JPH087420A - Magnetic tape driving device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To surely hold a cartridge in a tray which moves up and down and to guarantee the sure engagement of a tape reel with the spindle of a driving part. CONSTITUTION:A sliding member 21 pressing the cartridge A in the tray 20 is constituted of a plane part 21a and a recessed part 21b in terms of shape. A leaf spring 23 pressing the sliding member 21 is constituted of a 1st elastic piece 23a and a 2nd elastic piece 23c respectively corresponding to the plane part 21a and the recessed part 21b. Then, the respective elastic pieces properly act at two steps at the inserting position and the loading position of the cartridge A.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a magnetic tape driving device, and more particularly to a pressing mechanism for a cartridge containing a magnetic tape wound therein.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art This type of magnetic tape device is roughly divided into two types: an open reel type tape reel as an information recording medium and a cartridge type. In recent years, it is well known that a magnetic tape device is required to have a large capacity in order to record a large amount of information, and a device that uses a cartridge type as a medium is widespread in terms of usability.

A cartridge intended to be used for a model 3480 manufactured by IBM Corp. as a storage device using this type of cartridge has an outer shape of 4 inches wide, 5 inches long, and 1 inch high. The specific structure is described in US Pat. No. 4,452,406.
This cartridge is a 1-reel type in which magnetic tape is wound and stored. By inserting this cartridge from the front opening of the device, the leader block attached to the tip of the tape is pulled out by the pull-out mechanism of the device to the take-up hub. The tape is driven to be wound and the magnetic head records and reproduces predetermined information.

As shown in FIG. 3, the cartridge-type magnetic tape driving apparatus described above has a cartridge A which is vertically displaced in a raised position by rotationally displacing an opening / closing door 1 from a front opening of a casing (not shown). Whether or not it is possible to write to the magnetic tape in the switch and the switch which is provided in the inner part of the tray 2 at the tip of the cartridge A and detects the insertion state of the cartridge A by storing in the shaped tray 2 A pair of mechanical detection switches 3a such as a switch (light enable switch) for detecting
By pressing 3b the state for the device is set. In this insertion operation, the cartridge A bends and slides the plate spring 9 arranged on the side wall of the tray 2, so that the cartridge A is elastically moved by the plate spring 9.
Retained within.

A drive mechanism (not shown) is operated by the detection signals of the switches 3a and 3b, the tray 2 is lowered in a horizontal state together with the cartridge A, and the chucking hub is integrated with the tape reel 6 around which the magnetic tape is wound. (Not shown) firmly engages with the spindle 5a functioning as the winding side of the motor 5 attached to the chassis 4 and becomes drivable. Further, the cartridge A contacts the stopper 7 on the chassis 4 and fits with the positioning pin 8 to regulate the lowered position.

During the chucking operation accompanied by the lowering of the tray 2 as described above, the spindle 5a enters the cartridge A, and the central shaft 5a ₁ of the coil spring 10 presses the tape reel 6 to apply the braking force. The elastic force is removed, the brake of the tape reel is released, and the spindle 5a and the chucking hub are meshed with each other.

[0007]

By the way, as described above, the leaf spring 9 arranged on the side wall of the tray 2 secures the cartridge A at its storage position against the pressing force of the pair of mechanical detection switches 3a, 3b. Therefore, it is necessary to hold a predetermined elastic force.

The force F1 that presses the cartridge A in the tray 2 is the spring force f1 of the coil spring 10 that presses the spindle 5a and the chucking hub of the tape reel 6.
Although it is necessary to appropriately hold down with the above force, the above conventional device depends only on the lowering operation force of the tray 2. Therefore, in order to perform a reliable chucking operation, it is necessary to increase the accuracy of the tray 2 in the lowered stationary position,
Each part for that purpose requires high-precision processing and assembly, which results in high cost. In addition, the tray 2 and the cartridge A together with the force more than necessary to absorb the variation between the parts.
Since it is necessary to press the tray, it is necessary to increase the strength of the parts and also increase the pressing force of the tray 2.
The load on the drive mechanism of is also large. And tray 2
If the pressing force due to is too large, it becomes difficult to rotate the tape reel 6 in the cartridge A, which causes various problems.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide an appropriate holding force and pressing force to a cartridge in a tray when the cartridge is mounted. In order to smoothly rotate the tape reel, the cartridge in which the magnetic tape is wound is stored in the vertically moving tray, and the tape reel and the motor are connected by lowering the tray to a predetermined mounting position. A magnetic tape drive device in which a tape end portion of the magnetic tape is wound around a take-up hub by a tape pull-out means of the device; and a through hole formed in the upper part of the tray so as to communicate with the inside, and a first pressing member. And a second pressing portion, one end lower part of which is arranged so as to project into the tray through the through hole, a vertically movable displacement member, a first elastic displacement portion and a second elastic member. Part displacement, the first elastic displacement part acts on the first pressing part, while the second elastic displacement part maintains a predetermined distance from the second pressing part of the displacement member. A tape which comprises elastic means arranged correspondingly, holds the cartridge in the tray by the elastic force of the first elastic displacement portion when the cartridge is stored, and the tray storing the cartridge reaches the lowered position. A magnetic tape drive device characterized in that, when the reel and the motor are connected, the second elastic displacement portion acts on the second pressing portion as the displacement member rises. is there.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a magnetic tape drive device according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS.
It should be noted that, for convenience of description, the same reference numerals are given to the same constituent members as the constituent members described above.

The magnetic tape drive of the present invention accepts the 3480 cartridge described above, which promotes system compatibility, and allows information to be manipulated in a recording format similar to that used by IBM Corporation.

That is, the cartridge A is housed in the rectangular tray 2 which is moved up and down by pivotally displacing the opening / closing door 1 from the front opening of the housing 11 so that the leading end of the cartridge A A pair of mechanical detections such as a switch provided in the inner part of the tray 2 for detecting the insertion state of the cartridge A and a switch (write enable switch) for detecting whether or not the magnetic tape in the cartridge can be written. By pressing the switches 3a and 3b, the setting of the state for the device is no different from that of the conventional device.

As shown in FIG. 1, the tray 20, which is a part of the essential part of the present invention, is set to have an appropriate size so as to be able to receive the 3480 cartridge, and the upper plate 20a and the lower plate 20 are set.
b, a pair of left and right side plates 20c and 20d, and a back plate 20e are formed into a rectangular shape, and have an opening 20f into which the cartridge A is inserted at a position corresponding to the front opening of the housing 11 as described above.

An opening / closing door 1 is provided on the side plates 20c and 20d.
(Shown by the one-dot chain line) is rotatably supported. In addition, a hanging plate 20b ₁ is bent and formed on the front surface side of the lower plate 20b, and a guide plate 20b ₂ is hanging in parallel with the rear part of the hanging plate 20b ₁ . 20
b ₃ is a guide pin attached to the guide plate 20b _2.

The back plate 20e is provided with a switch for detecting the insertion state of the cartridge A as in the above-mentioned conventional structure and a switch (write enable switch) for detecting whether or not the magnetic tape in the cartridge can be written. A pair of mechanical detection switches 3a, 3b are attached, and their operating rods project into the tray 20.

The upper plate 20a has a pair of through holes 20a ₁ and 20a facing each other in the insertion direction of the cartridge A.
₁ is formed.

Reference numerals 21 and 21 denote the through holes 20a ₁ and 20a ₁
Sliding members (displacement members) that are respectively inserted into the pair of left and right wide planar portions (first pressing portions) 21a, 21a.
A concave portion (second pressing portion) 21b having a step size h is formed between the neck portions 21a ₁ and 21a ₁ and is integrally formed in a long shape with resin or the like. Further, 21c is a tongue piece that hangs down from the recess 21b, and the through hole 20 of the upper plate 20a.
It has a size and shape that can be fitted to a _1, 20a _1. Therefore, the tongue 21c and the tongue 21c of the sliding member 21 are
Is fitted into the through holes 20a ₁ and 20a ₁ , the tongue piece 21c projects into the tray 2 in a state where the wide flat portions 21a and 21a are in contact with the upper plate 20a and positioned. Further, pins 22 and 22 are erected on the respective plane portions 21a and 21a.

Reference numeral 23 is a leaf spring which is an elastic means installed between the pair of sliding members 21 and 21, and is the flat portion 21.
a, 21a, and four first elastic pieces (first elastic displacement portions) 23a, ... 23a having through holes 23a ₁ , 23a ₁ for inserting the pins 22, 22 are provided, and These elastic pieces and slits 23b ... 23b, respectively
And a pair of second elastic pieces (second elastic displacement portions) 23c, 23 corresponding to the positions of the recesses 21b, 21b.
c. The leaf spring 23 has a flat portion 21 for the sliding members 21 and 21 in which the tongue pieces 21c and 21c are fitted in the through holes 20a ₁ and 20a ₁ of the upper plate 20a.
a, 21a pins 22, 22 through holes 23 respectively
With the a ₁ and 23 a ₁ fitted together, the through hole 23 in the central portion
screw ₁ through c ₁ to screw hole 20a _{2 of} upper plate 20a
It is assembled on the tray 20 together with the sliding member 21 by being fixed to. By this assembly, the leaf spring 23 is bent by the thickness of the flat surface portion 21a and the tongue pieces 21c of the sliding member 21 are elastically projected into the tray 20, but the flat surface portions 21a, 21a contact the upper plate 20a. While being positioned in contact with each other, the second elastic pieces 23c, 23c corresponding to the recesses 21b, 21b maintain a predetermined distance from them.
This interval may be set to an appropriate value so that a reliable engagement between the tape reel and the spindle 5a of the motor can be guaranteed during the chucking operation described below in which the tray 20 descends.

In the magnetic tape drive device having the above structure,
When the cartridge A is inserted into the tray 20 by rotating the opening / closing door 1 as shown in FIG. 2A, the tongue piece 21c of the sliding member 21 on the upper surface of the cartridge A is moved to the first elastic piece 23a.
23a is pushed up against the elastic force of the cartridge 23a, and the cartridge A is shown in FIG.
As shown in (B), the pair of switches 3a and 3b are pressed to reach the innermost portion of the tray 20. At the time of this insertion operation, the force of the sliding member 21 acting on the cartridge A becomes an appropriate sliding resistance by the first elastic pieces 23a ... 23a, and the reaction force due to the pressing force of the switch is sufficiently endured.
The cartridge A does not project to the outside and the tray 20
Holds stable inside. In this stored state, the distance between the second elastic piece 23c and the concave portion 21b becomes small, but the two do not come into contact with each other.

Then, a drive mechanism (not shown) operates in response to the detection signal of the switch, and the tray 20 holding the cartridge A uses the guide pins 20b ₃ , 20c ₁ and 20d ₁ as guide shafts, and the fixed portion of the device shown in the figure. Guided through the guide through hole, it descends in a horizontal state and reaches the mounting position in FIG. 2 (C).
At this time, as described above, the spindle 5a is attached to the cartridge A.
The central shaft 5a ₁ that has entered the inside presses the tape reel 6 and removes the elastic force of the coil spring 10 that applies the braking force to release the brake of the tape reel. Also,
The cartridge A contacts the stopper 7 and fits with the positioning pin 8 to regulate the lowered position. In this lowered position, the spindle 5a penetrates into the cartridge A so as to lift the cartridge A, and the elastic force of the coil spring 10 pressing the tape reel 6 and the pressing force acting on the chucking hub of the tape reel 6 move the cartridge A. It becomes a force to further push up the sliding member 21 via the second elastic piece 2
3c comes into contact with the concave portion 21c and the cartridge A is applied with an appropriate force.
By pressing and holding the inside of the tray 20, an appropriate adhesion force acts on the chucking hub, and smooth rotation of the tape reel is guaranteed.

Thereafter, the tape pull-out means of a device (not shown) operates from the cartridge A which has reached a predetermined position to guide the end of the tape (leader block) in the cartridge to the winding side hub and wind it. A magnetic head records or reproduces a predetermined signal on a magnetic tape running by rotating the side hub.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the leaf spring 2 is used.
The second elastic piece 23c of No. 3 has a recess 2 in the sliding member 21.
1b is formed so as to maintain a predetermined interval, but it is equivalent if the second elastic piece 23c is bent and deformed upward and a predetermined interval is formed between the two as a convex instead of a concave. It has the function of. Further, since the pressing force can be appropriately set by appropriately bending and deforming the second elastic piece 23c, it is obvious that the present invention can have various aspects without departing from the scope of the claims.

[0023]

According to the magnetic tape drive apparatus of the present invention described in detail above, there are two steps, that is, when the cartridge is inserted and when the cartridge is mounted, by the elastic means acting on the vertically movable displacement member arranged on the tray. Since the elastic force is applied appropriately, the cartridge inserted in the tray is not pushed back by the pressing force of the cartridge detecting means, and is not updated when the tape reel with the tray lowered and the drive unit are connected. Since the pressing force acts to press the cartridge with an appropriate force, accurate chucking can be performed, and no excessive force is applied to the device, which allows smooth rotation of the tape reel. It has the advantages that it can be desired, and that the constituent members do not require unnecessarily strong strength or processing accuracy.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of a tray showing an embodiment of a magnetic tape driving device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing an operating state of the tray.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a conventional magnetic tape drive device.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Opening / closing door, 20 ... Tray, 20a ₁ ... Through hole, 21 ... Sliding member, 21a ... Plane part (first pressing part), 21b ... Recessed part (second pressing part), 23 ... Leaf spring, 23a ... 1st elastic piece (1st elastic displacement part), 23c ... 2nd elastic piece (2nd elastic displacement part).

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A cartridge in which a magnetic tape is wound and accommodated is accommodated in a tray that moves up and down, and the tray is lowered to a predetermined mounting position to connect a tape reel and a motor to a tape pull-out means of an apparatus. In a magnetic tape drive device in which a tape end portion of the magnetic tape is wound around a take-up hub, a through hole formed in the upper portion of the tray so as to communicate with the inside, a first pressing portion, and a second pressing portion. And a vertically movable displacement member having a lower end arranged to project into the tray through the through hole, a first elastic displacement portion and a second elastic portion displacement, The first elastic displacement portion acts on the first pressing portion, while the second elastic displacement portion corresponds to the second pressing portion of the displacement member at a predetermined distance from each other. When the cartridge is stored, the front The cartridge is held in the tray by the elastic force of the first elastic displacement portion, and when the tray that accommodates the cartridge is connected to the tape reel and the motor when the tray reaches the lowered position, the displacement member rises and the A magnetic tape drive device, wherein a second elastic displacement portion is configured to act on the second pressing portion.