Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval – Record transport with head stationary during transducing – Tape record
Patent
1998-11-10
2000-09-05
Cao, Allen T.
Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval
Record transport with head stationary during transducing
Tape record
G11B 1500
Patent
active
061152099
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a cassette tape loading mechanism utilized in recording and playing back apparatuses including video cassette recorders and the like.
BACKGROUND PRIOR ART
Recently, various types of cassette tape loading mechanisms have been used in video cassette recorders and the like. One example of these conventional mechanisms is described by referring to the attached drawing.
FIG. 6 is a side view depicting a structure of the conventional cassette tape loading mechanism. FIG. 6 lists the following elements: cassette tape 1, cassette holder 2, link arm 3, top plate 4, side plate 5, chassis frame 6, back plate 7, up-spring 8, sliding shaft A 9, and sliding shaft B 10.
The cassette holder 2 has a locking hook 2a beneath its lower plate, and both side faces of the holder 2 are supported by a pair of link arms 3. The cassette tape 1 (illustrated with chain double-dashed line) can be inserted into the holder 2 and held therein. The up-springs 8 are anchored between the holder 2 and the link arms 3, and forces the holder 2 upward (along an arrow direction A.) The top plate 4 couples the side faces of the holder 2 around an upper face of the cassette tape 1 inserted, and has a notch (not shown) around a cassette entrance so that users can take out the cassette tape with fingers. The holder 2 also has the similar notch for the same purpose. The side plate 5 has a guide groove 5a on its side face. The sliding shaft A 9 disposed on the link arms 3 slides along the groove 5a. A bottom face of the side plate 5 is fixed to the chassis frame 6. The back plate 7 couples both the side plates 6 in their front around the rear face of the cassette 1 inserted.
An operation of the above mechanism is detailed here. First, the cassette tape 1 is inserted into the cassette holder 2 stayed at an upper end position. Second, the cassette holder 2 together with the cassette tape 1 is pressed downward (along an arrow direction B) from the top plate 4. The locking hook 2a disposed beneath the lower face of the holder 2 is then engaged with a sliding lock shaft (not shown) so that the holder 2 is locked, whereby the cassette tape 1 is completely loaded.
When the cassette 1 is taken out, a sliding lock shaft (not shown) disposed on the chassis frame 6 slides and releases the engagement with the locking hook 2a. Then the pair of up-springs 8 force the holder 2 upward (along the arrow A direction). The sliding shaft B 10 supported by the link arms 3 hits an end of the guide groove 2b disposed on the side face of holder 2, whereby the cassette holder 2 is fixed at its upper end position, where the cassette 1 can be taken out from the holder 2.
In this conventional structure, up-lifted distance of the holder 2 is so small that the user has a difficulty to pinch the cassette tape 1. If the up-lifted distance would be increased, a clearance between the bottom face of the holder 2 and the back plate 7 misleads users to put the cassette into the mechanism through the clearance.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The present invention intends to address the above problem. Namely it provides a cassette loading mechanism with a foolproof device in order to prevent a user from inserting a cassette by mistake into a clearance between the bottom face of the holder and the back plate, even when the up-lifted distance is increased.
The cassette loading mechanism of the present invention comprises the following elements: up-and-down on demand, the cassette which has been loaded by lowering the holder. plate and the holder, i.e. a first edge of the panel is rotatively supported by the back plate in substantially horizontal direction, and a second edge pushes the holder so that the panel can be forced by a spring member anytime. The panel rotates by following the up-and-down movement of the holder, and when the holder is at the upper end position, the panel always presses a lower face of the holder. engaging with the hook. When the cassette holder is at the upper end position, the engaging means engages with the hook so
Araki Yukihiro
Nakamura Yoshiaki
Ueda Mikiya
Cao Allen T.
Matsushita Electric - Industrial Co., Ltd.
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