JP3971791B2 - Storage case for tape cartridge - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a tape cartridge for recording computer data and the like, and more particularly, to a storage case for a tape cartridge in which the length and width of a case main body are approximately or coincident with each other and are formed in a substantially square shape.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A tape cartridge in which the outline of the case body is formed in a substantially square shape can be found in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-265560. In this case, since only one tape reel is accommodated in the case body, the outer shape when the case body is viewed from a plane is a substantially square shape with slightly different vertical and horizontal dimensions. Yes. Accordingly, the outer shape of the storage case for storing the tape cartridge is also substantially square.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the storage case for a single reel type tape cartridge as described above, the tape cartridge can be inserted into and loaded into the storage case from any direction. For example, when the proper loading direction of the tape cartridge with respect to the storage case is matched with the loading direction of the tape cartridge into the tape drive, the tape cartridge is obstructed from the front or back side or from the left and right sides. It can be loaded without any discomfort, even with the wrong loading posture. As described above, in the storage form loaded in error, a problem occurs when the tape cartridge is removed from the storage case. For example, a tape cartridge that has been extracted from the storage case may be loaded into the tape drive as it is. Even if you notice an error in the loading direction, you may not be able to quickly determine the correct loading direction because the tape cartridge is nearly square.
[0004]
Because the storage case itself is almost square and there is no standard index, when multiple storage cases are stacked, the orientation and orientation of the storage case will be different, and multiple tape cartridges will remain stacked When storing and transporting all together, the storage case may move or fall and be damaged.
[0005]
The object of the present invention is to alert the user when loading the tape cartridge into the storage case, and to properly store the tape cartridge in the storage case. Another object of the present invention is to provide a storage case for a tape cartridge that can be simply loaded into a tape drive as it is, particularly a storage case for storing a tape cartridge formed in a square shape. Another object of the present invention is to correctly align the posture and orientation when stacking storage cases, and to prevent the storage case from shifting and dropping when transporting together. It is to provide a storage case that can be used.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
As shown in FIG. 1, the storage case C of the present invention targets a tape cartridge T in which the case body 1 is formed in a substantially square shape. On the upper surface of the case main body 1 of the tape cartridge T, a loading display 7 indicating the loading direction to the tape drive is formed. The storage case C is made of a square box-shaped plastic molded product having an entrance. On the outer surface of the upper wall 20 of the storage case C, a case display 27 similar to the loading display 7 provided on the upper wall of the tape cartridge T is provided . On the outer surface of the upper wall 20 of the storage case C and the outer surface of the bottom wall 15, the front and rear asymmetric stack concave portions 31 and stack convex portions 32 that engage with each other only in a predetermined stacked state are formed. A part of the stack concave portion 31 or the convex portion 32 formed on the outer surface of the upper wall 20 is surrounded by the outline of the case display 27. The stack convex portion 32 is formed in a region similar in shape to the stack concave portion 31 and having a slightly smaller outer dimension.
[0008]
The loading indication 7 of the tape cartridge T includes a loading index 8 provided near the loading start end of the upper wall of the case body 1 and a non-slip portion 9 provided near the loading end of the upper wall of the case body 1. On the outer surface of the upper wall 20 of the storage case C, a first display 28 corresponding to the loading index 8 and a second display 29 corresponding to the anti-slip portion 9 are provided.
[0009]
At least a part of the stack concave portion 31 or the convex portion 32 formed on the outer surface of the upper wall 20 is surrounded by the outline of the second display 29.
A rib that is formed on the outer surface of the upper wall 20 except for the first display 28, and a stack protrusion 32 formed on the outer surface of the bottom wall 15 is provided on the bottom wall 15 so as to project in a circular manner; To do.
[0010]
[Effects of the invention]
Since the case display similar to the loading display provided on the upper wall of the tape cartridge is provided on the outer surface of the upper wall of the storage case, the user inevitably places the tape cartridge on the storage case side when storing the tape cartridge in the storage case. You will see the case display. Accordingly, the user can be alerted when the tape cartridge is stored, and the tape cartridge can be loaded into the storage case with an appropriate posture and orientation. Accordingly, when the tape cartridge is used, it is only necessary to load the tape cartridge taken out from the storage case into the tape drive as it is, and in particular, a storage case suitable for storing a square shaped tape cartridge can be obtained. It is done.
[0011]
A plurality of storage spaces are formed by forming a stack recess and a stack protrusion on the top wall outer surface and bottom wall outer surface of the storage case so as to engage with each other in a concave and convex manner, and allowing both of them to engage with each other only in a predetermined stacked state. In cases where the cases are stacked and transported, it is possible to reliably prevent the storage cases from shifting and dropping from the stacked rows, which can facilitate the handling of the storage cases and reduce the risk of damage to the storage cases. Can contribute to reduction.
[0012]
According to the storage case in which the first display corresponding to the loading index on the tape cartridge side and the second display corresponding to the anti-slip portion are provided on the outer surface of the upper wall of the storage case, the first display is provided apart from the front and rear. -The user can be alerted by the second display, so that the user's attention is more effectively awakened when storing the tape cartridge, and the tape cartridge is stored in the storage case in the proper posture and orientation. it can.
[0013]
When the front and rear asymmetric stack recesses and the front and rear asymmetric stack protrusions are formed on the top wall and bottom wall of the storage case, as long as they are not aligned to the front and back, as well as the left and right orientations of the stacked storage cases, Since the stacked storage cases protrude either forward or backward, it is possible to facilitate stacking all the storage cases correctly and to facilitate the handling thereof.
[0014]
【Example】
2 and 3 show a single reel type tape cartridge T to be stored by the storage case C of the present invention. In FIG. 3, the tape cartridge T has a case main body 1 having a substantially square outline as viewed from above and a single tape reel 2 disposed inside the case main body 1, and a magnetic tape wound around the tape reel 2. The tape 3 is pulled out of the case from a tape outlet 4 provided on the front side of the case body 1 so that magnetic signals can be read and written. For this tape operation, the leading piece 5 is fixed to the feeding end of the timing tape 3. In order to open and close the tape outlet 4, a door 6 that is slidable to the left and right is provided and is closed and urged by a spring (not shown).
[0015]
The case body 1 is constructed by joining an upper case 1a and a lower case 1b, which are molded with plastic, in a cover-like manner, and a loading display 7 indicating the loading direction to the tape drive on the outer wall of the upper wall of the upper case 1a. Is provided. The loading display 7 includes a triangular loading index 8 provided at the center of the side of the upper case 1a on the loading start end side, and a cone-shaped anti-slip portion 9 provided along the side of the upper case 1a on the loading end side. It consists of. The loading index 8 is formed as a shallow recess, and the anti-slip portion 9 is formed by a group of grooves 9b provided in parallel with the side portion on the loading end side within the range of the circular outline 9a. . A triangular paragraph 10 is provided on one side of the side of the loading index 8, and this paragraph 10 also serves to specify the loading direction of the tape cartridge T. In this embodiment, the depth dimension in the loading direction of the case body 1 is 102 mm, and the lateral width dimension is 105.4 mm.
[0016]
A storage case C for storing and storing the tape cartridge T is shown in FIG. The storage case C is formed of a square box-shaped plastic molded product in which the body part 12 and the lid part 13 are integrally formed. The body part 12 and the lid part 13 are integrally formed via a hinge part 14 (see FIG. 6). It is connected. The body portion 12 includes a rectangular bottom wall 15, a rear wall 16 that rises from the rear edge of the bottom wall 15, and an inner front wall that is erected in a U-shape along the front edge and the left and right side edges of the bottom wall 15. 17 and an inner wall 18, and an engagement groove 19 for closing and holding the lid 13 is provided in front of the inner wall 18. In order to facilitate loading and unloading of the tape cartridge T, the vertical heights of the left and right inner walls 18 are set to be less than half the height of the rear wall 16, and the height of the inner front wall 17 is It is set smaller than the inner wall 18. The internal dimensions of the body part 12 are set to be slightly larger than the depth dimension and the lateral width dimension of the tape cartridge T.
[0017]
The lid portion 13 has an upper wall 20 connected to the rear wall 16 of the body portion 12 via the hinge portion 14, and an outer front wall 21 and an outer wall 22 along the front side portion and the left and right side portions of the upper wall 20. Are provided integrally. The outer front wall 21 is slightly recessed from the front edge of the upper wall 20, and the lid 13 can be opened by hooking a fingertip on a step 23 formed between the upper wall 20 and the outer front wall 21. ing. Engagement protrusions 24 that engage with the engagement grooves 19 provided in the previous lid portion 13 are provided in front of the inner surfaces of the left and right outer walls 21. The tape cartridge T can be inserted into and removed from the body 12 in a state where the lid 13 is opened and swung to open the upper surface of the body 12.
[0018]
When storing the tape cartridge T in the storage case C, in order to attract the user's attention and allow the tape cartridge T to be stored in an appropriate posture with respect to the storage case C, On the outer surface of the wall 20, a case display 27 similar to the loading display 7 provided in the upper case 1a of the tape cartridge T is provided. Specifically, a triangular first display 28 similar to the loading index 8 is provided at the center of the side of the upper wall 20 on the back end side in the loading direction of the tape cartridge T, and the first wall 28 slides along the front side of the upper wall 12. A second display 29 similar to the stop portion 9 is provided.
[0019]
The second display 29 is formed by a group of protrusions 29b provided in parallel with the front side portion within the range of the conical outline 29a. Using the surface of the upper wall 20 other than the second display 29, a stack concave portion 31 having a front-rear asymmetric shape is provided. Specifically, a region surrounded by the previous outline 29a and the left and right and rear side portions is recessed to form a stack recess 31. The first display 28 is formed as a shallow recess in the stack recess 31. The bottom wall 15 is provided with a stack convex portion 32 having an asymmetrical front and rear shape that engages with the stack concave portion 31 only in an appropriate stacking posture. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, a stack convex portion 32 having a shape similar to that of the stack concave portion 31 and having a slightly smaller outer dimension is projected as a rib that circulates around the bottom wall 15. Note that the second display 29 does not have to be the same pattern as the anti-slip portion 9, and as shown in FIG. 2, if the appearance is the same, the number of the protrusions 29b is the number of the grooves 9b in the group. It may be less than the number.
[0020]
As described above, when each of the stack concave portion 31 and the stack convex portion 32 is formed in an asymmetric shape, the stack convex portion 32 fits exactly into the stack concave portion 21 when stacked with the direction of the storage case C reversed in the depth direction. Cannot be engaged with each other, and a part thereof protrudes forward or backward, so that it is possible to immediately determine that the direction in which the storage cases C are stacked is wrong. In a state where the plurality of storage cases C are properly stacked, the stack concave portions 31 and the stack convex portions 32 are engaged with each other, and the adjacent storage cases C can be prevented from moving in the front-rear and left-right directions. The storage case C does not move and fall and can be easily put in and out of the storage and handled during transportation.
[0021]
In the above embodiment, the storage case C is constituted by the body part 12 and the lid part 13, but this is not necessary. For example, the storage case C can be formed on a book case whose front wall portion is open. The stack concave portion 31 can be provided on the bottom wall 15, and the stack convex portion 32 can be provided on the upper wall 20. The stack concave portion 31 and the stack convex portion 32 may each have a front-rear asymmetric shape, and are not limited to the shapes described in the embodiments.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a tape cartridge and a storage case.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a tape cartridge and a storage case.
FIG. 3 is an internal plan view of the tape cartridge.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a storage case.
FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the storage case.
FIG. 6 is a vertical side view of a rear portion of the storage case.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Case main body 7 Loading display 8 Loading index 9 Non-slip part 20 Upper wall 27 Case display 28 First display 29 Second display

Claims (4)

A case for a tape cartridge in which the case body is formed in a substantially square shape,
On the upper surface of the case body of the tape cartridge, a loading display indicating a loading direction to the tape drive is formed,
The storage case is made of a square box-shaped plastic molded product having an entrance and exit,
Wherein the top wall outer surface of the housing case, Ri Oh and loaded display similar case display provided is provided on the upper wall of the tape cartridge,
A front and rear asymmetric stack recess and stack protrusion that engage with each other only in a predetermined stacked state are formed on the outer surface of the upper wall and the bottom wall of the storage case,
A part of the stack concave portion or convex portion formed on the outer surface of the upper wall is surrounded by a case display outline,
Said stack protrusions, storage case for a tape cartridge which is characterized that you have outer dimensions is formed slightly in a small area similar shape as the stack recess. The loading indication of the tape cartridge is composed of a loading index provided near the loading start end of the upper wall of the case body, and a non-slip portion provided near the loading end of the upper wall of the case body,
The storage case for a tape cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein a first display corresponding to the loading index and a second display corresponding to the anti-slip portion are provided on an outer surface of the upper wall of the storage case. The storage case for a tape cartridge according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein at least a part of the stack concave portion or the convex portion formed on the outer surface of the upper wall is surrounded by a second display outline . A stack recess is formed on substantially the entire outer surface of the upper wall excluding the first display,
4. The storage case for a tape cartridge according to claim 3, wherein the stack convex portion formed on the outer surface of the bottom wall is a rib protruding in a circular manner on the bottom wall .

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