Magnetic tape drive with improved tape to head compliance

Claim 1

A magnetic tape data storage and drive apparatus comprising: means for moving and guiding a magnetic tape for bidirectional travel along a tape path; a pair of identical magnetic head assemblies, each assembly having a tape-engaging surface including a plurality of magnetic transducer pole faces defining a read/write gap and at least one erase gap, the read/write gap and the erase gap being spaced apart in the direction of tape travel; a carriage supporting the magnetic head assemblies in side-by-side relationship along the tape path; a pair of pressure pads associated with the magnetic head assemblies, each pad being positioned to engage the magnetic tape; a carrier supporting each pressure pad; and means mounted on the head assembly carriage for supporting the pressure pad carriers, the supporting means being resiliently biased to bring the pressure pads into engagement with the magnetic tape and to urge the tape into contact with the tape-engaging surfaces of the magnetic head assemblies, each pressure pad carrier being pivotally mounted on the supporting means, whereby different portions of each pressure pad apply different levels of pressure to the tape depending upon the direction of tape travel, substantially optimum tape-to-head compliance being obtained irrespective of tape direction, the means supporting the pressure pad carriers comprising a pair of arms mounted on the head assembly carriage by a hinge, each arms supporting one of the carriers, each arm being independently biased toward the head assembly carriage by a torsion spring would about the hinge, and means coupling the arms to permit limited relative motion between the arms about the hinge.