Half Inch Tape Cartridge




Half Inch Tape Cartridge

Magnetic tape reels are suitable for use only with large and medium size computers. The same magnetic tape is used in smaller computer system in the form of cartridges. Tape cartridges look very similar to audio or video cassettes used in familiar home music or video systems. Their tape drives are also very similar in look and mechanical operation to the audio or video players in our homes. We push/eject a tape cartridge inside/from a tape cartridge inside/from a tape drive just as we push/eject a videotape cassette player. Tape cartridges provide a more convenient way to package tape. They also simplify mounting of tape on tape as compared to magnetic tape reels. Moreover, tape cartridges provide protection against dirt and contamination because the tape on which we record data is sealed inside the cartridge.

Tape was an important medium for primary data storage in early computers, typically using large open reels of 7-track, later 9-Track tape. Modern magnetic tape is most commonly packaged in cartridges and cassettes, such as the widely supported Linear Tape-Open (LTO) and IBM 3592 series. The device that performs the writing or reading of data is called a tape drive. Autoloaders and tape libraries are often used to automate cartridge handling and exchange. Compatibility was important to enable transferring data.