JPH0745037A - Tape reel holding mechanism of tape cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] Prevents the tape supply reel or the tape take-up reel from floating in the tape cassette housing by the stable elastic force equivalent to that of the conventional metal tape reel holding member, thereby stabilizing the magnetic tape. A tape reel holding member adapted to hold running is provided. [Structure] The tape reel holding member 20 is fixed to the inner surface of the tape cassette housings 11 and 12, and is fixed to the rotation center portions 15a and 16a of the tape reels 15 and 16 protruding from the fixing portion 21. Reel support 22 that makes elastic contact
And a receiving portion 23 elastically contacting the inner surfaces of the tape cassette housings 11 and 12 at the lateral position of the reel supporting portion 22, respectively.
The receiving portion 23 and the receiving portion 23 are integrally formed of a synthetic resin material.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tape reel holding member for a side surface of a tape reel on which a magnetic tape, which is rotatably incorporated in a tape cassette housing and has information data recorded on its peripheral surface, is wound. The present invention relates to a tape reel holding mechanism for a tape cassette, which prevents the tape reel from moving in the thickness direction in the tape cassette housing to run the magnetic tape in a stable state by elastic holding.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a video tape recorder (VT)
As shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, the tape cassette for R) comprises a tape cassette housing 1 composed of a pair of upper and lower halves 2 and 3. For example, the lower half 3 is separated in the width direction. Tape supply reel 5 around which magnetic tape 4 is wound
And a tape take-up reel 6 are rotatably supported. The tape supply reel 5 and the tape take-up reel 6 are tilted at one side by the tape reel holding member 7 assembled to the inner surface of the upper half 2 so that the VTR is tilted or used upside down. Even in the case where the magnetic tape 4 is rotated, the magnetic tape 4 is smoothly rotated so as not to hinder the running of the magnetic tape 4.

The tape reel holding member 7 in the conventional VTR has a small change in size and the like with respect to changes in environmental conditions, is excellent in wear resistance against contact with a tape reel rotating at high speed, and has a fluctuation in friction coefficient. Because of its small size, it is formed by punching and bending a thin stainless plate or the like by pressing. The tape reel holding member 7 is caulked to the inner surface of the upper half 2 substantially at the center in the width direction, in other words, at the center of the tape supply reel 5 and the tape take-up reel 6. The fixed portion 7a and the reel support portions 7b and 7c which are symmetrical with respect to the fixed portion 7a are formed in a substantially V shape as a whole.

The tape reel holding member 7 includes a fixed portion 7
By assembling the upper half 2 and the lower half 3 in a state in which a is caulked to the inner surface of the upper half 2, the left and right reel supporting portions 7b and 7c are respectively connected to the tape supply reel 5 and the tape take-up reel 6 respectively. The tape supply reel 5 and the tape take-up reel 6 are pressed against the lower half 3 by elastically contacting the upper side surface. The tape supply reel 5 and the tape take-up reel 6 have their rotation centers 5a and 6a formed of a synthetic resin material having excellent abrasion resistance, such as polyacetal resin. The reel supporting portions 7b and 7c of the tape reel holding member 7 are elastically contacted with each other around 6a.

Therefore, when the tape cassette is loaded into the VTR, as shown in FIG. 8, the VTR-side reel stands 8A and 8B are fitted into the tape supply reel 5 and the tape take-up reel 6, respectively. Since the tape supply reel 5 and the tape take-up reel 6 are positioned at a predetermined height, they are held by the tape reel holding member 7 with a predetermined reel pressing force.

[0006]

By the way, in the tape cassette constructed as described above, the reel supporting portions 7b and 7c of the tape reel holding member 7 supply the tape to the central position thereof as shown in FIG. The reel 5 and the tape take-up reel 6 are assembled in the tape cassette housing 1 so that the rotation center portions 5a, 6a are located at the corresponding positions, and the tape supply reel 5 and the tape take-up reel 6 are in a horizontal state and the lower half 3 It is configured to press to the side.

However, even though the constituent members are tape cassettes manufactured with extremely high precision, the tape cassette or VTR is not assembled properly, and the tape supply reel 5, the tape take-up reel 6 and the reel stands 8A, 8B are fitted together. The tape cassette is V
In the state of being loaded in the TR, as shown by h in FIG. 10, the center positions of the reel supporting portions 7b and 7c and the rotation center portions 5a and 6 of the tape supply reel 5 and the tape take-up reel 6 are shown.
There may be a phenomenon in which the tape reel holding member 7 is tilted due to a so-called misalignment phenomenon, which is a deviation from a.

As described above, the tape reel holding member 7
Since it is formed of a metal plate, it has a large elastic return force, and by removing the tape cassette from the VTR, the tape reel holding member 7 is easily returned to the initial horizontal state.

On the other hand, in the tape cassette, the use of synthetic resin for the metal parts is being considered due to the demands of lightening the overall weight, facilitating the disposal, or reducing the cost. The use of synthetic resin for the tape reel holding member 7 having a large ratio is the most important matter. The abrasion resistance required for the tape reel holding member 7 can be solved by using an engineering plastic such as polyacetal resin or polybutylene terephthalate resin as the material resin.

However, when the above-mentioned metal tape reel holding member 7 is molded with the synthetic resin as it is, the size of the tape reel holding member 7 is greatly changed with the change of environmental conditions, and the tape supply reel 5 and the tape. There is a problem that the take-up reel 6 is not reliably held. That is, in a tape reel holding member made of a synthetic resin made of a polyacetal resin, a polybutylene terephthalate resin, or the like, creep deformation is likely to occur, so that the elastic restoring force becomes small.

Therefore, the tape cassette described above is
The center positions of the reel supporting portions 7b and 7c and the tape supply reel 5 and the tape take-up reel 6 in the state of being loaded in the R.
Since the tape reel holding member 7 continues to be tilted due to the deviation from the rotation centers 5a and 6a, the tape cassette may not be returned to the initial horizontal state when it is taken out from the VTR. As a result, when the tape cassette is loaded in the VTR, the tape supply reel 5 and the tape take-up reel 6 are not positioned at a predetermined height, and a stable elastic force or a pressing direction cannot be guaranteed. .

Therefore, according to the present invention, the stable elastic force equivalent to that of the conventional metal tape reel holding member prevents the tape supply reel and the tape take-up reel from floating in the tape cassette housing, thus ensuring stable running of the magnetic tape. The present invention has been proposed for the purpose of providing a tape reel holding mechanism of a tape cassette including a tape reel holding member made of a synthetic resin that can hold the tape reel.

[0013]

A tape reel holding mechanism for a tape cassette according to the present invention, which has achieved this object, is rotatably incorporated inside a tape cassette housing and has a magnetic tape or the like wound around its peripheral surface. The center of rotation of the tape reel is elastically held by a tape reel holding member, and the tape reel holding member is fixed to the inner surface of the tape cassette housing, and the tape reel holding member projects from the fixing portion. It consists of a reel support part that elastically contacts the center of rotation and a receiving part that elastically contacts the inner surface of the tape cassette housing at a lateral position of the reel support part. These fixed part, reel support part and receiving part are made of synthetic resin material. It is characterized by being integrally molded by.

Further, in the tape reel holding mechanism of the tape cassette according to the present invention, the receiving portion of the tape reel holding member is formed symmetrically with respect to the reel supporting portion.
And a second receiving portion. Further, the first and second receiving portions of the tape reel holding member are elastically elastic with respect to the inner surface of the tape cassette housing, respectively. It is characterized in that it is configured to contact.

In the tape reel holding mechanism of the tape cassette according to the present invention, a convex portion is integrally provided on the inner surface of the tape cassette housing to which the receiving portion of the tape reel holding member elastically contacts, and the convex portion is elastically contacted. The receiving portion of the tape reel holding member is curved in a substantially U-shape so as to face the reel supporting portion from the tip of the reel supporting portion. It is also characterized in that it is formed with a width larger than the width of the reel supporting portion.

[0016]

According to the tape reel holding mechanism of the tape cassette according to the present invention having the above structure, the tape reel around which the magnetic tape is wound is fixed to the inner surface of the tape cassette housing, and the fixing portion. Tape reel integrally formed by a synthetic resin material with a reel support portion projecting from the portion and elastically contacting the side surface portion of the reel, and receiving portions elastically contacting the inner surface of the tape cassette housing at both sides of the reel support portion. By the holding member, the center of rotation is elastically held to prevent looseness in the thickness direction inside the tape cassette housing.

The tape reel holding member for elastically holding the side surface of the tape reel to prevent the tape reel from moving in the thickness direction has first and second receiving portions, and these receiving portions serve as reel supporting portions. The tape reel is elastically biased in an axially stable state by being elastically contacted with the inner surface of the tape cassette housing by being formed symmetrically about the center or by substantially equal elastic force.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Specific embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. The embodiment is a tape cassette for a VTR, and a tape cassette housing 10 is composed of a pair of upper and lower halves 11 and 12. As shown in FIG. The tape reel storage portions 14A and 14B are formed by integrally forming the substantially annular standing wall 13.

These tape reel storage sections 14A, 14B
The tape supply reel 15 and the tape take-up reel 16 rotatably housed in the
Are molded of a synthetic resin material having excellent wear resistance, such as polyacetal resin, and the magnetic tape 17 is wound around the peripheral surface. The magnetic tape 17 drawn out from the tape supply reel 15 and the tape take-up reel 16 is normally attached to the front side surface portion of the cassette housing 10 along a cover (not shown) provided on the upper half 12 by a plurality of guide pins 18. Has been extended to.

On the inner surface of the upper half 11, the upper half 1
In a state in which 1 and 12 are combined, the tape reel holding members 20 (20A and 20B) facing the tape reel storage portions 14A and 14B are assembled as described later. The tape reel holding member 20 holds one side of the tape supply reel 15 and the tape take-up reel 16 so that the tape supply reel 15 can be used whenever the VTR is tilted or used upside down. Further, the tape take-up reel 16 operates so as to smoothly rotate so as not to hinder the running of the magnetic tape 17 pulled out.

The tape reel holding member 20 is made of an engineered plastic having a relatively large strength, impact resistance, heat resistance, or change over time, such as a synthetic resin such as polyacetal, polybutylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, or polyamide. A molded member, which is a fixed portion 21, a reel holding portion 22 that projects and extends integrally from the fixed portion 21, and a receiving portion that extends laterally from the reel holding portion 22 in an arm shape. Part 23
A and 23B, and the overall planar shape is formed in a substantially T shape.

Further, the tape reel holding member 20 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, the fixing portion 21 is gradually bent into a heap shape toward the reel holding portion 22, and the reel holding portion 22 is bent again into a heap shape toward the receiving portions 23A and 23B on both sides. The fixed part 21 and the receiving part 23
A and 23B form almost the same surface. The reel holding portion 22 is configured as a flat surface having a sufficient contact area with the rotation center portions 15a, 16a of the tape supply reel 15 or the tape winding reel 16, and the receiving portions 23A, 23B have an arc-shaped cross section. It is configured as a curved surface.

The receiving portions 23A and 23B are the reel holding portion 2
2 is formed symmetrically with respect to 2 as a center, so that when the receiving portions 23A and 23B are elastically deformed as described later, the same elastic return force acts on the reel holding portion 22. . Also, the receiving portion 23
A and 23B have a facing distance D that is sufficiently large with respect to the width dimension d of the reel holding portion 22, and the rotation of the tape supply reel 15 or the tape take-up reel 16 from the center of the reel holding portion 22 will be described later. Even when the abutting positions of the central portions 15a and 16a are slightly displaced and the centering phenomenon occurs,
The reel holding portion 22 does not tilt, and a stable elastic return force is applied from the receiving portions 23A and 23B.

The tape reel holding member 20 configured as described above is assembled in a cantilever state by fixing the fixing portion 21 to the inner surface on the back side of the upper half 11 by ultrasonic welding or the like. Then, in a state where the tape reel holding member 20 is assembled to the inner surface of the upper half 11, the reel holding portion 22 extends to the center of the reel housing portion 14 and is extended from the reel holding portion 22 so as to project. The receiving portions 23A and 23B abut the inner surface of the upper half 11 so as to cross the tape reel storage portion 14 in the diametrical direction.

The upper half 11 having the tape reel holding member 20 assembled on the inner surface thereof and the lower half 12 having the various members such as the tape supply reel 15 or the tape take-up reel 16 assembled thereon are abutted with each other, The tape cassette housing 10 is configured by being integrally joined by an ultrasonic welding method or a screwing method. The tape reel holding member 20 assembled to the upper half 11 is in a state of being slightly compressed inside the tape cassette housing 10, and therefore the reel holding portion 22 is the tape supply reel 15
Alternatively, the rotation center portions 15a, 16 of the tape take-up reel 16
The tape supply reel 15 and the tape take-up reel 16 are pressed against the lower half 12 by abutting against the a to prevent the tape supply reel 15 or the tape take-up reel 16 from idling in the tape cassette housing 10. .

The tape cassette of this embodiment is a VTR.
When loaded into the tape supply reel 15, the tape supply reel 15 and the tape take-up reel 16 are respectively fitted with the VTR-side reel stands, and the tape supply reel 15 and the tape take-up reel 16 are positioned at a predetermined height. At the same time, the tape reel holding member 20 holds the tape reel with a predetermined reel pressing force.

Similar to the conventional tape cassette described above,
Also in the tape cassette of the embodiment, the tape cassette may be changed due to various causes such as an assembly error of each component of the tape cassette or the VTR, a fitting state between the tape supply reel 15 and the tape take-up reel 16 and the reel stand of the VTR. The reel supporting portion 2 in a state of being loaded in the VTR.
There may be a so-called centering phenomenon in which the rotation center portions 15a and 16a of the tape supply reel 15 and the tape take-up reel 16 are not positioned at the center of the two.

However, the tape reel holding member 20
As described above, the reel has the reel support portion 22 configured as a flat surface having a sufficient contact area with the rotation center portions 15a and 16a of the tape supply reel 15 or the tape take-up reel 16, and The phenomenon that the support portion 22 moves laterally from the rotation center portions 15a, 16a of the tape supply reel 15 or the tape take-up reel 16 and tilts does not occur.

Further, since the tape reel holding member 20 is uniformly acted on by the elastic return force from the sufficiently long receiving portions 23A and 23B of the same shape which are integrally projected on both sides of the reel supporting portion 22, The tape supply reel 15 and the tape take-up reel 16 are pressed toward the lower half 12 side in a stable state via the reel support portion 22. In other words, according to the tape cassette of the embodiment, stable tape running is achieved by pressing the tape supply reel 15 and the tape take-up reel 16 in a certain direction with a certain elastic force.

In the tape cassette of the above embodiment, the receiving portions 23A, 2A of the tape reel holding member 20 are provided.
3B is formed on both sides of the reel holding portion 22 so as to project at positions of approximately 90 ° with respect to the fixed portion 21, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. Is. In addition, in the inside of the tape cassette housing 10, the elastic return force for pressing the tape supply reel 15 and the tape take-up reel 16 via the reel support portion 22 is applied to the tape reel holding member 20, so that the receiving portion 2 is provided.
Although 3A and 23B are configured to be substantially flush with the fixing portion 21 and are bent in an arcuate cross section, the present invention is not limited to this configuration.

For example, in the tape cassette shown as the second embodiment of the present invention, the upper half 11 is integrally provided with a pair of convex portions 11a and 11b. on the other hand,
Similar to the tape reel holding member 20 of the tape cassette of the first embodiment described above, the tape reel holding member 30 integrally formed by using engineering plastic as a material.
The portion from the fixed portion 31 to the reel holding portion 32 has a V-shape, and the receiving portions 33A and 33B integrally projecting on both side portions of the reel holding portion 32 are slightly raised upward. However, unlike the receiving portions 23A and 23B of the tape reel holding member 20 of the tape cassette of the first embodiment, it is not formed in an arcuate cross section with a large curvature.

Therefore, the upper half 11 and the lower half 1
When the tape reel holding member 30 is attached to the upper half 11 in a cantilever state via the fixing portion 31 in a state where they are combined with each other, the rotation center portion 15a of the tape supply reel 15 or the tape take-up reel 16 is provided. 16a
The receiving portions 33A and 33B integrally projecting on both sides of the reel holding portion 32 that come into contact with the elastically contact the reel holding portion 32 by elastically contacting the convex portions 11a and 11b projecting on the inner surface of the upper half 11, respectively. Apply a restoring force. The elastic return force of the tape reel holding member 30 presses the tape supply reel 15 or the tape take-up reel 16 toward the lower half 12 side.

Also in the tape reel holding member 30 of the tape cassette of the second embodiment, the reel supporting portion 2
Since 2 is configured as a flat surface having a sufficient contact area with the rotation center portions 15a, 16a of the tape supply reel 15 or the tape take-up reel 16, an assembly error of each component of the tape cassette or the VTR, Tape supply reel 15, tape take-up reel 16 and VTR
Due to various causes such as the fitting state with the reel base of the tape cassette, the reel support portion 22 is dislocated from the rotation center portions 15a and 16a of the tape supply reel 15 or the tape take-up reel 16 in a state where the tape cassette is loaded in the VTR. There is no phenomenon such as tilting to the side.

Further, since the tape reel holding member 30 is uniformly acted by the elastic restoring force from the sufficiently long receiving portions 33A and 33B of the same shape which are integrally provided on both sides of the reel supporting portion 32, the tape reel holding member 30 is integrally projected. The tape supply reel 15 and the tape take-up reel 16 are pressed toward the lower half 12 side in a stable state via the reel supporting portion 32. In other words, according to the tape cassette of the embodiment, stable tape running is achieved by pressing the tape supply reel 15 and the tape take-up reel 16 in a certain direction with a certain elastic force.

The present invention can be applied to the tape reel support member 40 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The tape reel supporting member 40 is also integrally formed by using engineering plastic as a material, and the fixing portion 41 to the reel holding portion 4 are also formed.
The portion extending over 2 is bent in a substantially V shape, but the portion on the tip side from the reel holding portion 42 gradually increases the width dimension with respect to the width dimension d of the reel holding portion 42 and U
The receiving portion 43 is formed by curving in a letter shape.

The curvature of the curved portion extending from the reel holding portion 42 to the receiving portion 43 is larger than the difference in the height direction between the fixed portion 41 and the reel holding portion 42. Therefore,
When the upper half 11 and the lower half 12 are combined and combined, the upper half 11 is cantilevered via the fixing portion 41.
The tape reel holding member 40 attached to the tape reel holding member 40 is compressed in the curved portion extending from the reel holding portion 42 to the receiving portion 43 and is attached to the rotation center portions 15a and 16a of the tape supply reel 15 or the tape take-up reel 16. By applying an elastic force to the reel holding portion 42 in contact with the tape supply reel 1,
5 or the tape take-up reel 16 is pressed to the lower half 12.

Of course, also in this tape reel support member 40, the reel support portion 42 has the rotation center portions 15a, 16a of the tape supply reel 15 or the tape take-up reel 16.
Since it is configured as a flat surface having a sufficient contact area with respect to, the assembly error of each component of the tape cassette or the VTR, the fitting state of the tape supply reel 15, the tape take-up reel 16 and the reel base of the VTR. Due to various causes such as the above, the phenomenon that the rotation center portions 15a and 16a of the tape supply reel 15 or the tape take-up reel 16 deviate from the reel support portion 32 and tilts does not occur when the tape cassette is loaded in the VTR. .

The reel receiving portion 43 curved from the tip of the reel supporting portion 42 is in contact with the inner surface of the upper half 11 with respect to the width dimension d of the reel supporting portion 42. , 43B have a large width D, they exert a uniform elastic return force on the reel receiving portion 43. Therefore, the tape supply reel 15 and the tape take-up reel 16 are pressed in a certain direction by a certain elastic force, and stable tape running is achieved.

Although the above-described embodiments have been described with respect to tape cassettes for VTRs, the present invention is of course applicable to various magnetic tape cassettes such as audio tape cassettes and, for example, these tapes. It can also be applied to a so-called cleaning tape cassette shared with the cassette.

[0040]

As described above in detail, according to the tape reel holding mechanism of the tape cassette of the present invention, the tape is held in a stable state by holding the tape supply reel or the tape take-up reel. Since the reel holding member is made of synthetic resin, the weight of the tape cassette as a whole can be reduced or the disposal process can be facilitated, and a significant cost reduction can be achieved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall plan view showing a tape cassette provided with a tape reel holding mechanism according to the present invention with an upper half removed.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part of the tape cassette.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a tape reel support member included in the tape cassette.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a main part of a tape cassette including another tape reel support member.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of still another tape reel support member.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part of a tape cassette including the tape reel supporting member.

FIG. 7 is an overall plan view showing a tape cassette including a conventional tape reel holding mechanism with an upper half removed.

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view of the tape cassette.

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a main part of the tape cassette.

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of an essential part for explaining a centering phenomenon of a tape reel supporting member in the tape cassette.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 ... Tape cassette housing 11 ... Upper half 12 ... Lower half 15 ... Tape supply reel 16 ... Tape take-up reel 20 ... Tape reel holding member 21 ... Fixed part 22 ... Reel holding section 23 ... Receiving section

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A tape reel holding device for a tape cassette, wherein a tape reel holding member elastically holds a side surface portion of a tape reel, which is rotatably incorporated in a tape cassette housing and has a magnetic tape wound around a peripheral surface thereof. In the mechanism, the tape reel holding member includes a fixing portion fixed to the inner surface of the tape cassette housing, a reel supporting portion protruding from the fixing portion and elastically contacting the rotation center of the tape reel, and a reel supporting portion of the reel supporting portion. A tape reel of a tape cassette, which comprises a receiving portion that elastically contacts the inner surface of the tape cassette housing at a lateral position, and the fixing portion, the reel supporting portion, and the receiving portion are integrally molded of a synthetic resin material. Retention mechanism. 2. The first and second receiving parts of the tape reel holding member are formed symmetrically with respect to the reel supporting part.
2. A tape reel holding mechanism for a tape cassette according to claim 1, wherein the tape reel holding mechanism comprises a receiving portion for receiving the tape reel. 3. The tape according to claim 2, wherein the first and second receiving portions of the tape reel holding member are configured to elastically contact the inner surface of the tape cassette housing with substantially equal elastic forces. Tape reel holding mechanism for cassettes. 4. A convex portion is integrally formed on the inner surface of the tape cassette housing to which the receiving portion of the tape reel holding member elastically contacts, and the receiving portion is elastically deformed by elastically contacting the convex portion. The tape reel holding mechanism for a tape cassette according to claim 1, wherein: 5. The receiving portion of the tape reel holding member is curved in a substantially U shape from the tip of the reel supporting portion so as to face the reel supporting portion, and has a width larger than the width of the reel supporting portion. The tape reel holding mechanism of the tape cassette according to claim 1, wherein