# US 2014/0192437 A1 · Head rotator assembly for tape drive > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0192437 A1 - Document ID: US20140192437A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/209,437 - Filed: 2014-03-13 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2011-09-30 - Assignees: Quantum Corporation - Applicants: Quantum Corporation - Inventors: Ashok B. Nayak; Turguy Goker; Ming-Chih Weng; James Mark Decot - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140192437A1 ## CPC - G11B 5/56: with provision for moving the head {support} for the purpose of adjusting the position of the head relative to the record carrier, e.g. manual adjustment for azimuth correction or track centering ({G11B5/52,} G11B5/54, G11B5/58 take precedence) - G11B 5/53: Disposition or mounting of heads on rotating support - G11B 5/584: for track following on tapes - G11B: INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER (recording measured values in a way that does not require playback through a transducer G01D9/00; recording or playback apparatus using mechanically marked tape, e.g. punched paper tape, or using unit records, e.g. punched or magnetically marked cards G06K; transferring data from one type of record carrier to another G06K1/18; circuits for coupling output of reproducer to radio receiver H04B1/20; gramophone pick-ups or like acoustic electromechanical transducers or circuits therefor H04R) ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A head rotator assembly for dynamically compensating for a tape skew of a storage tape that moves over a head in a tape drive, the head rotator assembly comprising: a head supporter that is coupled to and supports the head; and a supporter mover assembly including a first actuator that indirectly rotates a portion of the head supporter about an axis to move the head in an azimuth direction relative to the storage tape to dynamically compensate for the tape skew as the storage tape moves over the head. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The head rotator assembly of claim 1 wherein the supporter mover assembly further includes a first lever, the first actuator moving the first lever to rotate the portion of the head supporter so that the head moves in the azimuth direction relative to the storage tape to dynamically compensate for the tape skew. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The head rotator assembly of claim 2 wherein the first actuator exerts a force against the first lever to rotate the first lever about a lever pivot in a first rotational direction, and wherein upon the rotation of the first lever in the first rotational direction, the first lever exerts a force against the head supporter to rotate the head supporter about a supporter pivot in a second rotational direction that is different than the first rotational direction. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The head rotator assembly of claim 2 wherein the first actuator exerts a force against the first lever to flex the first lever, and wherein upon the flexing of the first lever, the first lever exerts a force against the head supporter to rotate the head supporter about a supporter pivot to move the head in the azimuth direction relative to the storage tape to dynamically compensate for the tape skew. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The head rotator assembly of claim 2 wherein the first actuator imparts an actuator bias force against the first lever in a first direction, and the first lever imparts a lever bias force against the head supporter in a second direction that is different than the first direction. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The head rotator assembly of claim 5 wherein the first direction is approximately perpendicular to the second direction. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The head rotator assembly of claim 1 further comprising a controller that receives a positioning signal from the head, the controller controlling movement of the supporter mover assembly based at least partially on the positioning signal. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The head rotator assembly of claim 1 wherein the first actuator includes a piezoelectric element. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The head rotator assembly of claim 1 wherein the supporter mover assembly further includes a second actuator that indirectly rotates the portion of the head supporter about the axis to move the head in the azimuth direction relative to the storage tape to dynamically compensate for the tape skew. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The head rotator assembly of claim 9 wherein the supporter mover assembly further includes a second lever, the second actuator moving the second lever to rotate the portion of the head supporter so that the head moves in the azimuth direction relative to the storage tape to dynamically compensate for the tape skew. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The head rotator assembly of claim 9 wherein the second actuator is on an opposite side of the head supporter from the first actuator. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The head rotator assembly of claim 1 wherein the supporter mover assembly further comprises a support plate, and wherein the head supporter is at least partially fixedly secured to the support plate. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A tape drive including a head and the head rotator assembly of claim 1 that supports the head. ### Claim 14 A method for positioning a head of a tape drive relative to a storage tape that moves over the head, the method comprising the steps of: supporting the head with a head supporter that is coupled to the head; and dynamically compensating for a tape skew by indirectly rotating a portion of the head supporter about an axis with a first actuator to move the head in an azimuth direction relative to the storage tape as the storage tape moves over the head. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 wherein the step of dynamically compensating includes the steps of moving a first lever with the first actuator, and rotating the portion of the head supporter with the first lever to move the head in an azimuth direction relative to the storage tape as the storage tape moves over the head. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 wherein the step of moving includes the step of imparting an actuator bias force with the first actuator against the first lever in a first direction, and wherein the step of rotating includes the step of imparting a lever bias force with the first lever against the head supporter in a second direction that is different than the first direction. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 further comprising the steps of receiving a positioning signal from the head with a controller, and controlling movement of the first actuator with the controller based at least partially on the positioning signal. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of dynamically compensating for the tape skew by indirectly rotating a portion of the head supporter about an axis with a second actuator to move the head in an azimuth direction relative to the storage tape as the storage tape moves over the head. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 wherein the step of dynamically compensating for the tape skew by indirectly rotating the portion of the head supporter about an axis with the second actuator includes the steps of (i) moving a second lever with the second actuator, and (ii) rotating the portion of the head supporter with the second lever to move the head in an azimuth direction relative to the storage tape as the storage tape moves over the head. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of fixedly securing at least a portion of the head supporter to a support plate.