US 4,290,088 A · System and method for erasing information from a flexible information storage media

Abstract

An information storage system has means for erasing information from selected recording tracks of a flexible magnetic recording dis. To ensure that all the remnants of the prior information signal are erased, a magnetic head transducer is first offset a predetermind distance from the centerline of a selected track in one direction from the center of the media and then a predetermined distance in the other direction from the center of the media. The erase signal is applied to the head when the head is in both offset positions. Ideally, when the center of the head is positioned on the center of the track, the head records information in a record band of predetermined width on either side of the centerline of the track. In practice, however, the head may deviate from the centerline position during system operation and thereby record information outside of the record band. Accordingly, the head is moved from its center line position on the selected track so that portions of the track outside the record band are effectively erased.

Claims19

Dependent claims

An apparatus for erasing information from selected tracks of a flexible information storage media in an information storage system having a single magnetic head transducer, said apparatus comprising:

(a) means for moving said head transducer along said media and for maintaining said head transducer in a predetermined position relative to the center line of a selected track;
(b) means for controlling said moving means to move said head transducer to first and second predetermined positions on opposite sides of the center line of the selected track and at a predetermined distance therefrom when information on the track is to be erased;
and
(c) means for applying an erase signal to said head transducer when said head transducer is in said first and second positions, so that a track width greater than the width of the head transducer is eraseable using a single head transducer.

1 more element

In an information storage system having a single magnetic head transducer for reading, writing and erasing information on a sheet of flexible information storage media having a plurality of recording tracks thereon, an apparatus for erasing information from a selected track of said media, said apparatus comprising:

(a) means for moving said head transducer along said media and for maintaining said head transducer in a predetermined position relative to the center line of said selected track;
(b) means for controlling said moving means to move said head transducer to first and second predetermined positions on opposite sides of the center line of the selected track and at a predetermined distance therefrom when information on the track is to be erased;
and
(c) means for applying an erase signal to said head transducer when said head transducer is in said first and second positions, so that a track width greater than the head transducer is eraseable using a single head transducer.

1 more element

A method for erasing information from a selected recording track of an information storage media, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a magnetic head transducer for erasing said information from said selected track;
(b) positioning said head transducer on said selected track;
(c) moving said head transducer to first and second predetermined positions in succession on opposite sides of the center line of the track and at a predetermined distance therefrom when information on the track is to be erased;
and
(d) applying an erase signal to the head transducer when said head transducer is in said first and second predetermined positions so that information recorded on a track of greater width then the head transducer is erased using a single head transducer.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System and method for erasing information from a flexible information storage media

Life of this patent

System and method for erasing information from a flexible information storage media

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19