JPH097337A - Tape cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] To provide a highly reliable tape cassette that reliably prevents abnormal tension of the tape even if the reel brake moves due to a drop or impact. [Structure] A pair of locking claws 9 and 10 are arranged at both ends of the reel brake 8. During operation, guide bosses 12 and 13 of the locking claws are guided in a guide groove 14 provided in the housing, and during release. Since the engaging claws 9 and 10 rotate in the direction of loosening the tape, there is no risk of abnormal tension in the tape due to a drop or impact, and the tape can be reliably prevented from being damaged.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tape cassette capable of recording / reproducing information such as music and images.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional tape cassette, for example, a tape cassette generally shown in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 58-127477 is generally used. The configuration will be described below with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 8A, a housing 91 accommodates two hubs 93 wound with a magnetic tape 92, and a ratchet 97 is provided on the outer peripheral portion thereof.
The reel brake 95 is arranged in a space formed between two hubs at the rear of the housing 91, covers an upper space of an opening 94 provided on the bottom surface of the housing, and is arranged between the reel brake 95 and the rear wall of the housing. The spring 98 is biased toward the hub 93. A locking pawl 96 fixed to the front end of the reel brake engages with the ratchet 97 to prevent the hub 93 from rotating in the feeding direction of the magnetic tape 92, and also to rotate the magnetic tape 92 in the winding direction. . Further, when the releasing member provided in the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus is inserted into and discharged from the opening 94, the reel brake 95 is guided by the rib 99 of the housing 91 and slides between the locking position and the releasing position. . Further, in the release position shown in FIG. 8B, the locking claw 9
6 is guided by a rib 99, and is set so that its tip is bent in a direction away from the hub 93.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional tape cassette, when an impact is applied from the outside,
The magnetic tape 92 wound around the two hubs 93 moves in the direction in which the magnetic tape 92 is extended due to its weight,
3 has a problem that abnormal tension is generated in the magnetic tape and the magnetic tape is damaged by rotating in the direction in which the magnetic tape 92 is extended with the tip of the engaging claw 96 being engaged as the rotation fulcrum. Was there.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a tape cassette in which abnormal tension does not occur in a magnetic tape even when an external shock is applied to the tape cassette. .

[0005]

In order to solve the above problems, a tape cassette according to the present invention comprises an upper and lower housing, a pair of hubs having a ratchet on the outer periphery, a magnetic tape, and a locking claw that engages with the ratchet. A reel cassette having a reel brake, comprising: a reel brake having a pair of locking claws at its tip or both ends; a biasing means for pressing the engaging claw against a ratchet; a guide groove provided in a housing; A boss portion guided by the guide groove is provided on the engagement claw, and the engagement claw that engages with the ratchet during the release position and the braking operation is separated from the outer circumference of the hub.

Further, a biasing portion having a pair of locking claws at the tip or both ends thereof and having a releasing member inserting portion and a biasing means for biasing the locking portion in a locking direction with a predetermined biasing force. And a biasing means for pressing the pair of engaging claws against the ratchet while the brake is being released and the locking position.

[0007]

In the tape cassette according to the first aspect of the present invention, the engaging claw on the reel brake is guided by the guide groove and separated from the outer periphery of the hub during the braking operation.
Even if the magnetic tape wound around the hub during the brake release does not wind up during the brake operation and the magnetic tape moves in the direction to extend the magnetic tape due to its weight, the engaging claws of the reel brake move in the same direction, Since the pair of hubs can rotate in the direction of loosening the magnetic tape, there is no risk of abnormal tension being applied to the magnetic tape, and damage to the magnetic tape is reliably prevented.

Further, according to the tape cassette of the second invention, even if the magnetic tape wound around the hub during the brake release moves in the direction of extending the magnetic tape due to its weight, the reel brake is locked. Since the force of the part biasing spring is weak, the locking claw on the locking part is pushed by the ratchet on the outer circumference of the hub, and the hub can rotate in the direction to loosen the magnetic tape.
There is no risk of abnormal tension on the magnetic tape, and the damage to the magnetic tape is reliably prevented.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the tape cassette of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1, 2 and 3, a supply hub 3 and a take-up hub 4 which are connected to the inside of the lower housing 1 and the upper housing 21 by a magnetic tape 2.
And housed. Ratchets 5 and 6 are formed on the outer circumferences of the lower flanges of the supply hub 3 and the take-up hub 4. An opening 7 for inserting the release member 20 of the brake mechanism is provided at the center of the rear part of the lower housing 1.

The reel brake 8 is mounted on the lower housing 1 in a direction orthogonal to a line connecting the centers of the supply hub 3 and the take-up hub 4 with the brake mechanism being locked (see FIG. 2) and released (see FIG. 4). It is mounted slidably between and. A pair of locking claws 9 and 10 are provided at the front end of the reel brake 8,
It engages with the ratchets 5 and 6 to prevent rotation of the supply hub 3 and the take-up hub 4. The pair of locking claws 9 and 10 are engaged with the engaging portions 9a and 10a which engage with both ends of a spring 11 which urges the pair of hubs 3 and 4 toward the ratchets 5 and 6, respectively.
Is provided so that it can rotate about the roots 9b and 10b. The spring 11 is provided on the protrusion 8a of the reel brake 8, the guide bosses 12 and 13 of the reel brake 8 are guided to the guide grooves 14 of the lower housing 1, and both ends of the reel brake 8 are guided along the guides 15 and 16 to form the reel brake 8. 8 along the guide 22 of the upper housing 21 and the spring 17
Urges the reel brake 8 forward.

Next, the brake release operation will be described. When the tape cassette is mounted on the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus from the hub locked state of FIG. 2, the releasing member 20 provided in the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus is inserted from the opening 7 as shown in FIG. The inclined portion pushes the reel brake 8 backward. That is, the reel brake 8 moves rearward while being guided by the guides 15, 16 and 22 against the biasing force of the spring 17. At this time, the guides 9c and 10c provided on the locking claws 9 and 10 are guided inward by the guide walls 18 and 19, respectively. Further, the guide bosses 12 and 13 are also moved inward and enter the guide groove 14. Release member 2
When 0 is inserted to the predetermined position, the reel brake 8 moves to the hub release position. At this time, the locking claws 9 and 10
Is moved inward by the guide walls 18 and 19 and is completely separated from the ratchets 5 and 6.

Next, the transition from the unlocked state of the hub of FIG. 4 to the locked state, that is, the braking operation will be described. From the state of FIG. 4, the releasing member 20 inserted into the opening 7 is pulled out at the same time when the tape cassette is ejected from the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus, and the reel brake 8 is biased by the spring 17 to move forward. To do. Guide boss 1 for locking claws 9 and 10
Since 2 and 13 are guided by the guide groove 14, the reel brake 8 moves forward while the locking claws are closed inward. When the guide bosses 12 and 13 move forward until they ride on the slope 14a of the guide groove 14 and exit the guide groove 14, the engaging claws 9 and 10 are urged by the spring 11 to open toward the hubs 3 and 4. Therefore, the ratchets 5 and 6 are immediately approached and engaged, but the engaging claws 9 and 10 urge the engaging portions with the ratchets 5 and 6 outward rather than forward, so that the hubs 3, 4 is not rotated in the magnetic tape winding direction.

When the reel brake 8 reaches the hub locking position as shown in FIG. 2, the locking pawls 9 and 10 are ratchets 5 and 6.
To lock both hubs. At this time, the reel brake 8 stops contacting with the guide walls 18 and 19. The prevention of abnormal tension of the magnetic tape of the tape cassette having the above-described configuration and operation will be described.

In the hub locked state of FIG. 2, since the locking claws 9 and 10 do not wind up the hubs 3 and 4, as described above, there is no abnormal tension on the magnetic tape 2 in this state. Further, when the tape cassette is dropped or shocked from the hub locked state, even if the pair of hubs 3 and 4 move backward due to the weight of the magnetic tape 2, the hubs 3 and 4 are engaged. The locking claws 9 and 10 and the reel brake 8 integrated with the locking claws 9 and 10 are pushed down against the biasing force of the spring 17. Here, the reel brake 8 is determined from the allowable movement distance of the hubs 3 and 4.
1 has a longer allowable movement distance, the reel brake 8 is further moved, and the hubs 3 and 4 are moved to the arrows A and B in FIG. 1, respectively.
In the direction of, that is, in the direction in which the magnetic tape 2 is loosened, abnormal tension of the magnetic tape is prevented.

Next, a second embodiment of the tape cassette of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 5 and 6, a supply hub 3 and a take-up hub 4 connected by a magnetic tape 2 (not shown) are housed inside the lower housing 1 and the upper housing 21. Ratchets 5 and 6 are formed on the outer circumferences of the lower flanges of the supply hub 3 and the winding hub 4. An opening 7 for inserting the release member 20 of the brake mechanism is provided at the center of the rear part of the lower housing 1.

The reel brake 8 has an engaging portion 38b having an inserting portion for the releasing member 20 and an urging portion 38 having an engaging spring 38c for urging the engaging portion 38b in the engaging direction with a predetermined urging force.
slid between the locking position (see FIG. 5) and the releasing position (see FIG. 7) of the brake mechanism in a direction orthogonal to the line connecting the centers of the supply hub 3 and the winding hub 4. It is freely attached to the lower housing 1. A pair of locking pawls 9 and 10 are provided at the front end portion of the reel brake 8 and the ratchets 5 and 6 are provided.
To prevent the supply hub 3 and the take-up hub 4 from rotating. The locking claws 9 and 10 are provided with engaging portions 9a that engage with both ends of a spring 11 that urges these in the direction of the ratchets 5 and 6.
10a is provided, and the bases 9b and 10b are rotatable. The spring 11 is provided on the protrusion 8 a of the reel brake 8. Both ends of the reel brake 8 are guides 15 and 1
6, the upper part of the reel brake 8 is the upper housing 2
Along the guide 22 of No. 1, the spring 47 biases the reel brake biasing portion 38d in the forward direction, and the locking spring 38c biases the reel brake locking portion 38b in the forward direction.

Here, the locking spring 38c is set to be weaker than the spring 47, so that the biasing portion 38d of the reel brake 8 is provided with the stopper 31a provided in the lower housing 1,
31b, the locking portion 38b is biased by a locking spring 38c in the locking direction with a predetermined biasing force. The release operation of the reel brake of the tape cassette having the above-described structure will be described.

By mounting the tape cassette in the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus in the hub locked state of FIG. 5, the releasing member 20 provided in the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus is inserted from the opening 7 as shown in FIG. The brake locking portion 38b is pushed backward. In conjunction with this, the urging portion 38d is moved backward by being guided by the guides 15, 16 and 22 against the urging force of the spring 47. At this time, the guides 9c and 10c provided on the locking claws 9 and 10 are guided inward by the guide walls 48 and 49. When the release member 20 is inserted to a predetermined position, the reel brake 8 moves to the hub release position. At this time, the locking claws 9 and 10 are biased outward by the spring 11, but are pushed inward by the guide walls 48 and 49, and the locking claws 9 and 10 are completely separated from the ratchets 5 and 6. The hub is released.

Next, the transition from the unlocked state of the hub of FIG. 7 to the locked state, that is, the braking operation will be described. From the state of FIG. 7, as the tape cassette is ejected from the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus, at the same time, the releasing member 20 inserted from the opening 7 is pulled out, and the locking portion 38b moves forward. The engaging claws 9 and 10 are attached to both hubs 3 and 4 by the spring 11.
Since it is urged to open in the direction of, the ratchets 5 and 6 immediately approach and engage with each other, and the hubs 3 and 4 rotate in the winding direction of the magnetic tape.

At this time, the urging portion 38 of the reel brake 8
d is a stopper 31a, 31 provided on the lower housing 1.
Since it is blocked by b, the weak force of the locking spring 38c biases the locking portion 38b in the locking direction. When the locking portion 38b of the reel brake 8 reaches the hub locking position as shown in FIG. 5, the locking pawls 9 and 10 lock both hubs while engaging with the ratchets 5 and 6. At this time, the reel brake 8
The locking portion 38b of the contact stop with the guide walls 48 and 49.

The prevention of abnormal tension of the magnetic tape of the tape cassette having the structure and operation described above will be described.
In the hub locked state of FIG. 5, the locking claws 9 and 10 wind up the hubs 3 and 4 as described above, but the locking spring 38
Since only a weak predetermined tension due to c is applied, there is no abnormal tension on the magnetic tape 2 in this state.

Further, when the tape cassette is dropped or given an impact from the hub locked state, even if the hubs 3 and 4 move backward due to the weight of the magnetic tape 2, the hubs 3 and 4 are engaged with each other. Locking claws 9 and 10 and a locking portion 3 integrated therewith
The reel brake 8 constituted by 8b and the biasing portion 38d is pushed down against the biasing force of the spring 47. Since the permissible movement distance of the reel brake 8 is longer than the permissible movement distance of the hubs 3 and 4, the locking portion 38b of the reel brake 8 further moves, and the hubs 3 and 4 are respectively moved by the arrows A and B in FIG. In the direction of, that is, in the direction in which the magnetic tape 2 is loosened, abnormal tension of the magnetic tape is prevented.

[0023]

As described above, according to the present invention, in the state where the tape cassette is a single body, that is, the state where the locking claw provided on the reel brake is engaged and the hub is locked,
Abnormal tension does not occur on the magnetic tape, and even if the tape cassette is dropped or shocked from this state, it rotates in the direction to loosen the magnetic tape, so it is possible to reliably prevent abnormal tension of the magnetic tape, Reliably prevent damage.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an internal structural diagram of a tape cassette according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a reel brake portion of the tape cassette in a hub locked state.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the same.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the reel brake portion of the tape cassette according to the first embodiment of the present invention in a hub released state.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a reel brake portion of a tape cassette according to a second embodiment of the present invention in a hub locking state.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the same.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the reel brake portion of the tape cassette according to the second embodiment of the present invention in a hub released state.

FIG. 8A is an internal structure diagram of a conventional tape cassette in a hub locked state, and FIG. 8B is an internal structure diagram of the same tape cassette in a released state.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Lower Housing 21 Upper Housing 3,4 Hub 5,6 Ratchet 8 Reel Brake 9,10 Locking Claw 11 Spring 12,13 Guide Boss 14 Guide Groove 38b Locking Part 38c Locking Spring 38d Energizing Part

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An upper and lower housing, a pair of hubs having ratchets on the outer circumference thereof, a magnetic tape connected to the pair of hubs, and locking ratchets at the tips or both ends of the ratchets to lock the hubs. A reel cassette having a pair of locking pawls provided at a front end or both ends thereof, the tape cassette including a reel brake that performs a braking operation and is movable in a direction orthogonal to a direction connecting the centers of the pair of hubs. A biasing means that presses the pair of engaging claws against the ratchet during the stop position and brake release, a guide groove provided on the housing, and a guide groove provided at the engaging claw during the release position and braking operation. A tape cassette comprising a pair of guides that separate the engaging claws that are guided and engage with the ratchet from the outer periphery of the hub. 2. The upper and lower housings, a pair of hubs having ratchets on the outer circumference thereof, a magnetic tape connected to the pair of hubs, and locking ratchets at the tips or both ends of the ratchets to lock the hubs. A tape cassette comprising a reel brake that performs a braking operation and is movable in a direction orthogonal to the direction connecting the centers of the pair of hubs, and has a pair of locking claws at the tip or both ends and a release member insertion portion. A reel brake including a locking portion and a biasing portion having a biasing means for biasing the locking portion in a locking direction with a predetermined biasing force; and the pair of engaging claws at a locking position and during brake release. A tape cassette comprising a biasing means for pressing the ratchet against the ratchet.