JPH0863718A - Single reel type magnetic tape cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Object] To provide a single-reel type magnetic tape cartridge having a head cleaning function. [Structure] The leader tape 4 is connected to the feeding end of the magnetic tape 3. Abrasive 19 is attached to a part of the leader tape 4.
Is applied to form the cleaning portion 18. Abrasive material 19
Is formed by mixing fine alumina powder with a paint. After applying the abrasive material 19, it is dried and solidified to form the cleaning unit 1.
8 [Advantageous Effects] While the leader tape 4 is wound on the reel 16 on the tape drive side, the cleaning unit 18 is brought into sliding contact with the magnetic head 17 to forcibly grind and remove dirt adhering to the head surface.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a single reel type magnetic tape cartridge used as a magnetic recording medium for an external storage device of a computer, for example.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A tape cartridge of this type is known from Japanese Patent Publication No. 62-502641. In this case, one reel is housed inside the case body, and a leader tape made of a polyester sheet material is connected to the feeding end of the magnetic tape wound on the reel. A connecting hole is formed at the free end of the leader tape, and the connecting tape of the tape drive is fitted and connected in the connecting hole, and the magnetic tape is pulled out from the case body. The connecting and disconnecting operations of the connecting tape and the leader tape are automatically performed by the loading mechanism of the tape drive.
The connecting tape and the leader tape are wound around the reel 16 on the tape drive side through the loading path shown in FIG. 4, and are in sliding contact with the magnetic head 17 between them.

[0003]

Also in a tape drive using this type of tape cartridge, deterioration of recording and reproducing characteristics due to contamination of the magnetic head poses a problem.
For example, it is recommended that head cleaning be performed every time a tape drive is used for a predetermined time. However, maintenance work is rarely carried out according to regulations, and in most cases, it is left unattended unless a serious read / write error occurs. Incidentally, in a tape drive for external storage of a computer, data is read or rewritten by frequently reciprocating the magnetic tape while keeping sliding contact with the magnetic head. Therefore, the degree of wear of the magnetic tape is larger than that of the tape device for audio and video. That is, the magnetic head is easily soiled at an early stage, and a countermeasure for keeping the magnetic head in a clean state is desired in addition to the regular maintenance work.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a single reel type magnetic tape cartridge having a head cleaning function. Another object of the present invention is to be able to automatically perform head cleaning prior to reading / writing a magnetic signal to / from a magnetic tape, and to automatically perform head cleaning again after the reading / writing of a magnetic signal to / from the magnetic tape is completed. To provide a single-reel type magnetic tape cartridge which can be carried out in a desired manner.

[0005]

According to the present invention, one reel 2 is housed inside a box-shaped case body 1, and the reel 2
In a magnetic tape cartridge in which a leader tape 4 that is pulled out from the case by a connecting tape of a tape drive is connected to the feeding end of the magnetic tape 3 wound around the tape tape, A cleaning unit 18 for cleaning the head surface by slidingly contacting the magnetic head 17 of the tape drive is provided between them. Specifically, an abrasive 19 is applied to a part of the sliding contact surface of the leader tape 4 with the magnetic head 17 to form the cleaning portion 18. Alternatively, the cleaning portion 18 is formed by the cleaning tape 20 having the abrasive material 19 applied and fixed to one side thereof, and the leader tape 4
And the magnetic tape 3 are connected via the cleaning tape 20.

[0006]

In the single reel type magnetic tape cartridge, after connecting the connecting tape of the tape drive to the leader tape 4, the connecting tape is wound by the reel 16 and the leader tape 4 and the magnetic tape 3 are wound on the reel 16. Therefore, if the cleaning section 18 is provided between the connecting section 4 a of the leader tape 4 and the magnetic tape 3, the head surface can be automatically cleaned while the cleaning section 18 passes the magnetic head 17. Magnetic tape 3
Even when the leader tape 4 is rewound and stored in the case body 1, the cleaning unit 18 keeps the magnetic head 1 clean.
The head surface is cleaned by making sliding contact with 7.

In the magnetic tape cartridge in which the cleaning material 18 is formed by applying the abrasive material 19 to the leader tape 4, the magnetic head 17 is cleaned by the abrasive action of the abrasive material 19. Since the abrasive material 19 is applied to the leader tape 4, the cleaning function can be added to the magnetic tape cartridge without increasing the number of constituent members. According to the magnetic tape cartridge in which the cleaning tape 20 is provided between the leader tape 4 and the magnetic tape 3, the material of the base tape 21 of the cleaning tape 20 can be freely selected, so that the abrasive 19 is firmly attached to the base tape. Can be applied to.

[0008]

According to the present invention, since the cleaning section 18 is provided on the leader tape 4 or the cleaning tape 20, the magnetic head 17 can be cleaned every time the magnetic tape cartridge is used. As a result, it is possible to always read and write the magnetic signal on the head surface in a clean state, eliminate a magnetic signal read / write error due to dirt on the magnetic head 17, and improve the reliability of the magnetic tape cartridge. Head cleaning is performed prior to reading / writing magnetic signals, and head cleaning is performed again after reading / writing of magnetic signals, so even when using a magnetic tape cartridge that does not have a cleaning function, you can use it with confidence. Further, it is advantageous in that a good magnetic recording environment can be provided to another magnetic tape cartridge.

[0009]

2 and 3 show an embodiment of a single reel type tape cartridge according to the present invention, in which one reel 2 is housed in a case body 1 having a rectangular box shape, and the reel 2 is a magnetic tape. 3 is wound up and stored. As shown in FIG. 2, a leader tape 4 formed of a polyester sheet is connected to the feeding end of the magnetic tape 3 via a splicing tape 5.

The case body 1 is formed by connecting the upper and lower cases 1a and 1b to each other in a lid-matching manner, and has a loading opening 6 on the front surface which occupies most of the front wall. The loading opening 6 can be opened and closed by a door 7. Door 7 is upper and lower case 1a.1
It can be opened and closed by swinging around a vertical axis 8 supported between b, and a spring 9 is biased by swinging to close the loading opening 6. A lock piece (not shown) is incorporated in the swing base end of the door 7, and the door 7 can be opened and operated only when the lock piece is released. The magnetic tape 3 and the leader tape 4 are pulled out of the case from the tape outlet 10 at the left end of the loading opening 6 as shown in the drawing.

In FIG. 2, the free end of the connecting portion 4a of the leader tape 4 has a tongue shape, and a keyhole-shaped connecting hole 12 is formed on the tape surface. Further, hooking pieces 13 are projected on the upper and lower edges continuous with the tongue portion, and a stopper groove 14 is formed in the vicinity of the tape surface center thereof. The connecting tape of the tape drive is fitted into the connecting hole 12 and connected, and the leader tape 4 is pulled out from the case and operated. In a state where the magnetic tape 3 and the leader tape 4 are wound on the reel 2, the hooking pieces 13 are received by the upper and lower grooves of the tape outlet 10 so as not to be wound, and further the stopper claws are inserted in the stopper groove 14. , It prevents the leader tape 4 from being further wound into the case. At this time, the connecting hole 12
Only the tongue part including the tape outlet 1 as shown in FIG.
It is exposed from 0 to the loading opening 6.

In use, the leader tape 4 is wound around the reel 16 on the tape drive side through the loading path shown in FIG. 4, and is in sliding contact with the magnetic head 17 in the meantime. In order to clean the magnetic head 17 by using this tape loading operation, the cleaning unit 18 is provided in the middle of the leader tape 4 in the longitudinal direction. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, an abrasive material 19 is applied in a rectangular shape on a certain range in the longitudinal direction of the sliding contact surface of the leader tape 4 with the magnetic head 17 to form a cleaning portion 18.
The abrasive 19 is formed by mixing one or more kinds of finely powdered grinding particles such as alumina, chromium, silicon carbide, and artificial diamond in a state of being uniformly dispersed in the paint. The coating material acts as a binder for the abrasive grains after drying, and also acts as an adhesive for adhering and fixing the abrasive grains to the leader tape 4. Instead of the paint, a resin and an adhesive that solidify after drying can be used. In order to make the coating of the abrasive 19 stronger, the coated portion of the leader tape 4 can be roughened in advance.

If the leader tape 4 is provided with the cleaning portion 18 as described above, the cleaning portion 18 makes sliding contact with the head surface and reaches the head surface before the magnetic tape 3 reaches the magnetic head 17. It is possible to forcibly scrape off the dirt such as magnetic powder and dust that had been used, and further polish the head surface. Even when the magnetic tape 3 and the leader tape 4 are housed inside the case body 1, the head surface can be cleaned in the same manner.

The cleaning portion 18 can be formed as shown in FIG. A cleaning tape 20 having the same width as the magnetic tape 3 is prepared, and the splicing tape 5 is provided between the feeding end of the magnetic tape 3 and the leader tape 4.
Connect with. The cleaning tape 20 is formed by using a base tape 21 formed of paper, cloth, non-woven fabric, a plastic film, a plastic sheet or the like as a base material, and applying and fixing the abrasive material 19 described above on one surface thereof. In some cases, use commercially available polishing paper or polishing cloth,
The cleaning tape 20 may be formed.

In addition to the above embodiments, the coating pattern of the abrasive 19 on the leader tape 4 and the base tape 21 can be freely changed. For example, as shown in FIGS. 6A to 6C, the abrasive 19 can be applied in a lattice pattern, a striped pattern, or a group of spot patterns. If necessary, the abrasive 19 can be applied to most of the leader tape 4 in the longitudinal direction. The cleaning tape 20 can be formed by pasting an artificial or natural leather on one surface of the base tape 21. If necessary, the cleaning portion 18 in which the abrasive material 19 is applied is formed on a part of the leader tape 4 or the cleaning tape 20, and the head surface is wiped and cleaned between the leader tape 4 and the magnetic tape 3. Cleaning tape 20 made of cloth, non-woven fabric, leather, etc.
Can be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 (a) is a front view of a leader tape, FIG.
FIG. 1B is a sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG.

FIG. 2 is a front view with a leader tape pulled out.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view with a loading opening opened.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a tape loading path.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a main part of a tape showing another embodiment of a cleaning unit.

6 (a) to 6 (c) are front views of a main part of a tape showing different embodiments of the cleaning part.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 case body 2 reel 3 magnetic tape 4 leader tape 4a connecting part 17 magnetic head 18 cleaning part 19 abrasive

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A reel 2 is housed inside a box-shaped case body 1, and a magnetic tape 3 wound around the reel 2.
Is a magnetic tape cartridge in which a leader tape 4 that is pulled out of the case by a coupling tape of a tape drive is connected to the feeding end of the tape tape. A single-reel type magnetic tape cartridge provided with a cleaning section 18 for cleaning the head surface by sliding contact with the magnetic head 17 of the drive. 2. A single-reel type magnetic tape cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a cleaning portion 18 is formed by coating an abrasive 19 on a part of a surface of the leader tape 4 which is in sliding contact with the magnetic head 17. . 3. The cleaning section 18 is formed by a cleaning tape 20 having an abrasive 19 applied and fixed on one surface, and the leader tape 4 and the magnetic tape 3 are connected via the cleaning tape 20. Item 1. A single reel type magnetic tape cartridge according to Item 1.