Abstract: A storage medium on which servo patterns are encoded to provide lateral and longitudinal position (LPOS) information is provided. Each of the servo patterns includes a servo frame, including first through fourth bursts, which are each independently modulated with multi-level pulse position modulation (PPM) to encode at least one independent bit per burst.

Abstract: A digital video recorder (DVR) and a method of operating the same. In one embodiment, the DVR includes: (1) a mass data storage unit that concurrently and continuously receives and digitally stores a plurality of channels and (2) a channel viewer, coupled to the mass data storage unit, that retrieves a portion of one of the plurality of channels from the mass data storage unit based on a received command and presents the portion on a video display device.

Abstract: A magnetic head and method for making same which can be used for formatting or writing servo tracks or data on a tape. In one example, the magnetic head may include a magnetic thin film layer; at least one gap defined in the magnetic thin film layer; and at least one secondary sub-gap structure within the magnetic thin film layer, the at least one gap positioned proximate the at least one secondary sub-gap structure. Through the use of the secondary sub-gap structure, the gap (i.e. a record gap or channel) can be made thinner than in conventional heads.

Abstract: A method, system, apparatus, and computer readable medium storing instructions for recording data tracks and a method and system for reading data tracks. For recording data tracks, virtual boundary of a first data track recorded on the storage medium is determined. The recording element is positioned based on the determined virtual boundary of the first track and a second data track is recorded by the positioned recording element. For reading data tracks, a first virtual boundary of a first data track and a second virtual boundary of the first data track are determined and a reading element is positioned at a center of the first data track based on the determined virtual boundaries. In the system of reading recorded data tracks, a number of forward reading elements and backward reading elements are provided. The forward reading elements have different pitches.

Abstract: The present invention relates to direct current (“DC”) pre-erasing servo channels of a magnetic tape prior to writing servo data in a servo channel. The present invention particularly relates to those servo recordings which were written with a uni-polar current waveform. The DC pre-erase is performed using a uni-polar direct current of a polarity that is opposite to the polarity of the direct current used to write the servo data. This pre-erase may be done with one or more heads. Also, as will be described, the pre-erase of a servo channel and writing to a servo channel may be done by making two passes over a single head or by using two or more heads to perform both steps. Also, it is within the scope of the present invention to have the heads mounted on a single mount or have the heads on separate mounts and on separate tape decks.

Abstract: Control of the encryption of data for storage with respect to removable data storage cartridges having a recording media and having cartridge memory with at least a portion lockable to read-only, employs the steps of inspecting the read-only portion of the cartridge memory of the removable data storage cartridge for an “Encrypt-Only” flag. If the “Encrypt-Only” flag is present, writes to the recording media of the removable data storage cartridge are limited to data in an encrypted format, if any; and, else, writes to the recording media of the removable data storage cartridge are allowed for data in any of encrypted and unencrypted formats.

Abstract: A magnetic recording tape according to one embodiment includes a plurality of servo tracks, each servo track comprising a series of magnetically defined bars, wherein an average height of the bars is less than about 50 microns. A magnetic recording tape according to another embodiment includes a plurality of servo tracks, each servo track comprising a series of magnetically defined bars, wherein an angle between at least some of the bars is greater than about 10 degrees. A magnetic recording tape according to yet another embodiment includes at least about eight data bands, the data bands being defined between servo tracks.

Abstract: For writing data to multi-track tape, a received data set is received and segmented into unencoded subdata sets, each comprising an array having K2 rows and K1 columns. For each unencoded subdata set, N1?K1 C1-parity bytes are generated for each row and N2?K2 C2-parity bytes are generated for each column. The C1 and C2 parity bytes are appended to the ends of the row and column, respectively, to form encoded C1 and C2 codewords, respectively. All of the C1 codewords per data set are endowed with a specific codeword header to form a plurality of partial codeword objects (PCOs). Each PCO is mapped onto a logical data track according to information within the header. On each logical data track, adjacent PCOs are merged to form COs which are modulation encoded and mapped into synchronized COs. Then T synchronized COs are written simultaneously to the data tape where T is the number of concurrent active tracks on the data tape.

Abstract: A system in one embodiment includes multiple analog inputs for receiving readback signals, an analog to digital converter coupled to each of the analog inputs for converting the readback signals to digital signals, a buffer coupled to outputs of the analog to digital converters for at least temporarily storing the digital signals, and a digital processing section also coupled to outputs of the analog to digital converters for processing the digital signals for reconstructing data therefrom. A method in one embodiment includes receiving multiple channels of analog readback signals from a magnetic head, converting the analog signals in each channel to digital signals, buffering the digital signals, and outputting the buffered digital signals. A method in another embodiment includes receiving a readback waveform from a magnetic storage device, reducing a frequency offset of the readback waveform, and generating a synchronized, oversampled waveform from the readback waveform.

Abstract: The magnetic tape library device is configured, including: a front magazine and a rear magazine for housing a large number of magnetic tape cartridges; a device main body in which the both magazines are housed in a parallel state in a freely slidable manner; an accessor mechanism for transporting the cartridge taken out from the magazines; and a magnetic tape drive which loads the magnetic tape cartridge and reads/writes data. A magazine pullout mechanism for pulling out the rear magazine and a magazine extracting mechanism for extracting the rear magazine from the device main body are provided.

Abstract: One embodiment is a method that extends a tape path to compensate for misalignment between tape oh a reel and a head by exiting the tape twice from a tape pack of the reel before reading or writing data at the head.

Abstract: The present invention provides a recording tape cartridge that when loaded in a drive device, generation of abrasion dust from a case can be restrained. The recording tape cartridge includes: a case in which a single reel with a recording tape being wound thereon is rotatably accommodated; a first region of the case, through which a plate spring provided in a drive device passes during loading of the recording tape cartridge into the drive device; and a second region of the case, which is disposed at a position higher than the first region and with which the plate spring comes into contact with pressure after the recording tape cartridge is loaded into the drive device.

Abstract: A recording tape cartridge comprising a casing that rotatably accommodates a single reel on which recording tape is wound; a shielding component that slides substantially along a side wall of the casing to open or block off an opening that is formed in the side wall for pulling out the recording tape; and a biasing projection provided projecting out from the casing and biasing the shielding component toward the side wall side when the shielding component has blocked off the opening.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium includes a nonmagnetic support and a magnetic layer, and has a coefficient of dynamic friction, on the magnetic layer side surface, of 0.5 or larger as measured at a speed of 1 m/s relative to a sliding member of a magnetic head.

Abstract: Magnetic media made using planar magnetic heads. A head may comprise a substrate having conductive thru-hole vias extending therethrough, a first magnetic layer deposited and patterned on the substrate, a first insulation layer deposited and patterned on the first magnetic layer, a conductive coil layer deposited and patterned on the first insulation layer and connected to the conductive thru-hole vias, a second insulation layer deposited and patterned on the conductive coil layer, vias patterned into the insulation layer extending to the first magnetic layer, a second magnetic layer deposited in the vias, and a third magnetic layer deposited and patterned on the second insulation layer and second magnetic layer. The third magnetic layer may be connected to the first magnetic layer through the second magnetic layer deposited in the vias of the insulation layers.

Abstract: A data storage tape cartridge is provided with a combination tape including a data storage tape, an intermediate portion and a leader. A servo track and media information region is provided on the intermediate portion of the tape. The servo track is read by a servo track reader of a data storage apparatus. The media information region is read by the read/write head of the data storage apparatus.

Abstract: A sequential data storage medium, such as for example and without limitation a magnetic tape, comprising a sequence of plurality of servo patterns encoded therein, which provide lateral position information and LPOS information. Each servo pattern comprises a first burst comprising a first pulse, a second pulse, a third pulse, a fourth pulse and a fifth pulse and a second burst comprising a sixth pulse, a seventh pulse, an eighth pulse, a ninth pulse and a tent pulse. The widths of the plurality of pulses, in combination with the spacings between the plurality of pulses, encode two bits of data.

Abstract: Provided is a thin-film magnetic head, in which the magnetic spacing can be controlled appropriately, regardless of the presence of the variation in height of the medium-opposed surface of the closure. The thin-film magnetic head comprises: at least one head element formed on or above an element-formation surface of a substrate, for reading data from a magnetic recording medium and/or writing data to a magnetic recording medium; an overcoat layer formed on the element-formation surface so as to cover the at least one head element; and at least one closure adhered to at least a portion of an upper surface of the overcoat layer. Here, at least one of the at least one closure comprises at least one height-adjusting means for adjusting the height of a medium-opposed surface of the closure. The height-adjusting means is preferably a heating means provided within the closure.

Abstract: A magnetic tape which is run at a speed of 4 m/sec. or higher and has recording tracks with a width of 21 ?m or less, and which includes a non-magnetic support, at least one magnetic layer formed on one surface of the non-magnetic support, and a backcoat layer formed on the other surface of the non-magnetic support, wherein servo signals for controlling tracking are recorded on the magnetic layer or the backcoat layer, the value of (?/W)×(V/f) is 10 [s?1] or less, and/or the value of (?/W) is 0.1 or less, wherein V [mm/sec.] is a tape-running speed is; ? [?m] is an amount of a weave with a cycle of f [mm] on one edge of the tape or the other edge thereof as the reference side for the running of the tape; and W [?m] is a width of the recording track. The magnetic tape can decrease PES and off-track and thus is excellent in servo tracking performance.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium includes a support and a magnetic layer containing a ferromagnetic powder and a binder, and has a cut surface along an edge of the magnetic recording medium, wherein the cut surface of the magnetic recording medium has a shear region whose length in a thickness direction of the magnetic recording medium is at least 50% of the thickness of the magnetic recording medium.

Abstract: The present invention provides a recording tape cartridge with a retention structure capable of stabilizing and retaining a memory board without deformation of the memory board. A recording tape cartridge includes a case for accommodating a reel on which recording tape is wound, the case formed by an upper case and a lower case and a non-contact memory board, on which various information is stored and which is disposed at a specific angle within the case. The lower case is formed with a position control member of substantially a C-shape in plan view for controlling the position of the memory board, and a support member for supporting the bottom face of the memory board at substantially the central portion thereof. The upper case is formed with retaining members that face portions of the top face of the memory board at both ends in the memory board length direction.

Abstract: The invention provides a magnetic tape device including a magnetic head; a drive unit; an abnormality detector for detecting an abnormality in operation of the magnetic tape; and a release unit for releasing the contact between the magnetic tape and the magnetic head when the abnormality detector detects any abnormality during the running of the magnetic tape.

Abstract: Method for the bidirectional transmission of data between one or more textile machines (1) producing cross-wound bobbins and/or one or more same-level and/or higher level control systems with a device (2) for transmitting data to a transport medium, which is used for the transporting of data located on the transport medium, the transport medium being in operative connection with the textile machine (1) producing cross-wound bobbins to transmit data via the device (2). According to the invention, a a memory, a hard disc, a magnetic tape, a writable contact disc (CD), a writable digital versatile disc (DVD), a magneto-optical disc (MO disc), a minidisc (MD) or a digital memory card provided in a mobile telephone or a palm-top computer (personal digital assistant) are used as the transporting medium and the device (2) is integrated in an exchangeable manner in the textile machine (1).

Abstract: A tape guide roller includes a first flange and a second flange separated by a barrel wherein at least one of the first flange and second flange comprise a soft material. The soft material can include acetal homopolymers, such as Delrin. It can also include soft metals, such as aluminum.

Abstract: A tape cartridge includes a housing and a length of magnetic tape disposed within the housing. Additionally, the tape cartridge includes at least one cartridge memory chip disposed within the housing and at least one RFID reader operably connected to at least one of the cartridge memory chips and configured to write at least one message to the cartridge memory chip based on a received RFID signal.

Abstract: The present invention provides a magnetic recording medium comprising a magnetic layer with excellent surface smoothness, which comprises a thin film magnetic layer of thickness in a range from 0.03 to 0.30 ?m that is ideal for short wavelength recording, and displays superior electromagnetic conversion characteristics. The magnetic recording medium comprises a magnetic layer containing at least a ferromagnetic powder and a binder resin on one surface of a non-magnetic support, wherein the thickness of the magnetic layer is within a range from 0.03 to 0.30 ?m, and the number of concavities with a depth of 30 nm or greater in the surface of the magnetic layer is 5 per 1 cm2 of surface area or less. Preferably, the value of the average depth Rv6 of the surface of the magnetic layer, as measured by a contact type surface roughness meter, is 12 nm or less.

Abstract: The present invention enhances the capability to specify a recorded position of designated data, even when a tape medium is run at high speed. A controller of a tape drive includes: a data set generator for generating a data set; a metadata generator for generating metadata including the number of records in the data set and the like; and a writing unit for writing the data set to the tape medium with a high recording density, and writing the metadata to the tape medium with a low recording density. The controller also includes: a movement controller for receiving a record number of a designated record; a reading unit for obtaining the number of records and the like included in the metadata read by running the tape medium at high speed; and a comparison unit for determining whether or not to read the data set by lowering the speed of the tape medium to R/W speed, in comparison with the record number received by the movement controller and the number of records and the like obtained by the reading unit.

Abstract: Provided is a magnetic tape that includes a data band, including servo patterns, data, and a guard space. The servo patterns is formed along a longitudinal direction of the magnetic tape with an interval provided between each of the servo patterns, each of the servo patterns formed across a full width of the data band. The data is disposed between the servo patterns. The guard space is disposed between each of the servo patterns and the data.

Abstract: Disclosed are a magnetic tape capable of being wound regularly, and an apparatus and a method by which the tape is wound regularly. The tape-shaped recording medium, which includes a tape-shaped support body and a recording layer being formed on a surface of the support body, is curved laterally over its whole length and said tape-shaped recording medium being curved laterally over its whole length and having a surface arching across a whole width of the medium. Furthermore, it is preferable that a curved amount of the medium ranges from 0.5 mm/m to 4.0 mm/m and an arched amount of the medium ranges from 0.3 mm to 2.0 mm.

Abstract: An arbitrary gap thin film magnetic recording head is fabricated by forming a substrate based on traditional vertical planar thin film head wafer technology which is designed to produce an integrated subgap and subpole substrate structure. The wafer is then processed into row bars to reveal, in a plane parallel to the transducing direction of the medium, the subgap and subpoles at the surface of the row bar and to bring the structure to a certain coil depth or gap depth. A flat or cylindrical contour may be utilized. This thin film subgap row bar is taken through a film deposition or growth process that deposits the magnetic film on a plane perpendicular to the wafer plane, horizontal planar processing, forming a surface film recording head where an arbitrary gap structure can be made in-between the subpoles and generally directly on top of the subgap.

Abstract: An electrical lapping guide for a magnetic tape head is provided with a resistive transverse stripe with a longitudinal height affixed to a substrate. A pair of leads extend from the stripe with a notch formed therebetween. The notch has a height corresponding to a lapping target limit for associated tape head elements. During material removal of the transverse stripe and the tape head elements, resistance is measured across the stripe and a dramatic increase in resistance indicates that the material removal has reached the notch. A method for accurately machining a magnetic tape head is provided by depositing tape head elements and a resistive stripe with a notch on a substrate. Resistance is measured across leads on either side of the notch for discontinuing machining of the stripe due to a dramatic increase in resistance.

Abstract: A leader tape has, on at least one face of a support, a coating layer that contains a powder and a binder, which is characterized in that the center line average roughness (Ra) of at least one face of the leader tape is from 10 to 60 nm, the leader tape is used in a magnetic recording and reproduction device where the line recording density is at least 100 kfci, and the difference between the recording track width and the reproduction track width is from 0 to 16 ?m.

Abstract: A data storage library is described including a plurality of tape cartridges each possessing an auxiliary radio frequency memory device. The library also includes, at least one tape drive capable of determining at least one functional status when loaded with one of the tape cartridges wherein the at least one tape drive possesses an auxiliary reader and writer device capable of transferring information associated with the at least one function status to and from the auxiliary radio frequency memory device. The tape drive also includes a means for transmitting the information from the auxiliary radio frequency memory device to a display device that can be viewed by an end user.

Abstract: A tape-based data storage system according to one embodiment includes a head having an array of channels for writing a set of data tracks on a magnetic tape; wherein data to be written on the magnetic tape in a given pass of the tape relative to the head is parsed into at least two error correctable sets, wherein each of the error correctable sets is written by a unique subset of the array of channels. A tape-based data storage system according to another embodiment includes a head having an array of channels for reading a set of data tracks on a magnetic tape; wherein data read from the magnetic tape in a given pass of the tape relative to the head includes at least two error correctable sets, wherein each of the error correctable sets is read by a unique subset of the array of channels.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a data storage medium that includes a plurality of servo bands distributed across the data storage medium and a plurality of data tracks positioned between each of the plurality of distributed servo bands. The data storage medium comprises a servo band pitch of less than 200 micrometers. The large number of servo bands distributed across the data storage medium with a relatively small servo band pitch reduces the influence of media dimensional instability. In this way, the invention may substantially increase data read head positioning accuracy, especially in the case of narrow track widths. A read head array arranged in a two-dimensional matrix that includes a first servo read head, a second servo read head, and a plurality of data read heads positioned between the first and second servo read heads may be applied to a data storage medium as described herein.

Abstract: A data storage device has a cartridge with tape having data and landing zones. One of the landing zones is aligned with a head during stopping of advancement of the tape to minimize damage. A data storage system is provided with a data storage device with data and landing zones, a read/write head, a motor for driving the tape and a processor for identifying the landing zone locations. A method for minimizing damage to data tape conveys base film along a coating head while intermittently dispensing a magnetic layer and a rougher coating layer to form landing zones. A method for minimizing damage to data storage tape provides a cassette with tape having intermittent data and non-data regions, that is inserted into a tape drive and a read or write function is performed. The tape is advanced to align a non-data region with a head and advancement is discontinued.

Abstract: A magnetic tape reel that has a plurality of gear teeth capable of engaging with a plurality of engagement gear teeth provided with a reel engaging portion of a recording and reproducing apparatus and upon which magnetic tape can be wound, the magnetic tape reel comprising: a hub portion including a cylindrical portion upon which the magnetic tape can be wound and the plurality of gear teeth; and a positioning mark capable of being detected using a contactless detector, the positioning mark being provided for aligning a specific gear tooth A from the plurality of gear teeth with a specific engagement gear tooth B from the plurality of engagement gear teeth.

Abstract: A magnetic tape medium having superior dimensional stability in the width direction and off-track resistance is provided although having a very high track width in the width direction. As a non-magnetic substrate of a magnetic tape medium in which the track density in the width direction is 50 tracks/mm or more, the off-track margin is 5 ?m or less, and the maximum permissible amount of change in dimension in the width direction caused by environment factors is 0.10% or less, a laminate composed of a plastic film and films provided on two surfaces thereof is used, the films being formed of a material selected from the group including a metal, a semi-metal, an alloy, and an oxide or composite formed of the aforementioned material, having a Young's modulus of 7×103 kg/mm2 or more and a coefficient of thermal expansion of 18×10?6/° C. or less.

Abstract: The present invention is characterized by the fact that a non-magnetic substrate 11, target members 12, and magnetic plates 21 are placed in parallel in a film-forming apparatus 10, a high frequency voltage is applied to the target members, the opposite polarities alternately occur at equal intervals on the surfaces of the magnetic plates, and plasma is produced near the target members to deposit a thin film on the non-magnetic substrate by sputtering. The present invention can greatly increase the track density and, accordingly, the surface recording density while maintaining the recording/reproduction properties equal to or better than that of the prior art.

Abstract: Provided is method for changing the configuration of a media drive apparatus using a removable storage medium, the configuration of the media drive apparatus being stored as a plurality of configuration settings in a first non volatile memory of the media drive apparatus, the method comprising identifying the removable storage medium as a reconfiguration medium; reading data from the removable storage medium, the data comprising an identifier of one configuration setting of the plurality of configuration settings and a value for the one configuration setting; storing the value read from the removable storage medium in the non volatile memory of the media drive apparatus.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a method for creating a remanence magnetization on a magnetic tape medium. The magnetic tape is first substantially demagnetized, e.g., erased, by an erasure unit having multiple magnetic elements of alternating polarity. The erased magnetic tape is then passed by a bias magnet that creates a remanence magnetization on the magnetic tape. The remanence magnetized magnetic tape is then passed through a servo write head that writes servo patterns to the remanence magnetized magnetic tape. The bias magnet may be housed within the erasure unit or within a bias unit, and the distance between the bias magnet and the tape path of the magnetic tape may be adjustable to create the desired remanence magnetization on the magnetic tape. The remanence magnetization created on the magnetic tape may be greater than 20 percent to reduce defects in the servo pattern written to the magnetic tape.

Abstract: The invention provides an ink jet recording head in which an element substrate provided in a head unit and constituted of plural drive elements is driven to discharge ink droplets from plural nozzles. In the ink jet recording head, the head unit has a substantially parallelogram shape, and plural head units are connected in a row to form a head bar.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium comprising a non-magnetic support, at least one primer layer formed on one surface of the non-magnetic support, comprising a non-magnetic powder and a binder resin, at least one magnetic layer formed on the primer layer, comprising a magnetic powder and a binder resin, and a back layer formed on the other surface of the non-magnetic support, wherein the magnetic powder contained in the uppermost layer of the magnetic layer is a rare earth metal-iron type magnetic powder of substantially spherical or ellipsoidal particles comprising a rare earth element and iron or a transition metal which comprises iron, and has a number average particle size of 5 to 50 nm and an average axis ratio of 1 to 2, and the total thickness of the magnetic recording medium is less than 6 ?m. This magnetic recording medium can achieve an excellent block error rate.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium is composed of a nonmagnetic support provided with on one side of the support a magnetic layer containing a ferromagnetic powder and a binder, and a backing layer on the other side of the nonmagnetic support, wherein the nonmagnetic support is a polyester film having an intrinsic viscosity of from 0.40 to 0.60 dl/g, and contains fillers having filler diameters of from 10 to 500 nm at a filler density of from 1/100 to 50/100 ?m2.

Abstract: A magnetic recording tape exhibits reduced magnetic flux modulation and improved signal-to-noise ratio. Providing a magnetic recording layer with a more uniform thickness can improve the magnetic flux modulation characteristic. For example, the magnetic recording tape may have a coercivity of greater than or equal to 2000 Oe with a magnetic flux modulation characteristic having a one sigma standard deviation of less than 0.06. In some cases, the magnetic flux modulation characteristic may have a one sigma standard deviation of less than 0.05, or even 0.04. Reduced magnetic flux modulation can support increased storage densities.

Abstract: A leader tape to be spliced in a butting manner to a leading end of a magnetic tape, the leading end being mechanically cut in a tapered shape, wherein the leader tape has a surface roughness RZ (RZ complies with JIS B0601-1994) of 5 ?m or less.

Abstract: A tape cartridge capable of recording and reading out large and small tape cartridges with different widths is provided. The tape cartridge comprises a pair of right and left hubs for winding a tape which is winded off from one hub and is wound around the other hub via tape guides. A passage for light injection and a passage for light ejecting of the tape end detection light are opened respectively on a side wall of a case of a main body facing a tape traveling path between the tape guide and the hub, and an optical path inverted body facing a pair of passages across the tape traveling path is arranged in the case of the main body. One of the passages for light injection and the passages for light ejecting in the large and small tape cartridges is formed at a prescribed distance from the reference surface.

Abstract: The present invention is a servo signal recording method for recording a servo signal on a magnetic tape having a data band and a servo band, wherein erasure is performed based on a pulse having a duty ratio varied so that a driving time of the AC erasing head with respect to one polarity is longer than a driving time thereof with respect to the other polarity, and then, the servo band is magnetized so as to have a magnetization direction opposite to magnetization direction caused by the erasure to record a servo signal in the servo band. According to this configuration, the influence of an information recording signal recorded on the surface of a magnetic recording medium on a reproduction output is reduced, whereby the reproduction output of a servo signal can be enhanced easily.

Abstract: A method is presented for utilizing tape storage media segmentation to improve data access performance. A segmented tape storage medium within a tape cartridge having a first and second segment is utilized. A selection module allows a user to select a user-defined capacity of the tape storage medium that is less than the usable capacity of the tape storage medium. The user-defined capacity allows the user to prefer improved data access over tape storage capacity. Data, when written to the tape, is written only within the user-defined capacity. Data may be written exclusively on the first segment or written on both the first segment and second segment allowing data access to be improved. In addition, the user-defined capacity may correspond to the full capacity of the tape storage media.

Abstract: The present invention provides a tape reel, a recording tape cartridge, a take-up reel, a pullout member and a drive device that can control fluctuation of a recording tape in the axial direction of a hub and can, even when the recording tape is thinned in accompaniment with an increase in recording capacity, prevent the occurrence of tape edge damage. A tape reel 20 includes: a hub 22 on which is wound a recording tape T on which is recorded servo signals S that are a reference for tracking by a recording/playback head 88 of a drive device 70; and flanges 24 and 26 provided integrally at both end portions of the hub 22, wherein the diameter of a substantially central portion of the hub 22 is formed larger than the diameters of each of the end portions of the hub 22.