JPH0421245B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a magnetic tape drive device, and more particularly to a magnetic tape drive device suitable for a backup tape cartridge of a magnetic disk device.

(Prior Art) A drive belt that rotationally drives a pair of reels is used as a backup tape for a magnetic disk device.
A tape cartridge is known which includes a protective cover that exposes a portion of the magnetic tape and allows a magnetic head to come into sliding contact with the magnetic tape only when it is loaded in a predetermined recording/reproducing position. In a tape drive device using such a cartridge, inserting the cartridge in the width direction simplifies the cartridge loading mechanism, magnetic head movement mechanism, etc., but it requires a width equal to at least the length of the cartridge. Therefore, the width becomes larger than the width of the magnetic disk device to be combined.

Therefore, a magnetic tape drive device has been proposed in which the cartridge is loaded in the longitudinal direction so that the size in the width direction can be reduced. JP-A-59-213056, JP-A-61-
Examples include those described in JP-A No. 45459 and JP-A-61-123048.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) The device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 59-213056 inserts the cartridge in the longitudinal direction, moves the cartridge in the correct arrangement direction relative to the magnetic head, and then moves the cartridge to a predetermined recording/reproducing position. In order to do this, it is necessary to insert the cartridge so that it does not hit the magnetic head. In particular, with this type of cartridge, it is necessary to open the protective cover when inserting it into the drive unit, but it is extremely difficult to position and move the magnetic head so that it does not interfere with the movement of the protective cover, which is a design constraint. It is becoming.

The device described in JP-A No. 61-45459 uses a direct drive system to prevent speed fluctuations of the magnetic tape, but the protective cover can be opened by inserting the cartridge with the side with the protective cover facing toward you. This makes the mechanism for opening the protective cover complicated, and since it is located in front of the magnetic head, touching it with your fingers through the cartridge insertion slot can cause damage or dirt to the magnetic head. However, there is a problem that the intended function cannot be achieved.

In the device described in JP-A-61-123048, the cartridge is inserted with the protective cover facing toward the back, but the magnetic head is moved over a long distance so as not to hinder the opening and closing of the protective cover. Therefore, the mechanism for moving the magnetic head becomes complicated and a large space is required for moving the magnetic head. Additionally, the magnetic head movement mechanism was a hindrance, making it impossible to use the direct drive method, so the capstan motor was placed further back than the magnetic head, and the capstan was driven using a belt drive method. .

The present invention has been made to solve the problems of the conventional art, and it simplifies the protective cover opening/closing mechanism by making it possible to insert the cartridge in the longitudinal direction with its protective cover at the back, and furthermore, It is an object of the present invention to provide a magnetic tape drive device that can reduce the movement space of a magnetic head.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention has a rectangular shape with a tape feeding section at the center of one long side, a tape exposing opening near the end for recording and reproducing information by slidingly contacting the magnetic head, and this opening. A magnetic tape drive device that uses a tape cartridge having a protective cover that can be opened and closed to cover the cartridge, and a cartridge insertion slot for inserting the tape cartridge containing the magnetic tape into the device in the longitudinal direction; It has a motor for running the stored magnetic tape with a direct drive, and a magnetic head for recording and reproducing by slidingly contacting the magnetic tape, and the magnetic head is movable in the width direction of the magnetic tape. , and is provided so as to be moved to a position not facing the cartridge when inserting and ejecting the cartridge, and
The above-mentioned magnetic head is arranged further back than the above-mentioned motor with respect to the cartridge insertion opening (effect). The cartridge is inserted and ejected while the magnetic head is moved to a position where it does not face the cartridge. By moving the magnetic head in the width direction of the magnetic tape while the cartridge is loaded, the magnetic head faces the cartridge. Since the magnetic head moves in the width direction of the tape, the tape drive motor does not interfere with the movement of the magnetic head.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of a magnetic tape drive device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a well-known tape cartridge used in an embodiment of the present invention, in which a cartridge 10 is rotated about an axis 9 to a position near one end on one longitudinal side. Possible protective cover 11
is provided to open and close the head insertion opening 12. The protective cover 11 is biased to rotate in a direction to close the opening 12, and the pressing end 8
is pushed upward in the figure and rotated against the urging force to open the opening 12,
Magnetic tape 13 stored in cartridge 10
A part of the body is now exposed. The magnetic tape 13 is wound around a pair of reels 14 and 15. An endless belt 19 is in pressure contact with a part of the outer peripheral surface of the tape 13 wound around the reels 14 and 15.
The belt 19 is driven by a capstan roller 16 that is rotatably provided on the cartridge 10 and is driven to rotate from the outside, thereby driving the reels 14 and 15 to rotate so that the tape 13 is transported. It's summery.

FIG. 2 and subsequent figures show an embodiment of a magnetic tape drive device according to the present invention using the cartridge 10 described above.

2, 8, and 9, a cartridge insertion opening 26 is formed at the front end of the frame 18, and a door 20 that is rotatably supported around a horizontal axis opens the cartridge insertion opening 26. 26 is opened and closed. The door 20 is formed with a window hole 21 for a lock release button (described later), and protrusions 24 and 25 are formed on the right end and the base near the center, respectively, along arcs centered on the rotation axis, and on the left end base. The interlocking shaft portion 22 is formed on the right side of the protrusion 27 . The protrusions 24 and 25 are for preventing the loaded cartridge from being ejected and also for preventing the door 20 from closing when the cartridge is incompletely inserted. A notch 23 for a door lock is formed in the protrusion 27 on the side of the door 20 body. As shown in FIG. 9, a projection 3 is provided on the outer surface of the projection 25.
5 is formed.

As shown in FIG. 3, on the lower surface side of the frame 18, a mediating lever 34 is arranged on the right side of the front end (lower end in FIG. 3). The intermediate lever 34 is positionally regulated by a plurality of regulating members 38 formed on the frame 18, and is provided so as to be rotatable within a vertical plane using a front edge as a fulcrum 36. An arm 48 extends from the right side edge of the intermediate lever 34, and this arm 48 is pushed up by a projection 35 shown in FIG. 34 can be rotated around a fulcrum 36.

A lock plate 28 is also arranged on the lower surface side of the frame 18 so as to partially overlap the lower side of the intermediate lever 34. The lock plate 28 is rotatable in a vertical plane using the protrusions 29, 29 as fulcrums by supporting the protrusions 29, 29 formed on both sides of the rear side by the support portions formed on the frame 18. There is. The lock plate 28 extends forward from both left and right sides in an arm shape, and a locking member 30 is fixed to the tip of the left arm and a protrusion 31 is formed, and a rising portion 32 is formed at the tip of the right arm. is formed. The lock plate 28 is a leaf spring 39 fixed to the frame.
Normally, the left and right arms of the frame are pressed against each other, so that they are normally urged to come into close contact with the lower surface of the frame.
This allows the locking member 30 to extend onto the cartridge insertion path on the frame.

One end of a rod 65 is pivotally attached to the interlocking shaft portion 22 of the door 20 (see FIG. 8). The other end of the rod 65 is pivotally attached to one side of the front end of a head up cam lever 66, as shown in FIG. The head up cam lever 66 is provided on the lower surface side of the frame so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction by a guide groove in the front-rear direction. A rising portion 70 is formed on one side edge of the rear end of the head up cam lever 66 extending to near the rear end of the frame, and the rising portion 70 projects toward the upper surface of the frame. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the rising portion 70 is formed with a cam groove 71 and a horizontal linear guide groove 72 below the cam groove 71. As shown in FIGS. The cam groove 71 consists of a high-position horizontal groove at the front, a low-position horizontal groove at the rear, and an inclined groove connecting these horizontal grooves.

3 to 6, a pin 81 at the tip of an arm 80 of a head up lever 78 is fitted into the cam groove 71. The head up lever 78 is connected to a bearing plate 73 fixed on the frame.
It is rotatably supported around a horizontal axis 79. The bearing plate 73 has bent portions 74 and 75 formed above and below the side rising portions, and these bent portions 74 and 75 are connected to the head up cam lever 6.
6 along the upper surface of the bent portion 70, and also along the guide groove 7
2, it guides the movement of the head up cam lever 66 in the front-rear direction. A second head lever 83 is also rotatably supported on the shaft 79. axis 79
A coil spring 84 is wound around the spring 84, and both ends of the spring 84 are hung on the two head up levers 78, 83, so that these head up levers 7
8 and 83 are rotationally biased in a direction in which they are attracted to each other. An adjustment screw 85 is screwed into the head up lever 78. The tip of the adjusting screw 85 comes into contact with the upper surface of the head up lever 83 due to the biasing force of the spring 84, so that the two head up levers 78 and 83 can temporarily rotate together. By adjusting the adjustment screw 85, the mutual spacing between the two head up levers 78, 83 is adjusted. An arm 86 extends forward from one side of the head up lever 83, and a pin 87 is fixed to the tip of the arm 86. The pin 87 is a rising portion 91 on one side edge of the rear end of the head plate 90.
It fits into a long hole 92 formed in.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 5, and 6, an appropriate number of guide shafts 93,
An auxiliary plate 130 is fixed via 95 or the like.
The head plate 90 is penetrated by the guide shaft 93, and the guide sleeve 94 fixed to the head plate 90 is penetrated by the guide shaft 95, so that the head plate 90 is provided to be movable up and down. ing. A magnetic head 100 is attached to the upper surface of the front end of the head plate 90.

FIG. 7 shows the magnetic head 1 relative to the head plate 90.
Details of the mounting structure of 00 are shown. In Figure 7,
One end of a leaf spring 97 is fixed on the head plate 90 in a cantilever manner by spot welds 98, 98. A head support 101 is fixed to the free end of the leaf spring 97 by spot welds 102. The magnetic head 10 is placed on the head support 101.
0 is fixed by an appropriate means such as adhesive. A nut 104 is embedded in the head plate 90 below the head support 101 and on the free end side of the leaf spring 97, and an azimuth adjustment shaft 105 is screwed into this nut 104. Azimuth adjustment axis 105
A gear 106 is press-fitted into the lower surface of the head plate 90.

In FIG. 3, a protrusion 68 is formed on the right side edge of the head up cam lever 66, and a slope 69 is formed in the form of a notch at the back of the protrusion 68. A pin 148 fixed to the auxiliary lever 145 extends onto the path of the projection 68. As shown in FIG. 10, the auxiliary lever 145 is provided so as to be rotatable in a horizontal plane about a shaft 146 on the frame.
7 in the clockwise direction in FIG.
Rotation in the biasing direction is restricted by contacting the protrusion 68 of No.6. The auxiliary lever 145 extends from the base so as to cross the head up cam lever 66 in the width direction, and then extends toward the back at a right angle, and has a cam surface 149 formed at its free end. A roller 143 provided with a cartridge guide plate drive lever 140 is located so as to face the cam surface 149. Drive lever 1
40 is rotatable around a shaft 142 provided on the cartridge guide plate 50, and
It is set up so that it extends from the front to the back. Drive lever 140 and cartridge guide plate 5
A relatively elastic spring 141 is hung between the spring 141 and the spring 141. The roller 143 is connected to the auxiliary lever 1
45 pin 148 is the head up cam lever 66
When the auxiliary lever 145 is rotated counterclockwise by being pushed by the projection 68 of the auxiliary lever 145, the cartridge guide plate 50 is pushed by the cam surface 149 of the auxiliary lever 145, and the cartridge guide plate 50 is rotated to the left in FIG. At this time, the roller 143 enters into the notch of the slope 69 forming portion of the head up cam lever 66.

In FIG. 3, the cartridge guide plate 50 has an appropriate number of guide grooves 51.
A guide pin 52 passing through is fixedly planted on the frame, so that the cartridge guide plate 50 is provided on the frame so as to be able to move in parallel in the left-right direction within a range allowed by the guide groove 51. A cartridge guide 53 is formed by bending at the right edge of the cartridge guide plate 50, and cartridge guides 54 and 55 are formed by bending at the left edge at the front and rear. The cartridge guide plate 50 is connected to the insertion opening 2.
The cartridge 10 inserted from the cartridge 6 can be held between the cartridge guide 53 and the cartridge guides 54 and 55, and the cartridge 10 can be moved in the left-right direction while being held.

A stopper 64 that defines the insertion limit of the cartridge 10 is fixed on the frame, and the stopper 64 holds the upper edge of the rear end of the cartridge 10 between the frame and the cartridge 10.
It has a regulating member 56 that regulates the vertical position of 0. The frame is provided with a ball 46 rotatable in all directions at the far end of the insertion passage for the cartridge 10 to smoothly guide the insertion and parallel movement of the cartridge 10 in the left and right direction. In the vicinity and at the far end of the insertion passage for the cartridge 10, rollers 62 and 63 are rotatably supported around an axis in the front-rear direction for smoothly guiding parallel movement of the cartridge 10 in the left-right direction.

A bent portion 76 is formed at the rear end of the cartridge guide plate 50 along the stopper 64, and a shaft 58 provided on the bent portion 76 rotates the protective cover opening member 57 in a horizontal plane. movably supported. At the free end of the protective cover opening member 57, a contact surface 61 against which the pressing end 8 of the protective cover 11 of the cartridge 10 comes into contact is formed in the shape of an arc. The protective cover opening member 57 has a slightly inclined cam groove 59.
A projection 60 formed on a stopper 64 is fitted into the stopper 9 . When the cartridge guide plate 50 moves to the left as shown in FIG. 3, the cam groove 59 moves relative to the protrusion 60, causing the protective cover opening member 57 to rotate slightly clockwise. so that the contact surface 61 is slightly retracted from the pressing end 8 of the protective cover 11 of the cartridge 10.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, when the cartridge 10 is moved to the left together with the cartridge guide plate 50, the capstan 161 comes into pressure contact with the capstan roller 16 of the cartridge 10. The capstan 161 is directly driven by a capstan motor 160 attached to the frame 18. The magnetic head 100 is located further back than the capstan motor 160 with respect to the cartridge insertion slot 26. The capstan motor 160 has cooling fins 162 integrated with its rotating shaft.

2, 3, 8 and 13, a window 21 formed in door 20 is pierced by an unlock button 157 when door 20 is closed. Lock release button 15
7 is integrally attached to the front end of the lock release lever 155 which is held movably in the front and back direction by a guide member 164. Lock release lever 1
The rear end of 55 is a bent portion 156 that rises upward and extends laterally.
is fitted into a fork portion 153 formed on the door lock lever 151. door lock lever 1
51 is rotatably supported around a shaft 152 below the fork portion 153. The lock release lever 155 is biased to move forward by a spring (not shown) disposed within the guide member 164, so that the door lock lever 151 is moved forward.
In Figure 3, it is urged to rotate clockwise. The front end of the door lock lever 151 extending forward is a bent portion 154, and this bent portion 154 abuts on the protrusion 27 of the door 20. The bent portion 154 engages with the notch 23 of the door 20 when the door 20 is completely closed.

An azimuth adjustment stepping motor 115 as shown in FIG. 12 is arranged at the far left corner of the frame 18. As shown in FIG. A crown-shaped gear 119 shown in FIG. 11 is press-fitted onto the output shaft of this azimuth adjustment motor 115. Below this gear 119 is the frame 1.
A regulation gear 123 is fixed on top of the control gear 8 . An engagement protrusion 124 is integrally formed on the inner peripheral side of the regulation gear 123. As shown in FIG. 2, the regulation gear 123 meshes with an adjustment gear 180 fixed to the frame 18 and cannot rotate.
A rotating body 121 is rotatably fitted to the output shaft of the motor 115. The rotating body 121 can rotate on the inner circumferential side of the regulation gear 123, but the rotation range is limited to 1 because the engaging protrusion 122 formed on the outer circumferential side engages with the protrusion 124.
It is regulated within rotation. An engagement protrusion 120 is formed on the lower surface side of the gear 119, and this engagement protrusion 120 is connected to an engagement protrusion 122 of the rotating body 121.
The rotation range of the gear 119 is restricted by the contact. Therefore, when the gear 119 rotates once, the engagement protrusion 120 of the gear 119 engages the engagement protrusion 1 of the rotating body 121.
22 and when the gear 119 makes one further rotation, the engagement protrusion 122 of the rotating body 121 engages the regulating gear 123.
Rotation is prevented by contacting the protrusion 124 of. An azimuth adjustment transmission gear 116 is provided at the upper end of the output shaft of the gear 119 so as to be relatively rotatable. The transmission gear 116 has a protrusion 118 on its lower outer periphery, and the protrusion 118 engages between the teeth of the gear 119. Therefore, the transmission gear 116 and the gear 119 are driven by the motor 115 within two revolutions.

The rotational force of the transmission gear 116 is transferred to the terminal gear 11 of the reduction gear train 125 as shown in FIG.
7. The terminal gear 117 is a fan-shaped gear 11 formed at one end of the azimuth adjustment lever 110.
2 are interlocked. Azimuth adjustment lever 110
The head plate 90 is also shown in FIG.
It is rotatably supported in a horizontal plane about a guide shaft 95 on the lower surface side. A fan-shaped gear 111 is formed at the other end of the azimuth adjustment lever 110, and this shaped gear 111 meshes with a gear 106 press-fitted into the lower end of the azimuth adjustment shaft 105. The azimuth adjustment lever 110 has a long hole 113 along an arc centered on the guide shaft 95.
is formed. This long hole 113 is located in the head plate 9.
This is an escape hole for the guide shaft 93 provided at 0.

In FIGS. 3 and 12, a protrusion 96 is formed in a circular arc shape on the side of the head plate 90. As shown in FIGS. Above this protrusion 96 is an auxiliary plate 130 (see FIG. 2).
The lower ends of track adjustment guide shafts 136 fixed to the two are opposed to each other. A threaded portion is formed on this guide shaft 136, and the worm wheel 134 is screwed into this threaded portion. This warm foil 1
34 meshes with a worm 133 attached to the output shaft of the stepping motor 132. The height position of the head plate 90 is adjusted by the lower end surface of the worm foil 134. The stepping motor 132 performs track switching (for example, 96 steps per track) and tracking servo (several steps).

As shown in FIG.
A discharge lever 40 is supported at the back of the insertion passage 0 so as to be rotatable in a horizontal plane about a shaft 41 on the right end side of the frame 18. The ejection lever 40 is rotatably biased by a spring 42 in a direction to push out the inserted cartridge 10. Ejection lever 40
A sector-shaped gear 43 extending along an arc centered on the shaft 41 is integrally provided on the lower side of the shaft 41 . This fan-shaped gear 43 meshes with a gear 44. The rotational force of the gear 44 is transmitted to the damper 45 via a speed increasing gear train (not shown). The damper 45 is a well-known speed control mechanism that applies a brake so that the ejection lever 40 rotates slowly, and the cartridge 10 is ejected slowly.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be explained.

Loading a Cartridge As shown in FIG. 8, with the door 20 open, insert the cartridge 10 from the cartridge insertion slot 26 in the longitudinal direction, with the protective cover 11 on the left side facing toward the back. When the cartridge 10 is inserted, the cartridge 10 is locked onto the lock plate 2.
8, the lock plate 28 is rotated against the elasticity of the leaf spring 39, and the lock member 30 is temporarily retracted from the cartridge insertion passage. At this time, the rising portion 3 of the intermediate lever 34
2 enters the notch formed in the protrusion 25 of the door 20 and prevents the door 20 from closing. Further, the protrusion 24 abuts against the protrusion 31 of the locking plate 28 shown in FIG. 3 to prevent the door 20 from closing.
The cartridge 10 is guided and held by guides 53, 54, and 55 of a cartridge guide plate 50. The rear end of the cartridge 10 is the ejection lever 40
The ejection lever 40 is pushed by the cartridge 10 and rotated clockwise in FIG. 2 against the force of the spring 42. Cartridge 10
At the end of the push-in, the pressing end 8 of the protective cover 11 hits the contact surface 61 of the protective cover opening member 57, the protective cover 11 is opened, and the head insertion opening 12 is fully opened. Cartridge 10
When the cartridge is pushed to a predetermined position and its front end passes over the locking member 30 of the locking plate 28, the locking plate 28 and the locking member 30 return to their original states, and the locking member 30 prevents the cartridge 10 from being ejected.

With the cartridge 10 inserted in this manner, the door 20 is then closed. By closing the door 20, the protrusion 2 for preventing the cartridge from being ejected
4 and 25 go under the protruding part 31 and the rising part 32 of the lock plate 28, and prevent the rotation of the lock plate 28, thereby preventing the lock member 30 from escaping from the cartridge insertion passage, thereby preventing the cartridge 10 from being ejected. do. This is because when the door 20 is opened and closed, the magnetic head 100 moves in the width direction of the magnetic tape 13 as described later. This is to prevent the inconvenience of the magnetic head 100 hitting the cartridge 10 when it is ejected.
When the door 20 is closed, the interlocking shaft portion 22 and the rod 65
The head up cam lever 66 is moved rearward via. When the lever 66 moves, the pin 81 is pushed up by the cam groove 71 and the head up lever 78 is rotated upward, and the second head up lever 83 is temporarily integrated with the head up lever 78. It can also be rotated.
The rotation of this lever 83 causes its pin 87 to pull up the head plate 90. The head plate 90 moves up using the guide shafts 93 and 95 as guides, and the head plate 90
The magnetic head 100 attached to the magnetic head 100 also rises.
This movement of the magnetic head 100 is performed by moving the cartridge 10.
This is a movement in the width direction of the magnetic tape 13 inside the cartridge 10, thereby causing the magnetic head 100 to move in the width direction of the cartridge 10.
protective cover 11 and cartridge insertion opening 1
Enter between 2 and 2. The upward movement of the magnetic head 100 is prevented by the protrusion 96 of the head plate 90 coming into contact with the lower end surface of the worm wheel 134, and a predetermined track on the magnetic tape on which the magnetic head 100 should slide is selected. Further, the rotation of the head up lever 78 is stopped when the pin 81 reaches the upper horizontal portion of the cam groove 71.

At the end of the closing stroke of the door 20, the protrusion 68 of the head up cam lever 66 pushes the pin 148, causing the auxiliary cover 145 to resist the spring 147 and rotate the cartridge guide drive lever 140. This drive lever 140 moves the cartridge guide plate 50 in parallel to the left as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 via a spring 141,
The cartridge 10 held at zero is also translated to the left. Due to the parallel movement of the cartridge 10, the magnetic tape 13 exposed in the head insertion opening 12 comes into sliding contact with the magnetic head 100 located opposite the cartridge 10, as described above. The parallel movement of the cartridge guide plate 50 causes the cam groove 59 to move relative to the protrusion 60, and the protective cover opening member 57 rotates in a direction slightly away from the protective cover 11, thereby causing the protective cover 11 to move in the closing direction. rotate slightly. Therefore, the escape space for opening the protective cover 11 can be reduced, and the widthwise dimension of the magnetic tape drive device can be reduced.

The parallel movement of the cartridge 10 brings the capstan roller 16 into pressure contact with the capstan 161, and the magnetic tape 13 is transported by the rotational drive of the capstan motor 160, and the magnetic head 100 performs recording and reproduction. Further, the door 20
When the door lock lever 1 is closed, the protrusion 27
51 is pushed up, and the door lock lever 151 is rotated against the biasing force of the lock release lever 155. At the end of the closing stroke of the door 20, the door lock lever 151 rotates based on the biasing force of the lock release lever 155, and the bent portion 154 closes the door 2.
0 into the notch 23 and lock the door 20.
At this time, the lock release button 157 slightly protrudes from the window 21 of the door 20.

Cartridge ejection When trying to eject the cartridge 10,
First, press the unlock button 157. By pressing the lock release button 157, the lock release lever 155 is moved to the rear against the force, and the door lock lever 151 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG.
4 escapes through the notch 23 of the door 20. On the other hand, due to the rotation biasing force of the auxiliary lever 145 by the spring 147, the pin 148 is pushed against the protrusion 6 of the head up cam lever 66.
Press 8. As a result, the door 20 is opened by receiving a force in the direction in which the door 20 is opened, but the door 20 stops midway. Above head up cam lever 6
6, the slope 69 pushes the roller 143 to return the cartridge guide plate 50, causing the cartridge 10 to move in parallel to the right and stop.

Next, when the door 20 is further rotated in the opening direction, the head up cam lever 66 is pulled forward, the pin 81 is pushed down by the cam groove 71, and the head up lever 78 is rotated downward. At the same time, the head up lever 83 is also rotated, the head plate 90 is lowered, and the magnetic head 100 on the head plate 90 is lowered. The magnetic head 100 thus moves in the width direction of the magnetic tape 13 and escapes from the position facing the cartridge 10.

When the door 20 is further opened to the end, the door 20
The protrusion 35 pushes up the arm 48 of the intermediate lever 34 and rotates the intermediate lever 34 about the fulcrum 36. This rotation of the intermediary lever 34 causes the rear end to push the lock plate 28, causing the lock plate 28 to rotate against the leaf spring 39, thereby causing the lock member 30 to escape from the passage of the cartridge 10. As a result, the cartridge 10 is ejected by pushing the ejection lever 40 based on the biasing force of the spring 42. At this time, the damper 45
acts, and the cartridge 10 is slowly ejected.

Auto Azimuth Adjustment When the cartridge 10 is loaded at a predetermined recording/reproducing position, azimuth detection is performed by a well-known method, and the azimuth adjustment stepping motor 115 is driven based on this detection signal. When the motor 115 is rotationally driven, the azimuth adjustment transmission gear 11 is rotated as described with reference to FIG.
6 is rotationally driven, and the terminal gear 117 is rotationally driven via the reduction gear train 125 in FIG. The rotational force of the terminal gear 117 is transmitted to the fan-shaped gear 112 of the azimuth adjustment lever 110, causing the azimuth adjustment lever 110 to rotate about the shaft 95.
By rotating the lever 110, the fan-shaped gear 11
1 rotates gear 106. The gear 106 is integrated with the azimuth adjustment shaft 105, and when the coaxial shaft 105 is rotationally driven, the coaxial shaft 105 is connected to the nut 10.
4, whereby the shaft 105 adjusts the height position of one end of the head support 101;
Azimuth adjustment is performed by adjusting the inclination of the magnetic head 100.

Track switching Track switching is performed using the stepping motor 13 for track switching based on the track position detection signal.
This is done by rotationally driving 2. motor 132
The rotation of the worm 133 causes the worm 133 to rotate, and the worm wheel 134 to rotate. Since the worm wheel 134 is screwed into the threaded portion of the track switching guide shaft 136 as described with reference to FIG. 12, the rotation of the worm wheel 134 causes the worm wheel 134 to move up and down along the shaft 136. This allows the worm foil 1
The height position of the lower end surface of the head plate 90 changes.
The height position of the magnetic head 100 changes, and the height position of the magnetic head 100 changes to perform track switching. Further, the stepping motor 132 is subjected to a tracking servo to finely adjust the tracking position.

According to the embodiment described above, the magnetic head 1
00 is provided so as to be movable in the width direction of the magnetic tape 13, and the magnetic head 1 is arranged to be movable in the width direction of the magnetic tape 13.
00 is placed further back than the tape drive motor 160, the cartridge 10 is placed inside its protective cover 1.
The opening/closing mechanism of the protective cover 11 can be simplified even if the protective cover 11 is inserted in the longitudinal direction with 1 facing toward the back.
Moreover, since the magnetic head 100 is moved in the width direction of the magnetic tape 13, the space for moving the magnetic head 100 can be reduced, and the mechanism for moving the magnetic head can be simplified.

Note that the present invention consists of the constituent elements described in the claims, and the azimuth adjusting device, track position adjusting device, etc. are not essential to the present invention.

(Effects of the Invention) According to the present invention, the magnetic head is provided so as to be movable in the width direction of the magnetic tape, and the magnetic head is placed further back than the tape drive motor with respect to the cartridge insertion slot. The opening/closing mechanism of the protective cover can be simplified even if the protective cover is inserted in the longitudinal direction with the magnetic head at the back.Moreover, since the magnetic head moves in the width direction of the magnetic tape, the movement space for the magnetic head can be reduced. At the same time, the mechanism for moving the magnetic head can be simplified.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an example of a tape cartridge used in the magnetic tape drive device of the present invention, and FIG.
The figures are a perspective view showing an embodiment of the magnetic tape drive device according to the present invention, FIG. 3 is a plan view of the same, FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a part of the head moving mechanism in the above embodiment, and FIG. is a side view of the head moving mechanism, No. 6
The figures are partially sectional side views showing different operating modes of the head moving mechanism, FIG. 7 is a partially sectional side view of the magnetic head support mechanism in the above embodiment, and FIG. 8 is a door in the above embodiment. Perspective view of opening/closing mechanism part, No. 9
The figure is a perspective view of part of the above door seen from another direction.
Fig. 10 is a plan view of the parallel movement mechanism portion of the cartridge guide plate in the above embodiment, Fig. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the azimuth adjustment rotation transmission mechanism part in the above embodiment, and Fig. 12 is the above embodiment. FIG. 13 is a plan view of the azimuth adjustment mechanism and track switching mechanism inside, and a side view of the door lock mechanism in the above embodiment. 10... Cartridge, 13... Magnetic tape,
26... Cartridge insertion slot, 160... Tape running motor, 100... Magnetic head.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A tape cartridge that is rectangular in shape and has a tape feed section in the center of one long side, a tape exposure opening near the end that slides into contact with a magnetic head to record and reproduce information, and a protective cover that can be opened and closed to cover this opening. The magnetic tape drive device used has a cartridge insertion slot for inserting a tape cartridge containing magnetic tape into the device in the longitudinal direction, and a slot for running the magnetic tape stored in the cartridge using a direct drive. It has a motor and a magnetic head that performs recording and reproduction by slidingly contacting the magnetic tape, and the magnetic head is movable in the width direction of the magnetic tape and is opposed to the cartridge when inserting and ejecting the cartridge. 1. A magnetic tape drive device, characterized in that said magnetic head is disposed further back than said motor with respect to a cartridge insertion slot.