Detection of a lower limit of tape head travel in a single reel tape drive

A detection assembly for detecting a lower limit of travel for a tape head within a single reel tape drive when said single reel tape drive is initialized, the assembly comprising:

• a means for stepping said tape head downward to said lower limit of travel when said single reel tape drive is initialized;
• a tape guide connected within a tape path for guiding said tape path between an engaged position and a retracted position, wherein said engaged position moves said tape path away from said tape head;
• a means for moving said tape guide between said retracted position and said engaged position, wherein when said single reel tape drive is initialized said takeup leader connected to a takeup reel within said single reel tape drive and routed through said tape path moves to said engaged position;
• a tachometer, coupled to a guide roller within said tape path responsive to a movement of said takeup leader, for generating tachometer counts indicative of an extent of movement, wherein when said tape guide moves between said retracted position and said engaged position said takeup leader rotates said roller;
• and
• a processing means for monitoring said tachometer counts and in response to movement of said takeup leader indicative of said lower limit, discontinues said downward stepping of said tape head.

A method for detecting a lower limit of a movable tape head in a single reel tape drive embodying a tape guiding assembly when said tape drive is initialized, said movable tape head and said tape guiding assembly within a tape path and a takeup leader connected to a takeup reel within said single reel tape drive routes along said tape path, the method comprising:

• stepping said movable tape head in a downward direction a number of steps;
• moving said tape guiding assembly between a retracted position and an engaged position as said movable tape head reaches said lower limit, wherein said engaged position moves said tape guiding assembly and said takeup leader away from said movable tape head when said movable tape head reaches said lower limit;
• monitoring a tachometer count of a tachometer which is coupled to a roller within said tape path while said movable tape head is stepped downward;
• in response to a sufficient rotation of said roller coupled to said tachometer, discontinuing said stepping of said movable tape head in said downward direction.