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:
May. 25, 1999
Filed:
May. 04, 1998
George Frederick Adams, Tucson, AZ (US);
Armando Jesus Argumedo, Tucson, AZ (US);
Edwin Ralph Childers, Tucson, AZ (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
Disclosed is a single reel tape cartridge having a supply reel positioned within a central cavity of a shell. The supply reel is coupled to the attachment end of a length of recording tape which is wound in a sequence of wraps from an inner circumference to a maximum outer circumference when the length of recording tape is fully wound on the supply reel. A tape guide and bearing assembly positioned within the central cavity closely adjacent the maximum outer circumference, faces towards an aperture in the shell and away from the supply reel. The tape guide and bearing assembly defines a tape path for the outermost wrap from the supply reel to the tape guide and bearing assembly, across an aperture in the shell for interfacing the outermost wrap with the tape head of the tape drive at the aperture. The tape path then extends to an isolator, e.g. the supply reel, for isolating the tape path at the tape guide and bearing assembly from the free end of the length of recording tape as the free end is wound at a take up reel in the drive. A stable head to tape interface is thus provided at the cartridge tape guide and bearing assembly, which allows a small form factor tape drive having a short tape path to the take up reel.