The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 24, 2001
Filed:
Jul. 25, 2000
Motohiko Shima, Tokyo, JP;
Hiroshi Kaneda, Tokyo, JP;
TDK Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A tape cartridge having a housing formed of upper and lower casings, a single tape reel around which a length of tape is wound and which is turnably held within the housing, the lower casing having an opening through which a drive shaft of a recorder is to be inserted, the tape reel having an upper flange, a lower flange, and a hub which is open at top and closed at bottom, the hub having a hole formed at its bottom in engagement with a brake release plate, a metal disk disposed on the outer side of the bottom of the hub, teeth formed on the bottom around the disk for engagement with the drive shaft of a recorder, the hub having teeth provided on the inner side of its bottom in mesh with a brake lock, a brake release plate mounted in the hub in engagement with its hole, a brake lock mounted further on the brake release plate, the brake lock having brake teeth on the outer periphery of its bottom and follower projections on its top, the hub teeth and the brake teeth of the brake lock being engageable to prevent turning of the tape reel, the follower projections being adapted to be guided by a guide provided in the upper casing, and a spring member disposed between the brake lock and upper casing to urge the brake lock normally in the braking position. The guide of the upper casing and the follower of the brake lock having contours such that the former has guide slopes and positioning points and the latter has projections adapted to be guided by the guide slopes and positioned at the positioning points so that the latter revolves in sliding contact with and fits in the former for positioning.