Abstract: A head lift mounting a head assembly and having a through hole allowing a lead screw to extend therethrough, comprises a cylindrical portion having a hollow opening formed in the center thereof. A pair of flexible print circuits are arranged in a manner such that the cylindrical portion of the head lift is wound by the flexible print circuits. An actuator assembly is kept vertical on a chassis by virtue of a bearing holder, while the pair of flexible print circuits are extending out through one side of the bearing holder.

Abstract: In an interpose lever (60) for holding in a tape drive (10) a tape cartridge (20) formed with a recess (21) thereon, a movable base (11a) has a protrusion (614) to be engaged with the recess to inhibit the tape cartridge from being released. A release arm (63) is rotatably attached to the base for releasing engagement between the protrusion and the recess. The release arm is urged by a spring (64) in a predetermined rotating direction. A shaft (617) is formed integral with the base to serve as a rotation center member of the release arm.

Abstract: In order to release a reel hub lock by operating a lock lever (41) in response to rotation of a ring cam (51), a reel hub lock releasing (30) mechanism comprises a seesaw-type release lever (31) rotatably disposed on a back surface of a chassis (12) around a fulcrum part (311) at a center thereof. The seesaw-type release lever comprises first and second plate bodies (312, 313) extending from the fulcrum part toward both sides. The first plate body has, at a tip thereof, an engaging projection (34) engaged with a cam groove (51a) of the ring cam. The second plate body has, at a tip thereof, a lever operating projection (33) which projects upward to operate the lock lever. Disposed around the fulcrum part, a spring (35) is for preventing a part from falling away to fit the seesaw-type release lever to the chassis.

Abstract: In a head protection mechanism (50) for protecting a magnetic head (31) so that a coupled portion of a reader tape (71) is not in contact with the magnetic head, a protection arm (51) is rotatably mounted on a main surface of a chassis (12) close to an actuator assembly (20). The protection arm has a tape passing groove (51a) and an arm portion (514). Rotatably mounted on a back surface of the chassis, a protection lever (54) has one end (541) which is close to a ring cam (62) and which is engageably disposed to a cam face (621). The protection lever has another end (542) which is coupled to a tip (514a) of the arm portion in the protection arm via a hole (12c) bored in the chassis. A spring (53) always urges the protection arm nearer to the actuator assembly.

Abstract: A backlash eliminating mechanism is used in a head sending mechanism for sending head assembly mounted on a head lift up and down along a relation axis of a lead screw. The backlash eliminating mechanism comprises a pressing means for always pressing the head lift along the rotation axis of the lead screw. The pressing means comprises a preload bushing located in a middle space of the head lift and has a internal thread engaging an external thread of the lead screw extending through the middle space. A compressed coil spring is located between the head lift and the preload bushing in the middle space of the head lift and presses the head lift against the preload bushing along the rotation axis of the lead screw.

Abstract: A chassis for use in a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus on which first and second reel motors are mounted is made of a magnetic material having a magnetic shielding effect. The chassis may comprise a plate made of an irony magnetic material which press working is performed or may being made of cast iron. The chassis may be made by injection molding of the magnetic material. In addition, the first and second reel motors may comprise inner rotor type motors which have a common structure.

Abstract: A cassette lid opening/closing mechanism of a cassette tape driver for a cassette and the like cassettes, which is simply constructed at a reduced price. Holes are formed in the lid opening/closing levers and are pivoted to the support shafts on the side plates of the cassette holder. Hooks at the ends of the lid opening/closing levers are folded inwardly of the cassette holder and then forwardly. The side plates of the cassette holder extend backwardly to enter into the hooks. When the cassette tape is inserted in the cassette holder so that the cassette holder is slid back, the lid opening/closing levers turn and the hooks depress the lid of the cassette tape from the lower side so that the lid is open. The side plates limit the play of the lid opening/closing levers in the right-and-left direction. Therefore, the lid opening/closing levers are pivotally attached without requiring highly precisely machined shafts or bearings.

Abstract: There is provided a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus using a plastic chassis having side walls integrally formed with a bottom plate. A cassette holder holding the cassette case moves between a loaded position and an ejected position. A pair of pins are protrudingly provided on side surfaces of the cassette holder. One pin of the pair of pins is provided on a left side surface, and the other pin is provided on a right side surface. The plastic chassis has a bottom plate and left and right side walls formed perpendicularly on the left side and the right side of the bottom plate. The bottom plate and the left and right side walls are integrally formed with each other. A pair of slots are formed on the left and right side walls, one slot of the pair of slots being formed on the left side wall, the other slot being formed on the right side wall. The cassette holder is movably supported by the pins being inserted into the respective slots between the left side wall and the right side wall.

Abstract: A tape cassette loading apparatus includes: a cassette holder which moves a tape cassette to a loaded position when the tape cassette is inserted to move the cassette holder; a lid opener, including a rotatable portion, which opens a lid of the tape cassette when the tape cassette is inserted to bring the lid into contact with the rotatable portion of the lid opener; a cam slider which locks the cassette holder to a chassis when the tape cassette is not inserted; a first protecting unit which cancels the locking of the cassette holder to the chassis by moving the cam slider when the first protecting unit is rotated by the lid of the tape cassette; and a second protecting unit which includes a first portion connected to the first protecting unit and a second portion connected to the chassis.

Abstract: A magnetic tape apparatus in which data is recorded on or reproduced from a magnetic tape when the magnetic tape is run on a rotary drum, includes a tension regulating unit which regulates a tension of the magnetic tape when the magnetic tape is run, the tension regulating unit pressing the magnetic tape at a first position in a tension-applying direction. A slack preventing unit exerts a rotating force on the tension regulating unit at a second position such that the rotating force exerted at the second position acts on the tension regulating unit at the first position to further press the magnetic tape in the tension-applying direction, thus preventing a slack of the magnetic tape from being produced when changing a tape winding direction of the magnetic tape.

Abstract: There is provided a mounting construction of an elastic member of which one end is fixed to a mounting member fixed to and extending from a first member, the other end of the elastic member being engaged with a second member so that the second member is pressed against the first member, the elastic member having substantially a through hole extending in a pressing direction in which the second member is pressed. A first engaging portion, which is capable of being elastically deformed in a radially outward direction of the through hole, is formed on the one end of the elastic member. A first hook portion, being engaged with the first engaging portion, is formed on an end of the mounting member so that the first hook portion blocks a movement of the first engaging portion in a reverse direction of the pressing direction. The first hook portion may instead be elastically deformed.

Abstract: A tape loading mechanism includes: a chassis having a guide groove; a loading post assembly having a loading post and a loading post base, the loading post base being movably supported on the chassis and being movable along the guide groove, the loading post being supported on the loading post base and loading a tape onto a tape path of a rotating drum when the loading post base is moved to a loading end position; a projecting portion, projecting from an end of the loading post base in a direction of the movement of the loading post base, which is brought into contact with a drum base of the rotating drum when the loading post base is moved to the loading end position; and a stopper portion, provided within the drum base, for catching the projecting portion to stop the movement of the loading post base at the loading end position.

Abstract: A plastic chassis is provided in which a shaft is fixed to the chassis even if a snap fitting integrally formed with the chassis is broken. An arm member having a claw portion is formed around a through hole formed in the chassis. A protrusion having a top surface located a predetermined distance lower than a top surface of the arm member is formed around the through hole. When the shaft is inserted into the through hole, the claw portion engages with an annular groove formed near the end of the shaft so as to fix the shaft to the chassis. When the arm member is broken, a slit washer is engaged with the annular groove so as to fix the shaft to the chassis. The slit washer is disposed on the top surface of the protrusion.

Abstract: A holder mechanism unit holds a case. A driving mechanism unit drives the holder mechanism unit so as to cause the holder to convey the case between a first position and a second position. An arm moves the case from the second position to a third position which is located on the opposite side of the second position to the first position as a result of being driven by the driving mechanism unit. An arm driving member drives the arm to move the case from the second position to the third position as a result of being driven by the driving mechanism unit.