Abstract: In order to enable a tape drive machine to be constructed in a housing (30) with low height, a hub (36) which in operation projects from a drive motor (34) into a tape cartridge (10) is retractable into the motor (34) to permit the cartridge (10) to be slid out from the machine in the edgewise direction. In an alternative embodiment, the motor and hub can be slid part-way out of the housing (30). A tape drive machine also discloses indexing of a tape drive head, a path for the tape, threading of the tape, the drive motor, construction of a motor stator, and detection of the beginning and end of tape.

Abstract: A rotary actuator assembly, for use as part of a servomechanism for positioning one or more data recording or data recovering heads over selectable data storage tracks at selectable radii on one or more rotary data storage discs, comprises a head support arm pivoted to rotate with a shaft held betwen two bearings in a yoke, where one of the bearings is a composite bearing allowing both axial and rotational movement of the shaft and the other bearing allows only rotational movement of the shaft, the two bearings co-operating to fix the position of the shaft while allowing its free rotation and allowing axial movement of the shaft whenever axial force exceeds a predetermined limit, thereby preventing undue bearing play or bearing binding attendant upon prior art designs.