Imation Corporation

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Christopher J Zwettler

Douglas W Johnson

Michael A Mewes

Daniel Charles Egan

Saeed Fahimi

Jerome D Brown

Geoffrey A Lauinger

Michael E Reard

William Joseph Vanderheyden

Kam Wah Law

Jeffrey W McCutcheon

Gregory H Johnson

Raul Horacio Andruet

Leif O Erickson

Dean E Sitz

Jerry Lee Alexander

Anthony B Ferguson

David D Madsen

David P Smith

James L Albrecht

Arne Bengt Boberg

Jason Moses

Mary R Hable

Albena V Blagev

Brian D Brong

Christopher A Merton

Fred Winslow Livermore

Ramnath Subramaniam

Steven W Ping

Carter J Hansen

Trevor J Stav

Jerry D Brown

Albert E Bass, Jr

R Galen McCrea, Jr

A tape reel assembly for a tape drive system component, such as a data storage tape cartridge, is described that includes a hub. The hub defines an inner surface and a tape winding surface, and at least a portion of the hub is made of plastic. The tape winding surface has an effective radial modulus of greater than 0.3 million pounds-per-square-inch.

Tape reel assembly with stiff winding surface for a tape drive system

A tape drive system is disclosed. The tape drive system includes at least one tape reel assembly, a storage tape, and at least one pack arm assembly. The tape reel assembly includes a hub defining a tape winding surface about which is wound the storage tape. The pack arm assembly is disposed adjacent the tape reel assembly and includes a pack arm and a pin. The pack arm defines a guide defining a pivot end and has at least one flexible flange cantilevered from a side of the guide. The pin is coupled to the tape drive system. In this regard, the pack arm is slidingly coupled to the pin and configured to follow the wound storage tape by moving axially relative to the hub and radially about the pivot end.

Pack arm assembly for use in a tape drive system

A magnetic head assembly in a linear tape system. The magnetic head assembly includes a magnetic head having a central section, a first outrigger, and a second outrigger. The central section maintains at least one read/write element. The first outrigger is positioned adjacent the central section and forms at least one air bleed slot. The second outrigger is positioned adjacent the central section opposite the first outrigger and also forms at least one air bleed slot. Finally, the central section is laterally moveable relative to the outriggers. With this configuration, the moveable, central section, otherwise used for lateral positioning of the read/write element relative to a magnetic tape, is separated from the outriggers that otherwise minimize a fly height between the magnetic tape and the outriggers.

Magnetic tape head assembly with laterally moveable central section

A magnetic recording medium which includes a substrate having a front side and a backside, a longitudinal direction and a cross-web direction, with a particulate/binder or thin film magnetic layer formed over the front side of the substrate, wherein the magnetic medium has a cross-web dimensional difference from the magnetic recording head used therewith of less than 900 &#x3bc;m/meter over a 35&#xb0; C. temperature range, and over a 70% relative humidity range. Preferred substrates include thin metals, metal alloys, and thin glass films.

Magnetic recording medium having a dimensionally stable substrate

In general, the invention is directed to techniques for reducing deformation of tape in data tape cartridges during storage to promote dimensional stability and increased tape longevity. The techniques involve controlling the winding tension applied to a tape during a final winding pass prior to unloading a data tape cartridge containing the tape from a drive. Excessive winding tensions can produce strain and compression on a tape pack, causing the tape to deform over time. Applications of reduced winding tension during the final pass provide reduced tape pack tension during periods in which the data tape cartridge is not used.

Controlling winding tension to reduce tape pack stress

A tape guide for limiting lateral tape movement within a tape transport system component, such as a data storage tape cartridge. The storage tape, having a tape width, extends between two tape reels along a tape path defined, at least in part, by the tape guide. The tape guide includes a tape contact face, a top flange and a one bottom flange. The tape guide is configured to define an effective tape path width between the top and bottom flanges that is less than the tape width. During use, the tape guide biases the tape path to minimize lateral motion of the storage tape.

Tape guide for biasing a tape path within a tape transport system, such as a data storage tape cartridge

A subambient pressure feature for assisting in guidance of storage tape within a tape transport system such as a data storage tape cartridge and/or a tape drive. The storage tape is extended between two tape reels along a tape path defined, in part, by a tape guide. The tape guide includes a curved tape-receiving surface defined by an entrance side and an exit side. The subambient pressure feature is located along the tape path and is adapted to induce frictional engagement between the tape and at least a portion of the tape-receiving surface at speeds of not less than 1 meter/second to suppress lateral tape motion.

Data storage tape cartridge with subambient pressure feature

A data storage tape cartridge ( ) includes two tape guides ( ). The tapes guides ( ) have a foil ( ) which is constructed from material which causes a wear pattern ( ) to be formed in the foil ( ), thereby removing localized forces and spreading out the forces and thereby decreasing the tape pressure.

Data storage tape cartridge with guide having wear pattern

A tape reel assembly for use with a data storage tape cartridge. The data storage tape cartridge includes a housing, a tape reel pin, the tape reel assembly, and a storage tape. The tape reel assembly is rotatably associated with the tape reel pin and includes a hub, a spherical piece and a sleeve. The spherical piece is insert molded within an axial bore of the hub and provides a thrust surface. The sleeve is also insert molded within the axial bore of the hub and provides a journal bearing surface. In accordance with a method of the present invention, the tape reel assembly is formed as part of an injection molding process, whereby a core pin precisely positions the spherical piece and co-axially centers the sleeve relative to an outer, tape winding surface of the hub.

Tape reel assembly with hub sleeve and spherical piece for a data storage tape cartridge, and method of manufacture

A tape reel assembly ( ). The tape reel assembly ( ) includes three discrete components. The components include a top flange ( ), bottom flange ( ) and hub ( ). Teeth ( ) are operatively connected to the hub ( ). The flanges ( ) are preferably made from metal.

Three-piece tape reel assembly with integrated driving teeth and metal flanges

A data storage tape cartridge incorporating a belt-driven design with improved performance characteristics. The tape cartridge includes 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 is also rotatably mounted within the housing. Similarly, 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. Unlike prior art belt-driven tape cartridges, the tape cartridge of the present invention is not driven by a capstan or similar device, but instead is spline-driven.

Hybrid belt-driven data storage tape cartridge

A data storage tape cartridge including a housing, first and second tape reels, a storage tape, first and second corner guides and an idler wrap guide. The housing defines a head access window. The tape reels are rotatably disposed within the housing, with the storage tape extending between the tape reels. The first and second comer guides are disposed within the housing at opposite sides of the head access window. Finally, the idler wrap guide is disposed within the housing and defines a tape path extending from the first tape reel to the idler wrap guide, and from the idler wrap guide to the first corner guide. The idler wrap guide is configured to frictionally dampen lateral movement of the storage tape upon rotation of the tape reels to greatly reduce servo off track events.

Data storage tape cartridge and tape path with an idler wrap guide for reduced lateral tape movement

A clearance-type tape guide for guiding a recording tape along a tape path having two tape reels. The tape slidably engages the tape guide along a surface having a length L1. The tape travels along the tape path for a distance L2 between the tape guide surface and the closer of the tape reels. According to the invention, L1&gE;0.3 L2.

Elongated clearance-type guide for magnetic tape

A tape reel assembly for use with a data storage tape cartridge. The data storage tape cartridge includes a housing, a tape reel pin, the tape reel assembly, and a storage tape. The housing includes a first housing section and a second housing section. The tape reel pin extends in a generally perpendicular fashion relative to an interior surface of the first housing section. With this configuration, the tape reel pin forms a cylindrical side surface and terminates in a leading end. The tape reel assembly is rotatably associated with the tape reel pin and includes a hub and a sleeve. The hub defines an axial bore. In one preferred embodiment, the tape reel assembly further includes opposing flanges connected to the hub. Regardless, the sleeve is disposed within the axial bore and forms a thrust surface. Finally, the storage tape is maintained by the hub. Upon final assembly, the thrust surface contacts the leading end of the tape reel pin, thereby bearing an axial load placed upon the tape reel assembly during use. In a preferred embodiment, the sleeve is metal-based and forms a journal bearing surface, thereby minimizing wear and tape reel wobble.

Tape reel assembly with hub sleeve for a data storage tape cartridge

A data cartridge (,) includes a yoke (,) on which the tape packs are mounted around hubs (,and,). Idler rollers (,and,) are also mounted on the yoke (,). The yoke (,) has a slot (,) through which a fixed pin (,) is positioned. The fixed pin (,) is connected to the housing (,) of the cartridge (,). The yoke has a spring (,) has one end attached to the yoke (,), connecting pin (,) and the second end is connected to the fixed pin (,). Therefore the yoke (,) is urged by the spring tension in a direction toward the hubs (,and,). The yoke (,) is free to move in two degrees of freedom as the tape packs move from one hub (,) to the other hub (,).

Growing community of inventors

Lake Elmo, MN, United States of America

Christopher J Zwettler