Abstract: A cartridge carrier has a base with a recessed plate, a top surface, and a bottom surface. An ejection mechanism may be coupled to the base. A guide may be coupled to the top surface of the base to receive the cartridge and an interposer board may be coupled to the guide.

Abstract: A cartridge carrier has a base having a recessed plate, a top surface, and a bottom surface, an interposer board coupled to the base at the top surface, a motorized eject mechanism coupled to the interposer board and the base, a slider plate coupled to the base at the bottom surface and the motorized eject mechanism, and a button bar coupled to the base at the bottom surface, the button bar having a switch tab to contact the motorized eject mechanism.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided to protect head elements on a head of a head guide assembly, having a magnetic tape, and a leader coupled to the magnetic tape at a first end, such that the height of the leader is less than the height of the magnetic tape.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for loading tape from a single reel tape cartridge into a take-up reel. The hub filler is securely and releaseably attached to the take-up reel upon the hub filler entering the take-up reel. This attachment provides adequate securement between the hub filler and the take-up reel for the tape to be wrapped around the take-up reel during loading of the tape without the hub filler partially ejecting from the take-up reel. By preventing the hub filler from partially ejecting from the take-up reel, damage to the tape and the tape drive loading mechanism is mitigated. Upon unloading of the tape from the tape drive, the hub filler can be readily released from its attachment to the take-up reel.

Abstract: An arrangement for loading a tape from a removable tape cartridge into a take-up reel has a hub filler that is frictionlessly guided from a removable tape cartridge to a take-up reel utilizing a roller element attached to the bottom of the hub filler. The roller element prevents the wearing down of the guide pin and allows for accurate and reliable picking up and dropping off of tape at the tape cartridge.

Abstract: A method of loading a tape from a single reel tape cartridge into a take-up reel. A guide arm decouples from a hub filler as the hub filler is moved into a take-up reel. This decoupling eliminates problems that occur from small misalignments of the hub filler axle with the axis of the take-up reel. The axle and drive arm are decoupled from the hub filler by the axle being lifted out of the hub filler upon insertion of the hub filler into the take-up reel, allowing for the take-up reel to rotate freely during winding and unwinding of the tape without interference from the axle.