Imation Corporation

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Daniel Charles Egan

Leif O Erickson

Christopher J Zwettler

Randy S Bay

Douglas W Johnson

Sten R Gerfast

Jerry Lee Alexander

William Joseph Vanderheyden

Armando Jesus Argumedo

Yung Yip

Gregory H Johnson

Donald L Pochardt

John W Louks

Scott M Rockwell

Denis J Langlois

Dean E Sitz

Steven L Felde

Anthony B Ferguson

John F Runyon

David P Smith

George P Rambosek

Jason Moses

Chris Zwettler

Kenneth R Shelley

David M Perry

James T McKinney

James J Evanoff

Wolfgang G Schoeppel

George W Blattner

David L Tussey

Christopher Thomas Bukowski

Kevin Peter Vlasich

John D Willems

Frank H Phillips

Clarence W Schultz

Ronald D Stimpson

Kellan Donald Pauly

Albert E Bass, Jr

Saurin J Shah

Karunasena A Alahapperuma

A system for data storage including a removable memory element having a data storage device, and a docking station in communication with a host device and configured for receiving the removable memory cartridge so as to put the host system in communication with the data storage device.

Removable memory cartridge and docking station compatible with media drive expansion slots

The invention is directed to a memory card including a first connector that conforms to a first connection standard and a second connector that conforms to a second connection standard. The connectors are provided on a movable member disposed within a housing of the memory card. The movable member may be moved between a first position, in which the first connector is exposed, and a second position, in which the second connector is exposed.

Multiconnector memory card

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 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 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 compliant tape guide having a compliant member with optimized planar stiffness. The compliant tape guide includes a top support plate, a bottom support plate, a bearing piece, the compliant member and a biasing member. The bearing piece extends between the top and bottom support plate in a generally perpendicular fashion. The compliant member is associated with an inner surface of the bottom support plate and includes a base, opposing legs, an edge receiving surface and a planar stiffness body. The opposing legs extend from the base. The edge receiving surface is attached to the opposing legs opposite the base to define an opening. The planar stiffness body is disposed within the opening and is configured to increase an in-plane stiffness of the compliant member in a plane substantially parallel to a plane of the base. Finally, the biasing member is associated with the compliant member to bias the edge receiving surface into engagement with a storage tape during use.

Compliant tape guide with planar stiffness body for a data storage tape

The present invention provides a novel one-piece capstan for a tape cartridge which provides good static dissipative properties and wear resistance. The capstan material of the present invention has a charge decay time of no more than 5 seconds as measured according to Mil B-81705C standard. The capstan material also has a flexural modulus of at least 200,000 psi (1379 MPa). The capstan comprises a hard, dimensionally stable polymer and a static dissipating polymer. The capstan also has an improved structure and geometry which enables the part to be easily molded, reduces drive force requirements with a reduction of material from the prior art design, but with no significant loss of performance properties.

One piece capstan for a tape cartridge

Housing for a dual reel tape cartridge

A high performance tape reel with an outwardly facing cylindrical tape winding surface parallel to a drive pin bore on a reel hub. The hub has a pair of hub reference surfaces adjacent to the winding surface for aligning tape flanges. Flanges are attached to the hub at a location remote from the winding surface and magnetic tape. A drive cap with a reel pin bearing surface is attached to the hub so that the reel pin bearing surface substantially covers one entrance to the drive pin bore.

High performance tape reel

A corner roller tape tension enhancer assembly for use with a corner roller in a belt driven magnetic tape cartridge. The assembly comprises a cylindrical corner roller having an outer wall for contact with a drive belt and an inner wall suitable for mounting the corner roller on an axial mounting structure. The assembly also comprises a fatigue resistant metal spring positioned against a portion of the corner roller for controlling magnetic tape tension and to produce a uniform tape tension with respect to drive force over a wide speed range.

Tape tension enhancement for belt driven tape cartridge corner rollers

Mechanical incompatibility features between a first and a second belt-driven magnetic recording tape cartridge comprise a shorter rail-mating channel and a countersunk lip in one of the side walls of the first cartridge. The features prevent the first cartridge from being inserted into a tape drive for reading the second cartridge, and vice versa, in order to mechanically distinguish between belt-driven cartridges containing magnetic tapes with different recording characteristics, but having the same form factor.

Mechanically incompatible magnetic recording tape cartridges having the

A drive roller torque reference cartridge for calibrating a drive force tester. The reference cartridge uses a magnetic hysteresis brake assembly to controllably resist the rotation of the cartridge drive roller. The magnetic hysteresis brake assembly includes a cylindrical permanent magnet within the drive roller and a coaxial remanently magnetizable sleeve surrounding the drive roller. The drag created by the reference cartridge is substantially independent of the temperature and rotational speed of the drive roller.

Drive roller torque reference cartridge

Growing community of inventors

Oakdale, MN, United States of America

Daniel Charles Egan