US 11,232,815 B2Granted

Multi-spool tape recording apparatus having removable mounts for supporting tape spool pairs

AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation

InventorsRobert Biskeborn, Hoodin Hamidi, Edwin Ralph Childers, Donald Charles Acosta

Life of this patent

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Abstract

An apparatus, in accordance with one approach, includes a receiving area configured to receive a plurality of mounts, each mount being configured to support at least one tape spool pair thereon. A magnetic head is configured to perform data operations on magnetic recording tapes of the tape spool pairs. A positioning mechanism is configured to selectively align the magnetic head to a selected one of the tape spool pairs. A product apparatus, in accordance with another approach, includes a mount having a tape spool pair thereon. The mount is configured to be inserted in a receiving area of an apparatus configured to receive a plurality of mounts.

Claims25

Dependent claims

An apparatus, comprising:

a receiving area configured to receive a plurality of mounts;
at least three of the mounts aligned in the receiving area such that an inner mount is sandwiched between outer mounts, each mount being configured to support at least one tape spool pair thereon;
a magnetic head configured to perform data operations on magnetic recording tapes of the tape spool pairs;
the inner mount having a notch therein for allowing the magnetic head to pass therethrough from one of the outer mounts toward the other outer mount in a direction parallel to rotational axes of the tape spools;
a positioning mechanism configured to selectively align the magnetic head to a selected one of the tape spool pairs;
and
an engagement mechanism configured to create a relative movement between the magnetic head and the magnetic recording tape of the selected tape spool pair for engaging the magnetic recording tape with the magnetic head in the absence of any change in a location of the selected tape spool pair in the receiving area.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/667,741Filed 29 Oct 2019
Published: US 2021/0125637 A129 Apr 2021
Granted: 25 Jan 2022
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

G11B 15/32
Driving record carriers by members acting directly or indirectly thereon: through the reels or cores on to which the record carrier is wound
G11B 23/037
Containers; Storing means both adapted to cooperate with the recording or reproducing means: single reels or spools
G11B 15/43
Driving; Starting; Stopping; Arrangements for control or regulation thereof: control or regulation of mechanical tension of record carrier, e.g.…
G11B 23/08757
Details: guiding means