Method and apparatus of maintaining tension in a tape
View Patent ↗A method and apparatus for preventing the detachment of an end of tape from a hub filler during movement of the hub filler along a guide rail during an unloading operation of a tape drive mechanism. Detachment is prevented by a retracting tape dragging the hub filler along the guide rail, so as to maintain adequate tension that prevents detachment of the tape from the hub filler. The hub filler, which is coupled to the tape, guide arm, and guide rail, provides adequate drag force to maintain tension in the tape and prevent damage to the tape or the tape drive mechanism.
1. A tape drive mechanism comprising:
a hub filler coupled to a guide rail;
means for preventing detachment of an end of tape from the hub filler during a tape unloading operation, wherein the means for preventing detachment comprises:
a guide arm coupled to the hub filler; and
a guide arm motor coupled to the guide arm, and wherein the guide arm and guide arm motor are arranged to be dragged by the tape being unloaded from the tape drive mechanism.
2. The tape drive mechanism of the claim 1 , wherein:
the guide arm and the guide arm motor are arranged to provide drag on the tape being unloaded from the tape drive mechanism.
3. The tape drive mechanism of claim 2 , wherein:
the guide arm motor under control of a controller is arranged to provide tension on the tape by electrical induction within the guide arm motor.
4. The tape drive mechanism of claim 3 , wherein the electrical induction, frictional resistance of the hub filler, and frictional resistance of the guide arm applies force to the hub filler in an opposite direction to a direction that the hub filler is traveling in the unloading operation.
5. The tape drive mechanism of claim 2 , wherein the guide arm motor is arranged to provide tension by magnetic resistance within the guide arm motor.
6. The tape drive mechanism of claim 5 , wherein the magnetic resistance of the guide arm motor, frictional resistance of the guide arm motor, frictional resistance of the hub filler, and frictional resistance of the guide arm apply force to the hub filler in an opposite direction to a direction that the hub filler is traveling in the unloading operation.
7. A tape drive mechanism comprising:
a hub filler coupled to a guide rail;
a guide arm coupled to the hub filler; and
a guide arm motor coupled to the guide arm, wherein the guide arm and the guide arm motor are arranged to controllably drag on a tape and thereby prevent detachment of an end of the tape from the hub filler during movement of the hub filler along the guide rail during an unload operation.
8. The tape drive mechanism of claim 7 wherein the guide arm and the guide arm motor are arranged to be dragged by the tape being unloaded from the tape drive mechanism.
9. The tape drive mechanism of claim 8 , wherein the guide arm motor is arranged to provide tension by magnetic resistance within the guide arm motor.
10. The tape drive mechanism of claim 9 , wherein the magnetic resistance of the guide arm motor, frictional resistance of the guide arm motor, frictional resistance of the hub filler, and frictional resistance of the guide arm apply force to the hub filler in an opposite direction that the hub filler is traveling in the unloading direction.
11. The tap drive mechanism of claim 7 wherein the guide arm motor under control of a controller is arranged to provide tension by stimulated electrical induction within the guide arm motor.
12. The tape drive mechanism of claim 11 , wherein the electrical induction, frictional resistance of the hub filler, and frictional resistance of the guide arm applies torque to the hub filler in the opposite direction to a direction that the hub filler is traveling in the unloading operation.
13. A method of preventing detachment of an end of tape from a hub filler during movement of the hub filler along a guide rail during an unload operation, comprising the steps of:
driving an end of tape with a tape cartridge motor in a direction away from a take-up reel; and
controllably applying tension to the end of the tape in a direction toward the take-up reel.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein:
the step of applying tension comprises the further steps of:
providing tension through a guide arm coupled to the hub filler; and
providing tension through a guide arm motor coupled to the guide arm.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the step of providing tension through a guide arm motor comprises the further step of providing tension in the guide arm motor through electrical induction within the guide arm motor.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the step of providing tension through a guide arm motor comprises the further step of providing tension in the guide arm motor through magnetic resistance within the guide arm motor.
17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the step of providing tension through a guide arm comprises the further step of providing tension in the guide arm through frictional resistance of the guide arm.