EP0109154A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cartridge tape drive
Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
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Filing: 1983-09-20
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2003-09-20
Abstract
Abstract A drive for a tape cartridge having an access door along one side edge thereof. The drive includes a housing having a front panel and an elongate tray dimensioned to have the cartridge inserted endwise thereon. The tray is supported within the housing for longitudinal movement from a retracted position in which the tray is substantially contained within the housing to an extended position in which a portion of the tray extends through a slot in the front panel of the housing. A mechanism is provided for opening the access door of the cartridge while the cartridge is supported on the tray and the tray is being moved from its extended position to its retracted position. Another mechanism is provided for moving a read/write head and a capstan drive within the housing between operative engagement and disengagement with the cartridge after the cartridge has been inserted onto the tray and the tray has been moved to its retracted position.
Inventors
- 👤 William M. Barton, Jr.
- 👤 John F. Murphy
- 👤 Karl B. Offerman
- 👤 Richard G. Fisher
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 12:10
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B5/00; G11B5/48; G11B5/54; G11B5/55; G11B5/5504; G11B15/00; G11B15/18; G11B15/1883; G11B15/675; G11B15/6751; G11B15/67521
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
A drive for a tape cartridge having an access door along one side edge thereof, comprising: a housing having a front panel with a slot dimensioned to have the cartridge endwise inserted therein; means for supporting the cartridge within the housing when the cartridge is inserted through the slot;; means for opening the access door of the cartridge when the cartridge is inserted in the slot; a magnetic head; means for moving the 'head within the housing between operative engagement and disengagement with the cartridge after the cartridge has been inserted into the housing; means for moving a length of tape within the cartridge.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
104 words
A drive for a tape cartridge having an access door along one side edge thereof, comprising: a housing having a front panel with a slot dimensioned to have the cartridge endwise inserted therein; means for supporting the cartridge within the housing when the cartridge is inserted through the slot;; means for opening the access door of the cartridge when the cartridge is inserted in the slot; a magnetic head; means for moving the 'head within the housing between operative engagement and disengagement with the cartridge after the cartridge has been inserted into the housing; means for moving a length of tape within the cartridge.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
A drive.according to claim 1 wherein the supporting means includes a tray and means for supporting'the tray within the housing for longitudinal movement from a retracted position in which the tray is substantially contained within the housing to an extended position in which a portion of the tray extends through a slot in the front panel of the housing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
3-. A drive according to claim 1 and further comprising means for adjustably tilting the cartridge relative to the head.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
A drive according to claim 1 wherein the tape moving means includes a capstan drive and means for moving the capstan drive between operative engagement and disengagement with the cartridge after the cartridge has been inserted into the housing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
A drive according to claim 1 wherein the means for opening the access door of the cartridge includes means for opening the access door during insertion of the cartridge in the slot and before the cartridge is completely within the housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
A drive according to claim 2 and further comprising a cartridge insertion guide mounted within the housing / above the tray and which moves out of the way of the cartridge door during the insertion of the cartridge onto the tray.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
59 words
A drive according to claim 1 wherein the means for moving the head and the capstan drive includes an elongate frame extending longitudinally within the housing, means for mounting the head and the capstan drive to the frame adjacent the forward end of the frame, and means for pivotally mounting the rearward end of the frame to the housing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
75 words
A drive according to claim 1 wherein the means for moving the head and capstan drive includes a manually actuated lever rotatable on the front panel of the housing from an unlocked position in which the lever is clear of the slot and the head and capstan drive are disengaged from the cartridge to a locked position in which the lever blocks the slot and the head and capstan drive are engaged with the cartridge.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
96 words
A drive according to claim 2 wherein the means for opening the access door of the cartridge includes a pin, means for mounting the pin adjacent the forward end of the tray for transverse sliding movement toward and away from a rearward end of the access door of the cartridge when the cartridge is supported on the tray, and linkage means for connecting the pin and the housing so that movement of the tray to its retracted position will cause the pin to engage the rearward end of the access door to open the access door.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
89 words
A drive according to claim 1 wherein the housing is rectangular and has a width of approximately five and three-fourth inches with the front panel extending across the width of the housing, the housing has a height of approximately three and one-fourth inches, the housing has a length of approximately eight inches, and further wherein the cartridge has a length of approximately six inches, a width of approximately four inches, and a door which increases the width of the cartridge to approximately five and threc-quarter inches when fully open.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
156 words
A drive for a tape cartridge having an access door along one side edge thereof, comprising: a housing having a front panel; an elongate tray dimensioned to have the cartridge inserted endwise thereon; means for supporting the tray within the housing for longitudinal movement from a retracted position in which the tray is substantially contained within the housing to an extended position in which a portion of the tray extends through a slot in the front panel of the housing; means for opening the access door of the ca-rtridgel when the cartridge is inserted on the tray and the tray is moved from its extended position to its retracted position;; a magnetic head; a capstan drive; and means for moving the head and the capstan drive within the housing between operative engagement and disengagement with the cartridge after the cartridge has been inserted on the tray and the tray has been moved to its retracted position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
156 words
A drive for a tape cartridge having an access door along one side edge thereof, comprising: a housing having a front panel; an elongate tray dimensioned to have the cartridge inserted endwise thereon; means for supporting the tray within the housing for longitudinal movement from a retracted position in which the tray is substantially contained within the housing to an extended position in which a portion of the tray extends through a slot in the front panel of the housing; means for opening the access door of the ca-rtridgel when the cartridge is inserted on the tray and the tray is moved from its extended position to its retracted position;; a magnetic head; a capstan drive; and means for moving the head and the capstan drive within the housing between operative engagement and disengagement with the cartridge after the cartridge has been inserted on the tray and the tray has been moved to its retracted position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
75 words
A drive according to claim 11 wherein the means for, moving the head and capstan drive includes a manually actuated lever rotatable on the front panel of the housing from an unlocked position in which the lever is clear of the slot and the head and capstan drive are disengaged from the cartridge to a locked position in which the lever blocks the slot and the head and capstan drive are engaged with the cartridge.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
A drive according to claim 11 and further comprising means for adjustably tilting the cartridge relative to the head.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
A drive according to claim 11 and further comprising means for vertically moving the head to selected vertical positions with respect to the tape within the cartridge.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
46 words
A drive according to claim 14 wherein the means for vertically moving the head includes a bearing having a fixed graphite piston and a glass cylinder surrounding the piston and vertically reciprocable with respect to the piston, and means for supporting the head on the cylinder.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
A drive according to claim 11 and further comprising a cartridge insertion guide mounted within the housing above the tray and which moves out of the way of the cartridge door during the insertion of the cartridge onto the / tray.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
95 words
A drive according to claim 11 wherein the means for opening the cartridge door includes a pin for engaging a rear end of the door, means for mounting the pin to the tray for sliding movement toward and away from the. rear end of the door, and linkage means pivotally connecting the pin and the housing so that when the cartridge is inserted on the tray, movement of the tray from its extended position to its retracted position will cause the pin to push the rear end of the door to thereby open the door.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
59 words
A drive according to claim 11 wherein the means for moving the head and the capstan drive includes an elongate frame extending longitudinally within the housing, means for mounting the head and the capstan drive to the frame adjacent a forward end of the frame, and means for pivotally mounting the rearward end of the frame to the housing.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
92 words
A drive according to claim 15 wherein the means for vertically moving the head further comprises means for rigidly mounting the graphite piston, a shaft extending through the piston and having a threaded portion, a bearing for rotatably supporting the shaft, a nut mounted to one end of the glass cylinder and threadably engaged with the threaded portion of the shaft,'a stepper motor, means for providing a driving connection between the stepper motor and the shaft, and means for downwardly biasing the nut with respect to the threaded portion of the shaft.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
89 words
A drive according to claim 11 wherein the housing is rectangular and has a width of approximately five and three-fourth inches with the front panel extending across the width of the housing, the housing has a height of approximately three and one-fourth inches, the housing has a length of approximately eight inches, and further wherein the cartridge has a length of approximately six inches, a width of approximately four inches, and a door which increases the width of the cartridge to approximately five and three-quarter inches when fully open.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3692255A
Cited
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