JPH04141876A - Tape cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the number of constitution parts of a front cover lock mechanism and to improve assembling property by providing a lock part engaged to the engage part of the front cover, a fixed part fixed to a case mainbody part and a connection part connecting the lock part and the fixed part to a lock member for closing the front cover and constituting the connection part by means of a specific material. CONSTITUTION:A front opening 5 provided in front of the case mainbody part 1 for the whole width of a tape cassette is covered by the front cover 7 which is formed almost in an U-shape. The front cover 7 freely turns around a turning shaft 7c and normally turn-energized to a closing posture by a tortion spring. The engaged arm 10b of the lock member 10 is engaged into the opening part 11 of the case mainbody part 1, the engage arm 10b elastically deforms and the lock member 10 is fitted to the case mainbody part 1 in a snap system. A part which is repeatedly deformation-operated in the lock member 10 with the opening/closing of the front cover 7 is composed by the material whose elastic modulus is 8,000-25,000Kg/mm<2>. Thus, the number of the parts in the lock mechanism of the front cover is reduced and assembling property is improved.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field]

The present invention operates in the thickness direction of the case body to lock the front lid of a tape cassette used in a recording and/or playback device, particularly an 8mm video tape cassette or an HDTV tape cassette. The present invention relates to a tape cassette equipped with a locking member.

[Background of the invention]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, it is well known that tape cassettes have been used in recording and/or reproducing apparatuses (hereinafter simply referred to as recording and reproducing apparatuses) such as video tape recorders. To give an overview of such a tape cassette, - For boat fishing, a supply reel and a take-up reel are disposed within a case body formed by combining an upper half and a lower half made of plastic; A magnetic tape is stretched over a predetermined path between the supply reel and the take-up reel, and a front cover is provided to protect the magnetic tape located outside the case body. It is also well known that a locking means is provided to maintain the front lid in a closed state. For example, as proposed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 63-12455, a rotating lid that covers the front surface of a tape cassette to protect the tape stretched over the front surface of the tape cassette, two side walls separated from each other, and the side wall and an extension of one of the side walls and an inner surface of the side plate of the rotary lid, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the tape stretched over the front surface of the tape cassette, so as to be separated from each other. a groove formed in the tape cassette; a notch provided in the lower front surface of the rotating lid corresponding to the groove position to allow the lock release member to enter the groove from the front surface of the tape cassette; and a cutout in the side wall. The tape cassette is pivotably supported and rotates within the groove in the thickness direction of the tape cassette, and has an engaging end with the rotating lid and a release end facing the front surface of the tape cassette via the notch. hand,
Normally, the lock releasing member, which passes through the notch and the groove and enters from the front side of the tape cassette, engages with the rotating lid at the retaining end to prevent its rotation, and the lock releasing member enters from the front side of the tape cassette and locks the releasing end. a lid lock that rotates when brought into contact with the rotary lid, releases its engagement with the rotary lid, and allows the lid lock to rotate; and a biasing spring that biases the lid lock to engage with the rotary lid. A tape cassette having the following has been devised. By the way, in this tape cassette, the lid lock and the biasing spring that biases the lid lock to engage with the rotary lid are made up of separate members, so there are many parts, it takes time and effort to manage the parts, and it is also time consuming. It is also troublesome to assemble.

[Disclosure of the invention]

A first object of the present invention is to provide a tape cassette whose front cover locking mechanism has a small number of component parts and is therefore easy to assemble. A second object of the present invention is to provide a tape cassette with a front lid locking mechanism that has excellent durability. An object of the present invention is to include a case body, a rotatable front cover attached to the case body, and a locking member for closing the front cover. It has a locking part that locks into the locking part of the case, a fixing part that is fixed to the case body, and a connecting part that connects the locking part and the fixing part, and this connecting part has an elastic modulus of 8000 to 25000.
This is achieved by a tape cassette characterized by being made of a material with a weight of Kg/mm2. In addition, the elastic modulus of the material composing the connecting part is 15,000 kg.
It is more desirable that it be at least /mm”.

【Example】

1 to 3 show one embodiment of the tape cassette according to the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the whole, FIG. is a perspective view showing a locking member and a part of the case body in which the locking member is disposed. It is composed of a rectangular upper half 1a and a lower half 1b, and these upper half la and lower half 1b are fitted into each other from above and below, and are screwed together with set screws to form an integral housing shape. ing. A pair of tape reels, namely a supply reel 2a and a take-up reel 2b, are rotatably housed in the case body 1, and a magnetic tape (hereinafter simply referred to as tape) 3 is attached to the supply reel 2a and take-up reel 2a. 2b. Both tape reels 2a and 2b are placed on the bottom plate of the lower half 1b, and their lower ends are positioned by fitting into hole fitting holes provided in the bottom plate. 4 is a presser 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 l, extending over substantially the entire length of the tape cassette.
The bottom plate of the lower half 1b has a bottom opening that is continuous with the front opening 5 (the tape loading member of the recording/reproducing device enters the pocket formed by the front opening 5 and the bottom opening and loads the tape 3 into the tape cassette A). ) is provided. A front wall is integrally formed on the bottom plate of the lower half lb along the edge of the bottom opening, and this front wall allows the interior of the case body 1 to be spaced between the bottom opening side and both tape reels 2a and 2b. It is divided by. A pair of tape guides 6a are provided at both left and right ends of the front wall.
, 6b are integrally formed on the bottom plate of the lower half 1b, and the tape 3 is guided by these tape guides 6a, 6b, and the tape is passed along the front opening. The front opening 5 is covered by a front M7 formed in a substantially U-shape. That is, this front lid 7 is attached to the case main body 1.
polypropylene, which has a front plate 7a that closes the front surface of the front plate 7a, connecting pieces 7b extending rearward from both left and right ends of the front plate 7a, and rotating shafts 7c protruding from the inner surfaces of both connecting pieces 7b in opposing directions; It is a molded product made of synthetic resin such as polystyrene or ABS resin, and the left and right connecting pieces 7b are fitted into the front end recesses 8a and 8b of the left and right side walls of the case body 1, and the rotation shaft 7c is inserted into the recesses. The parts 8a and 8b are respectively fitted and pivotally supported in rotation holes provided in the parts 8a and 8b. The front cover 7 is rotatable around the rotation axis 7c between a posture in which the front surface of the case body l is closed and an upwardly open posture. It is rotatably biased to the normally open position by resilient means such as a toss spring 9 (not shown) mounted on the shaft 7c. Note that any mechanism may be used for closing the front lid 7. At the location where the pocket exists, a dust cover is pivotally connected to the inside of the front lid 7 via a shaft, and this dust cover protects the inner side including the lower side of the tape 3 when the tape cassette A is not in use. And seal the top of the pocket's Sekiguchi,
Dust is prevented from entering from the upper and lower opening surfaces of the pocket and adhering to the tape 3. This dust cover has left and right sides facing the pocket (these sides are attached to the tape guides 6a and 6).
connected to the cam groove provided in
As the front lid 7 is opened, the dust cover also moves upward together with the front lid 7 without interfering with the tape 3 at all. That is, dust cover mounting pieces are integrally hung from the upper end side of the front plate 7a at locations near both left and right ends of the front plate 7a of the front lid 7, and dust cover mounting pieces are attached to both left and right ends of the upper and lower intermediate portions of the dust cover. The protruding shaft is pivotably supported. Pin-shaped cam followers are protruded from the left and right sides near the lower end of the dust cover, and these cam followers are engaged and connected to the cam grooves, respectively. Reference numeral 10 denotes a locking member, and this locking member 10 is constructed by insert molding means using a temporary spring or a suitable resin material such as polyacetal, and its main components are as shown in FIGS. The part is a claw-shaped locking part 1 fixed to the case body part 1 (lower case 1b in this example).
A pair of elastic resin-made locking arms IOb having a configuration of 0a, a resin-made base portion 10c serving as a heel of the locking arms IOb, and a resin-made base portion 10c that hangs downward from the tip of this base portion 10c. Made of stainless steel (modulus of elasticity 19000K)
g/mm") width 0.8~1.2mm, length 4~
8mm, I￥0.08-0.2mm (7) Temporary spring 10
d, and a locking portion 10g made of resin and having a release #A10e and a locking pawl 10f provided at the lower end of the leaf spring 10d. In particular, as shown in FIG. 2, the locking claw 10f has an angle α of 2 to 1 between a locking surface and a virtual vertical plane indicated by a dashed line when the locking claw 10f is locked to a locking portion 13 (described later).
The shape of the lock claw is configured to be 2", for example 8e. Also, the release taper angle (angle between the tapered surface and the horizontal surface) β at the release end 10e is 10 to 30", for example 20@
It is configured to be. Reference numeral 11 denotes a horizontal flat plate portion 12c connected to the case body portion 1 (in this embodiment, the vertical walls 12a and 12b of the lower case 1b).
), and when the locking arm 10b of the locking member 10 is fitted into this opening 11, the locking arm lob is elastically deformed, and the locking arm]Ob is an opening formed in the opening 11.
The claw-like locking portion 10a enters below the flat plate portion 12.
The locking member 10 is configured to be attached to the case body 1 in a so-called snap-type manner. As can be understood from the structure and mounting structure of the locking member 10, the locking member 10 does not rotate like locking members of conventional tape cassettes. Reference numeral 13 denotes a locking portion formed at a predetermined position on the connecting piece 7b of the front lid 7, and when the lock claw 10f of the locking member 10 locks into the locking portion 13, the front lid M7 is locked. It is intended to make it easier to understand. In the tape cassette A configured as described above, the front lid 7 is closed when not in use, and covers and protects the front outside of the tape 3.
When loaded into the recording and reproducing device, the front lid 7 opens and a tape loading member (not shown) on the recording and reproducing device side is inserted into a pocket formed in the left and right center of the front edge of the case body 1. Rush in and pull tape 3 out in front of the tape cassette throat. That is, when the tape cassette A is loaded into the recording and reproducing apparatus, the lock release member (not shown) on the recording and reproducing apparatus side enters, and the lock release member engages the release end 10 of the opening/link member 10.
By abutting against the release taper surface of #e and further advancing, the lock release member displaces release #1lOe to the right in the 20th position against the force of elasticity Ia of the plate spring lOd of the locking member 10. This causes the locking claw to displace. 1 'Of is released from the locking part I3 of the front cover 7, the front cover 7 is placed in a state where it can be opened, and the front cover 7 is moved to the first The tape loading member (not shown) on the side of the recording/reproducing device enters into a pocket which is opened by rotating clockwise in the figure, and is formed in a large recess in the left and right center of the front edge of the case body 1. Then, the tape 3 is pulled out to the front of the tape cassette. In the tape cassette A having the above configuration, installation is completed by simply fitting the locking arm IOb of the locking member IO into the opening 11, so the assembly workability of the locking mechanism of the front M7 is improved. Remarkably high. Furthermore, since the locking member IO is fixed by the claw-like locking part 10a being locked to the flat plate part 12c of the lower case 1b, there is no accident of the locking member IO being removed when assembling the tape cassette, and the tape cassette is The assembly workability is extremely high. Further, although the locking member 10 is repeatedly deformed as the front cover 7 is opened and closed, the portion (plate spring 10d) that is subjected to this deformation has an elastic modulus of 8000 to 25000 kg.
/ mm'' material, it is highly durable and is not easily damaged, making the tape cassette highly durable. Accidents such as sudden opening are less likely to occur, so there is less risk of damaging the tape.Furthermore, the locking member 10 is easily obtained and its manufacturing cost is not high.Furthermore, the locking claw 10f is a second As shown in the figure, when the lock claw 10f is locked in the locking part 13, the angle α between the locking surface and the virtual vertical plane shown by the dashed line is 2 to 12 degrees.
Since the shape of the lock pawl is configured as follows, when the lock pawl 10f is locked to or released from the locking portion 13 by deformation of the temporary spring 10d, the operability is excellent and a reliable lock can be achieved. and the release operation is performed, and the temporary spring 10 is not required to be forced to deform the leaf spring 10d.
It also has excellent durability. And the release taper angle β at the release end 10e is 10~
30'', the lock release member (not shown) on the recording/reproducing device side enters, the lock release member contacts the release taper surface portion of the release end 10e of the lock member 10, and further enters. As a result, the lock release member displaces the release end 10e rearward in FIG. 1 against the force of the temporary spring IOd of the lock member 10 to release the lock, which provides excellent operability and secure release of the lock. In addition, the plate spring 10d has excellent durability since the plate spring 10d is not required to undergo any unreasonable deformation. In the above embodiment, the plate spring 10d has an elastic modulus of 19000.
Kg/mm" stainless steel,
It may be made of phosphor bronze with a modulus of elasticity of 000 Kg/mm.

【effect】

The tape cassette according to the present invention includes a case body, a rotatable front cover attached to the case body, and a locking member for closing the front cover. It has a locking part that locks on the locking part of the lid, a fixing part that is fixed to the case body, and a connecting part that connects the locking part and the fixing part, and this connecting part has an elastic modulus of 8000 to
25000Kg/mm! Because it is composed of the following materials,
The locking mechanism of the front lid has a small number of parts, and its assembly workability is extremely high. Also, although the locking member is repeatedly deformed as the front lid is opened and closed, the part that is subjected to this deformation has an elastic modulus of 8000. ~25000 Kg/mm”
Because it is made of a material of It has the following characteristics:

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 3 show a first embodiment of a tape cassette according to the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the whole, FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway side view of the main part, and FIG. The figure is a perspective view showing a locking member and a part of the case main body in which the locking member is disposed. A... Tape cassette, ■... Case body, Ia
...Upper half, 1b...Lower half, 2a...Supply side reel, 2b...Take-up side reel, 3...Magnetic tape, 7...Front lid, 7a...Front plate , 7b... Connection piece, 7c... Rotation shaft, 10... Lock member, lOa
...Claw-shaped locking part, 10b...Locking arm, 10c
...Base part, 10d...Temporary spring, 10e...Release end, 10f...Lock claw, 10g...Lock part, 11...Opening part, 12a, 12b...Vertical Wall construction, 1
2c...Flat plate part, 13...Locking part.

Claims (1)

[Claims] It includes a case body, a rotary opening/closing front cover attached to the case body, and a locking member for closing the front cover, and the locking member is locked to a locking part of the front cover. A locking part fixed to the case body, a connecting part connecting the locking part and the fixing part, and this connecting part is made of a material with an elastic modulus of 8000 to 25000 Kg/mm^2. A tape cassette characterized by: