JPS6215909Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] This invention relates to a magnetic tape cartridge in which the front cover for tape protection is rotatably supported on the front of the main body case so that the front cover can be opened and closed, and when not in use, the front cover is placed in the closed position. This is an improved method of locking.

That is, a video magnetic tape cartridge has a front cover for protecting the tape on the front of its main body case. The front cover is urged to close and is locked in the closed position when not in use, thereby covering and protecting the magnetic tape partially led out from the front of the case.

Conventionally, such a front cover closing locking means is generally
It was built into one of the front left and right corners of the main body case. However, since the tape guide member is necessarily placed in the corresponding area, there is originally no sufficient space. Therefore, in the past, it was necessary to assemble the front lid closing locking means in a narrow space while avoiding the tape guide material, and the assembly work was troublesome and difficult, and it was mechanically unreasonable. In particular, when miniaturizing magnetic tape cartridges, it is no longer possible to assemble them due to space limitations, and this poses a problem that cannot be addressed with the current arrangement and mechanism.

This invention focuses on such circumstances and makes new changes to the arrangement position and specific structure of the front lid closing lock means, thereby attempting to eliminate the conventional problems at once.

The details will be explained below based on the drawings.

In the figure, 1 is a main body case, which consists of upper and lower plastic cases 1a and 1b.
The upper and lower cases 1a and 1b are stacked so that their lids fit together, and then fastened together with tapping screws 2 inserted from the upper case side at a total of five locations, including the four corners and the front center. A pair of tape reels 3, 3 are rotatably housed inside the main body case 1 on the left and right sides, and a magnetic tape 4 is wound around these reels 3, 3. The magnetic tape 4 is attached to tape guide members 5, 6, and 7 provided at the front left and right corners of the main body case 1.
After being guided by the reel 3 and led out to the front of the case, it is wound onto the other reel 3. And when the magnetic tape cartridge is not in use,
The outside of the magnetic tape led out to the front of the case is covered and protected by a tape protection front cover 9 that is rotatably supported on the front of the main body case 1. Front lid 9
The basic structure is such that the magnetic tape 4 is opened upward and the magnetic tape 4 can be pulled out to the front of the case.

The upper case 1a is provided with horizontally elongated transparent windows 10 at the center of the front and rear, through which the amount of tape wound on each of the left and right reels 3 can be viewed at the same time.

Each tape reel 3 has flanges 11 and 12 on the top and bottom.
5, and square engaging teeth 13 are continuously formed on the outer periphery of the lower flange 12, as shown in FIG.
Reel pressing spring 1 fixed to the inner surface of the upper case 1a
4, it is pressed downward to prevent it from lifting up unnecessarily. In other words, the reel pressing spring 14
is formed by die-cutting a stainless steel thin plate or the like into a substantially V-shape or a substantially U-shape, and its central base is fixed to the upper case 1a, and both free ends are arranged above the hub center of each tape reel 3. They are each pressed from

As shown in FIG. 4, a pair of reel brake means 16, 16 that act on both tape reels 3, 3 are incorporated in the rear left and right corners of the main body case. In FIGS. 6 and 7, the reel brake means 16 includes a support shaft 19 vertically installed on the bottom wall 17 of the main case 1, that is, the corresponding part of the lower case 1b, and a through hole 20 in the vicinity thereof. Next, the boss portion 21a at the base end of the brake piece 21 is fitted onto the support shaft 19 from above so as to be horizontally rotatable, and the torsion spring 20 is further fitted onto the support shaft 19. and,
The torsion spring 20 holds the brake piece 21 at its intermediate part 2.
1b straddles the through hole, and the brake piece tip 21c
is pressed into a position in which it engages with the engaging teeth 13 of each tape reel 3, thereby preventing rotation of each tape reel 3 and preventing tape sag when the magnetic tape cartridge is not in use. . On the other hand, when the magnetic tape cartridge is loaded into the video unit, the brake release pin 22, which also serves as a reference pin on the video unit side, enters the through hole 20, and this pin 22 is inserted into the intermediate portion 21b of the brake piece 21. The brake piece 21 is forcibly rotated against the torsion spring 20 to the brake release position shown by the imaginary line in FIG. 6, and the brake is released and each tape reel 3 rotates freely. It was assumed that the state would be

At the rear central portion of the main body case 1, an erroneous erasure prevention piece 24 is provided on the case bottom wall 17. Case bottom wall 1
A picture wall 25 surrounding the outer periphery of the accidental erasure prevention piece 24 is set up high on the inner surface of the case 7, and when the accidental erasure prevention piece 24 is pushed from below to the inside of the case and broken off, the painting wall 2
The erroneous erasure prevention piece 24 broken off at 5 is made to come out of the case without touching the magnetic tape 4 or tape reel 3 inside the case.

In addition, in order to prevent the trouble of loading the magnetic tape cartridge into the video camera with the vertical and front-back directions reversed, there is a spacer on the bottom of the case bottom wall 17 at a position slightly shifted to the right in the figure from the front center. A recess 26 is formed from the front edge toward the rear, and when the magnetic tape cartridge is correctly loaded, an incorrect loading prevention piece on the video camera side fits into the recess 26 and operates correctly.

Lamp insertion holes 27 and 27 are respectively provided in the front left and right corners of the main body case 1 in the bottom wall 17 of the case, so that when a magnetic tape cartridge is loaded into the video unit, the lamps on the video unit side are connected to each other. Insertion hole 27
The light from the lamp passes through the transparent leader tape connected to both ends of the magnetic tape 4, exits the main body case, and reaches the sensors 28 and 28 on the video main unit side.
It is assumed that the starting end and the ending end of the magnetic tape 4 can be respectively detected. A light-shielding peripheral wall 29 is provided on the inner surface of the case bottom wall 17 from the periphery of each lamp insertion hole 27, and this light-shielding peripheral wall 29 protects the transparent window 1.
This prevents strong light entering the main body case through the sensor light path from reaching the sensor optical path, thereby preventing the sensor 28 from malfunctioning.

Now, regarding the front cover 9, this is a vertical front wall 30.
, a horizontal upper wall 31 connected to the upper edge of the front wall 30 across the left and right sides, and side walls 32 , 32 connected to both left and right ends of the front wall 30 .
It is assumed that pivot shafts 33, 33 are provided on the inner surface of 32 in a protruding manner to face each other. Then, bearing holes 34 are bored in front of the left and right side walls of the upper case 1a, and the bearing holes 3
By loosely fitting the pivots 33 and 33 into the upper case 4 and 34, the front cover 9 is rotatably supported on the upper case 1a so as to be freely openable and closable.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 8, a torsion spring 35 is fitted to the pivot 33 on the left side of the figure.
5 is inserted and locked into the front cover side and the other end into the upper case side, and the spring 35 presses the front cover 9 into a closed position where its front wall 30 covers the outside of the front surface of the magnetic tape 4. energized. However, as shown in FIGS. 8B and 8C, the left and right side walls 36 of the upper case 1a are provided with inclined guide surfaces extending from the upper end to the bearing hole 34 in order to guide and fit the pivot 33 into the bearing hole 34 smoothly. 37 is formed.

A locking means 40 maintains the front cover 9 in a closed position when the magnetic tape cartridge is not in use.
is placed at the front central part of the main body case.

Figures 9 to 13 show the closing locking means 4.
0, and the bottom wall of the case 1
7 is provided with an operating hole 41, and the bottom wall 1
Rib-shaped guides 42, 42 are vertically provided on the left and right sides of the operation hole 41 on the inner surface of the shaft 7.
A notch 43 is formed on the front edge of the upper case 1a at a position shifted to the right in the figure from the standing position of the guides 42, 42, and a notch 43 is formed from the top wall 31 of the front lid 9 into the notch 43. A locking piece 44 extending into the main body case is provided in series. This locking piece 44 has an auxiliary rib 4 on its upper surface.
5, and the extension length is set so that the extension end is located inward of the case from the pivot point of the front cover 9.

A locking device 46 is inserted between the left and right guides 42 from above.
The locking device 46 is guided by the guide 42 and slides back and forth in the front-rear direction on the inner surface of the case bottom wall 17. The front end side of the locking device 46 functions as an action portion 47, as will be described later, and the front end surface is formed into an inclined surface 48. A receiving portion 50 extends outward from the locking device 46 via a notch 49 provided in the right guide 42.

At the rear between both guides 42, there is a locking tool 4.
A compression coil spring 51 is attached to the rear end of the lock member 6, and the spring 51 elastically urges the lock member 46 to the forward lock position. When the locking tool 46 is in the locked position, the inclined surface 48 at the front end in plan view
is above the operation hole, and the receiving part 50 partially wraps below the extended end side of the locking piece 44 of the front cover 9 in the closed position, so that the upper surface 50a of the receiving part 50 is engaged. It is arranged to closely face the lower surface 44a of the stopper piece 44 on the extending end side with a slight gap therebetween.

Note that by bringing the receiving portion 50 into contact with the front edge of the notch 49, the locking member 46 is prevented from sliding forward more than necessary.

Furthermore, a pressing member 53 extending vertically from the inner surface of the upper case 1a prevents the locking device 46 from rising up.

Next, the operation of the front cover 9 will be explained. When the magnetic tape cartridge is not in use, the locking tool 46 is elastically biased by the compression coil spring 51 to the locked position shown by the solid line in FIG. The receiving part 50 is located below the extending end side of the locking piece 44 connected from the front cover 9, and the upper surface 50a of the receiving part 50 is close to and opposite to the lower surface 44a of the extending end of the locking piece 44. ing.

Therefore, even if an external force is applied to open the front cover 9 upward, the locking piece 44 contacts and locks the receiving part 50, and unless the locking piece 44 breaks, the front cover 9 will not open and the front cover will not open. The magnetic tape 4 led out to the front of the case is well protected by the front wall 30 of 9.

When the magnetic tape cartridge is pushed into the recording/reproducing apparatus, as shown in FIG. The tip of the locking tool 54 comes into contact with the inclined surface 48 of the operating portion 47 of the locking tool 46, and the locking tool 46 slides against the compression coil spring 51 to the rear unlocked position shown by the imaginary line in FIG. The receiving portion 50 moves below the locking piece 44, that is, out of the rotational trajectory, and the front cover 9 becomes in a state where it can be opened upward. As the magnetic tape cartridge is pushed down from this state, the fixed lever 55 on the recording/playback device side
comes into contact with the lower end of the front wall of the front cover 9, and the front cover 9 rotates upward against the torsion spring 35 to open.

When removing the magnetic tape cartridge from the recording/reproducing apparatus, the operation is completely opposite to the above-mentioned opening operation.
That is, after the front cover 9 is closed by the torsion spring 35, as the lock release member 54 is removed from the operation hole 41, the locking member 46 is moved by the compression coil spring 51.
The lid will slide back to its original lock position and the lid will be locked.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the illustrated example. For example, the closing locking means 40 of the front cover 9 may be arranged at a position on the left side of the front center of the main body case 1 through which the reference hole 58 is provided. In that case, this reference hole 5
8 can be used as the aforementioned operation hole 41.

Further, the operating portion 47 of the lock tool 46 that the lock release member 54 comes into contact with is for slidingly displacing the lock tool itself to the lock release position in response to the pushing up force of the lock release member 54, for example. The above-mentioned inclined surface 48 is omitted, and the lock release member 5 is provided between the edge of the locking tool 46 and the edge of the operation hole 41.
You can just make sure that the tip of number 4 is pushed in.

In addition, the operation hole 41, the locking tool 46, and the locking piece 4
The positional relationship between the locking member 4 and the locking member 46, the shape of the locking member 46, etc. can also be freely changed in design according to the space of the installation position. Further, it goes without saying that the spring member 51 for pressing and biasing the locking member 46 to the locking position may be a leaf spring or a torsion spring instead of the compression coil spring shown in the illustrated example.

According to the present invention as described above, the locking tool 46 is mounted on the main body case 1 so that it can be slid linearly between the locking position and the unlocking position. Unlike the type that swings around an axis or a horizontal axis, the closing locking means 40 does not necessarily need to be placed at one corner of the front left and right inside the main body case 1, and an appropriate dead space in front of the case can be effectively utilized. It has the advantage that it can be assembled easily and effortlessly, and that it can particularly respond well to downsizing of tape cartridges.

Furthermore, in the lid closing locking means 40 of the present invention, the front lid 9
A locking piece 44 is connected from the top of the front cover 9 to the rear side of the case from the pivot point of the front cover 9, and the locking piece 46
The receiving portion 50 of the locking member 44 always slides and biases toward the locking position close to and opposite to the locking piece 44, and the receiving portion 50 of the locking tool 46 acts like a prick bar to lock the locking member. By receiving the piece 44 from below, the front lid 9 is prevented from rotating upwardly. When the tape cartridge is loaded into the recording and reproducing apparatus, the lock release member 54 on the recording and reproducing apparatus side comes into contact with the operating part 47 of the locking tool 46 from outside the main body case, and returning the locking tool 46 to the unlocked position. , now the receiving portion 50 is attached to the locking piece 4.
The front cover 9 is made to be able to rotate upwardly by moving away from the rotation axis mark 4. This invention does not employ a locking structure in which the locking tool 46 and the front lid 9 fit into engagement when the front lid 9 is closed. Reception part 5 of locking tool 46
0 and the locking piece 44 of the front lid 9 are simply opposed to each other in a vertical positional relationship. Therefore, the front lid 9
In the conventional configuration, in which a part of the locking tool 46 fits into a recessed hole or a through hole provided on the front cover side when the lock is closed, the locking tool 46 may not be able to be locked or may not lock due to loose fitting, poor manufacturing accuracy, or loose assembly. However, with the present invention, these conventional problems can be resolved, the structure is simple, there is ample room in the design, and it has excellent strength and durability. Furthermore, even when the tape cartridge is made smaller, the operation of the closing locking means 40 can be ensured.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a magnetic tape cartridge according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view thereof, and FIG. 3 is a bottom view thereof. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the lower case, which is one of the constituent members of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the inner surface of the upper case, which is one of the constituent members of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the brake means of the tape reel, which is one of the constituent members of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional front view of that part. 8th
The figure shows the front lid pivot structure and the closing lid biasing means, which are one of the constituent members of the present invention.
Figure A is a partially enlarged vertical side view, and Figures 8B and 8C are a side view and a vertical front view showing the shape of the side wall of the corresponding part of the upper case. 9 to 13 show the front cover closing locking means, of which FIG. 9 is a perspective view, FIG. 10 is a plan view, and FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 10. , FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along the line B--B in FIG. 10, and FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along the line C--C in FIG. 10. 1...Main case, 1a...Upper case, 1b...
...lower case, 3...tape reel, 4...magnetic tape, 5, 6, 7...tape guide member, 9...
Front lid, 10... Transparent window, 12... Lower flange of tape reel, 13... Engaging tooth, 14... Reel presser, 16... Reel brake means, 17...
Bottom wall of main case, 19... Support shaft, 20... Through hole, 21... Brake piece, 22... Brake release pin, 30... Front wall of front cover, 31... Top wall of front cover, 32 ... Side wall of front lid, 33 ... Pivot, 34 ...
... Bearing hole, 35 ... Torsion spring, 40 ... Front cover closing locking means, 41 ... Operation hole, 42 ... Guide, 43 ... Notch, 44 ... Locking piece, 46 ...
Locking tool, 47... Acting part of locking tool, 48...
Inclined surface, 49... Notch, 50... Locking tool receiving part, 51... Spring member (compression coil spring),
53... Pressing member, 54... Lock release member, 5
5...Fixed lever.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model claims] In a magnetic tape cartridge in which a front cover 9 for tape protection is rotatably supported on the front surface of the main body case 1 so as to be freely openable and closable, a locking tool 46 is linearly attached to the main body case 1 between a locking position and an unlocking position. The locking piece 44 is connected to the upper part of the front cover 9 so as to be located on the rear side of the main case 1 rather than the pivot point of the front cover 9, and the locking member 46 is attached to the receiving part of the locking piece 44. The lock release member 54 on the side of the recording and reproducing device guided from outside the main body case 1 has a spring means that always slides and biases the stop portion 50 toward the lock position where it is close to and opposite to the lower side of the locking piece 44. is brought into contact with the operating portion 47 of the locking tool 46 in the locking position, thereby slidingly displacing the locking tool 46 to the unlocked position so that the receiving portion 50 is removed from the rotation locus of the locking piece 44. A magnetic tape cartridge characterized by: