U.S. patent application number 10/716257 was filed with the patent office on 2005-05-19 for apparatus and method for reversing tape wind direction.
Invention is credited to Aaron, Robert C., Anderson, James C., McAllister, Jeffrey S..
Application Number | 20050103913 10/716257 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34574383 |
Filed Date | 2005-05-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050103913 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Aaron, Robert C. ; et
al. |
May 19, 2005 |
Apparatus and method for reversing tape wind direction
Abstract
According to one embodiment, the present technique provides a
reel. The exemplary reel comprises a hub and a guide member coupled
to the hub. The guide member may be configured to guide magnetic
tape from a magnetic tape source to the reel. The guide member may
cooperate with the hub to form a surface for receiving magnetic
tape from the magnetic tape source. Additionally, the exemplary
reel may include a securing mechanism for securing the guide member
in the cooperating position with respect to the hub.
Inventors: |
Aaron, Robert C.; (Boise,
ID) ; McAllister, Jeffrey S.; (Boise, ID) ;
Anderson, James C.; (Boise, ID) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HEWLETT PACKARD COMPANY
P O BOX 272400, 3404 E. HARMONY ROAD
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ADMINISTRATION
FORT COLLINS
CO
80527-2400
US
|
Family ID: |
34574383 |
Appl. No.: |
10/716257 |
Filed: |
November 18, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
242/332.4 ;
242/332.7; G9B/15.092; G9B/15.134; G9B/23.025; G9B/23.086 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G11B 15/674 20130101;
G11B 15/67 20130101; G11B 23/037 20130101; G11B 23/26 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
242/332.4 ;
242/332.7 |
International
Class: |
G11B 015/67 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A reel comprising: a hub; a guide member is positionable with
respect to the hub such that the hub and the guide member cooperate
to form a surface for receiving the magnetic tape; and a securing
mechanism for releasably securing the position of the guide member
with respect to the hub.
2. The reel as recited in claim 1, comprising at least one flange
portion coupled to the hub, wherein the securing mechanism is
coupled to the at least one flange portion.
3. The reel as recited in claim 2, wherein the securing mechanism
includes a resilient member configured to bias an engagement
portion coupled to the resilient member into a corresponding
receiving portion located on the guide member.
4. The reel as recited in claim 1, wherein the securing mechanism
locks the guide member and the hub to a first position and unlocks
the guide member and the hub to a second position.
5. The reel as recited in claim 4, wherein the securing mechanism
comprises engageable tab and notch structures correspondingly
located on the hub and the guide member.
6. The reel as recited in claim 1, the securing mechanism comprises
a biasing member to secure the position of the guide member with
respect to the hub.
7. The reel as recited in claim 6, wherein the securing mechanism
engages the guide member to a hub in a first position and
disengages the guide member to the hub in a second position.
8. The reel as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the hub,
guide member, and the securing mechanism comprises magnetic
components.
9. A reel comprising: a hub; a guide member positionable with
respect to the hub such that the hub and the guide member cooperate
to form a surface for winding the magnetic tape; and a securing
mechanism configured to secure the guide member to the hub, such
that magnetic tape is windable onto the hub and the guide member in
a first direction of rotation and a second direction of rotation
while the guide member is secured to the hub.
10. The reel as recited in claim 9, wherein the securing mechanism
releasably engages the guide member to the hub.
11. The reel as recited in claim 9, wherein the securing mechanism
comprises at least one resilient member moveable to lock the
position of the guide member with respect to the hub.
12. The reel as recited in claim 11, wherein the securing mechanism
comprises a flange with a tab.
13. The reel as recited in claim 9, comprising a track portion
located on the flange portion and configured to direct the guide
member into engagement with the securing mechanism to form the
surface in cooperation with the hub.
14. The reel as recited in claim 9, wherein the first direction of
rotation is a clock-wise direction and the second direction of
rotation is a counter-clockwise direction.
15. A magnetic tape drive system comprising: a first reel having
magnetic tape wound around the first reel; a data head for
accessing magnetic tape for storage of data; a second reel, wherein
the second reel comprises: a hub; a guide member removable from the
hub and connected to the magnetic tape, wherein the guide member is
positionable with respect to the hub such that the hub and the
guide member cooperate to form a surface for receiving the magnetic
tape; and a securing mechanism for releasably securing the position
of the guide member with respect to the hub as the magnetic tape is
wound to the second reel from the first reel; and an actuation
mechanism configured to rotate the first reel in a first direction
to wind the magnetic tape onto the second reel.
16. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein the actuation
mechanism causes the first and second reels to rotate in the same
direction as the magnetic tape is wound to the second reel.
17. A method for winding magnetic tape, comprising: coupling a
guide member coupled to a first reel to magnetic tape located on a
second reel; positioning the guide member with respect to a hub
located on the first reel such that the guide member and hub
cooperate to form a surface for receiving the magnetic tape; and
winding the magnetic tape on the second reel onto the first reel
such that the first reel and the second reel rotate in a first
direction.
18. The method as recited in claim 17, comprising securing the
position of the guide member with respect to the hub.
19. The method as recited in claim 17, comprising guiding the
magnetic tape via a plurality of rollers.
20. The method as recited in claim 17, comprising rotating the
first and second reels in a clock-wise direction.
21. The method as recited in claim 17, comprising rotating the
first and second reels in a counter clock-wise direction.
22. A system comprising: means for coupling a guide member to
magnetic tape located on a first reel; means for securing the
position of the guide member with respect to a hub located on a
second reel such that the hub and guide member cooperate to form a
surface for receiving the magnetic tape, wherein the means for
securing facilitates winding of tape from the first reel to the
second reel in a first direction and a second direction; and means
for rotating the second reel in at least one of the first direction
and the second direction.
23. A method for winding magnetic tape, comprising: coupling a
guide member to magnetic tape located on a first reel; securing the
position of the guide member with respect to a hub located on a
second reel such that the hub and guide member cooperate to form a
surface for receiving the magnetic tape, wherein the means for
securing facilitates winding of the tape from the first reel to the
second reel in a first direction and a second direction; and
rotating the second reel in at least one of the first direction and
the second direction.
24. The method as recited in claim 23, comprising securing the
position of the guide member with respect to the hub.
25. The method as recited in claim 23, comprising guiding the
magnetic tape via a plurality of rollers.
26. The method as recited in claim 23, comprising rotating the
first and second reels in a clock-wise direction.
27. The method as recited in claim 23, comprising rotating the
first and second reels in a counter clock-wise direction.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] To store large amounts of data, magnetic tape drives and
magnetic tape are commonly employed. By way of example, a user may
insert a magnetic tape cartridge, which includes a cartridge reel
with magnetic tape wound around it, into the magnetic tape drive.
Subsequently, the magnetic tape from the cartridge reel may be
threaded through the drive and wound onto a take-up reel. As the
take-up reel rotates, it unwinds the magnetic tape from the
cartridge reel and winds the tape onto the take-up reel.
[0002] In some magnetic tape drives, the cartridge reel and the
take-up reel may rotate in opposite directions with respect to one
another during operation. For example, the cartridge reel may
rotate in a clockwise orientation, whereas the take-up reel may
rotate in a counter-clockwise orientation, or vice versa. Divergent
winding directions may cause inconsistent spooling or packing of
the magnetic tape on the take-up reel, for example. This
inconsistency may lead to tape spoking, which are radial ripples on
the surface of the wound tape. In turn, tape spoking may cause
lateral motion of the tape as it is routed through the drive,
leading to edge damage of the tape. Edge damage may lead to loss of
data and a reduction in the performance of the tape drive.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0003] FIG. 1 is a representation of an exemplary magnetic tape
drive and tape cartridge in an unengaged configuration, in
accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention;
[0004] FIG. 2 is a representation of the exemplary magnetic tape
drive of FIG. 1 in an initial winding configuration, in accordance
with certain embodiments of the present invention;
[0005] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a take-up reel of the
magnetic tape drive of FIG. 2 along line 3-3, in accordance with
certain embodiments of the present invention;
[0006] FIG. 4 is a representation of the exemplary magnetic tape
drive of FIG. 4 in an operational configuration, in accordance with
certain embodiments of the present invention;
[0007] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an exemplary guide member in
an uncoupled configuration with respect to a magnetic tape, in
accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention;
and
[0008] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the exemplary guide member
of FIG. 5 in a coupled configuration with respect to the magnetic
tape, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS
[0009] According to one embodiment, the present invention provides
a take-up reel for magnetic tape. The take-up reel is operable in
both clockwise and counter-clockwise directions. The exemplary
take-up reel comprises an arcuate hub having a flattened portion
for receiving a half-moon shaped guide member that is configured to
guide and draw magnetic tape from a source reel. When appropriately
positioned, the hub and the guide member may cooperate to form a
substantially continuous surface for winding magnetic tape from the
source reel onto the take-up reel. The exemplary take-up reel also
includes a mechanism for securing the cooperating position of the
guide member with respect to the hub. By securing the guide member,
the magnetic tape may be wound onto the take-up reel in either a
clockwise direction or a counter-clockwise direction. Moreover, the
securing mechanism facilitates rotation of the source reel and the
take-up reel in the same direction during operation. For example,
the source reel and the take-up reel both may rotate in a clockwise
direction during operation of the exemplary tape drive. Such
coordinated rotation of the source reel and take-up reel may
improve the packing of the magnetic tape on the take up reel and
also may reduce the occurrence of disturbances in the tape, such as
tape spoking and pack bumps.
[0010] Turning to the figures, FIG. 1 represents an exemplary tape
drive assembly 10 for accessing and storing data on magnetic tape.
The exemplary tape drive assembly 10 may receive an ejectable tape
cartridge 12, which includes magnetic tape 14 wound around a source
reel 16. The cartridge 12 may be a self-contained unit that houses
the source reel 16 and the magnetic tape 14. Accordingly, a user
may insert a cartridge 12 with blank magnetic tape 14 into the tape
drive assembly 10. Alternatively, the user may insert a cartridge
12 with data already stored on the magnetic tape 14 for reading by
the tape drive assembly 10. Upon completion of writing data to
and/or reading data from the magnetic tape 14, the drive assembly
10 may rewind the magnetic tape 14 onto the source reel, as
discussed further below. Moreover, the tape drive assembly 10 may
eject the rewound source reel, also as discussed further below. To
aid in guidance of the magnetic tape 14 through the tape drive
assembly 10, the magnetic tape 14 may include a leader pin 18
located at the free end of the magnetic tape 14, as discussed
further below.
[0011] To access the magnetic tape 14 for the storage and retrieval
of data, the tape drive assembly 10 may include one or more
magnetic data heads 20. The data head 20 may communicate with a
computer device 22, such as a processor-based laptop computer, a
desktop computer, or a server, via a communication port 24.
Moreover, the tape drive assembly 10, particularly the data head
20, may communicate with a network, such as a local area network
(LAN), a wide-area network (WAN), or a storage area network (SAN).
In the exemplary tape drive assembly 10, the data head 20 reads
and/or writes data on the magnetic tape 14 as it is drawn across
the data head 20, as discussed further below.
[0012] The exemplary tape drive assembly 10 includes a take-up reel
26 that draws (i.e., unwinds) magnetic tape 14 from the source reel
16. As the magnetic tape 14 is unwound from the source reel 16, the
magnetic tape 14 is wound onto the take-up reel 26. The exemplary
take-up reel 26 includes a pair of disc-shaped flanges 28 (see FIG.
3) separated by a hub 30, which is shown in dashed line in FIG. 1.
The exemplary hub 30 has a generally arcuate perimeter 32 that
intersects with a flattened region 34. As discussed further below,
the flattened region 34 of the hub 30 may interact with a guide
member 38 to form a continuous surface for receiving and winding
the magnetic tape 14 onto the take-up reel 26.
[0013] The exemplary guide member 38 is a half-moon shaped
structure configured to engage with the leader pin 18 located on
the free end of the magnetic tape 14. The guide member 38 may be
coupled to the hub 30 by a leader tape 40. The leader tape 40 may
be similar to the magnetic tape 14 in shape and consistency.
Additionally, the leader tape 40 may be pre-threaded through the
path of travel for the magnetic tape 14 between the source reel 16
and the take-up reel 26. That is, the leader tape 40 may be
pre-threaded to pass across the data head 20 and rollers 41, which
may maintain tension in the leader tape 40 and magnetic tape 14 and
may facilitate directional transition of the leader tape 40 and the
magnetic tape 14 during the operation of the tape drive assembly
10. In FIG. 1, it should be noted that the portion of the leader
tape 40 hidden by the flange 28 (i.e., located behind the flange
28) is illustrated in dashed line. Additionally, the guide member
38 may include recessed surfaces 42 configured to engage with a
securing mechanism 44 located on the take-up reel 26, as discussed
further below.
[0014] To initiate a winding process, an engagement mechanism 46
may direct the guide member 38 towards the leader pin 18, as
represented by directional arrow 48. As discussed further below, a
notched region 50 located on the guide member 38 may grasp the
leader pin 18 upon abutment of the two structures, thereby coupling
the magnetic tape 14 and the source reel 16 to the take-up reel 26.
Accordingly, by rotating the take-up reel 26 in a counter-clockwise
direction, as represented by directional arrow 52, the guide member
38 begins to pull on the magnetic tape 14. The tension in the
magnetic tape 14 being pulled causes the source reel 16 to rotate
in a clockwise direction, as represented by directional arrow 54.
The exemplary tape drive assembly 10 may include a take-up reel
actuator, such as an electric motor, configured to rotate the
take-up reel 26 in the desired directions.
[0015] During the winding process, the leader tape 40 winds around
the arcuate perimeter 32 of the hub 30 as well as the flattened
region 34 of the hub 30. As the leader tape 40 is wound around the
hub 32, the leader tape 40 draws the guide member 38 toward the
take-up reel 26. Because of the pre-threading of the leader tape
40, the guide member 38 travels a path across the rollers 18 and
the data head 20 towards the take-up reel 26. Moreover, because the
guide member 38 is coupled to the magnetic tape 14 via the leader
pin 18, the magnetic tape 14 is also drawn along this path towards
the take-up reel 26. The leader tape 40 may be sized to position
the guide member 38 onto the flattened region 34 of the hub 30 when
the leader tape 40 is almost, if not completely, wound around the
hub 30. That is, the length of the leader tape 40 places the flat
portion of the half-moon shaped guide member 38 against the
flattened region 34 of the hub. Accordingly, the arcuate perimeter
32 of the hub and the arcuate portion of the half-moon shaped guide
member 38 may cooperate to form a substantially continuous surface
for receiving the magnetic tape 14 during the winding process, as
illustrated in FIG. 2. Indeed, this positioning of the hub 30 and
the guide member 38 may be accomplished by coordinating the length
of the leader tape with the circumference of the guide member
38.
[0016] With FIG. 2 in mind, FIG. 3. illustrates that the securing
mechanism 44 may releasably secure the position of the guide member
38 with respect to the hub 30. By way of example, the securing
mechanism 44 may include tab members 56, which interact with the
correspondingly shaped recessed regions 42 located on the guide
member 38 to releasably secure the position of the guide member 38
with respect to the hub 30. The securing mechanism 44 may also
include resilient members 58 located in flange recesses 60. The
resilient members 58 may couple to the tab members 56 through
access apertures 59 located in the flanges 28. Alternatively, the
tab members may be located on the guide member 38 and the
corresponding recessed regions may be formed in the resilient
members 58. The resilient members may bias the tabbed portions 56
into engagement with the recessed regions of the guide member 38.
The resilient member 58 and the tab members 56 may be integral with
respect to one another or may be an assembly of parts. The
resilient members 58 also may facilitate the release of the guide
member 38 during the unwinding process and/or the ejection phase,
as discussed further below. As another example, the securing
mechanism 44 may include corresponding tab and notch structures
located on the hub 30 and guide member 38. As yet a further
example, the hub, the guide member, and/or the securing mechanism
44 may comprises magnetic components, which may be electromagnetic
in nature, to secure the position of the guide member 38 with
respect to the hub 30. Indeed, any suitable securing mechanism for
securing the position of the guide member 38 with respect to the
hub 30 may be used.
[0017] To ensure seating of the guide member 38 with respect to the
hub 30 and to ensure engagement of the securing mechanism with the
guide member 38, the take-up reel actuator may rotate the take-up
reel 26 a small number of revolutions (e.g., four revolutions) in
the counter-clockwise direction 52. This limited rotation may cause
an initial amount of magnetic tape 14 to wind around the hub 30 and
guide member 38, thereby compressing the two structures with
respect to one another.
[0018] Once the guide member 38 has been properly seated and
secured, the exemplary tape drive assembly 10 may begin a setting
process, as illustrated in FIG. 4. During the initial phases of the
setting process, the take-up reel actuator may rotate the take-up
reel 26 in a clockwise direction, as represented by directional
arrow 62. This initial clockwise rotation 62 causes the magnetic
tape 14 wound around the hub 30 and guide member 38 to unwind. To
accommodate for the slack in the magnetic tape 14 caused by this
unwinding and to maintain tension in the magnetic tape 14, the
exemplary tape drive assembly 10 may include a source reel
actuator, which causes the source reel 16 to rotate in the
counter-clockwise direction, as represented by directional arrow
64. At the conclusion of the initial phase of the setting process,
the magnetic tape is unwound from the guide member 38 and hub 30.
The securing mechanism 44 may prevent movement of the guide member
38 induced by the tension in the magnetic tape 14. That is, the
tension in the magnetic tape 14 during the setting process fails to
uncouple the guide member 38 from the securing mechanism 44.
Accordingly, the hub 30 and the guide member 38 remain in
cooperation with one another to receive magnetic tape 14.
Additionally, at the conclusion of the of the setting process, the
source reel actuator may disengage with respect to the source reel
16, thereby allowing the source reel 16 to rotate freely and in
response to the rotation of the take-up reel.
[0019] The exemplary tape drive mechanism 10 then may enter begin
an operational process. During this process, the take-up reel
actuator may rotate the magnetic tape in the clockwise direction
62. Accordingly, the magnetic tape 14 winds around the hub 30 and
guide member 38 in a clockwise direction 62 as well. The winding of
the magnetic tape 14 onto to the take-up reel 26 causes magnetic
tape 14 to be drawn off of the source reel 26 in a clockwise
direction, as represented by directional arrow 66. Thus, the
take-up reel 26 and the source reel 16 rotate in the same
direction. That is, unwinding of magnetic tape 14 from the source
reel 16 and winding of magnetic tape 14 onto the take-up reel occur
via rotation of the source reel 16 and the take-up reel 26 in the
same direction.
[0020] Rotation of the take-up reel 26 and the source reel 16 in
the same direction may be desired in some embodiments. For example,
a tighter tape pack may be achieved because the orientation of the
magnetic layer on the magnetic tape 14 now face away from the
center of the reel on both the source reel 16 and the take-up reel
26. Additionally, when a tighter tape pack is achieved, the
likelihood of damage to the magnetic tape 14 due to lateral
movement of the magnetic tape 14 is reduced. For example, a tighter
tape pack may mitigate the likelihood of damage caused by lateral
movement of the magnetic tape 14 into the flanges 28 of the take-up
reel 26. A reduction in lateral movement of the magnetic tape 14
may lead to better data integrity and may increase the life
expectancy of the magnetic tape 14. Furthermore, by rotating the
take-up reel 26 and the source reel 16 in the same direction, the
likelihood of tape spoking may be reduced. Tape spoking appears as
radial ripples in the magnetic tape 14 and may be caused by
deformation of the edges of the magnetic tape 14 due to a large
number of wind and rewind cycles.
[0021] During the operational process, it may be necessary to
access data located at a particular location on the magnetic tape
14. Accordingly, the magnetic tape 14 may be wound or unwound from
the take-up reel 26. That is, the magnetic tape may travel across
in the data head 20 in both forward and reverse directions, as
represented by directional arrows 68. To wind the tape onto the
take-up reel (i.e., the forward direction), the take-up reel
actuator may rotate the take-up reel 26 in the clockwise direction
62, thereby drawing and unwinding the magnetic tape 14 from the
source reel 16 and rotating the source reel 16 in the clockwise
direction 66. Alternatively, to wind the tape onto the source reel
(i.e., the reverse direction), the source reel actuator may rotate
the source reel in the counter-clockwise direction 64, thereby
drawing and unwinding magnetic tape from the take-up reel 26 and
rotating the take-up reel in a counter clockwise direction, as
represented by directional arrow 70. In either event, the take-up
reel 26 and the source reel 16 rotate in the same direction.
[0022] To eject the tape cartridge 12 from the tape drive assembly
10, it may be desirable to rewind all of the magnetic tape 14 back
onto the source reel 16, i.e., a rewind process. For example, if
the appropriate data has been stored on the magnetic tape 14 or if
the appropriate data has been accessed from the magnetic tape 14,
it may be advantageous to remove (i.e., eject) the tape cartridge
12 from the tape drive assembly 10. Accordingly, the source reel
actuator may rotate the source reel 16 in the counter-clockwise
direction 64, thereby unwinding magnetic tape 14 from the take-up
reel and rewinding it onto the source reel 16. Rotation of the
source reel 16 in the counter-clockwise direction 64 causes the
take-up reel to rotate in the counter-clockwise direction 70 as
well.
[0023] Near the conclusion of the rewind process, the source reel
16 may have unwound essentially all of the magnetic tape 14 off of
the take-up reel. Accordingly, the continued rotation of the source
reel 16 may increase the tension in the magnetic tape 14, thereby
releasing the guide member 38 from the securing mechanism 44. For
example, the tension in the magnetic tape 14 may overcome the
biasing forces of the resilient members 58 (see FIG. 3), thereby
disengaging the tab members 56 (see FIG. 3) from the recessed
regions 42 (see FIG. 3) located on the guide member 38. Once
released, the guide member 38 may return along the magnetic tape
path (i.e., across the rollers 41 and data head 20) to the
engagement mechanism. Advantageously, the return trip rethreads the
leader tape 40 with respect to the rollers 41 and the data head 20.
Additionally, the engagement mechanism 46 may recapture the guide
member 38. By restraining the guide member 38, the continued
rotation of the source reel 16 may cause the tension in the
magnetic tape 14 to increase. The increased tension in the magnetic
tape 14 may cause the leader pin 18 to disengage from the notched
region 50 of the guide member, thereby uncoupling the source reel
16 and the take-up reel 26. Accordingly, a tape cartridge ejection
mechanism may eject the tape cartridge 12 from the tape drive
assembly 10. Moreover, the engagement mechanism 46 may reset the
guide member 38 for engagement with a leader pin from a new
cartridge.
[0024] Turning to FIGS. 5 and 6, perspective views of an exemplary
guide member 38 are illustrated. Specifically, FIG. 5 illustrates
the guide member 38 prior to coupling with the leader pin 18 of the
magnetic tape 14 with the notched regions 50 of the guide member
38. As discussed above, the engagement mechanism 46 (see FIG. 1)
may drive the guide member 38 towards the leader pin 18. Guide
surfaces 72 located in the notched regions 50 of the guide member
may interact with the leader pin 18 to guide the leader pin 18 into
a releasably engaged position with respect to the guide member.
Focusing on FIG. 6, the figure illustrates the exemplary guide
member 38 in an engaged position with respect to the leader pin 18.
As illustrated, a catch portion 74 extends from the notched region
to maintain the engagement between the leader pin 18 and the guide
member 38. By way of example, if a sufficient amount of tension is
applied to the leader pin by the rotation of the source reel 16
(see FIG. 4), the leader pin may disengage from the guide member
38. That is, the leader pin may overcome the resistance applied by
the catch portion 74. Advantageously, this releasablity facilitates
uncoupling of the leader pin 18 from the guide member 38 during the
rewind process, as discussed above.
* * * * *