MXPA96005626A - Unit for handling cartridges of multiple size information storage media and cartridges for im - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a data storage tape cartridge having a housing of a first size, containing data storage tape, a band for moving the tape and a drive disk for moving the web, and housing having an access opening of means providing access to the belt and a unit opening providing outside the unit disk, the media access opening and the unit opening being positioned on the front face of the housing, characterized in that: a) the relative positions of the media access opening and the drive disk are the same as those defined by an industry standard for a data storage tape cartridge having a substantially similar housing, band, tape and drive, although in a second size, and b) the width of at least a portion of the cartridge housing that is normally placed inside the unit when used with the sma, it is different from the width defined by the industry standard for the analog part of the industry's standard cartridge

Description

UNIT FOR HANDLING CARTRIDGES OF MULTI-SIZE INFORMATION STORAGE MEDIA AND CARTRIDGES FOR THE SAME DESCRIPTION The present invention relates to units of information storage means and cartridges thereof, and in particular to a computer media unit capable of handling a variety of media cartridges having different physical sizes, as well as cartridges for such. unity. Tape and disk cartridges and cassettes have been used for decades in the fields of audio and visual computing. The cartridges by themselves have appeared in a variety of sizes and types. However, during all this time, any individual unit was designed to handle only one container of medium of physical size. The unit must be able to handle different storage capacities within the cartridge, for example due to the variable length, thickness or composition of the media, although any unit has only the capacity to handle a cartridge of a physical size. Suggestions have been made to overcome this limitation of the unit with alternative cartridge designs in which part of the cartridge that has to fit within the unit couples with the traditional physical cartridge dimensions, although an extension is added to the rear end of the cartridge for sustain more media, for example, as shown in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,262,860 (Hurtig et al.) and 5,239,436 (Aizawa et al.). Unfortunately, the extension may protrude beyond the unit which is unstable, or the risks a user has when using it as a ledge. The larger shape can also be used only when a type of unit that allows the rear end of the cartridge to protrude from the unit during use, i.e., can not be used with a "flexible" loading unit that pushes the entire cartridge inside. of the unit for use. It also can not be used with rotating means, such as diskettes, since for the rotating means the lateral dimensions of the media carrier must also be expanded to hold more media, which prevents the carrier from fitting within the traditional unit. Another concept has been to use adapters to allow the units to handle different tapes. For example, the CVHS video tape is physically smaller than a standard VHS video tape. These media can not be played on a VHS unit. An adapter can therefore be developed. With this adapter, the CVH tape is placed on the adapter, and the adapter is then placed on the VHS unit. The adapter places the tape in the correct location to use the standard VHS unit and includes the mechanical components to connect the unit drive of the standard VHS unit to the drive mechanism of the VHS mini-cartridge. More recently, electronic adapters have appeared on the market to connect the outputs of different types of unit components within a tape unit. For example, adapters are available to allow the output of a portable CD player to be fed and read by a tape drive. This can be useful, for example in a car, where it would be difficult to replace the tape drive with a compact disc player, although it is desirable to use an audio system to which the tape drive is connected to generate the sound. In the last two situations, an adapter has been used which would fit in the standard tape unit. The unit itself could not accept a variety of different cartridges of physically different sizes. A popular computer tape cartridge and a unit for that cartridge is originally described in U.S. Patent No. 3,692,255 (Von Behren) in 1972. An adaptation of the original Von Behren tape cartridge and the unit for a unit of 5.25 form factor has been very popular for some time. More recently, the physically smaller 3.5 form factor unit has become much more popular. (Terms 5.25 and 3.5 originally refer to the physical dimensions in the sizes of the two different diskettes.) The drive compartments in the computers within which the drives for those diskettes are adjusted became standardized. designed to fit within those same compartments, the 3.5 and 5.25 designations carried as names because the unit compartments were commonly received by those terms.The numbers are not directly related to the physical size of the tape cartridges or the units are only common names for that unit of size and the standard size tape cartridges that fit inside them). In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a unit that can handle media cartridges having at least two different physical sizes, and a cartridge that can be used with such a unit is provided. Preferably, one of the cartridges of different size is an existing widely used cartridge size. In a first embodiment, a unit has substantially redesigned rails or an alternative support structure of the rails. A portion of the support structure suitably supports a traditional cartridge, while another portion of the support structure supports a new cartridge in accordance with the present invention. The relative space of the media access opening and the drive mechanism in the new cartridge is the same as in the traditional cartridge. The support structure places the traditional cartridge and the new cartridge so that their respective media access holes and the unit mechanism are in the same position when the cartridge is inserted into the unit. Therefore, the cartridge can read and write on any tape cartridge. In an alternative embodiment, the cartridge includes a fixed rail on one side of the unit, and a spring loaded rail on the other side of the unit. The spring-loaded rail will flex to hold a traditional cartridge in position against the fixed rail, while bending back to allow a cartridge in accordance with the present invention to be inserted into the opening. Again, the head and the drive mechanism of the traditional cartridge and the cartridge in accordance with the present invention have the same relative spacings, so that this places them in the same locations relative to the head and the drive motor when they are fully inserted. inside the unit. In each of the above cases, the new tape cartridge is wider than a traditional cartridge, extending into the previous dead space. Depending on the design of the support structure, modifications to the unit may be minimal. They can only be adjusted to a modification to the rails and the inclusion of a modified opening structure to open the cartridge access. More simply, with a minicart, they can include a straight rail shaped very similar to the traditional straight rail (although narrower), and an upper or lower rail placed in the same distance from the straight rail according to the left edge to the edge right of a traditional minicart. Alternatively, two top or bottom rails can be used to center the cartridges in the unit. In any case, the wider cartridge will hold more tape, significantly increasing the capacity of the cartridge while allowing the unit to fit within the traditional unit of the factor unit. The new cartridge will usually be provided with notches or shoulders to make use of the modified support structure. For example, if a straight rail and a top rail such as those described are those used, on the right side of the new tape cartridge will have a support groove very similar to a traditional minicart, and then a notch or shoulder would be provided to the left side of the new cartridge. An edge of this notch or shoulder would be placed at the same distance from the right side of the cartridge according to the distance between the left and right sides of a traditional minicart, so that the same top rail can support the new cartridge. If two upper or lower rails are used, the new cartridge may have two corresponding notches or shoulders. It should also be noted that these notches or shoulders may also serve as cartridge differentiation characteristics to prevent cartridges intended for a certain type of unit from being inserted into a different type of unit. The modifications of the unit and cartridges above make the cartridge wider. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the unit support structure can handle alternative height cartridges as well. This will allow accepting different sizes of cartridge, for example, tape cartridges with 6.23 mm should be thinner than cartridges with 8 mm wide tape. The necessary support can provide a spring-biased cartridge structure that can flex in the vertical direction. With the smaller 6.23 mm ribbon cartridge, the rail is bent down to hold the ribbon cartridge in place. With the thicker ribbon cartridge, the support structure flexes upward, still providing adequate support for the 8mm ribbon cartridge. In any of the above situations, preferably the reference points on the new cartridge in accordance with the present invention are placed in exactly the same locations relative to the media access opening and the drive mechanism as in the traditional cartridge. Doing this will ensure that both the old cartridges and the new cartridges are placed in the same locations in relation to the head and the moving head of the drive motor. The advantage of the present invention is that since it handles two or more cartridge sizes, multiple units are not necessary to handle multiple cartridges. A user who has been using cartridges of traditional size may switch to the new larger cartridges in accordance with the present invention, although he is able to read and write data on the older cartridges. This is particularly advantageous in situations where large numbers of old cartridges have been used for archival purposes. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional plan view of a prior art minicart from a prior art unit depicted schematically. Fig. 2 is a side view in partial section of the * minicart and the unit of Fig. 1 along the lines 2-2 in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a front view of the unit of the Fig. 1 (without the tape in the unit) along the line 3-3 in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional plan view of a first embodiment of a cartridge in accordance with the present invention in a first embodiment represented schematically of a unit in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 5 is a view of the front face of the cartridge of Fig. 4, as seen along lines 5-5 in Fig. 4 and with the access, the media access opening and the disc of units omitted for clarity. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the cartridge of Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is an illustration of the front face of the unit of Fig. 4, as seen along the lines 7-7 in Fig. 4 and without the tape in the unit. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional plan view of a second cartridge embodiment in accordance with the present invention in a second embodiment schematically depicted as a unit in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view along line 9-9 of Fig. 8 of the unit of Fig. 8 holding a traditional minicart. Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view along line 9-9 of Fig. 8 holding the cartridge of the unit of Fig. 8. Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the cartridge of Fig. 10. 8. Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional plan view of a third embodiment of a cartridge in accordance with the present invention in a third embodiment shown schematically of a unit in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the cartridge of Fig. 12. Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional plan view of a fourth embodiment of a cartridge in accordance with the present invention in a fourth embodiment schematically depicted in FIG. unit in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional plan view of a fifth embodiment of a cartridge in accordance with the present invention in a fifth embodiment schematically depicted as a unit in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 16 is a side view in partial section of a cartridge in a sixth embodiment schematically depicted of a unit in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 17 is a front view of a seventh embodiment of a unit and a unit access in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 18 is a cross-sectional view along line 18-18 in Fig. 17 of the drive access of Fig. 17. Fig. 19 is a detailed view of the access opening mechanism of Fig. 18. Figs. 8 and 12. The details of the invention will be described first with reference to the computer data tape cartridges and the units, although the invention can be used with other types of cartridges and units. An example of a typical form factor cartridge 3.5 of the prior art 20 (also referred to as a minicart) is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 in a schematically represented unit 40, generally in the design taught by U.S. Patent No. 3,692,255 (Von Behren). The minicart 20 includes two masses 22 around which a tape 23 is wound in opposite directions. The tape 23 is guided by guide pins 24 through a media access opening 26 in front of the cartridge 20. The media access opening 26 is selectively covered by an access 27 which is pivotally mounted around a pin 28 in the corner of the cartridge 20. The pin 28 is spring loaded to deflect the closed access 27. The tape 23 is moved inside the cartridge by an elastic band 30. The band 30 rolls part of the distance around and frictionally couples the tape packages formed by the tape 23 around the masses 22. It is also guided by the rolls of corner 32 and a drive roller 33. Drive roller 33 has a drive disk 34 fixed on top thereof. As Von Behren teaches, driving the .34 disc will move to the elastic band 30, which in turn moves the tape 23. The cartridge 20 is shown placed in a tape unit 40. The left rail 42 and the right rail 43 of the unit 40 engage slots 36, 37 on the sides of the cartridge 20 to generally place the cartridge 20 in the unit 40. When fully inserted, the base plate 38 of the cartridge 20 (better seen in Fig. 2) will butt against the detents 44 (shown in Fig. 1). The base plate 38 and the detents 44 are carefully formed to ensure that they position the front end of the base plate 38 in the reference plane for the unit 40., thereby accurately positioning the cartridge 20 in the lateral direction indicated by the arrow A. When so placed, a read / write head 45 of the unit 40 will couple the tape 23 through the media access opening 26, and a moving drive motor head 46 will engage the drive disk 34 to drive the web 30. Precise positioning of the ribbon cartridge relative to the head 45 and the moving head 46 is essential for the unit 40 so that the unit 40 is able to read from and write to the tape 23 accurately. The detents 44 place the cartridge 20 laterally, ie how far the tape cartridge will slide inside the unit and how it will be positioned angularly within the plane of the drawing in Fig. 1. However, they do not control the cartridge angle of the cartridge. tape relative to the head 45 in the vertical direction to the plane of the drawing of Fig. 1. The industrial standards have thus defined three reference points 50, 51, 52 on the upper surface of the base plate 38 of the cartridge 20. As discussed in more detail below, the locators on the bottom surface of the guide rails 42, 43 are carefully defined at those three locations to ensure that if the base plate 38 is pressed against the guide rails 42, 43 the reference points will be placed at the correct angle relative to the unit head 45. Since the base plate 38 is flat and the three reference points define a plane, the placement of those three reference points suitably ensures proper alignment of the cartridge 20. As best seen in Fig. 2, the cartridge 20 is provided with a notch 54 immediately behind the reference point 51. The lower surface of the right rail 43 then has the locators very precise at positions 55, 56 corresponding to reference points 51, 52 on the base plate. A unit usually has then some mechanism, shown here as a roller 57, 58 for forcing the cartridge base plate reference points 51, 52 up against the rail locators 55, 56. A similar mechanism is provided with the point of reference 50 and rail 42, although the drawings are not shown. The roller 57 and the roller on the other side of the cartridge 20 also press the cartridge 20 towards the detents 44. The overall result is that the cartridge is pressed firmly against the detents and the locator, thus ensuring the completely accurate placement of the cartridge . A pressure pin is sometimes replaced by roller 58, since only the cartridge needs to be pushed up, not forward.

It will be noted that the insertion to the insertion of the cartridge 20 into the unit 40 in the direction of the arrow A, the end of the right rail 43 will engage the end 29 of the access 27 on the opposite side of the pivot pin 28 from the body Main access for pivoting the open access around the pivot pin 28 so that the door is opened to the position shown in Fig. 1 when the cartridge 20 is fully inserted into the unit. Fig. 3 describes the front part of a typical unit 40, without the ribbon inserted. The front of a typical unit 40 is usually protected by a face plate 48 with an opening or bevel 49 within which the ribbon cartridge 20 can be adjusted. An access is usually provided over the bevel opening, although it is omitted in the drawing to show the approximate positions of the left and right rails 42, 43. It can be seen from Figs. 1 and 3 in particular that there is a good amount of space on each side of the cartridge 20 in the unit 40. This space should have been originally filled with electronic components, such as control systems for the unit. However, with the miniaturization of the electronic components, this space is now essentially empty, except for the left and right rails 42, 43, which project into the cartridge support area of the unit 40. Referring to Figs. 4-7, terms such as "width" or "wider" as used herein refer to the dimensions of the cartridge in the direction of the arrows W, while "length" or "longer" refers to the dimensions in the direction of the arrows L. "Height" or "thickness" refer to the dimensions in the direction of the arrows "H". The "front" of the cartridge is the side of the cartridge where the media access opening and the drive disc are located (which is also the side of the cartridge normally inserted first into the unit), while "the front" of the unit is the portion of the unit within which the cartridge would normally be inserted (and which is normally exposed on the outside of a computer). In both cases, the "posterior" part is the opposite side from the front. The "base" or "bottom" of the cartridge is the rigid plate used to define the reference points (as discussed above) as long as it is the side of the unit toward which the base of the cartridge would be oriented when inserted into the cartridge. unit. In both cases, "bottom" means the side towards the bottom, the "top" part is the opposite side from the bottom and "top" means the top base. The "left" and "right" sides of the cartridges are as defined by looking from the back towards the front of the cartridge with the top facing up. The "left" and "right" sides of the unit are as defined by looking from the front to the back of the unit with the top side up. (This apparent inconsistency is common usage, and essentially designates the left and right sides according to a person inserting a cartridge into a unit normally as he would see them). The arrows have been omitted from the different drawings of Figs. 4-7, although the directions also apply to these. It will be understood that the use of those terms is for clarity only and the unit and the cartridge can be really oriented in any direction in relation to the general environment. Figs. 4-7 describe first embodiments of a cartridge 60 to unit 80 in accordance with the present invention. The cartridge 60 is somewhat wider and longer than the standard mini-cartridge 20, the profile of the sides of which is shown in shaded lines in Fig. 4. The masses 62 of the cartridge 60 are again positioned to allow optimum use of the space inside the largest cartridge. This new placement allows a larger ribbon package, so that the cartridge 60 can hold more tape. Since the volume of the tape contained in the tape package increases with the square of the tape package radius, even a relatively small increase in the tape package radius adds a substantial increase in the tape volume that can be sustained. in the cartridge 60 compared to the cartridge 20. The media access opening 63 and the unit disk 64 are placed in the same relative locations as they would be in the traditional minicart 20. Similarly, the reference points 66, 67, 68 are located in the same positions relative to the medium access opening 63 and the medium disc 64 as they would be in a traditional minicart 20. In order to allow access to the reference points 66, 67, 68, the slot right 70 can take substantially the same shape as the right slot 37 in the traditional minicart 20. In the embodiment shown, the access is provided to the reference point 66 by the operation of the corner side wall 71 at an angle, through a space that would not otherwise be used in the cartridge 60. The left slot 36 can be eliminated, since the left rail 42 will be replaced by a guide rail superior, described below. Placement will be done using a support groove 73 in the upper part of the cartridge (better seen in Figs 5 and 6) engageable with the upper guide rail described. (Note that the elimination of the left slot 36 also increases the interior space within the cartridge available for the tape package). The right rail 82 of the unit 80 does not extend as far into the unit as the traditional right rail 43. Instead, it is much narrower, so that additional space is available for the larger cartridge 60. However , the shape of the position of the rail 82 that actually interacts with the cartridge is substantially the same as the shape of the traditional rail 43. In contrast, the left rail can be eliminated in the unit 80, and replaced by an upper guide rail 83 (see Fig. 7). The side 84 of the upper rail 83 closest to the center of the unit 80 is positioned to engage the upper part of the left side 35 of a traditional minicart 20 (see Fig. 1). The side 74 of the groove 73 closest to the center of the new cartridge 60 is positioned so as to engage the side 84 of the upper rail 83, ie the relative positions of the side 74 of the groove 73 and the right groove 70 of the cartridge 60 are substantially the same as the relative positions of the left side 35 and the right slot 37 of the traditional minicart 20. Therefore, the top rail 83 provides the positioning support from side to side since for the mini-cartridge 20 or the cartridge 60 by the left side coupling 35 or notch side 74, respectively.

The unit 80 also includes a reference point rail adapter 85. This rail adapter 85 couples the reference point 66 on the new cartridge or on the reference point 50 on the previous cartridge 20. It also serves as a retainer on the front of the cartridge so that together with the retainer 86 at the end of the right rail 83, it serves to place the front of the cartridge in the plane suitable for the head 88. The right rail 82 has locators similar to those on the traditional right rail 43 and the unit includes rollers or roller-like pressure pins 57, 58. With this structure, the rollers hold either the traditional minicard 20 the new cartridge 60 against the reference rail track adapter 85, the right rail 82 and the retaining 86 to place the cartridge in substantially the same way as the rollers 57 and 58 urged the traditional minicart 20 against the left and right rails 42, 43 and the retainers 44. The adapter The reference point rail 85 is preferably placed at the front of the cartridge as shown in the drawing, although it may extend laterally as shown in shading at 81. The advantage of being in the shape of the front which is a smaller adapter can be used and if for any reason the cartridge designer chooses to provide only one notch around the reference point 66, instead of the angled wall 71 as shown, the rail adapter could still reach the reference point 66. Similarly , while a notch 73 has been shown, the notch could be a shoulder, with the smaller portion of the cartridge 60 extending all the distance away from the left side of the cartridge (as shown in some of the different embodiments). The bevel 87 of the unit 80 should of course be larger than the bevel 49 of the traditional unit 40 to accommodate the larger cartridge 60. In addition, the positions of the read-write head 88 and the moving head of the drive motor 89 they are shifted slightly to the right as seen in Fig. 4 from their position closest to the center of a standard unit as shown in Fig. 1. The remaining electronic components of unit 80 are substantially the same as those of of the traditional unit. Such electronic components are well known to someone skilled in the art and therefore have been omitted for clarity. The second embodiment shown in Figs. 8-11 avoids the difficulties that may arise in some situations when making necessary modifications to divert the head and the moving head of the drive motor to the right (for example, having to redesign a circuit board). In the first embodiment, the front right portion of the cartridge 60 could be said to "couple" the outer shape of a traditional minicart 20, ie, the media access opening 63, the drive disk 64, the reference points 66, 67, 68, the notch side 74 and the like are all placed on the front right portion of the cartridge 60. In contrast, portion of the cartridge 90 of the second embodiment which "couples" the traditional minicart profile 20 is centered, as noted better in Fig. 11. In particular, the inner sides 93, 94 of the support shoulders 92, 93 are positioned relative to the medium access opening 95 and the unit disc 96 of the cartridge 90 in exactly the same manner as the right and left side seals 35, 39 of the traditional minicart 20 (see Fig. 1) are positioned relative to their middle access opening 26 the unit disk 34. As best seen in Fig. 8, a consequence of this is that while the reference points 98, 99 can still be accessed from the notches in the front of the cartridge 90, the reference point corresponding to the traditional reference point 56 is now completely inaccessible. Since a third reference point is still necessary, a new reference point 100 is defined near the center of the cartridge. (The base plate of a cartridge is very sturdy, so the reference point could actually be defined virtually anywhere on the base plate - it is only the convention to use location 56). The coupling of the unit with this reference point will be described below. In addition, latching notches 102, 103 are provided in the base plate. The access 105 for medium access opening 95 is also placed differently in the cartridge 60. In the traditional mini-cartridge 20 and in the first embodiment of the cartridge 60 according to the present invention, the door is placed in the corner of the cartridge of data. If it were positioned in this way in the current cartridge 90, it would not correspond in location to the access 27 of the traditional minicart 20. The access 105 is therefore positioned in some way in the form of a corner, as best seen in Fig. 8. A notch 106 to the right of the pivot pin 105 allows access to the reference point 99 and the pivoting of the access 105, as will be described below. In unit 110, the left and right rails 42, 43 have been completely eliminated. They have been replaced by specially shaped upper rails 112, 113, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10. As best seen in Fig. 9, each upper rail has a shoulder 114, 115 formed therein which suitably places a traditional minicard 20 by engaging the upper part of the left and right sides 35, 39 of the minicart 20. As can be seen in Fig. 10 the support shoulders 91, 92 in the cartridge 90 according to the present invention are deep enough so that the cartridge 90 fits under the lower portion of the upper rails 112, 113 However, since the internal sides 93, 94 of the support shoulders 91, 92 are placed in the same locations as the outer sides 35, 39 of a traditional minicart 20, the shoulders 114, 115 engage the shoulder sides of support 93, 94 for suitably positioning the cartridge 90 in accordance with the present invention. Since there is no right rail 43 in the unit 110, some other mechanism must be provided to open the access of the medium access 105. Once the access opening mechanism 120 is shown generally in Fig. 8, and in detail in FIG. Fig. 19. In this mechanism, a bar 122 is slidably mounted on a mounting block 123. A collar 124 is fixed to the bar and a spring 126 is compressed between the mounting block 123 and the collar 124. A retainer 125 on the bar 122 prevents the bar 122 from slipping through the mounting block 123. The spring 126 is more resistant than the spring used to deflect the closed media access 105. As will be evident, upon insertion of a new cartridge 90 or a traditional minicart 20 within the unit 110, the bar 122 will engage the access end for media access 105, causing the access to pivot to open. As the cartridge continues to move within the unit 110, the spring 126 will be compressed, allowing the cartridge to fully enter the unit. If desired, the access opening mechanism 120 can be simply incorporated within the spring ejector mechanism found in many units, to avoid duplication of the spring 126. In addition to the top rails 112, 113, the unit 110 includes two rail adapters of reference point similar to the rail adapter of reference point 85 in the first embodiment. Only one of them is shown in the drawings (in 117). The other would be placed below the access opening mechanism 120 and has been omitted for clarity of the illustration. These rail adapters couple the reference points 98, 99 and the front edge of the cartridge base plate in the same manner as the reference point rail adapter 85 coupled to the reference point 66 and the front edge of the plate of cartridge base in the first mode. The unit 110 also includes a locator 127 positioned behind the reference point 100. To properly place either the mini-cartridge 20 or the cartridge 90 in the unit, the cartridge is inserted into the unit so that the reference points 98, 99 couple the rail adapters. Suitable pressure rollers or pins such as those shown in Fig. 2 are used to engage the notches 102, 103 to hold the reference points 98, 99 in contact with the reference point rail adapters 117, 118. A additional roller, pressure pin or the like presses down on the upper part of the cartridge to couple the reference point 100 on the lower part of the base plate of the cartridge with the support 127. This defines three reference locations, placing in a manner adequate the cartridge. As will be apparent from the foregoing, the head 128 and the movable motor head of unit 129 of the unit 110 are located not only in the same relative locations, but in exactly the same locations as the traditional unit such as that shown. in Fig. 1. A major advantage of this structure is that all the electronic components connected to the head 128 and the mobile head 129 can remain substantially as they are. Only the mechanical components of the cartridge holder, ie the rails, the reference point locators and the access opening mechanism need to be changed. This can be a much simpler ratio than the change of the electronic components. This embodiment has the additional advantage that if desired at least the central portion of the cartridge 90 could be substantially higher than in a traditional cartridge 20, as shown in Fig. 10 in shading in 109. This can have significant advantages. for the width of the tape that can be adjusted in the cartridge. With belt-driven cartridges, the drive disk normally fits inside the cartridge on top of the belt. A wider belt, for example 8 mm instead of 6.23 mm, would fit in portion of the cartridge 90 and even under the support notches 91, 92. However, there should not be enough space for the drive disk 96 on the tape, or the top of the cartridge may be too thin to accommodate the wider tape (reduced strength). With taller height shown in shade at 109, there would be ample space for the tape disc. Therefore, provided that the read-write head and the moving unit head were made high enough to handle the different possible positions of the drive disk and the width of the belt, the unit 110 could handle a traditional minicard. with 6.23 mm tape, a larger cartridge 90 in accordance with the present invention with 6.23 mm tape or an even larger cartridge 109 using a tape of 8 mm or wider. Even the additional cartridge size could be handled by providing additional shoulders in the upper rails 112, 113. Fig. 12 illustrates a third embodiment of a cartridge and unit in accordance with the present invention. In this embodiment, the support shoulders 132 and 133 are provided in the upper part of the cartridge 130. These shoulders are analogous to the support shoulders 91, 92 in the second embodiment of Figs. 4-7, that is, they are symmetrically placed on each side of the cartridge so that the cartridge is centered instead of being offset to the right. The notches 132, 133 also extend only one part rearwardly along the cartridge 130, instead of the entire distance to the base of the cartridge. This avoids the limitation of the height free space within the cartridge at any position of the cartridge where the tape may be, so that the wider width tape can fit on the cartridge without risk of interference with the notches 132, 133. The rails of double support 135, 136 corresponding to the upper support rail 83 in the first embodiment are then provided in the unit 140 for coupling the notches 132, 133. As in the second embodiment, it is relative space of the inner sides of the upper support rails 135, 136 is such that it holds the upper part of the left and right sides of a standard mini-cartridge. As will be evident, this design has the advantage of allowing the head 138 and the moving head of the unit motor 139 to be left in their traditional positions. A modification of reference point locators similar to those of the second embodiment may be required in unit 140 in accordance with this embodiment. An access opening mechanism such as that shown in Fig. 19 may also be necessary. In Fig. 12, the lines shown in the ribbon packages 142, 143 represent their maximum outer circumference, which is overlapped. The same physical tape packages that in fact do not overlap, because when the tape is wrapped on one package it is not on the other and vice versa. However, the overlap of the maximum tape package diameters in this way can still increase the capacity of the cartridge. The units shown in Figs. 4-13 use several fixed rails or brackets to place multiple size cartridges. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 14-16, at least one of the guide rails is movable. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 14, the right guide rail 151 of the unit 150 is formed by a spring or biased toward the center of the unit by a spring. In use, the right spring rail 151 will then move to the position 151 'to hold a traditional minicart 20, while moving to position 151 to hold a larger cartridge 155 in accordance with the present invention. Note that in this structure, the larger cartridge 155 is provided with both right and left guide grooves. Depending on the shape and placement of the right rail 151, it may be necessary to provide an access opening mechanism such as that shown in Fig. 19. In the embodiment of Fig. 15, the left guide rail 161 of the unit 160 It is formed by a spring or deviated towards the center of the unit by means of a spring. The right guide rail 162 may be formed in the traditional manner, although narrower than the traditional guide rail to allow space to be used by the larger cartridge 165. In operation, the left spring rail 161 moves toward the position 161 'for holding a traditional minicart 20, while moving to position 161 to hold a larger cartridge 165 in accordance with the present invention. Again, both the left and right guide grooves are provided in the larger cartridge. In this embodiment, the right rail 162 can still serve its traditional function as an access opening mechanism.

The advantage of the designs of Figs. 14 and 15 over those of the above embodiments is that the entire cartridge can be of a maximum thickness (height) allowed in the unit. The indentations or indentations for coupling the upper rails or the like are not necessary. This can allow a greater capacity, since the wider tape can be used. In Fig. 14, note that the tape packages 156, 157 not only overlap, they have their masses that are offset from a line parallel to the front face of the cartridge. This may allow an even greater increase in cartridge capacity. In addition to being laterally biased to the spring, the support rails could be deflected vertically to the spring. Fig. 16 - illustrates a cross section taken through a unit 170 with a cartridge 175 containing a notch 176 in its upper surface such as those described above. In this embodiment of the upper support rail 171 of the unit 170 is flexible upwards. This allows different tape cartridges of various thicknesses to be used in the unit. Such a vertical flexible guide rail could be used with any of the modalities described above using a top rail. The top rails could also be placed on the unit access instead of inside the unit. The unit access has been omitted from Figs. 1-16 for clarity. It is included in Figs. 17 and 18. Fig. 17 shows the front face 191 of a unit 190. The bezel 192 can be closed by an access 195. The access 195 is pivotally mounted in the unit 190 in the usual manner and, preferably is biased to spring in a closed position. According to the present invention, the access is provided with shoulders 196, 197 which correspond in position to the edges of the upper rails used in the previous modalities. As will be evident, upon the insertion of a cartridge within the unit 190, the access 195 will pivot upwards, placing the shoulders 196, 197 in the same positions as the upper rails in the previous embodiments, so that it can operate to place a cartridge in substantially the same way as the top rails. While the access has been shown with two shoulders, a unit may use a shoulder mounted on the access with an internal side rail, which uses a flange over the access instead of a shoulder to correspond to a notch in a cartridge instead of a shoulder, or otherwise mix and match the different support structures mentioned above.

As will be evident from the foregoing, the critical factor in the design of the unit and cartridge according to the present invention is that the relative settings of the unit mechanism and the opening of media accesses in the cartridge are kept constant in the variety of cartridges of different sizes. Preferably, the relative positions of the reference points are kept constant as well. The suitable support mechanism can then be defined to ensure that the unit mechanism, the media access opening and the reference points are always properly positioned in relation to the drive motor and the read-write head. As is evident, too, the volume of each cartridge, as well as the center of gravity of each cartridge fits within the unit. This can significantly improve the stability and ease of support of each cartridge 60, especially when compared, for example, with the designs taught by U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,262,860 (Hurtig et al.) And 5,239,436 (Aizawa et al.), Which project substantially from the unit. Numerous modifications of the invention will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art. For example, several alternative rails or support mechanisms different from those described could be used, or various rails and support mechanisms described herein could be combined differently. In the simplest manner, the upper rails and the corresponding notches described above could be on the lower part of the unit cartridge instead of the upper part. Also, insofar as the invention has been shown applied to a tape cartridge driven by a Von Behren type elastic band of minimum size, it is not limited only to that type of cartridge. Can be used with any container of data storage media (which includes cartridges, disks, cassettes or the like) where the relative positions of the drive / control mechanism for moving the media and the media access opening provide access to the unit head towards the media can be held constant between the different sizes It should also be noted that the media access opening can be dimensioned differently in the different modes (for example, with a floppy disk having a larger diameter), while the unit head can reach all the media access openings on all the modalities that are used in the unit. Therefore, it is intended that the present invention be limited only by the following claims.

Claims (38)

1. CLAIMS. A data storage tape cartridge having a housing of a first size, containing data storage tape, a band for moving the tape and a drive disk for moving the web, and the housing having an opening of access means providing access to the tape and a unit opening that provide outside the unit disk, the media access opening and the unit opening being placed on the front face of the housing, characterized in that: a) the positions The relative dimensions of the media access opening and the drive disk are the same as those defined by an industry standard for a data storage tape cartridge having a substantially similar housing, band, tape, and drive, although in a second size; and b) the width of at least a portion of the cartridge housing that is normally placed inside the unit when used with it, is different from the width defined by the industry standard for the analog part of the standard cartridge of the industry. The cartridge according to claim 1, further characterized in that the standard defines the positions of the reference points accessible from outside of a cartridge to allow the precise placement of a cartridge in a unit, and furthermore characterized in that the cartridge has for at least one reference point accessible from the outside of the cartridge having the same position relative to the media access opening and the unit disk with at least one reference point defined by the standard. 3. The cartridge according to claim 2, further characterized in that the cartridge has all the reference points accessible from the outside at the same time as they are defined by the standard. The cartridge according to any of claims 1-3, further characterized in that the support structure is selected from the group consisting of a notch and a shoulder. 5. The cartridge according to any of claims 1-4, further characterized in that the standard defines the sides of a cartridge and the distance between them, and further characterized in that the two support structures are formed in at least one of the upper part and the lower part of the housing, one towards each side of the cartridge, the relative positions of one side of each of the two supporting structures being substantially the same as the relative positions of the sides defined by the standard. 6. The cartridge according to any of claims 1-5, further characterized in that the standard defines the sides of a cartridge, the support grooves formed on each side of the cartridge and the relative positions between the sides and the supporting grooves, and characterized in addition, because a support structure is formed in at least one of the upper part and the lower part of the cartridge housing and a groove is formed on one side of the cartridge housing, the relative positions of one side of the support structure and the groove being substantially the same as the relative positions of a support groove and the opposite side of a cartridge as defined by the standard. The cartridge according to any of claims 1-6, further characterized in that the presence or absence of the support structure prevents the cartridge from being inserted into an inappropriate unit. The cartridge according to any of claims 1-7, further characterized in that the housing contains two masses around which the tape is wound to form the tape packages and the maximum outer circumferences of the tape packages are transposed. The cartridge according to any of claims 1-8, further characterized in that the standard defines a volume in a cartridge to hold a tape, and further characterized in that the cartridge has a larger volume to hold the tape than that defined by the standard. 10. The cartridge according to any of claims 1-9, further characterized in that the standard defines a width for the tape in a cartridge, and further characterized in that the tape in the cartridge is wider than the tape defined by the standard. 11. The cartridge according to any of claims 1-10, further characterized in that the standard defines a height for a central portion of a cartridge, and further characterized in that the center of the cartridge is raised in comparison with the central portion defined by the standard The cartridge according to claim 11, further characterized in that the unit disk is positioned in the raised central portion of the cartridge. 13. The cartridge according to any of claims 1-12, further characterized in that the first size is greater than the second size. 14. A data storage tape cartridge selectively removable in a unit, comprising: a) a housing having an upper part as a lower part and a size; b) a media access opening formed in the housing; c) a unit opening formed in the housing; d) two masses rotatably placed in the housing; e) tape means wound around the masses in the housing to form two tape packages and extending past the media access opening to be accessible from the outside of the housing through the media access opening; f) a drive disk rotatably mounted in the housing and accessible through the unit opening; g) at least one band roller rotatably mounted in the housing on the opposite side of the tape packages to form the unit disk; h) an elastic band wound around the unit disk, the belt packages and the belt roller so that rotation of the unit disk will move the belt; ei) shoulders formed in the upper part of the housing to assist the guide of the cartridge to insertion into the unit, the distance between the shoulders being substantially the same as the distance defined by industry standards for the upper side edges of the housing. a data cartridge having substantially the similar housing, the tape, the band and the unit, although of a different size. The data cartridge according to claim 14, further characterized in that the distance between the upper part and the lower part is substantially the same as the distance defined by the standard for a cartridge. 16. The data cartridge according to any of claims 14-15, further characterized in that the shoulders extend through the entire upper part of the cartridge. 17. A data storage tape cartridge selectively removable in a unit, comprising: a) a cover having a front, back, top and two sides; b) a base plate having upper and lower part, the base plate being mounted to the cover to form a housing, the width of at least a portion of the housing that would normally be placed inside the unit when used with the same, being different from the width defined by the standard of the industry for the analogous part of a cartridge substantially similar in another way; c) a media access opening formed in the housing; d) a unit opening formed in the housing; e) masses rotatably mounted in the housing; f) tape means wound around the two masses in the housing to form two mass packs and extending past the media access opening to be accessible from the outside of the housing through the media access opening; g) a drive disk rotatably mounted in the housing and accessible through the unit opening; h) at least one web roller rotatably mounted in the housing on the opposite side of the tape packages from the drive disk; and i) an elastic band wound around the unit disk, the belt roller and the roller so that the rotation of the unit disk will move the belt. The data storage tape cartridge according to claim 17, further characterized in that the center of gravity of the cartridge is positioned within the housing in a location that would normally be within a unit when used with it. 19. A data storage tape cartridge selectively removable in a unit, comprising: a) a cover having a front, back, top and two sides; b) a base plate having an upper part and a lower part, and having reference points defined on the upper part and the lower part thereof, the base plate being mounted to the cover to form a housing; c) a media access opening formed in the housing; d) a unit opening formed in the housing; e) masses rotatably mounted in the housing; f) tape means wound around the two masses in the housing to form the two dough packages and extending past the access opening of means to be accessible from the outside of the housing through the media access opening; g) a drive disk rotatably mounted in the housing and accessible through the unit opening; h) at least one web roller rotatably mounted in the housing on the opposite side of the tape packages from the drive disk; and i) an elastic band wound around the unit disk, the belt roller and the belt so that the rotation of the unit disk will move the belt. 20. A data storage unit for accessing the media in at least two types of data cartridges, each cartridge having a housing such as, a media access opening, a drive / control mechanism for moving the media with an accessible driven part from outside of the housing, wherein the widths of at least a portion of the cartridge housings that are normally placed within the unit when used with it are different, the relative positions of at least the access opening of the housing. means and the driven part are the same regardless of the other aspects of their size and at least a first type of data cartridge has a support structure formed therein which has the same position relative to the opening of access means and the part driven as a side of a second type of the data cartridge, the unit comprising: a) a head for accessing the media through the opening of the that of means; b) a drive motor engageable with the driven part to drive the drive / control mechanism; c) a support mechanism for coupling the support structure of the first type of data cartridge or the side of the second type of data cartridge for placing the media access opening and the unit / control mechanism of each type of cartridge in a predefined position in relation to the head and the drive motor. 21. The data storage cartridge unit according to claim 20, further characterized in that the first type of cartridge has a second support structure formed in at least one of the upper and lower surfaces of the cartridge on the opposite side of the media access hole from the first support structure, the second type of cartridge has at least a second side, and the side of the second support structure has the same position relative to the media access opening and the driven part of the first type of cartridge as the second side of the second cartridge type has for the media access opening and the driven part of the second type of cartridge, and wherein the unit further comprises a second support mechanism that is engageable with the side of the second support structure when the first type of cartridge is in the unit and engageable with the second side of the second type of cartridge when the second type of cartridge is in the unit. 22. The data storage unit according to claim 20 or 21, further characterized in that the support mechanism in the unit further comprises rails and staggered supports on at least one of the upper and lower sides of the unit having a surface engageable with the side of the support structure when the first type of cartridge is in the unit and engageable with the side of the second type of cartridge when the second type of cartridge is in the unit. 23. The data storage cartridge unit according to any of claims 20-22, further characterized in that the unit comprises a pivotally mounted access, and the support mechanism is mounted on the access. 24. The data storage cartridge unit according to any of claims 20-23, further characterized in that the support mechanism comprises a rail that is movably mounted in the unit, and the unit further comprises a spring deflection. from the rail to the middle part of the unit. 25. The data storage unit according to any of claims 20-24, further characterized in that each type of cartridge has at least one side and the support element comprises a rail having a surface engageable with the side of each one of the different types of cartridge and, a spring to divert the rail towards the center of the unit and in coupling with the side of a cartridge in the unit. 26. The data cartridge storage unit according to any of claims 20-25, further characterized in that the first type of cartridge has a set of reference points defined therein to allow accurate placement of the cartridge in the unit. , and the second type of cartridge has at least some of the same reference points accessible from the outside thereof in the same positions relative to the media access opening and the unit opening according to the points of the first type of cartridge, wherein the unit further comprises at least one attachable rail adapter with at least one corresponding reference point on each type of cartridge for accurately positioning the cartridge in the unit. 27. The data storage cartridge unit according to any of claims 20-26, further characterized • that at least one type of cartridge has a base plate on the lower part thereof, with at least two defined reference points on the base plate to allow precise placement of the cartridge in one unit and with at least one of the reference points being on the opposite side of the base plate from at least one of the reference points , and wherein the unit further comprises a positioner for coupling the reference points to a precise position of the cartridge in the unit.28. The data storage cartridge unit according to any of claims 20-27, further characterized in that the center of gravity of a cartridge would normally be within the unit when the cartridge is inserted into the unit. 29. A data storage cartridge unit for use with a data cartridge, the unit comprising: a) a cartridge receiving area for selectively receiving a cartridge through one end thereof; b) a pivotally mounted unit access adjacent the end of the cartridge receiving and pivotal area between a closed position that closes the end of the cartridge receiving area and an open position that allows a cartridge to be inserted through the end into the cartridge receiving area; and c) a support mechanism formed on one side of the door, the support mechanism that engages a cartridge for guiding the cartridge within the cartridge receiving area when the access is pivoted in the open position. 30. The data storage cartridge unit according to claim 29, further characterized in that the support mechanism comprises shoulders formed on the access face near each side thereof. 31. A data storage cartridge unit for use with a data cartridge, the cartridge comprising: a) a cartridge receiving area for selectively receiving a cartridge through one end thereof; b) a guide mounted on the unit and engageable with an upper portion of a cartridge for guiding the cartridge within the cartridge receiving area, the guide comprising staggered shoulders on each side of the data cartridge receiving area that are formed for coupling the upper sides of a cartridge or shoulders formed on the upper surface of a cartridge. 32. A data storage cartridge unit for use with a data cartridge, the cartridge having an access pivotally mounted therein to be pivotal between an open position and a closed position, access having a main body on one side of the cartridge. pivot and an extension on the other side of the pivot and the unit comprising: a) a cartridge area for selectively receiving a cartridge through one end thereof; b) a bar movably mounted on the unit substantially on the opposite side of the cartridge receiving area from one end, and engageable with the extension of the access of a cartridge to the insertion of the cartridge within the unit; and c) a deflection mechanism to deflect the bar to the access extension while allowing the bar to retract as a cartridge is inserted into the unit far enough to allow proper seating of the cartridge in the unit, while the bar is pressed against the extension of the access firm enough to hold the pivotal access its open position when the cartridge is seated that way. The data storage cartridge unit according to claim 32, further characterized in that the cartridge further includes a spring deflection of the access to its closed position and the deflection mechanism in the unit comprises a spring that is stronger than the spring in the cartridge. 34. The data storage cartridge unit according to claim 32 or 33, further characterized in that the bar is slidably mounted. 35. A data storage cartridge unit for use with a data cartridge, the cartridge having a base plate and at least two reference points defined on opposite sides of the base plate to allow proper placement of the cartridge in the unit , the unit comprising a positioner in the unit for coupling the reference points to the precise position of the cartridge in the unit. 36. The data storage cartridge unit according to claim 35, further characterized in that the positioner comprises a rail adapter mounted on the unit for coupling a defined reference point on the front and on the upper part of the base plate. 37. The unit of. data storage cartridge according to claim 35 or 36, further characterized in that the positioner comprises a locator mounted on the unit for coupling a reference point defined in the lower part of the base plate. 38. A method of manufacturing a unit for handling multiple size cartridges comprising: a) selecting a standard cartridge set for a first cartridge of a type having a housing containing means, an access opening of means formed in the housing through which the means can be accessed from outside the housing, a drive / control mechanism for controlling the movement of the means within the cartridge, and a unit opening formed in the housing through which the mechanism unit / control can be accessed from outside the housing, and in which the relative positions of the media access opening and the cartridge unit opening could be kept constant even if the size or shape of the cartridge was changed from another way; b) designing and assembling a unit chassis having a head and a unit mechanism having the appropriate relative positions for coupling the means and the unit / control mechanism of the first cartridge; c) defining a second cartridge having the same relative positions for the media access opening and the unit opening as defined in the standard, although a different housing size than that defined in the standard and including a support structure which couples the size and position of the sides of the cartridge defined in the standard; d) define and assemble a cartridge support mechanism in the unit that can support both the first and second cartridges in the correct position for coupling the head and the unit / control mechanism of the cartridges of both sizes through the cartridge opening. media access and the unit opening, by coupling the sides of the first cartridge, and the supporting structure of the second cartridge.