International Business Machines Corporation

Storage Technology Corporation

Storage Technology Coproration

Donovan M Janssen

Christian Allen Todd

William S Seaward

Lynn C Jacobs

Alan J Kirton

Leroy Rose

David T Hoge

John Paul Mantey

James A Valent

Wayne E Church

Robert Magno

Robert M Murphy

Anton J Radman, Jr

Clark M Janssen

Matthew P Wojciechowski

Donald F Colglazier

Joseph Philip Falace

Wayne Richard Hemzacek

William H Ashbee

Donald Wayne Selg

Lance A Walker

John Sam Todor

Ronald J Martin

William J Friehauf

Willis A Straight

Charles Allen Milligan

Michael Lawrence Leonhardt

Lester M Yeakley

John C Owens

William C Dodt

Frank A Goodknight

Mark A Beran

Joe Kent Jurneke

Daniel W Underkofler

Phillip Monroe Morgan

Michael A Bartholet

Allan J Rood

Samuel D Cheatham

James William Wolf

Donald C Roller

Larry E Rittenhouse

James L Cochran

Raymond E Kellow, Sr

Gerald P Patch

Michael E Nard

William A Picker

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

A spool system for packing tape on a hub. The spool has upper and lower flanges on the hub, and a flexure positioned on the hub between the two flanges. The flexure is normally parallel to the flanges, but when a force is applied to the tape lead-in edge of the flexure, that edge of the flexure is pressed toward one of the flanges. This causes the tape lead-in side of the spool system to have a wider opening than the tape packing side of the spool system. The width of the space on the tape packing side is preferably equal to or narrower than the width of the tape to be packed, so that the flexure presses against the edge of tape as it loads, reducing stagger of the tape.

Method for packing tape on a spool without tape edge wear

The present compact tape drive for reading and writing data on single reel magnetic tape cartridges that functions to implement the tape drive in a minimum predefined volume. The compact tape drive comprises 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. The read/write head is located adjacent to the takeup reel and the loaded magnetic tape cartridge. A separate magnetic tape wrap mechanism comprising 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 tape 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 the predefined volume, preferably comprising a 5&frac14; inch by 8 inch form factor.

Compact tape drive having delayed in time first, second and third rotated tape guides for reading and writing data on single reel magnetic tape cartridges

The reaction force decoupling system, as implemented in a tape drive, reduces the motion that is coupled back into the tape cartridge from the reaction force that is generated by the operation of the read/write head actuator. The read/write head actuator consists of a magnet assembly which produces a large magnetic field in an annular gap and a coil of wire which operates freely in the magnetic field of the gap. The magnet assembly is mounted to the base of the drive and the coil is attached to the read/write head carriage. When current is applied to the coil, a force is produced between the coil and the magnet assembly to move the read/write head carriage. The magnet assembly is disconnected from the base of the drive and mounted on dual flexures arranged in a four bar linkage parallel guide arrangement. The reaction forces that are generated by the operation of the read/write head actuator must deflect the flexures to apply a load to the base of the drive. As the flexures are deflected, the magnet assembly is guided to remain coaxial with the coil. At low frequencies, the same reaction force is still applied to the base of the drive through this apparatus but above the resonant frequency of this apparatus, the reaction forces are attenuated with the result that the servo loop instability is reduced.

Method and apparatus for reducing the coupling of the reaction force from the head actuator into the track follow servo loop of a media drive

A tape threading apparatus (20) includes a tape guide arm (22) having a spring-biased elbow (32). The arm (22) is coupled for rotation with a rotatable shaft (24). The shaft is provided with a barrel cam (76, 92) for a third dimension of movement. A drive mechanism includes two gears (88, 90) that overlap to permit vertical slippage in the third dimension of movement. An arm guide cam slot (102) provides a directional orientation for movement of the arm (22) along a tape travel pathway (100).

Automatic tape guide arm with three dimensional range of motion and

A tape cartridge and reel for storing magnetic tape wound on the reel such that damage to the edges of the magnetic tape is significantly reduced. A protective ring is formed in the reel or in the tape cartridge such that shock-induced energy is transmitted through a defined path. Transmission of the shock-induced energy through the defined path is effective to avoid the compression of the flanges of the reel so that the edges of the magnetic tape are not folded, wrinkled, or otherwise damaged.

Tape reel and cartridge having protective flange rings

The coaxial reel tape cartridge uses a lengthy tape path within the tape cartridge to reduce the stresses on the tape medium as it is transported between the two reels. The tape reel lock mechanism locks the two tape reels together to prevent rotation of the reels with respect to each other when the tape cartridge is removed from the tape drive. The lock mechanism also locks the tape reels to the exterior housing to prevent any rotation of either tape reel. This lock mechanism enables to tape cartridge to implement mid-point loads.

Tape reel lock mechanism for coaxial reel tape cartridge

The coaxial reel tape cartridge uses a lengthy tape path within the tape cartridge to reduce the stresses on the tape medium as it is transported between the two reels. The tape is drawn from each reel around a corresponding rotating guide element which is coplanar with the tape reel. The tape is then transported along one side of the tape cartridge exterior housing to a corresponding hydrostatic bearing which is located at a corner of the tape cartridge adjacent the tape access opening. The hydrostatic bearing is coplanar with the tape guide, but at a slight angle with the vertical to thereby impart a slight twist to the tape as it traverses the length of the tape cartridge. The two hydrostatic bearings are located inside of and at opposite ends of the tape cartridge exterior housing, flanking the tape access opening. The two hydrostatic bearings are attached to a base plate which maintains the hydrostatic bearings coplanar with respect to each other. The base plate itself is angled with respect to the horizontal plane of the tape cartridge exterior housing so that the tape, as it traverses the path between the two hydrostatic bearings, changes elevation from the plane of the first reel to the plane of the second reel. The tape is only subjected to a twist along one segment of the tape path while remaining coplanar along this segment of the tape path, and is subjected to an elevation change in a manner that involves neither twist nor bending.

Coaxial reel tape cartridge with reduced tape forces

A compliant guide assembly in a tape transport provides a precisely calibrated biasing force to an edge of a magnetic tape to precisely position tile tape with respect to a read/write head. The compliant guide assembly includes a plurality of guide buttons and a spring assembly having a plurality of cantilever spring elements. Each guide button includes an elongated stem and a head. The stem of each guide button is fixedly attached to a distal end of one of the cantilever spring elements such that the head of each guide button is disposed a calibrated distance from the distal end of the spring element. The biasing force is exerted on each spring element with a predetermined force. This force varies the distance between each spring element and its corresponding guide button and maintains these distances while each guide button is attached to its corresponding spring element.

Compliant guide assembly for a magnetic tape transport

A cassette for a high performance tape drive is disclosed. A cassette shell having the same general external dimensions as an industry standard leader block tape cartridge (3480/3490) includes both a tape supply spool and a take-up spool. Two tape guides present a segment of tape to a cassette access port which can be closed by a sliding door to prevent contamination when the tape is not in use. A tape cleaning device and a spool locking device are incorporated into the cassette mechanism.

Tape cassette with internal tape cleaning and locking

A read/write head positioning device for vertically displacing a magnetic head relative to a tape transport path of a high-performance tape path system, enabling the magnetic head to read and write magnetic data on a plurality of parallel data tracks of a passing magnetic medium which is moving longitudinally on the tape transport path. The device includes a support base assembly fixedly secured in a position proximate to the tape transport path, a carriage assembly adapted to securely receive a magnetic head, and a rack and pinion linear slide bearing unit interposed between the carriage and base to enable the carriage to smoothly and controllably move in the vertical axis relative to the base under the control of an electromagnetic device. The linear slide mechanism includes a rectangular carriage and a base of substantially U-shaped cross-section disposed so as to straddle the carriage. The carriage has longitudinal recesses of rectangular cross-section symmetrically formed on parallel side surfaces. The base has longitudinal recesses formed in opposing inner surfaces of skirt portions in opposing relationship with the longitudinal recesses of the carriage. A pair of bearing rods is respectively interposed in each of the recesses to form a bearing roller surface. On each side of the device is a pair of opposing parallel rack gears, one integral with the base and the other integral with the carriage. These rack gears work in conjunction with each other to communicate with associated pinion gears to enable controlled movement of the carriage relative to the base. The pinions are configured with retaining through holes to freely secure an associated ball bearing. As the bearings travel along the bearing rolling surfaces, the pinions rotate as they travel in the longitudinal direction.

Rack and pinion linear slide read/write head positioning device

A compliant guide assembly in a tape transport provides a precisely calibrated biasing force to an edge of a magnetic tape to precisely position the tape with respect to a read/write head. The compliant guide assembly includes a plurality of guide buttons and a spring assembly having a plurality of cantilever spring elements. A fixture is used for assembling and calibrating the compliant guide assembly. The fixture includes a base for receiving the spring assembly and the guide buttons and for aligning each guide button with one of the spring elements of the spring assembly. The fixture also includes a bias mechanism for biasing each spring element with a predetermined force. This force varies the distance between each spring element and its corresponding guide button and maintains these distances while each guide button is attached to its corresponding spring element.

Fixture for calibrating a compliant guide assembly for a magnetic tape

A compliant guide assembly in a tape transport provides a precisely calibrated biasing force to an edge of a magnetic tape to precisely position the tape with respect to a read/write head. The compliant guide assembly includes a plurality of guide buttons and a spring assembly having a plurality of cantilever spring elements. Each guide button includes an elongated stem and a head. The compliant guide assembly is calibrated by exerting a calibrated biasing force against each cantilever spring element to displace each spring element from an at rest position. The stem of each guide button is then fixedly attached to a distal end of one of the cantilever spring elements such that the head of each guide button is disposed a calibrated distance from the distal end of the spring element. The calibrated distance is determined by a displacement of the spring element resulting from application of the calibrated biasing force.

Method for calibrating a compliant guide assembly for a magnetic tape

A universal data storage element presents a data storage element of uniform form factor while enables the selection of media types to provide variable data recording characteristics. Using multiple types of media in an automated library system or a manually operated media storage retrieval system is now possible with a uniform form factor exists in all of the data storage elements. Physical characteristics of the media are identified by a plurality of coding apertures outside the data storage element. A drive element decodes and identifies the type of media from the apertures.

Self identifying universal data storage element

A flexible disk drive head access mechanism optimized for automated manufacture is disclosed. The mechanism is a complete subassembly. As such, the mechanism can be handled by a robot, as the mechanism is automatically mounted to the disk drive's main frame member. The mechanism comprises a stepping motor having a metal output pulley which is wrapped by a metal band. The middle of the band is welded to the motor's output pulley. The two free ends of the band are welded to a flexible, low-mass band tensioner. This tensioner is a thin, elongated member which includes a U-shaped portion which is operable to tension the band about the pulley. Attachment of the ends of the band to the tensioner not only tensions the band, but also operates to bend the tensioner slightly toward the pulley, thus causing the band to self-center itself in a 360.degree. wrap about the pulley. In this way, rotary to linear output from the mechanism is assured. The low mass of the tensioner insures that the band is not damaged as the motor is handled by the robot, leaving the band and its tensioner unsupported and free to move. A damping arm is welded to the tensioner and operates to damp vibration of the tensioner when the mechanism is at the far end of its head access stroke. In this way, read/write errors are minimized.

Disk drive head access mechanism

Growing community of inventors

Boulder, CO, United States of America

Donovan M Janssen