JP2005310216A - Tape cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a tape cartridge having a reel support structure capable of suppressing generation of foreign objects caused by sliding contact between a tape reel and a lower shell due to vibration or the like when the cartridge is not used. <P>SOLUTION: In the tape cartridge having an opening 30 formed in a lower shell 12 to expose a chucking gear 19 formed in the bottom surface center of a tape reel 14 to the outside, the upper surface 43a of a reel support part 43 for supporting the bottom surface of the tape reel 14 formed in the cartridge case inner side peripheral edge of the opening 30 is roughened to be made a non-surface contact structure with respect to the bottom surface of the tape reel 14. Consequently, sliding resistance between the reel support part 43 and the tape reel 14 is reduced to suppress the generation of foreign objects caused by sliding contact. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a tape cartridge having a tape reel on which a magnetic tape is wound inside a cartridge case. More specifically, a drive engagement portion formed at a central portion of a lower surface of a tape reel is outwardly provided at a central portion of a lower shell. The present invention relates to a support structure for the lower surface of a tape reel that has an opening that is exposed to the inner periphery of the cartridge case and is provided on the inner periphery of the cartridge case.

  For example, conventionally, a tape drive device (recording / reproducing device) that records and reproduces information by pulling out a magnetic tape from a tape cartridge that houses a single tape reel wound with a magnetic tape as a tape-like recording medium. Are known. This type of tape drive is often used for data backup in systems that handle large amounts of data such as computer servers.

  Now, in this type of tape cartridge having a single tape reel, the cartridge case is formed by connecting the upper shell and the lower shell with a screw member or the like, and the tape reel on which the magnetic tape is wound is the cartridge case. Is housed in a rotatable manner. At the center of the lower surface of the tape reel, a chucking gear (drive engagement portion) that engages with the reel rotation drive shaft of the tape drive device is formed in an annular shape, and this chucking gear is exposed to the outside of the cartridge. Is formed at the center of the lower shell (see Patent Document 1 below).

  FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the main part of this type of conventional tape cartridge, and shows the relationship between the lower shell 1 and the tape reel 2. Both the lower shell 1 and the tape reel 2 are made of an injection molded body of a synthetic resin material. The illustration of the magnetic tape wound around the tape reel 2 is omitted.

  The tape reel 2 has a reel hub 2a serving as a core of the magnetic tape, a lower flange 2b formed integrally with the reel hub 2a, and an upper flange 2c joined to the upper end of the reel hub 2a. A chucking gear 3 is formed in an annular shape at the center of the lower surface of the tape reel 2, and an opening 4 for exposing the chucking 3 to the outside of the cartridge is formed in the lower shell 1.

  Although not shown, a bearing member is mounted inside the reel hub 2a of the tape reel 2 so as to be rotatable with respect to the cartridge case, and a bearing cap is disposed on the bearing member. Further, a reel spring (reel urging member) for urging the tape reel 2 toward the lower shell 1 is mounted between the bearing cap and the inner surface of the upper shell. When the tape cartridge is used, the tape reel 2 is lifted to the inner center side of the cartridge case against the biasing force of the reel spring with the reel rotation drive shaft of the recording / reproducing apparatus engaged with the chucking gear 3. Thus, it can be driven to rotate.

  On the other hand, when the tape cartridge is not used, the tape reel 2 is pressed against the lower shell 1 under the urging force of the reel spring so that the tape reel cannot easily move relative to the cartridge case. At this time, the lower surface of the tape reel 2 is supported in contact with the upper surface of a reel support portion 5 formed along the inner periphery of the cartridge case inside the opening 4 of the lower shell 1 as shown in the figure. The reel support portion 5 is formed of an annular rib projecting along the periphery of the opening 4 and supports the outer peripheral position of the chucking gear 3 on the lower surface of the tape reel 2 on the flat upper surface.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-30752

  However, in the conventional tape cartridge configured as described above, the surface between the upper surface of the reel support portion 5 and the lower surface of the tape reel 2 that contacts the reel support portion 5 is in a surface contact state. When the tape reel 2 is in sliding contact with and interferes with the reel support portion 5, scratches may occur on the lower surface of the tape reel 2, or abrasion powder may be generated due to wear of the tape reel 2 or the reel support portion 5.

  In particular, the generation of wear powder causes the wear powder to scatter in the cartridge case and adhere to the magnetic tape, leading to dropout during recording and playback, and possibly causing damage to the magnetic tape. A reel support structure that does not generate any foreign matter is preferable in terms of ensuring reliability.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a tape cartridge having a reel support structure capable of suppressing the generation of foreign matter due to sliding contact between a tape reel and a lower shell caused by vibration or the like when the cartridge is not used. The task is to do.

  In solving the above-mentioned problems, the tape cartridge of the present invention has a non-surface contact structure with respect to the lower surface of the tape reel, thereby reducing the contact area between the tape reel and the reel support. The sliding resistance between the two is reduced, and the generation of abrasion powder during sliding contact is suppressed.

  In particular, in the present invention, the reel support portion is an annular rib projecting along the inner periphery of the cartridge case at the opening of the lower shell, and the upper surface of the annular rib is roughened. .

  In the present invention, the reel support portion is composed of a plurality of curved projections that protrude along the inner periphery of the cartridge case at the opening of the lower shell.

  According to the tape cartridge of the present invention, the configuration of the reel support portion that supports the lower surface of the tape reel when not in use has a non-surface contact structure with respect to the lower surface of the tape reel. It is possible to reduce the sliding resistance with respect to the portion, thereby effectively suppressing the generation of foreign matter such as abrasion powder during sliding contact, and improving the reliability of the tape cartridge.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, an example in which the present invention is applied to a data storage magnetic tape cartridge used for computer data backup will be described.

[First Embodiment]
1 to 4 show the configuration of a tape cartridge according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the tape cartridge C of the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the internal configuration of the lower shell 12, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the entire tape reel 14, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing a relationship between a lower shell 12 and a tape reel 14. FIG.

  First, the overall configuration of the tape cartridge C will be described.

  The tape cartridge C includes a magnetic tape 20 in a cartridge case 13 formed by joining an upper shell 11 and a lower shell 12 made of a synthetic resin material such as polycarbonate resin using a plurality of screw members 40. Is configured to rotatably accommodate a single tape reel 14 wound thereon.

  The tape reel 14 includes a reel hub 15 on which a magnetic tape 20 having a transparent leader tape 21 connected at one end is wound with the magnetic surface facing inward, an upper flange 41 joined to the upper end of the reel hub 15, and a hub. 15 and a lower flange 42 integrally formed at the lower end of 15. The tape reel 14 is formed of a synthetic resin material such as polyoxymethylene (POM) or acrylonitrile styrene copolymer (AS).

  The tape reel 14 has a ring-shaped bearing member 16 that is press-fitted and fixed to the inner peripheral portion of the reel hub 15. A bearing cap 17 is disposed on the bearing member 16, and the bearing cap 17 and the upper shell are arranged. 11 is pressed against the lower shell 12 side by a reel spring 18 provided between the inner surface and the center of the inner surface. The reel spring 18 is formed of a cylindrical coil spring, and corresponds to the “reel biasing member” of the present invention.

  A chucking gear 19 serving as a drive engagement portion that engages with the reel rotation drive shaft of the tape drive device is formed at the center of the lower surface of the tape reel 14 (FIG. 3B). The chucking gear 19 is exposed to the outside through an opening 30 formed at the center of the lower shell 12.

  When the tape cartridge C is not used, the tape reel 14 cannot be rotated by the pair of reel lock members 25 and 26 urged by the reel lock springs 23 and 24. That is, the tape reel 14 is made non-rotatable by the meshing portions 25a and 26a formed on the reel lock members 25 and 26 meshing with the reel lock gear 27 formed on the outer peripheral edge of the lower flange 42 thereof. ing. The reel lock springs 23 and 24 and the reel lock members 25 and 26 are rotatably attached to support shafts 28 and 29 erected on the inner surface of the lower shell 12, respectively.

  When not in use, the magnetic tape 20 is completely wound on the tape reel 14. The leading end of the leader tape 21 has a clamper 36 on one side surface of a leader block 32 arranged so as to close a tape outlet 35 formed on the front surface of the cartridge case 13 from the inner side of the cartridge case 13. Connected through. The leader block 32 is positioned in a storage portion 37 inside the outlet 35 while being elastically supported by a substantially U-shaped spring member (leader block spring) 31.

  On the other hand, when the tape cartridge C is used in the tape drive device, the reel rotation drive shaft on the tape drive device side is raised and engaged with the chucking gear 19, and the reel rotation drive shaft is further raised. The tape reel 14 is lifted to a substantially central position of the cartridge case 13. Then, the reel lock release plug on the tape drive device side is inserted into the reel lock release hole of the cartridge case 13 so that the reel lock members 25 and 26 are unlocked and the tape reel 14 can be rotated. . Then, the leader block 32 is pulled out from the outlet 35 by the chucking mechanism on the tape drive device side, and the magnetic tape 20 is drawn out of the cartridge case 13 while being in contact with the cartridge pin 22 and receiving a guide action.

  The tape cartridge C is provided with a safety tab 33 for preventing erroneous recording and erroneous erasure on the magnetic tape 20. The safety tab 33 is slidably provided on the back surface of the cartridge case 13 opposite to the surface on which the drawing port 35 is formed. In addition, a memory substrate 34 with a non-contact type IC memory is accommodated inside the back surface of the cartridge case 13, and information recorded on the magnetic tape 20, for example, is read / written by communication with the tape drive device. It has come to be.

  Transparent window members 38A and 38B for detecting the tape end are respectively provided on the side surfaces of the cartridge case 13 facing in the direction perpendicular to the insertion direction into the tape drive device.

  Next, how the tape reel 14 is supported by the lower shell 12 when the cartridge is not used will be described.

As shown in FIG. 2, the lower shell 12 is provided with a reel support portion 43 formed of an annular rib along the inner periphery of the cartridge case on the opening 30. As shown in FIG. 4, when the tape cartridge C is not in use, the reel support portion 43 lowers the lower flange 42 of the tape reel 14 pressed against the lower shell 12 under the bias of the reel spring 18. It is formed at a height that can be opposed to the inner surface of the shell 12 via a gap S having a predetermined size.
In addition, although the inner peripheral surface of the reel support part 43 is connected with the peripheral surface part 30a of the opening 30, these boundaries may be discontinuous. Further, in FIG. 4, illustration of components such as the upper shell 11, the reel spring 18, and the magnetic tape 20 is omitted.

  On the other hand, on the outer side of the chucking gear 19 formed at the center of the lower surface of the tape reel 14, an annular raised portion 44 having the same axial center as the annular chucking gear 19 is provided on the lower surface of the lower flange 44. (Fig. 3B, Fig. 4). The outer diameter of the raised portion 44 is formed to be slightly smaller than the opening diameter of the opening portion 30 of the lower shell 12, and when the cartridge is not used, the raised portion 44 is formed in the opening portion 30 as shown in FIG. It is mated. Further, the height of the raised portion 44 is set to a height that does not protrude from the outer surface of the lower shell 12 in a state where the raised portion 44 is fitted in the opening 30. A rib structure 39 is provided between the chucking gear 19 and the raised portion 44 to contact the upper end of the reel rotation drive shaft and constitute a reference surface for the rotation posture of the tape reel 14.

  The peripheral surface 30a of the opening 30 is a mortar-shaped tapered surface whose opening diameter decreases from the inner side to the outer side of the cartridge, and the outer peripheral surface of the raised portion 44 substantially corresponds to this tapered surface. The taper of the angle to do is given. This facilitates the fitting operation of the raised portion 44 to the opening 30 following the tapered surface, for example, the rotation operation of the tape reel by the reel rotation drive shaft is stopped and the engagement with the chucking gear 19 is released. In some cases, the tape reel 14 biased by the reel spring 18 can be regulated to a normal posture in which the raised portion 44 is fitted into the opening 30.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the tape reel 14 receives the urging force of the reel spring 18 when the cartridge is not in use, and is positioned on the periphery of the opening 30 of the lower shell 12 at a position on the outer peripheral side of the raised portion 44. It is in contact with and supported by the upper surface of the formed reel support portion 43. In the present embodiment, the upper surface 43a of the reel support portion 43 is a roughened surface having a predetermined roughness.

  As described above, by roughening the upper surface 43a of the reel support portion 43 that contacts the lower surface of the tape reel 14, the lower surface of the tape reel 14 and the upper surface 43a of the reel support portion 43 have a non-surface contact structure. Thus, it is possible to reduce the sliding resistance between the tape reel 14 and the reel support portion 43 by providing a contact area reduction effect.

  Thereby, for example, even if the tape reel 14 is slidably contacted with the reel support portion 43 due to vibration during transportation of the cartridge, the lower surface of the tape reel 14 may be scratched, or the tape reel 14 or the reel support portion 43 may be damaged. It is possible to avoid the generation of wear powder due to the wear. Therefore, damage to the magnetic tape due to adhesion of foreign matter such as wear powder to the magnetic tape and the occurrence of dropout during recording and reproduction can be prevented, and the reliability of the tape cartridge C can be improved.

  In roughening the upper surface 43a of the reel support portion 43, the mold forming surface is processed to obtain the upper surface 43a as a textured surface at the same time as the molding of the lower shell 12, but instead, While the flat upper surface 43a is formed immediately after molding, it is possible to roughen the surface to a predetermined roughness by a chemical process or a blast process in a subsequent process.

  Further, the roughness of the upper surface 43a of the reel support portion 43 is not particularly limited, and is about 15 μm in the present embodiment.

  Furthermore, not only the upper surface 43a of the reel support portion 43 but also the opening peripheral surface 30a including the inner peripheral surface of the reel support portion 43 may be similarly roughened. As a result, the peripheral surface 30a of the opening has a non-surface contact structure with respect to the outer peripheral surface of the raised portion 44 that forms the lower surface of the tape reel, and therefore, between the peripheral surface 30a and the outer peripheral surface of the raised portion 44. It becomes possible to reduce sliding resistance, and generation | occurrence | production of the abrasion powder in these sliding contact parts can be avoided now.

[Second Embodiment]
5 and 6 show a second embodiment of the present invention. Here, FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the internal configuration of the lower shell 12, and FIG.
In the figure, the same reference numerals are given to portions corresponding to those in the first embodiment, and the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of curved projections 45 are provided along the cartridge case inner peripheral edge of the opening 30 of the lower shell 12, and the plurality of curved projections 45 are provided. The reel support portion is configured to support the lower surface of the tape reel 14 when the cartridge is not used.

  As shown in FIG. 6, each curved projection 45 constituting the reel support portion has a lower flange 42 of the tape reel 14 that is pressed against the lower shell 12 under the bias of the reel spring when the cartridge is not used. Is formed at such a height that it can be opposed to the inner surface of the lower shell 12 via a gap S of a predetermined size. In FIG. 6, the components such as the upper shell, the reel spring, and the magnetic tape are not shown.

  In the present embodiment, the curved projections 45 constituting the reel support portion are arranged at five equal intervals on the same circumference along the cartridge case inner peripheral edge of the opening 30. Not limited. That is, the number of formations is not limited to a case where the number of formations is increased or decreased, and the formation intervals are not equal, and the formation positions may not be on the same circumference.

  Further, the curvature of the curved projection 45 can be arbitrarily adjusted, and may be spherical or aspherical. In short, any shape that does not damage the tape reel 14 and allows the lower surface of the tape reel 14 to slide smoothly may be used.

  The configuration of the tape reel 14 and the configuration of the peripheral surface 30a of the opening 30 are the same as those in the first embodiment described above, and a description thereof is omitted here.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the tape reel 14 is formed on the periphery of the opening 30 of the lower shell 12 at a position on the outer peripheral side of the raised portion 44 when the cartridge is not used. The reel support part 45 is in contact with and supported by the tip of the reel support part 45. At this time, the lower surface of the tape reel 14 and the reel support portion 45 have a non-surface contact structure (substantially point contact), thereby bringing about a contact area reduction effect and sliding between the tape reel 14 and the reel support portion 45. Resistance can be reduced.

  Thereby, for example, even when the tape reel 14 is slidably contacted with the curved projection 45 due to vibration during transport of the cartridge, the lower surface of the tape reel 14 may be scratched or the tape reel 14 or the reel support portion 45. It is possible to avoid the generation of wear powder due to the wear. Therefore, as in the first embodiment described above, the magnetic tape is prevented from being damaged due to adhesion of foreign matter such as abrasion powder to the magnetic tape or the like, and the occurrence of dropout during recording / reproduction is prevented, and the reliability of the tape cartridge is improved. Can be increased.

  As mentioned above, although each embodiment of this invention was described, of course, this invention is not limited to these, A various deformation | transformation is possible based on the technical idea of this invention.

  For example, in the above embodiment, a single reel type tape cartridge has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention is also applicable to a two reel type tape cartridge in which a pair of tape reels are accommodated inside a cartridge case. Is applicable.

It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the structure of the tape cartridge C by the 1st Embodiment of this invention. 2 is a perspective view showing an internal configuration of a lower shell 12. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the entire tape reel 14. FIG. A is a view seen from the upper flange 41 side, and B is a view seen from the lower flange 42 side. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the main part showing the relationship between the lower shell 12 and the tape reel 14 when the cartridge is not used. It is a perspective view which shows the structure inside the lower shell 12 in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the main part showing the relationship between the lower shell and the tape reel shown in FIG. 5 when the cartridge is not used. It is principal part sectional drawing which shows the relationship between the lower shell and tape reel of the conventional tape cartridge at the time of cartridge non-use.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Upper shell, 12 ... Lower shell, 13 ... Cartridge case, 14 ... Tape reel, 15 ... Reel hub, 18 ... Reel spring (reel biasing member), 19 ... Chucking gear (drive engagement part), 20 ... Magnetic Tape, 30 ... opening, 30a ... peripheral surface of opening, 41 ... upper flange, 42 ... lower flange, 43 ... reel support, 43a ... upper surface (roughened surface) of reel support, 45 ... reel support (curved surface) C-shaped tape protrusion).

Claims (4)

A cartridge case formed by joining an upper shell and a lower shell, a tape reel wound with a magnetic tape and rotatably accommodated in the cartridge case, and the tape provided in the cartridge case A reel biasing member that biases the reel toward the lower shell, a drive engagement portion that is formed at the center of the lower surface of the tape reel and that engages with the reel rotation drive shaft of the recording / reproducing device, and is formed on the lower shell. In a tape cartridge comprising: an opening that exposes the drive engagement portion to the outside; and a reel support portion that is formed on a cartridge case inner peripheral edge of the opening to support the lower surface of the tape reel.
The reel cartridge has a non-surface contact structure with respect to the lower surface of the tape reel. The tape cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a peripheral surface of the opening has a non-surface contact structure with respect to a lower surface of the tape reel. 2. The tape cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the reel support portion is an annular rib that protrudes along a cartridge case inner peripheral edge of the opening and has a roughened upper surface. 2. The tape cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the reel support portion includes a plurality of curved protrusions protruding along a cartridge case inner periphery of the opening. 3.

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