Low profile tape drive for driving a mini-data cartridge

Abstract

A magnetic tape drive for driving magnetic tape in a cartridge of the type in which a driven roller in an exposed edge of the cartridge moves the tape past a read/write head in the drive. A drive roller in the drive is rotated by a motor. The drive roller engages an idler capstan which, in turn, engages the driven roller in the cartridge.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A magnetic tape drive for driving magnetic tape in a cartridge of the type in which a driven roller in said cartridge moves said tape past a read/write head in said .[.driven.]. .Iadd.drive.Iaddend., said drive comprising: a motor,   a drive roller driven by said motor; an idle capstan engaged by said drive roller and engaging said driven roller through an opening in said cartridge when said cartridge is inserted into said drive to move said tape past said read/write head; and   a pivoted arm, said idler capstan being mounted on said arm, said arm being biased so that said idler capstan is biased into engagement with said driven roller when said cartridge is insertd into said drive.   
     
     
       2. The magnetic tape drive recited in claim 1 wherein said motor is mounted .[.on.]. .Iadd.to .Iaddend.said pivoted arm. 
     
     
       3. The magnetic tape drive recited in claim 2 wherein said drive roller and said idler capstan are mounted in side by side relationship on said motor. 
     
     
       4. The magnetic tape drive recited in claim 1 wherein said magnetic head is mounted on a rail for movement transverse to the longitudinal direction of said tape. 
     
     
       5. The magnetic tape drive recited in claim 4 futher comprising: a frame for said drive, said motor, said drive roller and said capstan being movably mounted in said frame.   
     
     
       6. The tape drive recited in claim 5 further comprising: a head mount integrally molded with said frame, said rail on which said magnetic head moves being mounted on said head mount, said head mount being flexibly attached to said frame so that the azimuth of said magnetic head with respect to longitudinal movement of said tape can be adjusted by moving said mount with respect to said frame.   
     
     
       7. The tape drive recited in claim 5 wherein said frame is plastic; said drive further comprising:   a flexible metal mounting bracket connected to said frame, said bracket having means for attachment to a computer enclosure, said metal bracket providing electrical grounding for said drive.   
     
     
       8. The magnetic tape drive recited in claim 1 wherein said cartridge is generally rectangular in shape and has two reels upon which said tape is wound and unwound, said driven roller being mounted in an exposed edge of said cartridge. 
     
     
       9. The magnetic tape drive recited in claim 8 wherein said cartridge has a belt interconnecting said driven roller and said reels.