Winding – tensioning – or guiding – Unwinding and rewinding a machine convertible information... – Including threading
Reexamination Certificate
2001-07-19
2003-09-30
Matecki, Kathy (Department: 3654)
Winding, tensioning, or guiding
Unwinding and rewinding a machine convertible information...
Including threading
C242S332500, C242S332800, C384S058000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06626387
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for loading and unloading tape from a removable tape cartridge in a tape drive.
DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
Single reel tape cartridges are used to transport and store tape for reel-to-reel tape drives. A single reel tape cartridge is inserted into a tape drive and a mechanism is used to load the end of the tape into a take-up reel from the tape cartridge. Once the end of the tape is loaded into the take-up reel, the tape drive operates as a reel-to-reel tape drive. A motor is coupled to the take-up reel to rotate the take-up reel about the take-up reel axis and another motor is coupled to the single reel tape cartridge to rotate the reel of the tape cartridge about its axis.
The tape drive loading mechanism attaches to a tape leader pin, located at the end of the tape contained in the single reel tape cartridge. The hub filler uses a slot in the hub filler for receiving the tape leader pin. The hub filler is coupled to a guide arm that drives the hub filler along a guide rail between the single reel tape cartridge and the take-up reel. An example of a mechanism for driving the hub filler between the tape cartridge and the take-up reel is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,034,839.
FIG. 1
is a view of the tape drive loading mechanism disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,034,839. The hub filler
300
enters into the removable cartridge
210
and attaches to the end of the tape. The hub filler
300
then moves along a guide rail
247
, driven by the guide arm
250
. Typically, the hub filler
300
attaches to the end of a tape in the tape cartridge
210
and the guide arm
250
moves the hub filler
300
along the guide rail
247
, trailing the tape across the read/write head
222
and into the take-up reel
242
. The hub filler
300
comprises a pin (not shown) fixedly attached to the bottom of the hub filler
300
that is in contact with the guide rail
247
. More particularly, the hub filler
300
rides on the top of the guide rail
247
and is guided in the horizontal direction from the removable cartridge
210
to the hub
245
of the take-up reel
242
. When the hub filler
300
enters the removable cartridge
210
to attach the end of the tape, the pin moves snuggly within the guide rail
247
at the cartridge to precisely control the position of the hub filler
300
during pick up of the tape. The tape is attached to the hub filler
300
and the hub filler
300
travels along the guide rail
247
between the removable cartridge
210
and the hub
245
. During this movement, the pin is in contact with the inner surface of the guide rail
247
. The hub filler
300
enters the take-up reel
245
through a channel
244
and into the hub
245
of the take-up reel
242
.
FIG. 2
is a top view of the tape drive, depicting the hub filler
300
in the take-up reel
242
with the tape
216
attached. The tape
216
passes across the read/write head
222
and the end of the tape
216
is secured to the take-up reel
242
. The tape drive is then operated by rotation of the take-up reel
242
and the single reel of the cartridge
210
about their respective axes to move the tape
216
across the read/write head
222
. Motors are used to rotate the take-up reel
242
and the single reel of the cartridge
210
, controlling the speed of the tape
216
as it moves across the read/write head
222
. The hub filler
300
pivots on an axle
252
that is coupled to the guide arm
250
. This pivoting is necessary for the hub filler
300
to be guided on the guide rail
247
into the take-up reel
242
. Once the hub filler
300
is in the take-up reel
242
, with the tape
216
attached, the take-up reel
242
rotates to thereby unload the tape from the cartridge
210
. The hub filler
300
rotates with the take-up reel
242
on the axle
252
. The loading mechanism attempts to align the axle
252
axis and the take-up reel
242
axis perfectly.
There are some concerns regarding the conventional tape drive loading mechanism described above. As the hub filler moves along the guide rail, only a small surface area of the pin is in contact with the inner surface of the guide rail. Consequently, there may be substantial friction between the guide rail and the pin. As a result, the pin becomes worn down as it travels repeatedly between the tape cartridge and the take-up reel.
The wearing down of the pin is a source of several problems in the conventional tape drive loading mechanism. One problem is that the wearing down of the pin reduces the accuracy with which the hub filler can pick up and drop off tape at the removable tape cartridge. The portion of the guide rail that is proximate to the removable cartridge needs to be arranged so the pin fits snugly in the guide rail. This is necessary so that the hub filler is tightly controlled and can accurately and repeatedly pick up the tape from the tape cartridge. However, if the pin is worn down, the pin will not fit snugly in this portion of the guide rail and the accuracy of the hub filler picking up the tape from the cartridge is diminished. This diminished accuracy increases the instances of the tape drive failing to load tape from removable cartridges, which compromises the reliability of the tape drive. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the reliability of the tape pick-up and tape drop-off mechanism is an important characteristic of tape loading devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
There is a need for a tape drive loading mechanism that guides a hub filler between a removable tape cartridge and a take-up reel substantially without friction.
These and other needs are met by embodiments of the present invention, which provide the implementation of a roller in place of the conventional pin at the bottom of the hub filler. More particularly, the present invention relates to a tape loading device for loading tape from a tape cartridge to a take-up reel. The device comprises a hub filler and a means for frictionless guiding of the hub filler between the tape cartridge and the tape-up reel. The hub filler is driven independent of the take-up reel.
With the present invention, the roller on the bottom of the hub filler substantially eliminates friction between the hub filler and the guide rail. As a result of this reduced friction, the roller experiences reduced wear. The roller is able to snugly fit within the portion of the guide rail proximate to the removable tape cartridge. The hub filler of the present invention can therefore more accurately pick up and drop off tape from the tape cartridge.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4335858 (1982-06-01), Cranna
patent: 4399936 (1983-08-01), Rueger
patent: 4608614 (1986-08-01), Rinkleib et al.
patent: 4681278 (1987-07-01), Smith
patent: 5156443 (1992-10-01), Ide
patent: 5219129 (1993-06-01), Spicer et al.
patent: 5243477 (1993-09-01), Grant et al.
patent: 6034839 (2000-03-01), Hamming
patent: 6082652 (2000-07-01), Theobald
patent: 6378796 (2002-04-01), Hamming et al.
patent: 6437938 (2002-08-01), Wada
patent: 0 568 852 (1993-11-01), None
patent: 6-168524 (1994-06-01), None
patent: 6-168525 (1994-06-01), None
Kim Sang
Matecki Kathy
McDermott & Will & Emery
Seagate Removable Storage Solutions LLC
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