Abstract: A data storage tape cartridge includes a housing having a reel within and rotatably supported by the housing. Two or more data storage tapes are wound up on the same rotary axis of the reel. Each subsequent winding of a first one of the tapes is separated from the previous winding of the first tape by at least another one of the other tapes. A leader pin is attached to a free end of each of the tapes. The leader pins may be connected to one another. The leader pins may be disconnected from one another as part of process for mounting the cartridge in a tape drive.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, the present technique provides a reel. The exemplary reel comprises a hub and a guide member coupled to the hub. The guide member may be configured to guide magnetic tape from a magnetic tape source to the reel. The guide member may cooperate with the hub to form a surface for receiving magnetic tape from the magnetic tape source. Additionally, the exemplary reel may include a securing mechanism for securing the guide member in the cooperating position with respect to the hub.

Abstract: A tape drive comprising two motors at least a first of which is an open loop position-controlled motor arranged to provide a controllable torque, two tape spool supports on which spools of tape may be mounted, each spool being drivable by a respective motor, and a controller for controlling the energization of the motors such that the tape may be transported in at least one direction between spools mounted on the spool supports. The controller is arranged to provide a control signal to the first motor to set the tape tension.

Abstract: A storage medium leader mechanism for threading a film of a storage medium on a machine reel in a storage medium apparatus along a guide includes a rotational shaft and a leader block. The leader block includes a first contact unit that is contactable with the guide that guides the leader block, and a second contact unit that is contactable with the guide. The first and second contact units are co-planar, a co-planarity of the first and second contact units being substantially perpendicular to a rotation axis of the rotational shaft.

Abstract: A dual hub reel for a tape drive comprises an inner hub operatively connectable to a motor and a flexible leader connected at a first to the inner hub so as to be wound on to the inner hub when driven, to rotate by the motor. An outer hub is disposed about the inner hub and has an opening through which the flexible leader extends. The outer hub is arranged on the inner hub and is selectively freely rotatable about the inner hub or locked against the inner hub to rotate with the inner hub. A locking element is responsive to pressure supplied by a tape wrap to press against the inner hub and lock the outer hub to the inner hub by interaction of an engagement surface against the inner hub.

Abstract: A tape drive for use with a tape cartridge having a cartridge leader includes a drive body, a take-up reel supported by the drive body, and a drive leader connected to the take-up reel. The tape drive further includes a leader connecting mechanism for connecting the drive leader to the cartridge leader, and an elevator assembly configured to receive the tape cartridge and to position the tape cartridge with respect to the drive body. The elevator assembly is also configured to actuate the leader connecting mechanism.

Abstract: A pin retainer locks a leader pin during a movement of a pull-out assembly where the leader pin is coupled to a grabber between a grabber holder and a take-up reel. The pin retainer is urged toward a locking position by a spring. When the grabber comes close to a cartridge, a first releasing arm makes the pin retainer retract to a retracted position opposed to urging force of the spring.

Abstract: The tape cartridge leader includes a smoothing feature that comprises a blind cut out formed in a surface of the tape cartridge leader that faces the hub of the take-up reel when the tape cartridge leader is wound on the hub to compensate for the irregularity generated by the buckling mechanism. The blind cut out consists of a shallow, smooth depression that is positioned to overlay the buckling mechanism. The geometry and size of the blind cut out can be selected from a wide variety of options, with all of these variations having the advantage of providing increased tensile strength for the tape cartridge leader over tape cartridge leaders that use smoothing apertures, since there is no hole formed in the tape cartridge leader.

Abstract: A dual hub take-reel for a tape drive comprises an inner hub operatively connectable to a motor and a flexible leader connected at a first to the inner hub so as to be wound on to the inner hub when driven, to rotate by the motor. An outer hub is disposed about the inner hub and has an opening through which the flexible leader extends. The outer hub is arranged on the inner hub and is selectively freely rotatable about the inner hub or locked against the inner hub to rotate with the inner hub. A locking element is responsive to pressure supplied by a tape wrap to press against the inner hub and lock the outer hub to the inner hub by interaction of an engagement surface against the inner hub.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for receiving and streaming storage tape by a tape head from storage tape cartridges of varying formats in a single tape drive. In one example, an exemplary tape drive system includes a receiver, a reel driver system configured to selectively drive at least two cartridges having different cartridge formats, and a drive leader system configured to selectively couple with at least two different cartridge leader formats associated with the at least two different cartridge formats.

Abstract: In order that, it is prevented that a region on a recording tape on which information cannot be recorded is generated or information recorded on the recording tape is lost doe to preventing that deformed portion is generated on the recording tape, and it is possible to easily read data from or write data on a recording tape cartridge in a short time, a drive device comprising a hub of the reel, on which a plurality of holding portions, for holding leader members to which distal ends of the recording tapes are attached, are formed, and on which the recording tapes are wound, and flexible members of the same number of the holding portions, wound on a peripheral surface of the hub by the recording tapes wound on peripheral surfaces thereof so as to cover the respective holding portions, is provided.

Abstract: In a photo film carrier for use with a photographic printer, a winding device includes a rotatable winder shaft for photo film. A feeding path introduces the photo film to the winder shaft. A leading end guide plate is curved in an arc shape at a predetermined interval L to the winder shaft, for receiving a leading end of the photo film having reached the winder shaft from the feeding path, to guide the photo film toward the winder shaft in an arc shape. A tightening guide mechanism is curved in an arc shape, for tightly fitting a leading end on the winder shaft by pressing the photo film from the feeding path, to prevent the leading end from being loose at the winder shaft when a second turn portion of the photo film comes to contact the leading end after substantially one rotation of the leading end.

Abstract: There is a film-press spring for pressing a photographic film on a take-up spool in a take-up chamber. The film-press spring has a main body for guiding a leading end of the photographic film at the beginning of the film winding and a plate bended in U-shape against the main body. A pressing arm which is protruded from the main body presses the photographic film to a periphery of the take-up spool. And a fitting arm which is elastic enough to be transformed is protruded from the plate. When inserted into the spring attachment hollow of the take-up chamber, the fitting arm presses the wall surface of the spring attachment hollow. And a slipping prevention claw of the plate is engaged with the wall surface of the spring attachment hollow.

Abstract: A nip roller is provided to interpose a leading portion of a photo film between the nip roller and a core. The nip roller performs a circular motion along the periphery of the core in synchronism with the rotation of the core. The circular motion is performed by first to third motors until the leading portion of the photo film makes one revolution around the core and is just about to be wound in a stack condition. A conveyance slip is hardly caused between the photo film and the core, and between the photo film and the nip roller.

Abstract: A reel including a hub around which a recording tape is to be wound and a spring, which is attached to the hub, is disclosed. Winding of the recording tape causes the spring to wound around the hub. In a cartridge for containing the reel, an exterior of uneven portions, such as a recess for receiving a leader pin or a corner of the spring, is covered by the spring. The recording tape is wound on a peripheral surface of the spring without directly contacting the uneven portions.

Abstract: In a tape drive device of the present invention, a window portion, through which a leader pin attached to a distal end of a magnetic tape can pass, is provided in a reel hub for winding the magnetic tape. The leader pin is fed into the reel hub through the window portion and is accommodated and held at an accommodation recess portion of a clamp member. The clamp member holds the leader pin and is rotated a half-turn inside the reel hub. Then, a closing portion is advanced into the window portion. A distal end surface of this closing portion is formed in a circular arc shape in accordance with an outer peripheral surface of the reel hub. Together with the outer peripheral surface of the reel hub, the distal end surface structures a winding surface around which the magnetic tape is wound.

Abstract: The half-inch tape drive comprises a novel takeup reel, tape deck, PC board packaging, loading mechanism, and housing. The takeup reel comprises a pair of segmented flanges that define a first and second tape containment section. The tape deck is approximately half the height of a conventional tape deck and includes reinforcing ribs to provide structural rigidity and maintain alignment of the moving components of the tape drive during operation. The loading mechanism comprises a horizontally mounted load motor that employs a worm gear to engage a simplified gear train. The printed circuit board is segmented into multiple sections that are mounted in various locations on the tape drive to maximize spatial efficiencies and reduce the overall height of the tape drive. The tape drive housing provides a protective exterior for the tape drive components and provides the structure for mounting the present tape drive in a single drive bay of a computer housing.

Abstract: A control mechanism for loading/unloading data storage tape is provided. The control mechanism is part of a tape drive that receives a removable tape cartridge. The tape cartridge stores the data storage tape that is movable using the control mechanism. The control mechanism includes a plurality of gears, together with a cam. A leader assembly is operably connected to the control mechanism. At least portions of the leader assembly are movable in connection with loading or unloading the data storage tape relative to the leader assembly. A leader pin is joined to an end of the data storage tape. When the loading operation is performed, portions of the leader assembly are moved generally linearly into the tape cartridge and then the control mechanism causes such portions to pivot in order to engage the leader pin and remove it from its seat. When the unloading operation is performed, the portions of the leader assembly are moved in substantially opposite directions from the loading operation.

Abstract: A take-up reel for use in a tape drive for minimizing print through errors, or data transfer from one layer of tape on the take-up reel to an adjacent layer of tape on the take-up reel. The take-up reel is configured to allowing portions of the buckle, coupling the take-up leader to the supply leader, to recess into the take-up reel. The relatively even and concentric configuration of leaders tape and buckle when wound onto the take-up reel prevents the application of significant non-uniform pressure to the data tape wound thereover, which reduces print through sources of data error.

Abstract: The takeup reel comprises a pair of segmented flanges connected in a parallel relationship to a takeup reel hub and define a first tape containment section and a second tape containment section. The segmented flanges are ultrasonically welded to the hub and include rounded protrusions that align and guide the tape media around the hub during operation of the tape drive. At least one of the segmented flanges also includes a post that is configured to mate with a feature on the tape drive to prevent movement of the takeup reel when the tape cartridge is unloaded from and loaded into the tape drive.

Abstract: A media receiving cassette is disclosed for use in a system in which a web of media is transferred from a supply cassette to the receiving cassette. The media receiving cassette includes a housing, a rotatable core, and a spring biased grasping mechanism. The housing includes first and second opposing ends, and at least one of the ends includes a generally circular track therein that includes an extended portion which extends radially outwardly. The rotatable core is coupled to the first and second opposing ends of the housing such that an axis of rotation of the core extends through each of the first and second ends. The spring biased grasping mechanism is attached to the rotatable core via at least one spring.

Abstract: A recording and/or reproducing device including a cassette, which contains a magnetic tape and a coupling pin connected to the magnetic tape. The cassette can be loaded into the device. The device includes a pull-out element which can be coupled to the coupling element so as to form a pull-out assembly. The pull-out assembly can be moved to a reel hub of a take-up reel. A tangential positioning means is provided between the reel hub and the pull-out assembly for tangentially positioning the pull-out assembly on the reel hub.

Abstract: A recording and/or reproducing device. A cassette, which contains a magnetic tape and a coupling element connected to the magnetic tape, can be loaded into the device. The device includes a pull-out element which can be coupled to the coupling element so as to form a pull-out assembly. The pull-out assembly can be moved to the reel hub of a take-up reel. A radial positioning structure is provided between the reel hub and the pull-out assembly. The radial positioning structure is formed by two projecting portions, of which a first projecting portion projects from the reel hub and the second projecting portion projects from the pull-out assembly.

Abstract: A tape cassette including a cartridge and one tape reel provided in the cartridge, with a recording medium in the form of a tape being wound upon the tape reel. In the tape cassette, a reader tape that is more rigid than the recording medium in the form of a tape is connected to an unwinding end of the recording medium in the form of a tape; a toothed portion (a protrusion) is formed on at least a portion of both side edges of the reader tape; the tape reel has a flange on a top portion and on a bottom portion of a hub, and feed teeth (engaging portions) that engage the protrusions of the reader tape are formed on outer peripheral edges of the flanges. Rotation of the tape reel in one direction causes the engaging portions to feed the protrusions, whereby the reader tape is sent out from the cartridge. The tape cartridge of the invention can be reliably mounted to a recording/reproducing apparatus.

Abstract: A tape drive wherein a tape leader from a tape cartridge is urged through a tape path, into a take-up reel, and secured therein without the use of a buckling mechanism or a take-up leader. The take-up reel includes a locking slot defined along the central hub for receiving and locking the leader thereto. As the tape cartridge is inserted into the tape drive, an idle roller moves into position to push the leader against a motorized roller, pinching the tape leader therein between. As the motorized roller rotates, friction between the leader and rollers urges the leader through the tape path and into the take-up reel locking slot. A slight predetermined rotation of the take-up reel secures the leader with a locking member further defined within the locking slot.

Abstract: A tape threading apparatus for use with a single reel cartridge of source tape allows leader tape to be spooled onto an inner leader drum, and source tape to be spooled on to an outer take-up drum. The apparatus has a take-up reel having an outer drum configured to accept source tape. The apparatus further includes a leader drum which is supported essentially concentric with and at least partially rotatable with respect to the outer drum. The leader tape has a first end attached to the leader drum and a second end provided with a tape connector which can be connected to the source tape. The outer drum has a leader tape opening to allow leader tape to pass freely from the leader drum to the outside of the outer drum. The leader tape opening is configured to prevent passage of the tape connector therethrough. In a first embodiment, the leader drum is configured to be driven by a drive motor.