Winding – tensioning – or guiding – Unwinding and rewinding a machine convertible information... – Cartridge system
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-22
2001-08-28
Walsh, Donald P. (Department: 3653)
Winding, tensioning, or guiding
Unwinding and rewinding a machine convertible information...
Cartridge system
C242S345200, C242S614000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06279846
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to data storage media. More particularly, the present invention relates to arrangements for mounting a tape pack in a data tape cartridge.
BACKGROUND
A typical data tape cartridge has a housing that encloses a pair of rotatably mounted tape hubs about which data storage tape, e.g., magnetic tape, is wound. The tape hubs are each mounted around a central tape hub pin, which typically fixes the tape hub in place along two coordinate axes while allowing the tape hub to rotate freely. A belt-driven tape cartridge may include a drive roller, a belt, two or more belt rollers, and a tape access door. A drive mechanism drives a drive puck, which in turn drives the drive roller to move the belt. The belt causes the tape to move from one tape hub to the other. Tape hub pins typically are interference fit into a hole formed in the data cartridge baseplate, which forms part of the data cartridge housing. The interference fit fixes the hub pin at one end to provide an axis of rotation for the tape hub.
SUMMARY
The present invention provides a data tape cartridge in which both ends of each tape hub pin are substantially fixed to the tape cartridge housing. This feature generally prevents the pins from becoming tilted as a result of a shock load to the tape cartridge on any of its sides. When a data cartridge is dropped, or otherwise subjected to a shock load, the inertia of the tape hub and the tape wrapped around it may cause the tape hub pin to tilt from its original alignment. The alignment of the tape hub pin is critical to the ability of a read and write mechanism to correctly read data from or write data to the tape.
Valuable data can be lost when the tape hub pin is even slightly tilted. As new technology yields greater data storage densities, the storage volumes offered by data tape media similarly increase. With increased volumes, the value of the data stored on an individual tape cartridge ramps upward. Consequently, the problem of pin tilt in even a single storage cartridge becomes a greater concern. In the case of inoperability of an individual tape cartridge, large amounts of valuable data can be lost or corrupted. Data loss or corruption can result in the loss of productivity, time, and money. Therefore, data integrity is a paramount concern. Avoidance of tape hub pin tilt, in accordance with the present invention, can reduce the risk to data integrity.
A tape cartridge, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, includes a cartridge housing, one or more tape hub pins substantially fixed at both ends to the cartridge housing, and tape hubs, carrying data storage tape, that are mounted around the tape hub pins for rotation within the cartridge housing.
A method for preventing tilt of a tape hub pin, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, includes fitting a first end of the pin into a baseplate, which may form part of the tape cartridge housing. The method also includes fitting a second end of the pin into a pin retention device formed in a cover, which may form another part of the tape cartridge housing. The pin retention device may take the form of a ring-like feature, provided in the cover, that retains the second end of the pin.
Cartridges and methods, in accordance with the present invention, will be generally described herein as carrying magnetic tape. Tape hub pin mounting arrangements in accordance with the present invention can be readily adapted for other forms of tape media, however, such as optical tape.
Other advantages, features, and embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and claims.
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patent: 5845859 (1998-12-01), Sato
patent: 5860612 (1999-01-01), Runyon et al.
patent: 5881960 (1999-03-01), Christie
patent: 5886845 (1999-03-01), Kilaparti et al.
patent: 56-145549 (1981-11-01), None
Imation Corp.
Levinson Eric D.
Pham Minh-Chau
Walsh Donald P.
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