Hybrid belt-driven data storage tape cartridge

A data storage tape cartridge comprising:

• a housing defining a head access window;
• first and second tape hubs rotatably mounted within the housing;
• a storage tape wound about the first and second tape hubs to form first and second tape packs thereabout;
• a drive roller rotatably mounted within the housing, wherein a lateral position of the drive roller relative to the housing is fixed;
• first and second corner rollers rotatably mounted within the housing;
• and
• a drive belt stretched about the drive roller, the first and second tape packs, and the first and second corner rollers;
• wherein the drive roller is aligned with the head access window such that upon engagement with a tape drive including a head, interaction between the head and the storage tape at the head access window impedes radial access to the drive roller.

A combination data storage tape cartridge and tape drive comprising:

• a data storage tape cartridge including:
• a housing defining a head access window,
• first and second tape hubs rotatably mounted within the housing,
• a storage tape wound about the first and second hubs to form first and second tape packs thereabout,
• a drive roller rotatably mounted within the housing, wherein a lateral position of the drive roller relative to the housing is fixed,
• first and second corner rollers rotatably maintained within the housing,
• a drive belt stretched about the drive roller, the first and second tape packs and the first and second corner rollers;
• and
• a tape drive including:
• a rotatably driveable splined drive chuck for engaging one of the drive roller and the first and second tape hubs;
• wherein the tape drive does not include a capstan for engaging the drive roller.

A data storage tape cartridge comprising:

• a housing defining a head access window;
• first and second tape hubs rotatably mounted within the housing;
• an elongated tape guide located adjacent the head access window and having a length greater than a length of the head access window;
• a storage tape wound about the first and second tape hubs, to form first and second tape packs thereabout, and guided across the head access window by the elongated tape guide;
• a drive roller rotatably mounted within the housing, wherein a lateral position of the drive roller relative to the housing is fixed;
• first and second corner rollers rotatably mounted within the housing;
• and
• a drive belt stretched about the drive roller, the first and second tape packs, and the first and second corner rollers.