Patent ID: 6906890

Claim:
A tape transport apparatus adapted to receive a tape medium and to transport the tape medium in a transport direction in order to read/write data thereon, comprising: a. a transducer operative to read/write data on the tape medium; b. a plurality of air bearings each positioned on a respective side of said transducer and having a respective air bearing surface; c. a tape cartridge for storing said tape medium, said tape cartridge including: (i) a housing having an inlet port and an outlet port; and (ii) a filter interposed in the housing between said inlet and outlet ports; d. an air pump interposed in fluid communication between said outlet port and each respective air bearing surface, said air pump operative to draw ambient air through said filter via said inlet port to produce filtered air and to direct the filtered air through each respective air bearing surface to produce a cushion of air, and e. a tape drive operative to advance the tape medium in the transport direction across said air bearings and said transducer such that said tape medium is supported on said cushion of air.