Servo signal recording apparatus, servo signal recording method, and magnetic tape

1. A servo signal recording apparatus for recording a servo signal on a magnetic tape that includes a magnetic layer and a non-magnetic layer, the magnetic layer having a data area capable of storing data and a servo area capable of storing a servo signal, comprising:

a transportation unit that winds the magnetic tape unwound from a supply reel around a take-up reel and transporting the magnetic tape;

a DC erasing unit that is placed on a downstream side in a magnetic tape transportation direction and performs DC erasure with respect to a surface layer portion of the magnetic layer by magnetization in a longitudinal direction of the magnetic tape; and

a servo signal recording unit that is placed on a downstream side of the DC erasing unit in the magnetic tape transportation direction, rubs against the magnetic layer of the magnetic tape, and records a servo signal in the servo area by magnetization in a direction opposite to a direction of the magnetization of the DC erasing unit,

wherein the DC erasing unit forms a magnetization area having a depth smaller than that of an area magnetized during recording of the data, in a thickness direction from a surface of the magnetic layer.

2. The servo signal recording apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the DC erasing unit contains a DC erasing head, and

when a thickness of the magnetic layer of the magnetic tape is 50 to 100 nm, and a coercive force of the magnetic tape is 150 to 300 kA/m, a gap length of the DC erasing head is in a range of 0.1 to 0.5 μm.

3. A method for recording a servo signal on a magnetic tape that includes a magnetic layer and a non-magnetic layer, the magnetic layer having a data area capable of storing data and a servo area capable of storing a servo signal, comprising:

a DC erasing process of performing DC erasure with respect to a surface layer portion of the magnetic layer of the magnetic tape by magnetization in a longitudinal direction of the magnetic tape; and

a servo signal recording process of recording a servo signal in the servo area of the magnetic tape by magnetization in a direction opposite to a direction of the magnetization in the DC erasing process, after the DC erasing process,

wherein in the DC erasing process, a magnetization area having a depth smaller than that of an area magnetized during recording of the data is formed in a thickness direction from a surface of the magnetic layer.

4. The method for recording a servo signal according to claim 3 , wherein in the DC erasing process, the magnetic tape with a thickness of the magnetic layer of 50 to 100 nm and a coercive force of 150 to 300 kA/m is subjected to DC erasure with a DC erasing head having a gap length in a range of 0.1 to 0.5 μm.

5. A magnetic tape comprising a magnetic layer and a non-magnetic layer, the magnetic layer having a data area capable of storing data and a servo area capable of recording a servo signal,

wherein a magnetization area formed by DC erasure has a depth smaller than that of an area magnetized during recording of the data by magnetization in a longitudinal direction of the magnetic tape in a thickness direction from a surface of the magnetic layer, and

a servo signal is recorded by magnetization in a direction opposite to a direction of the magnetization of the DC erasure.