# US 5,703,741 A · Belt-driven tape cartridge with tape vibration damping pin > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,703,741 A - Document ID: US5703741A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/711,530 - Filed: 1996-09-10 - Granted: 1997-12-30 - Earliest claimed: 1996-09-10 - Assignees: Gigatek Memory Systems - Inventors: Andrew Wrobel; Leonard C. Badour - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5703741A ## CPC - G11B 23/08778: {Driving features, e.g. belt} - G11B 23/08757: {Guiding means} - G11B: INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER (recording measured values in a way that does not require playback through a transducer G01D9/00; recording or playback apparatus using mechanically marked tape, e.g. punched paper tape, or using unit records, e.g. punched or magnetically marked cards G06K; transferring data from one type of record carrier to another G06K1/18; circuits for coupling output of reproducer to radio receiver H04B1/20; gramophone pick-ups or like acoustic electromechanical transducers or circuits therefor H04R) ## Abstract A belt-driven tape cartridge that includes at least one vibration damping pin. The cartridge comprises a base plate, two spools and various tape path members, such as roller guides, tension pins, and the like. The vibration damping pin is mounted on the base plate along an otherwise uninterrupted tape run between two tape path members. A characteristic of the damping pin that distinguishes it from other tape path members is that it does not alter the direction of the tape path significantly (if at all), i.e., any wrap angle is minimal; its sole function is to stabilize the tape. Furthermore, the wrap angle remains constant during operation. In embodiments including more than one damping pin, the pins may be distributed on both sides of the tape or all on the same. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An improvement in a tape cartridge having a base plate, a plurality of tape path members mounted on a surface of said base plate, two spools rotatably mounted on said surface of said base plate, a plurality of belt guides, a flexible belt extending around said belt guides, and a magnetic tape threadably extending around said tape path members between said spools, the improvement comprising: a damping pin disposed generally along a length of tape between a pair of said tape path members and fixedly mounted to said base plate perpendicularly to said surface; said damping pin at all times having a constant wrap angle with respect to said tape; and said damping pin at no time contacting said tape at a line deviating more than 0.020 inches from a direct tape run between said pair of tape path members in a direction perpendicular to said direct tape run. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The improvement in a tape cartridge recited in claim 1, wherein said length of tape between said pair of tape path members is at least 2.0 inches. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The improvement in a tape cartridge recited in claim 1, wherein said damping pin is disposed at a distance from a midpoint of said direct tape run that is not greater than 10% of said direct tape run. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The improvement in a tape cartridge recited in claim 1, wherein said damping pin is not in contact with said tape when said tape is static. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The improvement in a tape cartridge recited in claim 1, wherein said damping pin is in contact with said tape when said tape is static. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The improvement in a tape cartridge recited in claim 5, wherein said damping pin contacts an uncoated side of said tape. ### Claim 7 An improvement in a tape cartridge having a base plate, a plurality of tape path members mounted on a surface of said base plate, two spools rotatably mounted on said surface of said base plate, a plurality of belt guides, a flexible belt extending around said belt guides, and a magnetic tape threadably extending around said tape path members between said spools, the improvement comprising: a plurality of damping pins disposed generally along a length of tape between a pair of said tape path members and fixedly mounted to said base plate perpendicularly to said surface; and said plurality of damping pins at all times having constant wrap angles with respect to said tape. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The improvement in a tape cartridge recited in claim 7, wherein said wrap angles do not exceed 15 degrees. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The improvement in a tape cartridge recited in claim 7, wherein each damping pin along a direct tape run between said pair of tape path members is within a distance from at least one other damping pin equal to not less than approximately 20% of said direct tape run. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The improvement in a tape cartridge recited in claim 7, wherein said plurality of damping pins includes a first damping pin disposed on a first side of said tape and a second damping pin disposed on a second side of said tape. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The improvement in a tape cartridge recited in claim 7, wherein said damping pin at no time contacts said tape at a line deviating more than 0.020 inches from a direct tape run between said pair of tape path members in a direction perpendicular to said direct tape run. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The improvement in a tape cartridge recited in claim 7, wherein a direct tape run between said pair of tape path members is at least 2.0 inches. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The improvement in a tape cartridge recited in claim 7, wherein each said damping pin is disposed at a distance from a midpoint of a direct tape run between said pair of tape path members that is not greater than 10% of said direct tape run. ### Claim 14 An improvement in a tape cartridge having a base plate, a plurality of tape path members mounted on a surface of said base plate, two spools rotatably mounted on said surface of said base plate, a plurality of belt guides, a flexible belt extending around said belt guides, and a magnetic tape threadably extending around said tape path members between said spools, the improvement comprising: a damping pin disposed generally along a length of tape of at least 2.0 inches between a pair of said tape path members and fixedly mounted to said base plate perpendicularly to said surface; said damping pin at all times having a constant wrap angle with respect to said tape. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The improvement in a tape cartridge recited in claim 14, wherein said damping pin at no time contacts said tape at a line deviating more than 0.020 inches from a direct tape run between said pair of tape path members in a direction perpendicular to said direct tape run. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The improvement in a tape cartridge recited in claim 14, wherein said damping pin is disposed at a distance from a midpoint of a direct tape run between said pair of tape path members that is not greater than 10% of said direct tape run. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The improvement in a tape cartridge recited in claim 14, wherein said damping pin is not in contact with said tape when said tape is static. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The improvement in a tape cartridge recited in claim 14, wherein said damping pin is in contact with said tape when said tape is static. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The improvement in a tape cartridge recited in claim 18, wherein said damping pin contacts an uncoated side of said tape. ### Claim 20 An improvement in a tape cartridge having a base plate, a plurality of tape path members mounted on a surface of said base plate, two spools rotatably mounted on said surface of said base plate, a plurality of belt guides, a flexible belt extending around said belt guides, and a magnetic tape threadably extending around said tape path members between said spools, the improvement comprising: a damping pin disposed generally along a length of tape between a pair of said tape path members and fixedly mounted to said base plate perpendicularly to said surface; said damping pin at all times having a constant wrap angle with respect to said tape not exceeding 15 degrees. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The improvement in a tape cartridge recited in claim 20, wherein said length of tape between said pair of tape path members is at least 2.0 inches. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The improvement in a tape cartridge recited in claim 20, wherein said damping pin is disposed at a distance from a midpoint of said direct tape run that is not greater than 10% of said direct tape run. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The improvement in a tape cartridge recited in claim 20, wherein said damping pin is not in contact with said tape when said tape is static. ### Claim 24 (depends on 20) The improvement in a tape cartridge recited in claim 20, wherein said damping pin is in contact with said tape when said tape is static.