Abstract: A magnetic recording head positioning assembly includes a coarse travel carriage secured to and spaced away from each of a front end assembly and head assembly via sandwiched fine guiding flexures and isolation flexures. The fine guiding flexures permit relative movement between the coarse travel carriage and head assembly. The isolation flexures permit relative movement between the coarse travel carriage and front end assembly. The fine guiding and isolation flexures thus isolate the coarse travel carriage from the front end assembly and head assembly. The assembly further includes dampers sandwiched between the coarse travel carriage and isolation flexures to limit movement of the isolation flexures.

Abstract: A linear actuator for linearly positioning a recording head in a data storage mechanism. The disclosed linear actuator includes an electrically conductive coil having first and second parts that are both wound in the same rotary direction about an axis, and a magnet spaced from the electrically conductive coil by an air gap. Transmission of an electric current through the first part of the electrically conductive coil in a first current flow direction about the axis and through the second part of the electrically conductive coil in an opposite second current flow direction about the axis induces linear movement of one of the electrically conductive coil and magnet relative to the other of the electrically conductive coil and magnet.

Abstract: A linear actuator for linearly positioning a recording head in a data storage mechanism. The disclosed linear actuator includes an electrically conductive coil having first and second parts that are both wound in the same rotary direction about an axis, and a magnet spaced from the electrically conductive coil by an air gap. Transmission of an electric current through the first part of the electrically conductive coil in a first current flow direction about the axis and through the second part of the electrically conductive coil in an opposite second current flow direction about the axis induces linear movement of one of the electrically conductive coil and magnet relative to the other of the electrically conductive coil and magnet.

Abstract: A linear actuator for linearly positioning a recording head in a data storage mechanism. The disclosed linear actuator includes an electrically conductive coil having first and second parts that are both wound in the same rotary direction about an axis, and a magnet spaced from the electrically conductive coil by an air gap. Transmission of an electric current through the first part of the electrically conductive coil in a first current flow direction about the axis and through the second part of the electrically conductive coil in an opposite second current flow direction about the axis induces linear movement of one of the electrically conductive coil and magnet relative to the other of the electrically conductive coil and magnet.

Abstract: A linear actuator for linearly positioning a recording head in a data storage mechanism. The disclosed linear actuator includes an electrically conductive coil having first and second parts that are both wound in the same rotary direction about an axis, and a magnet spaced from the electrically conductive coil by an air gap. Transmission of an electric current through the first part of the electrically conductive coil in a first current flow direction about the axis and through the second part of the electrically conductive coil in an opposite second current flow direction about the axis induces linear movement of one of the electrically conductive coil and magnet relative to the other of the electrically conductive coil and magnet.

Abstract: A magnetic recording head positioning assembly includes a coarse travel carriage secured to and spaced away from each of a front end assembly and head assembly via sandwiched fine guiding flexures and isolation flexures. The fine guiding flexures permit relative movement between the coarse travel carriage and head assembly. The isolation flexures permit relative movement between the coarse travel carriage and front end assembly. The fine guiding and isolation flexures thus isolate the coarse travel carriage from the front end assembly and head assembly. The assembly further includes dampers sandwiched between the coarse travel carriage and isolation flexures to limit movement of the isolation flexures.

Abstract: A linear actuator for linearly positioning a recording head in a data storage mechanism. The disclosed linear actuator includes an electrically conductive coil having first and second parts that are both wound in the same rotary direction about an axis, and a magnet spaced from the electrically conductive coil by an air gap. Transmission of an electric current through the first part of the electrically conductive coil in a first current flow direction about the axis and through the second part of the electrically conductive coil in an opposite second current flow direction about the axis induces linear movement of one of the electrically conductive coil and magnet relative to the other of the electrically conductive coil and magnet.

Abstract: A device for recording and/or reading data to and/or from a magnetic tape includes a read/write head which has a first device set including a first plurality of magnetic data write and/or read elements and a second device set including a second plurality of magnetic data write and/or read elements. The device also includes a lateral positioning actuator and an azimuth actuator. The lateral positioning actuator and azimuth actuator are used together to position both device sets on the magnetic tape. The lateral positioning actuator laterally positions the read/write head such that during write and/or read operations the first and second pluralities of magnetic data write and/or read elements align laterally to first and second pluralities of recordable and/or readable data tracks on the magnetic tape. The azimuth actuator rotates the read/write head about an azimuthal angle. such that the elements align to lateral spacings.

Abstract: A rotary actuator for positioning a recording head in a data storage mechanism and that includes first and second cylindrical subassemblies separated by an air gap. One of the subassemblies includes a magnetically conductive core with an electrically conductive coil wrapped thereover to enable first and second current flow directions in the circuit. The other of the subassemblies includes a magnetically conductive core and at least one magnet secured thereto. Transmission of an electric current through the electrically conductive coil induces rotation of one of the subassemblies relative to the other of the subassemblies to rotate the recording head about an axis that is perpendicular to recording media on the recording head. The disclosed rotary actuator facilitates quick and accurate recording head position changes due to low inertia of the rotating subassembly as well as reduced inductance and symmetrical mass distribution of the actuator.

Abstract: A magnetic recording head positioning assembly includes a coarse travel carriage secured to and spaced away from each of a front end assembly and head assembly via sandwiched fine guiding flexures and isolation flexures. The fine guiding flexures permit relative movement between the coarse travel carriage and head assembly. The isolation flexures permit relative movement between the coarse travel carriage and front end assembly. The fine guiding and isolation flexures thus isolate the coarse travel carriage from the front end assembly and head assembly. The assembly further includes dampers sandwiched between the coarse travel carriage and isolation flexures to limit movement of the isolation flexures.

Abstract: A linear actuator for linearly positioning a recording head in a data storage mechanism. The disclosed linear actuator includes an electrically conductive coil having first and second parts that are both wound in the same rotary direction about an axis, and a magnet spaced from the electrically conductive coil by an air gap. Transmission of an electric current through the first part of the electrically conductive coil in a first current flow direction about the axis and through the second part of the electrically conductive coil in an opposite second current flow direction about the axis induces linear movement of one of the electrically conductive coil and magnet relative to the other of the electrically conductive coil and magnet.

Abstract: A recording head assembly that includes two side-by-side and separately actuated heads. To increase tape capacity while controlling tape mis-registration, write elements are provided in two subsets with a first subset provided on a first of the two heads and a second subset provided on the second of the two heads. The two subsets are offset a distance along the direction of travel for a tape (or horizontal offset) while the two subsets of write elements are also offset along the longitudinal axes of the heads (or bumps on the heads) such that a first subset acts as the upper half of the write element set and a second subset acts as the lower half of the write element set. The subsets of write elements simultaneously writes data, and a similar arrangement can be provided for two subsets of read elements that are aligned with the write elements.

Abstract: A rotary actuator for positioning a recording head in a data storage mechanism and that includes first and second cylindrical subassemblies separated by an air gap. One of the subassemblies includes a magnetically conductive core with an electrically conductive coil wrapped thereover to enable first and second current flow directions in the circuit. The other of the subassemblies includes a magnetically conductive core and at least one magnet secured thereto. Transmission of an electric current through the electrically conductive coil induces rotation of one of the subassemblies relative to the other of the subassemblies to rotate the recording head about an axis that is perpendicular to recording media on the recording head. The disclosed rotary actuator facilitates quick and accurate recording head position changes due to low inertia of the rotating subassembly as well as reduced inductance and symmetrical mass distribution of the actuator.

Abstract: A device for recording and/or reading data to and/or from a magnetic tape includes a read/write head which has a first device set including a first plurality of magnetic data write and/or read elements and a second device set including a second plurality of magnetic data write and/or read elements. The device also includes a lateral positioning actuator and an azimuth actuator. The lateral positioning actuator and azimuth actuator are used together to position both device sets on the magnetic tape. The lateral positioning actuator laterally positions the read/write head such that during write and/or read operations the first and second pluralities of magnetic data write and/or read elements align laterally to first and second pluralities of recordable and/or readable data tracks on the magnetic tape. The azimuth actuator rotates the read/write head about an azimuthal angle. such that the elements align to lateral spacings.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for a tape head actuator having a guide bearing preload mechanism, wherein the preload mechanism utilizes a magnet or magnets and an elongated steel member. These magnetic components interact to produce a force that is selectively directed to preload the guide bearings. In addition, the magnetic components produce a field used to shield the tape head from stray magnetic fields. In a useful embodiment of the invention, directed to apparatus for a tape transducer positioning mechanism, a carriage is disposed for movement along a path of travel relative to a support structure, to selectively position a tape transducer. One or more bearings are joined to the carriage, to support the carriage for movement along the path of travel.

Abstract: In a tape data storage arrangement, a magnetic detent is provided to maintain a tape read/write head in selected positions with respect to the tape, during data transfer. The tape is mounted on a carriage movable between first and second positions, with respect to a support structure, and a detent member is fixably joined to the support structure. First and second detent components mounted on the carriage engage the detent member by means of a magnetic force, when the carriage is moved to the first and second positions, respectively. Usefully, the detent member is a magnet and the first and second components comprise steel. Alternatively, the detent member comprises steel, and the first and second components are both magnets.