Patent ID: 7420781

Claim:
A head actuator assembly for a tape drive, comprising: a coarse positioner base assembly; first and second shafts vertically mounted at first ends on the coarse positioner assembly; a third threaded shaft extending vertically from the coarse positioner assembly; a motor assembly coupled to, and configured to rotate, the third threaded shaft; and a coarse positioner base configured to carry a head carriage assembly and voice coil holder, the coarse positioner base having at least first and second bores and at least first and second bushings respectively in the first and second bores, the coarse positioner base being vertically and linearly slidably mounted on the first and second shafts such that the first and second shafts respectively extend through the first and second bushings and the first and second bores, the first and second shafts having substantially smooth surfaces where the first and second shafts contact the first and second bushings respectively, the coarse positioner base further including a threaded bore through which the third threaded shaft extends and engages the threaded bore to cause the coarse positioner base to move vertically along the first and second shafts as the third threaded shaft rotates.