Tape head with support bars

Details Tape head with support bars Tape head with support bars

1999-08-09

2003-08-26

Renner, Craig A. (Department: 2652)

Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval

Head

Head accessory

C360S121000, C360S122000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06611398

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to heads or transducers for tape drive storage systems.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Multichannel or multitrack tape drives have been known for many years. Currently, such drives may be employed for audio, video or computer applications, and may read and write signals in analogue or digital form.
The rapid growth of the Internet has fostered a need for inexpensive data backup systems, for which tape drives have been employed. The increasing need for data storage, however, has placed increasing demands on tape drive storage capacity. To satisfy this need for storage, spacing between tracks can be reduced, more tracks can be provided on each tape, bits can be packed more closely on each track, or tape speed and/or length can be increased. Unfortunately, rapidly moving tapes and heads do not always accurately read or write data as these modifications are made to increase storage capacity.
FIG. 1
shows several prior art tape-head components
20
before assembly and finishing. The components
20
include a number of microscopic transducers
22
that have been formed along a surface
24
of a substrate
25
that has been covered with a cover bar or head cap
27
. Numerous process steps have been performed to create the transducers
22
on the substrate
25
, making this component relatively expensive. The cover bar
27
protects the expensive transducers
22
. Wear bars
30
and
33
are positioned adjacent ends of the joined substrate
25
, transducers
22
and cover bar
27
, to which the wear bars are to be bonded. The wear bars provide a cost-effective means for extending the surface of the tape-head that contacts the tape. After adding the wear bars, the bonded substrate and wear bars are fit into a bed
35
that holds the components together. An aperture
34
in the bed
35
allows for insertion of a flex-cable, not shown, containing leads connecting to transducers
22
along surface
24
.
FIG. 2
shows a finished tape-head assembly
40
made from the components of
FIG. 1. A
pair of rails
37
and
39
are formed on a tape-facing surface
44
of the assembly. Although this device has performed adequately, challenges in reducing tolerances and errors exist, so that increasing data storage density and reducing access time has been difficult.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide increased micro-mechanical accuracy in a tape-head assembly for a tape drive system, thereby providing increased storage capacity. This object is achieved by providing tape-heads having increased structural integrity and/or decreased errors in positioning. Manufacturing advantages can also be achieved with the present invention.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3610839 (1971-10-01), Sand
patent: 3881190 (1975-04-01), Brock et al.
patent: 4044392 (1977-08-01), Brock et al.
patent: 4571651 (1986-02-01), Reid et al.
patent: 4967299 (1990-10-01), Katoh et al.
patent: 5237476 (1993-08-01), Bischoff et al.
patent: 5513057 (1996-04-01), Zieren et al.
patent: 5883770 (1999-03-01), Biskeborn et al.
patent: 6038108 (2000-03-01), Dee et al.
patent: 6246535 (2001-06-01), Saliba et al.
patent: 0 515 786 (1992-12-01), None
patent: WO97/05603 (1997-02-01), None

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Tape head with support bars does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Tape head with support bars, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Tape head with support bars will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3100047