JPH04310686A - Tape cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a tape cassette in which the energizing force for closing a front cover to protect a tape is not eliminated in a moment. CONSTITUTION:The title cassette is equipped with a case main body 1, a turning opening closing system front cover 7 fitted to the case main body part 1, an energizing means to energize the front cover 7 in the closed cover direction and a position regulating means to regulate the misregistration in the right and left directions of the energizing means.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tape cassette used in a recording and/or reproducing apparatus, particularly to an 8 mm video tape cassette and an HDTV tape cassette.

0002

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is well known that tape cassettes have been used in recording and/or reproducing devices (hereinafter simply referred to as recording and reproducing devices) such as video tape recorders. An overview of such tape cassettes is as follows:
Generally, a supply reel and a take-up reel are disposed within a case main body formed by combining an upper half and a lower half made of plastic, and between the supply reel and the take-up reel. A magnetic tape is stretched over a predetermined path of the case body, and a front cover is provided to protect the magnetic tape located outside the case body.

[0003] The front lid is always biased in the closing direction by, for example, a torsion spring. That is, the center ring part of the torsion spring is inserted into the rotating shaft of the front cover, one end of the torsion spring is locked with the locking part of the front cover, and the other end of the torsion spring is arranged on the case body side. The front lid locking member is made to come into elastic contact with the top of the front lid locking member, which biases the front lid in the closing direction, and also rotationally biases the front lid locking member in the locking direction, thereby locking the closing lid. It is designed to hang.

However, in such a tape cassette, the other end of the torsion spring is simply brought into elastic contact with the top of the front lid locking member disposed on the case body side, and the left and right ends of the torsion spring When a rocking force in this direction is applied, the other end of the torsion spring may come off the top of the front lid locking member, and as a result, the front lid is no longer biased in the closing direction, and the closing locking force of the front lid is also reduced. Once released, the front cover will open naturally, and there is a risk that dirt and dust may enter the interior. Furthermore, if the device is loaded into a recording/reproducing device in this state, the front cover may get caught and become impossible to remove.

[0005]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a tape cassette in which the closing force of the front cover for protecting the tape does not suddenly disappear. The object of the present invention is to provide a case body, a rotatable front cover attached to the case body, a biasing means for biasing the front cover in the closing direction, and a This is achieved by a tape cassette characterized by comprising a position regulating means for regulating displacement of the means in the left and right direction.

[0006] With the tape cassette constructed in this way, even if an impact swinging from side to side is applied to the tape cassette, the biasing means such as a torsion spring is reliably regulated, so that the biasing means will not be displaced. The closing force of the front lid is always working normally, and it never comes off.
The problem of the front cover opening due to some small force does not occur at all, and the tape is highly secure. For example, problems such as the tape being pinched and damaged by the front cover that is opened or closed unexpectedly, or dust and dust adhering to it are less likely to occur.

[0007]

[Embodiment] Figs. 1 to 4 show an embodiment of the tape cassette according to the present invention. Fig. 1 is an overall perspective view, Fig. 2 is a side view of the main parts in the front lid locked state, and Fig. 3 is an embodiment of the tape cassette according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a side view of the main parts of the front cover in the unlocked state, and FIG. 4 is a front view of the main parts of the front cover. Case body part 1 constituting tape cassette A
is composed of a rectangular upper half 1a and a lower half 1b made of synthetic resin such as polypropylene, polystyrene, ABS resin, etc., and these upper half 1a and lower half 1
b are fitted into each other from above and below and fixed with set screws to form an integral housing shape.

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 referred to as tape) 3 is connected to the supply reel 2a and the take-up reel 2b. It is wound and stretched between the reel 2b and the reel 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 reel 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, the front surface of the case body 1 is provided with a front opening 5 that spans approximately the entire width of the tape cassette, and the bottom plate of the lower half 1b is provided with a front opening 5 that is continuous with the front opening 5. A bottom opening (a tape loading member of the recording/reproducing apparatus enters the pocket formed by the front opening 5 and the bottom opening to pull out the tape 3 from the tape cassette A) is provided. A front wall is integrally formed on the bottom plate of the lower half 1b 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 and 6b are integrally formed on the bottom plate of the lower half 1b at both left and right ends of the front wall, and the tape 3 is attached to both tape guides 6a and 6b.
It is guided by points a and 6b and spans along the front opening.

[0010] The front opening 5 is covered by a front lid 7 formed in a substantially U-shape. That is, the front lid 7 includes a front plate 7a that closes the front surface of the case body 1, connecting pieces 7b extending rearward from both left and right ends of the front plate 7a, and opposing inner surfaces of both connecting pieces 7b. It is a molded product made of synthetic resin such as polypropylene, polystyrene, ABS resin, etc., and has a protruding rotation shaft 7c, and the left and right connecting pieces 7b are externally formed in the front end recesses 8a and 8b of the left and right side walls of the case body 1. The rotation shafts 7c are fitted into rotation holes provided in the recesses 8a and 8b, respectively. The front lid 7 is rotatable around the rotation axis 7c between a posture in which the front surface of the case body 1 is closed and an upwardly opened posture. It is rotated and biased to the normally closed position by an elastic means such as a torsion spring 9 mounted on the body.

[0011] In the location where the pocket exists, the front lid 7
A dust cover is pivotally connected to the inside of the tape cassette A via a shaft, and the dust cover seals the inside including the lower side of the tape 3 and the top surface of the opening of the pocket when the tape cassette A is not in use. Dust is prevented from entering from the upper and lower opening surfaces of the pocket and adhering to the tape 3. This dust cover is connected to cam grooves provided on the left and right sides facing the pocket (these sides are connected to the tape guides 6a and 6b), and when the front lid 7 is opened, the dust cover also connects to the tape 3. It moves upward together with the front lid 7 without any interference. 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 plate spring or a suitable resin material such as polyacetal, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The main parts include a pair of elastic resin-made locking arms 10b each having a claw-like locking portion 10a that is fixed to the case body 1 (lower case 1b in this embodiment), and this locking arm. 10b is made of resin, and a stainless steel (elastic modulus 1900
0Kg/mm2) width 0.8~1.2mm, length 4
~8mm, thickness 0.08~0.2mm leaf spring 10d, and a release end 1 provided at the lower end of this leaf spring 10d.
0e and a resin-made lock portion 10g having a lock claw 10f.

In particular, the upper surface side of the lock claw 10f is formed into an arc shape with a radius of curvature approximately equal to the length of the leaf spring 10d, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the lower surface side of the lock claw 10f has a radius of curvature of the leaf spring 1.
It is formed into an arc shape with a length of 0d + width of the lock claw 10f, and its tip is curved like the tip of a sword blade.

Further, the release end 10e is formed in such a shape that the rear side is inclined toward the third quadrant, and when the tape cassette is installed in the recording/playback device, the lock release member 11 of the recording/playback device is moved to the release end 10e. abutting and locking member 10,
In FIG. 2, the front cover 7 is unlocked by pushing it toward the right. In this unlocked state, as shown in FIG.
It is configured to make surface contact with the end surface 1c of b, and to prevent further displacement to the rear side. Furthermore, the release end 10e
is formed in such a shape that the upper surface side is inclined toward the second quadrant, and the lock release member 11 of the recording/reproducing device pushes the lock member 10 to the right in FIG. 2, and the front cover is unlocked. In the closed state, as shown in FIG. 3, the release end 10
The upper surface of the tape cassette is in contact with the end surface 1d of the lower half 1b of the tape cassette, thereby preventing further upward displacement. That is, in a state in which the lock release member 11 of the recording/reproducing device pushes the lock member 10 in the release direction and the front cover is unlocked, at least one surface of the lock member 10 is pushed toward the release direction. Even if the locking member 10 is pushed excessively, the displacement of the locking member 10 is reliably prevented, and the plate spring 10d is plastically bent into a dogleg shape. It is constructed so that it will not deform. That is, if the above-mentioned stopper mechanism is not configured, if an excessive pushing force is applied to the lock member 10, the leaf spring 10d of the lock member 10 may be plastically deformed into a dogleg shape. .

Further, a convex portion 10h having a substantially concave arc shape is formed on the lower surface side of the base of the lock claw 10f. 12
is an opening formed in the case body 1 (in this embodiment, a horizontal flat plate connected between the vertical walls of the lower case 1b), and the locking arm 10 of the locking member 10 is inserted into this opening 12.
When b is fitted, the locking arm 10b is elastically deformed, the locking arm 10b enters from the opening 12 downwardly, the claw-shaped locking part 10a locks on the lower surface of the horizontal plate, and the locking arm 10b deforms elastically. 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 lock member 10, the lock member 10 does not rotate. 13 is a substantially D-shaped locking portion (convex portion) formed at a predetermined position of the connecting piece 7b of the front lid 7, and when the lock claw 10f of the locking member 10 locks with this locking portion 13, This is to ensure that the front lid 7 is locked. As shown in FIG. 2, the lower side of the approximately D-shaped locking portion 13 is formed into an arcuate shape or a tapered shape in accordance with the shape of the arcuate locking pawl 10f. Therefore, the lock claw 10f of the lock member 10 and the locking portion 13
When the front lid 7 is in the locked state, not only is the gap between the two small, but the lock is made as if the surfaces are facing each other, so there is little wobbling and the lock is secure.

Reference numeral 14 denotes a semicircular columnar rib (with a radius of about 0.85 mm) having a height of about 0.9 mm and formed on the side plate portion of the lower half 1b. The configuration position of this rib 14 is as shown in FIG.
When the leaf spring 10d is deflected and displaced (unlocked) due to the force acting in the right direction, the lock pawl 10f collides with the rib 14 and the unlocking operation of the lock member 10 is hindered. 2 and when a clockwise opening force is forcibly applied to the front lid 7 in the state shown in FIG. 2, that is, when the front lid 7 is closed, the lock member 10 A retracting force is applied to the lock claw 10f, but as shown in FIG.
This is the position where the lock claw 10f and the rib 14 collide, preventing further displacement. Note that the base side of the rib 14 has a shape that spreads out like a mountain, making it difficult to break even if a large force is applied to the rib 14. Of course, the rib 14 may be integrally formed of the same resin as the lower half 1b, but may also be made of a metal material. When the rib 14 is made of a metal material, it is often simply columnar, or
It can be constructed by insert molding, press-fitting, press-fitting after heating, or ultrasonic welding. Further, in FIG. 2, the rib 14 is depicted as having a semi-cylindrical shape, but it may be, for example, in the shape of a triangular prism, and is not limited to these shapes.

It should be noted that a convex portion 10 having a substantially concave arc shape is formed on the lower surface side of the base of the locking pawl 10f of the locking member 10.
Due to the cooperative action of h and the ribs 14, the leaf spring 10d is difficult to be plastically deformed even if the locking member 10 is strongly pulled forward. Reference numeral 15 denotes a "shaped member" formed on the inner surface of the connecting piece 7b of the front lid 7, and a torsion member attached to the right rotation shaft 7c is placed in a groove 16 formed by the "shaped member 15 and the connecting piece 7b. A spring 9 is arranged. That is, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, even after the tape cassette is assembled, the torsion spring 9 is positioned within the groove 16 formed by the shaped member 15. Therefore, the center portion of the torsion spring 9 is attached to the rotating shaft 7c as before, and one end of the torsion spring 9 is also engaged with a locking portion (not shown) of the connecting piece 7b as before. Furthermore, the other end of the torsion spring 9 is also locked in the locking part 13 as before, and such a front cover is assembled to the case body 1, and after this assembly, the torsion spring is locked. The other end of 9 is
As shown in FIG. 2 by the solid line from the imaginary line, the locking portion 1
3 and rests on the base portion 10c of the locking member 10. However, in this embodiment, even after assembly, the torsion spring 9 is always prevented from moving in the left-right direction by the shaped member 15 and the connecting piece 7b. Therefore, even if a large force in the left and right direction acts on the tape cassette, the lock member 1 rests on the other end of the torsion spring 9.
The torsion spring 9 does not come off from the base portion 10c of 0, and the disadvantage that the biasing force of the torsion spring 9 in the closing direction of the front lid 7 is lost is reliably solved.

Tape cassette A configured as described above
, the front cover 7 is closed when not in use, and the tape 3
When the tape cassette A is loaded into the recording and reproducing device, the front cover 7 opens and a large recess is formed in the left and right center of the front edge of the case body 1. A tape loading member (not shown) on the recording/reproducing apparatus side enters the formed pocket and draws out the tape 3 to the front of the tape cassette. That is, when the tape cassette A is loaded into the recording and reproducing apparatus, the lock releasing member 11 on the recording and reproducing apparatus side enters, the lock releasing member 11 contacts the release tapered surface portion of the release end 10e of the locking member 10, and further enters. The leaf spring 1 of the locking member 10 is
The lock release member 11 moves to the release end 10 against the elastic force of 0d.
e is displaced as shown in FIG. 3, thereby the lock claw 10f is disengaged from the locking part 13 of the front cover 7, the front cover 7 is placed in a state where it can be opened, and the opening member ( (not shown), the front cover 7 rotates clockwise in FIG. A tape loading member (not shown) on the side enters and pulls out the tape 3 to the front of the tape cassette.

When the lock release member 11 displaces the lock member 10, even if the lock release member 11 displaces the lock member 10 excessively, as shown in FIG. 3, the rear surface of the release end 10e is The upper surface of the release end 10e is surface-joined to the end surface 1c of the lower half 1b of the tape cassette, and the upper surface of the release end 10e is the end surface 1 of the lower half 1b of the tape cassette.
d and further upward and rearward displacement is prevented, so that excessive displacement of the locking member 10 is reliably prevented and the leaf spring 10d is not plastically deformed into a dogleg shape. Therefore, the locking member is highly durable, and the front lid can be securely locked.

[0021] Furthermore, the lock member 10 is a lock release member 11.
When a large force is applied to the front lid 7 in the direction of opening the lid when the front lid 7 is not under the action of the lock member 10, that is, when it is in the locked state, the leaf spring 10d at the joint between the leaf spring 10d of the locking member 10 and the locking portion 10g is A large force acts on leaf spring 1
In contrast, in the above embodiment, since the rib 14 is configured, the approximately concave arc-shaped convex portion 10h of the locking member 10 and the rib 1
4, even if the locking member 10 is strongly pulled forward, the leaf spring 10d is difficult to be plastically deformed, the locking function does not deteriorate, and the durability is increased accordingly.

[0022]Furthermore, the closing lock of the front cover 7 is reliable, and accidents such as the front cover 7 being accidentally opened by mistake do not occur, and the safety with respect to the tape 3 is high. Furthermore, since the torsion spring 9 that biases the front cover 7 in the closing direction is restricted from moving in the left-right direction by the shaped member 15, it will not torsion even if a large force in the left-right direction acts on the tape cassette. The drawback is that the torsion spring 9 does not come off from the base portion 10c of the locking member 10 on which the other end of the spring 9 rests, and the force exerted by the torsion spring 9 to urge the front lid 7 in the closing direction is lost. This is reliably solved, so that the tape will not be pinched and damaged by the front cover 7 that is opened or closed unexpectedly, and dust and dirt will not easily adhere to it.

Furthermore, since the installation is completed by simply fitting the locking arm 10b of the locking member 10 into the opening 12, the workability of assembling the locking mechanism of the front cover 7 is extremely high. Further, since the locking member 10 is fixed by the claw-like locking portion 10a being locked to the flat plate portion of the lower case 1b, there is no accident of the locking member 10 being removed when assembling the tape cassette, and the tape cassette can be easily assembled. Assembly workability is extremely high.

[0024]

[Effects] The tape cassette according to the present invention includes a case main body, a rotatable front cover attached to the case main body, and a biasing means for biasing the front cover in the closing direction. , and a position regulating means for regulating the displacement of the biasing means in the horizontal direction.Since the biasing means is regulated from moving in the horizontal direction by the position regulating means, a large force in the horizontal direction is applied to the tape. Even if the tape is applied to the cassette, it will not come off, and the disadvantage that the front cover loses its biasing force in the direction of closing the cover is definitely solved. It also has features such as being less likely to attract dirt and dust.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the entire tape cassette.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the main parts in the front lid locked state.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the main parts in the front lid unlocked state.

FIG. 4 is a front view of main parts of the front lid.

[Explanation of symbols]

A tape cassette 1
Case body 7 Front lid 9 Torsion spring 15
” shape member

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claim 1: A case main body, a rotary opening/closing front cover attached to the case main body, a biasing means for biasing the front cover in a closing direction, and a biasing means for biasing the front lid in a closing direction. A tape cassette characterized by comprising a position regulating means for regulating displacement in the left and right direction.