LOW FRICTION TAPE HEAD AND SYSTEM IMPLEMENTING SAME

• US 20120008234A1
• Filed: 07/06/2010
• Published: 01/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Biskeborn, Robert G., Liang, Jason
• Granted Patent: US 8,861,132 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 360/77.12
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/18 Driving; Starting; Stopping; Arrangements for control or regulation thereof G11B15/56 takes precedence
• 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 5/00813 magnetic tapes
• 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 5/265 Structure or manufacture of a head with more than one gap for erasing, recording or reproducing on the same track G11B5/33 takes precedence in thin film structures G11B5/31
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/29 Structure or manufacture of unitary devices formed of plural heads for more than one track G11B5/33, G11B5/49 and subgroups take precedence; in thin film structure G11B5/31
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/3106 where the integrated or assembled structure comprises means for conditioning against physical detrimental influence, e.g. wear, contamination G11B5/3133 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/584 for track following on tapes
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/60 Fluid-dynamic spacing of heads from record-carriers

Abstract

A magnetic data storage system according to one embodiment includes a magnetic head; and guides on opposite sides of the magnetic head for directing a magnetic medium over the magnetic head. The magnetic head includes: outer portions each having a tape bearing surface and an array of transducers selected from a group consisting of readers and writers; and a central portion positioned between the outer portions, the central portion having a tape bearing surface and an array of transducers selected from a group consisting of readers and writers. An inner edge of each of the tape bearing surfaces of the outer portions is adapted for skiving air from the magnetic medium when the magnetic medium travels in a direction from the central portion towards the respective outer portion. The guides are oriented to direct the magnetic medium to fly over a leading one of the outer portions, engage a leading edge of the tape bearing surface of the central portion, and engage an inner edge of the tape bearing surface of a trailing one of the outer portions.

Claims

1. A magnetic data storage system, comprising:

a magnetic head; and

guides on opposite sides of the magnetic head for directing a magnetic medium over the magnetic head,

wherein the magnetic head includes;

outer portions each having a tape bearing surface and an array of transducers selected from a group consisting of readers and writers;

a central portion positioned between the outer portions, the central portion having a tape bearing surface and an array of transducers selected from a group consisting of readers and writers;

wherein an inner edge of each of the tape bearing surfaces of the outer portions is adapted for skiving air from the magnetic medium when the magnetic medium travels in a direction from the central portion towards the respective outer portion,

wherein the guides are oriented to direct the magnetic medium to fly over a leading one of the outer portions, engage a leading edge of the tape bearing surface of the central portion, and engage an inner edge of the tape bearing surface of a trailing one of the outer portions.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein a position of the guides is adjustable.

3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein a position of the guides is fixed.

4. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein outer edges of the tape bearing surfaces of the outer portions are shaped.

5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the array of transducers of the central portion includes a plurality of writers and at least one servo reader calibrated to the position of one or more of the writers of the central portion.

6. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the portions has patterning for at least one of inducing the magnetic medium to fly thereover in an area away from the transducers and reducing stiction of the medium to the tape bearing surface of the at least one portion.

7. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein the patterning has physical characteristics of being lapped by tape lapping.

8. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the magnetic medium contacts the tape bearing surface of the central portion and only the inner edge of each of the tape bearing surfaces of the outer portions when the magnetic medium is not in motion and is extended across the head.

9. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the central portion includes an array of writers, wherein the outer portions each have an array of readers.

10. A magnetic head, comprising:

outer portions each having a tape bearing surface and an array of transducers selected from a group consisting of readers and writers;

a central portion positioned between the outer portions, the central portion having a tape bearing surface and an array of transducers selected from a group consisting of readers and writers;

wherein outer edges of the tape bearing surfaces of the outer portions are non-skiving,

wherein an inner edge of each of the tape bearing surfaces of the outer portions is adapted for skiving air from the magnetic medium when the magnetic medium travels in a direction from the central portion towards the respective outer portion.

11. The head as recited in claim 10, wherein outer edges of the tape bearing surfaces of the outer portions are beveled.

12. The head as recited in claim 10, wherein the array of transducers of the central portion includes a plurality of writers and at least one servo reader calibrated to the position of one or more of the writers of the central portion.

13. The head as recited in claim 10, wherein at least one of the portions has patterning for at least one of inducing the magnetic medium to fly thereover in an area away from the transducers and reducing stiction of the medium to the tape bearing surface of the at least one portion.

14. The head as recited in claim 13, wherein the patterning has physical characteristics of being lapped by tape lapping.

15. The head as recited in claim 10, wherein the magnetic medium contacts the tape bearing surface of the central portion and only the inner edge of each of the tape bearing surfaces of the outer portions when the magnetic medium is not in motion and is extended across the head.

16. The head as recited in claim 10, wherein the central portion includes an array of writers, wherein the outer portions each have an array of readers.

17. A method, comprising:

guiding a magnetic medium over a magnetic head at an angle at which the magnetic medium flies over a leading outer portion of the head, engages a leading edge of a tape bearing surface of a central portion of the head, and engages an inner edge of a tape bearing surface of a trailing outer portion of the head,

wherein the inner edge of the tape bearing surface of the trailing outer portions skives air from the magnetic medium when the magnetic medium travels in a direction from the central portion towards the trailing outer portion.

18. A method for setting a wrap angle, comprising:

adjusting a guide position to overwrap a magnetic tape over an outer edge of a leading outer potion of a magnetic head having the leading outer portion, a trailing outer portion, and a central portion positioned between the outer portions, each portion having a tape bearing surface and an array of transducers selected from a group consisting of readers and writers;

passing the magnetic tape over the head, the tape traveling in a direction from the leading outer portion towards the trailing outer portion;

reading the magnetic tape using the leading outer portion;

adjusting a wrap angle of the magnetic tape relative to the leading outer portion until the tape is no longer readable;

determining a position of the guide when the tape becomes no longer readable;

selecting a wrap angle based on the determined position of the guide; and

setting the guide to provide the selected wrap angle.

19. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein the selected wrap angle is greater than a wrap angle provided by the guide when the tape becomes no longer readable.