Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for cleaning a media drive transducer head is provided. In one example, the apparatus includes a cleaning member (e.g., a brush having a plurality of bristles) and an actuator assembly operable to move the cleaning member from a position vertically offset from a drive head to a position engaging the drive head, the vertical direction being perpendicular to the direction of tape transport adjacent the drive head. The apparatus may further include a displacement feature operable to engage a leader member (e.g., the drive leader or tape) and displace the leader member from the drive head.

Abstract: In one example, a system for positioning a transducer head to a storage medium is provided. The system includes a transducer head assembly including read/write elements, at least one actuator for adjusting the azimuth position of the transducer head, first and second position sensors, and a controller. The first and second sensors sense a reference associated with a position of the storage medium, where the first and second sensors are positioned on opposite sides of the read/write elements of the transducer head along a direction of storage medium transport. The controller adjusts the azimuth position of the transducer head in response to sensed positions of the reference by the first and second sensors. The at least one actuator may include differential actuators. The adjustments to the transducer head may be made dynamically during reading and writing operations.