JPH11185322A - Tape drive device and belt drive system tape cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a cartridge shape minimal, to efficiently house a tape and to make possible junior compatibility by properly moving a capstan roller rotating and driving a cartridge side drive roller. SOLUTION: When a tape cartridge is inserted, a cartridge hold part 22a is slid horizontally. A capstan roller 23 is moved to a position B interlocked with the movement of this cartridge hold part 22 a by an optional method to be in contact with the cartridge side drive roller 12. In another mode, the capstan rollers are arranged beforehand on the positions of A, B at every one respectively, and when the cartridge hold part 22a slides, it is structured so that the capstan roller on the position of A is moved so as not to hinder the cartridge. Thus, the tape with large capacity is operated while keeping the compatibility with a mini-cartridge.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a belt-driven recording tape cartridge (hereinafter referred to as "tape cartridge") and a tape drive, and more particularly to operating a high-capacity tape cartridge and both a conventional tape cartridge and a high-capacity cartridge. About a tape drive that can do it.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Tape cartridges are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,692,255, 4,581,189, and 4,466,564, which are simple and have a large storage capacity. Therefore, it is widely used for data recording of computers and the like. The tape cartridge is wound around a pair of tape reels, and a recording tape that is rewound freely, and unwinds the recording tape.
It has a basic configuration in which a drive belt for rewinding and transferring is housed in a housing. The recording tape has a part of the pass line stretched across a head insertion portion formed on a front surface of the housing. Further, the drive belt is stretched over a tape pack (a portion of a recording tape wound around a tape reel) by forming a loop-shaped path line whose outer peripheral surface is in frictional contact over a predetermined circumferential length. Then, the drive roller that stretches the drive belt frictionally contacts the capstan roller on the tape drive side and is driven to rotate, so that the drive belt is driven to rotate in the circumferential direction, and the recording tape that comes into frictional contact with the drive belt is wound. It is configured to be unwound and rewound and transferred.

[0003] As described above, the shape, format, and the like of the belt-driven cartridge having the basic structure are finely standardized under the name of QIC. The standard is roughly divided into a standard cartridge having a width of 152.4 mm on the head insertion part side and a depth of 101.6 mm and a mini cartridge having a width of 80.98 mm on the head insertion part side.
The standard cartridge is 6.35m
An m-width tape is used.

In order to increase the capacity of the mini-cartridge type, the width of the head insertion portion is not changed to 80.98 mm, and the position of the tape pack is changed from the conventional horizontal arrangement to the vertical arrangement. Some cartridges have a structure in which the entire length of the cartridge is extended in the vertical direction (see FIG. 1). Mini-cartridges are available in both 6.35 mm and 8 mm wide tape types, but are currently 8 mm wide due to capacity advantages.
Wide width tapes are the mainstream.

[0005]

As described above, miniaturized cartridges are being improved every day in order to increase the capacity, and an attempt to increase the recording capacity is to efficiently store the tape while satisfying the standard. Has been done. However, attempts to increase the recording capacity of mini-cartridges designed to satisfy the standard have almost reached the limit at present, and in the case of storing a longer tape, the width of the cartridge itself must be increased.

That is, both the mini cartridge and the standard cartridge have a structure in which the drive roller is located substantially at the center in the width direction due to the restrictions of the QIC standard. Therefore, the head insertion section is provided in the short width direction of the standard cartridge, and the positional relationship between the head position, the cartridge holding section, and the drive roller conforms to the QIC mini-cartridge standard, thereby ensuring compatibility with the conventional mini-cartridge. There is a method of increasing the capacity while maintaining the capacity.

However, in order to efficiently store the tape in the size of the standard cartridge, it is better to arrange the tape pack in the vertical direction. However, the positional relationship between the drive roller and the head is determined according to the QIC mini-cartridge standard. In such a case, there is a problem that the best storage efficiency cannot be obtained. In other words, the method of arranging the tape pack in the long side direction (hereinafter referred to as the vertical direction) of the cartridge is better in storage efficiency than the case of arranging the tape pack in the short side direction (hereinafter referred to as the horizontal direction), but the drive roller is located almost in the center of the cartridge width direction , The usable vertical length is reduced by the amount of the drive roller, and the effect cannot be said to be sufficiently exerted.

[0008]

The inventors of the present invention have conducted intensive studies and, as a result, changed the shape of the cartridge to a minimum,
The present inventors have found that such a problem can be solved by devising the drive side, and have reached the present invention. That is, an object of the present invention is to provide a tape cartridge and a tape drive which are capable of efficiently storing a tape of an appropriate size and which are backward compatible. The positional relationship conforms to the standard of the QIC mini-cartridge, and it is possible to operate both the QIC mini-cartridge and other cartridges of different widths by appropriately moving the capstan roller for driving the drive roller on the cartridge side. The characteristic tape drive or the positional relationship between the head and one of the cartridge holding portions conforms to the standard of the QIC mini cartridge, and by disposing two capstan rollers for rotating the drive roller on the cartridge side, the QIC mini cartridge and Other different width cars Tape drive was characterized by being able to operate both the ridge and the center position of the drive rollers driven rotated by the cartridge out of the drive device,
A belt-driven tape cartridge having a distance within one-fourth of the width of the drive device insertion side from the end in the width direction of the drive device insertion side to the opposite end, and a connection portion with at least one tape drive. This is easily achieved by a belt-driven tape cartridge characterized in that the shape conforms to the standard shape of the QIC mini-cartridge, and the positional relationship between one connecting portion and the head insertion portion conforms to the standard of the QIC mini-cartridge.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A belt-driven tape cartridge and a tape drive according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 shows an example of the tape cartridge of the present invention. In the tape cartridge (6) of the present invention, a line (L) connecting the centers of the tape reels (8) and (9) is oblique to the front line (M) of the base plate (10). The tape reels (8), (9) and the tape reels (8), (9) are unwound and rewound freely, and a part of the pass line is formed on the front portion of the base plate (10). Each of the tape packs (8a), (9) of the recording tape (11) stretched across the head insertion portion (10a) and the recording tape (11) wound around each of the tape reels (8), (9).
The outer peripheral surface is brought into frictional contact with a), and the recording tape (11) is unwound and rotated and driven in the circumferential direction. And the base plate (1
0) a drive roller (12) rotatably supported on the base plate, and belt support rollers (13), (14) rotatably supported on the base plate (10);
(15) are accommodated in a plastic cover (16). The illustration of the plastic cover other than the wall is omitted. The width of the tape is 10 mm. The pair of tape reels (8) and (9) are rotatably fitted to support shafts (17) and (18) implanted on the base plate (10). Each tape pack (8
a) and (9a), five tape guide pins (19a) planted on the base plate (10) near the front and rear portions of the base plate and the belt transfer roller;
(19b), (19c), (19d), and (19e). Tape guide pins (19a), (1
9b) The tape path line (11
a) extends parallel to the front line (M) of the base plate (10). The tape path line (11a) crosses the head insertion portion (10a) formed on the front portion of the base plate (11), so that the tape path line (11a) can be in close contact with the magnetic head on the drive unit side. The drive belt (7) is connected to the drive roller (1).
2) and belt support rollers (13), (14), (1)
5), and forms a loop-shaped pass line while always being in close contact with the tape packs (8a) and (9a). Then, the drive roller (12) is rotationally driven by frictional contact with the capstan roller on the tape drive side, and a part of the outer peripheral surface of the drive belt (7) extends over a predetermined circumferential length of each tape of the recording tape (11). Packs (8a), (9
The recording tape (11) is unwound between a pair of tape reels (8) and (9) and is rewound and transferred by frictional contact with the outer peripheral surface of (a).

The shape of the drive connecting portions (20a) and (20b) is the same as that of the mini-cartridge, and the positional relationship between (20b) and the head insertion portion (10a) is the same as that of the mini-cartridge. The length of the side walls (25a) and (25b), which is a part of the cover wall and is smaller than the maximum width on the tape drive insertion side, is different, and the length of (25b) is the same as that of the mini cartridge. . This is the structure of FIG.
Since the right side has a structure conforming to the standard of the QIC mini-cartridge, the left side is shortened in order to increase the volume of the tape as much as possible.

Of course, both walls may have the same length depending on the structure of the holding mechanism on the tape drive side. The corner (21) is chamfered as a process for preventing damage to the tape drive when the tape drive contacts the tape drive. The processing of this part may be any general corner processing such as rounding.

As a comparison, FIG.
A plan view of a case where the tape pack is arranged at a position conforming to the C mini-cartridge standard is shown. On the other hand, in the case of the tape cartridge of the present invention, the maximum tape pack diameter that can be stored is 8
2.28 mm. The width of the tape used at this time is preferably 6.35 mm or more.

Next, the tape drive will be described. FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing the operation when a conventional mini-cartridge is inserted into the tape drive of the present invention. When a conventional mini-cartridge is inserted, the cartridge holding section (22a) does not move. Capstan roller (2
3) also remains at position A. At this time, the positional relationship among the cartridge holding portion (22b), the capstan roller (23), and the head (24) conforms to the QIC mini cartridge standard.

Next, when the tape cartridge of the present invention is inserted into this drive as shown in FIG. 5, the cartridge holding portion (22a) slides sideways. The capstan roller (23) moves to the position B and contacts the drive roller (12) on the cartridge side in conjunction with the movement of the cartridge holding portion (22a) in an arbitrary manner. As another aspect of the present invention, one capstan roller is previously arranged at each of the positions A and B, and when the cartridge holding portion (22a) slides, the capstan roller at the position A is moved into the cartridge. A structure that moves so as not to interfere with insertion may be used. At this time, the cartridge holder (22b) and the head (2)
The positional relationship with 4) conforms to the QIC mini cartridge standard.

[0015] When the two are compared, the latter having fewer movable parts is advantageous in terms of the robustness of the structure. However, the structure for moving the capstan roller changes the position of the drive roller on the cartridge side to the cartridge holding part (22a). By setting the distance from () to a fixed value, it is excellent in that it can accommodate cartridges of various sizes.

[0016]

As described above, the tape cartridge according to the present invention can efficiently store a tape. In a tape drive, a large-capacity tape can be operated while maintaining compatibility with a conventional mini-cartridge. According to the present invention, the conventional Q
Since the IC system is not largely changed, it is possible to provide an inexpensive and large-capacity backup system.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing the structure of a conventional mini cartridge.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing the structure of the tape cartridge of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a case where a positional relationship between a position of a drive roller and a head is based on a QIC mini cartridge.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation when a conventional mini cartridge is inserted into the tape drive of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation when the tape cartridge of the present invention is inserted into the tape drive of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: Conventional tape cartridge 2: Drive belt 3: Tape reel 4: Tape reel 3a: Tape pack 4a: Tape pack 5a: Belt support roller 5b: Belt support roller 6: Tape cartridge of the present invention 7: Drive belt 8: Tape Reel 8a: Tape pack 9: Tape reel 9a: Tape pack 10: Base plate 10a: Head insertion part 11: Tape 11a: Tape 12: Drive roller 13: Belt support roller 14: Belt support roller 15: Belt support roller 16: Cover wall Unit 17: Support shaft 18: Support shaft 19a-e: Tape guide 20a: Drive connection unit 20b: Drive connection unit 21: Cartridge corner 22a: Cartridge holding unit 22b: Cartridge holding unit 23: Capsta Roller 24: Head 25a: in confined positions than the maximum width transverse wall 25b: in confined positions than the maximum width transverse wall

Claims (8)

[Claims] The positional relationship between the head and one of the cartridge holding portions conforms to the standard of the QIC mini-cartridge, and the capstan roller for rotating and driving the drive roller on the cartridge side is appropriately moved so that the QIC mini-cartridge and the other cartridges are moved. A tape drive characterized by the ability to operate cartridges of different widths. 2. The positional relationship between the head and one of the cartridge holding portions conforms to the standard of the QIC mini-cartridge, and by disposing two capstan rollers for rotating and driving the drive roller on the cartridge side, the QIC mini-cartridge and the other components are arranged. A tape drive characterized in that it can operate both cartridges of different widths. 3. The tape drive according to claim 1, wherein a cartridge of a different width can be held by moving one of the cartridge holding portions. 4. The center position of a drive roller rotated by a drive device outside the cartridge is within 1/4 of the width of the drive device insertion side from the end in the width direction of the drive device insertion side toward the opposite end. , The shape of the connecting portion with at least one of the tape drives conforms to the standard shape of the QIC mini-cartridge, and the positional relationship between one connecting portion and the head insertion portion is QIC.
A belt-driven tape cartridge conforming to the mini-cartridge standard. 5. At least one in the tape drive insertion direction side
5. A process for preventing damage to the two corners.
A belt-driven tape cartridge as described in the above. 6. The belt-driven tape cartridge according to claim 4, wherein the length of the lateral wall at a position narrower than the maximum width on the tape drive insertion side is different on the left and right. 7. The belt-driven tape cartridge according to claim 4, wherein the width of the tape is 6.35 mm or more. 8. A cartridge comprising: a pair of tape reels whose lines connecting the rotation centers of the tape reels are orthogonal or oblique to the front line of the housing; The outer peripheral surface is rubbed against each tape pack of the recording tape wound around the head insertion portion formed on the front surface of the housing and the recording tape wound around each tape reel. 8. A belt-driven system according to claim 4, wherein a loop-shaped drive belt for winding and rewinding the recording tape by contacting and rotating in the circumferential direction thereof is housed in a housing. Tape cartridge.