JPH07107786B2 - Tape cartridge - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tape cartridge having a tape loading pocket on the front surface of a main body case. More specifically, in a tape cartridge equipped with a dust cover that prevents dust that enters from the bottom surface of the pocket opening when not in use from adhering to the tape portion that has been drawn to the front of the case, the bottom surface of the pocket opening is opened and closed in the main body case. The dust cover is attached to the lower outer surface of the bottom wall of the main body case so as to be slidable back and forth.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a tape cartridge for video or audio in which a tape is pulled out from a main body case when loaded in a deck, a tape rod dig pocket having front and lower openings on the front surface of the main body case. Is recessed in a recessed shape. When not in use, a front lid that covers and protects the outside of the front surface of the tape led to the front surface of the case is pivotally attached to the main body case, and further protects the tape from dust and other things that enter from the bottom surface of the opening of the pocket. It is known to attach a dust cover for the main body case.

When the tape cartridge is loaded into the deck, the front lid opens upward, but the dust cover must also switch from the closed position to the open position of the bottom surface of the opening of the pocket. The question is how to operate this dust cover. In this regard, the front lid and the dust cover are formed separately, and cam followers are provided at the left and right ends of the dust cover, and the cam followers are guided and engaged in the cam grooves formed on the left and right side surfaces of the pocket on the main body case side,
Then, the front lid and the dust cover are separately interlocked and linked, and when the front lid is opened, the dust cover is also opened to the upper rear side of the main body case, which is proposed for 8mm video. .

[0004]

However, the biggest drawback is that the work of simultaneously assembling the dust cover together with the front lid is extremely troublesome, particularly when the tape cartridge is downsized. In addition, it is necessary to form the cam groove on the main body case side with high precision, which is disadvantageous in forming the case and securing the case strength, and it is difficult to ensure a smooth sliding effect of the cam follower in the cam groove. is there. Further, there are still problems such as the dust cover coming into contact with the tape when opening and closing the dust cover, and the dust cover largely protruding above the main body case to be an obstacle.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to make the dust cover slide back and forth along the outer lower surface of the bottom wall of the main body case to open and close the opening lower surface of the pocket itself, thereby ensuring dust resistance when not in use. However, there is a tape cartridge in which the lower surface of the pocket is opened when the deck is loaded and the tape loading can be performed without any trouble. Another object of the present invention is to stop the conventional complicated opening / closing mechanism that interlocks and connects the front lid and the dust cover, and to easily mount the dust cover on the outer lower surface of the bottom wall of the main body case with a simple sliding mechanism. To get. Still another object of the present invention is to
An object is to obtain a tape cartridge that can be independently regulated from being pushed and moved in the rearward opening direction by contacting the dust cover with another object when not in use. Another object of the present invention is to obtain a tape cartridge which does not abut and interfere with the tape when the dust cover is opened and operated, and does not significantly protrude and protrude outside the main body case.

[0006]

In the tape cartridge of the present invention, a tape loading pocket 15 is provided in the front surface of the main body case 1, and dust for opening and closing the opening lower surface of the pocket 15 is opened in the main body case 1. Cover 16
The dust cover 16 is mounted so as to be slidable back and forth . The dust cover 16 is connected to the flat main plate 17 along the outer lower surface of the bottom wall 4 of the main body case 1 and the left and right ends of the main plate 17. to have a the side plates 18, 18 which accompany the outer surface of the right and left side walls 12, 12 of the body case 1, closure between the casing 1 and the dust cover 16, a dust cover 16 which is an opening lower surface of the pocket 15 It is a requirement that the locking means 22 is provided for restricting the dust cover 16 from sliding backward in the forwardly extended posture.

Left and right side plates 18 of the dust cover 16
・ 18 is downward on the left and right side walls 12 and 12 of the main body case 1.
It can be attached to prevent it from coming off. More specifically, engaging pieces 19, 19 are continuously provided on the upper ends of the side plates 18, 18 of the dust cover 16 so as to project inward, respectively, and the lids of the left and right side walls 12, 12 of the upper and lower cases 1a, 1b are provided. Slits 20 are formed between the mating surfaces, and both engaging pieces 19
19 is the left and right side walls 1 through the slits 20
The inner surface of the 2 · 12 is slidably engaged with the inner surface of the 2/12 so as to be prevented from sliding down.

[0008]

In the dust cover 16, the main face plate 17 and the left and right side plates 18, 18 slide in the front-back direction along the bottom wall 4 and the left and right side walls 12, 12 of the body case 1. When the tape cartridge is not used, the dust cover 16 is in the forward advancing position to close the lower surface of the opening of the pocket 15, and in this advancing position, the lock means 22 is locked so that it cannot slide backward. Dust does not enter from the lower surface side of the pocket 15. On the other hand, when loaded in the deck, the lock means 22 is released and the dust cover 16 slides in the backward retracted posture, whereby the lower surface of the pocket 15 is opened.

[0009]

(Embodiment 1) FIGS. 1 to 5 show a first embodiment of the present invention.
An example is shown, and specifically, a digital recording / reproducing audio tape cartridge is used. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 is a main body case. The main body case 1 includes an upper case 1a and a lower case 1b made of plastic. These upper and lower cases 1a and 1b are screwed together at several places in a lid-matching manner. Hubs 3 on which the tape 2 is wound are provided on the left and right sides of the main body case 1. These hubs 3.3
Can be rotated on the respective drive shaft insertion holes provided through the bottom wall 4 of the main body case 1. There are tape guide members on the front left and right sides of the main body case 1, and the tape 2 is led out from one hub 3 to the front surface of the case and wound on the other hub 3. A transparent window 6 is provided on the upper wall 5 of the main body case 1, and the amount of tape wound around each hub 3 can be visually confirmed through the transparent window 6.

A front cover 7 is pivotally mounted on the main body case 1 so as to be opened and closed so as to cover and protect the front outside of the tape 2 drawn out to the front of the case when not in use. The front lid 7 is a front plate 9 that closes the front surface of the main body case 1 from side to side.
And a connecting piece 10.10 that extends rearward from the left and right ends of the front plate 9, and a pivot 11.11 that is provided on the inner surface of the connecting piece 10.10 so as to project in a facing manner. At the front end of the left and right side walls 12, 12 of the main body case 1,
As shown in FIG. 1, pivot holes 13 are provided, and the pivot shafts 11 are inserted into the pivot holes 13 and 13 from the outside to pivot the front shaft 7 to the front cover 7 with respect to the main body case 1. Is connected around the pivot 11 so as to be freely opened and closed.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the left and right side walls 12 and 12 of the main body case 1 are the front end wall portions 12a and 12a.
a is recessed toward the inner side of the case via the connecting walls 14 in the left-right direction, and the front end wall portions 12a.
The outer surface of the connecting piece 10 of the front lid 7 is fitted in a with the left and right side walls 12 and 12 of the case, respectively. As shown in FIG. 1, a tape loading pocket 15 is recessed in the central front portion of the body case 1. The upper surface of this pocket 15 is the upper case 1a
Although it is closed by the upper wall 5, the front surface and the lower surface are open. This is because the tape loading member on the deck side is allowed to enter the pocket 15 from the lower side of the case, and then the tape 2 can be pulled out to the front side of the case.

In FIG. 1, the main body case 1 has a dust cover 16 which closes the lower surface of the opening of the pocket 15 when not in use.
Is equipped with. As shown in FIG. 1, the dust cover 16 is provided with a flat plate-like main face plate 17 along the outer lower surface of the bottom wall 4 of the main body case 1 and the left and right side walls 12 of the lower case 1b, which are continuously provided from the left and right ends of the main face plate 17. .Side plate 1 along the outer surface of 12
8 and 18, and both side plates 18 and 18 are connected to the left and right side walls 12 and 12 of the case so as to be slidable back and forth so as not to be pulled down. That is, with respect to the lower case 1b, the dust cover 16 has a front end portion 17a of the main face plate 17 that closes the lower surface of the opening of the pocket 15, and a rearward position in which the lower surface of the pocket 15 is completely opened. It is slidable back and forth in the retracted position. And
Between the body case 1 and the dust cover 16, the cover 1
Spring means (not shown) for biasing 6 to slide forward is provided.

More specifically, in order to prevent the side plates 18, 18 of the dust cover 16 from being deformed laterally outward and the dust cover 16 from falling downward from the main body case 1,
As shown in FIG. 3, an L-shaped engaging piece 19, 19 is continuously provided from the upper end of each side plate 18, 18 so as to project inwardly from the upper side to the front side thereof. Slits 20 provided on the left and right side walls 12 of the case 1
Around the inner surface side of the left and right side walls 12, 12 through 20 is slidably engaged forward and backward.

The slits 20 are formed in the upper and lower cases 1a and 1b.
It is formed between the mating surfaces of the left and right side walls 12, 12. Therefore, at the time of assembling, the dust cover 16 is guided from below to the lower case 1b, and the engaging pieces 19, 19 are temporarily assembled while straddling the upper ends of the left and right side walls 12, 12 of the lower case 1b, and then the lower case 1b. It is sufficient to cover the upper case 1a as it is. In addition, as shown in FIG. 1, the connecting wall 14.1 provided on the left and right side walls 12.12 of the lower case 1b.
Notches 21 and 21 are formed at the upper end of 4, and both engagement pieces 1 of the dust cover 16 are formed through the notches 21 and 21.
You may guide 9/19 from the front. This notch 2
Due to the presence of 1.21, the dust cover 16 can freely slide in the front-rear direction without the both engaging pieces 19, 19 hitting the connection walls 14, 14.

FIGS. 4 and 5 exemplify the locking means 22 for locking the dust cover 16 so that it cannot be slid backward when the dust cover 16 is in the forwardly extended position. As the locking means 22,
A thin lock piece 23, which is elastically deformable in the left-right direction, is integrally extended in a cantilever manner from the connection wall 14 of the lower case 1b toward the front. A protrusion-shaped engaging portion 25 and a pressed portion 26 having an inclined surface 26a at the front end are provided, respectively. On the other hand, an engaged portion 27 (hole in the figure) is provided at the front end of the side plate 18 of the dust cover 16. Thus, when the dust cover 16 is in the forward advancing posture, the engaging portion 25 is engaged with the engaged portion 27.
Engaging with the concave and convex portions to lock the backward movement of the dust cover 16.

That is, when the tape cartridge is not in use, the front cover 7 closes the outside of the front surface of the tape 2, and the dust cover 16 is biased forward by the spring means (not shown). , The front end portion 17a of the main face plate 17 of this
Completely closes the lower surface of the opening of the pocket 15.
Further, due to the concave-convex engagement between the engaging portion 25 and the engaged portion 27, the dust cover 16 on the outer surface of the case bottom wall 4 may be inadvertently slid backward even if it comes into contact with another object. It is regulated to prevent the lower surface of the pocket 15 from being opened.

When the tape cartridge is loaded in the deck, the operation member 29 on the deck side is inclined by the inclined surface 2 of the pressed portion 26.
6a, the lock piece 23 is elastically deformed toward the front end wall portion 12a side of the case side wall 12 as shown by the phantom line in FIG. 5, whereby the engaging portion 25 and the engaged portion 27 engage with each other unevenly. Then, the dust cover 16 is slid back and forth by another member on the deck side, and the lower surface of the pocket 15 is completely opened. Then, the front lid 7 turns upward and rotates, and the tape 2 enters a standby state in which it can be pulled out to the front of the case. After this, the tape loading member on the deck side projects into the pocket 15 from below, and the tape 2 is pulled out forward. When removing the tape cartridge from the deck,
Contrary to the above, after the front lid 7 is closed, the dust cover 16 returns to the forward advancing position with the lock piece 23 in the unlocked position described above by the operation member 29, and then the operation member 29 presses it. When the contact with the portion 26 is released, the engagement portion 25 of the lock piece 23 is re-engaged with the engaged portion 27 and locks the dust cover 16 so that it cannot be slid backward.

(Other Embodiment) FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the present invention, in which the left and right side walls 12 and 12 of the main body case 1 are shown.
The left and right sidewalls 12 on the lower case 1b side in the lid mating surface of
A sliding groove 30 is provided in the front-rear direction at the center of the upper end surface of 12 in the thickness direction, and a portion outside the sliding groove 30 is formed in a stepped shape to form a slit between the upper and lower cases 1a and 1b. 20
And the engaging piece 19 connected to the upper ends of the left and right side plates 18, 18 of the dust cover 16 through the slit 20.
The leading end of the above was fitted and engaged with the sliding groove 30. According to this, in the upper and lower cases 1a and 1b, the left and right side walls 12 and 12 are butted against each other inside the sliding grooves 30 and 30, so that the dustproof effect can be achieved well. Further, with respect to the above-mentioned lock means 22, the pressed portion 26 of the lock piece 23
Alternatively, the lock may be released by directly pressing the engaging portion 25 by the operation member 29 on the deck side from the lateral outer side. Further, the engaging portion 25 and the engaged portion 2 described above.
The engagement with 7 can be modified as required.

[0019]

The dust cover 16 of the present invention opens and closes the opening lower surface of the pocket 15 by sliding forward and backward along the bottom wall 4 of the main body case 1. Therefore, when the tape cartridge is not used, the dust cover 16 is in the forward advancing posture to close the opening lower surface of the pocket 15 almost entirely. Moreover, the dust cover 16 is located on the lower surface on the outer side of the bottom wall 4 of the main body case 1, but since the locking means 22 locks the backward sliding of the dust cover 16 when not in use, the dust cover 16 comes into contact with other objects. Even if it is kept closed, it is possible to reliably prevent dust from entering from the lower surface of the opening of the pocket 15. When the tape cartridge is loaded in the deck, the lock by the lock means 22 is released, and the dust cover 16 slides backward and backward to slide in the pocket 15
Since the lower surface of the tape is opened, the tape loading member on the deck side can be securely inserted into the pocket 15 from below.

The dust cover 16 is the bottom wall 4 of the body case 1.
Since it slides back and forth along the outer lower surface of the main body case 1,
The inner tape path and the tape path on the front surface of the main body case 1 do not interfere with each other at all, and the tape 2 can be completely prevented from being damaged. The dust cover 16 of the present invention slides in the front-rear direction along the bottom wall 4 of the main body case 1 unlike the conventional swinging type in which the dust cover 16 is interlocked with the front lid 7. It does not protrude too much toward the outside. Therefore, an extra space is not required on the deck side even when it is inserted into or removed from the deck, and it is effective for preventing the trouble that the dust cover 16 interferes with the member on the deck side.

Further, the dust cover 16 of the present invention has a U-shaped cross section in which side plates 18 are provided on the left and right sides of the main plate 17, and the main plate 17 is attached to the bottom wall 4 of the main body case 1 and the side plate 1.
Since the parts 8 and 18 are arranged along the left and right side walls 12 and 12 of the body case 1, the dust cover 16 can be smoothly slid forward and backward with respect to the body case 1. Moreover, the side plates 18, 18 are the main body case 1
Since the left and right side walls 12 and 12 are engaged in a downward retaining shape, the downward retaining means of the dust cover 16 can be configured with a design margin. Therefore, by mounting the dust cover 16 on the main body case 1 from below, the dust cover 16 can be easily attached and prevented from coming off. Together with these, the workability of assembling the dust cover 16 to the main body case 1 is good.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a main body case and a dust cover.

FIG. 2 is an overall perspective view.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional front view of a main part.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an essential part showing a locking means.

FIG. 5 is a transverse plan view of the locking means.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional front view of a main part showing another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Main Body Case 1a Upper Case 1b Lower Case 2 Tape 4 Bottom Wall of Main Body Case 7 Front Lid 12 Left and Right Side Walls of Main Body Case 15 Pockets 16 Dust Cover 17 Main Face Plate 18 Side Plate 19 Engagement Piece 20 Slit 22 Locking Means 23 Locking Piece 25 Engagement part 26 Pressed part 27 Engaged part

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Takeo Motori 1-88, Tora, Ibaraki-shi, Osaka Prefecture Hitachi Maxell Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Ikuo Nishida 1410 Inada, Katsuta-shi, Ibaraki Prefecture Hitachi, Ltd. Tokai Plant (72) Inventor Kenji Ojiji, 292 Yoshida-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa, Ltd. Home Appliances Research Laboratory, Hitachi, Ltd. (56) Bibliography 60-82776 (JP, U)

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A pocket 15 for tape loading is recessed on the front surface of the main body case 1, and a dust cover 16 for opening and closing an opening lower surface of the pocket 15 is attached to the main body case 1 so as to be slidable back and forth. The dust cover 16 is a plate-shaped main face plate 17 that follows the outer lower surface of the bottom wall 4 of the main body case 1, and the left and right side walls 12 and 12 of the main body case 1 that are continuously provided from the left and right ends of the main face plate 17. of that chromatic and side plates 18, 18 which accompany the outer surface, between the main body case 1 and the dust cover 16, the posture of the dust cover 16 which has been advanced forward to closing the opening lower surface of the pocket 15, dust A tape cartridge comprising lock means 22 for restricting the cover 16 from sliding backward. 2. The left and right side plates 18 of the dust cover 16.
18 downwardly on the left and right side walls 12 and 12 of the main body case 1.
The tape according to claim 1, which is mounted so as to prevent the tape from coming off.
cartridge.