Magnetic tape apparatus
AssigneeFujitsu Limited
InventorsMasayoshi Kobayashi, Tsuneyoshi Oohara
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A magnetic tape apparatus for reading data from and writing data to a magnetic tape has a magnetic head for reading or writing the data, and first and second tape guides. The first tape guide has a first guide surface to guide the magnetic tape, and the first guide surface has a width that is narrower than the width of the magnetic tape. The second tape guide has a second guide surface to guide the magnetic tape, and the second guide surface has a width that is wider than the width of the magnetic tape. If the tape moves laterally against a flange on the first tape guide, the flange initially yields to the pressure of the tape. Then the flange presses against the magnetic tape to return the tape to a laterally aligned position along a tape path.
Claims18
A magnetic tape apparatus for reading data from and writing data to a magnetic tape, comprising:
- at least one first tape guide that maintains the magnetic tape along a tape path,
- said first tape guide having a movable portion that exerts a force against an edge of said magnetic tape, and when the magnetic tape moves out of the tape path in a first direction transverse to said tape path, said movable portion first yields by moving with the magnetic tape in said first transverse direction to accommodate the magnetic tape, and then moves in a second transverse direction opposite to said first direction to press the magnetic tape back into the tape path,
- whereby a transverse pressing force exerted against the magnetic tape by said movable portion maintains the magnetic tape along the tape path and prevents folding of the magnetic tape.
A tape guide for guiding a magnetic tape in a magnetic tape apparatus with a base, comprising:
- a fixed shaft having a bottom and a top, said bottom being mounted to the base;
- a roller defining a guide surface for guiding a magnetic tape that is placed against said guide surface, said roller being rotatably mounted on said shaft;
- and
- a top flange positioned at said top of said shaft and having a fixed flange part and a movable flange part, said fixed flange part being fixed to said top of said fixed shaft, said movable flange part being mounted on said shaft so that said movable flange part slides axially along said shaft;
- a bottom flange notably mounted on said shaft, said roller being positioned between said top and bottom flanges;
- and
- a coil spring positioned between said movable flange part and said fixed flange part for biasing said movable flange toward said bottom flange,
- wherein said movable flange engages an edge of said magnetic tape positioned along said guide surface,
- whereby folding of the magnetic tape is prevented.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.