High bandwidth tape positioning system and servo controlled rollers for active tape positioning

• US 6,633,449 B1
• Filed: 05/22/2000
• Issued: 10/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Gonzales, Curtis P., McAllister, Jeffrey S., Anderson, James C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hudspeth, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): TZENG, FRED
• Application Number:
  US09/575,841
• Time in Patent Office: 1,240 Days
• Field of Search: 360/71, 360/75, 360/85, 360/76, 360/130.21, 360/130.2, 242/334.6
• US Class Current: 360/71
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/60 Guiding record carrier guiding devices structurally associated with magazines or cassettes G11B23/04

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for a magnetic tape drive, which allow a magnetic tape to be positioned with respect to a tape head. The invention includes actively controlling the position of a tape guide used to support the tape as it passes over the tape head. By controlling the position of the tape guide, the tape can be caused to move a direction perpendicular to the primary direction of travel of the tape. One method of the invention includes providing a first tape guide aligned along a primary axis and disposed proximate a first side of the tape head. The tape is moved across the first tape guide and the tape head in a primary direction while the first tape guide is pivoted, to thereby cause the tape to move in a secondary direction essentially perpendicular to the primary direction. Alternately, or in addition to the step of pivoting the first tape guide, the method can include the step of translationally moving the first tape guide along the primary axis while moving the tape across the first tape guide and the tape head. The apparatus of the present invention can include one or more tape guides which support a tape as it moves across a tape head. Each tape guide can be configured to tilt or move translationally, or to do both, to cause the tape to move in a direction perpendicular to the primary direction of transport of the tape across the tape head.

Claims

1. A method for actively positioning a magnetic tape with respect to a tape head having head elements for at least performing one of writing or reading magnetically encoded data respectively to or from the magnetic tape, comprising:

providing a first tape guide aligned along a primary axis and disposed proximate a first side of the tape head; and

moving the tape across the first tape guide and the tape head in a primary direction while pivoting the first tape guide about the primary axis to thereby cause the tape to move in a secondary direction essentially perpendicular to the primary direction.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising translationally moving the first tape guide along the primary axis while moving the tape across the first tape guide and the tape head in the first primary direction to thereby further cause the tape to move in the secondary direction.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing a second tape guide aligned along a second primary axis and disposed proximate a second side of the tape head opposite the first side of the tape head; and

pivoting the second tape guide about the second primary axis while moving the tape across the second tape guide and the tape head in the primary direction to thereby further cause the tape to move in the secondary direction.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising translationally moving the second tape guide along the second primary axis while moving the tape across the second tape guide and the tape head in the primary direction to thereby further cause the tape to move in the secondary direction.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising detecting the position of the magnetic tape with respect to the tape head and ceasing pivoting of the first tape guide when the tape is in a desired selected position with respect to the tape head.

6. An apparatus for actively positioning a moving magnetic tape with respect to a tape head element in a tape head across which the moving magnetic tape is configured to move in a primary direction, comprising:

a first tape guide supported proximate to a first side of the tape head and mounted along a first tape guide axis, the first tape guide being configured to support the magnetic tape as the tape travels past the tape head;

a first tape guide tilt positioner configured to tilt the first tape guide about the first tape guide axis; and

an active positioner control device configured to, in response to detection of wander of the moving magnetic tape, cause the first tape guide tilt positioner to tilt the first tare guide about the first tape guide axis as the magnetic tape is moved across the tape head and the first tape guide, to thereby cause the magnetic tape to move in a secondary direction which is essentially perpendicular to the primary direction.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, and further comprising a first tape guide translation positioner configured to translate the first tape guide along the first tape guide axis, and wherein the active positioner control device is further configured to position the first tape guide translation positioner in response to detection of wander of the moving magnetic tape.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, and wherein the first tape guide translation positioner comprise a first tape guide translation actuator configured to actuate the first tape guide translation positioner in response to an input signal from the active positioner control device, and wherein the first tape guide translation actuator comprises a high bandwidth actuator.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 and further comprising:

a tape head positioner configured to translationally move the tape head with respect to a magnetic tape being accessed by the tape head; and

wherein the tape head positioner comprises a tape head positioner actuator configured to actuate the tape head positioner in response to a first input signal.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, and further comprising a second tape guide supported proximate to a second side of the tape head and mounted along a second tape guide axis, the second tape guide being configured to support the magnetic tape as the tape travels past the tape head;

a second tape guide tilt positioner configured to tilt the second tape guide about the second tape guide axis; and

wherein the active positioner control device is further configured to position the second tape guide tilt positioner in response to detection of wander of the moving magnetic tape.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, and further comprising a first tape guide translation positioner configured to translate the first tape guide along the first tape guide axis;

and

wherein the active positioner control device is further configured to position the first tape guide translation positioner in response to detection of wander of the moving magnetic tape.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, and further comprising a second tape guide translation positioner configured to translate the second tape guide along the second tape guide axis, and wherein the active positioner control device is further configured to position the second tape guide translation positioner in response to detection of wander of the moving magnetic tape.

13. The apparatus of claim 6, and further comprising a second tape guide supported proximate to a second side of the tape head and mounted along a second tape guide axis, the second tape guide being configured to support the magnetic tape as the tape travels past the tape head;

a second tape guide translation positioner configured to translate the second tape guide along the second tape guide axis; and

wherein the active positioner control device is further configured to position the second tape guide translation positioner in response to detection of wander of the moving magnetic tape.

14. The apparatus of claim 6, and wherein the first tape guide tilt positioner comprise a first tape guide tilt actuator configured to actuate the first tape guide tilt positioner in response to an input signal from the active positioner control device, and wherein the first tape guide tilt actuator comprises a low bandwidth actuator.

15. The apparatus of claim 6, and further comprising:

a tape head positioner configured to translationally move the tape head with respect to a magnetic tape being accessed by the tape head; and

wherein the tape head positioner comprises a tape head positioner actuator configured to actuate the tape head positioner in response to a first input signal, and wherein the tape head positioner actuator comprises a high bandwidth actuator.

16. The apparatus of claim 6, and further comprising:

at least one sensor configured to determine the location of an upper or lower edge of the moving magnetic tape with respect to the tape head, and to generate a signal in response thereto; and

wherein the active positioner control device is further configured receive the signal and to use the signal to cause the first tape guide tilt positioner to tilt the first tape guide about the first tape guide axis in response thereto.

17. An apparatus for positioning a moving magnetic tape with respect to a tape head element in a tape head across which the moving magnetic tape is configured to move in a primary direction, comprising:

a first tape guide supported proximate to a first side of the tape head and mounted along a first tape guide axis, the first tape guide being configured to support the magnetic tape as the tape travels past the tape head; and

a first tape guide translation positioner configured to translate the first tape guide along the first tape guide axis; and

an active positioner control device configured to, in response to detection of wander of the moving magnetic tape, cause the first tape guide translation positioner to translate the first tape guide along the first tare guide axis as the magnetic tape is moved across the tape head and the first tape guide, to thereby cause the magnetic tape to move in a secondary direction which is essentially perpendicular to the primary direction.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, and further comprising a second tape guide supported proximate to a second side of the tape head and mounted along a second tape guide axis, the second tape guide being configured to support the magnetic tape as the tape travels past the tape head;

a second tape guide translation positioner configured to translate the second tape guide along the second tape guide axis; and

wherein the active positioner control device is further configured to position the second tape guide translation positioner in response to detection of wander of the moving magnetic tape.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, and further comprising:

a second tape guide supported proximate to a second side of the tape head and mounted along a second tape guide axis, the second tape guide being configured to support the magnetic tape as the tape travels past the tape head;

a coupling frame mounted about a pivot axis, and wherein the first and second tape guides are supported by the coupling frame, and

wherein the first tape guide translation positioner is configured to cause the coupling frame to pivot about the pivot axis and thereby cause the first and second tape guides to translate along their respective tape guide axes, as well as to pivot about their respective axes at the same time.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, and further comprising:

a first tape guide support bracket;

a chassis configured to support the tape head, the first tape guide support bracket and the first tape guide translation positioner; and

wherein the first tape guide support bracket supports the first tape guide, and further wherein the first tape guide support bracket is dynamically mounted to the chassis about a neutral balance point to isolate the first tape guide from dynamic input to the chassis.

21. An apparatus for positioning a moving magnetic tape which is moving in a primary direction of travel between a tape source reel and a tape take-up reel, comprising:

a first tape guide over which the tape moves in moving between the tape source reel and the take-up reel, the first tape guide being selectively positionable to cause the tape to move in a direction perpendicular to the primary direction of travel; and

a first tape guide positioner configured to selectively and actively cause the first tape guide to be repositioned as the moving magnetic tape is moved across the first tape guide to thereby cause the tape to move in a direction perpendicular to the primary direction of travel.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein at least one of said tape source reel or said take-up reel comprises a flange to constrain the magnetic tape to the reel, and wherein the magnetic tape defines an upper and a lower tape edge, the apparatus further comprising a sensor configured to detect when at least one of the upper or lower edge of the magnetic tape is approaching the flange and generate a signal in response thereto, and wherein the sensor is in signal communication with the tape guide positioner, and the tape guide positioner is further configured to be responsive to the signal from the sensor and acts to move the tape guide to cause the magnetic tape to move away from the flange.

23. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the magnetic tape defines an upper tape edge, and wherein the first tape guide positioner is selectively actuated to cause the magnetic tape to accumulate on at least one of the reels such that the upper tape edge of earlier tape accumulation onto the reel is not in alignment with subsequent tape accumulation onto the reel.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, and further comprising a second tape guide over which the tape moves in moving between the tape source reel and the take-up reel, the second tape guide being selectively positionable to cause the tape to move in a direction perpendicular to the primary direction of travel;

and

a second tape guide positioner configured to selectively and actively position the first tape guide.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, and wherein a tape head is positioned such that the magnetic tape will pass over a tape head in moving between the tape source reel and the take-up reel, and wherein the first tape guide is located proximate a selected one of the reels, and the second tape guide is located proximate a first side of the tape head, and wherein the first tape guide positioner is primarily configured to guide tape onto the selected tape reel, and the second tape guide positioner is primarily configured to cause the second tape guide to position the tape with respect to the tape head.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, and further comprising a third tape guide over which the tape moves in moving between the tape source reel and the take-up reel, the third tape guide being located between the other tape reel and the tape head, the third tape guide being selectively positionable to cause the tape to move in a direction perpendicular to the primary direction of travel;

and

a third tape guide positioner configured to selectively and actively position the first tape guide.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, and further comprising a fourth tape guide over which the tape moves in moving between the tape source reel and the take-up reel, the fourth tape guide being located adjacent a second side of the tape head and the third tape guide being located proximate the other reel;

a fourth tape guide positioner configured to selectively and actively position the first tape guide; and

wherein the third tape guide positioner is primarily configured guide tape onto the other tape reel, and the fourth tape guide positioner is primarily configured to cause the fourth tape guide to position the tape with respect to the tape head.