transport include the tape transport power on/off switch,
address select switch, write enable switch, load tape
switch, unload tape switch, ready indicator, select
switch, BOT and EOT indicators, and tape movement
switches.
MAINTENANCE PANEL. —The maintenance
panel, as shown in figure 9-18, contains the controls and
indicators used for manual offline operation and testing
of the MTU.
MAGNETIC TAPE TRANSPORT
(MTT)
The magnetic tape transport (MTT) contains all the
electromechanical components necessary for the
physical handling of the magnetic tape. These
components include:
Reel and capstan drive motors
Tape guides
Reels and hubs
Sensors (BOT/EOT, write protection, low tape,
and so on)
Vacuum columns
Read/write and erase heads
The tape transport commonly
following functions:
performs the
Automatic tape loading/unloading
Bidirectional movement of magnetic tape
(forward, reverse, or rewind)
Sensing of BOT/EOT markers, write-enabling
rings, low tape, and so on
Writing multitrack data on tape
Reading multitrack data from tape
Basic Tape Transport Operation
Movement of tape on a tape transport is dependent
on the tape reels, the vacuum columns, and the capstan.
Figure 9-18.—An MTU maintenance panel.
9-15
