JPS6332789A - Small-sized tape cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To surely prevent the exposure or the damage of a tape when a tape is not in use without requiring much space by forming an elastic locking piece engaged with and removed from the notch of a switching slider of a guard panel to the side face of a cassette enclosure integratedly. CONSTITUTION:The recessed notch 6c is provided to a switching slider 6 provided between a guard panel 4 and a U-shaped plate spring 7, the elastic locking piece 11 is engaged with or removed from it to lock or release the panel 4. Then the locking piece 11 consists of an engagement part 11a and a lock releasing projection 11b and is formed to the side face of the cassette enclosure 2 integratedly. At loading, the projection 11b is abutted with the holder inner wall 12 and displaced to release the lock. When the tape is not used, the slider 6 is locked. Thus, the cover is locked when the panel 4 is not in use to prevent surely the exposure or the damage of the tape.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a small tape cassette that is smaller than a standard tape cassette, and in particular, locks a guard panel that opens and closes a front opening of a cassette case in a closed state. Alternatively, the present invention relates to a tape cassette equipped with a locking mechanism for unlocking.

(Prior Art) Along with the popularity of video tape recorder devices, recently, so-called camera-integrated video tape recorders, in which a video camera and a video tape recorder device are integrated, have been manufactured. In such a video tape recorder with an integrated camera, a small tape cassette smaller than a standard tape recorder is used to reduce the size of the device so that it is suitable for portable photography.

On the other hand, in standard tape cassettes and small tape cassettes used in video tape recorders, the magnetic tape built into the cassette housing is pulled out from the front opening of the cassette housing during recording and playback. This front opening is equipped with a guard panel to protect the magnetic tape stretched across the front when the tape cassette is not loaded into the video tape recorder device. .

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a conventional small tape cassette provided with such a guard panel. In this small tape cassette 1, a guard panel 4 covers a front opening 3 for drawing out a tape provided on the front surface of a cassette housing 2, and the guard panel 4 has both sides 4a that are connected to the cassette housing 2.
It is rotatably supported by a shaft 5 on both side surfaces 2a.

Further, on one side 2a of the cassette housing 2, this side 2
A slider 6 in the form of an elongated strip that can slide in the longitudinal direction a (directions x and x' in the figure) is installed obliquely. Also side 2
A U-shaped plate spring 7 is attached to the 0-shaped groove 2b of a.
One end 7a of the U-shaped leaf spring 7 and the other end 7b facing each other are in contact with the inner end 6b of the slider 6 to constantly bias the slider 6 in the direction of the front opening 3 (X direction in the figure). . Further, the outer end 6a of the slider 6 is in contact with the side edge 4b of the side portion 4a of the guard panel 4, and the guard panel 4 is
It is always biased in the lid closing direction (Y direction in the figure).

When the small Arp cassette 1 configured as described above is loaded into a video tape recorder device or an adapter device, the guard panel 4 is opened by an opening/closing mechanism (not shown) within the device. That is, when the guard panel 4 is rotated in the Y' direction in the figure, the side edge 4 of the side part 4a of the guard panel 4
b slides the slider 6 in one direction X in the figure against the urging force of the U-shaped leaf spring 7, and the slider 6 and the U-shaped leaf spring 7
The other end 7b retreats into the space of the single-shaped groove 2b, and the guard panel 4 is opened.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, the conventional small tape cassette 1 is not equipped with a locking mechanism (not shown) for locking the guard panel in the closed state like the standard tape cassette. When the guard panel 4 is opened, the magnetic tape stretched over the front opening 3 of the cassette housing 2 is exposed and easily damaged, especially when the small tape cassette 1 is placed in a pocket or the like. When taking out the lid, the guard panel 4 got caught and the lid was easy to open. Further, it is difficult in terms of space and cost to provide the small tape cassette 1, which is smaller than the standard tape cassette, with a locking mechanism similar to that of the standard tape cassette.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides that both sides of a guard panel for opening and closing the front opening of the cassette case are bearing on both sides of the cassette case, and the guard panel In a small tape cassette, a slider is slidably attached to one side of the cassette casing, and one end of the slider is slidably attached to one side of the cassette housing, and one end of the slider keeps the guard panel in a closed state by always elastically contacting one side of the panel. A cutout is formed in the guard panel, and the guard panel is connected to and disengaged from the recessed cutout.
The present invention provides a small-sized tape cassette in which an elastic locking piece having an unlocking protrusion for locking or releasing the lid is integrally formed on the side surface of the cassette casing.

(Embodiment) An embodiment of the small tape cassette according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a left side view of a small tape cassette showing the lock structure.

Components that are the same as those of the conventional small tape cassette shown in FIG. 3 are designated by the same reference numerals, and their details will be omitted.

In the small tape cassette 10, a guard panel 4 covers a front opening 3 for drawing out the tape provided on the front surface of the cassette housing 2.
a is pivotally supported by a shaft 5 on both side surfaces 2a of the cassette housing 2, and is configured to be freely rotatable. Furthermore, the cassette housing 2
One side surface 2a has a longitudinal direction (X in the figure,
A slider 6 in the form of an elongated strip that can slide in one direction (X direction) is installed obliquely. Further, a U-shaped leaf spring 7 is provided on the side surface 2a.
is installed in the 0-shaped groove 2bl, and the - of the U-shaped root spring 7 is installed.
The other end 7b facing 178 is the inner end 6b of the slider 6.
1, then move the slider 6 in the direction of the front opening 3 (
It is constantly biased in the x direction (in the figure). Further, the outer end 6a of the slider 6 is connected to the side edge 4b of the side portion 4a of the guard panel 4.
The guard panel 4 is always urged in the lid closing direction (Y direction in the figure) about the shaft 5 as shown in the figure.

Next, the lock side portion that locks or releases the guard panel 4 in the closed state will be described. In addition, Fig. 2 (A
) and (B) are cross-sectional views of the locking mechanism section taken along line II-If in FIG.
) is a diagram showing the (lock)@-removal state.

As shown in FIG. 1, an elastic locking piece 11 is integrally molded on the side surface 2a of the cassette housing 2, which is molded from resin or the like, and is located below the slider 6. This elastic locking piece 11 has a substantially inverted dogleg shape, and the engaging portion 11
a, a lock release protrusion 11b, and a base portion 11C.

As shown in FIGS. 2 (Δ) and (B), the elastic locking piece 11 is formed thinner than the thickness of the side surface 2a of the cassette housing 2, and is at the base of the side surface 2a. Said root part 1
It can be elastically displaced inside the cassette housing 2 using 1C as a fulcrum.

The engaging portion 11a is formed in a U-shape at the tip of the elastic locking piece, and the lock release protrusion 11b is formed to protrude from the side surface 2 of the cassette housing 2.

On the other hand, at the lower center of the slider 6, there is a concave notch 6C that engages with the engaging portion 11a of the elastic locking piece 11.
is formed.

The operation of the lock structure constructed as above will be explained. When the small tape cassette 10 is not loaded into a video tape recorder device or an adapter device, as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2(A), the concave notch 6C of the slider 6 and the engaging portion 11a of the elastic locking piece 11 are engaged, and the slider 6 is prevented from sliding.

Therefore, even if an attempt is made to open the closed guard panel 4 by rotating it in the Y' direction in the figure, the outer end 6a of the slider 6 and the side edge of the side 4a of the guard panel 4 are prevented from sliding. 4b, the guard panel 4 is locked in the closed state without being opened.

Further, when the small tape cassette 10 is loaded into a video recorder device or an adapter device, as shown in FIG. 2(B), the inner wall 12 of the cassette holder of these devices
comes into contact with the unlocking protrusion 11b of the elastic lock piece 11 and elastically displaces the elastic lock piece 11 inward of the cassette housing 2, so that the engaging part 11a of the elastic lock piece 11 and the slider 6 is disengaged from the concave notch 6C, and the slider 6 becomes slidable. Therefore, when the closed guard panel 4 is rotated in the Y" direction in the figure, the side edge 4b of the side part 4a of the guard panel 4 resists the biasing force of the U-shaped leaf spring 7, and the slider 6 is rotated in the figure. The guard panel is opened by sliding it in one direction, and the locked state is released.

Moreover, when the loaded small Arp cassette 10 is taken out from the video tape recorder device or the adapter 5A,
The slider 6 is slid in the X direction in the figure by the biasing force of the U-shaped leaf spring 7, and the outer end 6a of the slider 6 comes into contact with the side edge 4b of the side 4a of the guard panel 4, and the guard panel 4 is moved toward the axis 5. The elastic lock piece 11 is rotated in the direction of closing the lid (in the Y direction in the figure) around
The engaging portion 11a and the recessed notch 6C of the slider 6 engage with each other, and the guard panel 4 is locked again in the closed state.

(Effects of the Invention) In the small tape cassette of the present invention, both sides of the guard panel for opening and closing the front opening of the cassette housing are bearing on both sides of the cassette housing, and one end is attached to one side of the guard panel. A small tape cassette in which a slider is slidably attached to one side of the cassette housing, and the slider is slidably attached to one side of the cassette housing, and the slider keeps the guard panel in a closed state by always elastically abutting the guard panel. , and an elastic locking piece having an unlocking protrusion that engages with and disengages from the concave notch to lock or release the guard panel in a closed state is integrally formed on the side surface of the cassette casing. Therefore, when this small tape cassette is not loaded into a video tape recorder or adapter device and is not in use, the guard panel is locked in the closed state, so there is no chance of the guard panel opening accidentally and exposing the magnetic arc. , has the effect of not causing any damage.

In addition, an elastic locking piece that locks or releases the guard panel in the closed state is integrally formed on the side of the cassette case.
It has the advantages of not taking up much space, being easy to assemble, and being cost effective.

Furthermore, since the lock release protrusion is formed on the elastic lock piece, the inner wall (inner surface) of the cassette holder of the video tape recorder device or adapter device into which this small tape cassette is loaded and the lock release protrusion of the elastic lock piece can be easily connected to each other. Since the elastic locking pieces are brought into contact with each other and moved to the unlocked state, there is also the advantage that there is no need to provide a special unlocking mechanism (unlocking pin) in the cassette holder of the video tape recorder device or the adapter device.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a left side view of an embodiment showing the lock mechanism section of a small tape cassette according to the present invention, and FIGS. 2 (A) and (B) are sectional views of the lock mechanism section taken along the line ■-■ in FIG. FIG. 3A is a diagram showing a locked state, FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an unlocked state, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a conventional small-sized Arp cassette. 2...Cassette housing, 4...Guard panel, 6...
・Slider, 6C...concave notch, 10...
Small tape cassette, 11... Elastic lock piece, 11a
...Engagement part, 11b...Lock release protrusion, 11
C...root. Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) Both sides of a guard panel that opens and closes the front opening of the cassette housing are bearinged on both sides of the cassette housing, and one end of the guard panel is always elastically abutted against one side of the guard panel to close the guard panel. In a small tape cassette in which a slider for holding the lid in a closed state is slidably attached to one side of the cassette housing, a concave notch is formed in the slider, and the slider is disengaged from the concave notch. A small tape cassette, characterized in that an elastic locking piece having an unlocking protrusion for locking or releasing the guard panel in a closed state is integrally formed on a side surface of the cassette housing. (2) The small tape cassette according to claim 1, wherein the lock release protrusion is formed on an elastic locking piece so as to protrude from a side surface of the cassette housing.