US 7,066,421 B2 · Recording tape cartridge

Abstract

A recording tape cartridge is disclosed wherein when in non-use, a reel accommodated in a case and having a recording tape wound thereon is prevented from rotating by being meshed with a braking member which is non-rotatble with reference to the case; and when in use, in response to the braking member being pushed up by a release pad or a clutch member, the reel is released from the meshed state and allowed to rotate together with the release pad or the clutch member. With the rotation of the reel, the braking member has its pivot portion disposed in sliding contact with a sliding contact portion formed at a portion corresponding to an axial center of the release pad or the clutch member while being pressed against the sliding contact portion by a biasing force of a compression coil spring. The recording tape cartridge is designed such that a relation μ×L≦0.4 holds between a length L (mm) of the compression coil spring along the axis line of the reel when the reel rotates together with the release pad or the clutch member and a coefficient of dynamic friction μ between the pivot portion of the braking member and the sliding contact portion of the release pad or the clutch member.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A recording tape cartridge comprising:

a reel on which a recording tape is wound;
a case which rotatably accommodates the reel;
a pressed member which is supported in the case such that the pressed member cannot rotate and can move into and out of contact with the reel along the axis line of the reel;
and
an elastic member interposed between the case and the pressed member, the elastic member pressing, in a compression state, the pressed member against a portion near a center of rotation of the reel or a member rotating together with the reel during rotation of the reel;
wherein a relation μ×L≦0.4 holds where L (mm) is a length of the elastic member along the axis line of the reel during the rotation of the reel, and μ is a coefficient of dynamic friction between the pressed member and the reel or the member rotating together with the reel.

3 more elements

A recording tape cartridge comprising:

a reel having a reel hub provided with a first engagement portion and upper and lower flanges coaxially fixed to both end portions of the reel hub and having substantially equal diameters, a recording tape being wound on the reel hub between the upper and lower opposing flanges;
a case having a top panel and a bottom panel and rotatably accommodating the reel;
and
a lock mechanism including:
a pressed member provided with a second engagement portion, the pressed member being disposed in the reel hub so as to be movable along an axis line thereof and supported non-rotatably with reference to the case;
an elastic member interposed between an inner surface of the case and the pressed member;
and a release member disposed in the reel hub so as to be movable along the axis line and rotatable with the reel, wherein when the recording tape cartridge is in non-use, the second engagement portion of the pressed member is brought into engagement with the first engagement portion of the reel hub by a biasing force of the elastic member, thereby preventing the reel from rotating, and when the recording tape cartridge is in use, the pressed member is moved against the biasing force of the elastic member as a result of the release member being moved toward an inside of the case in response to the recording tape cartridge being loaded into a drive device, thereby releasing the engagement between the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion and allowing the reel to rotate;
wherein a relation μ×L≦0.4 holds between a length L (mm) of the elastic member along an axis line of the reel when the elastic member is in a compressed state for allowing the reel to rotate and a coefficient of dynamic friction μ between the pressed member and the release member.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Recording tape cartridge

Life of this patent

Recording tape cartridge

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19