Storage Technology Corporation

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Imation Corporation

George P Rambosek

David T Hoge

John C Owens

Michael Vaughn Konshak

Michael W Johnson

William Joseph Vanderheyden

Yung Yip

Denis J Langlois

Jerry Lee Alexander

Daniel Charles Egan

William Thomas Veno

Chris Zwettler

Jerome D Brown

Jason Moses

David M Perry

George W Blattner

Christopher Thomas Bukowski

Kevin Peter Vlasich

Thomas J Rieger

Kellan Donald Pauly

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

A brake slide assembly for securing a spool inside a data storage tape cartridge housing is disclosed. The brake slide assembly includes at least one brake slide and a flexible member. The brake slide(s) include a locking wedge, a brake button end, and a riser. The locking wedge is configured to selectively engage between the spool and an interior surface of the cartridge. The brake button end is configured to slidingly couple with a brake button of the cartridge. The riser extends between the locking wedge and the brake button end. In this regard, the flexible member is coupled to the brake slide(s).

Method and apparatus for securing a spool inside a data storage tape cartridge

The improved magnetic tape cartridge includes a leader block retainer mechanism that provides a positive locking function to automatically secure the leader block in place in the opening of the magnetic tape cartridge housing. The leader block retainer mechanism comprises detent members springably attached to both the top and bottom sides of the housing, juxtaposed to the opening, to engage corresponding features on the leader block to resist withdrawal of the leader block from the housing.

Magnetic tape cartridge having leader block retainer mechanism

The take-up reel is used in conjunction with a leader block that securely fastens the magnetic tape in the leader block such that the magnetic tape exits an aperture at one end of the leader block. The take-up reel accepts this leader block and completely seats it in an aperture contained in the take-up reel hub to ensure that no segment of the leader block protrudes from the take-up reel hub. The top and bottom plates of the take-up reel include guide slots to automatically position and align the leader block that is transported by the tape threading arm from the magnetic tape cartridge.

Take-up reel for magnetic tape cartridge leader block

The improved leader block uses a substantially rectangular body that is equipped with two tape guide projections which form, in conjunction with the front of the body, a U-shaped channel open at one end and adapted to received the end of the magnetic tape that extends through the opening in the housing of the magnetic tape cartridge. The size and shape of this U-shaped channel substantially corresponds to the dimensions of the magnetic tape in order to precisely align the magnetic tape within the channel and with reference to the leader block body. The section of the front of the leader block body that constitutes the bottom of the U-shaped channel includes a plurality of parallel oriented, spaced apart grooves inscribed therein. These grooves extend from the top tape guide projection to the bottom tape guide projection in order to provide slots to receive corresponding projections that are included on the surface of the cover of the leader block. The cover fits into the U-shaped channel once the magnetic tape has been placed therein to sandwich the magnetic tape between the cover and the body of the leader block. The projections on the cover force the magnetic tape into the corresponding grooves in the face of the leader block body in order to thereby prevent the movement of the end of the magnetic tape with reference to the body of the leader block.

Leader block for magnetic tape cartridge

The magnetic tape cartridge having a self docking leader block makes use of guide slots formed in the interior surface of the top and bottom plates of the cartridge housing, juxtaposed to the leader block opening in the housing, to mate with corresponding projections on the leader block. The guide slots are open at one end to capture the projections on the leader block and shaped to precisely guide the leader block along a predefined path into the opening.

Magnetic tape cartridge having self docking leader block

The improved magnetic tape cartridge includes a leader block latch mechanism that includes an arm pivotally connected to the magnetic tape cartridge housing. A first end of the latch arm is accessible to the tape drive via an aperture in the magnetic tape cartridge housing and engagable with a feature on the leader block. The latch arm is normally in a first position where the first end of the latch arm engages a feature on the leader block to prevent its withdrawal from the magnetic tape cartridge housing. A spring biases the latch arm in the first position to maintain the leader block locked status as the preferred state. The tape drive uses a leader block latch release pin which enters the magnetic tape cartridge through an aperture in the housing to reposition the latch arm to a second position where the leader block is free to exit the magnetic tape cartridge housing.

Magnetic tape cartridge having leader block latch mechanism

A gas mask assembly for snouted animals is disclosed having a nose cap member for covering the nostrils and anterior portion of the animal's snout and having an opening therein for the attachment of a breathing tube. An abutment in the nose cap member prevents the animal's nostrils from becoming occluded by said nose cap member. A flexible sleeve member, formed from substantially gas impermeable material, is secured to the nose cap, and an immobilizing cinch is secured to the marginal portion of the sleeve member to afford sealing engagement for the sleeve member against the animal's snout and to restrain the animal's movements.

Growing community of inventors

Shafer, MN, United States of America

George P Rambosek