Cartridge tape door opening apparatus for use with tape cartridges having differing size formats

摘要

A cartridge tape door opener for DC2000 and TRAVAN tape cartridges. The present invention utilizes a rotatable arm to engage a rear edge of a tape door located on the tape cartridges. The interaction of the rotatable arm with the tape door edge causes the tape door to rotate open allowing access to magnetic tape inside the tape cartridge by a read/write head. This rotatable arm is spring loaded such that once the tape door is opened, the arm can be moved to the side and out of the way of an TRAVAN tape cartridge. When a DC2000 tape cartridge is used, the rotatable arm acts as a fixed door opening rail and does not rotate. By utilizing this new tape door opener, both types of tape cartridges may be used in a single tape drive.