JPH071622B2 - Tape cassette - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial field of application] The present invention is a tape cassette suitable for being applied to a tape cassette for, for example, a video tape recorder, and in particular, a reel lock mechanism ( The present invention relates to a tape cassette provided with a mechanism for stopping the rotation of the reel).

[Outline of Invention]

The present invention is a tape cassette having a cassette housing that houses a reel and a lock mechanism for the reel, and a guide groove in the front-rear direction is provided on the bottom surface of the cassette housing. In a tape cassette for a video tape recorder or the like, which is configured to insert and position the guide groove into an insertion guide provided in the device when the tape cassette is inserted into the device. When the guide groove is inserted into the insertion guide, a part of the lock release member of the lock mechanism provided in the cassette housing is mounted on the insertion guide to unlock the lock mechanism. This ensures that the reels of multiple types of tape cassettes of different sizes, such as small, medium, and large, can be unlocked in common and reliably. And it is obtained to be able to significantly improve the space factor of the apparatus.

[Conventional technology]

As is well known in the art, in a tape cassette for a video tape recorder, a reel lock mechanism is provided in the cassette housing so that the reel does not rotate due to vibration or the like when not in use and the tape is not loosened. There is.

As a conventional reel unlocking mechanism, the front lid attached to the cassette housing and the reel locking mechanism are interlocked so that the tape cassette is loaded into the cassette loading position of the video tape recorder, and the front lid is loaded with the video. A device that unlocks the reel by opening the lid by a lid member provided in the tape recorder and a video tape when the tape cassette is loaded in the cassette loading position of the video tape recorder. In some cases, the lock release pin provided in the recorder is inserted into the cassette housing, and the lock release pin drives the lock release member in the cassette housing to unlock the reel. .

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, in the conventional reel unlocking mechanism for both the front and the rear, special reel unlocking means such as an opening member and an unlocking pin must be provided at a cassette mounting position which is narrow in space in the video tape recorder. Moreover, the space factor in the video tape recorder is very bad.

In the former case, the engagement positional relationship between the front lid and the lid opening member is important, and in the latter case, the engagement positional relationship between the lock release member and the lock release pin is important. If the dimensional accuracy between the video tape recorder and the video tape recorder fluctuates and the above-mentioned engagement positional relationship fluctuates, the opening lid member and the lock release pin are no longer engaged with the front lid and the lock release member, and the reel locks. There is a risk of inadvertent release.

Also, particularly in the latter case, a plurality of types of tape cassettes having different sizes such as small, medium, and large are properly used in one video tape recorder (selectively mounted).
However, it is extremely difficult to commonly unlock the reels of the plurality of types of tape cassettes with one lock release pin because of the structural limitation of the tape cassette. In this case, a plurality of lock release pins must be arranged at the cassette mounting position in accordance with the sizes of the plurality of types of tape cassettes, and the space factor in the video tape recorder increases and worsens.

The present invention does not provide any special unlocking means for unlocking the reel at a narrow cassette mounting position in the device, and is hardly affected by the dimensional accuracy of the tape cassette and the device, and is small. It is possible to commonly unlock the reels of a plurality of types of tape cassettes having different sizes such as medium and large.

[Means for solving problems]

According to the present invention, in the above-described tape cassette, a part of the unlocking member of the lock mechanism is projected from a through hole provided in the cassette housing to a position offset in the guide groove and to the front end side of the guide groove. Then, when the tape cassette is inserted into the device and the guide groove is inserted into the insertion guide, a part of the lock release member is allowed to ride on the insertion guide, and the lock release member causes the lock release member to move. The lock mechanism is configured to be unlocked.

[Action]

According to the present invention, since the insertion guide also serves as the reel unlocking means on the device side for inserting the tape cassette into the guide groove on the bottom surface of the tape cassette and positioning the tape cassette, a special reel is installed in a narrow cassette mounting position in the device. It is not necessary to provide any unlocking means.

Further, the insertion guide for positioning the tape cassette is configured to be long in the front-rear direction of the tape cassette, and a part of the lock release member is mounted on the long insertion guide in the front-rear direction to unlock the reel. Therefore, the full length of the insertion guide that is long in the front-rear direction can be used to unlock the reel at any position within the full length. Therefore, due to the dimensional accuracy of the tape cassette and equipment,
Even if the insertion amount of the guide groove with respect to the insertion guide is changed, the reel can be unlocked without being influenced by the change.

Moreover, in a system in which a plurality of types of tape cassettes of different sizes such as small, medium, and large can be selectively used in one device, a plurality of types of tape cassettes of different sizes can be shared by one insertion guide. Since it is positioned at the same position, the reels of a plurality of types of tape cassettes having different sizes can be unlocked in common by the single insertion guide.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of a tape cassette for a video tape recorder to which the present invention is applied will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, FIG. 4 shows a tape cassette 1, in which a pair of left and right reels 5 are rotatably housed in a cassette housing 4 composed of upper and lower halves 2 and 3 and wound around both reels 5. The magnetic tape 6 stored in the cassette housing 6 is guided by a pair of left and right tape guides 7 provided on the front end side in the cassette housing 6 and hung along the front opening 8 of the cassette housing 4. A front lid 9 for opening and closing the front opening 8 is rotatably attached to the front end side of the cassette housing 4.

The bottom half 3a of the lower half 3 forming the bottom of the cassette housing 4 has a substantially trapezoidal bottom opening at the center of the front end.
10 is opened in a state of being connected to the front opening 8, and a guide groove 11 extending in the front-rear direction is formed in the center of the bottom surface 3a in the left-right direction. And the guide groove 11
The front end 11a of is connected to the center of the bottom opening 10.

A lock mechanism 13 that locks both reels 5 is provided in the central portion of the cassette housing 4 on the front end side. In addition,
The lock mechanism 13 is integrally molded with the upper and lower halves 2 and 3 along the periphery of the bottom opening 10 to partition the inside of the cassette housing 4 between the bottom opening 10 and the reels 5, and the reels 5. It is provided in a space 15 having a substantially triangular shape between and.

Next, details of the lock mechanism 13 will be described with reference to FIGS.

The lock mechanism 13 is rotatably supported in the horizontal direction via a tooth portion 16 formed on the outer periphery of the lower flange 5a of both reels 5 and a pair of fulcrum shafts 17 perpendicular to the lower half 3. A pair of locking members 18 and a fulcrum shaft 19 that is horizontal on the lower half 3.
And a lock release member 19 pivotally supported in the up and down direction and the front and back direction. The lock members 18 are urged by a pair of springs 20 to rotate in the direction of arrow a in FIG.
18a is configured to be engaged with both tooth portions 16. Further, the lock releasing member 19 is constituted by a substantially L-shaped lever, and a projection (a part of the lock releasing member) 21 integrally formed on the lower surface of the horizontal arm portion 19a thereof is provided in the lower half 3 through hole. It is projected from 22 into the guide groove 11 and at a position biased by the handle of the front end 11a of the guide groove 11. In addition,
The vertical arm portion 19b of the unlocking member 19 is in contact with a substantially L-shaped protruding piece 18b formed at the other ends of both lock members 18. Both lock members 18 are formed in a symmetrical shape.

In the lock mechanism 13, as shown by a chain line in FIG. 1, both lock members 18 are rotated in the direction of arrow a by both springs 20, and both lock claws 18a are engaged with both tooth portions 16. As a result, both reels 5 are configured to be locked (to be stopped from rotating).

Next, as shown by the solid line in FIGS. 1 and 2, the protrusion 21 of the unlocking member 19 is pushed up in the direction of arrow b in FIG.
When this unlocking member 19 is rotated in the direction of arrow c, its vertical arm portion 19b pushes both projecting pieces 18b of both locking members 18 in the direction of arrow c, and both locking members 18 are in the direction of arrow d in FIG. In addition, the lock claws 18a are rotated against the springs 20 so that the lock claws 18a are disengaged from the tooth portions 16 and the reels 5 are unlocked.

Next, FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 show the use of the three tape cassettes 24, 25, 26 having different sizes of small, medium and large by using the tape cassette 1 configured as described above (selectively. The method for inserting a cassette into a cassette holder 27 of a video tape recorder that can be mounted) will be described.

That is, the upper portion of the bottom plate 27a of the cassette holder 27 has an insertion guide 28 extending in the front-rear direction along the center position in the left-right direction.
Is provided. And small, medium and large cassettes 24, 2
When selectively inserting 5 and 26 into the cassette holder 27 from the direction of the arrow e, by inserting the guide groove 11 of these bottom surfaces 3a into the insertion guide 28, these small, medium and large cassettes 24 and 25 are inserted. , 26 are positioned at the center position P ₁ in the left-right direction within the cassette holder 27. When these small, medium, and large cassettes 24, 25, 26 are completely inserted into the cassette holder 27, their front ends 24a, 2
5a and 26a are configured to abut on an insertion stopper 29 provided at the front end of the bottom plate 27a so that these front ends 24a, 25a and 26a are positioned at the reference position P ₂ in the front-rear direction.

However, at the moment, at the moment when the guide grooves 11 of the small, medium and large cassettes 24, 25 and 26 are inserted into the insertion guide 28 in the direction of the arrow e, the protrusion 21 of the lock release member 19 is inserted into the insertion guide 28.
Riding on the upper surface 28b of the insertion guide 28 from the end 28a of the. Then, due to the riding, the lock release member 19 is rotated in the direction of arrow c and both lock members 18 are rotated in the direction of arrow d, as shown by the solid line in FIGS. 1 and 2.
Both reels 5 are unlocked.

At this time, the entire length 1 of the insertion guide 28 that is long in the front-rear direction is used, and the lock release member can be located at any position within the entire length 1.
As long as the protrusion 21 of 19 rides on the upper surface 28b of the insertion guide 28, in other words, the guide groove 11 for the insertion guide 28.
Even if the insertion amount of the reels changes, the lock of both reels 5 can be released without being affected by the change.

FIG. 7 shows a modification of the insertion guide 28 utilizing the above reason. A notch 31 is provided in the middle of the insertion guide 28 in the front-rear length direction, and the guide groove 11 is formed in the insertion guide 28 by an arrow. Protrusion of the lock release member 19 when inserted from the e direction
The 21 is once mounted on the end 28a of the insertion guide 28, but immediately dropped into the notch 31. (Note that both the reels 5 are locked again due to this drop.) When the guide groove 11 is inserted deeply into the insertion guide 28, the projection 21 is inserted into the end 28 of the insertion guide 28 on the arrow e direction side.
The reels 5 are ridden on the upper surface 28b of the c to unlock the reels 5.

According to the modified example of the insertion guide 28, when the small, medium, and large cassettes 24, 25, and 26 are inserted into the cassette holder 27 in the direction of the arrow e, the reels 5 are unlocked only for a moment. Immediately after that, both reels 5 are locked, small,
When the medium and large cassettes 24, 25, 26 are almost completely inserted into the cassette holder 27, the reels 5 can be unlocked, and the small, medium and large cassettes 24, 25, 26 can be It is possible to prevent the magnetic tape 6 from being unintentionally loosened by the rotation of both reels 5 due to vibration or the like during the insertion into the holder 27.

Next, FIGS. 8 to 13 show a modification of the lock mechanism 13, and the lock mechanism shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 has the unlocking member 19 of the L-shape shown in FIG. It is formed in an inverted L shape, and the protruding pieces 18b of the lock members 18 are overlapped with each other and the vertical arm portions 19b are brought into contact with them.

10 and 11 shows a projection in which the lock release member 19 is mounted in the insertion hole 22 so as to be vertically movable.
21 and a horizontal plate 33 integrally formed on the upper surface thereof and a pair of left and right small projections 34.
When the protrusion 21 is pushed up in the direction of the arrow b by the 28, the two small protrusions 34 push the both inclined knits 35 formed integrally with the both the protruding pieces 18b of the both lock members 18 to move the both lock members 18 into the arrow d. It is designed to be rotated in the direction.

12 and 13 show an unlocking member 19, a protrusion 21 mounted in the insertion hole 22 so as to be vertically movable, a disc 37 integrally formed on the upper surface thereof, and one small protrusion 38. When the projection 21 is pushed up in the direction of arrow b by the insertion guide 28, the small projection 38 pushes the inclined piece 39 formed integrally with the projection 18b of the one lock member 18, and Of the lock member 18 is rotated in the direction of arrow d, and the protrusion 18b of the one lock member 18 pushes the protrusion 18b of the other lock member 18 so that the other lock member 18 also rotates in the direction of arrow d. It was made to let.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments and various effective modifications can be made based on the technical idea of the present invention.

Further, the present invention is not limited to a tape cassette for a video tape recorder, but can be applied to a tape cassette for various other recording / reproducing devices and information processing devices.

〔The invention's effect〕

According to the present invention, since the insertion guide inserted into the guide groove on the bottom surface of the tape cassette and used for positioning the tape cassette also serves as the reel lock releasing means on the device side,
It is possible to simplify the structure of the device by reducing the number of parts on the device side and the number of assembly steps. Further, since it is not necessary to provide any special reel lock releasing means at a narrow cassette mounting position in the device, it is possible to improve the space factor in the device and downsize the device.

In addition, since the reel can be unlocked at any position within the entire length by using the entire length of the insertion guide that is long in the front-rear direction, due to the dimensional accuracy error of the tape cassette or the device,
Even if the insertion amount of the guide groove with respect to the insertion guide is changed, the reel can be unlocked without being influenced by the change, and the mistake of unlocking the reel does not occur at all.

Moreover, since one insertion guide can commonly unlock the reels of a plurality of types of tape cassettes having different sizes such as small, medium, and large, a video adapted to properly use a plurality of types of tape cassettes having different sizes In tape recorders and the like, in particular, it is possible to reduce the number of parts and assembling steps and improve the space factor.

[Brief description of drawings]

The drawings show an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a plan view of a main portion, FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the main portion, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the main portion, and FIG. FIG. 5, FIG. 5 is a plan view for explaining the cassette insertion method, FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 5, and FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a modification of the insertion guide.
FIGS. 10, 10 and 12 are perspective views showing modifications of the locking mechanism, and FIGS. 9, 11 and 13 are FIGS. 8 and 10, respectively.
13 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 12 and FIG. In the reference numerals used in the drawings, 1 ... tape cassette 3a ... bottom surface 4 ... cassette housing 5 ... reel 11 ... guide groove 11a ... front end 13 ... lock mechanism 18 ... lock member 19 ... Lock release member 21 …… Protrusion (part of lock release member) 28 …… Insert guide.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A tape cassette comprising a cassette housing in which a reel and a lock mechanism for the reel are housed, and a guide groove in the front-rear direction is provided on the bottom surface of the cassette housing. In a tape cassette configured to insert and position the guide groove into an insertion guide provided in the device when the device is inserted into the device, a part of an unlocking member of the lock mechanism is provided in the cassette housing. When inserting the tape cassette into the device and inserting the guide groove into the insertion guide by projecting it from the insertion hole provided in the body into the guide groove and at a position biased to the front end side of the guide groove. A part of the lock release member is mounted on the insertion guide, and the lock release member unlocks the lock mechanism by the mount. Tape cassette, characterized in that the.