JPH11242871A - Magnetic tape cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely guide a leader pin by providing guide planes with a gentle inclination with respect to a recessed part with which the leader pin is inserted engaged. SOLUTION: A single reel on which a magnetic tape is wound is rotatably housed in a cartridge case and both ends of a leader pin 21 stuck to the tip end of the magnetic tape are attachably and detachably engaged with reccess parts 28 being in an opening part 26, and the reccessed parts 28 are flat with its vertical spacing equal to the length of the leader pin 21, and guide planes 29 whose spacing in the vertical direction is changed so as to be expanded in a space from the reccessed parts 28 to an opening end are provided. Thus, since lengths of guide planes become longer and a height gradually, changes the guiding of the leader pin into the reccessed parts is surely performed easily and the reliablity is enhanced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a magnetic tape cartridge, and more particularly, to a cartridge case in which a single reel having a magnetic tape wound thereon is rotatably accommodated, and the magnetic tape is pulled out to the tip of the magnetic tape. Tape cartridge with a leader pin fixed for
The present invention relates to a structure of an opening for storing and retaining the leader pin.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a magnetic tape cartridge used as a recording medium used for an external storage device such as a computer has a magnetic tape wound around a single reel.
A type in which this reel is rotatably housed in a cartridge case is known. Since this magnetic tape is used for data storage of a computer or the like and stores important information, it is configured so that troubles such as tape jamming do not occur and the magnetic tape is not pulled out carelessly. I have.

[0003] A leader member (leader pin in the present invention) is fixed to the leading end of the magnetic tape, and a drive device is configured so that the leader member is pulled out on the computer side to take up or rewind.

[0004]

However, when the leader pin is detachably locked from the opening of the cartridge case to the recess inside the cartridge case, it can be stably and reliably stored and the reliability is improved. There is a need.

[0005] From the above point, it is preferable to provide a guide surface for guiding the insertion of the leader pin from the opening end to the recess, but if the inclination of the guide surface is short and steep, a sufficient guide action of the leader pin cannot be obtained. There is fear.

For example, a slide door for closing an opening through which a leader pin is inserted may be provided in the cartridge case, and a portion where the slide door slides is provided flat so that both edges of the slide door come into flat contact. In such a case, the guide surface is short and has a steep slope.

[0007] Even if the guide surface is provided, there is a possibility that a sufficient guide action cannot be obtained unless the leader pin moves smoothly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a magnetic tape cartridge capable of stably and reliably performing a storage movement with respect to a recess for inserting and locking a leader pin.

[0009]

According to the magnetic tape cartridge of the present invention, which solves the above-mentioned problems, a single reel on which a magnetic tape is wound can be rotated by a lower case and an upper case superposed on the upper part of the lower case. A cartridge pin accommodated in the cartridge, a leader pin for pulling out the magnetic tape is fixed to the tip of the magnetic tape, and both ends of the leader pin are locked in a recess in an opening of the cartridge case. A flat and vertical interval is set to the length of the leader pin, and a guide surface that changes so as to increase the vertical interval is formed between the concave portion and the opening end of the opening portion. is there.

In addition, a slide door for opening and closing the opening is installed so as to open and close across the guide surface, and upper and lower edges of the slide door are formed in a shape matching the shape of the guide surface. Is preferred.

The guide surface may be constituted by an inclined surface whose height changes linearly, or may be constituted by a curved surface whose height changes in a curved line. It is provided on an inclined surface or a curved surface that matches the shape of the guide surface.

Further, the guide surface may be provided with a concave groove extending along the insertion path of the leader pin. This concave groove may be provided on all or a part of the width of the guide groove, and the depth of the groove may be changed along the insertion path. Further, the bottom shape of the concave groove may be either a V groove or a U groove. Good.

On the other hand, the guide surface may be subjected to a friction reducing process. This friction reduction process is performed by applying a graining process for forming minute unevenness, applying a lubricant, or forming a low friction layer. Further, it is preferable to perform the same friction reduction processing on the surface on which the slide door slides.

[0014]

According to the present invention as described above, a single reel on which a magnetic tape is wound is rotatably housed in a cartridge case, and both ends of a leader pin fixed to the end of the magnetic tape are attached to the cartridge case. A guide surface which is engaged with the concave portion in the opening, and the concave portion is flat and the vertical interval is the length of the leader pin, and a guide surface which changes so as to increase the vertical interval from the concave portion to the opening end is provided. As a result, the length of the guide surface becomes longer and the height change becomes gentler, and the guide of the leader pin to the concave portion can be reliably performed without difficulty.
Reliability can be improved.

Further, when the upper and lower edges of the slide door for opening and closing the opening are formed in a shape matching the shape of the guide surface, the sliding door can be slid and closed satisfactorily also.

Further, when the guide surface is formed with a concave groove extending along the insertion path of the leader pin, the end of the leader pin is guided by the concave groove so that it can be smoothly stored at the regular position. Similarly, the guide surface subjected to the friction reduction processing can be stored at the regular position by smoothly moving the leader pin.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on embodiments shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a magnetic tape cartridge according to one embodiment.

The magnetic tape cartridge 1 includes a lower reel 5
The magnetic tape 20 is wound around a single reel 4 in which the upper case 2 and the upper reel 6 are joined by ultrasonic welding, and the reel is placed in a cartridge case 7 in which the upper case 2 and the lower case 3 are fastened with screws or the like. 4 is rotatably accommodated.

The lower reel 5 is formed by integrally molding a cylindrical reel hub 23 around which a magnetic tape 20 is wound around an outer periphery and a flange portion 24 projecting radially from the lower end outer periphery of the reel hub 23 using a synthetic resin. A reel plate 8 is attached to an outer surface of the bottom of the reel 23 for sucking and holding a magnetic rotary drive unit for rotating the reel 4. A stopping gear 23A that engages with a stopping gear 9A formed on the brake button 9 and restricts rotation when not in use is engraved on the bottom inner surface of the reel hub 23. The reel hub 23 has an opening 23B through which a drive release spindle provided in a recording / reproducing device such as an external storage device using the magnetic tape cartridge 1 is inserted to move the brake button 9 upward. .

The brake button 9 has the above-described stopping gear 9A formed on the side facing the reel hub 23.
On the opposite side, a fitting groove 9B is formed in which the brake guide projection formed on the upper case 2 is fitted. The brake button 9 is mounted inside the reel hub 23 in a state where the brake button 9 is urged downward in the figure by the coil spring 10. Rotation at the time is prevented. On the other hand, when using a cartridge,
When the drive release spindle of the magnetic tape device presses the brake button 9, the brake button 9
It moves upward in the figure against the urging force of 0, whereby the engagement of the stopping gears 9A and 23A is released, and the reel 4 becomes rotatable.

An opening 26 for drawing out the magnetic tape 20 is formed on one side wall of the cartridge case 7. A slide door 27 that is movable in the direction of arrow A parallel to the side wall of the cartridge case 7 is attached to the opening 26. The slide door 27 is formed by a spring (not shown).
The opening 26 is urged in the closing direction.

When the magnetic tape cartridge 1 is not in use, the leader pin 21 attached to the end of the magnetic tape 20 is formed near the opening 26 in a state where the magnetic tape 20 is completely wound around the reel 4. Is locked in the recess 28.

When the magnetic tape cartridge 1 is set in a corresponding recording / reproducing device such as an external recording device,
As described above, the locking of the braking gears 9A and 23A between the brake button 9 and the reel hub 23 is released, so that the reel 4 is rotatable, and the magnetic rotary driving means sucks the reel plate 8. The reel 4 is driven to rotate. At the same time, the slide door 27 is opened, the leader pin 21 is pulled into a predetermined position on the tape running path, and data can be read from and written to the magnetic tape 20.

The leader pin 21 is held and pulled in by a recording / reproducing apparatus using the magnetic tape cartridge 1 to introduce the magnetic tape 20 into a tape running path in the apparatus. A spring member 30 (see FIG. 2) that detachably holds the spring member 30 is provided.

As shown in FIG. 3, the leader pin 21 has narrow shaft portions 21b formed on both sides of a central shaft portion 21a to which the leading end portion of the magnetic tape 20 is fixed. The case is formed with a flange 21c for fixing the case. The flanges 21c at both ends are the opening 2
Guide surface 2 formed on inner walls of upper and lower cases 2 and 3 near 6
9, the flanges 21c are inserted into and locked in the internal recesses 28, and both flanges 21c are detachably held by spring members 30 respectively attached to the upper and lower wall surfaces of the upper and lower cases 2, 3. The end face of the flange 21c is chamfered at the corner so that the guide by the guide surface 29 can be easily performed.

As shown in FIG. 2, the spring member 30 is formed in a substantially U-shape in which two arms 30b and 30c extend substantially parallel from a curved base 30a by a linear spring (or a leaf spring). A holding portion 30d is provided at the tip of the arm portion 30b, and the other arm portion 30c is substantially linear. The holding part 3
0d is a leader pin 2 which protrudes in a chevron and moves on both slopes
The flange 21c abuts on the outer periphery of the first flange 21c and is bent and deformed, and the flange 21c is pressed and locked in the recess 28. Curved base 3
Reference numeral 0a is engaged and fixed to a fixing pin 31 erected on the upper and lower cases 2 and 3.

In the opening 26 of the cartridge case 7, a guide surface 29 formed from the opening end toward the internal recess 28 is formed as an inclined surface as shown in FIG. The recess 28 is formed on a flat surface parallel to the inner surfaces of the upper and lower cases 2 and 3, and a vertical interval is provided for the length of the leader pin 21.

On the other hand, the guide surface 29 is
From the opening to the opening end of the opening 26, and is formed of a continuous inclined surface that changes linearly so that the vertical interval increases. The slide door 27 is opened and closed so as to cross the guide surface 29, and upper and lower edges 27a of the slide door 27 are formed in a tapered shape that matches the tapered shape of the guide surface 29 in the sliding portion. . Sliding grooves 37 in which the slide door 27 moves are formed on both sides of the guide surface 29.

The cartridge case 7 having the structure as described above is used.
When the leader pin 21 pulled out from the opening 26 opened by the slide door 27 is stored in the cartridge case 7 in response to the rewinding of the magnetic tape 20, the vertical position corresponds to the center position of the cartridge case 7. Even if it is misaligned, the end face of the flange 21c of the leader pin 21 is guided in contact with the tapered guide surface 29, drawn into the internal recess 28, locked, and held by the spring member 30. Then, the slide door 26 closes to close the opening 26, thereby preventing dust from entering.

In the above embodiment, the guide surface 29 is formed of a tapered inclined surface whose height changes linearly, but may be formed of a curved surface whose height changes in a curve. Accordingly, the upper and lower edges 2 of the sliding door 27 are
7a is provided on a curved surface conforming to the shape of the guide surface.

FIG. 4 shows a guide surface 2 according to another embodiment.
9, the guide surface 29 is provided with a V-shaped groove 33 extending along the insertion path at a portion extending from the flat recess 28 to the opening end of the opening 26.

The concave groove 33 is formed over the entire width of the guide surface 29, is provided so as to be inclined so as to be shallower from the opening end to the concave portion 28, and has a central portion in the width direction along the insertion path of the leader pin 21. Both sides are provided deeply on the inclined surface.

According to the guide surface 29 of this embodiment,
The leader pin 21 inserted from the opening 26 is guided by the groove 33 so that the end moves in the center of the insertion path, and the contact is smooth and the leader pin 21 is securely inserted into the recess 28 without causing the leader pin 21 to fall. Is stored stably.

FIG. 5 shows a guide surface 29 according to still another embodiment. The guide surface 29 extends from the flat concave portion 28 to the opening end of the opening 26 along the insertion path. A V-shaped groove 34 is provided.

The concave groove 34 is formed narrow on the concave 28 side of the guide surface 29 and wide on the open end side, and the center in the width direction along the insertion path of the leader pin 21 is deep and both sides are provided on the inclined surface.

According to the guide surface 29 of this embodiment,
The leader pin 21 inserted from the opening 26 is guided by the concave groove 34 so that the end moves in the center of the insertion path, and the peripheral edge of the leader pin 21 is moved from the concave groove 34 to Ride on the flat part of
It is stored smoothly, stably and reliably in the recess 28.

FIG. 6 shows a guide surface 2 according to another embodiment.
9 shows a cross-sectional structure, in which the slide door 27 is cut at a sliding surface, and the guide surface 29 is formed so as to be inclined from the recess 28 toward the opening end of the opening 26 as shown in FIG. 6 along the insertion path
6A, a concave groove 35 formed of a V-shaped groove and a concave groove 36 formed of a concave U-shaped groove in FIG.

Leader pin 21 with respect to guide surface 29
Of the leader pin 21 that is stored and moved by the formation of the grooves 35 and 36 extending along the insertion path of the groove 3.
Guided by 5, 36, stable movement is performed.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the cross sections of the concave grooves 33 and 34 may be constituted by concave U-shaped grooves instead of the V-shaped grooves.

On the other hand, although not shown in detail, the surfaces of the guide surface 29 and the sliding groove 37 of the sliding door 27 in each of the above-described embodiments are subjected to a friction reducing process.
Leader pin 21 or sliding door 27 more smoothly
May be provided so as to move.

As the friction reducing process, the leader pin 2
In order to reduce the contact area with the slide door 1 or the slide door 27, fine irregularities are formed on the guide surface 29 and the slide groove 37 by graining. That is, minute irregularities are formed on the guide surfaces 29 and the sliding grooves 37 of the molding die. Alternatively, a lubricant such as silicone is applied to the guide surface 29 and the sliding groove 37. Alternatively, a sheet material having a low friction surface on its surface is provided on the surface of the guide surface 29 and the slide groove 37 by insert molding, welding, sticking or the like to form a low friction layer.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a magnetic tape cartridge according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional plan view near an opening of a cartridge case.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line XX of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a main part perspective view showing another embodiment of the guide surface.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a main part showing still another embodiment of the guide surface.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a main part showing another embodiment of a guide surface.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Magnetic tape cartridge 2 Upper case 3 Lower case 4 Reel 7 Cartridge case 20 Magnetic tape 21 Leader pin 21c Flange 26 Opening 27 Slide door 28 Depression 29 Guide surface 30 Spring member 33-36 Depression groove 37 Sliding groove

Claims (4)

[Claims] A cartridge case for rotatably accommodating a single reel on which a magnetic tape is wound by a lower case and an upper case superimposed on an upper portion of the lower case;
In a magnetic tape cartridge in which a leader pin for pulling out the magnetic tape is fixed to a tip of the magnetic tape, and both ends of the leader pin are locked in a concave portion in an opening of the cartridge case, the concave portion is flat and vertically spaced. Is set to the length of the leader pin, and a guide surface is formed between the recess and the opening end of the opening so as to increase the vertical interval. 2. A sliding door for opening and closing the opening,
Installed to open and close across the guide surface,
2. The magnetic tape cartridge according to claim 1, wherein upper and lower edges of the slide door are formed in a shape matching the shape of the guide surface. 3. The magnetic tape cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a concave groove extending along a leader pin insertion path is formed on the guide surface. 4. The magnetic tape cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a friction reducing process is performed on the guide surface.