JPH0749670Y2 - Tape cassette - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial field of application] The present invention relates to recording and / or recording of, for example, a video tape recorder.
Or, it relates to a tape cassette used in a reproducing apparatus.

[Prior art and its problems]

It is well known that a tape cassette is used in a recording and / or reproducing apparatus (hereinafter, simply recording / reproducing apparatus) such as a video tape recorder.

Incidentally, when an outline of such a tape cassette is given, generally, a supply-side reel and a winding-side reel are arranged in a case main body part in which an upper half and a lower half made of plastic are combined, and A magnetic tape is stretched on a predetermined path between the supply-side reel and the winding-side reel, and a front lid for protecting the magnetic tape located outside the case body is provided.

It is also well known that lock means for maintaining the closed state of the front lid is provided.

For example, as shown in FIG. 7, a front cover that covers the front surface of the tape cassette to protect the tape 50 stretched over the front surface of the tape cassette.
51, two side walls 52a, 52b separated from each other, between the side walls and one extension of the side walls 52a, 52b and the longitudinal direction of the tape 50 stretched on the front surface of the tape cassette, A groove 54 formed by arranging the inner surface of the side plate 53 of the front lid 51 in the vertical direction at a distance from each other, and to allow the lock release member to enter the groove 54 from the front surface of the tape cassette. A notch 55 provided at a lower portion of the front surface of the front lid 51 corresponding to the position of the groove portion 54, and pivotally supported by the side wall to rotate in the thickness direction surface of the tape cassette in the groove portion, A release end 57 facing the front surface of the tape cassette via the engagement end 56 with the 51 and the cutout portion.
Normally, the front lid 51 is engaged with the engaging end 56 to prevent its rotation, and the notch 55 and the groove 54 are provided.
The lock release member that passes through the tape cassette and enters from the front surface of the tape cassette is rotated by abutting and moving the release end 57 to release the engagement with the front cover 51 and allow the rotation. A tape cassette (Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 63-12455) having a lock 58 and a biasing spring 59 that biases the lid lock 58 to engage with the front lid has been proposed.

By the way, the front lid locking means of the conventional tape cassettes including these proposed tape cassettes has a complicated structure and has a large number of parts, which not only requires troublesome parts management but also has a low assembly work efficiency. Furthermore, it has become clear that there are problems such as more troubles due to the large number of parts.

Further, while the front lid is repeatedly opened and closed, the pivot shaft portion and / or the bearing portion of the lid lock is worn by the rotation, and the abrasion powder is scattered in the tape chamber and adheres to the magnetic tape to It has also been found that there are problems such that the surface slipperiness of the tape is lowered and the running property is lowered, and dropout is caused.

[Means for solving problems]

A first object of the present invention is to provide a tape cassette provided with front lid locking means which can be constructed with a small number of parts.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a tape cassette with high assembly work efficiency.

A third object of the present invention is to provide a tape cassette in which resin powder due to abrasion is not generated even when the front lid locking means is repeatedly used, and the phenomenon that abrasion powder adheres to the tape to cause dropout is prevented. To provide.

The object of the present invention is to combine a case main body with an upper half and a lower half, a pivotable front cover attached to the case main body, and a cover provided on the front cover. The locking member includes a locking portion, a recess having a non-circular cross section formed in the lower half and / or the upper half of the case body, and a lock member having a mounting portion that is closely fixed to the recess. Has a thin plate-shaped spring portion and a plurality of inverted substantially Y-shaped legs formed on the tip side of the mounting portion, and the leg portion of the leg portion located on the front lid side is engaged with the engaged portion. The stop portion is integrally formed, and the other leg portion is integrally formed with a lock release portion, and the lock member mounting portion is disposed in the recess having a non-circular cross section. It is configured to lock the front lid with a lock member. It is achieved by a tape cassette according to symptoms.

〔Example〕

1 to 3 show a first embodiment of a tape cassette according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view, FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a main portion of a front lid locking means, FIG. 3 is a schematic side view for explaining the operation of the front lid locking means.

The case body 1 constituting the tape cassette A is composed of a rectangular upper half 1a and a lower half 1b made of synthetic resin such as polypropylene, ABS, PS, etc., and these upper half 1a and lower half 1b are arranged from above and below. They are fitted to each other and screwed with a set screw to form an integral housing.

A pair of tape reels, that is, a supply-side reel 2a and a winding-side reel 2b are rotatably accommodated in the case main body 1, and a magnetic tape (hereinafter simply referred to as tape) 3 is a supply-side reel 2a and a winding-side reel. It is wound and stretched between 2b.
Both tape reels 2a, 2b are placed on the bottom plate of the lower half 1b, and the lower ends of the tape reels 2a, 2b are fitted and positioned in reel fitting holes provided in the bottom plate.

Reference numeral 4 is a pressing spring for the pair of tape reels 2a and 2b.

As shown in FIG. 1, a front surface opening 5 is provided on the front surface of the case body 1 over substantially the entire width of the tape cassette, and the bottom plate of the lower half 1b has a bottom surface opening continuous with the front surface opening 5 ( The tape loading member on the recording / reproducing apparatus side enters the pocket formed by the front opening 5 and the bottom opening, and the tape 3 is pulled out from the tape cassette A).
Is provided. A front wall is integrally formed on the bottom plate of the lower half 1b along the edge of the bottom opening, and the inside of the case body 1 is located between the bottom opening side and both tape reels 2a, 2b by the front wall. It is divided by. A pair of tape guides 6a and 6b are integrally formed on the bottom plate of the lower half 1b at both left and right ends of the front wall.
Are guided by these two tape guides 6a and 6b, and are hung along the front opening.

The front opening 5 is covered with a front lid 7 formed in a substantially U shape. That is, the front lid 7 is the case main body 1
A polypropylene having a front plate 7a that closes the front surface of the front plate, a connecting piece 7b that extends rearward from the left and right ends of the front plate 7a, and a rotating shaft 7c that protrudes from the inner surfaces of both connecting pieces 7b so as to face each other. AB
A molded product made of synthetic resin such as S and PS, in which the left and right connecting pieces 7b are externally fitted to the front end recessed portions 8a, 8b of the left and right side walls of the case body 1, and the rotary shaft 7c is the recessed portion. The holes 8a and 8b are fitted and pivoted to the respective holes for rotation.

Although the front lid 7 is biased in the closing direction by the force of a resilient means such as a torsion spring (not shown) attached to the rotary shaft 7c, the front lid 7 is The case body 1 can be pivoted in a posture of closing the front surface of the body 1 and a posture of opening it upward.

When the tape cassette A is not used, the front lid 7 is biased and closed by the force of the elastic repelling means, covers the front outer side of the tape 3 to protect it, and loads the tape cassette A into the recording / reproducing apparatus. When the front lid 7 is opened, a tape loading member (not shown) on the recording / reproducing apparatus side is inserted into a pocket formed in a recessed shape in the center of the left and right of the front edge of the case main body 1, and the tape 3 is inserted. Pull the tape cassette forward.

A lock means for locking the front lid 7 when the tape cassette A is not in use is incorporated in an extended portion of the gap between the front end recessed portion 8a of the right side wall of the case body 1 and the right connecting piece 7b of the front lid 7. There is.

This locking means includes a rectangular parallelepiped fixed mounting portion 9a, a thin plate-shaped spring portion 9b, inverted substantially Y-shaped leg portions 9c and 9d, and a tip portion of one leg portion 9c of these leg portions. The lock member 9 formed of a plastic integrally molded product having the formed claw 9e and the side wall of the lower half 1b for closely fitting both ends of the rectangular parallelepiped fixed mounting portion 9a of the lock member 9 The recesses 10a and 10b are provided at the upper end, and the locked portion 11 is provided on the inner surface of the connecting piece 7b of the front lid 7 with which the claw 9e of the lock member 9 is locked.

Then, both ends of the rectangular parallelepiped fixed attachment portion 9a of the lock member 9 are attached by closely fitting to the recesses 10a, 10b provided at the upper end of the side wall of the lower half 1b, whereby the front lid 7 is closed. In that case, the claw 9e of the lock member 9 is the connecting piece 7b of the front lid 7.
The front lid 7 is locked by the locked portion 11 which is provided so as to project on the inner surface of the front lid 7.
Will have the lid locked.

At the location of the pocket, a dust cover is pivotally connected to the inside of the front lid 7 through a shaft so that the dust cover can be placed on the lower side of the tape 3 when the tape cassette A is not used. The inside of the pocket and the upper surface of the opening of the pocket are sealed to prevent dust from entering from the upper and lower opening surfaces of the pocket and adhering to the tape 3. This dust cover is connected to the cam grooves provided on the left and right side surfaces facing the pocket (the side surfaces are connected to the tape guides 6a and 6b), and the dust cover is also attached to the tape 3 when the front lid 7 is released. It moves upward together with the front lid 7 without any interference. That is, dust cover mounting pieces are integrally hung from the upper end side of the front plate 7a at locations near the left and right ends of the front plate 7a of the front lid 7, and these mounting pieces are provided at the left and right ends of the upper and lower intermediate portions of the dust cover. The projecting shaft is pivotally supported. Pin-shaped cam followers are provided so as to project from the left and right sides near the lower end of the dust cover, and the cam followers are engaged and connected to the cam grooves, respectively.

When the tape cassette A configured as described above is not used, the front lid 7 is closed to cover and protect the outside of the front surface of the tape 3, but when the tape cassette A is loaded into the recording / reproducing apparatus. , The front cover 7 is opened and the case main body 1
A tape loading member (not shown) on the recording / reproducing apparatus side is inserted into a pocket formed in a recessed shape in the left and right central portions of the front edge, and the tape 3 is pulled out to the front of the tape cassette.

That is, when the tape cassette A is loaded in the recording / reproducing apparatus, a lock releasing member (not shown) on the recording / reproducing apparatus side enters, and the lock releasing member acts as a releasing end of the lock member 9 against the force of the spring portion 9b. Since the leg portion 9d is rotationally displaced in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 3, the engagement between the claw 9e of the lock member 9 and the locked portion 11 of the front lid 7 is released, and the front lid 7 can be opened. Since it is placed in such a state, the front lid 7 is rotated clockwise in FIG. 1 to open by the operation of the opening / closing member (not shown) on the recording / reproducing apparatus side. A tape loading member (not shown) on the recording / reproducing apparatus side is inserted into a pocket formed in a recessed shape in the center of the left and right, and the tape 3 is pulled out to the front of the tape cassette.

As described above, in the tape cassette A having the above-described configuration, even if the front lid 7 is repeatedly opened and closed, and the lock member 9 is rotationally displaced each time, the rectangular parallelepiped fixed mounting portion 9a of the lock member 9 is provided in the case body. It is in a fixed state on the portion 1, and therefore, the abrasion powder does not occur between the lock member 9 and the recesses 10a, 10b provided on the upper end of the side wall of the lower half 1b, and the abrasion powder scatters.
This adheres to the tape 3 so that the surface smoothness of the tape 3 is lowered and the running property is lowered, and there is no problem that dropout is caused during reproduction.

Also, the fixed mounting portion 9a of the lock member 9 is arranged so as to drop into the recesses 10a, 10b formed in the side wall of the lower half 1b, and then fitted together, and thereafter the upper half 1a is simply united with the lower half 1b. Since the assembly of the lock member 9 into the case body 1 is completed, the work of attaching the lock member 9 is extremely simple, and the efficiency of the assembly work of the tape cassette A is extremely high.

Further, since the lock member 9 is provided with the spring portion 9b integrally formed by utilizing the characteristic of its constituent material, it is possible to select a special spring or the like for urging the lock member 9 in a predetermined direction. Since parts are not required and the number of parts is reduced accordingly, parts management becomes easy.

FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of an essential part (lock member) of the second embodiment of the tape cassette according to the present invention.

The tape cassette of this embodiment is different only in the shapes of the fixed attachment portion 9a and the spring portion 9b of the lock member 9 of the tape cassette of the first embodiment, and the basic technical idea is the same. Therefore, detailed description is omitted.

FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of a main part (lock member) of a third embodiment of the tape cassette according to the present invention.

The tape cassette of the present embodiment is different from the tape cassette of the first embodiment only in the shape of the fixed mounting portion 9a of the lock member 9 and the like, and the basic technical idea is the same. Detailed description is omitted.

FIG. 6 is a schematic side view of an essential part (lock member) of a fourth embodiment of the tape cassette according to the present invention.

The tape cassette of the present embodiment is different from the tape cassette of the first embodiment only in the shape of the fixed mounting portion 9a of the lock member 9 and the like, and the basic technical idea is the same. Detailed description is omitted.

Although the lock member 9 is entirely made of plastic in the above embodiment, the lock member 9 may be made by insert molding the spring portion 9b using a metal plate such as stainless steel.

〔effect〕

A case body formed by combining the upper half and the lower half,
A pivotable front and rear type lid attached to the case main body, a locked portion provided on the front lid, and a cross-section formed on the lower half and / or the upper half of the case main body. A circular recess and a lock member having a mounting portion that is closely fixed to the recess are provided. The locking member includes a thin plate-shaped spring portion and a plurality of inverted substantially Y-shaped legs on the tip side of the mounting portion. The leg portion located on the front lid side of the leg portion is integrally formed with a locking portion that locks with the locked portion, and the other leg portion is integrally provided with an unlocking portion. Since the mounting portion of the lock member is disposed in the concave portion having a non-circular cross section, the lock member is configured to lock the front lid with the lid.
Even if the front lid is repeatedly opened and closed, and the lock member rotates and displaces each time, the mounting portion of the lock member is in a fixed state, and therefore, the wear phenomenon does not occur between the lock member and the case main body portion. The powder is scattered and adheres to the tape to reduce the surface smoothness of the tape, which lowers the running property, and causes no dropout during reproduction. The assembly of the lock member to the case main body is completed only by arranging and fitting the mounting part of the lock member such that it is dropped in the recess formed in the lower half, and then combining the upper half with the lower half. Since the work of attaching the lock member is extremely simple, the assembly work efficiency of the tape cassette is extremely high, and further, the spring member is provided on the lock member itself. Without requiring a separate component such as a spring for biasing, parts because the number is also reduced, with the features of the like are also parts management becomes easy.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 to 3 show a first embodiment of a tape cassette according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view, FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a main portion of a front lid locking means, FIG. 3 is a schematic side view for explaining the operation of the front lid locking means, FIGS. 4 to 6 are schematic side views of a main part (locking member) of another embodiment of the tape cassette according to the present invention, and FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the conventional tape cassette. A: tape cassette, 1 ... case body, 1a ... upper half, 1b ... lower half, 2a ... supply side reel, 2b.
Take-up reel, 3 ... Magnetic tape, 5 ... Front opening, 6
a, 6b …… Tape guide, 7 …… Front lid, 7c …… Rotating shaft, 9
...... Lock member, 9a ...... Fixed mounting part, 9b ...... Spring part, 9
c, 9d …… Legs, 9e …… Claws, 10a, 10b …… Recesses, 11 …… Locked parts,

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A case main body formed by combining an upper half and a lower half, a front cover that is rotatable and openable and attached to the case main body, and a locked member provided on the front cover. Section, a recess having a non-circular cross section formed in the lower half and / or the upper half of the case main body, and a lock member having a mounting portion that is tightly fixed to the recess. A thin plate-shaped spring portion and a plurality of inverted substantially Y-shaped leg portions are formed on the tip side of the mounting portion, and the leg portion of the leg portion located on the front lid side is engaged with the engaged portion. And the lock release portion is integrally formed on the other leg, and the mounting portion of the lock member is disposed in the recess having a non-circular cross section. It is configured such that the front lid is locked by Tape cassette that.