Abstract: A tape transport fits within the five and one-quarter inch form factor and has motor driven mechanisms for automatically loading a DC600-type cartridge endwise therein. The transport includes a frame dimensioned to fit within the form factor, and a front panel extending across a forward transvere end of the frame. The front panel has a slot dimensioned so that the cartridge can be endwise inserted through the slot onto a tray movably supported within the frame. A read/write head is mounted to the frame adjacent the tray for reciprocating the head along an axis perpendicular to a base plate of the cartridge. A capstan drive motor is also mounted to the frame adjacent the tray so that a capstan drive roller connected to its shaft can drive a belt capstan roller of the cartridge. Guides associated with the tray permit the same to be moved by a motor driven gear box to automatically carry the cartridge rearwardly and then laterally into engagement with the read/write head and the capstan drive roller.

Abstract: A tape transport for a leader block tape cartridge has a threading mechanism including a rigid threader arm and a threader pin for engaging and the leader block and extracting it from the cartridge after it has been loaded into the transport adjacent a first end of a tape path. The threading mechanism pulls the leader block along the tape path past a read/write head, and inserts the leader block into a take-up hub adjacent a second end of the tape path during a threading operation. A plurality of tape guide rollers are positioned along the tape path for engaging and guiding the oxide side of the tape once the take-up hub has pulled the tape into engagement with the gap on the read/write head. During a rewinding operation, the threading mechanism extracts the leader block from the take-up hub, pulls the leader block past the read/write head and inserts the leader block back into the cartridge.

Abstract: A tachometer assembly includes a precision manufactured hub assembly or member having a cylindrical hub and a backing plate for mounting on a shaft of a drive motor, a fine line disc having a plurality of radial reference lines circumferentially disposed about an outer periphery thereof, a hub bore formed in the disc concentric with the reference lines and sized to fit the cylindrical hub within two thousandths of an inch, and a circular spring retainer having a central bore with internal teeth for press fitting on the cylindrical hub and an annular rim for biasing the disc into support engagement with the backing plate.

Abstract: A tape transport for a leader block tape cartridge has a threading mechanism including a threader pin for engaging the leader block and extracting it from the cartridge after it has been loaded into the transport adjacent a first end of a tape path. The threading mechanism pulls the leader block along the tape path past a read/write head, and inserts the leader block into a take-up hub adjacent a second end of the tape path during a threading operation. During a rewinding operation, the threading mechanism extracts the leader block from the take-up hub, pulls the leader block past the read/write head and inserts the leader block back into the cartridge. A first guide assembly adjacent the first end of the tape path engages and guides the leader block to ensure proper insertion thereof back into the cartridge during the rewinding operation.

Abstract: A transport for a rectangular tape cartridge enclosing a supply reel having a web of magnetic tape wound thereabout terminating in a free end attached to a leader block. The illustrated embodiment of the transport is designed to fit within the computer industry standard 51/4-inch form factor and utilizes the 1/2-inch tape cartridge defined in Proposed American National Standard X3B5/85-075. An elongate rectangular housing has internal mechanisms for supporting the tape cartridge therein and referencing the cartridge off its side surfaces. The cartridge is manually inserted into the housing through a slot in a face panel extending across a transverse end of the housing. Electro-mechanical assemblies lock the cartridge in place and complete the loading sequence by engaging a drive chuck with the hub of the supply reel, extracting the leader block from the cartridge, and pulling the leader block to the take-up hub to thread the tape along a tape path.

Abstract: A magnetic tape drive in which a tape cartridge is endwise loaded and thereafter minutely moved into a precision alignment position with respect to a read/write head. The drive has a support frame with a front panel and an elongate tray dimensioned to have the cartridge inserted endwise thereon. The tray is supported by the frame for longitudinal sliding movement from a retracted position in which the tray is contained within the frame to an extended position in which a portion of the tray extends through a slot in the front panel. A mechanism is provided for opening the access door of the cartridge while the cartridge is supported on the tray and the tray is being moved from its extended position to it retracted position.

Abstract: A transport for a rectangular tape cartridge enclosing a supply reel having a web of magnetic tape wound thereabout terminating in a free end attached to a leader block. The illustrated embodiment of the transport is designed to fit within the computer industry standard 51/4-inch form factor and utilizes the 1/2-inch tape cartridge defined in Proposed American National Standard X3B5/85-075. An elongate rectangular housing has internal mechanisms for supporting the tape cartridge therein and referencing the cartridge off its side surfaces. The cartridge is manually inserted into the housing through a slot in a face panel extending across a transverse end of the housing. Electro-mechanical assemblies lock the cartridge in place and complete the loading sequence by engaging a drive chuck with the hub of the supply reel, extracting the leader block from the cartridge, and pulling the leader block to the take-up hub to thread the tape along a tape path.

Abstract: A drive which permits endwise loading of the ANSI standard one-quarter inch tape cartridge in an enclosure having a width of approximately five and three-quarter inches. The drive has a mechanism for partially opening the tape access door of the cartridge upon insertion thereof so that the door pivots clear of a read/write head. Another mechanism is provided for thereafter operatively engaging and disengaging the read/write head with a length of tape in the cartridge.

Abstract: In a system for transferring data between a host device and a target recording medium, a buffer interface control unit includes a host direct memory access (DMA) unit for transferring data from the host unit to a buffer memory. The host DMA unit accesses a first set of prescribed noncontinuous buffer memory storage locations to store the data transferred from the host unit in a predetermined buffer format that includes additional sets of prescribed storage locations interspersed with the first set of data storage locations for the storage of error code characters pertaining to the data. The host DMA unit also transfers error correction code characters pertaining to the data to one of the additional sets of prescribed storage locations. The buffer interface control unit further includes a target DMA unit for transferring data from the buffer memory to a write interface unit.

Abstract: A magnetic head is attached to a hollow carriage which surrounds a hollow cylindrical positioner post rigidly secured at one end to a frame element of a tape drive. Precision ball bearings mounted to the carriage engage the outer surface of the cylindrical positioner post at longitudinally and circumferentially spaced locations. A positioner shaft extends through the positioner post and a tracking nut in one end of the carriage is screwed over a threaded segment of the shaft. A pin extends from the carriage and is longitudinally slidable in a recess in an anti-rotation block mounted on the frame element. A stepper motor can drive the shaft to reciprocate the carriage toward and away from the frame element thereby moving the head traversely with respect to a length of magnetic tape. An adjustable stop on the post limits movement of the carriage toward the frame element.

Abstract: A drive for a tape cartridge having an access door along one side edge thereof. The drive includes a housing having a front panel and an elongate tray dimensioned to have the cartridge inserted endwise thereon. The tray is supported within the housing for longitudinal movement from a retracted position in which the tray is substantially contained within the housing to an extended position in which a portion of the tray extends through a slot in the front panel of the housing. A mechanism is provided for opening the access door of the cartridge while the cartridge is supported on the tray and the tray is being moved from its extended position to its retracted position. Another mechanism is provided for moving a read/write head and a capstan drive within the housing between operative engagement and disengagement with the cartridge after the cartridge has been inserted onto the tray and the tray has been moved to its retracted position.

Abstract: A tape recording system for connection to a controller of a floppy disk data recording system for recording data in a stream on a recording tape in the same format that data is recorded on a disk by the disk data recording system. A control processor responds to sensing a beginning-of-stream indicator on the tape (a) by causing an initial gap to be erased in the tape stream adjacent the beginning-of-stream indicator and (b) by next providing an initial beginning-of-segment index pulse to the controller.

Abstract: A magnetic tape drive capable of simulating the performance of a fast acceleration start/stop tape drive without a capstan drive or vacuum columns. A streaming type tape drive is provided with a semiconductor cache memory for storing data which may be written on, and data read from, a length of magnetic tape. Circuitry, including a microprocessor, DMA controller and service requests, handles data transfer between a host and the tape via the cache memory so that delays due to tape accelerations and decelerations are masked and the host can instantaneously read data bi-directionally and instantaneously switch between read and write operations.

Abstract: A disk cartridge having a housing in which a substantially rigid disk is completely enclosed, the disk having a nub which is accessible through an opening in the housing for engagement by a rotatable drive spindle. The housing has an opening for receiving a read/write head to apply or pick off data from the magnetically permeable surface of the disk. The head receiving opening is normally closed by a door which is opened by a cam when the cartridge is inserted in a drive unit. When not in use, the disk hub is held against the interior of the hub opening to seal the cartridge against contamination. When the cartridge is inserted in a drive unit, the drive spindle is guided into a self-centering socket in the hub and lifts the hub clear of the opening for free rotation of the disk.

Abstract: A magnetic tape drive unit constructed in a horizontal configuration to fit in a drawer or similar low profile installation, the tape being loaded and unloaded through a front slot without the need for access to the mechanism. A supply reel is inserted in the slot and placed on a supply hub, the free end of the tape being applied to a take-up reel which has a vacuum action to retain the tape. The take-up reel is mounted on an arm which swings back in the enclosure and pulls the tape over a guide and head array, the supply reel being simultaneously retracted so that the tape and reels are fully enclosed. After rewinding, the arm swings back and the supply hub is extended to the slot for removal of the tape.