GB2244846A

GB2244846A - Indication apparatus of recording and reproducing device

Info

Publication number: GB2244846A
Application number: GB9107921A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Shuzo Seo; Harumi Aoki
Original assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Co Ltd
Current assignee: Pentax Corp
Priority date: 1990-04-13
Filing date: 1991-04-15
Publication date: 1991-12-11
Also published as: GB9107921D0; DE4112052A1; FR2661274A1

Abstract

An indication apparatus (7) of a recording and reproducing device (1) is disclosed. The indication apparatus (7) includes a body, an indication portion (10) rotatably attached to the body of the apparatus (7), and a holder (16) for holding the indication portion at a desired angle relative to the body of the apparatus (7). <IMAGE>

Description

INDICATION APPARATUS OF RECORDING AND REPRODUCING DEVICE The present

invention relates to an indication apparatus which is incorporated in a magnetic recording and reproducing device of an electronic still video device and the like.

A known magnetic recording and reproducing device has a rotatable display with a liquid crystal indication plane. When the liquid crystal indication plane is observed, the display is rotated to an erect position relative to the body of the apparatus.

The area of the liquid crystal indication plane, which can be easily observed, has a contrast of more than 10: I and is usually restricted to an angle of no more than 30 degrees in one direction (upper and lower directions) and about 45 degrees in the other direction (right and left direction) in orthogonal planes with respect to a line normal to the indication plane. However, in the conventional magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus, the angle of the indication plarie is constant with respect to the body of the apparatus and can not be adjusted. Consequently, in the case that observer's eyes are out of the angle range mentioned above, the observer must troublesomely move his or her eyes so as to observe the indication plane.

An object of the present invention is to provide a recording and reproducing apparatus which has an indication device in which an indication plane can be held in a position in which the observer can easily see the indication plane regardless of the relative orientation of the magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus.

According to the present invention, there is provided an indication apparatus of a magnetic recording and reproducingdevice,, comprising a body, an indication portion rotatably attached to the body of the apparatus, and a holding means for holding the indication portion at a desired angle relative to the body of the apparatus. In this arrangement, the indication- plane of the indication portion can be held at the desired angle with respect to the body of the apparatus, regardless of the relative orientation of the magnetic recording and reproducing device.

In an embodiment of the invention, a mounting substrate is provided to which the indication portion is directly attached, and the mounting substrate is provided with a pair of rotating and supporting portions for rotatably supporting the indication portion. The indication portion preferably comprises a pair of rotating portions which come into slide contact with the rotating and supporting portions. Preferably, elastic members are provided between the rotating portions of the mounting substrate and the associated rotating and supporting portions of the indication portion so as to provide frictional forces therebetween. Consequently, the indication portion is free to rotate and can be held at a desired angle position relative to the body of the apparatus.

The apparatus may further comprise rotating and supporting pins for rotatably supporting the pair of rotating portions of the mounting substrate on the pair of rotating and supporting portions of the indication portion. Preferably, are provided on the indication substrate and are connectable by a I I'l a nreferred supporting projections portion and the mounting pair of rotating and embodiment, one of the Biasing means may be supporting projection projection. An indication supporting pins.

supporting projections is flexible.

provided to piess the flexible against the other supporting portion attaching and detaching pawl 4 may be provided on the mounting substrate to engage with an disengage from the indication portion in order to restrict and permit the rotation of the indication portion. This makes it possible to easily lock and unlock the indication portion to and from the body of the apparatus.

The apparatus may further comprise a mounting substrate on which the indication portion is directly attachable, and an attaching and detaching means for detachably attaching the mounting substrate to the body of the apparatus. In this construction, the indication portion can be optionally connected to and disconnected from the body of the apparatus.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an indication apparatus of a recording and reproducing device, comprising; a body; an indication portion mounting substrate having an indiction portion, detachably attached to the body; a pair of rotating and supporting portions provided on the indication portion mounting substrate to rotatably support the indication portion; a pair of rotating portions provided on the indication portion to come into slide contact with the associated rotating and supporting portions; and, elastic members provided between the rotating and supporting portions and the rotating portions to produce a frictional resistance therebetween.

The recording and reproducing device may be a magnetic recording and reproducing device.

The apparatus may further comprise at least one pin for rotatably supporting said pair of rotating portions on said pair of rotating and supporting portions.

In this case, said elastic members may be made of annular elastic members coaxial to the associated rotating and supporting pins between the rotating portions and the associated rotating and supporting portions.

Each of said rotating portions may be provided on its outer periphery with an arched portion, and said elastic members may be provided between the arched portions and the portion of the mounting substrate adjacent thereto.

In this case, said arched portions may be provided with open recesses which release the frictional forces of the elastic members when the indication portion is closed relative to the mounting substrate.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided an indication apparatus of a recording and reproducing device, comprising; a body; an indication portion mounting substrate having an indication portion, detachably attached to the body; 6 supporting projections provided on the indication portion mounting substrate and the indication portion, wherein at least one of the supporting projections is flexible; at least one pin for rotatably connecting the supporting projections; and, a biasing means for pressing one of the supporting projections against the other supporting projection.

In this case, the recording and reproducing device nay be a magnetic recording and reproducing device.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided an indication apparatus of a magnetic recording and reproducing device, comprising; a body; an indication portion mounting substrate having a rotatable indication portion, detachably attached to the body; and, an indication portion attaching and detaching pawl provided on the indication portion mounting substrate to engaqe with and disengage from the indication portion to thereby selectively restrict and permit the rotation of the indication portion.

In this case, the indication portion may comprise an engaging projection which can be engaged by the indication 7 portion attaching and detaching pawl.

The indication portion mounting substrate may be made of synthetic resin.

In detaching be formed flexible.

The indication portion attaching and detaching pawl may have a first inclined surface which comes into slide contract with the engaging projection to be pressed outward thereby, and a second inclined surface which comes into slide contact with the engaging projection to be pressed outward by the upward movement of the engaging projection.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided an indication apparatus of a recording and reproducing device, comprising; an indication unit having an indication portion mounting substrate and an indication portion which is rotatably mountable to the indication portion mounting substrate; a body to which said indication unit is electrically connected; and, attaching and detaching means for detachably attaching the indication unit to the body of the apparatus.

The recording and reproducing device may be a magnetic recording and reproducing device may be a magnetic recording and this case, the indication portion attaching and pawl which engages with the engaging projection may integrally with the mounting substrate and may be 8 reproducing device.

The attaching and detaching means may comprise a plurality of engaging pawls provided on the indication portion mounting substrate, and a plurality of engaging holes may be provided on the body of the apparatus to correspond to the engaging pawls, so that the engaging pawls may be engaged in the associated engaging holes.

In this case, the engaging pawls may be provided with front bent ends, and said engaging holes may be provided with engaging portions which are engaged by the front bent ends of the engaging pawls when the whole engaging pawls are inserted and moved in a predetermined direction in the corresponding engaging holes.

At least one of the engaging pawis may be provided with a movement restricting member to restrict the movement of the associated engaging pawl in the other direction when the front bent ends of the engaging pawls are engaged by the engaging portions of the engaging holes.

The apparatus may further comprise a lock releasing slide switch which is functionally connected to the movement restricting member of the engaging pawl.

Examples of the invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a magnetic disc device having a recording and reproducing unit and an indication unit 9 detached therefrom, embodying an aspect of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a magnetic disc device in which an indication unit is attached to a recording and reproducing unit, embodying an aspect of the present invention; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the magnetic disc device of Fig. 2 having an open indication device, viewed from behind; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the engaging means used in a magnetic disc device, embodying the present invention; Fig.

provided embodying Fig.

provided bottom; Fig. 6B is a sectional view of an engaging pawl provided in an indication unit and an engaging hole provided in a recording and reproducing unit and engaged by the engaging pawl, shown in Figs. 4 and 5; Fig. 7 is a sectional view of a lock pawl which is actuated by a lock releasing slide switch to be engaged in a lock hole; Figs. 8A and 8B are front elevational views showing locking operation in different positions; Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the attaching and detaching mechanism of the indication portion on a recording and reproducing unit; Fig. 10 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part is a perspective view of an engaging means in an indication unit of a magnetic disc device, the present invention; 6A is a perspective view of an engaging means in an indication unit of Fig. 5, viewed from the 1 of Fig. 9; Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken along the line XI-Xl in Fig. 12, showing a supporting mechanism which rotatably supports an indication portion relative to the indication unit; Fig. 12 is a side elevational view of an indication unit shown in the closed position; Fig. 13 is a block diagram of an electrical connection of an indication unit and a recording and reproducing unit, embodying the present invention; Fig. 14 is a side elevational mechanism which rotatably supports relative to the indication unit, embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 15 is a side elevational Fig. 14, shown in a closed position; 1 view view of a supporting an indication portion in another view of the mechanism of taken along the line Fig. 16 is a sectiona XVI-XVI in Fig. 15; and, Fig. 17 is a side elevational view of a supporting mechanism -which rotatably supports an indication portion relative to the indication unit, is a further embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Fig. an embodiment in of the present invention, a disc device (magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus) 72 has a recording and reproducing unit (body) 1 which is provided on its front surface with a magnetic disc insertion opening 2, a main switch 3, a mode selection switch 4, an ejection switch 5, and an LCD portion 6. The LCD portion 6 indicates operational states of the recording medium, or operational modes of an image signal recording and reproducing portion in the recording and reproducing unit 1, etc.

An array of operational switches 17 is provided on the upper surface of the recording and reproducing unit 1. On an upper surface of the recording and reproducing unit 1 are also provided engaging holes 25, 26 and 27 in which corresponding engaging pawls 37,38 and 39 (see Fig. 6A) provided on the lower surface of an indication unit 7 are engaged to attach and detach the indication unit 7 to the recording and reproducing unit 1. The engaging holes 25, 26 and 27, and the engaging pawls 37, 38 and 39 constitute an attaching and detaching means.

The operational switches 17 are actuated, for example, to control the operation of the image signal recording and reproducing portion. The recording and reproducing unit 1 is provided on its side surface with a battery receptacle 15, (see Fig. 3) and on the rear surface thereof with a group of connectors 12 having input terminals 51 and output terminals 52, and signal output terminal 23 to which one end of an AV (audio/visual) cord 13 is connected.

The engaging pawls 37, 38 and 39 on the lower surface of the indication unit 7 have L-shaped bent portions 70 projecting in the forward direction, as shown in Fig. 6B. The engaging holes 25, 26 and 27 have retaining grooves 69 to prevent the bent portions 70 of the engaging pawls 37, 38 and 39, after having been inserted and slid forward in the associated engaging holes 25, 26 and 27, from coming out of the retaining grooves 69, as shown in Fig. 6B.

As shown in Fig. 4, the engaging hole 27 is provided on its side wall portion 29 with an inclined surface portion 28 at one end thereof and a lock hole 30 at the central portion thereof. The engaging pawl 39 provided on the rear surface of the indication unit 7 is provided on the leg portion thereof with a projecting lock pawl 31, which slides laterally upon operation of a lock releasing slide switch 14. The lock pawl 31 is made integral with a slide plate 32 on which the lock releasing slide switch 14 is mounted. The slide plate 32 is slid to the left and right by a pair of pins 33 and 34 provided on a mounting substrate 8 which forms part of the indication unit 7, as shown in Fig. 7. On the right end of slide plate 32 is provided an engaging projection 36. This projection is engaged by one end of a tensile spring 35, the other end of which is connected to the substrate 8. The tensile spring 35 continuously biases the slide plate 32 towards the right (see Fig. 7).

Consequently, when the indication unit 7 approaches the recording and reproducing unit 1, the engaging pawls 37, 38 and 39 of the indication unit 7 are engaged in the engaging holes 25, 26 and 27 of the recording and reproducing unit 1, respectively. Upon engagement, as can be seen in Figs. 7, 8A and 8B, the front end of the lock pawl 31 comes into contact with the inclined surface 28 of the engaging hole 27, so that the lock pawl 31 slides to the left on the inclined surface 28 (see Fig. 7). As a result, the front end of the lock pawl 31 comes into contact with the lower portion of the inclined surface 28, i.e., the side wall portion 29 of the engaging hole 27 (see Figs. 5 and 8A). in this state, when the indication unit 7 is slid forward relative to the recording and reproducing unit 1, the engaging pawls 37, 38 and 39 of the indication unit 7 come into contact with the front edges of the corresponding engaging holes 25, 26 and 27, and the front end of the lock pawl 31 is engaged in the lock hole 30 by the biasing force of the tensile spring 35 (see Fig. 8B). As a result, the indication unit 7 is placed on the recording and reproducing unit 7 and locked in a predetermined position.

Upon detaching the indication unit 7 from the recording and reproducing unit 1, the lock releasing slide switch 14 is slid to the left, as can be seen in Fig. 3, to disengage the lock pawl 31 from the lock hole 30. In this state, when the indication unit 7 is moved in a rearward direction relative to the recording and reproducing unit 1, the engaging pawls 37, 38 and 39 of the indication unit 7 are disengaged from the engaging holes 25, 26 and 27 of the recording and reproducing unit 1. This allows for the detachment of unit 7 from the recording and reproducing concept in itself.

an indication portion 10 and a speaker 9 and a liquid crystal indication plane 11, a diffusion unit 57 and a fluorescent light 56.

Light emitted from the fluorescent light 56 is diffused by the diffusion unit 57 and is made incident upon the liquid crystal (LC) indication plane 11 from below, so that the LC indication plane 11 is uniformly illuminated.

The indication portion 10 is rotatably supported by a rotational shaft 16 at the front end thereof, so that the indication portion 10 can be erected from the horizontal position shown in Fig. 3. On the rear surface of indication unit 7 is provided a signal input terminal 24 as shown in Fig. 6A to which the other end of the AV cord 13 is connected. Also located on the rear surface is the lock releasing slide switch 1,4 unit 1. The above is an inventive The indication unit 7 has 16- which is actuated to release the lock of the indication unit 7 from the recording and reproducing unit 1. When the indication unit 7 is attached to the recording and reproducing unit 1, the rear surface of the indication unit 7 is flush with that of the recording and reproducing unit 1. The indication unit 7 is of essentially the same length as the housing 22 of the recording and reproducing unit I in the longitudinal direction, but is of slightly smaller width than that of the housing 22 of the recording and reproducing unit 1 so as to expose the array of the operational switches 17.

The mounting substrate 8 is made of synthetic resin and is provided on the rear end thereof with an indication portion attaching and detaching pawl 54 integral therewith, which projects upward and is flexible. The indication portion end a surface Fig. 10) The indication portion 10 is inclined downward and inwardly at the opposite end of the rotating shaft 16 and has a projection 55 which projects towards the indication portion attaching and detaching pawl 54, as shown in Fig. 10. The projection 55 is located under the projection of the indication portion attaching and detaching pawl 54 when attaching and detaching pawl 54 has at its front first inclined surface 54a and a second inclined 54b defining a forwardly projecting portion (see -1 indicatio 7- engaged (when the indication portion 10 is closed).

The engaging projection 55 has third and fourth Inclined surfaces 55a and 55b which have essentially the same inclination angles as those of the corresponding first and second inclined surfaces 54a and 54b of the portion attaching and detaching pawl 54.

Therefore, when the indication portion 10 is rotated about the shaft 16 relative to the recording and reproducing unit 1 ' the fourth inclined surface 55b of the projection 55 comes into contact with the first inclined surface 54a of the indication portion attaching and detaching pawl 54. By the lower movement of the engaging projection 55, the fourth inclined surface 55b causes the first inclined surface 54a to move in the leftward direction (see Figs. 9 and 10). As a result, the indication portion attaching and detaching pawl 54 is elastically deformed in the same direction (left direction in Fig. 10). As soon as the top (apex) 55c of the engaging projection 55 rides over the top (apex) 54c of the indication portion attaching and detaching pawl 54, the indication portion attaching and detaching pawl 54 is elastically returned to the original state while the second inclined surface 54b thereof slides on the third inclined surface 55a of the projection 55 which moved downward. When the indication portion 10 is completely closed, the projection of the indication portion attaching and detaching pawl 54 is located above the projection 55, so that the second inclined surface 54b prevents the third inclined surface 55a from moving upward, as shown in Fig. 10 which shows a lock position of the indication portion 10.

When the indication portion 10 is moved up at the f ront end thereof rotating the indication portion 10 toward the open position, with a relatively strong force, the third inclined surface 55a of the engaging projection 55 abuts against and slides on the second inclined surface 54b of the indication portion attaching and detaching pawl 54, so that the latter is elastically deformed in the left direction (see Fig. 10). As soon as the apex 55c of the projection 55 rides over the apex 54c of the indication portion attaching and detaching pawl 54, the engaging projection 55 is unlocked from the indication portion attaching and detaching pawl 54. Thus, the locking and unlocking of the indication portion 10 to and from the mounting substrate 8 can be easily carried out without a special unlocking slide switch or the like. Consequently, the number of components can be reduced, resulting in a simplified assembly.

It is possible to directly attach the indication portion 10 to the recording and reproducing unit 1 without using the mounting substrate 8. In this alternative, the indication portion attaching and detaching pawl 54 can be provided on the recording and reproducing unit 1.

Figures 11 and 12 show a mounting mechanism of the indication portion 10 onto the mounting substrate 8. To the front side of the mounting substrate 8 is secured a supporting member 58 which is provided on its opposite sides with other. The supporting mounted to a pair of supporting pieces 58a opposed to each rotational shaft 16 is rotatably attached to the pieces 58a. The rotating shaft 16 is rotatably the side walls 10a of the indication portion 10 through respective bushes 59.

Annular elastic members 60, made of rubber or the like, are provided between the supporting pieces 58a and the side walls 10a to be coaxial to the rotational shaft 16. The elastic members 60 are elastically pressed between the supporting pieces 58a and the side walls 10a to produce an appropriate frictional resistance to the rotation of the indication portion 10 relative to the mounting substrate 8. Due to the frictional resistance, the indication portion 10 is held at a desired angle of inclination with respect to the mounting substrate 8 so long as no external force is exerted thereon.

Consequently, the indication portion 10 can be held at a desired inclination angle with respect to the recording and reproducing unit 1 through the mounting substrate 8, and accordingly, the LC indication plane (picture plane) 11 can be brought into a desired position in which an observer can easily look at the picture plane 11, regardless of the orientation of the indication portion 10 and the recording and reproducing unit 1. Furthermore, since the surface areas of the elastic members 60 for producing the frictional resistance are large, and the acting points of the frictional resistance are far from the axis of the rotational shaft 16, the frictional resistance needed to hold the indication portion 10 at a desired angular position can be small, and only a slight deformation of the elastic members 60 occurs. Furthermore, since the frictional resistance producing surfaces are located only on opposite sides of the indication portion 10, the intermediate area of the indication portion 10 between the frictional resistance producing surfaces can be used for the provision of the necessary electrical circuits or the like. This also contributes to a realization of a compact and small apparatus.

Figure 13 shows a block diagram of an internal construction (electrical circuit arrangement) of the recording and reproducing unit 1 and the indication unit 7. The numeral 40 designates a group of input and output terminals of audio signals and video signals. To the input terminal group 51 thereof are input dubbing signals DUB, luminance and chroma signals S, separation signals of RGB (Red, Green, Blue), and NTSC signals (composited video signals), etc. These input picture signals are selected by a video input switching circuit 45. The dubbing signals DUB are input to a picture recording and reproducing circuit 46, and the signals S, the RGB separation signals, and the NTSC signals are input to the picture recording and reproducing circuit 46 through a decoder 41. The input terminal group 51 also includes an audio signal terminal AUDIO to which an audio signal is input. The audio signal is sent to a sound recording and reproducing circuit 42.

The picture recording and reproducing circuit 46 and the sound recording and reproducing circuit 42 are controlled by a system control circuit 47 to effect the magnetic recording or reproducing through a disc drive unit 43 which is also controlled by the system control circuit 47.

The sound recording and reproducing circuit 42 is connected via circuit 47 to the LCD indicating portion 6 which indicates the state of the recording and reproducing unit 1. The sound recording and reproducing circuit 42 is also connected via circuit 47 to the main switch 3 and the mode selection switch 4, so that the system controller (system control circuit) 47 operates in response to the input from these switches.

The sound recording and reproducing circuit 42 generates the audio signals which are output to the audio signal terminal AUDIO. The signals from the picture recording and reproducing circuit 46 are encoded into signal S, the RGB separation signals, and the NTSC signals through the encoder 44 to be sent to the output terminal group 52, respectively.

The signals from the picture recording and reproducing circuit 46 and the sound recording and reproducing circuit 42 are output to the output terminal 23 and sent to the input terminal 24 of the indication unit 7 through the AV cord 13.

The video signal from the picture recording and reproducing circuit 46 is amplified by an LCD monitor driving circuit 49 to drive the LCD indication plane (LCD monitor) 11. The signal from the sound recording and reproducing circuit 42 is amplified by an audio amplifier 50 to drive the speaker 9.

Figures 14 through 16 show another embodiment of the present invention having a rotating and supporting mechanism of the indication portion 10 relative to the mounting substrate 8. The components corresponding to those in Fig. 11 are designated with the same reference numerals.

The side walls 10a' have annular bosses which are bent inwardly toward each other. Bushes 59 are fitted in the.corresponding annular bosses. The rotational shaft 16 which extends through a pair of supporting pieces 58a of the supporting member 58 is fitted at the opposite ends thereof in the center holes of the associated bushes 59, so that the indication portion 10 will rotate with respect to the indication unit 8. It is to be noted that in the illustrated embodiments, two separate shaft portions constitute the rotational shaft 16. The supporting member 58 is provided on the portions adjacent to the supporting pieces 58a, that is, the portions corresponding to the side walls 10a with recesses in which elastic members 61 of a predetermined thickness are fitted. The side walls 10a' of the indication portion 10 have arched portions 62 concentric to the rotational shaft 16. The arched portions 62 are provided on their outer peripheral portions both with open recesses 63 which receive the elastic members 61 when the indication portion 10 is closed, and slide portions 64 with which the elastic members 61 come into slide contact when the indication portion 10 is erected.

Consequently, when the indication portion 10 is rotated about therotational shaft (shafts) 16 through a desired angular displacement, the sliding portions 64 of the arched portions 62 come into contact with the elastic members 61, and accordingly, the indication portion 10 is kept at a desired angular position due to the frictional resistance of the elastic members 61.

Conversely, when the indication portion 10 is rotated toward the mounting substrate 8 and is moved to a closed position, the elastic members 61 are received in the open recesses 63 of the arched portions 62 and the elastic force (compression force) of the elastic members 61 is released.

Accordingly, since the elastic members 61 are not continuously compressed, there is less possibility of permanent deformation and deterioration of the elastic members 61, thus resulting in increased durability. This also results in a more stable adjustment of the angle of the indication portion 10. Furthermore, since the elastic members 61 are pressed against the arched portions 62 which are located far from the axis of the rotation of the indication portion 10, the indication portion The elastic members 61 the torque for erecting and holding 10 can be advantageously increased. are provided in the recesses at the bottom of. the supporting member 58, which simplifies the assembly of the indication portion 10 (including the elastic members 61 in the indication unit 10).

It is possible to provide elliptical portions instead of the arched portions 62, having a smaller diameter in the vicinity of the portions in contact with 62, the elastic members 61 when the indication portion 10 is closed (see Fig. 15). In the illustrated embodiment, although the open recesses 63 are provided on the side of the arched portions 62 of the indication portion 10, and the elastic members 61 are provided on the supporting member 58, it is possible to provide the elastic members 61 and the recesses 63 on the side of the arched portions 62 and the supporting member 58, respectively.

Figure 17 shows a third embodiment of the present invention in which the mechanism for mounting the indication portion 10 to the mounting substrate 8 is modified.

In Fig. 17, the mounting substrate 8 is provided on the front end thereof with a pair of opposed supporting projections 65 integral therewith and inclined forwardly toward the upper end thereof. The indication portion 10 is provided on the portion corresponding to the supporting projections 65 with a pair of through grooves 71 through which the associated supporting projections 65 extend. On the side portions of indication portion 10 adjacent to the through grooves 71 is provided a pair of flexible supporting projections 66 integral with the indication portion 10. The supporting projections 65 of the substrate 8 and the supporting projections 66 of the indication portion 10, which are located side by side, have through holes through which the rotational shaft (shafts) 16' extends so as to rotatably support the indication portion 10 relative to the substrate 8. compression springs 68 are provided around the projecting outer ends of the rotational shaft (shafts) 16' outside the projections 66. The compression springs 68 are compressed by spring retainers 67, which are secured to the opposite ends of the rotational shaft 16' by means of appropriate securing members.

Consequently, since the biasing force of the compression springs 68 is exerted on the supporting projections 66 of the indication portion 10 from the outside toward the inside thereof, the supporting projections 66 are elastically deformed and continuously pressed against the adjacent supporting projections 65. As a result, a frictional force is produced between the supporting projections 66 of the indication portion 10 and the supporting projections 65 of the substrate 8, so that when the indication portion 10 is rotated about the rotational shaft 16', the indication portion 10 can be stopped and held stable at a desired angular position relative to the substrate 8.

It is possible to provide a single long compression spring between the supporting projections 65 of the mounting substrate 8 in place of the compression springs 68 to press the inner supporting projections 65 against the outer supporting projections 66 of the indication portion 10.

Alternatively, it is also possible to place the supporting projections 66 of the indication portion 10 inside of the supporting projections 65 of the substrate 8, so that the outer supporting projections 65 are pressed against the inner supporting projections 66 by the compression springs 68 to produce the frictional force.

Although the first, second, and third embodiments of the present invention are applied to the indication portion 10 provided in the recording and reproducing unit 1, the present invention can be applied to any magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus having an indicator, personal computer or a word processor, etc.

The present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments and can be modified without departing from the scope of the invention.

The present disclosure relates to subject matters contained in the Japanese Patent Application No. HEI 2-98536 (filed on April 13, 1990), the Japanese Patent Application No. HEI 2-102615 (filed on April 17, 1990), the Japanese Patent Application No. HEI 2-102616 (filed on April 17, 1990), the Japanese Utility Model Application No. HEI 2-41389 (filed on April 17, 1990), and the Japanese Utility such as a Model Application No. HEI 2-43888 (filed on April 23, 1990), which are expressly incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An indication apparatus of a recording and reproducing device, comprising:

a body; an indication portion rotatably attached to the body of the apparatus; and, a holding means for holding the indication portion at a desired angle relative to the body of the apparatus.

2. An indication apparatus of a recording and reproducing device according to claim 1, further comprising a mounting substrate on which the indication portion is directly attached, said mounting substrate being provided with a pair of rotating and supporting portions for rotatably supporting the indication portion.

An indication apparatus of a reproducing device according to indication portion which come into recording and claim 2, wherein said comprises a pair of rotating portions slide contact with the rotating and supporting portions.

4. An indication apparatus of a recording and reproducing device according to claim 3, further comprising elastic members between the rotating portions of the indication portion and the associated rotating and supporting portions of the mounting substrate so provide frictional forces therebetween.

5. An indication apparatus of a recording and reproducing device according to claim 4, further comprising at least one pin for rotatably supporting said pair of rotating portions of the mounting substrate on said pair of rotating and supporting portions of the indication portion.

6. An indication apparatus of a recording and reproducing device according to claim 5, wherein said elastic members are made of annular elastic members coaxial to the or each associated rotating and supporting pin.

as to

7. An indication apparatus of a recording and reproducing device according to claim 5, wherein each said rotating portion is provided on its outer periphery with an arched portion, and wherein said elastic members are provided between the arched portions and the portion of the mounting substrate adjacent thereto.

8. An indication apparatus of a recording and reproducing device according to claim 7, wherein said arched portions are provided with open recesses which release the frictional forces of the elastic members when the indication portion is closed relative to the mounting substrate.

9. An indication apparatus of a recording and reproducing device according to claim 1, further comprising a mounting substrate on which the indication portion is directly attached, supporting projections provided on the indication portion and the mounting substrate, and a rotating and supporting pin for rotatably connecting the supporting projections.

10. An indication apparatus of a recording and reproducing device according to claim 9, wherein one of the supporting projections is flexible.

11. An indication apparatus of a recording arid according to claim pressing the other reproducing comprising supporting projection.

12. An device biasing means for projection against 10, further the flexible supporting indication apparatus of a recording and reproducing device according to any one of ' claims 1 to 11, further comprising a mounting substrate on which the indication portion is directly attached, said mounting substrate being provided with an indication portion attaching and detaching pawl for engaging with and disengaging from the indication portion to restrict and permit the rotation of the indication portion.

13. An indication apparatus of a recording and reproducing device according to claim 12, wherein said indication portion includes an engaging projection which can be engaged by the indication portion attaching and detaching pawl.

14. An indication apparatus of a recording and reproducing device according to claim 13, wherein said indication portion attaching and detaching pawl for engaging with the engaging projection is formed integrally with the mounting substrate and is flexible.

15. An indication apparatus of a recording and reproducing device according to claim 13 or 14, wherein said indication portion attaching and detaching pawl has a first inclined surface which comes into slide contract with the engaging projection to be pressed outward thereby, and a second inclined surface which comes into slide contact with the engaging projection to be pressed outward by the upward movement of the engaging projection.

16. An indication apparatus of a recording and reproducing device according to any of claims 2 to 15, wherein said mounting substrate is made of synthetic resin.

17. An indication apparatus of a recording and reproducing device according to any one of claims 2 to 16, further comprising a mounting substrate on which the indication portion is directly attached, and an attaching and detaching means for detachably attaching the mounting substrate to the device.

18. An indication apparatus of a recording and reproducing device according to claim 17, wherein said attaching and detaching means comprises a plurality of engaging pawls provided on the mounting substrate, and a plurality of engaging holes provided on the device to correspond to the engaging pawls, so that the engaging pawls are engaged in the associated engaging holes.

19. An indication apparatus of a recording and reproducing device according to claim 18, wherein are nrovided with front bent ends said engaging pawls and wherein said engaging holes are provided with engaging portions which are engaged by the front bent ends of the engaging pawls when the whole engaging pawls are inserted and moved in a predetermined direction in the corresponding engaging holes.

20. An indication apparatus of a recording and reproducing device according to claim 19, wherein at least one of the engaging pawls is provided with a movement restricting member which restricts the movement of the associated engaging pawl in the other direction when the front bent ends of the engaging pawls are engaged by the engaging portions of the engaging holes.

21. An indication apparatus of a recording and reproducing device according to claim 20, further comprising a lock releasing slide switch which is functionally connected to the movement restricting member of the engaging pawl.

22. An indication apparatus of a recording and reproducing device according to any preceding claim, wherein said recording and reproducing device is a magnetic recording and reproducing device.

23. An indication apparatus of a recording and reproducing device, the apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

24. A recording and reproducing device including an indication apparatus according to any preceding claim.

Published 1991 at The Patent Office. Concept House. Cardiff Road. Newport. Gwent NP9 I RH. Further copies may be obtained from Sales Branch, Unit 6. Nine Mile Point, Cwnifehnfach. Cross Keys. Newport. NP1 7HZ. Printed by Multiplex techniques -Itd. St Marv Cray. Kent.