Conductive divider for a tape cartridge magazine with insertion

Abstract

A magazine containing a number of standardized magnetic tape cartridges, for loading into an automated device in which a selected cartridge can be removed from the magazine and inserted into a data reader, has a number cartridge receptacles therein formed by a number of dividers extending the width of the magazine. Each divider consists of electrically conductive polymer, and has an electrical connector at a bottom thereof which extends through a bottom of the magazine, and which engages an electrically conductive path to ground in a base element on which the magazine rests within the device, thereby providing an electrostatic discharge path for each cartridge in each receptacle. Each divider also has an element extending into the receptacle, which is engaged by the cartridge as it is being inserted into the receptacle. Based on the standardized configuration of the cartridge, the element has a profile which is configured to permit the cartridge to move over the element only when the cartridge has been inserted into the receptacle into a selected orientation. If the cartridge is attempted to be inserted into the receptacle in any other orientation, the profile prevents such insertion, thereby insuring that each cartridge will always be inserted in its receptacle in an orientation for correctly inserting the cartridge in the data reader when it is automatically removed from the magazine. For a cartridge properly oriented in the receptacle, the element also serves as a spring to urge the cartridge against a neighboring receptacle, to insure good contact with the electrostatic discharge path.