Abstract: A mini cassette apparatus operates with an interchangeable cassette magazine on which a number of interchangeable minicassettes or microcassettes can be installed, similarly arranged on the intermittently rotatable plate with respect to the center of rotation. As the disk plate is intermittently rotated from the exterior from one position to another, the successive cassettes are moved into operating position with respect to the tape drive of the apparatus.

Abstract: An improved magnetic flexible disk for use in data storage is provided with a stabilized locating ring about the spindle aperture thereof. The stabilized locating ring is selected from an electrically conductive material having miniscule humidital expansion characteristics at normal use temperatures. The stabilized locating ring has an inside diameter precisely equal to the outside diameter of the drive spindle on the disk drive apparatus for which the disk is designed to be utilized. The locating ring is bonded onto an existing disk which has had its central aperture punched to be slightly oversized. The improved disk is characterized by its longer usable lifetime, substantially elimination of errors in registration and increased data capacity.

Abstract: Shown and described is a recirculating air system for a disk drive assembly wherein air moves radially over the disk surfaces, over the transducer carriage at an increased velocity, past the actuator mechanism and through a filter before recirculation is induced by the hub assembly on which the disks are mounted and which functions also as an impeller. The hub-disk assembly also forms an integral part of the drive motor rotor assembly. Also, a breather filter and breather opening communicate with the recirculating air path at the low pressure location of the recirculating path to assure that air entering the system passes through the breather filter.

Abstract: A head moving mechanism for a tape deck provides for accurate shifting of a magnetic head from one set of tracks to another by securing the magnetic head to a head carriage member which in turn is attached to the tape deck by two flexures. A solenoid secured to the head carriage member serves to move the magnetic head by means of a linkage mechanism attached to the tape deck.

Abstract: A magnetic tape-cassette apparatus comprising at least two push-buttons which have individual functions in the apparatus, when individually pushed in to produce a normal travel of their push-button rods, the individual push-button rods being releasably latched in the position in which the individual function is performed. The two push-button rods, when pushed in simultaneously, are depressible beyond the normal travel over a common overtravel path, to perform a further function, and a latching slide, which is movable to a release position for releasing the normal-travel latches, is retained in the release position by an intermediate slide when the push-button rods are in the overtravel range until the normal-travel latching projections have passed the latching cams during the outward movement of the push-button rods.

Abstract: A cartridge having a housing removably mounted in a cleaning cassette. The housing has a first pivotal connecting member to pivotally engage a matching connecting means in the structure, and a second connecting member adapted to engage second connecting means in the structure to prevent rotation of the housing. There is a fixed pad mounting member in the housing and a second pad mounting head movably mounted on spring arm.

Abstract: A cassette housing having a reciprocating wiper arm which comprises a front end cleaning section, a rear portion pivotally mounted to the housing, and an intermediate spring portion. The spring portion comprises three relatively rigid link sections joined to one another by two relatively flexible elbow sections, with the link sections extending generally laterally in a general "Z" configuration.

Abstract: A "U" shaped mounting head in which is mounted a removeable retaining device adapted to retain a cleaning pad therein. The retaining device has sidewalls that fit against side surfaces of a recess of the mounting head, and an upper and a lower oppositely extending flange on opposite side walls to engage related upper and lower surfaces of the mounting head so as to be retained securely in the recess.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium is described having formed on a non-magnetic base at least two magnetic layers, each of the magnetic layers comprising ferromagnetic particles dispersed in a binder, wherein the ferromagnetic particles in the outermost magnetic layer are substantially cubic particles and have a side length of 0.3.mu. or less, and the ferromagnetic particles in an underlying magnetic layer are acicular particles.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium is described having formed on a non-magnetic base at least two magnetic layers, each of the magnetic layers comprising ferromagnetic particles dispersed in a binder, wherein the ferromagnetic particles in the outermost layer have an average length of 0.3.mu. or less and a length to width ratio of greater than 1/1 but not greater than 3/1, and the ferromagnetic particles in an underlying layer have a length to width ratio of more than 3/1.

Abstract: A magnetic head includes a core securely mounted on core support or coil connector. The coil connector is provided at one end with a hole in which the core is fitted for preventing the separation of the connector. An end of an insulating member is inserted between the coil and support for preventing short-circuiting of the coil by contact with the support.

Abstract: Apparatus and method of verification of credit cards, including sensing information thereon and comparing said information with information on a specially designed pre-printed carrier, followed by insertion of one or more cards in the matching carrier as required, folding and stacking card-inserted carriers in a manner ready for subsequent insertion into mailing envelopes. Sensing, input, comparison logic, and timed command circuitry for coordination of operation includes a pause mode of card advance and may optionally include a multiple card search mode to find matching cards when card sequence is improper.

Abstract: A locking device for locking a starting position searching mechanism which comprises a slide plate for sliding when being pushed by a fast-forwarding operational rod or rewinding operational rod and a limit switch which is actuated by the slide plate. The fast-forwarding operational rod and the rewinding operational rod are formed with notches at the top ends with which the top end of an off plate is engageable, the off plate is slidably connected to the lock plate, a spring is provided between the off plate and the lock plate for pulling them so as to shorten their total length, an electromagnetic plunger is provided at the base end of the lock plate for attracting the lock plate together with the off plate and the electromagnetic plunger is to be energized by the limit switch.

Abstract: A thin film magnetic read/write transducer has a substrate of magnetic material forming a pair of disparate pole pieces. Arranged adjacent a movable magnetic medium, the disparate pole pieces are constructed so that the leading pole piece has a greater distal surface area than the trailing pole piece. In an alternative arrangement the leading pole piece distal surface is disposed a greater distance from the medium than the trailing pole piece. In yet another arrangement the trailing pole piece distal surface is disposed at an acute angle to the medium, and the leading pole piece surface may be at a lesser angle or parallel to the medium. The disparate pole pieces, so constructed and arranged, introduce compensating non-linearities to the writing magnetic field to substantially counteract the non-linear properties of the medium and of the recording process.

Abstract: A video tape recording/reproducing apparatus for reproducing video signals recorded in successive parallel tracks on a magnetic tape, includes a magnetic head movable in a direction generally along each of the tracks in a scanning path from a beginning end to a concluding end thereof for reproducing signals recorded therein, and a bi-morph leaf for mounting the head and being operative to deflect the head in a direction transverse to the direction along the tracks. During the scanning operation, the bi-morph leaf is supplied with a dithering signal for wobbling the head transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the record tracks, a tracking error signal to correct deviations of the head trace from the tracks to be scanned and a slant compensation signal to correct any inclination tracking error of the head. During the non-scanning operation, a jump signal is supplied to the bi-morph leaf for deflecting the head to accurately scan the beginning of the tracks.

Abstract: Display apparatus is provided for a recording and/or playback device of the type having a movable record medium upon which cue signals may be recorded to indicate an end of "letter", an "instruction" or the like. A linear array of light indicating elements is selectively energized to provide a cursor indication of the present position of the record medium as it is moved relative to a reference position. Selected ones of these elements also are energized in response to the recording or playback of a cue signal to indicate the relative locations of the cue signals on the record medium. In one embodiment, a numerical display also is provided to indicate a time-related quantity of record medium which has been transported during a recording or playback operation. If the record medium is, for example, a magnetic tape transported from a supply reel to a take-up reel, motion pulses are generated as the tape is transported.

Abstract: A magnetic transducing head is mounted on a transducing machine so that the angle of orientation (e.g., azimuth inclination) of the head with respect to the machine is adjustable as by means of a differential screw mechanism extending between two relatively pivotable portions of the mount. The screw mechanism comprises a manually-operable element having threads of two different pitches on the same axis, threaded respectively into the two mount portions. Thus the two mount portions are always held at an intended distance from each other without lost-motion play, and the sensitivity of orientation adjustment is increased, because the translation corresponding to unit angular movement of the screw is measured by the difference between the inverse-pitch dimensions of the two threads.

Abstract: A jacket for positioning a disc-shaped magnetic recording sheet in an information signal recording and/or reproducing apparatus includes an upper plate, a lower plate which cooperates with the upper plate for sandwiching the recording sheet therebetween, and a positioning device for maintaining the upper and lower plates a substantially fixed distance apart and which may include one or more of the following: (1) ferromagnetic pieces mounted in grooves in the outer surfaces of the upper and lower plates and having upper surfaces thereof situated below the outer surfaces of the plates, the ferromagnetic pieces being magnetically attracted by electromagnets or permanent magnets in the apparatus to pull the plates apart a fixed distance; (2) inclined surfaces at the periphery of apertures in the upper and lower plates and the apparatus includes claw-like members for engaging the inclined surfaces to pull the plates apart a fixed distance; (3) openings in the upper and lower plates, for example, central openings i

Abstract: A magnetic head for magnetic tape recording and reproducing apparatus utilizing Mn-Zn single crystalline ferrite at least for the tip core or front portion of a head core where an air gap is formed, wherein different phases are locally precipitated only at the region including the air gap at the central portion thereof where a running magnetic tape contacts during the recording and reproducing operation of the apparatus. The output of the head is considerably increased with the ferrite noise inherent in single crystalline ferrite heads kept at a low level, in comparison with the conventional single crystalline ferrite heads in which the precipitation of the different phases is not limited to the above-noted region of the head core. The head is made by a method comprising disposing a masking film or coating of metal or oxide over the whole surfaces of the head core except for the above-mentioned region and treating the core at a temperature of 1,000.degree. C.-1,200.degree. C.

Abstract: A magnetic tape recording and/or reproducing apparatus wherein a magnetic tape is drawn out of a tape cartridge by a tape loading mechanism which is moved from its inoperative position to its operative position by the rotational power of a motor, and which motor also drives an operating mode changing mechanism which changes the operating mode of the apparatus.