Rotary air bearing head with leading edge controlling air bearing

摘要

In a helical drive tape apparatus, a rotary head drum is disposed between two sections of a split cylindrical mandrel about which a magnetic tape is guided. The head drum supports at least one magnetic transducer at its periphery, so that the total diameter of the head drum and projecting transducer is greater than the diameter of the adjacent mandrel sections. The projecting transducer has a spherical contoured portion and is configured at its leading edge, relative to the moving tape, to form an air bearing between the head and the tape. The spherical contoured portion and configured leading edge both project beyond the outer surface of the mandrel relative to the tape.