Cartridge storage container

Abstract

A cartridge storage container used in combination with another cartridge storage container identical in configuration with the cartridge storage container to provide a closed or interlocked cartridge storage container for storing a plurality of flat tape cartridges when the two cartridge storage containers are disposed in an inverse, confronting orientation and joined together. The cartridge storage container has at least one storage compartment so configured that a plurality of tape cartridges are stored therein in two way, individually in bulk and collectively in one bundle. The cartridge storage container is provided with a moisture absorbent in the form of sticks installed in shock-absorbable hollow buffer ribs formed in a wall portion of the storage compartment.

1 . A cartridge storage container used in combination with another cartridge storage container identical in configuration with the cartridge storage container to provide a closed cartridge storage container for storing a plurality of generally rectangular-shaped flat tape cartridges including therein a tape reel with a magnetic tape wound thereon, said cartridge storage container comprising:
 an open-topped container body forming a recess defined by a peripheral wall and a bottom wall therein; and   at least one generally rectangular-shaped storage compartment so formed in said recess that said storage compartment stores therein a plurality of said tape cartridges in side-by-side arrangement, individually in bulk and/or collectively in one bundle.   
   
   
       2 . The cartridge storage container as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said storage compartment is subdivided into a plurality of retention chambers for retaining said tape cartridges individually. 
   
   
       3 . The cartridge storage container as defined in  claim 2 , wherein each said retention chamber is defined between shallow grooves formed in opposite inner wall portions of said peripheral wall, each said shallow groove being so configured that said tape cartridge is slipped into said retention chamber with vertical edges of opposite ends in slide contact with, and retained between said shallow grooves. 
   
   
       4 . The cartridge storage container as defined in  claim 2 , and further comprising a parting strip vertically extending between each adjacent retention chambers for isolating said tape cartridges in said adjacent retention chambers from each other so as thereby to prevent said tape cartridges rubbing against each other. 
   
   
       5 . The cartridge storage container as defined in  claim 1 , and further comprising a partition wall dividing said recess into a plurality of storage compartments independent from one another, each said storage compartment being configured to store one bundle of said tape cartridges and so subdivided into a plurality of retention chambers that each said retention chamber is defined between shallow grooves formed in opposite inner wall portions surrounding said storage compartment, wherein each said shallow groove being so configured that said tape cartridge is slipped into said retention chamber with vertical edges of opposite ends in slide contact with, and retained between, said shallow grooves. 
   
   
       6 . The cartridge storage container as defined in  claim 5 , wherein said open-topped storage container body is molded as one piece from a thermoplastic resin material. 
   
   
       7 . The cartridge storage container as defined in  claim 6 , wherein said thermoplastic resin material comprises one selected from a group of polyethylene terephthalate resins, polypropylene resins and polystyrene resins. 
   
   
       8 . The cartridge storage container as defined in  claim 5 , wherein said open-topped storage container body is molded as one piece from a thermoplastic resin material. 
   
   
       9 . The cartridge storage container as defined in  claim 1 , and further comprising moisture absorption means disposed in said peripheral wall surrounding said storage compartment sad moisture absorption means absorbing moisture in said closed cartridge storage container when said two cartridge storage container are joined together. 
   
   
       10 . The cartridge storage container as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said moisture absorption means comprises a plurality of moisture absorbent sticks arranged in said storage compartment, each said moisture adsorbent stick comprising a fabric bag and a powdered moisture absorbent contained in said fabric bag. 
   
   
       11 . The cartridge storage container as defined in  claim 10 , wherein said powdered moisture absorbent comprises at least one selected from a group of a silica gel, a diatomaceous earth, zeolite, sepiolite, charcoal, porous ceramics and polymer polyethylene. 
   
   
       12 . The cartridge storage container as defined in  claim 10 , wherein said moisture adsorbent stick further comprises a color tone changeable substance in said fabric bag, said color tone changeable material changing in color tone to due to moisture absorption. 
   
   
       13 . The cartridge storage container as defined in  claim 10 , wherein said peripheral wall is provided with a plurality of buffer ribs formed in said peripheral wall in the shape of a hollow ridge opening into said recess, each said buffer rib being so configured that said moisture absorbent stick is detachably installed in said buffer rib. 
   
   
       14 . The cartridge storage container as defined in  claim 1 , and further comprising interfittable means provided in a peripheral wall, said interfittable means comprising two complementary interfittable elements being symmetrical about an axis of rotation such that, when said cartridge storage container is rotated about said axis of rotation into an inverse, confronting orientation to said other cartridge storage container, said complementary interfittable elements of said two cartridge storage containers interfit and frictionally interengage one another to form sealed enclosure 
   
   
       15 . The cartridge storage container as defined in  claim 14 , further comprising fusible means provided in a peripheral wall, said fusible means comprising a plurality of fusible elements disposed symmetrically about an axis of rotation such that, when said cartridge storage container is rotated about said axis of rotation into an inverse, confronting orientation to said other cartridge storage container, said fusible elements of said two cartridge storage containers mate with each other, wherein said mating fusible elements are fusion bonded to one another to form sealed enclosure. 
   
   
       16 . A cartridge storage container used in combination with another cartridge storage container identical in configuration with the cartridge storage container to provide a closed cartridge storage container for storing a plurality of generally rectangular-shaped flat tape cartridges including therein a tape reel with a magnetic tape wound thereon, said cartridge storage container comprising:
 an open-topped container body forming a recess defined by a peripheral wall and a bottom wall therein; and   at least one generally rectangular-shaped storage compartment so formed in said recess that said storage compartment stores therein a plurality of said tape cartridges in side-by-side arrangement, individually in bulk and/or collectively in one bundle;   a plurality of buffer ribs formed in said peripheral wall in the shape of a hollow ridge opening into said recess, each said buffer rib being configured to absorb external impulsive force thereon through distortion thereof, and   moisture absorption means disposed in said buffer ribs for absorbing moisture in said closed cartridge storage container when said two cartridge storage container are joined together.   
   
   
       17 . The cartridge storage container as defined in  claim 16 , wherein said moisture absorption means comprises a plurality of moisture absorbent sticks, each said moisture adsorbent stick comprising a 
   
   
       18 . The cartridge storage container as defined in  claim 19 , wherein said powdered moisture absorbent comprises at least one selected from a group of a silica gel, a diatomaceous earth, zeolite, sepiolite, charcoal, porous ceramics and polymer polyethylene. 
   
   
       19 . The cartridge storage container as defined in  claim 17 , wherein said moisture adsorbent stick further comprises a color tone changeable substance in said fabric bag, said color tone changeable material changing in color tone to due to moisture absorption.