JP2004110977A - Magnetic head system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a magnetic head system for linear tape drive inexpensive and simple. <P>SOLUTION: A magnetic head 20 for recording and reproducing a magnetic signal to/from a magnetic tape 50 is separated from a pair of fixed rail parts 21 and 22 which are respectively arranged at both sides of the magnetic head 20 and support the magnetic tape 50. Only the magnetic head 20 is driven in the width direction of the magnetic tape 50 by a head feeding mechanism to perform tracking. According to this magnetic head drive, the fixed rail parts for guiding the magnetic tape do not have to be moved with respect to the magnetic tape so that only the magnetic tape can be freely moved in the width direction of the magnetic tape. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a magnetic head device mounted on a linear tape drive represented by DLT (Digital Linear Tape) or LTO (Linear Tape Open).
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a linear tape drive represented by a DLT (Digital Linear Tape) or an LTO (Linear Tape Open) has been used as a backup recording device of a computer system, for example. This type of linear tape drive is disclosed in, for example, JP-A-9-198639.
[0003]
The linear tape drive uses a tape cartridge having a single supply reel around which a magnetic tape is wound, and is detachably used.A mechanism for attaching and detaching the tape cartridge, a take-up reel for winding the magnetic tape, a supply reel, and It is provided with a drive mechanism for rotating and driving the take-up reel, a magnetic head device for recording and reproducing a magnetic signal on and from a magnetic tape, a signal circuit for converting the magnetic signal into an electric signal, and the like.
[0004]
In a linear tape drive, when a tape cartridge is mounted, a magnetic tape is pulled out of the tape cartridge from a supply reel by a guide roller or the like, and the magnetic tape is locked to a take-up reel via a magnetic head. Then, while the take-up reel and the supply reel are driven to rotate, the magnetic tape slides on the magnetic head, and the magnetic head records and reproduces a magnetic signal on the magnetic tape.
[0005]
Here, an example of a conventional magnetic head device mounted on a linear tape drive will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, a conventional magnetic head device has a pair of guide rails 101 for controlling a contact state between a magnetic head 100 and a magnetic tape 150 on both sides of a magnetic head 100 having a plurality of magnetic gaps. , 102 are arranged. Further, in the conventional magnetic head device, an integral member constituted by the magnetic head 100 and the guide rails 101 and 102 can be moved in the width direction of the magnetic tape 150 by a head feed mechanism not shown. As a result, recording / reproducing of a magnetic signal or erasing of a magnetic signal is performed by a magnetic gap of the magnetic head 100 on an arbitrary recording track among a plurality of recording tracks set side by side in the width direction of the magnetic tape 150. It is possible.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, the conventional magnetic head device mounted on the linear tape drive is movable in the width direction of the magnetic tape 150 as described above. 4, recording and reproduction are performed at the position indicated by arrow A, and recording and reproduction are performed on the recording track set at the lower end of the magnetic tape 150 at the position indicated by arrow B in FIG.
[0007]
Therefore, in order for the magnetic head device to perform recording / reproduction on all the recording tracks formed on the magnetic tape 150, a width indicated by an arrow L in FIG. Need to be kept. For this reason, in the linear tape drive having the conventional structure, it is necessary to secure an internal space corresponding to the width indicated by the arrow L in FIG. 4, which is a factor that hinders the thinning of the drive. .
[0008]
Further, in the conventional magnetic head device, since the magnetic head 100 and the guide rails 101 and 102 are integrated, if the magnetic head 100 becomes defective due to a problem in the manufacturing process or the like, the guide rail 101 is not used. , 102 has to be discarded. Since the magnetic head 100 and the guide rails 101 and 102 slide with respect to the magnetic tape 150 during recording and reproduction, the magnetic head 100 and the guide rails 101 and 102 are formed of a relatively expensive metal material or the like having both good wear characteristics and good magnetic characteristics. . Therefore, the conventional magnetic head device formed integrally with the magnetic head 100 and the guide rails 101 and 102 has a limit in reducing the manufacturing cost.
[0009]
Furthermore, the guide rails 101 and 102 in the conventional magnetic head device take the amount of movement of the magnetic head device with respect to the magnetic tape 150 into consideration so that the magnetic tape 150 can be guided at any position. It is necessary to extend and provide a sufficient length in the width direction. For this reason, there is a limit from the viewpoint of reducing the amount of expensive raw materials used for the guide rails 101 and 102, which is a factor preventing cost reduction.
[0010]
Further, since the entire magnetic head device in which the magnetic head 100 and the guide rails 101 and 102 are integrated is moved in the width direction of the magnetic tape, the head feed mechanism of the magnetic head device also has a predetermined structure. Output is required, and it is difficult to make the head feed mechanism simple.
[0011]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional circumstances, and provides a magnetic head device capable of solving the above-described problems and reducing cost, weight, and simplification of peripheral mechanisms. The purpose is to:
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The magnetic head device according to claim 1 of the present invention, a magnetic head that records and reproduces a magnetic signal on and from a magnetic tape, a head feed mechanism that enables the magnetic head to move in the width direction of the magnetic tape, And a pair of fixed rails disposed on both sides of the magnetic head and extending over the entire width of the magnetic tape.
[0013]
According to the magnetic head device of the present invention configured as described above, it is not necessary to move the fixed rail portion for guiding the magnetic tape with respect to the magnetic tape, and only the magnetic head is moved in the width direction of the magnetic tape. It can be free.
[0014]
Therefore, when a defect occurs in the magnetic head, only the magnetic head can be discarded, and the guide rail portion is not wasted. Further, since it is sufficient that the guide rail portion is formed to have a width corresponding to the entire width of the magnetic tape, the material cost can be reduced as compared with the conventional structure. Therefore, the cost of the magnetic head device according to the present invention can be reduced as compared with the magnetic head device having the conventional structure. Further, since the pair of guide rails is fixed and the magnetic head is moved between these guide rails, the space required for moving the magnetic head can be minimized. The thickness of the linear tape drive on which the magnetic head device is mounted can be reduced.
[0015]
In addition, since only the magnetic head part is moved while the guide rail is fixed, the weight of the part to be moved is dramatically reduced compared to the magnetic head device of the conventional structure. Is done. As a result, the thrust of the actuator required for the head feed mechanism can be reduced as compared with the related art, so that the cost, simplification, and downsizing of this head feed mechanism can also be achieved.
[0016]
The fixed rail may have a groove for controlling the contact state of the magnetic tape. This makes it possible to appropriately maintain the tension generated on the magnetic tape by the magnetic head device, and to appropriately control the state of wear of the sliding surfaces of the magnetic head and the fixed rail.
[0017]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. First, a schematic configuration of a linear tape drive on which a magnetic head device to which the present invention is applied is mounted will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing the linear tape drive 10 with the upper lid removed.
[0018]
As shown in FIG. 1, the linear tape drive 10 uses a detachable tape cartridge (not shown) having a single supply reel around which a magnetic tape is wound, and winds the magnetic tape of the tape cartridge. A take-up reel 11 for taking up is provided. The take-up reel 11 is also called a spool. In addition, two spindle motors 13 and 14 are provided in the base portion 12a of the linear tape drive 10. The first spindle motor 13 is connected to the take-up reel 11 and drives the take-up reel 11 to rotate. The second spindle motor 14 is connected to a supply reel provided in the tape cartridge in a state where the tape cartridge is mounted, and rotates the supply reel.
[0019]
The tape cartridge is moved along the guide slot 12b formed in the housing 12 of the linear tape drive 10 into the linear tape drive 10 manually or by a driving force of an unillustrated attachment / detachment mechanism in a direction indicated by an arrow C in the drawing. Inserted.
[0020]
When the tape cartridge is inserted along the guide slot 12b, the supply reel of the tape cartridge is mounted on the second spindle motor 14. In this state, the magnetic tape is pulled out of the tape cartridge by the mechanical buckling mechanism 15 and connected to the take-up reel 11. At this time, between the tape cartridge and the take-up reel 11, a plurality of guide rollers 16 arranged on the running path of the magnetic tape guide the magnetic tape. In the linear tape drive 10, a magnetic head assembly 17 is provided on a magnetic tape traveling path.
[0021]
In the linear tape drive 10, the take-up reel 11 and the supply reel are rotated by the spindle motors 13 and 14, so that the magnetic tape slides on the magnetic head provided in the magnetic head assembly 17. The head records and reproduces magnetic signals on the magnetic tape.
[0022]
Here, the structure near the sliding surface of the magnetic tape in the magnetic head assembly 17 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2A is a schematic view of the magnetic head 20 and a pair of fixed rail portions 21 and 22 provided in the magnetic head assembly 17 as viewed from the sliding surface of the magnetic tape, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view schematically showing a cross section when a portion of the magnetic head assembly 17 shown in FIG. 2A is cut in a magnetic tape sliding direction.
[0023]
As shown in FIG. 2, the magnetic head assembly 17 includes a magnetic head 20 for recording and reproducing a magnetic signal on and from the magnetic tape 50, and the magnetic head 20 is connected to the width of the magnetic tape 50 as indicated by an arrow in FIG. A pair of fixed rails 21, which are disposed on both sides of the magnetic head 20 and extend over the entire width of the magnetic tape 50, respectively. 22.
[0024]
The magnetic head 20 has a plurality of magnetic gaps, and records a magnetic signal by applying a leakage magnetic field from these magnetic gaps to the magnetic tape 50, and outputs a magnetic signal recorded on the magnetic tape 50 from the magnetic gap. Reproduction is performed by introducing the electric signal into a magnetic core and converting the electric signal into an electric signal by a coil (not shown).
[0025]
The magnetic head 20 is driven by the head feed mechanism in the width direction of the magnetic tape 50 as shown by arrows D and E in FIG. As a result, recording / reproducing of a magnetic signal or erasing of a magnetic signal is performed on an arbitrary recording track of a plurality of recording tracks set side by side in the width direction of the magnetic tape 50.
[0026]
It should be noted that as the head feed mechanism, conventionally known actuators having various structures can be used.
[0027]
The pair of fixed rail portions 21 and 22 are disposed on both sides of the magnetic head 20 and have a function of supporting the magnetic tape 50 that slides on the magnetic head 20 and runs at high speed. The pair of fixed rail portions 21 and 22 are attached to the housing 12 of the linear tape drive 10 by, for example, a support member (not shown), and their relative positions with respect to the magnetic tape 50 are fixed. That is, the fixed rail portions 21 and 22 are not driven by the head feed mechanism.
[0028]
As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the pair of fixed rail portions 21 and 22 are formed with grooves 21a and 22a for controlling a contact state with the magnetic tape 50. Thereby, the tension generated in the magnetic tape 50 is appropriately maintained, or the wear state (for example, shavings due to wear or the like) of the sliding surface between the magnetic tape 50 and the magnetic head 20 or the fixed rail portions 21 and 22 is stored in the groove portion. To be properly adjusted.
[0029]
In the magnetic head assembly 17 configured as described above, only the magnetic head 20 is driven by the head feed mechanism. Therefore, it is sufficient that the pair of fixed rail portions 21 and 22 are formed to have a length slightly exceeding the entire width of the magnetic tape 50. Therefore, the magnetic head assembly 17 according to this example can reduce the material cost required for the fixed rail portions 21 and 22 as compared with the magnetic head device having the conventional structure.
[0030]
Further, since the pair of fixed rail portions 21 and 22 do not move with respect to the magnetic tape 50, the magnetic head assembly 17 has a length indicated by an arrow M in FIG. If this is the case, the magnetic head 20 can be moved over the entire width of the magnetic tape 50, and recording and reproduction can be performed on an arbitrary recording track formed on the magnetic tape 50. Here, as apparent from comparison with the length of arrow L in FIG. 4 shown as a conventional example, the space required for disposing the magnetic head assembly 17 according to the present example inside the linear tape drive 10 is reduced. can do. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the thickness of the drive.
[0031]
Further, in the magnetic head assembly 17, since the magnetic head 20 and the fixed rail portions 21 and 22 are not integrated, when the magnetic head 20 is defective, only the magnetic head 20 is normally used. Can be replaced. Therefore, the yield at the time of manufacturing can be improved.
[0032]
Further, since only the magnetic head 20 is driven by the head feed mechanism, the weight of the drive unit can be significantly reduced as compared with the conventional structure. Therefore, not only can the thrust required for the head feed mechanism be reduced, but also the structure can be simplified. Therefore, the head feed mechanism can be made smaller and simpler, and the cost can be reduced.
[0033]
The shape of the sliding surface of the magnetic tape 50 in the magnetic head 20 and the fixed rail portions 21 and 22 is not particularly limited. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, a member having a circular cross section is used. The fixed rail portions 21 and 22 may be configured. The contact angle between the magnetic tape 50, the magnetic head 20, and the fixed rail portions 21 and 22 is desirably about 10 ° to 12 ° as shown in FIG.
[0034]
【The invention's effect】
According to the magnetic head device of the present invention, it is not necessary to move the fixed rail for guiding the magnetic tape with respect to the magnetic tape, and only the magnetic head can be freely moved in the width direction of the magnetic tape.
[0035]
Therefore, when a defect occurs in the magnetic head, only the magnetic head can be discarded, and the guide rail portion is not wasted. Further, since it is sufficient that the guide rail portion is formed to have a width corresponding to the entire width of the magnetic tape, the material cost can be reduced as compared with the conventional structure. Therefore, the cost of the magnetic head device according to the present invention can be reduced as compared with the magnetic head device having the conventional structure. In addition, since the pair of guide rails are fixed and the magnetic head is moved between these guide rails, the space required for moving the magnetic head can be minimized. The thickness of the linear tape drive on which the magnetic head device is mounted can be reduced.
[0036]
In addition, since only the magnetic head part is moved while the guide rail is fixed, the weight of the part to be moved is dramatically reduced as compared with the conventional magnetic head device. Is done. As a result, the actuator output required for the head feed mechanism can be reduced, and the cost and simplification of the head feed mechanism can be reduced.
[0037]
Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to realize a magnetic head device capable of reducing cost, weight, and simplifying a peripheral mechanism.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of a linear tape drive on which a magnetic head device (magnetic head assembly) to which the present invention is applied is mounted.
FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic views showing the structure of the magnetic head assembly, wherein FIG. 2A is a plan view seen from a sliding surface side of a magnetic tape, and FIG. It is sectional drawing.
FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing another example of the structure of the magnetic head assembly, cut along a sliding direction of a magnetic tape.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining an example of a magnetic head device having a conventional structure.
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference Signs List 10 linear tape drive 11 take-up reel 13 first spindle motor 14 second spindle motor 17 magnetic head assembly 20 magnetic heads 21, 22 fixed rail unit 50 magnetic tape

Claims (3)

A magnetic head for recording and reproducing magnetic signals on a magnetic tape;
A head feed mechanism that enables the magnetic head to move in the width direction of the magnetic tape,
A magnetic head device, comprising: a pair of fixed rails provided on both sides of the magnetic head and extending over the entire width of the magnetic tape. 2. The magnetic head device according to claim 1, wherein a groove for controlling a contact state of the magnetic tape is formed in the fixed rail. 3. The magnetic head device according to claim 1, wherein the fixed rail portion is formed by a round bar having a substantially circular cross section.

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