Tape support

Details Tape support Tape support

1999-05-13

2001-07-31

Marcelo, Emmanuel M. (Department: 3653)

Winding, tensioning, or guiding

Material guide or guard

Rotatable

C242S332400, C242S615300

Reexamination Certificate

active

06267325

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to tape drives for storing data. More specifically, the present invention relates to a tape support for preventing the tape from slipping away from a position between a tape roller and a tape guide.
BACKGROUND
Tape drives are widely used for storing information on storage tape. The storage tape typically is moved between a pair of spaced apart reels, past a transducer head to read from or record data to the tape. In moving between the reels, the storage tape is typically guided by and travels between stationary tape guides and rotatable tape rollers. As illustrated in
FIG. 1
, during operation, the storage tape
24
is “held” in a position against the tape rollers
31
by a tension caused by the moving tape
24
. However, when tension is lost, e.g. during a power loss, the storage tape
24
may no longer be “held” against the tape roller
31
and subsequently may “fall off” the tape rollers and out from between the tape guide
32
and tape rollers
31
, as represented by the dashed line in FIG.
1
. When this occurs, it is difficult if not impossible for the tape drive to reposition the storage tape against the tape rollers. As a result the tape drive will be disabled and damage to the storage tape may result.
Therefore, there exists a need for a tape drive having a structure that supports the storage tape during a loss of tape tension and maintains the storage tape in a position between the tape guide and the tape rollers so that the storage tape may return to a position between the tape roller flanges when tape tension is regained.
SUMMARY
The present invention is directed to a device and method for supporting a storage tape of a tape drive during a loss of tape tension. The tape support is provided between each tape guide and corresponding tape rollers. In the preferred embodiment, a plurality of bristles are provided on a lower portion of each tape guide, each extending toward a bottom flange of each tape roller. The bristles are attached to the tape guide along a plane such that the bristles lie generally perpendicular to the tape path. When tape tension is lost, the storage tape rests on the longitudinal body of the bristles. As tape tension is regained, the ramped surface of the bottom flange enables the storage tape to return to a position between the top and bottom flanges of each roller. In another embodiment, a plurality of bristles extend radially from the bottom flange of each tape roller. In either embodiment, the bristles are repeatedly flexible without losing rigidity so as to enable a tape buckle to traverse between the tape guide and tape rollers while being able to support the storage tape.


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