Patent ID: 6034850
Filing Date: 2000-03-07
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
A tape cartridge having a box-shaped cartridge housing including a top major wall and a bottom major wall and sidewalls between the top major wall and bottom major wall, a reel in the housing and containing a supply of recording tape coiled thereon, the reel having at least one lower flange adjacent to the bottom major wall and a toothed spindle ring sized and positioned for engagement by a standardized spindle drive ring of a tape drive, the said bottom major wall defining an annular region of housing locking teeth facing the lower flange of the reel and adjacent an opening for receiving the toothed spindle ring bias spring means for applying a bias force from the top major wall to the reel, the reel including an annular region of reel locking teeth aligned and pitched for engaging the housing locking teeth when the reel is spring biased into contact with the bottom major wall, and further comprising at least one separately actuated reel lock mechanism for releasably locking the reel toward the bottom major wall to prevent axial displacement of the reel locking teeth away from engagement with the housing locking teeth.