The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 02, 1998
Filed:
Jul. 02, 1997
Peter D Doninelli, Morgan Hill, CA (US);
Xerox Corporation, Stamford, CT (US);
Abstract
A tape cassette has a tape extending from one tape reel around a tape engagement area of the periphery of a guide member and to another tape reel when the tape is in a normal operating position when the cassette is in a tape drive. The cassette includes a tape lift off mechanism which is mounted for rotatable movement around the periphery of the guide member from the normal tape operating position, where the tape lift off mechanism is out of contact with said tape, to a tape storage position where the tape lift off mechanism engages the tape and disengages the tape from at least a portion of the tape engagement area of the guide member when the cassette is removed from the tape drive. In addition to the tape lift off mechanism, a brake mechanism is provided that engages flanges of both tape reels when the cassette is removed from the tape drive to prevent the reels from rotating during storage of the cassette. The brake mechanism is connected to the tape lift off mechanism and is moved by the tape lift off mechanism into engagement with the flanges of both reels when the tape lift off mechanism lifts the tape from the tape guide when the cassette is removed from the tape drive. The brake mechanism is permitted by the tape mechanism to move away from the flanges when the cassette is inserted into the tape drive.