JPH10312666A - Tape cassette device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To provide a tape cassette device in which no limp mark remains, no curved deformation occurs, and the magnetic tape is prevented from being easily loosened. SOLUTION: A case part 58 forming the outside of the tape cassette device, and a pair of tape reels 56 housed in the case part and wound around both ends of a magnetic tape 55 respectively.
A pair of magnetic tapes 55 provided on a part of the case portion 58 and running between the pair of tape reels 56 guide and support both ends of a linear running portion 55a running linearly outside the case portion 58. In a tape cassette device provided with a tape guide portion 58a, at least one of the pair of tape guide portions 58a so that the pair of tape guide portions 58a approach each other when the tape cassette device is not inserted into the recording / reproducing device and when the loading is not performed. Is provided.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to, for example, a VTR (V
The present invention relates to a tape cassette device used in a magnetic recording / reproducing device, such as an video tape recorder, and more particularly to maintaining a good state of a magnetic tape when the tape cassette device is stored.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional tape cassette apparatus, for example, as shown in FIG. 11, an upper shell 54 forming a substantially upper half of a case portion and a lower shell 58 forming a substantially lower half of the case portion are provided. A pair of tape reels 56 around which both ends of a magnetic tape 55 are wound are housed in an internal space formed by combining the upper shell 54 and the lower shell 58.

A magnetic tape 55 wound out of the case of the tape cassette device is provided on the upper shell 54 of the tape cassette device at the time of insertion (loading) into the VTR (at the upper left side in the figure). A front lid 53 for protecting the outside of the magnetic tape 55, a back lid 52 for protecting the inside of the magnetic tape 55, and a top lid 51 for protecting the upper side of the magnetic tape 55 are provided.
3 is separated from the magnetic tape 55 when inserted into the VTR,
It is retracted above the magnetic tape 55.

[0004] Inside the upper shell 54, a reel spring 54a used for stabilizing the rotation of the tape reel 56 at the time of recording and reproduction by pressing the center of each of the pair of tape reels 56 at the front end thereof. The proximal end is fixed.

[0005] In the lower shell 58 at the rear end side (lower right side in FIG. 11) of the tape cassette device during loading, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, when the tape cassette device is taken out from the VTR (during unloading), the reel lock claw 57a is engaged with the gear 56a formed on the circumferential portion of the tape reel 56, and the magnetic tape 55 is A reel lock mechanism 5 for restraining and fixing the rotation of the tape reel 56 so as not to loosen
7 are provided. Reference numeral 57b denotes a reel lock slider, and 57c denotes a reel lock spring.

Further, the leading end side of the tape cassette device (FIG. 12)
A semi-circular arc-shaped lower shell 58 guides and supports both ends of the magnetic tape 55 drawn out so as to be easily loaded so as to facilitate loading. A tape guide portion 58a is formed.

On the other hand, in the case of a relatively thick magnetic tape having a thickness of about 10 μm, which is used for a conventional analog playback type VTR or the like, the tape is fixed with a tape reel 56 fixed by a reel lock mechanism 57. When the cassette device is stored for a long period of time, the bent portions at both ends of the linear running portion 55a of the magnetic tape 55 are pressed against the tape guide portion 58a as described above, and the portion in contact with the tape guide portion 58a of the magnetic tape 55 Is the tape guide portion 58a
Deformed into a cylindrical shape along the curved surface of, and there was only a slight trace of the deformation that temporarily left the deformation, but there was no significant effect on the reproduced image sound quality.

[0008]

However, in order to increase the density of the magnetic tape 55 (to increase the volume density),
When both the magnetic layer and the base layer are thinned and the thickness of the magnetic tape 55 is set to 7 μm or less, the magnetic tape 55 is mounted on the reel lock mechanism 57 like the above-described conventional tape cassette device.
When the tape reel 56 is stored for a long period of time in a state where the tape reel 56 is fixed, the above-mentioned squeezing marks become remarkable in the tape guide portion 58a, and the tape guide portion 58a
When a deformed portion curved along the length direction is generated on the magnetic tape 55 near the position a, distortion occurs in the recording signal waveform, and during reproduction, a normal recording signal waveform cannot be read due to the distortion. Abnormality can be seen.

That is, as shown in FIG. 13, when the tape cassette device is loaded, the tape reel 56 is placed on the reel base 60 and only the gap h is set (about 0.5 mm).
The magnetic tape 55 rises from the bottom surface of the lower shell 58, and the magnetic tape 55 is unwound by a guide portion and a magnetic head portion (not shown) of the VTR and travels from the slightly reeled tape reel 56.

At the time of unloading, as shown in FIG. 14, at the same time as the tape base 60 is separated from the tape reel 56, the tape reel 56 is pressed against the bottom side of the lower shell 58 by the reel spring 54a. Contact the bottom surface of the lower shell 58.

However, immediately before the tape base 60 is separated from the tape reel 56, the tape reel 56 takes up the magnetic tape 55, the magnetic tape 55 comes into contact with the tape guide portion 58a, and the reel lock mechanism 57 operates the tape reel 56. The magnetic tape 55 is pressed against the tape guide portion 58a by a constant tension to restrict the rotation of the magnetic tape 55.

Therefore, when unloading, the tape reel 5
Even when the magnetic tape 6 is displaced to the bottom surface side of the lower shell 58, the magnetic tape 55 pressed against the tape guide portion 58a keeps its position by the frictional force due to the constant tension, and the magnetic tape 55 in the tape reel 56 Cannot be displaced with 55. As a result, the magnetic tape 55 undergoes a curved deformation along the length direction near the tape guide portion 58a as shown in the circle in FIG.

FIG. 15A shows such a curved deformation of the magnetic tape 55 and the above-mentioned imprint. That is, in the figure, the reference symbol M indicates a pressing trace, and the reference symbol R indicates a curved deformation. FIG.
5 (b) is a high-frequency (RF) reproduced signal waveform (RF waveform)
In the same waveform, the symbol m is a distorted portion caused by the pressing trace M of the magnetic tape 55, and the symbol r
Indicates a distorted portion in which the amplitude is reduced with respect to the original amplitude A due to the curved deformation R of the magnetic tape 55.

The deterioration due to the distortion of the reproduction signal waveform due to the pressing trace M or the curved deformation R has a greater effect on the reproduced picture sound quality in the case of the digital system than in the case of the analog system. It is known.

Because of this, the reel lock mechanism 5
A countermeasure is taken to prevent the occurrence of the sleeping trace M and the curved deformation R by relaxing the spring force of the reel lock spring 57c.
Not only does the sleep mark M not disappear completely, but rather, by loosening the spring force of the reel lock mechanism 57, the fixing force of the tape reel 56 is weakened and the magnetic tape 5
5 becomes easy to loosen.

[0016] For this reason, the loose magnetic tape 55 is stuck to each of the lids 51 to 53 so that loading cannot be performed, or the magnetic tape 55 is damaged by touching a place other than a predetermined place. In addition to being noticeable, when the user slides his hand and drops the tape cassette device, the shock at that time releases the reel lock spring 57c of the reel lock mechanism 57, and the magnetic tape 55 is loosened. New problems arise.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a tape cassette apparatus which does not leave a bed mark, does not undergo curved deformation, and prevents the magnetic tape from being easily loosened. Is the subject.

[0018]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a case unit forming the outside of a tape cassette apparatus, and a pair of magnetic tapes which are housed in the case unit and around which both ends of a magnetic tape are wound. A pair of tape reels and a pair of magnetic tapes provided on a part of the case portion for guiding and supporting both ends of a linear running portion running between the pair of tape reels and running linearly outside the case portion. In a tape cassette device provided with a tape guide portion of
When the tape cassette device is not inserted into the recording / reproducing device, and when the tape cassette device is not loaded, a mechanism for displacing at least one of the pair of tape guide portions is provided so that the pair of tape guide portions approach each other.

According to the tape cassette device having such a configuration, when the tape cassette device is not loaded, the tape guide portion is displaced so that the pair of tape guide portions approach each other, so that the tape is wound between the pair of tape reels. The total length of the path of the ejected magnetic tape, that is, the total length of the path when the magnetic tape between the pair of tape reels is guided and guided by the tape guide and extends without slack, is shorter than before displacing the tape guide. Can be.

As a result, the tension of the magnetic tape in the tape guide portion can be reduced, so that a pressing mark can be prevented from being formed, and the magnetic tape in the tape guide portion can be moved in the same direction as the displacement direction of the tape reel during unloading. Since the magnetic tape can be displaced by the same amount in the same direction, it is possible to prevent the magnetic tape from being curved and deformed. Further, since such an effect can be obtained even if the spring force of the reel lock mechanism is not reduced, it is possible to prevent the magnetic tape from being easily loosened and the adverse effect of the jamming from becoming remarkable.

[0021]

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 8
FIG. 1 is a view showing a first embodiment of a tape cassette device according to the present invention. The same reference numerals are used for the same components as in the related art, and the same components as in the related art are not described repeatedly.

FIG. 1 is a view showing a tape guide portion 58a (see FIG. 5). The tape guide portion 58a is a guide plate portion 62 fixed to a lower shell (case portion) 58 in FIG.
It is provided at the middle and lower ends so as to be rotatable about a pin 64 as a fulcrum. A guide groove 62a is formed in the guide plate portion 62 as shown in FIG.
Guide pin 52 provided integrally with back lid 52
By sliding a, the rotation between the loading and unloading of the back lid 52 is guided.

A cam 70 rotatable around a pin 65 provided on the lower shell 58 is arranged between the tape guide portion 58a and the guide plate portion 62. One end of two tension springs 72 and 73 is locked in a locking hole 70 a at one end of the cam 70, and the other end of the tension spring 72 is engaged with a pin 66 erected on the lower shell 58. Stopped, tension spring 7
The other end of 3 is locked by a locking portion 58b provided on the tape guide portion 58a. The cam 70 is a tension spring 72
To rotate in the clockwise direction in the figure, but the rotation in the same direction is restricted by a stopper (not shown) so as not to rotate excessively.

The other end of the cam 70 is fitted in a cam recess 62b formed in the guide plate 62. The center of the cam recess 62b is formed in a guide groove on the opposite side of the guide plate 62. It communicates with the end of 62a. Since the other end of the cam 70 also enters the guide groove 62a, the cam 70 can be pressed by the guide pin 52a.

It is assumed that such a cam mechanism is provided not only for the tape guide portion 58a on the left side in FIG. 5 but also for the tape guide portion 58a on the right side in FIG.

Next, the operation of the tape cassette device according to this embodiment will be described. FIG. 5 shows a state in which the tape cassette device is loaded into the VTR, as in FIG. 13, but when the tape cassette device is unloaded, the magnetic tape 55 that has been largely pulled out during loading is replaced with the state shown in FIG. As shown in the drawing, the magnetic tape 55 is wound by the tape reel 56, and a part of the magnetic tape 55 contacts the tape guide portion 58a.

Then, the tape reel 56 is raised by the operation of a loading mechanism (not shown) in the VTR,
The reel base 60 is separated from the lower surface of the tape reel 56 (see FIG. 14).
The seventh reel lock claw 57a locks to the gear 56a on the circumferential portion of the tape reel 56 to restrict and fix the rotation of the tape reel 56.

Then, each of the lids 51 to 53 is rotated so as to close and is disposed around the magnetic tape 55. At this time, the guide pin 5 is rotated in conjunction with the rotation of the back lid 52.
2a moves rightward in the guide groove 62a shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4, the guide pin 52a is
When the guide pin 52a comes to the right end of a, it comes into contact with and presses the tip of the cam 70. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, the cam 70 rotates counterclockwise in the drawing against the tension spring force of the tension springs 72 and 73.

Then, the locking hole 70a of the cam 70 is displaced so as to approach the guide plate portion 62.
In order to maintain the distance between the locking portion 58b and the locking hole 70a at the shortest distance, the locking portion 58b is also displaced so as to approach the guide plate portion 62.

For this reason, the tape guide portion 58a is
3 is rotated clockwise in FIG. 3 around the fulcrum 4 and is displaced rightward in the figure so as to be separated from the position of the magnetic tape 55 by a distance G. The tape guide portion 58a on the right side in FIG.
Is displaced to the left in the figure by the same amount.

In this manner, the pair of tape guides 5
8a are displaced by the same amount so as to approach each other, so that the path length of the magnetic tape 55 between the pair of tape reels 56 before the displacement is longer than the distance G by the distance G.
Can be shortened by twice as much as

Therefore, although the pair of tape reels 56 is fixed by the reel lock mechanism 57, the magnetic tape 55 between the pair of tape reels 56 is slackened by the shortened path length. For this reason, the tension of the magnetic tape 55 can be reduced, and
Can be prevented from sticking.

Further, since the magnetic tape 55 is slackened as described above, the magnetic tape 55 in the tape guide portion 58a is displaced in the width direction, and is located at the same position in the width direction as the magnetic tape 55 in the tape reel 56. Since it is possible to come, it is possible to prevent the curved deformation R from occurring in the magnetic tape 55.

Therefore, it is possible to prevent the reproduction signal waveform from being deteriorated due to distortion as shown in FIG.
A normal reproduced signal waveform is obtained as shown in FIG. Further, since such an effect can be obtained without reducing the spring force of the reel lock mechanism 57, it is possible to prevent the magnetic tape 55 from being easily loosened and the adverse effect of the jamming from becoming remarkable.

In other words, by adjusting the amount of displacement of the tape guide portion 58a, it can be said that the degree of slack of the magnetic tape 55 can be suppressed to a level that does not cause jamming. In addition, the tape guide portion 58a
Can be adjusted by adjusting the spring constant of the tension spring 72, the stopper position of the cam 70, the amount of contact rotation with the guide pin 52a, and the like.

[0036]

EXAMPLE FIGS. 9 and 10 are tables showing experimental results according to two examples. FIG. 9 shows an experimental result when the tape thickness is 7 μm, and FIG. 10 shows an experimental result when the tape thickness is 5 μm.

In the measurement of the experimental values, the equipment used was a commercially available Sony VCR (DSR-1), the recording signal was a single frequency, the wavelength was 1 μm, and the magnetic tape was 6.3.
An evaporation tape with a protective film (Co oblique evaporation) having a width of 5 mm was used, and the spring force of the reel lock mechanism 57 was 50 g.

The shortened length of the path length of the magnetic tape 55 marked with “#)” in the figure is due to the structural limitation of the equipment used.
If the length is more than 4 mm, it cannot be carried out, and this indicates that the experiment was conducted by forcibly pulling out the magnetic tape and loosening it. This depends on the displacement of the tape guide portion 58a depending on the type of the magnetic tape 55.
In some cases, the shortened path length can be set to a length exceeding 4 mm, and such a case is also included in the experiment.

Here, the reproduced waveform abnormality occurrence rate is determined by recording a signal on a sample magnetic tape at room temperature by a VCR of the above-mentioned equipment, and then measuring the temperature to 60 ° C. or 45 ° C. and a humidity of 50%.
In this environment, after a storage period of one day or two weeks, the temperature is returned to room temperature and one day later, the recorded signal is reproduced, and the result of the output reduction is measured and obtained.

At this time, when the output falls below −3 dB with respect to the maximum amplitude value of the reproduced waveform, it is regarded as NG,
If the output did not decrease below 3 dB, it was judged OK. The number of samples is set to 10, and 0% is set when the output does not decrease to -3 dB or less.

As for the occurrence rate of the jamming, since the jamming easily occurs under the high temperature and the low humidity, the jamming rate is 4 ° C.
Under the environment of 5 ° C and 20% humidity, V
It was checked whether accurate loading was possible on the CR, that is, whether jamming occurred. The number of samples is set to 10, and 0% is set when no jamming occurs.

From the tables of FIGS. 9 and 10, the tape thickness is 7 μm.
For the following vapor deposition tapes, the minimum value (0.5
mm) and the tape guide portion 58 where jamming does not occur.
The maximum value (6 mm) of the area of the displacement amount a is obtained, and the area where both of these two types of abnormalities do not occur is 0.5
It can be seen that the distance is in the range of 6 mm to 6 mm.

In the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which both the pair of tape guides 58a are provided with a cam mechanism and both are displaced so as to approach each other, but only one of the pair of tape guides 58a is displaced. May be provided, and only the tape guide portion 58a provided with the cam mechanism may be displaced.

In the above embodiment, the case where the tape guide 58a is displaced by the cam mechanism has been described. However, the tape guide 58a is displaced by using another mechanism such as a gear mechanism in addition to the cam mechanism. You may.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the cam mechanism is driven by the back lid 52 has been described. However, if the cam mechanism is displaced between loading and unloading, the cam mechanism is driven by a component other than the back lid 52. The mechanism may be driven.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where an experiment was performed using a vapor-deposited tape as the magnetic tape was described. However, the pressing trace M and the curved deformation R of the magnetic tape can physically occur even with a magnetic powder-coated tape. Therefore, the present invention can be applied to a magnetic powder coated tape.

[0047]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The path length of the magnetic tape unwound between the pair of tape reels, that is, the distance between the pair of tape reels, When the magnetic tape is guided by the tape guide and extends without slack, the total length of the path can be made shorter than before the tape guide is displaced.

As a result, the tension of the magnetic tape at the tape guide portion can be reduced, so that the pressing mark can be prevented from being formed, and the magnetic tape at the tape guide portion can be moved in the same direction as the displacement direction of the tape reel during unloading. Since the magnetic tape can be displaced by the same amount in the same direction, it is possible to prevent the magnetic tape from being curved and deformed. Further, since such an effect can be obtained even if the spring force of the reel lock mechanism is not reduced, it is possible to prevent the magnetic tape from being easily loosened and the adverse effect of the jamming from becoming remarkable.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial sectional plan view of a tape guide portion 58a showing a first embodiment of a tape cassette device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view of the tape guide portion 58a in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional plan view showing the operation of a tape guide section 58a in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a view of the tape guide portion 58a in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a plan sectional view showing the state of the tape cassette device during loading.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional plan view showing a state where the magnetic tape 55 is wound by the tape reel 56 of the tape cassette device at the time of unloading.

FIG. 7 is a plan sectional view showing a state where the tape guide portions 58a of the tape cassette device immediately after unloading are displaced so as to approach each other.

FIG. 8 is a view showing the magnetic tape 55 in a normal state;
FIG. 8A is a front view of a track pattern showing a state in which the normal image / sound signal is recorded, and FIG. 8B is a view showing a normal reproduction signal waveform.

FIG. 9 is a table showing a table of experimental results when the tape thickness of the example is 7 μm.

FIG. 10 is a table showing a table of experimental results when the tape thickness of the example is 5 μm.

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view showing a conventional tape cassette device.

FIG. 12 is a plan sectional view showing a conventional tape cassette device.

FIG. 13 is a side sectional view showing a state of the tape cassette device during loading.

14A and 14B are a side sectional view and a partially enlarged view showing a state when the tape cassette device is unloaded.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a magnetic tape 55 after long-term storage of a conventional tape cassette device. FIG. 15A shows a pressing trace M and a curved deformation R formed on a track pattern of the recording signal. The front view, FIG.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a reproduced signal waveform in which distortion m or r is caused by a curved deformation R.

[Explanation of symbols]

51: Top lid, 52: Back lid, 52a: Guide pin, 53: Front lid, 54: Upper shell, 5
4a ... reel spring, 55 ... magnetic tape, 55a ...
Linear running section, 56: tape reel, 56a: gear, 57
... Reel lock mechanism, 57a ... Reel lock claw, 57b
... Reel lock slider, 57c ... Reel lock spring, 58 ... Lower shell, 58a ... Tape guide part, 58b
... locking part, 60 ... tape base, 62 ... guide plate part, 62a
... Guide grooves, 62b ... Cam recesses, 64, 65, 66 ...
Pin, 70: cam, 70a: locking hole, 72, 73: tension spring, A: original amplitude, h: gap, G: gap, M: sleeping trace, m, r: distortion, R: curved deformation

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A case part forming the outside of a tape cassette device, a pair of tape reels housed in the case part and wound around both ends of a magnetic tape, respectively; A tape cassette device comprising: a pair of tape guide portions for guiding and supporting both ends of a linear running portion in which a magnetic tape running between a pair of tape reels runs linearly outside the case portion; A tape cassette device provided with a mechanism for displacing at least one of the pair of tape guide portions so that the pair of tape guide portions approach each other when the cassette device is not inserted into the recording / reproducing device when the cassette device is not loaded. . 2. The tape cassette device according to claim 1, wherein a cam mechanism is used as the mechanism. 3. The path length of the magnetic tape unwound between the pair of tape reels is set to approximately 0.5 mm or more by displacing the tape guide portions by the mechanism so that the pair of tape guide portions approach each other. 2. The tape cassette device according to claim 1, wherein the length is shortened within a range of 6 mm. 4. The tape cassette device according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the magnetic tape is 7 μm or less. 5. The tape cassette device according to claim 1, wherein the displacement of the tape guide portion is driven by a component that is displaced between loading and unloading. 6. The tape cassette device according to claim 5, wherein the displacement of the tape guide portion is driven by a back lid that rotates between loading and unloading.