Storage Technology Corporation

Quantum Corporation

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Imation Corporation

Other

Benchmark Storage Innovations, Inc.

Quantum Corpoaration

Stomage Technology Comporation

Dimation Corp

David T Hoge

William Joseph Vanderheyden

John C Owens

Christian Allen Todd

Clark M Janssen

Michael W Johnson

G Phillip Rambosek

George P Rambosek

Donovan M Janssen

Lester M Yeakley

William C Dodt

Joseph Philip Falace

Wayne Richard Hemzacek

Michael Vaughn Konshak

Steven Fredrick Hartung

James Justin Kuhar

Kevin Sean Fletcher

Henrik Vladimir Nejezchleb

Donald Wayne Selg

John Sam Todor

George A Saliba

Timothy Craig Ostwald

Gregory D Volan

James Zweighaft

Stephen J Stamm

James Martin Frary

Hartvig E Melbye

Anthony M Grieder

Bruce M Davis

Michael Burke

William E Faulkner

Steven A Bendson

Thomas J Rieger

Joseph J Paone

Curt S Cichowicz

David C Graves

Lynn C Jacobs

An apparatus for locking a rotatable portion of a storage device is provided. The apparatus comprises a component irrotatably engaged with the rotatable portion, the component having first teeth for engaging second teeth disposed on a surface irrotatable with respect to the component. A spring is disposed between the component and the reel to urge engagement of the first teeth and the second teeth. The component is slidably engaged with the reel such that by pulling on the component, the component slides with respect to the reel and the first teeth disengage from the second teeth, thereby permitting the reel and the component to rotate. A method for accessing media disposed on the reel includes pushing the reel away from a bottom portion of the storage device, pulling down on the component to disengage the first teeth from the second teeth, and rotating the reel to access the media.

Center reel lock storage device

The write protect mechanism provides a method for identifying the write protect state of the tape media enclosed in a tape cartridge from at least two orientations. A write protect switch on the front side of the tape cartridge housing moves to block the write protect aperture on the side of the tape cartridge housing when the write protect switch is in the write enable position and away from the aperture in the write protect position. A write protect indicator on the tape cartridge top cover includes a window that allows the user to view the position of the write protect switch by viewing the top of the switch. The top of the switch may include an arrow that moves corresponding to the position of the write protect switch, thus providing a means for the user to determine the write protect state. Human readable icons or color combinations on the write protect switch and/or adjacent to the write protect indicator clearly indicate the write protect state of the tape media enclosed within the tape cartridge.

Tape cartridge write protect mechanism

Media cartridge protective case

A data storage cartridge includes a housing having a reel disposed between an upper and a lower portion of the housing, the reel capable of movement within the cartridge housing. The data storage cartridge further includes a locking mechanism, where the locking mechanism selectively restricts movement of the reel within the cartridge housing. The reel may be selectively unlocked and locked to reduce the potential for damage during handling. The locking mechanism may be integrally formed with the cartridge housing, e.g., the locking mechanism is not removed from the cartridge when unlocked. In one example, the locking mechanism may include a cam actuator, where rotation of the cam actuator selectively restricts movement of the reel. The cam may be coaxially aligned with the reel and accessible from an exterior of the cartridge housing.

Integrated reel locking device for media cartridge and associated methods of manufacture

The tape cartridge leader includes a smoothing feature that comprises a blind cut out formed in a surface of the tape cartridge leader that faces the hub of the take-up reel when the tape cartridge leader is wound on the hub to compensate for the irregularity generated by the buckling mechanism. The blind cut out consists of a shallow, smooth depression that is positioned to overlay the buckling mechanism. The geometry and size of the blind cut out can be selected from a wide variety of options, with all of these variations having the advantage of providing increased tensile strength for the tape cartridge leader over tape cartridge leaders that use smoothing apertures, since there is no hole formed in the tape cartridge leader.

Performance tape cartridge leader for single reel tape cartridges

Shipping tray for multiple cartridges

The tape cartridge improved boss door provides a sleeve between the lower boss for the torsion spring to rotate around to decrease the stress applied to the top coil of the torsion spring. An improved catch contacts the top leg of the torsion spring at a point distant from the torsion spring coils to further reduce the force applied to the torsion spring and the frictional drag as the torsion spring rotates around the sleeve, thus decreasing the failure rate of the tape cartridge due to premature failure of the torsion spring.

Tape cartridge improved boss door

A compact tape drive for reading and writing data on single reel magnetic tape cartridges. The compact tape drive has a tape threading mechanism that extracts the leader block from the magnetic tape cartridge and threads the leader block into a takeup reel that is located juxtaposed to the loaded magnetic tape cartridge. A separate magnetic tape wrap mechanism having a plurality of cooperatively operative tape wrap arms is also provided to position the magnetic tape around a set of tape guides and the read/write head. The magnetic tape wrap mechanism functions both to thread the magnetic around the takeup reel, spanning the space in front of the read/write head, and then to wrap the magnetic tape around the read/write head. In addition, the tape elevator, electronics and other standard tape drive assemblies are included in a predefined volume.

Compact tape drive for reading and writing data on single reel magnetic tape cartridges

The 1U rack mount equipment enclosure with increased structural support, supports internal components without adding to the over all height of the 1U form factor. The peripheral device is mounted between front supports which bear the weight of the peripheral device. A central support provides support necessary to prevent deflection of the front supports. Rear supports between the central support and the rear side provide support to prevent the central support from bending due to the force placed on the central support by the front supports.

1U rack mount equipment enclosure with increased structural support

A peripheral mounting system for installing, removing and replacing peripheral devices from a chassis without the use of tools. A pair of side brackets secured to the chassis provide slots into which fasteners connected to the side of the peripheral device are installed to restrain the peripheral device. In an embodiment, clips protruding outward from the side of the slots allow the fasteners to slide into position while also retaining the peripheral device in the installed position. The pair of side brackets in conjunction with the fasteners on the peripheral device provide a means for mounting the peripheral device without requiring additional area above or below the peripheral device. A cover latching mechanism may securely latch the cover closed and provides additional retention of the peripheral device in the vertical direction.

Tool-less field replaceable peripheral mounting system

A sliding door assembly for a singe reel tape cartridge for enclosing the tape media and retracting the leader tab when the tape cartridge is not in use. The sliding door assembly includes a sliding door to enclose the tape media, an auxiliary leader retractor to retract the leader tab, and an actuator integrally connected between the sliding door and the auxiliary leader retractor. When the sliding door is moved between the open and closed position the actuator pivots the auxiliary leader retractor to a corresponding open or closed position.

Single reel tape cartridge sliding door with auxiliary leader retractor

A sliding door assembly for a singe reel tape cartridge for enclosing the tape media and retracting the leader tab when the tape cartridge is not in use. The sliding door assembly includes a sliding door to enclose the tape media, an auxiliary leader retractor to retract the leader tab, and an actuator integrally connected between the sliding door and the auxiliary leader retractor. When the sliding door is moved between the open and closed position it actuates the auxiliary leader retractor that pivots to a corresponding open or closed position.

A retracting door assembly that overcomes the requirement for providing excessive area within the tape drive for the retracting door to open and close and for the retracting door during operation. When the tape cartridge is inserted into the tape drive, an engaging apparatus pivotally attached to the retracting door makes contact with the indentation in the tape drive. As the tape cartridge is inserted further into the tape drive, the engaging apparatus is pushed into the tape cartridge and draws the pivotally attached retracting door into the tape cartridge. Drawing the retracting door into the tape cartridge while it is opening reduces the arch the retracting door travels internal to the tape drive as it is opening, thus reducing the area within the tape drive required for operation.

Retracting door assembly

A helical scan transport apparatus for reading and writing data on to a magnetic recording tape which is wound on a supply reel rotatably mounted within a removable tape cartridge includes a chassis having a front end portion and rear end portion. An elevator assembly is mounted on the chassis at the front end. The elevator assembly is configured to receive the tape cartridge and to position the tape cartridge in a loaded position. A take-up reel assembly is coupled to the chassis at the rear end position. A helical deck is mounted on a central portion of the chassis between the elevator assembly and the take-up reel assembly. The helical deck includes a rotary read/write head, a substantially linear tape loading path between the elevator assembly and the take-up reel assembly, and a movable guide for the seizing the tape from the tape loading path and for at least partially wrapping the tape around the rotary head. A linear threading mechanism is configured to grasp the leader block of the tape, thread the tape through the tape loading path of the helical deck, and couple the leader block to the take-up reel assembly. The helical transport has a form factor compatible with the Storage Technology Corporation Model 4400 Automated Cartridge System.

Helical scan transport for single reel tape cartridge

The present tape cartridge leader includes a flex relief aperture, located in the body of the tape cartridge leader between the guide wings. This flex relief aperture enables the tape cartridge leader to bend in a tight radius as the tape cartridge leader is pulled around the tape guide rollers in the tape drive, thereby ensuring that the tape cartridge leader is properly seated on the tape guide rollers as it traverses the tape path in the tape drive. The flex relief aperture also reduces the possibility of cracks forming in the tape cartridge leader where the guide wings meet the body of the tape cartridge leader, which is a problem in existing tape cartridge leaders. The guide wings are also shaped with a lead in radius to reduce to possibility of damage to the guide wings. In addition, the trailing edge of the guide wings includes a lead in chamfer to aid in the guide wings engaging the guide track in the cartridge housing.

Tape cartridge leader for single reel tape cartridges having increased flexibility for improved performance

Growing community of inventors

Westminster, CO, United States of America

David T Hoge