Abstract: Tape media life is increased by dynamically controlling a turn around point (TAP) on the tape media for either an end of a tape wrap or a directional change from a first longitudinal position tape section to a second longitudinal position tape section for reducing damage to the tape media caused by debris by monitoring the TAP for all tape media motion and adjusting tape deceleration for maintaining the TAP to be located at the second longitudinal position tape section.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a tape movement constraint comprises a tiltable tape roller bearing having a grooved surface adapted to contact and engage a surface of the tape as the roller barrel rotates. An actuator adapted to pivot the roller bearing surface controls the lateral position of a tape. In operation, in one embodiment, the roller barrel of the roller bearing is rotated by engaging a surface of the tape roller barrel with a longitudinally moving magnetic tape. At least a portion of any air bearing between the moving tape and the barrel surface is quenched using grooves formed in the barrel surface. The lateral position of the moving tape is sensed and the rotating roller barrel is tilted in response to the sensed lateral position of the moving tape to control the lateral position of the moving tape. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A tape movement constraint for a tape drive system, comprises a tiltable tape roller bearing having a grooved surface adapted to contact and engage a surface of the tape as the roller barrel rotates, and an actuator adapted to pivot the roller bearing surface when the actuator is actuated, to control the lateral position of a tape. In operation, in one embodiment, a roller barrel of the tiltable roller bearing is biased in a first position on a pivot axis, using magnetic attraction between a movable magnet and a return path structure of magnetically permeable material. The roller barrel is pivoted on the pivot axis by conducting current through a fixed coil to generate a magnetic field which is conducted by the return path structure to interact with the magnetic field of the magnet. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A tape movement constraint for a tape drive system, comprises a tiltable tape roller bearing having a grooved surface adapted to contact and engage a surface of the tape as the roller barrel rotates, and an actuator adapted to pivot the roller bearing surface when the actuator is actuated, to control the lateral position of a tape. In operation, in one embodiment, a roller barrel of the tiltable roller bearing is biased in a first position on a pivot axis, using magnetic attraction between a movable magnet and a return path structure of magnetically permeable material. The roller barrel is pivoted on the pivot axis by conducting current through a fixed coil to generate a magnetic field which is conducted by the return path structure to interact with the magnetic field of the magnet. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Tape media life is increased by dynamically controlling a turn around point (TAP) on the tape media for either an end of a tape wrap or a directional change from a first longitudinal position tape section to a second longitudinal position tape section for reducing damage to the tape media caused by debris by monitoring the TAP for all tape media motion and adjusting tape deceleration for maintaining the TAP to be located at the second longitudinal position tape section.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a tape movement constraint comprises a tiltable tape roller bearing having a grooved surface adapted to contact and engage a surface of the tape as the roller barrel rotates. An actuator adapted to pivot the roller bearing surface controls the lateral position of a tape. In operation, in one embodiment, the roller barrel of the roller bearing is rotated by engaging a surface of the tape roller barrel with a longitudinally moving magnetic tape. At least a portion of any air bearing between the moving tape and the barrel surface is quenched using grooves formed in the barrel surface. The lateral position of the moving tape is sensed and the rotating roller barrel is tilted in response to the sensed lateral position of the moving tape to control the lateral position of the moving tape. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A tape movement constraint for a tape drive system, comprises a tiltable tape roller bearing having a grooved surface adapted to contact and engage a surface of the tape as the roller barrel rotates, and an actuator adapted to pivot the roller bearing surface when the actuator is actuated, to control the lateral position of a tape. In operation, in one embodiment, a roller barrel of the tiltable roller bearing is biased in a first position on a pivot axis, using magnetic attraction between a movable magnet and a return path structure of magnetically permeable material. The roller barrel is pivoted on the pivot axis by conducting current through a fixed coil to generate a magnetic field which is conducted by the return path structure to interact with the magnetic field of the magnet. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A tape movement constraint for a tape drive system, comprises a tiltable tape roller bearing having a grooved surface adapted to contact and engage a surface of the tape as the roller barrel rotates, and an actuator adapted to pivot the roller bearing surface when the actuator is actuated, to control the lateral position of a tape. In operation, in one embodiment, a roller barrel of the tiltable roller bearing is biased in a first position on a pivot axis, using magnetic attraction between a movable magnet and a return path structure of magnetically permeable material. The roller barrel is pivoted on the pivot axis by conducting current through a fixed coil to generate a magnetic field which is conducted by the return path structure to interact with the magnetic field of the magnet. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a tape movement constraint comprises a tiltable tape roller bearing having a grooved surface adapted to contact and engage a surface of the tape as the roller barrel rotates. An actuator adapted to pivot the roller bearing surface controls the lateral position of a tape. In operation, in one embodiment, the roller barrel of the roller bearing is rotated by engaging a surface of the tape roller barrel with a longitudinally moving magnetic tape. At least a portion of any air bearing between the moving tape and the barrel surface is quenched using grooves formed in the barrel surface. The lateral position of the moving tape is sensed and the rotating roller barrel is tilted in response to the sensed lateral position of the moving tape to control the lateral position of the moving tape. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a tape movement constraint comprises a tiltable tape roller bearing having a grooved surface adapted to contact and engage a surface of the tape as the roller barrel rotates. An actuator adapted to pivot the roller bearing surface controls the lateral position of a tape. In operation, in one embodiment, the roller barrel of the roller bearing is rotated by engaging a surface of the tape roller barrel with a longitudinally moving magnetic tape. At least a portion of any air bearing between the moving tape and the barrel surface is quenched using grooves formed in the barrel surface. The lateral position of the moving tape is sensed and the rotating roller barrel is tilted in response to the sensed lateral position of the moving tape to control the lateral position of the moving tape. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a tape movement constraint for a tape drive system, comprises a tiltable tape roller bearing having a roller barrel biased in a first position on a pivot axis, using magnetic attraction between a movable magnet and a return path structure of magnetically permeable material. The roller barrel is pivoted on the pivot axis by conducting current through a fixed coil to generate a magnetic field which is conducted by the return path structure to interact with the magnetic field of the magnet. At least a portion of any air bearing between the moving tape and the barrel surface is quenched using grooves formed in the barrel surface. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a tape movement constraint for a tape drive system, comprises a tiltable tape roller bearing and an actuator adapted to pivot the roller bearing surface when the actuator is actuated, to control the lateral position of a tape. In operation, in one embodiment, the roller barrel of the roller bearing is rotated by engaging a surface of the tape roller barrel with a longitudinally moving magnetic tape. At least a portion of any air bearing between the moving tape and the barrel surface is quenched using grooves formed in the barrel surface. The lateral position of the moving tape is sensed and the rotating roller barrel is tilted in response to the sensed lateral position of the moving tape to control the lateral position of the moving tape. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Methods, servo systems, and data storage drives follow the lateral shift excursions of longitudinal tape, for example, from flangeless tape guides. A servo sensor is configured to sense lateral position of a tape head with respect to longitudinal servo tracks of the tape, a fine actuator is configured to translate the head laterally, and a coarse actuator is configured to translate the fine actuator laterally. Position error is determined between the head and a desired position related to the servo track, and the fine actuator operated to translate the head laterally to reduce the position error. In the embodiment, lateral shift excursion is sensed from the position error, and the coarse actuator is positioned substantially at a midpoint of the lateral shift excursion. Thus, the fine actuator follows the lateral shift excursions, while the coarse actuator remains at the midpoint.

Abstract: Methods, servo systems, and data storage drives follow the lateral shift excursions of longitudinal tape, for example, from flangeless tape guides. A servo sensor is configured to sense lateral position of a tape head with respect to longitudinal servo tracks of the tape, a fine actuator is configured to translate the head laterally, and a coarse actuator is configured to translate the fine actuator laterally. Position error is determined between the head and a desired position related to the servo track, and the fine actuator operated to translate the head laterally to reduce the position error. In the embodiment, lateral shift excursion is sensed from the position error, and the coarse actuator is positioned substantially at a midpoint of the lateral shift excursion. Thus, the fine actuator follows the lateral shift excursions, while the coarse actuator remains at the midpoint.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a tape movement constraint for a tape drive system, comprises a tiltable tape roller bearing having a grooved surface adapted to contact and engage a surface of the tape as the roller barrel rotates, and an actuator adapted to pivot the roller bearing surface when the actuator is actuated, to control the lateral position of a tape. In operation, in one embodiment, a roller barrel of the tiltable roller bearing is biased in a first position on a pivot axis, using magnetic attraction between a movable magnet and a return path structure of magnetically permeable material. The roller barrel is pivoted on the pivot axis by conducting current through a fixed coil to generate a magnetic field which is conducted by the return path structure to interact with the magnetic field of the magnet. At least a portion of any air bearing between the moving tape and the barrel surface is quenched using grooves formed in the barrel surface.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a tape movement constraint for a tape drive system, comprises a tiltable tape roller bearing having a grooved surface adapted to contact and engage a surface of the tape as the roller barrel rotates, and an actuator adapted to pivot the roller bearing surface when the actuator is actuated, to control the lateral position of a tape. In operation, in one embodiment, the roller barrel of the roller bearing is rotated by engaging a surface of the tape roller barrel with a longitudinally moving magnetic tape. At least a portion of any air bearing between the moving tape and the barrel surface is quenched using grooves formed in the barrel surface. The lateral position of the moving tape is sensed and the rotating roller barrel is tilted in response to the sensed lateral position of the moving tape to control the lateral position of the moving tape. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A tape guide roller comprises a cylindrical barrel with a cylindrical peripheral surface parallel to a central axis; the cylindrical peripheral surface comprising smooth cylindrical surface zones alternating in the circumferential direction about the cylindrical peripheral surface with non-smooth cylindrical surface zones. The non-smooth cylindrical surface zones may comprise a textured surface, and/or may comprise a grooved surface.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for attenuating vibration. A cover includes at least four slots. Each slot physically isolates a midsection from either the distal end or the proximal end of the cover. In one embodiment, a first slit isolates a midsection side and a second slit at an angle in the range of seventy degrees to one hundred-ten degrees to the first slit physically isolates a portion of a top from a portion of a side. The midsection is physically connected to an enclosure configured to supply power, cooling, and communications to the storage mechanism.

Abstract: A rotatable tape guide with a cylindrical barrel having a cylindrical peripheral surface; and a guide flange substantially at each outer side of the cylindrical barrel and having a frusto-conical surface. The frusto-conical surface is configured at a taper angle outward with respect to the perpendicular direction from the cylindrical surface; the taper angle of the guide flange substantially at an angle such that the angle at which a tapered tangential line extends from the circumference of the cylindrical peripheral surface of the cylindrical barrel and along the taper of the guide flange, to the maximum periphery of the frusto-conical surface, is at the maximum potential angle of attack from a magnetic tape at a supply reel with respect to the guide flange.

Abstract: Magnetic tape guiding system takes advantage of characteristics of slit magnetic tape wherein one of the two tape edges has a higher tendency to shed tape debris than the other, and the slit tape is consistently loaded into tape cartridges in the same direction. A tape guiding system is configured to guide a magnetic tape along a tape path extending across magnetic tape head(s) from a tape cartridge oriented in a single direction, the cartridge having a length of magnetic tape with a second edge tending to create lower debris under contact than a first edge. At least one single flange tape guide roller has a cylindrical surface oriented to provide the tape path for the magnetic tape, and has a single flange at one end of the cylindrical surface that is oriented with respect to the cartridge receiver to correspond to the second edge of the magnetic tape.