JPH10144044A - Tape cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify the assemblage of a front cover locking member internally provided in a tape cassette, to prevent the generation of chips and to prevent a case from engaging into the lower case in addition to prevent the thickness of the case from being thinned. SOLUTION: In the tape cassette, the front cover locking member 7 integrally molding those of a locking part 71 including an engaging pawl for locking the front cover 4 of tape, a holding part 73 fixed and held around the upper surface of one side of the lower case 31 and a connection part 74 for connecting the holding part 71 with the part 72 to be pressurized so as to rock the locking part 71 , is provided so as to freely to engage/disengage by a spring member 8 against the part 9 to be engaged wherein the engaging pawl 71 is formed on the front cover 4, then the spring member 8 is fixed and held by a holding rib 11 provided at the inside of a cam groove part 10 wherein a supporting shaft 51 of the upper cover of the upper case 3 is slid, and also a tip part 81 of the spring member 8 for pressurizing the front cover locking member 7 is formed on a bent part 83 , and a run off 112 is arranged at the position of the supporting rib 11 confronted with the bent part 83 .

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tape cassette used in a magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus, for example, a recording / reproducing apparatus such as a video tape recorder (VTR), in particular, a tape-shaped medium is accommodated in a case via a tape reel. The present invention relates to a video tape cassette equipped with a lock member for regulating release of a front cover that covers a tape when not in use, for example, a tape cassette such as an 8 mm video cassette or a digital video cassette.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a tape cassette having a front cover which can be opened and closed to cover and protect a front portion of a case is provided with a case body and a front cover for opening and closing a front portion for drawing out a magnetic tape in the case body. The front lid has side plates pivotally attached to both side surfaces of the main body by support shafts, and is constantly urged in a closing direction by a spring. A locking projection is projected from one inner surface of the side plate, and a front lid lock member constantly pressed and urged forward by a spring, for example, is installed on the case body side by a shaft. The claw portion of the front lid lock member is engaged with the locking portion of the front lid, and regulates the rotation of the front lid upward of the cassette. In addition, in the conventional method of assembling the front lid lock member, only the front lid lock member is mounted from above, and the function of temporary fixing until the spring member is mounted is not fulfilled, and assemblability is reduced. In addition, in the conventional pressed part shape, when the front lid lock release mechanism on the VTR side comes into contact with the pressed part, a strong external force is applied, or when the cassette is held, a strong force is erroneously applied. When the front lid lock member is moved in the direction where the front lid is released,
There is also a problem that the pressed portion bites into the lower case portion, and white powder is generated due to shaving of the resin, which may cause a problem during recording such as dropout. In addition, the shape of the spring member of the front lid lock as in the prior art is such that the tip end on the opposite side that does not abut against the front lid lock member is straight, and the spring member is hooked when the spring member is attached to the lower case during assembly. Resin shavings and the like were generated, causing problems. Also, a structure in which a spring member is held or pressed by ribs standing from upper and lower cases as disclosed in JP-A-5-217330, or a front lid locking member as disclosed in JP-A-7-141827. The front cover lock member is mounted on the front cover lock mounting portion of the lower case from above, and the pressed portion of the front cover lock member is configured to have a flat shape and the front cover lock member is rotated.

[0003]

However, in the structure of the conventional front lid lock member, the front lid lock member is simply mounted from above, and the spring member has a straight tip portion, so that it is assembled. The former method has a problem that the temporary fixing is sometimes impossible, and the lower case is shaved when the spring member is mounted, thereby causing generation of resin powder. Further, in the latter method, there is also a problem that the pressed portion of the front lid locking member is bitten into the lower case when an external force is applied because the shape of the pressed portion is flat. The present invention provides a notch in the front cover lock member mounting portion of the lower case so as to easily solve these conventional problems so that the front cover lock member can be mounted in either the upper direction or the cassette side front direction. It also has a function of temporarily fixing members at the time of assembly. In addition, by providing a holding rib at a thin portion inside the cam groove where the support shaft of the upper lid portion of the upper case slides, the case can be prevented from being thinned by reinforcing the case, and also has a holding effect of a spring member. Furthermore, the upper part of the pressed portion of the front lid lock member is formed in an arc shape to prevent biting into the lower case, and a useful tape cassette having a highly reliable front lid lock mechanism with excellent assemblability. It is intended to provide.

[0004]

According to the present invention, a pair of tape reels each having a tape wound thereon are rotatably housed in a case composed of upper and lower cases, and the tape is stretched from one tape reel to the front of the case. The tape is wound on the other tape reel, and a cover member consisting of a front cover for covering the tape front surface of the tape stretched on the front surface of the tape, an upper cover for covering the tape upper surface, and a rear cover for covering the tape back surface is freely opened and closed. A locking portion including an engagement claw for locking the front lid, a holding portion fixedly held near one upper surface side of the lower case, and a locking portion and a holding portion such that the locking portion swings. In a tape cassette, a front lid locking member integrally formed with a connecting portion for connecting the engaging claw to the engaged portion formed on the front lid by a spring member is detachably provided. Of the top lid of the case The tip of the spring member is bent and fixed by a holding rib provided inside the cam groove on which the shaft slides, and a relief portion is provided at a position facing the spring member for pressing and biasing the front lid locking member. It is what was constituted.

[0005]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the embodiment of the present invention, a thin-walled portion is provided by providing a holding rib of a spring member in a thin-walled portion inside a cam groove in which a sliding shaft of the upper lid slides. In addition, a relief portion is provided in a portion of the holding member facing the spring member, and a distal end portion of the spring member is formed in a bent shape, so that a distal end side of the spring member serves as a lock member. There is no contact, the spring operation for pressing the lock member functions smoothly, and there is no scraping phenomenon. Further, by providing a notch portion and a positioning portion in the front lid lock mounting portion near the upper surface side of the lower case, the front lid lock member can be mounted from the upper and front portions, and as a temporary fixing effect at the time of assembly. Can also work. Further, by forming the upper part of the pressed portion of the front lid lock member into an arc shape, when the front lid lock release mechanism abuts on the pressed portion, when a strong external force is applied or when holding the cassette. When the front lid lock member is accidentally moved in the direction that the front lid is released by a strong force when it is in use, the problem that the pressed part of the lock member gets stuck in the lower case part is prevented. Can be used safely.

[0006]

EXAMPLES To illustrate embodiments of the present invention in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-5, the rotation inside a case made a pair of tape reels 2 which is wound the tape 1 from the upper case 3 and the lower case 3 ₁ Metropolitan The tape 1 is stored in one of the tape reels 2
From the front of the case, and wound on the other tape reel 2. The front cover 4 covers the tape front of the tape 1 stretched on the case front, the upper cover 5 covers the tape upper surface, and the tape back. provided openably a cover member and a lid 6 which after covering, the pressed portion 7 ₂ with a locking portion ₇₁ including the engaging pawl for locking the front lid 4, one upper surface of the lower case 3 ₁ a holding portion 7 ₃ which is fixedly held in the vicinity of the side, the pressed portion 7
₂ is a lid locking member 7 before integrally molded a connecting portion 7 ₄ connecting the holding portion 7 ₃ and the pressing portion 7 ₂ so as to swing, the locking portion ₇₁ to the front lid 4 by a spring member 8 the tape cassette is provided to disengageably the engaged portion 9 formed, the spring member 8 supporting shaft 5 ₁ of the upper cover 5 of the upper case 3 is provided in the inner cam groove 10 that slides Retaining rib 1
1 by fixed holding, and the front lid lock member 7 to escape portion 11 ₂ provided at a position of the support ribs 11 facing the distal end bent portion 8 ₃ of the spring member 8 which presses and biases further pressed part 7 the corner portion is formed in an arc-shaped portion 7 ₅ over _two, circular arc-shaped portion 7
The distal end portion 8 ₁ of the spring member 8 in contact with the ₅ constitutes a curved shape, the tip edge of the spring member 8 without abutting the locking member 7, the smooth spring action for pressing the locking member 7 is It functions so that it has a structure to prevent scraping. That is, pressed against the pressed portion 7 ₂ of the curved distal portion ₈₁ of the spring member 8 is the locking member 7, securely engage the locking portion ₇₁ is engaged portion 9 constantly urged in the engagement direction As a result, unnecessary opening due to the rotation of the front lid 4 is prevented.

Further, front lid lock mounting portion 12 of the upper surface near the lower case 3 ₁ is an opening upward and forward, by providing the positioning portion 13 therein, the upper and front the front lid lock member 7 and can be mounted from parts, and the provisional stopping effect during assembly, for example to the holding portion 7 ₃ of the positioning portion 13 and the lock member 7 can also function as a stopper effect of the forward and the front lid locking by forming the upper portion of the pressed portion 7 _second member 7 in an arc-shaped portion 7 _6, to keep the distance between the lower end portion and the pressed portion 7 ₂ of the lock member fitting the outer wall 3 ₂ of the lower case 3 ₁ constant can be, when the front lid lock release function unit is in contact with the pressed portion 7 _2, and when the camera is subjected to strong external force, before the front lid lock member 7 with a strong force by mistake when holding a cassette Lid 4 has been moved in the direction to release , Such as when, played a stable locking function without connecting part 7 ₄ are deformed more than necessary,
Pressed portion 7 ₂ of the locking member is also an effect of preventing the occurrence of problems arises bites to lower case.

[0008] In this case, wherein at front lid lock member 7 is incorporated in the lid lock member fitting part 12 before that as an opening in the front portion in the lower case 3 _1, the lid lock member 7 before the front and from above Providing a notch and a positioning portion 13, for example, a chamfered portion or a concave portion, for mounting is useful for improving the assemblability of the front lid locking member 7, and particularly, from above and from the front. Can be assembled from two directions. That is, since the assembling direction has two openings at the upper side and the front side, the front lid locking member 7 can be selected from either of them, and the assembling order of the locking member 7 and the spring member 8 can be selected. It does not matter which one is first, but in the case of the order from the lock member 7 to the spring member 8, it is considered that the spring member 8 is slightly squeezed and inserted when the spring is assembled.

[0009] Incidentally, substantially inverted U-shaped holding ribs 11 to be thinner and become part of the inner cam grooves 10 to the support shaft 5 ₁ of the upper cover 5 to the front side slides of the upper case 3 as shown in FIG. 4 It is preferable that the thickness of the thin portion is increased to reinforce the thin portion and that the cam groove 10 be stolen so as not to cause sink marks.

[0010] The spring member 8 abuts the bent portion 8 ₃ bent outward a bent portion ₈₂ and the tip bent in a U-shape so as to be easily assembled with respect to the support rib 11 and the locking member 7 It has a curved tip _81, the lower case 3 the bent portion _{82
When the} upper case 3 is covered with a spring insertion recess provided on the upper case 3 by fitting the support rib 11 ₁ projecting from the first support rib 11 ₁ and temporarily fixing the support rib 11, the holding rib 11 has a substantially inverted U-shape. 1
Between 1 and 11, i.e. spring retainer by clamping the spring member 8 which is temporarily fixed is fitted to the support rib 11 ₁ is pushed into the bent portion ₈₂ of the spring member 8 to stand from above by the holding ribs 11, 11 can immobilize which also serves as a bent portion 8 ₃ to avoid hit by the relief portion 11 ₂ of the support ribs 11 is convenient assembling.

In the drawing, 14 is a plug, 15 is an MIC detection unit, 16 is an optical cover, 17 is a reel brake, 18 is a brake lock, 19 is a spring for holding down a tape reel, 2
Reference numeral 0 denotes a front lid spring, and 21 denotes a front lid support shaft.

[0012]

According to the present invention, an upper and lower case containing a tape reel on which a tape is wound, a front cover and a back cover which are rotatably supported by the upper and lower cases to cover the tape from the front and rear surfaces and the upper surface when used. A tape cassette with a lid and an upper lid,
A lock portion including an engagement claw for locking the front lid, a holding portion fixedly held near one of the upper surfaces of the lower case,
A front lid lock member integrally formed with a connecting part connecting the lock part and the holding part so that the lock part swings is detachable from and engaged with an engaged part formed on the front lid by a spring member. In the tape cassette provided in the above, the spring member is fixed and held by a holding rib provided inside a cam groove portion in which the support shaft of the upper lid of the upper case slides, and presses and biases the front lid locking member. A relief portion is provided at a position facing the spring member, and the distal end portion of the spring member is formed in a bent shape, so that the distal end side of the spring member does not come into contact with the lock member, and a spring operation for pressing the lock member is performed. Works smoothly and there is no scraping phenomenon. Further, by providing a positioning portion on the front lid lock mounting portion near the upper surface side of the lower case, the front lid lock member can be mounted from above and from the front portion, and also functions as a temporary fixing effect at the time of assembly. Can be. Further, by forming the upper portion of the pressed portion of the front lid lock member into an arc shape, when a strong external force is applied when the front lid unlock mechanism contacts the pressed portion, or when the cassette is held. When the front lid lock member is accidentally moved in the direction that the front lid is released by a strong force when it is in use, the problem that the pressed part of the lock member gets stuck in the lower case part is prevented. It is possible to maintain a stable locking function without greatly deforming the connecting part of the locking member, to facilitate the assembly work, to greatly increase the reliability and commercial value, and to help improve the quality, and this tape cassette is used for recording. There is an effect that the recording / reproducing apparatus can be provided in a simple and inexpensive form because it is used without applying a load to the releasing force on the reproducing apparatus side.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a separated state showing an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is an exploded perspective view of the upper and lower cases of the example of FIG. 1, showing a state in which a lid lock and a lock spring are separated.

3 shows an assembled state of the lid lock of the example of FIG. 1,
(A) is a partial enlarged plan view, and (b) is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line AA.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a part of the upper case of FIG. 3 in a separated state.

FIG. 5 is a central longitudinal sectional view of a part of the example of FIG. 2;

[Explanation of symbols]

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 tape 2 tape reel 3 upper case 3 ₁ lower case 4 front lid 5 upper lid 5 ₁ support shaft 6 rear lid 7 front lid lock member 7 ₁ lock part 7 ₂ pressed part 7 ₃ holding part 7 ₄ connecting part 7 ₅ , 7 ₆ Arc-shaped part 8 Spring member 8 ₁ Tip part 9 Engaged part 10 Cam groove 11 Holding rib 12 Front lid lock member mounting part 13 Positioning part

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A pair of tape reels each having a tape wound thereon are rotatably housed in a case composed of upper and lower cases, and the tape is stretched from one tape reel to the front of the case and wound on the other tape reel. A front cover for covering the tape front surface of the tape stretched on the front surface of the case, an upper cover for covering the tape upper surface, and a rear cover for covering the tape back surface. A locking portion including an engagement claw for holding, a holding portion fixedly held near one upper surface side of the lower case, and a connecting portion connecting the locking portion and the holding portion such that the locking portion swings. In a tape cassette in which an integrally formed front lid lock member is detachably provided on an engaged portion having the engaging claw formed on the front lid by a spring member, the spring member supports the upper cover of the upper case. Cam groove where the shaft slides A relief portion is fixedly held by a holding rib provided on the inner side, and a relief portion is provided at a position opposed to a spring member which presses and biases the front lid lock member, and a distal end portion of the spring member is configured to be bent. And a tape cassette. 2. The tape according to claim 1, wherein the lower case includes a front lid lock member mounting portion, and a positioning portion for mounting the front lid lock member from the upper front to the front lid lock member mounting portion. cassette. 3. An upper and lower case containing a tape reel,
What is claimed is: 1. A tape cassette comprising a front cover, a back cover and an upper cover which are rotatably supported by said upper and lower cases and cover the tape from the front and rear surfaces and the upper surface when not in use, wherein an engagement for locking said front cover is provided. A lock portion including a claw, a holding portion fixed and held near one upper surface of the lower case, and a connecting portion connecting the lock portion and the holding portion so that the lock portion swings are integrally formed. A tape cassette provided with a lid lock member releasable by a spring member and an engaged portion engaged with the engaging claw on the front lid; A tape cassette characterized in that the upper part of the part is formed in an arc shape.