JPH11250620A - Magnetic tape cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent damage of recording information resulting from powder of rust generated after corrosion by providing the corrosion-proof process to a metal leader pin to be fixed to the free end of magnetic tape accommodated within a cartridge having single reel. SOLUTION: A leader pin 21 is composed of a column type body area 21A to which the free end of magnetic tape 20 is fixed and a part which is projected toward outside from both side end edges of magnetic tape 20. The part projected to the outside is provided with a hook engaging part 21C to be engaged with a hook 100 forming a drive mechanism of a recording/reproducing apparatus and a part 21D to be engaged with the engaging portion formed at the area near the aperture of case under the condition that the magnetic tape 20 is totally wound in the non-operating condition of the cartridge. The hard chromium plating is performed to the total external surface of the leader pin 21 including the hook engaging part 21C and the part 21D to be engaged. The hard chromium plating has higher surface hardness to prevent damage and wear of leader pin 21 in order to control generation of rust and corrosion.

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 an improvement of a leader pin fixed to a free end of a magnetic tape wound on a single reel.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a magnetic tape cartridge used as a recording medium used in an external storage device such as a computer has a single reel wound with a magnetic tape rotatably housed in a cartridge case. Known types are known.

In such a single reel type, when set in an external storage device, the magnetic tape wound around the reel is pulled out of the case by a drive mechanism on the external storage device side, and the external storage device is driven. After the information is recorded in the magnetic recording unit of the apparatus or the already recorded information is read out in the reproducing unit, and after these purposes are completed, the tape is rewound on the reel and stored again in the case. It is configured as follows. At the free end, which is the leading end of the magnetic tape on the drawing side, the drive mechanism of the storage device smoothly pulls out the tape from the cartridge case and introduces the tape into the tape traveling path including the recording unit and the reproducing unit. For this reason, the leader piece is fixed. The drive mechanism of the storage device grips the leader piece, routes the tape into the storage device, and sets the tape on a predetermined tape traveling path.

Further, the leader piece needs to be locked at a predetermined position in the case so that the drive mechanism is easy to grasp and the magnetic tape is not accidentally pulled out of the case. A part to be locked which is locked to a locking part formed on the case side is formed in a part.

[0005] Such a leader piece is conventionally known in the form of a block, and some also have a function as a lid for closing an opening of the cartridge case from which the tape is pulled out.

In recent years, a new type of magnetic tape cartridge has been proposed. This new type has the same basic structure as the conventional one, but various details have been devised. For example, a columnar metal leader pin corresponding to the conventional leader piece is provided on the external storage device side. It is also configured to reduce the occupied space.

[0007]

By the way, the columnar part of the leader pin used in the above-described new type magnetic tape cartridge locks the case when the tape is wound in the case. During the operation of loading the tape into the storage device and pulling the tape out of the case, the storage device is gripped by the drive mechanism of the storage device. Therefore, the leader pin often has friction with these other mechanisms (the case and the drive mechanism), and the leader pin is easily damaged by the friction.
Furthermore, the temperature inside the storage device becomes high due to the heat generated by various electric and electronic elements. Then, the leader pin is easily corroded by these factors. When the pins are corroded, oxidized rust powder may adhere to the tape, which may interfere with reading data recorded on the tape.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a magnetic tape cartridge in which corrosion of a leader pin is suppressed.

[0009]

According to the magnetic tape cartridge of the present invention, a metal leader pin is subjected to a corrosion resistance treatment to improve the corrosion resistance of the pin.

That is, a magnetic tape cartridge according to the present invention is a magnetic tape cartridge in which a single reel having a magnetic tape wound thereon is rotatably accommodated in a cartridge case. A metal leader pin for pulling out the tape from the case can be locked in the case, and the leader pin is subjected to a corrosion-resistant treatment.

Here, the corrosion-resistant treatment is mainly a surface treatment for preventing corrosion, and various treatments such as resin coating and titanium coating can be applied, but the surface hardness is relatively high. It is desirable to apply hard chrome plating. The corrosion resistance treatment may be performed on the entirety of the leader pin, or may be performed only on a part thereof. In the case where only a part is applied, at least a part (a locked part) that engages with the locking part of the cartridge case and a part that is gripped by the drive mechanism of the storage device may be subjected to corrosion resistance processing.

Various methods can be used for fixing the magnetic tape to the leader pin. For example, a groove extending in the axial direction is formed on the peripheral surface of the pin, and the starting end of the tape is formed along the inner surface of the groove. For example, a method in which a cylindrical clamp, which is slightly smaller than the groove, is fitted into the groove along which the tape is fixed to fix the tape can be applied.

It is preferable that the leader pin be longer than the width of the magnetic tape and be formed so that both ends protrude from both side edges of the fixed tape. Are configured as locked portions that are locked to the locking portions of the case. The protruding portion also functions as a portion to be gripped by the drive mechanism on the storage device side.

[0014]

According to the magnetic tape cartridge of the present invention, at least a part of the leader pin is subjected to the corrosion-resistant treatment, so that the corrosion resistance of the pin is improved and the pin is corroded to cause rust powder. Troubles can be avoided.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the magnetic tape cartridge of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of one embodiment of the magnetic tape cartridge of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a diagram showing details of a leader pin used in the magnetic tape cartridge shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. FIG. 1 illustrates a state in which a leader pin is locked to a locking portion of a cartridge case.
It is principal part sectional drawing which shows the cross section by a line.

As shown in FIG. 2, the magnetic tape cartridge 1 of the present embodiment has a magnetic tape 20 on a single reel 4 in which a lower reel 5 and an upper reel 6 are joined by ultrasonic welding.
And the reel 4 is rotatably housed in a cartridge case 7 in which the upper case 2 and the lower case 3 are fastened with screws or the like.

The lower reel 5 is formed by integrally molding a cylindrical reel hub 23 around which the magnetic tape 20 is wound around an outer periphery, and a flange portion 24 projecting radially from the outer periphery of the lower end of the reel hub 23 using a synthetic resin. A reel plate 8 for attaching a magnet type rotation driving means (not shown) for driving the rotation of the reel 4 is attached to the bottom outer surface of the bottom 23. 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. Further, a drive release spindle provided in a recording / reproducing device such as an external storage device using the magnetic tape cartridge 1 is inserted through the reel hub 23, and a brake button 9 is provided.
An opening 23B is formed for moving the head upward.

The brake button 9 has the above-described stopping gear 9A formed on the side facing the reel hub 23, and has a brake guide projection (not shown) formed on the upper case 2 on the opposite side. A fitting groove 9B into which is fitted is formed.

The brake button 9 is a coil spring 10
As a result, the brake gear 9 is attached to the inside of the reel hub 23 while being urged downward in the figure.
And the stop gear 23A of the reel hub 23 are engaged with each other to prevent the reel 4 from rotating when not in use.

On the other hand, when the cartridge is used, when the drive release spindle of the recording / reproducing apparatus presses the brake button 9, the brake button 9 moves upward in the figure against the urging force of the coil spring 10. 9A, 23
The engagement of A 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 urged by a spring (not shown) in a direction to close the opening 26.

One end of the long magnetic tape 20 is fixed to a reel hub 23, and a free end which is an outer end wound around the reel hub 23 has a drive mechanism of a recording / reproducing apparatus. Has a leader pin 21 for smoothly pulling out the tape 20 from the cartridge case 7 and introducing the tape 20 into a tape traveling path including a recording section and a reproducing section of the recording / reproducing apparatus.

As shown in detail in FIG. 1, the leader pin 21 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and has a body 21A to which a free end (starting end) of the tape 20 is fixed, and both side edges of the tape 20. Each of the projections has a hook engaging groove 21C in which a hook (indicated by a dashed line in FIG. 1) 100 as a component of a drive mechanism of the recording / reproducing apparatus is engaged. Tape 20 when not in use
Is wound on the reel 4 and the opening 26 of the case 7 is opened.
And a locked portion 21D locked by a locking portion P (see FIG. 3) formed in the vicinity of.

Further, as shown in FIG.
An axially extending groove having a semicircular cross section is formed in the body 21A of the taper 21. A free end of the tape 20 is disposed along the wall surface of the groove, and a clamp formed slightly smaller than the groove is formed.
21B is inserted into the groove so as to sandwich the tape 20 between the wall of the groove and the free end of the tape 20.
It is anchored in.

The hook engaging groove 21C in which the hook 100, which is a component of the drive mechanism of the recording / reproducing apparatus, is engaged, and the locked portion which is locked in the locking portion P of the case 7
Hard chrome plating is applied to the outer surface including 21D. This hard chrome plating is one of the corrosion-resistant treatments having a relatively high surface hardness, and prevents the pin 21 from being scratched or worn, while causing the pin 21 to rust or corrode due to the scratches or temperature change. It is deterred from doing so.

When the magnetic tape cartridge 1 constructed as described above is set in the recording / reproducing apparatus, as described above, the braking gear 9 between the brake button 9 and the reel hub 23 is used.
A and 23A are unlocked to allow the reel 4 to rotate freely, and the magnet type rotation drive means is joined to the reel plate 8 to rotate the reel 4. With this,
The slide door 27 is opened and the drive mechanism hook 100
Is the leader pin 21 locked on the locking portion P in the case 7.
Hooked into the hook engaging groove 21C as shown by a dashed line,
The leader pin 21 and the tape 20 fixed to the leader pin 21 are pressed against the urging force in the direction of the arrow Y by the elastic member 50 (see FIG. 3) from the opening 26 where the slide door 27 is opened to the outside of the case 7. Pull it out in the direction of the arrow X, route it as it is to the tape running path of the recording / reproducing apparatus,
Is set, recording of data on the magnetic tape 20 and reproduction of data from the magnetic tape 20 become possible.

As described above, the hook engaging groove of the leader pin 21
A friction force is generated between the drive mechanism 21C and the hook 100 of the drive mechanism each time it is engaged. However, since the outer surface of the leader pin 21 is subjected to hard chrome plating, the engagement with the hook of the drive mechanism is performed. Wear due to joint action and engaging action can be suppressed to an extremely low level. The locked portion 21D of the leader pin 21 receives frictional force due to friction with the locking portion P (see FIG. 3) of the case 7 when being engaged by the hook 100. Since the hard chrome plating treatment is performed similarly to the groove 21C, the wear due to friction with the engaging portion P of the case 7 can be suppressed to an extremely low level.

Further, the leader pin 21 is set at a predetermined position in the recording / reproducing apparatus. The temperature inside the recording / reproducing apparatus is higher than the external temperature due to the heat generated by the electric element / electronic element. Therefore, the temperature of the leader pin 21 set inside the apparatus is higher than that of the state where the leader pin 21 is locked in the case 7, and in terms of corrosion resistance environment,
Although the conditions are more severe, the outer surface of the leader pin 21 is subjected to hard chrome plating, so that even in a medium-high temperature environment in the recording / reproducing device, the rust of the leader pin 21 may occur.
Corrosion can be suppressed.

In the magnetic tape cartridge of the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, a part of the peripheral surface of the leader pin 21 is formed as a locked portion 21D which is locked to the locking portion P of the case 7. However, the magnetic tape cartridge of the present invention is not limited to this form. For example, an end face (or a part of this end face) 21E perpendicular to the axis of the leader pin 21 is engaged with the case 7. In the magnetic tape cartridge of the embodiment adopting such a configuration, it is sufficient that the end face 21E that generates a frictional force with the case 7 is subjected to hard chrome plating. Wear due to friction with No. 7 can be suppressed to an extremely low level, and corrosion resistance performance can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1A is a perspective view showing details of a leader pin of the magnetic tape cartridge shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view of FIG.
Sectional view showing a section taken along line II-II.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing one embodiment of the magnetic tape cartridge of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing a cross section taken along line II of FIG. 2, showing a state in which a leader pin is locked to a locking portion of a cartridge case.

[Explanation of symbols]

 20 Magnetic tape 21A Body 21C Hook engaging part 21D Locked part 21E End face 21 Leader pin 100 Hook of drive mechanism X Tape pull-out direction

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A magnetic tape cartridge in which a single reel on which a magnetic tape is wound is rotatably accommodated in a cartridge case, wherein the magnetic tape cartridge can be locked in a free end portion of the magnetic tape in the case. And a leader pin for pulling out the tape from the case is fixed, and the leader pin is subjected to a corrosion-resistant treatment.