Bi-directional read while write magnetic head assembly having a wear

Abstract

A bi-directional magnetic head assembly comprises a first write head adjacent to a read head, adjacent to a second write head. The three heads are in-line, so that the tape engages one or the other write head followed by the read head for either direction of tape motion. The central read head has slots on either side of its transducing region for skiving of entrained air and debris from the tape before the tape engages the transducing element of the read head for either direction of tape travel. On the other hand, each write head has only a single slot for skiving entrained air and debris; a slot being located in each write head structure outboard from the write transducing gap. In reading while writing during bi-directional operation, the write head first approached by the tape for a given direction of motion is the active, writing head. Because the slot is on the outboard side of each write head structure, skiving action occurs prior to the tape reaching the active write transducing gap. However, after the tape successively passes over the writing head and read head, it approaches the second, presently inactive write head from the inboard side of the second write head structure. The approach to the head gap from this direction is over a gently curved, unslotted portion of the second write head. Attendantly, there is minimal skiving action, and entrained air causes the tape to fly without substantially contacting the inactive write structure.