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 (16a or 17a) 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.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus such as a linear tape storage system represented by DLT (digital liner tape) or LTO (linear tape open) and, in particular, to a take-up reel used in the linear tape storage system and a method of producing the same.

[0002] A linear tape storage system of the type described has been developed as a backup system for a computer system. A variety of linear tape storage systems have heretofore been proposed. For example, a digital linear tape drive as the DLT is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,862,014 to Nute, entitled “Multi-Channel Magnetic Tape Head Module Including Flex Circuit”.

[0003] The digital linear tape drive (hereinafter may simply be called “driving apparatus”, “tape drive”, or “drive”) is adapted to receive a tape cartridge (hereinafter may simply be called “cartridge”) having a single reel (supply reel). The digital linear tape drive contains a take-up reel therein. When the tape cartridge is received in the driving apparatus, a magnetic tape is pulled out from the tape cartridge to be taken up by the take-up reel through a head guide assembly (HGA). The head guide assembly serves to guide to a magnetic head the magnetic tape (hereinafter may simply be called “tape”) pulled out from the tape cartridge. The magnetic head exchanges information between the tape and the magnetic head. Typically, the head guide assembly comprises a boomerang-shaped aluminum plate and a plurality of large guide rollers, six in number, each of which comprises a bearing.

[0004] The head guide assembly is also called a tape guide assembly which is disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,414,585 to Saliba, entitled “Rotating Tape Edge Guide.” In addition, an example of the guide roller is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-100025 (JP 2000-100025 A).

[0005] As disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,793,574 to Cranson et al, entitled “Tape Head Actuator Assembly Having A Shock Suppression Sleeve”, the tape drive typically comprises a generally rectangular housing having a common base. The base has two spindle motors (reel motors). The first spindle motor has a spool (take-up reel) permanently mounted to the base and dimensioned to receive a magnetic tape streaming at a relatively high speed. The second spindle motor (reel motor) is adapted to receive a removable tape cartridge. The removable tape cartridge is manually or automatically inserted into the drive via a slot formed on a housing of the drive. When the tape cartridge is inserted into the slot, the cartridge is engaged with the second spindle motor (reel motor). Prior to rotation of the first and the second spindle motors (reel motors), the tape cartridge is connected to the permanently mounted spool (take-up reel) by means of a mechanical buckling mechanism. A number of rollers (guide rollers) are positioned between the tape cartridge and the permanently mounted spool and guide the magnetic tape as it streams at a relatively high speed back and forth between the tape cartridge and the permanently mounted spool.

[0006] The digital linear tape drive of the above-mentioned structure requires an apparatus for pulling the tape from the supply reel to the take-up reel. Such a pulling apparatus is disclosed, for example, in International Publication No. WO 86/07471. According to the disclosure in WO 86/07471, a first tape leader as take up leader means is coupled to the take-up reel while a second tape leader as supply tape leader means is fixed to the tape on the supply reel. The first tape leader has a tab formed at its one end. The second tape leader has a locking hole. The tab is engaged with the locking hole. The tape leader may be called a “leader tape”.

[0007] Furthermore, a mechanism for joining the first tape leader to the second tape leader is required. Such joining mechanism is disclosed, for example, in International Publication No. WO 86/07295.

[0008] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-100116 (JP 2000-100116 A) discloses a structure of a leader tape engaging part which is capable of engaging an end portion of a leader tape (second tape leader) to a tape end hooking part of a tape cartridge without requiring a tab laterally protruding from the leader tape.

[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,857,634 to Hertrich, entitled “Take-up Reel Lock” discloses a locking system for preventing the rotation of a take-up reel of a tape drive when a tape cartridge is not inserted into the drive.

[0010] On the other hand, an example of the tape cartridge to be received in the digital linear tape drive is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-149491 (JP 2000-149491 A).

[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 6,241,171 to Gaboury, entitled “Leaderless Tape Drive” discloses a tape drive in which a tape leader is urged from a tape cartridge to a take-up reel without using a bucking mechanism or a take-up leader.

[0012] The tape drive further comprises a magnetic tape head actuator assembly. The magnetic tape head actuator assembly is located between the take-up spool and the tape cartridge along a tape path defined by the rollers. During operation, the magnetic tape streams back and forth between the take-up spool and the tape cartridge and comes into close proximity to the magnetic tape head actuator assembly while the magnetic tape streams along the defined tape path. An example of the tape head actuator assembly is disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,793,574 mentioned above.

[0013] In the meanwhile, the take-up reel mounted on the tape drive serves to take up the leader tape and the magnetic tape and comprises a cylindrical reel hub having a rotation axis and a pair of flanges attached to opposite ends of the reel hub. Each of the flanges has a generally disk-like shape having a circular opening formed at its center. In the take-up reel, the reel hub and the flanges are assembled by adhesion using an adhesive.

[0014] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, description will be made in detail about a related take-up reel 10′.

[0015] The take-up reel 10′ illustrated in the figures is for taking up a tape such as a leader tape and a magnetic tape and comprises a cylindrical reel hub 12′ having a rotation axis O and a pair of flanges 16′ and 17′ attached to opposite ends 121′ and 122′ of the reel hub 12′, respectively. Hereinafter, one end 121′ and the other end 122′ of the reel hub 12′ will be called a first end and a second end, respectively. Similarly, one flange 16′ and the other flange 17′ will be called a first flange and a second flange, respectively. The first and the second flanges 16′ and 17′ have a generally disk-like shape and are provided with first and second circular openings 16′a and 17′a formed at their centers, respectively.

[0016] More specifically, the first and the second ends 121′ and 122′ of the reel hub 12′ are provided with first and second annular grooves 121′a and 122′a, respectively. The first and the second ends 121′ and 122′ have inner peripheral surfaces provided with first and second annular protrusions 121′b and 122′b extending outward in parallel to the rotation axis O to protrude slightly over outer peripheral surfaces thereof. The first and the second annular protrusions 121′b and 122′b are provided with first and second slits 121′c and 122′c for positioning the first and the second flanges 16′ and 17′, respectively.

[0017] On the other hand, the first and the second flanges 16′ and 17′ are symmetrical in shape with each other with respect to a virtual plane VP perpendicular to the rotation axis O as a symmetry plane. The first and the second flanges 16′ and 17′ have first and second disk portions 161′ and 171′, respectively. The first and the second disk portions 161′ and 171′ have first and second sectorial protrusions 162′ and 172′ protruding outward along the rotation axis O, respectively, to be away from the reel hub 12′ when the first and the second flanges 16′ and 17′ are assembled with the reel hub 12′. The first and the second sectorial protrusions 162′ and 172′ are provided for the reason which will presently be described. As disclosed in WO 86/07471 or WO 86/07295, the second leader tape pulled out from the supply reel contained in the tape cartridge has a pair of tabs formed at its forward end to protrude on lateral sides. The first and the second sectorial protrusions 162′ and 172′ are formed so that the forward end of the second tape leader provided with the tabs can be received in the take-up reel 10′.

[0018] Furthermore, the first and the second flanges 16′ and 17′ have first and second annular protrusions 163′ and 173′ formed at inner peripheral edges of the first and the second disk portions 161′ and 171′ to protrude inward along the rotation axis O towards the reel hub 12′ so that the first and the second circular openings 16′a and 17′a are defined, respectively. The first and the second annular protrusions 163′ and 173′ are provided with first and second positioning protrusions 163′a and 173′a protruding radially inward to be engageable with the first and the second slits 121′c and 122′c of the reel hub 12′, respectively. The first and the second circular openings 16′a and 17′a of the first and the second flanges 16′ and 17′ have diameters substantially equal to or slightly greater than outer diameters of the first and the second annular protrusions 121′b and 122′b of the reel hub 12′, respectively.

[0019] Next, description will be made of a process of assembling the take-up reel 10′ of the above-mentioned structure. At first, an adhesive (not shown) is supplied in the first and the second annular grooves 121′a and 122′a of the reel hub 12′. In this state, the first and the second positioning protrusions 163′a and 173′a of the first and the second flanges 16′ and 17′ are engaged with the first and the second slits 121′c and 122′c of the reel hub 12′, respectively, so that the first and the second flanges 16′ and 17′ are properly positioned with respect to the reel hub 12′. Simultaneously, the first and the second annular protrusions 163′ and 173′ of the first and the second flanges 16′ and 17′ are fitted into the first and the second annular grooves 121′a and 122′a of the reel hub 12′, respectively. Thus, the take-up reel 10′ is assembled as illustrated in FIG. 2.

[0020] At any rate, in the take-up reel 10′, the reel hub 12′ and the flanges 16′ and 17′ are assembled by adhesion using the adhesive.

[0021] Such assembling of the take-up reel 10′ by adhesion using the adhesive is disadvantageous in the following respects. If the adhesive supplied into the first and the second annular grooves 121′a and 122′a of the reel hub 12′ leaks out, various troubles, such as defective adhesion or defective curing, may often be caused to occur. In addition, assembling using the adhesive requires a waiting time before the adhesive is cured.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0022] It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a take-up reel in which a reel hub and a pair of flanges can be assembled without using an adhesive so as to avoid defective adhesion resulting from assembling using the adhesive.

[0023] It is another object of this invention to provide a take-up reel which can be assembled without requiring a step of curing an adhesive so as to reduce a production cost.

[0024] It is still another object of this invention to provide a take-up reel which is improved in accuracy of an outer peripheral part of a reel hub after press-fit assembling.

[0025] It is yet another object of this invention to provide a tape drive using a take-up reel in which a reel hub and a pair of flanges can be assembled without using an adhesive.

[0026] It is a further object of this invention to provide a method of manufacturing a take-up reel in which a reel hub and a pair of flanges can be assembled without using an adhesive.

[0027] Other objects of this invention will become clear as the description proceeds.

[0028] Take-up reels according to this invention, a tape drive according to this invention, and a method of manufacturing a take-up reel according to this invention are as follows:

[0029] 1) A take-up reel (10) which is for taking up a tape (40) and which comprises a cylindrical reel hub (12) having a rotation axis (O) and a pair of flanges (16, 17) attached to opposite ends (12a, 12b) of the reel hub, each of the pair of flanges having a generally disk-like shape with a circular opening (16a, 17a) formed at a center of each of the pair of flanges, wherein the reel hub and the pair of flanges are assembled by press-fitting.

[0030] 2) A take-up reel as described in the paragraph 1), wherein:

[0031] the reel hub (12) comprises an outer cylindrical portion (121) defining an outer peripheral part for receiving the tape wound thereon, an inner cylindrical portion (122) radially inwardly spaced from the outer cylindrical portion for receiving the pair of flanges press-fitted to the inner cylindrical portion, and an annular bridging portion (123) bridging the inner cylindrical portion and the outer cylindrical portion;

[0032] each of the pair of flanges (16, 17) having a disk portion (161, 171) extending in parallel to a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis and an annular protrusion (163, 173) formed at an inner peripheral edge of the disk portion and protruding inward along the rotation axis to define the circular opening;

[0033] the press-fitting being carried out between the inner cylindrical portion of the reel hub and the annular protrusion of each of the pair of flanges.

[0034] 3) A take-up reel as described in paragraph 2), wherein:

[0035] each of the inner cylindrical portion and the annular protrusions of the pair of flanges has press-fit guide portions (122a, 122b, 163a, 173a) for carrying out positioning of the pair of flanges in a circumferential direction of the pair of flanges.

[0036] 4) A take-up reel as described in paragraph 2), wherein:

[0037] the circular opening has a diameter substantially equal to or smaller than that of an outer peripheral surface of the inner cylindrical portion;

[0038] the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylindrical portion and an inner peripheral surface of the annular protrusion of each of the pair of flanges defining press-fit surfaces at which the inner cylindrical portion and each of the pair of flanges are press-fitted to each other on the press-fitting.

[0039] 5) A take-up reel as described in paragraph 4), wherein:

[0040] each of the inner cylindrical portion and the annular protrusions of the pair of flanges has press-fit guide portions (122a, 122b, 163a, 173a) for carrying out positioning of the pair of flanges in a circumferential direction of the pair of flanges.

[0041] 6) A take-up reel as described in paragraph 5), wherein:

[0042] the press-fit guide portions of the inner cylindrical portion are press-fit guide grooves (122a, 122b) formed on the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylindrical portion;

[0043] the press-fit guide portions of the annular protrusions of the pair of flanges being press-fit guide protrusions (163a, 173a) formed on the inner peripheral surfaces of the annular protrusions of the pair of flanges.

[0044] 7) A tape drive comprising a take-up reel described in any one of the paragraphs 1) through 6).

[0045] 8) A method of manufacturing a take-up reel (10) which is for taking up a tape (40) and which comprises a cylindrical reel hub (12) having a rotation axis (O) and a pair of flanges (16, 17) attached to opposite ends (12a, 12b) of the reel hub, each of the pair of flanges having a generally disk-like shape with a circular opening (16a, 17a) formed at a center of each of the pair of flanges, the method comprising the step of assembling the reel hub and the pair of flanges by press-fitting.

[0046] It will be understood that the above-mentioned reference numerals enclosed in parentheses are no more than mere examples affixed to help understanding of this invention and do not limit the structure of this invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0047] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a related take-up reel;

[0048] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the take-up reel illustrated in FIG. 1 in an assembled state;

[0049] FIG. 3 is a plan view of a tape drive with a take-up reel according to this invention mounted thereon in a state where a top cover is removed;

[0050] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the take-up reel according to one embodiment of this invention; and

[0051] FIG. 5 is sectional view of the take-up reel illustrated in FIG. 4 in an assembled state.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0052] Now, description will be made of a preferred embodiment of this invention with reference to the drawing.

[0053] At first referring to FIG. 3, a take-up reel 10 according to this invention is mounted on a tape drive 20. In the figure, a top cover is removed for convenience of description.

[0054] The tape drive 20 is for receiving a tape cartridge which will presently be described. The tape drive 20 contains the take-up reel 10 therein. The take-up reel 10 may be called a spool. The tape drive 20 comprises a generally rectangular housing (chassis) 22 having a common base 22a. The base 22a has two spindle motors (reel motors) 23 and 24. The first spindle motor has a spool (take-up reel) 10 permanently mounted to the base 22a and dimensioned to receive a magnetic tape (later illustrated) streaming at a relatively high speed. The second spindle motor (reel motor) 24 is adapted to receive a removable tape cartridge. The removable tape cartridge 24 is manually or automatically inserted into the drive 20 via a slot 22b formed on a housing 22 of the drive 20 in a direction depicted by an arrow A in the figure.

[0055] When the tape cartridge is inserted into the slot 22b, the cartridge is engaged with the second spindle motor (reel motor) 24. Prior to rotation of the first and the second spindle motors (reel motors) 23 and 24, the tape cartridge is connected to the permanently mounted spool (take-up reel) 10 by means of a mechanical buckling mechanism (not shown). A number of rollers (guide rollers) 25 are positioned between the tape cartridge and the permanently mounted spool 10 and guide the magnetic tape as it streams at a relatively high speed back and forth between the tape cartridge and the permanently mounted spool 10. The housing 22 comprises a sheet metal chassis made of an iron-based magnetic material.

[0056] The tape drive 20 further comprises a magnetic tape head actuator assembly (hereinafter may simply be referred to as “actuator assembly”) 30. The actuator assembly 20 is located between the take-up spool 10 and the tape cartridge along a tape path (not shown) defined by the rollers 25. During operation, the magnetic tape streams back and forth between the take-up spool 10 and the tape cartridge and comes into close proximity to the actuator assembly 30 while the magnetic tape streams along the defined tape path.

[0057] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, description will be made in detail as regards the take-up reel 10 according to one embodiment of this invention.

[0058] The take-up reel 10 illustrated in the figures is for taking up a tape 40 such as a leader tape and a magnetic tape and comprises a cylindrical reel hub 12 having a rotation axis O and a pair of flanges 16 and 17 attached to opposite ends 12a and 12b of the reel hub 12, respectively. Hereinafter, one end 12a and the other end 12b of the reel hub 12 will be called a first end and a second end, respectively. Similarly, one flange 16 and the other flange 17 will be called a first flange and a second flange, respectively. The first and the second flanges 16 and 17 have a generally disk-like shape and are provided with first and second circular openings 16a and 17a formed at their centers, respectively.

[0059] In the take-up reel 10, the reel hub 12 and the flanges 16 and 17 are assembled by press-fitting (or force-fitting), as will later be described.

[0060] The reel hub 12 comprises an outer cylindrical portion 121 extending along the rotation axis O to define an outer peripheral part for receiving the leader tape and the magnetic tape wound thereon, an inner cylindrical portion 122 extending along the rotation axis O and radially inwardly spaced from the outer cylindrical portion 121 to receive the flanges 16 and 17 press-fitted (or force-fitted) thereto as will later be described, and an annular bridging portion 123 bridging the inner and the outer cylindrical portions 122 and 121 at their centers to connect the inner and the outer cylindrical portions 122 and 121 to each other. In the illustrated example, an outer peripheral surface of the inner cylindrical portion 122 defines a press-fit surface to be press-fitted to the flanges 16 and 17. In this connection, the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylindrical portion 122 is provided with first and second press-fit guide grooves 122a and 122b formed at the first and the second ends 12a and 12b to position the first and the second flanges 16 and 17 and to guide press-fitting of the first and the second flanges 16 and 17.

[0061] Herein, the outer cylindrical portion 121 has a length substantially equal to or slightly greater than the width of the leader tape or the magnetic tape taken up by the take-up reel 10. The inner cylindrical portion 122 has a length slightly greater than that of the outer cylindrical portion 121. Therefore, the outer cylindrical portion 121 of the reel hub 12 defines an assembling height (i.e., the space between the first and the second flanges 16 and 17) upon assembling the reel hub 12 and the first and the second flanges 16 and 17 as is apparent from FIG. 5.

[0062] On the other hand, the first and the second flanges 16 and 17 are symmetrical in shape with each other with respect to a virtual plane VP perpendicular to the rotation axis O as a symmetry plane. The first and the second flanges 16 and 17 have first and second disk portions 161 and 171 extending in parallel to the virtual plane VP, respectively. The first and the second disk portions 161 and 171 have first and second sectorial protrusions 162 and 172 protruding outward along the rotation axis O, respectively, to be away from the reel hub 12 when the first and the second flanges 16 and 17 are assembled with the reel hub 12. As described above, the first and the second sectorial protrusions 162 and 172 are provided so that a pair of tabs laterally protruding from a forward end of a second leader tape pulled out from a supply reel contained in the tape cartridge can be received in the tape-up reel 10. The first and the second sectorial protrusions 162 and 172 have inner diameters substantially similar to the outer diameter of an outer peripheral surface of the outer cylindrical portion 121 of the reel hub 12. The first and the second disk portions 161 and 171 of the first and the second flanges 16 and 17 have inner peripheral edges extending radially inward from the outer cylindrical portion 121 of the reel hub.

[0063] The first and the second flanges 16 and 17 have first and second annular protrusions 163 and 173 formed at the inner peripheral edges of the first and the second disk portions 161 and 171 and protruding inward along the rotation axis O towards the reel hub 12 so as to define the first and the second circular openings 16a and 17a, respectively. The diameter of an inner peripheral surface of each of the first and the second annular protrusions 163 and 173, i.e., the diameter of each of the first and the second circular openings 16a and 17a of the first and the second flanges 16 and 17 is substantially equal to or slightly smaller than the diameter of the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylindrical portion 122 of the reel hub 12. Thus, the inner surfaces of the first and the second annular protrusions 163 and 173 define a press-fit surface of press-fitting with the reel hub 12.

[0064] The first and the second annular protrusions 163 and 173 are provided with first and second press-fit guide protrusions 163a and 173a protruding radially inward and inward along the rotation axis O to be engageable with the first and the second press-fit guide groove 122a and 122b of the reel hub 12, respectively.

[0065] Next, description will be made of an assembling process of the take-up reel 10 of the above-mentioned structure. The first and the second press-fit guide protrusions 163a and 173a of the first and the second flanges 16 and 17 are engaged with the first and the second press-fit guide grooves 122a and 122b of the reel hub 12, respectively, so that the first and the second flanges 16 and 17 are located at press-fit positions. In this state, the inner peripheral surfaces of the first and the second annular protrusions 163 and 173 of the first and the second flanges 16 and 17 are brought into frictional or sliding contact with the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylindrical portion 122 of the reel hub 12. Simultaneously, the first and the second flanges 16 and 17 are moved inward along the rotation axis O to be press-fitted to the reel hub 12 until inner surfaces (confronting surfaces) of the first and the second disk portions 161 and 171 of the first and the second flanges 16 and 17 are brought into contact with the first and the second ends 12a and 12b of the outer cylindrical portion 121 of the reel hub 12, respectively. Thus, the take-up reel 10 is assembled as illustrated in FIG. 5.

[0066] Thus, in the take-up reel 10 according to this invention, the reel hub 12 and the flanges 16 and 17 are assembled by press-fitting. Therefore, the adhesive required in assembling the existing take-up reel 10′ is no longer required so that defective adhesion is avoided. As a consequence, the step of curing the adhesive can be omitted so that the production cost is reduced. In the foregoing embodiment, the reel hub 12 comprises two separate components, i.e., the outer cylindrical portion 121 defining the outer peripheral part of the reel hub 12 and the inner cylindrical portion 122 for receiving the flanges 16 and 17 press-fitted thereto. Therefore, even if the inner cylindrical portion 122 of the reel hub 12 is deformed as a result of the press-fitting, the outer peripheral part of the reel hub 12, i.e., the outer cylindrical portion 121 is prevented from being affected by such deformation. As a consequence, it is possible to improve the accuracy of the outer peripheral part of the reel hub 12 after press-fit assembling. Furthermore, the reel hub 12 is provided with the first and the second press-fit guide grooves 122a and 122b while the first and the second flanges 16 and 17 are provided with the first and the second press-fit guide protrusions 163a and 173a, respectively. Therefore, it is easy to position the flanges 16 and 17 in a circumferential direction upon press-fitting.

[0067] While this invention has thus far been described in conjunction with the preferred embodiment thereof, it will readily be understood that this invention can be modified in various other manners without being restricted to the foregoing embodiment. For example, in the foregoing embodiment, the flanges 16 and 17 are press-fitted to the reel hub 12 at the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylindrical portion 122 of the reel hub 12. Alternatively, press-fitting may be performed at the inner peripheral surface of the inner cylindrical portion 122. In the foregoing embodiment, press-fit guide portions for positioning comprises the press-fit guide protrusions 163a and 173a formed on the flanges 16 and 17 as protruding portions and the press-fit guide grooves 122a and 122b formed on the reel hub 12 as depressed portions. On the contrary, the depressed portions may be formed on the flanges 16 and 17 while the protruding portions may be formed on the reel hub 12.

[0068] As is obvious from the foregoing description, the reel hub and the flanges are assembled by press-fitting. Therefore, no adhesive is required so that defective adhesion is avoided. Furthermore, the step of curing the adhesive is omitted so that the production cost is reduced. Since the reel hub comprises two separate components, i.e., the outer cylindrical portion defining the outer peripheral part and the inner cylindrical portion for receiving the flanges press-fitted thereto, deformation of the inner cylindrical portion of the reel hub resulting from the press-fitting is prevented from being transmitted to the outer peripheral part of the reel hub. As a consequence, it is possible to improve the accuracy of the outer peripheral part of the reel hub after press-fit assembling.

Claims

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.