Abstract:
A tape drive has a take-up reel assembly and a tape guide arrangement that are each selectively actuatable for interchangeable use with magnetic recording tape of a first width or a second width. The take-up reel assembly includes at least one actuatable, retractable element that can be moved between the flanges of the take-up reel assembly, dependent on the width of the tape currently being used in the drive, and the tape guide arrangement includes actuatable guide elements movable to define a width of the tape transport path across the read/write head, also dependent on the width of the magnetic recording tape currently being used.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates in general to tape drives, and in particular to a tape drive that can accept magnetic recording tapes of different widths.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Prior Art  
         [0004]     Magnetic tape drives and magnetic tape cartridges are manufactured with standardized dimensions, conforming to an industry-wide form factor, so a standardized magnetic tape cartridge having a particular form factor can always be accepted in a drive designed for that form factor.  
         [0005]     Data are magnetically recorded on a tape in adjacent tracks proceeding parallel to the longitudinal length of the tape. The access time to data that are stored at a location that is at some distance from one end of the tape is dependent on the time required to wind or unwind the tape to bring that particular location to a position in front of the read head. In order to reduce this access time, so-called wide tape cartridges have been developed in recent years, which have a tape width that is significantly larger than conventional standard magnetic recording tapes. For example, the standard ULTRIUM cartridge for the LTO drive operates with a tape that has a width of 12.7 mm. Increasing this width by 50%, while maintaining the same length of tape, would increase the storage capacity by 50% as well. Alternatively, if the width were increased by 50% but the total length of the tape were shortened, the same amount of data could be stored on such a tape as can be stored on the conventional, narrower tape, but the access time can be shortened due to the decreased tape length.  
         [0006]     It is possible to achieve this increase in the tape width within the height (form factor) of a standard DLT cartridge, so that standard automation equipment can still be used. With this cartridge height, it is still possible to design the drive with the form factor known as 5¼″ Half Height.  
         [0007]     This means that the standardized tape drive designed for this form factor would be able to receive and operate with a tape cartridge containing tape of the aforementioned narrower width, as well as with a different tape cartridge containing tape of the wider width. A problem associated with such interchangeable operation, however, is that the take-up reel in the tape drive must be designed to accommodate the widest tape width that will be used with the tape drive. This means that when tape of the narrower width is used, the internal dimension of the take-up reel (between the flanges) will be larger than the width of the narrow tape, and as the narrow tape is wound on such a reel, it will tend to meander or wander as it is wound on the hub. Precise alignment of the tape as it passes over the read/write head is important for accurate recording and reading of the data, because the data tracks are so closely packed together that a slight misalignment can cause data to be misread from the wrong track. Although the read/write head has tape guides disposed on opposite sides thereof, such guides operate by guiding the tape over a roller between two flanges, and the spacing between these two flanges must likewise be dimensioned so as to accept the widest tape. Such guides, therefore, would not be effective for accurately guiding the narrower tape.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     It is an object of the present invention to provide a tape drive that is adjustable for alternative operation with a tape cartridge containing narrow tape or with a tape cartridge containing wide tape, wherein the aforementioned tape alignment problems are overcome.  
         [0009]     The above object is achieved in accordance with the present invention in a reel assembly, for use as a take-up reel in a tape drive, having a hub and two substantially parallel flanges connected by the hub and held at a fixed spacing from each other by the hub, and having at least one actuatable, retractable element built into one of the flanges of the reel for, when actuated, moving into the space between the flanges to set a spacing between the element and the other of the flanges that is less than the fixed spacing.  
         [0010]     The fixed spacing is designed to accommodate the aforementioned standard wide tape, and the spacing that exists when the element has been actuated is designed for accommodating standard, narrow tape.  
         [0011]     The above object also is achieved in accordance with the principles of the present invention in a tape drive embodying a reel assembly of the type described above therein, and additionally having actuatable tape guides disposed on opposite sides of the read/write head that are in a first position when a cartridge containing wide tape is being used, and that are actuated so as to be a second position when a cartridge containing narrow tape is being used. In the first position, the static guides present flanges to the tape path having a spacing (distance) therebetween suitable for guiding wide tape. In the second position, the static guides present flanges to the tape path having a spacing therebetween suitable for guiding narrow tape.  
         [0012]     In a second embodiment of the tape drive, four guide rollers are employed, two of which are non-movable and are respectively disposed on opposite sides of the read/write head, and two of which are movable (actuatable) in a direction parallel to the rotational axis of the take-up reel, and also are respectively disposed on opposite sides of the read/write head. When the movable rollers have not been actuated, the flanges of all of the rollers are aligned in a direction parallel to the direction of tape movement, so that wide tape is guided between the two flanges of each roller. When the movable rollers are actuated, narrow tape can be guided between one flange of each of the non-movable rollers, and one flange of each of the movable rollers.  
         [0013]     The aforementioned at least one actuatable, retractable element in the reel assembly is, in a first embodiment, formed by a rib mounted on a rotatable shaft that proceeds radially from a central region (such as the hub) of one of the flanges to a periphery of that flange. One end of this shaft has a gear mounted thereon, which engages a toothed rack. Actuation of the rack rotates the gear and the shaft, and thereby flips the element carried on the shaft into or out of the space between the flanges of the reel assembly, thereby setting the spacing of the reel assembly for accommodating either wide tape or narrow tape. The rib and the rack can be set so that the rib is normally flush with the flange in which it is mounted, so that actuation of the rack causes the rib to decrease the spacing, or the rib and the rack can be set so that the rib is normally in a deployed state between the flanges and actuation of the rack causes the rib to be moved flush with the flange in which it is mounted. In the first arrangement, the reel assembly is “normally” set for accepting wide tape, and the rack must be actuated to accommodate narrow tape. The opposite is the case for the second situation.  
         [0014]     In a further embodiment of the reel assembly, two such elements are formed by two curved arms that are each pivotably mounted to an expandable/compressible element, such as a telescoping element, disposed in the hub of the reel assembly. Each of these curved arms has a pin at the end thereof, which projects through a curved opening in one of the flanges, these pins projecting above the exterior surface of this flange. The compressible/expandable element is spring-biased so as to normally force these pins to their extreme outwardly radial position, with the respective pins at the radial ends of the respective slots in the flange. When so deployed, the presence of these curved arms decreases the spacing in the interior of the reel assembly, for accommodating narrow tape. For operation with wide tape, a slide arm is actuated that slides across the exterior surface of the flange through which the pins project. As the reel assembly is rotated, the pins projecting above this exterior surface of this flange abut the slide arm, and are forced to follow the curved openings as the reel assembly rotates further. This forces the curved arms to move between the flanges toward the hub, against the spring bias, so that the curved arms eventually come to a retracted position wherein they closely surround the hub. The spacing between the two flanges then is suitable for accommodating wide tape. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]      FIG. 1  shows a take-up reel assembly and the basic components of a tape drive in accordance with the invention, positioned for wide tape.  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  shows the take-up reel assembly and components of  FIG. 1  in a plan view, showing the read/write head position.  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  shows the tape-up reel assembly and the components of  FIG. 1  positioned for narrow tape.  
         [0018]      FIG. 4A  is a plan view, and  FIG. 4B  is a side view, of a first embodiment of the take-up reel assembly in accordance with the invention, positioned for wide tape.  
         [0019]      FIG. 5A  is a plan view, and  FIG. 5B  is a side view of the first embodiment of the take-up reel assembly in accordance with the invention, positioned for narrow tape.  
         [0020]      FIG. 6A  is a side view,  FIG. 6B  is a top view, and  FIG. 6C  is a perspective view, of one flange of a take-up reel assembly in accordance with the invention, in a second embodiment, together with a slide arm that interacts therewith, positioned for narrow tape.  
         [0021]      FIG. 7  shows the plan view of the flange of  FIG. 6B , with the slide arm beginning to move into a position for interacting therewith.  
         [0022]      FIG. 8A  is a side view,  FIG. 8B  is a plan view, and  FIG. 8C  is a perspective view, of the flange shown in  FIGS. 6A, 6B  and  6 C, after being completely retracted by the slide arm, positioned for wide tape.  
         [0023]      FIG. 9A  is a side view,  FIG. 9B  is a top view, and  FIG. 9C  is a perspective view, of the complete take-up reel assembly in accordance with the invention, in the second embodiment of the take-up reel assembly.  
         [0024]      FIG. 10  shows a take-up reel assembly and the basic components of a tape drive in the second embodiment of the drive, positioned for wide tape.  
         [0025]      FIG. 11  shows the take-up reel assembly and the components of  FIG. 10 , positioned for narrow tape. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0026]      FIG. 1  shows a first embodiment of a take-up reel assembly  3  and the basic components of a first embodiment of tape drive in accordance with the invention, for use with a cartridge  1  containing wide tape  2 . The components are mounted in a drive housing (not shown) and include two guide rollers  6  disposed on opposite sides of a read/write head  18  (not shown in  FIG. 1 , but shown in  FIG. 2 ). The tape drive in this embodiment also includes two static guides  7  (meaning guides without rollers), also respectively disposed on opposite sides of the read/write head  18 . Each of these static guides  7  is rotatable around a central axis so that, in the position shown in  FIG. 1 , the static guides  7  present a flange  8  to the path of the magnetic tape that is disposed at a location for guiding the wide tape  2 .  
         [0027]      FIG. 3  shows the tape drive in use with a cartridge  19  containing narrow tape  20 . In  FIG. 3 , the static guides  7  have been rotated to present a flange  9  to the tape path that produces a guide channel for guiding the narrow tape. Rotation of the static guides  7  is accomplished by a drive motor  10  having a drive shaft  11  on which two worms  12  are mounted. Each worm engages a gear (not shown) at the bottom of the respective static guide  7 . When the drive motor  10  is actuated, the worms  12  cause rotation of the static guides  7  to present the appropriate flange to the tape path.  
         [0028]     Also shown in each of  FIGS. 1, 2  and  3  is a first embodiment of an arrangement for setting different spacings in the interior of the reel assembly  3 , depending on the width of the tape that is currently being used in the drive. This first embodiment of the spacing-setting arrangement also is shown in detail in  FIGS. 4A, 4B  and  5 A,  5 B.  
         [0029]     The reel assembly  3  has two substantially parallel flanges  4  and  5  connected to each other and held at a fixed spacing from each other by a hub  6 . This hub  6  is hollow, and within the hollow interior of the hub  6 , an actuatable rack  13  is movable back and forth, i.e., in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing of  FIGS. 4A and 5A . This rack  13  engages a gear  14  that is mounted on a rotatable shaft  15  that proceeds from the interior of the hub  6  to the periphery of the flange  4 . This shaft  15  carries a rib  16  thereon that, in a non-deployed position, is disposed in a slot  17  so as to be flush with the flange  4 , as shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B . The spacing between the facing interior surfaces of the flanges  4  and  5  in this situation is D 1 .  
         [0030]     As shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , when the rack  13  is actuated, the gear  14  and the shaft  15  are rotated, causing the rib  16  to move into the space between the flanges  4  and  5 , thereby reducing the spacing between the rib  16  and the flange  5  to D 2 . The spacing D 1  is suitable for winding wide tape  2  on the reel assembly  3 , and the spacing D 2  is suitable for winding narrow tape  20 . The rib  16  extends along the winding space between the flanges  4  and  5 , and is sufficient, when deployed, to accurately wind narrow tape  20  on the reel assembly  3 , without the narrow tape  20  wandering or meandering in the tape pack.  
         [0031]     Actuation of the rack  13  can be initiated in any suitable manner, such as by a detector arrangement that detects which type of tape cartridge (wide tape-containing or narrow tape-containing) is currently inserted in the drive.  
         [0032]     The above embodiment has been described with actuation of the rack  13  causing the rib  16  to be deployed, however, it is apparent that the reel assembly  3  can easily be designed for the opposite situation, wherein the rib  16  is “normally” deployed, and actuation of the rack  13  causes retraction of the rib  16 .  
         [0033]     A second embodiment for the spacing setting arrangement is shown in  FIGS. 6A, 6B ,  6 C,  FIG. 7 ,  FIGS. 8A, 8B  and  8 C, and  FIGS. 9A, 9B  and  9 C. In this embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 6A, 6B  and  6 C, one of the flanges  4 A carries two curved ribs  21  thereon, each mounted to a pivoting arrangement disposed in the hollow interior of the hub  6 A. This pivoting arrangement includes an expandable contractible element  27  such as (in the exemplary embodiment) a telescoping element composed of telescoping members  23  and  24 . The outer ends of the respective telescoping members  23  and  24  are attached by pivot pins  25  to pivot arms of the curved ribs  21 . Each pivot arm joins the curved part of the curved rib  21  and a junction, which rotates around a pivot pin  26  projecting from the hub  6 A. The expandable/contractible member  27  is rotatable around a central axle (not shown) in the hub  6 A. A spring (not shown) is disposed in the hollow interior of the telescoping members  23  and  24 , forcing them apart so that the curved ribs  21  are normally in the position shown in  FIGS. 6A, 6B  and  6 C.  
         [0034]     An actuatable slide arm  26  is mounted in the drive, and is actuatable under the same conditions as the aforementioned rack  13  in the first embodiment. The slide arm  29  in the exemplary embodiment is normally in a position relative to the reel assembly  3  as shown in  FIG. 6B . When actuated, it begins to move through the position shown in  FIG. 7 , and eventually comes to the position shown in  FIG. 8B .  
         [0035]     Each curved rib  21  carries a pin  22  at the free end thereof. These pins  22  slide in curved slots  28  in the flange  5 A of the reel assembly  3 , as shown in  FIGS. 9A, 9B  and  9 C. The pins extend through these slots  28 , and project slightly above the exterior surface of the flange  5 A. As the slide arm  29  is actuated and the reel assembly  3  is rotated, the pins  22  come to abut against the slide arm  29 , and as the reel assembly  3  continues to rotate, the pins  22  are forced to follow the curved slots  28 , thereby forcing the curved ribs  21  against the force of the spring bias, so as to cause the curved ribs  21  to close tightly around the exterior of the hub  6 A, as shown in  FIGS. 8A, 8B  and  8 C.  
         [0036]     When the curved ribs  21  are in the deployed position as shown in  FIGS. 6A, 6B  and  6 C, they decrease the spacing between the ribs  21  and the flange  5 A to the spacing D 2 , suitable for narrow tape  20 . When the curved ribs are retracted, as shown in  FIGS. 8A, 8B  and  8 C (with the pins in the position shown in  FIG. 9B ), the spacing D 1  exists between the flanges, suitable for wide tape  2 .  
         [0037]     As in the previous embodiment, instead of being “normally” in the deployed condition shown in  FIGS. 6A, 6B  and  6 C, the spring in the expansion/contraction element  27  can be a compression spring, which biases the expansion/contraction element to “normally” be in the position shown in  FIGS. 8A, 8B  and  8 C. In this version, actuation of the slide arm causes the pins to ride in the slots radially inwardly to outwardly (as opposed to outwardly to inwardly in the previously-described version) to bring the curved ribs to the position shown in  FIGS. 7A, 7B  and  7 C. (This would require the reel assembly  3 , however, to rotate in an opposite direction of winding tape.)  
         [0038]     A further embodiment for setting the guiding of the magnetic tape in the tape drive outside of the reel assembly as shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . In this embodiment, four guide rollers are employed, including the aforementioned guide rollers  6 . Two of these guide rollers, namely guide rollers  30  are movable, as shown in  FIG. 11 , by an actuator  31  in the direction L 1 . This actuation occurs under the same conditions that actuate the setting arrangement of the reel assembly  3 , and preferably occurs simultaneously therewith, or substantially simultaneously therewith. When all four of the guide rollers  6  and  30  are in the position shown in  FIG. 10 , wide tape  2  can be accurately guided. When the two guide rollers  30  are moved to the position shown in  FIG. 11 , narrow tape  20  is guided by the combination of the bottom flanges of the rollers  6  and the top flanges of the rollers  30  that have been moved by actuation. The movement occurs in a direction parallel to the rotational axis of the reel assembly  3 .  
         [0039]     This second embodiment of the drive has been shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11  in combination with the first embodiment of the width setting arrangement of the reel assembly  3 , but it is apparent it can be used in combination with the second embodiment of the width setting arrangement as well.  
         [0040]     Although modifications and changes may be suggested by those skilled in the art, it is the intention of the inventor to embody within the patent warranted hereon all changes and modifications as reasonably and properly come within the scope of his contribution to the art.