Winding – tensioning – or guiding – Unwinding and rewinding a machine convertible information... – Cartridge system
Reexamination Certificate
2001-11-01
2003-10-14
Nguyen, John Q. (Department: 2651)
Winding, tensioning, or guiding
Unwinding and rewinding a machine convertible information...
Cartridge system
C360S095000, C360S137000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06631863
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a tape drive for driving a tape cartridge such as a linear tape storage system represented by DLT (digital liner tape) or LTO (linear tape open) and, in particular, to a reel hub lock releasing mechanism for releasing lock of a reel hub in the tape cartridge.
Linear tape storage systems of the type described are developed as “back-up” systems for hard disks of computer systems and various types of the linear tape storage systems have been proposed in prior art. For example, a digital linear tape drive serving 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” or the like.
The digital linear tape drive (which may be merely called “driving apparatus”, “tape drive”, or “drive”) is for receiving a tape cartridge (which may be merely called “cartridge”) having a single reel (a supply reel) and contains a take-up reel therein. When the tape cartridge is installed in the driving apparatus, a magnetic tape is pulled out of the tape cartridge and then is wound by the take-up reel through a head guide assembly (HGA). The head guide assembly is for guiding the magnetic tape (which may be merely called “tape”) pulled out of the tape cartridge in a magnetic head. The magnetic head exchanges information between the tape and the magnetic head. The head guide assembly generally comprises a boomerang-shaped aluminum plate and six large guide rollers each using a bearing.
In addition, 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 Tokkai No. 2000-100025 or JP-A 2000-100025.
The tape drive is generally comprised of a rectangular housing that has a common base as described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,793,574, entitled: “Tape Head Actuator Assembly Having A Shock Suppression Sleeve” to Cranson et al. The base has two spindle motors (reel motors). The first spindle motor has a spool (or a take-up reel) permanently mounted on the base and the spool is dimensioned to accept a relatively high speed streaming magnetic tape. The second spindle motor (reel motor) is adapted to accept a removable tape cartridge. The removable tape cartridge is manually or automatically inserted into the drive via a slot formed on the drive's housing. Upon insertion of the tape cartridge into the slot, the cartridge engages the second spindle motor (reel motor). Prior to rotation of the first and the second spindle motors, the tape cartridge is connected to the permanently mounted spool (the take-up reel) by means of a mechanical buckling mechanism. A number of rollers (guide rollers) positioned intermediate the tape cartridge and the permanent spool guide the magnetic tape as it traverses at relatively high speeds back and forth between the tape cartridge and the permanently mounted spool.
In the digital linear tape drive having such a structure, an apparatus for pulling the tape from the supply reel to the take-up reel is required. Such as a pulling apparatus is disclosed, for example, in International Publication Number WO 86/07471. According to WO 86/07471, take up leader means (a first tape leader) is coupled to the take-up reel while supply tape leader means (a second tape leader) is connected to the tape on the supply reel. The first tape leader has one end formed into a mushroom like tab. The second tape leader has a locking aperture. The tab is engaged into the locking aperture.
Furthermore, a mechanism for joining or coupling the first tape leader with the second tape leader is required. Such a joining or coupling mechanism is disclosed, for example, in International Publication number WO 86/07295.
In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication Tokkai No. 2000-100116 or JP-A 2000-100116 discloses a structure of leader tape engaging part which can engage an end part of a leader tape (the second tape leader) to a tape end hooking part in a tape cartridge without requiring a tab projected in the side of the leader tape.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,857,634, entitled: “Take-up Reel Lock” to Hertrich discloses a locking system for preventing a take-up reel of a tape drive from rotating when a tape cartridge is not inserted to the drive.
On the other hand, an example of the tape cartridge installed in the digital linear tape drive is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication Tokkai No. 2000-149491 or JP-A 2000-149491.
In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 6,241,171, entitled: “Leaderless Tape Drive” to Gaboury discloses a tape drive wherein a tape leader from a tape cartridge is urged through a tape path, into a take-up reel, and secured therein without the use of a bucking mechanism or a take-up leader.
In addition, the tape drive further comprises a tape head actuator assembly which is located between a take-up spool and a tape cartridge on a tape path defined by a plurality of rollers. During operation, a magnetic tape flows forward and backward between the take-up spool and the tape cartridge and is closely adjacent to the tape head actuator assembly while the magnetic tape flows on the defined tape path. An example of such as a tape head actuator assembly is disclosed in the above-mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 5,793,574.
Now, as is disclosed in the above-mentioned JP-A 2000-149491, the tape cartridge comprises a case and a rotary reel (a supply reel) which is rotatably stored in the case and which winds a recording/reproducing magnetic tape therearound. In such as a tape cartridge, it is necessary to stop rotational driving of the supply reel in a state where the tape cartridge is not inserted in the slot of the tape drive. Otherwise, there is fear of inconvenience occurring such that the magnetic tape breaks out of the tape cartridge to the exterior caused by rotation of the supply reel in the tape cartridge when the tape cartridge is carried or the like. For this purpose, the tape cartridge contains a reel hub lock mechanism for locking a reel hub of the supply reel. Such as a lock in the reel hub of the supply reel is called a “reel hub lock” in the art. That is, the tape cartridge is put into a state where the reel hub of the supply reel is made in the reel hub lock by the reel hub lock mechanism when it is not inserted in the slot of the tape drive. The reel hub lock mechanism includes a lock lever for enabling to release the reel hub lock by operating the lock lever from the exterior.
On the other hand, the tape drive requires a mechanism for releasing the reel hub lock by operating the above-mentioned lock lever when or after the tape cartridge is inserted in the slot. Such as a mechanism is called a “reel hub lock releasing mechanism.” More specifically, the tape drive comprises a loading mechanism for engaging the supply reel with the supply reel motor after the tape cartridge is inserted in the slot. The loading mechanism comprises a loading motor mounted on the chassis and a ring cam driven by the loading motor. The ring cam is coaxial with a rotation axis of the supply reel motor and is rotatably disposed between a back surface of the chassis and the supply reel motor. The ring cam has a cam groove. The reel hub lock releasing mechanism comprises a release lever having an engaging projection for engaging with the cam groove of the ring cam. When the tape cartridge is inserted in the slot, the reel hub lock releasing mechanism releases, in response to rotation of the ring cam, the reel hub lock by operating the lock lever.
In the manner which will later be described in conjunction with
FIGS. 1 through 5
, in a conventional reel hub lock releasing mechanism, a load is always applied to the ring cam by a spring. Accordingly, the loading motor for driving the ring cam must operate in opposition of this load. Therefore, a larger one is required as the loading motor and a life of the loading motor becomes shorter. In addition, inasmuch as a friction force ba
Frishauf Holtz Goodman & Chick P.C.
Mitsumi Electric Co. Ltd.
Nguyen John Q.
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