JPH08273330A - Tape cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To facilitate the recognition of a system and a format of a tape. CONSTITUTION: Logo marks 11... are arranged at each fixed angle on the concentric of an upper flange 10 and in the direction of rotation of rotating a tape reel to indicate a system and a format corresponding to a tape. The logo marks 11... are made recognizable through inspection windows 2a and 2b to check the residue and the amount used of the tape formed on the upper half 1a of a tape cassette 1.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to tape cassettes, and more particularly to tape cassettes for which compatible systems and formats are indicated.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing an outline of a VHS (registered trademark of Victor Company of Japan) type tape cassette. The tape cassette 100 is the upper half 101,
A lower half 102 and a thick guard panel (front lid) 104 for protecting the tape 103 are provided. Inside the tape cassette 100, the supply side tape reel 1 is provided.
05 and the winding-side tape reel 106 are arranged.

Confirmation windows 107a, 10 for confirming the remaining tape amount and the used amount are provided on the left and right sides of the upper half 101 in the longitudinal direction.
7b is opened, and here is the clear window 108
a and 108b are fitted. In addition, a label (not shown) indicating a system or a format to which the tape 103 is compatible (for example, a logo mark such as S-VHS is described) is attached to the recess 109 in the longitudinal direction. . The logo mark may be directly written on the tape cassette 100 without attaching a label to the recess 109. Note that 105a and 106a are upper flanges of the tape reels 105 and 106, and 105b and 106b.
Is the lower flange.

[0004]

However, the above-mentioned conventional tape cassette has the following problems. The system and format displayed on the tape cassette are relatively small due to display position and design restrictions, and part of the cassette is used for both the VHS system and the S-VHS system (both are registered trademarks of Victor Company of Japan, Ltd.). It may be inconvenient and may be misused because it may be displayed in a small size consciously.

In the case of a tape cassette to which a label printed with the system or format is attached, if another label is attached from above this label, the system and format cannot be identified unless the tape cassette is attached to the tape deck. There is a risk of misuse.

[0006] In the manufacturing process of incorporating a reel wound with a tape in a cassette, if reels of different tape types coexist, there is a risk of incorporating reels of different systems and formats in the cassette.

In the case of a VHS type tape cassette, a window for confirming the remaining tape amount and the used amount is relatively large, and in particular, when used outdoors, a strong external light may cause a malfunction in detecting the tape end.

The tape cassette for S-VHS is S-V
Some users misunderstand that it can only be used for HS.

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object thereof is to make it possible to easily recognize the system and format of a tape.

[0010]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the first aspect of the present invention comprises an upper half having a confirmation window for confirming the remaining tape amount and the used amount, and a lower half matching the upper half. A tape cassette comprising a cassette body, a tape reel rotatably arranged in the cassette body, and a tape wound around these tape reels,
A logo mark indicating a system and a format to which the tape corresponds is provided on the upper flange of the tape reel so as to be confirmed through the confirmation window at a constant angle in the rotation direction of the tape reel.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a plurality of the logo marks are provided concentrically on the upper flange and in the rotational direction.

According to claim 3 of the present invention, the upper flange describes all of a plurality of systems and formats to which the tape corresponds.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the upper flange is
The part with the logo mark is transparent, and the other parts are semi-transparent or opaque.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a logo mark indicating a system and a format to which the tape corresponds is written in the confirmation window for the remaining tape amount and the used amount.

[0015]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the logo mark indicating the system and the format, which is described at a constant angle, is recognized on the upper flange from the confirmation window provided on the upper surface of the tape cassette for confirming the remaining tape amount and the used amount. it can.

According to the second aspect, even when one of the confirmation windows is closed and cannot be recognized, the logo mark can recognize the compatible system and format of the tape cassette from the other confirmation window, and the logo mark can be recognized. Even when is divided in the left and right confirmation windows for checking the remaining tape amount and usage amount, the system and format compatible with the tape cassette can be recognized from the combination.

According to the third aspect, all systems and formats to which the tape cassette fits can be recognized through the confirmation window.

According to the fourth aspect, the upper flange is mostly translucent or opaque.

According to the fifth aspect, the logo mark indicating the system and the format can be recognized by the remaining tape amount and the used amount confirmation window provided on the upper surface of the tape cassette.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the basic structure is the same as that described in the related art, and the description thereof will be omitted. FIG. 1 is a plan view of an upper flange constituting a tape reel of a tape cassette according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

On the upper surface of the upper flange 10, for example, four logo marks (here, D-VHS (trademark registration pending)) 11 ... Indicating the system and format are formed in the central hole 1.
It is described on two concentric circles at intervals of 90 °, for example. Of course, the number and intervals of the logo marks 11 ... Can be appropriately changed depending on the shape of the confirmation window and the like.

The portion 13 other than the logo mark 11 which occupies most of the upper surface of the upper flange 10 is made satin with a molding die, and the portion 13 is made semitransparent or opaque. The opaque portion 13 and the transparent logo mark The transparency is different from that of 11 ...

The portion 13 other than the logo mark 11 is
Is not limited to the above-mentioned configuration, and for example, the portion 13 other than the logo marks 11 ... May be printed, and the point is that it causes a difference in transparency between the portions of the logo marks 11 ... And the other portions 13. If

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the tape cassette in which the upper flange having the above-mentioned structure is incorporated, and the same parts as those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals. On the upper surface of the upper half 1a of the tape cassette 1, there are confirmation windows 2a and 2b for confirming the remaining amount of tape and the amount used, and an upper flange 10 (see FIG. 1).
The confirmation windows 2a, 2b are formed on the left and right in the longitudinal direction so as to correspond to the clear windows 3a, 3 as in the conventional case.
b is fitted.

At this time, as shown in the figure, the logo mark 11 ...
Since the confirmation windows 2a and 2b have a length of, for example, about 2/3 of the length in the vertical direction, they are significantly larger and easier to see than those described on the upper surface of a conventional tape cassette.

A rectangular recess 4 is formed in the middle of the left and right confirmation windows 2a, 2b, and a label indicating the system or format can be attached to the rectangular recess 4 as in the conventional case.

Reference numeral 5 is a guard panel for protecting the tape, which is normally prevented from opening by a lock mechanism (not shown). Then, a logo mark is also formed on the upper surface at the time of molding (not shown).

The logo mark 11 shown in FIG. 2 is displayed from the confirmation window 2a on the take-up reel side (the confirmation window 2a side) and the supply reel side (the confirmation window 2b side) depending on the detached state of the tape cassette. The mode is different. For example, all of the logo marks 11 ... Seen through the one confirmation window 2a are not displayed, and a part of them is hidden and divided and displayed, and the logo mark 11 ... Seen through the other confirmation window 2b.
, One of them is all displayed, but the others may be partially divided and displayed. In such a case, it is possible to recognize which logo mark 11 is by combining the part in which the entire logo mark 11 is displayed and the part in which the logo mark 11 is displayed separately.

The combination of the logo marks 11 on the take-up reel side and the supply reel side does not always identify the system or format. For example, one confirmation window 2
There is a possibility that a or the other confirmation window 2b may be completely or partially closed. Even in such a case, according to the tape cassette 1 having the configuration of the present invention, in the former case, the logo mark 1 is provided on the other confirmation window 2b or the one confirmation window 2a.
By forming one confirmation window 2a or the other confirmation window 2b in a predetermined shape so that 1 is always displayed, in the latter case, for example, all the logo marks 11 or The combination of the logo mark 11 displayed on the one confirmation window 2a and the logo mark 11 displayed on the other confirmation window 2b makes it possible to easily confirm which logo mark 11 it is.

Even if the logo marks 11 ... Are not arranged as described above, by combining some of the logo marks 11 ... Recognizable from both the confirmation windows 2a and 2b, what kind of logo mark 11 ... Of course, it is possible to easily recognize whether or not it is.

When the tape cassette 1 is used outdoors, as described above, most of the confirmation windows 2a and 2b are the semitransparent or opaque portion 13 (see FIG. 1). The amount of external light that reaches the tape end detection unit (not shown) is reduced, and it is possible to prevent a malfunction due to a tape end detection error.

When the semi-transparent upper flange 10 is used, the lower flange (not shown) is generally manufactured using white plastic or the like. Therefore, when viewed from above the tape cassette 1, it is dark. It is possible to easily confirm the remaining amount and the used amount of the tape through the confirmation windows 2a and 2b from the difference in brightness with the tape.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the upper flange of the tape cassette according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The same parts as those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals. In this embodiment, D-VHS and S
-By describing it together with VHS, it is clarified that the D-VHS system cassette tape can be used for both the D-VHS system and the S-VHS system, and the conventional S-VHS system cassette tape is S-VHS system. This is done in order to eliminate the misunderstanding that it can be used only for the S-VHS system even though it can be used for both the VHS system and the VHS system.

That is, in this embodiment, S-VH
S-VHS logo mark 11 indicating the S system ...
And the D-VHS logo mark 11 ... Which indicates the D-VHS system are stacked in two stages in the radial direction of the upper flange 10,
It is described on the concentric circles of the central hole 12 at intervals of 90 °, for example.

It is possible to use it as a normal VHS system. That is, when it is possible to use the three methods in combination, the VHS logo mark should be further 3 in the radial direction of the upper flange.
It may be arranged in a stepwise manner and described on the concentric circles of the central hole 12 at intervals of 90 °, for example. Further, it goes without saying that the number and intervals of the logo marks 11 can be appropriately changed depending on the shape of the confirmation windows 2a, 2b and the like.

Therefore, by incorporating the upper flange 10 of this construction into a cassette similar to that of the above-mentioned embodiment, the user of the tape cassette 1 can confirm the confirmation window 2 formed on the upper surface thereof.
Just looking at a and 2b, the tape cassette 1 is SV
It becomes possible to recognize that it can be used for both the HS system and the D-VHS system.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a tape cassette according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The same parts as those in FIG. 2 are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. In this embodiment, the logo mark 11 ... Is described on the upper flange 10 in the above embodiment, whereas the logo mark 11 ... is described on the clear windows 3a and 3b fitted in the confirmation windows 2a and 2b.

In this case, the clear windows 3a and 3b are semi-transparent (matte) and the logo mark 11 ... Is transparent, as in the above-mentioned embodiment. Conversely, the clear windows 3a and 3b are semi-transparent. Of the logo marks 11 ... may be formed, and the point is that the logo marks 11 ... Can be recognized at the first glance.

If this configuration is applied to the first and second embodiments, it goes without saying that the system and format display can be recognized more easily.
Even if it is applied to a tape cassette having a conventional structure, the system and format can be easily recognized.

[0040]

Since the tape cassette according to the present invention has the above-mentioned structure, it exhibits the following effects. According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cassette body including an upper half having a confirmation window for confirming the remaining amount and the amount of tape used and a lower half matching the upper half, and rotatably arranged in the cassette body. A tape comprising a tape reel and tapes wound around these tape reels, and a logo mark indicating a system and a format to which the tape corresponds can be confirmed on the upper flange constituting the tape reel through the confirmation window. Since it is provided at a constant angle in the rotation direction of the reel, a logo mark indicating the system and format is displayed at a constant angle on the upper flange from the window on the upper surface of the tape cassette that confirms the remaining tape amount and usage amount. Can be recognized. Therefore,
You can easily see which system and format the tape is compatible with just by looking at the confirmation window.

According to the second aspect, since a plurality of logo marks are provided in the rotation direction of the tape reel, even when the logo marks are divided in the window for confirming the remaining tape amount and the used amount, the tape cassette can be obtained from the combination. Can recognize compatible systems and formats. Therefore, when the tape cassette is used, the inconvenience of not knowing the system and the format is eliminated and misuse is prevented.

According to the third aspect, the logo mark describes all the indications that are compatible with the system and the format that the tape is compatible with, so that it is possible to recognize all the systems and formats that the tape cassette is compatible with. Therefore,
When the tape cassette is used, the inconvenience of not knowing the system and the format is eliminated and misuse is prevented.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the upper flange is transparent at the portion where the logo mark is described and the other portion is translucent or opaque, so that the upper flange is mostly translucent or opaque. Therefore, even when used outdoors, the amount of external light that reaches the tape edge detection unit is reduced, and malfunctions due to tape edge detection are prevented.

According to the fifth aspect, a logo mark indicating the system or format to which the tape corresponds is written in the confirmation window for the remaining tape amount and the used amount. A logo mark indicating the system or format can be recognized by the usage confirmation window. Therefore, even when another label indicating the system and format is overlaid and attached as in the conventional case, the correct system and format can be recognized through the confirmation window for confirming the remaining tape amount and the used amount. Also, in the manufacturing process that incorporates the reel wound tape into the cassette,
Even when reels of different tape types are mixed, there is no risk of incorporating reels of different systems or formats into the cassette.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an upper flange of a tape cassette according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the tape cassette with the upper flange incorporated.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of an upper flange of a tape cassette according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a tape cassette according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing an outline of a VHS (registered trademark of Victor Company of Japan, Ltd.) type tape cassette.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Tape cassette, 1a ... Upper half, 2a, 2b ... Confirmation window, 4 ... Recessed part, 5 ... Guard panel, 10 ... Upper flange, 11 ... Logo mark, 12 ... Center hole, 13 ... Parts other than logo mark.

Front page continued (72) Inventor Kunimitsu Okamura 3-12 Moriya-cho, Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama, Japan Victor Company of Japan, Ltd. (72) Naoyuki Noguchi 3-12 Moriya-cho, Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama Japan Victor Co., Ltd.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A cassette main body comprising an upper half having a confirmation window for confirming the remaining amount and the amount of tape used and a lower half matching the upper half, and a tape reel rotatably arranged in the cassette main body. And a tape wound around these tape reels, wherein a logo mark indicating the system or format to which the tape corresponds is provided on the upper flange of the tape reel via the confirmation window. The tape cassette is characterized in that it is provided at a fixed angle in the rotation direction of the tape reel so that it can be confirmed. 2. The tape cassette according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the logo marks are provided on the concentric circle of the upper flange and in the rotation direction. 3. The tape cassette according to claim 1, wherein the upper flange describes all of a plurality of systems and formats to which the tape corresponds. 4. The tape cassette according to claim 1, wherein the upper flange is transparent at a portion where a logo mark is described and is semi-transparent or opaque at other portions. 5. The confirmation window for the remaining tape amount and the used amount is
The tape cassette according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a logo mark indicating a system or a format to which the tape corresponds is described.