Patent ID: 7261250

Claim:
A tape guide mechanism in a storage device for defining a tape path comprising: a cartridge reel for supplying tape to a take-up reel; a plurality of flanged guides located remotely from said cartridge and take-up reels; a non-flanged post guide located proximate to said take-up reel for increasing a length of said tape path and for permitting said plurality of flanged guides to be located remotely from said cartridge and take-up reels; wherein flanged guides are not located in proximity to said cartridge or take-up reels; said cartridge reel being bisected by a longitudinal axis of said tape path; a pair of read/write heads symmetrically located about said axis; said plurality of flanged guides including a first pair of flanged guides located proximate to a first one of said read/write heads and a second pair of flanged guides located proximate to a second one of said read/write head; said tape path including a portion that starts at said first pair of flanged guides and ends at said second pair of flanged guides; and said portion of said tape path being symmetrical about said axis.