CN1024604C - Improvments in magnetic tape cassettes - Google Patents

Abstract

A magnetic tape cassette has an improved reel spring, slack limiter and tape guide. The reel spring has a generally rectangular shape with first and second parallel edges extending substantially along its entire length. A flat, central base portion of the spring is bounded by a pair of transition portions which extend at an angle out of the plane of the base. A pair of outer end portions set at a sharper angle to the base complete the spring configuration. A polypropylene slack limiter applies a preloaded tension on the magnetic tape. The polypropylene eliminates the need for laminating a separate bearing material to the slack limiter. The tape guide has a semi-cylindrical, stainless steel insert attached to a plastic mounting core. The core is fastened to the cassette housing. Another form of tape guide has a corrugated surface to minimize contact with the tape.

Description

Improvments in magnetic tape cassettes

The invention relates to tape cassete, resembling video tape recorder, normally used that is a kind of.The reel spring that the present invention particularly uses about a kind of tape cassete, slack limiter and tape guide.

Tape reel in tape cassete in order to assemble hub of a spool rotationally.Preceding 4,544, No. 062 former United States Patent (USP) has been showed the reel spring of prior art with 4,593, No. 868 United States Patent (USP)s of helping people such as rattan.These spring configuration assume diamond in shape usually, have or do not have internal incision.One of difficulty that this class spring structure brings is the waste material amount problem relevant with its manufacturing.These springs generally are to be made by continuous metal tape punching press, because the spring profile assumes diamond in shape, thereby metal has cut greatly and passes into disuse.Assistant rattan etc. is recognized this problem, thereby a kind of spring structure that can reduce the waste material amount is provided.The present invention and people's such as Zuo rattan structure specific energy is mutually further saved material cost.

The tape cassete of VHS standard or Beta standard tape cassete generally also have the slack limiter of wipe device sheet or brake(-holder) block form respectively.Slack limiter is carried out prestrain to tape makes the unlikely accidental loose winding of tape.Slack limiter must provide enough tension force to tape, causes the too high and over worn excessive friction of working load but must not produce again simultaneously.The past slack limiter is made with metal or polyester always, but these must apply with teflon in the hope of obtaining desired rubbing characteristics.This method has two shortcomings.The first, teflon is more expensive, and its process attached to slack limiter has been increased extra operation to manufacturing process.The second, can spill inevitably and pollute tape in order to teflon is bonded to cementing agent on the device sheet of wiping.4,290, No. 567 United States Patent (USP)s at family, west have been showed an example of this structure.The family, west also discloses a kind of slack limiter with a free end, and this free end is back crooked voluntarily, is by containing carbon or graphite or other makes the suitable flexible plastic tape of having of the little material of free-ended friction factor.Therefore in this embodiment, the teflon bearing material is not adopted at western family.

Tape guide plays the guiding tape at place, passway turnover tape cassete shell.This comprises the coiling of tape around tape guide, and the result makes between tape and the tape guide and contacts in the sizable part of tape guide periphery.For the wearing and tearing that make tape are reduced to minimum degree, total hope makes tape guide and the contacted surface elevation polishing of tape.In the past, this is to realize by making tape guide with the stainless-steel tube of polishing always.But require process such pipe or rolling punching press under the extremely tight situation at diameter and polishing, not only spended time but also be the individual no small task of cost.The pipe of polishing must be equipped with expensive material with the always discontiguous positions of tape on tape guide fully in addition.Have, the desired physical strength of whole pipe need adopt thicker wall again, and it is also thick to play the needed wall thickness of bearing effect than strict demand.The present invention has then relaxed this problem.

The invention relates to the improvement of tape cassete, particularly about the improvement of employed reel spring, tape guide and slack limiter in the tape cassete.

A fundamental purpose of the present invention is a kind of reel spring of tape cassete that has the large-lot production of being easy to and do not have the shape of waste material in fact.

Another object of the present invention has been designs simplification but can have brought into play the reel spring that effect should be arranged that conforms with its purposes.

Another purpose of the present invention is that a kind of energy keeps uniform spring rate, and the reel spring of the size of free height and drift.A further object of the present invention is in a kind of hopper that is easy to be deposited in kludge and is suitable for the reel spring that dispenses one at a time from this hopper.

It is of the present invention that to also have a purpose be a kind of slack limiter that wipe device sheet or brake(-holder) block form are made by the monolithic elastoplast that is.

Other purpose of the present invention are an a kind of bearing material of conserve expensive and the tape guide that helps the adjustment of tape.

An additional purpose of the present invention be a kind ofly be easy to make, tape guide that materials are less.

Above-mentioned and other purpose that may occur frequently in detailed description below, accompanying drawing and the claim is to be put into practice by the reel spring that a kind of like this tape cassete is used, and this reel spring comprises the band that an elongated rectangular resilient material of common profile is made.First edge and second edge of spring band are parallel to each other, and the whole length direction along band extends haply.It is that the boundary line forms zone of transition with first pair of horizontal scrimp or broken line that spring has a flat center essential part.Each zone of transition becomes first angle to extend with the plane of essential part.Zone of transition ends at second horizontal scrimp or the broken line, to limit the spring end part that becomes second angle to extend with the plane of essential part.Two pairs of horizontal scrimps make the total profile of spring curved.

Slack limiter is owing to make thereby make it to have desired friction and mechanical property with polypropylene.This material can use need not to add under the situation of liner or friction resistant material, therefore can need not to add the desired spending of this class material and eliminate thing followed problem.

The semi-cylindrical inserts that tape guide has a polishing stainless steel to make is fixed on the plastic core.Then be fixed on the core on the tape cassete shell, inserts orientation make its when tape coiling tape guide can with contact with tape.The tape guide of another kind of form is the corrugated surface with the contact area minimum that makes between tape guide and the tape.

Fig. 1 is the schematic bottom view that goes up tape cassete housing parts inside.

Fig. 2 is the partial top view of following tape cassete housing parts inside.

Fig. 3 is the partial sectional view of tape cassete, can see one of them tape reel and reel spring.

Fig. 4 is the planimetric map of reel spring of the present invention.

Fig. 4 A is the planimetric map of the reel spring of another kind of form.

Fig. 5 is the side view of reel spring of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is the skeleton view of tape cassete base section inside.

Fig. 7 is the planimetric map of a plurality of slack limiter of forming on continuous plastic sheet.

Fig. 8 is the skeleton view of slack limiter when becoming web-like to arrange.

Fig. 9 is the planimetric map of each slack limiter after the continuous sheet sheet cutting-out of Fig. 7 and 8.

Figure 10 is the side view at the slack limiter ratio of Fig. 9 top of having amplified.

Figure 11 is the planimetric map with similar another embodiment of slack limiter of Fig. 7.

Figure 12 is the synoptic diagram of each degree of tightness restriction after the sheet material shown in Figure 11 separates.

Figure 13 is the view with the embodiment of Fig. 7 and 11 similar another kind of slack limiter.

Figure 14 is the planimetric map of each slack limiter after the sheet material shown in Figure 13 scales off.

Figure 15 is the fragmentary top plan view of tape cassete housing parts inside, bottom.

Figure 16 is the exploded perspective illustration of tape guide of the present invention.

Figure 17 is the planimetric map of tape guide.

Figure 18 is the cut-open view along the 18-18 line intercepting of Figure 15.

Figure 19 is the view with similar another embodiment of tape guide of Figure 18.

Figure 20 is the floor map of the bottom tape cassete housing parts inside removed, top.

Figure 21 is the zoomed-in view of the tape guide shown in Figure 20 lower left corner.

Figure 22 is the zoomed-in view of the tape guide shown in Figure 20 lower right corner.

Figure 23 is the planimetric map of the another kind of configuration mode of tape guide of Figure 21.

Figure 24 is the cut-open view along the 24-24 line intercepting of Figure 22.

Figure 25 is the elevation drawing of the tape guide inserts shown in Figure 20-24.

Figure 26 is the top view of the tape guide inserts of Figure 25.

Figure 27 is that tape guide is used in the synoptic diagram with another embodiment of the similar position of Figure 23.

Figure 28 is that tape guide is used in the synoptic diagram with the another kind of form of the similar configuration mode of Figure 22.

Figure 29 is the synoptic diagram of the another kind of modification of tape guide.

Figure 30 is along the cut-open view of the 30-30 line intercepting of Figure 28, has shown the tape guide fuse with the tape guide structure adapted shown in Figure 27-29.

Figure 31 is the elevation drawing of the tape guide of Figure 27 and 28.

Figure 32 is the top view of the tape guide of Figure 31.

Figure 33 is that Figure 29 is the elevation drawing of tape guide.

Figure 34 is the top view of the tape guide of Figure 33.

Figure 35 is the top view of another embodiment of tape guide.

Figure 36 is the skeleton view of the tape guide inserts shown in Figure 35.

Figure 37 is and the similar planimetric map of another tape guide of Figure 22.

Figure 38 is the planimetric map of a change scheme of the tape guide of Figure 37.

The general appearance of tape cassete as Figure 1-3.Tape cassete comprises that one has the shell of a top 10 and a lower part 12.Top comprises a pair of windows 14 and a reel spring 16.Spring is fixed on the inside surface on top by means of the boss 18 that extends by the hole on the spring.Spring has the arcuate structure of segmentation, and as shown in Figure 3, thereby the bolster 20 of the tape reel 22 in making its each end and being assemblied in outer casing bottom 12 rotationally contacts.Opening 24 forms on the bottom enclosure part, for the usefulness of the tape reel driving shaft that holds videotape player (not shown).Tape 26 is wound on the tape reel 22, and extends on another tape reel from a tape reel through an access opening in tape guide 28 and the box.

Figure 4 and 5 are synoptic diagram of reel spring 16 of the present invention.As we can see from the figure, this spring is the common rectangular rounded elongated band of respectively holding of a profile.Spring has first and second parallel edges 30 and 32 that extend along the whole length of band basically.Each end of spring forms nose circle 34.The shape of end can be different.The important point is the width uniformity of whole spring.Therefore be understood that each spring 16 can be processed into single continous metal strip with the width that requires.From then on spring can be with end to end form punching press and make.So just only need the material of finishing in the formation of nose circle 34 places.This has greatly improved the utilization factor of material.In a most preferred embodiment, spring system is made by stainless steel.

Spring has a flat center essential part 36, and when spring was in rigging position, this part was adjoined the surface of tape cassete part.Have pair of holes 38 on the essential part, be convenient to spring is attached to the top of box.A pair of horizontal scrimp or broken line 40 have been determined the scope of essential part 36, and define the transition portion 42 of spring.Transition portion extends outside the plane of essential part, with baseline 44 X at an angle.In an illustrated embodiment, angle X is 10 degree.Second group of horizontal scrimp or broken line 46 have been determined the scope of transition portion 42.Scrimp 46 has defined the end sections 48 of spring, and this part becomes a steeper angle Y to extend with the plane of essential part 36.In an illustrated embodiment, angle Y is 17 degree.The terminal of end sections 48 forms nose circle 34.Scrimp 40 and 46 makes the total profile of spring curved.As just reference, the length that spring is under the flat situation is 3.937 inches at this, and the end 34 of spring is positioned at 0.390 inch place apart from baseline 44 when spring is static.When 0.079 inch in baseline was departed from the end, the acting force of spring was about the 280-380 gram.About the technical specification of drift, free height and spring rate is looked concrete the different and different of tape cassete.Known other the fruitful technical data of spring is as follows: the width between the edge 30 and 32 is 0.348 inch, end radius is 0.174 inch, the diameter of pilot hole 38 is about 0.128 inch, and each pitch-row cross central line 49 is about 0.207 inch, each scrimp 40 is about 0.625 inch apart from line 49, each scrimp 46 range line 49 is about 0.938 inch, measures after the both rolls well.Total length after rolling well is 3,830 inches ± 0.015 inch.Stainless thickness is about 0.012 inch.Spring of the present invention is not difficult to change its technical specification.Spring configuration makes spring can make shape each several part extremely uniformly in addition.Therefore, many springs suitably esting together, the mechanism of putting with picking up (pick and place mechanism) is deposited in the mounter.

Fig. 4 A is the synoptic diagram of the spring 16A of another kind of form, has wherein replaced two circular holes 38 with a square hole 38A.Obviously single hole can adopt other non-circular hole.Spring can not rotate on square hole 38A.

Forward slack limiter of the present invention now to.Should be noted that, adopt " slack limiter " speech both to refer to the device sheet of wiping used in the VHS standard tape cassete here, also refer to tape brake(-holder) block used in the Beta standard tape cassete.Fig. 1 and 2 illustration VHS standard tape cassete and use the situation of the device sheet 50 of wiping therein.In the bearing 52 that the edge clamping of device of wiping forms on the base section 12 of tape cassete shell.Bearing has a slit, and the edge of the device sheet of wiping promptly slips into downwards in this slit.Peg 54 provides further reliability for the device sheet of wiping.The edge opposed edges that the device sheet of wiping is clipped in it in support is pressed on the tape 26, forces tape 26 to contact with pin 56.Tape is clipped in to wipe and makes tape obtain desirable friction force between device sheet 50 and the pin 56, makes the unlikely accidental loose winding of tape.

Figure 11 and 12 is the detail drawings of device sheet 50 of wiping.The shape of device sheet of respectively wiping is rectangular usually, a center pit 58 is arranged on it and form the otch 60 of branch 62.Branch 62 embeds in the slit of bearing 52 downwards.Figure 11 is a plurality of device sheets of wiping of making from continuous plastic film rolls or sheet.The device sheet of wiping forms along edge of diaphragm, and continuous plastic film chip 64 links up them.66 the device sheet of respectively wiping downcut from diaphragm along the separatrix then.

Wipe the another kind of form of device sheet shown in 68 in Figure 13 and 14.The sheet of wiping of this form has an aperture 70 and forms the formula slit, three limits of radial type window 72.Window can be wound on the device 68 that further helps to wipe on 54 the peg that resembles Fig. 2 and be held in place.The device sheet of wiping of this form also has the benefit that reduces film waste amount of debris in the manufacture process.

Among Fig. 6 74 is lower casing parts of Beta standard tape cassete.A pair of slack limiter bearing 76 is housed in the lower casing part 74.The slack limiter of using in the Beta standard tape cassete is the form of tape brake(-holder) block 78.Two brake(-holder) blocks are equipped with traditionally in each tape cassete.One end of brake(-holder) block is contained in the bearing 76.There is a bending part 80 at another edge of tape brake(-holder) block, and this can see the most clearly from Fig. 6 and 10.Broken line 82 and contact with tape.The slight radius of broken line helps to reduce the wearing and tearing of tape.Fig. 7 and 8 has shown a plurality of Beta standard tape brake(-holder) blocks 78 that form at continuous plastic sheet.The otch 84 of C font is separated each tape brake(-holder) block, and forms tab 86, in order to brake(-holder) block is fixed in the shell.Each brake(-holder) block system 80 scales off along separator bar 90 from plastic sheet.

Have been found that polypropylene is the suitable material of above any slack limiter.The rigidity of this material is enough to make tape to obtain necessary tension force or preloads.Polypropylene has the desired frictional behaviour that has of people and need not additional teflon or other bearing surface simultaneously." memory " that polypropylene has a spring rate that is enough to provide suitable be ability (memory), and at high temperature can keep this spring rate.It can not influence tape on chemical property.The polypropylene slack margining tablet can be fitted directly into the tape cassete when roll film downcuts at it.So just can cancel and stick second independent manufacturing process that bearing surface is relevant.In addition owing to need not to use cementing agent, thereby eliminated because of cementing agent and sewed the possibility that makes tape rotten.

Rotate conductive strips device of the present invention now, Figure 15 has shown the environment that uses the tape guide place.Tape guide 91 is that the leading edge of tape cassete shell 12 under the edge disposes.Tape 26 leads to access opening along tape guide 91, and the leading edge along tape cassete extends usually.Tape guide has necessary accurately straight warp of the tape of assurance collimation and length.

Figure 16～18th, the present invention is through the detail drawing of improved tape guide 91.In general, tape guide comprises the plastic core 92 that half-cylindrical metal tape guide inserts 94 is housed.Tape guide system is contained on the minor axis 96 that forms in lower house part 12.Gib screw 98 is fixed to tape guide on the minor axis 96.It should be understood that employed " fuse " speech is meant the vertical component with the physical strength that is enough to bear the suffered load of tape guide here.Therefore the damascene part can be by thin that its intensity is made the negligible material of the effect of tape guide." half round post " speech is meant any less than a complete columniform shape in addition; It is not limited to the circular arc of 180 degree.

Fuse 92 comprises the first half-cylindrical part 100 and the second half-cylindrical part 102.The radius of first is slightly less than the radius of second portion.As just reference, first circular arc that forms about 217 degree, second portion forms the circular arc of about 170 degree.At this two parts overlapping, form lug 104 outside the branch, with the inside branch slit 106 that is separated by.Extend along the whole length of fuse in lug and slit.Center pit 108 runs through fuse, in order to hold gib screw 98.Equally, the counterbore 110 of an end of fuse holds minor axis 96.

Damascene part 94 is preferably made by the stainless steel of polishing.Can be rolled into by the corrosion resistant plate of pre-polish(ing) radius, do beneficial like this by the first fuse part 100.The thickness of steel is about 0.004～0.008 inch, and this material more used than independent steel tape guide is much thin.Saved fee of material like this.The thickness of the smaller inserts material of the width in slit 106, thereby when inserts 94 is contained on the fuse 92, the lug meeting so that inserts be clamped in the press fit in the fuse firmly and combine with the edge of inserts.Preferably, but not necessarily need to do like this, the radian of inserts 94 is slightly larger than 180 degree, helps like this inserts is held in place.Another saving on the material is embodied in such fact, promptly the expanded range of inserts only be approximately tape guide may with that part of contact with tape.Adopting another benefit of inserts 94 is the spending that has reduced the ilities polishing operation, because tool marks are not too compelling.

Figure 19 represents the tape guide of another kind of form.Here the shape of fuse 112 and fuse 92 are similar, but are divided into top 114 and lower part 116.Top is integrally to form on upper housing portion 10, and 116 of lower parts form on lower casing part 12 in a similar fashion.In assembling process, stainless steel inserts 94 can be contained in the fuse part also can be contained in down the fuse part, and when two half-shells gathered together, corresponding part slipped in place.At this moment gib screw 118 is screwed in the tape guide 112.

Can consider to use device to replace pin 56 in addition through improved tape guide 91 and so on.The same benefit that surpasses existing tape guide structure that this also can provide this tape guide to bring.

Figure 20～26th, the synoptic diagram of another kind of form tape guide.In Figure 20, tape guide overall with 120 expressions, 122 of tapes along tape guide on tape reel 124A and 124B.Figure 20 shows that tape reel 124A is fully loaded, the band situation of wearing when tape reel 124B is unloaded.Figure 21 and 22 is the synoptic diagram of wearing the band angle when tape reel 124B is fully loaded, tape reel 124A can occur at the 122A place when unloaded.

The same with above-mentioned all embodiment, tape guide generally includes a polishing stainless steel inserts that is contained on the plastic core.The inserts of present embodiment is with 126 expressions in Figure 25 and 26.Inserts has a half-cylindrical part 128 to extend into the circular arc of about 180 degree.Cylindrical part and two tangential parts 130 merge together.

Referring now to Figure 21 and 22,, inserts 126 can assemble with various forms of fuses as can be seen.Fuse is totally by 132 expressions.The same with the embodiment of Figure 19, it comprises the each several part of the following tape cassete housing parts of tape cassete housing parts on the molding.Fuse 132 comprises right cylinder 134, and the radius of right cylinder 134 equals the radius of inserts 126 half-cylindrical parts 128 haply.The circular arc that right cylinder extends is enough to be bearing in fully the whole arc length of inserts cylindrical part.Right cylinder 134 can be attached to tape cassete housing parts or following tape cassete housing parts, and is next this two parts that are attached to of situation of split column at right cylinder.Fuse also comprises outstanding position 136, and tape promptly passes through between this position.Between outstanding position 136 and the right cylinder 134 slit is arranged, in order to inserts 126 is embedded between outstanding position and the right cylinder.The anchor portion 138 of fuse adjoins right cylinder 134 and disposes, common half-cylindrical part 128 opposites at inserts 126.Anchor portion has two slits 140 to play a part to hold and the tangential part 130 of clamping inserts.

Right cylinder 134 has a center pit 142 that runs through wherein holding tape cassete partial fixing screw 144(Figure 24 together up and down).

Adopted plastic shaft 146 in the device of Figure 20, in order to tape is introduced in one of them tape guide.This also can see in Figure 21.Figure 22 is the synoptic diagram at another angle of tape cassete among Figure 20, has wherein adopted two complete tape guides 120 and does not adopt plastic shaft.The fuse part of tape guide and Figure 21 slightly different among Figure 22 as can be seen.For example, there is not hole 142 in Figure 22 on the right cylinder of tape guide.Right cylinder is solid, and tape guide is outer will to dispose a screw because adjoin, and be not need to put two screws on that position.Anchor portion 138 is slightly different in addition, although total purposes with the effect be identical.Figure 23 illustration can be used for a kind of configuration mode in Figure 20 lower left corner.Here replaced axle 146 with tape guide 148, tape guide 148 has a solid cylinder and an anchor portion that shape is slightly different.Equally, to have a shape slightly different but act on identical anchor portion for tape guide 150.Tape guide 150 has a hole 142 in addition, for the usefulness that receives gib screw.Outstanding position 152 is between tape guide 148 and 150.Tape 122 can pass through between tape guide.

Forward Figure 27～34 now to, this is the synoptic diagram of the tape guide of other two kinds of forms.Similar in first kind of form among Figure 31 and 32 and Figure 25 and 26 just increased locating clip.Inserts 154 has half-cylindrical part 156 and tangential part 158.Four clips 160 past palintrope on half-cylindrical part 156 is arranged on lower limb on the tangential part.Each clip system is by certain radius bend, and the center of circle of radius is in the outside of half round post part.The modification of inserts 162 and inserts 154 are similar among Figure 33 and 34, are the circular arc of the circular arc of half-cylindrical part 164 less than inserts 154.Inserts 162 comprises tangential part 166 and clip 168.

Figure 27～30 have shown assembling inserts 154 and the 162 fuse configuration modes that are suitable for.Each fuse comprises a cylinder 170, and the radius of cylinder equates with the radius of the half-cylindrical part of inserts haply.The same with above all embodiment, this plays supporting fully to whole half-cylindrical part.Two breach 172 are arranged in the cylinder 170.Register pin 174 is placed in the relief area and extends one section height that equals or be slightly larger than clip.When inserts was placed in around the cylinder, tangential part slightly compressed together thereby make each clip around register pin 174 configurations, as shown in the figure.The inserts clip withstands the elastic load of register pin, makes inserts fix in position on cylinder.

Other details of tape guide comprises a center pit 176 that passes cylinder, and one of them hole receives in order to tape cassete partial fixing screw together.The half-cylindrical part opposite of each inserts is formed with outstanding position 178.Figure 28 illustration the situation of the configuration mode of inserts 154 when two tape guides are placed in the lower right corner of Figure 20.Figure 29 is the assembling synoptic diagram of inserts 162.Fuse configuration mode with inserts 154 is identical in fact for this, and just circular arc is short.Therefore relief area 180 is gathered more recently on the direction of half-cylindrical part 164 together.Figure 30 is the sectional view that shows breach 172 and register pin 174.

More than shown in various tape guides all have the material cost advantage lower than existing device.Their suitable and automatic assembly equipment adapteds, " pick up and put it " formula mechanism assembles because they are available.Each inserts can be rolled into desirable shape then with continuous sheet material coiled strip incision and make.

The structure of the tape guide of Figure 27～34 after improving is shown in Figure 35 and 36.This tape guide 182 comprises a stainless steel inserts 184 that combines with fuse that cylinder 186, a jack-post 188 and a pair of register pin 190 are defined.The half-cylindrical part 192 that inserts has its radius to match with the radius of cylinder 186.Therefore the same with above all embodiment, semicolumn part 192 is supported by cylinder fully.Half-cylindrical part 192 is converged with a pair of elongated tangential part 194, and tangential 194 of parts depart from half-cylindrical part 192 and adjoin the edge of jack-post 188.The terminal of tangential part has a pair of clip 196 to match with register pin 190.The shape of inserts and the spacing of register pin are chosen such that the effect that makes inserts be subjected to spring when being placed in the hole.Figure 35 and 36 inserts kept the advantage of above-mentioned each tape guide, also increased the advantage that core structures has been simplified.Cylinder 186, jack-post 188 and sell 190 and be not difficult to be molded in the housing parts of tape cassete perhaps also can be used as independent parts and join in the housing parts in assembling process.

Forward Figure 37 now to, or another embodiment of tape guide.Be molded between each the outstanding position 200 in the tape cassete housing parts and dispose two tape guides 198.Hole 202 can be established for the usefulness of holding shell rigging screw (not shown) in outstanding position.On the fuse of forming by two register pins 206 a semi-cylindrical corrugated inserts 204 is housed.Inserts 204 is preferably made by about 0.004～0.008 inch thick polishing stainless steel.Inserts has the rib 208 of a plurality of longitudinal extensions.Adjoining right rib is coupled together by brace 210.Brace forms some grooves between each rib makes the whole profile of inserts be corrugated.Outmost rib has tab 212, and tab 212 matches with pin 206, and inserts is held in place.Inserts is subjected to the effect of elastic force when being assemblied between each pin.The advantage of corrugated inserts comprises that the fuse that assembles usefulness is simple, and the interfacial area between tape and the inserts reduces.As can see from Figure 37,122 of tapes contact with inserts on the top that helps bar.The groove that brace 210 is defined not can with contact with tape.This has reduced the chance that forms the scar that damages tape on the statistics on tape guide.Corrugated inserts need not to carry out polishing process thereby has also reduced cost after making.That is to say that inserts 204 can be processed in mould, perhaps brace is pressed into, perhaps with rib outstanding (or both dual-purposes).Under both arbitrary situations, mould need not to contact with the rib outside surface.Therefore starting material can polish in advance, and the shaping process can not influence this polishing part, thereby have significantly reduced the chance that causes scar in manufacture process.The chance that scar occurs in the part of corrugated inserts and contact with tape just reduces to minimum degree like this, because a) contact area of tape has reduced, b) fabrication tool does not touch the contact site of tape.

The another kind of form of corrugated inserts is shown in 214 among Figure 38.Here inserts is cylindrical and be not half-cylindrical or resemble the sort of arc of Figure 37.Inserts has rib 216 and brace 218 with the same shown in Figure 37.Fuse is on the outstanding position 220.On outstanding position, be formed with pallet 222, combine with anti-rotation with a recess on the inserts.The existing steel sleeve that uses in the prior art can directly replace with this structure and need not the structure of molding outer casing part is carried out any change.

Although introduced the form of a kind of the best of the present invention above, be understood that, under the prerequisite that does not break away from following all claim scopes, can carry out any modification to it.

The application is the part continuation application of 053, No. 348 patented claim of application on May 22nd, 1987, and 053, No. 348 patented claim is again the part continuation application of 030, No. 698 patented claim of submission on March 25th, 1987.

Claims (6)

1, a kind of tape guide that is used for tape cassete, described tape guide is drawn together vertical elongated, a hollow inserts, and this inserts is the circular arc less than 360 ° of extensions usually, and the circular shape of described inserts has defined its interior section and exterior section; It is characterized in that comprising and be positioned on the described inserts in order to the device on the top and bottom that described inserts is fixed to described tape cassete, described device comprises the only surface in contact on the exterior section of described inserts, in order to when packing tape cassete into, only contacting tape cassete on the described exterior section rather than on described interior section.

According to the tape guide of claim 1, it is characterized in that 2, described inserts comprises top and bottom, described stationary installation is adjacent with described top and bottom.

According to the tape guide of claim 2, it is characterized in that 3, described inserts has defined inside surface and outside surface, described stationary installation has comprised that described outside surface is suitable for contacting the each several part of the described top and bottom of tape cassete.

According to the tape guide of claim 1, it is characterized in that 4, described inserts is to be approximately 0.004 inch-0.008 inch metal with thickness.

According to the tape guide of claim 1, it is characterized in that 5, described inserts defines the edge of longitudinal extension, described inserts can flexibly be shifted, and described edge is moved relative to each other, and in the tape cassete of packing into.

According to the tape guide of claim 5, it is characterized in that 6, described inserts has defined inside surface and outside surface, described stationary installation has comprised that described outside surface is suitable for contacting the each several part of the described top and bottom of tape cassete.

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