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US 6,563,670 B2Granted
Data storage tape cartridge with guide having wear pattern
AssigneeImation Corp.
InventorsBrian D. Brong, Christopher J. Zwettler
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A data storage tape cartridge (10) includes two tape guides (23, 24). The tapes guides (23, 24) have a foil (43, 143, 243) which is constructed from material which causes a wear pattern (200) to be formed in the foil (43), thereby removing localized forces and spreading out the forces and thereby decreasing the tape pressure.
Claims6
A data storage tape cartridge, comprising:
- a) a baseplate having a head opening formed therein;
- b) a tape reel assembly rotatably mounted on the baseplate, a storage tape wound around the tape reel assembly;
- c) a tape guide operatively connected to the baseplate proximate the head opening;
- d) the tape guide having a bearing surface, having first and second edges, and a load applying member, the load applying member extending from proximate one of said edges, wherein the tape is positioned over the bearing surface and an edge of the tape is in contact with the load applying member resulting in a load force applied to the load applying member;
- and
- e) the load applying member constructed from a material of a hardness that causes a wear pattern to be formed on the load applying member by the tape thereby spreading the load force over a larger area, the wear pattern has a depth of 0.1 microns or greater and a length that is 50 percent or greater of the load applying member over which the tape passes.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.