Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval – Head – Head surface structure
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-04
2001-08-28
Tupper, Robert S. (Department: 2652)
Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval
Head
Head surface structure
C360S121000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06282055
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a magnetic tape head having a contour that includes multiple bleed slots and multiple transverse slots.
BACKGROUND ART
An important and continuing goal in the data storage industry is that of increasing the density of data stored on a medium. For magnetic tape storage systems, that goal has lead to increasing track density in recording heads, and decreasing the thickness of the tape in order to increase the quantity of tape stored on a tape cartridge. The development of small footprint, higher performance tape drive systems, however, has created various problems in the design of a tape head contour for use in such systems.
First, data storage efficiency can be reduced by entrained air that causes separation between a magnetic tape and a recording head as the tape moves over the head. Such separation losses can be reduced by providing bleed slots in the head that extend in the direction of tape travel. However, at higher tape speeds and with thinner tapes, air can still become entrained between the tape and slot islands located between adjacent bleed slots, thereby causing separation losses and a degradation of performance.
Moreover, for higher tape speeds, the bleed slots must be made wider, and the slot islands therefore narrower, in order to account for increased entrained air. The narrower the slot islands, the more difficult they are to manufacture and the more prone they are to breakage.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,953,184, which is assigned to the assignee of the present invention, discloses a magnetic tape head that includes an interior tape head module sandwiched between two exterior tape head modules. Each of the modules has a magnetic gap and a transverse slot on each side of the magnetic gap for removing entrained air.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
The invention provides a magnetic tape head having a contour that includes multiple bleed slots in combination with multiple transverse slots to effectively reduce separation losses.
Under the invention, a magnetic tape head for use with a moveable magnetic tape includes a magnetic gap, and first and second transverse slots disposed on opposite sides of the magnetic gap. Each transverse slot extends transversely of the direction of motion of the tape and has inner and outer edges. The head further includes first and second slotted regions disposed proximate the outer edges of the first and second transverse slots, respectively. Each slotted region includes a plurality of bleed slots extending in a direction non-perpendicular to the direction of motion of the tape. The transverse slots and the slotted regions cooperate to remove air entrained between the head and the tape as the tape moves over the head.
Preferably, the bleed slots of the first and second slotted regions are in fluid communication with the first and second transverse slots, respectively. Such a configuration maximizes removal of entrained air.
In one embodiment of the invention, each bleed slot has a breakout point that is less than 0.0115 inches from the magnetic gap. Furthermore, each bleed slot preferably has a breakout point that is less than 0.007 inches from the magnetic gap.
The magnetic gap of the head may include an active element region having a lateral dimension that is less than a lateral dimension of the head. Each slotted region preferably extends only along the lateral dimension of the active element region. Advantageously, with such a configuration, damage to edges of the tape may be substantially reduced or eliminated as the head is moved laterally across the tape for track following purposes.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best modes for carrying out the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3872507 (1975-03-01), Sano et al.
patent: 6038108 (2000-03-01), Dee et al.
Barber Terry J.
Lakshmikumaran Anand V.
Brooks & Kushman P.C.
Storage Technology Corporation
Tupper Robert S.
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