US005901916A
`5,901,916
`[11] Patent Number:
`(15
`United States Patent
`McAllister et al.
`[45] Date of Patent:
`May11, 1999
`
`
`[54] TAPE CARTRIDGE REEL LOCK
`
`[75]
`
`Inventors: Jeffrey S. McAllister; Thomas W. von
`Alten, both of Boise, Id.
`
`:
`.
`.
`[73] Assignee: Hewlett Packard Company,Palo Alto,
`.
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 09/033,352
`[22]
`Filed:
`Mar. 2, 1998
`6
`[51]
`Int. Ceec eeseeeseeeseeenne esses G11B 23/087
`[S52] U.S. Che ne creeeeneeee 242/348, 242/338.1, 242/343,
`;
`242/345.2
`[58] Field of Search ......00.0.0. cee 242/338, 338.1,
`242/343, 343.1, 343.2, 348; 360/132, 134
`.
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`[56]
`
`3,066,880 12/1962 Batter... eeccneeeeteeers 242/338.1
`3,625,455
`12/1971 Streets ..cccceeseeseeesseneseees 242/345
`w. 242/342
`3,686,470
`8/1972 Stahlberg etal.
`.- 242/343
`3,706,426
`12/1972 Prahl
`............
`3,871,755
`3/1975 Wright
`..
`.
`
`..
`w. 242/342
`3,873,193
`3/1975 Tida et al.
`5/1975 Halll, Sr. oe seeeceeeeeeeenees 242/340
`3,883,090
`
`242/342
`
`3,894,796
`4,033,523
`4,832,285
`4,896,238
`5,027,249
`5,297,754
`5,400,981
`5,436,782
`
`7/1975 Cook et ale ou. ceeeeceeeeenees 242/342
`7/1977 Roman........
`« 242/338.1
`
`5/1989 Oishi etal. .
`» 242/338.3
`1/1990 Oogi et al.
`.....
`.. 242/345.2
`6/1991 Johnsonetal. .
`.. 242/345.2
`
`3/1994 Albrecht et al. wees 242/343
`3/1995 Rambosek et al... 242/348
`7/1995 Sieben oo. eeeeeeeeeetenee 242/338.1
`
`Primary Examiner—John P. Darling
`[57]
`ABSTRACT
`A tapecartridge andreellock that allowsthereel lock to be
`released away from the center of rotation of the tape reel
`while keeping the frictional interface between the moving,
`and fixed parts at the center of rotation of the reel. The tape
`cartridge includes a housing, a tape reel rotatably disposed
`in the housing, a tape drive interface on the reel, a rotatably
`fixed locking memberoperatively coupled to the reel and a
`release mechanism engagable by the tape drive at the tape
`drive interface on the ree]. The release mechanism is mov-
`
`able betweena first position in which the release mechanism
`is not engaged by the tape drive and the locking memberis
`locked and a second position in whichthe tape drive engages
`the release mechanism and the locking memberis unlocked.
`
`17 Claims, 7 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`
`
` SUA)
`\
`CpeaomeN
` SA
` 22
`34
`\20
`
`
`
`COPLILITILELLLLL|
`
`SONY Exhibit 1005
`SONY Exhibit 1005
`SONY v. FUJI
`SONYv. FUJI
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`May11, 1999
`
`Sheet 1 of 7
`
`5,901,916
`
`
`
`FIG.
`
`|
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`May11, 1999
`
`Sheet 2 of 7
`
`5,901,916
`
`LILIOTPTI A AN ANA 1p
`
`>Ne
`
`SSSSSSSASS,
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`May11, 1999
`
`Sheet 3 of 7
`
`5,901,916
`
`
`
`FIG. 3
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`May11, 1999
`
`Sheet 4 of 7
`
`5,901,916
`
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`May11, 1999
`
`Sheet 5 of 7
`
`5,901,916
`
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sheet 6 of 7
`
`May11, 1999
`
`5,901,916
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sheet 7 of 7
`
`May11, 1999
`
`5,901,916
`
`

`

`5,901,916
`
`1
`TAPE CARTRIDGE REEL LOCK
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`The invention relates generally to tape cartridges and,
`more particularly, to a tape cartridge reel lock that prevents
`rotation ofthe tape reel whenthe cartridge is not installed in
`a tape drive.
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`Awidely used medium for storing data is magnetic tape.
`Tape cartridges are one of the most popular formats for
`storing data on tape. ‘lape cartridges are usually smaller and
`less expensive than reel-to-reel tapes. Two widely used tape
`cartridges are the dual reel cartridge and the single supply
`reel cartridge. In a dual reel tape cartridge, both the supply
`reel and the take-up reel are housed in the cartridge. In a
`single supply recl tape cartridge, the take-up recl is built into
`the tape drive along with an automatic tape threading
`mechanism.
`
`Whena tape cartridge is not in use in a tape drive or tape
`player, it is possible for the reel(s) to rotate idly and cause
`the tape to lose tension and becomepartially unwound from
`the reel. To avoid this problem,
`tape cartridges usually
`include some type of reel lock. One common type of reel
`lock uses one or more pawls to engage teeth formed around
`the outer edge of one of the reel flanges. VHS, Hi-8 and DLT
`style tape cartridges commonly use this type of lock. En
`these cartridges,
`the lock is released as the cartridge is
`installed in the tape drive or player and, therefore, the tape
`reel may be unlocked before the tape drive engagesthe reel.
`The momentat which the tape drive engagesthe reel and can
`control the angular position and velocity of the recl is the
`mostdesirable timeto release the lock. The IBM 3480single
`reel cartridge, for example, uses a locking mechanism with
`mating coaxial gears formedat the hub ofthereel rather than
`at the outer edge of the reel. The mating gears are separated
`to unlock the reel as the tape drive engages the reel hub. The
`lock is released when a post on the rotor of the drive motor
`presses a small lock button at the center of the reel hub. The
`lock button is surrounded by a protective shroud to help
`prevent the inadvertent release of the lock when the car-
`tridge is not installed in the tape drive. The shroudis flush
`with the reel teeth to minimize the cartridge drop required to
`engage the reel with the motor drive gear in a low profile
`tape drive. Although this design is advantageous because the
`lock is not released until the drive mechanism engages the
`reel hub,
`the shroud occupies valuable space that might
`otherwise be used for the drive motor andits bearings.
`SUMMARYOFTHE INVENTION
`
`The present invention is directed to a novel tape cartridge
`and reel lock that allows the reel lock to be released away
`from the centerof rotation of the tape reel while keeping the
`frictional interface between the movingandfixed parts at the
`center of rotation of the reel. In one embodiment of the
`invention, the tape cartridge includes a housing, a tape reel
`rotatably disposed in the housing, a tape drive interface on
`the reel, a rotatably fixed locking member operatively
`coupledto the reel and an actuator operatively coupled to the
`locking member. The tape drive interface, typically a ring
`gear, is accessible through the housing. The locking member
`is movable between a locked position in which the locking
`member engages the reel to prevent rotation and an unlocked
`position in which the locking memberdoes not engage the
`reel and the reel is free to rotate. The actuator includes a
`
`release mechanism engagable by the tape drive at the tape
`
`2
`drive interface on the reel. The release mechanism is mov-
`able betweena first position in which the release mechanism
`is not engaged by the tape drive and the locking memberis
`locked and a second position in whichthe tape drive engages
`the release mechanism and the locking memberis unlocked.
`In asecond embodiment,the cartridge includes a housing,
`a tape reel rotatably disposed in the housing,a first “reel”
`gear operatively connected to the tape reel, a second “lock-
`ing” gear rotationally fixed to the housing, an engagement
`mechanism, such as a post or a set of gear teeth, on the reel
`gear for engaging the teeth on the locking gear, and a washer
`interposed between the reel gear and the locking gear. One
`or more holes are formed through the teeth in the reel gear.
`Legs on the washerproject into the holes in the reel gear. In
`operation, the locking gear is biased against the engagement
`mechanism on the reel gear to lock the reel into the rota-
`tionally fixed locking gear. As the drive motor gearin a tape
`drive engagesthe reel gear, the teeth of the drive motor gear
`pushthe washerlegs up to drive the washer into the locking
`gear. ‘This action moves the locking gear up and off the
`engagement mechanism to unlockthe reel. The invented reel
`lock is advantageous becauseit does not occupy any vertical
`space in the drive train,
`it is difficult to release until the
`cartridge is engaged by the tape drive and the wear mecha-
`nism is entirely within the tape cartridge.
`DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`10
`
`15
`
`5
`
`30
`
`FIG. 1 is a perspective bottom side view of a single supply
`reel tape cartridge incorporating the reel lock of the present
`invention.
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`FIGS. 2a and 25are cross section perspective views of the
`tape cartridge of FIG. 1 showing one embodimentofthe reel
`lock in the locked and unlocked positions, respectively.
`FIG. 3 is a partial cut-away detail viewof the reel lock of
`TIG. 2a showing a spring type biasing mechanism.
`FIGS. 4a and 4b are top perspective viewsofthe reel lock
`of FIGS. 2a and 2b.
`
`FIGS. 5a and 56 are bottom perspective viewsofthe reel
`lock of FIGS. 2a and 2b showing the legs of the spider
`washer in the locked and unlocked positions, respectively.
`FIG. 6 is a top perspective exploded view of the reel lock
`of FIGS. 2a and 2b.
`
`FIG. 7 is a bottom perspective exploded view ofthe reel
`lock of FIGS. 2a and 28.
`
`FIG. 8 isa top perspective exploded view ofan alternative
`embodimentof the reel lock in which the operative engage-
`ment between the locking gear and the reel gear is made by
`a full set of gear teeth on the top of the reel gear.
`FIG. 9 is a top perspective exploded view ofan alternative
`embodimentof the reel lock in which the operative engage-
`ment between the locking gear and the reel gear is made by
`partial sets of gear teeth on the top of the reel gear.
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`INVENTION
`
`tape
`Referring to FIGS. 1, 2a and 2b, a single reel
`cartridge 10 includes a housing 12, a tape supply reel 14.
`Housing 12 is a rectangular box-like structure configured to
`enclose a single reel of tape. Housing 12 is usually formed
`of plastic molded into two segments—a cover segment and
`a base segment. To better illustrate the invented reel lock,
`however, housing 12 will be described with reference to a
`top portion 18, an opposing parallel bottom portion 20 and
`sidewalls 22 extending between the top and bottom portions
`18 and 20. A tape (not shown) accessible to a tape drive (not
`
`

`

`5,901,916
`
`3
`shown) through access window 24. A door 26 covers access
`window24 whencartridge 10 is notinstalled in a tape drive.
`Referring to FIGS. 2@ and 25,tape recl 14 includes disc
`shaped top and bottom flanges 28 and 30 and an annular hub
`32. A circular reel gear 34 is positioned at the bottom of hub
`32. Reel gear 34 is the operative interface between the tape
`drive and the tape reel. Reel gear 34 is engaged by a mating
`coaxial gear in the drive mechanism of a tape drive. Reel
`gear 34 is accessed by the tape drive through an opening 36
`in the bottom 20 of housing 12. Although reel gear 34 is
`usually formed as an integral part of reel hub 32, it may be
`constructed as a discrete componentoperatively connected
`to reel hub 32.
`
`4
`on spider legs 50 to drive spider washer 40 up into reel gear
`34. This action moveslock gear 42 up and off locking posts
`44 to unlock reel lock 38. Spider washer 40 and biasing
`spring 64 serve as the actuator for reel lock 38. Spider
`washer 40 acts as a release mechanism to disengage the
`locking member, lock gear 54, from reel 14 and unlock reel
`lock 38 whenthe tape drive engages the rec] 14. Spring 64
`serves as a biasing mechanism to urge the locking member,
`lock gear 42, towards the locked position.
`It is desirable that spider legs 50 project out flush with the
`tips 68 of reel gear teeth 56 to maximize the vertical travel
`of locking gear 42 whenreel gear 34 is engaged by the tape
`drive. The depth of locking gear teeth 48 should be slightly
`less than the depth of reel gear teeth 56 (or less than the
`Referring now to FIGS. 2-7, reel lock 38 includes a spider
`distance spider legs 50 project into gaps 54 in reel gear teeth
`washer40, a locking gear 42 and lockingposts 44 positioned
`56 if less than the full depth of the teeth) to ensure locking
`at spaced apart locations aroundthe top of reel gear 34. ‘The
`gear 42 clears locking posts 44 to fully release the lock 50.
`ends 46 of locking posts 44 are sized and shapedto fit into
`Forces are transmitted between locking gear 42 and spider
`locking gear teeth 48. It is expected that three locking posts
`washer 40 through a button 70 on the bottom 72 of locking
`44 spaced at equal intervals around reel gear 34 will be
`gear 42. The frictional interface/bearing surface between
`sufficient
`in most applications for robust
`locking.
`It an
`spider washer 40, which rotates with tape reel 14, and
`alternative embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, gear
`locking gear 42, which is rotationally fixed to cartridge
`teeth 45 on the top of reel gear 34 are used to engage locking
`housing 12, occurs at button 70. The frictional interface at
`gear teeth 48 instead of the posts used in the embodiment
`button 70 is at the center of rotation of the reel so the radius
`shownin FIGS. 2-7. Gear teeth 45 maybeafull set of teeth
`of button 70 can be made small to minimizefrictional drag
`with openings for spider washer 40 as shown in FIG. 8, or
`and wear.
`partial sets of teeth as shown in FIG. 9. Other suitable
`structures could also be used to achieve this operative
`engagement between locking gear 42 and reel gear 34. For
`example, instead of using a locking gear 42, this locking
`member could be constructed as a flat disk having one or
`more posts projecting down to engageteeth on top of the reel
`gear.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`30
`
`“Teeth” means any sharp angled, rounded or other com-
`bination of protrusions and indentations.
`There has been shown and described several embodi-
`ments of a novel tape cartridge and reel lock that allows the
`reel lock to be actuated away from the centerof rotation of
`the tape reel while keeping the frictional interface between
`the moving and fixed parts at the center of rotation of the
`tape reel. The invented reel lock is advantageous becauseit
`does not occupy any vertical space in the drive train, it is
`difficult to release until the cartridge is engaged by the tape
`drive and the wear mechanismis entirely within the tape
`cartridge. Various modifications may be made to the above
`described embodiments and, while the reel lock has been
`described with reference to a single reel tape cartridge such
`as the one illustrated in FIG. 1, the lock may be used in
`various other types of tape cartridges in which the drive
`mechanism in the tape drive or tape player engages the reel
`(or both reels in a dual reel cartridge) to move the tape. It
`will, therefore, be understood that these and other modifi-
`cations and variations are possible without departing from
`the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the
`following claims.
`Whatis claimedis:
`
`Referring again to FIGS. 2-7, legs 50 of spider washer 40
`project through holes 52 in reel gear 34. Holes 52 are
`positioned at the gaps 54 between reel gear teeth 56. Spider
`legs 50 project into gaps 54 betweenreel gear teeth 56, as
`best seen in FIG. 5a. Preferably, each hole 52 and corre-
`spondingly each spider leg 50 spans the gap 54 between
`adjacent gear teeth to prevent jamming in the teeth of the
`tape drive gear. Each hole 52 and spider leg 50 could also be
`made to span two or more gaps 54, in which case hole 52
`would extend through one or more gear teeth.
`Locking gear 42 is moveable in only one dimension,
`parallel to the axis of rotation of reel 14. Locking gear 42 is
`fixed in the other dimensions byits attachment to cartridge
`housing 12 which, in the embodiment shownin the Figures,
`includes interlocking structures 58 and 60. A male key
`shaped structure 58 is formed onor integral with top portion
`18 of housing 12. A mating female key shaped structure 60
`1. A tape cartridge, comprising:
`is formed on or integral with the top 62 of locking gear 42.
`a housing;
`Temale structure 60 on locking gear 42 receives male
`a tape reel rotatably disposed in the housing, the reel
`structure 58 on cartridge housing 12 to fix locking gear 42
`having a center of rotation;
`into position over spider washer 40 and locking pasts 44. A
`a tape drive interface on the reel, the tape drive interface
`biasing spring 64 is positioned between cartridge housing 12
`accessible through the housing and configured to driv-
`and locking gear 42 in a central compartment 66 of inter-
`ingly couple the reel to a tape drive;
`locking structures 58 and 60. Spring 64 urges locking gear
`42 against spider washer 40 and locking posts 44. This
`a rotatably fixed locking memberoperatively coupled to
`biasing mechanism pushes spider legs 50 down into reel
`the reel, the locking member movable between a locked
`gear teeth 56 and keeps reel lock 38 locked when tape
`position in which the locking member engagesthe reel
`cartridge 10 is not installed in a tape drive. Although key
`to prevent rotation and an unlocked position in which
`shaped mating structures with a central biasing spring are
`the locking member does not engage the reel and the
`reel is free to rotate; and
`shown, any suitable interlocking structure and biasing
`mechanism maybeusedto fix locking gear 42 into position
`an actuator operatively coupled to the locking member,
`over spider washer 40 and locking posts 44.
`the actuator comprising a release mechanism engagable
`by the tape drive at the tape drive interface, the release
`In operation, as the drive motor gear in a tape drive
`
`engages reel gear 34, the tips of the drive motor gear push mechanism movable betweenafirst position in which
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`

`

`5
`the release mechanismis not engaged by the tape drive
`and the locking memberis locked and a second position
`in which the tape drive engages the release mechanism
`and the locking member is unlocked.
`2. Acartridge according to claim 1, wherein the actuator
`1s operatively coupled to the locking memberat the center of
`rotation of the tape recl.
`3. A cartridge according to claim 2, wherein the release
`mechanism bears on the locking member at the center of
`rotation of the tape reel.
`4. Acartridge according to claim 1, wherein the actuator
`further comprises a biasing mechanism urging the locking
`member towards the locked position.
`5. A cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the actuator
`further comprises a biasing mechanism urging the locking
`member towards the locked position and the release member
`towards the first position.
`6. A tape cartridge, comprising:
`a housing;
`a reel rotatably disposed in the housing;
`a first gear operatively connectedto thereel, the first gear
`having one or more holes therethrough positioned near
`a periphery of the first gear;
`a second gearrotationally fixed to the housing, the second
`gear having gear teeth;
`an engagement means onthefirst gear for engaging the
`teeth on the second gear; and
`a washeroperatively coupled to the first gear, the washer
`interposed between the first gear and the second gear
`and the washer having at least one leg projecting into
`the one or more holes in the first gear.
`7. A cartridge according to claim 6, wherein the engage-
`ment means comprises at least one post projecting from the
`first gear.
`8. A cartridge according to claim 6, wherein the engage-
`ment means comprises gear teeth.
`9. A cartridge according to claim 6, wherein the second
`gear bears on the washer.
`10. A cartridge according to claim 9, wherein the washer
`has a center of rotation co-extensive with a center of rotation
`of the first gear and the second gear bears on the washerat
`the center of rotation of the washer.
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`5,901,916
`
`25
`
`6
`11. Acartridge according to claim 6, further comprising a
`biasing mechanism urging the second gear against
`the
`washer.
`12. A cartridge according to claim 11, wherein the biasing
`5 mechanismis a spring disposed between the housing and the
`second gear.
`13. A tape cartridge, comprising:
`a housing;
`a reel rotatably disposed in the housing,the ree] having an
`annular hub around a center of rotation of the reel and
`a plurality of spaced apart parallel flanges extending
`out from the hub;
`a first gear fixedly connected to the bottom of the reel hub,
`the first gear having gear teeth on a bottom side, a
`plurality of locking projections projecting from a top
`side, and a plurality of holes therethrough, each hole
`positioned at the location of a gap betweenthefirst gear
`teeth;
`a second gear rotational fixed to the housing, the second
`gear having second gear teeth engageable with the
`projections on the first gear; and
`a spider washer interposed between the first gear and the
`secondgear, the spider washer having a plurality of legs
`projecting into the holes in the first gear and the spider
`washer bearing on the second gear at the center of
`rotation of the reel.
`14. A cartridge according to claim 13, wherein the second
`gear is movable between a locked position in which the
`second gear engages the projections to prevent rotation of
`the ree] and an unlocked position in which the second gear
`does not engage the projections andthe reel is free to rotate.
`15. A cartridge according to claim 13, wherein the spider
`washer is movable betweena first position in whichthe legs
`of the spider washer extend down into the gaps between
`teeth in the first gear and the second gearis in the locked
`position and a second position in whichthe legs of the spider
`washer do not extend down into the gaps between teeth in
`the first gear and the second gearis in the unlocked position.
`16. Acartridge according, to claim 13, wherein the locking
`projections comprise gear teeth.
`17. Acartridge according to claim 13, wherein the locking
`projections comprise one or more posts.
`*
`% eR Ok
`
`