Abstract:
A recording and/or reproducing apparatus for recording and/or reproducing data by drawing a tape from a cassette and winding the tape onto a rotating drum including a head, includes a non-rotatable inclined post for changing the position of the tape in a direction crossing the running direction of the tape and along the axis of the inclined post, and a tapered part disposed in the vicinity of an end of the inclined post, for restricting the position of the tape in a direction crossing the running direction by being in contact with the tape when the tape is loaded.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a recording and/or reproducing apparatus including a tape-loading unit for a video tape recorder. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Hitherto, such a recording and/or reproducing apparatus has been generally provided with a non-rotatable post which is fixed to a drum base by press fitting, as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 05-151668. 
     However, in the known example described above, the length of the post must be increased so that a tape-loading guide does not scratch a tape with the up-and-down movement of the tape loading guide when the tape is loaded. Therefore, a tape path must be increased to some extent, thereby increasing the size of the recording and/or reproducing apparatus. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a recording and/or reproducing apparatus in which a stress such as distortion applied to a tape when loading the tape is decreased and the tape can be loaded through a small tape path without being damaged, which can be produced at low manufacturing costs, and of which the size can be reduced. 
     According to an aspect of the present invention, a recording and/or reproducing apparatus for recording and/or reproducing data by drawing a tape from a cassette and winding the tape onto a rotating drum including a head, comprises a non-rotatable inclined post for changing the position of the tape in a direction crossing the running direction of the tape and along the axis of the inclined post; and a tapered part disposed in the vicinity of an end of the inclined post, for restricting the position of the tape in a direction crossing the running direction by being in contact with the tape when the tape is loaded. 
     Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the attached drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an illustration of a magnetic recording and/or reproducing apparatus in a loading state, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an illustration of the magnetic recording and/or reproducing apparatus in an unloading state, according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is an illustration of a critical portion of the magnetic recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, which shows a tape path. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a known recording and/or reproducing apparatus in which a tape is loaded via a guidepost. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention, which loads a tape by using a guidepost. 
     FIG. 6A is a side view showing the shapes of an inclined post and a tapered part, according to the first embodiment; FIG. 6B is a side view showing the inclined post and the tapered part formed integrally with each other, according to the first embodiment; and FIG. 6C is a side view showing the tapered part and a drum base formed integrally with each other, according to the first embodiment, in which a portion of the tapered part for restricting the position of the tape loaded is formed as a spiral. 
     FIG. 7 is a side view of the tape, the inclined post, and the tapered part, in which a tape path is formed in the recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 8A is a side view of an inclined post fixed to a drum base in a magnetic recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 8B is a view, in a direction of arrows D, of the inclined post and the drum base shown in FIG. 8A, according to the second embodiment; and FIG. 8C is an expanded view of the inclined post, shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, affixed by bonding. 
     FIG. 9 is an illustration of the magnetic recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention, in which a tape is wound. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Preferred embodiments according to the present invention are described below with reference to the attached drawings. 
     (First Embodiment) 
     In FIG. 1, a cassette is removed from a magnetic recording and/or reproducing apparatus which is used generally in the embodiments according to the present invention, in order to clearly show the inside of the recording and/or reproducing apparatus. 
     FIG. 1 shows a drum  1  including a magnetic head, and a drum base  2  for supporting the drum  1 . 
     A supply-side guide  3  draws a tape from a cassette (not shown) when the cassette is loaded into the magnetic recording and/or reproducing apparatus. The supply-side guide  3  forms a predetermined tape path such that the supply-side guide  3  draws the tape when the cassette is loaded, moves the tape along a guide  12  formed in the drum base  2 , and winds the tape onto the drum  1 . 
     The supply-side guide  3  upward draws the tape while moving horizontally along the drum  1  so that the tape is wound onto the drum  1  in a spiral shape. 
     A takeup-side guide  4  draws the tape from the cassette when loaded into the magnetic recording and/or reproducing apparatus. The takeup-side guide  4  forms the predetermined tape path such that the takeup-side guide  3  draws the tape when the cassette is loaded, moves the tape along the guide  12  formed in the drum base  2 , and winds the tape onto the drum  1 . 
     A capstan  5  transfers the tape by forming the predetermined tape path. 
     A loading motor  6  drives to perform loading/unloading operations of the recording and/or reproducing apparatus. 
     A tension post  7  draws the tape from the cassette so as to form the predetermined tape path in cooperation with the guides  3  and  4  and controls the tension of the tape while the tape is running. 
     A return post  9  draws the tape from the cassette so as to form the predetermined tape path in cooperation with the guides  3  and  4 . 
     FIG. 1 also shows a chassis  13 . 
     The supply-side guide  3  and the takeup-side guide  4  are formed with rotating guide rollers for reducing the running load of the tape. 
     FIG. 2 is an illustration of the magnetic recording and/or reproducing apparatus in an unloaded state which is used generally in the embodiments according to the present invention. The guides  3  and  4 , the tension post  7 , and the return post  9  are disposed in a position at which the cassette mouth of the cassette is positioned when the cassette is loaded into the recording and/or reproducing apparatus. 
     FIG. 3 shows the predetermined tape path. 
     The drum  1  is positioned in the cassette mouth of a cassette  10 . 
     A supply-side inclined post  8  comes into contact with the tape at the magnetic surface thereof. 
     The inclined post  8  is made of a metal so that the running resistance of the tape is reduced. 
     The tape drawn from the cassette  10  runs via the tension post  7 , is bent upward from the inclined post  8 , is wound in a spiral shape onto the drum  1 , via the supply-side guide  3  and the takeup-side guide  4 , at the lower part of the drum  1  from the upper left part toward the upper right part thereof, and is spooled into the cassette  10  via the capstan  5  and the return post  9 . 
     A tape  11  is wound onto the drum  1  by an angle of rotation of the drum  1  of greater than 190 degrees. 
     The level of the tape  11  varies upward and downward at the supply side with respect to the drum  1 , and the tape  11  runs substantially horizontally at the take-up side of the drum  1 . 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a known recording and/or reproducing apparatus showing a state in which the tape is drawn at the supply side when the cassette is loaded. 
     In FIG. 4, an inclined post  8  is fixed to a drum base  2 . 
     A tape  11  is drawn by a guide  3  and a tension post  7  from a loaded cassette, and is wound onto the inclined post  8 . 
     When the guide  3  draws the tape  11  upwardly for forming a predetermined tape path, the tape  11  is loosen at the upper part of the guide  3 . Therefore, the tape  11  tends to be removed or is removed from a flange  3   a  of the guide  3 , the flange  3   a  serving to restrict the position of the tape 
     The tape  11  is damaged by the flange  3   a  which the tape  11  runs on, even when the tape  11  is not removed from the flange  3   a.    
     FIG. 5 is an illustration of a part of the recording and/or reproducing apparatus which is used generally in the embodiments according to the present invention, in which the tape  11  is loaded. 
     In FIG. 5, a tapered part  2   a  is formed on the drum base  2  at an upper part of the inclined post  8 , the tapered part  2   a  being formed coaxially with the inclined post  8 . 
     In FIG. 5, the tape  11  is drawn by the supply-side guide  3  and the tension post  7  in the same manner as described in FIG. 4, and is guided to the inclined post  8  as the supply-side guide  3  moves upward. In this case, upward tension is produced to the tape  11  with the loose of the tape  11  being removed by being pulled by the tapered part  2   a  formed at the upper part of the inclined post  8 . An upward movement of the tape  11  is restricted by the flange  3   a  of the supply-side guide  3  because of the produced tension, whereby the tape  11  is prevented from being removed. 
     FIG. 6A is a side view showing the shapes of the inclined post  8  and the tapered part  2   a.    
     In FIG. 6A, a radius r1 of the tapered part  2   a  at an end thereof at the side toward the inclined post  8  is set smaller than a radius r2 of the inclined post  8 , whereby the tape  11  is prevented from being damaged by the end of the tapered part  2   a  when the tape  11  slidingly moves upward and in the width direction of the tape  11  along the surface of the inclined post  8  during the loading operation. 
     FIG. 7 is a side view of the tape  11 , the inclined post  8 , and the tapered part  2   a , in which a predetermined tape path is formed. The tapered part  2   a  is not in contact with the tape  11  when tape loading is completed and the tape path is formed, as shown in FIG.  7 . 
     Although the magnetic surface of the tape  11  is in contact with the tapered part  2   a  during tape loading, the magnetic surface of the tape  11  is not in contact with the tapered part  2   a  when the tape  11  is in a running state. Therefore, the running load of the tape  11  in the running state can be kept stable. 
     In a recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention, the tapered part  2   a  is formed integrally with the drum base  2 . 
     Since the drum base  2  is generally made of a resin (for example, PEI), the tapered part  2   a  is also made of the resin. 
     The tapered part  2   a  may be made of a metal integrally with the inclined post  8 , as shown in FIG.  6 B. 
     Although according to the first embodiment, a tapered part is provided at an upper end of the inclined post  8  so as to restrict the upward movement of the tape  11 , the tapered part may be formed at a lower end of the inclined post  8 . FIG. 2C shows a tapered part  2   a ′ provided at the lower end of the inclined post  8 . Since the tapered part  2   a ′ shown in FIG. 6C is made of a resin integrally with the drum base  2 , wider freedom in designing the shape of the tapered part  2   a ′ is provided, and therefore, an end face of the tapered part  2   a ′ is formed in a spiral shape along an edge of the tape  11  in the running state. The tapered part  2   a ′ thus formed can restrict the downward movement of the tape  11  during tape loading. 
     (Second Embodiment) 
     A method for fixing the inclined post  8  to the drum base  2 , according to a second embodiment of the present invention, is described below with reference to the drawings. By using the method, the inclined post  8  is bonded to the drum base  2  in the recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to the first embodiment which is provided with a tapered part formed integrally with a drum base, for restricting the vertical movement of a tape. 
     FIG. 8A is a side view of an inclined post  8  fixed to a drum base  2 . FIG. 8B is a view, in a direction of arrows D, of the inclined post  8  and the drum base  2  shown in FIG.  8 A. FIG. 8C is an expanded view of the inclined post  8  fixed to the drum base  2  by bonding. 
     The drum base  2  is provided with a groove having a V-shaped cross-section at a lower part of the drum base  2  shown in FIG. 8A, the V-shaped cross-section having an angle θ(θ&gt;90°=approximately 100°). The bottom of the groove having a V-shaped cross-section is provided with a curved surface having a curvature radius R which is slightly smaller than a radius r2 of the inclined post  8  so that the bonded area between the inclined post  8  and the surface of the groove is increased. 
     The groove is provided chamfers C each at an edge of the groove so that an adhesive does not leak to the front surface of the inclined post  8 . 
     FIG. 9 is an illustration of a recording and/or reproducing apparatus, according to the second embodiment, in which the tape  11  is wound onto the drum  1 . 
     The V-shaped groove is positioned at the outer side of the wound tape  11 ; therefore, a pressing force is applied to the inclined post  8  in the bonding direction at the V-shaped groove with the tension of the tape  11 . 
     As described above, the stress such as distortion applied to the tape  11 , when loaded, can be reduced by the tapered part  2   a  with which the tape  11  comes into contact when loaded to the inclined post  8 . Damages to the tape  11  can be avoided even when the tape path is narrow, whereby a recording and/or reproducing apparatus reduced in size can be provided. 
     When the tapered part  2   a  is formed integrally with the drum base  2 , the tapered part  2   a  can be made accurately at low manufacturing costs. When the drum base  2  is provided with the groove having a V-shaped cross-section for the inclined post  8  to be bonded thereto, as described in the second embodiment, a mold for forming the drum base  2  can be divided into an upper and lower sub-molds, whereby the mold can be manufactured at a low cost. 
     While the present invention has been described with reference to what are presently considered to be the preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.