International Business Machines Corporation

Paul Y Hu

Loyal Keith Whitted

Steven L Felde

Hartmut Ernst Hausler

Guillermo S Robles

Kevin Keith Kartchner

Alex Irwin Panasiuk

Donald Charles Acosta

James C Simkins

Adolfo M Guzman

Joe L Garcia

Joe La Garcia

Roland N Zapfe

John Alexander Koski

Frank David Gallo

Scott M Rockwell

Douglas W Johnson

William W Chow

Maurice E Richard

Don G East

David C Graves

James L Overacker

James Alfred Jackmond

Davis S Fields, Jr

Rudolph Manuel Lopez

D Kenneth Walston

Charles A Farel

David M Gresham

Philip C Yenerich

Tracy N Waller

Richard G Millington

Karl H Brueckner

Frederick B Froehlich

David R Lyman

Brandt M Griffing

Jorge L Lopez

Steve John Roffinoli

Guy F Hudson

Kenneth J Lusk

Robert R Sidebotham

Donald W Lloyd

Arthur F Sanford

Stephen J Roffinoli

A magnetic media tape cartridge has a housing with a spool of magnetic tape wound on the spool. The tape is two-sided so that information can be recorded on both sides. The sides of the tape maintain an orthogonal planar orientation relative to the axis of the spool at all times. The housing has separate openings for accessing each side of the tape. A leading end of the tape protrudes through a third opening in the housing for offloading the tape onto a take-up reel. A door is pivotally mounted to the housing at each of the first two openings for covering and uncovering each side of the tape. The tape cartridge also has an indicator for indicating which side of the tape is being recorded or accessed.

Single magnetic tape reel with dual-sided recording capability

A magnetic recording apparatus and method for the azimuthal recording of data to and from data storage tracks contained on digital linear tape. The magnetic recording apparatus includes a magnetic data recording head assembly. A magnetic recording head is centrally located within the magnetic data recording head assembly. The magnetic data recording head assembly includes a control device coupled to a left servo sensor, wherein the left sensor is located to the left of and external to the magnetic recording head. The magnetic recording apparatus additionally includes a control device coupled to a right servo sensor, wherein the right servo sensor is located to the right of and external to the magnetic recording head. The left and right servo sensors assist the magnetic recording head to tilt and rotate at a predetermined angle with respect to a particular data storage track contained on a digital linear tape, during a recording operation, thereby increasing recording density and providing improved azimuthal recording.

Apparatus and method for the control and positioning of magnetic

Disclosed is a mounting structure for mounting a horizontal insertion loading data storage drive in a data storage library having downwardly inclined shelves. A bracket mounts the data storage drive, and support bars are mounted in parallel in the data storage library and support the bracket on each side at a downwardly inclined angle. Thus, the horizontal insertion loading data storage drive is mounted at the downwardly inclined angle to receive data storage media from a robot accessor at the angle of the downwardly inclined shelves. The mounting structure support bars are parallel slides which slidably support the bracket at the downwardly inclined angle. A ratchet bar is mounted in the library at the downwardly inclined angle, and has a plurality of ratchet holes in the downwardly inclined direction. A latch is mounted on the bracket for engaging the ratchet holes of the ratchet bar to support the bracket and data storage drive against sliding on the support bar slides. The latch includes a movable tab for engaging the ratchet holes and a release actuator connected to the tab, so that operation of the release actuator disengages the tab from the engaged ratchet hole.

Angled drive mounting structure for data storage library

Disclosed is a strain relief clamp for supporting one or more flexible ribbon cables. A first stiff member has an indentation wider than a flexible ribbon cable, and a height less than the thickness of a flexible ribbon cable. Stacked pliant members are stacked on the first stiff member. Each pliant member has an indentation on the side facing away from the first stiff member. The indentations are substantially equal in width and height to the indentation of the first stiff member. A second stiff member is located on the end of the stack opposite the first stiff member and has a protrusion at least as wide as a flexible ribbon cable facing the indentation of the adjacent pliant member. The protrusion height is such that the sum of its height and the thicknesses of the flexible ribbon cables is greater than the sum of the heights of the indentations of the first stiff member and of the stacked pliant members. Thus, upon clamping the members together, the flexible ribbon cables are compressed when placed in the indentations of the first stiff member and the stacked pliant member adjacent the second stiff member protrusion, providing strain relief of the flexible ribbon cables. The surfaces of the members engaging the flexible ribbon cables each may be textured to improve the friction characteristics.

Strain relief clamp for supporting flexible ribbon cables

The invention relates to a printed circuit board having chips attached to the PCB. One or more of the chips has a planar collar mounted around the chip. The collar has a top and bottom planar surface without any projections. The collar extends laterally away from the edge of the chip to protect the leads electrically connecting the chip to the circuit board.

Printed circuit board with chip collar

A cartridge magazine with interfaces to automatic cartridge feeder devices. On one side, the magazine has an open interface that provides unencumbered access by a robotic picker that accesses cartridges for a library. The magazine is accessible on another side by a transport mechanism of an automatic cartridge feeder (ACF). The transport carries a cartridge from the magazine to a drive unit where the data stored on the cartridge is read or new data is written. The interface to the ACF includes a handle member for placing the magazine into the feeder. The magazine is mounted by loading it into the feeder and pushing the handle inward allowing a plunger on the ACF to engage a groove on the handle member that locks the magazine into place. Locking the magazine in place activates a sensor, thereby enabling the operation of the feeder. The interface securely engages the ACF so that the magazine cannot be accidentally dislodged from it. The magazine may be released from the feeder by pulling the handle forward, thereby activating the sensor which sends a signal to disable operation of the feeder. Pulling the handle forward also unlocks the magazine for easy removal. The handle may be extended for ease of carrying the magazine.

Data cartridge magazine with interface to automatic cartridge accessing

An interlock system is provided for removable-media drive unit to prevent the drive loader from attempting to pull in and mount a data cartridge before it is released by a mechanical gripper or human hand. The interlock system includes a light source and a photodetector positioned in front of the drive on opposite sides of the path cartridge takes when it is being inserted or removed from the drive loader. The presence of the cartridge, gripper or other object in the path interrupts a light beam from the light source thereby signalling the drive controller to disable the drive loader. When the gripper has released the cartridge and withdrawn, or when the path is otherwise clear, the photodetector again detects the light beam and signals the drive controller that the loader can be safely enabled. In one embodiment, the light source and photodetector are mounted on a card which plugs into the face of the drive. The presence of the card indicates to the drive controller that the drive is installed in a library environment and causes the drive controller to execute appropriate program code to interpret signals from the photodetector and enables and disables the drive loader in response.

Removeable media drive unit with loader interlock to indicate presence

Air entrainment effects are avoided in a bi-directional, reel-to-reel tape transport in which magnetic tape can be moved in either of two opposing directions for data recording thereon. Control of tape position is implemented in a servo algorithm that uses tachometer inputs to determine parameter values for generating reel motor drive currents. A fine-line tachometer is mounted on each of two reels in the tape drive and multiplexing selects the fine-line output from the tachometer on the reel supplying tape for use in the servo algorithm. At least one of the tachometers is preferably of the type which generates an index line once each revolution of the motor to which it is mounted. This tachometer is coupled to the reel to which the tape is initially threaded and the index line is used to indicate that the motor is at a predetermined threading position for this operation.

Servo control of bi-directional reel-to-reel tape drives using fine-line

A magazine is provided for storing a plurality of cartridges for processing and provides an operator with a visual indication as to the processing status thereof. The magazine includes a base and a pair of elongated sidewalls which are mounted to the base in a spaced-apart relationship so as to receive the cartridges therebetween. A plurality of shelves are connected between the sidewalls of the magazine at spaced intervals therealong for slidably supporting the cartridges. The magazine sidewalls and shelves form a plurality of receptacles, each receptacle having oppositely located open ends so that each receptacle will accommodate the travel of a cartridge therethrough as the cartridge slides on the shelf. First and second stop devices are mounted within each receptacle for stopping travel of a cartridge through the receptacle at first and second positions therealong. The first position indicates that the cartridge has not been processed and the second position indicates that the cartridge has been processed.

Cartridge magazine with cartridge processing status indicator

An automated storage library having the ability to store and manipulate data storage elements in three dimensions. Data storage elements such as tape cartridges are stored in storage compartments separated by low-friction downward sloping sliding planes each capable of holding a plurality of data storage elements. The automated storage library further includes a magnetic picker apparatus having two electromagnetic coils. In one embodiment, the two coils are energized simultaneously with the first coil used to reposition an L-shaped flipper. This flipper raises a roller gate positioned at one end of a storage compartment to release a stored data storage element. The second electromagnetic coil supplements the gravitational pull on the data storage element by attracting a steel strip on the face of the data storage element and an associated coil carriage retrieves the data storage element from the compartment.

Gravity feed data storage library having magnetic picker

A head guide assembly of a tape device includes a beam for securely mounting a tape head thereon, wherein the tape head is accurately aligned and mounted so as to have both an improved resonance response as well as isolation from external shock or vibrations. A head guide support, made from a super gusseted material, supports the beam and tape head wherein the beam is mounted on a brass base for reducing resonances. The brass base is coupled to the head guide support via a kingpin and wedge clamps for locking the tape head in alignment without affecting the alignment. Additional resonances in a direction of a pitch of the tape head is reduced by further connecting the brass base to the head guide support without distorting the aligned position of the brass base. Shock mounts are provided for floating the head guide assembly from a base of the tape device.

Head guide assembly providing critial alignments and improved resonance

An actuator assembly is provided for controlling the position of a multi-track, magneto-resistive transducer to index across tracks in a track seek mode and to rapidly adjust the position of the transducer in a servo controlled track following mode. The actuator includes a base, a beam spaced from the base and movable relative thereto, opposing upper and lower flexures in parallel planes connecting upper and lower portions of the base with upper and lower ends, respectively, of the beam, and an electromagnetic drive means. Each flexure comprises a constraining member fastened to and substantially covering a plate. The constraining member has a plurality of voids formed therein. In one embodiment, the voids comprise parallel openings extending through the constraining member; in another embodiment, the voids define a honeycomb structure; in still another embodiment, the voids define a corrugated structure. Each flexure also has an inner and an outer end, each of which includes a plurality of spaced apart, flexible, necked extensions projecting beyond a central portion of the constraining member. These necked extensions, to which the base and beam are connected, serve as the hinge points of the flexures to maintain the transducer in precise alignment with the tape without significant skewing.

Actuator assembly for servo-controlled magnetic tape head

A cable carrier that slides upon itself is provided with pad and padless surfaces or a stainless steel strip therealong. The cable carrier may be connected to a fast moving robotic trolley and manipulative arm assembly in a storage library containing automated magnetic tape cartridges or optical disk cartridges or magnetic disk cartridges. The pad and padless surfaces are made of dissimilar materials, such as stainless steel and plastic respectively. When the pad and padless surfaces slide across one another, there is a minimum of wear and galling of the surfaces. Several arrangements are employed to quickly modify existing carriers to obtain the benefits of this invention. One type of discrete pad can be easily mounted to the existing carrier with double-sided tape and another type of discrete pad can be easily mounted to the existing carrier with tabs. Further, both type of pads are configured with curves to make a smooth transition of pad-to-padless surface or pad-to-pad surface. Another embodiment of the invention is a pad that consists of a stainless steel strip. The stainless steel strip can be easily attached to the carrier with doublesided tape. Since the strip is stainless steel, there is very little wear or galling as compared to that arising from plastic sliding on plastic.

Reduced wear cable carrier and pads

A tape cartridge having a solid metal mount plate including a plurality of surfaces thereon simultaneously machined to the same plane. Tape reels and tape guides are affixed to the mount plate, thereby ensuring precise alignment to each other. A portion of at least one of the surfaces is exposed to the outside of the tape cartridge by recesses in the tape cartridge cover. Upon seating the tape cartridge in a tape drive, guides are inserted into the recesses, thereby ensuring precise alignment of the tape to a tape head in the tape drive.

Tape cartridge with mount plate

A hydrodynamic tape guide includes a thin metal foil attached to a substrate by a pin inserted into a groove in the substrate. The groove is of a geometry including a first region of a relatively small width and at a relatively shallow depth and a second region of a relatively large width deeper into the substrate. The pin is of a thickness greater than the first width, but less than the second width.

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Tucson, AZ, United States of America

Paul Y Hu