US 6,633,449 B1 · High bandwidth tape positioning system and servo controlled rollers for active tape positioning

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for a magnetic tape drive, which allow a magnetic tape to be positioned with respect to a tape head. The invention includes actively controlling the position of a tape guide used to support the tape as it passes over the tape head. By controlling the position of the tape guide, the tape can be caused to move a direction perpendicular to the primary direction of travel of the tape. One method of the invention includes providing a first tape guide aligned along a primary axis and disposed proximate a first side of the tape head. The tape is moved across the first tape guide and the tape head in a primary direction while the first tape guide is pivoted, to thereby cause the tape to move in a secondary direction essentially perpendicular to the primary direction. Alternately, or in addition to the step of pivoting the first tape guide, the method can include the step of translationally moving the first tape guide along the primary axis while moving the tape across the first tape guide and the tape head. The apparatus of the present invention can include one or more tape guides which support a tape as it moves across a tape head. Each tape guide can be configured to tilt or move translationally, or to do both, to cause the tape to move in a direction perpendicular to the primary direction of transport of the tape across the tape head.

Claims27

Dependent claims

A method for actively positioning a magnetic tape with respect to a tape head having head elements for at least performing one of writing or reading magnetically encoded data respectively to or from the magnetic tape, comprising:

providing a first tape guide aligned along a primary axis and disposed proximate a first side of the tape head;
and
moving the tape across the first tape guide and the tape head in a primary direction while pivoting the first tape guide about the primary axis to thereby cause the tape to move in a secondary direction essentially perpendicular to the primary direction.

An apparatus for actively positioning a moving magnetic tape with respect to a tape head element in a tape head across which the moving magnetic tape is configured to move in a primary direction, comprising:

a first tape guide supported proximate to a first side of the tape head and mounted along a first tape guide axis, the first tape guide being configured to support the magnetic tape as the tape travels past the tape head;
a first tape guide tilt positioner configured to tilt the first tape guide about the first tape guide axis;
and
an active positioner control device configured to, in response to detection of wander of the moving magnetic tape, cause the first tape guide tilt positioner to tilt the first tare guide about the first tape guide axis as the magnetic tape is moved across the tape head and the first tape guide, to thereby cause the magnetic tape to move in a secondary direction which is essentially perpendicular to the primary direction.

1 more element

An apparatus for positioning a moving magnetic tape with respect to a tape head element in a tape head across which the moving magnetic tape is configured to move in a primary direction, comprising:

a first tape guide supported proximate to a first side of the tape head and mounted along a first tape guide axis, the first tape guide being configured to support the magnetic tape as the tape travels past the tape head;
and
a first tape guide translation positioner configured to translate the first tape guide along the first tape guide axis;
and
an active positioner control device configured to, in response to detection of wander of the moving magnetic tape, cause the first tape guide translation positioner to translate the first tape guide along the first tare guide axis as the magnetic tape is moved across the tape head and the first tape guide, to thereby cause the magnetic tape to move in a secondary direction which is essentially perpendicular to the primary direction.

2 more elements

An apparatus for positioning a moving magnetic tape which is moving in a primary direction of travel between a tape source reel and a tape take-up reel, comprising:

a first tape guide over which the tape moves in moving between the tape source reel and the take-up reel, the first tape guide being selectively positionable to cause the tape to move in a direction perpendicular to the primary direction of travel;
and
a first tape guide positioner configured to selectively and actively cause the first tape guide to be repositioned as the moving magnetic tape is moved across the first tape guide to thereby cause the tape to move in a direction perpendicular to the primary direction of travel.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

High bandwidth tape positioning system and servo controlled rollers for active tape positioning

Life of this patent

High bandwidth tape positioning system and servo controlled rollers for active tape positioning

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims27