Head shield for a tape drive
US6914748B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 5, 2002 |
| Grant date | Jul 5, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 22, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11B5/48
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A shield assembly (48) for a tape head (34) of a tape drive (14) includes a head shield (60) that selectively moves between a first position (75A) wherein the tape head (34) is substantially exposed, and a second position (75B) wherein the tape head (34) is substantially shielded. In the first position (75A), a shield aperture (124) exposes the tape head (34) to a storage tape (26). The shield assembly (48) can include a first shield mover (62) that biases the head shield (60) to the first position (75A), and a second shield mover (64) that selectively overcomes the bias of the first shield mover (62) to move the head shield (60) to the second position (75B). The head shield (60) is positioned across the tape head (34) at a shield wrap angle θ2 that is greater than a tape wrap angle θ1 of the storage tape (26). A surface of the head shield (60) can include a cleaning region (120) that includes a head cleaning material. Movement of the head shield (60) between the first position (75A) and the second position (75B) can cause contact between the cleaning region (120) and the tape head (34), resulting in cleaning of the tape head (34).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.