Head rotator assembly for tape drive

Abstract

A head rotator assembly (22) for positioning a head (20) of a tape drive (10) relative to a storage tape includes a head supporter (230) and a supporter mover assembly (232). The head supporter (230) is coupled to and supports the head (20). The supporter mover assembly (232) selectively rotates a portion of the head supporter (230) about an axis (241) to move the head (20) in an azimuth direction relative to the storage tape as the storage tape moves over the head (20). The head rotator assembly (22) further includes a controller (16) that controls movement of the supporter mover assembly (232) based at least partially on a positioning signal. The supporter mover assembly (232) can include a first actuator (234A) and a first lever (236A). The first actuator (234A) moves the first lever (236A) to rotate the head supporter (230) so that the head (20) moves in the azimuth direction. The first actuator (234A) can include a piezoelectric element. The first actuator (234A) biases the first lever (236A) to rotate at least a portion of the head supporter (230) to move the head in the azimuth direction.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.