Storage Technology Corporation

Oracle America, Inc.

Phillip Monroe Morgan

William Joseph Vanderheyden

William Thomas Veno

Daniel W Underkofler

Donovan M Janssen

Christian Allen Todd

Roger Harry Grow

John D Willems, Jr

A tape drive for use with a tape cartridge having a cartridge leader includes a drive body, and a drive leader that is engageable with the cartridge leader and moveable with respect to the drive body. The tape drive further includes an engaging member that is engageable with a first portion of the drive leader and moveable with respect to the drive body for connecting the drive leader with the cartridge leader of the tape cartridge. The tape drive also includes a retention feature that is engageable with a second portion of the drive leader for inhibiting disengagement of the drive leader from the engaging member, wherein the second portion of the drive leader is different than the first portion.

Leader retention method and device

A tape drive for use with a tape cartridge having a cartridge leader includes a drive body, a take-up reel supported by the drive body, and a drive leader connected to the take-up reel. The tape drive further includes a leader connecting mechanism for connecting the drive leader to the cartridge leader, and an elevator assembly configured to receive the tape cartridge and to position the tape cartridge with respect to the drive body. The elevator assembly is also configured to actuate the leader connecting mechanism.

Tape drive with leader connecting mechanism

A tape cartridge for use with a tape drive having an actuation member includes a cartridge body that is insertable into the tape drive. The cartridge body includes first and second faces that extend at an angle to each other. The first face has a first opening and the second face has a second opening. The cartridge further includes a door movably associated with the cartridge body and being engageable with the actuation member when the cartridge body is inserted into the tape drive. The door is pivotable between a closed position and an open position upon engagement with the actuation member. Furthermore, the door has first and second portions that at least partially cover the first and second openings, respectively, when the door is in the closed position.

Tape cartridge with pivotable access door

A leader connecting mechanism is for connecting a first leader to a second leader includes a guide member having a track. The mechanism further includes an engaging member that is engageable with the first leader. The engaging member is slidable along the track of the guide member for connecting the first leader to the second leader.

Leader connecting mechanism

A tape cartridge, for use with a tape drive having an actuation member, includes a cartridge body that is insertable into the tape drive and a door movably associated with the cartridge body. The door is engageable with the actuation member when the cartridge body is inserted into the tape drive, and is movable between a closed position and an open position upon engagement with the actuation member. Furthermore, the door includes a retainer that is enageable with the actuation member when the door is in the open position to facilitate retention of the cartridge body in the tape drive.

Tape cartridge with movable access door

A data storage tape cartridge for a high speed tape drive. The tape cartridge encloses the tape reel having a drive hub that defines a reel lock. A ring of beveled gear teeth on the tape reel engage a ring of beveled gear teeth affixed to the tape cartridge for locking the reel to the cartridge. A spring biases the teeth into engagement. When the data storage tape cartridge is inserted into a data storage system, a drive hub engages the tape reel to shift the tape reel relative to the tape cartridge and disengage the rings of beveled gear teeth. In the same motion, the tape reel is centered within the data storage tape cartridge and a hub engagement member is lifted off of a flange of the tape reel.

Cartridge reel with internal reel assembly lock

A tape cartridge, for use with a tape drive having a threading mechanism, includes a magnetic tape, a leader attached to an end of the tape and configured to engage the threading mechanism, and a cartridge body for housing the tape. The cartridge body includes first and second faces disposed at an angle to each other. The first face has a first opening through which the leader and tape may travel, and the second face has a second opening for receiving the threading mechanism of the tape drive.

Tape cartridge

A tape cartridge for use with a tape drive includes a length of magnetic tape, a leader attached to an end of the tape, and a cartridge body for housing the tape. The cartridge body is configured to be inserted into the tape drive, and includes first and second adjacent faces. The first face has a first opening through which the tape may travel. The cartridge body further has a slot for stowing the leader in a stowed position. The slot is adjacent to the second face and extends at an angle with respect to the second face.

A spool system for packing tape on a hub. The spool has upper and lower flanges on the hub, and a flexure positioned on the hub between the two flanges. The flexure is normally parallel to the flanges, but when a force is applied to the tape lead-in edge of the flexure, that edge of the flexure is pressed toward one of the flanges. This causes the tape lead-in side of the spool system to have a wider opening than the tape packing side of the spool system. The width of the space on the tape packing side is preferably equal to or narrower than the width of the tape to be packed, so that the flexure presses against the edge of tape as it loads, reducing stagger of the tape.

Method for packing tape on a spool without tape edge wear

A tape drive includes a drive body and a tape guide supported by the drive body. The tape drive further includes a threading mechanism having a first member pivotally associated with the drive body, and a cleaning member supported by the first member and moveable therewith. The cleaning member is engageable with the tape guide so as to clean the tape guide.

Moveable tape guide cleaning member

A tape drive for use with magnetic tape includes a drive body and a cleaning member supported by the drive body. The tape drive also includes a tape guide moveably associated with the drive body, such that the tape guide is moveable between a tape-unloaded position and a tape-loaded position. When the tape guide moves between the tape-unloaded position and the tape-loaded position, the tape guide engages the cleaning member such that the cleaning member may remove debris from the tape guide.

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Berthoud, CO, United States of America

Phillip Monroe Morgan