1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a servo pattern recording device that records a servo pattern for tracking servo on a magnetic tape.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a servo pattern recording device of this kind, there is known a servo writer disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2005-92938. This servo writer is comprised of a feed reel for feeding a magnetic tape, a take-up reel for taking up the magnetic tape, a servo signal write head for writing a servo signal (servo pattern) for tracking servo on the magnetic tape, and so forth. In this case, the servo signal write head is removably mounted on a head base member fixed on a panel side (panel). This makes it possible to replace the servo signal write head relatively easily.
From the study of the above-described servo writer, the present inventors found out the following problems. In general, a servo writer of this kind, such as the aforementioned servo writer, is configured such that a motor for rotating the feed reel, and a motor for rotating the take-up reel are fixed on the panel side. On the other hand, the above-described magnetic tape is used for backup of a large amount of data. In this case, data are recorded on a large number of tracks on the magnetic tape. In recent years, in a recording medium using the magnetic tape of the above-mentioned kind, the number of tracks is increased to increase recording capacity, and along with the increase in the number of tracks, a recording and reproducing device, which records data on a recording medium and reproduces the recorded data, is required to use a servo pattern recorded in advance on the magnetic tape for the sake of more accurate control of tracking of a recording and reproducing head (motion of the recording and reproducing head in the direction of the width of the magnetic tape). To this end, in manufacturing the magnetic tape for use in the above-described recording medium, it is necessary to improve recording accuracy so as to record the servo pattern straight in the direction of the length of the magnetic tape. In the conventional servo writer, however, since the motors are fixed on the panel side together with the servo signal write head as described above, there is a risk of the vibrations of the motors being transmitted to the servo signal write head, which makes it difficult to improve recording accuracy.
The present invention was made in view of these problems, and a main object of the present invention is to provide a servo pattern recording device which is capable of improving recording accuracy of a servo pattern.
To attain the above main object, a servo pattern recording device according to the present invention comprises a magnetic head that records a servo pattern for tracking servo on a magnetic tape, a first motor that feeds the magnetic tape, a second motor that takes up the magnetic tape, and a main panel along a surface of which the magnetic tape is caused to move, wherein the first motor and the second motor are mounted on the main panel, and wherein the magnetic head is mounted on a first sub panel that is formed separately from the main panel and is connected to the main panel via a connecting member.
According to the servo pattern recording device according to the present invention, the first motor and the second motor are mounted on the main panel, and the magnetic head is mounted on the first sub panel that is formed separately from the main panel and is connected to the main panel via the connecting member, so that it is possible to reliably reduce transmission of vibration caused by the first and second motors to the magnetic head. Therefore, compared with the conventional servo writer which has the motors and the magnetic head mounted on a main panel thereof, it is possible to sufficiently improve the recording accuracy of the servo pattern.
In this case, it is possible to form a first opening in which the first sub panel can be fitted in the main panel, and connect the first sub panel to the main panel in a state in which the first sub panel is fitted in the first opening such that the surface of the main panel and a surface of the first sub panel are flush with each other. With this configuration, since no step is formed between the main panel and the first sub panel, it is possible to prevent a step from moving the magnetic tape in the direction of the width of the tape, thereby reliably preventing recording accuracy of the servo pattern from being degraded.
Further, it is possible to connect the first sub panel to the main panel with a vibration isolator interposed between the first sub panel and the main panel. With this configuration, it is possible to more reliably reduce transmission of vibration caused by the first and second motors to the magnetic head. This makes it possible to further improve the recording accuracy of the servo pattern.
Further, it is possible to mount a tape guide that guides the magnetic tape to the magnetic head, on the first sub panel. With this configuration, it is possible to reliably reduce transmission of vibration caused by the first and second motors to the tape guide. Therefore, compared with a construction in which the tape guide is mounted on the main panel, it is possible to further improve the recording accuracy of the servo pattern.
Further, the servo pattern may comprise a capstan motor that controls a traveling speed of the magnetic tape, and the capstan motor can be mounted on a second sub panel that is formed separately from the main panel and is connected to the main panel via a connecting member. With this configuration, it is possible to reliably reduce transmission of vibration caused by the capstan motor to the magnetic head. Therefore, compared with a construction in which the capstan motor is mounted on the main panel, it is possible to further improve the recording accuracy of the servo pattern.
Further, it is possible to form a second opening in which the second sub panel can be fitted, in the main panel, and connect the second sub panel to the main panel in a state in which the second sub panel is fitted in the second opening such that the surface of the main panel and a surface of the second sub panel are flush with each other. With this configuration, since no step is formed between the main panel and the second sub panel, it is possible to prevent a step from moving the magnetic tape in the direction of the width of the tape, thereby reliably preventing the recording accuracy of the servo pattern from being degraded.
Further, it is possible to connect the second sub panel to the main panel with a vibration isolator interposed between the second sub panel and the main panel. With this configuration, it is possible to more reliably reduce transmission of vibration caused by the capstan motor to the magnetic head, thereby making it possible further improve the recording accuracy of the servo pattern.
It should be noted that the present disclosure relates to the subject matter included in Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-081985 filed Mar. 27, 2007, and it is apparent that all the disclosures therein are incorporated herein by reference.
These and other objects and features of the present invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:
Hereinafter, the best mode of a servo pattern recording device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
First, a description will be given of the construction of a servo writer 1. The servo writer 1 shown in
Referring to
As shown in
The first sub panel 26 is in the form of a rectangular plate. Further, as shown in
To record the servo pattern Ps on the magnetic tape 300 with high accuracy, it is necessary to smooth the surface of an object on which magnetic head 21 is to be mounted with high accuracy so as to make the level and orientation of the magnetic head 21 as prescribed (designed). In this case, in the conventional servo writer, the size of the main panel on which the magnetic head 21 is mounted is large, which makes it very difficult to smooth the whole front surface of the main panel with high accuracy. In contrast, in the servo writer 1, the size of the first sub panel 26 on which the magnetic head 21 is mounted is small, and hence it is relatively easy to smooth the whole front surface 26a of the first sub panel 26 with high accuracy.
The second sub panel 27 is in the form of a rectangular plate. Further, as shown in
The drive control section 12 controls the first motor 22, the second motor 23, and the capstan motor 24 under the control of the main control section 15. The pulse signal-generating section 13 delivers the pulse signal Sp to the magnetic head 21 of the recording section 11 under the control of the main control section 15. The operating section 14 is comprised of various switches and keys, and delivers operation signals So in accordance with the operations of the switches and keys. The main control section 15 controls the drive control section 12 and the pulse signal-generating section 13 in accordance with the operation signals So delivered from the operating section 14.
Next, a description will be given of the operations of the respective sections of the servo writer 1, performed when the servo pattern Ps is recorded on the magnetic tape 300 using the servo writer 1.
First, recording conditions, such as the traveling speed (tape speed) of the magnetic tape 300, the pitch of the servo pattern Ps, and so forth, are set by operating the operating section 14, and then the start of recording is instructed. Next, the main control section 15 causes the drive control section 12 to start control of the first motor 22, the second motor 23, and the capstan motor 24 of the recording section 11 in accordance with the operation signals So delivered from the operating section 14. In doing this, the drive control section 12 causes the capstan motor 24 to move the magnetic tape 300 at the set tape speed, while causing the first motor 22 and the second motor 23 to feed and take up the magnetic tape 300. Subsequently, the main control section 15 causes the pulse signal-generating section 13 to start delivery of the pulse signal Sp. Next, the magnetic head 21 of the recording section 11 records (writes) the servo pattern Ps on the magnetic tape 300 in accordance with the pulse signal Sp, whereafter the main control section 15 causes the pulse signal-generating section 13 to stop the delivery of the pulse signal Sp when the magnetic tape 300 is moved by a predetermined length (when a predetermined time period has elapsed from the start of the recording). Further, the main control section 15 controls the first motor 22, the second motor 23, and the capstan motor 24 via the drive control section 12 to thereby cause them to stop the feed, take-up, and travel of the magnetic tape 300. This terminates the recording of the servo pattern Ps on the magnetic tape 300.
In this case, in the servo writer 1, the first motor 22 and the second motor 23 are mounted on the main panel 25, and the magnetic head 21 is mounted on the first sub panel 26 which is formed separately from the main panel 25 and is connected to the main panel 25 via the connecting members 36, so that transmission of vibration of the motors 22 and 23 to the magnetic head 21 is reliably reduced. Further, since the capstan motor 24 is mounted on the second sub panel 27 which is formed separately from the main panel 25 and is connected to the main panel 25 via the connecting members 36, transmission of vibration of the capstan motor 24 to the magnetic head 21 is reliably reduced. Therefore, compared with the conventional servo writer which has the motors and the magnetic head 21 mounted on the main panel 25, it is possible to sufficiently improve the recording accuracy of the servo pattern Ps.
Further, in the servo writer 1, the first sub panel 26 is connected to the main panel 25 in a manner such that the front surface 26a thereof is flush with the front surface 25a of the main panel 25. That is, the servo writer 1 is configured such that no step is formed between the main panel 25 and the first sub panel 26. This prevents a step from moving the magnetic tape 300 in the direction of the width of the tape, thereby reliably preventing the recording accuracy of the servo pattern Ps from being degraded. Further, in the servo writer 1, the vibration isolators 37 are interposed between the first sub panel 26 and the main panel 25 and between the second sub panel 27 and the main panel 25. This makes it possible to more reliably reduce transmission of vibration caused by the first motor 22, the second motor 23, and the capstan motor 24, to the magnetic head 21. Furthermore, in the servo writer 1, the tape guides 35 are mounted on the first sub panel 26, which reliably reduces transmission of vibration caused by the first motor 22, the second motor 23, and the capstan motor 24, to the tape guides 35.
It should be noted that the present inventors have executed the following experiment so as to inspect the performance of the servo pattern recording device according to the present invention. In this experiment, the servo pattern Ps was recorded on the magnetic tape 300 using the above-described servo writer 1, and measurement was performed on the magnetic tape 300 so as to determine the amount of off-track of the servo pattern Ps. In this case, a PES (Positioning Error Signal: numerical value which expresses a variation in the amount of displacement, in terms of a standard deviation σ) was measured by an LTO drive, and the value obtained by the measurement was set to the amount of off-track of the servo pattern Ps. Further, when the servo pattern Ps was recorded, the amount of vibration of the magnetic head 21 was measured using an acceleration sensor. In this case, a relative value with respect to the value of a voltage (amplitude of a voltage corresponding to the amount of vibration of the magnetic head 21) outputted from the acceleration sensor in Comparative Example 1, described hereinafter, (in other words, a ratio of the value of the output voltage from the acceleration sensor to the value of the output voltage from the same in Comparative Example 1, which is assumed to be “1”) was set to the amount of vibration of the magnetic head 21. It should be noted that the tape speed (traveling speed) of the magnetic tape 300 was set to three tape speeds: 2.5 m/s, 5.0 m/s, and 10.0 m/s, and experiments carried out at the respective tape speeds were referred to as Example 1, Example 2, and Example 3, respectively.
Further, the same experiments as described above were carried out using a servo writer 101 (another example of the servo pattern recording device according to the present invention) constructed by directly mounting the capstan motor 24, the capstan 33 and the pinch roller 34 on a main panel 125 formed with no second opening 25d, as shown in
Further, the same experiments as described above were carried out using a servo writer (conventional servo writer) constructed by directly mounting the magnetic head 21, the first motor 22, the second motor 23, the capstan motor 24, the capstan 33, the pinch roller 34, and the tape guides 35 on a main panel formed with no first opening 25c nor the second opening 25d. It should be noted that similarly to the above, the three tape speed were set, and the experiments carried out at the respective tape speeds were referred to as Comparative Example 1, Comparative Example 2, and Comparative Example 3, respectively.
Referring to
As described above, according to the servo writer 1, the first motor 22 and the second motor 23 are mounted on the main panel 25, and the magnetic head 21 is mounted on the first sub panel 26 which is formed separately from the main panel 25 and is connected to the main panel 25 via the connecting members 36, whereby it is possible to reliably reduce transmission of vibration of the motors 22 and 23 to the magnetic head 21. Therefore, compared with the conventional servo writer in which the motors 22 and 23 and the magnetic head 21 are mounted on the main panel 25, it is possible to sufficiently improve the recording accuracy of the servo pattern Ps.
Further, according to the servo writer 1, the first sub panel 26 is connected to the main panel 25 in a state in which the first sub panel 26 is fitted in the first opening 25c such that the front surface 26a thereof and the front surface 25a of the main panel 25 are flush with each other. As a result, since no step is formed between the main panel 25 and the first sub panel 26, it is possible to prevent a step from moving the magnetic tape 300 in the direction of the width of the tape, thereby reliably preventing the recording accuracy of the servo pattern Ps from being degraded.
Further, according to the servo writer 1, the first sub panel 26 is connected to the main panel 25 with the vibration isolators 37 interposed therebetween, whereby it is possible to more reliably reduce transmission of vibration caused by the motors 22 and 23 to the magnetic head 21. This makes it possible to further improve the recording accuracy of the servo pattern Ps.
Further, according to the servo writer 1, the tape guides 35 are mounted on the first sub panel 26, whereby it is possible to reliably reduce transmission of the vibration caused by the motors 22 and 23 to the tape guides 35. Therefore, compared with a construction in which the tape guides 35 are mounted on the main panel 25, it is possible to further improve the recording accuracy of the servo pattern Ps.
Furthermore, according to the servo writer 1, the capstan motor 24 is mounted on the second sub panel 27 which is formed separately from the main panel 25 and is connected to the main panel 25 via the connecting members 36, whereby it is possible to reliably reduce transmission of vibration of the capstan motor 24 to the magnetic head 21. Therefore, compared with a construction in which the capstan motor 24 is mounted on the main panel 25, it is possible to further improve the recording accuracy of the servo pattern Ps.
Further, according to the servo writer 1, the second sub panel 27 is connected to the main panel 25 in the state in which the second sub panel 27 is fitted in the second opening 25d such that the front surface 27a thereof and the front surface 25a of the main panel 25 are flush with each other. As a result, no step is formed between the main panel 25 and the second sub panel 27, and hence it is possible to prevent a step from moving the magnetic tape 300 in the direction of the width of the tape, thereby reliably preventing the recording accuracy of the servo pattern Ps from being degraded.
Further, according to the servo writer 1, the second sub panel 27 is connected to the main panel 25 with the vibration isolator 37 interposed therebetween, whereby it is possible to more reliably reduce transmission of the vibration caused by the capstan motor 24 to the magnetic head 21. This makes it possible to further improve the recording accuracy of the servo pattern Ps.
It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described configurations. For example, although the above description is given of an example in which the main panel and the sub panels are connected to each other in a state in which the sub panels (the above-described first sub panel 26, second sub panel 27 and third sub panel 226) are fitted in the respective openings (the above-described first opening 25c, second opening 25d, and third opening 225c) formed in the main panel, as shown in
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2007-081985 | Mar 2007 | JP | national |