrow A
By rotating the tape 4 in the direction and sandwiching it between the first rotary plate 2 and the second rotary plate 3, the tape 4 is protected from being touched by human hands.

Accordingly, the tape 4 cannot be directly touched by the second rotary plate 3 from the opening 5 on the bottom surface of the tape cassette.

However, the drawbacks of this method are as follows. That is, when the first rotating plate 2 and the second rotating plate 3 rotate in the direction of arrow A so that the tape 4 is sandwiched between them in order to protect the tape, if the tape 4 has a predetermined tension. There is no problem if it is stretched in a straight line, but if the tape 4 is slackened and curled in the longitudinal direction due to some kind of accident, the tip of the two rotating plates 2 and 3 will pull the tape 4 away. It had a serious drawback of being crushed and damaging the tape 4.

On the other hand, in the conventional VHS, beta type cassette or the cassette illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the tape 4 by the first rotating plate 2 located in front of the tape 4 is used.
In order to securely protect the first rotary plate 2, the first rotary plate 2 is locked so that the closed first rotary plate 2 cannot be opened accidentally. And this locking is the cassette 1
In order to lock only one of the left and right ends of the first rotating plate 2 on the side surface of the first rotating plate 2, a locking means (not shown) composed of a locking rotating member and a biasing spring is used. It is generally done. However, this locking structure increases the number of parts and is difficult to assemble, and the first rotating plate 2 is locked only on one side end portion on the side surface of the cassette 1. Despite the fact that the moving plate 2 is closed, the unlocked side of the first rotating plate 2 is easily deformed by a light force, exposing the tape 4 which should be covered for protection. However, there is a problem that it is easily touched by hands and dust or the like is easily attached.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to make up for the above-mentioned drawbacks, and when a tape or the like is used by a novel construction of a locking means for locking the two lids covering the tape on the front surface of the cassette when the lids are closed. The purpose is to provide a tape cassette that is hard for fingers to touch the tape.

According to the tape cassette of the present invention, an opening is formed in one side surface of a cassette containing a tape reel, and a rotatable first rotation cover the front surface of the tape stretched along the opening. A moving lid, a second turning lid that covers the rear surface of the tape and can be interlocked with the first turning lid, and a biasing means that biases the second turning lid in the closing direction. Provided on a side wall portion that faces a side end portion of the second rotating lid and forms an opening of the cassette, and the second rotating lid is biased in a closing direction.
Stopper for abutting against the pivoting lid of the second pivoting lid to regulate the closed position of the second pivoting lid, and the first and second pivoting lids in the closed state of the first and second pivoting lids. Abutting portions provided on the distal end portions of the respective rotating lids over a wide range in the width direction of the cassette, and the opening of the first rotating lid with the abutting portions in contact with each other. A rotation restricting portion that restricts rotation of the second rotation lid when receiving rotational force in a direction, and the first rotation mechanism along with loading of the cassette into the tape device.
Of the contact between the rotating lid and the contact portion of the second rotating lid and the restriction of the rotation restricting portion of the second rotating lid are released, and then the first rotating lid of It is configured so as to include interlocking means for performing the opening operation of the second rotating lid in conjunction with the opening operation, whereby the rotating lid has a simple structure when the rotating lid is closed. The locking of the tape is realized, and the tape can be protected surely without dust on the tape or touching with fingers.

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

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a tape cassette according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a side view thereof. As is clear from FIGS. 2 and 3, the tape cassette 6 is a flat casing (cassette) in appearance, and the beginning or end of the magnetic tape 7 is placed in the tape cassette 6, respectively. A pair of tape reels 8 and 9 that are fixed and have a tape wound around them are housed side by side on the same plane. Wall surfaces are formed on three side surfaces 10, 11, 12 of the flat tape cassette 6 in the thickness direction so as to protect the tape 7 from the outside, but one side surface is an opening 13 having no wall surface. The tape 7 can be pulled out from the opening 13. By the way, normally, when the tape cassette 6 is not used, that is, when the tape 7 is not pulled out, the opening 13 covers the opening 13 by the first rotating lid 14 in order to protect the tape 7.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line XY of FIG. 2, showing the inside of the tape cassette 6 when the tape cassette 6 is inserted into the cassette holder 37 of the VTR.

Similarly, FIG. 5 (a) is a sectional view taken along line XY of FIG.
It shows the inside of the tape cassette 6 when the insertion of the tape cassette 6 into the cassette holder 37 of the TR is completed. Further, FIG. 6 is also a cross-sectional view taken along line XY of FIG.
Insert the tape cassette 6 into the cassette holder 37,
The state where the mounting is completed on the VTR is shown.

Further, FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the main part of this embodiment.

The tape cassette 6 according to this embodiment is a type in which a pair of tape reels 8 and 9 (however, the tape reel 8 is not shown in FIGS. 4 and 5A) does not have a flange,
This is a so-called flangeless reel.

That is, the tape reel 9 only has the tape 7 wound around the outer circumference of the winding drum 15 of the tape reel 9. Further, the tape reel 9 has boss portions 16 and 17 having a diameter smaller than that of the winding drum 15 at both ends in the axial direction. The bosses 16 and 17 are recesses 1 provided in a flat plane portion inside and below the casing of the cassette.
By loosely inserting and engaging with 8 and 19, respectively, the horizontal position of the tape reel 9 inside the tape cassette 6 in the figure is gently restricted. End surfaces of the bosses 16 and 17 and recesses 18 and 1 of the cassette
Thrust receiving sheets 20 and 21 having a lubricity, such as fluororesin sheets, are interposed between the sheets 9 to ensure smoothness when the tape reel 9 rotates. In addition, on both end surfaces of the winding drum 15, two sheets 22 and 23 having lubricity, such as two rectangular fluororesin sheets, which are lightly contacted so as to sandwich the winding drum 15, are provided. The tape 7 plays a role as a regulation means when the tape 7 is wound around the tape reel due to irregular winding, step drop, and the like.

By the way, when the cassette is not used, as shown in FIG. 4, the tape 7 is pivotally supported by a support shaft 24 to cover the opening 13, the first rotating lid 14, and the tape 7 in the vicinity of the opening 13. It is sandwiched by a pivotable second pivoting lid 26 pivotally supported by a pivoting portion 25 located substantially above. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the second rotation lid 26 is always biased by the torsion spring 35 attached to the pivot portion 25 in the closing direction (clockwise in the figure). Cassette 6
Is a projection that is formed on the side wall portion (see FIG. 7) that forms the cassette opening 13 and includes the pivotally supporting portion 25 of the second rotating lid 26, and that faces the side end portion of the second rotating lid 26. The stopper 42 is formed by providing. Despite the biasing force of the torsion spring 35, the side end of the second rotary lid 26 abuts against the stopper 42 and cannot rotate further clockwise than the closed position shown in FIG. It has become.

Further, two interlocking members 29, 30 having projecting shafts 27, 28 are formed on the inner surface portion of the first rotating lid 14, and the projecting shafts 27, 28 are provided with the second interlocking members 29, 30. It engages with two elongated hole-shaped guide grooves 31, 32 formed in the rear portion of the rotary lid 26. In addition, an escape portion 34 is formed in each of the guide grooves 31 and 32 so as not to interfere with a predetermined counterclockwise rotation of the second rotation lid 26 (FIG. 4) when the second rotation lid 26 is closed. There is. In addition, the first rotating lid 14
On the lower part of the front of the
Is provided with a notch 36 for allowing the entry of the first rotary lid 14 and the second rotary lid 26 (FIGS. 4 and 7), and when the first rotary lid 14 and the second rotary lid 26 are closed. Lower end portion 4 of the turning lid 26
A protrusion 39 having substantially the same width as that of the second rotating lid 26 is provided so as to substantially abut with 0.

Therefore, in the state shown in FIG. 4, when a rotational force is applied to the first rotary lid 14 in a clockwise direction to open the rotary lid 14, the second rotary lid 14 is in contact with the protrusion 39. A force F is applied to the lower end portion 40 of the moving lid 26 as shown in the figure. F can be disassembled into Fa and Fb, but the second rotation lid 26 cannot move in the Fa direction due to the stopper 42 as described above. Therefore, the first rotary lid, which is in contact with the second rotary lid, cannot move in the Fa direction. By arranging the pivot portion 25 in the Fb direction, the Fb cannot give an effective turning force to the second rotating lid 26. That is, the pivot portion 25 functions as a rotation restricting portion. Further, it is easy to provide the second rotary lid 26 with a rigidity that cannot be deformed by Fa and Fb. After all, when the first and second turning lids are in the closed state, the second turning lid 26 is at the position shown in FIG. 4, and at this time, the tip of the second turning lid 26 is in the closed position. As shown in FIG. 7, the portion 40 is in contact with the projection 39 of the first rotary lid 14 formed in a long area in the width direction of the cassette, so that the second rotary lid 26 will be described later. 4 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 4 and the contact state of the tips of the first and second rotation lids is not released in advance, the first rotation located on the front surface of the tape cassette 6 If the lid 14 is to be opened, it cannot rotate. That is, the first rotary lid 14 is securely locked.

However, when the tape cassette 6 is inserted into the cassette holder 37 and moved in the direction of the arrow B, the protrusion 38 provided on the cassette holder 37 enters the notch 36 as shown in FIG. The lower end portion 40 of the moving lid 26 is pressed. Guide groove 3 formed integrally on the second rotary lid 26
1, 32 and the projection shafts 27, 28 formed integrally with the first rotary lid 14 are engaged with each other.
Since there is a relief portion 34 formed at the end of 1, 32,
The second rotating lid 26 is rotated counterclockwise by a predetermined amount against the biasing force of the torsion spring 35 without interlocking with the first rotating lid 14. As a result, the contact relationship between the tip ends of the first rotary lid 14 and the second rotary lid 26 is released. At the same time, the second rotation lid 26 is provided with the protrusion shaft 27,
A turning force can be applied via 28, and the function of the pivotal support portion 25 as a rotation restricting portion is also released, so that the first rotation lid 14 can rotate clockwise. Becomes

Next, when the cassette holder 37 in which the cassette 6 is inserted is moved to a predetermined position of the main body of the apparatus, the first rotary lid 14 is moved to a position shown in FIG. 5 (b) by a well-known lid pushing means (not shown).
As shown in, clockwise about the spindle 24 (direction of arrow D)
Turn to. On the other hand, the shaft 27 of the interlocking member 29 provided integrally with the first rotating lid 14 is engaged with the guide groove 31 provided integrally with the second rotating lid 26. Therefore, a force in the direction of arrow C is applied to the second rotating lid 26 by the shaft 27 as shown in FIG. 5 (b). As a result, the second rotary lid 26 is rotated counterclockwise (in the direction of arrow E) about the pivot 25.
The turning power to is surely given. When the cassette holder 37 further moves, the first rotary lid 14 and the second rotary lid 26 continue to rotate, and the shaft 27 moves relatively along the side wall of the guide groove 31. The state shown in FIG. And cassette holder 3
When 7 moves to a predetermined position of the main body of the apparatus, the state shown in FIG.
The tape 7 can be pulled out by inserting the tape into the space area 33 behind the tape 7.

On the contrary, when the use of the cassette is stopped, the tape pull-out member (not shown) is taken out from the space region 33 to the lower side of the cassette and the lid pushing-up means (not shown) is lowered to make the first rotation. The movable lid 14 rotates counterclockwise so as to cover the front surface of the tape 7, and in conjunction with this, the second rotation lid 26 rotates clockwise so as to cover the rear surface of the tape 7, The state is as shown in FIG.

Further, at this time, the state as shown in FIG. 5 (a) does not occur, and when the second rotating lid 26 comes to the closing position before the first rotating lid 14, the lower end portion 40 and the protrusion are Even if the part 39 interferes, the second
If the first turning lid 14 is turned in the closing direction by a force stronger than the biasing force of the turning spring 26 of the turning lid 26 in the closing direction, the state shown in FIG. I won't.

Therefore, when the cassette is not used, the tape 7 is surrounded by the first rotary lid 14 and the second rotary lid 26, so that a human hand touches the tape or dust or the like adheres to the tape. There is nothing to do. In addition, when the cassette is changed from the use state to the cassette non-use state, even if the tape 7 at the opening is slightly slack, the first rotating lid 14 and the second rotating lid 26 hook the tape 7 to tape. Will not damage.

Further, the locking of the first rotary lid 14 and the second rotary lid 26 at the time of closing can also be realized without using a special part and thus without providing a special space.

Further, conventionally, two springs have been required, a biasing spring for closing the rotary lid and a spring for the lid locking means, but a torsion spring 35 for biasing the second rotary lid 26 in the closing direction. It is also possible to configure with only one. Furthermore, since the first rotary lid 14 and the second rotary lid 26 can have a contact relationship over a wide range in the width direction of the tip end of the first rotary lid 14 when closed, the first rotary lid 14 By pushing one side, the first rotation lid 14 is deformed,
The tape 7 is not exposed, and the tape 7 is reliably protected.

Although the projection 39 on the rear surface of the first rotary lid 14 is formed in a continuous shape in the present embodiment, it does not have to be continuous and may have a predetermined width even if it is discontinuous. It goes without saying that if you do so, the same effect is given.

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION As is clear from the above description, the tape cassette of the present invention has a simple lid structure and can protect the tape at the opening from human hands and dust. That is, in contrast to the locking of the rotary lid, for example, in a VHS cassette, a lock member is provided on the side of the cassette in the closed state of the front lid to lock only one side of the front lid. In the cassette of the present invention, when the rotary lid is closed, the tip ends of the first rotary lid and the second rotary lid are brought into contact with each other over a wide range in the width direction of the cassette to be locked. Since it is connected, no special parts are required and it is easy to assemble.
Since the lock of the rotating lid is reliable, even if the lid is opened carelessly, the tape is not easily exposed and the reliable tape protection can be achieved.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 (a) and 1 (b) are schematic cross-sectional views of a main part of a conventional tape cassette in an open state and a closed state, and FIG. 2 is a plan view of a tape cassette according to an embodiment of the present invention. The figures are side views thereof, FIG. 4, FIG. 5 (a), FIG. 5 (b),
5 (c) and 6 are sectional views taken along the line XY in FIG. 2 for explaining the state from the closed state to the opened state, and FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the main part of the embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure. 6 ... Tape cassette, 7 ... Tape, 8, 9 ... Tape reel, 14 ... First rotating lid, 26 ... Second rotating lid, 29, 30 ... Interlocking member, 31, 32 ...... Guide groove,
34 ... Relief, 35 ... Torsion spring, 36 ... Notch, 38 ... Protrusion.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A rotatable first rotatable lid which has an opening formed in one side surface of a cassette containing a tape reel and covers a front surface of a tape stretched along the opening. A second rotating lid that covers the rear surface of the tape and can be interlocked with the first rotating lid; a biasing unit that biases the second rotating lid in the closing direction; It is provided on a side wall portion that faces the side end portion of the rotary lid and forms the opening of the cassette, and contacts the second rotary lid with respect to the biasing force of the second rotary lid in the closing direction. And a stopper for restricting the closed position of the second rotary lid, and the first and second rotary lids so that the first and second rotary lids come into contact with each other in the closed state of the first and second rotary lids. An abutting portion provided on the distal end of the rotating lid over a wide area in the width direction of the cassette, and an opening direction of the first rotating lid in a state where the abutting portion abuts. A rotation restricting portion that restricts rotation of the second rotating lid when receiving rotational force, and the first rotating lid and the second rotating lid when the cassette is loaded into the tape device. The contact of the contact portion of the moving lid and the restriction of the rotation restricting portion of the second rotating lid are released, and then the second opening is interlocked with the opening operation of the first rotating lid. A tape cassette comprising interlocking means for performing the opening operation of the rotating lid.