Angled flat-type recording head designed for near-constant resolution at varying type velocities

• US 7,193,813 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2002
• Issued: 03/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Biskeborn, Robert Glenn
• Primary Examiner(s): Renner; Craig A.
• Application Number:
  US10/255,858
• Publication Number:
  US 20040061972A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,636 Days
• Field of Search: 360/122, 360/121, 360/125, 360/129
• US Class Current: 360/122
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/532 Parallel to the direction of movement of the tape, e.g. for transversal scanning
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49021 Magnetic recording reproducing transducer [e.g., tape head, core, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49028 Mounting multitrack head
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49032 Fabricating head structure or component thereof

Abstract

A magnetic tape head system and associated method are disclosed. Included is one or more head assemblies each including a base with a row bar coupled thereto with a head situated therein for defining a tape bearing surface defining a tape wrap angle with respect to a horizontal plane. A length of the tape bearing surface is between approximately 0.57 millimeters and 0.7 millimeters and the tape wrap angle is between approximately 0.5 degrees and 1.3 degrees such that a resolution of the magnetic tape head system is substantially independent of a velocity of the tape.

Claims

1. A magnetic tape head system, comprising:

two individual, opposing, head assemblies formed as independent structures and coupled together, each head assembly including a row bar with a head situated therein for defining a single flat tape bearing surface over which a tape is adapted to pass during use of the magnetic tape head system;

wherein a length of the tape bearing surface and a tape wrap angle are selected such that a resolution of the magnetic tape head system is substantially independent of a velocity of the tape,

wherein the length of the tape bearing surface is between approximately 0.57 millimeters and 0.7 millimeters.

2. The magnetic tape head system as recited in claim 1, wherein the tape wrap angle is between approximately 0.8 degrees and no greater than 0.9 degrees.

3. The magnetic tape head system as recited in claim 1, wherein the length of the tape bearing surface is substantially 0.63 millimeters.

4. The magnetic tape head system as recited in claim 1, wherein the tape approaches the head at an external wrap angle, a combination of the tape wrap angle and the external wrap angle being greater than the tape wrap angle.

5. The magnetic tape head system as recited in claim 4, wherein the tape wrap angle is about the same as the external wrap angle.

6. The magnetic tape head system as recited in claim 1, further comprising, for each head assembly, an outrigger for defining a second wrap angle defined by the plane in which the tape bearing surface resides and a surface of the tape extending between the outrigger and the tape bearing surface.

7. A magnetic tape head system, comprising:

two individual, opposing, head assemblies formed as independent structures and coupled together, each head assembly including a base with a row bar coupled thereto with a head situated therein for defining a single flat tape bearing surface over which a tape is adapted to pass during use of the magnetic tape head system;

wherein a length of the tape beating surface and a tape wrap angle are selected such that a resolution of the magnetic tape head system is substantially independent of a velocity of the tape,

wherein the tape wrap angle is defined between a horizontal plane and a plane in which the tape bearing surface resides, wherein the tape wrap angle is between approximated 0.5 and 1.3 degrees,

wherein the length of the tape bearing surface is between approximately 0.57 millimeters and 0.7 millimeters.

8. A magnetic tape head system, comprising;

two individual, opposing, head assemblies formed as independent structures and coupled together, each head assembly including a base with a row bar coupled thereto with a head situated therein for defining single flat tape bearing surface over which a tape is adapted to pass during use of the magnetic tape head system;

wherein a length of the tape bearing surface and a tape wrap angle are selected such that a resolution of the magnetic tape head system is substantially independent of a velocity of the tape,

wherein the tape wrap angle is defined between a horizontal plane and a plane in which the tape bearing surface resides, wherein the tape wrap angle is between approximately 0.5 degrees and 1.3 degrees,

wherein a distance between end edges of the row bars is between approximately 0.6 millimeters and 0.8 millimeters.

9. A magnetic tape head system, comprising:

two individual head assemblies each including a base with a row bar coupled thereto with a head situated therein for defining a flat tape bearing surface over which a tape is adapted to pass during use of the magnetic tape head system, a gap being formed between the row bars of the head assemblies;

wherein a length of the tape bearing surface is between approximately 0.57 millimeters and 0.7 millimeters,

wherein a tape wrap angle is defined between a horizontal plane and a plane in which the tape bearing surface resides,

wherein the tape wrap angle is selected such that a resolution of the magnetic tape head system is substantially independent of a velocity of the tape,

wherein the tape approaches the head at an external wrap angle, a combination of the tape wrap angle and the external wrap angle being greater than the tape wrap angle.

10. A magnetic tape head system, comprising:

multiple head assemblies each including a base with a row bar coupled thereto with a head situated therein for defining a single flat tape bearing surface which defines a tape wrap angle with respect to a horizontal plane;

wherein the tape wrap angle is selected such that a resolution of the magnetic tape head system is substantially independent of a velocity of the tape,

wherein each row bar includes a substrate and a closure, wherein the tape bearing surface of each head assembly is defined in part by the substrate and in part by the closure,

wherein a length of each tape bearing surface is between a approximately 0.57 millimeters and 0.7 millimeters.

11. The magnetic tape head system as recited in claim 10, wherein the tape wrap angle is between approximately 0.5 degrees and 1.3 degrees.

12. A magnetic tape head system, comprising:

multiple head assemblies each including a base with a row bar coupled thereto with a head situated therein for defining a single flat tape bearing surface which defines a tape wrap angle with respect to a horizontal plane;

wherein the tape angle is selected such that a resolution of the magnetic tape head system is substantially independent of a velocity of the tape,

wherein each row bar includes a substrate and a closure, wherein the tape bearing surface of each head assembly is defined in part by the substrate and in part by the closure,

wherein the tape wrap angle is between approximately 0.8 degrees and 0.9 degrees.

wherein a length of each tape bearing surface is between approximately 0.57 millimeters and 0.7 millimeters.

13. A magnetic tape head system, comprising:

at least two head assemblies, each head assembly including a base with a row bar coupled thereto with a head situated therein for defining a tape bearing surface which defines a tape wrap angle with respect to a horizontal plane;

wherein the tape wrap angle is between approximately 0.5 degrees and 1.3 degrees,

wherein the tape wrap angle is selected such that a resolution of the magnetic tape head system is substantially independent of a velocity of the tape,

wherein the tape approaches the head at an external wrap angle, a combination of the tape wrap angle and the external wrap angle being greater than the tape wrap angle;

wherein a length of the tape bearing surface is between approximately 0.57 millimeters and 0.7 millimeters,

wherein a distance between end edges of the row bars is between approximately 0.6 millimeters and 0.8 millimeters.