A magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus in which tape cassettes of different sizes can be mounted

Abstract: A feed reel (12a) and a take-up reel (12b) of a full-size cassette (12) are mounted directly on a feed reel table (13) and a take-up reel table (14) which constitute a tape running system. A feed reel (21a) of a C-cassette (compact cassette) (21) is mounted directly on the feed reel table (13), while a take-up reel (21d) of the C-cassette (21) receives a driving force transmitted from the take-up reel table (14) through a torque transmitting mechanism (23). The full-size cassette (12) is driven directly by the feed and take-up reel tables (13, 14) in the state wherein the tape (12c) is loaded by a tape loading member (28, 29), so that a tape (12c) of the fu|1-size cassette (12) is run. On the other hand, in the state wherein a tape (21c) in the C-cassette (21) is loaded by the tape loading member (28, 29), the C-cassette (21) is driven such that the feed reel (21a) of the C-cassette (21) is rotated by the feed reel table (13) while the take-up reel (21d) of the C-cassette (21) receives a driving force from the take-up reel table 14 through the torque transmitting mechanism (23). Thus, the tape (21c) in the C-cassette (21) is run.

Description: The present invention relates generally to a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus, such as a VHS-type video tape recorder (VTR), and more particularly to a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus in which tape cassettes of different sizes, e.g. a VHS full-size cassette size a VHS compact cassette (C-cassette), can be loaded. Such apparatus is known from EP-0 399 497 A2. There are conventional VTRs which are designed such that recording mediums of different sizes, i.e. a full-size cassette and a C-cassette having different sizes, can be loaded. In this case, a magnetic tape in these cassettes is passed between a feed reel and a take-up reel. When the full-size cassette is loaded, the full-size cassette is first inserted into a cabinet. Upon the insertion of the cassette, a cassette loading mechanism is operated, and the cassette is moved by a holder of the cassette loading mechanism to the location of a tape drive unit. Thus, the full-size cassette is loaded. When the C-cassette, in place of the full-size cassette, is loaded, the C-cassette is first contained in a separate C-cassette adapter and then the adapter is inserted into the cabinet. Upon the insertion, the C-cassette adapter is moved by the holder of the cassette loading mechanism to the tape drive unit. Thus, the C-cassette is loaded in the tape drive unit. In these conventional VTRs, it is necessary to contain the C-cassette in the adapter each time it is loaded in place of the full-size cassette. It is thus troublesome to load the C-cassette after the full-size cassette. Recently, there has been a considerable demand for a VTR wherein both full-size cassettes and C-cassettes can be smoothly loaded without using a separate C-cassette adapter. A magnetic tape recording/reproducing apparatus into which tape cassettes of two different sizes can be loaded is known from US-A-4,476,505. This apparatus discloses the features of the preamble of claim 1, however, in this known apparatus an axle of a feed reel is always at the same position regardles of the size or type of cassette loaded. Another tape recorder which can be used for cassettes of different sizes is described in US-A-4,490,757. In this apparatus the axles of both reel shafts are shifted along a pair of slits symmetrically in reference to a center line between the two reel shafts. It is the object of the present invention to provide a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus wherein tapes in tape cassettes having different sizes can be loaded with a simple structure and with high operability. This object of the invention is achieved by a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus defined in claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are defined in the subclaims. This invention can be more fully understood from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a plan view showing a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the state wherein a full-size cassette has been loaded; and Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the state wherein a C-cassette has been loaded. An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 shows a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of this invention. A main chassis 10 has a cassette container 11 on one side thereof. A feed reel table 13 and a take-up reel table 14 of a tape run system are arranged with a predetermined distance therebetween in the cassette container 11. A feed reel 12a and a take-up reel 12b of a first tape cassette 12 (e.g. a VHS full-size cassette, indicated by a broken line) are mounted on the tables 13 and 14. The feed reel table 13 is brought into contact with a distal end portion of a movable arm 15. A base part of the feed reel table 13 is attached to a drive shaft of a direct-coupled motor 16. A shaft 15a is rotatably supported by a proximal end portion of the movable arm 15. A gear portion section 17 is arranged in the vicinity of the shaft 15a. One end portion of a gear motion transmitting mechanism 18 or a torque transmitting mechanism is meshed with the gear portion 17, and the other end portion of the mechanism 18 is meshed with a drive gear 20. The drive gear 20 is engaged with a drive shaft of a drive motor 19. The movable arm 15 is driven by means of the motor 19 via the drive gear 20 and the gear motion transmitting mechanism 18. In interlock with the motion of the arm 15, the feed reel table 13 is moved between a first position (indicated by a broken line in Fig. 1) where the feed reel 12a of the full-size cassette 12 is to be located, and a second position (indicated by a solid line in Fig. 1) where a feed reel 21a of a second tape cassette 21 (e.g. a VHSC-cassette, indicated by a solid line) is to be located. On the other hand, a base part of the take-up reel table 14 is coupled to a direct-coupled motor 22. A gear portion 14a is formed on the periphery of the take-up reel table 14. One end portion of a gear motion transmitting mechanism 23 or a torque transmitting mechanism is meshed with the gear portion 14a. The other end portion of the mechanism 23 is removably meshed with a take-up gear 21b attached to a take-up reel 21d of the C-cassette 21. Consequently, the torque of the take-up reel table 14 is transmitted, alternatively, to the take-up gear 21b of the C-cassette 21, thereby rotating the take-up reel 21d. The main chassis 10 has a cylinder 24 functioning as a tape drive mechanism. An erase head 25, a voice control head 26, and a capstan 27 are arranged to face the cylinder 24. The main chassis 10 is also provided with an entrance-side post member 28 and an exit side post member 29 which constitute a tape loading mechanism. The post members 28 and 29 are movable between a loading start position and a loading end position. In the loading start position, the post members 28 and 29 are situated in recesses 21e of each of the full-size cassette 12 and the C-cassette 21. In the loading end position, the post members 28 and 29 are situated on both sides of the cylinder 24. A guide member 30 is movably arranged on the chassis 10 so as to face the take-up reel 12b of the full-size cassette 12. The entrance-side post member 28 and exit-side post member 29 are driven by a tape loading drive unit (not shown) to the loading end position in which a tape 12c (21c) of the full-size cassette 12 (or C-cassette 21) is pulled and set onto the cylinder 24. When the tape loading drive unit is operated in the reverse direction, the tape 12c (21c) is restored to the loading start position in which the tape 12c (21c) is contained in the cassette 22 (21). The guide member 30 is driven, along with the entrance-side post member 28 and the exit-side post member 29, by means of the tape loading drive unit. The guide member 30 sets the tape 12c of the full-size cassette 12 to a predetermined position. A pinch roller 31 is rotatably attached to the chassis 10. The pinch roller 31 is moved in interlock with a pinch lever (not shown) driven by the tape loading drive unit, thereby clamping the tape 12c (21c) between itself and the capstan 27. A tension applying post 32 is moved in interlock with the tape loading drive unit, thereby applying a suitable tension to the tape 12c (21c). Fig. 2 shows the state wherein the full-size cassette 12 has been loaded in the cassette container 11. When the cassette 12 is loaded, the motor 19 is first actuated to shift the feed reel table 13 to the first position in the clockwise direction via the gear motion transmitting mechanism 18 and the movable arm 15. Thus, the cassette container 11 is set in the state for loading the full-size cassette. In this state, when the full-size cassette 12 is mounted on the feed reel table 13 and the take-up reel table 14, its recesses 12d contain the capstan 27, entrance-side post member 28, exit-side post member 29, and tension applying post 32. The post members 28 and 29, the pinch roller 31, and the tension applying post 32 are moved by the tape loading drive unit so as to pull the cape 12c and pass it over the cylinder 24. The motors 16 and 22 coupled to the feed reel table 13 and take-up reel table 14 are driven in accordance with a selected operation mode, and the tape in the full-size cassette 12c is run. When the tape loading drive unit is actuated in the reverse direction, the post members 28 and 29, the pinch roller 31, and the tension applying post 32 are shifted to the loading start position. Also, the reel tables 13 and 14 are rotated by the motors 16 and 22. Thus, the tape 12c passed over the cylinder 24 is restored in the cassette 12. Fig. 3 shows the state wherein the C-cassette 21 has been loaded in the cassette container 11. When the C-cassette 21 is loaded, the motor 19 is first driven to shift the feed reel table 13 to the second position in the counterclockwise direction via the gear motion transmitting mechanism 18 and the movable arm 15. Thus, the cassette container 11 is set in the state for loading the C-cassette. In this state, the feed reel 21a of the C-cassette 21 is mounted on the feed reel table 13. The take-up gear 21b of C-cassette 21 is meshed with the gear 14a of the take-up reel table 14 via the gear motion transmitting mechanism 23. At the same time, the recesses 21e of the C-cassette 21 contain the capstan 26, entrance-side post member 28, exit-side post member 29, and tension applying post 32. The post members 28 and 29, the pinch roller 31, and the tension applying post 32 are moved by the tape loading drive unit so as to pull the tape 21c and pass it over the cylinder 24. The motors 16 and 22 coupled to the feed reel table 13 and take-up reel table 14 are driven in accordance with a selected operation mode, and the tape in the C-cassette 21 is run. In this case, the feed reel 21a is driven directly by the feed reel table 13, while the take-up reel 21d is driven via the gear motion transmitting mechanism 23. Namely, the torque of the take-up reel table 14 is transmitted to the take-up gear 21b of the take-up reel 21d via the gear motion transmitting mechanism 23. When the tape loading drive unit is actuated in the reverse direction, the post members 28 and 29, the pinch roller 31, and the tension applying post 32 are shifted to the loading start position. Also, the reel tables 13 and 14 are rotated by the motors 16 and 22. The feed reel 21a of the C-cassette 21 is driven directly by the feed reel table 13, while the take-up reel 21d is driven via the gear motion transmitting mechanism 23. The torque of the take-up reel table 14 is transmitted to the take-up gear 21b of the take-up reel 21d via the gear motion transmitting mechanism 28. Thus, the tape 12c passed over the cylinder 24 is restored in the cassette 12. According to the above-described recording/reproducing apparatus, the feed reel 12a and take-up reel 12b of the full-size cassette 12 are mounted on the feed reel table 13 and take-up reel table 14, and the tape of the the full-size cassette 12 is run. On other hand, the feed reel 21a of the C-cassette 21 is mounted on the feed reel table 13, and the torque of the take-up reel table 14 is transmitted to the take-up reel 21d via the gear motion transmitting mechanism 23. Thus, the tape of the C-cassette 21 is run. The tape of the C-cassette 21 can be run without any adapter, by using the feed reel table 13 and the take-up reel table 14 which are used to run the tape of the full-size cassette 12. Namely, both the full-size cassette 12 and the C-cassette 21 can be set in the VTR without using the C-cassette adapter, and the troublesome procedure of setting the C-cassette can be avoided. In this apparatus, the feed reel table 13 is movable between the first position where the feed reel 12a of the full-size cassette 12 is mounted and the second position where the feed reel 21a of the C-cassette 21 is mounted. Further, the gear motion transmitting mechanism 23 is provided for transmitting the torque of the take-up reel table 14 to the take-up reel 21d of the C-cassette 21. In the state wherein the feed reel table 13 is situated in the first position, the full-size cassette 12 can be mounted. On the other hand, in the state wherein it is situated in the second position, the feed reel 21a of the C-cassette 21 is rotated along with the table 13, and the take-up gear 21b of the take-up reel 21d is rotated by means of the gear motion transmitting mechanism 23. By virtue of this structure, the full-size cassette 12 and the C-cassette 21, having different sizes, can be loaded, without using the separate C-cassette adapter which is needed in the conventional art. Therefore, the handling of the cassettes is made easier.

Claims: A magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus, comprising a feed reel table (13) and a take-up reel table (14), both being rotatable, wherein a feed reel (12a,21a) of one of a first larger and second smaller tape cassette (12,21) is mounted on said feed reel table (13), said cassettes (12,21) being loaded into the apparatus and containing a magnetic tape (12c,21c) passing between said feed reel (12a,21a) and a take-up reel (12b,21b), and said take-up reel (12b) of said first tape cassette (12) is mounted on said take-up reel table (14); said apparatus further comprising a torque transmitting mechanism (23) for transmitting a a torque of said take-up reel table (14) to a take-up reel (21d) of said second tape cassette (21), in the state wherein the feed reel (21a) of said second tape cassette (21) is mounted on said feed reel table (13); and a tape loading member (28,29), driven in the state wherein one of said first and second tape cassettes (12,21) is loaded, for pulling the tape (12c,21c) of said one of tape cassettes (12,21) and passing the tape (12c,21c) over a tape drive unit (24), said apparatus characterized by a reel table moving mechanism (15,17,18,19,20) for setting said feed reel table (13) in a first position where the feed reel (12a) of the first tape cassette (12) is mounted on the feed reel table (13), and a second position where the feed reel (21a) of said second tape cassette (21) is mounted on the feed reel table (13). The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said torque transmitting mechanism (23) is a gear transmission mechanism. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said tape loading member (28,29) takes a common position when the tape loading member (28,29) starts pulling the tape (12c) in the first tape cassette (12) and when the tape loading member (28,29) starts pulling the tape (21c) in the second tape cassette (21).

Inventors: OHOKA SATOSHI C O INTELLECTUAL, TOMITA SEIJI C O INTELLECTUAL, OHOKA, SATOSHI, C/O INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DIVISION, TOMITA, SEIJI, C/O INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DIVISION
Applicants: TOSHIBA KK, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
Application year: 1990
Main classification: G11B15
IPC codes: G11B15, G11B25