JPH0963238A - Spring detecting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To detect the presence of a torsion spring and to amend its fitting position by using an inspecting member having an inclined part for amendment and a flat part for inspection. SOLUTION: For example, the presence of a lid spring 23 as the torsion spring for a lid of a tape cassette is detected by the inspecting flat part 112 of the inspecting member 102. On the other hand, this member 102 is provided with the amending inclined part 111, and the spring 23 is moved along the inclined part 111, so that a position of the spring 23 is automatically adjusted to its regular position. Consequently, the detection of the presence of the torsion spring and the amendment of its position can be preformed, and hence, for instance, assembly work, etc., of the tape cassette, etc., can be efficient for fulfillment.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a spring detecting device used in a tape cartridge assembling process to detect the presence or absence of a torsion spring assembled to a lid forming a tape cartridge.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A tape cartridge is generally constructed by combining upper and lower halves inside a cartridge body.
A pair of tape reels around which a magnetic tape is wound is rotatably housed. For example, in a tape cartridge for a digital audio tape recorder (DAT), a tape cartridge for recording data, a tape cartridge for a video tape recorder (VTR), etc., by loading the recording / reproducing apparatus, the recording / reproducing apparatus side The tape pull-out means performs the tape loading to pull out the magnetic tape to the recording / reproducing section.

In these tape cartridges, the front surface of the cartridge body is opened to form a loading space for the tape pull-out means on the recording / reproducing apparatus side to enter, and one half side is provided on both sides of this loading space. And a pair of tape guides are provided. The magnetic tape fed from the tape reel is extended along the loading space of the cartridge body by being hooked on these tape guides.

For example, the DAT tape cartridge is
It has a highly reliable structure that can withstand rough handling, is capable of recording and reproducing information signals for 2 hours or more, or has a tape path configured on the recording and reproducing device side as described above. The tape cartridge satisfies various specifications such as cost reduction, and has various structural characteristics.

That is, in this DAT tape cartridge, the cartridge main body is constructed by abutting and coupling an upper half and a lower half, which are formed in a horizontally long rectangular shallow dish shape, with each other. Further, in the tape cartridge, a member such as a lid, a reel lock member, or a slider is combined with the cartridge body to form a housing portion that rotatably accommodates a pair of tape reels.

The upper half has a rising peripheral wall formed integrally with the outer peripheral portion except the front portion. Further, the upper half is provided with a spring mounting portion protruding from the main surface portion, and the base end portion of the lock spring is assembled to the spring mounting portion.

A pair of tape guides are provided on the lower half on both sides of an opening formed on the front surface of the cartridge body. The magnetic tape is fed from one tape reel, hung between these tape guides, and wound on the other tape reel. Therefore,
The magnetic tape is folded back by the tape guide and extends to the open portion of the cartridge body, and is usually protected by a lid and a slider described later.

Further, the lower half is integrally provided on the main surface with a pair of substantially rectangular plate-shaped slider lock pieces which are parallel to each other. In these slider lock pieces, a base end portion is swingably supported on a main surface portion of a lower half, and an engaging convex portion is integrally formed at a tip end portion.

The tape reel has a so-called flangeless structure in which a magnetic tape is directly wound around the peripheral surface of a hub which is a core material. The hub is integrally formed with a boss portion projectingly formed on the upper surface in the axial direction, and a gear-shaped lock portion is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the boss over the entire circumference. The tape reel is rotatably housed inside the cartridge body with its reel holes facing the reel shaft entrance openings provided in the lower halves.

The lid is generally U-shaped, and its both side portions are rotatably supported by the both side portions of the upper half so as to open and close the opening formed in the front portion of the cartridge body. Are combined together. The lid normally closes the open portion of the cartridge body by the elastic force of a torsion spring (hereinafter referred to as a lid spring) attached to the fulcrum portion. When the tape cartridge is loaded in the recording / reproducing apparatus, the lid is released from the engagement state with the slider, and is rotated by the lid driving means on the recording / reproducing apparatus side to open the opening portion of the cartridge body.

The slider is formed in a rectangular plate shape whose main surface portion has a length in the front-rear direction slightly smaller than that of the main surface portion of the lower half, and guide walls are integrally formed on both sides of the main surface portion so as to stand upright. There is. This slider is movably combined in the front-rear direction with the lower half by engaging the engaging portions formed on the guide wall with the engaging portions formed on the rising peripheral walls on both sides of the lower half.

The slider is provided with a circular reel shaft advancing opening which is spaced apart in the longitudinal direction on the main surface portion thereof, and a shaft-shaped spring hooking portion is integrally formed on the front center portion of the slider. Has been done. The spring retaining portion faces the opening wall of the cartridge body and faces the guide wall on the lower half side when the slider is combined with the lower half.

A torsion spring, both ends of which are extended from the coil portion, is attached to the spring retaining portion. The torsion spring urges the slider forward with respect to the slider by contacting both ends with the guide wall.

Further, the slider is provided with a pair of substantially rectangular groove-shaped lock portions formed in parallel with each other and formed at the front edge of the main surface portion. A first lock hole and a second lock hole are provided at both ends of each of these lock portions.

In this slider, the engaging protrusions of the slider lock piece formed on the main surface of the lower half are engaged with the first lock hole of the lock portion by the elastic force of the torsion spring, respectively, so as to be engaged with each other. Held in position. At the first position of the slider, the main surface portion closes the reel half entrance opening of the lower half and the opening portion of the cartridge body.

Further, when the tape cartridge is loaded into the recording / reproducing apparatus, the slider is moved to the second position on the back side against the elastic force of the torsion spring by the slider opening means. In this slider, the engaging projections of the slider lock pieces formed on the main surface portion of the lower half relatively engage with the second lock hole of the lock portion by the elastic force of the torsion spring, and are held at the second position. To be done.

In the slider, in the second position, the opening for reel shaft entry corresponds to the opening for reel shaft entry of the lower half and opens it, and the opening portion of the cartridge body is also open. The slider is stably locked in the first position and the second position by the elastic force of the lock spring inserted between the slider and the upper half in a compressed state.

When the tape cartridge is loaded in the recording / reproducing apparatus, the slider is slid from the first position to the second position by the slider opening means and the lid is rotated by the lid driving means as described above. The cartridge body is dynamically operated to open the opening portion of the cartridge body. Further, in the tape cartridge, the locked state of the tape reel by the reel lock member is released as the lid rotates.

In this state of the tape cartridge, the tape loading means on the recording / reproducing apparatus side enters the open portion of the cartridge body, pulls out the magnetic tape from the cartridge body, and loads it onto the recording / reproducing portion. Thus, the open portion of the cartridge body is configured as a loading space into which the tape loading means on the recording / reproducing apparatus side enters.

In the lid constituting the above-mentioned tape cartridge, the lid spring is attached to the fulcrum portion of the lid spring mounting portion formed on the lid in the spring assembling process of the tape cartridge assembly line. In the spring assembly process, this lid spring is pushed with one end pushed by the pushing member to the spring latching piece formed on the lid spring attachment portion of the lid with the coil portion being clamped by the attachment arm. At the same time, the fulcrum part is inserted and attached to the coil part. In the assembly line of the tape cartridge, the lid with the lid spring attached to the lid spring mounting portion is inspected by the spring detection device for the presence of the attached lid spring.

A conventional spring detection device generally includes a spring detection member having a flat detection surface that is abutted against a lid spring, a support portion that swingably supports the spring detection member, and a spring detection member. It is configured to include a drive unit that swings and an optical detection unit that detects the presence or absence of a lid spring. The spring detection member has a detection flat surface portion formed at one end and an optical detection portion facing the other end.

In the spring detecting device constructed as described above, the spring detecting member is swung as the detecting flat surface portion of the spring detecting member abuts against the lid spring. The spring detection device detects the presence / absence of the lid spring attached to the spring attachment portion by the optical detection portion based on the position where the spring detection member is swung.

[0023]

As described above, in the spring assembling process, the lid spring 23 is
As shown in FIG. 11, one end of the lid spring 23 is attached to the spring retaining pieces 58 and 59 of the lid spring attachment portion 57 in a partially pressed state.
For this reason, the lid spring 23 is often attached to the fulcrum portion 44 of the lid spring attachment portion 57 in an abnormal state where the lid spring 23 is inclined. Therefore, there is a problem that the lid spring 23 rides on a part of the upper half when the lid 40 is assembled to the upper half in the next lid assembling step.

Then, in the tape cartridge in which the lid spring 23 is not normally assembled to the spring mounting portion 57, the lid opening / closing operation failure is detected in the lid opening / closing operation inspection step after the next lid assembly step. Then, it was ejected from the assembly line of the tape cartridge as a defective assembly.

Therefore, in order to eliminate the occurrence of defective assembly in the spring assembly process, the work of adjusting the assembly device of the lid spring 23 is frequently performed, which reduces the operating rate of the tape cartridge assembly line. There was a problem of being lost.

The conventional spring detecting device is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, the detection flat surface portion 121 of the spring detection member 120 is attached to the one end portion of the lid spring 23 assembled to the lid spring attachment portion 57 as shown in FIG.
By being moved in the direction of the middle arrow D, there is a problem that the detection flat surface portion 121 only detects the presence or absence of the lid spring 23, regardless of the assembly position of the lid spring 23.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a spring detecting device capable of detecting the presence / absence of a lid spring assembled to a lid and correcting the mounting position of the lid spring having an abnormal mounting position. And

[0028]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a spring detecting device according to the present invention includes a detecting flat surface portion which is abutted against a spring mounting portion and detects the presence or absence of a torsion spring. A spring detection member having a correction inclined surface portion which is formed continuously with the detection flat surface portion and is pressed against one end portion of the torsion spring to correct the mounting position of the torsion spring.

In the spring detecting device according to the present invention configured as described above, the presence or absence of the torsion spring attached to the spring mounting portion is provided by the flat surface portion of the detection portion of the spring detecting member abutting against one end of the torsion spring. To detect. Further, when the spring detection member detects the presence or absence of the torsion spring, one end of the torsion spring attached to the spring attachment portion is pushed by the correction inclined surface portion of the spring detection member. Therefore, the torsion spring whose mounting position is abnormal is pushed in by one end being moved along the correcting inclined surface part, and the mounting position of the torsion spring is corrected.

[0030]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A specific embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10 showing a spring detecting device according to an embodiment applied to a lid spring attached to a lid constituting a DAT tape cartridge. It will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, the embodiment of the spring detecting device 101 is a tape cartridge 1 which will be described later in outline.
Spring detection member 102 that abuts against the lid spring 23 that is assembled to the lid 40, and the support portion 10 that swingably supports the spring detection member 102.
3 and a drive unit 1 for swinging the spring detection member 102
05 and an optical detection unit 106 that detects the presence or absence of the lid spring 23.

The spring detecting member 102 has a base 10
2A and an operating portion 102B integrally formed at one end of the base portion 102A. Base part 102
In A, a swing fulcrum hole 102C is bored at a substantially central portion, and the swing fulcrum hole 102C is swingably supported by a support member 103.

The operating portion 102B is formed in a substantially dog-legged plate shape, and as shown in FIG.
12 and a correction inclined surface portion 111 continuous with the detection flat surface portion 112 are formed. Support part 10
3 is a swing fulcrum hole 102C of the base portion 102A at one end
The support shaft 104 is inserted into the spring detection member 102
Is swingably supported. The drive unit 105 includes a drive member 105A, and the drive member 105A causes the spring detection member 102 to rotate to operate the operation unit 10.
Move 2A.

As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the optical detection section 106 roughly includes a detection piece 107 provided at one end of the spring detection member 102 and an optical detection provided corresponding to the detection piece 107. And a member 108.

The detection piece 107 is integrally formed with a substantially rectangular plate-shaped detection convex portion 107A at one end thereof. The detection convex portion 107A has a detection slit 1 at the tip.
07B is recessed.

The optical detection member 108 is formed in a substantially U-shape and is supported on a support base 109. The support base 109 is screwed and fixed to a support stay 110 to be supported. There is. The detection convex portion 107A of the detection piece 107 is inserted into the gap between the opposite ends of the optical detection member 108.

The optical detecting member 108 is provided with a light emitting portion 108A for emitting the detection light at one end and a light receiving portion 108B for receiving the detection light emitted from the light emitting portion 108A at the other end. It is provided.

The above-mentioned optical detecting section 106 is the driving section 10
As the spring detection member 102 is swung by 5, the detection convex portion 7A of the detection piece 107 is swung with respect to the optical detection member 108. When the lid spring 23 is assembled to the lid spring mounting portion 57, which will be described later, the optical detection portion 106 includes the optical detection member 108.
Of the detection light emitted from the light emitting portion 108A of the light receiving portion 1 passes through the detection slit 107B of the detection convex portion 107A.
The light received by 08B detects that the lid spring 23 is assembled to the lid spring mounting portion 57.

Further, when the lid spring 23 is not attached to the lid spring mounting portion 57, the optical detection portion 106 allows the detection light emitted from the light emitting portion 108A to pass through the detection slit 107B of the detection convex portion 107A. Instead, it is blocked by the detection convex portion 107A. In the optical detection unit 106, since the detection convex portion 107A blocks the detection light, the detection light is not received by the light receiving unit 108B.
The lid spring 23 is attached to the lid spring attachment portion 57.
It detects that is not assembled. Therefore,
The optical detection unit 106 detects the presence / absence of the lid spring 23 assembled to the lid spring attachment unit 57 based on the position where the detection convex portion 107A of the detection piece 107 is swung with respect to the optical detection member 108.

The DAT tape cartridge 1 in which the presence / absence of the lid spring 23 is detected by the spring detection device 101 described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 9. This DAT tape cartridge 1 constitutes a cartridge main body 2 by associating an upper half 3 and a lower half 8 formed in a horizontally long rectangular shallow dish shape with each other by butting them. Also, tape cartridge 1
The cartridge main body 2 is combined with members such as the lid 40, the reel lock member 25, and the slider 29 to form a housing portion that rotatably accommodates the pair of tape reels 15A and 15B.

The upper half 3 is integrally formed with a rising peripheral wall 4 on the outer peripheral portion other than the front portion 5, and has a window 6 on its main surface. A transparent plate is fitted in the window 6 so that the states of the tape reels 15A and 15B housed inside the cartridge body 2 can be identified from the outside. The upper half 3 is located on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the open front part 5 and has a detection mechanism mounting part 7
A and 7B are integrally formed. A tape start end detection mechanism 36A and a tape end detection mechanism 36B are attached to these detection mechanism attachment portions 7A and 7B.

Further, on the upper half 3, a spring attachment portion 56 is provided at a position adjacent to the detection mechanism attachment portions 7A and 7B.
Are formed integrally with each other. A coil-shaped lock spring 37 is attached to the spring mounting portion 56.
A and 37B are attached, and when the lower half 8 is assembled to the upper half 3, the lock spring 37
The tip portions of A and 37B are brought into contact with slider lock pieces 55A and 55B provided on the lower half 8.

The lower half 8 has a rising peripheral wall 10 integrally formed on the outer peripheral portion other than the front portion of the rectangular main surface portion 9 and is separated from the main surface portion 9 in the longitudinal direction by a reel shaft entrance 13A. , 13B are provided. A substantially convex notch 12 is formed in the front portion of the lower half 8.

The notch 12 and the open front portion 5 of the upper half 3 constitute a loading space into which the tape loading means on the recording / reproducing apparatus side enters. In the lower half 8, a guide wall 11 having a substantially V-shape is formed on the main surface portion 9 so as to face the cutout portion 12 and rise up.

The lower half 8 is provided with a shaft-shaped spring retaining portion 54 at a position adjacent to the central portion of the cutout portion 12.
Is protruding. The spring retaining portion 54 has
A torsion spring 53 is attached to the reel lock member 25 so as to provide a movement habit in a direction in which the tape reels 15A and 15B are locked.

Further, the lower half 8 has tape guides 14A and 14B on both sides forming the cutout portion 12, respectively.
Are integrally formed. These tape guides 14A,
14B are cylindrical bodies each having a smooth outer peripheral surface, and are integrally formed on both sides of the front portion of the lower half 8 to stand up. The tape guides 14A, 14
In the state in which the upper half 3 and the lower half 8 are combined, B has axial accuracy maintained by fitting a fitting projection (not shown) standing on the upper half 3 side into the center hole.

Furthermore, in the lower half 8, along with the back surface edge of the bottom surface, the positioning hole into which the positioning means fits when the tape cartridge 1 is loaded into the recording / reproducing apparatus and the type and thickness of the magnetic tape 17. Tape cartridge 1
And a plurality of identification holes for identifying the specifications of each.

The lower half 8 has, on the main surface portion 9, a pair of slider lock pieces 55A which are substantially parallel to each other in a rectangular plate shape.
55B are integrally provided. These slider lock pieces 55A and 55B are provided on the main surface portion 9 of the lower half 8.
The base end is swingably supported.

Although not described in detail, the upper half 3 and the lower half 8 configured as described above are integrally formed with a plurality of shaft holes and bosses facing each other on the main surface portion.
The upper half 3 and the lower half 8 are integrally assembled by abutting the shaft hole and the boss with each other and screwing a set screw to form the cartridge body 2. Inside the cartridge body 2, there is a tape reel 1 inside.
5A and 15B are rotatably accommodated and a loading space is formed in the front part.

The tape reels 15A and 15B have a so-called flangeless structure in which the whole is formed in a tubular shape, and the magnetic tape 17 is directly wound around the peripheral surface of the hub which is the core material. Although not described in detail, the tape reels 15A and 15B are integrally formed with a boss portion projectingly formed in the axial direction on the upper surface portion thereof, and have a gear shape on the outer peripheral surface of the boss portion over the entire circumference. A lock part is provided. Further, the tape reels 15A and 15B have reel shaft holes 16A and 16B in which a plurality of engaging ribs are formed on the inner peripheral portion and the reel drive shafts of the recording / reproducing apparatus side engage with each other.

In the tape reels 15A and 15B, the reel shaft holes 16A and 16B are respectively formed in the reel shaft entrance openings 13.
The cartridge is faced to A and 13B and is rotatably housed in the cartridge body 2. In the tape cartridge 1, the magnetic tape 17 is pulled out from one tape reel 15A along the rising peripheral wall, is engaged with one tape guide 14A, is guided so as to face the loading space in parallel with the front surface portion, and the other tape guide is also guided. A tape running path is formed inside the cartridge main body 2 which is multiplied by 14B and led to the other tape reel 15B along the rising peripheral wall.

The magnetic tape 17 has transparent leader tapes 18 bonded to both ends thereof via sensing tapes 19, respectively. By inserting the leading end portions of the leader tapes 18 into the engaging portions formed on the outer peripheral portion, the tapes are formed. It is fixed to the reels 15A and 15B. Leader tape 18
Is detected by the tape leading end detecting mechanism 36A and the tape end detecting mechanism 36B as described later.

The magnetic tape 17 has a portion facing the loading space, that is, a drawer portion 17A which is pulled out by the tape loading means when the tape cartridge 1 is loaded in the recording / reproducing apparatus and is rotatably supported by the upper half 3. It is protected by a lid 40 and a slider 29 slidably supported by the lower half 8.

As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the lid 40 has a main surface portion 4 having an outer shape sufficient to close the loading space portion formed on the front surface portions of the upper half 3 and the lower half 8.
1 and a pair of side surface portions 42 and 43 which are positioned on both sides of the inner surface 50 of the main surface portion 41 and integrally formed in an arm-like shape are formed in a substantially U-shape. These side parts 4
2, 43, engaging recesses 46, 47 are formed on the outer side surface of the tip.
Are respectively recessed. These engaging recesses 46, 47
In the state in which the lid 40 is rotatably combined with the upper half 3, the tip ends of engagement pieces 27A and 27B of the reel lock member 25, which will be described later, extend in close proximity to each other.

Further, the main surface portion 41 of the lid 40 is formed with notches 48 and 49 at the lower end edge thereof so as to be spaced apart in the longitudinal direction. These notches 48 and 49 are respectively positioned corresponding to lock portions 30A and 30B formed by opening at the front edge of the main surface portion 30 of the slider 29, which will be described later. Then, when the tape cartridge 1 is loaded in the recording / reproducing apparatus, the slider opening means is provided with these cutout portions 48, 49.
And enters the lock portions 30A and 30B of the slider 29.

The side surfaces 42, 43 of the lid 40 have axial fulcrums 44 with their axes aligned with the inner surfaces facing each other.
45 is integrally projected. Therefore, the lid 40
As will be described later, the fulcrum portions 44 and 45 are rotatably supported at the front portion of the cartridge body 2 by being fitted into shaft holes formed in the inner surface of the rising peripheral wall 4 of the upper half 3, respectively. It

As shown in FIG. 8, the lid 40 has a lid spring mounting portion 5 inside the side surface portion 42.
7 are formed. Lid spring mounting part 57
Is a fulcrum portion 44, and a first spring retaining portion 58 and a second spring retaining portion 58 that are integrally formed so as to be adjacent to the fulcrum portion 44.
And a spring retaining portion 59 of.

In the lid spring mounting portion 57, the lid spring 23 is inserted between the first spring retaining portion 58 and the second spring retaining portion 59 with the fulcrum portion 44 inserted in the coil portion of the lid spring 23. One end of the spring 23 is sandwiched and attached.

Further, the second spring retaining portion 59
As shown in FIG. 9, a hooking recess 59A is provided on one side surface.
Is recessed, and one end portion of the lid spring 23 is engaged with this hooking recess 59A.

The lid 40 has one side surface portion 42.
The lid spring 23 attached to the fulcrum portion 44 on the side provides a clockwise elastic force to normally urge the cartridge body 2 in a direction to close the loading space. The main surface portion 41 of the lid 40 has the magnetic tape 1 when the loading space is closed.
This drawer part 1 is located in front of the drawer part 17A of FIG.
7A is protected.

The reel lock member 25 has a standing piece bent downward at both ends of a plate-like base portion 26 having a length slightly smaller than the longitudinal dimension of the upper half 3 and is generally downwardly directed. It is formed in a U shape and is combined with the inner surface of the upper half 3 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction.

The reel lock member 25 is provided with a spring retaining portion 52 at the center of the plate-shaped base portion 26. One end of a torsion spring 53 assembled to the spring retaining portion 54 of the lower half 8 is attached to the spring retaining portion 52.

The reel lock member 25 has a pair of lock pieces 28A, 2A spaced apart in the width direction at the rear side edge.
8B is integrally formed. These lock pieces 28A,
In the state in which the lid 40 closes the loading space, 28B is relatively engaged with the lock portions of the tape reels 15A and 15B by the elastic force of the torsion spring 53, and locks the tape reels 15A and 15B.

Further, on the reel lock member 25, engaging pieces 27A, 27B projecting forward from the side edge of the rising piece.
Are integrally formed. These engagement pieces 27A, 27B
Has an engaging portion formed at the tip thereof, and in the state where the reel lock member 25 is combined with the upper half 3, the engaging concave portion 46 formed in the side surface portions 42 and 43 of the lid 40 as described above, It is extended close to 47.

Therefore, in the reel lock member 25, when the tape cartridge 1 is loaded in the recording / reproducing apparatus and the lid 40 is rotated by the lid driving means, the engaging recesses 46, 47 are provided with the engaging pieces 27A, 27B. Relatively engaged and moved forward along the inner surface of the upper half 3. The reel lock member 25 is
Tape reels 15A, 1 by lock pieces 28A, 28B
Release the locked state of 5B.

The slider 29 is a rectangular plate whose main surface portion 30 has a length in the front-rear direction slightly smaller than that of the main surface portion 9 of the lower half 8. The guide walls 31 are provided on both sides of the main surface portion 30.
A and 31B are integrally formed so as to rise. Although the details of the slider 29 are omitted, the guide walls 31A, 3
By engaging the engaging portions formed on the upper edge portion of 1B with the engaging portions formed on the rising peripheral walls 10 on both sides of the lower half 8, the lower half 8 is movably combined in the front-rear direction.

The slider 29 has a main surface portion 30.
A circular reel shaft entry opening 32 spaced apart in the longitudinal direction
A and 32B are provided, and a shaft-shaped spring retaining portion 33 is integrally provided at the center of the front side so as to project. The spring retaining portion 33 faces the loading space and faces the guide wall 11 on the lower half 8 side when the slider 29 is combined with the lower half 8.

A torsion spring 34, both ends of which are extended from the coil portion, is attached to the spring retaining portion 33. The torsion spring 34 urges the slider 29 toward the front side by bringing the both ends into contact with the guide wall 11.

Furthermore, the slider 29 is provided with a pair of substantially rectangular groove-shaped lock portions 38A and 38B which are formed in parallel with each other and are formed at the front edge of the main surface portion. These lock parts 38A, 38B have two ends,
A first lock hole and a second lock hole are provided respectively.

The slider 29 has lock portions 38A, 3
The engaging protrusions of the slider lock pieces 55A and 55B formed on the main surface portion 9 of the lower half 8 are relatively engaged with the first lock hole of 8B by the elastic force of the torsion spring 34, and are brought to the first position. Retained. In the slider 29, at the first position, the main surface portion 30 closes the reel shaft entrance openings 13A and 13B of the lower half 8 and the loading space portion.

When the tape cartridge 1 is loaded in the recording / reproducing apparatus, the slider 29 is moved to the second position on the back side against the elastic force of the torsion spring 34 by the slider opening means. It The slider 29 has a slider lock piece 55 formed on the main surface portion 9 of the lower half 8 in the second lock holes of the lock portions 38A and 38B by the elastic force of the torsion spring 34.
The engaging protrusions A and 55B are engaged with each other and are held at the second position.

At the second position of the slider 29, the reel shaft admission openings 32A, 32B are positioned corresponding to the reel shaft admission openings 13A, 13B of the lower half 8 and are opened, and the loading space is provided. Is also open. The slider 29 is stably locked in the first position and the second position by the elastic force of the lock springs 36A and 36B inserted between the slider 29 and the upper half 3 in a compressed state.

Tape reel holding sheets 35A and 35B are respectively inserted in the upper half 3 and the lower half 8. These tape reel holding sheets 35A and 35B are formed of a synthetic resin material having lubricity and elasticity,
The tape reels 15A and 15B are smoothly rotated inside the cartridge main body 2, and the magnetic tape 17 is pressed and held in the vertical direction so that the magnetic tape 17 is wound around the tape reels 15A and 15B in an appropriate state.

Although not described in detail, the tape leading end detecting mechanism 36A and the tape end detecting mechanism 36B are composed of prisms mounted on a mounting substrate. These tape start end detection mechanism 36A and tape end detection mechanism 36B
When the tape cartridge 1 is loaded in the recording / reproducing apparatus, the position corresponding to the optical detection section including the light emitting element and the light receiving element located on the front side of the cartridge body 2 is provided.

The tape leading end detecting mechanism 36A and the tape end detecting mechanism 36B guide the detection light emitted from the light emitting element of the optical detecting portion from the inside of the cartridge body 2 to the surface of the magnetic tape 17 by the prism. The tape start edge detection mechanism 36A and the tape end edge detection mechanism 36B are used for the magnetic tape 1.
When 7 is driven to the start end or the end and the transparent leader tape 18 is in the corresponding position, the detection light emitted from the light emitting element passes through the leader tape 18 and is received by the light receiving element side, thereby detecting the tape leading edge. Alternatively, the end of the tape is detected.

When the tape cartridge 1 constructed as described above is loaded into the recording / reproducing apparatus, the slider 29 is slid from the first position to the second position by the slider opening means, and the lid driving means is also provided. Thus, the lid 40 is rotated and the loading space of the cartridge body 2 is opened. In the tape cartridge 1, the locked state of the tape reels 15A and 15B by the reel lock member 25 is released as the lid 40 rotates.

The tape cartridge 1 is inserted into the reel shaft holes 16A and 16B of the tape reels 15A and 15B.
Reel shaft entry opening 1 of the lower half 8 positioned corresponding to each other
3A, 13B and reel shaft entry opening 32 of slider 29
The reel drive shafts on the recording / reproducing apparatus side entering from A and 32B are relatively engaged.

In the tape cartridge 1, the tape loading means on the recording / reproducing apparatus side enters the loading space, and the pull-out portion 17A of the magnetic tape 17 extending into the loading space is pulled out and hooked on each tape guide. The data is loaded onto the recording / playback unit while matching.

In the tape cartridge 1, the tape driving operation such as the reproducing operation or the recording operation of the recording / reproducing apparatus is performed, so that the tape reel 15 is moved through the reel driving shaft.
A and 15B are rotationally driven. The magnetic tape 17 is, for example, unwound from one tape reel 15A and run along a predetermined tape running path to reproduce or record an information signal, and then is wound around the other tape reel 15B.

In the tape cartridge 1, when the reproducing operation or the recording operation is completed, the tape loading means restores the unloading operation of the magnetic tape 17 pulled out. The tape cartridge 1 is ejected from the recording / reproducing apparatus when an eject operation is performed. In the tape cartridge 1, the lid 40 is returned and rotated by the elastic force of the lid spring 23 to close the loading space portion, and the reel lock member 25 locks the tape reels 15A and 15B.

In this tape cartridge 1, the slider 29 is returned from the second position to the first position by the elastic force of the torsion spring 53, and the main surface portion 3
0 for lower half 8 reel shaft entry openings 13A, 1
3B is closed and the loading space is closed.

The operation of detecting the lid spring 23 assembled to the spring mounting portion 57 and the operation of correcting the mounting position of the lid spring 23 in the spring detecting device 101 constructed as described above are shown in FIG.
Also, description will be made with reference to FIGS.

First, in the spring detecting device 101, the driving portion 105 causes the spring detecting member 102 to rotate, so that the operating portion 102B of the spring detecting member 102 is abutted against one end of the lid spring 23. That is, in the spring detection member 102, the correction inclined surface portion 111 of the operation portion 102B is moved and abutted against one end portion of the lid spring 23 of the lid spring attachment portion 57 in the B direction shown in FIG.

In the spring detecting device 101, one end of the lid spring 23 is abutted with the correcting inclined surface portion 111 of the spring detecting member 102, so that one end of the lid spring 23 is gradually moved along the correcting inclined surface portion 111. Is moved in the C direction shown in FIG. By moving the lid spring 23 in the C direction, the lid spring 23 is pushed into the normal mounting position of the lid spring mounting portion 57 and is corrected.

Then, one end of the lid spring 23 moves along the correcting inclined surface portion 111, and
The detection flat surface portion 112 formed continuously with the correction inclined surface portion 111 is brought into contact with the correction flat surface portion 112. Spring detection member 102
When one end of the lid spring 23 comes into contact with the detection flat surface portion 112, the rotation is stopped.

Therefore, the spring detecting device 101
Is a flat surface portion 112 for detection of the spring detection member 102.
The one end portion of the lid spring 23 comes into contact with the optical detecting unit 106 detects that the lid spring 23 is assembled. Alternatively, the spring detection device 101 is further rotated without the one end of the lid spring 23 being in contact with the detection flat surface portion 112 of the spring detection member 102, so that the optical detection portion 106 is not assembled with the lid spring 23. Detect that.

As described above, according to the embodiment spring detecting device 101, the spring detecting member 102 detects the flat surface portion 1 for detecting the presence or absence of the lid spring 23.
By including the correcting inclined surface portion 111 formed continuously with 12, the presence or absence of the lid spring 23 attached to the lid spring attaching portion 57 is detected, and the attaching position of the lid spring 23 having an abnormal attaching position is corrected. It is possible to do.

Further, according to this spring detecting device 101, the repair work in the repair process of the lid spring 23 is reduced and the adjustment work of the assembly device in the spring assembly process is also reduced. Therefore, the spring detection device 101 improves the operating rate of the tape cartridge assembly line.

Although the spring detecting device 101 according to the present embodiment is applied to the lid spring 23 of the DAT tape cartridge 1, the present invention is not limited to the lid spring 23 and may be, for example, another tape. Of course, it may be applied to a torsion spring such as a lid spring assembled in the cartridge.

[0090]

As described above, according to the spring detecting device of the present invention, the flat detecting surface for detecting the presence or absence of the torsion spring attached to the spring mounting portion and the flat detecting surface for continuous detection are formed. By including a spring detection member having a correction inclined surface portion that corrects the mounting position of the torsion spring,
The presence or absence of the torsion spring can be detected and the mounting position of the torsion spring can be corrected.

According to this spring detecting device,
Since the attachment position of the torsion spring can be corrected, the correction work in the correction process for correcting the attachment position of the torsion spring is reduced, and the adjustment work of the assembling device in the spring assembling process is reduced. Therefore, this spring detection device improves the operating rate of the tape cartridge assembly line.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a spring detection device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of essential parts showing a spring detection member that constitutes the spring detection device.

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view showing an optical detection unit that constitutes the spring detection device.

FIG. 4 is a schematic side view showing an optical detection unit that constitutes the spring detection device.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing a tape cartridge to which the spring detection device is applied.

FIG. 6 is a rear view showing a lid that constitutes the same tape cartridge.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a lid that constitutes the tape cartridge.

FIG. 8 is a plan view shown for explaining a lid spring attachment portion of a lid that constitutes the tape cartridge.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA for explaining the lid spring attachment portion of the lid that constitutes the tape cartridge.

FIG. 10 is a plan view shown for explaining an operation in which a spring detection member constituting the spring detection device corrects a mounting position of a lid spring.

FIG. 11 is a plan view showing a state in which a spring detection member constituting a conventional spring detection device detects a lid spring attached to a lid.

FIG. 12 is a side view of essential parts showing a spring detection member that constitutes a conventional spring detection device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Tape Cartridge 23 Lid Spring (Torsion Spring) 40 Lid 57 Lid Spring Mounting Part (Spring Mounting Part) 101 Spring Detection Device 102 Spring Detection Member 106 Optical Detection Part (Optical Detection Means) 107B Detection Slit 111 Flat Detection Part 112 Correction slope

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A cartridge body in which a pair of upper and lower halves are combined to rotatably accommodate a pair of tape reels therein, and a loading space portion into which a tape loading means of a recording / reproducing apparatus enters is formed by opening a front surface portion. A spring detection member for the spring mounting portion of the tape cartridge, which includes a lid rotatably provided in the loading space of the cartridge body and a torsion spring mounted on the spring mounting portion formed on the lid. In a spring detection device that abuts and detects the presence or absence of a torsion spring, a detection flat surface portion that is abutted against the spring mounting portion to detect the presence or absence of a torsion spring, and a torsion flat surface formed continuously with this detection flat surface portion. Press on one end of the spring The spring detection member has a correction inclined surface portion that is applied to correct the mounting position of the torsion spring, and when the spring detection member is abutted against the spring mounting portion, one end of the torsion spring has a correction inclination. A spring detection device characterized in that the flat position for detection detects the presence or absence of a torsion spring while correcting the mounting position of the torsion spring by moving along the surface. 2. A spring detection member, which is swingably provided and has a detection slit formed at a base end portion thereof, and an optical detection means provided corresponding to the detection slit. The spring detection device according to claim 1, wherein the presence or absence of the lid spring is detected by swinging the detection slit with respect to the optical detection means when the spring detection part is abutted against the spring attachment part. apparatus.