US 5,474,253 A · Wedged reels in streaming tape drivers and tape cartridges

Abstract

The present invention is an apparatus for controlled, uniform stacking of tape thereon during read/write operations in tape drives to reduce lateral tape motion during read/write operations. The invention comprises a hub and two flanges that are located on opposite sides of the hub. The flanges have surfaces facing each other extending outwardly from the hub in diverging relationship with each other. The separation between the facing surfaces of the flanges increases from a minimum at a location adjacent to the hub to a maximum at the outer circumferential edge of the flanges in a radial direction extending outwardly from the axis of rotation. Further, the separation between the facing surfaces also increases from a minimum to a maximum along any path of equal distance around the axis of rotation, the location of minimum separation is generally opposite to the location of maximum separation. The minimum separation is such with respect to the width of the tape being spooled thereon as to be effective to ensuring uniform stacking of the tape around the hub as the tape is spooled.

Claims8

Dependent claims

A reel for spooling magnetic storage tape thereon comprising:

a hub for rotational mounting about an axis of rotation;
two flanges, the flanges being located on opposite sides of the hub and being in spaced apart relationship along the axis of rotation, surfaces of the flanges facing each other extending outwardly from the hub in diverging relationship with each other, separation between the facing surfaces of the flanges increasing from a minimum at a location adjacent to the hub to a maximum at the outer circumferential edge of the flanges in a radial direction extending outwardly from the axis of rotation, the separation between the facing surfaces further changes gradiently along a circular path centered on the axis of rotation, the location of minimum separation being generally opposite to the location of maximum separation, the minimum separation being such with respect to the width of the tape being spooled thereon as to ensure uniform stacking of the tape around the hub as the tape is spooled.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Wedged reels in streaming tape drivers and tape cartridges

Life of this patent

Wedged reels in streaming tape drivers and tape cartridges

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims8