U.S. patent application number 09/394666 was filed with the patent office on 2001-12-27 for mini-cartridge adapter for adapting a mini-cartridge to an industry standard tape cartridge format.
Invention is credited to ALBRECHT, LARRY, CAPPABIANCA, LEO, DEL GENIO, JOSEPH A., FINKEL, STEPHEN M., HAYES, RICH, HELMS, SHELDON, HERTRICH, GREG, KOZAK, JOSEPH, LINSLEY, BRADFORD P., SALIBA, GEORGE A., STABILE, JOE.
Application Number | 20010055178 09/394666 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 23559911 |
Filed Date | 2001-12-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010055178 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
STABILE, JOE ; et
al. |
December 27, 2001 |
MINI-CARTRIDGE ADAPTER FOR ADAPTING A MINI-CARTRIDGE TO AN INDUSTRY
STANDARD TAPE CARTRIDGE FORMAT
Abstract
A tape mini-cartridge is functionally compatible with a larger
industry standard tape cartridge. A mini-cartridge adapter adapts
the mini-cartridge to be compatible with a standard tape drive by
presenting the standard structural and functional appearances to
the tape drive as presented by the larger standard tape cartridge.
Since the standard cartridge has a plurality of structural elements
including reel locks, leader buckle guide, and write protect flag
engaged by the standard drive, the cartridge adapter effectively
transfers these engagements and forces to and from the
mini-cartridge in a manner providing full structural
interchangeability with the standard tape cartridge.
Inventors: |
STABILE, JOE; (COLORADO
SPRINGS, CO) ; ALBRECHT, LARRY; (LOUISVILLE, CO)
; HAYES, RICH; (SUPERIOR, CO) ; HELMS,
SHELDON; (BOULDER, CO) ; HERTRICH, GREG;
(LONGMONT, CO) ; CAPPABIANCA, LEO; (WORCESTER,
MA) ; DEL GENIO, JOSEPH A.; (MARLBOROUGH, MA)
; FINKEL, STEPHEN M.; (WOODSTOCK, GA) ; KOZAK,
JOSEPH; (BELCHERTOWN, MA) ; LINSLEY, BRADFORD P.;
(UXBRIDGE, MA) ; SALIBA, GEORGE A.; (NORTHBORO,
MA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HENRY J. GROTH
QUANTUM CORPORATION
PATENT LAW MANAGER
500 MCCARTHY BLVD.
MILPITAS
CA
95035
US
|
Family ID: |
23559911 |
Appl. No.: |
09/394666 |
Filed: |
September 13, 1999 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
360/94 ; 360/132;
G9B/23.077; G9B/25.007 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G11B 25/066 20130101;
G11B 23/107 20130101; G11B 23/00 20130101; G11B 23/043
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
360/94 ;
360/132 |
International
Class: |
G11B 005/008 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A tape mini-cartridge adapter for adapting a tape mini-cartridge
to a larger industry standard tape cartridge box-shaped appearance,
the standard cartridge being of a single-reel type having an
internal reel and a standardized dimension toothed hub, the tape
mini-cartridge including a cartridge housing and a tape reel within
the housing, the cartridge housing including a generally annular
plateau region extending outwardly from a major face of the
cartridge housing, the tape reel having a standardized dimension
toothed hub exposed through and substantially co-planar with the
generally annular plateau region, the mini-cartridge adapter having
an adapter housing for receiving the mini-cartridge therewithin,
the adapter housing having a major wall surface defining a slot for
receiving the plateau region in substantial coplanar alignment with
the major surface, such that the mini-cartridge and mini-cartridge
adapter present the standardized dimension toothed hub of the
mini-cartridge reel to a tape drive at a standard position and
elevation relative to a feed reel spindle of a tape drive for
receiving the mini-cartridge and mini-cartridge adapter.
2. The tape mini-cartridge adapter set forth in claim 1 wherein the
generally annular plateau region defines at least one keying
feature and wherein the slot for receiving the plateau region
includes structure for keying with the keying feature such that the
mini-cartridge can be placed into the mini-cartridge adapter in a
single position of engagement.
3. The tape mini-cartridge adapter set forth in claim 2 wherein the
at least one keying feature comprises a longitudinally extending
notch truncating one side of the plateau region.
4. The tape mini-cartridge adapter set forth in claim 3 wherein the
major wall surface structure for keying with the keying feature
comprises a snap-lock mechanism for locking the mini-cartridge into
the adapter at a desired position.
5. The tape mini-cartridge adapter set forth in claim 4 wherein the
major wall surface structure is formed of a resilient plastic
material and wherein the snap-lock mechanism comprises a
cantilevered plastic leaf spring segment having an edge adjacently
facing the longitudinally extending notch and a detent ball at a
distal end of the leaf spring for engaging a portion of the plateau
region rearwardly adjacent to the longitudinally extending
notch.
6. The tape mini-cartridge adapter set forth in claim 4 wherein the
tape mini-cartridge reel includes a tape reel leader having a reel
buckle and a pivoting tape guide leader for engaging the buckle at
a front end of the tape mini-cartridge, and wherein the tape
mini-cartridge adapter includes an opening adjacent the pivoting
tape guide leader for enabling a buckle of a tape drive leader to
be buckled to the reel buckle of the tape reel leader.
7. The tape mini-cartridge adapter set forth in claim 6 wherein the
tape mini-cartridge includes a pivoting door cover for covering the
opening adjacent to the pivoting tape guide leader, and wherein the
tape mini-cartridge adapter includes structural features for
pivoting the door cover to an open position incident to insertion
of the tape mini-cartridge into the tape mini-cartridge
adapter.
8. The tape mini-cartridge adapter set forth in claim 6 further
comprising a pivoting force applying mechanism for engaging the
pivoting tape guide leader incident to insertion of the tape
mini-cartridge into the tape mini-cartridge adapter in order to
pivot the tape guide leader to present the reel buckle adjacent an
exterior face of the tape mini-cartridge adapter.
9. The tape mini-cartridge adapter set forth in claim 1 wherein the
tape mini-cartridge has a releasable reel lock, and further
comprising a reel lock release force transfer mechanism for
transferring a reel lock release force supplied by a tape drive at
an exterior standard wall location of the tape mini-cartridge
adapter to the releasable reel lock of the tape mini-cartridge.
10. A mini-cartridge adapter for adapting a mini-cartridge
containing a storage medium to a larger industry standard media
cartridge appearance, the standard cartridge appearance having
standardized features receiving a plurality of mechanical
force-imparting elements of a media drive applied through a
plurality of standard openings of a housing of a standard cartridge
from a plurality of different directions, the mini-cartridge
adapter including at least one internal force transfer mechanism
for receiving a predetermined one of the force imparting elements
through a standardized opening in a housing of the mini-cartridge
adapter and for transferring a force from the predetermined one
through a mini-cartridge housing to a structural element inside of
the mini-cartridge which is functionally equivalent to a structural
element of the standard cartridge.
11. The mini-cartridge adapter set forth in claim 10 wherein the
storage medium comprises magnetic recording tape spooled on a
single reel within the mini-cartridge.
12. The mini-cartridge adapter set forth in claim 10 wherein the
standard openings are formed on at least three different wall
surfaces of the standard cartridge and the cartridge adapter.
13. The mini-cartridge adapter set forth in claim 10 wherein the at
least one internal force transfer mechanism of the mini-cartridge
adapter converts a force applied by a mechanical force imparting
element of the tape drive in a first direction into a force applied
to the mini-cartridge in a second direction different than the
first direction.
14. The mini-cartridge adapter set forth in claim 10 wherein the at
least one internal force transfer mechanism of the mini-cartridge
adapter comprises a pivoting rocker-arm mechanism for transferring
a write-protect indication from the mini-cartridge to a write
protect sensor exteriorly of the cartridge adapter.
15. The mini-cartridge adapter set forth in claim 14 wherein the
pivoting rocker-arm mechanism includes a bias spring for biasing
the rocker-arm mechanism into engagement with the mini-cartridge in
absence of the force applied by the mechanical force imparting
element.
16. The mini-cartridge adapter set forth in claim 14 wherein the
pivoting rocker-arm mechanism and bias spring are formed as a
single unitary molded plastic member and the bias spring is a
live-spring portion of the member.
17. The mini-cartridge adapter set forth in claim 14 wherein the
bias spring is a metal coil spring.
18. The mini-cartridge adapter set forth in claim 10 wherein the at
least one internal force transfer mechanism of the mini-cartridge
adapter comprises a mechanism having a link member for translating
the force applied by the mechanical force imparting element into a
linear displacement, and a second member pivoted to the adapter and
having an off-center crank pin responsive to the linear
displacement of the link member and a cam rotating into the
mini-cartridge in response to the linear displacement of the link
member.
19. The mini-cartridge adapter set forth in claim 18 wherein the
mechanical force imparting element enters an opening defined in a
major surface wall of the adapter and the structural feature
transfers the force through a side wall opening of the
mini-cartridge.
20. The mini-cartridge adapter set forth in claim 18 wherein the
force applied by the mechanical force imparting element is for
releasing a lock within the standard cartridge, and wherein the
mini-cartridge adapter transfers the force to release a
mini-cartridge lock within the mini-cartridge.
21. The mini-cartridge adapter set forth in claim 20 wherein the
storage medium comprises magnetic recording tape spooled on a
single reel within the mini-cartridge and wherein the
mini-cartridge lock locks the reel from free rotation within the
mini-cartridge.
22. The mini-cartridge adapter set forth in claim 21 wherein the
mini-cartridge reel lock includes a locking dog portion for forcing
a reel flange of the single reel toward a first major wall of a
housing of the mini-cartridge.
23. The mini-cartridge adapter set forth in claim 22 wherein the
reel and first major wall of the mini-cartridge housing include
complementary facing annular locking teeth, and further comprising
spring means for urging the single reel towards the first major
wall to maintain the complementary facing annular locking teeth in
an enmeshed position, the reel lock locking dog portion for
securing the reel in locked engagement with the mini-cartridge
housing.
24. A tape mini-cartridge adapter for adapting a tape
mini-cartridge to a larger industry standard tape cartridge
appearance, the standard cartridge being of a single-reel type
having a standard internal reel and a standard tape leader and
buckle mechanism, the standard cartridge having fixed structure for
restraining the buckle mechanism at a standard position relative to
a front opening of the standard cartridge, the mini-cartridge
having an internal reel and a pivoting leader buckle guide member
for engaging and restraining the buckle, the guide member normally
presenting the buckle at a retracted position adjacent a front
opening of the mini-cartridge, and displaceable to present the
buckle at the standard position relative to a front opening of the
standard cartridge, and the mini-cartridge adapter including pawl
means for causing the guide member to displace from the retracted
position to the standard position when the mini-cartridge is in the
mini-cartridge adapter.
25. The tape mini-cartridge adapter set forth in claim 24 wherein
the camming means comprises a pawl means for engaging a portion of
the leader buckle guide as the mini-cartridge is inserted into the
mini-cartridge adapter.
26. A tape media cartridge having a generally box-shaped housing
with at least two major walls, a single reel for containing a coil
of recording tape thereon, the reel being formed of plastic
material and defining a bearing dimple having a contact point
aligned with an axis of rotation of the reel, a plunger being
formed of plastic material and having a flat face portion facing
the bearing dimple, and a coil compression spring bearing between
one of said two major walls and the plunger for transferring a bias
force to the reel through the plunger at the contact point.
27. The tape media cartridge set forth in claim 26 wherein said one
of said two major walls defines a hollow chimney, wherein the
plunger has a body which is slideably nested inside said hollow
chimney, and said coil compression spring outwardly surrounds said
hollow chimney.
28. The tape media cartridge set forth in claim 26 wherein the
plunger includes a flange adjacent to the flat face portion, and
wherein the coil compression spring bears against said flange.
29. The tape media cartridge set forth in claim 27 wherein said one
of said two major walls defines a reinforcement structure
surrounding said hollow structure.
30. The tape media cartridge set forth in claim 26 wherein the reel
comprises a toothed spindle ring sized and positioned for
engagement by a standardized spindle ring of a tape drive, the
other one of said two major walls defining a generally annular
plateau region adjacent an opening for receiving the toothed
spindle ring generally flush therewith, and adjacently-facing
arrays of locking teeth formed on an inner surface of the annular
plateau region and on an adjacently facing surface of the flange
adjacent the toothed spindle ring.
31. The tape cartridge set forth in claim 30 further comprising at
least one reel flange lock mechanism for locking an outer periphery
of the reel toward the said other wall of said two major walls,
thereby maintaining engagement of the adjacently-facing arrays of
locking teeth.
32. The tape cartridge set forth in claim 31 wherein the reel
flange lock mechanism comprises a spring biased locking arm having
a curved locking dog portion for forcing a peripheral edge region
of the lower flange toward an adjacently facing portion of the said
other one of said two major walls.
33. The tape cartridge set forth in claim 32 wherein the spring
biased locking arm is biased by a metal coil spring.
34. The tape cartridge set forth in claim 32 wherein the spring
biased locking arm is formed as a unitary plastic structure
including a live spring section which bears against a side wall of
the cartridge housing to apply a bias force to a locking arm and
the locking dog portion.
35. The tape cartridge set forth in claim 30 wherein the generally
annular plateau region defines at least one keying feature for
keying the tape cartridge to a tape cartridge receiver
mechanism.
36. The tape cartridge set forth in claim 35 wherein the at least
one keying feature comprises a longitudinally-extending notched
edge along the generally annular plateau region.
37. The tape cartridge set forth in claim 35 wherein the at least
one keying feature comprises a curved tab extending from the
generally annular plateau region along a radius extending from an
axis of rotation of the reel directly to a tape-engagement endwall
of the tape cartridge.
38. The tape cartridge set forth in claim 35 comprising two keying
features, one of the said features comprising a
longitudinally-extending notched edge along the generally annular
plateau region, and another of the said features comprising a
curved tab extending from the generally annular plateau region
along a radius extending from an axis of rotation of the reel
directly to a tape-engagement endwall of the tape cartridge.
39. The tape cartridge set forth in claim 26 wherein the recording
tape includes a leader and a tape buckle, and the tape cartridge
includes a pivoting tape leader guide for engaging and restraining
the tape buckle when the tape is fully wound on the reel.
40. The tape cartridge set forth in claim 39 wherein the tape
buckle includes two lateral tab extensions, and wherein the tape
leader guide includes two engagement fingers for contacting the two
lateral tab extensions of the tape buckle as the tape is fully
wound onto the reel.
41. The-tape cartridge set forth in claim 40 wherein the two
engagement fingers comprise slotted fingers for receiving the two
lateral tab extensions of the tape buckle.
42. The tape cartridge set forth in claim 39 wherein the tape
buckle includes central detent slot, and wherein the tape leader
guide includes a detent boss extending outwardly from a web portion
of the tape leader guide for engaging the detent slot.
43. The tape cartridge set forth in claim 26 wherein the cartridge
housing includes a tape-engagement endwall having an elongated
opening, and further comprising hinged rotational door means for
covering the elongated opening.
44. The tape cartridge set forth in claim 43 wherein the hinged
rotational door means comprises an elongated door sized to cover
the elongated opening, the door having axially-aligned hinge pins
at opposite ends for engaging journals defined by the cartridge
housing, spring means between the cartridge housing and the door
for biasing the door to a position closing the opening, and door
opening means for causing the door to rotate to an open position
unblocking the elongated opening upon being contacted by a door
release feature of a tape cartridge receiver.
45. The tape cartridge set forth in claim 44 wherein the door
opening means comprises an engagement structure displaced away from
an axis of rotation of the door such that a release pin of the tape
cartridge receiver contacts the engagement structure and rotates
the door to the open position.
46. The tape cartridge set forth in claim 45 wherein the engagement
structure further comprises a ramped surface and a locking boss for
engaging a notch defined in the cartridge housing, such that
engagement by the release pin causes the door to be displaced
longitudinally as well as rotationally, thereby moving the locking
boss out of the notch and enabling the door to be rotated.
47. The tape cartridge set forth in claim 44 wherein the journals
are slotted such that the door is displaceable longitudinally as
well as rotationally.
48. The tape cartridge set forth in claim 26 further comprising a
write protect slide lever accessible at an end wall of the
cartridge housing for selectively exposing and blocking a write
protect window in a sidewall of the cartridge housing at a location
adjacent to the slide lever.
49. The tape cartridge set forth in claim 26 wherein the cartridge
housing comprises a molded plastic upper shell and a molded plastic
lower shell.
50. The tape cartridge set forth in claim 26 wherein the cartridge
housing includes sidewalls having tapered segments.
51. A tape cartridge having a box-shaped housing with at least two
major walls, a reel containing a supply of recording tape coiled
thereon, the reel having at least one flange adjacent one wall of
the two major walls and a toothed spindle ring sized and positioned
for engagement by a standardized spindle ring of a tape drive, the
said one wall defining an annular region of housing locking teeth
adjacent an opening for receiving the toothed spindle ring
generally flush therewith, bias spring means for applying a bias
force from an other wall of the two major walls to the reel, the
reel including an annular region of locking teeth engaging the
housing locking teeth when the reel is spring biased into contact
with the said one wall.
52. The tape cartridge set forth in claim 51 further comprising at
least one reel flange lock mechanism for locking an outer periphery
of a reel flange of the reel toward said one wall of said two major
walls, thereby maintaining engagement of the adjacently-facing
annular locking teeth.
53. The tape cartridge set forth in claim 52 wherein the reel
flange lock mechanism comprises a spring biased locking arm having
a curved locking dog portion for forcing a peripheral edge region
of the lower flange toward an adjacently facing portion of the said
other one of said two major walls.
54. The tape cartridge set forth in claim 53 wherein the spring
biased locking arm is biased by a metal coil spring.
55. The tape cartridge set forth in claim 53 wherein the spring
biased locking arm is formed as a unitary plastic structure
including a live spring section which bears against a side wall of
the cartridge housing to apply a bias force to a locking arm and
the locking dog portion.
56. The tape cartridge set forth in claim 52 wherein the at least
one reel flange lock mechanism is released by application of a
external release force through an opening defined in a wall of the
cartridge.
57. A tape cartridge having a box-shaped housing with at least two
major walls, a single reel containing a supply of recording tape
coiled thereon, the reel having at least one flange adjacent a said
one wall of the two major walls and a toothed spindle ring sized
and positioned for engagement by a standardized spindle ring of a
tape drive, the tape housing having an elongated tape-access
opening along a sidewall, the recording tape including a leader and
a tape buckle, and the tape cartridge including a pivoting tape
leader guide for engaging and restraining the tape buckle when the
tape is fully wound on the reel, the pivoting tape leader guide for
presenting the tape buckle in at least two different positions
relative to the housing.
58. The tape cartridge set forth in claim 57 wherein the tape
buckle includes two lateral tab extensions, and wherein the
pivoting tape leader guide includes two engagement fingers for
engaging the two lateral tab extensions of the tape buckle as the
tape is fully wound onto the reel.
59. The tape cartridge set forth in claim 57 wherein the tape
buckle includes central detent slot, and wherein the pivoting tape
leader guide includes a detent boss extending outwardly from a web
portion of the tape leader guide for engaging the detent slot.
60. The tape cartridge set forth in claim 57 wherein the pivoting
pivoting tape leader guide is spring-biased toward a first
position.
61. The tape cartridge set forth in claim 57 wherein the pivoting
tape leader guide is displaced along two axes is moving from one
position to another position.
62. The tape cartridge set forth in claim 61 wherein the pivoting
tape leader guide includes at least two pivot bosses, one boss for
engaging a first fixed guide slot aligned generally along one of
the two axes, and another boss for engaging a second fixed guide
slot aligned generally along another of the two axes.
63. The tape media cartridge set forth in claim 26 wherein the
bearing dimple comprises a steel ball.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to size-reduced data storage
media cartridges and cartridge adapters which are compatible with
each other and with a standardized full size media cartridge. The
present invention provides an adapter for holding a smaller tape
cartridge in a housing such that the smaller cartridge may be used
in a tape drive which accepts a larger, industry standardized tape
cartridge.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Cartridge tape drives are extensively used for archival
backup of computerized user digital information, and are
increasingly used as an information library tool, particularly on
the so-called "world-wide web" or "internet". The information is
typically written onto the tape as a linear track (or tracks) of
magnetic flux transitions as the tape is drawn or "streamed" past a
write head element. Typically, blocks of tape are successively
streamed to the tape as it moves at high speed from a "beginning of
tape" or "BOT" indicator, to an "end-of-tape"or "EOT" indicator.
Alternatively, the digital information may be written in transverse
tracks as the tape is drawn past a helical scan, rotating head
array of the type employed in video cassette recording
technology.
[0003] Since magnetic recording tape is a very thin, flexible
plastic strip coated on one side with a magnetic storage material,
it is susceptible to damage. The tape may become stretched or
warped, and its edges may become damaged or frayed. Accordingly,
tape cartridges have been developed in order to minimize physical
damage to the tape during loading and unloading of the tape onto
the tape drive. There are two basic types of tape cartridge: the
self-contained feed and take-up reel cartridge, and the single,
feed reel cartridge which includes a coupling or buckling mechanism
at a leader end of the tape supply coiled on the single
cartridge.
[0004] In order to achieve commercial success, it has been
necessary for the industry to standardize tape cartridges and tape
within the cartridges, so that cartridges following a particular
standard may be received and used by tape drives designed to handle
the standard cartridge design. Standardization has imposed a second
and even more severe design restraint, and that is that newer tape
cartridge designs should be backward-compatible with older tape
drives (and newer tape drives should likewise be
backward-compatible with older tape cartridges), in order to
maintain the agreed-to cartridge standards. The present invention
provides an improvement to a standardized cartridge design for a
single-reel tape cartridge presently marketed by the assignee of
this application under the DLT.TM. Compactape.TM. brand. This
cartridge is standardized e.g. by American National Standards
Institute standard ANSI X3.197-1991 standard entitled "Unrecorded
Magnetic Tape and Cartridge for Information Interchange----1/2 inch
(12.65 mm), Serial Serpentine, 22-Track, 6 667 ftpi (262 ftpmm) and
48-Track, 10 000 ftpi (394 ftpmm)". This industry standard
cartridge specification is incorporated by reference herein as
relevant background material.
[0005] The standardized cartridge 10 (shown diagrammatically in
FIG. 1 and in greater structural detail in FIGS. 2 and 3) is a
two-part, generally rectangular box structure containing a single
feed reel 16 of tape with five rigid walls and at least a portion
of a sixth wall having a door or shutter 34 which opens as the
cartridge 10 is inserted into a compatible tape drive in order to
enable tape drive access to a coupling end of a tape supply coiled
on the reel 16. The cartridge 10 includes e.g. two defined openings
36 and 38 leading to two internal reel locks 30 and 32. The reel
locks 30 and 32 are located to act on a diameter of the reel 16 and
the locks prevent the feed reel from rotating and the tape pancake
from unraveling during cartridge handling outside of the standard
tape drive. A tape leader includes a buckling mechanism, and the
cartridge 10 typically includes features to restrain the buckling
mechanism at a defined position adjacent the opening.
[0006] A cartridge-handling portion 20 of the standard tape drive
is shown functionally in FIG. 1. The compatible tape drive for the
standardized cartridge 10 has a base casting (not shown) to which a
molded-plastic cartridge receiver 50 is secured. As viewed from a
front opening, the receiver 50 is adapted to receive a standard
single reel tape cartridge 10. The receiver 50 is a generally
U-shaped channel structure having a left side 52, a right side 54
and a top 56, and defines openings at front and back. A metal plate
floor 58 has a spindle opening and is attached to the channel
structure to form a box. A molded plastic drive cover (not shown in
FIG. 1) attaches to the receiver and to a front wall of the base
casting. The receiver 50 includes a front opening for receiving the
cartridge, and provides journals for a rotatable handle mechanism
66 (shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1).
[0007] The handle mechanism 66 rotates two levers, a first one of
which (not shown in FIG. 1) has a first finger which enters a
standardized locating hole in the bottom of the cartridge when the
handle is pushed flush with the front cover after the cartridge 10
is inserted. The other lever 66 has a second finger 68 which is
also brought into engagement with the cartridge 10. While this
second finger 68 may have a secondary locating function, a primary
function of the second finger 68 is to release one of the feed reel
locks within the cartridge 10.
[0008] Suspended between the two levers is a plate 70 with a slight
rotational degree of freedom, and with a central opening. When the
handle is in the open position, admitting the tape cartridge, the
levers are pushed downwardly away from the receiver, and the plate
engages a spring-loaded clutch mechanism on the feed reel motor
fixed to the drive base. This action pushes the tape spindle
assembly downwardly and out of the path of the cartridge 10.
Conversely, when the handle mechanism is returned to its engaged,
flush-against-the-front-panel position, the clutch plate 70
releases the spindle, and the plate 70 elevates the spindle into a
nominal operating engagement with the single reel within the
cartridge 10.
[0009] An annular toothed ring 72 of the spindle engages a
complementary annular toothed plate of the feed reel within the
cartridge. A feed reel motor 74 is directly coupled to rotate the
drive ring 72 and thereby rotate the reel within the standard
cartridge 10. A spring mechanism within the cartridge 10 provides a
bias force to the feed reel, and this force is overcome when the
spindle ring engages the feed reel toothed plate. Beveling of the
ring and plate facilitate centering of the reel on the spindle when
the spindle is engaged. One example of a tape cartridge including a
spring-biased feed reel in accordance with the published standard
is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,027,249 to Johnson et al.,
entitled: "Tape Cartridge Bearing", the disclosure thereof being
incorporated herein by reference.
[0010] A fixed cartridge door actuation structure 76 on the left
sidewall 52 of the receiver 50 cooperates with a door opening
structure 78 of the cartridge 10, so that as the cartridge 10 is
pushed into the receiver 50 engagement of the fixed structure 76
with the cartridge door release structure 78 automatically opens
the door 34 of the cartridge to expose the tape buckling mechanism.
On the right sidewall of the receiver a solenoid-actuated, hinged
locking dog 64 extends into a third standardized opening 42 defined
in the cartridge 10. This third opening 42 comprises a notch in the
right sidewall of the cartridge 10. Rotation of the locking dog 64
by the solenoid unlatches the handle mechanism 66 and allows the
handle to be opened. Otherwise, once the cartridge 10 is loaded
into the receiver 50 the cartridge locking dog 64 prevents the
cartridge from coming out. The locking dog structure also carries a
second micro switch which senses a user-activated write protect
mechanism 44 which selectively opens and blocks a write protect
window 46 formed in the sidewall of the cartridge adjacent the
notch 42.
[0011] When the cartridge 10 is properly loaded into the receiver
50, the cartridge's right sidewall and opening 38 become precisely
registered with reference datum planes of the receiver 50 and
thereby with the feed reel spindle ring 72 of the tape drive. At
the same time, the cartridge tape-protection features including the
door and the two diametrically opposed reel locks become
respectively opened and disengaged, thereby enabling the tape drive
mechanism to buckle to the tape buckling mechanism and to draw the
tape along a defined tape path within the drive, with tape tension
controlled by the feed reel motor 74 as well as by a counter-torque
applied by a take up reel motor to a take-up reel within the tape
drive.
[0012] In the present example shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the
standardized cartridge 10 includes a two-part molded plastic
housing including a top cover 12, and a bottom cover 14. The tape
reel 16 is wound with a spool 18 of magnetic recording tape 18. The
reel 16 may include only a top flange as shown in FIG. 3, or it may
preferably include a top and a bottom flange.
[0013] The flanges may provide a tape-wedging function be in
accordance with the teachings of commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No.
5,474,253, entitled:
[0014] "Wedged Reels in Streaming Tape Drives and Tape Cartridges",
the disclosure thereof being incorporated herein by reference.
[0015] A center of rotation of the reel 16 is biased toward the
bottom cover 14 and away from the top cover 12 by a coiled spring
21. A spring-loaded hub structure 22 engages a ball bearing
assembly 24, the outer races of which engage a cylindrical flange
of the plastic reel 16. Reel engagement teeth formed as an annulus
26 about the center of rotation of the reel 16 enable the reel to
be rotated by the spindle ring 72 and spindle motor 74, once the
cartridge 10 is loaded into the receiver mechanism 20 of a
compatible tape drive 50. One reel flange of the reel 16 has outer
peripheral teeth 28 which are engaged by toothed pawls of reel
locks 30 and 32. The reel locks 30 and 32 are spring biased toward
the reel periphery to lock the reel in place.
[0016] The cartridge 10 includes the hinged door 34 which is
automatically opened by the structural features 76 of the
compatible receiver 20 as the cartridge 10 is received therein, so
that a buckle 3 5 of a tape leader of the tape 18 becomes exposed
and thereupon may be engaged by an automatic tape buckling
mechanism for bucking a drive leader to the tape leader. A suitable
two-part tape buckling mechanism is shown in commonly assigned U.S.
Pat. No. 4,572,460 to Hertrich, entitled: "Means for Pulling Tape
From a Reel". Engagement and disengagement of the two parts of the
tape buckling mechanism within the standard drive is more
particularly described in commonly assigned, copending U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 08/666,854 filed on Jun. 19, 1996, and
entitled: "Improved Tape Buckling Mechanism for Single Reel
Cartridge Tape Recording", the disclosure thereof being
incorporated herein by reference.
[0017] The industry-standard cartridge 10 is provided with several
cartridge-locating features, including an end wall slot 36, two
bottom wall slots 38 and 40, and a side recess 42. In addition, a
write-protect mechanism 44 alternatively blocks and exposes a
window 46 in the sidewall of the cartridge 10. End wall slot 36
provides access for releasing reel lock 30, while bottom wall slot
38 provides access for releasing reel lock 32.
[0018] With reference again to FIG. 1, the receiver mechanism 52
includes a reference side wall 54, top wall 56, bottom wall 58 and
end wall 60. These surfaces serve as datum planes to locate the
cartridge 10 within the receiver 50. The end wall 60 includes a
fixed pin 62 which passes through end wall slot 36 and engages reel
lock 30, thereby rotating it away from the toothed periphery 28 of
reel 16. A spring-biased latching pawl 64 includes a toothed
portion which enters the side recess 42 and thereby locks the
cartridge 10 inside of the receiver. A rotational latch mechanism
66 includes a locating/release pin 68 which passes through end wall
opening 38 to release the other reel lock 32. A registration pin
(not shown) may be provided as part of the rotational latch
mechanism for entering the other end wall opening 40 and further
register the cartridge 10 within the receiver. Accurate
registration is needed to ensure that the toothed engagement ring
26 will precisely center with, and be engaged by, a reel motor
drive mechanism. In addition, accurate registration is also needed
to ensure accurate mating between a take up leader nose and a
supply leader hoop.
[0019] The described combination of standard tape cartridge 10 and
standard tape drive 50 has worked well for many years, with one
principal drawback that the "form factor" of the cartridge and the
"form factor" of the tape drive have remained substantially
invariant over the years. This combination has occupied either a
full-height 5.25 inch drive bay or a half-height 5.25 inch drive
bay of a computer. A recent trend has been to provide disk and tape
drives in smaller "form factors". One prevalent form factor is the
so-called 3.5 inch form factor, because many computer designers
specify, and computer cabinets provide, 3.5 inch drive bays, rather
than 5.25 inch drive bays.
[0020] The need to reduce tape drive form factor to serve
physically smaller computing systems has been recognized. A similar
trend has been experienced in the hard (non-removable) disk drive
art, and in the optical disk art. For removable media drives,
particularly those performing backup or archival data storage
service, backward compatibility becomes a critical and limiting
condition. Cartridge adapters have been proposed for adapting
smaller media units for compatible handling by larger media
drives.
[0021] One example is the ubiquitous VHS-C cartridge used in many
hand held video cassette recorder products and the surprisingly
complex VHS-C adapter unit which adapts the small VHS tape video
camera cartridge to a standard-size VHS cartridge and VCR playback
unit. In at least one form, the VHS-C cartridge adapter carries a
dry cell and includes a battery-operated DC motor for loading and
unloading the VHS-C cartridge within the adapter before it is able
to be handled within a conventional set-top VHS video
recording/playback device. While this cartridge adapter is widely
used, it is also quite complicated, and relatively expensive.
[0022] Another example is provided in U.S. Pat. No. 5,402,95,
entitled "Videotape Adapter for Use With A Cartridge", and U.S.
Pat. No. 5,082,196, entitled: "Video Cartridge Adapter Interlock
System". A further example of a cartridge adapter is described in
U.S. Pat. No. 5,331,627, entitled: "Cartridge Adapter". The '627
patent describes an optical disk cartridge adapter for holding a 90
mm optical disk cartridge within a drive adapted to receive a 130
mm optical disk cartridge. A "pseudo-spindle" was provided to
interconnect the drive spindle with the smaller disk spindle
opening. In addition, a rotating permanent magnet was provided
directly above a shutter opening of the smaller cartridge in order
to present a bias field to enable writing of the 90 mm
magneto-optical media in the smaller cartridge.
[0023] Each of these prior, vastly different, cartridge approaches
suggests that providing a workable miniaturized cartridge and a
compatible cartridge adapter can be a daunting engineering
challenge. This challenge is largely dependent upon the particular
characteristics and requirements of the standard cartridge to which
the miniaturized cartridge of different design will be adapted for
handling by a drive or cartridge loader designed to handle the
larger-sized standard cartridge. As a standard cartridge becomes
imbued with many unique features for locating, reel-locking and
releasing, write protecting, etc., the difficulty in adapting the
defined standard for compatible use with a smaller form-factor
cartridge becomes manifestly complex.
[0024] Thus, a hitherto unsolved need has remained for a
form-factor reduced single reel tape mini-cartridge and cartridge
adapter enabling a standard form-factor tape drive to handle and
access tape stored in the mini-cartridge.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION WITH OBJECTS
[0025] A general object of the present invention is to provide a
tape mini-cartridge having standardized features and a
mini-cartridge adapter for adapting the standardized features of
the mini-cartridge to be functionally interchangeable with a larger
form factor industry standard tape cartridge in a manner overcoming
limitations and drawbacks of the prior art.
[0026] Another general object is to provide a tape cartridge
adapter for transferring a plurality of functional forces applied
by force imparting elements to features of a standard tape
cartridge to structurally and functionally equivalent features of a
mini-cartridge which is smaller than the standard tape cartridge
and which is carried in the cartridge adapter.
[0027] A further object is to provide a size-reduced single reel
tape cartridge with functional features and structural
characteristics such that, with the aid of a tape cartridge
adapter, the size-reduced tape cartridge achieves functional
interchangeability with a larger industry standard tape cartridge
within a tape drive mechanism.
[0028] One more object of the present invention is to provide a
size-reduced single reel tape cartridge with a spindle hub having a
spindle engagement portion sized and positioned to be compatible
with a hub spindle engagement portion of a larger standardized tape
cartridge such that a standard tape drive handling the larger
standardized tape cartridge may be used with the size-reduced tape
cartridge when carried within a compatible cartridge adapter.
[0029] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a
single reel tape cartridge with a reel locking mechanism overcoming
limitations and drawbacks of the prior art.
[0030] A further object of the present invention is to provide a
single reel tape cartridge with an improved spring bias force
mechanism for biasing the reel into a locking engagement with a
cartridge housing when the reel is not engaged by a tape drive
spindle.
[0031] One more object of the present invention is to provide a
size-reduced single reel tape cartridge with a pivoting tape leader
guide for presenting a tape buckle in two operative engagement
positions, one position being for engagement by a buckler when the
size-reduced tape cartridge is loaded into a size-reduced tape
drive, and the other position being for engagement by a buckler
when the size-reduced tape cartridge while being carried within a
cartridge adapter is loaded into a full size standard tape
drive.
[0032] Accordingly, in one aspect of the present invention a tape
mini-cartridge adapter is provided for adapting a tape
mini-cartridge to a larger industry standard tape cartridge
standardized appearance. The standard cartridge is of a single-reel
type and has an internal reel and a standard dimension toothed hub
for engagement by a toothed spindle ring of a standard tape drive.
The tape mini-cartridge includes a cartridge housing containing a
tape reel within the housing wound with a supply of standard
dimension tape. The mini-cartridge housing includes a generally
annular plateau region extending outwardly from a major face of the
mini-cartridge housing and a standard-dimension toothed hub is
exposed through and is substantially co-planar with the generally
annular plateau region. The mini-cartridge adapter has an adapter
housing for receiving the mini-cartridge therewithin. The adapter
housing has a major wall surface which defines a slot for receiving
the plateau region in substantial coplanar alignment with the major
surface such that the mini-cartridge and mini-cartridge adapter
present the standard dimension toothed hub of the mini-cartridge
reel to a standard tape drive at standardized position and
elevation relative to the drive's feed reel spindle. Desirably, the
mini-cartridge plateau region and the adapter include complementary
keying features for restricting insertion of the mini-cartridge
into the adapter in one intended engagement orientation.
[0033] In a related aspect of the present invention the tape
mini-cartridge adapter adapts the mini-cartridge to standardized
cartridge features for receiving mechanical force imparting
elements of a tape drive. The force imparting elements are applied
to the standard cartridge through standardized openings of the
standard cartridge housing and come from a plurality of different
directions. The tape mini-cartridge adapter includes a plurality of
internal structural mechanisms which receive the force imparting
elements through standardized openings in the adapter housing of
the mini-cartridge adapter and transfer the forces to functionally
equivalent structural elements of the mini-cartridge. The
mechanisms may include a rocker arm member, and coupled link-pivot
members for achieving the desired force translations from the
standard tape drive to the mini-cartridge, so that the
mini-cartridge may be handled by the conventional tape drive
without any structural modification thereto.
[0034] In another related aspect of the present invention, the
standard cartridge includes a standard tape leader and a buckle
mechanism, and a fixed structure for restraining the buckle
mechanism at a standard position relative to a front opening of the
standard cartridge. In this aspect of the invention the
mini-cartridge has an internal reel and a pivoting leader buckle
guide member for engaging and restraining the leader buckle. The
guide member normally presents the buckle at a first position
adjacent a front opening of the mini-cartridge, but is displaceable
to present the buckle at the standard tape cartridge position
relative to a front opening of the standard cartridge in a manner
avoiding stretching or breaking a tape leader. The mini-cartridge
adapter includes a spring loaded pawl for causing the leader buckle
guide member to displace from the first position to present the
buckle at the standard position when the mini-cartridge is inserted
into the mini-cartridge adapter.
[0035] In one more related aspect of the present invention a tape
cartridge has a box-shaped housing with at least two major walls. A
tape reel within the housing contains a supply of coiled recording
tape. The reel has at least one flange located adjacent to one
major wall. A toothed spindle ring is sized and positioned to be
engaged by a standardized spindle ring of a tape drive. The one
major housing wall defines a generally annular plateau region
adjacent an opening for receiving the toothed spindle ring
generally flush therewith. A spring bias mechanism applies a force
from the other major wall to urge the reel toward the one wall. A
pair of adjacently-facing rings of locking teeth are formed on an
inner surface of the annular plateau region and on an adjacently
facing surface of the flange adjacent the toothed spindle ring. The
spring force urges the teeth of the reel into locking engagement
with the teeth of the plateau region to lock the reel. A tape drive
spindle engages the toothed spindle ring and displaces the reel to
clear the pair of respective locking teeth, thereby enabling the
reel to be rotated freely within the housing during tape drive
operations.
[0036] In yet another aspect of the present invention, an improved
reel preload arrangement is provided for a tape media cartridge. In
this aspect the tape media cartridge includes a generally
box-shaped housing with at least two major walls. A single reel
contains a coil of recording tape thereon, the reel being formed of
a plastic material and it defines a bearing dimple having a contact
point aligned with an axis of rotation of the reel. A plunger is
formed of plastic material and has a flat face portion facing the
bearing dimple. A coil compression spring bears between one of the
two major walls and the plunger and thereby transfers a bias force
to the reel through the plunger at the contact point. This
arrangement enables a plastic-on-plastic bearing arrangement with
minimized wear, and thereby reduces the cost of the media
cartridge.
[0037] These and other objects, advantages, aspects and features of
the present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated
by those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following
detailed description of preferred embodiments, presented in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0038] In the Drawings:
[0039] FIG. 1 is an exploded isometric view of an industry-standard
tape cartridge and relevant functional portions of a tape receiver
mechanism of a tape drive adapted to handle the standard
cartridge.
[0040] FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the FIG. 1 industry-standard
tape cartridge showing the reel engagement teeth and reel locks in
hidden outline view and showing the door open, exposing a tape
buckle.
[0041] FIG. 3 is a view in elevation and section of the FIG. 1
cartridge showing the spring-loaded reel and tape.
[0042] FIG. 4A is a diagrammatic front view of a conventional tape
drive for receiving and using the FIG. 1 industry-standard tape
cartridge, and a mini-cartridge and adapter in accordance with
principles of the present invention.
[0043] FIG. 4B is a diagrammatic front view of a mini-cartridge
tape drive for receiving and using the FIG. 4A mini-cartridge
without the adapter, in accordance with principles of the present
invention.
[0044] FIG. 5 illustrates a mini-cartridge and an adapter for
receiving the mini-cartridge to a size compatible with the
conventional single-reel cartridge described above, the
mini-cartridge and adapter being in accordance with principles of
the present invention.
[0045] FIG. 6 is an isometric diagrammatic view of the FIG. 5
mini-cartridge and adapter shown in a fully engaged relationship,
and with respective cover portions of the mini-cartridge and the
adapter removed to facilitate illustration and understanding of the
various components and elements thereof.
[0046] FIG. 7 is an enlarged, exploded isometric view of the FIG. 5
cartridge housing, illustrating a write-protect feature.
[0047] FIGS. 8A, 8B and 8C are respectively top plan, side
elevation, and bottom plan views of the FIG. 5 two-piece
mini-cartridge exterior housing.
[0048] FIG. 9 is an enlarged, isometric, diagrammatic top view
showing the reel lock, write protect mechanism, tape reel, leader
guide and door of the FIG. 5 mini-cartridge in their respective
positions with respect to the two-piece housing which has been
removed in this view.
[0049] FIG. 9A is an enlarged bottom isometric view of the FIG. 9
reel lock.
[0050] FIG. 10 is a plan view of a portion of the FIG. 5
mini-cartridge illustrating an alternative preferred embodiment of
a reel lock having a live spring bias section in accordance with
aspects of the present invention.
[0051] FIG. 10A is an enlarged bottom isometric view of the FIG. 10
reel lock.
[0052] FIG. 11 is an enlarged, isometric, diagrammatic bottom view
showing the tape reel with an outer annular region forming reel
locking teeth and an inner annular region forming spindle
engagement teeth, the reel lock, the write protect mechanism, and
the leader guide and door of the FIG. 5 mini-cartridge in assembly
position with respect to the two-piece housing (which has been
removed in this view).
[0053] FIG. 12 is an isometric view of an interior of the bottom
shell of the FIG. 5 mini-cartridge.
[0054] FIGS. 12A is a detail view in section and elevation showing
meshing relationship of the locking teeth of the lower reel flange
with the lower shell wall, in accordance with aspects of the
present invention.
[0055] FIG. 13 is an isometric view of an interior of the top shell
of the FIG. 5 mini-cartridge showing a central cylindrical chimney
structure for supporting a tape reel preload mechanism.
[0056] FIG. 14 is a view in side elevation and section of a
spring-biased tape reel preload mechanism for biasing the tape reel
of the FIG. 5 mini-cartridge toward the lower shell wall, thereby
promoting meshing engagement of the oppositely facing reel locking
teeth in accordance with aspects of the present invention.
[0057] FIGS. 15A, 15B, and 15C are three views pertinent to an
access door arrangement of the FIG. 5 mini-cartridge; the FIG. 15A
isometric view showing door features of the top shell of the
mini-cartridge housing; the FIG. 15B isometric view showing the
door installed on the top shell and in a closed position; and, the
15C isometric view showing the door in an open, and rearwardly
displaced position relative to the top shell of the mini-cartridge
housing.
[0058] FIGS. 16A, 16B, and 16C are respective views of a leader
buckle, a pivoting leader guide, and the two operating positions of
the leader guide within the FIG. 5 mini-cartridge in accordance
with aspects of the present invention. FIG. 16A is an enlarged view
of a tape guide leader buckle engaged by the FIG. 16B leader guide.
FIG. 16B presents an enlarged isometric view of the pivoting leader
guide itself. And, FIG. 16C presents an enlarge diagrammatic plan
view of the leader guide in a normal position, and in an extended
position when the FIG. 5 mini-cartridge is within the cartridge
adapter, in accordance with aspects of the present invention.
[0059] FIG. 17 is an isometric view of the FIG. 5 tape cartridge
adapter viewed with the cartridge in place from a
cartridge-insertion end of the adapter.
[0060] FIG. 18 is a top plan view of the FIG. 5 cartridge adapter
and cartridge with upper shells of the adapter and cartridge
removed to illustrate mechanical relationships between elements of
the cartridge and adapter.
[0061] FIG. 19 is an isometric view of an upper shell of the
cartridge adapter of FIG. 17. FIGS. 20A and 20B are respectively a
bottom isometric view of the cartridge adapter without the
cartridge, and a bottom view of the cartridge adapter and cartridge
illustrating several keying and snap-locking features to ensure
proper relationship between the cartridge and the adapter in
accordance with aspects of the present invention.
[0062] FIGS. 21A, 21B and 21C are respectively an enlarged
diagrammatic isometric view of a second reel lock transfer
mechanism for transferring a reel lock release force applied to a
bottom wall of the cartridge adapter to a side wall opening of the
mini-cartridge to release a second reel lock within the
mini-cartridge in accordance with aspects of the present invention;
an enlarged diagrammatic isometric view of a pivot lever element of
the FIG. 21A transfer mechanism; and, an enlarged diagrammatic
isometric view of a link member of the FIG. 21 A transfer
mechanism.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0063] In accordance with principles and aspects of the present
invention, and as one example of a preferred embodiment, a tape
mini-cartridge 100 and a mini-cartridge adapter 200 may be
physically combined in a nested relationship to provide functional
compatibility in place of a larger, industry standardized tape
cartridge 10 described above. In the FIG. 4A diagram, the
mini-cartridge 100 and adapter 200 are inserted as a combined unit
into a receiver 50 of a conventional tape drive, such as the drive
80 shown in FIG. 4A. The conventional tape drive 80 follows an
established form factor of a full height or half height 5.25 inch
drive and fits into a drive bay of a computer or storage array
housing dimensioned to receive this particular drive form
factor.
[0064] Alternatively and equally satisfactorily, the mini-cartridge
100 may be used within a tape drive specifically adapted to receive
and handle the smaller tape cartridge 100. FIG. 4B shows a small
form factor tape drive 90 which receives and handles the
mini-cartridge 100 directly, without need or requirement for the
adapter 200. Of course, the smaller tape drive 90 cannot receive or
handle the conventional, full size cartridge 10.
[0065] Information may be recorded on the tape within the
mini-cartridge 100 on either the larger drive 80 or the smaller
drive 90, and played back on a drive of the other size, it being
understood that the larger drive 80 requires the mini-cartridge 100
to be installed within the cartridge adapter 200. Further, in order
for the mini-cartridge 100 to be used on the standard drive 80, it
is necessary that the cartridge adapter 200 present the same
structural and functional appearance to the standard drive 80 as
would the conventional cartridge 10. Since the conventional
cartridge 10 has a plurality of structural elements engaged by the
standard drive 80, it is necessary for the cartridge adapter 200 to
transfer effectively those engagements and forces to the
mini-cartridge in a manner providing compatible functionality. Just
how this daunting task is accomplished is explained hereinafter,
first by considering the structural details of the mini-cartridge
100, and then by considering the structural and functional details
of the cartridge adapter 200.
Mini-Cartridge 100
[0066] In FIG. 5 the mini-cartridge 100 is seen to include e.g. a
molded plastic lower shell 102 to which e.g. a molded plastic upper
shell 104 is secured e.g. by threaded screws or ultrasonic welding.
While molded plastic is presently preferred to form the two-shell
housing, other materials, such as die-stamped sheet metal, may be
used. The mini-cartridge 100 includes a single reel 120 upon which
a supply of e.g. 1/2 inch magnetic recording tape 121 is spooled,
to form a tape "pancake". An inner end of the tape 121 is secured
to a reel hub 122. The reel 120 includes a lower reel flange 130
which is preferably formed integrally with the reel 120, and may
include a top flange 131 which is typically formed as a separate
disk and secured to the reel hub 123 by e.g. a suitable adhesive or
plastic solvent.
[0067] As shown in FIG. 7, the mini-cartridge two-piece 102, 104
housing defines a series of functional openings. A first right side
window opening 106 exposes a write-protect flag 124. A second right
side window opening 108 is provided to admit a pawl 240 of the
cartridge adapter 200 for rotating a tape leader guide 190 from a
retracted position to an extended position. An opening 110 on the
left side of the mini-cartridge 100 receives a finger for releasing
a spring-biased reel lock mechanism 126. An opening 121 in the rear
side-wall and related structure receives a write-protect slide
mechanism 122 including the write protect flag 124 which
alternatively blocks and unblocks the write-protect window 106,
depending upon the setting of the operator-actuated write-protect
slide mechanism 122. An elongated front opening 160 enables access
to the tape and tape buckling mechanism held by a leader guide 190.
A door 162 hinged to the housing covers the opening 160 when the
mini-cartridge 100 is located or being handled outside of a tape
drive cartridge receiver or a cartridge adapter 200 in order fully
to enclose and thereby protect the tape pancake 121.
[0068] The two-part housing 102, 104 of the mini-cartridge 100 is
attractively shaped by providing beveled side wall segments 112,
114, 116 and 118, as shown in FIG. 7. The beveled surfaces 112-118
functionally guide the mini-cartridge 100 into a cartridge receiver
of the smaller tape drive 90, or into the cartridge adapter 200.
The cartridge adapter 200 includes guiding and centering walls,
e.g. wall 206, which are contacted by the beveled forward wall
segments 114, 116 of the mini-cartridge 100.
[0069] As shown in FIGS. 8A, 8B and 8C a central annular ring 136
which extends outwardly from the lower shell 102 includes two
unique keying features 180 and 182. Tab 180 serves as a centering
feature, whereas notched edge feature 182 ensures that the
mini-cartridge 100 can be received by a compatible receiver, such
as the adapter 200 or the small tape drive 90 in one
orientation/insertion direction only.
[0070] As shown in FIG. 7, the mini-cartridge lower shell 102
includes a molded vertical journal post 132. The post 132 receives
the molded plastic reel lock 126. As shown in FIGS. 6, 7, 9 and 9A,
a first preferred embodiment of the mini-cartridge reel lock 126
includes a hub portion 142 which has a transverse cylindrical
opening for receiving the journal post 132. A somewhat curved
portion 140 extends from the hub 142 in a first direction and ends
at the locking dog end 141. Another portion 146 extends from the
hub 142 in a different direction and ends at the flag portion 146.
A generally triangular web portion 143 extends to a boss 144 which
engages one end of coil spring 128. Another end of the coil spring
128 is secured to a boss 139 extending upwardly from a floor of
bottom shell 102, as shown in FIG. 12, for example.
[0071] In this preferred embodiment, the locking dog end 141 of
lock 126 is spring-biased by coil spring 128 toward, and normally
engages, a notched outer peripheral edge 133 of lower reel flange
130 of the tape reel 120. A reel lock releasing force applied
through the window 110 to a release flag portion 146 of the reel
lock 126 overcomes the bias force applied by spring 128 and rotates
the reel lock 126 about the post 132 to cause the lock dog portion
141 to move outwardly and away from locking engagement with the
reel flange 130. This action releases the tape reel 120 from being
locked against rotation relative to the cartridge housing. Upon
release, the reel 120 may become elevated by upward engagement of a
spindle ring, such as spindle ring 72, of e.g. the conventional
disk drive 80 and become freely rotatable the drive's feed reel
spindle motor 74, for example. A similarly configured spindle ring
mechanism and a spindle motor are included in the small form factor
tape drive 90 of FIG. 4B.
[0072] FIGS. 10 and 10A illustrate an alternative preferred
embodiment of reel lock 126A which is substantially interchangeable
with the lock 126. In this alternative preferred embodiment, the
reel lock 126A is also formed as a single unitary plastic molding,
and it includes the slightly curved lever arm 140 terminating in
the locking dog end 141 at a distal end. A hub 142 has a transverse
cylindrical opening for receiving the journal post 132 at the other
end of the lever arm 140. In this embodiment the metal coil spring
128 is replaced by a thin elongated live spring section 143A which
is formed integrally with the other elements of the plastic reel
lock structure 126A. The live spring section 143A extends from the
hub 142 in a direction different from the arms 140 and 145 and has
a suitable spring length, and includes a protrusion 144 for
contacting e.g. the inside of angled side wall 114 of the lower
shell 102 of the mini-cartridge 100, as shown in FIG. 10.
[0073] In order to work satisfactorily in both the large,
conventional tape drive 80 and the smaller drive 90, the
mini-cartridge 100 includes a spring-biased, slidably pivoting
leader guide 190 which engages and restrains a leader buckle 184.
The leader guide 190 is shown in FIG. 6 in its extended position
when the mini-cartridge 100 is seated and locked into the cartridge
adapter 200, for example. The leader guide 190 is shown in its
normally retracted position in the FIG. 9 view. When the
mini-cartridge 100 is used in the smaller tape drive 90, the leader
guide is rotationally biased toward the periphery of the tape reel
120, by a bias spring 191, as in a position shown in the FIG. 9
diagrammatic view. The leader guide 190 is explained in greater
detail hereinafter.
[0074] The reel lock 126 and lower flange 130 form one part of a
two-part reel locking mechanism. The other part is formed by two
mating teeth rings: a rotating reel flange teeth ring 147 formed on
an annular plateau 135 of the reel lower flange 130 as shown in
FIG. 11, and a ring of fixed teeth 148 formed on an upper wall of
the housing annular flange 136 as shown in FIG. 12. The bottom of
the lower flange 130 also defines an inner toothed spindle ring 149
having teeth sized and pitched to be engaged by a standard spindle
ring, such as the spindle ring 72 of conventional drive 80 shown in
FIGS. 1 and 4.
[0075] The rotating reel flange teeth ring 147 and the fixed
complementary teeth ring 148 are normally meshed in a locking
engagement by virtue of a reel preload bias force. The teeth rings
147 and 148 become released from mutual locking engagement by
upward movement of the reel 120 relative to the base 102 after the
reel lock 126 is retracted and the toothed spindle ring 149 is
engaged by a mating standardized spindle ring, such as the
conventional spindle ring 72 of drive 80 shown in FIGS. 1 and 4.
Engagement by the spindle ring also involves moving the reel
slightly upwardly to the clearance position as shown in FIG.
12A.
[0076] An internal reel preload mechanism 150 implements a
plastic-on-plastic bearing and applies a bias force between the
upper shell 104 and the reel 120. As shown in FIG. 14, the preload
mechanism 150 includes a helical coil spring 152 which transfers a
force to a molded plastic cylindrical plunger 154. The plunger 154
includes a flat disk face 155 which faces an upwardly curving
dimple bearing 156 formed in the plastic reel 120 . A cylindrical
chimney 158 is formed as part of the top shell 104. The plunger 154
is slideably seated inside of the chimney 158, while the coil
spring 152 is mounted outwardly surrounding the chimney 158. A
flange extension 159 of the plunger disk face 155 is engaged by a
free end of the coil spring 152 while a fixed end of the spring 152
seats against an inside surface of the top shell 104 outwardly
adjacent the chimney 158. A finned annular reinforcing structure
151 is formed as a part of the top shell 104 and surrounds the
chimney 158.
[0077] The spring-loaded plunger 154 bears down upon the dimple
bearing 156 of the plastic reel, in response to the preload force
applied by the spring 152 between the top shell 104 and the plunger
154. The dimple bearing 156 is generally hemispherical and contacts
the flat disk face 155 of the plunger such that when the reel is
engaged by a spindle and rotating, a contact point of the dimple
bearing 156 is always substantially aligned with a center of
rotation of the reel 120 relative to the mini-cartridge housing and
plunger 154 (shown as the dashed line in FIG. 14). Most preferably,
the dimple bearing 156 and the plunger 154 are formed of wear
resistant and/or lubricated plastic material. The dimple bearing
156 establishes a minimal-radius contact point with the flat
surface 155 of the plunger in a manner resulting in minimal wear
between these plastic elements at the contact point, and enable the
contact point to move relatively along the flat disk face 155 in
order to accommodate high volume manufacturing and usage
tolerances. The dimple bearing 156 may be molded as an integral
part of the reel 120, or it may be a separate part and suitably
secured in an opening molded into the reel 120. Similarly, the flat
disk face 155 may be integrally molded within the plunger 154, or
it may be a separate part to which the cylindrical plunger body is
suitably bonded or secured.
[0078] Advantages of the preload mechanism 150 include the dimple
bearing 156 being formed with the rotating mass, i.e. reel 120,
while the flat surface 155 of the plunger 154 is formed with the
non-rotating mass, i.e. the plunger. Specifically, locating the
dimple on the rotating half of the bearing interface reduces the
relative velocity of the wear surfaces with respect to each other
when the two surfaces are in a misaligned condition. As a result,
bearing wear is reduced. In addition, the flat surface 155 enables
the dimple bearing surface to move laterally, relative thereto.
This enables the preload force to remain normal to reel 120,
thereby not inducing any lateral vector to lift one side of the
reel hub off the reel driver. Consequently lateral tape movement
(LTM) may be avoided.
[0079] Alternatively, the dimple bearing 156 may be replaced by a
steel ball secured to the reel 120. All the functional aspects and
advantages discussed herein above, with respect to the plastic
dimple bearing 156, would similarly apply.
[0080] The bottom shell 102A and top shell 104A shown in FIGS. 12
and 13 differ slightly from the shells 102 and 104 shown in FIG. 7.
In the FIGS. 12 and 13 embodiment of the mini-cartridge housing,
the beveled surfaces 112 and 118 have been changed to rounded
corners 112A and 118A, respectively. The modified shells 12 and 13
provide a mini-cartridge housing which is less likely to be
inserted into a cartridge receiver in an incorrect orientation.
[0081] As shown in FIGS. 15A-C, the front wall of the
mini-cartridge 100 defines the elongated opening 160. As shown in
FIG. 9, the door 162 includes two pivot pins 164 and 166 at
opposite ends. The pivot pins engage journals 165 and 167 defined
in the upper shell 104 of the cartridge 100. An angled corner
surface 168 of the door 162 is contacted by a door opening pin (not
shown) positioned at a location 170 as the cartridge enters the
adapter 200. As shown in FIG. 15B a release force at position 170
pushes the door 162 first to the left to move a door lock boss 172
out of a notch 174 formed in the upper shell 104 thereby to release
the door 162 and permit it to rotate upwardly to an opened position
shown in FIG. 15C. A helical compression spring 176 shown in FIGS.
9 and 15B is placed on pin 166 with one end engaging the door 162
and the other end engaging the upper shell 104 such that the spring
176 simultaneously urges the boss 172 into the groove 174 and the
door 162 into the closed position shown in FIG. 15B. The journals
165 and 167 are slotted, and permit the pins 164 and 166 to slide
rearwardly in the door-open position by a predetermined small
amount, such as 0.150 inch, so that the door 162 fits entirely
within an interior space defined by the cartridge adapter 200.
[0082] FIG. 16A illustrates the leader buckle 184 used for buckling
the mini-cartridge tape leader 188 to a complementary drive leader
in accordance e.g. with the standardized buckling arrangement
illustrated in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,572,460 discussed
above. The buckle 184 includes two laterally extending buckle ears
or tab extensions 185A and 185B, and a longitudinally central
detent slot 186. The leader buckle 184 is designed to be engaged
and captured by the pivoting leader guide 190 as shown in FIGS. 6,
9, and 11.
[0083] The pivoting tape leader guide 190 is shown in greater
detail in FIG. 16B and includes a main body portion 192. The main
body portion 192 includes two axially aligned cylindrical rear
bosses 193A and 193B, and two axially aligned oblong forward bosses
194A and 194B. These two pairs of bosses 193 and 194 respectively
cooperate with boss guides 171 and 173 formed respectively in the
bottom shell 102 and top shell 104, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13.
Oblong boss guides 171A and 173A are formed in the bottom shell
102, and curved slot boss guides 171B and 173B are formed in the
top shell. The boss guide 171A is aligned with the boss guide 171B,
and the boss guide 173A is aligned with the boss guide 173B when
the shells 102 and 104 are connected together. The coil spring 191,
best seen in the FIG. 11 view, biases the leader guide 190 to the
retracted position shown in FIGS. 9 and 11. The boss guides 171A,B
and 173A,B guide the leader guide to the extended position shown in
FIG. 6 which is required when the mini-cartridge 100 is installed
within the cartridge adapter 200.
[0084] The boss guides 171A and 171B enable the bosses 193A and
193B to move generally longitudinally in the mini-cartridge, while
the boss guides 173A and 173B enable the bosses 194A and 194B to
move generally transversely in the mini-cartridge. This forward and
sideways movement enables the leader guide 190 to pivot to the
extended position shown in FIG. 16C required by the cartridge
adapter 200 without stretching the tape, since a true center of
rotation of the leader guide 190 lies underneath (and above) the
reel 120. In other words, without the longitudinal and transverse
degrees of limited relative displacement, an attempt to rotate the
leader guide 190 at a pivot point outside the periphery of the reel
120 without first releasing the reel locking mechanisms could
result in stretching or tearing of the tape leader 188. While other
mechanisms are known to achieve the displacement positions shown in
FIG. 16C, such as a three-link mechanism, the present leader guide
190 is preferred because of its simplicity and reliability in
operation.
[0085] A buckle engagement portion 198 of the tape leader guide 190
includes two slotted engagement fingers: an upper finger formed of
tines 198A and 198B, and a lower finger formed of tines 198C and
198D. While single-tine fingers are shown in the FIG. 9 and FIG. 11
views, the double-tine fingers shown in FIG. 16B are most
preferred. These two double-tine fingers respectively receive the
buckle extensions 185A and 185B of the tape buckle as the tape is
completely wound onto the supply reel 120. A detent hook 196
extends from a central web portion of the leader guide body 192 and
is dimensioned to receive the buckle detent 186. An opposing lever
portion 199 extends from the leader guide body 192 adjacent the
bosses 193A and 193B and can be engaged by a pivoting pawl of the
cartridge adapter 200 in order to pivot the leader guide outwardly
and place the buckle 184 in position to be engaged by a
complementary buckle of the conventional large form factor tape
drive 80. Otherwise, the coil spring 191 causes the pivoted leader
guide to remain at a position adjacent the outer periphery of
supply reel 120 of the mini-cartridge. The opposing lever portion
199 is engageable through the elongated slot 108 in the right side
wall of the mini-cartridge, see e.g. FIGS. 7, 12 and 13.
Mini-Cartridge Adapter 200
[0086] Referring now to FIG. 17, the mini-cartridge adapter 200
includes e.g. a molded plastic lower shell 202 to which a molded
plastic upper shell 204 is secured e.g. by threaded screws. As
assembled, the mini-cartridge adapter 200 includes all of the
specified dimensions and openings of the full-size standardized
tape cartridge 10 depicted in FIGS. 1-3, for example. The lower
shell 202 includes a central opening 207 sized to admit the
cartridge flange 136 of the mini-cartridge 100. FIG. 17 shows the
mini-cartridge 100 inserted into and locked within the cartridge
adapter 200. In order to emulate the full-sized standardized
cartridge 10, the cartridge adapter 200 must present the equivalent
functional appearance to the tape drive receiver or tape handling
mechanism. Accordingly, in addition to standardized external
appearance, a plurality of transfer mechanisms are required to
transfer external forces applied to the adapter 200 to appropriate
functional locations of the mini-cartridge 100.
[0087] FIG. 18 shows e.g. three cartridge adapter transfer
mechanisms: a write protect transfer mechanism 220, a leader guide
actuator pawl mechanism 240, and a corner reel lock transfer
mechanism 250. Two cartridge adapter journal posts 208 and 210
extend upwardly from a bottom wall of the lower shell 202. The
write-protect transfer mechanism 220 is journaled to the post 208,
and the leader guide actuator lever mechanism 240 is journaled to
the post 210.
[0088] FIG. 19 shows the inside of the upper shell 204 of the
cartridge adapter 200. The angled surface 206 is shown in opposite
orientational sense of the orientation of FIGS. 6 and 18. A hard
stop transverse lip 212 at the front end of the adapter 200 stops
the mini-cartridge 100 at its intended position within the adapter
200, while the angled surface 206 forces the cartridge to rest
against an opposite guide rail 215. An opening 213 in the rail 215
admits the leader guide actuator pawl mechanism 240. A front end
wall 214 has a major opening therein to permit the leader guide 190
to position the buckle 184 outwardly therethrough. A guide rail 216
on the same side of the shell 204 as the angled wall 206 also
guides the mini-cartridge 100 to its desired position. The wall 215
has a flared section 217 extending to the rear opening 207, while
the wall 216 has a flared section 218, also extending to the rear
opening 207.
[0089] With reference to FIGS. 20A and 20B, the lower shell 202 of
the cartridge adapter 200 defines a slot in the major bottom wall
for receiving the cartridge ring 136 of the mini-cartridge 100. One
edge 203 of the slotted opening is dimensioned to pass the notched
edge alignment feature 182 of the ring 136. This arrangement
prohibits the mini-cartridge 100 from being inserted into the
cartridge adapter 200 backwards. A cantilevered leaf spring 211
extends adjacently to the notched edge feature 182 and includes a
detent ball portion 213 which snap-locks the mini-cartridge 100
into the cartridge adapter 200 around the ring 136, as shown in
FIG. 20B, for example. A curved edge 219 of the bottom wall 202 is
adapted to be engaged by the alignment tab feature 180 which also
extends from the mini-cartridge lower ring 136.
[0090] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 18, the write-protect transfer
mechanism 220 preferably comprises a molded plastic part having a
rigid lever body portion 222 which extends from a hub forming a
journal at post 208 and has an intermediate angled sensor extension
224 for sensing the position of the write-protect flag 124 of the
mini-cartridge (see e.g. FIG. 7). A write protect indicator flag
portion 225 is formed at the distal end of the lever body portion
222 and mimics the position of the mini-cartridge write protect
mechanism 122 at an external write-protect window 46A in the same
position as the window 46 of the standardized conventional
cartridge 10. The write-protect transfer mechanism 220 is biased
toward the mini-cartridge write-protect window by a coil spring 227
which bears against the sidewall of the lower adapter shell 202 as
shown in FIGS. 6 and 18. The rigid lever body 222 has an angled
surface 229 between the sensor extension 224 and the flag portion
225 which angles away from the mini-cartridge housing in order to
permit the mini-cartridge 100 to be received and withdrawn from the
cartridge adapter 200 without presenting an insurmountable
obstruction.
[0091] The leader guide actuator pawl mechanism 240 functions
substantially as a hook which is spring biased by a spring 242
toward the elongated slot 108 of the mini-cartridge 100. The pawl
240 includes a dog-leg hook portion 244 which hooks the arm 199 of
the leader guide 190 as the mini-cartridge 100 is inserted into the
cartridge adapter 200. Since the location of the pawl 240 is fixed
by the location of pivot pin 210, as the cartridge 100 moves into
the adapter 200, the pawl 240 causes the leader guide to rotate to
the position shown in FIG. 18. The dog-leg hook portion 244 is
angled relative to the cartridge 100 such that the cartridge may be
inserted and withdrawn from the adapter 200 without
obstruction.
[0092] The reel-lock transfer mechanism 250 is shown in detail in
FIGS. 21A, 21B and 21C. Therein, the mechanism 250 is seen as
including two separate structural elements: a longitudinally
displaced link member 252 and a pivot lever 254. Both elements are
most preferably formed of a suitable plastic material. The link
member 252 has a beveled engagement face in a notch 255 which is
located to cover partially the opening 38A formed in the cartridge
adapter 200 in the same position as the opening 38 of the standard
tape cartridge 10. As was the case with the standard cartridge 10,
a release arm 68 enters the opening 38A and moves the link member
252 in a linear motion toward the front of the adapter 200, in the
direction indicated by the bold arrow D in FIG. 21A. This
displacement is resisted by a horseshoe-shaped live spring 256
having a distal end bearing against a narrow transverse side wall
face 258 of the lower shell 202 of the adapter 200.
[0093] As shown in FIGS. 21B and 21C, the link member 252 includes
a U-shaped portion 260 which engages a crank-pin 262 of the pivot
lever 254. The pivot lever 254 is journaled to the base 202 at a
journal post 256, and the crank pin 262 is laterally offset from
the journal post 256, such that a reel-lock release cam 258 rotates
into engagement with the face 146 of rear reel lock 128 via opening
109 in the cartridge lower shell 102 as arm 68 passes through
opening 3 8A, enters notch 255, engages a beveled surface 253 of
link member, and drives link member 252 forward.
[0094] To those skilled in the art, many changes and modifications
will be readily apparent from consideration of the foregoing
description of a preferred embodiment without departure from the
spirit of the present invention, the scope thereof being more
particularly pointed out by the following claims. For example, some
aspects and features of the present invention may readily be
adapted and applied to storage disk cartridges and storage disk
cartridge adapters, and the like. The descriptions herein and the
disclosures hereof are by way of illustration only and should not
be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention which
is more particularly pointed out by the following claims.
* * * * *