Take-up reel and method of producing the same

Abstract

In a take-up reel ( 10 ) which is for taking up a tape ( 40 ) and which includes a cylindrical reel hub ( 12 ) having a rotation axis (O) and a pair of flanges ( 16, 17 ) attached to opposite ends of the reel hub, each of the pair of flanges having a generally disk-like shape with a circular opening ( 16 a or 17 a ) formed at a center of each of the pair of flanges, the reel hub and the pair of flanges are assembled by press-fitting without using an adhesive.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A take-up reel which is for taking up a tape and which comprises a cylindrical reel hub having a rotation axis and a pair of flanges attached to opposite ends of said reel hub, each of said pair of flanges having a generally disk-like shape with a circular opening formed at a center of each of said pair of flanges, wherein said reel hub and said pair of flanges are assembled by press-fitting.  
     
     
         2 . A take-up reel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said reel hub comprises an outer cylindrical portion defining an outer peripheral part for receiving said tape wound thereon, an inner cylindrical portion radially inwardly spaced from said outer cylindrical portion for receiving said pair of flanges press-fitted to said inner cylindrical portion, and an annular bridging portion bridging said inner cylindrical portion and said outer cylindrical portion;    each of said pair of flanges having a disk portion extending in parallel to a plane perpendicular to said rotation axis and an annular protrusion formed at an inner peripheral edge of said disk portion and protruding inward along said rotation axis to define said circular opening;    said press-fitting being carried out between the inner cylindrical portion of said reel hub and the annular protrusion of each of said pair of flanges.    
     
     
         3 . A take-up reel as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein: 
 each of said inner cylindrical portion and the annular protrusions of said pair of flanges has press-fit guide portions for carrying out positioning of said pair of flanges in a circumferential direction of said pair of flanges.    
     
     
         4 . A take-up reel as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein: 
 said circular opening has a diameter substantially equal to or smaller than that of an outer peripheral surface of said inner cylindrical portion;    the outer peripheral surface of said inner cylindrical portion and an inner peripheral surface of the annular protrusion of each of said pair of flanges defining press-fit surfaces at which said inner cylindrical portion and each of said pair of flanges are press-fitted to each other on said press-fitting.    
     
     
         5 . A take-up reel as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein: 
 each of said inner cylindrical portion and the annular protrusions of said pair of flanges has press-fit guide portions for carrying out positioning of said pair of flanges in a circumferential direction of said pair of flanges.    
     
     
         6 . A take-up reel as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein: 
 the press-fit guide portions of said inner cylindrical portion are press-fit guide grooves formed on the outer peripheral surface of said inner cylindrical portion;    the press-fit guide portions of the annular protrusions of said pair of flanges being press-fit guide protrusions formed on the inner peripheral surfaces of the annular protrusions of said pair of flanges.    
     
     
         7 . A tape drive comprising a take-up reel claimed in any one of claims  1  through  6 .  
     
     
         8 . A method of manufacturing a take-up reel which is for taking up a tape and which comprises a cylindrical reel hub having a rotation axis and a pair of flanges attached to opposite ends of said reel hub, each of said pair of flanges having a generally disk-like shape with a circular opening formed at a center of each of said pair of flanges, said method comprising the step of assembling said reel hub and said pair of flanges by press-fitting.