JP2001084731A - Tape cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To smoothly couple and detach a leader member and a derivation member on the side of an apparatus by a method wherein lubricant layers are formed on bottom faces of coupling recessed parts, to which derivation members formed on the upper end and the lower end of a center pin member are coupled and whose depth is definite. SOLUTION: The upper coupling member 92-1 and the lower coupling member 92-2 of a leader member are composed of synthetic-resin slender members both ends of which are formed to be arc-shaped and which are of the same structure. They are fixed integrally to both ends of a center pin member on which a magnetic tape is wound so as to be clamped and which is composed of a cylindrical pin. A coupling recessed part 94-1 and a coupling recessed part 94-2 are formed, so as to be symmetric with respect to a mirror face, on opposite faces of the coupling members 92-1, 92-2 in such a way that they are cut out from sides on one side. Tip pins or hook-shaped parts of a derivation member on the side of an apparatus are coupled to the coupling recessed parts. The coupling recessed parts are formed in such a way that their depth is definite and that the derivation member is guided. Then, a slip sheet 95-1 and a slip sheet 95-2 are pasted on bottom faces of the coupling recessed parts.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a one-reel type tape cartridge used in a magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus, and more particularly to an improvement in a tape leader member of this type of tape cartridge.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, one-reel type tape cartridges have been widely used for data storage such as backup for computers. In a one-reel type tape cartridge, a leader tape or a leader member attached to the end of a magnetic tape is pulled out by a tape pull-in member provided in a magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus or a drive, and then the tape is wrapped along a tape running path in the apparatus. The tape end is fixed to the hub of another reel resident in the apparatus. At the end of the tape storage or playback operation, the tape is driven in the opposite direction and is wound into the cartridge, and finally the leader tape returns to the predetermined position on the cartridge.

[0003] A typical leader member in a conventional one-reel type tape cartridge is one in which a pin, a block, or the like, which is gripped by a tape pull-in member on the apparatus side, is attached to the leading end of the tape (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 58-169380). ), And a stopper opening is provided at the leading end of the relatively stiff and elastic leader tape at the leading end of the tape. (See Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 62-62)
No. 502641).

FIG. 4 shows a one-reel type tape cartridge 103 utilizing the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-502641.
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of an upper case 101 and a lower case 102.
A single tape reel 107 having an upper flange 104 and a lower flange 105 in a cartridge body consisting of
And the tape reel 10 is compressed by a compression spring 108.
7 is constantly biased toward the lower case 102. Hub (not shown) provided on upper flange 104 of tape reel 107
A leader tape 109 is connected to the leading end of the magnetic tape 106 wound by a splicing method. The tape reel 107 has a bearing (not shown) on a ring press-fitted and fixed in a circular recess (not shown) formed in the center of the upper flange 104, and the bearing has a reel rotating shaft (not shown). ) Is attached so that the reel rotates about the rotation axis of the reel. Tooth portion 1 is provided around the upper flange 104 of the tape reel 107.
14 is formed on the inner surface 101a of the upper case 101, and a pair of brake members 1 constantly biased toward the teeth 114 by torsion coil springs 110 and 111.
When the cartridge is not used, the rotation of the tape reel is prevented when the locking portions 115 and 116 of the cartridges 12 and 113 are locked to the teeth 114. When not in use, the magnetic tape 106 is completely wound around the tape reel 107, and a locking hole formed at the end of the leader tape 109 is provided with a locking hook provided near the side wall of the tape cartridge body 103. 117.
The opening 125 for pulling out the magnetic tape 106 to the outside of the cartridge body 103 is provided in the cartridge body 1.
03 is closed by an opening / closing lid 118 that opens and closes with respect to 03.

In use, when the cartridge is mounted on the recording / reproducing apparatus, the brake members 112 and 113 are automatically released, and the tape reel 107 is lifted against the compression spring 108 to be rotatable. At the same time, the opening / closing lid 118 is opened by means on the apparatus side. The tape pull-out member provided on the apparatus side enters from the opening and engages with the opening of the leader tape 109, pulls out the magnetic tape together with the leader tape 109 as described above, and passes the magnetic tape along a predetermined traveling path of the apparatus.

As the leader tape 109, a spring material made of a strong synthetic resin, such as thick polyethylene terephthalate (PET), is used. As shown in FIG. An opening 125 is formed in which a tab 121 (forming a hook) provided at the tip of the head locks. A tab 121 is provided in the opening 125.
Has a notch 126 for securely locking the pull-out member, and a neck portion of a drawer member supporting the tab 121 is fitted therein. FIG. 5 shows a state where the drawer member 122 and the leader tape 109 are locked in the order of (a), (b), and (c) when the drawer member enters the cartridge.

[0007]

The conventional type of tape pull-in mechanism has the following problems. The tape pull-out member 122 of the apparatus is in a tape state connected to a reel provided inside the apparatus as shown in FIG. 5, and has a tab 121 which engages with the opening 125 of the leader tape in the tape cartridge. Since both the drawer member 122 of the apparatus and the leading end of the leader tape 109 are tape bodies, warpage (curl) occurs. If both curls occur, the tape pull-out member 122 of the apparatus may not be able to engage the leader tape 109 when the cartridge is mounted on the apparatus.

On the other hand, by directly connecting the tip of the magnetic tape to the rigid leader member without using the leader tape, the operation of pulling out and pulling in the magnetic tape can be stabilized. Such a leader member includes, as shown in FIG. 2, a pin-shaped central pin member 91 for winding the tape tip and fixing it with a clamp,
A pair of engaging members 92-1 and 92-
2 are provided on opposite surfaces of the engaging members 92-1 and 92-2. The engaging concave portions 94-1 and 94-2 having a mirror-symmetrical shape with which a pin or a hook of the drawer member on the apparatus side engages. Is formed. The center pin member 91 is made of metal, and is fixed by being inserted into a fitting hole formed at an end of the resin engaging members 92-1 and 92-2. However, in such a structure, the engaging members 92-1 and 92-2 are POM, PA, PC
Alternatively, since these resins are molded from a resin selected from a material obtained by adding a reinforcing material selected from glass fiber, a metal, and a metal oxide, friction occurs between the resin and the drawer member. Therefore, the reliable operation of the leader member is impaired. An object of the present invention is to make it possible to smoothly engage and disengage a leader member and a drawer member on the apparatus side in such a stabilized rigid leader member.

[0009]

In the cartridge of the present invention, a single tape reel having a magnetic tape wound thereon is rotatably accommodated in a case main body, and the leading end of the tape is fixed to a leader member. In the tape cartridge pulled out from the opening provided in the tape pull-out member having the locking tip of the device, the leader member is a central pin member around which the tape is wound, and a fixed depth which is attached to the upper and lower ends thereof and in which the pull-out member engages. A pair of synthetic resin engagement members each having an engagement recess,
A clamp member for fixing a tape to the center pin member, wherein a lubricating layer is formed on a bottom surface of the engagement recess. The engaging member is POM, PA, P
C or a synthetic resin selected from a resin obtained by adding a reinforcing material selected from glass fibers, metals, and metal oxides to these resins, and the lubricating layer is formed by adhering a lubricating sheet.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to embodiments. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing details of a leader member.

Referring to FIG. 1, the tape cartridge of the present invention is shown upside down. This indicates the orientation at the time of actual assembly. The completed cartridge is mounted on the recording / reproducing apparatus in a regular vertical relationship. This cartridge has a structure similar to the structure of the cartridge shown in FIG. 4 except for parts related to the leader member. The upper case 1 and the lower case 2 are united on the periphery by set screws 23 to form a case. A reel 3 on which a magnetic tape is wound is housed in an inner space of a case formed by the upper and lower cases. The reel 3 includes an upper flange 31 and
It comprises a hub 33 and a lower flange 32 integrally formed therewith. The lower surface side inside the tape winding portion of the hub 33 is closed, and includes an engaging tooth portion 34 that engages with the driving portion of the device. An upper surface side of the hub 33 is an open concave portion, and a reel 4 includes a bearing 4 for improving the rotation of the reel, a ball 51 in contact with the bearing 4, and a support member 52 having a concave portion for receiving the ball. The rotation support 5 is disposed, and the upper end of the support member 52 is
The bearing 4 and the reel rotating support 5 are constantly pressed toward the reel by a coiled compression spring 6 mounted around the support member. Upper flange 3
An uneven portion 35 is formed on the outer periphery of the case 1 and two brake mechanisms in which the shaft holes of the torsion coil spring 72 and the brake member 71 are fitted to the pins 13 and 14 provided at one diagonal portion in the case. When not in use, the brake member 71 is engaged with the uneven portion 35 on the peripheral portion of the upper flange 31 to prevent rotation of the reel. The leading end of the tape is attached to the leader member 9. The leader member 9 includes a central pin portion 91, engagement members 92 attached to upper and lower ends thereof, and a clamp member 93 for clamping the tape to the pin member 91. After the tape is wound around the center pin portion 91, the clamp member 93 is fixed by being fitted thereon. The leader member 9 is housed in a housing portion 11 near an inner surface of an opening provided on a side surface of the case. A rotating door member 81 is attached to the outside thereof. The door member 81 is pivotally attached to the pin 15 of the upper case 1,
5 is always biased in the closing direction by a torsion coil spring 84 mounted around the compression spring 83 when not in use.
Is locked by a door lock member 82 which is pushed downward. Note that an erroneous erasure prevention member 12 is housed in a part of the side of the case so as to be slidable along the side surface of the case.

FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the leader member 9 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The upper and lower engaging members 92-1 and 92-2 are made of a synthetic resin elongated member having the same structure with both ends formed in an arc shape, and a central pin member 91 made of a cylindrical pin for winding and clamping a magnetic tape. Are fixed integrally to both ends. Also, on the opposing surfaces of the engaging members 92-1 and 92-2, substantially right triangular engaging concave portions 94-1 and 94-2 cut from one side are formed so as to be mirror symmetric. These engagement recesses are adapted to engage with the tip pins or hook-like portions of the drawer member on the apparatus side as shown in FIG. Therefore, the depth of the engagement concave portion (the depth from the facing surface of the engagement member) is fixed, and the drawer member is guided. Engaging recesses 94-1 and 94-
Sliding sheets 95-1 and 95-2 are stuck to the bottom of 2 respectively.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the pull-out member 122. In FIG. 6 (a), a locking pin 123 is provided at the tip of a plate-like portion formed of a synthetic resin spring material such as PET. FIG. 6B has a locking hook 124 formed by bending the tip of a plate-shaped portion made of a synthetic resin spring material such as PET and permanently deforming it. Therefore, the shape of the engagement concave portion 94 is adapted to the shape of the drawer member on the device side,
The walls of the engagement recesses are tapered to facilitate mutual engagement.

The center pin member 91 and the engaging members 92-1 and 9
2-2 is integrated by resin molding. One way to achieve this is to use a center pin member 91 and an engagement member 92-1,
92-2, POM (polyacetal resin), PA
(Polyamide), a synthetic resin such as PC (polycarbonate), or a resin obtained by adding a reinforcing material selected from glass fibers, metals, and metal oxides to these resins, and integrally molding the material. Another method is that the central pin member 91 is a metal cylindrical pin, the engaging member is made of resin, and both ends of the central pin member are formed in a different shape other than a circle,
Then, the center pin member is disposed in a predetermined relationship with the resin molding die of the engagement member, and both ends of the center pin member are molded together with the engagement member. The sliding sheet is preferably made of a fluorine-based resin or ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene.

[0015]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the engaging member of the tape leader member is made of a resin material, the tape leader member and the drawer member can be smoothly engaged and disengaged. The operation of the recording / reproducing device can be made smooth.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a tape cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a conventional leader member.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a leader member according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional tape cartridge.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a relationship between a conventional leader member and a tape pull-out member.

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view showing an example of a tape pull-out member used in combination in the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Upper case 2 Lower case 3 Reel 4 Bearing 5 Reel rotation support 6 Compression spring 9 Leader member 31 Upper flange 32 Lower flange 33 Hub 34 Engaging tooth part 35 Irregularity part 51 Ball 52 Ball support member 71 Brake member 72 Torsion coil spring Reference Signs List 81 door member 82 door lock member 83 compression spring 84 torsion coil spring 91 central pin member 92-1, 92-2 engaging member 94-1, 94-2 engaging concave portion 95-1, 95-2 sliding sheet

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A case wherein a magnetic tape is wound in a case body.
In a tape cartridge in which two tape reels are rotatably housed, the leading end of the tape is fixed to a leader member, and the tape is pulled out from an opening provided in the case main body by a tape drawing member having a locking leading end of the device, the leader member is a tape member. A central pin member around which is wound, a pair of engaging members attached to upper and lower ends thereof, each having an engaging concave portion with which the drawer member is engaged, and a clamp member for fixing a tape to the central pin member, A lubricating layer is formed on a bottom surface of the engagement concave portion. 2. The lubricating layer, wherein the engaging member is molded from a resin selected from POM, PA, PC, or a resin obtained by adding a reinforcing material selected from glass fiber, metal, and metal oxide to these resins. 2. The tape cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a sliding sheet is attached.