The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 23, 2000
Filed:
Apr. 03, 1996
Alex Chliwnyj, Tucson, AZ (US);
John Raymond Haider, Tucson, AZ (US);
James Charles Simkins, Tucson, AZ (US);
Loyal Keith Whitted, Tucson, AZ (US);
Will Allen Wright, Oro Valley, AZ (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
The present invention provides a cleaning apparatus for cleaning the air bearing surface of a magnetic head of a tape drive by employing components of an actuator for oscillating the magnetic head against bristles of a brush assembly. Circuitry is provided which senses the appropriate time to commence the cleaning action and continues the cleaning action for an appropriate duration when the magnetic tape is off the magnetic head. The circuitry causes the actuator to move the magnetic head in oscillatory motion against stationary bristles of a brush assembly which are selectively brought into engagement with the magnetic head. The engagement and disengagement of the bristles with respect to the magnetic head are implemented by a lever arm which has camming surfaces which are engageable with a leader pin which moves a leader block and magnetic tape about a guide and across the magnetic head.