Belt-driven data cartridge with yoke mechanism

Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval – Record medium – In container

Reexamination Certificate

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Details

C242S352400

Reexamination Certificate

active

06249401

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to belt-driven data storage cartridges, and in particular to a belt-driven data cartridge having a yoke mechanism which moves relative to a base plate.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Tape data cartridges have been used for decades in the computer, audio and visual fields. The cartridges themselves come in a large variety of sizes and types. One example of a successful belt-driven data cartridge is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,692,255 to von Behren. In that reference, a tape cartridge has tape wrapped convolutedly in opposite directions around hubs and guide pins to guide the tape past the tape drive read-write head. An elastic belt wraps pan-way around the tape packs and the hubs, as well as around the corner rollers and a drive roller. The belt is moved by a drive through frictional rotation of a drive puck by a motor. Other examples include a cartridge with a pivoting roller yoke as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,573,195.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In the designing of such cartridges, many criteria are utilized to create a tape cartridge. These criteria include having good pack formation to drive air out between tape layers, low power consumption, a low impression in the tape left at the belt edges, nip point stability, and independent nip force from the belt tension and good start/stop performance. The present invention addresses the problems found in the prior art devices and provides for a tape cartridge which addresses the criteria set forth above.
According to the present invention, a data storage cartridge includes a base member and a yoke. A connection is provided between the yoke and the base member wherein the yoke has two degrees of motion relative to the base. A first degree of motion being linear and a second degree of motion being rotational. First and second hubs are mounted for rotation on the yoke, wherein tape is wound in opposite directions about the hubs to form two tape packs. A drive roller is mounted for rotation on the base member. The drive roller is positioned between the hubs. A first idler roller is mounted for rotation on the yoke and an elastic belt is stretched around the drive roller and first idler roller and engages the tape packs. In a preferred embodiment, the connection has a sliding mechanism and a rotating mechanism.
In another embodiment, the invention is a data storage cartridge having a base member. A yoke has a cavity formed therein. A support is operatively connected to the base. The support is positioned in the cavity wherein the yoke has two degrees of motion relative to the base. First and second hubs are mounted for rotation on the yoke, wherein tape is wound in opposite directions around the hubs to form two tape packs. A drive roller is mounted for rotation on the base member, the drive roller positioned between the hubs. A first idler roller is mounted for rotation on the yoke and an elastic belt is stretched around the drive roller and first idler roller and engages the tape packs. In a preferred embodiment, the cavity is an elongate slot sized and configured to allow linear movement and rotational movement of the yoke around the support.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3692255 (1972-09-01), Von Behren
patent: 4678137 (1987-07-01), Kincheloe
patent: 4720202 (1988-01-01), Kawkami
patent: 5573195 (1996-11-01), Runyan et al.
patent: 5779172 (1998-07-01), Anderson et al.
patent: 0 466 608 A1 (1992-01-01), None
“Mechanical Design of a Belt-Driven Data Cartridge,”Adv. Info. Storage Syst., von Behren et al., vol. 1, 1991, pp. 49-59.

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