JP4338064B2 - Single reel type tape cartridge - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a single reel type tape cartridge having a non-contact type memory cartridge having an IC chip as a storage element.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A tape cartridge provided with a memory cartridge is known, for example, in JP-A-8-161859. There, a contact-type memory cartridge is provided in the case, and the magnetic tape characteristic data and setting data stored in the IC chip are read and written via the contact terminals exposed on the outer surface of the case. .
[0003]
In such a contact-type memory cartridge, a contact failure may occur between the contact terminal and the memory reader, which may cause a read / write error or an operation failure. In view of this, a non-contact type memory cartridge has been proposed (document scandal). In a non-contact type memory cartridge, data is transmitted and received using radio waves, so that the contact failure problem due to the contact type can be solved and the reliability of the tape cartridge can be improved.
[0004]
A non-contact type memory cartridge as described above is also planned to be added to a single reel type tape cartridge mainly used for recording large-capacity computer data and a recording medium for backup. In this case, for example, management information such as a directory of data recorded on the tape and usage history data is stored in the memory cartridge to realize a quicker data search, and further, the tape cartridge itself after the start of use, or It is planned to record progress information of data files and manage them. It is also planned to record manufacturer data such as lot numbers, tape specifications and characteristics.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
This type of single reel type tape cartridge is shared by two types of tape drives having different read / write formats, and the mounting position of the memory cartridge is slightly different according to the difference in the position of the memory leader provided in each drive. For example, the position where the memory cartridge is fixed in the case differs between the position suitable for the tape drive A and the position suitable for the tape drive B, and there is no compatibility between different types. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare two types of tape cartridges that differ only in the mounting position of the memory cartridge, and it is also necessary to display which type of tape cartridge is currently in use. Thus, in order to prepare two types of tape cartridges with different mounting positions of the memory cartridge, it is necessary to prepare two types of case main bodies according to the difference in the position of the loading section, resulting in high costs. Since there is no difference in the external shape, there is a disadvantage that it is easy to mistake the difference in format and the management becomes complicated.
[0006]
The object of the present invention is to make it possible to change the position of the memory cartridge in the case according to the difference in the type of the tape drive so that only one type of tape cartridge is prepared. An object of the present invention is to provide a single reel type tape cartridge which can cope with the manufacturing cost and can be reduced accordingly. Another object of the present invention is to provide a single reel type tape cartridge which can change the position of the memory cartridge with one touch and which can be easily switched.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, a single reel 2 around which a tape 3 is wound is disposed inside a case body 1, and a non-contact type memory cartridge M is placed in a loading portion 10 provided inside the case body 1. The target tape cartridge is used. As shown in FIG. 3, the memory cartridge M has a first communication position corresponding to one of the memory readers 26a and a second communication position corresponding to each of the memory readers 26a and 26b provided in a plurality of types of tape drives. The loading unit 10 supports the second communication position corresponding to the memory reader 26b so as to be displaceable. A position holding structure for holding the memory cartridge M at each of the first communication position and the second communication position is provided between the loading unit 10 and the memory cartridge M.
[0008]
As shown in FIG. 5, the position holding structure is provided on the outer surface of the memory cartridge M and a fixed engagement portion 28 provided on the loading portion 10 side in order to hold the memory cartridge M in a concave and convex manner. The first engaging portion 16 and the second engaging portion 17 can be configured.
[0009]
An operation piece 18 for sliding the memory cartridge M is formed on the memory cartridge M so that the operation piece 18 faces the outer surface of the case through an operation port 30 opened in the case body 1.
[0010]
As shown in FIG. 1, the loading portion 10 can be provided in an inner corner space S between a peripheral side wall of the case body 1 and a partial arcuate partition wall 8 along the periphery of the reel 2.
[0011]
As shown in FIG. 2, the memory cartridge M includes a rectangular substrate 12, an IC chip 13 integrated with the substrate 12, and an antenna 14. In FIG. 5, the fixed engagement portion 28 is formed by a rib protruding from the inner surface of the case body 1 in the loading portion 10, and the first engagement portion 16 and the second engagement portion 17 are formed on the periphery of the memory cartridge M. It is composed of an engaging recess formed as a recess.
[0012]
[Effects of the invention]
The memory cartridge has a first communication position corresponding to one of the memory readers and a first communication position corresponding to the other of the memory readers, corresponding to respective transmission / reception possible areas of the memory readers provided in a plurality of types of tape drives. Since the tape cartridge can be displaced between two communication positions, the tape cartridge is compatible with any type of tape drive. Thereby, it is not necessary to prepare two types of cases for each type, and only one type of mold for forming the case is required, and the manufacturing cost of the tape cartridge can be reduced. Further, since it is not necessary to manage the two types of tape cartridges separately, the management cost can be reduced. Since a position holding structure for holding the memory cartridge at each position is provided between the loading portion and the memory cartridge, the memory cartridge does not move carelessly.
[0013]
Since the position holding structure is configured by the fixed engaging portion provided on the loading portion side and the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion provided on the memory cartridge, the position holding structure is simplified. At the same time, it is possible to reliably prevent the memory cartridge from inadvertently moving.
[0014]
The operation piece for slidingly operating the memory cartridge is formed on the memory cartridge so that the operation piece faces the outer surface of the case through the operation port opened in the case body. The memory cartridge can be displaced with one touch by placing a finger on the piece.
[0015]
When the loading portion is provided in the inner corner space between the partial arc-shaped partition walls, the loading portion is provided in the inner corner space that was originally a dead space. Therefore, it is possible to avoid an increase in the outer dimension of the case main body by newly providing a loading portion for the memory cartridge.
[0016]
【Example】
1 to 5 show an embodiment of a single reel type tape cartridge according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, the tape cartridge has a square box-like case body 1 formed by joining upper and lower cases 1a and 1b in a lid-like manner, and the tape 3 is wound around one reel 2 arranged inside the case body 1. It is disguised. A tape outlet 4 is provided at one side end of the front side wall of the case body 1 and can be opened and closed with a slidable lid 5. The lid 5 is closed by a spring and is urged to move. The leading end 7 of the tape 3 is provided with a leading conductor 7 that is captured and coupled by a coupling device on the tape drive side, and in order to hold and fix the leading conductor 7 in an upright standby position when not in use, the tape outlet 4 A catch mechanism is provided above and below the inner surface.
[0017]
Inner corner cavities S are provided in each of the corners excluding the tape outlet 4 among the four inner corners of the case body 1. The upper and lower cases 1 a and 1 b are joined and fixed by fastening four screw bosses provided in the inner corner space S and the vicinity of the tape outlet 4 with screws 6. The inner corner space S is formed in a substantially triangular shape by the partial arcuate partition wall 8 along the periphery of the reel 2 and the corner wall of the case body 1. Among these voids, a switching piece 9 for preventing erroneous erasure is provided by utilizing the inner corner void S on the right side in FIG. The switching piece 9 is slid in the left-right direction, and can be switched between a writable state and a state where writing is prohibited.
[0018]
In FIG. 2, the memory cartridge M is a non-contact type, and includes a horizontally-long rectangular substrate 12 having an insulating property, an IC chip 13 disposed on one side of the substrate 12, and an antenna 14 surrounding the IC chip 13. The outer surfaces of the IC chip 13 and the antenna 14 are covered and sealed with an insulating adhesive.
[0019]
Using the guide wall 20 for the switching piece 9, a loading portion 10 for loading the memory cartridge M is formed inside. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, a pair of grooves 21 that receive the upper and lower edges of the substrate 12 and a recess 22 that receives the swelling on the IC chip 13 side are provided inside the guide wall 20 to form the loading unit 10. The guide wall 20 and the wall 23 in which the groove 21 and the recess 22 are formed project from the upper and bottom walls of the upper and lower cases 1a and 1b so as to face each other and are joined in the same manner as the case peripheral wall. The memory cartridge M is loaded into the loading unit 10 in a state where the plate surface of the substrate 12 is vertical and the IC chip 13 is directed to the front of the case.
[0020]
In general, there are two types of tape drives called SDLT and LTO in a tape drive corresponding to a single reel type tape cartridge. The major difference between the two is the arrangement position of the memory reader. As shown in FIG. 3, in the SDLT format, the memory reader 26a is arranged on the right outer side. In the present invention, the first communication position (FIG. 5A) corresponding to the transmission / reception area of the memory reader 26a in the SDLT type tape drive and the second communication corresponding to the transmission / reception area of the memory reader 26b in the LTO type tape drive. The memory cartridge M is slidable in the left-right direction between the position (FIG. 5B), so that it can be used for any type of tape drive.
[0021]
That is, when the memory cartridge M is in the first communication position, the memory cartridge M is in a position facing the SDLT-type memory reader 26a, and the IC chip is brought into a wireless connection state with the memory reader 26a. Various information such as history information stored in 13 is read and written. More specifically, the memory cartridge M resonates when a weak radio wave having a specific frequency emitted from the memory reader 26a is received by the antenna 14, and supplies the driving power necessary for the operation of the entire IC chip 13 with the resonance voltage to generate the IC. The chip 13 is activated, and various data stored in the IC chip 13 are sent from the antenna 14 to the memory reader 26a, and data sent from the memory reader 26a is stored in the IC chip 13. Since the first communication position is out of the transmission / reception area of the LTO type memory reader 26b, the wireless connection between the memory cartridge M and the memory reader 26b does not occur when the first communication position is in the first communication position. Similarly, since the memory cartridge M at the second communication position is out of the transmission / reception area of the SDLT format memory reader 26a, the memory cartridge M and the memory reader 26a are also in a wireless connection state at this time. There is no.
[0022]
A position holding structure is provided to prevent the memory cartridge M from inadvertently moving from the first and second communication positions. As shown in FIG. 5, this position holding structure has ribs 28 (fixed engaging portions) projecting upward from the inner surface of the bottom wall of the lower case 1 b and the bottom of the substrate 12 of the memory cartridge M. It consists of a first engagement recess 16 (first engagement portion) and a second engagement recess 17 (second engagement portion) that are recessed at the edge. The first engaging recess 16 is provided at the lower edge of the quadrangular leading end 15 projecting from the lower left end of the substrate 12. The second engagement recess 17 is provided in parallel to the first engagement recess 16 and on the right side of the first engagement recess 16. When the memory cartridge M is in the first communication position, as shown in FIG. 5A, the memory cartridge M is engaged and fixed by engaging the first engaging recess 16 and the rib 28. When the memory cartridge M is in the second communication position, the memory cartridge M is engaged and fixed by engaging the second engaging recess 17 and the rib 28 as shown in FIG. A stopper wall 29 for restricting the leftward movement limit of the memory cartridge M is provided obliquely above the rib 28. As a result, the upper surface of the leading end 15 and the lower surface of the stopper wall 29 are engaged, so that the memory cartridge M at the second communication position can be reliably fixed.
[0023]
In order to slide the memory cartridge M, an operation piece 18 is projected from the right shoulder of the substrate 12, and the operation piece 18 is provided through a horizontally long operation port 30 opened in the main surface wall of the upper case 1a. Facing the outside of the case. As a result, it is possible to slide the memory cartridge M in the left-right direction with one touch by placing a finger on the operation piece 18 from the outer surface of the case.
[0024]
In order to slide the memory cartridge M at the first communication position in FIG. 5A to the left, the operation piece 18 is put on the finger and the entire memory cartridge M is slid to the left. At this time, a resistance force due to the engagement between the rib 28 and the first engagement recess 16 is generated, but a force larger than this resistance force is applied to the operation piece 18 to move the memory cartridge M leftward. When the memory cartridge M comes to the second communication position, the second engaging recess 17 snaps into engagement with the rib 28 and the left end of the substrate 12 is received by the stopper wall 29. To return the memory cartridge M from the second communication position to the first communication position, on the contrary, the operation piece 18 is operated rightward.
[0025]
As described above, the memory cartridge M can be slidably displaced in the case main body 1 and can be adapted to any type of tape drive of SDLT and LTO. Therefore, only one mold for creating the case is sufficient. As a result, the manufacturing cost of the tape cartridge can be reduced. Further, since it is not necessary to manage the tape cartridge for each type, the management cost can be reduced. Since the position of the memory cartridge M can be changed with one touch, the switching operation is also easy.
[0026]
In addition to the above, the loading unit 10 may be in an inner corner space or the like on the back left side of the case. The operation piece 18 may protrude from the lower edge of the substrate 12, and the operation port 30 may be opened in the lower case 1b correspondingly. The memory cartridge M may be slid by removing the operation piece 18 and providing a depression hole in the substrate 12 and inserting a needle-like protrusion into the depression hole. The outer shape of the substrate 12 may be formed in a polygonal shape other than a quadrangle.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an internal plan view of a tape cartridge.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a memory cartridge.
FIG. 3 is an internal plan view of a main part.
FIG. 4 is a longitudinal side view showing a structure of a loading unit.
FIG. 5A is a longitudinal front view showing the memory cartridge M in the first communication position, and FIG. 5B is a longitudinal front view showing the memory cartridge in the second communication position.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Case main body 2 Reel 3 Tape 10 Loading part 12 Board | substrate 16 1st engagement part 17 2nd engagement part 18 Operation piece 26a, 26b Memory reader 28 Fixed engagement part 30 Operation port M Memory cartridge S Inner corner space

Claims (5)

A tape cartridge in which one reel around which a tape is wound is disposed inside the case body, and a non-contact type memory cartridge is disposed in a loading portion provided inside the case body,
The memory cartridge has a first communication position corresponding to one memory reader and a second communication position corresponding to the other memory reader, corresponding to the transmission / reception areas of the memory readers provided in the plurality of types of tape drives. Is supported by the loading part so that it can be displaced between
A single reel type wherein a position holding structure for holding the memory cartridge at each of the first communication position and the second communication position is provided between the loading portion and the memory cartridge. Tape cartridge. In order for the position holding structure to hold the memory cartridge in a concave-convex engagement with each other, a fixed engagement portion provided on the loading portion side, a first engagement portion provided on the outer surface of the memory cartridge, and The single reel type tape cartridge according to claim 1, comprising a second engaging portion. An operation piece for slidingly operating the memory cartridge is formed on the memory cartridge so as to protrude.
The single reel type tape cartridge according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the operation piece faces the outer surface of the case through an operation port opened in the case body. 4. The single reel type according to claim 1, wherein the loading portion is provided in an inner corner space between a peripheral side wall of the case main body and a partial arc-shaped partition wall along the periphery of the reel. Tape cartridges. The memory cartridge includes a rectangular substrate, an IC chip and an antenna integrated with the substrate,
The fixed engagement portion is formed of a rib projecting on the inner surface of the case body facing the loading portion,
4. The single reel type tape cartridge according to claim 2, wherein the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion are constituted by a concave portion formed on a peripheral edge of the memory cartridge.

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