Irregular surfaced tape guide

Abstract

A tape guide that has textured surface over which the tape passes. The textured surface has a surface roughness exceeding the flying height of the tape above the surface. This new irregular surface topography reduces the air bearing and allows limited contact between the tape guide and the tape while minimizing tape distortion that can occur with other surface topographies.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A tape guide, comprising a hub having a textured surface over which a tape passes and spaced apart parallel flanges extending out from the hub, the textured surface of the hub having a surface roughness exceeding a flying height of the tape.  
     
     
         2 . The tape guide of  claim 1 , wherein the surface roughness exceeds 1.0 microns.  
     
     
         3 . The tape guide of  claim 1 , wherein the surface roughness is between 1.0 microns and 3.0 microns.  
     
     
         4 . A tape guide, comprising a hub having a textured surface over which a tape passes and spaced apart parallel flanges extending out from the hub, the surface texture comprising a circumferential texture that includes a series of scratches similar to that achieved by placing sand paper against a turning tape guide with no lateral motion.  
     
     
         5 . The tape guide of  claim 4 , wherein the surface roughness exceeds a flying height of the tape.  
     
     
         6 . The tape guide of  claim 4 , wherein the surface roughness is between 1.0 microns and 3.0 microns.  
     
     
         7 . A tape guide, comprising a hub having a textured surface over which a tape passes and spaced apart parallel flanges extending out from the hub, the surface texture comprising a cross hatched texture that includes an array of crossing scratches similar to that achieved by moving sand paper laterally back and forth against a slowly turning tape guide.  
     
     
         8 . The tape guide of  claim 7 , wherein the surface roughness exceeds a flying height of the tape.  
     
     
         9 . The tape guide of  claim 7 , wherein the surface roughness is between 1.0 microns and 3.0 microns.  
     
     
         10 . A tape guide, comprising a hub having a textured surface over which a tape passes and spaced apart parallel flanges extending out from the hub, the surface texture comprising a sputter texture that includes an array of small bumps similar to that achieved by sputter depositing a texture material on to the surface of the hub.  
     
     
         11 . The tape guide of  claim 10 , wherein the surface roughness exceeds a flying height of the tape.  
     
     
         12 . The tape guide of  claim 10 , wherein the surface roughness is between 1.0 microns and 3.0 microns.  
     
     
         13 . A tape guide, comprising a hub having a textured surface over which a tape passes and spaced apart parallel flanges extending out from the hub, the surface texture comprising a laser texture that includes an array of surface irregularities produced by melting and recrystallizing tiny areas on the surface of the hub surface similar to that achieved with techniques used to produce laser textured recording disks.  
     
     
         14 . The tape guide of  claim 13 , wherein the surface roughness exceeds a flying height of the tape.  
     
     
         15 . The tape guide of  claim 13 , wherein the surface roughness is between 1.0 microns and 3.0 microns.  
     
     
         16 . A tape guide, comprising a hub having a textured surface over which a tape passes and spaced apart parallel flanges extending out from the hub, the surface texture comprising a machined texture that includes a series of ridges on the surface of the hub similar to a knurled surface.  
     
     
         17 . The tape guide of  claim 16 , wherein the surface roughness exceeds a flying height of the tape.  
     
     
         18 . The tape guide of  claim 16 , wherein the surface roughness is between 1.0 microns and 3.0 microns.