JPH064944U - Cassette player insertion detection device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] Immediately after insertion, it is possible to immediately determine whether the cassette tape is in the normal or abnormal direction. When the cassette tape 6 is inserted from the insertion opening 12, the switch 16 immediately detects whether or not the recess 9 is formed at the insertion end of the inserted cassette tape 6. When the sensor 16 detects that the concave portion 9 is formed on the insertion end side of the inserted cassette tape 6, the insertion of the cassette tape 6 is determined to be normal. If the concave portion 9 is not formed at the insertion end, the insertion of the inserted cassette tape 6 is determined to be abnormal.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a cassette player in which a cassette for digital recording or the like is loaded, and more particularly, to an insertion detection device capable of detecting an erroneous insertion immediately after the insertion of the cassette when the insertion direction of the cassette is incorrect.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing the external shape of a conventional analog cassette tape. The illustrated cassette tape 1 is referred to as a compact cassette tape, and reel holes 2a and 2b penetrating the upper and lower surfaces are formed in the case body 2, and the reel holes 2a and 2b are supplied to the inside of the reel holes 2a and 2b. The respective tape reels R1 and R2 on the winding side and the winding side are located. Further, protrusions 2c and 2c are formed on the upper and lower surfaces of the exposed portion of the tape T, respectively, and capstan insertion holes and the like are appropriately formed on the protrusions 2c. An on-vehicle cassette player in which the analog cassette tape 1 is loaded has a cassette insertion / guide mechanism shown in FIG.

The cassette insertion / guide mechanism is provided with an insertion opening 3 having a shape for inserting the analog cassette tape 1 in a normal direction. A cassette holder 4 for holding the inserted cassette tape 1 is arranged in the inner part of the insertion slot 3, and when the cassette holder 4 is lowered, the magnetic head 5 and the reel stands 10, 10, etc. The cassette tape 1 is loaded in the provided cassette drive section. In the above-mentioned insertion slot 3, concave portions 3a, 3a through which the projecting portions 2c, 2c formed on the cassette tape 1 can pass are formed only on one end side, so that the cassette tape 1 cannot be loaded in the left-right reverse direction. It is like this. Recently, a cassette player has been developed in which both a cassette tape for digital recording and the cassette tape 1 for analog are loaded.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing the outer shape of the cassette tape 6 for digital recording. In the cassette tape 6, the tape exposure holes 7a and 7b formed on the front surface of the cassette case 7 can be closed by a lid 8. Of the tape exposure holes 7a and 7b, 7a is a magnetic head insertion hole, and 7b is a pinch roller insertion hole. The lid 8 is always biased in the closing direction ((a) direction) by a spring, and when it is forcibly slid in the (b) direction, the tape exposure holes 7a and 7b are opened. The reel hole is not formed on the upper surface (the surface on the a side) of the cassette case 7, and the reel hole is formed only on the lower surface (the surface on the b side) of the case 7, so that the lid 8 moves in the (B) direction. The reel hole is exposed only on the lower surface when it is opened. In addition, the recess 9 is formed only at the tip of the upper surface (the surface on the side a) of the case 7. The distance between the front edge of the recess 9 and the tip of the case 7 is W1, and the width of the recess 9 is W2.

[0005]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 The thickness of the case 7 of the digital cassette tape 6 is slightly smaller than the thickness of the protruding portion 2c of the case 2 of the analog cassette tape 1. Therefore, when the insertion port 3 as shown in FIG. 15 is provided in an analog / digital tape player for a vehicle, the insertion direction of the analog type cassette tape 1 may be wrong due to the concave portions 3a and 3a of the insertion port 3. However, the digital cassette tape 6 can be inserted not only in the normal direction but also in the wrong direction.

That is, since the case 7 of the digital type cassette tape 6 has a rectangular cross section, the cassette tape 6 can be inserted into the insertion opening 3 in any orientation. For example, the cassette tape 6 It is also possible that the surface a on the side where the reel hole is not formed is directed toward the reel stand 10 or the tape exposure hole 7a is directed toward the side opposite to the magnetic head 5.

When the digital cassette tape 6 is inserted in the wrong direction and lowered by the cassette holder 4 as shown in FIG. 15 to the cassette drive section as it is, the surface a side where the reel hole is not formed is formed. This causes a problem such as hitting the reel stand 10. Therefore, it is necessary to detect whether or not the cassette tape 6 is inserted in the normal direction. This conventional detection method is performed when the cassette holder 4 descends and the surface of the cassette tape 6 on the side a hits the reel stand 10 to lower the cassette holder 4 when the load on the motor increases. By detecting the load current, etc., it is determined that the insertion is incorrect. Alternatively, when the cassette tape 6 is lowered together with the cassette holder 4, whether or not the insertion is normal is detected by whether or not the mechanism for opening the lid 8 is fully operated.

However, if the misinsertion can be detected only after the misinserted cassette tape 6 starts to be guided to the cassette drive unit, there is a long waiting time until the misinsertion is resolved and the cassette tape is ejected. It takes time. When the cassette tape 6 which is inserted by mistake is started to be guided by the cassette holder 4, for example, the reel stand 10 hits the cassette case 7 or the magnetic head 5 hits a portion where the tape exposure hole is not formed. However, there is a problem that the mechanism is overloaded or damaged.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and makes it possible to detect whether or not an erroneous insertion is made immediately after the cassette tape is inserted from the insertion port, and eject the erroneously inserted cassette. It is an object of the present invention to provide a cassette player insertion detection device capable of reducing the waiting time.

[0010]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 The insertion detecting device according to the present invention has an insertion opening into which a recess is formed only on the insertion side end of one surface, and a guide for guiding the cassette inserted from this insertion opening to the cassette drive unit. In a cassette player provided with a mechanism, a detection unit for detecting the concave portion of the cassette immediately after being inserted is provided inside the insertion port, and the cassette is detected based on the detection operation of the detection unit. It is characterized in that a discriminating unit for discriminating whether the insertion is normal or abnormal is provided.

[0011]

[Action]

 In the above means, when a cassette having a concave portion formed only on the insertion side end of one surface is inserted, such as a digital cassette tape, immediately after this cassette is inserted from the insertion opening. Whether or not the erroneous insertion is normal can be immediately determined by whether or not the detection portion provided inside the insertion opening detects the recess. Therefore, for example, if it is determined that the cassette has been inserted by mistake immediately after inserting it by hand, it is possible to take out the cassette held by hand. Therefore, the waiting time until re-insertion is shortened, and the internal mechanism is not unduly burdened.

[0012]

【Example】

 Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 is a side sectional view showing a schematic structure in the vicinity of an insertion opening of a cassette player, FIG. 2 is a front sectional view of the cassette player shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a circuit configuration of a correct / wrong insertion detecting device as one embodiment. It is a block diagram shown. The cassette player 11 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is used for mounting on a vehicle, and the analog type cassette tape 1 shown in FIG. 14 and the digital type cassette tape 6 shown in FIG. 16 are both inserted. It is a thing. Here, in the cassette tapes 1 and 6, the direction indicated by the arrow in FIGS. 14 and 16 is the normal insertion direction. That is, in the analog type cassette tape 1, the normal direction is that the protruding portion 2c is located on the right side with respect to the insertion direction. Further, the normal direction is that the recess 9 of the digital cassette tape 6 is at the front end in the insertion direction and is directed upward.

An insertion opening 12 is formed in the front surface 15 a of the case 15 of the cassette player 11. The recess 12a, 12a is formed vertically on the right side of the insertion slot 12 in FIG. 2 so that the analog tape player 1 shown in FIG. 14 can be inserted only in the normal orientation. A door 12b is formed at the insertion opening 12. A cassette holder 13 is provided inside the insertion opening 12 as a cassette guide mechanism. When viewed from the side, the cassette holder 13 has a U-shape with its opening facing the rear side of the insertion slot 12. The cassette holder 13 is located on the rear side of the insertion slot 12 by a drive mechanism (not shown). It is reciprocally driven between a position (a) and a predetermined position (b) lowered to the cassette drive section. The cassette drive unit is provided with a pair of reel bases 19, a magnetic head 14, and a mechanism for driving a tape, such as a capstan or a pinch roller.

A switch 16 is attached to the upper surface 15b of the inner wall of the case 15 as a detection unit. The switch 16 is configured such that, when the cassette holder 13 is in the position shown in (a) above, the movable contact piece 16a of the switch 16 projects into the cassette holder 13 from the notch portion 13a of the cassette holder 13. . The movable contact piece 16a of the switch 16 contacts the insertion end and the end of both cassette tapes 1 and 6 to be inserted into the cassette holder 13 and the recess 9 formed at one end of the digital cassette tape 6. They are in contact with each other, and the ON / OFF state can be switched by this contact / separation.

As shown in FIG. 3, the cassette player 11 mainly includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or the like to which an ON / OFF signal output from the switch 16 is input as a correct / incorrect insertion detection unit. A control unit 17 and a storage unit 18 mainly including a RAM (Random Access Memory) are provided. The control unit 17 identifies the ON / OFF switching pattern of the switch 16 based on a specific program recorded in the storage unit 18, and determines whether the digital cassette tape 6 is normally inserted or not. It functions as a discriminating unit that discriminates whether or not it is inserted. Further, when the analog type cassette tape 1 is inserted, it can be identified.

FIG. 4A shows the switching timing of the switch 16 when the digital cassette tape 6 is inserted in the normal direction, and FIG. 4B shows when the analog cassette tape is inserted. The switching timing of the switch is shown. In both figures, the vertical axis represents the ON / OFF state of the switch, and the horizontal axis represents time. As shown in these figures, when the switch 16 is turned on once in (a) or (d), and then the switch 16 is returned to OFF as shown in (b) or (e), the digital type It means that the cassette tape 6 is inserted in the normal direction or the analog type cassette tape 1 is inserted. Therefore, the control unit 17 judges that the cassette is normally inserted when the switch 16 is turned ON once and then returned to OFF, and the cassette tape is allowed to be inserted as it is, and the cassette tape 1 or 6 is completely inserted in the cassette holder 13. After detecting that the cassette holder 13 has been inserted, the cassette holder 13 is lowered to the position shown in (b) by a drive mechanism (not shown).

On the other hand, FIG. 7 shows the switching timing of the switch 16 when the digital cassette tape 6 is inserted in an abnormal direction. As shown in FIG. 7, when the switch 16 is once turned on at (a) and then does not return to the off state, the control unit 17 determines that the digital cassette tape 6 has been inserted in an abnormal direction. R. When this determination is made, the display section (not shown) indicates that the cassette is abnormally inserted, and the cassette holder 13 is not lowered even when the cassette tape is completely inserted. Whether or not the switch 16 is turned on once and then turned off is determined by setting a predetermined monitoring time after turning on by the program or the timer, and the control unit 17 switches within this monitoring time. It suffices to determine whether or not is turned off.

Regarding the operation of the insertion detecting device having the above structure, FIGS. 4 (A), (B), and FIGS. 5 (A), (B), (C) to FIGS. Explain with reference to B) and (C). 5 (A) to 5 (C) are explanatory views showing the case where the digital cassette tape 6 is inserted in the normal direction, and FIGS. 6 (A) and 6 (B) show that the digital cassette tape 6 is abnormal. 8A to 8C are explanatory views showing a case where the cassette tape of the analog type is inserted, and FIGS. 8A to 8C are explanatory views showing a case where the analog type cassette tape is inserted.

<When the Digital Cassette Tape is Inserted in the Correct Direction> As shown in FIG. 5A, the digital cassette tape 6 is inserted into the insertion slot 12, and the insertion end portion of the switch 16 is movable. When the contact piece 16a is pressed, the switch 16 is turned on as shown by (a) in FIG. 4 (A). When the digital cassette tape 6 is further manually inserted from this position to the back side, the movable contact piece 16a is inserted into the recess 9 formed on the upper surface of the insertion end of the digital cassette tape 6 in the drawing. The switch 16 is turned off (see FIG. 5 (B)), and the switch 16 is turned off (at a time point indicated by (b) in FIG. 4 (A)). When the digital cassette tape 6 is inserted further into the insertion opening 12, the movable contact piece 16a comes out of the recess 9 as shown in FIG. 5 (C), and the switch 16 is turned on again (FIG. 4 (A)). (At the time indicated by (c)).

As described above, when the digital cassette tape 6 is normally inserted, the switch 16 is turned on in (a) of FIG. 4 (A) and immediately after that, the timing shown in (b) is changed. Turns off. As the switch 16 is turned on and turned off in this manner, the control unit 17 determines that the insertion is in the normal orientation. Therefore, in this case, the cassette holder 13 is lowered after the cassette tape 6 is completely inserted.

<When the Digital Cassette Tape is Inserted in an Abnormal Direction> When the digital cassette tape 6 is inserted in the front-back reverse direction or the front-rear reverse direction, the recess 9 is shown in FIG. 6 (A). As shown, it is located on the lower surface side of the insertion end, or the recess 9 is located at the rear end in the insertion direction. Therefore, in the inserting operation, as shown in FIG. 6A, when the movable contact piece 16a of the switch 16 comes into contact with the insertion end portion of the digital cassette tape 6 (shown in FIG. 7A), The switch 16 is turned on once.

However, as shown in FIG. 2B, even if the digital cassette tape 6 is further inserted, the switch 16 does not turn off. That is, even when the cassette tape 6 is completely inserted into the cassette holder 13, the movable contact piece 16a of the switch 16 is on the surface of the cassette case 7 on the side b (see FIG. 16), or the side a. Even if it rides on the surface of No. 1, the recess 9 located on the rear end side cannot be detected, and the switch 16 remains OFF. Therefore, in this case, the OFF output after ON as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B cannot be obtained. Based on this output, the control unit 17 determines that the cassette tape 6 has been inserted in an abnormal direction, stops the subsequent lowering operation of the cassette holder 13, and displays an error message to indicate that the cassette tape 6 has been inserted. Let others know.

<When the Analog Cassette Tape is Inserted> As shown in FIG. 8, when the analog cassette tape 1 is inserted into the insertion slot 12 and the insertion end portion of the analog cassette tape 1 hits the movable contact piece 16 a of the switch 16, The switch 16 is turned on as shown by (d) in FIG. 4 (B). When the analog cassette tape 1 is further manually inserted from this position to the back side, the movable contact piece 16a is inserted into one reel hole 2b of the analog cassette tape 1 (shown in FIG. 8A). ), And the switch 16 is turned off (at the time indicated by (e) in FIG. 4B). When the analog cassette tape 1 is further inserted into the inner side of the insertion slot 12, the movable contact piece 16a comes out of the reel hole 2b (shown by (f) in FIG. 4 (B)) and the switch 16 is turned on again. Become. This state is shown in FIG. 8 (B). When the analog cassette tape 1 is further inserted into the inner side, the movable contact piece 16a is in a state of being inserted into the other reel hole 2a as shown in FIG. 8 (C). This time point is the position shown by (g) in FIG. 4 (B), and the switch 16 is turned off. When the analog cassette tape 1 is moved further to the inner side, the movable contact piece 16a is pulled out from the reel hole 2a (shown by (h) in FIG. 4B), and the switch 16 is turned on again. .

As described above, when the analog cassette tape 1 is inserted, the switch 16 is turned on once immediately after the insertion and immediately thereafter is turned off as shown in (e). Therefore, in this case, the control unit 17 determines that the cassette is normally inserted, and when the cassette tape 1 is inserted, the cassette holder 13 descends and the cassette tape 1 is loaded into the cassette drive unit.

Next, FIG. 9 is a schematic side sectional view showing the vicinity of the insertion slot of the cassette player according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of the insertion detection device. In this embodiment, a cassette holder 13 is provided inside the insertion opening 12 of the case 15, and the cassette holder 13 is positioned below the cassette tape by a drive mechanism (not shown) after the cassette tape is inserted at the position (a). It is designed to descend to the cassette drive. A pull-in lever 22 is provided in the cassette holder 13. The pull-in lever 22 is driven in the cassette holder 13 to the right in the drawing. The arm portion 22a of the pull-in lever 22 is elastically deformable, and the arm portion 22a of the pull-in lever 22 has a protrusion 22b which is hooked in the recess 9 formed in the digital cassette tape 6 and an analog cassette tape 1. A protrusion 22c that is hooked on the reel hole 2b is formed.

When the digital cassette tape 1 is inserted through the insertion opening 12, the recess 9 is locked by the protrusion 22b, and the movable contact piece 25a of the limit switch 25 fixed to the cassette holder 13 is fixed at this time. It is activated and the switch is turned on. When there is this switch ON output, the pull-in lever 22 is driven to the right in the drawing, the cassette tape is stored in the cassette holder 13, and then the cassette holder 13 is lowered and the cassette tape 6 is loaded in the cassette drive section. It Similarly, when the analog cassette tape 1 is inserted, the projection 22c at the tip of the pull-in lever 22 is hooked in the reel hole 2b, at which time the limit switch 25 is turned on and the pull-in lever 22 pulls the cassette tape. 1 is drawn into the cassette holder 13, and then the cassette holder 13 descends. The cassette holder 13 is provided with a switch 24 located inside the insertion slot 12. Similar to the above embodiment, the movable contact piece 24a of the switch 24 detects the recess 9 of the digital cassette tape 6 or the reel hole 2b of the analog cassette tape 1.

As shown in FIG. 10, the insertion detection device has a control unit 26 having a central processing unit (CPU) or the like to which the ON / OFF signals output from the switches 24 and 25 are input, as a core. And a storage unit 27 mainly composed of a RAM (Random Access Memory) and the like. Based on the program recorded in the storage unit 27, the control unit 26 determines whether or not the cassette tape has been inserted in the normal orientation.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described. FIG. 11 shows the outputs of the switches 24 and 25 when the digital cassette tape 6 is inserted in the normal orientation. At this time, since the movable contact piece 24a of the switch 24 detects the recess 9 before the limit switch 25 is turned on as shown in (i), the limit switch 25 is turned on in (i). Then, the output of the switch 24 is once turned on (a) and then turned off (b).

FIG. 12 shows the switch output when the analog cassette tape 1 is inserted. In this case, the switch 24 detects the reel hole 2b by the time the limit switch 25 detects the tip of the cassette and is turned on, so the output of the switch 24 is once turned on (j) and then turned off ( k). In this way, when the digital cassette tape 6 is normally inserted and the analog cassette tape 1 is inserted, the output of the switch 24 is always changed from ON to OFF before the ON output of the limit switch 25. Therefore, in these cases, with the limit switch 25 turned on, the pull-in lever 22 is immediately driven to the right in the drawing to pull the cassette tape 1 or 6 into the cassette holder 13, and the cassette holder 13 is further lowered. , Load the cassette tape into the cassette drive.

FIG. 13 shows a case where the digital cassette tape 6 is inserted upside down or backward and forward. In this case, when the limit switch 25 outputs ON, the output of the switch 24 remains ON. Therefore, the control unit 26 determines that there is an abnormal insertion, and even if the limit switch 25 is turned on, the pull-in lever 22 is not driven, the cassette tape is not pulled in, and the abnormal insertion is displayed. In the above embodiment, the switch 16, the switch 24, and the limit switch 25 are mechanical switches each having a movable contact piece. However, the same applies when an optical switch such as a phototransistor is used. It has the effect of.

[0031]

[Effect of device]

 As described above, according to the present invention, in a case where a cassette tape in which a concave portion is formed only on the upper surface of the insertion direction is inserted like a digital type, immediately after the cassette tape is inserted into the insertion opening, Since the abnormal insertion is detected by the detection unit, the abnormally inserted cassette tape can be immediately taken out. Also, since the cassette tape that was inserted abnormally is not pulled into the device, problems such as damage to the mechanism are eliminated.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing a structure near an insertion opening of a cassette player according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front sectional view of the cassette player shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of an insertion detection device as one embodiment.

4A is a diagram showing a switch output when a digital cassette tape is inserted in a normal state, and FIG. 4B is a diagram showing a switch output when an analog cassette tape is inserted.

5A to 5C are operation explanatory diagrams showing a case where a digital cassette tape is normally inserted into a cassette holder.

6A and 6B are operation explanatory views showing a case where a digital cassette tape is abnormally inserted into a cassette holder.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a switch output in the case of FIG.

FIG. 8A to FIG. 8C are operation explanatory views when an analog cassette tape is inserted.

FIG. 9 is a side sectional view showing a structure in the vicinity of an insertion opening of a cassette player according to another embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of an insertion detection device as another embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a switch output when a digital cassette tape is inserted in a normal state in the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a switch output when an analog cassette tape is inserted in the embodiment of FIG.

13 is a diagram showing a switch output when a digital cassette tape is inserted in an abnormal state in the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing the external shape of an analog cassette tape.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing an internal structure near the insertion opening of the tape player.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing the external shape of a digital cassette tape.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Analog type cassette tape 2a, 2b Reel hole 6 Digital type cassette tape 9 Recess 12 Insert slot 13 Cassette holder 16 Switch 17,26 Control section 22 Pulling member 24 Switch 25 Limit switch

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. An insertion opening, into which a cassette is formed, which has a concave portion formed only on the insertion side end of one surface, and a guide mechanism for guiding the cassette inserted from the insertion opening to a cassette drive section. In the present cassette player, a detection unit for detecting the concave portion of the cassette immediately after being inserted is provided inside the insertion port, and whether the cassette is normally inserted or abnormally inserted based on the detection operation of the detection unit. An insertion detection device for a cassette player, which is provided with a determination unit that determines whether or not the insertion has been performed.