KR19990077242A - 3-roller tape guide - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and apparatus for limiting lateral movement of a tape flowing across a conversion surface of a magnetic head while providing a compact and inexpensive tape drive. The device comprises two spaced apart reference roller guides and an adjustment roller guide. The first reference roller is mounted between the winding reel and the head adjacent to one side of the tape head. The adjustment roller and the second reference roller are mounted adjacent to the other side of the head such that the adjustment head is positioned between the head and the second reference roller and the second reference roller is located between the adjustment roller and the supply reel of the tape cartridge. Each reference roller is a surface that engages with a first longitudinal tape edge, the surfaces of which are both aligned with a predetermined tape feed path and mounted to move with the first tape tape edge to guide the first tape edge along the tape feed path. Has The adjustment mechanism has a surface that engages with the second longitudinal tape edge. The adjustment surface is parallel to but relative to the relative position of the reference roller and mounted for movement with the second tape edge. The adjustment surface is mounted in such a way that the first tape edge can be contacted with the reference surface to minimize movement of the tape in the direction perpendicular to the reference surface and the adjustment surface during the tape run.

Description

3-roller tape guide

Magnetic media are used to store data generated by a computer. Typically, a magnetic medium is usually provided with a magnetic head capable of playing or recording data on the medium. Magnetic storage disks, commonly referred to as hard disks, are currently preferred storage media for use in computer systems where fast access time and substantial storage capacity are a concern. However, because of their portability, miniaturization and storage capacity, magnetic tapes are also used for data storage.

One advantage that tapes have over hard disks is that once data is written onto magnetic tape, the tape and its container (usually called a cartridge) can be separated from the computer and stored in a safe place or carried data to a remote location. Or for delivery. Due to this separable feature, tape and tape drive devices are being used as storage and / or backup systems for recording for hard disks. However, to allow use as a record and / or backup storage device, the data error rate must be quite low.

As the demand for tape storage increases, there is a need for a compact form factor and inexpensive tape drive that provides precision high density tape guiding.

To increase the storage density for a given cartridge size, thin tapes can be used. One popular tape drive assembly, commonly known as a 13.335 cm (5.25 inch; 5 + 1/4 inch) tape guide, is 14.605 cm wide and 8.255 cm high and 20.3200 cm deep (5.75 inch wide and 3.25 inch high and 8 inch). Depth, that is, 5.75 inches by 3.25 inches by 8 inches). This drive typically houses a 13.335 cm (5.25 inch) cartridge that is about 10.414 square cm and 2.54 cm high (4.1 square inch and 1 inch high). Typically, 540 meters (1800 feet) of 1.27 cm wide and 0.000762 cm thick (0.5 inch wide and 0.3 mm thick) tapes are 10.16 square cm (4 square) for data storage used in 13.335 cm (5.25 inch) tape drives. Inch) wound on a 9.144 cm (3.6 inch) diameter feed reel in a cartridge. However, the storage capacity of 13.335 cm (5.25 inches) can be increased by increasing the length of the tape.

Another way to increase the storage capacity suitable for a given cartridge size is to write the bits onto tape in small areas and on multiple parallel longitudinal tracks. As more tracks are recorded on the tape, each track becomes narrower and the tape moves up and down in the direction perpendicular to the tape travel path as the tape passes by the magnetic head to maintain proper alignment of the head and the track on the tape. It should be limited from displacement (called side movement of the tape). Reducing the tape's lateral movement prevents data playback errors.

Lateral movement of the tape is defined as the peak-to-peak distance of unwanted movement (on the plane) of the tape perpendicular to the predetermined longitudinal direction of the movement past the head. Lateral movement of the tape is a major limiting factor that determines the minimum width of the track and the minimum gap between the tracks on the tape. Thus, as the lateral movement of the tape is reduced, more tracks can be stored on the tape and the tape density increases correspondingly.

Conventional tape guide systems typically used six roller guides to minimize lateral movement of the tape. One such tape guide system is described in commonly assigned US Pat. No. 5,173,828 under the "Small Multi Roller Tape Guide Assembly". U. S. Patent No. 5,173, 828 uses six identical rollers R1 to R6 arranged in a tape drive as shown in FIG.

Another conventional tape guide system is introduced in commonly assigned US Pat. No. 5,414,585 under the "Rotary Tape Edge Guide". US Pat. No. 5,414,585 also describes a six roller tape guide system in a similar assembly shown in FIG. As shown in Figure 2, the tape guide system uses two types of roller guide assemblies, each adjacent to one side of the head 70. The first assembly consists of the reference rollers RR1 and RR2 and the adjustment roller AR1. The second assembly is composed of reference rollers RR3 and RR4 and adjustment roller AR2. As shown in Fig. 2, each adjusting roller is disposed between the reference rollers, while the head 70 is mounted between the two roller guide assemblies so that the tape 68 is attached to the conversion surface of the head 70. Reduces lateral movement of the tape as it moves across the transducing face.

A disadvantage of the six roller tape guide assembly is that it is not cost-effective for use in inexpensive systems. In addition, small form factor tape drives will not be able to physically incorporate six roller guides.

As another conventional tape guide system, a fixed post guide may be used. A guide system of this type is introduced in US Pat. No. 4,447,019 under "Magnetic Tape Cartridge with Elastic Belt Drive Means and Removable Tape and Belt Idler." As shown in Fig. 3, fixed post guides 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, referred to as "idlers," guide the tape 12 flowing from the feed reel 6 to the take-up reel 4; do. However, these fixed post guides are more sensitive to abrasion than roller guides for some time and are therefore limited to applications where only low durability is required.

Thus, there is still an unmet need for an inexpensive tape guide system suitable for precision high density tape guides.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to magnetic recording tape guide assemblies, and more particularly, to small, inexpensive tape guide assemblies that minimize lateral movement of the tape without tape damage.

1 is a plan view of a conventional tape guide assembly.

2 is a side view of a conventional tape guide assembly.

3 is a side view of a conventional tape guide assembly.

4 is a side cross-sectional view of a tape guide in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

5 is a side cross-sectional view of another tape guide in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

6 is a plan view of the tape guide assembly shown in FIG.

Figure 7 is a plan view of another tape guide assembly in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

According to the invention, the roller tape guide assembly comprises two spaced apart reference roller guides and an adjusting roller guide. The first reference roller is mounted adjacent to one side of the tape head between the winding reel and the head. The adjusting roller and the second reference roller are mounted adjacent to the other side of the head such that the adjusting head is positioned between the head and the second reference roller, and is positioned between the adjusting roller and the supply reel of the tape cartridge. Each reference roller is adapted to engage a first longitudinal tape edge, the two sides of which are aligned parallel to a predetermined tape feed path and mounted to guide the first tape edge along the tape feed path to move with the first tape edge. Has a surface. The adjustment mechanism has a surface for engaging the second longitudinal tape edge. The adjustment surface is mounted to move with the second tape edge, offset laterally parallel thereto from the reference plane. In addition, the adjustment surface is mounted in such a way as to be effective to bring the first tape edge in contact with the reference plane to minimize movement of the tape in a direction perpendicular to the reference plane and the adjustment plane during tape progression. With this arrangement, it is possible to increase the number of data tracks stored on the magnetic tape medium by substantially eliminating side movements of the tape.

The present invention therefore provides an inexpensive and compact tape drive device. In addition, the present invention minimizes lateral movement for extremely high data and track densities, enables the tape to run at high performance and be compatible and can minimize tape degradation caused by the drive device. . This is very important because the tape is mainly recorded on one drive and reproduced on another drive. In addition, the very smooth surface provided by the present invention enables the use of very thin and fragile tapes such as 0.000762 cm (0.3 millimeter inch) recording tapes.

The present invention relates to a tape roller guide assembly that lowers the manufacturing cost of an 8 inch tape drive device. At the same time, the present invention reduces the amount of side movement with respect to the tape head experienced by the tape, so that the tracks can be further narrowed and closely spaced from each other, thus increasing the number of tracks stored on the tape.

Referring now to Figure 4, a cross-sectional view of a roller guide assembly according to the present invention is shown. To rotate with the tape 170 as the two reference rollers R1 and R3 and the tape proceed in the tape conveyance direction 81 on the support structure 82 of the tape drive assembly 10 (shown in FIG. 6). One adjustment roller R2 is provided. As shown, the tape head 11 is mounted in the tape drive device 10 so that the head 11 is located along the tape feed path between the reference roller R1 and the adjustment roller R2.

Essentially, each tape guide roller is an equally processed cylinder. Each roller includes a tape support surface 22. The tape support surface 22 is uniformly flat and extends parallel to the roller shaft axis and preferably lies on the periphery of 0.6 inch diameter D.

Each roller uses two opposing flanges. Roller R1 includes flanges 84 and 84 'and roller R3 includes flanges 86 and 86' arranged parallel to each flange 84 and 84 '. Roller R2 comprises flanges 88 and 88 ', their planes being parallel but offset vertically by a distance L from the plane of the flanges of the reference rollers. In a preferred embodiment, L is about 0.00508 cm (2 millimeters). Each reference roller has surfaces 84a and 86a for contacting the first longitudinal tape edge 90 while the adjusting flange 88 has a surface 88a for contacting the second longitudinal tape edge 92. Has The two flange rollers may be useful to prevent the tape from sagging between the rollers if the tape drive assembly loses power. In addition, many available rollers are accompanied by two flanges, so it may be cheaper to use these rollers than to configure the rollers with only one flange.

Although the present invention requires that each roller has two flanges, in the other embodiment shown in Fig. 5, each roller may have only one flange. All other parts shown in FIG. 5 except for the rollers are the same as those in FIG. Therefore, the same reference numerals are given to FIG. 5. Similar to the Figure 4 embodiment, the flanges 84a, 88a on the reference rollers R1, R3 are aligned flat to contact the first tape edge 90. The adjusting roller flange 88 is also vertically offset from the relative vertical position of the reference roller by a distance L.

In both embodiments, the lateral offset position of the adjustment roller R2 forms a "channel" 120 for guiding the tape 170 along the tape transport path to minimize lateral movement of the tape. The width of the channel 120 defined by the distance between the flange 88 of the reference roller R3 and the flange 86 of the adjustment roller R2 is preferably slightly smaller than the maximum width of the tape 170. This alignment ensures that the tape 170 remains in contact with the roller flange, so that lateral movement of the tape is eliminated.

The reference rollers R1, R3 may comprise a small coil spring 30 and a washer 32 and are mounted on a preload ball bearing (not shown). The adjusting roller R2 may comprise a deflection coil spring 94 and a lightweight washer 96. The deflection coil 94 and washer 96 allow movement of the adjustment roller R2 and thus allow movement of the adjustment flange 88 in a direction parallel to the roller shaft axis 28.

The basic dimensions of the rollers of the present invention are similar to the rollers introduced in commonly assigned US Pat. No. 5,414,585, the contents of which are described herein by reference. The roller guide assembly of the preferred embodiment has an improvement over the roller guide assembly introduced in the above referenced patent.

Referring to Figure 6, the tape drive assembly 10 is shown employing the tape roller guide assembly of the present invention. In FIG. 6, the cartridge 112 includes a motor 115 (shown outside the dotted line) for driving the cartridge supply reel 110 and a motor 105 (shown outside the dotted line) for driving the winding reel 100. In FIG. And is shown inserted into the assembly 10. Proper balancing of the opposing torques of the two motors results in some tape tension and also tape movement into and out of the cartridge 112. Thus, the tape 170 is driven in the forward direction 114 or the reverse direction 116 to record data on or to reproduce data on the tape 170 that cooperates with the drive device 10. Motors 105 and 115 are controlled by motor control circuitry (not shown) under the guidance of a processor (not shown). Tape 170 is rewound onto feed reel 110 before tape cartridge 112 is removed from tape drive assembly 10.

Since the tape 170 is wound from the supply reel 110 to the take-up reel 100, the lateral movement of the tape, which occurs when the tape travels across the head 11, causes the tape to move from the supply reel 110 to the cartridge 112. It will be repeated when rewound into the table.

In other words, the amount of lateral movement of the tape introduced during the winding process will be "accumulated" on the winding reel 100 and will be repeated during rewinding. Therefore, in the preferred embodiment, the reference roller R3 and the adjustment roller R2 are located adjacent on the side of the head 11 at which the tape 170 is introduced from the cartridge 112. Thus, when the tape 170 is wound on the winding reel 100, the side movement of the tape is reduced, whereby the side movement of the tape during rewinding is reduced.

Although the preferred embodiment with the adjusting roller R2 positioned between the head 11 and the reference roller R3 is shown and described in FIG. 6, in another embodiment, the head 11 and the head 11 are shown as shown in FIG. The adjusting roller may be located between the reference rollers R1.

Referring again to FIG. 6, the distance between the rollers R2 and R3 is also an important factor in controlling the lateral movement of the tape. If the tape 170 is considered to be a very rigid beam, the adjusting rollers R2 and R3 adjust the position and angle of the beam, but if the spacing between the rollers is too narrow, the angle accuracy is lost. However, if adjacent pairs of rollers are too far apart, the stiffness, such as the beam, is lost and the tape loses linearity and can be deflected. In general, if two rollers are too close to (nearly close to) each other, there is no improvement over a single roller, but if the rollers are more than four times the width of the tape, the tape allows too much free motion to experience tracking. The preferred spacing of the rollers R2, R3 in the present invention depends on the performance of other functions. For example, the mounting position of R3 should provide an optimal buckling between the winding reader (not shown) and the cartridge reader (not shown). Similarly, the mounting position of R2 should provide maximum tape contact with the head.

The rollers and flanges are preferably formed with the following dimensions, spacing and tolerances: the roller body is 1.524 cm (0.6 inches) in diameter, and the flange spacing of Figure 4 rollers is nominally 0.02032 cm (8 millimeters) larger than the average tape width. And separation tolerance is ± 0.00635 cm (2.5 millimeters).

The three-roller magnetic tape guide system introduced here has a high storage capacity per cartridge by making it suitable for inexpensive tape drives and enabling the use of narrow tracks that are closely separated from one another. The interaction of the three rollers with their respective flanges substantially eliminates lateral movement of the tape, while each flange only acts on the tape with a small lateral force that will not damage or wear the tape edges.

Considering the above description of the preferred embodiment, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention, the scope of which is specifically pointed out by the following claims. The description and the disclosure herein are exemplary only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention as specifically pointed out by the following claims.

Claims (8)

Between each feed reel and take-up reel by guiding the magnetic tape in a direction transverse to the lateral axis of the head, in contact with the intermediate transition surface of the head along a predetermined tape feed path from the first side of the magnetic head to the second side of the head A tape guide assembly in which a lateral movement of a winding tape is minimized, A first reference flange positioned adjacent to the first side of the head and engaging with the first longitudinal tape edge, the first reference flange aligned flat with the tape feed path and defining the first tape edge along the tape feed path. A rotatably mounted first reference roller mounted to move with the first tape edge to guide, A second reference flange positioned adjacent the second side of the head and engaging the first tape edge, the second reference flange aligned flat with the first reference flange and the tape transport path and along the tape transport path; A rotatably mounted second reference roller mounted to move with the first tape edge to guide the tape edge; An adjustment flange positioned between the first reference roller and the head adjacent the first side of the head and engaging the second longitudinal tape edge, the adjustment flange being in a plane parallel to the plane of the first and second reference flanges; And mounted to move with the second tape edge and bring the first tape edge into contact with the first and second reference flanges to minimize lateral movement of the tape during tape progression through a portion of the tape transport path between the feed reel and the head. Consisting of a rotatably mounted adjustment roller disposed in a position to And the adjusting roller is mounted on the support structure in a manner that cooperates with the first and second reference rollers so that the tape feed has an arc shape running in a direction substantially perpendicular to the head lateral axis. 2. The adjustment flange of claim 1, wherein the adjustment flange has a fixed distance between the plane of the adjustment flange and the planes of the first and second reference flanges, the fixed distance being defined by a portion of the tape parallel to the second tape edge. Tape guide assembly, characterized in that it is slightly less than the tape width to provide a spring mechanism for contacting the first and second reference flanges. The tape guide assembly of claim 1 wherein the adjustment flange is mounted to move in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the reference flange. The tape guide assembly of claim 1 wherein the first reference roller and the adjustment roller are positioned between the feed reel and the head. The tape guide assembly of claim 4 wherein the second reference roller is positioned between the take-up reel and the head. The tape guide assembly of claim 1 wherein the first reference roller and the adjustment roller are positioned between the take-up reel and the head. The tape guide assembly of claim 8 wherein the second reference roller is positioned between the feed reel and the head. To interchange tapes between various tape drives that are interested in repeatedly accurate tracking at high data and track densities, excessive tape perpendicular to the track recorded on the tape as the tape flows across the front of the head. A method for providing a magnetic tape to a magnetic head suppressed by side movement, Providing each tape drive with the benefit of an arced tape conveying path across a set of three spaced rotatably mounted rollers, Fixing the distance between the reference flange and the adjusting flange slightly smaller than the width of the tape, The rotatably mounted first and third rollers are reference rollers, each reference roller located on both sides of the head, each having a reference flange for engaging the first longitudinal tape edge and the reference flanges being predetermined A second roller, which is flatly aligned with the tape feed path and mounted to move with the first tape edge to guide the first tape path along the tape feed path, the rotatably mounted second roller being positioned between the first reference roller and the head. An adjustment roller, the adjustment roller having an adjustment flange for engaging the second longitudinal tape edge, the adjustment flange of the reference flange mounted to move with the second tape edge to guide the second tape edge along the tape feed path. The tape is in a plane parallel to the plane and the second tape edge is perpendicular to the track recorded on the tape during tape run. The method characterized in that in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the reference flanges to first contact the tape edge and the reference flange to minimize the side movement.