Edge guiding tape reel
View Patent ↗Tape is spooled onto a hub by receiving the tape between guide members. The guide members guide one or both edges of the tape as the tape begins to wrap around the hub and floats on a layer of air formed between the tape and a previously wound layer of the tape.
1. A method for guiding tape as it is spooled onto a reel, comprising:
receiving tape to be wrapped on a hub between guiding members, the guiding members having a leading edge that approaches the tape being wound prior to a trailing edge, wherein the opposing surfaces of the guiding members are contoured such that a separation distance between the guiding members varies from a wide separation located at the leading edges to a minimum separation located between the leading edges and trailing edges, and a distance of the minimum separation is less than the width of the tape without tension applied to the tape; and
guiding at least one edge of the tape using the guide members as the tape begins to wrap and floats on a layer of air formed between the tape and a previously wound layer of the tape.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the minimum separation between opposing surfaces of the guiding members is less than 0.500 inches, and the tape has a width of 0.500 inches without tension applied to the tape.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the minimum separation between opposing surfaces of the guiding members is between 0.480 and 0.500 inches.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the minimum separation between the guiding members is between 0.500 and 0.505 inches.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the guiding members are tapered such that the distance between the guiding members increases with distance from the hub.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the guiding members are not tapered such that the minimum distance between the opposing guiding members remains constant with distance from the hub.
7. The method of claim 1 , further including a plurality of guiding members.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein there are two pairs of guiding members.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the guiding members is integral with the hub.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the guiding members are flexible.
11. The method of claim 1 , further including positioners holding the guiding members to the hub, wherein the positioners shape the guiding members.
12. A tape reel, comprising:
a hub for wrapping tape around; and
guiding members for receiving tape to be spooled onto the hub between opposing surfaces of the guide members, the guiding members having a leading edge that approaches the tape being wound prior to a trailing edge, wherein the opposing surfaces of the guiding members are contoured such that a separation distance between the guiding members varies from a wide separation located at the leading edges to a minimum separation located between the leading edges and trailing edges, and a distance of the minimum separation is less than the width of the tape without tension applied to the tape, and
wherein the guiding members are operable to guide at least one edge of the tape as the tape wraps a previously wound layer of the tape.
13. The reel of claim 12 , wherein the minimum separation between opposing surfaces of the guiding members is less than 0.500 inches, and the tape has a width of 0.500 inches without tension applied to the tape.
14. The reel of claim 12 , wherein the minimum separation between opposing surfaces of the guiding members is between 0.480 and 0.500 inches.
15. The reel of claim 12 , wherein the minimum separation between the guiding members is between 0.500 and 0.505 inches.
16. The reel of claim 12 , wherein the guiding members are tapered such that the distance between the guiding members increases with distance from the hub.
17. The reel of claim 12 , wherein the guiding members are not tapered such that the minimum distance between the opposing guiding members remains constant with distance from the hub.
18. The reel of claim 12 , further including a plurality of guiding members.
19. The reel of claim 12 , wherein there are two pairs of guiding members.
20. The reel of claim 12 , wherein at least one guiding members is integral with the hub.
21. The reel of claim 12 , wherein the guiding members are flexible.
22. The reel of claim 12 , further including positioners holding the guiding members to the hub, wherein the positioners shape the guiding members.
23. A tape drive including a take-up reel for receiving tape, the tape drive comprising:
a read/write head wherein tape streams past the read/write head to the take-up reel, the take-up reel including:
a hub around which tape is wrapped; and
guiding members for receiving tape to be spooled onto the hub between opposing surfaces of the guiding members, the guiding members having a leading edge that approaches the tape being wound prior to a trailing edge, wherein the opposing surfaces of the guiding members are contoured such that a separation distance between the guiding members varies from a wide separation located at the leading edges to a minimum separation located between the leading edges and trailing edges, and a distance of the minimum separation is less than the width of the tape without tension applied to the tape, and
wherein the guide members are operable to guide at least one edge of the tape as the tape wraps a previously wound layer of the tape.
24. The tape drive of claim 23 , wherein the minimum separation between opposing surfaces of the guiding members is less than 0.500 inches, and the tape has a width of 0.500 inches without tension applied to the tape.
25. The tape drive of claim 23 , wherein the minimum separation between opposing surfaces of the guiding members is between 0.480 and 0.500 inches.
26. The tape drive of claim 23 , wherein the minimum separation between the guiding members is between 0.500 and 0.505 inches.
27. The tape drive of claim 23 , wherein the guiding members are tapered such that the distance between the guiding members increases with distance from the hub.
28. The tape drive of claim 23 , wherein the guiding members are not tapered such that the minimum distance between the opposing guiding members remains constant with distance from the hub.
29. The tape drive of claim 23 , wherein each of the guide members are shaped as guide arms with a leading edge that approaches the tape prior to a trailing edge.
30. The tape drive of claim 23 , further including a plurality of guiding members.
31. The tape drive of claim 23 , wherein there are two pairs of guiding members.
32. The tape drive of claim 23 , wherein at least one guiding member is integral with the hub.
33. The tape drive of claim 23 , wherein the guiding members are flexible.
34. The tape drive of claim 23 , further including positioners holding the guiding members to the hub, wherein the positioners shape the guiding members.