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:
May. 04, 2004
Filed:
Oct. 15, 2002
Yoshinori Tangi, Hachiouji, JP;
Eiichi Yoneyama, Atsugi, JP;
Kazuya Tamura, Isehara, JP;
Hiromi Inoguchi, Chofu, JP;
Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
In a reel hub releasing mechanism, a seesaw type release lever is arranged so as to be turnable with its central part as a fulcrum, and it includes first and second flat members extending onto both sides from the fulcrum. The first flat member has an engaging protrusion at its distal end, while the second flat member has at its distal end a lever manipulating protrusion which protrudes upwards in order to manipulate a lock lever. A tape cartridge is formed with a window for snugly inserting the lever manipulating protrusion. When the lever manipulating protrusion abuts against the lock lever through the window, the operation of releasing reel hub lock is effected, and the tape cartridge is positioned so that the position of the window in the direction of inserting the tape cartridge into the slot of a tape drive may become substantially equal to the position of the lever manipulating protrusion in the inserting direction. It is accordingly possible to provide that reel hub lock mechanism of the tape drive which can position the tape cartridge simultaneously with the release of the reel hub lock, without separately forming any positioning part, and the tape drive which comprises the reel hub lock mechanism.