Abstract: A tape media cartridge includes a cartridge housing having a standard form factor, a cartridge reel that is coupled to and retained within the cartridge and a tape media. The tape media can be selectively wound onto the cartridge reel between a fully wound state, a partially wound state and an unwound state. The tape media forms a media hollow cylinder having a media outer diameter and a media inner diameter that varies depending upon the state of the tape media. When the tape media is in the fully wound state, the tape media has a ratio of the media outer diameter to media inner diameter of at least approximately 95:43. The cartridge housing can include a side wall having a wall center and wall edge, the side wall having a side wall thickness that gradually increases from the side wall center to the side wall edge.

Abstract: A tape library having a robot zone and a robot on the robot zone, movable in the robot zone of the tape rack in at least a first direction and a second direction. A tape drive, which has an opening to receive cartridges, is positioned so that the robot nears the tape drive when the robot moves in a second direction. A width of the tape drive is wider than a width of the robot zone. This tape drive design is called the “Sideways Format Path for 19? Rack Libraries.” It is achieved by using unique dimensions for a new tape drive that uses blind spaces existing in tape libraries unreachable by the robot to provide a bigger space to design longer tape paths, resulting in higher cartridge density with longer tape path without requiring bigger overall library dimensions for a library of tape cartridges.

Abstract: A tape media cartridge includes a cartridge housing having a standard form factor, a cartridge reel that is coupled to and retained within the cartridge and a tape media. The tape media can be selectively wound onto the cartridge reel between a fully wound state, a partially wound state and an unwound state. The tape media forms a media hollow cylinder having a media outer diameter and a media inner diameter that varies depending upon the state of the tape media. When the tape media is in the fully wound state, the tape media has a ratio of the media outer diameter to media inner diameter of at least approximately 95:43. The cartridge housing can include a side wall having a wall center and wall edge, the side wall having a side wall thickness that gradually increases from the side wall center to the side wall edge.

Abstract: Techniques for performing precise tracking in optical tapes are provided. The techniques include providing and using a servo pattern on an optical tape. The servo pattern includes a first set of parallel physical grooves slanted in a first direction across a width of the optical tape and a second set of parallel physical grooves slanted in a second direction that is different from the first direction across the width of the optical tape. Subsets of the first set of parallel physical grooves alternate with subsets of the second set of parallel physical grooves along a length of the optical tape. Two subsets of the first set of parallel physical grooves separated by one subset of the second set of parallel physical grooves form a servo frame in the optical tape.

Abstract: A system for limiting contact between a tape (e.g., magnetic, optical) and opposite reel flanges of a reel assembly as the tape is being wound onto or unwound from the reel assembly to reduce axial and radial tape run out and improve tape drive operations.

Abstract: A guide assembly (22) for guiding movement of a tape (26) past a head assembly (16) in a tape drive (10) includes a rotatable roller (36A) and a non-rotatable tape guide (38). The rotatable roller (36A) and the tape guide (38) each guides the tape (26) along the tape path (29). In certain embodiments, both the tape guide (38) and the head assembly (16) are positioned to contact a first side (30) of the tape (26). Further, the tape guide (38) is positioned between the rotatable roller (36A) and the head assembly (16) relative to the tape path (29). The tape guide (38) can include a first flange (348B-348F) that contacts the tape (26) during movement of the tape (26) along the tape path (29). The tape guide (38) can be positioned more closely to the head assembly (16) than the tape guide (38) is to the rotatable roller (36A). The tape (26) can form a tape wrap angle (240A, 240B) relative to the tape guide (38) that is less than approximately 20 degrees.

Abstract: In order to provide a head transfer mechanism capable of absorbing a play of a head assembly not only in a thrust direction but also in a radial direction as well as a head actuator assembly and a tape drive using the same, the head transfer mechanism comprises a lead screw with a thread ridge, a head elevation guiding member, a preload bushing arranged in a hollow opened portion of a head lift, and a compression coil spring for applying the head lift with a pressing force in an axial direction of the lead screw. The head elevation guiding member comprises as an integral structure a head lift on which the head assembly is mounted and a head guide having a thread groove engaged with the lead screw and serving to move the head lift up and down along a rotation center axis following the rotation of the lead screw. In the head elevation guiding member, the head assembly is given a biasing load in a radial direction of the lead screw.

Abstract: In order to provide a head transfer mechanism capable of absorbing a play of a head assembly not only in a thrust direction but also in a radial direction as well as a head actuator assembly and a tape drive using the same, the head transfer mechanism comprises a lead screw with a thread ridge, a head elevation guiding member, a preload bushing arranged in a hollow opened portion of a head lift, and a compression coil spring for applying the head lift with a pressing force in an axial direction of the lead screw. The head elevation guiding member comprises as an integral structure a head lift on which the head assembly is mounted and a head guide having a thread groove engaged with the lead screw and serving to move the head lift up and down along a rotation center axis following the rotation of the lead screw. In the head elevation guiding member, the head assembly is given a biasing load in a radial direction of the lead screw.

Abstract: A coupling for driving a magnetic tape reel uses the interface between a flat surface on the coupling and datum pads on the reel to locate the reel. The coupling includes a drive ring with ring teeth located around a drive shaft. The ring teeth engage mating teeth on the tape reel. The coupling also includes a datum ring having an annular surface located about the drive shaft. The annular surface contacts datum pads on the tape reel to axially position the tape reel relative to the drive shaft.