• Use Cleaning Tape (Orange): A steady light means the drive needs cleaning.
• Operate Handle (Green): A steady light means you can move the handle to
insert or remove tape. A blinking light means a cartridge load fault. You can
move the handle when the light is blinking.
All four lights blinking simultaneously indicates a fault condition.
To Load
To Unload
WriteProtectedTape in Use
Use Cleaning
Tape
Operate
Handle
Unload
TF85
Wait
Light
Open this
Handle
Insert Tape
Close this
Handle
Press Button
Wait
Light
Open this
Handle
Remove Tape
Cartridge Insert/
Release Handle
Bus Node
ID Plug
Write-Protected
Orange
Tape In Use
Yellow
Use Cleaning Tape
Orange
Operate Handle
Green
MLO-006543
Unload
Button
5
To operate the drive properly, you must carefully monitor the indicators. The
instructions for inserting and removing cartridges, which appear later in this
section, tell you what should happen at each step. Tables near the end of this
section summarize indicator and control combinations.
3.1.2.1 Operation of the Drive
The TF-series tape drive operates like a reel-to-reel tape deck. Inside the drive
is a take-up reel with a leader attached. Inside the cartridge is a reel containing
the magnetic tape and a leader. When you insert the cartridge and push in
the handle, the leader in the drive automatically couples with the leader in the
cartridge, and the tape winds onto the take-up reel. The coupling and winding
process is called loading. When the loading is complete, the tape is ready to use.
3–12 Operating the System Options
