Magnetkopfpositionierungsmechanismus mit einer selbstzentrierenden Verstellschraubenspindel

摘要

A magnetic head positioning mechanism for a tape backup device includes a carriage carrying the head that has an opening with a substantially conical surface, a guide rod extending through the carriage that restricts translation of the carriage to motion along a predetermined axis, a lead screw extending into the opening in the carriage that is driven by a stepper motor via a gear train, a follower nut threaded on the upper portion of the lead screw for translating the carriage and head along the axis as the lead screw is rotated by the stepper motor, and a spring for urging the carriage into contact with the follower nut. The base end of the lead screw has a conical indentation that contacts and rotates on the rounded end of a protrusion extending from the chassis. The relative positions of this indentation and protrusion can be reversed, if desired. The follower nut includes a rounded (or spherical) surface for contacting the conical surface within the opening in the carriage. The combination of the conical indentation at the base of the lead screw and the rounded surface on the follower nut at the upper portion of the lead screw allows the lead screw to pivot and self-align. This relaxes the required tolerances for alignment and simplifies assembly of the device.