Abstract: A magnetic tape cartridge incorporating a drive belt characterized by a smooth (e.g., average surface roughness less than 7 microinches, zero to peak, as measured by a Talysurf 10 surface analyzer set for a 0.003 cut off length) nontextured drive surface and a ratio of static to dynamic coefficients of friction between the drive surface and the magnetic tape surface, of less than 2. The drive belt is preferably integrally formed of a material which inherently yields the aforementioned drive surface characteristics without requiring that the naturally formed belt surface be specially treated.

Abstract: An elastomer drive belt (100), for a bidirectional two reel tape cartridge (20), having a low static to dynamic coefficient of friction ratio with the magnetic tape (38) is provided. The drive belt minimizes slip point (96) movement between the belt and the magnetic tape on the take up reel. This results in a minimization of tape tension variations at the transducer head (42).

Abstract: A bidirectional tape cartridge incorporating first and second tensioning elements respectively located adjacent first and second reels on opposite sides of a transducer head and configured to act unidirectionally so that only the upstream element provides a significant drag force on the tape. Each tensioning element having a surface defining a tape path and including a first portion located closer to the corresponding reel and a second portion located closer to a corresponding tape guide, the first portion having a smaller radius of curvature than the second portion.

Abstract: In a tape cartridge (20), a snap pin fastener (100) is provided for securing the cover (88) and base plate (90) while permitting therebetween differential expansion in a longitudinal direction (108) of the base plate. One dimension (112) of the snap pin is chosen small enough to flex under a force induced by differential thermal expansion of the cover and base plate. Thus the base plate remains flat, insuring registration between the tape and a transducer head. The second dimension (114) is chosen great enough to provide, with the first dimension, a cross section (115) sufficient to resist operational forces placed on the cover and base.