JPH0587911B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tape cassette, and more particularly to an improved tape cassette with a lid for audio that can be constructed simply and inexpensively and can be used on both A and B sides.

Construction of conventional examples and their problems In recent years, magnetic recording using tape cassettes has become more sophisticated and denser, and it has become necessary to prevent dirt, dust, fingerprints, etc. from getting on the tape. Lid tape cassettes have already been used for video tape cassettes, but these are mainly used on one side. A lid tape cassette that is small and simple in structure is required because it cannot be used as it is for audio applications that are used on both sides of A and B. In addition, the lid does not open accidentally during use, and when inserted into the device, it can be automatically opened and closed stably with a simple mechanism. There is a demand for something that can be implemented at a low cost and that satisfies conditions such as something that feels less strange when compared.

The tape cassettes proposed by the present inventors will be explained below. Figure 1 is a patent application filed in 1982.
This is a perspective view showing the closed state of the tape cassette proposed in No. 12339, in which 1 is the cassette body, 2 is the upper half of the cassette, 3 is the lower half of the cassette, 4 is the U-shaped lid, 5 is the side of the U-shaped lid, 16 is a so-called reference hole, which is a reference hole for positioning the cassette.
This is a hole into which a member for positioning a cassette set at a predetermined playing position is inserted, and the rear end of the side 5 of the U-shaped lid 4 protrudes into this hole. 1
A protection plate 7 extends from the side surface of the cassette body 1 so as to cover the U-shaped lid side portion 5.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the lid in an open state;
Reference numeral 10 indicates a dividing bar forming an opening on the front surface of the cassette body; 11, 12, and 13 are openings; 15 is a tape; and 18 is a protruding edge provided at the upper and lower edges of the opening surface of the cassette; The U-shaped lid 4 is fitted to prevent rotation of the U-shaped lid 4. 19 is the protruding edge 1
This is a recess formed by 8.

FIG. 3 is a partial top view showing the inside, where 6 is a pivot shaft for the U-shaped lid 4, and 7 is a leaf spring for the pivot shaft 6.
A U-shaped lid 4 integrally formed with the cassette is biased toward the rear of the cassette. Reference numeral 8 denotes a fitting hole for the rotation support shaft 6, which is formed in the side surface of the cassette body 1 in a substantially triangular shape that tapers toward the rear. It guides and positions the dynamic support shaft 6.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the main part showing the engagement relationship of the U-shaped lid 4, and Fig. 5 is a side view of the main part showing the correspondence with the equipment side since it opens automatically. The provided cassette positioning member corresponds to the cassette positioning reference hole 16. 21 is the U-shaped lid body 4
This is a contact member for opening, which is installed on the equipment side.

The operation of the tape cassette constructed as described above will be explained below. First, in order to open the lid of the tape cassette in the closed state shown in FIG. 1, it is necessary to pull the U-shaped lid 4 away from the opening surface and release the engagement relationship that prevents rotation as shown in FIG. 4. There is. However, since the protection plate 17 covers the side portion 5 of the U-shaped lid 4, the U-shaped lid 4 cannot be easily pulled out, and this becomes possible only after it is set in the device.

As shown in FIG. 5, as the cassette in the closed state is moved in the direction of arrow A, the positioning member 20
is inserted into the positioning reference hole 16, and the rear end of the U-shaped lid side portion 5 protruding into the positioning reference hole 16 is pushed forward by the positioning member 20, and the U-shaped lid 4 is moved as shown in FIG. 5, the locking relationship between the U-shaped lid 4 and the recess 19 on the opening surface of the cassette main body is released. After this, when the cassette further moves in the direction of arrow A, the abutting member 21 abuts the lower end of the U-shaped lid 4, and the cassette moves in the direction of arrow A.
Push up the U-shaped lid body 4 in the direction and rotate it. When the U-shaped lid 4 rotates more than about 45 degrees, it automatically rotates by the force of the spring 7 and is self-held in the open position rotated 90 degrees. Also, these operations are A, B
Both sides are done in exactly the same way.

However, in the tape cassette configured as described above, in the process of inserting the positioning member 20 installed on the device side into the positioning reference hole 16, the locking relationship formed by the U-shaped lid 4 and the recess 19 is established. Then, the U-shaped lid body 4 was brought into contact with the opening contact member 21 to open and close the lid. As a result, the moving distance in the direction of arrow A shown in FIG. 5 becomes long.

Purpose of the Invention The present invention further improves the tape cassette described above, and provides a tape cassette that minimizes the travel distance of the cassette when opening and closing the lid, thereby realizing downsizing of the device and simplification of the opening/closing mechanism. It's there.

Structure of the Invention The present invention includes a cassette body having an opening on one side, a U-shaped lid that opens and closes the opening by rotating vertically, and a U-shaped lid that prevents rotation of the U-shaped lid. The rotation locking means is located between the opening of the cassette main body and the U-shaped lid and is composed of a recess and a projection that engage with each other. Due to the relative rotational movement between the concave portion and the convex portion, the U-shaped lid can be released from the locking relationship in either the upper or lower rotational direction and can be rotated, thereby making it possible to open and close the U-shaped lid. The moving distance of the cassette can be shortened, and the opening/closing mechanism of the device can be made smaller and the opening/closing mechanism can be simplified.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a tape cassette according to an embodiment of the present invention in a closed state, and FIGS. a represents a plan view, b represents a side view, and c represents a front view. FIG. 8 shows the locking relationship between the U-shaped lid 4 and the recess 19 on the cassette opening surface being released. Note that in FIGS. 6 to 8, the same parts as in FIGS. 1 to 5 are given the same numbers.

In FIG. 6, 17a is a protective plate 22 which is thinner than the thickness of the cassette body 1 and has a width equal to that of the U-shaped lid 4. A protection plate 22 is a protrusion provided in both up and down directions near the rear end of the U-shaped lid side 5. 23 is a groove portion of the cassette body 1 which is in contact with the U-shaped lid side portion 5 and has approximately the same thickness as the protection plate 17a, and 24 is located near the rear end of the U-shaped lid side portion 5 and protects the cassette body 1. Board 17
This is a cutout portion of the cassette main body 1 having a thickness approximately equal to that of the cassette body 1.

In FIGS. 7a, b, and c, the protective plate 17a,
The U-shaped lid side portion 5 that does not include the protrusion 22, the groove portion 23 of the cassette body 1 in contact with the U-shaped lid side portion 5, and the notch portion of the cassette body 1 near the rear end of the U-shaped lid side portion 5. 24 are all formed to have substantially the same thickness, and only the protruding portion 22 provided at the rear end portion of the U-shaped lid side portion 5 is formed to protrude from them. 22a is a chamfered portion where the outer ridgeline of the protruding portion 22 has been removed;
It is an abutment member provided on the device side that determines a temporary position in the advancing direction when inserted in the direction of arrow D shown in FIG. 26 is the cassette body 1 shown in FIG. 6 or 7.
This is an abutment member that determines a temporary position in the advancing direction when inserted in the direction of arrow E shown in Figure a, and is also provided on the equipment side.

Note that since the insertion direction of the cassette on the equipment side is determined to be one direction, the contact members 25 and 26 are not implanted at the same time, and only one of them is used.

Figures 9a, b, and c respectively show essential parts according to other embodiments of the present invention; a is a plan view, b is a side view, and c is a side view;
shows a front view. 27 in Figure 9 a, b, c
27a is a contact member, 27a is a flat part, 28 is a notch provided in the cassette body 2, and 29 is a protrusion on the side of the U-shaped lid, which is the same as in FIGS. 1 to 8. are given the same number.

The operation of the tape cassette constructed as described above will be explained below. First, when the tape cassette is inserted in accordance with the arrow D shown in FIG. Stop progress. During this time, the surface of the contact member 25 is in contact with the protection plate 17a, the U-shaped lid side 5, the groove 23 of the cassette body 1, and the back surface of the notch 24 of the cassette body 1, and the U-shaped lid side The protrusion 22 provided at the rear end and a portion 25a of the abutment member 25 abut.

When the cassette main body moves in the direction of arrow D until the reference line and the tip n of the contact member 25 come into contact with each other, the protrusion 22 at the rear end of the lower side of the U-shaped lid is projected by the contact member 25. It is pushed upward by the amount. At this time, the locking relationship between the U-shaped lid 4 and the recess 19 formed by the protruding edge 18 on the opening surface of the cassette changes as shown in FIG. . In other words, since the rear end of the U-shaped lid side portion 5 is pushed up, the convex portion on the U-shaped lid 4 side rotates around one edge of the lower protruding edge 18a as a fulcrum, causing the upper protruding edge 18 side to move under the gap. occurs. This means that the U-shaped lid 4 on the lower side of the gap and the recess 1 on the cassette opening surface
This shows that the engagement relationship formed by 9 has been released, and the U-shaped lid 4 is in a state where it can rotate only in the direction of arrow C. This can be reliably achieved even if the contact member 25 is placed only on either the left or right side. At this time, as shown in FIG. 7b, the reference line on the cassette body 1 and the contact member 25
An abutment member 21 for opening the U-shaped lid 4 is disposed near the lower protruding edge 18a inside the cassette body 1 so that the cassette body 1 is in contact with the tip n.
As it moves in the direction of arrow A, the lower end of the U-shaped lid 4 is pushed up and the process of moving to the opening operation is the same as in the conventional example. At the same time, the positioning member 20 penetrates into the positioning reference hole 16, so that the cassette main body 1
defines its regular position. Furthermore, since the abutment member 25 is provided with a hollow portion 25b, the movement of the positioning member 20 into the reference hole 16 in the cassette body is not obstructed.

Similarly, in the case of a device in which the cassette body 1 is inserted in the E direction shown in FIG. Determine the temporary location. During this time, the surface 26a on the abutment member 26 pushes up the protrusion 22 at the rear end of the U-shaped lid side provided on the lower side, so that the protrusion on the U-shaped upper lid 4 and the recess 19 on the cassette opening surface The engagement relationship formed is as shown in FIG. 8, and the lower side of the gap is released, and the subsequent operation is equivalent to the case where the cassette body is inserted in the direction D shown in FIG. 7a.

In addition, a protrusion 2 provided at the rear end of the U-shaped lid side portion 5
2 is provided with a surface trimming portion 22a, the surface 26a on the contact member 26 pushes up the protrusion 22 smoothly while the cassette body moves in the E direction.

Furthermore, it goes without saying that the operation of inserting the cassette body in the D direction or the E direction is performed on both sides of the cassettes A and B as explained above.

Further, in this embodiment, the abutment member 25 or 26 is arranged below the cassette body, and the U-shaped lid 4 is configured to rotate upward. If placed on the upper side of the main body, the U-shaped lid 4 can be rotated downward according to the same principle of operation.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the protective plate 17a and the U-shaped lid side portion 5 are provided at the rear end of the U-shaped lid side portion 5.
A protrusion 22 is provided that protrudes from the groove 23 of the cassette body 1 and the notch 24 of the cassette body 2, and while the cassette body 1 is temporarily positioned by the abutting member 25 or 26, a U-shaped The convex portion on the shaped lid body 4 and the concave portion 19 on the opening surface in the cassette body 1
By adopting a structure in which the locking relationship in the rotating direction of the U-shaped lid body 4 configured by is released, the moving distance of the cassette body 1 in the direction of arrow A shown in FIG. I can do that. In other words, arrow A
Since the positioning member 20 generally acts only near the bottom surface of the cassette, the movement of the cassette main body in the planar direction shown in the direction is only required by the distance required for rotation of the U-shaped lid in this embodiment. For tape cassettes in which the U-shaped lid 4 rotates approximately 45 degrees and then rotates automatically thereafter, approximately 2/3 of the thickness of the cassette is sufficient to satisfy the opening/closing function. .

Even in conventional so-called compact cassettes, it is necessary to move the cassette body to the same extent in order to insert the positioning member 20 into the cassette, so this method is sufficient for small equipment using current compact cassettes. This makes it possible to use a tape cassette with a lid that will not be accidentally opened during daily use in small devices.

In addition, the opening/closing mechanism for the U-shaped lid 4 provided on the equipment side only requires the abutting member 25 or 26 and the opening abutting member 21, and these are used while being fixed, so the structure is very simple and easy to use. The reliability of the opening/closing operation of the letter-shaped lid body 4 can be made much higher.

In addition, by providing a protruding portion 22 at the rear end of the U-shaped lid side portion 5 and making the width of the U-shaped lid side portion larger at the rear than the front, the U-shaped lid 4 can be attached to the abutting member 25 or 26. In the process of coming into contact with the projecting edge 1 of the U-shaped lid 4
The U-shaped lid body 4 is easily rotated around the fulcrum 8a, and the cassette body is in the process of determining its temporary position.
Only the engagement relationship in the rotational direction can be released. In particular, by providing the protruding portion 22 at the rear end of the U-shaped lid side portion 5, there is an effect of separating the point of force application from the rotational movement of the U-shaped lid 4 using the protruding edge 18a as a fulcrum, and the engagement relationship is The force required to release can be reduced.

Furthermore, by providing the groove 23 in the cassette body 1, the abutment member 25 can be made wider and the negotiation area with the cassette body 1 can be increased, which reduces the accuracy of the mounting position of the abutment member 25 and improves the abutment. The reliability of the pushing-up operation of the protrusion 22 by the member 25 can be increased.

Furthermore, by providing the notch 24 in the cassette body 1, the negotiation area between the surface 26a on the abutment member 26 and the cassette body 1 can be increased, and the distance accuracy between the abutment surface P and the tip of the abutment member can be increased. In addition, the reliability of the pushing-up operation of the protrusion 22 by the abutting member surface 26a can be increased.

Furthermore, since the protruding part 22 is provided with the chamfered part 22a, the pushing up of the protruding part 22 by the surface 26a on the abutment member 26 as the cassette body 1 moves in the direction of the arrow E shown in FIG. 7a is smooth. This allows the insertion of the cassette body 1 in the E direction without causing any discomfort.

In this embodiment, the notches 24 of the cassette body 1 are arranged on the left and right sides of the cassette body 1 only in the vicinity of the rear end of the U-shaped lid side part 5, but as shown in FIGS. 9a and 9b, The notch portion 28 may be provided over the extra width of the cassette body 1. In this case E
Even when a tape cassette is inserted in the direction shown in FIG. This can be improved in the same way as when the main body 1 is inserted in the D direction. In addition, for example, when operating a tape cassette in a car at night, the notch 2 can be easily accessed by simply touching it with your hand.
8 can be detected, and the front and rear directions of the cassette body 1 can be easily determined.

Further, in this embodiment, the protrusion 22 is provided near the rear end of the U-shaped lid side 5, but the protrusion 29 on the U-shaped lid side is replaced with the U-shaped lid as shown in FIG. 9b. It may be formed in a slope shape from the front of the body side part. In this case, when the cassette main body 1 moves in the direction of arrow D, the protrusion 29 on the side of the U-shaped lid moves against the abutting member 25.
The rotational movement of the U-shaped lid 4 shown in FIG. 8 proceeds smoothly as it is gradually pushed up by the upper surface 25a.

Further, if a chamfered portion 27a is provided on the abutting member 27 as shown in FIG. 9c, the same effect can be obtained even if the chamfered portion 22a on the protrusion 22 of this embodiment shown in FIG. 7c is omitted. In this case, the negotiation area of the protruding portion 29 with the abutting member 27 can be increased, and the amount of wear can be reduced, which is effective in improving durability.

Effects of the Invention The present invention provides a cassette body having an opening on one side, a U-shaped lid that opens and closes the opening by rotating vertically, and an object of preventing the U-shaped lid from rotating. and a rotation locking means, which is located between the cassette main body opening and the U-shaped lid and is composed of a recess and a projection that engage with each other, and constitutes the rotation locking means. Due to the relative rotational movement between the concave part and the convex part, the U-shaped lid releases the locking relationship in either the up or down rotation direction and becomes rotatable. By simply inserting the cassette into the cassette holder and moving the cassette body in the horizontal direction, the U-shaped lid can be rotated in either the up or down direction.
Therefore, the necessary moving distance in the thickness direction of the cassette body can be shortened, making it possible to downsize the device and simplify the opening/closing mechanism. Furthermore, since the U-shaped lid can be opened and closed regardless of the direction in which the cassette body is inserted into the equipment, it is possible to realize diversification of equipment as the method of inserting the cassette body changes.

In addition, the width of the side part of the U-shaped lid body is wider at the rear than at the front, so that it can be used for temporary positioning of the cassette body in the equipment into which the cassette body is inserted with the opening surface of the cassette body facing forward. Simply placing the abutting member along the front side of the U-shaped lid allows it to be opened without difficulty, making the U-shaped lid opening mechanism on the equipment very simple and highly reliable. This can be realized in a simple manner and does not cause any discomfort to the insertion operation of the cassette body. Furthermore, since the U-shaped lid can be opened once the cassette body is temporarily positioned by the abutting member, it is highly effective in downsizing the device.

In addition, by having a protective plate that covers the sides of the U-shaped lid and has a width thinner than the thickness of the cassette body, and the rear of the U-shaped lid protrudes beyond the width of the protective plate, the cassette body It is possible to increase the negotiation area between the contact member that determines the temporary position of the cassette body and the cassette body, thereby increasing operational reliability. It is something that can be canceled.

In addition, by making the thickness of the cassette body near the side of the U-shaped lid that comes in contact with the thickness of the protective plate approximately equal to that of the protective plate,
For devices inserted with the opening surface facing forward, the negotiation area between the abutment member that determines the temporary position of the cassette body and the cassette body can be increased, and the accuracy of the assembly position of the abutment member can be reduced. This can improve the reliability of the operation of pushing up the protrusion provided at the rear end of the U-shaped lid. In addition, by configuring the thickness of the cassette body near the rear end of the U-shaped lid to be approximately equal to the protection plate, it is possible to determine the temporary position of the cassette body for devices inserted with the side of the cassette body facing forward. By increasing the negotiation area between the contact member and the cassette body, it is possible to reduce the precision of each contact member and to increase the reliability of the operation of pushing up the protrusion provided at the rear of the U-shaped lid.

In addition, by removing the outer ridgeline of the protrusion on the side of the U-shaped lid that protrudes from the protection plate, and creating a smooth curved surface, the cassette body will be more easily inserted into the device with the side of the cassette body facing forward. The abutment member that determines the position can smoothly push up the protrusion provided at the rear end of the side portion of the U-shaped lid body, so that there is no discomfort in the operation of inserting the cassette body into the device. In addition, by widening the width only near the rear end of the side of the U-shaped lid, the force pushing up the protrusion on the side of the U-shaped lid is reduced, and the operating force does not feel strange. This makes it possible to realize a tape cassette with the following characteristics.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the tape cassette proposed by the present inventors in a closed state, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the tape cassette in its open state, Fig. 3 is a partial top view showing its interior, and Fig. 4 5 is a side sectional view of the main part, and FIG. 5 is a side view of the main part showing the correspondence relationship with the equipment side. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a closed state of a tape cassette according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 similarly shows main parts showing correspondence with equipment, where a is a plan view, b is a side view, and c is a side view. A front view, FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a main part showing how the engagement relationship is released according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 9 shows a main part showing a correspondence relationship with a device according to another embodiment of the present invention. , a is a plan view, b is a side view,
c is a front view. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Cassette main body, 2...Cassette upper half, 3...Cassette lower half, 4...U-shaped lid, 5...U-shaped lid side, 7... Leaf spring, 16
... Reference hole, 17a ... Protective plate, 18 ... Projection edge, 19 ... Recess, 22 ... Projection, 23 ...
Groove, 24... Notch, 25, 26... Contact member.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A cassette body having an opening on one side and consisting of an upper half and a lower half, and a U-shaped lid that opens and closes the opening by rotating vertically;
One end of the upper half and the lower half each has a protruding edge protruding toward the opening side, and a rotational lock that locks rotation of the U-shaped lid body by being held by the protruding edge. The U-shaped lid rotates about one of the protruding edges provided on each of the upper half and the lower half as a fulcrum, thereby causing the U-shaped lid to rotate in a direction opposite to the rotation of the rotation locking means. A tape cassette characterized by being released from the lock. 2. The tape cassette according to claim 1, wherein the width of the side portion of the U-shaped lid is wider at the rear than at the front. 3. A patent claim characterized in that it has a protective plate that covers the side of the U-shaped lid and has a width thinner than the thickness of the cassette body, and that the rear of the U-shaped lid protrudes beyond the width of the protective plate. A tape cassette according to scope 2. 4. The tape cassette according to claim 3, wherein the thickness of the vicinity of the cassette body that contacts the side portion of the U-shaped lid is approximately equal to the width of the protective plate. 5. The tape cassette according to claim 3, wherein the thickness of the cassette body near the rear end of the U-shaped lid is substantially equal to that of the protective plate. 6. The tape cassette according to claim 5, wherein the external ridgeline of the protrusion on the side of the U-shaped lid protruding from the protection plate is removed to create a smooth curved surface. 7. The tape cassette according to claim 2, characterized in that the groove near the rear end of the U-shaped lid side is widened.