Abstract:
A magnetic recording and reproducing device for enhancing the operation efficiency by reducing the number of parts and providing an improved structure is provided. The magnetic recording and reproducing device includes a pole base assembly for loading a magnetic tape by guiding the magnetic tape so that the magnetic tape is wound on a head drum and for unloading the magnetic tape by returning the magnetic tape from the head drum; a deck having a guide rail formed thereon, the guide rail including an insertion recess into which the pole base assembly is inserted and a slit connected to the insertion recess to guide the loading and unloading of the pole base assembly; and a deviation preventing unit for preventing the deviation of the pole base assembly inserted into the guide rail.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) from Korean Patent Application No. 2004-62283 filed on Aug. 9, 2004 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to a magnetic recording and reproducing device which records and reproduces information on and from a recording medium such as a tape.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     Recently, miniaturized portable image photographing devices being usable in outdoor events, hobby activities, and leisure activities are greatly in demand. According to the recent trend, conventional analog type image photographing products are being replaced by digital cameras, digital camcorders, and the like, as the use of digital images becomes more mainstream.  
         [0006]     As is generally known, a camcorder is an image-photographing device that provides functions for recording, reproducing, and editing image information as the functions of a tape recorder and a camera are combined together in one body. Such an image photographing device typically uses a magnetic tape of, for example, 8 mm, 6 mm, and 4 mm as a recording medium. Therefore, a magnetic recording and reproducing device for scanning a magnetic tape by means of a magnetic head and recording and reproducing information to and from the tape is mounted to a typical camcorder.  
         [0007]     Generally, the magnetic recording and reproducing device includes a main deck to which a head drum for scanning a magnetic tape and recording and reproducing information is rotatably installed, and a sub-deck which is reciprocally and slidably installed to the main deck. If a tape cassette is mounted to the sub-deck, the sub-deck is moved towards the head drum to be loaded. A pair of pole base assemblies slidably installed to the main deck withdraw the magnetic tape so as to be wound on the head drum.  
         [0008]     Therefore, a separate rail plate which has a guide rail for guiding the movement of the pole base assemblies, is installed in the main deck.  
         [0009]     A tension pole for guiding the traveling of the magnetic tape, a capstan shaft, pinch roller, and a review pole are installed on the main deck.  
         [0010]     The above-mentioned magnetic recording and reproducing device includes many component elements including the sub-deck installed on the main deck, and the rail plate. For this reason, the structure of the magnetic recording and reproducing device is complicated to manufacture, decreasing productivity and increasing production costs.  
         [0011]     Therefore, there are continuous efforts to develope a magnetic recording and reproducing device capable of loading and unloading a magnetic tape just using only one deck after the sub-deck is removed. Furthermore, a structure is being developed in which a guide rail for guiding the movement of the pole base assembly is directly installed to the deck, instead of using the rail plate in addition to the sub-deck.  
         [0012]     Accordingly, there is a need for a recording and reproducing apparatus having a simplified structure for loading and unloading a tape.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]     Embodiments of the present invention solve at least the problems of the prior art discussed above and provide other advantages as will be apparent from the following description. Accordingly, it is an aspect of the present invention to provide a magnetic recording and reproducing device which has an improved structure in which the number of parts are reduced and pole base assemblies are engaged with guide rails formed in a deck to be stably operated.  
         [0014]     In order to accomplish the above-mentioned aspects, the magnetic recording and reproducing device includes a pole base assembly for loading a magnetic tape by guiding the magnetic tape so that the magnetic tape is wound on a head drum, and for unloading the magnetic tape by returning the magnetic tape from the head drum; a deck having a guide rail formed thereon, the guide rail including an insertion recess into which the pole base assembly is inserted and a slit connected to the insertion recess to guide the loading and unloading of the pole base assembly; and a deviation preventing unit for preventing the deviation of the pole base assembly inserted into the guide rail.  
         [0015]     Preferably, the deviation preventing unit includes a pivoting unit pivotally installed in the deck for restricting movement of the pole base assembly into an insertion recess when the pole base assembly is unloaded; and a restriction boss fixed to the deck for restricting the pivoting unit from being moved by being pushed by the pole base assembly moving in the unloading direction.  
         [0016]     Preferably, the pivoting unit includes a pinch arm installed in the deck to be moved between a first position in which the traveling of the magnetic tape is guided when loading the pole base assembly and a second position in which the movement of the pole base assembly is restricted when unloading the pole base assembly, a pinch roller installed at one end of the pinch arm, and an interfering boss which is extended by a predetermined distance from the pinch arm to make contact with the pole base assembly at the second position.  
         [0017]     Preferably, the pivoting unit further includes a review arm installed coaxially with the pinch arm to be pivoted for guiding the magnetic tape, and a spring which connects the review arm to the pinch arm.  
         [0018]     Preferably, the interfering boss is integrally formed in the pinch arm.  
         [0019]     Preferably, the restriction boss is integrally formed in the deck such that the restriction boss is protruded at a predetermined height.  
         [0020]     Preferably, the deviation-preventing unit includes a pivoting unit pivotally installed in the deck for restricting movement of the pole base assembly into the insertion recess when unloading the pole base assembly, and a connection movement unit movably installed in the deck for restricting the pivoting range of the pivoting unit.  
         [0021]     Preferably, the connection movement unit includes a sliding member slidably installed in the deck, and a connection movement member rotatably installed in the deck, which is moved in connection with the sliding member and the pivoting member respectively.  
         [0022]     Preferably, the deviation preventing unit further includes a restriction boss which is fixed to the deck and restricts the pivoting unit from being pushed by the pole base assembly moving in an unloading direction. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0023]     The above aspects and features of the present invention will be more apparent by describing certain embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0024]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view illustrating a magnetic recording and reproducing device according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0025]      FIG. 2  is a plan view illustrating the magnetic recording and reproducing device of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0026]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view illustrating essential parts of the magnetic recording and reproducing device of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0027]      FIG. 4  is a plan view illustrating a loading state in  FIG. 2 ; and  
         [0028]      FIGS. 5A through 5C  are schematic perspective views which are drawn to explain the assembling processes of pole base assemblies in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
       [0029]     Throughout the drawings, like reference numbers should be understood to refer to like features, elements, and structures.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS  
       [0030]     Hereinafter, a magnetic recording and reproducing device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings.  
         [0031]      FIG. 1  shows a magnetic recording and reproducing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The device includes a deck  10  in which a series of driving units such as a loading motor  11  and a head drum  12  are installed. A pair of pole base assemblies  20  and  30  are slidably installed in the deck  10 . A deviation preventing unit  40  prevents the pole base assemblies  20  and  30  from being deviated from the deck  10 .  
         [0032]     The deck  10  is a one-chassis type deck as its four sidewalls are preferably integrally formed, and does not require a conventional sub-deck. The deck  10  has a pair of guide rails  13 ,  14  in which the pole base assemblies  20 ,  30  are respectively connected to be reciprocally moved. The guide rails  13 ,  14  respectively have insertion recesses  13   a ,  14   a  into which the pole base assemblies  20 ,  30  are inserted for assembling, and slits  13   b ,  14   b  which are connected to the insertion recesses  13   a ,  14   a . The pole base assemblies  20 ,  30 , which are inserted into and engaged with the insertion recesses  13   a ,  14   a , are loaded so that a magnetic tape is wound on a head drum  12 , or unloaded to return the magnetic tape, while they are reciprocally moved along the slits  13   b  and  14   b.    
         [0033]     The pair of pole base assemblies  20 ,  30  may respectively include pole bases  21 ,  31  moving along the guide rails  13 ,  14 , and a plurality of guide members  23 ,  25  and  33 ,  35  which are supported by the pole bases  21 ,  31  to guide the traveling of a magnetic tape. The shape and the number of the guide members  23 ,  25  and  33 ,  35  may be varied in the embodiments.  
         [0034]     The pair of pole base assemblies  20 ,  30  are connected to end portions of links  51 ,  53  in the state that the pole base assemblies  20 ,  30  are respectively inserted into the insertion recesses  13   a ,  14   a . The links  51 ,  53  are link-connected to loading gears  52 ,  54  which are rotatably installed on the lower side of the deck  10 . The loading gears  52 ,  54  are rotated in association with each other to load or unload the pole base assemblies  20 ,  30 .  
         [0035]     One of the loading gears  52 ,  54 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , is connected to and moved in association with a main cam gear  17  installed in the deck  10 . The main cam gear  17  is rotated by the power transferred from the loading motor  11  through a power transmission unit (not shown).  
         [0036]     A pair of reel tables  15 ,  16  with which a tape reel of a tape cassette is engaged is installed in the deck  10 .  
         [0037]     Even though the pole base assemblies  20 ,  30  are connected to the links  51 ,  53  in the state that they are inserted into the insertion recesses  13   a ,  14   a , they can be withdrawn through the insertion recesses  13   a ,  14   a . Therefore, the deviation preventing unit  40  is provided to prevent the pole base assemblies  20 ,  30  from being separated from the guide rails  13 ,  14 . The deviation preventing unit  40  includes a pivoting unit  41  which is pivotably installed in the deck  10 , and a connection movement unit  60  and a restriction boss  49  which are installed in the deck  10  and restrict the pivoting range of the pivoting unit  41 .  
         [0038]     The pivoting unit  41  includes a pinch arm  42  which is pivotably installed in the deck  10 , a review arm  44  which is installed coaxially with and pivoted together with the pinch arm  42 , and a spring  46  which connects the pinch arm  42  with the review arm  44 . A pinch roller  43  is rotatably installed to a free end of the pinch arm  42 .  
         [0039]     The pinch arm  42  is pivoted to a first position as shown in  FIG. 4  to guide the traveling of a magnetic tape when the pole base assemblies  20 ,  30  are loaded. In the first position, the pinch roller  43  is pressed to a capstan shaft  18   a  to guide the traveling of the magnetic tape. The capstan shaft  18 a is rotated by a capstan motor  18  which is installed on the lower side of the deck  10 . The power of the capstan motor  18  is used to drive the reel tables  15 ,  16 .  
         [0040]     A review pole  45  is installed at an end portion of the review arm  44 . When the review arm  44  is moved to the first position together with the pinch arm  42 , the review pole  45  guides the traveling of the magnetic tape.  
         [0041]     The pivoting range of the pivoting unit  41  is restricted since it is moved in connection with the connection movement unit  60  which is movably installed in the deck  10 . The connection movement unit  60  includes a sliding member  61  which is reciprocally and slidably installed in the deck  10  by a main cam gear  17 , and a connection movement member  63  which connects the sliding member  61  to the pivoting unit  41 . The details of the connection mechanism of the connection movement unit  60  and the pivoting unit  41  will be described as follows.  
         [0042]     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the sliding member  61  has a cam boss  61   a  which is inserted into a cam recess  17   a  of the main cam gear  17 . Therefore, the sliding member  61  is moved in the M 1  direction or in the M 2  direction according to the rotating direction of the main cam gear  17 . The sliding member  61  is connected to the pivoting unit  41  through the connection movement member  63 . A pivoting pin  63   a  which is provided at one end of the connection movement member  63  is rotatably engaged with the deck  10 . A connection movement pin  63   b  which is provided substantially at the center of the connection movement member  63  is connected to a cam recess  61   b  formed in the sliding member  61 . A connection movement pin  44   a  provided in the pivoting unit  41  is engaged with the cam recess  63   c  provided at the other end portion of the connection movement member  63 , and is moved in connection. The connection movement pin  44   a  is integrally formed in the review arm  44 . By means of the above-described structure, when the sliding member  61  is moved in the M 1  direction, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the pivoting unit  41  is moved in connection with the connection movement member  63 , and is pivoted in the R direction and thus moved to the first position. If the sliding member  61  is moved in the M 2  direction in the first position of  FIG. 4 , the pivoting unit  41  is moved to the second position as shown in  FIG. 2 . As described above, the pivoting range of the pivoting unit  41  is limited by the mechanism in which the sliding member  61  is mutually moved in connection with the connection movement member  63 .  
         [0043]     An interfering boss  42   a  is provided in the pinch arm  42 . Preferably, the interfering boss  42   a  is integrally extended from the pinch arm  42  by a predetermined distance in which it is crossed with the moving path of the pole base assembly  30 . When the pinch arm  42  is moved to the second position as shown in  FIG. 2 , the interfering boss  42   a  makes contact with the pole base assembly  30 . Thus, the pole base assembly  30  is prevented from being moved to the insertion recess  14   a  when it is unloaded.  
         [0044]     The restricting boss  49  is integrally formed in the deck  10  such that it is protruded at a predetermined height. The restricting boss  49  restricts the pinch arm  42  so that the pinch arm  42  is stopped at the second position to prevent the pinch arm  42  from being pushed by the pole base assembly  30  and thus being forcibly moved further.  
         [0045]     Since the loading gears  52 ,  54  are connected so that they are moved in connection with each other, if the movement of one pole base assembly  30  of the pair of pole base assemblies  20 ,  30  is restricted, the other pole base assembly  20  is restricted from being moved into the insertion recess  13   a.    
         [0046]     By the structure of the present invention described as above, the pole base assemblies  20 ,  30  engaged with the guide rails  13 ,  14  are prevented from being moved into the insertion recess  13   a ,  14   a  by the deviation preventing unit  40 .  
         [0047]     First, as shown in  FIG. 5A  in the case of the above-mentioned magnetic recording and reproducing device, the pair of pole base assemblies  20 ,  30  are inserted into the insertion recesses  13   a ,  14   a  of the deck  19  and are assembled to be slidably moved on the slits  13   b ,  14   b.    
         [0048]     Thereafter, as shown in  FIG. 5B , the loading gears  52 ,  54  are slidably engaged with the bottom surface of the deck  10 . One loading gear  54  is assembled in a rotatably driven state as connected to the main cam gear  17  such that the loading gear  54  is in connection with the loading motor  11  in power.  
         [0049]     As shown in  FIG. 5C , the pair of pole base assemblies  20 ,  30  are assembled to be connected with the loading gears  52 ,  54  by the links  51 ,  53  respectively in a state in which they are moved in connection with each other.  
         [0050]     As described above, after the pole base assemblies  20 ,  30  are slidably engaged with the guide rails  13 ,  14  of the deck  10 , the pivoting unit  41  is assembled to the deck  10 . More specifically, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the pivoting unit  41  is engaged with the deck  10  as the fixing shaft  10   a  protruded from the deck  10  is inserted into the pivoting shaft hole  41   a  of the pivoting unit  41 . Next, the connection movement member  63  and the sliding member  61  are assembled on the bottom surface of the deck  10 .  
         [0051]     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the interfering boss  42   a  of the pinch arm  42  is assembled to be located forward relative to the unloading direction of the pole base assembly  30 .  
         [0052]     In the magnetic recording and reproducing device structured as above according to an embodiment of the present invention, the main cam gear  17  is rotatably driven in the arrow direction (counterclockwise direction), the pair of pole base assemblies  20 ,  30  are moved towards the head drum  11  along the guide rails  13 ,  14  such that a magnetic tape is wound on the head drum  11 . Concurrently, the sliding member  61  is moved in the M 1  direction so that the connection movement member  63  is pivoted in the counterclockwise direction about the pivoting pin  63   a . Thus, the pivoting unit  41  is pivoted in the clockwise direction in connection with the connection movement member  63 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , each of the pole base assemblies  20 ,  30  is moved to an end portion of each of the guide rails  13 ,  14 , and the pinch roller  43  is moved in the arrow X-direction to be pressed on the capstan shaft  18   a . The review arm  44  is pressed in the arrow T-direction through the connection movement member  63 . That is, the pinch arm  42  and the review arm  44  are pivoted at the same time until the pinch roller  43  makes contact with the capstan shaft  18   a . After the pinch roller  43  makes contact with the capstan shaft  18   a , only the review arm  44  is pressed further to be moved. Therefore, the pinch arm  42  is pressed on the capstan shaft  18   a  by the resilient force of the spring  46  connected to the review arm  44  to guide the magnetic tape that travels between the capstan shaft  18   a  and the pinch roller  43 .  
         [0053]     In  FIG. 4 , the main cam gear  17  is rotated in the clockwise direction to unload a magnetic tape. The pole base assemblies  20 ,  30  and the pivoting unit  41  are returned at the same time to an initial position as shown in  FIG. 2 . Since the moving ranges of the sliding member  61  and the connection movement member  63  which are moved in connection with each other are restricted, the pinch arm  42  is restricted from being pivoted in the counterclockwise direction at a predetermined position. The interfering boss  42   a  is located at the position adjacent to the insertion recess  14   a . In this state, when the pole base assembly  30  is returned towards the insertion recess  14   a  along the slit  14   b , it is restricted from being moved further as it makes contact with the interfering boss  42   a . The pole base assembly  20 , which is moved in connection with the pole base assembly  30  by driving gears  52 ,  54 , cannot be moved toward the insertion recess  13   a  and is stopped. Thus, the pole base assemblies  20 ,  30  are prevented from being deviated through the insertion recesses  13   a ,  14   a.    
         [0054]     More preferably, the counterclockwise pivoting range of the pinch arm  42  can be more securely restricted by the restriction boss  49  formed in the deck  10 . Even though the force by which the pole base assembly  30  is returned towards the insertion recess  14   a  is further applied, the pinch arm  42  is caught by the restriction boss  49  so that it is prevented from being moved further.  
         [0055]     As described above, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the pole base assemblies can be prevented from being deviated from the guide rails formed in the deck. Therefore, the reliability of the product can be increased by preventing the disorder and the malfunctioning of the device caused by deviations of the pole base assemblies.