Apparatus and method for de-coupling grabber from take-up reel
AssigneeSeagate Technology LLC
InventorsJohn Anthony Hamming, Robert Ralph Heinze
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of loading a tape from a single reel tape cartridge into a take-up reel. A guide arm decouples from a hub filler as the hub filler is moved into a take-up reel. This decoupling eliminates problems that occur from small misalignments of the hub filler axle with the axis of the take-up reel. The axle and drive arm are decoupled from the hub filler by the axle being lifted out of the hub filler upon insertion of the hub filler into the take-up reel, allowing for the take-up reel to rotate freely during winding and unwinding of the tape without interference from the axle.
Claims21
A tape loading device comprising:
- a take-up reel;
- and
- means for loading the take-up reel with tape from a tape cartridge.
An apparatus for loading a take-up reel with tape from a tape cartridge comprising:
- a hub filler for transporting an end of a tape from the tape cartridge to the take-up reel, wherein the hub filler travels along a guide from the tape cartridge into the take-up reel;
- and
- an axle for moving the hub filler into the guide, wherein the axle decouples from the hub filler after the hub filler is moved inside the take-up reel.
A method for loading a take-up reel with tape comprising the steps of:
- driving a hub filler into a take-up reel with a guide arm;
- and
- decoupling the hub filler from the guide arm after the hub filler has completely entered the take-up reel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.