Abstract: A cassette of cleaning tape for cleaning the driving, play-back and recording components of a magnetic tape apparatus. The cleaning cassette has a tape and a roller rotatably supported in the cassette housing having a core of absorbent material adapted to be impregnated with cleaning liquid, and absorbent material exposed on a portion of the surface of the roller for applying liquid to wet a surface of the tape intermittently as the tape is moved in the cassette, the intermittent liquid application preventing the tape from sticking to components as the tape is driven through the magnetic tape apparatus being cleaned.

Abstract: A video cassette adapter allowing a miniature cassette to be played in conventional video apparatus is disclosed. The adapter has the outer shape and dimensions of a standard, large size video cassette and has a cut-out portion in one face for receiving a miniature cassette having spools and recording tape extending therebetween normally in a small loop. Guide rollers are mounted on pivotable arms movable by a motor in the adapter for forming a large loop of the recording tape of a miniature cassette in the cut-out portion with a section of the large loop extending along a straight elongated path. Hubs are rotatably mounted for access through a face thereof by and for cooperation with spindles of a video apparatus and connected to rotate the miniature cassette spools to transfer recording tape along the path of the large loop.

Abstract: Apparatus for recording and/or playback of recordings on discs including a selective disc changer suited particularly for discs of the "compact disc" type. The playback unit has a housing mounted for helicoidal movement between a disc operating plane and an entrance plane for receiving a disc inserted edgewise and rolling into the housing along the entrance plane. A removable magazine provides a plurality of disc storage compartments arranged side by side and successively movable into alignment with the entrance plane, the magazine being received on a tray mounted on the chassis of the apparatus. The magazine is locked against being removed from the tray responsive to transfer of a disc from a storage compartment of the magazine to ensure that the magazine is locked against removal from the time that one of the discs stored in a compartment of the magazine has left its storage position until it is returned to the magazine compartment.

Abstract: A laser disk record player particularly adapted for mobile applications such as in portable players and automobile mounted players. The player is provided with locking means for preventing free movement of the laser carrying scanning assembly when the player is switched off, thereby to prevent excessive wear or accidental damage caused by random acceleration of the normally free arm. With the record player in the load position, the locking means engages the scanning assembly to prevent motion thereof. When a disk is inserted and the player is switched to the play position, means are provided for automatically freeing the locking means thereby to allow the control circuit of the laser player to take over positioning of the arm.

Abstract: A magnetic clamping device for a disc player inherently moves to and is levitated in a resting position when the player housing and spindle are oriented for disc insertion, and moves to and is sustained in a clamping position when the player and housing are oriented for disc playing. The magnetic clamping device changes its position during a time when the centering hub of a spindle engages with the central aperture of the disc, so that the clamping device is always in its resting position when a disc is inserted or ejected, thereby eliminating scratching of the critical surfaces of the disc by the adjacent surface or edge of the magnetic clamping device. Preferably the magnetic clamping device has an annular permanent magnet with multiple pairs of poles disposed about the circumference of the annulus. A flux shorting washer of magnetically permeable material is secured to the top of the annulus so that the magnetic flux from the permanent magnet is emitted from the bottom of the annulus.

Abstract: A record disc player apparatus has a frame including an entrance for a disc inserted through the entrance to a loading position, the disc being movable from the loading position to a playing position in an operating plane. A drive spindle mounted perpendicularly relative to the operating plane and aligned with the center of a disc in loading position is driven by a drive motor having a wound stator, a permanent magnet rotor, and a drive shaft mounted for movement axially of the spindle from a disc loading position in which the rotor is offset from the stator to a disc playing position in which the rotor is proximate to and rotated by the magnetic field of the stator. The stator of the motor is formed as a printed circuit on a board.

Abstract: A suspension system provides a motion damping mounting for carrying a record playback machine comprising a plurality of damping ring assemblies, each having an elastic ring for fastening between a machine and a support, the rings being flattened when secured such that opposite segments of each ring extend substantially straight and parallel such that a component of stress applied to the machine in the direction of the straight segments produces limited rolling movement of a flattened ring, which damps motion of the playback machine in the direction of the straight segments of the flattened ring, the flattened ring also damping motion of the machine vertically and laterally relative to the direction of the straight segments. According to this invention, the damping assembly includes a ring and mounting plates or clips and fasteners for securing the ring to the machine or the support.

Abstract: The disclosure describes a mechanism for loading and unloading cassettes or discs comprising a main frame, spaced side plates fixed on the main frame and having inverted L slots, and a movable frame between these side plates providing a magazine for a cassette or disc. The mechanism further comprises lateral members on the movable frame engaged in the inverted L slots and movable side plates associated with the fixed side plates and mounted on the main frame for rectilinear movement. The movable side plates have inclined slots which receive the lateral members. Further, the mechanism comprises a structure such as a rack and gear arrangement which interconnects the movable side plates for movement in unison. The inclined slots in the movable side plates act to guide the lateral members and the movable frame in a path defined by the inverted L slots between ejected and operating positions of the cassette or disc.

Abstract: A miniature cassette is disclosed comprising a casing having two rotatable spools for storing magnetic tape, guide rollers mounted in the casing for guiding the tape in different paths between the spools, and apertures in the end walls of the casing allowing the tape to exit from and enter into the casing along different paths between the spools wherein one of the paths is substantially perpendicular to the end walls of the casing.

Abstract: A photographic camera converting a captured optical image to a series of electronic signals is disclosed comprising a recording mechanism to record these signals including a recording head which executes transverse scanning movements with reference to a magnetic record medium so that at least one scanning movement corresponds to each image. The magnetic record medium is contained within a cassette that is removable from the camera body.

Abstract: A record player apparatus with a laser reproduction unit and a movable support for moving the reproduction unit across the surface of a record as the record is rotated during a playing operation to position the reproduction unit to reproduce recordings in tracks on the records has a non-volatile memory unit for storing identification information read by the reproduction unit from tracks on the records which retains the information when the power supply is cut off and the reproducing is interrupted while the record is being rotated during a playing operation and has a mechanism for locating the reproduction unit in the position occupied when the power supply was cut off to resume the reproducing at the point of interruption when the power supply is reconnected.

Abstract: A loading and unloading device for compact discs includes a disc support movably mounted by means of a plurality of lateral studs which are received in straight slots provided in elements fastened to the fixed frame. The straight slots are parallel to the axis of the drive members for the compact discs and guide the discs in the requisite axial movement. A ring member driven through a restricted rotational distance is utilized for shifting the compact disc support in the axial direction of the compact disc, the ring member having oblique slots receiving the lateral studs and effective upon rotational movement of the ring member in one direction or the other to move each stud along the guide slots to shift the compact disc support in one direction or the other between the loading and operating positions of the recording disc.

Abstract: A record player having a mechanism for guiding and centering records of different sizes on a driving spindle. Two pairs of levers are mounted on a record carrier at diametrically opposed positions. The levers have generally circular hubs mounted on pivots carried by the record support and extending arms including record engaging studs. Insertion of a record engages the studs to pivot the arms which guide the record to a centered position. Alignment of slots in the hubs of at least one of the pairs of levers sense the proper positioning of the record and trigger the player to rotate the record carrier from the load to the play position.

Abstract: A disc or record cleaning device especially for laser-read discs having digital recordings is provided in a disc storage container and incorporates a cleaning member with which the disc or record is brought into contact so as to clean the disc by a relative movement with respect to the cleaning member. The cleaning member is a fibrous pad and is either fixed and the disc rotated or the disc is held stationary and the cleaning pad rotated or translated. The storage container is provided by sections movable relative to one another, either articulated about a common pivot or translatable. The relative movement of the sections is coupled to move the disc and cleaning member relatively for cleaning the disc.

Abstract: A disc cleaning device is provided in an apparatus for transferring information to or from a disc, which apparatus includes a base, means for rotating the disc, and means for transferring information to or from the disc, the information transferring means held by an arm movably mounted on the base, the disc cleaning device comprising means for cleaning the disc mounted rotatably on the arm, means for operatively associating the disc cleaning means with a surface of the disc when the information transferring means is in an inoperative mode, and means for disassociating the disc cleaning means from the surface of the disc when the information transferring means is in an operative mode.

Abstract: Loading and unloading mechanism for slot type disc player apparatus incorporates a device for transferring a disc to the disc drive after it has been inserted through a slot and for transferring the disc from the disc drive and ejecting it through the slot after the playing operation has been completed. A disc carrier plate is mounted on the frame of the apparatus for helical movement between a first position adjacent the slot and a second position adjacent the disc drive. A spring or a motor provides power to rotate the carrier plate, which rotational movement is translated to helical movement by helical ramp members and cooperating bearing members. Control devices are included to provide automatic operation.

Abstract: A slot type disc recorder and/or player apparatus is disclosed having a disc drive spindle and a member for supporting a disc for in-and-out sliding movement edgewise in its own plane in a transverse path relative to the spindle axis. The member has a V-shaped surface symmetrically located with respect to the spindle to support a disc for sliding movement along the path by engaging the disc only at its edges. Also disclosed is a pivotable mounting for the member for locating the path of movement so that the disc clears an end of said spindle when the disc is inserted or removed.

Abstract: A disc player apparatus having mechanism for guiding and centering disc records of different size on a disc record drive having a vertical spindle. A horizontal plate for receiving a disc record inserted and movable along a horizontal path to a position centered on the spindle has spaced levers pivotally movable laterally outwardly from a first position straddling the center line of the path and resiliently urged toward each other; the levers have a first position spaced sufficiently to engage an inserted disc record of either a small size or a large size and be moved outwardly thereby against the resilient element to guide a record of either size to centered position. A pair of generally L-shaped stop members are mounted on the plate straddling the center line in the path of an inserted small size record to locate such a record in its centered position.

Abstract: A detector system for the operative face of a disc carrying data on one face only is applicable to a laser or optical reading means which is located in turntable apparatus whereby the user is warned of the fact that the disc is placed upside-down and that, therefore, the data which it carries cannot be reproduced. A control signal is generated by the detector system, producing a warning or tripping an operation such as the rejection of the disc or the interruption of the insertion movement.

Abstract: An electronic still camera is disclosed having an optical system, a transducer in the form of CCD image sensors for producing image representing signals responsive to an image focused on the sensors by the optical system, an actuable shutter control and circuits in the camera for transmitting image representing signals from the transducer to a recording device having a plurality of individual no-volatile integrated circuit memory units. A controller means in the form of a microprocessor is operated by a shutter control and controls the transmission of image representing signals from the transducer through the circuits to record only a separate single image in each of the individual memory units.