Rack•pinion mechanism, an accessor, and a magnetic tape apparatus
A rack•pinion mechanism in which strength of a member to form a rack can be secured and a member including a pinion can be securely moved in a predetermined direction, and an accessor and a magnetic tape apparatus each including the mechanism are provided. For this purpose, in a picker 22 , a pair of projections 222 a and 222 b are formed to sandwich both side surfaces of a pinion 211 , the projections 222 a and 222 b perpendicularly rising toward a base 21 and curving or bending in an intermediate position thereof; in the base 21 , a pair of grooves 212 a and 212 b are formed on both sides of a rack 211 in a shape to engage with the projections 222 a and 222 b , a section sandwiched by the grooves 212 a and 212 b is an engage section 213 including the rack 211 in a center of a wide section 213 a at a tip end thereof; and by engaging the projections 222 a and 222 b with the grooves 212 a and 212 b , the wide section 213 a is held between the projections 222 a and 222 b.
1. A rack-and-pinion mechanism comprising a first block including a rack and a second block including a pinion in which teeth are disposed to oppose the first block to engage with the rack, the first and second blocks relatively conducting linear movement in association with rotation of the pinion, wherein:
in the second block, a pair of projections are formed to sandwich axially side surfaces of the pinion, the projections perpendicularly rising toward the first block and curving or bending in an intermediate position thereof;
in the first block, a pair of grooves are formed on sides of the rack in a shape to engage with the pair of projections, the pair of grooves extending parallel to the rack, and a section sandwiched by the pair of grooves comprises an engage section including the rack in a center of a wide section at a tip end thereof; and
by engaging the pair of projections with the grooves, the wide section at the tip end of the engage section is held between the pair of projections.
2. A rack-and-pinion mechanism in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the pair of projections are respectively curved or bent such that each of the tip ends of the projections faces a projection side of another one of the projections.
3. A rack-and-pinion mechanism in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the pair of projections are respectively curved or bent such that each of the tip ends of the projections faces a side opposite to a side which other one of the projections faces.
4. A rack-and-pinion mechanism in accordance with claim 1 , wherein in the pair of projections, a tip end side thereof has a tapered contour as compared with a curved or bent section thereof.
5. An accessor comprising a rack-and-pinion mechanism in accordance with claim 1 , wherein:
the second block comprises a base to hold a cartridge tape; and
the first block comprises a picker to draw the cartridge tape into the base.
6. A magnetic tape apparatus comprising an accessor in accordance with claim 5 , wherein:
the magnetic tape apparatus draws a cartridge tape stored in an array vertical to a moving direction of the picker, by the picker into the base and holds the cartridge tape therein and moves the accessor along an array direction of the cartridge tape, to thereby transport the cartridge tape held in the base to a drive which conducts one or more of data reading and data writing operations.
7. The rack-and-pinion mechanism in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said grooves formed on sides of the rack are formed outside the rack.
8. The rack-and-pinion mechanism in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said grooves comprise substantially an L shape when viewed in a cross section.
9. The rack-and-pinion mechanism in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said engage section comprises substantially a T shape when viewed in a cross section.
10. The rack-and-pinion mechanism in accordance with claim 1 , wherein a gap amount between said grooves is substantially equal to a gap amount between said projections.
11. A rack-and-pinion mechanism, comprising:
a rack formed in a first surface;
a pinion formed in a second surface;
a groove formed on a side of said rack; and
a projection formed on a side of said pinion,
wherein said groove surrounds said projection, preventing a vertical movement of said second surface.
12. The rack-and-pinion mechanism according to claim 11 , wherein at least one of said projection and said groove includes a bent portion.
13. The rack-and-pinion mechanism according to claim 11 , further comprising:
another groove formed on an opposite side of said rack; and
another projection formed on an opposite side of said pinion,
wherein said another groove surrounds said another projection.
14. The rack-and-pinion mechanism according to claim 11 , wherein at least one of said projection and said groove comprises substantially an L shape.
15. The rack-and-pinion mechanism according to claim 11 , wherein said vertical movement of said second surface is prevented with respect to the first surface.
16. The rack-and-pinion mechanism according to claim 11 , wherein said second surface comprises a picker.
17. The rack-and-pinion mechanism according to claim 16 , wherein said first surface comprises a base.
18. The rack-and-pinion mechanism according to claim 11 , wherein said groove extends parallel to said rack.
19. The rack-and-pinion mechanism according to claim 13 , wherein said groove and said another groove extend parallel to said rack.
20. The rack-and-pinion mechanism according to claim 13 , wherein said groove and said another groove are formed in a shape to engage with said projection and said another projection, respectively.