JP2617434B2 - Tape cartridge - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tape cartridge having a tape height regulating rib above the left and right tape outlets of a main body case.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A digital recording / reproducing audio tape cartridge as shown in FIGS. 7 to 10 is conventionally known (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-68785). In this case, the main body case 1 is formed by integrally joining plastic upper and lower cases 1a and 1b with screws S or the like. Inside the main body case 1, the lower case 1b
Hubs 5, 5 around which a tape 4 is wound, are rotatably accommodated and arranged in left and right drive shaft insertion holes 3, 3 provided in the bottom wall 2 of the rotator.

[0003] Tape pull-out ports 6.6 are provided on the right and left sides of the front surface of the main body case 1. On the front side of the main body case 1, tape loading pockets 7 are formed at positions corresponding to between the left and right tape outlets 6. A tape guide 8, which is also used to fasten the screw S, is provided upright from the lower case 1 b side on the side of the pocket 7 facing each tape outlet 6. The tape 4 is led out from one hub 5 through a tape outlet 6 in front of the hub 5 to a pocket 7 on the front side of the case, and is wound up on the other hub 5 located behind the other via the tape outlet 6. .

A tape loading pocket 7 is formed in the bottom wall 2 of the lower case 1b at a position corresponding to the space between the tape outlets 6, 6 so as to enter the inside of the case. The upper part of the pocket 7 is the upper case 1a. The front end of the upper wall 9 is always closed, but its front and lower parts are open.

A front cover 10 for protecting the tape is provided on the front side of the main body case 1 with the pocket 7 and the respective tape outlets 6.
The opening 6 is pivotally mounted to be openable and closable around the rotation shaft 11 in a posture for closing the front surface of the opening (when not in use) and an upward opening posture (for use). Further, on the outer surface side of the bottom wall 2 of the lower case 1b, a front closing position in which the shutter 12 closes each lower part of the pocket 7 and the drive shaft insertion hole 3 and a lower position of each of the pocket 7 and the drive shaft insertion hole 3 are provided. It is slidably mounted in the front-rear direction across the open rear position.

[0006]

The problem to be solved here is how to set the type and position of the gate of the mold when the upper case 1a of the tape cartridge is injection-molded. The position of the gate is important because it ultimately affects the flow state of the material in the cavity, the weld, and the generation of internal strain, and governs the appearance, function, dimensions, and moldability of the upper case 1a as a molded product.

It is desirable to adopt a tunnel gate method as a type of gate. According to the tunnel gate, the gate portion is automatically cut by shearing due to the protrusion of the molded product, and there is no need for post-processing. In consideration of these points, generally, most of them set the tunnel gate position on the outer surface of the side wall 13 of the upper case 1a at present.

However, when the gate position is set on the outer surface of the side wall 13 of the upper case 1a as described above, the gate mark becomes round and easily visible, thereby impairing the appearance and reducing the commercial value. Also, a tape outlet 6 on the front side of the upper case 1a.
The surrounding area is particularly required for molding accuracy. However, in a configuration in which the tunnel gate is set on the side wall 13, since the area around the tape outlet 6 goes away from the gate position, it is difficult to increase the molding accuracy of the corresponding portion. .

Further, at the time of tape loading, the tape 4
The tape 4 is moved up and down within the tape outlet 6 to cause unstable running, and the upper edge of the tape 4 slides against the upper edge of the opening of the tape outlet 6 to cause a problem that the tape 4 is broken or damaged. . In order to solve this problem, a tape height regulating rib is protruded downward on the inner surface of the upper wall 9 closing the upper portion of the tape outlet 6 on the front side of the upper case 1a.
It is considered that these ribs are used to prevent the tape 4 from being broken or damaged, and to stabilize the tape running. In such a case, it is also required to increase the forming accuracy of the tape height regulating rib. However, as described above, when the gate is attached to the side wall 13 which goes away from the front side of the upper case 1a, the forming of the corresponding rib is performed. Accuracy cannot be improved sufficiently. Further, depending on the use conditions in a high temperature environment after molding, there is a problem that the tape height regulating rib is easily deformed.

An object of the present invention is to improve the forming accuracy of the tape height regulating rib on the front side of the upper case by devising the position setting of the tunnel gate on the upper case so that the gate mark is not conspicuous. To provide a tape cartridge that can be used. It is an object of the present invention to provide a tape cartridge which secures the strength of a rib for restricting the height of the tape even when the thickness of the rib is small before and after the tape height regulating rib.

[0011]

As shown in FIGS. 7 to 10, a tape cartridge according to the present invention has tapes 4 on both sides inside a main body case 1 formed by joining upper and lower plastic cases 1a and 1b in abutting manner. Hub 5 on which is wound
5 are provided, and tape pull-out ports 6.6 are provided on the right and left sides of the front side of the main body case 1, and on the front side of the main body case 1,
A tape loading pocket 7 is formed at a position corresponding to a position between the left and right tape outlets 6. On the front side of the main body case 1, a pocket 7 and each tape outlet 6 are formed.
A front cover 10 for protecting the tape that closes the front surface of the opening 6 is pivotally connected to be freely opened and closed.

According to the present invention, in such a tape cartridge, a tape height regulating rib 14 having a predetermined vertical width dimension is provided at a position corresponding to the upper part of each tape outlet 6 in the upper case 1a as shown in FIGS. Are integrally formed so as to protrude downward from the inner surface of the upper wall 9 of the upper case 1a, and the end of each tape height regulating rib 14 on the pocket 7 side projects downward from the inner surface of the upper case 1a. Boss 8a. Then, the lower end surface 14b of each tape height regulating rib 14 and the boss 8 connected thereto are provided.
a is formed flush with the lower end surface at the same height,
On the outer surface side around the tape height regulating rib 14, the upper case 1
The position of the tunnel gate G at the time of molding a is set.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the tunnel gate G is positioned at an intermediate portion in the vertical width direction on the front surface of the tape height regulating rib 14, and as shown in FIG. The lower end of the boss 8a is abutted against the upper end of the tape guide 8 erected from the lower case 1b side, and the projection 8b projecting downward from the boss 8a is engaged with the upper end of the tape guide 8 in an in-fit manner. .

[0014]

The tape height regulating rib and the boss connected to the rib and forming a part of the rib have a sufficient vertical dimension necessary and sufficient for setting the position of the tunnel gate. Accordingly, by setting the position of the tunnel gate G on the outer surface side around the tape height regulating rib 14, the end of the runner R is lowered from the parting line PL of the fixed mold 16 and the movable mold 17 as shown in FIG. Thus, the forming material can be filled from the side wall of the cavity 18. According to the tunnel gate G, the gate portion is automatically cut by the protrusion of the upper case 1a, which is a molded product, by shearing by the part 16a of the fixed mold 16, so that the cutting process is not required in post-processing. Will be done. Since the lower end surface of the tape height regulating rib 14 and the boss 8a are continuous at the same height and flush with each other,
No dangerous cross section is formed at the joining portion of the tape 8a, and the upper edge of the tape 4 can be smoothly guided between the rib 14 and the boss 8a.

[0015]

According to the present invention, the gate mark of the tunnel gate G does not need to be subjected to post-processing, and the area around the tape height regulating rib 14 is covered with the front cover 10 and is inconspicuous. Also, the appearance of the gate is not impaired. Furthermore, since the gate position is set here around the tape height regulating rib 14, the injection pressure of the molding material during molding is high, and the molding accuracy of the rib 14 can be increased. Moreover, the tape height regulating rib 1
4 has one end connected to the boss 8a without any step, and the lower end face is flush with the boss 8a. Therefore, a dangerous cross section is not formed, and the mechanical strength of the rib 14 is reinforced by the boss 8a.
4 is also secured. Therefore, the stability of tape running can be improved.

[0016]

1 to 4 show an embodiment of the present invention.
It will be described based on. Since the entire basic configuration of the tape cartridge is substantially the same as that of the above-described conventional example, the same reference numerals are given and the description thereof will be omitted, and only the differences from the conventional upper case 1a with respect to the tape outlet will be described. I do.

A tape height regulating rib 14 having a predetermined vertical width is projected downward from the inner surface of the upper wall 9 at a position corresponding to the upper part of the opening of each tape outlet 6 on the upper wall 9 of the upper case 1a. A boss 8a is integrally formed at the end of each of the tape height regulating ribs 14 on the side closer to the pocket 7 so as to protrude downward from the inner surface of the upper wall 9 of the upper case 1a. Become. Thus, the end of each tape height regulating rib 14 on the pocket 7 side is the boss 8
a. Each tape height regulation rib 14
And the lower end surface of the boss 8a connected to the lower end surface 14b are formed flush with each other at the same height without any step. When the upper and lower cases 1a and 1b are connected in a lid-to-lid manner, as shown in FIG. 3, the lower end surface of the boss 8a on the upper case 1a side is abutted against the upper end surface of the tape guide 8 erected from the lower case 1b side. A projection 8b projecting downward from the center of the boss 8a is fitted inside the upper end of the tape guide 8, thereby preventing the tape guide 8 from falling down and ensuring vertical accuracy.

As described above, the upper case 1a having the tape height regulating rib 14 and the boss 8a is injection-molded. At the time of the molding, the position of the tunnel gate G of the mold is determined by the front surface of the tape height regulating rib 14. It is set at the middle part in the vertical width direction on the side.

At this time, as shown in FIG.
The front end 9a of the upper surface of the upper wall 9 is formed in a stepped shape slightly lower than other portions 9b of the upper surface of the upper wall 9, and protrudes rearward from the upper end of the front lid 10 on this low front end 9a. The upper wall 10a is placed on the upper case 1a so that the upper surface of the upper wall 10a and the upper surface 9b of the upper case 1a are substantially the same. There is no gap for dust to enter. The front end surface 9c of the upper wall 9 of the upper case 1a is inclined to be in contact with an upper surface 10b formed on the inclined surface of the front lid 10.

Therefore, since the front end face 9c of the upper wall 9 is formed on the slope, the tape height regulating rib 14
As shown in FIG. 1, the boss 8a is set at a position slightly deviated inward from the tangent T at the front of the peripheral surface of the boss 8a by a to escape from the front end surface 9c, so that the front end surface 14a of the rib 14 Ensure a sufficient vertical flat surface. Thus, the tunnel gate G is set at the upper and lower intermediate portions of the flat front end surface 14a of the tape height regulating rib 14.

As shown in FIG. 4, the end of the runner R is connected to an upper movable mold 17 and a lower fixed mold 1 as shown in FIG.
6 submerged from parting line PL and cavity 18
The molding material is to be filled from the side wall.

According to the gate G, the gate portion is formed as a part 1 of the fixed mold 16 with the protrusion of the upper case 1a as a product.
It is automatically cut by the shearing of 6a. At this time, the front end surface 14a of the tape height regulating rib 14 to which the tunnel gate G is attached is set at a position deviated inward from the tangent T of the front surface of the boss 8a to the upper case 1 as described above.
Even when the front end face 9c of the upper wall 9a is formed on an inclined surface, the front end face 14a of the rib 14 has a sufficient vertical dimension for attaching the tunnel gate G. Therefore, at the time of automatic cutting of the gate G, the gate portion on the front end surface 14a of the tape height regulating rib 14 is not scraped off and no fragments are left, and only the gate G is cut cleanly from the front end surface 14a. The result is a highly efficient gate.

If a chamfer 15 for burrs escape is provided at a corner where the front end surface 14a and the lower end surface 14b of the tape height regulating rib 1 intersect, a highly reliable tape height regulation which does not damage the tape 4 is provided. The rib 14 is obtained. Also, by forming the lower end surface 14b of the tape height regulating rib 14 in a round shape as shown in FIG. 5, the tape can be similarly prevented from being damaged by burrs.

(Alternative Embodiment) As shown in FIG. 6, when the front end face 9c of the upper wall 9 of the upper case 1a is formed in a vertical plane, the front end face 14a of the tape height regulating rib 14 is formed by a boss 8a.
Even if it is formed so as to coincide with the tangent line T at the front part of the peripheral surface, the front end surface 14a can be formed into a vertical flat surface having a sufficient gate width.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an internal plan view of an upper case.

FIG. 2 is a partial front view of an upper case.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional side view of a tape outlet portion.

FIG. 4 is a partial longitudinal side view of a molding die of an upper case.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional side view of a tape outlet portion of another embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a tape pull-out portion according to still another embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an external perspective view of a conventional example.

FIG. 8 is an internal plan view of a conventional upper case.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a conventional main body case and a shutter.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 7;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main body case 1a Upper case 1b Lower case 4 Tape 5 Hub 6 Tape outlet 8 Tape guide 8a Boss 8b Projection 9 Upper wall 10 Front lid 14 Tape height regulating rib 16 Fixed mold 17 Movable mold G Tunnel gate

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. Upper and lower cases 1a and 1b made of plastic
The hubs 5, 5 around which the tape 4 is wound, are built in the left and right sides of the main body case 1 formed by butt-joining, and the tape draw-out ports 6, 6 are provided on the right and left sides of the front side of the main body case 1. The left and right tape outlets 6.6 are provided on the front side of the main body case 1.
Pocket 7 for tape loading at a position corresponding to the gap
A front cover 10 for protecting the tape which closes the front of the opening of the pocket 7 and each of the tape outlets 6, 6 is formed on the front side of the main body case 1.
In a tape cartridge pivotally connected to the upper case 1a, a tape height regulating rib 14 having a predetermined vertical dimension is provided at a position corresponding to the upper part of each tape outlet 6 in the upper case 1a. It is integrally formed so as to protrude downward from the inner surface of the upper wall 9, and the end of each tape height regulating rib 14 on the pocket 7 side is integrally formed with a boss 8a projecting downward from the inner surface of the upper case 1a. The lower end surface 14b of each tape height regulating rib 14 and the lower end surface of the boss 8a connected thereto are formed flush with each other at the same height. A tape cartridge wherein a position of a tunnel gate G at the time of molding the upper case 1a is set on an outer surface side. 2. The tape cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the tunnel gate is located at an intermediate portion of the front surface of the tape height regulating rib in the vertical direction. 3. The lower end surface of the boss 8a on the upper case 1a side is
The tape cartridge according to claim 2, wherein the tape cartridge is abutted against the upper end surface of the tape guide 8 erected from the lower case 1 b side, and the projection 8 b protruded from the boss 8 a engages with the upper end of the tape guide 8. .