Abstract: A take-up reel for a single reel cartridge magnetic tape recording and playback apparatus includes a reel assembly with upper and lower flanges and a central hub. A leader pin gripper is formed to engage a leader pin at a free end of the magnetic tape on the cartridge and is movable along a tape transport path and into an inserted position in a slot in the central hub of the take-up reel. The leader pin gripper is movable to a fully inserted position within the hub core when engaged with the leader pin of the magnetic tape. When in the fully inserted position, the leader pin gripper is secured in this position by roller arms in the hub that engage a wedge on the gripper and by a magnet mounted either in the hub or the gripper that magnetically engages a magnet or a plate in the other of the gripper or the hub. The gripper is held at reference surfaces defining a predetermined position of the leader pin hook.

Abstract: A take-up reel for a single reel cartridge magnetic tape recording and playback apparatus includes a reel assembly with upper and lower flanges and a central hub. A leader pin gripper is formed to engage a leader pin at a free end of the magnetic tape on the cartridge and is movable along a tape transport path and into an inserted position in a slot in the central hub of the take-up reel. The leader pin gripper is movable to a fully inserted position within the hub core when engaged with the leader pin of the magnetic tape. When in the fully inserted position, the leader pin gripper is secured in this position by roller arms in the hub that engage a wedge on the gripper and by a magnet mounted either in the hub or the gripper that magnetically engages a magnet or a plate in the other of the gripper or the hub. The gripper is held at reference surfaces defining a predetermined position of the leader pin hook.

Abstract: A cartridge for a magnetic recording tape has a first pair of reels rotatably mounted therein which carry a first wide magnetic recording tape, and a second pair of reels disposed therein which carry a second wide magnetic recording tape. The reels are disposed in the cartridge so that each of the first and second wide magnetic recording tapes spans a central space, which is adapted to receive a magnetic recording head of a tape drive, when the cartridge is inserted in the tape drive. A corresponding tape has four drive motors with respective drive shafts, that respectively engage the four reels of the cartridge for transporting the first and second recording magnetic recording tapes across the central opening. The drive has a recording head and a recording head positioning assembly for selectively positioning the recording head at any location along the width of the first and second wide magnetic recording tapes.

Abstract: A tape drive has a take-up reel assembly and a tape guide arrangement that are each selectively actuatable for interchangeable use with magnetic recording tape of a first width or a second width. The take-up reel assembly includes at least one actuatable, retractable element that can be moved between the flanges of the take-up reel assembly, dependent on the width of the tape currently being used in the drive, and the tape guide arrangement includes actuatable guide elements movable to define a width of the tape transport path across the read/write head, also dependent on the width of the magnetic recording tape currently being used.

Abstract: In a tape system and method for guiding a tape from a tape reel to a read/write tape head and then to a take-up reel, the tape is guided along a tape path such that the path surrounds the take-up reel and then begins winding on the take-up reel. With such a long tape guide path, less pressure is required on an edge of the tape for positioning the tape at the tape head.

Abstract: A tape drive has a microswitch, with a microswitch plunger, that interacts with a tape cartridge having a recess therein that is selectively closed or opened by a sliding element movable back and forth in the recess, to detect whether the recess is opened or closed and thus to enable or disenable a data transfer function between the tape drive and the tape cartridge. To protect the plunger against breakage, and to allow changing the position of the sliding element without interference by the plunger, the tape drive has a plunger protector pivotably mounted in that is interposed between the sliding element and the plunger. The plunger protector smoothly transfers forces associated with the back and forth movement of the sliding element to forces in the direction of movement of the plunger.

Abstract: A tape drive has a take-up reel assembly and a tape guide arrangement that are each selectively actuatable for interchangeable use with magnetic recording tape of a first width or a second width. The take-up reel assembly includes at least one actuatable, retractable element that can be moved between the flanges of the take-up reel assembly, dependent on the width of the tape currently being used in the drive, and the tape guide arrangement includes actuatable guide elements movable to define a width of the tape transport path across the read/write head, also dependent on the width of the magnetic recording tape currently being used.

Abstract: A read/write head of a magnetic tape drive is provided, where the matrix write head is provided as a part of an overall flat structure that utilizes the atmospheric pressure to hold the tape against the operational surface of the write head. The read head portion is provided to enable reading of the data immediately after it is written. The present head structure permits writing and reading of written data in both tape travel directions. The matrix write head portions are on chips and wear parts are in the upstream direction with respect to the tape travel from the write head. The wear parts provide a shape edge over which the tape moves. The read head is either optical or magnetic and is between two portions of the write head.

Abstract: A matrix write head for recording data on recordable magnetic media includes an arrangement of write heads on a substrate. The write heads have write gaps which are arranged in a plough configuration. A very small guard band, or none at all, is provided between the tracks written by the write heads. Read gaps may be provided on the substrate, as well as edge detectors.

Abstract: A wide tape drive for use with a wide tape holder having a frame with an open top and an open bottom non-permanently closed with a top cover and a bottom cover, releasably held together and releasably held to the frame by snap connections respectively disposed at lateral sides of the holder, the wide tape holder containing two tape hubs rotatably mounted therein proceeding substantially parallel to the lateral sides of the frame, has a base plate with two guides projecting substantially perpendicularly from the base plate which receive the wide tape holder therebetween. The drive has at least one drive motor having a drive shaft disposed between the guides, which is inserted to and engages one of the tape hubs. A magnetic read/write head is mounted on a head position assembly between the guides, and orients the read/write head relative to the tape when the wide tape holder is inserted in the tape drive.

Abstract: A read/write head of a magnetic tape drive is provided, where the matrix write head is provided as a part of an overall flat structure that utilizes the atmospheric pressure to hold the tape against the operational surface of the write head. The read head portion is provided to enable reading of the data immediately after it is written. The present head structure permits writing and reading of written data in both tape travel directions. The matrix write head portions are on chips and wear parts are in the upstream direction with respect to the tape travel from the write head. The wear parts provide a shape edge over which the tape moves. The read head is either optical or magnetic and is between two portions of the write head.

Abstract: An expandable tape cartridge has a housing with a top and a bottom that are movable relative to each other between a minimum spacing and a maximum spacing. A tape reel with magnetic recording tape wound thereon is rotatably mounted in the housing for rotation around an axis proceeding substantially perpendicularly between the top and the bottom of the housing. The tape reel has insufficient clearance for free rotation within the housing when the spacing between the top and the bottom is at the minimum, and is freely rotatable when the spacing is at the maximum. This allows the width of the recording tape measured in a direction parallel to the rotational axis, to be increased, thereby increasing the storage area available on the recording tape without increasing the linear length of the recording tape.

Abstract: A magnetic recording head arrangement for effecting data transfer relative to a magnetic recording tape moving in a transport direction has a head width which is less than the tape width, as measured in a direction substantially perpendicular to the transport direction. The head is particularly suited for use with wide magnetic recording tape, and has a configuration which minimizes stress in the tape and/or which allows smooth movement of the head in a direction transverse to the transport direction so that the head can be positioned completely beyond the edge of the tape, without damaging the tape upon reentry of the head beneath the tape.

Abstract: A cartridge for a magnetic recording tape has a first pair of reels rotatably mounted therein which carry a first wide magnetic recording tape, and a second pair of reels disposed therein which carry a second wide magnetic recording tape. The reels are disposed in the cartridge so that each of the first and second wide magnetic recording tapes spans a central space, which is adapted to receive a magnetic recording head of a tape drive, when the cartridge is inserted in the tape drive. A corresponding tape has four drive motors with respective drive shafts, that respectively engage the four reels of the cartridge for transporting the first and second recording magnetic recording tapes across the central opening. The drive has a recording head and a recording head positioning assembly for selectively positioning the recording head at any location along the width of the first and second wide magnetic recording tapes.

Abstract: A wide tape drive for use with a wide tape holder having a frame with an open top and an open bottom non-permanently closed with a top cover and a bottom cover, releasably held together and releasably held to the frame by snap connections respectively disposed at lateral sides of the holder, the wide tape holder containing two tape hubs rotatably mounted therein proceeding substantially parallel to the lateral sides of the frame, has a base plate with two guides projecting substantially perpendicularly from the base plate which receive the wide tape holder therebetween. The drive has at least one drive motor having a drive shaft disposed between the guides, which is inserted to and engages one of the tape hubs. A magnetic read/write head is mounted on a head position assembly between the guides, and orients the read/write head relative to the tape when the wide tape holder is inserted in the tape drive.

Abstract: In a recording tape cartridge, and a drive unit therefor, for extremely wide magnetic recording tape, the recording tape cartridge has a housing containing two tape hubs each rotationally mounted in the housing with the magnetic recording tape wound thereon in respective tape packs, so that the tape can be wound and unwound between the two hubs in a tape transport direction, thereby resulting in an increase in the diameter of the tape pack on one of the hubs. The housing is composed of housing parts which are movable relative to each other in a direction perpendicular to the tape transport direction to expand the housing in the direction perpendicular to the direction of tape transport, to accommodate the increase in the diameter of the tape pack.

Abstract: A magnetic recording cartridge has a housing enclosure with two tape reels rotatably mounted in the housing enclosure, and a magnetic data recording tape wound on the reels for winding and unwinding between the two reels in a tape transport direction, the tape having a width perpendicular to the tape transport direction of at least approximately 2.5 inches. The housing enclosure has two reel access openings respectively disposed in registration with the reels, allowing external access to the reels by a drive for rotating the reels, and a tape access opening allowing external access to the tape for engagement with a data transfer head also carried by the drive. Because of the significantly increased width of the tape, the tape has a surface area available for data recording which is approximately ten times greater than that of conventional tapes.

Abstract: In a recording tape cartridge, and a drive unit therefor, for extremely wide magnetic recording tape, the recording tape cartridge has a housing containing two tape hubs each rotationally mounted in the housing with the magnetic recording tape wound thereon in respective tape packs, so that the tape can be wound and unwound between the two hubs in a tape transport direction, thereby resulting in an increase in the diameter of the tape pack on one of the hubs. The housing is composed of housing parts which are movable relative to each other in a direction perpendicular to the tape transport direction to expand the housing in the direction perpendicular to the direction of tape transport, to accommodate the increase in the diameter of the tape pack.

Abstract: A holder for wide magnetic recording tape has a frame with four generally rectangular sides and an open top and an open bottom, with a frame height extending between the open top and the open bottom. Magnetic recording tape is wound in tape packs respectively on two hubs that are rotatably mounted between opposite sides of the frame. Because of the open structure of the frame, during a write/read operation the tape pack on one of the hubs can have a diameter which exceeds the height of the frame, thereby allowing substantially all of the magnetic recording tape to be wound on one of the hubs, if necessary.

Abstract: In a drive system and a magnetic tape cartridge for use therewith, the magnetic tape cartridge contains a number of magnetic tapes, and the drive system contains at least a like number of read/write heads. The drive system includes a mechanism which is engageable with all of the magnetic tapes in the cartridge for simultaneously extracting all of the magnetic tapes from the cartridge and moving all of the magnetic tapes so that each tape engages with at least one of the read/write heads. Data can then be simultaneously transferred between the engaged tapes and read/write heads, so that the time needed to access data in a read mode, and the time needed to write data in a record mode, are correspondingly reduced by a multiple which is dependent on the number of tapes. All of the tapes are wound onto a single take-up reel.