Data cartridge

In the present invention, the information recording medium and the memory cartridge are arranged inside the case body, and the memory cartridge is connected between the drive device and the memory reader on the library machine side, so that the memory cartridge is connected. Regarding a data cartridge that can read and write various data in.

The memory cartridge arranged inside the case of the data cartridge includes a contact type and a non-contact type. Both can read and write characteristic data of information recording media such as magnetic tapes and setting data at the time of recording. It is also being considered to add a non-contact type memory cartridge to a tape cartridge mainly used as a data recording medium of a computer, in which a directory of data files recorded on the tape, usage history data, etc. are stored in the memory cartridge. It is stored in the computer to realize quicker data retrieval and accurate data management, and also records manufacturer data such as lot number, tape specifications and characteristics.

A group of tape cartridges for recording computer data as described above is managed by a library machine. In this type of library machine, the desired tape cartridge is removed from a rack containing a large number of tape cartridges and loaded into a compatible tape drive. Specifically, the tape cartridge housed in the rack is grabbed by the hand part of the automated library machine and loaded into the tape drive. At this time, a memory reader including an antenna provided in the hand section reads the recorded data in the memory cartridge to grasp the specifications of the tape cartridge and the outline of the data, and prevents the wrong tape cartridge from being loaded into the tape drive. Or, different types of tape cartridges can be loaded into compatible tape drives. A similar memory reader is provided on the side of the tape drive.

The placement position of the memory cartridge inside the tape cartridge is determined by the placement position of the memory reader in the tape drive and library machine. In many cases, the memory cartridge is arranged along the rear end wall of the tape cartridge, which is the end side of loading into the tape drive (see Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2). This is because the library machine generally grabs the rear end of the tape cartridge, so if the memory cartridge is placed at that position, a good wireless connection with the memory reader provided on the library machine side can be achieved. By being able to secure. Further, on the tape drive side, a memory reader is provided near the opening of the cartridge loading port in accordance with the above-mentioned arrangement position of the memory cartridge.

<patcit num="1"><text>Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-117643 (Fig. 1, Fig. 4, Fig. 6)</text></patcit><patcit num="2"><text>JP-A-2002-117644 (Fig. 1, Fig. 3, Fig. 5, Fig. 6)</text></patcit>

<p> The present inventors are involved in the development of a new tape cartridge management system, in which a memory reader on the tape drive side is planned to be installed near the back end of the cartridge loading port for design reasons. ing. Therefore, in the conventional tape cartridge provided with the memory cartridge on the loading end side, there is a problem that the distance between the memory reader on the tape drive side and the memory cartridge is long, and a wired or wireless connection state cannot be established.</p><p> An object of the present invention is to transmit a read / write signal between a memory reader on the drive device side and a memory reader on the library machine side even when the memory reader on the drive device side is installed near the inner end of the cartridge loading port. An object of the present invention is to provide a data cartridge having a memory cartridge capable of reliably transmitting and receiving.</p>

<p> In the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, an information recording medium 3 and a non-contact type memory cartridge M are arranged inside the case body 1, and the memory cartridge M is a drive device 25 and a library. It is a data cartridge that can read and write various data in the memory cartridge M by establishing a wireless connection with the memory readers R1 and R2 on the machine 21 side.</p><p> In such a data cartridge, in the present invention, the memory cartridge M has an IC chip 13 for data storage, a first antenna A1 for establishing a wireless connection state with the memory reader R1 on the drive device 25 side, and a library machine 21 side. The first antenna A1 is arranged on the wall surface near the front end of the case body 1 which is the loading start side of the drive device 25, including the second antenna A2 that establishes a wireless connection state with the memory reader R2 of the above. The second antenna A2 is arranged on the wall surface near the rear end of the case body on the side opposite to the loading start end side. 1 to 3 show a form in which the first antenna A1 is arranged along the left side wall 15 near the front end of the case body 1 and the second antenna A2 is arranged along the rear side wall 17 of the case body 1.</p><p> The data cartridge of the present invention includes a single reel type tape cartridge used for backing up computer data, and a tape cartridge having a pair of left and right reels in the case body. Further, as the type of the information recording medium 3, in addition to the magnetic recording tape, a magneto-optical disk and the like can be mentioned, and therefore, the data cartridge according to the present invention also includes a disk cartridge in which the magneto-optical disk and the like are built-in. It is a concept.</p><p> As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the first and second antennas A1 and A2 are completely separate from the main body of the memory cartridge M having the IC chip 13, and as shown in FIG. 4, one of them is used. The antennas A1 and A2 (second antenna A2 in the illustrated example) may be the same as the main body of the memory cartridge M, and the other antenna (first antenna A1 in the illustrated example) may be separate from the memory cartridge M. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, "the memory cartridge M includes the IC chip 13, the first antenna A1, and the second antenna A2" as referred to in the present invention. It is a concept that also includes various forms.</p><p> Specifically, it is preferable that the first and second antennas A1 and A2 are arranged along the inner wall surface of the case body 1 so as to face the corresponding memory readers R1 and R2.</p><p> Further, in the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the information recording medium 3 and the memory cartridge M are arranged inside the case body 1, and the memory cartridge M is on the drive device 25 and the library machine 21 side. It is a data cartridge that can read and write various data in the memory cartridge M by making contact with the memory readers R1 and R2.</p><p> In such a data cartridge, in the present invention, the memory cartridge M is the first contact terminal T1 in which the IC chip 13 for data storage and the contact terminal of the memory reader R1 on the drive device 25 side are in contact with each other, and the library machine 21 side. The first contact terminal T1 including the second contact terminal T2 to which the contact terminal of the memory reader R2 contacts is arranged on the wall surface near the front end of the case body 1 which is the loading start end side of the drive device 25. The two contact terminals T2 are arranged on the wall surface near the rear end of the case body 1 on the side opposite to the loading start end side.</p><p> As shown in FIG. 5, the first and second contact terminals T1 and T2 are completely separate from the main body of the memory cartridge M having the IC chip 13, and as shown in FIG. 6, one of the contact terminals is used. T1 and T2 (second contact terminal T2 in the illustrated example) may be the same as the main body of the memory cartridge M, and the other contact terminal (first contact terminal T1 in the illustrated example) may be separate from the memory cartridge M. .. That is, "the memory cartridge M includes the IC chip 13, the first contact terminal T1, and the second contact terminal T2" as referred to in the present invention is shown in FIG. It is a concept that also includes the form shown.</p>

<p> If the antennas A1 and A2 of the memory cartridge M are separated from the IC chip 13, the arrangement positions of these antennas A1 and A2 are appropriately adjusted to the arrangement positions of the memory readers R1 and R2 in the drive device 25 and the library machine 21. Can be changed to. Now, as shown in Fig. 3, even if the memory reader R1 on the drive device 25 side is installed near the back end of the cartridge loading port 26, the two antennas A1 and A2 can be stored in the corresponding memory. By matching the positions of the readers R1 and R2, it is possible to reliably transmit and receive read / write signals without any trouble. In addition, the degree of freedom in design regarding the arrangement positions of the memory readers R1 and R2 in the drive device 25 and the library machine 21 is improved.</p><p> When the antennas A1 and A2 are arranged along the inner wall surface of the case body 1, the loading space of the antennas A1 and A2 inside the case body 1 can be reduced, and the degree of freedom in designing the data cartridge is improved. Moreover, the loading structure of the antennas A1 and A2 in the case body 1 is simplified, the assembly workability is improved, and the overall manufacturing cost of the data cartridge can be reduced.</p><p> By arranging the antennas A1 and A2 at positions facing the memory readers R1 and R2, it is possible to reliably send and receive read / write signals, and it has excellent reliability without being affected by radio wave interference or noise. A tape cartridge is obtained.</p><p> If the antennas A1 and A2 are placed in the triangular inner corner space S that occurs in the inner corner of the case body 1, the originally dead space can be effectively utilized without waste. Contributes to the miniaturization of data cartridges.</p><p> As shown in FIG. 5, if the contact terminals T1 and T2 of the memory cartridge M are separate from the IC chip 13, the arrangement positions of these contact terminals T1 and T2 are set to the memory readers R1 and R2 in the drive device 25 and the library machine 21. It can be changed as appropriate according to the arrangement position of. That is, even if the memory reader R1 on the drive device 25 side is installed near the inner end of the cartridge loading port 26, the drive device 25 side and the library machine can be used using the two contact terminals T1 and T2. It is possible to reliably transmit and receive read / write signals between the memory readers R1 and R2 on the 21st side. In addition, the degree of freedom in design regarding the arrangement positions of the memory readers R1 and R2 in the drive device 25 and the library machine 21 is improved.</p>

(First Embodiment) FIGS. 1 to 3 show a first embodiment in which the data cartridge according to the present invention is applied to a single reel type tape cartridge. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the tape cartridge has a square box-shaped case body 1 formed by connecting the upper and lower cases 1a and 1b in a lid-to-cover shape, and tapes (tapes) to one reel 2 arranged in the case body 1. Information recording medium) 3 is wrapped.

A tape outlet 5 is provided at one side end (right end) of the front side wall of the case body 1. A tip conductor 6 that is captured and connected by a connector on the tape drive side is provided at the feeding end of the tape 3. The tip conductor 6 when not in use is held and fixed in an upright standby posture by catch mechanisms provided above and below the inner surface of the tape outlet 5. The "forward direction" referred to here means a direction that is the loading start end side of the tape drive (drive device) 25, and the "rear direction" is a direction opposite to the loading start end side (loading). It means the direction of the end side).

Of the inner corners of the case body 1, three inner corners except the tape outlet 5 have a substantially triangular inner corner space S due to the circular arc-shaped floating regulation wall 7 along the peripheral edge of the reel 2. The compartments are formed. Of these, a switching piece 9 for preventing erroneous erasure is arranged in the inner corner space S1 on the front left side of the case body 1, and in another inner corner space S2 on the rear left side of the case. , Memory cartridge M is placed. The first and second antennas A1 and A2 of the memory cartridge M are separately arranged in these two inner corner spaces S1 and S2, respectively.

The memory cartridge M is a non-contact type horizontally long rectangular substrate 12 having insulation properties, an IC chip 13 arranged on one side of the substrate 12, and a separate body connected to the IC chip 13 via a cord 14. It consists of two antennas A1 and A2. The memory cartridge M is positioned and held along the left side wall 15 of the case body 1 so as not to fall inward by engaging with the positioning rib 16 provided on the inner surface of the left side wall 15 and to prevent rattling. .. The positioning ribs 16 are projected from the upper and lower cases 1a and 1b, respectively, and are butt-joined to receive both edge ends of the substrate 12 of the memory cartridge M in the length direction. A pair of grooves (not shown) for receiving the upper and lower edge edges of the substrate 12 are provided on the upper and lower inner wall surfaces of the case body 1. Thus, the memory cartridge M is mounted in the case body 1 in a posture in which the plate surface of the substrate 12 is vertical and the IC chip 13 is in a posture in which the IC chip 13 faces the inside of the case.

The first antenna A1 located in the inner corner space S1 on the front left side of the case body 1 is arranged along the left side wall 15 of the case body 1 and emits electromagnetic waves toward the left outer side of the case body 1.

The second antenna A2 located in the inner corner space S2 on the rear left side of the case body 1 is arranged along the vertical inner surface of the rear side wall 17 of the case body 1, and electromagnetic waves are emitted toward the rear outside of the case body 1. Is sent.

The first and second antennas A1 and A2 arranged in the case body 1 are also positioned and held in the case body 1 with substantially the same configuration as the previous memory cartridge M. That is, the antennas A1 and A2 are engaged with the positioning ribs 16 provided on the inner surfaces of the left side wall 15 and the rear side wall 17, respectively, and are positioned and held so as not to fall inward and to prevent rattling. ..

In FIGS. 2 and 3, reference numeral 20 indicates a hand portion of the library machine 21. The hand portion 20 is composed of upper and lower handles 22 and 22 and a connecting portion 23 that connects them. In this hand portion 20, one tape cartridge is taken out from a rack in which a plurality of tape cartridges are stored, and this is taken out. Load the tape drive 25 into the cartridge mounting port 26. The hand portion 20 holds the central portion in the left-right direction near the rear end of the case body 1 narrowly from the outside in the up-down direction.

A jig 27 is cantilevered from the left end surface of the connecting portion 23 of the hand portion 20, and the jig 27 is provided with a memory reader R2. The memory reader R2 faces the second antenna A2 when the hand unit 20 grabs the tape cartridge. Then, the library machine 21 can grasp the recorded contents of the tape cartridge and the like by reading the management information and the like in the memory cartridge M by the memory reader R2.

As shown in FIG. 3, inside the cartridge loading port 26 of the tape drive 25, a loading frame 29 that receives and supports the tape cartridge inserted and loaded from the loading port 26 is provided, and the inside of the loading frame 29. The memory reader R1 is installed at the front end on the left side of the back. The memory reader R1 is in a position facing the first antenna A1 when the tape cartridge inserted into the tape drive 25 via the cartridge loading port 26 is in the set position. Here, the set position means a state position of the tape cartridge so that the tape drive 25 can drive a drive mechanism, a signal reading / writing mechanism, or the like to read / write an information signal to / from the tape 2.

Thus, when the tape cartridge is loaded into the tape drive 25, the memory reader R1 establishes a wireless connection with the antenna A1, which allows the tape drive 25 to store directory information in the memory cartridge M. Read and write various information such as management information.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment in which the data cartridge according to the present invention is applied to a tape cartridge. There, the memory cartridge M is placed in the inner corner space S2 on the rear left side of the case body 1. This memory cartridge M is a non-contact type, horizontally long rectangular substrate 12 having insulating properties, an IC chip 13 arranged on one side surface thereof, and an IC chip 13 arranged on the substrate 12 so as to surround the periphery of the IC chip 13. It consists of an antenna A2. The memory cartridge M is positioned and held by engaging with a positioning rib 16 provided on the inner surface of the rear side wall 17, and emits an electromagnetic wave toward the rear outside of the case body 1.

The antenna A2 is located on the outer surface facing the rear side wall 17 of the substrate 12, so that the distance between the antenna A2 and the memory reader R2 (see FIG. 2) on the library machine side is small. The IC chip 13 and the antenna A2 are each coated with an insulating adhesive applied to the outer surface and sealed. The antenna A2 is formed by winding an insulating copper wire in a coil shape, or is formed of a coil-shaped printed wiring formed on a substrate 12.

The first antenna A1 is arranged along the left wall 15 in the inner corner space S1 on the left front side of the case, and emits electromagnetic waves toward the left outer side of the case body 1. The first antenna A1 and the memory cartridge M are connected via a cord 14.

According to such a tape cartridge, when the hand unit 20 grabs the tape cartridge, the antenna A2 of the memory cartridge M and the memory reader R2 face each other. Then, the library machine 21 can grasp the recorded contents of the tape cartridge and the like by reading the management information and the like in the memory cartridge M by the memory reader R2. Further, when the tape cartridge is loaded in the tape drive 25, the memory reader R1 establishes a wireless connection state with the antenna A1, so that the tape drive 25 can store directory information in the memory cartridge M. Read and write various information such as management information.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 5 shows a third embodiment in which the data cartridge according to the third embodiment is applied to a tape cartridge. The memory cartridge M there is a contact type memory cartridge, and is located on the tape drive 25 or the library machine 21 side via the contact terminals T1 and T2 provided on the first and second terminal units 33 and 34, respectively. Exchanges information with the memory readers R1 and R2. Specifically, when the contact terminals on the memory reader R1 / R2 side and the contact terminals T1 / T2 on the terminal units 33/34 side are physically in contact with each other to establish a conductive state, the memory cartridge M and the memory reader R1 -Information can be sent and received to and from R2. These terminal units 33 and 34 and the memory cartridge M are connected by a cord 14.

The first terminal unit 33 is arranged at substantially the same position as the first antenna A1 in the first embodiment, and the second terminal unit 34 is arranged at substantially the same position as the second antenna A2. That is, the first terminal unit 33 is arranged in the inner corner space S1 (see FIG. 1) along the left side wall 15 in a posture in which the contact terminal T1 is exposed from the left side wall 15 toward the outer surface. The second terminal unit 34 is arranged in an inner corner space S2 (see FIG. 1) along the rear side wall 17 in a posture in which the contact terminal T2 is exposed from the rear side wall 17 toward the outer surface.

According to such a tape cartridge, when the hand portion 20 grabs the tape cartridge, the contact terminal T2 of the second terminal unit 34 and the contact terminal of the memory reader R2 are in a conductive state. Then, the library machine 21 can grasp the recorded contents of the tape cartridge and the like by reading the management information and the like in the memory cartridge M by the memory reader R2. Further, when the tape cartridge is loaded in the tape drive 25, the contact terminal of the memory reader R1 establishes a conductive state with the contact terminal T1 of the first terminal unit 33, whereby the tape drive 25 becomes a memory. directory memory in the cartridge M to read and write various information such as management information and management information.

(Fourth Embodiment) FIG. 6 shows a fourth embodiment in which the tape cartridge according to the present invention is applied to a tape cartridge. There, the memory cartridge M is placed in the inner corner space S2 on the rear left side of the case body 1. The memory cartridge M is a contact type and includes a horizontally long rectangular substrate 12 having an insulating property, an IC chip 13 arranged on one side surface thereof, and a contact terminal T2 arranged on the surface of the substrate 12. The memory cartridge M is positioned and held by engaging with a positioning rib 16 provided on the inner surface of the rear side wall 17 in a posture in which the contact terminal T2 is exposed to the outside of the case through an opening formed by notching the rear side wall 17. There is.

The first terminal unit 33 is arranged in an inner corner space S1 (see FIG. 1) along the left side wall 15 in a posture in which the contact terminal T1 is exposed from the left side wall 15 toward the outer surface. The first terminal unit 33 and the memory cartridge M are connected via a cord 14.

According to such a tape cartridge, when the hand portion 20 grabs the tape cartridge, the contact terminals T2 of the memory cartridge M and the contact terminals of the memory reader R2 are in a conductive state. Then, the library machine 21 can grasp the recorded contents of the tape cartridge and the like by reading the management information and the like in the memory cartridge M by the memory reader R2. Further, when the tape cartridge is loaded in the tape drive 25, the contact terminal of the memory reader R1 establishes a conductive state with the contact terminal T1 of the first terminal unit 33, whereby the tape drive 25 becomes a memory. Read and write various information such as stored directory information and management information in the cartridge M.

<figref num="1">Internal plan view of the main part of the data cartridge according to the first embodiment of the present invention.</figref><figref num="2">Perspective view showing the acquisition state of the data cartridge by the library machine</figref><figref num="3">Top view showing the state of the data cartridge in the drive device</figref><figref num="4">Internal plan view of the main part of the data cartridge according to the second embodiment of the present invention.</figref><figref num="5">Perspective view of the main part of the data cartridge according to the third embodiment of the present invention.</figref><figref num="6">Internal plan view of the main part of the data cartridge according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.</figref>

Code description

1 Case body 3 Information recording medium (tape) 13 IC chip 21 Library machine 25 Tape drive 26 Cartridge mounting port M Memory cartridge A1 1st antenna A2 2nd antenna R1 Memory reader R2 Memory reader T1 Contact terminal T2 Contact terminal