Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval – Record medium – In container
Reexamination Certificate
2000-12-06
2004-01-20
Korzuch, William (Department: 2653)
Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval
Record medium
In container
Reexamination Certificate
active
06680818
ABSTRACT:
TECHINICAL FIELD
The invention relates to a magnetic tape cartridge and more particularly relates, in a magnetic tape cartridge for rotatably housing within a cartridge case a single reel having magnetic tape wound thereon, to the structure of reel-rotation restraining means for causing the reel to be in a rotation-restrained state when not being used.
BACKGROUND ART
In conventional tape cartridges used as storage media that are employed in external storage units for computers, etc., there is known a type in which magnetic tape is wound on a single reel and this reel is rotatably housed within a cartridge case. This magnetic tape is employed as a data storing tape for computers, etc., and because important information is stored, reel-rotation restraining means to restrict rotation of the reel is installed so that problems, such as tape jamming, etc., do not occur and so that the magnetic tape is not forwarded unexpectedly when not being used, such as when being archived, etc.
The reel-rotation restraining means is equipped with a restraining member that restricts rotation of the reel by engaging part of the reel, and is provided so that when the cartridge is loaded into a drive unit such as an external storage unit, etc., a restrained state by the restraining member is released according to a reel chucking operation performed by drive-side rotation drive means.
Hence, due to demands for enhancement in the reliability of the aforementioned operation of the reel-rotation restraining means, prevention of dust entry into the cartridge, etc., this reel-rotation restraining means is provided in a structure separated into a restraining member for restricting rotation of the reel, an urging member for urging this restraining member in a restraining direction, and a releasing member for moving the restraining member in a releasing direction by moving in accordance with the chucking operation of the drive-side rotation drive means.
That is, in the non-operative condition, the reel is restricted by the restraining member so that it does not rotate unexpectedly, as a result of which the magnetic tape is not forwarded. However, if the cartridge is loaded into a drive unit and chucking of the reel is performed by rotation drive means, the releasing member moves in interlock with the chucking operation and releases the restraining member. In this state, the reel is rotatable and therefore the magnetic tape can be forwarded and rewound.
In the aforementioned mechanism, it is also preferable to perform the pushing-operation, for the releasing movement of the releasing member which results from the chucking operation of the drive-side rotation drive means, at a plurality of positions on the outer peripheral portion rather than at a single position on the center portion, because a stable releasing operation can thus be performed. At this time, it is advantageous in achieving structural simplification, etc., to provide a reel gear, which meshes the driving gear of the drive-side rotation drive means, in the reel, to provide pushing-up portions, formed in part of the releasing member, so that the distal ends abut the driving gear through the through holes provided in the real gear, and to provide the driving gear so that when the drive-side rotation drive means performs the chucking operation, the driving gear pushes the pushing-up portions and releases the releasing member.
However, piercing the reel gear and boring the through holes, as described above, will reduce the mesh between the reel gear and the driving gear and therefore become a problem with respect to driving the reel reliably. If the through hole is reduced from such a respect, the shape of the portion of the releasing member inserted into this through hole will also become smaller and therefore there is a possibility that it will become unstable for the tooth edge of the driving gear to abut the reduced portion accurately and give a reliable pushing operation.
In addition, in the case where the pushing-up portions are formed in part of the releasing member and are inserted into the through holes of the reel and slid, as described above, the releasing member is subjected to the urging force of the urging member and gives rise to bending deformation. As a result, since a tilting force acts on the push-up portion, part of the outside surface is pushed against the inner surface of the through hole and the friction resistance becomes greater, the sliding between the pushing-up portion and the through hole is disturbed, and there is a possibility that the releasing member will not be able to release the restraining member reliably.
The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned points, and accordingly, the object of the invention is to provide a magnetic tape cartridge in which the releasing member of the reel-rotation restraining means is capable of performing a reliable releasing operation.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
To solve the aforementioned problems, there is provided a magnetic tape cartridge, for rotatably housing within a cartridge case a single reel having magnetic tape wound thereon, comprising reel-rotation restraining means for allowing rotation of the reel when being used and restricting the rotation when not being used; wherein
the reel-rotation restraining means has a restraining member for restricting rotation of the reel by moving toward or away from the reel, an urging member for urging the restraining member in a restraining direction, and a releasing member for moving the restraining member in a releasing direction, by rotating integrally with the reel and moving according to chucking operation of drive-side rotation drive means;
the reel is provided with a reel gear which meshes a driving gear of the drive-side rotation drive means, and a pushing-up portion formed in part of the releasing member is provided so that a distal end thereof can abut the driving gear through a through hole provided in the reel gear; and
the through hole is bored between tooth edges of the reel gear.
Also, it is preferable that a recess engageable with a tooth edge of the driving gear be formed in a distal end surface of the releasing member which abuts the driving gear.
According to a magnetic tape cartridge such as the aforementioned, the through hole which is provided in the reel gear of the reel-rotation restraining means is formed between the tooth edges of the reel gear. Therefore, even if the through hole is small, the tooth edge of the driving gear which meshes the reel gear can reliably abut the pushing-up portion of the releasing member projecting through the through hole and push the pushing-up portion. Since the movement of the releasing member can be stably performed, the restraining member can be reliably released with a predetermined amount of movement, and the operational reliability of the reel-rotation restraining means can be assured.
In addition, in another magnetic tape cartridge of the present invention, the reel is provided with a reel gear which meshes the driving gear of the drive-side rotation drive means, and a pushing-up portion formed in part of the releasing member is provided so that a distal end thereof can abut the driving gear through a through hole provided in the reel gear. The pushing-up portion and the through hole are brought into contact with each other through small protrusions which reduce the contact area.
According to a magnetic tape cartridge such as the aforementioned, the pushing-up portion provided in the releasing member of the reel-rotation restraining means, and the through hole provided in the reel, are brought into contact with each other through small protrusions which reduce the contact area. As a result, the friction resistance between the two is reduced, and even if bending deformation develops in the releasing member, movement of the pushing-up portions can be stably performed according to the chucking operation of the drive-side rotation drive means. In addition, the restraining member can be reliably released with a predetermined amount of movement, and moveme
Ishihara Yusuke
Morita Kiyoo
Shiga Hideaki
Takahashi Daisuke
Tsuyuki Seiji
Beacham Christopher R
Korzuch William
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