Abstract: An improved read/write head carriage assembly for use with a floppy disk recorder including a rigidly mounted head-carrying arm, a pivotally mounted head-carrying arm, a damper assembly for limiting the excursion and damping the motion of the pivotally mounted arm, and a pair of protective sleds, each affixed to an arm.

Abstract: A positioning mechanism for a read/write head of recording/playback machine of the type utilizing discs upon which information is magnetically stored in concentric tracks includes a stationary guide member, a carriage which is connected to the guide member and which carries a read/write head for compliance to the surface of a disc upon which information is magnetically stored, a single capstan member which is driven to rotate incrementally from one angular position to another, and a flexible nonstretchable band which is wound at least once about the capstan and which has opposite ends extending from the capstan to connection to the carriage. During the period of rotation of the capstan, one end portion of the band is fed off the capstan while the opposite end portion is concommitantly wound onto the capstan; the tension exerted by the end portion which is wound onto the capstan draws the carriage member into motion relative to the guide member.

Abstract: A method of inspecting the skew angle of the transducing gap of a magnetic head in a disk drive having a rotatable spindle, a lead screw rotatably mounted to a motor and carrying a carriage with a magnetic head affixed thereto, the magnetic head having a transducing gap that is disposed in a transducing relationship relative to bits of information on a disk and that is skewed at an angle relative to a radial line of the disk, the magnetic head serving to produce a read signal having an amplitude corresponding to the skew angle and to the acute angle of the bits.

Abstract: An apparatus for clamping and driving a flexible disc for use with a rotatable spindle having a generally conical portion forming a camming surface, and a general cylindrical portion forming a first disc clamping surface and a disc registration surface, the apparatus comprising a generally annular hub having a plurality of stops and being rotatable about and movable along an axis, a plurality of fingers hingedly connected to the outer periphery of the hub, each of the fingers including a second disc clamping surface and a registration engaging surface, a circular spring for biasing the fingers radially inwardly against the stops such that the second disc clamping surfaces form a ring that contacts the camming surface when the hub is moved into engagement with the spindle, and a lifter for carrying the hub assembly and for moving it along the axis, whereby when the disc is loaded between the spindle and the hub and the lifter moves the hub along the axis such that the ring contacts the spindle, continued axial

Abstract: A flexible magnetic disc drive apparatus comprising a housing including a front plate, a drive spindle rotatably mounted to the housing for rotatably driving a magnetic disc, an elongated frame including opposed rails, opposed first and second ends, and a crossbar extending between the rails and forming a stop, the frame being disposed over the spindle with its second end pivotally mounted to the housing, a latch hingedly mounted to the first end and coupled to the front plate such that the latch is movable between a closed and an open position, a spindle-clamping assembly, an elongated member formed of a resilient material and mounted to the frame proximate the first end such that its distal end is adapted to be engaged by the crossbar when the latch is moved to the open position, the member serving to carry the spindle-clamping assembly and to bias it towards the spindle, whereby when the disc is supported on the spindle and the latch is in the closed position, the member biases the spindle-clamping assembl

Abstract: An improved magnetic read/write head-positioning apparatus including a cantilevered lead screw head carriage-driving mechanism and a damping assembly for damping any transverse motion of the unsupported end of the lead screw. The damping assembly includes a leaf spring having one end affixed to the supporting frame and the other end positioned opposite the unsupported end of the lead screw, and a slider button disposed between the leaf spring and the unsupported lead screw end and carried by the lead screw so as to frictionally engage the leaf spring and cause a force to be exerted on the unsupported lead screw end tending to resist any transverse motion thereof.

Abstract: A playback circuit for use with a magnetic recording transducer, in a magnetic recording apparatus, the transducer developing an alternating current readback signal having alternating positive and negative peaks, the playback circuit comprising a differentiator responsive to the readback signal and operative to produce a differentiated signal having first and second polarities and having zero crossings in time coincidence with the positive and negative peaks, a bidirectional one-shot device responsive to the differentiated signal and operative to produce a first bistate signal having transitions in time coincidence with the zero crossings and to produce a second signal comprising a sequence of pulses having leading edges that correspond in time to the zero crossings and having trailing edges that lag the leading edges by a predetermined time interval, a latch for producing a third signal having transitions that correspond in time to the trailing edges and having a level that corresponds to the level of the fi

Abstract: A magnetic head assembly and the method of manufacture therefor comprising a generally cylindrical housing having a tapered portion at one end thereof terminating in a circular aperture having an inner diameter, a circular slider body having an outer diameter slightly less than the inner diameter, a media engaging surface and an internal surface and being disposed within the circular aperture and affixed to the housing. The body also includes a first elongated slot disposed along a first diameter and extending through the body, a second slot disposed along a second diameter normal to the first diameter and extending into the body from the internal surface, and a central aperture extending through the body at the intersection of the first and second slots. A read/write transducer has a pair of read/write pole pieces which are separated to provide a read/write gap and which extend into the first slot with the read/write gap positioned with the central aperture.

Abstract: A line printer which comprises a frame, a hammer bank secured to the frame, the hammer bank including a plurality of hammers, a ribbon that is movable past the hammers, a recirculating character belt which comprises a plurality of characters, and a band gate having an adjustable pulley arrangement for removably carrying the character belt. The band gate is pivotally mounted to the frame in such a manner that the distance between the hammers and the characters is adjustable to accommodate paper of varying thicknesses. A phasing circuit controls the firing of the hammers. An adjustable paper feed mechanism controls the positioning of continuous paper form as it passes through the print line, and a stepping motor controls the paper feed mechanism to provie 6 or 8 print lines per inch in such a manner as to reduce the time required to advance the paper to the next print line.

Abstract: A print hammer apparatus is disclosed which comprises a resilient member having a fixed end and a movable end, the movable end being movable between a cocked position and a striking position, a hammer affixed to the movable end and carried thereby over an arcuate path between the cocked position and the striking position, the hammer including an impact head at one end and a flag member at the other end, the flag member being of magnetic material and having a flag face with a surface which is at all points angularly disposed at an angle other than normal to the path, a stator pole piece having a pole face which matingly corresponds to the flag face, a magnetic side pole disposed laterally of the path, a permanent magnet coupled to the pole piece and to the side pole and operative to develop a magnetic force for causing the hammer to move against the influence of the resilient member and into the cocked position with the flag face engaging the pole face, and a coil disposed on the pole piece for momentarily dev

Abstract: Character belt apparatus for use on a line printer and including a thin, flexible metal belt formed into an endless band for carrying replaceable character slugs affixed thereto at regular intervals. Each character slug has a front side on which an alphanumeric character is provided and a rear side which is recessed in a particular manner so as to mate with a mounting and fastening element that is itself affixed to the belt by spot welding or the like. Although the fastening mechanism of the element may vary from embodiment to embodiment, in each case the matingly engaging surfaces of the element and slug provide for accurate positioning of the slug relative to the belt in both the longitudinal and transverse belt directions. In one embodiment a screw is used to fasten the slug in registration with a nut type element plate. In second and third embodiments, spring clip type elements mount and affix specially adapted character slugs to the belt.