Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
B~\CKGROUND Ol~ IE INVE:\IT LON
~ield of the Invention
This invention relates generally to tape cassettes and
more particularly is directed to improvements in tape cassettes
for protecting the tape contents thereof, when not in use, and
for facilitating the accurate positioning of the tape cassettes
on magnetic recording and/or reproducing apparatus.
Descr ption of the Prior Art
The use of tape cassettes in magnetic recording and/or
reproducing apparatus has been expanding steadily as a result
of the protection afforded to the tape and the ease with which
the tape can be loaded on the apparatus for a recording or
reproducing operation. Initially, tape cassettes were used
in connection with magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus
of the type having a fixed magnetic head projected into the
cassette housing through a relatively small window. However,
; it has recently been proposed to employ tape cassettes in
apparatus of the type having one or more rotary magnetic heads,
for example, as in magnetic tape apparatus for recording and
reproducing video signals. Particularly in the latter case,
it is necessary that the tape cassette be easily and accurately
positioned on the apparatus in order to ensure the reliable
operation of an associated tape loading device by which the tape
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1~73884
is ~ithdrawn from the cassette housing and wrapped about a
cylindrical guide drum for scanning in oblique tracks by the
rotary magnetic head or heads associated with such drun.
When the recording and reproducing of signals on the
tape is effected by a rotary magnetic head or heads, as above,
it is necessary to provide the cassette housing with an opening
through which the tape can be withdrawn for engagement with
such head or heads. H~ever, if the cassette housing is provided
with an opening of sufficient size to permit the withdrawal of
the tape from the cassette through such opening, there is the
danger that the tape may be accidentally or carelessly damaged
through the open~ng when the cassette is not in use.
The foregoing danger may be avoided by the cassette
C~ ~4A,747 , A~r;) 21 Iq71
disclosed in~U. S~ Patent L~735~93~ issuedLMay 29~ 1~73~ and
having a common assignee herewith The cassette disclosed in
that patent is provided with a lid which is normally spring
biased to cover the tape extending across the opening of the
cassette housing when the cassette is not in use. However, in
this previously proposed tape cassette, th~ opening extends
along only a part of a side wall of the cassette housing so that
the size of the opening is restricted, particularly when it is
desired to minimize the overall dimensions of the tape cassette.
Such restriction of the size of the cassette opening is disadvan-
tageous in that it imposes severe limitatlons on the design and
reliability o the tape loading device, which is to be provided
for withdrawing the tape from the cassette and wrapping the tape
about the previously mentioned guide drum.
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~073884
U. S. Patent 2,941,741 discloses a simila~- tape cassette
in which an opening extends along the entire length o~ one
side of the cassette housing and a lid is provided for
normally covering all of such openin~. Although the foregoing
arrangement ensures that the size of the opening will be
; adequate even when the overall dimensions o~ the cassette are
minimized, other difficulties are encountered, particularly
in respect to the loading of the cassette on the magnetic
tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus. In general, in
order to simplify the loading of the tape cassette on the
apparatus, the latter is provided with a cassette loading
mechanis~ that includes a holder for receiving the tape cassette
in a convenient or accessible position and for carrying the
c~ssette to an operati~e position at which the hubs of take-up
and supply reels within the cassette housing are engaged by
respective reel drive shafts or spindles of a tape transport
assembly. W~en the cassette loading mechanism includes a
~holder, as aforesaid, it is necessary to accurately pos~tion
the cassette in respect to the holder when received in the latter
so~as to ensure that, in the operative position of the holder,
the tape supply and take-up reels will be properly engaged by
the respective reel drive shafts and the run of the tape
extending across the opening of the cassette housing will be -
properly positioned in respect to a tape engaging pin or member
of the tape loading device by which the tape is to be with-
. ~
drawn from the cassette housing and wrapped about the guide
drum.
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~C~73~384
In order to achieve the above-mentioned correct positioning
of the cassette housing in respect to the cassette holder, it is
I necessary that the holder have a~utments thereon engageable by
¦ll respective locating elements provided on the cassette housing
; ~!preferably adjacent the opening of the latter. However, when
the opening extends along àn entire side of ~he cassette
¦housing and the lid is formed to close the entire opening, as
I in U. S. Patent 2,941,741, the lid stands in the way of the
engagement of abutments on the holder with positioning elements
formed on the cassette housing adjacent to the opening.
Accordingly, with the described arrangement, tlle abutments on
the holder have to be engageable with the lid itself in the
closed position of the latter. Thc engagement of the abutments
with ~h~ lid cannot ensure the reliable acourate positiolling
of the cassette housing by reaso~ of the necessary clearances
that have to be provided between the Lid and cassette housing
for permiting the free movement of the lid between its upened
and closed positions. Further, such clearance tends to increase
with long continued use of the cassette and may even vary from
cassette to cassette. Even if it is assumed that the engage-
ment of the abutments on the holder with ~he lid of the tape
cassette can achieve the accurate positioning of the cassette
housing relative to the holder9 it will be apparent that, after
such positioning has been effected, the abutments on the holder
i have to be`moved away from the l~d to permit the opening of the
latter and, therefore, the construction of the holder is unduly
complicated.
~` 10 7 3 8 ~ 4
In existing tape cassettes of the described type, for
exampie, as specLfically disclosed in U. S Patent 3,735,939,
the opening in a side wall of the cassette housing co~municates
with a cutout in the adjacent portion of the bo~tom wall so
that the tape engaging pin or pins o~ a tape loading d.evice
¦ provided for extracting the tape from the cassette can extend
~¦upwardly in such cutout for disposition in ~ack of the run of
¦~the tape extending across the opening through which the tape
is to be withdrawn or extracted. With the foregoing arrange- .:
ment, the lid, in its closed position, merely covers the
opening in the side w~ll of the cassette housing and the cutout
in the bottom wall remains exposed. Therefore, there is the
poss.ibility that, when the cassettPis not in use, the tape
lying in back of th~ closcd lid ~ay be contacted through the
cutout and either loosened or damaged.
Cassette loading mechanisms provided for receiving a tape
cassette and moving the latter to an operative position on a
; magnetic tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus are
variously arranged for receiving ~he tape cassette in the holder
by sliding of the cassette either in the direction pa.allel to
the side of the cassette housing having the opening therein or
in the direction perpendicular to that side of the hou.sing.
However, existing tape cassettes are provided with guiding means
for guiding the cassette housing into the holder in only one of
the described directions, for example, in the clirection perpen-
dicular to the side of the casse~te housing having an opening
therein, as in U. S. Patent 3,735,939. The aforesaid tape
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i073884
cassettes are ~lso provided with a latching mechanism for locking
the lid in its closed position when the cassette is not in use,
and such la~ching mechanism is adapted to be released in
response to the sliding movement of the cassette into the res-
pective holder. However, such release of the locking mechanism
requires the insertion of the tape cassette iD a single direc-
tion into the holder. Thus, the existing tape cassettes are not
suitable for use in connection with the various available
cassette loading mechanisms having holders adapted to receive
the cassettes in either of the described directions.
SU~RY OF THE INVEi~TION
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide --
a tape cassette which avoids the above-mentioned disadvantages
o~ tape cassettes of the described type.
More specifically, it is an object of this invention to
provide a tape cassette of the described type with means by
which the cassette housing csn be reliably and accurately
~located in respect to a holder therefor without in~erfering
-
with opening of the lid, -
Another object is to provide a tape cassette, as aforesaid,
in~which the~bottom wall o~ the cassette housing is formed with
a cutout communicating with the opening extending along a side
of the housing for the purposes previously described, and in
.~
~ which the Iid is formed so that, in its closed position, the run
7; ~ `
of the tape extending along the opening of the cassette housing ~ -
-~ is substantially protected from damage thereto through the ~ -
cutout in the bottom wallO
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1073884
Still another object is to provide a tape cassette, as
aforesaid, which is suitable for use in connection with
cassette loading m,echanisms having holders adapted to receive
the cassette either in the direction parallel to the open side
of the cassette housing or in the direction at right angles
thereto.
A further object is to providè a tape cassette, as
aforesaid, in which the latch mechanism for locking the lid in
its closed position is releasable in response to the movement
of the cassette into a holder in either of the described
directions. -
In accordance with an aspect of this invention, the
cassette housing is provided with integral locating elements
which extend through notches or cutouts in the lid so as to be
engageable with abutments on the holder of a cassette loading
mechanism for accurately and reliably locating the cassette
housing while avoiding interference with opening of the lid in
the holder. -
~
In order to protect the run of the tape extending alongthe open side of the cassette-housing, it is a feature o this
invention to provide the lid with one or more partitions
depending from the top of the lid parallel to the front wall of
the latter so as to define a channel accommodating the r1~n of
the tape in the closed position of the lid, whereby to prevent
contact with the tape through the cutout portion of the bottom
wall of the cassette housing.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention,
tl~e cassette housing is provided with guides, for example, in
tho rorm o~. ~rooves in exterior t~all sur~aces of the housing,
~icl~ exte~d ~t right angles to each other, tha~ is, in the
~o directions of possible inser~ion of the cassette into a
ho~dor, and t-Jhich are as~J~mmetrically locat?d in respe^t o the
respective ~Jall surfaces to ensure the proper orientation of
tl~e cassettelwhen inserted in a holder.
. _ . .
In acco~dance with anothe~ feature of this invention, the
cassette housing is provided wit~ openings in right-angularly
related side w~lls adjacent a corner o~ the casseete housing
and communicating or registering wi~h respective cutouts o the
lid, in the clo~ed ~osition of the latter, and ehe la~ch
mechanism ~or locking the lid in its closed position is
releasable ~y an ~ctuatin~ elen~ent extending.in~o the cassette
housing through either of such openings ~nd the registered
cutout, whereby to permit the rele~1se of the la~ch ~echanis.., in
response to movement of the tape.cassette into a holder in either
of ~he described directions.
More particularly, there is provided:
A tape cassette comprising a houslng of
generally rectangular configuration containing à
supply of tape and having top and bottom walls and
a peripheral wall extending between said top and
bottom walls along three of ~he sides of the latter
so as to leave an opening along the fourth side of
the housing through which the tape can be withdrawn,
said tape cassette being insertable into a cassette
holder which is moved downwardly from its raised
position to its lowered operative position to
3~ withdraw said tape; a lid pivoted on said housing
for movement between a closed position in which
a front portion of said lid extends along said
fourth side of the housing and covers said opening,
~ 1073884
and an opened position in which said front portion
of said lid is raised relative to said housing for
exposing said openiDg; and a cutout in said bottom
wall opening at said fourth side of the housing
in back of said front portion of the lid in said
closed position so that a lid openin~ member,
which is engageable upwardly against the lower
edge of said front portion for raising the latter
and thereby moving the lid to its opened position in
the course of the downward movement of the cassette
holder, can extend at least partly into said cutout
when engaging said front portion of the lid.
There i~ also provided a ~p~ ca-~ette csmprising a
housing of generally r~ctangular configuration containlng a
supply of tape and having top and bottom walls and a
peripheral wall extending between said top and bottom walls
. along three of the sides of the latter so as to leave
an opening along the fourt~ side of the housing through
which the tape can be withdrawn, guide means on said housing
20 respectively extending in directions parallel to said fourth side
: and at right angles ~o the latter for guid~ng the tape cassette
into a cassette holder in el~her of said directions a lid pi~oted
on said housing for movement between a closed position covering
: said opening and an opened position exposing said opening, and
latching means d~sposed in said housing adjacent said peripheral
wall near a corner of the housing between said fourth side and a
contiguous side of said housing; and in which said latching means
i5 yieldably urged toward said peripheral wall to engage said lid
and lock the latter in said closed position thereof, and said
30 peripheral wall has apertures therein adjacent said corner and
respectively opening in said ~irections parllel to said fo rt`h
side and at right angles to the latter and through which said
latching means can be selectively released from said lid to
- permit movement of the latter to said opened position.
There is further proYided the combination of a tape
cassette comprising a housing of generally rectangular con-
figuration containing a supply of ~ape and having top
and bottom walls and a peripheral wall extending between
said top and bottom walls along three of the sides of
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~07 388 4
the housing 80 as to leave an opening along the fourth side of
the housing through which the tape can be withdrawn, a lia pivoted
on said housing for movement between a closed position covering said
opening and an opened position exposing said opening, latching
means within said housing adjacent saia peripheral wall near a
corner of the housing between said fourth side and contiguous side
of said housing, said latching means being y eldably urged toward
said peripheral wall for engaging said lid and thereby locking the
lid in said closed position thereof, and apertures in said peripheral
wall adjacent said corner and opening respectively in directions
parallel to said fourth side and at right angles to the latter; and
a cassette holder adapted to said cassette inserted therein in a
selected one of said directions, and a latch releasing member
fixed relative to said holder and having a free end portion exten- :
ding parallel to said one direction and positioned to enter th~
one of said apertures opening i~ said one direction upon the
- insertion of the cassette in said holder for releasing said latching :
means from said lid and thereby permitting movement of the latter
to said opened position.
.
The above, and other objects, features and advanta~es of
: this in~ention, will be app~r~nt in the following detailed
description of an illustrative embodiment which is to be read
in connection with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTIOI~ OF THE ~ IMGS
.
Fig. 1 Is a perspective view of a tape cassette in
. accordance~with an embodiment of this invention, and which is
shown with its lid partially opened;
Fig~ 2 is a sectional view taken along the line II - II
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~o738~4
. on Fig. l;
. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the tape cassette according
to this invention, but with the top wall o~ the cassette
housing being removed;
ii Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the tape cassette;¦ Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line V - V
jon Fig. 3;
. I Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the .
manner in which the tape cassette according.to this invention
is engageable with driving and locating elements of a typical
magnetic tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus;
Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of a cassette loading
mechanism adapted to receive a tape cassette according to this
invention and being effective to dispose such tape cassette in
an operative position on the recording and/or reproducing
apparatus;
Fig. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the condition of
.. .
the tape casse.tte according to this invention in the course o
~ its insertion into a holder included in the cassette loading
.~ mechanism of Fig. 7,
,~ .
: Fig. 9 is a perspective view similar to that of Fig. 8,
but showing :the tape cassette in the condition thereof when
located in:its operative position by means of the associated ~.
ho;lder; and
Figs.~10 and 11 are schematic perspective views illus- :
:trating the manner in which the tape cassette according to this
~: :
~ ~ invention may be inserted into ~ holder in two different
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~073884
r~ght-angularly relat~d directions.
J)ESCRIPrlON OF THE PREFERRED ErVlBOOIMENT
Referring to the drawings in detail, and initially to
Figs. 1 - 3 thereof, it will be seen that a tape cassette T
according to this invention generally comprises a substan-
tially rectangular cassette housing 1 formed of matin~ upper
and l~er sections la and lb which are suitably secu~ed
togeth~r and which are respectively constituted by top and
bottom walls having side waLl-defining flanges extending
along one o~ the relatively long sides and both relatively
short sides of the rectangular housing 1. Thus, the other
relatively long side of cassette housing 1 i~ open or without
a side wall and cooperates with a contiguou~ trapezoidal
cutout in the bottom wall eo define a recess or opening 10
through which tape 11 contained within the cassette housing
can be extracted or withdra~m therefrom. The tape cassette T
further comprises a lid 12 which is pivoted on cassette
housing 1 and which is adapted, in a closed positlon, to
close or cover the open relatively long side of casset~e
housing 1.
As shown particularly on Figs. 2 and 3, the supply of
tape 11 contained in cassette housing 1 is wound on supply
and take-up reels ~ and 3. The supply reel 2 is shown to
include a cylindrical hub 4 wl~ich, at its lower end, is loosely
and rotatably guided in a circular hole 7 provided in the
bottom wall of cassette housing 1. A loweE flange 4a extends
radially from hub 4 above the bottom wall of cassette housing 1
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1073884
and the upper end of cylindrical hub 4 has an end wall 4b
extending thereacross. The inner surface of hub 4 is ormed
with axial projections or splines 5a, 5b spaced apzrt around
the hub, for example, with an angular spacing of 60 between
adjacent splines for rotatable coupling of supply reel 2 with
a respective reel dxive shaft or spindle, as hereinafter
described The supply reel 2 is completed by an outer
cylindrical hub 6 which extends down~ardly over hub 4 and
may be secured to the latter by a suitable adhesive or binder
therebetween, and an upper flange 6a extending radially outward
from hub 6 to define an annular space between flanges 4a and 6a
in which tape 11 may be wound about ~he secured-together hubs 4
and 6. A spring 8 is in~erposed between the top wall of
housing 1 and end wall 4b of hub 4 for urging supply reel 2
downwardly against the bottom l~all of cassette housing 1. A
layer (not shown) of a frictional material is preferably coated
on the bottom wall of housing 1 under flange 4a to resist
rotation of supply reel 2 when the latter is urged do~wardly
thereagainst by spring 8, whereby to avoid inadvertent loosening
of the tape within housin~ 1 when the cassette T is not in use.
As shown, the take-up reel 3 may be identical in construction
to the supply reel 2 and its several parts are identifiad by the
same reference numerals but with primes appended thereto.
As shown particularly on Fig. 3, a flange eY~tends upwardly
from the bQttom wall of housing 1 along the margin of the cutout
in such bottom wall and cooperates with a mating flange
depending from the top wall of the cassette housing to define a
. , .
7 3 8 8 4
! wall or partition lOa which prevents access to the reels 2 and 3
through the opening or recess 10. Arcua~e partitions 13 are
¦ similarly provided within housing 1 adjacent the peripheries
of the flan~es of reels 2 and 3 for preventing the removal
¦ from the reels of the turns of tape 11 wound thereon in the
¦event that such turns become loosened Guide pins 14a and 14b
I and guide pins 14c and 14d extend upwardly from the bottom wall
! of cassette housing 1 at opposite sides of the cutout in such
bottom wall for guiding the tape ll between reels 2 and 3 in
a path having a run that extends along the open, relatively
long side of housing l.
The side or peripheral walls 15a and 15b of housing 1
which extend along the opposite relatively short sides of the
rectangular c~ssette housing are ~ormed with inwardly offset
end portions 15a' and 15b' adjacent the open relatively long
side of the cassette housing (Fig. 3). The lid 12 is shown
to include a front portion 27 (Fig. 9~ depending from an edge
of an elongated top portion 32 (Fig. 1) and ears l~a and 12b
directed rearwardly from the opposite ends of front portion ~7
: to fit into the recesses defined outside of end portions lSa'
and lSb' of side walls 15a and 15b and thus lie flush with the
outer surfaces of such side walls, as shown particularly on
Fig. 8. The offset end portion lSb' of side wall 15b has two
spaced apart apertures 16a and 16b extending therethrough,
and a latching element, for example, of a resilient plastic, is
dlsposed at the inside of end wall portion 15b'. The latching
element 17 is shGwn to include a relatively thin mounting portion 17a
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~ ~o73s~4
of generally F-shaped configuration, as viewedcfrom above, and
a latching pin or projection 17b which extends o~twardly through
aperture 16a from a relatively thick end portion 17c of the
latching element (Fig. 3). A groove 18 is deined between the
step formed by inwardly offset end por~ion 15b' and an fldjacent
inward projection 20, and a gap 22 is defined between such
pro3ection 20 and an adjacent abutment 21 extending upwardly
from the bottom wall of housing 1. The F-shaped mounting ..
portion 17a of latching element 17 is received in the gap 22,
and abutment 21 urges the end flange of F-shaped mounting
portion 17a. against projection 20 while the other flange of
such mounting portion is urged into.recess 18. Thus, the
relatively thick end portion 17c of latching element 17 is . :
normally resiliently held against end portion 15b' of side
wall lSb to extend the latching pin or projection 17b throu~h .. ~.
.
aperture 16a beyond the outer surface of end portion 15b'.
; ~However, as hereinsfter described, a latch releasing element
can~be~extended lnwardly through aperture 16b to act against
end-portion l?c of the latching ~ement for urging the same
, . ~
away from the adjacent wall end portion 15b', and thereby
retract the locking projection 17b into aperture 16a. Wall end c ;
~: ~eportion 15b' has an inwardly directed end 25b (Fig. 3) which
extends in front of the~thick end portion 17c of the latching
element and which is formed with an aperture 16c (Fi~s. 1 and 3)
. .
: that is aligned with an oblique or beveled end surface (not
shown) provided at the bottom part of thick end portion 17c.
~- Thus, a latch releasing element can be extended through
. .
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` ~073884
aperture 16c to act against the described oblique or beveled
end surface as an alternative mean.5 for displacing the thick
end portion 17c of the latching element away from the adjacent
~all end portion 15b', as hereinafter described in detail.
The ears 12a and 12b at the opposite ends of lid 12 are
~ormed with inwardly directly pins 28 (Figs. 1, 8 and 9)
engageable in respective apertures or recesses (not shown)
in wall end portions 15a' and lSb' so as to mount lid 12
pivotally on cassette housing 1 for movement between a closed
position ~Fig. 8) and an opened position (Fig. 9). The ear 12b
of lid 12 which is adjacent wall end portion 15b' is formed -~
with an aperture 23 which, in the closed position of the lid,
is adapted to receive the latching pin or projection 17b for
lockin~ the lid in its closed position. H~ever, when the thick ~-
end portion 17c of latching element 17 is displaced away from
the adjacent wall end portion 15b', as described above, latching
pin or projection 17b is withdrawn from aperture 23 and thereby
,.. : .
releases the lid for movement to its opened position, as herein-
after described, against the force of a suitable spring (not
shown) which normally urges the lid to its closed position. The
~wall end portion 15a' is shown to have an inwardly directed,
~right-angled end 25a for defining a recess 80 in the respective
corner of cassett~ housing 1 (Fig. 3) for a purpose hereinafter
described in detail. As sh~wn on Fig. 1, a tab or claw 19 may be
formed on side wall 15b, with the presence or absence of such
tab l9 being detected by a conventional device of the magnetic
recording and/or reproducing apparatus when the cassette is in
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~073884
an op~rative position on such apparatus to prevent inadvertent
I erasing of signals record~d on tape 11.
,l In accordance with this invention, the side edge of the
¦ bottom wall of cassette housing l at opposite ends of the
,¦cutout portion of such bottom wall define locating elements 26a
land 26b which project beyond ends 25a and 25b of wall portions
¦115~a' and 15b' (Fig. 3) so that, in the closed position of
- lilid 12 (Figs. 4 and 8), such locating elements 26a and 26b
~ extend through respective notches or cutouts 30a and 30b formed ~;
i ~ in the l~er edge of front portion 27 of the lid and are substan-
'~ tiaLly flush with the outer surface of front portion 27. The
l~ cutoùts 30a and 30b are shown to be substantially filled by
locating elements- 26a snd 25b in the closed position of the lid.
~The~lid~12 is-further fonmed~with recesses or cutouts 29 and 31
~(Fig.~L) in the~ear 12b and in the front portion 27 so that, in
-the~cloaed~posLtion of lid l2, cutouts 29 and 31 will be sub-
ntially~al~ign-d~vith the~previously~mentlon t ap rtures 16b
nd~l6c, respectively, for permitt~ing access to s~h apertures
or~ the~purpose~de~scribed above~
It~will be apparent that, when lid 12 is in its closed
n~,~the~run-of tape~ extending~along ~ope~ning lO between
pins~l4b~and 14c~is~shie~1ded or~protected, at the outside,
ront~portion 27 of the lid~and, from above, by top portion 32
f~f 1~id.-~However, even with 1id 12 ~n its closed position,
;the-~cutout-in the bottom wall of cassette housing 1 remains
`open and could be contacted or damaged by a finger or instrument
,j, , ,~, -:
~r ~ins-erted through such cutout. In order to avoid the possibilit.y
.~
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~073884
of such damage, the tape cassette T according to this invention
has partitions 33a and 33b (Fig. 4) depending from top portion
32 of lid 12, which partitions extend parallel to, and are
spaced from, front portion 27 of the lid so as to define a
channel therebetween in which the run of the tape between
guide pins 14b and 14c is accommodated when lid 12 is in its
closed position. The partitions 33a and 33b have a depth at
least equal to the width of tape 11 so that, with the lid in its
closed position, partitions 33a and 33b substantially prevent
contact with the tape run through the cutout portion of the
bottom wall of cassette housing 1. Further, in accordance with
this invention, a substantially L-shaped tape locating member 34
extends outwardly and downwardly from the top wall of cassette
housing 1 (Fig. 9) so as to be located in the gap between
partitions 33a and 33b in the closed position of lid 12 (Fig. 4).
The tape locating member 34 ensures that, even if the tape
between reels 2 and 3 becomes substantially loosened, the run of
the tape extending between guide pins 14b and 14c will be
properly positioned in respect to a tape engaging pin or member
of a tape loading device by which the tape is to be withdrawn
from the cassette housing.
` In order to guide the cassette T in accordance with this
invention during its insertion into the holder of a cassette
loadi~g mechanism, as hereinafter described, the cassette T is
provided with guiding means extending at right angles to each
other, that is, perpendicular to the open relatively long side
of cassette housing 1 and parallel to such long side, respectively.
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1073884
In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, such guiding
means are constituted by grooves 36 (Figs. 1, 9, 10 and 11)
formed in the outer surfaces 35a and 35b of the relatively
short side walls lSa and 15b and aligned with groove exten-
sions 36c in the adjacent ears 12a and 12b of lid 12 when the
latter is in its closed position. The groove extensions 36c
have diverging open ends 36a by which respective guiding
ridges 36a" and 36b" of a cassette holder 50 are led into
grooves 36 when cassette T is inserted into such holder 50 in
the direction perpendicular to the open relatively long side
of the cassette housing (Fig. 10). Further, the undersurface
of the bottom wall of cassette housing 1 is formed with a
guiding groove 36' (Fig. 4) extending parallel to the long
open side of the cassette housing, and having enlarged or
diverging open ends 36a' so that, when tape cassette T is inserted
into a holder 50 in the direction parallel to the relatively
long open side of the cassette housing, one or the other of the
diverging or enlarged ends 36a' or groove 36' will initiate or
facilitate the entry of a guiding ridge 36b' (Fig. 11) of holder
50 into groove 36'. Thus, it will be seen that tape cassette T
according to this invention can be used in various types of
magnetic tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus having
holders which are adapted to receive the tape cassette in
different directions. The grooves 36 and 36' are preferably
asymmetrically located relative to the surfaces of the cassette
housing in which they are formed. Thus, the grooves 36 in side
wall surfaces 35a and 35b are located closer to the top than to
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~073884
the bottom of the cassette housing, while the groove 36' in the
bottom wall surface of the cassette housing is located closer
to one relatively long side of the cassette housing than to the
other relatively long side thereof. By reason of such
asymmetrical positioning of grooves 36 and 36' and of the res-
pective guiding ridges in the holders 50, the cassette T is
insertable in each holder 50 in only a single proper orientation
relative to the latter.
As shown on Fig. 4, the bottom surface of cassette housing 1 ~-
is further preferably formed with longitudinally grooved surface
portions 37 extending along the opposite relatively short sides
of the cassette housing and along theclosed relatively long
side of the housing so that the cassette housing can be con-
veniently gripped at the resulting roughened surface portions
when inserting the tape cassette into a holder in either of the
directions illustrated on Figs. 10 and 11.
In order to accurately locate the tape cassette T in its
operative position on a magnetic tape recording and/or repro-
ducing apparatus, the latter is provided with a pair of locating
pins 42 and 43 (Figs. 5 and 6) projecting upwardly from a
suitable baseplate or chassis 57 (Fig. 7) and each having a
relatively large diameter base portion 41a and a relatively
small diameter end portion 41b extending upwardly from the
base portion 41a to define a shoulder at the top of the latter.
An additional locating pin 39 (Fig. 6) extends upwardly from the
baseplate or chassis 57 and has its upper end surface at the
'!
same level as the shoulders provided at the top of base
.'`'
::
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:~'
.~ .- .
107388~
portions 41a of locating pins 42 and 43. The locating pins 42
and 43 are disposed so that, when tape cassette T is in its
proper operative position, the small diameter end portions 41b
of locating pins 42 and 43 are respectively engaged in sockets
44 and 45, respectively, which are formed in the lower sec-
tion lb of housing 1 and open downwardly at the bottom wall
surface of the latter. The socket 44 is diametrically
dimensioned to closely receive end portion 41b of locating pin
42, while the other socket 45 is laterally elongated, that is,
elongated in the direction parallel to a line connecting the
edge surfaces of locating elements 26a and 26b. Thus, even
if there is some variation in the distance between the centers
of locating pins 42 and 43, no difficulty will be experienced
in obtaining the engagement of pins 42 and 43 with the respec-
tive sockets 44 and 45 when the tape cassette is properly
located by means of its locating elements 26a and 26b, as
hereinafter dscribed. It will be noted that the sockets 44
and 45 are disposed adja~ent the open relatively long side of
the cassette housing 1, and the locating pin 39 is positioned
relative to locating pins 42 ànd 43 so that, when sockets 44
and 45 receive the small diameter end portions 41b of locating
pins 42 and 43, the bottom surface of cassette housing 1 will
rest on the shoulders at the top of base portions 41a of pins 42
and 43 adjacent the opposite sides of the cutout in the bottom
wall of the cassette housing and on the upper end of locating
pin 39 at a single point adjacent the closed relatively long
side of the cassette housing. The reel drive shafts or
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spindles 40a and 40b (Fig. 6) of the recording and/or reproducing
apparatus are of course located relative to the locating pins 39,
42 and 43 so that, when the tape cassette T is positioned hy
such locating pins, the drive shafts 40a and 40b will extend
into the hubs of reels 2 and 3 and be rotatably coupled with the
latter.
Since the end portion 41b of locating pin 42 is intended to
engage closely in the respective socket 44, the top wall 44a of
such socket may be formed with a vent hole 46 (Fig. 5) through
which air may enter and leave the socket to avoid any inter-
ference with the easy insertion and removal of the end portion 41b
of pin 42.
Referring now to Fig. 7, it will be seen that the tape
cassette T in accordance with this invention may be conveniently
used in connection with a magnetic tape recording and/or
reproducing apparatus having a cassette loading mechanism
including a holder 50 which receives the cassette in a con-
venient elevated position shown in full lines and is then movable
downwardly to the position shown in broken lines at which the
received cassette is disposed in its operative position on the
previously described locating pins 39, 42 and 43 for rotatable
coupling of its reels 2 and 3 with drive shafts 40a and 40b and
further for proper positioning of the tape within the cassette
housing in respect to the tape loading device (not shown) by
which the tape may be extracted or withdrawn from the cassette
housing for a recording or reproducing operation. The holder 50
is generally of box-like configuration and includes top and
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107388~
bottom walls 52 and 53 which are connected at their adjacent
ends by opposed end walls 54a and 54b so as to be open at the
other opposed sides of holder 50. The holder 50 of the
cassette loading mechanism shown on Fig. 7 is intended to have
the tape cassette T inserted therein in the direction perpen-
dicular to the open relatively long side of the cassette
housing, for example, as on Fig. 10, and thus the distance
between walls 54a and 54b is selected to be slightly larger
than the larger dimension of the cassette housing and such
end walls 54a and 54b are provided with the guide ridges 36a'~
and 36b" for entry into the widened ends 36a of grooves 36
when the tape cassette is inserted with lid 12 at the leading
side thereof. As shown on Fig. 7, the top wall 52 of holder 50
is at a relatively small distance from bottom wall 53 at the
open side of the holder through which tape cassette T is
inserted, while the top wall 52 is stepped upwardly, as at 52b
adjacent the opposite side of holder 50 so that the top wall
will not there interfere with the opening of lid 12 within the
cassette holder. It will further be understood that bottom
wall 53 of the cassette holder has openings (not shown) formed
therein~and being located to permit the upward passage there-
through, when holder 50 is in the operative position, of the
reel drive shafts 40a and 40b and of the cassette locating
pins 39, 42 and 43. Leaf springs 55 are provided at the under-
side of top wall 52 to bear downwardly on the top wall of the
cassette housing and thereby hold the latter downwardly against
bottom wall 53 when tape cassette T is inserted in holder 50.
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1073884
The illustrated cassette loading mechanism is further
shown to comprise a shifting mechanism 51 by which holder 50
may be moved between the positions shown in full and broken
lines on Fig. 7. Such shifting mechanism 51 includes a
cradle 56 to which holder 50 is secured, brackets 58 and 59
fixed to baseplate or chassis 57 and supporting respective
shafts 58a and 59a which extend parallel to the plane of base-
plate 56. Shaft 59a is disposed at a relatively small distance h
above baseplate 57, while shaft 58a is disposed at a relatively
large distance h2 above the baseplate. A pair of levers 60
of a relatively long length 12 are pivotally supported, at one
end, on shaft 58at and the other ends of lever 60 are pivotally
connected to cradle 56. A pair of levers 61 of a relatively
short length ll are pivotally mounted, at one end, on the shaft
59a and have their other ends pivotally connected to cradle 56
at a distance 13 from the pivotal connections of lever 60 to the ~ -
cradle. Each of the levers 61 has an arm 61a extending there-
from and connected to a tension spring 62 by which the respec-
tive lever 61 is urged in a counterclockwise direction to the
position illustrated in full lines.
Preferably, the various elements of shifting mechanism 51
are dimensioned as follows:
ll is approximately equal to 2/5 12
13 is approximately equal to 3/5 14 (that is, the distance
between the axes of shafts 58a and 59a)
hl is approximately equal to 2/7 h2
el (that is, the angle between the center line of each
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1C~73884
lever 61 in its raised position and the horizontal) is
approximately equal to 60
e2 (that is, the angle between the center line of each
lever 60 in its raised position and the horizontal) is
approximately equal to 25.
When the above dimensional relationships are provided,
cassette holder 50 is inclined from the horizontal at a con-
venient angle e3 for receiving the tape cassette T when in its
raised position, and, when holder 50 is moved downwardly to its
operative position illustrated in broken lines, the final down-
ward movement of the holder is effected in a vertical direction
for permitting the proper engagement of reel drive shafts 40a
and 40b and of locating pins 39, 42 and 43 with the respective
parts of the tape cassette.
In order to lock holder 50 in its lowered operative position
against the force of spring 62, the cassette loading mechanism
is further shown to include a locking mechanism 63 that includes
a locking pawl 64 depending from bottom wall 53 of holder 50,
and a retainer 65 which is pivoted at 67 on baseplate 57 and
has a locking portion 65a at its upper end engageable with a
nose 64a on pawl 64 when holder 50 is in its lowered operative
position. A spring 67 acts on retainer 65 to pivot the latter
in the clockwise direction into engagement with pawl 64, and
the lower end portion of retainer 65 is engageable by an
operating rod 68 for rocking of retainer 65 in the cou~ter-
clockwise direction, that is, in the direction for releasing
the pawl 64. The rod 68 may be actuable by an ejection button
.,
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~0738~3~
(not shown) when it is desired to release pawl 64 and thereby
permit spring 62 to return holder 50 to its elevated inclined
position at which the tape cassette 'I' is conveniently removed
therefrom.
As shown particularly on Fig. 8, bottom wall 53 of holder 50
has a pair of abutments 70a and 70b directed upwardly from the
edge of bottom wall 53 remote from the open side of holder 50
at which tape cassette T is introduced. The abutments 70a and
70b are spaced apart at locations along the respective edge of
bottom wall 53 that correspond to the locations of locating
elements 26a and 26b on the bottom wall of cassette housing 1,
and abutments 70a and 70b project above the top surface of
bottom wall 53 by a distance substantially equal to the thickness
of locating elements 26a and 26b. Thus, when tape cassette T
is inserted into holder 50, the movement of the tape cassette
in the direction of its insertion is limited by the engagement
of locating elements 26a and 26b with the respective abutments
70a and 70b. Thus, the final position of cassette housing 1
relative to holder 50 is precisely determined without the
possibility of error resulting from any clearance or looseness
of lid 12 relative to the cassette housing. By reason of such
precise determination of the position of cassette housing 1 in
respect to holder 50, proper engagement of the tape cassette
with reel drive shafts 40a and 40b and with locating pins 39,
42 and 43 is ensured when holder 50 is lowered to its operative
position. Since abutments 70a and 70b on holder 50 are engaged
only with locating elements 26a and 26b projecting through
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1~73884
cutouts 30a and 30b in lid 12, such engagement for determining
the final position of cassette housing 1 in holder 50 does not
interfere with the opening of lid 12, as on Fig. 9.
An L-shaped latch releasing member 71 (Figs. 8 and 9)
which is suitably attached to the side wall 54a (not shown on
Figs. 8 and 9) of holder 50 or to the adjacent side of
carriage 56 has an end portion 71a extending in the direction
opposed to the direction of insertion of tape cassette T in
the cassette holder and is located to extend into notch or
cutout 31 of lid 12 and aperture 16c of cassette housing 1 as
the tape cassette nears its final position in holder 50. Thus,
during the final portion of the inserting movement of the tape
cassette to its predetermined position in holder 50, end portion
71a of latch releasing member 71 acts agailnst the previously
described oblique or beveled end surface of the thick end
portion 17c of latching element 17 for displacing such thick
end portion 17c laterally away from the adjacent wall end
portion 15b', and thereby releasing the latching pin or projec-
tion 17b from the opening 23 of lid 12 so that the latter is
then free to be opened.
Of course, if the tape cassette T is inserted in the
lengthwise direction into the holder 50, for example, as illus-
trated on Fig. 11, a latch releasing member similar to the
member 71 on Figs. 8 and 9 would be provided at the side of
the holder toward which the tape cassette is moved so that,
as the tape cassette nears its final position in the cassette
holder, such latch releasing member extends through cutout 29
10738~4
of lid 12 and aperture 16b of cassette housing 1 to act against
the adjacent side of thick end portion 17c of latching element 17
for similarly releasing the latching element and freeing the
lid 12 for movement to its opened position.
In either case, that is, whether the tape cassette is
inserted into the cassette holder in the lengthwise direction
of the cassette or at right angles thereto, the opening of
lid 12 is effected in response to the downward movement of
cassette holder 50 from its raised cassette receiving position
to its lowered operative position. In order to effect such
opening of lid 12, the magnetic tape recording and/or repro- -
ducing apparatus is provided with a lid opening member 73
(Figs. 8 and 9) which extends upwardly, for example, from the
baseplate 57 on Fig. 7; and is fixedly positioned so that, as
holder 50 is moved downwardly to its operative position, the
bent upper end of member 73 will engage the lower edge of front
portion 27 of lid 12 adjacent the end of such front portion 27
from which ear 12a extends. As shown particularly in Fig. 9,
bottom wall 53 of holder S0 is formed with a cutout 74 adjacent
abutment 26a so as to substantially register with the corner
recess 80 of cassette housing 1. Such cutout 74 and corner
recess 80 are provided for the movement of lid opening member 73
thereinto as the holder 50 and tape cassette T move forwardly in
the course of the downward movement of holder 50 from its raised
inclined position to its lowered operative position parallel to
baseplate 57. By reason of the engagement of member 73 with the
lower edge of front portion Z7 of lid 12, the latter is pivoted
-27-
10738~4
to its open position during the final movement of holder 50 to
its lowered operative position.
It will be apparent from the foregoing that, when holder 50
reaches its lowered operative position, the cassette housing
accurately located in the cassette holder is, accordingly,
accurately positioned for engagement by the locating pins 39,
42 and 43 and the lid lZ of the tape cassette is fully opened
so that the tape 11 can be withdrawn or extracted from the
cassette housing, as by a conventional tape loading device (not
shown). When cassette housing 1 is positioned by locating
pins 39, 42 and 43, reel drive shafts 40a and 40b engaging
within the hubs of reels 2 and 3 preferably act against the
end walls 4b and 4b' of such reels so as to raise the latter
away from the frictional material on the bottom wall of cassette
housing 1 against the force of springs 8 and 8', whereby to
make the tape supply and take-up reels freely rotatable.
It will be further apparent that, since the locating elements
26a and 26b of the tape cassette according to this invention are
formed on the cassette housing itself, the engagement of such
locating elements with abutments 70a and 70b on the cassette
holder ensures the accurate locating of the cassette housing
relative to the holder irrespective of the position of front
portion 27 of lid 12, in its closed position, relative to the
cassette housing. By reason of such accurate locating of the
cassette housing relative to the cassette holder, the proper
engagement of the cassette housing with locating pins 39, 42
and 43 and with reel drive shafts 40a and 40b is assured at all
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,
1073884
times. Since the locating elements 26a and 26b extend through
and substantially fill the respective cutouts 30a and 30b in
lid 12, the lid can extend along the entire open side of the
cassette housing to fully protect the tape therein without
any obstruction by reason of the locating elements 26a and 26b
to the movement of the lid between its opened and closed
positions. The disposition of locating elements 26a and 26b
on an edge of the bottom wall of cassette housing 1 ensures
that the described function of such locating elements can be
achieved without restricting the extent of the opening of the
cassette housing at the relatively long side of the latter.
Thus, the overall dimensions of a tape cassette according to
this invention can be minimized without undesirably restricting
the size of the opening at the relatively long side of the
cassette housing, and hence without giving rise to problems
in connection with the tape loading device for withdrawing or
extracting the tape from the cassette. Since the cassette
locating elements 26a and 26b are substantially flush with the
outer surface of front portion 27 of lid 12 in the closed
position of the latter, such locating elements do not lnterfere
with the insertion of the cassette into a cassette holder, when
such insertion is effected in the longitudinal direction of the
cassette, as on Fig. 11. Finally, it is to be noted that tape
cassette T according to this invention is provided with guiding
means, for example, the previously described grooves 36 and
groove 36' for guiding the cassette into a holder either in the
direction perpendicular or the direction parallel to the
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~07388~
longitudinal axis of the cassette, and that the latching element 17
for locking lid 12 in its closed position is arranged for release
during the insertion of the tape cassette into a holder in either
of the described directions.
Although an illustrative embodiment of this invention has
been described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying
drawings, it is to be no-ted that the invention is not limited to
that precise embodiment, and that various changes and modifica-
tions may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without
departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as defined
in the appended claims.
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