Hewlett-packard Development Company, L.p.

Hewlett-packard Company

Robert Christopher Aaron

James Clifford Anderson

Stephen V Deckers

Jeffrey S McAllister

Tad Shupe

Donald J Fasen

Paul W Poorman

John D Hampton

Catherine Dinhobl

Leslie G Christie

An electrically isolated tape guide that includes a tape roller having spaced apart flanges extending out from the tape roller for passing magnetic tape between the flanges, and an electrically non-conductive pin having a first end coupled to a center opening of the tape roller to allow the tape roller to rotate about the pin and a second end for coupling to a chassis of a tape drive.

Electrically isolated tape guide

Debris collection apparatus includes a housing that substantially conforms to a dimensional standard for a specified type of data cartridge. A debris attractant operatively associated with a surface of the housing attracts and holds debris from a region to be cleaned.

Debris collection apparatus and method for collecting debris from a data storage library

A tape drive comprising a head configured to read data from a tape and to write data to the tape, a pair of flanged guide rollers arranged one on either side of the head to guide the tape longitudinally over the head, and a flangeless inertial roller arranged between a flanged guide roller and the head to add inertia to the tape so as to limit speed and movement of the tape as it passes over the head.

Tape drive having a flangeless roller

According to one embodiment, the present technique provides a reel. The exemplary reel comprises a hub and a guide member coupled to the hub. The guide member may be configured to guide magnetic tape from a magnetic tape source to the reel. The guide member may cooperate with the hub to form a surface for receiving magnetic tape from the magnetic tape source. Additionally, the exemplary reel may include a securing mechanism for securing the guide member in the cooperating position with respect to the hub.

Apparatus and method for reversing tapewind direction

Drive bezels for computer storage systems are disclosed. An exemplary system may include a drive device operable to read and write data on a storage cartridge. A first drive bezel may be provided for the drive device, the first drive bezel fitted with a sensor arm to detect insertion and removal of the storage cartridge during operation in an automatic mode. A second drive bezel may also be provided for the drive device, the second drive bezel fitted with an eject button to remove the storage cartridge from the drive device during operation in a manual mode.

Drive bezels for computer storage systems

A tape cartridge includes a reel and a data tape to store data. The data tape is wound on the reel and has side edges. The tape cartridge further comprises a leader tape, and a splicing tape to link the leader tape to the data tape. The splicing tape has an edge with a slanted portion that is slanted with respect to the side edges of the data tape.

Splicing tape for attaching a leader tape to data tape

In one embodiment, a tape cartridge includes: a housing; a reel rotatably disposed in the housing; a reel lock operatively coupled to the reel, the reel lock operative between a first position in which the reel is locked and a second position in which the reel is unlocked; one of the housing or the reel lock having an insert and the other of the housing or the reel lock having a receiver, the insert sized and shaped to fit closely into the receiver and the insert slidable in the receiver; and a damper operatively coupled between the housing and the reel lock when the reel lock is in the second position.

Tape cartridge

A retention spring for a tape cartridge that both secures a leader pin and operates as a wide angle guide for directing the leader pin into the access port of the cartridge as the tape is being rewound onto the supply reel. The retention spring includes pairs of opposing guides, retention grooves, and binding elements. The guides define an entry for receiving a portion of the leader pin while the retention grooves define a retention slot for at least partially surrounding a portion of the leader pin. The binding elements each define a transition between one guide and one retention groove while providing resistance as the leader pin is urged between the entry and the retention slot.

Leader pin seat for tape cartridges

A leader pin assembly for connecting tape to tape drive equipment, such as those used in magnetic tape storage systems, is disclosed. The leader pin assembly includes a leader pin and a flexible element covering at least a part of the leader pin. A clip secures the flexible element to the leader pin, the clip being adapted and constructed to be crimped in securing relation over the flexible element. The tape can be secured between the leader pin and the flexible element. The clip can be fabricated from a flexible metal such as stainless steel, specifically #300 stainless steel. The clip can be provided with an inner diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the flexible element. The clip can be provided as a generally annular cylindrical member having a longitudinal opening, with a pair of beveled, substantially parallel edges forming the longitudinal opening. The flexible element and the clip can form an integral one-piece unit. The flexible element can be located on a center section of the leader pin. The flexible element can be an annular cylindrical member substantially surrounding a center section of the leader pin. The flexible element can include at least one edge which extends beyond the clip when the clip is secured over the flexible element. The flexible element can be fabricated from an elastomeric material such as rubber. The flexible element can be fabricated from urethane or, more preferably, SANTOPRENE.RTM.. A method for making leader pin assembly for connecting tape to tape drive equipment, such as those used in magnetic tape storage systems, is disclosed. In the first step of the method, a leader pin is provided. Next, a flexible element covering at least a part of the leader pin is provided. Then, a clip adapted and constructed to be crimped in securing relation over the flexible element is provided. Finally, the flexible element is secured to the leader pin by crimping.

Growing community of inventors

Boise, ID, United States of America

Robert Christopher Aaron