JP5415785B2 - Magnetic tape device and method of manufacturing magnetic tape - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a magnetic tape device, and more particularly, to a magnetic tape device including a fixed guide portion having a restricting portion for restricting travel of the magnetic tape in the width direction, and a magnetic head.

  Magnetic tapes used as computer data storage in recent years have improved recording density in order to increase recording capacity. For this reason, in a magnetic tape having a data track in the longitudinal direction, the track width of the data track on which data is recorded is extremely narrow. For example, a recording format with a track width of 20 μm or less has been proposed.

  When the width of the data track becomes narrow in this way, it becomes extremely difficult to align the position of the data track on the magnetic tape and the signal reading element of the magnetic head. For this reason, a magnetic tape in which a servo signal serving as a position reference is written in advance. By using this magnetic tape, when the magnetic tape travels on the magnetic tape drive, it is possible to detect a change in the width direction of the tape by reading a servo signal written on the magnetic tape.

  In accordance with the fluctuation in the width direction, the magnetic head unit of the magnetic tape drive is moved in the width direction of the magnetic tape by an actuator to perform feedback control. Thus, even if the track width is as narrow as about 20 μm, the signal reading element of the magnetic head can be prevented from protruding from the data track.

  Since the servo signal recorded on the magnetic tape is a position that serves as a reference for recording and reproducing the data signal on the magnetic tape, it must be accurately written on the magnetic tape in the manufacturing process.

  For this reason, in the magnetic tape manufacturing process, a fixed guide having a restricting portion for restricting the magnetic tape in the width direction is disposed adjacent to the magnetic head, and the magnetic head fixed with almost no vibration in the width direction is used. A dedicated servo writer that writes servo signals is used. A magnetic tape cartridge for a computer is manufactured by storing the magnetic tape on which the servo signal is recorded in this manner in a cartridge case.

  A specific example of the servo writer is described in Patent Document 1, and a specific example of the magnetic tape drive is described in Patent Document 2. Further, Patent Document 3 discloses a method for suppressing the shaking in the width direction of the magnetic tape.

JP 2005-92938 A Japanese Patent No. 2729031 International Publication No. 2007/094257 Pamphlet

  However, a generally used magnetic tape drive does not have a traveling system as accurate as a normal servo writer from the viewpoint of cost and durability of repeated use of the magnetic tape. For this reason, even if the servo signal is written accurately, the servo control cannot follow due to the fluctuation in the width direction of the magnetic tape during running in the magnetic tape drive, and a data read error may occur.

  Further, in the magnetic tape apparatus represented by the conventional servo writer and magnetic tape drive as described above, the accuracy of the servo track at the time of recording the servo signal for a magnetic tape having a data track width of 10 μm or less, The stability of the tape running when the signal is reproduced from the tape on which the data signal is recorded has become insufficient.

  The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, such as a servo writer which is excellent in the stability of magnetic tape running and can write an accurate servo signal, and a magnetic tape drive which can prevent a reading error due to a track deviation. A magnetic tape device is provided. In addition, a magnetic tape manufacturing method capable of writing an accurate servo signal is provided.

In order to achieve the above object, the magnetic tape device of the present invention writes a servo signal serving as a position reference in the width direction of the magnetic tape on the magnetic tape, or reads the servo signal thus written to run the magnetic tape. A magnetic tape device for detecting a fluctuation in a width direction at the time, wherein a feeding unit for feeding the magnetic tape, a winding unit for winding the magnetic tape, and the magnetic tape from the feeding unit to the winding unit A magnetic head disposed in contact with the magnetic tape on the transport path, and disposed adjacent to the magnetic head on the upstream side of the transport path with respect to the magnetic head and in contact with the magnetic tape A first fixed guide portion that guides the tape to the transport path; and is disposed adjacent to the magnetic head on the downstream side of the transport path with respect to the magnetic head; and A second fixed guide portion that contacts and guides the magnetic tape to the transport path; a restriction portion that is disposed in the first and second fixed guide portions and restricts the transport of the magnetic tape in the width direction; A first pinch roller disposed on the upstream side of the transport path with respect to the first fixed guide portion; a second pinch roller disposed on the downstream side of the transport path with respect to the second fixed guide portion; What rotator der disposed sandwiching the first pinch roller and the second pinch rollers, the outer peripheral surface and a capstan Ru cylindrical surface der, the said first fixed guide portion The magnetic head is disposed between a second fixed guide portion, and the magnetic head, the first fixed guide portion, and the second fixed guide portion are the cylindrical surface of the magnetic tape and the capstan. in between, the capstan Are arranged along the cylindrical surface, the magnetic tape, the first of said pinch roller is clamp supported between the cylindrical surface of the capstan and the capstan and the second pinch roller It is supported by being sandwiched between the cylindrical surfaces and conveyed.

  A magnetic tape manufacturing method of the present invention is a magnetic tape manufacturing method using the magnetic tape device of the present invention, wherein the magnetic tape device is a servo writer, and the servo signal is transmitted to the magnetic head by the magnetic head. A magnetic tape written with the servo signal is manufactured by writing on the tape.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a magnetic tape device such as a magnetic writer which is excellent in the stability of running of a magnetic tape and can write an accurate servo signal, and a magnetic tape drive which can prevent a reading error due to a track deviation. In addition, it is possible to provide a magnetic tape manufacturing method capable of writing an accurate servo signal.

1 is a configuration diagram of a magnetic tape device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a main part of the servo writer shown in FIG. 1. The enlarged view of the A section of FIG. The figure seen from the B direction in FIG. The block diagram of the servo writer which concerns on a comparative example.

  According to the configuration of the magnetic tape device of the present invention, the magnetic tape conveyance speed fluctuation, vibration (vibration) accompanying the conveyance from the delivery section to the first fixed guide, and from the second fixed guide to the winding section. The magnetic tape conveyance speed fluctuation and shaking (vibration) accompanying the conveyance are blocked by the first and second pinch rollers corresponding to the respective fixed guides.

  As a result, the magnetic tape can travel orderly on each fixed guide at a predetermined speed. Therefore, an accurate servo signal can be written on the magnetic tape by the magnetic head. Further, when the magnetic tape device of the present invention is used as a magnetic tape drive, it is possible to prevent the signal reading element of the magnetic head from protruding from the data track and to prevent a reading error due to a track shift.

  According to the magnetic tape manufacturing method of the present invention, an accurate servo signal can be written on the magnetic tape.

  In the magnetic tape of the present invention, the distance d between the upstream end portion of the magnetic tape transport path of the first fixed guide portion and the contact point between the first pinch roller and the capstan. And the distance d between the downstream end of the magnetic tape conveyance path of the second fixed guide portion and the contact point between the second pinch roller and the capstan is 5 mm or less. Is preferred. According to this configuration, vibration associated with the conveyance of the magnetic tape is unlikely to occur, and the magnetic tape can be conveyed in an orderly manner on the first and second fixed guides.

  The magnetic tape preferably has data tracks in the longitudinal direction, and the track width of the data tracks is preferably 30 μm or less.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a configuration diagram of a magnetic tape device according to an embodiment of the present invention. This figure shows an example of a servo writer.

  The servo writer is a device for writing in advance a servo signal serving as a position reference in the width direction of the magnetic tape on the magnetic tape. In a magnetic tape drive that drives a magnetic tape, if a magnetic tape on which a servo signal is written is used, when the magnetic tape runs, the servo signal written on the magnetic tape is read to detect a change in the tape width direction. be able to.

  The servo writer 10 shown in FIG. 1 includes a sending unit 11 for sending out the magnetic tape MT and a winding unit 12 for taking up the magnetic tape MT from the sending unit 11.

  On the downstream side of the sending unit 11 and the upstream side of the winding unit 12, for example, a magnetic head 13 for writing a C-shaped servo signal on the magnetic tape MT is arranged. Adjacent to the magnetic head 13, a first fixed guide portion 14 is disposed on the upstream side, and a second fixed guide portion 15 is disposed on the downstream side.

  The guide in the present invention plays a role of guiding a transport path along which the magnetic tape MT is transported from the sending unit 11 to the winding unit 12. A fixed guide refers to a guide in which the guide itself does not rotate or move.

  In addition to various guide rollers, a tension arm 19 that controls the delivery tension, and a first pinch roller that drives and conveys the magnetic tape MT while supporting the magnetic tape MT on the conveyance path between the delivery unit 11 and the magnetic head 13. 16, a capstan 18 which is a rotating body, and a block-shaped first fixed guide 14 are arranged.

  On the conveyance path between the magnetic head 13 and the winding unit 12, a block-shaped second fixed guide unit 15, a second pinch roller 17 that drives and conveys the magnetic tape MT with narrow pressure support, a winding A tension arm 20 for controlling the tension is disposed.

  The magnetic tape MT delivered from the delivery unit 11 is guided by a plurality of guide rollers and the like while being controlled to an appropriate tension by a tension arm 19 and supported by the first pinch roller 16 and the capstan 18 with a narrow pressure. Be transported. The magnetic head 13 is regulated by a regulating part (flanges 14a and 15a in FIG. 2-4) so that the magnetic tape MT conveyed by the first and second fixed guide parts 14 and 15 does not move in the width direction. The servo signal is written on the magnetic tape MT. The restriction unit will be described later with reference to FIGS.

  The second pinch roller 17 and the capstan 18 support the magnetic tape MT on which the servo signal is written with a narrow pressure and drive / convey it to the winding unit 12. The tension arm 20 appropriately controls the winding tension. The tension arms 19 and 20 are urged by a spring or the like in the direction of the arrow in the figure and are movably arranged.

  FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a main part of the servo writer 10 shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of part A in FIG. 4 is a view as seen from the B direction in FIG. In FIG. 2, a first fixed guide portion 14 and a first pinch roller 16 are provided on the upstream side of the magnetic tape MT conveyance path of the magnetic head 13.

  Further, a second fixed guide portion 15 and a second pinch roller 17 are provided on the downstream side of the magnetic tape MT on the magnetic tape MT conveyance path. One capstan 18 is arranged at a position sandwiched between the first pinch roller 16 and the second pinch roller 17.

  The material of the first and second pinch rollers 16 and 17 is preferably an elastic body such as various rubbers and plastics. The material of the capstan 18 is preferably metal, ceramics or the like.

  As shown in FIG. 2-4, the first fixed guide 14 and the second fixed guide 15 are provided with flanges 14a and 15a which are restricting portions for restricting the magnetic tape MT to be conveyed in the width direction. .

  As shown in FIG. 3, the flange 14 a is arranged so that a part of the flange 14 a protrudes from the contact surface 14 c of the first fixed guide 14 with the magnetic tape MT. The flange 15a is arranged so that a part of the flange 15a protrudes from the contact surface 15c of the second fixed guide 15 with the magnetic tape MT.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4, the flange 14 a is fixed to both side surfaces of the fixed guide 14, and the flange 15 a is fixed to both side surfaces of the fixed guide 15. As a result, the flanges 14a and 15a can regulate the magnetic tape MT from both sides in the width direction.

  The flanges 14a and 15a are preferably provided as close to the magnetic head 13 as possible. The material of the flanges 14a and 15a is preferably a material having good wear resistance, for example, ceramic.

  As shown in FIG. 2-4, the air accompanying the magnetic tape MT to be transported is removed from the contact surfaces 14c and 15c of the first fixed guide 14 and the second fixed guide 15 with the magnetic tape MT. Air exclusion grooves 14b and 15b are provided. The air exclusion grooves 14b and 15b may be provided with suction means to actively exclude entrained air.

  In FIG. 2, the distance d between the upstream end of the conveyance path of the magnetic tape MT of the first fixed guide 14 and the contact point between the first pinch roller 16 and the capstan 18, and the second fixed guide The distance d between the downstream end of the transport path of the 15 magnetic tape MT and the contact point between the second pinch roller 17 and the capstan 18 should be as small as possible.

  For example, the distance d is preferably 5 mm or less. This is because if the distance d is within this range, vibration associated with the conveyance of the magnetic tape MT hardly occurs, and the magnetic tape MT is neatly conveyed on the first fixed guide 14 and the second fixed guide 15.

  According to the present embodiment, fluctuations and fluctuations (vibrations) in the magnetic tape MT accompanying the conveyance from the delivery unit 11 to the first fixed guide 14 are the contact points between the first pinch roller 16 and the capstan 18. Can be cut off. For this reason, the magnetic tape MT can travel on the first fixed guide 14 in an orderly manner.

  Further, the fluctuation in the conveyance speed and the vibration (vibration) of the magnetic tape MT accompanying the conveyance from the second fixed guide 15 to the winding unit 12 may be interrupted at the contact point between the second pinch roller 17 and the capstan 18. it can. For this reason, the magnetic tape MT can travel in order on the second fixed guide 15 at a predetermined speed. As a result, an accurate servo signal can be written on the magnetic tape MT by the magnetic head 13.

  Next, the operation of the servo writer 10 will be described. When there is an operation instruction, before the magnetic tape MT is conveyed, appropriate torque is applied by a motor (not shown) that drives the delivery unit 11 in the clockwise direction and the winding unit 12 in the counterclockwise direction, A preferred tension is applied to the magnetic tape MT.

  The tension is detected by the movement of the tension arms 19 and 20, and the rotational speed and torque of the drive motor are controlled. Thereby, the magnetic head 13 contacts the magnetic tape MT with an appropriate force.

  Thereafter, the first pinch roller 16 and the second pinch roller 17 move from a position (standby position) separated from the capstan 18 indicated by a broken line in FIG. 2 to an operation position indicated by a solid line in FIG. As a result, the first and second pinch rollers 16 and 17 abut against the capstan 18 to support the magnetic tape MT with pressure.

  The capstan 18 is rotationally driven by a motor (not shown) that drives the capstan 18, and the magnetic tape MT is conveyed at a predetermined speed. The number of revolutions and torque of each drive motor are controlled so that the sending unit 11 maintains the sending tension and the writing unit tension, and the winding unit 12 maintains the winding tension within a preferable range.

  A servo signal is written by the magnetic head 13 on the magnetic tape MT conveyed at a predetermined speed. At this time, as described above, the magnetic tape MT is connected to the first pinch roller 16 and the first pinch roller 16 in the vicinity of the upstream end of the first fixed guide 14 and in the vicinity of the downstream end of the second fixed guide 15. The two pinch rollers 17 are supported to be sandwiched between the capstan 18 and the capstan 18.

  For this reason, the magnetic tape MT accompanying the conveyance from the sending part 11 to the first fixed guide 14 and the conveyance speed fluctuation and shaking (vibration) of the magnetic tape MT, and the magnetic tape accompanying the conveyance from the second fixed guide 15 to the winding part 12 are used. MT conveyance speed fluctuations and shaking (vibration) are blocked by the respective pinch rollers 16 and 17. As a result, the magnetic tape MT can regularly travel on the first and second fixed guides 14 and 15 at a predetermined speed. Therefore, an accurate servo signal can be written on the magnetic tape MT by the magnetic head 13.

  The operation of the servo writer 10 is an example, and the operation pattern is not limited as long as an accurate servo signal can be normally written to the magnetic tape MT by the magnetic head 13, and other operation patterns may be used. .

  For example, when there is an operation instruction, the second pinch roller 17 moves from the standby position to the operation position, contacts the capstan 18 and supports the magnetic tape MT with pressure. Thereafter, the capstan 18 is slowly driven to rotate by a motor (not shown) for driving the capstan 18.

  At that time, an appropriate torque is applied by a motor (not shown) that drives the delivery unit 11 in the clockwise direction and the winding unit 12 in the counterclockwise direction, and a preferable tension is applied to the magnetic tape MT. The tension is detected by the movement of the tension arms 19 and 20, and the rotational speed and torque of the drive motor are controlled. When the rotational speed of the capstan 18 reaches a predetermined value and the magnetic tape MT reaches a predetermined transport speed, the first pinch roller 16 moves from the standby position to the operating position, and comes into contact with the capstan 18 to magnetic tape. MT is supported under pressure.

  As a result, the magnetic tape MT is shielded from fluctuations in the conveyance speed and shaking (vibration) of the magnetic tape MT accompanying conveyance from both the upstream side and the downstream side of the travel path with the magnetic head 13 as the center. Thereafter, a servo signal is written by the magnetic head 13 on the magnetic tape MT conveyed at a predetermined speed.

  Next, a comparative example will be described. FIG. 5 shows a configuration diagram of a servo writer according to a comparative example. The configuration shown in the figure is the same as the servo writer disclosed in Patent Document 3. The servo writer 100 includes a sending unit 101 for sending out the magnetic tape MT and a winding unit 102 for taking up the magnetic tape MT from the sending unit 101.

  In the traveling direction of the magnetic tape MT, a magnetic head 103 for writing a servo signal on the magnetic tape MT is disposed downstream of the sending unit 101 and upstream of the winding unit 102. Adjacent to the magnetic head 103, guide blocks 104 are arranged on the upstream side and the downstream side thereof.

  Although not shown in FIG. 5, the guide block 104 is provided with a flange that is a restricting portion having the same configuration as the flanges 14a and 15a shown in FIG. 2-4. Moreover, the air exclusion groove of the structure similar to the air exclusion grooves 14b and 15b shown to FIGS. 2-4 is provided.

  The comparative example shown in FIG. 5 is the same as the configuration of the present embodiment in that a flange and an air exclusion groove that are restricting portions are provided. However, there is a relatively long unsupported tape span upstream of the guide block 104 in the travel path of the magnetic tape MT. In this portion, the vibration accompanying the conveyance occurs in the magnetic tape MT, which causes the running fluctuation of the magnetic tape MT.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described more specifically with reference to Examples and Comparative Examples.
Example 1
Servo signals were written by transporting the magnetic tape MT using the servo writer 10 according to the present embodiment shown in FIG. At this time, the evaluation was performed by measuring the fluctuation in the width direction of the magnetic tape MT and the speed fluctuation in the longitudinal direction. The magnetic tape MT used for the evaluation was prepared by forming a nonmagnetic undercoat layer and a magnetic layer in this order on one surface of a flexible support and providing a backcoat layer on the other surface.
(Comparative Example 1)
Evaluation was performed in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the servo tape writer 100 according to the comparative example shown in FIG. 5 was used to transport the magnetic tape MT and write servo signals.

The evaluation methods in Example 1 and Comparative Example 1 are specifically as follows.
(Swing in the width direction)
A transmissive optical sensor for detecting the position in the width direction of the upper edge of the magnetic tape MT is installed between the magnetic head 13 (103) and the fixed guide portion 14 (104) on the upstream side of the magnetic head 13 (103). The vibration in the width direction of the magnetic tape MT was measured by detecting the position of the upper edge of the running magnetic tape MT.

The magnetic tape MT is run at a predetermined speed (5 m / s) for 1 minute, and the obtained fluctuation waveform (100K samples / second) is averaged for 1 minute for the difference between the maximum and minimum values every 0.5 seconds (peak to peak). The amount of shaking in the width direction was used.
(Velocity fluctuation in the longitudinal direction)
It is based on a method of measuring only fluctuations that are written by canceling the speed fluctuation of the tape and measuring instrument.
(Fluctuation frequency analysis in the width and longitudinal directions)
The data obtained by the above method was subjected to FFT analysis (comparison in the wavelength region from 60 mm to 1 mm, measurement speed 6 m / s).

  In this analysis, for example, as a result of frequency analysis of the fluctuation amount in the tape width direction, the vertical axis represents the width direction fluctuation (mV), and the horizontal axis represents the frequency band (Hz). The value calculated in the area is used as an index of variation.

  The evaluation values are shown in Table 1 below.

  As can be seen from the results in Table 1, it can be seen that in Example 1, as compared with Comparative Example 1, the fluctuation in the width direction and the speed fluctuation in the longitudinal direction of the magnetic tape MT are suppressed. Therefore, the magnetic tape device of the present invention is suitable for a magnetic tape having a narrow track width that particularly requires the running stability of the magnetic tape.

  That is, if the magnetic tape device according to the present invention is used as a servo writer, even when a narrow tape width magnetic tape is used, a magnetic tape on which an accurate servo signal having a constant distance from the reference edge is written can be manufactured. Can do.

  Further, if the magnetic tape device according to the present invention is used as a magnetic tape drive, it is possible to prevent a reading error due to a track deviation even when a magnetic tape having a narrow track width is used. More specifically, when a magnetic tape on which a servo signal has been written is driven by a magnetic tape drive, when the magnetic tape travels, the servo signal written on the magnetic tape is read to change in the width direction of the tape. Is detected. In response to this change, the magnetic head unit is moved in the width direction of the magnetic tape by an actuator to perform feedback control. As described above, the magnetic tape device according to the present invention can suppress the fluctuation in the width direction and the speed fluctuation in the longitudinal direction of the magnetic tape MT, so that the follow-up of the magnetic head unit by the feedback control becomes accurate. As a result, the signal reading element of the magnetic head can be prevented from protruding from the data track, and reading errors due to track deviation can be prevented.

  The data track width of the magnetic tape used in the magnetic tape device of the present invention is 30 μm or less. As described above, the magnetic tape device of the present invention is suitable for a magnetic tape having a narrow track width. Therefore, the magnetic tape drive of the present invention is suitable for a magnetic tape having a narrow track width of, for example, 20 μm or less or 10 μm or less.

  In the above embodiment, the servo signal may be written on the backcoat side.

  As described above, according to the present invention, since the running stability of the magnetic tape is excellent, the present invention drives, for example, a servo writer that writes a servo signal on the magnetic tape or a magnetic tape that has written the servo signal. It is useful as a magnetic tape drive.

10 Magnetic tape unit (servo writer)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Sending part 12 Winding part 13 Magnetic head 14 1st fixed guide 14a, 15a Flange (regulation part)
14b, 15b Air discharge groove 14c, 15c Contact surface 15 Second fixed guide 16 First pinch roller 17 Second pinch roller 18 Capstan 19, 20 Tension arm MT Magnetic tape

Claims (4)

A magnetic tape device that writes a servo signal serving as a position reference in the width direction of the magnetic tape on the magnetic tape, or detects the fluctuation in the width direction when the magnetic tape is running by reading the written servo signal,
A delivery section for delivering the magnetic tape;
A winding unit for winding the magnetic tape;
A magnetic head disposed on and in contact with the magnetic tape on a transport path of the magnetic tape from the sending section to the winding section;
A first fixed guide portion disposed adjacent to the magnetic head on the upstream side of the transport path with respect to the magnetic head, and abutting the magnetic tape to guide the magnetic tape to the transport path;
A second fixed guide portion disposed adjacent to the magnetic head on the downstream side of the transport path with respect to the magnetic head, and abutting the magnetic tape to guide the magnetic tape to the transport path;
A restricting portion disposed in the first and second fixed guide portions and restricting the conveyance of the magnetic tape in the width direction;
A first pinch roller disposed on the upstream side of the transport path with respect to the first fixed guide portion;
A second pinch roller disposed on the downstream side of the transport path with respect to the second fixed guide portion;
What rotator der arranged so as to be sandwiched between the first pinch roller and the second pinch rollers, the outer peripheral surface and a capstan Ru cylindrical surface der,
The magnetic head is disposed between the first fixed guide portion and the second fixed guide portion,
The magnetic head, the first fixed guide portion, and the second fixed guide portion are disposed along the cylindrical surface of the capstan between the magnetic tape and the cylindrical surface of the capstan. And
The magnetic tape is nipped and supported between the first pinch roller and the cylindrical surface of the capstan, and is nipped and supported between the second pinch roller and the cylindrical surface of the capstan. A magnetic tape device, wherein the magnetic tape device is transported in the form of a magnetic tape.   The distance d between the upstream end of the magnetic tape transport path of the first fixed guide portion and the contact point between the first pinch roller and the capstan, and the second fixed guide portion 2. The magnetic tape device according to claim 1, wherein a distance d between a downstream end portion of the magnetic tape transport path and a contact point between the second pinch roller and the capstan is 5 mm or less.   The magnetic tape device according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic tape has a data track in a longitudinal direction, and a track width of the data track is 30 μm or less. A method of manufacturing a magnetic tape using the magnetic tape device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The magnetic tape device is a servo writer,
A magnetic tape manufacturing method, wherein the servo signal is written on the magnetic tape by the magnetic head to manufacture the magnetic tape on which the servo signal is written.

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