Tape drive with gas jet impinging on tape

A method of operating a magnetic tape within a tape drive, the tape drive comprising a tape head having a tape-bearing surface meant to face a front side of a magnetic tape, in operation, the front side opposite to a back side of the tape, wherein the tape-bearing surface comprises a transducer area, the transducer area comprising at least one transducer that is a read or write element configured to read or write to the magnetic tape, respectively, and wherein the method comprises:

• driving the tape along a longitudinal direction of circulation thereof above the tape-bearing surface;
• and
• ejecting a gas flow toward the transducer area, for the gas flow to impinge on the back side of the driven tape, so as to locally urge the front side of the tape against the transducer area and thereby read or write to the tape via said at least one transducer,
• wherein the tape drive is adapted to position the tape for the tape to form both a lead wrap angle α and a trail wrap angle β with respect to a plane subtended by the transducer area while driving the tape and ejecting the gas flow, the tape forming an upright U-shaped profile above the tape-bearing surface and below the gas ejection mechanism, in operation.

A tape drive comprising:

• a tape head having a tape-bearing surface, wherein the tape-bearing surface comprises a transducer area, the transducer area comprising at least one transducer;
• a drive mechanism adapted to drive the tape along a longitudinal direction of circulation thereof above the tape-bearing surface;
• a gas ejection mechanism, configured to eject a gas flow toward the transducer area, for the gas flow to impinge on a magnetic tape as the magnetic tape is being driven, so as to locally urge a side of the magnetic tape against the transducer area;
• and
• a tape positioning mechanism adapted to position the tape for the tape to form both a lead wrap angle α and a trail wrap angle β with respect to a plane subtended by the transducer area while driving the tape and ejecting the gas flow, the tape forming an upright U-shaped profile above the tape-bearing surface and below the gas ejection mechanism, in operation.