JP3170841B2 - Tape cartridge - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tape cartridge used for an external recording device of a computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG. 4, a tape cartridge (hereinafter referred to as a data cartridge) used as an external recording device of a computer has a metal base plate 101 and a plastic cover attached to the base plate 101. 102.

[0003] A tape supply hub (reel) 104 and a tape take-up hub (reel) 105 are provided on the base plate 101 to lock both ends of the magnetic tape 103, and a drive belt 106 is suspended therefrom. A drive roller 107 and a pair of corner rollers 108,
109 are provided.

The data cartridge 111 is used by being inserted into a drive (recording / reproducing apparatus), not shown, from a cartridge insertion opening of the drive.

By the way, the data cartridge 111
However, there is a problem that the winding diameter of the magnetic tape 103 cannot be made too large due to the property that the whole cartridge is inserted into the drive and used.

As a solution to the above problem, as shown in FIG.
Is formed into a substantially convex shape by a small-area drive insertion section 112 and a large-area drive non-insertion section 113, and only the drive insertion section 112 is inserted into the drive, and the drive non-insertion section 113 is removed from the drive. The tape supply hub 104 is inserted into the drive non-insertion portion 113 so as to protrude.
By arranging the tape winding hub 105 and the tape winding hub 105, a data cartridge capable of increasing the diameter of the magnetic tape 103 has been developed. (For example, US Pat. No. 4,262,860).

[0007]

The data cartridge shown in FIG. 5 has the following problems.

(1) Since the area is larger than that of the data cartridge shown in FIG. 4, the cover 102 is likely to be warped or deformed, so that the magnetic tape 103 may be displaced or come off. This adversely affects the tape running characteristics of the cartridge.

(2) Since the weight and the like are doubled as compared with the data cartridge shown in FIG. 4, the shock applied when the data cartridge is dropped by mistake is also doubled, and the cover is damaged or deformed. .

(3) Increasing the tape winding diameter and lengthening the recording / reproducing time naturally increases the amount of heat generated by the running of the tape and adversely affects the magnetic tape, the drive head, and the like.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems.

[0012]

According to the present invention, there is provided a tape cartridge having a base plate and a cover attached to the base plate. In the tape cartridge, a part of the cover is cut off to form an opening for heat radiation. At the same time, an annular rib was formed along the periphery of the opening, and the tip of the annular rib was brought into contact with the upper surface of the base plate.

Further, a radiation fin is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the annular rib.

[0014]

The cover is supported by the base plate via the annular rib, and warpage and deformation of the cover are suppressed. In addition, the cover is protected from impacts at the time of dropping, etc., and the above-mentioned annular rib acts as a heat radiating surface, and heat generated by tape running or the like is radiated from the outer peripheral surface side to the inner peripheral surface side of the above-mentioned annular rib. Then, the heat released to the inner peripheral surface side of the annular rib is further released to the outside through the opening.

Further, heat radiation is further promoted by the heat radiation fins provided on the inner peripheral surface of the annular rib.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of the tape cartridge of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway plan view of a tape cartridge (hereinafter referred to as a Pegasus cartridge) of the present invention used as an external recording device of a computer.
The Pegasus cartridge 1 includes a base plate 2 and a cover 3 attached to the base plate 2.

The cover is formed with a heat radiation opening 4 by cutting out a part of the cover, and the base plate 2 is formed around the periphery of the opening 4.
Are formed along the ring, and the tip of the rib 5 is in contact with the upper surface of the base plate 2.

The Pegasus cartridge 1 is formed in a substantially convex shape in a plane by an insertion portion 6 for a small-area drive and a non-insertion portion 7 for a large-area drive connected thereto. 6 is inserted into the cartridge insertion portion of the drive (recording / reproducing device), and the non-insertion portion 7 is used in a state of protruding outside the drive.

One end and the other end of a magnetic tape 11 as a recording medium are provided on the non-insertion portion 7 side of the base plate 2.
A tape supply hub (reel) 12 and a tape take-up hub (reel) 13 which are locked respectively are arranged.

A pair of left and right tape lead pins 14 and 15 are disposed on both left and right sides of the front end (hereinafter referred to as the front side) of the base plate 2 on the insertion portion 6 side. A pair of left and right rotating rollers 16 and 17 are disposed between the supply hub 12 and the tape winding hub 13, and the magnetic tape 11 is suspended between the tape lead pins 14 and 15 and the rotating rollers 16 and 17. A tape running path (tape path system) is formed, and the tape supply hub 12 and the tape winding hub 13 are rotated by a tape running mechanism 18 described below, so that the magnetic tape 11 moves along the tape running path. The vehicle travels while passing through the exposed portion 19 for introducing the head provided in the head.

The tape running mechanism 18 includes a drive roller 21 disposed at the center of the base plate 2 on the insertion portion 6 side, and both end portions of the base plate 2 on the non-insertion portion 7 side (hereinafter referred to as rear side). And a drive belt 24 suspended between the drive rollers 21 and the first and second corner rollers 22 and 23. The space between the drive roller 21 and the first corner roller 22 is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the magnetic tape 11 wound around the tape supply hub 12, and the drive roller 21 and the second corner roller 23 The gap is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the magnetic tape 11 wound around the tape winding hub 13.

When the drive roller 21 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction in FIG. 1 by a drive mechanism (not shown), the tape supply hub 12 and the tape winding hub 13 are rotated clockwise through the drive belt 24. By rotating, the magnetic tape 11 of the tape supply hub 12 is wound on the tape take-up hub 13 side, and when the drive roller 21 is rotated clockwise in FIG. The tape 12 and the tape winding hub 13 rotate counterclockwise so that the magnetic tape 11 is rewound from the tape winding hub 13 to the tape supply hub 12 side.

Next, the opening 4 and the annular rib 5 which are the gist of the present invention will be described.

Prior to the description, first, the cover 3
The structure of will be described.

The cover 3 is formed of an opaque plastic, for example, an ABS resin, and has an upper surface plate 3a having a plano-convex shape and a side plate 3b formed on a peripheral portion of the upper surface plate 3a in a direction perpendicular thereto. Consists of As shown in FIG. 1, a window frame 3c is cut out on the front side of the side plate 3b, and a tape end detection light transmitting window 3d made of a transparent resin is mounted in the window frame 3c. Have been.

Openings 4 and 4 are formed in the upper plate 3a of the cover 3 on the side of the insertion portion 6.

The openings 4, 4 are located on both left and right sides of the drive roller 21 and the magnetic tape 1.
It is formed in a vertically long rectangular shape at a position where it does not overlap with the drive belt 1 or the drive belt 24.

The annular rib 5 is formed in an annular shape, that is, in the shape of a hollow rectangular tube along the periphery of the openings 4 and 4.

When the cover 3 is attached to the base plate 2, the tip of the annular rib 5 is
It is configured to be in close contact with the upper surface of the.

The Pegasus cartridge 1 of the first embodiment has the structure as described above, and the upper plate 3a of the cover 3
Is supported by the base plate 2 via an annular rib 5 to prevent the cover 3 from warping or deforming.

The annular rib 5 also functions as a heat radiating surface, and heat generated in the cartridge due to tape running or the like is transferred from the outer peripheral surface side of the annular rib 5 as the heat radiating surface to the annular rib 5. The heat released to the inner peripheral surface side and released to the inner peripheral surface side of the annular rib 5 is further released to the outside via the opening 4 provided in the upper surface plate 3a.

FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the heat dissipating fins 31 are provided on the inner peripheral surfaces of the annular ribs 5, 5, and the heat dissipating fins 31 are further improved by the heat dissipating fins 31.

Since the other structure is the same as that of the first embodiment, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

The shape of the opening 4 and the annular rib 5 is not limited to a rectangle, but may be a circle, an ellipse, or any other shape.

In addition, the opening 4 and the annular rib 5
In addition, it may be provided in the non-insertion section 7.

The tape cartridge is not limited to the Pegasus cartridge but may be a general rectangular one.

[0039]

The tape cartridge of the present invention has the following effects.

(1) The cover is reinforced by the annular ribs, so that the cover can be prevented from warping or deforming, or from being damaged when dropped or the like.

(2) The annular rib acts as a heat radiating surface,
The heat generated in the cartridge is released from the outer peripheral surface of the annular rib to the inner peripheral surface, and the heat released to the inner peripheral surface is released to the outside through the opening, thereby increasing the temperature inside the cartridge. Can be suppressed.

(3) The radiation fins provided on the inner peripheral surface of the annular rib can further improve the radiation effect.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway plan view of a tape cartridge according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partially broken plan view of a tape cartridge according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a conventional exploded perspective view.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of another conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Tape cartridge, 2 ... Base plate, 3 ... Cover, 4 ... Opening, 5 ... Annular rib, 31 ... Radiation fin.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G11B 23/087

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A cover comprising: a base plate; and a cover attached to the base plate, wherein the cover has a cut-out portion to form an opening for heat dissipation and a peripheral edge of the opening. A tape cartridge, wherein an annular rib is formed along the line, and the tip of the rib is brought into contact with the upper surface of the base plate. 2. The tape cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a radiation fin is provided on an inner peripheral surface of the annular rib.