JPH0722793Y2 - Tape cartridge - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial field of application] The present invention relates to a tape cartridge in which the optical sensor on the deck side detects the end of the tape, and is used as a dustproof means around the sensor hole into which the optical sensor is inserted. It is an improvement.

[Conventional technology]

In this type of tape cartridge, a sensor hole for inserting an optical sensor (light emitting lamp) for tape end detection into the case is formed on the bottom wall of the main body case, which is generally an upper and lower case, and the optical sensor is located above this sensor hole. A detection optical path for guiding light from the left and right is formed, and the start end and the end of the tape are detected depending on whether or not a transparent leader tape portion connected to the end of the magnetic tape passes through the optical path.

The problem is that dust in the outside air enters the case through the sensor hole and adheres to the tape, adversely affecting the magnetic layer. As a conventional technique for solving such a problem,
For example, there is Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 58-173076. There, a light-transmissive sleeve that is sandwiched and fixed between the upper and lower cases is disposed above the sensor hole, and this sleeve prevents communication between the inside and outside of the case through the sensor hole.

[Problems to be solved by the device]

Although dustproofness can be ensured by such a conventional technique, since the entire circumference of the upper part of the sensor hole is a cylindrical surface and has optical transparency, the detection light is scattered or disturbance light enters the detection optical path, so that the tape end There is a problem with the detection accuracy.

In addition, even though the sensor hole is opened in the narrow space of the triangular shape in plan view formed between the left and right tape reels on the bottom wall of the lower case, the bottom is used as a means for fixing the sleeve to the lower case. A circumferential rib that surrounds the sensor hole is erected from the wall, and the lower end of the sleeve is fitted inside the circumferential rib. In this case, the protruding height of the circumferential rib from the bottom wall is restricted because it is necessary to secure the detection optical path, and thus the protruding height must be low. As a result, when the sleeve is mounted on the lower case before traveling on the automatic assembly line, the sleeve may be subjected to vertical vibration and fall down, or the sleeve may come out upward from the circumferential rib.

Further, in the sleeve and the circumferential rib, in which the lower end of the sleeve is fitted inside the circumferential rib, that is, in the form in which the lower end of the sleeve is overlapped with the entire inner surface of the circumferential rib, the outer diameter of the circumferential rib is It must be set larger than the outer diameter. However, since the circumferential rib must avoid contact interference with the flange of the tape reel, its outer diameter is naturally limited, and the diameter of the sleeve to be fitted inside the circumferential rib must be reduced accordingly. Make it difficult to insert the sensor.

An object of the present invention is to improve dustproofness and tape edge detection accuracy in a tape cartridge in which a sensor hole is opened in a bottom wall of a main body case and the sensor hole is closed by a transparent piece.

Another object of the present invention is to increase the diameter of the transparent piece to ensure easy insertion of the optical sensor.

Still another object of the present invention is to improve the ease of assembling the transparent piece into the lower case.

[Means for Solving the Problems]

In the tape cartridge of the present invention, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, a light shielding wall 13 surrounding the upper periphery of the sensor hole 10 is erected from the bottom wall 8 of the lower case 1b, and the light shielding wall 13 has a notch at the upper end.
14 is provided, and a light-shielding wall 16 that faces the notch 14 and forms a light passage hole 15 between the upper case 1a and the light-shielding wall 13 is vertically provided.

Then, the transparent piece 17 having the vertical wall 18 that closes the light passage hole 15 is such that the lower end edge 18a of the vertical wall 18 is abutted against the notched upper end edge 13c of the light shielding wall 13 on the lower case 1b side, and the transparent piece 17 The positioning rib 20 protruding from the above is fitted and positioned and fixed in the light shielding wall 13 of the lower case 1b.

The positioning rib 20 may be provided so as to project from the lower case 1b and be fitted into the transparent piece 17.

[Action]

In the state where the optical sensor S is inserted into the sensor hole 10, the detection light is the light formed by the notch 14 of the light shielding wall 13 on the lower case 1b side and the light shielding wall 16 on the upper case 1a side and blocked by the transparent piece 17. It passes only through the passage hole 15.

The transparent piece 17 has the lower end edge 18a of the vertical wall 18 butted against the upper end edge 13c of the cutout wall 13 on the lower case 1b side.
Compared to those in which the upper and lower edges are overlapped in the radial direction, the diameter of the transparent piece 17 and the diameter of the sensor hole 10 can be expanded as much as possible even in a narrow space between the left and right tape reels. be able to.

Even when the transparent piece 17 is simply butted against the light shielding wall 13 of the lower case 1b in such a manner, the transparent piece 17 or the lower case 1b is also used.
By fitting the positioning rib 20 projecting from one side to the other side, the pre-assembled state of the transparent piece 17 to the lower case 1b is firmly held, so that the pre-assembled state can also be run on the automatic assembly line. The transparent piece 17 does not fall or come up.

[Effect of device]

According to the tape cartridge of the present invention, the upper and lower cases 1a
Since the outer periphery of the upper portion of the sensor hole 10 is surrounded by the light shielding walls 13 and 16 protruding from 1b, it is possible to prevent ambient light from entering the detection optical path A. Moreover, since the light passage hole 15 is formed by the light shielding walls 13 and 16, there is no scattering of the detection light, so that the detection accuracy of the tape end can be secured well.

Since the transparent piece 17 that closes the light passage hole 15 is such that the lower end edge 18a of the vertical wall 18 is abutted against the notched upper end edge 13c of the light shielding wall 13 on the lower case 1b side, it is transparent even in a narrow space. The diameter of the piece 17 can be enlarged as much as possible to ensure the easy insertion of the optical sensor S.

By fitting and fixing the positioning rib 20 provided on one of the transparent piece 17 and the lower case 1b to the other side, the transparent piece 17 may also fall on the light shielding wall 13 of the lower case 1b due to vibration, or float up. This is advantageous because a stable and reliable pre-assembled state that does not occur can be obtained, and the assemblability can be improved.

〔Example〕

The drawings illustrate an embodiment of a tape cartridge according to the present invention for 8 mm video.

In FIG. 6, the main body case 1 is formed by abutting the upper and lower plastic cases 1a and 1b and integrally connecting several places with screws P etc., and the tape 2 is wound around the inside left and right of the main body case 1. The tape reels 3 are rotatably accommodated and arranged. Guide members 4 and 4 are provided on the front left and right sides of the main body case 1, and the tape 2 is unwound from one tape reel 3 to the front surface of the case and wound on the other tape reel 3 via the guide members 4 and 4.

On the front surface of the main body case 1, there is provided a recessed pocket 5 into which the tape pull-out pin on the video deck side is inserted from below.
A front cover 6 for closing the front surface of the main body case 1 in a freely openable and closable manner.
Is pivotally attached. A back lid 7 is additionally provided inside the front lid 6, and when not in use, the front lid 6 and the back lid 7 cover and protect the lead-out portion of the tape 2 led out between the guide members 4 and 4. When loaded in the deck, the front lid 6 and the back lid 7 are opened upward, and the tape 2 is pulled out to the front of the case by a tape pull-out pin on the deck side inserted into the pocket 5 from below.

In FIGS. 3 to 5, the bottom wall 8 of the lower case 1b is formed with a sensor hole 10 for detecting the tape end inside and outside through the inside of the left and right center of the case front wall 9 facing the rear side of the pocket 5. The optical sensor S on the deck side is inserted into the sensor hole 10 from below. The light sensor S is generally a floodlight, and the detection light emitted from the light sensor S is formed on the left and right side walls 11 and 11 of the body case 1 as shown in FIG.
The tape 2 is guided to the outside of the case along the detection optical path A toward 12 and runs across the optical path A. Transparent leader tapes are connected to both ends of the tape 2, and the start and end of the tape 2 can be detected by detecting that the leader tape portion has reached the detection optical path A by the light receiving means on the deck side. The detection openings 12 formed on the left and right side walls of the main body case 1 are opened as the front lid 6 is opened, and the closing operation of the front lid 6 is closed. Also, the optical sensor S
May be a light receiver which receives the detection light.

In FIG. 2, the upper outer peripheral side surface of the sensor hole 10 is the lower half portion of the case front wall 9 which is erected from the lower case 1b.
It is surrounded by a light-shielding wall 13 that is a part of a wall 13a of 9b and a U-shaped wall 13b in which both ends are connected to the wall 13a in a plan view. Notches 14 and 14 are formed in an upward opening shape on the left and right of the upper end of the wall 13b of the light shielding wall 13.

The upper case 1a is provided with a light-shielding wall 16 including a part of a wall 16a of the upper half portion 9a of the case front wall 9 which is vertically hung from the upper wall and left and right walls 16b connected to the wall 16a at right angles. There is. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the light shielding wall 16 has its wall 16a abutted against the wall 13a of the lower case 1b, and the left and right walls 16b thereof face the notch 14 and the light shielding wall 13 is formed. And a light passage hole 15 is formed between and.

Thus, a separate transparent piece 17 for closing the light passage hole 15 is attached to the main body case 1.

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, the transparent piece 17 is a gate-shaped transparent plastic molded product in a front view, and has a left-right vertical shape that fills the left and right notches 14 of the wall 13b of the light-shielding wall 13. A connection 19 that connects the wall 18 and the upper ends of it
Have and. Furthermore, on the inner surface side of each front end of the left and right vertical walls 18,
A positioning rib 20 is formed integrally with a lower end edge 18a of the vertical wall 18 so as to extend further downward and in a shape matching with a corner 21 where the wall 13a and the wall 13b of the light shielding wall 13 intersect. The inside corner 21 is
As shown in FIG. 5, this is a position avoiding the position of the sensor hole 10 surrounded by the light shielding wall 13 of the lower case 1b and the detection optical path A.
The transparent piece 17 is assembled to the lower case 1b before the upper and lower cases 1a and 1b are butted against each other.

In the pre-assembly, the left and right vertical walls 18 of the transparent piece 17 are closely fitted to the notches 14 of the lower case 1b in the notches 14 and the left and right positioning ribs 20 are shaded. The wall 13a and the wall 13b of the wall 13 are press-fitted into the intersecting corner portion 21 of the wall 13b, and the lower end edge 18a of each vertical wall 18 and the notched upper end edge 13c of the wall 13b are butted against each other. The butting is performed by closely fitting a tapered surface provided on the inner surface of the lower edge 18a and a tapered surface provided on the outer surface of the notched upper edge 13c.

In this way, the transparent piece 17 shields the lower end edge 18a of the vertical wall 18a from the light shielding wall.
By abutting the notched upper edge 13c of 13 on the bottom wall 8, the sensor hole 10 is opened in the narrow space between the left and right tape reels 3, 3 as large as possible, and the sensor hole 10 is opened. Even when the transparent piece 17 is mounted on the surrounding light-shielding wall 13, its flange 3a is likely to occur due to radial movement of the tape reel 3.
It will be installed to avoid contact interference with.
FIG. 6 shows a position where the tape reel 3 floats in the direction of the sensor hole 10 along a chain double-dashed line F.

In FIG. 4, the fitting depth α of the positioning rib 20 to the corner 21 is set to be larger than the taper fitting depth β of the cutout upper end edge 13c of the lower end edge 18a. By fitting and fixing the positioning rib 20 to the entering corner portion 21, the transparent piece 17 is provided on the light shielding wall 13 due to vibration or the like by merely abutting the lower end edge 18a of the vertical wall 18 to the notched upper end edge 13c of the wall 13b. Positioning and fixing will be stable and reliable without wobbling.

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, the front end of each vertical wall 18 is provided with a step portion 22 which is received and supported on the upper edge 13d in front of the notch 14 of the wall 13a of the light shielding wall 13. Even in this case, the wobbling of the transparent piece 17 in the pre-assembled state is more reliably prevented.

In this way, the transparent piece 17 previously assembled to the lower case 1b is
The upper surface of the connecting portion 19 is substantially flush with the highest rear end upper surface of the light shielding wall 13. Next, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the upper case 1a is abutted against the lower case 1b, so that the connecting portion 19 of the transparent piece 17 is pressed by the inner surface of the upper wall of the upper case 1a. Lifting restrictions are fully enforced. In addition, the light shielding wall 16 on the upper case 1a side is a transparent piece
The outer wall of each of the vertical walls 18 of 18 is superposed on the outer upper part of the vertical wall 18 to obtain a main assembly state in which the transparent piece 17 is completely prevented from being displaced in the left-right direction.

In FIGS. 4 and 5, reference numeral 23 in the drawings denotes a screw P locking boss formed continuously with the lower light shielding wall 13, and 24 denotes a case front wall continuous with the front end of the light shielding wall 13. Lower half 9a of 9
And a rib for positioning and joining the upper half portion 9b.

[Other embodiment] In the above embodiment, the left and right vertical walls 18, 18 of the transparent piece 17 are connected by the connecting portion 19 at the upper end thereof.
The upper end front portions of the above may be connected to each other to form a U-shape that opens rearward in a plan view. In addition, the shape of the transparent piece 17 can be variously modified.

The positioning rib 20 may be provided so as to project upward on the lower case 1b side and be fitted and fixed in the transparent piece 17.

The wall 13a of the light-shielding wall 13 on the lower case 1b side and the wall 16a of the light-shielding wall 16 on the upper case 1a side each utilize a part of the front wall 9, but separately provided on the inner surface side of the front wall 9 respectively. May be.

In the above embodiment, the sensor hole 10 is provided at the position between the left and right tape reels 3, 3 on the bottom wall 8 of the lower case 1b, but it can be similarly applied to the case where it is provided at another place on the bottom wall 8.

[Brief description of drawings]

The drawings show an embodiment of the tape cartridge according to the present invention. Fig. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a main part, Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the main part, and Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the main part. A rear view, FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional side view of an essential part, FIG. 5 is a plan view showing an essential part of the lower case, and FIG. 6 is a partially cutaway plan view of the whole. 1 …… Main body case, 1a …… Upper case, 1b …… Lower case,
10 …… Sensor hole, 13 …… Lower case side light blocking wall, 16 …… Upper case side light blocking wall, 14 …… Notch, 15 …… Light passage hole, 17
…… Transparent piece, 18 …… Vertical wall of transparent piece, 20 …… Positioning rib.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A sensor hole 10 into which an optical sensor S for detecting a tape end is inserted is formed in a bottom wall 8 of a main body case 1 composed of upper and lower cases 1a and 1b. A light shielding wall 13 that surrounds the outer periphery of the upper part of the sensor hole 10 is erected, and a notch 14 is provided at the upper end of this light shielding wall 13. Between the upper case 1a and the light shielding wall 13 facing the notch 14 A light shielding wall 16 forming a light passage hole 15 is vertically provided in the transparent piece 17 having a vertical wall 18 closing the light passage hole 15.
The lower end 18a of the vertical wall 18 of the transparent piece 17 is a lower case 1b.
Is aligned with the cut-out upper edge 13c of the light-shielding wall 13 on the side, a positioning rib 20 is projected from either the transparent piece 17 or the lower case 1b, and the positioning is performed on the other lower case 1b or the transparent piece 17. A tape cartridge having a rib 20 fitted and fixed thereto.