Method and apparatus for producing magnetic tape cartridge

Abstract

A magnetic tape is spaced from and by an air guide and simultaneously tilted down in a transverse direction thereof by the air guide and is subsequently wound on a reel hub of a tape reel installed in a cartridge shell housing with the downside edge thereof leaned on one of reel flanges of the tape reel which is on the same side as the downside edge of the magnetic reel so as to complete a magnetic tape cartridge. The air guide comprises an air blowing means device for blowing pressurized air against the magnetic tape in a specified pressure distribution pattern in which pressure is lower on the downside edge than on an opposite side edge in the transverse direction so as hereby to tilt down the magnetic tape in the transverse direction.

1 . A method for producing a magnetic tape cartridge by winding a magnetic tape around a tape reel having a reel hub and reel flanges secured to the reel hub which is installed in a cartridge shell housing, said magnetic tape cartridge producing method comprising the steps of: 
 feeding a magnetic tape toward said tape reel;    tilting down said magnetic tape in a transverse direction of said magnetic tape while guiding said magnetic tape in non-contact with said magnetic tape within a specified guide area in a longitudinal direction of said magnetic tape; and    winding said magnetic tape on said reel hub with a downside edge of said magnetic tape leaned on a specified one of said reel flanges.    
     
     
         2 . The magnetic tape cartridge producing method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said tilting down of said magnetic tape is performed by air.  
     
     
         3 . The magnetic tape cartridge producing method as defined in  claim 2 , wherein said air blows against said magnetic tape in a pressure distribution pattern in which pressure is lower on said downside edge than on an opposite side edge in said transverse direction.  
     
     
         4 . The magnetic tape cartridge producing method as defined in  claim 2 , wherein said air blows against said magnetic tape in a pressure distribution pattern in which pressures gradually decrease in said transverse direction in proportion as getting closer to said downside edge of said magnetic tape.  
     
     
         5 . The magnetic tape cartridge producing method as defined in  claim 2 , wherein said air blows against said magnetic tape in a pressure distribution pattern in which pressure is lower at the middle of said specified guide area in said lengthwise direction than at extreme ends of said specified guide area in said lengthwise direction.  
     
     
         6 . The magnetic tape cartridge producing method as defined in  claim 2 , wherein said air blows against said magnetic tape in a pressure distribution pattern in which pressures gradually increase in said guiding direction as getting closer to extreme ends of said specified guide area in said lengthwise direction.  
     
     
         7 . An apparatus for producing a magnetic tape cartridge by winding a magnetic tape around a tape reel having a reel hub and reel flanges secured to the reel hub which is installed in a cartridge shell housing, said magnetic tape cartridge producing apparatus comprising: 
 a tape reel for feeding a magnetic tape;    air guide means for tilting down said magnetic tape in a transverse direction of said magnetic tape while guiding said magnetic tape in non-contact with said magnetic tape within a specified guide area in a longitudinal direction of said magnetic tape; and    winding means for winding said magnetic tape on said reel hub with a downside edge of said magnetic tape leaned on a specified one of said reel flanges.    
     
     
         8 . The magnetic tape cartridge producing method as defined in  claim 7 , wherein said guiding means comprises air blowing means for blowing pressurized air against said magnetic tape in a specified pressure distribution pattern in which pressure is lower on said downside edge than on an opposite side edge in said transverse direction so as hereby to tilt down said magnetic tape in a transverse direction of said magnetic tape.  
     
     
         9 . The magnetic tape cartridge producing method as defined in  claim 8 , wherein said air blowing means comprises an air supply source for supplying pressurized air and a cylindrical tape guide barrel disposed in a path of said magnetic tape with a center axis put in parallel with an axis of rotation of said tape reel for forming an air chamber therein for receiving said pressurized air, said cylindrical tape guide barrel having a number of air discharge orifices formed in the barrel wall so as to blow said pressurized air introduced in said air chamber against said magnetic tape in said specified pressure distribution pattern, thereby spacing said magnetic tape from said cylindrical tape guide barrel and tilting down said magnetic tape in a transverse direction of said magnetic tape.  
     
     
         10 . The magnetic tape cartridge producing method as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said air discharge orifices are distributed in axial and circumferential directions, said air discharge orifices in said axial direction being made smaller in diameter on a base side of said cylindrical tape guide barrel which is on the same side as said specified reel flange than at the middle of said specified guide area in said axial direction.  
     
     
         11 . The magnetic tape cartridge producing method as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said air discharge orifices are distributed in axial and circumferential directions, said air discharge orifices in said axial direction decreasing gradually smaller in diameter as getting on toward a base side of said cylindrical tape guide barrel which is on the same side as said specified reel flange.  
     
     
         12 . The magnetic tape cartridge producing method as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said air discharge orifices are distributed in a distribution pattern in which a density of distribution is lower on a base side of said cylindrical tape guide barrel which is on the same side as said specified reel flange than at the middle of said specified guide area in said axial direction.  
     
     
         13 . The magnetic tape cartridge producing method as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said air discharge orifices are distributed in a distribution pattern in which a density of distribution is gradually made lower as getting on toward a base side of said cylindrical tape guide barrel which is on the same side as said specified reel flange.  
     
     
         14 . The magnetic tape cartridge producing method as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said air discharge orifices are distributed in axial and circumferential directions, said air discharge orifices in said circumferential direction being made larger in diameter on opposite extreme ends of said specified guide area in said circumferential direction than at the middle of said specified guide area in said circumferential direction.  
     
     
         15 . The magnetic tape cartridge producing method as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said air discharge orifices are distributed in axial and circumferential directions, said air discharge orifices in said circumferential direction increasing gradually larger in diameter as getting on toward an extreme end of said specified guide area.  
     
     
         16 . The magnetic tape cartridge producing method as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said air discharge orifices are distributed in a distribution pattern in which a density of distribution is higher on opposite extreme ends of said specified guide area in said circumferential direction than at the middle of said specified guide area in said circumferential direction.  
     
     
         17 . The magnetic tape cartridge producing method as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said air discharge orifices are distributed in a distribution pattern in which a density of distribution is gradually made higher as getting on toward an extreme end of said specified guide area in said circumferential direction.