IP Library Granted Patent US 7,201,341
Granted Patent B2
US 7,201,341 · App. 11/330,333 · Granted Apr 10, 2007

Recording tape cartridge

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,201,341
App. No.
11/330,333
Granted
Apr 10, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

Retention portions that retain a leader member of recording tape are formed inside a case, and a spring member pushes the leader member toward the retention portions. The spring member contacts support point members, and the support point members serve as support points when the spring member deforms. The support point members, which are disposed such that they protrude from side walls of the case, include a height D 1 from an inner surface (attachment reference surface) of the side walls. The spring member is bent such that its height at positions contacting the support point members from the attachment reference surface includes a height D 2 in a state where the spring member is not attached to the case. Here, D 2 ≦D 1 . When the spring member is attached to the case, the spring member always contacts the support point members. Thus, the pushing force of the spring member is stable.

Claims (32)

1. A recording tape cartridge comprising:

a case that rotatably houses a single reel onto which recording tape is wound;

a leader member that is attached to an end portion of the recording tape and is pulled out by a pullout mechanism of a drive device;

a spring member including an attachment portion that is attached to the case and pullout resistance force action portions that impart pullout resistance force to the leader member as a result of bending deformation; and

support point members that contact the spring member between the attachment portion and the pullout resistance force action portions,

wherein when D 1 represents the height of the support point members measured from an attachment reference surface where the spring member is attached to the case, and D 2 represents the height of the spring member in a natural state at the portions where the spring member contacts the support point members, the spring member is bent such that D 2 ≦D 1 .

2. The recording tape cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the spring member is made of metal.

3. The recording tape cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the support point members are molded integrally with the case.

4. The recording tape cartridge of claim 1 , wherein retention portions that retain the leader member are formed in the case, the retention portions include recessed surfaces, and the leader pin is urged toward the recessed surfaces by the spring member.

5. A recording tape cartridge comprising:

recording tape that includes an end portion to which a leader member is attached, with the recording tape being pulled out as a result of a pullout mechanism of a drive device engaging with the leader member;

a case that rotatably houses a single reel onto which the recording tape is wound;

retention portions that are formed inside the case and retain the leader member when the recording tape is housed inside the case with the leader member;

a spring member that is disposed inside the case and includes

an attachment portion attached to an attachment surface formed in the case and

pullout resistance force action portions that elastically deform when the leader member engaged by the pullout mechanism is pulled out from the retention portions and cause resistance force to act on the pulling out of the leader member; and

support point members that contact the spring member at contact portions between the attachment portion and the pullout resistance force action portions and offer support points for the deformation of the spring member,

wherein

the spring member includes bent portions between the contact portions and the attachment portion, and

when D 1 represents the height of the support point members measured from the attachment surface of the case, and D 2 represents the height of the spring member at the portions where the spring member contacts the support point members in a state where the spring member has not been attached to the case, D 2 ≦D 1 .

6. The recording tape cartridge of claim 5 , wherein the spring member is made of metal.

7. The recording tape cartridge of claim 5 , wherein the support point members are molded integrally with the case.

8. The recording tape cartridge of claim 5 , wherein the retention portions include recessed surfaces, and the leader pin is urged toward the recessed surfaces by the spring member.

9. A recording tape cartridge comprising:

recording tape that includes an end portion to which a leader member is attached, with the recording tape being pulled out as a result of a pullout mechanism of a drive device engaging with the leader member;

a case that rotatably houses a single reel onto which the recording tape is wound;

retention portions that are formed inside the case and retain the leader member when the recording tape is housed inside the case with the leader member;

a spring member that is disposed inside the case and includes an attachment portion that is attached to the case and pullout resistance force action portions that elastically deform when the leader member engaged by the pullout mechanism is pulled out from the retention portions and cause resistance force to act on the pulling out of the leader member; and

support point members that contact the spring member in a state where the leader member is housed in the retention portions and offer support points for the deformation of the spring member.

10. The recording tape cartridge of claim 9 , wherein the spring member is made of metal.

11. The recording tape cartridge of claim 9 , wherein the support point members are molded integrally with the case.

12. The recording tape cartridge of claim 9 , wherein the retention portions include recessed surfaces, and the leader pin is urged toward the recessed surfaces by the spring member.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 24, 2007
From: FUJIFILM HOLDINGS CORPORATION (FORMERLY FUJI PHOTO FILM CO. LTD.)
To: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 019331/0493 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 12, 2006
From: ISHIKAWA, REN; ASANO, KATSUKI
To: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 017474/0761 →