JPS60107775A - Tape cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To secure with a high accuracy positioning in the front and rear directions of a tape cartridge against a deck by forming a notch recessed part at a suitable place of the front end of a body case, and constituting so that a positioning member of a deck side contacts by pressing to this notch recessed part. CONSTITUTION:Positioning recessed parts 15, 15 whose upper and lower directions and the front end are opened are notched and formed in right and left symmetrical positions of the front end of a cartridge body case 1, and when a tape cartridge is loaded to a deck, right and left positioning members 16, 16 fixed to the deck side contact by pressing to inside depth end faces 15a, 15a of both recessed parts 15, 15, respectively, so that positioning of the front and rear directions of the tape cartridge is executed. Also, the positioning members 16, 16 of the deck side execute positioning in the front and rear directions extending over when the tape cartridge is inserted and loaded to a holder of the deck, and when it has descended to a loading position, and also used as a member for detecting optically a tape start end and a tape final end, as well.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field] The present invention relates to a tape cartridge, and is characterized by positioning means in the front and back direction when loading the tape cartridge onto a deck.

[Background technology]

For example, an audio tape cartridge of the upside-down type, such as the Phillips type, has reference holes for positioning formed vertically through it at symmetrical positions on the front end of the main body case, so that when it is loaded into a deck, Round pin-shaped positioning members on the sides are fitted into respective reference holes to position the main body case in the front-back and left-right directions. However, since the reference hole is often guided diagonally relative to the positioning member on the deck side, there is considerable play in the fit between the positioning member and the reference hole, and this is especially true when the tape cartridge is positioned relative to the deck. Positioning in the front and rear directions is poor.

Also, tape cartridges for video and other devices have a front cover to protect the tape on the front of the main body case.

Generally, a part of the bottom wall of the protruding front edge of the main body case is set as a reference contact surface, a part of the front cover corresponding to this reference contact surface is cut out, and the deck side member is referenced through the notch. By bringing it into contact with the contact surface.

The tape cartridge is positioned with respect to the deck in the front-rear direction. The reason why the positioning member on the deck side is not brought into direct contact with a part of the front cover is to prevent damage to the front cover and to allow the front cover to open without any hindrance. With this type of configuration, the tape cartridge can be positioned with high precision in the front-rear direction.

But there is a problem. Firstly, there is a limit to the size of the notch that should be provided in the front cover because if it is enlarged, it will reduce the strength of the front cover itself. The surface also cannot ensure sufficient strength due to its shape. Second, since the positioning member on the deck side is located at the front of the case, a complicated arrangement must be adopted so that the various members of the deck that act on the tape do not contact and interfere with the positioning member. For example, the movement locus of the pinch roller and the movement locus of the tape pull-out pin in the case of a type that pulls out the tape toward the front of the case must be installed so that they do not come into contact with or interfere with the positioning periphery.

[Purpose of the invention]

In view of this fact, the first object of the present invention is to ensure accurate longitudinal positioning of a tape cartridge with respect to a deck. A second object of the present invention is to sufficiently reinforce the positioning reference contact surface to be formed on the front edge of the two-body case. Furthermore, a third object is to enable the positioning member of the deck example to easily avoid abutting interference with other members on the deck side.

[Summary of the invention]

Two aspects of the present invention are essential to achieving the above objects.

Reflecting on the conventional specification in which a part of the protruding front edge of the main body case was used as a reference contact surface for positioning, four notches were formed at appropriate locations on the front end of the main body case, and the positioning member of the example was inserted into the notch recess. It is designed so that the abutting action is performed. The details are as follows.

[First Embodiment] Figures 1 to 6 show the first embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 2 shows a digital recording system for audio in which the upper and lower surfaces (planes A and B) are inverted. A tape cartridge is illustrated. In Figures 1 to 3, the main body case 1 is formed by connecting upper and lower cases 1a and 1b with screws or the like in a lid-like manner, and has drive shaft insertion holes 2 and 2 that pass through the upper and lower sides of the center. The hub 4, around which the tape 3 is wound, is rotatably mounted inside the main body case 1. The tape 3 is fed out from one hub 4 to the front of the case and wound around the other hub 4. The main body case 1 has a front cover 5 for protecting the tape on the front side. This front cover 5 has connecting pieces 7, 7 integrally connected from the left and right ends of the front plate 6 across the front of the case between the left and right sides, and these connecting pieces 7, 7 are connected to a pivot 8.
- It is pivotally attached to the left and right side walls 9, 9 of the main body case 1 via 8 so that it can be opened and closed in either the up or down direction.

When the tape cartridge is not in use, the front surface of the main body case 1 is closed with a front lid 5 to protect the tape 3. From this state, the tape cartridge is loaded by inserting it into the deck holder from the front side, usually in a horizontal position, and when the tape cartridge is correctly positioned and centered in the holder, the holder is lowered to the loading position. During this lowering process, the front cover 5 is swung upward regardless of whether the main body case 1 is on the A side or the B side, and the erasing head 11 of the deck example,
A recording/reproducing magnetic head 12 and a pinch roller 13 act on the tape 3. At the loading position, the tape 3 may be pulled out to the front of the case at the same time as it is inserted into a normal video deck through the front opening of the main case 1.

In a tape cartridge/nozzle with such a basic structure.

In the illustrated example, positioning recesses 15, 15 are cut out at symmetrical positions on the front end of the main body case 1, and the vertical and front sides are open. Peripheral part 4A16・
16 abuts on the inner rear end surfaces 15a, 15a of both the recesses 15, 15, respectively, thereby positioning the tape car 1-ridge in the front-rear direction.

For more details, please refer to the positioning circumference + on the deck side.
The tape cartridge is positioned in the front-rear direction both when the tape cartridge is inserted into the holder of the 16-bar deck and when it is loaded and when it is lowered to the loading position.

It also serves as a section +A for optically detecting the tape starting end and tape ending end.

That is, in FIGS. 4 to 6, 9 main body case 1
Tape guides 17, 17 made of, for example, rollers are arranged at the left and right corners of the front end example inside, and fixed pin-shaped tape guides 18, 18, for example, are arranged on the inside of the case from each of these tape guides 17, 17. The tape 3 is guided by these guides 17 and 18 and runs. Each of the positioning recesses 15 is located on the outer side of the tape guides 17 on the left and right sides of the front end, and reinforcing ribs 20 are formed on three peripheral edges of the recesses excluding the front surface of the opening. In reality, the reinforcing ribs 20 provided on the upper and lower cases la and 1b butt against each other to form a wall that partitions each recess 15 from the inside of the case.

At each left and right corner of the front end example of the main body case 1.

A through hole 21 is formed in a vertically penetrating manner at a position close to the inner side of the running path of the tape 3 stretched between both tape guides 17 and 18. Each of the above-mentioned positioning members 16 has a horizontal receiving surface 16a, and a vertical contacting surface 16 on the receiving surface 16a.
A round shaft portion 16C having a diameter b is erected, and this round shaft portion 16c
A light detection sensor 22 is built in. The deck side is equipped with a tape end detection member 23 in the shape of a round shaft, which is paired with each of the left and right positioning members 16.
3 has a built-in light source (lamp) 24, and the through hole 21
It rushes into the main body case 1 through.

In addition, the front plate 6 of the front cover 5 has positioning recesses 15 and 15.
Notches 25 are provided at the top and bottom of the left and right ends facing the screen, respectively.

Now, when the tape cartridge is inserted and loaded in the holder on the deck side in a horizontal position with the front lid 5 closed, the notches 25 and 25 on the left and right lower sides of the front lid 5 will be opened as shown in FIG. 6(a).
25, the upper and end portions of the contact surfaces 16b and 16b of the positioning members 16 and 16 on the deck side are the left and right recesses 15 and 15.
The tape cartridges are brought into contact with the inner inner end surfaces 15a, 15a, respectively, to determine the depth of insertion of the tape cartridge into the deck, that is, the position in the front-rear direction. Incidentally, if you load the tape cartridge into the deck holder from the rear side with the wrong orientation, 9
The positioning members 16, 16 come into contact with the rear wall surface of the main body case l, preventing the deck from entering the next operation.

Once the tape cartridge is properly positioned in the holder of the deck, the holder is lowered into the load position. During this descent, the front cover 5 is operated to open upward, and the sixth
As shown in Figure (bl), the vertical contact surfaces 16b of each positioning member 16 slide while contacting the inner end surface 15a of each recess 15, and the front and rear positions of the main body case 1 are always regulated by contact, and the lower limit is the positioning limit. The contact is regulated by the horizontal receiving surface 16a of the member 16. That is, the horizontal receiving surface 16a
The lower surface of the is received and the vertical position is regulated.

Further, the fixed tape end detection member 23 is inserted into the through hole 21 from below.
It rushes into the main body case l through.

Both ends of the opaque magnetic tape part of the tape 3 are latched and connected to each hub 4 via a transparent leader tape part, and are closely opposed to each other with the tape 3 sandwiched between them at each left and right corner of the front end of the main body case l. The starting and ending ends of the chi 13 are detected by the positioning member 16 and the tape end detecting member 23.

The detection light emitted from the light source 24 built into the tape end detection member 23 passes through the tape only at the transparent leader tape portion of the tape 3, and passes through the through hole 26 formed in the rib 20 of each recess 15. It is caught by the sensor 22 built into the positioning member 16.

In FIG. 4, the symbol β indicates this sensor optical path.

What should be noted here is that since both members 16 and 23 are close to each other, the tape end can be detected with high precision. Further, the ribs 20 constituting the peripheral wall of the four parts 15 block external light except for the sensor optical path 1, thereby ensuring prevention of malfunction.

Incidentally, regarding optical detection of the tape end, for example, the positioning member 16 may have a built-in light source 24, and the tape end detection member 23 may have a built-in sensor 22. In addition, the tape end detection member 23 and the through hole 21 into which it fits are omitted, and the positioning member 16 includes a light source 24 that projects detection light onto the tape 3 and a sensor 22 that receives reflected light from the tape 3. It would be a good idea to prepare one.

[Second Embodiment] FIGS. 7 and 8 show a second embodiment of the present invention, in which the basic configuration of the tape cartridge is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment, but in this case the tape cartridge is It is assumed that the tape 3 is pulled out to the front of the case as shown by the imaginary line in Fig. 7 from the front of the opening of the main body case 1 which can be opened between the left and right sides when the cartridge is set in the lower low L- position. The left and right positioning recesses 15 are located closer to the center of the case than the tape guides 17 at the front end. In other words, this is the case when the tape bus that falls when 2 is not in use straddles the top of the recess 15. However, in this case as well, reinforcing ribs 20 are provided to protrude low from the periphery of each recess 15, allowing the tape 3 to be pulled out to the front of the case. When the tape cartridge is loaded into the holder of the deck, the positioning member 16 integrated into the holder moves into each recess through the notch 25 of the front cover 6 without contacting or interfering with the tape 3, as in the above embodiment. It comes into contact with the inner inner end surface 15a of 15. This positioning member 16 does not have a tape end detection function.

[Third Embodiment] FIG. 9 shows a third embodiment of the present invention, in which the recess 15 allows the insertion of a positioning member 16 which also serves as an opening operation for the front lid 5. ing. That is, the positioning member 16 in this example is.

When the tape cartridge is inserted into the holder of the deck and loaded, it is located directly below the recess 15, and when the holder, that is, the tape cartridge, is lowered to the loading position, it comes into contact with the inner inner end surface 15a of the recess 15. For positioning in the front and back direction.

The upper end of the positioning member 16 comes into contact with the lower end of the front plate 6 of the front lid 5 to open the front lid 5 upward. The rest of the configuration is substantially the same as the first embodiment. Incidentally, it is assumed that the pivot shaft 8 of the front lid 5 moves in the front-rear direction.
The upper end surface of the positioning member 16 is always in contact with the lower end of the front plate 6 from the closed position to the fully opened position of the front lid 5. Further, an inclined surface 27 is provided at the upper end of the second positioning member 16, and the contact surface 16b can be properly contacted with the inner end surface 15a of the recess 15 through this inclined surface 27 even if the tape cartridge has some play in the front and back direction. You will be advised to apply.

In this example as well, the notch 25 is provided in the front plate 6 of the front cover 5, so that when the tape cartridge is inserted into the boulder of the deck and loaded, the upper end of the positioning member 16 enters the recess 15 through the notch 25. It is also possible to intervene.

[Fourth example] FIG. 10 shows a fourth embodiment of the invention.

Although this example does not include a front lid 5, a tape cartridge having such a configuration is also naturally anticipated by the present invention, and the same members 9 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the positioning member on the deck side is Reference numeral 16 is used exclusively for positioning the tape cartridge in the front-back direction. It is also expected that when the tape cartridge nozzle is inserted into the deck and loaded, the deck will operate as it is, and the tape cartridge will not be lowered as in the above embodiments.

[Other variations]

The shape of the positioning recess 15 in the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned rectangular shape, but is formed into a triangular shape as shown in FIG. You can also use Figure 11 (bl
As shown in FIG. The cartridge may also be positioned in the left-right direction at the same time.

Furthermore, the reinforcing ribs 20 to be provided on the four positioning portions 15 are necessary and sufficient because they protrude only from the inner inner end surface 15a side of the recessed portion 15.

Furthermore, since the illustrated example shows a tape cartridge that is used upside down, the recesses 15 are provided at symmetrical positions; however, the present invention is also applicable to existing video tape cartridges and nozzles that are not used upside down. In that case, the recess 15 is provided at one location on the front end of the main body case 1.
It is sufficient to provide In this case, it is desirable that the recess 15 be provided at a position away from the left and right center of the front end of the case in order to also perform the function of preventing erroneous loading in the front and rear directions. Of course, preventing erroneous loading can be done separately.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As is clear from the above description of each embodiment, in the tape cartridge of the present invention, positioning in the front and rear direction when loaded on a deck is possible. This is achieved by engaging and abutting 16. Therefore, the various members on the deck side that act on the tape 3 are the positioning member 16.
It has the advantage of being able to be placed with plenty of room to avoid contact and interference. Also, unlike the conventional example in which the positioning reference plane 3 is set on a part of the front edge of the main body case 1, in the present invention, the positioning reference plane 3 can be set in a recessed manner. It also means that the strength can be maintained with a margin. Further, in a configuration in which the front cover 5 can be opened in either the upper or lower direction on the front surface of the main body case l as shown in the example shown in FIG.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 6 show a first embodiment of the tape cartridge according to the present invention, FIG. 1 is an external perspective view, and FIG.
The figure is a plan view, and the third figure is a front view. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the main part, and FIG. 5 is a plan view of the main part. FIG. 6 (ta+) is a vertical side view of the main parts in a state where the tape cartridge is inserted and loaded into the holder of the deck. FIG. 6(b) is a sectional view taken along the line A--A in FIG. 5 with the tape cartridge set in the loading position. 7 and 8 show a second embodiment of the tape cartridge according to the present invention, FIG. 7 is a plan view of the main part, and FIG. 8 is a cross section taken along line B-B along Lj in FIG. 7. It is a diagram. FIG. 9 shows a third embodiment of the tape cartridge according to the present invention, FIG. FIG. 9(b) is a longitudinal sectional side view of the main part showing a state in which the front cover is opened using the positioning member. FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a fourth embodiment of the tape cartridge according to the present invention. FIG. 11 (al) and FIG. 11 (bl) are plan views of essential parts showing further different modifications of the present invention. I... Main body case. 5...°... Front lid. 15... Positioning recess. 16... Positioning member of deck example. Fig. 5, Fig. 6 (b), Fig. 7, Fig. 8, Fig. 9 (a), Fig. 9 (b) et al.

Claims (1)

[Claims] +11 A tape cartridge characterized in that a recess 15 for longitudinal positioning is formed in the front end of the main body case 1.