JPH09274781A - Manufacture of tape cassette or disk cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To integrally and firmly joining upper and lower halves, whose appearance quality is sufficient, without generating scratches on the product surface of a cassette or a cartridge. SOLUTION: Fusion is executed by using an ultrasonic fusion horn 2 and a fusion receiving base 3, on whose surfaces in contact with the upper and lower halves 'Teflon(R)'-containing plating 4 is applied, or by interposing a volatile solution, which does not chemically attack a base material of the halves, between the surface of the half and the fusion horn 2. when the tape cassette 1 is manufactured by integrally joining the upper and lower halves by ultrasonic fusion. Consequently, friction between the ultrasonic horn 2, which is a metal, and a product, which is of plastic, is reduced, and thus, energy loss is eliminated, therefor, fusion is conducted with a minimum force, which means a manufacturing method for causing no scratch on the surface of the product and requring no periodic replacement of a cork, etc., either. Therefore, the tape cassette 1 or the disk cartridge which drastically improves productivity, is sufficient in appearance grade and quality, too, and integrally and firmly joins the upper and lower halves is manufactured.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a tape cassette or a disk cartridge by integrally joining a case composed of an upper half and a lower half by ultrasonic welding.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in ultrasonic fusing, a metal fusing horn is used for fusing by oscillating ultrasonic waves. However, positional accuracy is deteriorated due to scratches on the surface of the case or displacement of the case. Since burrs and protrusions will occur on the horn periphery and the appearance quality will be degraded, when making the upper and lower halves together by ultrasonic fusion, attach a cork or protective sheet to the fusion pedestal, or touch the fusion horn. The surface of the product case and the side surface of the product case were prevented from being scratched by polishing the contact portion, plating, or moving the fusion-bonding cradle as in JP-A-6-195936.

[0003]

However, in these conventional manufacturing methods, when ultrasonic bonding is used to strengthen the adhesive strength of the upper and lower halves, scratches are generated on the surface of the product due to ultrasonic vibration. Also, when manufacturing with emphasis on appearance so that scratches do not occur, it becomes impossible to firmly bond, and by attaching a cork or protective sheet to the fusion cradle, it is effective at the initial stage, Gradually, the cork and the protective sheet deteriorated and the characteristics changed due to repetition, and it was necessary to replace the cork and the protective sheet. On the other hand, in the case of processing on the fusion horn side, the pedestal may move and become unstable on the contrary, and during ultrasonic welding, ultrasonic vibration causes friction between the metal horn and the pedestal and the plastic product. , There was a problem that the product surface had scratches. The present invention is intended to easily eliminate these various drawbacks of the related art, and the friction between the ultrasonic horn, which is a metal, and the product, which is a plastic, is reduced, so that energy loss is eliminated and fusion can be performed with a minimum force. Since it does not cause scratches on the product surface and it does not require regular replacement of corks, etc., it greatly improves productivity and the appearance quality and quality are good, and the upper and lower halves are firmly joined together. The present invention is intended to provide a tape cassette or a disk cartridge which has been described above.

[0004]

According to the present invention, when a cassette or a cartridge in which a recording / reproducing medium is arranged in a case consisting of an upper half and a lower half is formed, the upper and lower halves are integrated by ultrasonic fusion. In the manufacturing method, the ultrasonic fusion horn and the fusion pedestal are subjected to plating treatment using Teflon-containing plating to ultrasonically fuse the upper and lower halves or a volatile solution that does not attack the half base material. Ultrasonic fusion.

[0005]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION In the embodiments of the present invention, when a tape cassette is manufactured by integrally bonding the upper and lower halves by ultrasonic welding, ultrasonic welding using Teflon-containing plating on the surface in contact with the upper and lower halves. Friction between the ultrasonic horn, which is a metal, and the product, which is a plastic, is reduced by using a horn and a fusing cradle, or by applying a few drops of a volatile solution such as ethanol to the half surface and then fusing the horn. Since there is no energy loss and it can be fused with the minimum force,
Since the manufacturing method does not cause scratches on the product surface and does not require regular replacement of corks, etc., the productivity is greatly improved, the appearance quality and quality are good, and the upper and lower halves are firmly joined together. It can be a tape cassette or a disk cartridge.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the example of the tape cassette shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. The tape cassette 1 provided with a recording / reproducing medium in a cassette case composed of an upper half and a lower half is ultrasonically fused. The horn 2 and the fusion-bonding pedestal 3 vibrate with ultrasonic waves from the vibrator to transmit energy and integrate the upper and lower parts. The fusion horn 2
Is made of aluminum, duralumin, or the like, and the fusing pedestal 3 is made of a metal such as aluminum or carbon steel, like the fusing horn 2. In this case, the surface of the fusion horn 2 and the fusion pedestal 3 corresponding to the fusion portion is formed with a Niflo-processed Teflon-containing plated portion 4, and the upper half and the lower half pressed between the two are used. The tape cassette 1 composed of and is integrally connected.

That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the tape cassette 1
Is sandwiched between the fusion horn 2 and the fusion pedestal 3 and is fused. In this case, if the tape cassette 1 is not properly positioned so that the tape cassette 1 does not move on the fusing receiving base 2, the fusing may be incomplete due to vertical displacement, unevenness, or gaps. Is taken into consideration. Then, the fusing horn 2 transfers energy to the tape cassette 1 by vibrating with ultrasonic waves from a vibrator, and melts fusing ribs (not shown) installed in the upper and lower cases by friction, so that the upper and lower cases are separated from each other. Integrate (Figure 3). However, since the vibration energy of the ultrasonic waves is transmitted by moving the entire tape cassette 1, friction is likely to occur between the metal horn, the pedestal, and the plastic product. As a result, the product surface can be integrally bonded without causing scratches, and further, the energy can be securely fused with a minimum force without loss. Also, the Teflon-containing plated portion 4
Is durable, does not change its characteristics, and enables uniform fusion-bonding even during repeated work, greatly improving workability.

In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the solution supply unit 5 is provided, and a few drops of ethanol (methyl alcohol) are applied to the surface of the product of the tape cassette 1 and ultrasonic fusion is performed.
The solution supply unit 5 is set at a place where scratches, such as four corners, are easily noticeable with respect to one tape cassette 1. By applying a few drops of the ethanol solution, the frictional heat between the metal fusion horn 2, the pedestal 3 and the plastic product is absorbed, so that scratches on the product surface can be prevented. Further, in this case, the same effect can be obtained even if the surfaces of the fusion horn 2 and the fusion pedestal 3 are so-called Niflo processed (Teflon-containing plating). In any case, the surface of the product is coated with a few drops of ethanol and ultrasonically fused to absorb the frictional heat between the metal horn, the pedestal, and the plastic product, preventing scratches on the product surface. In addition, since ultrasonic energy is not lost and fusion can be performed with a minimum amount of energy, protrusion of side surfaces and the like can be prevented, and appearance quality can be favorably and efficiently produced. An ethanol solution is used in the solution supply unit 5. This is because the synthetic resin that composes the half is ABS, PS, SAN, PP
It is because ethanol can be commonly used for, but methanol, isopropanol, acetone, etc. can be used for those having good chemical resistance such as PP. In any case, it is preferable that a volatile solution that does not attack the case base material is interposed between the half surface and the fusion horn to be fused. Further, the volatile solution may be dropped, dropped, sprayed or supplied by another method instead of being applied and may be interposed between the half surface and the fusion horn.

[0009]

According to the present invention, when the upper and lower halves are integrally joined by ultrasonic welding to manufacture a tape cassette, an ultrasonic welding horn plated with Teflon on the surface in contact with the upper and lower halves and a fusion receiver. Friction between the ultrasonic horn, which is a metal, and the product, which is a plastic, can be achieved by using a table or by fusing with a volatile solution that does not attack the half base material between the half surface and the fusion horn. Since it reduces the energy loss and can be fused with a minimum amount of force, it does not cause scratches on the product surface, and it does not require regular replacement of corks, etc. It is possible to efficiently produce a tape cassette or a disc cartridge in which the upper and lower halves are firmly connected to each other with improved appearance and good quality.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a manufacturing process of an embodiment of the present invention, (a) is a side view of a fusion horn in a separated state, (b) is a bottom view of the fusion horn, and (c) is a plane of a fusion cradle. It is a figure.

2A and 2B show a fusion-bonded state of the example of FIG. 1, where FIG. 2A is a side view and FIG. 2B is a plan view taken along line AA.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a B part in the example of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a side view of an operating state of another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Tape cassette 2 Fusing horn 3 Fusing pedestal 4 Teflon-containing plating part 5 Solution supply part

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A method for manufacturing a cassette or a cartridge in which a recording / reproducing medium is arranged in a case comprising an upper half and a lower half, wherein the upper and lower halves are integrated by ultrasonic fusion. A method of manufacturing a tape cassette or a disk cartridge, characterized in that the upper and lower halves are ultrasonically fused by using Teflon-containing plating on the surfaces of a fusion horn and a fusion cradle. 2. A method of manufacturing a cassette or a cartridge in which a recording / reproducing medium is arranged in a case composed of an upper half and a lower half, wherein the upper and lower halves are integrated by ultrasonic fusion. A welding horn and a fusion cradle are provided, and a half is placed on the fusion cradle.
A method of manufacturing a tape cassette or a disk cartridge, characterized in that a volatile solution that does not attack the half base material is interposed between the half surface and the fusion horn and fusion is performed by an ultrasonic fusion horn. 3. The manufacturing method according to claim 2, wherein the fusion horn and the fusion pedestal are ultrasonically fused by using Teflon-containing plating.