Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
  • G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
  • G11B25/00—Apparatus characterised by the shape of record carrier employed but not specific to the method of recording or reproducing, e.g. dictating apparatus; Combinations of such apparatus
  • G11B25/10—Apparatus capable of using record carriers defined in more than one of the sub-groups G11B25/02 - G11B25/08; Adaptor devices therefor

Definitions

• the present invention relates, in general, to a multi random and sequential access media drive for computer memory storage. More particularly, the present invention relates to a dual media drive in a common enclosure of utility in conjunction with random access media, such as microdiskettes (including “floppy” diskettes; “floptical” disks; CDROM's and the like) along with sequential access media such as 1/4" cartridge (“QIC”) tape, 8 mm. tape, digital audio tape (“DAT”) , data cassettes and similar archival storage media.
• random access media such as microdiskettes (including "floppy” diskettes; “floptical” disks; CDROM's and the like) along with sequential access media such as 1/4" cartridge (“QIC”) tape, 8 mm. tape, digital audio tape (“DAT”) , data cassettes and similar archival storage media.
• a microdiskette drive with a tape cartridge backup drive in a single one-half height (1.625") or 1" height drive enclosure and utilizing common motorized media drive and transducer positioner mechanisms for both types of media, a cost-effective solution to the removable media storage needs of personal computers, workstations, file servers and the like is provided while requiring a minimum of user-accessible drive bays.
• microdiskette or floppy disk drive to enable the loading of application software or files to the particular computer system, either for immediate execution or copying to the computer's "fixed”, “rigid”, or hard drive.
• microdiskettes or floppy disks may also be utilized to provide archival storage for the resident software or files.
• the dual media drive of the present invention presents a common drive for writing data to, and/or reading data from both random access media, such as microdiskettes, floppy disk drives, and the like, as well as sequential access media such as QIC tape, and other similar archival storage media.
• the dual media drive of the present invention is also applicable to the use of archival storage media such as 8mm. tape cassettes, DAT, as well as other random-access media, such as floptical disks, CDROM's and the like.
• a combination computer mass storage device random access media and sequential access media drive including a random access data transducer and a sequential access data transducer for reading data from and/or writing data to the random access media and the sequential access media.
• a media drive mechanism is selectable for moving one of the random access media and the sequential access media with respect to the random access data transducer and the sequential access data transducer respectively.
• a transducer positioner mechanism is selectable for positioning one of the random access data transducer and the sequential access data transducer with respect to the random access media and the sequential access media respectively.
• a communications interface couples the random and sequential access data transducers with a computer mass storage device controller for receiving information from, and/or transmitting information to, the random and sequential access data transducers and operatively controls the media drive and transducer positioner mechanisms in response to the controller.
• a combination computer mass storage disk and tape drive having a user- accessible front panel for receiving removable disk and tape media.
• a disk insertion opening in the front panel receives the disk media to enable the drive to read data from, and/or write data to, the disk media.
• a tape insertion opening in the front panel receives the tape media to enable the drive to read data from, and/or write data to, the tape media.
• a media blocker associated with the disk insertion and tape insertion openings has a first disk media insertion blocking position thereof when the tape media is positioned within the tape insertion opening and a second tape media insertion blocking position thereof when the disk media is positioned within the disk insertion opening.
• a combination computer mass storage disk and tape drive having a user-accessible front panel for receiving removable disk and tape media.
• a disk insertion opening in the front panel receives the disk media to enable the drive to read data from and write data to the disk media.
• a tape insertion opening in the front panel receives the tape media to enable the drive to read data from and write data to the tape media.
• the tape insertion opening is superimposed upon the disk insertion opening.
• a combination random and sequential access media drive mechanism for a computer mass storage device which comprises a media drive motor and a random access media drive wheel rotationally coupled to the media drive motor for selectively engaging and moving a random access media with respect *-Q a random access data transducer.
• a seqi ntial access media drive wheel is also rotationally coupled to the media drive motor for selectively engaging and moving a sequential access media with respect to a sequential access data transducer.
• a combination random and sequential access media transducer positioner mechanism for a computer mass storage device which comprises a positioner drive motor and an access arm responsive to the positioner drive motor for selectively positioning a random access data transducer with respect to a random access media.
• a sequential access transducer mount is also responsive to the drive motor for selectively positioning a sequential access data transducer with respect to a sequential access media.
• Fig. 1 is an isometric view of an embodiment of the dual random and sequential access media drive of the present invention in, for example only, a half height (1.625 inches) form factor illustrating the capability provided thereby to selectibly receive and read/write data from/to, for example, a 3.5" microdiskette and a QIC tape cartridge;
• Fig. 2 is an additional isometric view of the embodiment of Fig. 1 illustrating the positioning of, for example, a QIC tape cartridge within the sequential access media insertion opening of the dual media drive of the present invention;
• Fig. 3 is a further isometric view of the embodiment of Fig. 1 illustrating the positioning of, for example, a 3.5" microdiskette within the random access media insertion opening of the dual media drive of the present invention
• Fig. 4 is an additional isometric view of the embodiment of Fig. 1 with the drive cover and associated electronics assembly forming the drive communications interface partially cut away along with other structural elements to illustrate the interrelationship of the primary internal components thereof;
• Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the embodiment of Fig. 1 taken substantially along section line 5-5 thereof and illustrating the combined media drive mechanism and the combined random and sequential access media transducer positioner mechanism;
• Fig. 6 is a side plan view of the embodiment of Fig. 5 taken substantially along section line 6-6 thereof and illustrating the tape read/write head actuator assembly and the microdiskette read/write transducer or head;
• Fig. 7 is an additional top plan view of the embodiment of Fig. 1 illustrating the engagement of the combined media drive mechanism shown in Fig. 5 in conjunction with a QIC tape cartridge (shown in phantom) for moving the tape media within the cartridge and the tape read/write head actuator assembly for positioning the tape read/write head with respect to the moving tape media;
• Fig. 8 is an additional side plan view of the embodiment of Fig. 7 taken substantially along section line 8-8 thereof and further illustrating the tape read/write head actuator assembly in conjunction with a QIC tape cartridge inserted within the sequential access media opening of the dual media drive of the present invention
• Fig. 9 is a partially cut-away detailed side plan view of the combined media drive mechanism taken substantially along section line 9-9 of Fig. 7 illustrating the frictional engagement of the tape cartridge drive wheel with the internal cartridge puck for moving the tape media within the cartridge;
• Fig. 10 is a partially cut-away detailed isometric view of the combined media drive mechanism illustrating the spring bias loading of the mechanism for urging the tape cartridge drive wheel against the internal cartridge puck and the microdiskette drive wheel and associated drive pin for rotatably moving the random access media within the microdiskette;
• Fig. 11 is a partially cut-away detailed isometric view of the tape read/write head actuator assembly for positioning the tape read/write head with respect to the tape media in response to the combined random and sequential access media transducer positioner mechanism motor;
• Fig. 12 is an additional top plan view of the embodiment of Fig. 1 illustrating the engagement of the microdiskette drive wheel of the combined media drive mechanism shown in Fig. 5 in conjunction with a microdiskette (shown partially in phantom) for moving the microdiskette media with respect to the position of the microdiskette read/write head;
• Fig. 13 is an additional side plan view of the embodiment of Fig. 12 taken substantially along section line 13-13 thereof and further illustrating the microdiskette read/write heads in conjunction with a microdiskette inserted within the random access media opening of the dual media drive of the present invention;
• Fig. 14 is a partially cut-away detailed side plan view of the embodiment of Fig.
• Fig. 15 is a detailed, partially cut-away isometric view of the combined random and sequential access media transducer positioner mechanism of the embodiment of Fig. 1 utilizing a single motor driven lead screw for positioning the microdiskette read/write head radially of the microdiskette media as it moves rotationally with respect thereto and for positioning the tape read/write head transversely to the tape media as it moves longitudinally with respect thereto;
• Fig. 16 is a partially cut-away detailed side plan view of the embodiment of Fig. 12 taken substantially along section line 16-16 thereof and illustrating the microdiskette read/write heads in association with the rotating media of a microdiskette;
• Fig. 17 is a partially cut-away detailed isometric view of the media blocker of the present invention associated with the random and sequential access media insertion openings of the embodiment of the present invention shown in Fig. 1 and illustrating the blocking of the random access media insertion opening in response to the positioning of a tape cartridge within the sequential access media insertion opening;
• Fig. 18 is an additional partially cut-away detailed isometric view of the media blocker of the present invention associated with the random and sequential access media insertion openings of the embodiment of the present invention shown in Fig. 1 and illustrating the blocking of the sequential access media insertion opening in response to the positioning of a microdiskette within the random access media insertion opening;
• Fig. 17 is a partially cut-away detailed isometric view of the media blocker of the present invention associated with the random and sequential access media insertion openings of the embodiment of the present invention shown in Fig. 1 and illustrating the blocking of the sequential access media insertion opening in response to the positioning of a microdiskette within the random access media insertion opening;
• FIG. 19 is an isometric view of another embodiment of the dual random and sequential access media drive of the present invention in, for example only, a 1" height form factor in which the random and sequential access media insertion openings may be superimposed upon each other and thereby obviating the media blocker of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1-18;
• Fig. 20 is a simplified side plan view of the embodiment of Fig. 19 taken substantially along section line 20-20 and illustrating a combined media drive mechanism in accordance with the present invention in conjunction with a microdiskette and tape cartridge (both shown in phantom) which may be individually positioned within the combined random and sequential access media insertion opening thereof; and
• Fig. 21 is a simplified side plan view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 20 and illustrating, by means of a combined random and sequential access media transducer positioner mechanism in accordance with the present invention utilizing an alternative gear drive to position the tape read/write head, the positioning of the microdiskette and tape read/write heads with respect to a microdiskette and tape cartridge (both shown in phantom) which may be individually positioned within the combined random and sequential access media insertion opening thereof.
• Dual media drive 30 comprises, in pertinent part, an enclosure 32 having a front panel 34 as shown.
• Front panel 34 of dual media drive 30 includes a microdiskette insertion opening 36 which functions as a random access media insertion opening.
• Front panel 34 of dual media drive 30 also comprises a tape cartridge opening 38 which functions as a sequential access media insertion opening.
• Front panel 34 also includes a microdiskette release button 40 and a drive activity light 42 associated with the functional operation of the dual media drive 30.
• microdiskette 50 which includes a media access end 52 for positioning within microdiskette opening 36.
• Microdiskette 50 also includes an opposite end 54 as shown.
• Microdiskette 50 which in the embodiment illustrated may be a 3.5" floppy disk, also includes a media protection cover 56 or “shutter” including a media access window 44.
• Microdiskette 50 further comprises a write-protection aperture 58 to allow the user to selectively preclude "writes" to the microdiskette 50 to prevent overwriting files thereon. It is important to note that in the embodiment illustrated and hereinafter described, microdiskette 50 will be described with respect to a standard 3.5" device. However, it is to be clearly understood that microdiskette 50 may be any other form of removable random access media, such as 5.25" diskettes, floptical devices, CDROM devices, and the like, and the principles of the invention are likewise applicable thereto.
• tape cartridge 60 which includes a media access side 62 for positioning within tape cartridge insertion opening 38 of front panel 34.
• Tape cartridge 60 further includes an opposite side 64 and a media protection cover 66 or "door.”
• Tape cartridge 60 may also include a write protection slide 68 to preclude writes to the media of tape cartridge 60 as required. It should further be noted that, although in the embodiment illustrated and hereinafter described, tape cartridge 60 is shown with respect to a QIC format, other sequential access media such as 1/2" tape,
• dual media drive 30 also includes a media blocker door 70 which is normally disposed to occlude tape cartridge insertion opening 38.
• media blocker door 70 includes a tape cartridge face 72.
• tape cartridge face 72 of media blocker door 70 Upon positioning of a tape cartridge 60 within tape cartridge insertion opening 38, tape cartridge 60 at its media access side 62 thereof, will interact with tape cartridge face 72 of media blocker door 70 such that the latter will rotate upwards resulting in microdiskette face 74 appearing in the microdiskette insertion opening 36 as shown in Fig. 2 to preclude insertion of a microdiskette 50 while a tape cartridge 60 is inserted within the tape cartridge insertion opening 38 of dual media drive 30.
• insertion of a microdiskette 50 within microdiskette insertion opening 36 of dual media drive 30 is able to be effectuated at any time that a tape cartridge 60 is not positioned within tape cartridge insertion opening 38.
• the functionality of media blocker door 70 with respect to the embodiment of dual media drive 30 as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 will be more fully described hereinafter.
• Dual media drive 30 comprises, in pertinent part, a media drive mechanism 100 which functions as a combined media drive mechanism as well as a media transducer positioner mechanism 102 functioning as a combined random and sequential access media transducer positioner mechanism.
• the electronics assembly comprising a communications interface 48 for coupling signals from/between the dual media drive 30 data transducers, the media drive mechanism 100 and the media transducer positioner mechanism 102 with a storage controller is shown and the functionality thereof is in accordance with existing electronics assemblies for individual microdiskette and tape drives having their duplicative circuit elements and functionality combined herein.
• the communications interface 48 may be positioned anywhere within, or even without, the enclosure 32 of dual media drive 30 and need not be positioned in a generally overlying relationship to the functional elements as shown in the particular embodiments or the present invention shown in Figs. 1-18.
• Media drive mechanism 100 comprises a media drive motor 104 for rotatably driving a motor drive wheel 108 about axis 106.
• Media drive motor 104 in combination with motor drive wheel 108, is secured to a drive mechanism mount 110 which may be pivotally secured to enclosure sidewall 112 of enclosure 32 by means of a pivot pin 114 as shown.
• Mount 110 is biased away from enclosure sidewall 112 by means of loading spring 116 in this particular embodiment.
• a media drive mechanism 100 in accordance with the present invention may also utilize a sliding mount or pivot about a different axis.
• Motor drive wheel 108 as driven by media drive motor 104, frictionally engages microdiskette drive wheel 118 to directly drive the same.
• Microdiskette drive wheel 118 circumferentially surrounds and is secured to shaft 120 journaled within bearing 128 affixed to mount 110 as shown in Fig. 9.
• Microdiskette drive wheel 118 further utilizes the shaft 120 and a drive pin 122 for engaging a centering hole and slotted opening respectively within the portion of microdiskette 50 utilized for rotatably moving the magnetic media therein.
• Shaft 120 as driven by motor drive wheel 108 through microdiskette drive wheel 118, is also circumferentially surrounded by, and affixed to, tape drive wheel 124 for moving the media in a tape cartridge 60 as will be more fully described hereinafter.
• mount 110 further includes a locking pin hole 126 which functions to maintain media drive mechanism 100 in a fixed position when being utilized to move the media within a microdiskette 50.
• media drive mechanism 100 as biased to enclosure sidewall 112 by means of loading spring 116, moves about pivot pin 114 when being utilized to move the media in a tape cartridge 60.
• the media transducer positioner mechanism 102 comprises, in pertinent part, a positioner drive motor 134 affixed to an enclosure wall 136 of enclosure 32 as shown. Positioner drive motor 134 drives a lead screw 138 having a distal end thereof journaled within support 140 adjacent tape read/write head 132.
• the media transducer positioner mechanism 102 is utilized to position both upper and lower microdiskette read/write heads 130 as well as tape read/write head 132 with respect to the moving media of a microdiskette 50 and tape cartridge 60 respectively, as driven by media drive mechanism 100.
• access arm 142 (comprising upper and lower cantilevered arms to which the microdiskette read/write heads 130 are affixed) is caused to be moved radially of the rotating media within a microdiskette 50.
• Lead screw 138 which comprises a number of concave threads 200 helically disposed along the length thereof, is engaged by a protruding member at a distal end 204 of post 202 as shown best with respect to Fig. 15.
• the protrusion at the distal end 204 of post 202 is designed to engage the concave threads 200 of lead screw 138 such that when positioner drive motor 134 rotates bi-directionally, access arm 142 will be caused to advance either radially inward or radially outward from the rotating media within microdiskette 50.
• access arm 142 is affixed to a sleeve 144 which surrounds a slide shaft 148 in order to assure that access arm 142, and hence microdiskette read/write heads 130 accurately track radially of the rotating medium of microdiskette 50.
• a head loading spring 146 which is affixed to one portion of slide shaft 148 is utilized to provide a downward bias force to "load" the distal end 204 of post 202 to lead screw 138 when a microdiskette 50 is present.
• head mount lifting arm 168 and lift arm 198 shown in Fig.
• FIGs. 11 and 15 the portion of the media transducer positioning mechanism 102 which relates to the utilization of dual media drive 30 with respect to a tape cartridge 60 is shown.
• the concave threads 200 engage a protrusion 206 formed upon the structure of head actuator slide 152.
• Head actuator slide 152 further presents a guide slot 188 for engaging a guide bar 186 affixed to under surface 184 of enclosure 32 which results in head actuator slide 152 moving longitudinally of lead screw 138 as positioner drive motor 134 rotates.
• a stop 194 functions to maintain alignment of the tape head mount 154 by acting as a stop thereto in response to loading spring 156.
• head actuator slide 152 causes it to position itself along guide bar 186 between a generally ramp shaped tape head mount 154 as biased toward under surface 184 by means of a loading spring 156.
• Tape head mount 154 includes a tongue 158 for slidably engaging within a guide 160 affixed to under surface 184 in order to maintain tape read/write head 132 in a generally fixed vertical and parallel plane with respect to the moving tape media of a tape cartridge 60.
• An aperture 190 is also provided within under surface 184 to allow the tape read/write head 132 the necessary range of motion to accurately track each track or the media of a tape cartridge 60.
• Loading spring 156 is affixed to a spring mounting tang 162 as shown best with respect to Fig. 11, and has one end secured within spring retaining slot 192 adjoining enclosure wall 136 and its opposite end adjoining tape head mount 154 to bias it toward under surface 184.
• the bi-directional rotation of lead screw 138 by means of positioner drive motor 134 causes a resultant bi-directional longitudinal motion of head actuator slide 152.
• the bi-directional longitudinal motion of head actuator slide 152 causes, in turn, a concomitant reciprocating motion of tape read/write head 132 in a direction transverse to the motion of the tape media within a tape cartridge 60.
• tape read/write head 132 can track the plurality of recording tracks on the tape media, which in the example of a QIC tape cartridge, may be on the order of 28 tracks.
• the utilization of the dual media drive 30 of the preceding figures is shown with respect to a tape cartridge 60 positioned within tape cartridge insertion opening 38 thereof.
• the media protection cover 66 is caused to open in a conventional manner, thereby exposing tape 178 to the tape read/write head 132 in order that data may be read from or written to the media thereof.
• Tape cartridge 60 is maintained within the tape cartridge insertion opening 38, and the tape 178 in contact with tape read/write head 132, by means of cartridge locking wheel 172 which engages slot 174 of tape cartridge 60.
• media drive mechanism 100 By means of loading spring 116, media drive mechanism 100 is caused to be biased in its entirety toward the tape cartridge 60 such that the tape drive wheel 124 engages the internal puck 176 within the tape cartridge 60 with an appropriate force. Thereafter, as motor drive wheel 108 causes microdiskette drive wheel 118 in combination with shaft 120 and tape drive wheel 124 to rotate, the puck 176 will be rotated within tape cartridge 60 thereby moving the tape 178.
• the position of the write protection slide 68 of tape cartridge 60 may be sensed by means of the combination emitter 180 and associated sensor 182 in order to provide an indication to the dual media drive 30 communications interface 48 as to whether or not the tape cartridge 60 is "write protected" or not.
• a microdiskette 50 within the microdiskette insertion opening 36 of front panel 34 is effectuated by inserting media access end 52 of microdiskette 50 until the media protection cover 56 is intercepted by a shutter actuation arm 166 which is spring-loaded about pivot 164.
• Shutter actuation arm 166 causes the media protection cover 56 to move to a position such that media access window 44 allows microdiskette read/write heads 130 to read data from or write data to the random access media of microdiskette 50 when fully inserted into the dual media drive 30.
• FIG. 15 With particular reference additionally to Fig. 15, the operation for "loading” and “unloading” the microdiskette read/write heads 130 is shown in more detail. Until the insertion of a microdiskette 50 within microdiskette insertion opening 36, upper surface 224 forming a portion of head mount lifting arm 168 engages lower surface 226 forming part of lift arm 198. In this configuration, the combination of the upper and lower portions of access arm 142 with their respective read/write heads 130 are displaced upwardly from the plane to be occupied by a microdiskette 50.
• the resulting insertion force causes the head mount lifting arm 168 to rotate about pivot 164, thereby disengaging upper surface 224 from its engagement with lower surface 226 of lift arm 198.
• lifting arm 168 continues to rotate, the inclined plane 170 is moved to a position in which to engage head lift wedge 196.
• distal end 203 of post 202 is biased to descend to a position in which it is brought into engagement with the threads 200 of lead screw 138 from a previous position in which it is normally disengaged therefrom.
• the embodiment of the dual media drive 30 illustrated utilizes a second hinge and load spring to load the upper portion of access arm 142 to the media of a microdiskette 50 through conventional techniques
• the interaction of head mount lifting arm 168 with lift arm 198 can be utilized to effectuate this purpose as well by incorporating a separate hinge and pivot associated with the sleeve 144 in order to ensure that the lower portion of access arm 142 is riot also lifted.
• microdiskette 50 Removal of microdiskette 50 will disengage shutter actuation arm 166 from the media protection cover 56 and, due to the spring loading of the lift arm 168 about pivot 164, upper surface 224 will return to alignment with lower surface 226 of lift arm 198 thereby raising lift arm 198.
• the realignment of the upper surface 224 of head mount lifting arm 168 with lower surface 226 of lift arm 198 causes the disengagement of the protrusion on the distal end 204 of post 202 with the concave threads 200 of the lead screw 138.
• the media transducer positioner mechanism 102 only effectuates the positioning of the access arm 142 and the microdiskette read/write heads 130 when a microdiskette 50 is fully inserted within microdiskette insertion opening 36.
• the distal end 204 of post 202 is normally disengaged from lead screw 138 such that the media transducer positioner mechanism does not position the microdiskette read/write heads 130 when the dual media drive 30 of the present invention is used in conjunction with a tape cartridge 60.
• a microdiskette 50 within microdiskette insertion opening 36 also causes the locking of the media drive mechanism 100 to provide a stable rotational platform for the media of microdiskette 50.
• the stabilization of the media drive mechanism 100 is effectuated by means of a locking pin 210 which is biased in a generally upward position by means of a leaf spring 212 physically coupled between locking pin 210 and under surface 184 as shown. Insertion of a microdiskette 50 into the dual media drive 30 of the present invention causes a downward pressure to be placed against spring 212 at microdiskette end 214 of locking pin 210.
• This downward pressure on locking pin 210 causes an opposite end 216 of locking pin 210 to engage and be retained within locking pin hole 126 as has been previously illustrated with respect to Fig. 10.
• the media drive mechanism 100 is stabilized.
• Removal of microdiskette 50 from the dual media drive 30 of the present invention allows locking pin 210 to return to its normally “up” position by means of spring 212 thereby disengaging opposite end 216 from locking pin hole 126, thereby allowing media drive mechanism 100 to return to a function useful in conjunction with a tape cartridge 60 whereby media drive mechanism 100 remains in a spring loaded condition with respect to enclosure sidewall 112 by means of loading spring 116.
• Media blocker door 70 is operable between a first media blocking position when a tape cartridge 60 is inserted within tape cartridge insertion opening 38 and a second media blocking position when a microdiskette 50 is inserted within microdiskette insertion opening 36.
• the media blocker door 70 will normally leave microdiskette insertion opening 36 open and tape cartridge opening 36 closed when neither a microdiskette 50 nor a tape cartridge 60 is inserted within dual media drive 30.
• Media blocker door 70 includes a tape cartridge face 72 which engages media access side 62 of a tape cartridge 60 upon the positioning of a tape cartridge 60 within the tape cartridge insertion opening 38.
• the engagement of media access side 62 with tape cartridge face 72 causes media blocker door 70 to pivot about pivot points 76, thereby causing microdiskette face 74 to be positioned to block the insertion of a microdiskette 50 within microdiskette insertion opening 36.
• dual media drive 30 may be utilized by only one or the other of a microdiskette 50 or tape cartridge 60 at one time.
• Removal of tape cartridge 60 from tape cartridge insertion opening 38 allows media blocker door 70 to rotate downwardly about pivot points 76 such that microdiskette face 74 no longer blocks microdiskette insertion opening 36 and tape cartridge face 72 now occludes tape cartridge insertion opening 38.
• Media blocker door 70 may be biased to this latter position by means of gravity, a spring, or other known means.
• FIG. 19 With reference now to Figs. 19, 20, and 21, an embodiment of an alternative dual media drive 222 is shown.
• alternative dual media drive 222 like structure to that previously described with respect to the dual media drive 30 of Figs. 1-18 is like numbered and the foregoing description thereof shall suffice herefor.
• a rack and pinion gear drive 228 is shown forming part of the media transducer positioner mechanism 102 in conjunction with positioning of a tape read/write head 132 in response to rotational motion of lead screw 138.
• gear ratios for gear drive 2208 any number of tape width/track number configurations may be accommodated with respect to a given tape cartridge 60.
• the gear drive 228 may also be utilized with respect to the previously described embodiment of Figs. 1-18 in lieu of the correspondingly functional structure of the media transducer positioner mechanism 102 described and shown.
• Alternative dual media drive 222 is distinguished by the superimposition of the microdiskette insertion opening 36 and tape cartridge insertion opening 38 of the dual media drive 30 previously described into a single combined microdiskette/tape cartridge insertion opening 230.
• the height of alternative dual media drive 222 may be further reduced from that previously shown and described and may therefore be conveniently provided in either a half-height (1.625"), one inch height, or smaller form factor.
• microdiskette 50 or tape cartridge 60 within the combined microdiskette/tape cartridge opening 230 will, of necessity, preclude the simultaneous insertion of a tape cartridge 60 or microdiskette 50.
• Alternative dual media drive 222 is also distinguished by utilizing a single drive wheel to function as both the microdiskette drive wheel 118 and tape drive wheel 124 of the embodiments of Figs. 1-18.
• the dual media drive 30 and alternative dual media drive 222 of the present invention combine a microdiskette drive with a tape cartridge backup drive conveniently within a single half-height, or one inch height or smaller drive enclosure.
• the dual media drive of the present invention utilizes a common motorized media drive and transducer positioner mechanism for both types of media. In this manner, a cost-effective solution to the removable media storage needs of personal computers, workstations, file servers and the like is provided while utilizing a minimum number of user accessible drive bays.

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Citations (6)

• 1994
  • 1994-05-27 WO PCT/US1994/005993 patent/WO1994029853A1/en active Application Filing
  • 1994-06-09 TW TW83105256A patent/TW275688B/zh active

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