Quantum Audio Travan 40 Tape Drive STT3401A - Manual (Page 128)

Chapter 7 Theory of operations
Page 120 Seagate Travan 40 Product Manual
Drive mechanisms
This section generally describes the hardware design features of the Seagate Travan
40 drive. You may want to refer to the block diagrams referenced previously as you
read this information.
Mechanics
The mechanical package for the Travan 40 drive was designed to provide you with
all the advantages of easy cartridge loading and unloading while maintaining the
positioning accuracy necessary for high-density data recording. The orientation of the
cartridge is the same as the majority of Travan minicartridge drives in the field.
Cartridge-load mechanism
The cartridge is inserted in the drive by sliding it through the aperture in the bezel
and into a tray mechanism. When fully inserted the back portion of the cartridge
protrudes about 3/4-inch from the aperture. A switch is actuated at this point that
causes a microprocessor to complete the loading operation.
When the tape is in motion, the green LED on the front panel flashes. The LED is not
lit when the tape is positioned at BOT.
Capstan/drive-motor assembly
In the Travan drive, the capstan/belt motor assembly drives the cartridge, which is on
a linear slide. The cartridge is loaded against the cartridge drive roller, which exerts a
net radial dynamic force of 17 to 19 ounces. The motor is a brushless DC drive
motor with integral capstan, which is designed to provide maximum reliability.
The motor operates from the 12V nominal supply and moves the tape at speeds
from 56 to 110 inches per second (IPS).
Chassis
The drive mechanism is mounted in a molded frame that provides the mounting
holes for the industry standard 3.5-inch by 1-inch form factor. A 5.25-inch mounting
kit is an available option. The bezel is a simple snap-on design that is available in
several standard and custom colors. The front-panel LED is green and indicates tape
activity.
Control circuits
The control logic module shown in Figure 18 includes a buffer manager to handle
data movement between the controller, the buffer, and the tape formatter. This
module also includes logic to perform ECC and CRC generation and testing,
WRITE/READ data formatting, head stepper control, and drive motor control.
The microprocessor directs all functions performed by the control logic. The
instructions are read from a flash EEPROM, which can be updated with new
firmware through a specially written tape cartridge.