Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval – Record transport with head stationary during transducing – Tape record
Reexamination Certificate
2001-09-25
2003-12-30
Tupper, Robert S. (Department: 2652)
Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval
Record transport with head stationary during transducing
Tape record
Reexamination Certificate
active
06671123
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a magnetic tape device, having a simple and inexpensive structure, that can hold a tape cassette at a predetermined location on a moving table without unexpectedly wobbling.
2. Related Art
An example conventional technique for a magnetic tape device, disclosed in the Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Publication No. Sho58-141461, will be described while referring to
FIGS. 10
to
12
. An upright pair of guide plates
3
a
and
3
b
are provided in parallel on a chassis
2
in a housing
1
, and multiple guide pins
5
project from either side of a tape cassette moving table
4
, located between the guide plates
3
a
and
3
b.
When these guide pins
5
are movably inserted into multiple L-shaped guide holes
6
that penetrate the guide plates
3
a
and
3
b,
the moving table
4
can move forward and backward, in directions a and b, between a cassette insertion position A and a cassette mounting position B. Then, rotary levers
8
are fitted over a shaft
7
with the guide plates
3
a
and
3
b
so that the levers
8
are pivotable forward and backward, in directions c and d, and engage the front guide pins
5
. A worm gear
10
is disposed in the center of the outer face of a rotary cam
9
that is rotatably positioned on the reverse face of the chassis
2
, and a worm gear
11
, which is driven by a driving source (not shown), engages the worm gear
10
. A bevel gear
12
is formed on the upper, outer face of the rotary cam
9
, and a gear
13
is formed at the base end of the rotary lever
8
, which is coupled with the gear
13
by a clutch gear mechanism
14
. A top board
15
bridges the distance between the guide plates
3
a
and
3
b.
In
FIG. 10
, reference numeral
17
denotes movable tape guide posts, along which a magnetic tape t is pulled out of a tape cassette T and passes around a head cylinder
18
. Reference numeral
19
denotes a full-width erasing head;
20
, a speech erasing head;
21
, a speech control head;
22
, fixed tape guide posts;
23
, back tension posts;
24
, a capstan; and
25
, a pinch roller.
With this configuration, as is indicated by a solid line in
FIG. 12
, while the moving table
4
is held in the cassette insertion position A, the tape cassette T is loaded into a tape cassette insertion slot
1
a
of the housing
1
. Then, since the clutch of the gear mechanism
14
is disengaged, as the tape cassette T is inserted toward the movable table
4
, the movable table
4
is pushed slightly to the rear, in direction b. Based on a detection signal from a detector (not shown) that detects the insertion, the clutch of the gear mechanism
14
is engaged by the driving source through the worm gears
11
and
10
and the rotary cam
9
, and the rotary cam
9
and the rotary lever
8
interact via the gear mechanism
14
. Thereafter, when the rotary lever
8
is pivoted to the rear, in direction d, by the driving source, the moving table
4
is displaced horizontally along the guide holes
6
to the rear, in direction b, descending vertically until the tape cassette T is mounted in the cassette mounting position B (see imaginary line in FIG.
12
). Then, the magnetic tape t is extracted from the tape cassette T (see imaginary line in FIG.
10
), and the reproduction and other operations are performed.
Further, when an eject button (not shown) is depressed, based on an ejection signal that is emitted, the rotary lever
8
is pivoted forward, in direction c, by the driving force transmitted by the gear mechanism
14
. The moving table
4
at the cassette mounting position B is raised vertically along the guide holes
6
and is moved forward, in direction a, to the cassette insertion position A, and the tape cassette T is ejected (see solid line in FIG.
12
).
As is shown in
FIGS. 10
to
12
, the moving table
4
includes a bottom plate
4
a
and a pair of side plates
4
b,
which are secured to the side edges of the bottom plate
4
a
and from the side walls of which the guide pins
5
project. A pair of leaf springs
4
d
are securely attached to projections
4
c
that project inward, toward the center of the moving table
4
, from the upper edges of the side plates
4
b.
The tape cassette T is held at a predetermined location on the moving table
4
by the urging force exerted by the leaf springs
4
d,
while the distal ends of the leaf springs
4
d
contact the upper face of the tape cassette T seated on the moving table
4
. Thus, unexpected wobbling of the tape cassette is encountered upon its insertion and ejection.
Problems to be Solved
With the above arrangement, since the leaf springs
4
d
are employed to hold the tape cassette T in a predetermined position in the moving table
4
, the number of parts is increased due to these leaf springs
4
d,
and the structure is complicated. In addition, a great deal of labor and time are required to fix the leaf springs
4
d
to the projections
4
c,
so that the manufacturing method is demanding and the manufacturing expenses are increased.
To resolve the shortcomings, it is one objective of the present invention to provide a magnetic tape device, having a simple and inexpensive structure, that can hold a tape cassette in a predetermined position in a moving table without the tape cassette wobbling unexpectedly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Means for Solving the Problems
To achieve this objective, according to a first aspect of the invention, a magnetic tape device is provided
wherein a moving table includes a bottom plate and a pair of side plates securely fixed to side edges of the bottom plate, and is positioned so as to move forward and backward between a cassette insertion position and a cassette mounting position located between a pair of guide plates;
wherein a tape cassette is inserted into and held in the moving table, located at the cassette insertion position, and the moving table is moved backward based on a detection signal produced upon the insertion of tape cassette, so that the tape cassette, in the moving table, is mounted at the cassette mounting position;
wherein a pair of integrally formed float prevention members, project inward from the upper ends of the side plates, toward the center of the moving table, and engage the upper edge of the tape cassette that is held in the moving table;
wherein a pair of projecting gripping members contact both side faces of the tape cassette inserted into and held in the moving table;
wherein the gripping members have a substantially trapezoid shape in plan view, the gripping members extending forward and backward along the side plates and inclining at both longitudinal ends toward the center of the moving table;
wherein the bottom plate, made of flexible steel, is bent in the center to form a substantially longitudinal reinforcing projection extending upward toward the moving table; and
wherein, when the side faces of the tape cassette inserted into the moving table are brought into contact with the gripping members, the bottom plate is flexed, and the urging force thus generated presses the gripping members flexibly against the side faces of the tape cassette.
According to this arrangement, the integrally formed float prevention members and gripping members are projected substantially at right angles at the upper ends of the side plates of the moving table. Therefore, when a tape cassette is inserted into the moving table, the float prevention members and the gripping members are brought into contact with the upper edge corners of the side faces of the tape cassette, so that the tape cassette can be securely held in a predetermined position in the moving table.
Further, the bottom plate is formed of flexible steel, and the reinforcement projection is formed by bending the center portion of the bottom plate. With this arrangement, an urging force exerting a predetermined pressure is generated by pushing the tape cassette between the gripping members, thereby flexing the bottom plate and forcing the gripping members flexibly against the side faces of the tape ca
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