Tape reel assembly with washer guard for a data storage tape cartridge

A data storage tape cartridge comprising:

• a housing defining an enclosure;
• at least one tape reel assembly disposed within the housing, the tape reel assembly including:
• a hub ring defining a tape-winding surface and forming a central opening,
• an engagement section extending substantially radially inwardly relative to the tape-winding surface and including an inner surface, an outer surface and an annular flange extending substantially axially from the outer surface, the annular flange defining an axial passage,
• a metallic ring secured to the outer surface of the engagement section, the metallic ring having an inner diameter greater than a diameter of the axial passage such that the annular flange extends axially within the inner diameter of the metallic ring,
• opposing flanges extending radially from opposite ends of the hub ring, respectively;
• and
• a storage tape wound about the tape-winding surface.

A tape reel assembly for use with a data storage tape cartridge, the tape reel assembly comprising:

• a hub body including:
• a hub ring defining a tape-winding surface and opposing first and second ends,
• an engagement section extending substantially radially inwardly relative to the tape winding surface adjacent the first end, the engagement section including an inner surface and an outer surface,
• wherein the hub body forms a central opening for receiving a brake body, the central opening being accessible through an axial passage in the engagement section;
• a metallic ring secured to the outer surface of the engagement section such that the metallic ring is generally axially aligned with the central opening, the metallic ring forming leading and trailing inner edges, the leading inner edge being positioned adjacent the engagement section;
• a guard encompassing the leading inner edge of the metallic ring, the guard configured to substantially prevent a drive chuck post from contacting the leading inner edge of the metallic ring upon insertion into the central opening;
• and
• first and second flanges extending radially outwardly from the first and second ends of the hub ring, respectively.