Methods for selecting wrap angle for inducing tape tenting above transducer

• US 10,643,653 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2019
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Biskeborn, Robert G., Czarnecki, W. Stanley, Lo, Calvin S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Klimowicz, William J
• Application Number:
  US16/445,069
• Publication Number:
  US 20190304501A1
• Time in Patent Office: 322 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/43 Control or regulation of mechanical tension of record carrier, e.g. tape tension
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/60 Guiding record carrier guiding devices structurally associated with magazines or cassettes G11B23/04
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/62 Maintaining desired spacing between record carrier and head
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/64 by fluid-dynamic spacing
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/00813 magnetic tapes
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/00826 comprising a plurality of single poles or gaps or groups thereof operative at the same time
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/187 Structure or manufacture of the surface of the head in physical contact with, or immediately adjacent to the recording medium; Pole pieces; Gap features G11B5/265, G11B5/29 , G11B5/31 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/1871 Shaping or contouring of the transducing or guiding surface
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/255 comprising means for protection against wear in thin film structures G11B5/3106
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/4893 relative to moving tape
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/60 Fluid-dynamic spacing of heads from record-carriers

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method includes determining a distance from a to an edge closest thereto and selecting a wrap angle based on the determined distance for inducing tenting of a moving magnetic recording tape in a region above the transducer whereby a resulting tent of the moving tape extends from the edge closest thereto to a minima with a tent apex therebetween. In response to a determination to move the tape over the tape bearing surface, the method includes moving the tape over the tape bearing surface, and checking for changes in the tenting characteristics. In response to determining changes are present, the method includes sequentially selecting a different wrap angle based on the determined distance for inducing a desired tenting characteristic, and checking for changes in the tenting characteristics. Moreover, the method includes selecting a final wrap angle in response to determining no significant changes are present.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

determining a distance from a transducer of a module to an edge of the module closest thereto;

selecting a wrap angle based on the determined distance for inducing tenting of a moving magnetic recording tape in a region above the transducer whereby a resulting tent of the moving magnetic recording tape extends from the edge of the module closest thereto to a minima with a tent apex therebetween,

wherein the minima is at a first point of closest approach of the moving magnetic recording tape to a tape bearing surface of the module nearest the tent apex,

wherein the determined distance from a location of the transducer on the tape bearing surface to the edge of the module closest thereto is less than the length from a location directly under the tent apex to the edge of the module closest thereto;

in response to a determination to move the magnetic recording tape over the tape bearing surface;

moving the magnetic recording tape over the tape bearing surface, and

checking for changes in one or more tenting characteristics;

in response to determining changes are present;

sequentially selecting a different wrap angle based on the determined distance for inducing a desired tenting characteristic, and

checking for changes in the one or more tenting characteristics; and

selecting a final wrap angle in response to determining no significant changes are present.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, comprising positioning a guide to set the selected wrap angle.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, comprising positioning a second module to set the selected wrap angle.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the distance is measured optically.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the distance is measured mechanically.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein one of the one or more tenting characteristics is a peak height of a tent.

7. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein the peak height is in a range of from about 5 to about 30 nanometers from a media facing surface of a tape support surface.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein one of the one or more tenting characteristics is a length of a tent.

9. A method as recited in claim 1, comprising moving the tape over the module for an amount of time sufficient to cause detectable wear on the edge;

and adjusting the wrap angle to produce the desired tenting characteristic.

10. A computer program product for determining a wrap angle, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, wherein the computer readable storage medium is not a transitory signal per se, the program instructions executable by a processor to cause the processor to perform a method comprising:

determining, by the processor, a distance from a transducer of a module to an edge of the module closest thereto;

selecting, by the processor, a wrap angle based on the determined distance for inducing tenting of a moving magnetic recording tape in a region above the transducer whereby a resulting tent of the moving magnetic recording tape extends from the edge of the module closest thereto to a minima with a tent apex therebetween,

wherein the minima is at a first point of closest approach of the moving magnetic recording tape to a tape bearing surface of the module nearest the tent apex,

wherein the determined distance from a location of the transducer on the tape bearing surface to the edge of the module closest thereto is less than the length from a location directly under the tent apex to the edge of the module closest thereto;

in response to a determination to move the magnetic recording tape over the tape bearing surface;

moving, by the processor, the magnetic recording tape over the tape bearing surface, and

checking, by the processor, for changes in one or more tenting characteristics;

in response to determining changes are present;

sequentially selecting, by the processor, a different wrap angle based on the determined distance for inducing a desired tenting characteristic, and checking, by the processor, for changes in the one or more tenting characteristics; and

selecting, by the processor, a final wrap angle in response to determining no significant changes are present.

11. A computer program product as recited in claim 10, wherein a module of a tape head is set in a vertical direction to create the selected wrap angle.

12. A computer program product as recited in claim 10, wherein a guide is set to create the selected wrap angle of the magnetic recording tape.

13. A computer program product as recited in claim 10, wherein a second module is set to create the selected wrap angle of the magnetic recording tape.

14. A computer program product as recited in claim 10, wherein one of the one or more tenting characteristics is a peak height of a tent.

15. A computer program product as recited in claim 14, wherein the peak height is in a range of from about 5 to about 30 nanometers from a media facing surface of a tape support surface.

16. A computer program product as recited in claim 10, wherein one of the one or more tenting characteristics is a length of a tent.

17. A computer program product as recited in claim 10, comprising moving, by the processor, the tape over the module for an amount of time sufficient to cause detectable wear on the edge;

and adjusting, by the processor, the wrap angle to produce the desired tenting characteristic.