JP2003208773A - Magnetic tape cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate accurate positioning of a leader pin spring in a cartridge case and also to improve the workability of the calking operation by a welder. <P>SOLUTION: As to the magnetic tape cartridge, in which the leader pin spring 20 for restraining the leader pin 10 being fixed on an end part of a magnetic tape MT is constituted of a fixed part 22, a spring leg part 21 and a restraining part 23, and this leader pin spring 20 is fixed on a lower half 1A by penetrating a pin 32 projected from a lower half 1A through a small hole 25 formed on the fixed part 22 and melting down a tip of this boss 32, the fixed part 22 of the leader pin spring 20 is positioned with respect to the lower half 1A by at least two projecting parts 26, 26 arranged on the outside contour. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a magnetic tape cartridge having a single reel in a cartridge case, and using the leading end of the magnetic tape drawn out from the cartridge case. In particular, the present invention relates to a leader pin spring for attaching a leader pin of a magnetic tape to a cartridge case. 2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in a magnetic tape cartridge used as an external recording medium for data backup such as a computer, a single reel on which a magnetic tape is wound is a substantially square having a lower half and an upper half. In a flat cartridge case so as to be rotatable.
When using this magnetic tape cartridge, the tape pulling mechanism of the recording / reproducing device pulls out the magnetic tape from the cartridge case, and winds the drawn magnetic tape on the reel provided in the recording / reproducing device, thereby running the magnetic tape. Let Therefore, a magnetic tape cartridge containing a single reel of this type is provided with an outlet for pulling out the tip of the magnetic tape on the side wall of the cartridge case, and the tip of the magnetic tape or the leader tape connected thereto The leader pin with which the tape drawing mechanism is engaged is fixed by a clip. The leader pin is fixed to the magnetic tape by being wound around the tip of the magnetic tape and covering a C-shaped clip from above. The recording / reproducing apparatus uses a magnetic tape by hooking the leader pin and pulling out the magnetic tape. Accordingly, the leader pin becomes a portion to be engaged when the recording / reproducing apparatus pulls out the magnetic tape, and therefore needs to be held at a predetermined position in the magnetic tape cartridge. Therefore, in the conventional magnetic tape cartridge, the leader pin 105 is held by the leader pin spring 100 as shown in FIG. Leader pin spring 10
No. 0 is provided with a substantially rectangular fixing portion 102 at the base end portion of the elongated plate-like spring foot portion 101, and a locking portion 103 for locking a hook-shaped leader pin 105 at the distal end portion of the spring foot portion 101.
Is provided. The leader pin spring 100 is formed by press-molding a thin stainless plate or the like, and the spring foot 10
1 is formed to extend from the connecting portion 104 raised from the fixed portion 102 to be elongated. A small hole 102a into which a caulking pin 111 is inserted is formed at a position deviated to one side from the center of the fixed portion 102, and a positioning convex portion 102b is formed on one side far from the small hole 102a. . On the other hand, on the bottom surface 115a of the lower half 115 of the cartridge case made of resin to which the leader pin spring 100 is fixed, the fixing portion 102 of the leader pin spring 100 is provided.
Spring fixing part 110 composed of a concave part having a larger outer shape.
In the outer shape of the spring fixing portion 110, a positioning portion 112 that engages with the convex portion 102b of the fixing portion 102 is formed. The leader pin spring 100 is disposed near the side wall of the cartridge case. In such a conventional magnetic tape cartridge, the engagement between the pin 111 and the small hole 102a and the projection 10
The orientation of the leader pin spring 100 with respect to the lower half 115 is determined by the positioning of the two positions of engagement of 2b and the positioning portion 112. Then, after the leader pin spring 100 is arranged by engaging these two places, the tip of the pin portion 111 is melted and crushed with a horn or the like for ultrasonic welding, and the leader pin spring 100 is caulked and fixed. At this time, in order to improve the positioning accuracy, it is desirable that the two positioning portions are as far apart as possible. Therefore, even with the conventional leader pin spring, the convex portion 102b that becomes the positioning portion of the outer shape
Thus, a small hole 102a was formed at a position as far as possible. However, when the tip of the pin 111 is melted by a welding machine such as a horn for ultrasonic welding, a small hole 102a is formed near the center of the fixing portion 102 and penetrates through the small hole 102a. It is desirable that the pin 111 to be positioned is located.
This is because the spring fixing portion 110 has the bottom surface 11 of the lower half 115.
This is because the welding machine may run on the step of the spring fixing portion 110 when the small hole 102a and the pin 111 are positioned toward the end of the fixing portion 102 because it is one step lower in 5a. Also, since the side wall of the cartridge case is close, if the small hole 102a and the pin 111 are provided closer to the side wall, the welder may interfere with the side wall. And when the welding machine senses the ride or interference with the side wall,
Since it stops abnormally, if the small hole 102a and the pin 111 are positioned toward the end of the fixed portion 102, the production line frequently stops. The present invention has been made in view of these disadvantages. In the present invention, accurate positioning of the leader pin spring with respect to the cartridge case can be easily performed.
In addition, an object of the present invention is to provide a magnetic tape cartridge having a simple configuration that can improve the workability of the caulking operation by the welding machine. In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, the outlet of the magnetic tape wound on the reel extends over the upper half and the lower half on the side wall portion of the cartridge case. A leader pin spring for locking a leader pin fixed to an end of the magnetic tape or a leader tape connected to the magnetic tape is provided near the inside of the outlet, and the leader pin spring is a spring foot portion. A plate-like fixing portion formed at the base end portion of the spring, and a locking portion for locking the leader pin formed at the distal end portion of the spring foot portion, and the upper hole is formed in the small hole formed in the fixing portion. A magnetic tape cartridge in which the leader pin spring is fixed to the upper half or the lower half by melting and crushing the tip of the pin through a pin protruding from the half or the lower half, The fixed portion of the leader pin spring is positioned with respect to the upper half or the lower half by at least two concavo-convex shapes provided on the contour of the outer shape. According to such a magnetic tape cartridge, since there are at least two concavo-convex portions for positioning the contour of the outer shape of the fixed portion of the leader pin spring, the leader pin spring for the upper half or the lower half is formed by these concavo-convex portions. Can be accurately determined.
Therefore, the positions of the caulking pins and the small holes have a high degree of freedom. For example, if the small hole is arranged near the center of the fixing portion, the welding machine is less likely to climb on the step of the spring fixing portion during caulking, and the workability of the caulking operation can be improved. Further, it is desirable that the two or more concavo-convex portions are arranged at positions farthest from each other in the contour of the outer shape of the fixed portion. By disposing as far as possible, the position and orientation of the leader pin spring can be accurately determined. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a magnetic tape cartridge showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part of FIG. 1. The magnetic tape cartridge of the first embodiment is a magnetic tape cartridge compliant with the so-called LTO standard, and as shown in FIG. 1, the inside of a cartridge case 1 divided into a lower half 1A and an upper half 1B. A single reel 2 pre-wrapped with a magnetic tape MT,
Formed on one side wall of the cartridge case 1 across the lock plate 3 and the compression coil spring 4 for locking the rotation of the reel 2, the release pad 5 for releasing the locked state of the reel 2, the lower half 1A and the upper half 1B A sliding door 6 for opening and closing the magnetic tape outlet 1C,
A torsion coil spring 7 for biasing the slide door 6 to the closed position of the magnetic tape outlet 1C, an erroneous erasure preventing claw 8, a cartridge memory chip 9 and the like are incorporated. The reel 2 has a cup-shaped hub 2A opened to the upper half 1B side in the center, and the release pad 5, the lock plate 3 and the compression coil spring 4 are sequentially assembled in the cup-shaped hub 2A. . A flange 2B is welded to the opening side of the cup-shaped hub 2A of the reel 2. Further, the end portion of the magnetic tape MT wound around the reel 2 is wound around the leader pin 10 and fixed by the clip 11. As shown in FIG. 2, in the vicinity of the inside of the magnetic tape outlet 1C of the lower half 1A, a leader pin which is a concave portion having a substantially U-shape in plan view is formed at a portion facing the magnetic tape outlet 1C of the bottom surface 1D. A storage unit 1E is formed. And
Leader pin 1 on the U-shaped arc of the leader pin storage 1E
In order to hold the leader pin 10 with a predetermined load when 0 is received, the mountain-shaped engaging portions 23, 2 of the leader pin spring 20 are provided.
3 protrudes from the side. As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the leader pin spring 20 has a connecting portion 24 which is vertically raised from one side of a rectangular fixing portion 22 and is directed from the connecting portion 24 toward the leader pin storage portion 1E. And horizontally elongated spring feet 2
1 extends. At the tip of the spring foot portion 21, a mountain-shaped locking portion 23 formed by bending into a hook shape is formed. Further, a small hole 25 is formed in the center of the fixed portion 22, and rectangular convex portions 26 and 26 are formed on the short sides facing the fixed portion 22 so as to protrude from the vicinity of the center of each short side in a plan view. ing. All these parts are formed by press-molding a single metal plate. In addition, the convex parts 26 and 26 are corresponded to the uneven | corrugated shaped part said to a claim. On the bottom surface 1D of the lower half 1A, a fixing portion 22 is provided.
The spring fixing portion 30 is formed of a concave portion having an outer shape that is slightly larger than the shape. That is, the outer shape of the spring fixing portion 30 is rectangular in plan view. From the vicinity of the center of the short side of the spring fixing portion 30, there are formed positioning portions 31, 31 that are concave portions that protrude outward in plan view and are one step lower than the bottom surface 1D. These positioning parts 31, 3
1 is formed at a position where it engages with the convex portions 26 and 26 when the fixing portion 22 is disposed on the spring fixing portion 30. Also,
A pin 32 slightly larger than the small hole 25 is provided at a position corresponding to the small hole 25 at the center of the spring fixing portion 30.
It protrudes perpendicularly from D. In FIG. 2, the pin 32 is shown in a state before being crimped. In the magnetic tape cartridge having such a structure, when the leader pin spring 20 is attached to the spring fixing portion 30 of the lower half 1A, the convex portions 26, 26 and the positioning portions 31, 31 are engaged, and the small hole 25 is formed. Although the pin 32 is fitted, the positioning of the leader pin spring 20 with respect to the lower half 1A is mainly performed by the two convex portions 26, 26, and the small hole 2
5 serves only for caulking with the pin 32. Moreover, since the two projecting portions 26 and 26 are disposed at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the fixed portion 22, unlike the conventional positioning by one projecting portion and a small hole, the positioning portion is the farthest 2 It is ensured at a location, and more accurate positioning can be easily performed. Of course, the convex portions 26 can be provided near the diagonal corners of the fixed portion 22. Further, after the pin 32 is fitted in the small hole 25, the head of the pin 32 is crushed by the tip (not shown) of the welding machine to fix the leader pin spring 20 to the spring fixing portion 30. Since the pin 32 is located at the center of the spring fixing portion 30, there is an advantage that it is easy to bring the tip of the welding machine to the position of the pin 32. Therefore, as in the conventional case, the small hole 25 is located in the vicinity of the end portion of the fixed portion 22,
As in the case where the pin 32 and the step of the outer shape of the spring fixing portion 30 or the side wall of the cartridge case 1 are close to each other,
It is possible to greatly reduce the probability that the tip of the welding machine contacts the step or the side wall due to the operation error of the welding machine and the welding machine stops abnormally, and it is possible to suppress the occurrence of defective products as much as possible. Therefore, since the operation accuracy of the welding machine is not required so severely, workability of the welding operation can be improved. Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in this embodiment, the protrusions 26 and 26 for positioning the leader pin spring 20 are provided one at each end in the longitudinal direction of the fixed portion 22, but 2 on one side of both ends in the longitudinal direction.
If the number of convex portions is further increased moderately, such as by providing one at the other end, a more accurate positioning becomes possible. Further, in the present embodiment, convex portions 26 and 26 projecting outward in a plan view are formed in the outer shape of the fixing portion 22, and the positioning portion 3 corresponding to the spring fixing portion 30 is formed.
1 and 31 are provided, but in the outer shape of the fixing portion 22, a concave portion recessed inward in a plan view is provided, and the spring fixing portion 30.
A positioning portion corresponding to this can also be formed. As described in detail above, according to the present invention, since there are at least two concave and convex portions for positioning the contour of the outer shape of the fixed portion of the leader pin spring, The position and orientation of the leader pin spring with respect to the upper half or the lower half can be accurately determined. Also,
The degree of freedom of the position of the caulking pin and the small hole is increased, and the workability of the caulking operation of the welding machine can be improved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a magnetic tape cartridge showing an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part of FIG. FIG. 3 is a plan view of a leader pin spring. FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view showing a conventional magnetic tape cartridge. [Explanation of Symbols] 1 Cartridge Case 1A Lower Half 1B Upper Half 10 Leader Pin 20 Leader Pin Spring 21 Spring Foot Part 22 Fixing Part 23 Locking Part 25 Small Hole 26 Protruding Part 31 Positioning Part 32 Pin

Claims (1)

1. An outlet for a magnetic tape wound on a reel is provided in a side wall portion of a cartridge case across an upper half and a lower half, and in the vicinity of the inside of the outlet, A leader pin spring for locking a leader pin fixed to the end of the magnetic tape or the leader tape connected thereto is provided, and the leader pin spring is a plate-like fixing portion formed at the base end of the spring foot. And a locking portion that locks the leader pin formed at the tip of the spring foot,
A magnetic tape cartridge in which the leader pin spring is fixed to the upper half or the lower half by passing a pin protruding from the upper half or the lower half through a small hole formed in the fixing portion and melting and crushing the tip of the pin. The magnetic tape cartridge is characterized in that the fixed portion of the leader pin spring is positioned with respect to the upper half or the lower half by at least two concavo-convex shapes provided on the contour of the outer shape.