JP4077614B2 - Recording tape cartridge - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a recording tape cartridge in which a single reel on which a recording tape such as a magnetic tape is wound is rotatably accommodated in a case, and the recording tape is pulled out of the case when used.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A recording tape such as a magnetic tape is used as an external recording medium such as a computer. Since such a recording tape has a large recording area and is mainly used for backup of a large amount of information, it is desirable that dust can be prevented from being attached and a storage space during storage is small.
[0003]
For this reason, a recording tape cartridge in which a recording tape is wound around a single reel and the reel is rotatably accommodated in a case is employed. Thereby, the dust can be prevented from adhering to the recording tape by the case, and the storage space at the time of storage can be increased as compared with the configuration including the second reel for winding the recording tape at the time of recording or reproducing information on the recording tape. It can be approximately half.
[0004]
Further, as a recording tape cartridge, there is known a configuration in which a leader pin as an operation unit is attached to a free end of the recording tape and the recording tape is pulled out from the case by pulling out the leader pin in use. Specifically, leader pins whose both end portions protrude from the end portions in the width direction of the recording tape are arranged in the vicinity of the opening of the case, and the protruding portion of the leader pin is held (engaged) by the pull-out member of the drive device when used. On the other hand, the recording tape is guided to the take-up reel of the drive device by the drawing member.
[0005]
Since the leader pin is a small, substantially cylindrical member and has a small holding space in the case, the recording tape cartridge provided with the leader pin as an operation portion is miniaturized.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, for example, when a leader pin is not properly held by the pull-out member of the drive device (disengagement of the engagement position or foreign object is caught), interference between the leader pin and the case (leader pin holding portion) occurs when the leader pin comes out of the case. The leader pin is inclined with respect to the drawing direction (longitudinal direction) of the recording tape, and the recording tape may be deformed.
[0007]
In particular, when the leader pin is tilted along the tape surface before deformation of the recording tape, the recording tape is not only twisted but also curved and deformed in the width direction. Also, when the leader pin is attached to the free end of the recording tape at an inclination, the recording tape is curved in the width direction as the leader pin moves in the proper recording tape drawing direction.
[0008]
The bending deformation in the width direction of the recording tape accompanying the inclination of the leader pin is difficult to eliminate after the deformation portion comes into contact with the roller defining the predetermined tape path, the winding surface of the take-up reel, etc. Cause damage to the recording surface (track) of the recording medium and jamming of the recording tape.
[0009]
Further, this problem may occur not only in a recording tape cartridge provided with a leader pin, but also in a recording tape cartridge provided with a leader block that functions as an opening closing member for an operation unit and a case, for example.
[0010]
In view of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to obtain a recording tape cartridge that can be stably pulled out without deforming the recording tape.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a recording tape cartridge according to the first aspect of the present invention is a recording tape wound around a single reel rotatably accommodated in a case and having an operating portion at a free end. A recording tape cartridge that is pulled out of the case by operating an operating portion, wherein the front air operating portion is attached to the free end of the recording tape so as to overlap the entire width of the recording tape. constructed by the leader member, the leader member and at a predetermined interval are arranged, fixed to the recording tape as along the width direction of the recording tape overlap over the width direction of the entire width of the recording tape It is characterized by comprising a strengthened reinforcing member.
[0012]
In the recording tape cartridge according to claim 1, in use, the operation unit provided at the free end of the recording tape wound around a single reel is operated to pull out the recording tape from the case containing the reel. . The recording tape pulled out from the case is recorded and reproduced, for example, while being wound around a take-up reel of a drive device.
[0013]
Here, a reinforcing member arranged at a predetermined interval from the operation portion is fixed to the recording tape in the width direction of the recording tape, and deformation of the recording tape is prevented at a portion where the reinforcing member is provided. Therefore, even if the operation unit is inclined with respect to the recording tape drawing direction (longitudinal direction), the recording tape on the reel side of the reinforcing member is not deformed (curved deformation in the width direction). For this reason, the range in which the recording tape is deformed is limited to the space between the operating portion and the reinforcing member (the predetermined interval), and damage to the recording surface of the recording tape and jamming of the recording tape are prevented.
[0014]
Thus, in the recording tape cartridge according to the first aspect, the recording tape can be pulled out stably without being deformed.
[0015]
The operation unit according to the first aspect includes, for example, a leader pin and a leader block.
[0016]
The recording tape cartridge of claim 2, wherein, in the recording tape cartridge of claim 1, wherein, in the prior SL case, guide means for guiding the front Symbol reinforcing member in deriving the recording tape from the casing is provided It is characterized by that. In the recording tape cartridge having this configuration, since the guide means for guiding the reinforcing member is provided in the case, the reinforcing member is guided by the guide means when the recording tape is pulled out from the case, and moves while being controlled from falling down. . For this reason, twisting of the recording tape in the case is also prevented by the reinforcing member, and the recording tape does not come into contact with the inner surface of the case or the edge of the drawer opening, thereby reliably preventing damage to the recording surface.
[0017]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A recording tape cartridge 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. For convenience of explanation, the direction in which the magnetic tape cartridge 10 is loaded into the drive device (the arrow A direction as shown in FIG. 1 and the like as appropriate) is the front direction, and the front / rear / left / right / up / down directions are the reference. To express.
[0018]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of the recording tape cartridge 10. As shown in this figure, in the recording tape cartridge 10, a single reel 16 in which a magnetic tape 14 as a recording tape as an information recording / reproducing medium is wound in a case 12 having a substantially rectangular shape in plan view is rotatable. It is housed and configured. The case 12 has an opening 12 </ b> A that is opened and closed by a slide door 17, and is used for drawing out the magnetic tape 14.
[0019]
As shown in detail in FIG. 2, a metal leader pin 18 as an operation unit is connected to the free end of the magnetic tape 14. The leader pin 18 has a cylindrical shape as a whole. The leader pin 18 projects coaxially from both a central shaft portion 18A to which a splice tape 22 described later is fixed and both ends of the central shaft portion 18A. The thin shaft portion 18B to be held together and a flange 18C for holding the case 12 (guide holding portion 30) provided at the tip of each thin shaft portion 18B.
[0020]
A reinforcing pin 20 as a reinforcing member is attached to the magnetic tape 14. The reinforcing pin 20 is made of a metal or resin material that is sufficiently higher in rigidity than the magnetic tape 14, and is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape that is longer than the width of the magnetic tape 14 and slightly shorter than the leader pin 18.
[0021]
The reinforcing pins 20 are attached at a predetermined interval behind the leader pin 18 so that the longitudinal direction thereof substantially coincides with the width direction of the magnetic tape 14 (substantially parallel to the leader pin 18). In this state, both end portions of the reinforcing pin 20 protrude from the end portions of the magnetic tape 14 in the width direction. The separation distance between the reinforcing pin 20 and the leader pin 18 is preferably between 10 mm and 20 mm in the recording tape cartridge 10 corresponding to the magnetic tape 14 having a width of 12.7 mm.
[0022]
The leader pin 18 and the reinforcing pin 20 are attached to the magnetic tape 14 by adhesion. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, one end of a splice tape 22, which is an adhesive tape, is bonded to one surface of the free end of the magnetic tape 14, and an intermediate portion of the splice tape 22 is placed between the leader pins 18. The splice tape 22 is wound around the shaft portion 18A and folded, and the spliced tape 22 is bonded again to the other surface of the magnetic tape 14 on which the reinforcing pin 20 is placed (with the reinforcing pin 20 interposed). Note that the magnetic tape 14 and the splice tape 22 have substantially the same width.
[0023]
As a result, the leader pin 18 is bonded while being wound around the splice tape 22, and the reinforcing pin 20 is bonded (fixed) by the splice tape 22 while being sandwiched between the magnetic tape 14 and the splice tape 22. Therefore, the leader pin 18 and the reinforcing pin 20 can be connected to the free end portion of the magnetic tape 14 with a simple structure with a small number of parts.
[0024]
The leader pin 18 and the reinforcing pin 20 are held by a guide holding portion 30 provided at the back of the opening 12A. Since the guide holding part 30 is formed substantially symmetrically with the top plate 32 and the bottom plate 34 of the case 12 facing each other, in the following description, basically the same parts in the upper and lower sides are denoted by the same reference numerals. Next, the lower half of the guide keeping unit 30 will be described.
[0025]
As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 in an enlarged manner near the opening 12A of the case 12, a rail groove 36 for the sliding door 17 is provided in the vicinity of the edge of the opening 12A of the bottom plate 34. In the inner part, a substantially triangular leader pin holding groove 40 is provided in a plan view. A top portion of the leader pin holding groove 40 that is separated from the opening 12 </ b> A is a leader pin contact wall 42 that is rounded in an arc shape corresponding to the flange 18 </ b> C of the leader pin 18.
[0026]
The leader pin holding groove 40 has a depth (depth from the inner surface of the bottom plate 34) equal to the depth of the rail groove 36, and communicates with the rail groove 36. On the right side of the leader pin holding groove 40, a wall portion constituting the rail groove 36 is cut out, and a guide inclined surface 44 inclined downward from a position corresponding to the right edge of the rail groove 36 to the right end surface of the case 12 is formed. Is formed.
[0027]
Further, a reinforcing pin guide groove 46 as a guide means shallower than the leader pin holding groove 40 is provided in the back of the leader pin abutting wall 42 of the leader pin holding groove 40. The reinforcing pin guide groove 46 has a width corresponding to the outer diameter of the reinforcing pin 20 and extends along a direction orthogonal to the arrow A direction, and its end is rounded into a semicircle corresponding to the outer shape of the reinforcing pin 20. The reinforcing pin contact wall 48 is used. In other words, the reinforcement pin contact wall 48 and the leader pin contact wall 42 are separated from each other in accordance with the separation distance between the leader pin 18 and the reinforcement pin 20.
[0028]
Furthermore, a tapered guide inclined surface 50 is formed between the reinforcing pin guide groove 46 and the leader pin holding groove 40 (leader pin contact wall 42).
[0029]
Furthermore, a spring groove 52 is communicated with the leader pin holding groove 40 in the vicinity of the communicating portion with the terminal portion of the rail groove 36. The spring groove 52 extends in a direction inclined toward the reinforcing pin guide groove 46 with respect to the direction of the arrow A when viewed from the communication portion with the leader pin holding groove 40 and reaches the inner surface of the front wall 12B of the case 12. A portion that extends to the left along the inner surface of 12B and abuts against the spring holding rib 53 is terminated.
[0030]
A leaf spring member 54 is inserted and held in the spring groove 52. The leaf spring member 54 includes a main body portion 56 that is inserted and held in a portion along the front wall 12 </ b> B of the spring groove 52, and a pair of upper and lower arm portions 58 that extend from the main body portion 56. The arm portion 58 is inserted into the inclined portion of the spring groove 52, and the tip portion protrudes into the leader pin holding groove 40. The tip of the arm portion 58 is bent in a mountain shape, and the pressure holding surface 60 that faces the leader pin contact wall 42 side (left rear) obliquely and the receiving contact surface that faces the opening 12A side (right rear) diagonally. 62 is formed.
[0031]
When the flange 18C of the leader pin 18 abuts on the receiving abutment surface 62, the leaf spring member 54 bends the arm portion 58 to allow the flange 18C to move to the back of the leader pin holding groove 40, and the flange 18C abuts the leader pin. When abutting against the wall 42, the pressing holding surface 60 abuts against the flange 18 </ b> C, and the flange 18 </ b> C is pressed and locked (biased) against the leader pin abutting wall 42 by the urging force of the arm portion 58.
[0032]
On the other hand, when the leader pin 18 is extracted, the pressing holding surface 60 is pressed by the flange 18C and the arm portion 58 is bent to allow the flange 18C to move toward the opening 12A, but the opening 12A is closed by the slide door 17. In this case, the flange 18C or the receiving contact surface 62 interferes with the slide door 17, and the dimensions of the respective parts are set so that the flange 18C cannot pass through the top between the press holding surface 60 and the receiving contact surface 62. It has been decided.
[0033]
The guide holding portion 30 includes a leader pin holding groove 40, a leader pin abutting wall 42, a guide inclined surface 44, a reinforcing pin guiding groove 46, a reinforcing pin abutting wall 48, a guide formed on the top plate 32 and the bottom plate 34, respectively. An inclined surface 50, a spring groove 52, and a leaf spring member 54 held in the spring groove 52 are configured. As a result, the guide holding unit 30 causes the flanges 18C at the both ends of the leader pin 18 to be inserted into the upper and lower (top plate 32 and bottom plate 34) leader pin holding grooves 40 by the biasing force of the leaf spring member 54. While pressing and holding to each leader pin contact wall 42, the fall of the reinforcement pin 42 is controlled in a state where both ends of the reinforcement pin 20 are inserted into the upper and lower reinforcement pin guide grooves 46, respectively.
[0034]
In this recording tape cartridge 10, when the magnetic tape 14 is loaded on the take-up reel of the drive device after being loaded into the drive device, the reel gear (not shown) of the reel 16 exposed from the gear opening (not shown) of the case 12 is shown. (Omitted) is engaged with the drive gear of the drive device and is driven to rotate.
[0035]
Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.
[0036]
In the recording tape cartridge 10 configured as described above, when the magnetic tape 14 is used, it is loaded into the drive device along the direction of arrow A, and the slide door 17 is relatively moved in the direction opposite to the direction of arrow A along with this loading. Thus, the opening 12A is opened. Then, the leader pin 18 connected to the tip of the magnetic tape 14 is hooked with the engaging claw 64 (see FIG. 2) of the pulling means of the drive device on the thin shaft portion 18B. The engagement pin 64 (drawing means) moves to the take-up reel side of the drive device, whereby the leader pin 18 is extracted from the guide holding portion 30 of the case 12.
[0037]
That is, the leader pin 18 comes out of the leader pin holding groove 40 while bending the arm portion 58 of the leaf spring member 54. Along with this, the reinforcing pin 20 is also pulled out of the guide holding portion 30 while being guided by the reinforcing pin guide groove 46 (falling is restricted), passes through the opening 12A, and the magnetic tape 14 is pulled out from the case 12.
[0038]
The magnetic tape 14 drawn from the case 12 is guided to the take-up reel while being guided along a predetermined tape path by the drawing means. In this state, the reel 16 and the take-up reel are driven to rotate synchronously, thereby recording or reproducing data while sequentially winding the magnetic tape 14 around the take-up reel.
[0039]
When the magnetic tape 14 has been wound up to the end by the take-up reel, the reel 16 and the take-up reel are driven in reverse rotation to rewind the magnetic tape 14 onto the reel 16. When the magnetic tape 14 is completely rewound onto the reel 16, the reinforcing pin 20 and the leader pin 18 enter the guide holding portion 30 of the case 12.
[0040]
Specifically, the upper and lower end portions of the reinforcing pin 20 are guided by the guide inclined surface 50 without interfering and enter the reinforcing pin guide groove 46 and abut against the reinforcing pin abutting wall 48. On the other hand, the flange 18C of the leader pin 18 is guided without interference by the guide inclined surface 44, enters the leader pin holding groove 40 while bending the arm portion 58 of the leaf spring member 54, and is in contact with the leader pin contact wall 42. And is held by the urging force of the leaf spring member 54. Thereby, the fall of the reinforcing pin 20 is regulated, and the leader pin 18 is returned to the state held (positioned in the case 12) at a predetermined position.
[0041]
In this state, the magnetic tape cartridge 10 is moved in the direction opposite to the arrow A direction, and is ejected from the drive device while closing the opening 12A by the slide door 17. As a result, the recording tape cartridge 10 returns to the initial state.
[0042]
Here, the reinforcing pin 20 having a sufficiently higher rigidity than the magnetic tape 14 is provided (fixed) along the width direction of the magnetic tape 14 at a predetermined distance from the leader pin 18 (fixed). Since the portion where the reinforcing pin 20 is attached is prevented from being deformed by the reinforcing pin 20, the leader pin 18 is temporarily inclined with respect to the drawing direction (longitudinal direction) of the magnetic tape 14, as shown in FIG. Even if the magnetic tape 14 is pulled out in a state in which the magnetic tape 14 is pulled, deformation (particularly, bending deformation in the width direction) does not occur in the magnetic tape 14 closer to the reel 16 than the reinforcing pin 20. For this reason, the range in which the magnetic tape 14 (splice tape 22) is deformed is limited between the leader pin 18 and the reinforcing pin 20, and damage to the recording surface of the magnetic tape 14 and jamming of the magnetic tape 14 are prevented. Is done.
[0043]
This is simply described below in relation to the prior art (in order to compare with the present embodiment, the same parts and portions as those of the present embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the present embodiment). explain. FIG. 6B shows a deformed state of the magnetic tape 14 when the leader pin 18 is inclined with respect to the drawing direction of the magnetic tape 14 in a conventional structure in which the reinforcing pin 20 is not provided. As can be seen from this figure, in the case of the conventional structure, the bending deformation of the magnetic tape 14 is not eliminated in a short section, but reaches the vicinity of the portion wound by the reel 16. Such deformation of the magnetic tape 14 is caused by poor holding of the leader pin 18 (for example, when one of the engaging claws 64 of the drive device is engaged with the intermediate shaft portion 18A or the flange 18C of the leader pin 18) 64 and the thin shaft portion of the leader pin 18), the leader pin 18 connected to be inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction of the magnetic tape 14 is moved in an appropriate pulling direction. It is also caused by.
[0044]
Thus, in the recording tape cartridge 10 according to the present embodiment, the magnetic tape 14 can be stably pulled out without being deformed.
[0045]
Further, here, a reinforcing pin guide groove 46 for guiding the reinforcing pin 20 is provided in the guide holding portion 30 of the case 12, and when the magnetic tape 14 is pulled out from the case 12, the reinforcing pin 20 is pulled out of the case 12 while being prevented from falling. Therefore, in other words, the reinforcing pin 20 moves in the case 12 while maintaining a substantially parallel state with respect to the wall surface (the front wall 12B, etc.) of the case 12, so that the twisting of the magnetic tape 12 in the case 12 is also prevented. Is done. As a result, the magnetic tape 14 does not come into contact with the inner surface of the case 12 or the edge of the opening 12A, and damage to the recording surface is reliably prevented.
[0046]
In the above embodiment, the configuration includes the leader pin 18 as the operation portion and the reinforcement pin 20 as the reinforcement member. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, as shown in FIG. The tape cartridge 10 may include a leader block 70 instead of the leader pin 18 and a reinforcing plate 72 instead of the reinforcing pin 20.
[0047]
That is, the present invention is not limited to the shape of the operating portion or the reinforcing member, and can be applied to all recording tape cartridges 10 that may be deformed in the magnetic tape 14 with the pulling operation from the case 12. It is. Thus, for example, reinforcement member that put the present invention is plate-like and rod-like or any shape.
[0048]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the reinforcing pin 20 is preferably configured to be prevented from falling in the case 12 by the reinforcing pin guide groove 46 of the case 12, but the present invention is not limited to this, for example, the reinforcing pin The pin 20 may not be supported in the case. Therefore, both ends of the reinforcing pin 20 do not have to protrude from the end in the width direction of the magnetic tape 14.
[0049]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the leader pin 18 is hooked on the engaging claw of the drive device. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the reinforcing pin 20 and the leader pin 18 together with the leader pin of the drive device are used. May be configured to be held, engaged, etc. (as described above, it goes without saying that any mode may be used). In this case, it is desirable that the reinforcing pin 20 be held only when the leader pin 18 is properly held.
[0050]
Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the distance between the leader pin 18 and the reinforcing pin 20 is preferably 10 mm to 20 mm. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the distance between the leader pin 18 and the reinforcing pin 20 is not limited to this. The distance may be appropriately determined according to the size and shape of the case 12 and the demand from the drive device.
[0051]
In the above embodiment, the magnetic tape 14 is used as the recording tape. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the recording tape is a long tape capable of recording information and reproducing the recorded information. Needless to say, the recording tape cartridge according to the present invention is applicable to any recording / reproducing type recording tape.
[0052]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the recording tape cartridge according to the present invention has an excellent effect that the recording tape can be pulled out stably without being deformed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an overall configuration of a magnetic tape cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a leader pin and a reinforcing pin constituting the magnetic tape cartridge according to the embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a process of connecting leader pins and reinforcing pins constituting the magnetic tape cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention to the magnetic tape.
FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing the vicinity of the opening of the case constituting the magnetic tape cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention.
5A and 5B are diagrams showing a holding state of a leader pin and a reinforcing pin constituting the magnetic tape cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention in a case, where FIG. 5A is a plan sectional view, and FIG. 5B is a side sectional view. FIG.
6A is a perspective view showing a deformed state of a magnetic tape when a leader pin constituting the magnetic tape cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention is inclined, and FIG. 6B is an operation / effect of the embodiment. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram corresponding to FIG. 6A for explaining the relationship with the related art.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an overall configuration of a recording tape cartridge according to a modification of the embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Recording Tape Cartridge 12 Case 14 Magnetic Tape (Recording Tape)
16 reel 18 leader pin (operation part)
20 Reinforcement pin (reinforcement member)
70 Reader block (operation unit)
72 Reinforcement plate (reinforcement member)

Claims (2)

A recording tape wound around a single reel rotatably accommodated in a case and having an operating portion at a free end is a recording tape cartridge that is pulled out of the case by operating the operating portion,
The pre-air operation part is composed of a leader member attached to the free end of the recording tape so as to overlap over the entire width of the recording tape.
A reinforcing member which is disposed at a predetermined interval from the leader member and is fixed to the recording tape so as to overlap the entire width of the recording tape along the width direction of the recording tape ;
A recording tape cartridge characterized by the above. 2. The recording tape cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the case is provided with guide means for guiding the reinforcing member when the recording tape is pulled out from the case.

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