An apparatus, in accordance with one approach, includes a receiving area configured to receive a plurality of tape spool pairs. A drive mechanism is configured to selectively drive the tape spool pairs. A magnetic head configured to perform data operations on magnetic recording tapes of the tape spool pairs is also present. A positioning mechanism is configured to selectively align the magnetic head to a selected one of the tape spool pairs. An engagement mechanism is configured to create a relative movement between the magnetic head and the magnetic recording tape of the selected tape spool pair for engaging the magnetic recording tape with the magnetic head. A controller is configured to instruct the drive mechanism to drive the selected tape spool pair during performance of data operations on the selected tape spool pair, and to instruct the drive mechanism to drive a second tape spool pair for performing a second operation on the second tape spool pair while the data operations are being performed.

A computer-implemented method, according to one embodiment, includes: receiving a first timestamp in response to a first servo reader detecting a stripe of a first servo burst on the magnetic tape, and receiving a second timestamp in response to a second servo reader detecting a stripe of a second servo burst on the magnetic tape. A third timestamp is received in response to the first servo reader detecting a stripe of a third servo burst on the magnetic tape, while a fourth timestamp is received in response to the second servo reader detecting a stripe of a fourth servo burst on the magnetic tape. The first, second, third, and fourth timestamps are used to determine the skew of the magnetic tape. Further still, the first and third servo bursts are in a same first servo sub-frame, while the second and fourth servo bursts are in a same second servo sub-frame.

An apparatus, in accordance with one approach, includes a receiving area configured to receive a plurality of tape spool pairs. A drive mechanism is configured to selectively drive the tape spool pairs. A magnetic head configured to perform data operations on magnetic recording tapes of the tape spool pairs is also present. A positioning mechanism is configured to selectively align the magnetic head to a selected one of the tape spool pairs. An engagement mechanism is configured to create a relative movement between the magnetic head and the magnetic recording tape of the selected tape spool pair for engaging the magnetic recording tape with the magnetic head.

A storage system can include a first tape storage drive (TSD), a second TSD, and a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) where the first and second TSD are coupled back-to-back, with the PCBA between the two. The first TSD can include a first enclosure, a first head assembly, a first actuator, and a first connector. The second TSD can include a second enclosure, a second head assembly, a second actuator, and a second connector. The PCBA can include a first side having a first mating connector configured to connect to the first connector for the first TSD, a second side opposite the first side, the second side having a second mating connector configured to connect to the second connector for the second TSD, and a controller configured to control activation of the first actuator of the first TSD and the second actuator of the second TSD.

An apparatus, in accordance with one approach, includes a receiving area configured to receive a plurality of tape spool pairs. A drive mechanism is configured to selectively drive the tape spool pairs. A magnetic head configured to perform data operations on magnetic recording tapes of the tape spool pairs is also present. A positioning mechanism is configured to selectively align the magnetic head to a selected one of the tape spool pairs. An engagement mechanism is configured to create a relative movement between the magnetic head and the magnetic recording tape of the selected tape spool pair for engaging the magnetic recording tape with the magnetic head.

An apparatus, in accordance with one approach, includes a receiving area configured to receive a plurality of tape spool pairs. A drive mechanism is configured to selectively drive the tape spool pairs. A magnetic head configured to perform data operations on magnetic recording tapes of the tape spool pairs is also present. A positioning mechanism is configured to selectively align the magnetic head to a selected one of the tape spool pairs. An engagement mechanism is configured to create a relative movement between the magnetic head and the magnetic recording tape of the selected tape spool pair for engaging the magnetic recording tape with the magnetic head. A controller is configured to instruct the drive mechanism to drive the selected tape spool pair during performance of data operations on the selected tape spool pair, and to instruct the drive mechanism to drive a second tape spool pair for performing a second operation on the second tape spool pair while the data operations are being performed

A head driving device includes an actuator assembly driving a head member in a width direction of tape. The head driving device includes a first end support beam, a second end support beam, a first skew driving piezoelectric unit, and a second skew driving piezoelectric unit. The first end support beam is arranged between a first end portion of the head member in a length direction and a base member. The second end support beam is arranged between a second end portion of the head member in the length direction and the base member. The first skew driving piezoelectric unit and the second skew driving piezoelectric unit drive the head member around the Z-axis.

A head driving device includes an actuator assembly driving a head member in a width direction of tape. The head driving device includes a first end support beam, a second end support beam, a first skew driving piezoelectric unit, and a second skew driving piezoelectric unit. The first end support beam is arranged between a first end portion of the head member in a length direction and a base member. The second end support beam is arranged between a second end portion of the head member in the length direction and the base member. The first skew driving piezoelectric unit and the second skew driving piezoelectric unit drive the head member around the Z-axis.

A head driving device moving a head member relative to tape as a recording medium. The head driving device includes a base member including a first frame portion and a second frame portion, and a head supporting member supporting the head member. A first end support beam is arranged between a first end portion of the head member in a length direction and the base member, and a first skew driving piezoelectric unit including piezoelectric elements for driving the head member is arranged in the first end support beam.

The present disclosure generally relates to a captive tape drive comprising a tape head. The captive drive comprises an upper assembly, the upper assembly comprising a first tape, a first supply reel, a first take-up reel, and two or more rollers. The captive tape drive further comprises a lower assembly disposed below the upper assembly, the lower assembly comprising a second tape, a second supply reel, a second take-up reel, and two or more rollers. The tape head is disposed between the plurality of rollers, and is configured to move between the upper assembly and the lower assembly to access the first and second tapes. The tape head comprises one or more modules, each module comprising 64 writers and 64 readers. Each module is configured to write data to the first and second tapes using the 64 writers and to read verify the newly written data using the 64 readers.