Abstract: A data storage device is disclosed comprising at least one head configured to access a magnetic tape. The head is positioned at an idle location along a length of the magnetic tape when entering an idle mode, wherein the idle location reduces a wake latency associated with accessing the magnetic tape when exiting the idle mode.

Abstract: A tape drive that passes first and second sides of a storage tape by respective first and second tape head assemblies disposed on a common side of a tape path of the tape to allow for dual-sided recording and/or reading of the tape by the tape head assemblies. Tape leaving a cartridge/supply reel within the tape drive may be wound over one or more tape path guides (e.g., rollers) to face a first side of the tape (e.g., with a first magnetic layer) towards a first tape head assembly. The tape may subsequently be wound over one or more additional guides and then passed in front of a second tape head assembly such that the opposing side of the tape (e.g., with a second magnetic layer) faces the second tape head assembly. After passing by the second tape head assembly, the tape may be wrapped onto a take-up reel.

Abstract: In a servo writer, a write signal generator circuit is configured to output a signal for writing a servo signal to a servo write head disposed to allow a magnetic tape to slidably contact therewith and configured to write the servo signal thereon, and a plurality of tape guides are configured to guide the magnetic tape supplied from a supply reel to the servo write head and to a take-up reel. The plurality of tape guides include a first tape guide disposed to contact with the magnetic tape at a position directly upstream of the servo write head and a second tape guide disposed to contact with the magnetic tape at a position directly downstream of the servo write head. Each of the first and second tape guides includes a guide roller rotatably supported by an air bearing and having a diameter of 19 mm or greater.

Abstract: An information recording system includes a case, a head provided inside the case, a recording tape that travels inside the case due to rotation of a pair of reels that are provided inside the case, with at least one of information writing or information reading performed to or from the recording tape by the head while the recording tape is in contact with the head, a drive mechanism that drives the head between an in-use position contacting the recording tape and a cleaning position separated from the in-use position, and a cleaning device that is provided inside the case, and that cleans the head when positioned in the cleaning position by rubbing against the head in a direction different from a direction of movement of the head from the in-use position to the cleaning position.

Abstract: A magnetic tape cartridge includes a cartridge case, a pair of cylindrical hubs rotatably provided in the cartridge case, and a magnetic tape laid between the hubs and wound around outer peripheries of the hubs. Each of the hubs has an inner diameter portion provided with a height-position determining member. The height-position determining member determines a height position of the hub in the magnetic tape cartridge by contacting a driving shaft inserted in the hub when the magnetic tape cartridge is mounted in a magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus.

Abstract: Magnetic tape systems, magnetic tape and reel systems, magnetic tape drives and methods of manufacturing the systems and drives comprise, for the magnetic tape system, two lengths of magnetic tape of substantially equal width dimension; and a cleaning tape positioned between and joining the two lengths of magnetic tape, forming a combined multi-part tape having the cleaning tape contained between the two lengths of magnetic tape. In the tape drive, the tape, two reels, each reel supporting at least a distal end of the combined multi-part tape, and a magnetic tape head assembly are contained in a common enclosure, such that the magnetic tape drive is self-contained. Manufacturability is enhanced by having a very long combined multi-part tape made from two lengths of magnetic tape joined together by a cleaning tape.

Abstract: A tape mounting apparatus for a magnetic tape data storage device which includes a movable structure movably attached to a base. The movable structure moves partially within the base and is powered by a motor unit. The moveable structure has at least a load position and a transport position. A tape guide device is positioned within the movable structure such that a tape passes over the tape guide device and between a tape reading head and the tape guide device. The base is attached to a body of a magnetic tape data storage drive.

Abstract: The magazine includes a rail installed on its bottom surface approximately parallel to an insertion/extraction direction, the rail including a plurality of stepped portions formed at a side surface thereof. A device body includes: a lock lever installed rotatably within the same plane as the bottom surface of the magazine, the lock lever including one portion located in a space below the magazine and another portion located beside the magazine; a spring which urges in a direction in which the rail is installed so that a portion of the lock lever located in a space below the magazine is engaged with the stepped portion; and an accessor which moves beside the magazine along the insertion/extraction direction. The lock lever engaged with each stepped portion is released in such a way that the accessor rotates the lock lever in an opposite direction to an urging direction of the spring.

Abstract: A data storage tape cartridge and tape drive is disclosed in which drive mounted guides are received in a cutout of a data storage cartridge. A read/write head is moved through an access opening into engagement with a data storage tape between the drive mounted guides. The drive mounted guides closely control lateral positioning of the tape as it passes across the read/write head. The read/write head and the drive mounted guides are moved relative to each other and into engagement with the tape.

Abstract: A tape cassette has a cassette housing with first and second tape reels retaining tape mounted inside the housing. First and second electric motors are also mounted within the cassette housing respectively driving the first and second reels.

Abstract: A power supply device of a tape-end detecting sensor for a tape recorder. The power supply device comprises a reel cover disposed on a sub-chassis, with a tape-end detecting sensor being seated on the reel cover for detecting the passing of a terminal end of a magnetic portion of a magnetic tape, a first power transmitting member mounted in the reel cover to be connected to the detecting sensor and having a first contacting portion, and a second power transmitting member disposed on the sub-chassis and having a second contacting portion that comes into contact with the first contacting portion when the reel cover is mounted on the sub-chassis. The power supply device further comprises a resilient pressing member integrally formed with the sub-chassis, for resiliently pressing the second contacting portion toward the first contacting portion to improve a contacting force between the first and the second contacting portions.

Abstract: The dimension in the height direction of a reel braking mechanism to be disposed on the side of an S-side reel table in a video tape recorder is made small while making it difficult to disassemble an assembled state. The dimension in an axis line direction of a pin that engages an elongated hole of a brake member of a brake arm is lengthened, thereby penetrating the brake member and extending downward. The extended portion of the pin is made to pass through a cut formed in an edge of a slide chassis.

Abstract: A cartridge for operatively housing a recording/playback medium comprising a first spool and a second spool located at offset positions inside a cartridge shell body; a recording/playback medium of a fixed width and length wound around the first and second spools; and a plurality of slant tape guides positioned between the first and second spools for guiding the recording/playback medium and for creating a helical scan tape wrap angle in connection with a plurality of main tape guides, the plurality of main tape guides being positioned between the first and second spools. The cartridge shell body comprises a plurality of pull out arm assemblies serving as enclosure doors for a bottom surface of the cartridge shell body, the pull out arm assemblies further serving as semicircular side walls of the cartridge shell body; a top plate; and opposing end plates formed perpendicular to the pull out arm assemblies and the top plate.

Abstract: A cartridge for a magnetic recording tape has a first pair of reels rotatably mounted therein which carry a first wide magnetic recording tape, and a second pair of reels disposed therein which carry a second wide magnetic recording tape. The reels are disposed in the cartridge so that each of the first and second wide magnetic recording tapes spans a central space, which is adapted to receive a magnetic recording head of a tape drive, when the cartridge is inserted in the tape drive. A corresponding tape has four drive motors with respective drive shafts, that respectively engage the four reels of the cartridge for transporting the first and second recording magnetic recording tapes across the central opening. The drive has a recording head and a recording head positioning assembly for selectively positioning the recording head at any location along the width of the first and second wide magnetic recording tapes.

Abstract: A reel cover of a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus having an improved assembly construction with respect to a chassis and a method of manufacturing thereof provide a reel cover assembled with the chassis in a manner where a plurality of protrusions of a reel cover body are inserted in a plurality of recesses formed on the chassis. In this state, a resilient member formed at the reel cover body resiliently contacts a side surface of the chassis so that the protrusions are kept within the recesses. The reel cover can be assembled with the chassis in a simple manner without requiring extra securing means such as screws. Accordingly, the number of assembly parts can be decreased and the assembly procedure may be simplified, thereby productivity may be improved and manufacturing cost may be reduced.

Abstract: A power supply device of a tape-end detecting sensor for a tape recorder. The power supply device comprises a reel cover disposed on a sub-chassis, with a tape-end detecting sensor being seated on the reel cover for detecting the passing of a terminal end of a magnetic portion of a magnetic tape, a first power transmitting member mounted in the reel cover to be connected to the detecting sensor and having a first contacting portion, and a second power transmitting member disposed on the sub-chassis and having a second contacting portion that comes into contact with the first contacting portion when the reel cover is mounted on the sub-chassis. The power supply device further comprises a resilient pressing member integrally formed with the sub-chassis, for resiliently pressing the second contacting portion toward the first contacting portion to improve a contacting force between the first and the second contacting portions.

Abstract: A tape drive has a motor-driven take-up reel therein with a fan assembly mounted to a bottom flange of the take-up reel for co-rotation with the take-up reel. The take-up reel with the fan assembly is mounted in the tape drive so that the fan assembly draws air into the interior of the tape drive through an opening in a wall of the tape drive housing next to the fan assembly.

Abstract: A pair of reels of a magnetic cassette tape and a pair of reel supports of a magnetic tape drive comprise a conductive material as an antistatic treatment. Further, a head substrate and a projection substrate of a head drum comprise a conductive material having a resistance of 1×1010 &OHgr; or less and are connected to a metal base so as to be at the ground potential via the metal base and a rotating drum. These antistatic treatments allow static electricity charged on a magnetic tape to be discharged to the head substrate and the protection substrate without flowing to a magneto-resistive (MR) element, thereby preventing the electrostatic discharge breakdown of the MR element.

Abstract: A power supply device of a tape-end detecting sensor for a tape recorder. The power supply device comprises a reel cover disposed on a sub-chassis, with a tape-end detecting sensor being seated on the reel cover for detecting the passing of a terminal end of a magnetic portion of a magnetic tape, a first power transmitting member mounted in the reel cover to be connected to the detecting sensor and having a first contacting portion, and a second power transmitting member disposed on the sub-chassis and having a second contacting portion that comes into contact with the first contacting portion when the reel cover is mounted on the sub-chassis. The power supply device further comprises a resilient pressing member integrally formed with the sub-chassis, for resiliently pressing the second contacting portion toward the first contacting portion to improve a contacting force between the first and the second contacting portions.

Abstract: A cartridge for a magnetic recording tape has a first pair of reels rotatably mounted therein which carry a first wide magnetic recording tape, and a second pair of reels disposed therein which carry a second wide magnetic recording tape. The reels are disposed in the cartridge so that each of the first and second wide magnetic recording tapes spans a central space, which is adapted to receive a magnetic recording head of a tape drive, when the cartridge is inserted in the tape drive. A corresponding tape has four drive motors with respective drive shafts, that respectively engage the four reels of the cartridge for transporting the first and second recording magnetic recording tapes across the central opening. The drive has a recording head and a recording head positioning assembly for selectively positioning the recording head at any location along the width of the first and second wide magnetic recording tapes.

Abstract: A tape running control method in which a tape runs between a supply reel and a take-up reel, and a rotation speed of said take-up reel is controlled by using rotation periods of said supply reel and said take-up reel, whereby a running speed of said tape is controlled. The method comprises the steps of detecting a thickness of said tape; calculating a predetermined total tape wound amount by using the detected thickness of said tape; and controlling the rotation speed of said take-up reel by using the thus-calculated total tape wound amount.

Abstract: A chassis for use in a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus on which first and second reel motors are mounted is made of a magnetic material having a magnetic shielding effect. The chassis may comprise a plate made of an irony magnetic material which press working is performed or may being made of cast iron. The chassis may be made by injection molding of the magnetic material. In addition, the first and second reel motors may comprise inner rotor type motors which have a common structure.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus of a data storing device comprises a lower case an upper case, and two combining elastic pieces. The left and right sides of this lower case each has a combining portion having a combining elastic piece thereon. The upper case is installed above the lower case; and two combining elastic pieces each has a buckling portion and a movable portion, the movable portion can drive the buckling portion, and the two combining elastic pieces is connected to left and right sides of the upper case. The data storing device can be disposed between the upper case and the lower case, and then the buckling portions of the combining elastic pieces connected to the left and right sides of the upper case are buckled to the combining holes of the lower case so that the data storing device is clamped and fixed between the upper case and lower case.

Abstract: A magnetic tape apparatus for reading data from and writing data to a magnetic tape has a magnetic head for reading or writing the data, and first and second tape guides. The first tape guide has a first guide surface to guide the magnetic tape, and the first guide surface has a width that is narrower than the width of the magnetic tape. The second tape guide has a second guide surface to guide the magnetic tape, and the second guide surface has a width that is wider than the width of the magnetic tape. If the tape moves laterally against a flange on the first tape guide, the flange initially yields to the pressure of the tape. Then the flange presses against the magnetic tape to return the tape to a laterally aligned position along a tape path.

Abstract: A magnetic tape apparatus for reading data from and writing data to a magnetic tape has a magnetic head for reading or writing the data, and first and second tape guides. The first tape guide has a first guide surface to guide the magnetic tape, and the first guide surface has a width that is narrower than the width of the magnetic tape. The second tape guide has a second guide surface to guide the magnetic tape, and the second guide surface has a width that is wider than the width of the magnetic tape. If the tape moves laterally against a flange on the first tape guide, the flange initially yields to the pressure of the tape. Then the flange presses against the magnetic tape to return the tape to a laterally aligned position along a tape path.

Abstract: A tape transport system for positioning magnetic tape over a tape head includes a carrier ribbon with edges defining a channel for carrying the tape. Ribbon guides bring the carrier ribbon into contact with the tape as the tape moves near the tape head. A separation guide is positioned to allow the tape to separate from the carrier ribbon as the tape passes the tape head.

Abstract: A magnetic recording/reproduction apparatus of the present invention, which records/reproduces information on/from a magnetic tape by passing the tape around a rotary head cylinder having a rotary head for a predetermined arc, includes: a capstan shaft; a pinch roller; a first reel base rotatably attached to a shaft; a second reel base rotatably attached to a shaft; and an idler supported swingably to swing to the second reel base when the capstan is rotated in a first direction and to the first reel base when the capstan shaft is rotated in a second direction, wherein the idler includes a gear portion which rotates in association with the rotation of the capstan shaft.

Abstract: A portable audio logic deck mechanism includes a main base; a driving source installed on the main base; a power transmitting unit including a pair of capstan wheels isolated from each other at a predetermined interval on the main base, a pulley installed on the main base to rotate a minute distance, a belt connecting the driving source, the capstan wheel, and the pulley to each other to transmit power, and a main gear rotating interlockingly with one of the capstan wheels; a pair of reel tables rotatably installed on the main base so that the reels of a tape cassette can be safely placed on the reel tables; an interlocking unit for transmitting power to either of the pair of reel tables being interlocked with the power transmitting unit; a recording/reproducing element for recording/reproducing information to a magnetic tape of the tape cassette; a mode changing unit for changing the rotation speed and the rotation direction of the pair of reel tables; a tension controlling unit for controlling the tension a