Abstract: A multi-tape cartridge has a number of tapes therein which are either wound in common on a single hub, or are wound individually on respective hubs, and proceed in the housing along respective tape paths from the commonly wound hub, or the individual hubs, to respective take-up hubs also disposed in the housing. One of the sidewalls of the housing has openings therein so as to expose the respective tape paths, followed by the tapes, to an exterior of the housing, thereby allowing data transfer heads to be inserted into the opening so as to engage the magnetic tapes to read data therefrom or write data thereon.

Abstract: Access time to data recorded on a tape in a tape cartridge is improved in a multi-tape cartridge and a drive for the multi-tape cartridge wherein a number of tapes having data recorded thereon are wound around hubs in the cartridge, and the tapes are separated as they traverse an opening in the cartridge. The drive system has multiple data transfer heads which are insertable into the opening in the cartridge and respectively engage the tapes in the cartridge. Data can be simultaneously transferred between the tapes and the heads. In comparison to a single tape having a given length, the multiple tapes in the cartridge can be shortened in length by a factor equal to the number of tapes, and the access to data recorded on the tapes is correspondingly faster by the same factor.

Abstract: A multi-tape cartridge has a housing containing a central hub on which a number of magnetic tapes are wound in overlapping fashion, and a like number of peripheral hubs in the housing to which the tapes are respectively connected. The tapes proceed from the central hub to the respective peripheral hubs along respective tape paths, and the housing has a number of openings therein which respectively provide access to the tape paths from an exterior of the housing. A multi-head tape drive for use with the cartridge has a central drive motor and peripheral drive motors which are respectively engageable with the central hub and the peripheral hubs of the cartridge.

Abstract: A head positioning device for positioning a magnetic head of a tape drive wherein the positioning device has a base mounted stationary with respect to a tape circulating past the magnetic head. The positioning device further has a magnet assembly extending upward from the base. The magnet assembly is surrounded by a motor coil which receives electrical current to cause the motor coil to move up and down under influence of the magnet assembly. The device also has a magnet housing substantially enclosing the magnet assembly and the motor coil therein. The magnet housing has a vertical slot arranged on the side of the magnet housing opposite the magnetic head for pass through of a coil holder connected to the coil. Vertical force is transmitted from the coil to the coil holder outside of the magnet housing wherein the coil holder is connected to the magnetic head for vertically positioning the head with respect to the base.

Abstract: In a small size computer, and particularly a portable personal computer, a streaming mode tape recorder is coupled via a plug connector for data protection or backup. A plug connector via which the tape recorder is connected includes line connections for data signal lines and control signal lines as well as power supply lines. The plug connector, when the tape recorder is not plugged in is covered by a pivotable door arranged at a wall surface of the computer housing, the door also including means for securing the tape recorder in the plugged position.

Abstract: A rectangular cylindrical suspension for a data storage drive unit such as a tape drive, the suspension secured into a computer housing, providing resilient leaf springs on a bottom wall and protrusions on a top wall for clasping the data storage drive unit within the cylinder spaced from the top, bottom and side walls of the suspension to create a resilient holding of the data storage drive. The cylindrical suspension can be fashioned of ferromagnetic materials to provide a magnetic shielding as well as a suspension. The suspension prevents dimensional distortion within the data storage drive unit caused by fixedly attaching the suspension to the computer housing where dimensional tolerances may not be accurate.

Abstract: A magnetic tape drive for magnetic tape housed within a cartridge is provided which includes a rectangular access through which the cartridge is inserted into the drive and a wiping member operatively positioned at an edge of the access such that the cartridge is contacted during insertion into the drive. The wiping member is so constructed and coupled to electrical ground that electrostatic charge on the cartridge is bled to electrical ground, the wiping member being made of a conductive polymer or plastic material.

Abstract: To position a magnetic head of a magnetic coding storage device relative to different tracks of a recording medium, a different and previously recorded track is used as the reference track in each case. The magnetic head contains an auxiliary read head which, with respect to the write head, is disposed at a predetermined distance at right angles to the direction of movement of the recording medium and follows the reference track during the movement of the recording medium. A control circuit in a control unit ensures that the auxiliary read head follows this track as accurately as possible. The reference track is a track whose changes in magnetization are recorded with different azimuth angles as instantaneously recorded adjacent tracks.

Abstract: An apparatus for positioning a magnetic head relative to a magnetic tape includes a platform for coarsely positioning the magnetic head, roughly to a desired track of the magnetic tape. A piezoelectric element is provided for fine positioning the magnetic head. The piezoelectric element is arranged between a bottom of the platform and the magnetic head.

Abstract: A magazine for data carriers, for use with a rotatable opening element, has a housing with a box-like base, the base having an open top and a cover formed by separable cover halves being disposed over the top of the base. The base has at least one receptacle therein for receiving a data carrier, such a magnetic tape cartridge. The magazine is intended for insertion in a data reader, which removes the data carrier from the magazine and inserts it in a drive for reading the data therefrom. The halves of the housing are mounted on the base for respective rotation around first and second axes parallel to a longitudinal edge of the base, and disposed inwardly of all edges of the base. A rotatable opening element is engageable with at least one of the housing halves to cause the housing halves to rotate around their respective axes, when the magazine is moved toward the opening element, to move the halves apart, over the sides of the base, to open the magazine to permit removal of a data carrier therefrom.

Abstract: A magazine containing a number of standardized magnetic tape cartridges, for loading into an automated device in which a selected cartridge can be removed from the magazine and inserted into a data reader, has a number cartridge receptacles therein formed by a number of dividers extending the width of the magazine. Each divider consists of electrically conductive polymer, and has an electrical connector at a bottom thereof which extends through a bottom of the magazine, and which engages an electrically conductive path to ground in a base element on which the magazine rests within the device, thereby providing an electrostatic discharge path for each cartridge in each receptacle. Each divider also has an element extending into the receptacle, which is engaged by the cartridge as it is being inserted into the receptacle.

Abstract: A belt system is disclosed for transferring a data carrier between a magazine and a data reader for use in a data carrier loader of the type wherein the data reader is moved, within the loader housing, over the stationary magazine in the housing to transfer a data carrier therebetween. The belt system includes two belt assemblies, which are carried on the data reader and which are disposed for engaging opposite lateral sides of a data carrier in the magazine. A mechanical linkage is provided for moving the assemblies toward and away from the lateral sides of the data carrier, the linkage being a reciprocating linkage which can be moved in either direction by means of an internally threaded element, which engages a pivotable element of the linkage, the internally threaded element being moved by a rotating threaded rod received therein.

Abstract: A loader data carriers, such as magnetic tape cartridges, of the type having a housing with a data reader therein which is movable over a magazine containing a number of data carriers, so as to be positionable above a selected data carrier for transfer between the magazine and the data reader, has a drawer which carries the magazine and which is slidable into and out of the loader housing. A drive motor is contained in the housing for moving the data reader over the drawer, and the reader carries transfer assemblies, such as roller-driven belts, to effect the transfer of the data carriers between the magazine and the reader. The drawer has engagement elements mounted thereon which can engage the transfer assemblies, so that the same motor which is used to move the data reader over the drawer can be used to slide the drawer into and out of the loader housing, when the transfer assemblies are engaged with the engagement elements.

Abstract: A housing of a tape drive is adapted for sideways loading of a cartridge. The cartridge is loaded such that three reference points defining a fixed plane within the housing engages the cartridge in a fixed orientation with respect to a head within the drive. The cartridge is canted after the cartridge is engaged at a first one of the three reference points so as to fixedly engage the cartridge at each of the three reference points.

Abstract: A drive unit for driving magnetic tape held within a tape cartridge, the tape cartridge engaged to the drive unit in abutting fashion. The drive unit provides an elastomeric drive belt which surrounds a drive pulley, a tensioning pulley and an engagement pulley, the engagement pulley resiliently urging the drive belt against a cartridge roller located within the cartridge which progresses the magnetic tape within the cartridge. The drive pulley is driven directly by motor which progresses the belt around the three rotating pulleys. The arrangement eliminates the need for a separate friction roller arranged above the drive belt by using the drive belt itself to drive the cartridge roller.

Abstract: In known magnetic tape recorder devices for cassettes provided with a magnetic tape, the cassette is manually inserted into its final position. The ejection of the cassette ensues upon employment of a lever mechanism or of a spring that is tensed upon insertion of the cassette. In the magnetic tape recorder device of the invention, the cassette is only partially inserted or, respectively, ejected and the further, at least partial draw-in and ejection ensues upon employment of a motor-driven drive capstan that moves the magnetic tape in the cassette in the normal operating condition. The automatic draw-in and ejection of the cassette is possible in the magnetic tape recorder device wherein the drive capstan is laterally arranged.

Abstract: For precise positioning of a magnetic head to various tracks of a magnetic tape, deviations occur as a consequence of manufacturing tolerances of the magnetic head, or as a consequence of the adjustment thereof. Correction values are identified wherein a read head identifies a center of a track recorded by a write head. A moving direction of the magnetic tape is reversed and the center of the track is identified again. The read head identifies the center of a track recorded by a neighboring write head. Positional values allocated to the center of the tracks are subtracted from the positional value of the write head.

Abstract: For cleaning a magnetic head in a magnetic tape recorder, the cassette is provided with a cleaning device and is inserted in the magnetic tape recorder instead of a magnetic tape cassette. The cleaning device contains a cleaning element located at a carrier, the cleaning element pressing against the front side of the magnetic head instead of the magnetic tape and converting a rotary motion of a drive arrangement which normally drives the magnetic tape into a reciprocating motion and, under given conditions, simultaneously converting the rotary motion into a pivoting or rotational motion of the cleaning element relative to the magnetic head. The tape drive capstan of the magnetic tape recorder preferably serves a drive arrangement and the carrier is driven via an eccentric shaft which may be inclined relative to its rotational axis and via a worm gearing driven by the tape drive capstan.

Abstract: A cleaning cassette has, at one longitudinal side, a cleaning element for cleaning a magnetic head of a magnetic tape recorder, and has a cleaning element at the opposite longitudinal side for cleaning a tape drive roller of the magnetic tape recorder. Dependent on the direction in which the cleaning cassette is introduced into the magnetic tape recorder, the one cleaning element comes into contact with the magnetic head, or the further cleaning element comes into contact with the tape drive roller, for the purpose of cleaning. The magnetic head is cleaned by a reciprocating motion of the cleaning element via an eccentric arrangement effected by the tape drive roller. The cleaning of the tape drive roller upon introduction of the cleaning cassette in an opposite direction occurs due to the rotational motion of the tape drive roller given a stationary, further cleaning element.

Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment a cassette provided with the magnetic tape is inserted in a longitudinal direction into an insertion channel. During and/or after the insertion of the cassette, a magnetic head carrier provided with a magnetic head is pivoted from an idle position into an operating position in which the magnetic head contacts the magnetic tape. The pivotal movement is effected by a lever linked to the magnetic head carrier. The lever is actuated by a connecting rod which is linked to a cover for closing the insertion channel. The movement of the lever by the connecting rod ensues via a rotatably mounted swivel arm. When the cover for the insertion channel is opened, the magnetic head is pivoted back into its idle position and the cassette is simultaneously partially ejected from the magnetic tape recorder by the swivel arm.