Burroughs, Inc.

Unisys Corporation

Herbert U Ragle

Dean L DeMoss

Norman S Blessum

Ko Ko Gyi

Lewis Buel Coon, Jr

Francis Arthur Morse

Norman S Blessom

Improved transducing techniques and arrangements; the embodiments particularly adapted for co-action with disk drive apparatus for handling flexible disk packs, and including a partitioning shield, flexure-bar mounted transducer head under the shield, along with disk-cleaner/stabilizer means--especially where these are arrayed in the form of a double-opposed transducer assembly adapted to be so manipulated into the pack as to double-partition the pack away from a selected disk on which opposed dual-transducing operations may be carried out. Such arrangements eliminate the need for separate pressure-pads, incorporating them on opposed-heads adapted to transduce on both sides of a record mounted on the ends of respective pivotable flexure-bars. Such cleaner/stabilizers can be opposed, engaged an intermediate record, squeezingly.

Means and methods for improved transducing of flexible disk packs

Disclosed is a method and apparatus whereby each time a tape is wound upon a prescribed reel, the winding pattern may be assumed to leave the array of tape edges in a unique 'edge profile' represented by the position of each winding edge as viewed from one side of the reel along a radial direction--this 'profile' being interpreted as a 'winding signature'; the signature may be detected photo-electrically and recorded in a convenient encoded fashion for possible use in uniquely identifying and documenting each unspooling/rewind sequence to thereby monitor tape use.

Photoelectric tape profile detector for file security

Improved disk pack media for data storage is illustrated as comprising a pack of flexible magnetic recording disks which may be partitioned 'end-wise'. In one embodiment the disks are perforated for partitioning and also stacked in a different respective rotational orientation to facilitate end-wise partitioning. The disks are hole-encoded and either cut in different hole patterns, or else cut in a common hole pattern and stacked to dispose each in a unique rotational 'misregistration' relative to all others--the result being to generate sets of 'partition bores' permitting associated automatic apparatus to selectively partition the pack and expose any desired disk-side for operation thereon. In another embodiment the disks are stacked between apertured spacers about a hollow spindle, the spacers and disks being partition-apertured and stacked to generate a set of partition bores. These bores cooperate with selectably rotatable gas jet means co-rotated on the spindle and adjustably rotated relative the pack to register with a selected one of these bores.

Partitionable record pack

Improved disk drive equipment is illustrated, being characterized by improved partitioning means for partitioning a stack of flexible magnetic recording disks axially (end-wise).

Axial partitioning of disk pack

One embodiment discloses a method and apparatus whereby each time a tape is wound upon a prescribed reel, the winding pattern may be assumed to leave the array of tape edges in a unique 'edge profile' represented by the position of each winding edge as viewed from one side of the reel along a radial direction--this 'profile' being interpreted as a 'winding signature'; the signature may be detected via reflections of an energy beam and recorded in a convenient encoded fashion for possible use in uniquely identifying and documenting each unspooling/rewind sequence to thereby determine whether the tape has been 'unspooled'.

Radiation generation of 'signature' for reeled-web

Improved disk pack media for data storage is illustrated as comprising a pack of flexible magnetic recording disks which may be partitioned 'end-wise'. The disk pack is flanked top and bottom by respective 'dummy packs' and end-plates, the end-plates being formed simply from a stack of contiguous flexible disks.

Partitionable pack with end plates

Techniques and associated apparatus for a magnetic disk transducing system adapted to record along spiral tracks in a Herringbone pattern, using a pair of orthogonal skew gaps, operating in tandem.

Spiral recording and associated system

One embodiment discloses a method and apparatus whereby each time a tape is wound upon a prescribed reel, the winding pattern may be assumed to leave the array of tape edges in a unique 'edge profile' represented by the position of each winding edge as viewed from one side of the reel along a radial direction--this 'profile' being interpreted as a 'winding signature'; the signature may be detected and recorded in a convenient encoded fashion for possible use in uniquely identifying and documenting each unspooling/rewind sequence to thereby monitor tape use.

Electromechanical means for determining signature for reeled web

Improved disk drive equipment is illustrated, being characterized by improved end-wise pneumatic partitioning means for deflecting selected flexible magnetic recording disks and featuring improved 'external' pneumatic partition means for directing partitioning air to be injected end-wise and axially up the pack as a jet stream through bores in the disks and spacers into a gap between any two disks--these bores terminating at respective gaps where the spacer means is radially cut-out to divert the axial air stream to its associated inter-disk gap.

Spacers for end-wise pneumatic partitioned disk pack

Improved disk drive equipment is illustrated, being characterized by improved partitioning apparatus for partitioning flexible magnetic recording disks and featuring improved 'external' distributor apparatus for distributing partitioning air to be injected as a jet stream from the pack-hub region into a gap between any two disks--this apparatus constituting external, rotationally-stabilized jet-select apparatus which avoids the problems and inconvenience of alternate techniques, such as axially positioning a distributor piston within the pack-hub or rotationally positioning (phasing) a rotating jet nozzle relative to the rotating pack.

Jet distributor for end-wise pneumatic partitioning of disk pack

Techniques and associated apparatus for a magnetic disk transducing system adapted to record along spiral tracks in a Herringbone pattern, using a pair of orthogonal skew gaps, operating in tandem. In a preferred embodiment, a pair of commonly mounted heads contemporaneously transduce along two respective spiral oppositely-skewed tracks separated by three (3) track widths.

Dual-track spiral recording and associated system

An improved 'floppy cartridge' is described comprising a jacket especially adapted for containing a pack of flexible disks, this jacket accommodating convenient insertion and withdrawal of the disk pack, while also permitting rotation and associated partitioning of the pack, as well as head-insertion and transducing on a selected disk--all with the pack kept contained within the jacket.

Jacket for floppy pack

Described is a pair of 'compound pz-flexures' mounting, and driving, a magnetic recording transducer for controlled reciprocation, with the flexures under suitable driving voltage, executing 'S-bends' during flexure so as to keep transducer reciprocation relatively rectilinear.

Piezoelectric transducer mounting structure and associated techniques

Disclosed is a method and apparatus whereby each time a tape is wound upon a prescribed reel, the winding pattern may be assumed to leave the array of tape-edges in a unique 'edge profile' represented by the position of each winding edge as viewed from one side of the reel along a radial direction--this 'profile' being interpreted as a 'winding signature'; the signature may be detected and recorded in a convenient encoded fashion for possible use in uniquely identifying and documenting each unspooling/rewind sequence to thereby monitor tape use. Illustrative tape is shown wound on a conventional reel, as well as means for detecting the 'wrap profile' ('edge profile') of the tape edges on the reel.

Computer tape and reel signature for computer data file security

Improved disk drive equipment is illustrated, being characterized by improved partitioning means for partitioning a pack of flexible magnetic recording disks, the partitioning means featuring 'pneumatic commutator' means for distributing air streams to various inter-disk gaps in the pack--this commutator means constituting part of an external, rotationally stabilized jet-select apparatus.

Growing community of inventors

Thousand Oaks, CA, United States of America

Herbert U Ragle