JPH0753184Y2 - Tape cassette - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial field of application) The present invention relates to a tape cassette, and in particular, for smoothly locking and unlocking an opening / closing lid for protecting a magnetic tape provided at a front opening of a cassette housing. The present invention relates to a tape cassette equipped with a lock mechanism.

(Prior Art) A general tape cassette used in a video tape recorder device (hereinafter referred to as a VTR) or the like has a cassette insertion opening provided on a front surface or an upper surface of a VTR cabinet, with a front surface of a cassette housing first. It is inserted and then loaded into the cassette holder in the VTR.

A guide groove for preventing erroneous insertion is formed on the bottom plate (bottom surface) of the cassette housing of such a tape cassette.
This guide groove engages with a stopper made of a rib-like member provided below the cassette insertion opening of the VTR and at a position corresponding to the guide groove to prevent erroneous insertion of the cassette housing. belongs to.

Further, an opening / closing lid for holding the magnetic tape stretched along the front opening is pivotally supported in an openable / closable manner together with a lock mechanism in the front opening of the cassette housing. Covers the tape cassette when it is not loaded in the VTR to prevent the magnetic tape from being exposed and damaged at the front opening of the cassette housing and to prevent dust from entering the cassette housing. It is to prevent it.

As shown in FIG. 9, the conventional locking mechanism of the opening / closing lid has a locking member accommodating chamber 21 formed in one side of the cassette housing 20, and the locking protrusion 22 is formed in the locking member accommodating chamber 21.
An upper end of a locking member (not shown) having a and an unlocking protrusion 22b is rotatably pivotally supported, and an elastic member (not shown) serves to lock the locking member.
The locking projection 22a is urged to rotate to the outside of 20 to be fitted into the engaging portion 23a formed on the side plate 23 'of the opening / closing lid 23 to lock the opening / closing lid 23 in the closed state. Then, the lock releasing protrusion 22b protruding outward from the side of the cassette housing 20 is pressed by a lock releasing pin (not shown) of the VTR to rotate the locking member inside the cassette housing 20. The opening / closing lid 23 and the locking projection 2
It was structured to release the lock by releasing the fitting with 3a.

(Problems to be solved by the invention) In a conventional tape cassette including a guide groove for preventing erroneous insertion and a lock mechanism for an opening / closing lid, a rib-shaped stopper that engages with the guide groove and the lock mechanism are provided. It is necessary to separately provide a lock release pin that presses the lock release protrusion of the cassette in the VTR, and in order to release the lock, insert the lock release protrusion on the side of the cassette casing into the cassette casing. Since it is necessary to press from a direction substantially orthogonal to the direction, there is a problem that the lock cannot be released smoothly.

In addition, when the conventional tape cassette is not loaded in the VTR, the side surface of the open / close lid is particularly damaged due to falling or the like, the lock mechanism malfunctions and it becomes difficult to load it in the VTR, or the magnetic tape is exposed. However, there is a drawback that dust and the like adhere to the magnetic surface of the magnetic tape.

(Means for Solving Problems) In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an opening / closing lid for protecting the magnetic tape stretched along the front opening of the cassette housing so that the cassette housing can be opened and closed. In the axially supported tape cassette, a guide groove for preventing erroneous insertion that extends inward from the lower portion of the front surface on the side of the cassette housing, and a lock that fits into an engaging portion formed on the side plate of the opening / closing lid. Provided is a tape cassette provided with a protrusion and a lock-releasing protrusion that is interposed in the guide groove and releases engagement of the engaging portion and the locking protrusion.

(Embodiment) An embodiment of the tape cassette according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tape cassette. The tape cassette 1 is a cassette housing 2 composed of an upper half 2a and a lower half 2b, and a pair of tape reels (not shown) around which a magnetic tape (not shown) is wound. Is the front opening 3 of the cassette housing 2.
Is stretched along. Further, an opening / closing lid 4 for protecting the stretched magnetic tape is a shaft 4 '(see FIG. 2).
Thus, the cassette housing 2 is axially supported so as to be openable and closable with respect to both side portions 5 and 6 near the front surface. Further, protective side plates 5 ', 6'are integrally formed on both side parts 5, 6 of the cassette housing 2 near the front face so as to cover both side plates 4a, 4b which are the pivotal support parts of the opening / closing lid 4. . Further, on both sides of the bottom surface 7 of the cassette housing 2, a pair of guide grooves 8 and 9 for preventing erroneous insertion extend inward from the lower part of the front surface.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the lock mechanism of the tape cassette 1. A lock member accommodating chamber (hereinafter, simply referred to as an accommodating chamber) 10 is formed on the front surface of the left side portion 5 of the cassette housing 2. In this accommodation chamber 10, there is a locking protrusion 11a.
A lock member 11 integrally formed with a lock release protrusion 11b is rotatably supported (see FIG. 4).
The locking protrusion 11a is fitted into an engaging portion (recess) 4c formed on the one side plate 4a of the opening / closing lid 4 to lock the opening / closing lid 4 in the closed state. Lock release protrusion 11b
Is interposed in the guide groove 8 and is pressed by a member provided in the VTR (main body) when the tape cassette 1 is loaded, as will be described later.
Is rotated inward of the cassette housing 2, and as a result, the engagement between the front locking protrusion 11a and the engaging portion 4c of the opening / closing lid 4 is released, and the opening / closing lid 4 is unlocked. is there.

Next, the accommodation chamber 10 and the locking member 11 will be further described. 3 (A) to 3 (D) are exploded perspective views of various locking members 11 of the lock mechanism of the tape cassette 1 and the accommodation chamber 10. As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the locking member 11 is a substantially U-shaped member in which a locking protrusion 11a and an unlocking protrusion 11b are integrally formed by protruding to one side. Shafts 11c and 11d are integrally formed on the upper portion in a direction substantially orthogonal to the lock protrusion 11a and the lock release protrusion 11b. The locking protrusion 11a is formed in a shape that engages with an engaging portion (recess) 4c formed on the side plate 4a of the opening / closing lid 4. Further, the front surface 11b-1 and the lower surface 11b-2 of the unlocking protrusion 11b are formed in an inclined shape in which the tip is narrowed. Further, as shown in FIG. 3C, one corner portion 11b-3 of the lock releasing protrusion 11a may be formed in an arc shape.

The accommodation chamber 10 is formed in the front surface of the left side portion 5 of the cassette housing 2, and is formed in a state where the upper half 2a and the lower half 2b of the cassette housing 2 are fitted together. The diagram shown in FIG.
Storage room formed in lower half 2b without upper half 2a
FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing 10. As shown in FIG. 3D, an opening 10a into which a locking protrusion 11a and an unlocking protrusion 11b are inserted is formed in a side wall 10 'of the storage chamber 10,
Bearing portions 10c and 10d are formed on the upper portion of the portion 10.

In the locking member 11 configured as described above, the shafts 11c and 11d are axially attached to the bearing portions 10c and 10d of the housing chamber 10, and the locking protrusion 1
1a, a lock releasing protrusion 11b is attached to the opening 10a of the side wall 10 'so as to protrude from the side wall 10'. Further, the lock member 11 is provided inside the cassette housing 2 with shafts 11c and 11d.
It is attached so as to be rotatable around.
An elastic member such as a spring is attached to the shafts 11c and 11d so that the locking member 11 is always locked in the side wall 10 'direction (outside the cassette housing 2), that is, the opening / closing lid 4 is closed. It may be biased to rotate in the direction.

The tape cassette 1 configured as described above is inserted into the VTR (main body) and loaded. FIG. 8 is a front view of a cassette holder provided in a standard VTR into which the tape cassette 1 is loaded. A cassette insertion opening 14 is formed in the front surface 13 of the VTR 12 cabinet.
The tape cassette 1 inserted from 14 is loaded into the cassette holder 15 in the VTR 12. An erroneous insertion preventing means for preventing the tape cassette 1 from being inserted into the VTR 12 in the cassette insertion opening 14 in the wrong direction (for example, inserting the cassette housing 2 later or inserting the cassette housing 2 upside down). Is equipped with.

That is, below the cassette insertion opening 14 inside the cassette holder 15 of the VTR 12, stoppers 16 and 17 made of, for example, rib-shaped members (projections) are provided at positions corresponding to the guide grooves 8 and 9 of the tape cassette 1. There is. Therefore, if the tape cassette 1 is inserted in the cassette insertion opening 14 of the VTR 12 in the correct direction, the stoppers 16 and 17 of the cassette holder 15 and the guide grooves 8 and 9 of the tape cassette 1 are aligned with each other and are engaged with each other. The tape cassette 1 is allowed to be inserted into the cassette holder 15. However, if the tape cassette 1 is inserted with its front and back reversed, the upper edge of the opening / closing lid 4 of the cassette housing 2 abuts on the stoppers 16 and 17, or the tape cassette 1 is inserted with its front and back reversed. Also, the rear surface of the cassette housing (there is no guide groove) is the stopper 16,17.
The tape cassette 1 is prevented from being inserted into the cassette holder 15 in any case.

Also, a guide groove provided in the cassette housing 2 of the tape cassette
It prevents erroneous insertion of other tape cassettes that have guide grooves at positions different from 8, 9 and.

Next, the operation of the lock mechanism of the opening / closing lid 4 will be described. 4 (A) and 4 (B) are sectional views showing a state in which the locking member 11 is attached to the housing chamber 10, and are sectional views taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. Note that (A) of the figure is a diagram for explaining a state in which the opening / closing lid 4 is locked in the closed state, and (B) of the same figure is a diagram for explaining a state in which the lock is released.

As shown in FIG. 1A, when the tape cassette 1 is not loaded in the VTR, the locking protrusion 11a of the locking member 11 is fitted into the engaging portion (recess) 4c of the side plate 4a of the opening / closing lid 4. Then, the opening / closing lid 4 is locked in the closed state.

Further, when the tape cassette 1 is horizontally inserted from the cassette insertion opening 14 on the front surface of the VTR 12, the front surface of the stopper 16 of the cassette holder 15 in the VTR 12 projects into the guide groove 8 to interpose a lock releasing projection. It contacts the front surface 11b-1 of the portion 11b. However, the front surface 11b-1 is formed in an inclined shape (or an arc shape), and the locking member 11 is rotatably supported by the shaft 11c inwardly of the cassette housing 2. The member 11 is rotated inwardly of the secut housing 2 as shown in FIG.
The fitting between the engaging portion (recess) 4c of the opening / closing lid 4 is released, the lock is released, and the opening / closing lid 4 can be opened.

Although not shown, even in a VTR in which the insertion port is formed in the upper part of the cabinet of the VTR and the tape cassette 1 inserted from the cassette insertion port is vertically lowered and loaded into the cassette holder, If a stopper 16 is formed at a position corresponding to the unlocking protrusion 11b of the cassette housing 2, the upper surface of the stopper 16 will have the unlocking protrusion when the tape cassette 1 is lowered.
Since the lower surface 11b-2 of the 11b is in contact with the lower surface 11b-2 and the lower surface 11b-2 is also formed in an inclined shape (or an arc shape), the locking member is provided inside the cassette housing 2 in the same manner as described above. It turns to be in the unlocked state.

Next, a second embodiment of the tape cassette according to the present invention will be described. The same parts as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. Figure 5 shows a tape cassette 1
6 (A) and 6 (B) are exploded perspective views of the main part of the lock mechanism of the tape cassette 1. FIG.

As shown in FIG. 5, the side plate 4a of the opening / closing lid 4 of the tape cassette 1 is provided with a substantially L-shaped engaging portion (concave groove) 4d having an open rear surface.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6 (A), the locking member 11 has a locking protrusion 11a fitted into the engaging portion 4d and a lock releasing protrusion interposed between the locking member 11 and the guide groove 8 of the cassette housing 2. 11b is integrally formed. Further, the locking member 11
On top of the shafts 11c and 11d on the top of the
This plate-shaped spring 11e, 11f, in which 1e, 11f is fixedly extended
May be molded integrally with the locking member 11 by plastic molding, or may be molded separately and welded.

In such a locking member 11, the shafts 11c and 11d are shown in FIG. 6 (B).
As shown in FIG. 5, the bearings 10c, 10d (which are integrally formed with the lower half 2b) of the housing chamber 10 are pivotally mounted, are rotatable inside the cassette housing 2, and are housed by the upper half 2a. Chamber 10
The upper part of the lock member 11 is covered, and the locking member 11 is always urged downward and attached so as to be slidable in the vertical direction.

When the tape cassette 1 configured as described above is horizontally inserted from the cassette insertion opening 14 provided on the front surface of the cabinet of the VTR 12, the cassette holder is the same as in the first embodiment.
The stoppers 16 and 17 of 15 engage with the guide grooves 8 and 9 to prevent erroneous insertion, and the stopper 16 has a protrusion for unlocking.
The locking member 11 is rotated inwardly of the cassette housing 2 by abutting against 11b, and at the same time, the locking projection 11a and the engaging portion 4d of the opening / closing lid 4 are disengaged, the lock is released and the opening / closing lid 4 can be opened (similar to the state shown in FIG. 4).

In addition, the tape cassette 1 inserted from the cassette insertion port
In another type of VTR (not shown) which is vertically lowered to be loaded in the cassette holder, the VTR is located on the cassette holder at a position corresponding to the unlocking protrusion 11b of the cassette housing 2 as shown in FIG. Stopper 1 as shown in A) and (B)
If 6'is formed, the upper surface of the stopper 16 'abuts the lower surface 11b-2 of the lock releasing projection 11b when the tape cassette 1 is lowered, and as a result, the locking member 11 is
The locking protrusion 11a moves in the engaging portion 4d of the side plate 4a of the opening / closing lid 4 by sliding upward against the urging force of the leaf springs 11e, 11f, and the lock is released to open the opening / closing lid 4. The lid can be closed.

(Effects of the Invention) The tape cassette according to the present invention has a guide groove for preventing erroneous insertion extending from the lower part of the front surface to the inner side of the cassette housing, and an opening / closing provided in the front opening of the cassette housing. Provided are a locking protrusion that fits into an engagement portion formed on a side plate of the lid, and a lock release protrusion that intervenes in the guide groove and releases engagement of the engagement portion and the locking protrusion. Therefore, the cassette groove is inserted in the VTR in the wrong direction by the guide groove, or another cassette housing having a guide groove at a position different from the guide groove is inserted in the VTR.
In addition to preventing incorrect insertion into the VTR, the present invention also uses the stopper for preventing the incorrect insertion of the VTR as a member for releasing the lock, and at the same time when inserting the cassette housing, It has the effect of unlocking.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of a tape cassette according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the lock mechanism as seen from the bottom, and FIGS. 3 (A) to 3 (C) are lock mechanisms. Of the various locking members, FIG. 4D is a perspective view of a locking member housing chamber for housing these locking members, and FIGS. 4A and 4B are FIG. A sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 5, FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of the tape cassette according to the present invention, and a perspective view showing the locking mechanism thereof, and FIGS. The perspective views showing the locking member and the locking member accommodating chamber are shown in FIGS. 7 (A) and 7 (B) as a fifth perspective view.
Sectional view taken along the line VII-VII in the figure, and Fig. 8 is a standard VTR
FIG. 9 is a front view of the cassette holder of FIG. 9, and FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a lock mechanism of a conventional tape cassette. 1 ... tape cassette, 2 ... cassette housing, 4 ... opening / closing lid, 5 ', 6' ... protective side plate, 8,9 ... guide groove, 10
...... Lock member storage chamber, 11 …… Lock member, 11a…
… Locking protrusion, 11b …… Lock releasing protrusion, 11b-
1 …… Front face of lock release protrusion, 11b-2 …… Lower face of lock release protrusion, 12 …… VTR, 16,17,16 ′ …… Stopper.

Claims (5)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A tape cassette in which an opening / closing lid for protecting a magnetic tape stretched along a front opening of a cassette housing is rotatably supported on the cassette housing in a freely openable and closable manner. A guide groove for preventing erroneous insertion that extends inward from the lower portion, a locking protrusion that fits into an engaging portion formed on the side plate of the opening / closing lid, and the engaging portion that is interposed in the guide groove. A tape cassette, comprising: a lock releasing protrusion for releasing engagement between the lock protrusion and the lock protrusion. 2. A utility model registration according to claim 1, wherein a locking member integrally formed with a locking protrusion and an unlocking protrusion on one side is rotatably mounted inside the secut casing. Tape cassette. 3. A utility model registration request in which a locking member integrally formed with a locking protrusion and an unlocking protrusion on one side is attached to the inside of the cassette casing so as to be rotatable and vertically slidable. The tape cassette according to claim 1. 4. A utility model registration claim in which the front surface and the lower surface of the unlocking protrusion are inclined or arcuate.
The tape cassette according to any one of items 1, 2 and 3. 5. The tape cassette according to claim 1, wherein protective side plates for covering both side plates of the opening / closing lid are integrally formed on both side portions of the cassette housing.