Abstract: A system, method and an article of manufacture to provide more accurate magnetic tape servo operation are disclosed. Accurate measurements of the width of the servo pattern written on the magnetic tape are accomplished in the presence of relatively large motion of the magnetic tape. The accurate measurements of the width of the servo pattern are used to produce a corrected position error signal that provides improved servo track following to maintain the tape head at an optimal alignment for writing and reading data tracks on the tape.

Abstract: A zoned sequential track format is shown and described which reduces the number of head switches during disk drive read/write operations. A band of selected tracks that form a data recording zone or a portion of such a zone are organized into an odd number of track sequences with each sequence being resident on a single disk surface. In the embodiment of a drive with an even number of data surfaces, the tracks within the band on one surface are partitioned to form two track sequences. This can readily be accomplished using 2-cylinder skipping to have each sequence contain alternate tracks across the band. By having each track sequence accessed during a generally radial passage of the transducer over the band, the odd number of track sequences causes the transducers to be adjacent the next successive band when the last track sequence of the current band has been accessed. Incrementing between bands is effected by an access between tracks on the same data surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for loading and unloading air-bearing sliders relative to their respective disk surfaces in a data recording disk file includes an elongated rod mounted on the disk file actuator arm for flexing the suspensions and attached sliders away from their respective disk surfaces. The elongated rod is located in the central longitudinal openings of the actuator arm and is movable to a first position by means of a lever when the lever is contacted by a rotatable cam supported on the disk file frame. When the cam is rotated out of engagement with the lever, a spring forces the rod out of engagement with the suspensions, thereby permitting the suspensions to act in the conventional manner to bias the sliders toward their respective disk surfaces. The sliders are thus only loaded and unloaded relative to the disk surfaces when the disks are rotating at a speed sufficient to prevent the sliders from sticking to the disk surfaces.

Abstract: In a disk cartridge in which a sheet-like recording medium is fixed to the periphery of a circular center plate which has an approximately square center hole and an almost rectangular eccentric driving hole, and a cartridge rotatably accommodating the sheet-like recording medium and including an upper half and a lower half having a turntable insertion hole in which the circular center plate is loosely fitted; the sheet-like recording medium is positioned in the cartridge by restricting the movement of the circular center plate at the central portion thereof, so that the diameter of the circular center plate can be substantially decreased and aberration of tracking or the like during recording or reproducing is avoided as much as possible.

Abstract: A disc unit for recording or reproducing information on or from a recording/reproducing disc loaded therein, in which the disc, which is inserted into the disc unit through an insertion opening thereof is transferred to its operative position and the loaded disc is transferred from its operative position toward the insertion opening, through which the disc is discharged. The loaded disc is clamped at its operative position by the clamping mechanism. The single driving motor is selectively coupled to either one of the disc transfer mechanism or the clamping mechanism. The loaded disc can be discharged manually from the unit by controlling the rotating axis of the single driving motor from the outside of the unit. The insertion opening is shielded automatically when the loading is completed by the shielding plate. The plate may display a sign "LOADED". The recording/reproducing disc may be a magnetic disc or an optical disc.