JPH10199198A - Tape cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform highly accurate information recording and/or reproducing and to reduce the degree of wearing for a magnetic head in response to a request for a high capacity and high density by providing a pair of ribs in parallel with each other along a longitudinal direction in a leader tape regarding a tape cartridge having a single tape reel housed to be freely rotated. SOLUTION: A pair of ribs 15a and 15b is provided in a leader tape 10 so as to be in parallel with each other along the longitudinal direction of the leader tape 10. The ribs 15a and 15b are provided to be roughly symmetrical by holding the center line of the cross direction of the leader tape 10. Each rib has its starting end between a pair of hooking pieces 12, more specifically in a part surrounded by the pair of hooking pieces 12, a connecting hole 11 and a stopper hole 13 and its finishing end in the vicinity of a connecting part 10b. Here, the connecting part 10b means a part to which a splicing tape is adhered. Formation of the ribs 15a and 15b is carried out by, for example embossing.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tape cartridge, and more particularly to a tape cartridge capable of responding to a demand for high capacity and high density, recording and / or reproducing information with high precision, and a magnetic recording medium. The present invention relates to a tape cartridge such as a DLT cartridge that can reduce the degree of head wear.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art
As a tape cartridge for data storage used as a backup for a computer or the like, a magnetic tape is wound around a single tape reel, and the tape reel is rotatably housed in a cartridge body composed of an upper half and a lower half. Tape cartridges such as DLT cartridges are known.

[0003] A leader tape is connected to the magnetic tape wound around the tape reel. When the magnetic tape is mounted on a recording and / or reproducing apparatus and used, the magnetic tape of the leader tape is not connected. The magnetic tape is pulled out of the cartridge body by engaging an engagement member provided on the connection tape of the tape drive with a connection hole formed at the end on the side of the cartridge. Therefore, the leader tape is required to have sufficient strength to withstand repeated drawing.

For this reason, as a leader tape for a DLT cartridge, a tape having a greater thickness than a magnetic tape is used. However, if the thickness difference between the magnetic tape and the magnetic tape is large, a step occurs at the connecting portion between the leader tape and the magnetic tape, and when the tape is wound on the drive tape reel, the step at the connecting portion is transferred to the magnetic tape. Causes a problem of dropout. Therefore, the leader tape in the DLT cartridge is required to have sufficient strength to withstand repeated drawing, but also to be thin in order to reduce the difference in thickness from the magnetic tape.

However, none of the conventional leader tapes sufficiently satisfies the above requirements. Further, with the recent demand for higher capacity and higher density, the base film of the magnetic tape has been changed from PET or the like to a higher strength. High polyamide (P
A) There is a tendency that the magnetic tape is made thinner by means of, for example, replacing polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) or the like, and it is necessary to further thin the leader tape in order to cope with this thinning. , Making it more difficult to achieve both strength and thinness. That is, the conventional DL
In fact, some T cartridges cannot meet the demand for higher capacity and higher density.

A DLT cartridge has a recording and / or
Or, it is used by being attached to a playback device,
At this time, in the cartridge, since the magnetic head slides not only on the magnetic tape but also on the leader tape, powder is generated from the rubbed surface of the leader tape, and the dust adheres to the head and the recording or reproduction accuracy is reduced. On the contrary, there is a problem that the head is worn.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to meet the demand for high capacity and high density, to record and / or reproduce information with high accuracy, and to reduce the degree of wear of the magnetic head. And a tape cartridge such as a DLT cartridge.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a single cartridge in which a magnetic tape to which a leader tape is connected at a leading end is wound in a cartridge body composed of an upper half and a lower half. The above object is attained by providing a tape cartridge in which a tape reel is rotatably accommodated, wherein the leader tape has a pair of ribs parallel to each other along a length direction. It was done. The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the rib is
An object of the present invention is to provide a tape cartridge formed by embossing.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of a DLT cartridge as a specific tape cartridge to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the DLT cartridge, and FIG.
It is a plan view showing a leader tape on which ribs are formed,
FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a state in which the leader tape is wound on a drive tape reel, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG.

A DLT cartridge 1 shown in FIG. 1 has a cartridge body 2 comprising an upper half 2a and a lower half 2b.
Inside, a single tape reel 3 around which a magnetic tape 20 with a leader tape 10 connected to the end is wound is rotatably accommodated. The tape reel 3 includes a disc-shaped reel flange, that is, an upper flange 3a and a lower flange 3b. The tape reel 3 is always urged toward the lower half 2b by a reel spring 4 as a coil spring. Will be accommodated.

A gear 5 is formed on the outer peripheral edge of the upper flange 3a. The upper half 2a has the gear portion 5
A brake member 6 having a comb-shaped meshing portion 6a that meshes with the gear 6 and a contact portion 6b with a brake release piece that releases meshing between the gear portion 5 and the meshing portion 6a are provided. FIG.
The reference numeral 7 denotes a lid for opening and closing the leader tape outlet. Such a configuration is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 5-36679 and Japanese Utility Model Application No. 5-36868.
This is the same as a known tape cartridge, such as the magnetic tape cartridge described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 0-205.

As shown in FIG. 2, the leader tape 10 in the DLT cartridge 1 of this embodiment is provided with an engaging member (not shown) provided on a connecting tape of a tape drive.
One end has a connecting portion 10a provided with a connecting hole 11 that can be engaged with a magnetic tape (not shown), and the other end has a connecting portion 10b with a magnetic tape (not shown). The connecting portion 1 is attached to the leader tape 10.
A pair of hooking pieces 12 are formed so as to protrude in the width direction of the tape, and a stopper is provided near the connecting portion 10b side of the pair of hooking pieces 12 and at the center in the width direction of the tape. A hole 13 is formed.

When the magnetic tape 20 and the leader tape 10 are wound on the tape reel 3, the hooking pieces 12 are hooked into grooves (not shown) provided above and below the tape pull-out port. 10a is prevented from being pulled into the cartridge body. The stopper hole 13 is hooked by a hook 14 provided in the vicinity of the tape outlet, and prevents the connecting portion 10a from being pulled into the cartridge body.

The leader tape 10 has a pair of ribs 15a, 15 parallel to each other along the length of the leader tape.
b is provided. The ribs 15a and the ribs 15b are provided at substantially symmetric positions with respect to the center line in the width direction of the leader tape.
In more detail, the pair of hook pieces 12 and the connection holes 11
And at the portion surrounded by the stopper hole 13 and the terminal end thereof near the connecting portion 10b. Here, the connection portion 10b means a portion where the splicing tape is bonded (including welding or the like). That is, the leader tape and the magnetic tape are connected by bonding a splicing tape so as to straddle both tapes in a state where the end of the leader tape and the end of the magnetic tape are abutted,
The connection portion in the leader tape means a portion to which the first half of the splicing tape is bonded.

The ribs 15a and 15b are provided so as to protrude in the outer peripheral direction when wound around the tape reel 3. The height of each rib from the surface of the leader tape is
Usually 0.01 to 1.0 mm, preferably 0.0 to 1.0 mm.
5 to 0.3 mm. If the height of the rib from the surface of the leader tape is less than 0.01 mm, shaving powder may be generated due to contact with the magnetic head, and if it exceeds 1.0 mm, the repulsive force when the rib is caught on the drive tape reel may be reduced. It is not preferable because it becomes large and a step occurs at a connection portion with the magnetic tape, which causes a problem of transfer. However, the height of the rib does not need to be constant over the entire length, and may be such that the height decreases as approaching the connection portion 10b.

The distance between the ribs 15a and 15b in the DLT cartridge is about 12.7 m in width of the leader tape.
m is usually 7 to 11 mm, preferably 8 to 1
0 mm. If the distance is less than 7 mm, the contact between the leader tape and the magnetic head cannot be reduced, and the accuracy of information recording and / or reproduction is reduced, and the effect of reducing the degree of wear of the magnetic head is reduced. Sometimes not enough.

The method for forming the rib is not particularly limited as long as the rib can be formed on the leader tape.
Various methods known per se can be employed. For example, a rib can be formed by embossing. In this case, the raw material sheet may be punched into a leader tape shape after embossing, or may be punched into a leader tape shape and then embossed. Preferably, the raw material sheet is punched into a leader tape shape after embossing. According to this method, it is only necessary to add an embossing process to the conventional manufacturing process of a leader tape, and it is possible to mass-produce DLT cartridges having excellent characteristics in a simple process without reducing productivity. Can be.

When using the DLT cartridge of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, a leader tape and a magnetic tape are pulled out from the tape reel 3 and wound around a drive tape reel 16. Information is recorded on a magnetic tape, and / or information is recorded on a transfer path extending from the DLT cartridge 3 to being wound into the drive tape cartridge 16.
Alternatively, the magnetic head 17 for reproduction is disposed so as to slide on the magnetic tape 20. The magnetic head 17 has a head part 17a and a head mounting part 17b as shown in FIG.

Ribs 15 formed on the leader tape
Is projected toward the magnetic head 17, and the leading end thereof contacts the mounting portion 17b of the magnetic head, thereby preventing the surface of the leader tape from directly contacting the head portion 17a of the magnetic head. That is, the rib 15 of the present embodiment
Is in contact with the mounting portion 17b of the magnetic head, and the head portion 1
The height 7a is designed to be non-contact. Thus, according to the DLT cartridge of the present embodiment,
The surface of the leader tape 10 is not rubbed by the head 17a. Therefore, no powder is generated from the surface of the leader tape, and the accuracy of recording / reproduction is reduced,
Wear of the head portion is prevented.

As the material for forming the leader tape, various materials usually used as the material for forming the leader tape can be used without any particular limitation. For example, polyethylene terephthalate (PET),
For example, polyethylene terephthalate having a stretching ratio of 5 times or more is preferably used. As the magnetic tape, various types of magnetic tapes known per se can be used without particular limitation.For example, a base film, a magnetic layer formed on the surface of the base film, and a back surface of the base film may be used. A magnetic tape or the like having the formed back coat layer can be used. In particular, a magnetic tape using a base film made of polyamide as the base film can be preferably used.

In the present invention, the members other than the leader tape and the magnetic tape, such as the above splicing tape and tape reel, can be manufactured by using various conventionally known forming materials. For example, glass fiber-forced polycarbonate (GFPC), polycarbonate (PC), or the like can be preferably used.

The present invention is not limited in any way by the above embodiment, and can be implemented with various changes as long as the gist of the invention is not changed. For example, the D of the present invention
The leader tape in the LT cartridge may be one in which ribs are formed by welding or bonding a molded body of two filaments to a base tape, or manufactured by a mold having a concave groove for forming ribs. It may be what you did.

[0023]

According to the tape cartridge of the present invention,
Even if a thin magnetic tape is adopted, problems such as transfer due to steps do not occur, so that it is possible to sufficiently respond to requests for high capacity and high density. Further, since the generation of powder due to the rubbing of the surface of the leader tape is prevented, the accuracy of recording and / or reproduction does not deteriorate even when used repeatedly. Further, the degree of wear of the magnetic head can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a DLT cartridge.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a leader tape.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a state in which a leader tape is wound on a drive tape reel.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 3;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 DLT cartridge 2 Cartridge main body 3 Tape reel 10 Leader tape 11 Connecting hole 12 Hanging part 13 Stopper hole 14 Hook 15 Rib 16 Drive tape reel 17 Magnetic head 20 Magnetic tape

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A tape cartridge in which a single tape reel in which a magnetic tape having a leader tape connected to a leading end thereof is wound inside a cartridge body composed of an upper half and a lower half is rotatably accommodated. A tape cartridge, wherein the leader tape has a pair of ribs parallel to each other along a length direction. 2. The tape cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the rib is formed by embossing.