Patent ID: 6157516
Filing Date: 2000-12-05
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
A shutter/head assembly for reducing electrostatic discharge (ESD) damage to a read/write (R/W) head attached to said shutter/head assembly, said R/W head being configured to perform one of a storage operation and a retrieval operation on data stored on a tape/leader ribbon, comprising:a lead screw;a head housing configured to be coupled to said R/W head, said head housing being rotatably coupled to said lead screw;a shutter rotatably coupled to one of said lead screw and said head housing, said shutter being configured to be rotatable independently of said head housing, said shutter being configured to be disposed in a first radial position between said R/W head and said tape/leader ribbon when said shutter is brought toward a first linear position by said lead screw, said shutter being configured to be disposed in a second radial position that is away from between said R/W head and said tape/leader ribbon when said shutter is brought by said lead screw toward a second linear position that is different from said first linear position.