JPH054123Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a tape cassette loading device, and more particularly to a tape cassette loading device that can be simplified in structure.

2. Description of the Related Art In general, magnetic recording and reproducing devices that use tape cassettes as recording media are equipped with a tape cassette loading device (hereinafter simply referred to as a loading device) that loads the tape cassette from an insertion position to a predetermined recording and reproducing position. There is.

Conventionally, this loading device can be roughly summarized as follows:
A cassette carriage that loads a tape cassette by moving along a guide groove formed in the chassis, and a drive arm that is connected to a drive means and drives the cassette carriage between a tape cassette insertion position and a predetermined recording/playback position. It consisted of a switch, etc. that detects the insertion of a tape cassette into a cassette cartridge, the completion of loading to a predetermined recording position, and the completion of unloading.

In addition, as a means to prevent incorrect insertion of the tape cassette into the cassette carriage, a biasing means is provided to push back the tape cassette if the tape cassette is not inserted securely into the cassette carriage. After being loaded and installed at the predetermined recording/playback position,
A pressing means was also provided for pressing the tape cassette to prevent it from wobbling.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in conventional loading devices, the biasing means for pushing back the tape cassette to prevent incorrect insertion and the pressing means for preventing wobbling were each made into separate parts. There were problems in that the structure of the device became complicated and the loading device could not be made smaller and thinner.

Additionally, switches for starting and stopping the drive means are used to (1) detect insertion of the tape cassette into the cassette cartridge, (2) detect completion of loading to a predetermined recording position, and (3) detect completion of unloading. Since separate switches were provided, three switches were required, which also caused the problem that the structure of the loading device was complicated.

The present invention was created in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a loading device whose structure is simplified by sharing parts.

Means and Effects for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, in the present invention, the tape cassette to be inserted is held and the tape cassette is movably supported by a guide portion formed on the chassis to load the tape cassette. The cassette cartridge is rotatably supported on the chassis, and has an engaging portion at one end that engages with the cassette carriage and urges it to move, and an engaging portion at the other end that rotates as it rotates. A drive lever formed of a switch pressing cam for pressing and operating a switch 1, and a recess with a curved elongated hole are formed, and are coaxially supported on the chassis independently and coaxially with the drive lever. , a drive gear formed of a switch press pin that presses the second switch as it rotates and rotates by being driven by a drive means, each end of which is formed in the drive lever and extends through the curved elongated hole. The first locking piece protruding from the surface of the drive gear and the second locking piece formed on the drive gear are engaged with each other, and the first and second locking pieces lock the drive lever and the drive gear. and a spring means for elastically biasing toward the overlapping position, the spring means being disposed within a recess formed in the drive gear, and the overlapping position being located approximately in the center of the curved elongated hole. It is characterized by:

By configuring the loading device as described above, the number of parts can be reduced and the structure of the loading device can be simplified.

Embodiments Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 show an attachment/detachment device 1 which is an embodiment of the present invention, and is installed, for example, in a small-sized video tape recorder.

Roughly speaking, the mounting/detaching device 1 includes a chassis 2, a cassette carriage 3, a drive arm 4, a drive mechanism 5,
It is composed of a spring 6, switches 7a, 7b, etc.

The chassis 2 has a housing shape, and three substantially L-shaped guide grooves 8a to 8c are formed on a pair of opposing side surfaces (only one side surface 2a is shown in the figure). Further, a drive arm 4, a drive mechanism 5, a spring 6, switches 7a, 7b, etc. are arranged on one side 2a.

A tape cassette 9 (indicated by a dashed line in the figure) is inserted into the cassette cartridge 3 and holds it therein. This cassette cartridge 3
is arranged inside the chassis 2, and is located on the side surface 3a.
It is supported by the chassis 2 by engaging the protruding pins 10a to 10c protruding from the guide grooves 8a to 8c. Therefore, the cassette carriage 3 is configured to be movable along the guide grooves 8a to 8c.

The drive arm 4 is a support shaft 1 installed in the chassis 2.
1 is rotatably supported. This drive arm 4 is formed by integrally forming an arm portion 4a and a main body portion 4b. The arm portion 4a extends in the radial direction of the support shaft 11 and has a long hole 4c formed therein. This long hole 4
A protruding pin 10a protruding from the cassette carriage 3 described above is engaged with c. Therefore, when the drive arm 4 rotates about the support shaft 11, the protruding pin 10a is biased by the arm portion 4a, so that the cassette carriage 3 moves along the guide groove 8a.

The main body part 4b has approximately the same diameter from the support shaft 11 (that is, it is circular) except for the position where the arm part 4a is formed, but the diameter of the main body part 4b is increased at a predetermined part and the cam part 4d is formed. Further, a spring locking piece 4e is protruded from the side surface of the main body portion 4b, and this spring locking piece 4e penetrates a curved elongated hole 12a formed in the drive gear 12, which will be described later, and projects outward. There is.

The drive mechanism 5 includes a drive gear 12, a motor 13, intermediate gears 14, 15, and the like. Motor 1
The rotational driving force of No. 3 is transmitted to the drive gear 12 by intermediate gears 14 and 15.

The drive gear 12 is rotatably supported on a support shaft 11 that supports the drive arm 4 described above. However, although the drive arm 4 and the drive gear 12 are coaxially supported on the support shaft 11, they are attached independently, and are therefore configured to be able to rotate independently. This drive gear 12 is resin molded,
A recess 12b is formed in the center, and a gear part 12c that meshes with the intermediate gear 15 is formed in the outer periphery. Further, a curved elongated hole 12a from which the spring locking piece 4e of the drive arm 4 protrudes is formed at a predetermined position of the recess 12b, and a spring of the drive gear 12 is formed near the curved elongated hole 12a. A locking piece 12d is integrally formed to protrude. Furthermore, a shaft bearing part 12e through which the support shaft 11 is inserted is formed upright at the center of the recess 12b, and a switch pressing pin 12f is formed at a predetermined position on the back surface of the drive gear 12 to protrude toward the side surface 2a.

The spring 6 is a torsion spring, and the drive gear 12
It is attached to a shaft bearing part 12e formed in.
Both ends 6a and 6b of this spring 6 are connected to the spring locking piece 4e of the drive arm 4 and the spring locking piece 1 of the drive gear 12.
An elastic force is applied in a direction to sandwich 2d. Therefore, the drive arm 4 and the drive gear 12 are connected by the elastic biasing force of the spring 6, and each spring locking piece 4e, 1
The relative position is determined at a position where the separation distance 2d is the minimum (that is, both spring locking pieces 4e and 12d overlap). As a result, unless a force stronger than the elastic force of the spring 6 is applied between the drive arm 4 and the drive gear 12 in a direction that separates the spring locking pieces 4e and 12d, the drive arm 4 and the drive gear 12 rotate integrally. move. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the spring locking piece 12d of the drive gear 12 is formed at approximately the center of the curved elongated hole 12a, so that the drive arm 4 and the drive gear 12 are integrally connected as described above. In the state of rotation, each spring locking piece 4e, 12d is located approximately at the center of the curved elongated hole 12a. Incidentally, FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the support shaft 11.

Each switch 7a, 7b is an operating part 7a- ₁ , 7b.
− It is a micro switch that is closed by pressing ₁ . Of these, the switch 7a has an operating portion 7 on the outer peripheral surface of the main body 4b of the drive arm 4.
It is installed with a- ₁ in contact. Therefore, the operating portion 7a relatively slides on the outer periphery of the main body portion 4b as the drive arm 4 rotates. As described above, a cam portion 4d having a large diameter is formed in the main body portion 4b, and when the operating portion 7a- ₁ rides on this cam portion 4d, the switch 7a is closed. Further, the switch 7b has its operating portion 7b- ₁ connected to the drive gear 1.
2, and is attached to a predetermined position which will be described later. In addition, each switch 7a, 7b
The motor 13 is connected to a control device (not shown) and is under overall control.

Next, the operation of the loading device 1 having the above configuration will be explained. 1, 2, and 4 show the state before the loading operation starts. In this state, the cassette carriage 3 is at the upward movement position (hereinafter referred to as the unloading position) where the tape cassette 9 is inserted and removed, and the motor 13 is stopped. Further, the operating portion 7a- ₁ of the switch 7a is in contact with a position immediately before the cam portion 4d of the main body portion 4b. Further, the drive arm 4 and the drive gear 12 are located at a predetermined relative position where the spring locking pieces 4e and 12d overlap (see FIG. 4 for details).

When starting the loading operation, first load the tape cassette 9 into the cassette cartridge 3 in the direction indicated by the arrow A ₁ in the figure.
Insert it facing the direction. When the tape cassette 9 is inserted into the cassette cartridge 3 to a predetermined position,
Cassette cartridge 3 together with tape cassette 9
A It is configured to be displaced in _one direction. As a result, the drive arm 4 is moved to the first position via the protruding pin 10a.
In the figures and FIG. 4, it is urged to rotate counterclockwise. However, the motor 13 is stopped, and the drive gear 12 is also stopped. Therefore, the drive arm 4
The counterclockwise rotation is a rotation against the elastic force of the spring 6. Therefore, when the insertion force of the tape cassette 9 is released during insertion, the cassette carriage 3 is urged in the direction of arrow _A2 by the elastic force of the spring 6, and the tape cassette 9 is pushed back. As a result, if the tape cassette 9 is not inserted to a predetermined insertion position (described later), the tape cassette 9 will be pushed back by the spring 6, so that incorrect insertion can be prevented. As mentioned above, the spring locking pieces 4e and 12d can be prevented from being inserted into the curved elongated hole 1.
2a, even if the drive arm 4 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 4 with respect to the drive gear 12, the spring locking piece 4e will rotate counterclockwise within the curved slot 12a. This is because it has a movable configuration.

Assume that the tape cassette 9 continues to be inserted until it reaches the position shown in FIG. here switch 7
If you pay attention to a, the operation part 7a- ₁ of the switch 7a
The drive arm 4 rotates during the insertion operation to overcome the large-diameter cam portion 4d and re-enter the small-diameter main body portion 4b.
is in contact with. Therefore, the switch 7a changes from the state shown in FIG. 4 to the state shown in FIG.
A switch operation is performed from OFF (referred to as open state) to ON (referred to as closed state) and then from ON to OFF. The control device (not shown) has a switch 7a.
When the power is turned off from ON, current is supplied to the motor 13 to rotate the motor 13 in a direction in which the drive gear 12 rotates counterclockwise. That is, the motor 13 is started and the loading operation is started only after the insertion point has been inserted to the predetermined insertion position shown in FIG.

When the motor 13 starts and the drive gear 12 rotates counterclockwise via the intermediate gears 14 and 15, the spring locking piece 12d of the drive gear 12 overlaps the spring locking piece 4e of the drive arm 4, and the drive gear 12 is driven for a while. Although the arm 4 is stationary, when the spring locking pieces 4e and 12d overlap and the drive arm 4 and the drive gear 12 are at a predetermined relative position, they rotate together in the counterclockwise direction.
Therefore, the arm portion 4a urges the protruding pin 10a,
The cassette carriage 3 holding the tape cassette 9 moves while being guided by the guide grooves 8a to 8c, and the tape cassette 9a is loaded.

Next, the operation of each component when the tape cassette 9 is loaded to a predetermined recording/reproducing device and the loading operation is stopped will be explained.

FIG. 6 shows the state when the tape cassette 9 reaches a predetermined recording/reproducing position. In this state, the drive arm 4 and the drive gear 12 maintain a predetermined relative position, and the switch pressing pin 12f protruding from the back surface of the drive gear 12 presses the operating portion 7b- ₁ of the switch 7b, causing the switch 7b to be activated. From OFF
Turn it on. Further, when the tape cassette 9 is positioned at a predetermined recording/reproducing position, the projecting pin 10a is located at a position slightly above the vertical lower end 8a- ₁ of the guide groove 8a.

When the switch 7b is turned from OFF to ON, this stop signal is supplied to the control device, but the control device does not immediately stop the rotation of the motor 13 due to this stop signal and further moves the drive gear 12 as indicated by the arrow θ in FIG. After rotating by the angle, the motor 13 is stopped.

As described above, in the state shown in FIG. 6, the tape cassette 9 is placed and positioned on a reel stand or the like (not shown) provided in the magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus. Therefore, when the drive gear 12 is rotated further from this state, the drive arm 4 that has engaged with the protruding pin 10a of the cassette carriage 3 does not rotate, and the drive gear 12 resists the elastic force of the spring 6. It rotates and stops. In the state shown in FIG. 7, the spring 6 applies an elastic force in a direction that narrows the distance between the spring locking pieces 4e and 12d. Therefore, the cassette cartridge 3 is urged downward via the drive arm 4 and the protruding pin 10a, and the tape cassette 9 is pushed toward the reel stand or the like.
This reliably prevents the tape cassette 9 from wobbling at a predetermined recording/reproducing position. The reason why the tape cassette 9 can be prevented from wobbling as described above is because the spring locking pieces 4e and 12d have the curved elongated holes 12a.
Since the drive arm 4 is located at approximately the center of the drive gear 12, even if the drive arm 4 rotates clockwise in FIG.
This is because the spring locking piece 4e is also configured to be movable clockwise within the curved elongated hole 12a.

As described above, the drive arm 4, the drive gear 12
The spring 6 presses the tape cassette 9 against a reel stand or the like in the loading completion state to prevent rattling, and also prevents the tape cassette 9 from being inserted incorrectly in the unloading state.

This means that when the drive arm 4 is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise relative to the drive gear 12,
This is because the spring locking piece 4e provided on the drive arm 4 is configured to be movable in the clockwise and counterclockwise directions within the curved slot 12a, centering on the approximately central position of the curved slot 12a. .

Therefore, the single spring 6 can prevent the tape cassette 9 from wobbling in the loading completed state and from erroneously inserting the tape cassette 9 in the unloading state, thereby reducing the number of parts. can.

Next, the operation of each component during unloading will be described. When the eject switch provided in the magnetic recording/reproducing device is operated, the control device controls the motor 1 so that the drive gear 12 rotates clockwise.
Drive 3. This allows the cassette carriage 3
is guided by the guide grooves 8a to 8c, moves toward the insertion position, and reaches the position shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4 again. At this time, the switch 7a is activated by the cam portion 4d.
performs a switch operation from OFF to ON and then from ON to OFF. The control device is from switch 7a.
The motor 13 is stopped by a signal that changes from ON to OFF.

At this time, the drive gear 12 is stopped as shown in Figs.
By configuring the arrangement positions of the cam portion 4d and the switch 7a so that the switch 7a turns from ON to OFF at a position further rotated clockwise than the state shown in FIGS. 4 and 4, the switch operation of the switch 7a Even if there is some error in
Adjustment of a can be made unnecessary. As mentioned above, the switch 7a is configured to generate a start signal for loading operation and a stop signal for unloading operation, so it is possible to reduce the number of parts to one, instead of two switches in the past. It is possible to reduce the amount of

Although a torsion spring is used as the spring 6 in the above embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this, and a similar effect can be obtained by using a coil spring.

In addition, in the embodiment, a switch 7 is used to start the loading operation and stop the unloading operation.
A switch 7 is provided on the arm 4 that drives the cam portion 4d that operates the cam portion a, and is used to stop the loading operation.
Although the switch pressing pin 12f for operating the switch 7a is provided on the drive gear 12, the present invention is not limited to this.
Of course, a member for operating the switch 7b may be provided on the drive arm 4.

Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the present invention, the first and second locking pieces are configured to be located approximately at the center of the curved elongated hole, and the first locking piece moves clockwise within the curved elongated hole. Since the spring means is configured to be movable both in the counterclockwise direction, the spring means functions as a biasing means for pushing back the tape cassette to prevent incorrect insertion when inserting the tape cassette, and also as a means for pushing back the tape cassette at the end of loading. Since it also functions as a biasing means to press the tape cassette via the carriage and prevent it from rattling, one spring means can perform the biasing means that conventionally required two, reducing the number of parts. The structure of the loading and unloading device can be simplified, and two switches can now be used to start and stop the loading operation and stop the unloading operation, which conventionally required three switches. This also makes it possible to simplify the structure, and furthermore, the spring means is disposed within the recess formed in the drive gear, which allows the loading device to be made thinner. has.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a side view of a loading device that is an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a partially cutaway plan view of the loading device, Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the drive arm and drive gear, and Fig. 4 is a loading device. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the drive arm and drive gear in a state before the start of operation, FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the drive arm and drive gear when the tape cassette reaches a predetermined recording/reproducing position, and FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the drive arm and drive gear when the loading operation is stopped. 1... Loading device, 2... Chassis, 3
...Cassette carriage, 4...Drive arm, 4
a... Arm portion, 4b... Body portion, 4d... Cam portion, 4e... Spring locking piece, 5... Drive mechanism, 6...
...Springs, 7a, 7b...Switches, 8a-8c...
... Guide groove, 9 ... Tape cassette, 12 ... Drive gear, 12a ... Curved long hole, 12d ... Spring locking piece, 12f ... Switch pressing pin.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claim for Utility Model Registration] A cassette carrier that holds an inserted tape cassette and is movably supported on a guide portion formed on a chassis for loading the tape cassette; An engaging portion is formed at one end to engage the cassette carriage and urge it to move, and a switch pressing cam is formed at the other end to press the first switch as the switch rotates. and a recessed portion having a curved elongated hole, which is independently and coaxially supported by the chassis and presses the second switch as it rotates. a drive gear formed as a switch press pin and rotated by a drive means; The locking piece engages with a second locking piece formed on the drive gear, and elastically urges the drive lever and the drive gear toward an overlapping position where the first and second locking pieces overlap. a tape cassette comprising: a spring means; the spring means is disposed within a recess formed in the drive gear; and the overlapping position is provided approximately at the center of the curved elongated hole. Loading device.