JPH04302883A - Tape cassette and recording and reproducing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To nearly uniform the contact of the recording and reproducing head against the recording medium tape from the start of the track to the end and to simplify the structure. CONSTITUTION:A concave part 3 forming a semi-elliptic arc form at the front surface wall 7 of the cassette case 2 and extending the major axis in the back and forth directions is formed and the inside surface of the concave part is made a drum surface 8 having a semi-elliptic arc surface when viewing at the plane on which the magnetic tape 5 is run in contacted there. On the front surface wall of the part where the drum surface is formed, a head inserting groove 9 extending on the slant when viewing from the front surface, is formed. The recording and reproducing heads 43, 43' moving while drawing an ellipse locus, because the rotary shaft 37 slants left and right, contacts with the magnetic tape running along the drum surface through the prescribed head inserting groove.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a novel tape cassette and recording/reproducing apparatus. In detail, the recording and reproducing apparatus and the tape cassette used therein have a recording and reproducing head of a rotating rotating head unit in contact with a recording medium tape running inside a tape cassette, and the recording and reproducing head on the recording medium tape is described in detail. The head hits the track almost evenly from the beginning to the end, and the structure can be simplified.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art A tape cassette is used in which a semicircular drum surface is formed inside the tape cassette, and a head insertion groove extending obliquely when viewed from the front is formed in the front surface of the tape cassette where the drum surface is formed. A recording/reproducing head provided in a rotating head portion of the recording/reproducing device contacts the recording medium tape running while wrapping around the drum surface through the head insertion groove, thereby recording onto the recording medium tape and/or recording the recording medium tape. A recording and reproducing apparatus has been proposed that reads signals recorded on a disc.

FIGS. 12 and 13 show such a tape cassette and recording/playback device.

Reference character a is a tape cassette, and a front wall c of the cassette case b is formed with a semicircular recess d opening toward the front, and the inner surface e of the recess d is semicircular when viewed from above. It is considered to be a drum surface.

Reel hubs f and f are rotatably housed in a cassette case b, spaced apart from side to side, and are wound with a magnetic tape g, which is wound around a guide inside the cassette. and is wound around the drum surface e.

A head insertion groove h extending diagonally when viewed from the front is formed in a portion of the front wall c where the drum surface e is formed.

i is a rotating head section of the recording/reproducing device;
The rotation axis j is inclined to the left at a predetermined angle.

Reference character k is a head support fixed to the rotating shaft j, and recording and reproducing heads 1, 1 are supported at both ends of the head support k.

The rotating shaft j is rotated by a motor (not shown), and the recording and reproducing heads l, supported by the head support k, pass through the head insertion groove h of the tape cassette a and insert the drum surface into the cassette case b. It protrudes from the drum surface e and comes into contact with the running magnetic tape g while being wrapped around the drum surface e, thereby recording on the magnetic tape g or reading signals recorded on the magnetic tape g.

0010

However, in the tape cassette a and the recording and reproducing apparatus described above, the contact pressure of the recording and reproducing heads l, l against the magnetic tape g changes from the initial stage of contact to the final stage of contact. There is a problem in that it is difficult to achieve uniformity throughout the process.

This is because, although the drum surface e of the tape cassette a is semicircular in plan view, the rotation locus of the recording and reproducing heads l is such that the rotation axis j is tilted to the left. Since the long axis forms an elliptical trajectory extending in the front-back direction,
This occurs because the rotation locus of the recording/reproducing heads l, l does not match the direction in which the drum surface e extends.

Therefore, if an attempt is made to obtain the optimum contact pressure between the initial and final stages of contact between the recording and reproducing heads l, l and the magnetic tape g, the contact pressure in the middle will become abnormally high.
There is a problem in that it may cause damage to the magnetic tape g.

Furthermore, if an attempt is made to obtain the optimum contact pressure in the middle of the contact period between the recording/reproducing heads l, l and the magnetic tape g, the contact pressure at the beginning and end of the contact will not be sufficient, and the signal at this portion will be This may cause dropouts or poor reading.

For this reason, for example, a centrifugal protrusion mechanism including an elastic part is interposed between the head support k and the recording/reproducing heads l, l, and the centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the head support k causes
Attempts have been made to displace the recording/reproducing heads 1, 1 in the protruding direction so that the necessary contact pressure can be obtained even at the initial stage of contact and at the end of contact, but the support mechanism for the recording/reproducing heads 1, 1 Not only does this complicate the process, but also because the magnetic tape has elastic parts, the impact caused by the collision between the recording/reproducing heads l, l and the magnetic tape g at the initial stage of contact may actually cause mutual surface runout. There's a problem.

[0015]

[Means for Solving the Problems] Therefore, in order to solve the above problems, the tape cassette of the present invention has a recess formed in the front wall of the cassette case in the shape of a semi-elliptic arc and whose long axis extends in the front-rear direction. The inner surface of the recess is a drum surface having a semi-elliptical arc surface when viewed from the plane in which the recording medium tape is brought into contact with and runs, and a drum surface is provided on the front wall of the portion where the drum surface is formed, extending diagonally when viewed from the front. A head insertion groove is formed.

Further, in the recording and reproducing apparatus of the present invention, the rotation axis of the rotary head section is tilted in the left-right direction, and the rotation locus of the recording and reproducing head provided thereon matches the curvature of the drum surface of the tape cassette when viewed from above. Draw an elliptical locus with the same curvature,
The recording/reproducing head is brought into contact with a recording medium tape running in contact with a drum surface within a tape cassette through a head insertion groove.

[0017]

[Function] Therefore, in the tape cassette and recording/reproducing apparatus of the present invention, since the drum surface of the tape cassette and the rotation locus of the recording/reproducing head substantially match, recording/reproducing is possible without complicating the structure. The contact between the head and the recording medium tape can be maintained substantially uniform from the initial stage of contact to the final stage of contact, and high quality recording and reading can be performed.

[0018]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The details of the tape cassette and recording/reproducing apparatus of the present invention will be explained below according to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

1 is a tape cassette according to the present invention.

Reference numeral 2 denotes a cassette case, which has a flat box shape with a rectangular shape elongated in the left and right direction when viewed from above. A recess 3 is formed in the front surface of the cassette case 2 in the shape of a semi-elliptical arc, the long axis of which extends in the front-rear direction when viewed from above.

Two reel hubs 4, 4' are rotatably housed within the cassette case 2, and a magnetic tape 5 is wound around these reel hubs 4, 4'.

2 facing each other in the thickness direction of the cassette case 2
Two through holes 6, 6, . . . are formed in each of the two walls, and from these through holes 6, 6, . 4'a is exposed to the outside.

The inner surface 8 of the front wall 7 of the cassette case 2 corresponding to the recess 3 is a semi-elliptical drum surface whose major axis extends in the front-rear direction when viewed from above. Further, a head insertion groove 9 is formed in a portion of the front wall 7 corresponding to the recess 3 from one end to the other end, and the head insertion groove 9 is formed to extend diagonally when viewed from the front. .

Head escape grooves 9a, 9a are formed in the front wall 7 of the cassette case 2 at locations continuous with the starting and ending ends of the head insertion groove 9, respectively. As a result, the rotating magnetic head, which will be described later, smoothly enters the head insertion groove 9 without hitting the cassette case 2.
And you will be able to escape.

Reference numerals 10 and 10' designate tape guides that are installed in the cassette case 2 at positions close to both ends of the drum surface 8, and positioning holes 10a and 10 are formed through these tape guides 10 and 10'. 'a is formed,
The positioning holes 10a, 10'a are opened on both the upper and lower surfaces of the cassette case 2.

Guide rollers 11 and 11' are rotatably supported within the cassette case 2, and are positioned slightly apart from each other on the side opposite to the drum surface 8 of the tape guides 10 and 10'. Connecting holes 11a and 11'a are provided through the centers of the guide rollers 11 and 11'.
a, 11'a are exposed to the outside through through holes 12, 12, . . . formed on both upper and lower surfaces of the cassette case 2.

Thus, the magnetic tape 5 comes out from one reel hub 4, is wound around the guide roller 11 and the tape guide 10 in sequence, and is then wound around the drum surface 8 at a winding angle of about 60 degrees, and is wound around the tape guide 10', A path passes through a guide roller 11' and reaches the other reel hub 4'.

The reel hubs 4, 4', the drum surface 8, the tape guides 10, 10', the positioning holes 10a,
The axes of the guide rollers 10'a and the guide rollers 11, 11' are all parallel to each other and extend perpendicularly to both the upper and lower surfaces of the cassette case 2.

Furthermore, the center line 5a of the width of the magnetic tape 5 is aligned with the reel hubs 4, 4', the drum surface 8, and the tape guides 10, 1.
0', positioning holes 10a, 10'a and guide roller 1
A single virtual plane 5 perpendicular to the axis of 1, 11'
b.

[0030] As a result, no height differences or twists occur in the tape path within the cassette case 2, and therefore, even when the magnetic tape 5 is run at high speed, meandering and waving phenomena are suppressed, and high-speed access is therefore achieved. It becomes possible.

Reference numeral 13 denotes a recording/reproducing device, which includes a tape cassette mounting section and a rotary head section.

Reference numeral 14 denotes a main chassis, and a tape cassette mounting section 15 is formed on the main chassis 14.

Reference numerals 16 and 16' denote reel stands rotatably provided on the main chassis 14, and the reel engaging shaft 16a
, 16'a. The reel stands 16, 16' are rotated in a predetermined direction at a predetermined speed by a drive section (not shown).

Reference numerals 17 and 17' indicate positioning stands that are installed upright on the main chassis and are spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction.
8' is provided protrudingly.

Reference numeral 19 denotes a positioning table which is installed upright on the main chassis 14 at a position apart from the positioning tables 17, 17', and its upper end surface 19a and the positioning table 17, 17
' form a single reference plane.

20 and 20' are tape speed detection axes;
It is rotatably supported by bearing stands 21, 21' fixed to the main chassis 14 via bearings 22, 22'.

23 and 23' are tape speed detection shafts 20 and 2.
The magnet scale is fixed at 0', and the outer peripheral surface of the disk is alternately magnetized in the circumferential direction, and the center of the disk is fixed to the tape speed detection shafts 20, 20'.

24, 24' are Magnescale 23, 23
It is a magnetoresistive effect element (MR sensor) disposed on the main chassis 14 in close proximity to the circumferential surface of the magnetoresistive sensor 24, 24', and the resistance value of the MR sensor 24, 24' changes as the magnet scales 23, 23' rotate. The period of change is detected by a circuit (not shown), and the running speed of the magnetic tape 5 is read from the result.

When the tape cassette 1 is mounted on the tape cassette mounting section 15, the positioning tables 17, 1
The positioning pins 18, 18' of 7' are fitted into the positioning holes 10a, 10'a of the tape cassette 1, thereby positioning the tape cassette 1 in the plane direction.
In addition, the cassette case 2 is
By being placed on the upper end surfaces 17a, 17'a, and 19a of 9, the positioning in the height direction is performed.

[0040] Also, the reel hub 4 of the tape cassette 1,
The reel engaging shafts 16a, 16'a of the reel stands 16, 16' are engaged with the engaging holes 4a, 4'a of the reel stands 16, 16', and as the reel stands 16, 16' rotate, magnetic Tape 5 is now running.

Further, the tape speed detection shafts 20 and 20' are connected to the connecting holes 1 of the guide rollers 11 and 11' of the tape cassette 1.
1a and 11'a, so that the magnetic tape 5
As the guide rollers 11, 11' rotate as the tape runs, the tape speed detection shafts 20, 20' rotate together, which is detected via the Magnescales 23, 23' and the MR sensors 24, 24'. Based on this, the running speed of the magnetic tape 5 is detected, and based on the detection result, a servo is applied to the reel stand drive section to control the magnetic tape 5 to run at a constant speed.

[0042] Reference numeral 25 is a rotary head section equipped with a rotary magnetic head.

A sliding base 26 is slidably supported by the main chassis 14, and is adapted to be moved toward and away from the tape cassette mounting section 15, that is, in the front and rear directions.

Reference numerals 27 and 27 are elongated holes formed so as to extend in the front and back direction at positions spaced apart from each other on the left and right sides of the sliding base 26, and support pins 28 are provided upright from the main chassis 14 in the elongated holes 27 and 27. , 28, . . . are slidably engaged, whereby the sliding base 26
It is supported so that it can slide freely in the front and rear directions.

Reference numerals 29 and 29' denote abutment edges provided at positions closer to the left and right from the center of the side edge of the sliding base 26 on the tape cassette mounting portion 15 side, respectively.
6 moves toward the tape cassette loading section 15,
The abutting edges 29 and 29' abut against the outer circumferential surfaces of the positioning bases 17 and 17' provided on the tape cassette mounting section 15, respectively, thereby positioning the sliding base 26 with respect to the tape cassette mounting section 15. Ru.

The sliding base 26 is moved in the front and back direction by an appropriate moving means (not shown), and is moved toward the tape cassette loading section 15 when recording or reproducing.
When the tape cassette 1 is removed from the tape cassette mounting section 15, it is removed from the tape cassette mounting section 15.

Reference numeral 30 designates a head support stand fixed approximately at the center of the sliding base 26, and its upper surface 30a is inclined toward the left and has a large insertion hole 30b formed therein.

Reference numeral 31 denotes a support housing, which has a short, substantially cylindrical shape, and has a mounting flange 32 integrally projecting outward from a substantially middle portion thereof in the axial direction.

The hole formed in the support housing 31 has a lower half 33a serving as a small diameter bearing support part and an upper half 33b serving as a large diameter transformer arranging part.

A portion of the support housing 31 below the mounting flange 32 is fitted into the insertion hole 30b of the head support 30, and the mounting flange 32 is placed on the upper surface 30a of the head support 30. In this state, it is fixed to the head support base 30 by the mounting screws 34, 34, . . . . Therefore, the support housing 31 is attached to the sliding base 26 with its axis tilted to the left with respect to the vertical line as the upper surface 30a of the head support base 30 is tilted to the left.

Bearings 35, 35 are supported within the bearing arrangement portion 33a of the support housing 31. In addition, 3
6 is a spacer inserted between the bearings 35.

[0052] 37 is a rotating shaft, and the above-mentioned bearings 35, 35
It is rotatably supported by the support housing 31 via the support housing 31, and its upper end protrudes upward from the upper end of the support housing 31. Although not shown, the lower end of the rotating shaft 37 extends downward from the lower end of the support housing 31, and is rotated by a drive section (not shown).

Reference numeral 38 denotes a rotary transformer disposed within the transformer arranging portion 33b of the support housing 31. The stator 38a is fixed to the support housing 31, and the rotor 38b is fixed to the rotating shaft 37. Signals are exchanged via the rotary transformer 38 between the rotating magnetic head, which will be described later, and a circuit (not shown).

Reference numeral 39 denotes a rotary blade, the center of which is fixed to the upper end of the rotary shaft 37 with a nut 40.

Numerals 41 and 41' are protrusions that protrude further outward from both ends of the rotary blade 39, and head substrates 42 and 42' are supported by the protrusions 41 and 41'.
Rotating magnetic heads 43, 43' are supported by 42'.

44 is a PG magnet supported by the rotor blade 39; 45 is a PG coil supported by the support housing 31; the PG coil 45 is disposed close to the rotation locus of the PG magnet 44; The rotational speed of the rotary blade 39 is detected and used for servo control of the rotation of the rotary blade 39.

As described above, when the tape cassette 1 is loaded into the tape cassette loading section 15 and a recording or playback command is issued, the sliding base 26 moves forward toward the tape cassette loading section 15 and its Butting edges 29, 29
' is the positioning base 17, 17 of the tape cassette mounting section 15.
' is positioned in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the rotating magnetic head 4.
3 and 43' are moved along the head insertion groove 9 of the tape cassette 1.

When the rotary shaft 37 is rotated, the rotor blades 39 are also rotated in the direction shown by the arrow in FIG.
The rotating magnetic heads 43, 43' supported at both ends thereof are moved in an elliptical trajectory when viewed from directly above. The ellipse drawn by the locus of movement of the rotating magnetic heads 43, 43' substantially coincides with the drum surface 8 of the tape cassette 1, and the tips of the rotating magnetic heads 43, 43' pass through the head insertion groove 9 from the drum surface 8. Slightly protruding drum surface 8
The magnetic tape 5 is brought into contact with the magnetic tape 5 which is in sliding contact with the magnetic tape 5.

It should be noted that the rotating magnetic heads 43, 43' and the magnetic tape 5 may be rotated and run in a direction opposite to that shown in the figure to enable so-called reverse recording and reverse playback. Of course.

In this manner, in the tape cassette and recording/reproducing apparatus described above, the magnetic tape 5 is placed in the cassette case 2.
There is no need to pull the tape from the tape, wrap it around the head drum, or follow a predetermined tape path;
Because there is no need for a tape loading mechanism for this,
The structure becomes extremely simple accordingly.

Furthermore, the rotating head section 25 does not have a head drum that requires high processing precision, and therefore there is no need for precise assembly between such a head drum and the rotating magnetic head. However, the structure is extremely simple.

Furthermore, since the tape path during recording and playback is determined by the drum surface 8 of the cassette case 2 in which the magnetic tape 5 is stored and each guide 10, 10', 11, 11', it is extremely perfect. Compatibility will be achieved.

Furthermore, since there is no need to pull out the magnetic tape 5 from the cassette case 2 and form a predetermined tape path, the start-up time and access time are extremely fast, and it can also be used for data processing. .

Moreover, since the ellipse drawn by the movement locus of the rotating magnetic heads 43, 43' substantially coincides with the drum surface 8 of the tape cassette 1, the magnetic tapes 43, 43' contact the magnetic tape 5 from the initial stage. Stable contact between the two is maintained until the end of the process, allowing high-quality recording and playback. Despite this, there is no need to employ a complicated support mechanism such as a centrifugal protrusion mechanism to support the rotating magnetic head.
In this respect as well, the structure becomes extremely simple.

[0065] The so-called non-tracking method is used, that is, during playback, the rotating magnetic head is rotated at twice the speed of recording, and the signals are read out twice, stored once in memory, and then rearranged in the same order as during recording. If this method is adopted, the servo system can be greatly simplified.

However, it goes without saying that the application of the present invention is not limited to non-tracking type recording and reproducing apparatuses and tape cassettes therefor.

[0067]

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the above description, the tape cassette of the present invention has a flat box shape, and the front surface of the cassette case rotatably accommodates a tape reel wound with a recording medium tape. A recess having a semi-elliptical arc shape and a long axis extending in the front-rear direction is formed in the wall, and the inner surface of the recess is a drum surface having a semi-elliptic arc surface when viewed from the plane in which the recording medium tape is brought into contact with and runs. A head insertion groove extending obliquely when viewed from the front is formed in the front wall of the portion where the drum surface is formed, and the recording/reproducing head is brought into contact with the recording medium tape in the tape cassette through the head insertion groove. The recording and reproducing apparatus of the present invention is characterized in that the recording and reproducing apparatus of the present invention records and/or reproduces data while helically scanning a recording medium tape housed in a tape cassette with a recording and reproducing head provided in a rotating head section. 2. A device, wherein the rotary head section has a rotation axis inclined in the left-right direction, and the rotation locus of the recording/reproducing head provided thereon matches the curvature of the drum surface of the tape cassette according to claim 1, when viewed from above. It is characterized in that it draws elliptical loci of approximately the same curvature, and the recording/reproducing head is brought into contact with the recording medium tape running in contact with the drum surface within the tape cassette.

Therefore, in the tape cassette and recording/reproducing apparatus of the present invention, since the drum surface of the tape cassette and the rotation locus of the recording/reproducing head substantially match, recording/reproducing can be performed without complicating the structure. The contact between the head and the recording medium tape can be maintained substantially uniform from the initial stage of contact to the final stage of contact, and high quality recording and reading can be performed.

It should be noted that the specific shapes and structures shown in the above embodiments are merely examples of embodiments of the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention should not be construed as limited by these. It is not something that will be done.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of implementation of the tape cassette of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the tape cassette.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view of the tape cassette.

FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway plan view of the tape cassette.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line V-V in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing an example of implementation of the recording/reproducing apparatus of the present invention.

7 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG. 6. FIG.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view showing a rotating magnetic head and a support member that supports it.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a state in which a tape cassette is installed in the recording/reproducing device.

FIG. 10 is a schematic enlarged plan view showing the movement locus of the rotating magnetic head and the drum surface.

11 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line XI-XI in FIG. 9. FIG.

FIG. 12 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of a conventional tape cassette.

FIG. 13 is a schematic plan view showing a state in which a conventional tape cassette is installed in a recording/reproducing apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Tape cassette 2　Cassette case 3 Recessed part 4 Tape reel 4′ Tape reel 5 Recording media tape 7 Front wall 8 Drum surface 9 Head insertion groove 13 Recording and reproducing device 25 Rotating head part 37 Rotation axis 43 Recording/playback head 43' Recording/playback head

Claims (2)

[Claims] Claim 1: A recess shaped like a semi-ellipse and having a long axis extending in the front-rear direction is formed on the front wall of a cassette case which is shaped like a flat box and rotatably houses a tape reel wound with a recording medium tape. The inner surface of the concave portion is a drum surface having a semi-elliptical arc surface when viewed from the plane on which the recording medium tape is brought into contact and run, and the drum surface is formed on the front wall of the portion where the drum surface is formed. A tape cassette characterized in that a head insertion groove is formed that extends obliquely when viewed, and a recording/reproducing head is brought into contact with a recording medium tape in the tape cassette through the head insertion groove. 2. A recording and reproducing device in which a recording and reproducing head provided in a rotating head section performs recording and/or reproducing while helically scanning a recording medium tape housed in a tape cassette, wherein the rotating head section The rotational axis is inclined in the left-right direction, and the rotational trajectory of the recording/reproducing head provided thereon draws an elliptical trajectory having substantially the same curvature as the curvature of the drum surface of the tape cassette according to claim 1 when viewed from above,
A recording/reproducing apparatus characterized in that the recording/reproducing head is brought into contact with a recording medium tape traveling in contact with a drum surface within a tape cassette.