Winding – tensioning – or guiding – Unwinding and rewinding a machine convertible information... – Cartridge system
Reexamination Certificate
2002-01-18
2004-07-20
Matecki, Kathy (Department: 3654)
Winding, tensioning, or guiding
Unwinding and rewinding a machine convertible information...
Cartridge system
Reexamination Certificate
active
06764038
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magnetic tape cartridge and, more particularly, to a magnetic tape cartridge in which a single reel wound with a magnetic tape is rotatably housed or accommodated within a generally rectangular cartridge case.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, there is known a magnetic tape cartridge of a type in which a single reel wound with a magnetic tape is rotatably housed in a cartridge case (hereinafter referred to as a one-reel type) as one used as a storage medium employed for an external storage apparatus such as a computer.
Functions of the above-mentioned magnetic tape cartridge of the one-reel type will be described referring to a representative example of its configuration.
FIG. 7
is a perspective view showing an external appearance of a conventional general magnetic tape cartridge of the one-reel type.
FIG. 8
is an exploded perspective view showing a schematic configuration of the conventional magnetic tape cartridge shown in FIG.
7
.
In the magnetic tape cartridge
60
shown in
FIGS. 7 and 8
, a magnetic tape
30
is wound around a single reel
56
, which is composed of a lower flange
24
and an upper flange
54
being bonded by ultrasonic welding or the like, and the reel
56
rotatably housed in a cartridge case
52
that is composed of an upper case
52
a
and a lower case
12
b
being fastened to each other by machine screws (not shown) or the like.
Here, the above-described lower flange
24
is composed of a cylindrical reel hub
24
a
around the circumference of which the magnetic tape
30
is wound and a flange portion
24
b
projecting from the lower end circumference of this reel hub
24
a
in the radial direction, which are integrally molded with synthetic resin. A reel plate (not shown) or the like for magnetically joining a rotary driving unit for rotationally driving the reel
56
, which is provided in a drive mechanism (hereinafter referred to as a drive) of a recording/reproducing apparatus such as an external storage apparatus, is attached on the lower surface of the lower flange
24
, that is, on the bottom external surface of the reel hub
24
a.
The above-mentioned magnetic rotary driving unit engages with a driving gear formed around the lower surface of the reel plate to thereby rotate the reel
56
. Simultaneously with this, a leader block
32
or the like to be described later is drawn out to a predetermined position in a tape travelling path of the drive, whereby data can be read from and written in the magnetic tape
30
.
When the magnetic tape cartridge
60
is not used, the leader block
32
(a unit with which the drive having loaded the magnetic tape cartridge
60
introduces the magnetic tape
30
into the tape travelling path within the apparatus) is held at an opening
44
for drawing out the magnetic tape
30
, which is formed on one side wall surface of the cartridge case (hereinafter also referred to simply as a case)
52
, with the magnetic tape
30
being completely wound around the reel
56
.
That is, when the magnetic tape cartridge
60
of such a one-reel type is set in the drive of the external storage apparatus, the magnetic tape
30
wound around the reel
56
is drawn out from the case
52
by the tape driving mechanism on the drive side and thus information is recorded in a magnetic recording unit of the external storage apparatus (or information already recorded is read out in a reproducing unit). Then, after such objective processing is finished, the magnetic tape
30
is rewound around the reel
56
in the magnetic tape cartridge
60
to be housed in the case
52
again.
Incidentally, a magnetic tape cartridge of such a one-reel type has a disadvantage in that its thickness (i.e., its height in the reel axial direction) is large. In addition, since the magnetic tape cartridge requires many components, it is not easy to reduce its manufacturing cost.
The former disadvantage of large thickness poses a significant problem not only for the magnetic tape cartridge but also for the entire system in that it is inevitable to enlarge the driving mechanism on an external storage apparatus side as well, in which the magnetic tape cartridge is loaded to be used. In addition, the latter disadvantage of the large number of components contributes to the difficulty in decreasing the costs of components and the costs for assembling the magnetic tape cartridge
60
.
These disadvantages are ultimately attributable to the fact that the conventional magnetic tape cartridge is configured to house a reel wound with a magnetic tape in a cartridge case or a cassette case (hereinafter referred to simply as a cartridge case) and to rotate the reel within the cartridge case, as in the cases of other well-known magnetic tape cartridges or magnetic tape cassettes and the like.
That is, from a conventional and ordinary point of view, a reel wound with a magnetic tape and a cartridge case that is a protecting unit and houses the reel exist for entirely different reasons (purposes) and are independent components, and these components are combined to construct a magnetic tape cartridge and a magnetic tape cassette.
Therefore, although these components are provided with parts that overlap with each other, such parts are left as they are. Moreover, conventionally, there have been made no discussions as to how the overall construction should be designed by fundamentally reviewing functions of these components.
In addition, in the magnetic tape cartridge
60
of the one-reel type having the above-mentioned construction as illustrated, the above-mentioned opening
44
, which becomes a passage for drawing out and rewinding the magnetic tape
30
, is provided relatively close to the corner of the cartridge case
56
. Thus, if the magnetic tape cartridge
60
is accidentally subjected to careless handling such as rough handling or dropping thereof, the opening
44
is likely to be damaged.
That is, in the conventional magnetic tape cartridge
60
, since the above-mentioned opening
44
is provided relatively close to the corner of the cartridge case
56
due in part to the configuration of the drive side, the magnetic tape cartridge
60
is inevitably low in mechanical strength and rigidity due to its structure and is likely to be damaged when it is subjected to careless handling.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been devised in view of the above and other drawbacks, and it is a first object of the present invention to provide a magnetic tape cartridge that can eliminate the above-mentioned disadvantages in the prior art and reduce the number of components and costs as well as its overall thickness while maintaining respective functions of a reel and a cartridge case when constructing the magnetic tape cartridge by combining the reel and the cartridge.
In addition, it is a second object of the present invention to provide a magnetic tape cartridge that is made unlikely to be damaged even if it is subjected to careless handling such as rough handling or dropping thereof.
In order to attain the first object described above, the first aspect of the present invention provides a magnetic tape cartridge comprising: a single reel including a circular lower flange in which an engaging portion for engaging a rotary shaft of a recording/reproducing apparatus is centered, and a circular upper flange which is arranged so as to be opposed to the lower flange and has an outer diameter larger than the outer diameter of the lower flange; a magnetic tape which is wound between the upper flange and the lower flange; and a cartridge case within which the single reel is rotatably accommodated and which includes a lower case into which the rotation shaft is inserted and which has a first opening at a position corresponding to the engaging portion of the lower flange, and an upper case which has a circular second opening having an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the lower flange but smaller than the outer diameter of the upper flange; wherein the u
Hiraguchi Kazuo
Morita Kiyoo
Fuji Photo Film Co. , Ltd.
Haugland Scott J.
Matecki Kathy
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