Gimbaled compliant guide for tape drivers

A guide for a flexible moving web comprising:

• an arcuate web bearing surface capable of bearing a web extending thereon, the web bearing surface having a first and a second edge, the web having an edge forming an arc;
• a first plate pivotably mounted adjacent the first edge of the web bearing surface;
• a second plate pivotably mounted adjacent a second edge of the web bearing surface;
• and
• means for applying force upon the first plate in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the arc of the edge of the web, the first plate mounted to pivot about a pivot point on the means applying force to the first plate, the pivot point moveable in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the arc of the edge of the web but constrained from moving on a surface of the first plate in a direction substantially parallel to the first plate by a recess in the surface of the first plate.

A tape path comprising:

• a first and a second rotatable reel;
• a flexible tape having its first end wound upon the first rotatable reel and its second end wound upon the second rotatable reel;
• a guide along the length of the tape comprising:
• an arcuate tape bearing surface capable of bearing the tape thereon the tape bearing surface, having a first edge, the tape having an edge forming an arc;
• a first plate pivotably mounted adjacent the first edge of the tape bearing surface;
• and
• means for applying force upon the first plate in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the arc of the edge of the tape, the first plate mounted to pivot about a first pivot point on the means for applying force to the first plate, the first pivot point moveable in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the arc of the edge of the tape but constrained from moving on a surface of the first plate in a direction substantially parallel to the first plate.

A tape drive comprising:

• a first and a second rotatable reel;
• a flexible tape having its first end wound upon the first rotatable reel and its second end wound upon the second rotatable reel;
• a read/write head adjacent the tape;
• means coupled to the rotatable reels for controllably rotating the rotatable reels to advance the tape past the head;
• means coupled to the head for controllably writing to and reading from the tape;
• a first and a second guide, one guide on each side of the head along the length of the tape, the first guide comprising:
• an arcuate tape bearing surface capable of bearing the tape thereon, the tape bearing surface having a first and a second edge, the tape having an edge forming an arc;
• a first plate pivotably mounted adjacent the first edge of the tape bearing surface;
• and
• means for applying force upon the first plate in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the arc of the edge of the tape, the first plate mounted to pivot about a first pivot point on the means for applying force to first plate, the first pivot point moveable in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the arc of the edge of the web but constrained from moving on a surface of the first plate in a direction substantially parallel to the first plate.