JP2006018886A - Tape suction tool and apparatus for manufacturing magnetic tape cartridge equipped with it - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a tape suction tool for improving assembly precision by stably holding the condition of the posture of a leading end of a magnetic tape to which a leader pin (engagement member) is assembled. <P>SOLUTION: There are provided a block main body 22 for protruding the leading end 3A of the magnetic tape by a prescribed amount and for sucking and holding the magnetic tape 3 and a plurality of suction holes 25 formed on a tape holding surface 24 of the block main body 22 and for performing the vacuum suction of the tape surface of the magnetic tape 3, wherein the tape holding surface 24 is provided with slope parts 27 and 27 for curving the protruded part of the leading end 3A of the magnetic tape with respect to the tape width direction, on at least a part of the region where the suction holes 25 are formed. Accordingly, the warpage or the curl of the leading end 3A of the magnetic tape in a free state is prevented, and the posture condition is stably maintained so that the assembly accuracy of the leader pin is enhanced. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a tape adsorber suitable for use in manufacturing a magnetic tape cartridge, and more specifically, when an engaging member for pulling out a tape is assembled to the leading end of the magnetic tape, the posture state of the leading end of the magnetic tape is stably maintained. Thus, the present invention relates to a tape suction tool capable of assembling an engaging member with high accuracy and a manufacturing apparatus for a magnetic tape cartridge provided with the same.

  For example, in a single reel type magnetic tape cartridge for data storage, a magnetic tape is wound around a reel hub of a tape reel that is rotatably housed inside a cartridge case, and recording / reproduction is performed at the tip of the magnetic tape. An engaging member is attached to engage the tape drawing means of the apparatus and pull the magnetic tape out of the cartridge case.

  The engaging member varies depending on the type of the magnetic tape cartridge, and examples thereof include a pin-shaped metal part, a hook-shaped plastic part, and a plastic tape having an engaging hole. Some of the engaging members can be directly attached to the tip of the magnetic tape, and others can be attached to the other end of a transparent leader tape having one end joined to the tip of the magnetic tape.

  For example, a magnetic tape cartridge 1 schematically shown in FIG. 5 has a leader pin 4 assembled as an engaging member at the tip of a magnetic tape 3 wound around a tape reel (not shown) inside a cartridge case 2. Yes. As shown in FIG. 6, the leader pin 4 includes a metal pin member 5 around which the tip of the magnetic tape 3 is wound, and a synthetic resin having a substantially C-shaped cross section that fixes the tip of the magnetic tape 3 to the pin member 5. It is comprised with the assembly body with the clamper 6 made from.

  By the way, in the manufacture of this type of single reel type tape cartridge, conventionally, a supply unit for supplying a magnetic tape, a reel drive unit for rotatably supporting a tape reel stored in a cartridge case, and the supply unit are provided. A manufacturing apparatus is used that includes a tape adsorber that holds one end of a magnetic tape wound around a tape reel and an assembly unit that assembles an engagement member to a tape tip protruding from the tape adsorber (for example, the following) Patent Document 1).

  7A to 7C show the configuration of the tape adsorbing tool 7 in the conventional manufacturing apparatus, in which A is a plan view, B is a partially broken front view, and C is a side view as viewed from the front side of the magnetic tape. The tape adsorber 7 includes a block main body 8 having a uniformly flat tape holding surface 10, tape guides 9 and 9 provided on both sides of the block main body, and a plurality of adsorbers formed on the tape holding surface 10. And a hole 11. Each suction hole 11 is connected to a negative pressure source (not shown) via a negative pressure supply path 12 formed inside the block main body 8, and the magnetic tape 3 holds the tape through these suction holes 11. Vacuum suction is applied to the surface 10. Note that the tape thickness of the magnetic tape 3 is slightly exaggerated.

  The magnetic tape 3 wound around a tape reel (not shown) is adsorbed and held on the tape holding surface 10 with the tape tip 3A protruding from the tip of the block body 8 by a predetermined length L. As shown in FIG. 8, the assembly of the magnetic tape 3 and the leader pin 4 in the above assembly unit brings the pin member 5 close to the one surface side of the magnetic tape tip 3A in a free state and the clamper 6 to the magnetic tape. This is done by pressing against the pin member 5 from the other surface side of the tip 3A.

JP 2003-22648 A

  However, since the magnetic tape 3 has the property of easily curling (deforming) in the longitudinal direction of the tape due to the composition and other factors in the free state, when the magnetic tape 3 is attracted and held by the tape attracting tool 7, FIG. As shown by a two-dot chain line, the free end of the magnetic tape 3A may curl in the range of the length L, and a stable posture state may not be maintained. As a result, the assembly of the leader pin 4 is deteriorated. There is a problem.

  Even if the leader pin 4 can be assembled, the magnetic tape tip 3A cannot be stably maintained at the leader pin assembly position. Therefore, as shown schematically in FIG. As a result, the assembly position and the assembly angle of the leader pin 4 with respect to the product are varied among products, and the assembly accuracy is deteriorated and the assembly is poor.

  On the other hand, in order to avoid the occurrence of the above-described problem, it is not impossible to suppress the deformation of the magnetic tape tip 3A by shortening the length L of the magnetic tape tip 3A protruding from the suction block 7 as much as possible. However, as a result, the assembling property of the leader pin 4 in the assembling unit is impaired as the protruding length L of the magnetic tape tip 3A is shortened.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and includes a tape adsorber that can stably maintain the posture state of the tip of the magnetic tape to which the leader pin is assembled, and can improve the assembling property and the assembling accuracy. Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for manufacturing a magnetic tape cartridge.

  In solving the above-described problems, the present invention provides a block main body that holds a tape body by protruding a predetermined amount of the tape tip, and a plurality of vacuum suction formed on the tape holding surface of the block main body. A tape adsorbing device having an adsorption hole, wherein the tape holding surface is provided with an inclined portion that curves the protruding portion at the tip of the tape in the tape width direction in at least a part of the formation area of the adsorption hole. It is characterized by.

  The tape body sucked and held on the tape holding surface is deformed at an inclined portion on the tape holding surface, and a part or all of the leading end of the tape is bent in the tape width direction. As a result, it becomes possible to regulate the deformation (curl) in the tape longitudinal direction of the tape tip in a free state, and the posture state of the tape tip can be stabilized.

  Therefore, in the magnetic tape cartridge manufacturing apparatus provided with the tape adsorbing device having such a configuration, it is possible to always stably hold the posture state of the magnetic tape tip held by the tape adsorbing device. While improving the assembling property of the engaging member with respect to the tip of the magnetic tape, it is possible to suppress the variation in assembling accuracy and greatly contribute to the improvement of productivity.

  In addition, as an inclination part formed in a tape holding surface, it can form in the both sides of the edge part of the tape front end side of a tape holding surface, or it can form as a curved surface curved in the width direction of a tape holding surface. The bending direction may be convex on the upper surface side of the tape or convex on the lower surface side of the tape. Further, the suction holes need to be formed not only in the flat surface of the tape holding surface but also in the formation region of the inclined portion, but may be formed only in the inclined portion.

  According to the present invention, by providing the tape holding surface of the tape adsorber with the inclined portion that curves the protruding portion of the tape tip in the tape width direction, the posture state of the tape tip that is in a free state can be stably held. As a result, it is possible to improve the assembling performance of the engaging member with respect to the tip of the magnetic tape and improve the assembling accuracy, thereby reducing the quality variation between products and improving the productivity. Can contribute greatly.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment]
1A to 1C are views showing the configuration of the tape adsorbing tool 21 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in which A is a plan view, B is a partially broken front view, and C is a side view. 2A to 2C show a state in which the tape adsorber 21 holds the magnetic tape 3 by suction, where A is a plan view, B is a partially broken front view, and C is a view from the tip 3A side of the magnetic tape 3. FIG.

  The tape adsorber 21 includes a block main body 22 having a tape holding surface 24 on the upper surface, tape guides 23 and 23 provided on both sides of the block main body 22, and a plurality of suction holes 25 formed in the tape holding surface 24. And. Each suction hole 25 is connected to a negative pressure source (not shown) via a negative pressure supply path 26 formed inside the block body 22, and the magnetic tape 3 is connected to the tape through the suction holes 25. The surface is vacuum-sucked to the tape holding surface 24. Note that the tape thickness of the magnetic tape 3 is slightly exaggerated.

  The tape guide 23 is a guide portion for regulating the position of the magnetic tape 3 in the width direction with respect to the tape holding surface 24 of the block body 22, and a taper surface 23 a is provided on the inner side of the upper end.

  The tape holding surface 24 is formed in a flat shape as a whole, but in this embodiment, inclined portions 27 and 27 are formed on both sides of the end portion 22a region on the magnetic tape front end 3A side. At least one suction hole 25, 25 is distributed in each inclined portion 27, 27, and the magnetic tape 3 is configured to be held by suction on the inclined portion 27, 27 through the suction hole 25, 25. Due to the inclined portions 27, 27, part or all of the magnetic tape tip 3A is curved in the tape width direction, and curling (deformation) along the tape longitudinal direction is restricted.

  In the present embodiment, the inclined portions 27, 27 have a substantially triangular shape with a downward inclination in which the formation width gradually increases toward the end portion 22a side of the block main body 22 in plan view, and the inclination angle is The height difference between the flat portion of the tape holding surface 24 and the inclined portion 27 is about 10 mm at the maximum, but it is of course not limited to these configurations. In short, the magnetic tape 3 that is deformed and adsorbed by the inclined portion 27 does not have an adverse effect such as permanent distortion, and the assembly of the leader pin 4 to the magnetic tape tip 3A is not impaired (excessive magnetic tape It is only necessary that the inclined portion 27 is configured in a range in which the distal end 3A is not curved and deformed in the width direction.

  The tape adsorber 21 configured as described above is applied to a magnetic tape cartridge manufacturing apparatus 30 schematically shown in FIG. 3, for example. This manufacturing apparatus 30 is sucked and held by a tape suction tool 21 and a cartridge holding part 33 having a reel drive part 32 for rotatably supporting a tape reel 15 inside the cartridge 2. An assembly unit 34 for assembling a leader pin 4 as an engaging member composed of a pin member 5 and a clamper 6 to the tip 3A of the magnetic tape 3 is provided.

  The tape adsorber 21 is integrally fixed to a rotation arm 36 that rotates about a rotation shaft 35, and is rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise from the initial position indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. It can be turned to a turning position indicated by a solid line in the figure. The assembling unit 34 is disposed at a position directly below the tape adsorbing tool 21 located at the rotation position. The assembling unit 34 brings the pin member 5 close to the one surface side of the magnetic tape tip 3A, and the clamper 6 in addition to the magnetic tape tip 3A. The leader pin 4 is assembled by pressing against the pin member 5 from the surface side.

  Further, the tape adsorbing tool 21 is aligned and arranged in an adsorption block 37 that adsorbs and holds the magnetic tape 3 fed from the supply unit 31 at the initial position. The suction block 37 is configured to be slidable in the left-right direction in FIG. 3, and a groove 39 into which the cutter portion of the cutter unit 37 for cutting the magnetic tape 3 enters is provided on the upper surface thereof. An area closer to the supply unit 31 than the groove 39 is an attracting surface 37 a that attracts and holds the magnetic tape 3.

  In the magnetic tape cartridge manufacturing apparatus 30 configured as described above, the suction block 21 is initially located at the initial position. The magnetic tape 3 fed out from the supply unit 31 is wound around the rotating tape reel 15 by the drive of the reel drive unit 32. After the magnetic tape 3 having a predetermined length is wound around the tape reel 15, the rotation of the tape reel 15 is stopped, and the magnetic tape 3 is sucked and held by the suction block 37 and the tape suction tool 21.

  Then, after the magnetic tape 3 is cut by the cutter unit 38 and the suction block 37 is retracted in the direction away from the tape suction tool 21, the tape suction tool 21 moves the one end side of the magnetic tape 3 wound around the tape reel 15. In the state of being sucked and held, it is turned to the turning position.

  At this time, one end side of the magnetic tape 3 wound around the tape reel 15 is projected by a predetermined length L from the end portion 22a of the block main body 22 of the tape adsorber 21 as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. It is held on the tape holding surface 24 of the tape adsorber 21. As shown in FIG. 2C, the magnetic tape tip 3A protruding from the tape adsorbing tool 21 is bent and deformed toward the lower surface of the tape by the inclined portions 27 and 27 formed on the tape holding surface 24. Curved in the width direction. Thereby, the warp or curl along the longitudinal direction of the magnetic tape tip 3A in a free state is restricted, and the hanging posture from the tape adsorbing tool 21 is stably maintained.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, since the posture state of the magnetic tape tip 3A can be stably maintained, the pin unit is used when the leader pin 4 is assembled to the magnetic tape tip 3A in the assembling unit 34. 5 (clamper 6) and the relative position of the magnetic tape tip 3A can always be kept constant, so that the assembly performance of the leader pin 4 can be improved and the assembly failure rate can be greatly reduced as compared with the prior art. At the same time, the assembly accuracy can be improved, and a high-quality magnetic tape cartridge can be manufactured with high productivity.

[Second Embodiment]
4A to 4C are views showing the configuration of the tape adsorbing tool 41 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, in which A is a plan view, B is a partially broken front view, and C is from the front end 3A side of the magnetic tape 3. FIG.

  The tape adsorbing tool 41 of the present embodiment has the same configuration as that of the first embodiment described above, and is provided on the block main body 42 having the tape holding surface 44 on the upper surface and on both sides of the block main body 42. And a plurality of suction holes 45 formed in the tape holding surface 44. Each suction hole 45 is connected to a negative pressure source (not shown) via a negative pressure supply path 46 formed inside the block main body 42, and the magnetic tape 3 is connected to the tape through the suction holes 45. The surface is vacuum-sucked to the tape holding surface 44. Note that the tape thickness of the magnetic tape 3 is slightly exaggerated.

  In the present embodiment, the tape holding surface 44 is generally formed of a curved surface curved in the width direction so that the upper side is convex, and this curved surface forms the “inclined portion” of the present invention. It is composed.

  That is, when the magnetic tape 3 is attracted and held on the tape holding surface 44, the magnetic tape 3 is bent in the tape width direction following the curved surface of the tape holding surface 44, whereby the end 42 a of the block main body 42. A part or the whole of the magnetic tape tip 3A protruding from the tape by a predetermined length L is curved in the tape width direction.

  Therefore, the present embodiment can provide the same effects as those of the first embodiment described above, and can stably maintain the posture state of the magnetic tape 3A in the free state. By suppressing warping or curling along the longitudinal direction of the magnetic tape 3A, it is possible to improve the assembly accuracy with the leader pin (engaging member), and to manufacture a high-quality magnetic tape cartridge with high productivity.

  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-described embodiment, the tape adsorbers 21 and 41 are formed with the inclined portions 27 and 44 so as to bend the magnetic tape tip 3A in the width direction so that the upper surface side is convex. An inclined portion may be formed to bend the tape tip 3A in the width direction so that the lower surface side is convex.

  In the above embodiment, the magnetic tape cartridge manufacturing apparatus 30 as shown in FIG. 3 has been described as an example, but the configuration of the manufacturing apparatus 30 is not limited to this. For example, when an engaging member is assembled to one end of a magnetic tape wound around a tape reel via a transparent leader tape, a tape splice for joining the leader tape and the leader tape to the magnetic tape. A unit is provided.

  In this case, the leader tape is sucked and held at the tip of the tape sucking tool by a predetermined amount, and the engaging member is assembled to the protruding tip. At this time, by applying the present invention to the tape adsorbing tool, it is possible to suppress the warp or curl of the leading end of the leader tape and perform an appropriate assembling operation.

  Furthermore, the tape adsorber of the present invention is not limited to being used as a tape adsorber for a magnetic tape or a leader tape, but can also be used as a posture holder such as another plastic tape or paper tape.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the tape adsorption | suction tool 21 by the 1st Embodiment of this invention, A is a top view, B is a partially broken front view, C is a side view. The state in which the tape adsorbing tool 21 sucks and holds the magnetic tape 3 is shown, A is a plan view, B is a partially broken front view, and C is a side view as viewed from the front end 3A side of the magnetic tape 3. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a magnetic tape cartridge manufacturing apparatus 30. FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of the tape adsorber 41 by the 2nd Embodiment of this invention, A is a top view, B is a partially broken front view, C is the side view seen from the front-end | tip 3A side of the magnetic tape 3. FIG. . 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a magnetic tape cartridge 1. FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the engaging member assembled | attached to 3 A of magnetic tape front-end | tips. It is a figure which shows the structure of the conventional tape suction tool, A is a top view, B is a partially broken front view, C is a side view. It is a front view explaining the assembly | attachment process of the engaging member with respect to the magnetic tape front-end | tip. It is a side view explaining the variation of the assembly | attachment precision of the engagement member with respect to a magnetic tape front-end | tip.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Magnetic tape cartridge, 2 ... Cartridge case, 3 ... Magnetic tape, 3A ... Magnetic tape front-end, 4 ... Leader pin (engagement member), 5 ... Pin member, 6 ... Clamper, 15 ... Tape reel, 21, 41 ... Tape adsorber, 22, 42 ... Block body, 24, 44 ... Tape holding surface, 25, 45 ... Adsorption hole, 30 ... Magnetic tape cartridge manufacturing apparatus, 31 ... Supply unit, 32 ... Reel drive unit, 33 ... Cartridge holding 34, assembly unit.

Claims (6)

A tape adsorber comprising a block main body that holds a tape body by protruding a predetermined amount of the tape tip, and a plurality of suction holes that are formed on the tape holding surface of the block main body and vacuum-adsorb the tape surface of the tape body. And
The tape adsorbing device, wherein the tape holding surface is provided with an inclined portion that bends the protruding portion at the tip of the tape in the tape width direction in at least a part of the suction hole forming region. The tape adsorber according to claim 1, wherein the inclined portion is formed on both sides of an end portion of the tape holding surface on the tape front end side. The tape adsorber according to claim 1, wherein the inclined portion is a curved surface that is curved in a width direction of the tape holding surface. A supply unit that supplies magnetic tape, a reel drive unit that rotatably supports a tape reel, a tape adsorber that holds one end of a magnetic tape wound around the tape reel from the supply unit, and a protrusion from the tape adsorber In an apparatus for manufacturing a magnetic tape cartridge comprising an assembly unit for assembling an engaging member for pulling out a tape at the leading end of the tape,
The tape adsorber includes a block main body that holds a tape body by protruding a predetermined amount of the tape tip, and a plurality of suction holes that are formed on the tape holding surface of the block main body and vacuum-adsorb the tape surface of the tape body. ,
An apparatus for manufacturing a magnetic tape cartridge, wherein the tape holding surface is provided with an inclined portion that bends the protruding portion of the tip of the tape in the tape width direction at least in a part of the suction hole forming region. . The magnetic tape cartridge manufacturing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the inclined portion is formed on both sides of an end portion of the tape holding surface on a tape front end side. The magnetic tape cartridge manufacturing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the inclined portion is a curved surface that is curved in a width direction of the tape holding surface.

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