JP2000226091A - Cartridge storing case - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To smoothly and easily remove a cartridge through an opening from an inner space and ensure a superior operability when the cartridge is to be removed. SOLUTION: One side surface of a storing case comprised of an upper case 20 and a lower case 21 is formed such that the upper case 20 and the lower case 21 are properly slidingly contacted and rotated around one corner part, thereby a desired opening 34 capable of storing or discharging a cartridge 10 is formed. In this case, a cartridge pressing rib 35 arranged at the upper case 20 forcedly discharges the cartridge 10 stored in an inner space 27 toward the opening 34 and then the cartridge 10 is popped up from the inner space 27 through the opening 34 in a direction of an arrow I.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cartridge accommodating case capable of accommodating and detaching a cartridge containing a disk-shaped recording medium such as a mini-disc (hereinafter, referred to as an MD). Related to the structure to do.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a cartridge containing an MD is used.
As shown in FIG. 5, a slot-in type cartridge storage case having a flat parallelepiped case main body 60 and a required internal space 62 capable of storing a cartridge 61 is provided as a cartridge storage case that can be stored and removed. is there.

An opening 63 is formed at the lower end of the case body 60 in FIG. 5, and the size of the opening 63 in the left-right direction in FIG. 5 is slightly smaller than the size of the cartridge 61 in the left-right direction in FIG. large. The cartridge 61 is housed in or separated from the internal space 62 through the opening 63.

A pair of locking springs 64 are provided near the innermost part (upper end in FIG. 5) of the internal space 62 of the case body 60. The locking springs 64 respectively lock and removably lock the cartridge 61 and hold it on the case body 60. That is, when the cartridge 61 is inserted into the internal space 62 through the opening 63, the locking springs 64 are fitted into the concave grooves 65 formed on the left and right side surfaces in FIG. 61 is locked to the case body 60. Further, the notch 6 formed in the case body 60
6, a part 61a of the cartridge 61 exposed in
When the cartridge 61 is gripped by the fingertip and pulled downward in FIG. 5 and the cartridge 61 is separated from the internal space 62, the engagement of the locking springs 64 with the concave grooves 65 of the cartridge 61 is released.

[0005]

In the above-described conventional slot-in type cartridge storage case, when the stored cartridge 61 is detached, a part 61a of the cartridge 61 exposed from the case main body 60 at the notch 66.
5 is pulled downward in FIG. 5 with the fingertip. However, since the outer dimensions of the cartridge 61 are considerably small, it is difficult to grip the cartridge 61 even with the fingertip, and good operability cannot be obtained. was there.

Further, it is necessary to provide the locking springs 64 so as to obtain a predetermined locking force with respect to the cartridge 61 in a limited space of the internal space 62 of the case body 60. Therefore, there is a problem that the structure is complicated, the number of parts and the number of assembling steps are unavoidable, and the cost is increased.

Further, when the locking force on the cartridge 61 is reduced due to the deterioration of the locking spring 64 with the passage of time, the size of the opening 63 in the left-right direction in FIG. Since it is larger, there is a problem that the cartridge 61 easily falls off the case main body 60 through the opening 63 even with a slight external force or impact.

According to the present invention, while having a relatively simple structure, the cartridge can be reliably held in the internal space, and the cartridge can be smoothly and easily detached from the internal space via the opening. It is an object of the present invention to provide a cartridge storage case capable of ensuring good operability when detaching a cartridge. s

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to provide a storage case comprising a substantially rectangular upper case and a lower case for storing a cartridge containing a disk-shaped recording medium. One corner of the lower case is pivotally connected to the lower case so that the upper case and the lower case can be slidably rotated. The cartridge has an opening capable of storing and discharging the cartridge. The storage case contacts the front end face of the stored cartridge in the storage direction, and the cartridge is forcibly discharged with the sliding contact rotation. This is achieved by a cartridge storage case characterized in that a pressing means is provided.

In the above configuration, it is preferable to provide a rotation amount regulating means for regulating the rotation amount of the sliding movement of the upper case and the lower case.

Further, in the above configuration, it is preferable to provide a locking means for removably connecting the upper case and the lower case in order to prevent inadvertent sliding rotation.

In the cartridge storage case according to the present invention, the storage case including the upper case and the lower case holds the cartridge housed in the internal space in an initial state before the sliding rotation, so that the cartridge cannot be removed. In addition, one side surface of the storage case forms a required opening in which the cartridge can be stored and discharged by appropriately sliding and rotating the upper case and the lower case about one corner. At this time, the pressing means provided on one of the upper case and the lower case presses the cartridge housed in the internal space toward the opening side and forcibly discharges the cartridge.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the illustrated embodiments. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a cartridge storage case according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
3 is an exploded perspective view of the cartridge storage case of FIG.

In these figures, a cartridge 10 containing an MD (not shown) is removably accommodated in a storage case composed of upper and lower cases 20 and 21.

The upper case 20 and the lower case 21 are each made of a transparent plastic or the like having a substantially square shape in plan view, and form a required internal space 27 surrounded by the walls 22, 23 and the side walls 24, 25, 26. I do. Each case 20, 2
1 is one corner portion 20a, 21a (lower end portion in FIG. 1)
Are pivotally connected to each other via a pivot portion 28. The pivot portion 28 includes a connection pin 29 protruding from the lower case 21 and a connection pin groove 30 provided on the upper case 20 and into which the connection pin 29 can be inserted.

Each of the cases 20 and 21 is relatively displaced in a parallel state with respect to the lower case 21 by swinging the upper case 20 in the direction of arrow A about the connecting pin 29 of the pivot portion 28. Sliding rotation is possible. That is, each of the cases 20 and 21 is between a closed position in which the cartridge 10 accommodated in the internal space 27 is irremovably held and an open position shown in FIG. And can be slid and rotated.

In the closed position, the cases 20 and 21 respectively have the wall portions 23 and 24 vertically overlapped in FIG. 1 so as to have a substantially square shape in plan view as a whole, and sandwich the center between the corner portions 20a and 21a. The other corner 20 on the opposite side
The b and 21b (upper end in FIG. 1) are connected by a lock mechanism 37 as locking means described later.

The upper case 20 includes a wall 22 and a side wall 2.
An opening 32 surrounded by 4 and 25 is formed. The lower case 21 has an opening 33 surrounded by the wall 23 and the side wall 26. The longitudinal dimension B of the opening 33 is slightly larger than the dimension C of the cartridge 10. A part of the opening 33 (near the right end in FIG. 2) is closed by the side wall 25 of the upper case 20 in contact with the notch 23 a of the wall 23 at the closed position of each case 20, 21. As a result, the longitudinal dimension B of the opening 33 is reduced by the dimension D of the side wall 25, and the cartridge 10 housed in the internal space 27 is irremovably held by the cases 20 and 21. In addition, FIG.
Each of the middle vertical dimension E is slightly larger than the thickness dimension F of the cartridge 10.

Each of the cases 20 and 21 is released from the connection with the lower case 21 by the lock mechanism 37, and is separated from the other corners 20b and 21b by the connection pin 29 of the pivot 28 as a center. It is displaced by the angle α, and becomes the open position.

In the open position, one side surface of the storage case composed of the cases 20 and 21 is a required opening 34 including the openings 32 and 33, through which the cartridge 10 is inserted into the internal space. 27 and can be detached. That is, when each of the cases 20, 21 is slid and rotated to be displaced to the open position, the side wall 2 of the upper case 20 is displaced.
5 retreats to a position where part of the opening 33 of the lower case 21 is not closed, and a required opening 34 is formed. This allows the cartridge 10 to be smoothly inserted or removed from the internal space 27 via the opening 34.

On the inner surface of the wall portion 22 of the upper case 20, a flat cartridge pressing rib 35 as a pressing means is provided.
2, near the front edge in FIG. 1 and along the edge. The cartridge pressing rib 35 is provided in each case 20,
When the opening 34 is formed in accordance with the displacement of the cartridge 21 to the open position, the cartridge 10 in the internal space 27 is opened.
Side (in the direction of arrow G in FIG. 1) to forcibly discharge.

The closed position and the open position of each of the cases 20 and 21 can be engaged with the engagement recesses 36 and the engagement recesses 36 as rotation amount regulating means for regulating the sliding rotation amount of the upper and lower cases 20 and 21. It is regulated by an engaging projection (not shown).

The engaging recess 36 is formed in the side wall 26 of the lower case 21 on the opposite side in FIG. 1 from the right corner of the lower case 21 in FIG. The engaging projection is provided in the vicinity of the right corner in FIG. 1 on the inner surface of the wall 22 of the upper case 20. The engaging projections come into contact with the lower ends of the engaging recesses 36 in FIG.
The closed position of the vehicle. In addition, the engaging projection is provided in each case 2
0 and 21 are connected pins 29 of the pivot 28 from the closed position.
At the position displaced by a predetermined angle α with respect to the center, the engaging concave portion 36 comes into contact with the upper end portion in FIG.

The lock mechanism 37, which is a locking means, comprises a lock concave portion 38 and a lock convex portion (not shown) which can be fitted into the lock concave portion 38, and engages and disengages the other corner portions 20b, 21b of each of the cases 20, 21. The upper and lower cases 20 and 21 are prevented from inadvertent sliding rotation. The lock recess 38 is provided near the other corner 21b on the upper surface of the side wall 26 of the lower case 21 in FIG. The lock projection is provided at a position corresponding to the lock recess 38 on the inner surface of the wall 22 of the upper case 20.

The operation of the present embodiment will be described. Each of the cases 20 and 21 in the closed position has a configuration in which a part of the opening 33 is closed by the side wall 25 of the upper case 20, that is, the length B of the opening 33 in the longitudinal direction is larger than the dimension C of the cartridge 10. When the other corners 20b and 21b are connected by the lock mechanism 37, the cartridge 10 housed in the internal space 27 is securely held undetachably by reducing the size of the portion 25 by the dimension D.

Each of the cases 20 and 21 includes a lock mechanism 3.
7, the upper and lower gates 2 are displaced by sliding and rotating from the closed position to the open position.
0, 21 on one side of the storage case.
A required opening 34 including two and 33 is formed, and the cartridge 10 can be inserted into and removed from the internal space 27 through the opening 34.

That is, when the cartridge 10 is detached, the upper case 20 in the closed position, for example, near the left corner in FIG. 1 is gripped by a fingertip (not shown), and the arrow A in FIG.
When pulled in the direction, the cases 20 and 21 are displaced by a predetermined angle α to be in the open position. Thus, a required opening 3 including the openings 32 and 33 is provided on one side of the storage case.
4 are formed. When each of the cases 20 and 21 is displaced from the closed position to the open position, the cartridge pressing rib 35 provided in the upper case 20 moves inside the internal space 27 toward the opening 34, and the cartridge housed in the internal space 27. 10
Is pressed in the direction of arrow G in FIG. The cartridge 10 pressed by the cartridge pressing rib 35 is guided by the side wall 26 of the lower case 21, pops up in the direction of the arrow I from the internal space 27 through the opening 34, and is forcibly discharged easily and easily.

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view for explaining a rotation amount restricting means for restricting the amount of rotation of the upper and lower cases 20, 21 in the cartridge storage case according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, instead of the engaging concave portion 36 and the engaging convex portion, a long hole 40 and a displacement amount adjusting pin 41 serving as a rotation amount regulating means are provided. That is, the amount of sliding rotation between the closed position and the open position of the upper case 20 and the lower case 21 is regulated by the elongated holes 40 and the displacement adjusting pins 41 loosely fitted in the elongated holes 40. Other configurations and operations are the same as those in the first embodiment.

The elongated hole 40 is provided on the wall 23 of the lower case 21 at a position separated by a predetermined dimension J from the connecting pin 40 (see FIG. 1) of the pivot 28 (see FIG. 1) in plan view. It is formed in a shape that forms a part of an arc centered on 40.

The displacement adjusting pin 41 is provided at a position corresponding to the elongated hole 40 at the lower right end of the cartridge pressing rib 35 provided on the upper case 20 in FIG. The displacement adjusting pin 41 regulates the closed position of each of the cases 20, 21 in a state of being locked at the lower end of the elongated hole 40 in FIG. The displacement adjusting pin 41 moves upward in the elongated hole 40 in FIG. 3 with the displacement of the upper case 20 and is locked at the upper end of the elongated hole 40 in FIG. State), the open position of each case 20, 21 is regulated.

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating a rotation amount restricting means and a locking means in a cartridge storage case according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the first
The other corner 20b of each case 20, 21 in the embodiment,
Instead of the lock mechanism 37 serving as the locking means provided on the 21b, a locking recess 51 serving as a locking mechanism 37B serving as a locking means and a locking projection 50 which can be fitted with the locking recess 51 are provided.
Are provided in the engaging concave portion 36a and the engaging convex portion 36b as rotation amount regulating means for regulating the sliding rotation amount between the closed position and the open position of each case 20, 21. That is, the closed position and the open position of each case 20, 21
The cases 20 and 21 are maintained in the closed position by the locking of the locking projections 50 and the locking recesses 51, while being regulated by the engaging concave portions 36a and the engaging convex portions 36b. Other configurations and operations are the same as those in the first embodiment.

The locking projection 50 is provided on the wall 22 of the upper case 20.
It is provided near the right end in FIG. 4 on the inner surface. The locking recess 51 is provided at a position corresponding to the locking projection 50 on the upper surface of the side wall 26 of the lower case 21. The locking projection 50 is
In a state in which the case 20 and 21 are detachably fitted to the locking concave portion 51, the cases 20, 21 are maintained at the locking position.

As described above, according to each of the above-described embodiments, the cartridge 10 can be housed in the internal space 27 and can be removed by sliding and rotating each of the cases 20 and 21 from the closed position to the open position. The required opening 34 is formed. At this time, the cartridge pressing rib 35 provided in the upper case 20 presses the cartridge 10 housed in the internal space 27 toward the opening 34 to forcibly eject the cartridge 10. Therefore, the cartridge 10 is inserted into the internal space 27 through the opening 34.
Can be popped up from the cartridge 10
A troublesome operation such as gripping and pulling with a fingertip can be eliminated. As a result, the cartridge 10 can be discharged very smoothly and easily from the internal space 27 through the opening 34, and good operation can be performed when the cartridge 10 is removed even though the outer dimensions of the cartridge 10 and the storage case are considerably small. Nature can be secured.

In the closed position of each case 20, 21, the cartridge 10 housed in the internal space 27 is
Since a part of the opening 33 is closed by the side wall 25 of the upper case 20, the opening 33 is securely held so as not to be detached from the internal space 27. Therefore, as in the conventional cartridge storage case shown in FIG.
There is no need to provide such a device. This makes it possible to reduce the number of parts and the number of assembling steps and reduce the cost with a relatively simple configuration, while retaining the cartridge 10 due to aging of the locking spring 64 and the like. The cartridge 10 has no
Can be reliably held in the internal space 27. In addition, since the cartridge 10 to be housed does not need the groove 65 for fitting the locking spring 64 or the like, a cartridge without a groove other than the cartridge 10 containing the MD can be used.
Depending on the external dimensions, it can be accommodated and has high versatility.

In each of the above embodiments, the upper case 20 and the lower case 21 allow the wall portions 22 and 23 and the side
Although a required internal space 27 surrounded by 4, 25, 26 is formed, a frame (not shown) composed of side walls 24, 25, 26 and a lid (not shown) composed of walls 22, 23 are provided. By combining them, an internal space can be formed. That is, instead of the upper case 20 and the lower case 21, the frame body and the lid body may be a pair of case bodies.

[0036]

As described above, according to the present invention, the storage case including the upper case and the lower case holds the cartridge housed in the internal space in an initial state before the rotation of the sliding contact so as not to be detached. In addition, one side surface of the storage case forms a required opening in which the cartridge can be stored and discharged by appropriately sliding and rotating the upper case and the lower case about one corner. At this time, the pressing means provided on one of the upper case and the lower case presses the cartridge housed in the internal space toward the opening side and forcibly discharges the cartridge. Therefore, the cartridge can be smoothly and easily accommodated or removed from the internal space through the opening, and good operability can be secured when the cartridge is removed. Further, in the above configuration, by providing the rotation amount regulating means for regulating the sliding rotation amount of the upper case and the lower case, the sliding rotation amount of each case body can be regulated. The pivot portion to be connected can be prevented from being damaged. Further, in the above configuration, the cartridge can be reliably held in the internal space by providing the locking means for removably connecting the upper case and the lower case in order to prevent the inadvertent sliding rotation. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a cartridge storage case according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the cartridge storage case of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view illustrating a rotation amount regulating unit that regulates a sliding rotation amount of an upper case and a lower case in a cartridge storage case according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating a rotation amount regulating unit and a locking unit in a cartridge storage case according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a conventional cartridge storage case.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Cartridge 20 Upper case 20a One corner 20b Other corner 21 Lower case 21a One corner 21b Other corner 22 Upper case wall 23 Lower case wall 24, 25 Upper case side wall 26 Lower case side wall 27 Inside Space 28 pivot portion 34 opening 35 pressing means (cartridge pressing rib) 36, 36a, 36b rotation amount controlling means (engaging concave part and engaging convex part) 37, 37B locking means (lock mechanism)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A storage case comprising a substantially rectangular upper case and a lower case for storing a cartridge containing a disk-shaped recording medium, wherein the upper case is slidably rotatable with respect to the lower case. As described above, one corner is pivotally connected to the lower case, and one side surface of the storage case is configured such that the upper case and the lower case are appropriately slidably rotated so that the cartridge can be stored and discharged. The storage case is provided with pressing means for abutting against the front end face in the storage direction of the stored cartridge and forcibly discharging the cartridge as the cartridge slides and rotates. And cartridge storage case. 2. The cartridge storage case according to claim 1, further comprising a rotation amount regulating means for regulating an amount of rotation of the upper case and the lower case in sliding contact with each other. 3. The locking device according to claim 1, further comprising an engaging means for removably connecting the upper case and the lower case so as to prevent inadvertent sliding rotation. The cartridge storage case according to 1.