Abstract: A saw includes a surface defining an opening therein, a plate structure configured to be attached to the saw below the surface, and an arm attached to the plate structure about a first shaft. A blade is configured to be engaged with the arm at a location spaced from the first shaft. The blade extends through the opening when the saw is in a normal operating position. The saw includes a firing mechanism including a barrel end portion having a bore defined therein and an extendable piston at least partially positioned within the bore. The barrel end portion is attached to the plate structure. The extendable piston engages the arm during its extension and causes the arm to pivot about the first shaft when the firing mechanism is activated by an activation signal. The pivoting of the arm causes the blade to be moved downwardly below the surface.

Abstract: A saw includes a surface defining an opening therein, a plate structure configured to be attached to the saw below the surface, and an arm attached to the plate structure about a first shaft. A blade is configured to be engaged with the arm at a location spaced from the first shaft. The blade extends through the opening when the saw is in a normal operating position. The saw includes a firing mechanism including a barrel end portion having a bore defined therein and an extendable piston at least partially positioned within the bore. The barrel end portion is attached to the plate structure. The extendable piston engages the arm during its extension and causes the arm to pivot about the first shaft when the firing mechanism is activated by an activation signal. The pivoting of the arm causes the blade to be moved downwardly below the surface.

Abstract: A saw comprises a surface having an opening defined therein, a plate structure configured to be attached to the saw below the surface, and an arm pivotally attached to the plate structure about a first shaft. A blade is configured to be engaged with the arm at a location spaced from the first shaft. A portion of the blade extends through the opening when the saw is in a normal operating position. The saw comprises a firing mechanism comprising a barrel end portion having a bore defined therein and an extendable piston at least partially positioned within the bore. The barrel end portion is attached to the plate structure. The extendable piston engages the arm during its extension and causes the arm to pivot about the first shaft when the firing mechanism is activated by an activation signal. The pivoting of the arm causes the blade to be moved downwardly below the surface.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for erasing magnetic tape are described. The tape to be erased is fed through an erasure unit that includes an array of magnetic elements. The array of magnetic elements includes a first set of magnetic elements and a second set of magnetic elements. The magnetic fields for the respective first and second sets of magnetic elements have opposite polarity, as seen by the tape as it feeds through the erasure unit. The fields seen by the tape as it feeds through the erasure unit decrease in intensity.

Abstract: A winding flange guide (10) is utilized to provide a better quality wind of a strand media. The guide (10) has a first flange (12) and a second flange (13) which constrain the movement of the outer wraps of the tape pancake formed by the tape media. The winding flange guide (10) is utilized in a servo writer (20), tape cartridge (40, 60) and tape drive (80).

Abstract: Parts made from powder use a material that originates from a salt to bind powder particles together. The salt may be provided dissolved in a solution, as molten salt, or as a dry powder. The figure is an electron micrograph of a cross section of a silver nitrate bound product with a skeleton of steel powder.

Abstract: A winding flange guide (10) is utilized to provide a better quality wind of a strand media. The guide (10) has a first flange (12) and a second flange (13) which constrain the movement of the outer wraps of the tape pancake formed by the tape media. The winding flange guide (10) is utilized in a servo writer (20), tape cartridge (40, 60) and tape drive (80).