Winding – tensioning – or guiding – Unwinding and rewinding a machine convertible information... – Including threading
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-08
2002-09-17
Nguyen, John Q. (Department: 3654)
Winding, tensioning, or guiding
Unwinding and rewinding a machine convertible information...
Including threading
C360S132000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06450432
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a single-reel type tape cartridge for use with magnetic recording-reproducing apparatus and, more particularly, to improvements in the tape leader of a tape cartridge of the character.
2. Prior Art
Single-reel type tape cartridges are extensively used in computer backup and other data storage applications for safekeeping. With a tape cartridge of the type, a leader tape or leader member attached to the outer end of a magnetic tape is drawn out by a drawing-out member provided in a magnetic recording-reproducing apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a “recorder”) or drive, the tape is led through passages in the recorder, and the tape end is fixed to the hub of another reel resident in the recorder. Upon conclusion of recording or playback operation the tape is driven backward and withdrawn into the cartridge, until the leader tape is reset in the original position in the cartridge.
Typical leader members for conventional single-reel type tape cartridges include one (disclosed, e.g., in Japanese Patent Application Kokai No. 58-169380) which comprises a pin, block, etc. secured to a tape end to be caught by a tape drawing-out member of a recorder. Another type uses a leader tape of relatively tough, elastic material which is connected to a magnetic tape end and has a hole at its own outer end adapted to be engaged with a corresponding hook of a drawing-out member of a recorder which too is formed of a relatively tough, elastic material (Japanese Patent Application Kokai No. 62-502641).
FIG. 5
is an exploded view of a single-reel type cartridge
103
using the technique disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent Application Kokai No. 62-502641. A housing of the cartridge composed of an upper half casing
101
and a lower half casing
102
is shown containing a single tape reel
107
which has an upper flange
104
and a lower flange
105
, the tape reel
107
being normally biased toward the lower casing
102
by a compression spring
108
. A leader tape
109
is spliced to the outer end of a length of magnetic tape
106
wound round a hub (not shown) of the upper flange
104
of the tape reel
107
. The tape reel
107
has a bearing (not shown) on a ring which is press fitted in an annular recess (not shown) formed in the center of the upper flange
104
. With a reel shaft (not shown) fitted in the bearing, the reel can revolve around the shaft. The upper flange
104
of the tape reel
107
has a serration
114
formed along its circumference. On the other hand, a pair of brake members
112
,
113
are provided on the inner surface
101
a
of the upper casing
101
and are normally biased toward the serration
114
by torsion coil springs
110
,
111
, with cogs
115
,
116
, respectively, of the brake members
112
,
112
in mesh with the serration
114
to keep the tape reel from revolution when the cartridge is not in use. When the cartridge is on standby the magnetic tape
106
is fully wound up on the tape reel
107
, and an engaging hole formed at the end of the leader tape
109
is engaged with a hook
117
located close to a side wall of the cartridge housing
103
. An opening
120
through which the magnetic tape
106
is drawn out from the cartridge housing
103
is normally closed by a lid
118
which is openable with respect to the cartridge housing.
As the cartridge is loaded into a recorder for use, the brake members
112
,
113
are automatically set free and the tape reel
107
is lifted against the urging of the compression spring
108
to a position free to turn. At the same time, the lid
118
is opened by means provided for that purpose in the recorder.
The tape drawing-out member of the recorder then enters the housing through the opening to be engaged with the hole of the leader tape
109
and draws out the magnetic tape together with the leader tape in the manner described above, so that the tape is threaded in the route within the recorder.
The leader tape
109
is made using a thick spring sheet of tough synthetic resin such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET). As
FIG. 6
indicates, a hole
120
is formed at the end of the tape so as to be engaged with a tab
121
(serving as a hook) formed at the end of a tape drawing-out member
122
of the recorder. The hole
120
has an angular cutout
123
to ensure positive engagement with the tab
121
, with a neck of the drawing-out member that supports the tab
121
fitted in the cutout.
FIG. 6
shows a sequence of the stages (a), (b), and (c) in which the drawing-out member
122
that gains entrance into the cartridge is progressively engaged with the leader tape
109
.
The tape drawing-out mechanisms of the prior art present the following problems. The tape drawing-out member
122
of the recorder, as shown in
FIG. 6
, is in the form of a tape connected to a reel provided in the recorder, with the tape end having the tab
121
adapted to be engaged with the hole
120
of the leader tape in the tape cartridge. Since the drawing-out member
122
of the recorder and the end portions of the leader tape
109
are both tape-shaped, they are susceptible to curling. When the both curl, the tape drawing-out member
122
of the recorder becomes sometimes unable to engage the leader tape
109
of the cartridge loaded in the recorder.
On the other hand, direct coupling of the end of a magnetic tape to a tough leader member without. the aid of a leader tape would stabilize the actions of drawing out and drawing in of the magnetic tape. However, a somewhat complex structure of the leader member, unlike a PET one, involves difficulties in assembling during the course of cartridge manufacture. The present invention is aimed at providing a stabilized, solid leader of a structure which lends itself to more simplified manufacturing process than heretofore.
Such a leader member has an additional problem. As illustrated in
FIG. 14
, it comprises a center pin member
91
in the form of a pin on which a tape end is wound and secured in place by clamping, and a pair of engaging members
92
-
1
,
92
-
2
fixed at one ends, respectively, to the upper and lower ends of the pin member. On the sides of the engaging members
92
-
1
,
92
-
2
facing each other, there are formed engaging recesses
94
-
1
,
94
-
2
in mirror symmetry adapted to engage a pin or hook of a drawing-out member of a recorder. The center pin member
91
is a solid, slender member made of metal and is fitted at both ends in blind holes formed at one ends of the engaging members
92
-
1
,
92
-
2
both made of plastic.
The leader of the structure described has drawbacks. The center pin member
91
is not always fitted evenly and to the same depth in the blind holes of the engaging members
92
-
1
,
92
-
2
, with the result that the distance between the engaging members is inconstant and the variable dimensional relationship with the drawing-out member of a recorder leads to inadequate cartridge performance. When uneven forces are applied to the portions of the engaging members
92
-
1
,
92
-
2
connected to the center pin member
91
, the pin member can sometimes. turn within the blind holes and hamper positive action of the leader. The present invention is aimed at providing a tough leader of stable action with a structure enhanced in dimensional accuracy and which lends itself to more simplified manufacturing process than heretofore.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a tape cartridge including a single tape reel around which a length of magnetic tape is wound and which is turnably held within a housing, the beginning of the tape being fixed to a leader so that it can be drawn out through an opening formed in the housing by a tape drawing-out member of a recorder which has a pin-like or hooked end capable of engaging the tape end, said leader comprising a center part (pin-like member) on which the beginning of the tape is wound and a pair of engaging members joined to the upper and lower ends of the member so as to engage the tape drawing-out member of the re
Kaneda Hiroshi
Okamura Masatoshi
Sato Shin'ichi
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld L.L.P.
Nguyen John Q.
TDK Corporation
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