Abstract: A transportable dehumidifier system is provided that employs a thermal expansion valve to control the flow of refrigerant therethrough.

Abstract: A combination includes a family of cartridge drives (12) including a first cartridge drive and a second cartridge drive, and a family of cartridges (14) including a first cartridge and a second cartridge. The first cartridge drive includes a first protrusion pattern (32), and the second cartridge drive includes a second protrusion pattern (32) that is different than the first protrusion pattern (32). The first cartridge includes a first recess pattern (62) that receives the first protrusion pattern (32) thereby allowing full insertion of the first cartridge into the first cartridge drive. The second cartridge includes a second recess pattern (62) that receives the second protrusion pattern (32) thereby allowing full insertion of the second cartridge into the second cartridge drive. The second protrusion pattern (32) can impede full insertion of the first cartridge into the second cartridge drive.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for cleaning a media drive transducer head is provided. In one example, the apparatus includes a cleaning member (e.g., a brush having a plurality of bristles) and an actuator assembly operable to move the cleaning member from a position vertically offset from a drive head to a position engaging the drive head, the vertical direction being perpendicular to the direction of tape transport adjacent the drive head. The apparatus may further include a displacement feature operable to engage a leader member (e.g., the drive leader or tape) and displace the leader member from the drive head.

Abstract: A cartridge is provided for cleaning a tape drive head. The cartridge includes a flexible member (e.g., a cartridge leader or tape portion) adapted for use with a tape drive and having a cleaning brush fixed thereto. The cleaning brush may be flexible and include a plurality of bristles for contacting and removing debris from the drive head, and in particular, from grooves or slots of the drive head. In another aspect a tape drive is provided, the tape drive including a flexible member (e.g., a drive leader) having a cleaning brush fixed thereto for contacting and cleaning the drive head.

Abstract: Described herein are centering systems, including cartridge reels, reel drivers, and methods of using them. Aspects of the invention may include cartridges, tape drives, and systems of using the cartridge reels and reel drivers. A centering system may comprise a cartridge reel having gear teeth and a guide channel. The guide channel may mate with an alignment ring on a reel driver to center the cartridge reel with respect to the reel driver so that gear teeth on the reel driver may properly engage the gear teeth on the cartridge reel. Thus, the centering system (or components of the centering system) may be used to prevent misalignment and slipping between a cartridge reel and a reel driver.

Abstract: A tape cartridge housing allowing for both pre-shell closure and post-shell closure insertion of an auxiliary memory unit is provided. A flexible tape cartridge housing allows a manufacturer of tape cartridges to select whether to incorporate an auxiliary memory unit into the tape cartridge during the manufacturing process while a tape cartridge is still not fully assembled, during the end of the manufacturing process when the tape cartridge top and bottom shells have been combined, or after the manufacturing process when the tape cartridge is ready for operation.

Abstract: In one example of one aspect of the invention, a data storage cartridge is provided. The data storage cartridge includes a housing having at least one opening, a reel rotatably disposed within the housing and accessible through the opening, the reel capable of translating axially, a biasing member for biasing the reel toward the opening, and an absorbing member disposed between the reel and a portion of the housing opposite the opening. In one example, the absorbing member includes a spring constant value of greater than 30 ounces per inch. The absorbing member may be disposed to engage and dampen the motion of the reel when the reel is displaced beyond a desired distance.

Abstract: A data storage tape device is provided, including: a housing; a tape medium contained in the housing; and a human-perceivable shock indicator having a default status and a disrupted status, the shock indicator switching from the default status to the disrupted status in response to a shock event such that the disrupted status of the shock indicator is human-perceivable. A method of determining a status of a data storage tape device is provided, including: receiving a data storage tape device comprising a housing, a tape medium contained in the housing, and a human-perceivable shock indicator having a default status and a disrupted status, the shock indicator switching from the default status to the disrupted status in response to a shock event such that the disrupted status of the shock indicator is human-perceivable; and perceiving a status of the shock indicator using an unaided human sense.

Abstract: A system and method for direct measurement of torque is disclosed herein. The system includes a torque transducer and a contact arm, wherein the torque transducer, contact arm, and pivot point of the device being measured are positioned along a rotational axis of the pivot point of the device. A cartridge door of a tape cartridge may be measured.

Abstract: Data drives and methods of operating a data drive are described. The drive includes: a drive base; a receiver for receiving a storage media device, the receiver being movably coupled to the drive base and translatable from an unloaded position to a loaded position; a media flag movably coupled to the receiver and translatable from a first position to a second position when the storage media device is inserted into the receiver; a media flag sensor fixedly coupled to the drive base for detecting movement of the receiver flag; a receiver flag fixedly coupled to the receiver; and a receiver flag sensor fixedly coupled to the drive base for detecting movement of the receiver flag.

Abstract: A cartridge assembly (10) includes a cartridge (12) and a cartridge retainer (14). The cartridge (12) includes a reel (22) having a rotational axis (46) and a flange (48, 50). The cartridge (12) also includes a cartridge housing (16) that rotatably secures the reel (22). The cartridge housing includes one or more interior surfaces (19, 21). The reel (22) is adapted to tilt relative to the cartridge housing (16). The cartridge housing (16) includes a plurality of ribs (30) each having a chamfer (72). The ribs (30) can be disposed on an upper housing section (18) and/or a lower housing section (20) of the cartridge housing (16). The reel (22) has a contact tilt angle ?1 relative to the interior surface (19, 21), and at least one of the chamfers (72) has a chamfer angle ?2 relative to the interior surface (19, 21) that is substantially similar to the contact tilt angle ?1. The flange (48, 50) contacts the chamfer (72) so that the flange (48, 50) is substantially parallel with the chamfer (72).

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for identifying a single reel tape cartridge format, in a single reel tape handling device, from a plurality of available formats. According to one aspect of the invention, cartridge identification information is provisioned on a single reel tape cartridge leader. The cartridge identification information is detectable by the tape handling device and usable to identify a format of the tape cartridge from a plurality of available formats. The cartridge identification information includes at least one feature on the tape cartridge leader having characteristics indicative to the tape handling device of the format of the tape cartridge presented to the tape handling device.

Abstract: A tape cartridge system and a method of operating a tape cartridge system are provided. The tape cartridge system includes a cartridge housing, a reel provided in the cartridge housing, a magnetic tape wound about the reel, a cartridge buckle assembly provided at one end of the magnetic tape, and a buckle retainer provided in the cartridge housing having at least one clamping member for releasably retaining the cartridge buckle assembly. The method includes rotating a reel in a tape cartridge to wind a magnetic tape around the reel until a cartridge buckle assembly provided at one end of the magnetic tape contacts a buckle retainer provided in the tape cartridge, and coupling the cartridge buckle assembly with the buckle retainer by continuing to rotate the reel until the cartridge buckle assembly is releasably retained by the buckle retainer.

Abstract: A tape storage system (10) includes a rack assembly (14), a plurality of cartridges (20), a first tape drive (66) and a second tape drive (106). The rack assembly (14) includes a rotatable magazine mount (22), a cartridge magazine (16) secured to the magazine mount (22), and a magazine mover (26) to rotate the cartridge magazine (16). The tape storage system (10) also includes a first transport assembly (28) to transport one of the cartridges (20) between the cartridge magazine (16) and the first tape drive (66). Uniquely, the cartridge magazine (16) rotates to position one of the cartridges (20) over the first transport assembly (28). The tape storage system (10) can also include a second transport assembly (32) for transporting one of the cartridges (20) between the cartridge magazine (16) and the second tape drive (106). With this design, the rack assembly (14) can efficiently transport two different sized cartridges (20A, 20B).

Abstract: A tape cartridge including a repositionable memory element is provided. The tape cartridge includes a cartridge housing that includes a supply reel having a magnetic tape media spooled thereon and a memory element to communicate with a tape cartridge handling device via a wireless connection. In one embodiment of the invention, the memory element is connected to the cartridge housing using an attachment apparatus that provides a detachable connection with the cartridge housing. The attachment apparatus includes a positioning mechanism for repositioning the memory element following attachment to the tape cartridge housing to align the memory element with a mating transceiver in the tape-handling device to facilitate communication exchange therebetween.

Abstract: A combination includes a family of cartridge drives (12) including a first cartridge drive and a second cartridge drive, and a family of cartridges (14) including a first cartridge and a second cartridge. The first cartridge drive includes a first protrusion pattern (32), and the second cartridge drive includes a second protrusion pattern (32) that is different than the first protrusion pattern (32). The first cartridge includes a first recess pattern (62) that receives the first protrusion pattern (32) thereby allowing full insertion of the first cartridge into the first cartridge drive. The second cartridge includes a second recess pattern (62) that receives the second protrusion pattern (32) thereby allowing full insertion of the second cartridge into the second cartridge drive. The second protrusion pattern (32) can impede full insertion of the first cartridge into the second cartridge drive.

Abstract: A tape cartridge having a low stress tape cartridge leader and cartridge leader shock absorption system for improved reliability. The tape cartridge includes a cartridge housing and a supply reel rotatably connected within the cartridge housing. The supply reel includes a magnetic tape media spooled thereon that is terminated at one end by a tape cartridge leader. The tape cartridge leader includes a connector to attach the leader to a tape-handling device. The tape cartridge also includes a cartridge leader stop formed in the cartridge housing. The cartridge leader stop includes a shock absorbing material to absorb impact forces between the cartridge leader stop and the tape cartridge leader. In another embodiment of the invention, the cartridge leader is configured to uniformly contact the respective portions of the cartridge housing, e.g. the leader stop, to reduce stress concentration points and the overall working load on the leader.

Abstract: A tape cartridge including a replaceable memory element is provided. The tape cartridge includes a cartridge housing that includes a supply reel having a magnetic tape media spooled thereon and a memory element to communicate with a tape cartridge handling device via a wireless connection. In one embodiment of the invention, the memory element is connected to the cartridge housing using an attachment apparatus that provides a detachable connection with the cartridge housing. In one aspect of the invention, the attachment apparatus also includes a tuning mechanism for positioning the memory element following attachment to the tape cartridge housing to facilitate communication exchange with the tape-handling device.