Compliant read and write head cleaner

Details Compliant read and write head cleaner Compliant read and write head cleaner

1999-06-30

2001-06-26

Tupper, Robert S. (Department: 2652)

Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval

Head

Head accessory

Reexamination Certificate

active

06252739

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a read and write magnetic head cleaner for a tape drive. The read and write magnetic head cleaner device is integral with the tape drive and is automatically actuated to clean a read and write magnetic head.
BACKGROUND ART
A magnetic storage system such as a tape drive using magnetic tapes generally involves the problem of head contamination. Because the read and write magnetic head comes in contact with magnetic tapes the read and write magnetic head may accumulate debris. Such debris on the read and write magnetic head may cause data transfer errors. Therefore, it is desirable to subject the read and write magnetic head to periodic cleaning treatments.
Prior art devices have used methods in which the read and write magnetic head is cleaned using a separate cleaning cassette. However, these methods require the use of a device which is separate from the tape drive and must be inserted by the user. Apparent drawbacks to this method are potential loss of the cleaning cassette and inconsistent and untimely use of the cleaning cassette by the operator. Accordingly, there have been recent tape drive devices which have integrated the cleaning apparatus within the tape drive.
With reference to
FIGS. 1
,
2
and
3
there are illustrated a prior art automatic read and write magnetic head cleaning apparatus for a magnetic tape drive system.
FIG. 1
illustrates a known magnetic tape drive system constructed in a manner as will be described hereinafter. Read and write magnetic head
10
is mounted on base plate
12
of the magnetic tape drive system. Magnetic head
10
is mounted on the base plate
12
via a carriage
14
. Carriage
14
is vertically and slidably mounted on a frame
16
by side rails (not shown).
In the above-described magnetic tape drive system the known head cleaning apparatus is constructed as will be described hereinafter. A guide post
18
is fixedly mounted at an end thereof to the base plate
12
. Further, a slider
20
is slidably mounted on the guide post
18
and mechanically coupled to a drive cam
22
via a pin
52
integral to the slider
20
and a channel
48
in the drive cam
22
. Drive cam
22
is rotatably mounted to the base plate
12
. A brush
24
is fixed to the slider
20
by a brush holder
26
. Brush
24
is in an interference condition between head
10
and slider
20
.
With reference to
FIGS. 1
,
2
and
3
the operation of the above-known head cleaning device for a magnetic tape drive will now be described. When a magnetic storage cassette (not shown) is loaded from the tape drive system a drive train (not shown) causes the drive cam
22
to rotate clockwise. The rotation of the drive cam
22
urges the slider
20
to move downwardly causing the brush
24
to wipe across the magnetic head
10
. During the unloading of a magnetic storage cassette, the drive train causes the drive cam
22
to rotate in the counterclockwise direction thus urging the slider
20
to move upwardly wiping the brush
24
across the magnetic head
10
. The guidepost
18
locates the slider
20
adjacent to the drive cam
22
and the magnetic head
10
. The anti-rotation portion
30
integrally connected to the slider
20
prevents the slider from rotating and decoupling from the drive cam
22
.
However, the above-known magnetic head cleaning device has disadvantages as will be described hereinafter. The proximity of the brush with respect to magnetic head is critical to ensure proper cleaning. If the slider upon which the brush
24
is mounted is too close to the magnetic head
10
, due to a prescribed manufacturing tolerance band for positioning of the guidepost, the drive cam, the slider and the magnetic head
10
, the brush
24
will exert excessive forces against the magnetic head
10
and will cause premature wearing of the brush
24
and subsequent ineffective cleaning of the magnetic head
10
. On the other hand, if the manufacturing tolerances in positioning of the various parts allow the brush
24
to be positioned too far from the magnetic head
10
ineffective cleaning of the magnetic head
10
will occur. Therefore, the known head cleaning device is not effective in cleaning the magnetic head
10
. An improved magnetic head cleaning apparatus is needed to accommodate the variation in positioning of a cleaning apparatus with respect to a magnetic head due to manufacturing tolerances.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an automatic head cleaning apparatus for a magnetic tape drive system in which a magnetic head cleaning apparatus is configured to compensate for tolerance variations, thereby increasing the effectiveness of the cleaning apparatus as well as its useful life.
In accordance with the present invention, the object mentioned above is accomplished by providing a head cleaning apparatus for a magnetic tape drive system comprising a frame, a read and write magnetic head carried by the frame, a flexure supported relative to the frame, and a brush attached to the flexure. The read and write magnetic head carried by the frame is configured for reading and writing data to and from a storage medium. The flexure is supported relative to the frame for relative movement between the frame and the read and write magnetic head. The brush is mounted to the flexure and is sufficiently biased by the flexure in the direction of the read and write magnetic head so that the brush wipes the read and write magnetic head when the flexure moves between the magnetic head and the frame.
The advantages accruing to the present invention are numerous. For example, the present invention provides a head cleaning apparatus which is compact thus requires very little space. This feature of the present invention is significant as the available space within tape drive systems is always looking to be minimized. Furthermore, the present invention does not sacrifice the cleaning function for more compact size, on the contrary, the biasing action created by the flexure insures that the proper amount of brush contact with the magnetic head is achieved, thus considerably improving the cleaning action over prior art magnetic head cleaning devices.
The above object and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best mode for carrying out the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.


REFERENCES:
patent: 6021026 (2000-02-01), Dallago

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