Patent ID: 7306181

Claim:
A tape guide for use in routing a tape media along a prespecified path of travel, said tape guide comprising: a central component comprising a conical section having an axis and first and second ends in spaced apart relationship; and first and second end components joined to said first and second ends respectively, of said central components to collectively form an integral structure disposed to engage a side of said tape as it moves along the path of travel; wherein said first end component is configured to apply a first force to said tape, to urge said tape along said axis toward said second end component and away from an edge member of said first component; wherein said second end component is configured to apply a second force to said tape that is directed in opposition to said first force, the collective effect of said first and second forces tending to urge said tape to an equilibrium position that substantially avoids contact between said end member and an edge of said tape; wherein said first end component is configured to apply a first force to said tape that increases as said tape moves along said axis toward said end member, said first force increasing as a non-linear function of the position of said tape along said axis; wherein said first end component is provided with a concave outer surface extending along said axis from said central component, and curving outwardly therefrom to said edge member, the curvature of said outer surface providing said non-linear function associated with said first force; wherein said axis is vertically oriented, said first and second end components are located above and below said central component, respectively, and said components are aligned in coaxial relationship with one another; wherein said second end component is configured to apply a second force to said tape that increases as said tape moves downwardly along said axis, said second force increasing as a linear function of the position of said tape along said axis; wherein said second end component comprises a frustoconical section having a tapered outer surface, the smaller diameter end of said frustoconical section being fixably joined in contiguous relationship with said second end of said central component; wherein as said tape moves along its path of travel, said first force is generated by a first air bearing, formed between said concave outer surface and said tape, and said second force is generated by a second air bearing, formed between said tapered outer surface and said tape; wherein said first and second air bearings collectively act to enable only a comparatively small portion of said tape, measured along its width, to contact the surface of said integral structure as said tape moves along its path of travel; and wherein grooves are formed in the outer surface of said central component, in order to bleed air away from the joint between said central component and any portion of the tape in engagement therewith, and to thereby decouple said first and second air bearings from one another.