International Business Machines Corporation

Helfried O Rinkleib

William J Rueger

David Harwood McMurtry

Maurice E Richard

Thomas W Dodge

Richard T Larson

Apparatus for threading cartridge magnetic tape over a predetermined data processing path to a takeup reel. A cam track is provided in a cover over the path. The track has a beginning point for positioning a longitudinal cam member into engagement with a leader block exposed through an opening in the cartridge. The track terminates over the takeup reel rotational axis. A bifurcated linkage member is connected at one end to said longitudinal cam member, and to a drive motor. Rotation of the linkage member positions the longitudinal cam member between ends of the track engaging the leader block and threading it through the path and into a slot on the takeup reel.

Apparatus for threading magnetic tape in a magnetic tape transport

A magnetic tape cartridge is disclosed in which a length of magnetic tape is wound on a single reel with the free end of the tape permanently connected to a generally rectangular-shaped leader block. The cartridge completely surrounds the reel of magnetic tape except for an opening provided at one corner of the cartridge. This opening permits tape wound on the reel to be unwound as the leader block is moved away from the cartridge, preferably by an automatic threading mechanism. The cartridge is characterized by one corner of the cartridge through which the tape passes being provided with a leader block receiving well in which the bottom of the well surface defines the opening in the cartridge through which the tape moves. Other opposed surfaces of the leader block well are arranged to engage the leading and trailing surfaces of the leader block in a clamping relationship such that the opening in the cartridge is substantially sealed by the leader block to prevent contamination from entering the cartridge when the cartridge is not in use.

Single reel tape cartridge with leader block door seal

Structure for providing a file protect function for a cartridge which houses a magnetic recording medium includes a sleeve molded integrally with the cartridge. The sleeve has diametrically opposed slots and a rotary file protect actuator disposed in the sleeve has diametrically opposed projections which engage the sleeve slots to hold the actuator in position. The actuator may be rotated 180.degree. by a screwdriver or other tool, and this rotation controls the enabling or disabling of the circuitry for recording on the magnetic medium to provide a file protect function.

File protect sleeve

Structure for providing a file protect function for a removable cartridge which houses a magnetic recording medium includes a rotary actuator in a sleeve member, the actuator having an outer disk and an inner disk. The actuator may be rotated in the sleeve to either of two positions 180.degree. apart by application of force to the outer disk. The inner disk has an interrupted segment therein, and the rotational position of this interrupted segment controls the enabling or disabling of the circuitry for recording on the magnetic medium.

Rotary actuator for file protect function

A preloaded head arm assembly comprises a lightweight, low inertia frustoconical arm support to which a magnetic head is mounted at one end. The other end of the head arm support is coupled to an end of a rotatable shaft, on which the arm support can be pivoted. An electrical coil which is disposed within a magnetic field supplied by permanent magnet means is fastened to the other end of the shaft. The pivotable magnetic head arm assembly may be vertically adjusted to control flying height and angularly adjusted relative to the surface of a magnetic disk to correct for azimuth variations.

Preloaded head arm assembly

In a cartridge comprised of a base member including a hub for receiving a wound web and a shell cover to generally enclose the winding surface of the hub, the shell cover has been modified to prevent unintentional disengagement of the shell from the base. The base member and shell each carry a portion of a locking mechanism which enables them to be releasably locked together in a hub enclosing relationship. The locking mechanism normally requires a separate tool to disengage it when separation of the base and shell is desired. This invention concerns modification of the cartridge and shell which prevents unintentional disengagement of the base and shell due to kinetic shocks, such as dropping on a hard surface.

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Tucson, AZ, United States of America

Helfried O Rinkleib