JP2006179059A - Magnetic tape cartridge and its driving method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a magnetic tape cartridge and its driving method capable of collecting and cleaning a stain stuck on a recording/reproducing head and also capable of eliminating the sticking of the stain on a turn back part of a magnetic tape by arranging a stain sticking means at a beginning region or a terminal region of the magnetic tape. <P>SOLUTION: This magnetic tape cartridge is constituted so that a running tape 15 wound round a reel 13 is incorporated in the cartridge case 11, and the stain sticking means 19 is prepared for making a minute foreign matter to be stuck and held at least to either one of the beginning region and terminal region in a magnetic tape area 17 for carrying out a data recording/reproducing operation of the running tape 15, then a servo signal is recorded by the stain sticking means 19. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a magnetic tape cartridge incorporating a magnetic tape capable of cleaning a magnetic head of a magnetic tape drive apparatus and a driving method thereof.

  Conventionally, when a magnetic tape cartridge and a magnetic tape drive device are used for a long time, it has been pointed out that a phenomenon occurs in which magnetic powder or the like is dropped from the magnetic tape due to friction between the magnetic tape and the magnetic head. When the dropped magnetic powder or the like adheres to, for example, the vicinity of the magnetic head, a so-called spacing loss that separates the magnetic tape from the surface of the magnetic head occurs to deteriorate the electromagnetic conversion characteristics. Moreover, when it adheres to the guide part of a driving | running | working system, there existed concern that a magnetic tape might prevent traveling a regular tape path.

  These phenomena induce performance deterioration of the magnetic tape drive such as a decrease in reproduction output level and an increase in error rate. In order to recover this performance deterioration, a cleaning operation is performed in which a wrapping tape or a cleaning tape having high polishing power is run on a magnetic head or guide in the same manner as a magnetic tape.

  As an example of conventional cleaning means, a lever on which a cleaning member such as a brush is implanted is pivotally supported on a head mounting base in which a magnetic head and a tape guide are integrated, and the lever is driven by an appropriate drive source. A device that turns and removes magnetic particles, dust, and the like adhering to the front surface of the magnetic head by a cleaning member provided inside a hanging portion in front is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 05-67318 A

  However, in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, a magnetic head cleaning brush is provided on the drive side, which cleans dirt adhering to the magnetic head to the last, and is a starting end area (BOT: Beginning of Tape) of the magnetic tape. ) And the end region (EOT: End of Tape), it is troublesome because it is impossible to remove the dirt and the cleaning tape needs to be used for cleaning each time.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to adsorb and clean dirt adhering to the recording / reproducing head, and to provide dirt adhering means at the start end area or the end area of the magnetic tape. It is an object of the present invention to provide a magnetic tape cartridge and a driving method thereof that can prevent dirt from adhering to the folded portion of the magnetic tape.

The above object of the present invention can be achieved by the following constitution.
(1) A magnetic tape cartridge in which a running tape wound around a reel is built in a cartridge case, and at least one of a start end area and an end end area among magnetic tape areas for recording and reproducing data on the running tape. A magnetic tape cartridge characterized in that a dirt adhering means for adhering and holding minute foreign matter is provided, and the dirt adhering means records a servo signal.

  In this magnetic tape cartridge, dirt adhering to the recording / reproducing head is adsorbed by dirt adhering means provided in at least one of the start end area and the end area of the magnetic tape area where data recording / reproduction of the running tape is performed. In addition to being able to clean, the dirt sticking means is placed in the start or end area of the magnetic tape, so that dirt that tends to accumulate on the folded part of the magnetic tape can be securely attached without dropping, and other parts will become dirty. You can avoid it.

  (2) The magnetic tape cartridge according to (1), wherein the dirt adhering means is a cleaning tape having a cleaning layer formed on a support.

  In the magnetic tape cartridge configured as described above, the dirt can be more reliably attached and held by the dirt attaching means in which the cleaning layer is formed on the support.

  (3) A method for driving a magnetic tape cartridge, wherein the end of the tape is pulled out from the magnetic tape cartridge of (1) or (2) filled in the drive device, and the recording / reproducing head of the drive device detects the servo signal. The tape is wound around the take-up reel of the drive device, and after the servo signal is detected from the tape by the recording / reproducing head, the tape is run for a predetermined period to record data from a position outside the start end area. A method of driving a magnetic tape cartridge, characterized by starting reproduction.

  In the method of driving the magnetic tape cartridge configured as described above, since the recording / reproducing of data is started after the cleaning by the dirt adhering means is completed, the recording / reproducing head is always best before the recording / reproducing of the data. Therefore, it is possible to maintain high reliability for data recording / reproduction.

  (4) The magnetic tape cartridge drive according to (3), wherein when recording / reproducing data on the tape, the data recording / reproducing is stopped before the recording / reproducing head enters the terminal area. Method.

  In the driving method of the magnetic tape cartridge configured as described above, the data recording / reproduction can be kept highly reliable by stopping the data recording / reproduction before the tape enters the end region.

  According to the present invention, the recording / reproducing head can be kept clean by adsorbing the dirt adhering to the recording / reproducing head, and the magnetic tape head can be folded by disposing the dirt adhering means at the start end region or the end region of the magnetic tape. It is possible to prevent dirt from adhering to the part. The recording / reproducing head can be cleaned without making the user of the tape cartridge aware of it.

Preferred embodiments of a magnetic tape cartridge and a driving method thereof according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a magnetic tape cartridge used in an embodiment of a magnetic tape cartridge and a driving method thereof according to the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a magnetic tape cartridge 100 has a cartridge reel 13 rotatably incorporated in a cartridge case 11, and a running tape 15 is wound around and stored in the cartridge reel 13.

  The traveling tape 15 is provided with a leader tape 21 at the end of the magnetic tape region 17 where data is recorded / reproduced at the start end (BOT) via the start end side cleaning tape 19 which is one of the dirt adhering means. The start side cleaning tape 19 and the leader tape 21 are joined by a splice tape 23 based on a predetermined standard, and both the start side cleaning tape 19 and the magnetic tape region 17 are based on a predetermined standard in the same manner as described above. The splice tape 23 is joined.

Next, the terminal area of the running tape 15 will be described. FIG. 2 is a front view of the running tape 15.
As shown in FIG. 2, the traveling tape 15 has a terminal side cleaning tape 25, which is the other of the dirt adhering means, disposed in the terminal region (EOT) of the magnetic tape region 17. Is locked to the cartridge reel 13. In the running tape 15, the magnetic tape area 17 has a length L 1, and the running range is set to a length L 2 that is longer than the magnetic tape area 17 including the length L 1 of the magnetic tape area 17.

  The start and end side cleaning tapes 19 and 25 have a plurality of servo tracks 27 in the same manner as the magnetic tape region 17. Similarly to the start side cleaning tape 19, the end side cleaning tape 25 is joined to the end region of the magnetic tape region 17 by a splice tape (not shown) based on a predetermined standard.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion A in the running tape 15 of FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, the servo track 27 has a servo format corresponding to the recording / reproducing head (shown in FIG. 5) 29 in the magnetic layer. Since the position information can be extracted from the servo track 27, the start end region and the end region of the running tape 15 can be detected.

  As shown in Table 1, there are gaps between the leader tape 21 and the start side cleaning tape 19, the start end side cleaning tape 19 and the magnetic tape region 17, and the magnetic tape region 17 and the end side cleaning tape 25. It is in the range of 0 to 500 μm, the step of the joint is less than 500 μm, and the length of the splice tape 23 is 1 to 500 mm.

The physical property values of the start side cleaning tape 19 and the end side cleaning tape 25 are as shown in Table 2.
The start side and end side cleaning tapes 19 and 25 are formed by forming a cleaning layer on a support.
The cleaning layer can be a magnetic layer having a large surface roughness.
As the support, those conventionally used as support materials for magnetic tapes can be used, and nonmagnetic materials are particularly preferred. Examples of these include, in addition to the above, polyesters (eg, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), a mixture of polyethylene terephthalate and polyethylene naphthalate, polymerization containing an ethylene terephthalate component and an ethylene naphthalate component). Product), polyolefins (eg, polypropylene), cellulose derivatives (eg, cellulose diacetate, cellulose triacetate), polycarbonate, polyamide (especially aromatic polyamide, aramid), and polyimide (especially wholly aromatic polyimide). Can be mentioned. Among these, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is preferable.

  Next, a magnetic tape drive device that drives the magnetic tape cartridge 100 will be described. FIG. 4 is an external perspective view of the magnetic tape drive device, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the internal structure.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the magnetic tape drive device 200 has a cartridge inlet / outlet 33, an indicator 35, and an eject button 37 disposed on the front surface of the main body 31.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the magnetic tape drive device 200 includes a recording / reproducing head 29, a pair of guide rollers 39, 39, a take-up reel 41, and an arm 43.

Next, a method for driving the magnetic tape cartridge 100 will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a method of driving the magnetic tape cartridge 100, and FIGS. 7A to 7I are operation explanatory views.

  As shown in FIG. 7A, the control operation is started when the magnetic tape cartridge 100 is inserted from the cartridge inlet / outlet 33 (S101).

  As shown in FIG. 7B, the magnetic tape drive device 200 loaded with the magnetic tape cartridge 100 locks the leader tape 21 to the core of the take-up reel 41 by the arm 43 (see FIG. 5).

  As shown in FIG. 7C, the take-up reel 41 starts to rotate, and the tape is fed to the start end area BOT of the running tape 15 (S102). In the start end area BOT of the running tape 15, the servo track 27 of the start end side cleaning tape 19 is detected by the recording / reproducing head 29, and the tape is fed to the end of the start end side cleaning tape 19 (S103). As a result, the recording / reproducing head 29 is cleaned by the start end side cleaning tape 19.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 7D, when the cleaning by the start-end-side cleaning tape 19 is completed, recording (reproduction) on the magnetic tape area 17 is started by the recording / reproducing head 29 with an arbitrary operation pattern (S104). . The tape position corresponding to the recording / reproducing head 29 when the recording / reproducing is started is a portion out of the starting end area BOT of the tape.

  While recording on the magnetic tape area 17 is in progress, the position of the running tape 15 is grasped by detecting the servo track 27 of the magnetic tape area 17 by the recording / reproducing head 29. Therefore, it is determined from the servo signal whether or not the traveling tape 15 has passed a predetermined distance before the end region EOT (S105).

  If the running tape 15 has not passed the predetermined distance before the end area EOP, it is determined whether or not to continue recording on the magnetic tape area 17 (S106). If a predetermined distance before the area EOT is detected and not continued, the process proceeds to S109 described later, and the tape is rewound.

  Here, if the traveling tape 15 has passed a predetermined distance before the end region, the recording on the magnetic tape region 17 is terminated (S107).

  Then, as shown in FIG. 7E, the running tape 15 that has finished recording in the magnetic tape area 17 is further fed and temporarily stopped in the terminal area EOT (S108).

  Next, as shown in FIG. 7F, when the take-up reel 41 and the cartridge reel 13 start to return and rotate, the running tape 15 fed to the end region is rewound (S109).

  Then, as shown in FIG. 7G, when the winding by the cartridge reel 13 is completed, the leader tape 21 is removed from the core portion of the take-up reel 41 by the arm 43 (see FIG. 5) and stored in the cartridge case 11. Then, when the eject button 37 (see FIG. 4) is pressed, the magnetic tape cartridge 100 is ejected.

  As described above, according to the magnetic tape cartridge 100 of the present embodiment, the start-side cleaning tape 19 provided in the start-end area BOT and the end-area EOT in the magnetic tape area 17 that performs data recording / reproduction on the running tape 15. The end-side cleaning tape 25 provided on the recording / reproducing head 29 can adsorb and clean the dirt adhering to the recording / reproducing head 29. As a result, the dirt that tends to accumulate in the head folded portion of the magnetic tape region 17 can be reliably attached and held without dropping off.

  Further, according to the magnetic tape cartridge 100 of the present embodiment, the start and end side cleaning tapes 19 and 25 can be provided only by forming a cleaning layer on the support, and thus no complicated process is required. It can be produced at low cost.

  Further, according to the driving method of the magnetic tape cartridge 100 of the present embodiment, since the recording / reproducing of data is started after the cleaning by the start side cleaning tape 19 is completed, the recording / reproducing is performed before the recording / reproducing of the data. The head 29 can always be in the best state.

  Further, according to the driving method of the magnetic tape cartridge 100 of the present embodiment, the reliability of data recording / reproduction can be maintained high by stopping the data recording / reproduction before the running tape 15 enters the end region EOT.

In addition, this invention is not limited to embodiment mentioned above, A suitable deformation | transformation, improvement, etc. are possible.
For example, it is preferable to appropriately select and set the lengths of the start and end side cleaning tapes according to the characteristics of the applied recording / reproducing head. Further, the cleaning tape is not limited to both the start and end areas of the magnetic tape area as shown in the figure, and may be provided in at least one of the start and end areas of the magnetic tape area.

1 is an external perspective view showing a magnetic tape cartridge used in an embodiment of a magnetic tape cartridge and a driving method thereof according to the present invention. It is a front view of a running tape. It is the A section enlarged view in the running tape shown in FIG. It is a front view of a running tape. 1 is an external perspective view of a magnetic tape drive device. It is sectional drawing explaining the internal structure of a magnetic tape drive apparatus. It is a flowchart explaining the drive method of a magnetic tape cartridge. (A)-(g) is operation | movement explanatory drawing explaining the drive method of a magnetic tape cartridge.

Explanation of symbols

11 Cartridge Case 13 Cartridge Reel (Reel)
15 Traveling tape (tape)
19 Start side cleaning tape (dirt adhesion means)
25 Terminal cleaning tape (dirt adhesion means)
29 Recording / Reproducing Head 41 Take-up Reel 100 Magnetic Tape Cartridge 200 Magnetic Tape Drive Device (Drive Device)

Claims (4)

A magnetic tape cartridge in which a running tape wound around a reel is built in a cartridge case,
Of the magnetic tape area for data recording / reproduction on the running tape, at least one of a start end area and an end area is provided with a dirt adhering means for adhering and holding minute foreign matters, and the dirt adhering means outputs a servo signal A magnetic tape cartridge characterized by recording.   2. The magnetic tape cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the dirt adhering means is a cleaning tape having a cleaning layer formed on a support. A magnetic tape cartridge driving method comprising:
The tape end is pulled out from the magnetic tape cartridge according to claim 1 or 2 filled in the drive device, and the tape is taken up by the drive device while the recording / reproducing head of the drive device detects a servo signal. Wound around the reel,
A method of driving a magnetic tape cartridge, comprising: after a servo signal is detected from the tape by the recording / reproducing head, causing the tape to run for a predetermined period and starting data recording / reproducing from a position outside the starting end region.   4. The method of driving a magnetic tape cartridge according to claim 3, wherein when recording / reproducing data on the tape, the data recording / reproducing is stopped before the recording / reproducing head enters the terminal area.

Images