JP3120233B2 - 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 hub lock mechanism for locking and holding a hub so that it cannot rotate when not in use.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art This type of hub lock mechanism is applied to a DAT type tape cartridge and is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 63-191483. This hub lock mechanism will be described with reference to FIG. 3. If a lock gear 8 is provided on the upper part of each of the left and right hubs 3 around which the tape 2 is wound, a hub lock body 9 slidable back and forth in the main body case 1 is provided.
A pair of lock claws 11 projecting rearward from the rear surface are brought into contact with and engaged with the lock gear 8, and this engaged state is held by the urging force of the lock spring 10.

[0003] The passive arm 12 is extended forward from the left and right ends of the hub lock body 9 so that the release of the hub lock body 9 can be performed in conjunction with the opening operation of the front lid 6. An operation rib 16 is provided on the inner surface of the side wall 6b of the sixth arm 6 for pulling the passive arm 12 forward along with the opening operation.

[0004]

In the hub lock mechanism for holding the locked state of the hub lock body 9 by the urging force of the lock spring 10, the lock claw 11 cannot come off the lock gear 8 as long as it is handled normally. Absent. However, when an external force such as a drop impact is received, the hub block 9 on which the tape 2 is wound is moved forward by the floating of the hub lock 9 against the lock spring 10, and at this time, the locked state is released and the tape is released. The second slack phenomenon occurs. When a tape cartridge is loaded into the tape deck in the state where the tape is loosened, the tape is bent,
Serious failure may be caused by the loading pin on the tape deck.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to eliminate the inadvertent unlocking of the hub lock body even if an external force such as a drop impact acts, unless the front lid is opened, and the tape slack when not in use. An object of the present invention is to provide a highly reliable tape cartridge that can reliably prevent the occurrence of a tape cartridge. Another object of the invention is to provide
Another object of the present invention is to ensure the regulation of the movement of the hub lock body in the unlocking direction when not in use.

[0006]

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a tape cartridge according to the present invention has a hub 3 around which a tape 2 is wound rotatably disposed on the left and right inside a main body case 1. A tape loading pocket 4 is provided at the front of the device 1. A slider 7 having left and right side walls 7b is mounted on the lower surface side of the main body case 1 so as to open and close the lower surface of the pocket 4 so as to be movable back and forth. It is urged to move to the attitude by the slider return spring 17. As shown in FIG. 5, a front cover 6 that swings up and down around a shaft 15 is provided on the front side of the main body case 1, and the front cover 6 includes a main face plate 6a and side walls 6b on both left and right sides thereof. And an operation rib 16 on the inner surface of the side wall 6b.
Are protruding. When not in use, the lower end of the side wall 6b of the front lid 6 in the closed state as shown in FIG. 2 is received by the front upper end of the side wall 7b of the slider 7, and the upward swing of the front lid 6 is restricted. I have.

A hub lock mechanism for stopping the rotation of the hub 3 is accommodated in the main body case 1. The hub lock mechanism is made of plastic which is slidably mounted in a front-rear direction over a rear lock position where it comes into contact with a lock gear 8 provided on each hub 3 and a front unlock position where it is disengaged from the lock gear 8. And a lock spring 10 that constantly biases the hub lock body 9 toward the rear locking position.

As shown in FIG. 4, the hub lock body 9 is formed so as to protrude rearward from right and left side plates 9a, a main surface plate 9b connecting upper ends of the side plates 9a, and two right and left rear edges of the main surface plate 9b. A lock claw 11 that is detachable from the lock gear 8 of each hub 3, a passive arm 12 that extends long from each lower end of the side plates 9 a toward the front of the case, and a front end provided at the front end of the passive arm 12. By being received by the claw piece 13 with which the operation rib 16 is engaged with the opening operation of the lid 6 and the side wall 6b of the front lid 6 in the closed state, the hub lock body 9 is received.
Is integrally formed with a stopper 14 for restricting the movement of the front end in the direction of the unlock position.

In this tape cartridge, as shown in FIG. 6, the present invention provides a front cover between a lower end of a side wall 6b of a front cover 6 in a closed state and a front upper end of a side wall 7b of a slider 7. 6 is characterized in that an engagement portion 31 is provided for restricting displacement of the side wall 6b to the outside of the case.

[0010]

When not in use, the slider 7 is urged forward by the spring 17 to close the lower surface of the opening of the pocket 4, and the front lid 6 is also in the closed position. At this time, the front lid 6
When the front cover 6 swings upward, the lower ends of the right and left side walls 6b of the front cover 6 are positioned to be received by the front upper ends of the left and right side walls 7b of the slider 7 as shown in FIG. Open swing is regulated. In this non-use state, if the hub lock body 9 moves toward the front unlock position due to an external impact or the like, the stopper 1
4 is received by the side wall 6 b of the front lid 6. Therefore, the movement of the entire hub lock body 9 to the front unlock position is restricted.

In use, the slider 7 is moved rearward of the case against the spring 17. As a result, the front end of the side wall 7b of the slider 7 is retracted rearward of the case from the side wall 6b of the front lid 6. Thereafter, the front lid 6 is opened upward. The hub lock body 9 including the stopper 14 is urged to move rearward by the lock spring 10 toward the lock position.
Accordingly, as the front lid 6 swings upward, the operation rib 16 on the side wall 6b of the front lid 6 comes into contact with and engages the claw piece 13 as shown in FIG. The locking pawl 11 is disengaged from the locking gear 8 of the hub 3 by this operation, and each hub 3 is brought into a free rotation state.

[0012]

According to the present invention, the front end of the stopper 14 is received by the side wall 6b of the front lid 6 in the closed state even when receiving an external force such as a drop impact in the non-use state.
Since the hub lock body 9 is restricted from moving toward the front unlock position, the engagement between the lock claw 11 and the lock gear 8 does not come off. Therefore, the tape can be reliably prevented from being loosened when not in use, so that tape deformation and equipment failure at the time of loading on the tape deck can be eliminated, and the reliability is excellent.

In particular, the side wall 6b of the front lid 6 in the closed state
An engaging portion 31 is provided between the mating surface of the lower end of the front end and the upper end of the front portion of the side wall 7b of the slider 7, and the engaging portion 31
The side wall 6b of the front lid 6 is configured to restrict the side wall 6b of the front lid 6 from being displaced outward.
4, the movement of the hub lock body 9 toward the front unlock position when not in use can be more reliably restricted.

[0014]

1 to 6 show an embodiment of a tape cartridge according to the present invention. In FIGS. 1 and 3, the tape cartridge conforms to the standard of the DAT system, and has hubs 3 around which a tape 2 is wound around left and right inside a main body case 1 formed by abutting upper and lower cases 1a and 1b made of plastic. 3 is rotatably arranged.

A tape loading pocket 4 is provided at the front of the main body case 1. The tape 2 is moved from one hub 3 to the other via left and right tape guides 5 provided on both sides of the pocket 4. Drive to hub 3. A slider 7 for opening and closing the lower surface of the pocket 4 is mounted on the lower surface side of the main body case 1 in a normally closed and biased state with a slider return spring 17. A front lid 6 that swings and opens and closes is provided.

In order to prevent rotation of each hub 3 when not in use, a space within the case between the hub 3 and the pocket 4 in the main body case 1 is provided with a hub lock mechanism. The hub lock mechanism is provided on the inner surface of the upper case 1a between a rear locking position where the hub gear 3 is engaged with a locking gear 8 provided on an upper peripheral surface of the hub 3 and a front unlocking position where the locking gear 8 is released. The lock body 9 is slidably assembled in a direction, and includes a lock spring 10 such as a torsion coil spring that constantly biases the hub lock body 9 toward the rear locking position.

In FIG. 4, a hub lock body 9 is a molded plastic product, and is formed in a left-right long gate shape by left and right side plates 9a and a main surface plate 9b connecting upper ends of both side plates 9a. Lock pawls 11 which can be detachably engaged with the lock gear 8 are integrally formed rearward and protruding from two right and left portions of the rear edge of the rear edge 9b. A passive arm 12 is integrally extended from each lower end of both side plates 9a toward the front of the case, and a claw piece 13 that projects the opening operation of the front lid 6 is outwardly protruded outside the front end of the passive arm 12. is there. Further, the stoppers 14 are integrally extended from the upper ends of the side plates 9a toward the front of the case so that the stoppers 14 are located above the passive arms 12 and extend in the front-rear direction. At two positions on the left and right sides of the front edge of the main face plate 9b, spring receiving portions 9c for locking both arms of the lock spring 10 are provided, and the coil portion of the lock spring 10 is inserted into a boss 18 provided on the upper case 1a. Supported.

In FIG. 5, the front lid 6 has a main face plate 6a and left and right side walls 6b. The front cover 6 can be pivoted upward about a shaft 15 projecting from the inner surface of the side wall 6b. It is biased to rotate freely. An operation rib 16 is provided on the inner surface of the side wall 6b so as to unlock the hub lock body 9 via the above-mentioned claw piece 13.

In the non-use state, the hub lock body 9 is urged to move rearward by the lock spring 10 toward the rear of the case. As shown in FIG.
Is engaged with the lock gear 8. 2, the lower end of the side wall 6b of the front lid 6 is received by the upper end of the front part of the side wall 7b of the slider 7, and the upper lid 6 swings upward. Regulated.

To prevent the lock block 9 from moving forward of the case against the lock spring 10 due to a drop impact or the like when not in use, the engagement between the lock claw 11 and the lock gear 8 is released. As described above, the stopper 14 is provided on the hub lock body 9.

In FIG. 5, the front end of the stopper 14 is exposed to the front outside the case via an outlet 19 which is opened at the side step of the upper case 1a.
Are located above the upper ends of the front portions of the right and left side walls 7b of the slider 7, and the front end of the stopper 14 is
Is located higher than the front end.

When the hub lock body 9 is in the locked state located rearward, the front end of the stopper 14 is closely opposed to the rear end face of the side wall 6b of the front cover 6 with a very small gap G (see FIG. 3). ). The gap G is such that the front lid 6 has the stopper 1
4 is secured so as to swing upward without resistance so as to avoid interference with the front end of 4. The gap G engages the lock claw 11 with the lock gear 8 so that the engagement between the lock claw 11 and the lock gear 8 is not released even if the stopper 14 moves by the gap G. The dimension is set smaller than the depth.

As described above, the stopper 1 is attached to the hub lock body 9.
When the front end is received by the side wall 6b of the front cover 6, the hub lock body 9 can be prevented from moving forward of the case when the cover is closed. In other words, even if the hub block 9 moves forward in the unlocking direction against the lock spring 10 by the hub 3 moving forward due to an external force such as a drop impact, the stopper 1 is moved by the side wall 6 b of the front lid 6.
Since the forward movement of the hub lock body 9 is immediately restricted by receiving the front end of the lock 4, the lock engagement state between the lock claw 11 and the lock gear 8 can be maintained.

In use, after the slider 7 moves rearward of the case against the slider return spring 17, the front cover 6 is opened upward. At this time, the rear end side of the side wall 6 b of the front lid 6 rotates downward around the shaft 15. Therefore, since the side wall 6b moves forward from the front end of the stopper 14, the side wall 6b does not contact and interfere with the stopper 14. Only when the front lid 6 is opened and reaches the end of the swing stroke, the operation rib 16 contacts the claw piece 13, and the hub lock body 9 is opposed to the lock spring 10 via the passive arm 12 and Move forward. In this state, since the side wall 6b of the front lid 6 stands up in an upwardly inclined shape, there is no problem even if the front end of the stopper 14 projects forward from the exit 19.

When exposed to high temperatures, the left and right side walls 6b of the front lid 6 are easily deformed such that the rear ends thereof open laterally outward. In such a case, if the front end of the stopper 14 strongly collides with the rear end receiving surface of the side wall 6b, the stopper 1
4 slides on the rear end receiving surface of the side wall 6b,
And the stopper function may not be effectively exerted. In addition, since the stopper function enters the inside of the side wall 6b, it facilitates the deformation of the side wall 6b to the outside of the case.

As shown in FIG. 6, when the front lid 6 and the slider 7 are closed, the lower end of the side wall 6b of the front lid 6 and the upper end of the front side of the side wall 7b of the slider 7 are fixed together as shown in FIG. The half of the thickness of the front lid 6 is cut off and joined together to prevent the side wall 6b of the front lid 6 from being deformed to the outside of the case. Thus, both side walls 6b
The ends of the side walls 6b on the side of the front lid 6 are formed into an L-shape with a constant plate thickness as shown in FIG. You can also.

In addition to the above embodiment, the stopper 14 may be provided on only one of the left and right side plates 9a of the hub lock body 9. A receiving piece protrudes from the upper part of the operating rib 16,
Even when the front end of the stopper 14 approaches and opposes the receiving piece, the lock release of the hub lock body 9 can be similarly regulated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a tape cartridge partially cut away.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the tape cartridge.

FIG. 3 is an internal plan view schematically showing a tape cartridge.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a hub lock body.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a main part with a front cover opened.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional front view of a main part showing an engaging part.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional front view of a main part showing another embodiment of the engaging portion.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main body case 2 Tape 3 Hub 6 Front cover 6a Main plate of front cover 6b Side wall of front cover 7 Slider 7b Side wall of slider 8 Lock gear 9 Hub lock body 9a Side plate of hub lock body 9b Main face plate of hub lock body 10 Lock spring 11 Lock Claw 12 Passive Arm 13 Claw Piece 14 Stopper 15 Shaft 16 Operation Rib 17 Slider Return Spring 31 Engagement Part

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A hub 3 around which a tape 2 is wound is rotatably arranged on the left and right inside the main body case 1, and a tape loading pocket 4 is provided at a front portion of the main body case 1. A slider 7 having left and right side walls 7b is mounted on the lower surface side of the main body case 1 to open and close the lower surface of the pocket 4 so as to be movable back and forth. A front cover 6 that swings up and down around a shaft 15 is provided on the front side of the main body case 1, and the front cover 6 is provided with a main face plate 6a. And an operation rib 16 protruding from the inner surface of the side wall 6b. When not in use, the lower end of the side wall 6b of the front lid 6 in a closed state is Side wall 7b
The upper end swinging of the front cover 6 is restricted, and a hub lock mechanism for stopping the rotation of the hub 3 is accommodated in the main body case 1. Is a plastic hub lock body that is slidably mounted in the front-rear direction over a rear lock position where it abuts and engages with a lock gear 8 provided on each hub 3 and a front unlock position that disengages from the lock gear 8. 9 and a lock spring 10 for constantly urging the hub lock body 9 toward the rear locking position. The hub lock body 9 includes left and right side plates 9a and a main face plate 9b connecting the upper ends of these side plates 9a. A lock claw 11, which is formed to project rearward from two right and left rear edges of the main face plate 9b and is detachable from the lock gear 8 of each hub 3, and extends long from each lower end of both side plates 9a toward the front of the case. broth A passive arm 12, the operating rib 16 with the opening operation of the lid 6 before provided to the front end of the passive arm 12
And the side wall 6 of the front lid 6 in the closed state.
b, integrally formed with a stopper 14 for restricting the hub lock body 9 from moving toward the unlock position in the forward direction, and the front cover 6 in the closed state is formed.
Between the lower end of the side wall 6b and the upper end of the front end of the side wall 7b of the slider 7 is provided with an engaging portion 31 for restricting the side wall 6b of the front lid 6 from being displaced outward from the case. A tape cartridge characterized by the following.