Precision belt-driven tape cartridge
OwnerDonald Stanleyinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A base plate for a belt-driven cartridge for recording tape includes a molded or cast base layer with integral mounting bosses and ribs on the upper surface of the base layer for rigidly supporting axles and tape guides in precise perpendicular alignment and selected elevations relative to the lower reference surface of the base layer. The integral ribs extend between raised bosses to enhance torsional and flexural and depressional rigidity of the base layer over the entire area within the peripheral boundaries thereof.
Claims14
A base plate for a tape cartridge comprising:
- a base layer having a lower reference surface and having a plurality of raised bosses integrally formed at selected locations on an upper surface thereof, and including a plurality of ribs integrally formed on the upper surface of the base layer between selected ones of the raised bosses;
- a pin positioned in each of selected ones of the raised bosses in perpendicular orientation relative to the lower reference surface;
- and
- a washer positioned about each of the pins on an upper surface of the associated raised boss at a selected elevation and in plane parallel orientation relative to the lower reference surface.
A method of fabricating a cartridge for a length of magnetic recording tape disposed to move along a tape path defined by tape guides between a pair of rotatable reels supported on a common base plate, the method comprising:
- forming a die cavity including a recess for forming a base layer of the base plate having a selected reference plane and including a plurality of depressions within the recess for forming bosses at selected locations at which the reels are to be rotatable, and including grooves in the recess between selected depressions for forming ribs therein between bosses;
- supporting axles in the depressions at perpendicular orientations to the reference plane;
- supporting washers about the axles at plane-parallel orientations and selected elevations relative to the reference plane;
- and
- filling the recess and the depressions and grooves and about the axles and washers with material in a fluid state capable of changing to a solid state for forming a base plate including integral bosses and ribs on a base layer and captivating the axles and washers in the bosses integrally formed in the base plate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.