Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval – Record medium – In container
Reexamination Certificate
2001-05-10
2004-02-24
Renner, Craig A. (Department: 2652)
Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval
Record medium
In container
C242S347000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06697222
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a new tape cassette, and particularly to a technique of enlarging openings of extraction portions, provided in a tape cassette, for extracting a tape-like recording medium.
In tape drive apparatuses of a type in which recording/reproducing is performed by using a rotary head drum, a tape-like recording medium is extracted forwardly from a tape cassette and is wound around the rotary head drum. Accordingly, the arrangement of tape extraction guides provided on the tape drive apparatus side is limited to the sizes of openings of tape extraction portions of the tape cassette.
FIG. 28
is a schematic plan view showing a state in which a related art tape cassette “a” is mounted in a tape drive apparatus and the tape is loaded therein.
In the tape cassette “a”, a supply side reel “c” and a winding side reel “d” around which a magnetic tape “b” is wound are rotatably contained in a cassette shell “e”.
A large recess “f”, called a “mouth portion”, is formed in a front portion of the cassette shell “e” in such a manner as to be opened forwardly, upwardly, and downwardly.
Both side portions of the mouth portion “f” of the cassette shell “e”, which are opened forwardly, are taken as tape extraction portions “g” each of which is formed into a lying hollowed square cylinder.
In the non-loading state of the tape cassette “a” in the tape drive apparatus, the magnetic tape “b” is extracted outwardly from the openings at the front surfaces of the tape extraction portions “g” and is stretched between the tape extraction portions “g” in such a manner as to cross the front surface of the mouth portion “f”.
When a tape loading command is given to the tape drive apparatus, the tape loading is performed by extracting the magnetic tape “b” outwardly by tape guides “h”, tape extraction guides “i”, and pinch rollers “j” and simultaneously moving a rotary head drum “k” in such a manner as to enter the mouth portion “f” (see FIG.
28
).
The above-described related art tape cassette “a”, however, has a problem that since the openings of the tape extraction portions “g” of the cassette shell “e” are relatively narrow, the arrangement of the tape extraction guides “i” is strictly limited thereto, with a result that the positional accuracy of the tape extraction guides “i” must be increased. In particular, such a problem becomes significant along with miniaturization of the tape cassette “a”.
To be more specific, a triangular region “t” (shown by a pear-skin pattern in the figure), which is formed between an extension line connecting an extracted portion of the magnetic tape “b” wound around the tape reel “c” or “d” at maximum to an outer opening edge of the tape extraction portion “g” and an extension line connecting an extracted portion of the magnetic tape “b” wound around the tape reel “c” or “d” at minimum to an outer opening edge of the tape extraction portion “g”, is defined as a “possible arrangement region” in which each of the tape guides “i” can be arranged. In the related art tape cassette “a”, since such possible arrangement regions “t” are narrow, the degree of freedom in design of the arrangement of the tape extraction guides “i” is small.
Further, since the possible arrangement regions “t” are narrow, there arises a problem that the positional accuracy of the tape extraction guides “i” provided in the tape drive apparatus must be increased.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a tape cassette, which is capable of enlarging possible arrangement regions of tape extraction guides of a tape drive apparatus by increasing lateral widths of tape extraction portions of a cassette shell, thereby increasing the degree of freedom in design of the tape extraction guides and loosening the arrangement accuracy of the tape extraction guides.
To achieve the above object, according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tape cassette including: a cassette shell in which tape reels around which a tape-like recording medium is wound are contained; a mouth portion provided in a front portion of said cassette shell in such a manner as to be opened forwardly, upwardly, and downwardly, said mouth portion being positioned such that part of said tape-like recording medium crosses the front end of said mouth portion; and a front lid, provided on said cassette shell, for covering the front side of said tape-like recording medium; wherein both side portions of said mouth portion of said cassette shell are taken as tape extraction portions opened forwardly; and each of the inner surfaces of outer side surface front portions of said cassette shell, which forms each of the inner surfaces of outer side walls of said tape extraction portions, is formed into a taper surface which becomes wider outwardly as nearing the front end.
With this configuration, since the lateral widths of the openings of the tape extraction portions of the tape cassette can be increased, the possible arrangement regions of the tape extraction guides can be enlarged. As a result, it is possible to increase the degree of freedom in design of the tape extraction guides and to loosen the arrangement accuracy of the tape extraction guides.
Further, since the arrangement positions of the tape extraction guides can be disposed outwardly more than those of tape extraction portions provided in the related art tape drive apparatus, it is possible to make the ratio of the size of a rotary head drum to the size of the tape cassette larger than that adopted in the related art tape drive apparatus and to miniaturize the tape cassette.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4712149 (1987-12-01), Goto et al.
patent: 5316234 (1994-05-01), Honsho et al.
patent: 6437941 (2002-08-01), Ota et al.
patent: 2002/0003679 (2002-01-01), Ota
Kushiro Sunao
Ota Shuichi
Kananen Ronald P.
Rader & Fishman & Grauer, PLLC
Renner Craig A.
Sony Corporation
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