JPH06302146A - Tape cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To miniaturize the tape cassette. CONSTITUTION:A tape cassette 1 is constituted so that a pair of tape reels 3a and 3b wound with a magnetic tape 2 are housed in a cassette casing 4, the magnetic tape 2 is stretched on the front surface side of this cassette casing 4 and an openable/closable front lid 6 capable of covering the magnetic tape 2 is supported on the cassette casing 4. A locking mechanism 10 is constituted of a locking member 12 having an engaging recessed part 11 formed on the side surface part 6a of the front lid 6 and an engaging projection part 12a to be engaged with the engaging recessed part 11 so as to prevent the lid opening operation of the front lid 6. A space part 15 is formed between the side surface part 6a of the front lid 6 and the side surface part 4a of the cassette casing 4 so as to insert the lock releasing member R of the device side and a tepered part 12a1 is formed on the engaging projection part 12a so as to displace the locking member 12 by bringing it into contact with the inserted lock releasing member R and to release engagement between the engaging projection part 12a and the engaging recessed part 11.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a tape cassette.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in a VHS standard tape cassette 21 shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, a pair of tape reels 23a and 23b around which a magnetic tape 22 is wound are provided in a cassette housing 24.
The magnetic tape 22 is housed inside, and the magnetic tape 22 is stretched by loading pockets 25a, 25b, 25c formed on the front side of the cassette housing 24, and the stretched magnetic tape 22 is covered by a front lid 26 that can be opened and closed. Hold. This tape cassette 21
A guide pole 27 for guiding the magnetic tape 22 pulled out at the time of tape loading is provided outside the tape tension position inside the cassette housing 24.

Further, the tape cassette 21 is provided with a lock mechanism for preventing the opening operation of the front cover 26 when the cassette is not used. The lock mechanism includes an engagement recess 26a formed inside the side surface of the front lid 26 and an engagement protrusion 28a that can engage with the engagement recess 26a. A lock member 2 which can be displaced so that 28a moves forward and backward.
8 and.

When the engaging convex portion 28a of the lock member 28 enters the engaging concave portion 26a of the front lid 26, the engaging concave portion 26a and the engaging convex portion 28a are in an engaged state, and the locking mechanism Is in a locked state that prevents the front lid 26 from opening.
On the other hand, when the lock release knob on the device side pushes the lock release knob 28b of the lock member 28 in the direction of the arrow, the engagement projection 28a retracts from the engagement recess 26a of the front lid 26,
The engagement between the engagement protrusion 28a and the engagement recess 26a is released, and the lock mechanism is unlocked to allow the front lid 26 to be opened.

In the above-mentioned conventional tape cassette 21,
The locking protrusion 28a and the lock release knob 28 are engaged with the lock member 28.
b is provided, and the lock release knob 28b, which is a part of the lock member 28, is exposed from the side surface side of the cassette housing 24 when the front lid 26 is closed.

[0006]

In a system that is required to be small and lightweight, as represented by a camera-integrated VTR device, the tape cassette, which is the basis of the system, is also required to be downsized.

However, in the technique in which the lock member 28 is provided with both the engaging projection 28a and the lock release knob 28b as in the conventional tape cassette 21, the entire lock member 28 is inevitably large, which is a small size of the tape cassette. It was the cause of hindering the change.

Further, in a small tape cassette that fits in the palm of the hand, when holding the tape cassette, both side surfaces of the cassette housing are often held by fingers. However, like the conventional tape cassette 21, if a technique in which the lock release knob 28b, which is a part of the lock member 28, is exposed from the side surface side of the cassette housing 24 when the front lid 26 is closed is applied, the cassette housing There is a case where the lock release knob 28b is erroneously pushed when the both side surfaces of 24 are grasped with fingers, and the engagement convex portion 28 and the engagement concave portion 26a are disengaged from each other. May open and damage the exposed magnetic tape 22.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, in which a pair of tape reels around which a magnetic tape is wound are housed in a cassette housing, and the magnetic field is provided on the front side of the cassette housing. An engaging recess formed on a side surface portion of the front lid, and an engaging recess formed on a side surface of the front lid, wherein the cassette housing supports an openable / closable front lid capable of covering the stretched magnetic tape. The opening operation of the front lid from a locking member that has an engaging convex portion that can be engaged with and is displaceable so that the engaging convex portion advances and retreats with respect to the engaging concave portion on the cassette housing side. In the tape cassette configured with a lock mechanism for preventing the lock, a space for allowing the device-side unlocking member to enter is formed between the side surface of the front lid and the side surface of the cassette housing. The lock solution that entered the compound convex part A tape cassette, characterized in that a taper is formed which abuts a member to displace the lock member to release the engagement between the engaging convex portion and the engaging concave portion, and such a tape cassette. A tape cassette characterized in that the engagement projection is covered by a side surface of the front lid in a state where the front lid is closed; and in such a tape cassette, the displacement of the locking member is linear. And a biasing means for biasing the lock member is a V-shaped spring member, and a step portion is formed at one end of the spring member. Also provided is a tape cassette characterized in that a cut step portion is formed at a rear end portion of the lock member, and a step portion of the spring member and the cut step portion of the lock member are engaged with each other. It is.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the tape cassette of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view illustrating a back cover of the tape cassette, and FIGS. 3 (a), 3 (b) and 3 (c). Is an explanatory view showing a lid opening process, FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view illustrating a lock mechanism of the tape cassette, FIGS. 5A and 5B are partial sectional views showing a lock member and a spring member, and FIG. FIG. 7 is an enlarged view showing the engagement protrusion of the lock member and the engagement recess of the front lid.
(A), (b), (c) is a state explanatory view of the lock mechanism, FIG. 8 is a state diagram showing a state in which the front lid is closed, FIG. 9 (a),
(B) is a figure explaining other ideas.

In the tape cassette 1 shown in FIG. 1, a pair of tape reels 3a and 3b around which a magnetic tape 2 is wound are housed in a resin-made cassette housing 4 and formed on the front surface side of the cassette housing 4. The magnetic tape 2 is stretched around the pocket 5, and the stretched portion 2a of the magnetic tape 2 is covered with a front lid 6, an upper lid 7 and a back lid 8 which can be freely opened and closed. Since this tape cassette 1 has a bilaterally symmetrical structure with the center line P interposed, the left side will be described as a representative from now on. Therefore, it is assumed that the right side has the same configuration.

The substantially U-shaped front lid 6 is rotatably supported by inserting a rotary shaft 6a1 provided on the side surface portion 6a into a shaft hole 4a1 formed in the side surface portion 4a of the cassette housing 4. The front lid 6 is biased in a closing direction (direction A) by a spring member (not shown). Further, in the substantially U-shaped upper lid 7 rotatably supported on the front plate of the front lid 6 by the axis J,
The guide pin 7a1 provided on the side surface portion 7a is the cassette housing 4
Is guided by a guide groove 4a2 formed in the side surface portion 4a. In the back cover 8 also shown in FIG. 2, the guide pin 8a provided on the lower side of the side portion is guided by the guide groove 4b1 formed on the inner side surface 4b of the cassette housing 4 constituting one side surface of the loading pocket 5. A support portion 8b extending upward from the back lid 8 and a support portion 7b extending downward from the upper lid 7 are rotatably supported by a shaft K.

When the front cover 6, the upper cover 7, and the rear cover 8 are configured in this manner, the front cover 6, the front cover 6, and the back cover 8 in the closed state shown in FIG.
The tension portion 2a of the magnetic tape 2 can be sealed by the upper lid 7 and the back lid 8. Further, as shown in FIG. 3B, when the front lid 6 rotates counterclockwise about the rotation shaft 6a1,
The guide pin 7a1 of the upper lid 7 moves along the guide groove 4a2, the guide pin 8a of the back lid 8 moves along the guide groove 4b1, and the front lid 6, the upper lid 7, and the back lid 8 perform the opening operation together. Begin to. Then, in the open state shown in FIG.
That is, the front lid 6 is moved almost above the loading pocket 5, the upper lid 7 is moved almost behind the moved front lid 6, and the back lid 8 is moved between the upper lid 7 and the upper surface of the cassette housing 4. At this time, the stretched portion 2a of the magnetic tape 2 is exposed, and the tape can be loaded by the loading member on the apparatus side.

Referring back to FIG. 1, the tape cassette 1 is a guide for guiding the magnetic tape 2 at the time of tape loading to the outside of the tape tension position (the tension portion 2a of the magnetic tape 2) at the front in the depth direction inside the cassette housing 4. A pole (guide member) 9 is provided. The tape cassette 1 has a lock mechanism 1 that prevents the front lid 6 from opening when the cassette is not used.
It has 0. The lock mechanism 10 includes an engaging recess 11 formed inside the side surface 6a of the front lid 6 facing the side surface 4a of the cassette housing 4, and an engaging projection 12a that can be engaged with the engaging recess 11. The lock member 12 is provided on the side surface 4a side of the cassette housing 4 and is displaceable so that the engaging protrusion 12a moves back and forth with respect to the engaging recess 11.
From here on, it will be explained together with FIG.

The lock member 12 is located in a storage recess 13 surrounded by a wall formed inside the side surface 4a of the cassette housing 4, and the engaging projection 12a is a hole 4a formed in the side surface 4a.
It projects from 3 to the outside. The lock member 12 is linearly displaceable only in the width direction of the cassette housing 4 in the accommodating recess 13, and is urged outward by a substantially V-shaped spring member 14. Due to this urging, the engagement protrusion 12a of the lock member 12 is allowed to enter the engagement recess 11 of the front lid 6 with the front lid 6 closed.

As shown in FIG. 5 (a), a step portion 14a is formed at one end of the V-shaped spring member 14, and a notch matching the shape of the step portion 14a is formed at the lower rear end of the lock member 12. If the step portion 12b is formed and the step portion 14a of the spring member 14 is locked to the cut step portion 12b of the lock member 12, there is an advantage that the spring member 14 is unlikely to be accidentally pulled upward. Further, as shown in FIG. 5B, a step portion 14b is also formed at the other end of the spring member 14, and a notch step portion is formed in the lower portion of the wall surface of the cassette housing 4 so as to match the shape of the step portion 14b. Even if 4c is formed and the step portion 14b of the spring member 14 is locked to the notch step portion 4c on the cassette housing 4 side, the spring member 14 has an advantage that it is difficult to accidentally pull upward. .

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, in order that the engaging projection 12a of the lock member 12 can easily enter the engaging recess 11 of the front lid 6 with the front lid 6 closed, The illustrated taper T1, T2 may be formed in the engaging concave portion 11 and the engaging convex portion 12a of the lock member 12.

On the other hand, the following measures have been taken to unlock the lock mechanism 10. From here onwards,
Also, description will be made with reference to FIG.

First, between the side surface portion 6a of the front lid 6 and the side surface portion 4a of the cassette housing 4, a lock releasing member R on the apparatus side is provided.
A space portion 15 is formed to allow the entry. Also, when mounting the tape cassette 1 in the device in the direction of arrow B,
A notch 16 is formed in the lower portion of the front plate of the front lid 6 so that the unlocking member R on the device side can enter the space 15. Further, a taper 12a1 is formed on the front side of the engagement protrusion 12a of the lock member 12 so as to come into contact with the device-side lock release member R that has entered the space 15 and displace the lock member 12 inward.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8, when the front lid 6 is closed, the engaging projection 12a of the lock member 12 is completely covered by the side surface portion 6a of the front lid 6.

Next, the operation of the lock mechanism 10 of the tape cassette 1 will be described.

First, as shown in FIG. 7 (a), when the cassette not used in the apparatus is not used, the engaging projection 12a of the lock member 12 biased outward by the spring member 14 is closed. Since it enters the engaging recess 11 on the side of the certain front lid 6,
The front cover 6 cannot be opened due to the engagement between the engagement protrusion 12a and the engagement recess 11, and the lock mechanism 10 is locked.

Next, as shown in FIG. 7 (b), the lock member 12 is locked by the lock release member R on the device side during the process of mounting the device.
When the engaging convex portion 12a of is subjected to a force by the taper 12a1,
The lock member 12 is displaced inward (in the arrow direction) against the biasing force of the spring member 14.

Then, as shown in FIG. 7 (c), when the cassette is completely installed, the engaging projection 12a of the lock member 12 is retracted to the outside of the engaging recess 11 of the front lid 6 to engage The engagement between the protrusion 12a and the engagement recess 11 is released, and the front lid 6 is released.
The lock mechanism 10 is unlocked. At this time, the top lid 7 and the back lid 8 can be opened together with the front lid 6 by using the lid opening mechanism on the device side.

In this tape cassette 1, a front cover 6, a top cover 7, and a back cover 8 are provided when the cassette is not in use by a lock mechanism 10 composed of a lock member 12 on the side of the cassette housing 4 and an engaging recess 11 on the side of the front cover 6. It is of course possible to prevent the lid opening operation of the front lid 6 and the side surface portion 6a of the front lid 6 and the cassette housing 4
A space 15 for allowing the lock releasing member R on the device side to enter is formed between the lock releasing member R and the side surface 4a of the device, and the engaging protrusion 12a of the lock member 12 abuts the lock releasing member R that has entered. Since the taper 12a1 that displaces the member 12 to release the engagement between the engagement protrusion 12a of the lock member 12 and the engagement recess 11 of the front lid 6 is formed, the lock member 12 is unlocked when unlocked. Since there is no need to specially provide a knob or the like, there is an advantage that the entire lock member 12 can be made as small as possible, and as a result, the tape cassette can be downsized.

Further, since the engaging convex portion 12a of the lock member 12 is covered with the side surface portion 6a of the front lid 6 in the closed state of the front lid 6, the lock member 12 is closed in the closed state of the front lid 6. Is not exposed to the side surface side of the cassette housing 4, and when both side surfaces of the cassette housing 4 are grasped with fingers, the lock release knob is accidentally pushed and the front lid 6 is not used. There is an advantage that there is no need to worry that the exposed magnetic tape 2 will be damaged if it is opened.

Further, since the displacement of the lock member 12 is linear, the storage space for the lock member 12 (the storage recess 13).
Has the advantage that the size of the tape cassette can be reduced, which also leads to downsizing of the tape cassette.

In the tape cassette 1 described above, when the lock mechanism 10 is in the locked state shown in FIG. 7A, the opening operation of the front cover 6 is blocked, but the rotation direction of the front cover 6 is changed. When the force on the engaging projection 1 is too large, the front lid 6 exceeds the engaging projection 12a of the lock member 12 and the engaging projection 1
There is a risk that the engagement between the 2a and the engagement recess will be disengaged.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9 (a), the stepped portion 12a2 shown in FIG. 9 is formed on the engaging projection 12a of the lock member 12, and the inclined portion 11 shown in the engaging recess 11 of the front lid 6 is also shown.
I considered forming a. By doing so, even if a large force is applied to the front lid 6 in the rotating direction, as shown in FIG. 9B, the stepped portion 12a of the engaging projection 12a is formed.
Even if the inclined portion 11a of the engaging concave portion 11 is firmly meshed with the first engaging portion 1 and the force applied to the front lid 6 in the rotation direction is large, the front lid 6 may go over the engaging convex portion 12a of the lock member 12. Disappear.

In the description of the present embodiment, the lock mechanism 10 is provided on both the left and right sides of the cassette housing 4, but the lock mechanism 10 may be provided on either side.

[0032]

From the above description, the following effects can be obtained with the tape cassette of the present invention.

First, in the tape cassette according to the first aspect, a space is formed between the side surface portion of the front lid and the side surface portion of the cassette housing so that a space for allowing the unlocking member on the apparatus side to enter is formed. Since the engaging convex portion of the above is configured to have a taper that abuts the entered unlocking member and displaces the locking member to release the engagement between the engaging convex portion and the engaging concave portion, Since it is not necessary to provide a special lock release knob or the like on the lock member, the entire lock member can be made as small as possible, leading to downsizing of the tape cassette.

Further, in the tape cassette according to the second aspect of the present invention, since the engaging convex portion of the lock member is covered with the side surface portion of the front lid when the front lid is closed, the front lid is closed. Even if part of the lock member is not exposed on the side of the cassette housing, when you grasp both sides of the cassette housing with your fingers, you accidentally press the lock release knob, and the front lid is opened when the cassette is not used. There is an advantage that you do not have to worry about damaging the exposed magnetic tape if you open it.

Further, in the tape cassette according to the third aspect, since the displacement of the lock member is linear, there is an advantage that the storage space for the lock member can be reduced and the tape cassette can be downsized.

Further, in the tape cassette according to the fourth aspect, the biasing means for biasing the lock member is a V-shaped spring member, a step portion is formed at one end of the spring member, and a rear end portion of the lock member is formed. By forming the cut step portion and engaging the step portion of the spring member and the cut step portion of the lock member with each other, there is an advantage that the spring member is hard to pull out.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a tape cassette of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view illustrating a back cover of the tape cassette.

3 (a), (b) and (c) are explanatory views showing a lid opening process.

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view illustrating a lock mechanism of the tape cassette.

5A and 5B are partial cross-sectional views showing a lock member and a spring member.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view showing an engaging protrusion of the lock member and an engaging recess of the front lid.

7 (a), (b) and (c) are explanatory views of a state of a lock mechanism.

FIG. 8 is a state diagram showing a state in which the front lid is closed.

9 (a) and 9 (b) are diagrams for explaining other ideas.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a conventional tape cassette.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a conventional tape cassette.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Tape Cassette 2 Magnetic Tape 3a, 3b Tape Reel 4 Cassette Housing 4a Side Part 6 Front Lid 6a Side Part 10 Lock Mechanism 11 Engagement Recess 12 Lock Member 12a Engagement Convex 15 Space R Lock Release Member

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A pair of tape reels around which a magnetic tape is wound are housed in a cassette housing, the magnetic tape is stretched on the front side of the cassette housing, and the stretchable magnetic tape can be covered. A front lid supported on the cassette housing, and has an engaging recess formed on a side surface of the front lid, and an engaging projection capable of engaging with the engaging recess, on the cassette housing side. The engaging projection is provided so as to be displaceable with respect to the engaging recess so as to advance and retreat, and is biased by the biasing means in the direction in which the engaging projection enters the engaging recess. In a tape cassette having a lock mechanism configured to prevent the opening operation of the front lid from a lock member, a device-side unlocking member is inserted between a side surface portion of the front lid and a side surface portion of the cassette housing. To form a space for allowing the engaging protrusion The tape cassette is characterized in that a taper is formed that abuts the lock releasing member that has entered and displaces the lock member to release the engagement between the engaging convex portion and the engaging concave portion. 2. The tape cassette according to claim 1, wherein the engagement protrusion is covered with a side surface of the front lid in a state where the front lid is closed. 3. The tape cassette according to claim 1, wherein the displacement of the lock member is linear. 4. The tape cassette according to claim 1, wherein the biasing means for biasing the lock member is a V-shaped spring member, and a step is formed at one end of the spring member, A tape cassette, wherein a cut step portion is formed at an end, and a step portion of the spring member and a cut step portion of the lock member are engaged with each other.