Tape drive system with engagement control feature

A method of operatively engaging a drive hub of a tape drive mechanism with a tape reel of a data storage tape cartridge, the drive hub and the tape reel each including a circular ring of teeth projecting in a direction generally parallel to an axis of rotation thereof, the method comprising the steps of:

• engaging the teeth of the drive hub with the teeth of the tape reel;
• contacting an engagement surface of the tape reel with an engagement feature of the drive hub, including contacting a plurality of projections of the tape reel with the engagement feature of the drive hub;
• and
• preventing a tip of the teeth of the drive hub from contacting a base of the teeth of the tape reel by contact of the engagement surface with the engagement feature.

A data storage tape cartridge, comprising:

• a housing;
• at least one tape reel rotatably disposed within the housing, the tape reel having an axis of rotation and including:
• a pair of spaced flanges,
• a hub extending between the spaced flanges,
• a circular ring of teeth operatively associated with the spaced flanges and the hub to transmit rotational force thereto, the circular ring of teeth projecting in a direction generally parallel to the axis of rotation,
• an engagement surface spaced radially from the circular ring of teeth, the engagement surface defining a datum plane of the tape reel, and
• a plurality of projections spaced radially from the circular ring of teeth and projecting in the direction generally parallel to the axis of rotation, each of the projections having a surface constituting a portion of the engagement surface;
• and
• storage tape maintained by the at least one tape reel.

A data storage tape drive system, comprising:

• a data storage tape cartridge, the data storage tape cartridge comprising:
• a housing,
• a tape reel rotatably disposed within the housing, the tape reel including a circular ring of teeth projecting in a direction generally parallel to an axis of rotation of the tape reel and an engagement surface spaced radially from the circular ring of teeth, the engagement surface including a plurality of projections projecting in the direction generally parallel to the axis of rotation of the tape reel, and
• storage tape maintained by the tape reel;
• and
• a tape drive mechanism selectively engaged with the data storage tape cartridge, the tape drive mechanism comprising:
• a drive hub including a circular ring of teeth projecting in a direction generally parallel to an axis of rotation of the drive hub and an engagement feature spaced radially from the circular ring of teeth of the drive hub,
• wherein the engagement feature of the drive hub is engaged with the engagement surface of the tape reel when the drive hub is operatively engaged with the tape reel to establish a datum plane of the tape reel relative to the drive hub.