In order to reduce the possibility of occurrence of retraction of a cleaning member during cleaning of a magnetic head and the possibility of the cleaning member not being able to return to a retraction position due to stopping part way, the cleaning enabling device is provided with: a holding member having a first surface capable of holding the cleaning member for cleaning the magnetic head, and a second surface capable of lifting a magnetic tape from the magnetic head; a transmission part which transmits a first driving force for driving a first driving member; and a first force application part which applies, to the holding member, a first force in a direction that causes the cleaning member to remain in the retraction position when the cleaning member is in the retraction position and releases the first force when the cleaning member is drawn away from the retraction position.

A system, according to one embodiment, includes: a plurality of tape reels; and a tape drive configured for reading data from tape stored on at least one of the plurality of tape reels. At least some of the tape reels have a tape wound thereon and a spring-like clip coupled to a free end of the tape. Moreover, the clip is selectively positionable in a wrapped position where the clip wraps around a portion of the tape when the tape is wound onto the reel, thereby holding the portion of the tape in place on the reel.

A data storage tape cartridge includes a housing having a reel within and rotatably supported by the housing. Two or more data storage tapes are wound up on the same rotary axis of the reel. Each subsequent winding of a first one of the tapes is separated from the previous winding of the first tape by at least another one of the other tapes. A leader pin is attached to a free end of each of the tapes. The leader pins may be connected to one another. The leader pins may be disconnected from one another as part of process for mounting the cartridge in a tape drive.

A data storage tape cartridge includes a housing having a reel within and rotatably supported by the housing. Two or more data storage tapes are wound up on the same rotary axis of the reel. Each subsequent winding of a first one of the tapes is separated from the previous winding of the first tape by at least another one of the other tapes. A leader pin is attached to a free end of each of the tapes. The leader pins may be connected to one another. The leader pins may be disconnected from one another as part of process for mounting the cartridge in a tape drive.

A product, according to one embodiment, includes: a tape spool having: a first flange, a second flange, and a circular hub sandwiched between the first and second flanges. The tape spool also includes a cylindrical compliance layer which encircles the hub. The compliance layer is configured to dampen radial stress exerted on the hub by a tape wound around the hub. A product, according to another embodiment, includes: a tape cartridge having: an outer housing, and a tape spool positioned within the outer housing. The tape spool further includes: a first flange, a circular hub coupled to the first flange, and a cylindrical compliance layer which encircles the hub. A magnetic tape is also wrapped around the compliance layer and the hub. Moreover, the compliance layer is configured to dampen radial stress exerted on inner wraps of the magnetic tape.

A product, according to one embodiment, includes: a tape spool having: a first flange, a second flange, and a circular hub sandwiched between the first and second flanges. The tape spool also includes a cylindrical compliance layer which encircles the hub. The compliance layer is configured to dampen radial stress exerted on the hub by a tape wound around the hub. A product, according to another embodiment, includes: a tape cartridge having: an outer housing, and a tape spool positioned within the outer housing. The tape spool further includes: a first flange, a circular hub coupled to the first flange, and a cylindrical compliance layer which encircles the hub. A magnetic tape is also wrapped around the compliance layer and the hub. Moreover, the compliance layer is configured to dampen radial stress exerted on inner wraps of the magnetic tape.

A product, according to one embodiment, includes: a tape spool having: a first flange, a second flange, and a circular hub sandwiched between the first and second flanges. The tape spool also includes a cylindrical compliance layer which encircles the hub. The compliance layer is configured to dampen radial stress exerted on the hub by a tape wound around the hub. A product, according to another embodiment, includes: a tape cartridge having: an outer housing, and a tape spool positioned within the outer housing. The tape spool further includes: a first flange, a circular hub coupled to the first flange, and a cylindrical compliance layer which encircles the hub. A magnetic tape is also wrapped around the compliance layer and the hub. Moreover, the compliance layer is configured to dampen radial stress exerted on inner wraps of the magnetic tape.

Various embodiments relate to methods for loading and unloading a tape storage medium. According to one embodiment, a method for loading a tape storage medium includes positioning a mechanized take-up reel with respect to a tape supply reel, positioning a feature coupled to a tape storage medium on the tape supply reel with respect to the mechanized take-up reel, rotatably decoupling an inner hub of the mechanized take-up reel from an outer hub of the mechanized take-up reel, extending a tongue of the mechanized take-up reel, engaging the tongue with the feature, retracting the tongue and feature into the outer hub, and nonrotably coupling the inner hub with the outer hub.

Various embodiments relate to methods for loading and unloading a tape storage medium. According to one embodiment, a method for loading a tape storage medium includes positioning a mechanized take-up reel with respect to a tape supply reel, positioning a feature coupled to a tape storage medium on the tape supply reel with respect to the mechanized take-up reel, rotatably decoupling an inner hub of the mechanized take-up reel from an outer hub of the mechanized take-up reel, extending a tongue of the mechanized take-up reel, engaging the tongue with the feature, retracting the tongue and feature into the outer hub, and nonrotably coupling the inner hub with the outer hub.

A noncontact communication device includes a processor, and a transmission and reception device that applies a magnetic field to a noncontact storage medium mounted in a magnetic tape cartridge to induce power in the noncontact storage medium and is coupled to the noncontact storage medium by electromagnetic induction to perform transmission and reception of information with the noncontact storage medium. The noncontact storage medium has a measurement circuit that measures the power, and transmits power information regarding the power measured by the measurement circuit to the noncontact communication device. The transmission and reception device receives the power information, and the processor is configured to execute support processing of supporting the transmission and reception based on the power information received by the transmission and reception device.