Winding – tensioning – or guiding – Unwinding and rewinding a machine convertible information... – With particular drive
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-02
2001-09-04
Marcelo, Emmanuel M. (Department: 3653)
Winding, tensioning, or guiding
Unwinding and rewinding a machine convertible information...
With particular drive
C242S340000, C360S096100, C226S172000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06283396
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to guiding magnetic tape past a tape access head.
BACKGROUND ART
Magnetic tape is commonly used to store voice and data information due to its reliability, cost efficiency, and ease of use. Magnetic tape may be made more useful and cost effective by increasing the density of information stored on the magnetic tape. One method of increasing information density is to decrease the thickness of the tape thereby permitting more tape to be stored in a given volume.
Decreasing the thickness of magnetic tape creates difficulties in a tape transport system. First, thinner tape more easily stretches, increasing the possibility of read and write errors. Tape stretching is exacerbated by complex tape transport systems and by moving the magnetic tape through tension provided by a take-up reel. Second, very thin tape may require mechanical support within the tape transport system to prevent folding, kinking, creasing, curling and other mechanical damage. Third, thin tape is easily skewed relative to the tape head. Therefore, some mechanism to position the tape relative to the tape head is required.
What is needed is an effective tape transport system for thin tape. The tape transport system must be able to move magnetic tape past the tape head without stretching or mechanical damage. The tape transport system should further be simple, inexpensive, and easy to maintain.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to guide thin magnetic tape past a tape head.
It is another object of the present invention to position magnetic tape relative to the tape head.
It is still another object of the present invention to protect magnetic tape along the tape path.
It is yet another object of the present invention to reduce the complexity of the tape path.
In carrying out the above objects and other objects and features of the present invention, a tape transport system for positioning magnetic tape moving over a tape head is provided. The tape system includes a carrier ribbon having a width greater than the tape width. The carrier ribbon has edges which define a channel for carrying the magnetic tape. At least one ribbon guide is positioned to bring the carrier ribbon into contact with the tape passive side and to hold the carrier ribbon in contact with the tape as the tape moves near the tape head. At least one separation guide allows the tape to separate from the carrier ribbon as the tape passes the tape head. A ribbon drive operates to move the carrier ribbon past the guides.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the carrier ribbon is formed in a continuous loop.
In an another embodiment of the present invention, the carrier ribbon drives the tape at the tape speed past the tape head.
In still another embodiment of the present invention, the system further includes at least one bow roller in contact with the carrier ribbon. Each bow roller bends a portion of the carrier ribbon away from the tape over a portion of the tape path. The carrier ribbon captures the tape within the channel in a region of the tape path following the bow rollers.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the carrier ribbon includes openings permitting air that would otherwise be trapped between the tape and the carrier ribbon to pass through the carrier ribbon.
A method of transporting magnetic tape past the tape head is also provided. The method includes driving a carrier ribbon in the tape direction. The tape is contacted within a channel formed in the carrier ribbon in a region of the tape path prior to the tape head. The tape is separated from the carrier ribbon in a region of the tape path near the tape head.
The above objects 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: 3549104 (1970-12-01), Morrow
patent: 3609021 (1971-09-01), Gill
patent: 3715090 (1973-02-01), Kostusiak et al.
patent: 3768747 (1973-10-01), Edwards et al.
patent: 3808902 (1974-05-01), Grant
patent: 3942743 (1976-03-01), Jinsenji
patent: 3974982 (1976-08-01), Stone
patent: 3984049 (1976-10-01), Shawen
patent: 4072279 (1978-02-01), Lewis
patent: 4474342 (1984-10-01), Nater
patent: 4720202 (1988-01-01), Kawakami
patent: 4970612 (1990-11-01), Renders et al.
patent: 5695142 (1997-12-01), Rotter
Brooks & Kushman P.C.
Marcelo Emmanuel M.
Storage Technology Corporation
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