IP Library Granted Patent US 10,854,236
Granted Patent B1
US 10,854,236 · App. 16/567,849 · Granted Dec 1, 2020

Dynamic tape guide bearing tilt mechanism

Inventors: David Harper (Vail, AZ); Nhan Xuan Bui (Tucson, AZ)
Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
G11B15/60B65H20/02B65H23/00G11B15/28G11B15/62G11B15/26
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,854,236
App. No.
16/567,849
Granted
Dec 1, 2020
Kind
B1
Abstract

At least one jack screw from a tape deck base may be removed. The tape deck base may be below a rigid support base that includes a rigid support shaft in the center of the rigid support base. A piezoelectric stack may be inserted where the at least one jack screw was removed from the tape deck base. The piezoelectric stack may tilt a tape guide roller bearing in a skew direction to improve the motion of tape in a tape path.

Claims (23)

1. A method for a dynamic tape guide bearing tilt mechanism to improve the motion of tape in a tape path, the method comprising:

removing at least one jack screw from a tape deck base, wherein the tape deck base is below a rigid support base that includes a rigid support shaft in the center of the rigid support base;

inserting a piezoelectric stack where the at least one jack screw was removed from the tape deck base, wherein the piezoelectric stack tilts the tape guide roller bearing in a skew direction to improve the motion of tape in the tape path.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the rigid support shaft includes a tape guide roller bearing positioned around the rigid support shaft.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the tape deck base includes three openings, a first opening for a first jack screw to be placed through that secures the rigid support base, a second opening for a center screw that attaches to the rigid support shaft, and a third opening for a second jack screw to be placed through that additionally secures the rigid support base.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the piezoelectric stack includes a support rod attached to a top portion of the piezoelectric stack.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the support rod attached to the top portion of the piezoelectric stack extends from the tape deck base and touches a bottom portion of the rigid support base.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the piezoelectric stack tilts the tape guide roller bearing by expanding in response to an electrical charge.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the piezoelectric stack tilts the tape guide roller bearing by contracting in response to an electrical charge.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tilt of the tape guide roller bearing is askew from the center of the rigid support base.

9. The method of 1 , wherein the a piezoelectric stack is secured where the at least one jack screw was removed by a lower end support bracket, wherein the lower end support bracket includes a raised lip that cradles the piezoelectric stack.

10. A dynamic tape guide bearing tilt mechanism to improve the motion of tape in a tape path, the system comprising:

a tape deck base, wherein the tape deck base is below a rigid support base that includes a rigid support shaft in the center of the rigid support base;

at least one jack screw, wherein the at least one jack screw is removed from the tape deck base;

a piezoelectric stack, wherein the piezoelectric stack is inserted where the at least one jack screw was removed from the tape deck base, and wherein the piezoelectric stack tilts the tape guide roller bearing in a skew direction to improve the motion of tape in the tape path; and

a lower end support bracket, wherein the lower end support bracket secures the piezoelectric stack where the at least one jack screw was removed, wherein the lower end support bracket includes a raised lip that cradles the piezoelectric stack.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the rigid support shaft includes a tape guide roller bearing positioned around the rigid support shaft.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the tape deck base includes three openings, a first opening for a first jack screw to be placed through that secures the rigid support base, a second opening for a center screw that attaches to the rigid support shaft, and a third opening for a second jack screw to be placed through that additionally secures the rigid support base.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the piezoelectric stack includes a support rod attached to a top portion of the piezoelectric stack.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the support rod attached to the top portion of the piezoelectric stack extends from the tape deck base and touches a bottom portion of the rigid support base.

15. The system of claim 10 , wherein the piezoelectric stack tilts the tape guide roller bearing by expanding in response to an electrical charge.

16. The system of claim 10 , wherein the piezoelectric stack tilts the tape guide roller bearing by contracting in response to an electrical charge.

17. The system of claim 10 , wherein the tilt of the tape guide roller bearing is askew from the center of the rigid support base.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 11, 2019
From: HARPER, DAVID; BUI, NHAN XUAN
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 050345/0448 →
Cited By (4)
US 12,387,754 US 12,482,490 US 12,482,495 US 12,706,114