US 6,157,516 A · Method and apparatus for preventing electrostatic damage to the read/write head of a tape drive

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for reducing electrostatic discharge damage to a read/write (R/W) head attached to a shutter/head assembly are disclosed. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a shutter/head assembly includes a lead screw, a head housing, and a shutter. The head assembly is configured to be coupled to a R/W head, and is rotatably coupled with the lead screw. The shutter is also rotatably coupled to the lead screw, but in such a manner that the shutter is able to rotate independently of the head housing. The shutter is also configured in such a manner so that it rotates to a radial position between the R/W head and the tape/leader ribbon when the lead screw brings the shutter toward a certain linear position, and rotates to another radial position away from the R/W head and the tape/leader ribbon when the lead screw brings the shutter toward a different linear position.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A shutter/head assembly for reducing electrostatic discharge (ESD) damage to a read/write (R/W) head attached to said shutter/head assembly, said R/W head being configured to perform one of a storage operation and a retrieval operation on data stored on a tape/leader ribbon, comprising:

a lead screw;
a head housing configured to be coupled to said R/W head, said head housing being rotatably coupled to said lead screw;
a shutter rotatably coupled to one of said lead screw and said head housing, said shutter being configured to be rotatable independently of said head housing, said shutter being configured to be disposed in a first radial position between said R/W head and said tape/leader ribbon when said shutter is brought toward a first linear position by said lead screw, said shutter being configured to be disposed in a second radial position that is away from between said R/W head and said tape/leader ribbon when said shutter is brought by said lead screw toward a second linear position that is different from said first linear position.

A method for reducing electrostatic discharge (ESD) damage to a read/write (R/W) head attached to a shutter/head assembly, said R/W head being configured to perform one of a storage operation and a retrieval operation on data stored on a tape/leader ribbon, comprising:

providing a lead screw;
providing a head housing, said head housing being configured to be coupled to said R/W head;
rotatably coupling said head housing to said lead screw;
providing a shutter;
rotatably coupling said shutter to one of said lead screw and said head housing, said shutter being configured to be rotatable independently of said head housing, said shutter being configured to be disposed in a first radial position between said R/W head and said tape/leader ribbon when said shutter is brought toward a first linear position by said lead screw, said shutter being configured to be disposed in a second radial position that is away from between said R/W head and said tape/leader ribbon when said shutter is brought by said lead screw toward a second linear position different from said first linear position.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for preventing electrostatic damage to the read/write head of a tape drive

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for preventing electrostatic damage to the read/write head of a tape drive

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20