US 4,284,250 AGranted

Tape drive having an improved reel latch

AssigneeTelex Computer Products, Inc.

InventorsIvo T. Plachy, Jack W. Clymer, Richard W. Pembroke

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Abstract

A tape drive hub having an improved reel latch, a hub body having a plurality of radial openings communicating with a reel receiving cylindrical surface, a tapered locking member carried axially by the body removable from an unlocked to a locked position, and an actuator received in each of the radial openings, each of the actuators being formed of a cylindrical body having a piston at the outer end and means at the inner end for engaging the locking member, and each actuator cylindrical body including a preloaded spring engaging the piston so that when the locking member is axially advanced into the locked position, each cylindrical body is pushed outwardly to engage the piston end with a reel positioned in the hub, the force of engagement being determined by the preload on each of the actuator springs.

Claims5

Dependent claims

A tape drive hub having an improved reel latch for a reel having an axial opening therein defined by an internal cylindrical surface, the tape drive hub being rotatable about its axis for driving the reel, comprising:

(a) a hub body supported for rotation about its axis and having a cylindrical surface of dimension to slidably receive a reel thereon, the body having a plurality of spaced apart, radial openings therein communicating with the hub cylindrical surface;
(b) an actuator received in each said hub body radial opening, each actuator comprising:
(1) cylindrical body slidably received in a hub body radial opening, the cylindrical body having an outer end and an inner end, the outer end having an axial recess therein;
(2) a piston slidably received in said recess in said cylindrical body having a forward end and rearward end, a portion of the piston forward end extending beyond said outer end of said body;
(3) a spring received in said recess in said body urging said piston in the direction towards the cylindrical body outer end;
and
(4) means retaining said piston in said recess in said cylindrical body while providing limited axial movement of the piston;
and
(c) a locking member carried by and axially displaceable to said hub body engaging the inner end of each of said actuators, the locking member having a locking position in which each of said actuators is displaced outwardly.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.