Tape cartridge with remove to operate tape and hubs

摘要

A tape cartridge includes a first rotatable hub and a second rotatable hub. The first hub and the second hub are wound so that they are substantially full of the flexible recording tape. The flexible tape between the first and second hub crosses a centerline including the two hubs. Both the first rotatable hub and the second rotatable hub are removable from the cartridge. The hubs have a flange with a conical edge which nests into a first opening and a second opening in the tape cartridge with conical receiving surfaces. The conical edges have a plurality of reliefs therein to form conical teeth within each of the first and second hub. The conical teeth of one of the hubs engages the reliefs of the other hub to seal the cartridge and to support the tape between the hubs. The cartridge also includes a base, a latch for engaging the first rotatable hub and the second rotatable hub. A cartridge cover covers the latch and base. The tape cartridge is placed into a tape drive for reading and writing to tape media within a tape cartridge. The tape drive includes an apparatus for removing the first hub and second hub from the tape cartridge. The tape drive also includes a first spindle attached to a first arm and a second spindle attached to a second arm. The arms move the first spindle and the second spindle between a hub receiving position and a functional position. In the functional position, the first spindle and the second spindle position the tape near the transducer in a transducing relationship. Each of the spindles may include a hub flange extension or a tape packer.