JPH0766649B2 - Tape cassette - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tape cassette, and more particularly to a tape cassette with a lid for an AB double-sided audio system, which is simple and inexpensive to construct.

Structure of Conventional Example and Problems Thereof In recent years, magnetic recording using a tape cassette has been improved in performance and recording density, and it has become necessary to prevent dust, dust, or fingerprints on the tape.

Although tape cassettes with lids have already been used for video cassettes and the like, these are mainly used on one side. AB
For audio used on both sides, it cannot be implemented as it is, and downsizing is required. Therefore, the dead space when the lid is opened is also required to be small. Further, it is desired that a device which can be easily opened and closed by being inserted into a device without being opened carelessly can be implemented at low cost.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a closed state of a tape cassette already proposed by the present inventors. 1 is a cassette body, 2 is a cassette upper half, 3 is a cassette lower half, 4 is a lid, and 5 is a lid 4. The side.

FIG. 2 is a top view showing the inside thereof, 6 is a rotation support shaft of the lid 4, 7 is a leaf spring, and the rotation support shaft 6 is biased to the rear of the cassette. Reference numeral 8 is a fitting hole of the rotary support shaft 6 and has a substantially triangular shape which is tapered rearward on the side surface of the cassette body 1. Thus, the rotation support shaft 6 is guided and positioned at the time of rotation for opening and closing the lid 4. 9,10 is a shredder forming an opening on the front of the cassette body, 11,12,13 are openings,
Reference numeral 14 is a convex portion which is projected on the inner surface of the lid 4, and is engaged with a concave portion provided on the opening surface or a concave portion for locking using the opening portion itself. 15 is a tape. FIG. 3 is a partial view showing the side surface.

The tape cassette constructed in this way can be used on both sides of AB, and there is also a lock mechanism to the closed position, but you can easily unlock it by putting your finger on the lid side part 5 and pulling it out. There was a problem that I could do it.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a tape cassette that can be used on both sides of AB with an extremely simple structure and that does not open accidentally. Another object of the present invention is to realize a lid unlocking mechanism utilizing a cassette positioning mechanism and to simplify the lid opening mechanism.

The present invention relates to a tape cassette that includes a cassette body having an opening on one side, a U-shaped lid that opens and closes by opening and closing the opening, and a protective plate that covers the side of the U-shaped lid. Since it is configured, even if you try to open the lid of the tape cassette in the closed state, you can not open it, you can keep the complete locked state,
When used in a device, it can be opened and closed automatically for the first time by the device, and complete protection of the tape can be achieved. Also, the rear end of the lid side is set in the instrument side for positioning the cassette at a predetermined position for playing, and a positioning hole on the side of the cassette where it fits, so-called reference hole The lock can be automatically released while setting the performance at a predetermined position.

Description of Embodiments FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a closed state of a tape cassette according to an embodiment of the present invention, and the same parts as those shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 are designated by the same reference numerals. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 16 is a cassette positioning hole, a so-called reference hole, into which a member for positioning the cassette set at a predetermined performance position is inserted, and the rear end of the side portion 5 of the lid 4 is this hole. It projects inside. Reference numeral 17 is a protective plate extending from the side surface of the cassette body 1 so as to cover the side portion 5 of the lid 4.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an open state of the lid. Reference numeral 18 is a protruding edge (lid locking portion) provided on the upper and lower edges of the cassette opening surface, and the lid 4 is fitted between them to prevent the lid 4 from rotating. 19 is a protruding edge
It is a concave portion formed by 18.

FIG. 6 is a partial top view showing the inside of the cassette.
The figure is a sectional side view of a main part showing an engaged state for preventing rotation of the lid 4.

The operation of the tape cassette of this embodiment constructed as described above will be described below.

First, in order to open the lid of the tape cassette in the closed state (Fig. 4), the lid 4 is pulled away from the opening surface to prevent the rotation (see Fig. 7).
It is necessary to release the engaged state shown in the figure). However, since the protective plate 17 covers the lid side portion 5, it cannot be easily pulled out with a fingertip. That is, the lid in the closed state cannot be opened carelessly or intentionally. Therefore, the only way to open it is to set it in the device.When setting it in the device, insert the cassette positioning member that is planted on the device side into the cassette positioning hole 16 and push the rear end of the lid side part with the cassette positioning member. For example, the locked state is automatically released, and the lid can be rotated in the vertical direction.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the essential parts of one embodiment showing the correspondence with the device side for automatically opening, and 20 is a cassette positioning member provided on the device side and a cassette positioning hole (reference hole) 16 It corresponds. 21 is a contact member for opening the lid, which is planted on the device side.

With this configuration, when the cassette in the closed state is moved in the direction of arrow A and set in the predetermined position,
The positioning member 20 is inserted into the positioning hole 16, the rear end of the lid side portion 5 protruding into the positioning hole is pushed out by the positioning member 20, the lid 4 moves in the direction of arrow B, and the recess of the lid 4 is depressed.
The locked state by 19 is released. After this, when the cassette further moves in the direction of arrow A, the lid opening contact member 21 contacts the lower end of the lid 4, and pushes up and rotates the lid 4 in the direction of arrow C. When the lid 4 is rotated by 45 ° or more, it is automatically rotated by the force of the spring 7 and is self-held in the open position rotated by 90 °. This operation is exactly the same for both A and B sides.

FIG. 9 is a front view of an embodiment in which the height of the lid 4 is made smaller than the total thickness of the cassette main body, and 22 is a recess formed by reducing the height of the lid 4.

By detecting this concave portion, it can be used for determining the front-back direction of the cassette, preventing reverse insertion, and the like.
Further, the tip of the protective plate 17 can be used to position the insertion of the cassette into a cassette transfer means such as a cassette holder.

FIG. 10 is a side view of a tape cassette according to another embodiment of the present invention, in which 23 is an opening provided on the side surface of the protective plate, which is provided toward the rear end of the lid side portion 5 and is provided from the side of the cassette. It is also possible to unlock.

FIG. 11 is a partial top view of an embodiment in which a plurality of notches are provided on the upper and lower edges of the cassette opening surface, and 24 is the notch. By providing such a notch, the lid opening contact member 21
(FIG. 8) can be brought closer to the cassette body side, and the lowering operation of the lower edge of the lid can be ensured. or,
By utilizing this, it becomes possible to consciously open the lid without the aid of jigs and tools.

FIG. 12 is a front cross-sectional view of an embodiment in which the protective plate 17 is formed from upper and lower halves, and shows a place where the abutting portions are engaged with each other so that they can be reinforced with each other. ing. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a place having a convex inlay relation. With this structure, the same assembly method as that of the conventional compact cassette can be used, and the strength of the protruding portion of the protective plate can be remarkably prevented from being reduced. It can prevent the occurrence.

In the embodiment, the case where the protective plate is formed of the upper and lower halves has been described, but it goes without saying that the protective plate may be formed of one half.

Further, the width of the protective plate may be made smaller than the total thickness of the cassette, or the tip may be rounded or tapered to discriminate between the front and rear of the cassette, or prevent the reverse insertion.

Advantageous Effects of Invention The present invention has a cassette body having an opening on one side, a U-shaped lid that opens and closes by rotating the opening in the up-down direction, and a recessed portion into which a lid provided on the opening surface fits. Since the tape cassette is composed of the biasing means that biases the pivot shaft of the lid backward and the protective plate that covers the side of the U-shaped lid, the closed lid of the cassette can be completely locked and the tape can be protected reliably. In addition, since the rear end of the lid side is seen through the cassette positioning hole (reference hole), the lid can be unlocked by setting the cassette to the specified position for playing, so a special unlocking member has been added. It is possible to automatically open the lid with an extremely simple mechanism without adding to. Moreover, since the U-shaped lid is prevented from rotating by the lid locking portion except when the tape cassette is set to the predetermined position for playing, the U-shaped lid is prevented from being opened accidentally.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the previously proposed tape cassette, FIG. 2 is a partial top view showing the inside thereof, FIG. 3 is a partial side view thereof, and FIG. 4 is a closed view of an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the state, FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the opened state, FIG. 6 is a partial top view showing the inside, and FIG. 7 is a partial side sectional view showing the locked state in the closed state. FIG. 8 is a side view showing the correspondence with a device showing an embodiment of automatic opening, and FIG. 9 is a front view of an embodiment in which the height of the lid side portion is smaller than the total thickness of the cassette body, FIG. FIG. 12 is a side view of an embodiment in which an opening for pressing the lid side rear end portion is provided on the side surface of the protective plate, FIG. 11 is a partial top view of an embodiment in which notches are provided in the upper and lower edges of the cassette opening surface, ，
FIG. 13 is a front sectional view of an embodiment relating to the abutting portion when the protective plate is formed of upper and lower halves. 1 ... Cassette body, 4 ... Lid, 5 ... Lid side part, 11, 12,
13 …… Opening part, 15 …… Tape, 16 …… Cassette positioning hole, 17 …… Protective plate, 19 …… Recessed part, 20 …… Cassette positioning member, 21 …… Abutting member.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Yuuyuki Nakamura 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Hideji Iwasaki 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. 72) Inventor Teruyuki Takizawa, 1006, Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (56) References Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 51-70623 (JP, A) Shoukai 58-148785 (JP, U)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A cassette body having an opening on one side surface,
A U-shaped lid attached to the cassette body so that the opening can be opened and closed by rotating in the vertical direction and can be moved back and forth, a protective plate that covers the side of the U-shaped lid, and the U-shaped Means for urging the lid-shaped lid toward the rear of the cassette body, and a protrusion for preventing the pivotal movement of the U-shaped lid in the closed state by fitting the lid body portion into the opening surface when the U-shaped lid is closed. The cassette has a rim and a cassette positioning hole into which a cassette positioning member is inserted when the cassette body is set to the playing position, and the side rear end of the U-shaped lid is configured to face the cassette positioning hole. A tape cassette characterized in that when the cassette positioning member is inserted into the positioning hole, the U-shaped lid is pushed forward against the biasing force of the biasing means so as to be rotatable. 2. The tape cassette according to claim 1, wherein an opening facing a rear end of a side portion of the U-shaped lid is provided on a side surface of the protective plate. 3. The tape cassette according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a height of a side portion of the U-shaped lid is smaller than a total thickness of the cassette.