Abstract: An access door is described for a housing for tape drive apparatus of the type including a take-up reel, a hub for a supply reel, and a fan for moving air within the housing. The access door is hinged to the housing and is pivotable between open and closed positions. The access door includes an interior face which forms a ramp for guiding the supply reel into the housing and onto the hub. The door also includes an inlet port for receiving air from the fan, at least one exit port, and a passageway for communicating air between the inlet port and the exit port. Air leaving the exit port in the door is directed around the periphery of the supply reel.

Abstract: An integral tape path assembly (110) includes a head subassembly (112), a buffer/guide subassembly (114) and a spaced sensor/guide subassembly (116), all mounted to a common tape path plate (118). The buffer/guide subassembly includes a buffer arm (126) which pivots about an axis shared by a fixed guide (128). A Hall-effect position sensor (186) can be mechanically calibrated via an aperture (142) in a housing (132). The speed sensor/guide subassembly includes a roller (148) which serves to guide the tape on the take-up side of the tape drive system and to drive a shaft (152) holding a speed indicator (156) for a speed sensor (158). The speed sensor/guide subassembly includes a fixed-orientation washer (206) for urging the tape against an upper flange (208) of the roller. The washer is off-center sprung to counter distorting forces engendered by the tape as it engages the roller.