JP2007311025A - Magnetic tape cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it possible to insert a leader pin into a case even when the insertion path of the leader pin into the case is deviated due to variation, etc., based on the error of the inserting position of the leader pin by a recording and reproducing device, in a magnetic tape cartridge where a single reel with a magnetic tape wound thereon is housed rotatably in a cartridge case and the leader pin for drawing out the tape fixed to the tip part of the magnetic tape is held attachably and detachably in the case in the mode of engaging flanges on both of its upper and lower ends by energizing force applied from a lateral side by a latch spring fixed in the case. <P>SOLUTION: The inclination angle α of the introducing face 31 of a latch spring 30 abutting on the flange 5c of the leader pin 5 with respect to the inserting direction of the leader pin 5 at a contact point with the flange 5c is set to be 30°±5°. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a magnetic tape cartridge in which a single reel on which a magnetic tape is wound is rotatably accommodated in a cartridge case, and in particular, a leader pin for pulling out a tape fixed to the tip of the magnetic tape is provided in the cartridge case. It is related with the structure of the latch spring hold | maintained so that attachment or detachment is possible.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a magnetic tape cartridge used as a recording medium used in an external storage device such as a computer, a cartridge in which a single reel wound with a magnetic tape as disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1 is rotatable. A type housed in a case is known. In this type of magnetic tape cartridge, the leader pin for drawing out the tape fixed to the tip of the magnetic tape is locked by a biasing force applied from the side by a latch spring fixed in the case. In an aspect, the apparatus is configured to be detachably held in the case.

  FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are a longitudinal sectional view of a main part showing the structure of the leader pin holding part described in Patent Document 1 and a plan view with a part in cross section.

  5 and 6, the cartridge case 4 made of synthetic resin is composed of an upper half 2 and a lower half 3 which are coupled to each other, and a leader pin 5 for loading is fixed to the end in the cartridge case 4. A single reel (not shown) around which a magnetic tape is wound is accommodated rotatably. An opening 8 for pulling out the magnetic tape is formed on one side wall of the cartridge case 4, and a slide door 20 that is movable in a direction parallel to the side wall of the cartridge case 4 is attached to the opening 8. . The slide door 20 is urged in a direction to close the opening 8 by a door spring (not shown).

  A leader pin storage recess 9 is formed in the vicinity of the opening 8 of the magnetic tape cartridge. When the magnetic tape cartridge is not used, the leader pin 5 is inserted into the reel in a state where the magnetic tape is completely wound on the reel. A latch spring 30 for detachably holding in 9 is attached.

  Then, as the magnetic tape cartridge is loaded into the recording / reproducing apparatus such as an external recording apparatus, the slide door 20 is opened, the leader pin 5 is pulled out by the robot arm provided in the recording / reproducing apparatus, and the magnetic tape is run on the tape. By being drawn into a predetermined position on the path, data can be read from and written to the magnetic tape.

  As is apparent from FIG. 5, the leader pin 5 is provided with a shaft-like tape clamp portion 5 a that is wound around the tip of the magnetic tape and clamped by fitting a clamp member 5 e having a C-shaped cross section. Thin plate-like flanges 5d and 5d are connected to both upper and lower ends of the clamp part 5a. Further, on the axially outer side of the flanges 5d and 5d, thin shaft parts 5d and 5d that are engaged and held by the robot arm of the recording / reproducing apparatus. Columnar flanges 5c and 5c are formed with a gap therebetween.

  The latch spring 30 has a shape as shown in FIG. 7 and is composed of a leaf spring sandwiched between the upper and lower halves 2 and 3, and the flanges 5 c and 5 c at the upper and lower ends of the leader pin 5 are formed on the upper and lower halves 2 and 3. Both flanges 5c and 5c are configured to be detachably held by a latch spring 30 while being inserted into the leader pin storage recess 9 respectively.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the latch spring 30 having a substantially U-shaped planar shape and formed vertically symmetrically has a pair of arm portions 30b extending substantially parallel to the back plate 30c from the upper and lower ends of the connecting base portion 30a. , 30b, and holding portions 30d of the leader pin 5 are provided at the tips of the upper and lower arm portions 30b, 30b, respectively, and the upper and lower arm portions 30b, 30b are notched, and only the holding portion 30d is the leader. The pin 5 is formed so as to come into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the flange 5c from the side. Each holding portion 30d protrudes in a mountain shape, and a leader pin introduction surface 31 (FIG. 6) forming an inclined surface is formed on the distal end side of the holding portion 30d. When the leader pin 5 is held by the robot arm and inserted into the case 4, the introduction surface 31 first comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the flange 5 c of the leader pin 5 and is pushed by the flange 5 c to be latch spring 30. The arm portion 30b is elastically biased laterally and allows the leader pin 5 to be inserted into the recess 9. As shown in FIG. 6, the flange 5 c of the leader pin 5 that has passed through the introduction surface 31 is elastically pressed and held on the wall surface behind the recess 9 by the holding portion 30 d.

Further, in this type of latch spring 30, the upper and lower edges of the connecting base 30 a and the back plate 30 c are sandwiched and fixed by the upper and lower halves 2 and 3 as the upper and lower halves 2 and 3 are fastened. .
JP 11-242870 A

  By the way, when the state when the leader pin 5 is inserted into the case 4 from the opening 8 is observed in detail, it is as shown in the explanatory view of FIG.

  The leader pin storage recess 9 is formed by linear guide wall surfaces 9a and 9b for guiding the flange 5c of the leader pin 5 to the back of the recess 9 when the leader pin 5 is inserted into the case 4, and the radius of the flange 5c. And a semicircular holding wall 9c having a slightly large diameter.

  Originally, the leader pin 5 has a central axis S passing through the center of curvature P of the semicircular holding wall 9c at the back of the concave portion 9 and along the center line L1 perpendicular to the side surface on the opening 8 side of the case 4. When the flange 5c of the leader pin 5 abuts on the leader pin introduction surface 31 at the tip of the latch spring 30, the arm portion 30b is laterally pushed by the introduction surface 31 being pushed by the flange 5c. The flange 5c that is displaced to the left (the left side of the drawing) and allows insertion of the leader pin 5 into the recess 9 is inserted into the recess 9 after passing through the introduction surface 31. The holding portion 30d is elastically pressed and held on the holding wall surface 9c of the recess 9.

  However, the center axis S of the leader pin 5 is deviated from the center line L1 of the recess 9 to the left and right due to variations in the relative position between the magnetic tape cartridge loaded in the recording / reproducing apparatus and the robot arm on the recording / reproducing apparatus side. Since it may be inserted into the recess 9, the opening 8 side of the recess 9 is widened, and the guide wall surfaces 9 a and 9 b are inclined surfaces that open outward, so that the central axis S of the leader pin 5 is the center line Even when the leader pin 5 is inserted in a state deviated from L1, the guide wall surfaces 9a and 9b are configured to guide the flange 5c so that the center axis S is directed to the center of curvature P of the holding wall surface 9c.

  However, since the position of the introduction surface 31 of the latch spring 30 also varies, as shown in FIG. 8, the flange 5c of the leader pin 5 is guided by the guide wall surface 9a on the latch spring 30 side. When inserted into the case, the arm portion 30b of the latch spring 30 is not laterally displaced only by the introduction surface 31 being pushed by the flange 5c, so that the insertion of the leader pin 5 into the case 4 is impossible. The inconvenience of becoming may occur.

  The introduction surface 31 of the latch spring 30 is provided so as to have a predetermined inclination angle α ′ with respect to the straight line L2 parallel to the center line L1, and in the past, this inclination angle α ′ is set to 55 °. It had been. Since the angle between the guide wall surface 9a on the latch spring 30 side of the recess 9 and the straight line L2 is set to 10 °, the angle β ′ formed between the introduction surface 31 and the guide wall surface 9a on the latch spring 30 side is It was 45 °.

  Therefore, when the flange 5c of the leader pin 5 is guided by the guide wall surface 9a and is inserted into the recess 9, the arm portion 30b is laterally moved even if the introduction surface 31 of the latch spring 30 is pushed by the flange 5c. This caused the inconvenience that it might not be displaced.

  In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a variation based on an insertion position error when a leader pin is inserted into a magnetic tape cartridge by a member on the recording / reproducing apparatus, and a variation in a position of an introduction surface of a latch spring. It is an object of the present invention to provide a latch spring structure that can always smoothly insert a leader pin into a cartridge case regardless of the above.

According to the present invention, a single reel on which a magnetic tape is wound is rotatably accommodated in a cartridge case, and a leader pin for pulling out a tape fixed to the leading end of the magnetic tape is provided in the case with respect to both ends. The latch spring is detachably held in the case by a biasing force applied from the side by a latch spring provided on the side, and the latch spring is laterally moved by the leader pin when the leader pin is inserted into the case. In a magnetic tape cartridge comprising an introduction surface that is deflected to allow insertion of the leader pin into the case, and a holding portion that holds the leader pin that has passed through the introduction surface in the case. ,
The inclination angle of the introduction surface at the contact point with the leader pin with respect to the insertion direction of the leader pin is only pushed by the leader pin regardless of the insertion position of the leader pin into the case. It is characterized in that it is set within an angle range of 30 ° ± 5 ° that is deflected in the direction of the direction.

  According to the present invention, the latch spring is laterally moved by the operation in which the introduction surface of the latch spring is pushed by the leader pin regardless of the insertion position of the leader pin in the case at the contact point with the leader pin. By providing a tilt angle that can be deviated, even if there is variation in the insertion path of the leader pin with respect to the case, or even if there is variation in the position of the introduction surface of the latch spring, the leader pin can be prevented. It can be stored in a predetermined position in the case.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on embodiments shown in the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example configuration of a magnetic tape cartridge to which the present invention is applied. The magnetic tape cartridge 1 is provided with a substantially rectangular flat cartridge case 4 in which an upper half 2 and a lower half 3 are fastened with screws or the like, and a single magnetic tape 6 is wound around the cartridge case 4. The reel 7 is rotatably accommodated, and a loading leader pin 5 is fixed to the end of the magnetic tape 6. A substantially rectangular opening 8 for pulling out the magnetic tape 6 is formed on one side wall (right side wall) of the cartridge case 4 (upper and lower halves 2 and 3). The opening 8 is formed by a door spring 12 described later. The upper and lower halves 2 and 3 near the opening 8 are opened and closed by a slide door 20 biased in the closing direction, and a housing recess 9 for the leader pin 5 is formed.

  Further, in the magnetic tape cartridge 1, the leader pin 5 at the end is latched and held in the recess 9 for storage when the magnetic tape 6 is completely wound around the reel 7 when not in use. A guide surface 10 formed in a guide structure toward the opening 8 is continuously provided in the recess 9, and guides the flange 5 c of the leader pin 5 toward the recess 9. Further, in order to detachably hold the leader pin 5 in the recess 9, a latch spring 30 as shown in FIG. 8 is attached in the vicinity of the recess 9.

  The loading direction of the magnetic tape cartridge 1 to the recording / reproducing apparatus is the diagonal upper right direction in FIG. 1, and the front-rear direction in this specification is described corresponding to the loading direction.

  FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a magnetic tape cartridge according to the present invention. When the leader pin 5 is inserted into the case 4, the state when the leader pin 5 comes into contact with the introduction surface 31 at the tip of the latch spring 30 is shown. It is explanatory drawing corresponding to FIG. 8 shown.

  The leader pin storage recess 9 includes inclined linear guide walls 9a and 9b that guide the flange 5c of the leader pin 5 to the back of the recess 9 when the leader pin 5 is inserted into the case 4, and the radius of the flange 5c. And a semicircular holding wall 9c having a slightly larger diameter.

  The leader pin 5 has a central axis S passing through the center of curvature P of the semicircular holding wall 9c at the back of the recess 9 and passing through the center line L1 perpendicular to the side surface of the case 4 on the opening 8 side. Basically designed to be inserted into.

  The latch spring 30 includes a holding portion 30d of the leader pin 5 at the tip of the elastic arm portion 30b. The holding portion 30d protrudes in a mountain shape, and a leader pin introduction surface 31 that forms an inclined surface is formed on the distal end side of the holding portion 30d. The introduction surface 31 is inclined by an angle α with respect to the straight line L2 parallel to the center line L1, and the inclination angle α is set within a range of 30 ° ± 5 °. When the angle formed between the guide wall surface 9a on the latch spring 30 side of the recess 9 and the straight line L2 is about 10 °, the angle β formed between the guide wall surface 9a on the latch spring 30 side of the recess 9 and the introduction surface 31 is 20 °. ± 5 °.

  Thus, in the present embodiment, the inclination angle α of the introduction surface 31 of the latch spring 30 is set within the range of 30 ° ± 5 °, so that the insertion path of the leader pin 5 with respect to the cartridge case 4 can be reduced. As shown in FIG. 3, the leader pin 5 is shifted so that the flange 5 c of the leader pin 5 contacts the guide wall surface 9 a on the latch spring 30 side of the recess 9, and the latch spring 30 is introduced as shown in FIG. 3. Even when there is variation in the position of the surface 31, the introduction surface 31 is pushed by the flange 5c in contact with the introduction surface 31, and the arm portion 30b of the latch spring 30 is displaced laterally. As shown in FIG. 3, the flange 5c reaches the holding portion 30d of the latch spring 30, and further climbs over the mountain of the holding portion 30d, as shown in FIG. , The holding portion 30d of latch spring 30, so that the flange 5c is elastically pressed and held by the holding wall 9c of recess 9.

  The range of 30 ° ± 5 ° of the inclination angle α is a value determined by a number of experiments by the inventors of the present invention. When the inclination angle α deviates from this range, the leader pin 5 is inserted. If the latch spring is not deflected smoothly, and if the latch spring is deviated to a smaller one, the receiving angle of the introduction surface 31 of the latch spring 30 with respect to the leader pin 5 is small, and sufficient introduction cannot be achieved. This will interfere with insertion.

  2 to 4, the introduction surface 31 of the latch spring 30 is shown as a straight plane. However, the introduction surface 31 may be an arc surface or a curved surface. The inclination angle of the introduction surface 31 at the contact point with the flange 5c may be in the range of 30 ° ± 5 °. That is, no matter what position on the introduction surface 31 the flange 5c abuts, if the inclination angle of the introduction surface 31 at the contact is within the above range, regardless of the insertion position of the leader pin 5 into the case 4, The arm 30b of the latch spring 30 is laterally displaced by an operation that is simply pushed by the leader pin 5, and the leader pin 5 can be inserted into the case 4.

The perspective view of the state which pulled out the magnetic tape of the magnetic tape cartridge with which this invention is applied In the embodiment of the magnetic tape cartridge according to the present invention, when the leader pin is inserted into the cartridge case, the flange of the leader pin is in contact with the introduction surface of the latch spring. FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a state when the flange of the leader pin passes through the holding portion of the latch spring in the embodiment of FIG. FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the flange of the leader pin is held behind the recess of the cartridge case in the embodiment of FIG. Longitudinal sectional view of the main part showing the structure of the leader pin holding part in the conventional magnetic tape cartridge Plan view with a section A perspective view of the latch spring In the conventional magnetic tape cartridge, when the leader pin is inserted into the cartridge case, an explanatory view corresponding to FIG. 2 showing a state in which the flange of the leader pin is in contact with the introduction surface of the latch spring.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Magnetic tape cartridge 2 Upper half 3 Lower half 4 Cartridge case 5 Leader pin 6 Magnetic tape 7 Reel 8 Opening 9 Recess for storing leader pin 20 Slide door 30 Latch spring

Claims (1)

A single reel on which a magnetic tape is wound is rotatably accommodated in a cartridge case, and leader pins for pulling out the tape fixed to the tip of the magnetic tape are provided in the case with respect to both ends thereof. The latch spring is detachably held in the case by a biasing force applied from the side, and the latch spring is biased laterally by the leader pin when the leader pin is inserted into the case. A magnetic tape cartridge comprising: an introduction surface that allows the leader pin to be inserted into the case; and a holding portion that holds the leader pin that has passed through the introduction surface in the case.
The latch spring is operated by an operation in which the inclination angle of the introduction surface at the contact point with the leader pin with respect to the insertion direction of the leader pin is only pushed by the leader pin regardless of the insertion position of the leader pin in the case. The magnetic tape cartridge is set within an angle range of 30 ° ± 5 ° that is deviated laterally.

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