Quantum Corporation

Kevin Sean Fletcher

William Joseph Vanderheyden

David T Hoge

Steven Fredrick Hartung

Richard W Morris

David B Daniel

Michael George Krasilinec

Michael J O'Keeffe

A data storage cartridge that uses a tape buckling mechanism to connect a reel of tape to a tape drive is enhanced with a buckle reinforcement feature on the cartridge door. The reinforcement feature fits between two buckle clips of the buckling mechanism, and provides reinforcing support to the buckle clips. The reinforcement feature supports the clips and thereby prevents bending and misalignment of the clips. If the clips do become bent or misaligned, the reinforcement feature prevents the door from closing completely. A user will clearly see that damage has occurred, and the user will be less likely to damage the drive by attempting to use the cartridge. Furthermore, the reinforcement feature can be wedge-shaped, so that the user may straighten the bent clips by applying additional force to the door.

Cartridge buckle reinforcement and damage indicator

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 flex circuit strain relief that routes and restrains flex circuits between a movable component and a stationary component. One end of the flex circuit is connected to the movable component that moves linearly up-and-down. The flex circuit strain relief routes the flex circuit away from the movable component and reroutes the flex circuit in a second direction to create a natural bend in the flex circuit as the flex circuit is rerouted for connection to a stationary component. As the movable member moved linearly up-and-down, the natural bend of the flex circuit rolls with the movement to reduce the stressed on the flex circuit during the movement.

Strain relief for flexible circuit

The half-inch tape drive comprises a novel takeup reel, tape deck, PC board packaging, loading mechanism, and housing. The takeup reel comprises a pair of segmented flanges that define a first and second tape containment section. The tape deck is approximately half the height of a conventional tape deck and includes reinforcing ribs to provide structural rigidity and maintain alignment of the moving components of the tape drive during operation. The loading mechanism comprises a horizontally mounted load motor that employs a worm gear to engage a simplified gear train. The printed circuit board is segmented into multiple sections that are mounted in various locations on the tape drive to maximize spatial efficiencies and reduce the overall height of the tape drive. The tape drive housing provides a protective exterior for the tape drive components and provides the structure for mounting the present tape drive in a single drive bay of a computer housing.

Growing community of inventors

Boulder, CO, United States of America

Kevin Sean Fletcher