JPH0676439A - Cartridge type magnetic tape device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent mechanical and magnetical damages on a head by returning a cartridge back to the position before the port side at the specified time later from the time when the backup operation is ended and separating a magnetic tape and the head. CONSTITUTION:A supporting plate 24 of the cartridge 1 is moved back in the direction of the port 23 by a signal of backup operation ending and stopped at the position before the port 23. Linking with this movement, the magnetic head 25 and a capstan roller 26 for driving are separated from the tape 2a and a capstan roller 7. At this time, the cartridge 1 is placed inside the frame 22, thereby the recognization is surely made that the cartridge is the one completed of backup, and a mishandling is avoided. Also, for the tape 2, the shape of the head surface is not dislocated and not deformed by separating it from the head 25. Since the rollers 7, 26 are also separated from each other, a creep is not generated therefor, and fluctuation of tape feeding speed is prevented.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cartridge type magnetic tape device suitable as a backup device for a magnetic disk device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A cartridge type magnetic tape device for backing up data of a magnetic disk device such as a computer is loaded with a cartridge containing a magnetic tape,
The same data as that recorded on the magnetic disk is recorded on the magnetic tape.

An example of the cartridge will be described with reference to FIG. A pair of reels 3 and 4 in which both ends of the magnetic tape 2 are locked and wound are rotatably provided in a case forming a main body of the cartridge 1. Reel 3,4
A part 2a of the magnetic tape 2 wound around is stretched between the guide pins 5 and 6. A capstan roller 7 is provided on the outer periphery of the magnetic tape 2 wound around the reels 3 and 4.
And a belt 11 wound around a pair of belt rollers 8 and 9.
Is wrapped around. A part of the peripheral surface of the capstan roller 7 is exposed from the notch 1a to the outside of the case, and is rotated by contact with a driving capstan roller of the device body described later to drive the reels 3 and 4. The magnetic tape 2 is run at a constant speed.

A notch 1b into which a magnetic head described later enters is formed on one side of the case, and a part 2a of the magnetic tape is stretched across the notch. The notch 1b is closed by an access door 13 which is rotatable around the shaft 12, and when the door is opened, a part 2a of the magnetic tape is exposed. The access door 13 is given a habit of closing by the elasticity of a coil spring (not shown).

The cartridge 1 is used by being loaded in a magnetic tape device. As a magnetic tape device, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
There is known an apparatus having an automatic loading function as described in JP-A-280244. In such a device, when the cartridge is inserted from the cartridge insertion port to a predetermined position, the cartridge position sensor detects this and the drive source is activated to move the cartridge to the operating position and access door 13
Open up. The operating position of the cartridge is a part of the magnetic tape exposed when the access door is opened.
The position where the magnetic head is brought into contact with a and the driving capstan roller is brought into contact with the driven capstan roller 7 to place the magnetic tape 2 in a running and recordable state. The loaded cartridge is held in the operating position until the backup operation is completed.

[0006]

The cartridge held in the operating position is placed in a state in which the magnetic tape which is not running is brought into contact with the magnetic head even though the system to be backed up is not operating. There is a chance Further, the cartridge in which the data is recorded is designed to be pulled out from the main body of the apparatus when the backup operation is completed. However, if the backup cartridge is forgotten, the contact state between the magnetic tape and the magnetic head is further continued. I will end up. The magnetic head is in contact with the magnetic tape in a bent state for stable recording. Therefore, if the magnetic tape that is not running and the magnetic head are in contact with each other for a long time, the shape of the head surface is transferred to the tape, and a reading error occurs due to a spacing loss during reproduction of the magnetic tape. There's a problem. Further, when the magnetic tape and the magnetic head are in contact with each other, if there is an accident such as static electricity flowing, the backed up data will be destroyed.

Therefore, if the cartridge that backs up the data is sent out of the apparatus, the above problem can be solved. However, a backed up cartridge that makes a part of the cartridge look into the apparatus during the next backup operation. There is a problem of accidentally pushing the tape into the tape device.

Further, the driving capstan roller is in contact with the driven capstan roller 7 of the cartridge placed in the operating position. This drive capstan roller is made of an elastic body with a high friction coefficient. If both capstan rollers are in contact with each other for a long time without the tape running, the elastic body will be deformed and the tape stability will be improved. The problem of impairing driving also occurs.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a cartridge-type magnetic tape device which does not deform the magnetic tape or the capstan roller and does not erroneously reload a used cartridge.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A cartridge type magnetic tape device of the present invention is a magnetic tape device in which a magnetic tape cartridge is loaded at a fixed position by a power source and a magnetic head is pressed against the magnetic tape. It is characterized in that a cartridge moving means for stopping the cartridge is provided at a front position in the insertion direction of the cartridge from the operating position in which the cartridge is in contact.

[0011]

The inserted cartridge is moved to the operating position in the apparatus by the cartridge moving means, the magnetic head is brought into contact with the magnetic tape, and the driving capstan roller is brought into contact with the driven capstan roller. Used for backup operation. When the backup operation ends, based on the end signal or when a certain time has elapsed from the end, the cartridge moving means returns the cartridge to a position closer to the insertion opening side than the operating position and stops the magnetic tape and the magnetic head. Allow or place in a weak contact.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in detail below based on the illustrated embodiments.

In FIG. 1, a cartridge insertion opening 23 is provided in a frame 22 of a cartridge type magnetic tape device 21.
Are formed. In the frame 22, a cartridge support plate 24 that supports the cartridge 1 inserted from the insertion port 23 in a fixed posture and reciprocates, and a side face of the support plate are provided. A magnetic head unit 27 holding a capstan roller 26 for each is provided. Drive capstan roller 26
Is driven and rotated by a drive motor (not shown).

In the case of the illustrated example, the support plate 24 engages three guide grooves 24a formed parallel to the moving direction with a guide member 22a provided on the frame 22.
At the side edges of the support plate 24, the notches 1a, 1
Notches 24b and 24c corresponding to b (see FIG. 5) are formed. The support plate 24 is reciprocally moved by a power source composed of a motor, a cam, and a rotation transmitting means such as a belt and a gear train. The power source, the support plate 24, and the control means (not shown) constitute a cartridge moving means. The control means turns on the motor in response to a signal that the cartridge 1 is inserted at a predetermined insertion position, and turns the support plate 24 on.
When the cartridge 1 is moved to the operating position, the backup operation is started, and when the backup operation ends, the cartridge 1 is moved back from the operating position based on the signal or after a lapse of a certain time from the end signal. Etc. are controlled. The support plate 24 that supports the cartridge 1 stops at a plurality of positions, and its position will be described later.

The magnetic head unit 27 is, as shown in FIG. 1, a standby position in which the magnetic head 25 and the driving capstan 26 are separated from the cartridge support plate 24, and the magnetic head 25 is provided with a magnetic tape as shown in FIG. 2a and the driving capstan roller 26 is movable between the driving position and the driven capstan roller 7. The position of the magnetic head unit 27 is determined in association with the reciprocating movement of the cartridge support plate 24. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, when the cartridge support plate 24 is stopped at the front position, the magnetic head unit 27 is stopped at an intermediate position between the standby position and the operating position.

Further, the cartridge supporting plate 24 is provided with an engaging member (not shown) for opening the access door 13 of the cartridge 1 supported by the cartridge supporting plate 24. This engaging member engages with the access door 13 when the cartridge 1 is inserted to the predetermined position shown in FIG. 2 to open the door to some extent, and when the support plate 24 moves to the operating position at the back of the frame, It is designed to open the door to the maximum.

The position of the support plate 24 will be described. FIG. 1 shows a standby position for waiting for receiving the cartridge 1 to be inserted. Support plate 24 at this time
Positions the guide member 22a at the innermost end (right side in the figure) of the guide groove 24a. In the support plate 24 shown in FIG. 3, the cartridge 1 is located at the operating position, the magnetic head 25 contacts the part 2a of the tape, and the driving capstan roller 26 contacts the driven capstan roller 7. . FIG. 4 shows a state in which the support plate 24 is stopped at the front position after the backup is completed, and is returned to the insertion port 23 side from the operation position shown in FIG. At this stop position, the magnetic head 25 is separated from the tape, and the driving capstan roller 26 is separated from the driven capstan roller 7.

The operation of the embodiment configured as described above will be described. The magnetic tape device 21 is connected to the system to be backed up. In FIG. 1, the cartridge 1 for backing up data is inserted into the apparatus through the cartridge insertion port 23 in the direction of the arrow. At this time, the cartridge support plate 24 is placed in the standby position as shown in FIG. At the standby position, the support plate 24 positions the back end of the guide groove 24a on the guide member 22a, and the magnetic head unit 27 is placed at a retracted position separated from the support plate 24.

As shown in FIG. 2, when the cartridge 1 inserted from the insertion port 23 is pushed to a predetermined position in the apparatus,
An engagement member (not shown) engages the access door 13 to open it to a certain open position. Notch 1a, 24
The cartridge 1 pushed to a predetermined position where the b and the notches b and 24c face each other is held at that position by a stopper (not shown) provided on the support plate 24, and the cartridge position sensor is operated. Based on the cartridge position detection signal from this sensor, the power source starts to operate, the support plate 24 is moved in the direction of arrow a, and the cartridge 1 supported by this is positioned at the operation position shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 3, the support plate 24 placed in the operating position is stopped with the front end (left end in the figure) of the guide groove 24a engaged with the guide member 22a. The cartridge 1 in this operating position is positionally locked to the support plate 24 by locking means (not shown) and the access door 13 is completely opened. On the other hand, the magnetic head unit 27 is moved in the direction of arrow b in conjunction with the forward movement of the support plate 24 in the direction of arrow a, and when the cartridge 1 is placed in the operating position,
The magnetic head 25 is brought into contact with the magnetic tape 2a exposed at the notch 1b, and the drive capstan roller 26
Is brought into contact with the driven capstan roller 7.

The cartridge 1 placed in the operation position shown in FIG. 3 is ready to record backup data at any time, and the drive capstan roller 26 starts to send the magnetic tape 2 and the magnetic head by the backup start signal from the system. 25 writes the data.

When the backup operation is completed and the signal is input, the control means drives the cartridge moving means in the reverse direction to move the support plate 24 supporting the cartridge 1 placed at the front position shown in FIG. It is moved back toward the insertion port 23 and stopped at a front position on the front side of the operating position in the cartridge insertion direction. Support plate 24
When the head moves back, the magnetic head unit 27 moves in conjunction with this, and the magnetic head 2 and the driving capstan roller 2
6 is separated from the tape 2a and the capstan roller 7. The support plate 24 placed in this front position is shown in FIG.
As shown in, the guide member 22a is positioned at the longitudinal middle portion of the guide groove 24a. The stopping of the cartridge at this front position is held by a moving unit such as a motor or a cam (not shown).

Cartridge 1 after completion of backup operation
4 is returned to the front position shown in FIG. 4 and stopped. At this time, it is essential that the cartridge 1 is entirely placed inside the frame 22. If a part of the cartridge protrudes from the insertion port 23, there is a fear that it cannot be determined whether this cartridge is already backed up or newly installed, but it is already backed up. If the cartridge is stopped while it is inside the device, mistakes in handling the cartridge will not occur.

Further, since the magnetic tape 2 is separated from the magnetic head 25, the shape of the head surface is not displaced and is not deformed. Further, since the capstan rollers 7 and 26 are also separated from each other, these capstan rollers do not cause creep, and the occurrence of a problem that changes the tape feeding speed is avoided.

The cartridge 1 placed at the front position shown in FIG. 4 is operated by operating an eject switch (not shown) in preparation for the next backup operation.
It is moved back from the stopped position to the insertion port 23 side. When the cartridge moving means is actuated to move the support plate 24 back, the cartridge 1 supported by this is sent to the position shown in FIG. 2, so the operator takes out this cartridge and inserts a new cartridge.

In the above description, the magnetic head 25 and the magnetic tape 2 are completely separated at the front position shown in FIG. 4, but if the contact pressure is such that the tape is not deformed, they are in contact with each other. Is also good. The capstan rollers 7 and 26 do not need to be completely separated from each other, and may be lightly contacted as long as the contact pressure is such that they are not deformed.

Further, in the above description, the cartridge is immediately returned to the front position and stopped based on the signal indicating that the backup operation is completed. However, a fixed time, for example, 1 to 3 minutes has elapsed after the backup operation was completed. Alternatively, the cartridge may be returned to the front position by executing the backward movement operation of the cartridge.

[0028]

As described above, according to the present invention, the magnetic tape is mechanically and magnetically damaged by the magnetic head even if the cartridge in which the tape does not run remains loaded in the apparatus for a long time. Is reduced.

Further, since the cartridge stopped at the front position is not exposed to the outside of the apparatus, the operator cannot touch the cartridge, and it is possible to avoid the erroneous operation of accidentally pulling out or pushing in the cartridge. .

Further, since the capstan rollers for driving the tape can be prevented from being deformed, a stable tape feeding speed can be maintained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a cartridge type magnetic tape device showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a state in which a cartridge is inserted to a predetermined position.

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view showing a state in which the cartridge is located at an operating position.

FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view showing a state in which the cartridge is returned to the front position.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing an example of a cartridge containing a magnetic tape.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ... Cartridge 2 ... Magnetic tape 2a ... Part of tape 3 ... Reel 4 ... Reel 7 ... Driven capstan roller 13 ... Access door 21 ... Cartridge type magnetic Tape device 22 ... Frame 23 ... Cartridge insertion port 24 ... Cartridge support plate 25 ... Magnetic head 26 ... Driving capstan roller 27 ... Magnetic head unit

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] April 12, 1993

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be amended] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Claims]

[Procedure Amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0007

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

Therefore, if the cartridge that backs up the data is sent out of the magnetic tape device, the above problem can be solved .
In order to eject the cartridge from the magnetic tape unit.
In some cases, the cartridge is not
Instructions are built into the state of being loaded in a magnetic tape device.

[Procedure 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0010

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[0010]

The present invention is a magnetic tape device.
Magnetic tape car inserted from the cartridge insertion slot
Mount the trigge in place in the magnetic tape unit with a power source.
The magnetic tape device
Has a working state and a non-working state.
The magnetic tape and the magnetic head perform magnetic recording on the magnetic tape.
Are in contact with each other with a contact pressure of
The magnetic tape and the magnetic head are separated from each other or the contact pressure is
The contact pressure is weaker than that.

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0011

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[0011]

The cartridge inserted from the cartridge insertion opening of the magnetic tape device is moved by the cartridge moving means.
It is moved to the operating position in a magnetic tape device, a magnetic tape
When the magnetic tape is brought into contact with the magnetic head and the capstan roller is brought into contact with the driving capstan roller, the backup device is put into a backup operation. When the backup operation is completed, a predetermined time has elapsed or after the end based on the end signal, the cartridge moving means, back to front position as a non-operating position of the interpolation <br/> inlet side than the operation position of the cartridge stopping, it becomes magnetic tape device inoperative state position, placed in a state of being either weakly contacted to separate the magnetic tape and the magnetic head.

[Procedure Amendment 5]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0019

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

As shown in FIG. 2, when the cartridge 1 inserted from the insertion port 23 is inserted to a predetermined position in the apparatus,
An engagement member (not shown) engages the access door 13 to open it to a certain open position. Notch 1a, 24
The cartridge 1 pushed into a predetermined position where b and the cutouts 1b and 24c face each other is held by a stopper (not shown) provided on the support plate 24 and the cartridge position sensor is operated. Based on the cartridge position detection signal from this sensor, the power source starts to operate, the support plate 24 is moved in the direction of arrow a, and the cartridge 1 supported by this is positioned at the operation position shown in FIG.

[Procedure correction 6]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] 0022

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[0022] Now, control means for the backup operation is input to the signal to be completed, the cartridge moving means so reverse driven, the support plate 24 to the cartridge 1 is supported was placed in the front position shown in FIG. 3 It is moved back toward the insertion port 23 and stopped at a front position on the front side of the operating position in the cartridge insertion direction. Support plate 24
When the head moves back, the magnetic head unit 27 moves in conjunction with this, and the magnetic head 2 and the driving capstan roller 2
6 is separated from the tape 2a and the capstan roller 7. The support plate 24 placed in this front position is shown in FIG.
As shown in, the guide member 22a is positioned at the longitudinal middle portion of the guide groove 24a. The stopping of the cartridge at this front position is held by a moving unit such as a motor or a cam (not shown).

[Procedure Amendment 7]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0026

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

In the above description, the non-operating position shown in FIG.
Although the magnetic head 25 and the magnetic tape 2 are completely separated from each other at the front position, they may be in contact with each other as long as the contact pressure is such that the tape is not deformed. Also,
The capstan rollers 7 and 26 do not have to be completely separated from each other, and may be in light contact with each other as long as the contact pressure does not deform.

[Procedure Amendment 8]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] 0027

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

In the above description, the cartridge is immediately deactivated based on the signal that the backup operation is completed.
Although the cartridge is returned to the working position and stopped, the cartridge may be returned to the non-operating position by executing the backward movement operation of the cartridge after a fixed time, for example, 1 to 3 minutes has elapsed after the backup operation is completed.

[Procedure Amendment 9]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] 0029

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

Further, since the cartridge stopped at the non-operating position is not exposed to the outside of the apparatus, the operator cannot touch the cartridge, and it is possible to avoid a malfunction that the cartridge is inadvertently pulled out or pushed in. it can.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A magnetic tape device for loading a magnetic tape cartridge in a fixed position by a power source and pressing a magnetic head against the magnetic tape, in the insertion direction of the cartridge from an operating position where the magnetic head and the magnetic tape are in contact with each other. A cartridge type magnetic tape device provided with a cartridge moving means for stopping the cartridge at a position.