Claims
- 1. An improved data cartridge base plate of the type in which a flat metallic base plate is used for providing component mounting for high quality operation of a data cartridge tape, wherein the base plate comprises a sheet of aluminum having an anodized, insulative coating on both major surfaces, said sheet having been leveled and dimensioned to have a designated width, blanked to have a pin insertion aperture surface defining a plurality of pin insertion apertures extending perpendicularly through the width of the plate, each pin insertion aperture having a substantially uniform size with an error tolerance of less than 0.0005 inch (0.0127 millimeter), and subsequently stippled to relieve stresses built up therein to further improve flatness, said thus formed base plate ensuring that
- i) during the subsequent manufacture of a data cartridge, no treatment of the base plate need occur between the formation of said apertures and the insertion of pins therein, such that the flatness and allowed precise match between the aperture dimensions and the outside dimension of the pins results in precise perpendicularity of the pins with respect to the plane of the base plate and
- ii) the resultant base plate has non-coated edge surfaces which may subsequently facilitate ready electrical contact to the base plate, allowing the dissipation of electrostatic charges as may otherwise build up in the cover of a completed data cartridge.
- 2. An improved data storage tape cartridge comprising a flat metallic base plate and component parts mounted on the plate, including pins that are nominally perpendicular to the plate and which support and facilitate tape transfer within the cartridge; the major surfaces of the plate being covered by a protective coating; the plate containing holes in which said pins are mounted; the surfaces of the plate defining said holes being free of the protective coating at the time the pins are inserted into the holes, whereby the holes, and the pins inserted in the holes, have a precise perpendicularity to the plate.
- 3. A cartridge of claim 2 in which the exterior edge surface of the plate is also free of the protective coating.
- 4. A cartridge of claim 2 in which the plate is stippled after the protective coating is applied.
- 5. A cartridge of claim 2 in which the plate comprises aluminum and the protective coating comprises an anodized coating on the aluminum.
- 6. An improved data storage tape cartridge comprising a flat aluminum base plate and component parts mounted on the plate, including pins that are nominally perpendicular to the plate and which support and facilitate tape transfer within the cartridge; the major surfaces of the plate being covered by a protective anodized coating; the plate containing holes in which said pins are mounted; the surfaces of the plate defining said holes being free of the protective coating at the time the pins are inserted into the holes, whereby the holes, and the pins inserted in the holes, have a precise perpendicularity to the plate; the exterior edge surface of the plate also being free of the protective coating; and the plate being stippled after the protective coating is applied.
- 7. A data cartridge base plate made by the steps of:
- a) providing a sheet of aluminum having an anodized, insulative coating on both major surfaces;
- b) leveling and dimensioning said sheet to form a flat plate having a designated thickness;
- c) blanking the flat plate to form a data cartridge base plate having a pin insertion aperture surface defining a plurality of pin insertion apertures extending perpendicularly through the thickness of the plate, each pin insertion aperture having a substantially uniform size with an error tolerance of less than 0.0005 inch (0.0127 millimeter);
- d) stippling the thus formed base plate to provide enhanced flatness thereto,
- the use of a preanodized sheet thereby ensuring that no treatment of the sheet need occur between the formation of said apertures and the insertion of pins therein, such that a precise match between the aperture dimensions and the outside dimension of the pins may be maintained, the step of stippling after dimensioning maximizing the relief of stress, the resultant improved flatness facilitating precise perpendicularity of the pins with respect to the plane of the base plate, and the post anodizing step of leveling and dimensioning results in non-coated edge surfaces of the resultant base plate, thereby facilitating ready electrical contact to the base plate, allowing the dissipation of electrostatic charges as may otherwise buildup in the cover of a completed data cartridge.
Parent Case Info
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/887,536 filed May 21, 1992, abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (6)
Non-Patent Literature Citations (3)
Entry |
"Coil Anodizing Defined-A Technical Guide to Pre-Anodized Aluminum," Continuous Coil Anodizing Association, (1989). (No Month avail). |
"Pre Finish Metals Inc., The Inside Story," Pre Finish Metals, Inc., (brochure). (No date Avail). |
Coil Anodizers Inc. (brochure). (No date avail). |
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
887536 |
May 1992 |
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