Abstract: A tape drive is provided having a pair of stationary guide assemblies disposed symmetrically about the magnetic read/write head. Each of the stationary guide assemblies has a mounting portion and a separate guide surface portion mounted on the mounting portion. The mounting portion may be made of a plastic and the guide surface portion of a ceramic, for example. A spring arrangement with pressure pads is mounted directly on the mounting portion, and applies pressure to a top edge of a tape during guiding of the tape.

Abstract: A tape drive with a tape guiding assembly guides tape past the read/write head along a tape path. First and second inner guide rollers are disposed along the tape path on opposite sides of the read/write head and adjacent to the read/write head. First and second outer guides are disposed along the tape path on opposite sides of the read/write head. The inner guides are positioned off-centered with respect to the nominal tape path, while the outer guides are centered on the nominal tape path. The inner guides are adjustable in height and in radial direction to adjust the off-center position of the inner guides, as well as the tape wrap and penetration of the read/write head into the tape.

Abstract: A head positioner arrangement for a tape drive includes a head positioner with a guidance system and a prime mover system, and a floating nut that is positioned between the prime mover system and the guidance system. The floating nut has a three-point contact to the prime mover system. The three-point contact absorbs errors from the prime mover system and prevents these errors from interfering with the guidance system.

Abstract: A tape head assembly for high-speed and high-density multi-channel read-while-writing (RWW) operation comprises two modules bonded together. The modules are initially formed on an integral unit and gapped in pair, to produce a good reference surface, which insures that the finished head assembly will meet tight azimuth and gap tolerances. The unit is then machined to two separate the modules. Further processing involves individually machining the head surface of each module to achieve desired contours. The machined modules are tested and brought together in the positional arrangement required to form the final head assembly. In disclosed embodiments, the overall contour enables the assembly to skive air and debris off a surface of the magnetic tape before passage of the tape over the transducers. The contour allows the tape to fly over outriggers, but contacts regions at or around the transducers with a low constant contact pressure during RWW operation.

Abstract: A tape drive is provided having a pair of stationary guide assemblies disposed symmetrically about the magnetic read/write head. Each of the stationary guide assemblies has a mounting portion and a separate guide surface portion mounted on the mounting portion. The mounting portion may be made of a plastic and the guide surface portion of a ceramic, for example. A spring arrangement with pressure pads is mounted directly on the mounting portion, and applies pressure to a top edge of a tape during guiding of the tape.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for loading tape from a single reel tape cartridge into a take-up reel. The hub filler is securely and releaseably attached to the take-up reel upon the hub filler entering the take-up reel. This attachment provides adequate securement between the hub filler and the take-up reel for the tape to be wrapped around the take-up reel during loading of the tape without the hub filler partially ejecting from the take-up reel. By preventing the hub filler from partially ejecting from the take-up reel, damage to the tape and the tape drive loading mechanism is mitigated. Upon unloading of the tape from the tape drive, the hub filler can be readily released from its attachment to the take-up reel.

Abstract: An arrangement for loading a tape from a removable tape cartridge into a take-up reel has a hub filler that is frictionlessly guided from a removable tape cartridge to a take-up reel utilizing a roller element attached to the bottom of the hub filler. The roller element prevents the wearing down of the guide pin and allows for accurate and reliable picking up and dropping off of tape at the tape cartridge.

Abstract: In an automatic tape loader mechanism, for example for a digital tape storage system, the forces of registration springs intended to engage notches in a tape cartridge are de-rated prior to and/or during insertion of a tape cartridge into the loader. The preferred embodiment utilizes two registration springs mounted on a cartridge shuttle. When the shuttle is in its initial position for loading and unloading of the cartridge, the distal end of each spring engages a ramp formed on the support of the loader housing. This engagement deflects the springs away from the cartridge and thereby reduces the force necessary to insert the cartridge. To reduce scraping, the springs preferably carry rollers to engage the walls and registration notches of the cartridge.

Abstract: A method of loading a tape from a single reel tape cartridge into a take-up reel. Position sensors detect position of a guide arm as a tape loading mechanism loads and unloads tapes from a single reel tape cartridge. The position sensors are accurate and eliminate problems that occur from small misalignments of hub filler access with the access of the take-up reel. Further, the position sensors enable the hub filler to consistently attach to a leader pin at the end of the tape of the single reel tape cartridge without frequent malfunctions.

Abstract: A head positioning apparatus for positioning a magnetic head in a multi-track tape drive is provided. The apparatus has a voice-coil, a movable carriage supporting the magnetic head and the voice coil, and a center magnetic pole housed in an interior of the voice coil. A pair of outer magnetic poles are positioned opposite each other about the voice coil. First and second flexures are each attached at opposing ends to the outer magnetic poles and in a central portion to the movable carriage. Each of the first and second flexures have one slot near where the first and second flexures are attached to the outer magnetic poles and a pair of slots positioned opposite each other about the area where the first and second flexures are attached to the movable carriage. The first and second flexures each have a plurality of reduced thickness areas and a plurality of increased thickness areas. Each of the increased thickness areas is positioned between adjacent ones of the reduced thickness areas.

Abstract: An automatic tape cartridge loader includes a moveable shuttle, for receiving the tape cartridge, and elements for automatically actuating the shuttle during loading and unloading operations. The shuttle includes a door-opening feature, preferably formed as an integral element of one wall of the shuttle. The door-opening feature engages a sliding tape access door on one side of a tape cartridge, as the cartridge is inserted into the shuttle. The preferred embodiment of the shuttle also includes one or more extruded features formed on an opposite wall of the shuttle to justify the cartridge within the shuttle and thereby ensure engagement of the door-opening feature with the access door during cartridge insertion. These features are passive elements, in that they require no mechanical or electrical actuation or any parts that are moveable relative to the shuttle. Instead, these elements rely entirely on the movement of the cartridge into the shuttle to open the access door.

Abstract: In an automatic tape cartridge loader, separating the tape from the drive motor during unloading often imposes a high torque requirement on the loader motor, for example to overcome magnetic forces strengthening engagement of the cartridge to the motor. The inventive loader utilizes one or more techniques to assist in separation of the cartridge from the motor gear. One technique involves two compression springs on the base, which apply a force opposing movement of the cartridge shuttle to its cartridge-loaded position and assist in movement of the shuttle from that position during unloading. Another technique utilizes a special cam and follower arrangement to apply different lifting forces on opposite sides of the shuttle, at least during initial movement to unload the cartridge.

Abstract: To provide accurate measurement of rotational velocity and an adequate bandwidth for servo control as a function of the measurement over a wide range of velocities, the present invention utilizes unique speed computation algorithms based on a combination of fine and coarse shaft velocity measurements from a tachometer. The preferred embodiments utilize control signals derived from the velocity measurements to control motor speed, for example, to provide servo control of a digital tape drive. The preferred embodiments utilize an optical encoder coupled to a reel-shaft to generate tachometer pulses as the shaft rotates. The coarse measurement may actually take two different forms for different speed ranges. In one range, this measurement involves counting the number of pulses in a sampling interval. In the other range, the coarse measurement entails counting the number of sampling intervals per detection of a tachometer pulse.

Abstract: An automatic tape cartridge loader includes a moveable shuttle, for receiving the tape cartridge, and elements for automatically actuating the shuttle during loading and unloading operations. The shuttle includes a door-opening feature, preferably formed as an integral element of one wall of the shuttle. The door-opening feature engages a sliding tape access door on one side of a tape cartridge, as the cartridge is inserted into the shuttle. The preferred embodiment of the shuttle also includes one or more extruded features formed on an opposite wall of the shuttle to justify the cartridge within the shuttle and thereby ensure engagement of the door-opening feature with the access door during cartridge insertion. These features are passive elements, in that they require no mechanical or electrical actuation or any parts that are moveable relative to the shuttle. Instead, these elements rely entirely on the movement of the cartridge into the shuttle to open the access door.

Abstract: An automatic tape cartridge loader includes a moveable shuttle, for receiving the tape cartridge, and elements for automatically actuating the shuttle during loading and unloading operations. The shuttle includes a door-opening feature, preferably formed as an integral element of one wall of the shuttle. The door-opening feature engages a sliding tape access door on one side of a tape cartridge, as the cartridge is inserted into the shuttle. The preferred embodiment of the shuttle also includes one or more extruded features formed on an opposite wall of the shuttle to justify the cartridge within the shuttle and thereby ensure engagement of the door-opening feature with the access door during cartridge insertion. These features are passive elements, in that they require no mechanical or electrical actuation or any parts that are moveable relative to the shuttle. Instead, these elements rely entirely on the movement of the cartridge into the shuttle to open the access door.

Abstract: A tape cartridge loader includes a moveable shuttle, for receiving the tape cartridge, and unique elements for actuating the shuttle during loading and unloading operations. The actuating elements occupy minimal space within the loader. Also, these elements provide forces intended to assist in separating the cartridge from the tape drive gear during unloading, so as to require minimal torque from the loader motor during initial operation for unloading a tape cartridge. In the preferred embodiment, the loader includes a substantially flat, rotatable actuator arm. The arm includes a groove, the edges of which serve as cam profiles. These profiles drive a bearing attached to a conveyor to move the conveyor along a linear path during loading and unloading operations. The groove edges are contoured to maintain substantially 90° contact with a circumference of the bearing. This actuator also preferably includes an impact buffer spring.

Abstract: A method of loading a tape from a single reel tape cartridge into a take-up reel. Position sensors detect position of a guide arm as a tape loading mechanism loads and unloads tapes from a single reel tape cartridge. The position sensors are accurate and eliminate problems that occur from small misalignments of hub filler access with the access of the take-up reel. Further, the position sensors enable the hub filler to consistently attach to a leader pin at the end of the tape of the single reel tape cartridge without frequent malfunctions.

Abstract: A tape cartridge is provided with reliable reel lock and motor/reel coupling mechanisms whose functions are both accomplished during a single motion of the cartridge relative to the drive motor. The motor/reel coupling includes a circular set of gear teeth on the bottom of the tape reel which meshes with a complementary set of gear teeth on a motor coupling rotated by the motor when the cartridge is loaded into the tape drive and the cartridge and motor are moved towards each other. An engagement force to maintain the coupling is provided by an engagement spring in the cartridge which biases the reel towards the motor. Reel locking is accomplished by providing a second circular set of gear teeth on a top side of the tape reel which meshes with a complementary set of gear teeth provided on a slidably mounted locking bracket inside the tape cartridge. A lock spring normally biases the locking bracket towards the top of the tape reel, thus locking the reel when the cartridge is not engaged with the motor.

Abstract: An apparatus for calibrating a tape drive that includes a rotating scanner for reading the tracks on the tape and a tape drive servo for transporting the tape in response to a control signal. The apparatus includes a signal generator and a controller. The signal generator generates an indexing signal based on the rotational position of the scanner. The controller is coupled to the scanner, the tape drive servo and the signal generator, and provides a control signal to the tape drive servo causing the tape drive servo to transport the tape at either above or below a nominal speed. The controller detects an envelope for each of a plurality of scanned signals and the sub code data within each of the scanned signals, determines an envelope measurement for each envelope based on at least one sample magnitude of the envelope and measures a delay time for each of the scanned signals. The delay time is based on the indexing signal and the detection of the sub code data.

Abstract: A reel-to-reel tape system stops movement of the tape during a power loss situation without overrun by one of the tape reels and without causing undue stress upon the tape itself. If rotational momentum of the supply reel is sensed to be disproportionately larger than the momentum of the take-up reel, supply motor back emf for dynamically braking the supply reel is applied while also driving the take-up reel in the direction of rotation in which it operated when the power source was discontinued. An appropriate amount of tension is maintained on the tape until the tape motion has come to a complete stop. A capacitor large enough to supply the power needed to provide current to the power bridge of the motor drivers is provided. The capacitor is charged upon power up of the drive and is not tapped unless and until the normal supply voltage of the motor drivers is turned off.