Winding – tensioning – or guiding – Unwinding and rewinding a machine convertible information... – Cartridge system
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-09
2002-10-01
Rivera, William A. (Department: 3654)
Winding, tensioning, or guiding
Unwinding and rewinding a machine convertible information...
Cartridge system
C242S352400, C360S096300, C360S132000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06457664
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a data storage tape cartridge. More particularly, it relates to a hybrid belt-driven tape cartridge with optimized performance characteristics.
Data storage tape cartridges have been used for decades in the computer, audio and video fields. While other forms of media storage are also available, the data storage tape cartridge continues to be an extremely popular form of recording large volumes of information for subsequent retrieval and use.
A variety of different data storage tape cartridge designs are currently available. In general terms, a data storage tape cartridge consists of an outer shell or housing maintaining at least one tape reel hub and a length of magnetic storage tape. The storage tape is wrapped about the hub and is driven through a defined tape path by a driving system. The housing typically includes an opening (or window) of some type for allowing access to the storage tape by a read/write head upon insertion of the cartridge into a tape drive. This interaction between storage tape and head may take place within the housing (e.g., a mid-tape load design), or the storage tape may be directed away from the housing to an adjacent area within the tape drive at which the head is located (for example, with a helical drive design or a leader block design). When the tape cartridge/drive system is designed to direct the storage tape away from the housing, the data storage tape cartridge typically includes a single tape reel. Conversely, where the tape cartridge/drive system is configured to provide head/storage tape interaction within or very near the housing, a two- or dual-tape reel assembly configuration is utilized.
Dual reel-type tape cartridges are further categorized according to the system used to drive the storage tape. More particularly, dual reel tape cartridges are either belt-driven or spool- (or hub-) driven. Both designs present certain advantages as outlined below.
The belt-driven tape cartridge has been known for many years and is described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,692,255 (von Behren), incorporated herein by reference. As illustrated in
FIG. 1
, a typical, prior art belt-driven tape cartridge
10
includes a housing
11
that contains a length of the storage tape
12
that is wound about a pair of tape reel hubs
12
(thereby defining “tape packs”). The housing
11
also encloses a pair of corner rollers
13
and a drive roller
14
. An elastic drive belt
15
is stretched around the rollers
13
and
14
and the tape packs on the hubs
12
. The drive roller
14
is accessible by a drive puck (or capstan)
16
of a tape drive through an opening
17
formed at the front of the housing
11
.
Similarly, a window
18
is formed to allow a read/write head
19
to engage the storage tape
12
. Movement of the drive roller
14
by the capstan
16
causes the drive belt
15
to move, and frictional engagement between the drive belt
15
and the storage tape
12
then causes the storage tape
14
to move. In addition to moving the storage tape
12
, the drive belt
15
provides proper tension in the storage tape
12
, especially at the read/write head
19
. The storage tape
12
can be moved and read in either direction, (i.e., either hub can serve as the supply hub and either as the take-up hub).
The belt-driven tape cartridge is highly viable and relatively inexpensive, but may present certain tape drive registration issues, as well as power and speed losses during use due to the rubber-coated capstan
16
. In addition, as is evidenced by
FIG. 1
, the drive roller
14
and hubs
12
are typically symmetrically arranged so as to optimize the cartridge layout. However, because the capstan
16
must pass through an opening
17
in the housing
11
to engage the drive roller
14
, the head access window
18
must be offset from the drive roller
14
. As a result, the hubs
12
are asymmetrically arranged relative to the head access window
18
. This design constraint may adversely affect cartridge performance, as the head/storage tape interface cannot desirably occur at the bi-sector of the hubs. Further, location of the drive roller
14
relative to the head access window
18
dictates that guide pins or rollers are the only tools available to effectuate tape guidance across the head access window
18
. It would be virtually impossible to incorporate an elongated tape guide that would otherwise provide beneficial “flying” guidance. Finally, industry-accepted form factors associated with currently available belt-driven tape cartridges prevents implementation of other components that might alleviate one or more of these potential concerns.
The spool-driven tape cartridge overcomes several of the concerns associated with the belt-driven design by forming the tape cartridge drive system to directly engage and drive (or rotate) the tape reels hubs. An example of a spool-driven tape cartridge is provided in U.S. Pat. No. 6,069,777 (Vanderheyden et al.), the teachings of which are incorporated here by reference. In general terms, the housing associated with the spool-driven tape cartridge forms two openings that are axially aligned with the tape reel hubs. The tape drive, in turn, includes two motorized, splined drive chucks that are directed into axial engagement with the respective tape reel hubs, via the openings, for subsequent controlled rotation thereof. In this regard, the tape reel hubs and splined drive chucks include corresponding toothed portions to facilitate driving engagement therebetweeen. Because the tape reel hubs are directly driven, the spool-driven tape cartridge eliminates the need for a drive belt, thereby obviating the power and speed losses otherwise experienced with belt-driven tape cartridges. However, because the drive belt is no longer included, a complex and expensive tension servo system must be incorporated into the tape drive to ensure proper tape tension at the read/write head. This requirement, in combination with the two motorized drive chucks, renders the spool-driven tape cartridge drive system relatively expensive, especially as compared to a belt-driven system. Further, similar to the belt-driven tape cartridge, industry-accepted form factor size associated with spool-driven tape cartridges limits the ability to implement additional features that might otherwise improve performance. For example, with available spool-driven tape cartridges, the tape reel hubs are asymmetrically arranged relative to the head access window, possibly affecting tape tension.
Data storage tape cartridges are important tools used to maintain vast amounts of information. With respect to dual reel cartridges, belt-driven and spool-driven designs offer certain advantages as well as potential disadvantages. Presently, no efforts have been made to derive a tape cartridge incorporating these features, due in large part to industry acceptance of current designs and the high costs of effectuating such a design. Therefore, a need exists for a hybrid tape cartridge and related tape drive that combines the features of the belt-driven and spool-driven cartridges on a low cost basis.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One aspect of the present invention relates to a data storage tape cartridge including a housing, first and second tape hubs, a storage tape, a drive roller, first and second corner rollers, and a drive belt. The housing defines a head access window. The first and second tape hubs are rotatably mounted within the housing. The storage tape is wound about the first and second hubs to form first and second tape packs thereabout. The drive roller and the first and second corner rollers are rotatably mounted within the housing. The drive belt is stretched about the drive roller, the first and second tape packs, and the first and second corner rollers. Finally, the first and second hubs are symmetrically arranged relative to the head access window. This symmetrical arrangement optimizes cartridge performance during use. In one preferred embodiment, the housing forms an opening along a major surf
Imation Corp.
Levinson Eric D.
Rivera William A.
LandOfFree
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