Granted Patent B2

US 7,100,858 · App. 10/481,157 · Granted Sep 5, 2006

Abstract

Claims (14)

1. A self-centering tape reel for use in a single reel tape cartridge that is configured to be loadable into a tape drive to read and write data on rewriteable media that is wound on the self-centering tape reel, the self-centering tape reel comprising: a hub; a first flange connected to a top of the hub; a second flange connected to a bottom of the hub in a parallel relationship with the first flange, wherein the first flange and the second flange define a tape containment section between said first and second flanges; and wherein said hub comprises an alignment feature disposed proximate a driving connector portion, the alignment feature shaped to translate at least a portion of a force substantially perpendicular to the second flange from a driving feature of the tape drive into a sideways force on the hub.

2. The self-centering tape reel of claim 1 wherein said driving connection portion comprises a ring of drive teeth and said alignment feature comprises: a centering ring encircling said ring of drive teeth, the centering ring having a surface facing the driving feature and sloping towards the ring of drive teeth from an outer diameter of the centering ring.

3. The self-centering tape reel of claim 1 further comprising: a spring for applying a bias force to press the hub against said driving feature.

4. A tape cartridge housing for a tape reel, the tape cartridge housing comprising:

a first section and a second section, the first and second sections adapted for assembly together and upon assembly to enclose the tape reel, and wherein at least one of the first section and the second section comprises an access port through which a drive chuck of a tape drive may access a drive chuck receiver portion of the tape reel, and at least one of the first section and the second section comprises a plurality of ramped centering posts disposed so that upon assembly, the plurality of ramped centering posts guide the tape reel for aligning the drive chuck receiver portion with the access port.

5. The tape cartridge housing of claim 4 , wherein the second section comprises the access port and the plurality of ramped centering posts, and further comprising a spring disposed between the first section and the tape reel for biasing the tape reel against the second section.

6. The tape cartridge housing of claim 4 , wherein the drive chuck receiver portion of the tape reel comprises a ring of teeth for engaging a drive chuck of a tape drive, and the tape reel further comprises a surface encircling and sloping towards the ring of teeth, the surface sloped to result in sideways movement of the tape reel with respect to the drive chuck in response to contact between the surface and the drive chuck.

7. A tape cartridge, comprising:

a tape reel operable to receive magnetic tape for spooling thereon, the tape reel comprising a driven feature for mating with a drive feature of a tape drive, and an alignment feature comprising a chamfered centering ring circumscribing the driven feature of the tape reel; and

a housing comprising a first section and a second section, the first section and second section for enclosing the tape reel upon assembly, and wherein one of the first section and the second section comprises an access port through which the driven feature of the tape reel is accessible, and a chamfer circumscribing the access port, the chamfer for seating the chamfered centering ring.

8. The tape cartridge of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the first section and the second section comprises a plurality of ramped centering posts for guiding the tape reel to align the driven feature of the tape reel with the access port.

9. The tape cartridge housing of claim 7 , further comprising a conical surface segment circumscribing and facing toward the driven feature, the conical surface segment operable to cause a sideways resultant force on the tape reel in response to a force between the conical surface segment and the drive feature.

10. The tape cartridge housing of claim 7 , wherein the tape reel defines a center bore and the other of the first section and the second section comprises a tape reel locator boss, the center bore sized to receive the tape reel locator boss.

11. The tape cartridge housing of claim 10 , further comprising a spring disposed between the tape reel and the other of the first section and the second section, the spring for biasing the tape reel against the one of the first section and the second section comprising the access port.

Assignments (21)