Gary W Collins
Engineers at Idylwild Trl, Boulder, CO

6381096, Apr 30, 2002

Dec 2, 1999

09/452712

Gary W. Collins - Boulder CO

Storage Technology Corporation - Louisville CO

G11B 1564

36013021, 2423461

A tape transport system for positioning magnetic tape moving over a tape head is provided. The tape system includes at least one air bearing having a sinuous surface over which travels one side of the tape and a mating sinuous surface over which travels the other side of the tape. The sinuous surfaces each have openings through which air is forced. As the tape passes through the bearing, the tape is stiffened, permitting the tape to be precisely guided over the tape head.

6710968, Mar 23, 2004

Dec 2, 1999

09/453244

Gary W. Collins - Boulder CO

Storage Technology Corporation - Louisville CO

G11B 5008

360 83

A tape transport system includes two reels. Each reel has a pair of parallel flanges between which the tape is held. A tape head with a tape contact surface over read elements and write elements is positioned between the reels such that tape extends from one reel, over the contact surface, and to the other reel. The contact surface is curved so that tape is in contact with different regions of the contact surface based on the amount of tape on each reel.

6498699, Dec 24, 2002

Dec 2, 1999

09/453245

Gary W. Collins - Boulder CO

Storage Technology Corporation - Louisville CO

G11B 1526

360 90

A tape transport system for positioning magnetic tape moving over a tape head is provided. The tape system includes a carrier ribbon having a width equal to the tape width. Passages through the carrier ribbon permit air, such as might otherwise trapped between the magnetic tape and the carrier ribbon, to pass through the carrier ribbon. At least one carrier ribbon guide is positioned on either side of the tape head. Each carrier ribbon guide has a channel of substantially the same width as the carrier ribbon for positioning the magnetic tape and the carrier ribbon across the tape head. A ribbon drive moves the carrier ribbon past the ribbon guides.

6535349, Mar 18, 2003

Dec 2, 1999

09/452704

Gary W. Collins - Boulder CO

Storage Technology Corporation - Louisville CO

G11B 548

360 963

A tape transport system includes two hubs within an enclosure having smooth interior surfaces. A tape head is positioned between the tape hubs so that the magnetic tape travels between the tape hubs and over a tape head contact surface. The tape head moves laterally in a direction parallel to the direction of tape travel based on the amount of magnetic tape held on at least one of the hubs.

4583213, Apr 15, 1986

Jul 6, 1984

6/628198

Allen T. Bracken - Boulder CO
Harold A. Lunka - Boulder CO
William J. Benker - Adams CO
Howard A. Snyder - Boulder CO
Gary W. Collins - Boulder CO

Storage Technology Partners II - Louisville CO

G11B 2504, G11B 2302

369261

An air shroud is disclosed for reducing vibration of the disk storage medium and controlling contamination in the environment above the disk in an optical disk data recording system. The shroud is placed over the rotating disk and pressurized air is forced into the center of the air space between the shroud and the disk where it moves from the center to the outside edge in a laminar flow. The shroud includes a circular plate with a slot for allowing the laser read/write beam to shine through the shroud and contact the surface of the disk for reading and writing data on the disk. An air duct is mounted around a center hole of the circular plate to distribute the pressurized air into the air space and a flange is mounted on the outer edge of the circular plate to reduce turbulence in the air flowing across the disk.

6270031, Aug 7, 2001

Dec 2, 1999

9/452784

Gary W. Collins - Boulder CO

Storage Technology Corporation - Louisville CO

G03B 104

242358

A tape transport system includes two tape reels, each having a pair of flanges between which the tape is held. The parallel flange pairs position the tape in a direction normal to tape travel across the tape head contact surface. A cam guide is associated with each reel. Each cam guide has a curved surface over which the magnetic tape travels. The curved surface is positioned between the reel flange pair based on the amount of tape wound on the tape reel. The cam is positioned so that magnetic tape contacts the tape head contact surface at substantially the same location for any amount of tape wound on the tape reel.

6283396, Sep 4, 2001

Dec 2, 1999

9/453434

Gary W. Collins - Boulder CO

Storage Technology Corporation - Louisville CO

G03B 104

242354

A tape transport system for positioning magnetic tape over a tape head includes a carrier ribbon with edges defining a channel for carrying the tape. Ribbon guides bring the carrier ribbon into contact with the tape as the tape moves near the tape head. A separation guide is positioned to allow the tape to separate from the carrier ribbon as the tape passes the tape head.