Abstract: To provide a tape cartridge capable of preventing an area near the posterior rim a tape winding layer from colliding with a casing wall to cause the tape edge to be damaged upon reception of dropping impact in the state where the upper and lower sides of the tape cartridge are reversed, so that the magnetic tape can constantly be maintained in an appropriate state. A pair of right and left hubs for taking up the magnetic tape, a hub locking structure are provided inside a main casing. The hub locking structure is placed on the anterior side of the inner surface of an upper casing in the main casing. A regulating body for regulating inclination of the tape winding layer is formed so as to bulge on the rear side of the inner surface of the upper casing. The regulating body is formed in an oblong rib shape having a bulge size almost identical to a thickness size of the hub locking structure in the inner surface of the upper casing.

Abstract: Disclosed are a reel structured such that a recording tape can be wound on a hub without interference with a pair of flanges provided in opposing relationship to each other, and a method of designing such a reel. The hub is formed in a tapered shape, and a taper angle of the hub is determined from an expression ?<sin?1(G/L), where G is a spacing along an axial direction of the hub between the edge of the recording tape on the larger-diameter end portion of the hub at a winding start end of the recording tape and the flange on the larger-diameter side, and L is a winding length of the recording tape which is required to establish a state in which the recording tape can withstand a given tension when wound onto the hub.

Abstract: In a tape cartridge, a flexible spacer flexibly biases each winding of the spool of tape into alignment with a previous winding of the tape on a flangeless spool.

Abstract: To provide a tape cartridge capable of preventing an area near the posterior rim a tape winding layer from colliding with a casing wall to cause the tape edge to be damaged upon reception of dropping impact in the state where the upper and lower sides of the tape cartridge are reversed, so that the magnetic tape can constantly be maintained in an appropriate state. A pair of right and left hubs for taking up the magnetic tape, a hub locking structure are provided inside a main casing. The hub locking structure is placed on the anterior side of the inner surface of an upper casing in the main casing. A regulating body for regulating inclination of the tape winding layer is formed so as to bulge on the rear side of the inner surface of the upper casing. The regulating body is formed in an oblong rib shape having a bulge size almost identical to a thickness size of the hub locking structure in the inner surface of the upper casing.

Abstract: A cartridge for a magnetic recording tape has a first pair of reels rotatably mounted therein which carry a first wide magnetic recording tape, and a second pair of reels disposed therein which carry a second wide magnetic recording tape. The reels are disposed in the cartridge so that each of the first and second wide magnetic recording tapes spans a central space, which is adapted to receive a magnetic recording head of a tape drive, when the cartridge is inserted in the tape drive. A corresponding tape has four drive motors with respective drive shafts, that respectively engage the four reels of the cartridge for transporting the first and second recording magnetic recording tapes across the central opening. The drive has a recording head and a recording head positioning assembly for selectively positioning the recording head at any location along the width of the first and second wide magnetic recording tapes.

Abstract: Structure of a lower case that reinforces a recording tape cartridge. At an inner side of the lower case, an annular projecting portion is provided along and at an inner side of a reel area rib that demarcates a reel area, raising stiffness of the case. At a periphery of a hole for positioning, which is formed in an outer face of the lower case, a recessed surface, which provides a height direction reference surface, is formed. At the inner side of the lower case, a boss is formed in correspondence to the hole for positioning. The boss is located along an outer face of the reel area rib. A thickness-enhancing portion is formed at the periphery of a base portion of the boss. Thus, thickness at the reference surface, that is, the recessed surface, is substantially the same as thickness at portions therearound.

Abstract: A reel has: a cylindrical hub, which is molded of a resin material, and around which a recording tape is wound; a pair of flanges provided at end portions of the hub, and holding transverse direction end portions of the recording tape; and a ring-shaped member formed of metal and disposed at an inner side of the hub, at least one portion of an outer peripheral surface of the ring-shaped member contacting an inner peripheral surface of the hub. The ring-shaped member of the reel contacts a substantially central portion, in a heightwise direction, of the inner peripheral surface of the hub.

Abstract: A receiving surface (625) for use in the supersonic welding of the welding boss (620) of an M cassette tape reel (612a) is composed of the lower surface of a ring portion (626) which is formed so as to extend annularly along the base end of a hub central portion (621) formed in the bottom surface (616a) of a lower reel (616) and also which is projected downward (in FIG. 2) by a given amount from the bottom surface (616a). That is, the receiving surface (625) is situated slightly outside in the radial direction from directly below the welding boss (620).

Abstract: A tape reel (10) is so constructed that an upper flange (12) and a lower flange (13) are respectively provided at an upper and a lower ends of a cylindrical reel hub (11) around which a magnetic tape (20) is wound, and a maximum value of a distance from the upper flange (12) and the lower flange (13) to lateral ends of the magnetic tape (20) is set to be 0.5 mm or more, and less than 1.0 mm. The magnetic tape (20) includes a nonmagnetic substrate (21), a magnetic layer (22) provided on one face of the nonmagnetic substrate and a back layer (23) provided on the other face of the nonmagnetic substrate, and in a state where the magnetic tape is wound around the tape reel (10), a distance (U1+D1) from the upper flange (12) and the lower flange (13) to lateral ends of the back layer (23) is larger than a distance (U2+D2) from the upper flange (12) and the lower flange (13) to lateral ends of the nonmagnetic substrate (21) or lateral ends of the magnetic layer (22).

Abstract: A recording tape cassette capable of allowing a thin recording tape to run properly. At this recording tape cassette, a pair of reels which include lower flanges and upper flanges at vertical ends of reel hubs are each rotatably accommodated in a case. The reels cause a magnetic tape to run while winding from one reel and winding onto the other reel. At least one of the lower flange and upper flange of each reel, which contacts the running magnetic tape, are formed by resin-molding using a resin material whose surface electrical resistance value is 1×1013&OHgr; or less, and is resistant to static charging. Consequently, a thin magnetic tape whose thickness is less than 13 &mgr;m runs suitably without being drawn toward the lower flanges or the like by electrostatic force.

Abstract: A magnetic tape cassette for use in an apparatus having a light source and a light sensor (5a, 5b) for detecting a tape end by the difference of light transmittance of a tape. The magnetic tape cassette (1) is composed of a cassette housing for having a transparent or semi-transparent upper half (1b) and a lower half (1a), and the reel being connected with the tape, and a light exit (7A, 7B) being opposed to the light sensor (5a, 5b) when the tape cassette is loaded to a predetermined position in the apparatus, for passing light from the light source to the light sensor through the light exit, wherein a light path (4a, 4b) of the light emitted from the light source crosses a travel path of the tape, a light-shielding member (2a, 2b) for limiting the light emitted from the light source, placed contiguous to the light exit, and a rib (81, 83) being formed in the upper half and the lower half (1a, 1b) wherein a plurality of triangular shaped prisms (83a) is formed serially on at least one side of the rib (83).

Abstract: In an inner surface of a lower flange of the magnetic tape reel, 6 concave portions each shaped in nearly as isosceles triangle are made formed at even angle intervals of 60 degrees with their circumferential cross-section area being larger as approaching to a hub. When a magnetic tape is wound on the hub, air which exists between a tape-winding surface of the hub or the tape already wound and the tape to be wound further is guided to the concave portions, and an amount of wound-in air becomes less in the inner side and large in the outer periphery. Consequently, a pressure of winding the tape tight at the outer periphery does not reach the inner side, so that winding irregularities or deformation of the tape do not occur.

Abstract: A cartridge for a magnetic recording tape has a first pair of reels rotatably mounted therein which carry a first wide magnetic recording tape, and a second pair of reels disposed therein which carry a second wide magnetic recording tape. The reels are disposed in the cartridge so that each of the first and second wide magnetic recording tapes spans a central space, which is adapted to receive a magnetic recording head of a tape drive, when the cartridge is inserted in the tape drive. A corresponding tape has four drive motors with respective drive shafts, that respectively engage the four reels of the cartridge for transporting the first and second recording magnetic recording tapes across the central opening. The drive has a recording head and a recording head positioning assembly for selectively positioning the recording head at any location along the width of the first and second wide magnetic recording tapes.

Abstract: A universal tape path subassembly that forms a data storage tape supply and path and fits within tape cartridge housings of varying form factors. The universal subassembly includes registration datum features and surfaces that can be made accessible externally to a tape cartridge (containing the tape path subassembly) for aligning the tape path subassembly relative to a drive unit adapted to receive the tape cartridge.

Abstract: A tape reel assembly for use with a data storage tape cartridge. The data storage tape cartridge includes a housing, a tape reel pin, the tape reel assembly, and a storage tape. The tape reel assembly is rotatably associated with the tape reel pin and includes a hub, a spherical piece and a sleeve. The spherical piece is insert molded within an axial bore of the hub and provides a thrust surface. The sleeve is also insert molded within the axial bore of the hub and provides a journal bearing surface. In accordance with a method of the present invention, the tape reel assembly is formed as part of an injection molding process, whereby a core pin precisely positions the spherical piece and co-axially centers the sleeve relative to an outer, tape winding surface of the hub.

Abstract: A reel support for rotating reels in a magnetic tape cassette inserted in a magnetic tape recording-and-playing apparatus, is a resin mold and comprises a support stage having a reel post and blades integrally connected to and standing upright from the support stage. The upright blades extend in the longitudinal slots made in the circumference of the upright reel post. Each upright blade has a nail formed on its tip end, partially appearing from the circumference of the upright reel post to the extent of being caught by a selected projection in the indented-aperture of either reel. Each longitudinal slot has a stepwise indent formed on one side facing the tail side of the nail of the blade, thus permitting the corner of the nail to be engaged with the stepwise indent of the one side of the longitudinal slot when the blade is yieldingly bent as a counter action to the pushing of the confronting projection.

Abstract: A holder for wide magnetic recording tape has a frame with four generally rectangular sides and an open top and an open bottom, with a frame height extending between the open top and the open bottom. Magnetic recording tape is wound in tape packs respectively on two hubs that are rotatably mounted between opposite sides of the frame. Because of the open structure of the frame, during a write/read operation the tape pack on one of the hubs can have a diameter which exceeds the height of the frame, thereby allowing substantially all of the magnetic recording tape to be wound on one of the hubs, if necessary.

Abstract: In an inner surface of a lower flange of the magnetic tape reel, 6 concave portions shaped in nearly isosceles triangle are made formed at even angle intervals of 60 degrees with their circumferential cross-section area being larger as approaching to a hub. When a magnetic tape is wound on the hub, air which exists between a tape-winding surface of the hub or the tape already wound and the tape to be wound further is guided to the concave portions, and an amount of wound-in air becomes less in the inner side and large in the outer periphery. Consequently, a pressure of winding the tape tight at the outer periphery does not reach the inner side, so that winding irregularities or deformation of the tape do not occur.

Abstract: A tape reel assembly for use with a data storage tape cartridge. The data storage tape cartridge includes a housing, a tape reel pin, the tape reel assembly, and a storage tape. The tape reel assembly is rotatably associated with the tape reel pin and includes a hub, a spherical piece and a sleeve. The spherical piece is insert molded within an axial bore of the hub and provides a thrust surface. The sleeve is also insert molded within the axial bore of the hub and provides a journal bearing surface. In accordance with a method of the present invention, the tape reel assembly is formed as part of an injection molding process, whereby a core pin precisely positions the spherical piece and co-axially centers the sleeve relative to an outer, tape winding surface of the hub.

Abstract: A tape reel assembly for use with a data storage tape cartridge. The data storage tape cartridge includes a housing, a tape reel pin, the tape reel assembly, and a storage tape. The housing includes a first housing section and a second housing section. The tape reel pin extends in a generally perpendicular fashion relative to an interior surface of the first housing section. With this configuration, the tape reel pin forms a cylindrical side surface and terminates in a leading end. The tape reel assembly is rotatably associated with the tape reel pin and includes a hub and a sleeve. The hub defines an axial bore. In one preferred embodiment, the tape reel assembly further includes opposing flanges connected to the hub. Regardless, the sleeve is disposed within the axial bore and forms a thrust surface. Finally, the storage tape is maintained by the hub.

Abstract: A tape cartridge includes a first rotatable hub and a second rotatable hub. The first hub and the second hub are wound so that they are substantially full of the flexible recording tape. The flexible tape between the first and second hub crosses a centerline including the two hubs. Both the first rotatable hub and the second rotatable hub are removable from the cartridge. The hubs have a flange with a conical edge which nests into a first opening and a second opening in the tape cartridge with conical receiving surfaces. The conical edges have a plurality of reliefs therein to form conical teeth within each of the first and second hub. The conical teeth of one of the hubs engages the reliefs of the other hub to seal the cartridge and to support the tape between the hubs. The cartridge also includes a base, a latch for engaging the first rotatable hub and the second rotatable hub. A cartridge cover covers the latch and base.

Abstract: A cassette houses a first and a second tape-like recording medium. The cassette is provided with a first and a second reel, at least a first tape guide provided between the first and second reels, a third and a fourth reel and at least a second tape guide provided between the third and fourth reels. The first tape-like recording medium is wound around the first and second reels via the first tape guide. The second tape-like recording medium is wound around the third and fourth reels via the second tape guide. The first and second reels may be arranged in a first direction in the cassette. And the third and fourth reels may be arranged in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction in the cassette. The cassette may have a first side face formed in the first direction and a second side face formed in the second direction, each side face having an opening through which data is recorded on or reproduced from the first or the second tape-like recording medium by a recording and reproducing apparatus.

Abstract: A tape cartridge including a cartridge housing, one or more tape hub pins substantially fixed at both ends to the cartridge housing, and tape hubs, carrying tape, e.g., magnetic tape, that are mounted around the tape hub pins for rotation within the cartridge housing. Also described is a method for preventing tilt of a tape hub including fitting a first end of the pin into a baseplate, which is part of the tape cartridge housing. The method also includes fitting a second end of the pin into a pin retention device formed into a cover, which is another part of the tape cartridge housing. The pin retention device of this method may take the form of a ring-like feature, provided in the cover, which retains the second end of the pin.

Abstract: A cartridge system using a wide recording tape disposed in the tape cartridge. The cartridge system includes a tape drive for moving the tape along a tape transport path, and a positioning mechanism for positioning a recording head relative to the recording tape. The wide tape cartridge includes a housing having a height which is smaller than both the length and the width of the housing. A tape assembly which has at least one supply tape reel and at least one take-up tape reel is disposed in the housing. The recording tape has a tape width which is substantially equal to the width of the housing. The rotation axes of the reels extend substantially parallel to the width of the housing.

Abstract: A tape reel for a tape cassette capable of substantially preventing deformation thereof, even when it is thin-walled to substantially reduce a cycle time required for a molding step of the tape reel. The tape reel includes a reel hub and a disc-like flange. Reinforcing ribs include an annular rib arranged on an outer periphery of a disc-like flange and a plurality of linear ribs arranged on an outer surface of the disc-like flange so as to extend from a core stabilizing surface rib to the annular rib. The linear ribs are so arranged that each of the linear ribs intersects at least one of the other linear ribs at a position which is further than a midpoint between the core stabilizing surface rib and the annular rib.

Abstract: A reel for a tape drive and cartridge is provided herein. The reel can be utilized as a take-up reel for the tape drive and/or a feed reel for the cartridge. The reel includes a hub which receives the storage tape and a pair of guide bars which guide the storage tape onto the hub. Importantly, the guide bars inhibit lateral tape movement during transfer of the storage tape between the take-up reel and the feed reel. This minimizes data recovery errors and increases the life of the storage tape.

Abstract: A method of attachment for a tape body which supports, on reel hubs, a tape body such as a leader tape, etc. to which a magnetic tape is connected. This attachment structure comprises a tape reel provided with a reel hub which takes cylindrical shape provided at the central portion thereof and a clamp member attached to the reel hub, and a tape body connected to the reel hub in the state where the end portion is supported by the clamp member and wound on the outer circumferential surface of the reel hub. The tape body supported by the reel hub is such that the base end portion side serving as root portion of the drawing side from the reel hub is deformed in the winding direction onto the reel hub following the outer circumferential surface of the reel hub. Deformation of the tape body is carried out by thermal deformation or pressure deformation, or thermal deformation and pressure deformation.

Abstract: A data storage tape cartridge having an insert for improved hub alignment. The data storage tape cartridge includes a housing defined by a first housing section and a second housing section, a hub pin extending from an interior surface of the first housing section, a tape reel assembly rotatably maintained by the hub pin and a storage tape wrapped about the tape reel assembly. The tape reel assembly includes a hub and an insert. The insert spaces the hub a predetermined distance from the interior surface of the first housing section, thus maintaining the hub in proper alignment. The insert is selected to compensate for inconsistencies in hub pin height, as well as other component variations.

Abstract: Disclosed is an invertible portable tape container for containing two separate lengths of recording tape for providing rapid access to data. The container may be inserted into a tape drive, preferably by an automated data storage library robot, in either of two relatively inverted positions, allowing rapid access to either of the two separate lengths of recording tape. A generally rectangular housing includes two access openings, respectively to the right side and to the left side. Four tape spools are positioned within the housing, with the spools at one side inverted with respect to those on the other side. Separate sets of tape bearings each supports one of the lengths of recording tape at one of the access openings.

Abstract: A mechanism to move reels and a tape cassette sensing switch, for use in a magnetic recorder which includes: a power generating unit installed on a position of a main chassis; a moving member combined with a bottom surface of the main chassis in such a manner that the moving member can be rectilinearly moved back and forth; a power transmitting unit for transmitting power from the power generating unit to the moving member; a supply reel driver and a take up reel driver respectively installed on the bottom surface of the main chassis in spaced apart relation from each other; reel driving gears respectively combined with and fixed to rotary shafts of the supply and the take up reel drivers; and a reel supporting unit concentrically combined with the reel driving gears on the main chassis and including thereon a supply reel and a take up reel. The reel supporting unit is rotated by a predetermined angle according to the rectilinear movements of the moving member.

Abstract: An apparatus, such as a cassette or a cartridge, for storing a continuous tape medium in reeled form has first and second hubs contained in a housing having a base, with a continuous tape medium wound on said hubs, with a portion of the tape medium wound on one hub and another portion wound on the other hub. The hubs are respectively mounted on axles allowing rotation of the hubs. The axles are rotatably mounted in a platform which is slideable within an opening in the base of the housing so as to allow the axles to exhibit a translational movement, in tandem, in a direction parallel to the base as the tape medium is transferred between the hubs. As the diameter of reeled tape increases on one of the hubs due to the tape transfer, the platform, and the axles and the hubs, will move in a direction toward the housing sidewall closest to the hub having the smaller amount of tape reeled thereon, thereby increasing the spacing between the other hub and the other sidewall to accommodate the increasing diameter.

Abstract: A cartridge position fixing arrangement within a tape drive reduces vibration of the cartridge by fixing the vertical positioning of the tape reel axles between top mounted retaining springs pressing directly onto the cartridge above the reel axles in opposition to the tape drive motors engaging lower ends of the reel axles for rotating the axles. Each hub axle is journaled with a relatively high force at a bearing that may be formed in the upper wall of the cartridge. A reel axle locking arrangement is provided which, when the cartridge is unloaded from the tape drive, locks the position of each reel axle and centers each reel axle properly for future engagement with motor spindles of the tape drive. In one embodiment, a planar engagement between each motor spindle and each reel axle is provided.

Abstract: An attachment structure for a tape body which supports, on reel hubs, a tape body such as a leader tape, etc. to which a magnetic tape is connected. This attachment structure comprises a tape reel provided with a reel hub which takes cylindrical shape provided at the central portion thereof and a clamp member attached to the reel hub, and a tape body connected to the reel hub in the state where the end portion is supported by the clamp member and wound on the outer circumferential surface of the reel hub. The tape body supported by the reel hub is such that the base end portion side serving as root portion of the drawing side from the reel hub is deformed in the winding direction onto the reel hub following the outer circumferential surface of the reel hub. Deformation of the tape body is carried out by thermal deformation or pressure deformation, or thermal deformation and pressure deformation.

Abstract: A tape reel includes a main body including an outer peripheral cylinder on which a magnetic tape is wound, a cylindrical bearing disposed in the center of the outer peripheral cylinder, and radial ribs radially extending from the cylindrical bearing. An upper flange is mounted to the tape-reel main body through its protrusions press fit into holes of junctions of the radial ribs.

Abstract: A tape cartridge is provided with a cartridge case constituted by installing a cover on an upper surface of a base plate, a magnetic tape runningly installed in the cartridge case, and a drive belt for running the magnetic tape.The base plate includes a hard protective coat layer at its upper and lower surface or either of upper and lower surfaces.The base plate is formed by punching a base plate material sheet covered with the protective coat layer into a predetermined shape.

Abstract: A data tape cartridge is formed on a baseplate of polymeric material which supports mounting pins and tape guides thereon for supporting tape components in rigid and dimensionally-stable manner using integrally formed bosses to support the mounting pins and guides. Additional stability against flexure is achieved using a matrix pattern of integrally-formed webs or ribs and sidewalls in the baseplate and by attaching a top plate substantially about the entire perimeter of the sidewalls. Lateral forces exerted against rotatable components on the mounting pins are transferred to the baseplate and top plate by the mounting pins that are supported in both plates. A midguide support is integrally formed in the baseplate to support a guide pin at critical location adjacent the location along the tape path in the cartridge at which a tape transducer interacts with tape.

Abstract: A belt-driven tape cartridge has tape spools rotatably mounted in the cartridge, and a belt drive assembly for driving the tape back and forth between the spools. The drive assembly includes three roller supporting pins, a driving roller rotatably mounted on one of the pins and a pair of guide rollers rotatably mounted on the other pins, and an endless drive belt extending around the rollers to contact tape on each spool. The cartridge has an opening for entry of a drive roller to engage and drive the belt driving roller so as to move the drive belt and drive tape back and forth between the spools. The drive roller mounting pin has a recess extending over at least a portion of the pin facing the drive opening for reducing the bearing surface area between the pin and driving roller so as to reduce the tangential drive force needed to rotate the driving roller.

Abstract: A belt-driven tape cartridge has tape spools rotatably mounted in the cartridge, and a belt drive assembly for driving the tape back and forth between the spools. The drive assembly includes three roller supporting pins, a driving roller rotatably mounted on one of the pins and a pair of guide rollers rotatably mounted on the other pins, and an endless drive belt extending around the rollers to contact tape on each spool. The cartridge has an opening for entry of a drive roller to engage and drive the belt driving roller so as to move the drive belt and drive tape back and forth between the spools. The drive roller mounting pin has a recess extending over at least a portion of the pin facing the drive opening for reducing the bearing surface area between the pin and driving roller so as to reduce the tangential drive force needed to rotate the driving roller.

Abstract: A tape reel having a cylindrical tape winding face on which magnetic tape is to be wound, and upper and lower flanges formed at upper and lower ends of said tape winding face. Grooves (20), which are designed to discharge to the outside the air interposed between portions of the magnetic tape that is wound on a tape winding face (8), are provided in the surface of the lower flange (9) which contacts the magnetic tape. The dimensions of each part are set so that the opening area of the grooves (20) lying within the tape winding range (21) where the magnetic tape is wound is 30 percent (standard value) or more relative to the total area of the tape winding range (21). By this structure, even in the case where the magnetic tape is wound at high speed on the tape winding face (8), the air interposed between portions of the magnetic tape is rapidly discharged to the outer periphery through the grooves (20), and the winding attitude is good.

Abstract: A tape cassette has a pair of reels each including a reel hub, with each hub having an anchor groove defined in an outer peripheral surface thereof so as to extend in a lengthwise direction thereof. A generally elongated clamping piece is received within the anchor groove and has a predetermined width as measured circumferentially of the reel hub. A tape medium includes a length of magnetic recording tape having opposite ends, and a leader tape connected with each of the opposite ends of the length of magnetic recording tape by of a splicing tape of a predetermined length. One end of the leader tape remote from the length of magnetic recording tape is received within the reel hub and anchored to the reel hub with the clamping piece snapped into the anchor groove. The splicing tape is, when the tape medium is wound around the reel hub, positioned immediately radially outwardly of and encompassing the predetermined width of the clamping piece.

Abstract: In order to prevent interference between the upper flange of a tape reel and the upper edge of a magnetic tape when a tape cassette is ejected from a cassette drive system, the tape cassette case is formed with a raised portion. In the illustrated examples, the cassette case consists of upper and lower half case members, and a pair of tape reels rotatably supported in the case. When loaded in the drive system, reel holders enter first and second holder holes of the cassette case and uphold the tape reels above the inside surface of the cassette case, respectively. Each holder hole is fringed by an inner raised portion raised from the inside surface of the cassette case, and an outer raised portion which is outside the inner raised portion and lower in height than the inner raised portion.

Abstract: A data cartridge for use for example in an external memory unit for backing up a computer in which it is possible to secure a smooth surface quality of an upper surface of a base plate in base contact areas with which rotating parts and other mechanism parts of the data cartridge make base contact. In the upper surface 3b of an aluminum base plate 3, a plurality of base contact areas TA of rotating parts RP and other mechanism parts MP such as tape reels, a drive roller, a corner roller and a mirror for optical detection of tape ends are partially surface-pressed to form a plurality of recesses 3c having smooth surfaces free of scratches.

Abstract: A tape cassette includes tape reels and a cassette main body formed of an upper shell and a lower shell. In such a tape cassette, a tape reel position restricting portion serving as a reinforcing member for the lower shell is provided on the lower shell at a position outside an outer periphery of the lower flange. The tape reel position restricting portion includes a high rib; an intermediate rib being lower than the high rib within a range not to obstruct passing of a tape end detecting light beam, and being positioned in a tape end detecting light path; and a low rib being lower than the intermediate rib, and being positioned in a tape path region. The intermediate rib and the low rib are preferably disposed outside the high rib.

Abstract: The tape cassette comprising a hub, an engagement cavity recessed on the outer periphery of the hub, and a clamper fitted into the engagement cavity, wherein the base end part of a tape is engaged between the engagement cavity and the clamper, and the tape is wound around the hub, characterized in that opposite inner upper edges of the engagement cavity each have first end portions and opposite side edges on a tape winding surface of the clamper each have second end portions facing the first end portions, and each of gaps between the first end portions and the second end portions is dimensioned to be about 0.02 mm to about 0.10 mm.

Abstract: A data tape cartridge is formed on a baseplate of polymeric material which supports mounting pins and tape guides thereon for supporting tape components in rigid and dimensionally-stable manner using integrally formed bosses to support the mounting pins and guides. Additional stability against flexure is achieved using a matrix pattern of integrally-formed webs or ribs and sidewalls in the baseplate and by attaching a top plate substantially about the entire perimeter of the sidewalls. Lateral forces exerted against rotatable components on the mounting pins are transferred to the baseplate and top plate by the mounting pins that are supported in both plates. A midguide support is integrally formed in the baseplate to support a guide pin at critical location adjacent the location along the tape path in the cartridge at which a tape transducer interacts with tape.

Abstract: A cassette tape is constructed so that a radius of one reel side in a condition where to a middle point of a magnetic tape wound on a reel with a same radius k is a radius of a large-diameter reel, and the radius k is a radius of a small-diameter reel. With the cassette tape of the above construction, information corresponding to each other recorded on one track and the other track parallel to each other of a magnetic recording medium can be easily dubbed without deteriorating the interrelationship of information between both tracks.

Abstract: A tape cassette capable of refilling a tape among various tapes each having width different from one another into a corresponding tape cassette, and capable of properly refilling the tape into a corresponding tape cassette without fail. In a broad width tape cassette, a first annular space is provided between an inner diameter of a tape spool and an outer diameter of a tape support shaft. A first cap is fitted into the first space. In a small width tape cassette, a second annular space is provided between an inner diameter of a tape spool and an outer diameter of a tape support shaft. A second cap is fitted into the second space. A tape spool can be correctly refilled into corresponding tape cassette by checking insertion of the caps into the spaces.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus for controlled, uniform stacking of tape thereon during read/write operations in tape drives to reduce lateral tape motion during read/write operations. The invention comprises a hub and two flanges that are located on opposite sides of the hub. The flanges have surfaces facing each other extending outwardly from the hub in diverging relationship with each other. The separation between the facing surfaces of the flanges increases from a minimum at a location adjacent to the hub to a maximum at the outer circumferential edge of the flanges in a radial direction extending outwardly from the axis of rotation. Further, the separation between the facing surfaces also increases from a minimum to a maximum along any path of equal distance around the axis of rotation, the location of minimum separation is generally opposite to the location of maximum separation.

Abstract: A videocassette tape reel hub includes an outer cylinder having a receptacle formed as a recessed portion of the outer surface on the inside of the outer cylinder. A clamp is receivable in the receptacle to fasten tape to the reel hub. A balancing mass is formed within the outer cylinder to balance the increased mass of the clamp and receptacle.

Abstract: A tape cartridge having a tape supply reel contained within the cartridge housing. A tape passes through a tape guideway in the cartridge housing and is attached to the tape supply reel on one end and a tape connector on the other end. The cartridge housing contains a single interlock arm pivotally mounted for rotational movement, one end of the arm which is movable into and out of the tape path, while the other end of the arm is movable through a slot in the cartridge housing. The withdrawal of the tape connector from the guideway releases the arm so that a spring can actuate the other end of the arm outwardly into locking engagement within a notch in an external housing.