US20010055178A1 - Mini-cartridge adapter for adapting a mini-cartridge to an industry standard tape cartridge format - Google Patents
Mini-cartridge adapter for adapting a mini-cartridge to an industry standard tape cartridge format Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20010055178A1 US20010055178A1 US09/394,666 US39466699A US2001055178A1 US 20010055178 A1 US20010055178 A1 US 20010055178A1 US 39466699 A US39466699 A US 39466699A US 2001055178 A1 US2001055178 A1 US 2001055178A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- cartridge
- tape
- mini
- reel
- set forth
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
- 238000012546 transfer Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 24
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 claims description 87
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 claims description 19
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 claims description 19
- 239000002991 molded plastic Substances 0.000 claims description 14
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 9
- 230000000295 complement effect Effects 0.000 claims description 7
- 238000006073 displacement reaction Methods 0.000 claims description 6
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- 230000000452 restraining effect Effects 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000003860 storage Methods 0.000 claims description 6
- 230000006835 compression Effects 0.000 claims description 5
- 238000007906 compression Methods 0.000 claims description 5
- 238000003780 insertion Methods 0.000 claims description 5
- 230000037431 insertion Effects 0.000 claims description 4
- 230000002093 peripheral effect Effects 0.000 claims description 4
- 229910000831 Steel Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000010959 steel Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000003491 array Methods 0.000 claims 2
- 230000000903 blocking effect Effects 0.000 claims 1
- 230000002787 reinforcement Effects 0.000 claims 1
- 241000237983 Trochidae Species 0.000 description 11
- 230000036316 preload Effects 0.000 description 9
- 238000013461 design Methods 0.000 description 5
- 230000006870 function Effects 0.000 description 4
- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 description 4
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000001976 improved effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000013011 mating Effects 0.000 description 3
- 235000012771 pancakes Nutrition 0.000 description 3
- 230000009471 action Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000005266 casting Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000013500 data storage Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000000853 adhesive Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000001070 adhesive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- WYTGDNHDOZPMIW-RCBQFDQVSA-N alstonine Natural products C1=CC2=C3C=CC=CC3=NC2=C2N1C[C@H]1[C@H](C)OC=C(C(=O)OC)[C@H]1C2 WYTGDNHDOZPMIW-RCBQFDQVSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000013459 approach Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 1
- 210000005069 ears Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229920002457 flexible plastic Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 230000004907 flux Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000006872 improvement Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001939 inductive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010137 moulding (plastic) Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001737 promoting effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000003014 reinforcing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000002904 solvent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000020347 spindle assembly Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000011232 storage material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000008093 supporting effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000007704 transition Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000013519 translation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000014616 translation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000003466 welding Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
- G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
- G11B23/00—Record carriers not specific to the method of recording or reproducing; Accessories, e.g. containers, specially adapted for co-operation with the recording or reproducing apparatus ; Intermediate mediums; Apparatus or processes specially adapted for their manufacture
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
- G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
- G11B23/00—Record carriers not specific to the method of recording or reproducing; Accessories, e.g. containers, specially adapted for co-operation with the recording or reproducing apparatus ; Intermediate mediums; Apparatus or processes specially adapted for their manufacture
- G11B23/02—Containers; Storing means both adapted to cooperate with the recording or reproducing means
- G11B23/04—Magazines; Cassettes for webs or filaments
- G11B23/041—Details
- G11B23/043—Brakes for tapes or tape reels
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
- G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
- G11B23/00—Record carriers not specific to the method of recording or reproducing; Accessories, e.g. containers, specially adapted for co-operation with the recording or reproducing apparatus ; Intermediate mediums; Apparatus or processes specially adapted for their manufacture
- G11B23/02—Containers; Storing means both adapted to cooperate with the recording or reproducing means
- G11B23/04—Magazines; Cassettes for webs or filaments
- G11B23/08—Magazines; Cassettes for webs or filaments for housing webs or filaments having two distinct ends
- G11B23/107—Magazines; Cassettes for webs or filaments for housing webs or filaments having two distinct ends using one reel or core, one end of the record carrier coming out of the magazine or cassette
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
- G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
- G11B25/00—Apparatus characterised by the shape of record carrier employed but not specific to the method of recording or reproducing, e.g. dictating apparatus; Combinations of such apparatus
- G11B25/06—Apparatus characterised by the shape of record carrier employed but not specific to the method of recording or reproducing, e.g. dictating apparatus; Combinations of such apparatus using web-form record carriers, e.g. tape
- G11B25/066—Apparatus characterised by the shape of record carrier employed but not specific to the method of recording or reproducing, e.g. dictating apparatus; Combinations of such apparatus using web-form record carriers, e.g. tape adapted for use with containers of different sizes or configurations; adaptor devices therefor
Definitions
- the handle mechanism 66 rotates two levers, a first one of which (not shown in FIG. 1) has a first finger which enters a standardized locating hole in the bottom of the cartridge when the handle is pushed flush with the front cover after the cartridge 10 is inserted.
- the other lever 66 has a second finger 68 which is also brought into engagement with the cartridge 10 . While this second finger 68 may have a secondary locating function, a primary function of the second finger 68 is to release one of the feed reel locks within the cartridge 10 .
- the cartridge 10 When the cartridge 10 is properly loaded into the receiver 50 , the cartridge's right sidewall and opening 38 become precisely registered with reference datum planes of the receiver 50 and thereby with the feed reel spindle ring 72 of the tape drive.
- the cartridge tape-protection features including the door and the two diametrically opposed reel locks become respectively opened and disengaged, thereby enabling the tape drive mechanism to buckle to the tape buckling mechanism and to draw the tape along a defined tape path within the drive, with tape tension controlled by the feed reel motor 74 as well as by a counter-torque applied by a take up reel motor to a take-up reel within the tape drive.
- a center of rotation of the reel 16 is biased toward the bottom cover 14 and away from the top cover 12 by a coiled spring 21 .
- a spring-loaded hub structure 22 engages a ball bearing assembly 24 , the outer races of which engage a cylindrical flange of the plastic reel 16 .
- Reel engagement teeth formed as an annulus 26 about the center of rotation of the reel 16 enable the reel to be rotated by the spindle ring 72 and spindle motor 74 , once the cartridge 10 is loaded into the receiver mechanism 20 of a compatible tape drive 50 .
- One reel flange of the reel 16 has outer peripheral teeth 28 which are engaged by toothed pawls of reel locks 30 and 32 .
- the reel locks 30 and 32 are spring biased toward the reel periphery to lock the reel in place.
- the cartridge 10 includes the hinged door 34 which is automatically opened by the structural features 76 of the compatible receiver 20 as the cartridge 10 is received therein, so that a buckle 3 5 of a tape leader of the tape 18 becomes exposed and thereupon may be engaged by an automatic tape buckling mechanism for bucking a drive leader to the tape leader.
- a suitable two-part tape buckling mechanism is shown in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,572,460 to Hertrich, entitled: “Means for Pulling Tape From a Reel”. Engagement and disengagement of the two parts of the tape buckling mechanism within the standard drive is more particularly described in commonly assigned, copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/666,854 filed on Jun. 19, 1996, and entitled: “Improved Tape Buckling Mechanism for Single Reel Cartridge Tape Recording”, the disclosure thereof being incorporated herein by reference.
- FIG. 19 is an isometric view of an upper shell of the cartridge adapter of FIG. 17.
- FIGS. 20A and 20B are respectively a bottom isometric view of the cartridge adapter without the cartridge, and a bottom view of the cartridge adapter and cartridge illustrating several keying and snap-locking features to ensure proper relationship between the cartridge and the adapter in accordance with aspects of the present invention.
- An opposing lever portion 199 extends from the leader guide body 192 adjacent the bosses 193 A and 193 B and can be engaged by a pivoting pawl of the cartridge adapter 200 in order to pivot the leader guide outwardly and place the buckle 184 in position to be engaged by a complementary buckle of the conventional large form factor tape drive 80 . Otherwise, the coil spring 191 causes the pivoted leader guide to remain at a position adjacent the outer periphery of supply reel 120 of the mini-cartridge.
- the opposing lever portion 199 is engageable through the elongated slot 108 in the right side wall of the mini-cartridge, see e.g. FIGS. 7, 12 and 13 .
Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to size-reduced data storage media cartridges and cartridge adapters which are compatible with each other and with a standardized full size media cartridge. The present invention provides an adapter for holding a smaller tape cartridge in a housing such that the smaller cartridge may be used in a tape drive which accepts a larger, industry standardized tape cartridge.
- Cartridge tape drives are extensively used for archival backup of computerized user digital information, and are increasingly used as an information library tool, particularly on the so-called “world-wide web” or “internet”. The information is typically written onto the tape as a linear track (or tracks) of magnetic flux transitions as the tape is drawn or “streamed” past a write head element. Typically, blocks of tape are successively streamed to the tape as it moves at high speed from a “beginning of tape” or “BOT” indicator, to an “end-of-tape”or “EOT” indicator. Alternatively, the digital information may be written in transverse tracks as the tape is drawn past a helical scan, rotating head array of the type employed in video cassette recording technology.
- Since magnetic recording tape is a very thin, flexible plastic strip coated on one side with a magnetic storage material, it is susceptible to damage. The tape may become stretched or warped, and its edges may become damaged or frayed. Accordingly, tape cartridges have been developed in order to minimize physical damage to the tape during loading and unloading of the tape onto the tape drive. There are two basic types of tape cartridge: the self-contained feed and take-up reel cartridge, and the single, feed reel cartridge which includes a coupling or buckling mechanism at a leader end of the tape supply coiled on the single cartridge.
- In order to achieve commercial success, it has been necessary for the industry to standardize tape cartridges and tape within the cartridges, so that cartridges following a particular standard may be received and used by tape drives designed to handle the standard cartridge design. Standardization has imposed a second and even more severe design restraint, and that is that newer tape cartridge designs should be backward-compatible with older tape drives (and newer tape drives should likewise be backward-compatible with older tape cartridges), in order to maintain the agreed-to cartridge standards. The present invention provides an improvement to a standardized cartridge design for a single-reel tape cartridge presently marketed by the assignee of this application under the DLT™ Compactape™ brand. This cartridge is standardized e.g. by American National Standards Institute standard ANSI X3.197-1991 standard entitled “Unrecorded Magnetic Tape and Cartridge for Information Interchange——½ inch (12.65 mm), Serial Serpentine, 22-Track, 6 667 ftpi (262 ftpmm) and 48-Track, 10 000 ftpi (394 ftpmm)”. This industry standard cartridge specification is incorporated by reference herein as relevant background material.
- The standardized cartridge10 (shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1 and in greater structural detail in FIGS. 2 and 3) is a two-part, generally rectangular box structure containing a
single feed reel 16 of tape with five rigid walls and at least a portion of a sixth wall having a door orshutter 34 which opens as thecartridge 10 is inserted into a compatible tape drive in order to enable tape drive access to a coupling end of a tape supply coiled on thereel 16. Thecartridge 10 includes e.g. two definedopenings internal reel locks reel locks reel 16 and the locks prevent the feed reel from rotating and the tape pancake from unraveling during cartridge handling outside of the standard tape drive. A tape leader includes a buckling mechanism, and thecartridge 10 typically includes features to restrain the buckling mechanism at a defined position adjacent the opening. - A cartridge-
handling portion 20 of the standard tape drive is shown functionally in FIG. 1. The compatible tape drive for the standardizedcartridge 10 has a base casting (not shown) to which a molded-plastic cartridge receiver 50 is secured. As viewed from a front opening, thereceiver 50 is adapted to receive a standard singlereel tape cartridge 10. Thereceiver 50 is a generally U-shaped channel structure having aleft side 52, aright side 54 and atop 56, and defines openings at front and back. Ametal plate floor 58 has a spindle opening and is attached to the channel structure to form a box. A molded plastic drive cover (not shown in FIG. 1) attaches to the receiver and to a front wall of the base casting. Thereceiver 50 includes a front opening for receiving the cartridge, and provides journals for a rotatable handle mechanism 66 (shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1). - The
handle mechanism 66 rotates two levers, a first one of which (not shown in FIG. 1) has a first finger which enters a standardized locating hole in the bottom of the cartridge when the handle is pushed flush with the front cover after thecartridge 10 is inserted. Theother lever 66 has asecond finger 68 which is also brought into engagement with thecartridge 10. While thissecond finger 68 may have a secondary locating function, a primary function of thesecond finger 68 is to release one of the feed reel locks within thecartridge 10. - Suspended between the two levers is a
plate 70 with a slight rotational degree of freedom, and with a central opening. When the handle is in the open position, admitting the tape cartridge, the levers are pushed downwardly away from the receiver, and the plate engages a spring-loaded clutch mechanism on the feed reel motor fixed to the drive base. This action pushes the tape spindle assembly downwardly and out of the path of thecartridge 10. Conversely, when the handle mechanism is returned to its engaged, flush-against-the-front-panel position, theclutch plate 70 releases the spindle, and theplate 70 elevates the spindle into a nominal operating engagement with the single reel within thecartridge 10. - An
annular toothed ring 72 of the spindle engages a complementary annular toothed plate of the feed reel within the cartridge. Afeed reel motor 74 is directly coupled to rotate thedrive ring 72 and thereby rotate the reel within thestandard cartridge 10. A spring mechanism within thecartridge 10 provides a bias force to the feed reel, and this force is overcome when the spindle ring engages the feed reel toothed plate. Beveling of the ring and plate facilitate centering of the reel on the spindle when the spindle is engaged. One example of a tape cartridge including a spring-biased feed reel in accordance with the published standard is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,027,249 to Johnson et al., entitled: “Tape Cartridge Bearing”, the disclosure thereof being incorporated herein by reference. - A fixed cartridge
door actuation structure 76 on theleft sidewall 52 of thereceiver 50 cooperates with adoor opening structure 78 of thecartridge 10, so that as thecartridge 10 is pushed into thereceiver 50 engagement of thefixed structure 76 with the cartridgedoor release structure 78 automatically opens thedoor 34 of the cartridge to expose the tape buckling mechanism. On the right sidewall of the receiver a solenoid-actuated, hingedlocking dog 64 extends into a third standardizedopening 42 defined in thecartridge 10. Thisthird opening 42 comprises a notch in the right sidewall of thecartridge 10. Rotation of thelocking dog 64 by the solenoid unlatches thehandle mechanism 66 and allows the handle to be opened. Otherwise, once thecartridge 10 is loaded into thereceiver 50 thecartridge locking dog 64 prevents the cartridge from coming out. The locking dog structure also carries a second micro switch which senses a user-activatedwrite protect mechanism 44 which selectively opens and blocks awrite protect window 46 formed in the sidewall of the cartridge adjacent thenotch 42. - When the
cartridge 10 is properly loaded into thereceiver 50, the cartridge's right sidewall and opening 38 become precisely registered with reference datum planes of thereceiver 50 and thereby with the feedreel spindle ring 72 of the tape drive. At the same time, the cartridge tape-protection features including the door and the two diametrically opposed reel locks become respectively opened and disengaged, thereby enabling the tape drive mechanism to buckle to the tape buckling mechanism and to draw the tape along a defined tape path within the drive, with tape tension controlled by thefeed reel motor 74 as well as by a counter-torque applied by a take up reel motor to a take-up reel within the tape drive. - In the present example shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the standardized
cartridge 10 includes a two-part molded plastic housing including atop cover 12, and abottom cover 14. Thetape reel 16 is wound with aspool 18 ofmagnetic recording tape 18. Thereel 16 may include only a top flange as shown in FIG. 3, or it may preferably include a top and a bottom flange. - The flanges may provide a tape-wedging function be in accordance with the teachings of commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,474,253, entitled:
- “Wedged Reels in Streaming Tape Drives and Tape Cartridges”, the disclosure thereof being incorporated herein by reference.
- A center of rotation of the
reel 16 is biased toward thebottom cover 14 and away from thetop cover 12 by acoiled spring 21. A spring-loadedhub structure 22 engages aball bearing assembly 24, the outer races of which engage a cylindrical flange of theplastic reel 16. Reel engagement teeth formed as anannulus 26 about the center of rotation of thereel 16 enable the reel to be rotated by thespindle ring 72 andspindle motor 74, once thecartridge 10 is loaded into thereceiver mechanism 20 of acompatible tape drive 50. One reel flange of thereel 16 has outerperipheral teeth 28 which are engaged by toothed pawls ofreel locks reel locks - The
cartridge 10 includes the hingeddoor 34 which is automatically opened by thestructural features 76 of thecompatible receiver 20 as thecartridge 10 is received therein, so that a buckle 3 5 of a tape leader of thetape 18 becomes exposed and thereupon may be engaged by an automatic tape buckling mechanism for bucking a drive leader to the tape leader. A suitable two-part tape buckling mechanism is shown in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,572,460 to Hertrich, entitled: “Means for Pulling Tape From a Reel”. Engagement and disengagement of the two parts of the tape buckling mechanism within the standard drive is more particularly described in commonly assigned, copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/666,854 filed on Jun. 19, 1996, and entitled: “Improved Tape Buckling Mechanism for Single Reel Cartridge Tape Recording”, the disclosure thereof being incorporated herein by reference. - The industry-
standard cartridge 10 is provided with several cartridge-locating features, including anend wall slot 36, twobottom wall slots side recess 42. In addition, a write-protectmechanism 44 alternatively blocks and exposes awindow 46 in the sidewall of thecartridge 10.End wall slot 36 provides access for releasingreel lock 30, whilebottom wall slot 38 provides access for releasingreel lock 32. - With reference again to FIG. 1, the
receiver mechanism 52 includes areference side wall 54,top wall 56,bottom wall 58 andend wall 60. These surfaces serve as datum planes to locate thecartridge 10 within thereceiver 50. Theend wall 60 includes a fixedpin 62 which passes throughend wall slot 36 and engagesreel lock 30, thereby rotating it away from thetoothed periphery 28 ofreel 16. A spring-biasedlatching pawl 64 includes a toothed portion which enters theside recess 42 and thereby locks thecartridge 10 inside of the receiver. Arotational latch mechanism 66 includes a locating/release pin 68 which passes through end wall opening 38 to release theother reel lock 32. A registration pin (not shown) may be provided as part of the rotational latch mechanism for entering the other end wall opening 40 and further register thecartridge 10 within the receiver. Accurate registration is needed to ensure that thetoothed engagement ring 26 will precisely center with, and be engaged by, a reel motor drive mechanism. In addition, accurate registration is also needed to ensure accurate mating between a take up leader nose and a supply leader hoop. - The described combination of
standard tape cartridge 10 andstandard tape drive 50 has worked well for many years, with one principal drawback that the “form factor” of the cartridge and the “form factor” of the tape drive have remained substantially invariant over the years. This combination has occupied either a full-height 5.25 inch drive bay or a half-height 5.25 inch drive bay of a computer. A recent trend has been to provide disk and tape drives in smaller “form factors”. One prevalent form factor is the so-called 3.5 inch form factor, because many computer designers specify, and computer cabinets provide, 3.5 inch drive bays, rather than 5.25 inch drive bays. - The need to reduce tape drive form factor to serve physically smaller computing systems has been recognized. A similar trend has been experienced in the hard (non-removable) disk drive art, and in the optical disk art. For removable media drives, particularly those performing backup or archival data storage service, backward compatibility becomes a critical and limiting condition. Cartridge adapters have been proposed for adapting smaller media units for compatible handling by larger media drives.
- One example is the ubiquitous VHS-C cartridge used in many hand held video cassette recorder products and the surprisingly complex VHS-C adapter unit which adapts the small VHS tape video camera cartridge to a standard-size VHS cartridge and VCR playback unit. In at least one form, the VHS-C cartridge adapter carries a dry cell and includes a battery-operated DC motor for loading and unloading the VHS-C cartridge within the adapter before it is able to be handled within a conventional set-top VHS video recording/playback device. While this cartridge adapter is widely used, it is also quite complicated, and relatively expensive.
- Another example is provided in U.S. Pat. No. 5,402,95, entitled “Videotape Adapter for Use With A Cartridge”, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,082,196, entitled: “Video Cartridge Adapter Interlock System”. A further example of a cartridge adapter is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,331,627, entitled: “Cartridge Adapter”. The '627 patent describes an optical disk cartridge adapter for holding a 90 mm optical disk cartridge within a drive adapted to receive a 130 mm optical disk cartridge. A “pseudo-spindle” was provided to interconnect the drive spindle with the smaller disk spindle opening. In addition, a rotating permanent magnet was provided directly above a shutter opening of the smaller cartridge in order to present a bias field to enable writing of the 90 mm magneto-optical media in the smaller cartridge.
- Each of these prior, vastly different, cartridge approaches suggests that providing a workable miniaturized cartridge and a compatible cartridge adapter can be a daunting engineering challenge. This challenge is largely dependent upon the particular characteristics and requirements of the standard cartridge to which the miniaturized cartridge of different design will be adapted for handling by a drive or cartridge loader designed to handle the larger-sized standard cartridge. As a standard cartridge becomes imbued with many unique features for locating, reel-locking and releasing, write protecting, etc., the difficulty in adapting the defined standard for compatible use with a smaller form-factor cartridge becomes manifestly complex.
- Thus, a hitherto unsolved need has remained for a form-factor reduced single reel tape mini-cartridge and cartridge adapter enabling a standard form-factor tape drive to handle and access tape stored in the mini-cartridge.
- A general object of the present invention is to provide a tape mini-cartridge having standardized features and a mini-cartridge adapter for adapting the standardized features of the mini-cartridge to be functionally interchangeable with a larger form factor industry standard tape cartridge in a manner overcoming limitations and drawbacks of the prior art.
- Another general object is to provide a tape cartridge adapter for transferring a plurality of functional forces applied by force imparting elements to features of a standard tape cartridge to structurally and functionally equivalent features of a mini-cartridge which is smaller than the standard tape cartridge and which is carried in the cartridge adapter.
- A further object is to provide a size-reduced single reel tape cartridge with functional features and structural characteristics such that, with the aid of a tape cartridge adapter, the size-reduced tape cartridge achieves functional interchangeability with a larger industry standard tape cartridge within a tape drive mechanism.
- One more object of the present invention is to provide a size-reduced single reel tape cartridge with a spindle hub having a spindle engagement portion sized and positioned to be compatible with a hub spindle engagement portion of a larger standardized tape cartridge such that a standard tape drive handling the larger standardized tape cartridge may be used with the size-reduced tape cartridge when carried within a compatible cartridge adapter.
- Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a single reel tape cartridge with a reel locking mechanism overcoming limitations and drawbacks of the prior art.
- A further object of the present invention is to provide a single reel tape cartridge with an improved spring bias force mechanism for biasing the reel into a locking engagement with a cartridge housing when the reel is not engaged by a tape drive spindle.
- One more object of the present invention is to provide a size-reduced single reel tape cartridge with a pivoting tape leader guide for presenting a tape buckle in two operative engagement positions, one position being for engagement by a buckler when the size-reduced tape cartridge is loaded into a size-reduced tape drive, and the other position being for engagement by a buckler when the size-reduced tape cartridge while being carried within a cartridge adapter is loaded into a full size standard tape drive.
- Accordingly, in one aspect of the present invention a tape mini-cartridge adapter is provided for adapting a tape mini-cartridge to a larger industry standard tape cartridge standardized appearance. The standard cartridge is of a single-reel type and has an internal reel and a standard dimension toothed hub for engagement by a toothed spindle ring of a standard tape drive. The tape mini-cartridge includes a cartridge housing containing a tape reel within the housing wound with a supply of standard dimension tape. The mini-cartridge housing includes a generally annular plateau region extending outwardly from a major face of the mini-cartridge housing and a standard-dimension toothed hub is exposed through and is substantially co-planar with the generally annular plateau region. The mini-cartridge adapter has an adapter housing for receiving the mini-cartridge therewithin. The adapter housing has a major wall surface which defines a slot for receiving the plateau region in substantial coplanar alignment with the major surface such that the mini-cartridge and mini-cartridge adapter present the standard dimension toothed hub of the mini-cartridge reel to a standard tape drive at standardized position and elevation relative to the drive's feed reel spindle. Desirably, the mini-cartridge plateau region and the adapter include complementary keying features for restricting insertion of the mini-cartridge into the adapter in one intended engagement orientation.
- In a related aspect of the present invention the tape mini-cartridge adapter adapts the mini-cartridge to standardized cartridge features for receiving mechanical force imparting elements of a tape drive. The force imparting elements are applied to the standard cartridge through standardized openings of the standard cartridge housing and come from a plurality of different directions. The tape mini-cartridge adapter includes a plurality of internal structural mechanisms which receive the force imparting elements through standardized openings in the adapter housing of the mini-cartridge adapter and transfer the forces to functionally equivalent structural elements of the mini-cartridge. The mechanisms may include a rocker arm member, and coupled link-pivot members for achieving the desired force translations from the standard tape drive to the mini-cartridge, so that the mini-cartridge may be handled by the conventional tape drive without any structural modification thereto.
- In another related aspect of the present invention, the standard cartridge includes a standard tape leader and a buckle mechanism, and a fixed structure for restraining the buckle mechanism at a standard position relative to a front opening of the standard cartridge. In this aspect of the invention the mini-cartridge has an internal reel and a pivoting leader buckle guide member for engaging and restraining the leader buckle. The guide member normally presents the buckle at a first position adjacent a front opening of the mini-cartridge, but is displaceable to present the buckle at the standard tape cartridge position relative to a front opening of the standard cartridge in a manner avoiding stretching or breaking a tape leader. The mini-cartridge adapter includes a spring loaded pawl for causing the leader buckle guide member to displace from the first position to present the buckle at the standard position when the mini-cartridge is inserted into the mini-cartridge adapter.
- In one more related aspect of the present invention a tape cartridge has a box-shaped housing with at least two major walls. A tape reel within the housing contains a supply of coiled recording tape. The reel has at least one flange located adjacent to one major wall. A toothed spindle ring is sized and positioned to be engaged by a standardized spindle ring of a tape drive. The one major housing wall defines a generally annular plateau region adjacent an opening for receiving the toothed spindle ring generally flush therewith. A spring bias mechanism applies a force from the other major wall to urge the reel toward the one wall. A pair of adjacently-facing rings of locking teeth are formed on an inner surface of the annular plateau region and on an adjacently facing surface of the flange adjacent the toothed spindle ring. The spring force urges the teeth of the reel into locking engagement with the teeth of the plateau region to lock the reel. A tape drive spindle engages the toothed spindle ring and displaces the reel to clear the pair of respective locking teeth, thereby enabling the reel to be rotated freely within the housing during tape drive operations.
- In yet another aspect of the present invention, an improved reel preload arrangement is provided for a tape media cartridge. In this aspect the tape media cartridge includes a generally box-shaped housing with at least two major walls. A single reel contains a coil of recording tape thereon, the reel being formed of a plastic material and it defines a bearing dimple having a contact point aligned with an axis of rotation of the reel. A plunger is formed of plastic material and has a flat face portion facing the bearing dimple. A coil compression spring bears between one of the two major walls and the plunger and thereby transfers a bias force to the reel through the plunger at the contact point. This arrangement enables a plastic-on-plastic bearing arrangement with minimized wear, and thereby reduces the cost of the media cartridge.
- These and other objects, advantages, aspects and features of the present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, presented in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
- In the Drawings:
- FIG. 1 is an exploded isometric view of an industry-standard tape cartridge and relevant functional portions of a tape receiver mechanism of a tape drive adapted to handle the standard cartridge.
- FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the FIG. 1 industry-standard tape cartridge showing the reel engagement teeth and reel locks in hidden outline view and showing the door open, exposing a tape buckle.
- FIG. 3 is a view in elevation and section of the FIG. 1 cartridge showing the spring-loaded reel and tape.
- FIG. 4A is a diagrammatic front view of a conventional tape drive for receiving and using the FIG. 1 industry-standard tape cartridge, and a mini-cartridge and adapter in accordance with principles of the present invention.
- FIG. 4B is a diagrammatic front view of a mini-cartridge tape drive for receiving and using the FIG. 4A mini-cartridge without the adapter, in accordance with principles of the present invention.
- FIG. 5 illustrates a mini-cartridge and an adapter for receiving the mini-cartridge to a size compatible with the conventional single-reel cartridge described above, the mini-cartridge and adapter being in accordance with principles of the present invention.
- FIG. 6 is an isometric diagrammatic view of the FIG. 5 mini-cartridge and adapter shown in a fully engaged relationship, and with respective cover portions of the mini-cartridge and the adapter removed to facilitate illustration and understanding of the various components and elements thereof.
- FIG. 7 is an enlarged, exploded isometric view of the FIG. 5 cartridge housing, illustrating a write-protect feature.
- FIGS. 8A, 8B and8C are respectively top plan, side elevation, and bottom plan views of the FIG. 5 two-piece mini-cartridge exterior housing.
- FIG. 9 is an enlarged, isometric, diagrammatic top view showing the reel lock, write protect mechanism, tape reel, leader guide and door of the FIG. 5 mini-cartridge in their respective positions with respect to the two-piece housing which has been removed in this view.
- FIG. 9A is an enlarged bottom isometric view of the FIG. 9 reel lock.
- FIG. 10 is a plan view of a portion of the FIG. 5 mini-cartridge illustrating an alternative preferred embodiment of a reel lock having a live spring bias section in accordance with aspects of the present invention.
- FIG. 10A is an enlarged bottom isometric view of the FIG. 10 reel lock.
- FIG. 11 is an enlarged, isometric, diagrammatic bottom view showing the tape reel with an outer annular region forming reel locking teeth and an inner annular region forming spindle engagement teeth, the reel lock, the write protect mechanism, and the leader guide and door of the FIG. 5 mini-cartridge in assembly position with respect to the two-piece housing (which has been removed in this view).
- FIG. 12 is an isometric view of an interior of the bottom shell of the FIG. 5 mini-cartridge.
- FIGS. 12A is a detail view in section and elevation showing meshing relationship of the locking teeth of the lower reel flange with the lower shell wall, in accordance with aspects of the present invention.
- FIG. 13 is an isometric view of an interior of the top shell of the FIG. 5 mini-cartridge showing a central cylindrical chimney structure for supporting a tape reel preload mechanism.
- FIG. 14 is a view in side elevation and section of a spring-biased tape reel preload mechanism for biasing the tape reel of the FIG. 5 mini-cartridge toward the lower shell wall, thereby promoting meshing engagement of the oppositely facing reel locking teeth in accordance with aspects of the present invention.
- FIGS. 15A, 15B, and15C are three views pertinent to an access door arrangement of the FIG. 5 mini-cartridge; the FIG. 15A isometric view showing door features of the top shell of the mini-cartridge housing; the FIG. 15B isometric view showing the door installed on the top shell and in a closed position; and, the 15C isometric view showing the door in an open, and rearwardly displaced position relative to the top shell of the mini-cartridge housing.
- FIGS. 16A, 16B, and16C are respective views of a leader buckle, a pivoting leader guide, and the two operating positions of the leader guide within the FIG. 5 mini-cartridge in accordance with aspects of the present invention. FIG. 16A is an enlarged view of a tape guide leader buckle engaged by the FIG. 16B leader guide. FIG. 16B presents an enlarged isometric view of the pivoting leader guide itself. And, FIG. 16C presents an enlarge diagrammatic plan view of the leader guide in a normal position, and in an extended position when the FIG. 5 mini-cartridge is within the cartridge adapter, in accordance with aspects of the present invention.
- FIG. 17 is an isometric view of the FIG. 5 tape cartridge adapter viewed with the cartridge in place from a cartridge-insertion end of the adapter.
- FIG. 18 is a top plan view of the FIG. 5 cartridge adapter and cartridge with upper shells of the adapter and cartridge removed to illustrate mechanical relationships between elements of the cartridge and adapter.
- FIG. 19 is an isometric view of an upper shell of the cartridge adapter of FIG. 17. FIGS. 20A and 20B are respectively a bottom isometric view of the cartridge adapter without the cartridge, and a bottom view of the cartridge adapter and cartridge illustrating several keying and snap-locking features to ensure proper relationship between the cartridge and the adapter in accordance with aspects of the present invention.
- FIGS. 21A, 21B and21C are respectively an enlarged diagrammatic isometric view of a second reel lock transfer mechanism for transferring a reel lock release force applied to a bottom wall of the cartridge adapter to a side wall opening of the mini-cartridge to release a second reel lock within the mini-cartridge in accordance with aspects of the present invention; an enlarged diagrammatic isometric view of a pivot lever element of the FIG. 21A transfer mechanism; and, an enlarged diagrammatic isometric view of a link member of the FIG. 21 A transfer mechanism.
- In accordance with principles and aspects of the present invention, and as one example of a preferred embodiment, a
tape mini-cartridge 100 and amini-cartridge adapter 200 may be physically combined in a nested relationship to provide functional compatibility in place of a larger, industrystandardized tape cartridge 10 described above. In the FIG. 4A diagram, the mini-cartridge 100 andadapter 200 are inserted as a combined unit into areceiver 50 of a conventional tape drive, such as thedrive 80 shown in FIG. 4A. Theconventional tape drive 80 follows an established form factor of a full height or half height 5.25 inch drive and fits into a drive bay of a computer or storage array housing dimensioned to receive this particular drive form factor. - Alternatively and equally satisfactorily, the mini-cartridge100 may be used within a tape drive specifically adapted to receive and handle the
smaller tape cartridge 100. FIG. 4B shows a small formfactor tape drive 90 which receives and handles the mini-cartridge 100 directly, without need or requirement for theadapter 200. Of course, thesmaller tape drive 90 cannot receive or handle the conventional,full size cartridge 10. - Information may be recorded on the tape within the mini-cartridge100 on either the
larger drive 80 or thesmaller drive 90, and played back on a drive of the other size, it being understood that thelarger drive 80 requires the mini-cartridge 100 to be installed within thecartridge adapter 200. Further, in order for the mini-cartridge 100 to be used on thestandard drive 80, it is necessary that thecartridge adapter 200 present the same structural and functional appearance to thestandard drive 80 as would theconventional cartridge 10. Since theconventional cartridge 10 has a plurality of structural elements engaged by thestandard drive 80, it is necessary for thecartridge adapter 200 to transfer effectively those engagements and forces to the mini-cartridge in a manner providing compatible functionality. Just how this daunting task is accomplished is explained hereinafter, first by considering the structural details of the mini-cartridge 100, and then by considering the structural and functional details of thecartridge adapter 200. - In FIG. 5 the mini-cartridge100 is seen to include e.g. a molded plastic
lower shell 102 to which e.g. a molded plasticupper shell 104 is secured e.g. by threaded screws or ultrasonic welding. While molded plastic is presently preferred to form the two-shell housing, other materials, such as die-stamped sheet metal, may be used. The mini-cartridge 100 includes asingle reel 120 upon which a supply of e.g. ½ inchmagnetic recording tape 121 is spooled, to form a tape “pancake”. An inner end of thetape 121 is secured to areel hub 122. Thereel 120 includes alower reel flange 130 which is preferably formed integrally with thereel 120, and may include atop flange 131 which is typically formed as a separate disk and secured to thereel hub 123 by e.g. a suitable adhesive or plastic solvent. - As shown in FIG. 7, the mini-cartridge two-
piece side window opening 106 exposes a write-protectflag 124. A second rightside window opening 108 is provided to admit apawl 240 of thecartridge adapter 200 for rotating a tape leader guide 190 from a retracted position to an extended position. Anopening 110 on the left side of the mini-cartridge 100 receives a finger for releasing a spring-biasedreel lock mechanism 126. Anopening 121 in the rear side-wall and related structure receives a write-protectslide mechanism 122 including the write protectflag 124 which alternatively blocks and unblocks the write-protectwindow 106, depending upon the setting of the operator-actuated write-protectslide mechanism 122. Anelongated front opening 160 enables access to the tape and tape buckling mechanism held by aleader guide 190. Adoor 162 hinged to the housing covers theopening 160 when the mini-cartridge 100 is located or being handled outside of a tape drive cartridge receiver or acartridge adapter 200 in order fully to enclose and thereby protect thetape pancake 121. - The two-
part housing side wall segments smaller tape drive 90, or into thecartridge adapter 200. Thecartridge adapter 200 includes guiding and centering walls,e.g. wall 206, which are contacted by the beveledforward wall segments - As shown in FIGS. 8A, 8B and8C a central
annular ring 136 which extends outwardly from thelower shell 102 includes two unique keying features 180 and 182.Tab 180 serves as a centering feature, whereas notchededge feature 182 ensures that the mini-cartridge 100 can be received by a compatible receiver, such as theadapter 200 or thesmall tape drive 90 in one orientation/insertion direction only. - As shown in FIG. 7, the mini-cartridge
lower shell 102 includes a moldedvertical journal post 132. Thepost 132 receives the moldedplastic reel lock 126. As shown in FIGS. 6, 7, 9 and 9A, a first preferred embodiment of themini-cartridge reel lock 126 includes ahub portion 142 which has a transverse cylindrical opening for receiving thejournal post 132. A somewhatcurved portion 140 extends from thehub 142 in a first direction and ends at the lockingdog end 141. Anotherportion 146 extends from thehub 142 in a different direction and ends at theflag portion 146. A generallytriangular web portion 143 extends to aboss 144 which engages one end ofcoil spring 128. Another end of thecoil spring 128 is secured to aboss 139 extending upwardly from a floor ofbottom shell 102, as shown in FIG. 12, for example. - In this preferred embodiment, the locking
dog end 141 oflock 126 is spring-biased bycoil spring 128 toward, and normally engages, a notched outerperipheral edge 133 oflower reel flange 130 of thetape reel 120. A reel lock releasing force applied through thewindow 110 to arelease flag portion 146 of thereel lock 126 overcomes the bias force applied byspring 128 and rotates thereel lock 126 about thepost 132 to cause thelock dog portion 141 to move outwardly and away from locking engagement with thereel flange 130. This action releases thetape reel 120 from being locked against rotation relative to the cartridge housing. Upon release, thereel 120 may become elevated by upward engagement of a spindle ring, such asspindle ring 72, of e.g. theconventional disk drive 80 and become freely rotatable the drive's feedreel spindle motor 74, for example. A similarly configured spindle ring mechanism and a spindle motor are included in the small formfactor tape drive 90 of FIG. 4B. - FIGS. 10 and 10A illustrate an alternative preferred embodiment of
reel lock 126A which is substantially interchangeable with thelock 126. In this alternative preferred embodiment, thereel lock 126A is also formed as a single unitary plastic molding, and it includes the slightlycurved lever arm 140 terminating in the lockingdog end 141 at a distal end. Ahub 142 has a transverse cylindrical opening for receiving thejournal post 132 at the other end of thelever arm 140. In this embodiment themetal coil spring 128 is replaced by a thin elongatedlive spring section 143A which is formed integrally with the other elements of the plasticreel lock structure 126A. Thelive spring section 143A extends from thehub 142 in a direction different from thearms protrusion 144 for contacting e.g. the inside ofangled side wall 114 of thelower shell 102 of the mini-cartridge 100, as shown in FIG. 10. - In order to work satisfactorily in both the large,
conventional tape drive 80 and thesmaller drive 90, the mini-cartridge 100 includes a spring-biased, slidably pivotingleader guide 190 which engages and restrains aleader buckle 184. Theleader guide 190 is shown in FIG. 6 in its extended position when the mini-cartridge 100 is seated and locked into thecartridge adapter 200, for example. Theleader guide 190 is shown in its normally retracted position in the FIG. 9 view. When the mini-cartridge 100 is used in thesmaller tape drive 90, the leader guide is rotationally biased toward the periphery of thetape reel 120, by abias spring 191, as in a position shown in the FIG. 9 diagrammatic view. Theleader guide 190 is explained in greater detail hereinafter. - The
reel lock 126 andlower flange 130 form one part of a two-part reel locking mechanism. The other part is formed by two mating teeth rings: a rotating reel flange teeth ring 147 formed on anannular plateau 135 of the reellower flange 130 as shown in FIG. 11, and a ring of fixedteeth 148 formed on an upper wall of the housingannular flange 136 as shown in FIG. 12. The bottom of thelower flange 130 also defines an innertoothed spindle ring 149 having teeth sized and pitched to be engaged by a standard spindle ring, such as thespindle ring 72 ofconventional drive 80 shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. - The rotating reel flange teeth ring147 and the fixed
complementary teeth ring 148 are normally meshed in a locking engagement by virtue of a reel preload bias force. The teeth rings 147 and 148 become released from mutual locking engagement by upward movement of thereel 120 relative to the base 102 after thereel lock 126 is retracted and thetoothed spindle ring 149 is engaged by a mating standardized spindle ring, such as theconventional spindle ring 72 ofdrive 80 shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. Engagement by the spindle ring also involves moving the reel slightly upwardly to the clearance position as shown in FIG. 12A. - An internal
reel preload mechanism 150 implements a plastic-on-plastic bearing and applies a bias force between theupper shell 104 and thereel 120. As shown in FIG. 14, thepreload mechanism 150 includes ahelical coil spring 152 which transfers a force to a molded plasticcylindrical plunger 154. Theplunger 154 includes aflat disk face 155 which faces an upwardly curving dimple bearing 156 formed in theplastic reel 120 . Acylindrical chimney 158 is formed as part of thetop shell 104. Theplunger 154 is slideably seated inside of thechimney 158, while thecoil spring 152 is mounted outwardly surrounding thechimney 158. Aflange extension 159 of theplunger disk face 155 is engaged by a free end of thecoil spring 152 while a fixed end of thespring 152 seats against an inside surface of thetop shell 104 outwardly adjacent thechimney 158. A finnedannular reinforcing structure 151 is formed as a part of thetop shell 104 and surrounds thechimney 158. - The spring-loaded
plunger 154 bears down upon the dimple bearing 156 of the plastic reel, in response to the preload force applied by thespring 152 between thetop shell 104 and theplunger 154. Thedimple bearing 156 is generally hemispherical and contacts theflat disk face 155 of the plunger such that when the reel is engaged by a spindle and rotating, a contact point of the dimple bearing 156 is always substantially aligned with a center of rotation of thereel 120 relative to the mini-cartridge housing and plunger 154 (shown as the dashed line in FIG. 14). Most preferably, thedimple bearing 156 and theplunger 154 are formed of wear resistant and/or lubricated plastic material. Thedimple bearing 156 establishes a minimal-radius contact point with theflat surface 155 of the plunger in a manner resulting in minimal wear between these plastic elements at the contact point, and enable the contact point to move relatively along theflat disk face 155 in order to accommodate high volume manufacturing and usage tolerances. Thedimple bearing 156 may be molded as an integral part of thereel 120, or it may be a separate part and suitably secured in an opening molded into thereel 120. Similarly, theflat disk face 155 may be integrally molded within theplunger 154, or it may be a separate part to which the cylindrical plunger body is suitably bonded or secured. - Advantages of the
preload mechanism 150 include the dimple bearing 156 being formed with the rotating mass, i.e.reel 120, while theflat surface 155 of theplunger 154 is formed with the non-rotating mass, i.e. the plunger. Specifically, locating the dimple on the rotating half of the bearing interface reduces the relative velocity of the wear surfaces with respect to each other when the two surfaces are in a misaligned condition. As a result, bearing wear is reduced. In addition, theflat surface 155 enables the dimple bearing surface to move laterally, relative thereto. This enables the preload force to remain normal to reel 120, thereby not inducing any lateral vector to lift one side of the reel hub off the reel driver. Consequently lateral tape movement (LTM) may be avoided. - Alternatively, the dimple bearing156 may be replaced by a steel ball secured to the
reel 120. All the functional aspects and advantages discussed herein above, with respect to the plastic dimple bearing 156, would similarly apply. - The
bottom shell 102A andtop shell 104A shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 differ slightly from theshells beveled surfaces rounded corners shells 12 and 13 provide a mini-cartridge housing which is less likely to be inserted into a cartridge receiver in an incorrect orientation. - As shown in FIGS.15A-C, the front wall of the mini-cartridge 100 defines the
elongated opening 160. As shown in FIG. 9, thedoor 162 includes twopivot pins journals upper shell 104 of thecartridge 100. Anangled corner surface 168 of thedoor 162 is contacted by a door opening pin (not shown) positioned at alocation 170 as the cartridge enters theadapter 200. As shown in FIG. 15B a release force atposition 170 pushes thedoor 162 first to the left to move adoor lock boss 172 out of anotch 174 formed in theupper shell 104 thereby to release thedoor 162 and permit it to rotate upwardly to an opened position shown in FIG. 15C. Ahelical compression spring 176 shown in FIGS. 9 and 15B is placed onpin 166 with one end engaging thedoor 162 and the other end engaging theupper shell 104 such that thespring 176 simultaneously urges theboss 172 into thegroove 174 and thedoor 162 into the closed position shown in FIG. 15B. Thejournals pins door 162 fits entirely within an interior space defined by thecartridge adapter 200. - FIG. 16A illustrates the
leader buckle 184 used for buckling themini-cartridge tape leader 188 to a complementary drive leader in accordance e.g. with the standardized buckling arrangement illustrated in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,572,460 discussed above. Thebuckle 184 includes two laterally extending buckle ears ortab extensions central detent slot 186. Theleader buckle 184 is designed to be engaged and captured by the pivotingleader guide 190 as shown in FIGS. 6, 9, and 11. - The pivoting
tape leader guide 190 is shown in greater detail in FIG. 16B and includes amain body portion 192. Themain body portion 192 includes two axially aligned cylindricalrear bosses oblong forward bosses bosses 193 and 194 respectively cooperate with boss guides 171 and 173 formed respectively in thebottom shell 102 andtop shell 104, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. Oblong boss guides 171A and 173A are formed in thebottom shell 102, and curved slot boss guides 171B and 173B are formed in the top shell. Theboss guide 171A is aligned with theboss guide 171B, and the boss guide 173A is aligned with theboss guide 173B when theshells coil spring 191, best seen in the FIG. 11 view, biases theleader guide 190 to the retracted position shown in FIGS. 9 and 11. The boss guides 171A,B and 173A,B guide the leader guide to the extended position shown in FIG. 6 which is required when the mini-cartridge 100 is installed within thecartridge adapter 200. - The boss guides171A and 171B enable the
bosses bosses leader guide 190 to pivot to the extended position shown in FIG. 16C required by thecartridge adapter 200 without stretching the tape, since a true center of rotation of theleader guide 190 lies underneath (and above) thereel 120. In other words, without the longitudinal and transverse degrees of limited relative displacement, an attempt to rotate theleader guide 190 at a pivot point outside the periphery of thereel 120 without first releasing the reel locking mechanisms could result in stretching or tearing of thetape leader 188. While other mechanisms are known to achieve the displacement positions shown in FIG. 16C, such as a three-link mechanism, thepresent leader guide 190 is preferred because of its simplicity and reliability in operation. - A
buckle engagement portion 198 of thetape leader guide 190 includes two slotted engagement fingers: an upper finger formed oftines tines buckle extensions supply reel 120. Adetent hook 196 extends from a central web portion of theleader guide body 192 and is dimensioned to receive thebuckle detent 186. An opposinglever portion 199 extends from theleader guide body 192 adjacent thebosses cartridge adapter 200 in order to pivot the leader guide outwardly and place thebuckle 184 in position to be engaged by a complementary buckle of the conventional large formfactor tape drive 80. Otherwise, thecoil spring 191 causes the pivoted leader guide to remain at a position adjacent the outer periphery ofsupply reel 120 of the mini-cartridge. The opposinglever portion 199 is engageable through theelongated slot 108 in the right side wall of the mini-cartridge, see e.g. FIGS. 7, 12 and 13. - Referring now to FIG. 17, the
mini-cartridge adapter 200 includes e.g. a molded plasticlower shell 202 to which a molded plasticupper shell 204 is secured e.g. by threaded screws. As assembled, themini-cartridge adapter 200 includes all of the specified dimensions and openings of the full-sizestandardized tape cartridge 10 depicted in FIGS. 1-3, for example. Thelower shell 202 includes acentral opening 207 sized to admit thecartridge flange 136 of the mini-cartridge 100. FIG. 17 shows the mini-cartridge 100 inserted into and locked within thecartridge adapter 200. In order to emulate the full-sizedstandardized cartridge 10, thecartridge adapter 200 must present the equivalent functional appearance to the tape drive receiver or tape handling mechanism. Accordingly, in addition to standardized external appearance, a plurality of transfer mechanisms are required to transfer external forces applied to theadapter 200 to appropriate functional locations of the mini-cartridge 100. - FIG. 18 shows e.g. three cartridge adapter transfer mechanisms: a write
protect transfer mechanism 220, a leader guideactuator pawl mechanism 240, and a corner reellock transfer mechanism 250. Two cartridge adapter journal posts 208 and 210 extend upwardly from a bottom wall of thelower shell 202. The write-protecttransfer mechanism 220 is journaled to thepost 208, and the leader guideactuator lever mechanism 240 is journaled to thepost 210. - FIG. 19 shows the inside of the
upper shell 204 of thecartridge adapter 200. Theangled surface 206 is shown in opposite orientational sense of the orientation of FIGS. 6 and 18. A hard stoptransverse lip 212 at the front end of theadapter 200 stops the mini-cartridge 100 at its intended position within theadapter 200, while theangled surface 206 forces the cartridge to rest against anopposite guide rail 215. Anopening 213 in therail 215 admits the leader guideactuator pawl mechanism 240. Afront end wall 214 has a major opening therein to permit theleader guide 190 to position thebuckle 184 outwardly therethrough. Aguide rail 216 on the same side of theshell 204 as theangled wall 206 also guides the mini-cartridge 100 to its desired position. Thewall 215 has a flaredsection 217 extending to therear opening 207, while thewall 216 has a flaredsection 218, also extending to therear opening 207. - With reference to FIGS. 20A and 20B, the
lower shell 202 of thecartridge adapter 200 defines a slot in the major bottom wall for receiving thecartridge ring 136 of the mini-cartridge 100. Oneedge 203 of the slotted opening is dimensioned to pass the notchededge alignment feature 182 of thering 136. This arrangement prohibits the mini-cartridge 100 from being inserted into thecartridge adapter 200 backwards. A cantileveredleaf spring 211 extends adjacently to the notchededge feature 182 and includes adetent ball portion 213 which snap-locks the mini-cartridge 100 into thecartridge adapter 200 around thering 136, as shown in FIG. 20B, for example. Acurved edge 219 of thebottom wall 202 is adapted to be engaged by thealignment tab feature 180 which also extends from the mini-cartridgelower ring 136. - As shown in FIGS. 6 and 18, the write-protect
transfer mechanism 220 preferably comprises a molded plastic part having a rigidlever body portion 222 which extends from a hub forming a journal atpost 208 and has an intermediateangled sensor extension 224 for sensing the position of the write-protectflag 124 of the mini-cartridge (see e.g. FIG. 7). A write protectindicator flag portion 225 is formed at the distal end of thelever body portion 222 and mimics the position of the mini-cartridge write protectmechanism 122 at an external write-protectwindow 46A in the same position as thewindow 46 of the standardizedconventional cartridge 10. The write-protecttransfer mechanism 220 is biased toward the mini-cartridge write-protect window by acoil spring 227 which bears against the sidewall of thelower adapter shell 202 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 18. Therigid lever body 222 has anangled surface 229 between thesensor extension 224 and theflag portion 225 which angles away from the mini-cartridge housing in order to permit the mini-cartridge 100 to be received and withdrawn from thecartridge adapter 200 without presenting an insurmountable obstruction. - The leader guide
actuator pawl mechanism 240 functions substantially as a hook which is spring biased by a spring 242 toward theelongated slot 108 of the mini-cartridge 100. Thepawl 240 includes a dog-leg hook portion 244 which hooks thearm 199 of theleader guide 190 as the mini-cartridge 100 is inserted into thecartridge adapter 200. Since the location of thepawl 240 is fixed by the location ofpivot pin 210, as thecartridge 100 moves into theadapter 200, thepawl 240 causes the leader guide to rotate to the position shown in FIG. 18. The dog-leg hook portion 244 is angled relative to thecartridge 100 such that the cartridge may be inserted and withdrawn from theadapter 200 without obstruction. - The reel-
lock transfer mechanism 250 is shown in detail in FIGS. 21A, 21B and 21C. Therein, themechanism 250 is seen as including two separate structural elements: a longitudinally displacedlink member 252 and apivot lever 254. Both elements are most preferably formed of a suitable plastic material. Thelink member 252 has a beveled engagement face in anotch 255 which is located to cover partially theopening 38A formed in thecartridge adapter 200 in the same position as theopening 38 of thestandard tape cartridge 10. As was the case with thestandard cartridge 10, arelease arm 68 enters theopening 38A and moves thelink member 252 in a linear motion toward the front of theadapter 200, in the direction indicated by the bold arrow D in FIG. 21A. This displacement is resisted by a horseshoe-shapedlive spring 256 having a distal end bearing against a narrow transverseside wall face 258 of thelower shell 202 of theadapter 200. - As shown in FIGS. 21B and 21C, the
link member 252 includes aU-shaped portion 260 which engages a crank-pin 262 of thepivot lever 254. Thepivot lever 254 is journaled to the base 202 at ajournal post 256, and thecrank pin 262 is laterally offset from thejournal post 256, such that a reel-lock release cam 258 rotates into engagement with theface 146 ofrear reel lock 128 via opening 109 in the cartridgelower shell 102 asarm 68 passes through opening 3 8A, entersnotch 255, engages abeveled surface 253 of link member, and drives linkmember 252 forward. - To those skilled in the art, many changes and modifications will be readily apparent from consideration of the foregoing description of a preferred embodiment without departure from the spirit of the present invention, the scope thereof being more particularly pointed out by the following claims. For example, some aspects and features of the present invention may readily be adapted and applied to storage disk cartridges and storage disk cartridge adapters, and the like. The descriptions herein and the disclosures hereof are by way of illustration only and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention which is more particularly pointed out by the following claims.
Claims (63)
Priority Applications (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US09/394,666 US6344944B2 (en) | 1997-06-03 | 1999-09-13 | Mini-cartridge adapter for adapting a mini-cartridge to an industry standard tape cartridge format |
DE10045032A DE10045032A1 (en) | 1999-09-13 | 2000-09-12 | Tape mini cassette adapter for tape cassette drive of digital computer, has housing with surface main wall in coplanar alignment with surface of cassette housing |
JP2000278392A JP2001126440A (en) | 1999-09-13 | 2000-09-13 | Tape medium cartridge and tape mini cartridge adapter |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US08/868,596 US6034850A (en) | 1997-06-03 | 1997-06-03 | Two-part tape cartridge reel locking mechanism |
US09/394,666 US6344944B2 (en) | 1997-06-03 | 1999-09-13 | Mini-cartridge adapter for adapting a mini-cartridge to an industry standard tape cartridge format |
Related Parent Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US08/868,596 Division US6034850A (en) | 1997-06-03 | 1997-06-03 | Two-part tape cartridge reel locking mechanism |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20010055178A1 true US20010055178A1 (en) | 2001-12-27 |
US6344944B2 US6344944B2 (en) | 2002-02-05 |
Family
ID=23559911
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US09/394,666 Expired - Fee Related US6344944B2 (en) | 1997-06-03 | 1999-09-13 | Mini-cartridge adapter for adapting a mini-cartridge to an industry standard tape cartridge format |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US6344944B2 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2001126440A (en) |
DE (1) | DE10045032A1 (en) |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2003071542A1 (en) * | 2002-02-21 | 2003-08-28 | International Business Machines Corporation | Data-cartridge case adapted for dual-format applications |
US20050071858A1 (en) * | 2003-09-29 | 2005-03-31 | Ming-Yu Chen | Optical disc drive which can firmly fix its tray module within its housing |
US7317593B1 (en) * | 2003-11-05 | 2008-01-08 | Storage Technology Corporation | Tape cartridge with pivotable access door |
US8130465B1 (en) * | 2004-05-13 | 2012-03-06 | Oracle America, Inc. | Leader retention method and device |
Families Citing this family (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP2000156061A (en) * | 1998-11-16 | 2000-06-06 | Sanyo Electric Co Ltd | Disk cartridge |
EP1492112B1 (en) * | 1999-11-08 | 2008-04-16 | FUJIFILM Corporation | Magnetic tape cartridge |
US20020195513A1 (en) * | 2001-06-20 | 2002-12-26 | Benchmark Storage Innovations, Inc. | Single reel tape cartridge with tape reel centering features |
US6439489B1 (en) * | 2001-07-20 | 2002-08-27 | Benchmark Storage Innovations, Inc. | Tape cartridge leader for single reel tape cartridges having increased flexibility for improved performance |
US7168648B2 (en) | 2001-10-05 | 2007-01-30 | Quantum Corporation | Performance tape cartridge leader for single reel tape cartridges |
US7100858B2 (en) | 2001-10-15 | 2006-09-05 | Quantum Corporation | Self-centering tape reel for single reel tape cartridges |
JP4733031B2 (en) * | 2003-07-21 | 2011-07-27 | アクゾ ノーベル ナムローゼ フェンノートシャップ | Aqueous solution of sodium salt of HEDTA |
US7099102B2 (en) * | 2003-10-20 | 2006-08-29 | Quantum Corporation | Multiple format magnetic storage media drive |
US7117906B2 (en) * | 2004-02-06 | 2006-10-10 | Societe Bic | Datum based interchangeable fuel cell cartridges |
JP4663358B2 (en) * | 2004-12-01 | 2011-04-06 | 富士フイルム株式会社 | Recording tape cartridge |
JPWO2022202120A1 (en) * | 2021-03-26 | 2022-09-29 |
Family Cites Families (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3922719A (en) * | 1967-12-29 | 1975-11-25 | Clarion Co Ltd | Playing method of tape player and an equipment thereof |
US3864743A (en) * | 1968-05-29 | 1975-02-04 | Marcel Jules Helene Staar | Arrangement for playing recording on an endless tape in cartridges of different types |
US3964099A (en) * | 1973-06-06 | 1976-06-15 | Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. | Cassette adapter |
JPS57123573A (en) * | 1981-01-20 | 1982-08-02 | Victor Co Of Japan Ltd | Adapter for tape cassette |
US5021903A (en) * | 1988-06-24 | 1991-06-04 | Rank Video Services America | Magnetic tape cartridge |
CA2015374A1 (en) * | 1989-05-18 | 1990-11-18 | Thomas A. Turgeon | Topload tape cartridge for videocassette |
US5280400A (en) * | 1991-09-23 | 1994-01-18 | Staub Craig W | Microcassette to standard cassette adapter |
-
1999
- 1999-09-13 US US09/394,666 patent/US6344944B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
2000
- 2000-09-12 DE DE10045032A patent/DE10045032A1/en not_active Ceased
- 2000-09-13 JP JP2000278392A patent/JP2001126440A/en active Pending
Cited By (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2003071542A1 (en) * | 2002-02-21 | 2003-08-28 | International Business Machines Corporation | Data-cartridge case adapted for dual-format applications |
US6900964B2 (en) | 2002-02-21 | 2005-05-31 | International Business Machines Corporation | Data-cartridge case adapted for dual-format applications |
US20050071858A1 (en) * | 2003-09-29 | 2005-03-31 | Ming-Yu Chen | Optical disc drive which can firmly fix its tray module within its housing |
US7043740B2 (en) * | 2003-09-29 | 2006-05-09 | Aopen Inc. | Optical disc drive which can firmly fix its tray module within its housing |
US20060161931A1 (en) * | 2003-09-29 | 2006-07-20 | Ming-Yu Chen | Optical disc drive which can firmly fix its tray module within its housing |
US7317593B1 (en) * | 2003-11-05 | 2008-01-08 | Storage Technology Corporation | Tape cartridge with pivotable access door |
US8130465B1 (en) * | 2004-05-13 | 2012-03-06 | Oracle America, Inc. | Leader retention method and device |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
JP2001126440A (en) | 2001-05-11 |
US6344944B2 (en) | 2002-02-05 |
DE10045032A1 (en) | 2001-05-10 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US6034850A (en) | Two-part tape cartridge reel locking mechanism | |
KR880002053B1 (en) | Tape cassette | |
US6344944B2 (en) | Mini-cartridge adapter for adapting a mini-cartridge to an industry standard tape cartridge format | |
US4214719A (en) | Tape cassette | |
US6095445A (en) | Cartridge buckler for a tape drive | |
US5547142A (en) | Tape cassette with internal tape cleaning and locking | |
CA1233248A (en) | Video tape cassette | |
JPH0677363B2 (en) | Magnetic tape cassette device | |
EP0189324B1 (en) | Cassette holder in recording and reproducing apparatus for magnetic tape cassette | |
EP0409534A2 (en) | Carrier with tape connector interlock for videocassette | |
US7690594B2 (en) | Recording tape cartridge | |
US4524926A (en) | Cassette and cassette adapter for use therewith | |
US6827307B2 (en) | Recording tape cartridge | |
US6002556A (en) | Adapter for magnetic disc cartridge | |
KR100445677B1 (en) | Tape cartridge | |
EP0450976A2 (en) | Tape cassette | |
JP3511822B2 (en) | Tape cartridge | |
US6450434B1 (en) | Wide tape holding frame | |
US6854679B2 (en) | Recording medium cartridge | |
JP3953623B2 (en) | Magnetic tape cartridge | |
JPS639318B2 (en) | ||
US6445533B1 (en) | Transfer linkage for a cartridge adapter of a tape drive | |
US6854680B2 (en) | Recording tape cartridge | |
JP3979208B2 (en) | Recording and / or playback device | |
US6962303B2 (en) | Recording tape cartridge |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, IDAHO Free format text: SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNOR:QUANTUM CORP.;REEL/FRAME:013616/0759 Effective date: 20021217 |
|
FPAY | Fee payment |
Year of fee payment: 4 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AG Free format text: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT (SECOND LIEN);ASSIGNOR:QUANTUM CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:018268/0475 Effective date: 20060822 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AG Free format text: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT (FIRST LIEN);ASSIGNOR:QUANTUM CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:018303/0336 Effective date: 20060822 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: QUANTUM CORPORATION, CALIFORNIA Free format text: TERMINATION OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS REEL 018269 FRAME 0005 AND REEL 018268 FRAME 0475;ASSIGNOR:KEY BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION;REEL/FRAME:019550/0659 Effective date: 20070712 Owner name: QUANTUM CORPORATION,CALIFORNIA Free format text: TERMINATION OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS REEL 018269 FRAME 0005 AND REEL 018268 FRAME 0475;ASSIGNOR:KEY BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION;REEL/FRAME:019550/0659 Effective date: 20070712 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: QUANTUM CORPORATION, CALIFORNIA Free format text: RELEASE OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT AT REEL 018303 FRAME 0336;ASSIGNOR:KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION;REEL/FRAME:019562/0958 Effective date: 20070712 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: CREDIT SUISSE, NEW YORK Free format text: SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNORS:QUANTUM CORPORATION;ADVANCED DIGITAL INFORMATION CORPORATION;CERTANCE HOLDINGS CORPORATION;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:019605/0159 Effective date: 20070712 Owner name: CREDIT SUISSE,NEW YORK Free format text: SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNORS:QUANTUM CORPORATION;ADVANCED DIGITAL INFORMATION CORPORATION;CERTANCE HOLDINGS CORPORATION;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:019605/0159 Effective date: 20070712 |
|
FPAY | Fee payment |
Year of fee payment: 8 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: QUANTUM CORPORATION, CALIFORNIA Free format text: RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT COLLATERAL RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME NO 013616/0759;ASSIGNOR:KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION;REEL/FRAME:027941/0352 Effective date: 20120327 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: ADVANCED DIGITAL INFORMATION CORPORATION, WASHINGT Free format text: RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNOR:CREDIT SUISSE, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH (FORMERLY KNOWN AS CREDIT SUISSE), AS COLLATERAL AGENT;REEL/FRAME:027968/0007 Effective date: 20120329 Owner name: CERTANCE (US) HOLDINGS, INC., WASHINGTON Free format text: RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNOR:CREDIT SUISSE, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH (FORMERLY KNOWN AS CREDIT SUISSE), AS COLLATERAL AGENT;REEL/FRAME:027968/0007 Effective date: 20120329 Owner name: CERTANCE HOLDINGS CORPORATION, WASHINGTON Free format text: RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNOR:CREDIT SUISSE, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH (FORMERLY KNOWN AS CREDIT SUISSE), AS COLLATERAL AGENT;REEL/FRAME:027968/0007 Effective date: 20120329 Owner name: QUANTUM CORPORATION, WASHINGTON Free format text: RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNOR:CREDIT SUISSE, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH (FORMERLY KNOWN AS CREDIT SUISSE), AS COLLATERAL AGENT;REEL/FRAME:027968/0007 Effective date: 20120329 Owner name: QUANTUM INTERNATIONAL, INC., WASHINGTON Free format text: RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNOR:CREDIT SUISSE, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH (FORMERLY KNOWN AS CREDIT SUISSE), AS COLLATERAL AGENT;REEL/FRAME:027968/0007 Effective date: 20120329 Owner name: CERTANCE, LLC, WASHINGTON Free format text: RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNOR:CREDIT SUISSE, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH (FORMERLY KNOWN AS CREDIT SUISSE), AS COLLATERAL AGENT;REEL/FRAME:027968/0007 Effective date: 20120329 Owner name: WELLS FARGO CAPITAL FINANCE, LLC, AS AGENT, CALIFO Free format text: SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNOR:QUANTUM CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:027967/0914 Effective date: 20120329 |
|
REMI | Maintenance fee reminder mailed | ||
LAPS | Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees | ||
STCH | Information on status: patent discontinuation |
Free format text: PATENT EXPIRED DUE TO NONPAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEES UNDER 37 CFR 1.362 |
|
FP | Lapsed due to failure to pay maintenance fee |
Effective date: 20140205 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: QUANTUM CORPORATION, CALIFORNIA Free format text: RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNOR:WELLS FARGO CAPITAL FINANCE, LLC, AS AGENT;REEL/FRAME:040474/0079 Effective date: 20161021 |