Cartridge mis-insertion preventing mechanism

Details Cartridge mis-insertion preventing mechanism Cartridge mis-insertion preventing mechanism

2000-10-17

2001-11-20

Cao, Allen (Department: 2652)

Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval

Record transport with head stationary during transducing

Tape record

Reexamination Certificate

active

06320722

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mechanism for preventing a cartridge from being inserted in the incorrect direction and in particular, the mechanism for use with a magnetic tape apparatus.
2. The Prior Art
FIG. 1
shows the structure of a conventional tray locking mechanism. Referring to
FIG. 1
, lock lever
11
is rotatably mounted on a cartridge tray with pin
2
-
8
. In the state that a cartridge has not been inserted, since lock lever securing portion
11
-
2
disposed on lock lever
11
is pressed to lock pin
4
-
7
with a predetermined means (not shown), lock lever
11
prevents the cartridge tray from being moved (this state is referred to as loading lock). In this state, since lock lever
11
protrudes, unless cartridge
1
is inserted in the correct direction, front end portion
11
-
1
blocks the cartridge, thereby preventing cartridge
1
from being loaded. On the other hand, when cartridge
1
is inserted in the correct direction, front end portion
11
-
1
is raised along notch
1
-
1
, thereby causing the loading lock to be deactivated. Thus, in the conventional mechanism, lock lever
11
functions as both the loading lock operation and the mis-insertion preventing mechanism.
In the conventional mechanism, the timing at which the loading lock is deactivated is early. In other words, before the cartridge
1
is inserted into the position at which the cartridge
1
is securely locked, the loading lock is deactivated. Thus, a loading malfunction takes place. As a result, reel face gear
1
-
4
is improperly engaged with drive motor face gear
10
.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism which securely prevents a cartridge from being inserted in the incorrect direction.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cartridge mis-insertion preventing mechanism, comprising: a cartridge tray into which a cartridge is insertable; a loader plate into which the cartridge tray is insertable; a cartridge locking mechanism for locking the cartridge to the cartridge tray; a loading locking mechanism for preventing the cartridge tray and the loader plate from being inserted into a loader guide plate; and a restricting mechanism for changing the loading locking mechanism from a lock state to an unlock state only when the cartridge has been inserted into the cartridge tray in a correct direction; wherein the cartridge tray and the loader plate are inserted into the loader guide plate along with the cartridge when the cartridge is further inserted after the loading locking mechanism has been changed from the lock state to the unlock state; wherein before the cartridge is inserted into the cartridge tray, the cartridge locking mechanism is in an unlock state; wherein when the cartridge tray and the loader plate along with the cartridge have been inserted into the loader guide plate, the cartridge locking mechanism is changed from the unlock state to a lock state; and wherein before the cartridge is inserted into the cartridge tray, the loading locking mechanism is in the lock state.
In the cartridge mis-insertion preventing mechanism, the cartridge locking mechanism may comprise: a cartridge lock lever which has a first hook engageable with a lock hole of the cartridge and is rotatably disposed on the cartridge tray; a first pin for rotating the cartridge lock lever to an angle at which the lock hole is disengaged from the first hook when the cartridge tray and the loader plate have not been inserted into the loader guide plate; and a first spring for rotating the cartridge lock lever in a direction reverse to the direction of the rotation by the first pin.
In the cartridge mis-insertion preventing mechanism, the loading locking mechanism may comprise: a tray lock lever which has a cam portion and a second hook and is rotatably disposed on the cartridge tray, the cam portion being pushed by an end surface in the inserting direction of the cartridge; a second pin fixed and engageable with the second hook; and a second spring for rotating the tray lock lever so that the second hook is engaged with the second pin; wherein when the cam portion is pushed by the end surface in the inserting direction of the cartridge, the tray lock lever is rotated so that the second lever is disengaged from the second pin.
In the cartridge mis-insertion preventing mechanism, the restriction mechanism may be a stopper disposed on the cartridge tray; wherein when the cartridge is inserted into the cartridge tray in an incorrect direction, the cartridge contacts the stopper; and wherein when the cartridge is inserted into the cartridge tray in the correct direction, the cartridge does not contact the stopper.
In the cartridge mis-insertion preventing mechanism, the operation in which said cartridge tray and said loader plate are inserted into said loader guide plate along with said cartridge may be caused by an end surface of the cartridge tray being pushed by an end surface in the inserting direction of the cartridge.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a loading locking mechanism comprising: a tray lock lever which has a cam portion and a hook and is rotatably disposed on a cartridge tray, the cam portion being pushed by an end surface in the inserting direction of a cartridge; a pin fixed and engageable with the hook; and a spring for rotating the tray lock lever so that the hook is engaged with the pin; wherein when the cam portion is pushed by the end surface in the inserting direction of the cartridge, the tray lock lever is rotated so that the lever is disengaged from the second pin.


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