JP2004139684A - Magnetic tape cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a magnetic tape cartridge having structure by which automation of work for attaching a curved door to a case can be realized easily. <P>SOLUTION: A magnetic tape cartridge MC is provided with: a curved slide door 3 for opening and closing a magnetic tape draw out opening 1C; a guide groove 1b engaging with this slide door 3 freely slidably; a door side spring fixing part 32b formed at an end part of the slide door 3; a case side spring fixing part 1c formed at the bottom plane 1a of the cartridge case 1; and a coil spring 4 attached between the door side spring fixing part 32c and the case side spring fixing part 1c. The magnetic tape cartridge MC is further provided with a spring placing mount 5 for positioning the coil spring 4 of which the one end is attached to the case side spring fixing part 1c to a prescribed position and supporting it. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a magnetic tape cartridge having a curved door.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In general, as an external recording medium for data backup such as a computer, there is a magnetic tape cartridge in which a single reel on which a magnetic tape is wound is stored (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-265560 (FIG. 2)
[0004]
There are various types of magnetic tape cartridges. In recent years, in order to reduce the storage space of each device in the magnetic tape drive, an opening is formed at the corner of the cartridge case, and this opening is curved. A door that can be opened and closed with a closed door has been developed. In such a magnetic tape cartridge, in order to open and close the curved door, the door is slidable with respect to the case, and pin-like projections are provided on the case and the door, and a tension coil spring is applied therebetween. Thus, a structure is conceivable in which the door is normally urged in the closing direction, and an operation protrusion formed on the outer surface of the door is appropriately operated from outside to open and close. As a method of automating the door assembly work in such a structure, first the door is set in the guide groove formed in the case, and then both ends are sandwiched between the door protrusion and the case protrusion by the robot hand. A method of assembling the coiled springs is conceivable.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the assembling method as described above, if the door set first is wobbled, the position of the protrusion is displaced, and the assembling work of the coil spring becomes difficult, and there is a possibility that the automation becomes difficult. Further, if the clearance between the door and the projection of the case is small, it becomes difficult to insert the robot hand for attaching the tip of the coil spring between them, and there is a possibility that automation thereof becomes difficult.
[0006]
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a magnetic tape cartridge having a structure capable of easily realizing the work of attaching a curved door to a case.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention that has solved the above problems has an opening for pulling out a magnetic tape formed at a corner of a cartridge case composed of two halves, a curved door that opens and closes the opening, and a bottom surface of the cartridge case. A guide groove formed and slidably engaged with the door; a door-side spring hook formed at an end of the door; a case-side spring hook formed at the bottom of the cartridge case; and the door A magnetic tape cartridge provided with a coil spring attached over a side spring hook and the case side spring hook to bias the door so as to close the door, the coil having one end attached to the case side spring hook The cartridge case is provided with a spring mount on which a spring can be positioned and placed at a predetermined position.
[0008]
According to the present invention, for example, one end of the coil spring is attached to the case-side spring hook portion in the half by a robot hand, and the coil spring is supported by the spring mount. Next, engage the door side spring hook of the door supported by the robot hand with the other end of the coil spring positioned in place by this spring stand, and install the door in the guide groove while extending the coil spring Let In this way, by supporting the coil spring with one end attached to the case side spring hook in advance by the spring mount, it is not necessary to set the door in the guide groove first, so the problem caused by the wobbling of the door as in the past Is resolved. Further, since it is not necessary to insert the robot hand into a narrow gap between the door set in advance and the case-side spring hook, it is possible to easily realize the automation of the operation of attaching the door and the coil spring.
[0009]
Further, it is desirable that the spring mount is formed so as to be inclined so that a tip end thereof is positioned below with respect to an expansion / contraction direction when the coil spring is used.
[0010]
According to this structure, the coil spring that expands and contracts between the door-side spring hanging portion and the case-side spring hanging portion when actually operating the door in the cartridge case that has been assembled is provided with an inclined spring holder. There is no interference with the stand. Thereby, since the movement of the coil spring is not disturbed by the spring mount, the door can be opened and closed satisfactorily.
[0011]
Furthermore, it is preferable that the door-side spring hook is formed to extend toward the half on the side where the spring mount is provided in a state where the door is assembled to the cartridge case.
[0012]
According to this structure, for example, when the door-side spring hook is engaged with the other end of the coil spring on the lower half spring holder, the door-side spring hook faces the spring holder, that is, downward. Therefore, the engagement work between the door and the coil spring can be easily performed.
[0013]
Moreover, it is desirable that the door-side spring hanging portion bends toward the opening direction side of the door.
[0014]
According to this structure, when the front end of the door-side spring hook is engaged with the other end of the coil spring and pulled, the other end of the coil spring extends along the bent and inclined portion of the door-side spring hook. Rise. Therefore, the other end of the coil spring can be reliably set at a predetermined position of the door side spring hook. Instead of bending the front end portion of the door side spring hook portion in this way, for example, the portion that comes into contact with the coil spring at the time of assembly is changed to an inclined surface that inclines away from the coil spring toward the front end of the door side spring hook portion. It may be formed.
[0015]
Furthermore, it is desirable to provide a groove (a groove such as a U-shape or a V-shape) for restricting the coil spring at a predetermined position on the spring mount.
[0016]
According to this structure, the coil spring can be reliably positioned at a predetermined position.
[0017]
In addition, it is preferable that the spring mount is formed with such a length that the other end of the mounted coil spring protrudes.
[0018]
According to this structure, since the other end of the coil spring protrudes from the spring mount, the door spring mount does not hit the spring mount when the other end is engaged with the other end. The engaging operation can be performed smoothly.
[0019]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The details of the magnetic tape cartridge according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the drawings to be referred to, FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the entire magnetic tape cartridge according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a main part enlarged arrow view of the lower half of FIG. It is a principal part expanded arrow line view which shows the state which installed the coil spring in the spring stand. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the sliding door of FIG. 1 as viewed from the inside, FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view (a) showing a process of engaging the sliding door with the other end of the coil spring, and while pulling the coil spring. It is an expanded sectional view (b) which shows the process of attaching a slide door to a guide groove.
[0020]
As shown in FIG. 1, the magnetic tape cartridge MC includes a reel 2 having a magnetic tape MT wound therein, a curved slide door 3, and a cartridge case 1 divided into an upper half 1 </ b> A and a lower half 1 </ b> B. A coil spring 4 that mainly biases the slide door 3 in the normally closing direction is mainly provided. Here, “upper half 1A, lower half 1B” refers to the upper half at the time of assembly as “upper half 1A”, and the lower half as “lower half 1B”.
[0021]
The cartridge case 1 has a substantially rectangular shape in plan view and is formed obliquely so that one corner is chamfered, and a magnetic tape outlet (opening) 1C for drawing the magnetic tape MT to this corner. Is formed across the upper half 1A and the lower half 1B. Further, the cartridge case 1 has a curved guide groove 1b in which the slide door 3 is slidably attached to the bottom surface 1a of the lower half 1B, and a case-side spring hook which is a pin-like protrusion to which the coil spring 4 is attached. 1c is formed. Similarly to the lower half 1B, the upper half 1A is also formed with guide grooves and protrusions (not shown) corresponding to the guide grooves 1b and the case-side spring hooks 1c.
[0022]
As shown in FIG. 2, a spring stand 5 is formed integrally with the base end of the case-side spring hook 1c on the bottom 1a of the lower half 1B. The spring mount 5 has a groove 51 formed on its upper surface in order to position and support the coil spring 4 with one end attached to the case side spring hook 1c (see FIG. 3). The groove 51 is formed with a radius R that is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the coil spring 4. Further, the upper surface of the spring mount 5 is formed to be inclined so as to gradually fall with distance from the case-side spring hook 1c. Moreover, this spring stand 5 is formed in such a length that the ring 4b at the other end of the mounted coil spring 4 protrudes (see FIG. 3).
[0023]
As shown in FIG. 1, the slide door 3 is formed in a plate shape in which the outer surface 31 is curved in a convex shape and the inner surface 32 is curved in a concave shape when assembled in the cartridge case 1. Further, on the upper and lower end edges, sliding projections 33 are formed which are slidably engaged with the guide grooves 1b of the upper and lower halves 1A and 1B. On the outer surface 31, there is formed an operation protrusion 31a exposed from an operation opening 1d formed in the cartridge case 1 (upper half 1A) in order to open and close the slide door 3 from the outside.
[0024]
As shown in FIG. 4, a leader pin L (see FIG. 1) attached to the tip of the magnetic tape MT is attached to the front end portion (end portion on the closing direction side when assembled) on the inner surface 32. A stopper 32a is formed to hold it in a closed state, and a door-side spring hook 32b is formed at the rear end. The door side spring hook 32b is formed to extend downward from the rear end of the slide door 3 and then protrude downward. The spring hook 32b is formed so that the rear surface (portion in contact with the coil spring) of the tip 32c is inclined backward as it goes to the tip.
[0025]
And as shown in FIG. 1, this slide door 3 is normally urged | biased in the closing direction by the coil spring 4 attached over the door side spring hook part 32b and the case side spring hook part 1c of the lower half 1B, It is structured to open and close the magnetic tape outlet 1C of the cartridge case 1 by being appropriately moved in the opening direction by the operation protrusion 31a.
[0026]
The coil spring 4 is a tension coil spring, and as shown in FIG. 3, ring portions 4a and 4b formed in a substantially ring shape are provided at both ends thereof. The ring portions 4a and 4b do not need to be formed into a complete ring shape, and may have any shape as long as the ring portions 4a and 4b are hooked to the door side spring hook portion 32b and the case side spring hook portion 1c.
[0027]
Next, a method of assembling the slide door 3 and the coil spring 4 to the lower half 1B will be described.
First, using a robot hand RH (see FIG. 5) to be described later, as shown in FIG. 3, the coil spring 4 is inserted into the case-side spring hook 1c while the ring portion 4a at one end thereof is inserted into the spring stand 5 Place on top. Next, as shown in FIG. 5A, the robot door RH grips the slide door 3 with its rear side inclined downward and inserts it into the lower half 1B, and the door side spring hook 32b. Is inserted into the ring portion 4 b at the other end of the coil spring 4.
[0028]
Then, the sliding door 3 is moved against the urging force of the coil spring 4 while returning the posture to the rear end side of the guide groove 1b with the leading end portion 32c hooked on the ring portion 4b. Go. In this way, when the posture of the slide door 3 is returned to the horizontal state, the rear surface of the distal end portion 32c becomes a surface inclined toward the coil spring 4 as it goes upward. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5B, the ring portion 4b at the other end rises along the rear surface of the tip end portion 32c and is set at a predetermined position, and the assembly operation of the slide door 3 and the coil spring 4 is performed. finish.
[0029]
According to the above, the following effects can be obtained in the present embodiment.
(1) Since the slide door 3 is attached to the guide groove 1b while the door side spring hook 32b is engaged with the ring part 4b at the other end of the coil spring 4 positioned at a predetermined position by the spring mount 5, Such a problem caused by setting the door in the guide groove in advance can be solved, and the door and coil spring can be easily automated. Further, according to the method in which the door-side spring hook 32b is hooked on the coil spring 4 installed in advance on the spring mount 5 and the slide door 3 is assembled in the guide groove 1b, both ends of the coil spring are connected to the two robot hands as in the prior art. As compared with the method of assembling while pulling, the assembling work can be performed with one robot hand, and the cost can be reduced accordingly.
(2) Since the spring mount 5 is formed to be inclined, the coil spring 4 that expands and contracts in the horizontal direction in accordance with the opening / closing operation of the slide door 3 does not interfere with the spring mount 5. Therefore, since the coil spring 4 functions normally without being obstructed by the spring mount 5, the opening / closing operation of the slide door 3 can be performed satisfactorily.
[0030]
(3) Since the door-side spring hook portion 32b facing downward may be inserted into the ring portion 4b of the coil spring 4 from above, the engagement operation between the slide door 3 and the coil spring 4 is facilitated.
(4) When the front end portion 32c of the door side spring hook 32b is engaged with the ring portion 4b of the coil spring 4 and pulled, the ring portion 4b rises along the inclined portion of the front end portion 32c. The spring 4 can be reliably set at a predetermined position of the door side spring hook 32b.
[0031]
As mentioned above, this invention is implemented in various forms, without being limited to the said embodiment.
(I) In the present embodiment, the rear side of the front end portion 32c of the door-side spring hook portion 32b is bulged, and the rear surface is inclined to raise the ring portion 4b at the other end of the coil spring 4. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, you may form so that the part of the front end side of the door side spring hook part formed so that it may protrude below may be bent back. Even in this case, when the coil spring is pulled by the door side spring hook portion, the rear surface of the door side spring hook portion is inclined to the coil spring side as it goes upward, so that the other end of the coil spring is brought to a predetermined position. Can be raised.
[0032]
(Ii) In the present embodiment, the door-side spring hook portion 32b is provided with an inclined portion to raise only the other end of the coil spring 4. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the cutout of the coil spring may be reliably prevented by providing a notch at the upper end of the inclined portion formed on the door side spring hook, that is, the position where the coil spring is to be set.
(Iii) In this embodiment, the groove 51 formed on the upper surface of the spring mount 5 is formed with a radius R that is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the coil spring 4, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the coil Any shape may be used as long as the other end of the spring 4 can be positioned.
[0033]
(Iv) In this embodiment, the half in which the operation opening 1d is formed is the upper half 1A, and the opposite half is the lower half 1B. However, this relationship may be reversed. However, it goes without saying that in any case, it is necessary to provide a support base on the lower half side (the half that is lower when assembled).
(V) Further, it is desirable that the spring mount 5 is formed inside the position of the coil spring 4 when the slide door 3 is opened to the maximum. By forming in this way, interference between the coil spring 4 and the spring mount 5 can be prevented without tilting the spring mount 5.
[0034]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, the door is attached to the guide groove while the door side spring hook is engaged with the other end of the coil spring positioned at a predetermined position by the spring mount, so that the conventional door is used as the guide groove. Problems caused by setting in advance can be solved, and automation of the door and coil spring mounting operation can be easily realized.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an entire magnetic tape cartridge according to the present invention.
2 is an essential part enlarged arrow view of the lower half of FIG. 1 viewed from the direction of arrow X. FIG.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a main part showing a state where a coil spring is installed on the spring mount of FIG. 2;
4 is an enlarged perspective view of the sliding door of FIG. 1 as viewed from the inside.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view (a) showing a step of engaging the slide door with the other end of the coil spring, and an enlarged cross-sectional view (b) showing a step of attaching the slide door to the guide groove while pulling the coil spring. .
[Explanation of symbols]
MC Magnetic tape cartridge MT Magnetic tape 1A Upper half 1B Lower half 1a Bottom surface 1b Guide groove 1c Case side spring hook 1C Magnetic tape outlet (opening)
3 Sliding door 32b Door side spring hook 32c Tip 4 Coil springs 4a, 4b Ring 5 Spring holder 51 Groove

Claims (1)

An opening for pulling out the magnetic tape formed at the corner of the cartridge case composed of two halves;
A curved door that opens and closes this opening;
A guide groove formed on the bottom surface of the cartridge case and slidably engaged with the door;
A door-side spring hook formed at an end of the door;
A case-side spring hook formed on the bottom surface of the cartridge case;
A magnetic tape cartridge comprising a coil spring attached over the door side spring hook and the case side spring hook, and biased to close the door,
The magnetic tape cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge case is provided with a spring mount on which the coil spring having one end attached to the case-side spring hook can be positioned and placed at a predetermined position.

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