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US 6,204,994 B1Granted
Door opener for magnetic tape data cartridge
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Company
InventorsJonathan D. Bassett, Gregory A. Standiford
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for opening a door in a magnetic data tape cartridge. As a tape cartridge is inserted into a drive, a moveable plunger has a first surface that contacts an extension on the door, opening the door. As the tape cartridge is inserted further into the drive, the cartridge contacts a second surface on the plunger, moving the plunger rearward into the drive. Contacting the second surface for moving the plunger rearward reduces wear and prevents binding.
Claims6
An apparatus for opening a door in a tape cartridge, the door having an extension, the apparatus comprising:
- a plunger having first and second contacting surfaces, the plunger moveable linearly along a first direction;
- the plunger positioned relative to the tape cartridge such that when the tape cartridge is moved in the first direction towards the plunger, the first contacting surface on the plunger contacts the extension on the door of the tape cartridge and opens the door;
- and
- the second contacting surface on the plunger positioned such that when the tape cartridge is moved further in the first direction after the extension contacts the first contacting surface, the tape cartridge contacts the second contacting surface, moving the plunger in the first direction.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.