JPH07220436A - Tape cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the malfunction of a cartridge detection sensor due to disturbance light in a tape cartridge of a data cartridge or the like which is used for the external memory device of a computer. CONSTITUTION:A tape cartridge 1 is provided with a base plate 2 and a transparent resin-made cover 3. When the tape cartridge 1 is inserted into a driving device 21, detection light 23 from a light emitting part 22 provided with the device 21 toward a cartridge detection sensor 24 is interrupted and the interruption of the detection light 23 is detected by the cartridge detection sensor 24. Thereby, the insertion of the cartridge into the driving device is detected. The cover 3 has a light diffusion irregular part 19 for interrupting disturbance light 31 in the internal surface and/or the external surface of the opposite part to at least cartridge detection sensor 24.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention, when inserted into a drive device, blocks the detection light from a light emitting portion provided in the drive device, and a cartridge provided in the drive device for the fact that the detection light is blocked. The present invention relates to a tape cartridge which is detected as being inserted into a drive device by detecting it with a detection sensor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a tape cartridge (data cartridge) used as an external storage device of a computer, one shown in FIG. 9 is known.

The tape cartridge 101 comprises a base plate 102 and a transparent resin cover 103 mounted on the base plate 102.

The base plate 102 has a supply hub 105 around which a magnetic tape 104 is wound, a take-up hub 106, and a pair of left and right tape guides 107 and 108.
Drive roller 109 provided between the pair of left and right tape guides 107 and 108, a pair of left and right corner rollers 110 and 111, and the drive roller 10 described above.
9 and a pair of left and right corner rollers 110, 111
A drive belt 112 hung in a letter shape, a reflection mirror (prism) 113, a door 115 for opening and closing a head insertion portion 114 provided on the cover 103, and the like are provided.

The cover 103 is the cover of the supply hub 1.
05, take-up hub 106, tape guide 107,
108, drive roller 109, corner roller 11
0, 111, drive belt 112, reflection mirror 113
It is mounted on the base plate 102 with screws or the like so as to cover the above.

The head insertion portion 114 is provided at one side portion on the front surface side of the cover 103, a cutout window 116 for exposing the drive roller 109 is formed at the central portion, and the upper surface of the other side portion is formed. Is provided with a recess 117 for mounting an erroneous recording prevention member.

An erroneous recording prevention member 118 is provided in the recess 117.
Is slidably mounted.

Then, as shown in FIG. 10, when the tape cartridge 101 is inserted into the drive device 121, the detection light 123 from the light emitting portion 122 provided in the drive device 121 is reflected by the reflection mirror 113. The cartridge detection sensor (light receiving portion) 124 provided in the drive device 121 detects that the detection light 123 is blocked.

On the other hand, the detection light 123 reflected by the reflection mirror 113 is directed to a tape position detection sensor (light receiving section) 125 provided on the magnetic tape 104 and the drive unit 121.

When the magnetic tape 104 reaches the winding start or winding end position, the detection light 123 is transmitted through the light transmitting portion provided on the magnetic tape 104, and the detection light 12 is transmitted.
3 is detected by the tape position sensor (light receiving portion) 125, and the tape top or the tape end of the magnetic tape 104 is detected.

In FIG. 10, reference numeral 126 is a detection light introducing hole provided in the base plate 102 for introducing the detection light 123 emitted from the light emitting section 122.

[0012]

By the way, in the above-mentioned conventional tape cartridge 101, the drive unit 121 is used.
At the rear end portion of the cover 103 protruding to the outside, for example, so-called ambient light 1 such as strong light from an irradiation device or direct light from the sun.
When 31 hits, the ambient light 131 propagates inside the cover 103 and penetrates into the drive device 121 while repeatedly reflecting and transmitting inside the cover 103 (in the transparent resin) as shown in FIG. To do.

Particularly, when the ambient light 131 enters the position of the recess 117 for mounting the erroneous recording prevention member, the ambient light 131 escapes from the side surface 117a of the recess 117 to the outside of the cover 103.

The ambient light 131 that has escaped to the outside of the cover 103 hits the side surface 118a of the erroneous recording prevention member 118 and is reflected by the cartridge detection sensor 124.
When the cartridge detection sensor 124 malfunctions, the drive device 121 determines that the tape cartridge 101 is not present, which causes a problem that recording / reproducing cannot be performed on the tape cartridge 101.

The present invention has been made for the purpose of solving the above-mentioned conventional problems and providing a tape cartridge capable of preventing malfunction due to ambient light.

[0016]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a base plate and a transparent resin cover mounted on the base plate. When the cover is inserted into a drive device, a light emitting portion provided in the device is provided. The detection light traveling from the cartridge to the cartridge detection sensor is blocked, and the fact that the detection light is blocked is detected by the cartridge detection sensor, whereby the tape inserted in the drive device is detected. In the cartridge, the cover has an uneven portion for light diffusion on at least an inner surface and / or an outer surface of a portion facing the cartridge detection sensor.

A tape cartridge according to a second aspect is the tape cartridge according to the first aspect, wherein the cover has a concave portion for mounting an erroneous recording prevention member at a position facing the cartridge detection sensor, and the inner surface and / or the concave portion. The outer surface has an uneven portion for light diffusion.

[0018]

In the tape cartridge according to the present invention, the disturbance light that has entered the inside of the cover (in the transparent resin) is diffused by the uneven portion for light diffusion provided on the inner surface and / or the outer surface of the cover. And is prevented from entering the drive device.

In the tape cartridge of the second aspect, the ambient light entering the inside of the cover (inside the transparent resin) is
In the erroneous recording prevention mounting recess provided at the position facing the cartridge detection sensor, the unevenness for light diffusion provided on the inner surface and / or the outer surface of the recess diffuses the disturbance to the cartridge detection sensor. Light is prevented from reaching.

[0020]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, the tape cartridge of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

1 to 4 show the tape cartridge of the first embodiment, which is configured as a 1/4 inch data cartridge used as an external storage device of a computer.

The tape cartridge 1 comprises a base plate 2 and a transparent resin cover 3 mounted on the base plate 2.

The base plate 2 has a supply hub 5 and a take-up hub 6 around which the magnetic tape 4 is wound, a pair of left and right tape guides 7 and 8, and a drive provided between the pair of left and right tape guides 7 and 8. Roller 9 and
The first and second corner rollers 10, 11 and the drive roller 9 and the first, second corner rollers 10, 11
A drive belt 12 hung in a T shape, a reflection mirror 13, a door 15 for opening and closing a head insertion portion 14 provided on the cover 3 and the like are provided.

A portion of the drive belt 12 between the drive roller 9 and the first corner roller 10 is pressure-bonded to the peripheral surface of the magnetic tape 4 wound around the supply hub 5.

The space between the drive roller 9 and the second corner roller 11 of the drive belt 12 is pressure-bonded to the circumferential surface of the magnetic tape 4 wound around the take-up hub 6.

When the drive roller 9 is rotated by the drive roller drive mechanism of the drive device 21 which will be described later, the drive belt 12 runs and the magnetic tape 4 also runs as the drive belt 12 runs. Has become.

The cover 3 includes the supply hub 5, take-up hub 6, tape guides 7, 8, drive rollers 9, corner rollers 10, 11, drive belt 1.
2, the base plate 2 so as to cover the reflection mirror 13 and the like.
Mounted on the top with screws.

The head insertion portion 14 is provided at one side portion on the front surface side of the cover 3, and the notch window 16 for exposing the drive roller 9 is formed at the central portion.
A concave portion 17 for an erroneous recording prevention member is provided on the upper surface of the other side portion.

An erroneous recording prevention member 18 is slidably mounted in the recess 17.

The inner surface of the cover 3 is provided with a light diffusing concavo-convex portion 19 for blocking ambient light.

The concavo-convex portion 19 is formed by subjecting the inner surface of the cover 3 to so-called embossing.

As shown in FIG. 2, the uneven portion 19 has
Supply hub mounting position 3a, take-up mounting position 3
b, the drive roller mounting position 3c, the first and second corner roller mounting positions 3d and 3e, the recessed position 3f for mounting the erroneous recording prevention member, the side wall, and the like, and is formed over substantially the entire inner surface of the cover 3. Has been done.

Then, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, when the data cartridge 1 is inserted into the drive device 21, the reflection mirror 13 causes the detection light 23 from the light emitting portion 22 provided in the drive device 21 to be reflected. A cartridge detection sensor (light receiving unit) 24 provided in the drive device 21 detects that the detection light 23 is reflected and blocked, and the detection light 23 is blocked.

In this way, it is detected that the data cartridge 1 has been inserted into the drive device 21.

On the other hand, the detection light 23 reflected by the reflection mirror 13 is directed to the tape position sensor (light receiving portion) 25 provided in the magnetic tape 4 and the drive device 21.

When the magnetic tape 4 reaches the winding start or winding end position, the detection light 23 is transmitted through the light transmitting portion provided on the magnetic tape 4, and the detection light 23 is moved to the tape position. The sensor (light receiving unit) 25 detects the tape top or the tape end of the magnetic tape 4.

Further, when the tape cartridge 1 is mounted on the drive device 21, the rear end portion of the tape cartridge 1 protruding to the outside of the drive device 21 is exposed to ambient light 31 such as lighting equipment or direct light of the sun. Even in the case of the above, the ambient light 31 is prevented from being diffused by the uneven portion 19 provided on the inner side surface of the cover 3 and weakened before reaching the cartridge detection sensor 24, and the cartridge detection sensor 24 is prevented from malfunctioning. To do.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the case where the uneven portion 19 for light diffusion is provided on the inner side surface of the cover 3 is shown. However, the uneven portion 19 may be provided on the outer side surface, or on the inner and outer side surfaces. You may provide in both.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 26 is a light emitting section 22.
The detection light introducing holes provided in the base plate 2 for introducing the detection light 23 emitted from the drive plate 27, 28 are driven to guide the detection light 23 from the light emitting portion 22 to the detection light introducing hole 26 of the base plate 2. It is the first and second reflecting surfaces provided in the device 21.

5 to 8 show a second embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, the cover 3 has a recess 17 for mounting an erroneous recording prevention member at a position facing the cartridge detection sensor 24.

An uneven portion 19 for light diffusion is provided on the inner surface of the recess 17.

The cover 3 has almost the same structure as that of the first embodiment except that the concave and convex portions 19 are not provided on the inner side surface thereof. The description is omitted.

The tape cartridge 1 of the second embodiment has the above construction.

Therefore, when the tape cartridge 1 is mounted in the drive device 21, the rear end portion of the cartridge 1 protruding to the outside of the drive device 21 is exposed to ambient light such as lighting equipment or direct light of the sun. In addition, the ambient light penetrates into the inside of the cover 3 (in the transparent resin) while repeatedly reflecting and transmitting, and reaches the position of the concave portion 17 for mounting the error recording prevention member. 19
The cartridge detection sensor 25 is prevented from malfunctioning due to ambient light.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the concave / convex portion 19 is provided on the inner side surface of the concave portion 17 for mounting the erroneous recording prevention member, but the outer surface of the concave portion 17, that is, the cover 3 is shown.
The rugged portion 19 may be provided on the inner side surface, or the rugged portion 19 may be provided on both the inner and outer surfaces.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the lower surface of the recess 17 for mounting the erroneous recording prevention member is projected from the inner side surface of the cover 3, and the uneven portion 1 is formed on the outer surface of the recess 17 and in the vicinity thereof.
9 may be provided.

The concavo-convex portion 19 may be formed by knurling, twilling, or the like.

The roughness of the uneven portion 19 is RZ = 15 to
25 μm is desirable.

[0050]

The tape cartridge of the present invention has the following effects.

(1) The tape cartridge according to claim 1 is
Ambient light is blocked by the uneven portion for light diffusion provided on the inner surface and / or the outer surface of the cover to prevent malfunction of the cartridge detection sensor.

(2) The tape cartridge according to claim 2 is
Since a concave portion for mounting the erroneous recording prevention member is provided at a position facing the cartridge detection sensor, and an uneven portion for light diffusion is provided on the inner side surface and / or the outer side surface of the concave portion, the disturbing light leaking out from the concave portion is uneven The cartridge detection sensor is prevented from malfunctioning due to the ambient light.

Further, in the concave portion for mounting the erroneous recording prevention member,
Since the uneven portion is provided on the outer side surface, there is an effect that the state of the magnetic tape can be seen through the cover as in the conventional case while keeping the other part of the cover transparent.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the cover seen from the inside.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a tape cartridge and a drive device.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a state in which the tape cartridge is inserted in the drive device.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a main part.

7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a modified example.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional example.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a state in which the drive device is inserted.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a problem of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Tape cartridge 2 ... Base plate 3 ... Cover 17 ... Recessed portion for mounting erroneous recording prevention member 18 ... Incorrect recording prevention member 19 ... Uneven portion for light diffusion 21 ... Drive device 22 ... Light emitting portion 23 ... Detection light 24 ... Cartridge detection Sensor 31 ... Ambient light

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A base plate and a cover made of transparent resin mounted on the base plate. When inserted into a drive device, the light emitted from a light emitting portion provided in the device to a cartridge detection sensor is blocked. In the tape cartridge in which the detection light is blocked by the cartridge detection sensor, it is detected that the tape is inserted in the drive device. A tape cartridge characterized in that it has an uneven portion for light diffusion on an inner surface and / or an outer surface of a portion facing the sensor. 2. The cover according to claim 1, wherein the cover has a recess for mounting an erroneous recording prevention member at a position facing the cartridge detection sensor, and an inner surface and / or an outer surface of the recess has an unevenness for light diffusion. Cartridge having parts.