Method for reducing occurrences of tape stick conditions in magnetic tape

Abstract

Disclosed is a method for reducing occurrences of stick conditions in tape, the method including stopping rotation of a supply reel and take-up reel of a drive that includes a length of tape, a portion of the tape extending between the reels and contacting a head between the reels, wherein the stopping creates a stop condition in the drive, determining if the tape is stuck to the head, dropping tension in the tape between the reels, freeing the tape for movement in a z-direction via the dropping tension, moving the head in y-directions, moving the tape in an x-direction via a rotation of the supply reel a fraction of a rotation, and causing the tape to break contact with the head via the dropping, moving of the tape in the z-direction, moving of the tape in the x-direction, and / or moving of the head in the y-directions.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]The disclosure relates generally to a method for reducing occurrences of tape stick conditions in magnetic tape, and more particularly to a method for reducing occurrences of tape stick conditions in magnetic tape disposed in a reel-to-reel tape drive.[0003]2. Description of Background[0004]As linear and track densities are increased for magnetic tape in reel-to-reel tape drives, it becomes desirable to have smoother and smoother media. Smoother media leads to more frequent occurrences of adherence between the tape and magnetic heads of the drives, especially in humid conditions. This is caused by the “Jo-block” effect, wherein two smooth surfaces are rubbed against each other squeezing out any lubricating air interface and causing the two smooth surfaces to stick.[0005]Once the tape sticks to the head, the drive tends to drop tension because it cannot move the tape. This leaves the drive with stuck or broken tape, whic...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006]Disclosed is a method for reducing occurrences of tape stick conditions in magnetic tape, the method including stopping functional rotation of each of a bi-directionally rotatable supply reel and a bi-directionally rotatable take-up reel of a reel-to-reel tape drive that includes a length of magnetic tape at least partially wound around each of the reels, a portion of the length of tape extending between the reels and contacting a head positioned between the reels, wherein the stopping creates a stop condition in the tape drive, determining if the length of tape is stuck to the head, dropping tension in the length of tape extending between the reels from full tension to zero tension, freeing the length of tape for movement in a z-direction relative to the head via the dropping tension, the z-direction running substantially parallel to a deck of the tape drive and substantially orthogonal to the length of tape, moving the head in y-directions relative to the length of tape wherein the y-directions includes movement substantially toward and away from the deck of the tape drive, moving the length of tape in an x-direction relative to the head via a rotation of the bi-directionally rotatable supply reel a fraction of a reel rotation during the stop condition, and causing the portion of the length of tape to at least temporarily break contact with the head via at least one of the dropping, the moving of the length of tape in the z-direction, the moving of the length of tape in the x-direction, and the moving of the head in the y-directions.

[0007]Also disclosed is a method for reducing occurrences of tape stick conditions in magnetic tape, the method including stopping functional rotation of each of a bi-directionally rotatable supply reel and a bi-directionally rotatable take-up reel of a reel-to-reel tape drive that includes a length of magnetic tape at least partially wound around each of the reels, a portion of the length of tape extending between the reels and contacting a head positioned between the reels, wherein the stopping creates a stop condition in the tape drive, determining if the length of tape is stuck to the head, dropping tension in the length of tape extending between the reels from full tension to zero tension, freeing the length of tape for movement in a z-direction relative to head, the z-direction running substantially parallel to a deck of the tape drive and substantially orthogonal to the length of tape, moving the head in y-directions relative to the length of tape wherein the y-directions includes movement substantially toward and away from the deck of the tape drive, moving the length of tape in an x-direction relative to the head via a rotation of the bi-directionally rotatable supply reel a fraction of a reel rotation during the stop condition; and re-determining if the length of tape is stuck to the head.

Problems solved by technology

Smoother media leads to more frequent occurrences of adherence between the tape and magnetic heads of the drives, especially in humid conditions.

Once the tape sticks to the head, the drive tends to drop tension because it cannot move the tape.

This leaves the drive with stuck or broken tape, which is an extremely undesirable condition to a user.

Once stuck to the head, the risk to breaking the tape is very high.

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