Tape cartridge and tape drive system with internal and external tape guides
AssigneeOracle America, Inc.
InventorsJohn D. Willems, Kathryn L. Baker
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A data storage tape cartridge and tape drive is disclosed in which drive mounted guides are received in a cutout of a data storage cartridge. A read/write head is moved through an access opening into engagement with a data storage tape between the drive mounted guides. The drive mounted guides closely control lateral positioning of the tape as it passes across the read/write head. The read/write head and the drive mounted guides are moved relative to each other and into engagement with the tape.
Claims20
A tape system comprising:
- a tape drive including a read/write head and at least two drive mounted tape guides, the drive mounted tape guides being spaced apart at a fixed distance from each other, each of the drive mounted tape guides including an upper flange and a lower flange, and the read/write head being moveable toward and away from the drive mounted tape guides;
- a tape cartridge including tape, at least two tape reels to receive the tape, at least two cartridge tape guides spaced apart at a fixed distance from each other, and a housing having a side wall and a base wall, the base wall defining a cutout between the cartridge tape guides to receive the drive mounted tape guides, and the side wall defining an access opening to expose a portion of the tape that extends between the cartridge tape guides to the read/write head;
- and
- wherein loading the tape cartridge in the tape drive moves the drive mounted tape guides through the cutout in the base wall to align the drive mounted tape guides and the cartridge tape guides in a linear relationship, locates the tape between the read/write head and the drive mounted tape guides, guides the tape between the upper and lower flanges of the drive mounted tape guides, and provides the read/write head access to engage the tape through the access opening in the side wall of the housing to create a recessed portion in the tape between the drive mounted tape guides, the recessed portion extending generally perpendicular to a plane parallel to a longitudinal axis of the drive mounted tape guides.
A tape drive for receiving a tape cartridge including tape, at least two tape reels to receive the tape, at least two cartridge tape guides spaced apart at a fixed distance from each other, and a housing having a side wall and a base wall, the base wall defining a cutout between the cartridge tape guides and the side wall defining an access opening to expose a portion of the tape that extends between the cartridge tape guides in the tape cartridge, the tape drive comprising:
- at least two drive mounted tape guides spaced apart at a fixed distance from each other, each of the drive mounted tape guides including an upper flange and a lower flange;
- a read/write head being moveable toward and away from the drive mounted tape guides for selectively writing data and reading data from the tape in the tape cartridge;
- and
- wherein loading the tape cartridge in the tape drive moves the drive mounted tape guides through the cutout in the tape cartridge to align the drive mounted tape guides and the cartridge tape guides in a linear relationship, locates the tape between the read/write head and the drive mounted tape guides, and provides the read/write head access to engage the tape through the access opening in the side wall of the housing to create a recessed portion in the tape between the drive mounted tape guides, the recessed portion extending generally perpendicular to a plane parallel to a longitudinal axis of the drive mounted tape guides.
A tape drive for receiving a tape cartridge including tape, at least two tape reels to receive the tape, at least two cartridge tape guides spaced apart at a fixed distance from each other, and a housing having a side wall and a base wall, the base wall defining a cutout between the cartridge tape guides and the side wall defining an access opening to expose a portion of the tape that extends between the cartridge tape guides in the tape cartridge, the tape drive comprising:
- at least two drive mounted tape guides spaced apart at a fixed distance from each other and each of the drive mounted tape guides including an upper flange and a lower flange for guiding the tape between the cartridge tape guides;
- a read/write head for selectively writing data and reading data from the tape in the tape cartridge;
- a slide to selectively move the read/write head in a plane toward and away from the drive mounted tape guides;
- wherein loading the tape cartridge in the tape drive moves the drive mounted tape guides through the cutout in the tape cartridge to align the drive mounted tape guides and the cartridge tape guides in a linear relationship, locates the tape between the read/write head and the drive mounted tape guides, and provides the read/write head access to engage the tape in the tape cartridge through the access opening in the tape cartridge to create a recessed portion in the tape between the drive mounted tape guides;
- and
- wherein the slide moves the read/write head through a plane parallel to a longitudinal axis of the drive mounted tape guides to create the recessed portion in the tape, the recessed portion extending generally perpendicular to a plane parallel to a longitudinal axis of the drive mounted tape guides when the read/write head engages the tape between the drive mounted tape guides.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.