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US 7,243,871 B2Granted
Data storage tape cartridge and leadering mechanism interaction
AssigneeImation Corp.
InventorsJason E. Moses, James L. Albrecht, William E. Linton, Michael A. Mewes
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A data storage tape cartridge providing robust interactions with leadering mechanisms of data storage tape drives. In one relevant aspect, a data storage tape cartridge includes improved leader member access area features, such as a docking ramp configured to transition from a first height, to a second height greater than the first.
Claims19
A data storage tape cartridge comprising:
- a housing having an access opening, a first interior surface of the housing proximate the access opening including:
- a retention wall, and
- a docking ramp defining a capture height proximate the retention wall and an entry height opposite the capture height, the docking ramp configured to transition lengthwise from the entry height to the capture height, wherein the capture height is greater than the entry height, the capture height being substantially equivalent to a height of at least a portion of the retention wall;
- a tape reel assembly including a hub, the tape reel assembly disposed within the housing;
- a storage tape wrapped about the hub;
- and
- a leader member fixed to a leading end of the storage tape, wherein a first end of the leader member abuts, and is removably secured to, the retention wall of the housing,
- wherein a front face and a back face on the docking ramp are unsupported.
5 more elements
A method for accessing a leader pin of a data storage tape cartridge comprising:
- moving a leadering mechanism of a data storage tape drive into an access opening of a data storage tape cartridge;
- moving the leadering mechanism through a sweep path to access a leader member of the data storage tape cartridge, the leader member removably secured to a retention wail formed by a first interior surface of the housing proximate the access opening;
- guiding the leadering mechanism as it moves through the sweep pat to a capture height via a docking ramp, wherein the docking ramp transitions lengthwise from an entry height to the capture height, the capture height being substantially equivalent to a height of at least a portion of the retention wall;
- docking the leadering mechanism with the leader member;
- capturing the leader member with the leadering mechanism;
- and
- removing the leader member from the data storage tape cartridge through the access opening with the leadering mechanism.
4 more elements
A system for accessing a leader member of a data storage tape cartridge comprising:
- a data storage tape cartridge including:
- a housing having an access opening, a first interior surface of the housing proximate the access opening including:
- a retention wall, and
- a docking ramp transitioning lengthwise from an entry height to a capture height greater than the entry height, the capture height being substantially equivalent to a height of at least a portion of the retention wall;
- a tape reel assembly including a hub, the tape reel assembly disposed within the housing,
- a storage tape wrapped about the hub, and
- a leader member fixed to a leading end of the storage tape, wherein a first end of the leader member abuts, and is removably secured to, the retention wall, of the housing;
- and
- a tape drive including a leadering mechanism, the leadering mechanism configured to capture and remove the leader member of the data storage tape cartridge by entering the access opening and traveling through a sweep path to the leader member;
- wherein, the docking ramp is configured to guide the leadering mechanism to the capture height as the leadering mechanism travels through the sweep path.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.