Low profile, high-capacity streaming tape drive

A low profile, high-capacity tape drive system of the rack-mounted type, comprising:

• a main base plate;
• a blower;
• a take-up reel, said take-up reel having a central hub;
• hub means for receiving a supply reel;
• means including a first brushless DC motor for driving said take-up reel;
• a second brushless DC motor for driving said hub means and an associated supply reel.
• each of said motors having a stator, a permanent magnet rotor, and a central drive shaft;
• and having an axial height of less than three inches;
• means for mounting said motors in immediate proximity below said main base plate;
• and
• means including a tape drive enclosure for automatically threading tape from a supply reel mounted on said supply reel hub onto said take-up reel, said threading means including air ducts in immediate proximity to the upper and lower surfaces of said base plate for directing air from said blower to blow the end of a tape from a supply reel into engagement with the hub of said take-up reel.

A low profile, high-capacity tape drive system of the rack-mounted type, comprising:

• a main base plate;
• a blower;
• a take-up reel, said take-up reel having a central hub;
• hub means for receiving a supply reel;
• means including a first brushless DC motor for driving said take-up reel;
• a second brushless DC motor for driving said hub means and an associated supply reel;
• a third brushless DC motor for rotating said blower;
• each of said motors having a stator, a permanent magnet rotor, and a central drive shaft;
• said main base plate having first, second and third short, downwardly extending, integral tubes for mounting said first, second and third motors;
• means for mounting the stator of each of said motors on the outer surface of one of said tubes;
• bearing means for supporting the drive shaft of each of said motors from the inner surface of one of said tubes;
• means for mounting each of said permanent magnet rotors from the lower end of said drive shaft, and in coupling proximity with said stator;
• means including a tape drive enclosure for automatically threading tape from a supply reel mounted on said supply reel hub onto said take-up reel, said threading means including air ducts adjacent at least one surface of said base plate for directing air from said blower to blow the end of a tape from a supply reel into engagement with the hub of said take-up reel;
• and
• said hub of said take-up reel having openings in it coupled to the intake of said blower, and constituting means for holding the end of the tape onto said hub of said take-up reel.

A low profile, high-capacity tape drive system of the rack-mounted tape, comprising:

• a main base plate;
• a blower;
• a take-up reel, said take-up reel having a central hub;
• hub means for receiving a supply reel;
• means including a first brushless DC motor for driving said take-up reel;
• a second brushless DC motor for driving said hub means and an associated supply reel;
• a third brushless DC motor for rotating said blower;
• each of said motors having a stator, a permanent magnet rotor, and a central drive shaft and having an axial height of less than three inches;
• means for mounting said motors in immediate proximity to and below said main base plate;
• and
• means including enclosing structure for automatically threading tape from a supply reel mounted on said supply reel hub onto said take-up reel, said threading means including air ducts on the upper and lower surfaces thereof for directing air from said blower to blow the end of a tape from a supply reel into engagement with the hub of said take-up reel.