Recording and/or reproducing device comprising an automatic shutter

Abstract

A take-up reel includes a reel hub having an outer circumferential surface which is used as a magnetic tape winding surface. The reel hub has an opening for passing a pull-out assembly through an interior thereof. The take-up reel has a receiving portion for receiving the pull-out assembly in the interior of the reel hub. The take-up reel includes a shutter having an open/close door for automatically opening/closing the opening in cooperation with the pull-out assembly. When the open/close door close the opening, the open/close door has an outer circumferential surface which forms a part of the magnetic tape winding surface.

1 . A recording and/or reproducing device, into which a cartridge can be loaded, comprising a take-up reel for taking up a magnetic tape accommodated in said cartridge, said cartridge accommodating said magnetic tape and a coupling element connected to an end portion of said magnetic tape, said recording and/or reproducing device having a pull-out element coupled to said coupling element to form a pull-out assembly when said cartridge is loaded in said recording and/or reproducing device, said recording and/or reproducing device comprising a driving mechanism for driving said pull-out assembly so as to move said pull-out assembly up into an interior of a reel hub of said take-up reel, said reel hub having an outer circumferential surface which is used as a magnetic tape winding surface,
 wherein said reel hub has an opening for passing said pull-out assembly through the interior thereof, said take-up reel having a receiving portion for receiving said pull-out assembly in the interior of said reel hub, said take-up reel comprising a shutter including an open/close door for automatically opening/closing the opening in cooperation with said pull-out assembly.   
   
   
       2 . The recording and/or reproducing device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said open/close door has an outer circumferential surface which forms a part of said magnetic tape winding surface when said open/close door closes said opening. 
   
   
       3 . The recording and/or reproducing device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said shutter comprises:
 a shutter body having said open/close door, said shutter body being rotatably mounted around a rotation axis which stands on said take-up reel;   a shutter open/close arm, mounted on said shutter body, for making said shutter body opening/closing operation in cooperation with said pull-out assembly; and   an urging arrangement for urging said shutter body in a direction wherein said open/close door closes when said shutter body is rotated in a direction to close the opening by said open/close door beyond a predetermined angle by means of said pull-out assembly, said urging arrangement being for urging said shutter body in a direction where said open/close door opens when said shutter body is rotated in a direction to open the opening by said open/close door beyond the predetermined angle by means of said pull-out assembly.   
   
   
       4 . The recoding and/or reproducing device as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said receiving portion has a stopper for stopping a head end of said pull-out assembly,
 wherein said urging arrangement urges the head end of said pull-out assembly toward said stopper with said open/close door in contact with a rear end of said pull-out assembly on closing said open/close door.   
   
   
       5 . The recording and/or reproducing device as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said urging arrangement comprises:
 a roller rotatably mounted on said shutter body; and   a torsion spring mounted on said take-up reel with said torsion spring wound around a spring fulcrum formed on said take-up reel, said torsion spring having a fixed leg fixed to said take-up reel and a movable leg which is in contact with said roller.   
   
   
       6 . The recording and/or reproducing device as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said pull-out assembly has first and second protrusions which are disposed in order from the head end side to the rear end side,
 wherein said shutter open/close arm comprises:   an inner engaging arm engaged with said first protrusion when said pull-out assembly is driven to a direction to get close to said receiving portion by means of said driving mechanism; and   an outer engaging arm engaged with said second protrusion when said pull-out assembly is driven to a direction to part from said receiving portion by means of said driving mechanism.   
   
   
       7 . The recording and/or reproducing device as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said driving mechanism comprises a ring having a gear portion at an outer circumferential edge thereof; a motor coupled to the gear portion of said ring through a plurality of reduction gears; and a ring arm having a first end coupled to said ring,
 wherein said first protrusion consists of a shaft which is coupled to a second end of said ring arm and which is inserted in a through hole bored in said pull-out assembly.   
   
   
       8 . The recording and/or reproducing device as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said recoding and/or reproducing device comprises a guide arrangement having a guide channel slot for guiding said pull-out assembly,
 wherein said second protrusion consists of a guide pin engaged with said guide channel slot.   
   
   
       9 . A take-up reel comprising:
 a reel hub having an outer circumferential surface which is used as a magnetic tape winding surface, said reel hub having an opening for passing a pull-out assembly through an interior thereof;   a receiving portion for receiving said pull-out assembly in the interior of said reel hub; and   a shutter including an open/close door for automatically opening/closing the opening in cooperation with said pull-out assembly.   
   
   
       10 . The take-up reel as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said open/close door has an outer circumferential surface which forms a part of said magnetic tape winding surface when said open/close door closes said opening. 
   
   
       11 . The take-up reel as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said shutter comprises:
 a shutter body having said open/close door, said shutter body being rotatably mounted around a rotation axis which stands on said take-up reel;   a shutter open/close arm, mounted on said shutter body, for making said shutter body opening/closing operation in cooperation with said pull-out assembly; and   an urging arrangement for urging said shutter body in a direction where said open/close door closes when said shutter body is rotated in a direction to close the opening by said open/close door beyond a predetermined angle by means of said pull-out assembly, said urging arrangement being for urging said shutter body in a direction where said open/close door opens when said shutter body is rotated in a direction to open the opening by said open/close door beyond the predetermined angle by means of said pull-out assembly.   
   
   
       12 . The take-up reel as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said receiving portion has a stopper for stopping a head end of said pull-out assembly,
 wherein said urging arrangement urges the head end of said pull-out assembly toward said stopper with said open/close door in contact with a rear end of said pull-out assembly on closing said open/close door.   
   
   
       13 . The take-up reel as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said urging arrangement comprises:
 a roller rotatably mounted on said shutter body; and   a torsion spring mounted on said take-up reel with said torsion spring wound around a spring fulcrum formed on said take-up reel, said torsion spring having a fixed leg fixed to said take-up reel and a movable leg which is in contact with said roller.   
   
   
       14 . The take-up reel as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said pull-out assembly has first and second protrusions which are disposed in order from the head end side to the rear end side,
 wherein said shutter open/close arm comprises:   an inner engaging arm engaged with said first protrusion when said pull-out assembly is driven to a direction to get close to said receiving portion by means of said driving mechanism; and   an outer engaging arm engaged with said second protrusion when said pull-out assembly is driven to a direction to part from said receiving portion by means of said driving mechanism.