A magnetic head for recording and reproducing information on a magnetic tape and the combination of disk drive and a ribbon cartridge compatible with a magnetic disk drive.

摘要

A magnetic head (10) is provided with a primary magnetic gap (121) and first and second auxiliary magnetic gaps (146, 147, 166, 167) on respective sides of the primary magnetic gap (212), all extending transversely with respect to the length of a magnetic tape (22). Each of the first and second auxiliary magnetic gaps (146, 147, 166, 167) is transversely separated into two sections, each having a portion transversely overlapping with the primary magnetic gap (121). One of the first and second auxiliary magnetic heads (146, 147, 166, 167) located at the trailing side with respect to the tape driving direction serves as an erasing head for erasing part of the information recorded by means of the primary magnetic gap (121).