JP2002117644A - Tape cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform transmission and reception of a read/write signal to a memory cartridge from a plurality of crossing directions in a tape cartridge, in which the memory cartridge is displaced in a case body, and to provide a tape cartridge which can ensure transmission and reception of a read/write signal between the memory cartridge, and the memory leader of a tape drive or between the memory cartridge and the memory leader of the hand part of a library machine. SOLUTION: A non-contact type memory cartridge M is disposed within the case body 1. The memory cartridge M contains a substrate 10, an IC chip 11 for storing data mounted on the substrate 10 and a plurality of antennas 12. The transmission and reception of the read/write signal is enabled at each antenna 12 from two directions positioned correctly with to the back wall 13 and bottom wall 14 of the case body 1, by disposing the plurality of antennas 12 along the different surface walls of the case body 1, respectively.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a tape cartridge provided with a non-contact type memory cartridge using an IC chip as a storage element.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A memory cartridge disposed inside a tape cartridge case is disclosed in, for example,
There are a contact type and a non-contact type as disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 49242 (the literature is unknown). Each of them can read and write characteristic data of the magnetic tape, setting data at the time of recording, and the like. It has been studied to add a non-contact type memory cartridge to a tape cartridge mainly used as a data recording medium of a computer. Here, the directory of the data file recorded on the tape, the usage history data, etc. are stored in a memory cartridge to realize quicker data search and accurate data management, as well as lot numbers, tape specifications and characteristics. Maker data is also recorded.

A group of tape cartridges for recording computer data as described above is managed by a library machine. In a conventional library machine, a target tape cartridge is taken out of a rack in which a large number of tape cartridges are stored, and is loaded into a suitable tape drive. In particular,
The tape cartridge housed in the rack is gripped by the hand of an automated transfer machine and loaded into the tape drive.
At this time, the recorded data in the memory cartridge M is read by a memory reader including an antenna provided in the inner part of the hand unit, the specifications of the tape cartridge and the outline of the data are grasped, and an incorrect tape cartridge is loaded into the tape drive. Or to allow different types of tape cartridges to be loaded into a suitable tape drive. A similar memory reader is provided on the side of the tape drive device.

[0004]

The position of the antenna in the tape drive device is determined by the arrangement position of the memory cartridge inside the tape cartridge and its form. In many cases, the antenna is provided at a position directly opposite to the memory cartridge on the tape cartridge side so that transmission and reception of the read / write signal can be reliably performed.
However, in the conventional system as described above, the position of the memory reader of the hand unit and the position of the memory reader of the tape drive are orthogonal to each other, so that the memory cartridge can be arranged at an ideal position. It is physically difficult, and as a solution to this, it has been studied to arrange the memory cartridge M at an angle of 45 ° to realize transmission and reception between each orthogonal memory reader and the memory cartridge M (document unknown).

[0005] When the memory cartridge M is arranged at an angle as described above, signals can be transmitted and received for the time being, but the reliability is lacking. Although the main lobe of the memory reader antenna has directivity, signals must be transmitted and received near the limit of the effective range of the directivity. May be affected. When the memory cartridge M is arranged at an angle, the mounting space of the memory cartridge in the tape cartridge cannot be increased, and the degree of freedom in designing the tape cartridge is reduced by that amount, and the tape cartridge cannot be enlarged. . The structure for tilting and supporting the memory cartridge has a disadvantage that the assembling work is complicated and the overall cost of the tape cartridge is increased.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a tape having a non-contact type memory cartridge in which the antenna of the memory cartridge can always be arranged so as to face the memory reader, so that the read and write signals can be reliably transmitted and received. It is to provide a cartridge. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to reduce the space for loading a memory cartridge in a tape cartridge, to improve the degree of freedom in designing the tape cartridge, to simplify the structure for loading the memory cartridge in the tape cartridge, and to reduce the assembling work. An object of the present invention is to simultaneously realize simplification and reduce the overall manufacturing cost of the tape cartridge. An object of the present invention is to ensure that transmission and reception of a read / write signal can be performed even when the position of a memory reader of a hand unit and the position of a memory reader of a tape drive in a library machine are orthogonal to each other. An object of the present invention is to provide a tape cartridge capable of improving the degree of freedom in design with regard to the position of a memory part in a hand unit and a tape drive.

[0007]

As shown in FIG. 1, a tape cartridge according to the present invention comprises a case body 1 in which a reel 2 on which a tape 3 is wound and a non-contact type memory cartridge M are arranged. is there. Memory cartridge M
Includes a substrate 10, an IC chip 11 for data storage mounted on the substrate 10, and a plurality of antennas 12.
The plurality of antennas 12 are respectively arranged along different face walls of the case main body 1.

That is, the substrate 10 includes a first surface wall 10 a along the rear wall 13 of the case body 1, and a bottom wall 14 or a side wall 19.
Are formed in an L-shaped cross section with the second face walls 10b and 10d along the direction, and the antenna 12 is arranged on each of the two face walls.

As another substrate 10, as shown in FIG. 5, a first face wall 10a along the rear wall 13 of the case body 1, a second face wall 10b along the bottom wall 14, and a third face wall 10c along the top wall 18 are provided. Is formed in a U-shaped cross section.
At least one of the third face walls 10b and 10c,
An antenna can be arranged on each of the first face wall 10a. The plurality of antennas 12 can have different transmission and reception communication frequencies.

Another tape cartridge of the present invention is shown in FIG.
As shown in the figure, a tape cartridge applied to a library machine which takes out a tape cartridge stored in a rack, transfers the tape cartridge to a tape drive D, and automatically loads the tape cartridge is targeted. The library machine has a hand unit H for taking out a tape cartridge stored in a rack, transferring the tape cartridge to a tape drive D, and automatically loading the tape cartridge. In the tape cartridge, a non-contact type memory cartridge M is arranged in a case body 1 in which a reel 2 around which a tape 3 is wound is built. Hand H and tape drive D
Means that memory readers R for reading and writing signals to and from the memory cartridge M in a non-contact state are provided. A tape cartridge that performs reading and writing of signals between each memory reader R and the memory cartridge M in a non-contact state will be described. The memory cartridge M includes a substrate 10, an IC chip 11 for data storage mounted on the substrate 10, and a plurality of antennas 12,
A plurality of antennas 12 are arranged along different surface walls of the case body 1 respectively.

[0011]

The memory cartridge incorporated in the tape cartridge includes a substrate and an I-mounter mounted on the substrate.
If the antenna includes a C chip and a plurality of antennas, and the plurality of antennas are arranged along different surface walls of the case body, each antenna is arranged at a position directly facing a plurality of memory readers, or a plurality of antennas are arranged. Can be arranged facing different peripheral walls of the case body. Therefore, according to the tape cartridge of the present invention, the antenna of the memory cartridge always faces the memory reader of the tape drive or the hand unit, so that the read and write signals can be reliably transmitted and received, and the interference of radio waves and noise It is excellent in reliability without receiving it.

Since the plurality of antennas are arranged along different wall surfaces of the case body, it is not necessary to arrange the memory cartridge at an angle, and the memory cartridge can be arranged along each wall surface in the case body. Therefore,
The space for loading the memory cartridge inside the case body can be reduced, and the degree of freedom in designing the tape cartridge is improved. In addition, the structure for mounting the memory cartridge in the case body is simplified, and the assembling operation is facilitated, so that the overall manufacturing cost of the tape cartridge can be reduced.

According to the memory cartridge, the substrate is formed in an L-shaped cross section by the first surface wall along the rear wall of the case main body and the second surface wall along the bottom wall or the side wall, and the antenna is arranged on each of the both side walls. For example, the entire memory cartridge including each antenna can be handled as a single unit component, making it easier to manage and handle the memory cartridge.The memory cartridge can be easily moved along the intersection between the rear wall and the bottom wall of the case body Moreover, they can be arranged without difficulty.
In particular, when a memory cartridge is arranged by utilizing a triangular dead space generated in an inner corner of the case body, it is not necessary to newly provide a loading section for the memory cartridge.

In a substrate formed in a U-shaped cross section by a first surface wall along the rear wall of the case body, a second surface wall along the bottom wall, and a third surface wall along the upper wall, the second and third surface walls are provided. Since the antenna can be arranged on at least one of the first and the first surface walls, it is possible to respond promptly even when the arrangement of the memory reader on the tape drive side is different, and by disposing the antenna on all the surface walls, Regardless of the type of tape drive or the type of manufacturer, a universal tape cartridge that can be used with any tape drive can be obtained.

If the transmission and reception communication frequencies of the plurality of antennas are different, signals having different contents can be transmitted or received simultaneously. Therefore, by simultaneously transmitting and receiving signals to and from a plurality of antennas, it is possible to increase the signal transmission / reception speed.

In a tape cartridge applied to a library machine that takes out a tape cartridge stored in a rack, transfers the tape cartridge to a tape drive, and automatically loads the tape cartridge, a memory cartridge disposed in a case body includes a substrate and a substrate. IC for data storage to be mounted
It includes a chip and a plurality of antennas, and when the plurality of antennas are respectively arranged along different surface walls of the case body, the position of the memory reader of the hand unit and the position of the memory reader of the tape drive in the library machine are changed. Even in a positional relationship orthogonal to each other, transmission and reception of the read / write signal can be reliably performed, and the degree of freedom in design is improved with respect to the arrangement position of the memory reader in the hand unit and the tape drive.

[0017]

1 to 3 show an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a single reel type tape cartridge. In FIG. 2, the tape cartridge has a rectangular case body 1 formed by joining upper and lower cases 1a and 1b in a lid-like manner, and a tape 3 is wound around one reel 2 disposed in the case body 1. ing. A tape outlet 4 is provided at one end (right end) of the front wall of the case body 1 and can be opened and closed by a slidable lid 5. The lid 5 is closed and biased by a spring (not shown). At the feeding end of the tape 3,
A tip conductor 6 is provided which is captured and connected by a connecting device on the tape drive side. When not in use, the leading conductor 6 is held and fixed in an upright standby posture by catch mechanisms provided above and below the inner surface of the tape outlet 4.

A reel 2 is provided at each of three corners of the inner four corners of the case body 1 excluding the vicinity of the tape outlet 4.
And a partition wall 7 having a partially arcuate shape along the peripheral edge of the case body 1 and a corner wall of the case body 1 form a substantially triangular space. Among these cavities, a non-contact type memory cartridge M is arranged in a vacant space S located at the rear of the case and on the left side as viewed in FIG. Memory cartridge M
, Management information such as a directory of data files recorded on the tape 3 and usage history data, and maker information such as lot numbers, tape specifications and characteristics are recorded.

In FIG. 1, the memory cartridge M is
It comprises an insulating substrate 10, a data storage IC chip 11 mounted on the substrate 10, and two antennas 12. The substrate 10 is formed in an L-shaped cross section by a first surface wall 10a along the rear wall 13 of the case main body 1 and a second surface wall 10b along the bottom wall 14, and the inner surface of the first surface wall 10a has an I-shaped section.
A C chip 11 is arranged, and an antenna 12 is arranged on each of the double-sided walls 10a and 10b. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, each of the face walls 10a and 10b is
The antenna 12 is arranged on the outer side surface facing 4. This is to reduce the interval between the memory reader R and the memory reader R, which will be described later. The IC chip 11 and the antenna 12
Each outer surface is covered with an insulating adhesive applied and sealed. The antenna 12 is formed by winding an insulated copper wire in a coil shape or by a coil-shaped printed wiring formed on the substrate 10. The antenna characteristics of each antenna 12 are set to be the same, and data can be read from and written to the IC chip 11 from either antenna 12.

1 and 3, the memory cartridge M disposed in the case main body 1 is engaged with the positioning ribs 15 provided on the rear wall 13 and the bottom wall 14 to prevent rattling in the front-rear and left-right directions. Is positioned,
Furthermore, it is fixed immovably up and down by pressing ribs 16 which contact the left and right side edges of the second face wall 10b. Holding rib 16
Project downward from the inner surface of the upper case 1a. As described above, the IC chip 11 is disposed on the inner side of the case with respect to the first face wall 10a, and the antenna 12 is connected to each of the face walls 10a and 1a.
0b is disposed on the side facing the rear wall 13 and the bottom wall 14. In this arrangement, the first and second face walls 10a
The antenna 12 is supported on both sides by a receiving rib 17 (see FIG. 3) projecting from the rear wall 13 and the bottom wall 14.
Are prevented from rubbing in contact with the rear wall 13 and the bottom wall 14.

When the two antennas 12 are arranged along different wall surfaces of the case body 1 as described above, signals can be transmitted and received from a plurality of directions via each antenna 12, so that, for example, in a tape drive D or the like, A convenient side can be selected from the positions of the memory reader R facing the respective antennas 12. Of course, if necessary, a plurality of memory readers R can be arranged so as to face each antenna 12.

When the above-described tape cartridge is managed by a library machine, each of the above antennas 12 includes an antenna 12 for a tape drive D as shown in FIG.
Signals can be transmitted and received in an appropriate state by properly using the antenna 12 for the hand unit H for transferring the tape cartridge from the rack to the tape drive D and loading it. In FIG. 4, the hand portion H of the library machine includes upper and lower gripping arms 20 and a connecting portion 21 for connecting these, and the hand portion H takes out one of a group of tape cartridges housed in a rack, and Is loaded into the tape drive D. The gripping arm 20 is the case body 1
The tape cartridge is gripped and held with the rear wall 13 side up and down, and the memory reader R is disposed on the connecting portion 21 facing the rear wall 13 in this held state.

The antenna 12 disposed on the first face wall 10a
Is provided so as to face the memory reader R corresponding to the memory reader R arranged in the connecting portion 21. While transferring the tape cartridge to the tape drive D, the memory reader R provided in the hand unit H reads maker information such as the specification and characteristics of the tape recorded on the memory cartridge M, and reads the tape cartridge of a different tape cartridge type. It prevents the drive D from being loaded, reads management information such as a data file directory and usage history data, and transfers the information to the tape drive D so that the tape 3 can be quickly read.

Another memory reader R is arranged at the inner bottom of the loading port provided on the front surface of the tape drive D. In order to properly transmit and receive signals by the memory reader R, an antenna 12 is also provided on the second surface wall 10b side so that the antenna 12 can face the memory reader R when the tape cartridge is loaded in the tape drive D. ing. The memory reader R of the tape drive D sends and receives signals to and from the memory cartridge M, reads the directory of the data file recorded on the tape 3, writes the usage history data, and updates the contents of the memory cartridge M.

As described above, when two antennas 12 are provided on the memory cartridge M of the tape cartridge, and each antenna 12 is directly opposed to each memory reader R provided on the hand unit H and the tape drive D, the tape drive D Memory reader R of the hand and memory reader R of the hand part H
Even when there is an orthogonal positional relationship, each antenna 12 is always directly opposed to each memory reader R, and transmission and reception of the read / write signal can be performed reliably. Therefore, a highly reliable tape cartridge that does not receive radio wave interference or noise can be obtained. Further, since the memory cartridge M is arranged along the rear wall 13 and the bottom wall 14, the arrangement space of the memory cartridge M can be reduced.

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the present invention, in which a first face wall 10a along the rear wall 13 of the case body 1 and a bottom wall 1 are provided.
4 and the third face wall 1 along the upper wall 18.
0c, the substrate 10 is formed in a U-shaped cross section, and each face wall 10a is formed.
The antenna 12 is arranged in each of 10b and 10c so that the degree of freedom of the arrangement position of the memory reader R in the hand unit H and the tape drive D can be further improved. In this case, if the transmission and reception communication frequencies for the antennas 12 are made different, signals having different contents can be transmitted and received at the same time, and the signal transmission / reception speed can be increased.

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the present invention, in which the first face wall 10 along the rear wall 13 of the case body 1 is provided.
a and the fourth face wall 10d along one side wall 19, the substrate 10 was formed in an L-shaped cross section, and the antenna 12 was arranged on each of the face walls 10a and 10d.

In addition to the above, the antenna 12 can be formed separately from the substrate 10, and the antenna 12 and the substrate 10 can be electrically connected. For example, the antenna 12 can be formed on a film substrate, and the film substrate can be connected to the connection terminal of the substrate 10. In this case, the substrate 10 can be formed in a flat plate shape. The entire substrate 10 can be formed from a film substrate and attached to the case body 1 and fixed. The tape cartridge is not limited to a single reel type.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional side view of a main part.

FIG. 2 is an overall internal plan view.

FIG. 3 is a plan view and a perspective view of a memory cartridge.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the principle of a library machine.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the memory cartridge.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing still another embodiment of the memory cartridge.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Case main body 2 Reel 3 Tape 10 Substrate 10a 1st surface wall 10b 2nd surface wall 10c 3rd surface wall 11 IC chip 12 Antenna 14 Bottom wall 19 Side wall D Tape drive H Hand part R Memory reader M Memory cartridge

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A tape cartridge in which a reel on which a tape is wound and a non-contact type memory cartridge are arranged inside a case main body, wherein the memory cartridge is mounted on a substrate, and mounted on the substrate. A tape cartridge, comprising: a data storage IC chip; and a plurality of antennas, wherein the plurality of antennas are respectively arranged along different surface walls of the case body. 2. The first and second face walls, wherein the substrate is formed with a first face wall along a rear wall of the case main body and a second face wall along a bottom wall or a side wall, and wherein the first and second face walls are formed. 2. The tape cartridge according to claim 1, wherein an antenna is disposed in each of the tape cartridges. 3. The substrate is formed in a U-shaped cross section by the first surface wall along the rear wall of the case main body, the second surface wall along the bottom wall, and the third surface wall along an upper wall. 2. The tape cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the antenna is disposed on at least one of the second and third surface walls and the first surface wall among the respective surface walls. 3. 4. The tape cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of antennas have different communication frequencies for transmission and reception. 5. A tape cartridge applied to a library machine which takes out a tape cartridge stored in a rack, transports the tape cartridge to a tape drive, and automatically loads the tape cartridge, wherein the library machine includes the tape cartridge stored in the rack. A hand unit for taking out a tape cartridge, transferring the tape cartridge to the tape drive, and automatically loading the tape cartridge, wherein the tape cartridge has a non-contact type memory cartridge disposed in a case body containing a reel around which the tape is wound. The hand unit and the tape drive are each provided with a memory reader that reads and writes a signal in a non-contact state with respect to the memory cartridge, and is provided between each of the memory readers and the memory cartridge. , A tape card that reads and writes signals in a non-contact state The memory cartridge, wherein the memory cartridge includes a substrate, an IC chip for data storage mounted on the substrate, and a plurality of antennas, wherein the plurality of antennas are respectively along different surface walls of the case body. A tape cartridge characterized by being arranged.