JPH03192589A - Tape cassette and tape cassette loading device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a tape cassette loading device used in a magnetic recording/reproducing device using a magnetic tape cassette.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, a structure in which an engaging protrusion is provided on the bottom plate of a cassette storage stand has been used to allow a tape cassette to be inserted only in the correct direction of a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus. FIGS. 8 and 9 are perspective views showing such a conventional tape cassette and a cassette storage stand. In Figure 8, cassette 1
01 stores the reel 102 inside, and the cassette 1
On the front side of 01, there is a lid 104 that rotates around a shaft 103.
is provided. An engagement groove 105 having a U-shaped cross section is provided in the center of the lid 104 along the direction in which the cassette 101 is inserted. Furthermore, on the back side of the bottom plate of the cassette 101, there is a groove (
(not shown) is provided. Further, on the upper part of the lid 104, a sloped surface 106 is formed on the entire upper edge of the insertion side in order to facilitate the insertion of the cassette 101 into the cassette storage table and to visually indicate the direction of insertion. 107
is a lid portion which is a part of the back cover and is exposed at the front center of the upper surface of the cassette 101.

Now, this cassette is stored on the cassette storage stand 110 shown in FIG.
will be stored in. The cassette storage stand 110 has an engaging protrusion 112 in the center of the bottom plate 111, and the second engaging protrusion 112
is formed along the insertion direction (direction of arrow P) at a position corresponding to the engagement groove 105 of the cassette 101. Therefore, if the cassette 101 is inserted in the normal direction, that is, with the lid 104 facing forward and the front lid in the correct direction, the engaging groove 105 of the cassette and the groove of the cassette bottom plate will engage with the engaging protrusion 112, and the cassette 101 can be inserted into the cassette storage stand 110 up to a predetermined position. However, cassette 101
When the cassette 10 is inserted upside down, the engaging protrusion 112 is inserted into the cassette 10.
1 and prevents its insertion.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, with such conventional cassette loading devices,
When the cassette is accidentally inserted upside down, the sloped surface 106 of the cassette 101 may be damaged because the sloped surface 106 rides on the engagement protrusion 112, especially if the cassette is pushed in forcibly. In order to prevent such damage, it is conceivable to increase the amount of protrusion of the engagement protrusion 112. However, if the amount of protrusion of the engagement protrusion 112 differs greatly, the amount of engagement groove 10 of the cassette 101 will change depending on the amount of protrusion.
The depth of the cassette 101 also had to be increased, and the thickness of the bottom plate of the cassette 101 had to be increased.

The inventions of Claims 1 and 2 of the present application have been made in view of the problems of conventional tape cassettes and tape cassette mounting devices, and the invention is made in view of the problems of conventional tape cassettes and tape cassette mounting devices. A technical problem is to provide a tape cassette that is free from damage. Further, in the inventions of claims 3 and 4 of the present application, it is a technical problem to provide a tape cassette mounting device capable of mounting such a tape cassette.

[Means to solve the problem]

The tape cassette of claim 1 of the present application is formed along the insertion direction on the bottom plate of the cassette in correspondence with a pair of engagement protrusions protruding from the bottom plate of the storage base of the cassette mounting device in which the tape cassette is stored, and engaged when inserted. It is characterized by having an engagement groove that engages with the engagement protrusion, and an engagement protrusion that is provided on the top of the lid and comes into contact with the engagement protrusion when the tape cassette is turned over and inserted.

Further, the tape cassette loading device according to claim 3 of the present application is a housing having an opening into which the tape cassette is inserted, and a pair of engagement protrusions provided on the bottom plate along the insertion direction;
The device is characterized in that it has a cassette locking portion that protrudes from the inner end surface of the bottom plate facing the opening and locks an inserted cassette.

Furthermore, the tape cassette mounting device according to claim 4 of the present application includes a small cassette having a pair of engagement grooves provided along the insertion direction on the bottom side, and an engagement groove provided at the same position as the engagement groove of the small cassette. A cassette loading device for inserting a large cassette having an engagement projection on the bottom plate, which is formed from the back surface of the bottom plate and has a length corresponding to the length of the engagement groove of the large cassette. It is characterized by having a notch at a position corresponding to the length of the engagement groove.

[Effect]

According to the invention of claims 1 to 4 of the present application having such features, when the cassette is inserted in the correct direction, the engaging protrusion provided on the cassette storage base and the engaging groove of the cassette engage with each other. The cassette is stored in the cassette storage stand. If the cassette is inserted in the opposite direction, the engagement protrusion provided on the upper part of the engagement groove and the engagement protrusion of the storage base will come into contact with each other, so that insertion of the cassette will be prohibited.

According to the invention of claim 4 of the present application, when the small cassette is mounted in the correct direction, the engagement groove and the inner side surface of the engagement protrusion on the bottom plate of the tape cassette mounting device come into contact with each other, and the small cassette is attached to the bottom plate of the tape cassette mounting device. It is mounted inside the center. Furthermore, when the large cassette is mounted in the correct orientation, the engagement groove on the bottom plate of the large cassette comes into contact with the engagement protrusion on the bottom plate of the cassette mounting device.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a small cassette according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, a small cassette 1 holds a reel therein, and a lid 3 is rotatably held on the front surface thereof with a shaft 2 as a pivot axis, which is the same as a conventional cassette. The lid 3 is formed slightly thinner than the thickness of the small cassette 1 itself. The small cassette 1 according to this embodiment is provided with engagement grooves 4 and 5 on both sides of the bottom plate of the cassette 1 from both ends of the lid 3 on the front surface of the cassette. Further, a sloped surface 6 is provided at the upper end of the lid 3 as in the conventional example described above, and a lid portion 7 of the back cover is provided at the center of the six sloped surfaces. Engagement protrusions 8 and 9 are formed at both ends of the sloped surface 6, that is, above the engagement grooves 4 and 5, as shown in FIG. and the second
As shown in the figure, there are reel holes 10 on the back side of the small cassette 1.
a and 10b, and a groove 11 is provided in the center of the small cassette 1 from the front side. Here, the width of the small cassette 1 is Wl, the width between the side surfaces of the engaging grooves 4 and 5 is W2°, and the depth is Dl.

FIG. 3(a) is a perspective view showing the cassette storage stand 12 for inserting this small cassette, and FIG. 3(a) is a view showing its bottom plate. The cassette storage stand 12 is a housing having an opening in the cassette storage direction indicated by the arrow P, and a pair of grooves are provided at the left and right ends of the bottom plate 13 at positions facing the engagement grooves 4 and 5 of the cassette 1 shown in FIG. Engagement protrusions 14,15 are respectively formed. Further, a central projection 16 is formed in the center of the bottom plate 13 to engage with the central groove 11 of the small cassette 1 described above.

This central protrusion 16 is slightly lower than the difference between the thickness of the small cassette 1 and the height of the lid 3. Further, as shown in the figure, cassette locking portions 17a and 17b are formed at the innermost portion of the bottom plate 13 to define insertion of the cassette. The bottom plate 13 also has an opening 18a for a reel.

18b is formed. Here, as shown in FIG. 3(c), the width W3 of the bottom plate 130 is slightly wider than the width Wl of the small cassette 1 to provide clearance during insertion. Further, the width W4 between the pair of engagement protrusions 14.15 is slightly wider than the width W2 between the engagement grooves 4.5 to provide clearance during insertion. Furthermore, the length D2 between the front surface of the engaging protrusion 14, 15 and the cassette locking portions 17a, 17b is slightly smaller than DI to provide a clearance.

When storing the small cassette 1 constructed in this way in the small cassette storage stand 12 shown in FIG.
The small cassette 1 can be inserted by engaging and sliding with the engaging protrusions 15 and 14, respectively. In this case, since the height of the lid 3 of the small cassette 1 is formed thinner than the thickness of the small cassette 1 itself, the lid 3 passes without being stopped by the central projection 16, and the central projection 16 1 and slides by engaging with the groove 11 in the center.

The front surface of this small cassette l is a cassette locking portion 17a.

It is inserted until it comes into contact with 17b and stops.

Furthermore, if the small cassette 1 is inserted upside down by mistake, the engagement protrusions 8 and 9 will come into contact with the engagement protrusions 14 and 15, and insertion will be prohibited. In this case, the sloped surface 6 is the engagement protrusion 1
Since it does not come into contact with the engagement protrusion 13.14, the small cassette l will not be damaged. If the small cassette 1 is accidentally inserted with the front and back reversed, the back end of the small cassette 1 will come into contact with the engaging protrusions 14, 15 of the cassette storage base 11, and insertion will be prohibited.

Next, FIG. 4 shows a common cassette storage stand that can store the small cassette used in the first embodiment and the larger large cassette, and FIG. 5 shows the large cassette. FIG. As shown in the perspective view of FIG. 4(a) and the bottom view of the common storage stand 21, FIG. is formed. Engagement protrusion 23.
24 are arranged at symmetrical positions from the center of the bottom plate 22, and the width W5 between the inner surfaces thereof coincides with the width W4 of the cassette storage table 12 exclusively for small cassettes described above.

Also, the width of the outer surface of the engaging projections 23 and 24 is set to W6. The width of the bottom plate 22 is W7. The length D3 from the back surface of the engagement projections 23.degree. 24 to the notches 23a, 24a matches the length D2 of the engagement projections 14.15 of the cassette storage base 12 for small cassettes. Further, the length from the back surface to the tip of the engaging projections 23 and 24 is D4. Similarly to the bottom plate 12, a central protrusion 25 is formed on the bottom plate 22 as shown in the figure. Further, at the innermost part of the bottom plate 22, as shown in the figure, there is a cassette locking part 26a that defines the insertion of a cassette.

26b is formed. Also, the bottom plate 22 has a reel opening 27.
a, 27b are formed.

Now, in FIG. 5, the large cassette 31, like the small cassette 1 described above, has a lid 33 rotatably held on the front surface of the large cassette 31 with a shaft 32 as a pivot, and below the lid 33, the cassette Engagement grooves 34 and 35 having notches are provided at positions corresponding to the engagement protrusions 23 and 24 of the storage stand 21. Further, a sloped surface 36 is provided on the upper end surface of the engagement groove 34.
, 35 have engaging protrusions 37 and 38 on the top of the lid, respectively.
is provided. FIG. 6 is a back view of this large cassette 31. A groove 39 similar to the groove of the small cassette i is also formed on the back surface of the large cassette 31.

Here, the inner width W8 of the engagement grooves 34 and 35 is the width W8 of the small cassette 1.
is the same as the width W2 between the engagement grooves 4.5, and the outer width W9
is slightly wider than the width W6 between the engaging protrusions 23 and 24 shown in FIG. 4(c) to provide clearance during insertion.

Furthermore, the width W10 of the large cassette 31 is slightly narrower than the width W7 of the bottom plate 22 of the common cassette storage stand 21 to provide clearance.

Also, the length D5 of the engaging projections 34 and 35 is the length D5 of the cassette storage stand 21.
It is slightly longer than the length D4 of the engaging protrusion to provide clearance during insertion. In addition, in the above, each axis W (1-10
) and the length D (1 to 5), which are the same size, may have some size relationship if necessary.

Now, when storing the small cassette 1 in this common cassette storage stand 21, the engaging grooves 4 and 5 come into contact with the opposing surfaces of the engaging protrusions 23 and 24 and slide, as shown in FIG. The front surface of the small cassette l is held in a predetermined position by abutting the cassette locking parts 26a and 26b. If the small cassette 1 is inserted upside down by mistake, the engaging protrusions 8 and 9 will be inserted into the engaging protrusion 2.
3. Insertion is prohibited because it comes into contact with the front surface of 24. Further, when inserting the small cassette 1 with its front and back sides reversed, the rear end portion thereof comes into contact with the front surface of the engaging protrusion 23, 24, so that insertion is prohibited.

On the other hand, the large cassette 31 is placed on the cassette storage stand 21 shown in FIG.
When inserted in the normal direction, the engagement grooves 34 and 35 will align with the engagement protrusions 23 and 24 of the cassette storage base 21.
It is fitted into a predetermined position by engaging with and sliding against its outer side surface. Furthermore, if the large cassette 31 is inserted upside down by mistake, the engagement protrusions 37, 38 will come into contact with the front surfaces of the engagement protrusions 23, 24 of the cassette storage base 21, thereby prohibiting insertion. Similarly, even when the large cassette 31 is inserted with its front and rear sides reversed, insertion is prohibited because its rear end comes into contact with the front surface of the engagement protrusion 23, 24.

〔Effect of the invention〕

Therefore, according to the inventions of claims 1 to 3 of the present application, regardless of the size of the cassette, if the cassette is accidentally inserted upside down, the engaging protrusion of the cassette storage stand and the engaging protrusion of the cassette lid will come into contact with each other. Therefore, insertion of the cassette is immediately prohibited, and the cassette does not come into direct contact with the sloped surface provided on the lid of the cassette. Therefore, it is possible to prevent damage to the sloped surface of the cassette. Furthermore, the invention of claim 4 of the present application has the effect that both the large cassette and the small cassette can be installed in the correct orientation, and that it is possible to prevent any tape cassette from being installed upside down by mistake. is obtained.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a small cassette according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a back view of this small cassette, Fig. 3(a) is a partially cutaway perspective view of the cassette storage stand that holds this small cassette, Fig. 3 and others) is a plan view showing its bottom plate, and Fig. 4 (a)
4(b) is a partially cutaway perspective view of a cassette storage stand that stores small cassettes and large cassettes, FIG. 4(b) is a plan view showing the bottom plate thereof, FIG. Fig. 6 is a rear view of the cassette storage stand, Fig. 7 is a plan view showing a state in which a small cassette is attached to this cassette storage stand, Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing an example of a conventional cassette, and Fig. 9 is a view of the cassette storage stand. It is a partially cutaway perspective view shown. 1------Some cassettes 2, 32------
---One axis 3,33・-・-l! 4,5,3
4.35...-Engagement groove 6, 36--------
Slope surface 7・---m---・Rear cover 37, 38---
-----One engaging convex portion 11.2t storage stand 13.
14, 23.2 Protrusion 15, 25 - - - - - Central protrusion cassette 8, 9゜ 1 - - Cassette 4 - 1 - - - Engagement 31 - - - Big

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) Corresponding to a pair of engagement protrusions that protrude from the bottom plate of the storage base of the cassette mounting device in which the tape cassette is stored, is formed along the insertion direction on the bottom plate of the cassette and engages with the engagement protrusions when inserted. An engagement groove is provided at the top of the lid,
A tape cassette characterized by having an engaging protrusion that comes into contact with the engaging protrusion when the tape cassette is inserted upside down. (2) The tape cassette according to claim 1, wherein the engaging convex portions are formed at both ends of the sloped surface of the lid of the tape cassette. (3) A housing having an opening into which a tape cassette is inserted, the bottom plate of which has a pair of engaging protrusions provided along the insertion direction, and a pair of engaging protrusions that protrude from the inner end surface of the bottom plate facing the opening to insert the tape cassette. A tape cassette mounting device comprising: a cassette locking portion that locks a cassette that has been loaded. (4) A cassette into which a small cassette having a pair of engagement grooves provided along the insertion direction on the bottom side and a large cassette having an engagement groove provided at the same position as the engagement groove of the small cassette is inserted. In the mounting device, the engagement protrusion on the bottom plate is formed from the back surface of the bottom plate and has a length corresponding to the length of the engagement groove of the large cassette, and the engagement protrusion on the bottom plate is formed from the back surface and has a length corresponding to the engagement groove of the small cassette. 4. The tape cassette mounting device according to claim 3, further comprising a notch at a position corresponding to the length of the tape cassette mounting device.