JPH11297033A - Magnetic tape cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a leader pin from being corroded by sealing the leader pin that can be gear-locked into a case and is used to withdraw a tape from the case to the free end part of the magnetic tape and forming the leader pin with a corrosion-resistance material. SOLUTION: A leader pin 21 is set to a specific position in a recording/ reproducing device, and the inside of the recording/reproducing device is set to a higher temperature state than the external temperature due to heat being generated by a motor, an electrical element, an electronic element, or the like. Therefore, the temperature of the leader pin 21 becomes higher than the temperature while the leader pin 21 is gear-locked into the case and more strict conditions result on a corrosion-resistance environmental surface. However, since the leader pin 21 is formed by a carbon fiber reinforced PA that is a corrosion-resistance material, the formation of rust and the corrosion of the leader pin 21 can be suppressed. Also, friction force is generated at each engagement between a hook engagement groove 21c of the leader pin 21 and a hook 100 of a drive mechanism, and a small scratch is generated on the surface of the hook engagement groove 21c. However, wear can be suppressed to a lower level.

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. For this reason, the leader pin often has friction with these other mechanisms (the case and the drive mechanism), and the leader pin is easily damaged by this friction.
In addition, since the inside of the storage device is heated to a high temperature by the heat generated by various electric / electronic elements, the leader pins are 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, the leader pins are formed of a corrosion-resistant material to improve the corrosion resistance of the pins.

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 is secured to the case, and the leader pin is formed of a corrosion-resistant material.

Here, the corrosion-resistant material includes aliphatic polyamides such as nylon 6 or nylon 66, aromatic polyamides, PC (polycarbonate), PBT (polybutylene terephthalate), PPS (polyphenylene sulfide), and PMMA (polymethacrylic acid). Methyl), PO
M (polyoxymethylene) and other plastic materials, polyimide, polyamide imide, polyether imide and other imide group-containing plastic materials, SUS304, S
It means materials having excellent corrosion resistance, such as stainless steel materials such as US306, SUS316, and SUS410, and these materials are also preferable in that they have magnetic properties such that they are hardly magnetized. In other words, when the leader pin is magnetized due to, for example, the leader pin being routed in the external storage device,
This is because information magnetically recorded on the magnetic tape connected to the pins may be affected. The use of the above-mentioned plastic material as the corrosion-resistant material is more desirable because the production cost is low. When the radar pin is formed of the above plastic material, each material (aliphatic polyamide such as nylon 6 or nylon 66, aromatic polyamide, PC, PBT, PPS,
It is preferable to use a material obtained by reinforcing a plastic material such as PMMA or POM or a plastic material having an imide group such as polyimide, polyamide imide, or polyether imide) with glass fiber or carbon fiber in order to further increase rigidity.

Further, the leader pin formed of the corrosion resistant material may be further subjected to hard chrome plating having a relatively high surface hardness.

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 extends 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.

Preferably, the leader pin is longer than the width of the magnetic tape, and is 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.

[0015]

According to the magnetic tape cartridge of the present invention, since the leader pin is made of a corrosion-resistant material such as plastic or stainless steel, the corrosion resistance of the pin is improved, and troubles caused by corrosion of the pin occur. Can be avoided.

Further, since these materials are hard to be magnetized, there is no influence on the magnetic recording information of the magnetic tape due to the magnetization of the leader pin, and the reliability as an information recording medium is high.

Furthermore, the leader pin made of a plastic material can satisfy the rigidity required for the leader pin and reduce the production cost.

[0018]

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 an embodiment of the magnetic tape cartridge of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a view 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 this 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-mentioned 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 made of carbon fiber reinforced PA (polyamide) 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 and reproducing apparatus. Is fixed.

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 body 21A, the hook engaging groove 21C, the locked part 21D, and the clamp 21B are all made of the carbon fiber reinforced PA described above.

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 leader pin 21 is set at a predetermined position in the recording / reproducing apparatus. However, in the recording / reproducing apparatus, a state in which the temperature is higher than the external temperature due to the heat generated by the motor, the electric element, the electronic element, etc. Has become. 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 the conditions are more severe in terms of the corrosion resistance environment. However, the leader pin 21 is made of a corrosion resistant material. Because it is formed by a certain PA,
Leader pins even in medium-high temperature environments
Rust and corrosion of 21 can be suppressed.

The hook engaging groove 21C of the leader pin 21
A frictional force is generated between the hook engaging groove 21C and the hook of the drive mechanism each time the engaging is performed, so that the surface of the hook engaging groove 21C is slightly scratched, but the leader pin 21 is reinforced by carbon fiber. Therefore, the wear of the drive mechanism due to the engagement action and the engagement action with the hook can be suppressed to an extremely low level. Moreover, the leader pin
Since 21 is made of PA which is a corrosion-resistant material, it does not lead to rust due to fine scratches on the surface,
Corrosion can be suppressed.

Further, the locked portion of the leader pin 21
When the hook 21D is pulled by the hook 100, it receives a frictional force due to the friction with the engaging portion P (see FIG. 3) of the case 7, but is reinforced by carbon fiber similarly to the hook engaging groove 21C. Therefore, abrasion due to friction with the locking portion P of the case 7 can be suppressed to an extremely low level. Since the case 7 is formed of PA, rust occurs due to minute scratches generated on the surface. Nothing.

Since PA of the above-mentioned material is hardly magnetized, the leader pin 21 is not magnetized.
Therefore, the leader pin 21 is not magnetized and does not magnetically affect information magnetically recorded on the magnetic tape 20, and the information recording medium has high reliability. Further, the PA is inexpensive as a material and can reduce the manufacturing cost of the leader pin.

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 according to the embodiment adopting such a configuration, the leader pin 21 is formed of PA which is a corrosion-resistant material, so that a frictional force with the case 7 is generated. The wear of the end face 21E can be suppressed to an extremely low level, and the corrosion resistance 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 21B Clamp 21C Hook engaging part 21D Locked part 21E End face 21 Leader pin 100 Drive mechanism hook X Tape pull-out direction

Claims (2)

[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, the leader pin being formed of a corrosion-resistant material. 2. The magnetic tape cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the corrosion-resistant material is plastic.