Patent ID: 7256964

Claim:
A magnetic tape apparatus for recording and/or reproducing information on a magnetic tape, the apparatus comprising: a drum comprising: a stationary drum portion including a sliding portion against which the magnetic tape is in sliding contact during operation of the apparatus; and a rotary drum portion rotatably connected to said stationary drum portion by a shaft, the rotary drum portion including a magnetic head for recording and/or reproducing information on said magnetic tape; wherein said sliding portion has a generally flat portion formed around a circumferential surface of said sliding portion so that the generally flat portion is substantially parallel to a sliding contact surface of said magnetic tape, and has plurality or peak portions formed around tho circumferential surface of the sliding portion so that said peak portions protrude from said fiat portion at a predetermined pitch; wherein said flat portion and said peak portions are formed so as to extend generally circumferentially around the stationary drum and to be substantially parallel to a lead formed in said stationary drum for guiding the magnetic tape as it slides along the sliding portion of the drum; wherein a surface roughness Rmax, defined as a maximum height of the peak portions, is between about 0.5 μm and about 2.0 μm; and wherein a width of said flat portion is between about 10 μm and about 230 μm.