Tape support system with a load-unload mechanism

1. A magnetic recording device, comprising:

a reel configured to unroll a magnetic recording media therefrom or roll the magnetic recording media thereto;

a magnetic head assembly configured to read data from the magnetic recording media or write data to the magnetic recording media;

at least one guide roller rotatable about an axis and configured to guide the magnetic recording media past the magnetic head assembly; and

at least one magnetic recording media guide disposed between the magnetic head assembly and the at least one guide roller, wherein the at least one magnetic recording media guide is configured to move between a first position to space the magnetic recording media from the magnetic head assembly and a second position to permit the magnetic recording media to be in contact with the magnetic head assembly, and wherein the at least one magnetic recording media guide is shaped such that a ratio of the magnetic recording media in contact with the at least one magnetic recording media guide while the magnetic recording media is moving past the magnetic head assembly is from 1:2 to 1:1.

2. The magnetic recording device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one magnetic recording media guide comprises a first guide and a second guide and wherein the magnetic head assembly is disposed between the first guide and the second guide.

3. The magnetic recording device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one magnetic recording media guide and the magnetic head assembly are disposed on an opposite side of the magnetic recording media.

4. The magnetic recording device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one magnetic recording media guide and the magnetic head assembly are disposed on a same side of the magnetic recording media.

5. The magnetic recording device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one magnetic recording media guide is configured to contact the magnetic recording media when the magnetic head assembly is spaced from the magnetic recording media.

6. The magnetic recording device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one magnetic recording media guide is configured to contact the magnetic recording media when the magnetic head assembly is in contact with the magnetic recording media.

7. The magnetic recording device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one magnetic recording media guide has a length in a direction perpendicular to a direction that the magnetic recording media moves past the magnetic head assembly, the magnetic recording media has a width in a direction perpendicular to the direction that the magnetic recording media moves past the magnetic head assembly, and wherein the length is greater than the width.

8. The magnetic recording device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one magnetic recording media guide has a surface roughness of 0.02 to 0.03 microns.

9. The magnetic recording device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one magnetic recording media guide comprises stainless steel or ceramic.

10. A magnetic recording device, comprising:

a tape media for storing data;

a tape head for reading data from or writing data to the tape media;

a guide roller configured to rotate about an axis, wherein the tape media is stationary relative to the guide roller when the guide roller rotates about the axis; and

a tape guide disposed between the guide roller and the tape head, wherein the tape guide is stationary relative to the tape media when the tape media moves past the tape head while the tape head is positioned to read data from or write data to the tape media.

11. The magnetic recording device of claim 10 , wherein the tape guide comprises a first tape guide element and a second tape guide element, wherein a ratio of a distance between the first tape guide element and the second tape guide element to a width of the tape media is from 10:13 to 25:12.

12. The magnetic recording device of claim 10 , wherein the tape guide is movable relative to the tape media in a direction perpendicular to a direction that the tape media moves.

13. The magnetic recording device of claim 10 , wherein the tape media comprises a substrate and a lubricant layer on the substrate, and wherein both the tape guide and the tape head are positioned to contact the lubricant layer.

14. The magnetic recording device of claim 10 , wherein the tape guide is configured to exert a pressure of between about 0.3 N and about 0.6 N on the tape media.

15. The magnetic recording device of claim 10 , wherein the tape guide comprises a first tape guide element and a second tape guide element, and wherein the first tape guide element and the second tape guide element are movable in tandem in a direction perpendicular to a direction that the tape media moves past the tape head.

16. A magnetic recording device, comprising:

an enclosure;

at least one tape reel disposed within the enclosure, wherein the at least one tape reel is configured to wind a tape media thereto or unwind a tape media therefrom;

a tape head for reading data from the tape media or writing data to the tape media; and

means to planarize the tape media on the tape head, wherein the means to planarize the tape media on the tape head is disposed between the at least one tape reel and the tape head, and wherein the tape media has a deflection at an edge of the tape media prior to coming into contact with the means to planarize the tape media on the tape head.

17. The magnetic recording device of claim 16 , wherein the deflection is between about 1 mm and about 2 mm from planar.

18. The magnetic recording device of claim 16 , wherein the deflection is between about 0.5 mm and about 1.0 mm from the edge into the tape media.

19. A magnetic recording device, comprising:

a reel configured to unroll a magnetic recording media therefrom or roll the magnetic recording media thereto;

a magnetic head assembly configured to read data from the magnetic recording media or write data to the magnetic recording media;

at least one guide roller rotatable about an axis and configured to guide the magnetic recording media past the magnetic head assembly; and

at least one magnetic recording media guide disposed between the magnetic head assembly and the at least one guide roller, wherein the at least one magnetic recording media guide is configured to move between a first position to space the magnetic recording media from the magnetic head assembly and a second position to permit the magnetic recording media to be in contact with the magnetic head assembly, wherein the at least one magnetic recording media guide has a length in a direction perpendicular to a direction that the magnetic recording media moves past the magnetic head assembly, the magnetic recording media has a width in a direction perpendicular to the direction that the magnetic recording media moves past the magnetic head assembly, and wherein the length is greater than the width.

20. A magnetic recording device, comprising:

a reel configured to unroll a magnetic recording media therefrom or roll the magnetic recording media thereto;

a magnetic head assembly configured to read data from the magnetic recording media or write data to the magnetic recording media;

at least one guide roller rotatable about an axis and configured to guide the magnetic recording media past the magnetic head assembly; and

at least one magnetic recording media guide disposed between the magnetic head assembly and the at least one guide roller, wherein the at least one magnetic recording media guide is configured to move between a first position to space the magnetic recording media from the magnetic head assembly and a second position to permit the magnetic recording media to be in contact with the magnetic head assembly, and wherein the at least one magnetic recording media guide has a surface roughness of 0.02 to 0.03 microns.