Abstract: This invention relates to a tape applicator or tape head formed from a combination of two separated apparatuses namely a detachable unit containing a front portion of the tape applicator and a stationary unit containing a rear portion of the applicator with snap-on engagement there between to obtain the interactive motion of a conventional tape applicator i.e. the present invention separates a conventional tape applicator into two separate portions which results in the ability to quickly change tapes and reduces safety hazards.

Abstract: A tape drive system and method of operating a tape drive system are provided. The tape drive system may include: a stationary base; at least one guide projection mounted to the stationary base; and a receiver for receiving a tape cartridge and transporting the tape cartridge from an ejected position to a loaded position, the receiver including at least one guide slot mating with one of the guide projections, each guide slot being shaped to allow the receiver to move a first distance in a horizontal direction and a second distance in a vertical direction. The method of loading a tape cartridge into a tape drive system having a stationary base and at least one guide projection mounted to the stationary base may include: receiving a tape cartridge in a receiver having at least one guide slot having a first portion and a second portion; and moving the receiver from an ejected position to a loaded position.

Abstract: Described herein are centering systems, including cartridge reels, reel drivers, and methods of using them. Aspects of the invention may include cartridges, tape drives, and systems of using the cartridge reels and reel drivers. A centering system may comprise a cartridge reel having gear teeth and a guide channel. The guide channel may mate with an alignment ring on a reel driver to center the cartridge reel with respect to the reel driver so that gear teeth on the reel driver may properly engage the gear teeth on the cartridge reel. Thus, the centering system (or components of the centering system) may be used to prevent misalignment and slipping between a cartridge reel and a reel driver.

Abstract: A tape cartridge includes a case, which is made of a lower case and an upper case, for accommodating a reel wound with a magnetic tape. The lower case includes a bottom surface disposed with two positioning holes formed separately from each other on a straight line orthogonal to a direction in which the tape cartridge is loaded into a drive device. The lower case also includes a front wall disposed with two surfaces for regulating a depth to which the case is loaded in the drive device. The two surfaces are positioned on straight lines that pass along the loading direction through the center of the positioning holes when seen from below. Positioning pins of the drive device are inserted into the positioning holes when regulating protrusions of the drive device abut against the two surfaces to regulate the depth to which the case is loaded.

Abstract: A recording tape cartridge which can be assuredly positioned in a drive device. A positioning cover bridges across and parallel to a mounting portion of a bucket of the drive device. Stoppers are provided at corner portions of the positioning cover that are positioned at a deeper side of the bucket. Angled surfaces, which are surface-contactable with the stoppers, are provided at a magnetic tape cartridge. The magnetic tape cartridge can be positioned in horizontal directions in the drive device by surface-contacting the angled surfaces with the stoppers. Consequently, reference holes for positioning the magnetic tape cartridge in horizontal directions in the bucket are not required.

Abstract: A magnetic tape loading device for a tape recorder comprising a pole base assembly which moves along a deck chassis and takes a magnetic tape from a tape cassette during a loading of the magnetic tape, a guide rail which is mounted on the deck chassis to guide a movement of the pole base assembly during loading/unloading of the magnetic tape, and a movement prevention unit which prevents a movement of the pole base assembly during loading/unloading of the magnetic tape, and when the loading of the magnetic tape is completed.

Abstract: Structure of a lower case that reinforces a recording tape cartridge. At an inner side of the lower case, an annular projecting portion is provided along and at an inner side of a reel area rib that demarcates a reel area, raising stiffness of the case. At a periphery of a hole for positioning, which is formed in an outer face of the lower case, a recessed surface, which provides a height direction reference surface, is formed. At the inner side of the lower case, a boss is formed in correspondence to the hole for positioning. The boss is located along an outer face of the reel area rib. A thickness-enhancing portion is formed at the periphery of a base portion of the boss. Thus, thickness at the reference surface, that is, the recessed surface, is substantially the same as thickness at portions therearound.

Abstract: A tape cartridge includes a case, which is made of a lower case and an upper case, for accommodating a reel wound with a magnetic tape. The lower case includes a bottom surface disposed with two positioning holes formed separately from each other on a straight line orthogonal to a direction in which the tape cartridge is loaded into a drive device. The lower case also includes a front wall disposed with two surfaces for regulating a depth to which the case is loaded in the drive device. The two surfaces are positioned on straight lines that pass along the loading direction through the center of the positioning holes when seen from below. Positioning pins of the drive device are inserted into the positioning holes when regulating protrusions of the drive device abut against the two surfaces to regulate the depth to which the case is loaded.

Abstract: A recording tape cartridge which can be assuredly positioned in a drive device. A positioning cover bridges across and parallel to a mounting portion of a bucket of the drive device. Stoppers are provided at corner portions of the positioning cover that are positioned at a deeper side of the bucket. Angled surfaces, which are surface-contactable with the stoppers, are provided at a magnetic tape cartridge. The magnetic tape cartridge can be positioned in horizontal directions in the drive device by surface-contacting the angled surfaces with the stoppers. Consequently, reference holes for positioning the magnetic tape cartridge in horizontal directions in the bucket are not required.

Abstract: A recording tape cartridge which can be loaded in a drive device by a robot hand which grips the recording tape cartridge from above and below. A pair of ribs along a loading direction of a recording tape cartridge are formed at an angled surface portion of a lower case. A separation distance between these ribs is substantially the same as a width of a lower hand portion of a robot hand. The robot hand grips the recording tape cartridge such that the lower hand portion of the robot hand is disposed between the two ribs. When the recording tape cartridge is being loaded into the drive device, the ribs abut against lateral direction end surfaces of the lower hand portion. Thus, positioning of the recording tape cartridge in the lateral direction relative to the lower hand portion is achieved through the ribs.

Abstract: A cartridge loading and unloading mechanism, and in particular, pertains to a removable media cartridge transfer manipulator for accurately positioning a cartridge into a deck tape or other removable media for the purpose of data interchange. Also provided is a method for implementing the manipulation of the cartridge.

Abstract: A cartridge loading apparatus has at least one movable member with a pin to engage a notch of a cartridge and has a reversible motor. A compliant link has a longitudinal leaf spring resilient beam, and has a laterally extending arm at one end of the beam, forming an “L” shape. The movable member and the motor apparatus are coupled at axes respectively at the other end of the beam and at an end of the arm. Thus, a compression force provides a rotational torque at the arm which flexes the beam outwardly away from a straight line between the axes; and a tension force provides a rotational torque to flex the beam inwardly.

Abstract: A combination includes a family of cartridge drives (12) including a first cartridge drive and a second cartridge drive, and a family of cartridges (14) including a first cartridge and a second cartridge. The first cartridge drive includes a first protrusion pattern (32), and the second cartridge drive includes a second protrusion pattern (32) that is different than the first protrusion pattern (32). The first cartridge includes a first recess pattern (62) that receives the first protrusion pattern (32) thereby allowing full insertion of the first cartridge into the first cartridge drive. The second cartridge includes a second recess pattern (62) that receives the second protrusion pattern (32) thereby allowing full insertion of the second cartridge into the second cartridge drive. The second protrusion pattern (32) can impede full insertion of the first cartridge into the second cartridge drive.

Abstract: A data storage tape cartridge is disclosed including a housing, a single tape reel, a storage tape, and a leader block. The housing includes a front, a back, a first side, a second side, a top, and a bottom. Further, the housing forms a leader block window, a lateral datum pad, and a longitudinal datum pad. The leader block window is formed at a corner defined by the front and the first side. The lateral datum pad is formed in the top. Finally, the longitudinal datum pad is formed in the front. The single tape reel is rotatably maintained within the housing. The storage tape is wrapped about the tape reel. The leader block is coupled to a leading end of the storage tape and is selectively secured to the housing at the leader block window. With this configuration, the lateral datum pad is configured to identify a top-to-bottom position of the tape reel. Similarly, the longitudinal datum pad is configured to identify a front-to-back position of the tape reel.

Abstract: Disclosed is a tape cassette which is loaded in a tape drive apparatus by a manner of inserting the tape cassette in a cassette holder and then moving the cassette holder relative to a main chassis of the tape drive apparatus. The tape cassette includes a mouth portion provided in a front portion of a cassette shell in such a manner as to be opened forward, upward, and downward. Part of a magnetic tape (tape-like recording medium) is positioned to cross the front end of the mouth portion. The tape cassette also includes a front lid for covering the front side of the magnetic tape. The front lid is opened when the tape cassette is inserted in the cassette holder. This tape cassette is characterized by including two side butting portions and two upper butting portions which are brought into contact with two side receiving portions and two upper receiving portions of the cassette holder when the tape cassette is inserted in the cassette holder.

Abstract: A method of confirming that chucking between a supply leader tape (20) and a take-up leader tape (10A) is properly carried out comprises a step of confirming whether or not the chucking is properly carried out and a step of reconfirming whether or not the chucking is properly carried out. The reconfirming step is carried out at least once.

Abstract: A method for retrieving data (D, B, I) from machine tools, production equipment, or robots with at least one motion controller or drive controller (R). Image and/or video and/or audio data (B) relating to the mechanical movement in normal operation are displayed or processed in real-time, synchronized with the data available (I) in the motion controller or the drive controller (R). Furthermore, it is possible for the user to select data (D, B, I), compress them prior to transfer (DK1, DK2), use a web server (W) for transfer purposes, and save synchronized data (D, B, I).

Abstract: A tape cassette, in which a mouth portion opened forward, upward, and downward is provided in a front portion of a cassette shell containing tape reels around which a tape-like magnetic recording medium is wound, and part of the tape-like recording medium is positioned so as to cross the front end of the mouth portion, includes a front lid positioned on the front side of part of the tape-like recording medium positioned so as to cross the front end of the mouth portion; a slider movable forward and rearward, the slider being provided on the cassette shell; and a back lid positioned on the rear side of part of the tape-like recording medium positioned so as to cross the front end of the mouth portion, the back lid being separated rearward from the tape-like recording medium along with rearward movement of the slider. The tape cassette is characterized in that the back lid is supported on the slider, and each of the slider and the back lid is made from a good conductor, for example, stainless steel.

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 data storage cassette includes an upper cassette half and a lower cassette half and containing therein a tape for storing data. The cassette has an outer shape of a predetermined dimension, and the lower cassette half is formed with a reel lock release hole. A discrimination hole is formed through the lower cassette half at a location adjacent to the reel lock release hole for discriminating the data storage cassette from another cassette having an outer shape of a dimension substantially identical with the abovementioned predetermined dimension of the outer shape of the data storage cassette. A data recording and reproducing device has a discrimination switch or a fixed pin for identifying the presence of the discrimination hole during a loading operation of the data storage cassette into the device and enabling only the data storage cassette to be loaded and set in the device.

Abstract: A first tape cassette adapted to be interchangeably used with a second tape cassette of a different thick case thickness is provided. A first tape cassette includes a first case having a first total thickness. The first case having a bottom face which is formed with an indentation and a first depression formed within the indentation. The indentation is used for positioning the cassette in a plane parallel to its bottom face. The second tape cassette includes a second case having a second total thickness that is smaller than the first total thickness of the first case. The second case has a bottom face which is formed with a second reference depression opened towards the bottom face. The second reference depression is for positioning the second tape cassette in a plane parallel to its bottom face.

Abstract: A data storage tape cartridge having a misinsertion notch. The data storage tape cartridge includes a housing, a tape reel and a storage tape. The housing includes a base and a cover, each defining a front, a back, a first side and a second side. The misinsertion notch is defined in the base, extending from the front of the base and along the first side of the base. The misinsertion notch has a length less than approximately one-half a length of the first side of the base for facilitating proper insertion into a receiving frame.

Abstract: A recording and/or reproducing apparatus having a rotary drum includes a first chassis assembly on which the rotary drum is provided, a second chassis assembly which is supported for sliding movement on the first chassis within a predetermined stroke, an arm rotatably provided on the first chassis assembly and having a pin at one end, the pin being engaged with a slot, which is provided in the second chassis assembly, so that the arm slides the second chassis assembly and a driving member for turning the arm in such a manner that an amount of travel of the pin in a travelling direction of the second chassis assembly is made slightly greater than a sliding stroke of the second chassis assembly. The second chassis assembly is configured adjacent the slot to allow the pin to travel when the second chassis assembly has reached the end of the sliding stroke.