JP2005100523A - Magnetic recording and reproducing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform accurate tracking for a high-density track based on a linear tape system without any space fluctuations with a magnetic tape, and to prevent the presence of a hard intermediate between the magnetic tape and a guide for guiding the magnetic tape. <P>SOLUTION: This device is constructed in such a manner that the magnetic tape is moved in the longitudinal direction of a magnetic head 1, a magnetic head mechanism 4 is provided for setting the magnetic head 1 in a contact or opposing relation with the moving magnetic tape 2 by an aerodynamic effect, and a guide 3 is arranged to be slid into contact with the backside of a side opposite the surface of the magnetic tape set in the contact or opposing relation with the magnetic head, and to set the moving position of the magnetic tape 2. Then, in the part of the guide 3 opposed to the operation magnetic gap of the magnetic head 1 sandwiching the magnetic tape 2, a nozzle 5 is provided to jet out a gas for pressing the magnetic tape 2 to the operation magnetic gap. Thus, the presence of the intermediate in the part of the magnetic head opposed to the operation gap is prevented, and the magnetic tape is supported by this jetted-out gas. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus in which at least one of recording and reproduction is performed by a so-called linear tape system in which magnetic tape is used and recording is performed in the longitudinal direction.

With the development of computers and the Internet, the amount of information handled has increased dramatically.
Accordingly, there is a demand for an increase in capacity of a recording device used for backup.
As such a recording apparatus, a linear tape system that forms a recording track in the longitudinal direction of the magnetic tape has attracted attention. In order to increase the capacity of this linear tape, it is necessary to increase the number of tracks and to increase the surface recording density.
In order to increase the surface recording density, methods such as increasing the linear density by shortening the recording wavelength or increasing the track density by narrowing the track pitch are used.

In particular, narrowing the track pitch means narrowing the track width to be recorded. In this case, how to scan the magnetic recording head on the target recording track without causing a track shift is significant. It is a problem.
Thus, magnetic head devices having various structures have been proposed for on-track magnetic heads (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
That is, in the case of a conventional wide track, it is possible to control the reproducing magnetic head on-track while detecting a positional deviation from the tracking servo signal and applying feedback with a conventional technique.
However, when the track pitch is on the order of several microns, not only the servo signal writing accuracy, but also the deformation of the thermal expansion and contraction due to temperature, humidity, etc. due to the surroundings of the recording medium, usage conditions, etc. It becomes necessary, and in general structure, accurate tracking is not expected.

Therefore, it is necessary to develop a tracking mechanism in the submicron order. For example, it has been proposed to adjust the position of the magnetic head by providing fine adjustment means using a bimorph (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
The fine adjustment of tracking by the bimorph configuration is usually to finely adjust the support arm of the magnetic head extending in the direction crossing the magnetic tape surface by rotating the support arm in the width direction of the magnetic tape by the bimorph. Since the magnetic head gap arranged at the tip of the arm rotates while drawing an arc whose center is the rotation of the support arm, the gap between the gap surface of the magnetic head and the magnetic tape surface is There arises a problem that the fluctuation varies according to the movement, and the spacing varies, and the recording and reproduction output characteristics fluctuate.

On the other hand, at present, recording / reproducing apparatuses using hard disks widely used in computers and the like have been developed with a high degree of technology, and have been commercialized and commercialized with a high recording density of 30 Gbits / inch ² . This track pitch is several tens of kTPI, and is about 10 times as high as that of a so-called linear tape system using a magnetic tape.
That is, the tracking control in the hard disk is required to have an accuracy of 1 μm or less, and this is realized.

The magnetic head of this hard disk recording / reproducing apparatus has a floating magnetic head configuration as shown in a schematic cross-sectional view in FIG. The magnetic head mechanism 100 has a rotating arm 102 that rotates about a shaft 101, and a slider 104 that is elastically supported via a gimbal mechanism 103 is provided on the rotating arm 102. A magnetic head 105 is arranged at the tip of the head.
The rotating arm 102 is provided with a coil 106 of a voice coil motor that constitutes a rotating actuator that rotates the rotating arm 102.
Then, for example, in FIG. 6, the slider 104 arranged on the surface of the magnetic layer causes the air flow generated between the slider 104 and the hard disk 107 by the rotation of the hard disk 107 rotating in the direction indicated by the arrow a. Due to the aerodynamic effect of the magnetic head 105, the magnetic head 105 floats up against the pressing force of the gimbal mechanism 103 that supports it, that is, in the recording magnetic head element, a recording magnetic gap that generates a recording magnetic field, In the reproducing magnetic head element, a narrow air layer, a so-called air bearing effect, is formed between the magnetic recording medium, that is, the reproducing magnetic gap for introducing the signal magnetic field from the magnetic recording unit on the hard disk 107 and the magnetic surface of the hard disk 107. Has been made to occur.

  As shown in the side view of FIG. 7, the slider 104 is provided with a protrusion 104 </ b> L having a required pattern on the surface facing the hard disk 107, and balances between the negative pressure and the positive pressure generated by the air flow described above. As a result, a very thin air bearing is generated between the hard disk 107 and the hard disk 107.

The magnetic head mechanism of the hard disk is actually capable of tracking a high-density track on the hard disk by inputting a tracking control signal to the above-described drive control mechanism of the rotation arm, that is, an actuator by a voice coil motor. It is exactly done.
Japanese Patent No. 3236696 JP-A-11-126318

  The present invention provides a magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus having a large recording capacity that can achieve tracking without fluctuation in the spacing between the magnetic head gap and the magnetic tape.

  In the present invention, a magnetic tape suitable for archival recording and large-capacity recording is used as the recording medium, and a recording track is formed in the longitudinal direction of the recording tape. This makes it possible to perform submicron order tracking with high accuracy without causing fluctuations in the spacing with the surface.

  The present invention is a magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus that performs magnetic recording and / or reproduction with respect to a magnetic tape whose longitudinal direction is the recording track direction, and aerodynamics of the magnetic tape with respect to the magnetic head by the transition in the longitudinal direction. Due to the effect, the magnetic head has a magnetic head mechanism in which the magnetic head is brought into contact with or opposed to the magnetic tape, and the magnetic tape has a back surface opposite to the surface facing or opposed to the magnetic head. A guide body that is in sliding contact and sets the moving position of the magnetic tape is disposed, and the magnetic tape is placed in the working magnetic gap at a portion of the guide body that faces the working magnetic gap of the magnetic head across the magnetic tape. It is characterized by being provided with a spout for ejecting gas to be pressed.

  In the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention, the magnetic head mechanism is disposed at a free end of a gimbal mechanism which is constituted by a rotating arm and the rotating arm itself or attached to the rotating arm. A slider, a magnetic head disposed on the slider, a rotary actuator that controls the rotary arm to rotate along a magnetic tape surface and intersect the recording track, and the rotary arm And a linear actuator that linearly moves in the width direction of the magnetic tape.

The magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention has a multi-track configuration in which recording tracks extending linearly along the longitudinal direction of the magnetic tape are arranged in parallel in the width direction of the magnetic tape. Due to the movement of the moving arm by the linear actuator, the magnetic head is brought onto the selected recording track,
Tracking control for the selected recording track is performed by the rotating actuator.

The magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention enables high-precision tracking by applying the magnetic head mechanism technology in the hard disk described above to a linear tape type recording / reproducing apparatus that performs high-density and large-capacity recording. However, in the present invention, inconveniences that occur in this application can be avoided.
That is, in the configuration of the present invention, as described above, the magnetic tape guide body that is in sliding contact with the back surface opposite to the surface facing or facing the magnetic head of the magnetic tape is disposed, and the magnetic head for the magnetic tape is arranged. The aerodynamic effect using the airflow by the relative transition between the two is preferably generated. In particular, in the present invention, the guide magnetic body has an operating magnetic gap between the magnetic tape and the magnetic tape. It is characterized in that gas jets for pressing the magnetic tape toward the working magnetic gap are provided in the opposing parts.

That is, when the magnetic head mechanism described above is applied, for example, as shown in a schematic cross-sectional view in FIG. 8, when the guide body 108 is disposed on the back surface of the magnetic tape 109 facing the magnetic head, Alternatively, when hard dust or the like adheres to the magnetic tape 109 and the inclusion 110 exists between the guide body 108 and the magnetic tape 109, the slider 104 of the magnetic head mechanism or the magnetic head disposed thereon There is a possibility that the magnetic head or the magnetic tape may be damaged by colliding with the magnetic head 105.
On the other hand, in the configuration of the present invention, by providing a gas ejection port in a portion facing the magnetic gap of the magnetic head, a rigid guide body is substantially lacking in this portion. The inclusion 110 described above cannot be present, and the above-described damage accident can be avoided. In addition, since the magnetic tape is supported from the back by the ejected gas, the aerodynamic effect on the slider of the magnetic head mechanism can be exhibited.

An embodiment of a magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus that performs magnetic recording and / or reproducing according to the present invention is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.
FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention. A magnetic tape 2 is moved by a magnetic tape guide 3 so that a magnetic tape 2 moves in the longitudinal direction of the magnetic head 1 in the direction indicated by an arrow b. It is made like.
Then, a magnetic head mechanism 4 is provided for the magnetic tape 2 to be transferred so that the abutting or facing relationship of the magnetic head 1 with the magnetic tape 2 is set by an aerodynamic effect.

The guide body 3 has a configuration in which the magnetic tape 2 is slidably contacted with the back surface opposite to the surface facing or facing the magnetic head 1 and the moving position of the magnetic tape 2 is set.
Then, the magnetic tape 2 is placed on the guide 3 opposite to the working magnetic gap of the magnetic head 1 with the magnetic tape 2 in between, and the magnetic head 1 has a working magnetic gap, that is, in the recording magnetic head element, the recording is performed. In the recording magnetic gap that generates a magnetic field and the reproducing magnetic head element, a gas outlet 5 is provided that ejects a gas that presses toward the reproducing magnetic gap that introduces the signal magnetic field recorded on the magnetic tape 2.

The magnetic head mechanism 4 includes a rotating arm 6 and a gimbal mechanism 7 constituted by the rotating arm 6 itself or attached to the rotating arm 6.
A slider 8 is disposed at the free end of the gimbal mechanism 7, and the magnetic head 1 is disposed on the slider 8.
Further, for example, a rotation actuator 10 using a known voice coil motor is provided, and thereby the rotation arm 6 is controlled to rotate about the rotation axis 9.
In the rotating actuator 10, a coil 10 c constituting a voice coil motor is disposed at the rear end of the rotating arm 6.

Further, a linear actuator 11 is provided, and the pivot shaft 9 that pivotally supports the pivot arm 6 moves in a linear direction.
The linear actuator 11 is formed in the width direction at a position where the rotation pivot 9 of the rotation arm 6 is disposed, the screw hole is perpendicular to the pivot, and the magnetic tape 2 is in contact with or opposed to the magnetic head 1. A moving frame 12 is provided.
On the other hand, the axial direction of the magnetic tape 2 is also rotatably supported by, for example, bearings 13A and 13B so as to be along the width direction at the position where the magnetic tape 2 is in contact with or opposed to the magnetic head 1, and screwed on the outer periphery. A screw 14 having a groove is provided, and the moving piece 12 is screwed into the screw 14.
A motor 15 that rotationally drives the screw 14 is provided. For example, the gear 15 is rotated by the motor 15, and the screw 14 is rotated by engaging the gear 16 with the gear 17 that rotates together with the screw 14.
The moving piece 12 is locked so as not to rotate in the rotational direction of the screw 14 and is configured to be movable in the axial direction of the screw.
By doing so, the moving piece 12, and thus the rotating arm, and hence the magnetic head 1, can be moved linearly in the width direction of the magnetic tape 2 described above depending on the rotation direction of the screw 14.

Further, the magnetic tape 2 may be configured such that multiple tracks are formed in which the recording tracks 18T linearly extending along the longitudinal direction are arranged in parallel in the width direction of the magnetic tape 2. Then, the magnetic head 1 is brought onto the selected recording track 18T by the movement by the linear actuator 11, and for example, data recording or reproduction thereof is performed.
Each track is provided with a servo track 18S on which a servo signal is recorded adjacent thereto, and the servo signal is detected by a magnetic head element for servo signal detection formed on the magnetic head 1, for example. The rotation actuator 10 is controlled by the signal, and the recording magnetic head element or the reproducing magnetic head element of the magnetic recording head 1 is brought to a position on a predetermined track.
This position setting is controlled with high accuracy by the rotary actuator 10 described above, for example, a known voice coil motor.

  In the magnetic head 1 disposed on the slider 8 described above, the recording magnetic head element and the reproducing magnetic head element can each have a laminated structure of known thin film magnetic head elements. For example, the recording magnetic head element can be an electromagnetic induction type structure having a thin film coil and a thin film core, and the reproducing magnetic head element can be composed of a magnetoresistive effect element.

  And in this invention, the guide body 3 of the magnetic tape 2 is provided, for example, this guide body 3 shows a top view in FIG. 2A, and shows sectional drawing of the BB line in FIG. 2B. As shown in the longitudinal sectional view of the main part in FIG. 4, it has a width corresponding to the width of the magnetic tape 2 and has a U-shaped guide groove 3G with which the back surface of the magnetic tape 2 is slidably contacted. A gas ejection port 5 is formed at a position corresponding to a position where the working magnetic gap of the magnetic head 1 is opposed to or opposed to each recording track 18T of the magnetic tape 2 at a part of the bottom surface.

  For example, the gas ejection port 5 forms a concave groove in the width direction on the bottom surface of the guide groove 3G, and supplies, for example, air of the ejection gas.

Next, the characteristic improvement in the recording / reproducing apparatus having the gas ejection configuration according to the present invention described above will be verified.
This verification was performed by preparing an inspection apparatus 30 as shown in a schematic plan view of FIG. 3A and a schematic side view of FIG. 3B.
The inspection apparatus 30 is configured such that a pair of rotation guide drums 31 and 32 having a cylindrical outer peripheral surface having the same outer diameter hold a gap 33 therebetween and rotate integrally on the same axis. The air is made to erupt.

Then, the magnetic tape 2 was rotated around and fixed to the rotation guide drums 31 and 32 and in close contact therewith. This fixing was performed by inserting both ends of the magnetic tape 2 into slits 34 formed along the axial direction at corresponding positions of the rotation guide drums 31 and 32.
In this state, the magnetic head 1 having the magnetic head mechanism 4 described above is opposed so as to face the magnetic tape 2 and the rotation guide drums 31 and 32 are arranged as schematically shown by arrows in FIG. Air was ejected from the gap 33 to the back surface of the magnetic tape 2, and both guide drums 31 were rotated together, and the contact waveform (reproduction output characteristic) was measured by the magnetic head 1.
The measurement results are shown in FIG. In FIG. 5, a region I is a measurement result in a region where air is blown out, and a region II is a measurement result in a region where no air is blown and where a slit 34 is provided.
As is clear from comparison between these regions I and II, it can be seen that in the region where the air is blown out, the waveform is remarkably improved.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is understood that stable recording and reproduction can be performed by providing the guide body 3 of the magnetic tape 2 and disposing the gas ejection port 5 therein.
In this case, the presence of the gas ejection port 5 prevents the inclusion of foreign matter at the portion facing the magnetic head 1, so that the magnetic head 1, the slider 8, and the magnetic tape 2 are damaged. The risk of coming is avoided.

Furthermore, as the magnetic head mechanism 4 has a structure in which the rotation actuator 10 is provided as in the case of the magnetic head in the hard disk, the magnetic head mechanism 4 includes a tracking error that occurs due to factors such as ambient conditions, such as humidity and temperature. By detecting the tracking error signal from the signal obtained from the servo track 18S and controlling the rotation actuator 10, the accuracy comparable to that of the recording / reproducing apparatus in the hard disk, that is, the order of 1 μm or less can be obtained. .
In the head mechanism 4, the selection of the multiple tracks, that is, the plurality of recording tracks 18 </ b> T is made the linear actuator 11, so that both the actuators 10 and 11 move the magnetic head 1 along the tape surface of the magnetic tape 2. Therefore, it is possible to avoid fluctuations in the distance between the magnetic operating gap for recording and / or reproduction of the magnetic head 1 and the magnetic surface of the magnetic tape, that is, the spacing.

  Incidentally, the detailed structure of each part of the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention, for example, the structure of the guide 3 is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and changes can be made in the present invention. There is no place.

It is a block diagram of the principal part of one Embodiment of the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus by this invention. FIG. 1A is a plan view of an example of a magnetic tape guide of an embodiment of the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a block diagram of the apparatus for verifying the reproduction output characteristic of this invention apparatus, A figure is the schematic plan view, B figure is a schematic side view. It is sectional drawing of the principal part of FIG. It is a figure which shows the hit waveform equivalent to the reproduction output characteristic by this invention apparatus. It is a top view of the conventional magnetic head mechanism corresponding to a hard disk. It is explanatory drawing of the slider of a magnetic head mechanism. It is explanatory drawing of the problem at the time of using the magnetic head mechanism corresponding to a hard disk.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Magnetic head, 2 ... Magnetic tape, 3 ... Guide body, 3G ... Guide groove, 4 ... Magnetic head mechanism, 5 ... Gas jet, 6 ... Turning Arm, 7 ... Gimbal mechanism, 8 ... Slider, 9 ... Rotating pivot, 10 ... Rotating actuator, 12 ... Moving piece, 13A, 13B ... Bearing, 14 ... Screws, 15 ... motors, 16, 17 ... gears, 18T ... recording track, 18S ... servo track, 30 ... inspection device, 31 ... first rotation guide drum, 32. ..Second rotation guide drum, 33 ... Gap, 34 ... Slit, 100 ... Magnetic head mechanism, 101 ... Shaft, 102 ... Rotating arm, 103 ... Gimbal mechanism, 104 ... slider, 104L ... projection, 105 ... magnetic head, 1 6 ... Voice collimating lens motor coil, 107 ... hard disk, 108 ... guide member, 109 ... magnetic tape, 110 ... inclusions

Claims (3)

A magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus for performing magnetic recording and / or reproduction on a magnetic tape whose longitudinal direction is a recording track direction,
The magnetic head has a magnetic head mechanism in which the magnetic head is brought into contact with or opposed to the magnetic tape by an aerodynamic effect due to the transition in the longitudinal direction of the magnetic tape.
A guide body is disposed in sliding contact with the back surface opposite to the surface facing or facing the magnetic head of the magnetic tape, and sets the moving position of the magnetic tape,
A jetting port for ejecting a gas for pressing the magnetic tape toward the working magnetic gap is provided at a portion of the guide body facing the working magnetic gap of the magnetic head across the magnetic tape. A magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus.   The magnetic head mechanism includes a rotary arm and a slider that is constituted by the rotary arm itself or is disposed at a free end of a gimbal mechanism that is attached to the rotary arm, and the slider that is disposed on the slider. A magnetic head, a rotary actuator that controls the rotary arm along the magnetic tape surface and in a direction crossing the recording track, and the rotary arm is moved linearly in the width direction of the magnetic tape. The magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a linear actuator. The recording track linearly extending along the longitudinal direction of the magnetic tape has a multitrack configuration in which the recording tracks are arranged in parallel in the width direction of the magnetic tape, A magnetic head is brought over the selected recording track,
The magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein tracking control is performed on the selected recording track by the rotating actuator.

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