Imation Corporation

Peter A Ridl

G Phillip Rambosek

William Joseph Vanderheyden

Dean E Sitz

Jerry Lee Alexander

Saeed Fahimi

James L Albrecht

Jerome D Brown

Jason Moses

Geoffrey A Lauinger

Michael E Reard

Fred Winslow Livermore

Jason D Hanzlik

Craig D Lingwall

John D Willems

Brad L Miller

Kent S Miller

A data storage tape cartridge is disclosed. The data storage tape cartridge includes a housing, a reel assembly including a hub rotatably disposed within the housing, a storage tape wound onto the tape reel assembly, and a leader attached to a leading end of the storage tape. In this regard, the storage tape includes a primary tape portion extending from the hub to a first end and a transition tape coupled to the first end of the primary tape portion and extending to a leading end, wherein the transition tape is thicker than the primary tape portion.

Data storage tape cartridge and system including storage tape having a transition tape

A data storage tape cartridge has a housing, at least one tape reel assembly rotatably disposed within the housing, a storage tape wound about a tape winding surface of the tape reel assembly, and a brake assembly. The brake assembly includes a brake plate and a brake button. When the brake assembly is an unlocked position, a depression in the brake plate mates with a protruding member of the brake button to limit vibration of the brake assembly, thereby limiting noisy vibration of cartridge.

Data storage tape cartridge brake assembly

A data storage cartridge including a non-tape storage medium, and a housing maintaining the non-tape storage medium. The housing defines a plurality of external handling features for interaction with at least one of a cartridge storage unit and a cartridge drive to facilitate positioning and selective maintenance of the data storage cartridges within the at least one of the cartridge storage unit and the cartridge drive.

Non-tape data storage cartridge with handling feature and associated cartridge drive

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 data storage tape cartridge including a housing, a tape reel assembly, a brake body, a spring, and a storage tape. The tape reel assembly includes a hub, opposing top and bottom flange components, brake teeth, and an inner surface. The inner surface is formed by the tape reel assembly and defines an engagement section apart from the brake teeth. The brake body includes a stem, a head, a toothed section, and a centering feature. The centering feature extends radially outwardly from the head and forms a circumferential edge that is radially spaced from the toothed section. A spring is positioned about a post formed by the cover to bias the brake body to a locked state. In the locked state, the toothed section engages the brake teeth to prevent rotation of the tape reel assembly. Interaction between the circumferential edge and the engagement section limits lateral shifting of the tape reel assembly relative to the tape reel opening when the data storage tape cartridge is vertically oriented.

Data storage tape cartridge with tape reel centering brake assembly

A data storage cartridge ( ) includes a housing ( ) having a first section ( ) and a second section ( ) operatively connected to each other. A first positioning member ( ) and second positioning member ( ) are operatively connected to the housing and are in axial alignment with each other. A leader pin ( ) is positioned in the positioning members and held in position by the two-sided springs The springs are in position around a locating member

Data storage cartridge having a two-sided retainer spring for a leader pin

A tape reel assembly for maintaining a data storage tape. The tape reel assembly includes a first flange, a second flange and a hub ring. The first flange includes a first plate and at least one loop member extending in a generally axial fashion from an inner face of the top plate at a radius R,The second flange includes a second plate and at least one leg extending in a generally axial fashion from an inner face of the bottom plate. The leg is positioned to selectively engage the loop member. Finally, the hub ring is provided separately and is free of material extending across an inner diameter thereof. The hub ring further defines an outer winding surface and inner surface having a minimum radius R,The hub ring is assembled between the first plate and the second plate. In this regard, the radius R,is greater than the radius R,such that the loop member and the leg extend and interact within an area defined by the inner surface of the hub ring.

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Oakdale, MN, United States of America

Peter A Ridl