JP2001155464A - Tape cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a lid body from being incapable of turning by preventing a part of a coil part from being held between upper and lower halves when the upper half is combined with the lower half. SOLUTION: This cartridge is provided with a cartridge main body 4 which is composed of the upper and lower halves 2, 3 and in the front part of which a magnetic tape 5 is extended, the lid body 42 having a turning support piece 33 in which a spindle 35 supported by the supporting hole 37 of the cartridge main body 4 is formed, and a torsion coil spring 44 which energizes the lid body 42 in the direction closing the front part of the cartridge main body 4 by winding the coil part 45 onto the spindle 35, locking a first arm part 46 to the side surface part of the cartridge main body 4 and locking a second arm part 47 to the turning support piece 33. A projected part, onto which the coil part 45 reduced in diameter runs up when the lid body 31 is turned in the direction opening the front part of the cartridge main body 4, is formed around the supporting hole 37.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cover for extending a magnetic tape to a front portion thereof for storing a tape reel rotatably and protecting a magnetic tape extended to a front portion of a cartridge body. To a tape cartridge rotatably attached to a front portion of a cartridge body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 11, a tape cartridge 101 has a cartridge body 104 in which a pair of upper and lower halves 102, 103 are butt-joined to each other. Is rotatably housed. The magnetic tape wound around the pair of tape reels extends to the front of the cartridge body 104, and the cartridge body 1
A cover 105 is attached to the front of the cartridge 04 to protect the magnetic tape extending from the front of the cartridge body 104.

The lid 105 is provided with a closing plate 106 for closing a front surface of the cartridge body 4 where the magnetic tape extends.
And the rotation support pieces 1 formed on both sides of the closing plate 106.
07. A support shaft 108 for rotatably supporting the lid 105 to the cartridge body 104 inward is planted on the rotation support piece 107. Support shaft 108
Is engaged with a support hole 109 formed by cutting out the leading end of the rising wall 102a of the upper half 102 constituting the side wall of the cartridge body 104. Further, a flange portion 111 is formed at a tip end of the support shaft 108 to prevent the support shaft 108 from coming off when the support shaft 108 is supported by the support hole 109.

[0004] The lid 105 as described above is urged by a torsion coil spring 112 in a direction indicated by an arrow X in FIG. 11 to close the front surface of the cartridge body 104. The torsion coil spring 112 is formed of a linear member, and includes a coil portion 113 around which the linear member is wound, and a first arm portion 114 and a second arm portion 115 formed on both sides of the coil portion 113. Have been. The torsion coil spring 112 has a coil portion 113 wound around one of the support shafts 108, a first arm portion 114 locked by a first locking portion 116 formed on the rising wall 102 a of the upper half 2, 2 arm 11
5 is locked by a second locking portion 117 formed on one of the rotation support pieces 107, thereby urging the lid 105 in the direction of arrow X in FIG.

[0005] The tape cartridge 1 as described above is assembled as follows. First, lower half 1
A pair of tape reels around which a magnetic tape is wound at a predetermined position 03 and other components are disposed at a predetermined position, and the magnetic tape is a rising wall on the front side of the lower half 103 constituting the front part of the cartridge body 104. 103a. The lid 105 is disposed on the front side of the upper half 102 by engaging a support shaft 108 formed on the rotation support piece 107 with a support hole 109 formed on the rising wall 102 a of the upper half 102. Is done. At this time, the lid 1
In 05, the coil portion 113 of the torsion coil spring 112 is wound around one support shaft 108 and then engaged with one support hole 109 of the upper half 102. The first arm 11 of the torsion coil spring 112 attached to the support shaft 108
4 is locked by the first locking portion 116 of the rising wall 102 a of the upper half 102, and the second arm portion 115 is locked by the second locking portion 117 of the rotation support piece 107. Thereafter, the upper half 102 and the lower half 103 are butted and joined by screws or the like.

When the upper half 102 and the lower half 103 are joined, the magnetic tape extended to the front surface of the cartridge body 104 is sandwiched between the lid 105 and the upper half 102 and / or the lower half 103. In order to prevent the upper half 102 and the lower half 103 from being contaminated, the lid body 106 is opened in a state where the front side of the upper half 102 is opened, that is, in a state where the lid body 106 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow X in FIG. Be combined.

[0007]

By the way, the lid 105
Coil spring 112 for urging the spring in the direction of arrow X in FIG.
FIG. 12A shows the diameter D1 of the coil portion 113 in a natural state where no stress is applied as shown in FIG.
Comparing the diameter D2 of the coil portion 113 when the stress is applied as shown in FIG.
2 is smaller than the diameter D1 in the natural state. In addition, when the stress is applied, a stress is generated in the coil portion 113 in a direction that hinders close contact between adjacent linear members constituting the coil portion 113, and the coil portion 113 becomes irregular. The torsion coil spring 112 has a tolerance, and the tolerance causes irregularities in the coil portion 113 when a stress is applied. Further, the cartridge body 10
The upper and lower halves 102 and 103 constituting the fourth member 4 also have tolerances.

When the upper half 102 and the lower half 103 are joined as described above, the lid 105 prevents the magnetic tape from being sandwiched between the lid 105 and the upper half 102 and / or the lower half 103. Therefore, it is in a state of being urged in the direction indicated by the arrow X in FIG. 11 against the urging force of the torsion coil spring 112. Therefore, when coupling the upper half 102 and the lower half 103, the torsion coil spring 112
Of the upper and lower halves 10 are in an irregular state.
Due to the tolerance of 2, 103, the tolerance of the torsion coil spring 112, and the like, a part of the linear member constituting the coil portion 113 may be sandwiched between the upper and lower halves 102, 103. In this case, the assembled tape cartridge 10
The first lid 105 cannot rotate in the directions indicated by arrows X and X in FIG.

As means for solving the above problems, when the upper half 102 and the lower half 103 are joined, the rising wall 102a of the upper half 103 and the lid 105
The gap forming member is inserted into the gap between the rotary support piece 107 constituting the
There is a device that prevents the device from being caught between the devices 2 and 103. However, depending on the tolerance of the upper and lower halves 102 and 103 and the tolerance of the torsion coil spring 112, the gap between the rising wall 102a of the upper half 102 and the turning support piece 107 forming the lid 105 becomes smaller, and the gap forming member is not provided. When the gap forming member is inserted between the rising wall 102a of the upper half 102 and the rotation support piece 107, the gap forming member may damage the cartridge body 104 and the lid 105.

The used tape cartridge 10
When the tape cartridge 1 is collected and the tape cartridge 1 is recycled, a part of the coil portion 113 is
This causes a problem that the cartridge body 104 and the lid 105 are soiled when the cartridge main body 103 and the lid 105 are sandwiched between the upper half 103 and the gap forming member is inserted between the upper half 102 and the rising wall 102a. .

Accordingly, the present invention prevents a part of the coil portion from being pinched between the upper and lower halves when the upper and lower halves are joined without deteriorating the assembly efficiency, and makes the lid unrotatable. It is an object of the present invention to provide a tape cartridge capable of preventing such a situation.

[0012]

According to the present invention, a lid for closing a front portion of a cartridge body is attached to one of a pair of halves, and then the lid is opened to open a front portion of one half. In this state, a tape cartridge that butt-joins a pair of halves, a pair of tape reels around which a magnetic tape is wound, and a pair of upper and lower halves that are butt-joined to form a magnetic tape between the pair of tape reels. A cartridge main body that is extended to the front surface and rotatably accommodates a pair of tape reels; a closing plate that closes the front surface of the cartridge main body; and a cartridge body that is formed on both sides of the closing plate and faces inward. Before the magnetic tape of the cartridge main body is extended, having a pair of rotation support pieces formed with a support shaft supported by support holes formed on both side surfaces on the front side of the cartridge body. A lid for opening and closing the part, and a coil portion which is wound around the support shaft, first and second formed coil portion
A coil portion is wound around at least one support shaft, the first arm portion is locked on the side surface portion of the cartridge body, and the second arm portion is locked on the rotation support piece. A biasing member for biasing the lid in a direction to close the front surface of the cartridge body. Around the support hole on which the support shaft on which the urging member is wound is supported, the lid is turned in a direction to open the front part of the cartridge body against the urging force of the urging member. At least the outer diameter is larger than the diameter of the coil portion whose diameter has been reduced at the time, and a protrusion is formed in which the height gradually decreases from the support hole side toward the outside.

In the above-described tape cartridge, when the upper and lower halves are joined together with the lid attached to the upper half open at the front, the coil portion of the biasing member is compressed by applying stress. At this time, the coil portion smoothly rides on the protruding portion and is separated from the side wall of the upper half. Therefore, when joining the upper and lower halves, it is possible to prevent a part of the coil portion from being caught between the upper half and the lower half, and when the upper and lower halves are joined, the lid cannot rotate. Can be prevented.

The outer diameter of the projecting portion is equal to or smaller than the diameter of the coil portion whose diameter has been increased when the lid is urged by the urging member to close the front surface of the cartridge body. It is formed as follows.

Further, the tape cartridge has a lock member rotatably attached to a side surface of the cartridge main body, and locking the lid in a state where the front surface of the cartridge main body is closed. The lock member includes a lock portion that locks the rotation of the lid by engaging an engagement portion formed on the rotation support piece of the lid, and a direction in which the lock portion engages with the engagement portion. Has a pressed portion pressed by the first arm portion of the biasing member, and an operating portion to which a lock release mechanism on the recording and / or reproducing device side is engaged. The lock member is rotated by a lock release mechanism engaged with the operation portion, and is rotated against the urging force of the first arm portion of the urging member pressing the pressed portion. The engagement between the mating portion and the lock portion is released, and the lid is made rotatable in a direction to open the front portion of the cartridge body. That is, in the tape cartridge, the number of components is reduced by using a common urging member for urging the lid in the closing direction and a common urging member for urging the lock member in the locking direction.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a tape cartridge to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to the drawings. FIGS. 1 to 3 show a tape cartridge 1 to which the present invention is applied.
As shown in FIG. 1, a pair of upper and lower halves 2 and 3 formed by injection molding of a synthetic resin are butt-joined to each other, and a pair of tapes in which a magnetic tape 5 is wound inside the cartridge body 4 are provided. The reels 6 and 7 are rotatably supported.

As shown in FIG. 4, rising walls 2a and 3a constituting the side wall of the tape cartridge 1 are formed on the upper and lower halves 2 and 3 so as to surround the outer periphery. Tape reel storage walls 8, 9 for rotatably storing the tape reels 6, 7 are formed upright. The tape reel storage walls 8 and 9 are formed in a substantially arc shape, and constitute tape reel storage portions 10 and 11 that rotatably support the tape reels 6 and 7 when the upper and lower halves 2 and 3 are butt-connected. I do. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a drive shaft constituting a tape reel drive mechanism of the recording / reproducing apparatus enters the main surface of the lower half 3 constituting the tape reel storage units 10 and 11. Shaft insertion holes 13 and 14 are formed.

A pair of tape reels 6 and 7 around which the magnetic tape 5 is wound, as shown in FIG.
6, 17 and a pair of upper and lower disc-shaped flange portions 18, 19 integrally attached to the hub portions 16, 17 respectively.
As shown in FIG. 2, the lower half 3 is attached to the hub portions 16 and 17.
Drive shaft engagement holes 20 and 21 are formed on the sides of the drive shaft and the drive shaft constituting the tape reel drive mechanism of the recording / reproducing apparatus. As shown in FIG. 4, both ends of the magnetic tape 5 are engaged with the hub portions 16 and 17 by a clamper 22 for clamping the magnetic tape 5. In the tape reels 6 and 7 configured as described above, the drive shaft engaging holes 20 and 21 provided at the lower end sides of the hub portions 16 and 17 from the drive shaft insertion holes 13 and 14 formed in the lower half 3. It is rotatably stored in the tape reel storage units 10 and 11 so as to face outward. Further, the tape reels 6 and 7 are supported by pressing the upper ends of the hub portions 16 and 17 toward the lower half 3 by reel holding springs 23 and 24 disposed on the inner surface side of the upper half 2.
The tape reels 6 and 7 are pressed and supported by the reel pressing springs 23 and 24, so that stable rotation in the cartridge body 4 is guaranteed.

On the front side of the cartridge body 4,
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, a loading concave portion 25 is formed in which a loading mechanism for pulling out the magnetic tape 5 from the cartridge body 4 and loading the magnetic tape 5 into a tape traveling path in the recording / reproducing apparatus enters. On the front side of the cartridge body 4, on both sides of the loading recess 25, there are formed tape pull-out openings 26 and 27 for pulling out the magnetic tape 5 to the outside of the cartridge body 4. Guide portions 28, 2 for extending the magnetic tape 5 drawn out from the openings 26, 27 into the concave portion 25 for loading are provided in the openings 26, 27, respectively.
9 are formed. The magnetic tape 5 extending between the tape reels 6 and 7 has an opening 2 for a tape pull-out operation.
6 and 27, the guide portions 28,
The cartridge 29 extends to the loading concave portion 25 on the front side of the cartridge body 4 while being guided by the cartridge 29.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a lid 31 for opening and closing the loading recess 25 is rotatably mounted on the front side of the cartridge body 4. The lid 31 includes a closing plate 32 for closing the front surface of the cartridge body 4, and rotating support pieces 33 and 34 formed on both sides of the closing plate 32. When the tape cartridge 1 is not used, the closing plate 32 closes the front surface of the cartridge body 4 on which the magnetic tape 5 extends, thereby protecting the magnetic tape 5 extending on the front surface of the cartridge body 4. I'm trying.

On both sides of the closing plate 32, turning support pieces 33 and 34 for turning and supporting the lid 31 to the cartridge body 4 are formed opposite to each other.
34, support shafts 35, 3 for rotatably supporting the lid 31 on the front surface of the cartridge body 4.
6 are planted. The support shafts 35 and 36 are, as shown in FIG.
Are engaged with support holes 37 and 38 formed by cutting out the front end of the rising wall 2a on the front side. On the support shafts 35 and 36,
As shown in FIG. 6, when engaging with the support holes 37, 38, regulating portions 39, 40 are formed to prevent the support holes 37, 38 from coming off. The restricting portions 39 and 40 are formed so as to increase in diameter from a middle portion of the support shafts 35 and 36 toward the distal end portion. Further, the support holes 37 and 38 are formed with a tapered portion 41 so as to increase in diameter from the middle in the thickness direction of the rising wall 2a of the upper half 2 toward the inner surface side. The support shafts 35, 36 are engaged with the support holes 37, 38 so that the regulation portions 39, 40 are located inside the rising wall 2 a and substantially fit with the tapered portion 41. When mounted on the front, the support holes 37, 3
8 is prevented from falling outside.

An urging member for urging the lid 31 on the support shaft 35 erected on one of the rotation support pieces 33 in a direction in which the lid 31 closes the front surface of the cartridge body 4 is provided. The torsion coil spring 44 is attached. As shown in FIG. 5, the torsion coil spring 44 is formed of a linear member, and a coil portion 45 formed by winding the linear member twice, and first arms formed on both sides of the coil portion 45. It comprises a part 46 and a second arm part 47. The torsion coil spring 44 is configured such that the coil portion 45 is
The first arm portion 46 is wound around the support shaft 35
Is locked by a first locking portion 48 formed slightly behind the support hole 37 with which the support shaft 35 of the rising wall 2a of the upper half 2 is engaged, and the second arm portion 47 of the support shaft 35 Slightly forward,
That is, the lid 31 is closed by the second locking portion 49 formed on the base end side of the rotation support piece 33, thereby closing the front surface of the cartridge body 4 where the magnetic tape 5 extends. It is urged in the direction of arrow A in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 12, the torsion coil spring 44 has a diameter D1 of the coil portion 45 in a natural state where no stress is applied as shown in FIG. ), The diameter D2 of the coil portion 45 when the stress is applied is smaller than the diameter D1 in the natural state when the stress is applied. That is, the diameter of the coil portion 45 is reduced when a stress is applied. For example, the diameter D when stress is applied
2 and the diameter D2 in the natural state is D2 ≒ 0.8
× D1, and the diameter D2 when a stress is applied is about 80% of the diameter D1 in a natural state. At this time, when a stress is applied, a stress is generated in the coil portion 45 in a direction that hinders the close contact between the linear members that constitute the coil portion 45, and the close contact of the linear member is hindered. ,
It becomes irregular.

As shown in FIG. 7, the coil part 45 is
5, the support shaft 35 is engaged with the support hole 37 of the rising wall 2a of the upper half 2, and the upper half 2 and the lower half 3
Is protruded into the rising wall 3a of the lower half 3, the protrusion 45a protrudes from the rising wall 2 of the upper half 2.
a and the rising wall 3a of the lower half 3 may be pinched. Therefore, around the support hole 37 of the rising wall 2a of the upper half 2, a protruding portion 45a on the side of the lower half 3 of the coil portion 34 is formed when the upper half 2 and the lower half 3 are joined. A protruding portion 51 is formed to prevent the material from being caught between them.

The projecting portion 51 is formed in a horseshoe shape as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, and the supporting hole 3 is formed so that the coil portion 45 can easily ride on when the coil portion 45 is reduced in diameter.
The height H is formed so as to gradually decrease from the side 7 toward the outside. As shown in FIG. 8, when the coil portion 45 is reduced in diameter, the coil portion 45 rides on the rising surface 2B of the upper half 2 to separate the coil portion 45 from the reference surface HB of the upper half 2 by a distance H1 as shown in FIG. The protrusion 45a of the coil portion 45 can be prevented from being caught between the rising wall 2a and the rising wall 3a when the upper and lower halves 2 and 3 are connected.

As shown in FIG. 8, when the coil portion 45 rides on the projecting portion 51, the rotation supporting piece 33
Coil portion 4 reduced in diameter until 9 is locked by tapered portion 41
5 and is moved in the direction of arrow B in FIG.
Movement of the rotation supporting piece 33 from the time when the coil portion 45 shown in FIG. 6 expands in diameter and is located on the flat portion 2b to the time when the coil portion shown in FIG. The amount corresponds to the tolerance X of the upper half 2 and the support shaft 35. For example, the protruding portion 51 is formed such that the height H satisfies H (height) ≧ X (tolerance) / 3 (coefficient). Further, for example, in the torsion coil spring 44, the height (H) is related to the wire diameter φ of the linear member constituting the torsion coil spring 44, and H (height) ≧ 0.5 (coefficient) × φ (wire diameter ) Is formed. That is, when the coil portion 45 is reduced in diameter and rides on the protrusion 51,
The rising wall 2a of the upper half 2 and the turning support piece 3 of the lid 31
3 is formed so as to be 1/3 of the tolerance X.

As shown in FIG. 8, the outer diameter D3 of the projecting portion 51 is formed to be larger than the diameter D2 of the coil portion 45 when the coil portion 45 is reduced in diameter by applying stress. The projecting portion 51 is formed such that the outer diameter D3 is larger than the diameter D2 when the coil portion 45 is reduced in diameter, so that the reduced coil portion 45 rides on the projecting portion 51 and rises up the coil portion 45. The wall 2a is separated from the flat portion 2 so that the protruding portion 45a is not sandwiched between the rising wall 2a and the rising wall 3a.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the outer diameter D3 of the protruding portion 51 is such that the diameter of the coil portion 4 is increased in a natural state.
5 is formed to be smaller than the diameter D1. That is, the torsion coil spring 44 is located on the flat portion 2b outside the protruding portion 51 formed on the rising wall 2a of the upper half 2 when the coil portion 45 is expanding in diameter.
The lower half 3 is disposed in a stable state on a flat surface formed together with the flat portion 3a of the rising wall 3a.

In the tape cartridge 1 to which the present invention is applied, when the coil portion 45 is expanded without applying stress, the coil portion 45 in this state is located on the flat portion 2 b outside the projecting portion 51. Therefore, the torsion coil spring 112 used in the conventional tape cartridge 101 is used.
The same can be used. That is, in the tape cartridge 1, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 9, the diameter D1 of the coil portion 45 of the torsion coil spring 44 in the expanded natural state is changed to the expanded natural state used in the conventional tape cartridge 101. In this case, the diameter G4 of the coil portion 113 of the torsion coil spring 112 can be the same as the diameter D4, and the distance G1 between the rotation support piece 33 and the rising wall 2a of the upper half 2 is determined by the rotation of the conventional tape cartridge 101. The distance G2 between the support piece 107 and the rising wall 102a of the upper half 2 can be the same. That is, the tape cartridge 1 to which the present invention is applied can be formed to have the same size and shape except for the conventional tape cartridge 101 and the protrusion 51, and only the design of the protrusion 51 needs to be changed. Therefore, it can be easily applied to the conventional tape cartridge 101.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the rotary support pieces 33 and 34 have a rotary operating mechanism for rotating the lid 31 when the tape cartridge 1 is loaded in the recording / reproducing apparatus. Are engaged with each other. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, an engagement portion 56 with which a lock portion 57 of the lock member 53 is engaged is formed on one of the rotation support pieces 33.

On the side of the cartridge body 4 on which the rotation support piece 33 is provided, a lock member 53 for locking the lid 31 in a state where the lid 31 closes the front surface of the cartridge body 4 is provided. You. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the lock member 53 has support shafts 54, 54 protruding from both sides. The support shafts 54, 54 are rising walls 3 a constituting side walls of the cartridge body 4 of the lower half 3, and are engaged with bearing portions 55, 55 formed slightly behind the pivot point of the lid 31. 7 are supported so as to be rotatable in the directions indicated by arrows C and C in FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the locking member 53 is engaged with an engaging portion 56 formed on the distal end side of the rotation support piece 33 of the lid 31 so that the lid 31 is engaged. A locking portion 57 that locks the lid 31 in a state where the front portion of the cartridge body 4 is closed, and a twisting portion in the direction of arrow C in FIG. It has a pressed portion 58 pressed by the first arm portion 46 of the coil spring 44, and an operation portion 59 formed on the lower end side and engaged with a lock release mechanism on the recording / reproducing device side. When the lock member 53 rotates in the direction of arrow C in FIG. 7, the first arm portion 46 of the torsion coil spring 44 is locked to the first half 2 formed on the rising wall 2 a of the upper half 2. Has a rotation restricting portion 61 which comes into contact with the locking portion 48 of the second member.

The lock member 53 as described above is mounted on the support shaft 54 on the arrangement portion 62 in which the lower surface of the rising wall 3a of the lower half 3 is opened so that the unlocking mechanism of the recording / reproducing apparatus can enter. , 54 are arranged in a state of being engaged with the bearing portions 55, 55. At this time, the locking member 53
The pressed part 58 formed on the upper end side is pressed by the first arm part 46 of the torsion coil spring 44, and the support shafts 54, 54
7 is locked in the direction of arrow C in FIG. 7, and the urging force of the torsion coil spring 44 locks the engagement portion 56 of the rotation support piece 33 of the lid 31 closing the front surface of the cartridge body 4. 57 are engaged. The operation unit 59 faces the lower surface of the cartridge body 4 from the disposition unit 62,
Further, the rotation restricting portion 61 is abutted against the first locking portion 48 of the torsion coil spring 44 to which the first arm portion 46 is locked, and the locking member 53 rotates in the direction of arrow C in FIG. Prevents overdoing.

Then, the lid 31 closing the front surface of the cartridge body 4 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 7 against the biasing force of the torsion coil spring 44, and the front surface of the cartridge body 4 is moved. When the lock member 53 is released, the operation portion 59 facing the lower surface side of the cartridge body 4 from the disposition portion 62 is engaged with the lock release mechanism on the recording / reproducing device side, and is operated in the direction indicated by the arrow C in FIG. This causes the torsion coil spring 44 to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow C in FIG. 7 against the urging force of the first arm portion 46 of the torsion coil spring 44 pressing the pressed portion 58. As a result, as shown in FIG. 10, the engagement state between the lock portion 57 and the engagement portion 56 of the rotation support piece 33 is released, and the lid 31 opens the front surface of the cartridge body 4. It is in a state where it can rotate in the direction of the inward arrow A. The cover 31 has a rotating operation mechanism on the recording / reproducing device side engaged with engagement holes 52, 52 formed in the rotating support pieces 33, 34, and resists the urging force of the torsion coil spring 44. 7 is rotated in the direction indicated by arrow A in FIG.
To release. The cover body 31 is rotated by 45 ° to 85 °, preferably 83 ° in the direction indicated by the arrow A in FIG.

An upper lid 65 for closing the upper surface of the cartridge body 4 is attached to the lid 31 as described above so as to be able to move in synchronization with the rotation of the lid 31. As shown in FIG. 1, the upper half 2 is formed with a window 66 for checking the winding amount of the magnetic tape 5 wound around the tape reels 6 and 7 housed in the cartridge body 4. In addition, as shown in FIG.
Are provided with positioning holes 67 and 68 for positioning the mounting position of the tape cartridge 1 when the tape cartridge 1 is mounted on the recording / reproducing unit in the recording / reproducing apparatus.

The tape cartridge 1 constructed as described above is assembled as follows. That is, first,
As shown in FIG. 4, a pair of tape reels 6 and 7 around which the magnetic tape 5 is wound are rotatably housed in the lower half 3 in tape reel housings 10 and 11 formed in the lower half 3. And the magnetic tape 5 between the tape reels 6 and 7 is
It extends to the front surface of the lower half 3 so as to be bridged between the guide portions 28 and 29. Further, other components such as a reel lock member for preventing the tape reels 6 and 7 from spinning are disposed at predetermined positions of the lower half 3. Further, an arrangement portion 62 formed on a rising wall 3a that constitutes one side surface of the cartridge body 4 of the lower half 3 includes:
The lock member 53 is rotatably attached in the directions indicated by arrows C and C in FIG. 7 by engaging the support shafts 54 with the bearing 55.

At the same time, a lid 31 is attached to the upper half 2 on the front side. Specifically, the lid 31 is shown in FIG.
As shown in the figure, the coil portion 45 of the torsion coil spring 44 is wound around the support shaft 35 erected on one of the rotation support pieces 33, and then the support shaft 35 erected on the rotation support pieces 33, 34. , 3
6 is attached to the front side of the upper half 2 by being engaged with the support holes 37, 38 so that the regulating portions 39, 40 are located inside the rising walls 2a, 2a. Thereafter, the torsion coil spring 44 is configured such that the first arm portion 46 is locked by the first locking portion 48 of the upper half 2, and the second arm portion 47 is locked by the second locking portion of the rotation support piece 33. Locked to 49. Thereby, the lid 31 attached to the front side of the upper half 2 is urged in the direction of arrow A in FIG.

At this time, as shown in FIG.
Pressed portion 5 of lock member 53 disposed in disposition portion 62
8 is pressed by the first arm portion 46 of the torsion coil spring 44, and the lock member 53 engages the lock portion 57 with the engagement portion 56 formed on the one rotation support piece 33 in FIG.
The locking portion 57 is urged to rotate in the direction of arrow C,
To be engaged. Further, the lock member 53 is prevented from rotating excessively in the direction of arrow C in FIG. 7 by the rotation restricting portion 61 being brought into contact with the first locking portion 48 formed on the rising wall 2a. Have been.

When the lid 31 closes the front surface of the upper half 2, the torsion coil spring 44 does not apply any stress, as shown in FIG.
Are located in the flat portions 2b and 3b around the protrusion 51 formed around the support hole 37, and are in a stable posture.

The lower half 3 has tape reels 6, 7
After the components such as are disposed at predetermined positions and the lid 31 is disposed on the upper half 2, the upper half 2 and the lower half 3
They are butted and joined by screws 69 and the like. Upper half 2
When the lower half 3 and the lower half 3 are joined, the lid 31 sandwiches the magnetic tape 5 extended on the front surface of the lower half 3 between the lid 31 and the upper half 2 and / or the lower half 3,
In order to prevent the magnetic tape 5 from being stained, the front surface of the upper half 2 is opened.

That is, as shown in FIG. 7, the operation unit 59 of the lock member 53 locks the lid 31 of the assembly device (not shown) of the tape cartridge 1 so that the front surface of the upper half 2 is closed. The lock release mechanism for releasing the locked state is engaged. Then, the lock member 53 is rotated by the lock release mechanism in the direction indicated by the arrow C in FIG. 7 to release the engagement between the lock portion 57 and the engagement portion 56. As a result, the lid 31 is in a state in which it can rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow A in FIG. Then, the lid 31 is rotated by the lid 31 attached to the upper half 2 of the tape cartridge 1 on the assembly device side in the engagement hole 52 formed in the rotary support pieces 33 and 34. The mechanism is engaged, and the turning operation mechanism is turned in a direction opposite to the arrow A in FIG. 7 against the urging force of the torsion coil spring 44. The upper half 2 and the lower half 3 are joined by the screw 69 in such a state that the lid 31 is turned in the direction of the arrow A in FIG. 10 against the biasing force of the torsion coil spring 44.

When the upper half 2 and the lower half 3 are joined, the lid 31 is opened by the rotating operation mechanism of the assembling apparatus so that the front surface of the upper half 2 is opened. The coil part 45 shown in FIG. 6 is reduced in diameter from the state in which the coil part 45 shown in FIG. 6 is enlarged, and is in a state in which the coil part 45 rides on the protrusion 51 formed around the support hole 37. At this time, since the protruding portion 51 is formed so that the height gradually decreases outward from the support hole 37 at the center, the coil portion 45 whose diameter is smoothly reduced rides on. The coil portion 45 is provided on the rising wall 2 of the upper half 2.
When the upper and lower halves 2 and 3 are joined, the protruding portion 45a that is separated from the upper portion a and protrudes toward the lower half 3 of the coil portion 45 is not caught between the rising wall 2a and the rising wall 3a. Therefore, the lid 31 is
The protruding portion 45a has a rising wall 2a and a rising wall 3a.
Between them, the rotation is prevented from becoming impossible.

When the tape cartridge 1 assembled as described above is not used in the recording / reproducing apparatus, the upper and lower halves 2 and 3 are butt-joined by the lid 31 when the tape cartridge 1 is not used. Is in a closed state. That is, the lid 31 is urged in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 7 by the urging force of the torsion coil spring 44 attached to the support shaft 35 erected on the one rotation support piece 33, and the magnetic tape 5 extends. The front surface of the cartridge body 4 is closed to protect the magnetic tape 5 exposed to the outside of the cartridge body 4.

At this time, as shown in FIG. 7, the lock member 53 has the pressed portion 58 pressed by the first arm portion 46 of the torsion coil spring 44, and the arrow C in FIG. The engagement portion 5 of the rotation support piece 33 of the lid 31 which is urged to rotate in the direction and closes the front portion of the cartridge body 4.
6 is engaged with the lock portion 57. Thus, the locking member 53 locks the lid 31 in a state where the front surface of the cartridge body 4 in which the magnetic tape 5 extends is closed.
The lid 31 is prevented from being inadvertently rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 7 that opens the front surface of the cartridge body 4.

Then, the tape cartridge 1 is
It is loaded into the recording / reproducing apparatus with the front side on which the device 1 is attached as an insertion end. Then, the tape cartridge 1 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion provided in the recording / reproducing apparatus in a state where the positioning pins provided on the cartridge mounting portion are engaged with the positioning holes 67 and 68 shown in FIG. You. At the same time, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 10, the lock member 53 is configured such that the operation portion 59 facing the lower surface side of the cartridge body 4 from the disposition portion 62 is engaged with the lock release mechanism on the recording / reproducing device side. The torsion coil spring 4 pressing the pressed portion 58 by being moved in the direction of the arrow C in FIG.
4 is rotated in the direction of the arrow C in FIG. 7 against the urging force of the first arm 46 of FIG. As a result, as shown in FIG. 10, the engagement state between the lock portion 57 and the engagement portion 56 of the rotation support piece 33 is released, and the lid 31 opens the front surface of the cartridge body 4. It is in a state where it can rotate in the direction of the inward arrow A. Then, the cover 31 has a rotation operating mechanism on the recording / reproducing apparatus side engaged with engagement holes 52, 52 formed in the rotation support pieces 33, 34 of the cover 31, and the torsion coil spring 44.
7 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 7 against the urging force of the cartridge body 4 as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. Is released.

When the lid 31 opens the front surface of the cartridge body 4, the magnetic tape 5 extended to the loading concave portion 25 enters the loading concave portion 25 by the loading mechanism on the recording / reproducing apparatus side. It is pulled out from the tape reels 6 and 7 by the loading mechanism, and is wound around a rotating magnetic head device which constitutes a recording / reproducing means on the recording / reproducing device side. Then, the drive shaft constituting the tape reel drive mechanism enters through the drive shaft insertion holes 13, 14 of the lower half 3 and is engaged with the drive shaft engagement holes 20, 21 of the tape reels 6, 7. The reels 6 and 7 are rotated to move the magnetic tape 5. At this time, the recording / reproducing apparatus records the information signal on the magnetic tape 5 and reproduces the information signal recorded on the magnetic tape 5.

When the tape cartridge 1 is ejected from the recording / reproducing apparatus, the lid 31 is moved by the urging force of the torsion coil spring 44 attached to the support shaft 35 erected on one of the rotation support pieces 33. 7 is rotated in the direction of arrow A, and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, the front surface of the cartridge body 4 on which the magnetic tape 5 is extended is closed. At the same time, the lock member 53 is supported until the pressed portion 58 is pressed by the first arm portion 46 of the torsion coil spring 44 and the rotation restricting portion 61 is engaged with the first locking portion 48. 7, the engagement portion 56 of the rotation supporting piece 33 and the lock portion 57 are engaged. Thereby, the lid 31 is, as described above,
The front surface of the cartridge body 4 on which the magnetic tape 5 is extended is closed.

In the tape cartridge 1 configured as described above, since the protrusion 51 is formed around the support hole 37 formed in the rising wall 2a of the upper half 2, the tape cartridge 1 can be assembled. In this case, even when the lid 31 is rotated in a direction to open the front portion of the upper half 2,
Since the coil part 45 of the torsion coil spring 44 rides on the protruding part, it is possible to prevent a part of the coil part 45 from being caught between the upper half 2 and the lower half 3,
Therefore, it is possible to prevent the lid 31 from being unable to rotate. The protruding portion 51 is formed so that its height gradually decreases outward from the support hole 37. Therefore, the coil portion 45 that expands and contracts in diameter can move from the flat portions 2b and 3b to the protruding portion 51, and can easily ride on the protruding portion 51 when the upper and lower halves 2 and 3 are combined. After assembly, the lid 31 is rotated each time insertion / removal of the recording / reproducing apparatus is repeated. Also at this time, the coil portion 51 is smoothly expanded and reduced in diameter along the protruding portion 51. And the smoothness of rotation of the lid 31 is not deteriorated. Further, the tape cartridge 1
A common torsion coil spring 43 is used for the urging member for urging the lid 31 in the direction of closing the front surface of the cartridge body 4 and the member for urging the lock member 53 in the locking direction of the lid 31.
, The number of parts can be reduced.

The outer diameter D3 of the projecting portion 51 is formed so as to be smaller than the diameter D1 of the coil portion 45 in the expanded state in a natural state. It is located on the surrounding flat part 2b. Therefore,
In the tape cartridge 1 to which the present invention is applied, the same one as the torsion coil spring 112 used in the conventional tape cartridge 101 can be used. That is, in the tape cartridge 1, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 9, the diameter D 1 of the coil portion 45 of the expanded torsion coil spring 44 in the natural state is increased by the conventional tape cartridge 101.
The diameter D4 of the coil portion 113 of the torsion coil spring 112 in the natural state where the diameter is increased is used, and the distance G1 between the turning support piece 33 and the rising wall 2a of the upper half 2 is set. To the conventional tape cartridge 1
01 and the rising wall 10 of the upper half 2
The distance G2 can be the same as the distance G2 from the second electrode 2a. Therefore,
The tape cartridge 1 to which the present invention is applied can be formed in the same size and shape except for the conventional tape cartridge 101 and the projecting portion 51, and only the projecting portion 51 needs to be changed in design. This can be easily applied to the conventional tape cartridge 101.

As described above, the tape cartridge 1 to which the present invention is applied has been described with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the case where the torsion coil spring 44, the lock member 53, and the like are provided on the support shaft 35 side of the one rotation support piece 3 and the protruding portion 51 is formed around the support hole 37 has been described above. These may be provided only on the opposite side of the rotation support piece 34, or may be provided on both the rotation support piece 33 and the rotation support piece 34. Further, the protruding portion 51 may be formed on the rising wall 3 a of the lower half 3 below the support hole 37.
Further, the shape of the protruding portion 51 is not limited to the horseshoe shape described above.

[0051]

According to the tape cartridge of the present invention, a lid is provided around the support hole on which the support shaft on which the urging member is wound is supported, against the urging force of the urging member. At least an outer diameter is larger than the diameter of the coil part whose diameter has been reduced when the front part of the main body is turned in a direction to open the front part, and a protruding part whose height gradually decreases toward the outer peripheral side is formed. Therefore, when the upper and lower halves are joined in a state where the lid attached to the upper half has the front part opened, the coil portion of the urging member is reduced in diameter by application of stress. At this time, the coil part smoothly rides on the protruding part and is separated from the side wall of the upper half. Therefore, when the upper and lower halves are combined, a part of the coil portion is prevented from being sandwiched between the upper and lower halves, and when the upper and lower halves are combined, the lid cannot be rotated. Can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tape cartridge to which the present invention is applied, as viewed from above.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which a lid of the tape cartridge has opened a front part of a cartridge body.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the tape cartridge as viewed from below.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the tape cartridge.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view for explaining a state in which the lid is attached to the front surface of the cartridge body.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state of a support shaft of the lid when the lid closes a front surface of the cartridge body.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a cover closes a front portion of the cartridge body.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a state of a support shaft of the lid when the lid opens a front part of the cartridge body.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the state of the support shaft of the conventional tape cartridge when the cover of the tape cartridge closes the front surface of the cartridge body.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a cover opens a front portion of the cartridge body.

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view for explaining a state in which a lid of a conventional tape cartridge is attached to a front portion of a cartridge body.

FIG. 12 is a view showing a state of a torsion coil spring for urging the lid in a direction to close the front part of the cartridge body;
(A) is a diagram showing a state where the diameter of the coil portion is expanded (natural state), and (B) is a diagram showing a state where the diameter of the coil portion is reduced (a state where stress is applied). It is.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 tape cartridge, 2 upper half, 2a rising wall, 3 lower half, 3a rising wall, 4 cartridge body, 5 magnetic tape, 31 lid, 33, 34 rotation support piece, 35, 36 support shaft, 37, 38 support Hole, 44
Torsion coil spring, 45 coil portion, 45a protruding portion, 46 first arm portion, 47 second arm portion, 4
8 First locking part, 49 Second locking part, 51 Projecting part, 52 engaging hole, 53 Lock member, 54 Support shaft, 55
Bearing portion, 56 engaging portion, 57 locking portion, 58 pressed portion, 59 operating portion, 61 rotation restricting portion, 62 mounting portion

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A pair of tape reels around which a magnetic tape is wound, and a pair of upper and lower halves butt-coupled to each other. A cartridge body in which a tape reel of the cartridge body is rotatably housed; a closing plate for closing a front portion of the cartridge body; and both side portions on the front side of the cartridge body formed inward on both sides of the closing plate. Having a pair of rotation support pieces formed with a support shaft supported by the support holes formed in the
A lid for opening and closing the front surface of the cartridge body where the magnetic tape extends, a coil wound around the support shaft, and first and second arms formed on the coil; And the coil portion is wound around at least one of the support shafts,
Arm portion is locked to the side surface portion of the cartridge main body, and the second arm portion is locked to the rotation support piece, so that the lid is closed in a direction to close the front portion of the cartridge main body. An urging member for urging, wherein the lid is provided around the support hole on which a support shaft around which the urging member is wound is supported, against the urging force of the urging member. At least the outer diameter is larger than the diameter of the coil part whose diameter is reduced when the front part of the main body is turned in a direction to open the front part, and a projecting part whose height gradually decreases outward from the support hole side is formed. A tape cartridge characterized in that: 2. The outer diameter of the projecting portion is the same as the diameter of the coil portion whose diameter is enlarged when the lid is urged by the urging member to close the front surface of the cartridge body. The tape cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the tape cartridge is small. And a lock member rotatably attached to a side surface portion of the cartridge main body, the lock member locking the front surface portion of the cartridge main body in a closed state, wherein the lock member includes the lid. A lock portion for locking the rotation of the lid by engaging an engagement portion formed on the rotation support piece of the body, and the lock portion in a direction in which the lock portion engages with the engagement portion. A pressing portion pressed by the first arm portion of the biasing member; and an operating portion to which a lock release mechanism of the recording and / or reproducing device is engaged, wherein the lock member is engaged with the operating portion. The engaging portion and the lock portion are rotated by a combined operation of the lock release mechanism against the urging force of the first arm portion of the urging member pressing the pressed portion. Disengaged with the cover, and the lid Tape cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotatable state in a direction to open the front portion of the body.