Imation Corporation

Michael E Reard

Jerome D Brown

Geoffrey A Lauinger

Christopher J Zwettler

Dean E Sitz

James L Albrecht

G Phillip Rambosek

Gregory H Johnson

Jerry Lee Alexander

Michael A Mewes

Peter A Ridl

Carter J Hansen

Trevor J Stav

Jerry D Brown

A tape reel assembly for a tape drive system component, such as a data storage tape cartridge, is described that includes a hub. The hub defines an inner surface and a tape winding surface, and at least a portion of the hub is made of plastic. The tape winding surface has an effective radial modulus of greater than 0.3 million pounds-per-square-inch.

Tape reel assembly with stiff winding surface for a tape drive system

A tape reel assembly for a data storage tape cartridge is described. The tape reel assembly has a hub. The hub includes a cylindrical core, an annular arm, and a web. The cylindrical core defines a drive side and a top side. The annular arm is co-axially disposed exterior to and separated from the cylindrical core. Additionally, the annular arm defines a tape winding surface bisected by a center line into a top half opposite the drive side and a bottom half adjacent the drive side. The web extends from the top side of the core, and a web center connects to the annular arm at a point in the top half.

Tape reel assembly with radially symmetric deforming tape winding surface

A single reel data storage tape cartridge is described that includes a housing having a tape access window. A single tape reel assembly is rotatably disposed within the housing and includes a hub about which a storage tape is wrapped. A tape guide is disposed within the housing adjacent the single tape reel assembly, opposite the tape access window, and is configured to define a pathway of the storage tape from the single tape reel assembly to the tape access window and limit lateral motion of the storage tape.

Single reel data storage tape cartridge with internal tape guide

A tape reel assembly ( ). The tape reel assembly ( ) includes three discrete components. The components include a top flange ( ), bottom flange ( ) and hub ( ). Teeth ( ) are operatively connected to the hub ( ). The flanges ( ) are preferably made from metal.

Three-piece tape reel assembly with integrated driving teeth and metal flanges

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Fergus Falls, MN, United States of America

Michael E Reard