Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval – Record medium – In container
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-16
2002-09-17
Tupper, Robert S. (Department: 2652)
Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval
Record medium
In container
Reexamination Certificate
active
06452745
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a magnetic tape cartridge, and more particularly to a magnetic tape cartridge comprising a cartridge casing and a single reel around which a magnetic tape is wound and which is contained in the cartridge casing for rotation.
2. Description of the Related Art
There has been known a single reel magnetic tape cartridge, comprising a cartridge casing and a single reel around which a magnetic tape is wound and which is contained in the cartridge casing for rotation, as a recording medium for an external storage for a computer and the like. Such a single reel magnetic tape cartridge is used for retaining important data of a computer or the like and accordingly is arranged so that trouble such as tape jamming does not occur and the magnetic tape is not accidentally drawn out.
Further since various data are recorded on the magnetic tape, the magnetic tape cartridge is provided with a memory element so that the contents of the data recorded on the magnetic tape and the kind of the magnetic tape can be known without reading out the data from the tape. Such information on the contents of the magnetic tape is recorded on the memory element by a non-contact system such as electromagnetic induction and the information is read out from the memory element by a non-contact system.
The memory element is provided on the surface of the magnetic tape cartridge or inside the cartridge casing where the memory element does not interfere with rotation of the reel. It is required that the recording surface of the memory element is set at an angle required by the recording and reproducing system as the external storage or the like.
Further there has been known a single reel magnetic tape cartridge provided with a slide door for opening and closing a tape outlet opening, the slide door being urged toward the closing position by a spring. In such a single reel magnetic tape cartridge, there has been a problem that when the magnetic tape cartridge is loaded in the recording and reproducing system and the slide door is opened overcoming the force of the spring, counterforce of the urging force of the spring acts on the cartridge casing and rotates the magnetic tape cartridge in the recording and reproducing system. When the magnetic tape cartridge is rotated in the recording and reproducing system, the ejection mechanism of the recording and reproducing system cannot properly grip the magnetic tape cartridge and a corner portion of the magnetic tape cartridge can abut against the inner wall of the system when the magnetic tape cartridge is ejected from the recording and reproducing system, which can obstruct ejection of the magnetic tape cartridge.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing observations and description, the primary object of the present invention is to provide a single reel magnetic tape cartridge on which the memory element can be mounted with its recording surface held at 45° relative to the bottom surface of the cartridge casing as required by a recording and reproducing system.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a single reel magnetic tape cartridge in which the magnetic tape cartridge is prevented from being rotated in a recording and reproducing system.
The magnetic tape cartridge in accordance with a first aspect of the present invention comprises a cartridge casing formed by upper and lower casing halves mated together and a single reel around which a magnetic tape is wound and which is supported for rotation in the cartridge casing by the upper casing half, and is characterized by having a memory holder means which holds a non-contact type memory element with its recording surface held substantially at 45° to the bottom surface of the cartridge casing.
It is preferred that the non-contact type memory element be square in shape in view of facility of mounting.
For example, the memory holder means may comprise a lower end face abutment portion which abuts against the lower end face of the memory element and an upper end face abutment portion which abuts against the upper end face of the memory element.
The terms “the lower end face of the memory element” and “the upper end face of the memory element” as used herein respectively mean the end face on the side of the lower casing half and the end face on the side of the upper casing half. The expression “abuts against the end face of the memory element” means that the abutment portion abuts against the end face of the memory element and/or a portion of the upper or lower surface of the memory element near the end face.
For example, the lower end face abutment portion may be a recess which is formed in the lower casing half and snugly receives the lower end face of the memory element and the upper end face abutment portion may be a recess which is formed in the lower casing half at a portion where the lower casing half is butted against the upper casing half and snugly receives the upper end face of the memory element.
The memory holder means also may comprise a lower end face abutment portion which abuts against the lower end face of the memory element, an upper end face abutment portion which abuts against the upper end face of the memory element and an upper surface abutment portion which abuts against the upper surface of the memory element.
It is preferred that the lower and upper end face abutment portions abut against at least one of the side faces in addition to the respective end faces.
Further the memory holder means may comprise a lower side face abutment portion which snugly receives a part of the side faces of the memory element from below and an upper side face abutment portion which snugly receives a part of the side faces of the memory element from above.
Each of the upper end face abutment portion, the upper surface abutment portion and the upper and lower side face abutment portion may double as a reinforcement rib for reinforcing the upper or lower casing half.
It is preferred that the memory holder means be formed of a cushioning material and holds the memory element away from the inner surface of the cartridge casing. Otherwise a cushioning material may be disposed between the memory element and the memory holder means.
The cushioning material may be any material so long as it can cushion impact on the memory element, for instance, when the magnetic tape cartridge is dropped onto the floor. For example, elastic porous resin such as urethane foam, joint filler for tiling and the like may be employed.
Further it is preferred that the lower casing half be provided with a guide member which guides the memory element dropped toward the guide member to the position where the memory element is held by the memory holder means. The guide member may be, for instance, an inclined guide plate on which the memory element is slid to the position where the memory element is held by the memory holder means.
Since the non-contact type memory element is held substantially at 45° to the bottom surface of the cartridge casing by the memory holder means, the magnetic tape cartridge of the first aspect of the present invention can satisfy requirement by a recording and reproducing system which requires that the recording surface of the memory element is at 45° to the bottom surface of the cartridge casing.
Though the memory holder means may be of various structures, when the lower end face abutment portion is in the form of a recess which snugly receives the lower end face of the memory element, the memory element can be prevented from moving sideways and at the same time, positioning of the memory element upon incorporation of the memory element in the cartridge casing is facilitated.
Further when the upper end face abutment portion is in the form of a recess which is formed in the lower casing half at a portion where the lower casing half is butted against the upper casing half and snugly receives the upper end face of the memory element, the memory element can be held without forming an additional member, which simplifies the stru
Albrecht Thomas R.
Heinze Robert Ralph
McAllister Jeffrey S.
Morita Kiyoo
Shiga Hideaki
Fuji Photo Film Co. , Ltd.
Sughrue & Mion, PLLC
Tupper Robert S.
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