JPH0610560Y2 - Recording medium insertion section in recording / reproducing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The recording medium insertion part in the recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention will be described according to the following items.

A. Industrial application fields B. Outline of Invention C. Prior art C-1. General Background C-2. Example of cassette insertion section in conventional tape player [Fig. 7] D. Problems to be solved by the invention [Fig. 7] E. Means for Solving Problems F. Example a. Tape cassette [FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 6] b. Outline of tape player [Figs. 1, 2, and 6] c. Front panel [FIGS. 1 to 4 and 6] c-1. Cassette insertion port c-2. Light guide member c-3. Shape of cassette insertion port c-4. Brightness of light bulb and light guide member and visual confirmation of entire cassette insertion port c-5. Door d. Support [FIGS. 1 and 5] e. Reproducing unit [FIGS. 1 and 6] f. Cassette holder [FIG. 1, FIG. 5, FIG. 6] f-1. Main part f-2. Cassette holder f-3. Cassette feed roller f-4. Support and movement by support g. Inserting the tape cassette into the cassette holder and guiding the light guide member [FIGS. 1 and 6] h. Loading and unloading operations of tape cassette [Fig. 6] h-1. Loading operation h-2. Unloading operation G. Effect of the Invention (A. Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a recording medium insertion section in a novel recording / reproducing apparatus. More specifically, for example, the present invention relates to a recording medium insertion portion in a recording / reproducing apparatus having a recording medium insertion opening into / from which a recording medium such as a tape cassette is inserted / removed. By improving the structure of the recording medium insertion opening, etc. ,
A new recording that enables easy and accurate recognition of the entire position of the recording medium insertion slot even in a dark place, and enables smooth insertion and removal of the recording medium from the recording medium insertion slot. It is intended to provide a recording medium insertion section in a reproducing device.

(B. Outline of the Invention) The recording medium inserting portion of the recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention has a cassette case insertion opening in the recording medium inserting portion of the recording / reproducing apparatus having a recording medium insertion opening for inserting / removing the recording medium. A light guide member having two inclined surfaces which are made of substantially transparent material on the left and right sides and which face each other to form the left and right side surfaces of the cassette case insertion opening and which are displaced inward as it goes deeper; And a light emitting member disposed in opposition to each other so that the inner surface of the cassette case insertion port and the slope of the light guide member are flush with each other, and one end of the light guide member is flush with the outer surface of the front panel. With such a configuration, the entire position of the recording medium insertion port can be easily and accurately viewed even in a dark place, and the recording medium can be inserted into the recording medium insertion port. It is designed so that it can be taken out smoothly.

(C. Prior Art) (C-1. General Background) In a recording / reproducing apparatus, for example, a tape recorder in which a cassette loading method is a so-called front loading method, a tape cassette is usually removably inserted and a tape is attached. It has a cassette storage space that is approximately the same size as the outer shape of the cassette, and it is approximately vertically located between the eject position where the tape cassette is inserted and removed and the loading completion position where the tape cassette is loaded into the recording / playback section. A cassette holder (may be referred to as a “cassette carrier” or the like) that extends or moves along a movement locus that extends in a substantially L-shape is provided, and is located at the eject position on the front surface of the outer casing. The cassette insertion slot is formed at the position facing the cassette holder, Insert Pukasetto is adapted to be performed by inserting the tape cassette from the cassette insertion port.

In order to allow the tape cassette passing therethrough to be smoothly inserted into the cassette holder, such a cassette insertion port is usually formed to have a size substantially equal to the outer shape of the tape cassette. ing.

Therefore, when the tape cassette is inserted into the cassette insertion opening in such a tape recorder, it is necessary to align the tape cassette with the cassette insertion opening. When attempting to insert the tape cassette, a part of the tape cassette collides with the front surface of the outer casing, which prevents smooth insertion.

However, even if it is desired to align the tape cassette with respect to the cassette insertion opening, if the place where the tape recorder or the like is located is dark, the above alignment is difficult, and in particular,
In-vehicle recording / reproducing devices such as so-called car stereo devices are often placed under the so-called dashboard, so it is difficult to see the entire position of the cassette insertion slot even in the daytime, let alone at night. Since it is extremely difficult to see the light unless a light is turned on, it often takes time to insert the tape cassette into the cassette insertion opening.

(C-2. Example of Cassette Insertion Portion in Conventional Tape Player) [FIG. 7] Therefore, in the conventional recording / reproducing apparatus, recording is performed in order to make the position of the cassette insertion opening more visible even in a dark place. There is a medium insertion port provided with a light emitting means.

FIG. 7 shows an example a of a conventional on-vehicle tape player in which such a light emitting means is provided at the cassette insertion port.

In the figure, b is the outer casing of the tape player, and c is the outer casing b.
Of the front plate c. The front plate c has a cassette insertion opening d and various operation buttons e, e, ... A light emitting member f that emits light from a light source (not shown) is arranged at a position along the left half of the edge, and the light emitting member f emits light when the tape player a is turned on, for example. ing.

(D. Problems to be Solved by the Invention) [FIG. 7] However, in such a tape player a, even if the light emitting member f emits light, it is against the operator who operates the cassette insertion opening d. Since only a part of the opening edge is displayed, whether the cassette insertion opening d is located above or below the light emitting member f, and the light emitting member f is located in the cassette insertion opening d. It is not possible to easily recognize which position in the left-right direction is displayed without looking at the cassette insertion opening d, and eventually it is impossible to recognize even a part of the cassette insertion opening d. Become.

Therefore, it is conceivable to illuminate the entire cassette insertion port d from the outside or inside of the outer casing b. However, if this is done, the structure becomes complicated and the power consumption increases, and in some cases, the outside. Various other problems will arise, such as the need to select the material of the front plate c of the casing b.

Even if the entire cassette insertion opening d is illuminated, since the cassette insertion opening d is formed to have a size substantially equal to the outer shape of the tape cassette, the tape cassette can be firmly attached to the cassette insertion opening. The problem remains that the need for alignment does not disappear.

(E. Means for Solving Problems) The recording medium insertion portion in the recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention includes a front panel provided on the front surface of the main body of the recording / reproducing apparatus in order to solve the above problems. A cassette case insertion port provided on the front panel for inserting and removing a cassette case accommodating a recording medium, and two faces made of a substantially transparent material on the left and right sides of the cassette case insertion port and facing each other are the cassettes. The cassette case insertion opening is provided with a light guide member that is formed on the left and right sides of the case insertion opening and that is formed on an inclined surface that is displaced inward as it goes deeper, and a light emitting member that is disposed with respect to the light guide member. The inner surface of the light guide member and the inclined surface of the light guide member are flush with each other, and one end of the light guide member is flush with the outer surface of the front panel. is there.

Therefore, according to the present invention, when the light emitting member emits light, the left and right side surfaces of the recording medium insertion opening and the left and right edges of the opening on the front side of the recording medium insertion opening shine, so that even in a dark place. The entire position of the recording medium insertion port can be easily and accurately viewed, and the width of the opening on the front side of the recording medium insertion port is slightly wider than the width of the recording medium. The recording medium can be smoothly inserted into the recording medium insertion port only by roughly performing the alignment with respect to the recording medium insertion port.

(F. Embodiment) The details of the recording medium insertion portion in the recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention will be described below with reference to the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings.

The embodiment shown in the drawings applies the present invention to a tape cassette insertion portion in a tape player.

First, an example of a tape cassette will be described, and then a tape player will be described.

(A. Tape cassette) [FIGS. 1, 2, and 6] 1 is a relatively small tape cassette.

Reference numeral 2 is a cassette case of the tape cassette 1, and the cassette case 2 is viewed in the left-right direction in the left-right direction (the downward direction in FIG. 1 is the left side, and the upward direction is the right side. The right side of the tape cassette 1 is the front side and the left side is the rear side of the tape cassette 1. The front-rear direction of the tape cassette 1 is opposite to the front-rear direction described above. The shape is a long rectangular shape and is formed into a relatively thin substantially box shape, and the front surface thereof is the tape pull-out surface 2a (see FIG. 6 (C)). ,
A part of the magnetic tape 4 wound around the two tape reels 3 and 3 '(see FIG. 1) housed in the cassette case 2 is passed through the drawing surface 2a.

5 is a front lid for opening and closing the tape pulling surface 2a,
The front lid 5 is formed in a substantially U-shape that is long in the left-right direction when viewed from above, and the left and right ends of the U-shape are rotatably supported by the left and right side surfaces of the front end of the cassette case 2 and are not shown. In the state in which the tape cassette 1 is not in use, the elastic member always urges the counterclockwise rotation force in FIG. 6, that is, the rotation force in the direction to close the tape pulling surface 2a. As shown in FIG. 2 and the like, when the tape cassette 1 is mounted on the recording / reproducing section of the tape player, the tape drawing surface 2a is closed (hereinafter referred to as a "closed position"). Is Fig. 6 (C)
As shown in FIG. 5, the tape pull-out surface 2a is moved to a position where it is opened (hereinafter referred to as "open position").

The front lid 5 is locked at the closed position by a lock member (not shown) provided in the cassette case 2 when the tape cassette 1 is not inserted in the cassette holder of the tape player, and the tape cassette 1 is set in the cassette holder. The lock is released by being inserted.

The front end portion 2b of the upper surface of the cassette case 2 is
As can be seen clearly from the drawings, it is formed on a slope that is downwardly inclined to the front, and a portion 5a of the upper surface of the front lid 5 that corresponds to the front end 2b is substantially flush with the front end 2b in the closed position. It is formed on the slope located above.

In addition, the left and right end portions 6 at the front end of the bottom plate of the cassette case 2,
6 (hereinafter referred to as "pressing edge", only one of which is shown in the drawing) is the most protruding portion, and the tape cassette 1 can be inserted into a cassette holder described later in a cassette case. It is completed when these pressing edges 6, 2 of 2 come to a position (hereinafter referred to as "insertion completion position") where they come into contact with the back of the cassette holder (the front surface of a positioning piece described later provided on the cassette holder). It has become. For this reason, in the portion of the front lid 5 corresponding to these pressing edges 6, 6, a cutout portion reaching the lower edge thereof is formed.

(B. Overview of tape player) [FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG.
[Fig.] 7 is a tape player.

Reference numeral 8 denotes an outer casing of the tape player 7. The outer casing 8 is formed in a substantially box shape by a main portion 9 having a front end face opened and a front panel 10 attached to the front portion of the main portion 9. And
An elongated cassette insertion opening 11 is formed in the left and right directions for inserting and removing the tape cassette 1 into and from a cassette holder, which will be described later, on the upper part of the front panel 10, and various operation buttons 12, 12 ,.
・ ・ Is placed.

The cassette insertion opening 11 has a certain depth, and a door 13 is rotatably provided at an intermediate portion in the depth direction, and the door 13 is constantly twisted by the torsion coil springs 14 and 14 to allow the cassette to be constantly inserted. The turning force in the direction of closing the insertion port 11 is urged.

Reference numeral 15 denotes a cassette holder into which the tape cassette 1 is detachably inserted. The cassette holder 15 has a cassette mounting plate 16 whose outer shape is substantially equal to the planar shape of the tape cassette 1 and the cassette mounting plate 15. Board 16
Side plates 17 and 17 'which are raised from both left and right edges of the cassette and a cassette retainer 18 provided in a bridging manner between the upper ends of the two side plates 17 and 17', and a cassette feed roller provided on the cassette retainer 18. 19, 19 ', etc., and cassette storage plate 16, side plates 17, 17', cassette retainer 18, and cassette feed rollers 19, 19 'having a size substantially equal to the size of the cassette case 2 of the tape cassette 1. A space 20 is defined, and the tape cassette 1 is inserted into such a cassette storage space 20 with its front surface facing the back of the cassette storage space.

The cassette holder 15 is supported by a support 21 fixed in the outer casing 8 so as to be movable in a substantially vertical direction, and at a position facing the cassette insertion port 11, that is, FIG. 6 (A). , (B) (hereinafter referred to as “eject position”) and the position shown in FIG. 6 (C) (hereinafter referred to as “loading completion position”). Therefore, the insertion and removal of the tape cassette 1 are performed through the cassette insertion port 11 with the cassette holder 15 in the eject position.

(C. Front Panel) [FIGS. 1 to 4 and 6] The front panel 10 projects rearward along a panel plate 22 having a substantially rectangular shape elongated in the left-right direction and an outer peripheral edge of the panel plate 22. The peripheral wall 23 is provided as described above, and the rear end of the peripheral wall 23 is joined to the front end of the main portion 9 of the outer casing 8.

The panel plate 22 has a portion 22a (hereinafter, referred to as an "upper portion") between the upper end of the panel plate 22 and a position closer to the upper side from the center in the height direction so that the portion 22a protrudes forward from the remaining portion. It is positioned so that it gradually moves rearward as it goes to the upper end, and
A portion 22b near the lower end of the panel plate 22 is formed with a slight inclination so as to be gradually displaced forward as it goes to the lower end, and the portion other than the portions near the left and right ends of the portion 22b is thin enough to have flexibility. The operation buttons 12, 12, ... Are formed in the thin portion.

(C-1. Cassette Insertion Portion) The cassette insertion port 11 is opened at a portion of the upper portion 22a of the panel plate 22 excluding portions near the left and right ends and is approximately two-thirds of the length of the front panel 10 in the front-rear direction. It has a depth and also has a frontage, that is, a cassette insertion port 11
The opening on the front side of the is the cassette case 2 of the tape cassette 1.
Is formed to be about one size larger than the size, and the width is gradually narrowed as it goes to the depth from the substantially central portion in the depth direction.

Reference numeral 11a denotes an opening edge on the front side of the cassette insertion port 11, and the opening edge 11a has a length in the left-right direction, that is, a width slightly longer than the length of the tape cassette 1 in the left-right direction, and the height thereof is the tape cassette 1. The height of the lower guide plate 24 is substantially higher than the thickness of the lower guide plate 24, and the lower guide plate 24 projects rearward from the lower edge thereof in a substantially horizontal direction. Upper guide plate 25 having
(Only shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4) is projected rearward so as to be substantially parallel to the lower guide plate 24, and the depth of the lower guide plate 24 is the front panel 10. It is about two-thirds of the width of the peripheral wall 23.

The left and right edges of the lower guide plate 24 are formed obliquely so that the front half of the lower guide plate 24 is gradually displaced inward as it goes deeper. It is inclined like the front half of the left and right edges.

Further, the front ends of the left and right edges of the lower guide plate 24 are continuous with the panel plate 22, and the height of the cassette insertion port 11 is approximately 3 mm.
Side walls 26, 26 'having a height of about a fraction are formed.

Since the side walls 26, 26 'are formed along the left and right edges of the lower guide plate 24, they are bent in a substantially V shape when viewed from above.

(C-2. Light guide member) Reference numerals 27 and 27 'are light guide members that form part of the left and right side surfaces of the cassette insertion opening 11 and the left and right edge portions of the opening on the front side of the cassette insertion opening 11. The optical members 27 and 27 'are formed of a transparent synthetic resin so as to have a substantially L shape when viewed from above and below.

That is, the light guide members 27 and 27 ′ are plate-like mounting pieces 28, 2
8'and the guide pieces 29, 2 projectingly provided so as to extend substantially forward from a portion excluding a portion of the inner ends of the mounting pieces 28, 28 'near the lower end to the opening on the front side of the cassette insertion port 11.
9'is integrally formed, and the inner side surfaces 29a, 29'a of the guide pieces 29, 29 'are the side walls 26, 26 from the front end to the rear end, as can be seen clearly in FIG. ′
Is formed on a slope that is gradually displaced inward with a slope substantially equal to the slope of the first half of the.

Then, the light guide members 27, 27 ′ have their guide pieces 29, 2 ′.
With the 9'positioned between the front half of the side walls 26, 26 'and the left and right ends of the upper guide plate 25, the mounting pieces 28, 2
Mounting holes 31, 30 and 30 ', 30' formed in 8'are fitted with mounting pins 31, 31, 31 ', 31' projecting from the rear surface of the panel plate 22, and the mounting pins 31, 3 '
The front end portions of 1, 31 ′ and 31 ′ are fixed to the panel plate 22 by crimping.

(C-3. Shape of Cassette Insertion Portion) Therefore, the guide surfaces 29a and 29'a of the guide pieces 29 and 29 'of the light guide members 27 and 27' have inner surfaces 2 of the side walls 26 and 26 '.
Since the guide surfaces 29a and 29'a and the inner side surfaces 26a and 26'a are located on substantially the same plane as 6a and 26'a, the left side surface and the right side surface of the cassette insertion port 11 are constituted. .

Thus, the height of the cassette insertion slot 1 is defined by the lower guide plate 24 and the upper guide plate 25, and the side wall 26,
26 'and the guide pieces 29, 29' of the light guide members 27, 27 'have a certain depth whose left and right widths are defined, and the frontage, that is, the front opening edge 11a is larger than the outer shape of the tape cassette 1. The width of the tape cassette is substantially equal to the length in the left-right direction of the tape cassette 1 from the central portion to the rear side, and further, the width is gradually narrowed from the front end to the substantially central portion. .

(C-4. Brightness of light bulb and light guide member and visual confirmation of entire cassette insertion slot) 32 is a circuit board attached to the front panel 10, and the circuit board 32 is a cassette insertion slot on the back surface of the panel plate 22. The panel plate 22 is opposed to the portion except 11 and is a panel plate 22.
Are spaced apart from each other and are screwed to the mounting bosses 33, 33, ...

The light guide member 27 on the front surface of the circuit board 32,
Light bulbs 34, 34 'are provided at positions laterally close to the mounting pieces 28, 28' of the 27 '.
4'is turned on by turning on the main power source of the tape player 7, for example.

Therefore, when the light bulbs 34, 34 'are turned on, a part of the light emitted from the light bulbs 34, 34' is attached to the mounting pieces 28, 2'of the light guide members 27, 27 '.
8'and the guide pieces 29, 29 'are propagated, and a part thereof is ejected from the guide surfaces 29a, 29'a.

Therefore, when the light bulbs 34, 34 'are turned on, the light guide member 27,
The guide surfaces 29a and 29'a of 27 'are the cassette insertion port 11
Since most of the left and right side surfaces of the above side surface are constituted, almost all of the above side surfaces will be illuminated.

Even if the place where the tape player 7 is located is dark, the guide surfaces 29a and 29'a illuminate so that most of the left and right side surfaces of the cassette insertion port 11 can be visually recognized and the light guide member can be seen. The positions of the front opening edge 11a of the cassette insertion opening 11 can be roughly recognized by shining the portions of 27 and 27 'that extend to the front opening of the cassette insertion opening 11 so that the opening edge 11a Even if the whole does not shine, the whole can be visually recognized almost accurately.

The insertion of the tape cassette 1 into the cassette insertion opening 11 thus configured will be described later.

(C-5. Door) The door 13 is formed in a plate shape having substantially the same size as the cassette insertion port 11, and cylindrical portions 35, 35 'are formed at the upper ends thereof at positions separated from each other in the left-right direction. Further, a hooking piece 36 is formed so as to protrude from the right end edge thereof toward the right side and the rear side so as to form a substantially crank shape, and the hinge shaft 37 is rotatably inserted into the tubular portions 35, 35 '. ing.

The cassette insertion slot 1 is provided in the corner portion where the top surface of the peripheral wall 23 of the front panel 10 and the back surface of the panel plate 22 intersect.
The protruding pieces 38, 3 are provided at two positions substantially corresponding to the left and right ends of the 1.
8'is formed, and the pressing piece 3 is located in the portion between the projecting pieces 38 and 38 'so as to be separated from each other in the left-right direction.
9 and 39 'are formed, and the rear portion of the upper guide plate 25 is located along the left and right edges of the upper surface of the upper guide plate 25.
Support pieces 40, 40 'are formed so as to project rearward from the rear end of the hinge shaft 37. The hinge shaft 37 is supported from below by the support pieces 40, 40' at positions near both ends thereof, and the hinge shafts 37 are mutually offset from the above positions. The two positions inward are supported by the front panel 10 by being lightly pressed from above by the pressing pieces 39, 39 '.

The hinge shaft 37 is defined in the left-right direction by contacting the protrusions 38, 38 'on both sides thereof.

Further, the coil portion 14 of the torsion coil springs 14 and 14 is provided at a portion between the tubular portions 35 and 35 'of the hinge shaft 37.
a and 14a are externally fitted, and one of them is arm 14b,
The tip of 14b is elastically contacted with the top surface of the peripheral wall 23 of the front panel 10 from substantially rearward and obliquely downward, and the other arm 14c, 1
4c is elastically contacted with the rear surface of the door 13.

Thus, the door 13 is constantly urged by the elastic force of the torsion coil springs 14, 14 in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 6, and the force for rotating the door 13 in the clockwise direction is generated. In a state where the hooking piece 36 is not added, the front portion of the hooking piece 36 comes into contact with the mounting piece 28 'of the right light guide member 27' from the rear side to close the cassette insertion port 11 (hereinafter, referred to as "closed position"). Is held.)

(D. Support) [FIGS. 1 and 5] The support 21 includes left and right side plates 41 facing each other substantially in parallel.
42 provided between the side plates 41 and 42 and the side plates 42 in a bridging manner
It is formed by two crosspieces 43, 44, 45.

The side plates 41 and 42 are formed in a rectangular plate shape that is long in the longitudinal direction as a whole, and mounting pieces 46 and 46 ′ that are bent outward are formed at the lower ends of the side plates 41 and 42. Projecting pieces 47, 47 'projecting forward are formed at a substantially central portion in the direction, and the projecting pieces 47, 47' are formed.
A substantially round bar-shaped crosspiece 43 is provided between the two crosspieces, and the front side 44 of the other two crosspieces 44 and 45 is fixed at its left and right end portions to the front end portions of the upper end portions of the side plates 41 and 42. Is
The left and right ends of the rear crosspiece 45 are fixed to the rear ends of the upper ends of the side plates 41 and 42, and the mounting pieces 46 and 46 'are provided.
Is fixed to the outer casing 8.

Reference numerals 48 and 48 'are arm support shafts for supporting a support arm which will be described later.
7 and 47 ', the projecting portions 49 and 49' are formed so as to project inward at positions below the baffle 7, 47 '.

Reference numerals 50, 51 and 50 ', 51' denote support arms for supporting the cassette holder 15. Of these four support arms, the upper two 50 and 50 'and the lower two.
The books 51 and 51 'have shapes that are substantially bilaterally symmetric with each other, and the front ends of the upper support arms 50 and 50' are rotatably supported by the left and right ends of the round bar 43. , The lower two support arms 51 and 5
The front end portion of 1'is rotatably supported by arm support shafts 48, 48 'provided on the side plates 41, 42 so as to project therefrom.

Reference numeral 52 is a lid raising pin for moving the front lid 5 of the tape cassette 1 to the open position.
Is provided so as to project substantially horizontally from an intermediate portion in the up-down direction of a portion of the inner surface of the left side plate 41 near the rear end toward the right side.

The support 21 is in a state in which the upper surface of the round bar 43 is located at substantially the same height as the upper surface of the lower guide plate 24 of the cassette insertion port 11 and is close to the lower guide plate 24 from behind. It is located in.

(E. Reproducing unit) [FIGS. 1 and 6] 53 is a reproducing unit.

Reference numeral 54 is a mechanical chassis (only the portion near the rear end is shown in FIG. 1 and the remaining portion is shown in FIG. 6) which is the base of the reproducing portion 53, and the mechanical chassis 54 is shown. Is fixed to the outer casing 8, a head drum 55 equipped with a rotary magnetic head (not shown) is provided in a portion near the rear end thereof, and two reel bases that are spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction are provided in a portion near the front end thereof. 56, 56 'are provided. 56a and 56'a are reel engaging shafts of the respective reel stands 56 and 56 '.

Further, four cassette positioning pins 57, 57 'and 58, 58' are provided upright on the front portion of the mechanical chassis 54, and these four cassette positioning pins 57, 57 'are provided.
And two rear cassette positioning pins 57 and 5 which are located rearward of the reel bases 56 and 56 '.
7'and two cassette positioning pins 58 and 5 on the front side
The reference numerals 8'are separated from each other in the left-right direction and have substantially the same height. Also, the cassette positioning pins 57, 57 'on the rear side are inserted at the upper ends thereof in a substantially conical shape. The parts 57a and 57'a are formed so as to project further upward.

The height of the tape cassette 1 with respect to the reproducing portion 53 is defined by placing the cassette case 2 on the upper end surfaces of the cassette positioning pins 57, 57 'and 58, 58', and By inserting the insertion portions 57a and 57'a of the rear cassette positioning pins 57 and 57 'into two positioning holes (not shown) formed in the bottom surface, the positioning in the horizontal direction with respect to the reproducing portion 53 is performed. Become.

(F. Cassette holder) [FIGS. 1, 5, and 6] (f-1. Main part) 59 is a main part of the cassette holder 15, and the main part 59
Is formed by the cassette mounting plate 16 and the side plates 17, 17 'so as to have a substantially shape when viewed from the front-rear direction.

As described above, the cassette mounting plate 16 is formed in a plate shape having substantially the same size as the planar shape of the cassette case 2 of the tape cassette 1, and is a portion excluding the left and right end portions of the portion near the rear end. A cutout portion 60 is formed in the cutout portion 60, and the pressing edge 6 of the cassette case 2 of the tape cassette 1 placed on the cassette placement plate 16 among the rear ends of the portions located on the left and right sides of the cutout portion 60 is formed. Positioning pieces 61, 6 projecting upward from the rear to the position facing the
1'is formed.

The left and right corners of the front edge of the cassette mounting plate 16 are cut out in a substantially L shape, and the front end of the portion located between the cutout portions is bent substantially forward and obliquely downward. In addition, two reel base insertion holes 62, 62 ′ which are located apart from each other in the left-right direction in the portion between the bent portion and the cutout portion 60 formed in the rear end portion.
Are formed.

The side plates 17 and 17 'are erected upward from both left and right edges of the cassette mounting plate 16 and have a height slightly higher than the height of the cassette case 2 of the tape cassette 1, and the left side plate 17 is Notches 63 and 64 are formed in the substantially central portion of the upper edge in the front-rear direction and a portion near the rear end. The same applies to the positions substantially corresponding to the notches 63 and 64 of the upper edge of the right side plate 17 '. Notches 63 'and 64' are formed.

Further, the left and right side plates 17, 17 'are formed with insertion holes 65, 65' at positions close to the front notches 63, 63 'near the upper edge of the left and right side plates 17, 17' from the rear side, and the outer holes of the respective side plates 17, 17 'are provided. Rear end and rear notch 6 near the lower end of the side surface
Connecting pins 66, 67 and 66 ', 67' are provided so as to protrude from the front and diagonally below the 4, 4 ', respectively.

Reference numeral 68 denotes a projecting piece projecting downward from a position near the front end of the lower edge of the left side plate 17, and a lock pin 69 projecting rightward is provided at the lower end of the projecting piece 68. .

Reference numeral 70 denotes a lock release protrusion, and the lock release protrusion 70 is positioned slightly above the upper surface of the cassette mounting plate 16.

(F-2. Cassette presser) The cassette presser 18 is formed so that the overall shape is a substantially plate shape that is long in the left-right direction, and the length in the left-right direction is the left and right of the main portion 59 of the cassette holder 15. The length is approximately the same as the length in the direction, and the cutouts 71 are formed on both front and rear edges of the left and right ends.
And 72 and 71 'and 72' are formed, and the left and right ends of a portion 18a (hereinafter referred to as "main part") between the left notches 71, 72 and the right notches 71 ', 72'. Spring hooking grooves 73, 73 'whose rear ends are continuous with the notches 72, 72' on the rear side are formed in the portions.

Reference numerals 74 and 74 'denote pressed pieces formed so as to project substantially forward from the left and right end portions of the main portion 18a. The pressed pieces 74 and 74' gradually become thinner as the plate thickness thereof approaches the front end. Is formed.

Reference numeral 75 denotes a support shaft that serves as a fulcrum of rotation of the cassette retainer 18, and the support shaft 75 is rotatably held at the rear end portion of the cassette retainer 18 and protrudes outward from both left and right end surfaces of the cassette retainer 18. Left and right side plates 1 of the main part 59
It is inserted through insertion holes 65 and 65 'formed in 7 and 17'.

Thus, the cassette holder 18 is located at a substantially central portion in the front-rear direction of the upper portion between the side plates 17 and 17 'of the main portion 59 of the cassette holder 15, and is rotatably supported by the side plates 17 and 17'. .

76 and 76 'are torsion oil springs, and these torsion coil springs 76 and 76' are coiled portions 76a and 7 '.
6'a is externally fitted to the portion of the support shaft 75 located at the notch 72, 72 'on the rear side of the cassette retainer 18, and one arm 76b, 76'b is formed on the main portion 18a. And the other arm 76.
c and 76'c are elastically contacted with the upper edges of the left and right side plates 17 and 17 'of the main portion 59.

As a result, the cassette retainer 18 is urged to rotate in the clockwise direction in FIG.

Thus, by the cassette mounting plate 16, the left and right side plates 17, 17 'and the cassette retainer 18 of the main portion 59, the cassette storage space 20 in which the tape cassette 1 is arranged, that is, the size of the planar shape is the tape cassette 1 The size of the cassette case 2 is substantially equal to the size of the planar shape of the cassette case 2, and the height thereof defines a space slightly higher than the thickness of the cassette case 2.

(F-3. Cassette feeding roller) 77 is a roller shaft for supporting the cassette feeding rollers 19 and 19 ', and the roller shaft 77 has an intermediate portion except the portions near the left and right ends thereof as the main portion of the cassette holder 18. Part 18
It is positioned in a bearing groove 78 formed on the lower surface of a and is supported rotatably on the front edge of the cassette retainer 18 by being supported from below by a support piece (not shown).

The cassette feed rollers 19 and 19 'are fixed to portions of the roller shaft 77 located in the front notches 71 and 71' formed in the cassette retainer 18.

The left end of the roller shaft 77 is positioned so as to project to the left side of the left side plate 17 of the cassette holder 15, and the roller gear 79 is fixed to the projected portion.

Then, the rotational force of the above-mentioned torsion coil springs 75 and 75 'is applied to the cassette retainer 18, but when the tape cassette 1 is not inserted in the cassette holder 15, the cassette retainer of the roller shaft 77 is pressed. A portion between the left end surface of 18 and the roller gear 79 and the right end portion are formed on the upper edges of the side plates 17 and 17 '.
By abutting the forward portion of 3, 63 'from above, rotation below it is prevented.

The position of the cassette presser 18 in this state is hereinafter referred to as an "initial position", and when the cassette presser 18 is in this initial position, it is better understood by referring to FIG. 6 (A) and the like. The front ends of the pressed pieces 74, 74 'are held at a position substantially the same as or slightly higher than the front side edge 5b of the upper surface of the front lid 5 of the cassette case 2 of the tape cassette 1 inserted into the cassette holder 15, and The lower part of the cassette feed rollers 19 and 19 'is the pressed piece 74,
It is held at a position slightly lower than the front end of 74 '.

(F-4. Support and movement by support body) Then, the cassette holder 15 configured in this way
Are supported by the support 21 as follows.

That is, in the cassette holder 15, the connecting pins 66 and 67 provided on the left side plate 17 are rotatably connected to the turning end portions of the left supporting arms 50 and 51 provided on the supporting body 21. , The connecting pins 66 ', 67' provided on the right side plate 17 'have the right supporting arms 50', 51 '.
By being rotatably connected to the rotating end portion of, the support body 21 is movably supported in a substantially vertical direction.

The cassette holder 15 is biased by a resilient force of a resilient member (not shown) to move substantially upward, and the rear end portions of the upper edges of the side plates 17 and 17 'thereof are supported. It is adapted to be held at the eject position by coming into contact with the bar 45 of the body 21 from below.

Also, four support arms 50, 51 and 50 ', 51'
A rotating arm (not shown) that is rotated in a substantially vertical direction by a motor (not shown) is connected to the upper one 50 of the left two 50, 51, and the rotating arm of the cassette holder 15 moves downward. It is adapted to be moved downward by being turned toward, and to be moved upward by turning the turning arm upward.

(G. Inserting the tape cassette into the cassette holder and guiding the light guide member) [FIGS. 1 and 6] Therefore, when inserting the tape cassette 1 into the cassette holder 15, the cassette holder 15 comes to the eject position. It is performed in the state of being.

That is, when the cassette holder 15 is in the eject position, the cassette mounting plate 16 has the lower guide plate of the cassette insertion port 11 as can be seen clearly in FIGS. 6 (A) and 6 (B). Since it is located at about the same height as 24,
The cassette storage space 20 is located so as to face the cassette insertion opening 11 from behind.

Therefore, if the tape cassette 1 is inserted into the outer casing 8 through the cassette insertion port 11 from this state, the tape cassette 1 is inserted into the cassette storage space 20 of the cassette holder 15.
It will be inserted inside.

By the way, in order to insert the tape cassette 1 into the cassette insertion port 11, the tape cassette 1 is inserted into the cassette insertion port 11.
It is necessary to perform the alignment with respect to, but the alignment need only be performed very roughly.

That is, as described above, since the front opening edge 11a of the cassette insertion port 11 is formed to be substantially larger than the front surface shape of the cassette case 2 of the tape cassette 1,
It is easy to position the front end of the cassette case 2 of the tape cassette 1 at the entrance of the cassette insertion port 11.

Moreover, the width of the cassette insertion port 11 is gradually displaced inward as it goes deeper from the opening edge 11a, and is approximately equal to the width of the cassette case 2 from the middle.
The direction in which the tape cassette 1 is offset to the left or right side of the cassette insertion opening 11 and faces the cassette storage space 20 of the cassette holder 15 as shown by the chain line in FIG. 1, for example. Even if the cassette case 2 is inserted in a direction away from the front side, the front end of one of the left and right side surfaces of the cassette case 2 is located on the left and right side surfaces of the cassette insertion opening 11, that is, the inner side surfaces 26a, 26 'of the side walls 26, 26'. 'A and the guide surface 29 of the guide pieces 29, 29' of the light guide members 27, 27 '
Since the insertion direction is guided by a, 29'a, that is, the insertion direction is corrected to face the cassette housing space 20, the tape cassette 1 can be smoothly inserted into the cassette holder 15. it can.

Further, as described above, the guide surfaces 29a and 29'a of the light guide members 27 and 27 'shine on the left and right side surfaces of the cassette insertion opening 11 so that the cassette insertion opening 11 can be dark even when the tape player 7 is dark. The entire position of the opening edge 11a can be visually recognized accurately, and the tape cassette 1 can be easily aligned with the cassette insertion opening 11.

(H. Loading and Unloading Operations of Tape Cassette) [Fig. 6] Loading and unloading operations of the tape cassette 1 by the tape player 7 configured as described above are performed as follows.

(H-1. Loading Operation) First, the loading operation will be described.

The loading operation of the tape cassette 1 is started by inserting the tape cassette 1 into the outer casing 8 from the cassette insertion port 11.

That is, when the tape cassette 1 is inserted into the outer casing 8 through the cassette insertion opening 11 as described above, the tape cassette 1 pushes the door 13 open as shown in FIG. While being inserted into the space 20, first, the upper front end portion 5a of the front lid 5 of the cassette case 2 is pressed by the pressed pieces 74, 7 of the cassette retainer 18.
4'is pushed up substantially obliquely from the front side, whereby the cassette holder 18 is rotated, and then the cassette feed rollers 19, 19 'come into elastic contact with the upper surface of the cassette case 2.

As a result, a motor (not shown) is rotated in a predetermined direction, and first, the roller gear 79 is rotated to rotate the cassette feed rollers 19 and 19 'in a direction in which the tape cassette 1 is drawn toward the back of the cassette holder 15, and thereby The tape cassette 1 is pulled to the insertion completion position as shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. 6 (B).

When the tape cassette 1 is moved backward in the cassette storage space 20 of the cassette holder 15, the front lid 5
The lock element that locks in the closed position is relatively moved to the side of the front lid 5 by the unlocking protrusion 70,
As a result, the lock on the front lid 5 is released. Further, when the tape cassette 1 is pulled to the insertion completion position, the left end portion of the front lid 5 is moved to the left side plate 41 of the support body 21 as shown by a chain double-dashed line in FIG. 6 (B).
The upper end of the lid-raising pin 52 provided at the upper end of the upper end of the upper end of the lid-raising pin 52 is substantially in contact with the upper end of the pin.

Then, when the tape cassette 1 reaches the insertion completion position, this time, the rotation arm (not shown) is rotated downward,
As a result, the cassette holder 15 is moved downward.

In addition, when the cassette holder 15 is moved downward,
The left end of the front lid 5 of the tape cassette 1 is relatively pressed by the lid-raising pin 52 and rotated toward the open position.

When the cassette holder 15 comes down to the position just before reaching the loading completion position, the tape cassette 1
The cassette case 2 is placed on the upper end surfaces of the four cassette positioning pins 57, 57 ', 58, 58' provided in the reproducing section 53, and a positioning hole (not shown) formed on the bottom surface of the cassette case 2 Insert portions 57a and 57'a formed on the rear side cassette positioning pins 57 and 57 'are inserted into the rear cassette positioning pins 57 and 57', whereby the reproducing portion 5 of the tape cassette 1 is inserted.
Positioning with respect to 3 in the height direction and the horizontal direction is performed.

Immediately after this, the cassette holder 15 reaches the loading completion position, and the claw 80a of the lock element 80 (shown only in FIG. 6C) provided on the support body 21 is engaged with the locked pin 69 thereof. They will be combined and held at the loading completion position.

Then, as shown in FIG. 6 (C), the tape cassette 1 is mounted on the reproducing section 53, and in this state, the front lid 5 reaches the open position, whereby the tape pulling surface 2a of the cassette case 2 is reached. Is released in a state of facing the head drum 55, and the reel engaging shafts 56a, 56 'of the reel stands 56, 56' are inserted into the engaging holes of the tape reels 3, 3'stored in the cassette case 2. 'A is relatively inserted.

The door 13 is rotated toward the position where the cassette insertion port 11 is closed by the elastic force of the torsion coil springs 14 as the tape cassette 1 descends.

(H-2. Unloading operation) Next, the unloading operation will be described.

When the unloading operation is started from the above-described state, the lock piece 80 is moved to a position where it does not engage with the locked pin 69 of the cassette holder 15, and the motor 21 (not shown) is rotated. Is rotated upward, and the cassette holder 15 is moved upward.

When the cassette holder 15 is moved, the front lid 5 of the tape cassette 1 is rotated toward the closed position by the turning force urged by the front lid 5, and the door 13
However, when the hooking piece 36 is pressed from substantially below by a door opening / closing mechanism (not shown), the hooking piece 36 is rotated in the direction to open the cassette insertion port 11.

Then, substantially at the same time when the cassette holder 15 returns to the eject position, the roller gear 79 is rotated in the direction opposite to the rotation direction at the time of loading, whereby the cassette feed rollers 19 and 19 'move the tape cassette 1 The cassette holder 15 is rotated in the direction of sending it forward.

Then, the tape cassette 1 is sent out forward from the cassette storage space 20 of the cassette holder 15, and the cassette case 2 is moved by the cassette feed rollers 19 and 1.
The rear portion of the cassette case 2 is positioned so as to project from the cassette insertion opening 11 to the outside of the outer casing 8 at the time of being separated from 9 ', and at the same time, the cassette retainer 18 returns to the initial position.

(G. Effect of the Invention) As is apparent from the above description, the recording medium insertion portion in the recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention is provided on the front panel provided on the front surface of the main body of the recording / reproducing apparatus and on the front panel. And a cassette case insertion port through which a cassette case accommodating a recording medium is inserted and removed, and two surfaces of the cassette case insertion port, which are made of a substantially transparent material and are opposed to each other, are the cassette case insertion port. An inner side surface of the cassette case insertion opening, which includes a light guide member that is formed on an inclined surface that forms left and right side surfaces and that is displaced inward as it goes deeper, and a light emitting member that is disposed with respect to the light guide member. The inclined surface of the light guide member is flush with the one surface, and one end of the light guide member is flush with the outer surface of the front panel. It

Therefore, according to the present invention, when the light emitting member emits light, both the left and right side surfaces of the recording medium insertion slot shine, so that the entire position of the recording medium insertion slot can be easily adjusted even in a dark place even if the entire surface does not shine. In addition, the width of the opening on the front side of the recording medium insertion opening is slightly wider than the width of the recording medium, and the alignment of the recording medium with respect to the recording medium insertion opening can be roughly performed. The recording medium can be smoothly inserted into the recording medium insertion slot only by performing the operation.

Moreover, according to the present invention, such a position of the recording medium insertion port can be easily recognized and the recording medium can be smoothly inserted by the one-piece light guide member.

Although the present invention is applied to the tape cassette insertion portion of the tape player in the above-described embodiments, the present invention is not limited to such an application example, and is applicable to recording media such as tape recorders and disk players. The present invention can be applied to a recording medium inserting section in various recording / reproducing devices provided with a recording medium inserting section for inserting and taking out.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 to 6 show an example of an embodiment in which the recording medium insertion portion of the recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention is applied to a tape cassette insertion portion of a tape player, and FIG. 1 shows an entire outer casing of the tape player. FIG. 2 is a cutaway plan view, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the tape player, FIG. 3 is a rear view of the front panel, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view with parts cut away, FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of essential parts, and FIG. 6 is a schematic side view of essential parts showing the tape cassette loading operation in order from (A) to (C), and FIG. FIG. 7 is a schematic front view showing an example of a cassette insertion portion in a conventional tape player. Explanation of symbols 1 ... Recording medium (tape cassette), 2 ... Cassette case, 7 ... Recording / reproducing device (tape player), 10 ...
... front panel, 11 ... cassette case insertion port (cassette insertion port), 26a, 26'a ... (11) inner side surface, 27, 27 '... light guide member, 29a, 29'a.
Slopes (guide surfaces) (of 27, 27 '), 34, 34' ...
Light emitting member (light bulb)

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A front panel (10) provided on a front surface of a main body of a recording / reproducing apparatus (7), and a recording medium (1) provided on the front panel (10).
The cassette case insertion opening (11) for inserting and removing the cassette case (2) accommodating the cassette case (2), and the two surfaces of the cassette case insertion opening (11), which are made of a substantially transparent material and which face each other, are opposed to each other. Light guide members (27, 27 ') formed on the inclined surfaces (29a, 29'a) that form the left and right side surfaces of the cassette case insertion opening (11) and are displaced inward as they go deeper, and the light guide members. A light emitting member (34, 34 ') arranged with respect to (27, 27'), and an inner side surface (26a, 26a, 26a of the cassette case insertion opening (11)).
26'a) and the slope (2) of the light guide member (27, 27 ').
9a, 29'a) are flush with each other, and one end of the light guide member (27, 27 ') is flush with the outer surface of the front panel (10). A recording medium insertion unit in a characteristic recording / reproducing apparatus.