Cleaning apparatus for a tape drive machine with a mechanism to select between a capstan cleaning configuration and a head cleaning configuration

摘要

A cleaning cassette for cleaning a tape drive unit having a capstan and a read/write head is disclosed. The cleaning cassette includes a housing, a reciprocating head cleaner, and a capstan cleaner. The housing is arranged and configured to be received within the tape drive unit. The housing has a forward side to oppose the capstan and head once the cleaning cassette is placed within the unit, and a rearward side opposite the forward side. The reciprocating head cleaner is coupled within the housing and includes a drive mechanism that is engageable with the capstan of the drive unit. The capstan cleaner is also engageable with the capstan of the drive unit and is coupled to the housing. The capstan cleaner includes a capstan-cleaning element and a cleaning activation mechanism. The cleaning activation mechanism is for selecting a capstan- cleaning configuration, wherein the capstan-cleaning element abuts the capstan, or a head-cleaning configuration wherein the drive mechanism engages the capstan.