JP2003296833A - Lock apparatus for article container - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lock mechanism which has a lock structure of two stages for fixing and locking an article into a case for storing the article, the number of parts of which is reduced, further, and with which a lock member is hardly shifted and a fault is reduced. <P>SOLUTION: The lock mechanism having the lock structure of the two stages for fixing and locking the article into the case for storing the article, the lock mechanism mounted on to the case by a groove on the first stage of the lock structure for locking the article within the case by a groove on the second stage is composed of the groove for locking on the second stage provided on an end face of a tag for locking and a lock member having a lock portion to be locked in the groove in the case of locking on a corresponding end face. Further, the lock member has the shape of a box with the bottom, and the lock member is provided in a storage part to be freely slid through a cylindrical roller. Besides, a spring is provided between the lock member and the internal wall surface of a casing, and the lock member is in a locked state by being locked in the groove for locking of the tag for locking ordinarily by the spring, and unlocked by being attracted by an external magnet. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a two-stage lock structure for fixing and locking a product in a case for storing the product in a CD shop or the like to prevent shoplifting of the product, and more particularly to a self-sounding product monitoring circuit. The present invention relates to a lock structure for locking a locking tag having a lock to a case.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in order to prevent shoplifting of products in a CD shop or the like, an article monitoring device which stores a product in a clear case, and in particular, has an internal power source and receives radio waves from a transmitter at the entrance. A self-sounding article monitoring device in which the tag itself sounds an alarm is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-90360
Known as in the gazette.

In the case of, for example, a CD, this self-sounding article monitor is provided with a transparent case (clear case) 41 made of synthetic resin, an alarm activation detection switch 44 and a buzzer 47 as shown in FIG. A (cassette containing a compact disc) 48 is stored. The operation of the buzzer 47 is controlled by the wireless receiving circuit 45 and the detection switch 44, and when the cassette 48 is not present in the clear case 41 after the power is turned on, or when the self-sounding article monitoring device passes through the gate. It sounds like.

FIG. 13 shows a state in which products are stored. At the store, the cassette 48 containing the CD is housed in the clear case 41 of the self-sounding article monitoring device for display, and when the compact disc is sold to the customer, the clerk sets the buzzer 47 so that it does not ring. Then, the cassette 48 is taken out from the clear case 41, and the compact disc is handed to the customer in exchange for the fee. The self-sounding article monitoring device from which the cassette 48 is taken out is repeatedly used. In the above-mentioned self-sounding article monitoring device, when the customer arbitrarily removes the cassette 48 from the clear case 41 of the self-sounding article monitoring device, the alarm actuation detection switch 44 detects that the cassette 48 does not exist in the clear case 41. Buzzer 47
To the buzzer 47, and the buzzer 47 sounds in response to the ringing command.

As a result, the clerk can clear the clear case 41.
From this, it can be known that the cassette 48 has been illegally taken out. Further, when the customer attempts to take the cassette 48 out of the store without holding the cassette 48 in the clear case 41 of the self-sounding article monitoring device, the wireless receiving circuit 4 of the self-sounding article monitoring device is displayed.
5 outputs a ringing command to the buzzer 47 in response to a signal from a transmission circuit provided at an entrance gate or the like, and the buzzer 47 rings in response to the ringing command. This allows the store clerk to know that the compact disc is being illegally taken out of the store.

FIG. 7 shows an overall view of the conventional self-sounding article monitoring apparatus. Reference numeral 41 in FIG. 7 (a) is a clear case, which is made of transparent plastic, in which CDs and the like are stored, and the products are arranged in the store as products. 42 in FIG. 7 (a)
Is a tag serving as a lock mechanism (locking tag), which is inserted from the tag insertion port 54 of the clear case 41 and attached to the case 41. An enlarged perspective view of the above tag is shown in FIG.
Shown in 7. Reference numeral 55 is a sound output port, which has a built-in alarm device such as a buzzer. Further, reference numeral 56 is a detection switch provided on the upper part of the tag, and when a product is housed and locked in the case as described later, the detection switch is pushed by the product and turned off. Therefore, when the product is illegally taken out as described above, the switch is turned on, and the buzzer becomes a mechanism. Figure 7 (b)
Reference numeral 53 denotes a releaser for releasing the lock of the tag, which is provided at the entrance of the store or the like.

As shown in FIG. 8, the tag (lock mechanism)
Is inserted from the tag insertion port and attached to the case 41 as shown in FIG. FIG. 8C is an enlarged view of the tag insertion portion. As shown in the figure, when the tag 42 is pushed in, the CD product whose lower end is initially at the position 59 is pushed to the position where the lower end is at the dotted line 58, so that the detection switch 6 is pushed to the bottom of the CD product and enters the state. (OF
F state). This switch 56 when setting the product
Since the power switch (not shown) will be turned on after is turned on (OFF), the above detection switch will work if the product is pulled out without releasing the lock (without turning off the power) once it is locked. The alarm circuit (not shown) is turned on and the buzzer sounds.

FIG. 9 shows the usage state of the self-sounding article monitoring device, and FIG. 10 shows the unlocking operation. Figure 9
As shown in (a), the CD product is shown in FIG.
It is inserted while avoiding the claw portion 57 of (a). After inserting the CD product, as shown in FIG. 9B, the tag (locking mechanism) is pushed from below to be locked. As shown in FIG. 9C, when locked, the CD is blocked by the case claw 57 and cannot be taken out. Unlock is shown in Figure 1.
As shown in 0 (a), the locked case is inserted into the releaser from above. Then, due to the action of the strong magnets 60 provided on the left and right side surfaces of the releaser, the lock inside the tag is released, and the CD product is moved downward.
As shown in (b), the CD can be taken out while avoiding the claw portion 57. Thus, as shown in FIG.
The case can be free.

FIG. 11 shows the operation of separating the tag and the case when the case is damaged. First, the releaser is separated into a main body and a base (Fig. 11 (a)), and the damaged case is inserted into the separated releaser main body (Fig. 11 (b)-
(C)). Since there is no base (tag / stopper to be described later), pulling up only the clear case while holding the tag with your finger releases the lock mechanism that attaches the tag to the case, so the tag is separated from the case (Fig. 11).
(D)). Finally, the tag remaining underneath may be taken out (FIG. 11 (e)).

FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining the details of the lock mechanism and its operation. FIG. 14A shows a locked state.
As shown in the figure, since the lock spring 70 is locked to the lock protrusion 62 having the sliding portion 65 on the upper portion, the lock spring is fitted into the groove 67 (see FIG. 7C) in the lower stage, and the self-tapping tag The case 69 is locked so that it cannot move downward.

FIG. 14 (b) is a view showing a state in which the lock mechanism is inserted into a releaser (release device). When the lock mechanism is inserted into the releaser (release device), the action of the strong magnets 75 provided on the left and right side surfaces of the releaser causes the lock to be released as shown in FIGS. 14 (b), 16 (a) and 16 (b). The self-sounding tag case 69 can freely move in the vertical direction by the spring 70 being attracted to the left and right to open, and over the lock protrusion. That is, the lock mechanism of the tag is released.

FIG. 15 shows that the releaser is as shown in FIG.
FIG. 11 shows a state in which the releaser main body and the base (see FIG. 11A) are combined. In this case, since the upper portion of the base serves as the tag stopper 71, the tag is moved until it comes into contact with the tag stopper.

FIG. 15 shows ON / OF of the power switch 46.
The F operation is shown. When attaching the tag 42 to the clear case, attach it with the power switch 46 in the OFF state,
The detection switch 56 is turned off when the product is attached to the case.
After that, the power switch 46 is turned on. Therefore,
The buzzer does not sound from the tag installation to the product installation, and the power switch 46 is turned on after locking. The operation is as follows. FIG. 15A shows the initial state, and the lock mechanism of the clear case 41 is in the released state. The figure (b) shows a locked state. When the tag 42 is pushed upward and locked, the power switch (slide switch) 46 is turned on by hitting the clear case 41.
It becomes a state. FIG. 15C shows the insertion into the releaser. In this state, the power switch is in the ON state because the clear case is in the locked state. When the tag moves downward and the lock is released, the power switch is pushed by the claw 72 provided on the tag stopper 71 of the releaser to turn it off, as shown in FIG. FIG. 7E shows the same initial state as that of FIG.

FIG. 15D shows a normal unlocked state. At this time, the tag moves downward, the lock spring 70 is in a state of being fitted in the upper groove 68 (see FIG. 7A), and the lock spring is fixed to the case. Remains attached to the clear case. When the clear case or tag is broken and the clear case and the tag are separated,
As shown in FIG. 1, when the lock release operation is performed only by the releaser main body, the lock is released without the tag stopper 24 of FIG. 15, so that the lock spring 70 also rides over the retaining protrusion 61 as described above, The lock can be further released even when it is fitted in the groove 68. Thus, the lock spring is disengaged from the tag, the tag 42 can be separated from the clear case, and the tag can be replaced. Since the tag having the self-sounding article monitoring circuit is expensive, it is used only for sampling such as one in ten cases. In other cases, the lock mechanism is similar to the self-sounding tag built-in only in appearance, but it is a dummy that does not have a self-sounding tag built-in.

By the way, the lock mechanism using the leaf spring has the following drawbacks. (1) In FIG. 14 and FIG. 16, it is difficult for the leaf spring 70 to be properly housed in correspondence with the locking grooves 67 and 68 of the locking tag. The leaf spring is housed between ribs and the like of the housing portion, and the locking groove 6 of the locking tag is used.
Grooves 67, if slightly displaced from the positions corresponding to 7, 68
It often fails to enter the inside of 68 and becomes a failure.

(2) The leaf spring has an integrated structure on the left and right side surfaces, and a shift on one side affects the other side.
Misalignment with the lock grooves 67 and 68 is more likely to occur. In order to avoid this, if it becomes a structure that combines two leaf springs,
The number of parts increases, the assembly becomes troublesome, and extra deviation easily occurs, making it difficult to store and fix them.

(3) Since the leaf spring locking mechanism is located on both sides of the locking tag, there are four locking points and four releaser release magnets are required.

[0018]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has a two-stage lock structure for fixing and locking a product in a case for storing the product, and the two-stage lock structure is provided on a lock tag. The first step of the locking structure includes a step locking groove and a locking member having an iron core that is fitted into the step locking and locked, and is attracted and released by an external magnet against a locking spring. In a lock mechanism that is attached to a case with a groove and locks a product in the case with a groove in the second step, the lock mechanism is provided with the groove for locking in the two steps provided on the end face side of the lock tag when locking. An object of the present invention is to provide a locking mechanism that has a small number of parts, is less likely to cause a deviation of the locking member, and is less prone to failure by being composed of a locking member having a locking portion that is locked in the groove on the corresponding end surface. To do.

[0019]

The lock mechanism of the present invention has a two-stage lock structure for fixing and locking a product in a case for storing the product, and the two-stage lock structure is provided on the lock tag. And a lock member having a two-stage locking groove and an iron core or a magnet fitted and locked in the groove and being attracted and released by an external magnet against the locking spring. In the lock mechanism that is attached to the case with the groove of the first step and locks the product in the case with the groove of the second step, the lock mechanism is provided in the end surface of the lock tag. And a lock member having a locking portion, which is locked in the groove when locked, on the corresponding end surface.

Further, the lock member is in the shape of a box with a bottom, and the lock member is slidably provided in the storage portion through a cylindrical roller, and the lock member and the case body are slidable. A lock spring spring is provided between the inner wall surfaces, and the lock spring is always engaged with the lock groove of the lock tag by the spring spring and is in a locked state.

Further, a self-sounding article monitoring circuit is built in the lock tag, and the lock tag is pushed by the inner surface of the case to be turned on at the time of the locking and is turned on. A power switch for turning on the power is provided, and the switch is an automatic reset switch that is turned off when the pressure on the inner surface of the case is released when the lock is released.

[0022]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of a lock mechanism of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is an overall exploded perspective view of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is shown in FIGS.
It is a lock tag for the same purpose as shown in 7.
Is a bottomed box-shaped lock member. On the lock tag 1,
As shown in FIG. 6, two locking projections 13 and 14 are provided, and the locking projections 13 and 14 (FIG. 6) of the tag and the locking projection are provided on the end surface of the lock member 2 corresponding to the tag. Locking tip portions 9, 10 are formed for occasional engagement. Reference numeral 3 denotes a bottomed box-shaped storage member that stores the lock member 2 and has an open end on the tag side. As shown in FIG. 2, the clear case 15 is similar to the conventional lock mechanism 43 (FIG. 12). It is ultrasonically welded to the corners on both lower ends.

For example, FIG. 18 shows an example of a clear case used in the present invention, which is ultrasonically welded to the corner portions 81 to 84 as described above. A roller bearing 12 is provided integrally with the housing member on the inner bottom surface of the housing member 3, and the roller 5 is rotatably mounted on the bearing 12. The lock member 2 is accommodated in the accommodating member 3 with the bottom of the bottomed box-shaped bottom facing upward and the inner surface of the ceiling part supported by the rollers. An iron material or a magnet 7 is embedded in the outer end surface of the lock member 2 so that the iron material or the magnet 7 is attracted to the strong external magnet 4. A coil spring 8 is attached to the outer end surface of the lock member 2, and the coil spring 8 is normally in contact with the inner wall of the outside of the storage member 3 to push the lock member 2 toward the lock tag 1.

Therefore, when the lock tag 1 is present, the lock tip portions 9, 10 of the lock member 2 are provided.
Engages with either of the locking grooves 13 and 14 on the end surface of the locking tag 1 to lock the tag. As shown in FIG. 2, when the strong external magnet 4 is brought close to the outside of the end face of the case, the iron or magnet 7 attached to the end of the lock member is attracted to the external magnet 4 to cause the coil spring to move as shown in FIG. The locking member 2 moves to the right against 8 and the projections 13 and 14 of the locking tag and the tips 9 and 10 of the locking member.
Is disengaged and the lock is released. 4 and 5
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the states of FIGS. 2 and 3. 6 is a perspective view of the end surface of the lock tag 1 as viewed from the right side.

As in the case of FIG. 14 of the prior art, the locking projection 13 is for engaging the tag and the case, and the locking projection 14 is for pushing the internal product and locking it in the case. Further, in the present invention, the power switch is not the slide switch 46 of FIG. 15, but an automatic reset type snap switch is used. (Japanese Patent Application 2000
See -373777. The automatic return type switch has an effect that the tag stopper 72 in the conventional releaser becomes unnecessary.

As can be seen from comparison with FIG. 14, the lock mechanism of the present invention has the following features as compared with the conventional lock mechanism. (1) Whereas the conventional locking mechanism locks with the projections 62 and 63 on the side surface of the locking tag 42, the locking mechanism of the present invention has the projections 13 and 14 on the end surface of the locking tag (FIG. 6).
I'm locking at.

(2) The conventional locking mechanism locks the tag 4
The second side is performed because a leaf spring is used as the lock member, but in the present invention, this leaf spring is basically eliminated. For this reason, the precision of the engagement between the leaf spring and the locking groove is not required, and in the case of the leaf spring, it is necessary to unlock the both side surfaces at the same time, but the lock mechanism of the present invention has only one end surface. , The malfunction of the lock mechanism is reduced and the product reliability is improved.

(3) Since the unlocking is performed in the end face direction, not in the side face direction, the lock spring member can be a coil spring having good durability and available at low cost. On the other hand, conventional leaf springs are difficult to process,
Further, it is difficult to obtain the accuracy of the bending interval, and the cost is high.

(4) The strong magnet for unlocking is an expensive magnet using neodymium, but in the present invention, since the unlocking is performed in the end face direction, two external magnets for unlocking are provided on the outer sides of both end faces. Compared to the conventional one that required four external magnets, two on each side, a total cost of the unlocker for release can be greatly reduced.

[0030]

As described above, since the lock mechanism of the present invention has a simpler structure as a whole as compared with the lock structure of the leaf spring, the failure and malfunction can be reduced, and the lock mechanism is inexpensive and durable. It became a structure.

Further, it is sufficient that there are two external magnets for releasing the lock, which are two on both side surfaces as in the conventional case, and a total of four external magnets.
Compared with the one that required one external magnet, the cost of the unlocker for release can be reduced significantly.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall exploded perspective view of a lock mechanism of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the lock mechanism of the present invention during a lock operation.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the lock mechanism of the present invention when unlocked.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of FIG.

FIG. 6 is an end perspective view of the lock tag of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an overall view of a conventional self-sounding article monitoring device.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an operation of attaching a self-sounding tag to a clear case in a conventional self-sounding article monitoring device.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an operation of storing a product in a clear case in a conventional self-sounding article monitoring device.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an operation of removing a product from a clear case in a conventional self-sounding article monitoring device.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an operation of removing the self-sounding tag from the clear case in the conventional self-sounding article monitoring device.

FIG. 12 is a detailed view of a conventional self-sounding article monitoring device.

13 is a diagram showing a state where the tag is pushed in and is in a locked state in FIG. 12. FIG.

FIG. 14 is a view showing a conventional lock mechanism of a tag.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing ON / OFF operation of a power switch of a conventional tag.

16 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of FIG.

FIG. 17 is an overall perspective view of a conventional tag.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of a clear case in which the locking device of the present invention is used.

[Explanation of symbols]

Tag for 1 lock 2 Lock member 3 storage members 4 external magnet 5 roller 7 Iron member 8 coil spring 9,10 Tip magnet for locking 13,14 Lock protrusion

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A two-stage locking structure having a two-stage locking structure for fixing and locking a product in a case for storing the product, the two-stage locking structure being provided in a locking tag, It is composed of a lock member having an iron core or a magnet that is fitted and locked in the groove and is attracted and released by an external magnet against a locking spring, and is attached to the case by the first groove of the lock structure. A lock mechanism for locking a product in a case with a second-stage groove, wherein the lock mechanism is a lock groove provided on an end surface of a lock tag and a lock groove engaged with the lock groove when locked. A lock mechanism comprising a lock member having a stop portion on a corresponding end surface. 2. The lock according to claim 1, wherein the lock member is in the shape of a box with a bottom, and the lock member is slidably provided in the storage portion via a cylindrical roller. mechanism. 3. A lock spring spring is provided between the lock member and an inner wall surface of the case body, and the lock spring constantly engages the lock member with the lock groove of the lock tag. The locking mechanism according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the locking mechanism is in a locked state. 4. The lock mechanism according to claim 1, wherein a self-sounding article monitoring circuit is built in the lock tag. 5. The lock tag is provided with a power switch that is pushed by the inner surface of the case to be turned on when the lock tag is turned on to turn on the power of the self-sounding article monitoring circuit, and the switch unlocks the lock. The lock mechanism according to claim 4, wherein the lock mechanism is an automatic reset type switch that is turned off when the pressure on the inner surface of the case is released.