Verbatim Corporation

Leif Skaar

Donald Stanley

Kenneth Sheppard

David Alan Krula

Ali Khorsandian

Hossein A Zeinali

A data tape cartridge is formed on a baseplate of polymeric material which supports mounting pins and tape guides thereon for supporting tape components in rigid and dimensionally-stable manner using integrally formed bosses to support the mounting pins and guides. Additional stability against flexure is achieved using a matrix pattern of integrally-formed webs or ribs and sidewalls in the baseplate and by attaching a top plate substantially about the entire perimeter of the sidewalls. Lateral forces exerted against rotatable components on the mounting pins are transferred to the baseplate and top plate by the mounting pins that are supported in both plates. A midguide support is integrally formed in the baseplate to support a guide pin at critical location adjacent the location along the tape path in the cartridge at which a tape transducer interacts with tape. Methods of assembly include inserting mounting pins into the baseplate while the material of the baseplate about the mounting pins is plasticized, and also include assembling the components of the cartridge in upside-down orientation for transfer to aligned pins and pegs in the baseplate.

Tape cartridge and method of making the same

A tape guide for operation in contact with the back side of magnetic tape exhibits an increase in the coefficient of friction between the tape guide and the tape with increased wear of the guide surface associated with repeated passes of tape in sliding engagement over the tape contacting surface of the guide. The resulting increased frictional drag on magnetic tape with wear of the tape guide improves overall performance by reducing instantaneous speed variations (ISV) in the tape attributable to translational vibrations in the tape over the life of the tape and tape guide. The tape contacting surface of the tape guide includes a metal alloy including copper zinc, nickel and lead that may be integrally incorporated into the tape guide or plated thereon at least in the tape contacting region thereof.

Tape guides for magnetic tape equipment

A data tape cartridge is formed on a baseplate of polymeric material which supports mounting pins and tape guides thereon for supporting tape components in rigid and dimensionally-stable manner using integrally formed bosses to support the mounting pins and guides. Additional stability against flexure is achieved using a matrix pattern of integrally-formed webs or ribs and sidewalls in the baseplate and by attaching a top plate substantially about the entire perimeter of the sidewalls. Lateral forces exerted against rotatable components on the mounting pins are transferred to the baseplate and top plate by the mounting pins that are supported in both plates. A midguide support is integrally formed in the baseplate to support a guide pin at critical location adjacent the location along the tape path in the cartridge at which a tape transducer interacts with tape. Methods of assembly include inserting mounting pins and tape guides into the baseplate while the material of the baseplate about the mounting pins is plasticized, and also include assembling the components of the cartridge in upside-down orientation for transfer to aligned pins and guides in the baseplate.

Magnetic tape cartridge

Method and apparatus for making tape cartridges

A multi-armed spring in a data tape cartridge is formed from a planar sheet of resilient material and is shaped and mounted to maintain loose components in place during assembly, and to press tape hubs and belt rollers toward a base portion of the cartridge, thereby to provide tension and lateral position for the tape within the cartridge. The spring has five arms extending from a central mounting region, with first arm and a second arm extending substantially in opposite directions from the central region to corner belt rollers. A third arm extends from the central region in a direction perpendicular to the aligned first arm and second arm to a drive roller for the belt. A fourth arm extends from the central region in an angular direction intermediate the right angle formed by the first arm and third arm to a tape hub, and a fifth arm extends from the central region in an angular direction intermediate the right angle formed by the second arm and third arm to another tape hub. Each arm extends substantially to the center of the associated rotating component in the data tape cartridge to control drag friction of the corner belt rollers and to control axial positioning of the tape hubs and drive roller of the cartridge.

Growing community of inventors

San Diego, CA, United States of America

Leif Skaar