Recording tape cartridge

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 7,540,446
App. No.: 11/353,069
Granted: Jun 2, 2009
Kind: B2

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Abstract

A recording tape cartridge includes: a reel having a cylindrical hub with a bottom and a reel gear formed therein with recording tape wound therearound; a casing; a brake component; and a releasing component that is provided between the bottom of the hub and the brake component and which has plural legs inserted through plural through-holes formed on the reel gear where, when in use, the plural legs are pressed upwards by a drive gear of a drive device, whereby the releasing component lifts the brake component, releases engagement with the engaging portion and rotates with the reel. The legs are formed into approximate D shapes in plan view whose outer side surfaces facing an inner peripheral surface of the hub are flat surfaces, while the through-holes are formed into approximate D shapes in plan view through which the legs can each be inserted.

Claims (30)

1. A recording tape cartridge comprising:

a reel having a cylindrical hub with a bottom and a reel gear formed therein with recording tape wound around the outer peripheral surface of the hub;

a casing in which the reel is singly and rotatably accommodated;

a brake component that is provided inside the hub and made to be non-rotatable relative to the casing and which, when not in use, engages an engaging portion formed in the hub and blocks rotation of the reel; and

a releasing component that is provided between the bottom of the hub and the brake component and which has a plurality of legs inserted through a plurality of through-holes formed on the reel gear where, when in use, the plurality of legs are pressed upwards by a drive gear of a drive device, whereby the releasing component lifts the brake component, releases engagement with the engaging portion and rotates with the reel,

wherein the plurality of legs are formed into approximate D shapes in plan view whose outer side surfaces facing an inner peripheral surface of the hub are flat surfaces, while the plurality of through-holes are formed into approximate D shapes in plan view whose outer peripheral portions facing an inner peripheral surface of the hub are approximate straight-line through which the plurality of legs can each be inserted.

2. The recording tape cartridge recited in claim 1 , wherein the brake component is disc-shaped and has an annular brake gear formed on a surface of the brake component facing the releasing component, and the engaging portion is formed from a gear that can mesh with the brake gear.

3. The recording tape cartridge recited in claim 2 , wherein a releasing portion that contacts the releasing component is provided on the surface of the brake component facing the releasing component.

4. The recording tape cartridge recited in claim 1 , further comprising a biasing component that biases the brake component towards the direction of the engaging portion.

5. The recording tape cartridge recited in claim 1 , wherein the releasing component, when viewed as a planar surface, has an approximate polygon shape and a plurality of second through-holes provided therein, and the plurality of legs are provided so as to respectively protrude from each of the tip portions of the polygons.

6. A recording tape cartridge comprising:

a reel having a cylindrical hub with a bottom and a reel gear formed therein with recording tape wound around the outer peripheral surface of the hub;

a casing in which the reel is singly and rotatably accommodated;

wherein the plurality of legs are formed into approximate bent D shapes in plan view whose outer side surfaces facing an inner peripheral surface of the hub are curved surfaces parallel to the inner peripheral surface of the hub, while the plurality of through-holes are formed into approximate bent D shapes in plan view whose outer peripheral portions facing an inner peripheral surface of the hub have an arc parallel to the inner peripheral surface of the hub through which the plurality of legs can each be inserted.

7. The recording tape cartridge recited in claim 6 , wherein the brake component is disc-shaped and has an annular brake gear formed on a surface of the brake component facing the releasing component, and the engaging portion is formed from a gear that can mesh with the brake gear.

8. The recording tape cartridge recited in claim 7 , wherein a releasing portion that contacts the releasing component is provided on the surface of the brake component facing the releasing component.

9. The recording tape cartridge recited in claim 6 , further comprising a biasing component that biases the brake component towards the direction of the engaging portion.

10. The recording tape cartridge recited in claim 6 , wherein the releasing component, when viewed as a planar surface, has an approximate polygon shape and a plurality of second through-holes provided therein, and the plurality of legs are provided so as to respectively protrude from each of the tip portions of the polygons.

11. A recording tape cartridge comprising:

a reel having a cylindrical hub with a bottom and a reel gear formed therein with recording tape wound around the outer peripheral surface of the hub;

a casing in which the reel is singly and rotatably accommodated;

wherein the plurality of legs are formed into approximate bent D shapes in plan view whose outer side surfaces facing an inner peripheral surface of the hub have a radius of curvature that is two times or more the radius of curvature of inner side surfaces thereof, while the plurality of through-holes are formed into approximate bent D shapes in plan view whose outer peripheral portions facing an inner peripheral surface of the hub have a radius of curvature that is two times or more the radius of curvature of inner side surfaces through which the plurality of legs can each be inserted.

12. The recording tape cartridge recited in claim 11 , wherein the brake component is disc-shaped and has an annular brake gear formed on a surface of the brake component facing the releasing component, and the engaging portion is formed from a gear that can mesh with the brake gear.

13. The recording tape cartridge recited in claim 12 , wherein a releasing portion that contacts the releasing component is provided on the surface of the brake component facing the releasing component.

14. The recording tape cartridge recited in claim 11 , further comprising a biasing component that biases the brake component towards the direction of the engaging portion.

15. The recording tape cartridge recited in claim 11 , wherein the releasing component, when viewed as a planar surface, has an approximate polygon shape and a plurality of second through-holes provided therein, and the plurality of legs are provided so as to respectively protrude from each of the tip portions of the polygons.