Magnetic tape splicing for reducing tape pack distortion

• US 6,338,448 B1
• Filed: 07/14/2000
• Issued: 01/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tandberg Data Corporation
• Original Assignee: Exabyte Corporation (MidgardXXI, Inc.)
• Inventors: Magnusson, Steven L.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, JOHN QUOC
• Application Number:
  US09/617,000
• Time in Patent Office: 550 Days
• Field of Search: 242/341, 242/348, 242/532.1, 242/582, 360/132, 360/134
• US Class Current: 242/341
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/04 Magazines; Cassettes for webs or filamentsG11B23/12 takes precedence ; cassettes with sealing or locking means G11B23/28; dummy cassettes for locking in the drive G11B33/005
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/087 using two different reels or cores
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/20 with provision for splicing to provide permanent or temporary connections
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/26 of leaders for loading or threading, e.g. to form a temporary connection

Abstract

A pack of magnetic recording tape (100) comprises a splicing tape (120) which adheres a web of a magnetic tape (122) to a leader (124). The leader (124) attaches to a reel hub (126) around which the tape is to be wound. The length L of the splicing tape in a direction parallel to an elongate dimension (127) of the magnetic tape is on the order of NπD, where D is the diameter of reel hub and N is an integer. In one embodiment, the length L of splicing tape is just slightly less than the circumference of the reel hub. The tape assembly comprising the combination of the magnetic tape, the leader, and the splicing tape greatly reduces the amount of permanent tape deformation, and provides a more efficient tape pack with smaller discontinuities. Consequentially, the stress on the magnetic tape is greatly reduced, which reduces the amount of permanent deformation and the number of magnetic tape layers that are affected by the deformations. This minimizes the area of the magnetic tape that may be rendered unusable. The tape pack (100) can be utilized in a magnetic tape cassette or cartridge (140), which can be either a dual reel cartridge or a single reel cartridge.

Claims

1. A pack of magnetic recording tape comprising:

a reel hub;

a leader secured to the reel hub;

a web of magnetic recording tape having an elongated dimension;

a splicing tape which secures the web to the leader, the splicing tape having a length L parallel to the elongate dimension of the web, the length L being on the order of Nπ

D, where D is the diameter of the reel hub and N is an integer.

2. The pack of claim 1, wherein the length L is between Nπ

D and Nπ

D-J, and where J is chosen to minimize tape pack deformation.

3. The pack of claim 2, wherein J is between 0.05 mm and 1.0 mm.

4. A cassette of magnetic recording tape comprising:

a cassette housing;

a reel hub rotatably mounted in the cassette housing;

a leader secured to the reel hub;

a web of magnetic recording tape having an elongated dimension;

a splicing tape which secures the web to the leader, the splicing tape having a length L parallel to the elongate dimension of the web, the length L being on the order of Nπ

D, where D is the diameter of the reel hub and N is an integer.

5. The cassette of claim 4, wherein the length L is between Nπ

D and Nπ

D-J, and where J is chosen to minimize the tape pack deformation.

6. The pack of claim 5, wherein J is between 0.05 mm and 1.0 mm.

7. The cassette of claim 4, wherein the cassette has two reel hubs, and wherein the leader is secured to a first of the reel hubs.