JPS6334153Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an adapter for small tape cassettes used when the small tape cassette is attached to a magnetic recording and/or reproducing apparatus for standard tape cassettes.

Prior Art The present applicant has previously proposed an adapter for use in attaching a tape cassette smaller than a standard tape cassette to a standard type (for standard tape cassettes) recording and reproducing apparatus. This adapter accommodates a small tape cassette and performs tape loading to form a tape path in the adapter that corresponds to the front tape path of a standard tape cassette. Similarly, it is attached to a recording/reproducing apparatus, and a top cover covering a small tape cassette storage section for storing a small tape cassette is provided so that it can be rotated to open and close. When the top cover is unlocked in the closed position, it is rotated by a torsion coil spring in the opening direction to a vertical position and is completely opened.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention: When the top cover is unlocked, it rotates all at once to the vertical position, so the top cover is held against the stopper with relative force, which tends to damage the top cover. In addition, if the top cover is unlocked in connection with tape unloading operation within the adapter, the lock must be released before the tape unloading operation is completed in order to allow more time for unlocking. It is generally configured. In this case, the top cover is completely opened and the small tape cassette can be removed from the adapter before the tape unloading operation is completed. If the small tape cassette is removed before the tape unloading operation is complete, the tape will be damaged.

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention aims to provide an adapter for small tape cassettes that solves the above problems, and includes a small tape cassette storage section for storing small tape cassettes. It has a rotatable lid that covers the tape, and pulls out the tape from the small tape cassette stored in the storage part to form a tape path corresponding to the front side tape path of the standard tape cassette, thereby creating magnetic recording for the standard tape cassette. as well as/
Or, in an adapter for a small tape cassette used in a playback device, the incompletely opened lid is automatically rotated to a predetermined incompletely opened position and is elastically held at this position. and a fully open lid holding mechanism that holds the lid, which has been forcibly rotated from the incompletely opened position, at the fully opened position.

Embodiment FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the small tape cassette adapter 1 of the present invention with the top plate removed. This adapter 1 consists of an adapter housing 2 and a front lid 3, has substantially the same external dimensions as a standard tape cassette, and has a small tape cassette storage section 4, a motor 10, etc. inside. FIG. 2 shows a small tape cassette 5 stored in the storage section 4. As shown in FIG. This small tape cassette 5 is a tape cassette smaller than a standard tape cassette, and includes a cassette housing 6 that stores a magnetic tape, and a cassette housing 6 provided on the front side of the cassette housing 6, which is normally closed and protects the magnetic tape inside. It consists of a lid 7.

First, the tape loading and unloading operations within the adapter 1 will be described. The adapter 1 is configured such that a built-in motor 10 performs tape loading and unloading operations within the adapter. That is, when the motor 10 rotates normally as shown in FIG. 18 gear 18a, and the gear structure 18 rotates clockwise. Gear structure 1
8, as shown in FIG. 4, in order from the top:
Manual operation part 18b, pole lock cam 18c,
Gear 18a, switch switching cam 18d, arm 1
8e coaxially and integrally,
The manual operation part 18b fits into the opening 2a- ₁ of the top plate 2a of the adapter housing 2 and faces the top surface of the adapter housing 2.

By this rotation of the gear structure 18, particularly the arm 18a, the special chain 19 is wound up, and the loading arm 20 is rotated clockwise about the shaft 21 to the position shown by the two-dot chain line. This arm 20
The rotation of the bell crank lever 22, link 2
3, 24, bell crank lever 25, link 26
is transmitted to another loading arm 27, which rotates counterclockwise about the shaft 28 to the position shown by the two-dot chain line. Here, the link 24 has the shape shown in FIG. 5, and is connected to the link 23 by a coil spring 29, and the links 23 and 24 move substantially integrally in the direction of arrow _X1 . Further, the link 26 moves in _{the two} directions of arrow Y.

The rotation of each loading arm 20, 27 causes the poles 30, 31 to pull out the magnetic tape 32 from the small tape cassette 5 stored in the storage section 4, tape loading is performed within the adapter, and a standard tape cassette is loaded. A tape path 33 corresponding to the front side tape path is formed.

Further, due to the rotation of the gear structure 18, as will be described later, the pawl 30 is locked by the action of the cam 18c, and the switch SW5 is locked by the action of the cam 18d.
will switch.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a friction clutch 34 is provided between the gears 14 and 15.
Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 6, the rotation of the gear 15 meshes with the gears around the flange of the take-up reel of the small tape cassette 30 via the gears 35, 36, 37 and the reel structure gear 38. The signal is about to be transmitted to the reel drive gear 39 which is currently in operation. However, at this time, since the one clutch 40 of the well-known structure between the gears 36 and 37 moves in the escape direction, the rotation is not transmitted to the reel structure gear 38, and the reel drive gear 38 and the reel drive gear 39
does not rotate.

Further, when the motor 10 reverses, the gear structure 18 rotates counterclockwise via the above-mentioned gears, the loading arm 20 rotates counterclockwise and comes into contact with the stopper pin 41, and furthermore, each link The loading arm 27 rotates clockwise and comes into contact with the stopper pin 42. Furthermore, the one-way clutch 40 operates to transmit rotation;
The reel drive gear 39 rotates, and the take-up reel inside the small tape cassette 5 rotates in the tape winding direction. As a result, the tape 32 forming the tape path 33 is wound and stored in the small tape cassette 5, and tape unloading is performed.

Next, the configuration and operation of each part of the adapter 5 will be explained separately.

Top cover mechanism (Fig. 7, Fig. 8, Fig. 9)
(Fig.) The top cover 50 is normally
As shown in the figure, the lid is closed and covers the upper surface of the storage section 4. Moreover, this top cover 50
As shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 9, the lid is opened.

The top cover 50 has arms 5 on the left and right sides of the front edge.
1 and 52 are supported by pins 53 and 54, respectively, and are biased in the lid opening direction by a torsion coil spring 55 provided on the pin 53. Further, a chevron-shaped protrusion 56 is formed in a portion of the top cover 50 that is pivotally supported by the pin 53. Further, a leaf spring 57 is installed in a vertical wall 58 inside the adapter housing 2 in a state where it presses against the above-mentioned mountain-shaped protrusion 56.

The top cover 50 is usually locked by a locking plate 71, which will be described later, at a rear hook portion 59.
The lid is locked in the closed position.

When the lock plate 71 is removed from the hook portion 59, the lock is released and the top cover 50 is rotated clockwise (in the lid opening direction) mainly by the spring force of the torsion coil spring 55 and automatically enters the state shown in FIG. In other words, one inclined surface 56a of the chevron-shaped protrusion 56 is connected to the leaf spring 57.
Open the lid at an angle α until it aligns with the angle α. In order for the top cover 50 to further rotate in the opening direction, the top 56b of the chevron-shaped protrusion 56 must push away the leaf spring 57, and the spring force of the torsion coil spring 55 is also insufficient to push the leaf spring 57 away. Therefore, the top cover 50 is elastically held in the above-mentioned open position. Note that the above-mentioned angle α is determined by the inclination angle of the above-mentioned inclined surface 56a, and is set to an angle at which an opening 60 having a width necessary to accommodate a fingertip is formed, for example, about 15 degrees.

If the top cover 50 is to be opened further than in the above state, it is opened manually. When manually opening the lid, the top cover 50 is slightly opened as described above, so the fingertips are reliably caught on the rear edge of the top cover 50, making the lid opening operation easy. The top cover 50 is opened to a vertical position as shown in FIG. 8, and the arm portion 51 is kept in this state by abutting against a vertical wall 58.

In this state, the inside of the small tape cassette 5 is stored in the storage section 4 or taken out from the storage section 4.
In particular, the small tape cassette 5 is stored with the lid 7 closed, and when the top cover 50 is closed, the lid 7 is locked to the locking portion 61 of the top cover 50 and opened to the horizontal position. Ru.

The closing operation of the top cover 50 is performed by a means, and the top cover 50 is automatically locked in the closed position.

Here, the top cover 50 does not rotate all at once to the upright position when the lock is released, but only rotates a little until it becomes easier to manually open the lid, and then rotates vigorously to the upright position. Inconveniences that may occur if the arms 51,
52 collides with the vertical wall 58 etc., and the arm portion 51,
This eliminates inconveniences such as the base of the 52 being easily damaged and causing unexpected injury to the operator. Furthermore, the so-called incomplete opening operation of the top cover 50 is effective when taking out a small tape cassette from the adapter after the tape unloading operation. That is,
The top cover 50 is unlocked during the tape unloading operation, as will be described later.
Before taking out the small tape cassette 5 from the storage section 4, it is necessary to manually open the top cover 50 as shown in FIG. 9, and the tape unloading operation is completed during this manual operation. Therefore, the small tape cassette 5 is always taken out after the tape unloading operation within the adapter 1 has been completed to the end.
This eliminates the erroneous operation of taking out the small tape cassette 5 from the storage section 4 during the unloading operation. Viewed from another perspective, this means that the timing for unlocking the top cover 50 can be set to a stage before the tape unloading operation is completed, and the strictness of the timing can be relaxed, which is convenient in terms of design.

Operation knobs and related mechanisms (FIGS. 10A, B, 11, 12A, B, 13A, B, 14) The adapter 1 is provided with one operation knob 70. As will be described later, this operation knob 70 is slid in the direction of arrow _X1 when opening the top cover 50 and when starting an unloading operation.

10A and 10B show the state of the operating knob and the mechanism for locking the operating knob when the top cover 50 is closed, FIG. 11 shows the state of the operating knob when the top cover 50 is open, and FIGS. 13A and 13B show the state after the loading operation is started and before the tape unloading operation is completed, and FIGS. 13A and 13B show the state when the unloading operation is performed. For convenience of illustration, the operating knob 70 and the lock plate are shown with dashed lines, and are shown in FIGS. 10A, 12A,
In FIG. 13A, the operation knob 70 is omitted. The operation knob 70 is provided integrally with a lock plate 71 that locks the top cover 50, and is aligned with the arrows X ₁ and X ₂ along the elongated hole of the top plate 2a of the adapter housing 2.
It can slide in any direction. Normally, as shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, the sliding knob 70 is in a position moved together with the lock plate 71 in the direction of arrow _X2 by the action of the coil spring 72, and the locking portion 71a of the lock plate 71 is The hook portion 59 is locked. As a result, the top cover 50 is retained by the lock plate 71 and locked in the closed position.

A lock member 73 is provided in connection with the lock plate 71, and a detection member 74 is provided in connection with the top cover 50. The locking member 73 is guided by the groove and
It is provided movably in the Z ₁ and Z ₂ directions, and the lock portion 73a at the upper end is attached to the lock plate 7 as shown in FIG. 13B.
It acts to lock 1. The detection member 74 is connected to the shaft 7
5 and the top cover 5 is closed.
It has a detection arm 74a facing the lower surface of the hook portion 59 of 0. The detection member 74 and the lock member 73 are connected by a link 76. That is, one end of the link 76 is supported by the shaft 75 and fitted into the recess 74b of the detection member 74, and the other end is supported by the shaft 75.
It is connected to the shaft portion 73b on the side surface of No.3.

For the detection member 74 and the link 76, the fourteenth
A spring 77 of the shape shown is hung as shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B. Torsion coil spring part 77a,
77b is fitted onto the shaft 75, the intermediate U-shaped portion 77c locks the lower side of the detection arm 74a, and the arm portions 77d and 77e at both ends engage the inner wall of the adapter housing 2 and the link 76, respectively. It is hung on the bottom of the. One torsion coil spring portion 77b urges the link 76 in the counterclockwise direction, and the link 76 and the detection member 74 are elastically integrated in the state shown in FIG. 11. On the other hand, the torsion coil spring portion 77a urges the detection member 74 clockwise, that is, in the direction in which the detection arm 74a is displaced in the direction of arrow _Z1 .

Additionally, a pivot lock member 78 is provided in conjunction with the top cover 50. This rotation lock member 78
is pivotally supported on a vertical shaft 79, and has a lock arm 78a at the top and a connecting arm 78b at the bottom.
The connecting arm 78b is connected to the link 24 by fitting into a pin 80 (see FIG. 5) on the link 24, and the rotating lock member 78 rotates in accordance with the displacement of the link 24.

In the initial state of adapter 1, Fig. 10A and B
As shown in FIG. 3, the top cover 50 is locked in the closed position by having the hook portion 59 engaged with the locking portion 71a of the locking plate 71, and the detection member 74 is connected to the detection arm 74.
a is pushed by the hook portion 59 and rotated counterclockwise, the rotation lock member 78 is rotated counterclockwise, and the lock arm 80 is disengaged from the hook portion 59.

When the operation knob 70 is slid in the direction of arrow _X1 (this is the operation to open the top cover 50),
The locking portion 71a of the lock plate 71 is disengaged from the hook portion 59, and the top cover 50 is unlocked and automatically opens as shown in FIG.

When the top cover 50 is opened, the detection member 74 is rotated clockwise by the spring force of the torsion coil spring portion 77a to a position where it is stopped by the stopper 81, as shown in FIG. During this rotation, link 7
6 is integrated with the detection member 74, the link 76 also rotates clockwise, and the locking member 73 is displaced in the direction of arrow _Z2 to reach the unlocked position. As a result, the operation knob 70 is not locked and returns to its original position by the spring 72 when the operation is released.

When the small tape cassette 5 is stored in the storage section 4, the top cover 50 is closed, and the tape loading operation is performed within the adapter 1, the mechanism related to the operation knob 70 is in the state shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B. Become. That is, in the state shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, the rotating lock member 78 is rotated clockwise, and the lock arm 78a locks the hook portion 59.
As a result, the top cover 50 is doubly locked by the lock plate 71 and the lock arm 78a. Furthermore, the detection member 74 and the link 76 are in a slightly bent state compared to the integrated state shown in _FIG . It is biased and comes into contact with the lower surface of the lock plate 74.

In this state, move the operation knob 70 using the arrows as above.
When it is slid in the _X1 direction (this is the unloading start operation), the mechanism related to the operating knob 70 is in the state shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B. That is, the operation knob 70 is connected to the notch end surface 7 of the lock plate 71.
1b is locked by the lock portion 73a of the lock member 73 and locked in the operating position. Although the top cover 50 is unlocked by the lock plate 71, it remains closed without being opened because it is locked by the lock arm 78a. In other words, the top cover 50 is attached to the lock arm 78a.
When the tape unloading operation is substantially completed and the lock by the lock arm 78a is released, as will be described later, the lid can be opened automatically. Further, when the top cover 50 is opened, the detection member 74, link 76 and lock member 73 are in the state shown in FIG.
0 is unlocked and returns to its original position.

Note that the portions where the hook portion 59 and the lock plate 71 face each other are sloped surfaces in the same direction, as shown in FIG. 10B. Due to the action of these inclined surfaces, the top cover 50 can be locked in the closed position by simply closing the top cover 50 without operating the operation knob 70.

Mechanism for locking the pole 30 (Fig. 15, Fig. 16, Fig. 17, Fig. 18, Fig. 19) Fig. 15 shows the state before locking, Fig. 16 and Fig. 1
Figure 7 shows the locked state.

The lock arm assembly 90 is shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIGS. 15 and 18, the structure is such that an upper lock arm 91, a lower lock arm 92, and an operating arm 93 are pivotally supported on a single shaft 95. As particularly shown in FIG. 18, the operating arm 93 is formed by opposing notches 91a-1, 91a-1, 91a-1, 91a-1, 92a-1, 92a-1, 92a-1, 92a-1, 92a-1, 92a-1, 92a-1, 92a-1, 92a-1, 92a- ₁ , e.g.
It is fitted into 92a- ₁ . Here, the width W ₁ of the operating arm 93 and each notch 91a- ₁ , 92a- ₁
The width W ₂ is defined as W ₁ <W ₂ , and the operating arm 93 and each lock arm 91, 92 can rotate independently within a small angle range, and the lock arms 91, 92 can also rotate within a small angle range. Can be rotated independently within range.

Each arm 91, 92, 93 has a spring 9 having the shape shown in FIG. 19 and having a large spring constant.
4 is an arm 93 having an intermediate U-shaped portion 94a;
The upper and lower arm portions 94b and 94c are arms 91 and 9, respectively.
It is attached so that it is latched onto 2. As a result, the arm 91 is attached to the upper torsion coil spring portion 94.
The arm 92 is rotated clockwise by the spring force of the lower torsion coil spring 94e, and the arm 93 is rotated counterclockwise by the spring force of both the torsion coil springs 94d and 94e. It is dynamically energized. However, each arm 91,9
2 and 93 are elastically integrated into a lock arm assembly 90 in the state shown in FIG.

Before a tape loading operation is performed within the adapter 1, the lock arm assembly 90
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 15, the lock arms 91 and 92 are rotated counterclockwise by a coil spring 96, and each lock arm 91, 92 is in a position that does not interfere with the movement of the pole 30, and the tip of the arm 93 is rotated counterclockwise by a coil spring 96. roller 97
is in contact with the cam 18c.

When the tape loading operation within the adapter 1 reaches its final stage, the pole lock mechanism starts operating, the roller 97 is pushed by the cam 18c, and the lock arm assembly 90 integrally rotates clockwise. Lock arms 91 and 92 lock the top and base of pole 30, respectively. At this time, pole 3
0 is located at the final position where the upper and base portions are in contact with stoppers 98 and 99, respectively. When the gear structure 18 is rotated to the final position, the operating arm 93 rotates somewhat independently of the lock arms 91 and 92, and each lock arm assembly 90 is in the state shown in FIG. It is in a state where it is rotated clockwise by the spring force. As a result, the upper and base portions of the pole 30 are strongly pressed by the lock arms 91 and 92, respectively, and the pole 30 is pressed against the stoppers 98 and 99 and locked in the final position.

Here, since the upper and lower lock arms 91 and 92 can each rotate independently within a small angular range, even if the pole 30 is tilted, each lock arm 91 and 92 can rotate independently. The pole 30 is firmly pressed, and the pole 30 is vertically corrected and stably locked. In addition, if the upper and lower lock arms have an integrated rigid structure, and the pole is tilted, only one lock arm will press against the pole and the other lock arm will not come into contact with the pole, causing the pole to become unstable. The lock state tends to become unstable. That is, the lock arm assembly 90 in which the upper and lower lock arms 91 and 92 can be rotated independently has a greater effect of correcting the pole 30 vertically and locking the pole 30 than a lock arm having a rigid structure.

Furthermore, in the lock arm assembly 90 described above, the upper and lower lock arms 91 and 92 are rotatably biased by a single spring 94; The number of parts is reduced compared to when they are provided separately.

Manual operation mechanism and display mechanism (Fig. 20, 2
1) As shown in FIGS. 3 and 20, the manual operation part 18b is a cylindrical body with a relatively large diameter d, and is located within the opening 2a- ₁ of the top plate 2a of the adapter housing 2. It is exposed on the upper surface of the body 2. A cut groove 18b- ₁ into which a coin is inserted is formed on the upper surface of the manual operation portion 18b.

When a coin is inserted into the kerf 18b- ₁ and rotated, the gear structure 18 rotates and the gear structure 1
The special chain 19 is wound or unwound according to the direction of rotation of the adapter 1, and the loading arm 20 is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise.
Tape loading and unloading operations are carried out in the same manner as in the case of motor drive.

Therefore, in the adapter 4, even if the built-in battery is exhausted, tape loading and unloading operations can be performed manually, which is convenient.

Here, the rotation of the gear structure 18 is caused by the gear 18
Motor 10 via a, 17, 16, 15, 14
However, the friction clutch 34 provided between the gears 15 and 14 slips, which cuts off the rotation transmission to the motor 10 side, and the worm wheel 12 and worm 11 This will not cause the worm gear mechanism to operate. Therefore, the rotational load on the gear structure 18 is small, the gear structure 18 can be rotated easily, and manual operations for tape loading and tape unloading operations can be performed smoothly.

Further, the gear structure 18 is connected to the loading arm 20 by a special chain 19, and the tape loading or tape unloading operation is completed by rotation of about 210 degrees. Therefore, there is no need to rotate the manual operation unit many times during tape loading or unloading operation, and the operation becomes easy.

Further, the manual operation section 18b has a cut groove 18b- _1.
A triangular mark 100 is marked on one end of the top plate 2a at a predetermined location facing the opening 2a- ₁ .
The letters "UNLOAD" and a triangular mark 101, and the letters "LOAD" and a triangular mark 102 are marked. Here, the manual operation section 18b rotates clockwise and counterclockwise during tape loading and tape unloading operations by the motor 10, and the manual operation section 18b rotates clockwise and counterclockwise when the motor 10 performs tape loading and tape unloading operations.
The operating state within the adapter 1 is indicated by the position relative to 01 and 102. That is, as shown in FIG. 20, when the mark 100 faces the mark 101, it is displayed that the tape unloading operation is completed, and when the mark 100 faces the mark 102, the tape unloading operation is completed. It is displayed that the dinging operation is completed, and mark 100 is changed to mark 101 and mark 102.
When the tape is at a position between , the progress status of the tape loading operation or tape unloading operation is displayed depending on the position.

Here, since the manual operation part 18b has a relatively large diameter d that is large enough to form the cut groove 18b- ₁ into which a coin is inserted, the mark 100 is placed on the surface and also in the cut groove 18b- _1. It can be easily formed on one end side. Furthermore, since the manual operation section 18b itself has the mark 100, it is possible to check the progress status of the tape loading operation and tape unloading operation during manual operation without error, and the adapter 1 is reliably in the tape loading completion state.
Or the tape unloading is completed,
You will no longer be left in a state of limbo. In addition, since the rotation required for the tape loading operation of the manual operation part 18b is one rotation or less, there is no need to judge whether the manual operation part is in the first rotation or the second rotation, and the adapter is rotated from the position of the mark 100. This makes it possible to accurately read the state within 1.

FIG. 21 shows a modification of the above display mechanism. One end of the kerf 18b- ₁ is a triangular part 18b- ₂ , and this triangular part 18b- ₂ is the mark 1 mentioned above.
Used as 00. According to this configuration, there is no need to separately provide the mark 100. Moreover, if the mark 100 is formed by applying paint, there is a risk that the mark will disappear after using the adapter 1 for many years, but in the above case, the mark will not disappear. .

Motor Drive Circuit (FIG. 22) The adapter 1 incorporates a motor drive circuit 110 shown in FIG. 22 including switches SW1 to SW5. In FIGS. 1 and 22, SW1 is a small tape cassette storage detection switch, and when the small tape cassette 5 is stored in the storage section 4, it is pushed by a lever 111 to close the switch. SW2 is a top cover closed detection switch, which is closed when the top cover 50 is closed. SW3 is a tape unloading start switch, and when the operating knob 70 is slid in the direction of arrow _X1 to the locked position, it is pushed by a locking plate 71 integrated with the knob 70 to close it. SW4 is an auxiliary switch for switch SW3, and is closed when loading arm 20 starts rotating counterclockwise from the tape pull-out position shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. The auxiliary switch SW4 is connected in parallel with the switch SW3, and as described later, is closed after tape unloading starts.
Switch SW immediately before tape unloading is completed.
3 is opened, the motor drive circuit remains closed. Specifically, it is normally closed, and when the loading arm 20 rotates to the tape withdrawal completion position. When the arm 20 rotates counterclockwise, the locking by the arm 20 is released and the opening is closed. SW5 is tape loading
This is a tape unloading completion detection switch, which is switched by the switch switching cam 18d as shown by the solid line in FIG. 22 when tape unloading is completed, and switched as shown by the broken line in the same figure when tape loading is completed. Change. 112
is a battery for driving the motor 19;
It is loaded into the adapter 1 as shown in the figure.

Next, the operations and operations when using the adapter 1 having the above configuration will be comprehensively explained.

(1) First, operate the operation knob 70 in the direction of arrow _X1 .

By this operation, the top cover 50 is opened as shown in FIG.

(2) Manually rotate the top cover 50 to the vertical position shown in FIG. 9, store the small tape cassette 5 in the storage section 4, and close the top cover 50.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 1, both the small tape cassette storage detection lever 111 and the top cover closure detection lever 113 rotate clockwise, and the double lock on the link 24 is released. Further, the switches SW1 and SW2 are closed, the motor 10 is started and rotates normally, and the tape loading operation is performed within the adapter 1 as described above, and the tape path 33 is formed. Pole 30 is locked in the tape retract position by lock arm assembly 90 as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17. In addition, depending on the displacement of the link 26 during the above operation, the adapter erroneous insertion prevention piece 1
14 is buried in the adapter housing 2, and the adapter 1
becomes ready to be attached to a magnetic recording/reproducing device. Note that the operation knob 70 and its related mechanisms are as follows:
The state is shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B. Further, in FIG. 20, mark 100 is opposite to mark 102.

When the adapter 1 is installed in the device, the tape is pulled out from the adapter, and signals are recorded on the tape running along the tape path outside the adapter 1, or signals recorded on the tape are reproduced. When the stop operation is performed, a tape unloading operation is performed within the apparatus, and the tape is returned to the inside of the adapter.The adapter 1 is ejected from the apparatus by a subsequent eject operation.

(3) Point the operation knob 70 of the ejected adapter 1 with the arrow
X Operate in _one direction.

With this operation, the operating knob 70 is
As shown in B, it is locked in the operating position and the switch SW3 is closed. When the switch SW3 is closed, the motor 10 is started and now rotates in reverse, the pole 30 is unlocked and the tape unloading operation is performed. When the tape unloading operation reaches the final stage, the lock arm 78a comes off from the hook portion 59 and the top cover 50
The lock is released and the lid is opened as shown in FIG. When the top cover 50 is opened, the lock on the operating knob 70 is released, and the operating knob 70 is unlocked.
0 returns to its original position. When the top cover 50 is opened and the operating knob 70 returns, the switch is activated.
SW2 and SW3 will be opened. However, at this point, the switch SW4 is closed, so the motor 10 continues to rotate in reverse without stopping, and the tape unloading operation continues. When the tape unloading operation is completed, the switch SW5 is switched by the cam 18d, and the motor 10 is stopped.

(4) After this, open the top cover 50 to the vertical position shown in FIG. 9 and take out the small tape cassette 5 from the storage section 4.

As described above, a series of operations of loading the tape containing the small tape cassette, unloading the tape, and taking out the small tape cassette have been performed.

Effects As mentioned above, the small tape cassette adapter of the present invention has the following various features.

Since the automatic opening operation of the lid continues until the incomplete opening position before the complete opening position, the opening operation of the lid is relatively slow, and the stress acting on the lid when the opening operation is stopped is It is small and accidents such as parts of the lid being damaged do not occur.

If the lid rotates all at once to the vertical position,
Although it is possible that the operator may be injured unexpectedly, this risk is eliminated.

This is suitable for an adapter configured to unlock the lid before the tape unloading operation is completed. In other words, in order to take out a small tape cassette from the storage section, it is necessary to open the partially opened lid completely, and the tape unloading operation is completed during this operation. The tape cassette is always taken out after the tape unloading operation within the adapter has been completed, so no accident that damages the tape will occur.

Since the lid is held in the fully open position, there is no need to hold the lid by hand when storing and taking out the small tape cassette, making it easy to store and take out the small tape cassette.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment of the adapter for a small tape cassette according to the present invention with the top plate removed; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an example of a small tape cassette housed in the adapter of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line - - in FIG. 1 showing the structure of the gear train of the tape loading mechanism drive system, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the gear structure taken out from FIGS. 1 and 3. , FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the links in FIG. 1, FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line - - in FIG. 1, showing the structure of the gear train of the reel drive system, and FIGS.
Figures 9 and 9 respectively show the top cover of the adapter closed, automatically slightly opened and held in that position, and opened to the vertical position and held in that position. Figures 10A and 10B are a plan view and an elevation view schematically showing the state when the top cover is closed and the adapter for the operating knob related mechanism is empty, respectively, and Figure 11 is when the top cover is open. Figures 12A and 12B are elevational views showing the state of the operation knob-related mechanism at the time when the small tape cassette is stored in the adapter, the top cover is closed, and a tape loading operation is performed inside the adapter. Figures 13A and 13B are a plan view and an elevation view showing the state of the operating knob-related mechanism when the unloading start operation is performed, respectively;
The figure is a perspective view showing the shape of the spring assembled to the operating knob-related mechanism, and Figures 15 and 16 are enlarged views of the mechanism that locks the pole of the tape loading arm in its initial state and when it is locked, respectively. 17 is a diagram showing the pressing state of the upper and lower lock arms against the pole during locking, FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view of the combined part of the lock arm assembly, and FIG. 19 is the lock arm assembly. FIG. 20 is a plan view showing the manual operation section of the adapter, FIG. 21 is a view showing a modification of the manual operation section, and FIG. 22 is a diagram showing the motor inside the adapter. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a drive circuit. 1...Adapter for small tape cassette, 2...
Adapter housing, 2a...Top plate, 2a- ₁ ...Opening,
3... Front lid, 4... Small tape cassette storage section, 5... Small tape cassette, 6... Cassette housing, 7... Lid, 10... Motor, 11... Worm, 12... Worm wheel, 13-17,
18a, 35-37...gear, 18...gear structure, 18b...manual operation section, 18b- ₁ ...cut groove,
18b- ₂ ... Triangular portion, 18c... Pole locking cam, 18d... Switch switching cam, 18
e...Arm, 19...Special chain, 20,2
7...Loading arm, 21, 28, 75,
79, 95...Shaft, 22, 25...Bell crank lever, 23, 24, 26, 27...Link, 2
9... Spring, 30, 31... Pole, 32... Magnetic tape, 33... Tape path, 34... Friction clutch, 38... Reel structure gear, 39... Reel drive gear, 40... One-way clutch ,41,4
2...stop pin, 50...top cover, 5
1, 52... Arm, 53, 54... Pin, 55...
...Torsion coil spring, 56...Chevron-shaped protrusion, 56a
... Sloped surface, 56b ... Top, 57 ... Leaf spring,
58...Vertical wall, 59...Hook part, 60...Opening,
61... Locking portion, 70... Operation knob, 71... Lock plate, 71a... Locking portion, 71b... Notch end surface, 72... Coil spring, 73... Lock member,
73a...Lock part, 73b...Shaft part, 74...
Detection member, 74a...Detection arm, 77...Spring, 7
7a, 77b...Torsion coil spring portion, 77c...
Intermediate U-shaped portion, 77d, 77e... Arm portion, 78...
...Rotating lock member, 78a...Lock arm, 7
8b...Connection arm, 79...Shaft, 80...Pin, 81...Stopper, 90...Lock arm assembly, 91...Upper lock arm, 92...Lower lock arm, 91a, 92a...Cylindrical portion, 91
a- ₁ , 92a- ₁ ... Notch, 93 ... Operating arm, 94 ... Spring, 94a ... Intermediate U-shaped part, 9
4b, 94c...Arm part, 94d, 94e...Torsion coil spring part, 95...Shaft, 96...Coil spring, 97...Roller, 98, 99...Stopper,
100, 101, 102...mark, 110...
Motor drive circuit, 111... Small tape cassette storage detection lever, 112... Battery, 113... Top cover closure detection lever, 114... Adapter incorrect insertion prevention piece, SW1... Small tape cassette storage detection switch, SW2... Top cover closed detection switch, SW3... Tape unloading start switch, SW4... Auxiliary switch, SW5
... Tape loading/unloading completion detection switch.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] It has a rotatable lid that covers a small tape cassette storage area for storing small tape cassettes, and the tape is pulled out from the small tape cassette stored in the storage area and corresponds to the front tape path of a standard tape cassette. In an adapter for a small tape cassette used in a magnetic recording and/or reproducing device for standard tape cassettes, the lid is automatically rotated to a predetermined incompletely opened position. and a fully open lid holding mechanism that holds the lid forcibly rotated from the incompletely opened position at the fully opened position. An adapter for small tape cassettes.