JPH06236649A - Tape cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve reliability as a tape cassette and also to reduce the cost. CONSTITUTION:A reel locking lever 51 is formed with two large/small elastic bodies 54, 55 having different modulus of bending elasticity. So, when an external force is given to a pawl part 52-a from a tooth part 19 at the vibrating or impacting time, both elastic bodies 54, 55 are deformed, but a part of the external force is absorbed by the elastic body 55 to release the deformation of the elastic body 54, therefore, the reel locking lever 51 can be deformed within the range of elastic deformation, then a locking function is carried out. Since the use of a high-strength material for the reel locking lever like as a conventional practice is unrequired, the selection range of the using materials is extended as much.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tape cassette suitable for use in, for example, a video tape recorder.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various kinds of tape cassettes of this kind have been adopted, and are constructed as shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6A, 6B, for example.

This will be described with reference to FIG. 1. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is a cassette housing having an opening 2 through which a magnetic tape T faces, and two upper and lower halves 3 each fitted with each other. , 4 is formed by a rectangular box.

Of the two halves 3 and 4 of the cassette housing 1, the lower half 4 is composed of two first lever pivots 5a and 5b which are juxtaposed in the left-right direction at a predetermined interval and each of the first half.
The spring locking shaft 5c adjacent to the pivots 5a, 5b and the second
A bottom plate 5 having a lever pivot 5d, and a wall plate 6 having a substantially U-shape in a plan view, having a through hole 6a which is integrally provided on the rear left and right edges of the bottom plate 5 and opens rightward (when viewed from the front). It is composed by. Further, on the bottom plate 5 of the lower half 4, support shafts 7a juxtaposed in parallel with each other at a predetermined interval in the left-right direction,
7b and guide poles 8a and 8b are erected.

On the other hand, the upper half 3 of the cassette housing 1
Is a ceiling plate 9 having a transparent window 9a for confirming the inside and a recess 9b for locking the spring, and a lower plate corresponding to the upper end surface of the wall plate 6 integrally projecting from the rear left and right edges of the ceiling plate 9. It is configured by a wall plate 10 having an end surface and having a substantially U-shape in a plan view. Further, on the ceiling plate 9 of the upper half 3, a reel pressing spring 11 for pressing a reel described later against the bottom plate 5 is provided.
Is attached.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a lid having a substantially U-shaped cross section, and a front plate 12a for opening and closing the front of the opening 2 and the front plate 1
Two side wall plates 12 that are connected to each other and that face each other.
b, 12c, which are rotatably provided at both front ends of the wall plate 3 of the upper half 3. The lid 12 is biased in the closing direction by a torsion spring S, and the side wall plates 12b and 12c are provided with a protrusion 1 for pressing the lever.
The pivots 13 and 14 having 3a and 14a are integrally provided. Further, both side wall plates 12a, 12b of the lid body 12
Among them, the right side wall plate 12b is provided with a locking hole 1 opened on the front and back surfaces.
5 are provided.

Reference numerals 16 and 17 denote two reel hubs, which are arranged in parallel to each other in the left-right direction. The hubs 16a and 17a can be wound with the magnetic tape T and the hubs 16a and 17a.
Flanges 16b and 17b and flanges 16c and 17c that are integrally provided on both ends of the flange and face each other in the vertical direction.
And is rotatably provided in the cassette housing 1. Flange 16 of these reel hubs 16 and 17
In the lower flanges 16c and 17c of the b and 16c and the flanges 17b and 17c, the tooth portion 1 extending in the circumferential direction is provided.
8 and 19 are provided.

20 and 21 are the reel hubs 16,
Similar to 17, the two reel lock levers are arranged in parallel to each other in the left-right direction, and the claw portions 22a and 23a engageable with the tooth portions 18 and 19 and the first lever pivot shafts 5a and 5a.
a lever main body 22 having tubular portions 22b and 23b which b faces,
23 and engaging pieces 24, 2 extending integrally with each of the lever main bodies 22, 23 and capable of pressing the protrusions 13a, 14a.
5 and is rotatably provided on the bottom plate 5. The lever main bodies 22 and 23 of the reel lock levers 20 and 21 are provided with inverted L-shaped spring locking pieces 26 and 27 protruding upward between the claw portions 22a and 23a and the cylindrical portions 22b and 23b. Are provided integrally.

Reference numeral 28 denotes a cover lock lever having a cylindrical portion 28a facing the second lever pivot 5d, which is rotatably provided near the right reel lock lever 21 of the reel lock levers 20 and 21. . A claw portion 28b which can be inserted into the through hole 6a and the locking hole 15 is integrally provided at a tip end portion of the cover lock lever 28, and between the claw portion 28b and the cylindrical portion 28a. A spring locking column 28c protruding upward is integrally provided.

Reference numeral 29 is a first torsion spring having an urging force in a direction in which the pawl portion 22a engages with the tooth portion 18, and a winding portion has a first lever on the left side of the first lever pivot shafts 5a and 5b. The spring locking shaft 5c and the spring locking piece 2 are wound around the pivot 5a and have both ends at the both ends.
It is locked to 6.

Reference numeral 30 denotes a second torsion spring having a biasing force in a direction in which the pawl portion 23a engages with the tooth portion 19, and a winding portion has a first lever on the right side of the first lever pivots 5a and 5b. The spring locking piece 27 and the spring locking column 2 are wound around the pivot 5b and have both ends.
It is locked to 8c.

Reference numerals 31 and 32 are two left and right guide rollers for guiding the magnetic tape T, which are rotatably provided on the support shafts 7a and 7b.

Incidentally, 33 and 34 are tape guides and 3
5 and 36 are partition walls.

In the tape cassette thus constructed, the claw portions 22a and 23a of the reel lock levers 20 and 21 and the reel hubs 16 and 17 (flange 1 when not in use).
The rotation of the reel hubs 16 and 17 can be prevented by the engagement of the tooth portions 18 and 19 of 6a and 17a).

On the other hand, during use, the reel lock lever 2
0, 21 claw portions 22a, 23a and reel hubs 16, 17
By disengaging the tooth portions 18, 19 of the reel hub 16,
17 can be rotated.

In this case, the claw portions 22a and 23a and the tooth portion 1
The engagement state of 8 and 19 is released by rotating the lid body 12 in the opening direction. That is, when the lid 12 is rotated, the protrusions 13a and 14a are engaged with the engaging pieces 24 and 2.
5 is pressed, and the reel lock levers 20 and 21 are claws 22.
It rotates in the direction to release the engagement between the teeth a and 23a and the teeth 18 and 19.

[0017]

By the way, in the conventional tape cassette, since it is necessary to prevent abrasion and plastic deformation due to vibration or impact and to smoothly perform the lever rotating operation, other reel lock levers 20 and 21 are used. , Which is made of a synthetic resin material such as polycarbonate having a mechanical strength higher than that of the cassette component, and the lever thickness is set to be relatively large. Claw portion 22a,
Each tooth portion 1 of the flanges 16a and 17a that meshes with 23a
8 and 19 were easily damaged from the state shown in FIG. 7 (A) to the state shown in FIG. 7 (B). As a result, there is a problem that the reel lock levers 20 and 21 cannot function and the magnetic tape T is loosened and the reliability of the tape cassette is lowered.

Further, since the reel lock levers 20 and 21 are made of a high-strength material, there is a problem that the selection range of materials to be used is narrowed and the cost is increased.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a tape cassette which can improve the reliability as a tape cassette and can reduce the cost.

[0020]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A tape cassette according to the present invention is a reel hub for winding a tape, which has a tooth portion which is rotatably housed in a cassette housing and extends in a circumferential direction, and which is provided in a radial direction of the reel hub. And a reel lock lever having a claw portion rotatably supported in the cassette housing and engageable with a tooth portion, and the reel lock lever,
It is formed by two large and small elastic bodies having different bending elastic moduli.

[0021]

In the present invention, when the claw portion of the reel lock lever receives an external force from the tooth portion of the reel hub during vibration or impact, both elastic bodies of the reel lock lever are deformed.
At this time, the deformation of the elastic body having a large bending elastic modulus is relaxed by the elastic body having a small bending elastic modulus.

[0022]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings.

1A and 1B are perspective views showing a reel lock lever of a tape cassette according to the present invention and a sectional view taken along the line aa, and FIGS. 2A and 2B are tapes according to the present invention. In the plan view showing the reel lock lever of the cassette before and after the deformation, the same or equivalent members as those in FIGS. 4, 5 and 7 are denoted by the same reference numerals in the same drawings, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. In the same example,
The same or equivalent members as those used in the description of the conventional example will be described using the same reference numerals.

In the figure, reference numeral 51 designates a reel lock lever on the tape supply side, which is the reel hub 17.
Lever body 52 having a claw portion 52a engageable with the tooth portion 19 of the and a tubular portion 52b facing the first lever pivot 5b.
And the protrusion 14 extending integrally with the lever body 52.
a is a pressable engagement piece 53, and is rotatably provided on the bottom plate 5 of the cassette housing 1.

The lever main body 52 of the reel lock lever 51 is set such that the thickness between the lever pivoting fulcrum, that is, the cylindrical portion 52b and the claw portion 52a is smaller than the thickness of other portions. First, for example polyacetal
Elastic body 54 and concave groove 5 into which the first elastic body 54 can be press-fitted
It is formed by a second elastic body 55 such as rubber having 5a. And this reel lock lever 51
Of the lever body 52 is set by a bending elastic modulus of the first elastic body 54 that is larger than that of the second elastic body 55, and the claw portion 52a and the tubular portion 5 are
The part between 2b is configured to be elastically deformed more than other parts. The lever main body 52 is integrally provided with an inverted L-shaped spring locking piece 56 protruding upward between the elastic bodies 54 and 55 and the cylindrical portion 52b.

The reel lock lever on the tape winding side has a shape that is substantially symmetrical to that of the reel lock lever 51, and therefore a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In the tape cassette thus constructed, the tooth portion 1 of the reel hub 17 is subjected to vibration or impact.
When the claw portion 52a of the reel lock lever 51 receives the external force P from 9, the elastic bodies 54 and 5 of the reel lock lever 51 are
2 elastically deforms from the state shown in FIG. 2 (A) to the state shown in FIG. 2 (B). At this time, the second elastic body 55 having a small bending elastic modulus absorbs a part of the external force P and the bending elastic modulus increases. Big first
The deformation of the elastic body 54 is relieved.

On the other hand, when the external force from the tooth portion 19 of the reel hub 17 to the claw portion 52a of the reel lock lever 51 is removed, each elastic body 54, 5 returns to the initial state by the restoring force.

Therefore, in this embodiment, since the reel lock lever 51 can be deformed within the elastic deformation range at the time of vibration or impact, damage to the reel lock lever 51 and the reel hub 17 can be prevented, and the reel can be prevented. It can function as a lock lever.

Further, since it is not necessary to use a high-strength material for the reel lock lever 51 as in the conventional case, the selection range of the material to be used becomes wider accordingly.

In this embodiment, the first elastic body 5
4 shows a flat plate shape, the present invention is not limited to this, and as shown in FIG. 3, the first elastic body 61 of the reel lock lever 60 is curved and formed. The second elastic body 62 having the recess 62a into which the first elastic body 61 is press-fitted may be curvedly formed. In this case, the rigidity of the reel lock lever 60 decreases with respect to the direction in which the external force P acts, but the claw portion 61a of the first elastic body 61 is reduced.
The spring constant can be properly adjusted by changing the thickness between the cylindrical portion 61b and the cylindrical portion 61b.

In this embodiment, the second elastic body 5
Although the reel lock lever 51 is manufactured by press-fitting the first elastic body 54 into the concave groove 55a of No. 5, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, both reels are simultaneously molded to form the reel lock lever 51. Or a second cylindrical elastic body (having a small bending elastic modulus) having a slit extending in the axial direction is wrapped around the first elastic body (having a large bending elastic modulus) to manufacture a reel lock lever. Of course, it may be one.

Besides, the material used for each elastic body in the present invention is not particularly limited, and can be appropriately changed according to the weight and size of the reel hub.

[0034]

As described above, according to the present invention, a reel hub for winding tape which is rotatably accommodated in the cassette housing and has teeth extending in the circumferential direction, and a reel hub provided in the radial direction of the reel hub. And a reel lock lever having a pawl portion rotatably supported in the cassette housing and engageable with a tooth portion, and the reel lock lever is formed by two elastic bodies of different sizes, each having a different bending elastic modulus. Therefore, when the claw portion of the reel lock lever receives an external force from the tooth portion of the reel hub during vibration or impact, both elastic bodies of the reel lock lever are deformed, but at this time, the elastic body with a small bending elastic modulus partially absorbs the external force. The deformation of the elastic body having a large bending elastic modulus is absorbed and absorbed.

Therefore, since the reel lock lever can be deformed within the elastic deformation range at the time of vibration or impact, the reel lock lever and the reel hub can be prevented from being damaged, and the reel lock lever can function as a tape. The reliability as a cassette can be improved.

Moreover, since it is not necessary to use a high-strength material for the reel lock lever as in the conventional case, the selection range of the material to be used is widened and the cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

1A and 1B are a perspective view and a sectional view taken along the line aa of a reel lock lever of a tape cassette according to the present invention.

2A and 2B are plan views showing before and after deformation of the reel lock lever of the tape cassette according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a reel lock lever according to another embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a conventional tape cassette.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the internal structure of a conventional tape cassette.

6A and 6B are perspective views showing a reel lock lever on a winding side and a reel lock lever on a supply side.

7A and 7B are perspective views showing a good state and a bad state of the reel hub.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Cassette housing 17 ... Reel hub 17c ... Flange 19 ... Tooth portion 51 ... Reel lock lever 52 ... Lever body 52 ... Claw portion 54 ... First elastic body 55 ... Second elastic body

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A reel hub for tape winding, which is rotatably housed in a cassette housing and has teeth extending in the circumferential direction, and a pivot hub that is provided in the radial direction of the reel hub and is rotatable in the cassette housing. And a reel lock lever having a claw portion engageable with the tooth portion, and the reel lock lever is formed by two elastic bodies of large and small different bending elastic moduli. 2. The tape cassette according to claim 1, wherein the reel lock lever is a reel lock lever in which a portion between the pivot point and the claw portion has a bending elastic modulus higher than other portions. 3. The tape cassette according to claim 1, wherein an elastic body having a small bending elastic modulus of the elastic bodies is covered with a part of the elastic body having a large bending elastic modulus.