Tape cartridge comprising a reel lock mechanism

The tape cartridge of clam 6, wherein said hub floor is formed to include a second aperture, a third aperture, and a fourth aperture, wherein said second aperture and said third aperture and said fourth aperture are located adjacent said circular wall and are equidistant from each other;

• wherein said clutch plate further comprises:
• a second release pin disposed on said second surface of said clutch plate adjacent said first corner, wherein said second release pin comprises a second distal end extending through said second aperture and outwardly from said housing;
• a third release pin disposed on said second surface of said clutch plate adjacent said second corner, wherein said third release pin comprises a third distal end extending through said third aperture and outwardly from said housing;
• and
• a fourth release pin disposed on said second surface of said clutch plate adjacent said third corner, wherein said fourth release pin comprises a fourth distal end extending through said fourth aperture and outwardly from said housing.

A data storage and retrieval system, comprising:

• one or more portable information storage media, wherein one or more of said one or more portable information storage media comprise a magnetic tape disposed in a tape cartridge, wherein said tape cartridge comprises:
• a housing;
• a tape reel disposed within said housing, wherein said tape reel is capable of rotation around a first axis, and wherein said tape reel comprises a hub and a reel coupling engageable with a motor coupling for rotation of said tape reel, wherein said hub is formed to include a first aperture located at the axis of rotation of said hub;
• a brake plate disposed within said hub, wherein said brake plate is capable of moving in a first direction and in an opposing second direction along said first axis, and wherein said brake plate is not capable of rotation around said first axis, said brake plate comprising a first side, an opposing second side, a brake plate gear disposed on said second side, and a fixturing assembly disposed on said first side;
• a clutch plate disposed within said hub, wherein said clutch plate is capable of moving in a first direction and in an opposing second direction along said first axis, and wherein said clutch plate is capable of rotation around said first axis, and wherein said clutch plate comprises a first side, an opposing second side, and a first release pin, wherein said second side of said clutch plate is rotatably disposed on said second side of said brake plate, and wherein said first release pin is disposed on said first side of said clutch plate, and wherein said first release pin comprises a distal end which extends through said first aperture, and extends outwardly from said housing.

The data storage and retrieval system of clam 16, wherein said hub floor is formed to include a second aperture, a third aperture, and a fourth aperture, wherein said second aperture and said third aperture and said fourth aperture are located adjacent said circular wall and are located equidistant from each other;

• wherein said clutch plate further comprises:
• a second release pin disposed on said second surface of said clutch plate adjacent said first corner, wherein said second release pin comprises a second distal end extending through said second aperture and outwardly from said housing;
• a third release pin disposed on said second surface of said clutch plate adjacent said second corner, wherein said third release pin comprises a third distal end extending through said third aperture and outwardly from said housing;
• and
• a fourth release pin disposed on said second surface of said clutch plate adjacent said third corner, wherein said fourth release pin comprises a fourth distal end extending through said fourth aperture and outwardly from said housing.

A method to read and/or write information on a tape medium disposed in a tape cartridge using a data storage device comprising a motor coupling and a drive mechanism connected to said motor coupling, wherein said tape cartridge comprises:

• a housing;
• a tape reel disposed within said housing, wherein said tape reel is capable of rotation around a first axis, and wherein said tape reel comprises a hub and a reel coupling engageable with a motor coupling for rotation of said tape reel, wherein said hub is formed to include a first aperture located at the axis of rotation of said hub, wherein said hub comprises a circular wall, a floor, and a plurality of gear teeth disposed on said floor, wherein each of said plurality of gear teeth extends inwardly from said wall toward said aperture;
• a brake plate disposed within said hub, wherein said brake plate is capable of moving in a first direction and in an opposing second direction along said first axis, and wherein said brake plate is not capable of rotation around said first axis, said brake plate comprising a first side, an opposing second side, a brake plate gear disposed on said second side, and a fixturing assembly disposed on said first side;
• a clutch plate disposed within said hub, wherein said clutch plate is capable of moving in a first direction and in an opposing second direction along said first axis, and wherein said clutch plate is capable of rotation around said first axis, and wherein said clutch plate comprises a first surface, an opposing second surface, and a first release pin, wherein said second surface of said clutch plate is rotatably disposed on said second side of said brake plate, and wherein said first release pin is disposed on said first surface of said clutch plate, and wherein said first release pin comprises a distal end which extends through said first aperture and outwardly from said housing;
• wherein said clutch plate can be moved between a first position along said first axis and a second position along said first axis, wherein when said clutch plate is disposed in said first position said brake plate gear intermeshes with said plurality of gear teeth, and wherein when said clutch plate is disposed in said second position said brake plate gear does not intermesh with said plurality of gear teeth;
• wherein when said clutch plate is disposed in said first position said tape reel cannot be rotated around said first axis, and wherein when said clutch plate is disposed in said second position said tape reel can be rotated around said first axis;
• said method comprising the steps of:
• removeably disposing said tape cartridge in said data storage device;
• mating said motor coupling with said reel coupling;
• moving said clutch plate from said first position to said second position;
• rotating said tape reel;
• drawing said tape medium from said housing;
• and
• reading and/or writing information from and/or to said tape medium.

The method of clam 25, wherein said hub floor is formed to include a second aperture, a third aperture, and a fourth aperture, wherein said second aperture and said third aperture and said fourth aperture are located adjacent said circular wall and are located equidistant from each other;

• wherein said clutch plate further comprises:
• a second release pin disposed on said second surface of said clutch plate adjacent said first corner, wherein said second release pin comprises a distal end extending through said second aperture and outwardly from said housing;
• a third release pin disposed on said second surface of said clutch plate adjacent said second corner, wherein said third release pin comprises a distal end extending through said third aperture and outwardly from said housing;
• and
• a fourth release pin disposed on said second surface of said clutch plate adjacent said third corner, wherein said fourth release pin comprises a distal end extending through said fourth aperture and outwardly from said housing;
• wherein said motor coupling comprises a plurality of gear teeth;
• said method further comprising the steps of:
• contacting said distal end of said second release pin with a first one of said plurality of gear teeth;
• pushing said distal end of said second release pin inwardly,
• contacting said distal end of said third release pin with a second one of said plurality of gear teeth;
• pushing said distal end of said third release pin inwardly;
• contacting said distal end of said fourth release pin with a third one of said plurality of gear teeth;
• and
• pushing said distal end of said fourth release pin inwardly.