Take up assembly for wrapping spaced tape portions

A take up assembly for data storage tape, comprising:

• a take up reel hub about which the data storage tape can be wrapped;
• at least a first take up reel having at least a majority of its portions located externally of said take up reel hub and joined thereto;
• and
• a leader band having a first end connected to said first take up reel and a second end, said second end pivots in a first direction when joining said leader band to the data storage tape and pivots in a second direction when disjoining said leader band from the data storage tape, said leader band to be wrapped about said first take up reel.

A method for wrapping/unwrapping data storage tape using a take up assembly and a leader assembly having at least a first leader band, comprising:

• activating said take up assembly to wrap said first leader band about a first take up reel;
• wrapping said data storage tape about a take up reel hub that is spaced from said first take up reel;
• and
• wrapping a second leader band about a second take up reel that is spaced from said first take up reel and said take up reel hub.

A tape system, comprising:

• a tape load/unload control mechanism;
• a leader assembly operably associated with said tape load/unload control mechanism, said leader assembly including at least a first leader band having a first end and a second end, said leader assembly including a second leader band having a first end and a second end;
• and
• a take up assembly including a take up reel hub and at least a first take up reel spaced from said take up reel hub, said first end of said first leader band connected to said first take up reel, said take up assembly includes a second take up reel, wherein said first end of said second leader band is connected to said second take up reel, and said take up reel hub is located between said first and second take up reels.

A take up assembly for data storage tape, comprising:

• a take up reel hub about which the data storage tape can be wrapped;
• at least a first take up reel having at least a majority of its portions located externally of said take up reel hub and joined thereto;
• and
• a leader band having a first end joined to said first take up reel and a second end joined to a leader pin and in which at least substantial portions of said leader pin are located internally of said take up reel hub when the data storage tape is wrapped about said take up reel hub, said leader band to be wrapped about said first take up reel.

A take up assembly for data storage tape, comprising:

• a tape winding core having an outer surface about which the data storage tape is wrapped and an interior located inwardly of said outer surface;
• at least a first take up reel joined to said tape winding core and having substantial portions being located exteriorly thereof;
• and
• a door mechanism joined to said tape winding core and being movable between an open position and a closed position, said door mechanism having an outer surface about which data storage tape is wrapped when said door mechanism is in said closed position, wherein substantially all of said outer surface of said door mechanism is located within said interior of said tape winding core when said door mechanism is in said open position.

A take up assembly for data storage tape, comprising:

• data storage tape joined to a connector;
• a tape winding core having an outer surface about which said data storage tape is wrapped and an interior located inwardly of said outer surface;
• and
• a door mechanism joined to said tape winding core and being moveable between an open position and a closed position, said data storage tape connector contacting said door mechanism and being used to move said door mechanism to said closed position from said open position during said contact, said door mechanism having an outer surface about which said data storage tape is wrapped when said door mechanism is in said closed position, wherein substantially all of said outer surface of said door mechanism is located within said interior of said tape winding core when said door mechanism is in said open position.