Winding – tensioning – or guiding – Unwinding and rewinding a machine convertible information... – Including threading
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-25
2001-07-10
Rivera, William A. (Department: 3653)
Winding, tensioning, or guiding
Unwinding and rewinding a machine convertible information...
Including threading
C242S332400
Reexamination Certificate
active
06257514
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to digital tape drive storage devices, and in particular, to a guiding assembly in a tape drive employing a single reel for preventing damage to a tape head during loading and unloading of magnetic tape media from a tape cartridge.
PROBLEM
Digital data is stored on tape drives utilizing a variety of designs, but in all cases, magnetic tape media is wound between a pair of tape reels as data is transferred to or from the tape media. In the art of data storage, the physical space required to store data is an important concern. To conserve space, tape drives often use a single reel tape cartridge design, which utilizes a supply reel located within the tape cartridge and a takeup reel located within the tape drive.
After the tape cartridge is inserted into the tape drive, the tape media must be loaded into the tape drive. The loading operation is representative of connecting the tape media to the takeup reel and winding the tape media to a start point or read position. Various methods have been employed to perform this operation. One such method connects the tape media to the takeup reel via a buckle between a tape cartridge leader and a takeup leader. The tape media is terminated at one end by the tape cartridge leader, which is a strong flexible plastic strip containing an ovular aperture on its distal end. The takeup leader is a similar strong flexible plastic strip attached at one end to the takeup reel. The opposing end includes a stem and tab designed to buckle with the ovular aperture on the tape cartridge leader. After the takeup leader and tape cartridge leader are buckled, they are wound through a tape path past the tape head until the beginning of the tape media is in the read position relative to the tape head. Similarly, an unloading operation represents unwinding the takeup leader and tape cartridge leader back past the tape head and unbuckling the tape cartridge leader and takeup leader so that the tape cartridge may be ejected from the tape drive.
It is a problem in the art of digital tape drives to prevent damage to the tape head during the loading and unloading of the tape media. The tape head contains an inductive electromagnetic device including magnetic pole pieces that read and write data onto the tape media surface. Some magnetic heads include a magnetic resistive (MR) read element for separately reading recorded data, with the inductive element serving to only write data. In addition, the tape head includes a smooth surface formed by precision grinding and polishing techniques within a predetermined specification.
The tape drive leader and the tape cartridge leader are constructed from a rigid plastic material. The rigid plastic material is not only abrasive to the tape head, but also prone to build-up of static charge that is harmful to the MR read element. In addition, the buckle between the takeup leader and the tape cartridge leader includes an overlap such that there is a slight deformation at the buckling point. As the tape cartridge leader and tape drive leader wear over time, the deformation at the buckling point increases, further adding to the abrasive nature of the takeup leader and tape cartridge leader.
For these reasons, a need exists for a guiding assembly that prevents the takeup leader and tape cartridge leader from contacting the tape head during the loading and unloading of the tape media.
SOLUTION
The present guiding assembly overcomes the problems outlined above and advances the art by preventing the takeup leader and the tape cartridge leader from contacting the tape head during loading and unloading of the tape media. Advantageously, the guiding assembly protects the tape head from the abrasive nature of the leaders as well as the build up of static charge. In addition, the guiding assembly prevents wear on the takeup leader and tape cartridge leader caused by repetitive contact with the tape head.
The present guiding assembly comprises a tape guide pivotally connected to the tape drive within the tape path. The tape guide is configured to redefine the tape media path of travel during the loading and the unloading operations. During loading of the tape media, the tape guide is pivoted away from the tape head until the takeup leader and tape cartridge leader have been pulled past the tape head and the beginning of the tape media is in the read position. The tape guide is then pivoted adjacent the tape head for reading and writing of data. During unloading the tape guide is again pivoted away from the tape head. The tape guide remains pivoted away from the tape head while the current cartridge is unloaded, and until a new cartridge is inserted and the tape media has been loaded to the read position.
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patent: 5219129 (1993-06-01), Spicer et al.
Cope J. Robert
Morris Richard W.
Benchmark Tape Systems Corporation
Duft, Graziano & Forest, P.C.
Rivera William A.
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