OPTICAL TAPE DRIVE MOVABLE PLANARIZATION DEVICE SUBSYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MINIMIZING DAMAGE TO OPTICAL PICKUP UNIT

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a movable planarization device subsystem in an optical tape drive system.SOLUTION: In an optical tape drive system, a movable planarization device subsystem (16) includes a tape planarization device support structure (28) for supporting an optical tape planarization device (10). The support structure (28) is movable between an operational position and a non-operational position. The movable planarization device subsystem (16) further includes an actuator (36) for moving the support structure (28) and the optical tape planarization device (10) between the operational position and the non-operational position. The operational position of the support structure (28) positions the optical tape planarization device (10) so as to enable reading/writing of information in an optical tape (18) via an optical pickup unit (OPU), and the non-operational position of the support structure (28) positions the optical tape planarization device (10) so as to enable passage of a tape leader (34) via the tape drive system without damage to the OPU.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2a