BELT-DRIVEN DATA CARTRIDGE WITH PACK BELT

摘要

A pack belt or similar mechanism is provided in a two-hub, belt-driven data cartridge to press against the tape pack on the take-up side of the cartridge when approximately half of the tape has wound onto that hub. The added load from this pressure reduces the speed of the take-up hub, which in turn reduces the speed differential between the two hubs. Since the speed differential between the hubs causes a gradient in tape tension (bow-tie) as the tape is moved from BOT to EOT, this reduces or eliminates the bow-tie. Adjustment of the relative tensions between the drive belt and the pack belt allows adjustment of the bow-tie, ranging from the normal bow-tie, to near zero bow-tie, to a negative bow-tie. Coating one side each of the drive belt and the pack belt, then having the coated side of the drive belt contact the uncoated side of the pack belt further reduces bow-tie. Combining the pack belt with self-acting hydrodynamically lubricated guides significantly improves the efficiency of the cartridge/drive system at low tape travel speeds.