JP5019365B2 - Storage case for tape cartridge - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a storage case for a tape cartridge for storing and storing or carrying the tape cartridge.

  Some tape cartridges are provided with a reel hub anti-rotation mechanism in order to prevent the reel tape (tape reel) around which the tape for recording is wound from rotating when not in use and the recording tape from loosening. However, the rotation prevention mechanism of the reel hub of the tape cartridge may not function properly due to impact or creep during carrying. In that case, it becomes impossible to prevent the recording tape from loosening in the tape cartridge when not in use.

  On the other hand, in Patent Document 1, the engaging claw at the tip of the stopper member provided in the storage case enters the engagement hole in the reel hub of the tape cartridge stored in the storage case. A device in which rotation of the reel hub is prevented by an engaging claw is disclosed. That is, in the storage case of Patent Document 1, even if the rotation prevention mechanism for the reel hub of the tape cartridge does not function due to an impact during carrying, the reel hub can be prevented from being rotated by the stopper member of the storage case.

Japanese Patent No. 3079655 (FIG. 1-6)

  In the storage case of Patent Document 1, when the tape cartridge is stored in the storage case, if the engaging claw of the stopper member is displaced from the position of the engaging hole of the reel hub of the tape cartridge (see FIG. 6 (a)), the upper surface of the engaging claw of the stopper member hits the edge of the engaging hole of the reel hub. In this case, the collision of the reel hub and the stopper claw of the stopper member, etc., is received by the collision of the reel hub and the stopper claw.

  Therefore, the object of the present invention is to prevent the reel hub from being rotated by the restriction boss that enters the reel hub of the tape cartridge, but the collision between the restriction boss and the gear teeth in the reel hub when the restriction boss enters the reel hub. An object of the present invention is to provide a storage case for a tape cartridge capable of suppressing damages such as a restriction boss and a gear tooth in a reel hub of the tape cartridge.

A storage case for a tape cartridge according to the present invention has a plurality of recording tapes 21 wound around a cylindrical reel hub 25 of a tape reel 12 disposed in a main body case 10 and engaged with a drive shaft of a tape drive device. The gear teeth 29 are arranged on the inner peripheral surface of the reel hub 25 in the circumferential direction of the inner peripheral surface, and the opening 23 provided in the lower surface of the reel hub 25 is a drive shaft insertion hole 32 opened in the bottom plate 30 of the main body case 10. A box-shaped storage body 2 having an opening for storing the tape cartridge 9 on the upper surface and a lid body 5 for opening and closing the upper surface of the opening of the storage body 2. In the storage case, the restricting boss 13 is located on the bottom surface 2a of the storage body 2 at a position facing the opening 23 of the reel hub 25 of the stored tape cartridge 9. Are out formed, restriction bosses 13 has an elastically deformable fitting projection 37 extending upwardly from the bottom surface 2a side of the housing body 2, the regulating boss 13, the drive shaft insertion hole of the tape cartridge 9 The restriction boss 13 has a cylindrical boss main body 36 in which a slit 35 extending in the vertical direction is formed, and the fitting protrusion 37 has a boss main body 36. Are arranged so as to be able to bend toward the axial center side of the reel hub 25 of the tape cartridge 9, and the fitting protrusion 37 has a gear tooth 29 adjacent in the circumferential width L 2 of the reel hub 25. - rather smaller than the spacing dimension L3 between 29, has become selectively inserted between the gear teeth 29, 29 adjacent the outer peripheral surface of the fitting protrusion 37 is formed in a partial arc shape in a plan view, The outer diameter dimension of the fitting protrusion 37 defined by the outer peripheral surface of the mating protrusion 37 is set to be larger than the outer diameter dimension of the boss main body 36 defined by the outer peripheral surface of the boss main body 36. protrudes from the slit 35 of the boss body 36 to the inner peripheral surface of the reel hub 25, the boss body 36, characterized in that it is formed so as to be located inside the reel hub 25 than the gear teeth 29 .

Regulation boss 13 is by arranging a plurality of fitting projections 37 in the circumferential direction of the reel hub 25 of the tape cartridge 9.

Regulation boss 13, the upper end portion of the fitting projection 37, that has an inclined surface 37a descending to the bottom surface 2a side of the housing body 2 toward the inner peripheral surface of the reel hub 25.

  In the tape cartridge storage case of the present invention, the fitting protrusion 37 of the restriction boss 13 can enter between the adjacent gear teeth 29 and 29 of the reel hub 25 of the tape cartridge 9, and the reel hub of the tape cartridge 9. Since the restriction boss 13 enters the reel hub 25 of the tape reel 12 from the drive shaft insertion hole 32 of the tape cartridge 9, the fitting protrusion 37 of the restriction boss 13 is formed. Even if the reel hub 25 of the tape cartridge 9 tries to rotate by entering between the adjacent gear teeth 29 and 29 of the tape cartridge 9 (see FIG. 4), the gear teeth 29 in the reel hub 25 abut against the fitting protrusion 37 and the reel hub 25. Prevent the rotation of. As a result, the rotation of the tape reel 12 can be reliably prevented.

  On the other hand, when the restricting boss 13 enters the reel hub 25 of the tape cartridge 9, the fitting protrusion 37 of the restricting boss 13 is displaced from between the adjacent gear teeth 29 and 29 of the tape cartridge 9. 37 abuts on the lower end of the gear teeth 29 of the reel hub 25 of the tape cartridge 9 and bends toward the axis of the reel hub 25 of the tape cartridge 9. Since the fitting projection 37 is bent, the restriction boss 13 and the gear teeth 29 of the tape cartridge 9 are prevented from abutting against each other, and the impact caused by the bump is alleviated to reduce the fitting projection 37 of the restriction boss 13 or the like. Damage to the gear teeth 29 and the like of the tape cartridge 9 can be suppressed. When the fitting projection 37 is displaced from between the gear teeth 29, 29, the fitting projection 37 of the regulating boss 13 is pressed against the gear teeth 29 in a bent state, and therefore the fitting projection 37 The tape reel 12 is prevented from rotating by the friction generated between the gear teeth 29 and the gear teeth 29.

  In the present invention, since the plurality of fitting protrusions 37 of the restriction boss 13 are arranged in the circumferential direction of the reel hub 25 of the tape cartridge 9, when the restriction boss 13 enters the reel hub 25, a plurality of restriction bosses 13 are arranged. The fitting protrusions 37 enter between the plurality of adjacent gear teeth 29 and 29 of the tape cartridge 9, respectively. As a result, the rotation of the tape reel 12 can be more reliably achieved.

  In the present invention, the fitting protrusion 37 of the restricting boss 13 protrudes from the slit 35 of the boss body 36 toward the inner peripheral surface of the reel hub 25, so that the fitting protrusion 37 is adjacent to the gear teeth 29. 29, the tape reel 12 can be reliably prevented from rotating. In addition, when the fitting protrusion 37 is displaced from between the adjacent gear teeth 29, 29 of the tape cartridge 9, the fitting protrusion 37 abuts on the gear tooth 29 and moves the gear tooth 29 away from the restriction boss 13. And the tape reel 12 moves accordingly, and the inner peripheral surface of the gear tooth 29 and the reel hub 25 located on the opposite side of the gear tooth 29 in contact with the regulating boss 13 is the outer peripheral surface of the boss main body 36. (See FIG. 5). As a result, the tape reel 12 is prevented from rotating by friction generated between the fitting protrusion 37 or the boss body 36 and the gear teeth 29 or the inner peripheral surface of the reel hub 25, and the inner peripheral surface of the gear teeth 29 or the reel hub 25. Is in contact with the boss body 36, and the movement of the tape reel 12 is restricted.

  In the present invention, the upper end portion of the fitting protrusion 37 of the restriction boss 13 has the inclined surface 37a that descends toward the bottom surface 2a of the storage body 2 as it approaches the inner peripheral surface side of the reel hub 25. When the fitting projection 37 of the restriction boss 13 is displaced from between the adjacent gear teeth 29 and 29 of the tape cartridge 9 when entering the reel hub 25 of the tape reel 12 from the drive shaft insertion hole 32 of the tape cartridge 9. The inclined surface 37a of the fitting protrusion 37 contacts the lower end of the gear tooth 29 of the reel hub 25 of the tape cartridge 9, and the fitting protrusion 37 is guided to the inclined surface 37a toward the axial center side of the reel hub 25 of the tape cartridge 9. It bends smoothly. Thereby, the impact caused by the contact between the restriction boss 13 and the gear teeth 29 of the tape cartridge 9 can be more reliably mitigated, and the fitting protrusion 37 of the restriction boss 13 and the gear teeth 29 of the tape cartridge 9 are damaged. Can be suppressed more reliably.

First Embodiment FIGS. 1 to 5 show a first embodiment of a storage case for a tape cartridge according to the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the storage case 1 includes a storage body 2 provided with an opening for storing the tape cartridge 9 on the upper surface, a back plate 3 continuous with the storage body 2, and a back plate 3. It consists of a plastic molded product integrally formed with the lid body 5 to be formed.

  The storage body 2 is formed in a shallow square box shape with a horizontally long rectangular bottom plate 6 and a square frame-shaped peripheral frame 7 formed so as to rise along the periphery of the upper surface of the bottom plate 6. The bottom plate 6 is formed with a flange portion 6 a for receiving the lid 5 on the outside of the peripheral frame 7. In the peripheral frame 7 of the storage body 2, the bulging portions 11 are formed to bulge inward at the left and right positions of the front and rear frame portions and the front and rear positions of the left and right frame portions, respectively. Each bulging part 11 receives the peripheral side surface of the horizontally long rectangular box-shaped main body case 10 of the tape cartridge 9 (state shown in FIG. 3).

  The lid 5 is configured to open and close the upper surface of the opening of the storage body 2, and has a top plate 15 that is the same shape and size as the bottom plate 6 of the storage body 2 and a core that is formed to rise along the periphery of the top plate 15. It is formed with a frame-shaped peripheral frame 16. The storage body 2 and the back plate 3 are connected via a thin hinge 17 provided at the adjacent edge, and the back plate 3 and the lid 5 are connected via a thin hinge 19 provided at the adjacent edge. Yes. Thereby, the back plate 3 can be bent with respect to the storage body 2 by the hinge 17, and similarly, the lid 5 can be bent with respect to the back plate 3 by the hinge 19.

  Then, from the open state shown in FIG. 2, the back plate 3 is folded by the hinge 17 and raised, and the lid body 5 is folded by the hinge 19 and placed on the opening top surface of the housing body 2, thereby opening the top surface of the housing body 2. Is closed by the lid 5, and the outer side of the peripheral frame 7 of the storage body 2 is covered by the peripheral frame 16 of the lid 5. In this state, the protruding end of the peripheral frame 16 of the lid 5 is received by the flange portion 6 a of the storage body 2. A lock structure (not shown) is provided between the storage body 2 and the lid body 5 for restricting the lid body 5 from unintentionally opening and swinging.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the tape cartridge 9 has a recording tape 21 made of a magnetic tape or the like wound around a pair of left and right tape reels 12 and 12 arranged in the main body case 10. A loading pocket is formed in the main body case 10 of the tape cartridge 9, and the loading pocket is swingably opened and closed by a lid 22. As shown in FIG. 1, each tape reel 12 of the tape cartridge 9 includes a cylindrical reel hub 25 around which a recording tape 21 is wound, a donut-shaped lower flange 26 integrally formed at the lower end of the reel hub 25, and A donut-shaped upper flange 27 is fixed to the upper end of the reel hub 25 by ultrasonic welding or the like.

  A circular opening 23 is provided in the lower surface of the reel hub 25 of each tape reel 12, and the inner peripheral surface of the reel hub 25 is engaged with a drive shaft (not shown) of a tape drive device which is a peripheral device such as a computer. 6 gear teeth 29 are provided (see FIG. 4). The gear teeth 29 are arranged at equal intervals on the inner peripheral surface of the reel hub 25 in the circumferential direction of the inner peripheral surface. As shown in FIG. 1, the lower end surface 29 a of each gear tooth 29 is inclined obliquely in the radial direction of the reel hub 25. Each tape reel 12 is pressed downward by a reel presser spring 31 formed of a leaf spring. An annular projection 33 is formed at the center of the lower surface of the lower flange 26 of the tape reel 12 so as to surround the lower surface opening 23 of the reel hub 25. The annular projection 33 and the lower surface opening 23 of the reel hub 25 face the drive shaft insertion hole 32 opened in the bottom plate 30 of the main body case 10. Note that the lower end portion of the inner surface of the reel hub 25 is formed in a tapered shape.

  When the tape cartridge 9 is installed in the tape drive device, the lid 22 is opened and the recording tape 21 is pulled out from the main body case 10. At that time, the drive shaft of the tape drive device enters the reel hub 25 of each tape reel 12 through each drive shaft insertion hole 32 of the main body case 10 and engages with the gear teeth 29 in the reel hub 25. . In this state, the tape reels 12 and 12 are driven by the drive shaft of the tape drive device, the recording tape 21 travels at a predetermined speed, and is recorded on the recording tape 21 by the head arranged in the tape drive device. A signal is read from the recording tape 21 or a signal is recorded on the recording tape 21 by the head.

  FIGS. 1 and 2 show the bottom surface 2a of the storage body 2 of the storage case 1 at a position facing the lower surface opening 23 of the reel hub 25 of each tape reel 12 of the tape cartridge 9 stored in the storage case 1. FIG. In this manner, a pair of left and right restricting bosses 13 are formed to protrude. Each regulating boss 13 has a cylindrical boss main body 36 in which a slit 35 extending in the vertical direction is formed, and an elastically deformable fitting protrusion 37 extending upward from the bottom surface 2a side of the storage body 2, and a tape. The cartridge 9 can enter the reel hub 25 through the drive shaft insertion hole 32 (the state shown in FIG. 1). The storage case 1 is formed of a resin capable of elastically deforming at least the fitting protrusions 37 of the restriction bosses 13, for example, polypropylene (PP).

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the fitting protrusion 37 of each restricting boss 13 is disposed at the position of the slit 35 of the boss body 36, and a part of the fitting protrusion 37 extends from the slit 35 of the boss body 36 to the reel hub 25 of the tape cartridge 9. It protrudes to the inner peripheral surface side. As shown in FIG. 4, the boss main body 36 of each regulating boss 13 of the storage case 1 is formed so as to be positioned inside the reel hub 25 with respect to each gear tooth 29 of each tape reel 12 of the tape cartridge 9. Further, in the slit 35 of the boss body 36, the circumferential width dimension L 1 of the boss body 36 is larger than the circumferential width dimension of the boss body 36 of the fitting protrusion 37, that is, the circumferential width dimension L 2 of the reel hub 25. ing.

  The fitting protrusion 37 of each restriction boss 13 has a width L2 in the circumferential direction of the reel hub 25 smaller than a distance L3 between adjacent gear teeth 29 and 29 of each tape reel 12 of the tape cartridge 9. It is possible to enter between adjacent gear teeth 29. Each fitting projection 37 can be bent toward the axis of the reel hub 25 of the tape cartridge 9, and when it interferes with any gear tooth 29 as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, the shaft of the reel hub 25. It bends to the core side and is pushed into the slit 35 of the boss body 36. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the upper end of each fitting projection 37 has an inclined surface 37 a that descends toward the bottom surface 2 a side of the storage body 2 as it approaches the inner peripheral surface side of each reel hub 25 of the tape cartridge 9. is doing. At the upper end of the boss body 36 of each regulating boss 13, there is a tapered inclined surface 36 a that descends toward the bottom surface 2 a side of the storage body 2 as it approaches the inner peripheral surface side of each reel hub 25 of the tape cartridge 9.

  When the tape cartridge 9 is stored in the storage body 2 with the lid 22 of the tape cartridge 9 facing the back plate 3 side of the storage case 1 in the opened state shown in FIG. 13 enters the reel hub 25 of each tape reel 12 from each drive shaft insertion hole 32 of the main body case 10 of the tape cartridge 9. At this time, as shown in FIG. 4, when the fitting protrusion 37 of the restriction boss 13 enters between the adjacent gear teeth 29 and 29 in the reel hub 25 of the tape cartridge 9, even if the reel hub 25 tries to rotate, the tape cartridge 9 The gear teeth 29 come into contact with the fitting protrusions 37 to prevent the tape reel 12 from rotating. In this state, the tape cartridge 9 is stored and stored in the storage case 1 by placing the lid 5 on the storage body 2 while raising the back plate 3.

  On the other hand, when the restriction boss 13 enters the reel hub 25 of the tape cartridge 9, the position of the fitting protrusion 37 of the restriction boss 13 is between the adjacent gear teeth 29 and 29 of the tape cartridge 9, as shown in FIG. In the case of deviation, the inclined surface 37 a of the fitting protrusion 37 contacts the lower end surface 29 a of the gear tooth 29 of the tape cartridge 9. Then, the fitting protrusion 37 is elastically deformed and bent while being guided by the lower end surface 29 a of the gear tooth 29, and is pushed into the slit 35 of the boss body 36. At that time, the fitting protrusion 37 pushes the gear tooth 29 in contact with the regulating boss 13 in a direction away from the regulating boss 13, but the gear tooth 29 positioned on the opposite side across the contacting gear tooth 29 and the regulating boss 13. Comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the boss main body 36, and the displacement movement of the tape reel 12 is restricted.

  Then, when the fitting protrusion 37 of the restricting boss 13 is pressed against the gear teeth 29, the tape reel 12 is prevented from rotating by the friction generated between the fitting protrusion 37 and the gear teeth 29. When the tape reel 12 is rotated by impact or the like from the state of FIG. 5, the fitting projection 37 enters between the adjacent gear teeth 29 and 29 of the tape cartridge 9 by the elastic restoring force, and the tape reel 12 Non-rotating is ensured.

Reference Example FIGS. 6 to 9 show a reference example of a storage case for a tape cartridge according to the present invention. In the storage case 1 of this reference example, three fitting protrusions 37 are arranged on each regulating boss 13. That is, as shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, each regulation boss 13 has an annular pedestal 39 that protrudes from the bottom surface 2 a of the storage body 2 of the storage case 1. On the upper surface of the pedestal 39, the pedestal 39 is arranged in the circumferential direction at regular intervals. As shown in FIG. 8, the three fitting protrusions 37 of each restricting boss 13 enter between the adjacent gear teeth 29 and 29 of the tape cartridge 9 at the same time. In the reference example, the boss body 36 is omitted. Other than that, since it is formed in the same manner as in the first embodiment, its description is omitted.

Also in the storage case 1 of the reference example, as shown in FIG. 9, when the restriction boss 13 enters the reel hub 25 of the tape cartridge 9, the position of each fitting protrusion 37 of the restriction boss 13 is the gear tooth 29 of the tape cartridge 9. In the case where it is deviated from 29, the inclined surface 37 a of each fitting protrusion 37 abuts on the lower end surface 29 a of the gear tooth 29 of the tape cartridge 9. Then, each fitting projection 37 is elastically deformed while being guided by the lower end surface 29a of the gear tooth 29 and bent toward the axial center side of the restricting boss 13 (state of FIG. 6). At that time, each of the fitting protrusions 37 presses the gear teeth 29 that are in contact with each other. However, since the pressing forces of the respective fitting protrusions 37 cancel each other, the three fitting protrusions 37 respectively contact the gear teeth 29. The displacement movement of the tape reel 12 due to the contact is regulated.

  Then, when each fitting projection 37 of the restriction boss 13 is pressed against the gear tooth 29 (state of FIG. 9), the rotation of the tape reel 12 is prevented by friction generated between each fitting projection 37 and the gear tooth 29. Is planned. When the tape reel 12 is rotated by impact or the like from the state shown in FIG. 9, the fitting projections 37 enter between the adjacent gear teeth 29 and 29 of the tape cartridge 9 by the elastic restoring force (see FIG. 8). Status). As a result, the rotation of the tape reel 12 is reliably achieved.

  In the first embodiment, all of the fitting protrusions 37 of the restricting bosses 13 may protrude from the slits 35 of the boss body 36 toward the inner peripheral surface of the reel hub 25 of the tape cartridge 9. In the first embodiment, the slits 35 of the restricting bosses 13 may be provided at a plurality of locations on the boss body 36, and the fitting protrusions 37 may be disposed at the positions of the slits 35, respectively. In this case, the slits 35 and the fitting protrusions 37 are arranged so as to simultaneously enter between the adjacent gear teeth 29 and 29 of the tape cartridge 9.

In the reference example, the fitting protrusions 37 of each regulating boss 13 may be arranged at only one place, or may be arranged at two places or four or more places. Even in these cases, the fitting protrusions 37 are arranged so as to be able to simultaneously enter between the adjacent gear teeth 29 and 29 of the tape cartridge 9. In the reference example, the base 39 of each regulating boss 13 may be omitted, and each fitting protrusion 37 may be directly projected from the bottom surface 2 a of the housing 2 of the housing case 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 3 showing a first embodiment of the storage case according to the present invention. It is a perspective view shown in the state where a storage case and a tape cartridge were separated. It is a top view which shows the state which open | released the cover body of the storage case. It is a cross-sectional top view which shows the state which the gear tooth of the reel hub of the tape cartridge engaged with the control boss | hub of the storage case. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 1 showing a state in which the gear teeth of the reel hub of the tape cartridge are received by the restriction boss of the storage case. It is a vertical side view which shows the storage case of a reference example. It is a perspective view which shows the control boss | hub of the storage case of a reference example. It is a cross-sectional top view which shows the state which the gear tooth of the reel hub of the tape cartridge engaged with the control boss | hub of the storage case of a reference example. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. 6 showing a state in which the gear teeth of the reel hub of the tape cartridge are received by the restriction boss of the storage case of the reference example.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Storage case 2 Storage body 2a Bottom surface 5 Cover body 9 Tape cartridge 10 Main body case 12 Tape reel 13 Restriction boss 21 Recording tape 23 Opening 25 Reel hub 29 Gear tooth 30 Bottom plate 32 Drive shaft insertion hole 35 Slit 36 Boss main body 37 Fitting protrusion 37a Inclined surface

Claims (3)

A recording tape is wound around a cylindrical reel hub of a tape reel arranged in the main body case, and a plurality of gear teeth engaging with a drive shaft of the tape drive device are arranged on the inner peripheral surface of the reel hub. Tape cartridges that are arranged side by side in the circumferential direction and that have openings on the lower surface of the reel hub facing drive shaft insertion holes opened in the bottom plate of the main body case
In a storage case comprising a box-shaped storage body provided with an opening for storing the tape cartridge on the top surface, and a lid for opening and closing the opening top surface of the storage body,
A restriction boss is formed to protrude at a position on the bottom surface of the storage body and facing the opening of the reel hub of the stored tape cartridge.
The regulating boss, said has an elastically deformable fitting projections extending upwardly from said bottom side of the housing body, the regulating boss, in the reel hub through the drive shaft insertion hole of the tape cartridge It is possible to enter,
The restricting boss has a cylindrical boss main body formed with a slit extending in the vertical direction, and the fitting protrusion is disposed at the position of the slit of the boss main body, and the reel hub of the tape cartridge is provided. It is configured to be able to bend toward the axis,
The fitting protrusion, the rather smaller than the spacing dimension between the gear teeth circumferential width dimension adjacent the reel hub, has become possible enters between the gear teeth adjacent ones,
The outer peripheral surface of the fitting protrusion is formed in a partial arc shape in plan view,
The outer diameter dimension of the fitting protrusion defined by the outer peripheral surface of the fitting protrusion is set to be larger than the outer diameter dimension of the boss body defined by the outer peripheral surface of the boss main body, Protrudes from the slit of the boss body toward the inner peripheral surface of the reel hub,
The storage case for a tape cartridge, wherein the boss body is formed so as to be positioned inside the reel hub with respect to the gear teeth.   The storage case for a tape cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the restriction boss has a plurality of fitting protrusions arranged in a circumferential direction of the reel hub of the tape cartridge.   3. The tape cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the restriction boss has an inclined surface that descends toward the bottom surface side of the housing as it approaches the inner peripheral surface side of the reel hub at an upper end portion of the fitting protrusion. Storage case.

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