Magnetic tape drive having direct drive motor and extended head travel

Abstract

A magnetic tape drive having a motor with a magnetically shielded cavity or hole in one cover of the motor providing additional room for movement of a magnetic head. The cavity eliminates a mechanical interference problem, enabling direct drive of a roller (puck) combined with short overall drive height. In motors having an internal stator, some of the stator poles are eliminated and a magnetically shielded cavity is provided in the area where the stator poles are eliminated. In motors having an external stator, no stator modification is required and a shielded cavity provides access into an open area of the rotor. In addition, for motors having an external stator and sufficient magnetic shielding, a simple hole in one cover of the motor may be sufficient rather than a magnetically shielded cavity.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.