公开(公告)号：CA2062119C

公开(公告)日：1995-02-28

申请号：CA2062119

申请日：1992-03-02

Applicant: IBM

Inventor： COMEAUX WAYNE T ,  EAST DON G ,  FELDE STEVEN L ,  JOHNSON DOUGLAS W

IPC: G11B15/43 ,  G11B15/60 ,  G11B15/67 ,  G11B23/04 ,  G11B23/107

Abstract: The invention is a tape path having an implicit squeeze bearing. In such a tape path, one end of the tape is wound upon a first reel, the tape extends around one or more guides, briefly comes into close proximity with itself at the outer wrap of the tape wound upon the first reel, and is wound upon a second reel. By coming within close proximity with itself, the tape forms an implicit squeeze bearing which damps tape tension variation, inhibits the transmission of vibrations from one reel to the other, and eliminates the entrapment of entrained air without any additional rollers or other components. The tape path is suitable for use in a peripheral storage device, such as a magnetic tape drive, and is compatible with a variety of tape cartridge configurations.