(19) Japanese Patent Office (JP)
`
`(51) Int. Cl.6
`G11B
`
`23/107
`
`(12) Unexamined Patent Gazette (A)
`(11) Unexamined Patent Application (Kokai) No.: H11-288571
`(43) Publication Date: October 19, 1999
`FI
`G11B 23/107
`
`ID Symbol
`
`(22) Filing Date: March 31, 1998
`
`Request for Examination: Not Requested Number of Claims: 1 OL (5 Pages Total)
`(21) Application Number: H10-87141
`(71) Applicant: 000005201
`FUJIFILM Corporation
`210 Nakanuma, Minami-Ashigara-shi,
`Kanagawa Prefecture
`(72) Inventor: Tsuyuki, Seiji
`c/o FUJIFILM Corporation
`2-12-1 Ogi-cho, Odawara-shi, Kanagawa
`Prefecture
`(74) Representative: Yanagida, Masafumi; Attorney
`(and 1 other)
`
`(54) Name of Invention: Magnetic Tape Cartridge
`
`(57) Abstract
`release
`reliability of a
`Problem:
`Increase
`operation of a releasing member in a reel rotation
`inhibiting means which restrains reel rotation
`when not in use.
`
`Solution Means: A reel rotation inhibiting
`means 10, having an inhibiting member 4
`moving toward and away from a reel 2 and
`restraining its rotation, a pressing means 5
`pressing the inhibiting member 4 in an inhibiting
`direction, and a releasing member 6 which
`moves in accordance with a chucking operation
`of a drive side rotation driving means 11 and
`causes the inhibiting member 4 to move in a
`releasing direction, inhibiting rotation by the reel
`2 and the inhibiting member 4 contacting at an
`engaging surface tilted conically relative to the
`reel 2 rotation center line.
`
`SONY Exhibit 1012
`SONY v. FUJI
`
`

`

`Claims
`In a magnetic tape cartridge rotatably
`[Claim 1]
`housing a single reel with magnetic tape wound
`thereon, providing a reel rotation inhibiting means
`allowing rotation of said reel during use, and
`restraining reel rotation when not in use,
`said reel rotation inhibiting means having an inhibiting
`member movable toward and away from said reel and
`restraining the reel rotation, a pressing means pressing
`said inhibiting member in an inhibiting direction, and
`a releasing member which moves in accordance with a
`chucking operation of a drive side rotation driving
`means and causes said inhibiting member to move in a
`releasing direction,
`a magnetic tape cartridge characterized by inhibiting
`rotation by said reel and inhibiting member contacting
`at an engaging surface tilted conically relative to the
`reel rotation center line.
`Detailed Description of the Invention
`[0001]
`[Technical Field of the Invention] This invention
`relates to a magnetic tape cartridge, and particularly, in
`a magnetic tape cartridge rotatably housing a single
`reel with magnetic tape wound thereon, the structure
`of a reel rotation inhibiting means that place said reel
`in a rotation inhibited state when not in use.
`[0002]
`[Prior Art] Conventionally, as magnetic tape cartridges
`used as a recording medium utilized in an external
`memory device of computers, etc., a type is known
`with a single reel with magnetic tape wound thereon,
`and this reel being rotatably housed in a cartridge case.
`This magnetic tape is used for saving data of
`computers, etc., and has important information in its
`memory, and therefore, a reel rotation inhibiting
`means for restraining rotation of said reel is installed
`so that problems such as tape jamming do not occur,
`and so that magnetic tape is not unintentionally pulled
`out when not in use, such as during storage, etc.
`[0003] Said reel rotation inhibiting means provides an
`inhibiting member which engages with a portion of the
`reel and restrains its rotation, and when the cartridge is
`loaded in a drive for an external memory device etc.,
`said inhibiting means is provided such that the
`inhibiting status is released according to a chucking
`operation of the reel.
`[0004]
`[Problem the Invention Seeks to Solve]
`Thus, because of requests to improve operation
`reliability for said reel rotation inhibiting means, to
`prevent dust particles from entering the cartridge case,
`etc., a structure can be conceived to separate this reel
`rotation inhibiting means into providing an inhibiting
`member which restrains reel rotation, a pressing
`member which presses this inhibiting member in an
`inhibiting direction, and a releasing member which
`moves in accordance with a chucking operation of a
`drive side rotation driving means and causes said
`inhibiting member to move in a releasing direction.
`[0005] That is, while not in use, the inhibiting member
`restrains the reel to prevent unintentional rotation so
`that magnetic tape is not extracted. When the cartridge
`
`(2)
`
`Unexamined Patent App. Pub. H11-288571
`
`is loaded to a drive and reel chucking is performed by
`a rotation driving means, the release member moves
`linked to this operation and operates to release said
`inhibiting member. In this condition, the reel becomes
`rotatable, and the magnetic tape can be extracted and
`wound.
`[0006] And in a mechanism like the aforementioned,
`said inhibiting member moves toward and away from
`the reel as a rotating body and engages with a portion
`of it to restrain rotation. It is difficult to hold this
`inhibiting member matched to the reel rotation center
`and move it toward and away in a parallel manner, and
`to evenly contact the reel at the outer perimeter
`inhibiting portion. Also, if the inhibiting member
`center position shifts, the release operation by the
`releasing member can operate unevenly, with the
`possibility that the reel inhibited state cannot be
`reliably released.
`[0007] The present invention was accomplished in
`light of the aforementioned point, and seeks to provide
`a magnetic tape cartridge in which the center position
`of the inhibiting means in the reel rotation inhibiting
`means
`is restricted to attain a reliable release
`operation.
`[0008]
`[Means of Solving the Problem] The magnetic tape
`cartridge in the present invention that solved the
`problem above, rotatably housing a single reel with
`magnetic tape wound thereon, providing a reel rotation
`inhibiting means allowing rotation of said reel during
`use, and restraining reel rotation when not in use, said
`reel rotation inhibiting means having an inhibiting
`member movable toward and away from said reel and
`restraining the reel rotation, a pressing means pressing
`said inhibiting member in an inhibiting direction, and
`a releasing member which moves in accordance with a
`chucking operation of a drive side rotation driving
`means and causes said inhibiting member to move in a
`releasing direction, characterized by inhibiting rotation
`by said reel and inhibiting member contacting at an
`engaging surface tilted conically relative to the reel
`rotation center line.
`[0009]
`the
`to
`Invention] According
`the
`[Effect of
`the
`aforementioned present
`invention, because
`inhibiting member is provided such that rotation is
`inhibited by the inhibiting member contacting the reel
`on an interface surface tilted conically relative to the
`rotation center, and in the inhibited state the inhibiting
`member is centered by said interface surface to match
`the center position to the reel rotation center, attaining
`a secure inhibited state, and enabling the entirety to
`evenly separate from the reel and move to a released
`state relative to a release operation of the release
`member, and enables securing operation reliability of
`the reel rotation inhibiting means.
`[0010]
`[Embodiments] Hereafter, the present invention is
`described in detail, based on embodiments shown in
`the figures. Figure 1 is a section view of a magnetic
`tape cartridge in this embodiment in a non-use state,
`Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of key
`
`

`

`components, and Figure 3 is a section view of key
`components in a use state.
`[0011] A magnetic tape cartridge 1 comprises a single
`reel 2 with magnetic tape (not pictured) wound
`thereon, and rotatably housing said reel 2 in a
`cartridge case 3 comprising a top case 31 and a lower
`case 32 with an opening 32a at the center portion
`being secured by screws etc. Also, said magnetic tape
`cartridge 1 provides a reel rotation inhibiting means 10
`that allows said reel 2 rotation during use, and
`restrains said reel 2 rotation during non-use.
`[0012] Said reel 2 comprises a reel hub 21 having a
`bottomed cylindrical shape with magnetic tape wound
`onto its outer perimeter, and a lower flange portion 22
`and an upper flange portion 23 extending in a disc
`shape in the diameter direction from the top and
`bottom edge perimeters of this reel hub 21. The reel
`hub 21 and the bottom flange portion 22 are molded as
`one body from synthetic resin, and are connected to
`the top flange portion by, for example, ultrasonic
`welding. Said reel hub 21 is closed at its center lower
`portion with a bottom wall 21a, the bottom surface
`perimeter of said bottom wall 21a having a reel gear
`24 engraved in annular form. To the inner perimeter
`side of this reel gear 24 is attached a reel plate 25,
`comprising an annular metal plate for magnetic
`attraction. And said reel 2, reel gear 24 and reel plate
`25 are positioned to face the cartridge case 3 bottom
`surface opening 32a. The reel 2 is pressed downward
`by a pressing member 5 described below.
`[0013] Also, the drive side rotation driving means 11
`provides an annular drive gear 13 and a magnet (not
`pictured) on the top end surface of the rotation shaft
`12, and its chucking operation moves the rotation shaft
`12 upward relative to the loaded magnetic tape
`cartridge 1, the drive gear 13 meshes with said reel
`gear 24, and a magnet attracts said reel plate 25 to
`hold the meshed state.
`[0014] Next, the mechanism of said reel rotation
`inhibiting means 10 is described. This reel rotation
`inhibiting means 10 has an inhibiting member 4 that
`moves in the vertical direction movable toward and
`away from said reel 2, a pressing member 5 pressing
`said inhibiting member 4 in an inhibiting direction,
`and a release member 6 moving said inhibiting
`member 4 in a releasing direction.
`[0015] The bottom wall 21a of said reel 2 has three
`insertion holes 26 passing through said reel gear 24 in
`the vertical direction, disposed at even intervals on the
`outer perimeter. Further, on the outer perimeter of the
`bottom wall 21a is an inhibiting gear 27 with internal
`teeth engraved at an angle relative to the reel hub 21
`cylinder surface. The meshing surface (engaging
`surface) of this inhibiting gear 27 is a cone surface
`tilted downward relative to the reel 2 rotation center
`line. And the portion of said inhibiting gear 27 with
`said insertion holes 26 open are notched such that the
`release member 6 arm portions 62 are vertically
`movable. The reel 2 shown in Figure 2 is shown with
`only part of the bottom wall 21a cut away.
`[0016] Said inhibiting member 4 is roughly disc-
`shaped and is disposed in the reel hub 21 of said reel 2
`
`(3)
`
`Unexamined Patent App. Pub. H11-288571
`
`opposing its bottom wall 21a, and on the bottom
`surface outer perimeter an inhibiting gear 41 is
`engraved with external bevel teeth, and this inhibiting
`gear 41 can mesh with the inhibiting gear 27 on said
`reel 2. And a straight line vertical wall shaped
`protrusion 42 is formed extending upward on the top
`surface of the inhibiting member 4, and this protrusion
`42 is inserted into a straight line sliding groove
`extending in the vertical direction in a guide portion
`31a formed standing in the inner surface of an upper
`case 31 of a cartridge case 3, such that it is restricted
`to a non-rotatable state. Note that said protrusion 42
`and guide portion 31a sliding groove can also be
`provided in a cross shape.
`[0017] Further, a pressing member 5 by a coil spring is
`provided compressed between the top surface further
`toward the outer perimeter than the protrusion 42 on
`said inhibiting member 4 and the upper case 31 guide
`portion 31a inner surface on the outer perimeter side,
`pressing the inhibiting member 4 downward in the
`inhibiting direction in which its inhibiting gear 41 and
`the inhibiting gear 27 on the reel 2 engage.
`[0018] Said release member 6 is interposed between
`said inhibiting member 4 and the reel valve 21 bottom
`wall 21a to be vertically movable, and arm portions 62
`are formed extending in the radial direction at 3
`locations on the outer perimeter of a disk portion 61
`toward the center. Square rod shaped upward pushing
`portions 63 are
`respectively
`formed extending
`vertically on the bottom surface of the tips of said arm
`portions 62. Each upward pushing portion 63 is
`inserted through the insertion holes 26 open in said
`reel hub 21 such that they can respectively move to
`appear, and the tips are positioned facing the reel hub
`21 bottom surface reel gear 24 tooth portion.
`[0019] And at the lowermost position of said release
`member 6 (Figure 1), the upward pushing portion 63
`bottom end surface is roughly at the tooth tip position,
`and the release member 6 is pressed according to the
`drive gear 13 meshing with said reel gear by the
`chucking operation of the drive side rotation drive
`means 11, being pushed upward at a prescribed stroke
`amount (Figure 3). Also this release member 6 rotates
`as one body with the reel 2 by fitting the upward
`pushing portions 62 into the insertion holes 26.
`[0020] Also, inhibiting member 4 is pressed by said
`pressing member 5 such that its bottom surface
`contacts the top surface of said release member 6, and
`both are in sliding contact via a spherically shaped
`protrusion 64. The tip of this spherically shaped
`protrusion 64 contacts the center portion of a curved
`surface indentation provided at the center of the
`bottom surface of the inhibiting member, rotating in a
`state of being mutually positioned and with shifting
`etc. prevented.
`[0021] Note that at least one of said inhibiting member
`4 and said release member 6 can be formed from
`synthetic
`resins containing
`lubricants, such as
`molybdenum
`disulfide,
`polytetrafluoroethylene,
`graphite, potassium titanate whisker, silicone (various
`grades of dimethylpolysiloxane and their denatured
`products), etc., to improve its slidability. Also, in
`
`

`

`(4)
`
`Unexamined Patent App. Pub. H11-288571
`
`conjunction, the release member 6 moves upward
`against the pressing force of the pressing member 5,
`and the inhibiting member 4 also moves in the upward
`releasing direction as one body with this release
`member 6. This releases the engagement of the
`inhibiting gear 41 on the inhibiting member 4 and the
`inhibiting gear 27 on the reel 2, and the reel 2 becomes
`free to rotate. And the recording and playback device
`drive extracts or winds the magnetic tape.
`[0025] Because the inhibiting member 4 is centered
`during said release operation, relative to the upward
`pushing via the spherically shaped protrusion 64 at the
`center portion of the release member 6, this release
`member 4 rises parallel and moves evenly for the
`entire perimeter, enabling securely releasing
`the
`engagement for the entire perimeter between said
`inhibiting gear 41 and inhibiting gear 27.
`[0026] Note that engaged inhibition between said
`inhibiting member 4 and the reel 2 can use pressure
`contact between mutual conical surfaces of high
`abrasion tolerance material, and not by meshing gears.
`Also, a quantity more than 3 of insertion holes 26 and
`pushing pressure portions 63 can be disposed. Further,
`said upward pushing portions 63 are not limited to
`being a square rod shape, but can also be a round rod
`shape.
`[Brief Description of the Drawings]
`[Figure 1] A section front view of a magnetic tape
`cartridge in one embodiment of the present invention
`in non-use status.
`[Figure 2] An exploded perspective view of important
`components of the magnetic tape cartridge in Figure 1.
`[Figure 3] A section view of important components of
`the magnetic tape cartridge in Figure 1 in use status.
`[Description of Symbols]
`1
`Magnetic tape cartridge
`2
`Reel
`3
`Cartridge case
`4
`Inhibiting member
`5
`Pressing member
`6
`Release member
`10
`Reel rotation inhibiting means
`11
`Drive side rotation driving means
`12
`Rotation shaft
`13
`Drive gear
`21
`Reel hub
`21a
`Bottom wall
`24
`Reel gear
`26
`Insertion hole
`27
`Inhibiting gear
`41
`Inhibiting gear
`62
`Arm portion
`63
`Upward pressing portion
`
`addition to said lubricants, lubricants such as oleamide
`lubricant, erucic acid amide lubricant, stearic acid
`amide
`lubricant, bis fatty acid amide
`lubricant,
`nonionic surfactant based
`lubricant, hydrocarbon
`based lubricant, fatty acid based lubricant, ester based
`lubricant, alcohol based lubricant, metal soap, etc. can
`be added. Further, for the synthetic resin, it is
`favorable to use resins with superior anti-abrasive
`properties,
`such
`as PC
`(polycarbonate), POM
`(polyoxymethylene), PPS, aliphatic polyamides such
`as nylon 6 or nylon 66, aromatic polyamide, ultra-
`high-molecular-weight
`polyethylene,
`isotactic
`polypropylene, syndiotactic polypropylene, those of
`the imide group such as polyimide, polyamide imide,
`or polyetherimide, etc. This reduces the friction and
`abrasion of the sliding contact portions of both,
`enabling stable reel rotation by reduced drive
`resistance, and suppresses abrasion powder generation
`to
`secure
`reliable
`recording
`and
`playback
`performance. Also, said inhibiting member 4 and
`release member 6 can be in surface contact without
`said spherically shaped protrusion 64.
`[0022] To explain the operation of said reel rotation
`inhibiting means 10, Figure 1 is a magnetic tape
`cartridge 1 during non-use such as in a storage state,
`and in this state, the inhibiting member 4, release
`member 6, and reel 2 have moved toward the bottom
`case 32 of the cartridge case 3 by the pressing force of
`the pressing member 5, and the bottom case 32 center
`opening 32a is closed and covered by the reel 2. The
`bottom surface of the release member 6 is at the
`lowermost state contacting the reel hub 21 bottom wall
`21a, and the tips of its upward pushing portions 63 are
`protruding to match the reel gear 24 tooth tip position.
`The inhibiting member 4 contacting the top surface of
`the release member 6 is also in the lowered position,
`and its inhibiting gear 41 is engaged with the reel 2
`inhibiting gear 27 to restrain reel 2 rotation during
`non-use, preventing extraction of the magnetic tape.
`[0023] In the inhibited state above, the inhibiting
`member 4 is centered by the conical shaped inhibiting
`gear 41 on the inhibiting member 4 being meshed with
`the inhibiting gear 27 on the reel 2 in a state pressed
`by the pressing member 5, which restricts its center
`position to match the center rotation center of the reel
`2, and is in an evenly meshed state around the entire
`perimeter, securely inhibiting rotation.
`[0024] In contrast, when a magnetic tape cartridge 1 is
`loaded in a drive during cartridge use in Figure 3, the
`drive side rotation drive means 11 rotation shaft 12
`approaches the bottom surface of the reel 2, and the
`chucking operation meshes the drive gear 13 with the
`reel gear 24 and moves the reel 2 slightly upward and
`holds it. This bring the tooth tip of said drive gear 13
`in contact with the center of the ends of the upward
`pushing portions 63 on the release member 6, applying
`pressing pressure and pushing them upward. In
`
`

`

`(5)
`
`Unexamined Patent App. Pub. H11-288571
`
`Figure 1
`
`Figure 2
`
`Figure 3
`
`

`

`l. Rachel L. Burnev. hereby declare:
`
`That I possess advanced knowledge of the Japanese and English languages. The attached Japanese mm
`English translation has been translated by me and to the best of my knowledge and belief it is a true
`and accurate translation of the patent I70. Tsuyuki_AA992335 71.
`
`I declare that all statements made above of my own knowledge are true and that all statements made
`on information and belief are believed to be true. I have been warned and understand that willful false
`statements and the like are punishable by fine or imprisonment, or both, under § 1001 of Title 18 of the
`United States Code.
`
`I declare (or certify. verify. or state) under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.
`
`Executed on 4/0 1/9“” A? r
`
`'
`K
`.
`
`
`[24%
`
`,201? in Leland, North Carolina.
`
`Ate/V156R
`
`
`
`Rachel L. Burney
`
` Japanese mEnglish
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Cerflcatian #425116
`
`