Tape cartridge door with pseudo-head for maintaining tape tension
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsDon G. East, Steven L. Felde, Guillermo S. Robles
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tape cartridge access door includes a body having two flanges and a pseudo-head therebetween. In the open position, the access door permits a tape head to be mated with the tape in the cartridge. In the closed position, the body and flanges close openings in three adjacent walls of the tape cartridge. Also in the closed position, the pseudo-head occupies the space otherwise occupied by the tape head when the tape head is mated with the tape. The pseudo-head thus prevents the tape from being drawn taut straight when the access door is closed. The access door may pivot or slide between the open position and the closed position.
Claims19
A tape cartridge comprising:
- a housing:
- a first reel inside the housing;
- a second reel inside the housing;
- a tape having a first end wound upon the first reel and a second end wound upon the second reel;
- a door on the housing, the door movable between an open position and a closed position;
- and
- means on the door for preventing the tape from being drawn taut straight when the door is in the closed position.
A tape cartridge suitable for use in a tape drive including a tape head, the tape cartridge comprising:
- a housing;
- a first reel inside the housing;
- a second reel inside the housing;
- a first tape guide;
- a second tape guide;
- a tape having a first end wound upon the first reel and a second end wound upon the second reel;
- and
- a door on the housing, the door including a body having a first flange, a second flange, and a pseudo-head between the first flange and the second flange, the door movable between an open position and a closed position, the housing including openings in three adjacent walls thereof to permit the tape head to be mated with the tape, the body closing the opening in one of the adjacent walls of the housing when the door is in the closed position, the first flange closing the opening in a second one of the adjacent walls of the housing when the door is in the closed position, the second flange closing the opening in a third one of the adjacent walls of the housing when the door is in the closed position, the closed position causing the pseudo-head to occupy the space otherwise occupied by the tape head when the tape head is mated with the tape to prevent the tape from being drawn taut straight between the first tape guide and the second tape guide.
A tape drive and a tape cartridge suitable for use in the tape drive, the tape drive comprising:
- a mount for seating the tape cartridge thereon;
- and
- a tape head on the mount;
- the tape cartridge comprising:
- a housing;
- a first reel inside the housing;
- a second reel inside the housing;
- a tape having a first end wound upon the first reel and a second end wound upon the second reel;
- a door on the housing, the door movable between an open position and a closed position;
- and
- means on the door for preventing the tape from being drawn taut straight when the door is in the closed position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.