Abstract: A plastic cartridge holder for restraining and protecting data tape cartridges during shipping has individual cartridge slots with corrugated padding between adjacent slots and on the sides of the slots to decouple the cartridges from virtually any shock event. The cartridges do not separate or fall apart from each other when the external bundling material or shrink-wrapping is removed. The corrugations and slots hold the cartridges in place with a retention force that is firm yet comfortable for the user to overcome. The slots on the beveled corners allow individual cartridge actuation of access doors for inspection of the tape leader pins before the cartridges are removed. The opposite side of the holder has a full, cartridge-length access to the individual slots. The holder also has an access slot to allow the user to manually push all of the cartridges out of the holder simultaneously.

Abstract: An electrical connection of a transfer station releasably, repeatably electrically couples with respect to a matching connection of a portable cartridge. A substrate in the portable cartridge has electrical contacts on a facing surface. In the transfer station, a matching circuitized flexible substrate has electrical contacts on a facing surface thereof, which are arranged to match the portable cartridge electrical contacts when in a face-to-face relationship. An elastomeric compression element, at the rear of the matching substrate, has individual protruding compression members contacting the rear surface and registered with corresponding individual electrical contacts. Elongated electrical contacts are registered with two adjacent individual compression members.

Abstract: An electrical connection releasably, repeatably electrically couples with respect to a matching connection of a portable cartridge. A substrate in the portable cartridge has electrical contacts on a facing surface of a flex cable termination mounted on a backing plate. A matching circuitized flexible substrate has electrical contacts on a facing surface thereof, which are arranged to match the portable cartridge electrical contacts when in a face-to-face relationship, and is mounted on a compression element with protruding compression members. Elongated electrical contacts are registered with two adjacent individual compression members. A loader exerts a normal force to the cartridge to compress the compression element and create non-wiping contact between the facing electrical contacts.

Abstract: An electrical connection releasably, repeatably electrically couples with respect to a matching connection of a portable cartridge. A substrate in the portable cartridge has electrical contacts on a facing surface of a flex cable mounted on a backing plate. A matching circuitized flexible substrate has electrical contacts on a facing surface thereof, which are arranged to match the portable cartridge electrical contacts when in a face-to-face relationship, and is mounted on a compression element with protruding compression members. Elongated electrical contacts are registered with two adjacent individual compression members. A loader exerts a normal force to the cartridge to compress the compression element and create non-wiping contact between the facing electrical contacts.

Abstract: An electrical connection of a transfer station releasably, repeatably electrically couples with respect to a matching connection of a portable cartridge. A substrate in the portable cartridge has electrical contacts on a facing surface. In the transfer station, a matching circuitized flexible substrate has electrical contacts on a facing surface thereof, which are arranged to match the portable cartridge electrical contacts when in a face-to-face relationship. An elastomeric compression element, at the rear of the matching substrate, has individual protruding compression members contacting the rear surface and registered with corresponding individual electrical contacts. Elongated electrical contacts are registered with two adjacent individual compression members.

Abstract: An indicator comprises a rotary device in the form of a right cylinder arranged to be rotatable in a chamber of a portable data storage cartridge, which has an exterior wall opening to the chamber. A peripheral surface of the rotary device has an encoded pattern of at least one cylindrical surface and a plurality of facets interrupting the cylindrical surface(s). The facets are located at various axial positions, and at various angularly spaced rotational positions, such that, at differing rotational positions of the rotary device, at least one or none of the facets is positioned at the exterior opening.

Abstract: An electrical connection of a transfer station releasably, repeatably electrically couples with respect to a matching connection of a portable cartridge. A substrate in the portable cartridge has electrical contacts on a facing surface. In the transfer station, a matching circuitized flexible substrate has electrical contacts on a facing surface thereof, which are arranged to match the portable cartridge electrical contacts when in a face-to-face relationship. An elastomeric compression element, at the rear of the matching substrate, has individual protruding compression members contacting the rear surface and registered with corresponding individual electrical contacts. Elongated electrical contacts are registered with two adjacent individual compression members.

Abstract: An electrical connection of a transfer station releasably, repeatably electrically couples with respect to a matching connection of a portable cartridge. A substrate in the portable cartridge has electrical contacts on a facing surface. In the transfer station, a matching circuitized flexible substrate has electrical contacts on a facing surface thereof, which are arranged to match the portable cartridge electrical contacts when in a face-to-face relationship. An elastomeric compression element, at the rear of the matching substrate, has individual protruding compression members contacting the rear surface and registered with corresponding individual electrical contacts. Elongated electrical contacts are registered with two adjacent individual compression members.

Abstract: An indicator comprises a rotary device in the form of a right cylinder arranged to be rotatable in a chamber of a portable data storage cartridge, which has an exterior wall opening to the chamber. A peripheral surface of the rotary device has an encoded pattern of at least one cylindrical surface and a plurality of facets interrupting the cylindrical surface(s). The facets are located at various axial positions, and at various angularly spaced rotational positions, such that, at differing rotational positions of the rotary device, at least one or none of the facets is positioned at the exterior opening.

Abstract: An electrical connection of a transfer station releasably, repeatably electrically couples with respect to a matching connection of a portable cartridge. A substrate in the portable cartridge has electrical contacts on a facing surface. In the transfer station, a matching circuitized flexible substrate has electrical contacts on a facing surface thereof, which are arranged to match the portable cartridge electrical contacts when in a face-to-face relationship. An elastomeric compression element, at the rear of the matching substrate, has individual protruding compression members contacting the rear surface and registered with corresponding individual electrical contacts. Elongated electrical contacts are registered with two adjacent individual compression members.

Abstract: A tape cartridge which includes an internally disposed rotatable reel, wherein the tape cartridge includes two, three, or a plurality of piloting members disposed adjacent an annular ring to limit the movement of the reel within the tape cartridge. An automated data storage and retrieval system which includes a plurality of Applicants' tape cartridges. A method to prevent damage to a tape medium disposed in a tape cartridge.

Abstract: An electrical connection of a transfer station releasably, repeatably electrically couples with respect to a matching connection of a portable cartridge. A substrate in the portable cartridge has electrical contacts on a facing surface. In the transfer station, a matching circuitized flexible substrate has electrical contacts on a facing surface thereof, which are arranged to match the portable cartridge electrical contacts when in a face-to-face relationship. An elastomeric compression element, at the rear of the matching substrate, has individual protruding compression members contacting the rear surface and registered with corresponding individual electrical contacts. Elongated electrical contacts are registered with two adjacent individual compression members.

Abstract: An electrical connection of a transfer station releasably, repeatably electrically couples with respect to a matching connection of a portable cartridge. A substrate in the portable cartridge has electrical contacts on a facing surface. In the transfer station, a matching circuitized flexible substrate has electrical contacts on a facing surface thereof, which are arranged to match the portable cartridge electrical contacts when in a face-to-face relationship. An elastomeric compression element, at the rear of the matching substrate, has individual protruding compression members contacting the rear surface and registered with corresponding individual electrical contacts. Elongated electrical contacts are registered with two adjacent individual compression members.

Abstract: A tape cartridge which includes an internally disposed rotatable reel, wherein the tape cartridge includes two, three, or a plurality of piloting members disposed adjacent an annular ring to limit the movement of the reel within the tape cartridge. An automated data storage and retrieval system which includes a plurality of Applicants' tape cartridges. A method to prevent damage to a tape medium disposed in a tape cartridge.