Magnetic tape cartridges

Claim 2

A magnetic tape cartridge (10) characterized by: means (64) for defining a tape run path (62) for passing a magnetic tape (12) across a disc-drive head of a disc-drive for transferring data between said magnetic tape (12) and said disc-drive head, first and second reels (26 and 28) provided at respective ends of said tape run path (62) and having wound therearound said magnetic tape (12) for feeding said magnetic tape (12) from one of said reels (26, 28) to the other; means (76, 116, 120, 128, 132, 162) for selectively driving one of said first and second reels (26, 28) for winding said magnetic tape (12) thereon from the other reel (26,28), said driving means (76, 116, 120, 128, 132, 162) including a first gear (76) provided for rotation with said first reel (26), a second gear (78) provided for rotation with said second reel (28) and a third gear (128) connectable to a drive mechanism of said disc-drive to be driven by a driving force of said drive mechanism and arranged selectively to co-operate with one of said first and second gears (76, 78) depending upon the driving direction of said drive mechanism.

Claim 3

A magnetic tape cartridge (10) according to claim 1, which further comprises means (48, 160, 162, 150) for transmitting said driving force of said drive mechanism of said disc-drive to said third gear (128).

Claim 4

A magnetic tape cartridge (10) according to claim 2 wherein said driving force transmitting means (48, 160, 162, 150) includes a rotary disc member (48) rotatable with a turntable of said drive mechanism about a common rotational axis thereof, and said third gear (128) is rotatable about an axis substantially parallel to said common axis of said rotary disc member (48) and said turntable.

Claim 5

A magnetic tape cartridge (10) according to claim 3 which further comprises means (128, 130, 138) for converting said rotational force of said third gear (128) to a force for shifting said third gear (128) between said first and second gears (104, 106).

Claim 6

A magnetic tape cartridge (10) according to claim 1 wherein laid reel driving means (76, 78, 104, 106) Includes meant for converting rotation of a third gear carrier assembly (130, 132, 138) about a rotational axis thereof into rotation of a co-operating one of said first and second gears (104, 106) about an axis extending substantially perpendicular to said rotational axis of said third gear (128), said first and second gears (104, 106) being rotatable about common axes corrresponding to the rotational axes of said first and second reels (26, 28).

Claim 7

A magnetic tape cartridge (10) according to claim 4 wherein said third gear (128) is rotatably mounted on a pivotal base (130) plvotable about a pivot axis, said third gear (128) co-operating with means (144, 150) for restricting said rotation of said third gear (128) whereby the driving force of said drive mechanism is convertable into a force for causing pivotal movement of said pivotal base (i30) carrying said third gear (128).

Claim 8

A magnetic tape cartridge (10) according to claim 6 wherein said restricting means (144, 150) is responsive to a resistance created by engagement of said third gear (128) with one of said first and second gears (104, 106), said resistance against pivotal movement of said pivotal base (130) carrying said third gear (128) Includes a clutch mechansim (144, 150) for releasing said third gear (128) from said restriction to allow said third gear (128) to rotate and drive one of first and second gears (104, 106) with which said third gear (128) is engageable.

Claim 9

A magnetic tape cartridge (10) according to claim 4 wherein said rotational force converting means (324, 328, 332) comprises a pinion gear (332) releasably coupled to said third gear (322) and engageable with a rack plate (336) extending along a radius of shifting of said third gear (322), said pinion gear (332) being maintained In a coupled condition with a third gear carrier assembly (308) during shifting of said third gear (322) when said third gear (322) engages one of said first and second gears (300, 302) at the end of the shifting of said third gear (322).

Claim 10

A magnetic tape cartridge (10) according to claim 5 wherein said rotation converting means comprises said first and second gears (76, 78) having bevel gears (80, 82), intermediate gears (104, 106) and plane gear sections (124, 126) engageable with said third gear (128) to be driven by said third gear (128) and bevel gear sections (120, 122) continuously engaging said first and second gears (76, 78) for transmitting said driving force from said drive mechanism through said third gear carrier assembly (128, 130, 138) to said first and second gears (76, 78).

Claim 11

A magnetic tape cartridge (10) according to claim 5 wherein said rotation converting means comprises a bevel gear section (204) formed on said third gear (206) and bevel gears forming said first and second gears (200, 202).

Claim 12

A magnetic tape cartridge (10) characterized by: a cartridge (10) having a first section (14, 16) of substantially the same size and configuration as a corresponding size of floppy disc, and defining therein a tape run path (62) extending across a position (36, 38) at which data is transferable between a magnetic tape (12) and a disc-drive head, and a second section (11) provided at a rear side of said first section (14, 16) and defining a space (30); a supply reel (26) and a take-up reel (28) disposed within said space (30) defined within said second section (11) of said cartridge (10), said supply reel (26) and said take-up reel (28) being rotatable about an axis extending laterally with respect to the cartridge (10); a first gear (76) coupled with said supply reel (26) for rotation therewith; a second gear (78) coupled with said take-up reel (28) for rotation therewith; and a power train (48, 150, 158, 128) for selectively transmitting a driving force from a disc-drive to one of said first and second gears (76, 78), said power train (48, 150, 158, 128) including a third gear (128) movable between a first position where said driving force of said disc-drive may be transmitted to said first gear (76), and a second position where said driving force may be transmitted to a second gear (78), said third gear (128) being responsive to a rotational driving force rotatably to drive said third gear in a first direction to shift to said first position and to a rotational driving force rotatably to drive said third gear (128) in a second direction to shift to said second position.

Claim 13

A magnetic tape cartridge (10) characterized by: a cartridge (10) having a first section (14, 16) of substantially the same size and configuration as a corresponding size of floppy disc, and defining therein a tape run path (62) extending across a position (36, 38) at which data is transferable between a magnetic tape (12) and a disc-drive head, and a second section (11) provided at a rear side of said first section (14, 16) and defining a space (30); a supply reel (26) and a take-up reel (28) disposed within said space (30) defined within said second section (11) of said cartridge (10), said supply reel (26) and said take-up reel (28) being rotatable about an axis extending laterally with respect to the cartridge (10); a first gear (76) coupled with said supply reel (26) for rotation therewith; a second gear (78) coupled with said take-up reel (28) for rotation therewith; and a power train (48, 150, 158, 128) for selectively transmitting a driving force from a disc-drive to one of said first and second gears (76, 78), said power train (48, 150, 158, 128) including a third gear (128) movable between a first position where said driving force of said disc-drive may be transmitted to said first gear (76), and a second position where said driving force may be transmitted to a second gear (78), said third gear (128) being responsive to a rotational driving force rotatably to drive said third gear in a first direction to shift to said first position and to a rotational driving force rotatably to drive said third gear (128) in a second direction to shift to said second position.

Claim 14

A magnetic tape cartridge (10) according to claim 11 wherein said third gear (128) of said power train (48, 150, 158, 128) is mounted an a pivotal base (130) capable of shifting between said first and second positions.

Claim 15

A magnetic tape cartridge (10) according to claim 12 wherein said third gear (128) is associable with means for restricting rotation of said third gear carrier assembly (130, 138) in order to convert said rotational driving force of said disc-drive into a force causing pivotal movement of said third gear (128) between said first and second positions.

Claim 16

A magnetic tape cartridge (10) characterized by: a hollow cartridge (14, 16) including a first section insertable into a disc-drive and a second section (11) for storing a magnetic tape (12); means (64) for defining a tape run path (62) within said first section (14, 16) of said cartridge (10), said tape run path (62) extending across a location (36, 38) at which a disc-drive head of said disc-drive can transfer data between said magnetic tape (12) and said disc-drive head; means (26, 28, 64) for feeding said magnetic tape (12) along said tape run path (62) in mutually opposite first and second directions; and means (26, 28, 76, 78, 104, 106, 128, 130, 138, 150, 152) for selectively driving said magnetic tape (12) in either of said first and said second directions, said driving means including a first gear (76, 78) co-operating with said feeding means (26, 28, 64) for driving said feeding means (26, 28, 64) to drive said magnetic tape (12) in said first direction along said tape run path (62), a second gear (76, 78) co-operating with said feeding means (26, 28, 64) for driving said feeding means (26, 28, 64) to drive said magnetic tape (12) in said second direction along said tape run path (62), and a third gear (128) connectable to a drive mechanism of said disc-drive to be driven by a driving force of said drive mechanism and moveable between a first position at which said third gear (128) engages with said first gear (76, 78), and a second position at which said third gear (128) engages with said second gear (76, 78); and means (130, 138) for shifting said third gear (128) between first and second positions depending upon the driving direction of said drive mechanism.

Claim 17

A magnetic tape cartridge (10) characterized by: a hollow cartridge (14, 16) including a first section insertable into a disc-drive and a second section (11) for storing a magnetic tape (12); means (64) for defining a tape run path (62) within said first section (14, 16) of said cartridge (10), said tape run path (62) extending across a location (36, 38) at which a disc-drive head of said disc-drive can transfer data between said magnetic tape (12) and said disc-drive head; means (26, 28, 64) for feeding said magnetic tape (12) along said tape run path (62) in mutually opposite first and second directions; and means (26, 28, 76, 78, 104, 106, 128, 130, 138, 150, 152) for selectively driving said magnetic tape (12) in either of said first and said second directions, said driving means including a first gear (76, 78) co-operating with said feeding means (26, 28, 64) for driving said feeding means (26, 28, 64) to drive said magnetic tape (12) in said first direction along said tape run path (62), a second gear (76, 78) co-operating with said feeding means (26, 28, 64) for driving said feeding means (26, 28, 64) to drive said magnetic tape (12) in said second direction along said tape run path (62), and a third gear (128) connectable to a drive mechanism of said disc-drive to be driven by a driving force of said drive mechanism and moveable between a first position at which said third gear (128) engages with said first gear (76, 78), and a second position at which said third gear (128) engages with said second gear (76, 78); and means (130, 138) for shifting said third gear (128) between first and second positions depending upon the driving direction of said drive mechanism.

Claim 18

A magnetic tape cartridge (10) according to claim 14 wherein said tape run path defining means (64) comprises: means for aligning said cartridge (10) with said disc-drive when said cartridge (10) is loaded into said disc-drive; and means (64) for guiding said magnetic tape (12) within said cartridge (10) such that, when said cartridge (10) is aligned with said disc-drive, said magnetic tape (12) is registered with a location (36, 38) at which data can be transferred between said magnetic tape (12) and said disc-drive head.

Claim 19

A magnetic tape cartridge (10) according to claim 14 wherein within said first section (14, 16) of said cartridge (10), said guide means comprises a plurality of twist tape guides (64), said magnetic tape (12) wrapping about each of said twist tape guides (64) by substantially 180 degrees to change the direction of feed of said magnetic tape (12) and to rotate a normal to the plane of said magnetic tape (12) by substantially 180 degrees so that said magnetic tape (12) feeds through said first section (14, 16) which has a disc-like shape suitable for insertion into a disc-drive.

Claim 20

A magnetic tape cartridge (10) according to claim 14 wherein said storage means comprises a first tape reel (26) and a second tape reel (28) between which said magnetic tape (12) is wound, said first and second tape reels (26, 28) being rotatable about a rotational axis extending laterally and horizontally with respect to said cartridge (10).

Claim 21

A magnetic tape cartridge (10) according to claim 17 wherein said tape feeding means (26, 28, 64) comprises a power train (48, 150, 152, 128) for transmitting a driving force from a drive motor incorporated in said disc-drive to said third gear (128), said power train (48, 150, 152, 128) including a clutch mechanism (144, 150) for releasably engaging said third gear (128) with said third gear shifting means (128, 130, 138).

Claim 22

A magnetic tape cartridge (10) acording to claim 14 wherein said driving force transmitting means (48, 150, 152, 128) include a rotary disc member (48) rotatable with a turntable of said drive mechanism about a common rotational axis thereof, and said third gear (128) is rotatable about an axis substantially parallel to said common axis of said rotary disc member (48) and said turntable.

Claim 23

A magnetic tape cartridge (10) according to claim 19 wherein said third gear shifting means (130, 132, 134, 138) comprises means for -converting a rotational force of said third gear (128) transmitted through said rotary disc member (48) into a force for shifting said third gear (128) between said first and second gears (104, 106).

Claim 24

A magnetic tape cartridge (10) according to claim 17 wherein said first and second gears (104, 106) are engaged with said first and second tape reels (26, 28) for rotation therewith about said laterally and horizontally extending rotational axis, and said tape feeding means (26, 28, 64) includes means (130, 138) for converting rotation of said third gear (128) about a rotational axis extending vertically into a rotation of a co-operating one of said first and second gears (104, 106) about said laterally and horizontally extending axis.

Claim 25

A magnetic tape cartridge (10) according to claim 21 wherein said third gear (128) is rotatably mounted on a pivotal base (130) pivotable about its pivot axis, said third gear (128) co-operating with means (144, 150) for restricting the rotation of said third gear (128) thereby to convert the driving force of said drive mechanism Into a force for causing pivotal movement of said pivotal base (130) carrying said third gear (128).

Claim 26

A magnetic tape cartridge (10) according to claim 22 wherein said restricting means (144, 150) is responsive to a resistance created by engagement of said third gear (128) with one of said first and second gears (104, 106), said resistance to the pivotal movement of said pivotal base (130) carrying said third gear (128) releasing said third gear (128) from a resistance provided by a clutch means (144, 150) to allow said third gear (128) to rotate and drive one of said first and second gears (104, 106) with which said third gear (128) is engageable.

Claim 27

A magnetic tape cartridge (10) according to claim 21 wherein said rotational force converting means comprises a pinion gear (332) releasably coupled with said third gear (322) and engageable with a rack plate (336) extending along the radius of shifting of said third gear (322), said pinion gear (332) being maintained in a coupled condition with said third gear carrier assembly (308) while shifting of said third gear (322) is occurring and being released from said third gear (322) when said third gear (322) engages with one of said first and second gears (300, 302) at the end of shifting thereof.

Claim 28

A magnetic tape cartridge (10) according to claim 21 wherein said rotation converting means comprises said first and second gears (300, 302) having thereon gears (304, 306) and intermediate gears (300, 302) having plane gear sections engageable with said third gear (322) to be driven by said third gear (322) and said bevel gear sections (304, 306) continuously engaging with said first and second gears (300, 302) for transmitting a driving force from said third gear carrier assembly (308) to said first and second gears (300, 302).

Claim 29

A magnetic tape cartridge (10) according to claim 25 wherein said rotation converting means comprises a bevel gear section formed on said third gear (322) and bevel gears (304, 306) formed on said first and second gears (300, 302).