JPH11185432A - Magnetic tape cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide cut parts in a magnetic cartridge which enable positioning hardly influenced by the dimensional fluctuation of a cartidge case and, further, facilitates putting the cartridge into a library. SOLUTION: Cut parts 50 extended in a loading direction X are formed in both the corners on the back side in the loading direction of an upper case 2 of which a cartridge case 7 consists. Positioning recessed parts 52 with predetermined shapes are formed in the parts of the upper surfaces 50a of the cut parts 50. A magnetic tape cartridge is positioned with a high precision by the cut parts 50 and the positioning recessed parts 52 in a drive and the cut parts 50 are chucked to put the magnetic tape cartridge into a library.

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 one-reel type magnetic tape cartridge used for a computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a magnetic tape cartridge (hereinafter, also referred to as "cartridge") for accommodating a magnetic tape used as a recording medium used in an external storage device such as a computer includes a single reel of magnetic tape. And the reel is rotatably housed in a cartridge case, and one end of a magnetic tape is pulled out to the apparatus side and used.

[0003] The magnetic tape cartridge is used by being loaded into a recording / reproducing device (hereinafter referred to as "drive") such as an external storage device. At the time of loading, positioning is performed based on a reference hole provided on the bottom surface of the cartridge case, a concave portion provided on the side surface, the external dimensions of the cartridge case itself, and the like so that the cartridge is loaded at a predetermined position in the drive.

[0004] These cartridges are stored in a library in which a large number of cartridges are stored, and are often used so that a desired cartridge is taken out and loaded into a drive at the time of use.

[0005]

Since positioning within the drive requires high precision, the method of performing positioning based on a reference hole provided on the bottom surface of the cartridge case or a concave portion provided on the side surface thereof has been proposed. The problem is that the error increases due to the warpage of the molded product, and the method of positioning based on the external dimensions is susceptible to dimensional fluctuations due to differences in resin lots (mainly fluid deformation). Therefore, the above positioning cannot always be performed stably and accurately.

[0006] Further, when an operation of taking out a desired cartridge from the library by a chucking machine and loading the cartridge into the drive or taking out the cartridge from the drive and storing it in the library (hereinafter, simply referred to as "storing operation"), the drive is used. Although it is necessary to hold a part of the rear side of the cartridge case to be inserted by the chucking claws, the chucking needs to be stable in order to perform the storing operation accurately.

Further, a gap for inserting a chucking claw must be provided in the storage space for each cartridge on the library shelf between the cartridge and the cartridge. The smaller the gap, the better the space efficiency but the smaller the space. There was a problem that chucking became more difficult.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and enables a magnetic tape which is not easily affected by dimensional fluctuations of a cartridge case such as warpage of a molded product, and which is also suitable for storing work in a library. It is an object to provide a cartridge.

[0009]

A magnetic tape cartridge according to the present invention is a magnetic tape cartridge in which a reel on which a magnetic tape is wound is entirely rotatably housed in a rectangular parallelepiped cartridge case. A notch extending in the loading direction from the back side in the loading direction to the recording / reproducing apparatus for the magnetic tape cartridge is provided in a peripheral portion on the back side of the cartridge case.

The notch of this magnetic tape cartridge is
It is desirable to be provided in the corner of the back. The notch of the magnetic tape cartridge may be formed by cutting off one side edge of the back surface.

Further, in the magnetic tape cartridge according to the present invention, it is more desirable to provide a positioning recess on a part of the side surface or the upper surface of the notch.

In the above description, the term "back side in the loading direction" means the rear side when this magnetic tape cartridge is inserted into a corresponding recording / reproducing apparatus such as an external recording apparatus.

The shape of the notch is desirably a quadrangle when viewed from the back in the loading direction (when viewed from the back), but is not limited to a quadrangle.
Further, the shape of the positioning recess is such that the shape of the opening is circular,
Any shape such as a quadrangle can be used, and it may be formed in a groove shape.

[0014]

According to the magnetic tape cartridge of the present invention, the notch is provided at the "peripheral edge" on the back surface of the cartridge case in the loading direction, and the positioning is performed with reference to the notch. Will be less affected by In particular, if the notch is provided at the corner of the cartridge case, the cartridge is less susceptible to the warpage of the case. Also, when positioning the magnetic tape cartridge in the recording / reproducing apparatus, it is possible to support a predetermined surface of the notch, so that the direction in which the magnetic tape cartridge is supported can be easily set, and the positioning can be performed properly. Become. In particular, if the positioning recess is provided in a part of the notch,
Positioning can be performed with high accuracy based on the positioning recess.

Furthermore, since the notch has a shape extending in the loading direction from the peripheral edge of the "back side in the loading direction", chucking can be stabilized in the work of storing in the library, and the chucking claw can be inserted by the notch. Since the space is formed, the chucking claws can be easily inserted from the rear side even if the cartridge insertion opening of the library is formed in the minimum shape, and the space efficiency of the library can be improved.

Further, since the shape of the notch and the positioning recess need not be specially formed, and the cartridge case can be made simpler and can be manufactured easily, the magnetic tape cartridge according to the present invention can be manufactured at a low cost. Therefore, practical and industrial value is great.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a magnetic tape cartridge according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of a magnetic tape cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, in a magnetic tape cartridge 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, a magnetic tape 20 is wound around a single reel 4 in which a lower reel 5 and an upper reel 6 are joined by ultrasonic welding. The reel 4 is rotatably housed in a cartridge case 7 in which the lower case 3 and the lower case 3 are fastened by screws or the like.

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 outer periphery of the lower end of the reel hub 23 using a synthetic resin. A reel plate 8 for attaching magnetic rotary drive means for rotating the reel 4 is mounted on the bottom outer surface of the reel 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. An opening 23B is formed in the reel hub 23 for inserting a drive release spindle provided in a recording / reproducing device (drive) such as an external storage device using the magnetic tape cartridge 1 to move the brake button 9 upward. Have been.

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 drawing by the coil spring 10. Rotation during use is prevented. On the other hand, when using a cartridge,
Drive release spindle is brake button 9
When the brake button 9 is pressed, the brake button 9 moves upward in the figure against the urging force of the coil spring 10, 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 urged by a spring (not shown) in a direction to close the opening 26.

When the magnetic tape cartridge 1 is not in use, the magnetic tape 20 is completely wound around the reel 4 and a leader pin 21 (a drive using the magnetic tape cartridge 1) is attached to the end of the magnetic tape 20. Means for introducing the magnetic tape 20 into the tape running path in the apparatus) are formed in the recesses 28 formed in the vicinity of the openings 26.
Is locked.

On the other hand, positioning notches 50 are provided at both corners on the rear surface (rear side in the loading direction) of the upper case 2 in the direction of inserting the magnetic tape cartridge 1 into the drive (loading direction; arrow X in the drawing). Have been. When the magnetic tape cartridge 1 is inserted into the drive from the loading direction X and the magnetic tape cartridge 1 is set at a predetermined position in the drive with reference to the notch 50, the gear 9A for stopping the brake button 9 and the reel hub 23 as described above. , 23A are released to allow the reel 4 to rotate freely, and the magnetic rotary drive unit is joined to the reel plate 8 to rotate the reel 4. At the same time, the slide door 27 is opened, the leader pin 21 is pulled into a predetermined position on the tape traveling path, and data can be read from and written to the magnetic tape 20. Hereinafter, the configuration of the notch 50 will be described in detail.

FIG. 2 is a view for explaining the shape of the first embodiment of the notch 50. FIG. 2A is a view (rear view) of the cartridge case 7 viewed from the back in the loading direction of the cartridge case 7 and FIG. The enlarged perspective view (B) is shown. This notch 50
As shown in FIG. 2 (A), the cutout shape when viewed from the rear is a square, which is provided at a corner of the upper case 2, and has a rectangular parallelepiped shape which extends a predetermined length in the loading direction as shown in FIG. 2 (B). Has formed. By providing the cutouts 50 at the corners of the cartridge case 7 in this way, the cartridge case 7 is less susceptible to warpage. When positioning the magnetic tape cartridge 1 in the drive, the notch 5
Since the upper surface 50a, the side surface 50b, and the back surface 50c can be supported, the direction in which the magnetic tape cartridge 1 is supported can be easily set, and the positioning can be properly performed.

Further, the notch 50 has a shape extending in the loading direction from the back in the loading direction and is provided at both corners of the long side of the cartridge case 7, so that the cartridge case 7 can be chucked from the lateral direction. Chucking in the library storage operation can be stabilized. Further, since the notch portion 50 forms a space into which the chucking claw can be inserted, even if the opening for inserting the magnetic tape cartridge 1 of the library is formed to a minimum shape, a space for inserting the chucking claw is secured. The space efficiency of the library can be improved. The shape of the notch portion 50 in the first embodiment is not limited to the above-described notch shape viewed from the rear as shown in FIG. However, it can be any other shape.

The notch 50 may have a shape in which both short sides of the back surface of the cartridge case 7 are notched as shown in FIG.

On the other hand, the number of the cutouts 50 is not limited and may be one. However, when a plurality of cutouts 50 are provided, as in the first embodiment, the cutouts 50 may be provided. May have the same shape, or may not necessarily have the same shape as shown in FIGS. 4 (A) and 4 (B).

Furthermore, the notch 5 in the first embodiment
0 is not limited to both corners of the long side of the upper case 2 as shown in FIG.
As shown in (C), both corners of the long side of the lower case 3, both corners of the short side of the cartridge case 7, and the cartridge case 7
May be provided at the four corners on the back side of. In addition, FIG.
As shown in (C), the cartridge case 7 may be provided at a peripheral portion other than the corner.

In the embodiment in which the shape of the notch 50 and the location of the cutout 50 are changed as described above, the above-described optimization of the positioning,
The effect of stabilizing chucking and improving the space efficiency of the library can be similarly enjoyed. In particular, when the notches 50 are provided at the four corners on the back surface of the cartridge case 7, the cartridge case 7 can be chucked simultaneously in the thickness direction and the lateral direction, so that more stable chucking can be performed. become able to.

Next, a second embodiment of the notch will be described. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the configuration of the second embodiment of the notch, and is an enlarged perspective view of the notch as viewed from the back. As shown in FIG. 7, a notch 50 having a rectangular notch shape when viewed from the rear is formed at a corner on the back of the upper case 2 in the mounting direction. A positioning recess 52 having a circular shape is provided. In this manner, the positioning recess 5 is formed in a part of the notch 50.
2, the positioning of the magnetic tape cartridge 1 in the drive allows the upper surface 50 of the notch 50 to be positioned.
a or the side surface 50b and the back surface 50c, and the positioning can be performed by the positioning concave portion 52. Therefore, the direction in which the magnetic tape cartridge 1 is supported can be easily set, and the positioning accuracy can be improved. Becomes possible. Further, since the positioning concave portion 52 is formed in a concave shape, the positioning concave portion 52 does not affect the support for positioning and the work of storing in the library.

The shape of the positioning recess 52 provided in the notch 50 is not limited to that shown in FIG. 7, and for example, the shape of the opening is not a circle but a square, or FIG. , (B), the whole may be formed in a groove shape, and the disposing place may be a part of the side surface 50b as shown in FIG. Can be changed.

As described above, even when the shape of the notch 50, the shape of the positioning concave portion 52, and the arrangement location are changed,
The effect of improving the positioning accuracy described above can be similarly enjoyed.

The magnetic tape cartridge according to the present invention only needs to have a substantially rectangular parallelepiped appearance as a whole. For example, the magnetic tape cartridge may have a tapered shape at the side of the cartridge case as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 10, the upper case may be formed in various shapes as long as it is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped, such as a tapered rear surface in the loading direction.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a rear view (A) of a cartridge case showing the shape of the first embodiment of the notch, and an enlarged perspective view (B) of the notch.

FIG. 3A is a rear view showing a modification of the first embodiment;
And enlarged perspective view (B)

FIGS. 4A and 4B are rear views showing another modification of the first embodiment; FIGS.

FIG. 5A is a rear view showing a modified example of a place where the notch is provided.
~ (C)

FIGS. 6A to 6C are rear views showing other modified examples of the location of the cutout portion.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view showing a shape of a notch provided with a positioning recess, which is a second embodiment of the notch.

FIG. 8A is a rear view showing a modification of the second embodiment;
And enlarged perspective view (B)

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a modification of the external shape of the magnetic tape cartridge according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing another modification of the appearance of the magnetic tape cartridge according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Magnetic tape cartridge 2 Upper case 3 Lower case 4 Reel 7 Cartridge case 50 Notch 52 Positioning recess

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A magnetic tape cartridge in which a reel on which a magnetic tape is wound is rotatably housed in a cartridge case of a rectangular parallelepiped as a whole, wherein a back surface of the magnetic tape cartridge in a loading direction of the recording / reproducing apparatus for the magnetic tape cartridge. A notch extending in the loading direction from a peripheral edge of the rear surface of the cartridge case.