JP2789130B2 - Tape cassette - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial applications]

The present invention relates to a tape cassette used in a recording and / or reproducing apparatus, in particular, an 8 mm video tape
The present invention relates to a tape cassette provided with a lock member, such as a DTV tape cassette, which operates in a thickness direction of a case main body to lock a front cover closed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is well known that a tape cassette is conventionally used in a recording and / or reproducing apparatus such as a video tape recorder (hereinafter simply referred to as a recording / reproducing apparatus). In general, such a tape cassette is generally described in which a supply-side reel and a take-up-side reel are provided in a case body in which an upper half and a lower half made of plastic are combined. A magnetic tape is stretched on a predetermined path between the supply side reel and the take-up side reel,
Furthermore, a front lid is provided for protecting the magnetic tape located outside the case body. It is also well known that a lock means for maintaining the front lid in a closed state is provided. For example, as proposed in the public relations of Jiko 63-12455,
A rotating lid for covering the front surface of the tape cassette to protect the tape stretched over the front surface of the tape cassette; two side walls separated from each other; an extension between the side walls and one extension of the side wall; and a front surface of the tape cassette A groove formed by arranging the inner surface of the side plate of the rotary lid, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the tape stretched over the tape, at a distance from each other; A notch provided at the lower portion of the front surface of the rotary lid corresponding to the position of the groove to allow the unlocking member to enter the groove, and a thickness direction of the tape cassette in the groove supported by the side wall and axially supported by the side wall. And a release end facing the front surface of the tape cassette through the notch and the engagement end with the rotation lid, and is normally engaged with the rotation lid and the engagement end. To prevent its rotation, And the unlocking member, which passes through the groove and enters from the front surface of the tape cassette, is rotated by moving the unlocking end to abut, so that the engagement with the rotary lid is released, and the rotation is released. There has been proposed a tape cassette having a forcing lid lock and a biasing spring for biasing the lid lock into engagement with the pivoting lid. By the way, in this tape cassette, a lid lock and an urging spring for urging the lid lock to engage with the rotating lid are formed as separate members, and the number of parts is large, and it takes time and effort to manage parts. Is troublesome to assemble.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

A first object of the present invention is to provide a tape cassette which has a small number of parts, has simple parts management, and is easy to assemble. A second object of the present invention is to provide a tape cassette which is hardly damaged by the front lid locking means and has high durability. An object of the present invention is to provide a case body, a pivotable open / close front lid attached to the case body, and fixed to the case body to operate in the thickness direction of the case body. A locking member for locking the front lid to close the front lid. The locking member includes a fixing portion having an extending portion extending along the front-rear direction of the case body, and an extending portion of the fixing portion. And a lock claw provided on the lock arm, and at least one of the lock members is made of a plurality of types of elastic materials. This is achieved by a tape cassette characterized in that: Also, a case main body, a rotatable opening / closing front lid attached to the case main body, and a front cover closed by being fixed to the case main body and operating in the thickness direction of the case main body. A lock member for locking the lid is provided. The lock member is connected to a fixed portion having an extending portion extending in the front-rear direction of the case body, and connected to a tip end of the extending portion of the fixed portion. A lock arm provided on the lock arm, a lock claw provided on the lock arm, and a reinforcing portion for reinforcing the posture of the lock arm between the fixed portion and the lock arm. The lock member is achieved by a tape cassette characterized in that at least one of the lock members is made of a plurality of elastic materials.

【Example】

1 to 3 show an embodiment of a tape cassette according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view, FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a lock member of a front lid, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a part of a case body in which the lock member is provided. The case main body 1 constituting the tape cassette A is composed of a rectangular upper half 1a and a lower half 1b formed of, for example, a synthetic resin such as polypropylene, ABS resin, and polystyrene resin. They are fitted to each other from above and below, and are screwed together with set screws to form an integral housing. A pair of tape reels, i.e., a supply reel 2a and a take-up reel 2b, are rotatably accommodated in the case body 1, and a magnetic tape (hereinafter simply referred to as "tape") 3 is provided between the supply reel 2a and the take-up reel. 2b.
The tape reels 2a and 2b are mounted on the bottom plate of the lower half 1b, and the lower ends thereof are fitted and positioned in reel fitting holes provided in the bottom plate. Reference numeral 4 denotes a pressing spring for the pair of tape reels 2a and 2b. As shown in FIG. 1, a front opening 5 is provided on the front surface of the case main body 1 over substantially the entire width of the tape cassette.
In addition, the bottom plate of the lower half 1b has a bottom opening continuous with the front opening 5 (a tape loading member of the recording / reproducing apparatus enters a pocket formed by the front opening 5 and the bottom opening, and the tape 3 is taped). Cassette A). A front wall is integrally formed on the bottom plate of the lower half 1b along the edge of the bottom opening, and the front wall is provided between the inside of the case main body 1 or the bottom opening and the tape reels 2a, 2b. It is divided by. A pair of tape guides 6a and 6b are provided on both left and right ends of the front wall.
Are integrally formed on the bottom plate of the lower half 1b, and the tape 3 is guided by these two tape guides 6a and 6b.
It is hung along the front opening. The front opening 5 is covered by a front lid 7 formed in a substantially U shape. That is, the front lid 7 has a front plate 7a for closing the front surface of the case body 1, a connecting piece 7b extending rearward from both left and right ends of the front plate 7a, and an inner surface of both connecting pieces 7b. Polypropylene having a protruding rotating shaft 7c,
A molded product made of a synthetic resin such as an ABS resin or a polystyrene resin. The left and right connecting pieces 7b are externally fitted to the front end recessed portions 8a and 8b of the left and right side walls of the case body 1, and the rotating shaft 7c is Settlement 8
Fitted and supported by rotating holes provided in a and 8b, respectively. The front cover 7 is rotatable around the rotation shaft 7c between a posture for closing the front surface of the case body 1 and a posture for upward opening. Is normally biased to a closed position by a resilient means such as a torsion spring 9 (not shown). Note that the closing urging mechanism of the front lid 7 may be any mechanism. At the location where the pocket exists, a dust cover is pivotally connected to the inside of the front lid 7 via a shaft so as to be swingable, and the dust cover includes the inner side including the lower side of the tape 3 when the tape cassette A is not used. And the upper surface of the pocket is sealed, and dust enters from the upper and lower opening surfaces of the pocket and the tape 3
To prevent it from adhering to This dust cover is on the left and right sides facing the pocket (this side is the tape guide 6a, 6
b) is connected to the cam groove provided in
When the front cover 7 is opened, the dust cover also moves upward together with the front cover 7 without interfering with the tape 3 at all. That is, the front plate 7a of the front cover 7
A dust cover mounting piece is vertically provided integrally from the upper end side of 7a, and shafts protruding from the left and right ends of the upper and lower middle portions of the dust cover are pivotally supported on this mounting piece. Pin-shaped cam followers protrude from the left and right sides near the lower end of the dust cover,
The cam followers are engaged and connected to the respective cam grooves. Reference numeral 10 denotes a lock member. The lock member 10 is formed by a predetermined molding means using a plastic or metal material. As shown in FIG. A fixing convex portion (supporting portion) 11 fixed to the case 1b), an extending portion 12 extending from the fixing convex portion 11 along the front-rear direction of the case main body portion, and a tip portion of the extending portion 12 A lock arm portion 14 having a lock claw 13 provided continuously therewith; and a rear leg portion 15 (which is connected to a rear end portion of the extension portion 12 and is locked to the case body portion. , This extension
The lock arm portion 14 and the rear leg portion 15 connected to 12 are formed in, for example, a substantially U-shape) and slidably contact the back surface of the lock arm portion 14, and fixed to prevent the lock arm portion 14 from hanging down. And a spring portion 16 fixed to the projecting portion 11. Incidentally, the spring portion 16 may be a stainless steel spring member integrally formed by insert molding at the time of molding the lock member 10, or may be a member attached with an adhesive after molding the lock member 10, and The constituent material of the spring portion 16 is not limited to a metal material, and may be a plastic material having another elasticity different from the above-described plastic material. Further, it is preferable that a concave groove into which the distal end of the spring portion 16 is fitted is formed on the sliding contact surface of the lock arm 14 so that the distal end of the spring portion 16 does not easily come off the lock arm 14. Reference numeral 17 denotes a release end formed on a lock arm portion 14 for releasing the closed lid lock on the front lid 7 by the lock member 10, and the release end 17 is also provided integrally when the lock member 10 is molded. It is. Reference numeral 18 denotes a locking claw formed on the rear leg 15 which is locked to the locked portion 19 of the case body 1 (lower case 1b). The locking claw 18 is also formed when the lock member 10 is molded. It is a thing. Reference numerals 20a and 20b denote angular recesses formed in the upright walls 21a and 21b of the lower half 1b. The locking projections (supporting portions) 11 of the lock member 10 are arranged in the recesses 20a and 20b to lock the lower half 1b. Member 10
Is attached to the lower case 1b (case body 1).
As can be understood from the mounting structure of the lock member, the lock member 10 does not rotate like the lock member of the conventional tape cassette. When the tape cassette A constructed as described above is not used, the front cover 7 is closed to cover and protect the tape 3 from the front outside. When the tape is loaded, the front lid 7 is opened and the tape loading member (not shown) of the recording / reproducing apparatus enters a pocket which is largely formed in the left and right central portion of the front edge of the case body 1 so as to be recessed. To the front of the tape cassette. That is, when the tape cassette A is loaded into the recording / reproducing apparatus, an unlocking member (not shown) on the recording / reproducing apparatus side enters, and the unlocking member opposes the elasticity of the lock arm portion 14 of the lock member 10. Displaces the release end 17 of the lock member 10 in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 1, whereby the lock arm 14 of the lock member 10 is also displaced, and the lock claw 13 is disengaged from the locked portion of the front lid 7, Since the front cover 7 is placed in a state where the cover can be opened, a cover opening member (not shown) on the recording / reproducing apparatus side.
The front cover 7 is rotated clockwise in FIG. 1 to open by the operation of FIG. The loading member (not shown) enters and the tape 3
To the front of the tape cassette. Thus, in the tape cassette A having the above configuration,
The fixing cover 11 connected to the extending portion 12 of the lock member 10 is dropped into the angular recesses 20a, 20b formed in the upright walls 21a, 21b of the lower half 1b, and only the upper half 1a is united. The assembling work of the lock mechanism 7 is completed, and the workability is remarkably high. Although the lock member 10 is repeatedly deformed by the opening and closing of the front cover 7, the durable metallic spring portion 16 is provided to reinforce the posture of the lock arm portion 14. The tape cassette is durable and hard to be damaged, and the tape cassette is durable. Further, the lock member 10 is easily obtained, and its manufacturing cost is not high. Further, the lock member 10 includes the fixing portion 11 and the recesses 20a and 20b of the lower case 1b, and the locking claw 18 and the case body 1
It is regulated by the locked portion 19 of the (lower case 1b), and is firmly held even if the lock arm portion 14 of the lock member 10 is deformed to bend when the front cover 7 is opened and closed, so that it fluctuates. That is, the reliability of the locking operation of the lock member 10 is high. FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a main part (a lock member of a front lid) showing a second embodiment of the tape cassette according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the spring portion 16
Is fixed to the fixing convex portion 11, whereas a metal helical spring 26 is disposed in a concave portion 25 formed in the portion of the fixing convex portion 11, and the tip of the helical spring 26 is It is merely configured to resiliently contact the surface of the groove formed in the lock arm portion 14 of the lock member 10, and the other basic technical ideas are the same, so detailed description is omitted. FIG. 5 is a side view of a main part (a front end lock member) showing a third embodiment of the tape cassette according to the present invention. In the present embodiment, the case of the first embodiment is a case where the extending portion 12 and the lock arm portion 14 are integrally formed of resin. Since only metal spring members 16a and 16b such as stainless steel are provided by insert molding between the existing portion 12 and the lock arm portion 14 made of resin, the technical idea is the same in other respects. Detailed description is omitted. In this embodiment, the metal spring members 16a, 16b
Is provided, but the metal spring member 16b may not be provided.

【effect】

The tape cassette according to the present invention has a case main body, a pivotable open / close front lid attached to the case main body, and fixed to the case main body, and operates in the thickness direction of the case main body. And a lock member for locking the front lid. The lock member has a fixed portion having an extended portion extending in the front-rear direction of the case body, and an extended portion of the fixed portion. And a lock claw provided on the lock arm, and at least one of the lock members is made of a plurality of types of elastic materials. Therefore, the assembling workability of the locking mechanism of the front lid is remarkably high, and the locking member is repeatedly subjected to a deforming action with opening and closing of the front lid, but has a high durability and a high durability of the tape cassette. In things Ri, further locking members are those obtained easily, the manufacturing costs are those inexpensive, yet reliable locking operation of the locking member has the features of high like. Further, the tape cassette according to the present invention includes a case main body, a pivotable open / close front lid attached to the case main body, and a thickness direction of the case main body fixed to the case main body. And a lock member for locking the front lid by operating the lock member. The lock member includes a fixing portion having an extending portion extending along the front-rear direction of the case main body portion, and a fixing portion of the fixing portion. A lock arm provided to be connected to the distal end of the extending portion, a lock claw provided on the lock arm, and an assist for reinforcing the posture of the lock arm between the fixed portion and the lock arm. Since the lock member is made of a plurality of types of materials having elasticity, the workability of assembling the lock mechanism of the front cover is extremely high, and the lock member opens and closes the front cover. Repeatedly deformed with Although subjected to use, rich in durability, which is rich in durability of the tape cassette, furthermore it is intended locking member is easily obtained,
The manufacturing cost is low, and the locking operation of the locking member is highly reliable.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 to 3 show a first embodiment of a tape cassette according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view, FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a lock member of a front cover, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a part of a case main body in which the lock member is disposed, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a main part (a lock member of a front cover) showing a second embodiment of the tape cassette according to the present invention. FIG. 5 is a side view of a main part (a lock member of a front cover) showing a third embodiment of the tape cassette according to the present invention. A: Tape cassette, 1: Case body, 1a: Upper half, 1b: Lower half, 2a: Supply side reel, 2b ... Rewind side reel, 3: Magnetic tape, 4 ... Holder Spring, 5 front opening, 6a, 6b tape guide, 7 front lid, 7a front plate, 7b connecting piece, 7c rotating shaft, 8a, 8b recessed portion, 10 lock member, 11 fixing protrusion, 12 extension part, 13 lock claw, 14 lock arm part, 15 rear leg part, 16 spring part, 16a, 16b ... spring member, 17 ... release end, 18 ... locking claw, 19 ... locked part, 20a, 20b ... recess, 21a, 21b ... standing wall, 25 ... recess, 26 ... Vine spring.

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A case body, a pivotable open / close front lid attached to the case body, and fixed to the case body to operate in the thickness direction of the case body and move forward. A lock member for locking the lid is provided. The lock member includes a fixing portion having an extending portion extending in the front-rear direction of the case body, and a tip of the extending portion of the fixing portion. A lock arm portion connected to the lock arm portion and a lock claw provided on the lock arm portion, wherein at least one of the lock members is made of a plurality of types of elastic materials. Characterized tape cassette. 2. A case body, a pivotable open / close front lid attached to the case body, and fixed to the case body to operate in the thickness direction of the case body and to move forward and backward. A lock member for locking the lid is provided. The lock member includes a fixing portion having an extending portion extending in the front-rear direction of the case body, and a tip of the extending portion of the fixing portion. A lock arm portion connected to the lock arm portion, a lock claw provided on the lock arm portion, and an auxiliary portion for reinforcing the posture of the lock arm portion between the fixed portion and the lock arm portion. A tape cassette, wherein at least one of the lock members is made of a plurality of kinds of elastic materials.