JPH11203623A - Tape head - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the floating of a tape from the surface of a recording and reproducing tape head while reducing the tension on the tape which is running. SOLUTION: The recording and reproducing tape head is constituted of plural head elements 60 whose surfaces are flat and mutually tiled with respect to each other. At a receiving side edge 105 and a sending side edge of each head element 60, appropriate bend angles β and γ are provided. Thus, a curved section 100 is generated for the tape in the vicinity of the edge 105, the tape in the vicinity of the sending side edge is pressed against the head surface by the bending rigidity and the contact between the tape and the head is secured. Thus, the total sum of the angle β of the tape at the edge 105 and the angle γ at the sending side edge for all head elements 60 is made smaller than the curveture angle caused by a conventional curved surface head, the tension on the tape is reduced while it is running and the electric power consumption is reduced accordingly.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to tape drive systems and, more particularly, to winding a tape around a head while maintaining a constant contact pressure between the magnetic tape and the transducer head of the tape drive. With (bending of tape)
The contour of the tape head to minimize

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In tape recorders, the pressure between the tape and the transducer head is significant. If the contact pressure is too low, the tape will fly up from the head, disturbing the recording state. If the contact pressure is too high, the tape will twist,
Torn.

It is usually desirable for the tape to maintain contact with the read / write head. Optimal recording performance is achieved with the spacing or gap between the head and the tape. The normal tape support surface of the tape recording head is rounded so that the tape is smoothly dragged across it, so that the spacing between the head and the tape is minimized. However, at high speeds, air is often drawn between the head and the tape, creating a positive pressure air bearing. A positive pressure air bearing opposes constant tape tension and separates the tape from the head to lift the tape. As the tape speed increases, the force separating the tape from the head increases. As the head / tape interval increases, the recording performance decreases. Normal tape speeds higher than 3 m / s cause the tape to fly, which results in poor recording conditions.

[0004] Because the tape tension is constant and the force separating the tape from the head can vary, the tape tension is sometimes higher than the tension required to keep the tape in contact with the head. Unnecessary tape tension is a waste of power, as power is required to generate tape tension.

Conventional attempts to reduce tape flying have included lateral or longitudinal slots or gaps in the head. However, these slots or gaps often collect debris that can cause head or tape failure. In addition, machining the gaps increases the time and expense of the manufacturing process.

Another example is a head composed of a single element.
A flat tape support surface (Ta) that can reduce the speed-induced increase in head-to-tape spacing
pe Bearing Surface (hereinafter referred to as TBS) has been developed. However, single-element tape heads have been limited in their use. Modern tape heads are often composed of many components.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, in view of the foregoing background on tape recorders and contact pressures, the present invention minimizes the gap between the tape and the head, reduces tape bow at the head, and reduces tape damage. It is an object of the present invention to provide a tape head having a polyhedral surface, which can prevent power consumption and minimize power consumption.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A preferred embodiment tape head according to the principles of the present invention comprises a number of tape head elements. Each tape head element is a flat TB
S is provided. The tape runs wrapping around each TBS. Each planar TBS is the other planar TBS
Leaning against. Preferably, each planar TBS is inclined at an angle of 2 to 6 degrees with respect to the adjacent TBS.

[0009] Planar TBS reduces the tension required to hold the tape in contact with the head, thus reducing power consumption. Planar TBS can also reduce the bending angle (hereinafter referred to as the overlap angle) applied to the tape by the head surface.
When the overlap angle decreases, the head support structure can be shortened.

[0010] Other objects, advantages, and capabilities of the present invention are:
It will become more apparent as the description proceeds.

[0011]

FIG. 1 shows a tape head having two elements.
A conventional magnetic tape head with 15, a tape 20, a tape head controller 25, two reels 30, 35, two reel motors 40, 45, and two tape supports 50, 55. -Shows the system 10; The exemplified tape head 15 is
It has read / write tape head elements 60,65.
The tape head controller 25 supplies power to the motor via conductors (not shown), and sends and receives data via the flexible cable 75. The direction of movement of the tape is indicated by arrow 80. The total overlap angle α is the angle between the tape 85 and the extension 82 between the two head elements 60,65. The total overlap angle α is determined by the position of the supports 50, 55, and is the same for the two head elements 60, 65, respectively, since the tape may run in the opposite direction during operation. At that time, the read and write functions are
The opposite occurs at 0 and 65.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the outer overlap angle β is the angle between the imaginary line 90 of the planar surface of the head and the tape 85 (in this case the head surface is not inclined) Suppose). The angle β is determined by the depth of penetration of the head into the tape between the supports 50 and 55, as indicated by arrow 95. The angle β is preferably in the range 1 ° to 3 °.

In FIG. 3, the tilt angle of the planar surface of the head is shown as Δ, which is typically between 1 ° and 3 °.
And a two-element tape head produces a total overlap angle α in the range of 2 ° to 6 °. The tilt angle Δ is the same for the two head elements 60, 65 and is symmetric about the center plane 96. The inner rear edge (feed side edge) overlap angle γ is the same as the inclination angle Δ of the planar surface in the case of a head having two elements. The slope lines from each planar surface intersect to form an angle θ (FIG. 2). That is, the angle θ is twice Δ. If Δ
Is 1 °, θ becomes 2 °. In a preferred embodiment, the angle θ is in the range of 3 ° to 6 °.

FIG. 3 shows that the tape 20 has a tape head element 60.
3 shows a non-linear tape portion 100 that results when wrapped along a relatively sharp leading edge 105 (receiving edge) of the tape. The reversal curve of the tape portion 100 results from the bending stiffness of the tape 20 as it passes over the edge 105. There is a region of low contact pressure, or bulge, between the tape head element 60 and the tape portion 100. This tends to move the tape closer to the tape head element 60, thereby minimizing the spacing between the tape and the tape head near the leading edge 105. Also, an inflated region is created near the edge 110 due to the bending stiffness of the tape 20 as the tape 20 passes over the edge 110.

FIG. 4 shows a tape head having three elements that are symmetric about a center plane 111. The tape head comprises a flat central head element 112 and two inclined elements 113
And 114. Angle α 'is the total overlap angle. Angle β 'is the outer overlap angle of the tape relative to elements 113, 114, respectively. Angle ε is the tape overlap angle with element 112. With a conventional three-element rounded head, the total overlap angle α 'is as high as 20 ° to 30 °. In the present invention, the β ′ angle and the ε angle are each 1 ° to 3 °.
, The maximum total overlap angle α ′ is 3 ° to 9
° range. It should be noted that the angles in FIGS. 4 and 5 are exaggerated for ease of reference.

FIG. 5 shows a tape head with four elements that is symmetric about a centerline 115. The tape head has two outer overlap angles 120 on either side of the centerline 115.
And 125, and two inner overlap angles 130 and
There are 135. If each of the four corners is 3 °, the total overlap angle of a normal rounded head is 20 ° to 30 °, while that of this embodiment is 12 °.

In each tape head of the present invention, the total overlap angle is smaller than that of a normal tape head. As the total overlap angle decreases, the head support structure can be shortened, and the resonant frequency of the structure increases to a desired higher frequency.

In all of the above cases using planar heads, the tape no longer changes its angle as it traverses each head element, and the total overlap angle is exactly the outer and inner overlap angles. Is the sum of By keeping the head penetration 95 (FIG. 2) to a minimum, actuator components can be brought closer to the head to maximize the resonance frequency and minimize the opportunity for tape-actuator interference.

In summary, what has been described above is a preferred embodiment of a system and method for controlling the spacing between a tape and a tape head. Although the present invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it will be apparent that other alternative embodiments of the implementations and modifications may be employed without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention.

[Embodiments] Examples of the embodiments of the present invention are shown below.

[Embodiment 1] A tape head (15) for recording and reproduction, comprising a plurality of tape head elements (60,
65, 112), wherein each of the elements (60, 65, 112) has a planar TBS, wherein each of the TBS is inclined with respect to the TBS of the adjacent element, and a tape ( 85) running along each of said TBSs.

[Embodiment 2] Each of the tapes is composed of the TB.
The tape head (15) of claim 1, wherein the sum of its angles changing at the boundary of S is less than about 6 degrees.

[Embodiment 3] Each of the tapes is composed of the TB
The tape head (15) according to embodiment 1 or embodiment 2, characterized in that the sum of its angles changing at the boundary of S is at least about 2 degrees.

Embodiment 4 The tape head (15) of embodiment 1, wherein the slope of each TBS with respect to the adjacent TBS is less than about 6 degrees.

Embodiment 5 The tape head (15) according to embodiment 1 or embodiment 4, wherein the inclination of each TBS with respect to the adjacent TBS is at least about 2 degrees.

[Embodiment 6] In a tape recording / reproducing system, a plurality of tape head elements (60, 65, 112) arranged symmetrically with respect to a center plane (96, 111, 115).
Wherein at least two of said elements (60, 65, 112) have a TBS inclined with respect to a plane perpendicular to said central plane (96, 111, 115). When,
Tape (85) slidably in contact with each said TBS
And a tape recording and reproducing system.

[Embodiment 7] Each of the tapes is a tape.
The tape recording / reproducing system according to embodiment 6, wherein the sum of the angles changing at the boundary of S is smaller than about 6 degrees.

[Embodiment 8] Each of the tapes is a tape.
The tape recording / reproducing system according to embodiment 6 or 7, wherein the sum of the angles changing at the boundary of S is at least about 2 degrees.

[Embodiment 9] The center plane (96, 111, 11)
5) The inclination of each TBS that is inclined with respect to the plane perpendicular to
The tape recording / reproducing system according to claim 6, wherein the tape recording / reproducing system is smaller in degree.

[Embodiment 10] The center plane (96, 111, 1
The tape recording / reproducing system according to embodiment 6 or 9, wherein the inclination of each TBS inclined with respect to a plane perpendicular to 15) is at least about 1 degree.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a tape drive system.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevation view of a two-element tape head.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged elevation view of the first element of the two-element tape head.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged elevation view of a three-element tape head.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged elevation view of a four-element head.

[Explanation of symbols]

 50: tape support 60: tape head element 85: tape 105: receiving edge

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A tape head for recording and reproducing, comprising a plurality of tape head elements, each of said elements having a planar tape supporting surface, and each of said tape supporting surfaces being adjacent to each other. A tape head inclined relative to a tape supporting surface of said element, wherein tape runs along each of said tape supporting surfaces.