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.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]The present invention relates to a cartridge storage container for containing flat tape cartridges with electromagnetic tapes wound on reels therein.[0003]2. Description of Related Art[0004]Typically, it is general in an ordinary shipping process of, or in workplaces for, collective packages of one-reel type magnetic tape cartridges to secure protection of the magnetic tape cartridges against impulsive force by filling a cardboard packaging box 105 with a certain number of the tape cartridges 101 individually put in protective cases 103, respectively, as shown in FIG. 22. An issue on convenience of handling the collective package with the tape cartridges 101 contained in the cardboard packaging box 105 is that the cardboard packaging box 5 has to be opened in order to check as to whether there is any of the tape cartridges 101 and / or the type of the tape cartridges 101. Further, if the cardboard packaging box 105 is bed...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a cartridge storage container for packing rectangular-shaped tape cartridges. The container has an open-topped recess with a peripheral wall and bottom wall, and at least one storage compartment for storing the tape cartridges. The storage compartment is subdivided into retention chambers to prevent the cartridges from rubbing against each other. The container also has moisture absorption means to prevent moisture from entering the closed container. The container can be joined together with another identical container to form a sealed enclosure. The container has interfittable means or fusible elements in the peripheral wall that can interengage or bond with each other to create a sealed enclosure. The technical effects of the invention are to provide a convenient and secure way to pack and protect tape cartridges.

Problems solved by technology

When tearing the cardboard packaging box open and then to take out the cartridge storage container 1, it is troublesome to lay hands on the cartridge storage container 1 because there is no clearance between the cartridge storage container 1 and the inner wall of the cardboard packaging box.

If trying to wedge fingers, the packaging operator possibly injures his fingers with an edge of the cartridge storage container 1.

Further, because the cartridge storage container 1 has ribs 5 which divide the interior into individual retention chambers 3 for retaining tape cartridges erected individually, it is unavoidable to put the tape cartridges within the individual retention chambers 3 one by one.

Therefore, the cartridge storage container 1 is inconvenient when packaging a large number of tape cartridges therein.

However, while the cartridge storage container is suitable for collective packaging of a plurality of tape cartridges, it is hard to securely pack the cartridge storage container with few or several tape cartridges because the cartridge storage container is not expected to be packed with tape cartridges in bulk and is accordingly provided with clearance between the storage compartment and the inner wall of the container.

Furthermore, because the cartridge storage container is vacuum formed as a single-piece product from a suitable thermoplastic material, it is susceptible to dimensional variations due to, in particular, generation of clearance between the storage compartment and tape cartridges put in the storage compartment.

Such clearance allows the tape cartridges to jolt and rub against one another during shipping and in workplaces and, as a result leads to a chance of damages.

Generally, a moisture content in the storage compartment is one of significant risk factors contributing to deterioration in property of a recording medium such as a magnetic tape in the tape cartridge.

If the storage compartment with tape cartridges is left in a humid environment for a long term, the recording medium possibly gets unusable due to corrosion.

Images